Scobeaux's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.8
- Helpful Votes:611
- Reviews Submitted:48
- First Review:November 21, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 14, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
During the finale of The Maze, the transmission is mysteriously stopped. Now it's up to you to find the missing contestants!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Very long but still too short!
PostedJuly 26, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was so sorry to reach the end of this very well done game. I thought the story was very interesting although a bit gruesome in places. The game is quite long. The mini-games were plentiful, unusual and varied greatly in difficulty. Some were quite challenging and some were fairly easy. There was a wide mixture of types as well. The graphics and sound were fine. The HOS's were nice and clear and not very difficult. There was quite a bit of back and forthing but there was a very helpful map which eliminated the tedium. Best of all, the "adventure" aspects of the game - figuring out what to put where - were very creative and entertaining. I would LOVE to see a sequel.
I recommend this game!
Join Zoe and Charleston Black as they unravel a powerful and ancient Arthurian legend in this gripping Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Great game for younger players
PostedJuly 23, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I want to give a shout-out to the voice acting in this game - it is really exceptionally good. Normally I am not a fan of lots of dialog, but in this case the actors are so good and the dialog is entertaining and very natural-seeming so it's not even annoying. The other sound effects and music are good too. Another plus - there is a lot of variety in what is basically a hidden object game. The objects one needs to find correspond to a great extent to the city where the action is located from time to time, which I think is a plus. The graphics are pretty but somewhat grainy but mostly it's not too hard to find the objects. It is definitely aimed at kids about 11-15, I would say, so adults may get bored after a while. I am still playing, though!
I recommend this game!
Shaolin Mystery: Tale of the Jade Dragon Staff
Travel across ancient China and help Yu as she searches for the mythical Jade Dragon Staff. Save your wrongly imprisoned friend!
Overall rating
5
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Delightful
PostedJune 12, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game was quite long. I found the hidden object scenes to be very clear and quite fair. There were maybe three words in all that were not familiar to me but i googled them and immediately found a familiar synonym (e.g. "horseshoe crab"). There were lots and lots of mini-games, some elementary, some quite difficult (for me). It was not always easy to figure out what to do next, but since there is a good walk-through available this is not, to me, that big of an issue. Besides, in retrospect, it all made perfect sense within the context of the story, which I found imaginative in the details even though the broad outlines were not unusual The music was very charming and fit the story although it got a little repetitive. The sound effects were good, and quite varied. But, for me, what set this game well above the average were the delightful graphics, especially for the underwater level and the final level with the flying snails and the floating trees. It was quite simply a pleasure to play and I was very sorry to see the end. So I just bought Shaolin Mystery: Revenge of the Terracotta Warriors!
I recommend this game!
Investigate the disappearance of the chancellor's daughter and uncover the long lost kingdom of the exiled Frog Prince!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Beautiful and creative game
PostedMay 24, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Like others who have reviewed this game, I am not a big fan of FROGs. However, the beauty of the graphics almost made up for that drawback. Also, the entertaining "plot," if you can call it that, the ingenuity of many of the mini-games, and the over-all creativity and originality evident in every scene were truly delightful. It is also quite long #I played it using a minimum of hints and skipped only the last mini-game, which was of a type that I just can't deal with as it makes my brain hurt#, and I bet it took me well over 5 hours. I would rate this four and a half but have to round down since there are better games out there for me. I am now going to play the other two Dark Parables games.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Lots of fun, not too challenging
PostedMay 17, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
About half puzzles, half hidden object scenes. The puzzles were fun, not too hard, a little bit out of the ordinary. The HOS were nothing exceptional but were clear and nothing was impossible to find and there were always hints available from the cute dog. No penalty for random clicks that I could see. The plot was pretty silly but pleasant. It took me under 4 hours to finish without skipping any puzzles so I would say it was on the short side but it was thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend it, especially for newcomers to the genre and those who want to fill a pleasant couple of hours.
I recommend this game!
Department 42: The Mystery of the Nine
Help Department 42 collect nine mysterious and evil artifacts and protect the world! Stop pure evil and save the day!
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
High Quality Fun
PostedMay 10, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Pluses: Excellent graphics, non-intrusive music that changed with the different quests, HOS very well-done (and if a scene was repeated (which was rare), the objects already found did NOT reappear - thank you, developers!!), entertaining story-line for a game of this type, mini-games of varying degreee of difficulty (see below) that were a bit out of the ordinary, good length. All these pluses make the game eminently replayable, not always the case for this kind of game. Plus, once a HOS or a mini-game is completed, it becomes playable on its own.
Minuses: Two of the mini-games (in particular, the last one) were pretty tough, at least for me. However, they were skippable and also there is a good walkthrough available. Likewise, a few (maybe 5 total) of the hidden objects were EXTREMELY hard to find (but you could always use a hint). And finally, as is sometimes the case when non-native speakers design the HOS, a few (a maximum of five in the whole game) of the objects had names that were not familiar to a US person (but I had no trouble figuring them out, and the narative was perfectly fine in terms of the translation). I am only mentioning these minuses because they might bother some people but they in no way detracted from the game for me.
Minuses: Two of the mini-games (in particular, the last one) were pretty tough, at least for me. However, they were skippable and also there is a good walkthrough available. Likewise, a few (maybe 5 total) of the hidden objects were EXTREMELY hard to find (but you could always use a hint). And finally, as is sometimes the case when non-native speakers design the HOS, a few (a maximum of five in the whole game) of the objects had names that were not familiar to a US person (but I had no trouble figuring them out, and the narative was perfectly fine in terms of the translation). I am only mentioning these minuses because they might bother some people but they in no way detracted from the game for me.
I recommend this game!
Help Jess track down seven ancient artifacts and rebuild a village that has been ravished by a hurricane in Artifact Quest!
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 26 found this review helpful
Turns out to be addictive!
PostedApril 3, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I played this game in the timed mode. From the beginning I thought it was entertaining and relaxing but fairly easy. Then I noticed that I had been playing for an hour and said to myself, just one more level, so I had to buy it. Then I said, just one more level, for real this time. Now another hour has gone by, so I guess I must really like it!! But not only is it difficult to stop playing, it actually does get pretty tricky as you progress. There are three diferent games (plus a bonus game which is for people with fast reaction times and which you can skip, but you get points no matter how badly you do and you can't lose so why not play it?). One game is your standard M3, one is sort of like a marble popper, and the third involves snatching shapes out of the air and placing them on their silhouettes, and which gets a bit frantic. For me, the first type is quite easy but the others are a bit more challenging. I find it gets more fun as you get farther along. I think this is the kind of game you keep around to play again from time to time after you have finished it, just because it is simple, relaxing and fun.
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Where is the Sequel?
PostedFebruary 14, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
To say the voice acting, in my opinion, was kind of weak is just a quibble and is the only downside, and a minor one, to this excellent game. The ambient sound is the best I have experienced in a game like this. The music was fine, not distracting, and the graphics were spectacular. It seemed to me that at every point the developers went beyond what might be expected in order to deliver a deeper and more immersive experience. The puzzles (mini-games and such) were pretty easy but they were extremely varied and were set forth in such a way that instructions were not at all necessary. The HO scenes were very clear and the interactive objects were fun. And finally, the plot was coherent and entertaining and begs for a sequel. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars because it is really better than the other games I gave 5 stars to. Congratulations to the deverlopers and bring us a sequel ASAP.
I recommend this game!
Mystery of Mortlake Mansion
Explore the dark halls of Mortlake Mansion and discover its secrets! Break the evil spells and become the owner of the mansion!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
That was a lot of fun!!
PostedFebruary 5, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
What a pleasant surprise! It was long and immersive and quite ingenious - with the "real" house and the "shadow" house. It made the usual back-and-forthing more interesting. Plus there was a map to make it easy to get around. As others have mentioned, the graphics were "drawn" as opposed to "realistic," but once you got used to it, it was not a problem and, to my mind, made the game a little different from the norm and were much more a plus than a minus. The sounds were inobtrusive and did not add to or detract from the game, particularly. What I liked the best was that, whenever I thought I had reached a dead end and would have to consult the walk-through, I would somehow manage to figure out what to do! Not that the game was easy, because I don't think it was - apart from some of the mini-games- but that it had its own logic and was internally consistent. The mini-games did not have instructions but it was not hard to figure out what to do and some of them were unusual. One thing that might bother some people: in the hidden object scenes, some - very few - of the objects you need to find have pretty obscure or somewhat misleading names. I personally don't mind this a bit, especially when I can use a hint if absolutely necessary - I find it kind of entertaining to have to figure out what they might have meant by, for example, "oil stove" - they meant oil lamp. All in all, I enjoyed it immensely and was very sorry to have it come to an end.
I recommend this game!
Match three magic objects and clear enchanted tiles from the play field. If the wick reaches the powder keg, your time is up.
Overall rating
5
/
5
29 of 30 found this review helpful
For a game with such excellent explosions . . .
PostedFebruary 2, 2012
Scobeaux
fromNew York City
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
. . . it is very relaxing. It is perfect to play late at night. I have a lot of M3 games and this is the one I always come back to. The music is so catchy I find myself humming it throughout the day, and the graphics are beautiful and fit the theme perfectly. There is not a lot to it other than the M3 - no world building, no "plot," no mini-games - not even any real power-ups other than a little extra time and a hammer for a tile or two, but that's what I like about it. There is an excellent explosion you can create by matching tiles a certain way which is very amusing, however. Beating the game itself is not very hard but the challenge lies in bettering your previous scores - which the game keeps track of for each level.
I recommend this game!