nicolaw's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.4
- Helpful Votes:198
- Reviews Submitted:19
- First Review:March 4, 2014
- Most Recent Review:March 13, 2021
- Featured reviews0
A detective meets a mysterious stranger in her first case!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 10 found this review helpful
Im on the fence about this one
PostedMarch 13, 2021
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game started out good enough. As one reviewer mentioned it then went on to so much back and forthing i was forgetting where it was and what it was I was supposed to be doing. The storyline is intriguing and id like to see where they are going with it but the game ended rather abruptly and I was left thinking "that was it???" In that respect Im glad I held out for the SE of the game because I would have been pretty annoyed if it was the CE. Some people will like it, some wont. Personally am still on the fence about it
I recommend this game!
This autumn, celebrate Halloween and Christmas at the same time!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 9 found this review helpful
Not my favourite Alice.
PostedOctober 14, 2020
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
When I played the first Alice is was just something to pass the time but it had me hooked which was a massive surprise to me as its not my usual favourite genre of gameplay. So much so that the three previous games have been installed permanently on my laptop as my go to games when im on downtime.
I was excited to see a new installment and I have to say I wasnt overly thrilled with it based on taster but I went ahead and purchased anyway. Now dont get me wrong. The graphics and everything were lovely it seemed to be just missing something that the previous games had. It also seemed to lag or glitch a little in some of the levels.
Unfortunately compared to the other games I wont be adding this on a permanent basis. Bit of a shame but fingers crossed for the next installment.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you and your friends escape what’s lurking in the mist?
Overall rating
1
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Just a really bad game
PostedJanuary 22, 2018
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Over the last few weeks ive replayed the older phantasmats so i was thrilled to see another one come out. Having been left down by a few collectors editions i decided to wait until the SE came out and boy am i glad i did.
The game was ridiculously short. I was absolutely gobsmacked it was over so quickly. The mini games etc was very easy and to be honest nothing about the storyline made any sense to me.
It was the most boring and awful game ive played in a long time. The phantasmat series has just really lost its way along with quite a few other series which seems to be the norm lately. Honestly keep your money and game credits. I dont think its in any worth it.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you recover your memories and save a missing girl in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
19 of 22 found this review helpful
Sorry but this was really boring
PostedJune 24, 2017
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Mystery Trackers. One of my all time favourite game series has bitten the dust.
It started off with promise. Hence why i purchased the full version of the demo but i think in future Im just going to wait for the standard version of games to come out because I have been stung way too many times buying a CE only for it turn out terrible.
The graphics werent great. The puzzles and that not too much of a challenge at all. Might be handy for a beginner i guess.
The storyline had great promise but it really just went nowhere and the game was over in a blink of an eye. I think I had the whole thing completed in an hour. I was waiting for something spectacular to happen but nope. wasnt there.
Im really disappointed. Mystery Trackers seems to have gone really downhill and unless they have some ultra new ideas Id call a halt to it instead of releasing boring games.
Sorry developers and Big Fish but you really need to up your games.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you uncover the Logan Family's terrible secret in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
It was a bit meh
PostedApril 15, 2017
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
My intial excitement during the demo for the game was quickly replaced AFTER buying the full version. Phantasmat is usually one of my favourite series and I honestly had high hopes playing the demo.
The story begins as you are travelling to an abandoned castle to search for an artifact. Cue a boat wreck and a creepy boatman and getting to a haunted castle where all sorts of scary characters await.
Well maybe for a few minutes anyway. These "scary" ghosts only make sporadic appearances. You are back and forth like a yoyo in some locations and to be honest I found myself getting really really bored.
For me this game was a disappointment and I wish I had waited for the standard game to come out instead of spending on the collectors edition.
I don't recommend this game.
The real Bloody Stanley was caught, or so they thought...
Overall rating
1
/
5
24 of 27 found this review helpful
One very very long yawn
PostedMay 26, 2016
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I got excited when I first played the game especially seeing the warning at the beginning. My expectations were high only to be brought back down with a bang.
The game starts with you arriving in town as the new detective. And from there you have to find the keys for the case drawers and coins for a cab to take you places. That's about as exciting as it gets.
There was nothing gruesome, dark or bloody about this game whatsoever so ive no idea why they put in such a warning. Ive seen worse on the simpsons to be honest.
The graphics were ok but in some of the hidden scenes the pointer would get stuck and you could be clicking on the object only to receive a penalty because you have clicked so many times trying to get the item.
The story while had good premise was very lacking as I felt I was left asking a lot of questions as regards the background of why bloody Stanley targeted the people he did, more on the background etc. Even the bonus game didn't clear up anything if anything it left even more to be answered. Still wondering what the cat was there for because I'm none the wiser. its like it was added because it had appeared in previous one.
Another complaint would be the shortness of the game and its abrupt ending. I had the game completed in less than an hour and half and the main ending was over before I even knew it. For a CE it was NOT worth the money and if you are going to try the game I would actually wait until there is a deal on because I don't think its even worth the full price of a SE.
I'm extremely disappointed in this game. Having been a fan of the Grim Façade series this game has annoyed me no end. Not good enough. ill be thinking twice before buying another one
I don't recommend this game.
Grim Tales: Threads of Destiny
Can you free Jackie's parents from their deadly fates?
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 8 found this review helpful
One very very long yawn
PostedNovember 16, 2015
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I probably should have listened to my gut feeling as regards this game after the last horrific instalment but I ignored it and wasted money as a result. Thankfully it was the SE and not the CE or I would have been really mad.
So you are called to the police station by your niece who tells you that they may have new leads as regards the death of her parents. So the police officer asks you to go back in time and see if you can do anything.
This you have to do three times and along the way you meet FATE who tells you that its their destiny to die (no reason given) and throws up a few obstacles in the way. Nothing too difficult. A beginner player should have no problem. Had the game finished in about an hour and it ended very abruptly. No information as why they were destined to die. Nothing. Nada. Unless the CE yields further information regarding that but honestly I don't think its worth the money to bother finding out.
Everything about this game was boring. That's all I can come up with. I used to love the Grim Tales saga but the last two efforts have just been horrendous. All I can say to the developers is thank you for absolutely mangling what used to be a great series of games and seriously consider not making any more.
I wont be buying any more of this series. I can only guess if another is brought out it wont be any better than this. I would even go so far as requesting my money back if that was actually possible.
Terrible. Just terrible.
I don't recommend this game.
Danse Macabre: Thin Ice
You stop a crazy fan, but when he dies, who’s responsible?
Overall rating
1
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Had more fun watching paint dry
PostedJuly 11, 2015
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I don't even know where to start with game. The only good point I can actually say is the graphics were ok and colourful. After that it pretty much goes downhill. The storyline is boring and mediocre at best. There are characters in it the story that you are left wondering what was the point of having them in first place. The HOPS are very easy and simple. Very little challenge in the game to be honest and im annoyed with myself for wasting a game credit on it. Maybe beginners might enjoy this game but I think anyone of intermediate or advanced player would find this game far too easy and boring. Come on Big Fish you can do better than this.
I don't recommend this game.
Surface: Alone in the Mist Collector's Edition
All the adults have vanished. Is this a child's dream, or nightmare?
Overall rating
1
/
5
19 of 24 found this review helpful
Surface gasping for air?
PostedJune 9, 2015
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Another game where I had high expectations only to be left bitterly disappointed.
I played the trial version and thought hmm this could be interesting only it wasn't. I probably should have guessed from the demo how short this game was. It was ridiculously short. Usually I would play the bonus game also but I just deleted the game when I was finished because I had enough of it.
It starts off on Carol's 16th birthday and her parents are nowhere to be found. She had a weird nightmare about a girl with black eyes and when she goes downstairs her parents are nowhere to be found. Oh and she is good at archery.
That's the good bits summed up for you. After that you are backwards and forwards and looking for little flowers.
There are four levels of gameplay and the mini puzzles are very easy to solve. Overall for me there wasn't much of a challenge and I got bored of it halfway through.
Im really sorry I wasted two game credits on this. People used to the surface series and advanced players I don't think you will enjoy this game. Maybe some newbies would like it I don't know but don't waste your money on the CE.
I don't recommend this game.
Grim Tales: The Final Suspect Collector's Edition
There’s a corpse in your house, but who killed him?
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 14 found this review helpful
Grim Tales left a grim feeling
PostedMay 16, 2015
nicolaw
fromIreland
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
So another Saga in the Grim Tales series. This family must the unluckiest family in the world.
This time the story is directed at Ms. Grey. Having woken from an attack you learn that you are a prime suspect relating to a murder in your home. You cannot remember details so you have to go back and work out what actually happened.
The music was good and the usual visual effects. The mini games and hops were different and enjoyable. You have the usually level of expertise from beginner/custom to expert.
However compared to the last Grim Tales (which I loved) this did not fulfil my expectations. I have to admit that I actually got bored playing the game. You are backwards and forwards to different areas constantly which started to get annoying after a while.
The storyline was simplistic enough and I felt they didn't go into enough detail regarding some aspects of what happened. Also the game was very very short. I had the game and the bonus chapter completed in just over an hour and half which seems to be happening a lot lately with some of the big fish games.
Honestly I wish I had held out for the standard version because there isn't a lot really to the CE. Disappointed with this game after the last one. I say try it before you buy it.
And here's hoping the next instalment is longer and better. Great for beginner gamers possibly intermediate. But unfortunately not for me this time.
I recommend this game!