dancemom1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:13,287
- Reviews Submitted:871
- First Review:April 15, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you stop a vengeful spirit before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 30 found this review helpful
Yes, we have ghosts!
PostedJune 25, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all! Been waiting for this one since I beta tested it a while back. The graphics are very nice and clear. Colors are bright and true for a change. Game play was excellent, no problems at all and it fit my large screen. Music was rather soothing and nice, considering we are dealing with ghosts. Animation was very well done. I really liked the voice overs, age and character appropriate and they actually showed emotion. There really isn't much in the way of sound FX, but I didn't really miss them either. We do have a helper, who seems to have a bit of a drinking problem. He only helps when you get him something to drink, and I don't mean water. Half way though the game, he's going to be too sloshed to help anyone at this rate.
HOPs are a combination of interactive lists and find a part and use it in the scene. Items are not difficult to find and the scenes are fairly clear. I didn't see that there was anything else you could switch to on this one. Puzzles were not too many during the demo, and were quite simple. Hint system is very helpful and it does transport you as well. Not a tremendous amount of back tracking, but some.
The only collectibles I found are morphing items. If this is all there is, it is quite disappointing. The item morphs quite quickly.
I'm not sure why I like this game. It is not challenging, nor is it a new or different story. Maybe it's the ghost idea. I don't know, but I do like it and I will be adding it to my collection of CE games. I think most all levels of players would find this one interesting for one reason or another.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the review.
I recommend this game!
Who broke the agreement between good and evil?
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 46 found this review helpful
Nice game, interesting storyline...
PostedJune 23, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I all! As usual, a hot deal always seems to include games I already have. Oh well. This game has excellent graphics, very clear, with bright clear colors, when you have color. This one seems to be a bit dark and colorless in some areas, but it is set in old London and most stories of that time were a bit colorless. Not too badly done. Game play was excellent, I found no glitches or lag time between scenes, and the game fit my large screen quite well. I loved the voice overs, very well done and dialog can be clicked through if you read faster than they speak. They are and character appropriate, and actually showed emotion, e.g., anger, fear, stupidity (yep) and somewhat sinister in places. The music was well done, not over powering and only used when needed for affect. Sound FX are tossed in now and then to add excitement or that edge of your seat feeling. Nice animation and body movements.
HOPs are very nicely done and pretty much interactive lists. The scenes are clear and items are not difficult to find. I did not see that you could switch to something else if you didn't care for the HOPs. Puzzles weren't difficult, but I found that they did take some time and thought. Hint system is helpful, even though it occasionally says "move on," which I don't care for. You also have a transport for longer locations. You do a fair amount of back tracking, but I didn't get bored with the same scenes multiple times like many others I've played.
Collectibles were a little disappointing during the demo, but maybe I missed something. All I found are 44 "signs" which are all the same shape and color. They aren't difficult to find, but I did run across a couple in fairly dark areas. I also accidentally found a morphing item in a HOP. Apparently there are 15 of those. Didn't see anything else.
I usually always just review on the game play and not the story line, but I will this time. The story itself wasn't new, but a combination of various old London stories and characters rolled into one. It was actually quite well done. I beta tested this on a while back and really liked it. It's not really challenging, but I just liked the way the story was put together and the characters used. Even at that, I didn't feel this was a 5 star game (which I don't give easily), but I did give it a 4.5 because I liked it. I think all levels of players would find this one interesting. Yes, I am going to add it to my ever growing collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the mysterious Blade Master?
Overall rating
2
/
5
16 of 19 found this review helpful
For beginners, and not CE worthy.
PostedJune 18, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have #7 in this series...yes, I have the others. I review mostly on the game play and not the story line, but occasionally I will make a comment. I beta tested this one a while back and found it to be lacking in a lot of things. Yes, the graphics are very well done, colors are very nice, for the most part. Game play was very good. However, the game just seemed to move very slowly. It started off quite well, but then dropped off quickly. We are chasing a man who is throwing knives at us. I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't be chasing him. However, he does have a very poor aim. Music is good and moves with what is happening in the scenes at the time. There isn't much in the way of voice overs, but what there is, is okay. The storm sound FX are quite nice and well done.
HOPs are very few, at least during the demo, and are pretty straight foward. I did not see that you could switch to something else when you got bored with the same old, same old HOP. Puzzles were very few as well, and were not difficult at all. Mostly, we just chase this crazy guy around. Hint system is helpful and it does transport you to longer locations. You have to find knives during the game, which help you find something you need to get through the game.
Collectibles are very disappointing. All I found are morphing puzzles pieces. Once found, you put together only 4 puzzles for extra game play. These pieces morph very quickly and are not all that easy to spot.
This could have been a very nice game without much help, but as usual, the devs obviously did not listen to any suggestions during the beta. I was very disappointed in this game and was glad when the very short demo ended. I don't know about you, but if my husband had been stabbed and was turning black, I certainly would not have left him to chase some bad guy. The story was old, game was quiet, moved slowly and bored me very quickly. This definitely is not CE worthy. I'll give the SE a try when it comes out and see if this makes a better SE, but I doubt it will. I will, however, recommend this to beginners, but not to seasoned gamers. No buy for me.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the review.
I recommend this game!
Not all fairy tales are just stories…
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 16 found this review helpful
Nice take on an old fairy tale...
PostedJune 16, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all! Well, we have #9 in this series, and yes, I do have the first 8. This one is set up the same way all the others are done, with very nice colors and exceptional game play. I found no jumps or glitches during the demo and it fit my large screen quite well. Graphics are very clear and animation is well done. Music is soothing. Voice overs, so far, are character appropriate and have some emotion, not just someone reading a script. Sound FX are not over-powering, but well done.
HOPs are a wonderful combination of finding pairs, silhouettes, place item in scene, find items and interactive lists. I got so engrossed in the HOPs that I forgot to look for an alternative. HOPs are clean and items are not difficult to find...very well done. Puzzles were nothing really new, but were a little different. Most took some time and thought to complete, but I didn't run into anything really difficult to figure out. Hint system is very helpful and it does transport you to longer locations. This is very nice, as you do a lot of back tracking to the same locations in this game. I seldom comment on the story, as others do a much better job of that, but this story was a nice combination of many, e.g. Alice in Wonderland (creepy cat and all), with Cinderella, Snow White and many others tossed in to the mix. The creepy cat sits in the corner and hasn't done anything yet, so not sure if he's any help later or if he's just there.
Collectibles are the same flowers, which are found in all scenes, and can be multiple. These flowers are not as easy to spot as you may think. They can be anywhere, including in the corner of a note. We also have 12 character figurines that morph in and out fairly quickly, so be on the look out. Not a lot of collectibles, but enough.
I've always liked this series for some reason, and this game is no exception. When I beta tested it, I wasn't kicked off my chair with excitement and gave it only a 2.0. Apparently the devs paid attention to suggestions, as this one has improved since the, so I upgraded to a 4.0. No, it is not challenging, but interesting and different. I think all levels of players will find this one fun for one reason or another. Yes, I am going to add it to my collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your uncle before it's too late?
Overall rating
2
/
5
18 of 24 found this review helpful
Quiet, slow, boring...
PostedJune 9, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all! Well, what can I say about this one? Graphics weren't too bad, although a bit fuzzy throughout. Colors were bright, but still a lot of blue, which is very tiring on the eyes. There was something off about the color, but I couldn't put my finger on it. We did have bright lights now and then as well. Yes, we have a helper in the way of "spark," a firey salamander. Fortunately, he is very quiet and is only used now and again. Game play was good, but moved a little slowly. This is an extremely quiet game. Very little character interaction and what there was, was somewhat boring. No emotion or excitement to the voice overs, no music and I could count on one hand how many sound FX we had.
HOPs weren't bad. We had a combination of interactive lists, finding parts of puzzles, restore pictures and compare pictures. Items aren't difficult to find, but they are mixed in quite well. If you don't care for the HOPs, you can switch to a match 3 game. Puzzles are fairly simple, but finding parts can be difficult because of the muted colors. Hint system is helpful, but there is no transport for longer locations. This would be helpful since you are constantly running back and forth to the same locations for one item or another, and have to keep backing up or use the jump map. I got quite bored with returning to the same scenes so many times.
Collectibles are nice. You have 36 puzzle pieces to find and once found, you put them together to get information on certain characters. You also have 33 morphing objects, which are not easy to spot and 33 different collectible items, e.g. records, paintings, music box, etc. There is challenge to finding the collectibles, as they are small and blend into the colors again.
Although the story was interesting, the colors really put me off this game, plus looking at the same scenery so many times got quite boring. It just made the game move very slowly and it was far too quiet for me. Not sure what makes this one an editor's choice, guess their standards are not as high as mine. This game was extremely disappointing for me, so no, I will not be purchasing as a CE. I will give it a try when the SE comes out, but I seriously doubt I will get it even then. I rarely do not recommend a game and try to find something good about it, but the collectibles are all I could come up with.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may like this one. Thanks for the reviews.
I don't recommend this game.
Set out across the globe to stop the end of the world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 30 found this review helpful
Excellent game and different story line...
PostedJune 2, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all! Wow, this will be #10 in this series! I only have 7 so far, but that will change shortly. I usually only review on the game play and not the story line, as others do a much better job on that than I. The graphics are excellent, very clear and clean. Colors are very nice, although a bit muted in some areas. Still, not enough to spoil the game or scenery. Game play was quite good, with no problems during the demo and the scenes fit my large screen completely. The voice overs, although not a lot, are well done and are age and character appropriate. Music was nice and moved with whatever was happening at the time, adding a little suspense now and then. Sound FX are well done and are throughout the game, so there are no "dead silent" areas that I found.
HOPs are a very nice combination of find the highlighted word; interactive lists and straight lists. The scenes are quite clear and items are not difficult to find. I did not see that you could switch to something else if you didn't care for the HOP, but there is such a nice combo that I doubt you would want to. Puzzles were very interesting and somewhat different. They do take a little time and thought, but are not all that difficult. Still, there is some challenge...yay, and they can be a little frustrating! I do like the addition of the "undo" button on the puzzles. This is a nice change from needing to completely start over if you make a wrong move. Of course, you can still do that if you want. SG is the same as all other games. You do transport to longer locations, which is a good thing, as you are constantly on the move. This was not frustrating or boring for me, as there is a lot of action in this game to keep you interested in what you are doing. I did notice that on some items, you have to be precise in our placement of the item in order for it to "fit" and activate or become useful. Don't give us too quickly if it doesn't work the first time, e.g. placing wrench directly on the connector on the bike to remove the hose. There are others as well.
A number of collectibles: 15 morphing items in HOPs, which are easy to miss. Keep a eye out. There are 43 hidden signs that look more like an alien than a hammer. These are well blended into areas and can be different colors. This is a challenge. We also have 20 fact cards that give us information on areas and things within the game. Interesting, but...
I really like this series and this game is no exception. As I said, there is a lot of action to keep you interested, there is challenge, and the story is a little different than most and very well done. I think all levels of players will find this one interesting and fun and yes, I am going to add it to my collection (and now I have 8). I do not give 5 stars easily, a game has to be exceptional to get them. This one was close, but not quite...I gave it a 4.75.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tasted in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
It's up to you to rescue your friend and discover what the dark forces are after!
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 27 found this review helpful
Dragons and time travel....sort of
PostedMay 21, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all! Well, we have #5 in this series. Yes, I have the other four, but only one of them as a CE. I've been waiting for this one since I beta tested it back in November. The graphics are excellent, as is the animation, with almost perfect mouth movements. Colors are very bright and clear. Voice overs are age and character appropriate, with some emotion thrown in for a little more realism. Music is very different in this game and a lot more than just 4 or 5 notes played over and over. Sound FX are very well done and I did not notice any "quiet" time in this game. There was always something going on and we had sound FX even with the music. Yes, friends, we have time travel mixed in with this game. Breaks up the monotony and makes it more enjoyable. There is a helpful little dragon that is picked up quite a ways into the game. He is not annoying and only helps with out of reach areas or fires that may be needed for light and such. The one draw back to this game is the very small print used in the inventory bar. Maybe it's my old eyes, but with the background color, it makes it hard to see the words.
HOPs are a very nice combination of interactive and straight lists, highlighted words to find within a picture, fragments, silhouettes and find this part and use it here to get something else. Very nice combination. HOPs are fairly clean and items are not difficult to find. Puzzles were nothing new and not difficult to complete. It might take a minute or two, but they are pretty simple. I did not see a transport feature, but you don't back track too far at a time. The jump map is helpful and areas are marked with their name and if there is an objective. Hint system is quite helpful when you need it and actually gives you a hint, rather than "move on."
Not many collectibles, but you need to find 20 morphing objects, which are not as easy to spot as you may think. You also find dragon eggs, which are fairly large. We need 7 purple, 7 blue and 7 green. There is also an unknown color, which I assume are found in the bonus game. You also find an amulet, which is actually a dragon's eye. This "eye" allows you to see in the past, where a ghostly body shows you where something useful is hidden, so pay attention to where they float off to. This is the time travel...sort of. You don't actually go back to the past.
This story was nothing new and not really challenging, but I do like dragons. We also have people who look like lizard people, rather than the standard bad guy with the beard. For some reason, I just really liked this game. It drew me in almost from the beginning. I don't give 5 stars easily. A game has to be exceptional and this one fell a bit short, mostly because of the small print and simple puzzles, but I gave it a 4.5. I think all levels of players will like this one. Yes, I am going to add this CE to my collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
The real Bloody Stanley was caught, or so they thought...
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 23 found this review helpful
Not CE worthy....
PostedMay 19, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Hi all! Well, here is #7 in this series. I only have 5. The last couple just didn't excite me at all. This one had a warning at the beginning, which is a good thing. Take heed, they mean it. The graphics were almost too over the top with reality. What I mean is that I am okay with some blood, guts and gore, but I felt this one had a bit more than was needed for the game. Animation is fairly good. Voice overs were not bad, but some dialog was a bit corny. There really isn't a lot of dialog in this one either. The one thing I really do not care for is the need to "choose" what I want to say. It is very much a no brainer and I don't see that choosing one over the other makes any difference in the outcome of the game. Music and sound FX are the same in this one as in all the other Grim Facade games. Game play was very good, with no problems during the demo and the scene fit my large screen. I was disappointed with the color, or lack thereof. Very muted and a bit fuzzy in some scenes. You have a "memory sphere" that collects memories and reveals ghosts that help you along the way. You have to collect 5 spheres before you get the helpful ghost. This was very boring for me.
HOPs were a combination of standard and interactive lists, and silhouettes. The scenes were fairly clear and items were not difficult to find. Puzzles weren't bad at all. Some actually had a bit of challenge to them, not over use of the brain, but mostly use of time. Still, they were not difficult. There is no transport to longer locations, which it could have used, but it does have a jump map. Did not care for this map...very bland, no color, no identification as to which area you were actually looking at. SG is the standard set up.
Collectibles were very few. We collect gold coins to buy knives...for what? We collect silver coins to buy needed items from a street vendor or a cab driver, etc. You also find skulls in the HOPs, some of which are very creepy. Not sure what these are for either. There was no challenge to finding any of these items. Very disappointing.
Personally, I do not feel this game is CE worthy. I did not rate it very highly when I beta tested it, and I see the devs didn't make any changes since then. It was an okay game, but it just didn't grab or keep my attention. I will recommend this one for beginners, but there isn't enough challenge for a seasoned gamer. I will put this one in my puddle and give the SE a try. I often find that the SE makes a much better game. This is on hold for now.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a heartless criminal before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 43 found this review helpful
"I want to feel!"
PostedMay 12, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all! Well, we have #2 in this series. As always, I mostly review on the game play and not the story line, as others do a much better job than I. Excellent graphics and animation in this game, very clear, right down to the wrinkles in the faces. The devs took a little more time with animation on this one, i.e., the constant repetitive sounds from the TV's and monitors can be turned off by clicking on their screen. Good thing, it got very annoying very quickly. Colors are very bright and true for a change. Voice overs are quite well done, with emotion and all, and are age and character appropriate. Music moves with what is happening in the scene at the time and is not over-powering at all. Sound FX are nice and throughout the game, making it more realistic.
I really like the HOPs. You have a combination of interactive silhouettes, morphing objects, story where you find the highlighted object, and standard lists. If you don't care for the HOPs, you can play a match 3, as usual. Scenes are very clear and items are not difficult to find. Puzzles are not difficult either, but a couple did take a little time. The jump map is well done, with areas of interest clearly identified and it does show if you missed a collectible. It will not tell you which collectible, just that you still have one there to find. There is no transport feature, but the map automatically opens for longer locations for you to make the jump from there. Hint system is very helpful and actually gives you a hint when you ask for it. SG is the standard. I don't even comment on them anymore, since they are all the same anyway.
Collectibles are 10 Rorschach cards, which are quite easy to see; 15 morphing objects, which are not quite as easy to spot. We also have a number of medical files to collect. Not sure why, except that they each "explain" an emotion, which is something our bad guy is trying to eliminate. Working in the medical field, I see that some are "kinda sorta" accurate, but not sure which medical journal they found them in. Pretty much a general description. If you are going to use it, be accurate.
I have been waiting for this one to come out since I beta tested it. I like this story line, even though a bit far fetched, it is different. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I do not give 5 stars easily. This one came close, but still didn't quite make it. Mostly because of the blurry picture you get for a few seconds when opening a close-up scene and because of the lag when you click on an item. I found myself being impatient and clicking multiple times before it finally picked up the item and closed the box. Even at that, I gave it a 4.75. That being said, this is not a really challenging game, but as I said, I really do like this story and the collectibles. I was drawn in from the beginning. The game flows quite well and I think all levels of players will find it enjoyable. Is it perfect? No, but perfect is boring. Yes, I am adding this one to my collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
The dastardly Pirate King is out for blood... and you're his next target!
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 28 found this review helpful
Pirates and treasure...
PostedMay 7, 2016
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Family
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all! Well, we have #6 in this series. Yes, I have the other and liked them all. As usual, I mostly review on the game play and not the story, as others do a much better job on that than I. The graphics are exceptional in this one, very clear and nice. Colors are bright for the most part and muted for some scenes, as they should be. Game play was excellent. Does my heart good when a dev actually pays attention to beta reviews and makes changes for the better. Voice overs are very nice, era and character appropriate. Animation is nice, but not as smooth as it could be...not a deal breaker in this case. Music is appropriate for story, actions and setting. Really liked the sound FX, but then, I do love the sounds of the sea.
HOPs are very well done, with a combination of interactive lists, straight lists, and silhouettes. Items are not difficult to find and the scenes are fairly clear. There are 18 HOPs with morphing items in them, so be on the look out. If you don't care for the HOPs, you can switch to the usual match 3 game. I found the puzzles to be fun for a change. They are not all that difficult, but still interesting and I found the need for a little brain power to complete a couple. Hint system is quite helpful and it does transport you to longer locations. Yes, there is a jump map, which I didn't really care for, but it is much faster to transport directly to the spot you need. There is a click penalty, even on the low setting, but you really have to click a lot to engage it.
The collectibles are 41 bottles with a message in each. These are not all as easy to spot as you think. Some are quite small and you see only parts of them. We also have treasure chests to find in some of the scenes. Apparently these unlock extra HOPs and puzzles. They are the usual size and easy to spot. However, most scenes have treasure chests, but not all will open and give you the extra you need for the extra play. Click on them anyway.
Question, why do we always assume we are safe, only to get knocked on the head? You'd think we'd learn by now, right? There are some very different items used in this game, which makes it quite different from the usual we have seen lately. Thought it was rather clever to use corks for a life vest instead of the usual ring or the orange vest. I think this is probably one of the better games in this series. It is not all that challenging, but if you like pirates and such, you will find this one fun. I think all levels of players will enjoy this one. I loved it and I am going to add it to my collection. I give this one a 4.75.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!