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:
You're cordially invited to attend the world's greatest magic show! Thurman the Magnificent will give a performance no one will forget!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Magic and mayhem...nice combination
PostedMarch 8, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. I believe this is the 3rd in this series...I only have one, but liked it. As always, I demo in the casual mode to get the feel of a game and then replay later. Since so many others review the story, I usually only do the game play. The graphics in this one didn't seem as "new" as other games we have played recently, but they were clear. In the beginning, there seemed to be a lot of blue and pink colors, but that cleared up fairly quickly and the colors were very nice. Game play was very good. No problems during the demo, did not find any lag time between scenes, which is quite maddening at times. Animation was well done. Music and sound FX are nice and appropriate for the magic and mayhem we find in this game. I do like the voice overs, appropriate for age and gender. Of course, I do like a good accent. I especially like that you can click through the dialog, since I seem to read faster than they speak, and you don't miss any of the story line.
HOPs are very clean and simple. Items were not difficult to find and you could switch to a card game, which I did not care for. HOPs were standard word lists and the "find me and put me where I belong," which was fun. Puzzles are quite simple. The jump map was a bit bulky, but useful. SG only shows 2 chapters, so hard to tell how long this game may be. Hint system fills at a fairly nice rate, less than 30 seconds, and I really like how it doesn't just point you in the right direction, it actually keeps going until you get to your hint destination...well done. Remember, I am on casual mode.
The only collectibles I found are morphing crystal balls. These are quite large and not hard to spot. In fact, I found a number of them before they morphed! This game needed a little something extra in this department to give it some challenge, but fell short a bit.
This game was not especially difficult or challenging, but it did have an interesting story line. As others have said, I am not sure this one is CE worthy, but I like it well enough to put it in my puddle and wait for a good special and then add it to my collection. I think this will appeal to all levels, but more for beginners or intermediate players, unless you just want to play a nice easy, non-brain taxing game for a change.
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!
Redemption Cemetery: The Island of the Lost Collector's Edition
You crash-land on an island populated by ghosts. Like them, are you trapped here forever?
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
Ghosts and time travel!
PostedMarch 7, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have number 6 in this series...yes, I have the other 5. I like this series, even though nothing really changes from one to the other. This one had nice graphics and somewhat muted colors. Guess this was to make it a little spookier. Game play was very nice, no problems with the demo. I really liked the voice overs. They were quite "ghostly" and really added realism to this game. Same with the music. I usually turn it way down, but I really like this music...sort of "on the edge of your seat" type of sound. Well done. You do have a raven to help you reach the higher places you can't, but otherwise he is pretty quiet.
Game flowed well enough so that I did not need to use the map, but I did look at it. The objective icons on the map are quite small and I had to really look to see them. Hint system is quite helpful and I did need to use it a couple of times. HOPs are fairly clean and clear and items are not difficult to find and are mostly interactive. Puzzles I ran across were a bit challenging and fun, but not difficult. They do take some time to complete. Really like how they incorporated time travel into this game...very well done.
There are a lot of achievements in this game, but so far, I haven't run across anything new. Collectibles are parts of a book and once you have those parts, you get a bit more of the story. I was disappointed in this. The parts don't jump off the page at you. Some blend in very well to background colors and items, so you do have to look for them. There needed to be something extra. The story parts really aren't what I would consider "extra," or "collectible."
This is an extremely short demo. I had 59 minutes left, so I'm wondering how long the actual game might be. I really like the story line, music and voices, so I will get this one to add to my collection. For now, I will put it in my puddle and decide if I want to get the CE or the SE. Just not too sure it is CE worthy without more in the way of collectibles.
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!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
5
/
5
23 of 32 found this review helpful
Best of the series so far...
PostedFebruary 28, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. I was really surprised at how short this demo was, especially since the beta was considerably longer. Of course, the beta did not give you any of the extras, or even an SG, but I found this one to be the best of the three in this series so far. Graphics were excellent, very clear. Colors are very true. Game play was excellent, no lag time between scenes or choppy movements. Music was good. I like the time period and the characters fit well. Sound FX were good and voice overs were well done with some emotion, depending on what was happening at the time. Cut scenes are very well done.
HOPs were nice, nothing new or difficult. Items were not too difficult to find. Puzzles were fairly simple, but I liked them and do take some thought...nothing new here either. Jump map was okay, very bland, but areas with objectives are clearly identified. You will use this frequently, as you do a lot of back-tracking to the same locations. SG is easy to follow if you need it. Hard to tell how long the game is, since the SG didn't show the entire index. Hint system is quite helpful and does transport to longer locations.
Collectibles are 41 masks that are not difficult to find. Some are quite small and others overly large. There are morphing objects in 10 of the HOPs scenes. These aren't all that hard to spot, but you really do have to watch for them.
I found the story interesting and the game had enough going on to keep you moving and wanting more. It is not all that challenging, but the story flowed well and was easy to follow. I believe all levels of players will enjoy this game. Yes, I decided during the beta test that I was going to get this one as soon as it came out. Based on the short demo, I would not have given this 5 stars, but because of the much longer beta test, I have, which is something I seldom do.
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 legacy of the witches continues when Lynn and her husband are lured into a trap by a mysterious sorcerer…
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 57 found this review helpful
Excellent game!
PostedFebruary 26, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. Wow, what a nice surprise today! This is the 5thin this series and yes, I have the other 4. This is by far the best of them all. Graphics were very well done, with excellent animation. Colors are very bright and true. Game play was excellent, no lag, no problems and it fit my large screen very well. Yes, the silly little Imp is back, but he is quite helpful and how they use him is very well done, e.g., you have to find things in order to use him, won't tell you what. Voice overs are very well done and fit the character and action at the time. Music is nice as well, and I didn't even have to turn it down, which is unusual for me. Sound FX are very nice.
HOPs are well done and are a mix of silhouettes, lists with riddles and interactive. You can switch to a match game that is fun as well, for a little change of pace. HOPs are fairly clean, but are a bit challenging. Puzzles are different, not extremely difficult, but do make you use your brain a bit. Map is quite helpful, as it also shows you if you have found all of the collectibles in that scene...I do like this feature. Makes me work a little harder.
There are a lot of achievements: how often you use the Imp (14 times), completing puzzle boards, etc., and the usual stuff you see elsewhere. There are 33 morphing objects that can be found in a standard scene or within a close up. These are not as easy to find as you may think. There are also 36 jigsaw puzzle pieces that are not hard to find, but for each 9 you collect and put together, it gives you more of the story behind the game. These can also be found in close up scenes. Very nicely done.
At first I wasn't sure who was talking, since Ed was a puppet and his girlfriend had been kidnapped...then it came to light as I progressed in the game. I was drawn into this game from the very beginning and it flowed so well, I didn't realize my time had gone so fast until it ended. The story is nothing new, but it is very well done and game play makes it a very nice game. Do I want more, absolutely! Am I going to get this one...already downloading! I think this game will appeal to all levels of players and has just the right amount of challenge, along with everything else, for me to give it 5 stars. This is something I rarely do, but I think this one is worth it.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in game and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Venture into a magical world and experience the struggle of good versus evil!
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 24 found this review helpful
Simple, lazy day game...
PostedFebruary 24, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Today we have an SE that is simple, but a bit different for some reason. At first glance, it seemed like an old school type of game and I was even waiting for a "click" penalty to show up...didn't. Graphics aren't too bad for this game, fairly clear and colors are bright and clean. Game play was good, no problems at all during the demo. Story seemed a little choppy and you really don't know quite what's going on or why until the end of the demo, which didn't make the story flow very well. That was odd to me, as there was no real purpose to what I was doing or why until then. Voice overs aren't bad, but very few of them. Sound FX are nice and music is rather soothing to listen to as well.
There is a jump map, fortunately, as you will do a lot of running around and back-tracking on this one. Grab an extra pair of tennis shoes, because you will definitely need them. The map is almost too small and inconspicuous sitting next to the journal. Hint system worked well, but I did not care for the "flying paper airplane." That was a bit too much, just show me what I need. HOPs were a little bit of a junk pile, so you had to really look around for some items. Also did not care for the sound when you found an item, nor did I particularly care for the whirling vortex that sucked up the item when you did find it...too distracting. I don't remember finding a puzzle as such, or if I did, it wasn't anything special or challenging.
I found this to be a very simple, no brainer type of game, which I do like on occasion, with no real challenge anywhere. I'm sure this will appeal to the beginners and anyone like me who has a PCC that I need to use or lose...besides, this is one of those "no brainer" days for me so I can use a quiet, non-taxing kind of game today. Yep, going to get it.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in game and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
Nice story, challenging collectibles...
PostedFebruary 21, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, here we have the 4th in this series. Yes, I have the other 3. Graphics are the same as the other games, pretty good. Characters are a bit stiff, but well done. Colors are bright and mostly true, with some areas of blues, but not over-powering. Game play was very good, no problems during the demo and game fit my large screen very well. Of course, the ability to "pick" your screen size is a nice added feature, as well s the cursor size. Now, if they would just add the ability to adjust the hint refill time.... Voice overs were well done and age appropriate and the characters seemed to have some emotion and not just be reading from a script. Music wasn't too bad, but I prefer listening to the sound FX and voice overs, so I turn it down to background noise.
HOPs were the usual silhouettes, some interactive and lists. Items were not difficult to find and the HOPs were fairly clean and clear. Puzzles were not difficult either and I saw nothing new. Hint system was helpful, but the "sparkles" were almost too light and easy to miss, even on easy mode. I always demo on easy to get the feel of a game and then replay at max for the challenge. SG was easy to follow, but I seldom use it except to make sure I have all of the collectibles. Jump map is very useful. There is a lot to do in each scene, so you are constantly running back and forth for one item here and there.
Collectibles are audio tapes that give you more info on what is happening and why in the story. You also have 46 theater masks to collect. These are somewhat of a challenge in that they are quite small in most scenes and either blend into the background or are opaque in color. There are 2 in each scene and there is a box in the bottom left that tells you if you have all of them before you leave. I like this feature.
This game isn't all that challenging, but it is an interesting story and I found myself wanting more when the demo ended. I think this one will appeal to all levels of players. Yes, I will get this one to add to my ever growing collection. I have the need to see where it is going.
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!
You've been asked to cover a highly anticipated competition in New York City when something goes terribly wrong. Can you escape the world of illusions?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Very nice game...magic!
PostedFebruary 19, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Been out of town, so catching up now. I usually save this until the end of my review, but I like this game. It had a great opening scene that drew you into the world of magic right away. I like magic, so this is a good one for me. Graphics are excellent and colors are true and clear for a change. Game play was very good, no problems at all. The only thing I didn't care for was the long lag between scenes. Music was nice, but could have been better without much work. Sound FX are very good. I loved the voice overs, very realistic and sinister when needed. They fit the characters very well.
HOPs were a combination of silhouettes, interactive, straight lists, and storybook so far. I like the change up. HOPs were very clean and items were not difficult to find. Puzzles were not all that difficult, but some do take some time and thought to complete. SG is very easy to follow, but I seldom look at it anyway. Jump map is set up very nicely, very clear and easy to follow. SG and hint buttons are way too close..too easy to hit the wrong one. Good thing the hint refills at a fairly fast rate and is quite helpful.
So far, all the collectibles I have found are morphing cards that show different magic tricks. Not sure what they do for you, if anything, but I haven't found anything else in the demo. This was a bit disappointing.
Just an FYI, there are some things that jump out at you and yes, there was one clown that I saw so far. If these things bother you, be on the lookout for them. I really like this game and the story line, even if it isn't anything new. I was drawn in quite quickly and the short demo left me wanting more. Yes, a definite buy for me. I think all levels of players will find this one fun.
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!
Dark Tales™: Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget Collector's Edition
A newlywed is threatened, and supernatural forces are afoot!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
Not the same story, but very nice....
PostedFebruary 19, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, here we have number 7 in this series. Naturally there is a nice sale and I already have the first 6. I am a huge Poe fan and no, this does not quite follow the story, but it is interesting. The opening scene drew me in, even though it was simple and short. Graphics are the standard for this dev and are very nice. Colors were bright and true. Game play was very good, no problems during the demo and it fit my large screen. Dupin is back, and looks a bit more like the original, although not as sexy as the original...yes, I said it. The voice overs were well done, but Dupin needs a deeper, sexier voice, with an accent. Works for me. Music is the same, but does move up and down with whatever is happening in the scene at the time.
HOPs were pretty straight forward, clean and clear and items were not difficult to find, with some interaction thrown in to break it up a bit. Puzzles were not extremely difficult, but some did take me some time to figure out, where others were easy. There is a jump map that is fairly clear and easy to follow. This comes in quite handy since there is no transport in the hint system. There is a lot of back-tracking, so you will use the jump map quite a lot, unless you just think you need the exercise. Hint system is helpful and I especially like how you can adjust the refill time, as I really don't like waiting for long refills.
The only collectibles I found are morphing objects that all seem to be related to a fish tank. Not sure where that comes in yet, but okay. They are not as easy to spot as you think, as they morph in one quick move in and out and then back in again, so be on the lookout for them. These are fairly challenging. I don't give 5 stars easily and the only reason I didn't this time is because of the lack of more collectibles. Needed a little extra.
As I said, I was drawn in from the beginning. The story is interesting as it is and I find the need to play it out and see what happens. I think all levels of players will find this one enjoyable. A definite buy for me.
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!
For years, Barton Mansion sat abandoned, a haunting reminder of an obsession gone wrong. But something sinister still lurked there...and it's stirring.
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
Not CE worthy...
PostedFebruary 17, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Another addition to the DD series. Graphics were good, but way too much blue and pinks. Contrary to popular belief, these colors are tiring to the eyes. It's time to go to "real" color in these games. Game play was good, no problems during the demo and the game fit my large screen perfectly. Voice overs were very well done and sounded more realistic than most who sound like they are reading a script. Nice sound FX. You do have a dog helper, Rocky, but he isn't annoying...he just scratches now and then, and he is quite helpful getting to areas you cannot.
HOPs were the standard, with some interaction, but nothing new or difficult. Puzzles were fun but not taxing for the brain. Some did take a few minutes to figure out, but on the whole, were easy. The map is interesting and different, e.g. open one area and it gives you multiple other areas to choose from. One too many steps. Hint system was okay, filled quite slowly and no custom ability here. It really wasn't much help with most requests, in that if you need to use an item, it highlights the item, but not where to use it. Guess that's to make your brain work for you.
Collectibles I found are paw coins that you use to buy items for Rocky's room. I'm okay with that now and then. You also find morphing objects within the scenes, that are used to add parts to the house that seem to be missing for some unknown reason. Not difficult to find at all. Somewhat disappointed in the collectibles. Achievements are pretty much the same as any other game. I do like the games where you can go to extras and pick up collectibles you may have missed, as well as have a souvenir room and bonus play. Am I being greedy, or do I just want something extra to make it worth the purchase?
Story didn't grab me and the constant need to burn the red vines got real old real quick. I have 3 of the other 4 in this series and found them to be much better than this one. I don't see that this is CE worthy, and not too sure about SE without the collectibles. The story was okay and not hard to follow, but there just wasn't anything interesting or challenging in this game for me, but I could change my mind when I play the SE version. I believe this one will appeal more to beginners, but maybe not so much for the seasoned gamer. This one is in my puddle for a "maybe" later.
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 today. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
A famous painter finds herself in over her head!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 9 found this review helpful
Not a bad addition to this series...
PostedFebruary 8, 2015
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, looks like this is number 3 in this series. I only have Italian Affair. Didn't care much for Shades. Graphics weren't too bad. Colors were somewhat muted and blurred, but still clear enough to see what's going on. Game play was good, no problems with demo and the game fit my large screen quite well. Voice overs are well done, with some emotion and urgency when needed, and the accents seem to make the game and people more real. Music is very soothing. The jump map was a little messy. The icon for the objective area seemed to blend into the other colors too much, but I seldom use it anyway. Did not care for the scrolling screen at all...made my eyes feel odd. Maybe because it moved too quickly and not at a nice easy slide.
HOPs were okay, but most were a more like junk piles to me. You had silhouettes and find this many of that, but nothing new or exciting. There really wasn't much color to clearly distinguish items either, so you did have to really look to find some items. Puzzles weren't difficult and so far, the only one I had to think about was the puzzle box. Still pretty simple. Hint system is helpful and it does transport you to long distances. This is good because you do a lot of back tracking in this game. Hint fills a an okay rate.
Collectibles I found are 17 alphabet letters which are blended but not difficult to find; 42 paint tubes, which is most cases are very small and not very easy to spot. There is a little icon in the bottom right that tells you if you found it or not. There are also 14 morphing objects which seem to be only in the HOPs. At least, that's the only place I found any, so you really need to be on the lookout for them.
Index listed only one chapter, so it is hard to guess at how long this one might be. I still had 41 minutes left at the end of the demo, so to me, that was pretty short. I'm just not too sure about this game. It didn't have anything that really drew me into the story. No "edge of your seat, I have to see what happens" type of play, but the story was a bit different, and I did like the variation of collectibles to find. This is not a difficult or brain taxing game, but I think most all levels of players would find it interesting. I'll put this one in my puddle and think about it a bit. Right now I'm leaning toward buying this game.
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!