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:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait Collector's Edition
A father returns home to find his children missing - all but one, who refuses to say a word...
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 36 found this review helpful
Definite 4.5 stars!
PostedJuly 17, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have a new and challenging game today. I have the two that are listed with the "special," but there are more in those two series, all of which were very nice games. Graphics are well done and game play was excellent. Colors were bright, but again, a lot of blue. Tiring on the eyes. There is a jump map that is well identified and quite helpful, showing you where there is something that needs to be done. From looking at the map, this looks like a fairly lengthy game. Music is interesting and adjusts according to what is happening in the scene at the time. Voice overs are okay, but few and far between and some dialog is quite silly. Dialog does not flow, you have to click your way through it to hear and/or read it all. There is no journal to follow or keep notes in, so you better have a good memory. Haven't seen this in a very long time.
HOPs are very interesting and fun, with a puzzle within a HOP. They are fairly clean, but there is a lot of work to get the item you are there for...quite challenging. So are the puzzles. Some aren't too difficult, but do take some time and thought and a lot of patience. Different and enjoyable. Fortunately, you can skip the puzzles in and out of the HOPs, which I had to do once. Hint system is quite helpful but fills very slowly, and does have a transport feature to get you where you need to be quickly. The one thing I didn't care for was that when you click on an item to try and use it in a scene, if it is not the correct item, the voices states "oh, give me a new clue." See what I mean about silly? You have a very helpful cat that can get into high, low, or small spaces and comes in quite handy on other occasions as well.
The only collectibles I found are coins that you use to buy items for the very pampered cat. Either these coins are very few and far between, or are very hard to find. I haven't found many at all and I look every where.
I found this game to be challenging and quite fun and really got into the story line and game play. Yes, I will purchase yet another CE for my collection. I believe this one will appeal to all levels of players. This game will not get 5 stars from me, only because of the somewhat silly dialog and the lack of a journal, but otherwise an excellent 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!
Resolve a family squabble before the gates to the realm of the dead swing open and horrors beyond imagination pour into this world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 30 found this review helpful
Very nice SE!
PostedJuly 16, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. Well, if you like magic and the supernatural, you will like this one. You are a detective and must help save the world from the evil sister. However, you don't know which sister is the evil one and who to trust. Don't usually say anything about the story line, but couldn't resist this one. There are a lot of creepy crawly things in this game, so be prepared if you aren't into that sort of thing...nothing scary, at least not to me. The graphics in this game were pretty nice, even a bit old school, but it fit the story line. Colors are very bright and it does have a lot of blues and pinks, but they are very clear. Game play was very good, no problems at all. My only complaint is that the cursor would sometimes disappear and always went opaque in the HOPs. Very nice voice overs, but not a lot of them. Music was rather calming for a supernatural type of game, not creepy at all.
HOPs were interactive, different and quite fun. Won't give anything away, other than find some items did take a little thought. I do like the fact that you can hover over the item in the inventory and see a silhouette of what it looks like. Sometimes, what they are called is not what we are used to calling an item, so this is very helpful. Very simple puzzles, but fun...even the spider eating frog. Hint system is quite helpful, but fills slowly. This is where a map would have been quite helpful, but I didn't find one.
Collectibles are 100 cat paw coins, which can be used in the shop to buy items. Not sure what they do for you, but it was fun. The paws are different sizes and shapes and are everywhere. Hint: they can be found in every scene, HOPs, inside items you need to pick up and just about anywhere. Be sure to look for them before you do anything within a scene or HOP. Once you have picked something up, you cannot go back and get the coin. Getting them all is your challenge, very well done. I found 34 before my time ran out. There are also a lot of the usual achievements.
One of the things I really liked about this game, besides being fun, was that you are integrated into the game. When they speak to you, they use your name. That really puts you into the game. You do have a helpful cat, but he got a bit annoying after a while. Said some really silly things. Liked how you travel to different dimensions.
I think this game will appeal to all levels of players and is a very nice SE. Yes, I am going to get this one and play it out. 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!
Real estate agent Angie Dee must get her first home ready for sale. Explore, solve puzzles and clean cobwebs to unravel the house’s mystery in this amusing adventure.
Overall rating
2
/
5
12 of 63 found this review helpful
Waste of time...
PostedJuly 14, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Hi all. Well, what can I say about this game today? First of all, no Realtor "cleans" a house! Graphics are very cartoon like and extremely old school. Colors are very dark. Game play was okay, no problems. Music was fun. Voice overs were a little over the top, somewhat cheesy, and there was a lot of voice mail back and forth. The only way I could get rid of the phone was to click on the skip button, no "X" out on that one. There is a map, but it only shows the outline of the home, not rooms. Maybe they show up later in the game. Inventory bar does not lock and there is a click penalty of a darkened screen for a few seconds.
You had to find a certain number of cobwebs and bugs in each and every scene and each scene was different. Cobwebs were extremely light and hard to see and the bugs were extremely small and very hard to see. HOPs were quite simple and the cobwebs and bugs were also to be found there as well. Didn't run across any puzzles or games, but only lasted 30 minutes. I got as far as in the house and up the stairs before quitting. Even with my glasses on, I had to squint to see things and it wasn't worth a headache to keep going.
I guess I have higher expectations of games than some people, so I don't automatically give a high rating, and I seldom do not recommend a game for one reason or another. That being said, I do not recommend this one to even a beginner, for all the reasons listed above.
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 don't recommend this game.
Was Veronica West’s death an accident… or a cold-blooded murder?
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 59 found this review helpful
Worth the price!
PostedJuly 12, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. Wow, I just finished beta testing this one and it's out already. Unfortunately, the dev didn't read the suggestions. The graphics and animation were nice, but a little old school and blurry. The pictures in the SG were also blurry, which makes it hard on the eyes. Voice overs were well done, with very nice and appropriate sound FX. This gives a game more reality and draws you into the game play, which was also very good. I liked the music, which changes with what is happening in a scene at the time. I found the opening scene rather exciting.
HOPs were the same as always, but were a bit junky. You could switch to a bubble shooter, which I personally find boring and of no purpose. As much as I dislike match 3, I would rather have those. Puzzles were very simple. Haven't run across anything difficult or new. Hint system is quite helpful, fills very quickly and does transport you to a new location if that is your next step in the game. The jump map was nice, areas very well identified. As usual, I didn't find the need to use it.
Collectibles are the stars, which aren't as easy to spot as you may think. Some are solid, some are outlines, but most are well hidden and blended into the scenery. Someone said there were morphing objects in the HOPs, but I must have missed them. I really like the new games that have the extras, e.g. find souvenirs and collectibles that you missed. Gives you some more game play.
The demo is quite short, I had 43 minutes left of 90, and the SG does not show you how many more chapters you may have. Hard to figure out how long this one might be. The only real challenge I found was trying to find those darn stars! All that being said, I did like this game and I will add it to my collection of CE games. I think this will appeal to all levels of players.
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!
Beyond the Unknown: A Matter of Time Collector's Edition
It’s time to solve the secret of this mysterious island!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 64 found this review helpful
Nice game, wonderful animation..
PostedJuly 10, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, another ERS game today. I don't every automatically give 5 stars to every game I review, guess I'm a bit picky. This one is a pretty nice game, actually. Graphics are the usual ERS, but without the blues and pinks (thank you!), which makes it a much nicer game to play and much easier on the eyes. Game play was very nice, no problems and filled my large screen. There is a jump map, but the picture locations are very small and do not identify where there might be something to do...only saw it once. Voice overs and animation are very well done and very realistic. Really like the music and the sound FX. Sort of puts you right into the game.
HOPs are the usual interactive and you can switch to a match game. Items are not difficult to find, but some do take a little thought. Did not care for the "heavy breath" sound you got every time you pick something up within the game. Got annoying very quickly. Puzzles were somewhat different, but also not difficult so far.
There are a lot of achievements. One of which is to find the ERS bunny logo. I accidentally found one during the demo. You need to take pictures in locations in order to open access to other characters. Each character requires more than one picture to activate. Collectibles are clocks, which I found a little difficult to find, as they morph, so be on the look out. I also discovered that if you don't find them while you are in the location, you can't go back and pick them up. This may be only for the demo, but was a bit odd. I only found 3 and I know there were more. They are various sizes, shapes and colors.
This game was not extremely challenging, except to find the clocks, but I like the story and the animation a lot, and it was challenging enough to keep me interested. I think this will pick up as I get further into the game. Opening scene was very well done and grabbed my attention right away. There is a lot to do in this game and it keeps you constantly on the move. I think this will appeal to all levels of players. As much as I dislike buying more CE games, I find the need to play this one out, so going to buy today.
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!
Solve the mystery of an abandoned enchanted castle! Search for clues within its ancient underground and seek portals to different worlds.
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 27 found this review helpful
Nice try, but no thanks...
PostedJuly 7, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Well, again, I guess I'll be different today. Haven't seen, or don't remember, this deve before. Graphics weren't too bad, but not all that good either. A bit blurry and everything was so small, that my eyes got tired very quickly. Game play was just okay, a little slow and some choppy movements. Did not care for how the instructions were set up, very difficult to read on the game background and too messy. There are a lot of cut scenes and a lot of running back and forth. The sound FX were very well done. There is a map, but it does not show areas that have anything to do, even in easy mode, which is how I run all demo games. If it doesn't run smoothly in easy mode, it certainly won't do well in hard.
HOPs were nothing new and items were very difficult to see...too small. Even the words in the inventory were small. Puzzles were very simples, nothing new here either. Hint system was not helpful at all and took quite some time to fill. When I need a hint, I don't want to see "you cannot do anything here right now." Really? That's why I asked for help!
There was no real flow to the game, so it was hard to figure out where to go next. I like challenge to my games, but this one left me scratching my head. The only challenge was running back and forth to all the different areas, trying to figure out where you are really suppose to be. This one made me end up frustrated and with an eye strain headache. This could have been a fairly nice game, but fell a bit short, due to small everything and a not so helpful hint system. I'm not even sure a beginner would find this one fun, just frustrating. However, I have been wrong before. Nope, this one isn't for me today. I very seldom do not recommend a game, even if it is only for beginners, but can't do this one.
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 don't recommend this game.
Can you bring Maria back from a shadowy realm?
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 42 found this review helpful
Different, had to buy it!
PostedJuly 5, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):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 another addition to the Secrets series, this being the 4th. Yes, I have the other 3 and thoroughly enjoyed them. I guess I'm going to be one of the few on this one, but I sort of liked it. It was different all the way around. Graphics were very nice, as was the animation. Very bright colors, and some very dark areas that you needed to find a form of light to get into (this was a little challenging at times). Music was very soothing, until something was about to happen...well done. Voice overs were well done as well, but not too many so far.
HOPs were fairly clear and items not difficult to find, but you needed to work at it a little, e.g. where does this go and then use that item to find something else. I didn't find very many HOPs during the demo, and you do repeat the same one multiple times, but find different items. Puzzles so far aren't difficult at all and nothing different. Hint system is very helpful and fills fairly quickly. I found the SG to be either blurry or the print is just too small, but I didn't care for it and didn't have to use it either. Didn't even open the jump map, so can't comment on that one.
The only collectibles I found are the flowers, which are not hard to see at all. Also, there are morphing objects that can be a little difficult to see, as they blend in to some areas very well.
As I said, I liked this game...not sure why, but I do and I will purchase it. I think this will appeal to most all levels of players. Not very challenging, but I found it fun and a little different. Don't get frustrated by the first few items you need to find, as you will do quite a lot of running around. Once you get the hang of it, you got it made. In case you are wondering, the other 3 in the series are: Secrets of the Dark: Eclipse Mountain; Mystery of the Ancestral Estate and Temple of Night.
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 expedition continues... Track down the fragments of King Solomon's crown and foil a madman's plot in this exciting follow-up to the bestselling series!
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 48 found this review helpful
CE Worthy!
PostedJuly 3, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Wow, another addition to the Hidden Expedition series. BF only listed 5 plus the new one today, but I have an extra. They are as follows: HE: Devils Triangle; HE: Amazon; HE: Everest; HE Titanic; HE Smithsonian Hope Diamond CE and HE: The Uncharted Islands CE. I only found that I enjoyed 3 of these games (Titanic, Hope Diamond and Uncharted Islands), until today. This game had an excellent lead in and grabs your attention from the get go. The graphics are excellent, with the animation almost looking like "real" people, but not (this is a good thing). Colors are very clear and bright, except in the HOPs, a bit muted for affect. Game play was excellent, no lag, no problems, filled my screen completely. Voice overs were excellent and appropriate for the characters. Sound FX were superb and lots of them. Even the music was great! Built up when something was happening or about to happen and then followed through. Helped bring you into the game. Well done!
HOPS were quite fun, not junk piles, with items fairly easy to spot. There is a combination of straight HOP, find sets of items, put me together and more. Very nice. Didn't care for the "alright" that popped up after each HOP...this was a bit silly, but okay. Puzzles were simple. Didn't find anything different or difficult. SG is the same, but I did not find the need to use it, except to check it out. Hint system was quite helpful and even transports you to the next location in the hint. Yes, there is a jump map, which is well done as well. Areas are well marked and identified.
There are so many achievements in this one, it's hard to keep up. Collectibles...various shapes, sizes and colors of crowns, as well as fact cards that give you different and interesting historical facts. I found 4 cards during the demo.
I was really into this game when the demo ended and have the need to keep going and see what happens. It is not extremely challenging, but has enough of everything to keep you interested and wanting more. I think this will appeal to all levels of players and is 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!
As the daughter of a legendary chronicle keeper, powerful foes are working against you!
Overall rating
4
/
5
18 of 20 found this review helpful
Not a bad SE
PostedJuly 2, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. An SE for a change, how nice. The graphics seemed a bit old school, but were well done and clear. Game play was good, no problems. There were very few voice overs and sound FX, but what we had was pretty good as well. Music got a bit annoying after a while. There is a lot of back tracking in this one, so grab the tennis shoes and get ready. There is a jump map, but it is not identified by anything other than a name, so you need to remember each place you visited, or you will be jumping all over the place.
HOPs were interactive and fairly simple, very clear, no junk piles here. I play in easiest setting for a demo, and found that some of the "sparkles" for the HOPs were very small and easily missed. Puzzles were not difficult, but a couple took some time to complete. Nothing new. The hint system is quite helpful and fills pretty quickly.
This was not a bad game for an SE and probably worth a credit. It was not very challenging, and is geared more toward the beginner, but being an "old gamer," I found the story a little intriguing. No "edge of your seat, what's going to happen next" stuff, but interesting. I will probably get this one, but not today.
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!
After a suspicious accident, you find yourself stranded at a run-down motel. But you soon realize the area hides a terrifying secret...
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
Not CE Worthy...
PostedJune 28, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Wow, this one started out quite well with the opening scene setting me on the edge of my seat. However, it didn't take long for me to move back into my chair. I'm not going to review the actual story, as others have already done that. I simply review the game play (for the most part). Graphics were a little old school, with muted colors, which were mostly browns and golds. Game play wasn't too bad. I found no glitches, but the game was a bit sluggish. I found that I had to click multiple times to pick things up or move to another location. Speaking of that, there is a jump map, but you have to make sure your cursor is in the middle of the area so it lights up a little, then click on it, or you won't move. Took me a couple of times to figure that one out.
Voice overs weren't bad, but mouths just sort of moved on their own with most of the characters. This is the main reason why I don't care for "real" people in games. It's like watching a dubbed movie. I much prefer animation, even if the mouth doesn't move.
SG wasn't anything special, same stuff, same instructions, but it does automatically turn to the next page when you have completed everything on the current page. Hint system filled fairly quickly and was very helpful. Between that and the jump map, I didn't really need the SG. There is a camera that automatically takes useful pictures and puts them in your journal for you to refer to as needed. HOPs were quite interactive and different. Items were not difficult to find, but you had to work for them. Puzzles were not difficult either, but a couple took some time complete. The only collectibles I saw are dollar bills that you can use to purchase items from the gift store, which I haven't seen yet. Very easy to spot.
Over all, this was not a bad game. I do not feel that it is CE worthy. As I said before, it started out great, but went down hill from there as far as the story was concerned...no fright here, a shadow, an ugly face. I did not find the need to purchase this game to see what happens. However, I have changed my mind when the SE comes out and I have the chance to replay, but then I buy the SE. This would be an okay game for a beginner or someone who just wants to skate by a day, but not for me today.
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!