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:
A strange premonition tells you your uncle is missing. Follow him into a world of fantasy, and discover the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Solid 4.5 stars!
PostedJanuary 4, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I always demo in casual mode to get a feel for the game. Today's game has very nice graphics and game play. Colors are bright and clear. Voice overs are well done. The one thing I didn't care for was that when you click off the custom cursor, it stays on, just gets smaller. If I click it off, I don't want it at all.
Instructions are set up differently. Although all instructions are pretty much the same, it was odd to see them laid out this way. Sort of packed in together Music wasn't bad, but I keep it turned down most of the time. There is a map, but I didn't use it, so don't know if it is a jump or not. I did look at it and the locations did seem to be well marked and identified. Inventory bar is locking, so you don't have the bar jumping up and down during game play.
SG is the usual and customary, but the pictures of each scene are very small, even when you enlarge them. Still hard to make out where items are on some. Hint button and map are way too close together..always hitting the wrong one. Hint recharges fairly quickly and is quite helpful, so you don't really need to use the SG much.
HOPs are very different and fun. Items are not difficult to see and quite interactive. I like the fact that when you combine an item in the HOP, it automatically is deleted from your items list, which makes for less clicking and more play time.
Therer are a lot of achievements in this game, and it is not a simple walk through to get them. Puzzles are not difficult, but do take some time and thought to complete. There are morphing objects to find as well. They are not as easy as you may think either, which makes this game a bit more challenging.
I do not give 5 stars easily, but this one is close. It is a nice game, with a nice story and enough challenge to keep you interested and moving. I will definitely purchase this game to add to my ever growing collection of CEs. I think this game will appeal to all level 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!
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 22 found this review helpful
Recommended for beginners...
PostedJanuary 2, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A new story for a change! Graphics are very cartoony, but have very bright, nice colors and are well done. Game play was good, although moved a bit slowly. Nice voice overs, but very few and far between. Music wasn't too bad, but got annoying after a while. Inventory bar did lock, so you don't constantly have it jumping up and down.
There is a helpful jump map, which you will use a lot. There is a lot of returning to the same location for one thing or another, so put on your tennis shoes and get ready to exercise. Didn't use the hint, so can't comment on how fast or slow it recharges. We have another magic animal in this game, but he is quite funny and fun to watch.
HOGs are very simple and again, you need to find a part of something before you can pick it up and remove it from the list. Items are not hard to spot, but I found a few movements that didn't make much sense to me. Puzzles are very simple so far..hopefully they pick up as the game goes on. SG is helpful and locations are well identified.
The only collectibles I have seen are the cards that you need to collect and charge up before you can move to the next level, and the jigsaw puzzle pieces you collect in each scene. Not sure what you do with those, but I would guess it has something to do with the bonus level.
I really found this new story line to be interesting, but it was lacking something that would draw me into the game...not sure what. I do recommend this game for beginners, but not for the expert who wants more realistic graphics and a little more challenge. A game does not have to be extremely challenging for me to like it enough to buy it, but this one did not make me want to buy it as a CE. I have frequently changed my mind once I replay when the SE comes out, so never say never. For now, this game goes in my puddle for "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 to be exactly what you are looking for today. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
When a new romance blossoms, the door to mystery opens in Love Alchemy!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 16 found this review helpful
Not a bad SE...
PostedDecember 31, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hello, Pond Pals! Was expecting something a little different for the last day of the year, but got this game instead. Not quite the usual for this dev. Graphics were clean and clear, with bright colors. Game play was not bad, but game froze up once and lagged a bit here and there. The music was very annoying!
There is a jump map, but it is an SE, so unless you know exactly where you are going, you won't use it, and there is a lot of back tracking in this game. No voice overs, not much in the way of sound FX. No locking inventory bar, so it jumps up and down. Hint system is very helpful, fortunately, and fills quickly.
Yes, Virginia, there is a click penalty in the HOGs...can you believe that! It has been a very long time since we have seen that. This game makes me think it was pulled out of storage somewhere and tossed back into the pot, meaning it is a very old game (or at least looks and plays that way#. HOGs are quite simple, items easy to find. Haven't seen much in the way of puzzles yet, only saw three extremely easy puzzles so far #musical notes, match rocks, jigsaw puzzle#.
The story was drawn out too long, so you really don't know what is happening when you start. Hard to get drawn into a story like that...at least need a hint. A lot of dialoge and you can't skip through it if you read faster than they do #didn't like that). Can't tell how long the story may be. I "saved" 3 people in 45 minutes and am still confused. Yes, I get the gist of the story line, that's easy, but it doesn't flow very well at all. Each "save" is a very short and simple game, so no challenge here.
All that being said, I would like to see what Charles' story is and what his master plan may be. This is a no brainer game and that's where I'm at today. I have a credit that needs to be used or lost, so I will get this game...I may be sorry, but I may be surprised.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have differen tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
Here's to a Happy and better New Year!
I recommend this game!
Save mankind from demonic forces in this thrilling hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Nice SE...
PostedDecember 28, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Catching up on my pre-Christmas demos today. The graphics in this game aren't too bad, nice colors. Game play is good. Music is good, even changing with what is happening in the scene, which makes it more interesting. Very nice sound FX.
Not too many HOGs (disappointed), but clean and easy to find items. Puzzles were not difficult either. The voice overs left a lot to be desired and I didn't really care for "pick what you want to say or do next" in some scenes. Old school and silly to me.
That being said, I liked the story line and found myself wanting more when my demo time ran out. It is not all that challenging, but the game kept my interest and was fun. This is one of those lazy day games. Definitely using a credit on this one.
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 thought this would be just like any other investigation. But now you find yourself lost in a mysterious mansion brimming with strange creatures, comatose colleagues, and mysterious tentacles around every corner...
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Time for a change...
PostedDecember 28, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Well...I tried the CE version and wasn't real excited about it. Just didn't have the umph that the others in the series had. Sometimes, when I play the SE, I see something in a game that I missed the first time around. I did not this time. Please see the CE version for my full review.
I was very disappointed in the story line...nothing new or exciting in this one. Colors seems washed out. HOGs were extremely simple and got boring very quickly. Did not care for the eyeglass games...too simple and not fun at all.
I thought I might get this as an SE to add to my collection, but unless I have a credit that is about to expire, I won't. I don't even know if a beginner would find this one interesting or fun...too bad.
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 don't recommend this game.
An invitation from your long lost mother leads you to a mysterious facility deep below the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Very nice story...
PostedDecember 28, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, a different story line for a change. Gogii has put out some very nice games, but not too sure about this as a CE. The graphics weren't too bad, although a bit fuzzy. Game play was nice. Music was very relaxing, which is unusual. Liked the voice overs. There was a lot more talking than real sound FX, and the talking was far between scenes. This made for a rather quiet game.
Hint system was very helpful and filled very quickly. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that you could easily miss the "sparkles" showing you where to go next. They were extremely light and hard to see. SG was set up well, but you really don't need it, since the hint is so well done. Took me a while to find the SG in the first place. I was beginning to wonder why they had a CE without one...odd place for it. Didn't care for the map set up either. You only saw the area you were in, unless you clicked around to find about where you needed to be, then clicked around to find where the next location was.
There are collectibles, although I'm not sure what part the animals play yet. The roses you need to find are not easy to see in some areas, but you will find them.
All that being said, I was not drawn into the game or the game play, but I was almost immediately drawn into the story. The game is not really challenging, but the story is quite different and interesting and I find the need to see where it is going. I don't know that this is CE worthy, but with the special this weekend, I will probably get it and not wait for the SE. It seems that BF takes forever these days to get the SE versions 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!
Time is running out for a worried bride! Locate her groom in a town plagued by mysterious drownings.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Not a bad game...
PostedDecember 26, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well, back from Christmas vacation and too tired, so this is very short for a change. I agree with JTF (very nice, thorough review, as always). The one thing I didn't care for was the SG. Open SG, click to blow up picture so you can read the very small print, then have to click each box closed, can't just click outside the picture or box and have it done all at once. Small complaint, but annoying.
Not sure this one is CE worthy either. The devs are all going to the cartoon graphics, which is not always a bad thing. A little reality would be a nice change. Putting this one in my puddle as well and hoping for a really good special. I will buy it if one comes along, just don't know if it will be CE or SE. Anyway, on to the next game.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this to be exactly what you are looking for today. Thanks for the review.
I recommend this game!
Stop the bitter Spirit of Cold from killing your ancestors!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 17 found this review helpful
Same story, different day...
PostedDecember 26, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hello all, hope you had a nice Christmas. Since the story has been covered in other reviews, I'm just going to give you my personal feelings on the game play and such. I have 3 of the previous 4 Redemption games and really enjoyed them. I especially like the ERS games...one of my favorite devs.
Game play was nice (usual for ERS#. Graphics were nice #everyone is going the cartoon way these days#, clear, not dark and bright colors, making it easy to see everything. Nice voice overs. It seems there was more talking than in previous RC games. Liked the sound FX as well.
SG is the standard, but you really don't need to use it that much, as the hint system is quite helpful and fills fairly quickly. There is a jump map, but I haven't used it yet. HOGs are clean and items are very easy to find. You can switch between HOG and match 3. The match 3 game is set up quite differently than the standard games and is not as easy as you think #at least the one I tried). You have a jigsaw puzzle to complete after each HOG as well, which is very simple to do. You are looking for snowflakes so you can get money to "fix up" a snowglobe..hmmm, no challenge there.
As much as I liked the other RC games, I'm just not kicked out about this one. It was a nice game, but not really challenging and did not make me want to run out and get it now. I'm going to put this one in my puddle and hold it for a really good special. Not sure if I'll get the CE or the SE...I will get one or the other. Maybe I just need a break for a while.
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.
Gatsby's criminal past intrudes as Judy, a young architect, is caught up in a kidnapper's scheme to unearth the socialite's secret treasure.
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 13 found this review helpful
Not the Gatsby I remembered...
PostedDecember 26, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well, I really wanted this game, until I tried it out. I was very disappointed. First, no one can do Gatsby like Redford...sorry. I liked the story, book and movie, but this moved very slowly. Graphics were okay, color is a bit muted like it was set in the "old" days (I liked that). Game play was choppy and like I said, very slow.
Music was okay, sound FX good, except for the sound you got when you found an item...extremely annoying. HOGs were very simple and some items were in very dark places. Games were very simple.
I believe this game is geared more toward the beginner than anyone else. I was really hoping for another really nice SE before the year was over...still hoping. I seldom do not recommend a game, but this one needed more than one plus in order for me to recommend or buy. No buy 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 don't recommend this game.
You’re on a train in the middle of nowhere, and a band of dangerous thieves demand you tell them where to find the Hope Diamond’s shards. As the newest Hidden Expedition recruit, you’ve got to find the shards before they do…
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 29 found this review helpful
Awesome game, highly recommended!
PostedDecember 19, 2013
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Really need to give this one a try, and use the entire demo time. I only have two of the previous HE games and really liked them. This one is no exception, with very nice graphics (a little fuzzy in the beginning) and excellent game play. Voice overs were very well done. Music and sound FX were really good, with the music and sounds adjusting to the scene and circumstance. Made you feel like you were there in the action.
SG is the usual and customary, although it did not list all the chapters in the demo. There is a lot to do in this game, e.g. collectibles (Smithsonian symbols) are not hard to find; fact cards that give you a lot of info about the Smithsonsian (very interesting stuff); morphing objects (I only saw them in the HOGs, but I could have missed them elsewhere); riddles (I love riddles). Really makes you pay attention to the scene.
There is a jump map, which is clearly identified by location. Hint system is very helpful and fill quickly. Locking inventory bar (thank you!). HOGs are very fun and different and not just straight HOGs. Items were clear, but you had to search for some. Puzzles were not extremely difficult, but some did take some time and thought to complete. The only thing I didn't care for, which is not a deal breaker, was the cursor...I much prefer the standard system cursor when I don't want to use the game cursor. I know, it's just me.
At first I wasn't sure about it, but as soon as I jumped off the train, I was hooked. It's not just a game, it's a really fun education. Now this is my kind of school. This game has a different and interesting story line, with enough challenge to make me want to buy the CE and see where it goes. I don't give 5 stars easily, but this one deserves them. Gotta have it! This game is very well put together and I think it 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!