angelfish106's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:1,547
- Reviews Submitted:75
- First Review:December 18, 2011
- Most Recent Review:May 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
2
/
5
23 of 30 found this review helpful
What a disappoinment.
PostedNovember 21, 2012
angelfish106
fromStevenage, Herts UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Zodiac Prophecies: The Serpent Bearer
(72)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Add me to the list of those who regret buying this game. What a bitter disappointment the whole thing is; from the drab, dreary and lifeless locations to the awful floating jigsaw puzzles, the game has just become a chore and no fun at all.
The strategy guide is useless; many of the puzzle instructions made no sense to me at all and the guide was absolutely no help. And whoever thought up the idea of trying to put together bits of a jigsaw as they float about the screen should be looking for another job.
I am supposed to be a Master Detective. Can you imagine anyone with that title running around doing the bidding of a psychic?? I got sick and tired of keep going back to the motel to get the stupid pictures, especially since finding the locations of them led to yet another jigsaw (which just got skipped after the first few). Oh and since I had never heard of Lea Thompson, her addition to the game meant nothing to me. And frankly if I never see her again it will be too soon.
I loved RTR and Dire Grove. Madame Fate was brilliant. 13th Skull was ok, EFR was gross and Shadow Lake is the worst of them all. The MCF games are steadily going downhill; in trying to be innovative, the games are becoming a chore to play. The HOS were just terrible; tiny items in a room and sometimes not even in that room so you have to look in another one. Inventory was a nuisance; fan type which meant you have to keep going from one side to another to find an item to use. That clunking sound when you pick up an inventory item and try to put it back was horrible. And I never found a single morphing object.
I can't be bothered to even finish this game. It will be deleted from the game manager and never played again (did the same with EFR). I'm annoyed with myself for wasting my money on this disaster; I should have gone for Brink Of Consciousness instead. At least that played in full screen instead of having a 3" black bar down either side. Hugely disappointing.
I don't recommend this game.
Web of Deceit: Black Widow
You’re drawn into a web of deceit when your train stops in Andville, where the Black Widow lies in wait...
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 105 found this review helpful
Could have been excellent but....
PostedNovember 14, 2012
angelfish106
fromStevenage, Herts UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Strategy
Current Favorite:
The TimeBuilders: Pyramid Rising 2
(45)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I remembered trying the CE of this game and not buying it; I assumed it was because I've had a fear of spiders since childhood. But I made it through the first 45 minutes of the SE demo only finding mechanical ones, so that wasn't the reason.
Good enough graphics, filled my w/s monitor, HOS not overly cluttered or full of hard to find items, enjoyed the puzzles which were different to any I've seen before and the game ran smoothly. So what turned me off the CE and ultimately the SE?
The hint system. It is completely useless. Aside from pointing you in the direction you should be heading, all it says is 'I can use something here'. Really?? I'd already figured that out for myself; it didn't need saying. But it does get said, over and over and over again until it got so annoying I just stopped playing. It even says it in the HOS if the item needs another step to be found. Pointless and irritating in the extreme.
The hint system should say something constructive, not state the obvious. Otherwise it's pretty much redundant. I might have bought this game in spite of the spiders; I certainly won't be buying it now.
I don't recommend this game.
A Gnome's Home: The Great Crystal Crusade
Help gnomes to return the magic crystal and rebuild their underworld kingdom.
Overall rating
4
/
5
55 of 59 found this review helpful
Good fun but needs a relaxed mode!
PostedJuly 10, 2012
angelfish106
fromStevenage, Herts UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Detective: The Lord of Statues Collector's Edition
(279)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a treat to have a new building type game! They are so few and far between that pretty much any new ones will be appreciated; this one doesn't disappoint apart from not being able to continue after the timer runs out. A major flaw that will stop many from buying, the timer is very harsh and I found it a struggle to even scrape through with bronze on some levels!
However, the graphics are deliciously cute, the music relaxing, plenty of levels and different lands to visit and overall a buy for me. The challenge of getting gold is something I can't resist!
The mechanics of the game I found a touch clumsy; assigning workers to the jam factory or sawmill could have been made a bit smoother to achieve but the developer has done an excellent job of creating a new building game that will challenge even the quickest players!
I recommend this game!
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court
When a bolt of lightning sends you back to the days of King Arthur, you trade in your farmer's hat for a suit of armor and set off on a journey to find the Fountain of Youth!
Overall rating
4
/
5
98 of 105 found this review helpful
Cute TM game!
PostedMay 7, 2012
angelfish106
fromStevenage, Herts UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Theatre of the Absurd Collector's Edition
(133)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Bought from the devs several weeks ago, I must admit to having replayed this cute game many times! Basic storyline is as described, although you never find the Fountain Of Youth nor do I recall it ever being mentioned in the game.
You build houses, windmills, foundries, statues etc and clear wood, gather food and mine gold. Along the way there are enemies which frighten the workers; cue lots of shrieking and running frantically about until you send someone to defeat the enemy! The workers are a bunch of cissies which from the looks of them have been released for the day from the funny farm! Very strange that the dev chose to make them look so gormless!! But they do work hard when they're not running away from something!
There is no untimed mode, however you can continue after gold time has elapsed and earn either silver or bronze. Some levels do need a bit of thought to get gold but apart from one which took a few tries, I have got gold on all of them.
There is a lot of dialogue which can't be skipped, although cut scenes can. Graphics are bright and clear, custom cursor can't be changed but isn't intrusive and you can turn off the in-game hints. The dialogue can be quite amusing, especially later in the game when the hero meets....well, I won't give away the plot but he does get a big surprise!!
The only downside for me is the length of the game; only 40 levels and no option to play in a harder mode. But if you liked Royal Envoy, MKFTP etc then give this a try; it's fun!
I recommend this game!
Royal Envoy 2 Collector's Edition
The King turns once more to you, his trusted city planner, to save the faraway land of Middleshire in Royal Envoy 2!
Overall rating
4
/
5
66 of 76 found this review helpful
Royal Envoy meets Diner Dash!
PostedDecember 18, 2011
angelfish106
fromStevenage, Herts UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Mountain Crime: Requital
(180)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
At first glance, RE2 has a similar feel to the original game. The basic layouts of the game are much the same, except that you visit the districts of Middleshire rather than separate islands. And of course you are re-building them, for reasons which are explained now by the leaders of each district rather than Cedric, who is only along for the journey.
However the actual gameplay has changed to become more of a 'click-fest'; rent is now collected by the player, food is picked from bushes (as in ROR) or collected from the farm and wood, whilst still produced at the sawmill if necessary, can also be collected from the forestry huts or again picked up by chopping trees. If these resources aren't collected, they disappear. The houses conveniently glow just before the rent is due, making it easier to notice the gold.
Major changes include no tax collectors; they have evolved into Royal Inspectors and although they do appear in the game, play no real part in the gameplay. Quests to complete within certain levels, some which need a lot of frantic clicking to get through. New characters, some to get past in order to progress and some that help you get through a level. Banks automatically add to the rent rather than having to collect the gold (gardens also increase the rent). Enhancements add happiness wherever they are built. Some new buildings, which unfortunately also add to the constant clicking you have to do. Houses are only upgraded once. No built in walkthrough (unlike the first RE CE) so you're really on your own! Oh and watch out for some sneakily hidden treasures; not always obvious but when you find them they're a real help!
The one change I have come to dislike intensely is the constant comments from the workers. I found it irritating on most levels. The market owners at least have stopped yelling 'new offer'(which I hated in the original). And to me the sad leprechauns are just annoying; I feel like giving them a good slap!
There are many achievements to be won, which can be added to from the 30 bonus levels. These are fun to play but mostly fairly easy to complete in 3 star time (with one or two exceptions!). The expert levels can be very challenging, as the timer runs out very quickly!
Overall I found this sequel slightly less enjoyable than the original. It has become more like 'Royal Envoy Dash' and I found having to click like crazy on some levels to collect resources quite hard work sometimes. However it is very addictive; I've had to replay some levels several times to get the 3-star time!
My favourite moments? The opening video, which is just pure fun! And one of the district leaders calling Cedric 'this nerd in the blue wig'!! Priceless ;-)
I recommend this game!