LadyoftheIvy's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:990
- Reviews Submitted:54
- First Review:December 3, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 19, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Discover a new cooking game from the creators of the award-winning Delicious series
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Another great Delicious spin-off!
PostedApril 19, 2017
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is another great game from the creators of the Delicious series of games with Emily. If you've played those, you have a pretty good idea of how this game works, and will likely enjoy this one quite a bit. (If you haven't, give them a try! They're wonderful!) This one is directly connected to Emily, as you see her in this game. It's not a part of her storyline, however, as Mary has her own story to tell in this game.
The graphics are quite nice, much like the more recent Delicious games. Some of the movement seems a bit weird to me, but I think that's just because the people sort of bob as they're moving in a way that I don't remember them doing in any of the Delicious (or related) games. It's not a huge deal, though, it's just one of a few oddities with this one compared to the others. The music is pretty good (the theme song during the level selection map is catchy), though it does occasionally change without any transition in an odd way during the cut scenes. And, much like the Emily games, there are a fair amount of cut scenes, because this one appears to have just as full of a story as those games.
Game play is pretty similar to the Delicious series - prepare people's food orders, deliver it to them (whether at the counter or table), collect money, and clean up. Much like the other games, there are additional challenges to many of the levels (set up for the party, for example), as well as the mouse to catch. You can upgrade things in your restaurant via the money you earn during levels, and eventually upgrade the menu items as you earn those upgrades. The diamonds you earn from completing challenges can be used to buy gifts in a scene, and there are additional achievements as well (finish the chapters, walk a certain distance, etc.). This game also provides actual recipes as you complete chapters, which is rather neat.
The primary differences I noticed with game play are that items you click on to pick up don't appear in your tray until they're actually picked up (unlike the Emily and related games, where a faint image would appear before you actually picked it up), the pause/menu button is at the bottom of the screen with the tray and score bar (only a problem if you've played a lot of the previous games and keep trying to find it in the upper left like I do), and there is sometimes very little guidance on how you accomplish a challenge. (Note: I played on Normal mode.) Most of the time, that isn't actually a problem, but it took me a little bit of frantically scanning the screen to figure out how to keep my disguise on for that challenge, for example.
For the most part, this is a lot like the Delicious and related games, as I mentioned. It's pretty well done, much like the related games, and a lot of fun. I would definitely highly recommend this game in addition to all the previous ones!
I recommend this game!
Help Maggie keep the show running, stay out of the Hollywood drama and follow her dream!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
An enjoyable game very similar to the Delicious series!
PostedMarch 22, 2017
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you enjoy the Delicious series of games (or any of the spinoffs), then you will likely enjoy Maggie's Movies. While it doesn't appear to be directly connected to Emily like many of the other games, it has the same style of artwork and gameplay, and is basically that series of games on a movie set.
Basically, Maggie has a love of movies (as well as hard work, honesty, and generally good characteristics) instilled in her by her grandfather, who appears to run a movie theatre. Now grown up, she's working on movies herself, hoping to become a director someday. There is a fair amount of storyline to the game, much like the Delicious series (as well as the spinoffs), so if frequent cut scenes to share story bug you, this may not be the game for you. I will say there doesn't seem to be any more than any of the Delicious games, however. In terms of the story, the biggest issue that has is the English is a bit poorly done - words missing, not quite the right word used, things of that sort. It's not so bad that it ruins the story, it's just a bit wince-worthy. The graphics are nearly identical to some of the middle Delicious games, meaning they aren't quite as fancy as some of the more recent ones, but they're not quite as old as the first few. And the sound mainly consists of background music and a few noises to signal certain things (such as the mouse squeaking).
Game play is basically identical to the Delicious series, only instead of serving just food, you're helping people on the set by getting costumes, props, makeup, and yes, food for them. You also occasionally help the director with scenes, at least early on. I've only finished the first chapter so far, but I imagine there will be some variation of the assisting the director throughout the game. Assisting the director appears to be optional, but it's a fun addition. And, as you finish levels, you earn money (or tokens, as the game calls it) to upgrade things on the set, as well as diamonds to buy little extras in a separate decorative room scene. The items you buy with the diamonds have little bits of background info attached to them. And then there are achievements from doing different things, such as completing an entire chapter, or anticipating an order, and things like that, which earn you different characters from the game in a theatre scene.
It's not quite as polished as many of the Delicious games, but it's not terribly done, either. It doesn't appear to be quite the same publisher/developer/whatever as some of the Delicious games, but the visuals, game play, and sound certainly give a strong impression that at least there's some sort of connection between them, even if it isn't a story one. I would definitely recommend this game, especially if you're a Delicious fan, as it's fun even with it's slight lack of polish and the English flaws.
I recommend this game!
Use your time-management skills to help Angela win the chance to take over for legendary fashionista Truly!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
A Delicious new game for Emily fans!
PostedMay 27, 2016
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Another fabulous game from the makers of the "Delicious" series of games! This time, our heroine is Emily's sister, Angela, starring in her own story to become a famous fashion designer. Her husband Jimmy (a bit of their story is in the Delicious games) has cheated on her, and Angela is starting anew. If you liked the Delicious series of games, you will very likely like this game as well.
The graphics are a bit of a step up from the most recent Delicious game: basically, a bit more colorful, a bit more animated, just a bit more in general. The music is well done (especially the song in the title screen), though I will say most of it doesn't stick with me the same way the music in the Delicious series did. Don't get me wrong, it's still good, it just doesn't seem to stick in my mind in the same way. The only annoyance with the sound in this game is their insistence in having a voice chant "Beautiful!", "Fabulous!", "Sparkling!" and other words of that variety as Angela reaches different combos on each level. I assume it's meant to be Angela's voice doing it. The voice also going "Eek!" when you catch the mouse is icky as well. Honestly, the game could have done without that, as it's more annoying than anything else.
Other than that very minor flaw, the game is rather fun to play. It plays in the same way as the Delicious series of games, so if you've played those you know how it works. Only instead of serving customers food, you're getting clothing, accessories, makeup, and coffee for people throughout the game. In addition to that, there's an extra challenge on many of the levels, the challenge levels in between the regular ones, and the mouse to find on all the regular levels. The mouse is actually a bit more difficult to find on many of the levels in this game compared to the Delicious series, which was nice. Some may find that frustrating, however. There are also achievements/trophies to earn similar to many of the Delicious games. And of course, the well done storytelling.
I'm thrilled to see another installment in the saga of Emily's family, and it's rather fun to have it going with Angela this time around. Angela does have a lot to live up to though given the excellence of the games with her big sister, Emily! I look forward to more Fabulous games and hope Big Fish gets the mini-game (Fabulous: Angela's Sweet Revenge) that shares the story just a bit before the start of this one.
I recommend this game!
Stop the disaster caused by the Sky Kingdom and save the day!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Not the best Dark Parables, but not horrible either
PostedMay 31, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I generally love the Dark Parables games, but I have to say that this one has been my least favorite so far. For the most part, it's similar to previous entries in that it has beautiful graphics, fragmented hidden object scenes (it's what many call a FROG game), and a new twist on a fairy tale. However, it's just not as well done as some of the previous ones, nor as well done as the next one in the series either.
The graphics are just as gorgeous as the previous games - I know some find them grainy, but I personally love the look of these games and this one is no exception. They're beautifully done, well colored, and the animation is relatively good given the art-like look of the game. The music in this game is more repetitive than in previous installments, as well as in the next installment of the game, and is probably the first one I've played where it started to get old after awhile. It's not terrible music - it's just that it's too repetitive. The sound is otherwise okay, though the voices don't always match the movement of mouths as well as I remember from other games.
The gameplay is for the most part challenging enough - not too hard, not too easy. You can choose from three different difficulty levels, with a minor amount of customization in the options menu. (In other words, if you don't want sparkles, you can turn them off in that menu even if the option you chose would normally have them.) The mini games are a bit more repetitive in this instance than they have been in other games in the series, which gets a bit old after a bit. And I dislike the inclusion of hiding objects in/behind things in the FROG scenes, given that there's no indicator which objects are extra hidden, and finding them mostly involves roaming your mouse around until you find the spot to uncover the object. That's not an extra challenge to me, that's busy work. I prefer to actually have to find the objects by looking, not by randomly running my mouse around the scene. Luckily, this was dropped by the next game (Rapunzel) in the series.
I found the characters to not be quite as likable as previous installments - Jack was mildly annoying, and the evil princes and king were just bleh. I get that we're not necessarily supposed to like the bad guys, but I wasn't even impressed with them as bad guys. Jack's fiancee was slightly more likable, but I still had a hard time caring a whole lot about her. I also didn't quite like this story twist for Jack and the Beanstalk, possibly because it just made the story a lot more mercenary than the original one. Ultimately, I'm not sure I really enjoyed helping Jack and his fiancee, unlike in other games in the series.
The CE has the typical things for a CE - wallpapers, music, concept art, etc. Just like in previous games, you can collect morphing objects to reduce your hint timer (or just because you like collecting them) and parable notes for extra stories. And there's a bonus chapter which is a true bonus, meaning that while the story for it is connected to the main one, it isn't necessary to understanding the main one. It has some extra parable notes as well.
Now, that being said, I'm still glad I played the game, but I'm also glad I got this one on sale at one point. If you've played the previous Dark Parables and enjoyed them a lot, it's probably worth buying, though I'd still do it on sale. I'd suggest starting with a different game than this one if you haven't, though. Personally, I think they're fun to play through in order as you can catch things from previous games by doing so, but you don't have to do it that way. I ultimately don't see myself playing this one again, however, which is something I have done with previous Dark Parables games. This one really just ended up being a stepping stone to the next game in the series for me. So while I'd recommend it, there are better games in this series.
I recommend this game!
Christmas Eve: Midnight's Call Collector's Edition
Do you have what it takes to save Christmas?
Overall rating
1
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Don't let this game ruin your Christmas!
PostedMay 28, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I bought this game back before Christmas last December, but for some reason only got around to finishing it now. Maybe I set it aside back then because of how bad it is, and I had just forgotten, because at the moment I'm just left wondering why I bothered to finish it. It's just as terrible as some of the other games by this developer out there, and I'd already stopped buying some of the other series they make. At this point, I'm ready to stop buying any games they make. If you've played another bad Ers game, you've got an idea of how this one is going to turn out. For the most part, they stopped making acceptable games years ago as far as I can tell.
The graphics look the same as some of the games from years ago. Which means they would have been fairly nice four or more years ago, but now look out of date compared to some newer hidden object games. They're not terrible, they just look like no one could be bothered to try some newer graphics, and are sort of bleh because of that. Some of the textures used are also rather odd - the black swan/horse thingie looks like it's made of rubber, for instance. The animations of the graphics are pretty bad, though. They sound is okay, but nothing to write home about, and has occasional dramatic swoops that get annoying after awhile as they happen a bit too often.
The storyline, and consequently the gameplay, are terrible. Beyond the fact that it's just a slight variation on something seen a ton in hidden object games - sibiling goes missing during childhood, in this case presumed dead, but turns up later and is suddenly the cause of all these problems in an alternate universe where they couldn't contact you before now to let you know about her despite your being wracked with guilt for years. But hey, they're contacting you now, because you're the only one who can save them! Oh, and it's all vaguely connected with Christmas, but all of it together certainly makes for an odd mish-mash. Most of the characters are pretty unlikable, and ridiculously overdramatic. Except for Santa, who is oddly overly mellow and makes me think he should be off laying on a beach somewhere. The voice acting is also pretty bad and seriously made me wish I could have turned the voices off.
Whether the gameplay had a chance with the story as bad as it is, I'm not sure. But it's also terrible. There's almost no rhyme or reason to most of what you're doing in the game. You'll wander around, collect a ton of items, and then be unsure of what to do with three quarters of them because it's either been forever since you saw where you needed the item, or it's so off the wall that you probably wouldn't have thought of it unless you started randomly clicking objects on things. The hidden object scenes are pretty typical, as are most of the mini games. The snowman helper you end up with is mildly creepy and I wish he hadn't been included. There is no journal included with this game, and it really needs one to help you keep track of things. It does have a strategy guide though, so that when you're looking at an inventory full of junk and aren't sure where you would use any of it, you can check the guide. But honestly, the strategy guide shouldn't have to be used just because there's no journal to track anything.
The game comes with pretty typical things for a CE - wallpapers, music, achievements, a bonus chapter (which is a true bonus - it continues from the main story, but the main story also does finish up at the end of the game, so it's not necessary to the story), the ability to play the mini games and hidden object scenes, etc. You have to unlock them by finding presents as you play the main game, though it's near impossible to not find the presents. I'm not even sure you could have avoided clicking on the presents anyway, as they tend to be sitting on top of items you need to continue in the game. The bonus chapter is no better than the main game in terms of gameplay or storyline, however. And none of the extras make the game more worthwhile, either.
Ultimately, this is just a terrible game. There are many, many better games out there. The Christmas elements in it could have easily been replaced with other things to make either a non-holiday game, or a different holiday game entirely, which just makes it feel lazy. The entire game feels like Ers could have made much more of an effort but couldn't be bothered. I suppose as long as people keep buying their games, they have no incentive to do better. This is definitely not worth buying, and I'd be hesitant to buy any more games developed by them at all, as I can only think of one I enjoyed in the past several years. Spend your money elsewhere.
I don't recommend this game.
Could your little boy be the child of prophecy?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Not a bad game, but not a great one either
PostedMay 25, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I remember trying this as a sneak peak and thinking it looked promising then. And the finished game isn't terrible, but it isn't quite as promising as I remember it looking. It's really more of a short adventure-style game with a few hidden object scenes, and only a few of those even of the traditional variety.
The graphics are okay, and fairly pretty to look at. They may not be crisp enough for some, but they're not bad, either. The sound is best in the trial, as after that it gets a bit repetitive at times. However, it's quiet enough that it's not really obtrusive, and you can always turn it down or off as well. I think the only thing that occasionally bugged me with the sound is the odd shuffling sound you get for movement, and it doesn't consistently happen every time you move, either. The storyline itself is okay, but nothing so fabulous as to cause me to rave about it. It's not honestly a whole lot more than what you can read about in the description.
The game itself plays like a lot of the other adventure-type hidden object games out there, though it has fewer hidden object scenes than some may like. It's also not particularly hard in general - the only difficulties I had were due to bugs and issues with incompleteness in the making of the game, not because it was hard itself. (Sometimes, my cursor disappeared. Sometimes a puzzle got stuck and wouldn't reset. Both of those were usually fixed by restarting the game. Sometimes no text to tell you what's going on in that image would pop up at all. This happened more often with the bonus chapter than the main game, though.) The hidden object scenes vary between the traditional style, finding some based on themes (such as water, dishes, fire, etc.), and morphing object scenes. The morphing object ones were the most annoying, as you basically just have to spend your time either staring at the scene and waiting for something to morph so you can click on it, or just clicking on various objects to see if they're the morphing ones. You'll also probably catch at least half of them at the beginning of that morphing scene since they all do a bunch of morphing right then. They ultimately ended up feeling like a waste of time though, and I would have preferred a different hidden object scene to those.
The game is over very quickly for a CE version, and while it has a bonus chapter (which is a true bonus - it's not a part of the main storyline, but an actual bonus story), the bonus chapter has more issues in terms of bugs and missing text and whatnot than the main story. Otherwise, it just has the typical items for a CE - wallpaper, screensaver, music, achievements. There are also paper cranes to collect during gameplay, though this isn't ever actually pointed out by the game, and at least some of them fade in and out of the scenes. I stopped bothering after a bit, since they weren't all that fun to look for.
Ultimately, it's not a terrible game, but it's not great either. And it's definitely not CE quality, nor is the bonus chapter enough to make me recommend the CE version. If you can get this for free, go for it. Otherwise, there are better games like this out there. I'm just glad I got it essentially for free as part of a sale, otherwise I might be more disappointed with it. But if nothing else, it was at least a few hours of entertainment.
I don't recommend this game.
Emily and Patrick set sail for their long-awaited honeymoon! Grab a life preserver and join the adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 40 found this review helpful
Another great Emily game!
PostedMarch 18, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hooray for more Emily! This one is just as good as the other two Big Fish currently has, and falls between the two of those in terms of timeline. Emily and Patrick are off on their honeymoon on a cruise ship acquired by her brother-in-law, with the family along for a trip as well!
The graphics are just as nice as New Beginnings and Wonder Wedding, bright and colorful with plenty of detail for a time management game. The music is pretty similar to the other two games, with a bit of variation, but it's enjoyable to listen to. If it's not your style, you can always turn it off, however. And the game has three difficulty levels, so you have the option of making it easier or harder depending on how you like it.
The gameplay is basically the same as New Beginnings and Wonder Wedding, with many of the same customers as you see in those two games, only with them in vacation mode. Instead of being Emily most of the time, however, you tend to serve customers in various cafes, restaurants, shops, spas, and so forth (the sorts of things you would expect to find on cruise) as her friends and family. Francois runs the first cafe near the pool, Angela the boutique, Brigid (Patrick's Mom) the spa, etc. However, Emily is still very much present - she and Patrick hang out in each location as you play it, and have to be served as well as part of their honeymoon and as part of an optional gold heart that unlocks characters in a scene. Sometimes there are additional goals on the levels like in the other two games, and there are occasional levels where you take a photo for an album similar to the one in New Beginnings. Each level also has the option of locating the mouse that always pops up.
This game also has a "cast" list, where you can find out little snippets of info about Emily and her friends and family, as well as the storyline throughout like the other games. The storyline is presented in basically the same way as the other two, which I enjoy. You do have the option of skipping it if it's not your style, though. Ultimately, if you enjoyed Wonder Wedding and New Beginnings, you'll enjoy this Emily game as well. I'm glad to see another Emily game so soon, and look forward to more of them!
I recommend this game!
Emily's big day approaches in this all-new Time Management experience!
Overall rating
5
/
5
56 of 70 found this review helpful
Yay! More Emily!
PostedMarch 11, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm so glad Big Fish has gotten another Delicious Emily game! While this one is chronologically older than "New Beginnings" (and older for when it was made), it's still just as much fun as that game. It's very similar, with many of the same characters, and you even see a lot of the same customers.
The graphics are nice, and pretty well done for a time management game. They're bright and crisp and enjoyable to look at while you're playing the game. They may be too cute for some, but I happen to enjoy them. The sound is fine, it's the same music as "New Beginnings" for the most part and basically the same sound effects. I sort of enjoy it, but it can be turned off if it's not your style. It has a good amount of story added in as well, which is enjoyable, and it's done in such a way that you're not left feeling like it's intruding on the game too much.
The only other Delicious Emily game I've played is "New Beginnings", as I'm hoping Big Fish will get more of them here. But if you've played that one, the gameplay is very similar - customers show up to your restaurant, and you serve them at either the counter or the tables. When they have their order or have eaten, you take their money, and clean up the table if they used one. Patrick, Emily's fiance in this game, is also there selling bouquets to people - he makes and delivers the bouquet, while Emily collects the money for it. Some levels also have another goal to complete as well, such as preparing for the arrival of Patrick's mother, similar to the goals you saw in "New Beginnings". Each level also has the mouse to find as an optional goal as well. After completing two levels in each chapter, you'll get the option of a challenge level, where if you can complete the challenge while making your daily goal, an invite to Emily and Patrick's wedding is sent to a specific person. The challenges appear to be optional, but they're fun to complete.
It's not as rapid paced as some TM games, but it's not too slow either. You have the option of three levels of difficulty as well, so you can customize that a bit. I've only played at Normal, so I can't comment on how much easier (or harder) the other two options are. I find that at Normal, it has enough challenge for me while still being able to obtain gold, but I might try the more difficult setting once I've finished the game.
Ultimately, it's a really great game that I'd highly recommend. I'm having just as much fun with it as I had with "New Beginnings", and I hope Big Fish continues to add more Delicious Emily games to their lineup!
After living on a pink cloud for over a year Emily decides to reopen Emily's Place!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Fun, adorable, and delicious game!
PostedJanuary 25, 2015
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'd not played any of the Delicious games before trying this one, and now that I've played this one I'm wondering why Big Fish hasn't had any of these games until now. This is a fabulous time management game restaurant game, and if any of the other games are even remotely close to this one, Big Fish needs to get them all here now! You play as Emily, running a restaurant and taking care of your new daughter, Paige, all while dealing with your rather amusing family and town.
The graphics are nice, nothing that's going to make you wish you had framed artwork for it, but nice for a time management game. The sound and music are fine as well, I found it pleasant enough to keep it on during gameplay, and didn't find any of the sounds used during the game to be bothersome. Paige's noises were also rather adorable, so it was fun to hear her coo and giggle as I played.
The gameplay is neat for a restaurant-style game. Yes, like others you serve customers food, take their payment, and clean up tables, but even before your day begins you pick your menu based on the predicted customers for the day. The game shows you what sorts of customers will be showing up that day, and gives you a percentage of how many of them will be that type. And then your food choices show you which are favored by certain types of customers, helping you choose your menu. It also shows you which customers like Paige, and which don't, which helps you figure out who need to keep Paige away from, and who you can let Paige go and coo at. I will say that Paige's influence is rather minimal, in that she's unlikely to make or break your day, but it's still helpful if you might want to avoid losing hearts (or even if you might want to gain some).
I don't actually have any complaints about this game. It is possible some people might find having to keep track of Paige in addition to running the restaurants an extra annoyance, but I just thought it was a bit of extra adorableness. The collector's edition comes with achievements (which were actually kind of fun to spend time trying to earn, as you don't necessarily earn all of them just by playing the game as normal), a whole extra restaurant (giving you ten extra levels), wallpapers, and Paige's scrapbook (which you take photos for during the gameplay). I found the collector's edition worth it, myself.
Ultimately, I'd highly recommend this game. If you like time management games, especially restaurant ones, this is definitely worth buying as the CE. And I really hope Big Fish bring the rest of the Delicious series here, as I'd love to see more of Emily and see what the story was before Paige came along!
I recommend this game!
Your Uncle Tony needs you now more than ever! He's just spent all his savings on his lifetime dream: running his own gas station!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Cute, though with a few flaws
PostedOctober 2, 2014
LadyoftheIvy
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is definitely an interesting idea for a time management game, and one that has a lot of potential. It's very similar to the Airport Mania games, which I loved, but has a few issues which makes it not quite as good as those. It's also a bit more difficult than the Airport Mania games, though I think sometimes that's due to the way the game works rather than specifically trying to make it that difficult.
Basically, as cars drive down the street that goes past your Uncle Tony's gas station, some of them will want gas (or later on, a car wash, food, repairs, etc.). You have to click on the car and direct it to where it can get what it wants at the gas station. You earn bonuses by matching the same colored cars to the same colored pumps and checkout lanes. And the longer it takes you, the less money you make from that car. You have a bonus which you can choose for each level (color prediction, for instance), as well as what they call "objects" to help with various issues that pop up. Those issues can be things such as one of your entrances being unusable until you repair it (or click on it repeatedly if you don't have the repair object), or a mud puddle that gets every car dirty which you can use the clean road object on.
There are only two entrances for cars to enter the gas station, which adds a bit to the challenge level sometimes as you have to have a place for them to go before they pass the second entrance. However, sometimes it's hard to click on the cars and actually have them selected, or it's hard to get the destination clicked properly. It's also a bit hard to tell if you've actually selected a car, as the only indicator are some white circles around it which don't stand out particularly well against the road. It makes it easier to make mistakes while trying to get the cars where you want them to go. You can queue up actions for cars, but again, the issues mentioned make it harder to do that as well.
The graphics aren't awful, but they aren't "Wow!" either. Compared most time management games, they're about par. The animations are a bit odd at times though, as the cars appear to drive over each other and/or drive sideways at times. The sound is okay, though I ended up turning off the music as there isn't any volume control in the game (you can only turn the music and/or sound on and off), and I didn't want to have to mess with my system sound to lower it.
Beyond the clicking issues, my biggest complaint is just that you can't buy upgrades until the game unlocks them, even if it's something that would very clearly help you get three stars on a level and you have the money for it. It can be a pain to them get three stars on some levels due to the cars getting impatient and paying less (or driving past entirely) because you don't have enough stations for them all and the clicking issues making it harder to direct them through what you do have. If it were a bit more responsive with clicking and selection, it's possible the upgrades issue may not be as big of a deal, but together they're certainly a big annoyance at times. Especially if you're big into getting three stars on a level like I am.
I ultimately bought the game as I think I can still get some fun out of it, plus my children will enjoy it even with the issues, but it may be wildly frustrating for some. So while this is a cute game that's somewhere between okay and good, it's in no way a great game and could have easily been made better with just a few improvements.
I recommend this game!