bluemoonie's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:5
- Helpful Votes:165
- Reviews Submitted:7
- First Review:August 20, 2013
- Most Recent Review:October 30, 2024
- Featured reviews0
bluemoonie's Review History
Join Dracula to stop runaway students, recover lost magical items, and restore order before a graduation ceremony begins!
Overall rating
5
/
5
A GREAT 'DIS-DRAC-TION'...
PostedOctober 30, 2024
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
...& just in time for Halloween ~ YAY! I've been wishing & hoping for a new Drac for awhile now, wondering if there would ever be another while replaying others in my collection.
This is just what I needed to get me into the Halloween spirit during a rather lackluster, dry Fall season. I'm halfway through the main game & thought I really should pop in to say how much fun this one is ~ very glad I went for the Collector's Edition, with 15 extra levels to look forward to after the second half.
Some new challenges & game mechanics have the brain cells popping, & the storyline has had me laughing out loud several times which I've sorely been in need of during trying times. The music is familiar but I believe it's been tweaked here & there & I'm really enjoying it.
Hats off to developers for keeping it fresh & fun, & I really hope you're already working on the next one!
This is just what I needed to get me into the Halloween spirit during a rather lackluster, dry Fall season. I'm halfway through the main game & thought I really should pop in to say how much fun this one is ~ very glad I went for the Collector's Edition, with 15 extra levels to look forward to after the second half.
Some new challenges & game mechanics have the brain cells popping, & the storyline has had me laughing out loud several times which I've sorely been in need of during trying times. The music is familiar but I believe it's been tweaked here & there & I'm really enjoying it.
Hats off to developers for keeping it fresh & fun, & I really hope you're already working on the next one!
I recommend this game!
Join the Valkyrie Fenja and her band of warriors on the adventure of a lifetime!
Overall rating
5
/
5
GREAT MATCH 3 !!!
PostedFebruary 13, 2024
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I can't believe there aren't more reviews of this game ~ it is lovely to look at, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, the tiles slide like silk & are well delineated, & it does prove to be quite a challenge especially when you get to the higher levels. The achievements need to be looked at & incorporated into your strategy as well, to maximize your building potential & utilize the power-ups to their best advantage. The building part is multi-layered, so there's plenty to do, it doesn't 'fizzle out' halfway through the game. One tip for something that had me stymied for awhile ~ on levels with thorns or spider webs covering the tiles, once you get rid of all of them across the TOP of the board, the rest below will be released & drop away ~ hope that helps anyone that's stuck, like on level 62... happy matching & building!
I recommend this game!
Build your dream town on a tropical island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
45 of 49 found this review helpful
A TROPICAL GETAWAY ON A COLD RAINY DAY!
PostedApril 3, 2022
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yep, it's been one of those days with one-foot-stuck-in-Winter, one-foot-stepping-into-Spring ~ good for snuggly sweats, (spiked) hot chocolate, big fat fuzzy slippers, & a desk chair get-away courtesy of Best Friends Games, which they were for me, today...
I played the demo of this game & almost passed, since it started out a little simplistically & a bit slow, but due to the day & the Spring sale I thought, why not?!?
The graphics & colors are bright & cheery, & the music wends you right along. The game levels picked up & became more complex after the demo, & the happy couple of the story has already helped a tribal leader & assisted a pirate with a cheeky parrot.
As to challenge level, I can't really speak to that ~ I always play in Relaxed mode as that's what I play games for, to relax & get away from it all for a bit. Having said that, there are also Normal & Expert modes, & you can switch between them at will. You can also turn off hints.
As well as building them, you can destroy your structures (you get some resources back) & build something else ~ re-arrange the whole level, it you like (which I've done several times already!), depending on what you need most of at a particular moment. So far the game is fairly generous with how quickly you can collect & build, unlike some other TM games I've played that seem to take FOR EVER due to skimpy rewards for effort & time put in ~ to 'stretch' the game, perhaps? ~ so unnecessarily annoying!
There are some lovely features that I wish other time management games had ~ the Strategy Guide is accessible right from the level you are on (green button w/ white ? mark) between the Resources & Task Bars at the top of the screen, & it is very good ~ numbers on a picture of the level, with written instructions tied to the numbers below. The hidden puzzle pieces (which are inside a barrel) are noted in a purple edged box, & should you miss one, you can go back to the level & pick it up w/o having to re-play the entire level, although you may have to play some of it ~ instead of just clicking on a hidden piece after you spot it, you need to send a worker to break open the barrel, & sometimes there are obstacles to be overcome before they can get there!
The Jigsaw Puzzle that these pieces comprise (54 total) you get to sort & put together yourself ~ no auto-generation, no tiny 8-piece puzzles ~ love that!
There are 16 Achievements Trophies to be earned, 45 Regular Levels, 10 Extra Levels, & 5 Bonus Levels, as well as 6 music tracks, & wallpapers.
I played the demo of this game & almost passed, since it started out a little simplistically & a bit slow, but due to the day & the Spring sale I thought, why not?!?
The graphics & colors are bright & cheery, & the music wends you right along. The game levels picked up & became more complex after the demo, & the happy couple of the story has already helped a tribal leader & assisted a pirate with a cheeky parrot.
As to challenge level, I can't really speak to that ~ I always play in Relaxed mode as that's what I play games for, to relax & get away from it all for a bit. Having said that, there are also Normal & Expert modes, & you can switch between them at will. You can also turn off hints.
As well as building them, you can destroy your structures (you get some resources back) & build something else ~ re-arrange the whole level, it you like (which I've done several times already!), depending on what you need most of at a particular moment. So far the game is fairly generous with how quickly you can collect & build, unlike some other TM games I've played that seem to take FOR EVER due to skimpy rewards for effort & time put in ~ to 'stretch' the game, perhaps? ~ so unnecessarily annoying!
There are some lovely features that I wish other time management games had ~ the Strategy Guide is accessible right from the level you are on (green button w/ white ? mark) between the Resources & Task Bars at the top of the screen, & it is very good ~ numbers on a picture of the level, with written instructions tied to the numbers below. The hidden puzzle pieces (which are inside a barrel) are noted in a purple edged box, & should you miss one, you can go back to the level & pick it up w/o having to re-play the entire level, although you may have to play some of it ~ instead of just clicking on a hidden piece after you spot it, you need to send a worker to break open the barrel, & sometimes there are obstacles to be overcome before they can get there!
The Jigsaw Puzzle that these pieces comprise (54 total) you get to sort & put together yourself ~ no auto-generation, no tiny 8-piece puzzles ~ love that!
There are 16 Achievements Trophies to be earned, 45 Regular Levels, 10 Extra Levels, & 5 Bonus Levels, as well as 6 music tracks, & wallpapers.
So glad I went for it ~ go make some hot chocolate & give it a go, if you're looking for a getaway ~ at least try the demo!
I recommend this game!
Join the Ghosts as they build a glorious recreation of the Wild West and challenge yourself to some incredible new Match 3 puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 25 found this review helpful
I (very nearly) WEPT WITH JOY...
PostedMarch 22, 2022
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
...this AM when I opened Big Fish & found this on offer today! While I understand the reasons for the delays in new releases, it has seemed SO long since something so simply light-hearted & fun has come out ~ kudos to LGT/SIA.
I am loving the Wild West theme, it's warming my heart & soul on a cool, gray, & rainy day in Chicagoland, & the first time I saw the Mr. Ghost "WANTED" poster tiles I literally laughed out loud, which I haven't done in some time!
There is definitely challenge, but not hair-pulling evilly so ~ real life is hard enough right now, don't need frustration in games I play to escape that for awhile...
...so, on to make a mug of hot chocolate & back to building my Ghost Town ~ thank you, Big Fish!
I am loving the Wild West theme, it's warming my heart & soul on a cool, gray, & rainy day in Chicagoland, & the first time I saw the Mr. Ghost "WANTED" poster tiles I literally laughed out loud, which I haven't done in some time!
There is definitely challenge, but not hair-pulling evilly so ~ real life is hard enough right now, don't need frustration in games I play to escape that for awhile...
...so, on to make a mug of hot chocolate & back to building my Ghost Town ~ thank you, Big Fish!
I recommend this game!
Visit a creepy castle and solve tricky match-3 challenges to banish evil spirits.
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
OH HAPPY DAY!
PostedDecember 6, 2021
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was just on the cusp of an overdose of that (in)famous Christmas Movie Channel when this newest Cursed House popped up on the Big Fish this AM! Thank goodness! I'd nearly given up on finding something new & appealing, & have run through many replays of previous purchases.
This is altogether a most welcome relief from the "distressed-damsel-meets-beleaguered-prince" (& myriad variations thereof) movies that populate this season, a very deep moat that I'd fallen into during a long (mostly) dry spell of games ~ I'd much rather be busy wearing my thinking cap & restoring the Castle in a game than watching battles w/ the evil housekeeper & begging the butler for waltzing lessons in a movie, as a fun form of holiday stress relief!
#10 in this series does not disappoint ~ the 'House' this time is a very derelict Castle in every sense of the word, creepily grander than ever, while sporting a bit more color than previously, making the 'Spot the Difference' & 'Find the Hidden Objects' puzzles more interesting, IMHO. The graphics improve w/ every new game in this series, & the artists have outdone themselves once again! The Runes tiles addition are a new twist, bringing yet another layer of challenge to the gameplay & a lovely artistic fit w/ the castle theme.
Last, but NOT least ~ the Scarab ( or ladybug?) & Emerald mini-puzzles are back ~ I have absolutely LOVED these since they were added (CH #7, I think??). They really stretch my brain cells, & I adore the sound of their little feet padding around on the stones as they are dispatched to push the emeralds to their squares. I've played 2 so far, & they don't disappoint ~ I've happily bought the past few games almost for this side challenge alone, & would definitely buy a game mostly composed of this type of strategy puzzle!
As always, DO try the demo for yourself to see if it's 'your cuppa tea' or 'cocktail'(!), & Happy Holidays to all ~ may your Season be Merry & Brighter for this newest chapter of Cursed House ~ Cheers!
I recommend this game!
Curse House is back with a new property to cleans and some frighteningly clever puzzles that will haunt your dreams!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Best of the Series ~ Match 3 of the Year?!?
PostedMarch 25, 2021
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I haven't written a review in well over many, many 'Blue Moons'. After the 25th level I just had to take a little break, give major props to, & say a hearty "Thank You" to FRH for this fantastic game. The craft, care, & creativity put into this gem is beyond words. Jaw-dropping boards made me laugh out loud & raised bars in side challenges (the new 'bug & diamonds one in particular!) make it fresh & have my synapses sizzling like they haven't in some time ~ absolutely awesome! Now for some chocolate & right back to it!
PS: the cannons DO go away on some levels' but not all...
I recommend this game!
Help Emperor Omadan restore a prosperous empire in this gripping Match 3 game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 76 found this review helpful
Best Match 3 Ever!
PostedAugust 20, 2013
bluemoonie
fromChicagoland, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I rarely get around to writing reviews - once in a blue moon or so - (and it IS one tonight!) but had to stop playing long enough to say that this game rocks! Graphics are Aladdin steam punk with Ali Baba and a touch of pirate, a very colorful visual feast. Game play has a variety of challenges and sometimes the board you start out on is not the same as when you're finished - some of them 'morph' as you play - thank goodness for the casual mode! Love watching the various town (or empire!) components grow along the way as you build and upgrade with winnings, and there are trophies and achievements as well, some of them unexpectedly and cleverly 'tongue-in-cheek' so to speak! It looks to be about 100 levels or so, with 60ish buildings/upgrades to work on, and there is also a 'secret mission' mentioned - haven't gotten that far yet... altogether a really fun experience! Thanks Big Fish, my laundry totally got washed out today!
I recommend this game!