Da_Wordmama's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:346
- Reviews Submitted:39
- First Review:January 18, 2012
- Most Recent Review:October 12, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Scarlett is back in an all-new Farm Frenzy adventure that puts the fun back in farming! Help her with the animals of an abandoned island.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
The usual, with some added personality
PostedSeptember 18, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you've played any of the Farm Frenzy games, you pretty much know what to expect -- a whole farm full of livestock that all eat grass, eggs that can be turned into cake, pigs that drop cuts of meat and live to tell the tale, bears that drop from the sky -- the usual. This one has some actual dialogue from the characters, though, which gives it more personality than most, which is a plus.
The one thing I don't particularly like is that the game will only play either full screen or (when minimized) 98% of the screen. This is a fairly mindless little game which I'd like to play in a corner of the screen while I'm also doing other things. Given the huge screen-hogging window it demands, that's not possible, and it's really not needed. I personally would have really appreciated two options: one to set the size of the window, and one to play without time limits.
Otherwise, I knew what to expect from the title, and that's what I got. So good job, guys -- don't mess with the formula as long as it works.
I recommend this game!
The Silent Age
Help Joe discover the truth behind humankind's extinction! Can a simple janitor and literally, "the average Joe," save humankind?
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
Brilliant -- I didn't know they still made them this good
PostedAugust 20, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I almost can't think of enough good things to say about this game. I haven't been this engrossed in a game since ... well, the 90s at least. Riveting, moving, thought-provoking, and with enough twists and turns to keep you glued to the screen. The graphics are simple, but very effective. The puzzles are all tied to the story -- "How do I get through this locked door?" rather than the usual "This box has a key shaped like a trombone" nonsense -- and they all require a little quirk of your mind to solve, but none of them are impossible.
Massively cool and intelligent, and now I want to play it again to see what I missed the first time. And the plot -- well, I guarantee I'll be thinking about it for quite a while.
I'd like to say please give us more like this, but this one is unique. Please give us more that are this good!
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the Four Horsemen and save the city?
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Frustrating and confusing
PostedJuly 19, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Large File
Current Favorite:
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece Collector's Edition
(97)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Not the worst HO game I've ever played, but made much more difficult for a couple of reasons. The map highlights every location that has any unsolved puzzle, rather than just the locations where you can actually do something with the inventory you have. That makes it essentially useless, especially since ... well, read on.
With these kinds of games, you often end up with a dozen locks that you don't have the keys for and a dozen keys that you haven't found the locks for. Without either a workable map or a journal, the only way you can get through this game is either to take endless real-world notes (and it's not really worth the effort) or follow the strategy guide slavishly. Not fun.
The story is pretty thin -- no, that's not right; it's actually very complicated, but the game just doesn't bother letting you in on it. Goals are vague and you rarely understand why you have to do things; you just do them because the hint system told you to. Why? "Because we said so" isn't good enough for me.
I was a big fan of the old lateral thinking games (like Day of the Tentacle). Their puzzles had crazy solutions that made no sense -- but at least they admitted it and had a wacky sense of humor that invited you to laugh and curse and keep going. This game frustrates and annoys me, and at the same time takes itself so dreadfully seriously that I lose patience almost instantly. Bleah!
I don't recommend this game.
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece Collector's Edition
Albert's worst nightmare becomes reality when a creature from his grim paintings kidnaps his family. What does she want?
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Truly unique and beautiful!
PostedJuly 14, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the best hidden object games I've ever played, and I've played -- well, dozens, if not hundreds. Game play is intelligent, the puzzles are surprising and not impossible, the plot is thoughtful, touching, and multi-layered (and even, dare I say it, allegorical), the voice acting is great, and the hidden object scenes are not only fair but intriguingly different. I also like the sidekick; he's graceful, witty, and really helpful, which they often are not.
This one is destined to be a classic.
I recommend this game!
Visit popular fairy tales and fix the broken stories! Familiar characters need you!
Overall rating
1
/
5
32 of 34 found this review helpful
Disappointing
PostedJune 7, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I was willing to give this one a try, even though I disapprove of pay-as-you-go games on principle. But it annoyed me almost immediately because it wouldn't allow me to change any of the settings until I had followed its unnecessary tutorial for a good fifteen minutes, lock-step. When I was finally allowed out to turn off the annoying loud music and so on, I soon discovered that game play is insanely repetitive and pointless. Maybe the game gets harder as you go, but for the ten or so levels I played, game play consisted of finding the same six objects over and over and over again. Sometimes they change location; sometimes not. The only challenge here is staying awake.
On the positive side, the characters in the game are funny and well drawn, and the basic idea isn't as offensive as I thought it would be. That's about it for the good stuff.
A really disappointing exercise, and certainly not up to the Big Fish standard. I'm sorry I took the time to download it.
I don't recommend this game.
In this scarier-than-ever story, find out what really happened on prom night, 1964...
Overall rating
1
/
5
16 of 28 found this review helpful
Too nasty for me
PostedJanuary 31, 2015
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I can live with scary, but not with sadistic. Downloaded the demo and was enjoying the puzzle difficulty, but the plot centers around a (male) spirit trapping and torturing a (young pretty female) victim in ways that first disgusted and then enraged me. I stopped and uninstalled, and I'll think twice before trying another game by this publisher. A real disappointment, based on the first game in this series.
I don't recommend this game.
Elizabeth and her friend Steve are in serious danger on a faraway planet. Can you help them find their way home?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
A welcome change, with caveats
PostedMarch 22, 2014
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
What a relief to have an HO game that doesn't include elves, demons, or dragons! I downloaded and played the demo based solely on the game's location -- I love sci fi, and you can have too much fantasy and demon-chasing. But it does have some problems you might want to know before you start.
Caveat one: The graphics are appealing and the music is fine, though I generally turn it off as soon as I can -- especially in this game, which starts out with emergency sounds that wear out their welcome quickly. A screaming siren and urgent music are particularly annoying when you can't resolve the emergency until you rummage through a pile of trash looking for a trombone.
Caveat two: The HO scenes would be good were it not for the usual translation difficulties. "Nail" turned out to be a nail file, and "dummy" was first a bust with makeup applied to it, then a small doll in a red dress. In addition, the list doesn't indicate when finding an object will require manipulation of the scene. Either one of those issues could be worked around; together, they make the HO scenes a cause of much cussing and frustration. Luckily, they're not too frequent.
Caveat three: There seem to be some plot elements either left out or inadequately explained. I had no idea why I was constructing a robot until it was completed, which makes it very difficult to go through the action logically. You do a thing because it's the only thing you *can* do, not because you know why you're doing it. Just a very small amount of background or explanation would fix this, but in this case they didn't do it.
All that being said, I might buy this one anyway just for the sci fi setting. The plot is understandable and doesn't at this point appear to include any magic, which as I say is a relief. There are lots of hints and a map that indicates when there's something to be done in a location, very helpful. And the characters are appealing enough that I wanted to help them escape their danger.
Bottom line: A good effort with some frustrating elements. I'd recommend it if you like sci fi, if your tolerance for frustration is adequate.
I recommend this game!
An evil villain is luring people to his beautiful mansion and preparing them for a terrible ritual. Can you keep your head on the shoulders?
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 12 found this review helpful
Good game play, nasty concept
PostedOctober 26, 2012
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Considered solely as a puzzle game, this is a pretty good one with unusual minigames and good graphics. However, the central conceit of the plot has to do with innocent people beheaded and forced to live on as disembodied heads with full consciousness. I've played many, MANY gross and shocking computer games, but for some reason I found the sight of the head on the opening screen (moaning "Help me ...") so repellent that I uninstalled the game halfway through. It's not pleasantly creepy or spooky; it's just nasty.
Just a heads-up for sensitive players. Be prepared for some nasty images that refuse to leave your mind.
Travel through time to locate all seven parts of the Medallion!
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Could be much better
PostedJanuary 18, 2012
Da_Wordmama
fromNevada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I like this type of game, but this series has some basic flaws that make gameplay much harder and more frustrating than it has to be. For one thing, the pictures you're creating don't have much relation to the subject you're supposedly studying (in this case, ancient cultures). In fact, you often can't tell what the picture is supposed to represent -- they may even be abstract patterns for all I can tell, and they don't even give you a title. Secondly, the "hints" are almost no help at all; each one lets you click on a specific tile to reveal whether it's part of the picture or not. When the board is 25x25, that's not much help.
In short, the World Riddles games are far too frustrating to be much fun. Try the World Mosaic series if you want to see a better way.
I don't recommend this game.