sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:821
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 27, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Step into a tale of mystery, intrigue, deceit, and murder!
Overall rating
5
/
5
130 of 176 found this review helpful
NEW PODCAST: - IS DR. FRANKENSTEIN HIDING OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
PostedJanuary 26, 2023
sunnyglow
fromLocation? Anywhere but this mecca for murder! This burg has a murder rate higher than most large cities!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages
Engage in some sleuthing as you help a widow, Emily, investigate a series of murders within her town. After a period of mourning the death of her husband, Emily, with a little help from her friends, is creating a new life for herself. As a former journalist, her new interest is murder most foul, helping the police locate the perpetrators as well as sharing her stories as a podcaster. This game has Emily investigating two murders, one in the first chapter and another in the bonus chapter.
I loved this game for its story and feel it is a vast improvement for Elephant Games. However, I enjoy this type of game genre (murder mysteries). Personally, did not feel the game needed a “warning” concerning graphic or unsettling content. I have seen much worse from a former developer, Mad Head Games; however, there are some who might find it unsettling.
I feel the pace is decent. The story is excellent and will have you trying to guess the culprit behind the murders. However, it is obvious Elephant is downsizing their HOPA games. There are not as many activities as in previous games. There are less collectibles and less mini-games and HOP scenes. Nevertheless, I would rather have a well-designed short game than one which is loaded with activities but is somewhat boring. There are 36 collectibles – twelve (12) morphing personal items and twenty-four (24) puzzle pieces which are used to play a jigsaw puzzle upon completion of the game. To give the game a current feel to it, the developer has two gimmicks – a phone and a recorder to record people’s voices.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 21 achievements.
• Collect 12 personal items and 24 puzzle pieces to create a puzzle in a Secret Room
• Get a phone and microphone to record people’s voices.
• 6 wallpapers along with screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 21 achievements.
• Collect 12 personal items and 24 puzzle pieces to create a puzzle in a Secret Room
• Get a phone and microphone to record people’s voices.
• 6 wallpapers along with screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: I believe this is a prequel. Emily is off to solve another murder in which a struggling widow, who is in prison, has been sentenced for the murder of her neighbor, a wealthy businessman. The murder is illogical with a lack of motive for this widow. The money she saved for her daughter to have a medical procedure was stolen at the time she supposedly murdered this businessman. Discover the weird set of circumstances related to this case. I found the story behind the game fascinating. Usually, I can figure out the culprit and motive long before it is revealed; however this murder had me stumped until the very end. The chapter is a nice addition to the game, if for no other reason than the whodunit aspect of the game. However, as with the main game, there are few activities with only five (5) HOP scenes and three (3) mini-games. The player will continue to collect the collectibles within the scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are not many activities within this game. There are only seventeen (17) scenes, thirteen of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes with six items to be located. Most of the scenes are standard lists of items with little interactivity. There are also a few silhouette scenes. The developer did include one scene in which the player must search for parts of the scene and not items per se. There is also a scene in which items are located within words highlighted within a narrative. There is one scene in which items are placed within their proper location within a scene.
MINI-GAMES: There are not many within this game. There are nineteen (19) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are a few puzzles which I did enjoy. However, for the most part, many of the puzzles are very easy, a tad too easy for my taste. To me, entering a combination into a lock is NOT a puzzle. This is something everyone does daily. There are quite a few picture puzzles which is something new for Elephant as well. I felt the picture puzzles were thrown in as filler for the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Logic puzzle. Using a crane pick up items and place them into position on a square grid so all spaces are filled.
B. Matching puzzle. Turn 12 keys (6 on each grid) to create matches of the key ends.
C. Sequence puzzle. Press on numbers on cones in ascending order. Parts of the cones must be moved to disclose the numbers.
D. Sequence puzzle. Rotate the dials on 4 valves so all point to zero. They must be turned in a specific sequence.
E. Sequence puzzle Place 10 cards in the proper sequence to create a logical story
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch hexagonal shaped fragments to restore an image of a painting.
G. Matching puzzle. Rotate parts on a key until they match those on a given lock.
H. Assembly puzzle. Move dials up and down to move plus enlarge and diminish the size of the picture fragments to restore pictures
B. Matching puzzle. Turn 12 keys (6 on each grid) to create matches of the key ends.
C. Sequence puzzle. Press on numbers on cones in ascending order. Parts of the cones must be moved to disclose the numbers.
D. Sequence puzzle. Rotate the dials on 4 valves so all point to zero. They must be turned in a specific sequence.
E. Sequence puzzle Place 10 cards in the proper sequence to create a logical story
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch hexagonal shaped fragments to restore an image of a painting.
G. Matching puzzle. Rotate parts on a key until they match those on a given lock.
H. Assembly puzzle. Move dials up and down to move plus enlarge and diminish the size of the picture fragments to restore pictures
***I awarded this game 5 stars because of the improved quality of this game over others offered by this developer within the last year.
I recommend this game!
Revisit Moonfell Wood in this stunning remaster of the hidden object classic!
Overall rating
3
/
5
162 of 205 found this review helpful
ANOTHER REFURBISHED CLASSIC FROM THE PAST
PostedJanuary 12, 2023
sunnyglow
fromClassics stand the test of time. Hopefully we will see more of the classics remastered in the future.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter
Join Princess Sophia in the second remastered game within this series. Enjoy a long trek through Moonfell Wood, a puzzle-filled adventure. After awakening from a one-hundred-year sleep, Sophia’s quest is to be reunited with her family and other fellow humans. She will be accompanied by the fairy Mira and a fiery little pocket dragon who will start fires when needed. As Sophia, you, the player, will encounter goblins, a centaur, a minotaur, and fairies galore as you continue your journey through Moonfell Wood.
I did not play the original game, so my review is based on the game and is not a comparison between the original and remastered versions. The developer did an excellent job in refurbishing the graphics within this game. The graphics are incredibly beautiful, a fairy tale come to life. Some of the scenes are breathtaking. However, it is also a very long game. With 134 puzzles, this game is probably the longest game I have ever played from BFG. However, many of these “puzzles” would be classified as HOP scenes in other developers’ games. Since this developer allows the player to skip these “puzzles” I have designated them as mini-games. There are very few designated HOP scenes – only eleven (11), and most of these are standard lists of items.
I loved the demo; however, after the demo ended, to me, the game became tedious and fell apart. What happened to the voiceovers? The demo has voiceovers and a much different format than the remainder of the game. There are NO voice overs after the demo. There are also repeated scenes within the game, and, at one point, I became confused as to some of the scenes being almost identical to those from the demo. The collectibles are eighty-eight (88) Tri-Peaks cards and eighty-eight (88) morphing game characters. I found most easy to locate and from the graphics it appears they were an added to the original game. I did love the journal and the ability to pin pages from the journal to the puzzle I was working on. This is a nice concept I hope other developers will look at as well.
I loved the demo; however, after the demo ended, to me, the game became tedious and fell apart. What happened to the voiceovers? The demo has voiceovers and a much different format than the remainder of the game. There are NO voice overs after the demo. There are also repeated scenes within the game, and, at one point, I became confused as to some of the scenes being almost identical to those from the demo. The collectibles are eighty-eight (88) Tri-Peaks cards and eighty-eight (88) morphing game characters. I found most easy to locate and from the graphics it appears they were an added to the original game. I did love the journal and the ability to pin pages from the journal to the puzzle I was working on. This is a nice concept I hope other developers will look at as well.
The game consists of sequential puzzles The predominant puzzles within the game are picture puzzles. In one type, the player searches for a number of fragments either for a picture or a statue and then, uses those fragments to create a picture or statue. The other most common type of picture puzzle involves rotating and switching fragments to restore a picture. With so many variations of the same puzzles, the game became tedious and boring. There are way too many picture puzzles for my taste. Less is more and in this case the game is too long for the lack of variety in puzzles.
MECHANICS:
• 3 Levels of difficulty – Easy, Normal, and Hard
• 20 achievements.
• Collect 88 morphing objects and 88 Tri-peaks cards (2 of each in each scene)
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Mira, a fairy, to help with navigating Moonfell Woods.
• Pocket dragon to start fires as needed.
• Magnifying glass used to see close-up within scenes
• Journal which allows you to pin pages which will be needed as you journey in this game.
• Tri-peaks card game which has 46 games which can be played upon completion of the game.
• 20 achievements.
• Collect 88 morphing objects and 88 Tri-peaks cards (2 of each in each scene)
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Mira, a fairy, to help with navigating Moonfell Woods.
• Pocket dragon to start fires as needed.
• Magnifying glass used to see close-up within scenes
• Journal which allows you to pin pages which will be needed as you journey in this game.
• Tri-peaks card game which has 46 games which can be played upon completion of the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: Saddle up your griffin and soar into the sky. Play Sophia as she leaves Moonfell Woods on journey west to meet her family. However, her griffin has other ideas and lands her on an island. From there, discover why the bird decided to land at this location. I feel in some ways this chapter was better than the main game. I feel this chapter has a faster pace and more variety in puzzles as well. It is a lengthy chapter. There are three (3) HOP scenes and twenty (20) mini-games. As in the main game, most of the “puzzles” would be considered HOP scenes in other developers’ games. However, there are not as many picture puzzles as in the main game.
MINI-GAMES: There are one-hundred thirty-one (131) puzzles from what I have counted within this game. In addition to picture puzzles, there is a variety of other types as well. There are some cryptic puzzles which I enjoyed, providing clues on how to play the puzzle. However, the instructions are not explicit, they must be deciphered as to how to play the puzzle. Several times during the game the player will play a Tri-Peaks game. This consists of eliminating cards that are either one above or one below each card played. The player must have no cards remaining at the end of play. There are also additional Tri-Peaks games available upon completion of the game. There are also many matching puzzles (which in most games would be matching HOP scenes). Every time the player gets a new tarot card, they will search for 15 to 16 items such as hearts, moons, stars, hidden on each card.
HOP SCENES: This developer considers most HOP scenes to be standard list of items with small puzzles included within them. This is a nice touch. I feel the few actual HOP scenes were well-designed and better than those from most developers. I found some the scenes difficult, almost puzzle-like themselves. They are longer than most HOP scenes and some items must be combined or items are well-hidden within the scene. They include one to two puzzles within them and require interaction with other parts of the scene. There are so many puzzles in this game I will only outline those which are NOT picture puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES WHICH ARE NOT PICTURE PUZZLES:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch imprinted bricks so that flower halves on the bricks match up where the bricks come together. (Puzzle used twice within the game)
B. Sequence puzzle. Place tokens with the life cycle of a tree on them in the order in which they grow and mature then press on 6 colored diamonds changing their color according to a given clue.
C. Logic puzzle. Arrange tokens on a circular grid according to a given inscription (Variations of this puzzle throughout the game)
D. Rope puzzle. Separate threads so none overlaps each other. 3X (Puzzle repeated several times within the game)
E. Match-3 game. Match up 3 or more of the same items to removed them to produce a picture. (Puzzle used twice within the game)
F. Paint by number. Paint by symbols on a rose
G. On 3 columns, choose the images which best relate to the picture at the top of each column/pillar – Mountain, tree, and water drop.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Tangram puzzle. Create a square without gaps by placing pieces into the proper position.
I. Paint by Numbers – in this case symbols to paint dolls so they get happy faces
J. Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order so all are removed
K. Place books into a shelf so all fit. Books can be rotated
B. Sequence puzzle. Place tokens with the life cycle of a tree on them in the order in which they grow and mature then press on 6 colored diamonds changing their color according to a given clue.
C. Logic puzzle. Arrange tokens on a circular grid according to a given inscription (Variations of this puzzle throughout the game)
D. Rope puzzle. Separate threads so none overlaps each other. 3X (Puzzle repeated several times within the game)
E. Match-3 game. Match up 3 or more of the same items to removed them to produce a picture. (Puzzle used twice within the game)
F. Paint by number. Paint by symbols on a rose
G. On 3 columns, choose the images which best relate to the picture at the top of each column/pillar – Mountain, tree, and water drop.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Tangram puzzle. Create a square without gaps by placing pieces into the proper position.
I. Paint by Numbers – in this case symbols to paint dolls so they get happy faces
J. Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order so all are removed
K. Place books into a shelf so all fit. Books can be rotated
I recommend this game!
Immerse yourself in an amazing world of puzzles and riddles!
Overall rating
1
/
5
41 of 67 found this review helpful
Boring
PostedDecember 24, 2022
sunnyglow
fromMerry Christmas to everyone at BFG and their members! Hopefully better games await us in 2023 and hopefully Domini will stop producing games like this!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The title says it all. Sad to see a great developer descend into producing low-end games like this.
No voice, no story, no collectibles - no extras - just an endless succession of incessant HOP scenes with a few mini-games thrown in.
Paid the CE price this time for this "HOPA game." Never again. This is NOT a HOPA - it is a HOP game!
I don't recommend this game.
Treacherous villains attempt to deprive the world of the Christmas spirit!
Overall rating
5
/
5
137 of 194 found this review helpful
SAVE CHRISTMAS FROM AN ELF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHELF
PostedDecember 15, 2022
sunnyglow
fromMerry Christmas! Kudos to Domini Games for another fantastic Christmas game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 74 pages (My Time: 10 Hours)
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 74 pages (My Time: 10 Hours)
Take very long sleigh ride into Christmas! My ride through this game took ten hours - the longest HOPA game I have played this year! This game has twice the gameplay as other HOPA games. It is almost like two games for the price of one! Enjoy a delightful Christmas delight, filled with Christmas scenes filled with all the joy and wonder of the season. Your grandfather is Santa Claus! He has hidden his identity from you throughout the years, but now that you are a young adult, he has revealed the truth at last. However, the holiday is in trouble and chaos has come to the North Pole. Treachery is afoot at the North Pole, where a disgruntled elf, Ambrus, is plotting to see the holiday eliminated and with it, your grandfather, Santa Claus. The Guardians of Christmas are a team which have worked to keep the spirit of Christmas alive! However, Ambrus, has infiltrated the group and there is a traitor working with him in his plans to end the holiday. Discover the evildoers behind the scenes and help your grandfather save Christmas. You will have the assistance of many magical creatures along the way.
If this game does not get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will. This is a very long game, chock full of Christmas spirit and scenes resplendent with bright festive scenes with delightful music, lights, presents, and glistening Christmas trees. A lot of work went into the creation of this game. There are numerous activities within this game. The story is unique in its depiction of the North Pole. This is a great holiday game; however, I do not believe it is one which can be played with younger players. I believe the puzzles are more difficult than a younger child would enjoy playing or would be able to play. However, it could be played if a parent played with the child.
The collectibles are morphing Christmas items and Christmas stockings. Collect candy canes which can be exchanged for Christmas items to deck out a bedroom. I found the stockings and candy canes easy to locate; however, I did have difficulty in locating some of the morphing Christmas items. As in previous games, this developer provides extra gameplay. The player can opt out of playing the scenes if they do not want to play the extra scenes. The player is asked if he wants to enter or tour this extra scene. There are four (4) instances of extra footage including a romp through Santa’s toy workshop, a tour of Blizzard Castle, a search for the Snow Queen’s mirror, and another romp through Santa’s toy workshop in the bonus chapter. No other developer offers this feature and I feel this is a nice touch.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 41 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing Christmas items and 15 Christmas stockings
• Collect 70 candy canes to exchange for Christmas items for a bedroom.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 23 HOP scenes and 21 mini-games
• 41 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing Christmas items and 15 Christmas stockings
• Collect 70 candy canes to exchange for Christmas items for a bedroom.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 23 HOP scenes and 21 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another story. Play a ragged girl with a good heart and kind disposition who has been asked by the King to locate his daughter, Goldilocks. She has been missing for years. Her star-shaped medallion is rumored to be located within the woods where she disappeared. Only a person who is pure at heart can locate this medallion. The King feels you are the right person for the job. Nevertheless, there is one person who will be opposed to you searching for the missing princess. Help the King find his daughter and discover something about yourself as well. This is a nice addition to the game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and ten (10) mini-games. This chapter is well-worth the price of this game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As with their other games, this developer provides a variety of HOP scenes, and all are interactive. Although Domini Games is best known for their puzzles, their HOP scenes are amazing as well. They are creatively designed and provide some new innovative design with each new game. The scenes include standard lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There are scenes with items which are found and returned and used within the scene. I personally love the scenes with rebus clues. There are a few scenes with items highlighted within a narrative. There is a scene with items portrayed on a Christmas themed stained-glass window. As in their other games, an optional Match-3 game can be played instead of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-eight (38) mini-games, twenty-one (21) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Most of these can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” level. The “hard” level is not challenging but provides a little more challenge than the “easy” level. For me, the “hard” level games are more moderately difficult as opposed to mind crushing. As in other games by this developer, the difficulty of the puzzles can be set in the menu; however, if a puzzle is too difficult, it can be changed while playing it within the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE 38 MINI-GAMES FROM THE GAME: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Rotate rings on a staff to re-create a picture. In the hard version, rotating one segment of the staff affects the others
B. E/H. Connection puzzle. Create a railroad track by connecting 2 ends using given segments of a railroad track. The easy version has more silhouettes of places where track is to be laid. The hard version has only 1 silhouette section shown. All segments must be used to create the track
C. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate knobs within the inner workings of a hair dryer so they are attached to wires within. In the hard version, moving one knob affects the others.
D. E/H. Riddle me this. Choose items on a gate which answer riddles within a book.
E. E/H. Map puzzle. Skate down a frozen river avoiding obstacles within your path. The easy version gives you 2 extra lives. The hard version has more obstacles to avoid.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle Novel idea. Push pistons up and down to move picture fragments to restore an image. The easy version has 3 pistons and the hard 4 and more pieces to maneuver.
G. E/H. Matching puzzle. On a whackamole arcade, click on, and uncover circles to find a matching image to the one in the center of the screen. In the hard version, the circles rotate with each move.
H. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Rotate hands and the face on a clock so they display the correct number of symbols shown on the weights. The easy version has 2 weights and the hard has 3.
I. E/H. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no sections cross it other. The easy version has a less tangled rope than the hard version.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H. Move music notes up and down on a piano until they are within their proper position on a scale.
K. E/H. Map puzzle. Place wooden plaques with directional numbers on them into a grid to set the path for you to travel across an icy lake. Use all the numbered planks The hard version has more planks to place. All must be used.
L. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Cut an outline according to directions
M. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces of a train track to create a track. The harder version has more track pieces to put together.
N. E/H. Ride a sled avoiding obstacles in your path. You get 3 lives and lose one every time you hit an obstacle. The easy version is just easier to navigate.
B. E/H. Connection puzzle. Create a railroad track by connecting 2 ends using given segments of a railroad track. The easy version has more silhouettes of places where track is to be laid. The hard version has only 1 silhouette section shown. All segments must be used to create the track
C. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate knobs within the inner workings of a hair dryer so they are attached to wires within. In the hard version, moving one knob affects the others.
D. E/H. Riddle me this. Choose items on a gate which answer riddles within a book.
E. E/H. Map puzzle. Skate down a frozen river avoiding obstacles within your path. The easy version gives you 2 extra lives. The hard version has more obstacles to avoid.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle Novel idea. Push pistons up and down to move picture fragments to restore an image. The easy version has 3 pistons and the hard 4 and more pieces to maneuver.
G. E/H. Matching puzzle. On a whackamole arcade, click on, and uncover circles to find a matching image to the one in the center of the screen. In the hard version, the circles rotate with each move.
H. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Rotate hands and the face on a clock so they display the correct number of symbols shown on the weights. The easy version has 2 weights and the hard has 3.
I. E/H. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no sections cross it other. The easy version has a less tangled rope than the hard version.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H. Move music notes up and down on a piano until they are within their proper position on a scale.
K. E/H. Map puzzle. Place wooden plaques with directional numbers on them into a grid to set the path for you to travel across an icy lake. Use all the numbered planks The hard version has more planks to place. All must be used.
L. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Cut an outline according to directions
M. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces of a train track to create a track. The harder version has more track pieces to put together.
N. E/H. Ride a sled avoiding obstacles in your path. You get 3 lives and lose one every time you hit an obstacle. The easy version is just easier to navigate.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a soul-stealing monster from terrorizing the kingdom?
Overall rating
3
/
5
49 of 102 found this review helpful
ENJOY A HAIRY EXPERIENCE WITH RAPUNZEL
PostedDecember 8, 2022
sunnyglow
fromLocation: Locked in a tower involved in a 'hairy' experience with a monster named Rapunzel
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 68 pages (My time: 4 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 68 pages (My time: 4 Hours)
Grab your broomstick and fly to a northern kingdom to save it from a vengeful Rapunzel, a monster who has connected to her darker inner self. Her aim is to gain more power by sucking the life energy from every man she meets. Play Geheldia, an apprentice witch, hoping to join an esteemed coven of witches. Fly around the kingdom plotting ways to stop Rapunzel, getting help from others, as you battle to end her reign of terror. Hopefully you can lock her and throw away the key!
Want to relax and chill out? This game may be right up your alley. Let down your hair with light fare from Elephant Games. It is a short game (I completed it in four hours), and it is cookie cutter replica of others from this developer. The activities are fewer than I would expect from a Collector’s Edition game. It is not going to win any gaming awards; however, it is a decent game based upon a twisted fairy tale about Rapunzel. The graphics are all dressed up in medieval attire.
There are two collectibles, puzzles pieces and cards. I believe Elephant has listened to our complaints concerning tiny, well-hidden collectibles because I found all easy to locate and much larger than in previous games. However, there are less collectibles in this game, only twenty-four (24) within the entire game. Not every scene has a collectible. There is a secret room which provides two jigsaw puzzles. The first one has the pieces given to you to solve and the second contains the twelve pieces you collect within the game. If you are missing collectibles there is an exhibition room which allows the player to return to scenes to retrieve them.
MECHANICS:
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 24 puzzle pieces for two jigsaw puzzles hidden within the Secret Room
• Collect 12 cards
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Exhibition room which allows the player to return to scenes to recover collectibles missed while playing the game
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 24 puzzle pieces for two jigsaw puzzles hidden within the Secret Room
• Collect 12 cards
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Exhibition room which allows the player to return to scenes to recover collectibles missed while playing the game
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Leonard, King Harald’s envoy, as he attempts to negotiate a peace agreement with the kingdom of King Gottfried. Treachery is afoot as one of the court members is undermining King Gottfried and trying to initiate a war between the two kingdoms. There are six (6) HOP scenes and four (4) mini-games. The mini-games are unique. Three of them involve manipulation of the characters. I feel the chapter has a nice tie-in to the game. Without the bonus chapter, this game would extremely short. It does blend nicely with the main game and expands the story.
HOP SCENES: There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes plus several mini-HOP scenes in which the player either searches for 5 or 6 items or matches 5 or 6 pairs of items. All the regular scenes can be replayed upon completion of the game Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette scenes. My favorite scene is one in which items are located on an astrolabe which revolves between two scenes in which to locate items.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty (20) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. All the puzzles are ones seen in other HOPA games. I found all the puzzles easy and none which were even of middle difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place pieces of a bridge into position to fix it.
B. Gear/Switch puzzle. Switch and rotate gears to restore an image.
C. Strategy puzzle. Lock puzzle. Using a hairpin, bend it (using up-and-down arrows) so that when pushing a start button, the lines on the tumblers within the lock match up with each other.
D. Strategy puzzle. Use Rapunzel’s tresses to extinguish torches, while avoiding moving scissors. Running into scissors will cut off your ability to cover a torch.
E. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces on a grid with hexagonal squares to recreate a picture as per a given diagram. A little tougher than most picture puzzles. More pieces to use than normal.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch characters in a puppet show so they are positioned correctly according to the correct narrative not the one given by the puppet theater.
G. Sequence/Map puzzle. Follow a sequence on a map of markers to reach an end destination.
B. Gear/Switch puzzle. Switch and rotate gears to restore an image.
C. Strategy puzzle. Lock puzzle. Using a hairpin, bend it (using up-and-down arrows) so that when pushing a start button, the lines on the tumblers within the lock match up with each other.
D. Strategy puzzle. Use Rapunzel’s tresses to extinguish torches, while avoiding moving scissors. Running into scissors will cut off your ability to cover a torch.
E. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces on a grid with hexagonal squares to recreate a picture as per a given diagram. A little tougher than most picture puzzles. More pieces to use than normal.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch characters in a puppet show so they are positioned correctly according to the correct narrative not the one given by the puppet theater.
G. Sequence/Map puzzle. Follow a sequence on a map of markers to reach an end destination.
I recommend this game!
Embark on a daring rescue through time!
Overall rating
2
/
5
28 of 69 found this review helpful
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME ON THAT OLDIE BUT GOODIE – THE LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
PostedDecember 6, 2022
sunnyglow
fromHopefully, we will see improvements in the next game from this developer.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME MINUS THE BONUS CHAPTER (I COULD NOT SOLVE NOR SKIP THE LAST PUZZLE IN THE MAIN GAME TO PLAY THE BONUS CHAPTER)
2 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 53 pages
The world is in chaos! A mad doctor has upended time! Time is mixed up as is this game! Play a man who has been asked by his wife, Alicia, via a hologram, to save the world from this chaos. Take that “last train to Clarksville” to save the world from a time traveling madman, Dr. Timothy (her boss no less). Only you can save the world from being destroyed by time manipulation. Travel to three different locations – one set in Russia (evidenced by the heavy accent by one of the characters), one set in China, and one set in the American Old West. (I knew Clint Eastwood inspired this game). I hate to rain on the parade of the dearly departed, but this game is a mess. Some parts are very good; however, there are aspects of this game which I found not to my liking. For me, not being able to enter the bonus chapter (which I paid for as an extra) is somewhat upsetting.
Say what’s your “bag” hipster? This game is a mixed bag of (as Eastwood would say) “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Be prepared for an earful of droning music in the first part of the game. The same musical chorus drove me to insanity. I now understand why Dr. Timothy became crazed! Hey dude! Drag out your 1960’s tie-die shirt and head band as you listen to the same droning music for half the game. I would have rather heard the old 1966 Monkees song, “The Last Train to Clarksville” than that continuous song chorus repeated throughout. Find yourself traveling throughout Clarksville, searching for three crystals to prevent the mad doctor from accomplishing his mission to control time. I would have loved to finish this game; however, I was not allowed to “skip” the last puzzle. As a person who is not good at timed puzzles, I would have skipped this one – but the game developers from made certain that anyone who is handicapped in this regard, will not be allowed to continue to the bonus chapter. Gee wish I could have loved to time travel past the last puzzle! But alas, I could not and alas, I wasted my money by purchasing this collector’s edition.
There are few things I loved from the main game. I like the fact that the player must check the notes for information on entering codes and passwords. You don’t simply write them on a sheet of paper and store them in the inventory. This aspect did make the game seem more like an adventure game. The collectibles are gnomes and morphing objects. There are also thirty-two (32) symbols of luck to collect as well. I found most of the collectibles were easy to locate. It appears that the only collectibles within the bonus chapter are the symbols of luck. I do feel the game got off to a slow start, then chugged along, picking up steam as I continued into the game. The graphics are beautifully rendered. The game itself is much more difficult to play than most other HOPA games and this is a good thing. However, there should aways be the ability to escape any puzzle which proves difficult to the player.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 12 achievements.
• Collect 7 gnomes and 12 morphing objects
• Collect 32 symbols of luck
• Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 12 achievements.
• Collect 7 gnomes and 12 morphing objects
• Collect 32 symbols of luck
• Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
HOP SCENES: This game is not a cookie cutter version of other HOPA games. It is unique in that respect. There are fourteen (14) scenes in the main game None can be replayed because the developer does not provide this option. However, I don’t actually know that because I could not finish the game. There are some amazingly creative scenes within this game. Many items are well-hidden within the scenes. My favorite scenes were the one which uses a claw within an arcade machine to pick up and release the items to be removed and the scene with the Russian stacking dolls.
MINI-GAMES: I counted thirty-one (31) mini-games (some of which are not so designed) I have no idea if any can replayed, because I could not finish the game) The mini-games are excellent for the most part. I found most easy to play. Nevertheless, I found the directions for some of the mini-games very confusing. There were some I skipped because I could not understand what I was supposed to do within the puzzle. There are a few challenging mini-games within this game. There is a map puzzle which involved a Native American chief maneuvering through thirty-six (36) squares by clicking on each one to create a path for him to proceed. This puzzle made absolutely no sense to me and there is no solution provided. I just figured it out by trial-and-error.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THE GAME:
A. Connection puzzle. On a grid rotate pipe links to they create a path for 4 balls of light to move from the outside edge to the middle of the grid.
B. Gear puzzle. Rotate 3 gears in a clock (each one set up as a maze) so that ball bearings within each take a path to reach an exit point in the middle of each gear.
C. Sequence puzzle. Press fuses in the proper order as displayed by flashing lights in sequence. 3X
D. Strategy puzzle. Plot a course to move from one end of an icy lake to another without breaking ice and starting over again.
E. Mirror puzzle. Move mirrors to move a beam of light from the mirrors to a bomb against the wall to light it
F. Ye Olde Book puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch books to restore an image on its spines
G. Switch puzzle. Switch circular picture fragments so that a painting is restored.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch stones with path segments on them so a path is created for energy to flow down two pillars.
I. Strategy puzzle. Kung fu Chinese ducks. Using pineapples, throw them at arcade ducks to destroy them.
J. Map puzzle. Lead a chief through a 6 x 6 grid with 36 squares to the end point choosing for each square either a segment of a route or a device used to move forward. The strategy guide DOES NOT provide the solution so you must figure it out for yourself
K. Assembly puzzle. Place bottles on a 4 x 3 shelf with 12 slots so that each one is in its proper location
L. Battle scene. Try to defeat Dr. Time as you trace 5 designs on grids all while shielding yourself from this attacks.
A. Connection puzzle. On a grid rotate pipe links to they create a path for 4 balls of light to move from the outside edge to the middle of the grid.
B. Gear puzzle. Rotate 3 gears in a clock (each one set up as a maze) so that ball bearings within each take a path to reach an exit point in the middle of each gear.
C. Sequence puzzle. Press fuses in the proper order as displayed by flashing lights in sequence. 3X
D. Strategy puzzle. Plot a course to move from one end of an icy lake to another without breaking ice and starting over again.
E. Mirror puzzle. Move mirrors to move a beam of light from the mirrors to a bomb against the wall to light it
F. Ye Olde Book puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch books to restore an image on its spines
G. Switch puzzle. Switch circular picture fragments so that a painting is restored.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch stones with path segments on them so a path is created for energy to flow down two pillars.
I. Strategy puzzle. Kung fu Chinese ducks. Using pineapples, throw them at arcade ducks to destroy them.
J. Map puzzle. Lead a chief through a 6 x 6 grid with 36 squares to the end point choosing for each square either a segment of a route or a device used to move forward. The strategy guide DOES NOT provide the solution so you must figure it out for yourself
K. Assembly puzzle. Place bottles on a 4 x 3 shelf with 12 slots so that each one is in its proper location
L. Battle scene. Try to defeat Dr. Time as you trace 5 designs on grids all while shielding yourself from this attacks.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? As stated, this game is a mixed bag. It will appeal to some but not others as evidenced by the reviews posted. If you play adventure games (which I do) you will find this game more along the lines of that genre rather than the usual HOPA games evidenced on this site. It has some excellent puzzles and yet others with directions which are confusing. All HOPA games should include the ability to skip puzzles – period! Most of HOP scenes are creatively designed. However, in some, the items to be located are somewhat difficult to locate. This is a more difficult game to maneuver than most witnessed on this site. I love that, but it has aspects I dislike. As stated, no HOPA game should have puzzles which cannot be skipped.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you restore your town's faith in the spirit of Christmas?
Overall rating
4
/
5
89 of 134 found this review helpful
ENJOY SOME HOT COCOA FOR THE SOUL
PostedDecember 1, 2022
sunnyglow
fromSanta was my Uber Driver. In the future instead of the sight of Santa's sleigh on top of our houses, will we be seeing Uber Santas delivering presents instead?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 73 pages My Time: 3 Hours
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 73 pages My Time: 3 Hours
Start the Yuletide season with another heartwarming Christmas game from Elephant. Instead of a sleigh ride, you will be taking a taxi as you play Jacob, a disgruntled young man, disheartened by the lack of Christmas spirit in the modern world. The taxi driver, Nick, will seem familiar to most – a modern day Santa Claus out to help Jacob recover his Christmas spirit. Join Jacob as he helps three dispirited souls in the main chapter and one misguided cat as he helps spread Christmas cheer to each. Grab some hot cocoa, sit by the fire, and enjoy another holiday tradition from Elephant Games.
This is a great game for the entire family. It is one which should get the player into the spirit of the holidays. It is decorated with Christmas items throughout the game. It is a short game. I finished the entire game, including the bonus chapter in a little over three hours. However, this is the perfect size game for younger players. It is not too long with activities which are not too difficult for the younger set. There is light-hearted music throughout the game. The music is festive and sounds “Christmas-y;” however, there are no actual Christmas songs as background music. The music does sound similar, however, to well-known songs. One of the songs sounds like an altered version of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The music is upbeat and a perfect background for this game.
To me, this is a decent game; however, I do not feel this game is as good as those from previous years. This developer is known for their breathtaking Christmas games. Personally, I did not think the graphics were as awesome as in the past. The scenes lack the multitude of Christmas trees, glistening scenes, and light displays. There are two collectibles, snow globes and puzzle pieces for a jigsaw puzzle which can be played upon completion of the game. The final puzzle is kept within a secret room and requires rotating and placing the twelve (12) pieces into position to complete a picture. I found all the collectibles easy to locate within the scenes. There are not as many collectibles as in prior games and in the bonus chapter, the last scenes within the game do not have any collectibles at all. I did like the story behind the game. However, I loved the whimsical story in the bonus chapter better than that from the main game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 20 achievements.
• Collect 12 puzzle fragments to complete a jigsaw puzzle within a Secret Room
• Collect 12 snow globes
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition room which permits the player to search for missing collectibles
• 20 achievements.
• Collect 12 puzzle fragments to complete a jigsaw puzzle within a Secret Room
• Collect 12 snow globes
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition room which permits the player to search for missing collectibles
BONUS CHAPTER: This chapter is the cat’s meow! To me, this chapter was the best part of the game. Be “a-mew-sed” with a bevy of cats. Play Jacob as he finds himself in a Catstown, inhabited by talking cats. Mayor Meows asks for your help in tracking down a scoundrel who has disrupted Christmas. He has strewn yarn all over the town and stolen the Christmas presents. Locate the misguided scoundrel responsible for ruining Christmas for this feline world. There are six (6) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. The only collectibles are snow globes and the final scenes within the chapter do not have any collectibles at all. For me, this chapter salvaged the game. In my opinion, it is much better than the main game. This chapter is also longer than those in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes within the game, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for a small number of items (usually six). I was rather disappointed with the HOP scenes. I do believe they could have been better designed. They are filled with many Christmas items; however, they lack creativity. The scenes are standard lists of items, silhouette, matching, and include one slider silhouette scene (in which the silhouette is matched with the actual item to remove it). There is also one story scene in which highlighted items within the text are located within the scene.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As with other Elephant games, there are many picture puzzles. I feel the puzzles are the best part of this game. There are some creative elements within the puzzles. My favorite mini-game was one from the bonus chapter. It is a maze puzzle which involves moving a ball to the center of a circular maze. However, instead of turning the maze, it requires switching four cats to positions outside the maze to move the maze back and forth to move the ball to the center. I feel that is a clever touch to a commonly used puzzle within HOPA games.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes within the game, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for a small number of items (usually six). I was rather disappointed with the HOP scenes. I do believe they could have been better designed. They are filled with many Christmas items; however, they lack creativity. The scenes are standard lists of items, silhouette, matching, and include one slider silhouette scene (in which the silhouette is matched with the actual item to remove it). There is also one story scene in which highlighted items within the text are located within the scene.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As with other Elephant games, there are many picture puzzles. I feel the puzzles are the best part of this game. There are some creative elements within the puzzles. My favorite mini-game was one from the bonus chapter. It is a maze puzzle which involves moving a ball to the center of a circular maze. However, instead of turning the maze, it requires switching four cats to positions outside the maze to move the maze back and forth to move the ball to the center. I feel that is a clever touch to a commonly used puzzle within HOPA games.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch/Rotate Gear puzzle. Switch and rotate gears with parts of a picture upon them. Rotate them to restore the image of a famous Christmas figure
B. Matching puzzle. Match 2 or more identical snow drifts until none remain. They can only be matched with another in the same row, column, or diagonal line
C. Maze puzzle. Move a snowflake through a maze moving over metal disks to open gateways throughout the maze.
D. Assembly puzzle. Adjust 3 parts of a key so it fits through a lock. After each try, the player will get a green light for each of the 3 parts being adjusted properly.
E. Sleight of hand puzzle. Place a ball under one of 3 cups, shuffle them, then choose the cup with the ball underneath. 3X
F. Assembly puzzle. Create sandwiches using Dad’s infamous sandwich recipe.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle. Switch the positions of 4 cats so that they rotate the maze back and forth to move a ball to the center of the maze. Just adorable!
H. Map puzzle. Get Jacob back to shore. Use green arrows to navigate Jacob through water to get to shore. He moves until something blocks his path.
I. Assembly puzzle. Move body parts of two cat angels to match those given in a diagram.
J. Assembly puzzle. Place gifts into their appropriate slots, attach the proper bow and matching gift tag for each one.
B. Matching puzzle. Match 2 or more identical snow drifts until none remain. They can only be matched with another in the same row, column, or diagonal line
C. Maze puzzle. Move a snowflake through a maze moving over metal disks to open gateways throughout the maze.
D. Assembly puzzle. Adjust 3 parts of a key so it fits through a lock. After each try, the player will get a green light for each of the 3 parts being adjusted properly.
E. Sleight of hand puzzle. Place a ball under one of 3 cups, shuffle them, then choose the cup with the ball underneath. 3X
F. Assembly puzzle. Create sandwiches using Dad’s infamous sandwich recipe.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle. Switch the positions of 4 cats so that they rotate the maze back and forth to move a ball to the center of the maze. Just adorable!
H. Map puzzle. Get Jacob back to shore. Use green arrows to navigate Jacob through water to get to shore. He moves until something blocks his path.
I. Assembly puzzle. Move body parts of two cat angels to match those given in a diagram.
J. Assembly puzzle. Place gifts into their appropriate slots, attach the proper bow and matching gift tag for each one.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a short game, even with the bonus chapter. If you enjoyed the stories, sparkle, glitz, and spectacular scenes from the previous Christmas games from this developer, this one may disappoint you. I feel it is a decent family game, one the kidlets can play without much adult assistance. The puzzles are easy for the most part. I suggest getting the collector’s edition simply because the bonus chapter has a better story and better activities than the main game. The main game only has ten (10) mini-games and nine (9) HOP scenes. This developer has produced much better Christmas games; however, if there is a sale or you want to get into the Yuletide spirit, this would be a good choice.
I recommend this game!
A ski resort high in the mountains hides a dark past!
Overall rating
4
/
5
104 of 183 found this review helpful
A SHORT TRIP TO A SKI LODGE
PostedNovember 22, 2022
sunnyglow
fromWhoosh! Sleuthed down this ski lodge in record time! Best wishes to GrandMA Studios situated in the Ukraine. You are in my prayers. Best of luck always!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages (My Time: 3 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages (My Time: 3 Hours)
Master Detective! Pack up your skis and head out for a short jaunt to Mountain View, a ski resort, in search of a member of the British royal family, Lord Simon Wells. Although the managers of the lodge inform you that Lord Wells and his traveling party have checked out, upon further inspection you realize they are still within the area. It also appears the resort managers may be keeping facts hidden from you as well. This cozy little resort has a monstrous hidden secret, buried deep within its walls. This adventure will see you entering the world of the paranormal and a battle against an evil entity.
This is a very short game. I completed the game, playing all mini-games and HOP scenes in a little over three hours. Although it is a short game, I enjoyed playing it. It is not as good as some of the previous games within this series; however, I thought the story behind the game was well-written and a little different from other games within the series. I like “different,” and it is certainly not a cookie cutter version of previous games. Her Majesty has been replaced by a member of a British detective agency. Considering this developer is situated in the war-torn country of Ukraine, I find it amazing and admirable they provided a quality game such as this one. It may be short; however, I found no problems in playing this game and sometimes, less is more. I would rather play a well-constructed game which is error-free than one which is overladen with activities but has a lot of errors within it, or even worse, one which cannot be completed due to programming errors.
There are two collectibles, puzzles pieces and house details (parts of a house). The puzzles pieces are used to play a jigsaw puzzle upon completion of the game. The jigsaw puzzle can then be downloaded if the player wishes. I found the jigsaw pieces a little difficult to locate. The house details, in my opinion, are easier to locate. There are two chapters. The main game is entitled “The Last Vacation.” The bonus chapter is entitled “Redemption.”
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 14 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces for a jigsaw playable at the end of the game
• Collect 46 house details. Half are morphing objects.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 14 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces for a jigsaw playable at the end of the game
• Collect 46 house details. Half are morphing objects.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. This chapter provides more detail on events leading to the disappearance of Lord Simon Wells and his traveling party. Play Katie Tyrell, Lord Wells’ friend, as she tries to discover what happened to both Simon and her other friend, Ronald. I found the story did flesh out some detail as to the background of the monster within the story. There are five (5) mini-games, including a three-part Rube Goldberg puzzle. There are four (4) HOP scenes. I did feel the bonus chapter was a nice addition to the game.
HOP SCENES: There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes within the game, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Although there are not as many as in many other of this developer’s games, some of them are creatively designed. Most of the scenes are lists of items. However, they are very interactive and display some creative touches. I loved playing the scene which uses a stained-glass window for the searches. Some circular parts of the window must be rotated to create the items to be removed. Another novel scene uses a ball of rope with knots within it. The knots need to be matched within that ball. There are also silhouette scenes, matching scenes, and scenes in which fragments of the scenes must be located.
MINI-GAMES: There are nineteen (19) mini-games, eleven (11) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are many Rube-Goldberg puzzles in the demo. However, after the demo, there are only two. The puzzles within the demo are much better than those after the demo. However, I do believe this may be due to difficulties this developer may have experienced in trying to complete this game. The ones within the game, however, are decent. I found all the mini-games easy.
MINI-GAMES: There are nineteen (19) mini-games, eleven (11) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are many Rube-Goldberg puzzles in the demo. However, after the demo, there are only two. The puzzles within the demo are much better than those after the demo. However, I do believe this may be due to difficulties this developer may have experienced in trying to complete this game. The ones within the game, however, are decent. I found all the mini-games easy.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Lock puzzle. Rotate tumblers with designs on them in 5 different locations to match those given on 5 pieces of paper
B. Block puzzle. Slide blocks up, down, and sideways to create a path for a key to move from the left to the right ending point to release it.
C. Sequence puzzle. Rotate four valves attached to 4 meters so that the maximum number is shown on each one. Moving each valve affects the others.
D. Checkers puzzle. On a triangular grid, use a green token to jump over red ones until all have turned green.
E. Logic puzzle. Reading newspaper clippings, locate areas on the map where missing people were located. The intersection will indicate the source of the monster’s power.
F. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Matching puzzle. Rotate blue and yellow gems on a 3 x 3 grid to match a given pattern. 3X
(2) Connection puzzle. Connect green, blue, and orange line segments so they all connect and are attached to a like-colored token on the right side of the grid.
(3) Strategy puzzle. Place pieces with dots on them so they cover a field of dots completely with no dots left uncovered. 3X Increases in difficulty
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Build a bridge across an 8 x 6 grid (48 squares) from start to finish.
H. Maze puzzle. Lead a lock chain through a maze to open a door.
I. Rube-Goldberg Puzzle
(1) Connection puzzle. Move a token through a grid filling in every space and hitting every numbered barrel in numerical order.
(2) Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a grid to match a given image
(3) Assembly puzzle. Slide blocks with pathway segments upon them to create a path for a lock bolt to move from start to finish
B. Block puzzle. Slide blocks up, down, and sideways to create a path for a key to move from the left to the right ending point to release it.
C. Sequence puzzle. Rotate four valves attached to 4 meters so that the maximum number is shown on each one. Moving each valve affects the others.
D. Checkers puzzle. On a triangular grid, use a green token to jump over red ones until all have turned green.
E. Logic puzzle. Reading newspaper clippings, locate areas on the map where missing people were located. The intersection will indicate the source of the monster’s power.
F. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Matching puzzle. Rotate blue and yellow gems on a 3 x 3 grid to match a given pattern. 3X
(2) Connection puzzle. Connect green, blue, and orange line segments so they all connect and are attached to a like-colored token on the right side of the grid.
(3) Strategy puzzle. Place pieces with dots on them so they cover a field of dots completely with no dots left uncovered. 3X Increases in difficulty
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Build a bridge across an 8 x 6 grid (48 squares) from start to finish.
H. Maze puzzle. Lead a lock chain through a maze to open a door.
I. Rube-Goldberg Puzzle
(1) Connection puzzle. Move a token through a grid filling in every space and hitting every numbered barrel in numerical order.
(2) Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a grid to match a given image
(3) Assembly puzzle. Slide blocks with pathway segments upon them to create a path for a lock bolt to move from start to finish
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a magical artifact from destroying the realms?
Overall rating
5
/
5
73 of 140 found this review helpful
GRANDMA SPINS A MAGICAL TALE IN THIS SEQUEL
PostedNovember 10, 2022
sunnyglow
fromMost Grandmas bake cookies and other treats. However, Felix’s GrandMA cooks up some great HOPA games instead - and even better - they are less fattening as well.
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages
Guardian Grace returns in another sequel, this time battling the Nilds, led by their warrior leader, Tarukan. This leader’s quest is to resurrect a dangerous relic, the deadly Spindle of Fate, one which destroyed his own world and one which he plans to resurrect to gain control of other worlds. Upon the request of her uncle, Grace is off, with the help of a magical medallion, to locate the three parts of this artifact before the crazed Tarukan can get his hands on them and reassemble this destructive device. Travel to the three worlds of the White Mountain, Veria (a beautiful ocean kingdom) and a forest kingdom where the Guardians live.
It has been a long time since we have had a HOPA game from this developer. This game is another wonderful well-crafted game within this series. The game has three chapters, one of which is an extra HOPA scene. The story is set in three different locations, providing variety and a good pace. The game has some gorgeous scenes, especially within the kingdom of Veria. This game is an example of why I still love to play HOPA games. The game is a little dated; however, it is a creatively designed one with great HOP scenes and mini-games. There are two collectibles, portal pearls and music sheets. The only thing I disliked about this game was searching for the collectibles. I had problems locating some of the pearls and many of the music sheets. They are very well-hidden, a little too well-hidden! There is a helper owl; however, the owl is only used within the demo and just sits on the inventory bar for the rest of the game.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATION: This is a great game if you love old-style HOPA games. This game reminded me of ones from a decade ago. The graphics are a little dated; however, there are some beautiful scenes within this game. The collectibles are somewhat difficult to locate. The game is not as lengthy as some other developers’ games; however, the storyline is good. If you are tired of a constant diet of games from the same three developers, this one might provide a needed change of pace. There are also not as many mini-games and HOP scenes as some other HOPA games; however, the ones within the game are well-crafted. This game is old-school HOPA and that may not be a bad thing after all!
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 13 achievements.
• Collect 46 portal pearls (23 of which are morphing) and 23 music sheets.
• 7 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky owl as a helper to fly to places you cannot reach. He is only used within the demo.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 10 mini-games
• A third chapter provides an extra HOP scene
• 13 achievements.
• Collect 46 portal pearls (23 of which are morphing) and 23 music sheets.
• 7 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky owl as a helper to fly to places you cannot reach. He is only used within the demo.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 10 mini-games
• A third chapter provides an extra HOP scene
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play the inventor of the Spindle of Fate, Maestro Rodicas, as the player learns the story of how he created the deadly weapon and his relationship with the Nilds. The bonus chapter is a nice addition to the game as the story provides background on the Nilds’ leader, Tarukan and his relationship to Rodicas. There are seven (7) mini-games and three HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are fourteen (14) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are not many within this game, but they are highly interactive and well-designed. There are two which I felt were pure ingenious. In one, the player searches for buildings in a diorama of a city. This scene also requires searching for pieces of some of the buildings and assembling them before they are removed from the scene. The other one I truly enjoyed playing has the same format. It involves searching for items within 3 scenes and then replacing those items back within the scenes. Most of the scenes are standard lists of items, silhouette scenes, matching scenes, and narrative scenes provide background information about the story.
MIIN-GAMES: There are twenty-five (25) mini-games, ten (10) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are two which can be played in either an easy or hard mode. There is two-part puzzle at the end of the game. The mini-games vary from extremely easy (entering a given code into a lock) to those which are of middle difficulty. I did not find any which are challenging, even in the two which have a hard level of play.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle Locate 3 symbols which create a larger given symbol. 3 X
B. Map puzzle. Lead a cart through a maze choosing stones with numbers upon them to dictate the number of steps the cart can take. The player must plot out the exact number of steps needed to reach an arrow to change direction or be sent back to the beginning.
C. Easy/Hard. Strategy puzzle. Surround natural elements within a grid with string using a spindle to land on hexagonal spaces. The hard version has one more element within the grid to surround. The boundaries only last for 5 turns.
D. Assembly puzzle. Switch colored sand in 5 bottles using an empty bottle to exchange the sand so each bottle has only one color of sand.
E. Tracing puzzle. Move a ball through an image staying within the lines.
F. Connection puzzle. Ye Olde Mirror Puzzle. Rotate mirrors so that a beam of light passes through and connects all the mirrors within the grid. (There are quite a few mirrors within the puzzle – more than I have seen in this type of puzzle)
G. Two-part Puzzle.
1. Strategy puzzle. Click on hexagons within a grid to add and subtract dots. There are numbers at the sides to indicate how many dots should be in that row or column.
2. Strategy puzzle. Move Tarukan through various portals which alter his appearance. Keep entering the portals until his image matches that at the ending point
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. Click on blue petals to cover holes on a 4 x 4 grid with 16 holes. The petals must be clicked in the proper sequential order for all holes to be covered.
I. Matching puzzle. Match 4 pairs of sea creatures
J. Lock puzzle. Enter a code to open a box from a given code.
K. Origami puzzle. Fold a map to create a path to a hut.
B. Map puzzle. Lead a cart through a maze choosing stones with numbers upon them to dictate the number of steps the cart can take. The player must plot out the exact number of steps needed to reach an arrow to change direction or be sent back to the beginning.
C. Easy/Hard. Strategy puzzle. Surround natural elements within a grid with string using a spindle to land on hexagonal spaces. The hard version has one more element within the grid to surround. The boundaries only last for 5 turns.
D. Assembly puzzle. Switch colored sand in 5 bottles using an empty bottle to exchange the sand so each bottle has only one color of sand.
E. Tracing puzzle. Move a ball through an image staying within the lines.
F. Connection puzzle. Ye Olde Mirror Puzzle. Rotate mirrors so that a beam of light passes through and connects all the mirrors within the grid. (There are quite a few mirrors within the puzzle – more than I have seen in this type of puzzle)
G. Two-part Puzzle.
1. Strategy puzzle. Click on hexagons within a grid to add and subtract dots. There are numbers at the sides to indicate how many dots should be in that row or column.
2. Strategy puzzle. Move Tarukan through various portals which alter his appearance. Keep entering the portals until his image matches that at the ending point
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. Click on blue petals to cover holes on a 4 x 4 grid with 16 holes. The petals must be clicked in the proper sequential order for all holes to be covered.
I. Matching puzzle. Match 4 pairs of sea creatures
J. Lock puzzle. Enter a code to open a box from a given code.
K. Origami puzzle. Fold a map to create a path to a hut.
I recommend this game!
Can you save literature’s most famous story worlds from ruin?
Overall rating
3
/
5
89 of 137 found this review helpful
AN ABRIDGED VERSION OF A COLLECTOR'S EDITION GAME
PostedOctober 27, 2022
sunnyglow
fromThere are abridged versions of lengthy books. In keeping with the literary spirit of this game, this is an “abridged” version of a Collector’s Edition game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages
Are you a lover of books? Do the stories seem so real that you can almost imagine yourself within the story? If you are a writer, do you enjoy creating worlds for others to share? Then this game may appeal to you. Join Megan Webster, a 23-yearold senior librarian at a town library, as she escapes through a portal to save the worlds within books. Someone is attempting to change the plots within books, causing chaos. The ghost of Charlotte Bronte, author of “Jane Eyre,” has contacted Megan, whom she considers a Wanderer, a person who is so absorbed within a story, the story itself seems reality. Help Megan stop the evildoer from making changes to the worlds of books. As with a good story, the story behind this game has a few twists within the plot itself.
“Brevity is the soul of wit,” but “brevity” should never be a word used to define collector edition games. This game is very short – too short for a collector’s edition game. I played the complete game, including the bonus chapter, in under four (4) hours. That includes playing all the puzzles as well. I also found the game boring. There are not enough activities within the game, and the pace lags in some places.
For a game dealing with the literary arts, I found the storyline confusing as well. The story begins with the book world of “Jane Eyre,” and how an evildoer is plotting to change the plots of this book and others as well. However, the game never explains how the plot is being changed. Toward the end of the game, the story drifts into a story about letter initials. I still do not understand what the initials H.C.I. represent nor the riddle associated with those initials. To me, the story meanders off into different directions and I found it difficult to follow. It is a patchwork of several themes woven into a confusing storyline.
The graphics are decent. There are no breathtaking scenes within the game, but they are well-drawn. The background sound disappears in several locations within the game. Several scenes are within the dead zone, without any background music or sound. These scenes are found between scenes or chapters. This is not one of this developer’s best games. It seemed to me that it was produced quickly without thought to detail or design.
There are two collectibles - morphing photos (which look to me more like books than photos) and puzzle fragments which produce four (4) screensavers at the end of the game. I found most easy to locate. I believe the game would have been better if the player could play four (4) jigsaw puzzles to produce the pictures instead of providing instant screensavers. There is an expedition room which allows the player to return to scenes to search for missing collectibles. There is also a secret room which contains another batch of hidden object scenes to play after the game. Return to the scenes and search for more items. The player can receive achievements for the time spent in locating all the various items within the scenes.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 morphing photos (look more like books)
• Collect 20 puzzle pieces to create 4 screensavers
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the game scenes to search for missing collectibles
• Secret Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to search for more items within the scenes. This is timed and achievements can be earned based upon the time needed to locate all the items.
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 morphing photos (look more like books)
• Collect 20 puzzle pieces to create 4 screensavers
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the game scenes to search for missing collectibles
• Secret Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to search for more items within the scenes. This is timed and achievements can be earned based upon the time needed to locate all the items.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. A month after saving the day in the world of books, Megan finds chaos at a book exhibition. Lianas, a type of plant, have invaded the town. Characters from books have arrived, summoned by Bertha, a character from the main game. They are being sent throughout the town and must be returned to their book worlds. Bertha is using the amulet Megan used to enter the different book world portals. Megan must now battle this crazed evildoer to retrieve her amulet plus restore the book worlds to their former status. There are five (5) HOP scenes and five (5) mini-games. I found this chapter somewhat boring.
HOP SCENES: There are only sixteen (16) HOP scenes within the entire game, including the bonus chapter. There are also a few, what I call, mini-HOP scenes with a small number (5 or 6) of items to be searched for. Most of the scenes are non-interactive lists of items or silhouette. Although most of the scenes are rather mundane, there are a few creatively designed scenes. These include a scene from the demo in which the player searches for two (2) items associated with a fairytale. There is one in which the player searches for items on a map which moves a character to a castle. There is one scene in which given items are placed into their proper places within the scene. There is one scene with four rings which must be rotate to align two halves of an object to remove it.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty (20) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. I feel the mini-games are better designed than the HOP scenes. For me the mini-games are the best part of the game. I found most easy to play.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Rotating tiles puzzle. On a 4 x 4 grid, rotate 16 squares which have 4 angels upon 4 different colored backgrounds so that all 4 of the angels on each colored background are placed together in a square shape.
B. Assembly puzzle. Create tea. Follow a recipe to make tea
C. Tangram puzzle. Place garden equipment into position on a grid so all spaces are filled and none of the tools overlap.
D. Switch puzzle Switch the positions on a maze/grid between 3 blue and 3 white pearls. Use lines within the maze/grid to move the gems.
E. Ye Ole Beam of Light puzzle. Direct a beam of light to pass through 5 lenses. Move the lenses to direct the light.
F. Gear puzzle. Switch and rotate gears on a clock to restore an image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle. Move two horses at the same time through a maze, arriving at apples which match their color – red and green.
H. Sleight of hand puzzle. Choose where the ball is hidden within 3 cups.
I. Assembly puzzle. Create a key to open a gate. Increase in size and move up and down each of the 6 segments of the key and then try it out to see if it works. If correct that part of the key will turn green.
J. Matching puzzle. Climb up a wall by matching pairs of symbols as you ascend. 3X
B. Assembly puzzle. Create tea. Follow a recipe to make tea
C. Tangram puzzle. Place garden equipment into position on a grid so all spaces are filled and none of the tools overlap.
D. Switch puzzle Switch the positions on a maze/grid between 3 blue and 3 white pearls. Use lines within the maze/grid to move the gems.
E. Ye Ole Beam of Light puzzle. Direct a beam of light to pass through 5 lenses. Move the lenses to direct the light.
F. Gear puzzle. Switch and rotate gears on a clock to restore an image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle. Move two horses at the same time through a maze, arriving at apples which match their color – red and green.
H. Sleight of hand puzzle. Choose where the ball is hidden within 3 cups.
I. Assembly puzzle. Create a key to open a gate. Increase in size and move up and down each of the 6 segments of the key and then try it out to see if it works. If correct that part of the key will turn green.
J. Matching puzzle. Climb up a wall by matching pairs of symbols as you ascend. 3X
I recommend this game!