sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:815
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A routine flight becomes a perilous adventure as you struggle to survive the dangerous way of life inside the Bermuda Triangle!
Overall rating
5
/
5
136 of 248 found this review helpful
CRASH LAND INTO ONE OF THE BEST GAMES THIS YEAR
PostedFebruary 18, 2021
sunnyglow
fromMagnetized by the charm of the roguish comedic figure, Andrew Collins the 4th, I do hope he gets his own game series.
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
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 pages (My Time: 7.5 Hours)
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 pages (My Time: 7.5 Hours)
STORY: What secrets lie within the Bermuda Triangle? Find out as you and your professor, Ben, fly into a magnetic storm which whirls you into a kingdom with a conglomeration of islands, ones in the sky in conflict with an island beneath them. Zipline through this game as you try to locate your professor, Ben while trying to find a way to bring peace between the warring factions of the islands and find a way to return to the world you left behind.
OPINION: I loved this game. To me, this is one of the best creatively designed games this year. If I could purchase only one game this year, this would be the one. Zipline through colorful tropical scenes in your pursuit to the mysteries of these islands. The elements of sci-fi are mixed with the bright, colorful images of the tropics. The pace is excellent with many activities to pursue. The collectibles are triangles and morphing objects. Upon completion of the game return to the scenes of the game and locate additional items (treasures) within the scenes. You get your own gear bag containing a knife and a zipline device which allows you to glide from one location to another. This is a must-have game for those who love sci-fi or just love a fantastic, well-designed game with many comedic moments.
ANDREW COLLINS THE 4TH! Adding a splash of humor to the game is the daring, roguish Andrew Collins the 4th. This character provides many humorous moments throughout the game, including bringing his own inventory list which he hands to you. In essence, this larger-than-life character makes the game! He saves the day by swimming through a cave to end up on the title page and pressing the “play” button. I do hope we will see more of his dashing presence in the future. His whimsical nature could lend itself to a whole series along with his beloved “Julie.”
MECHANICS:
• Five (5) levels of play including a customized version.
• 11 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 43 morphing objects and 27 triangles.
• Collect 26 treasures by returning to the scenes at the end of the game.
• Play a bonus jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game.
• Replay 3 mini-games and 17 HOP scenes.
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Ultimate HOP Scene available upon completion of the game.
• Gear bag with items needed to help in the game.
• 11 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 43 morphing objects and 27 triangles.
• Collect 26 treasures by returning to the scenes at the end of the game.
• Play a bonus jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game.
• Replay 3 mini-games and 17 HOP scenes.
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Ultimate HOP Scene available upon completion of the game.
• Gear bag with items needed to help in the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Andrew Collins the 4th as he steals the Seal keys and ventures off to locate his beloved Julie. Our heartsick rogue has waited three years stranded on an asteroid awaiting the chance to find his true love. Now join him on a humorous jaunt as he “wings” it through the Black Market in his quest. I loved this chapter better than the main game. This is one of the best bonus chapters I have played – if not the best! There are six (6) mini-games and four (4) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are (19) HOP scenes, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Some of the scenes are breathtakingly beautiful and most have a morphing object. Most are standard lists of items, silhouette, and matching. Some of the scenes are challenging. One involves searching for fragments of a spider web within a web which is immense. One of my favorites is locating the image which is not like others within the same scene. There are several scenes within this one activity.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty (30) mini-games, three (3) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They vary in difficulty and style. One of the games can be played in three levels of difficulty. My favorite involved cutie Andrew Collins within an old-school arcade format walking along while avoiding obstacles which cross his path.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Physics puzzle. Arrange 5 round grooved balls so that a marble transfers from one ball to the other via the open grooves until it reaches its destination on the left.
B. Maze puzzle. Variation of an arcade game. Lead daring Andrew Collins IV through a maze while collecting items he can use to eliminate obstacles in his path.
C. Logic puzzle. Move three keys on three different paths by clicking on them. They must pass through round markers along the way. Each marker can be visited as many times as the number written on it. All markers must be visited as per the number written on them and all keys must land at their destination.
D. Paint puzzle. Paint mushrooms according to a given numeric clue. All paint ampules must be used. Colors must be combined for some of the mushrooms.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Maze puzzle. Help Andrew Collins float up to the sky while avoiding obstacles in his path.
F. Sequence puzzle. Pull shoelaces in the proper sequence.
G. Maze puzzle. Move a ship through a watery maze avoiding attacks.
H. Connection puzzle. Locate the wires on the left and right sides of the screen which match up with each other.
B. Maze puzzle. Variation of an arcade game. Lead daring Andrew Collins IV through a maze while collecting items he can use to eliminate obstacles in his path.
C. Logic puzzle. Move three keys on three different paths by clicking on them. They must pass through round markers along the way. Each marker can be visited as many times as the number written on it. All markers must be visited as per the number written on them and all keys must land at their destination.
D. Paint puzzle. Paint mushrooms according to a given numeric clue. All paint ampules must be used. Colors must be combined for some of the mushrooms.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Maze puzzle. Help Andrew Collins float up to the sky while avoiding obstacles in his path.
F. Sequence puzzle. Pull shoelaces in the proper sequence.
G. Maze puzzle. Move a ship through a watery maze avoiding attacks.
H. Connection puzzle. Locate the wires on the left and right sides of the screen which match up with each other.
I recommend this game!
Mystery and betrayal at Rosings Park darken an alternate version of Jane Austen’s classic!
Overall rating
3
/
5
94 of 171 found this review helpful
I SAY OLD CHAP THIS GAME IS A BLOODY BORE
PostedFebruary 13, 2021
sunnyglow
fromHappy Bloody Valentine’s Day! Staking out vampires with a heart, hoping they will ignore my “bloodshot” eyes and zombified brain from searching for a massive number of items within HOP scenes.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 pages
STORY: Sink your fangs into a lengthy game, a vampiric adaptation of the novel, “Pride and Prejudice.” As Elizabeth Bennett, you are off to rescue your errant sister, Lydia, who has run off with the rogue, Wickham. Upon arriving at the home of Wickham’s aunt, discover that all the residents are vampires! However, most have not had their bloody first “bite” and can be returned to their human form if they desire. Now with a Red Moon rising, you confront two tasks – battling a Red Witch out to restore her body through your sister and saving those who no longer wish to remain vampires.
OPINION: This is not the normal HOPA game seen on this site. This is a long game with a massive number of HOP scenes. Most of the activities of the game consist of searching for items within the scenes. There are few mini-games for a game this size. After playing a multitude of HOP scenes, the game became monotonous, and snail-paced to me. I feel the game is too lengthy, and it would have been a better game if shortened. I also feel the story is too complex for a game. Our heroine is trying to save her sister and her beloved, Darcy, from becoming vampires all while dealing with some ethereal witch.
OPINION: This is not the normal HOPA game seen on this site. This is a long game with a massive number of HOP scenes. Most of the activities of the game consist of searching for items within the scenes. There are few mini-games for a game this size. After playing a multitude of HOP scenes, the game became monotonous, and snail-paced to me. I feel the game is too lengthy, and it would have been a better game if shortened. I also feel the story is too complex for a game. Our heroine is trying to save her sister and her beloved, Darcy, from becoming vampires all while dealing with some ethereal witch.
There is only one collectible, bats. There is a side bar which indicates how many bats are within a scene and how many have been collected. There are no wallpapers, nor concept art, nor any replay of the HOP scenes nor the mini-games. I found the graphics rather primitive in comparison to those from other developers. I recommend this game for those whole love games with many HOP scenes in which to search for items.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 34 bats
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 34 bats
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Elizabeth Bennett and return to Lady Catherine’s manor for more vampires and bats! Lady Catherine regrets her wish for immortality and wants to regain her humanity. You also want your beau, Darcy, to return to his human self as well. Locate a book, the Gold Scripture Book, which contains a ritual which will allow you to restore vampires back into their human selves. This chapter is a continuation of the main game. The scenes from this game are repeated within this chapter. There are seventeen (17) mini-HOP scenes and eight (8) regular HOP scenes along with eight (8) mini-games. By the time I reached this part of the game, I was more than ready for the game to end.
HOP SCENES: Can’t get enough of searching for items within the scenes of a game? This game is for you! Search away as there are fifteen (15) HOP scenes and forty-one (41) mini-HOP scenes. None of these can be replayed a the end of the game. There are two mini-HOP scenes per each scene of the game. The player must locate 4 or 5 items within the entire scene from the game and place them into a semi-circle. Most of the standard HOP scenes are varied with standard lists of items, silhouettes, and matching. There are a few search-and-replace scenes in which items are found and then used with the scenes. There are a few which I call “storybook,” which require searching for items to provide content about the story.
MINI-GAMES: There are only twenty-five (25) mini-games. There is not an option to replay any of them. I found most ones seen in other games. Most are easy to middle difficulty. I found none challenging.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Ye Olde Lunar Calendar puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch moon tokens so they are in proper sequence as to waxing and waning cycles of the moon.
B. Connection puzzle Connect all elements within the scene in one continuous link.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles on a 3 x 3 grid to restore an image.
D. Logic puzzle. Within a grid, move lines with blockers on them. Move them right and left to create openings between the blockers so two cylinders can reach the bottom of the grid
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid switch tiles to restore an image
F. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid click on each tile until it discloses the correct image to recreate a picture of a butterfly.
G. Matching puzzle. Fight off bats. Click on each of 3 bats to disclose symbols, then, search for all the missing symbols matching a given one for each bat.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch books to create an image on their spines
I. Sequence puzzle. Press letters in sequence to open a lock.
J. Search puzzle. Find all symbols using a magic sphere.
B. Connection puzzle Connect all elements within the scene in one continuous link.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles on a 3 x 3 grid to restore an image.
D. Logic puzzle. Within a grid, move lines with blockers on them. Move them right and left to create openings between the blockers so two cylinders can reach the bottom of the grid
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid switch tiles to restore an image
F. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid click on each tile until it discloses the correct image to recreate a picture of a butterfly.
G. Matching puzzle. Fight off bats. Click on each of 3 bats to disclose symbols, then, search for all the missing symbols matching a given one for each bat.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch books to create an image on their spines
I. Sequence puzzle. Press letters in sequence to open a lock.
J. Search puzzle. Find all symbols using a magic sphere.
**I recommend this game for those who love HOPA games with a large number of HOP scenes.
I recommend this game!
Mr. Radcliffe's traveling theater hides a terrible secret!
Overall rating
5
/
5
181 of 290 found this review helpful
A GAME TO PUT A LITTLE SPARKLE INTO YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY.
PostedFebruary 11, 2021
sunnyglow
fromHappy Valentine’s Day to our developer! My heart-felt thanks for another fantastic game – one that demonstrates their staff has that sparkle of talent. (Just don’t consider branching out into theater!)
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
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
STORY: Happy Valentine’s Day! Celebrate with Oliver and Emma, a happily married couple. Adding to their joy is an announcement from Oliver that he has been chosen to play role of the Raven King in a Radcliffe Theater production. This choice role comes with a substantial amount of money, enough for them to purchase their dream home. However, while rehearing the play, Oliver vanishes along with all traces of the theater. Now, as Emma, begin a search for your beloved husband. Learn more about the owner, Radcliffe, the history of the Radcliffe family, and the evil purpose behind each of five (5) theater productions this company is producing.
OPINION: What a fantastic game for Valentine’s Day. In a “game of love,” this one is keeper! For me, it is one of the best games from this developer! It has a good pace provided by a story which journeys to different locations for five different plays, each involving a different character. There is a helper “draggin” dragon who breaks the spells of the cursed script books from each of the plays, but otherwise, just sits quietly on the inventory bar. He is NOT a helper in the standard sense. After breaking each spell in the game, he narrates the background history of the game. The game is beautifully illustrated, some scenes breathtaking. I found no errors while playing this game.
There are two collectibles, dragons, and morphing objects. There are two of each in every scene. I found them easy to locate and it seemed that those hidden dragons got larger as the scenes progressed. I like the fact that this developer provides a bar at the left side of the screen to indicate how many collectibles are remaining to be located within each scene. I wish more developers would provide this feature. At the end of the game, if all the dragons are collected, the player is given an extra game to play. It involves planting 15 edible plants for each of the six dragons in a square plot of land. If any of the collectible dragons are missed, the player can go back to the scene to locate them.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 28 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 52 dragons to exchange for 6 dragon statuettes upon completion of the game.
• Play an extra game if you collect all the dragons.
• Collect 52 morphing objects.
• 8 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Gimmicky dragon to destroy evil objects.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games.
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 28 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 52 dragons to exchange for 6 dragon statuettes upon completion of the game.
• Play an extra game if you collect all the dragons.
• Collect 52 morphing objects.
• 8 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Gimmicky dragon to destroy evil objects.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. After receiving a letter from Sam, who helped you find your husband in the main game, you, as Emma, are off to help him save his daughter. He has found the Crown of the Raven King which supposedly grants wishes. He needs your help to locate it to bring his daughter back to life. I found this an excellent sequel to the main game. Again, the theme of “true love conquering all” is woven into this chapter. There are nine (9) mini-games and eight (8) HOP scenes. There are also a couple of mini-HOP scenes. I found this chapter worthy of a collector’s edition designation.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-two (22) scenes within the game, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are also many mini-HOP scenes in which a small number of items are to be located. Most of the scenes are repeated having a second set of items to locate, usually in a different format. After a script book is collected, a mini-HOP game is played in which the player locates six (6) items on a sheet from the book based on a given clue. The scenes are varied and include the standard list of items, silhouette, matching, replacement of items back into the scenes, rebus clues, and one search and replace scene in which items are located and then placed back within the scene. They are highly interactive and I feel they are creatively designed. There are some puzzles and puzzle-like activities within the HOP scenes.
MINI-GAMES: Wow! There are forty-two (42) mini-games. There is a variety of different styles of games with most variations of standard ones seen in other games. There is a variation of a Match-3 game played after each script book is destroyed by the “draggin” dragon. There are three (3) parts and all the items within the grid must be removed. Each scene advances in difficulty as the puzzle is played. There are six (6) of these within the game. There are some mini-games which have the option to be played in either a casual or hard mode. I found this a nice touch and wish more developers would add this option to their games.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Match-3 puzzle. A variation in which you must connect 3 or more like tokens in straight lines or diagonally to remove them. Remove all tokens from the board to win. Only a certain sequence will remove all tokens. 3X (Used 6 times in the game)
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tokens around two grids, each one containing a person, so that each token matches the person it is next to.
C. Casual/Hard. Maze puzzle. Go through a forest to reach a city. In the hard version the scene is dark, and you must locate the passage by trial and error.
D. Bullseye puzzle. Keep a ball within a red zone on a slider to fly a glider.
E. Paint puzzle. Paint a drawing according to a given guide.
F. Weights and balances puzzle. Using weights, weigh materials so they balance to create a potion.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Casual/Hard. Maze Puzzle. Go through a maze finding keys to open doors as you continue to your destination. The hard version requires journeying through the maze in the dark.
H. Paint picture. Paint a picture by matching paints with numbers on the canvas. Every paint has a number assigned to it.
I. Assembly puzzle. Create raft by placing pieces as indicated.
J. Matching puzzle. Shoot ravens which match each other.
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tokens around two grids, each one containing a person, so that each token matches the person it is next to.
C. Casual/Hard. Maze puzzle. Go through a forest to reach a city. In the hard version the scene is dark, and you must locate the passage by trial and error.
D. Bullseye puzzle. Keep a ball within a red zone on a slider to fly a glider.
E. Paint puzzle. Paint a drawing according to a given guide.
F. Weights and balances puzzle. Using weights, weigh materials so they balance to create a potion.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Casual/Hard. Maze Puzzle. Go through a maze finding keys to open doors as you continue to your destination. The hard version requires journeying through the maze in the dark.
H. Paint picture. Paint a picture by matching paints with numbers on the canvas. Every paint has a number assigned to it.
I. Assembly puzzle. Create raft by placing pieces as indicated.
J. Matching puzzle. Shoot ravens which match each other.
I recommend this game!
Your daughter’s uncanny gift draws the attention of a sinister organization!
Overall rating
5
/
5
108 of 233 found this review helpful
HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN HALSEY! FIND THE “KEY” TO THE POWER OF YOUR INNER SELF
PostedFebruary 4, 2021
sunnyglow
fromWant to enjoy the “crystal-clear” waters of Ember Lake? You may believe the waters are clear of crystals, but lurking at the bottom of this lake is a hidden infestation of crystals, lying patiently, waiting for you to discover them.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
STORY: Sixteen years ago, your brother found a baby girl along the shores of Ember Lake. He brought her to you to raise. Naming her Halsey, you reared her as your own child and shielded her from the events of that night. Now, her sweet sixteen birthday will be anything but sweet when strange powers awaken within her. Strange events are occurring at this lake and they are connected to Halsey. When she is kidnapped by government agents, you are off to visit your brother to uncover the secrets he has kept hidden from you all these years concerning her. Now you must save her and discover the mystery behind her connection to this lake.
OPINION: Welcome back Mad Head Games! Congratulations to this developer on another fantastic sci-fi thriller – one which displays all the quality elements we love about their games! I have been waiting to play this game and was not disappointed. It is a short game, (probably a little too short), but, it has the same quality elements as most of their other games. The gaming script is well-written. The game is a sci-fi delight with the themes, “it came from outer space” combined with that of “the creature from the black lagoon.” The pace is excellent with a variety of activities to keep a player engaged in the game. The graphics are cartoonish and well-reflect the sci-fi theme of the game.
The collectibles are crystals and morphing objects. I found most easy to locate within the scenes. There are indicators on the inventory bar indicating if there are collectibles within the scene. There are morphing objects in the HOP scenes as well. However, I found locating the morphing objects in the HOP scenes a trifle more difficult. At the end of the game, return to the scenes and search for one treasure in each scene of the game. I found these ridiculously easy to locate – they practically jump out of the scene. I do believe these should have been little better hidden so that finding them is more challenging. Upon the completion of the game, there is super-duper ultimate HOP scene available to play. You search for items behind the doors of three cabinets.
MECHANICS:
• Five (5) levels of play including a customized version.
• 11 achievements, most with 3 parts.
• Collect 28 collectibles (crystals) and 42 morphing objects.
• Collect 27 treasures at the end of the game by each scene.
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 15 HOP scenes.
• Ultimate HOP scene. Silhouette. Search for items in 3 scenes by opening 3 cabinet doors.
• 11 achievements, most with 3 parts.
• Collect 28 collectibles (crystals) and 42 morphing objects.
• Collect 27 treasures at the end of the game by each scene.
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 15 HOP scenes.
• Ultimate HOP scene. Silhouette. Search for items in 3 scenes by opening 3 cabinet doors.
BONUS GAME. Feed me Seymour! It is a sequel. It is the Little Lab of Horrors as you play Halsey, all grown up and a college student. She is horrified when her friend Marc introduces her to a biology professor who brought back a crystal from Ember Lake while on vacation. Now he is feeding it with catastrophic results. When the crystal disappears, a shocked and horrified Halsey, is off to retrieve it before it causes more destruction. This is a short chapter. I played the entire chapter in less than a half hour. The game itself if excellent, but I do feel the chapter is a little too short for a collector’s edition. There are only three HOP scenes and three mini-games. The story is excellent, reminiscent of “The Little Shop of Horrors;” however, it could be a little longer.
HOP SCENES: There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes in the game, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They vary in style with standard lists of items, silhouettes, matching, and pattern scenes in which items must be found based on a small piece of that time. Each scene has a morphing item within it.
MINI-GAMES: There are eighteen (18) mini-games, none of which can be replayed. They are varied in style and difficulty. I found some extremely easy and others a little more challenging. I feel it is a nice mix of genres and difficulty levels. However, I do wish this developer would provide some of the puzzles to be replayed. I do not want to replay the entire game to replay a puzzle. Personally, I would rather replay a puzzle than a HOP scene.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Push buttons to turn on all fans on a grid. The buttons must be clicked in the proper sequence. 3X – each scene increases in difficulty.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens on each of 3 rings so that tokens match up with the design on each ring.
C. Picture puzzle. Place pieces of a picture into position to reveal a picture.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Place tokens on a roulette board so that the numbers on which 3 tokens are placed equal to 95.
E. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a sequence of directional arrows on a grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Lock puzzle. Enter a give code of symbols into a circular grid using a dial to point to them, moving the dial 3, 5, or 7 spaces clockwise.
G. Sequence puzzle. Open 5 doors on a computer screen by pressing on them in the proper sequence. Pressing on one set of doors affects the others.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens on each of 3 rings so that tokens match up with the design on each ring.
C. Picture puzzle. Place pieces of a picture into position to reveal a picture.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Place tokens on a roulette board so that the numbers on which 3 tokens are placed equal to 95.
E. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a sequence of directional arrows on a grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Lock puzzle. Enter a give code of symbols into a circular grid using a dial to point to them, moving the dial 3, 5, or 7 spaces clockwise.
G. Sequence puzzle. Open 5 doors on a computer screen by pressing on them in the proper sequence. Pressing on one set of doors affects the others.
I recommend this game!
A detective meets a mysterious stranger in her first case!
Overall rating
5
/
5
192 of 308 found this review helpful
SLEUTHING THROUGH SOME STRANGE INVESTIGATIONS
PostedJanuary 28, 2021
sunnyglow
fromWhat can it "bee?" A bee in my bonnet? Did I miss something? My mind is still buzzing around trying to figure out the significance of all the swarms of bees in this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
STORY: Welcome to Rainville, home of a new series! Play Dana Strange, a detective whose career was influenced by the abduction of her sister by the Artist, a crazed serial killer. Fifteen years later, after capturing the crazed madman, she feels she is free from the nightmares of those childhood memories; however, those memories will come to haunt her in this first game in this series.
Return to Rainville. where a young girl, Isabelle Arquette, is missing. The actions of the abductor are similar as those of the Artist, but that is not possible - that madman is incarcerated! Could there be another copycat killer on the lose? Join your new partner in crime, Mal, as you sleuth your way through your hometown to discover who is behind this kidnapping.
OPINION: Love detective novels and solving whodunits? If so, you will love this game. Although the game is short, I feel it is a quality game and a good start to a new series. It is also somewhat different than the other detective games published on this site. I feel it is more intense, dealing with a more mature subject matter. Some may find this game somewhat unsettling.
I found the pace excellent with an engaging story and many activities to keep a player busy - busy as a bee. In this game, the player will be swatting away swarms of those little stingers! Little is seen of Dana Strange’s partner, Mal, in this first game; however, I feel the developer may be using this first episode to flesh out the main character with background information. The game also alludes to a future love interest for Dana Strange as well. I expect that the game will include these and more characters in future games. (Hopefully, those future characters will not include more swarms of bees)
The collectibles are puzzle pieces for four (4) jigsaw puzzles and pages of a book which tell the story of Dana Strange. I found some of them difficult to locate. However, if any are missed, upon completion of the game, the player can return to the game scenes by entering the Expedition Room to search for them. As in all their games, Elephant has provided a Secret Room in which to locate more items within the scenes.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles to be played at the end of the game.
• Collect 12 pages out of a book about the life of Dana Strange.
• 5 Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Expedition Room to locate missing collectibles from the scenes.
• Secret Room to search for more objects with the game’s scenes.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles to be played at the end of the game.
• Collect 12 pages out of a book about the life of Dana Strange.
• 5 Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Expedition Room to locate missing collectibles from the scenes.
• Secret Room to search for more objects with the game’s scenes.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Enjoy a haunting tale of a headless ghost who is frightening the community. A shop owner, Denzel Freeman, has spotted this headless ghost within his store. Is a ghost haunting the town or is the perpetrator more human than ghostly? This chapter is a nice addition to the game. There are six (6) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games. I found the mini-games much better in this chapter than in the main game. It is a nice addition to the game and worthy of the collector’s designation.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scene, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes with a small number (5 to 7) of items to be located. Most of the scenes are lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There are a couple of storybook scenes, searching items which are highlighted within a story and there are a couple of pattern scenes in which items are identified by a small sampling of the item. I found most mediocre, lacking the creative design seen in other developers’ game. They are decent, but I found nothing exceptional in their design.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games, eleven (11) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. I found the mini-games better designed than the HOP scenes. They vary in design and difficulty; however, I found none challenging.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence of notes as they are played. 3X
B. Connection/Gear puzzle. Place gears into a grid so all interconnect with each other.
C. Connection puzzle. On a 7 x 9 grid (63 squares) press on specific squares with horseshoes which change direction, to create a path for a rider to travel from left to a destination point on the right. All 63 squares should be visited once.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens with musical instruments on them so each one is situated in the proper location upon a circular grid.
E. Connection puzzle. Create a circuit by placing fuses in the proper location to lead a charge from one end of the circuit to another.
F. Connection puzzle. Recreate 6 given images by connecting bees in a circular grid. If you make a mistake you must restart the puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Block puzzle. Move blocks out of the way to create a path for a token to move from left to right.
H. Chess puzzle. Move a pawn to retrieve a golden helmet and a golden sword avoiding rooks in its path.
I. Play a piano by pressing on notes as indicated on a sheet of music.
J. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between pictures so that the number of lines emanating from each one matches the number on the picture.
B. Connection/Gear puzzle. Place gears into a grid so all interconnect with each other.
C. Connection puzzle. On a 7 x 9 grid (63 squares) press on specific squares with horseshoes which change direction, to create a path for a rider to travel from left to a destination point on the right. All 63 squares should be visited once.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens with musical instruments on them so each one is situated in the proper location upon a circular grid.
E. Connection puzzle. Create a circuit by placing fuses in the proper location to lead a charge from one end of the circuit to another.
F. Connection puzzle. Recreate 6 given images by connecting bees in a circular grid. If you make a mistake you must restart the puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Block puzzle. Move blocks out of the way to create a path for a token to move from left to right.
H. Chess puzzle. Move a pawn to retrieve a golden helmet and a golden sword avoiding rooks in its path.
I. Play a piano by pressing on notes as indicated on a sheet of music.
J. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between pictures so that the number of lines emanating from each one matches the number on the picture.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the worlds from a deadly creation in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
163 of 275 found this review helpful
A FANTASTIC DRAGON-FILLED ADVENTURE
PostedJanuary 21, 2021
sunnyglow
fromWhat makes the world go round? It may be love, but this game gets to the “heart” of the matter.
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
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Enjoy a chilly reception as you and fellow Seeker, Davona, answer a distress signal from the Frostwind World. Your adventure will take you to three different worlds to stop an invasion of dragons; an invasion caused by a lovesick ice elemental, Zul, in his quest to be reunited with his beloved creator, Astrid. His quest is destroying all three worlds and your home planet may be next! Can you stop him in time?
OPINION: This is fantastic game! It is one of the best games I have played by this developer! Domini always provides more game for the money and this one is no exception. The story is well-written and the pace is excellent with plenty of activities. The change of location from one world to another also provides an active pace within the game. The graphics are phenomenal! I am glad to see less of the bright purple and neon green which permeate many of this developer’s games. There are some incredibly beautiful scenes in this game. Many of these include the HOP scenes.
The game includes some much-needed humor to break up the somber mood of the game. There is a whimsical little dragon – draggin’ along in your inventory to light up candles and other items. One of the prized items by a resident of the Woodhart Kingdom is a “selfie stick” which is valued as a rather strange and humorous element from the world of humans. Does reading a book put you to sleep? Well in this game, the book is asleep – making a rather loud snoring noise while you play a HOP scene. I found all these instances somewhat amusing.
The collectibles are morphing butterfly/dragons. The butterflies morph into dragons. There are also constellations to collect. I found the descriptions of the butterflies and constellations interesting. The developer provides some background information for each of these collectibles. Collect crystals to exchange for items for the Frozen Garden. I found most of the collectibles easy to locate within the scenes. The scenes also alternate between collecting a constellation and collecting a morphing dragon.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 38 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing butterfly/dragons and 15 constellations
• Collect 70 crystals to purchase items for the Frozen Garden
• 21 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• 38 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing butterfly/dragons and 15 constellations
• Collect 70 crystals to purchase items for the Frozen Garden
• 21 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Should you let sleeping dragons lie? In this chapter you will find out! It is a prequel. Play the character Astrid, from the main game. A dragon migration has intensified in the Woodhart Kingdom, and Leila from the kingdom has contacted you for help. A misguided inhabitant of the kingdom has summoned the dragons in hope of keeping other worlds from invading the kingdom. However, he is misguided in his attempts and now you must stop him and the dragon invasion. I found this to be an excellent bonus chapter and worthy of a collector’s edition designation. The chapter contains eight (8) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. It is a long chapter. Continue collecting all the collectibles within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes in the game, and all can be replayed. Many of these scenes are incredibly beautiful - works of art. There is a wide variety of styles as well. I found very few styles repeated within this game. Every HOP scene has something unique about it. They include lists of items, silhouette scenes, matching scenes, pattern scenes, rebus clues, spot-the-differences scenes, morphing objects, and a silhouette scene with sliders which match up the silhouette with the actual item before it is removed. A Match-3 game can be played instead of the scenes; however, these scenes are so creatively designed – who would want to miss playing them? I found two HOP scenes in this game which I felt were breathtaking; one is a scene with butterflies and the other with fish and other creatures living within a pond. Just gorgeous!
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the puzzles can be played in an “easy” mode for a casual game, or in a “hard” mode for those who want more of a challenge. The level of difficulty can be set in the menu but can also be changed while playing the game. I loved the puzzles in this game and although the game contains many classics, there are a couple of new puzzles I have not seen before.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces between two columns. In the easy version, group same-colored pieces together on each column. In the hard version create pictures of flowers with the pieces.
B. E/H. Gear puzzle. Slide gears into position so all connect with each other. The hard version has 7 gears and the easy has only 5.
C. E/H. Assembly/Connection/Map puzzle. Rotate and place gold connectors onto a map so they connect all parts of the map and all are placed within the grid. The harder version requires placing more connectors and the map is more complex.
D. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Turn off lights in the proper sequence so that each section of a hexagonal shape is turned off. The grid rotates after you choose each piece to turn off. Must be done sequentially. The harder puzzle has more pieces to be turned off. If you press on a piece which has already been turned off, you must restart.
E. E/H. Slider puzzle. Slide crystals at the top of a grid so that they are in the same row as their matching counterpart. In the hard version moving one slider affects the others.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place ice shards into position as you scale up an icy cliff. Use arrows to change the scene up-and-down to place the pieces. In the hard version you must rotate the pieces.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch 6 tokens, 3 on each side, with each other so that they reverse sides. Move the tokens to free spaces to move them.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. Move a token from left to the exit at the right by moving blocks to create a path. The hard version has one more block to move to create the path.
I. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place bridge pieces into position so all are used and interconnected. The easy version allows you to rotate the pieces.
J. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into a grid to create a crystal figure. All the pieces rotate at the same time.
B. E/H. Gear puzzle. Slide gears into position so all connect with each other. The hard version has 7 gears and the easy has only 5.
C. E/H. Assembly/Connection/Map puzzle. Rotate and place gold connectors onto a map so they connect all parts of the map and all are placed within the grid. The harder version requires placing more connectors and the map is more complex.
D. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Turn off lights in the proper sequence so that each section of a hexagonal shape is turned off. The grid rotates after you choose each piece to turn off. Must be done sequentially. The harder puzzle has more pieces to be turned off. If you press on a piece which has already been turned off, you must restart.
E. E/H. Slider puzzle. Slide crystals at the top of a grid so that they are in the same row as their matching counterpart. In the hard version moving one slider affects the others.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place ice shards into position as you scale up an icy cliff. Use arrows to change the scene up-and-down to place the pieces. In the hard version you must rotate the pieces.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch 6 tokens, 3 on each side, with each other so that they reverse sides. Move the tokens to free spaces to move them.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. Move a token from left to the exit at the right by moving blocks to create a path. The hard version has one more block to move to create the path.
I. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place bridge pieces into position so all are used and interconnected. The easy version allows you to rotate the pieces.
J. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into a grid to create a crystal figure. All the pieces rotate at the same time.
I recommend this game!
Rescue your sister and uncover the truth behind the Queen's trial!
Overall rating
5
/
5
175 of 296 found this review helpful
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS OLD AGE AWAY IN A CLASSIC WHICH STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
PostedJanuary 14, 2021
sunnyglow
fromMirror, mirror on the wall, in this game I do not want to be the fairest one all!
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
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Be prepared to enjoy a game which is a blast from the past - a blast of arctic air that is. Enter a frozen kingdom where its cold-hearted Queen uses an enchanted mirror to locate the fairest maidens and then steals their youth. After your sister, Elizabeth, is contacted by the Queen, she is whisked away in front of your eyes and now you must save her from this evildoer. Along the way meet others who have met the same fate including one victim which will be somewhat of a surprise. As a word of caution – stay away from the Queen’s apple tree! Taking a bite out of an apple from that tree can be deadly!
OPINION: Enjoy some fond memories as you play this remake of a 2013 classic. This should bring back fond memories for those who are long-time BFG members. The developer did an excellent job in updating this game with improved graphics and some new features as well. There are a lot of collectibles within this game – two morphing objects per scene (106 in total) plus 263 coins scattered throughout the scenes as well. I found most of the collectibles easy to find. The coins purchase items and upgrades for your pampered squirrel helper. The squirrel is used a couple of times to retrieve items; however, he is not used often. The morphing objects are exchanged for roses. The roses hide an extra picture puzzle which can be played at the end of the game. I feel it has a good pace in the main game; however, I did feel the bonus chapter dragged a little, mainly because of the ho-hum carbon copy HOP scenes.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 35 achievements.
• Collect 106 morphing objects which are exchanged for roses. Behind the roses is an extra picture puzzle which can be played at the end of the game.
• Collect 263 coins which are used to purchase items for your pet squirrel (which you name) and his tree house.
• 7 wallpapers and 4 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 24 mini-games and 13 HOP scenes.
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 35 achievements.
• Collect 106 morphing objects which are exchanged for roses. Behind the roses is an extra picture puzzle which can be played at the end of the game.
• Collect 263 coins which are used to purchase items for your pet squirrel (which you name) and his tree house.
• 7 wallpapers and 4 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 24 mini-games and 13 HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Not again! When your sister, Elizabeth is kidnapped again, this time by a wizard, you are off to save her. He will set her free only if you bring him the Flower of Life from the Labyrinth of the Gnomes. I felt this chapter dragged in some places. Remember the junkpile searches from the days of yore? They return in this chapter. I believe the snail pace can be attributed to the eight (8) HOP scenes, all of which are lists of items with a treasure trove of junkpile items to make any garage sale aficionado ecstatic. I do wish this developer had added some of the variety within the scenes as witnessed in the main game. There is also too much running back-and-forth between the worlds behind two mirrors in this chapter. I feel this chapter is too long and packed with time filler. There are seven (7) mini-games within the chapter. It is a long chapter which I feel would be better if it were shorter.
HOP SCENES: There are thirty-one (31) scenes, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Since this is a remaster of an older game, most of the scenes are lists of items, silhouette, and matching. They are interactive. The developer did provide some creative touches to some scenes in the main game. My favorite scene in the game is one in which items must be located within a story box and then returned to the proper location between two different scenes. Go back and forth between the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: This is a puzzle-lover’s delight! There are twenty-seven (27) mini-games, twenty-four (24) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. For once, we have developer who has provided more puzzles to replay rather than the HOP scenes. Kudos to the developer for this! They are a variety of ones seen in many other games. I found most of the puzzles easy.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Locate all the hidden apples on a tree.
B. Connection puzzle. On a grid with twisted, interconnected snakes, place 5 sets of colored gems into position, so that for each snake, one is located at its mouth and the other at its tail.
C. Assembly puzzle. On a 4 x 4 grid with 16 colored squares with animals imprinted on them, switch the squares to that no two of the same color or animals, are within the same row and column.
D. Matching puzzle. Match up owls on a tree.
E. Switch/Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate marbles on a hexagonal grid so the image matches a given diagram 3X. The puzzle increases in difficulty.
F. Alignment puzzle. Align 7 gnomes sliding them up-and-down so all are aligned in the center of the grid. Moving one affects the others.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Sequence puzzle. Press on snake head fountains so they pour water at the same time. Pressing on one snake head affects the others.
H. Map puzzle. Follow a map to get to the center of a maze. Arrows provide the directions in which the player can go.
I. Assembly puzzle. As per a guide, turn 6 sets of tokens on a cryptex, so they are identical to those on the guide. Moving one affects the others.
B. Connection puzzle. On a grid with twisted, interconnected snakes, place 5 sets of colored gems into position, so that for each snake, one is located at its mouth and the other at its tail.
C. Assembly puzzle. On a 4 x 4 grid with 16 colored squares with animals imprinted on them, switch the squares to that no two of the same color or animals, are within the same row and column.
D. Matching puzzle. Match up owls on a tree.
E. Switch/Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate marbles on a hexagonal grid so the image matches a given diagram 3X. The puzzle increases in difficulty.
F. Alignment puzzle. Align 7 gnomes sliding them up-and-down so all are aligned in the center of the grid. Moving one affects the others.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Sequence puzzle. Press on snake head fountains so they pour water at the same time. Pressing on one snake head affects the others.
H. Map puzzle. Follow a map to get to the center of a maze. Arrows provide the directions in which the player can go.
I. Assembly puzzle. As per a guide, turn 6 sets of tokens on a cryptex, so they are identical to those on the guide. Moving one affects the others.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover a murder victim's past and find her killer?
Overall rating
4
/
5
148 of 260 found this review helpful
USHER IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A BRAND-NEW MURDER MYSTERY SERIES!
PostedJanuary 9, 2021
sunnyglow
fromNorth Atlantic! The victim in this game made a “titanic” discovery in the quest for ageless beauty, not aging a day for over 100 years. If you are in a shipwreck or just jump overboard - by spending days in icy waters, you too will never age!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
**4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 50 pages (My time: 6.5 hours)
**4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 50 pages (My time: 6.5 hours)
STORY: Start the new year with a new murder mystery series from Domini Games. Play Randall and Eleanor Jones, a brother/sister duo of paranormal detectives who possess “twin magic.” Randall is the logical one in the duo and sister Eleanor possesses paranormal abilities. Be prepared for some paranormal sleuthing with this first entry as you play both characters in a tag-team approach.
Some actors remain immortal in the eyes of their fans, but Adaline Salfield is literally immortal, a stunning beauty who has not aged a day for over 100 years. However, when she dies from cardiac arrest while performing on stage, there is some evidence it was foul play. Was her death the result of old age or murder? Investigate the circumstances of her demise. There are a few suspects who may be involved. Was it her jealous boyfriend Andreas, her jealous understudy Ingrid, a crazed fan, or someone else? Get out your Ouija Board, crystal ball, and hone in on your sixth sense for this game!
OPINION: Domini is my favorite developer and always provides more game for the money. This one is no exception. I loved the storyline behind the game. It is a fantastic whodunit with a surprise ending. The motive for the crime was not what I expected. The game has a good pace with plenty of activities. This game, as others from this developer, can be played in either a casual mode by choosing to play the mini-games in the “easy” mode or by choosing to play the puzzles in a "hard" mode for a more challenging experience. This puzzle option can be set in the menu; however, it can be changed while playing the game. However, I do believe this game was rushed through and not proofed before it was published. I found a few minor errors.
GAME ERRORS: The collectibles are coins, morphing pieces of evidence, and inkblots. I enjoyed reading the analysis of the inkblots and what they signify. However, the strategy guide has some errors as does the game as far as the collectibles are concerned. The pictures in the strategy guide for the collectibles are reversed with the scenes in “B” coming before those in “A” and then those in “D” coming before “C.” The letter sequence is out of sync. Also, some of the collectibles are not within the scenes. I went to the strategy guide and where collectibles were indicated, they were not in those scenes. However, these minor errors did not diminish my enjoyment of the game as I am not an avid fan of collectibles.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing pieces of evidence and 15 inkblots
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a forensic lab
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay of 18 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing pieces of evidence and 15 inkblots
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a forensic lab
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay of 18 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another story. As Eleanor, go it alone by solving a case involving a serial killer. As a blonde, you will be safe in your investigation as the killer is targeting brunette, blue-eyed women. What is the story behind this crazed stalker and who is he? Be prepared for a surprise ending to this case! I found it a nice addition to the game and worthy of a collector’s edition. I found the story behind the game well-written, somewhat unsettling, and creepy. The only collectible in this chapter are coins. There was one scene which I believe was missing a coin. There are six (6) mini-games and (5) HOP scenes along with a mini-HOP scene with a search for six (6) items.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. For a developer who is best known for their puzzles, Domini does a fantastic job with HOP scenes. They are varied and highly interactive. I am not a great lover of playing HOP scenes, but I do enjoy the ones from this developer. They are always very creatively designed. They include the usual lists of items and silhouette items. One of the silhouette scenes is a search-and-replace one in which items are found and returned to the scene where they are placed in the proper location. There is also a list of items with shapeshifting morphing objects! I found it humorous to see all the items popping and bopping from one shape to another. And in one, poof! - a cocoon changes into a butterfly when clicking on it. Other scenes include placing given items into the scene, storybook scenes, rebus clues, and spot-the-differences.
MINI-GAMES: Our “puzzlemeister” amazes us again with more fantastic puzzles. There are twenty-four (24) mini-games, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. With the exception of two in the demo, the other mini-games can be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode.
MINI-GAMES: Our “puzzlemeister” amazes us again with more fantastic puzzles. There are twenty-four (24) mini-games, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. With the exception of two in the demo, the other mini-games can be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Lock puzzle. Enter numbers to open a lock with a given code which translates symbols into numbers. In the hard version, changing one number changes the other numbers on the lock.
B. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Slide lines of cars into positions which match those within a book. The easy version has 3 lines of cars and the hard version has 5.
C. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Place magical spheres upon a map to create routes which lead away from an intersection and do no cross other landmarks in the process. The easy version only has 5 spheres to place. The hard version has 8.
D. E/H. Ye Olde Tower of Hanoi Stacking Puzzle. In this case, stack suitcases so the largest is at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Move the suitcases between 3 locations, but no suitcase can be placed on top of a smaller one. The harder version has 5 suitcases; the easy version has only 4 suitcases.
E. E/H. Matching puzzle. Match up tiles within stacks to remove them. The hard version has 8 stacks and the easy has only 6.
F. E/H. Physics puzzle. Angle ping pong paddles so that a ball ends up at a designated pocket on the court. The hard version has more paddles to angle into position.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place mirror shards into position to restore it. In the hard version the pieces must be rotated to fit into the scene.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. Slide blocks to create a path for a yellow tile to move from one end to the other. The hard version has one more block to move.
B. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Slide lines of cars into positions which match those within a book. The easy version has 3 lines of cars and the hard version has 5.
C. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Place magical spheres upon a map to create routes which lead away from an intersection and do no cross other landmarks in the process. The easy version only has 5 spheres to place. The hard version has 8.
D. E/H. Ye Olde Tower of Hanoi Stacking Puzzle. In this case, stack suitcases so the largest is at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Move the suitcases between 3 locations, but no suitcase can be placed on top of a smaller one. The harder version has 5 suitcases; the easy version has only 4 suitcases.
E. E/H. Matching puzzle. Match up tiles within stacks to remove them. The hard version has 8 stacks and the easy has only 6.
F. E/H. Physics puzzle. Angle ping pong paddles so that a ball ends up at a designated pocket on the court. The hard version has more paddles to angle into position.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place mirror shards into position to restore it. In the hard version the pieces must be rotated to fit into the scene.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. Slide blocks to create a path for a yellow tile to move from one end to the other. The hard version has one more block to move.
** I removed one star from the rating due to the minor errors in the game. This is fantastic game otherwise.
I recommend this game!
A sinister revenge plot is tearing a kingdom apart!
Overall rating
5
/
5
184 of 308 found this review helpful
A GAME WHICH CAPTURES THE SPIRITS OF NATURE
PostedJanuary 7, 2021
sunnyglow
fromCapture the spirit of nature by hugging a tree! Just remember to hug gently and then release that spirit (the Dryad) out into the world
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
8 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My time: 7 Hours)
8 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Get ready to tromp through the dense foliage and murky swamps of the Dryad Forest, battling monsters and evildoers along the way. As a new member of the Guardians of Harmony, you have been asked by King Lydius to investigate strange happenings within this magical forest. The residents of the kingdom are being attacked and spirits are being kidnapped. A cauldron of witchy trouble is brewing in this kingdom, fomented by the spirit of revenge, and only you can stop it.
OPINION: This is another example of gaming excellence from this developer. Domini is my favorite developer, providing a quality game with extras most developers do not provide within their games. It is a long game with excellent graphics, an active pace, and oodles of activities to keep a player entertained. The story behind the game is superb and got me into the spirit to go into the forest and hug a tree.
There are three (3) collectibles - coins, morphing artifacts, and spirited items. I found most easy to locate. At the end of the game the player can use the coins to purchase items for a laboratory. Personally, I dislike collecting coins or any other item to exchange for items to decorate or supply some location. I would rather see another collectible or morphing object offered instead. There are three indicators on the inventory bar which alert the player when there is a collectible within the scene. This is a feature I wish was available on other developers’ games. I prefer this method to the sidebars which other developers use in their games. To me, they are harder to navigate. There is also a gimmicky Bestiary book which is used to destroy monsters lurking in the forest.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 23 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing artifacts and 15 spirited items
• Collect 70 coins used to purchase items for a laboratory
• 38 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• A gimmicky Bestiary book to zap and destroy creatures encountered on your walk through the woods.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• 23 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing artifacts and 15 spirited items
• Collect 70 coins used to purchase items for a laboratory
• 38 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• A gimmicky Bestiary book to zap and destroy creatures encountered on your walk through the woods.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER. Play Illian, a character from the main game. Queen Magret, the latest wife of King Lydius, is on a royal rampage, trying to expel all the spirits and nyads from the Dryad Woods. You, as the heir to the throne, are a threat to this queen, and now you must battle her and her partner in crime, the Spirit of Revenge. Can you save the Dryad Forest from her jealous rage? The survival of the forest beings depends on you. I found this a nice addition to the game. There are nine (9) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. There is also one mini-HOP scene with a list of six items. I found it a decent chapter with an engaging story and well worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. One of the reasons I love this developer’s games is the wide array of creatively designed HOP scenes. Although Domini is best known as a “puzzlemeister,” they have some amazing HOP scenes. There are highly interactive lists of items, silhouette, storybook scenes which advance the storyline, and matching scenes. There is also a scene with rebus clues, a spot-the-differences scene, matching pairs, and pattern scenes in which an item is located based on a small sample of it. As in their other games, Domini provides a Match-3 game to play instead of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty (30) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. I am again begging for this developer to provide more puzzles to be replayed at the end of the game. There are some I would like to play again; however, I am not replaying the entire game to do so. Most of the puzzles can be played in an easy mode to provide a more laid-back, casual game or in the hard mode for those who want a little more challenge. The level of difficulty can be set in the menu but can be changed while playing the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Logic puzzle. On a 5 x 5 grid located on a harp, move musical notes so that each row and column have the same number of notes as written at the top of each column and sides of each row. Easy version has a 4 x 5 grid with less notes to place.
B. Assembly puzzle. Create acid by following a 3-step process as per a given set of instructions. Place items in the proper bins, grind them and then place in the proper order to get 3 bowls of the right color powder.
C. E/H. Lock puzzle. Switch inner plates in the center of a lock so they mesh with those on the outside. Easier version has less plates which need to be switched.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move two amulets, following a path to red slots at the top of the grid. In the easy version, move one amulet at a time – in the hard version – move both at the same time.
E. E/H. Bullseye puzzle. Get some target practice by using a slingshot to hurt rocks to the center of targets. The hard version has 5 targets and the easy 3 targets. Use 3 levers to center the stones toward the bullseyes and press to release.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into position to create a map. The easy version has less pieces.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Rotate 4 arms and hands attached to a skull so each hinged hand is on a matching slot.
H. E/H. Connection puzzle. On a cube connect two like -colored squares. Lines cannot cross.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Lead a balloon up a mountain avoiding obstacles within its path.
J. E/H. Trap an evil spirit within a grid by blocking his escape. Fence him in by moving from space-to space within the grid creating a wall to block his escape.
B. Assembly puzzle. Create acid by following a 3-step process as per a given set of instructions. Place items in the proper bins, grind them and then place in the proper order to get 3 bowls of the right color powder.
C. E/H. Lock puzzle. Switch inner plates in the center of a lock so they mesh with those on the outside. Easier version has less plates which need to be switched.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move two amulets, following a path to red slots at the top of the grid. In the easy version, move one amulet at a time – in the hard version – move both at the same time.
E. E/H. Bullseye puzzle. Get some target practice by using a slingshot to hurt rocks to the center of targets. The hard version has 5 targets and the easy 3 targets. Use 3 levers to center the stones toward the bullseyes and press to release.
F. E/H. Picture puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into position to create a map. The easy version has less pieces.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Rotate 4 arms and hands attached to a skull so each hinged hand is on a matching slot.
H. E/H. Connection puzzle. On a cube connect two like -colored squares. Lines cannot cross.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Lead a balloon up a mountain avoiding obstacles within its path.
J. E/H. Trap an evil spirit within a grid by blocking his escape. Fence him in by moving from space-to space within the grid creating a wall to block his escape.
I recommend this game!
The most perfect town in the world hides a terrible secret!
Overall rating
3
/
5
103 of 228 found this review helpful
LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH BLUE ROSE COLORED GLASSES
PostedDecember 31, 2020
sunnyglow
fromHappy New Year! I wonder if Restville has a yearly Blue Rose Bowl parade with floats covered with pollen-heavy blue roses? Each rose spewing out sprays of rose dust should povide for a truly mind-altering “happy” new year.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 pages (My time: 4.5 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 pages (My time: 4.5 Hours)
STORY: More family drama erupts for our detective trio in this game; however, this time it is not Anna Gray with family problems, it is Agent Dorian Brown. After returning to his childhood home in Restville, Agent Brown has disappeared. His disappearance may be linked to his twin brother, Mortimer, who is engaged in misguided nefarious activities. Now, his detective cohorts, Anna Gray and James Blackthorne, are off to Restville, a town where everyone sees the world through rose-colored glasses. What is happening in Dorian’s childhood home where his brother is mayor and his brother’s flower child girlfriend keeps blue roses in bloom all year long?
OPINION: Hope you are wearing those rose-colored glasses while playing this game. Meandering around the blue roses in this game did not alter my perception of it. I found this game short and lacking the creativity and activities of many of this developer's other games. It has an engaging storyline, however, to me it has the feel of an assembly-line game. I found the pace dragged in spots throughout this game. Although this is one of my favorite series from this developer, to me, this game is not of the same caliber. However, I feel that the quality of most of Elephant’s recent games have decreased in size and quality as well. One thing the blue roses did accomplish for me within this game – it has made it forgettable.
OPINION: Hope you are wearing those rose-colored glasses while playing this game. Meandering around the blue roses in this game did not alter my perception of it. I found this game short and lacking the creativity and activities of many of this developer's other games. It has an engaging storyline, however, to me it has the feel of an assembly-line game. I found the pace dragged in spots throughout this game. Although this is one of my favorite series from this developer, to me, this game is not of the same caliber. However, I feel that the quality of most of Elephant’s recent games have decreased in size and quality as well. One thing the blue roses did accomplish for me within this game – it has made it forgettable.
There are only two collectibles in the game, morphing hats and pictures fragments with which to create four screensavers. There are only thirty-three (33) to locate within the game. Most scenes have only one collectible, and there are scenes without any collectibles. They are easy to locate. The secret room at the end of the game has forty (40) additional items to locate within the game’s scenes. I thought this activity was one of the better activities within the game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 20 puzzles pieces which create 4 screensavers.
• Collect 13 morphing objects (hats)
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room opened at the end of the game to collect 40 more objects within the scenes
• Expedition room (allows you to return to the rooms to get collectibles)
• Tag Team between the 3 detectives playing each one within the game.
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 20 puzzles pieces which create 4 screensavers.
• Collect 13 morphing objects (hats)
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room opened at the end of the game to collect 40 more objects within the scenes
• Expedition room (allows you to return to the rooms to get collectibles)
• Tag Team between the 3 detectives playing each one within the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. After the damage caused by the previous mayor, a new mayor, Andrew Stevens, has been elected. Play both the mayor and the flower girl from the main game as they investigate reports of a new type of rose whose pollen could be deadly to the town. This is a short chapter with six (6) mini-games and four (4) HOP scenes plus two (2) mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to locate. It is consistent in quality to the main game. Two of the mini-games are picture puzzles (one appearing right after the other) which I feel were dumped into the game to provide filler to the game. To me, this chapter is not worthy of the extra price of the collector’s edition designation.
HOP SCENES: There are only fourteen (14) HOP scenes within the entire game and all of them can be replayed. There are also mini-HOP scenes in a small number items (six to eight) are to be located. Most of the mini-HOP scenes are silhouette with items located sequentially. There are only three styles of scenes – lists of items, silhouette items, and matching. They can all be replayed at the end of the game.
MINI-GAMES: There are only twenty-one (21) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be played at the end of the game. The ones within the game are decent, there are just not enough of them to keep an active pace within the game.
SPOILERS: THERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Pull on 4 cords so all are of equal length in a straight line
B. Maze puzzle. Lead James Blackthorne throughout Restville, while avoiding pop-up sheriff tokens 2X
C. Switch puzzle. Switch jagged lock pieces so they mesh with matching jagged pieces on a center bar.
D. Question/Answer. Something new. As Dorian Brown, answer questions Anna Gray asks you. Choose between two answers for 4 questions
E. Battle scene puzzle. Choose 3 symbols within the scene to match those shown at the bottom of the screen. More of a HOP scene 3X
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch 4 books on a bookcase so their spines match in sequence to those on a given diagram.
G. Strategy puzzle Fill in a grid with different colored flowers by clicking on different colors, changing the first rose and others surrounding it to that color. Continue until all roses in the grid are the same color. You have 25 moves
H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 3 rings with symbols along the edge so that each of the 4 symbols on each ring matches those along the sides.
B. Maze puzzle. Lead James Blackthorne throughout Restville, while avoiding pop-up sheriff tokens 2X
C. Switch puzzle. Switch jagged lock pieces so they mesh with matching jagged pieces on a center bar.
D. Question/Answer. Something new. As Dorian Brown, answer questions Anna Gray asks you. Choose between two answers for 4 questions
E. Battle scene puzzle. Choose 3 symbols within the scene to match those shown at the bottom of the screen. More of a HOP scene 3X
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. Switch 4 books on a bookcase so their spines match in sequence to those on a given diagram.
G. Strategy puzzle Fill in a grid with different colored flowers by clicking on different colors, changing the first rose and others surrounding it to that color. Continue until all roses in the grid are the same color. You have 25 moves
H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 3 rings with symbols along the edge so that each of the 4 symbols on each ring matches those along the sides.
**I recommend this game with reservations. It has an excellent story but lacks the usual creativity usually seen in most of this developer's games.
I recommend this game!