sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,068
- Reviews Submitted:758
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:September 12, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Mother Goose has gone missing, and Christmas is in danger!
Overall rating
5
/
5
181 of 253 found this review helpful
A FANTASTIC MOTHER GOOSE ADVENTURE TO USHER IN CHRISTMAS - ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedDecember 13, 2018
sunnyglow
fromChristmas is coming! The goose is getting fat Put more pennies and gold in Ole King Cole’s hat
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
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter (It is a long game) – Strategy Guide: 50 Pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter (It is a long game) – Strategy Guide: 50 Pages
OVERVIEW: Enjoy Christmas with your favorite nursery rhyme characters! The Fairytale Kingdom is under siege by the reign of the tyrannical Ole King Cole. Mother Goose is missing, and Cole has usurped the throne. He has become greedy, confiscating everything of value from the kingdom’s subjects. Now he has even forbidden Christmas! Since you have a pure soul, you have been chosen to save this kingdom! You are off to save King Cole from the curse of greed, locate Mother Goose, the rightful ruler, and restore Christmas to this kingdom.
OPINION: Hey diddle-diddle! Find that cat with a fiddle and prepare to celebrate the holidays with another sugarplum delight from Domini! Despite only having three chapters, this is a long game. Domini always provides more game for the money. It is jampacked with activities to keep the player busy. Nursery rhyme characters are brought to life in a well-written gaming script. This is a delightful game for children and adults of all ages! The graphics glisten with images of gingerbread, Christmas trees, candy canes and other holiday items. This is the perfect game to get you into the holiday spirit!
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. You have the choice between playing a female or male character. There are thirty-one (31) achievements. Collect fifteen (15) nursery rhyme characters and fifteen (15) gingerbread men. Collect forty-five (45) candy canes which are used to purchase fifteen (15) ornaments for a Christmas tree. I found most easy to locate. There is an indicator on the inventory bar which alerts you when there is a collectible within the scene. You can replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes and twenty (20) puzzles. There are fifteen (15) wallpapers along with concept art and video and music selections. My only Christmas wish is that more of the puzzles would have been made available for replay. With twice the number of puzzles as compared to the HOP scenes, it is surprising to me that so few are offered for replay.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Tommy, the Baker’s Man, is on an eating rampage. His uncontrollable appetite stems from a curse caused by eating berries from a magic cornucopia. Locate an antidote before he eats all the goodies for the kingdom’s Christmas feast. This a long chapter and worth the extra purchase price of the collector’s edition. There are five (5) HOP scenes and eleven (11) puzzles within this chapter. I found the story humorous and loved the activities.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes within the game. You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes. The scenes are full of Christmas goodies and are creatively designed. There are many storybook scenes with nursery rhyme characters. Most of the others are silhouette and lists of items. There are some matching scenes as well. My favorite is a silhouette scene in which you must move sliders to position the silhouette of an item over the item itself to remove it.
PUZZLES: There are forty (40) puzzles within the game! You have the choice of playing the puzzles in an “easy” or “hard” mode for some of the puzzles. This can be designated within the main menu or individually for each puzzle. I found the puzzles excellent with a variety in style and difficulty. There are some new creative approaches in some of the puzzles, which I enjoyed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. 3 Blind Mice: Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Maze puzzle. Lead three blind mice through the dark in a search for a door seal within a maze. You must overcome obstacles by picking up items to help you navigate this maze in the dark. It must be completed in sequential order.
B. Mush you huskies! Map puzzle. Plot a path for some huskies to lead a sled through the snow to McDonald’s farm. You must plot the course by placing arrows in sequence before pressing start to see if it is correct.
C. London Bridge. Tangram puzzle. Create a bridge by placing boards on a grid so that they interlock with no spaces between the boards.
D. Gingerbread twins! Maze puzzle. Move two gingerbread men simultaneously through a maze so they both land in the center of the maze at the same time. They both must be able to move at the same time as well. If one is blocked from moving, the other will not move either.
E. A piece of cake! Assembly puzzle. Create cakes by choosing the shape, color, frosting and layers on an assembly line. 3X
F. Pretty maids all in a row. Mathematical puzzle. On a grid, click on numbered tiles so the numbers in each row and column equal the number at the top and sides.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Logic puzzle. Using a skating cat and using three colors, color sections of a circular maze so that no two colors are next to each other.
H. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Mathematical/logic puzzle. Move colored balls into columns and rows so that the number of each colored ball within each column and row equals a number at the sides and top of the grid.
B. Mush you huskies! Map puzzle. Plot a path for some huskies to lead a sled through the snow to McDonald’s farm. You must plot the course by placing arrows in sequence before pressing start to see if it is correct.
C. London Bridge. Tangram puzzle. Create a bridge by placing boards on a grid so that they interlock with no spaces between the boards.
D. Gingerbread twins! Maze puzzle. Move two gingerbread men simultaneously through a maze so they both land in the center of the maze at the same time. They both must be able to move at the same time as well. If one is blocked from moving, the other will not move either.
E. A piece of cake! Assembly puzzle. Create cakes by choosing the shape, color, frosting and layers on an assembly line. 3X
F. Pretty maids all in a row. Mathematical puzzle. On a grid, click on numbered tiles so the numbers in each row and column equal the number at the top and sides.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Logic puzzle. Using a skating cat and using three colors, color sections of a circular maze so that no two colors are next to each other.
H. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Mathematical/logic puzzle. Move colored balls into columns and rows so that the number of each colored ball within each column and row equals a number at the sides and top of the grid.
I recommend this game!
Dark Reapers kidnapped your mother and aunt! Will you be next?
Overall rating
2
/
5
104 of 175 found this review helpful
A WHISPER OF THE PAST? MORE LIKE ANOTHER BOMB FOR AMAX
PostedDecember 8, 2018
sunnyglow
fromComing soon! – Black Hoodie Friday-the 13th! A sales event allowing gaming developers to outfit their evildoers in style! All robes feature hypoallergenic black billowing smoke to add a little pizzazz to those evildoers!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
OVERVIEW: Play Airrin, heir to the Fire Lion Kingdom. As children, your mother, Queen Lilith, and your Aunt Sylvia saw their sister, Miranda, kidnapped by the Dark Reapers. Now these evildoers have returned, kidnapping your mother and your Aunt Sylvia as well. Someone wants retribution against these three sisters, but who? Discover the evildoer behind the kidnappings, assess their motives for the kidnappings, and save your family before the kingdom is lost.
OPINION: No whisper from the past here – just another bomb for AMAX! This is the same cookie cutter game repackaged with three princesses for the price of one! Despite the beautiful graphics, this is another game I will not purchase. This game should appeal to those who like fantasy games about fairy tale kingdoms fraught with danger from smoky hooded evildoers. I found the demo snail-paced and the story behind the game a rehash of the other games in the series. In an encore performance the irritating baying of wolves can be heard in the background. With little interest in the subject matter, added to the same boring activities seen in so many of this developer’s games, I was counting the minutes until the demo was finished.
GIMMICKY MAGIC LENS: Returning in yet another game, is the “magic lens” which helps you locate invisible symbols within the scene. It is used three times in the demo. I wish this developer would create some new “gimmicks” to use in their games. It would be even better if this developer would stop using gimmicks altogether.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There fifteen (15) achievements. Collect fifteen (15) cards and twenty-six (26) morphing objects. As far as wallpapers and other extras, I was not able to access them because of an “error violation” notice I received while trying to enter the “extra” section of this game.
HOP SCENES: I found the HOP scenes standard fare seen in most of this developer’s games. There are several mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for a small number of some item or pieces of some item. There is one scene in the demo which is somewhat creative. After locating items to create a potion, place those items (now silhouetted) into a boiling pot. Placing them within the pot opens a storybook scene in which you must locate four (4) items per page of this storybook.
PUZZLES: They vary in style and difficulty; however, I found most of the puzzles easy. However, there are two puzzles in the demo which can be played in either a “casual” or “hard” mode. Returning are the tracing puzzles, which I find boring. Staying within the lines is reminiscent of kindergarten. I wish AMAX would get rid of these puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Use the magic lens to locate symbols.
B. Matching puzzle. Move a series of three (3) clock hands so that each hand matches up and points to an identical phase of the moon.
C. Once is not enough. Use the magic lens to locate symbols
D. Matching puzzle. Pair up identical masks.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore an image.
F. Tracing puzzle. Move a bucket through a path without touching the sides. 3X
G. Matching puzzle. Pair up symbols. They must be paired in sequential order.
H. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide tiles into position on a grid so they match up with a given code.
I. Hopefully, three times is the charm. Use a magic lens to locate symbols
J. Matching puzzle. Rotate a disk with slots for four animals and place the four animals at the side of the disk into the proper location.
K. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Switch puzzle. Rotate bars between three images to restore them. Rotating one affects the others.
B. Matching puzzle. Move a series of three (3) clock hands so that each hand matches up and points to an identical phase of the moon.
C. Once is not enough. Use the magic lens to locate symbols
D. Matching puzzle. Pair up identical masks.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore an image.
F. Tracing puzzle. Move a bucket through a path without touching the sides. 3X
G. Matching puzzle. Pair up symbols. They must be paired in sequential order.
H. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide tiles into position on a grid so they match up with a given code.
I. Hopefully, three times is the charm. Use a magic lens to locate symbols
J. Matching puzzle. Rotate a disk with slots for four animals and place the four animals at the side of the disk into the proper location.
K. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Switch puzzle. Rotate bars between three images to restore them. Rotating one affects the others.
I don't recommend this game.
The Christmas spirit is vanishing all over the world, but why?
Overall rating
5
/
5
174 of 283 found this review helpful
A WINTER WONDERLAND FULL OF WHIMSY AND CHRISTMAS DELIGHT!
PostedDecember 6, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThe residents of Wonderland now love the holidays. After appearing in this Christmas game, the White Rabbit is returning in the spring as the new Easter Bunny along with the Mad Hatter who is bringing with him a new fashion line of Easter bonnets.
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: 41 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 41 Pages
OVERVIEW: Alice! Santa has granted your Christmas wish for adventure by requesting your help in saving Christmas! Throughout the world, people have lost their Christmas spirit. The inhabitants of Wonderland have entered the real world, spearheaded by their ruler, the Red Queen. Entering through a magic mirror, the arrival of these Wonderland inhabitants has upset the balance between the two worlds. Since Wonderland fuels dreams, with the Red Queen now in the real world, imagination is evaporating. The Christmas star is fading, and people no longer believe in Santa Claus. Follow Santa’s emissary, the White Rabbit, and find enough Christmas spirit to restore the Christmas star, revive the Christmas spirit, and convince the Red Queen to return to Wonderland.
OPINION: Enjoy another fun-filled Elephant Christmas game, all wrapped up in whimsy and Christmas cheer. The graphics are all decked out for Christmas with scenes filled with glistening Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and decorations galore. It is a light-hearted romp which the whole family can enjoy. The gaming script is well-written, and the graphics are creatively designed. My only complaint is that I wish there were more Christmas music selections as in the past games.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-two (22) achievements. Collect forty-eight (48) jigsaw pieces – twelve (12) each for four puzzles. Collect twelve (12) figurines of the characters from the game and twenty-seven (27) morphing objects. There are eighteen (18) wallpapers along with concept art and music selections. You can replay twelve (12) mini-games and eleven (11) HOP scenes.
CHRISTMAS HELPER: The Cheshire Cat will sit at the side of the inventory bar and help you by performing various tasks. He is not used frequently and does add a seasonal element of whimsy to the game.
BONUS GAME: The bonus game is unrelated to the main game. It is based on the Dicken’s classic, “The Christmas Carol.” As the nephew of Ebenezer Scrooge Cat, you return to his past. Visit three (3) time periods in his life to change the course of his miserable, unhappy life. Can you create a past which is “picture perfect?” I found this chapter is in some ways better than the main game. It is truly the “cat’s meow,” with all the characters portrayed as cats. Dealing with the original “grumpy cat” is well-worth the price of the collector’s edition. You get a new helper, the Christmas Spirit cat, to aid you in your visit to the past. It is a long chapter with seven (7) puzzles and six (6) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) in the game. The scenes reflect the theme of the game with beautifully designed scenes full of Christmas goodies – pastries, toys, twinkling colored lights, and Christmas trees all aglitter. Although most are lists of items or silhouette scenes, they are creatively designed. My favorite scene is one in which you must choose two items to be removed which, when combined, are related in some way to the item listed. All the items in this scene are related to Christmas.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-one (31) puzzles within the game. They are varied in design with most being easy. However, there are a few puzzles of middle difficulty. Some, but not all, are thematic, reflecting the Christmas spirit. There are a couple of multiple-step puzzles. I found the best puzzles within the bonus chapter.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Riding a one-horse open sleigh: Moving tiles puzzle. Move a horse from the left to the right end of a grid by moving tiles out if its path. You must move two tiles at a time in most cases.
B. Sugar plum fairies danced in their heads. Matching puzzle. Choose the correct sweets for eight characters based upon given clues.
C. Connect with Christmas! Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored squares on a chalkboard to remove them without passing through other colored squares until the board is completely cleared. 3X
D. Nutcracker “sweet!” Switch puzzle. Switch different colored Santas, penguins, and nutcrackers, placing them into position according to a given code. You can only exchange tokens next to each other and each must share some feature – either by color or by the item itself.
E. Light up your life this Christmas! Rope puzzle. Untangle a string of lights so that no wires cross each other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Watch out for reindeer! Arcade game. Shoot Christmas-like tokens to get 70 points. The smaller the object you shoot – the more points.
G. All roads lead to Christmas! Map puzzle. Lead Alice on a path, crossing a river while removing obstacles in her path.
B. Sugar plum fairies danced in their heads. Matching puzzle. Choose the correct sweets for eight characters based upon given clues.
C. Connect with Christmas! Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored squares on a chalkboard to remove them without passing through other colored squares until the board is completely cleared. 3X
D. Nutcracker “sweet!” Switch puzzle. Switch different colored Santas, penguins, and nutcrackers, placing them into position according to a given code. You can only exchange tokens next to each other and each must share some feature – either by color or by the item itself.
E. Light up your life this Christmas! Rope puzzle. Untangle a string of lights so that no wires cross each other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Watch out for reindeer! Arcade game. Shoot Christmas-like tokens to get 70 points. The smaller the object you shoot – the more points.
G. All roads lead to Christmas! Map puzzle. Lead Alice on a path, crossing a river while removing obstacles in her path.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the city from an otherworldly predator?
Overall rating
5
/
5
121 of 175 found this review helpful
A DARK JOURNEY THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
PostedNovember 29, 2018
sunnyglow
fromUsually, breaking a mirror causes seven years of bad luck. Not in this game. Get ready to smash some glass! Breaking a mirror in this game will be the luckiest thing you can do.
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 MAIN GAME:
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 pages
OVERVIEW: Through the looking glass you go to investigate your next case, Nathaniel. As a paranormal detective, you are off to Lyon, France to investigate a case involving a series of mirrors. These mirrors are evil, revealing disturbing and twisted information to their owners. They have a devastating psychological effect on those who possess them. You will get more than you bargained for in this case. With each mirror you deal with, you will pick up its negative energy, manifesting it upon your hand. Prepare to smash a few mirrors and restore the lives if their victims.
OPINION: I found this a creatively designed game with a well-written gaming script. For me, this is a vast improvement from the previous games in this series. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. The graphics are cartoon-like with some realistic imagery. I found the main part of this game enjoyable with some new twists in the HOP scenes and in some of the puzzles as well.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are fourteen (14) achievements. Collect fifty-four (54) pieces of jewelry. There are two (2) pieces of jewelry in each scene. I found the pieces easy to locate. You can replay some HOP scenes and puzzles. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with concept art, music and video selections.
GIMMICKY TATTOO: Activate a tattoo on your arm when you wish to investigate a scene via the paranormal. You will see illusions and manifestations from this unseen world. This will open a HOP scene in which you must search for items from the real world and from the dream world and exchange them within the scene.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. It involves the love story between Vivien, a young ballerina and her beau, Louie. I did not finish this chapter. However, I found the activities from first part of this chapter being of the same quality as those from the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) HOP scene within the main game. You can play a Match-3 puzzle in lieu of the scenes. Most of the scenes are either lists of items or search-and-replace scenes. The search-and-replace scenes are creatively designed and, to me, the best part of the game. You will play one of these scenes for each of the victims from this game. You search for nine (9) to twelve (12) items within a split scene (one depicting reality and the other, a dream state). After locating those items, you will then place them back into the scene in the proper location.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-four (24) puzzles within the main game. I found most easy – some a little too easy for my taste. However, the developer did provide a couple of puzzles in which you have the choice to play the puzzles in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. Although most of the puzzles are standard ones seen before, this developer has provided some creative new approaches to some of the puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SAMPLES OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Using four (4) arrows, move reflections of five (5) items onto a central figure, a monkey. Once it reaches the monkey, you will need to center each item to onto the appropriate part of the monkey. Unique puzzle never seen before.
B. Rope puzzle. Untangle vines so they do not intersect.
C. Choice between “easy” and “hard” modes. Domino puzzle. Place dominoes on a grid, creating a path so that the pips on each end match up with the domino abutting it.
D. Choice between “easy” and “hard” modes. Logic puzzle. Reading descriptions concerning a dog’s toy preference, place toys on a circular disk according to the given clues.
E. Connection puzzle. On a grid, connect city landmarks by visiting each one only once. All landmarks must be visited, and you must end at a certain designated location.
F. Matching puzzle. Place the owners of the various mirrors within their proper location on a bulletin board.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Switch puzzle. Switch hanging shards of glass to match the patterns underneath them.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch ballerinas by color according to a given code.
B. Rope puzzle. Untangle vines so they do not intersect.
C. Choice between “easy” and “hard” modes. Domino puzzle. Place dominoes on a grid, creating a path so that the pips on each end match up with the domino abutting it.
D. Choice between “easy” and “hard” modes. Logic puzzle. Reading descriptions concerning a dog’s toy preference, place toys on a circular disk according to the given clues.
E. Connection puzzle. On a grid, connect city landmarks by visiting each one only once. All landmarks must be visited, and you must end at a certain designated location.
F. Matching puzzle. Place the owners of the various mirrors within their proper location on a bulletin board.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Switch puzzle. Switch hanging shards of glass to match the patterns underneath them.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch ballerinas by color according to a given code.
I recommend this game!
What lies within the depths of the pitch-black mirror?
Overall rating
5
/
5
87 of 197 found this review helpful
ENTER A WORLD OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS - ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedNovember 20, 2018
sunnyglow
fromMirror, mirror on the wall – I am staying away from you after all – seeing all the problems you caused this family! However, perhaps not! I am replaying this fantastic 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:
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 41 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 41 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to the Codington estate to locate your missing friend, Eleanor Codington. The estate has lay idle for two centuries and rumor has it that an evil entity resides within its walls. Now Eleanor is trying to restore its grandeur. You are greeted by Camille, the interior and exterior designer for the estate. However, you discover her whole crew has been kidnapped - sucked into an abyss behind a mirror by a lady in black. When Camille is also abducted by this same demonic entity, you enter this mirror as well, venturing into a mirrored version of reality. You will need to defeat this dark entity, all while discovering some dark secrets about this family as well.
OPINION: Kudos to EIPIX for a fantastic game! I was absorbed into the walls of Codington mansion and did not wish to leave. The story-line is superb. There are some somewhat shocking revelations concerning this family. The graphics are dark, setting a rather spooky mood. The dark lady with her demonic countenance is truly creepy. The game is fast- paced with many activities to keep the player entertained. This is a puzzle lover’s delight. I found the entire game a series of puzzles – one right after another. I do believe most who love this series, will love this game. Unfortunately, I do not believe the demo truly reflects the quality of this game. It is well-worth the collector’s edition price. This is the first MCF game in years which I truly enjoyed playing and one I will replay.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twelve (12) achievements, some with three parts. Collect thirty-seven (37) mirror shards and thirty-seven (37) morphing objects. I found most easy to locate. You will need a notepad in this game. Not all the codes you need to unlock items will be handed to you on a sheet of paper. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with casual art, music and movie selections. You can replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes and twenty-four (24) puzzles. Nevertheless, I wish EIPIX had provided more puzzles to replay.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Gordon Codington wishes to discover why his parents sent him away when he was a child. He returns to Codington Manor in search of clues. I found the bonus chapter excellent. There are four (4) HOP scenes and four (4) puzzles within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes. All, but one, are lists of items. This is the only part of the game in which I am somewhat disappointed. I found the scenes repetitive, with little creative design. There is one storybook scene in the demo; however, after that, the rest are straight lists of items. I wish EIPIX had provided a little more creativity and variety in the scenes.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-three (33) puzzles within this game. However, this number includes four (4) Rube-Goldberg mini-games, which contain five to six individual puzzles within each mini-game. There are also several mini-games with several variations of the same puzzle, each, increasing in difficulty. The puzzles are creatively designed and vary in difficulty. There are some which are difficult. For the Rube-Goldberg mini-games, you have the option to skip each individual puzzle within this mini-game. There are also activities which are puzzle-like but are not deemed as puzzles. Some of those are not easy. There was one in which I needed to check the strategy guide to figure out how to proceed.
SPOILERS: HERE IS A SAMPLE OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Using a hammer on a circular disk, calculate the number of moves the hammer must move – either three or four spaces, until all seven tiles are cracked. You must calculate your moves. Hitting a cracked tile will restore it to its original state.
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles so they change from gold to silver on a 3 x 3 grid. Each move only changes the color of half the tile.
C. Connection puzzle. Connect pipes so that all flames within the grid are connected to a pot in the center of the grid.
D. Rube-Goldberg mini-game. (1) Find the correct fuse connected to a light which is lit. You will go back to this puzzle when you complete each one of the puzzles. (2) Maze puzzle. Move a token to the center of a grid opening red blockers along the way. (3) Sequence puzzle. Move a fly along a path to the end while avoiding a spider who will zap you. There is only one correct sequence. (4) Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate triangular tiles to restore a cameo image. Rotating one tile affects the others. (5) Matching puzzle. On a grid, use arrows to rotate tiles with lines on them so they match up with a given diagram. (6) Gear puzzle. Move gears so they mesh with each other.
E. Switch puzzle. Rotate and switch spools of thread with parts of a path imprinted on the top to create a path from one crack at the left to another on the right.
F. Assembly puzzle. Using a guide, create three constellations using chess pieces
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Pipe puzzle. Position faucet handles to stop the flow of water on four (4) spigots.
H. Assembly puzzle. Assemble the image of a knight by increasing and decreasing the dimensions for four parts plus moving those parts into place.
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles so they change from gold to silver on a 3 x 3 grid. Each move only changes the color of half the tile.
C. Connection puzzle. Connect pipes so that all flames within the grid are connected to a pot in the center of the grid.
D. Rube-Goldberg mini-game. (1) Find the correct fuse connected to a light which is lit. You will go back to this puzzle when you complete each one of the puzzles. (2) Maze puzzle. Move a token to the center of a grid opening red blockers along the way. (3) Sequence puzzle. Move a fly along a path to the end while avoiding a spider who will zap you. There is only one correct sequence. (4) Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate triangular tiles to restore a cameo image. Rotating one tile affects the others. (5) Matching puzzle. On a grid, use arrows to rotate tiles with lines on them so they match up with a given diagram. (6) Gear puzzle. Move gears so they mesh with each other.
E. Switch puzzle. Rotate and switch spools of thread with parts of a path imprinted on the top to create a path from one crack at the left to another on the right.
F. Assembly puzzle. Using a guide, create three constellations using chess pieces
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Pipe puzzle. Position faucet handles to stop the flow of water on four (4) spigots.
H. Assembly puzzle. Assemble the image of a knight by increasing and decreasing the dimensions for four parts plus moving those parts into place.
I recommend this game!
When Hector, Demon Hunter for hire, agreed to save a lost tourist from the haunted Museum of Mysticism and Monstrosity, he never imagined that he could be the one in need of saving.
Overall rating
5
/
5
120 of 179 found this review helpful
HAVE A DEVILISH GOOD TIME BATTLING A DEMON
PostedNovember 17, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game proves that even demons can get a “charge” out of broadcasting over the airwaves!
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: 44 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages
OVERVIEW: As the noted Demon Hunter, Hector Cole, you are off to The Museum of Mysticism and Monstrosity to battle another demon. You have been contacted by Edmund Strange, curator for this museum. A tourist entered the museum but never came out and all efforts to locate him have failed. It appears the museum has been a hotbed of increased paranormal activity. There is a demonic force which has been unleashed by a tragic circumstance. Get ready to battle this demon before it descends upon the entire world.
OPINION: This is my favorite series from Brave Giant. The game is long, and I feel the quality of this game is excellent. I did not find the game scary; however, I feel it has a well-written storyline. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. I feel the graphics are greatly improved from past games from this developer. The scenes are cartoonish, but the dark ambiance adds to the flavor of this game. There are only a few minor things which I did not enjoy about this game. In my opinion, some of the dialogue is a little hokey and melodramatic. I also feel that more of the mini-games should have been made available for replay.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-four (24) achievements. Collect twenty-eight (28) morphing scrolls and twenty-eight (28) crystals. Every scene has one of each of the collectibles and all are easy to locate. There are also some morphing objects within the HOP scenes. You can replay eight (8) mini-games and eight (8) HOP scenes. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with concept art, music selections and cutscenes from the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. After solving this case, you are asked for an interview by an up-and-coming journalist. Go back in time to relive a momentous camping trip with your fiancée. Learn the story why Hector Cole entered the field of the paranormal. I found this chapter somewhat weak in comparison to the main game. There are no collectibles within this chapter. There are four (4) HOP scenes and four (4) mini-games. I feel the story is excellent but am not impressed with some of the activities. I also feel that the pace bogs down in some of parts of this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes within this game. Most of the scenes are lists of items and silhouette. I feel they are standard fare seen in other games. There are some scenes in which the player searches for a small number of one item. There is one FROG. There are morphing objects within some of the scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes within this game. Most of the scenes are lists of items and silhouette. I feel they are standard fare seen in other games. There are some scenes in which the player searches for a small number of one item. There is one FROG. There are morphing objects within some of the scenes.
PUZZLES: There are forty (40) puzzles within this game. They are varied in difficulty and style. In my opinion they are the best part of the game. Nevertheless, I am dismayed that Brave Giant only offered eight (8) to replay. I planned to replay some of these, but that would require replaying this entire game. There are three (3) storybook puzzles, which to me are more like HOP scenes than puzzles. In these puzzles, the player must locate three (3) items for each scene within the pages of a book. There are also some activities which are not listed as puzzles but should have been listed as such. There are several instances of searching throughout a scene to get numbers or symbols to open locks or some device.
SPOILERS: HERE IS A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Move four (4) levers on a generator up-and-down until all the lights above them turn green. Moving one affects the others.
B. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings with purple and green marbles so that the purple marbles are on the left and green on the right.
C. Chess puzzle. Move the knight on a chess board with its “L” shaped moves until all squares on a chessboard are covered.
D. Storybook puzzle. Locate silhouette items within the pages of a book (There are three of these within the game).
E. Mathematical puzzle. Using two dials which can rotate two spaces counterclockwise and three spaces clockwise, move around a disk with an image upon it to light up parts of the image on the disk.
F. Assembly puzzle. Climb up a telephone pole by placing rungs in the proper location on a telephone pole while ascending.
G. Balance puzzle. Cross a river by balancing yourself across a log. If you are out of balance you will fall into the river.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. On a grid, move your token across a lake while avoiding monsters within your path.
I. Mathematical puzzle. Switch fuses until the combination of each pair of fuses equals a number between them.
J. Connection puzzle. Connect like tokens with chains without crossing paths.
B. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings with purple and green marbles so that the purple marbles are on the left and green on the right.
C. Chess puzzle. Move the knight on a chess board with its “L” shaped moves until all squares on a chessboard are covered.
D. Storybook puzzle. Locate silhouette items within the pages of a book (There are three of these within the game).
E. Mathematical puzzle. Using two dials which can rotate two spaces counterclockwise and three spaces clockwise, move around a disk with an image upon it to light up parts of the image on the disk.
F. Assembly puzzle. Climb up a telephone pole by placing rungs in the proper location on a telephone pole while ascending.
G. Balance puzzle. Cross a river by balancing yourself across a log. If you are out of balance you will fall into the river.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. On a grid, move your token across a lake while avoiding monsters within your path.
I. Mathematical puzzle. Switch fuses until the combination of each pair of fuses equals a number between them.
J. Connection puzzle. Connect like tokens with chains without crossing paths.
I recommend this game!
The woods hide a frightening mystery only you can solve!
Overall rating
5
/
5
110 of 161 found this review helpful
WHAT LURKS DEEP WITHIN THE DARK WOODS?
PostedNovember 15, 2018
sunnyglow
fromGetting lost in this game about a creepy forest, I found it difficult to find a path and a reason to leave until it was finished!
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: 44 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages
OVERVIEW: As Rick Rogers, paranormal detective, you are off to a forest where people have gone missing for over thirty years. A party is being planned at a country house near this forest by a group of young adults. A year earlier, a girl, Tina Rice, disappeared within this forest while attending a party at the same house. Nicky Summer who is planning this year’s party has asked for your help. She is afraid the same thing will happen this year. When her friends enter the woods and end up missing, it will be up to you to find them. There is something hiding deep within this forest, but who or what that may be is for you to discover.
OPINION: This is an excellent thriller which contains a few twists and turns after the demo. The story is well-written, and the player will have no idea what this game is about until they complete the demo and get into the rest of the game. I did not find this game scary; however, I did find it fast-paced with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. The graphics are dark, setting the mood for spooky fare. This game should appeal to both puzzle lovers and HOP lovers. This is one game which has an equal number of both.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-two (22) achievements. Collect twelve (12) figurines of characters from the game, twenty-five (25) all-seeing eyes and twenty-seven (27) morphing objects. I found most easy to locate. You can replay thirteen (13) HOP scenes and thirteen (13) puzzles. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with a screensaver plus music and video selections.
BONUS CHAPTER: it is a sequel. Return to the same woods on another case. Journalist, Mika Stato, along with her cameraman, have disappeared within these woods. This time, you will face a new menace lurking within this forest. The chapter is not related to the main game; however, the quality is consistent with the main part of the game. There are six (6) HOP scenes and five (5) puzzles in this chapter. Surprisingly, the final activity is a HOP scene not a puzzle.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes within this game. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette. There are a couple of matching scenes along with some multiple-step ones. I found most standard fare seen in most HOP games. My favorite scene was in the bonus chapter in which you must match up items by opening boxes to locate them. I also enjoyed another creative one in the main game in which you locate items on a stained-glass window.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-three (23) puzzles in the game. They vary in style and difficulty. I feel the puzzles are better than the HOP scenes in this game. There are two puzzles which allow the player to choose between playing the puzzles in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. There are several connection puzzles in varying forms and styles. The same can be said about sequence puzzles as well. I found none extremely difficult. Most of the puzzles are of medium difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE IS A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Connection puzzle. On a 7 x 5 grid, press buttons with directional arrows on them to create a path which ends up at a star button at the exit. All buttons must be pushed.
B. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so that no pieces intersect with each other.
C. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Guide a rail cart to the entrance of a mine. In the easy mode you will choose the direction as you move. In the hard mode you must plot the course before you press start. Also avoid obstacles within your path. There are three (3) scenes in this puzzle.
D. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Card puzzle. Matching. First memorize the location of a series of cards, then, when the cards are turned over, choose the card which matches the card the dealer (skeleton) shows you. 3X.
BONUS CHAPTER
E. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between tokens based on the number of gems upon them.
F. Assembly puzzle. Using arrows to move three rows across, down and sideways, rearrange 3 sets of colored tiles so that each row has tiles of the same color.
G. Switch puzzle. Switch elephants so they are standing on the proper color.
B. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so that no pieces intersect with each other.
C. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Guide a rail cart to the entrance of a mine. In the easy mode you will choose the direction as you move. In the hard mode you must plot the course before you press start. Also avoid obstacles within your path. There are three (3) scenes in this puzzle.
D. Choice between Easy and Hard modes. Card puzzle. Matching. First memorize the location of a series of cards, then, when the cards are turned over, choose the card which matches the card the dealer (skeleton) shows you. 3X.
BONUS CHAPTER
E. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between tokens based on the number of gems upon them.
F. Assembly puzzle. Using arrows to move three rows across, down and sideways, rearrange 3 sets of colored tiles so that each row has tiles of the same color.
G. Switch puzzle. Switch elephants so they are standing on the proper color.
Can you disrupt a dangerous plot against the crown?
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 173 found this review helpful
PALACE INTRIGUE AWAITS!
PostedNovember 10, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter
OVERVIEW: Engage in some palace intrigue as you try to save the Queen of France! Return to 1610 France under the reign of King Henry IV. As Francois Ravaillac, you have been commissioned by Queen Marie d’ Medici to prove her innocence in her husband’s murder. A sect, the Secret Order, is behind the murder, but you will need evidence to support that fact. This group is planning to overthrow the government and are framing the Queen and her lady-in-waiting, Lenora, for the crime. Now, only you can save the monarchy and restore the kingdom.
OPINION: This is a well-designed game; however, it did not appeal to me. I am not a fan of historical games; however, for those who enjoy Renaissance history, this should be delightful romp into the past. The realistic portrayal of the characters is noteworthy. You don’t find the quality of this game’s graphics in most HOP games nowadays. The pace is excellent. The palace intrigue and suspense from the story along with the variety of activities should keep a player engaged throughout the game.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are sixteen (16) achievements. Collect twelve (12) royal items and thirty (30) morphing objects. There are thirteen (13) wallpapers along with casual art and music selections. I believe there may an option to replay puzzles and HOP scenes, but it is not indicated as such in the demo.
GIMMICK: There is a helper within this game, Adriana. She sits at the left side of your inventory bar. She will help you by performing tasks you are not able to perform. I don’t like gimmicks within games, but in this case, this helper is logical and not thrown into the game for a whimsical effect. However, I do feel the game could stand on its own merit without the helper.
HOP SCENES: I found the scenes creatively designed. The ones in the demo are lists of items and silhouette.They are highly interactive, some with mini-puzzles within them. A couple in the demo require you to use a magnifying glass to search for items. There is one search-and-replace scene in which you must locate items and then use them within the scene.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are also creatively designed. Most are of medium difficulty. I found none challenging. There is one puzzle in the demo which has the option to be played in either a casual or hard mode.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Rotate two rings to restore an image given on a ring.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles with parts of a maze imprinted on them so that a path is created from the top of a grid to the bottom. All pipes will be connected with each other.
C. Sequence puzzle. Snake alert! Remove snakes in sequence.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore a pattern.
E. Matching puzzle. Using a “decoder,” search a parchment for a matching symbol given at the top of the decoder.
F. Bullseye puzzle. Click on from one to three hands when they reach a center circle.
G. Choice between hard and casual modes. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate and move three outside circles so that a pattern is formed in the middle circle.
H. Tracing puzzle. Using a quill and ink, trace a path to a castle without moving out of the lines.
I. Lock puzzle. Open a lock by following given clues.
J. Bullseye puzzle. Click on a knot when a slider passes through a red area. 2X
K. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a sequence of given battle moves to defeat an evildoer. 5x
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles with parts of a maze imprinted on them so that a path is created from the top of a grid to the bottom. All pipes will be connected with each other.
C. Sequence puzzle. Snake alert! Remove snakes in sequence.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore a pattern.
E. Matching puzzle. Using a “decoder,” search a parchment for a matching symbol given at the top of the decoder.
F. Bullseye puzzle. Click on from one to three hands when they reach a center circle.
G. Choice between hard and casual modes. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate and move three outside circles so that a pattern is formed in the middle circle.
H. Tracing puzzle. Using a quill and ink, trace a path to a castle without moving out of the lines.
I. Lock puzzle. Open a lock by following given clues.
J. Bullseye puzzle. Click on a knot when a slider passes through a red area. 2X
K. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a sequence of given battle moves to defeat an evildoer. 5x
I recommend this game!
Munich’s Oktoberfest hides a dark secret – werewolves are afoot!
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 141 found this review helpful
WHO’S AFRAID OF A BIG, BAD WOLF? NOT YOU DETECTIVE!
PostedNovember 8, 2018
sunnyglow
fromIn the world of half human/half beast creatures, I believe I am half fish. I always seem to be “swimming against the current!”
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:
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 46 Pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 46 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to Munich for Oktoberfest. Mayor Schultz has hired you to investigate a series of gruesome murders. Victims have been savagely attacked by what appears to be a wolf of tremendous power and strength. One of the victims, Miss Blume, has identified her attacker as a werewolf. However, is it a werewolf or is someone or something else behind these attacks? Enter the world of an underground subculture – one consisting of half-human/half-animal beings. Could one of these beings be behind the gruesome murders or is there another culprit hiding in the shadows?
OPINION: This is a decent whodunit. The story behind the game is excellent; however, it is not what I expected. The story changes somewhat after the demo. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. The graphics are dark, reflecting the game’s theme. This game should appeal to those who love mysteries.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-five (25) achievements. Collect forty-four (44) coins and stamps and forty-two (42) morphing objects. The coins and stamps will be used to purchase game characters based on the amount of those items you have collected. There is a side-bar at the left of the screen to indicate if there are any collectibles within the scene. I found most easy to locate. You get a case folder in which to keep evidence. You will refer to this file when you need to make deductions about the case. An all-seeing eye token at the side of the screen will light up when you need to make these deductions. There are ten (10) wallpapers, four (4) screensavers along with music and movie sequences. You can replay eleven (11) HOP scenes and twelve (12) puzzles.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. A boy, Hansel, has been kidnapped. Now help his sister, Gretel, locate him. Locate the culprit and discover the reason for his as well as other children's abductions. You have a choice in endings, which I found a nice touch. The activities are similar with those in the main game. There are four (4) HOP scenes and four (4) puzzles. There are plenty of beautifully drawn scenes of bakery items to delight your sweet tooth! Those scenes made me hungry!
HOP SCENES: There are more HOP scenes than puzzles. They are superb. There is a great deal of creativity displayed within these scenes. I found thirty-seven (37) of what I consider HOP scenes which include mini-scenes with a small number of items to locate. Most are lists of items, storybook, replacement, and silhouette. There is one repetitive storybook replacement HOP scene you play to learn more about the half-human/half-animal creatures. There are lists of items in which you use the all-seeing eye to locate items which provide clues about the case. My favorites however, are in the bonus chapter. In one you open many drawers to locate items. In another you match up a basket of cookies with those within the scene of a bakery.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-one (21) puzzles in the game. They are varied in style and difficulty. There are few which have more than one puzzle, each one increasing in difficulty. There are not many puzzles; however, they are creatively designed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Physics puzzle. Maneuver and angle spouts to set up a trajectory for six gems at the top of a wall to reach the bottom so that each gem enters the mouth of a snake with eyes the same color as the gem.
B. Beat the computer. Match-3 Puzzle. Match 3 or more colored tokens to fill up three colored bars of the same color as the tokens. You must only match tokens with your picture on them. Fill up three bars before your opponent does. 2X
C. Assembly/Sequence puzzle. Restore an image by pressing pieces in the correct sequence. Pieces must be clicked so that none block each other while assembling the image.
D. Jigsaw puzzles. Two puzzles in one. On one side of a locket, place jigsaw pieces into place to restore an image; on the other side, switch pieces to restore an image.
BONUS CHAPTER
E. Connection puzzle. Connect stones in a forest in a continuous line to create a path.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Using 7-cup and 3-cup measuring cups, create an antidote. Pour substances back-and forth between the cups to get the exact amounts needed.
B. Beat the computer. Match-3 Puzzle. Match 3 or more colored tokens to fill up three colored bars of the same color as the tokens. You must only match tokens with your picture on them. Fill up three bars before your opponent does. 2X
C. Assembly/Sequence puzzle. Restore an image by pressing pieces in the correct sequence. Pieces must be clicked so that none block each other while assembling the image.
D. Jigsaw puzzles. Two puzzles in one. On one side of a locket, place jigsaw pieces into place to restore an image; on the other side, switch pieces to restore an image.
BONUS CHAPTER
E. Connection puzzle. Connect stones in a forest in a continuous line to create a path.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Using 7-cup and 3-cup measuring cups, create an antidote. Pour substances back-and forth between the cups to get the exact amounts needed.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the truth behind Heavenfall's greatest Secrets!
Overall rating
3
/
5
74 of 118 found this review helpful
BECOME SWEPT UP INTO A DARK WORLD
PostedNovember 3, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game gives a whole new meaning to absorption painting!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to Heavenfall School in response to a letter from “tween” Astrid. It appears her classmate, Greta has disappeared. A secret room within the school contains a painting which transports those who approach it to an ominous, dangerous place - the Dark World. Once there, it is impossible to escape. The school’s professors have sealed this room with magic spells; however, former students as well as Greta have found a way to enter this room and become swept up into the painting. When Astrid is absorbed into the painting as well, you, Detective must venture into this dangerous world to save both girls.
OPINION: Be ready to transport into a Harry Potter style world of enchantment and magic. This is a game full of potions, spells, wizards and portals to other worlds. I did not purchase this game for several reasons. First, I found the pace very slow. Most of the action, or lack thereof, in the demo, consists of searching to-and-fro for inventory items. There were not enough activities to keep my interest. Second, I found the HOP scenes in the demo nondescript and lacking any creativity. Third, I found the whimsical story better suited to pre-teens. On the plus side, the graphics are exquisite with beautifully designed scenes. I have never cared for this series, so it will be a pass for me. However, it may appeal to those who love fantasy games.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-two (22) achievements. Collect twenty-seven (27) morphing musical instruments and (12) cards as well. Collect forty-eight (48) puzzle pieces for four jigsaw puzzles. These four (4) puzzles become screensavers. I found the items easy to locate; however, the scenes in the demo are cluttered with them. There are twelve (12) wallpapers along with concept art and music selections. There is a secret room which probably contains HOP scenes and puzzles you can replay.
HOP SCENES: The demo has more HOP scenes than puzzles. I found the scenes nondescript with little creativity. Most are lists of items with minimal interactivity. There are also two silhouette scenes. I found only one which I felt was somewhat creatively designed. It is a scene in which the player must switch between four (4) pictures to locate items.
PUZZLES: There are five (5) in the demo. I feel they are better constructed than the HOP scenes. The ones I played were creatively designed, some with three parts with each puzzle increasing in difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Moving tiles puzzle. Move two tokens on a grid at the same time, alternating your moves between the two of them. Both must reach their allotted slots at the same time.
B. Maze puzzle. Using arrows, move a gold cross to push gold tokens on a path to their designated slots. 3X More tokens are added as you finish each round. Increases in difficulty
C. Connection puzzle. Place tokens on the grid so that lines upon them connect without any breaks. 2
D. Connection puzzle. Connect tokens with lines upon them so that the number of lines radiating from them equals the number on the token. 3X
E. Assembly puzzle. Choose from a series of squares to create three symbols which are contained within scrolls.
B. Maze puzzle. Using arrows, move a gold cross to push gold tokens on a path to their designated slots. 3X More tokens are added as you finish each round. Increases in difficulty
C. Connection puzzle. Place tokens on the grid so that lines upon them connect without any breaks. 2
D. Connection puzzle. Connect tokens with lines upon them so that the number of lines radiating from them equals the number on the token. 3X
E. Assembly puzzle. Choose from a series of squares to create three symbols which are contained within scrolls.
I recommend this game!