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:
Work with new puppet allies to uncover the true puppet master!
Overall rating
5
/
5
109 of 184 found this review helpful
MY “FAITH IN THE FUTURE” OF AMAX GAMES HAS BEEN RESTORED
PostedJuly 12, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game reminds me there are some advantages of having a puppet-self. You can be in two places at the same time, sending your puppet-self to those places you don’t want to be.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 45 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 45 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! Prepare to investigate another puppet-inspired mystery. In this case, you must save the terminally ill Miriam White from an evildoer. Super scientist Miriam, with the help of her assistant, Frank, has attempted to transfer her soul into a puppet. However, something has gone awry and now poor Miriam’s consciousness is split between her body and her lookalike puppet. Beware! In trying to save your friend, you could end up as a puppet yourself. Who is the villain here? There are some surprises as you investigate this case.
OPINION: Surprises? This game surprised me! It is a great game! The demo does not do justice to this game. The game still has numerous puppets; however, the elements I found irritating in the previous games of the series are gone from this game. There are no helpers in this game, although there is a puppet with scissors who helps at the very beginning of the game. However, she disappears after the demo. The grunting dwarf does not appear, thankfully. There is a gimmick, half a pair of scissors, in the bonus chapter, but it is only used three (3) times.
This game should appeal to those who like this series. The story, although a little offbeat, does touch upon the dark side of robotics. The graphics are incredibly beautiful as in all of AMAX games. The hand-drawn scenes are breathtaking! The pace is decent, although I found a few slow spots throughout the game. This game demonstrates that you do not need gimmicks nor helpers to produce an excellent game. There are some very creative HOP scenes and puzzles in this game – including a NEW TYPE OF HOP SCENE. I love the activities in this game. However, despite all this, I do believe it is time to end the series. I am tired of this series and the numerous puppets. It is time AMAX cut the strings and put those puppets back in the box. I would love to see this caliber of game in a new series.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. You can choose your character’s appearance from six (6) choices – three (3) are male and three (3) are female. They include choices between Detective, Journalist, and Adventurer as well. You collect coins, as in all AMAX games, to purchase items for a special room. There are twenty-six (26) morphing objects (masks) and eleven (11) collectibles (coins). You can replay fourteen (14) HOP scenes and eleven (11) puzzles. However, with the quality of these puzzles, I wish AMAX had provided more puzzles to replay.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. You are still on a quest to save Marian. You are off to locate a book which contains a formula for a remedy to save her. There is a gimmick in this chapter; however, it is not used often. You receive a scissors blade to cut things. It is a decent length and there are some fantastic HOP scenes and puzzles within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: Many of the HOP scenes are amazing! From what I could count there are twenty (20) HOP scenes plus a myriad of mini-HOP scenes in which you search for a small number of items or pieces of items. They are creatively designed. My favorites are the search and replace scenes. There is one scene in which you search for morphing objects. There is another which is mathematical in nature. Solve equations and then search for the numbers using a special mirror. What I did not find, nor did I miss, were boring lists of items within this game.
AWESOME NEW HOP SCENE - STENCILS: Toward the end of the game there is a scene I have never seen before. You place animal-shaped stencils within a scene. You must locate the colors within the scene which best fit the animal involved, and then, place the stencil in place to produce a rather cool depiction of the animal. Creative genius at work here!
PUZZLES: The puzzles are better after the demo. From what I could count there are thirty-four (34) in the game. They vary in design and difficulty. You do have a few puzzles which allow you to choose between “casual” and hard” modes of play. There are quite a few maze puzzles which are just “a-maze-ing!” Listed below are some my favorites after the demo:
SPOILERS: SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Logic puzzle. Place three tokens into position on a sliding scale according to clues given concerning their placement.
B. Maze puzzle. Move a marionette through a series of hands until it reaches its strings. You must rotate the hands to move it from hand-to-hand.
C. Choice between casual and hard. Maze puzzle. Lead a mouse through a series of mazes picking up keys to unlock doors as you proceed. You are give a specific amount of moves in the hard version.
D. Beat the computer. Card puzzle. Match up pairs of cards which are related to each other, attempting to get more points than the computer for the matches.
E. Marble shooter puzzle. Remove images by shooting a marble with an image upon it at a moving chain of marbles. Shoot the marble toward similar marbles so that three or more of the same image are removed. Remove all the marbles before the chain reaches the end.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Map puzzle. Move a tram down the track to its destination by landing on the correct spots to remove obstacles in its path. If you make a mistake, you must start over.
G. Map puzzle. Plot a course using arrows to lead a key through a pathway to its designated lock. You will need to place the arrows in place before pressing “Start.” 3X for 3 different colored keys.
A. Logic puzzle. Place three tokens into position on a sliding scale according to clues given concerning their placement.
B. Maze puzzle. Move a marionette through a series of hands until it reaches its strings. You must rotate the hands to move it from hand-to-hand.
C. Choice between casual and hard. Maze puzzle. Lead a mouse through a series of mazes picking up keys to unlock doors as you proceed. You are give a specific amount of moves in the hard version.
D. Beat the computer. Card puzzle. Match up pairs of cards which are related to each other, attempting to get more points than the computer for the matches.
E. Marble shooter puzzle. Remove images by shooting a marble with an image upon it at a moving chain of marbles. Shoot the marble toward similar marbles so that three or more of the same image are removed. Remove all the marbles before the chain reaches the end.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Map puzzle. Move a tram down the track to its destination by landing on the correct spots to remove obstacles in its path. If you make a mistake, you must start over.
G. Map puzzle. Plot a course using arrows to lead a key through a pathway to its designated lock. You will need to place the arrows in place before pressing “Start.” 3X for 3 different colored keys.
I recommend this game!
Can you and your sister escape the deadly history of Reed Valley?
Overall rating
2
/
5
132 of 202 found this review helpful
LET’S “DRAIN THE SWAMP” OF BORING GAMES - THIS ONE WOULD BE A GOOD START
PostedJuly 7, 2018
sunnyglow
fromLiving close now to the bayous of Texas and Louisiana, I appreciate the term “drain the swamp.” Hopefully EIPIX will “drain the swamp” of stereotypes, nonexplicit puzzle directions, and boring activities in their games.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
OVERVIEW: Welcome to Louisiana! In this land of swamps and bayous, you, Matthew Rust, are off to save your sister, Faith. Anguished by the death of your parents in a car crash, she is now suffering from terrifying nightmares of the accident. Dr. Zachary Ryan is her last hope! His hypnosis techniques are controversial; however, this may be your last chance to save her sanity. Nevertheless, something is not quite right with this doctor and unfortunately, you and your sister will find out the motive behind his bizarre treatments. The doctor is stuck in his own nightmare, anguished by of the loss of his wife, Melissa. Join your sister in her nightmare, assess what the doctor is planning, and then try to save your sister and yourself from his grip.
OPINION – WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO EIPIX? BUYER’S REMORSE! I purchased this game and regretted it. This game may appeal to those who like this series. However, for me, it cannot compare to the previous games in the series. For me, it is more boring than scary. The game is somewhat slow-paced driven by all the psycho-babble and lack of activities. Although it is meant to be a psychological thriller it became a boring journey into a dream world with little activity except back-and-forth searching for items and playing numerous non-creative HOP scenes. There is about as much movement in this game as a hot day in July under the summer Louisiana sun. The graphics, although a little stereotypical of Louisiana, provide a somewhat spooky image of the swamp-like bayous.
This is one game where I kept looking at my watch to assess how much longer it would take to finish it and bury it in the swamp! I should have been paid to play this game! What has happened to EIPIX? At one time the best developer on this site, nowadays it is a toss-up as to the quality of any game they produce.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. This time you play Faith. Dr. Ryan’s wife, Melissa, helps you remove the memories of the car crash. You will need to revisit the tragic scene and try to release all your repressed emotions of sadness involved with this crash and death of your parents. The chapter is long, and I feel worth the extra money if you like this game. I found the puzzles better designed in this chapter than in the main game. On the other hand, I found the HOP scenes as boring ones as the ones in the main game.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four levels of play including a customized version. There are fifteen (15) achievements. Collect thirty-six (36) brains and sixteen (16) morphing objects. At the end of the game you collect fifteen (15) souvenirs, (moths), for the Souvenir Room moth collection. Some of the collectibles are easy to locate but others are not. You can replay nineteen (19) HOP scenes and twenty-one (21) puzzles. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with the usual concept art, music and video sequences.
HOP SCENES: Boring! Let us add “super” to make that “super-boring.” There are twenty-one (21) in the game. There are also some mini-HOP scenes as well. There are too many in this game and they show little creativity. Most are lists of items with little interaction with the scene. I got tired of looking for items in junk piles. However, there are a few which are decent. EIPIX provides several scenes in which the player searches for morphing objects. There are also a couple of scenes with rebus clues. There are some multiple step ones as well which include silhouette items. Of course, it would not be an EPIX game without their standard, now hackneyed, scene. Don’t remember it? Search for five items, which, when placed into the scene, produce two lists of items to locate. You have the option to play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scene.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-eight (38) puzzles within the game. Some of the puzzles are creatively designed and some are not. There are some which are just idiotic. Among all the BFG developers, EIPIX used to provide the best puzzles within their games. However, I do believe, those bygone days are gone. Now, they are creating some rather bizarre ones. There is one puzzle with flowers in which you must click on a green section of a circle every time you see the outline of the flower. This puzzle appears four times within the game. Why? It is not tied to any gimmick, so why would this developer provide four variations of it?
The puzzles are varied in style and difficulty. However, most are easy. I found the puzzles in the bonus chapter the best ones in the game. EIPIX did provide one puzzle in which you have the choice between “hard” and “easy” options. I wish they provided more of these. And once again, a couple of puzzles had CONFUSING AND NONEXPLICIT DIRECTIONS.
SPOILERS: HERE A FEW PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Map puzzle. Move your token to avoid police, which are in the streets with flashlights. If you are spotted by the police, you must start over. You have options for the paths you take. 3X
B. Whack-a-mole puzzle. Whack a mole as quickly as possible to reach a high score. Really?
C. Assembly puzzle. On a grid, place eight (8) plates over holes so that all holes are covered, and all plates are used. You can overlap the plates (which was not indicated in the puzzle directions)
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using arrows which move an indicator either two spaces forward or three spaces backward, center an indicator on two specified locations.
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES:
E. Assembly. Switch on-and-off the lights on a digital readout to create letters to form a name.
F. Assembly puzzle. On a grid of nine (9) spaces, place six slats onto this grid so that nine fans appear with four blades each.
G. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a skeleton by placing arrows in correct position to move its parts to their proper location on the trunk of the skeleton. You must strategize where to place the pieces because you cannot test their placement until the end.
H. Slider puzzle. Slide chains of beads on a bracelet to move a skull from one end of the bracelet to the other.
B. Whack-a-mole puzzle. Whack a mole as quickly as possible to reach a high score. Really?
C. Assembly puzzle. On a grid, place eight (8) plates over holes so that all holes are covered, and all plates are used. You can overlap the plates (which was not indicated in the puzzle directions)
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using arrows which move an indicator either two spaces forward or three spaces backward, center an indicator on two specified locations.
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES:
E. Assembly. Switch on-and-off the lights on a digital readout to create letters to form a name.
F. Assembly puzzle. On a grid of nine (9) spaces, place six slats onto this grid so that nine fans appear with four blades each.
G. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a skeleton by placing arrows in correct position to move its parts to their proper location on the trunk of the skeleton. You must strategize where to place the pieces because you cannot test their placement until the end.
H. Slider puzzle. Slide chains of beads on a bracelet to move a skull from one end of the bracelet to the other.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you escape the nightmares before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
123 of 191 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO YOUR OWN WORST NIGHTMARE IN A SWEET DREAM OF A GAME!
PostedJuly 5, 2018
sunnyglow
fromNightmare traffic! Welcome to the Fourth of July bumper-to-bumper nightmare traffic jam exiting the fireworks display! I wish there was a dreamcatcher to catch and remove all the cars in front of me.
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: 43 Pages (This is a long game!)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages (This is a long game!)
OVERVIEW: Welcome to Nightmare Week at BFG! Tonight, turn off the light, and enter the less-than-pleasant dreams of Ethan Jackson and other characters from this game as you fight Nightmare, a monster which has escaped from the world of dreams. Those targeted develop a tattoo on their arms and experience tormented dreams relating to some traumatic event in their lives. As a detective for the “Dark Light” agency, enter the surrealistic world of dreams of the troubled souls affected and battle and defeat Nightmare’s control over them. Those affected have a connection with a psychotherapist, Naila Moore. How does she relate to this beast and what does she know that she is not sharing?
OPINION: This game is a vast improvement for this developer. This is a well-scripted psychological thriller which should appeal to those who love this genre of games. If you love searching for morphing objects, you will love this game. There are quite a few to collect plus there are puzzles and HOP scenes with these morphs as well. Enter a nightmare world of beautifully illustrated scenes which truly reflect a terrifying surreal dreamscape. For the most part I found the pace excellent. However, I did find some parts of the game a little snail-paced. I feel there is one chapter which is superfluous and appears to me as filler to make the game longer. Nevertheless, with a great gaming script accompanied by creatively designed HOP scenes and puzzles, this is a fantastic game! It is an incredibly long game with a rather short bonus chapter.
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is titled “The Last Sleep.” It is a sequel. After being invited by a professor from the main game to attend a workshop, find yourself back in the dreamworld once again. This time you will be battling Nightmare’s little brother, Eternal Sleep. Locate the Bronze Dreamcatcher to seal away Eternal Sleep forever. The graphics are incredibly beautiful. I like the puzzles and HOP scenes within this chapter. However, it is rather short in comparison to the rest of the game.
EXTRA CHAPTER: The extra chapter is titled “Forest of Dreams.” It is not a chapter at all. It is an extra HOP scene which is a variation of a silhouette scene. You must collect all the memorable objects to play it.
MECHANICS: There are four levels of play including a customized version. There are fifteen (15) achievements. Collect thirty-five (35) memorable objects. Collect twenty-one (21) morphing objects. Collect twenty (20) jigsaw pieces to play a puzzle after the game is completed. An indicator on the inventory bar tells how many of these collectibles are within the scenes. Most of the collectibles are easy to locate; however, the surreal aspect of the scenes does make it a little more difficult than usual. There are ten (10) wallpapers. There are the usual music selections and video sequences.
SMALL COMPLAINT: You can replay twenty-five (25) HOP scenes but only eleven (11) puzzles. With all the excellent puzzles in this game, I am disappointed that this developer only provided a small number of puzzles to replay. Some of these I truly wanted to replay.
GIMMICKS: You receive a Detective Magnifier (looks like a mirror) to locate a specific area you need to investigate which is not seen by the naked eye. You need to find a crystal every time you need to use it. You will play a HOP scene in which you search for seven (7) morphing objects. You also receive a dreamcatcher which allows you to enter various dreamworlds throughout the game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-five (25) HOP scenes within the game from what I could assess. However, there are numerous mini-HOP scenes in which you must locate a small number of items. These mini-scenes are either lists of items or silhouette. The storybook scenes are all the same. You must search for items and then replace them back within the scene. I am not impressed with these scenes. I feel there should be more items to locate and more variety in the design. The rest of the scenes are varied, most are creatively designed with some multiple-step ones. Most require interaction with the scene and some greatly so. They include interactive lists of items, silhouettes in a variety of formats, and matching. You have the option to play a Match-3 puzzle in lieu of the scene.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-nine (39) puzzles from what I could assess. Some of the puzzles provide the option to be played in either a “hard” or “easy” mode. The puzzles are varied in difficulty and style. However, I did not find any puzzle challenging. For the most part they are creatively designed. There is a wide variety of puzzles. There are so many puzzles, I just listed my favorites.
SPOILERS: MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Increase, decrease and rotate colored images of a picture until the pieces are sized perfectly to fit a black-and-white image beneath. 2X
B. Maze puzzle. Maneuver a man through a maze until he reaches a girl at the end of that maze. Pick up supplies to help fight obstacles in his path.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch trophies placing them into their proper positions based on clues at the sides of the row and top of the grid. Each trophy should match up by color and type.
D. Choice of Easy and Hard. Chess puzzle. Remove nightmares from the board using a knight. Remove them with the “L” shaped move from chess. You have a specific number of moves to do this.
E. BONUS CHAPTER. Connect the dots. Create given constellations by connecting the dots on a grid.
F. BONUS CHAPTER. Map puzzle. Traverse a museum basement in the dark. As you traverse, you will turn on lamps and collect keys which open doors in your path to reach the end.
B. Maze puzzle. Maneuver a man through a maze until he reaches a girl at the end of that maze. Pick up supplies to help fight obstacles in his path.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch trophies placing them into their proper positions based on clues at the sides of the row and top of the grid. Each trophy should match up by color and type.
D. Choice of Easy and Hard. Chess puzzle. Remove nightmares from the board using a knight. Remove them with the “L” shaped move from chess. You have a specific number of moves to do this.
E. BONUS CHAPTER. Connect the dots. Create given constellations by connecting the dots on a grid.
F. BONUS CHAPTER. Map puzzle. Traverse a museum basement in the dark. As you traverse, you will turn on lamps and collect keys which open doors in your path to reach the end.
I recommend this game!
Can you escape a madman on the Island of Fog?
Overall rating
3
/
5
62 of 142 found this review helpful
WHERE IS THIS GAME HEADING? – I DON'T HAVE THE FOGGIEST IDEA!
PostedJune 30, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game has taught me not to go sailing in the fog. I don't want to end up as another character in this strange game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 46 Pages
OVERVIEW: Ann Sparrow, as an investigative journalist you are off to Fog Island to get research for your upcoming book on this cursed mysterious island. While sailing to this island, the boat in which you are traveling crashes on the rocks of the island. Awaken in a castle, chained to a bed. Your host, Jacob Fogg is very cordial, but why has he chained you to a bed? Is he insane or are there other factors involved? His only request is that you follow the rules! What is happening on this island? Find a way to escape and investigate what is behind the curse of this island.
OPINON: This game should appeal to those who love horror-lite games with just a tinge of spooky fare. It appears to be decent game in the series; however, the details of the story are so sketchy, it is difficult to ascertain. The graphics well-portray a creepy, fog-infested island full of intrigue and suspense. The dark colors contrast nicely with the foggy scenes. However, the pace is very slow with few activities and a great deal of back-and-forth movement between the scenes.
WHY I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS GAME: I do not have the foggiest notion what the plot is behind this game. Those village people and Adam Fogg are not identified if they are monsters, suffering from some disease, or something else. I am not spending the money to find out. I may purchase in the future, but before I purchase this game, I want some idea of the direction the story is headed. I also do not like the activities. I do not think either the puzzles or the HOP scenes generated enough interest for me to continue down the foggy bogged-down path in this game. I found both the HOP scenes and puzzles lacking creativity. With the slow pace, weird story, and lackluster activities, this will be a pass for me.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four levels of play, including a customized version. Collect fourteen (14) morphing objects (within the HOP scenes) and thirty-six (36) hidden signs. There are fifteen (15) achievements you can earn. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with the usual music selections.
HOP SCENES: The scenes are standard fare seen in many other games. Ye old boring EIPIX-inspired HOP scene is displayed three (3) times in the demo. Don’t remember it? You have seen it at least a dozen or more times. Collect four items which, when placed, open a list of items. I am so tired of this scene. That was enough to turn me off from this game. This scene has now been used by every developer, now including Deep Shadows. There is a matching scene in the demo and a storybook scene as well. To me, the scenes are bland fare and lacking creativity.
PUZZLES: I am underwhelmed by the puzzles. Most in the demo are ones we have seen before. Most are easy – a little too easy for my taste. However, there is one puzzle which has the option to be played in either a “hard” or “normal” setting. Listed below are the puzzles from the demo:
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES IN THE DEMO.
A. Lock puzzle. Use two hairpins to open a lock. A meter indicates when you have the pins in position to open it.
B. Choice between Hard and Normal. Connection puzzle. On a grid turn all tiles red by moving glowing tile over them. There are three tiles and you are only given a specific number of moves. (30 Hard – 40 Normal)
C. Moving tiles puzzle. Move four (4) tokens to spaces of the same color and design. The rub is that the tokens will continue moving until it is stopped by an edge or another token.
D. Sequence puzzle. Light up tiles on a grid according to a given diagram. Lighting one affects the others.
F. Matching puzzle. Place chessmen into position as per a given diagram.
G. Switch puzzle. Restore a map by switching pieces with those next to it until the puzzle is complete.
H. Matching puzzle. Place food into the proper compartments. Rather like being a checker at a grocery store.
I. Assembly puzzle. Light up squares on a grid y using an X to dim light and an + to add light to a square.
A. Lock puzzle. Use two hairpins to open a lock. A meter indicates when you have the pins in position to open it.
B. Choice between Hard and Normal. Connection puzzle. On a grid turn all tiles red by moving glowing tile over them. There are three tiles and you are only given a specific number of moves. (30 Hard – 40 Normal)
C. Moving tiles puzzle. Move four (4) tokens to spaces of the same color and design. The rub is that the tokens will continue moving until it is stopped by an edge or another token.
D. Sequence puzzle. Light up tiles on a grid according to a given diagram. Lighting one affects the others.
F. Matching puzzle. Place chessmen into position as per a given diagram.
G. Switch puzzle. Restore a map by switching pieces with those next to it until the puzzle is complete.
H. Matching puzzle. Place food into the proper compartments. Rather like being a checker at a grocery store.
I. Assembly puzzle. Light up squares on a grid y using an X to dim light and an + to add light to a square.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your brother before your kingdom is destroyed?
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 182 found this review helpful
ENGAGE IN A “BLOOD” FEUD WITH AUNTIE DEAREST
PostedJune 28, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis vampiric dynasty is the perfect family to “resurrect” the old television shows, “Monsters-in-Law” or “Blood Feud.”
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: 37 Pages (Nice-sized game with a long bonus chapter)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages (Nice-sized game with a long bonus chapter)
OVERVIEW: Holy bats! Vampires are back! Play Arabella, daughter of Chamberlain, leader of the vampires. You and your brother, Damien, have grown up with privilege and wealth. As the next ruler of the vampires, your brother, Damien, is endowed with special powers. However, your Aunt Alessandra, sister of your father, wants to usurp him as ruler. You and your brother were sent abroad for further training and when summoned home, your ship is shipwrecked by dark forces, landing you upon a mysterious land. Now, your aunt has kidnapped Damien, put a spell on him, and is planning to use his to usurp your father. Can you stop her in time?
OPINION: What a fantastic game! Personally, I feel this better than the previous games in this series. The main game is short; however, the bonus game is almost one-third the size of the main game. This game should appeal to those who like vampire stories or those who love this series. The story deals with vampire royalty, jealousy, and family intrigue. I found the game flowed smoothly and was an easy play. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities. The graphics are stunning, providing beautiful fairy tale scenes contrasted against a blood-filled vampiric environment. I highly recommend this game for its quality.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-two (22) achievements. Collect twenty-seven (27) morphing objects and thirty-two (32) stained glass fragments. Collect eleven (11) figurines of characters within the game as well. Most are easy to locate. Some practically jump out at you – a little too large, in my opinion. I also wish Elephant would provide an indicator bar to show if there are collectibles within a scene which need to be located.
There is a secret room. Although not announced, within the secret room you will discover thirteen (13) puzzles and sixteen (16) HOP scenes you can replay after the game. There are ten (10) wallpapers and the usual concept art and music selections. The only thing I dislike about this game is the curved inventory bar. It does not display many objects upfront, and I disliked having to move it back-and-forth to view all the available inventory items.
OPTIONAL HELPER. You can receive the help from a cat – or not. You can opt out of the cutesy helper. I wish more developers would offer this option. You also get this option in the bonus chapter as well.
BONUS CHAPTER Get ready for some pirates, matey! The bonus chapter is a sequel. Arabella has been contacted by Callum, a character from the main game. Pirates have kidnapped his friend and he needs her help. It is a long chapter and I feel this chapter is better in some ways than the main game. I found the puzzles much better in this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) HOP scenes in the game with five (5) mini-HOP scenes. They are varied, and to me, the ones after the demo are better crafted than those in the demo. They vary in style. Most are lists of items or silhouette. However, Elephant provides scenes which alternate searching for lists of items with searching for silhouette items. Most scenes are somewhat interactive. There are also a few matching scenes and a pattern scene, (items are searched based on their pattern, not by name or silhouette).
FAVORITE HOP SCENE: There is one HOP scene which I feel demonstrates the ingenuity and gaming craftmanship of this developer You search for a list of items and silhouette items at the same time. The scene consists of a very long cabinet in which you must use five (5) arrows to extend the scene to locate these items. The cabinet has several shelves so locating theitems is not easy. The silhouette items require interaction with the scene. This scene also includes a mirror jigsaw puzzle and a switch puzzle as well.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are amazing! There are twenty-nine (29) in the game and they vary in style and difficulty. Most are of middle difficulty, although there are easy ones as well. I did not find any challenging puzzles. My favorite was a creative gear puzzle within the bonus chapter.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME PUZZLES FROM THE GAME AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch three types of items – bats, fangs, and cups so that each row has items which match up and each column has items of the same color. You can only switch items which are the same color or item.
B. Map puzzle. Plot a path for Arabella’s ship by placing arrows in a grid to plot the course, avoiding obstacles. Press a button to test your path after you have set it up. 2X
C. Rope puzzle. Untangle flaming ropes so none cross. 3X
BONUS CHAPTER:
D. Matching. On a grid of stars, create a given pattern seen in a telescope. The pattern is not copied for you. If you forget the pattern you must return to the telescope to view it.
E. Matching pairs. On a diamond-shaped board, match up like tokens. Press on “eyes” which allow you to see only one row at a time. There is only one way all the items can be paired so you need to strategize.
F. Gear puzzle. Switch colored gears in five locations on a clock so that the same colored gears are within the same location and interconnected. The gears will spin if placed correctly
G. Skipping stones puzzle. Connect like tokens to remove them. Play against the computer to get the most tokens.
A. Switch puzzle. Switch three types of items – bats, fangs, and cups so that each row has items which match up and each column has items of the same color. You can only switch items which are the same color or item.
B. Map puzzle. Plot a path for Arabella’s ship by placing arrows in a grid to plot the course, avoiding obstacles. Press a button to test your path after you have set it up. 2X
C. Rope puzzle. Untangle flaming ropes so none cross. 3X
BONUS CHAPTER:
D. Matching. On a grid of stars, create a given pattern seen in a telescope. The pattern is not copied for you. If you forget the pattern you must return to the telescope to view it.
E. Matching pairs. On a diamond-shaped board, match up like tokens. Press on “eyes” which allow you to see only one row at a time. There is only one way all the items can be paired so you need to strategize.
F. Gear puzzle. Switch colored gears in five locations on a clock so that the same colored gears are within the same location and interconnected. The gears will spin if placed correctly
G. Skipping stones puzzle. Connect like tokens to remove them. Play against the computer to get the most tokens.
I recommend this game!
Can you escape a madman’s grasp before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 171 found this review helpful
AFRAID OF ASYLUMS? WE CAN “CHANGE” YOUR MIND AT MOUNTAIN VIEW ASYLUM!
PostedJune 23, 2018
sunnyglow
fromRoad trip this summer? I have learned from HOP games to stay on freeways, never travel on isolated country roads to avoid crashing into some monster, and to never spend the night in a small village with an abandoned asylum, hotel, or castle!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages (This is a long game!)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages (This is a long game!)
OVERVIEW: A car accident lands you, Jane Patrick, into your worst nightmare. Awakening from the crash, find yourself imprisoned in the abandoned Mountain View Asylum. A mysterious masked man has informed you that you are now part of an experiment. It appears you are under the control of a mind-altering drug. As you suffer hallucinations and visions, you realize you are not the only one in this deserted building. Who is the man behind the experiments and why has he chosen you as part of his experiment? Can you escape in time and stop this mad scientist?
OPINION: This is another fantastic psychological thriller from Mad Head Games. The theme behind the game is one of mind control and a thought-provoking look at the boundaries of scientific research. How far should science go in its quest to unlock the human mind and control man’s basic instincts? The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player entertained. The graphics provide a creepy atmosphere to this game. The soundtrack for the game contributes somewhat to the scary ambiance as well. For me, this game is much better AFTER the demo. Mad Head saved all the goodies for the actual game.
MECHANICS: There are five levels of play including a customized version. There are ten (10) achievements to earn in this game, some with three parts. You collect twenty-eight (28) collectibles (brains). There are twenty-eight (28) morphing objects within the scenes and nineteen (19) morphing objects within the HOP scenes. An indicator on the inventory bar alerts you when a morphing object or collectible is within a scene. All the game scenes have one of each. You can replay all nineteen (19) HOP scenes. There are eight (8) wallpapers plus the usual concept art and musical selections. You also receive a sketch book of the characters from the game.
There is a bonus game (playing against the computer to get the most tokens), which can be played when you collect all the morphing objects. You have nine (9) choices to make in this game. Making the incorrect choice will force you to rethink that choice and play the scene again. There is an indicator at that end which indicates how many poor choices you made within the game – unfortunately, they indicate the lives that lives were lost with your decision. You can play an “ultimate HOP scene” after the game is finished.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed. You can also return to locate those missing morphing objects, one within each HOP scene. There are several mini-HOP scenes in which you collect a small number of items. Most of scenes are lists of items. However, there are a few silhouette scenes. There is not a storybook scene per se; however, you will need to search for items in bold letters. In one clever scene, you must shut down a boiler by following instructions to locate gears, valves, and levers listed in bold letters. The final HOP scene in the bonus chapter is unique. It is a matching scene in which you must open compartments to find the matching items. I do feel the HOP scenes show creativity.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-nine (39) puzzles in the game. The puzzles are extremely easy in the first part of the game; however, they become more challenging toward the end of the game. There are also seven (7) puzzles in which you must “zap” hallucinations – ghosts which are not there. You must center crosshairs on each of the hallucinations to zap them. The puzzles vary in style. I almost did not purchase this game because of the lack of decent puzzles in the demo. However, I am glad I did. The puzzles are excellent within the main game and bonus chapter. I do wish I could replay some of these puzzles!
BONUS CHAPTER: I cannot ascertain if the bonus chapter is a prequel or sequel. However, the sheriff from the main game returns in this chapter to help you deal with another crazed scientist, Victor Hawkins. This evildoer is forcing all the staff at the asylum to breathe a gas which causes hallucinations. I feel the chapter is a decent length with a similar story to the main chapter with creative HOP scenes and excellent puzzles
SPOILERS: HERE IS A SAMPLE OF PUZZLES IN THE MAIN GAME AND BONUS CHAPTER:
A. Variation of a Match-3 puzzle. A clever variation in which you add tokens to the grid to get rid of a set of three or more tokens in direct contact with each other. Every token must be removed from the board. A unique and creative presentation of this standard puzzle.
B. Pattern puzzle. Switch colored buttons so they create a given design.
C. Maze puzzle. Rotate tokens and add three others from the outside to create a continuous path from end to the other. A unique and creative presentation of this standard puzzle.
D. Domino puzzle. Place domino-shaped plates with symbols on them so that the ends of the plates match up with the plate next to it. Slightly difficult.
E. Play the computer. Try to get more colored gem stones than the computer. Abutting a stone changes a stone to your color but then again, so is it for the computer as well. This is the bonus puzzle for the game.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Matching puzzle. Choose among many books on a bookcase to fill in a row of books by color and symbol.
G. Assembly puzzle. Move a sequence of numbers up-down and right-and-left (two at a time) until the numbers match those on a given sheet of paper
A. Variation of a Match-3 puzzle. A clever variation in which you add tokens to the grid to get rid of a set of three or more tokens in direct contact with each other. Every token must be removed from the board. A unique and creative presentation of this standard puzzle.
B. Pattern puzzle. Switch colored buttons so they create a given design.
C. Maze puzzle. Rotate tokens and add three others from the outside to create a continuous path from end to the other. A unique and creative presentation of this standard puzzle.
D. Domino puzzle. Place domino-shaped plates with symbols on them so that the ends of the plates match up with the plate next to it. Slightly difficult.
E. Play the computer. Try to get more colored gem stones than the computer. Abutting a stone changes a stone to your color but then again, so is it for the computer as well. This is the bonus puzzle for the game.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Matching puzzle. Choose among many books on a bookcase to fill in a row of books by color and symbol.
G. Assembly puzzle. Move a sequence of numbers up-down and right-and-left (two at a time) until the numbers match those on a given sheet of paper
I recommend this game!
Can you keep the past from destroying the present?
Overall rating
5
/
5
155 of 240 found this review helpful
BLAST OFF INTO THE PAST FOR A DALIMAR FAMILY REUNON
PostedJune 21, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAfter this game, the Dalimars are going to raze Ravenhearst, turning it into a landfill to handle all the items from the abundance of HOP junkpiles in this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME:
11 Chapters (Cases) Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages (Don’t worry Master Detective! The chapters are short and sweet)
11 Chapters (Cases) Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages (Don’t worry Master Detective! The chapters are short and sweet)
OVERVIEW Master Detective! Get ready for a blast into the past as you register at Hotel Victory. Find yourself at the threshold of madness as Victor Dalimar returns to create more chaos. The world’s most dysfunctional family, the Dalimar clan, is back! Victor has been tinkering with time and characters from those classic MCF games have resurfaced, with all of you stuck a time warp. Restore the timeline, place these characters back where they belong, and hopefully be done with the Dalimars once and for all!
OPINION: Love HOP games with endless junkpiles of items to locate? Then this game is for you! This game should appeal to those whole love this series, love searching for items in HOP scenes, or love super puzzles! It is a delightful spoof of the previous games and it guarantees you will meet at least one or more of the Dalimar crew plus other characters from the previous games. The retro scenes are reminiscent of earlier MCF games. Rewind in time to search for VCR tapes, vinyl, cassette tapes, floppy disks, and even disco balls to dance the night away playing HOP scene after HOP scene.
I have mixed feelings on this game. I love the creativity behind this game. EIPIX has created an ingenious game encapsulating all those special features from the previous games. Although I loved playing the super puzzles, key puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles, I feel the amount of HOP scenes excessive and for me, spoiled the game. Some of the scenes are revisited many times with a new list of items to locate.
MECHANICS: There are thirteen (13) achievements, some with three parts. You can replay thirty (30) HOP scenes and eleven (11) super puzzles. There are nine (9) wallpapers along with the usual concept art, music selections and video sequences. Collect thirty-six (36) morphing objects and eleven (11) electric capacitors. The capacitors are within the HOP scenes and after the game you can return to locate them. As a blast from the past, you are timed in the HOP scenes.
METHOD IN THE MADNESS: The game has a definite procedure as you amble around the various rooms of the 5-story Hotel Victory. You will be involved in eleven (11) cases involving some character from a previous MCF game, including the very first game set in Huntsville. You will play many HOP scenes in the various rooms on each level of the hotel. For each HOP scene completed, you will receive a segment of a key. Each key has a puzzle attached. The key puzzle, once completed, opens a door to a super puzzle. After finishing the super puzzle, you will encounter a character from one of the previous games. Each character comes with jigsaw puzzle with a scene from the past, which either involves switching pieces or rotating them to restore the image.
HOP SCENE OVER-KILL: Have I seen that scene before? Some of the junkpile HOP scenes look familiar, as if they are from the original games. They may be, but I did not research the older games to confirm it. However, there are some new ones as well. They are all junkpiles with lists of items to collect. By the end of the game the player will need to play numerous HOP scenes before completing a key to unlock a door. There is some variety in the scenes including using a magnifying glass to locate items and searching for items with a flashlight. Toward the end of the game there were some HOPs with multiple scenes which must be switched to locate all the items. My favorite HOP scene was, of course, the CAT ROOM! Meow! It contains twenty-four (24) of the most adorable kitties ever seen (that is if the Dalimars do not find them first!)
PUZZLES: There is a wide array of puzzles within the HOP scenes. The room key puzzles vary as well. The super puzzles require interaction within a scene to figure out what needs to be done in a logical order. In general, I found the puzzles of middle difficulty. They are not as challenging as in the ones from previous games. Once you have completed all activities for a character, that person is taken to the dining room and given a helmet. This helmet requires you to rotate the gears upon it so that connecting gears have matching colors where they connect. As stated previously, each character has its own jigsaw puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a sequel. Revisit each character within this game and play a HOP scene to pick up a piece of Charles Dalimar’s soul. Collect all the shards to guarantee he never returns. There is a super puzzle in the chapter and a few puzzles within the HOP scenes. It is a sequence of nine (9) successive HOP scenes.
FAREWELL TO THE DALIMARS AND MCF? Everything has a season and so it is for the Dalimars. After this game they will be returned to their games, packed away (locked away with chains) into the nostalgic corridors of BFG. However, they are a hard group to keep under lock and key. Perhaps it may be time to put the entire MCF series out to pasture as well, buried on the grounds of Ravenhearst with a flock of ravens watching over its demise. Although there have been many MCF games through the years, the larger-than-life Dalimar clan has sucked all the air out of the others. Can this series survive without this misfit family? Every game produced will always have the shadow of those dastardly malcontents peeking over their shoulders. Although Thanksgiving and Black Friday may never be the same – in my opinion this series has run its course!
I recommend this game!
Can you discover the truth about the Queen’s disappearance and save the kingdom?
Overall rating
2
/
5
87 of 130 found this review helpful
ONCE IN A GREEN MOON ARISES A GAME WHICH IS A HOWLING DISASTER
PostedJune 16, 2018
sunnyglow
fromSeems this developer is repackaging and renaming legendary monsters. Werewolves are now called forest spirits. Perhaps vampires could be renamed graveyard fairies.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
OVERVEW: Brave Princess! Return to the Kingdom of Aurora on the eve of the Green Moon, a moon which resurrects the forest spirits (AKA werewolves). These ominous creatures are now on the prowl within the forest causing havoc. They are being led by a mysterious woman who has the power to turn people into these werewolf-like creatures. You, brave princess, must save your kingdom with help from your fiancé, Malgar. As a masterful magician, he has instructed you to bring him a magical ring which he can use to defeat these creatures. Now, you must enter the dark and treacherous woods to reach him in time to save your kingdom. However, princess - be careful - not everything is as it seems in this game.
OPINION: One word encapsulates this game for me – “dreadful!” I was rooting for the werewolves (excuse me – forest spirits) to take a “bite” out this game to transform it into something I might wish to play. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The story behind the game is nonsensical with a heroine portrayed as a stereotypical dopey-eyed princess off on a quest to save her kingdom. It is snail-paced with a lack of activities to keep the player engaged. The game gives me the impression that not much time was spent in its development. It appears to be thrown together with lack of creativity in neither the puzzles nor the HOP scenes. The music drove me crazy. That was easily remedied as I could turn it off. Unfortunately, I was unable to turn off the rest of this game.
On the plus side, the graphics are beautiful. Very few developers provide the exquisite, hand-drawn graphics demonstrated in AMAX games. However, the graphics cannot save this lackluster game. It may appeal to those who love this series and/or those who love tales of werewolves (excuse me – forest spirits). With the easy puzzles, it could also be a great game for children. A few years back we had a rash of games dealing with vampires and werewolves. After a few years of their absence, it appears developers are resurrecting those old skeletons and repackaging them under new names – in this case, forest spirits.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four levels of play including a customized version. There are few extras within this game. There are eleven (11) achievements to earn. You collect fourteen (14) lanterns and eighteen (18) wolf paws. You can replay HOP scenes and puzzles. There are thirteen (13) wallpapers, six (6) screensavers and the usual music and video selections.
HOP SCENES: Most of the scenes in the demo I consider mini-HOP scenes in which the player collects a small number of one item. Some of these mini-scenes are matching scenes with few items to match up. There was a replacement scene and a silhouette scene as well. The demo did have three standard scenes – one a junkpile list of items, one is a silhouette with runes, and a storybook scene with items listed in highlighted letters. They lack creativity, and most are cookie cutter versions of each other.
PUZZLES: There are few in the demo. I found all the puzzles boringly easy in and lacking in creativity. Three of the puzzles are the same within the demo. It is unbelievable that a major developer would recycle the same puzzle three times within a game let alone a demo. Those three require you to click on crosshairs when they cross each other on a bullseye. Below is a list of the puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES WITHIN THE DEMO:
A. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings to restore the picture on an amulet.
B. Bullseye Puzzle. Center crosshairs on a target to kill off the meanie werewolves.
C. Physical puzzle. Maneuver your horse down a path while avoiding obstacles. At the same time, collect five (5) flags.
D. Same as B
E. Simon says. Follow a pattern on door handles to open a door.
F. Multiple step. (1) Match up pairs of runes. (2) Use jigsaw pieces to create a picture.
G. Same as B
H. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence on lighted snake heads. 3X
B. Bullseye Puzzle. Center crosshairs on a target to kill off the meanie werewolves.
C. Physical puzzle. Maneuver your horse down a path while avoiding obstacles. At the same time, collect five (5) flags.
D. Same as B
E. Simon says. Follow a pattern on door handles to open a door.
F. Multiple step. (1) Match up pairs of runes. (2) Use jigsaw pieces to create a picture.
G. Same as B
H. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence on lighted snake heads. 3X
I don't recommend this game.
Can you navigate new realms to stop an evil conqueror in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
111 of 159 found this review helpful
OPEN A PORTAL TO A WORLD OF MAGICAL GAME WIZARDRY – ONE OF DOMINI’S BEST!
PostedJune 14, 2018
sunnyglow
fromCongratulations Domini Games! As a “fan” of your games, thank you for another “fan-tastic, fan-approved, fan-tasy” 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:
5 Chapter plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 53 Pages
5 Chapter plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 53 Pages
OVERVIEW: The Seekers are back – saving Earth from villainous evildoers from other worlds! As new hires at the British Library, you and your sister, Margaret, are in search of a book, “The Gates,” which may be tied to disappearances of its previous owners. When your sister discovers and opens the book, she is whisked into another planetary system consisting of three (3) worlds, ruled by the tyrannical wizard, Aspir. Aspir needs to harness you sister’s soul to open a portal to Earth. Upon arriving on Earth, his dastardly plan includes harvesting souls to amp his power and gain immortality. Jump into the book and traverse the three (3) worlds to save your sister and defeat this evildoer.
OPINION: Be prepared! This is a LONG game! For once we have a game which is truly WORTH THE PRICE! Loving puzzles, I am always delighted when BFG offers a Domini game. This game, as in all their previous games, is a puzzle-lover’s delight. In addition to puzzle aficionados, this game should appeal to those who love fantasy games. Players will again enjoy the many extras which few other developers provide on this site. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. There are no gimmicks in this game – the game stands on its own merits without these fillers. The game is built around a great story about two cosmic super-girls out to save the universe. I found the graphics blurry in the demo; however, within the main game and bonus chapter they are incredibly gorgeous – some scenes breathtaking! I always feel I get more for the money with Domini’s games. Domini Games is in a league of their own – THE CHAMPAGNE OF HOP developers!
MECHANICS: There are four levels of play including a customized version. You can choose the level of difficulty for the puzzles within the game, easy and hard. However, you can still change the difficulty level for a puzzle while playing it as well. There are thirty-three (33) achievements to earn. Collect sixty-six (66) crystals, fifteen (15) pages and fifteen (15) statuettes. You use the crystals to purchase items for your collection room. An indicator bar on the inventory bar indicates if there are any collectibles to be found within the scene. Some of the items are easy to locate and others are not. Replay twenty-two (22) puzzles and nineteen (19) HOP scenes. There are twenty-two (22) wallpapers along with the usual video, musical selections and concept art.
BONUS CHAPTER: This chapter is not tied to the main game. I found this chapter reminiscent of “Lord of the Rings.” Enter a fantasy world where the winged Pegasus is sacred and worshipped. Elder Aldehard is in peril. It appears that evildoer, Wizard Horther has stolen artifacts causing chaos in the kingdom. Help return order to this kingdom and defeat this evildoer! It is a long chapter and an excellent addition to the game. Surprisingly, in this chapter there are an equal number of HOP scenes and puzzles.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-HOP scenes (scenes in which you locate a small number of items). There are not as many HOP scenes as puzzles in the main game. If you like a HOP-heavy game, you probably will not like this game. Most of the scenes are storybook scenes with items in silhouette or in a list of items. There are a couple of replacement scenes in which you must place items back into the proper position within the scene. There are also some matching scenes as well. My favorite HOP scene is a creative one set upon two rotating circular plates. You must rotate the plates to combine two halves to create the item to be removed. You have the option to play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: As stated, this is a puzzle-lover’s delightt! There are thirty-seven (37) puzzles within this game. Feast on a variety of creatively designed puzzles. Some are fiendish in the hard mode. And again, there are more puzzles in the demo than seen in many developers’ entire game. Some are ones seen in other games, modified to fit the theme. However, there are some new ones as well. Most are creatively designed! There are puzzles which I am planning to replay this weekend!
SPOILER: HERE ARE SOME PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch shells and starfish so that they match a given diagram as to color.
B. Mahjong puzzle. Remove matching tiles until all are gone.
C. Physics problem. Adjust waves on five tracks so that all the balls reach the end at the same time
D. Physics puzzle. Create a path for four balls at the top of grid to reach their appropriate cups at the bottom. Place given ramps into position to angle and lead the balls to the desired cups.
E. Assembly puzzle. For five shields, place two halves of the shields into the correct slots to restore them. Use a stick to move them and position into the proper places.
F. Maze puzzle. Place arrows in a grid so that an arrow, when released, will pick up all keys on a path to a keyhole.
G. Matching puzzle. Move weapons to their appropriate slots by moving a wheel on a grid so that when the weapon follows a winding path it lands on the appropriate slot for that weapon.
H. Physics puzzle. Instead of mirrors, move crystals into position to angle a beam of light so it makes contact with a shard of glass.
I. Domino puzzle. Place domino-shaped runes into position so that the ends match up within a grid.
B. Mahjong puzzle. Remove matching tiles until all are gone.
C. Physics problem. Adjust waves on five tracks so that all the balls reach the end at the same time
D. Physics puzzle. Create a path for four balls at the top of grid to reach their appropriate cups at the bottom. Place given ramps into position to angle and lead the balls to the desired cups.
E. Assembly puzzle. For five shields, place two halves of the shields into the correct slots to restore them. Use a stick to move them and position into the proper places.
F. Maze puzzle. Place arrows in a grid so that an arrow, when released, will pick up all keys on a path to a keyhole.
G. Matching puzzle. Move weapons to their appropriate slots by moving a wheel on a grid so that when the weapon follows a winding path it lands on the appropriate slot for that weapon.
H. Physics puzzle. Instead of mirrors, move crystals into position to angle a beam of light so it makes contact with a shard of glass.
I. Domino puzzle. Place domino-shaped runes into position so that the ends match up within a grid.
I recommend this game!
Journey to the past to save your parents from a deadly killer.
Overall rating
3
/
5
55 of 121 found this review helpful
A BLAST FROM THE PAST WHILE ZIGZAGGING THROUGH TIME
PostedJune 9, 2018
sunnyglow
fromTraveling back in time to your childhood would be interesting if you were an orphan. Could you adopt yourself? Could you be Mom or Dad to yourself? Could you take your “child-self” back to the future with you?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Welcome back to the future, Alexandra. Find yourself zig-zagging through time as you relive a tragic incident in your childhood, all in the attempt to stop an evildoer. Stop a mad scientist from activating a time machine, one which demands a high price for its activation. Go back in time to 1985, relive a childhood tragedy, and stop this madman from attaining the Lamp of Shadows, the element necessary to activate this cursed artifact.
OPINION: This game is a blast from the past in terms of gaming technology as well. This is an old-school game - a modern sci-fi thriller which has returned in time using dated gaming technology. It should appeal to those who love this series, and perhaps sci-fi fans as well. There are two things I dislike about this game. First, I was annoyed by the pronounced delay between scenes There is no smooth transition – the scenes stop abruptly and pause briefly before moving to the next scene. Second, I also feel the graphics are old-school and blurry. The pace is decent with plenty of movement within the game. The HOP scenes and puzzles are a mixed bag. To me, some are creatively designed, and some are not. To me, this game is inferior to even some of the guest developers’ HOP games on this site. There is nothing in this game to compel me to purchase it.
GIMMICKY KEEPER’S TOOL: This device lights up and jumps up-and-down when an artifact is near. It neutralizes the artifact, so it cannot be used for evil purposes. It is also a tracker to indicate where the artifact is located. I felt it was another useless device not needed within the game and, to me, rather irritating.
MECHANICS: There are the standard four levels of play including a customized version. There are sixteen (16) achievements, some with many parts. For example, you get an achievement for just locating a collectible. You collect thirty-one (31) collectibles and thirty-six (36) puzzle pieces for a jigsaw puzzle to be played at the end of the game. There are thirty-one (31) morphing objects as well. Some are well-hidden, and others are glaringly large. There are nine (9) wallpapers and a screensaver along with the usual soundtrack and casual art.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes in the game. The HOP scenes are standard fare – mainly lists of items (junkpiles). In the demo there are storybook scenes, lists of items, and silhouette scenes. There is one creative scene in the demo which is a search and replace scene. In one scene you engage the services of the gimmicky Keeper’s Tool to locate the items. You can opt to play a Matching game instead for some HOP scenes.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-five (25) puzzles within the game. The puzzles are excellent. They are creatively designed and the only part of the game which I truly enjoyed. The puzzles range in style and difficulty, although none I would call even moderately challenging. There are two which I felt were somewhat creative. There is a timed sequence in which you are required to plug holes in an air pipe using plugs with geometric shapes matching the holes. This is easy enough except you cannot plug a hole with fire coming out of it. The other puzzle I enjoyed was a map puzzle in which you must move your car on a map while avoiding police cars in your path.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces from 3 portraits to restore them. Then place given item into the appropriate places within the paintings.
B. Assembly puzzle. Click on the appropriate pieces which, when combined, complete a given symbol on a door.
C. Under physical duress (you cannot breathe) try to plug holes on an air pipe using geometric shapes. There is a proviso, however. You cannot plug a hole if fire is coming out of it.
D. Collection puzzle. Using a cube with one open end, maneuver the cube by rolling it to collect four people tokens on a map with squares. The tokens can only be collected through the open end of the cube.
E. Map puzzle. Move your car on a map to try to exit the city avoiding police cars in your path.
B. Assembly puzzle. Click on the appropriate pieces which, when combined, complete a given symbol on a door.
C. Under physical duress (you cannot breathe) try to plug holes on an air pipe using geometric shapes. There is a proviso, however. You cannot plug a hole if fire is coming out of it.
D. Collection puzzle. Using a cube with one open end, maneuver the cube by rolling it to collect four people tokens on a map with squares. The tokens can only be collected through the open end of the cube.
E. Map puzzle. Move your car on a map to try to exit the city avoiding police cars in your path.
I recommend this game!