sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:812
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 6, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
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!
Become the Red Queen and save Chessland!
Overall rating
3
/
5
101 of 161 found this review helpful
ALICE - WHY BE A PAWN IN LIFE WHEN YOU CAN BE PROMOTED TO A QUEEN?
PostedJune 7, 2018
sunnyglow
fromTrying to locate a vacation “wonderland” this summer? Instead of “going down a rabbit hole” of financial debt, why not try “looking through a glass” window full of wonders in your own neighborhood!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
5 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER:
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Battle up Alice! Go through the looking glass and enter – Chessland. You may not have made it to Wonderland nor are you the original Alice of Wonderland fame; however, you have been summoned by the Red King to defeat the White Queen. The Red King has been searching for a Red Queen, a woman named “Alice,” prophesized as the only person who can defeat the White Queen. You are just the latest “Alice” to enter this world – one you cannot escape unless you are victorious. Move your way down the chessboard, battling those ranked above you as you move closer to the final check mate with the White Queen. Along the way, you will meet some familiar characters from Wonderland who seem like distant cousins of those in the Lewis Carroll novels!
OPINION: This is a fantastic game – just not for me! Based loosely on the Lewis Carroll tale, this game should appeal to those who like HOP laden games and/or those who like the Lewis Carroll stories of Alice and her adventures through Wonderland. This would also be a great game for children. Based on the game of chess - it is surprising this game has more HOP scenes than puzzles. I would expect a game based on the mathematician, Lewis Carroll’s novels, to be more puzzle-intense.
OPINION: This is a fantastic game – just not for me! Based loosely on the Lewis Carroll tale, this game should appeal to those who like HOP laden games and/or those who like the Lewis Carroll stories of Alice and her adventures through Wonderland. This would also be a great game for children. Based on the game of chess - it is surprising this game has more HOP scenes than puzzles. I would expect a game based on the mathematician, Lewis Carroll’s novels, to be more puzzle-intense.
The graphics are excellent with bright, colorful scenes laden with chess items. The story is a creative play on the original Alice story. I purchase games for the puzzles, so although creatively designed, it will be a pass for me. I also found the pace somewhat slow. I believe this may be attributed to the overuse of gimmicks (a compass and a bell sitting on your inventory bar) and collectibles (coins, puzzles pieces, and morphing objects). For me, this game exhibits “overkill.” Just too much “stuff” within it.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) selections of game play including a customized version. There are twenty (20) achievements. Collect forty-five (45) morphing objects and forty-two (42) puzzle pieces to play a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game. You also collect coins to purchase needed inventory items. You receive a bell on your inventory bar which will ring when you have collected enough coins to purchase inventory items. You can replay HOP scenes and puzzles. There are wallpapers, screensavers along with music and video sequences.
GIMMICKY COMPASS: Besides all the “stuff” in this game, you receive a gimmicky compass to help locate “hidden items” invisible to the naked eye. Sound familiar? This concept has been used in countless games with a variety of mirrors, lenses, and now, a compass!
HOP SCENES: From the demo it appears that this is a HOP lover’s dream-come-true! There are twice the number of HOP scenes than puzzles in the demo Most are lists of items including mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to locate. However, although most are lists of items, the scenes are creatively designed. My favorite was the second one in the demo. This multiple-step one is set in a beautiful setting with Humpy Dumpty holding the items via marionette strings. First, answer some cryptic questions which opens a list of items to be located on the strings. Some of the items are well-hidden. Afterward, there is a storybook sequence with items listed in green letters, all searched for on the same strings. Finally locate keys to open a gate.
PUZZLES: You can replay the puzzles from this game. However, there are few in the demo. Perhaps there are more after the demo; however, from the demo it appears there are not many. The ones in the demo are easy – too easy for my taste. However, there are puzzle-like activities throughout the game such as a maze scene in which you must escape the maze interacting with supplies you locate. However, this is not designated as a puzzle. I found that rather strange. The puzzles are listed at the bottom. I was not impressed with their design.
BATTLE CHESS PUZZLE: Every time you try to gain rank, you must play a variety of a chess puzzle. Take your opponent’s men by either jumping over them or landing next to these men.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES WITHIN THE DEMO:
PUZZLES:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore a picture. In the first HOP scene
B. Matching puzzle. Match up tokens
C. Paint by number. Paint a mural by first selecting parts which require that color and then press the color to fill the sections with the color.
D. BATTLE SCENE: Every time you try to gain rank, you must play a variety of a chess puzzle. Take your opponent’s men by either jumping over them or landing next to them
E. Assembly puzzle. Move tentacles from an octopus so they fit the slots on a box upon which it rests.
F. Sequence puzzle. Click on wires in sequence to open a tent.
G. Spot the differences puzzle. Locate the differences between two helmets.
H. Map puzzle. Plot a course for a gondola to reach the castle avoiding traps within its path. Place gears with arrows on them on a grid to create the route then push the lever to see if it works
A. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to restore a picture. In the first HOP scene
B. Matching puzzle. Match up tokens
C. Paint by number. Paint a mural by first selecting parts which require that color and then press the color to fill the sections with the color.
D. BATTLE SCENE: Every time you try to gain rank, you must play a variety of a chess puzzle. Take your opponent’s men by either jumping over them or landing next to them
E. Assembly puzzle. Move tentacles from an octopus so they fit the slots on a box upon which it rests.
F. Sequence puzzle. Click on wires in sequence to open a tent.
G. Spot the differences puzzle. Locate the differences between two helmets.
H. Map puzzle. Plot a course for a gondola to reach the castle avoiding traps within its path. Place gears with arrows on them on a grid to create the route then push the lever to see if it works
I recommend this game!
Enter the enchanted 'Netherworld' where your destiny was written in blood and which whispers of true love.
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 97 found this review helpful
A BEAUTIFUL TALE FROM INDIA - ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedJune 5, 2018
sunnyglow
fromCongratulations tuttifrutti! This game is a masterpiece - a true work of gaming art!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Prepare to enjoy an exotic journey through India in an incredibly beautiful game! Congratulations tuttifrutti! This is a jubilant moment for many of us from the Pond Friends Forum. We have been anxiously waiting fifteen months for this game to appear on this site. This award-winning game is tribute to a developer with a creative genius for game design. This developer is also composed of some incredibly nice people as well!
This game is a tribute to the Indian culture. Based upon an ancient folktale, it blends that story with a modern-day tale about a mother in search of her daughter. The story behind the game is an emotional adventure - a heart-wrenching trek for a mother who overcomes all obstacles to locate her kidnapped daughter. It also helps her to come to grips with her own nightmares from the past.
The graphics are incredibly beautiful and well-depict the lush Indian landscape. The background contains a musical score reflecting the exotic melodies of India. The HOP scenes demonstrate the genius of this developer. They are thematic and include some new concepts in portraying HOP scenes. In one example, there is a scene in which you locate fragments on a crystalline ball. The puzzles are varied in difficulty and variety and are thematic as well. In one example, you choose the correct hand positions to create a shadow animal.
The game explores a new concept not common in most HOP games, namely reincarnation. This game is a must-have for serious casual game lovers. It is truly a work of art and is truly a tribute to not only the country of India but the great love of this developer for their rich heritage.
The bonus chapter is incredibly beautiful with gorgeous graphics. This is more than just a game, it is truly a masterpiece! This is one game which is worth the price of a collector's edition. It is truly a keeper.
Can you defeat a foe with an ice-cold soul?
Overall rating
5
/
5
118 of 193 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO A “HOT” NEW GAME SET IN A “FROZEN” POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD
PostedJune 2, 2018
sunnyglow
fromIs Mad Head expanding their business into appliances? The microwave-freezer device from this game has the potential to become next “hot” must-have item to be sold on late night infomercials!
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:
5 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 46 Pages – Time: 6-1/2 Hours
5 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 46 Pages – Time: 6-1/2 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Welcome to a post-apocalyptic world – the decaying relic of a technologically advanced civilization. Travel to the village of Spite, the seat of the rebellion against the Society, the governing group of this world. Play Tara, who, along with sidekick, Lennart, are young rebels under the tutelage of the village elder, Mr. Hett. When an Artic blast descends upon the village, freezing everything and everyone, the Society is blamed for using climate control as a weapon against their subjects. Under the instructions of Mr. Hett, Tara and Lennart are off to Mount Nucleus to find the only entity who can stop the Society, the Elven queen, Alyssandra. However, she has been imprisoned by the Society, and freeing her will be a challenge. Get prepared for an arduous journey, with many surprises awaiting you in this game. Be warned - not everything is as it appears in this frozen world!
OPINION: This is another great sci-fi game by Mad Head. It is a long game, and one I felt was worth every penny! It is a sequel from the previous games in the series. Some of the characters make an encore appearance in this game. It is a puzzle-lover’s dream. The graphics provide an excellent portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world. I love the story behind the game with a plot with many twists and turns. It is a fast-paced adventure game with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged.
MECHANICS: There are five levels of play including a customized version. There are eleven (11) achievements, most with three (3) parts. There are twenty-seven (27) snowflakes and twenty-seven (27) morphing objects to collect within the scenes of game. There are also another twenty-one (21) morphing objects to collect within the HOP scenes. Most are easy to locate. There is an indicator bar to indicate whether you have located all the collectibles within the scene. You can replay twenty-one (21) HOP scenes. There are four (4) wallpapers plus the usual concept art and soundtracks.
GIMMICKY MICROWAVE FREEZER! Your helper in the game is a device which heats and freezes items. I found it a strange device for this game – rather like a microwave oven with a mini-ice maker attached. I hate gimmicks within games. I feel this one was unnecessary, and to me detracted from the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Melua, who is off to rescue the Elven Queen Alyssandra, when she is kidnapped by Lord Krieg of the Claw Clan. I like the activities but not the story behind this game. I also did not like the gimmicky healing Treeheart, which is used extensively in the first part of the chapter. However, there are some creatively designed HOP scenes and puzzles within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-five (25) in the entire game. However, that includes four (4) mini-HOP scenes which are FROGS in which you collect a small number of pieces to create an inventory item. All the standard scenes have morphing objects. Most of the scenes are lists of items with basic junkpiles of items to locate. However, there are a few silhouette scenes and storybook scenes as well. Some of the scenes are creatively designed and some of the scenes are reused. My favorite scenes are in the bonus chapter. There is one in which you rotate a stone circle to locate the items. Another scene in that chapter has a search for items in a dark room using a flashlight.
PUZZLES: This game is puzzle-intense. WOW! There are forty-seven (47) puzzles in this game. The puzzles vary in design and difficulty. However, I did not find any of the puzzles challenging; most of the puzzles are easy with a few of middle difficulty. There are quite a few sequence puzzles in this game along with battle scene puzzles which require some type of physical activity. Mad Head - PLEASE provide a replay of the puzzles within your games. There are many fantastic puzzles and I, for one, would rather replay a puzzle than a HOP scene.
MICROWAVE-FREEZER DEVICE PUZZLE: Each time you use the gimmicky device you must play a variation of a skipping stones puzzle. You must remove colored blocks from a grid by connecting two or more of those blocks to remove them. You must remove all blocks. The puzzles increase in difficulty as you proceed in the game. This device is used ten (10) times in the main game. It is NOT used in the bonus chapter.
SPOILER: There are 47 puzzles in this game; however, here are a sampling of a few puzzles AFTER the demo:
A. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a given sequence on bricks with symbols upon them.
B. Logic puzzle. Wound the evildoer. For a gun choose (1) the right amount of gun powder and (2) the correct angle - then (3) shoot
C. Battleship puzzle. Place tokens on a grid with landmines. Open the squares on the grid until the only unopened ones are the landmines. If you land on a landmine, you must restart the puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES
D. Maze puzzle. Move lock and key figures on stones so they connect with each other. Use arrows at the side to blow air to move them. 3X
E. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles to their proper location. However, this requires logic as you cannot move over tiles which have already been placed.
F. Assembly puzzle. Find symbolic pieces which, when combined, equal a given symbol. 3X
G. Mathematical puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid move tiles containing from one to four tokens upon them so that the number of tokens are the same for each row, column and diagonal of the grid.
A. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a given sequence on bricks with symbols upon them.
B. Logic puzzle. Wound the evildoer. For a gun choose (1) the right amount of gun powder and (2) the correct angle - then (3) shoot
C. Battleship puzzle. Place tokens on a grid with landmines. Open the squares on the grid until the only unopened ones are the landmines. If you land on a landmine, you must restart the puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES
D. Maze puzzle. Move lock and key figures on stones so they connect with each other. Use arrows at the side to blow air to move them. 3X
E. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles to their proper location. However, this requires logic as you cannot move over tiles which have already been placed.
F. Assembly puzzle. Find symbolic pieces which, when combined, equal a given symbol. 3X
G. Mathematical puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid move tiles containing from one to four tokens upon them so that the number of tokens are the same for each row, column and diagonal of the grid.
I recommend this game!
You'll die in three days if you can't uncover the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
117 of 182 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO ROUTE 39 – A DETOUR INTO THE PARNORMAL – AND A GREAT NEW SERIES!
PostedMay 31, 2018
sunnyglow
fromRick’s mother told him to always be a gentleman and help ladies in distress. However, did she forget to tell Rick to never pick up strange “ghouls” you have never met?
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:
5 Chapter Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
5 Chapter Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Paranormal detective Rick Rogers is on the case in the first game of this new series! Take a ride on Route 39 into the world of the paranormal! However, watch out for the ghosts in the road! Pick up ghostly hitchhiker, Emily Mayer, a bride-to-be on her way to meet her fiancé and future mother-in-law at the Bennet Mansion. However, when she disappears you decide to investigate the “why” of her disappearance. Enter a mansion with a parking lot full of abandoned cars from others before you. Meet Rose Bennet, Emily’s future mother-in-law, to learn more about her son, Nick, his relationship with his mother, and what happened to Emily. You only have three days to discover what is happening here at the mansion – before you join this ghostly crew! Let the three-day countdown begin!
OPINION: This is a great start to a fantastic new series for Elephant. Wow! I cannot wait for more games in this series. This is a mildly spooky, ghostly romp based on the urban legend, “Resurrection Mary.” It should appeal to those who like paranormal thrillers. I found it an action-packed thriller with plenty of activities to provide a fast-moving pace within the game. “Mommy dearest,” the obsessed Rose Bennett, matriarch of the manor, is scary in her own right and adds to the spooky atmosphere of the game. The graphics are cartoon-like and well-drawn. It is just a matter of taste; however, I did like the story and activities in the bonus chapter a little better than in the main game. Nevertheless, this is a stellar game that ghost story lovers will not want to miss!
MECHANICS: There are quite a few collectibles in this game. Some are easy to locate, and some are not. There are twelve (12) ravens to collect along with twenty-six (26) morphing objects. There are also twelve (12) twelve collectibles (which are personal items belonging to Rick). There are 10 achievements, some with multiple parts. You can replay thirteen (13) HOP scenes and thirteen (13) puzzles. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with the customary concept art and music.
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a sequel (happens after the main game); however, it is a completely different story. Meet small tyke, Deborah, and her fuzzy little demon bear! Now where is an exorcist when you need one? Find yourself at an old farmhouse (just perfect for a paranormal adventure!) where a father asks for your help in saving his daughter from her little “snookums” bear who can throw grown men across the room. I liked the story and HOP scenes and puzzles in this chapter much better than in the main game. This is a bonus chapter well-worth the extra price!
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes in the game. However, this includes mini-HOP scenes which require searching for a small number of items. They are varied, thematic, and creatively designed. The scenes after the demo are much better than those within the demo. The background for the scenes are creative including searching for items in cupboard drawers, a doll house, and on spooky ghostly hands! The game includes lists of items, storybook scenes, silhouette, and matching. My favorite scenes were the two search and replace scenes which require alternating between locating an item and then replacing an item within a scene.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-seven (27) puzzles in the game. The puzzles in the demo are easy; however, they are more challenging after the demo. There are a couple of difficult puzzles in this game - just enough to make the game a little more challenging. I feel there is a nice mix of puzzles from easy ones like a paint-by-number puzzle to those of middle-difficulty with two difficult ones toward the end of the game.
SPOILERS: Here are a sampling of puzzles AFTER the demo:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place wooden pieces into position to create a bridge so that there are no spaces nor any boards which overlap.
B. Variation of jigsaw puzzle. Place rose tokens into a grid so all flowers mesh together and that each flower is placed within the grid without any spaces between the flowers.
C. Assembly puzzle. Move and connect angels to replicate a given image.
D. Gear/assembly puzzle. Switch and rotate gears to reassemble an image.
E. Maze puzzle. DIFFICULT! Move a ball through a maze. However, in this tricky little puzzle, you must plot your path before you release the ball. Added to this, there are four mazes within the larger maze which must be manipulated as well to connect with each other in a long path to the end. And, if that is not difficult enough, you must pass the ball through all four buttons at the side of each maze. Suffice it to say, I need to replay this puzzle!
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES
F. Physical puzzle. Sock-it-to the orbs! Click on orbs (clouds if you will) until they are all gone.
G. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it creates the shortest path to a house.
H. Jigsaw puzzle. Recreate two pictures. You must separate the pieces between the two (2) pictures as well.
I. Logic puzzle. Move tokens up-down and sideways using arrows to create logical picture equations so that when two of the pictured items are combined they logically produce a third picture.
J. Paint-by-number. However, this time, paint the scene by symbol.
B. Variation of jigsaw puzzle. Place rose tokens into a grid so all flowers mesh together and that each flower is placed within the grid without any spaces between the flowers.
C. Assembly puzzle. Move and connect angels to replicate a given image.
D. Gear/assembly puzzle. Switch and rotate gears to reassemble an image.
E. Maze puzzle. DIFFICULT! Move a ball through a maze. However, in this tricky little puzzle, you must plot your path before you release the ball. Added to this, there are four mazes within the larger maze which must be manipulated as well to connect with each other in a long path to the end. And, if that is not difficult enough, you must pass the ball through all four buttons at the side of each maze. Suffice it to say, I need to replay this puzzle!
BONUS CHAPTER PUZZLES
F. Physical puzzle. Sock-it-to the orbs! Click on orbs (clouds if you will) until they are all gone.
G. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it creates the shortest path to a house.
H. Jigsaw puzzle. Recreate two pictures. You must separate the pieces between the two (2) pictures as well.
I. Logic puzzle. Move tokens up-down and sideways using arrows to create logical picture equations so that when two of the pictured items are combined they logically produce a third picture.
J. Paint-by-number. However, this time, paint the scene by symbol.
I recommend this game!
Wield powerful relics and stop a book from releasing the ultimate evil!
Overall rating
3
/
5
67 of 116 found this review helpful
THE ALMANAC PREDICTS: PREPARE TO WEATHER HURRICANE ODESSA!
PostedMay 26, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThe almanac predicts a massive flood of purple in this game. Playing this game sparked an impulse to listen to music from Prince and visions of “purple rain!”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 Pages
OVERVIEW:/BACKGROUND: Get ready to take a much-needed vacation – NOT! Find your vacation on hold when you are called in on another case. The Dragon Clan is back, this time searching for an almanac which holds the spirit of a powerful entity, Odessa. The Dragon Clan plans to release her and use her powers for nefarious purposes. However, when she is accidentally released, it will be a race against time and the Dragon clan to return her spirit back into the almanac. Now, armed with a magical bracelet, locate all the relics necessary to vanquish this evildoer and stop the Dragon Clan from using her evil power.
OPINION: This game should appeal to those who love easy-breezy adventure games. Unfortunately, I am not one of those gamers. This is a decent game; however, I did not enjoy playing the demo. I found the puzzles extremely easy which made this game somewhat tedious for me to play. I felt the demo was somewhat slow-paced. I enjoyed the story behind the game; however, I liked the previous games in this series better. I found the graphics garish with a massive onslaught of the color, purple everywhere. This game is a pass for me. Nothing in the demo inspired me to purchase it. I tend to like a game which is a little more challenging with less vibrant colors.
MECHANICS: There are the customary four (4) levels of play, including customization. There are seventeen (17) achievements – twelve (12) are skill-based and five (5) are story related. There are quite a few collectibles. There are twenty-five (25) morphing objects. There are thirty-one (31) items to collect (eight (8) creatures, eight (8) nature items, eight (8) artifacts, and seven (7) relics). I found the collectibles easy to locate. There is an indicator on the inventory bar which alerts you if there are any collectibles within a scene. You can replay some puzzles and HOP scenes. There are fifteen (15) wallpapers along with the usual soundtrack selections and videos.
GIMMICKY BRACELET: You receive a gimmicky bracelet to fight off evil entities. You will play a puzzle when you need to use this bracelet.
HOP SCENES: From the demo, I found the HOP scenes better than the puzzles. The ones I played were two lists of items and a FROG. I feel they were somewhat creatively designed. The scenes are interactive. For me, the HOP scenes were the best part of the demo. However, if you don’t wish to figure out how items are interrelated in the scenes, you can play a matching puzzle in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: The puzzles from the demo are easy, some ridiculously easy. They include a variety of different styles. I am not fond of any of the puzzles within this game. There are two multiple-step ones in the demo. Listed below are the puzzles from the demo.
SPOILERS: Here are the puzzles from the demo. They are ALL easy:
A. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a given sequence to open a cupboard. 3X
B. Switching tiles. Switch tiles to restore a picture.
C. Bracelet puzzle. Mathematical puzzle. Place colored tokens into the correct slots so that when combined, they equal the color shown.
D. Storybook. Listen to a tale and interact with the scene. (1) Match up each colored rune with its match in the scene to produce an artifact. (2) Connect blades with colors at their ends with matching colored symbols in a circle around a book.
E. Maze puzzle. Follow directions to get to a facility.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Complete math problems to get the numbers to enter a code.
G. Assembly puzzle. You are given two to five pieces of a symbol. Locate the symbol which matches up with the pieces displayed.
H. Bracelet puzzle. Connection puzzle. Switch tokens so that related items are connected to each other.
I. Multiple-step puzzle. (1) Slide zodiac symbols into their proper location according to their shape. (2) Move a comet along lines so that it passes through every zodiac sign without retracing its steps.
B. Switching tiles. Switch tiles to restore a picture.
C. Bracelet puzzle. Mathematical puzzle. Place colored tokens into the correct slots so that when combined, they equal the color shown.
D. Storybook. Listen to a tale and interact with the scene. (1) Match up each colored rune with its match in the scene to produce an artifact. (2) Connect blades with colors at their ends with matching colored symbols in a circle around a book.
E. Maze puzzle. Follow directions to get to a facility.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Complete math problems to get the numbers to enter a code.
G. Assembly puzzle. You are given two to five pieces of a symbol. Locate the symbol which matches up with the pieces displayed.
H. Bracelet puzzle. Connection puzzle. Switch tokens so that related items are connected to each other.
I. Multiple-step puzzle. (1) Slide zodiac symbols into their proper location according to their shape. (2) Move a comet along lines so that it passes through every zodiac sign without retracing its steps.
I recommend this game!
Will you escape the mansion, or become its permanent resident?
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 198 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO AN ISLAND VACATION MANOR WHICH REQUIRES ITS GUESTS TO “MAINTAIN” IT
PostedMay 24, 2018
sunnyglow
fromShare it with a ferret? What was the most frightening part of the game? A ferret in my inventory. He didn’t stick around, but - please EIPIX - don’t take us into the frightening world of game “helpers.”
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
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 38 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 38 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Robin Harris! Get your bags packed! You are off to your 10-year class reunion! Sail off to a secluded island, the home of Covington Mansion, a mansion which never seems to age with the ravages of time. Expecting to reminisce and engage in a scavenger hunt, you will soon discover that this trip will be one of survival for you and your former classmates. Get prepared to deal with a diva – a vampiric house with a mind of its own and a rapacious appetite for company.
OPINION: This is a paranormal thriller reminiscent of the old 1976 classic film, “Blood Sacrifice.” It is another escape room game combined with a slight touch of supernatural creepiness. It should appeal to those who like mysteries and the paranormal. It was an automatic purchase for me. The misty gray muted graphics provide an excellent background to this game. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities and unexpected surprises to keep you engaged.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Meet Howard who will tell his tale of woe concerning this house. You meet him toward the end of the game; however, his story about the house is set before the story for this game. The chapter is very short. I played this chapter (without skipping the puzzles) in less than an hour. However, I do feel the puzzles are excellent; but, was somewhat disappointed by the HOP scenes.
MECHANICS: EIPIX includes the usual four levels of difficulty for this game, including a customized version. There are thirteen (13) achievements. You can replay fifteen (15) puzzles and seventeen (17) HOP scenes. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with the usual concept art. There are the usual music and video sequences as well. Collect thirty-six (36) owls, twenty (20) souvenirs, and three (3) cats. Meow! There are eleven (11) morphing objects within the HOP scenes. All collectibles are easy to locate. At the end of the game you return to previous scenes to locate all the souvenir items to place in your souvenir room. The game will provide the scenes you need to revisit.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-two (22) in the game which includes mini-HOP scenes with a smaller number of items to locate. Most are lists of items with some silhouette scenes. I found the HOP scenes more creatively designed than in past games. Most require some type of interaction with the scene. There is also a rebus scene in the main game, which I enjoyed. However, many of the scenes are reused within the game. I feel that a collector’s edition game should not reuse scenes. Most have morphing objects within the scenes.
I found two (2) scenes which I thought very creative. They include one in which you must locate items on mannequins which must be switched to locate all the items. There is another multi-scene one in which you must use a lever to switch the scenes to locate objects.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-two (22) puzzles in the game. They range in variety and difficulty. However, I do feel the puzzles, in general, are more challenging than in many other developers’ games. This is the first time EIPIX has offered the ability to play puzzles in an “Easy” or “Hard” mode. However, that option was only available once in the demo. I do wish EIPIX would offer this option more often in their games.
There are some instances where some of the actions should have been deemed as puzzle. In the bonus chapter there is a mathematical puzzle which requires some calculations to be performed before arriving at the combination to a lock. Why this was not considered a puzzle is beyond me.
EIPIX also includes a few physical puzzles, which I found tedious. In one you must traverse underwater while avoiding obstacles in your path. I found this puzzle ridiculously easy as it only involves four different obstacles to avoid - all of which are easily avoided.
SPOILERS: Here are samples of puzzles after the demo:
A. Nonogram/Griddler puzzle. Place colored skulls into rows and columns so that the number and color of skulls matches the number and color given at the top and sides of the grid.
B. Matching /Mathematical puzzle. Place beautiful orchids into their proper positions. Look carefully at the orchids and deduce their position by matching them up with given labels. Then perform the mathematical calculation to get a number for a code.
C. Maze puzzle. Using water pressure, move a ball through a maze by moving the water level up-and-down to move a ball to the end of a path.
D. Weights and balances puzzle. Adjust the tension in springs so that all the weights attached to the springs are centered in the middle.
E. Ye old Farmer’s Field puzzle. Draw lines to segment a piece of cloth so that each section has two different colored items within them.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Escape Room Puzzle. Interact and move a figurine up-and-down using ladders to maneuver it to a set of doors to escape. 2X
G. Ye old calculate the liquid puzzle. Using a set of beakers, fill and empty them until getting the correct measure of liquid. 3X Increases in difficulty
H. Tangram puzzle. Place all parts into a grid of a detonator without any spaces uncovered.
B. Matching /Mathematical puzzle. Place beautiful orchids into their proper positions. Look carefully at the orchids and deduce their position by matching them up with given labels. Then perform the mathematical calculation to get a number for a code.
C. Maze puzzle. Using water pressure, move a ball through a maze by moving the water level up-and-down to move a ball to the end of a path.
D. Weights and balances puzzle. Adjust the tension in springs so that all the weights attached to the springs are centered in the middle.
E. Ye old Farmer’s Field puzzle. Draw lines to segment a piece of cloth so that each section has two different colored items within them.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Escape Room Puzzle. Interact and move a figurine up-and-down using ladders to maneuver it to a set of doors to escape. 2X
G. Ye old calculate the liquid puzzle. Using a set of beakers, fill and empty them until getting the correct measure of liquid. 3X Increases in difficulty
H. Tangram puzzle. Place all parts into a grid of a detonator without any spaces uncovered.
I recommend this game!