sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:815
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Save a missing family from an infamous haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
83 of 151 found this review helpful
BE PREPARED TO TACKLE TWELVE-YEAR OLD LILLY
PostedDecember 16, 2017
sunnyglow
fromSpeaking of being prepared - perhaps what precocious Lilly needs is to join the Girl Scouts. Or maybe not. I never want to see this creepy black-eyed child coming to my house to sell cookies!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Assistant detective! Prepare to aid Dupin on another case. Having purchased a house known as “The Devourer of Souls,” a family appears to have gone missing. However, not all the family is missing. The family’s possessed daughter, Lilly, the spitting image of a black-eyed child, will taunt you throughout the game. Get prepared for a tug-of-war with this precocious twelve-year old! For me, this spookfest is a vast improvement from the other games in the series. I found some creatively designed puzzles and HOP scenes within this game which I enjoyed playing. The graphics are creepy, and the game is beautifully illustrated as with most of this developer’s games. This story should appeal to those who like this series. It should also appeal to those who like their games more on the dark side.
THE SEASON IS THE REASON: Appearing at Christmas is a true detriment to this game. It will probably miss out on sales simply because it is scary fare, more geared toward Halloween than Christmas. It is simply out-of-place amidst all the happy spirited games of the Yuletide season. The spirits of this game are not quite so happy or jolly. These spirits are ominous. The game reminds me of the old flick, “The Exorcist.” However, I would not miss playing this out-of-season game. I truly love the “spirited” black-eyed, black-haired ‘tween’ Lilly. Our little black-eyed child truly makes this game. Her voice changing from a mockingly high-pitched adorable one to a deep-pitched ominous one is truly chilling! I purchased the game but was not able to play it before writing this review. However, I do believe it will be “phantastic.” Usually this developer’s games are better after the demo.
There are the standard extras within this game. You collect fortune cookies, which, when broken, give you clues as to what will transpire within this game. They are easy to locate. Opening these cookies reveals jigsaw puzzle pieces used to play puzzles to play at the end of the game. I found this a very creative approach to providing these collectibles. There are sidebars on the left of the screen which indicate the number of those jigsaw pieces you have found. You can also replay some of the HOP scenes and puzzles.
HOP SCENES: The scenes in the demo are standard ones seen in all games. The ones in the demo simply require you to locate a specific number of some item.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are decent. They vary in design and difficulty. There is one which allows you to choose the difficulty for the puzzle between the settings of “casual” and “hard.” My favorite was the mathematical one in which you must placed angled wood planks into place so that four colored balls fall into matching colored bowls.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
15 Achievements
Collect 60 Jigsaw puzzle pieces hidden in fortune cookies. (They will also give you a fortune based on the game)
Replay 17 Puzzles and 15 HOP scenes
10 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art, 6 Screensavers, Music, Movies
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
15 Achievements
Collect 60 Jigsaw puzzle pieces hidden in fortune cookies. (They will also give you a fortune based on the game)
Replay 17 Puzzles and 15 HOP scenes
10 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art, 6 Screensavers, Music, Movies
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) Locate 12 keys (B) Collect 15 pages of a book. (C) List of items
(A) Locate 12 keys (B) Collect 15 pages of a book. (C) List of items
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Mathematical puzzle. Place wood slats into position at an angle so that each of four colored balls fall into a dish of the same color. Rating: 2
B. Choice between Casual and Hard. On a wheel, rotate a dial to place tokens into their proper location according to a given diagram. Tokens can only move between paths within the circular grid.
C. Save Louisa! Multiple step. (1) Rotating tiles. Rotate a group of tiles so that all turn green. Rating: 2 (2) Matching puzzle. Uncover images under 6 red balls to provide matches. Rating: 1
D. Jigsaw puzzle. Unique and creative puzzle in which you rotate and flip wooden pieces to place onto a tree to complete its image. Rating: 2
E. Matching puzzle. Locate and match up runes from two locations to match those on a book. Rating: 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up symbols on a picture. Rating: 1
G. Medallion puzzle. Reproduce 3 symbols onto a grid. Rating: 2
B. Choice between Casual and Hard. On a wheel, rotate a dial to place tokens into their proper location according to a given diagram. Tokens can only move between paths within the circular grid.
C. Save Louisa! Multiple step. (1) Rotating tiles. Rotate a group of tiles so that all turn green. Rating: 2 (2) Matching puzzle. Uncover images under 6 red balls to provide matches. Rating: 1
D. Jigsaw puzzle. Unique and creative puzzle in which you rotate and flip wooden pieces to place onto a tree to complete its image. Rating: 2
E. Matching puzzle. Locate and match up runes from two locations to match those on a book. Rating: 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up symbols on a picture. Rating: 1
G. Medallion puzzle. Reproduce 3 symbols onto a grid. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Can you save the holidays before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
103 of 192 found this review helpful
UP, UP AND AWAY TO A FESTIVE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN OZ
PostedDecember 13, 2017
sunnyglow
fromA game which takes you over the rainbow. At the end of your flight, you will discover a pot full of gold – a golden Christmas delight!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Off you go Dorothy, via a rainbow-colored balloon, high above the Kansas cornfields, in a return visit to Oz. You have been invited by Scarecrow to attend the very first Christmas celebration in Oz! Upon your arrival, you will discover Emerald City decked out in Christmas green with a splash of red to get you into the Christmas spirit. This is Domini Games’ first attempt at creating a Christmas game. It is another game which glistens and sparkles with Christmas spirit. It is festive and “Christmas-y.” This is a wonderful family game to be enjoyed by players of all ages. The story is an amalgamation of the Oz story combined with Christmas traditions. Personally, however, I do think the Oz theme is rather a strange one for Christmas. However, the “wearin’ of the green” within Oz” and all those emeralds are a natural choice for Christmas. The developer has done a nice job of using Oz as a backdrop for a fun-filled, festive game. My only Christmas wish for this game would be the inclusion of some Christmas background music.
Yum! Enjoy some Christmas spirit as you stuff your face with Christmas pastries. They are everywhere in the game and clicking on them creates a chomping sound. You can fill up to your heart’s content without ingesting a single calorie! Domini does not spare on the extras within their games Collect twelve (13) firecrackers and sixty (60) emeralds. You will use the emeralds to purchase ornaments which look like Munchkins to decorate your tree. As in this developer’s other games, the inventory bar indicates when an emerald is available within a scene. You also collect cards which tell an updated story of the “Wizard of Oz.” You can also replay HOP scenes and puzzles from the game. I purchased this game but was not able to play it to give an adequate review. However, it does look promising from what I played in the demo!
"YAPPY" HELPER TOTO: Toto will accompany you and provide help throughout the game. What would an Oz-based story be without Toto? One expects some type of helper in Christmas games. However, his consistent barking and moaning throughout the game is distracting. If you are a dog lover, it probably will be delightful; however, if you not a dog lover, you may find the barking irritating. If there is an animal helper, I would only ask the developer cut down on the animal sounds.
STORY: With Scarecrow’s invitation, you are excited; however, as usual in Oz, your “bubble will burst” when you realize some witch, in this case, the Witch of the North, is causing mayhem to try to stop the festivities. The gifts are being blown away by some nasty goblins, headed by their leader, Farry. You will once again need those magic slippers which can be gotten from Glinda to get to Goblinland to stop the mayhem. Can you save Christmas? Make your way to this land and battle the goblins and the old sourpuss Witch of the North to restore the festivities to the kingdom. Perhaps, through the magic of Christmas, you can change that sourpuss witch’s attitude as well.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are ones seen within other games by this developer. They are “Christmas-y” in design. The first one in the game is beautifully designed. Open boxes, just as in Christmas, to locate items to be replaced back within the scene. There are also lists of items and silhouette scenes all decked out with Christmas items. You also have the option to play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are filled with Christmas wonder. They are thematic and creatively designed. Design your puzzles to your comfort level of difficulty as well. These theme-based delights also come in “easy” and “hard” versions as in Domini’s other games. One of the puzzles in the demo is one which I have not seen previously.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Custom
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you as you play the game
30 Achievements
Collect 13 Firecrackers and 60 emeralds to purchase ornaments to place on a Christmas tree
Collect storybook pages to tell an updated story of Oz
Replay 17 HOP scenes and 18 Puzzles
15 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music, Videos
Map is given to you as you play the game
30 Achievements
Collect 13 Firecrackers and 60 emeralds to purchase ornaments to place on a Christmas tree
Collect storybook pages to tell an updated story of Oz
Replay 17 HOP scenes and 18 Puzzles
15 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music, Videos
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE FROM THE DEMO
HOP SCENES: You can play a Match-3 game instead of the scene.
(A) Replacement scene. Open three boxes which provide items for you to replace back within the scene as decorations for Christmas. Quite cleverly designed. (B) List of items. (C) Silhouette. (D) List of items
(A) Replacement scene. Open three boxes which provide items for you to replace back within the scene as decorations for Christmas. Quite cleverly designed. (B) List of items. (C) Silhouette. (D) List of items
PUZZLES: Puzzles are provided in Casual and Hard Versions. They are thematic as well.
A. Buckle up! Sliding Tiles Puzzle. Slide buckles into position on a belt. Moving one affects the others.
B. Up, Up, and Away! Maze Puzzle. Lead the Balloon to Oz by guiding it past obstacles which are covered by clouds. If you hit an obstacle, you return to the beginning.
C. Fill up a bag of Christmas cheer! Maze puzzle. Move a Santa gnome through a maze, collecting Christmas items in his path to place in a bag at the end of the maze. He must pick up all the items and not retrace his steps.
D. Jingle, jingle, jingle! Rotating tiles/Sliding tiles puzzle. On a grid, move a coin from top left to bottom right by rotating the ring it is in. If there is an open space, the token will transfer to the open space within the token.
E. The Oz Christmas Story. Storybook scene. Locate items listed in Emerald Green letters and replace them back within the scene. Also, interact with the scene.
F. Let’s get chipped! Matching puzzle. Swap chips within a grid, placing them so that the chips in each row and column match up with those indicated along the sides of the grid.
G. A kingdom by any other color! Slider puzzle. Slide four tokens of Oz characters until they reach their appropriate colored spot on a map.
H. Assembly puzzle. Move parts of a scarecrow to match with one on a diagram.
I. The Goblins are coming! Pacman Puzzle. Lead an elf through a maze picking up goods along the way while avoiding two goblins.
J. Don’t burst my bubble! Assembly puzzle. Place small bubbles with symbols on them upon a larger bubble so that the images on the little bubble matches up with those on a larger bubble.
B. Up, Up, and Away! Maze Puzzle. Lead the Balloon to Oz by guiding it past obstacles which are covered by clouds. If you hit an obstacle, you return to the beginning.
C. Fill up a bag of Christmas cheer! Maze puzzle. Move a Santa gnome through a maze, collecting Christmas items in his path to place in a bag at the end of the maze. He must pick up all the items and not retrace his steps.
D. Jingle, jingle, jingle! Rotating tiles/Sliding tiles puzzle. On a grid, move a coin from top left to bottom right by rotating the ring it is in. If there is an open space, the token will transfer to the open space within the token.
E. The Oz Christmas Story. Storybook scene. Locate items listed in Emerald Green letters and replace them back within the scene. Also, interact with the scene.
F. Let’s get chipped! Matching puzzle. Swap chips within a grid, placing them so that the chips in each row and column match up with those indicated along the sides of the grid.
G. A kingdom by any other color! Slider puzzle. Slide four tokens of Oz characters until they reach their appropriate colored spot on a map.
H. Assembly puzzle. Move parts of a scarecrow to match with one on a diagram.
I. The Goblins are coming! Pacman Puzzle. Lead an elf through a maze picking up goods along the way while avoiding two goblins.
J. Don’t burst my bubble! Assembly puzzle. Place small bubbles with symbols on them upon a larger bubble so that the images on the little bubble matches up with those on a larger bubble.
I recommend this game!
Awakened from centuries of slumber, you must save the future!
Overall rating
5
/
5
113 of 178 found this review helpful
WWE – WORLDWIDE WITCHES TAKE ON THE DARK LORD IN A FINAL SMACKDOWN
PostedDecember 8, 2017
sunnyglow
fromBertha! Where are you? Is our half-human ferret helper, Bertha in hibernation or on vacation? No matter, I hope she stays away FOREVER!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: BATTLE UP! Arm yourself, spell book in hand, and prepare to engage in in a Witchy Armageddon! Play the Ancient One, the caster of the “mother of all spell bombs,” summoned from the grave by Anabel to take on the Dark Lord. “All ‘them’ witches” return minus Bertha, the half-human ferret. For me this is a 4-star game. However, I gave it one extra star because there are NO HELPERS in this game. Although not a stellar game, this is vast improvement for EleFun. Gone are the “cutesy” elements from other games in the series. This game is dark. It is also creepy. The voice of Ezar, (the Dark Lord), is as creepy as it gets! This game is no romp in the park. There are no ice-skating ferrets dancing on cakes in this game. This game centers on the survival on the kingdom. The Ancient One is getting down to some serious witch business here!
The graphics are still as blurry as usual for this developer. The game has dated gaming technology; however, I don’t believe this developer has the necessary equipment to compete with the major developers in producing the same quality game. You will get those “time out” blank screens when there is a change of scene. The helpers are gone; although the demo does sneak in a falcon to retrieve an item from a bookshelf. (I guess EleFun just could not help themselves). However, the falcon disappears after he is used. You collect monster footprints and there are morphing objects. To me, the game is better after the demo. The puzzles are better designed and somewhat more difficult. However, that being said, the HOP scenes are lackluster and lack creativity.
STORY: The next episode of this series engulfs us in a Witchy Armageddon. The Dark Lord, Ezar, has arisen and again needs to be defeated. The portal between the Other Word (land of demons) and The Real World (land of people and witches) has been violated. The Dark Lord is searching for the key to dismantle the Tree of Life which keeps the worlds separate. He wishes to bring darkness to the whole universe and enslave the people and witches from the other world.
THE GRIMOIRE. There is a Grimoire which accompanies you in this game; however, it is well-used within the game. It is not gimmicky. It provides spells and helps you create potions to be used in the game. I was rather impressed by the puzzles and activities. There are seven (7) spells and potions you will use throughout the game. Although I hate searching for supplies to create potions, there was very little back-and-forth activity involved in retrieving the items to create the potions. The spells contain puzzles which must be solved to activate them. The spells will light up when needed.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes in the game. You have the option to play a Match-3 puzzle in lieu of the scenes. Most of the scenes after the demo are storybook ones in which you must locate items listed in BOLD letters. There is a unique one in which you are timed as you go underwater to locate the items. There are also silhouette and lists of items. Other than the one set underwater, I was not impressed with the others. They are not very interactive and there is a part of the game with one storybook scene-after-another. The developer also reuses scenes toward the end of the game.
PUZZLES: There are more puzzles than HOP scenes. Beside the puzzles in creating potions and activating spells, there are twenty-eight (28) standard puzzles. They vary in style and difficulty. The puzzles are BETTER AFTER THE DEMO. They are a little more difficult, although there are some easy ones as well. Most of the puzzles are of middle difficulty. Here are some of the puzzles AFTER THE DEMO:
A. There is magic in those warriors! Chess puzzle. In a board game version of “Magic,” defeat your enemies by pairing up your powers against theirs. Your warriors will be set up by rows. You can use the powers of your warriors on any row but can must defeat your opponent’s warriors row-by-row. You cannot move to the second row until you defeat all your opponents on the first row. There are three rows! Very cleverly designed. 2X
B. Don’t cross the line! Connection puzzle. Connect symbols without crossing lines.
C. Have you lost your marbles? Connection puzzle. (Tied to a spell). Connect numbered marbles so that lines connecting the marbles equal the number on each marble. Rating: 2
D. Count your moves! Mathematical puzzle. Move two tokens to the middle of a grid by choosing numbered arrows to move the tokens forward or backward. After choosing the correct sequence which will exactly move each token into position, press the start button.
E. A-maze-ing! Maze puzzle. Another great puzzle in which you traverse a maze locating items to aid in your quest. This one also uses levers to also eliminate obstacles in your path.
F. I’m a ‘draggin.’ Sing me to sleep. Matching puzzle. Play a song matching up runes on a flute with those on a given code to put a dragon to sleep.
G. Climb every mountain! Climb up a mountain choosing the correct stones and supports to make it up
H. Roped in! Rope puzzle. Arrange lines so they do not intersect.
B. Don’t cross the line! Connection puzzle. Connect symbols without crossing lines.
C. Have you lost your marbles? Connection puzzle. (Tied to a spell). Connect numbered marbles so that lines connecting the marbles equal the number on each marble. Rating: 2
D. Count your moves! Mathematical puzzle. Move two tokens to the middle of a grid by choosing numbered arrows to move the tokens forward or backward. After choosing the correct sequence which will exactly move each token into position, press the start button.
E. A-maze-ing! Maze puzzle. Another great puzzle in which you traverse a maze locating items to aid in your quest. This one also uses levers to also eliminate obstacles in your path.
F. I’m a ‘draggin.’ Sing me to sleep. Matching puzzle. Play a song matching up runes on a flute with those on a given code to put a dragon to sleep.
G. Climb every mountain! Climb up a mountain choosing the correct stones and supports to make it up
H. Roped in! Rope puzzle. Arrange lines so they do not intersect.
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
Collect 32 Monster Footprints
31 Morphing objects
9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art, 3 Screensavers, Music
Map is provided as you play the game
Collect 32 Monster Footprints
31 Morphing objects
9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art, 3 Screensavers, Music
I recommend this game!
Can you break an evil curse and save the day?!
Overall rating
3
/
5
112 of 185 found this review helpful
A GAME WHICH HAS THE APPEARANCE BUT LACKS THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
PostedDecember 6, 2017
sunnyglow
fromBah Humbug! Never judge a gift by its cover! Playing this game is like getting a beautifully wrapped present only to open it and find nothing related to Christmas. What does a fairy tale wedding have to do with Christmas?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS - IN THIS GAME! Here comes the bride – or maybe not! A royal wedding is stopped dead in its tracks by an evil witch. Yes, Virginia this is your CHRISTMAS GAME! Perhaps you were searching for a holiday-themed game full of the magic and spirit of Christmas - one eliciting the true meaning of the season? Well - it is not evident in this empty glistening lump of coal! This game did not generate any holiday spirit for me. It has the appearance but not the spirit of Christmas. The theme is fairy tale in nature and to me, lacks the Christmas themed story one would expect from Elephant’s yearly Yuletide delight. A rose is still a rose; a fairy tale is still a fairy tale, NOT A CHRISTMAS STORY! What Christmas message does this game provide? Don’t tick off an old witch? I also believe that a witch has no place in a Christmas game! I am disappointed by this year’s game.
THE APPEARANCE BUT NOT THE SPIRIT! Despite the theme, or lack thereof, there are the incredibly beautiful graphics as in previous games. The glistening Christmas tree and ornaments throughout the game make it truly a delight to play. The Christmas music throughout the game is subtle with brief allusions to the Christmas melodies. There are the usual collectible jigsaw pieces to create four jigsaw puzzles which transform into screen savers. The collectibles are morphing 'Santas' along with characters from the game. You can replay the HOP scenes and puzzles. I purchased the game but was not able to play the entire game before writing the review. It may be better after the demo, but there is no indication of this from what i have played.
STORY: A nasty old “Christmas witch” disrupted a wedding by cursing the bride, groom, and all the attendants, transforming them into animals and objects. Now, the groom, Prince Edward, is a child, his bride, Rose, is a flower, and Joe, the best man, is a fox. Foxy Joe will be helping you in this game. To stop the curse, you must fix a clock which was broken during the ceremony. If it is fixed, all will be restored back to order and the wedding will proceed. Enjoy your Christmas (or is it fairy tale?) trek through this kingdom. You better hurry before the last petals of our wilting bride, Rose, wilt away, ending Edward and Rose’s Christmas wedding.
HELPER FOXY JOE: There is a helper within this game. Although the fox is not adorable, he is well-suited to this game. I hate helpers but can appreciate one being in a family game for Christmas. He fits in nicely into theme of the story. However, I do think this game would have been better WITHOUT the helper.
HOP SCENES: The scenes are all decked out for Christmas. The ones I played are exquisite and creatively designed. My favorite was uncovering Christmas items, well hidden under a plethora of beads. Swish them around to find the objects.
PUZZLES: The ONLY reason I purchased this game was for the puzzles. They are well-designed and there are some which are somewhat difficult. My favorite from the demo was the switch puzzle involving trains. You must switch tracks so that each of three trains arrives at its matching colored station! I also enjoyed a tricky connection puzzle which requires you to rotate tokens to create paths for light to reach the center of the grid.
LEVELS: Casual, Detective, Super, Custom
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
21 Achievements
Collect 14 Wedding guests, and 48 Puzzles pieces for four (4) puzzles which are screensavers
26 Morphing Snowmen
Replay 12 Puzzles and 13 HOP scenes
14 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art, Music, Secret Room
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
21 Achievements
Collect 14 Wedding guests, and 48 Puzzles pieces for four (4) puzzles which are screensavers
26 Morphing Snowmen
Replay 12 Puzzles and 13 HOP scenes
14 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art, Music, Secret Room
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) List of items. (B) Silhouette. Those silhouette items are well- hidden (C) Matching pairs. You must uncover them underneath packing beads. (D) Foxy Lady. List of items. Uncover gems as you locate items.
(A) List of items. (B) Silhouette. Those silhouette items are well- hidden (C) Matching pairs. You must uncover them underneath packing beads. (D) Foxy Lady. List of items. Uncover gems as you locate items.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Sequence/Switch puzzle. Switch tokens around a circle divided into two parts - day represented by the sun and night represented by the moon, so they are in proper sequence. Rating: 2
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens with notes upon them so that the notes mesh with those on a piano. After you finish, you are serenaded by a Christmas song. Rating: 1
C. Sequence puzzle. Move a dial to symbols matching those on a given code to open a box. Rating: 1
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens to restore a picture. The image is divided into two segments and you can only work with once half of the image at one time. Rating: 2
E. Assembly puzzle. Switch four (4) levers to switch and rearrange the tracks so that three (3) brightly colored trains reach their corresponding colored stations Rating: 2
F. Checkers puzzle. Jump over a group of holly berry sprigs on a blue and red checkered grid. Only move onto the blue squares until only one holly berry sprig remains. Rating: 2
G. Centering puzzle. Move petals around a flower to move a blue circle until it aligns with the center of the flower. Rating: 2
H. Connection puzzle. Rotate eighteen (18) tokens to create a path for light to reach the center of the grid. Rating: 2/3
I. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a potion for our Rose by following directions. Rating: 1
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens with notes upon them so that the notes mesh with those on a piano. After you finish, you are serenaded by a Christmas song. Rating: 1
C. Sequence puzzle. Move a dial to symbols matching those on a given code to open a box. Rating: 1
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens to restore a picture. The image is divided into two segments and you can only work with once half of the image at one time. Rating: 2
E. Assembly puzzle. Switch four (4) levers to switch and rearrange the tracks so that three (3) brightly colored trains reach their corresponding colored stations Rating: 2
F. Checkers puzzle. Jump over a group of holly berry sprigs on a blue and red checkered grid. Only move onto the blue squares until only one holly berry sprig remains. Rating: 2
G. Centering puzzle. Move petals around a flower to move a blue circle until it aligns with the center of the flower. Rating: 2
H. Connection puzzle. Rotate eighteen (18) tokens to create a path for light to reach the center of the grid. Rating: 2/3
I. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a potion for our Rose by following directions. Rating: 1
I recommend this game!
When the clock strikes, London shall burn!
Overall rating
5
/
5
161 of 233 found this review helpful
A FANTASTIC “TIMELESS” GAME WITH A WONDERFUL SURPRISE BONUS CHAPTER!
PostedNovember 30, 2017
sunnyglow
fromPlaying the chapter in the circus reminded me of “Madame Fate.” I feel she may be lurking somewhere in that circus. I also wonder if the gypsy fortune teller is her daughter.
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 – Playing Time: 4 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter- Strategy Guide: 47 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter- Strategy Guide: 47 Pages
OVERVIEW: Celebrate! Sleuth back in time Detective and return to 1859 Victorian London for the unveiling of Big Ben! Also celebrate this fantastic game from 4 Friends which contains a surprise bonus chapter! This game was an automatic purchase for me. It is a vast improvement for this developer. To me, this game is a HOP lover’s dream game; however, there are quite a few great puzzles within the game as well. The pace is excellent with many activities and movement within the game. Travel throughout London with the realistic look of dark graphics of fog-filled London contrasted with that of the garish colors of the circus chapter. The story is excellent – playing on the theme of the vengeful “Headless Horseman” from Washington Irving. As you delve further into the game, you will uncover some current social issues as well relating to women’s roles in society which makes this game socially relevant as well.
You collect dominoes and morphing objects. Both are easy to locate and there is a bar at the left side of the screen to indicate if you have located all of them in each scene. You also receive a case book in which to place the evidence you collect. This is the first game in some time which has a couple of new puzzles not seen in other games. The HOP scenes are creatively designed. You can also replay some HOP scenes and some puzzles.
NEW IS ALWAYS REFRESHING: This developer provides some fresh approaches within this game. You get a device, an All-Seeing Eye to indicate when you will need to engage in some Sherlock Holmes-esque type deduction. However, unlike playing a puzzle, you play a mini-HIOP scene instead. I feel this was a better fit for this type of game rather than the usual puzzles such as some type of Match-3 game which are just thrown into the mix. The HOP scenes fit nicely into the deduction process of the game. There are some puzzles within this game as well – at least I have not seen them in other games. There are also some new twists to the HOP scenes.
STORY: Celebrate the unveiling of Big Ben. However, fogging up the celebration and dampening the spirits of the London society is the appearance of the “Headless Clockman.” Feeding off their superstitions, a crazed person is creating terror throughout London. The victims of this crazed person are the organizers of the event. Blackmarks appear on the hands in the shape of a skull before some tragic event befalls them. However, are all the tragic events divine inspired or the work of an illusionist? And why? Someone is out for revenge. Someone has engineered and masterminded a plot to destroy the festivities and Big Ben itself – but who and why?
BONUS CHAPTER: HUSH THIS IS A SURPRISE AND WELL WORTH IT! This Bonus game veers into a whole new direction. From what I have played I do believe most will love this little Easter egg and it is well worth the purchase price to play this extra chapter. It may not be an Easter egg, but it will certainly get you into the holiday spirit. Bah humbug you say? No, not really. The story, from what I have played, is well-written and has all the goodies as the main game. And 4 Friends did bless us everyone with this bonus chapter.
HOP SCENES: In the main game there are thirty (30) HOP scenes. They vary in style. You will play a HOP scene when you need to make deductions about a scene. An All-Seeing Eye will light up featuring a HOP scene in which to gather evidence. There are also some multiple-step ones. Many are very creative in design. There are a few panoramic scenes as well in which you must move the scene to locate items. After the demo, most of the scenes in the middle-part of the game are mini-HOP scenes in which you search for a small amount of one item. In many of these scenes, you must also locate pieces to recreate some evidence such as a picture. There are some beautiful storybook scenes in which you search for items within the page of the storybook. My favorite was toward the end of the game. You search for items on two large bells. In one scene you match up Zodiac signs with their symbols and in the other you search for animals. All the scenes are standard ones seen before, silhouette, lists of items, and matching. There is a well-designed one with cryptic clues as well.
PUZZLES: From what I could count there are twenty-five (25) puzzles in the main game. They are creatively designed and vary in style and difficulty. Here are some of the puzzles after the demo:
A. Switching gears. Gear puzzle. Variation of a gear puzzle in which you switch and rotate gears to restore an image. Unique.
B. Where is Daphne du Maurier when you need her? We need help with “Rebecca.” Assembly puzzle. Spell out the name “Rebecca” on a crazy typewriter so that the letters are in the proper position. The order of the letters is not linear.
C. Twist me Turn me - Bas Relief puzzle. Move four (4) parts of a bas relief into position using arrows to turn the figures to line up with their slots. After setting the arrows, push a button to move all four at one time into position If they are not turned to the correct position you must begin again.
D. Where is Chopin when you need him? Complete three (3) bas relief images which contain “holes” where a portion of an image should be. This creative little ditty requires you to press piano keys which have stamped patterns until you complete the imagery for all three images.
E. Digital Age – 1859! Anachronistic tomfoolery! Set a digital code to stop the bomb. Move arrows to create the digital numbers.
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
23 Achievements – Some have 3 parts
Collect 28 Dominoes
31 Morphing objects
Replay 20 HOP scenes and 16 Puzzles
7 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music, Videos
B. Where is Daphne du Maurier when you need her? We need help with “Rebecca.” Assembly puzzle. Spell out the name “Rebecca” on a crazy typewriter so that the letters are in the proper position. The order of the letters is not linear.
C. Twist me Turn me - Bas Relief puzzle. Move four (4) parts of a bas relief into position using arrows to turn the figures to line up with their slots. After setting the arrows, push a button to move all four at one time into position If they are not turned to the correct position you must begin again.
D. Where is Chopin when you need him? Complete three (3) bas relief images which contain “holes” where a portion of an image should be. This creative little ditty requires you to press piano keys which have stamped patterns until you complete the imagery for all three images.
E. Digital Age – 1859! Anachronistic tomfoolery! Set a digital code to stop the bomb. Move arrows to create the digital numbers.
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
23 Achievements – Some have 3 parts
Collect 28 Dominoes
31 Morphing objects
Replay 20 HOP scenes and 16 Puzzles
7 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music, Videos
I recommend this game!
Can you restore balance to the world tree in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
62 of 129 found this review helpful
ANOTHER TEDIOUS JOURNEY TO THE NINE WORLDS
PostedNovember 25, 2017
sunnyglow
fromHopefully Thor will soon arrive, restore the Nine worlds, restore Asgard to its former glory, and close the doors on this boring game series sending it to Valhalla or Fólkvangr.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
OVERVIEW: Skol! Welcome fellow travelers! Return to the nine (9) Worlds of Asgard for a second adventure. This is a beautifully illustrated game, a fantasy game come-to-life. EIPIX put a great of effort in providing graphics which portray a realistic-looking fantasy world. Enjoy a Smorgasbord of numerous characters in this fantasy game. Collect signs and morphing objects as in all their games. Being of Norse heritage, I was pumped up for this new game, full of the promise and excitement – then, in my dream game world of Nordic gods, elves, dwarves, and noble maidens, something happened!
MY SNOOZE ALARM WENT OFF: Dashed from Valhalla, falling to earth, I woke up to the reality of the poor game mechanics behind this game. To me, this game is a real “snooze.” Within the short demo, I found the pace very slow due to the lack of activities. To me, there is too much dialogue and flitting to-and-fro around the first world. It may be better after the demo, however, with the limited amount of activity, the complicated story, and lackluster puzzles and HOP scenes, it will be a pass for me. There is nothing in this demo which inspired me to purchase it. The demo is short; however, I was ready for it to end. I would have given this game only two stars if not for the graphics. However, beautiful graphics cannot compensate for a poorly crafted game. You may enjoy it, but I think I will leave this romp through the trees.
COMING SOON - A CAST OF THOUSANDS. EIPIX has transformed their latest games from single-story to serial ones with new stories developed within the framework of one central theme. This may be fantastic for books, but for HOP games, I am not so certain. At the beginning of these serial games, EIPIX regurgitates all the facts from the previous game. Personally, I really don’t care what happened in the last episode. The characters from the previous games also return and with each successive episode more characters are added. I can envision this series becoming a mega-fiasco. The story line is too complex for a HOP game and for the past two games, the activities are minimal. I hate complex serial games. EIPIX now has two running series which accumulate characters as they continue down the serial primrose path.
STORY: You and your fellow companions will face yet another crisis in this kingdom - the disappearance of the four stags. These are no ordinary stags, they are the foundation of the Tree of Life. Their disappearance has tipped the balance of the Tree of Life and threatens to destroy Asgard. You will enter four of the nine worlds to locate the stags, encountering enemy forces and peril at every turn. This sounds like an exciting adventure, right? Well, maybe not. By the end of the slow-paced demo, I was looking for Odin to open the gates to lead me out of Asgard.
HOP SCENES: It is difficult to assess a game with only four (4) scenes. There are two standard silhouette scenes, one storybook scene with items listed in bold letters and one list of items. They are beautiful in appearance, but are the same ones seen in other games. Nothing sets these scenes apart from others from this developer. They are standard fare.
PUZZLES. Again, with only four (4) puzzles it is difficult to assess the quality of the puzzles. The puzzles are easy within the demo. I found no puzzle which I have not seen a dozen or more times before. The puzzles are standard fare seen in many other games.
LEVELS: Viking, Marauder, Berserker, Valkryrie
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
13 Achievements
Collect 34 Signs
15 Morphing objects
Replay 116 Puzzles and 15 HOP scenes
8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art, Videos, Music, Souvenir Room
Map is provided as you play the game
13 Achievements
Collect 34 Signs
15 Morphing objects
Replay 116 Puzzles and 15 HOP scenes
8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art, Videos, Music, Souvenir Room
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) List of items. (B) Silhouette (C) Storybook. (D) Multiple step. (1) Silhouette. Move to three (3) different scenes to locate animal tracks. (2) Silhouette. Locate plants.
(A) List of items. (B) Silhouette (C) Storybook. (D) Multiple step. (1) Silhouette. Move to three (3) different scenes to locate animal tracks. (2) Silhouette. Locate plants.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Sequence puzzle. Choose between the companions’ pictures as to the correct sequence in which they attack a beastie. Trial and error Rating: 1
B. Connection puzzle. Connect flowers with runes associated with them by ambling through the sinuous path of the stems which connect with the runes. Rating: 2
C. Multiple step. (1) Matching puzzle. Match up roots and stones to ascend to the top of a well. (2) Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order. Rating: 2
D. Sequence puzzle. Beginning with a given rune, connect the other runes in sequential order. Rating: 1
A. Sequence puzzle. Choose between the companions’ pictures as to the correct sequence in which they attack a beastie. Trial and error Rating: 1
B. Connection puzzle. Connect flowers with runes associated with them by ambling through the sinuous path of the stems which connect with the runes. Rating: 2
C. Multiple step. (1) Matching puzzle. Match up roots and stones to ascend to the top of a well. (2) Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order. Rating: 2
D. Sequence puzzle. Beginning with a given rune, connect the other runes in sequential order. Rating: 1
I recommend this game!
Can you stop the Revenant before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
213 of 327 found this review helpful
A SOAPY GAME OUT FOR REVENGE AGAINST THE NAYSAYERS
PostedNovember 20, 2017
sunnyglow
fromHappy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the week with the traditional MCF feast! And -there is NO turkey on this year’s menu.
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: Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes Main Game
6 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy guide: 37 Pages
6 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy guide: 37 Pages
Happy MCF Day! For many of us, this is an annual event. It is a bloody red-letter day signaling the end of the creepy avalanche of fall games and beginning of the holiday season with its sugary delights. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is a day on our calendar marked with a BIG RED X – to mark the advent of another mystery to solve with help from Her Majesty’s oh-so-secret detectives.
In this case, Detective, Her Majesty is sending you to Vermont to investigate murders in a which may be supernatural in nature. Small town American life is hiding behind the scenes of this game. There is a serial killer, the Revenant behind these murders. Revenge has brought forth the Revenant, but why? And who is this supernatural killer? Get ready as well for another American tradition – soap operas! This soapy little game will keep you in suspense until the end. Okay, now you are on your own as to the story. Can’t and won’t give you any more info. Half the fun of playing an MCF game is rambling through the scenes searching for clues to ferret out what is happening.
HOW DOES IT STACK UP? For me this is not the best game in the series, but not the worst either. However, it is better than I expected after playing the beta months ago. After the demo, the game kicks into gear with better puzzles and a story which has some twists and turns as it goes along. And yes, the Soaps have invaded MCF. This game reminded me of “Days of our Lives” sprinkled with a dash of horror. The graphics are realistic and well-portray small-town America. Snoopy Marge Hale is indicative of every small-town gossip. The puzzles get much better after the demo. (See the samples from the game). The only disappointment for me were the HOP scenes. I do believe, there should have been more pizzazz added to the HOP scenes within this game. You collect piles of leaves and lore cards in the main game. Then you search for fragmented letters in the bonus chapter. There are morphing objects and you can replay some of the puzzles and HOP scenes. However, I do not understand why EIPIX would provide so many of the standard lists of items scenes for replay
BONUS CHAPTER: You deserve a break today – so why not get away to Maya’s Roadside Hotel. The bonus chapter has nothing to do with the main story. I did not play the entire chapter, but it is promising and appears as good as the main game. In this game spend a little dad and daughter time together!
HOP SCENES: Boring! Sorry to use this word – would you prefer redundant? There are fifteen (15) in the main game. There are not many within the entire game. The HOP scenes are disappointing. This is the only part of the game I disliked. Most of the puzzles in the main game are lists of items. I got tired of searching for items. The good thing is that there are not many of them. The bad thing is that they are standard- without any interactivity. There were a few silhouette ones. There is also a multiple-step one as well.
PUZZLES: EIPIX put their goodies in the puzzles. There are twenty-six puzzles (26) in the main game. There is quite a variety as well. In my opinion, they are not as masterfully crafted as in other games; however, they vary in variety and difficulty. EIPIX did put some easier ones in this game. And a BIG THANK YOU to EIPIX for providing easy to follow directions on the puzzles. Good job, dev!
HURRAH FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND RUBE-GOLDBERG! Let us salute EIPIX for the inclusion of four (4) Rube Goldberg puzzles. They are easier than in other games from this series. They are well-crafted and are easy to maneuver.
Here are a few samples of what you can expect after the demo:
A. Stuck in 5th gear. Simon Says rev up that engine! Using a stick shift, shift the gear into position according to directions given. Easy
B. Mathematical puzzle. Expecting? Yes, a baby doll in this puzzle. Change the numbers on three markers so that their total equals those on the two eyes of a baby doll.
C. Pinball Wizard! Geometry rocks! Direct a ball through a pinball machine using the side clickers to set the angles for the ball to reach the exit. The object – remove the ball from the machine in a slot at the upper right of the diagram.
D. Dance the night away. Just Dance by following the dance steps without missing a beat!
E. Going in Circles: Maze puzzle. Set up a path for a red pin to go through from one end to the other to unlock a lock. You must move a circular wheel in the middle to establish the paths.
A. Stuck in 5th gear. Simon Says rev up that engine! Using a stick shift, shift the gear into position according to directions given. Easy
B. Mathematical puzzle. Expecting? Yes, a baby doll in this puzzle. Change the numbers on three markers so that their total equals those on the two eyes of a baby doll.
C. Pinball Wizard! Geometry rocks! Direct a ball through a pinball machine using the side clickers to set the angles for the ball to reach the exit. The object – remove the ball from the machine in a slot at the upper right of the diagram.
D. Dance the night away. Just Dance by following the dance steps without missing a beat!
E. Going in Circles: Maze puzzle. Set up a path for a red pin to go through from one end to the other to unlock a lock. You must move a circular wheel in the middle to establish the paths.
LEVELS: Casual, Medium, Hard, Custom
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
Timer available You are timed
20 Achievements
Collect 10 piles of leaves. There is a bar to indicate if there is this type of item within a scene.
Collect 9 Lore Cards and 5 Fragmented Letters
16 Morphing objects
Replay 15 HOP Scenes and 10 Puzzles
8 Wallpapers, Music, Videos
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
Timer available You are timed
20 Achievements
Collect 10 piles of leaves. There is a bar to indicate if there is this type of item within a scene.
Collect 9 Lore Cards and 5 Fragmented Letters
16 Morphing objects
Replay 15 HOP Scenes and 10 Puzzles
8 Wallpapers, Music, Videos
I recommend this game!
The city is being taken over by dark forces!
Overall rating
5
/
5
121 of 162 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO A MAGIC KINGDOM FILLED WITH PURPLE TREES AND WIZARDRY
PostedNovember 18, 2017
sunnyglow
fromDid a singing Prince ever live in this castle within a forest of purple trees? And If they had purple trees, did they have “purple rain” as well?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Welcome to a fairy tale land full of magic, potions and purple trees! This is a beautifully illustrated game. This review is based on the quality of the game, not my personal preference. It should appeal to fairy tale game enthusiasts. It is an easy-breezy game which is also easy to navigate. With some adult assistance, this would be a great game for children. As in most games dealing with magic, you accumulate spells and potions to be used throughout the game. In the demo you receive a healing spell which is used consistently throughout the demo to heal people. It appears there will be more spells to collect throughout the game. There are morphing objects which are easy to locate. The collectibles are tokens which appear as blue wisps. This game is full of whimsy with mythical creatures and story based on treachery. As you traverse the game, enjoy a ride on a saddled chicken through a forest of purple trees.
THANKS, BOOLAT - NO HELPERS! From the demo it appears there are no helpers within this game. This game stands on its own merit without gimmicks. There are spells and potions; however, they are a logical addition to the game. I do like this game and I would have purchased it if had more activities and at least one challenging puzzle.
STORY: Apprentice wizard! Your mentor, Regis, Master Wizard and counsel to King Altus has been condemned to death for his attempt to murder the King! However, is he being framed for a crime he did not commit? Discover who is behind the assassination attempt. It is rumored that the king is under the influence of dark magic. The king is a widower with two sons. One of his sons, Valen, killed his brother and was banished by his father from the kingdom. Could Valen be behind this treachery? Locate the source of the treachery all while trying to save Rowena, the guardian of the forest – who is withering away.
HOP SCENES: It appears that there will be either more HOP scenes or an equal number of HOP scenes and puzzles. They are beautifully illustrated and creatively designed. There are quite a variety as well. The demo includes seven (7) scenes. Included is a FROG at the beginning of the game. There are storybook scenes in which you locate items listed in BOLD letters. There are couple of multiple-step ones as well. There is a rebus scene and a few mini-HOP scenes to locate a small amount of one item.
PUZZLES: The puzzles in the beginning are extremely easy. Toward the end of the demo, they were slightly harder, although I did not find any which were difficult. Included in the demo are a matching puzzle, moving tiles puzzle, a slider puzzle, a mathematical puzzle and a weights and balance puzzle. There is an amusing puzzle in which you ride a chicken through the kingdom all while avoiding obstacles in your path.
LEVELS: Casual, Normal, Expert, Custom
Hints and Skips: 10 to 120 seconds
Hints and Skips: 10 to 120 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
Get glyphs to perform magical healing,
20 Achievements
Collect 90 tokens
There are 14 morphing flowers to collect
Replay 21 Puzzles and 19 HOP scenes
9 Wallpapers, 18 Concept Art, Videos, Music
Map is provided as you play the game
Get glyphs to perform magical healing,
20 Achievements
Collect 90 tokens
There are 14 morphing flowers to collect
Replay 21 Puzzles and 19 HOP scenes
9 Wallpapers, 18 Concept Art, Videos, Music
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) FROG. Collect pieces to construct an inventory item. There is a mini-puzzle in which you move books to restore an image created by the books. (B) Storybook. Locate items listed in BOLD letters. (C) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 7 sticks and twigs (D) Multiple step. (1) Matching. Match up gloves (2) List of items (E) Storybook. Locate items listed in BOLD YELLOW letters. (F) Mini-puzzle. Locate 7 pieces to open a chest. (G) Multiple step. (1) Locate 12 pearls and two obscure items in a pond scene. (2) Rebus clues.
(A) FROG. Collect pieces to construct an inventory item. There is a mini-puzzle in which you move books to restore an image created by the books. (B) Storybook. Locate items listed in BOLD letters. (C) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 7 sticks and twigs (D) Multiple step. (1) Matching. Match up gloves (2) List of items (E) Storybook. Locate items listed in BOLD YELLOW letters. (F) Mini-puzzle. Locate 7 pieces to open a chest. (G) Multiple step. (1) Locate 12 pearls and two obscure items in a pond scene. (2) Rebus clues.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult.
A. Matching. Match up runes. Rating: 1
B. Moving tiles. Move colored tiles so that they end up on a space of the same color.
C. Sequence puzzle. Click on runes on the outside of both sides of a shield, repositioning them so that they are in sequential order – matching the rune which is next to them. Rating: 1
D. Slider puzzle. Slide tiles up-and-down and right-and-left to restore a picture. Rating: 2
E. Weights and Balances puzzle. Distribute weights evenly by moving items of varying weights until the weight balance is equal on both sides. Rating: 2
F. Chicken race. Ride a chicken (I kid you not) and turn right or left according to arrows to arrive at a forest.
G. Geometric puzzle. Switch mirrors to angle light to connect two sets of like colored crystals with each other. Rating: 2
H. Switch puzzle. Move tokens and swap them so that the two pairs of a tree match. Rating: 2
A. Matching. Match up runes. Rating: 1
B. Moving tiles. Move colored tiles so that they end up on a space of the same color.
C. Sequence puzzle. Click on runes on the outside of both sides of a shield, repositioning them so that they are in sequential order – matching the rune which is next to them. Rating: 1
D. Slider puzzle. Slide tiles up-and-down and right-and-left to restore a picture. Rating: 2
E. Weights and Balances puzzle. Distribute weights evenly by moving items of varying weights until the weight balance is equal on both sides. Rating: 2
F. Chicken race. Ride a chicken (I kid you not) and turn right or left according to arrows to arrive at a forest.
G. Geometric puzzle. Switch mirrors to angle light to connect two sets of like colored crystals with each other. Rating: 2
H. Switch puzzle. Move tokens and swap them so that the two pairs of a tree match. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
After your friend is abducted, can you escape the cemetery?
Overall rating
3
/
5
75 of 155 found this review helpful
AMBUSHING THE KEEPER’S HORSE AND GALLOPING OUT OF THIS GAME
PostedNovember 15, 2017
sunnyglow
fromDing Dong Bell – AMAX fell in the well with this game. This game should have stayed in the land of the dead. I didn’t find anything to “pull” this game out and save it!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Judge for yourself! Shock! That is the best word to describe my reaction to this demo. Nothing in this game tipped the balance in favor of my purchasing it. The game could be better after the demo; however, the “snooze factor” within the demo did not entice me to purchase it. For me, this is the case of a fiasco snatched from the hands of Victory. This game had the potential to be another outstanding game this series, however, for me, it missed the mark.
There is one element I always loved about AMAX games – the graphics. In the past, no matter how poorly constructed the game, one could always enjoy the eye candy. Pretty princesses, handsome men, gorgeous scenery abound in most of this developer’s games. Not in this game! The graphics are blurry in many scenes and many are poorly illustrated! They seem dated as well. The story behind the premise of the game grabbed my interest. Despite its flaws, I would have purchased the game except for the game helper and endless amount of dialogue. It is not a bad game, it is just a poorly constructed one. This could be an outstanding game without the use of the two overused gimmicks. Sometimes, less is more! This game should appeal to those who love this series, those who love bronco-busting Wild West skeletons, high-pitched, freckled-faced damsels in distress or for the individual whose life hangs in the balance!
STORY: Arriving at your doorstep in the dead of night, your friend, Karen, a budding journalist, asking for help in story she is working on. Lights and noises are emanating from the cemetery along with a skeletal horseman, the Keeper of the Cemetery. Upon arrival, Karen is kidnapped, taken to the realm of the dead. You dive into this case by falling into a well, the portal to this world. You are greeted by Drake, a spirit trying to reconcile himself to his brother’s death. He blames himself for his brother’s death. However, what is the real story behind this brotherly duo? What is Dwayne hiding? You have a limited amount of time to solve the case, save Karen, and both of you leave the world of the dead or you both may be stuck there forever.
RIDDLE ME THIS: WHY DID AMAX ADD A RAVEN HELPER? “BE-CAWS” THEY “KAN”(SAS). Corny enough for you? I just bet AMAX picked up this “BIG old crow” from some Kansas corn field. Kansas corn fields seem to be the latest haunt for our developers nowadays. A murder of crows must have tagged along with Dorothy, Toto and all those other Kansans making their way to Emerald City (Seattle). They now have acting gigs in many BFG games. Our raven is used as the eyes and eyes for the Keeper of the Cemetery. I do believe the Keeper could have restored his sight. This helper raven is not needed, and for me, he detracts from the game
YOU WANT RICE OR NOODLES? Playing this demo made me hungry and created an intense desire for Chinese food. Pick A or B in this game – incessantly! Slowing down the pace of the game is the onslaught of choices of actions and dialogues. You must choose between two options in dialogue and actions to affect the outcome of the game. This is an excellent device which AMAX has used in other games; however, it overused in this game. The choice between options is key to the collectibles in the game. However, I found that pace slows down excessively by this device. I got tired of choosing between two dialogues and two actions repeatedly within the short demo.
HOP SCENES: There are only three (3) in the demo. Most of these involve locating a small number of one item. There is one scene which panoramic giving you a 3-dimensional view of the scene to locate dangerous beasts.
PUZZLES: There are only five (5) in the demo and they are easy. There is not a brain crusher in the bunch. However, it is difficult to assess the game with only five (5) puzzles. Three are physical puzzles involving hand/eye coordination. The other two are a very easy logic puzzle and a moving tiles puzzle which involves bells instead of tiles.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
Hints and Skips: 10 to 90 seconds
Hints and Skips: 10 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
12 Achievements
Replay 18 Puzzles and 17 HOP scenes
Collect 50 Order Levels and 50 Chaos Levels – You are being judged on your behavior. Be good!
10 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art, 9 Screensavers, Music, 19 Videos
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
12 Achievements
Replay 18 Puzzles and 17 HOP scenes
Collect 50 Order Levels and 50 Chaos Levels – You are being judged on your behavior. Be good!
10 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art, 9 Screensavers, Music, 19 Videos
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) Find 12 differences between two photos. Not listed as a puzzle but more puzzle-like than a HOP scene. (B) Locate 12 clock parts. (C) Locate 13 dangerous creatures. Panoramic view. Move the cursor to get a 360 view of the scene.
(A) Find 12 differences between two photos. Not listed as a puzzle but more puzzle-like than a HOP scene. (B) Locate 12 clock parts. (C) Locate 13 dangerous creatures. Panoramic view. Move the cursor to get a 360 view of the scene.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Blind as a bat. Using a circle of light, traverse the scene clicking and picking off nasty bats you see. Rating: 1
B. A skull full of mush. Moving tiles puzzle. Pull down a series of 5 skulls onto a hole in the window within each one’s column. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 1
C. Did you get hit with an ugly stick Mr. Rabbit? Engage in a battle scene with an ugly skeletal rabbit. Follow a light on a diagram and when it turns green on a part of the rabbit’s body, click on the corresponding part of the rabbit.
D. Darn lyin’ bird. Logic problem. Remedy a code to open the cage to a skeletal bird by reading two sentences and then changing the placement of tokens on the locked cage.
E. Go fish. Obstacle course. Use a fishing line to get the key up the wall of the well while avoiding all obstacles in its path. Rating 1
A. Blind as a bat. Using a circle of light, traverse the scene clicking and picking off nasty bats you see. Rating: 1
B. A skull full of mush. Moving tiles puzzle. Pull down a series of 5 skulls onto a hole in the window within each one’s column. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 1
C. Did you get hit with an ugly stick Mr. Rabbit? Engage in a battle scene with an ugly skeletal rabbit. Follow a light on a diagram and when it turns green on a part of the rabbit’s body, click on the corresponding part of the rabbit.
D. Darn lyin’ bird. Logic problem. Remedy a code to open the cage to a skeletal bird by reading two sentences and then changing the placement of tokens on the locked cage.
E. Go fish. Obstacle course. Use a fishing line to get the key up the wall of the well while avoiding all obstacles in its path. Rating 1
I recommend this game!
Help the penguins decorate for a wedding ceremony in this latest mosaic adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 56 found this review helpful
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE WEDDING OF UNCLE AARON
PostedNovember 13, 2017
sunnyglow
fromDoes Uncle Aaron need to rent a tuxedo for the wedding, or is he properly attired in his own “penguin suit?”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: All dressed up in his “penguin suit,” Uncle Aaron is ready to tie the knot with the future Aunt Una. You are invited to the wedding; however, your help is needed to help decorate for the wedding. Play a series of nonograms to get all those needed wedding supplies.
What a wonderful Monday surprise! A BIG THANK you to BFG for offering a game in one of my favorite genres. This is another excellent 5-star game from Match Gems. have played every game in the series and this game is designed exactly like the others.
I LOVE these games and Match Gems is one of the BEST developers for this type of game. This puzzle has many different names (AKA O’Ekaki, Griddlers, Paint-by-Numbers, Pic-a-Pix, Nonograms or whatever you call them); however, no matter the name, they are a fun puzzle game.
HOW TO PLAY: This is variety of a Sudoku puzzle. In this puzzle, create pictures by filling in squares in a grid. The grids in this game will vary in size. Each side of the grid will have numbers for each line of squares indicating the number of squares which are to be filled in for that row of squares. Squares are filled in where the squares intersect between the two sets of numbers on each side.
GAME FACTS:
• Levels: Casual and Advanced.
• Colors: The game has up to six colored screens which can be switched at any time while playing the puzzle.
• Autofill: There is autofill so you do not have to fill in the unused boxes. However, you can use your mouse to right click “X’s” for unused spaces.
• Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on the difficulty of the puzzle and how well you perform in solving the grid
• Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 100 puzzles – 20 levels with 5 puzzles per level in the game.
• Aids: You have a pickax as an aid in the game
• Awards: There are 3 trophies: a gold trophy for no mistakes, a silver trophy for 1 mistake, and a bronze trophy for two mistakes. If you make 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again.
• Collectibles. When you complete one level of 5 puzzles, you receive decorations for the wedding.
• Colors: The game has up to six colored screens which can be switched at any time while playing the puzzle.
• Autofill: There is autofill so you do not have to fill in the unused boxes. However, you can use your mouse to right click “X’s” for unused spaces.
• Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on the difficulty of the puzzle and how well you perform in solving the grid
• Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 100 puzzles – 20 levels with 5 puzzles per level in the game.
• Aids: You have a pickax as an aid in the game
• Awards: There are 3 trophies: a gold trophy for no mistakes, a silver trophy for 1 mistake, and a bronze trophy for two mistakes. If you make 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again.
• Collectibles. When you complete one level of 5 puzzles, you receive decorations for the wedding.
I highly recommend this game if you like Sudoku games or any type of mathematical puzzle.
I recommend this game!