sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:821
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 27, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The contract must be fulfilled, but your girlfriend will pay the price!
Overall rating
5
/
5
105 of 154 found this review helpful
BRAVO TO MAD HEAD! DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF A MADMAN IN ANOTHER CLASSICAL MASTERPIECE
PostedJanuary 11, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAre you “dancing your life away?” Marrying into this family could give a whole new meaning to that concept!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: With ring in hand, you are off to propose to the love your life, Elaine. However, be prepared for future in-law problems with her violinist brother, Theo. Theo has made a devil’s deal with a crazy masked virtuoso concerning what he refers to as the “Eternal Dance.” He has kidnapped them both. You better act quickly or the first dance for your bride will not be with you but with this masked psycho.
MECHANICS: The story is a play upon the “Phantom of the Opera,” with a masked virtuoso as the evildoer. This is a great game for music lovers with its haunting musical background. The game is beautifully illustrated as all the other games from this developer. It is truly both eye candy and ear candy as well with the haunting melodies played throughout the game. It should appeal to beginning and intermediate players or those who like easy breezy games. However, advanced players, unless you are music aficionados or have a penchant for “Phantom of the Opera,” may find the puzzles a tad too easy. I do like the romantic story behind the game. However, I do wish some of the puzzles were more difficult.
I find the pace decent within the game. For me, what sells this game is the excellent story behind the game. Mad Head is not known for many extras within their games. There is only one collectible within the game – dancing couples. I found them easy to locate.There are morphing objects within the HOP scenes. You can replay some of the HOP scenes. All the achievements have three parts so there are more to collect than in most games. There are no other collectibles nor any game to play in lieu of the HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: This game is a HOP lover’s dream. They are the best part of the demo. There are only three in the demo, but they are better than the puzzles. Beside the lists of items, the other scenes are quite interactive in which you locate items and then return them to the scene, interacting with them within the scene. There is also a mini-puzzle within one of the scenes, a jigsaw puzzle.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are cleverly designed and thematic. However, for the most part, they are all easy – a little too easy for my taste. I wish this developer, along with others, would offer the ability to choose the difficulty of the puzzles. Some developers are now providing this feature and their games are a pleasure to play. It is truly something I think Mad Head should investigate. I also regret that Mad Head does not provide for a replay of the puzzles, although there are probably none which I would wish to replay.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: There is only one puzzle which I felt was somewhat interesting. This puzzle involves chisels with patterned ends. You must align the chisels so when placed upon a grid, each chisel matches up with indentations upon the grid. I have seen this puzzle before, but thought the concept of using chisels a novel idea.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES - PUZZLE ME THIS! I was surprised by the missed opportunities to create puzzles within the game. In one instance, you are given a map to a house on the coast. This would have been a perfect device to offer a map puzzle of some type. Obstacles could have been placed for the player to overcome. Instead, you open the map and watch a car make its way around the map until it ends up at the house. Why the developer did not make this into a map puzzle is to me, a missed opportunity to create a better game.
LEVELS: Novice, Artist, Virtuoso, Maestro, Improviser (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.
10 Achievements – All with 3 parts.
Cryptex – a gimmick to help in the game.
Collect dancing couples.
Replay 14 HOP scenes
There are Morphing objects within the HOP scenes.
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music track
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
10 Achievements – All with 3 parts.
Cryptex – a gimmick to help in the game.
Collect dancing couples.
Replay 14 HOP scenes
There are Morphing objects within the HOP scenes.
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music track
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) Multiple step. (1) List of items (2) Locate and replace items into their proper position on a shelf. (C) Same as B except this one has a mini-jigsaw puzzle.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Sliding rings puzzle. Slide numbered tokens into position so that the two rows of numbers match those of a given code. Rating: 2
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. On a grid, move four musical symbols to the middle of a grid. Rating: 2
C. Match-3 Puzzle. On a “cryptex” match up all jewels so that none remain on the grid. Rating: 2
D. Mathematical puzzle. Turn off valves by adding and subtracting the numbers on the valves so the total equals zero. (Number is 15) Add and subtract those numbers from 15.
E. Search and replace. Search for items and replace them back within the scene in the proper location. Rating: 1
F. Sequence puzzle. Play bells on a door in correct sequence to open it. Rating: 1
G. Matching puzzle. Place chisels in correct alignment so they match up with the shape of the cuts made at the bottom of the screen. Rating: 2
H. Sequence puzzle. Press organ keys in proper sequence to play a melody. Rating: 2
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. On a grid, move four musical symbols to the middle of a grid. Rating: 2
C. Match-3 Puzzle. On a “cryptex” match up all jewels so that none remain on the grid. Rating: 2
D. Mathematical puzzle. Turn off valves by adding and subtracting the numbers on the valves so the total equals zero. (Number is 15) Add and subtract those numbers from 15.
E. Search and replace. Search for items and replace them back within the scene in the proper location. Rating: 1
F. Sequence puzzle. Play bells on a door in correct sequence to open it. Rating: 1
G. Matching puzzle. Place chisels in correct alignment so they match up with the shape of the cuts made at the bottom of the screen. Rating: 2
H. Sequence puzzle. Press organ keys in proper sequence to play a melody. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Can you stop an old evil from wreaking its vengeance?
Overall rating
4
/
5
108 of 157 found this review helpful
ENJOY A VICTORIAN WHODUNIT WITH A TWIST OF THE SUPERNATURAL ON THE SIDE
PostedJanuary 6, 2018
sunnyglow
fromI wonder if the psychic medium’s pendant would work with my cat? Upon returning home, I could hold it up to the sneaky little critter and see what he had been up to while I was gone.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
OVERVIEW: Welcome to Victorian London where a ghost known as the “Man of Shadows” continues his once-in-a-decade murder spree. His victims are descendants of the families who burned this former warlock, Malefic, at the stake. In this Sherlock Holmes-esque whodunit, you play Claire Arlington, a psychic medium, who has been asked by the police to verify that the deaths are murders and not accidental deaths. As you assemble evidence, analyze it and use your extraordinary powers of mediumship, you might discover there is more than meets the eye in this case. Has Malefic arisen from the grave to wrest havoc on his murderers’ descendants or is there more involved in this case?
MECHANICS: This is a bare bones game. It lacks many of the “extras” provided by many other developers; however, with a decent story accentuated with a good pace with plenty of activities, it is one worthy of play. Nevertheless, to me, it is not as good as other collector’s editions. The graphics are beautifully rendered in some scenes and blurry in others. Some of the puzzles are blurry as well - to the point I found two of them difficult to play. This would be a good game to purchase on sale, with a coupon, or as an SE. I feel this would appeal to murder mystery fans and those who like the supernatural.
This main part of the game involves gathering evidence within the scenes. At times you use a gimmicky special all-seeing glass to help you use your psychic abilities to get a supernatural perspective of the scenes. After gathering evidence, you then analyze it through a series of puzzles. There is only one collectible – hidden signs. I found them easy to locate. There are morphing objects (cards) within the HOP scenes as well.
ANACHRONISMS IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE! The game takes place in 1908 London England. You, as hottie Claire, look as if you just stepped off the cover of “Vogue” – in 2018! No Gibson girl up-dos and long, corset-bound frocks for you in 1908! Cars not manufactured until the 1930’s and 1940’s are also found within the scenes along with other items not in existence during that period. However, I realize in the world of quantum mechanics, this view of 1908 Victorian England is vastly different when peering from the alternate universe within the gaming constellation of the Big Fish.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are nondescript. They are indicative of those seen in most HOP games. They are somewhat interactive. They include a couple multiple-step ones with lists of items, but most were storybook and matching. Some of the storybook scenes were poorly constructed and some items were difficult to locate. My favorite were the matching scenes, which I felt were the most creatively designed. There are some mini-HOP scenes as well in which the player looks for a small amount of one item.
PUZZLES: The demo is puzzle-intense. The puzzles, except one at the end of the demo, are better than the HOP scenes and vary in style and design. The beginning puzzles are ridiculously easy; however, they become more challenging later in the game. Some of the imaging is blurry. In one puzzle, the diagram given to set hands on four clocks contained imagery so small I could not make out where the minute and second hands were to be pointed on the clocks.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: Three-dimensional maze puzzle. In this puzzle you must switch tiles on a solid to create a 3-dimensional continuous path. This appears to be a new puzzle. If not, I have never seen this puzzle before.
INCOMPLETE PUZZLE DIRECTIONS! The last puzzle in the demo was impossible for me to solve, so I skipped it! This is not something I normally do as I purchase the games to play the puzzles. I have no idea what this developer wanted me to do in this puzzle. It is an assembly puzzle which requires manipulation of the pieces to combine them and then maneuver the completed unit to the center of the grid. However, there are NO PATHS to the middle of the grid. I tried for an hour (which was way too much time to spend on this puzzle) to figure out how to combine those pieces.
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
Get a talisman as a gimmick to help you in the game see things.
15 Achievements – some with multiple segments
Collect 32 Hidden Signs
10 Morphing objects – cards (you collect these in the HOP scenes)
8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, Music,
Map is provided as you play the game
Get a talisman as a gimmick to help you in the game see things.
15 Achievements – some with multiple segments
Collect 32 Hidden Signs
10 Morphing objects – cards (you collect these in the HOP scenes)
8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, Music,
SPOILER: THERE ARE FIFTEEN PUZZLES IN THE DEMO. THERE ARE TOO MANY TO LIST – SO HERE ARE TEN EXAMPLES IN SEQUENCE:
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate four (4) tiles to restore a pattern. All you need to do is click as the tiles turn green when they are in position. This is a puzzle? Rating .5
B. Sliding tiles puzzle. Move four (4) colored tokens to their appropriate colored box. The tokens can only move according to the direction of the arrow. The direction changes when the tokens move over arrows. Rating: 2
C. Move four (4) colored chains into matching colored slots. Rating: 2
D. Obstacle puzzle. Remove four (4) bars from a grid which are blocked with metal stays. Press on the stays to move them up-and-down (moving one, moves the others) and eliminate the bars from the grid. Rating: 2
Following three matching puzzles are used to analyze evidence:
E. Matching puzzle. Match up six bottles with the proper labels. Rating: 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up images under tokens to restore a picture. Rating: 1
G. Matching puzzle. Choose the proper picture which coincides with evidence given. Rating: 1
H. Switch puzzle. Switch lines on a three-dimensional figure so that the paths outlined one each plane of the figure are connected. Unique puzzle. Rating: 2
I. Jigsaw puzzle. Switching between two sets of tiles available, restore a picture of a crime scene. Switch between blue light and red light. Half of the tiles are available at one time to switch. Rating: 2
J. Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move puzzle pieces to recreate a figure in the center of the grid. I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE. NOT ENOUGH DIRECTION GIVEN!
A. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate four (4) tiles to restore a pattern. All you need to do is click as the tiles turn green when they are in position. This is a puzzle? Rating .5
B. Sliding tiles puzzle. Move four (4) colored tokens to their appropriate colored box. The tokens can only move according to the direction of the arrow. The direction changes when the tokens move over arrows. Rating: 2
C. Move four (4) colored chains into matching colored slots. Rating: 2
D. Obstacle puzzle. Remove four (4) bars from a grid which are blocked with metal stays. Press on the stays to move them up-and-down (moving one, moves the others) and eliminate the bars from the grid. Rating: 2
Following three matching puzzles are used to analyze evidence:
E. Matching puzzle. Match up six bottles with the proper labels. Rating: 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up images under tokens to restore a picture. Rating: 1
G. Matching puzzle. Choose the proper picture which coincides with evidence given. Rating: 1
H. Switch puzzle. Switch lines on a three-dimensional figure so that the paths outlined one each plane of the figure are connected. Unique puzzle. Rating: 2
I. Jigsaw puzzle. Switching between two sets of tiles available, restore a picture of a crime scene. Switch between blue light and red light. Half of the tiles are available at one time to switch. Rating: 2
J. Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move puzzle pieces to recreate a figure in the center of the grid. I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE. NOT ENOUGH DIRECTION GIVEN!
I recommend this game!
A vacation becomes a nightmare as you’re forced into an impossible game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
117 of 181 found this review helpful
A WONDERFUL BEGINNING TO 2018! ROLL THE DICE AND ENTER A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE GAME
PostedJanuary 3, 2018
sunnyglow
fromI am now a "pawn" to Domini's superb games! Once I begin playing this developer's games, I find myself entrapped, not able to pull myself away until it is finished!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE MAIN GAME – Time: 4 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 57 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 57 Pages
What would you do for the one you love, your friend, or even a family member? Roll the dice and venture headlong into a game in which you must escape or forfeit your life. After your friend, Christine, is absorbed within a game, your quest to rescue her finds you captured as well. Time is of an essence in this game as a madman, Charles, has trapped you within it. You must win at all costs or you and your friend will be find that this game will be your last! This is a fast-paced adventure game with plenty of activities to keep you entertained. The developer delivers a wondrous philosophical adventure well worth the price. As the scouts always state, “Be Prepared!” This game is a long trek into the fields of imagination! Job well-done Domini!
JUMANJI MEETS LORD OF THE RINGS! To me, this game is a trek through the colorful jungles of Jumanji with characters from “Lord of the Rings” including elven folk, dwarves, trolls, and dragons. All these creatures live in this game - the Game of the Three Worlds. There is even a ring to be found “my pretty” within this game. The graphics are phenomenal. Although this is a dark-themed game, the scenes are filled with lush colors throughout. I do think the game is a good one for teens, those who love adventure games, puzzle lovers, and even those who love fairy tale games.
FLOATING CHARACTERS: Like ships passing in the night, within this game, you will meet a host of characters which just disappear! I would love to know what happened to some of those characters. You meet Leanne, a fellow gamer, but she stays with you for two scenes and POOF! She disappears! Please don’t introduce characters and leave them stranded within the pages (and jungles) of this game!
BONUS CHAPTER: I did not complete the bonus chapter. I plan to finish it up in the next couple days. It is a logical and good sequel to this game. Enter the Elven kingdom and try to help restore order to the Three Kingdoms. From what I have played, the puzzles and HOP scenes are consistent in excellence with the main game.
MECHANICS: This game provides three collectibles. There are fourteen (14) cards of the characters from the game, twelve (12) artifacts, and sixty-three (63) gold nuggets. There are three indicators on the inventory bar which shine brightly if one of these is to be found within a scene. To me, this is a nice touch! I found the collectibles easy to locate. There are many achievements (32) within the game. You can also replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes and twenty (20 puzzles) as well. You can also select the difficulty of the puzzles within the game menu; however, if you do change your mind, you can change the difficulty for puzzle when you play it. It is truly these small details which make Domini the developer to beat!
HOP SCENES: Domini has a couple of new concepts for HOP scenes within this game. There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes (including mini-HOP scenes) in the main game. The others for replay are in the bonus section. They include the normal list of items, silhouette, and storybook scenes. I found the scenes in this game to be more interactive than in some of their past games. Although there are no puzzles within the HOP scenes, you are required to search for items in which to interact with the scenes.
NEW HOP CONCEPT: Within this game is a new HOP scene I have not seen in other games. It requires to player to search for an item, use the item to interact with the scene, and then find the silhouette matching the final action to remove the silhouette.
PUZZLES: As usual, Domini has more puzzles than HOP scenes within their games. This is a puzzle-lover’s dream! There are thirty-one (31) puzzles in the main game. Most are exquisite and well-designed. There are others in the bonus chapter as well. I do wish Domini would provide more of their puzzles to replay; although I do like the selection they have provided. There are so many unique puzzles within the game, I could only comment on the few I chose. There are some new elements in some of their puzzles. I found the instructions concise and easy to follow on even the most difficult ones. There is one puzzle I consider the BEST INNOVATIVE PUZZLE in some time: Here are samples of SOME of the puzzles AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Bulls-eye puzzle. A unique application of this puzzle. Using an arrow, pinpoint the direction you wish to bomb and destroy some elephant tusks (I think they are elephant tusks) then click on the green bar to detonate them. You have only four (4) chances to knock out all the tusks.
B. Switch puzzle. On a rope with six hanging segmented tubes, switch the segments of the tubes so that each tube has the appropriate segments which match by design.
C. Assembly puzzle. In a unique approach to this puzzle, restore an amulet by placing the pieces into their proper location. However, in this case, you must turn the amulet – NOT the pieces to match them up to the location.
D. Matching puzzle. Arrange runes on two sides of a stone tablet so that each rune matches up with the rune across from it on the tablet.
E. Moving marbles puzzle. Move four sets of colored marbles to their appropriate location on a circular grid. Use a rotating collector to collect and disperse the marbles to the right location
F. BEST NEW INNOVATIVE PUZZLE! Mathematical puzzle. Use three tokens which can be moved to numbers upon a clock. The number upon which it rests (1-12) will move one of the clock hands a certain amount of spaces. Colored tokens must be placed on the number next to the hand of the same color to move it. Your aim is to move the clock hands to match a given time. Such a neat puzzle. I am very impressed!
G. Sequence puzzle. An oldie but goodie. Remove iron bars in sequence from a grid. The bars are interlocked with each other.
H. Strategy puzzle. Use arrows to move up and down and sideways to collect seashells while avoiding fish in your path.
I. Final toughie. Mathematical puzzle. Angle beams of light so they connect with their matching colored beam. Not for the weak of heart! Moving the colored lights may also move others as well so they will not stay in place after you have centered them. Good luck!
B. Switch puzzle. On a rope with six hanging segmented tubes, switch the segments of the tubes so that each tube has the appropriate segments which match by design.
C. Assembly puzzle. In a unique approach to this puzzle, restore an amulet by placing the pieces into their proper location. However, in this case, you must turn the amulet – NOT the pieces to match them up to the location.
D. Matching puzzle. Arrange runes on two sides of a stone tablet so that each rune matches up with the rune across from it on the tablet.
E. Moving marbles puzzle. Move four sets of colored marbles to their appropriate location on a circular grid. Use a rotating collector to collect and disperse the marbles to the right location
F. BEST NEW INNOVATIVE PUZZLE! Mathematical puzzle. Use three tokens which can be moved to numbers upon a clock. The number upon which it rests (1-12) will move one of the clock hands a certain amount of spaces. Colored tokens must be placed on the number next to the hand of the same color to move it. Your aim is to move the clock hands to match a given time. Such a neat puzzle. I am very impressed!
G. Sequence puzzle. An oldie but goodie. Remove iron bars in sequence from a grid. The bars are interlocked with each other.
H. Strategy puzzle. Use arrows to move up and down and sideways to collect seashells while avoiding fish in your path.
I. Final toughie. Mathematical puzzle. Angle beams of light so they connect with their matching colored beam. Not for the weak of heart! Moving the colored lights may also move others as well so they will not stay in place after you have centered them. Good luck!
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
32 Achievements
Collect 14 Cards of characters in the game, 12 Artifacts, and 63 Gold nuggets
Replay 18 HOP Scenes and 20 Puzzles
21 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art, Videos, Music
Map is provided as you play the game
32 Achievements
Collect 14 Cards of characters in the game, 12 Artifacts, and 63 Gold nuggets
Replay 18 HOP Scenes and 20 Puzzles
21 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art, Videos, Music
I recommend this game!
It's more than your average survival show...
Overall rating
3
/
5
118 of 185 found this review helpful
SUVIVOR OF SIX HOURS OF GAMEPLAY – DEFEATING A MONSTER OF A GAME!
PostedDecember 30, 2017
sunnyglow
fromAwaiting my survivor gaming badge for enduring six hours of trekking through a maze of puzzles, searching through a jungle of scenes for inventory items all while collecting masks.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME – Time: 6 Hours
5 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 44 pages
5 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 44 pages
OVERVIEW: Nathaniel! As a survivor of a reality television series, can you now survive battling a real-life evildoer, Kalfu (who resembles Spiderman’s Venom)? Unleashed after years of imprisonment within an amulet, this hideous monster is out for revenge, sucking the energy out of humans worldwide. Can you save the world? Hopefully so, but you may also want to ‘save your money’ as well by not purchasing this lackluster game. This is a good game for beginning or intermediate gamers, those who love survivor reality shows, or those who love fighting off cartoon-like monsters. From the demo, it appeared to be a promising game. I found the storyline interesting, so I purchased it. I regretted this decision afterwards!
CAN YOU SURVIVE THIS GAME? This is a long game. This is one game which I feel would be better if it were shorter. I found the game tedious and slow-paced after the demo. I do feel the bonus chapter is better than the main game. It seems as if two sets of teams worked on this game – one on the main game and another on the bonus chapter. The bonus chapter is excellent. It is unfortunate that the great HOP scenes and puzzles from the bonus chapter are lacking in the main game. The graphics are cartoon-like and in some scenes, they are blurry. I found the “ditzy”heroine, Mina, distracting with her nasal, high-pitched voice. Toward the end of the main game it seemed that “filler” was added to make the game longer. The puzzles became ridiculously easy and the HOP scenes were nothing but lists of items with some scenes repeated. You collect masks which practically jump out at you. You can replay 15 HOP scenes and 15 puzzles. There is a hidden chapter which consists of locating pieces to play a jigsaw puzzle.
PUT IT IN INK! Tattoos must now be the latest craze for developers! You receive two gimmicky powers in the main game which are tattooed upon your arm. They glow when they require you to use them. One of these is the ability to see things hidden by magic. The other is the ability to see other people’s memories. The latter opens an interactive search-and-replace storybook HOP scene which furthers the narrative of the story.
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a prequel. Arrive at the island as a contestant in the survivor reality show, “Outlive.” Play jilted Mina, who is out to win back two-timing Jack from Floozie Fleur. Her deal making with the local shaman makes her the “host(ess)” of problems engulfing the whole world! The graphics, HOP scenes and puzzles are much better in this chapter. It is unfortunate that the developer did not use the story in this chapter for the main game. It is also unfortunate they did not incorporate the quality of graphics, HOP scenes and puzzles within the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) scenes (including mini-HOP scenes) in the main game and five (5) in the Bonus Chapter. I found the HOP scenes lacking creativity and interactivity – most being lists of items or storybook scenes with items listed in green letters. Toward the end of the game, the HOP scenes were just consistent lists of items with little or no interactivity. You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes. You can also replay 15 HOP scenes at the end of the game.
MEMORY TATOO SCENES: BACK AND FORTH! When you need to use the memory tattoo, you will play a HOP scene. You will be playing many of these scenes within the game. They are all the same! The HOP scene alternates between two scenes. You first search for items which will then be returned to the scene. Most times, after you locate an item, you will then need to switch to the other scene to return it. I got “dizzy” going back-and-forth searching for an item only to return to the previous scene to replace it within the scene.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-five (35) puzzles in the main game and seven (7) in the bonus chapter. Most of the puzzles are easy. I found none difficult. The ones in the bonus chapter I felt were better than the ones in the main game. They are standard puzzles seen in most games. There is one puzzle which allows you to choose the difficulty between “normal” and “hard.” However, that was the only puzzle which allowed for this.
Here are sample of the puzzles with the game AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate four dials so that the arrows on the dials all point up. Moving one affects the others.
B. Maze puzzle. Lead the “hero” through a path filled with dots to the end by going through every dot in the maze. You may not land on any dot twice.
C. Map puzzle. On a map, chart a course from one end to the other, avoiding obstacles in your path. Place arrows on a grid to set up a navigation route, and then press start to see if the combination works.
D. Gear puzzle. Rotate five gears with lines upon them. Connect the lines so that you create a path across all the gears from one end to the other.
E. Choice between Normal and Hard. World Domination. Get more chips on the board than your opponent. Move your chip against the opponent, (the computer) by moving on one to two spaces on the board. When you encounter your opponent’s token and vice versa, the token will change to either your or your opponent’s token.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Using a series of numbers which add and subtract spaces within a grid, set up a sequence which will fly a plane while avoiding storm clouds.
G. Assembly puzzle. Match up 3 runes so, when combined, create a symbol given in the right-hand corner of the screen.
H. Assembly puzzle. Build a house. Using a schematic, build a hut on the beach. To me the BEST puzzle of the game! (Bonus Chapter)
I. Connection puzzle. Connect dots without retracing steps. (Bonus Chapter)
J. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate triangular shaped tiles to restore a picture. (Bonus Chapter)
B. Maze puzzle. Lead the “hero” through a path filled with dots to the end by going through every dot in the maze. You may not land on any dot twice.
C. Map puzzle. On a map, chart a course from one end to the other, avoiding obstacles in your path. Place arrows on a grid to set up a navigation route, and then press start to see if the combination works.
D. Gear puzzle. Rotate five gears with lines upon them. Connect the lines so that you create a path across all the gears from one end to the other.
E. Choice between Normal and Hard. World Domination. Get more chips on the board than your opponent. Move your chip against the opponent, (the computer) by moving on one to two spaces on the board. When you encounter your opponent’s token and vice versa, the token will change to either your or your opponent’s token.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Using a series of numbers which add and subtract spaces within a grid, set up a sequence which will fly a plane while avoiding storm clouds.
G. Assembly puzzle. Match up 3 runes so, when combined, create a symbol given in the right-hand corner of the screen.
H. Assembly puzzle. Build a house. Using a schematic, build a hut on the beach. To me the BEST puzzle of the game! (Bonus Chapter)
I. Connection puzzle. Connect dots without retracing steps. (Bonus Chapter)
J. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate triangular shaped tiles to restore a picture. (Bonus Chapter)
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
Get two special powers accessed through arm tattoos
14 Achievements
Collect 72 Masks
Replay 15 HOP scenes and 15 Puzzles
Hidden Chapter – locate items to complete a jigsaw puzzle.
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music, Movies
Map is provided as you play the game
Get two special powers accessed through arm tattoos
14 Achievements
Collect 72 Masks
Replay 15 HOP scenes and 15 Puzzles
Hidden Chapter – locate items to complete a jigsaw puzzle.
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music, Movies
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a dark vision from coming true?
Overall rating
5
/
5
119 of 235 found this review helpful
I FORESEE A GREAT GAME IN YOUR FUTURE
PostedDecember 28, 2017
sunnyglow
fromPeering into my crystal ball – here are my psychic predictions for 2018. I foresee many HOP games appearing in 2018. I also see a fish, a rather BIG FISH involved with these games somehow.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Detective! Upon the death of a photographer - Madame Esperance, medium extraordinaire, has contacted you for help in locating the culprit. However, upon arrival in the town of Mordamo, the medium herself is murdered. Never fear, detective! Our swami will contact you from the other side to help in this investigation. Can you sort out who the mastermind is behind these murders?
This fast-paced game is a vast improvement from the other games within this series. AMAX has spruced up this game series with some new, creative touches in both the HOP scenes and the puzzles as well. This whodunit has captured my interest and was an automatic purchase. I want to find out who the culprit is behind this intrigue. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities.
You can choose the physical attributes of your character in the game. You collect items which belong to the medium such as skulls and candles. You also collect coins to purchase items for the games. The gimmicky spirit collector returns in this game. This device reveals spirits hiding within the scene. It also shows hidden elements within the scene as well. You can replay some of the HOP scenes within the game. I wish that AMAX would provide a replay of the puzzles as well, especially those which have two levels of difficulty.
Despite loving this game, I do have two small complaints. I am tired of collecting coins in this developer’s games. I hate running back-and-forth to purchase some item from some vendor to be used in the game. I also dislike gimmicks. The spirit collector is overused in this developer’s games. Gimmicks are not needed with a quality game such as this. The game stands on its own merit without the need for these devices.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes in the demo are creatively designed. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them.
PUZZLES: There are new puzzles within this game. The developer also provides more puzzles with the choice between casual and hard settings. I found assembling a dreamcatcher a clever variation for a sequence puzzle. I also enjoyed the rope puzzles which involve untangling ropes on two objects – a doll and a ship. There is also a cleverly designed matching puzzle in which you switch tumbler halves so that the halves mesh together.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: Go fish! I enjoyed trying to assess which squares within an aquarium three (3) fish and a crab would land in order to catch and remove them from the tank. This is a very creative approach to a logic puzzle.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
20 Achievements
Collect 14 items used by mediums and coins to be used throughout the game to purchase items.
Replay 16 HOP scenes
Prism of Souls: Gimmick used to collect spirits within a scene
6 Wallpaper, 6 Concept Art, 6 Screensavers, Music, Movies
Map is provided as you play the game
20 Achievements
Collect 14 items used by mediums and coins to be used throughout the game to purchase items.
Replay 16 HOP scenes
Prism of Souls: Gimmick used to collect spirits within a scene
6 Wallpaper, 6 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) List of items. (Has an assembly puzzle within it) (B) Storybook. Locate each item individually within several scenes. (C) Silhouette items. (D) Mini-HOP scene. Locate six items to complete a lock.
(A) List of items. (Has an assembly puzzle within it) (B) Storybook. Locate each item individually within several scenes. (C) Silhouette items. (D) Mini-HOP scene. Locate six items to complete a lock.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Switch puzzle. Switch dials on a Zodiac chart so each dial matches up with its sign on the chart. Rating: 1
B. Choice between Casual and Hard. Matching Lock puzzle. Using two picks, exchange tumbler halves so they match up.
C. Maze puzzle. Move a maze to lead a ball to the center of the grid. Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a dreamcatcher placing feathers and string in correct sequence. (In a HOP scene) Rating: 1
E. Choice between Casual and Hard. Match-3 game. Punch the evildoer in the snout! Match up 12 each of fists and shields to knock him out!
F. Choice between Casual and Hard. Maze puzzle. Use a map to find your way through an underground set of tunnels.
G. Rope puzzle. Swap rope pieces on a doll and a ship so that no piece of rope intersects with any of the others. 2X Rating: 2
H. Maze puzzle. Using a magnet, lead a pin through a labyrinth without touching the sides of the labyrinth. Rating: 2
I. Go Fish! Logic puzzle. Using a makeshift fishing pole, try to catch three (3) fish plus an old crab. Figure the pattern used in which the fish move and click on that square to catch the fish. Rating: 2
A. Switch puzzle. Switch dials on a Zodiac chart so each dial matches up with its sign on the chart. Rating: 1
B. Choice between Casual and Hard. Matching Lock puzzle. Using two picks, exchange tumbler halves so they match up.
C. Maze puzzle. Move a maze to lead a ball to the center of the grid. Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Assemble a dreamcatcher placing feathers and string in correct sequence. (In a HOP scene) Rating: 1
E. Choice between Casual and Hard. Match-3 game. Punch the evildoer in the snout! Match up 12 each of fists and shields to knock him out!
F. Choice between Casual and Hard. Maze puzzle. Use a map to find your way through an underground set of tunnels.
G. Rope puzzle. Swap rope pieces on a doll and a ship so that no piece of rope intersects with any of the others. 2X Rating: 2
H. Maze puzzle. Using a magnet, lead a pin through a labyrinth without touching the sides of the labyrinth. Rating: 2
I. Go Fish! Logic puzzle. Using a makeshift fishing pole, try to catch three (3) fish plus an old crab. Figure the pattern used in which the fish move and click on that square to catch the fish. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Restore the magic of Christmas to a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
109 of 160 found this review helpful
SAVING THE BEST TILL LAST! A WONDROUS CHRISTMAS GAME TO WARM YOUR HEART!
PostedDecember 20, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Planning on spending Christmas on a warm tropical island? Well not in this game! However, the warmth of its Christmas spirit may warm your heart! Welcome, Ember - Demigod! Hopefully, with the snap of your fingers, you can light a flame of Christmas spirit into all who play this game! Personally, I feel this is the best seasonal game out of this season’s crop. The game has all the appearance and spirit of Christmas. The story behind the game is one of love conquering all obstacles in its path and this message is well-portrayed within this game. For me, the game is well worth the price with beautiful graphics, and creatively designed puzzles and HOP scenes. For me, this is a Christmas game which is a keeper.
This is wonderful game for the whole family to share. The extras include collecting morphing objects and coins which are used to purchase items to make Christmas cookies. You receive a token at the side of your inventory bar to create fire with the snap of your fingers. You collect stockings to play a match game after the completion of the game.
HOP SCENES: These scenes are all wrapped up in Christmas delight. Most are interactive. In one you must locate items and then interact with each one within the scene. Some of the scenes are reused within the game. There are some new creative elements within the scenes. Beside lists of items, there are silhouette and storybook scenes with items to locate in BOLD letters. You have the option to play a thematic Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes.
DRAWN TO SCALE: My favorite scene! In this scene you use a scale to maneuver parts of images to add to the scene to create a complete item to be removed. I have never seen this concept used in a HOP scene previously and feel it is a creative touch.
PUZZLES: The puzzles vary in design and difficulty. There are several puzzles with the option to play them in either a hard or casual mode. The puzzles are thematic as well with many images of Christmas items within the puzzles. In one creative scene, you use levers to switch train tracks to get a reindeer to its destination.
Here are some of my favorites which are festive and have a Christmas flair:
A. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Maze puzzle. Using levers to switch a train track, lead a deer to the top of a sloped track. Rating: 2
B. It’s beginning to look like Christmas! Choice between Hard and Casual. Align two (2) (or three in the hard version) images so that their projections match the images with the scene. Each item has its own set of arrows to adjust the images.
C. You light up my life! Rope puzzle. Position ropes attached to fireflies so that torches within the scene are all lit. Each torch must have a rope intersect it to light the torch. Rating: 2
D. Create a Christmas memory! Assembly puzzle. Rotate lines until they create a picture. One of my favorites. 3X Increases in difficulty.
E. All paths lead to Christmas joy! Choice between Hard and Casual. Mathematical puzzle. Lead the Queen through a maze by placing arrows (4 in the casual version and 3 in the hard version) to lead her to her destination. 3X
B. It’s beginning to look like Christmas! Choice between Hard and Casual. Align two (2) (or three in the hard version) images so that their projections match the images with the scene. Each item has its own set of arrows to adjust the images.
C. You light up my life! Rope puzzle. Position ropes attached to fireflies so that torches within the scene are all lit. Each torch must have a rope intersect it to light the torch. Rating: 2
D. Create a Christmas memory! Assembly puzzle. Rotate lines until they create a picture. One of my favorites. 3X Increases in difficulty.
E. All paths lead to Christmas joy! Choice between Hard and Casual. Mathematical puzzle. Lead the Queen through a maze by placing arrows (4 in the casual version and 3 in the hard version) to lead her to her destination. 3X
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
16 Achievements
Collect 48 stockings to play a match game.
Collect coins to purchase items to make Christmas cookies
40 Morphing objects
Fire magic token: Get fire and warmth with the snap of your fingers
8 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music
Map is provided as you play the game
16 Achievements
Collect 48 stockings to play a match game.
Collect coins to purchase items to make Christmas cookies
40 Morphing objects
Fire magic token: Get fire and warmth with the snap of your fingers
8 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music
I recommend this game!
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!