sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,068
- Reviews Submitted:758
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:September 12, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you solve the mystery of the mansion?
Overall rating
2
/
5
93 of 140 found this review helpful
OPENING THE DOOR TO A NEW STYLE OF GAME
PostedOctober 1, 2022
sunnyglow
fromThis developer opened a door to a new style of game. Hopefully they will shut it and keep it closed forever!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Welcome to a mansion, a place where doors open new worlds for you to explore! Upon the death of your Uncle Rodrique, you are informed that you have inherited his estate, a place where each door opens a new world. Upon arrival at the estate, the butler, Alberto hands you the keys and informs you must visit all the rooms in the estate to learn about your uncle. Don’t worry! The title is deceptive There are not one-hundred rooms to survey – only ten within the main game and four within the bonus chapter. With each new door, open a new world and new challenge.
FORMAT: This game first appeared on mobile devices. The format is the same for each of the ten (10) chapters of the game. Upon entering the door (chapter), the player will be greeted by some character with a problem which he/she needs help with. The locations and theme will vary with each chapter. The themes will include fairies, witches, parallel worlds and crime and detective stories. The detective brother and sister team from the Twin Minds series, Randall and Eleanor, are within this game. The player will play a series of between two to four HOP scenes followed by a mini-game a the end of the chapter.
WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT! This game is not a HOPA game. It is a hybrid, a cross between a HOP game and an escape-the-room game. However, unlike most HOP games, these HOP scenes and mini-games are fashioned the same way as those within this developer’s HOPA games.
The best way to describe this game is to emphasize what is missing within this game. There is no menu to set customer preferences. You cannot choose between easy or hard mini-games. The difficulty must be chosen at the time of playing the mini-game. There are no collectibles, no achievements, no strategy guide, and no replay of the HOP scenes and mini-games. Even worse, there are no voiceovers! The player must read the dialogue within the chapter. I absolutely hated having to read script and some of that script disappeared from the screen before I could finish reading it.
The best way to describe this game is to emphasize what is missing within this game. There is no menu to set customer preferences. You cannot choose between easy or hard mini-games. The difficulty must be chosen at the time of playing the mini-game. There are no collectibles, no achievements, no strategy guide, and no replay of the HOP scenes and mini-games. Even worse, there are no voiceovers! The player must read the dialogue within the chapter. I absolutely hated having to read script and some of that script disappeared from the screen before I could finish reading it.
On the plus side, there is a bonus chapter which has the same layout as the main game. Although there is no “strategy guide,” the game provides solutions to the mini-games as they are being played. The game also provides ten (10) wallpapers.
Some may like this style of game; however, not me. I hope we are not going to see HOPA games devolve into this format. The HOPA scenes and mini-games are of the same quality as within their HOPA games, but there is little activity nor story within this game. Play two to three HOP scenes and then play a mini-game – then repeat the same process for each chapter. Boring! There is no back-and-forth movement between scenes to search for inventory items to use within the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: The butler hands you a letter from one of the characters from the main game. This person is requesting help but does not leave their name. Return to the locations and visit the characters from the main game to discover who needs your help. This chapter is comprised of four (4) doors. The player will encounter characters from main game. This chapter is a carbon copy of the main game. The player will play four (4) HOP Scenes and then will play a mini-game at the end of each door.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a bare bones game without the frills and little extras found within the HOPA games from this developer. I believe this developer designed this game as an experiment to see how it would be received by its gaming audience. This is a great game for those who love playing HOP scenes with few mini-games. It has the same activities; however, without an engaging story and after playing the same gaming format repeatedly, I became bored. This may appeal to those who love straight HOP games. However, after playing repeated HOP scenes with little to no story to keep me engaged, I could not wait for the game to end.
HOP SCENES: There are fifty-two (52) HOP scenes within the game. For me, the scenes are creatively designed and the best part of the game. Their format is the same as within HOP games. There is a variety of different styles (not all are standard lists of items). What I liked about this game is that many of the HOP scenes require searching for items and then returning them into the scene. There are also standard lists of items, silhouette, spot-the-differences, rebus clues, cryptic clues, matching, and scenes in which fragments of the scene are to be located within the scene. Surprisingly, I remember playing one of the scenes within another game from this developer!
MINI GAMES: There are only eleven (11) mini-games within the entire game. They are variations of other games from this developer. All the mini-games can be played in either a hard or casual mode but the difficulty must be chosen when playing the game. There is no strategy guide; however, solutions to the puzzles are provided with each puzzle.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE A FEW OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME: (E = Easy, H = Hard)
A. E//H. Connection puzzle. Rotate pins with prongs emitting from them to create a design matching that on a given diagram. The easy version has a 4 x 4 grid – the hard version as a 5 x 4 grid with more pins
B. E/H. Moving blocks puzzle. Switch positions of a red crystal on the left side of a grid and a green crystal on the right side of the grid. Move blocks to create a path for both. The hard version has a larger grid with more blocks.
C. E/H. Chain puzzle. Move 4 different colored chains of gears into position on a grid. The hard version has a metal block in the center making it more difficult to move the chains into the designated positions.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Choose one of 3 paths at the proper time to prevent bandits from noticing you. The hard version has one more bandit to evade.
E. E/H. Slider puzzle. Rotate candles around a board so that pink candles are on the outside and green are in the inside of the board. Slide the candles as a group using arrows to move them.
F. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Recreate given images on a hexagonal grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Position 4 skeleton hands into slots on the sides of the scene.
H. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Place picture frames over their matching silhouettes on a wall to complete a family tree. You must place them on a line in the proper order so each will be where travel to where they belong. The hard version has a more difficult course
B. E/H. Moving blocks puzzle. Switch positions of a red crystal on the left side of a grid and a green crystal on the right side of the grid. Move blocks to create a path for both. The hard version has a larger grid with more blocks.
C. E/H. Chain puzzle. Move 4 different colored chains of gears into position on a grid. The hard version has a metal block in the center making it more difficult to move the chains into the designated positions.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Choose one of 3 paths at the proper time to prevent bandits from noticing you. The hard version has one more bandit to evade.
E. E/H. Slider puzzle. Rotate candles around a board so that pink candles are on the outside and green are in the inside of the board. Slide the candles as a group using arrows to move them.
F. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Recreate given images on a hexagonal grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Position 4 skeleton hands into slots on the sides of the scene.
H. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Place picture frames over their matching silhouettes on a wall to complete a family tree. You must place them on a line in the proper order so each will be where travel to where they belong. The hard version has a more difficult course
I don't recommend this game.
Clutter puzzles as you've never seen them before!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 63 found this review helpful
ANOTHER FANTASTIC GAME FROM THE CLUTTERMEISTER, JOE
PostedSeptember 29, 2022
sunnyglow
fromKudos on another great game Joe! Already looking forward to the next one. Just wish I could de-clutter my brain and life as easily as within these puzzles.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Looking for the perfect song? the perfect puzzle challenge? This game is a perfect compilation of puzzles based upon Joe’s biggest hits! This compilation of puzzles is one of Joe’s best games to date. These games are in class of their own, timeless, designed by a master craftsman in the art of puzzle design. Few games demonstrate the quality and craftsmanship of his games. This game is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for Joe. Along the way, Joe gives a historical insight into his own life – recollections of puzzle creation through the years plus hundreds of new puzzles in his most popular genres.
MECHANICS This game is filled with thousands of puzzles. Returning are the cluttered heaps of items to be matched – all lumped together. All can be played either timed or untimed; however, Joe suggests you at least try to take the challenge by trying to get all the matches in the time required. Items to be matched includes some incredibly beautiful flowers, yummy looking donuts (which might find you trying to eat a few), jewels, buttons, pictures (round and square), shoes (for shoe lovers out there), and a variety of other items. Matches can be with same items, smaller with large of the same item, the same category of item but different shapes, black-and-white, or halves of items to be matched.
TYPE OF PUZZLES: This is a list of the type of puzzles available. Most have several hundred to over a thousand games.
• Junk piles with over 2000 puzzles
• Matching of 2, 3, or a combination of 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the same items to locate
• Hyper Quest. Dizzying pinwheels and spirals in which items crisscross each other.
• Picture puzzles. Included are sliders, square jigsaws to name a few
• Black and white and colorized items to search along with matching halves of items.
• Clutter Jong: Mahjong all cluttered up matching and removing items.
• Accordion: One of my favorites. Columns of items move back-and-forth within the scene in which the player must locate the items and match them. The speed can be adjusted.
• Slider: Move slats up, down, and sideways to create complete pictures.
• Clutter Pics: Square, Round, Combos – Small, Big, Mirrored and Skewed.
• Box Quotes. Fill in letters to reveal words of wisdom
• Square Jigsaw: A unique jigsaw puzzle using squares
• Matching of 2, 3, or a combination of 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the same items to locate
• Hyper Quest. Dizzying pinwheels and spirals in which items crisscross each other.
• Picture puzzles. Included are sliders, square jigsaws to name a few
• Black and white and colorized items to search along with matching halves of items.
• Clutter Jong: Mahjong all cluttered up matching and removing items.
• Accordion: One of my favorites. Columns of items move back-and-forth within the scene in which the player must locate the items and match them. The speed can be adjusted.
• Slider: Move slats up, down, and sideways to create complete pictures.
• Clutter Pics: Square, Round, Combos – Small, Big, Mirrored and Skewed.
• Box Quotes. Fill in letters to reveal words of wisdom
• Square Jigsaw: A unique jigsaw puzzle using squares
I do not usually play nor review many non-HOPA games. However, this is one of my favorites. I play one of the puzzles from this game almost daily. They are a great way to take a short break from work. Most of the puzzles (under the time crunch) can be played in a few minutes. However, as the puzzles progress in each section, the time is less, and the puzzles become more difficult. Sometimes, I need to play some of those puzzles several times to get all the items listed.
I recommend this game!
Can you guide a tormented gamer through a trio of terrifying challenges?
Overall rating
2
/
5
40 of 86 found this review helpful
A BORING ADVENTURE INTO PSYCHOBABBLE
PostedSeptember 22, 2022
sunnyglow
fromLocation: In a bad place, suffering from Ludophobia, the fear of playing terrible, boring games! This was brought on by playing this one!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Return to the Crossroads Bar at the corner of nowhere and everywhere where Mistress Eve tries to help another lost soul who is struggling with psychological distress. Play Sterling who, after being trapped in a confined space for days, now suffers from panic attacks, insomnia, claustrophobia, and nightmares. As therapy, you will be given three (3) horror games to play. As you play the game, you will be given choices and those choices will determine the outcome of the game. The three horror games are: “Through the Fog” which involves a horror writer looking for inspiration for her next writing assignment. She relives the life of a ghostly witch banned by her village. The next two provide the player with ability to choose which order in which to play them. “Deadly Call” involves a woman whose friend are receiving text messages with videos showing their deaths. Will she be targeted as well? “Horror on the Set” involves an assistant director who is preparing a movie set in which the decorations become real and prove deadly.
After playing this game, I felt truly felt I was in nowhere land. I liked the first game in the series; I was not as impressed with this one. After playing into the game, I started to find it somewhat boring. There are not a lot of activities for a game this size. It is a morality play containing a lot of “psychobabble.” I found several parts of the stories provided within this game somewhat confusing. For me, I would have liked to have been informed that your score in the game was based on the answers you chose throughout the game. This should have been indicated at the beginning. I think the game is too long for the activities within the game. A shorter game I feel would have been better. For a psychological thriller, I found the game not scary at all and could not understand the warning at the beginning of the game. I have seen a lot scarier games than this one from BFG.
There are two collectibles, jigsaw pieces and figurines which represent phobias. I found most easy to locate. The jigsaw pieces are signified by the crossroad sign from the game. At the end of the game, there is a jigsaw puzzle to play within the Secret Room. The jigsaw puzzle consists of merely clicking on the pieces and they just fall into place on the picture. I do believe that it would have been better if the player could place the pieces into a frame to play the puzzle. For each game you receive a card with traits of each main character within the game. They have a ranking from 1 to 10 in various personality traits. I still have no idea what the purpose was for these cards. The Exhibition Room allows the player to return to the scenes to search for missing collectibles. However, the scenes do not indicate if you have collected all the collectibles or not – so to me, this was worthless. I was missing one jigsaw puzzle piece and there was no way for me to know in which scene I missed locating that piece.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 12 achievements. Two have 3 parts and 2 have 5 parts
• Collect 23 puzzle pieces and 12 collectible figurines
• 6 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 24 Scenes
• There is an Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles
• There is a Secret Room which houses a jigsaw puzzle to solve
• Replay of 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• 12 achievements. Two have 3 parts and 2 have 5 parts
• Collect 23 puzzle pieces and 12 collectible figurines
• 6 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 24 Scenes
• There is an Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles
• There is a Secret Room which houses a jigsaw puzzle to solve
• Replay of 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Play Mistress Eve who is visited by “The Traveler,” a trickster who does not like that you judge people and toy with their lives. It may be this “trickster” may be part of future games in the series. As Mistress Eve, the player will be given several riddles to solve, all involving characters within more video games. The characters involve a ghost who cannot remember his name nor his identity. Collect his memories and then help him with problems he had with is friend. The second involves another ghost who was banished from his village for his magical powers. Help him with the bitterness he feel for the village banishing him. I found this chapter’s stories and activities very confusing. There are four (4) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes with six or seven items to locate.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) HOP scenes, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also some mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for six to seven items within a scene. I do feel the HOP scenes were the best part of the game. Elephant has upped their game in creation of these HOP scenes. Many of the scenes were either the standard list of items or silhouette scenes; however, there were some novel ones as well. All had a storybook scene with items located on pages of a dialogue about the game. I did enjoy the scenes where given items are to be placed into the proper location within the scene. There were a couple of scenes locating fragments of the scenes within the scenes themselves.
MINI-GAMES: There are sixteen (16) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed. In my opinion there are not enough mini-games for a game this size. I found most of the mini-games easy and ones seen in most other HOPA games. There are quite a few maze -type puzzles, perhaps, because the game is supposedly a psychological thriller. There is one Rube-Goldberg puzzle in the bonus chapter with sequential puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Maze puzzle. Move an angel past demons to get to a crypt at the top of the grid.
B. Maze puzzle. Go through a maze in a hospital The maze will be updated as you travel through the hospital. There is only one way out and you will run into scary things or traps which will decrease your mental state. First aid kits will restore your mental state. If your mental state reaches zero, you lose.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces on a puzzle so that they restore the image.
D. Connection puzzle. Move Alex, the game character, through points on a maze so every point is visited. You can retrace steps (which is very unusual for this puzzle)
E. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no pieces intersect with each other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. On a square board, rotate red imps and grey angels as a group, so that all the imps are in the inside loop and the angels are on the outside loop. Use sliders to move the statues.
G. Mathematical puzzle Switch 4 sets of weights with numbers on them so all the sections have the same total.
H. Matching puzzle. Match up animal eyes with the proper animal.
B. Maze puzzle. Go through a maze in a hospital The maze will be updated as you travel through the hospital. There is only one way out and you will run into scary things or traps which will decrease your mental state. First aid kits will restore your mental state. If your mental state reaches zero, you lose.
C. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces on a puzzle so that they restore the image.
D. Connection puzzle. Move Alex, the game character, through points on a maze so every point is visited. You can retrace steps (which is very unusual for this puzzle)
E. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no pieces intersect with each other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Switch puzzle. On a square board, rotate red imps and grey angels as a group, so that all the imps are in the inside loop and the angels are on the outside loop. Use sliders to move the statues.
G. Mathematical puzzle Switch 4 sets of weights with numbers on them so all the sections have the same total.
H. Matching puzzle. Match up animal eyes with the proper animal.
I don't recommend this game.
Help young kitties find love in this whimsical point-and-click puzzler!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 71 found this review helpful
A PURR-FECT ESCAPE THE ROOM GAME
PostedSeptember 21, 2022
sunnyglow
fromHope this game "cat-apaults" this developer into producing more escape the room games!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Can true love triumph in the land of cats? Help a love-sick tomcat reach his true love by traveling through a house, escaping room-after-room via pet doors to win the heart of a foxy feline. A bi-colored eyed Cupid will help you along the way by removing obstacles within your path. Beware your beloved’s owner, a grumpy grandma who will try to sabotage you for your quest for your feline love.
It is a whimsical escape the room game, one which should please cat lovers. Even if you don’t like cats, this game is a great strategy game. Interact with each scene to figure out the steps needed to exit it. The difficulty increases as you progress within the game. The game requires logic skills in assessing the activities and the sequence of those activities to escape. Clicking on the items will activate Cupid to perform them for you. The game is a whimsical delight with our poor tomcat being bantered around by his true love and the other hissing felines within the scenes. There was a beta for this game; however, it appears that the developer did not create a collector’s edition for the game.
I love the graphics and the whimsical humor displayed within it. I was glad to see Grandma have a pot crash land on her old great-haired nasty head. She is a mean grannie but think Cupid will win out in the end. Perhaps, Granny will come to accept you, as a lovesick Romeo, into her family.
Since this is a daily game there is no strategy guide nor “extras” as within the Collector’s Edition games. However, there is a hint button which will indicates all the activities needed to escape each room.
This is the “purr-fect” game for beginners in the world of escape the room games. The rooms are not terribly difficult to master. It is also a great game for cat lovers and children as well. If you are interested in this gaming genre, this game is an excellent starter game.
I recommend this game!
Only you can end the curse of Bird’s Nest Castle!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 125 found this review helpful
WHERE DID ALL “THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BIRDS” GO? THEY ARE IN THIS GAME!
PostedSeptember 1, 2022
sunnyglow
fromLocation? At Bird’s Nest Castle cleaning up after this game. The number of birds from “Twelve Days of Christmas” is nothing compared to this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 67 pages
Love bird watching? Are you a member of the Audubon Society? Then, you will love this game! Birds of all kids pop out at you everywhere in this game! Play Alex Meijer, a brother out to visit his newlywed sister, Katrina, an accomplished artist. Travel to Bird Nest’s Castle the ancestral home of her husband, Baron Kasper Van Garrett. However, your visit will evolve into a nightmare as you try to locate your missing sister, who is trapped somewhere within this castle. It appears your sister, her husband, and the castle itself are the victims of Bluebeard’s Curse. Learn another legend about Bluebeard and the perils of a doting father. Portraits are coming to life with birdlike creatures appearing throughout the castle. Discover the history behind the past residents of this estate and how this history has affected your sister and her husband. With the help of ghosts of previous castle residents, save your sister from this sinister curse.
A lot of work went into creating this game. This is a very long game with a lot of activities. This game is almost twice the size of many other HOPA games. Birds permeate every inch of this game, with most of the activities centering around different types of birds. Flocks of them are within most of the HOP scenes and mini-games. There are two collectibles, birds, of course, and morphing objects. There are two of each per scene except in the bonus chapter. Two of the scenes only have one of each toward the end of the game. I found some easy to locate and others, somewhat difficult to find. Upon completion of the game, if all the birds are collected, the player can play a Spot-the-Differences scene within the collectibles section. There is a gimmicky music box with a bird name Charlie perched on top. After placing a feather into a slot on the music box, Charlie narrates history about the castle and six (6) characters themselves, most of whom have been transported into portraits as birds. There are some fantastic graphics within this game. I truly enjoyed the graphics and puzzles within a section of this game within the library of the castle. There are flying books which must be captured and placed in a cage. Each of the books has a simplistic puzzle to accompany it.
My only complaint about this game is the storyline. I feel the story is too complex and detailed for a HOPA game. Less is more sometimes, and I feel that the story branches out into all different directions, bringing in a host of extraneous characters. The story is a variation of the Bluebeard legend; however, there is even a little bit of Dorian(na) Gray thrown in as well. Nevertheless, I feel the player gets his or her money’s worth with this game. There are a ton of activities which provides a good pace. For those who play these games for the HOP scenes and puzzles, I don’t think this game will disappoint.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 24 achievements.
• Collect 52 birds to unlock 7 bird figures and and spot the differences game
• Collect 52 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Charlie a bird, perched upon a music box Upon providing him with a feather, he discloses information about the castle and game characters. He sits on the left side of the inventory bar.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
• 24 achievements.
• Collect 52 birds to unlock 7 bird figures and and spot the differences game
• Collect 52 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Charlie a bird, perched upon a music box Upon providing him with a feather, he discloses information about the castle and game characters. He sits on the left side of the inventory bar.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Katrina, whose son is struggling with fear. He has drawn pictures which reflect that fear, and it appears that monsters and dark mists are appearing. When his hair turns blue, you, as his mother, are afraid he may be the victim of the baron’s curse. However, a wise wizard has suggested you redraw those pictures to get rid of the negativity of those fears. I did not care for the story behind this chapter; however, I felt the activities were excellent. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games. Continue to collect the collectibles. For me, it is worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-four (24) HOP scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to be found. There is a nice variety of different types of scenes. There are standard lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There are storybook scenes in which items outlined in text which must be found within a scene of some narrative. There is a rebus clues scene. There is also an amazing scene in which items are situated on a segmented circular wheel. Sections of the wheel must be rotated to combine two halves of an object to remove it. There are also a couple of scenes in which fragments of the scenes must be located. There is also a slider scene which is unique in that the slider must move half of an item to its matching half to remove it. I don’t believe I have seen this type of scene before. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them.
MINI-GAMES. Wow! There are SIXTY-TWO (62) mini-games in this game. However, there are only sixteen (16) which can be replayed! This number is double what most developers offer within their games. A few are available to be played in either a casual or hard mode. There is a repetitive Match-3 game which is played throughout the game as new characters are introduced. After playing, the player receives a magic ball which transforms the bird people in the portraits back into their former selves. I found most of the mini-games easy; however, there are a few which I would consider of middle difficulty. I found none challenging. There are many picture puzzles throughout the game. Most of the puzzles are ones seen within other games.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE SIXTY-TWO (62) MNI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME
A. *REPEATED PUZZLE. Match-3 game. Drag up, down, across and diagonally to match 3 or more tokens to remove them Melt frozen tokens by connecting neighboring ones. Collect 15 of 3 colors – blue, pink, and green
B. Casual/Hard. Strategy Puzzle. Trap a chick before it leaves the edge of a field by selecting grass tokens to surround it. The hard version provides less chances to entrap the chick.
C. Sequence puzzle. Place 7 rings in the proper sequence according to a given diagram. Then rotate them to restore the given pattern.
D. Picture puzzle. Click on triangular pieces on a box until an image is restored.
E. Maze puzzle. Create a path using up, down, left, right arrows to move two metal balls at the same time to traverse a maze to the end. Both balls must reach the end at the same time.
F. Switch puzzle. Restore a honeymoon route by switching postcards from the trip with segments of the routes connected with each other.
G. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle chains by switching the position of the chains so none intersect each other.
H. Matching/Sequence puzzle. Place keys into a lock in the order in which they appear on a series of postcards.
I. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid, switch 9 squares to restore an image
B. Casual/Hard. Strategy Puzzle. Trap a chick before it leaves the edge of a field by selecting grass tokens to surround it. The hard version provides less chances to entrap the chick.
C. Sequence puzzle. Place 7 rings in the proper sequence according to a given diagram. Then rotate them to restore the given pattern.
D. Picture puzzle. Click on triangular pieces on a box until an image is restored.
E. Maze puzzle. Create a path using up, down, left, right arrows to move two metal balls at the same time to traverse a maze to the end. Both balls must reach the end at the same time.
F. Switch puzzle. Restore a honeymoon route by switching postcards from the trip with segments of the routes connected with each other.
G. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle chains by switching the position of the chains so none intersect each other.
H. Matching/Sequence puzzle. Place keys into a lock in the order in which they appear on a series of postcards.
I. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid, switch 9 squares to restore an image
Book puzzles. Solve puzzles and place books in a cage (next 4 puzzles)
J. Picture puzzle. Assemble a picture by placing fragments in the proper location.
K. Matching puzzle. Uncover images under orbs and match them – 3 matches. After each match, the orbs change location
L. Switch puzzle. Switch colored owls into position according to a give clue.
M. Ye olde book shelf puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf so their spines create an image
J. Picture puzzle. Assemble a picture by placing fragments in the proper location.
K. Matching puzzle. Uncover images under orbs and match them – 3 matches. After each match, the orbs change location
L. Switch puzzle. Switch colored owls into position according to a give clue.
M. Ye olde book shelf puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf so their spines create an image
N. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles to restore a family portrait
O. Checkers puzzle. Remove hearts until only one remains. Must jump over hearts of a different color. 2X
P. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! Tic Tac Toe puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid with 9 squares place a cookie into a square while the computer places a stone. Get 3 cookies in a row either in a row or a column to feed a mouse.
BONUS CHAPTER:
Q. Switch puzzle. Switch family portraits according to the shape of the frames
R. Matching puzzle. Arrange books to match the bottom shelf of a bookshelf
S. Connection puzzle. Lead a knight through a maze connecting al points along the way.
O. Checkers puzzle. Remove hearts until only one remains. Must jump over hearts of a different color. 2X
P. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! Tic Tac Toe puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid with 9 squares place a cookie into a square while the computer places a stone. Get 3 cookies in a row either in a row or a column to feed a mouse.
BONUS CHAPTER:
Q. Switch puzzle. Switch family portraits according to the shape of the frames
R. Matching puzzle. Arrange books to match the bottom shelf of a bookshelf
S. Connection puzzle. Lead a knight through a maze connecting al points along the way.
I recommend this game!
Can you protect the King and his realm from dangerous magic?
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 154 found this review helpful
AN HEIR WHICH IS NOT APPARENT
PostedAugust 18, 2022
sunnyglow
fromEvery man is his own ancestor, and every man is his own heir. He devises his own future, and he inherits his own past. (Frederick H. Hedge)
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages
Court intrigue and family drama await you as you venture into a royal battle for the succession to the throne. As the Royal Advisor of Magic, you have been summoned to the court by King Richard, who is near death! The Healers believe it is dark magic; however, as you investigate, you discover there is a more realistic answer to the King’s maladies – he has been poisoned! Who did this dastardly deed? Family skullduggery is afoot, and it will take an investigation and evidence to identify the perpetrator. This is another fantastic game from DO Games. I loved the story behind the game and feel the game has a good pace. This is a very long game chock full of puzzles and HOP scenes.
DO Games always provides more game value for the money. One aspect I like about their recent games is the extra footage. The nice thing about that extra footage is that is it optional. The player can either play it or decline it. There are four additional and optional scenes with this game. The extra footage involves entering library to locate a folio on dark magic. The second location is an alchemy lab in the attic of a house where you can make a special portion. Third is a visit to the royal family crypt. The fourth is within the bonus chapter, visiting the royal family crypt to discover why a poisoning was attempted.
Play the game your way! The format is identical to previous games by this developer. As in their previous games, the player has a lot of options as to gameplay. Most of the mini-games have the choice to be played in either a hard mode or an easy mode. This difficulty can be set within the menu; however, it can be changed while playing the game. Enjoy the easy level for a laid-back game or choose the hard mode, designed for those who want a little more challenge. However, personally, I have never found any of the puzzles within this developer’s games terribly challenging.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing royal household items and 15 magic bracelets
• Collect 70 vials of potion to exchange for items to place within a Secret Room.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing royal household items and 15 magic bracelets
• Collect 70 vials of potion to exchange for items to place within a Secret Room.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play the Royal Advisor of Magic finding yourself investigating another incidence of poisoning at the court. King Richard announced his son, Roald has returned. While celebrating with a glass of wine, Roald falls to the ground, poisoned. Who has poisoned the legal heir to throne and why? Suspects are everywhere; however, with the help of a new citizen to the kingdom, you uncover a plot to keep Roald from ascending to the throne. By why would someone prevent this ascension? Skullduggery is afoot and you, as the investigator must uncover those behind the poisoning. I found this a nice addition to the game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) HOP scenes within the game, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. DO games always provides a nice variety of HOP scenes and as always, provides creative designs to the scenes. Two of the HOP scenes are within the special footage provided within this game. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them. My favorite scene is one in which items are represented as tattoos on the back of one of the game characters. The sliders return in this game in two of the scenes. Match up the silhouettes with the actual items to remove them from the scene. Another novel concept to me was locating items within pictures and then placing them in slots within the pictures. Returning are silhouette scenes, storybook scenes, lists of items, search and replace scenes, searching for areas of the scenes based on a fragment from the scene, and matching. There is one spot-the-differences scene and one scene using rebus clues. Instead of the HOP scene, a player can play a Match-3 game instead.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-six (36) puzzles, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. My fondest desire is for this developer to provide the replay option to more of the puzzles and less of the HOP scenes. Almost all of the mini-games have the option to be played in either a casual mode for an easy play, or a hard mode for those who want more challenge. I did not find any braincrushing puzzles within this game. Most of the puzzles are of moderate difficulty.
SPOILERS: LISTED ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME.
A. E/H. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate circular segments on a circular grid to restore an image using gears at the top of the screen. The easy version has 3 circular segments and 3 gears to rotate. The hard version has 4 circular segments and 4 gears.
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Using a diagram, place items into a bottle in the proper sequence. The harder version has more steps.
C. E/H. Place sticks of dynamite into a grid so that the explosion reaches every square in the grid. The easy version has a smaller grid and has 7 sticks of dynamite while the hard has 8.
D. E/H. Chess puzzle. On a 4 x 4 chessboard with 16 squares, move the men so that no two of the same color ae within each of the 4 rows and 4 columns. The easy version only requires switching the pieces while the hard version uses arrows at the side and bottom of the board to move pieces one space at a time
E. Maze puzzle. Find 3 keys to open a main door. Go down dark hallways to locate them along with items which are used to amble around the old castle to find those keys.
F. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 2 gears to cause a ball to fall into a hole in the middle of a grid and not off the grid itself. There are bumpers within the grid to keep the ball from falling off. The harder version provides more opportunities for the ball to fall off the grid.
G. E/H. Maze/Sequence puzzle. Escape with your life! Plot a course by using arrows to set a sequence of steps necessary to escape while avoiding obstacles within your path. The hard version has one more arrow to place. Use all arrows with the number of steps listed on them.
H. E/H. Ye Olde Fox and Chickens Cross the River puzzle. In this case, ferry frogs and herons from one side of the river to the other using a boat. Herons cannot outnumber frogs on either bank. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each animal.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Take a boat downstream avoiding obstacles within your path. The harder version has more obstacles
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments to connect water from one chute to another chute. The harder version has more fragments to connect.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces on a picture to retore it. Pieces can only be switched with those next to it. The easy version has 18 pieces and the hard has 28 pieces.
L. E/H. Paint Picture puzzle. Paint a picture according to a given image. In the hard version the player must combine colors to create new ones.
M. Physics puzzle/Mirror puzzle. Connect liked colored gems by using mirrors to refract beams of light between matching crystals.
BONUS CHAPTER:
N. E/H. Switch puzzle Rotate and switch petals of flowers so that each flower has petals of the same color. Petals can only switch with those across from it. There are more flowers in the hard version than the easy version.
O. Matching puzzle. Arrange peaches by the holes which must match up with the number of teeth of each lion in the scene. Put the peaches in the lions’ mouths, matching the holes within the peaches with each lion’s teeth.
P. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines so they match the symbols above their heads.
Q. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a map according to given directions listed upon the map itself. The easy version has fewer connections than the hard version. 3X
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Using a diagram, place items into a bottle in the proper sequence. The harder version has more steps.
C. E/H. Place sticks of dynamite into a grid so that the explosion reaches every square in the grid. The easy version has a smaller grid and has 7 sticks of dynamite while the hard has 8.
D. E/H. Chess puzzle. On a 4 x 4 chessboard with 16 squares, move the men so that no two of the same color ae within each of the 4 rows and 4 columns. The easy version only requires switching the pieces while the hard version uses arrows at the side and bottom of the board to move pieces one space at a time
E. Maze puzzle. Find 3 keys to open a main door. Go down dark hallways to locate them along with items which are used to amble around the old castle to find those keys.
F. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 2 gears to cause a ball to fall into a hole in the middle of a grid and not off the grid itself. There are bumpers within the grid to keep the ball from falling off. The harder version provides more opportunities for the ball to fall off the grid.
G. E/H. Maze/Sequence puzzle. Escape with your life! Plot a course by using arrows to set a sequence of steps necessary to escape while avoiding obstacles within your path. The hard version has one more arrow to place. Use all arrows with the number of steps listed on them.
H. E/H. Ye Olde Fox and Chickens Cross the River puzzle. In this case, ferry frogs and herons from one side of the river to the other using a boat. Herons cannot outnumber frogs on either bank. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each animal.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Take a boat downstream avoiding obstacles within your path. The harder version has more obstacles
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments to connect water from one chute to another chute. The harder version has more fragments to connect.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces on a picture to retore it. Pieces can only be switched with those next to it. The easy version has 18 pieces and the hard has 28 pieces.
L. E/H. Paint Picture puzzle. Paint a picture according to a given image. In the hard version the player must combine colors to create new ones.
M. Physics puzzle/Mirror puzzle. Connect liked colored gems by using mirrors to refract beams of light between matching crystals.
BONUS CHAPTER:
N. E/H. Switch puzzle Rotate and switch petals of flowers so that each flower has petals of the same color. Petals can only switch with those across from it. There are more flowers in the hard version than the easy version.
O. Matching puzzle. Arrange peaches by the holes which must match up with the number of teeth of each lion in the scene. Put the peaches in the lions’ mouths, matching the holes within the peaches with each lion’s teeth.
P. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines so they match the symbols above their heads.
Q. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a map according to given directions listed upon the map itself. The easy version has fewer connections than the hard version. 3X
I recommend this game!
Take on villains, magic, and luck itself to prove that love conquers all!
Overall rating
5
/
5
56 of 117 found this review helpful
CAPTURING THE HEART OF PERFECT LOVE
PostedAugust 13, 2022
sunnyglow
fromAfter all the calamities this example of perfect love have experienced working in the theater, perhaps they should look for a safer line of work – their own reality show – "Finding Perfect Love with Franz and Beatrice!”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Is it true that love conquers all? For gambler, Dreyer Crowley, all his financial success in life he owes to “true love.” Unfortunately, it is not due to his own “true love;” but rather, the “true love” of others. His attention has focused on two actors, Franz and Beatrice, whose true love is so perfect, it rivals that of Romeo and Juliet – over even the angels up above! Now this deranged gambler is out to capture Beatrice’s heart (literally) to perform a ritual, offering it to Fortuna, the goddess who keeps Dreyer in a stash of cash. Join tag team sweethearts, Beatrice and Franz, as try to thwart this crazed villain’s continuous efforts to steal Beatrice’s heart!
Enjoy another well-designed game from DO Games. I found the storyline somewhat inane. Beatrice is captured, imprisoned, and then escapes at least three times within this game. Even Franz is captured twice! I felt this was a little excessive. I felt tempted to send the poor lovesick girl pepper spray. Nevertheless, I play HOPA games for the puzzles and HOP scenes and the ones in this game are superb. The format is the same as within their other games. Play the game your way! There is a choice to play most puzzles in either a hard mode or an easy one. This level of difficulty can be set in the menu, but it can be changed while playing the game. I love this feature as I love having a choice on the difficulty of playing each puzzle.
A nice addition from this developer is the extra footage within the game. As with the last two games from DO Games, the player has the choice to play additional footage if they wish. In the main game, the player can venture off into a greenhouse to learn more about Dreyer’s life. Later in the main game, the player can opt to visit a forester’s kitchen to bake an apple pie. In the bonus chapter, the extra footage involves visiting the afterlife with a ghost. All these extra scenes have one or two activities attached.
As in other games, Domini has three collectibles. There are morphing decorations and puppets. These two collectibles alternate between the scenes. Also collect playing cards which can be exchanged for items to outfit a “dress circle.” I have no idea what a “dress circle” is, but, to me, it looks an awful lot like a dressing room at a theater. I found some of the collectibles difficult to locate within the scenes. I would love to see DO Games make these collectibles easier to see within the scenes.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 puppets and 15 morphing decorations
• Collect 70 cards to exchange to provide items for a “dress circle.”
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 puppets and 15 morphing decorations
• Collect 70 cards to exchange to provide items for a “dress circle.”
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Who is behind all the fires and explosions at the theater where Franz and Beatrice are performing “The Phantom of the Opera?” Franz has been asked to investigate the cause of the calamities. Many of the actors have witnessed a masked phantom within the walls and mirrors of the theater. As Franz, save the theater, help the ghost, Erik, save your beloved Beatrice, and find evidence to imprison the culprit behind these crimes. I found this to be a nice addition to the game and worth the price of a collector’s edition designation. There are four (4) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There is a variety of different styles of scenes. All are interactive and puzzle-like in design. They include the usual lists of items, silhouette, matching, and storybook scenes. Also within this game are scenes with morphing objects, rebus clues, and spot-the-differences. There is also a scene where items are to be placed within the proper location within the scene. My only complaint are the chains which appear if the player clicks too many times within the scene. I hate this and hope this developer will get rid of this nuisance.
MINI-GAMES: DO Games is the “puzzlemeister” of HOPA games. There are forty (40) puzzles within this game. My only complaint is that only sixteen (16) can be replayed. I wish there were more puzzles to replay and less HOP scenes. As in other games, most of the puzzles can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” mode.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch gears within a pendant to create a picture. The hard version has more gears to switch, and the gears must rotate as well.
B. E/H Assembly puzzle. Press on organ keys with symbols on them in sequential order so that designs on a sheet of music are formed. The easy version has 5 designs to create and the hard version has 8. Designs light up when all the symbols have been pressed.
C. E/H. Paint/Strategy puzzle. Paint a picture so that adjacent fragments are not the same color. The hard version has more fragments to paint than the easy version.
D. E/H. Strategy Puzzle. On a chessboard, move colored chess pieces so no two of the same kind are in the same row and column. In the easy version the player switches the pieces. In the hard version, the player must click arrows at the bottom and left side which slides the pieces one space at a time.
E. Maze puzzle. Lead a horse down a path avoiding obstacles within your path. The player gets 3 lives before restarting.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Put numbers on a clock in sequential order. The hard version gives the player only 5 moves.
G. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to create an image. The easy version has flower pictures. The hard version has pictures of star constellations. 3X
H. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect two yellow gems on a checkers board grid by connecting all the blue ones. All gems must be connected and connections cannot be diagonal. The harder version hs more gems to connect.
I. E/H. Bats in the Belfry! Bullseye puzzle. Shoot balls of light to get rid of bats in a belfry. The harder version has bats flying faster thus harder to knock off.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move parts on a globe to create a map of Europe and Africa. The hard version has more sliders on the globe to move the pieces, making it more difficult
K. Sequence Puzzle. Place masks in the proper location based on clues on a sheet of paper.
L. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments so that water reaches all the circles within the grid. Use the red valve to turn on the water to see if all are connected.
B. E/H Assembly puzzle. Press on organ keys with symbols on them in sequential order so that designs on a sheet of music are formed. The easy version has 5 designs to create and the hard version has 8. Designs light up when all the symbols have been pressed.
C. E/H. Paint/Strategy puzzle. Paint a picture so that adjacent fragments are not the same color. The hard version has more fragments to paint than the easy version.
D. E/H. Strategy Puzzle. On a chessboard, move colored chess pieces so no two of the same kind are in the same row and column. In the easy version the player switches the pieces. In the hard version, the player must click arrows at the bottom and left side which slides the pieces one space at a time.
E. Maze puzzle. Lead a horse down a path avoiding obstacles within your path. The player gets 3 lives before restarting.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Put numbers on a clock in sequential order. The hard version gives the player only 5 moves.
G. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to create an image. The easy version has flower pictures. The hard version has pictures of star constellations. 3X
H. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect two yellow gems on a checkers board grid by connecting all the blue ones. All gems must be connected and connections cannot be diagonal. The harder version hs more gems to connect.
I. E/H. Bats in the Belfry! Bullseye puzzle. Shoot balls of light to get rid of bats in a belfry. The harder version has bats flying faster thus harder to knock off.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move parts on a globe to create a map of Europe and Africa. The hard version has more sliders on the globe to move the pieces, making it more difficult
K. Sequence Puzzle. Place masks in the proper location based on clues on a sheet of paper.
L. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments so that water reaches all the circles within the grid. Use the red valve to turn on the water to see if all are connected.
I recommend this game!
What is Richard up to? Pursue Anna’s missing father through time!
Overall rating
5
/
5
68 of 130 found this review helpful
GRANTING RICHARD GRAY’S FONDEST WISH
PostedAugust 11, 2022
sunnyglow
fromIs this the end of the Gray family drama? Richard Gray is one of my favorite gaming characters. Going to miss seeing his skull hanging around the inventory bar.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages
Where is Daddy Dearest, Richard Gray? Zigzag back and forth through time and space as Anna Gray searches for her father Richard. Follow his trail to the 1930’s, the Middle Ages, and finally to China as you help her discover the true purpose of her father’s quest. As Anna, help your father get his fondest wish. Seldom seen, Anna’s mother, Anastasia helps her in her journey, hidden within a cameo sitting on the inventory bar. This family reunion may be the last, so enjoy this family’s last outing!
This is a somber game. Richard’s humor is replaced by a sad, somber demeanor. His humor is missing within this game. I did like the game for the most part; however, I found the story somewhat confusing. The player zigzags through several time periods in several locations as well. I needed to review my notes to figure out the relationship between the relics collected within this game. The story became more transparent, however, as I reached the final chapter.
There are two collectibles, screenshot fragments and pictures related to your investigation. If the player misses any collectibles within the game, they can search for them in the Expedition Room. As in their other games, Elephant provides a Secret Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to locate morphing objects. Upon completion of the game, players can also replay thirteen (13) HOP scenes and thirteen (13) mini-games in the Archives Room.
THE BEAUTY OF THE ORIENT! I truly enjoyed the beauty of the graphics within the chapter dealing with China. There are some beautiful scenes within this chapter and this beauty is reflected within the HOP scenes and mini-games as well. This was my favorite part of the game and must give kudos to Elephant Games for a beautiful story set against those gorgeous graphics.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 pictures related to your investigation,
• Collect 24 screensaver parts which complete a screensaver at the end of the game.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Expedition Room – Allows the player to return to scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Archives Room – Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room – Return to the scenes to locate morphing objects
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 pictures related to your investigation,
• Collect 24 screensaver parts which complete a screensaver at the end of the game.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Expedition Room – Allows the player to return to scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Archives Room – Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room – Return to the scenes to locate morphing objects
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play Detective Conrad Matthews as he tries to locate the Elusive Gang, a group of criminals who commit murders but leave no clues. Get some help from Richard Gray whose only desire is to spend some alone time with them to get information he needs for his quest. I found it a nice addition to the game. There are two Rube-Goldberg puzzles in this chapter. There are also almost as many mini-games as there is within the main game. There are nine (9) mini-games (some of which are part of a Rube Goldberg puzzle) and four (4) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are not many HOP scenes nor mini-games within this game. There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes. There are also many mini-HOP scenes, in which the player locates only five or six items within the scene. The scenes are creatively designed and highly interactive. They include lists of items (some of which contain three scenes). There are silhouette scenes along with scenes in which fragments from the scenes must be located. There is one scene in which the player alternates between locating an item and placing an item into its proper location.
HOP SCENES: There are not many HOP scenes nor mini-games within this game. There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes. There are also many mini-HOP scenes, in which the player locates only five or six items within the scene. The scenes are creatively designed and highly interactive. They include lists of items (some of which contain three scenes). There are silhouette scenes along with scenes in which fragments from the scenes must be located. There is one scene in which the player alternates between locating an item and placing an item into its proper location.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games within this game, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. I thought most of the puzzles were easy. I found none even moderately difficult. I did enjoy the paint puzzles which we rarely see in most HOPA games. I also enjoyed dressing the Chinese warriors in their proper warrior attire.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Battle the Knight! Locate symbols situated on the top left of the screen upon a knight’s armor within the time designated.
B. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it discloses the route to where it leads.
C. Matching. Move leaves on a tree to match like fruit.
D. Paint Puzzle. Paint the faces of 4 masks based on clues upon the masks themselves.
E. Assembly puzzle. Dress Chinese warriors in costumes according to given diagrams
F. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens representing different times of the day and night placing them in chronological order. Tokens show sun and moon placements.
G. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Paint by Number. Paint a picture according to numbers assigned to sections of the picture..
(2) Jigsaw puzzle. Create a picture by placing fragments into position
(3) Picture puzzle. Click on slats until all, when combined, create a picture.
H. Map puzzle. Nab a criminal by using arrows to program your path. Reach the criminal in 6 moves. You must make a new move at crossroads or when hitting an obstacle. 3X
B. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it discloses the route to where it leads.
C. Matching. Move leaves on a tree to match like fruit.
D. Paint Puzzle. Paint the faces of 4 masks based on clues upon the masks themselves.
E. Assembly puzzle. Dress Chinese warriors in costumes according to given diagrams
F. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens representing different times of the day and night placing them in chronological order. Tokens show sun and moon placements.
G. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Paint by Number. Paint a picture according to numbers assigned to sections of the picture..
(2) Jigsaw puzzle. Create a picture by placing fragments into position
(3) Picture puzzle. Click on slats until all, when combined, create a picture.
H. Map puzzle. Nab a criminal by using arrows to program your path. Reach the criminal in 6 moves. You must make a new move at crossroads or when hitting an obstacle. 3X
I recommend this game!
Gather your courage for this mystical journey to a distant world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 122 found this review helpful
HELP BRIDGE A WORLD ENGULFED IN SADNESS AND CHAOS
PostedAugust 4, 2022
sunnyglow
fromOpening a book can lead anyone to amazing new worlds!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages
You never know what secret worlds await you within books! Play Aurora who returns to a fantasy world after opening an old book buried away in a box. Return to Celestis, a city which you and former friend, Victor helped create. However, you soon discover the city is in peril as a curse has been placed upon the world. Sadness has permeated the kingdom causing an evil dragon to emerge. Artists cannot distinguish colors, people are scared and the bridges connecting the islands within this fantasy world, have been severed. Now, with the assistance of characters from this kingdom, discover what caused the curse and locate a remedy, all while reconnecting with old friends from the past, including a talkative fox.
I found this a delightful game to play with a good pace. There are many puzzles and HOP scenes within this game. It is a long game with a good storyline. However, due to the story behind the game, there are some very dark scenes, especially in the bonus chapter. I found it hard to navigate some scenes because of the extreme darkness of the scenes. You get a gimmicky cube which opens five (5) picture puzzles which you play throughout the game. Collect a token which opens up each puzzle.
Collect morphing roses and puzzles pieces. There are usually two of each per scene, but in the bonus chapter, some of the scenes have three (3) puzzle pieces. Because this is a dark game, (all the happiness is gone from the kingdom), I found it difficult to locate some of the collectibles, especially within the bonus chapter. At the end of the game, if you collect all the collectibles, you can play a game. I feel this game would be better if the player could create the jigsaw pictures instead of having the two scenes completed. The bonus game is a strategy game which can be played with either one or two players. Choose between characters Snake and Victor and try to accumulate more tokens than your opponent.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 26 achievements. Some have 3 parts.
• Collect 52 jigsaw pieces and 50 morphing roses collectibles (unlocks a bonus game)
• 6 wallpapers along with 7 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• 26 achievements. Some have 3 parts.
• Collect 52 jigsaw pieces and 50 morphing roses collectibles (unlocks a bonus game)
• 6 wallpapers along with 7 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Victor, Aurora’s friend from the main game. A totalitarian government has taken over Celestis and the surrounding islands. As Victor, try to save Celestis from a misguided authoritarian leader. This is a long bonus chapter chuck full of HOP scenes and mini-games. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and fifteen (15) mini-games. As stated previously, I feel the scenes in this chapter are too dark, especially in locating the collectibles. I had to use the strategy guide to help locate many of them. Also be warned that two of the scenes have three puzzles pieces instead of the normal two per scene.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also some mini-HOP scenes with five of six items to be located. I found them creatively designed with a nice variety of different styles. They include the usual lists of items and silhouette. Also included are some storybook scenes in which the player locates items which are highlighted within a narrative within the scenes of some book. There are pattern scenes, in which the player must locate areas of the scene based on fragments of those scenes. I loved the rebus clues and there is even a scene with some cryptic clues.
MINI-GAMES: There are fifty-five (55) mini-games in this game! That is the most mini-games I have ever played in any HOPA game! However, again, the player can only replay twelve (12) of those mini-games. I cannot understand why this developer did not offer more of these for replay. Most of the puzzles are easy. Some of them are of moderate difficulty. However, did not find any which I would consider difficult. There are a few puzzles with can be played in either a casual or hard mode, but I did not see any after the demo.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE 55 MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Map puzzle. Lead Aurora and the fox to cells with their images on them dodging attacks by a serpent. Green cells can be used as cover. There is a hold button to wait out the attack in a safe place.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch 16 pieces on a puzzle board to restore an image.
C. Sequence puzzle. Play drums with symbols on them in the proper sequence.
D. Set the time on a clock by using dials and pressing on clock weights to move the dials.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with those next to it to restore an image.
F. Card puzzle. Play against your opponent taking cards from the same column. There are 4 columns. At least one card may taken but at the end, you goal is to get the last card.
G. Switch puzzle. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books to that their spines create a picture.
H. Fifth Cube Puzzle: Picture Puzzle. Switch slats to create an image
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Follow the fox thru a dark maze Using arrows
J. Fence in that spider. On a grid with hexagons, click on them to enclose an itsy bitsy spider so it cannot escape.
K. Map puzzle. Use arrows to move through a sentry’s house. Pick up supplies along the way
L. Sequence puzzle. Remove rods intertwined with each other in sequential order.
M. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird so the darkest feathers are o the top and the lightest ones are on the bottom
B. Switch puzzle. Switch 16 pieces on a puzzle board to restore an image.
C. Sequence puzzle. Play drums with symbols on them in the proper sequence.
D. Set the time on a clock by using dials and pressing on clock weights to move the dials.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with those next to it to restore an image.
F. Card puzzle. Play against your opponent taking cards from the same column. There are 4 columns. At least one card may taken but at the end, you goal is to get the last card.
G. Switch puzzle. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books to that their spines create a picture.
H. Fifth Cube Puzzle: Picture Puzzle. Switch slats to create an image
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Follow the fox thru a dark maze Using arrows
J. Fence in that spider. On a grid with hexagons, click on them to enclose an itsy bitsy spider so it cannot escape.
K. Map puzzle. Use arrows to move through a sentry’s house. Pick up supplies along the way
L. Sequence puzzle. Remove rods intertwined with each other in sequential order.
M. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird so the darkest feathers are o the top and the lightest ones are on the bottom
GLITCHY GLITCHY GLITCHY GOO! I was able to purchase this game by going into the my list of games and pressing the “buy” button there. Even got points off. But I must admit, I could not purchase it either from the front page blurb nor from the game itself when I exited and tried to press the “buy” button. It is a great game – just needs the glitches to be fixed! This is not the developer's fault - it is some glitches within the new system.
I recommend this game!
A mystery-filled ride to unknown cosmic shores!
Overall rating
4
/
5
98 of 182 found this review helpful
ALL ABOARD! ENJOY A FANTASTIC TRIP RIDING THE MOONTRAIN
PostedJuly 30, 2022
sunnyglow
fromThis game is a wonderful tribute to the developer, Chris from Dragonseye, who passed away recently. May he rest in peace and perhaps he is riding that Moontrain into eternity with Maximillian, the conductor.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: Strategy Guide: 115 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
All aboard for a fantastic new cartoon adventure game from Dragonseye! After being derailed along the way, with four previous attempts at playing this game, I can now state that with BFG’s Collector’s Edition, I was finally able to complete the game. BFG has provided a version which has fixed the glitches which were numerous when the game first came out. Luckily, I was able to ride this train all the way to its final destination!
Play a down-on-his-luck Detective Paw, who will soon face eviction if he does not rustle up some new business. When Max Vigor, the owner of the Mouse Circus, arrives on his doorstep, this detective is off to search for Max’s cousin Sam, the star attraction of his circus. He has been missing for years and Detective Paw is now the 33rd detective to try to locate this superb magician. Along with his assistant, Dr. Molly, Detective Paw will amble his way through the Moontrain, meeting many interesting characters who will aid him in his quest to find his cousin. This train is hiding many secrets which will be uncovered along the way.
This is a point-and-click adventure game which has many puzzle-like activities. The player will need to click on items throughout the scenes to uncover a silhouette picture of an item which will be used to interact with the item from the scene. Even if an item is used within the game, if there is no picture of the item at the top of the scene, the player cannot collect it. There are puzzles to be solved; however, the principal activity of the game is to click your heart out on items within each scene, then after a picture appears at the top of the screen, search for that item which interacts with those items within the scenes.
Throughout the game there are some HOP-like activities. To further the story of the game, the player will search story scenes searching for 3 items within each scene which must be placed in the proper location within the scene. These scenes are dark, a little too dark for me. I had some difficulty in locating the items and figuring out where they should be located. There are forty-four (44) gems to collect throughout the game. These gems can be traded for items to fill a detective case.
I feel the puzzles and puzzle-like nature of the game is of moderate difficulty. Many of the actual puzzles are ones seen in many HOPA games. However, I did have some difficulty solving the puzzles within the train car filled with bottles. However, if the player takes the time to assess the scene, I do believe most players can figure out what to do with those bottles. Nevertheless, I still found this a difficult scene and needed some help via a walkthrough to figure out what to do within the scene. For me, this was the most difficult scene within the game.
MECHANICS:
-Hint button and strategy guide
-Collect 44 gems which can be exchanged for items to fill up a detective’s case
-Answer quizzes about the game to produce 5 screenshots
-20 soundtracks along with concept art.
-Notebook with pictures of the game characters with descriptions of them
-Collect 44 gems which can be exchanged for items to fill up a detective’s case
-Answer quizzes about the game to produce 5 screenshots
-20 soundtracks along with concept art.
-Notebook with pictures of the game characters with descriptions of them
BONUS CHAPTER: There is a bonus chapter. Try to stop water from flooding the Moontrain. Return to scenes from the main game and search for items to stop the leak. Along the way meet some new characters, one of which is a giant who always wanted to visit Earth but had problems fitting into the train. I felt the bonus chapter was a nice addition; however, I felt the game did not really need the bonus content to be worthy of a collector’s edition.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a fantastic game from Dragonseye. However, the player may encounter some glitches. I did find a glitch within the game – same glitch which was in the earlier version of this game. Be warned! After entering the train there is a scene where the player opens a door to the next compartment of the train. This door is opened by moving two men on a seesaw back and forth to open a grid with tiles which must be moved to uncover 3 numbers. Every time I played this scene, I had problems and had to restart this game. However, I found that if I moved the lever back-and-forth several times and waited, eventually I could get the squares to move by just clicking them. This was the only glitch I discovered, and with patience, I believe most players can get the door to open. I also believe the lever which moves the men back-and-forth on the seesaw needs to be centered in the proper position to work.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a fantastic game from Dragonseye. However, the player may encounter some glitches. I did find a glitch within the game – same glitch which was in the earlier version of this game. Be warned! After entering the train there is a scene where the player opens a door to the next compartment of the train. This door is opened by moving two men on a seesaw back and forth to open a grid with tiles which must be moved to uncover 3 numbers. Every time I played this scene, I had problems and had to restart this game. However, I found that if I moved the lever back-and-forth several times and waited, eventually I could get the squares to move by just clicking them. This was the only glitch I discovered, and with patience, I believe most players can get the door to open. I also believe the lever which moves the men back-and-forth on the seesaw needs to be centered in the proper position to work.
I recommend this game!