GET ON BOARD TO STOP ANOTHER INVASION OF BODY SNATCHERS
PostedOctober 18, 2016
sunnyglow
fromI'm just another “girl on a train” of life looking out from the window of my computer at another game of robed evildoers messing up the “time” schedule on Earth.
OVERVIEW: All aboard sci-fi lovers! Can you stop an alien invasion of dark energy possessing people in this 5-star outstanding game? A race of dark robed beings from Shadowland, led by their leader, Alazar, have created a rift between the time/space continuum in order to enter Earth. Their plan is to possess the bodies of inhabitants of Earth before their world crumbles.
In the Big Train Track in the sky on its way to Hades, the spirit of the deceased Daniel is riding with Charon on a haunted train looking down upon this perilous situation. Begin your journey in 1915 Amsterdam to help Charon stop this rift in the space/time continuum and defeat these evildoers. Continue your travels to other cities. Next stop – Dresden!
The game is sensational with a compelling sci-fi story and its own theme song! The graphics are incredibly beautiful with what appears to be hand-drawn illustrations of Amsterdam. It is obvious that a great deal of work went into producing this game. If nothing else, it is eye candy with the demo providing breathtaking scenes of Amsterdam.
The pace is decent. I feel the pace is helped by the addition of innovative puzzles and HOP scenes. This game provides a breath of fresh air from the constant onslaught of assembly-line games from the same developers. One thing I do like about this game is that you are given a percentage of how far you have traveled in this game.
You are given a gizmo “helper.” It is an “amulet of eternal tranquility” which you will use to clear up the dark cloudy scenes which have experienced a disruption in the time/space continuum. You also collect omega signs and pearls.
HOP SCENES: They are very interactive and somewhat puzzle-like. I enjoyed playing these HOP scenes, and to be frank, I hate HOP scenes. The scenes include the same lists of items, silhouette scenes, and storybook scenes; however, some of them have a unique twist to them. You locate items; however, in many instances you must either return them to the scene or interact with the scene in some manner. Be warned! In some cases, it is difficult to see the items.
PUZZLES: There are new approaches to some puzzles in this game and some I have not seen before. The first puzzle is a multiple-step one. There are three separate puzzles in which you work with a painting. Quite ingenious. In the first puzzle you find items and replace them into the proper position. In the second puzzles you must not only rotate circles until they match the scene – you must also resize them to fit the scene. (I have not seen this in a game before). Finally, there is a scene where the circles are moving. You must click the circle as it moves when it is in the correct location. I know I have never seen this in a game before!
There is a slat puzzle to restore a picture, which is somewhat difficult. There is also a logic puzzle in which you must turn off all hexagon shaped lights within a geometric shape. There is a Simon Says puzzle and a matching puzzle which are fairly easy. The last puzzle is a variation of a rope puzzle to light up energy balls without crossing over connecting lines.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert Custom Hints: 0 to 99 seconds Skips: 0 to 199 seconds.
EXTRAS: You get an “amulet of eternal tranquility” which restores scenes to their original peaceful state. 15 Achievements Collect 44 Omega signs. Collect 29 Secret Pearls Strategy Guide – 66 pages 8 Wallpaper, 8 Concept Art, Music (including being serenaded by a theme song)
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. Multiple-step. (1) Locate 4 items opening up (2) List of items to locate. Interactive. B. Silhouette. Search for items and reposition some of them in the scene C. List of items. D. Storybook sequence. Search for items listed in BOLD letters in a sentence. E. Silhouette. Very interactive. Some items are replaced back into the scene. F. List of items to locate. (Reused scene)
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy (2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult A. Multiple step. (1) Search and Replace puzzle. Locate 7 objects and place them into the correct position in the scene. (2) Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and resize 4 circles until they match the background. (3) Switch puzzle. Move 4 rotating tiles into their correct position in the scene. You must click on them to stop them from moving. Rating: 2 B. Matching. Locate and replace decorations on three hats. Rating: 1 C. Moving tiles puzzle. Move slats up-and-down, right-and-left to create a picture. Rating: 3 D. Sequence puzzle. Turn off all “lights” on a geometric shape with 12 hexagons by clicking them. Clicking one affects the others. Lights are turned off by 3’s. Rating: 2-3 E. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a sequence of flashing lights. Rating: 1 F. Rope puzzle. Drag energy from energy balls to light up crystals without crossing over connecting lines. Rating: 3
OPEN UP PORTALS TO NEW WORLDS IN YOUR GAMING UNIVERSE!
PostedOctober 15, 2016
sunnyglow
fromThis game gave me the idea for a new virtual reality concept to the “100 Doors” game – “100 Doors -The Multiverse Edition.” Open a portal – open up a new universe!
OVERVIEW: Eve Glover, physicist extraordinaire, returns to save the universe in this 4-star game. Exploring the concept of multiple universes, this game is a nice blend between the worlds of fantasy and sci-fi. Being a sci-fi lover, this game beckons to me from the realm of time and space. However, be warned! it has some difficult puzzles which makes this game definitely not an easy breezy game. I like, but do not love this game and plan to purchase it as an SE.
Despite the complicated and extremely long story (I think the author of this game should have written a book series instead), I feel the game is fairly well-constructed. However, I do feel the game script is poorly written. It has way too many details, characters, and bizarre concepts for a HOP game. I also wish there were more puzzles and HOP scenes. There is a great deal of back-and-forth movement in this game, which after some time, becomes a little tedious. With the lack of activities, I find the pace a little slow. There are some decent HOP scenes (including thankfully the omission of the EIPIX formula HOP scene) and excellent puzzles. There just needs to be more of them to keep up the pace in the game.
HOP SCENES: There are only four HOP scenes in the demo. The HOP scenes include a multiple-step one with rebus clues and a list of items. There are two more lists of items to locate plus a silhouette scene as well. You have the option to play a bubble popper game in lieu of the HOP scene.
PUZZLES: There are only three puzzles in the demo. There is a difficult moving tiles puzzle in which you must move ten gems into a grid. The segments of the grid point to their direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) and the movement is by 2’s. This is one of the more difficult puzzles I have played this year. I gave it a 4 which I don’t usually give any puzzle I review for BFG games. This is a puzzle one would play in an adventure game rather than a HOP game.
The other two puzzles include a sliding tiles puzzle in which you must align like colored tokens into four different colored locations. This puzzle is also somewhat difficult. The remaining puzzle is relative easy. It is a physics puzzle in which you must click on energy orbs in a pinball effect to remove all other orbs.
SPECTRAL MEDALLION PUZZLE: Every time you need to activate the medallion, you must play some type of puzzle. The first instance in the demo is a pipe puzzle connecting a star with a black hole. You play this three times and it does increase in difficulty. The second use of the medallion contains an easy matching puzzle.
LEVELS: Easy, Medium, Hard, Custom Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is provided as you play the game Spectral Medallion which you must charge with spheres to use it. 16 Achievements. Some with 3 segments. Collect 38 symbols 13 Morphing objects Replay 13 HOP scenes and 18 Puzzles 8 Wallpaper, 4 Concept Art, Music, Videos, Souvenir Room
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: Play a Bubble Popper game in lieu of the HOP scenes.
A. Multiple step. (1) Rebus clues. (2) List of items. B. List of items to locate. C. Silhouette. Interactive. Locate items and then use them within various scenes. Rather novel to use multiple scenes. D. Multiple step. (1) List of items to locate (2) Silhouette items.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
Spectral Medallion puzzles. To activate the medallion, you will need to play some type of puzzle. It is used twice in the demo and there is a different puzzle for each instance it is used. The first puzzle is a pipe puzzle. Establish an unbroken connection between a star and a black hole by connecting links together. 3X. Increases in difficulty. The second one is a matching puzzle. Rating: 2
A. Moving tiles puzzle. Move 10 gems into empty spaces by 2’s s by pressing on green squares which contain arrows pointing to their direction. Rating: 4 Very tricky B. Sliding tiles puzzle. Move and align each of like colored tokens into a like colored area. Do this for four different colored locations. Rating: 3 C. Pinball puzzle. Click on energy orbs so, as a pinball machine, remove all the other orbs. Rating: 2
fromIf Bluebeard succeeds in producing a suitable heir, perhaps he could find acting parts for his other children in the sequel to “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”
OVERVIEW: Will true love win out for Richard and Rachel or will Rachel become the next in a line of wives and “baby mamas” for Count Bluebeard? After Bluebeard kidnaps and imprisons Rachel, it will be up to both of them working in tandem to save her from his clutches. In this outstanding 5-star plus game, you will play two characters – Rachel and Richard. As a tag team (and in good preparation for marriage), you will go back and forth in dealing with Bluebeard and helping Rachel escape from his clutches.
This game is another masterpiece from this dev which I have been waiting for to appear! It is a well-crafted game which should appeal to everyone from beginner to expert gamers. It is puzzle-intense and HOP-lite. A great deal of effort went into the creation of this game as evidenced by the sheer number of puzzles available in two levels of difficulty. Almost all of the puzzles have an “easy” and “hard” option. Having played BOTH the easy and hard option, I can attest the hard version is definitely more difficult. They have spent a great deal of time locating puzzles which can be modified into the two difficulty levels – and as a “puzzlemeister,” I can assure you this is not an easy task.
The graphics are amazing. The colors are vivid and the characters are realistic looking. Rachel and Richard make a stunning couple - a couple of “hotties.” The same may not be said of Bluebeard. However, the “blue” in his beard does match the “blueblood” of his title. The pace is excellent with a wonderfully modified story surrounding the legend of Bluebeard.
PUZZLES: There are fifteen (15) puzzles in the demo. Incredible! They are all well-designed, and as stated, the “hard” option of the puzzles are constructed differently from the easy version and are truly much more difficult. There are quite a variety of puzzles. They include moving tiles puzzles, sliders, assembly puzzles, logic puzzles, switch puzzles, matching puzzles, and manual dexterity puzzles.
HOP SCENES: There are only five (5) in the demo; however, they are well-constructed. Most are interactive. There is a very creative list of items to locate which includes switch puzzle. There are also matching pairs and spot the difference scenes. My favorite scene is one in which you alternate between locating items and replacing items back into the scene. There is a Match-3 game you can play in lieu of the HOP scenes.
EXTRAS: Again, Domini has blazed some new trails for extras as well. You get four tokens on your inventory bar which will allow you to see if you have found all the extras in the scene. Collect 49 roses, 13 statuettes of the game characters, 12 morphing beasts and 15 spells. There are 15 wallpapers, 23 concept art pieces, and music selections. The map is given to you as you play the game. There are 30 achievements. You can replay mini-games and there is a boudoir.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Custom Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds Strategy Guide – 56 Pages
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
HOP SCENES: Play a Match-3 game instead. A. List of items. There is a switch puzzle in this scene. Switch tiles to restore a picture. B. Silhouette. Locate items and interact with the scene using those items. C. Matching pairs. You must maneuver items within the scene to locate all the items. D. Replacement/List of items. Switch between being searching for an item and being given an item to replace in the scene. E. Spot the differences. Locate differences between items and their reflections in a mirror.
PUZZLES: CHOICE BETWEEN CASUAL AND HARD FOR MOST PUZZLES:
A. Sliding rings. Slide rings into position to recreate a picture. B. Sliding rings. Move flower tokens to their proper location. C. Replacement. Replace items back into a scene to tell the story of Richard and Rachel. . D. Matching puzzle. Place beads onto a wire following a given pattern. Rating: 2 E. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles into position to restore a picture. Moving one affects the others. F. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate three rings on four scrolls so that the symbols on the rings match those underneath each scroll. Moving one ring affects the others. G. Jigsaw puzzle. Place pieces back into a boat to repair it. H. Maze puzzle. Move a key through a maze. I. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles on a chest to recreate a picture. Rating: 2 J. Rope puzzle. Move rope on an image so that it does cross over itself. K. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate rings to restore a picture. L. Assembly puzzle. Create a potion according to directions. This puzzle does not have a hard option. If you make a mistake you must start all over again. Rating: 2 M. Sequence puzzle. Remove belts from luggage in the proper sequence. N. Logic puzzle. On a hexagon shaped board, change all symbols on it to masks by clicking on the pieces. Surrounding like pieces will change to match the one you click. You must do this in 10 moves. O. Matching. Following a drawing for a spider, move its legs into proper position. P. Manual dexterity puzzle. Move a boat through obstacles with 3 misses.
YOUR COMPLIANCE IS NECESSARY RESIDENT– OR ELSE! ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedOctober 8, 2016
sunnyglow
fromS.A.R.A. needs a “goodbye girl” theme song. Modified Starship - “S.A.R.A. S.A.R.A., malfunctions are brewin' in your computer eyes. Ooh S.A.R.A., why did it, why did it, why did it (looping) all fall apart?”
OVERVIEW: Welsome to Gehanna Tower! COMPLIANCE is the key to your survival in this 5-star plus game. Actually, you better comply, otherwise you will be subjected to “intense punishment.” Enter the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and experience the results of a military black op project gone haywire. In a modified version of the theme from the movie “2001,” “HAL” is being played by “S.A.R.A,” a “girl gone wild” who has taken over the residence skyscraper. What a fabulous sci-fi game and an automatic purchase for me.
STORY: The Gehenna Tower was recently built; however, now it is being demolished due to the recent rash of missing people within the residence. For a change, you are playing a building inspector (instead of a detective or pretty princess). You and your partner are responsible for getting the building ready for demolition. However, this building is being powered by S.A.R.A. who has a “mind” of “her” own. You will have to be three steps ahead of our robotic miss in order to beat her. And who is the masked stranger lurking in the shadows who may be linked to an old WWII experiment in human engineering?
OVERVIEW OF THE GAME LOGISTICS: (Approved by S.A.R.A.). The story is sci-fi at its best – a futuristic look at the consequences of Artificial Intelligence. The graphics add to the terror element in the game with dark hues and scenes showing chaos and disorder within the building. In setting up the options to play this game, the developer allows you to actually choose the options in the game instead of having to remove them. This is a first and I like this system much better than figuring out what options to remove in a game. Within the game you will need to make decisions, choosing between two statements. The incorrect choice could also lead to disastrous consequences.; however, you will be able to rectify the situation if you make an error.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are thematic and very well done. They include the standard lists of items and silhouette scenes. However, some of the scenes are quite creative. In one of the scenes you alternate between locating items and then replacing them back into the scenes. In another scene you use Night Vision Goggles to locate items within the scene.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are thematic as well, unique and vary in difficulty. In the demo the puzzles include a maze puzzle, a mathematical puzzle, a manual dexterity puzzle, a moving tiles puzzle, a matching puzzle, and a replacement puzzle (which is more like a HOP scene than a puzzle). I did have some difficulty in understanding the directions for one of the puzzles involving a generator. I could not figure out exactly what was required in that puzzle. With the exception of this one puzzle, I found they were very well created and fit well into the story.
EXTRAS: You receive some AWESOME NIGHT VISION GOOGLES to use in the game. So cool! You collect symbols and there are morphing objects in the HOP scenes.
LEVELS: Easy, Medium, Hard, Custom Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the start of the game 14 Achievements – Each has 3 segments Night vision goggles to see in the dark Collect 28 symbols Collect Morphing objects: in HOP scenes Replay 18 HOP scenes Strategy guide - 41 pages 4 Wallpapers, Soundtrack, Jigsaw puzzle to complete at the end
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. Sentences with items listed BIG GREEN letters. Learn more about the amenities of the residence tower. B. Multiple step. (1) List of items to locate (2) Replace items back into the scene C. Silhouette. Move from scene-to-scene for items. Also use night vision goggles to locate some items. Very creative. Some items are difficult to see.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult A. Maze puzzle. Connect lines between 2 or more dots of the same color until all are eliminated. 3X. Increases in difficulty. B. Mathematical puzzle. Use arrows to fill an energy cell using three containers. Each arrow will transfer squares based on the amount of availability of the squares next to it. You must fill the cell to a certain point and not past that point. Rating: 3 C. Manual Dexterity puzzle. Save yourself from drowning and set yourself free from a man by using arrows to fight back. You will be timed on this puzzle. Rating: 2 D. Moving tiles puzzle. Use a circular wheel to move four slats their proper location by color. Slats shout below their same colored marker and pointing to it. Rating: 3 E. Replacement puzzle. Locate items in a scene and replace them into the correct position. Rating: 1 F. Matching puzzle. PositIon four flags to match up those on a picture. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
+32points
100of168voted this as helpful.
Phantasmat: Reign of Shadows Collector's Edition
There's more to this resort than meets the eye.
Overall rating
5/ 5
118 of 185 found this review helpful
OUT OF A DREAM AND INTO YOUR WORLD
PostedOctober 6, 2016
sunnyglow
fromAre you afraid of your own shadow? You might have a reason to be afraid in this game!
OVERVIEW: Welcome to the Arcadia Hotel! What shadows are lurking behind the scenes? Experience your worst nightmare come-to-life in this 5-star game. This game is a vast improvement for EIPIX. To me, the story is well-written with a better storyline than those from the last few games in this series. The dark graphics along with the blizzard scenes in a remote, isolated area, provide a creepy ambiance to the game. There are more puzzles than HOP scenes in the game. Both show much needed innovation and creativity. There are quite a few morphing objects in this game. You collect diary pages which are morphing objects. There are also morphing objects in some of the HOP scenes. You can replay the HOP scenes, the puzzles, and the Match-3 game. To me this is a decent, but not outstanding game. I will purchase it as an SE or perhaps at a sale price.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are standard fare which include the usual lists of items, silhouette scenes and storybook scenes. However, EIPIX has provided some new creative touches in some of these scenes. In the demo there is one silhouette scene in which you must not only locate the items but use them to interact with the scene. My favorite HOP scene is a multiple-step one in which you first search for morphing objects followed by rebus clues which must be solved to locate more items. You also have the option to play a Match-3 game instead.
PUZZLES: They vary in difficulty and variety. I found the puzzles more challenging and better designed than in recent games. There is a mathematical puzzle in which you create equations to open a cash register. There are two maze puzzles which are nicely done. There is a multiple-step puzzle which consists of a physics puzzle and a connection puzzle. The physics puzzle requires you to move clamps at the correct angle to have wires go through all the lights on a board without touching each other. The connection puzzle then has you connect wires to the bulbs so that each bulb has an exact number of wires emanating from it as written on the bulb’s face.
There is a new puzzle in this game which I have not seen in a HOP game before. It is based on the mobile game, “100 Doors and Ladders.” In a building with many rooms, you work to reach a specified exit. To accomplish this, you must move throughout the building by moving rooms, climbing ladders, entering rooms, searching for keys within that room, and then entering doors to exit to other rooms. You interact with the rooms until you reach the desired exit. However, in some of the rooms you will literally hit a brick wall.
There is one puzzle which I had difficulty in solving because the directions are poorly written. It is a gear puzzle in which you must click on either the front or back part of the gear to move it. I discovered it by trial and error. EIPIX should have made this clearer in the directions.
STORY: With your father’s Last Will and Testament in hand, you, as Ada, are off to see your sister to settle his estate. Unfortunately, your sister is not too happy to see you and you discover she is part of a dream research project taking place at the hotel. Stuck in this hotel during a blizzard with the creepy head of this project, Dr. Corvine, along with Nurse Bolton (Nurse Ratchet in disguise) and a cast of shadowy figures, try to escape this nightmare with your sister in tow.
LEVELS: Easy, Medium, Hard, Custom Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game 12 Achievements Collect 21 Morphing Diary Pages Replay 19 Puzzles, 13 HOP scenes and the Match Game 8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art, 13 Videos, Music, Souvenir Room
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: You can opt to play a Match-3 game instead.
A. List of items to locate. As you locate items, find 3 tumblers for a lock. Very interactive. B. Storybook sequence. Locate items in sentences highlighted in BOLD letters. C. Silhouette items. Locate items and then interact with the scene by using them. D. Multiple step. (1) Morphing objects. (2) Rebus clues to locate objects
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Gear puzzle. Move gears into their proper locations by color. Rating: 2/3. I found the directions for this puzzle not explained adequately. You need to push either the front or back of the colored gear to have it move in that direction. This was omitted in the directions. B. Mathematical puzzle. Create equations to open a cash register. Rating: 2 C. Maze puzzle. Move a fuse into the center of the maze. Rating: 3 D. Maze puzzle. Create a path for a ball to move through a maze. Rating: 2 E. 100 Doors and Ladders puzzle. This is a puzzle based upon a popular mobile game. Move from room-to-room to reach an exit by moving rooms, climbing ladders, entering doors, and looking in rooms for keys to open doors. 2X. Rating: 3-4 F. Multiple step puzzle. (1) Physics puzzle. On a circuit board move 9 clamps to move wires so they go through 8 green lights without wires touching each other. (2) Connection puzzle. Connect light bulbs with wires. Each bulb has a number on it and that is the amount of wires which connect with it. Rating: 3
fromThe Zapper App. I want this phone app from the game. It makes ghosts disappear with a flash! I wonder if it would also work with other annoyances in your life? Just Point - Click and Zap! They’re gone!
OVERVIEW: What happened to Edgar Johnson and his fiancé, Helen Larsen? With Halloween approaching, BFG has gotten into the “spirit” of the season with this 5-star spook fest, “possessed” with hidden family secrets. It has been forty years since this couple disappeared and lately Helen has been seen, not having aged since her disappearance. Can she still be alive or is she a ghost? You, as investigative journalist, Emma Roberts, are off to Europe to investigate. After encountering a confused and possibly possessed Helen, your investigation leads you to a forlorn want-to-be suitor of Helen, Ben Carmer. He was the last person to see these two alive before they disappeared. Was he involved in their disappearance? While investigating Ben’s tragic past and his familial estate (which holds a labyrinth of secrets), many questions will be answered concerning this decades old mystery.
I find this game to be the best of this series so far. I do not particularly like the graphics. I feel they are slightly blurry and one-dimensional in some parts of the demo; however, the gameplay more than compensates for this. The story is very well-written. The pace is excellent as you sleuth throughout the Carmer estate looking for clues. There are more puzzles than HOP scenes; however, I feel both are thematic and nicely done. You also have the option to play a jigsaw puzzle instead of the HOP scenes. There are quite a few collectibles including 25 collectibles of various types and 35 “beyond objects” (morphing objects). Both are not easy to locate making the game somewhat challenging. You can also collect points so you can ascend to the upper ranks in the world of journalism.
HOP SCENES: There are 26 HOP scenes in the game and they are varied and interactive. there is a unique replacement scene. There is a storybook scene in which you locate items in sentences with highlighted letters. There are also a couple of silhouette scenes. In one of these scenes you “obliterate” ghosts using the flash feature on your cellphone. There is a list of items which includes a small mini-puzzle, which is a nice touch. There is also a multiple-step scene in which you locate items and replace them back into the scene.
PUZZLES: There are 28 puzzles in the game. There are quite a variety of puzzles which are all easy but creatively designed. They include two maze puzzles. One involves the characters from the “love triangle.” The other maze puzzle is one which involves moving through a maze to restore a picture. There are several matching puzzles, a jigsaw puzzle to restore a photograph, a replacement puzzle (which is more of a HOP scene) and an assembly puzzle used to create symbols. The best puzzles for me are the dot-to-dot puzzles which involve creating two constellations by connecting stars!
LEVELS: Casual, Normal, Hard, Custom Hints: 10 to 35 seconds Skips: 10 to 50 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game Map is given to you at the start of the game 9 Achievements Collect 25 items – 5 each in 5 categories: (1) Against the rules (2) Damsel in distress (3) Adam’s legacy (4) Timepieces and (5) Hope for redemption Collect points and attain 8 journalist ranks Morphing objects: Collect 35 beyond objects Strategy guide - 52 pages 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art, 3 Screensavers, Music
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
HOP SCENES: You can opt to play a puzzle instead of the HOP scene.
A. Mini-HOP scene. Find 6 missing boards to build a ladder. B. Replacement. Place items given to you into the correct location within the scene. C. Storybook. Locate items mentioned in highlighted letters within sentences. D. Silhouette. Using a camera phone – locate and destroy 5 ghosts. E. Silhouette items. F. List of items to locate. There is a mini-maze puzzle within this scene G. Multiple step. (1) List of items to locate. (2) Return the discovered items back into the scene
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Maze puzzle. Move the figures of Edgar and Ben Carmer to the center of the maze where Helen is located. Moving Edgar causes Ben to move in the opposite direction. Rating: 2 B. Jigsaw puzzle. Restore a photograph by places pieces into positon. Rating: 1 C. Cryptogram puzzle. Replace letters with numbers according to a code to open a lock. Rating: 1 D. Matching puzzle. Match up a series of valves to turn off water. Rating: 1 E. Matching puzzle. Match up symbols under bricks to climb up a rope. 3X Rating: 1 F. Matching puzzle. Match up like items to open up a locked portal. Rating: 1 G. Dot-to-dot puzzle. Create two star constellations by “connecting the dots” within a certain number of moves. 2X Rating: 2 H. Replacement puzzle. Locate colored items and place them into the proper position on a B&W picture. (To me, more of a HOP scene than a puzzle). Rating: 1 I. Matching puzzle. Match up buttons on a sound machine with those on a phone. Rating: 1 J. Maze puzzle. Uncover pieces of a picture by pressing on a series of blocks without retracing your steps. 3X Rating: 2 K. Assembly puzzle. Choose parts of symbols and combine them to create a full symbol. Rating: 2
fromI have a “burning” desire to purchase a pair of the glasses from this game. Being able to see the past is awesome and useful as well. I can now see what antics my cat is up to while I am away!
OVERVIEW: Fire up your broom and fly to Menzbruck in another OUTSTANDING game! Domini games is boiling up a witch’s brew of double trouble in this 5-star game. I have a “burning” desire to play this game and it will be an automatic purchase for me. Meet Katharina, a legacy witch (the first one to be born in 500 years), who finds herself in a “nightmare” situation. She is being haunted by Maglena, a witch burned at the stake during the Middle Ages.
Unfortunately for Katharina, this ghost is out for revenge and trying to turn Katharina into a witch to exact that revenge. Our angry ghost will be burning a path of mayhem until she is stopped! . Can you stop Maglena from possessing Katharina?
The graphics are well-done. The pace is excellent. The game keeps you engaged with a variety of activities. There are more puzzles than HOP scenes in the game. You collect tarot cards and dungeon devices. You are given a Witch Book in which to place pages of information about what items and skills every good witch should possess. You are also given a special pair of glasses to see the past of Maglena during the witch trials of the Middle Ages.
HOP SCENES: There are 13 in the game and they are quite creative. They include a couple of lists of items to locate. However, they are very interactive. There is a storybook scene to give information on the story. I liked one of the HOP scenes which has you rummaging through kitchen cabinets to locate items. I felt it was very creatively designed. Other scenes include silhouette, matching, and one multiple-step one. The game includes a thematic Match-3 game to play in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: There are 23 in the game and ALL EXCELLENT! What I particularly love about Domini games is the ability to choose between an easy and hard option to most of their puzzles Those puzzles which do not provide and easy and hard option, are varied in difficulty.
Puzzles in the demo include a couple of switch puzzles to restore some art pieces; a matching puzzle involving a medallion; a sequence puzzle and a sliding tiles puzzle. There is a unique lock pick puzzle involving barrettes. This is a time consuming, tricky puzzle which sends you back to the beginning if you make a mistake. There is also a variation of a Match-3 game in which you align rows and columns with the same items to remove them.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Custom Hints and Skips – 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is given to you at the start of the game A Witch book in which you collect pages containing information all good witches should know 33 Achievements Glasses to see the past Collect 36 morphing tarot cards and 15 dungeon devices 14 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art, Music Soundtracks SNAKE ALERT!
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES
HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a thematic Match 3 game instead
A. List of items to locate. There is a mini-puzzle (sequence puzzle) in this scene. B. Multiple-step. (1) Silhouette. Locate a specific number of an item. (2) List of items to locate C. Storybook. Locate items listed in BOLD letters. D. List of items to locate. 2X. You move from one drawer in a cabinet to another to locate items. Very creative E. Silhouette items. Locate a number of the items to remove the icon for the scene. There is a matching puzzle in this scene as well.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy (2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Moving tiles puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. To open a box, move bars away from a chain which is situated in the middle of the box. B. Switch puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Switch up pieces on a medallion until the image is restored. C. Matching puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Match up symbols on a medallion D. Switch puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Switch 3 tiles in 4 circles until all the tiles in the three circles are the same color. E. Lock pick/Sequence puzzle. Move hair barrettes to open a lock. You will have three positions in which you must move the barrettes. You get a color guide on the side. Moving a barrette to the wrong position resets the whole lock sequence. Rating: 3 (time consuming) F. Sliding tiles puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Swap tiles into place to create a picture. Hard version has more tile to swap. G. Switch puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Switch tokens to match up to those on the outside of the ring. H. Sliding Tiles puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Rotate squares to restore a picture. Moving one affects the movement of the others. I. Sequence puzzle. Choice between Easy and Hard. Place stones in the correct sequence to tell a story. J. Switch puzzle. Switch heads on statues so that each statue has the correct head according to a given diagram. Rating: 2 K. Variation of a Match 3 game. Move lines of symbols so that all the symbols in the columns are the same. Clear the board of all symbols. Rating: 3. Such a great puzzle!
OVERVIEW: Congrats creepy, psycho Alex! You are about to be married to poor Ryan! This should be the happiest time of your life! Unfortunately for both you and your husband-to-be, you may be a little psychologically unhinged – actually quite mad in this lackluster 3-star game.
You are the product of an unhappy childhood. Your sister died at 13 which resulted in family conflict causing a family breakup in which your father left. Your mother buried herself in her work leaving you alone. Your only friends became some creepy Harlequin dolls – one blue and one red. (These creepy little dolls will follow you throughout the game taunting you and giving advice).
Now, you possess a family heirloom mirror. Lately, when you look into the mirror, you see another entity peering back at you. Worse yet, this entity is trying to take over your life. Her name is Xela (hint - your name backwards), a resident of the Mirror World, and a complete opposite of you in personality and appearance. Will you make it to the altar or will Xela take your place forcing you into oblivion within this Mirror World?
This is a psychological thriller in the style of Mad Head Games; however it is not as well-created as their games. The graphics are surrealistic. I would have liked to see more dark imagery to emphasize Alex’s emotional and psychological struggle,
The pace is very slow. With the back-and-forth activity combined with nondescript HOP scenes and extremely easy puzzles, I found the demo very boring – a yawn fest! In the beta there are more HOP scenes than puzzles, which, to me, is a little disappointing. I would think in a psychological thriller you would want the opposite. There is only one collectible which is a very large champagne glass. If you miss seeing these glasses, you should probably see your optometrist! They practically jump out at you. You also have 13 achievements.
I would recommend this game for those who like the thrill of romance, soap operas, or extremely easy games with little challenge. This game should appeal to beginner and intermediate players. It will be a pass for me. To me this game is NOT CE WORTHY!
HOP SCENES: I did not feel the HOP scenes were as well done as in other games. There are three storybook scenes to tell the story of the protagonist. Items are listed in bright yellow letters. There are also lists of items to locate. There is a matching scene, a silhouette scene and one involving spotting the differences between two scenes. They could be better constructed.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are all easy. However, they are better constructed than the HOP scenes. In one, you must go through a maze so that every block of the maze is visited without retracing your steps. There is also a sequence puzzle involving repeating notes on a piano keyboard, a matching puzzle involving notes and musical symbols, and an assembly puzzle in which you place books into a box with no gaps between the books. There is one multiple-step puzzle involving separating roses within a certain number of steps and connecting lights without retracing your steps.
LEVELS: Dream, Nightmare, Night Terror, Custom Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game 13 Achievements Collect 40 champagne glasses which practically jump out at you. No effort needed here. 8 Wallpapers, Music, 7 Sketches
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. Storybook sequence. Look for items highlighted in yellow letters to tell the story of the protagonist. 3 scenes with 4 items each. B. List of items to locate. Somewhat interactive C. Storybook scene. Locate items listed in bright yellow letters. D. List of items to locate. As you locate the items you will locate mirror shards to place back into mirrors. E. Matching. Pair up two like items. Reused scene F. Silhouette. With basket in hand, search for those items relevant to your proposal. G. List of items to locate. Very interactive H. Spot the differences between two scenes I. Storybook sequence to restore your memory of your engagement.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy (2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult A. Maze puzzle. Go through a maze so that every block of the maze is visited once without retracing your steps. Rating: 1 B. Sequence puzzle. Follow a sequence on piano keys. Rating: 2 C. Matching puzzle. Match up notes and musical signs according to a diagram. Rating: 1 D. Assembly puzzle. Place books into a cubby hole so that all the books fit into the hole with no gaps. Rating: 2 E. Jigsaw puzzle. Reassemble glass doors by placing shards into the proper location. Rating: 2 F. Multiple step. Logic puzzles. (1) Separate roses from leaves using 3 lines. (2) Connect lights without retracing your steps. Rating: 2
ENTER A WORLD OF TALES AND REWRITE THE FUTURE IN A 5-STAR MASTERPIECE
PostedSeptember 24, 2016
sunnyglow
fromWriting the “The Story of My Life” is time-consuming. Daily I am writing, editing and rewriting the story. Adding and deleting characters and plots could take forever; however, there will be a final chapter and hopefully a successful book!
PROLOGUE – 6 CHAPTERS – EPILOGUE – BONUS CHAPTER – REVIEW BASED ON DEMO PLUS CHAPTER 3
OVERVIEW: Welcome to the world of tales, Helen! Test your literary skills as you rewrite your way through a series of stories brought to life by Benedict Bells, a famous author. This author has captured your boyfriend Ian’s soul, but for what reason? Bells has been a mentor to Ian, an aspiring writer. A secret doorway connecting the real world with Taleworld, created by writers, holds the key. With pen in hand, enter a series of these tales to locate and free Ian’s soul while battling obstacles thrown in your path. Time is running out! Save your boyfriend before both the game and your story end.
Kudos to Mad Head for another outstanding 5-star game with its suspenseful, well-written story. Did Mad Head enter Taleworld and bring back the story for this game? No matter! You will be kept on your literary toes running from one tale to another in this game. Each tale has a different setting and the graphics well depict each tale. The HOP scenes are creative. The puzzles are all easy except for one puzzle in the demo; however, they are thematic and creative as well. This is great game especially written for those who have a penchant for writing.
“THE HIDDEN DOORWAY.” You receive a “popup book” written by Ian in which you will edit words to change the outcome of the story. You must choose between two words which will either provide a change in the scene to help you proceed or provide an inventory item to help you proceed.
HOP SCENES: The scenes include lists of items to locate and silhouette. One of the scenes sees you using a telescope to locate items.
PUZZLES: The puzzles vary in style and difficulty. They include two maze puzzles. In one you must create a path for a ball to descend from the top of the maze to the bottom. The other maze puzzle has three parts, each one increasing in difficulty in which you must eliminate shrubs with some shears. There is also an easy jigsaw puzzle and a fiendish planetary puzzle in which you must move planets into position. This is not an easy task! There are mini-interactive puzzles throughout where you must locate items to replace words in a book to change the story.
AFTER THE DEMO: Chapter 3. The plot thickens as you enter Taleworld. You discover some secrets about Ian. Write yourself into the story and try to solve the mystery behind this game. The HOP scenes include more lists of items, a matching scene and a storybook sequence explaining in more detail about the story behind the game. . The puzzles are all easy and include matching puzzles and a sequence puzzle.
LEVELS: Casual Writer, Experienced Writer, Master Writer, Critic (Custom) Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the start of the game 27 Achievements - 9 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze Collect 32 Doorway symbols Collect Morphing objects throughout the game Replay 16 HOP scenes Concept Art, Music, Wallpaper, Avatars, Nostalgia Section, Scrapbook and a Gardening Puzzle Strategy Guide – 56 pages
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
HOP SCENES:
A. List of items to locate. Interactive and very creative. B. Silhouette. Locate 3 each of 4 silhouette items before removing the silhouette. C. Using a telescope, locate symbols on rocks to open a portal Very creative! D. List of items to locate. As you locate items, you uncover pieces of a picture. AFTER THE DEMO: E. Using a magnifying glass, look for clues around the scene. Very creative F. List of items to locate G. Matching scene. Match up a letter or package with a symbol of something on the package. H. Storybook sequence. Silhouette. Locate items while hearing the story of Taleworld.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
Book puzzle: Throughout the game you will refer to a book written by your boyfriend, Ian, “The Hidden Doorway.” You will choose words to either provide items you need to help you in the scene or change the environment in some way
A. Maze puzzle. Switch four pieces so that a maze is created to move a ball from the top of a circle to the bottom. Rating: 2 B. Maze puzzle. Cut bushes in a garden using garden shears so that all bushes are eliminated. You must go in a straight line and not retrace your steps. 3 X. Increase in difficulty 1 to 3 C. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate two circles to moving planets to their proper position on the orbits of two suns. Not difficult if you use some logical reasoning in positioning them. Rating: 3 D. Jigsaw puzzle. Replace the proper pieces back onto a diagram to create the picture of a bird. There are more pieces than needed in this puzzle. Not that easy! Rating: 2 AFTER THE DEMO: E. Match up clues with a crime scene. Rating: 2 F. Matching puzzle. Rating: 1 G. Sequence puzzle. Place books in the correct order by random guessing. Rating: 2 H. Matching puzzle. Match up symbols with those on a cryptex.
Hearken all residents of BFG! You are cordially invited to the royal wedding of King Gwyn to the beautiful Gerda in a 5-star celebration. Like a breath of fresh air, we are also celebrating some new and creative puzzles in this game. The graphics are breathtaking - a fairy tale world come-to-life. The story is a mishmash of elements and themes from several fairy tales including a variation of the theme from “Aladdin’s Lamp,” with the magic lamp being replaced by a magic tinderbox with a cloaked genie hidden inside.
The HOP scenes are all FROGS and the puzzles are truly “a-maze-ing!” You will find yourself wandering through several maze puzzles in this game! Extras include jigsaw puzzle pieces to open up parables and you also collect signs. You can replay the puzzles and HOP scenes.
This is the EIPIX I remember from days of yore and whose games I fell in love with! Welcome back EIPIX to the Kingdom of Gaming Wizards! My knights in shining armor have returned to their rightful place of “honour” (a little British spelling) at the BFG Round Table!
Alas, my lords and ladies, I will not be able to attend this wedding. Feeling faint of heart, this game will be a pass for me. I am suffering from too much whimsy from all the fairy tale games of late. Someday, perhaps my Prince Charming will also appear and bring with him a precious jewel just for me – A GAME WHICH IS NOT A SUGARY SWEET FAIRY TALE DELIGHT!
HOP SCENES: In keeping with the fairy tale theme, the four scenes in the demo are all FROGS. I am also certain our bride did not have to kiss a FROG to find her prince!
PUZZLES: The puzzles vary in style and difficulty. They are creatively designed and some are thematic as well. There is a super-puzzle which includes three different maze puzzles. Each puzzle in the super puzzle is a maze involving a knight conquering obstacles in his path; however, each one is set up differently. Other puzzles include a rope puzzle which requires you to untangle ropes. There is also a mathematical puzzle in which you must set up a path for knight to reach a castle.
STORY: It seems Gerda has brought some extra baggage (namely an old friend) into this marriage. Her BFF, Kai, is also in love with her and wants her as his bride as well. (When asked to be the “best man,” he probably thought that meant he was the “best man” for Gerda!). He is out to stop the wedding at all costs which may rest with a magical tinder box with a cloaked genie inside granting Kai’s every wish. With Kai’s wishes destroying everything - can true love save the Mountain Kingdom?
LEVELS: Casual, Hard, Insane, Custom Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game 12 Achievements Replay 21 puzzles and 17 HOP scenes Collect puzzle pieces to open up 7 parables Collect 39 signs 8 Wallpapers, 3 Concept Art, 16 videos, souvenirs,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
HOP SCENES: All the scenes are FROGS used to create inventory items
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces from three masks and place them into the correct location on each mask. Rating: 1 B. Rope puzzle. Untangle ropes by moving them on tracks in a circular fashion to move them away from each other. Rating: 2 C. Super puzzle. 3 Maze puzzles. (1) Lead a knight through a maze defeating obstacles in his path. (2) Move a knight through rooms which rotate until he reaches his goal. If you are trapped in a room you must start over. (3) Swap tiles to create a path for the knight to get his prize. Rating for all: 2 D. Mathematical puzzle. Create a path by using 6 numbered tiles which move a specific amount of step forward or backward to set up the route all while avoiding fires in your path. Rating: 3