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 uncover who's trying to destroy the Osmont family in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
126 of 221 found this review helpful
GRANDMA! WHAT A BIG HIT YOU HAVE!
PostedMarch 3, 2022
sunnyglow
fromSending prayers and well wishes to the staff at GrandMA Studios along with their fellow countrymen in the Ukraine. May peace come soon to this region.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
GrandMA! What a big hit you have with this game! All the better for us to sink out teeth into! It has been some time since we have seen anything from our GrandMA; however, this game has made it worth the wait! This game has it all – a well-written story, a good pace, and creatively designed HOP scenes and mini-games. This is a HOP lover’s delight! The HOP scenes in this game are puzzle-like and highly interactive. Most of the items require some interaction with other items within the scene. I found some of these scenes somewhat perplexing in trying to figure out what steps I needed to do to remove the items!
I love the story behind this game. I found it a suspenseful thriller. Play a detective on a case involving a spendthrift Bluebeard with a penchant for wealthy women. However, his trips down the aisle are sidetracked by a ghost from his past who will help you save his victims.
There are three chapters within this game. The main game is called “Mysterious Attack.” The bonus chapter is called “Coffin Breathing” and there is a third chapter called “The Beginning of the Nightmare.” The third chapter is a HOP scene which narrates the prologue of the game. It is a storybook HOP scene in which the player moves from scene-to-scene searching for items and then returning them to their proper location within the scenes. After locating all the items, a story unfolds telling the fate of the main characters of the game.
There are two collectibles, morphing flowers and jigsaw puzzle pieces. I found some of these difficult to locate. Many of those morphing flowers are blended in with other flowers, making them difficult to locate. The jigsaw puzzle pieces are tiny and well-hidden, usually within a dimly lit or dark background. I needed to consult the strategy guide to locate some of them. There is an indicator bar on the left side of the screen which indicates how many collectibles are within each scene and how many are remaining to be located. Most of the scenes contain two morphing flowers and one jigsaw puzzle piece hidden in a close-up scene.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw pieces used to assemble a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game. The puzzle creates a screen saver you can download.
• Collect 48 morphing flowers
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 9 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw pieces used to assemble a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game. The puzzle creates a screen saver you can download.
• Collect 48 morphing flowers
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 9 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play Annabelle, Count Victor Osmont’s newest bride. As a lonely woman, recovering from the death of your father, you are burdened with running the family business. However, Count Osmont has offered to help you with running this business and you have given him contractual rights to do so. After saying “I do,” find yourself trapped by the count’s cohort, Uric. Battle this evil sorcerer to gain your freedom. I found this a nice addition to the game. There are three HOP scenes and four mini-games. It provides more background and clarification for the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes with the game, fourteen (14) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. The scenes are lists of items, silhouette scenes, and matching scenes; however, they are extremely interactive, puzzle-like, and well-designed. Every scene requires searches for items which are combined with another item or used in some way to locate the item to be removed. These are some of the best HOP scenes I have seen in some time.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games, nine (9) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. I loved playing these puzzles because some are unique, different than those from other developers. I found most of the puzzles easy or of middle difficulty. I did not find any which were challenging. I feel some of the HOP scenes were more difficult to play than the mini-games.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces of a picture to restore it. The left side is in black-and-white and the right side in color. Each time a piece is switched, the color changes from black-and-white to color and vice versa.
B. Strategy puzzle. Turn and manipulate 5 valves so that 3 colored pressure indicators have their pressure set to the numbers as indicated in the center of the grid.
C. Sequence puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf according to a given pattern.
D. Maze puzzle. On a circular disk, rotate 3 circular rings, each containing path segments so that paths are created for each of 3 colored marbles on the inside of the grid, linking each one to like-colored tokens on the outside of the circular grid.
E. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle a fishing line so the lines do not overlap each other
F. Map puzzle. Reach a cemetery by going down various paths, locating items along the way to use within the scenes. The player will need to retrace their steps and perform some actions before receiving all the inventory needed to reach the cemetery
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Sequence puzzle. Open a pair of handcuffs by repeating the sequence in which the tumblers are pressed. 2X
H. Matching puzzle. Find pairs with the same symbols to defeat a dragon. The tokens are scrambled after each 2 matches.
B. Strategy puzzle. Turn and manipulate 5 valves so that 3 colored pressure indicators have their pressure set to the numbers as indicated in the center of the grid.
C. Sequence puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf according to a given pattern.
D. Maze puzzle. On a circular disk, rotate 3 circular rings, each containing path segments so that paths are created for each of 3 colored marbles on the inside of the grid, linking each one to like-colored tokens on the outside of the circular grid.
E. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle a fishing line so the lines do not overlap each other
F. Map puzzle. Reach a cemetery by going down various paths, locating items along the way to use within the scenes. The player will need to retrace their steps and perform some actions before receiving all the inventory needed to reach the cemetery
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Sequence puzzle. Open a pair of handcuffs by repeating the sequence in which the tumblers are pressed. 2X
H. Matching puzzle. Find pairs with the same symbols to defeat a dragon. The tokens are scrambled after each 2 matches.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your kingdom from a malevolent creature in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 221 found this review helpful
A FAIRY TALE WITH A BITE
PostedFebruary 24, 2022
sunnyglow
fromTo save the kingdom, you may want to keep this princess in her glass coffin and tell Prince Charming to stay away. A kiss from this maiden will awaken more than a budding love affair.
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 pages
OVERVIEW: Enjoy a fractured fairy tale, one in which Snow White’s reputation as a poor sweet, doe-eyed princess bedeviled by a mean, vain stepmother is turned upside down. In this game, our usually purer-than-the-driven-snow maiden is showing her fangs and wicked attitude. Meanwhile, her stepmother, usually portrayed as the Queen of Mean is a kind, sweet mother figure trying to save her stepdaughter and the kingdom as well. Play the stepmother, Martha, as she traverses the kingdom searching for her husband, the King and a witch who may hold the key on how to save her stepdaughter.
Overall, how did I feel about this game? I loved it! Elephant Games, I feel, put a lot of effort into this game and it is a definite improvement from many of their offerings of late. I feel the game is in the Goldilocks zone - is the right size – not too short and not so long it becomes monotonous and boring. I did encounter a few minor problems, but, overall, I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the game along with some fantastic puzzles and HOP scenes. I feel the pace is excellent with a good number of creatively designed HOP scenes and puzzles. It is not the best game I have played lately; however, it is a decent game.
MECHANICS: The game has the same format as Elephant’s other games. There are two collectibles, one being puzzle pieces. The puzzles pieces appear in the closeup shots within the scene. They are used to play four (4) jigsaw puzzles upon completion of the game. The other collectibles are dwarf dolls representing the seven dwarfs and the royal court. I found both easy to locate. The dolls, which look like voodoo dolls to me, practically jump out from the screen! The graphics are excellent, giving the game a sugary fairy tale feel combined with a touch of the macabre. I would have preferred the screenshots for the collectibles be lettered or numbered. And, unfortunately, some of the screenshots are not in the correct sequential order. The Expedition Room allows the player to return to the scenes to locate any missing collectibles. The Secret Room provides for more searches of new items within the gaming scenes.
In Summary:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 23 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles which are played upon completion of the game
• Collect the 12 dwarf dolls representing the 7 dwarves from the Snow White fairy tale plus the royal court
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition room which allows the player to return to the scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Secret room which allows the player to find more items within the scenes of the game. This is timed
• 23 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles which are played upon completion of the game
• Collect the 12 dwarf dolls representing the 7 dwarves from the Snow White fairy tale plus the royal court
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition room which allows the player to return to the scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Secret room which allows the player to find more items within the scenes of the game. This is timed
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another story. The Dwarf Kingdom is planning their yearly celebration commemorating the founding of the kingdom. Play a detective contacted by the Dwarf King to locate their missing music conductor and decorations for the celebration. Sleuth throughout the kingdom to discover what happened to both. I thought it was a nice addition to the game. The chapter has four (4) HOP scenes and seven (7) puzzles. There are two puzzles and one HOP scene which I feel are exceptional. I loved the ending to the chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Most of the scenes are either lists of items or silhouette. There are also quite a few mini-HOP scenes consisting of searches for six (6) items. There are storybook scenes as well, with items highlighted within a narration which must be located within the pages of some book. Most of the scenes are interactive. I feel these scenes are better than they have been within the recent past. My favorite is one in which items are placed on a vanity with a mirror. The items must be placed so they are mirror images of the item seen in the mirror.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games. I feel the puzzles within this game are also a vastly improved from previous games as well. There is a Gold-Ruberg puzzle in this game. It consists of three sequential puzzles. I especially enjoyed playing a variation of a Match-3 game within the Bonus Chapter. This puzzle requires placing strings of tokens into the grid trying to create a string of 6 of the same token which results in removing the string of tokens.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 3 intertwined rings, each with 3 colored gems on them, so that each gem is next to its matching color on a grid.
B. Sliding tiles puzzle. Rotate and slide 9 tiles on a grid to restore an image.
C. Map/Escape puzzle. Escape dark creatures who are following you through the catacombs. Choose one of 3 paths at the right time to avoid guards from stopping you. 3X. The segments Increase in difficulty with 3 guards at the final escape.
D. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
1. Tracing puzzle. Use 3 colored knots to trace their same-colored strings to release your handcuffs.
2. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no parts of the rope cross each other.
3. Switch puzzle. With the same rope, switch colored gems by sliding them on the rope with each resting on its matching color slot.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch the body parts of 3 birds – each with 3 parts so the birds have parts of the same color Use skeletal hands to move the parts.
F. Switch/Connection puzzle. Slide tokens with path segments on them so that a path is created from a bat’s mouth on the left to one on the right. 3X Paths created become more complex with each turn
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Switch puzzle. Switch puzzles pieces to create an image. The player works with half the board at a time.
H. Alignment puzzle. Match up shadows with the actual items in a theater scene. Use arrows as well to increase or decrease the size.
I. Match-3 or more puzzle. Place tile clusters into a grid, placing the tokens in such a way to get 6 of them concentric with each other to remove them. Do this with all the tokens to fill 3 vats of water. When every chain of 6 items is removed, a vat get water added to it.
J. Assembly puzzle. Create a key by choosing the proper drill to create the indentation, using arrows to position the drill as well.
B. Sliding tiles puzzle. Rotate and slide 9 tiles on a grid to restore an image.
C. Map/Escape puzzle. Escape dark creatures who are following you through the catacombs. Choose one of 3 paths at the right time to avoid guards from stopping you. 3X. The segments Increase in difficulty with 3 guards at the final escape.
D. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
1. Tracing puzzle. Use 3 colored knots to trace their same-colored strings to release your handcuffs.
2. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so no parts of the rope cross each other.
3. Switch puzzle. With the same rope, switch colored gems by sliding them on the rope with each resting on its matching color slot.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch the body parts of 3 birds – each with 3 parts so the birds have parts of the same color Use skeletal hands to move the parts.
F. Switch/Connection puzzle. Slide tokens with path segments on them so that a path is created from a bat’s mouth on the left to one on the right. 3X Paths created become more complex with each turn
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Switch puzzle. Switch puzzles pieces to create an image. The player works with half the board at a time.
H. Alignment puzzle. Match up shadows with the actual items in a theater scene. Use arrows as well to increase or decrease the size.
I. Match-3 or more puzzle. Place tile clusters into a grid, placing the tokens in such a way to get 6 of them concentric with each other to remove them. Do this with all the tokens to fill 3 vats of water. When every chain of 6 items is removed, a vat get water added to it.
J. Assembly puzzle. Create a key by choosing the proper drill to create the indentation, using arrows to position the drill as well.
I recommend this game!
As a newly recruited agent, it’s your job to uncover what lies behind the real declassified UFO sightings in this chilling hidden object game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
58 of 140 found this review helpful
ARE EXTRATERRESTRIAL SPACECRAFT OR THOUSANDS OF WEATHER BALLOONS INVADING OUR AIR SPACE?
PostedFebruary 23, 2022
sunnyglow
fromLooking up and watching the universe. From the 1947 Roswell UFO crash to the present day SETI Institute, we are patiently reaching out, listening, and waiting for extraterrestrial contact!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Prepare for an alien invasion! Return to the 1950’s, when everyone liked “Ike,” Ding Dong School and Howdy Doody were considered children’s programming and bomb shelters popped up in case some Commie dropped an atomic bomb. However, rest assured, if children were in school, no need for a bomb shelter, merely hiding under their desks would suffice as a protective measure against that mushroom cloud.
After the end of WWII, besides the Red Scare, flying saucers with aliens were seen as the next threat to U.S. national security. Thus, Project Blue Book, a secret clandestine governmental operation was founded by the military to keep track of any little green aliens plotting to attack the world in an alien invasion.
I am a huge fan of the History Channel’s Project Blue Book series. However, I am less enthusiastic about this game. I am surprised this game was endorsed by the History Channel. It falls short of what one would expect from this award-winning series. The graphics are very primitive. However, it does provide some relatively realistic scenes from that period. The game does include cartoon caricatures of the main characters from the series. However, there are no voiceovers, at least none which I found in playing the first chapter and part the second. The voices of famous actors are supposedly within this game; however, I did not hear any voiceovers at all. Perhaps they appear later in the game?
The stories and the characters are from the beginning of the series. The game follows the story of Dr. Allen Hynek, an astrophysicist from Ohio State University ,enlisted to study UFO sightings. Starting his research as a skeptic in the beginning, his view changed later in life, embracing the reality of an alien presence on this planet both in the present and in the past as well.
The player will play 3 different cases. Each case involves searching through number of scenes for clue items. Successive HOP scenes are played until all clue items are discovered from that scene. Upon locating a clue item, the player is asked to investigate it and add it to his Blue Book for further analysis. At the end of the case, the player is involved in manipulating the clue items in some way. The first case is Case 101: The Fuller Dogfight. The second case is Case 102: The Flatwoods Monster. You collect five stars per scene and those are earned by playing numerous scenes until you have earned all 5 stars.
There are no directions on how to play the game. It was through trial and error that I figured out what to do within the game. I wish there was more guidance given on how to operate the game. The game has a case, Case 100, which is completed, and I have no idea why that was included within the game. It serves no purpose but may relate to the ending of the game. Having this case added made the game seem even more confusing to me.
MECHANICS:
• Each case has numerous scenes in which you play several HOP scenes until you collect the clue items which you investigate. Scenes have between one to four clue items. The number of scenes increases as you proceed in the game. In case 101 there are 7 – in case 102 there are 9.
• Scenes alternate between lists of items, silhouette, and searches for one item at a time
• Play each scene until you are awarded 5 stars and have collected all clue items.
• Upon receipt of a clue item, you are taken to the investigation section where the item is recorded and added to your Blue Book.
• There are four (4) partitions within the menu of the game:
a. Mini-games – provide games in which to earn hints
b. Active Leads – after collecting enough clues, provides information about the case
c. Story – provides the background story for the game
d. Blue Book - collects the clue items and analyzes the items.
• The player is timed and scored. The score is based upon the time used in searching the scenes for the items times the number of items located. If a scene is not finished in the allotted time, the scene must be replayed. Hints can be used to locate items, which are earned by playing mini-games.
• The player can either play multiple HOP scenes within the same scene (most have 10 plays or more) or switch back and forth between scenes within the case.
• The player moves up in rank as they proceed in the game. Begin with Airman First Class, which is followed by Staff Sergeant.
• Hints: You can play mini-games to receive hints., usually one hint per game played. The games are:
a. Image Swap, a switch puzzle in which fragments of the scene are switched until all are placed in the proper location
b. Match-3 puzzle in which items are switched to get a score of 3500 points before the clock runs out of time.
c. Jigsaw puzzle which is also timed. Jigsaw pieces stick together if connected correctly
d. Redaction puzzle. Place 4 fragments with cutouts in them so they fit together to redact (block out) lines of text.
• Scenes alternate between lists of items, silhouette, and searches for one item at a time
• Play each scene until you are awarded 5 stars and have collected all clue items.
• Upon receipt of a clue item, you are taken to the investigation section where the item is recorded and added to your Blue Book.
• There are four (4) partitions within the menu of the game:
a. Mini-games – provide games in which to earn hints
b. Active Leads – after collecting enough clues, provides information about the case
c. Story – provides the background story for the game
d. Blue Book - collects the clue items and analyzes the items.
• The player is timed and scored. The score is based upon the time used in searching the scenes for the items times the number of items located. If a scene is not finished in the allotted time, the scene must be replayed. Hints can be used to locate items, which are earned by playing mini-games.
• The player can either play multiple HOP scenes within the same scene (most have 10 plays or more) or switch back and forth between scenes within the case.
• The player moves up in rank as they proceed in the game. Begin with Airman First Class, which is followed by Staff Sergeant.
• Hints: You can play mini-games to receive hints., usually one hint per game played. The games are:
a. Image Swap, a switch puzzle in which fragments of the scene are switched until all are placed in the proper location
b. Match-3 puzzle in which items are switched to get a score of 3500 points before the clock runs out of time.
c. Jigsaw puzzle which is also timed. Jigsaw pieces stick together if connected correctly
d. Redaction puzzle. Place 4 fragments with cutouts in them so they fit together to redact (block out) lines of text.
SAME ITEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. This is a HOP game so one would expect successive HOP scenes. However, what I disliked about the game is the repetition of items to be located, all within the same scene. Some of the items to be located are in EVERY HOP scene. Why? Why not provide a variety of items to locate? I still cannot understand why this game has the player search for the same items in up to ten or eleven searches within the same scene. However, some of the items are moved in successive searches, but still, it became monotonous searching for the same items repeatedly.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the inhabitants of Atlantis in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
130 of 243 found this review helpful
BOOK ME A FLIGHT TO THIS LOST WORLD
PostedFebruary 17, 2022
sunnyglow
fromDefying gravity? Aha! Is Gravitational Dust the secret of all those frequent flyers in other lost worlds? It may account for all ‘dem’ witches and monkeys in Oz being airborne along with Peter Pan in Never Neverland.
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 52 pages (My Time: 9 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 52 pages (My Time: 9 Hours)
Always wanted to discover a lost world, perhaps Atlantis? In this game, book a flight to Greenland where a secret entrance within a mountain transports you into a Lost World, a place consisting of parallel worlds of incredible beauty, and one which can only be discovered within the world of gaming. While enjoying the natural beauty of these lands, find a way to save them from a misguided evildoer who may destroy their existence.
Kudos to Domini Games on another gaming masterpiece. What I loved most about this game are the incredibly beautiful scenes depicting the flora and fauna of this lost world. The artwork in this game is exquisite. The illustrations depicting the lush, natural beauty of Arcalium are works of art. Domini produces more game for the money and this one is no exception. It is longer than most of their games. Although it is a long game, it has a good pace with lots of activities including some beautiful and creatively designed HOP scenes and many mini-games, most of which can be played in either an easy or hard version.
This game has the same format as the other Domini games. It has three collectibles - morphing Arcalium flowers and items belonging to the researcher in the game, Harper. Collect pearls which can be exchanged at the end of the game for items to outfit an Atlantean chamber. Domini has some of the collectibles well-hidden; however, most can be readily seen. Most of the mini-games can be played in either an easy version or a hard version. The difficulty can be set in the game’s menu but can be changed if any puzzle seems too hard or too easy. A thematic Match-3 game can be played instead of the HOP scenes. A new feature in this game is the option to choose between two endings. I feel this is a nice touch although I would love to know the alternative ending I did not choose without replaying the entire game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing Arcalium flowers and 15 of Harper’s belongings
• Collect 70 pearls to exchange for items to place in an Atlantean Chamber
• 21 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Alternate endings. Choose between two scenarios on how the game ends.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing Arcalium flowers and 15 of Harper’s belongings
• Collect 70 pearls to exchange for items to place in an Atlantean Chamber
• 21 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Alternate endings. Choose between two scenarios on how the game ends.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Let the sunshine in? Not in this chapter! The chapter is set in the Parallel World where a vengeful resident is out to destroy the kingdom by destroying the barrier which protects the kingdom from the sun. Play Saberia, (a character from the main game), a soldier of the kingdom out to save the kingdom from this misguided evildoer. This is long chapter, with five (5) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games. It is a prequel explaining some aspects of the Lost World. It is a long chapter with the same quality of activities as the main game. I found it a nice addition to the game and a worthy addition to make this a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes in the game, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There is a variety of styles of HOP scenes within the game. They are interactive – many puzzle-like. Besides the typical lists of items and silhouette scenes, there are spot-the-difference scenes and searches for items which are then returned to the scene and used in some way. There are also scenes in which given items are placed into the scenes in the proper location. I found some of the scenes somewhat challenging to play. If you click too many times, a watch appears and halts your search for a few seconds. My favorite is a gorgeous scene in which pieces of plant life are placed within the scene where they belong.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes in the game, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There is a variety of styles of HOP scenes within the game. They are interactive – many puzzle-like. Besides the typical lists of items and silhouette scenes, there are spot-the-difference scenes and searches for items which are then returned to the scene and used in some way. There are also scenes in which given items are placed into the scenes in the proper location. I found some of the scenes somewhat challenging to play. If you click too many times, a watch appears and halts your search for a few seconds. My favorite is a gorgeous scene in which pieces of plant life are placed within the scene where they belong.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-two (32) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Most of the puzzles are offered in both an easy and hard version.
SPOILER: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES WITHIN THE GAME: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. Mirror/lamp puzzle. Move mirrors to redirect rays of light so that each ray shines on a gemstone of a matching color.
B. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place shaped wires into a grid so they fill the entire field leaving no empty spaces. The hard version has a more complex arrangement of wires.
C. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a newspaper token to the end of a maze using arrow buttons to rotate the token as needed. You must set up the entire route before pressing the start button. The token must match up in direction with the image shown at the stop points along the path. The hard version has a more difficult pathway to traverse.
D. E/H. Paint ball! Using an arcade gun, shoot colors onto a picture as per given symbols representing the colored pellets to shoot. The easy version has 6 colors and hard version requires using and combining 4 colors
E. E/H Maze puzzle. Select colored balls and place them into like-colored slots. The easy version has 4 balls; the hard version has 6.
F. E/H. Stacking puzzle. Place boxes onto a forklift so all fit and are aligned at the top.
G. E/H. Switch puzzle. Click on symbols on a 5 x 5 grid so that no column or row has the same symbol more than once. The hard version has some stationary symbols which cannot be changed.
H. E/H. Maze puzzle. Drive a snowmobile while avoiding obstacles within its path. The hard version has more obstacles.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. E/H. Scale up a wall by landing on designated rocks using handprints and footprints. 3X
J. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Place books in order from left to right in numerical order. The hard version has 10 books the easy version has 7.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch colored tokens along paths to connect them with their matching slots. The easy version has one more path than the hard version.
L. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Entrap a dog within a grid using stones. Move one step at a time placing a stone. The dog will then move one step to escape being trapped. The hard version has more stones to place and a bigger grid.
M. E/H. Block puzzle. Move blocks on a grid to create a path for red and blue crystals to exchange places. The hard version has a larger grid and more blocks to maneuver and move out of the way to open a path.
B. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place shaped wires into a grid so they fill the entire field leaving no empty spaces. The hard version has a more complex arrangement of wires.
C. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a newspaper token to the end of a maze using arrow buttons to rotate the token as needed. You must set up the entire route before pressing the start button. The token must match up in direction with the image shown at the stop points along the path. The hard version has a more difficult pathway to traverse.
D. E/H. Paint ball! Using an arcade gun, shoot colors onto a picture as per given symbols representing the colored pellets to shoot. The easy version has 6 colors and hard version requires using and combining 4 colors
E. E/H Maze puzzle. Select colored balls and place them into like-colored slots. The easy version has 4 balls; the hard version has 6.
F. E/H. Stacking puzzle. Place boxes onto a forklift so all fit and are aligned at the top.
G. E/H. Switch puzzle. Click on symbols on a 5 x 5 grid so that no column or row has the same symbol more than once. The hard version has some stationary symbols which cannot be changed.
H. E/H. Maze puzzle. Drive a snowmobile while avoiding obstacles within its path. The hard version has more obstacles.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. E/H. Scale up a wall by landing on designated rocks using handprints and footprints. 3X
J. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Place books in order from left to right in numerical order. The hard version has 10 books the easy version has 7.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch colored tokens along paths to connect them with their matching slots. The easy version has one more path than the hard version.
L. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Entrap a dog within a grid using stones. Move one step at a time placing a stone. The dog will then move one step to escape being trapped. The hard version has more stones to place and a bigger grid.
M. E/H. Block puzzle. Move blocks on a grid to create a path for red and blue crystals to exchange places. The hard version has a larger grid and more blocks to maneuver and move out of the way to open a path.
I recommend this game!
Discover hidden worlds on a journey to solve a captivating mystery!
Overall rating
1
/
5
43 of 66 found this review helpful
WORST GAME EVER
PostedFebruary 13, 2022
sunnyglow
fromHappy Bloody Valentine’s Day. Gee this year I got to take an axe and chop off the head of a fish, watching the severed head flop onto the floor. Then, I watched its blood spew everywhere.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
9 Chapters – No Strategy Guide (My Time – 3 hours)
9 Chapters – No Strategy Guide (My Time – 3 hours)
Like spending time in abandoned dungeons – aimlessly wandering around its dark, dank recesses searching for an escape? Then, you may love this game. Do you like playing easy, boring interactive puzzles? Then, you may love this game! You may; however, I don’t!
Be warned! This game is short and depressing! If you love wandering around dungeons filled with spider webs, water on the floor, skeletons hanging around every corner, stockades with blood dripping off them, then this is the game for you! Enjoy! However, for me, this was a waste of my time and made me ill.
Be prepared to play a short game which has 9 chapters. It may seem as if it will be a long game; however, the joke is on you – it is not! It is definitely nor worth the price of a collector's edition. Each chapter is devoted to one part of the same dungeon. The player just rambles around from one part of the dungeon to the other. The first chapter, I must admit sets the background and opens the dungeon for you to escape. There are no other characters within the game. There is no story. And at the end – you get the pleasant surprise that there will be a Chapter 2 forthcoming. Well NOT for me.
What happened to the storyline promised in the blurb about the game. There is NO STORY! There are no characters. I love adventure games and I love escape rooms as well; however, at least there is some story behind these games and not the same scene recycled throughout the game.
It was bad enough to be bored and depressed within this game. However, I did wake up when I had to take an axe and chop the head off a fish, seeing the head bounce off the fish and then see its blood spewing all over the dungeon floor! Wow! Just gross!
BFG - could you find no other game to offer this Valentine's Day weekend than this piece of garbage? I became ill after seeing that poor decapitated fish. I do believe this game should have some with some warnings:
Warning: Short, Depressing, Boring and Bloody terrible!
I don't recommend this game.
Can a legendary treasure save your family from ruin?
Overall rating
5
/
5
103 of 182 found this review helpful
A MAGICAL VALENTINE’S DAY GAME ADORNED WITH SHAMROCKS
PostedFebruary 10, 2022
sunnyglow
from"Lá fhéile Vailintín sona duit!" Happy Valentine’s Day from Ireland
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: 39 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
Enjoy a Gaelic Valentine’s Day as you sojourn to Ireland! You won’t be seeing red and pink hearts in this game. This game is” wearin’ of the green” with magical creatures from Irish folklore and shamrocks galore! I enjoyed playing this game. It has a good story, an excellent pace, and is creatively designed. There are some nice extras in this game. For one, the player will be able to choose which order he/she wishes to play two of the chapters. In addition, the player will also get to choose how the game ends. The player again must choose between two possible endings. I must admit, I had hard time deciding how to end this game. I wish I could have seen the other ending; however, I would have had to replay the entire game to do so. Nevertheless, I did like this feature and wish more developers would offer choices like this within their games.
The format is the same as in other Friendly Fox games. There are two collectibles, foxes and morphing objects and each scene has two of each. There is an indicator bar on the left side of the screen which indicates how many collectibles have been located. I found most of the foxes easy to locate; however, some of the morphing objects are well-hidden. Upon completion of the game, if all 50 foxes are located, five (5) additional HOP scenes can be played. They are creatively designed and each one involves searching for twelve (12) of one item within the pages of a book. There is a gimmicky bracelet which sits at the side of the inventory bar and lights up when it must be used to tame five magical creatures encountered within the game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 30 achievements (some with 3 parts)
• Collect 50 foxes. If all foxes are found - 5 extra thematic HOP scenes can be played
• Collect 50 morphing objects
• 8 wallpapers along with 8 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky bracelet with a magical fox, a Guardian Spirit, as a protector to help you take on threatening forest creatures and make them become friendly to you.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 15 mini-games
• 30 achievements (some with 3 parts)
• Collect 50 foxes. If all foxes are found - 5 extra thematic HOP scenes can be played
• Collect 50 morphing objects
• 8 wallpapers along with 8 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky bracelet with a magical fox, a Guardian Spirit, as a protector to help you take on threatening forest creatures and make them become friendly to you.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 15 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Go back twenty-five (25) years when twins, Glenna (from the main game) and her sister Ita are young. When Ita is kidnapped by a Sidhe, Glenna must enter the world of the Sidhe to rescue her. Discover the reason behind the kidnapping and try to help the kidnapper end a curse. I found this chapter a nice addition to the game. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. The story did not turn out as I thought it might; however, it was a great addition to the game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-two (22) HOP scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also many mini-HOP scenes throughout the game as well. Most of these involve searches for five or six items. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette scenes. There are also scenes in which items are replaced back within the scenes My favorite was a silhouette scene which has cutouts which must be placed over the items to remove them. There are some very creative scenes in this game. They are highly interactive and many contain puzzles within them as well.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-two (22) HOP scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also many mini-HOP scenes throughout the game as well. Most of these involve searches for five or six items. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette scenes. There are also scenes in which items are replaced back within the scenes My favorite was a silhouette scene which has cutouts which must be placed over the items to remove them. There are some very creative scenes in this game. They are highly interactive and many contain puzzles within them as well.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, fifteen (15) which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are five (5) puzzles which are activated when the bracelet is used to tame a magical creature. These puzzles increase in difficulty as the game is played. The puzzles require locating the right fragments to restore the image of the magical beast. There is a nice variety of puzzles. Some of the puzzles have both a casual and hard version. My favorite puzzle sequence is an escape puzzle in which the player must escape being underwater while being timed. There is a nice sequence of puzzles involved in this escape. Nice job on this Friendly Fox!
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Escape puzzle.
1. You are given 100 seconds to untie your hands under water.
2. Maze puzzle. Lead two arrow tips to the top of a grid at the same time clicking on arrows at the sides of the grid to move tubes with breaks within them into position so both arrows reach the top at the same time.
3. Sequence puzzle. Absorb air bubbles in the proper sequence from smallest to largest until all are absorbed and only one bubble remains
B. Strategy puzzle. Climb a cliff by avoiding weak spots and caterpillars as you scale up to the top.
C. Rope puzzle. Move lines connecting acorns on a tree so none intersect each other.
D. Bracelet puzzle. (Used 5 times in the game) for the magical creatures. Find the pieces to restore the creature. They increase in difficulty as the game proceeds.
E. Weights and balances puzzle. Place 5 stones into the two pans of a scales to balance the two sides.
F. Physics puzzle. Ye olde Mirror puzzle. Pass a beam of light so that it hits all crystals within a grid with it finally reaching a pot of gold
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Picture puzzle. Rotating rings. Rotate 3 rings to restore an image
H. Picture puzzle. Click on shards until they produce 4 different images
I. Strategy puzzle. Dice game. Create a line of 4 dice before your opponent does. Choose between 3 dice and place it on a matching spot on your side of the board. Discard unneeded dice. The first one to place the fourth dice wins
1. You are given 100 seconds to untie your hands under water.
2. Maze puzzle. Lead two arrow tips to the top of a grid at the same time clicking on arrows at the sides of the grid to move tubes with breaks within them into position so both arrows reach the top at the same time.
3. Sequence puzzle. Absorb air bubbles in the proper sequence from smallest to largest until all are absorbed and only one bubble remains
B. Strategy puzzle. Climb a cliff by avoiding weak spots and caterpillars as you scale up to the top.
C. Rope puzzle. Move lines connecting acorns on a tree so none intersect each other.
D. Bracelet puzzle. (Used 5 times in the game) for the magical creatures. Find the pieces to restore the creature. They increase in difficulty as the game proceeds.
E. Weights and balances puzzle. Place 5 stones into the two pans of a scales to balance the two sides.
F. Physics puzzle. Ye olde Mirror puzzle. Pass a beam of light so that it hits all crystals within a grid with it finally reaching a pot of gold
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Picture puzzle. Rotating rings. Rotate 3 rings to restore an image
H. Picture puzzle. Click on shards until they produce 4 different images
I. Strategy puzzle. Dice game. Create a line of 4 dice before your opponent does. Choose between 3 dice and place it on a matching spot on your side of the board. Discard unneeded dice. The first one to place the fourth dice wins
I recommend this game!
A celebration turns dangerous when someone threatens to reveal the magical world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
103 of 205 found this review helpful
UNMASK A GREAT GAME AT A VENETIAN CARNIVAL
PostedFebruary 3, 2022
sunnyglow
fromEnjoying a flyby Venetian vacation while playing this game. Winging it through the streets of Venice, I find myself battling the attacks of the 130,000 crazed pigeons residing in St. Mark’s Square. Wow! They could have stopped the evildoer in this game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
9 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 53 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
9 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 53 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
OPINION: “Congratulazioni” Domini Games on another fantastic, fun-filled game! Enjoy a festive game set in Venice during Carnival! It is a long game replete with colorful scenes reflecting the carnival atmosphere! Watch fireworks light up the Venetian skies throughout the game. This game reflects the beauty of the city during Carnival, and the scenes are chock full of colorful costumes and masks. The game is set to a well-written story, and the game has good pace with an abundance of activities.
This game has the same framework as the other games from this developer. There are three collectibles - Venetian masks, morphing animal figurines, and mask tokens. The scenes alternate between collecting masks and figurines. I found all easy to locate. Domini has finally reached the Goldilocks size for the collectibles, not too small nor not too large – just right! The mask tokens can be exchanged for statues to decorate a studio. There is also an optional thematic Match-3 game which can be played instead of the HOP scenes as in all their games. The menu set up is the same and the difficulty of the mini- games can be set within the menu as well. However, the puzzle difficulty can be changed while playing the puzzle.
MAIN GAME STORY: Journey to Venice to enjoy Carnival with your friend, Ymir, a magical creature who is part of a group of other magical beings called the Others. Play a half-human, half-elf detective. Fireworks will be going off in this chaotic city as a rebellious magical creature defies the rules of the Order of the Others. After hiding in the shadows from humans, this Other wants to spread his wings and enjoy the freedom to display his magical abilities. He is on a vengeful quest, and it is up to you to stop his path of destruction.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 Venetian masks and 15 morphing animal figurines.
• Collect 70 mask tokens used to exchange for statues to deck out a studio.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 Venetian masks and 15 morphing animal figurines.
• Collect 70 mask tokens used to exchange for statues to deck out a studio.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. The creator of the masks, Yaksu, a character from the main game, has contacted you to help recover a stolen mask, the Mask of Stealth. The mask was created for an ancient ritual and has the power to hide the unique features of the magical races, completely changing their appearance. It was stolen for a reason, but who stole it and for what reason? Again, another rebellion is afoot in the world of the Others. The chapter is long, and I found it a nice addition to the game. The activities are of the same quality as the main game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games. To me, it is a worthy addition to the game, and well-worth the price of a collector's edition.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As always, Domini adds new creative touches to their HOP scenes with each new game. I loved the “Riddle Me This” scene in which items are located based on answering riddles as to their identity. There are some breathtakingly beautiful scenes as well. I loved the one matching swans in a pond. Besides the matching and cryptic clues scenes, there are standard lists of items and silhouette scenes.
MINI-GAMES: Domini is known for being the “puzzlemeisters” of HOPA games. This game is no exception. There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, most of which can be played in either an easy or hard version.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E=Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. It is a charming life for a snake! Sequence puzzle. Play a tune on a flute with 3 holes. Choose the notes to play as per a given clue to charm the snake to sleep. The easy version has 4 notes; the hard version has 5.
B. E/H. Don’t cross wires! Tangram puzzle. Place 8 wires on a circuit board so none cross each other. The hard version has more complex wires to situate.
C. Angels we have heard on high! Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and switch swords for 5 angels, so each sword fits into the hands of the angel holding it. There are 3 buttons on the right side which indicate the pattern the swords travel.
D. E/H. Mama Mia! DaVinci would love these Cryptexes! Domino/Connection puzzle. Rotate 8 parts on each of two cryptexes with symbols on them so a connection is formed between each pair of connecting symbols on each side. The harder version has more complex symbols to connect and only one solution
E. No gondola ride here! Map puzzle. Use a GPS to find your way through the streets of Venice. Read everything in the scene to get information to answer questions which open gates and doors
F. Bridge the gap! Tangram puzzle. Place board pieces onto a gap in a bridge so all spaces are covered with a board, and none overlap. The hard version has more boards to place.
G. Star in Venice! Assembly puzzle. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate beams of light until they create a 6-pointed star.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. E/H. Fire Drill. Assembly puzzle. Enter the number to contact the fire department by looking at a guide which has symbols assigned to the numbers on a phone. Move markers to create the design of those symbols The easy version has a 3-digit number and the hard has a 5-digit number
I. E/H. Maria, Maria, how does your garden grow? Sequence puzzle. Move flowers into position on a path in a garden in the proper sequential order according to a given diagram. The easy version has 5 flower pots; the hard version has 6.
J. E/H. Switch from Left to Right! Switch puzzle. Switch 10 tokens – 5 on the right and 5 on the left until each token is next to its match within a grid. The easy version has simple switches between tokens next to it. The hard version switches tokens by looping between 4 tokens.
B. E/H. Don’t cross wires! Tangram puzzle. Place 8 wires on a circuit board so none cross each other. The hard version has more complex wires to situate.
C. Angels we have heard on high! Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and switch swords for 5 angels, so each sword fits into the hands of the angel holding it. There are 3 buttons on the right side which indicate the pattern the swords travel.
D. E/H. Mama Mia! DaVinci would love these Cryptexes! Domino/Connection puzzle. Rotate 8 parts on each of two cryptexes with symbols on them so a connection is formed between each pair of connecting symbols on each side. The harder version has more complex symbols to connect and only one solution
E. No gondola ride here! Map puzzle. Use a GPS to find your way through the streets of Venice. Read everything in the scene to get information to answer questions which open gates and doors
F. Bridge the gap! Tangram puzzle. Place board pieces onto a gap in a bridge so all spaces are covered with a board, and none overlap. The hard version has more boards to place.
G. Star in Venice! Assembly puzzle. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate beams of light until they create a 6-pointed star.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. E/H. Fire Drill. Assembly puzzle. Enter the number to contact the fire department by looking at a guide which has symbols assigned to the numbers on a phone. Move markers to create the design of those symbols The easy version has a 3-digit number and the hard has a 5-digit number
I. E/H. Maria, Maria, how does your garden grow? Sequence puzzle. Move flowers into position on a path in a garden in the proper sequential order according to a given diagram. The easy version has 5 flower pots; the hard version has 6.
J. E/H. Switch from Left to Right! Switch puzzle. Switch 10 tokens – 5 on the right and 5 on the left until each token is next to its match within a grid. The easy version has simple switches between tokens next to it. The hard version switches tokens by looping between 4 tokens.
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the Spirit of Ice and Cold in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
117 of 224 found this review helpful
A GAME TO WARM UP AN ICY, COLD WINTER NIGHT
PostedJanuary 27, 2022
sunnyglow
fromExcuses! Tired of hearing the phrase, “Sorry I can’t go with you” while you, a mere mortal, go off to battle some super-powered evildoer? Handing you some crappy token to “help” you, they excuse themselves as being exhausted, sick, injured or too old.
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
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
Brave the ice and snow as you travel to the kingdom of Wintersea which has been ravaged by the angry Spirit of Ice and Cold, Nega. Nega is out for revenge and her cold rage has driven out Arkanius, the Spirit of Fire who has provided warmth for the kingdom. You, as a novice healer, must stop this avenging spirit.
I was ecstatic to see another game by this developer. Domini Games is my favorite developer and, despite the one error in the strategy guide, they have provided another fantastic game. This is a very long game; however, the time went by quickly playing it, and feel it has a good pace. The game follows the same pattern as Domini’s other games. There are three (3) collectibles, some type of gimmick used within the game, and two levels of difficulty for the mini-games which can be set within the menu of the game.
I enjoyed the game and am always amazed at the creative genius of this developer. This developer always provides more game for the money and this game is no exception. The gimmick is a bestiary which is used to tame monsters and return them to normal animals. There is a puzzle which is played before the bestiary can be used to return the monster to its normal animal self. The bestiary is used six (6) times within the game.
The collectibles are morphing spirit amulets and spellbooks. I found the amulets difficult to locate; however, I found the spellbooks easy to find. There are spheres to collect (within the closeup scenes) which can be exchanged to fill a barn with magical animals.
***OH NO! NOT AGAIN! WHERE ARE THE SCREENSHOTS LABELED “F”? There is only one minor error in this game. The four screenshots for the collectibles labeled “F” are missing. I was able to locate them, however, but I do like to check those screenshots to be assured I am not missing any collectibles. I wish BFG would proof these games before they are released. This is the second week that a game with errors was released.
BONUS GAME: It is a sequel, one month after the end of the main game. The spirit world is in chaos again, as a human, Milena tries to steal the power from the Spirit of Fire, Arkanius. You will again battle another misguided spirit out for revenge. I found this a wonderful addition to the main game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games! No other developer provides the number of activities this developer provides in their bonus chapters. This is a long chapter and worthy every penny of the additional cost of a collector’s edition game.
HOP SCENES: What fantastic HOP scenes! I used to look forward to this developer’s puzzles; however, nowadays, I also look forward to their HOP scenes. They are exquisite and many of them are puzzle-like themselves. Domini provides a variety of different styles of scenes, many with two or three scenes in which to locate items. There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes and all of them can be replayed upon completion of the game. They include the usual standard lists of items and silhouette scenes. However, there are also rebus clues (my favorite), item replacement scenes, matching, and those with highlighted items in a story format. As in their other games, a Match-3 game can be played instead of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-four (34) puzzles, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Our “puzzlemeister” has provided another game with outstanding, thematic puzzles. I just love the puzzles within Domini’s games. Most of them are offered in both an easy and hard version. I especially loved the variation of the “Queens 8” puzzle in the bonus chapter. They have tweeked it somewhat, and although I normally can play this puzzle blindfolded (having played it many times), I found this variation challenging. Again, most of the puzzles can be played in either an easy version or a hard version. Domini is truly the best puzzle designer on this gaming site. Truly exquisite puzzles!
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. Switch puzzle. Move snowflakes on the right side of the grid and flames on the left along connecting tracks so that their positions are reversed.
B. E/H. Bestiary Puzzle - Checkers puzzle. Remove all tokens on a board by jumping over them to remove them. The hard version has more tokens to remove
C. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Choose symbols on rocks, which, when combined, will create a given emblem in the center. The easy version has 2 emblems to create; the hard version has 3 to create, with the symbols located by lamplight.
D. E/H. Slider puzzle. Slide rows of musical notes up/down and sideways until all the same-colored notes are within the same row. The easy version has 3 rows, while the hard version has 4
E. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Rotate blue marbles with pins emanating from them so that a design is created matching that on a given diagram. The hard version has more marbles to rotate within its design.
F. E/H Paint puzzle. Paint 3 parts of a symbols shown in the center of the screen using the 3 primary colors. In the hard version, the 3 primary colors must be combined to create other colors 5X
G. E/H Bestiary Puzzle - Connection puzzle. Make all the symbols on a grid the same. There are 5 symbols used, and it must be done within a specific number of turns. The easy version has colored symbols but the hard does not have any color designated on the symbols. The easy version allows 10 moves and only 6 in the hard version.
H. E/H. Riddle me this. Answer riddles by clicking on the proper item on a shield. The hard version supposedly has harder questions; however, I found no difference in difficulty.
I. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place kitchen utensils on a grid so all are placed, and none overlap each other. The hard version has more items to place.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch wolves on the left with the lambs on the right. As you move them on the paths, the wolves cannot be next to the lambs. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each.
K. E/H. Connection puzzle. Place a pin within holes in a map. The pins must connect with each other without returning to the same hole. The hard version has a more difficult pattern for the pins.
L. E/H. Queens 8 puzzle. Place Queens into position on a chess board so no two are in the same row, column nor diagonal. The easy version provides a hint
B. E/H. Bestiary Puzzle - Checkers puzzle. Remove all tokens on a board by jumping over them to remove them. The hard version has more tokens to remove
C. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Choose symbols on rocks, which, when combined, will create a given emblem in the center. The easy version has 2 emblems to create; the hard version has 3 to create, with the symbols located by lamplight.
D. E/H. Slider puzzle. Slide rows of musical notes up/down and sideways until all the same-colored notes are within the same row. The easy version has 3 rows, while the hard version has 4
E. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Rotate blue marbles with pins emanating from them so that a design is created matching that on a given diagram. The hard version has more marbles to rotate within its design.
F. E/H Paint puzzle. Paint 3 parts of a symbols shown in the center of the screen using the 3 primary colors. In the hard version, the 3 primary colors must be combined to create other colors 5X
G. E/H Bestiary Puzzle - Connection puzzle. Make all the symbols on a grid the same. There are 5 symbols used, and it must be done within a specific number of turns. The easy version has colored symbols but the hard does not have any color designated on the symbols. The easy version allows 10 moves and only 6 in the hard version.
H. E/H. Riddle me this. Answer riddles by clicking on the proper item on a shield. The hard version supposedly has harder questions; however, I found no difference in difficulty.
I. E/H. Tangram puzzle. Place kitchen utensils on a grid so all are placed, and none overlap each other. The hard version has more items to place.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch wolves on the left with the lambs on the right. As you move them on the paths, the wolves cannot be next to the lambs. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each.
K. E/H. Connection puzzle. Place a pin within holes in a map. The pins must connect with each other without returning to the same hole. The hard version has a more difficult pattern for the pins.
L. E/H. Queens 8 puzzle. Place Queens into position on a chess board so no two are in the same row, column nor diagonal. The easy version provides a hint
***I did not deduct a star for this error because it did not interfere with the ability to play the game. It is within the strategy guide and not within the game itself.
I recommend this game!
The tenacious trio takes on a master of the occult!
Overall rating
2
/
5
126 of 203 found this review helpful
A DIZZYING BACK-AND-FORTH ROLLER COASTER RIDE THROUGH TIME
PostedJanuary 20, 2022
sunnyglow
fromThe Grim Inquirer. Hot flash off the press! After this game, we may have some idea of Anna Gray’s true age. Let us just say she is no longer 25 years old in some scenes. Will she revert to her real age or will she now age gracefully?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 28 pages (My Time: 4.5 Hours)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 28 pages (My Time: 4.5 Hours)
STORY: Join the three paranormal detectives as they tag team to battle an evil sorceress, Agatha. This evildoer grants wishes to her clients for a price. The terms of her contract can be murder for those who sign it. Zigzag back-and-forth through time as you play each of the three detectives.
HELP ME! I AM LOST IN TIME! Where am I? I am still confused on some aspects of the story behind this game! With each of the three characters moving back-and-forth through different time periods and places, I felt overwhelmed. I found it difficult to keep up with where I was located and the time period I was in. Editor’s choice designation? Sorry, but I found this game one of the worst games I have played this year. In addition to the confusing stories in both the main game and the bonus chapter, I found several errors in the mini-games. The activities are lackluster, most lacking creative design. After the phenomenal game Elephant published a few weeks ago, this one is a surprise – a horrible surprise!
This is a very short, dark game dealing with ritualistic practices of the occult. The collectibles are morphing watches and puzzle pieces. The collectibles are few and far between and many scenes do not have any at all. I found most easy to locate. However, unlike other games, all the collectibles are located within the close-up scenes. There is an Expedition Room which allows the players to return to scenes to retrieve any missing collectibles upon completion of the game. As in many this developer’s games, there is a Secret Room in which the player can return to the scenes to locate more items.
MANY MINI-GAME ERRORS! Two mini-games have their directions switched. A sleight of hand puzzle has its directions switched with a map puzzle which follows it sequentially. One of the puzzles does not even have directions. I figured out the first part of this puzzle – matching skeletal heads to the proper ones emanating from Agatha; however, I could not figure out the second part of the puzzle. Finally, I just gave up and skipped it. Errors like this are unforgiveable. There is no reason that these errors should have not been discovered by the game testers. Unfortunately, we are seeing more errors within these HOPA games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 13 morphing watches and 20 puzzle pieces
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition Room which allows players to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles
• Secret Room in which to locate more items within the scenes. You are timed and can earn awards.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 13 morphing watches and 20 puzzle pieces
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Expedition Room which allows players to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles
• Secret Room in which to locate more items within the scenes. You are timed and can earn awards.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel to the main game. Play the trio of paranormal investigators as they investigate another case of ritualistic magic. The case is like the violin case from the main game. It appears someone is trying to recreate Agatha’s ritual. I found the story in this chapter confusing as well. There are four (4) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games. I did feel the activities were somewhat better than the main game.
HOP SCENES: Beyond Boring! I counted fourteen (14) scenes, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. However, one of those is debatable as to whether the developer considered a HOP scene or a mini-HOP scenes with only nine (9) items. There are several mini-HOP scenes, each with a small number of items to be located – usually five or six. All the scenes are either lists of items or silhouette. However, there is one which uses sliders to place pieces of the items on top of the item itself to remove it. Another involves replace items back into the scene. Other than those two, all the rest of to me were repetitious.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Some of the puzzles from this game are the only saving grace for this game. Most the puzzles are well-constructed, although three had issues with directions.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. Some of the puzzles from this game are the only saving grace for this game. Most the puzzles are well-constructed, although three had issues with directions.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch picture fragments to restore two pictures.
B. Sleight of hand puzzle. Take a token and put it under a cup. Then a mechanized machine will rotate them. Try to pick the cup with the token under it. 3X (Has the wrong directions)
C. Map puzzle. Set the route for couple to move through the streets of a town. Set up the 5 directions and then the characters will move it see if you are correct. 3X (Has the wrong directions)
D. Rotating tiles. Picture puzzle in which the player rotates triangular pieces of a picture until the picture is formed.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch 15 tokens hanging on 3 bells (5 each bell) until each matches the pattern directly above it.
F. Weights and balances puzzle. Place 3 weights int a the left-hand pan on a set of scales so that the weights equal the weight of the amber in the pan on the right side of the scales
BONUS CHAPTER
G. Weights puzzle. Pour wine into glasses so that the weight in each glass matches that given in a diagram.
H. Rock, Scissors, Paper. Beat a sly skeleton at his own game. Choose between the 3. You need to win 2 out of 3
I. The Evolution of Man Puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch slides to sequence the evolution of man – from a furry little monkey to a furry-faced modern man. For some out there – this evolution is reversed.
B. Sleight of hand puzzle. Take a token and put it under a cup. Then a mechanized machine will rotate them. Try to pick the cup with the token under it. 3X (Has the wrong directions)
C. Map puzzle. Set the route for couple to move through the streets of a town. Set up the 5 directions and then the characters will move it see if you are correct. 3X (Has the wrong directions)
D. Rotating tiles. Picture puzzle in which the player rotates triangular pieces of a picture until the picture is formed.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch 15 tokens hanging on 3 bells (5 each bell) until each matches the pattern directly above it.
F. Weights and balances puzzle. Place 3 weights int a the left-hand pan on a set of scales so that the weights equal the weight of the amber in the pan on the right side of the scales
BONUS CHAPTER
G. Weights puzzle. Pour wine into glasses so that the weight in each glass matches that given in a diagram.
H. Rock, Scissors, Paper. Beat a sly skeleton at his own game. Choose between the 3. You need to win 2 out of 3
I. The Evolution of Man Puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch slides to sequence the evolution of man – from a furry little monkey to a furry-faced modern man. For some out there – this evolution is reversed.
**I usually never give a 2-star rating to a game; however, with the errors in this game, I feel it was necessary
I don't recommend this game.
The most challenging and fun Clutter yet!
Overall rating
5
/
5
23 of 46 found this review helpful
IT’S ABOUT TIME FOR A CLUTTER COLLECTOR’S EDITION GAME!
PostedJanuary 15, 2022
sunnyglow
fromCongrats Joe on another fantastic game. So glad you finally have your own collector’s edition - and about time as well! Congrats to a fellow member of the Pond Friends Forum.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Our clutter “puzzlemeister” is back with another superb game and it’s about time! I love these clutter games and no other gaming developer produces clutter games of the same caliber as this developer. These games are in a league of their own. I am a HOPA aficionada – a rabid pursuer of well-hidden objects and challenging, nail-biting puzzles. However, when I have free time during the day, my number one activity is to engage in playing one or two clutter games.
MECHANICS: As with the other clutter games, this one also has 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, white cubes, letters clumped together, 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. In this game there are scenes with adorable cartoon characters.
New to the game is a 24-page strategy guide to help navigate the game. I, for one, am delighted to see this guide as it explains in detail what the various symbols indicate at the top and sides of the game. There are also three bonus areas with even more puzzles to enjoy. Joe has provided an amusing l story “A Burger and Change,” which gives an insight on Joe’s philosophical evolution in life. I love the new addition of cartoon characters. However, as a shoe aficionada, I did miss the shoe puzzles from the last game. We need more shoes Joe!
New to the game is a 24-page strategy guide to help navigate the game. I, for one, am delighted to see this guide as it explains in detail what the various symbols indicate at the top and sides of the game. There are also three bonus areas with even more puzzles to enjoy. Joe has provided an amusing l story “A Burger and Change,” which gives an insight on Joe’s philosophical evolution in life. I love the new addition of cartoon characters. However, as a shoe aficionada, I did miss the shoe puzzles from the last game. We need more shoes Joe!
TYPE OF PUZZLES: This is a list of the type of puzzles available. Most have several hundred to over a thousand games.
• Box Quotes – Change letters to reveal a quotation which should provide valuable advice as well!
• Spinning Spirals – A roller coaster ride of whirling, swirling items to match which go back and forth at a dizzying pace. It is guaranteed to cause you to cross your eyes or pull your hair out!
• Rotation Madness – Items to match based on the direction in they are oriented.
• Singletons – Under time pressure, locate the items which have no match in a large clutter of similar items – clocks, flowers, and other items which look similar. Another puzzle to drive you crazy!
• Clutter Jong – Kung Fu Mahjong – Clutter-style
• PotPouri – Joe says it all – “It’s like being in a quest without a quest” Basically a huge kitchen sink of clutter
• Clutter Gaps – Switch puzzle in which halves of items within squares (some blurry as well) are matched
• Cartoony Craziness – Ultimate in Clutter craziness in matching items in humongous, exceptionally large clutters. The adorable cartoon characters are new in this game.
• Clutter pics. – Matching up like pictures in squares, hexagons, circles, oblongs – either same shapes or matching like pics in different shapes
• Sliders – Create pictures by sliding slats up-and-down and sideways until a picture is created. Some of these are so skinny they could advertise for a weight loss company
• Picture Quest – picture puzzles plain and simple. Just move pieces and fragments to create a picture
• Box Quotes: Switch letters to create a pithy quotation. Remember said quotation for a better life! Maybe not, but at least Joe tried to inspire you!
• Spinning Spirals – A roller coaster ride of whirling, swirling items to match which go back and forth at a dizzying pace. It is guaranteed to cause you to cross your eyes or pull your hair out!
• Rotation Madness – Items to match based on the direction in they are oriented.
• Singletons – Under time pressure, locate the items which have no match in a large clutter of similar items – clocks, flowers, and other items which look similar. Another puzzle to drive you crazy!
• Clutter Jong – Kung Fu Mahjong – Clutter-style
• PotPouri – Joe says it all – “It’s like being in a quest without a quest” Basically a huge kitchen sink of clutter
• Clutter Gaps – Switch puzzle in which halves of items within squares (some blurry as well) are matched
• Cartoony Craziness – Ultimate in Clutter craziness in matching items in humongous, exceptionally large clutters. The adorable cartoon characters are new in this game.
• Clutter pics. – Matching up like pictures in squares, hexagons, circles, oblongs – either same shapes or matching like pics in different shapes
• Sliders – Create pictures by sliding slats up-and-down and sideways until a picture is created. Some of these are so skinny they could advertise for a weight loss company
• Picture Quest – picture puzzles plain and simple. Just move pieces and fragments to create a picture
• Box Quotes: Switch letters to create a pithy quotation. Remember said quotation for a better life! Maybe not, but at least Joe tried to inspire you!
And finally - thank you Joe for another fantastic game! You can never ever finish these games, but have played a lot of the puzzles within this one. Your fellow members from the Pond Friends Forum are happy for you and most of us cannot wait to see Clutter 13. Hope that number will be lucky for you and will provide a baker's dozen of more amazing puzzles!
I recommend this game!