upcountrygirl's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:97
- Reviews Submitted:21
- First Review:December 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:August 24, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Rescue your canine companion, and solve the mystery of Houndspoint!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Very enjoyable HO/puzzle/exploring game
PostedAugust 14, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game has a good balance of exploring, puzzle solving and Hidden Object scenes. It has enough HO scenes to give you the objects you need, but not so many that you get fed up with sorting through piles of junk. The storylines of these games are always a bit silly but, being a dog lover, I was motivated to get on with solving it because I wanted to retrieve my poor lost doggie and also save the cute little pup with the bleeding paw -- but don't worry, the game is neither cruel nor sentimental. The graphics are well drawn and the music is quite motivating and not at all monotonous.
You have to backtrack a lot between the various scenes. At certain points I was aware of being short of quite a few objects, and you have to remember what's needed and where it's needed so you can go back there when you find it. I enjoy this mental challenge but I know some gamers prefer a more linear game.
The puzzles and mini-games are fairly easy but some of them are a bit different from the norm.
There was enough gameplay to keep me busy for several evenings, though the ending is a little abrupt. Overall, one of the better games of this genre, I think.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Nice game, rather easy
PostedJuly 28, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Detailed, crisp, imaginative graphics make this game enjoyable to play. It's all about wandering around searching for various objects in order to open doors/pick locks/fix mechanisms etc. I am not an expert player, but I found the puzzles easy, ridiculously easy in some cases, and most of the objects were easy to find, so, although there are lots of scenes in the game, I finished it quite quickly. There were rather too many HOG scenes, especially towards the end, as if the developers had run out of ideas. And the music got monotonous after a while: there should be more variety.
Overall, not a bad game at all if you want something undemanding to while away a few hours, but there are better: Spirits of Mystery: Eclipse Mountain is more satisfying.
I recommend this game!
Reunite the Dragon and Pheonix Kingdoms to stop the evil witch!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Wonderful, colourful, intriguing game
PostedJuly 17, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the best I have played. The graphics - all of a fantasy world - are beautifully drawn, and it's a delight to explore the various scenes in search of all the odd dickiedoodahs that you need. The Hidden Object scenes (of which there aren't too many) are interactive and interesting, rather than just another sort through a pile of junk. There are lots of puzzles, most of them quite easy, but all colourful and innovative. This game kept us busy for four evenings - often when you thought you were getting to the end there was another tunnel going off into the woods, another set of objects to find and another mystery to solve. Often I turn the music down in these games, but in this game I kept the music on without it getting on my nerves. I'll be looking for another one from the same stable.
This one becomes my current favourite!
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Stylish HOG game with some flaws
PostedJuly 12, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Not the best hidden object game I have played. The graphics are well done but not as crisp as in some games. I felt there were rather too many piles of junk to sort through, and the naming of some of the objects in the HOG scenes was questionable. All the puzzles were easy, and some lacked meaningful instructions, so the biggest puzzle was trying to work out what you were meant to do! On the whole, not a bad way to spend a couple of evenings, but House of 1000 doors or Secrets of the Dark are better, I think.
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Very enjoyable, taxing but not too hard
PostedJuly 8, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Having enjoyed The House of 1000 Doors: the Palm of Zoroaster, we simply had to try Family Secrets, which I think is the earlier game of the series. We spent three or four happy evenings exploring a huge series of scenes all beautifully rendered, with atmospheric music and lots of interesting objects to find. The mini-games and puzzles are mostly easy but not so easy that they're annoying. Early in the game you discover the need for various objects which you can't actually find until near the end of the game - a complication which I quite liked, because it forces you to do a lot of backtracking and to remember where you left tasks half-completed.
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she searches for the artifacts that can break the power of a cursed gem in House of 1,000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Another great way to spend a rainy evening
PostedJuly 4, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Here in the UK it is forever pouring with rain and we are all fed up so I downloaded this game. What a gem! Fantastic music, breathtaking graphics, a rather daft storyline (as usual) but lots of problem-solving to keep your brain ticking over. There's a good balance between puzzles (none of which are very hard), HOG scenes and searching for the stuff you need. Entertaining and enjoyable.
I recommend this game!
Challenge yourself in the role of the scientist-historian-scholar of ancient civilizations and mystical legends and save your friend from the Demon of Darkness!
Overall rating
5
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Couldn't leave this one alone!
PostedJune 27, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
One of the best games I've played.
The Thailand setting is beautiful, and I thought it was really clever the way in several locations you can change the lighting and the scene changes from the present time to some time long ago, with different objects to find, different doorways, attics, cellars and so on. The relatively few HOG scenes provide light relief from the serious business of finding keys, picking locks, slaying demons and blowing up offices. Plenty of good puzzles, not too easy but not too hard either. Nice music, lovely scenery, lots to keep you busy while the rain is pouring down. Definitely worth buying.
The Thailand setting is beautiful, and I thought it was really clever the way in several locations you can change the lighting and the scene changes from the present time to some time long ago, with different objects to find, different doorways, attics, cellars and so on. The relatively few HOG scenes provide light relief from the serious business of finding keys, picking locks, slaying demons and blowing up offices. Plenty of good puzzles, not too easy but not too hard either. Nice music, lovely scenery, lots to keep you busy while the rain is pouring down. Definitely worth buying.
I recommend this game!
Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals
A mysterious pyramid-shaped spaceship has appeared over France! Now, it’s up to Nikopol to thwart a dangerous conspiracy!
Overall rating
2
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
Could have been brilliant but wasn't
PostedJune 27, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'd already read negative reviews of this game elsewhere, but I thought I'd give it a try because I like true adventure games rather than HOGs, and I wanted to try something a bit different from the norm.
At first sight it looks impressive: the graphics are very detailed and realistic and there's full 360 degree movement. It all seems very dark and dangerous, as you're in Paris in an alternative universe where everything's wrecked and some fascist dictators are in power. Also there's an alien pancake clinging to the outside of a skyscraper ...
But it's not as good as it promised to be. The first thing you have to do - getting out of the flat - is so hard that I had to go to the walkthrough to find out how, and get someone to bellow instructions to me so I could do it fast enough. The cursor is almost too small to see. There aren't many different scenes to explore. Some of the puzzles seemed very hard, or at least they elicited the "can't be bothered" response.
I don't recommend this game.
Rescue a young girl from the Penumbra Motel. Solve puzzles, unravel a long standing mystery of death and disappearances in this heart-pounding adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Lots of gameplay and some intriguing puzzles
PostedJune 27, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The storyline is a bit macabre - there's lots of skeletons and ghosts and bits of dead people, and allusions to child abduction -- and, shock horror!, the most disgusting bathroom EVER. There are lots of scenes to explore. I enjoyed finding various objects and carrying them around until I found what to do with them. The HOG scenes aren't overdone - I hate games that just go from one HOG to another, but this was quite varied. Some of the puzzles are fairly easy, some a bit harder, but nothing impossible. Only downside was the music - actually quite good music but not enough different themes, so after several hours of play the repetition is really getting on your nerves. Turn the sound off and you'll have a good game!
I recommend this game!
End a centuries-old war between the Guardians and the Clan of the Nine in 9: The Dark Side!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
One of the best hidden object games
PostedJanuary 22, 2012
upcountrygirl
fromUK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Current Favorite:
Syberia
(55)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Generally I find hidden object games a bit simplistic. This one, however, is a cut above the rest and well worth playing. There's a good mix of wandering around, interacting with characters, finding odd objects, sorting through piles of junk and picking locks of various sorts. Some of the puzzles are quite easy, others a bit of a challenge and some quite hard. The graphics are excellent and the music atmospheric, though it would have been better with more varied music as the sound track got a bit repetitive at times.
I recommend this game!