Tikatoy's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:1,359
- Reviews Submitted:111
- First Review:November 15, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 30, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Uncover your grandfather’s secret in Youda Mystery: The Stanwick Legacy, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Out of the norm, but didn't quite work
PostedNovember 12, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I was intrigued at first when I first started playing this game because it felt different from the standard HOG (I've played tons of them). The mystery was also fairly interesting and the voiceovers were good. As I played through the game though, it just didn't quite come together for a compelling experience.
The overall art style is quite distinctive. It tends to the realistic side, but yet retains a slightly dreamy beauty to it; it's a bit monochromatic at times (everything looks blue in light coming in from the windows, or orange from candles/lights in the house) but I thought that fit in well with the atmosphere.
There is a good map that shows you where you can take actions (hidden object scene, puzzle, etc.) and I referred to it often as some of the inventory items or hotspots (areas where you can take actions) are small and can be easily missed. The number of locations was on the small side but I didn't think so when I was playing the game as there felt like lots to do; it was also nice to have minimal backtracking.
Despite these positives, the game didn't quite come together that well. The puzzles were easy (average for a HOG) and one was unusual (rolling cubes in place to set them to the correct side and orientation to form an image) but the others were fairly standard. The hidden object scenes were junk piles however some items were tough to find because they were in shadow or "overexposed". (I know some people don't like that).
The story unfolded through childhood memories triggered by seeing certain items or locations, but ultimately I wasn't satisfied with the big reveal of the secret at the end. I appreciate the effort to do something different, but the result just felt a bit off.
I don't recommend this game.
There's a terrible secret hidden deep within Lockwood Manor!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Great graphics, cool plot twist
PostedOctober 23, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
As far as creepiness goes, I think demons beat ghosts and the creep factor is definitely there in this game, especially because it shows up to menace you regularly and you really feel its presence. The story takes a cool twist in the middle (even though it was predictable) and adds a new urgency to the game.
The art does a great job of evoking a creepy atmosphere and the hidden object scenes look great too. There was a nice variety of puzzles and they were fun to play, but not too challenging (much like other games in this genre).
I thought the best part of the game was the way it felt like you were always in danger--first from John and then from the demon. I liked that feeling of being in danger and being hunted.
I recommend this game!
Dracula: Love Kills
The Queen of Vampires is back and is determined to destroy the world! Help Van Helsing and Dracula as they team up to stop her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
Sympathy for Dracula
PostedOctober 23, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The title of this game turned me off. It sounds like it's going to be a sappy Twilight-inspired "romance" but it's actually an engaging plot with some good snarky dialogue between Dracula (your character) and Van Helsing, your nemesis who you are forced to work with for a common goal. Your henchman Igor has plenty of funny lines. I also appreciated the detailed history of your family and other characters. It really gave the game a lot of flavour.
The graphics look great, especially the goopy red stuff that threatens to infect the world with a vampiric plague. You travel to different locations around the world and the change of scenery is great.
There's an original (for this genre) game mechanic that was exciting to me when I first encountered it. You can make a choice as to whether you drink someone's blood or don't do it and it will affect the outcome of the game! However, I was a little disappointed that these choices had a minor effect (only on the ending and getting a few extra puzzles, not on most of the game).
The puzzles were great fun. Challenging without being frustrating, and a nice variety. One of the more original recurring puzzles was one where you get a few moments to see and memorize a maze, then the screen goes dark and you have to guide your character through the maze and try not to bump into the walls.
I like that you gain special vampire powers as you progress through the game and that they're powered by blood. The hidden object scenes were of the same high quality artwork as the location scenes.
Overall, this is a really high quality game. I wish they had done more with the game mechanic of making choices, but still a very good game.
I recommend this game!
20 years ago a terrible accident destroyed most of Cyan City. Now, Monica returns to uncover the secrets of her childhood!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Original story, striking graphics
PostedOctober 22, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was drawn in to this game from the beginning cut scene that set the story up. I love the blend of fantasy and sci-fi and although I generally prefer the lushly hand-painted style of art, I really thought the crisp visuals fit in well with the setting.
The "cyan ghosts" all looked great, and there was a surprisingly spooky moment that startled the 4-year-old watching me play the game. ;) The story was very interesting and I was a bit disappointed by how it ended, but I liked the ambiguity along the way. Who can you trust? Who is lying? Is anyone who they claims to be?
There is a map in the game that shows the locations where you can take actions. There was a great variety of fun puzzles, but nothing too difficult. I especially liked a unique puzzle that actively involved the map.
I recommend this game!
Save your people from an invading force of supernatural Terractotta Warriors in this incredible Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Refreshing setting
PostedOctober 22, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
My favourite thing about this game is the ancient Chinese setting which makes a refreshing change from the haunted houses/carnivals/asylums you see often in this genre. The evil terra cotta warriors are quite spooky-looking and the art in general is very good at depicting sinister yet beautiful scenes.
This is both a FROG (fragmented object game) and HOG. I love FROGs so that sold me on the game right away. The hidden object scenes were drawn with the same quality as the locations. There were a few words that were lost in translation/culturally specific, though. I am Chinese so I know to look for a leaf-wrapped pyramid-shaped object when the word is "dumpling" but that is probably not what most people would think. :P
The puzzles were not particularly original but there was a good variety of them and they were of average (i.e. easy) difficulty for this genre. I appreciated the length of the game. Plenty of locations to explore and plenty of hidden object scenes, puzzles and items to pick up and use.
I recommend this game!
Save Witchville before it's too late in Guardians of Beyond: Witchville, a thrilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Not the usual ghost story
PostedSeptember 7, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Haunted towns full of ghosts aren't exactly a new thing in the HOG genre, but there's an original spin here on who the ghosts are and how they got there.
Graphics are beautiful and I especially liked the hidden object scenes. Even though they were junk piles, the artwork looked good and a few of the objects were really tricky to find! (I made the possible mistake of choosing the difficulty that gives you no hints at all, so a few times I spent ages looking for an object that was really well hidden, or didn't quite fit the word in the list thanks to poor translation.) My favourite thing about the game visually was the ghosts and the way they would fade in and out. The happily smiling ghosts were especially eerie!
The puzzles were pretty standard fare for the most part, but there were a few that were original or I've encountered infrequently. I was pretty happy with the variety.
I liked the story a lot. There's a twist about halfway through the game that is hinted at as you explore the city and it came to a satisfying conclusion.
I recommend this game!
Escape from Shady Pines and save the other patients! Explore the mysterious hospital and stop the psychotic doctor!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
It's all in the execution
PostedSeptember 5, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game starts out with a premise I've seen before: your character wakes up in a bed in a derelict hospital with no memory of how she got there. However, the interesting story, atmospheric graphics and sound effects, entertaining plot element where you enter the minds of other patients and creepy imagery all combine for an experience that lifts the game above its cliched beginning.
The graphics did a great job of conveying the dinginess of the hospital and there is a scene near the beginning that was wonderfully creepy (don't want to spoil it). You find audio tapes throughout the game that slowly reveal the story of the hospital and what happened to its patients (and to you). Occasionally over the PA you hear some propaganda about what a great place Shady Pines is that adds to the menacing atmosphere. I got to the part where you have to enter the first patient's mind and considered this a five star game at the time.
But then towards the end of the game, I thought that it lost a bit of steam, and the reveal of your true identity wasn't that satisfying. Not because I had already guessed it, but because there was a glaring loophole in the plot that was never explained.
There is a map that highlights locations where there are hidden object scenes, puzzles, items, etc. which I always appreciate in HOGs. There are quite a lot of hidden object scenes; these are junk pile style, and while the graphics seemed a little grainy, I didn't mind as much because it fit in with the "decor" of the decaying hospital. The puzzles, while fairly easy (i.e. average for a HOG), are generally well-integrated with the story. In order to enter patients' minds, you have a machine that displays their brain waves and you have to adjust the wavelength, amplitude, frequency and phase of another wave on the screen to match it. Once in their minds (some pretty spooky locations!) you solve a riddle that is related to their circumstances to finish a puzzle.
Despite the story running out of steam a little towards the end, this is still a high quality, atmospheric game that's well worth playing.
I recommend this game!
Cake Mania: Lights, Camera, Action!
Return to Jill Evans’ hometown of Bakersfield in Cake Mania: Lights, Camera, Action, a fun and exciting Time Management game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
19 of 28 found this review helpful
A great game after all
PostedSeptember 2, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I bought this game when it came out, finished half the bakery levels and 2/3 of the Italian restaurant and boutique levels then got annoyed with not being able to get superstar scores and stopped playing. I came back to it and found that it's actually not that tough so I finished the whole game with all superstar scores (after having to repeat some levels).
This is actually three different TM games in one. The main game is the bakery and is straightforward: customer orders cakes specifying shape, frosting and topper and you click on various machines to bake, frost and top the cake for them before they run out of patience. In the Italian restaurant, customers order pasta or pizza with various additions like chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, etc. In the boutique, customers request 1-3 pieces of clothing, accessories or shoes. Then you have to find them in your store's shelves and racks and give them to the customer.
What makes the game challenging and adds strategy is that each type of customer has unique traits. Some customers don't like specific other types and will lose patience more quickly with them in the store. Some can influence others in line and make them change their orders. Some can freeze other customers so they can't take action (including accepting their order). And some can even turn other customers into a different type!
This is where I ran into problems before when I got frustrated. I would just fill orders as they came, and be out of luck when their orders were changed or they were frozen. I also paid no attention to the "chain bonus" (where you perform three or more of the same action consecutively) which can give quite a boost. Once I played with greater awareness to these, the superstar scores on the later levels were achievable; it also made the game more fun by giving it an added challenge!
I love buying lots of upgrades and additions, and this game was certainly satisfying in that respect. In the bakery you can upgrade your ovens and frosting machines and buy new toppers, increase your baker's walking speed, buy TVs, display cases, etc. In the Italian restaurant you can purchase more ingredients. In the boutique you can buy new collections of clothes.
I also love trophies, and there are a good number in this game. The trophy room is the baby's nursery, and the trophies are items like toys, crib, etc.
I'm a fan of the Cake Mania series and I was unsure about the addition of the boutique and Italian restaurant at first (their gameplay resembles the Shop-N-Spree and Cooking Dash series respectively). But I appreciated the variety. If I got sick of one game, I'd go play another one.
The graphics are cartoony goodness. The locations and characters are done wonderfully, with exaggerated animations. The comic-style cut scenes and are perfect for the over the top plots. The music is repetitive but I tune it out, and the sound effects for each customer type are also cartoonish. The various upgrades like toppers, ingredients and clothes all look great!
This game had most of the things I look for in a TM game and I loved it!
I recommend this game!
Enter the weird and wonderful realm of legend in Oddly Enough: Piped Piper, an enchanting Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Fantastic, imaginative artwork
PostedSeptember 1, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
The graphics in this game look like something out of a Tim Burton movie. There are asymmetric walls at angles and anthropomorphized furnaces and cash registers and fun, bristly characters. The transitions between locations are animated, a bit like a zooming out/in effect which is really fun.
This is not a traditional HOG in that you don't have a list of words; instead you get a list of silhouette images that are parts of an object that will be assembled when you find them all. Almost all of these objects are creatively designed. A simple pair of tongs is shaped a dragon's head, etc.
The game is divided into four sections with about 5-10 locations in each one so there is minimal backtracking. You go through the town, a circus and finally the Pied Piper's castle.
Puzzles were fun and a decent challenge, but I thought what stood out in the gameplay was that you had to use many of the inventory items in more creative ways than most HOGs (not just putting keys in locks, although there's a bit of that).
The only thing I didn't like was that the "active" cursor didn't look different enough from the regular cursor, so I ended up missing some items or active locations. And not all active locations would cause the cursor to change when moused over. Small complaint though, overall a very creative game that I loved. :)
I recommend this game!
After a fall, you wake up in a building where a contact briefs you for a mission! Complete the mission to find your family!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Myst Light
PostedAugust 31, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a very different game from the standard HOPAs in the casual game genre, but similar to the old Myst-style games (except much shorter and simpler). The biggest difference is the 360 degree view in several scenes. You can look all around, above and below you, and you will need to in order to navigate around or play some of the "Find X of this item" puzzles (these are the only type of hidden object scenes in the game).
Reconstruction continues the story from the first game in the series, but is in a completely different setting and .is pretty much a self-contained story. You are supposedly trying to steal some corporate secrets from a high-rise office building, but it's clear that there's something else going on. There are subtle clues throughout the game to hint at what's really going on, which I appreciated.
The graphics are more realistic than artistic, but aside from a pretty cool view of the entire city from the building's roof, I was unenthused.
The real appeal of the game for me was the puzzles; they were more challenging and interesting than the typical puzzles in the HOG genre, yet not frustrating and solvable with some thought and patience. There is a skip button that I never used. The in-game hint system is very good. You have a list of objectives to complete, and to get help with a task, click on your "clue gauge" when it's full, then on the task.
If you're interested in a game with slightly more challenging puzzles than normal, give this one a try.
I recommend this game!