spenny1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:454
- Reviews Submitted:40
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 17, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A disastrous avalanche... an evacuation... did anyone survive? The ski trip you've dreamed of for so long turns into a nightmare.
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
Same old same old
PostedDecember 8, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I don't usually post reviews on just a demo, but I only got to 40 minutes and I was pretty bored, but I still want to say a few things.
I used to love ERS, but it would seem that as I have progressed as a game player, ERS are standing still. The artwork is the same old stuff, and not even their best in my opinion. The puzzles are very easy and offer no challenge, and the H0 scenes could be from any of their games. Other developers seem to continue to improve the more games they make, and it's such a shame that these don't appear to be doing the same.
If you love ERS, you'll probably enjoy this, or if you're still only discovering these games. I was hoping to see something even a little new, but there was just no spark to this for me. The only good thing for me was a fresh opening storyline, but even this didn't hold my attention for long. Sorry ERS, must try harder.
I don't recommend this game.
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
2
/
5
13 of 18 found this review helpful
If ain't broke, don't fix it!
PostedNovember 21, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I was so looking forward to this, what a disappointment. I have to say this is only going on the appalling demo, as I shall not be buying the full game. I couldn't believe it when the demo ended, so short, and did absolutely nothing to sell it to me. I thought they went a little off kilter with the morphing objects collections in the last one, but at least I felt I wanted to continue to play it!
So very disappointed, I love the other games, and have the MCF pin to prove it. To be honest, I don't usually bother with bad reviews, but this is such a stinker, I had to.
The graphics are very flat photographic, very little colour or atmosphere. I had to exit and reload as the first time I attempted to play I lost half the screen to blackness, like computer games of old when you got too close to the scenery.
It would appear the only way to get from place to place is with the jump map, so doesn't feel as if you are exploring at all, and everything is interrupted by the psychic's atrociously hammy acting. You can't make the voice overs go any quicker as far as I could tell. There were SO many cut scenes in the very short demo, which were just annoying and a little confusing.
The game play, or lack thereof, seems to be made up of going from scene to scene with a H0 list of things to collect from rooms, not H0 scenes, and the one puzzle (yes ONE!) in the demo was extremely easy and offered no challenge at all.
I always look at the SG to get a rough idea of length, not a chance with this one. The SG was just a collection of screen shots with things that need attention circled, no pages, no flipping back and forth. This would suggest to me that the game will be very linear with no adventure feel.
So very disappointed, I love the other games, and have the MCF pin to prove it. To be honest, I don't usually bother with bad reviews, but this is such a stinker, I had to.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel from the deepest trenches of the Atlantic Ocean to the awe-inspiring wonders of Mars as you solve the greatest archeological puzzle known to man: the origin of Atlantis.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Out of this world!
PostedNovember 5, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Finally, something new, and it's sci fi! I knew I was on to a winner with the opening sequence.
There are so many details about this game that I liked, but I fear telling too many would give away the joy of finding out for yourself in game play.
This is by far THE best storyline of a HOPA I've found yet. All of it makes sense and I always felt as if I was moving forward and achieving things, not just fumbling around and plodding away. Along the way you collect digital memory cards, which all add detail to the story, so instead of waiting til the end to be rewarded for collecting things, you get it as you go along.
The graphics are impressive, with great use of perspective, and the sound effects provide good atmosphere. The parts where you have a mask are particularly nice (trying to be as vague as possible).
The iHOGS are clear but challenging enough to keep your interest, and the puzzles and mini games are varied and nicely done, most of a middling difficulty I'd say, just right for a puzzle lover.
You have a journal and a map. The journal keeps clues and more details of the story, and also the memory cards which you can view at any time. The map is a jump map, which proved invaluable, but was almost a shame to use use as the graphics were so beautiful I was mostly happy "walking" around. The map also gives objectives and can be used like a hint.
So, the all important bonus. The story is wrapped up beautifully in the main game, with a very satisfying conclusion, but the bonus is well worth the CE price in my eyes as it gives extra depth to the story, the cherry on the icing. The main game kept me occupied for a good 5 hours at least, and the bonus took me around an hour and a half. The wallpapers are also lovely, something I'm not usually overly concerned with.
5 stars? Easily. Ticks all the boxes and puts bows on them too.
I recommend this game!
Free the trapped souls and reunite a love long lost in Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Nice game but too short
PostedNovember 4, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As usual, since my review follows so many others who have given the details, I shall just give my brief thoughts
All in all my response to this game is a positive one. atmospheric graphics and sound, HOGs and puzzles both have a good level of challenge, and there are plenty of puzzles. Storyline not bad, although I did have to stop and think half way through, "What am I doing here?".
I always like to have a list of achievements to collect and collectibles, however the lost souls that can be found in each scene get a little tiresome even for me. I found myself straining my eyes in a lot of screens, then just referring to the SG, which in my eyes defeats the fun. Unfortunately I managed to get all the achievements, unfortunate because one is to finish the main game in 3 hours, really way too short for my liking, and this is playing on the second level of difficulty without any skipping.
The bonus chapter is very much just more of the same, without adding anything to the story. So you do get extra play, and the game would have been way too short without it. You do also get the extra puzzle games and one iHOG from the menu and the wallpapers and so on, but I am glad I got this game in a special offer.
So all in all an enjoyable game, but if you like more than a few hours, take heed. The short length lost a star.
I recommend this game!
Unfinished Tales: Illicit Love Collector's Edition
After the Raven Queen crashes her wedding, Thumbelina must save her prince to reclaim her happy ending!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Beautiful game
PostedNovember 2, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Another visually stunning game from Elephant, truly beautiful artwork. Ok so the story isn't groundbreaking, girl meets boy, another evil girl steals boy away, boy needs rescuing. However the story is well told and kept my interest.
There are plenty of achievements to aim for, and all attainable. Also keep your eyes peeled for those butterflies. The IHOGs are clear but still offering some challenge, and the puzzles are solvable logic thinkers. They have managed to give the puzzles a bit of a fresh twist so they have obviously put some thought in. I must admit a pen and paper helped me with a couple, but none were too hard not to be fun.
I also like the fact that the three difficulty levels were available during game play in the options. I played the 2nd one, and NO sparkles, huzzah!
The bonus chapter is one of the longer ones I've played and didn't feel hastily added as some do. The story does conclude nicely in the main game but the bonus gives a nice little twist. As someone who buys CEs for the bonus, I was quite happy.
Relaxing play but still with some challenge, decent length and a joy to look at.
I recommend this game!
Someone is killing the guests at a mountain resort, and you could be next if you don't figure out the mystery and solve a Mountain Crime!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Definitely worth a second look
PostedNovember 1, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
For some reason I passed this one up when I first came across it, but I am so glad I gave it a second chance. Thorough reviews have already been posted so I'll just give my thoughts briefly.
The sound and graphics are top notch, and the storyline really carries you through the whole game, although you have to keep your wits about you to follow the plot, which has obviously been thought through with care.
It does have small H0 scenes, but is definitely more of an adventure and puzzler than a H0 game, which is right up my street. Although the puzzles range in difficulty, I have to admit to skipping a couple, which for me means a second play at some point as I'm not usually beaten!
This is a steal at SE price, and kept me occupied for most of the day. If you like a good detective story give this a whirl, just make sure you've had a good breakfast as you might not want to stop.
I recommend this game!
The day famed mystery writer Adora Graves died the lights went out in Beacon. Cast light on the town or be stuck in the shadows!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
CE quality, eerie not scarey
PostedOctober 31, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Just a quickie review as there have been so many before me. Just got this in the spooky sale, but would happily pay full price.
A well crafted game, good IHOGS and puzzles with enough challenge to get those brain cells working without having them jump ship. I would even say that it is better than many of the CEs that have been around of late, a decent length - around 5 hours I reckon but I didn't time it, and the epilogue chapter does feel like a bonus.
It's suitably eerie for this time of year, but without trying to be overtly scary, relying on good graphics and atmospheric music and sound effects.
Big thumbs up, well done Fly Wheel Games
I recommend this game!
After your sister vanishes on her wedding day no one has any idea what happened to her, so it’s up to you to find the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 89 found this review helpful
A true classic of the genre
PostedJanuary 9, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I played this a long time ago, and enjoyed re-discovering it even more. It really is one of the best H0 puzzle adventure games, and set a good benchmark for the genre.
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, the music appropriate and not annoying, and the sound effects are well done and well placed. Voice overs would have been nice, but that's a very small gripe. There are 3 difficulty settings which can be changed at any point in the options menu. I played on the 2nd, and NO SPARKLES! Although they did turn up for the H0 scenes near the end of the bonus chapter, weirdly.
The H0 scenes are clear without being too easy, and I believe you only visit each one once, and they are well balanced with the amount of puzzles, of which there are plenty to enjoy. Some puzzles are fairly simple, and some require a little more brain power, but all are enjoyable and solvable. There is a nice range of puzzles and a few I've not seen in other games, or with a slight twist.
The storyline is good, and has a bit of a twist, just when I thought I knew what was coming I had a little surprise which had me looking back at the diary. The dairy is good, but I did find I needed to make brief notes, especially as I played the game over a few nights. It's broken up into chapters which means you play smaller areas than if it was all in one, which allows to you feel like your exploring and not overwhelmed by the size. The main game took me just under 7 hours, and the bonus another 1h20mins with no skips, one of the longest bonus chapters I've played.
This game kept me engaged all the way through, and very hard to tear myself away from. It really is very enjoyable. Thank goodness I've come back to it now, as the new one, The Legacy has just come out. That's my next purchase sorted then!
Give this a go, I bet you'll be hooked. Happy gaming :)
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Entertaining hidden object puzzler
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Whilst I love something to really give my brain a good workout, and I love a tough puzzle, sometimes I just want to enjoy a story and have fun along the way. This game is just that, the puzzles are just enough to to keep your interest, but certainly won't have you pulling your hair out, and there are plenty of them. It's a good balance between puzzles and hidden objects, and the hidden object scenes are interactive and of the same challenge level as the puzzles, not too hard and not too easy.
I played on the harder setting, and whilst you do still get sparkles for the hidden object scenes, it didn't really bother me in this game as it does with some others.
The artwork is lovely, and the music is just right for the mood of the game. I actually had it a bit louder than with some games as it was quite relaxing.
If you just want to sit back and enjoy some relaxed gaming, and give your brain more of a light jog than a full aerobic workout, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I'm guessing about 4 hours but I played over a few nights so can't be precise. The bonus chapter was very quick for me, just 30 minutes, so if like me, you only get CEs for the extra play, I'd stick with the SE, the story wraps itself up nicely before then anyway. This is the only reason I didn't give it an overall rating of 5.
Right then, onto Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Bane of the Family I think. Happy gaming fishes!
Find a kidnapped teenage girl and save yourself in Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, a fun Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
83 of 87 found this review helpful
Wow what a belter!
PostedNovember 19, 2011
spenny1
fromWiltshire, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This has to be one of the best games I’ve played for a while. That sums it up really but I guess I should say a bit more to do it justice.
This is a totally immersive one that had me from the start. This is a really well thought out game which kept me engaged all the way through. It's BIG with plenty of different areas, so the map does come in handy. I played in expert mode which means you don’t get objectives marked on the map, but I make notes as I go through just to keep track. Expert mode does still give you sparkles for **** scenes but unusually this wasn‘t a problem for me here, no sparkles for anything else. You don’t get as many hints from the character apparently, and I didn’t use the skip but I’m guessing it takes longer to charge than in casual mode.
The linked notebook and evidence board are used in a way I’ve not seen before, there’s quite a bit of information gathering but at no point did I find it tedious, or lose track. There are clear objectives in the notebook should you need them, as well as notes and clues that you pick up along the way. You WILL need to refer to it for clues on puzzles. You can access the interactive evidence board from anywhere and return to your current position.
The artwork is lovely, and the music and sound effects are just right, you really feel like you’re in an abandoned ghost town. The **** scenes are clear and sensible, a few are interactive, and they are easy enough whilst still being challenging. The puzzles are interesting and vary in difficulty, all with good instructions. I managed them all without skipping or looking at a walkthrough for hints, hooray!
You can skip the cut scenes, but they are short and do give you parts of the story, I personally didn‘t want to. You can also speed the conversation up by clicking anywhere.
So - Good balance of adventure/****/puzzles
Good **** scenes
Good puzzles
Good artwork, sound effects and music
Hours of gameplay, I reckon 7 at my speed (pre bonus)
Good **** scenes
Good puzzles
Good artwork, sound effects and music
Hours of gameplay, I reckon 7 at my speed (pre bonus)
Big thumbs up for me, now what do I play that can match it?!
PS - here’s the negative, the bonus chapter was a bit of a letdown, just under an hour for me but felt like it had been tacked on the end, so if like me you buy the CEs mainly for the bonus, I’d get the SE and not worry about it. The game is long enough without it. The only reason I gave this CE 4 stars not 5
I recommend this game!