Dr_Q's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3
- Helpful Votes:149
- Reviews Submitted:60
- First Review:May 5, 2013
- Most Recent Review:August 5, 2013
- Featured reviews0
A chance discovery sends Arizona Rose on a new life of adventure and it’s up to you to help her decipher Blackbeard's treasure maps!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Nice change of pace, if somewhat repetitive
PostedJuly 11, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
My primary complaint is that it there is no way to skip the opening scene.
I can't really add much to what others have said. It's an older game, so doesn't have the bells and whistles. The graphics are a bit grainy. But it's a nice way to pass an afternoon, especially if you enjoy picross -- or you're tired of chasing ghosts and mad men.
I recommend this game!
Help the secret organization of Mystery Trackers find 3 missing celebrities in the mysterious Void family mansion!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
An oldie but a goodie
PostedJuly 7, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This would be a good game for a beginner or someone looking for a relaxing, mildly challenging game. It is an older game, so there are no interactive HOSs, the graphics are not quite as sharp, and play is more restricted. I enjoyed the writers' subtle touches of humor.
The HOS are the old-style junk piles with "x objects." They are not overly cluttered, and nearly everything can be found without needing to resort to hints. The puzzles are, for the most part, extremely simple. They can easily be solved with just a bit of thought.
There is very little retracing of steps, which is both good and bad. The good is that the story moves forward, you generally find what you need in or around the general area, and you don't have to revisit the same location over and over.
The bad is that you cannot retrace your steps, even if you want to. I neglected to pick up several notes -- I read them, but didn't pick them up -- and couldn't return to get them later, when I needed the note.
Also, it is extremely formulaic. Move to a location, open an HOS, receive a necessary object, solve a puzzle, move to the next location. The storyline is practically non-existent. All it does is serve as a general guide for the action. There is no interaction with characters; it soon becomes obvious that at they are dead. What plot there is must be read in the journal -- which is another reason not to neglect to pick up the notes!
I recommend this game!
Save Brightfield from a shocking plot by a dastardly organization!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Another great game -- with Elf!
PostedJuly 6, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Love the little dog more than ever, and the fire salamander was a nice additional touch.
The interactive map is, again, fabulous. You can teleport to any place on the map, the places where you need to do something are highlighted, and they are labeled, so you can go where you need to without having to remember all of the intervening steps.
I usually know what I need to do with an object, but can't remember where to do it -- the interactive map resolves that problem.
Graphics a bit grainy, but nothing to complain about. HOSs the usual junk piles, but clear and distinct, and in most cases, it's appropriate junk.
Puzzles either appallingly easy or tedious -- just keep moving the pieces around until they are in the right order. I skipped most of them once I figured out the pattern, as I couldn't be bothered. If I'm going to spend time on a puzzle, I want it to be something that challenges me.
The identity of the "beast" was obvious from the beginning, but since it is revealed about 1/3 of the way in, that's not too annoying.
Loses that final star because, once again, the final quarter is nothing but back-and-forth to pick up a single item, use it, then pick up another one, alternating with HOSs. The story just stops, as you race around between locations.
I recommend this game!
Your family is missing and the town is in chaos in Small Town Terrors: Livingston!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Drags on a bit too long
PostedJuly 4, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As with so many of the games, what begins as a challenging mystery gradually devolves into a tedious bore.
I'm not a fan of zombies and zombie-themes games, but I was willing to give it a shot. Initially, the puzzles, HOSs, and actions make sense. With a little thought, I could figure out what I needed to look for and what to do with what I found, and where to go next. I was enjoying the challenge as well as the mystery.
The HOS were clear and, while the items were not immediately obvious, they could be found with a little effort. The puzzles were on the easy side; most of them just required a willingness to keep switching things around enough times.
However, a little over half-way through, the game veered off into left field. The actions become more and more random and more and more backtracking was required. For me, the final straw was when I had to use a weight bar to turn a power line into a zip line. It was all downhill from there.
And, of course, there is no explanation for why the main character and her daughter were not turned into zombies.
I don't recommend this game.
After having a strange vision, Veronica Rivers finds a mysterious warning! Veronica's vacation is about to end abruptly!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Mediocre at best
PostedJuly 4, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Feels really dated. Flat, two-dimensional graphics. Not much challenge. The "easy" setting is far too easy; it tells you everything to do. Even the "normal" setting walks you through the game.
Linear story, with no opportunities to wander around and explore.
On the plus side, it's a bright, colorful game, which is a change from the constant witches, ghosts, and vampires.
I don't recommend this game.
Take on Time Mysteries: The Ancient Spectres, a challenging Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game! Stop the evil witch Viviana!
Overall rating
5
/
5
95% excellent
PostedJuly 3, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Rather than travel through space, you stay in one place and travel through time. The architecture, furnishings, art objects, etc., change with the time periods. Even the items in the HOSs are appropriate to the period.
Graphics are extremely well-done. Crisp, colorful, and atmospheric. I play with sound off, so can't comment on that.
The time travel device makes it quick and easy to move through time and through space and, until near the end, to keep track of where you are and what you need to do. Places where you need to do something are marked, and remain marked until you've completed every action in that area.
I had great fun just going through the different time periods to look at the architecture and furnishings. I also quite enjoyed figuring out what I needed now, then going back a few hundred years or more to set things up so that what I needed was available. Every time traveler's dream.
Puzzles are moderately challenging, which is exactly how I like them.
Sadly, the ending is a let down. First, there's a steampunk robot. Really? In a story that is based on Arthurian legend?
Then, the story loses continuity and actions no longer make much sense. I had to open a walkthrough because I got tired of randomly clicking and hoping to figure out what to do.
It's also needlessly complicated. It's as if they had a few puzzles left over and just had to throw them in to meet a specific game length, or to prevent anyone from saying that the ending was abrupt.
HOS is piled on top of HOS, as you have to acquire quite a few items all of the sudden.
Finally, the travel device is deactivated and you have to click, click, click to get back and forth. I quit at that point,. as the game was no longer fun.
But it sure was up to that point.
I recommend this game!
Escape from the eerie Redemption Cemetery by helping trapped spirits save their loved ones, and free their souls!
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
I really wanted to love this game, but unfortunately
PostedJuly 2, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I simply cannot face yet another incredibly cluttered, dark and blurry HOS.
The storyline has great potential, but it takes second place to random puzzles and HOSs. The puzzles not only have no relation to the storyline and do not move it forward, they actively slow it down.
Imagine -- you run into a house to save a little girl from a fire. But do you find your way to her room as soon as possible? No. You spend hours wandering around the house, picking up random items and playing puzzles that give you other random items. You even stop to put together a cigarette lighter -- in a house that is on fire!
If that's your idea of fun, then by all means, play this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover dark secrets, find hidden clues, and solve nefarious puzzles, in PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville.
Overall rating
4
/
5
A little dated, but good for what it is
PostedJuly 2, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is the first in the series, and while it does show its age, the storyline is good, which keeps it interesting. There are a few too many HOS and too many of the "puzzles" are eye-hand-coordination tests, but they can be skipped (eventually).
It's not nearly as creepy as it sounds, which is good, as far as I'm concerned. The creepy spider puppet is straight out of "Toy Story" (as in, watch out that Disney does not sue you for plagiarism), but otherwise, the puppets are quite appealing.
My biggest complaint is that the cursor has to be on exactly the right spot. A few times I had to resort to the walkthrough because I could not figure out what to do next, and there is no map, journal or hint button. It turned out in every case that I had done the correct action, but didn't have the cursor on the right spot.
If you're going to play the other games, it only makes sense to play the first one.
I recommend this game!
How did the attacker escape a room locked from the inside?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Couldn't really get into it
PostedJuly 1, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It's an older game with static two-dimensional graphics and dialogue that you have to click through, which really slows things down.
I found it pretty straightforward, with very little challenge. In fact, the biggest challenge was getting the cursor on just the right spot to pick things up or get them to work.
The game gives you extremely limited options, so it's fairly easy to figure out what to do next, if you're familiar with these kind of games.
Puzzles are average.
It's worth a shot, but I wouldn't pay full price for it.
I recommend this game!
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
Nice atmosphere, decent game, not much of a mystery
PostedJuly 1, 2013
Dr_Q
fromBaton Rouge, LA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The solution to the mystery is pretty obvious from the beginning, but that doesn't stop the game from being a good way to pass an afternoon.
The ending is extremely abrupt and leaves some lose ends; I suspect the CE wraps things up better.
As with most of these games, there are some issues with vocabulary (they need to learn the difference between a "cup" and a "mug," for example), but nothing too serious.
The HOS graphics are not as clear as they could be, but most objects could be found without too much trouble.
There is too much backtracking, and some deliberate padding, which is irritating. For instance, the crowbar won't work to move the boulder, but later, the iron bar will. Obviously, this was a lazy way of extending the length of the game.
I really enjoy the inadvertent glimpses into other cultures that these games provide, such as some of the objects in the HOS and, in this case, lockers in the lobby of the hotel where the guests keep their clothing. I'm assuming that's not something that was invented just for this game.
I recommend this game!