rosekaufmann's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:18,036
- Reviews Submitted:831
- First Review:April 2, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 27, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Gourmania 2 serves up a smorgasbord of Hidden Object fun as you manage quaint cafes in three locations around the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
MORE MAKING FOOD; LESS CLEANING AND REPAIRING
PostedDecember 3, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Two modes: timed and untimed. In timed, your customers lose patience and pay you less money for their food if they run low. Timed can become frustrating because, while you are making one person's sandwich and see what you need for the next person, by the time you get to the next person, the food has miraculously changed places.
Besides finding food in a very cluttered environment, you spend a lot of time repairing and cleaning your store. After awhile, these activities become annoying. Occasionally, you get to go outside the restaurant to find items (like a legal document). Environments are colorful and bright.
SUMMARY: Too much time cleaning and repairing compared to making good food for your customers. Finding ingredients can be quite a bit of fun, although in a very cluttered environment.
I recommend this game!
Help a mother rescue her son from the parallel world inside a mirror as you explore stunning locations and assemble gadgets!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
VERY EASY, VERY SHORT, UNINSPIRED
PostedDecember 3, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Very easy and very short game. Good for novice HOG players. Nice ratio of list-based HOS and fill-in-the-circles, the latter including frags for some of the items that go into the circles. Puzzles are very easy. No voice-overs - just written dialogue which seems a little unnatural (really, who says "son, where are you?" when he goes missing. Don't you run shouting his name?) Dull characters. Uninspiring story occurs as expected - no twists or turns. Games have progressed a lot in the last few years and this one feels old.
I recommend this game!
Embark on an exciting journey and plunge into the myths of Ancient Greece with Odysseus, the legendary hero of the Trojan War!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
FROM THE BOOK, THE ODYSSEY
PostedDecember 3, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on The Odyssey - the chapters are about different tales but certainly not all, from the book. Good ratio of HOS (which may be triggered by looking around the scenes and objects may be very well hidden) and puzzles (ranging from very easy to somewhat challenging). Locations are bright and colorful. Usually 3 scenes per chapter. If you liked the book, you'll like game. Enough to keep you busy for a while.
I recommend this game!
Piece together the criminal's plans and stop the Black Cat Gang from committing the crime of the century!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
INTERESTING STORYLINE IS THE BEST PART
PostedDecember 3, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Strange: a high school friend sends a letter to Natalie to meet him at an art gallery, then doesn't recognize her or even get her name right? What's going on? Suddenly, he's kidnapped.
Gameplay is rather simplistic - walks you through what you have to do - find this, then find that, and now you finally have the parts to open a door. Hints on what to do (such as "what if I rehang pictures that were taken down") are also given. Seems to be little challenge other than finding sometimes small objects in a large and crowded environment for a puzzle. HOS are also really crowded and objects are a bit hard to find if not brightly colored. An intermediate or expert HOG player would find the game much too easy, but might buy it just to find out what happened to Chad and why.
I recommend this game!
After a devastating flood, a small town is being plagued by problems and now it’s up to you to fix them all!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
GALLOPING AWAY
PostedDecember 1, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
SUMMARY: Main game took me a little over 4 hours to play. Because there is no hint system outside of the HOS, this can be a very challenging game to play. You have only your diary and trial and error to figure out where to go and what to do. Note that you have to collect all 24 crystals of souls (skulls in colored crystal enclosures) in order to end the game). Lots of adventure.
GOOD:
HOS – plenty of them; in fact, the majority of the game seems HOS-oriented. List based; some were a little challenging to find because of the color palette used and there were a few shadowy areas (where of course there were objects hidden).
PUZZLES – plenty of them. Some were quite challenging. Instructions were not always as detailed as they could be, so you would spend time doing a trial and error before finally getting it (then you either feel smart for getting it or dumb for not getting it immediately).
HOS – plenty of them; in fact, the majority of the game seems HOS-oriented. List based; some were a little challenging to find because of the color palette used and there were a few shadowy areas (where of course there were objects hidden).
PUZZLES – plenty of them. Some were quite challenging. Instructions were not always as detailed as they could be, so you would spend time doing a trial and error before finally getting it (then you either feel smart for getting it or dumb for not getting it immediately).
OKAY:
Graphics – a bit murky around the edges in the locations and the HOS. Since this is an ERS game, it was probably intended to be so.
Music - too much oboe – music became a little intrusive (especially during HOS), but not enough to silence it.
Graphics – a bit murky around the edges in the locations and the HOS. Since this is an ERS game, it was probably intended to be so.
Music - too much oboe – music became a little intrusive (especially during HOS), but not enough to silence it.
NOT SO GOOD:
No map – would have helped to have a map when more locations opened up so you wouldn’t have to wonder “now, where did I need this object?” Once a new area is opened, most of your location work will be in or near that location, but you will still be doing some traveling to distant parts.
Hint system – good in the HOS, but no hints on where to go or what to do outside of HOS.
Have to find all similar inventory items before you can use them (ex: 4 pieces of a lock require that all 4 pieces be found before using; you cannot place only the one or two you’ve found already).
No map – would have helped to have a map when more locations opened up so you wouldn’t have to wonder “now, where did I need this object?” Once a new area is opened, most of your location work will be in or near that location, but you will still be doing some traveling to distant parts.
Hint system – good in the HOS, but no hints on where to go or what to do outside of HOS.
Have to find all similar inventory items before you can use them (ex: 4 pieces of a lock require that all 4 pieces be found before using; you cannot place only the one or two you’ve found already).
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
GALLOPING AWAY
PostedDecember 1, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
SUMMARY: Game took me a little over 4 hours to play. Because there is no hint system outside of the HOS, this can be a very challenging game to play. You have only your diary and trial and error to figure out where to go and what to do. Note that you have to collect all 24 crystals of souls (skulls in colored crystal enclosures) in order to end the game). Lots of adventure.
GOOD:
HOS – plenty of them; in fact, the majority of the game seems HOS-oriented. List based; some were a little challenging to find because of the color palette used and there were a few shadowy areas (where of course there were objects hidden).
PUZZLES – plenty of them. Some were quite challenging. Instructions were not always as detailed as they could be, so you would spend time doing a trial and error before finally getting it (then you either feel smart for getting it or dumb for not getting it immediately).
HOS – plenty of them; in fact, the majority of the game seems HOS-oriented. List based; some were a little challenging to find because of the color palette used and there were a few shadowy areas (where of course there were objects hidden).
PUZZLES – plenty of them. Some were quite challenging. Instructions were not always as detailed as they could be, so you would spend time doing a trial and error before finally getting it (then you either feel smart for getting it or dumb for not getting it immediately).
OKAY:
Graphics – a bit murky around the edges in the locations and the HOS. Since this is an ERS game, it was probably intended to be so.
Music - too much oboe – music became a little intrusive (especially during HOS), but not enough to silence it.
Graphics – a bit murky around the edges in the locations and the HOS. Since this is an ERS game, it was probably intended to be so.
Music - too much oboe – music became a little intrusive (especially during HOS), but not enough to silence it.
NOT SO GOOD:
No map – would have helped to have a map when more locations opened up so you wouldn’t have to wonder “now, where did I need this object?” Once a new area is opened, most of your location work will be in or near that location, but you will still be doing some traveling to distant parts.
Hint system – good in the HOS, but no hints on where to go or what to do outside of HOS.
Have to find all similar inventory items before you can use them (ex: 4 pieces of a lock require that all 4 pieces be found before using; you cannot place only the one or two you’ve found already).
No map – would have helped to have a map when more locations opened up so you wouldn’t have to wonder “now, where did I need this object?” Once a new area is opened, most of your location work will be in or near that location, but you will still be doing some traveling to distant parts.
Hint system – good in the HOS, but no hints on where to go or what to do outside of HOS.
Have to find all similar inventory items before you can use them (ex: 4 pieces of a lock require that all 4 pieces be found before using; you cannot place only the one or two you’ve found already).
I recommend this game!
The rich folklore continues with this exciting tale set in an old Slavic land. As Child of Spring, can you save the world from eternal winter?
Overall rating
5
/
5
62 of 73 found this review helpful
RESTORE THE 4 SEASONS
PostedDecember 1, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Can't imagine anyone not liking this game. It has 4 modes of difficulty, including customized play; and a map with objectives and notation of places where there are outstanding activities to do.
STORYLINE: How awful - no spring (which probably means no summer)! Only hard-core winter sports enthusiasts would like a constant winter. It's up to you to restore spring.
This is a LONG game since you get an achievement for completing it in less than 5 hours in the CE version. Since I play very casually, I'm expecting about 7 hours.
This is a LONG game since you get an achievement for completing it in less than 5 hours in the CE version. Since I play very casually, I'm expecting about 7 hours.
The HOS are not crowded and the objects are nicely spread out, but the palette of the objects seems to favor shades of only a few colors, so you still have to hunt for the objects. If you prefer not to play HOS, you have a match 3, which doesn't seem to take as long as finding the list of objects.
PUZZLES are terrific - not too difficult but still creative and entertaining. Love the ermine - he helps you with objects. His first task was to fix a messed up rope so you could actually use it. I preferred to watch him do it in lieu of immediately searching for other activities to do.
VOICE OVERS and MUSIC were very good. There is no lip sync in English. But that doesn't bother me since the game is translated into different languages, so there would always be lip sync problems in some languages. GRAPHICS are superb; beautiful and very detailed locations.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CE AND SE: A lot of thought went into this game and for me, the CE wins hands down over the SE, as it has everything I would like in a game and is worth the extra cost to me with its achievements, extra game play, movies, replay of HOS and puzzles, bonus HOS and buying stuff for your pet. But if on a budget, the SE should certainly not let anyone down.
I recommend this game!
Travel to Red Lake Falls to track down the latest Dark Dimension!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
STORY IS LIKE A BAG OF CHEETOS
PostedNovember 30, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Red Lake Falls, MI disappeared after an earthquake in 1918 and you are investigating what happened after your previous successes. Story centers around a pageant beauty queen, her zealous brother, and a wax museum. The story becomes quite complicated and takes more twists and turns than a bag of Cheetos. But it is still easy to follow because it is very logical (had to be a lot of thought put into it). A lot of fun to play. Very involved but logical gameplay, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
LENGTH: Took almost 5 ½ hours to play, so above average length. Ended in a satisfactory whirlwind.
HOS: Very many and very interactive. Find an object then use it to complete another object, but it is not obvious at all what needs to be done. (Ex: objects are clean paper and tale. You have to find a scroll which unrolls to a clean piece of paper, put it into a typewriter and emerge with a tale.) Then there are the usual interactive objects.
PUZZLES: Quite a few – usually you have to find the pieces to complete. Some pieces of a puzzle may be found within an hour, but others not for another hour or two of gameplay. But you can usually place them as you find them (so your inventory tray doesn’t seem so loaded). Some puzzles lack very informative explanations of exactly what you have to do. It can therefore be trial and error (or you can just skip when you run out of trial and patience).
GRAPHICS; ARTISTRY; LOCATIONS; MAP: People who posed for the wax figures appear as whispy characters. Very well done. There is a lot of special effects artistry in the cutscenes and especially in the ending. There is no map. There aren’t that many locations to begin with. Suddenly, about 2 hours into the game, you open location after location and have lots of inventory (to which you keep adding), so I’d suggest using inventory as soon as you can. Thankfully, the locations are close together and you seldom have to travel more than 4 or 5 screens to get the next location you need (and that is usually backing out and then going forward once or twice).
HINTS: Casual has a fairly fast recharge. If you want direction, you sometimes get a message that you’ve searched the area thoroughly and should look elsewhere. Othertimes, you get a direction arrow pointing you in the general direction of where activities are pending. Didn’t figure out why you get one or the other.
I recommend this game!
Travel to Red Lake Falls to track down the latest Dark Dimension!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
STORY IS A BAG OF CHEETOS
PostedNovember 30, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Red Lake Falls, MI disappeared after an earthquake in 1918 and you are investigating what happened after your previous successes. Story centers around a pageant beauty queen, her zealous brother, and a wax museum. The story becomes quite complicated and takes more twists and turns than a bag of Cheetos. But it is still easy to follow because it is very logical. A lot of fun to play. Very involved but logical gameplay, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
LENGTH: Took almost 5 ½ hours to play, so above average length. Ended in a satisfactory whirlwind.
HOS: Very many and very interactive. Find an object then use it to complete another object, but it is not obvious at all what needs to be done. (Ex: objects are clean paper and tale. You have to find a scroll which unrolls to a clean piece of paper, put it into a typewriter and emerge with a tale.) Then there are the usual interactive objects.
PUZZLES: Quite a few – usually you have to find the pieces to complete. Some pieces of a puzzle may be found within an hour, but others not for another hour or two of gameplay. But you can usually place them as you find them (so your inventory tray doesn’t seem so loaded). Some puzzles lack very informative explanations of exactly what you have to do. It can therefore be trial and error (or you can just skip when you run out of trial and patience).
GRAPHICS; ARTISTRY; LOCATIONS; MAP: People who posed for the wax figures appear as whispy characters. Very well done. There is a lot of special effects artistry in the cutscenes and especially in the ending. There is no map. There aren’t that many locations to begin with. Suddenly, about 2 hours into the game, you open location after location and have lots of inventory (to which you keep adding), so I’d suggest using inventory as soon as you can. Thankfully, the locations are close together and you seldom have to travel more than 4 or 5 screens to get the next location you need (and that is usually backing out and then going forward once or twice).
HINTS: Casual has a fairly fast recharge. If you want direction, you sometimes get a message that you’ve searched the area thoroughly and should look elsewhere. Othertimes, you get a direction arrow pointing you in the general direction of where activities are pending. Didn’t figure out why you get one or the other.
I recommend this game!
Experience a story about love so strong, it can overcome the most powerful evil! Explore visually stunning mystical dimensions and rescue your fiance!
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
AS WONDERFUL AS THE FIRST
PostedNovember 29, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I loved the first Sacra Terra and this one is just as wonderful. Your boyfriend unknowingly summons a succubus (sp) and disappears while you answer the phone. With only the strategy guide, concept art and wallpaper and presumably a bonus chapter as extras, I don't think it is really worth the CE price, so I chose the SE and am happy with that. The artwork is gorgeous and the gameplay is relatively straightforward. The voiceovers are acceptable but the animated figures leave something to be desired. If you played the original, you know what to expect. If you haven't, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
I recommend this game!