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:
Unlock the mystery of the Sculptor’s tragic fate!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
PLASTER COLD KILLER?
PostedOctober 26, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm not as impressed as I thought I would be. Although the scenery is pretty, the HOS are typical and the puzzles are quite easy. It's relatively easy to finding pieces to complete objects (such as gate, rope) in order to move forward. Map is helpful in showing you where there are tasks to perform. Liked the kitten - he sure likes to climb. I was positive he would get stuck in some high place. Music is appropriate to whatever scene you are investigating. Voice overs are good. Morphs and coins are easy to find. A very nice game. 4 stars (I was expecting a 5-star performance from the description), but still worth owning.
I recommend this game!
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 33 found this review helpful
ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE 5-STARS
PostedOctober 25, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Like that there are 3 types of HOS: fragments, silhouettes and list (which also allows you to switch to a matching game). All were very and/or accumulating interactive. One PROBLEM I found was that you could have your cursor a full 2-3" from the target object and pick it up or interact with it. Now, I'm not particularly fond of objects that have to be clicked exactly (especially thin objects like a needle), but this is too much leeway.
It seems to take the adventure portion of the story forever to unfold. Too much talking, even if you can speed through it by clicking the scene again and again. Getting information from the prisoner in bits and pieces if okay - he's a bit entertaining and raises questions of why he is an enemy of the park owner, why hasn't he escaped already if he can help you escape, etc.
Like the spookiness - keeps you interested in finding out more. The evidence board is a good aspect, but it seems that some evidence is collected but can't be put on the board yet. A detective would probably classify it somewhere, at least tentatively.
SUMMARY: I think this is a great game and certainly worth buying, but I just don't think it quite warrants 5 stars along with some of the other games out there lately. That said, I will likely buy the CE over the SE because it offers quite a few benefits, like achievements, morphs, and the collectibles, as well as collecting evidence. There were a couple other things in the CE that are of interest, but there was no preview of them.
I recommend this game!
You were just about to relax with a good book when a stranger leaves a baby on your doorstep.
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 19 found this review helpful
INVENTORIED BABY LEFT IN THE RAIN
PostedOctober 24, 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
4
/
5
Intriguing story: baby is left on your doorsteps with a note to take the baby home. But how she gets the baby home is really a guess because there' s nothing to say where home is. I thought it funny when the baby was added to inventory. Sounds were realistic. No sync with voice overs, but then that doesn't matter to me since the game is likely produced in various languages and the lip movement would differ for each.
You get listed objectives. I found them to be more challenging than many of the games out there, even though you knew what you had to do. Hint system was no always on-the-spot, but adequate. Still had to use the brains to figure out how to do something. Music was appropriate to the scene - from a sense of urgency to calm and relaxing.
You get a helper owl named Gears (another bit of humor) to help with high places. 4 levels of difficulty (one is customizable). HOS were lovely. After finding an object, there is a piece of a puzzle under it on some HOS. Other HOS were finding silhouettes, which were well blended. Puzzles were especially satisfying - new, unusual and difficulty varied. Really done well.
Really beautiful production values. Lots of fun and thing to do. CE has achievements, collectibles and 3 bonus games besides the usual concept art, etc. So this is a CE purchase for me.
I recommend this game!
Journey into the Nightmare Realm and save Emily from an imaginary world that has been taken over by darkness!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
STARTS SLOW; GETS BETTER AS YOU PROGRESS
PostedOctober 23, 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
4
/
5
STORY: is slow to develop. The daughter, Emily, disappears into a drawing which suddenly “poofs” (i.e., a small explosion-like feature) and you also find that her drawings in the hallway are burning at the same time. You have to go through the drawing through which she disappeared and find her drawings in order to save her. Her uncle is there to help you. Ending was rather sudden (Emily had a surprise happen to her). Game took a little over 3 hours.
MOVING FORWARD:
Emily’s uncle joins in the hunt to rescue Emily’s paintings, and thus Emily. You’ll encounter minor catastrophes along the way (boy, can the uncle stay under water for a long time). Every time you find a painting, you have to return to the house and hang it, look at Emily’s portrait in the master bedroom and gather a new tool to help in further exploration. The transitions to different location is logical and you should have no trouble finding your way around. HOS: are done in a complementary color palette. Objects are easily found and the HOS are interactive. PUZZLES are widely varied in type and difficulty. I did find it difficult to find the rope for capturing the dog and ended up consulting the W/T; but other than that, I was able to solve all the puzzles. Not too much hand-holding, but progress is still straightforward and holds no surprises on what to do next. It was great fun making the healing potion for the factory master on behalf of the witch doctor.
Emily’s uncle joins in the hunt to rescue Emily’s paintings, and thus Emily. You’ll encounter minor catastrophes along the way (boy, can the uncle stay under water for a long time). Every time you find a painting, you have to return to the house and hang it, look at Emily’s portrait in the master bedroom and gather a new tool to help in further exploration. The transitions to different location is logical and you should have no trouble finding your way around. HOS: are done in a complementary color palette. Objects are easily found and the HOS are interactive. PUZZLES are widely varied in type and difficulty. I did find it difficult to find the rope for capturing the dog and ended up consulting the W/T; but other than that, I was able to solve all the puzzles. Not too much hand-holding, but progress is still straightforward and holds no surprises on what to do next. It was great fun making the healing potion for the factory master on behalf of the witch doctor.
OTHER STUFF: Collect the 33 origami to unlock a special content. This is the 2nd time I’ve played and I’ve yet to find all the origami. Maybe I should look at the W/T next time. Hints take about 40 seconds and skips close to 3 minutes to recharge. Expert mode takes even longer. Diary has the story plus clues and the map showing active locations and points of interest (map is not interactive though – but is not a direct hindrance because there are not that many locations needed for you to backtrack too far).
SUMMARY: Good game for an afternoon of relaxation. Lovely scenes interspersed with drab locations (which seem to be the case as you initially enter into the “poofed” painting). Actions are easy to understand. Animation is fantastic. Music is appropriate to the scenes. The SE also has an origami collection, but I don’t think that it has the special content. Still, if you like to collect things, you should like either the CE or the SE.
I recommend this game!
Journey into the Nightmare Realm and save Emily from an imaginary world that has been taken over by darkness!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
STARTS SLOW; GETS BETTER AS YOU PROGRESS
PostedOctober 23, 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
4
/
5
STORY: is slow to develop. The daughter, Emily, disappears into a drawing which suddenly “poofs” (i.e., a small explosion-like feature) and you also find that her drawings in the hallway are burning at the same time. You have to go through the drawing through which she disappeared and find her drawings in order to save her. Her uncle is there to help you. Ending was rather sudden (Emily had a surprise happen to her). Game took a little over 3 hours.
MOVING FORWARD:
Emily’s uncle joins in the hunt to rescue Emily’s paintings, and thus Emily. You’ll encounter minor catastrophes along the way (boy, can the uncle stay under water for a long time). Every time you find a painting, you have to return to the house and hang it, look at Emily’s portrait in the master bedroom and gather a new tool to help in further exploration. The transitions to different location is logical and you should have no trouble finding your way around.
Emily’s uncle joins in the hunt to rescue Emily’s paintings, and thus Emily. You’ll encounter minor catastrophes along the way (boy, can the uncle stay under water for a long time). Every time you find a painting, you have to return to the house and hang it, look at Emily’s portrait in the master bedroom and gather a new tool to help in further exploration. The transitions to different location is logical and you should have no trouble finding your way around.
HOS: are done in a complementary color palette. Objects are easily found and the HOS are interactive. PUZZLES are widely varied in type and difficulty. I did find it difficult to find the rope for capturing the dog and ended up consulting the W/T; but other than that, I was able to solve all the puzzles. Not too much hand-holding, but progress is still straightforward and holds no surprises on what to do next. It was great fun making the healing potion for the factory master on behalf of the witch doctor.
OTHER STUFF: Collect the 33 origami to unlock a special content. This is the 2nd time I’ve played and I’ve yet to find all the origami. Maybe I should look at the W/T next time. Hints take about 40 seconds and skips close to 3 minutes to recharge. Expert mode takes even longer. Diary has the story plus clues and the map showing active locations and points of interest (map is not interactive though – but is not a direct hindrance because there are not that many locations needed for you to backtrack too far).
SUMMARY: Good game for an afternoon of relaxation. Lovely scenes interspersed with drab locations (which seem to be the case as you initially enter into the “poofed” painting). Actions are easy to understand. Animation is fantastic. Music is appropriate to the scenes. The SE also has an origami collection, but I don’t think that it has the special content. Still, if you like to collect things, you should like either the CE or the SE.
I recommend this game!
After their yacht is sunk by an incredible storm, Jane and Mike are separated in Sea Legends: Phantasmal Light!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
COMPLETED GAME
PostedOctober 23, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
STORY: Jane and Mike are sailing when they see a sign in the sky during a storm. They are shipwrecked and Jane comes to just as Mike is being dragged off. You find several notes about a “bad” lighthouse and suggestions that others have met the same fate. So you have to find Mike and save him. Ending is as expected.
PROGRESS:
You’ll come across plenty of HOS in your adventure so that you get objects you need to progress to your ultimate goal of saving Mike. HOS are pretty drab, occasionally with a splash of color. They always have dark hard-to-see-in spaces and are very crowded. Yet most of the objects can be found easily enough. Hints during the HOS scenes shines a spotlight around an item. Puzzles are ordinary – nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to restart them. So, I messed up on a couple and had to skip because there was no way to start again after I realized my mistake.
You’ll come across plenty of HOS in your adventure so that you get objects you need to progress to your ultimate goal of saving Mike. HOS are pretty drab, occasionally with a splash of color. They always have dark hard-to-see-in spaces and are very crowded. Yet most of the objects can be found easily enough. Hints during the HOS scenes shines a spotlight around an item. Puzzles are ordinary – nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to restart them. So, I messed up on a couple and had to skip because there was no way to start again after I realized my mistake.
SOUNDS AND VOICE OVERS: Love the natural sounds of bird chirping, waves crashing, and a storm. Music gives a sense of urgency. Voice overs are okay but there is overacting when Mike is being dragged away. GAME LENGTH: 4 HOURS on casual.
OTHER STUFF: If you click on or otherwise interact (such as blowing a horn near them) with pests, you will get rid of them, but there no other consequences that I saw – in other words, it’s amusing but does do anything in the game
I recommend this game!
After their yacht is sunk by an incredible storm, Jane and Mike are separated in Sea Legends: Phantasmal Light!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
COMPLETED GAME
PostedOctober 23, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
STORY: Jane and Mike are sailing when they see a sign in the sky during a storm. They are shipwrecked and Jane comes to just as Mike is being dragged off. You find several notes about a “bad” lighthouse and suggestions that others have met the same fate. So you have to find Mike and save him. Ending is as expected.
PROGRESS:
You’ll come across plenty of HOS in your adventure so that you get objects you need to progress to your ultimate goal of saving Mike. HOS are pretty drab, occasionally with a splash of color. They always have dark hard-to-see-in spaces and are very crowded. Yet most of the objects can be found easily enough. Hints during the HOS scenes shines a spotlight around an item. Puzzles are ordinary – nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to restart them. So, I messed up on a couple and had to skip because there was no way to start again after I realized my mistake.
You’ll come across plenty of HOS in your adventure so that you get objects you need to progress to your ultimate goal of saving Mike. HOS are pretty drab, occasionally with a splash of color. They always have dark hard-to-see-in spaces and are very crowded. Yet most of the objects can be found easily enough. Hints during the HOS scenes shines a spotlight around an item. Puzzles are ordinary – nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to restart them. So, I messed up on a couple and had to skip because there was no way to start again after I realized my mistake.
SOUNDS AND VOICE OVERS: Love the natural sounds of bird chirping, waves crashing, and a storm. Music gives a sense of urgency. Voice overs are okay but there is overacting when Mike is being dragged away. LENGTH: 4 HOURS on casual.
OTHER STUFF: If you click on or otherwise interact (such as blowing a horn near them) with pests, you will get rid of them, but there no other consequences that I saw – in other words, it’s amusing but does do anything in the game
I recommend this game!
Solve a series of puzzles, find hidden objects, and search for a way back to your daughter in this great Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
STILL GOOD HOG FUN AFTER ALL THESE (4) YEARS
PostedOctober 22, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
With the Gogii sale, I bought both Escape the Museum ("ETM") games, which were about the only Gogii games I didn't have for some reason. This one is a little harder than ETM 2.
Although this game is older, I try to keep the date of production in mind. Just because it's been around, doesn't mean it's not good. For HOG, I'm mostly interested in the adventure and the HOS. Here, you have a sense of urgency - it's not that important to me that there be all types of animation and special effects.
The HOS are nice and the mini-games somewhat challenging. Decent graphics and I liked the story. But I wonder which game was first - an earthquake happens in the ETM2, while here it appears the earthquake has already happened. Well, doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I'll just think of it as 2 big earthquakes.
I recommend this game!
After a devastating earthquake rocks the city, David must reach the museum before nightfall and save his wife and daughter!
Overall rating
4
/
5
HELP BY MIDNIGHT
PostedOctober 22, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Good follow-up game. Like the "hint" guy, but he disappeared when I needed him to help outside the HOS. Figured it out anyway. Really good graphics, great voice overs, nice plot. Easy and lots of fun. Strange he said he needed to help them by midnight - in an earthquake, isn't it help asap. Okay length for Gogii sale.
I recommend this game!
Travel the world, meet crazy characters and solve amazing mysteries as a Private Eye.
Overall rating
4
/
5
69 of 77 found this review helpful
FOR THE SEASONED HOG PLAYER
PostedOctober 22, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Why do I say this is for the seasoned player? Because they cram all kinds of HOGs and mini-games into the production, which can be quite a plate for a newbie. You take pictures of the clues to score points.
GOOD:
-choose whether to play male/female character
-pink panther type music
-collect stamps for extra point bonuses
-30 locations
-finding blue items in any order gives you bonus points
-finding all items in the exact order of the list gives you mega extra points
-every few levels, there are mini-games (silhouettes, spot differences, find words, et al)
-there are sub-scenes in which to find items (such as in a painting) and same rules apply
-nice use of color
-choose whether to play male/female character
-pink panther type music
-collect stamps for extra point bonuses
-30 locations
-finding blue items in any order gives you bonus points
-finding all items in the exact order of the list gives you mega extra points
-every few levels, there are mini-games (silhouettes, spot differences, find words, et al)
-there are sub-scenes in which to find items (such as in a painting) and same rules apply
-nice use of color
NOT SO GOOD:
-minus points for wrong clicks
-time to recharge hints increases with each use
-some items are rather small (I don't think should add to the level of challenge rating like a well-blended scene would)
-very crowded locations, adding to difficulty of finding objects
-minus points for wrong clicks
-time to recharge hints increases with each use
-some items are rather small (I don't think should add to the level of challenge rating like a well-blended scene would)
-very crowded locations, adding to difficulty of finding objects
If some of the items weren't so small, this would be a buy for me. Alas, my eyes aren't what they used to be so I have to pass - even with a large screen. But consider it if you don't have myopia.
I recommend this game!