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:
Help Jane learn her family's legacy and win the inheritance of an English castle by searching for hidden objects.
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 25 found this review helpful
NEED TO READ THE DIALOGUE TO GET STORY
PostedJune 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
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
4 hours long. STORYLINE: Jane and others are summoned to a castle in England to settle an inheritance. Whoever finds the secret heart earns the castle. Find out the origin of an insanity curse on Jane’s family where most go insane and can never leave the castle. People start disappearing; there are secret rooms to explore; a unicorn to free. Satisfactory ending for most but not all characters. But I wasn’t satisfied with the finding and freeing of the unicorn – there could have been more gameplay involved.
GAMEPLAY: Straightforward – you select a highlighted room to explore in the castle. Several types of HOS: list of objects, silhouettes, objects that don’t belong and find pairs of objects. Scenes are generally not too crowded and not too dark. There are also a couple of rooms in which each half should be an exact replica of the other half, but you have to find the differences to expose levers to secret rooms. Puzzles vary, with gears and match 3 being quite common to unlock hidden areas. None of the puzzles are very difficult. There are a lot of background noises, particularly knocking and loud walking sounds, that are sort of spooky.
SUMMARY: Nice solid game, good graphics, well defined characters, and quite a bit of dialogue that is necessary for the story (but you can go as fast as you can read).
I recommend this game!
In order to save your life, your twin sister traded her soul to a witch. Now you must race through the looking glass to rescue her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 43 found this review helpful
HAS IT ALL
PostedMay 30, 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
5
/
5
Wonderful storyline of saving your sister. Meet fabulously unique characters in a fantasy dreamland. Graphics and music are very good and voice overs are exceptional. Interactive map, showing which locations have been completed and which have outstanding activities. Logical fairly straightforward gameplay - experienced players could probably play without the strategy guide. Game seems to have it all.
Lots of extras in the CE including ability to replay HOS and minigames, concept art (always interesting). Achievements. Collect golden nuts for "fortune cookie" sayings. 3 modes of play. Very well put together. Didn't give it 5 stars because I think there is something missing in the graphics that didn't grab me (which, given the rest of the game, I would expect to be more glamorous-looking).
I recommend this game!
Find your lost brother by solving puzzles, finding hidden clues, and using the powerful Mystic Diary to travel the world.
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
VERY FUN FOR HOG LOVERS
PostedMay 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
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm really going against the grain here. I really like this game – you can’t get lost and never have to wonder what to do next. It’s much, much better than Mystic Diary Haunted Island. Kept my interest throughout. I really enjoyed it and have played it 3 times. It is on the relatively short side – just over 3 hours.
STORYLINE: You play a magician whose architect brother has disappeared. You know it wasn’t voluntarily because he would never leave his cat alone? The architect found the Mystic Diary – you put in a picture and magically teleport to that location. Now he can’t live without it. The ending was satisfying, but allows the saga to continue.
GAMEPLAY: For each location, you play 2 HOS scenes looking for silhouettes (which are shown at the same angle as the actual object in the location), then you look for other clues in the location and use them to solve a puzzle. Sometimes, inventory items need to be combined to use them. Lastly, you play 1 HOS, looking for a list of objects. The scenes are not too crowded and items are clearly delineated. For slim objects, you usually have to click exactly on the object.
There is no going back and forth – objects are used in the scene in which they are found. Puzzles are varied and not too difficult. At the end of each location, you use a magic magnifying glass to outline a fiery magic symbol to get to the next scene. HINT: Pay attention to the fiery symbols. A journal page then appears with additional story elements and a new scene.
OTHER: Good lively music that changes with the scenes and sound effects. Good graphics. SUMMARY: Although gameplay is straightforward, it is a lot of fun to play. Would have scored 5 stars if objects were a little more blended, but then I don't like hunting for something you can't see well.
Overcome the mysteries of the Millionaire Manor and stop the macabre machinations of a madman in The Hidden Object Show 3!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
EVERY TYPE OF HOG GAME
PostedMay 30, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Game is definitely for the HOG lover. There seems to be every type of HOG in the game that is out there - spin the dial to see which one you will play. Could do without the music though - made me feel anxious and it was the same throughout. The voice overs were rather good, which surprised me. The graphics could also be better - some of the scenes were a little hazy.
I recommend this game!
Over and over the same nightmare is following you: your sister Anna is trapped in a strange existence, begging you to help her escape. But what if these are not just random nightmares?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A LITTLE ABOVE AVERAGE
PostedMay 28, 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
A nice little game – nothing special though. There are 3 modes of play. In the easiest mode, the areas of interest are highlighted. Graphics are nice, but a bit on the drab side. There is some running about looking for objects to use. The HOS are nicely done – in addition to the list of objects, there are scenes in which you find an article by shape and then use it in the scene (which can be a trifle challenging in some cases). Logical gameplay with the usual obstacles – lost keys, missing pieces. Varied puzzles; nothing new. I’d buy as a DD.
I recommend this game!
Join the beautiful demon-huntress, Vida, on her investigation into a series of mysterious kidnappings!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
BETTER WITHOUT VOICEOVERS
PostedMay 28, 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
THE GOOD:
- Lighten or darken the screen at any time
- Achievements
- Journal
- Ferret helper
- Choose to have voice overs and/or subtitles
- Wandering stars to collect and use to display all objects in a HOS
- Lighten or darken the screen at any time
- Achievements
- Journal
- Ferret helper
- Choose to have voice overs and/or subtitles
- Wandering stars to collect and use to display all objects in a HOS
Storyline: the Count has sent for Vida and her carriage is damaged along the way, so she has to find another way to get there. More HOS than adventure. HOS scenes are somewhat crowded. The banter between the ferret and Vida can become distracting, especially since Vida talks with no emotion and the ferret is like an annoying child who can’t keep quiet. Graphics are average. Don’t know that I’d pay full price – maybe I’ll just wait for $2.99 sale and play with low or no voiceovers.
I recommend this game!
Search the Wizbury School of Magic for the stolen gold, and rebuild the school!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
SOLID SEQUEL
PostedMay 28, 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
4
/
5
You get a lot in this SE: Achievements, wallpapers, 3 custom cursors, select volume for ambience, voices, sound effects and music, auto-advance dialogue ability, hidden gems to find, select 4:3 aspect if you don’t want stretch screen, a spellbook, and hidden fairies to help you find objects in addition to using a hint. Lovely locations, pleasant voice overs and soothing music.
Storyline: The gold needed to upgrade the school before the new terms begins has disappeared. Gameplay is a lot like the original Chronicles of Albian. The HOS are the actual entire locations, with ability to play close up in some areas, so some items will be somewhat small in comparison to the surroundings. Yet, most objects will be easily seeable. You will also encounter several tasks which are recorded in your spellbook. A very nice game, well put together.
I recommend this game!
Solve a murder mystery involving greed and mistrust among friends in this suspenseful, back-stabbing Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
MOST ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING
PostedMay 25, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Over 4 hours (relaxed mode) playing one of the most frustrating games I have ever played. MAJOR COMPLAINTS:
1) The HOS were very dark and indistinct. Some games allow you to adjust the brightness under Options for that game only. Since the game was mostly HOS, that capability was sorely missed. Many objects were tiny and/or shaded into shadows, making them hard to see (and I have a 27” screen). There were very few HOS that weren’t so dark.
2) Hints took an obscenely long time to recharge. Since I needed the hints to find quite a few objects in the last half of the game, waiting for the recharge was driving me up the wall. It likely took at least an hour waiting for the recharges. Doubt I’ll play the game again.
1) The HOS were very dark and indistinct. Some games allow you to adjust the brightness under Options for that game only. Since the game was mostly HOS, that capability was sorely missed. Many objects were tiny and/or shaded into shadows, making them hard to see (and I have a 27” screen). There were very few HOS that weren’t so dark.
2) Hints took an obscenely long time to recharge. Since I needed the hints to find quite a few objects in the last half of the game, waiting for the recharge was driving me up the wall. It likely took at least an hour waiting for the recharges. Doubt I’ll play the game again.
These didn’t bother me, but just so you know: There are a lot of different sound effects during gameplay, some of them quite startling. You do get popup windows at the end of some scenes telling you what else to do. Puzzles are easy. There is an option to play in 3D, but it was slightly easier to find objects without 3D.
I don't recommend this game.
Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal
Become a young, aspiring reporter in the 1920`s looking for a big story. Can you crack the case and finally be a top reporter?
Overall rating
4
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
MUCH BETTER THAN INITIAL EXPECTATIONS
PostedMay 22, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
4 ½ hour adventure – HOG on casual mode. I thought it would be on the shorter side and a simple story; but it became much more intricate as the game progressed. You play Valerie Porter, a very young recently-hired journalist in the pre-historic days when women didn’t work in professional jobs unless they were nurses.
Your boss treats you as his new secretary until a woman journalist who became famous for reporting took Valerie under her wings – at least until a conflict seems to appear between them. A mystery evolves and you persist in investigating and solving it. Music is from the roaring twenties except during the gameplay – too bad, there were times when it could have played without interfering with the game play. It was happy music.
GAMEPLAY: You can earn 12 medals. In every scene, there are 2 batteries (to instantly recharge hints or retain for extra points) and 5 bells to collect in addition to the HOS. You can click an object name to see its silhouette. Chain like objects (ex: 3 medals) for extra points in the HOS.
Once each chapter, you take a subway ride where you chain similar items (6-10) to get the maximum hint recharge. Sometimes, chaining can be expedited by pulling your cursor around the scene. Game isn’t horseshoes, so you do have to click exactly on the objects. Puzzles are varied, but 4 routinely reappear: focusing photos, building objects according to a schematic, writing news stories and writing the accompanying headlines. Game was much more delightful than I originally thought it would be and I’m glad I bought it.
I recommend this game!
Travel to Istanbul and help Alexia stop an ancient curse that has started to affect her friend, Ogan. Stop the Curse of Babylon!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
SHORT BUT NICE
PostedMay 22, 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
3
/
5
Rather a short game – a little less than 3 hours. Story is nothing new. You need to break an ancient family curse holding your friend hostage and you investigate locations in Turkey, Persia and Ancient Babylon which are very nicely done. Ending was as expected. Mostly HOS, which are large, distinct and nice to look at; occasionally, things have to be mixed, especially toward the end. There are some objects with foreign names, but you are given a description when you mouse over it. Puzzles are nothing new and are not difficult. You can hold up to 6 hints at a time, but extra hints are rather easy to earn. Music was nice and relaxing. I liked the game, but I would wait for a $2.99 daily special due to its length and the lackluster story. Shortness resulted in 1/2 to 1 star reduction.
I recommend this game!