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:
Visit a boarding school abandoned after a terrible accident. Unravel the mystery of the loss of its former students.
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
NOT QUITE BUT ALMOST A WOW
PostedMay 26, 2014
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
5
/
5
SUMMARY: An interesting story that appears to be in the 1950s or 1960s with monochromatic scenery and a lot of black bar tips (don't read unless you want help). Easy and somewhat slow gameplay. Occasional HOS and mini-games but plenty of little puzzles needing you to find something in order to get something. It just misses that WOW factor that I need in order to buy, since I have so many games with no time to play them all.
STORY: You play a detective searching for who is abducting girls, a couple of whom are from the same boarding school. The girls were mistreated by the headmistress and you will also be searching for more information on the relationship between her son and the girls. A cloaked man figures into the mystery at the lake. Game will list your objectives for areas you enter.
GRAPHICS: Scenes are monochromatic; but if you turn the flashlight on, it will make some things more visible and help keep you focused. MUSIC: Jaunty but the same very short track played repeatedly and began getting on my nerves.
HINTS: Recharged rapidly on casual play and pointed you to what needed to be done. If it just shows that you need to change locations, you aren't charged with a hint. MAP: Interactive.
HINTS: Recharged rapidly on casual play and pointed you to what needed to be done. If it just shows that you need to change locations, you aren't charged with a hint. MAP: Interactive.
HOS: Very cluttered. You will likely need to use the flashlight to highlight areas due to the monotones. Not heavy on the number of HOS. PUZZLES & MINI-GAMES: Not a large number of mini-games, but there are a lot of puzzles where you have to find something to progress.
DIFFICULTY: Played on casual. Very easy. There are many black bar tips when you click on anything that needs action. Such as you click on a wooden bird nest and the black bar says that you can lure the raven to it if you find it something to eat. The black bars even tell you how to solve some problems, such as when you click on a locked door, it will say that the key appears to be stuck in the keyhole and you need a piece of paper to put under the door and push the key out.
I recommend this game!
Track down the wily Fox before he slips away into the beauty of Venice!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
FIND THE STORY BEHIND THE LATEST MODERN ROBIN HOOD THEFT
PostedMay 25, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: A fun game with lovely scenery, wonderful sounds, silhouette HOS, and puzzles and mini-games of varying degrees of difficulty. Good production values. See last paragraph if you want to see what the CE has to offer.
STORY: LaVolpe (the "fox") is a modern-day Robin Hood, reported to have stolen the Marco Polo relic from the Venice Museum. You play as a journalist who goes to Venice to uncover the true story.
PLAY DEVELOPMENT: As you begin to explore Venice for evidence of the Fox, you encounter LaVolpe. He tells you he retired 5 years ago, but he still gives as much as he can to the unfortunates. However, his ex-partner (beautiful Gabrielle) is framing him for the theft. He needs you to help clear his game, but instead of being straightforward, he will only give you clues to find her. So lucky-you takes off for Venice.
You encounter a HOS (silhouettes and interactive) and puzzles / mini-games (of varying degrees of difficulty) along the way. The ratio is largely in favor of the puzzles and mini-games. HOS are clearly defined and not very crowded. Puzzles are interesting and require the use of items you will find in the mini-games, HOS and lying around.
ARTISTRY AND SOUNDS: Graphics are beautiful but occasionally could be more detailed. They reflect the beauty of Venice. Sounds are awesome - hear the water trickling, bells tinkling, et al. Very real sounding. Voice overs are pretty good (if you're looking lip syncs, don't unless you happen to speak the right language - the developers wouldn't change the lip movements just because they release in various languages).
OTHER STUFF: There are 4 modes of difficulty, including one which you can customize. Dialogue is spoken and written. You also take pictures after you focus your camera.
IF YOU WONDER WHETHER TO GET THE SE OR CE: There are a LOT of collectibles in the CE version: 36 souvenirs, 52 fox figurines, 16 letters, 8 audio tapes, 22 pictures and 10 travel guide pages. There are also achievements and morphing objects. Plus the usual extras. So if you are a collector, this can be collector heaven!
I recommend this game!
Track down the wily Fox’ before he slips away into the beauty of Venice!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
FOR THE COLLECTOR
PostedMay 25, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: A fun game with lovely scenery, wonderful sounds, silhouette HOS, puzzles and mini-games of varying degrees of difficulty, and a LOT of collectibles in the CE.
STORY: LaVolpe (the "fox") is a modern-day Robin Hood, reported to have stolen the Marco Polo relic from the Venice Museum. You play as a journalist who goes to Venice to uncover the true story.
PLAY DEVELOPMENT: As you begin to explore Venice for evidence of the Fox, you encounter LaVolpe. He tells you he retired 5 years ago, but he still gives as much as he can to the unfortunates. However, his ex-partner (beautiful Gabrielle) is framing him for the theft. He needs you to help clear his game, but instead of being straightforward, he will only give you clues to find her. So lucky-you takes off for Venice.
You encounter a HOS (silhouettes and interactive) and puzzles / mini-games (of varying degrees of difficulty) along the way. The ratio is largely in favor of the puzzles and mini-games. HOS are clearly defined and not very crowded. Puzzles are interesting and require the use of items you will find in the mini-games, HOS and lying around.
ARTISTRY AND SOUNDS: Graphics are beautiful but occasionally could be more detailed. They reflect the beauty of Venice. Sounds are awesome - hear the water trickling, bells tinkling, et al. Very real sounding. Voice overs are pretty good (if you're looking lip syncs, don't unless you happen to speak the right language - the developers wouldn't change the lip movements just because they release in various languages).
OTHER STUFF: There are 4 modes of difficulty, including one which you can customize. Dialogue is spoken and written. You also take pictures after you focus your camera.
CE EXTRAS FOR THE COLLECTOR: There are a lot of collectibles: 36 souvenirs, 52 fox figurines, 16 letters, 8 audio tapes, 22 pictures and 10 travel guide pages. There are also achievements and morphing objects. So if you are a collector, this can be heaven!
I recommend this game!
Find your sister and escape from a terrifying haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 23 found this review helpful
SQEEZING WALLS AND DISAPPEARING PEOPLE
PostedMay 24, 2014
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: A fetching story about a haunted house that appears out of nowhere, where anyone entering never escapes and which moves itself. A wonderful adventure with quite a lot of intoxicating puzzles and a few HOS. A fun adventure but recommend waiting for the SE.
CE: Doesn't have enough for me to buy as a CE, but I will certainly buy as an SE. It has hearts to collect (one per scene), a number of the usual achievements (which can be earned through normal game play, for the most part), the bonus game and the usual wallpapers, music tracks, et al.
ADVENTURE: Your sister is suddenly trapped and disappears behind a door with a strange man, while the room you are in morphs, closing all exits. The house is haunted: it's full of traps, constantly shifting walls, people disappear (usually leaving no trace of themselves), and you run across a man who disappeared in the same house in another state last year.
PUZZLES: There is a large variety of puzzles and mini-games, ranging from fairly easy to mildly challenging. I actually gave up on the first mini-game (getting a key to the lock on the opposite side of the board, which is very unusual for me). But I was able to solve all the others. The puzzles aren't the usual run-of-the-mill puzzles either. On casual, the skip rate is rather fast. On the hardest level, there is no skip.
HOS: There aren't too many HOS - there are many more puzzles to HOS. Some of the HOS are interactive (such as revealing a piece of a puzzle needed to open the final object to find the last item). Scenes are not too crowded and objects are clearly visible though many are well disguised.
OTHER STUFF: There are 3 modes of play: The hint and skip buttons recharge fairly fast in casual play, but you have no hints or ability to skip puzzles on the hardest level. Read the journal, because it adds a bit of backstory as you play. Map is interactive, so even though there may be quite a bit of back and forth, it is not a chore. Enough rooms that it seems to be an average-length game.
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the mist and find your lost brother?
Overall rating
5
/
5
70 of 85 found this review helpful
FRESH and UNIQUE
PostedApril 27, 2014
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
STORY: Fresh and unique story. 20 years ago, a mist captured your brother. Any pictures he draws are burned and become reality. Now you must try to retrieve him.
GAMEPLAY: Somewhat linear, although there is some leeway. Mostly adventure. Many more puzzles and mini-games than HOS. The puzzles are unique and fun to play; many take trial and error. The HOS are quite crowded and interactive. Some may be list-based; others are silhouettes. The silhouettes may need you to gather clues within the scene to solve some of the inherent puzzles to gather all items. There is some back and forth as you need to gather components to solve puzzles in another location.
OTHER STUFF: Graphics are a little on the hazy side, but the color palettes are very good indeed. Map shows where there are pending activities. Music is nothing to write home about. Very good production values.
I recommend this game!
Escape the cold incarceration of Davy Jones' brig and discover the otherworldly origins of his galleon in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
18 of 21 found this review helpful
APPEALING
PostedApril 25, 2014
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
4
/
5
Follow the legend of Davy Jones in this visually-appealing production. Help free the signers of a Davy Jones past. Voice overs sound realistic with the proper amount of emotion.
Graphics and use of color palettes are outstanding. Story and frequent cutscenes are well-developed.
Good ratio of puzzles to HOS. Several types of interactive HOS. Puzzles are fun and interesting, but are relatively easy to complete; they could be more challenging. Objects are found close to where they will be used.
Gameplay is straightforward. Although not strictly linear, it is a simple matter of logic to figure out what to do and where to go next.
With all the attention to detail, it is an entertaining game.
With all the attention to detail, it is an entertaining game.
I recommend this game!
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
32 of 41 found this review helpful
SUPERB
PostedApril 18, 2014
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
This is a superb game with outstanding voice overs, crisp graphics, sound and logical but complex nonlinear gameplay, plenty to do and see. Compelling music and cutscenes. HOS are only mildly crowded - I like the clue-driven object finds. There are alternative games to play in lieu of the HOS. Puzzles are many and vary widely in difficulty. This is one Poe book I didn't read - it's mysterious, fascinating and a little scary of what comes next. Visual and sound effects are easily award winners. This may well be the best Edgar Allan Poe game from ERS to date, which says a lot. They outdid themselves.
I recommend this game!
Dark Dimensions: Somber Song
Townspeople flee as the black smoke covers their town. Can you close the dark dimension, before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
52 of 66 found this review helpful
AWESOME
PostedApril 11, 2014
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
Special effects (especially the swirling mist), music (suspenseful where appropriate) and sound effects are awesome and fit the storyline in the correct place. Color palettes and graphics are terrific. Well developed storyline. Map has active objectives noted.
Good balance of HOS to puzzles. Progressive interactive HOS are moderately crowded and objects are detailed sufficiently to find objects. You have to use each object found on another item to progress through the HOS. Puzzles are relatively easy to figure out for an experienced player, but may take a little thinking (okay, maybe a lot) for the novice.
Outstanding production values and easy game flow. Nonlinear and a lot of fun to play.
I recommend this game!
Explore the Mystery Unicorn Castle and save Sophie from the Beastmaster in this exciting HOPA game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
41 of 44 found this review helpful
HUMUNGOUS RATS AND FOG KEEP APPEARING
PostedApril 6, 2014
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
My review of the CE Version: An adventure game with plenty of objects to find and use. Only a few HOPs though. The graphics are crisp and special effects are outstanding. Hint works wonderfully and gives you clear direction. Wisps will flow through the air while the hint is recharging; catch them and immediately refill the hint.
KARMIC: I really liked the karmic choices - you have two choices of dealing with a puzzle and whichever you chose has implications in future game play. So you have to think of what the consequences could be. Note that both objects which you can chose will disappear from inventory, even though you can use only one.
There are a number of achievements to accomplish, but they have counterparts. So you have to think of how to accomplish all of them so that you can get the achievement for meeting all of them. For example: you get an achievement for helping the blacksmith and you get one for not helping him. So you have to figure out how to help and not help him.
Find 45 hidden pumpkins, which are usually hidden in plain sight. Puzzles are easy to figure out - you just have to find what you need to finish them (and that may be several scenes away). HOS are mildly crowded, but detailed, so you can find things even when the hues are similar. An entertaining game
I recommend this game!
A tornado has separated Amy and Tom from their parents! Now it’s up to you to help Amy and Tom make it home safely!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
CHALLENGING ADVENTURE
PostedMarch 30, 2014
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
This is a very challenging adventure game. You are going camping in a trailer and a tornado comes along and there you go. First you have to find shelter; then find your way home. The adventure portion is fairly straightforward and easy. There are a few HOS of finding images, but the much larger proportion of HOS are fill-in the circles.
What's challenging? The puzzles. Although the puzzle directions are minimal, you can ascertain what is needed through trial and error. Although many of the puzzles are unique, they can be quite difficult to complete. And you can't skip them, so expect to be exasperated until you figure them out - then you wonder what took you so long.
The sound effects and visual effects are superb. The color palettes are beautiful and artistry is very detailed.
LENGTH: Took about 3 hours 15 minutes to complete on casual.
I recommend this game!