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:
An evil dwarf collects the souls of those who enter the neglected park! Will you be able to rid the world of his presence?
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
SO MUCH FUN I FORGOT IT WAS SO LONG
PostedNovember 11, 2012
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
STORYLINE: You enter a nightmare in an amusement park. You’re met by a character who informs you that you will have to solve his riddles or meet an unsavory fate – he’s just what you’d expect in a nightmare. (His dialogue could have been written because he was difficult to understand and he is, after all, the culprit.) MISCELLANEOUS STUFF: You have a journal, which will record information not obtained from the game play, a task list, and an interactive map, which sometimes (not always) tells you where there is an activity. There are various awards you can earn – most you collect automatically at some point. TIP: Find all the starfish and marbles for extra awards. One of my pet peeves is that games don’t give you this type of information until you accidentally click the bonus item. Why the secret?
GAMEPLAY: There are quite a few locations, so the interactive map is so handy. Hint system will also show you where you to go next and tell you to click on it to go there immediately. Since there’s so much to do (sometimes 15 things are pending) and see, it’s a real time saver from backtracking. The interactive HOS are not too crowded and objects are nicely sized. [Tip: watch the cursor change to a red/yellow glow for the interactive objects.] Sometimes the objects are so close to the bottom that you accidentally back out of the HOS – annoying.
Graphics are nice. Very polished and well developed game. Wide variety of puzzles and mini-games – some are quite challenging. Mini-games have a long skip feature. [When you get to the rabbit trick, if you move the want the wrong way, you’ll end up with several different items. Try it for a laugh.] Sometimes I forgot what the goal was because the game lasted longer than I thought it would – even with the map allowing you to hop from place to place and the hint system, it took me about 8 hours to reach the goal. Then there was additional stuff. Usually 5-6 hours is the maximum I can play a game without wondering when will it end. This game kept my interest to the end and the length didn’t bother me. But I did take a break before finishing all the additional stuff.
W/T vs. HINTS: At about halfway through the game, I thought I’d check the walkthrough to see if I skipped anything, but the game isn’t all that well organized (i.e., not linear in the least) to find a walkthrough that helpful unless you are looking for something in particular. The hints are the way to go unless you are using a W/T from the beginning. Well worth the money.
I recommend this game!
Explore Dr. Blackmore’s latest experiment in a Haunted Halls: Fears from Childhood, a terrifying Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
NOT SO SHORT AFTER ALL: GLAD I BOUGHT IT
PostedNovember 11, 2012
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
Quite a few reviews said the game was short, so I kept debating whether to buy it. I’m glad I did; it didn’t disappoint at all. Took 4 ½ hours on casual – just the right length for me. STORYLINE: 5 children, each with their own nightmares and fears, have been captured by Dr. Blackmore who is feeding off those unique fears, which many of us suffered from as children. Each child’s story is well thought-out and is a stand-alone, so the end of each is a good “take a break” spot.
GAMEPLAY: Very polished. Right amount of difficulty – not too easy and not so difficult as to be exasperating. Is generally easy to figure out what to do next as there are a limited number of scenes for the intro and each child. Environments are unique to each child – and it doesn’t feel like the same story is being told 5 times with only slight differences. HOS are not too crowded and are nicely sized. Each has their own type of nightmare. Nice mix of HOS with puzzles. Stories are unique and easy to follow - no getting lost in backtracking.
Fun gameplay. The funniest thing that happened in the game: you have to kill 3 vicious plants. After axing the first plant to death, a second plant unexpectedly eats the axe. What a chuckle for an otherwise serious subject. Game well worth the money.
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
3
/
5
53 of 80 found this review helpful
Most Everyone's in a Stupor
PostedNovember 11, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
An interesting story about people afflicted with a disease causing them to be in a state of stupor. While most people are plagued with being in a stupor, not everyone is and there should be an explanation of why – after all, those who are normal don’t live in a bubble, thereby escaping the cause. Love the morphing objects. Voiceovers are okay, as are the actors. It’s usually easy to figure out what has to be done next, but if you become stumped, the interactive map, showing where current activities are available, is most helpful.
Physical environments are somewhat drab. HOS are not crowded; in fact, there was a most efficient use of HOS scenes. There would be a small amount of objects which you must find and interact with. That resulted in a new short list of objects to find and interact with, and so on. They were a pleasure. Also had to put objects back where they belong. Some were obvious; other were not – moderate challenge finding whether things belonged. Nice game – a little better than average. Just not compelling as some others. About 3 1/2 stars or a little more, but I rounded down due to the drab locations.
I recommend this game!
Hidden Mysteries®: Gates of Graceland®
Explore the home of the King of Rock and Roll while searching for clues about a lost song!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
AVERAGE - EXPECTED MORE FROM ELVIS
PostedNovember 9, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Bit of a disappointment. I was hoping for more Elvis music. It would have been so easy to have a few Elvis songs as the soundscapes. The artistry of the mansion was beautiful. Game tells more of a story of writing a song for his mother and hiding parts in various places at the mansion than it is being an adventure. There is a map of the Graceland grounds, but it is not interactive.
Newsclips of Elvis’ life are terribly short. Since it takes place at Graceland and you have the run of the mansion except the 2nd floor, there could have been more Elvis memorabilia shown. Not an overabundance of HOS, which weren’t too challenging but nicely done. Perhaps I expected too much from the premise of the story, but it was not as I had hoped. Maybe because Elvis is larger than life, I expected the game to come closer to that level.
I recommend this game!
Restore the Driftwood! Seaside's top resort has fallen into disrepair. Fix up the rooms, the inn, and renew the garden!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
MERELY A HOS GAME - NOTHING NEW
PostedNovember 9, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Game was a disappointment – a pure HOG – no adventure; no puzzles; no mini-games. Similar to Gardenscapes in that you have a dilapidated inn to restore, you earn coins and spend them on various upgrades to the grounds. Similarity ends there. The Inn manager is trying – she follows you everywhere – a regular busy body. HOS scenes are somewhat crowded and quite a few objects are rather small. Sometimes, the Inn’s cat is lying around – the best part of the game is to wake it up and everything you’re looking for starts shaking. There are also magnets and poppers to help find objects.
SUMMARY: If you simply want a relaxing game and find hidden objects, this game might appeal to you. Otherwise, I would pass. There are better all-HOS or mostly-HOS games out there. Three generous stars graded as a HOS only game.
I recommend this game!
Save Brightfield from a shocking plot by a dastardly organization!
Overall rating
5
/
5
79 of 94 found this review helpful
ELEPHANT GAMES HAS SCORED AGAIN!
PostedNovember 9, 2012
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
The Mystery Trackers series always are a buy for me – they never disappoint. A most unusual storyline that keeps your interest – glimpses of a damsel in distress and an evil villain. And let’s not forget your faithful helpful companion Elf who fears nothing and can get into a lot of places you can’t. Lots to see and do in your investigation – your map keeps you on track to visiting only pertinent locations. Exceptional, highly-polished gameplay with beautifully drawn environments. Right amount of challenging play.
Good mix of HOS and puzzles/mini-games. HOS are somewhat crowded, but are aesthetically pleasing. The objects included in the HOS actually make sense in the story. Wide variety of puzzles and mini-games with varying degrees of difficulty. [Speaking of difficulty, you get your choice of 4 modes, from casual to hard-core difficulty.] Wonderful live acting and voice acting. All Pros and no Cons for this game.
I recommend this game!
Help best-selling author Regina Blacklock solve a 35-year-old murder! Become a part of the investigation and uncover the truth!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
TEAM SOLVING A MURDER
PostedNovember 8, 2012
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
This is the 4th in the series. STORYLINE: The women are investigating a 35-year-old murder because a young crime reporter who was investigating the murder is now dead. GAMEPLAY: You take turns playing the medical examiner, a crime writer and a police officer. There’s a nice mix of HOS, mini-games and puzzles with creative challenges, although the HOS take a backseat (so if you prefer a game with a majority of HOS, this is not it).
There are a variety of locations in Cypress View. Story flows smoothly and effortlessly and it keeps you guessing what’s next. Good VO’s. If there are any negatives, it’s that the puzzle directions are occasionally vague and the lab puzzles for the medical examiner become rather boring. OVERALL: A very nice polished game.
I recommend this game!
Dracula: Love Kills
The Queen of Vampires is back and is determined to destroy the world! Help Van Helsing and Dracula as they team up to stop her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Not the Usual Vampire Story
PostedNovember 8, 2012
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
Completed game in 6 ½ hours in casual mode. Game tracks your time. There are 27 achievements, but you must play the game at least twice (once in hard mode) in order to get all of them. A “Location Complete” is shown once there are no more activities in that location.
Your goal is to kill the Queen of the Vampires, who wants to annihilate the human race and is corrupting the world, and your bride Mina. You and your faithful companion, Igor, partner up with a vampire hunter, though he doesn’t seem to do much except offer advice. You earn 4 abilities to help you in your quest: telekinesis, strength, changing to an animal form, and seeing the invisible that you acquire by finding the shields of former vampire hunters.
Good storyline from the usual vampire story. Graphics are superb. Voice acting could have been better. Interactive map showing where actions were still necessary. HOS were uncrowded and objects not impossible to find. Very wide variety of interesting puzzles – some were common with a twist; none were frustrating. Well thought out story and gameplay – well worth the money.
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery of the ghostly violinist?
Overall rating
5
/
5
211 of 225 found this review helpful
NICE ADDITION TO THE SERIES
PostedNovember 8, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Relaxing music; georgeous scenes; appealing and believable story (if you believe in ghosts); wide variety of clever puzzles. Good blend of HOS and puzzles/mini-games. It’s a delight to see HOS with such detailed and picturescque graphics instead of the drab, overly crowded and dilapidated-looking HOS found in so many games today.
As with the other Dana Knightstone stories, the developers put a lot of thought into the plot and did a fantastic job of putting the gameplay together to move the story forward smoothly and effortlessly. And they showed a little humor in everyday life - the animals and their antics sure added a little smile to my face. A very well developed and polished game. A nice addition to my Dana collection.
I recommend this game!
After waking up chained to the floor of a cabin, you must discover the Secret of Agony Creek and escape before it’s too late!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
LIKE SURPRISE ENDINGS
PostedNovember 6, 2012
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
4
/
5
STORYLINE: You’re investigating the downfall of a dilapidated abandoned town at the request of Evelyn. People you talk to keep disappearing before your eyes and mysterious photos turn up showing their faces burned out. What is going on? Then, Evelyn warns you against Diane, a cop who has murdered 5 people already. Officer Diane says she needs your help in figuring out what happened to the town and warns you that Evelyn is just a con artist. Who is right? Your life may depend on it.
Interactive HOS: uncrowded, somewhat drab, large and identifiable objects. PUZZLES: A wide variety; none exasperating. For mini-games, sometimes you can insert an object even if you need two. Othertimes, you will need to have accumulated all of the objects in inventory before you can use them for the puzzle. Good mix of HOS to puzzles and mini-games. Collect 30 gold pouches to gain access to the extras (downloadable music, etc.)
GAMEPLAY: Easy to get around. Graphics look good on my 27” screen and sound effects are good. Piano music is unobtrusive. Voice overs are fairly good (dialogue is also written if you turn off voices). Story moves at a fast pace. The ending was a real surprise. About 4 1/2 hours casual.
I recommend this game!