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 Angelica get her witch-stolen beauty back! Save a young woman suffering from the witch’s sorcery for over 100 years!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 34 found this review helpful
Good Twist of the Wicked Witch
PostedAugust 16, 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
5
/
5
Advanced mode. Not the most polished game, but I did enjoy the demo for about 40 minutes. Strategy guide did not help finding the last 2 numbers needed to open a door - being advised to try somewhere else isn't much help. But to be fair, it otherwise pointed you in the direction you needed to go. The hint system didn't take that long to recharge, even in advanced mode.
Storyline was clever - different play on the evil witch. If you exit the game before the ending, you're asked if you really want to quit because Angelica hasn't recaptured her beauty - so I guess we know what the ending will be. HOS were clear, but not proportionate (e.g., a knife was much longer than the fairly large pillows on the sofa). Graphics were average (but I expect a lot). I'll wait for the SE because I really do expect more from a strategy guide in a CE.
I recommend this game!
Clarence Flatt, an expert clockmaker, has asked for your help and has offered you the chance to explore the Timeless Tower!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
IMPRESSIVE AND POLISHED GAME
PostedAugust 14, 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 main character of Enlightenus is now a city news reporter on the heels of a big news story promised by Clarence Platt provided she finds the scattered pieces of his collapsed Ageless Clock. Very polished production. Stunningly detailed artwork (some scenes are from the Getty), lovely relaxing music, creative and cohesive storyline, very pleasant narration, good length (took me over 6 hours in a slow-paced casual mode).
Gameplay: There are a lot of environments, each visited several times. Find an object (usually in plain sight) and use it to expose new clock pieces or open new areas. Instead of the usual HOS, all scenes are reverse HOS. Pick up an object and hover over the scene to get descriptions of every item in the scene until you find an appropriate place for the object. It requires some patience. Some placements are apparent [ex: carving knife on the unsliced roast beef.] Others are not so obvious [Examples: the tiny rapier is for the tiny “defenseless mouse” and the delicious peach goes to the “peach loving baboon" and not on the peach tree.] Once placed, the objects remain in the scene the next time you visit. Your reward is an engraved token button which is put into a schematic for each of the 6 floors. [The higher you go, the more buttons you will collect to complete the floor.]
Puzzles are well designed and fun. Some are very unique. My favorite is animating the pencil sketches to perform an action, like “save the grandma” or “catch the big fish.” You are given 5 or 6 actions which you must execute order to achieve the desired feat. You can either try to figure out the steps logically or exercise your memory using the trial and error method.
Hints are specific, but slow charging. You can speed up the recharge time by finding and using e-cards, found in each scene. They are extremely well hidden.
Overall, this game is as impressive, well designed and polished as the first Enlightenus. The ending is not only satisfactory, but heart-warming. If Blue Tea puts as much thought and work into the next sequel (and I would expect nothing less), I’ll be among the first buying it.
I recommend this game!
Travel to the mysterious world of Enlightenus and use your detective skills to track down Edgar Lee`s missing novels!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 39 found this review helpful
UNIQUE, FANTASTIC GAME
PostedAugust 13, 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
Tells the story of a detective fulfilling her childhood dream of being an author. Her first novel describing her adventure in the Enlightenus world is such a success that there will be subsequent novels and travel. Gorgeous very detailed and unique graphics, an enchanting storyline, interesting and unusual gameplay, beautiful music, pleasant narration at beginning and ending, replay value, good length (took me 5 ½ to 6 hours in unhurried casual mode).
Gameplay: Find 42 pages from missing novels. Gameplay is the same throughout: 42 untypical HOS and a number of minigames and puzzles. Instead of the usual list of objects to find, you must return objects to their proper place in a scene, which will be visited 3 times. Pick up an inventory item and as you hover over the scene, a useful description of objects in the scene is given (example: a pirate bird, an alligator with dirty teeth, a hungry mouse). You will then place the inventory on the proper item (an eye patch, toothbrush and cheese in the example). You will get the same beginning screen each time, but the items to be placed will differ. Once you’ve placed all items, you will be rewarded with an engraved token button.
Minigames: The tokens are used to solve riddles from portraits throughout the game. You are usually rewarded with an inventory item. Puzzles are nothing new – mostly matching an item with its blueprint, an animal with its home, or an animal with its food. A book marks your progress with the mini-games.
An impressive, well designed and polished game, with a satisfying ending.
I recommend this game!
Diner Dash Flo on the Go
Flo trades in her apron for a passport to paradise! But will our hard-working waitress get a chance to relax?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Where'd the Vacation Go
PostedAugust 12, 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
This time, Flo is going on vacation, but always ends up helping someone out. She's traveling by train, water and air. There are the usual customers: business women, families, cell phone addicts, bookworms, girls, and seniors and you have to try to manage their multiple personalities and demands so they don't walk out. If you're successful at getting gold on all levels, there are 5 secret levels, such as date night (everyone wants to sit on a chair matching their outfits), business lunch (businesswomen clashing with cell phone addicts, and girls night out (the guys are left somewhere). It may take time to consistently get gold on each level, but patience will be rewarded.
I recommend this game!
Diner Dash 2 Restaurant Rescue
Join Flo as she returns from Nirvana to help four fellow restaurant owners defeat the greedy tycoon, Mr. Big.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 6 found this review helpful
A Winner
PostedAugust 12, 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
I never grow tired of the Diner Dash games. In Restaurant Rescue, we get to decorate the restaurants, but I wish we could change our mind on individual items (like in Gardenscapes). And who was the decorator? The colors of some of the items just don't go well together. The biggest challenge here is keeping up with demands for appetizers and keeping our customers happy enough to order dessert, in between juggling the slow eating albeit patient bookworms and families needing high chairs and cell phone addicts. Although there's nothing unique about the game, the Diner Dash games test your planning ability and your cool in trying situations. I usually manage to get gold the first time on all the levels, but it took me a really long time to get there. Now I feel like I accomplished something.
I recommend this game!
Escape from a town that is lost in time and space! Explore the mysterious city and solve its riddles to make it home!
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 39 found this review helpful
SO GLAD I BOUGHT IT
PostedAugust 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
4
/
5
This was an impressive and beautifully conceived game from Boolat. Length is about average (4-5 hours for casual gamers) and I can’t wait for the sequel. This is one of the better games I’ve recently played.
Puzzles were unique, clever or had a twist. Difficulty ranged from average to challenging. There is no “reset” button to restart a puzzle and there is seldom a skip available. So prepare to be occasionally exasperated, in a good way.
Music and voices: No voice overs. All dialogue was written. Boolat Games actually hired a composer to write and supervise the musical arrangement specifically for the game. The music was relaxing and fit the story nicely.
HOS: A variety ranging from silhouettes, lists, find 10, and moving objects out of the way. There are no tiny objects to find (yeah!). There was a least one unusual HOS which faded from clear to dusky and blurry and back again.
Spectacular graphics of several environments. Engaging, well-developed and thought-out story with very limited backtracking. The adventure started and ended with the main character on a modern train, which transformed into an old-fashioned steam engine with wooden cars. The story occurs between the 2 transformations. No loose ends - except the transformation back to the present modern train leaves an opening for a sequel, which I look forward to.
Diary: includes a short wrap up of what you’ve discovered, but also includes a very interesting backstory and information which you would never know existed without reading the diary. Occasionally, the diary will give a very broad hint on what you need to do at some time in the near future.
I recommend this game!
Ariel's twin sister, Belle, has been kidnapped and it's up to you to assist in her rescue!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
Lovely
PostedAugust 7, 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
4
/
5
I really had a lot of fun playing this lengthy game in casual mode over 2 days (with breaks).
PROS:
I was impressed with the lovely detailed artwork and the variety of different scenes and characters. The storyline was interesting and flowed easily, the subplots were intriguing. The HOS were colorful with good sized objects and there was a good variety of puzzles. You can switch to or alternate between HOS and Match 3. Traveling was limited; once you move to an entirely new environment, the previous scenes are locked. Gameplay was straightforward, but if you need help, the hint system actually provides very helpful guidance. It recharges very quickly.
CONS:
Music could have been better. I was disappointed that the music bought with the collected flowers couldn’t replace the original music while playing. Belle doesn’t appear until the very end. I felt she should have appeared in cutscenes of a backstory).
PROS:
I was impressed with the lovely detailed artwork and the variety of different scenes and characters. The storyline was interesting and flowed easily, the subplots were intriguing. The HOS were colorful with good sized objects and there was a good variety of puzzles. You can switch to or alternate between HOS and Match 3. Traveling was limited; once you move to an entirely new environment, the previous scenes are locked. Gameplay was straightforward, but if you need help, the hint system actually provides very helpful guidance. It recharges very quickly.
CONS:
Music could have been better. I was disappointed that the music bought with the collected flowers couldn’t replace the original music while playing. Belle doesn’t appear until the very end. I felt she should have appeared in cutscenes of a backstory).
I recommend this game!
A spot-the-difference investigation of professional counterfeiters who steal fine art and leave near-perfect fakes behind.
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
LARGE SPOT-THE-DIFFERENCES GAME
PostedAugust 7, 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
This is a spot-the-differences game, not a HOG, with a few puzzles thrown in. Nice variety of paintings; details are large enough to clearly see the differences without ruining your eyes. Differences might be minor, such as shading or an extra leaf. Story is not well developed - you investigate paintings for possible fraud and you are notified of these assignments by e-mail. I found it easiest to wait until I finished the paintings I was already working on, before I opened the next e-mail and did not notice any problems with that approach. Those who are spot-the-differences fans might well rate the game higher.
THE CONS:
Very slow hint refills.
Puzzles are nothing new – but they have no instructions. [Actually, nothing has instructions.] You have to find out what the puzzle actually is by hit or miss.
Very slow hint refills.
Puzzles are nothing new – but they have no instructions. [Actually, nothing has instructions.] You have to find out what the puzzle actually is by hit or miss.
I recommend this game!
The Lost Cases of 221B Baker St.
Return to 221 Baker St. and help Sherlock Holmes solve brand new cases! Take on the new mysteries in Victorian London!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 22 found this review helpful
Another Sherlock Masterpiece
PostedAugust 6, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
If you liked the first Lost Cases, you’ll like this follow-up. Improvements are the English voice overs and animation. Very wide variety of mildly challenging mini-games and puzzles, sometimes they are within the HOS if it contains a clue. There are 16 cases and the 4 mini-novelettes which are an especially pleasant addition. Graphics reflect the Victorian age and are very well done. To solve who did it, the suspects are categorized and then eliminated one-by-one until only one suspect remains. And of course, you feel like you should have guessed who did it before you reach this stage, just as if you read the books.
The developers are to be commended for bringing the same suspense from the books into the game. Good for beginners and for more experienced gamers wanting a relaxing day or two. If I had less experience, I would have given it 3 stars for challenge. As Dr. Watson says: Cheerio.
I recommend this game!
The Secrets of Arcelia Island
Unravel The Secrets of Arcelia Island as you, your father, and a small crew set off on this dangerous expedition!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Arcelia Island
PostedAugust 6, 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
Save a secret island from the treachery of a naughty witch by finding 4 cursed pearls. Oh yeah – along the way, save your dad. The locations are crafted nicely, as are the music and narrative. Graphics are beautiful (make you wish you were on the island). The storyline was well developed and gameplay straight forward. HOS were nicely detailed; objects were fairly sized and detailed. The hint system gives directions if you can’t figure out how to proceed next, but you’ll usually be able to figure it out as there are a limited number of scenes for backtracking. Hints recharge quickly. Backtracking is limited to 4 major scenes and once you enter each scene, most of your activity will remain in that scene until near the end. A most pleasant afternoon. A medium length game. All in all, a delightful game.
I recommend this game!