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 out James Voodoo as he investigates a mysterious attack and goes on an incredible adventure in Voodoo Chronicles: The First Sign!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Really Stingy on the Hints
PostedJuly 30, 2012
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
4
/
5
I really liked this game. You’re playing a P.I. investigating the murder of Mr. Coins, who was one of 3 evil leaders who escaped a curse that killed everyone else. Intriguing storyline.
Different locations keep you interested. Traveling is at a minimum. Picturesque artwork; great animation. HOS are nicely sized and not too challenging. Hints are limited and recharge very slowly. Additional hints can be earned by completing mini-puzzles (not too challenging) or capturing spies. If you see a small roundish white movement, just click on it. It is likely a spy and a hint.
The music resembles the theme from the Pink Panther and Bonanza and everything in between. Story and atmosphere are reminiscent of the Nick Chase games. Some voiceovers and sound effects are very good (like the main character), but there are a few that are just awful (the crying, the stuck man). There are sparkles in the game, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything there is to be done or look at.
Why am I rating this game rather low? Because I ran out of hints (my eyes got really tired) and, even though somewhere I read that there is a slow recharge for hints used (excluding those earned by finding spies or completing puzzles), I would say more than an hour is way too slow since I wanted to finish the game sometime this month. I don’t think I’ll buy another game where the hints are so stingy. If your eyesight isn’t the best, you’re probably going to be using hints to find some items. If more hints were available, one star more in every category.
I recommend this game!
Avenue Flo: Special Delivery
The surprise baby shower of the year is in disarray, and Quinn needs a hand from Flo to pull it off perfectly!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 21 found this review helpful
Here's All of Dinertown
PostedJuly 29, 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
An entertaining game as you try your best to fix the disasters of Vicky Big’s baby shower. They’re actually Quinn’s problems, but since you are her best friend, they're your problems. And Vicky’s poodle is feeling dejected and will be attending a puppy party next door to the baby shower to cheer her up.
Many of the characters in the Diner Dash and Wedding Dash games are incorporated into the game in various capacities (much like Avenue Flo). You can interest with the characters as often as you want and the dialogue will reflect what is happening. Graphics are colorful; voice overs are good. Your task list will tell what needs to be done, but now how to do them. You’ll have to figure it out as there is no hint system. You will have to gather butterflies and bottles and it is sometimes difficult to find that last one. The game isn’t timed, so you have plenty of time to keep looking or to take a break and find them as soon as you come back. I never get tired of playing the Flo games.
I recommend this game!
The Stroke of Midnight
A romance author has stumbled upon a Victorian-era love triangle, and must reunite the long lost lovers in the afterlife!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
BEST PLAYED ON A DARK STORMY NIGHT
PostedJuly 29, 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
A romance novelist with writer’s block travels to spooky deserted castle in Romania to generate ideas and plots. Story even captures the interest of us who would never read a true romance novel. A journal follows you room to room and becomes a complete novel once the game is completed. Everything happens at midnight and when the heroine is startled, you will be startled. There are also a couple sudden loud noises, so best to play in the dark.
Progressively challenging. Linear gameplay. Good balance between puzzles and HOS. No backtracking. Actors voices are natural and pleasant. Excellent graphics.
Inventory/HOS/Hints: Takes some getting used objects floating along with your cursor to where them. Not the usual hint system - mirrors hold riddles that provide hints of what actions are needed.
20 short chapters. Length 2 ½ to 3 hours, unless you get horribly stuck more than once.
I recommend this game!
Experience a deeper magic in this sparkling sequel, brimming with more than 20 puzzle books of classic tales.
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 8 found this review helpful
One of my favorites
PostedJuly 28, 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 stories of some classic adventure and fairy tale books have gone amuck and you have to fix the tales in order to release the characters. I replay this game occasionally; it is probably the most intriguing game I’ve seen.
The “umbrella” story is very well developed. Sound effects are awesome; graphics and orchestra are top-notch, with a different soundtrack for each of the over 20 enchanted books. Solving the puzzles that rectify each character’s actions so he can get his/her card (needed to release them from their predicament) was a most pleasant and enjoyable task. Puzzles are not repetitious and most are very unique. Each book has several pages and the characters and objects may disappear from one page in order to appear on another page. Although traveling to the various pages is necessary, I like that the pages tell you when each page is completed.
In casual mode, about 4-5 hours, depending on how well you can solve puzzles and play the mini-games. The difficulty in each story varies. Once the chapters are cleared, you have the great option of replaying mini-games. Natural break at the end of each book.
I recommend this game!
A new breed of virus has spread throughout the City of Oxford. You must search the city for a missing girl who holds the key to stopping the global epidemic!
Overall rating
5
/
5
33 of 37 found this review helpful
LOVE IT
PostedJuly 28, 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
How wonderful - love everything about this mystery game. It's refreshingly unique and exciting. The developers outdid themselves. The music makes the story even more suspenseful and makes you feel like you're racing against the clock.
Love how we can determine how fast to recharge hints or charge the skip. The puzzles are nicely integrated into the storyline. The play is challenging, but not too difficult. The storyline is beautifully crafted. I only have to decide if I want to splurge on the CE. It may be good enough to challenge Surface for best game.
I recommend this game!
Find Hidden Objects, identify specific spots in each scene, and overcome powerful guardians as you seek out seven precious stones!
Overall rating
3
/
5
53 of 60 found this review helpful
Nice Pleasant Game
PostedJuly 28, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
About 3-4 hours at a leisurely pace. For the girls, crown princess Chalida’s gems have been scattered all over the ocean floor and you have to find them. For the boys, you’ll collect various bugs along the way. Although the game is very easy, the story is interesting. Good mix of puzzles. The HOS are very colorful, though they sometimes have dark spots and they always have tiny objects. But you don’t need to waste your hints trying to pixel hunt because one of the objects will glint every few seconds. All you have to do is wait for the sparkles. Besides the puzzles, you'll have FROGs, jigsaws, and finding objects by solving a riddle. Nice middle eastern music. Game should appeal to youngsters – they like these types of stories and pretend they’re the heroes. {Plus they have sharper eyes.} Overall, a fun, but very easy game.
I recommend this game!
Avenue Flo
Mysterious events are threatening DinerTown`s biggest wedding in history! Help Flo explore the town and set things right!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Here Comes The Bride
PostedJuly 27, 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
Vicky Big's wedding is in jeopardy. A very fun and entertaining game featuring our Diner Dash heroine and all of her buddies from the diner, as well as the guests from the weddings planned by Quinn, her best friend. All the characters and their dialogue are integrated into the story. They might be a bus driver, own a dry cleaners or farm, work at a pet shop – all the normal establishments in a small town. You can have conversations with them as often as you want and can find out quite a bit of information about the people and what might need to be done to get that wedding on schedule.
Bright and vivid graphics, nice voice overs. You have a task list, which will include recapturing escaped butterflies for the wedding and collecting bottles to exchange for transportation tokens. It’s always a challenge to find the last one or two. Most of your tasks will be fixing potential wedding disasters. Mini-games fit nicely into the game. Although your task list will tell you what needs to be done, there is no hint system in the event you don’t know how to proceed or where that last bottle is. Not timed, so you have a stress-free environment. Game may be frustrating at first, but hang in there. In no time, you'll be getting more and more gold star levels.
I recommend this game!
Guide Wanda on her journey through magic academia as she pursues her dream in this bewitching hidden object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Easy game but still fun.
PostedJuly 27, 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
3
/
5
Game length is average, maybe a bit more if you run out of hints and have to search for a couple of small items (magnifying glasses are of great use). Hints are in the form of fairies fluttering in their little cage. Save them unless you absolutely need one, because they aren’t renewed. But you do get 3 at the beginning of each level. This is a straight HOS game (no adventure), with a few interesting puzzles. Jaunty music, relaxing atmosphere, nice graphics, clear and distinct HOS, no time pressures. Instead of voice narratives, the conversations are written at the end of each year. A newbie can jump right into the HOS area with ease (but it helps to have a nice magnifying glass handy).
I recommend this game!
Rescue your canine companion, and solve the mystery of Houndspoint!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 40 found this review helpful
Good Solid Game
PostedJuly 27, 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
3
/
5
The opening cutscene is a little disturbing with its dog attack in front of the children. It is not the only alarming cutscene. On the plus side, surely the puppy (Pippa) will be saved. It is not the most challenging or thinky game. You can easily figure out what needs to be done next and how to do it.
Good balance between HOS, puzzles and adventure. The HOS are well drawn with fairly sized objects. The interactive map aids in having to travel to a lot of different locations, just to collect various parts of objects before they can be assembled. You come across many newspaper articles telling of current and past events in the town, but your journal only records the most pertinent, bare bones facts. Graphics are nicely detailed but bleak (after all, it is winter and snowing). The characters are unrealistic, as are the voice overs. Music is pleasant and relaxing.
I recommend this game!
What is Azada ™? Uncover the secret in the missing pages of an enchanted book and break free from a magical puzzle prison.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
One of the Most Unique Games
PostedJuly 27, 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
5
/
5
I replay this game occasionally, as it is really unique. It’s a toss-up whether this game or Azada Ancient Magic is better. Both are a refreshing breath of fresh air from other games. Entertaining and well developed storyline. Challenging unique variety of puzzles that make you think. Great graphics and music. Timer can be a stress factor for those chapters having the tougher puzzles because, if you don’t finish in the allotted time, you start the chapter over. [When this happened, I found it helpful to just tackle the difficult puzzle first until I solved it. Then complete the others if there’s time. I was then able to complete all pages the next time.]
You do get orbs which can be used to skip puzzles. But because they are limited (4 to begin and a couple later on), I suggest you save them for when you absolutely are stumped. 5 chapters, each with 8 pages – so it’s easy to take a break without losing track of where you were. Difficulty increases as the game progresses. Since you can replay completed puzzles, you can practice for the next time you play.
Note: This really a 4.5 star game, but we can't rate by half stars. If I had reviewed this game before Surface was released, I would have rounded up to 5 stars.
I recommend this game!