roxiestar74's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:353
- Reviews Submitted:26
- First Review:February 22, 2012
- Most Recent Review:October 28, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Crack codes, pick locks, comb crime scenes for clues and solve clever puzzles in this thrilling retro detective drama!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Really fun SE game that is definitely worth using a credit on...
PostedOctober 21, 2013
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am a huge fan of this developer, they also made the Enigmatis and Nightmare from the Deep series, and I have been buying all of the games they have released. This is one of my favorite games of theirs that I have tried, and so far, I have liked them all, so I think that says a lot about this game. I was able to get it as part of a buy one get one free sale last week, but would have gladly paid full price for it since it was really fun.
It is not a long game and I played most of it in one sitting, so people might want to use a credit on it (or buy it during a sale) if the fact that it is a shorter game bothers them. I would guess that it entertained me for 4-5 hours, but I am kind of on the slow side with my playing, so it might be shorter than that for faster players. But I think quality is more important than quantity, and this is a high quality game, and that is why I think people should try it out and give it a chance, even if it is a bit on the short side.
The 1950s atmosphere, which has a bit of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy aspect to it, had a lot to do with why I liked the game right away and wanted to buy it. I like games that take place in the past and that have fantastical elements. The '50s setting, for the most part, was done very well, but there was a huge glaring anachronism near the beginning of the game that bothered me (a movie from the 1980s was referenced by the main character, which makes no sense since she is supposed to be living in the '50s), but I was able to get past it and get back into the world of the game, and thankfully I did not notice any other huge anachronisms. I really don't like when I am playing a game set in the distant past and objects from the present like cell phones and CDs can be found in the hidden object scenes, but thankfully that didn't happen in this game.
The hidden object scenes were spread out pretty well, which is how I prefer them to be in games, and they were mostly interactive. One thing that was particularly cool and unique about this game was the fact that it had a few special hidden object scenes that allowed you to find clues in a crime scene. You would have to click on the clues in order for them to appear on the list of objects, and then the main character would explain how each of those objects fit into the crime that had happened there. I found that really cool and interesting, and would like if more detective games had that kind of hidden object scene since it made it much more interesting than just looking for random objects, and it also helped move the story along. There were quite a few puzzles in the game too, but they did not stand out to me as being very original, but I still played them all despite that.
I loved the story, interacting with the characters, looking for clues and trying to figure out whodunit. I got really engaged in these aspects of the game and could not stop playing until I reached the end. I was disappointed when the game was over. I found the ending fulfilling but was glad to see that they left it open for a sequel. I will definitely buy the sequel if they come out with one, and I really hope they do!
I highly recommend that people try this game, especially if they like detective games that are set in the past and that have some fantastical elements. I also think that people should not let the shorter length get in the way of buying it, since they would be missing out on a really fun game!
I recommend this game!
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Definitely worth buying as a CE...
PostedOctober 16, 2013
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I loved the first Enigmatis game and I also love the developer that makes this series, so I bought this game without trying it and I don't regret it. The game ended up being just as good as I imagined it would be.The plot has already been well covered by other reviewers here, so I am not going to describe it, but I will say that I found the story to be enjoyable and very well thought out. The plot did have some aspects to it that we have seen in previous games, such as a detective searching for missing people and their disappearance having to do with mysterious evil forces, but the developers managed to put an original spin on these themes and the story did not feel cliche to me.
The game has all the toots and whistles that make it worthy of being a CE, and I know that people will be happy that it has morphing objects and achievements. I can take it or leave it when it comes to morphing objects, but I do like achievements and trying to earn all of them adds to the fun and also gives the game re-playability.
The game had good length and I played it in more than one sitting over a few days. I would guess that it took me at least 6 hours to complete the main game (I play a bit on the slow side, so for faster players it may take less time) and about an hour to finish the bonus game. Another reason why I think this game is worth buying as a CE is because the bonus game actually adds to the story, and doesn't just feel like filler. That is my biggest gripe about most bonus games in other CEs, that they seem disconnected from the main story and feel like they were slapped together at the last minute, but such is not the case here. I thought the bonus was just as well thought out as the rest of the game.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the game was the puzzles. I got the achievement for finishing all of them without skipping. I liked how a lot of them had to do with logic, and that most of them were challenging without being too hard. I also liked how the H0 scenes had lots of interactivity, and that they mixed things up by having some scenes be Frogs (fractured objects). And there was also an option to play a matching game instead of doing a H0 scene and I liked that as well since sometimes I do get sick of looking for hidden objects.
If you like morphing objects, achievements and a bonus game that adds to the story, then I recommend that you buy this game as a CE, but if those things don't matter to you as much you might want to wait for the SE. Either way I think this is a very well made game from an awesome developer and I definitely recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Return to the House of 1,000 Doors to save mankind from annihilation!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
Interesting enough to finish but didn't blow me away...
PostedJune 21, 2013
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I am a sucker for any game with time travel in it which is why I gave this game a try. I found the demo interesting enough for me to want to buy the game, but after that I got a bit bored while I was playing the first time travel location. I made myself push through, and found the game more interesting in the three other historical locations visited, but never really felt hooked on the game and my playing of it was spread out over a week. If I really like a game I will finish it in a day or two, but such was not the case here. I have deleted games without finishing them if they bore me too much, and I thought about deleting this game when I was bored with it, but I am glad that I gave it more of a chance and played until the end, even though I found it to be disappointing.
I will not go into specific details of the ending, since I don't want to spoil anyone here, but I did find it to be too abrupt, and I think that people who buy this game as an SE will be especially disappointed with it. Although, I am not sure how much the CE bonus chapter adds to the ending, since I have yet to play it (I just finished the main game before writing this review), but I did take a look at the bonus game and it seems unrelated to the ending of the main game.
This game has a lot of locations. I liked the interactive map (I prefer to have one in the games I play) and I think there would have been too much running around in this game without it. Use of the map is optional, so if you would rather run around and not use it, you can do that as well.
I also liked how there were two kinds of hidden object scenes. They alternated between the more traditional kind of hidden object scene where you find the object on your list, and a different kind where you figure out where the object on your list goes in the scene, it made it more interesting, especially since I am not a huge lover of hidden object scenes, and prefer the puzzles and adventure aspects of games like this to doing lots of hidden object scenes.
I played the first game in this series a long time ago, and don't remember much of what happened in it, but that didn't matter since I think you can enjoy this game without having played the previous games in the series. What I do remember from the first game is that it had a lot of hidden object scenes. The hidden object scenes were more spread out in this game, which I prefer, and near the end it felt more like an adventure than HOG, since there were very few hidden object scenes in the last time travel location visited, which I also liked. There were lots of puzzles, and most of them throughout the game were fairly easy and I found most of them to be enjoyable. I like puzzles better than hidden object scenes, but if you like hidden object scenes better than puzzles you might be disappointed with the amount of them in this game, especially since there are so few of them near the end.
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
I prefer the first game but this is still a good addition to series....
PostedDecember 22, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome totally blew me away and was one of my favorite games of 2011, so any sequel in the series would have a lot to live up to for me. I found this sequel to be a very good game, and I enjoyed playing it, but did not find it to be as expansive or as addictive as the first game in the series. Dorian Gray Syndrome seemed like a much longer game to me (as with this game, I played the SE and not the CE, so I am basing game length on the main game), and I couldn't stop playing it. Where as the Lonely Hearts Murders did not grip me in the same way, and I spread out my playing of it over a few days. It is broken into chapters that take place in different settings so it gives you a good stopping place after each chapter, where as Dorian Gray Syndrome took place in only one setting, but it was an extremely expansive one with tons and tons of places to explore. I guess I prefer that kind of setting since it made the game feel longer to me.
I also liked the villain better in Dorian Gray Syndrome. He was one of the most creepy yet charismatic villains that I have ever come across in a game, and when this sequel to the series came out, I was disappointed at first that this game was not a continuation of the first game's story, since I feel as if there is so much more that the devs could have done with that villain. Lonely Hearts Murders does not have a great villain like the first game, but the main characters, Logan and Owen, are very interesting and I enjoyed being a part of their investigation. I guess my point is, if you loved the first game, don't expect this game to be exactly like it, since it is not. The only thing that really ties these two games together is that in both you are trying to hunt down a serial killer, and stop them from murdering someone you care about. Other than that, the settings and stories are quite different from each other, and could even be seen as stand alones, since you don't have to have knowledge of the first game to enjoy this one and vice versa.
As far as the game play goes, Lonely Hearts Murders felt more like an adventure game than a H0 game. H0 scenes were very spread out and there did not seem to be a lot of them, which I prefer in a game. It has been about a year since I played Dorian Gray Syndrome, so my memory on this might be a bit hazy, but I think that game had a lot more H0 scenes than Lonely Hearts Murders. I do remember Dorian Gray Syndrome having some fun and unique puzzles, and the same is true for Lonely Hearts Murders. I did most of the puzzles without skipping and enjoyed them.
I was satisfied with the ending of Lonely Hearts Murders, which tied things up nicely but also left room for a sequel (and I hope there will be another game in this series since I would definitely buy it), and I do not regret missing the bonus game ending. Most bonus games that I have played do not add much to the story for me and feel like they were tacked on at the last minute, which is why I often prefer buying SE over CE. I don't really care about extras like wallpapers, and I did not need a strategy guide to help me with the game since the hint system was helpful enough. Different players have different preferences, but I don't regret buying this game as an SE and feel as if I got more than my money's worth. The only thing that I didn't like, and which also had to do with why I decided not to buy the CE, is that in the talking scenes the voices often didn't match the speaker, and sometimes those scenes would even freeze for a couple of minutes, but that might be because of my computer and might not be a problem for everybody. I was still able to get through the game despite that and it did not impede my enjoyment too much.
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 18 found this review helpful
Bought CE but wish I had bought SE instead...
PostedDecember 17, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Even though I think it is unnecessary to buy this game as a CE, I did really enjoy this game. I am a fan of this Dev, especially since they often have games with original stories such as this one (Another recent game of theirs that I really enjoyed is The Gift. Like this game, it also has a unique story and is quite gripping) If you are sick of the same old same old, i.e. ghosts, missing relatives etc., you should give this game a try, especially if you are a Sci-Fi fan like me. I kind of felt like I was in the middle of an X-Files case and that I got to be both Mulder and Scully while playing this game, and that was really cool. I really enjoyed the main game and found the ending satisfying, but I did not enjoy the bonus game and felt as if it was unnecessary, which is why I think people won't be missing out on anything if they buy the SE instead of the CE.
The bonus game felt tacked on at the last minute and didn't really add anything to the story for me. There are morphing objects in the CE, which I don't really care about, but I know other people like those and I have heard that they are in the SE as well, and that you don't need to buy the CE to be able to find them. Other than that, there weren't any special achievements in the CE. I don't care about wallpapers and other extras like that, and didn't even check to see if the game had those things. If you only buy CEs for the bonus game, I would think twice about doing that with this game, but if you want extras like wallpapers than you might want to consider buying the CE. I do not think the strategy guide is necessary. I only referred to it a few times and it wasn't very helpful to me, especially when it came to trying to figure out how to complete a puzzle I was stuck on. I had to skip a few puzzles since I was unable to figure them out. There is an interactive map, which I loved and wish more games had those, and it told you where you needed to go to complete an action, and that made the strategy guide unnecessary. The hint system was helpful too.
I enjoyed the puzzles in this game and felt as if some of them offered a good challenge. The H0 scenes aren't back to back, which I prefer, and they alternated between interactive H0 scenes and scenes where you had to find where an object on your list went. I liked this variety, and it made the H0 scenes more interesting for me.
In general, the game play and story were gripping. I kept saying I was going to quit playing but was unable to. I played most of the game in one sitting. I would guess that it took me about 5-6 hours to finish the game (not including the bonus). I am an intermediate player and am slower than some people, so it might take faster players less time than that, but I definitely think this game is good value for a SE, and I recommend it to people who are looking for a game to play that is different and fun!
I recommend this game!
Guide paranormal investigator Sarah Meiville through a classic noir adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 23 found this review helpful
Hope this imaginative game will be turned into a series...
PostedNovember 24, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really loved most of this game, and almost played it all in one sitting because of how addictive it was. For most of the game, the story was really gripping and imaginative, but I felt as if it kind of fell apart near the end. I did not like the ending and found it confusing. It was only the last half hour or so that I didn't like, the rest of the game, which lasted me about 6 hours total, was excellent. I am slower than some other players, so the game might not be as long for everybody, but I definitely feel as if I got my money's worth with this SE. Actually I didn't pay for the game, since I was able to use a credit on it, which made me glad that it was an SE release, but if I had paid for it, I would have felt as if I got my money's worth since it was a very high quality game.
Sarah is a great lead character, and I really grew to care about her. I want to know more about her and her past, and I hope that the Dev will consider turning this game in to a series. As far as the game play goes, there were quite a bit of H0 scenes, but they were fairly easy to get through, which was good since I wanted to get back to the story. The story is what made this game so special to me. I really enjoyed exploring all of the locations that Sarah came across on her journey and unraveling clues to the mystery. There were also lots of puzzles to do, and in general I prefer doing puzzles to H0 scenes, but I ended up skipping a lot of the puzzles in this game. Some of them were confusing and did not have very clear instructions, and that had to do with why I skipped them. Others just didn't hold my interest.
I wanted to give this game 5 stars, but because I was unhappy with the ending and disliked most of the puzzles, I chose to give it 4, but if I could, I would give it 4 and a half. The puzzles could be skipped over and the skip button loaded quickly, so they didn't really ruin my love of the game. I still found this to be a very immerse and addictive game, with a very original and creepy story that really draws you in, and I highly recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Uncover a dark scheme in Entwined: Strings of Deception and solve an elaborate murder mystery!
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
For Straight HOG Lovers Only....
PostedNovember 21, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was really in the mood for a good murder mystery so I decided to try this game. I knew there would be a lot of H0 scenes, since it is hard to find mysteries on here that are without H0 scenes, but I thought that the story and the puzzles would keep it from being completely monotonous. I was wrong about that. I am not a Straight HOG lover, but can enjoy a game that has a lot of H0 scenes in it, if there are other elements to maintain my interest such as good puzzles, adventure and a gripping story. The demo makes it seem as if there are more puzzles in the game than there are, and that disappointed me. After the demo, puzzles are few and far between, and the few that you do come across aren't very unique. There is a need for finding inventory items and using them, but most are found through hidden object scenes. Instead of there being adventure, you pretty much wander from one H0 scene to another. When you do need to use an inventory object, it usually opens another hidden object scene instead of a puzzle. The demo makes the game seem more like a HOPA than a Straight HOG, but it is deceiving in that way, since most of the latter half of the game is one H0 scene after another. I am not complaining about the amount of H0 scenes, since I knew there would be a lot, I was just hoping there would be more puzzles, interactivity and adventure mixed in to break up the monotony.
The story isn't bad, but I was able to figure out who the murderer was pretty early on in the game, and my only reason for finishing it was to find out if I was right (which I was). It does seem as if the Dev put a lot of thought into the story and tried to make it good, but I don't understand why they set it in 1970. The game did not feel like the '70s to me at all, and there were some glaring anachronisms in some of the H0 scenes, one that particularly stood out to me being a computer disk. I don't understand why they didn't set the game in present day, since it would work just as well that way.
I enjoyed the demo enough to buy the game, but after the demo, I found the game to be pretty boring, and had to force myself to finish it. It is unfortunate that they did not add more puzzles, adventure and interactivity to the game. H0 scenes often repeated themselves, and were not interactive at all, which made them particularly snooze-worthy. The story and characters had the potential to be really interesting, and it's too bad that the rest of the game couldn't be.
I don't recommend this game.
Find the woman who disappears in the Hall of Mirrors. Investigate two worlds: the Carnivals of Good and Evil!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
Made me feel like I was watching a really good movie...
PostedNovember 18, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really enjoyed the story of this game and it kept me hooked until the end. I ended up really caring about what happened to the characters and that got me really invested. I did not expect the game to be as good as it ended up being, especially since the theme of spooky carnival has been done quite a few times before, but this game still manages to be unique despite that.
One of the things that was different about this game that I liked best was the fact that you can choose between playing H0 scenes and playing a matching game called Monaco. In most cases, I chose to play Monaco, which I thought was fun. I am not a fan of doing a lot of H0 scenes, I prefer the puzzle and adventure aspects of games like these. The middle to end of the game got pretty H0 heavy, and the bonus game was as well, but I did not get annoyed by that like I normally would since I had Monaco to break up the monotony. I also found some of the puzzles to be a lot of fun. Not all of them were unique as compared to other games, but some of them were like old puzzles with a new twist, and I did appreciate that.
I also appreciated that there was a bonus game, so it made the game like a CE for an SE price, although lengthwise it wasn't like a CE. I am on the slow side when it comes to my playing and I was able to finish the main game in about 5 hours. Faster players might only take 3-4 hours. The bonus game took me about an hour, but it might be shorter for players faster than me, so the length might be a downside for some people, but I was satisfied with it. I was glad there was a bonus game, especially since I liked the bonus game ending a lot better than the main game ending, so that made it totally worth playing. And of course, I loved Miles the Monkey and was happy to have him as a companion!
All in all, it was a great game, and I am really glad that I decided to give it a try! I am a fan of this Dev now and will definitely be looking out for their games in the future! They definitely know how to put some new twists on what has become a pretty cliche genre.
I recommend this game!
Find your missing fiancé in the deepest parts of the ocean. Discover the forgotten underwater city hiding many spine-chilling secrets.
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 13 found this review helpful
There were some things that were different about this game....
PostedNovember 17, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
which I liked, such as the option to not have to do hidden object scenes. Whenever you came across a H0 scene, you could choose whether you wanted to look for objects or play a game of dominoes. Since I do not enjoy doing H0 scenes, and prefer the puzzles and adventure aspects of games like this, having the choice to play dominoes instead of doing a H0 scene was a really nice option. I just wish they would have varied it up more since after a while I got sick of playing dominoes. This game wasn't completely overrun with H0 scenes, they were somewhat spread out (except for the bonus game, which had a lot more of them closer together), but I would have liked if there had been a choice of a few different games to play, instead of dominoes being the only option.
I know I am being kind of nitpicky, and despite the fact that I got sick of playing dominoes, I was still grateful to have a choice when it came to what I wanted to do, and wish other Devs would give you a choice between doing an H0 scene or playing some other kind of game. Phantasmat is the only other game I can think of that does that (it gives you a choice between doing an H0 scene or playing Match 3) and I appreciated that choice when playing that game as well. I know that I am not the only person who plays casual games that loves the puzzle and adventure aspects of games like this, but isn't so crazy about doing H0 scenes, so I think other people beside me would appreciate if more games gave a choice. (I also bought Dark Arcana: The Carnival, which is by the same Dev that made Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden, since that game also gives you a choice between doing an H0 scene or playing a matching game instead, and I appreciate the Dev doing that in more than one game).
I bought this game because it allowed me to play dominoes instead of doing H0s, and I also bought it because the story sucked me in and seemed very different from your average HOG. It kind of reminded me of the shows by J.J. Abrams that I watch such as Lost and Fringe (The Legates reminded me of the Observers from Fringe, and the people who come to live in Eden reminded me of the Dharma Initiative on Lost). Since I love those shows, it was cool to find a game that had Sci-Fi/Fantasy elements like that, and although the story started out very interesting, I felt as if it kind of fell apart as the game wore on. From about midway through to the end, it felt to me like all I was doing was running around and looking for inventory items that I needed, and that the story had taken a backseat to that. I lost interest in the game from then on, and kind of had to force myself to finish it. I played the bonus game as well, and that really seemed like something that was slapped together at the last minute since it was mostly H0 scenes. This wasn't a bad game at all, and I am glad I tried it, I just wish the story had remained as gripping as it was at the beginning throughout the game. If it had, I think I would have liked the game more.
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery of the ghostly violinist?
Overall rating
1
/
5
71 of 88 found this review helpful
Disappointed that my favorite puzzle series became a HOG....
PostedNovember 10, 2012
roxiestar74
fromPortland, OR
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
I seem to be in the minority with my opinion, since other people here seem to have not noticed that this game is completely different than the others in the series and/or they don't care that the game play has been changed, but the previous Dana Knightstone games were puzzle/adventures and not HOGs, and I loved that about them, and wish they hadn't turned this latest game in the series into just another HOG.
HOGs with ghost stories are a dime a dozen, so this latest offering in the series does not stand out compared to other games and is completely without what made the earlier games in the series so unique and enjoyable for me. They were not HOGs, and since I don't like doing H0 scenes and prefer doing puzzles, they were the perfect kind of games for me, since the action was driven by completing puzzles, and there were very few, if any, H0 scenes. There are puzzles in this new game, but based on playing the demo, there seems to be less focus on them, especially since so many H0 scenes have been added.
I am really disappointed with the developer for jumping on the HOG bandwagon with this game. Why couldn't they have just kept the series the way it was? The puzzle/adventure format was a refreshing change from other games, and a whole lot of fun. Now that Dana Knightstone is just another boring HOG, I will not be buying the CE, and might not even buy the SE when it comes out either. I feel like one of my favorite series has been ruined and it upsets me.
I don't recommend this game.