CowboyDenver's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:209
- Reviews Submitted:28
- First Review:January 17, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 11, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Something wicked has taken over Fate’s Carnival!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Stupendous!
PostedJuly 11, 2014
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wow. This game is huge. The landscape is enormous, and thank God there's a map. Use it. It's often all the hint you need. Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles. Do you love puzzles? You will be up to your ears in them. Big ones. Little ones. Little puzzles inside of puzzles. Puzzles inside the HOS. Surprises everywhere. Wonderfully spooky atmosphere and a good story. This is like 3 or 4 regular games all rolled into one, and I'm just reviewing the regular edition. That alone makes it a must to own. I can't imagine what more the Collector's Edition might have. But if it is proportional in value, maybe you should consider it. Could be the best game I've bought from Big Fish.
I recommend this game!
Discover the Red Riding Hood Sisters and defeat the nefarious Wolf Queen!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Hey there Little Red Riding Hood
PostedMarch 1, 2013
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
"You sure are looking good." Another beautiful game from Blue Tea. I love the whole Dark Parables series. The drawings are rich and detailed with subtle bits of animation that make the world come alive. Lots of HOS that, I think, are unique to Blue Tea. In each HOS you find elements of an object, and when you have found them all, it assembles into an inventory item to use later. Nice puzzles that feel fresh and new, certainly different. The storyline is actually very interesting, and you get absorbed into the play. Music is excellent and stays in the background except for moments of action. I really appreciate that during the HOS scenes, it is quiet, soothing and not obviously repetitive. Some games the music can get really naggy and annoying. Not this one! I look forward to the sequel.
I recommend this game!
Find the Tomb of Isis and finish the search that Robert's Grandpa started! Travel the globe and find clues that will help you!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
A Journey I'd Just as Soon Avoid
PostedJanuary 20, 2013
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
On the plus side, if you like HOS, there are a lot. For me, there were just too many. It got annoying as they became like roadblocks. The animation of the cut scenes was very nice with wonderful graphics. The animation of the dialogue was horrible with very large blinky-eyed characters pushing into the screen to tell you the story — which you had to read. There were no voiceovers. Very annoying. The puzzles were attractive and clever, but all quite easy. I thought the game might be aimed at a young audience. With so many games to choose from, I'd recommend you look at something else unless you just love Hidden Object scenes.
I don't recommend this game.
Black Isle was supposedly abandoned after an earthquake but the truth is much more sinister! Join the Mystery Trackers and learn the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Mystery Trackers: as good as the others
PostedDecember 30, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've enjoyed all the other Mystery Trackers games, and this was of the same calibre. I played the SE version, and it was as long as some CE games I've played: a lot of game for the money.
Good balance between HOS (many were interactive) and puzzles. The difficulty of the puzzles varied. Some were quick and easy; others required quite a bit of thought. The construction of the game was quite complex, which made it fun. Sometimes you would need to come up with three or four objects before you could play the puzzle. Then when you solved it, you got another puzzle! Heh.
Quality graphics, music and sound effects. The music was subtle. So subtle, in fact, I can't recall it now. HOS were clear, but many objects still hard to find. A good balance.
Good balance between HOS (many were interactive) and puzzles. The difficulty of the puzzles varied. Some were quick and easy; others required quite a bit of thought. The construction of the game was quite complex, which made it fun. Sometimes you would need to come up with three or four objects before you could play the puzzle. Then when you solved it, you got another puzzle! Heh.
Quality graphics, music and sound effects. The music was subtle. So subtle, in fact, I can't recall it now. HOS were clear, but many objects still hard to find. A good balance.
I recommend this game!
Five explorers have disappeared while searching for evidence of Ancient Astronauts! Find the explorers and solve the mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Different and fun
PostedDecember 24, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a good HO game, but with more puzzles and tasks than HOS. The storyline sets this game apart, and it is an engaging premise that got me to actually read the "notes" and "newspaper clippings." Personally, it was a hoot that without planning, I happened to open this game on the Winter Solstice 2012. The story featured the Mayans and the End of Days. One character says, "The 4th World will end, and the 5th World will start anew." Hah! The game got it right, and the "end of the world" media got it wrong. We're still here! Welcome to the 5th World!
The music deserves a big tip of the hat. I loved that the composer used native instruments of the various locales where the story was set. It was also fun to receive more than one "tool" when a HOS was completed. The puzzles were of average difficulty with harder ones towards the end. I only needed the Help button a couple times, and the hints were actually "hints" – as opposed to just flat out telling you what to do. I wished the game were longer.
The music deserves a big tip of the hat. I loved that the composer used native instruments of the various locales where the story was set. It was also fun to receive more than one "tool" when a HOS was completed. The puzzles were of average difficulty with harder ones towards the end. I only needed the Help button a couple times, and the hints were actually "hints" – as opposed to just flat out telling you what to do. I wished the game were longer.
I recommend this game!
Gather items, solve puzzles and make spine-chilling discoveries as you explore a deserted island in Twisted Lands: Shadow Town!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Twisted. Yup.
PostedNovember 19, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a good challenging game, although it has a LOT of navigation. I longed for an interactive "map" to go back and forth, but then I would have missed all the fun wandering around in the fog. Right. Actually the hint system is good as it doesn't have to recharge when you are just seeking which direction to go next. The final cut scene must have been where they came up with the "Twisted" title. It left me scratching my head. Twice.
I recommend this game!
Challenge yourself in the role of the scientist-historian-scholar of ancient civilizations and mystical legends and save your friend from the Demon of Darkness!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Thailand!
PostedNovember 2, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A nice change of scene. This game is set in Thailand, and the artwork is beautiful. Lots of animation and special effects with a good story. Many, many puzzles of all skill levels plus some semi-interactive HOS too. I liked the locations that morphed into another time/space when you changed the illumination in the room. Lots of inventory at times. Some tasks are left undone for quite awhile, so it might be good to have a pencil and paper to keep track of what needs to be done or what item you need to do it. All in all, very fun, and I stretched it out over several days.
I recommend this game!
After discovering a new system of caves, the entire town is excited to explore, until Suzy is kidnapped by a mechanical beast!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 8 found this review helpful
Game 3: some people never learn
PostedOctober 27, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third of the excellent PuppetShow games. The graphics continue to be above par, and the storyline is suitably creepy – if you think crazy puppets and a sorceress looking for eternal youth and beauty is creepy, I guess. The music, by the way, is rather catchy even though it must necessarily repeat sequences. But it all blends very nicely. A big shout out to the composer for a job well done. I really like the boppy march music from the string basses. It just works and is never annoying. Some of it was used in SotI, but it's back like an old friend.
Like Souls of the Innocent, the HOS are challenging, and the puzzles are clever. I really like the PuppetShow series, and now I'm off to Return to Joyville.
By the way, here are the games in order of release:
2009 - PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
2010 - PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
2011 - PuppetShow: Lost Town
2012 - PuppetShow: Return to Joyville
Like Souls of the Innocent, the HOS are challenging, and the puzzles are clever. I really like the PuppetShow series, and now I'm off to Return to Joyville.
By the way, here are the games in order of release:
2009 - PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
2010 - PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
2011 - PuppetShow: Lost Town
2012 - PuppetShow: Return to Joyville
I recommend this game!
Return to the PuppetShow in this spooky sequel! Solve new mysteries and uncover dark secrets in Puppetshow: Souls of the Innocent.
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 16 found this review helpful
Souls of the Innocent - You know something bad is afoot...
PostedOctober 27, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This, the second of the PuppetShow series, took a big leap forward in graphic and animation quality. Beautiful. The puppets are excellently drawn - far more so than the "real people." The puzzles are a little more difficult than the 1st game, and the HOS are much more difficult. This is mostly because of the color and texture matching. I had to ask for a hint on the last item several times. (That was laziness I admit.) I recommend you get all the PuppetShow games as they are stylistically and thematically connected, and they are very well made.
FYI, here are the titles in order:
2009 - PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
2010 - PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
2011 - PuppetShow: Lost Town
2012 - PuppetShow: Return to Joyville
FYI, here are the titles in order:
2009 - PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
2010 - PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
2011 - PuppetShow: Lost Town
2012 - PuppetShow: Return to Joyville
I recommend this game!
Uncover dark secrets, find hidden clues, and solve nefarious puzzles, in PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Mystery of Joyville #1 of series
PostedSeptember 15, 2012
CowboyDenver
fromDenver, Colorado
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is primarily a hidden object game with many, many HOS. The puzzles are either very easy, or I was just pretty lucky. No, I think they were pretty easy. The atmosphere and storyline were very good. The music and sound effects were quite subtle, and I never felt like I was hearing things over and over as is the case in some games. I trust my fellow reviewers that the Puppetshow games are worth it, and while this first episode was pretty easy, it was still fun, and I like the story enough to go for the next one.
I recommend this game!