CyndiLouWho2's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.1
- Helpful Votes:6,719
- Reviews Submitted:392
- First Review:December 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:August 7, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Immerse yourself in the exciting world of the true detective! Solve all the villain's riddles! A True Detective Griddlers!
Overall rating
1
/
5
9 of 17 found this review helpful
I Don't Think Sherlock Holmes Had a Monkey Sidekick
PostedMay 21, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is one messed up game, but someone must be buying them because a new one comes out every month. It's the same format with the same horrible mechanics over and over again. Anyway, here's why I couldn't wait to uninstall this:
* The titles always sound interesting but never are. In this particular case, there is no story to be immersed in, there's no detective, no riddles and no mention of Sherlock Holmes.
* Using a hint automatically takes away your perfect score for that level. And yet they let you buy extra hints if you want to. Why would you want to buy extra hints if you're not supposed to use any at all?
* You can buy extra mistake allowances, but once you make a mistake, you cannot get a perfect score for that level. Isn't the goal to achieve a perfect score of 3 stars?
* After you've correctly filled in a row or column, you have to manually X out all the leftover squares. All the other nonograms/grid games automatically fill these in for you.
* There is no logic involved, just a bunch of guesswork. That's why they offer extra hints.
* Finally, the graphics are plain old flat, uninteresting and dull.
I hope you'll try some of the other games in this genre so that you can see how a game of this type is really played.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel the world completing games of Mahjong that suit any taste.
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 24 found this review helpful
Really Nice Music!
PostedMay 19, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Yes, nice relaxing music and the ability to choose your difficulty level were the only two things I could appreciate about this game.
While I like the solitude of Mahjongg and Solitaire games, there has to be something extra going for them -- such as a story to keep me interested, which there wasn't -- or bonus power-ups or upgrades. Unfortunately, Mahjong Carnaval 2 had nothing extra to offer.
I found the graphics be be very basic with no additional hoopla to make the game exciting. There was no fun animation of the tile sets or encouraging sounds or voices when you made spectacular moves.
The main reason for my low rating was the fact that I could not get a perfect 3-Star score on the very first level. I re-played that level eight times, changing my strategy each time, and there was no way to score the required 3000 points. I always strive for a perfect score so being frustrated on the very first level was maddening.
There are just too many other great Mahjongg games out there, so I recommend you try one of those.
I don't recommend this game.
Ominous Objects: Phantom Reflection
A mysterious mirror is causing havoc in your client's house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
56 of 83 found this review helpful
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall . . .
PostedMay 16, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I won't re-hash the entire story as certain reviewers are known to do. I like reading a game's overview and then watching the story and game unfold by itself, discovering things at my own pace.
With that said, this is an all-around entertaining game with lots to do. I'm so glad I waited for the SE version. The color palette was perfect and worked well with the feel of the game. While some don't like the purple and pink pastels, we should remember that children play these games, and I found the colors added to the dream-like atmosphere of the game.
I played this on Custom mode because I like quick-charging hints and immediate skip ability. However, I ended up playing most of the puzzles anyway because they were new and interesting. Hidden object scenes were pleasurable -- there wasn't an over-abundance of them, and there weren't tons of objects to find in each scene. Objects were clear and well drawn and not too small or difficult to locate.
The music, sound effects and voice acting were top notch. The hint button was directional, in case you weren't sure where to go. The inventory could be locked so it wasn't always popping up and down. And Mr. Jenkins, your adventurous pet cat helped out only when you couldn't fit into tight spaces or grab something that was high up and out of reach. You don't have to buy outfits for him or decorate his cat condo.
Phantom Reflection kept me happily playing along for several hours and I would highly recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Become a real detective of the Ancien Régime and visit renowned carnivals collecting rare masks for the countess!
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Yet Another Cookie Cutter Game
PostedMay 1, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
And here we have yet one more puzzle grid game from this developer. I've downloaded and played all the others, being really disappointed each time. But Riddles of the Mask sounded like it would be different so I held my breath and installed it.
Unfortunately, it's the same as all the others. There are no masks to collect. There is no story line.
Graphics are dull, flat & two-dimensional.
You cannot right-click to put an X in a square. You're forced to click on a separate icon to do that. Then, if you forget to change the icon back to where it was, you'll put an X in squares you didn't want to and have to start over.
When a column or row is completed, the rest of the boxes are not auto-filled so you're left with a bunch of empty squares to look at. It's just laziness on the part of the game designer.
All these grid games by this developer are exactly the same except that the theme changes with each one. There are so many other great games of this type available, so I hope you'll check them out because I don't recommend this one.
I don't recommend this game.
How do you solve a true detective's case? It's elementary!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 52 found this review helpful
There's No Mystery with True Detective Solitaire
PostedApril 29, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The description of this game leads one to believe there will be something really different and special about True Detective Solitaire. But alas, I was sorely disappointed.
For the most part, the graphics were okay and the music was fine. You could choose the face and the back of your card deck which is standard in almost all solitaire games.
But after that, things go downhill and nothing makes this game stand out. First, there is no story. I had no idea what the crime was nor what in the world I was supposed to be solving.
Card animation was minimal. Game play is one card higher or lower than the base deck. You can buy powerups but there are only three of them which don't do much at all.
There is no initiative to strive for a great score -- there is no bonus for long card chains which was a big letdown since I played 32 cards in a row.
Reviewers who gave this more than three stars are either new to solitaire or are not being honest. There really was nothing different or fun about True Detective Solitaire. A couple of new, innovative powerups could have been this game's saving grace.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on a new adventure into the world of color mosaics as you explore a fantasy forest full of wonders and amazing discoveries.
Overall rating
3
/
5
38 of 45 found this review helpful
Great Game Idea But Lazy Developers
PostedApril 22, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Once again, we have yet another Fantasy Mosaics. I agree that this series of games can be solved logically and it's quite challenging at times to achieve a perfect three-star scoring. You're forced to concentrate on what you're doing and I like that -- I find it therapeutic. So, those are the reasons I like the series.
But this 8th installment STILL lacks the basics which continue to frustrate me:
* There are no new features in FM8. Nothing has changed or been improved.
* The music is high pitched and is basically the same in all these games. I always end up turning off the sound and turning on my MP3 player.
* Graphics are cartoonish and poorly drawn. You would think by the 8th game that things would have improved.
* Animation is in slow motion. Scenes change slowly and you cannot skip dialogue. It's old timey technology from twenty years ago.
* If you want to restart a grid, you can't just hit a restart button, you have to exit out to the main menu and then click on several screens to get back to where you were. Restarting should be a heck of a lot easier.
* The same fill-in colors are used over and over again -- yellow, hot pink, brown, navy, aqua, red & bright green. A lot of the solved pictures are of animals, so why not make them more realistic by using more than seven colors??
* Either have a real story line or don't bother. Why does it always have to be a penguin taking his family on a fantasy adventure? Phrases are not translated properly and most of the time are downright creepy.
Fantasy Mosaics 8 game play is geared more for adults, so the silly, childish graphics really aren't necessary. Adding several more colors to the grids and dropping the juvenile story line would make this a 5-Star game.
I recommend trying Fantasy Mosaics 8 only if this is the first time you're playing one of these games in the series. However, if you already own several games in the series, I recommend you simply replay those games and not spend the money on this one.
I don't recommend this game.
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions.
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Best of the Puppet Show Series But TOO SHORT!
PostedApril 17, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I won't rehash all the specifics of the game, because others have already done so. To me, this was the best Puppet Show as far as story line, graphics, sights and sounds. I especially liked my little puppet helper who appeared very life-like, and I thoroughly enjoyed game play. But the length of Price of Immortality was ridiculously short, which was quite a letdown.
I started out by playing the CE but wasn't impressed by the doll and coin collecting and having to buy outfits for the dolls. Plus, there were no morphing objects. I didn't feel it would be worth the extra money so I purchased the SE instead. The annoying thing with the SE was that when you would click on the dolls in various scenes, they would just disappear, leaving you to wonder why they were there in the first place. So you could tell the dolls were left over from the CE version.
I would have rated this 4 Stars but it loses a star due to the short length. Except for the bonus chapter, I'm sure the CE was short as well.
I recommend this game!
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Best of the Puppet Show Series But TOO SHORT!
PostedApril 17, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I won't rehash all the specifics of this game, because others have already done so. To me, this was the best Puppet Show as far as story line, graphics, sights and sounds. I especially liked my little puppet helper who appeared very life-like, and I thoroughly enjoyed game play. But the length of Price of Immortality was ridiculously short, which was quite a letdown
I started out by playing the CE but wasn't impressed by the doll and coin collecting and having to buy outfits for the dolls. Plus, there were no morphing objects. I didn't feel it would be worth the extra money so I purchased the SE instead. The annoying thing with the SE was that when you would click on the dolls in various scenes, they would just disappear, leaving you to wonder why they were there in the first place. So you could tell the dolls were left over from the CE version.
I would have rated this 4 Stars but it loses a star due to the short length. Except for the bonus chapter, I'm sure the CE was short as well.
I recommend this game!
Redemption Cemetery: The Island of the Lost
You crash-land on an island populated by ghosts. Like them, are you trapped here forever?
Overall rating
2
/
5
39 of 41 found this review helpful
Another Series That Needs To End
PostedApril 3, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
If you're going to buy Island of the Lost to complete your Redemption Cemetery collection, buy this SE, and not the Collector's Edition like I did. Honestly, it was a waste of money.
I own all but one of the previous RC games and this one is by far the shortest and lamest of all of them. Graphics, music, and sound are adequate, nothing more, The hidden object scenes and puzzles are easy and it's blatantly obvious that not much thought was put into them.
The Redemption Cemetery story line is basically the same for all the games in the series -- distressed ghosts who need your help to free them. It's gotten monotonous now and needs to be shelved. The devs need to get the creative juices flowing and come up with something new and totally different.
I don't recommend wasting your money on Island of the Lost. However, if you're new to hidden object/puzzle games it's not the worst one to start off with.
I don't recommend this game.
A serial killer nicknamed “the Toymaker” is wreaking havoc on a sleepy town. Can the lead detective piece together clues left at the scene and stop him before he sets his sights on her?
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Great Story Idea But Poorly Executed
PostedApril 1, 2015
CyndiLouWho2
fromWestern New York
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Once again, I am surprised at the 5 Star reviews, but I guess if you don't mind static graphics, tons of HO scenes and monotonous game play, you might award 5 stars.
Deadly Puzzles: Toymaker appears to be an intriguing game about a serial killer who leaves puzzle toys as clues in order to taunt the detective solving the case. The operative words here are "APPEARS to be".
There is little animation, just short videos to watch. While the hidden object scenes are easy, there are tons of them. And as others have said, you consult the map hanging in your office, you complete several hidden object scenes and then go back to your desk to place the found hidden objects in a puzzle that the killer has sent to you. This scenario keeps looping during the entire game and boredom quickly sets in.
To me, this game was geared more for children or for those who have never played an HO/Puzzle Adventure game. For those of us who like more substance to our games, I don't recommend this one.
I don't recommend this game.