Granny_Gruff's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.6
- Helpful Votes:22,850
- Reviews Submitted:883
- First Review:December 23, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 23, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Save the town and free your husband from a witch's vengeance.
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 39 found this review helpful
Another Miss For Myths of the World
PostedMarch 10, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromIs it ever a good idea to climb thru a window to get inside a building?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
You are with your husband, Theodore, in a row boat and he is hoping the two of you will be able to settle on this attractive little island. And then he puts a hole in your boat. The two of you land and while you are looking around for something to patch the boat, a witch mesmerizes Theodore and takes him to the top of a nearby cliff. By the time you catch up to them he is at the edge of the cliff and then... They are gone. You rush off to the nearby town - getting there involves fixing a ferry. First local you meet tells you that most likely you will never see your husband again. You will need to go to the castle to get information, but you won't get in the front door. She advises climbing in a window. Your quest to find Theodore has started.
Good stuff: There are the usual HOPs, mini-games, and puzzles, along with bright artwork, a very few characters, and a tiny bit of a story.
Bad stuff: The story seems straight forward - until the witch breaks character to ask for help! Now we may have a mystery along with our missing person quest.
The usual logic breaks are glaring - a pair of gloves in a cage behind two vicious dogs to use to climb the raspberry vines on the castle walls to climb in a window the witch came by and broke open minutes before. There's more; check out the Demo.
This looks so much like a whole boat load of other games that I fully understand the charges of several reviewers that this is a cookie cutter game, as that is exactly what it feels like.
Please try the demo for yourself.
Good stuff: There are the usual HOPs, mini-games, and puzzles, along with bright artwork, a very few characters, and a tiny bit of a story.
Bad stuff: The story seems straight forward - until the witch breaks character to ask for help! Now we may have a mystery along with our missing person quest.
The usual logic breaks are glaring - a pair of gloves in a cage behind two vicious dogs to use to climb the raspberry vines on the castle walls to climb in a window the witch came by and broke open minutes before. There's more; check out the Demo.
This looks so much like a whole boat load of other games that I fully understand the charges of several reviewers that this is a cookie cutter game, as that is exactly what it feels like.
Please try the demo for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Mark’s reality unravels as he discovers the truth about his life.
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 20 found this review helpful
There's a Train Crash in the Alps
PostedMarch 10, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromThere is an ocean shore inside the hotel. Gee, I wish there was more to go on!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The opening animation shows a man walking to the edge of a cliff. He is holding a glowing crystal in his hand. When he gets to the edge of the cliff, he looks down on smoke billowing from twisted train cars below him.
Then the game opens with Jane and Mark talking in their train car. Within seconds, the lights go out and everything goes dark for Mark. He awakens in what looks to be a hotel room, somewhat decrepit with a locked door to the hall and a rusted handle on the only other exit in the room.
After puzzles and HOPs, Mark has figured out this is the Schneider Hotel and Spa. He makes it out to the hall and eventually is lead on by Jane. She is in a wheel chair, and constantly out of reach, and calling to Mark.
Then the game opens with Jane and Mark talking in their train car. Within seconds, the lights go out and everything goes dark for Mark. He awakens in what looks to be a hotel room, somewhat decrepit with a locked door to the hall and a rusted handle on the only other exit in the room.
After puzzles and HOPs, Mark has figured out this is the Schneider Hotel and Spa. He makes it out to the hall and eventually is lead on by Jane. She is in a wheel chair, and constantly out of reach, and calling to Mark.
Good stuff: There are HOPs, mini-games/puzzles, a scant story, and with the CE bling are three types of collectibles: 27 morphing objects, 13 memory objects which also morph, and 20 puzzle pieces.
Bad stuff: The story is so light on details, it should float. Mark is chasing after Jane, with occasional glimpses of an alien presence and shifting scenes. There will surely be something bad going on - after all this is an entry in the Haunted Hotel series - but it will take some digging to get more details out of this game.
Each locked object seemed to have more than one amulet to open it and, sometimes, multiple objects/amulets/pieces to open multiple sections of a single box/cabinet/drawer.
Each locked object seemed to have more than one amulet to open it and, sometimes, multiple objects/amulets/pieces to open multiple sections of a single box/cabinet/drawer.
Bottom line: There were only bits and pieces of the tragedy involving the Schneider family and only seconds of dialogue between Jane and Mark, it was hard to care about what was going on.
Add to that the familiar puzzles and how quickly the demo was completed, and it is easy to walk away from this HH series game.
Add to that the familiar puzzles and how quickly the demo was completed, and it is easy to walk away from this HH series game.
Please try the demo. The game is tamer than the last couple in this series and this one may be the one you want.
I'll try the SE later.
I'll try the SE later.
I don't recommend this game.
Experience a steampunk hidden object adventure full of gothic horror and fascinating puzzles!
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 16 found this review helpful
Archaic Words & Tiny Bits of a Story Do Not a Game Make
PostedMarch 8, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromWith only Scarlett and the Baronett for characters and so little story, why bother?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Wednesday's game of the day was not well received. I would suggest that any time players get far more story out of the BFG game page than from the Demo itself, it is time to rethink the release of the game.
Opening animation starts with a very small child, about 4 - 5 years old, being left with nuns. Her Father walks away without looking back, muttering something meant to be conciliatory. Next, as the actual game opens, we are on a train and a young woman, Scarlett, is recounting how she mistakenly received a telegram intended for her father, who left her long ago. She decides to investigate, starting with the station where the telegram originated.
By a leap of faith, we will assume that this is the small child left behind and now grown up. She gets off the train in the middle of nowhere at night, in the rain, in front of a deserted and boarded up station. She climbs down from the car carefully holding up her presumably long full skirt with both hands. Her bag makes it to a bench across the tracks from the station and the train disappears.
She will try to find her father using a signet (ring) and her psychic abilities.
Opening animation starts with a very small child, about 4 - 5 years old, being left with nuns. Her Father walks away without looking back, muttering something meant to be conciliatory. Next, as the actual game opens, we are on a train and a young woman, Scarlett, is recounting how she mistakenly received a telegram intended for her father, who left her long ago. She decides to investigate, starting with the station where the telegram originated.
By a leap of faith, we will assume that this is the small child left behind and now grown up. She gets off the train in the middle of nowhere at night, in the rain, in front of a deserted and boarded up station. She climbs down from the car carefully holding up her presumably long full skirt with both hands. Her bag makes it to a bench across the tracks from the station and the train disappears.
She will try to find her father using a signet (ring) and her psychic abilities.
Good stuff: The artwork is mixed, with some steampunk, cartoon, and realistic bits. There are various types of HOPs, mini-games, and the very minimal story. The signet (ring) will help Scarlett focus her paranormal ability whenever she feels a vision coming on. There will be a jigsaw type puzzle to complete each time to get a picture of what she is seeing in the past. There is some CE bling including hidden "Father Traces" in the scenes. (These were objects that could be associated with an adult male and morphed in and out quickly enough to draw your eye to them.)
Bad stuff: All of the HOPs and mini-games were fairly basic and easy to complete - so easy that I finished the Demo in 35 minutes, which does not suggest this will be a long game.
The "psychic" puzzles are done in shades of red and purple, varied slightly, and went by quickly.
Other puzzles/mini-games were basic:
Find a missing antler and place it and five others correctly next to their matches. Then tug on the correct antlers after shown the pattern of four.
Move a lock piece across a field to the other side - three times.
Rotate two tumblers to open a lock.
Add coal, scobs, and water in order to start a steam engine to power an elevator. ("Scobs" is found in a 1913 dictionary as "dross from metal." An earlier volume also listed a "wood peg" as a possibility. As Scarlett was actually handling wood shavings, the word may be the result of bad editing or a desire to be period selective with vocabulary.)
Place plugs in an electrical box so there is only one of each kind in each row and column.
There are a couple more, but you get the drift.
Scarlett will be running around doing all of this in a floor length skirt in the rain. Once she gets out of the train station, she will land at the home of the irate owner of an old abandoned train factory near the station. He will order her off his property and she will, of course, ignore him and let herself in the front door.
The "psychic" puzzles are done in shades of red and purple, varied slightly, and went by quickly.
Other puzzles/mini-games were basic:
Find a missing antler and place it and five others correctly next to their matches. Then tug on the correct antlers after shown the pattern of four.
Move a lock piece across a field to the other side - three times.
Rotate two tumblers to open a lock.
Add coal, scobs, and water in order to start a steam engine to power an elevator. ("Scobs" is found in a 1913 dictionary as "dross from metal." An earlier volume also listed a "wood peg" as a possibility. As Scarlett was actually handling wood shavings, the word may be the result of bad editing or a desire to be period selective with vocabulary.)
Place plugs in an electrical box so there is only one of each kind in each row and column.
There are a couple more, but you get the drift.
Scarlett will be running around doing all of this in a floor length skirt in the rain. Once she gets out of the train station, she will land at the home of the irate owner of an old abandoned train factory near the station. He will order her off his property and she will, of course, ignore him and let herself in the front door.
The trial was over so quickly that I came away feeling that the entire production was unfinished and needed to be sent back to the drawing board for revision. There was nothing that made sense, no character that was appealing, and really no urgency to accomplish anything.
I urge you to try the Demo. Is this a game you want in your collection? Is there anything here that you want to pay for?
My answer was a simple No.
My answer was a simple No.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the young starlet from the wicked doll's curse?
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 24 found this review helpful
When Is a Windup Doll a Puppet?
PostedMarch 4, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromPoor Angela, left in an open house, unprotected.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You were wanting to visit your cousin Angela anyway, but when an urgent letter arrives from her husband, Leroy, you hurry to her home. Leroy wrote that she was dying of a curse and you hope to be of some help. Leroy thinks the curse was brought on by a mechanical doll she received while she was rehearsing the part of Ophelia at the theater.
Good stuff: There are all the elements you expect from a PuppetShow game - people in bad masks, a theater, and some semblance of a story. There are also lots of dolls in this chapter in the series. There are HOPs, mini-games, puzzles, and decent artwork.
Bad stuff: The story leaves much to be desired in the way of logic. You arrive at Angela's home in time to see a masked figure threatening her through the front door. As you run around the front yard completing tasks to get inside, heavy black smoke seems to be escaping from the doors and windows of the house. Opening that front door you are looking down a long hall to Angela's bedroom. So how did you see that masked figure? Was he just posing near the front door for your sake? Where did the smoke come from and where did it go? More to the story line, why a masked figure if this was a cursed doll problem? And why threaten a comatose patient?
Leroy sent you a key to get in the house as he doesn't want to leave the comatose Angela even to answer the door, but then he goes with you to the theater, leaving the house wide open!
(Wait. Where was Leroy when she was being threatened by the masked figure?)
There is so little engagement with the other characters, there is no reason to care what happens to them.
Leroy sent you a key to get in the house as he doesn't want to leave the comatose Angela even to answer the door, but then he goes with you to the theater, leaving the house wide open!
(Wait. Where was Leroy when she was being threatened by the masked figure?)
There is so little engagement with the other characters, there is no reason to care what happens to them.
While the game is better than the latest disappointing offerings in this series, it also seems as though it should be in a different series altogether. The "cursed" doll is a windup toy rather than a puppet and the only other animated figures in the Demo were part of a door lock.
The last few PuppetShow games were so bad that this one almost shines in comparison.
Unfortunately that only makes it average at best.
The last few PuppetShow games were so bad that this one almost shines in comparison.
Unfortunately that only makes it average at best.
Please try the demo to see if this is a buy for you.
I don't recommend this game.
Ghastly murders in Whitechapel foreshadow the return of the Red Queen!
Overall rating
2
/
5
42 of 62 found this review helpful
How Can Anyone Survive This Victorian London?
PostedMarch 4, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromIf there were only more of a plot/story, I might be willing to leap into battle.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
You will once again play as young Hawkes, newest member of the Vermillion Watch. And once again you will be chasing the Red Queen - or perhaps she will be chasing you. And once again there will be legions of henchmen to do her bidding and plenty of corpses. You will once again have Phineas to advise you along with extra help from Dr. Jekyll and Maria Shelley.
This time there are corpses found in Whithall, each one drained of blood. You and Maria will be delivered to Whitehall by Phineas to start the investigation. Good luck, young Hawkes. You'll need it.
This time there are corpses found in Whithall, each one drained of blood. You and Maria will be delivered to Whitehall by Phineas to start the investigation. Good luck, young Hawkes. You'll need it.
Good stuff: Eipix has provided all the usual game elements including collectible drops, a morphing object in the HOPs, and an assortment of CE bling.
Bad stuff: Game play is in fits and stops. You will rush to a crime scene at night and come to a skidding halt as you put together a complicated machine in the dark damp streets of London. The nearby constable, supposedly guarding the site, will totally miss the attack on you, Maria, and the equipment by one or more masked assailants. (This may be understandable as the officer used a magnifying glass to look at your ID. Maybe he's optically impaired?)
The nearby dice puzzle above a horse statue has no instructions, so good luck with that.
Dracul, Varney, and Camilla, the three strange travelers, at the pub across the square are all wearing the same necklace and your mind quickly fastens on them as suspicious characters - it helps that they all have identical necklaces on and that there is a peculiar glow around those necklaces. (Hey, at least the Devs stopped short of neon arrows pointing the necklaces out.)
The puzzles are often multi layered and frustrating - the first part would have reasonable instructions and a skip option. You get through that and the next part is beyond odd/hard and has no skip option. The piano puzzle with Dracul will fit that description. The first part has you set the roller on a player piano to play his song. The second part is a closeup of his eyes moving above a closeup of a piano keyboard section. You are supposed to guess which notes he is looking at.
What?
There were actions that were designed to lead you on when there was no where to go. Case in point: The sewer fight with a henchman - you are meant to lose that one so Phineas can rescue you from drowning.
The nearby dice puzzle above a horse statue has no instructions, so good luck with that.
Dracul, Varney, and Camilla, the three strange travelers, at the pub across the square are all wearing the same necklace and your mind quickly fastens on them as suspicious characters - it helps that they all have identical necklaces on and that there is a peculiar glow around those necklaces. (Hey, at least the Devs stopped short of neon arrows pointing the necklaces out.)
The puzzles are often multi layered and frustrating - the first part would have reasonable instructions and a skip option. You get through that and the next part is beyond odd/hard and has no skip option. The piano puzzle with Dracul will fit that description. The first part has you set the roller on a player piano to play his song. The second part is a closeup of his eyes moving above a closeup of a piano keyboard section. You are supposed to guess which notes he is looking at.
What?
There were actions that were designed to lead you on when there was no where to go. Case in point: The sewer fight with a henchman - you are meant to lose that one so Phineas can rescue you from drowning.
The bottom line: you will need to save Victorian London from the Red Queen and her band of monstrous henchmen again, while trying to figure out why you ever wanted to.
Please try the demo and decide for yourself.
Can you survive the island and save your brother?
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 23 found this review helpful
With a Sale, This is a Contender to be Added to My Collection of Games.
PostedMarch 2, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromThe story is interesting and the logic lapses are not egregious.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
In this new game for the Shadowplay series, your beloved brother, Mark, was on a research team working on a secluded island when a disaster occurred and it was thought that all the researchers were killed.
Now, years later, an emergency beacon has been activated on the site, indicating someone has survived. Your team will be dropped on the island to search for the survivor(s). Naturally all is not as it should be and you will have a hard way to go if you are to come out alive!
Now, years later, an emergency beacon has been activated on the site, indicating someone has survived. Your team will be dropped on the island to search for the survivor(s). Naturally all is not as it should be and you will have a hard way to go if you are to come out alive!
Good stuff: Great artwork, a variety of HOPs with a morphing object in each one, mini-games and puzzles, and an interesting story.
Bad stuff: The logic fails are not as egregious as in some of their recent games and you can try to play past them.
Example: the game starts with you up in a plane/helicopter with members of your team. You are moment from parachuting to the site. Lucky you! Someone has taken your backpack buckle apart and left you a puzzle to get out of the vehicle.
(How far am I supposed to trust my team?)
Example: the game starts with you up in a plane/helicopter with members of your team. You are moment from parachuting to the site. Lucky you! Someone has taken your backpack buckle apart and left you a puzzle to get out of the vehicle.
(How far am I supposed to trust my team?)
Mostly this game is notable as being better than other current offerings from Mad Head. And somehow the price of the SE seems more reasonable than that of the CE.
Please try the demo and decide for yourself.
Please try the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
A young demon hunter finds herself time traveling back to ancient Egypt to wield the Gauntlet of Horus to stop an ancient deity.
Overall rating
2
/
5
22 of 32 found this review helpful
Seth, Horus, and The Missing Loved Ones
PostedFebruary 28, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromI'd give one more star if there were any originality. There is not.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
In the opening of the fourth game in the Demon Hunter series, Dawn, our former demon hunter, and her niece, Lila, are commenting on a newly found legendary artifact in Egypt. Within moments there is a ring at the door and the game is afoot. Someone wants Dawn and Lila in Egypt to save the world from evil ancient god, Seth.
Good Stuff: Some of the artwork is very well drawn. There are several types of HOPs with a matching pairs game alternative. There are mini-games and collectible diamonds and stars as well as CE bling.
Bad stuff: Some of the artwork is blurry and characters are stationary. The HOPs are easily solved. The collectibles are bright gold stars and giant diamonds that stick out like sore thumbs.
And then there were the mini-games.
Most of what might have been the mini-games were so simple there were no instructions. You just click around and you are done. And those that had some instructions or a code/solution were not quite as advertised. Case in point: There is a large poster on the wall of Aunt Dawn's tent depicting a Bedouin in full desert regalia. Each time you mouse over it, you are told you'll need to be garbed like that for the weather. When it comes time to get dressed like that, you can't! Even though all the items on the poster are in the tent, you need to pick slightly different items to be able to get past that point and leave!
And then you walk out into a sand storm!
You quickly catch up to Seth, who has Aunt Dawn in his clutches - apparently he will wait for you to keep up as you will need to do so again.
As far as the story goes, you will once again save the world from destruction, along with saving Aunt Dawn. Niece Lila is now the actual Demon Hunter.
And then there were the mini-games.
Most of what might have been the mini-games were so simple there were no instructions. You just click around and you are done. And those that had some instructions or a code/solution were not quite as advertised. Case in point: There is a large poster on the wall of Aunt Dawn's tent depicting a Bedouin in full desert regalia. Each time you mouse over it, you are told you'll need to be garbed like that for the weather. When it comes time to get dressed like that, you can't! Even though all the items on the poster are in the tent, you need to pick slightly different items to be able to get past that point and leave!
And then you walk out into a sand storm!
You quickly catch up to Seth, who has Aunt Dawn in his clutches - apparently he will wait for you to keep up as you will need to do so again.
As far as the story goes, you will once again save the world from destruction, along with saving Aunt Dawn. Niece Lila is now the actual Demon Hunter.
Bottom line: I don't care. If I wanted some twisted story of Egyptian mythology, there are plenty of bad ones out there that will at least stay closer to historical details. If I wanted to save the world again, there are better games available with at least a little challenge. (The only slight brain activity here came in a cartouche game in a storage room in the temple Seth stole in the past.)
Once again, I will repeat: Play the demo.
Know what is being dumped on you.
Purchase wisely so that the next game may be better.
Do not reward ineptitude!
Know what is being dumped on you.
Purchase wisely so that the next game may be better.
Do not reward ineptitude!
I don't recommend this game.
Princess has disappeared, and her statues are under attack!
Overall rating
2
/
5
21 of 25 found this review helpful
Confusion Reigns Supreme
PostedFebruary 26, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromNow I wished I'd cleaned cat boxes instead. More Fun.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Princess, the small girl from the first two Royal Detective series games, is all grown up and wandering in a deserted part of Stone Peaks. She has sent for the Royal Detective because she has had bad dreams that indicated trouble for her on her trip there. The Royal Detective is back-up.
To confuse things as much as possible, the game opens with a sequence in which a robed figure vows to capture Princess's magic so his father, the king, will let him rule next.
I can tell you it is not Prince, even though his name would imply he is the most likely suspect.
To confuse things as much as possible, the game opens with a sequence in which a robed figure vows to capture Princess's magic so his father, the king, will let him rule next.
I can tell you it is not Prince, even though his name would imply he is the most likely suspect.
Good stuff: The usual game elements, HOPs, mini-games, puzzles, and a bit of story are all present, along with collectible morphing dogs, and morphing objects included with the CE bling. (Yes, both collectibles morph, and yes, it is confusing at times.)
Bad stuff: So this robed stranger has a magic staff to help him steal Princess's magic so he can be king. The first question, of course, is: Why does he need her magic if he has the magic staff. During the course of the game, he uses the staff to start fires, imprison living statues, conjure up a wild animal guard, entrance one character and turn another into a statue. All Princess can do is animate statues.
Once you get past that problem, you will find glaring translation problems: Princess had a pretty apartment nicely furnished to one side of the gate into Stone Peaks which the game calls, "Building Debris." (!?!)
And logic deficiencies: You fish a piece of coal out of a lighted fire in the fireplace of Princess's abode with two knitting needles. You trot into the town to write a combination down with the coal on a strip of paper. You run around to find five blue rosettes to put on the safe door back at Princess's room to use the combination. When you finally open the safe, You plunder a bracelet Princess received from Prince for the jewel set in it. You race back through the deserted streets to a wrecked carriage to place the stone in the front of a wooden box. The box opens and you get - wait for it - a feather!
Once you get past that problem, you will find glaring translation problems: Princess had a pretty apartment nicely furnished to one side of the gate into Stone Peaks which the game calls, "Building Debris." (!?!)
And logic deficiencies: You fish a piece of coal out of a lighted fire in the fireplace of Princess's abode with two knitting needles. You trot into the town to write a combination down with the coal on a strip of paper. You run around to find five blue rosettes to put on the safe door back at Princess's room to use the combination. When you finally open the safe, You plunder a bracelet Princess received from Prince for the jewel set in it. You race back through the deserted streets to a wrecked carriage to place the stone in the front of a wooden box. The box opens and you get - wait for it - a feather!
Bottom line: Play the demo.
Please play the demo.
Make an informed decision before you encourage the Devs to do this again.
Please play the demo.
Make an informed decision before you encourage the Devs to do this again.
I don't recommend this game.
Donna’s childhood friend is overwhelmed by a cursed tree that poisons everything it touches!
Overall rating
1
/
5
45 of 59 found this review helpful
This Will Teach You to Refuse a Gift Plant!
PostedFebruary 25, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromI wish Donna had just arrived with a good chain saw, preferably already running!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Donna rushes to the aid of a childhood friend who received, as a birthday gift, a nasty tree that has roots springing up all over the place. Worse, the tree is killing people who receive a leaf from it. Kathi has sent Donna a flower that will protect/cure a tree attack and Donna has to use it to save Kathi as she is attacked as Donna is greeting her. Everyone in the house is either nasty or hiding a secret and Kathi is wounded and will die in a day, more or less, if Donna can’t kill the tree, which is still growing and destroying the house as it expands!
Good stuff: Madhead put all the usual elements into the game, HOPs, mini-games, and a sort of a story.
Bad stuff: The time periods are strangely mixed and the characters look like paper cutouts with little movement or life. And you run thru the house repeatedly, to little purpose. The game play is almost as confusing as the story line. Kathi sent you petals of a flower that will save a victim from a tree attack. Why send them to you when people are now dying in her house?
And the victims' names are tacked up on a sign post at the end of the driveway. Tacky!
Then Kathi's dad mentions two different time frames for her death. He seems undecided if she will die in 12 or 24 hours, but he's sure destroying the tree will cure her, maybe. Between story inconsistencies and blurry artwork, is there anyone at Madhead doing quality control?
So we are left with a slow moving game that has the player running back and forth through a house full of really unlikable people doing some of the dumbest tasks I've seen: After being "greeted" by your friend Kathi's nasty cousin, you heist Kathi's blue necklace to bribe said cousin for her help!
It is all a nightmare trip from that point as characters disappear and the tree gets more threatening.
And as the tree is growing and destroying the house, you, playing as Donna, all but cuddle up to it, until you get one of the leaves that guarantee you too will die. As this signals the end of the Demo, you will be as happy to get out as most players will be!
And the victims' names are tacked up on a sign post at the end of the driveway. Tacky!
Then Kathi's dad mentions two different time frames for her death. He seems undecided if she will die in 12 or 24 hours, but he's sure destroying the tree will cure her, maybe. Between story inconsistencies and blurry artwork, is there anyone at Madhead doing quality control?
So we are left with a slow moving game that has the player running back and forth through a house full of really unlikable people doing some of the dumbest tasks I've seen: After being "greeted" by your friend Kathi's nasty cousin, you heist Kathi's blue necklace to bribe said cousin for her help!
It is all a nightmare trip from that point as characters disappear and the tree gets more threatening.
And as the tree is growing and destroying the house, you, playing as Donna, all but cuddle up to it, until you get one of the leaves that guarantee you too will die. As this signals the end of the Demo, you will be as happy to get out as most players will be!
Please try the demo, as the changing time periods and lack of character and skill in anything will convince you too that this was a black day at Mad Head!
I don't recommend this game.
A time-traveling killer is taking out the Gray family, one by one.
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 36 found this review helpful
I Vote We Lay Daddy's Skull to Rest Along With Both Families!
PostedFebruary 23, 2018
Granny_Gruff
fromHasn't Dear Old Dad Earned His Eternal Rest Yet?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Anna is back with Daddy's skull in time to attend a family BBQ and run her car off the road. In this newest, and again lamentable, addition to the Grim Tales series, another time traveler is out to kill off the Gray and McGray family members, including Anna. Luckily she survives his first attempt and arrives at the McGray home in time to see the police packing up evidence of two murders. As Daddy's ghost so cleverly puts it: it’s time to investigate.
Good stuff: All the usual game elements are present.
Bad stuff: Everything is locked up beyond crazy! You find two pieces of canvas torn from a portrait in the front hall, presumably by the bad guy. One is hanging from the doorknob of the room he's locked himself into upstairs. The other piece is outside a window that is screwed down. Once restored to the canvas, the picture slides aside to reveal a safe. This safe in the front hall has its combination engraved on the side of a locked cubicle inside a locked door off the front patio area. When you open the safe you get a lot of junk and one item to use.
That pretty much is what happens everywhere around the mansion. Multiple amulets and locks are used to keep junk and garbage safe. Anything that should actually be secured is not. Example: The police are packing up evidence of two murders into a box with two amulets and a puzzle in the top to open it. The amulets are left lying around - the bad guy actually had one - and the other police box has its amulet dumped in a drain in the front walk. Do we all feel protected by these bozos?
As usual there are more logic fractures, lots more, but it’s the only fun you'll find in this demo, so I'll leave you to it.
This series has more than run its course. The least trite moment I can point to is when you come across some bees, flying around at night, you do not reach for the usual smoker. You just hunt up a can of insecticide. Sorry, bees.
That pretty much is what happens everywhere around the mansion. Multiple amulets and locks are used to keep junk and garbage safe. Anything that should actually be secured is not. Example: The police are packing up evidence of two murders into a box with two amulets and a puzzle in the top to open it. The amulets are left lying around - the bad guy actually had one - and the other police box has its amulet dumped in a drain in the front walk. Do we all feel protected by these bozos?
As usual there are more logic fractures, lots more, but it’s the only fun you'll find in this demo, so I'll leave you to it.
This series has more than run its course. The least trite moment I can point to is when you come across some bees, flying around at night, you do not reach for the usual smoker. You just hunt up a can of insecticide. Sorry, bees.
Please try the demo. It will take little of your time and you really need to see what you are buying.
I don't recommend this game.