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:
Your enemy imprisoned your father, but now he's forcing you to marry him! Can you escape and save your father?
Overall rating
2
/
5
19 of 24 found this review helpful
Fence Sitter for Hire!
PostedMay 9, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I tried SO hard to like this game. It is pretty.
But pretty does not a good game make. The challenge factor is OK, the artwork is beautiful, the storyline was awful, and it was just not fun.
Daddy, the King, has been captured by his Elven foes in the current war. The elven king wants the princess (you, or maybe the person telling you the story, or your mother.) to marry him or else your father is dead. (Sounds like a marriage made in h***.) By strange happenstance, the elven king has a closer connection to the princess than she realizes at first. She is tricked into becoming his prisoner and from there on, it is all about escaping and saving Daddy. But so much of the story is muddled in the telling that confusion is high on the list of adjectives that come to mind. Distasteful is another as you get farther into the story.
There is everything here that you expect in an up-to-snuff game. There are multiple game-play challenge options, including custom, along with interactive HOPs, fair mini-games, that great artwork, and decent VO's.
There just isn't anything I want to buy or even use a coupon on in this game.
I can not recommend what I am not buying.
Please try the game for yourself.
But pretty does not a good game make. The challenge factor is OK, the artwork is beautiful, the storyline was awful, and it was just not fun.
Daddy, the King, has been captured by his Elven foes in the current war. The elven king wants the princess (you, or maybe the person telling you the story, or your mother.) to marry him or else your father is dead. (Sounds like a marriage made in h***.) By strange happenstance, the elven king has a closer connection to the princess than she realizes at first. She is tricked into becoming his prisoner and from there on, it is all about escaping and saving Daddy. But so much of the story is muddled in the telling that confusion is high on the list of adjectives that come to mind. Distasteful is another as you get farther into the story.
There is everything here that you expect in an up-to-snuff game. There are multiple game-play challenge options, including custom, along with interactive HOPs, fair mini-games, that great artwork, and decent VO's.
There just isn't anything I want to buy or even use a coupon on in this game.
I can not recommend what I am not buying.
Please try the game for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Haunted Legends: The Dark Wishes Collector's Edition
Restore the threads of Fate, before they cause a disaster!
Overall rating
1
/
5
28 of 30 found this review helpful
Say WHAT?
PostedMay 9, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is the latest entry into the Haunted Legends series. And I have hated St. Germaine in each entry up till now.
This time I'm just embarrassed for the Devs, and possibly for our villain, being caught in this nightmare.
You are the Mage, teacher of loving couple, Roberto and Lucia. Tragedy has struck on the eve of their wedding. Lucia has been convicted of Roberto's murder, without a corpse or much evidence, and, within hours, is about to be executed for the crime. You come to investigate and it all goes rapidly downhill from there.
There are four levels of game-play, simplistic HOPs, easy mini-games, linear game-play, and, as the ONLY saving grace, beautiful artwork and animation. There are easy collectibles and the usual CE bling.
Once again we are burdened with an entry for an established series that is woefully lacking in content, creativity, and even simple intelligence.
I would have gladly forgone a new game for a week, a month, whatever it took to give the Devs enough time to make this turkey the game it should and could have been.
As I will not recommend a game I won't buy, I will not recommend this one, probably not even as an SE.
For heaven's sake, try it BEFORE you buy.
This time I'm just embarrassed for the Devs, and possibly for our villain, being caught in this nightmare.
You are the Mage, teacher of loving couple, Roberto and Lucia. Tragedy has struck on the eve of their wedding. Lucia has been convicted of Roberto's murder, without a corpse or much evidence, and, within hours, is about to be executed for the crime. You come to investigate and it all goes rapidly downhill from there.
There are four levels of game-play, simplistic HOPs, easy mini-games, linear game-play, and, as the ONLY saving grace, beautiful artwork and animation. There are easy collectibles and the usual CE bling.
Once again we are burdened with an entry for an established series that is woefully lacking in content, creativity, and even simple intelligence.
I would have gladly forgone a new game for a week, a month, whatever it took to give the Devs enough time to make this turkey the game it should and could have been.
As I will not recommend a game I won't buy, I will not recommend this one, probably not even as an SE.
For heaven's sake, try it BEFORE you buy.
I don't recommend this game.
In this ghostly continuation of the Fear for Sale series, you've discovered a luxury ocean liner bears an eerie resemblance to a ship that vanished years ago.
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Be Not Afraid!
PostedMay 2, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
As reporter Emma, you are investigating a disappearing ocean liner. It picks up a passenger or two and vanishes from each port. You think you know where it will appear again and go to meet it. You manage to get on board and your adventure begins. You overhear a heated conversation and moments later a shot rings out. You rush to investigate. Soon the evidence of a murder is mounting and the ship is in danger.
There are HOPs with a puzzle alternative and good mini-games. The artwork is well done, especially when the ship "decays." The VOs are also good, music changes from scene to scene, and the background sounds are appropriate. Best of all, there is just enough story in the demo to hook you and keep you interested, but not so much that you think you know where the plot is going. I found the game a good length and the plot nicely done through the end.
While not perfect, this game is still head and shoulders above some recent disappointments from older series.
If you've enjoyed the Fear For Sale games in the past, please enjoy this new one. If you've missed out before, you need to try the Demo.
There are HOPs with a puzzle alternative and good mini-games. The artwork is well done, especially when the ship "decays." The VOs are also good, music changes from scene to scene, and the background sounds are appropriate. Best of all, there is just enough story in the demo to hook you and keep you interested, but not so much that you think you know where the plot is going. I found the game a good length and the plot nicely done through the end.
While not perfect, this game is still head and shoulders above some recent disappointments from older series.
If you've enjoyed the Fear For Sale games in the past, please enjoy this new one. If you've missed out before, you need to try the Demo.
I recommend this game!
Why has the Everlast returned after twenty years at sea?
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 29 found this review helpful
Don't Loose It!
PostedMay 2, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your parents were lost at sea in a ship, the Everlast, that disappeared before your eyes. Now, twenty years later, you see the boat reappear in port. A strangely violent storm keeps you from going out there at first, but you persevere with the help of your brother, who also survived with you. Somehow this is all mixed up with mermaids, old legends, your Dad's old compass, and the strange storm.
There are various HOPs, good mini-games, lovely music and artwork, a transporter map, and collectible shells, along with the other usual CE bling.
You have your Dad's compass to remove "bad" energy from objects you encounter during the early part of the demo.
The mermaid controlling the boat and storm is suitably vindictive and nasty. The other characters are not given enough content to tell you much about them.
Your character seems remarkably calm for having seen a ship appear after being lost for twenty years, especially considering Mom and Dad might still be on board. (Hey, if the Everlast can reappear, so can they!)
But the storyline is a bit different, the execution has a certain charm to it, and the game-play is good enough to make me want to sail along on this voyage.
Try this one and see if you really appreciate this week's sale!
There are various HOPs, good mini-games, lovely music and artwork, a transporter map, and collectible shells, along with the other usual CE bling.
You have your Dad's compass to remove "bad" energy from objects you encounter during the early part of the demo.
The mermaid controlling the boat and storm is suitably vindictive and nasty. The other characters are not given enough content to tell you much about them.
Your character seems remarkably calm for having seen a ship appear after being lost for twenty years, especially considering Mom and Dad might still be on board. (Hey, if the Everlast can reappear, so can they!)
But the storyline is a bit different, the execution has a certain charm to it, and the game-play is good enough to make me want to sail along on this voyage.
Try this one and see if you really appreciate this week's sale!
I recommend this game!
Enter the role of Eve Glover, one of the best CCPP's agents, sent to investigate the lack of radio communication from your scientific team on Iceland, researching harmonium radiation.
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 23 found this review helpful
Fourth Amarathine Voyage to ?
PostedApril 30, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
You have been sent to discover why a research scientist has not been in touch with your headquarters in a month. Your plane leaves you to walk with your sled to the camp location in Iceland's mountains. The bad guys' helicopter flies over your head and lands almost on top of the researchers' camp. How lucky are you? Their helicopter back-draft sets off an avalanche that buries your sled, but misses you. That's how lucky you are. Your adventure proceeds from there.
There are four levels of game-play, including custom level. There were easy and varied HOPs, simple mini-games, collectibles, and other expected game elements. In addition, there is an artifact that will perform semi-magical tasks for you as you power it with glowing crystals.
The story and characters are passable, the artwork acceptable, and the game is as average as all that tells you it is. If you liked the earlier games in this series, you'll probably like this one also.
I recommend you try the demo.
There are four levels of game-play, including custom level. There were easy and varied HOPs, simple mini-games, collectibles, and other expected game elements. In addition, there is an artifact that will perform semi-magical tasks for you as you power it with glowing crystals.
The story and characters are passable, the artwork acceptable, and the game is as average as all that tells you it is. If you liked the earlier games in this series, you'll probably like this one also.
I recommend you try the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
Black Viper: Sophia's Fate
Cop by day, formidable thief by night: Sophia, aka Black Viper, is a young woman leading a double life.
Overall rating
2
/
5
48 of 55 found this review helpful
Sexy Police Woman, Pushy Army Officer, and Murder!
PostedApril 28, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
You play as sexy greek police officer, Sophia, who spends her nights as the Black Viper. Your boss, August, has sent you to the mansion of a wealthy arms dealer after his wife is found murdered. The husband apparently has a great alibi. There is an army officer liaison who will demand information ahead of your boss. Good luck!
Game has three levels of play, lots of HOPs, some basic mini-games, and annoying music. You have a magnifying glass for HOPs which you will need, as some items are invisible without it, even my giant screen. There is also a gamma control for brightness.
The artwork is photo-like with a distinct orange/brown palette.
The characters, while realistically drawn, speak like a low-budget comic book. All dialogue is printed on screen, although what is printed and what they say is slightly different. And they speak a lot, mostly obvious points. I had to click at the end of each bit of dialogue if I did not want to continue to look at the picture of the last speaker.
Warning: The game is not forgiving - I placed an object I found in a puzzle window. When I came back with the next part of the puzzle, the first piece was gone, never to return and the game must be restarted to find it again.
Basically, this is an older game dug out for the daily "new" game. Slow, stilted, and extremely stylized, we can do better.
Pass.
Game has three levels of play, lots of HOPs, some basic mini-games, and annoying music. You have a magnifying glass for HOPs which you will need, as some items are invisible without it, even my giant screen. There is also a gamma control for brightness.
The artwork is photo-like with a distinct orange/brown palette.
The characters, while realistically drawn, speak like a low-budget comic book. All dialogue is printed on screen, although what is printed and what they say is slightly different. And they speak a lot, mostly obvious points. I had to click at the end of each bit of dialogue if I did not want to continue to look at the picture of the last speaker.
Warning: The game is not forgiving - I placed an object I found in a puzzle window. When I came back with the next part of the puzzle, the first piece was gone, never to return and the game must be restarted to find it again.
Basically, this is an older game dug out for the daily "new" game. Slow, stilted, and extremely stylized, we can do better.
Pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Find the cure to save your brother from the Others.
Overall rating
3
/
5
19 of 27 found this review helpful
A Good Adventure For a Quiet Afternoon
PostedApril 26, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This "Bridge to Another World" game is a new world from the first original game and a welcome change.
You and your adopted brother hunt beings known as "Others." You are together on a hunt when your brother enters an Other's portal to their world. You follow and your adventure begins. Fortunately the first Other you meet in this new world helps further you along the unknown road you must travel.
Your mission is not clear from the demo, other than that you are following your brother, Jace. You "earn" a troll helper as you explore. (He will, thankfully, not be cute, just useful.)
There are HOPs, mini-games, and lovely artwork just like many other games.
I did not find the story overly compelling nor is game-play unusually attractive or innovative enough to make me need this game. But it is a nice game for a quiet afternoon. Be sure to check out the Demo for yourself.
You and your adopted brother hunt beings known as "Others." You are together on a hunt when your brother enters an Other's portal to their world. You follow and your adventure begins. Fortunately the first Other you meet in this new world helps further you along the unknown road you must travel.
Your mission is not clear from the demo, other than that you are following your brother, Jace. You "earn" a troll helper as you explore. (He will, thankfully, not be cute, just useful.)
There are HOPs, mini-games, and lovely artwork just like many other games.
I did not find the story overly compelling nor is game-play unusually attractive or innovative enough to make me need this game. But it is a nice game for a quiet afternoon. Be sure to check out the Demo for yourself.
I recommend this game!
A simple job protecting a bumbling professor becomes a nightmare when a masked figure threatens to kill him!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 13 found this review helpful
Evil Chuckles at the Haunted Hotel
PostedApril 26, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You are hired to provide extra security for the presumed philanthropist Professor Kevin Reynolds. Within minutes of signing on, you have rescued him from a sniper and started for the Haunted Hotel. There may be great rewards promised in this job, but the reality is all too scarey and dangerous as the professor disappears almost as soon as you arrive at the "safe" location while you are gassed.
There are lots of morphing objects to collect, along with easy HOPs and mini-games, lots of blue and purple scenes, and a re-occurring evil chuckle in the background. And the chuckle is annoying over, and over, and over....
I did not find enough story to make a compelling case for getting this game as a CE. The story is not unique and neither is game-play or the look and feel of this eighth Haunted Hotel game. I'll revisit the SE and possibly reconsider.
I won't recommend a game I won't buy.
There are lots of morphing objects to collect, along with easy HOPs and mini-games, lots of blue and purple scenes, and a re-occurring evil chuckle in the background. And the chuckle is annoying over, and over, and over....
I did not find enough story to make a compelling case for getting this game as a CE. The story is not unique and neither is game-play or the look and feel of this eighth Haunted Hotel game. I'll revisit the SE and possibly reconsider.
I won't recommend a game I won't buy.
I don't recommend this game.
A mysterious Owl Man is terrorizing citizens!
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 34 found this review helpful
The Owl Man Cometh
PostedApril 24, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
You are once again the detective, this time called in to investigate the apparent kidnapping of a young boy from his home. The locals believe the culprit to be a mythical Owl Man, used to scare the children and central to a feud with a neighboring village.
This is a good solid game with several questionable features and a cute helper.
First off - our cute helper is Elf, the chihuahua from previous Mystery Trackers games. Elf is all business and well behaved.
The questionable features are both new and "borrowed" from other ERS games. The evidence board is a borrow, but seems to move the story along, rather than impede it. The "Second Sight" is a new device. It is a clunky element that is mildly amusing at first and pales over time, especially when the game insists you use it, but then you need to find items outside that special screen to finish that screen. At least when you finish the special screen, you get a series of drawings and a narration that propels the story forward.
There are four levels of game-play, including custom level. The HOPs are varied and often in a monochromatic hue that makes finding items more difficult than it need be. The mini-games were good, although at least one of them needed better instructions. Expect an abundance of blues and purples in the artwork.
The VOs did not sound like Louisiana, but they were passable. Animation was very basic. The story is actually interesting and developed well.
This Mystery Trackers is better than some of the past games and not as good as others. Take a look at the demo for yourself. I liked the story and played through to the end.
This is a good solid game with several questionable features and a cute helper.
First off - our cute helper is Elf, the chihuahua from previous Mystery Trackers games. Elf is all business and well behaved.
The questionable features are both new and "borrowed" from other ERS games. The evidence board is a borrow, but seems to move the story along, rather than impede it. The "Second Sight" is a new device. It is a clunky element that is mildly amusing at first and pales over time, especially when the game insists you use it, but then you need to find items outside that special screen to finish that screen. At least when you finish the special screen, you get a series of drawings and a narration that propels the story forward.
There are four levels of game-play, including custom level. The HOPs are varied and often in a monochromatic hue that makes finding items more difficult than it need be. The mini-games were good, although at least one of them needed better instructions. Expect an abundance of blues and purples in the artwork.
The VOs did not sound like Louisiana, but they were passable. Animation was very basic. The story is actually interesting and developed well.
This Mystery Trackers is better than some of the past games and not as good as others. Take a look at the demo for yourself. I liked the story and played through to the end.
I recommend this game!
Only the Rose of Life can cure your father’s illness.
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 15 found this review helpful
Handsome Hero, Brave Heroine and We Are Both!
PostedApril 24, 2015
Granny_Gruff
fromLouisville, KY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This may get a little confusing later, but it is interesting to begin as one character and jump to being another in a different place, with different abilities and challenges.
You start out as Beatrice, on a quest to find the Rose of Life to cure her dying father. Beatrice arrives at the Prince's castle in time to see a witch take possession of the Rose. She soon acquires a magic picture frame that lets her identify and talk to the enchanted inhabitants of the Prince's kingdom who have all been turned into animals. As the story progresses, you take on the role of the half animal/half man Prince to make more progress in the game.
The animation is reasonably good, the voices fit the characters, and there is enough content to make you keep playing. There are four levels of game-play, including custom. The HOPs are varied with a Match-3 alternative, mini-games in the demo are easy, the collectibles are many and the artwork lush.
While nothing is startlingly new or innovative, this is a good solid amusing game, one to just relax and enjoy. Please give it a try.
You start out as Beatrice, on a quest to find the Rose of Life to cure her dying father. Beatrice arrives at the Prince's castle in time to see a witch take possession of the Rose. She soon acquires a magic picture frame that lets her identify and talk to the enchanted inhabitants of the Prince's kingdom who have all been turned into animals. As the story progresses, you take on the role of the half animal/half man Prince to make more progress in the game.
The animation is reasonably good, the voices fit the characters, and there is enough content to make you keep playing. There are four levels of game-play, including custom. The HOPs are varied with a Match-3 alternative, mini-games in the demo are easy, the collectibles are many and the artwork lush.
While nothing is startlingly new or innovative, this is a good solid amusing game, one to just relax and enjoy. Please give it a try.
I recommend this game!