Sheerija's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:8,740
- Reviews Submitted:102
- First Review:April 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 4, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Explore the haunted history of a ballet school while guided by spirits from another dimension! Can you help guide these poor souls home?
Overall rating
5
/
5
105 of 118 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMay 4, 2016
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the best games I have played in a very long time and I wish to extend my admiration to the Devs for something out of the ordinary, that makes you think and take initiative and that is thoroughly engrossing. When it first started I thought it was pretty run-of-the-mill, but I quickly changed my mind a little way in. And, that was just the first half. When I got to the second half I was delighted and enthralled by the imaginative and unique way this game is put together. The cut scenes are magical, with the beautifully designed silhouettes of the ballerina, who flowed faultlessly through her dance routines in such an elegant and captivating manner. The puzzles are mostly quite unique and, if one likes solving puzzles, extremely worthwhile doing. The HOS are interactive in a wholely different way than we are used to, and if at first they seemed puzzling, once I got the idea, they were great.
Of course, this game is not perfect. It threw small hissy fits 2, maybe 3 times and had to be re-entered, but that I have encountered all my gaming life and is no big deal. The story is fascinating, unfolding throughout the game in a way that made me eager to find out more. There was a moment of intense sadness, that actually brought a tear to my eye, moments of "wow, that was great" and moments of "Hey, that was really clever". The game is accompanied throughout by the piano music from Swan Lake and I never get tired of hearing that. Very well done, indeed. The jump map makes the game free of that horrible random wandering not knowing what to do, and the hint button always tells which direction to go, for those who do not like maps. On the odd occasion when neither map nor hint showed anything, it was only because I had something in my inventory that had to be completed first. So, there is no being stranded with nowhere to go. This game has been put together with all the thought , care and attention necessary and there are no loose ends. Beautifully done. There are no cutsie helpers. In fact nothing about this game is cutsie. It has an extremely dark side that strikes a small chord of disquiet at times. Definitely not for the little ones. I would not say "Adults Only", exactly, but try it yourselves first if you are going to let your offspring play. These are Devs with a knack for mixing all the genres to a really good degree, so that one is not overwhelmed by one element or another. In case it is not clear, I LOVED IT. I think people have been too quick to judge and have deprived themselves of something really special. I advise giving it a fair shake before giving up after only 10 minutes and then saying it is a dud. That is hardly fair to the Devs, who put so much into this and deserve much fairer than that.
Thanks guys. We do not hear from you very often, but when we do, you are well worth the wait. Make more, please!
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 15 found this review helpful
INSPIRATIONAL
PostedMarch 20, 2015
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
(81)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I stopped writing reviews way back in 2014 or thereabouts, as I became so disillusioned with the CEs that were coming out, the reviews would all have been negative or at best, luke-warm. However, today, I have to say to ERS that whilst I always have them on my top 10 list, they are now top of that list.
I am not going to go into every little details of the ins and outs. Suffice it to say that this game is absolutely inspired. By far and away the very best in the series, and moreover, the best they have produced in a long time. Every aspect of it is perfectly executed to the highest standards I have encountered in ages, without exception. It is an absolute pleasure and delight to play from start to finish and the degree of skill and artistry involved is awesome.
I thank you ERS for the best 6 hrs of gaming experience I have had in months and months. Whatever brought this on, or whoever, bottle it, patent it and get it out there on the shelves. More Devs need to up their games these days. Now they have something to aspire to and hopefully we can see an improvement, more care taken, better programming and more dedication to making these games something to be proud of, instead of the half hearted, dash it off stuff we have been getting for the past year.
Playing this game was like being a "kid" again, back when I first started playing these games and everything delighted and enthralled me and my reviews were all rants and raves of admiration. So, fishies, if you think you are suffering from burn-out, play this and discover it was not you, it was standard and quality having taken a huge nose dive.
Three cheers for ERS!!!
I recommend this game!
Resolve a family squabble before the gates to the realm of the dead swing open and horrors beyond imagination pour into this world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
111 of 161 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedJuly 16, 2014
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game of the year hands down! I have not had this much fun in yonks. The graphics are out of this world. The game play is flawless. The atmosphere is intriguing and the quirkiness of the whole thing is a delight. Boris is a hoot - funny, sarcastic and adorable. Even the music is great. The iHOS are the best ever - everyone of them a pleasure to do and never once spotted one with a feeling of dread, just eager anticipation. The puzzles are lucid and completely doable and if one has patience, they can all be completed by everyone. The cut scenes are perfectly synchronized, short and able to be clicked through at any speed. Apparently, there is a map somewhere, probably in the journal, but I had no need of it. The navigation is such a perfect example of how games should flow from location to location, seamlessly, so backtracking and revisiting are a doddle. Wide screen. Achievements. Collectibles. A shop to spend coins in. Did it at an average speed and it took me 4.5 hrs.
Not sure which of the 2 devs gets the credit for this excellent work, so just saying congrats to both, on an amazingly creative, original and innovative game. I would have been more than happy to have this as a CE. In my opinion, it is far and away better than CE quality. Not just because the CEs lately have been under par, but more because it's quality on all levels is so high. I did not even buy Thursday's CE, it was so bad, and I never pass them up.
And all this ladies and gents for SE price, plus 65% off. Outstanding!!!
I recommend this game!
Uncover why Lisa's uncle is hiding information about her father's disappearance and help her discover the truth.
Overall rating
5
/
5
127 of 143 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 24, 2014
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have not done a review for months and months, because there really has not been anything worth writing about lately. And then, I played this!
This game is simply superb. Congrats to these new Devs. They have given a lot of well and long established Devs something to aspire too. At first it just seems ordinary, even a little dull. But that's only in the very beginning. I soon became more and more engrossed and more and more did my admiration grow. The graphics are really good. The story is just great - such a refreshing change from the terrible monotony a lot of these games have become. The interaction of the puzzles and all the different twists and turns and surprises is pure enjoyment. There is a jump map - 3 of them in fact, because this game has such a myriad of locations, they wouldn't fit on even 2. The voiceovers are excellent. No overacting or phoney emotion, just very well done indeed. The cut scenes are perfectly timed so as not to be too long or irritating. There is one set of 20 collectibles. The hint button is excellent for those who dislike maps. There are two modes of play and the 2nd one basically leaves one almost on one's own. As for the programming and the navigation, would that all games played as smoothly and efficiently as this gem does. And what a surprising and shocking ending.
My only minor critique is that the iHOS are not as sharp and clear as they could have bee, making it a tad difficult to spot certain very well hidden objects, but, fear not, for there is an alternate card game that is quick and easy and fairly enjoyable.
So, in my opinion, these Devs have hit the nail smack on the head. They have imagination in spades, can really spin an tantalizing yarn, and they totally understand how to technically create a well oiled machine of a game without an iota of lagging, sticking, freezing or delays of any kind, throughout. What an perfect pleasure it is to play this game. Thanks guys. You just keep it up the way your are going. Top marks for this.
You thought this would be just like any other investigation. But now you find yourself lost in a mysterious mansion brimming with strange creatures, comatose colleagues, and mysterious tentacles around every corner…
Overall rating
5
/
5
162 of 185 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedNovember 21, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I stopped reviewing CEs some time back. I thought the fault was mine, that I had become rather jaded, or had burn-out, because none of them were moving me at all. They were all palling and failing to impress. Therefore, I thought it unfair to review any of them, since the fault was mine. This morning changed all that. It had not been me, it had been the games. 10 minutes into the demo of this game my mind was going "Knock your socks off, clear out of the ballpark, over the hill and far away" terrific! The ingenuity, creativity and originality of this game is awesome. It was delightful, funny, charming, creepy and at times just straight up laugh-out-loud. The fun/entertainment factor is huge and it never quits.
I always used to say about ERS game that the main game took 4 hrs and the BC 1 hr, every time. This game carried me along for 6 hrs all inclusive and I could easily have carried on indefinitely. Many devs are capable for great graphics. Not many are capable of such outstanding graphics. There are twists and turns in this game that made me go "Wow, how do they come up with this stuff!". There is a jump map and great music, a story in conjunction with the prequels, and really good puzzles. The iHOS are varied, clear and very, very fun. But the best parts are the little extra delights that show up all the way through. Not necessarily integral to the game, but thing that made me grin. Widely.
A word about the major beef that some folk have and that is the cutesy, fluffy creatures. Yes, they are there. But, they are not in-game. They are found in the game but they play no role. They are part of the extras and it is entirely optional whether one wants to deal with the zoo or the hamster, or not. If not, ignore them, they are not relevant. There are no "adorable" critters in the game as helpers. As to the special glasses "puzzles", they are so easy and quick I cannot understand why this is an issue. Just skip them. On one can choose how fast or slow one wants one's skip button to fill and one can change this continually throughout the game as desired.
I do think personally, that there is a certain tendency to review a developer rather than a game and I feel this really unfair. A game is not bad or good because a particular developer made it. I also noted that some also had problems with the tentacled aspect of the villain. All these game have ridiculously unbelievable villains. Peter Parker as Spiderman took on spider abilities in that hit movie series. Superman is another case in point. Without these attributes we would have no villains or heroes and this genre would fall flat.
I think it would be a terrible shame if people shunned a game as brilliantly presented as this one, simply because it is made by ERS. If one plays the entire one hour demo and is not impressed, fair play. But to miss out on this experience because people are using these negatives like "cutesy, boring, same old same old", etc, is extremely misleading.
I have played some ERS game that have not impressed. Not many, but some. This is not one of them. It is a cut above and I had a wonderful day with it. Not had one of those in a long time. Ta, ERS. If you put out a dud, I will be the first to let you know. Not this time.
I recommend this game!
Help Princess Arianna save her kingdom and defeat the Dark Witch in this clever hidden-object adventure and match-3 game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 39 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedNovember 19, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Lovely game, albeit a little on the short side at 3 hrs. However, this fact not born out by the demo, which is a little rough and somewhat crude seeming. But wait - there is a definite upswing after that and I found myself really admiring the graphics, the story, the navigation, the hint button and loving the variety of HOS and various M3s. Never had that before and while I am not a fan of M3 I really did like doing these ones. The puzzles were not that hard and they did not throw one in around every corner, so I really made an effort to solve them, with not a little success. Liked that a lot.
I must make a special mention here about the music because it really is different and very atmospheric to the game, something few musical scores accomplish with these games. Lovely crescendos, really crashing and thrilling. Well done.
It seems that Mondays and Tuesdays are being given over to newcomers lately and while I quite liked yesterday's game, this one is a definite step up from it. Very well done and and thoroughly enjoyable. Could have carried on for another hour and not been at all bored. No cutesies, but a nice bunch of beautifully designed characters. No map but not necessary. Game is a pleasure to navigate through.
Thanks guys and love the name of your Company btw. A bit more practice and some spit and polish and you could be on your way to being very popular devs. Keep at it.
I recommend this game!
Darkness has engulfed Grimville! Use your cunning and wits to unravel the evil intrigues and save the town!
Overall rating
3
/
5
55 of 67 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedNovember 18, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
While there is much to be commended about this game, there is equally much that goes against it. It is my guess that BF have afforded a couple of very young newbies a shot at flexing their wings. They are to be praised for this. The graphics are good and there is wide screen. The navigation is top of the line excellent, which is a huge plus these days. There are no, repeat no, glitches whatsoever and everything plays like clockwork. Kudos for that too. I also liked the style of the cut scenes, ie the noir aspect and the, although some might say, rather crude style of graphics in the characters. The hint button is very helpful, sometimes telling where to to go, sometimes indicating it only with arrows. Cannot say I understand the use of both, but it was definitely necessary either way. The music is well done. I appreciated the added concept of being able to chose which scenario one wished to go with via the story line. The iHOS were well done and there were not too many of them.
However, on the minus side, there are far too many gratuitous locations, with nothing to do, which must simply be passed through. There is a standard map, which I only found by accident as it is not marked and is hidden way down on the right next to the inventory. This map is not very helpful I am afraid. It does not indicate the names of the locations, nor where action is required. There are no voice overs. The story is nondescript, done many many times before. There is very little to do in each location and more often than not it is just a case of being told what is required and then having to foot slog back and forward to find the required item, not all of which are in iHOS. The puzzles did not appeal to me and I was grateful for the fast skip function.
It is a decent length but the content is lacking and it became rather lacklustre and tedious about half way through due to it's lack of integration.
I would say to these devs that they need to incorporate more game play into their locations as I became quickly tired of knowing that each new scene would only entail me having to backtrack to numerous locations to find required items. These items are visible but not accessible until they are needed and I do not like that in a game. If something is there to be found, I like to pick it up and keep it until needed.
A valiant effort but by todays standards, short of the mark. Having said that, I think these guys have the potential to do much better since they certainly get what this genre is all about.
Keep trying and thanks, good try.
I don't recommend this game.
You shall have to investigate the mysterious disappearance of young Luciano Folgeri from the orphanage.
Overall rating
4
/
5
69 of 75 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedSeptember 4, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I do not recall seeing these devs before, so if this is a first-time effort, I shall keep my eye out for anything else they may offer, as I think they have the right idea. Not great graphics-wise - a little rough, but not bad either. Lots of variety in the iHOS and very good, artistic and interesting puzzles that I really enjoyed. Nothing special about the story, but the game play is interesting enough to compensate for that. 2 modes of play. Music not bad. Cut scenes and voiceovers could have been better, but again, not bad at all. It does not have an over-abundance of locations so that lack of a map does not matter. Hint button is directional and although the game trailed behind itself once, sending me back and forward between two locations a few times, it soon caught on to the fact that I had already done that task and we moved on. Navigation is quick and smooth and at 3.15 hrs long I say, yes, the levels of creativity and innovation are good enough to rate it an enjoyable, fun experience.
Plenty of room for improvement, but certainly no dud, this game I consider well worth my pcc.
I recommend this game!
Guide William on the adventure of a lifetime and discover Captain Kidd's lost pirate treasure in this riveting Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
1
/
5
93 of 103 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedSeptember 3, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I can best describe this game only with a torrent of adjectives: Unimaginative, repetitive, unartistic, mundane, uncreative and ridiculous. The format is tedious to work with. All these games are like that. The puzzles are a joke. The cut scenes and dialogue are too many and too long. There are no voice overs. To get hints one must find stars. A large percentage of the hidden objects are completely unrecognizable or so small my magnifying glass could not spot them. It is only about 2 - 2.30 hrs long and for once I could only think "Thanks goodness."
Why on earth then did I buy it? I did not pay for it and desperation dictates. Finished all the games in my GM. Replayed many of my CEs already. If one has pccs to use up and nothing else to play, it will pass a few hrs. Otherwise, forget it.
These games have been around since the year dot and it always amazes me that they are still in business, still making these awfulnesses and pay absolutely no heed to that fact that almost everyone hates them and will not buy them. I can only conclude that they only do it for a hobby and not to make a name or money.
Just grim.
I don't recommend this game.
Crack codes, pick locks, comb crime scenes for clues and solve clever puzzles in this thrilling retro detective drama!
Overall rating
5
/
5
62 of 77 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedAugust 5, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Outstanding! What wonderful creepy fun. Marvelous graphics, especially in the iHOS, where everything is so clear and easy to find. The dialogue runs smooth as silk and is excellent - quite hard hitting and really well written. The navigation is top notch. Not a lag in sight. Really good music. A jump map with action indicators. Voice overs are brilliant. 4.5 hrs of really good entertainment. The story, though ludicrous, is so well presented that I got pulled in and engrossed to find out what happened next. Of course, we never suspected the Mayor, did we now? No, of courssse not! Nevertheless, the content and inclusions in the story are well thought out and interesting.
Do not know these devs, or been so long cannot remember them, but their hint of a sequel pleases me and I look forward to it immensely. Well done.
I recommend this game!