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:
In order to save your life, your twin sister traded her soul to a witch. Now you must race through the looking glass to rescue her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
33 of 36 found this review helpful
HONEST REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedJune 4, 2013
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
If anyone doubts the validity of my title, let me just say that if ERS ever made me a queen on their fb page I would immediately demand they remove it.
This game is outstandingly designed and executed and an absolute pleasure and delight to play from start to finish. For fairy tale fans it is a dream come true. ERS puzzles are always on the easy side but I would prefer that to puzzles that make smoke come out of my ears. The IHOPAs are varied and huge fun. The game play is perfect and the navigation instant. There is a jump map, collectibles, achievements and a host of delightful characters and creatures that made my smile very broad indeed. The voice overs are great and the cut scenes spot on. There are no sparkles in the hardest mode I think, though I did switch back and forth, so that might not be entirely accurate. It has a wonderful story, beautifully told and the colours are gorgeous. The music is really good too. The SG I only glanced at but it looked well done, since the hint button is all I ever rely on in most of these games, and being directional as well, it serves my purpose if I get stuck, though with such a good jump map that never happens.
The main game ends extremely well for SE players but the BC is simply marvelous and to my mind makes the game well worth the CE price. For me, this all inclusive 10 hr game is a real tribute to ERS's wonderful ability to transport their players into worlds of wonder and magic, which is where the little girl in all of us ladies always lives on and I salute them for it and I thank them for it.
Love it or hate it, it is undeniably a work of art.
I recommend this game!
Dark Dimensions: City of Ash Collector's Edition
A dark dimension has fallen over Phoenix Hill, turning its residents into volcanic ash. Help them rise from the ashes.
Overall rating
3
/
5
112 of 118 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedJune 1, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
While I do applaud the devs for a valiant effort and for incorporating so much, unfortunately this game missed the mark. The graphics are alright, if a little washed out, the voice overs are ok, the puzzles are pretty much par for the course, and the iHOS are rather dull and mostly just confusing, the way they have set them up. The story is fairly good but not exactly gripping. The music was nice enough, quite bearable. There are achievements and collectibles. It has a jump map that is well done and works fast. In advanced mode there are no sparkles and the hint and skip take a long time to fill. I found the instructions for a lot of the puzzles rather vague and had to resort to the SG (which is not bookmarked, but well executed), not for the solution but in an effort to try and understand what to do.
The things that let this game down are that it has a rather amateurish feel to it, which it should not have as these are experienced devs, and the simple fact that it did not have much affect on me. It did not bore me as such, but it did not pull me in as it has no wow factor at all. Thirdly, the main game is only 3.30 hrs long, which really is not on for CE prices, although I was not really bothered in this particular case, as I was not being entertained. The main game ended in what I thought was a satisfactory way and will be fine for SE players. But, the BC belied this and introduced another aspect to the story and I found these two separate sides to be at odds with each other.
Sorry to the devs for not being more enthusiastic but in all honesty, this is how it made me feel.
I don't recommend this game.
The evil Alura is back, and this time she’s attacking your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 78 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMay 26, 2013
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 am somewhat nonplussed at all the negativity aimed at this game. I wondered if I was playing the same one. It is from the purring ginger kitten people and they have completely outdone themselves. I found it delightful and charming, beautifully designed and with gorgeous colours. I kept thinking surely there cannot be any more locations, secret passages, hidden doors and again and again I was wrong. It is like a maze and it is a-maz-ing. It is fortunate they included an in-game window via the hint button that when clicked takes you straight there. I believe I saw a map but never needed it. Likewise the SG. That wonderful feature was all that was necessary. Smooth and fast navigation. Fast skip button and the hint button takes no time at all to recharge.
The iHOPAs are varied and not too many and the puzzles are bright and fun. The music is lovely, like a choir of angels. I love the story which, while nothing I haven't seen before, was very well told. There are cute and creative creatures to interact with and a host of interesting characters. I just glided through it effortlessly with such a high level of enjoyment and appreciation, it is now my favourite game. All other devs have taken a step down and these guys are at the top of my list.
The main game took me 5 hrs and the BC 1.15 hrs. The main game ends very well but the BC is wonderful and well worth playing. I would not have thought it possible, but the graphics in it are even better than the main game. Huge entertainment factor there. Loved it. There are no achievements or collectibles but the level of quality, design and content are such that I can easily say this is definitely deserving of it's CE status.
Well done to these devs, who obviously invested a huge amount of time and effort into making this one of the best games I have ever played. Would not have missed it for the world. I just wish I could have kept on playing and playing.
I recommend this game!
The lighthouse fails and darkness invades Willow Ridge. Your husband runs into the forest for answers, unaware of the shadow hunting him.
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 28 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMay 18, 2013
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
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I hugely appreciated the exquisite and beautifully polished graphics in this game, as well as the iHOS with their very unique twist, and the sweet story of the Child of the forest. The jump map was great and the controls smooth as silk. The game play was fun and interesting and the puzzles not too hard for the most part, with some brand new ones on the artistic side that I really enjoyed. I also really liked the music.
Unfortunately, on my computer, and from reading the tech thread, quite a few other players, the black and white movie still puzzles would not work, and there are a lot of them. You are supposed to find different items in them and use them on different aspects of the puzzles to solve it. My cursor had a question mark attached and every time I tried to click anywhere in the scene, the game paused and said click to continue. Well, clicking to continue started the puzzles again, but I still could not click on any of the items, without the game pausing yet again, repeatedly. This is all that would happen. I could do nothing else. This would not have been that bad per se, if it were not for the skip button. The screen was definitely freezing up during these puzzles and thus the skip button would take up to 10 mins to activate and in a couple of them, even longer. I tried to send the game down to my task bar in order to do something else while the skip button filled, but it would not stay there and kept popping open again. Thus I spent a huge amount of time just sitting waiting. Not fun.
For this reason I cannot say how long it took me to play the main game, but I am reasonably sure it is a fair length. The main game ended well and luckily the BC did not have any of those move puzzles so I had no problems with it. It is a lovely chapter, based on another aspect of the dilemma of the Child of the Forest, who is still having problems with the villain and the colours and graphics were a delight yet again, in different locations and was just over 1 hr long.
Because of this problem I cannot recommend this game, but I will not tick No either because it is a lovely game. None of these movie puzzles are in the demo yet, so there is no way to know how they will react on other computers and if it is safe to buy the game, so I would not like to lead anyone into buying something that may or may not play well enough for them.
Sorry, devs, but you did make a truly gorgeous game and I commend you for that. Your graphics and game play are right up there with the best and if it had not been for these agonizing movie puzzles I would have given you a 5 star rating.
Solve this maritime mystery to reunite a pirate with his lost love!
Overall rating
4
/
5
123 of 131 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMay 11, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As with Stolen Runes, this game does not start off well. Very dull and dreary graphics and very hard to spot some of the coins. However, I found that after I got into the castle, this game too, like Stolen Runes (about 45 mins in) took of with a bang and became extremely enjoyable and fun to play and the graphics much better, with more colour. It has a great story that is, while very sad, beautifully told and unfolds wonderfully. Voice overs are excellent and while it is not a fast paced game by any means, once I got used to it, I became completely comfortable with it. The jump map is great, with active areas marked and coin pics in the ones where coins are still to be found. After a while I learned to go to the SG when entering a new area, because the location of the coins are marked very clearly in bright purple. You really need those coins so you cannot miss any. The iHOS were quite sparse to begin with but increased significantly throughout. There are a lot of puzzles of all three levels, easy, not so easy and difficult. Quite a lot of those too. If the hint and skip had been a little faster to refill I would have been happier and I must say, asking the hint for a clue outside the iHOS was a pain. It took ages for a blue flame to rise up to the top of the screen and spread left to right. Very annoying. No achievements. Wide screen. Only collectibles are the coins. There is only art and music in the extras, instead of all the usual paraphernalia. Don't care for any of those, but some do. The only mistake I picked up was continually calling nib pens, fountain pens. They didn't have fountain pens back then. The other thing was lagging between scene changes, but using the jump map does away with that.
As with Stolen Runes, The main game took me 6 hrs and the BC 90 mins. The main game ends well and the BC tells a tale from a different standpoint and I really enjoyed it. If it had been 30 mins longer, I still would not have been bored with it.
Very well done to the devs, but I would say to them it is not a good idea to start the first 30 to 45 mins of their game with dull and uninteresting graphics and game play. Those are crucial mins to the would-be buyer and will have lost them not a few sales.
Otherwise, very good effort, especially compared to some we have had recently, so yes, it is CE worthy.
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets of your family’s past on a mystical island!
Overall rating
2
/
5
49 of 61 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 24, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game has beautiful cut scenes with perfect voice-over synchronizations which are fast and clickable, excellent navigation and a great story. It has wide screen and the hint button is directional and quick charging. I am really glad so many people are delighted with it and enjoying it. I am not and I did not.
There are no collectibles or achievements. The graphics are ok but certainly not anything special. The iHOS are awful - dark, with blurry graphics and a lot of indistinguishable objects, and you have to play them twice, once in present day and once in the past, and there are way too many of them. I came to dread them. There are a lot of repeat puzzles, none of them very inspiring and few new. Fortunately the skip button is super quick. The jump map is a two click affair which is of poor design. The first click takes you to the areas which are all comprised of a series of locations. You click on an area and then on a location marked in green. I found several times that I had to click on a number of areas before I found one that had a green location. The three note music never varies or ceases and I had to switch it off. The Amulet of Special Abilities is just a thing that sits next to your inventory and all it does is open doors. Every time you find a stone for it you get the same message telling you the exact same thing it has told you umpteen times already. The little girl, while utterly gorgeous, has a very loud and annoying voice and speaks in a way that is far too advanced for her years. I played in both easy and expert modes and could detect no difference between them. The diary has a series of pictures of paintings by various artists. I googled a couple of them but came up empty, so it looks like the devs created these. While I appreciate the time and effort that went into them, they are of no relevance to the game and I quickly stopped bothering with them.
The real downer with this game is that it has no atmosphere nor ambience. It is very clinical and it left me cold. It's not just dull and uninteresting, it's downright boring. There is a great deal of backwards and forwards and the BC is even worse. No particular connection to the main game, just finding one parent, but not the other. On that note it becomes clear there will be a sequel. This game is nowhere near as good as City of Cyan, which I loved. The best part about this was when it was over. The main game took me 4 hrs and the BC 1 hr. I could better have spent my Sunday afternoon replaying one of my old and excellent games than this dreary one. There is no fun factor to it.
Sorry to the devs, but as I said, many players adore it and there are bound to be some people who will not, with every game.
I don't recommend this game.
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
5
/
5
93 of 107 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 22, 2013
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
3
/
5
The demo of this game will not go far in pulling people in to buy. It is short, sample only not 60 min trial and because it is short it does not give enough indication of what an amazing game it is. Also - no collectibles, achievements, wide screen or map. The aspect ratio in the options has no effect. I really did not think this very smart of Ornean. It will limit their sales. They should know by now what CE lovers demand for twice the price of a SE. I myself am not one of those. For me it is graphics, story, navigation, fun, entertainment and surprising and interesting features and last but not least, length.
The three main draws of this game are the graphics, which are outstanding, the perfect navigation and that nifty little feature of changing the lighting in the rooms to completely transform the decors to those of the distant past. I have only ever seen this in one other game. It is very well done and really cool. They even included the Trojan Horse.
The three main draws of this game are the graphics, which are outstanding, the perfect navigation and that nifty little feature of changing the lighting in the rooms to completely transform the decors to those of the distant past. I have only ever seen this in one other game. It is very well done and really cool. They even included the Trojan Horse.
Collectibles and achievements I can do without, but the lack of any kind of map dismayed me. I need not have worried. The game is compact in that there are no gratuitous locations. All are connected with tasks, puzzles and iHOS and because the hint button brings up a picture of the room or location you need to go to, all that is required is just to familiarize oneself with where each is located. Then it's a snap. Because of the perfect navigation you are there in a jiffy. The game is not linear either.
It took me a while to warm to the game but once I got really into it I became totally absorbed. The puzzles are medium to hard and beautifully done, although I did have a cursor that went into float mode in a few. Cannot explain that but in the Tech Thread no-one else has mentioned that so maybe just my computer. I had to skip those or they would have taken me hours. Like ERS, Ornean know just how many iHOS are not enough and too many, so I was not bombarded with them at every turn. There are 3 varieties - list, replace, and what I can only describe as the domino effect. Although there were only two of the latter, they were wonderful. The music is not remarkable but certainly did not irritate me.
The SG is just like all SGs, but, for those with poor eyesight, I think the print should have been larger. The story centres around a sibling who has systematically murdered most of the family and now has designs on the last remaining heir, the young girl. She summons you, the Detective with psychic powers to defeat this villain and save her life. The ghost of the brothers and sister help you throughout the game.
Because of their being no map I played in easy mode. Sorry, I forgot to test out the others so cannot comment on sparkles. The main game took me 5 hrs after the demo and ended well. However, the BC is awesome. It hurtles you onto the banks of the river Styx, where you must repair the ferryman who will row you to the distant shore. where the souls of the murdered children are trapped and you must free them. Wonderful locations and tasks and puzzles. I got to ride Pegasus to the high mountain top and what a splendid fellow he is. This Chapter took me 90 mins.
The usual extras are not present either. Couldn't give a hoot. Never had any use for them, but you can play the puzzles again. For a game that plays for almost 7 hrs and is full to bursting with interest and entertainment, all beautifully depicted in terrific artwork, it is definitely worthy of its' CE status.
Well done to these Devs for a thoroughly marvellous game.
I recommend this game!
Someone in the Order has turned traitor, murdering one of the Secret Five! Only Sarah can prevent the Order’s destruction!
Overall rating
5
/
5
52 of 61 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 20, 2013
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
Wednesday and I have only just finished this. It took me 7 hrs. Where does one start? An outstandingly good game with a terrific story. The Griffin Ship is a work of art. The graphics in the museum in particular are beautiful. Such clean lines. Graphic styles vary, depending on what sort of terrain you are in but they are all excellent. Jump map that shows active areas. Directional hint button. Fast refill. They took a lot of trouble over the music in this one. It varies greatly and at times is exhilirating. You can choose to play Mahjong instead of doing the iHOS. The cut scene dialogue is clickable and quickly dealt with. Voice-overs are right on target. 3 modes of play but I only played on easy for this one as I found it too frustrating otherwise.
I feel as if I have been on an epic and extended journey through time and back again and I have encountered many wonders and numerous great characters and done amazing things. The mechanics and navigation are flawless. The puzzles are fairly recent and not at all easy and you have to take your time with them, but they are enjoyable.
However, there is a very odd thing indeed about this game. Roughly half way through the main game you are informed that you are now entering the Secret Bonus. Up to that point I had been playing for about 4 hrs. I just thought that they had simply combined the main and the bonus, without a break between and so I continued playing for another 1.15 hrs, thinking that would be the end. Not so. After that time had lapsed, I was told I had just completed the Secret Bonus but the game kept going, for another 1.45 mins. I cannot imagine how that is going to work for the SE. Will they cut the Secret Bonus out of the middle of the game or will they chop off the last 1.45 hrs? Neither makes sense to me but since I am not the brightest spark in the fire, maybe they have something else up there sleeve that I cannot see. Looking forward to finding out.
So, this is a truly great piece of work and much to be praised for it's creativity and innovation and highly immersive game play. That and it's wonderfully evocative music make it a sure fire hit, no question.
I recommend this game!
Vampires: Todd & Jessica's Story
Explore an extraordinary and touching love story that will touch your heart and blow your mind!
Overall rating
4
/
5
75 of 89 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 20, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Jessica should have gone to Spec Savers. She noticed nothing odd about Todd. They guy is blue, for goodness sake!
New devs here and they did a great job with this game. Very good graphics, bright and colourful, sharp and clear. No voice-overs and the dialogue is short and clickable. The music is just average. Those familiar with the Twilight series of movies may note some similarities. Not my cup of tea, but this is a game and I thought the story well told. The hint button is not directional, but there is a jump map and although it does not indicate active areas, only a handful are open at a time. So, no foot slogging. This is not a difficult game, it just has little help included, so you have to think for yourself. No wide screen but I do not expect that in a lone SE. The HOS are well done. Some interactive, some not. The puzzles are not head scratchers and rather fun, even for me who is not a puzzle lover. There is also a diary, but this is more to do with the story. Any codes and clues you get go directly into your inventory. Game has a combine function as well. A thing I have not seen before was silhouettes of the items you need to use on a particular puzzle, being outlined in the puzzle. Well, I did say little help, not no help. I kinda liked it.
Pressing the hint button outside of the HOS will show you if there is anything you have missed, otherwise it tells you to move elsewhere. Simply using the map to explore the other areas always turns up something to help you progress. I failed to notice any difference between the 2 modes, so sparkles all round whichever you select.
A very well rounded game with an ending that does not just suddenly finish the game, but takes it a step further and makes it very satisying, so you do not feel like someone just shut a door in your face. Cannot say for sure, but there may be a sequel.
It took me 4 hrs and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks devs and BF. BTW, so glad we got a revision and are able to finish this. Well worth it.
I recommend this game!
After the wizard began his mission of wrath and destruction, you, a mere alchemist, have been sent to stop him.
Overall rating
3
/
5
59 of 94 found this review helpful
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
PostedMarch 16, 2013
Sheerija
fromEdinburgh, Scotland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I am shocked. Played the demo, bought the game, and 30 mins later.....The End. Seriously, 90 mins. And what an abrupt ending it is. Could not be more disappointed and not a little disgusted.
It had so much promise. Good graphics. A reasonable enough story. Excellent mechanics and navigation. Doable puzzles. Well done HOS. Directional hint that does not discharge when used for directions. A 30 mins recharge within the HOS. Interesting locations. Bearable music. Sparkles and glints in easy mode. Sparkles in advanced mode for the HOS, but no glints for anything else.
Maybe these devs are new and just dipping their toes to test the water, so I do want them to know I liked their game and they did a good job. But I have made a note of their name and will be very wary of their next one and wait to see if it is a reasonable length before buying. In light of how this ended, there could be a sequel.
Even though I liked it, I cannot in all good conscience recommend a 90 min. game at the same price as a 4 hr one.
I don't recommend this game.