Pilot1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.8
- Helpful Votes:2,264
- Reviews Submitted:127
- First Review:October 22, 2015
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you save your young nephew from an unimaginable fate?
Overall rating
2
/
5
40 of 43 found this review helpful
A very disappointing offering from an otherwise good game developer.
PostedAugust 4, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I have several of the Grim Tales series, so seeing a new edition —especially with so very many four and five star reviews— I expected nothing less than another enjoyable game.
What I found when I played the demo was very, very disappointing.
While the background graphics were quite well done, the characters were cartoon-like and would have been much more appropriate in a comic book!
The tempo of the background music was so slow that it was almost all that I could do not to yawn and nod off into a nap.
The story line was another yawn inducer. Yet another family member kidnapped by an evil entity and, of course, only you can effect a rescue.
Neither the HO sequences nor the mini-games offered anything new, innovative, or challenging. They were all just more of the same we’ve seen far too many times already.
I’m not very keen on so-called helpers —which you already know if you’ve read any of my other reviews— but the skull-thing in this game was particularly annoying!
And, please, can we have some other cutting device than a piece of broken glass which we must wrap with a rag!
Thinking that I had somehow missed something when I read the stellar reviews, I went back and read them again. What I found was very confusing. Several of the reviewers, while giving this game four, or even five stars, had written paragraph after paragraph commenting on the very same deficiencies as I have just done. I am at a loss to understand how one can write a mostly negative critique and yet, at the same time, give the game a high rating.
I cannot recommend this game, even to newcomers to the type, it is just not worth the download nor, certainly, the purchase.
I don't recommend this game.
Follow Emily on her quest to trace the mysterious woman, elude death and ultimatly catch the killer in Ghost Files: The Face of Guilt.
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Just an okay game, not a must have.
PostedJuly 29, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The graphics are somewhat soft around the edges; background sounds are, generally, appropriate; the voice-over narratives are delivered very slowly and, while they do, for the most part, add to your store of information, they just don’t sound convincing. The music is played at a slow tempo, which was probably done to add dramatic effect.
The story line is not really new —you’re a detective chasing a serial killer— but there is just enough of a twist to make it interesting.
The HO sequences are moderately challenging, without making the hint button your best friend. Likewise the mini-games.
Others have described the play-by-pay —which was a little too slow for my liking— so I won’t duplicate their work.
The interactive map is useful, though the symbols are little difficult to make out.
When I reviewed the CE version of this game I said that I’d wait for the SE and buy that since, as you already know if you’ve read any of my other reviews, I’m not a fan of CEs. Now, having played the SE demo, I’ve changed my mind. The game play is just too slow to hold my interest, and the characters just don’t really engage me enough to make me want to go in harm’s way to help them.
If you don’t mind slow playing games, you might find this one to your liking. Otherwise, don’t bother.
As always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop an ancient darkness before it’s too late?
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 43 found this review helpful
A disappointing offering from an otherwise good developer.
PostedJuly 27, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
First I’ll give you the good news —the graphics, music, background and effects sounds, and the voice-over narratives are all well done. Although the text of the narratives is more than a little hokey and contrived.
The HO sequences, such as there were in the demo, were quite a departure from the normal ‘spot it, grab it’ variety. The mini-games should be sufficiently challenging for you aficionados, of which I am not one.
Now for the rest of the stuff. Well, once again you’re faced by an evil entity and its minions; once again your daughter’s been kidnapped by evil entity and et cetera; once again you’ve got a magic amulet with which to fight the minions.
Oh, and let’s not forget the bag with the broken zipper —excuse me while I yawn.
Frankly, I am at a loss to understand the raves this game garnered from some of the other reviewers.
When you come right down to it, this game is nothing but more of the same old stuff we have seen and played countless times. It doesn’t matter how nicely you dress up a trite, tired story line with dazzling graphics; when all’s said and done, nothing’s changed.
My recommendation is that you save your download limit, and your money, and give this one a miss.
As always, though, my caveat is that, if you must, play the demo and decide for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you recover your memories and save a missing girl in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 32 found this review helpful
Don't 'shrink' from getting this one!
PostedJuly 21, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Others will, or have described the play-by-play, so I'll not do that.
I’ll confess, up front, that in general I like games from this developer, Elephant Games, and, in fact, have many of their products. I’ll even confess to liking Elf, although most helper animals and objects are a turn-off for me. The little pup, though, is neither obtrusive, overly cute, or annoying in ways so many of his ilk can be, and usually are.
The graphics, music, background sounds, and voice-overs are all very well done, as can be expected of Elephant’s games.
The storyline, while not entirely unique —let’s face it, there are a finite number of plots and the best that we can hope for is an interesting twist, which this game has. Other games have used the 'told in flashback' ploy, but I don't recall any other that opened with the protagonist in a (PTSD?) therapy session with a psychiatrist.
The HO sequences are sufficiently challenging to make you pay attention while, on the other hand, not so difficult that you’ll make frequent resource of the hint button. I can say the same for the mini-games.
Game play is quite logical and intuitive, so you'll probably just use the excellent map as a 'rapid transit system' rather than as guide to the next location of interest.
As always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover who’s after your dance troupe?
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 36 found this review helpful
Erin Go Bragh!
PostedJuly 20, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Others have described the play-by-play and the CE collectibles, so I’ll not duplicate their good work.
The demo was rather short, so I can’t tell you more than what I found during the rather brief game play.
Typical of what we’ve come to expect from Eipix, the graphics, background music, effects sounds, and voice-over narrative lip sync are all very well done. Except, and I may be being picky, but the ‘Irish’ accents don’t strike my ear as much like what I have heard when travelling in the Emerald Isle. Even so, it wasn’t that much of a distraction for me.
The HO sequences and mini-games are, again, typical of Eipix games —the very familiar with enough of a twist to make them interesting.
The plot, centered around a dance troupe family, is one of love, betrayal, and death. There may be, as I suspect there are, disclosures later in the game that disprove the betrayal, but there’s no indication of this in the short demo.
You will probably find the map a little confusing at first but, even after you get the hang of the symbols, you’ll most likely just use it as ‘rapid transit system’ rather than as a guide to the next location. The game play is quite intuitive, and the locales are relatively easy to get from one to another.
All in all, and despite the brevity of the demo, I think that you’ll find this an enjoyable game if you like the so-called extras of a CE version. I am not a fan of CEs, as you already know if you’ve read any of my other reviews, so I’ll wait for the SE game to be released and then buy that to add to my collection of Danse Macabre games.
As always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Join two tribes of dinosaur tamers and help them save their world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Challenging, fun, and extremely well-crafted!
PostedJuly 19, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Others have described the play-by-play and so-called CE collectibles, so I won’t duplicate their good efforts.
The graphics, as we have come to expect from Eipix, are stunning. From the opening teaser sequence through the entirety of the game, absolutely stunning!
Background music, environment and effects sounds, as well as the vice-over narratives are all very well done. While the lip sync isn’t perfect —as it isn’t in any game— it’s as close as makes no difference.
This game is a quirky mix of Sci-Fi and fantasy, and a very enjoyable mix it is. I mean, who could resist a ride on a tame dinosaur!
The HO sequences are sufficiently challenging while, at the same time, not so difficult that you’ll need to hit the ‘hint’ button very often.
I’m not a huge fan of mini-games —most of which, it seems to me, are exercises by the coders to show how smart they are— but the interactive variety found here kept me from using the ‘skip’ button even once.
I don’t really care for CE games, as you already know if you’ve read any of my other reviews, so I’ll wait for the SE version to be released and will definitely be buying that.
As always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Someone’s attacking the Witches’ University!
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 20 found this review helpful
It could have been a good game, but it's not!
PostedJuly 14, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Once again, I am at a loss to understand the high ratings some other reviewers have given a game.
This game is annoying on so many levels that I’m hard-pressed to find a place to start.
Okay, let’s start with the graphics —pastel colors so soft as to make every scene washed-out, indistinct.
Next, the music, background sounds, and voice-over narratives —the music is the best of this bad lot, although it is draggy and, by being so, slows down the game play. The background sounds are quirky, so say about them the nicest thing that I can think of. As to the voice-over narratives, well, it would be better if everyone just kept their mouths shut. The word that comes to mind is campy.
In nearly every one of the hundreds of games that I have, when you move from one location to another you just go there in a smooth transition. In this game, every location change gets a pop-up ‘loading’ notice, even within the same room or site.
I’m not even going to talk about the morphing ferret-girl.
The story? Well, let’s just say it’s more of the same old stuff —evil magician wants to take over/destroy the world, and you, of course, are the only one who can stop him. Even though, as I’ve often said, there are a finite number of plots that work with these types of games, many developers try to give it enough of a twist so as to make it at least a little different. The developer of this game did not make any effort to do so.
The blurb says that this is an editors choice game —Big Fish needs to get some new editors!
Don’t waste your download limit, or your money on this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save your sister from a sinister game?
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
What a disappointment!
PostedJuly 9, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I have three of the previous ‘Surface’ games, and enjoyed playing them. So, when I saw another in the series available I thought it might make a good addition to my collection. I was wrong!
Quite frankly, I am at a loss to understand the high rating given this game by some other reviewers with whose opinions, generally, I find myself in agreement.
The story is one we’ve played far too many times —sister taken by an evil being, only we can accomplish the rescue, and then only after undergoing many trials, finding various items of essential value and, of course, by defeating the entity. Even though, as I’ve frequently said, there are a finite number of plots that lend themselves to games of this type, and many of them offer a sufficient twist to make the game interesting, the developer of this game didn’t even make a pretense of a twist. This is just more of the same old story.
The graphics are stunningly bad! The characters, and other essential items, appear to be merely laid over a static background. The music, various sounds, and voice-over narratives are equally poorly done.
HO sequences and mini-games are, again, of the same type we’ve endured over and over again from developers too lazy to innovate.
I always end my reviews with the caveat that you play the demo and decide for yourself, but not this time. This is such a poorly made product that I recommend that you save your download limit for a game far more worthy.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel to the underworld and save your love from Death's embrace!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
A fantasy tale well told.
PostedJuly 9, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you like fantasy and magic, odds are you’ll like this game. Others have done a good job of describing the play-by-play and the CE collectibles, so I won’t duplicate their good work.
The graphics are soft around the edges, and in pastels, which is quite fitting for the overall ambiance and theme of this game.
The music, background, and effects sounds, as well as the voice-over narratives are all well done and enhance the game-play enjoyment.
The story is one we’ve seen many, many times —a nefarious entity has kidnapped a loved one and only we are able to effect a rescue after, of course, undergoing many trials and facing evil adversaries. In truth, though, there are just so many plots that lend themselves to this type of game, and this one doesn’t suffer because of that sameness with others.
The HO sequences are not unique, we’ve seen these types before, but they fit the game quite well and do not detract from the game play; likewise, the mini-games.
Although I recommend this game for fans of the fantasy genre, as always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Your brother gets in trouble during the filming of his ghost hunting show!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Real eye-candy, yum-yum!
PostedJuly 8, 2017
Pilot1
fromTaos, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Others have described the play-by-play and the CE collectibles, so I won’t duplicate their good work.
The graphics in this game are stunning; there is no other word for them, stunning! I’m impressed and, having played hundreds of these games, that’s no easy thing to do.
The background music, the ambient and effects sounds are all game enhancing. Again, I’m impressed.
The plot is a familiar one —defeat a demonic being and save a loved one— but let’s be honest, there are a finite number of plots that lend themselves to these types of games. There is enough of a twist in this particular thread to make it sufficiently interesting to keep you playing.
The interactive map is very useful, but more so for moving quickly from one place to another. Movement within the game is quite logical and, unless you’re really not paying attention to what you’re doing, or where you’re doing it, you probably won’t need the map to get you to the next location.
One thing that I really like that this developer has done is to give you the option of playing the mini-games in easy or hard mode.
The HO sequences are a mixed bag of types. While most will be familiar to you, again, there is enough of a twist here to make some quite interesting, if not exactly a big challenge.
I’m not a fan of CE games, which you already know if you’ve read any of my other reviews, so I’ll wait for the SE version to be released and then buy that.
As always, my caveat is that you play the demo and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!