cathybobcat's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.5
- Helpful Votes:2,025
- Reviews Submitted:145
- First Review:May 18, 2018
- Most Recent Review:January 5, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An unforgettable trip to the Big Apple!
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 54 found this review helpful
AN AMAZING NY VACATION
PostedFebruary 1, 2023
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
A great game for just laying back and relaxing. There are 20 colorful scenes with 4 modes of play...(1) ABC word items....(2) Silhouette....(3) Scrambled word items....and (4), Mirrored, where the scene is backwards from the original scene with the items spelled backwards. I loved the mirrored mode the best. You can play whatever mode you like whenever you like. Love that jazzy music, too.
There are 3 difficulty modes to choose from...(1) No time limit... (2) 10 minute time limit for each search...(3) 3 minute time limit search.
There is a magnifier in the lower right, which I had to use at times, as some items were hard to find, but not impossible. I found some of the scene modes to be pleasantly challenging.
There were some times that I could not pick up an item and found a solution. You click on the icon in the lower left corner and exit to the map... choose the scene again and you will have a new start of that scene. Sometimes I had to do this a couple of times, but it always worked. This glitch wasn't excessive, but it did happen sometimes and I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the game, but figured out a way to get around it. Worked for me and I hope it will work for you if you need it.
There are no frills in this game, but I did enjoy playing it and will do so again sometime.
Have a nice trip~
Unmask the other-worldly mystery of your uncle's agency!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
KEEP THEM COMING
PostedJanuary 29, 2023
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game
I have all the DO games like this and enjoyed this one so much that I played it twice and know I will play it again. It is a compilation of mostly HOS and a few puzzles (can be skipped) from their other games. I have noticed that there are some repeats of HO scenes from other games like this, but it is ok because it is not excessive.
There are 6 chapters in the main game and 2 chapters in the Bonus. There is a SG in the lower left that gives the solution to the handful of puzzles. There is also a map in the lower left.
I loved the variety of HOS in this, particularly the stencils, replacing items, and finding the swatches. Some of the artwork and designs are so excellent. Many of the scenes are interactive. Some of the matching of pairs were challenging.
I don't care for the sketches of the plus items. Half the time I can't make out what the items are. The spot the differences with the gears was a chore as well as the one with the man sitting on a park bench where you had to find the differences from a negative. That is when I would like a skip option.
I don't care for the sketches of the plus items. Half the time I can't make out what the items are. The spot the differences with the gears was a chore as well as the one with the man sitting on a park bench where you had to find the differences from a negative. That is when I would like a skip option.
You earn stars for every scene you play to decorate a room in all of the chapters. I thought the rooms could have been more attractive. The Hut was my favorite. The constant pop up of someone telling you what a great job you are doing every time you complete a scene gets very annoying as it temporarily blocks the number of stars you earned.
Not much for extras. I would have liked to have some replay of HOS as well as some puzzles, but that is not available. There are only 15 wallpapers, 4 music themes, and 15 concept art in color.
I highly recommend the CE because of the 2 Bonus Chapters. There are some excellent scenes, especially the one with the gorgeous flowers.
The Intersection of Worlds 100 Doors
Detective Agency Gray Tie
Secrets of Worlds Mystery Agency
Detective Agency Gray Tie
Secrets of Worlds Mystery Agency
I recommend this game!
Experience the beauty and wonder of the wilderness!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
NOT THE BEST
PostedJanuary 29, 2023
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on the demo, this isn't as enjoyable as other HO games. The scenes weren't attractive and many items were too difficult to find. Instructions were poor and music so repetitive that I had to mute it.
You can choose the difficulty and in Custom mode, you can click on edit to adjust the second timer to a minimum of 5 seconds. To begin the game you click on "Campaign". In each scene that you will play 5 times, you will find a key for a fun fact and a star to unlock unlimited mode play for that particular scene. After each time you play a scene, it will indicate how many keys and stars you have found.
There is a magnifier and you can also use the scroll on your mouse to zoom in and out. I found this very helpful as items are often way too hard to find which is why I gave this 3 stars. It is a chore more than a pleasure to be staring endlessly at a scene to find items.
It isn't the worst, but surely could have been better. I will be purchasing the game when a better sale is available.
I recommend this game!
Follow a mystical story full of secrets and puzzles after a severe storm forces you to seek refuge in an old wax museum!
Overall rating
5
/
5
29 of 32 found this review helpful
ENJOYABLE GAME BY CRISP APP STDUIOS
PostedMarch 2, 2022
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of many games by Crisp App Studios that I have found available only on Steam. Although there are no instructions and no player profiles, it is very relaxing and a relatively basic HOS, except with this one you have the uniqueness of scrolling horizontally across the scenes in a 360 degree panorama to find items. You can use your mouse wheel as a zoom in for those hard to find items that are many times very well hidden. Graphics are very defined and colorful. There are circled question marks and circled magnifying glasses in all the scenes that you click on for information. Hints are plentiful and there is no timer. You will collect and use inventory items along the way of your journey through this atmospheric Wax Museum.
It is nice to see this game on BF and I hope to see more of them. If you like this type of HOS, then you may like to explore the other games by this same developer.
Around The World In 80 Days
Aladdin
Alice's Adventures
Beauty And The Beast
Captain Nemo
Detective Holmes Heirloom
Detective Holmes Trap For The Hunter
Hidden Animals Photo Hunt
Mystery Hotel
Romance With Chocolate
Time Machine
Time Trap
Time Trap 2
Vampire And Monsters
Aladdin
Alice's Adventures
Beauty And The Beast
Captain Nemo
Detective Holmes Heirloom
Detective Holmes Trap For The Hunter
Hidden Animals Photo Hunt
Mystery Hotel
Romance With Chocolate
Time Machine
Time Trap
Time Trap 2
Vampire And Monsters
An adventure in Austrian artwork and antiquities with Mia Faircroft!
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 14 found this review helpful
ANOTHER LOSER.....ANOTHER DISAPPOINMENT
PostedNovember 14, 2020
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Graphics were very nice and I liked the variety of gameplay including puzzles (all can be skipped). Too much chatter to click through and hint refill too slow. It is an artistically done HOG and items cleverly hidden. I was really enjoying it....BUT, was unable to pick up a letter sealer in a library, therefore unable to proceed....game over. Experienced difficulty in picking up items in other scenes as well. Another game bites the dust....another disappointment of what could have been a great game and wasn't because of an inability to finish.
Can you and your friend escape death's clutches in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
ENJOYABLE AND ATMOSPHERIC......WAY TOO SHORT
PostedOctober 11, 2020
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Graphics are very atmospheric and well done. Story ok, except that the main game ends abruptly and is very short...huh???? Enjoyed the bonus chapter which was well done, except short, also. If you are considering this game, I would highly suggest the CE game as it is well worth a sale price for the extra gameplay. The SE will not leave a sense of satiety...at all.
The collectibles left a lot to be desired....only 11 figurines and 26 morphs....and around 20 fragment shards that fill in a picture in the bonus content. Not a big deal. There are NO indicators for these during game play and there needs to be because, although the collectibles are listed in the SG, the screenshots are so tiny I could hardly see them. This goes for all the screen shots in the SG. All that space in the SG pages, and they only provide teeny tiny pictures. I missed some shards because of this and found you CANNOT go back to collect anything. The page in the bonus content containing your collectible figurines has so much room for more, I thought for sure I missed some, but no. Room for improvement and generosity needed here.
For the most part this is a player friendly game and well balanced with puzzles and HOS. The HOS were creatively done and variated in styles. Enjoyed some of the puzzles, also. You are allowed a replay of 13 puzzles and 13 HOS.
Another plus in the game is that there is not an excess of going back and forth, which allows for more enjoyment. The transportable map is very helpful. You can access the collectibles from there, also.
Elephant could have definitely been more generous in their CE content, but overall, it is refreshing to have a game that is different than the others that are created by the same developer all the time. I am sure I will be playing it again.
.
I recommend this game!
A vacation to India becomes a legendary adventure in the animal kingdom!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 13 found this review helpful
TOO MUCH HYPERACTIVITY IN A SCENE. IT GOT MONOTONOUS
PostedJanuary 3, 2020
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Graphics are nice as well as the layout of the Extras. I liked collecting butterflies to buy items for a bedroom which they do not allow you to do unless you buy the game. I also liked the setting being in India, but that was about it. At first, I was really enjoying the game, but as it went along it was just too much collecting of inventory, holding me hostage to a scene. It was TOO BUSY and became monotonous doing the same things over and over again. I lost interest and was just about feeling exhausted from over activity and all of the going back and forth.
You have a replay of 18 HOS and 20 Puzzles (more puzzles than HOS, of course). I don't care for interactive HOS very much....as well as mini's. One of the HOS was so pretty with the kaleidoscope, but was over and done with before you could really appreciate its beauty. It was also a plus in the game that you have collectible indicators right in the lower right hand side. You have 15 morphing animal statues to find and 15 stones as well as 70 butterflies. They are indicated in the Strategy Guide, and I would like to say once again....the size of the shots in the SG are so small. There is plenty of room on the page to make the scenes larger so as to see them better, please. The transporting map was also very good. It wasn't puzzle heavy, but for the most part, I don't care for spending my time with them, so I skip them.
Other than beautiful butterflies to collect and the setting, the boring gameplay was the determining factor in my not buying this.
Legends become reality when a nightmare pirate stalks the streets of Saltshore!
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
WHAT A BORE AND WASTE OF TIME
PostedJanuary 1, 2020
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Too many puzzles....practically one at every turn. The HOS were extremely inferior and cheap...far and few in between. The gameplay and story was so boring and lame. I kept hoping it would get better as I went along, but it didn't. I couldn't get interested in this at all, including collecting gold fish. Dog was cute and used minimally, but I don't care for helpers. There is also a ridiculous crystal gadget. Really, now. There is a replay of HOS and puzzles, but for me, I won't be utilizing this whatsoever. I couldn't stand them. Music was nice.
The Bonus was worse than the main game....nothing there....and short, with repeat HOS and more time consuming puzzles. I skipped most of the puzzles in this game because I don't feel like wasting time with them more than doing anything else.
This entire game left me with the feeling, "Is that all there is?" The most decent thing about this was the graphics, except for the HOS. I wouldn't even want this in the SE for a free game credit. It went right into the uninstal bin. What a disappointment from one of the best developers.
Board the SS Wonderland Princess and get ready to visit the most festive places on earth!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
IT FELT LIKE I WAS PLAYING VA CRUISE DIRECTOR
PostedDecember 29, 2019
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I always look forward to these every year, but this is my least favorite of all 10. There was less of a Christmas spirit and atmosphere as in previous editions. We're on a cruise just like in VA Cruise Director....and this time going to the North Pole through the Panama Canal on the way to whale watching in Alaska with all the cruise activities such as miniature golf, swimming, a water park....all the summer vacation stuff. No Christmas spirit or atmosphere in that. Bah, humbug.
I didn't like having to find items in a work closet....a mop...broom....so pretty for the season. Some of the puzzles were also a drag like rotating floor plans and matching tools. Huh? It wasn't very festive. There just didn't seem to be the effort or enthusiasm exerted into this edition and it was sad to me that the Christmas spirit is appearing to be phased out.
The Christmas scenes were nice and although they looked very similar to other editions, it didn't really bother me. I thought it was humorous to see people without coats on out in the snow decorating. Looked like the Mom had a new necklace, too. Nice. And the best part is no one ever ages.
The music became very repetitious towards the end to the point where I had to mute the sound to keep from going crazy. There are a number of songs that are played throughout the game, but it was like the same 2 over and over like a broken record.
With 9 extra scenes included in the CE edition, I think it is worthy of being a CE. There are 48 puzzles of different varieties to replay and I noticed that many are from previous editions. You can replay any of the scenes as long as you click on the CONTINUE portion on the main game page which brings you to the map or any of the scenes at the top of the map page using the convenient scroll arrows.
Overall, I would rather have this than not, but as in previous games (except for 9) that I have played many times over, I do not have a desire to replay this one. I truly hope that in the next edition there will be more of a Christmas spirit and atmosphere.
Board the SS Wonderland Princess and get ready to visit the most festive places on earth!
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 37 found this review helpful
SEEMS LIKE CHRITMAS IS BEING PHASED OUT
PostedDecember 29, 2019
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I always look forward to these every year, but this is my least favorite of all 10. So often, I felt like I was playing Vacation Adventures Cruise Director. We're on a cruise again with very little Christmas spirit or décor. I didn't like being in the Panama Canal, nor a water park, miniature golf course, or whale watching in Alaska for Christmas. I didn't like finding items in a work closet either or finding mops and brooms. Bah, humbug....
There is not much family interaction nor with the grandparents. Clearly, it seems to me the Christmas spirit is being phased out and I found it extremely disappointing. Not enough Christmas decorations and a definite lack of a true Christmas atmosphere was a real let down. I felt that there wasn't the usual effort exerted in this edition's creation as in the former games.
I do have the CE and think it is worthy of being as such because you have 9 extra scenes that are incorporated into the gameplay with a CE designation on them. You can replay any of the scenes at any time as long as you click on the Continue portion on the main page or the top of the map page using the scroll arrows. They are very easy to navigate. This is for the SE as well, minus the 9 extra scenes.
In the CE version, there are 48 replay of a variety of puzzles that I found to be from previous CW game editions. 8 jigsaws....8 flipsaws....8 rotate...4 spot the difference....4 pairs....8 word search....2 find and place...1 find items (could have been more of these)....1 trace the ropes ( I hate and always skip those in games)....1 fix time...2 pick and place...1 spin and place. There are also wallpapers and music. Music cannot be downloaded.
Some of the puzzles in this edition were downright depressing such as rotating a floor plan puzzle and a matching puzzle of work tools. How is that Christmas? Some of the jigsaws looked to be from previous editions. I always cheat in the jigsaws by clicking the "A" puzzle piece that shows the picture on the puzzle, otherwise I would probably still be there trying to rotate and put pieces together to make the picture.
The music also became extremely repetitious in later scenes and I had to mute the sound to keep from going crazy. It was like a broken record. There are a variety of songs they play in the game, but these were like the same 2 over and over.
I would rather have this game than not, but there just seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm and a true Christmas spirit and atmosphere as in previous editions that I enjoyed so much. I have replayed those editions, some many times over, but have to say, I don't have the desire to replay this one. It was sad.