laurakay76's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:723
- Reviews Submitted:154
- First Review:November 16, 2011
- Most Recent Review:February 13, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An ancient evil awakened in the kingdom. Travel through the four valleys on a strategy adventure and
save the kingdom on the brink of destruction.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Worth the wait!
PostedApril 23, 2019
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was very fond of the original game in this series, and (mostly) enjoyed the second, so when I learned that they were making a third I was looking forward to it. I bought it without bothering to test, and I don't regret it at all.
Everything I loved about the first game is back, and the few things I didn't enjoy about the second (like the contrived coincidences and the romance that came from out of nowhere) are not. They even improved on some of the game mechanics here by eliminating the need for some of the equipment, specifically the containers for herbs and potions and things like that; you no longer have to find or buy empty vessels in order to acquire these things.
If you enjoy adventure and hunting for things hidden in plain sight, this is a great series to try. If you liked the others in this series, you'll love this one.
I recommend this game!
Get ready for some spine-tingling fun as you work with eccentric members of the Graves Family to build, buy and flip houses.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Could have been worse
PostedApril 23, 2019
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I was introduced to the BAL series with the Elizabethan Era, which I enjoyed very much. This one had an interesting premise and I went ahead and spent a coupon on it. I'm not a big fan of the horror genre, so I wasn't sure how I'd like this. Turns out... eh.
Pros: The various nods to the genre were fun to identify. The Colonial house looks like the one from the Amityville movies; the character of Joseph is a blatant nod to Psycho, including all the references to his mother and the fact that they have you establish a hotel for him and his mom to run; Uncle Frederick is clearly a werewolf and godfather Sebastian is obviously a vampire. The ambiance and music are appropriate to the game, and there are clues to spot throughout each part of the campaign which hint at what's really going on with each of the characters you're helping. It's challenging and I wanted to see where it went. The in-game animations of the various buildings being constructed and upgraded were very neatly done, and I liked being able to choose the colors of the houses I built.
Cons: The story is kind of meh. The premise is great and it had a lot of potential, but the story itself falls flat. The characters are dull; I think they would have been more entertaining if they had been voice acted, but their lines as written text come across rather dry and uninspired. I found Uncle Frederick the most likable of the bunch, as there's something very friendly in the way he was drawn, but that's probably just me.
It's not a bad game, on the whole, and I'm not sorry I played it. I just feel like I could have enjoyed it more than I did.
Go on an epic adventure around the globe in the name of love! Visit 4 continents and test your skills by completing 40+ cleverly designed levels!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
A good time-killer.
PostedApril 23, 2019
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I bought this game, and a few similar ones, for a very peculiar reason: I'm recovering from a nasty bout of poison oak and the games keep me distracted from how itchy I am. This particular game killed several hours for me. I've never played any of the other games in this series, so I can't comment on how this one compares to those.
Pros: The graphics are adorable and the sound quality is excellent. The story is all right; it's a decent tale. Not the best I've encountered in a game, but by no means the worst. Ingolf is a likable character and I wanted him to get his happy ending.
Cons: I actually found this one a little TOO hard - I ended up having to play it on easy mode, where there are no time limits, because I absolutely could not meet the goals in the allotted time. I also didn't understand the point of the three bonus levels. You don't seem to get anything for them except an increase to your overall score, and they were even more challenging than the main game.
I know the game is a few years old at this point, so I hesitated to leave a review, but I thought it was worth the trouble. If you enjoy time management games, this is a good one to try.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This was a treat!
PostedJanuary 19, 2019
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've never tried any of the Build-a-Lot games, but I enjoyed this one very much. I love Elizabethan history, so I got a kick out of the characters speaking in "ye olde Englische" as they explained how the game mechanics worked. It was challenging but not frustrating, and I was genuinely disappointed when my hour's trial was over. I'll be keeping this one on my future purchase list!
I recommend this game!
Discover a land of wonder and danger! Be the hero the world needs!
Overall rating
4
/
5
The best of its kind
PostedNovember 11, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I've tried nearly all of the games that are offered free to download in my game manager. Some of them refused to run on my computer; others I found tedious (like Gummy Drop) or downright obnoxious (like Found: A Hidden Object Adventure). This one, however, I considered worth keeping. Yes, you run out of lives, but the game generates more for you after enough time has passed. The graphics are bright and enjoyable, the music is soothing, and the game is just challenging enough for my tastes. I've played a few solitaire games from Big Fish and I would have to say this one is my favorite!
I recommend this game!
In this hidden object murder mystery, a single page from a journal leads a woman down a dangerous path of deception to track down a murderer.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
It's not the worst.
PostedNovember 4, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is based strictly on the demo. I like the concept of this game but it just didn't really do it for me.
Pros:
- The music is nice and relatively soothing.
- The graphics during gameplay are good and nicely detailed.
- The puzzles are pretty decent, although a few of them (like the piano) were utterly skippable.
- The music is nice and relatively soothing.
- The graphics during gameplay are good and nicely detailed.
- The puzzles are pretty decent, although a few of them (like the piano) were utterly skippable.
Cons:
- The voice acting is mostly lame; why are they all pretending to be British? Kate the detective was the only one whose voice didn't annoy me. Amanda's husband Lucas is the worst - dude, you could at least *pretend* to care that your wife is dead!
- Cutscenes are not only very cartoonish but the animations are very jerky, which gave me a slight sense of motion sickness.
- I lost my sense of immersion the instant Kate invited Ellen to call her by her first name; no law enforcement officer worth their salt is going to do that with someone they just met. They have to maintain professional distance from the people involved in their cases.
- The story doesn't make a lick of sense. If the killer really didn't want Ellen to figure out what was going on, they did a terrible job of preventing it.
- The voice acting is mostly lame; why are they all pretending to be British? Kate the detective was the only one whose voice didn't annoy me. Amanda's husband Lucas is the worst - dude, you could at least *pretend* to care that your wife is dead!
- Cutscenes are not only very cartoonish but the animations are very jerky, which gave me a slight sense of motion sickness.
- I lost my sense of immersion the instant Kate invited Ellen to call her by her first name; no law enforcement officer worth their salt is going to do that with someone they just met. They have to maintain professional distance from the people involved in their cases.
- The story doesn't make a lick of sense. If the killer really didn't want Ellen to figure out what was going on, they did a terrible job of preventing it.
I considered burning a coupon on the full game once I reached the end of the demo, but based on some of the lower-rated reviews, I'll pass. I get the impression that my displeasure with the story would only be made worse by the ending. I don't recommend the game; but I don't not recommend the game. If the puzzles are more important to you than the story, this might be a good one for you, but it's a no-buy for me.
It was a dark and stormy night... for Solitaire! Jewel Match gets spooky in this new Solitaire adventure! Play 200 levels and build 5 eerie castles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Nice long game!
PostedOctober 26, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
With as many levels and bonus games as this offers, it'll keep players entertained for hours. A great one for a rainy autumn afternoon, as the haunted layout is spooky but not overly so. It's a nice Halloween treat and I'm glad I was able to grab it.
I recommend this game!
Help the heroes overcome all obstacles in their journey and save King Artos from a terrible curse!
Overall rating
4
/
5
A nice little timekiller
PostedOctober 22, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'll admit that I bought this one purely out of amusement - the fabled hero's name is Kevin, which is my husband's name, so I gave it a go since there was a sale. I'm not usually a fan of time and resource management games, but I liked it.
Pros: Nice bright graphics, amusing sound effects, lighthearted music, and a fairly straightforward plot. Lots of achievements to unlock. The extra levels are good too. You have the option to replay any or all levels as you desire.
Cons: Several of the achievements require you to get two or three stars in the assorted levels, but at no point (that I could find) does the game actually explain HOW to get those stars. Looking at the map, there's no indicator of which levels have how many stars, nor which ones I would need to replay to improve my star level. There is absolutely no hint as to whether or not I achieved the right number of stars, since the animation at the end of each level shows three stars no matter how I did. I found that extremely confusing.
Overall, it's just a pleasant romp through a fairytale setting. A good one to share with your kids.
I recommend this game!
The sins of the long-forgotten past have returned to haunt the royal family. Help the princess protect her kingdom and the ones she love the most!
Overall rating
1
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Couldn't get through the demo
PostedSeptember 24, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I wouldn't even bother with the review, but this game just bugged me so much that I feel compelled. I downloaded the trial of this and I just could not deal with it. The story, which is always the most important thing for me, is actually the worst part. Not only is it corny, it's nonsensical - the opening narration says that the Prince and Princess are blessed with a baby girl a year after their marriage; yet the in-game objective book claims that the child is receiving the royal blessing on her first birthday. So which is it? Is she a newborn or is she a year old? If the game can't even keep its basic concepts straight, then I just don't see a point to following it any farther.
In its favor: I didn't have any difficulty with the actual gameplay. The illustrations are lavish and beautiful, even though the animation isn't good. The voice acting is decent. This might be a good game for someone who doesn't prize the story as highly as I do, but it's not for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover the secrets buried under Karkhala Peak.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
The stunning conclusion!
PostedSeptember 23, 2018
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As I mentioned in my review of the previous game, I recently binged on all three collector's editions of this series. This third game is not quite as dark as the second one was, but still chilling and full of edge-of-your-seat excitement.
I was really happy to see that the detective and "Rick" have become such good friends. Once again the story was tight and well-paced, the graphics are beautiful, the characters are likable and have great voice acting, and the puzzles are just the right amount of challenging. The reveal about Asmodai's hiding place was a real surprise and the ending was thoroughly satisfying.
Full props to Artifex Mundi for this wonderful, wonderful trilogy!
I recommend this game!