laurakay76's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:723
- Reviews Submitted:158
- First Review:November 16, 2011
- Most Recent Review:August 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A sudden murder overshadows the writing opportunity of a lifetime.
Overall rating
5
/
5
If it were a book, it would be hard to put down.
PostedDecember 4, 2016
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition
(120)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was my first foray into the Dead Reckoning series, and I didn't know what to expect. But the mystery sucked me in almost from the first, and kept me guessing right up until the reveal.
I really got a kick out of the way Eipix presented several of their games as novel series authored by different characters. You play as Ms. Douglas, the author of the Dead Reckoning series, and you're competing with the authors of four other popular series for the chance to write the biography of a famous millionaire. But when murder interrupts the proceedings, you start to realize that nothing is quite what it seems.
I'm going to have to look into the earlier games in this series, because this one was just that good.
Can you clear her name before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Proper Elizabethan adventure!
PostedNovember 5, 2016
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition
(120)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm a big old history nerd, and Queen Elizabeth I is one of my favorite historical figures, so I was very eager to play this once I understood that it really was about her. Some of the reviews, not to mention the email I received from Big Fish, were very deceiving - there is no "King Robert" upset about his wife's situation, because Elizabeth was never married. So that had me thinking that this was purely fictitious; but no, it's Good Queen Bess that I'm here to save!
In the role of trusted handmaiden Lady Jane, the player must uncover the blackmail plot which is an attempt to force the queen off of her throne. The whole thing is pretty interesting; the voice acting is nice; it's all visually pleasing, and I particularly liked the fact that Lady Jane has the famous portrait of young Elizabeth in her room.
I haven't finished the game as of this writing, but I'm very eager to see how it's all resolved. I hope there are more "Secrets of Great Queens" in the future!
I recommend this game!
Mystery Chronicles: Betrayals of Love
After the Countess is discovered dead, it’s up to you to find her murderer in Mystery Chronicles: Betrayals of Love!
Overall rating
2
/
5
If I got a do-over, I wouldn't do this over.
PostedJanuary 1, 2016
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition
(120)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I found this game to be utterly ridiculous. I can't remember ever playing a game where I had to do so much running back and forth. Very little of where to find anything was remotely intuitive; I felt like I was constantly clicking on the hint button for a clue as to where I was going and what I needed to find when I got there. The worst offender has to be the final confrontation with the murderer. First I needed to collect three boards to fix the broken ladder. Then I had to get the ladder from one location. Then I needed to get nails from another location, and a hammer from yet another location. Then once I climbed the ladder, I needed to go someplace else to get a rope to lower myself. THEN I needed a weapon, which was in yet another location! Finally I got inside the building where the final confrontation was to take place...and was told that "I need something long to hang from that hook." The constant backing up to find more and more components gave me an absolute headache. I actually have not finished the game as of writing this review, because I became so thoroughly annoyed that I don't even care anymore.
The H0 puzzles were okay, but they got on my nerves too. So many of the objects were hidden behind one another or at the edges of the scene. The non-H0 puzzles were at least interesting, and challenging.
The story wasn't bad, but compared to the irritation of the running around, it felt simplistic and contrived. The graphics were a mix; the environments were beautiful and felt real, but the people, not so much. I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters either.
I think I bought this as a DD or COTW in order to fill up a punch card, and the reviews were positive enough to encourage the purchase. If I had it to do over, though, I wouldn't buy this one again.
I don't recommend this game.
The kingdom is under threat from pirates! Sail to the farthest islands to save your sister and become hero of the kingdom.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
If you liked the first one, you'll like this one too.
PostedJanuary 1, 2016
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition
(120)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I enjoyed the original "Hero of the Kingdom" much more than I expected, so when I saw that there was a sequel, I was only too happy to buy it sight unseen.
It's pretty much the same game all over again, in the sense that the objectives are similar. You play a young man who, following personal tragedy, has to save the kingdom from evildoers - in this case, bloodthirsty pirates. Along the way you acquire skills and learn to spot microscopic items which will be of use during the quest. You also interact with various medieval-esque characters and perform small side quests for them, which increase your heroic reputation as well as earning you much-needed gold and the occasional plot coupon.
It's not quite as good as the original, to be honest. The gameplay itself is the same and just as enjoyable, but this time the story is more convoluted. There's a romance which feels incredibly contrived, as does the big revelation concerning the pirate boss. There's also a lot of hopping around to buy components for various things, ranging from parts to the ship you must build to weapons to help you stop a zombie invasion. (Yes, really.) The interactive map helps a lot with the travel, but it's also tricky to remember which merchant will sell - and, sometimes more importantly, buy - which item.
My complaints are few, though, and this was well worth the price tag. If they make a third one, I'll be getting that too.
I recommend this game!
Who is trying to destroy the Kingdom of Barsia?
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
A new golden title in the series
PostedDecember 23, 2015
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition
(120)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the Dark Parables. I was an "early adopter" of the series - I've been with them ever since there were only two games, and I've played them all. I know some have claimed the quality has gone downhill over time, but I don't see it; there has never been a DP game that I didn't enjoy.
Goldilocks certainly didn't disappoint. Eipix has continued the Blue Tea Games tradition of beautiful graphics and challenging puzzles. The new characters encountered are interesting and the story is compelling. As usual, once I started the game, I had to play it all the way to the end. There were one or two small details that did have me scratching my head just a bit, but nothing I couldn't overlook and certainly nothing that harms the series in any material way. The bonus chapter contained some really intriguing new details about the Fairy Tale Detective's continued role in all of this.
If I had to offer a complaint at all, it's that Jack - whom I really loved in Jack and the Sky Kingdom - returns and isn't nearly as fun this time around. But the bonus chapter explains why he's become like that, so once I played the bonus I didn't mind it quite so much.
On the whole, very happy with this new addition to my all-time favorite PC game series!
I recommend this game!
A scream in the night... a brutal crime... a mysterious figure with eyes red as blood. Can you get to the heart of this shocking murder?
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Disappointing to a longtime fan.
PostedNovember 20, 2015
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Jack and the Sky Kingdom Collector's Edition
(115)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I've loved this series ever since the second game, Premature Burial, for which I was a beta tester. I'm very fond of Dupin, although I wish they'd kept the original voice actor.
This is, in my personal opinion, the worst game in the series. I'm not saying it was bad; I'm just saying that it's not as good as those which came before it.
It's very short. The mystery is confusing, and the resolution hardly meets the definition of the word. I still don't know whether the suspect actually committed the murders or not. The puzzles are variable; some are very enjoyable, but others were mind-numbing or just ridiculous. There are very few traditional hidden object scenes, which is strange for a game that bills itself AS a hidden object game. And as others have pointed out, the game has next to nothing in common with the Poe story for which it was named.
The bonus chapter creates more questions than it answers. The puzzles are arguably better, but it does nothing to clear up the confusion with which I was left after completing the main game.
As I say, it's not a bad game. It's just not as good as I was expecting it to be.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher Collector's Edition
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Another good one from the Dark Tales team
PostedApril 2, 2014
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince Collector's Edition
(75)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the Dark Tales series, so I was very excited to know that the series was going to continue. Dupin is one of my favorite characters to journey alongside in any game I've played. These games make Poe palatable to me; I'm not a huge fan of the original stories, but I enjoy them in game form.
I won't rehash the plot too deeply, since many other reviewers have already stated what happens. Shortest form, Madeleine Usher is missing, and thanks to her strange bond with her twin brother Roderick, there's a good chance both twins could die if she isn't found quickly, so you and Dupin are on the case.
The story is amazing. Absolutely chilling in places, especially when you play the bonus chapter and see just how deep the problem really goes. Full marks to the devs on that one. The puzzles are good as usual; I really liked the fact that we were given an alternative to the hidden object games. Don't want to hunt for the items on your list? Just switch over to a match-three style of puzzle and solve that instead to achieve the desired result. I hope that feature is here to stay!
The graphics... honestly, I was disappointed. The scenes and backgrounds were fantastic, and deliciously creepy. But ever since The Premature Burial, the games in the Dark Tales series have featured some basic animation. Nothing overly fancy, but at least the characters turn their heads and move their mouths when they talk. For some reason, House of Usher was a return to the format of the original games, where all the characters were flat and motionless. They're still voiced, and the voices are still done reasonably well, but I hope that future Dark Tales will resume the animated characters that I've enjoyed.
I was also kind of disappointed by Dupin this time around. He's normally such a suave, genteel fellow, who has words of praise for his friend/assistant and handles difficult things with grace. In this game, he offers the player character no courtesies whatsoever, not even the usual comment about how glad he is to see you. And he grumbles about his favorite walking stick getting broken - sure, it's a reason to be annoyed, but coming from the guy who remained stoic and patient during a certain event in the bonus chapter of Masque of the Red Death, it just felt really out of character. I'd like the charming and ever so slightly flirtatious Dupin of the previous games to come back, please.
I did catch a factual error in the bonus chapter. When a certain character is talking to you near the end of things, he mentions that he thought a particular item would "bring prosperity to my ancestors." The word he should have used is descendants. It's a minor error, but it shook my suspension of disbelief.
Having said all that, though, I thought it was a great game. I think Premature Burial remains my favorite in the series, but this is a worthy installment and I'm really glad I treated myself to it. I can't wait to see what they come up with for number seven!
Pros: Excellent story, challenging puzzles, lots of extras
Cons: Characters no longer animated, Dupin's personality isn't as much fun
Cons: Characters no longer animated, Dupin's personality isn't as much fun
I recommend this game!
The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams Collector's Edition
An invitation from your long lost mother leads you to a mysterious facility deep below the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Ghostly and glorious
PostedJanuary 3, 2014
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince Collector's Edition
(75)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I got to beta test this beauty, and I was determined to get the full version as soon as possible because I was so intrigued by the beta. It has an engaging storyline, a unique and marvelously rendered setting, pretty background music, and an excellent voice acting cast. (This last meant a lot to me, because the game I had previously beta tested was filled with flat, uninspired voices.)
Most other reviews have already explained the premise, so I'll just add some of my personal favorite things:
~ Atom, the robot companion you acquire, is adorable.
~ In addition to the three usual levels of difficulty (casual, intermediate, challenging), this game adds a fourth - custom. You can pick and choose how difficult you want different aspects to be.
~ All of the characters seemed really fleshed out and complex.
~ The sharks made me jump out of my skin, in a good way!
~ The bonus chapter adds a compelling sequel hook that makes me eager for the next game.
~ Atom, the robot companion you acquire, is adorable.
~ In addition to the three usual levels of difficulty (casual, intermediate, challenging), this game adds a fourth - custom. You can pick and choose how difficult you want different aspects to be.
~ All of the characters seemed really fleshed out and complex.
~ The sharks made me jump out of my skin, in a good way!
~ The bonus chapter adds a compelling sequel hook that makes me eager for the next game.
I had very few complaints:
~ There are no achievements, which I always enjoy.
~ The kittens, while darling, got on my nerves a bit with the constant meowing.
~ The matter of the rival explorers from Prague wasn't explained to my satisfaction, although I'll forgive that if it gets clarified in a future game.
~ There are no achievements, which I always enjoy.
~ The kittens, while darling, got on my nerves a bit with the constant meowing.
~ The matter of the rival explorers from Prague wasn't explained to my satisfaction, although I'll forgive that if it gets clarified in a future game.
On the whole, I thought this was a really brilliant game and I enjoyed it immensely!
I recommend this game!
Elements
Embark on a scientific adventure using your matching skills to distill and combine the essences of mythic elements.
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 15 found this review helpful
A clever twist on Match 3
PostedJuly 28, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince Collector's Edition
(75)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Last night I was looking for a new game, something that would make me think - but not too hard. I found this under the Strategy section and the reviews were favorable. It looked like an interesting puzzle, and I've always been interested in alchemy so that was a point in its favor too. I purchased it without even doing the hour's trial.
What a good idea that turned out to be!
Elements, as I shortly discovered, was exactly what I wanted. It takes its basic gameplay from the standard match 3 puzzle, but bumps up the difficulty. This is instead a match 2 puzzle, where the combining elements change size (and consequently, not all can be matched). You increase your score by creating combos of matches, like in any match 3 puzzle, and as you unlock more and more levels you discover more and more elements.
If you like match 3 puzzles, give this a try. If you like strategy puzzles, give this a try. If you like alchemy AND puzzles, definitely give this a try!
Your home has been raided. Your father is missing. Set off on a dangerous journey to save him, and become the Hero of the Kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Very, very cute game!
PostedJuly 9, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince Collector's Edition
(75)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'll admit that at first, I wasn't too impressed by this. It felt awkward, and there seemed to be a lot more hand-holding than I thought was really necessary. But I wanted to give it a proper chance, so I waded through the entire hour's trial and by the end of it, I had decided I was going to buy the game. I really got into it the farther I went, so much so that when the hour ran out I was genuinely disappointed. I guess all the time I've spent on BFG's hidden object games has really sharpened my observation skills, because I get a peculiar sense of satisfaction from finding all the tiny little baskets of eggs, clusters of mushrooms, and other objects scattered throughout the scenes.
This is a nice LONG game, delightfully packed with side quests and achievements to unlock. The story isn't edge-of-your-seat exciting, but it's entertaining and engaging. If you like a game that's not too difficult but still holds your attention, and if the fantasy equivalent of medieval Europe is the sort of setting you enjoy, this game is worth investigating.
I recommend this game!