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:
Take the King's challenge! Save the wonderful land of countless islands, Islandshire, from the merciless forces of nature.
Overall rating
5
/
5
One of my new favorite TM games
PostedAugust 4, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is such a long game that I've literally been playing it for a week, which is saying something because I normally sit down and do a BF game in one gulp of time. But there's so much to be done, especially if you want to earn a gold star on each level, that I really have to take my time with it.
The goofy purple-haired king appoints you to oversee the reconstruction of towns in the realm of Islandshire, which is - as the name suggests - made up of a series of islands. You're accompanied by Cedric, the court... um, architect? I'm not really sure what his job is, but he goes with you to help. Along the way you stumble across unexpected hindrances, like pirates who require bribes and a random tornado. Complete each area's task within the time limit to earn a gold star; complete each island with all gold stars to earn a statue. It's challenging and a LOT of fun, and I can already foresee that the replay value on this one is high. Definitely recommend!
I recommend this game!
People live in fear of the dragon and it’s up to you to embark on a dangerous quest and become the hero!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
If you've played the others, you know what to expect.
PostedJuly 23, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is the fourth game in the series, of which I've been a fan since the first one launched. I've played them all, enjoyed them all, and knew from the dev's Facebook page that this one was coming.
It's... well, it's true to formula, really. Orphan hero rights local wrongs and puts the bad guys in their place. The dragon creates some new upheaval which is fun. I guessed the twist fairly early in the game, but still wanted to see how it would play out and was not disappointed. You sharpen your skills of observation by watching for eggs, mushrooms, flowers, and other items to collect; you run around doing favors for townspeople and bringing them items they need in exchange for things that you need; and along the way you're accompanied by an orphan boy named Brent who has adopted you as his big brother. He's sweet and I liked the addition of his character.
I would venture to say that Lost Tales is not *quite* as good as the other three - particularly the third one, which is my personal favorite - but it's still very good and a worthwhile addition to the series. If you liked the other games in the series, definitely give this one a try. And if you're not familiar with the series, definitely give them all a try!
I recommend this game!
Explore a fascinating world, save a werewolf and defeat cruel witches in this amazing hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
Based on the demo, this one is a treasure.
PostedJuly 22, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wow. That's really where I was left at the end of the demo - saying wow! I haven't played a game like this in a long time. The story is interesting, the characters are compelling and likable, and the bond between brother and sister is clearly affectionate. The art style is different from anything I've seen in a BFG offering; it reminds me a little of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and I say that as a compliment because I love that game. I was also impressed at how long the demo was, because recently I've played demos where I don't get the full hour's trial, and this one took me close to the time limit. If all that was just the demo, I can't wait to see how long the rest of the game is! I'm really looking forward to being able to sit down and play this one. It's my first game from this developer, but I have a feeling it won't be my last.
I recommend this game!
Can you and your friends save all the worlds in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Honestly, the first one was better, but this is pretty good.
PostedJuly 19, 2020
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
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I wonder if it would be easier to fully appreciate the Worlds Align series if you weren't familiar with the series that are crossed in them. I love the Dark Tales (haven't played the others), so I got sucked into these by my love of Dupin, but knowing that series as well as I do makes these a little head-scratchy. Why is Estelle, who was the *bad guy* in House of Usher, presented here as Dupin's friend and ally?
Setting aside plot bewilderment caused by knowing the Dark Tales, though, these games are fine. They're interesting and unique, and some of the puzzles are a lot of fun. (Some are not; there were one or two that I ended up having to skip because I didn't understand the instructions.) I love Dupin, the Puppet Master is kind of oddly adorable, and the Cardinal seems like a great character too. The visuals and sound effects are superbly done. I felt like the first one was more entertaining, because of the way the characters interacted with me; I was on my own a lot more this time around. But it's still pretty good, and if you enjoyed the first one or you enjoy the other series produced by AMAX, you should definitely give this one a try.
Return to Raincliff, where what you see isn’t always what you get!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Painful.
PostedJuly 10, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I came into this game several years after it was released, so you'd think by 2020 they'd have patched the glitches. Nope. This thing runs so slowly on my (fairly up to date) computer that it became impossible to play. I'm stuck in a hidden object scene that isn't letting me actually find any of the objects. I disabled the custom cursor and the special effects, based on the advice I saw in the old forum; that helped, but not enough. The cutscenes don't run properly because the graphics lag.
The storyline itself is okay. I'm sure I'd enjoy it more if I could actually, you know, see what was happening. But I really have my doubts about whether I'll ever get to finish this game because it just won't work right. Seriously disappointing!
I don't recommend this game.
An expedition to an Aztec temple awakens a true force of nature!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
You definitely get your money's worth.
PostedJune 30, 2020
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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I normally sit down and complete a BFG game in one gulp of time - but I couldn't do that with this one. It is *so* long that I ended up not being able to finish it in one sitting and had to come back to it the next day. And that's just the main game! I don't usually play the Hidden Expedition games, but the demo on this one was interesting enough that I went ahead and bought the full game.
The settings are lavishly illustrated and the music is nice. The voice acting is pretty good for the most part. The puzzles were challenging - one or two I ended up having to skip because I didn't quite understand the instructions, but for the most part they were right at my speed.
The story was all right. It just got more and more difficult to swallow as the game continued. I found it really hard to buy that the bad guy has so many resources at his disposal that he can do the things he was doing. Dave and Jess are likable characters, although I'm not sure why we were treated to the random fact that they are "apparently" a couple, since we never see them onscreen together. The ending was kind of anticlimactic. I've only just started the bonus chapter and I'm a bit confused, as it's about some completely different characters on a completely different mission and I don't know how it ties into the story of the main game, but maybe that will be revealed eventually.
On the technical side, gameplay was smooth and loaded well. My one objection is that it's incredibly easy to accidentally back out of a puzzle or scene while trying to click on things on the lower part of your screen. I found that incredibly frustrating at times, especially during the puzzle where you have to manually move a map around in order to replace missing elements. I accidentally clicked my way out of that one no less than four times!
All in all, it's a long game with lots of puzzles to make you think. Even at the CE price, you'll get more than sufficient bang for your buck.
I recommend this game!
The Fairy Godmother, Gwendolyn, needs you to repair and upgrade Albian Castle for the Convention of Magic Masters!
Overall rating
4
/
5
It's just pleasant :)
PostedJune 24, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game is adorable. It's beautifully rendered, the music is pleasing, the characters are delightful. The story is simplistic but that's honestly okay - even for someone like me, who regards the story as super important in most games, it's good to take a break from complicated storylines and just relax. You solve HOP scenes to earn cash by finding required items, earn more cash by solving minigames in between, and then use your hard-earned money to restore a beautiful castle for the legendary Fairy Godmother. It's cute and fun!
The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is because of how TINY everything seems on my computer. It's not unbearable, I can still play it, but it's not something I can do in one sitting because I need to be kinder to my eyes. But that is my only complaint. This is a lovely game and I'll look forward to trying the sequel too!
I recommend this game!
A mysterious birthday gift uncovers a sinister kidnapping plot!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Well, it was better than Crimson Hollow
PostedJune 19, 2020
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Anna Gray is back and, as her father says, once again a magnet for trouble. Her beloved daughter Alice, the title character from the previous game Guest From the Future, is kidnapped on her sixth birthday, but it takes a while before Anna figures out who took her and why.
The storyline was pretty good. There are two villains, of a sort, and the motivations of one are really understandable once they're known. The other, not so much. The puzzles are decently challenging, although a couple I found frustrating and had to skip. The whole game took me around three hours. I liked Guest From the Future better, but this was worth playing.
My primary issue with Crimson Hollow, which was the last Grim Tales game I played, was that I didn't even slightly like Dorian; they've improved him here, changing his voice actor and removing the slimy qualities of his personality. Now he just seems like a normal guy. I can't say the same for Alice, whose voice acting is strange and kind of slow. She sounds like Peppa Pig for some reason - neither Anna nor Dorian speak with a British accent, so why does their daughter? Richard is back, and I generally enjoy him, but I thought he was a bit underused in this game. I was pleased by the brief nod to Detectives United, with which I'm a lot more familiar than this series.
On the whole, it's a decent installment to the series, so fans of the Grim Tales will want to check it out.
I recommend this game!
Enjoy Pinecreek Hills at its awesome best. Have a truly sensational summer vacation helping Rangers run an exciting national park.
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Deeply disappointing
PostedJune 9, 2020
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
All the rave reviews made me think I should try this one after my attempt at playing the first game in the series left me disappointed. I don't know what game you all were playing, because this was not fun at all. I do appreciate that the full screen game really was full screen this time, but the items were still so small that the junk piles were a chore. The visuals were well done and the music was pleasant, so there's that.
The mini-games were mostly okay. *Mostly.* What killed it for me was the mini-game to crack a phone's PIN code. The very last clue made no sense. Apparently, the developers think that Mars has one moon and owls have one eyeball. After that I just gave up and uninstalled the game - I never even finished the demo, because if solving the puzzles involves getting the answers wrong, it's just going to annoy me senseless. I'll be giving this series a hard pass from now on.
I don't recommend this game.
Work as a Park Ranger in a beautiful National Park!
Overall rating
3
/
5
It's okay.
PostedJune 7, 2020
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I figured I'd try this, since BFG is offering it free in the Play Apart Together campaign (you guys rock), and it's... well, it's pretty much exactly what it claims to be. Hidden objects galore, with lots of extra items to find like lost and found items and pieces of recycling.
My main issue with the game is that it is NOT full screen. The options screen may claim that it is, but it only took up about one-third of my laptop screen. As a result, everything is super small and I have to sit here basically with a magnifying glass in order to have a chance of finding everything. It's especially hard to find carved shapes, like the lightning bolt in the second H0 round.
It's a nice, pleasant game and I do like it, but I hope that the sequels are visually bigger.