gamepond's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.5
- Helpful Votes:155
- Reviews Submitted:6
- First Review:June 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 9, 2019
- Featured reviews0
gamepond's Review History
Find the double agent in H.E.L.P. before it’s too late!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Another fun H.E.L.P. adventure
PostedApril 9, 2019
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've seen a few reviews saying that this game is just like the others, the creators haven't given us anything new, etc. Well, it is just like the others, but that's fine with me! I like this series because there are no witches or werewolves, and it is a fun way to pass some time. I'm not expecting a blockbuster movie series. And this game gave me what I was looking for.
My favorite part is that Sam is back! I missed him in the last few games, and I must not have been the only one, since they've brought him back for this one. Different voice though (I wonder if the previous voice actor left the company or something).
My only real criticism is that I did find the storyline a bit confusing at times. It was a bit hard to keep track of where we were - Montana, New York, Boston, or Honduras. But it was still a fun adventure, and I enjoyed it. It was a delightful way to spend a quiet evening.
I recommend this game!
Murder, She Wrote 2: Return to Cabot Cove
Take on the role of beloved murder-mystery writer Jessica Fletcher and return to lovely (but lethal) Cabot Cove!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Great! I want more!
PostedOctober 2, 2018
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is a lot of fun. I avoid any games with werewolves and demons and ghosts etc, but this doesn't have any. They are murder mysteries but there are really no violent images. Just a pretty little New England town which you explore while solving the mystery. And it has an interesting story line. In fact, this is just what I look for in a good hidden object / adventure game. It is challenging enough to keep me interested but not so challenging to stump me, which is just how I like it.
The only drawback is that there are only three mysteries to solve, which didn't take all that long when I had time on my hands and was really into it. I know it must take a lot of work to make this, but all the same... I sure hope they do another sequel. Until then, I keep this one and re-play it from time to time, just for fun.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the Hidden Mysteries in the Forbidden City!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
Not hard, but lots of fun anyway
PostedOctober 6, 2012
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I keep on coming back to this one - it is very relaxing and pleasant. The objects are easy to find, but it is still challenging enough to be interesting: there are some objects which require several steps to get, and that was sometimes challenging to figure out on my first time through the game. The storyline is very interesting, and the scenes are attractive.
The only criticism I can think of is that the personalities of the characters sometimes seem more American than Chinese - of course it's an English language game so one doesn't expect them to speak Chinese in it, but for instance sometimes they use slang (not profanity, just very informal) like "attagirl" or "old man" (referring to a father) which seems to me to have a distinctly American - or at least Western culture rather than Asian - flavor. I don't know whether someone from China would agree with me, it's just my impression. But hey, it's a game not a historical or cultural presentation of China, so that's a relatively small matter. If you set that aside, it's a really fun game and I'm glad I can have it in my collection as another way to relax from time to time.
I recommend this game!
Lost City of Z
Explore the exotic rainforest to find valuable clues and follow the trail of a missing National Geographic researcher!
Overall rating
5
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
Nicely done hidden object game
PostedOctober 6, 2012
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is one of my favorite HO games. The storyline is pretty interesting as HO game storylines go, and the graphics and scenery are superb. You can click on each object to see an outline, which is great as some of the objects are rather small and would be hard to identify otherwise. The only trouble I've had was that when I was nearly at the end of the game (for the second time), the game crashed and I had to start all over again at the first scene. However, I don't know if the problem was a bug in the game or a glitch in my computer, and it doesn't really matter. It's a good game, and I don't mind playing it again!
I recommend this game!
Amazing Adventures: Around the World
Travel to unique and exotic locations around the world to help find the most expensive gem ever known - the World Diamond.
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 23 found this review helpful
No storyline, but good hidden object game
PostedOctober 6, 2012
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The graphics are fine and the objects are neither too hard nor too easy to find (for me anyway). However, "Amazing Adventure" may be a little misleading, as it makes me think of exciting storylines. There isn't any story, it is only hidden objects and mini games. Still, for those who don't like to bother with story lines, this would be great. I'm about halfway through the game, and while it does get a bit repetitive revisiting the same scenes over and over, I enjoy relaxing with this game and intend to keep it.
I recommend this game!
Build facilities, take care of exotic animals, and make sure your visitors are having a fun time as you run your own zoo!
Overall rating
4
/
5
108 of 118 found this review helpful
Not the quality of Zoo Tycoon, but not bad
PostedJune 20, 2012
gamepond
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Really not a bad game, though I see it has gotten some bad reviews. I haven't had any trouble with my scenarios not being saved, maybe that is a glitch that was fixed in the version I got. The main problem I've had is that sometimes the workers won't work, especially the maintenance workers, who tend to stand around doing nothing even though I'm getting messages that "items are damaged or broken" - and no way to do the work myself. Keepers sometimes won't feed the animals until I assign them the task of doing it, though this isn't a huge problem as long as I pay attention to my messages and to my animals' happiness levels, and assign a keeper to feed them as soon as I see that one is very hungry.
One other problem that might be a glitch was that initially when I started playing, animals would starve or die of thirst even though food and water were available. However, I have since found that giving them a larger and less cluttered enclosure usually keeps this from happening. I try to put most of the trees and bushes and things around the edge of the enclosure out of the way, and the water in the middle where it is easy for the animal to get to it.
There are a few annoying features of the game. The messages get to be a nuisance, always telling me that my animals and guests are happy - I would rather just know when they are not happy. Also at the end of each month, a monthly summary window comes up which can get annoying as it always interrupts whatever I'm doing at the time.
The graphics are okay, in fact I think the graphics are rather cute, especially the animals and objects. The people are not very realistic-looking, too cartoonish and too many people that all look the same. There is a reasonable (though not huge) variety of animals, objects, and guest items to choose from. Managing money can be a challenge (not necessarily a bad thing), as you not only have to watch your current balance, but also be aware of what you are spending on monthly expenses like staff salaries and research expenses, or you can find yourself in the red at the end of the month when you have to pay up.
Overall, it is not quite up to the quality of Zoo Tycoon (I have versions 1 and 2 of Z.T.). However, it does allow a much closer view of the animals and people than in Zoo Tycoon 1, and when an animal is unhappy it is usually more specific about its needs than in Zoo Tycoon 2. The scenarios are usually interesting and do get progressively more challenging, especially after the tutorial levels. The game is not perfect, and I can see why some people might not like it, but I do enjoy it and I think it is worth a better score than what it has gotten so far.
I recommend this game!