Penhip's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.8
- Helpful Votes:496
- Reviews Submitted:63
- First Review:March 31, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 16, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A shadow from the Gray family's past has returned for revenge. Can you save your family from their worst nightmares?
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
A SPECTACULAR GAME and A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE!!
PostedNovember 10, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you are a fan of Grim Tales then you will absolutely LOVE Color of Fright. This game is perhaps one of the promos for a series I've ever seen as it combines and re-enacts the cumulative saga and storyline of the Gray family into one action packed adventure game .
The plot is quite sinister and unexpected as we are introduced to Thomas, stepbrother to Luisa and our Grim Tales heroine "Aunt Gray". Thomas has fallen obssesively and quite madly in love with his stepsister Luisa from the moment he meets her as a child, to the moment she announces her engagement to the "wolfishly" handsome gazzilionare John Gray and his sociopathic tendencies are triggered. When the Gray family realizes Thomas is a shrine building-fatal attraction-stalker, they unanimously decide to admit him into a posh psychiatric facility. Feeling betrayed and "pitied," Thomas begins to plot the demise of his adopted family by recreating their personal "nightmares" on canvas which come to life acting as portals of his vengeance.
Armed with your own magical set of canvas and paints, Aunt Gray must now "design" the safety of each family member by beating Thomas at his own twisted game. The paint feature is hands down the best I have played. Tasked with drawing, painting, and combining colors on your pallate this wonderfully creative feature is activated automatically. By extension, the graphics are a visual feast... clear, vivid and vibrant. Screen shots are often extended to the right and left by arrows revealing important features and literally expanding your depth of field and play space. HOS and mini-games are equally creative and innovative combining many of the latest features introduced in cutting edge games (which you will find on the best rated games on the Big Fish site) as well as old favorites such as morphing objects.
There is a great bonus feature in the CE called the "Secret Room" which is dedicated to finding morphing paint supplies throughout the castle in a span of 8 minutes (and believe me you're really going to want to beat Thomas). Other finds include Gray family collectibles which are very familiar as they relate to each character's personal story and game in the GT series, particularly GT: The Legacy, The Vengence, and Bloody Mary installments. The last collectable are a series of animated "monsters" for every mood which is plain fun and hilarious.
As a fan of the Grim Tales series, I bought COF immediately ,sans demo, from "tomorrow's game today" without reservation and with much excitement. Elephant and Big Fish are constantly raising the bar of excellence in the adventure game genre and I expect they will continue to lead the industry by exploring and expanding the boundries of imagination and discovery.
Congratulations on a yet another spectacular release... your work is much appreciated!!
I recommend this game!
What if everything you knew about your life, everything your family ever told you, turned out to be a lie?
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
BRILLIANT!!!.... A TRUE Psychological Thriller!!
PostedNovember 9, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is not for the faint hearted so the warning is not only appropriate but a true public service.
With that said... I LOVE psychological thrillers and this game had me on the edge of my seat, jumping at noises and afraid of what would come next. In other words, it hit EXACTLY the right notes. The plot is classic horror (nothing like an abandoned mental institution and a house on top of an ancient graveyard to give you the warm fuzzies). The "feel" of the game is created by the haunting graphics, chilling voice overs, amazing sound and music that heightens the ambiance of horror, as well as some of the most spectacularly terrifying cut scenes I've ever seen. The suspense factor is off the charts! The developers have taken the premise of less is more as there is simply nothing more chilling than your own imagination.
While I'm sure that this is not going to be an adjective frequently used to describe this game, I actually found it to be unbelievably refreshing. There is simply nothing else out there like this. But perhaps the popularity of the game suggests that there is a definite market for true psychological thrillers in the adventure game arena.
I originally played True Fear SE as I selected it as one of my free games and a third of my way realized that this was a CE purchase all the way. Not only does it have the makings of a true classic, the CE contains LOADS of more information and the Bonus Game is only a part of it. The ending of True Fear sets up many questions that I hear will be answered in the sequel as this is actually Part one of a trilogy. And I for one am counting down for Part 2 (which you get a glimpse of in the CE along with the developers own questions about the identity of the protagonist... And while I did see that one coming, it does NOT detract from the mystery and suspense of True Fear.
My sincere thanks and congratulations to the developers and producers of True Fear for this fantastic release and for recognizing that there is an true audience for psych thrillers in the adventure game market.
Highly, Highly recommend this game if you enjoy a good scare!! (although I confess I had to play with all the lights on at a certain point in the game... jump much? You will, I promise you).Show Less
With that said... I LOVE psychological thrillers and this game had me on the edge of my seat, jumping at noises and afraid of what would come next. In other words, it hit EXACTLY the right notes. The plot is classic horror (nothing like an abandoned mental institution and a house on top of an ancient graveyard to give you the warm fuzzies). The "feel" of the game is created by the haunting graphics, chilling voice overs, amazing sound and music that heightens the ambiance of horror, as well as some of the most spectacularly terrifying cut scenes I've ever seen. The suspense factor is off the charts! The developers have taken the premise of less is more as there is simply nothing more chilling than your own imagination.
While I'm sure that this is not going to be an adjective frequently used to describe this game, I actually found it to be unbelievably refreshing. There is simply nothing else out there like this. But perhaps the popularity of the game suggests that there is a definite market for true psychological thrillers in the adventure game arena.
I originally played True Fear SE as I selected it as one of my free games and a third of my way realized that this was a CE purchase all the way. Not only does it have the makings of a true classic, the CE contains LOADS of more information and the Bonus Game is only a part of it. The ending of True Fear sets up many questions that I hear will be answered in the sequel as this is actually Part one of a trilogy. And I for one am counting down for Part 2 (which you get a glimpse of in the CE along with the developers own questions about the identity of the protagonist... And while I did see that one coming, it does NOT detract from the mystery and suspense of True Fear.
My sincere thanks and congratulations to the developers and producers of True Fear for this fantastic release and for recognizing that there is an true audience for psych thrillers in the adventure game market.
Highly, Highly recommend this game if you enjoy a good scare!! (although I confess I had to play with all the lights on at a certain point in the game... jump much? You will, I promise you).Show Less
I recommend this game!
What if everything you knew about your life, everything your family ever told you, turned out to be a lie?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
BRILLIANT!... A TRUE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER!!
PostedNovember 7, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is not for the faint hearted so the warning is not only appropriate but a true public service.
With that said... I LOVE psychological thrillers and this game had me on the edge of my seat, jumping at noises and afraid of what would come next. In other words, it hit EXACTLY the right notes. The plot is classic horror (nothing like an abandoned mental institution on top of an ancient graveyard to give you the warm fuzzies). The "feel" of the game is created by the haunting graphics, chilling voice overs, amazing sound and music that heightens the ambiance of horror, and some of the most spectacularly terrifying cut scenes I've ever seen.
While I'm sure that this is not going to be an adjective frequently used to describe this game, I actually found it to be unbelievably refreshing. There is simply nothing else out there like this. But perhaps the popularity of the game suggests that there is a definite market for true psychological thrillers in the adventure game repertoire.
My one regret was not purchasing the CE of True Fear as the ending of the game sets up many questions that I hear may be answered within the bonus content but then learned that this is actually part one of a trilogy. Yay! But I think I'm getting the CE anyway, because this folks has the makings of a True Classic.
My sincere thanks and congratulations to the developers and producers of True Fear for this fantastic release and recognizing that there is an true audience for psych thrillers in the adventure game market.
Highly, Highly recommend this game if you enjoy a good scare!! (although I confess I had to play with all the lights on at a certain point in the game... jump much? You will, I promise you).
I recommend this game!
A fire breaks out during a concert, and now your daughters are both missing. Hurry to track them down – their music may hold the key to life and death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
EASY AND ENJOYABLE
PostedNovember 3, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Silent Nights is a good game for casual easy play and probably not ideal if you are looking to be challenged. Yet, there are times when lulling around hits just the right note (sorry... I couldn't resist. After several hours of musical puns it starts to wear off). And music is most definitely at the heart of the storyline and puzzles.
The story unfolds by finding amulets throughout the game revealing a history of scientific experiments designed to heal people through music The catch... it must be played by a a very talented musician who is drained of their life force when attempting to heal others. So when 2 child prodegies are kidnapped as retribution for a scientific experiment gone awry, their mother, another virtuoso, comes to the rescue.
The graphics are clear and crisp, the HO scenes are interactive and standard fare as are the mini-games which are comprised mostly of puzzles (putting mosaics back together or completing a sequence of events all calling for basic logic). There is an interactive map which is a very useful timesaver as well as task organizer.
Although there are no real surprises, the game is well-paced. The music, in my opinion, was suprisingly mediocre for a game with a musical plot, but again I recognize that this is very subjective. But I will admit to lowering the music volume several times which I rarely do.
I think this is a good game to relax with and perfect for people who are essentially new to adventure games. I would absolutely recommend buying the SE and (if necessary) buying the guide seperately although the play is actually quite standard across the board.
I recommend this game!
Every second counts in this breathtaking paranormal adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 5 found this review helpful
Missed Opportunity...
PostedNovember 1, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I like the storyline of this game and believe that it had a lot of potential. My problem was in the execution.
I am a huge fan of adventure games and am on the Big Fish site frequently looking for the latest releases. I've grown to love the innovative and creative approaches various developers have taken to make their games incredibly engaging elevating the bar of excellence on the adventure game genre.
Unfortunately, for me, Paranormal Pursuit does not fall into this category of games.
As a matter of fact, PP repeately touched on my biggest pet peeve in adventure games (which was much more prevelent in early adventure/HO games); when objects are so small and insignificant that you can barely see them or appear to be but a speck on the screen. Call me crazy but I actually like to see objects that I'm looking for and not click endlessly across the screen hoping to stumble upon something significant. But this is exactly what you will have to do in PP. For me, this got old very quickly.
When I found myself repeatedly placing placing keys on doors from afar or placing one indistinguishable object after another ifrom a distance in a HOS, I felt my own interest level of interest become equally detached as one task was indistinguishable from the next.
When I am playing a game that has that "WOW factor" (you'll find many of them under the "Best Rated Games"), I marvel at the level of creativity, artistry and attention placed on each and every detail. Not only does it differentiate one task from the next and keep the player engaged, these details provide important information and clues that further the plot and make the game infinitely more interesting.
A Note to Developers from an avid player: Please know that being able to actually see an object does not detract from the level of challange in a game. On the contrary, if done cleverly, it heightens the level of interest and investment in the game motivating the player to complete the goals and tasks at hand. At the same time, it allows developers, to clearly display your creativity and signature in your unique approach to HOS, mini-games and found objects.
I don't recommend this game.
Track down a vampire hiding on a Mississippi riverboat cruise.
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 16 found this review helpful
EIPEX IS AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME!!!!!
PostedOctober 29, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When I saw that the "GAME FOR TOMORROW" was a new installment of Myths of the World, I bought it immediately, demo unseen and no reviews available (as yet). Honestly.... I just thought I'd save myself some time because EIPEX releases are outrageously amazing.... and Black Rose was no exception.
Although my favorite installment of MOTW is Fiends and Friends for so many reasons (just play it and see for yourself) BR has the innovation and creativity that
is synonymous with an EIPEX production. And quite possibly, the best "Halloween" game released this year.
is synonymous with an EIPEX production. And quite possibly, the best "Halloween" game released this year.
The HOS which contains the ever popular morphing objects, are varied and fluid, literally moving you through the scene and changing your perspective which is not only interesting visually but also challenging. The same principle is applied to the mini-games taking the tried and true games that we all know and love and giving them a different and creative spin. Some of them were quite challenging and I had a blast trying to figure them out. There are souvenir objects and of course, a rose in every scene some of which are obscured by other objects so don't despair if you can't see it immediately. In the spirit of Halloween, there are also some pumpkins to find and carve although these are interspersed within the game.
But perhaps the biggest homage to Halloween lies within the games storyline and title character; Black Rose a love spurned vampire who has made it her mission to torture Benjamin; our trustworthy vampire, Benjamin whose mission it is to reverse the curse of vampirism and release his beloved from the thralls of Rose who has enslaved her as her minion. While the storyline is a variation of the good vs evil paradigm inherent in most adventure games, EIPEX does give you an unexpected surprise which adds another layer to the role of the "Hunter" and yet another spin on a classic adding yet another twist to an old classic.
Thank you EIPEX for giving us "THE" Halloween game of season and another exceptional adventure game worthy of praise and merit. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR A JOB MOST INCREDIBLY DONE!... you are very much appreciated.
I recommend this game!
You are the key to solving a chilling supernatural mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
I heard that Hotel Berkeley was bought by a man called Bates?
PostedOctober 27, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Any fan of Hitchcock may have an conditioned response to the notion of a haunted hotel, and I for one am no exception.
Elefun brings much enjoyment to the latest installment of Fear for Sale; The 13 Keys with great animation, fantastic voiceovers, incredible sound effects, varied and creative HOS and mini games that we have all come to expect from Big Fish games which has become synonymous with overall excellence and innovation.
Although FFS is for all intensive purposes a 5 star game, there have been some games released in 2013 and 2014 that have raised the bar to such an extent that they've opened up a 5th category of rating... "the WOW factor!" (or WF! for short).
And although FFS does come up a bit short of the WF!, this classic series is more than worthy of a place in the top ten. and fans of FFS will be delighted with the 13 Keys.
Recommendation based on CE play.
Death needs help from the only detective he trusts – you!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 16 found this review helpful
DEATH as a SEXY SUPERHERO!!
PostedOctober 27, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Big Fish does it again with a great story about "Death" whose mission is to restore balance and justice on earth and banish his all-time nemesis; Chaos.
I think the best storyline of the game was explored in the bonus chapter where you really find out the origins of Death, aka "Daniel"; and his untimely and unjust murder inadvertaintly caused by the human equivalent of his impulsive BF "Chaos".
The origins of "Death" makes for a wonderful Halloween release by Elephant and a great concept for a new "Death" series with infinite possibilities and potential, particularly given the introduction of the Horseman of the Apocalypse at the end... is Daniel to be the 4th?
Visually RoF is utterly fantastic and the animation is top notch. The sound quality is equally superb with special note to the voice of Death which was very in two words; very sexy and the voiceovers in general which were top notch.
There are also a number of gadgets to play, such as decoding devises, print developers, key makers, as well as a special lens given to you Death which gives you the power to speak with ghosts. These tools allow you to solve various murder mysteries with the aim of catching the culprit who has disturbed the natural order of life. Death, in this context, is given the role of restoring justice by avenging those who were unjustly killed (as we later learn he was in the bonus chapter).
As in all Big Fish games, we have a great blend of game tools, creative HOS, mini-games, boxed items, and morphing objects which are given it's own special category in the bonus chapter of the CE... all which were thoroughly enjoyed. I do wish there was a way to return to game scenes to collect missed cards (I was only missing ONE... COME ON!!!) in order to play the bonus game of solaitaire, a feature which I had seen in other BF games.
A great blend of mystery, paranormal, macabre and superhero genres and wonderful addition to the BF tradition of gaming.
Recommended!!
I recommend this game!
Tragedy strikes a popular Parisian cabaret when their star dancer is murdered! Gather the suspects and unmask the killer.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
EIPEX RULES!!
PostedOctober 12, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have long since stopped demo'ing Eipex games, I just buy them. My take is that if a developer can make credits entertaining, imagine what they can do with an actual game! The proof of this artistic integrity lies in Danse Macabre's second installment, Moulin Rouge, a delightful and intriguing visual feast that has firmly held the number 1 rank on the Big Fish game site among impressive and brilliant competition.
With unsurpassed visual and technical style, Eipex once again delivers a consistently engaging and exciting game with a storyline steeped in rich historical and artistic tradition. With a blend of diverse and creative HOS, boxed items which adds a great deal more complexity and possibility to found/inventory items (definitely one of my favorite "new twists") inspired mini-games, and outstanding sound quality that enhances the overall game experience, Danse Macabre's Moulin Rouge creates a wonderfully engaging adventure that upholds the EIPEX tradition of excellence.
And so now it is my turn to say THANK YOU!! for another brilliant adventure game thoroughly enjoyed.
With unsurpassed visual and technical style, Eipex once again delivers a consistently engaging and exciting game with a storyline steeped in rich historical and artistic tradition. With a blend of diverse and creative HOS, boxed items which adds a great deal more complexity and possibility to found/inventory items (definitely one of my favorite "new twists") inspired mini-games, and outstanding sound quality that enhances the overall game experience, Danse Macabre's Moulin Rouge creates a wonderfully engaging adventure that upholds the EIPEX tradition of excellence.
And so now it is my turn to say THANK YOU!! for another brilliant adventure game thoroughly enjoyed.
I recommend this game!
Someone – or something – is stealing the children of Blake’s Mountain!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
WICKEDLY GREAT FUN!
PostedOctober 12, 2014
Penhip
fromBrooklyn, NY
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
From the same developers of The Mystery of the Ancients series; League of Light has earned it's own place among the hightest raking adventure games with consistent 5 star reviews that are more than warrented. The pacing of this game is wonderful, as are all the other components that distinguishes an average adventure game from an extraordinary one.
The sound and music are extraordinary with different tracks to mark your voyage throughout the game, underscoring it's highlights and enhancing the overall game play with ease and precision.
I also greatly appreciate when developers give a different spin to HOS which brings a whole new dimension and twist to an integral component of adventure games. Leage gives us a wonderful blend of HOS and incorporates the honored tradition of mini-games into the scentes themselves making them more complex and engaging.
I also loved the inclusion of occult themes which I find facinating in general given that these culturally and historically significant pagan traditions have found their place into modern day practices in "games" such as the Ougia board, tarot cards, and (in this game's case), the Fortune Teller and her crystal ball who become the "storytellers" driving the game's narrative. This foray into the occult was done brilliantly in Mystery of the Ancient's Lockwood Manor installment seving as a segue way into the paranormal realm which made it much more interesting. entertaining and ultimately, wonderfully terrifying, if done well (the film "The Believers" and "Angel Heart" come quickly to mind. Now THAT would be one scary and exceptional game... but I digress.
For those wondering whether the CE installent of Wicked Harvest is worth the investment, my opinion is a resounding YES!! There is a whole world of gameplay with TWO Bonus Chapters and hidden elements abound within your Achievements... which continues to build on the game's detective theme and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute!
The sound and music are extraordinary with different tracks to mark your voyage throughout the game, underscoring it's highlights and enhancing the overall game play with ease and precision.
I also greatly appreciate when developers give a different spin to HOS which brings a whole new dimension and twist to an integral component of adventure games. Leage gives us a wonderful blend of HOS and incorporates the honored tradition of mini-games into the scentes themselves making them more complex and engaging.
I also loved the inclusion of occult themes which I find facinating in general given that these culturally and historically significant pagan traditions have found their place into modern day practices in "games" such as the Ougia board, tarot cards, and (in this game's case), the Fortune Teller and her crystal ball who become the "storytellers" driving the game's narrative. This foray into the occult was done brilliantly in Mystery of the Ancient's Lockwood Manor installment seving as a segue way into the paranormal realm which made it much more interesting. entertaining and ultimately, wonderfully terrifying, if done well (the film "The Believers" and "Angel Heart" come quickly to mind. Now THAT would be one scary and exceptional game... but I digress.
For those wondering whether the CE installent of Wicked Harvest is worth the investment, my opinion is a resounding YES!! There is a whole world of gameplay with TWO Bonus Chapters and hidden elements abound within your Achievements... which continues to build on the game's detective theme and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute!
I recommend this game!