twinsoniclab's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.8
- Helpful Votes:3,182
- Reviews Submitted:110
- First Review:June 17, 2013
- Most Recent Review:December 2, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Stop an evil dragon from plunging the Empire into darkness!
Overall rating
1
/
5
35 of 53 found this review helpful
Pretty Poor Offering
PostedAugust 23, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Another tired-out series, although this one hasn't been around a long time, it just feels like it to me! I can't tell you how long into the demo I got, closing the game crashed the GM, and it still shows I have 90 minutes. Trust me, I played very little of it, but enough to share my feelings.
It's boring. It's nothing new...again. It's purples and blues... again. It's an evil entity escaped from the depths turning humans into beasts.... again.
COLLECTIBLES: 15 dragon figures, 15 diary pages, 70 dragon eggs (I see we can outfit our laboratory with them, thrills a minute)
HOS: Honestly, I got to one. It was the cat telling the story. Well done, cute. But, slow. I think it took too much time to fill time.
PUZZLES: rotate 4 pieces so they fit when button pushed and they rotate more. Done it before, nothing new. Then, the ongoing and utterly terrible "diagnostic scepter" puzzles. Click on bacteria to change their color, but watch out, some are strong little germs and turn back again! Repeat eye movements, right, left, up or down.
HOS: Honestly, I got to one. It was the cat telling the story. Well done, cute. But, slow. I think it took too much time to fill time.
PUZZLES: rotate 4 pieces so they fit when button pushed and they rotate more. Done it before, nothing new. Then, the ongoing and utterly terrible "diagnostic scepter" puzzles. Click on bacteria to change their color, but watch out, some are strong little germs and turn back again! Repeat eye movements, right, left, up or down.
Expected tasks. Pick locks (not a puzzle though). Find a way to open a drawer missing its handle. Those drawer handles are becoming lost in every game. What's going on? Is a prankster stealing one handle from every game house out there?
Everything we need (map, healer kit, hint ball) has to do some elaborate dance into our tool bar. Why? I think to take up time. Slow, slow, slow. Not glitchy slow, slow by design.
I'm not a fan of this series. The intro was familiar, and once I saw the "floating chair guy" I remembered I wouldn't play the survey. The "floating chair guy" games (as I call them) are not interesting to me. Probably because they've never been original and fresh.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover a conspiracy against the king!
Overall rating
5
/
5
64 of 73 found this review helpful
Love Everything About It!
PostedAugust 18, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the best games this year... one of the best games ever! It's by the same developer that brought us the wonderful Path of Sin: Greed just a few days ago! Believe it or not, this is a new game developer, the company is only a year old next month! Wow!
Perfect game for me. Perfect graphics. Perfect interaction with things not even necessary (I love those little touches - click on the animals they react). Incredible HOS and puzzles. Nice bonus story too.
COLLECTIBLES: 29 royal tokens, that are morphing. Large, but some are rather hard to find, being underwater or well camouflaged. Also 11 additional in the bonus game. That's nice, more often either the number is continued from the main game, or there are none at all in the bonus.
HOS: Lovely! When I say a list I don't mean just a straight up find the item on the list. There is one relating to maps and it's just so nicely done. Then a silhouette where you find items in sequential order to use them to do a task needed for outside the HOS. It's wonderful when HOS and puzzles are part of the story, and not just tossed in.
PUZZLES: Fun and fitting the story. None terribly hard, but not so easy as to be exasperating!
* slide tokens to their proper slots
* sword fight - trace over all lines without crossing a line more than once - do it three times, harder each time
* pull out interlocking rods in the correct order
* put portraits in proper places, but not just by switching. It's a bit trickier.
HOS: Lovely! When I say a list I don't mean just a straight up find the item on the list. There is one relating to maps and it's just so nicely done. Then a silhouette where you find items in sequential order to use them to do a task needed for outside the HOS. It's wonderful when HOS and puzzles are part of the story, and not just tossed in.
PUZZLES: Fun and fitting the story. None terribly hard, but not so easy as to be exasperating!
* slide tokens to their proper slots
* sword fight - trace over all lines without crossing a line more than once - do it three times, harder each time
* pull out interlocking rods in the correct order
* put portraits in proper places, but not just by switching. It's a bit trickier.
This is one game I will play again, which is very rare for me to do. I fully recommend it with no hesitation! Cordelia Games has a bright future ahead when their first two are so stellar! (Thanks for two different genres - a knights and castle game and a modern murder mystery!)
I recommend this game!
Can you help stop an ancient evil in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 24 found this review helpful
Pretty Scenes Couldn't Make it Interesting
PostedAugust 16, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Well, after the wonder murder mystery of a few days ago, were' back to just what I praised that game for excluding, "No angry spirit awoken from the depths!" This game description reads, "...an artifact is stolen from the locals, threatening to awaken an ancient evil."
Arrgh... not only an "ancient evil" from the depths (of the volcano), but a stolen artifact (magical amulet if you will)!
The game is beautiful, I'll give it that. Pretty blues and greens, tropical colors with no dingy dungeons. But... that's all I found to praise it for.
I managed 37 minutes of the demo.
What do we do? Well, we have rust, so we need to find/make oil. Just a bit later we need more of something greasy, but oh, no, we don't have any oil left. We use cream. We need to find a bucket of water to put out the fire. We are tied up with rope, how to get free? How about lure a rat with some cheese, and fool it into chewing the rope as it nibbles the cheese? Sure... You know any stupid rats that don't know the difference between cheese and rope? Not me, and I have pet rats! I just rolled my eyes over that one.
HOS: as per lately, half the number as puzzles.
* list that opens sketches. Items bob up and down in the water, so they hide and then show, and a crab scuttles to and fro hiding other things.
* silhouettes which open to leave things to put back in the scene.Then find 5 of the same item.
* story - find words shown. Move tiles to see hidden items. This was a new type, but I disliked it.
* a mini
PUZZLES: all simple
* I hope this wasn't one! Put three pieces into a balloon token
* 3 piece map, click 3 times to put it together, then pull handles to steer yourself (even though we are walking) according to map. That was just 4 pulls.
* focus spyglass by moving rings to overlap dots, 3 times
* hit men in the head with coconuts when target turns green, 3 times even though we have 5 coconuts
* switch "totem" parts
* switch same "totem" parts in the dark!
* overlay map with stars (hint: just click one arrow over and over until it's done)
COLLECTIBLES: 30 "signs" and 20 morphs
* list that opens sketches. Items bob up and down in the water, so they hide and then show, and a crab scuttles to and fro hiding other things.
* silhouettes which open to leave things to put back in the scene.Then find 5 of the same item.
* story - find words shown. Move tiles to see hidden items. This was a new type, but I disliked it.
* a mini
PUZZLES: all simple
* I hope this wasn't one! Put three pieces into a balloon token
* 3 piece map, click 3 times to put it together, then pull handles to steer yourself (even though we are walking) according to map. That was just 4 pulls.
* focus spyglass by moving rings to overlap dots, 3 times
* hit men in the head with coconuts when target turns green, 3 times even though we have 5 coconuts
* switch "totem" parts
* switch same "totem" parts in the dark!
* overlay map with stars (hint: just click one arrow over and over until it's done)
COLLECTIBLES: 30 "signs" and 20 morphs
It was a chore to play just 37 minutes of the demo. I actually used the map to speed it up. I don't want it, so can't recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.
Solve the most magical case ever in this exciting solitaire detective game with 120 unique deals!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
Fun to Pass (waste) the Time
PostedAugust 12, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Another of this developers cookie-cutter on-up-one-down solitaire games. If you have one, skip this and play it again. There is nothing to them to set them apart, other than the background scenes, cards, and the game name.
There is NO mystery, no updates on any investigation by "Inspector Magic." The game is also sold (actually free) as Detective Solitaire Inspector Magic and the Man Without a Face, which certainly sounds like a cool mystery! But, alas, nothing comes of it.
The usual on-up-one-down play. Uncover the gold cards and the hand is won, even if cards remain on the board. Some cards gain coins. Buy the extras like jokers or mulligans. You must meet a minimum score to move on. If you want a higher score, you can replay.
It plays fast and is quite fun when there's nothing else going on, or time spent waiting for dinner to cook!
I wouldn't pay for it though.
I recommend this game!
You are sent to a remote island to solve a simple case that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between you and the culprits.
Overall rating
5
/
5
105 of 111 found this review helpful
I Love a Murder Mystery Game!
PostedAugust 12, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A murder mystery! One with a human (sure hope it stays that way) perpetrator! Do you know how rare those are? Very! No angry spirit awoken from the depths.... no vengeful witch "eating" souls.
A human murderer! A normal location! Actual reasonable tasks! YES!
So, a death has occurred. The first thing, was it suicide like the island residents say, and hope? We investigate and look for evidence to photograph. There is an evidence board, with tabs for "residents," "filed evidence," and "un-filed evidence." When enough evidence is posted under "un-filed" we make deductions.
I found the graphics fine, clear and fitting the locations. The characters were well brought out. No lags or glitches during play. The poor reviews are baffling to me.
As per the newer HOG, there are more puzzles than HOS. Nothing extremely hard, but not numbingly easy.
PUZZLES:
* restore two torn photos
* turn 3 pyramid pieces to form image
* enter code to open another puzzle, where you follow a sequence of symbols, making a path
* deducing from evidence, "What happened?"
* match the alibis given (so pay attention when you interview!)
* rearrange triangles to form picture (this kind always stumps me!)
* restore two torn photos
* turn 3 pyramid pieces to form image
* enter code to open another puzzle, where you follow a sequence of symbols, making a path
* deducing from evidence, "What happened?"
* match the alibis given (so pay attention when you interview!)
* rearrange triangles to form picture (this kind always stumps me!)
HOS: nice lists, and a really good progressive one (the model) containing a mini.
COLLECTIBLES are a disappointment. Much too large, "in your face" out front. And, why those? I haven't found out if there's a reason.
What I noticed straight off, was why such a skimpy game description? It's like they don't really want to promote it!
This game is a definite buy for me It's something different, and it seems for all the asking I see players want, when we get it players find they didn't really mean it!
So, who "dun" it? I for one will be more than happy to play this game and find out!
I recommend this game!
Three legendary detectives join forces to solve a horrible crime!
Overall rating
3
/
5
26 of 37 found this review helpful
Basically, an "ok" game
PostedAugust 9, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Take characters from three worn out series, bring them together, and what do you get? This game. It brought new life to them, but just for this once. I hope it isn't the start of another series, always combining these three detectives. It wasn't that good!
Probably half the Haunted Hotel games don't feature James, but the ones that do are my favorites. This isn't really that James though. I am not a fan of Grim Tales or Mystery Trackers (the early ones, yes), and am thrilled that Elf stayed in his kennel (unless he appears later), as, even though I'm a dog lover, I despise him! We return to locations from the earlier series games. Black Island. Rain Cliff. Fans of all three series will be thrilled. Anna Gray has her helper... her father's ghostly skull. Weird and corny. Never a fan of the Grays.
COLLECTIBLES: Tons.
* character figures - 14
* picture parts - 20 (don't know if you can go back, usually you can't with Elephant, a big mistake if I buy a CE)
* morphs - 29
HOGS: Most of these were very, very well done! Some were the "new" minis with few things happening. But, the others were very interactive, and in new ways. They alone may have saved the game for me.
PUZZLES: Not anything worth raving about. Nothing new, and on the boring side. Easy.
* select symbols in order, but we have the "cheat sheet" - this one game me the "Child's Play" achievement, and that's what it was, "child's play."
* put torn pieces in correct places - but the final paper is shown in faded form, so really, what was the puzzle?
* use a magnifier to find 7 "hidden" numbers, starting with 1. Not hidden though, you can see the Roman numbers and know where to go next without the magnifier.
* move tiles to make image
* move balls to slots (I liked this one)
* move tiles to colors
GIMMICK: yes. A Mystery Tracker's device that looks like a television. We gather glowing somethings, send the info to headquarters and they send a helicopter to take us to our new location.
* character figures - 14
* picture parts - 20 (don't know if you can go back, usually you can't with Elephant, a big mistake if I buy a CE)
* morphs - 29
HOGS: Most of these were very, very well done! Some were the "new" minis with few things happening. But, the others were very interactive, and in new ways. They alone may have saved the game for me.
PUZZLES: Not anything worth raving about. Nothing new, and on the boring side. Easy.
* select symbols in order, but we have the "cheat sheet" - this one game me the "Child's Play" achievement, and that's what it was, "child's play."
* put torn pieces in correct places - but the final paper is shown in faded form, so really, what was the puzzle?
* use a magnifier to find 7 "hidden" numbers, starting with 1. Not hidden though, you can see the Roman numbers and know where to go next without the magnifier.
* move tiles to make image
* move balls to slots (I liked this one)
* move tiles to colors
GIMMICK: yes. A Mystery Tracker's device that looks like a television. We gather glowing somethings, send the info to headquarters and they send a helicopter to take us to our new location.
Same tasks as all the other games. A rusted lock, find the oil. Missing piano key. Find the electrical tape for the bare wires.
What bothers me about the game is, what time period are we supposed to be in for this game? Mystery Trackers isn't a Victorian era game, and I didn't think Haunted Hotel was either. Here, we get our orders from the "Queen," who is Victoria. So, even accounting for Anna's time travel, why do we have copper top batteries, a gas chain saw, computer monitors and surveillance cameras, let alone travel by helicopter? Yes, I know it's just a game, but anachronisms bother me! So much detail is put into the game, then I trip over an item that doens't belong. It matters to me... even in a game.
So, it's a quality game. The story is nothing original (really, stolen amulets?), and while mixing up the characters is an exciting idea for fans of all three series, the game is pretty much average. The HOS are above average, but they can't support the entire game. And, since I won't be buying, I can't recommend. I never recommend a game I wouldn't buy myself.
I don't recommend this game.
Audrey decided to buy an old jewelry shop and she needs help with renovations. Help her match her way to success!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 47 found this review helpful
Great Fun!
PostedAugust 8, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm fussy about my match-3 games! And I went into this demo expecting it would be just another in the long, long list of passes. This one surprised me! It's really fun!
I don't care about the story. I play match-3 games for the game play not the story (except for the ones with Perseus and Jason). I have specific things I look for, and this game has them all! Again, this one was a real surprise!
Number one on my "must haves" are fast moving tiles. These are extremely fast, no lag from click to fall, burst, explode.
Two would be, can I make a match while tiles are falling? Yes!
How do the tiles look? Are they the bloated looks-like-a-phone-game? No! These tiles are bright, and easy to see.
Choices for timed, limited moves, or relaxed. I demoed on limited moves, which became challenging, but not too much so!
Two would be, can I make a match while tiles are falling? Yes!
How do the tiles look? Are they the bloated looks-like-a-phone-game? No! These tiles are bright, and easy to see.
Choices for timed, limited moves, or relaxed. I demoed on limited moves, which became challenging, but not too much so!
This game requires some thinking on limited moves mode. You don't just have to match so many of a certain tile, you may have a point minimum to meet, or bring rings down to drop off the board. Make good use of lightening bolts, bombs, etc. My favorite special tiles are the feet! They gain us extra moves! Don't just go matching anything you see 3 in a row!
There are the usual obstacles, chains, frozen tiles. There are also story related obstacles, Jewelry boxes take two nearby matches to remove, one to untie the ribbon, one to open the box. Cute touch.
I played the entire demo, I was, as stated on the main page, "addictive!" It became 10:30am and I forgot all about breakfast, and worse, the dog got his medication half an hour late! Yes, the game is that fun.
If you want a match-3 just for the fast, fun game play, I recommend this one! At first glance it doesn't look like much, but it is!
I recommend this game!
Help Eric match his way to success in this exciting new addition to the Spellarium series!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
If you have other Spellariums, you have this one...
PostedAugust 7, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I have Spellarium 2. So, by my way of thinking, after playing this demo, is, I don't need this one.
The "story" is different, sure, but whether we're rebuilding the world or creating another element, the game is the same. The story is just a break between boards. So are the mini side games, such as "find the differences," or solitaire. I thought the "find the differences" in both this game and episode 2 basic and poorly done. Thank goodness there's a skip feature!
The match-3 portions of the game are fine. They start off fairly hard, I wouldn't recommend any of the Spellariums for beginner match-3 players. Within the first few boards you have to start using strategy to progress. Getting the necessary minimum 5 in a row takes planning, and unfortunately, for me, too much time. I like a fast moving match 3 game! This one does move quickly, as far as tile falling and all, but each board becomes one long chore as move this here and that there to get 5 in a row. Maybe that's the beauty of the game, but I don't like it. There are extras for matching more than 5, or 4 as well.
TONS of special things to earn, way too many. When the instruction book needs a dozen pages to explain what all the obstacles are, and what you need to get past them, that's just too much.
I like having to move the key to the lock. I like having to match so-many of a tile. I don't dislike the game. I just think there are better match-3 out there (and here on BFG!). See my "current favorite" for one suggestion!
Plus, I own #2, that's enough for me. Unless the "story" matters, just replay that one.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop a malevolent force from stealing souls in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
17 of 26 found this review helpful
Horrendously Awful... Worst Game of this Year, or Longer!
PostedAugust 5, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is one terrible game! I had to force myself to finish just 28 minutes of the demo. I literally wanted to quit when I saw the home page (the spriit's phone message of "SAVE US!" was just too hokey!) where you choose to "play!" I recommend you not get past even that.
The graphics are outrageously bad. The one HOS (other than an 8 part mini) in the 28 minutes had the worst graphics I've seen in a long, long time. Actually, ever. To get the HOS review over and done with, it was to find the words highlighted in a sentence, as Santa Muerte (a folk saint) tells us a story. Very few items. These story HOS take longer as we wait for the story to unfold, but they contain less game play. We've got poorly rendered floating "ghosts" or "souls" as well. I'd be embarrassed to release a game with such poor graphics.
PUZZLES: As with most Hidden Object/Puzzles games of late, many more puzzles than HOS. Fine, I like puzzles, just not these!
* move 4 skulls to match their insets (if you are stuck, you saw a picture of it earlier)
* put keys in proper skull mouths (4)
* play rock-paper-scissors with a skeleton arm, once, and not really, just choose the silhouetted choices on the box. Could have been fun, if don't differently, and more than once.
* move gems to match key colors, and according to their numbers, which are 1-4
* swap 8 pieces to form a button
* ooooo.... "sew" on the button by clicking when the moving needle is in the green zone! Then repair a tear by dragging a token along a zigzag, with just 3 moves.
* Then take that item you just repaired, add it to the 3 missing candles you've found, and light all the candles, where lighting one may put the others out. When done with that the little girl soul tells you, "I can't bear the suffering!" I guess we are supposed to be horrified and play to help her.
* restore a portal by dragging rows and columns
* move 4 skulls to match their insets (if you are stuck, you saw a picture of it earlier)
* put keys in proper skull mouths (4)
* play rock-paper-scissors with a skeleton arm, once, and not really, just choose the silhouetted choices on the box. Could have been fun, if don't differently, and more than once.
* move gems to match key colors, and according to their numbers, which are 1-4
* swap 8 pieces to form a button
* ooooo.... "sew" on the button by clicking when the moving needle is in the green zone! Then repair a tear by dragging a token along a zigzag, with just 3 moves.
* Then take that item you just repaired, add it to the 3 missing candles you've found, and light all the candles, where lighting one may put the others out. When done with that the little girl soul tells you, "I can't bear the suffering!" I guess we are supposed to be horrified and play to help her.
* restore a portal by dragging rows and columns
We rescue Santa Muerte after she falls into an open grave and gets buried under large boulders and rubble. But, she's fine, since she's a saint, not human. Though she does use a smart phone, and send videos! She informs us, "My dream showed me that only you can save us!" Talk about pressure...
Some gripes:
* if the game is set on the Day of the Dead, whey didn't this game get released at the end of October to play at the correct time of year?
* if the developers want to incorporate actual characters from folklore, get their names right!
KALAKA is an ancient Indian mythological figure. CALACA is the skeleton or skull used in decoration for Day of the Dead!
SHILALBA is actually XIBALBA, the underworld in Mayan myth.
* if the game is set on the Day of the Dead, whey didn't this game get released at the end of October to play at the correct time of year?
* if the developers want to incorporate actual characters from folklore, get their names right!
KALAKA is an ancient Indian mythological figure. CALACA is the skeleton or skull used in decoration for Day of the Dead!
SHILALBA is actually XIBALBA, the underworld in Mayan myth.
Oh, we get a helper raven. There's the portal. We collect stuff related to, um... I guess ancient civilizations? One seems to be a step pyramid.
Maybe the developers are trying to cash in on the Coco (Pixar movie) craze, but this is just a poor game all around.
So, I can't be recommending it!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save escaped magical creatures before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 88 found this review helpful
I MUST Have This Game! Review based on demo...
PostedAugust 2, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I had more fun playing this demo than I've had with any other game in years! Yes, I love dogs, so that helps, but all of it, the puzzles, hidden objects... all of it was great!
Who couldn't be moved to help the shivering wet little corgi (although they got the tail wrong, corgis have no tail at all, not the short tail Ash is given), who thanks us for rescue with a big lick? He is our helper, but he is not pushy and never yaps in the corner of the tool bar. I know one player who will go nuts for a corgi! :)
I love how 4 Friends sneaked in their logo, and how we, the player, comment on it! We see a discarded coffee cup, with the logo, we say, "I know this team! The squirrels from Living Legends truly stole my heart!" Great touch, makes a game something a little bit extra.
Our corgi friend has a comic book where he's a corgi super hero! The cover of the comic is seen in various places, and is downright adorable, while the story is revealed in the comic's pages! Squealing heard... Oh, and bunnies! Ash wants the last escaped bunny out of his fabulous kennel bed! More squealing...
Super interactive game, even outside the HOS. Click on the constellations in the first scene to see what I mean.
The meat of the game...
COLLECTIBLES: 64 eggs. Some easy to find, others not so easy. Some well disguised. So many eggs found unlock a large egg, hatching its resident. I think the first is a "duck-billed, long-tailed koala."
HOS: I read them described as lists. Which many are. But, what lists! To say interactive only tells half the story. There's one where we disturb crabs to get them to move, and we can still chase them around the scene after getting the hidden object! My favorite was the highlighted list on the cassette.
PUZZLES: I'd say twice as many as HOS. Several dog related (squeal!).
* move dog to dog house, passing through each circle (easy)
* swap papers to match dog figurine mottoes, then switch their accessories to match other papers.
* swap disks to restore image - this is a beautiful image
* make connections equal to numbers on the stars (confusing to me)
*match pairs
* help Ash through a maze (we don't see the maze), use items found to help him (you have to go down blind alleys to find the items). Match pairs of footprints and then again, but tiles move when wrong.
GIMMICK: not really. It's the box our uncle used, and when we need to trap an animal (for it's own good, although I hope they can leave free in peace at the end), we play a variation of match-3. Drag over 3 or move of a color. You must match a given number of each color, in a limited amount of moves. The animal we are after destroys some tiles so we can't make matches. It was fun, and I didn't always beat it first go, what with the limited moves.
We then are given that animals "power," be it flight or freezing things (demo).
HOS: I read them described as lists. Which many are. But, what lists! To say interactive only tells half the story. There's one where we disturb crabs to get them to move, and we can still chase them around the scene after getting the hidden object! My favorite was the highlighted list on the cassette.
PUZZLES: I'd say twice as many as HOS. Several dog related (squeal!).
* move dog to dog house, passing through each circle (easy)
* swap papers to match dog figurine mottoes, then switch their accessories to match other papers.
* swap disks to restore image - this is a beautiful image
* make connections equal to numbers on the stars (confusing to me)
*match pairs
* help Ash through a maze (we don't see the maze), use items found to help him (you have to go down blind alleys to find the items). Match pairs of footprints and then again, but tiles move when wrong.
GIMMICK: not really. It's the box our uncle used, and when we need to trap an animal (for it's own good, although I hope they can leave free in peace at the end), we play a variation of match-3. Drag over 3 or move of a color. You must match a given number of each color, in a limited amount of moves. The animal we are after destroys some tiles so we can't make matches. It was fun, and I didn't always beat it first go, what with the limited moves.
We then are given that animals "power," be it flight or freezing things (demo).
This game will be an immediate buy next time I have the funds! I don't think you need to love dogs to enjoy the game, but it sure helps! I do not love every game with dogs, or dog helpers, I despise Elf, so am not recommending the game just because of Ash. I recommend it because, it really is the most fun I've seen in a long time, and it's quality. The story is not rehashed. It's not a mild 5 star game, it's a full, bloated 5 stars from me!
I recommend this game!