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:
Help Odin’s messenger Munin navigate 9 worlds and lead her to the golden throne of Asgard in this unique puzzle platformer!
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Not For Me - Maybe For You
PostedJuly 31, 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
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Why don't these puzzle games have instructions? I don't know to use the space bar to jump and the arrow keeps to move up/down/right/left until someone tells me, or I read another review!
We play Munin, who has had her wings taken by Loki. That's why we have to gather the feathers.
Move through "rooms" collecting feathers. You have to rotate parts of the scene to access ladders, or change lava to safe ground. It starts out easy, and progressively gets harder and more complicated. When I quit some rotations would rotate others, so you have to figure out the safe place to leave your little guy. Later on you'll encounter rolling boulders, flowing water, and more difficult levels.
I guess if
1) you grew up on this kind of game and are nostalgic
2) want to see what "old style" games were like
you might like this. I know for a certainty I'd tire of it within 10 minutes!
1) you grew up on this kind of game and are nostalgic
2) want to see what "old style" games were like
you might like this. I know for a certainty I'd tire of it within 10 minutes!
Being it's "old style" accounts for the "old style" graphics as well. Really old, like my 27 year old son played on his old CoCo 3! In reality, it is 4 years old. I don't expect a 4 year old game as a "new release!"
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy an explosive holiday in the tropics with Solitaire Beach Season: Sounds of Waves today!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
There are Better, but There are Worse!
PostedJuly 29, 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
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A below average one-up-one-down solitaire game. This developer spits them out one after another, with basically the same game changed by the card backs and the background scenes. That's great for fans who LOVE the one-up games, but I prefer a bit of variety. I play one-up solitaires often, some are very good. I actually have one by this developer on my desktop right now (Detective Solitaire), which I play now and again. A few hands here and there when I'm waiting for something else. It's good enough to say, "One more hand and I'll go to bed..." and find I want to play a few more until I get a perfect score.
This one isn't as good as that, even though it has the exact same game play, power-ups etc. There are no stories to the games, in spite of the fact they have names that would suggest a storyline. That's fine with me. At least I am not interrupted with side games of restoring a village with resources gained during play!
There are the usual upgrades to purchase. The game moved quickly, no glitches. I did not have the problem of multiple cards turning over at one time... in THIS game. I did recently have that issue with Flowers Garden Solitaire.
For me, why buy another if you already own one. Start your old one again, you'll never know the difference!
I don't recommend this game.
Turn back the hands of time to free the Lost Lands!
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 40 found this review helpful
Great Addition to Lost Lands!
PostedJuly 29, 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
Lost Lands is my favorite series, which in itself says a lot, since most series slide downhill within the first few. This one hasn't! This game is as good at the first... no better!
The game has EVERYTHING I want in a CE! I wouldn't ever wait for the SE, as the extras are too numerous to forego. You want COLLECTIBLES? How about a small number of a few (which I much prefer to all one thing): palm prints, urns, spider figures, roses, manuscripts (a Lost Lands regular), posters, and the morphs (30). And they are NOT always easy to find!
HOS: Wonderful HOS! Progressive. Silhouette items to find and use to find others. With PUZZLES included! Not just mini-puzzles, but ones like outside HOS in other developer's games! And you know what? HOS are there for a reason, not just random HOS for the sake of a HOS now and again! They are in logical places and done for logical reasons with logical items!
PUZZLES: Lots of them! As in the HOS, they have a reason for being! Build stairs by fitting boards of different lengths. Place boards (not a similar puzzle, and not right after the other stair one) to three locations. Move figures so hands touch middle and each other (tricky!). That one was even something new,
PUZZLES: Lots of them! As in the HOS, they have a reason for being! Build stairs by fitting boards of different lengths. Place boards (not a similar puzzle, and not right after the other stair one) to three locations. Move figures so hands touch middle and each other (tricky!). That one was even something new,
None of the puzzles or tasks were stale. The inventory had a few of the usual things, but I was impressed by our use of a broken item. We did NOT have to fix it first! Bravo!
The graphics were perfect! The story was different. Not that we haven't had an evil awaken and threaten the land, but that the "hero" from past games is to blame by his choice many years ago. The Lost Lands is a time-travel game already, so using this hexagon thing is no big deal, and I didn't see it as a gimmick.
Anything negative? Well, I didn't like Susan's "new" look! She doesn't look good with that spiked frosted hair style! And I don't really care for the spider minions. Reading the manuscript on them (the manuscripts contain valuable info on the Lost Lands and their inhabitants) I learned they are not mechanical as I first thought. Other games have used spiders like these before. I don't dislike spiders, I dislike overuse of them as henchmen in games!
A definite purchase! Lost Lands is released about once a year, and the time spent between them shows. It also gives us fans time to eagerly await the next installment!
I recommend this game!
Can you and your beloved escape a mad composer in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
34 of 53 found this review helpful
Disappointing Entry in this Series
PostedJuly 26, 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
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Others in this series have been very enjoyable. I like switching characters to get both sides of the story. But, this one just didn't do it for me, for so many reasons. The story... the game play... the puzzles... the graphics... all were big negatives for me.
What DID I like? I like the choice of hard or easy on puzzles (although, why have that choice in the settings when you can choose before each puzzles?). I also like the little things that react when clicked, the things that are not part of the story. Spend time in the scenes, click on random items and see what they do!
What DIDN'T I like? Everything else.
The colors were too bright with purples and pinks. The scenes were all to cluttered with colorful, unnecessary stuff. The scenes were too cluttered with necessary to the game stuff. Much too much stuff to collect and use. Each scene jam-packed with tasks and inventory to pick up or use. Jam-packed isn't a good thing. It just made for a junky look.
What sort of inventory do we have? What sort of tasks do we need to do?
We have: magnet, broken lantern, magnifying glass, glass shard, duster... you know... the usuals.
We will need to: find a valve, fix the lantern, dust the webs (not the ones we use the duster on, there are other webs we use another inventory item for!), feed the raccoon, feed the mouse, made a fishing rod... more of the predicable.
We have: magnet, broken lantern, magnifying glass, glass shard, duster... you know... the usuals.
We will need to: find a valve, fix the lantern, dust the webs (not the ones we use the duster on, there are other webs we use another inventory item for!), feed the raccoon, feed the mouse, made a fishing rod... more of the predicable.
I couldn't take anymore of the demo at the point I was to apply makeup to a mannequin! 4 items. Whoopy.
Other PUZZLES:
* move 4 pieces to assemble an amulet (some pieces block others) - great, an amulet
* drag ball though outline without touching edges
* drag magnifying glass around to find 3 numbers!
* untangle chains so they don't touch
* click "locks" to open, clicking one affects others
* swap tiles to restore picture
* swap and/or rotate 4 triangles to form picture
* apply makeup to mannequin (4 things)
ALL were either "easy" or "super easy" by my book. Boring.
* move 4 pieces to assemble an amulet (some pieces block others) - great, an amulet
* drag ball though outline without touching edges
* drag magnifying glass around to find 3 numbers!
* untangle chains so they don't touch
* click "locks" to open, clicking one affects others
* swap tiles to restore picture
* swap and/or rotate 4 triangles to form picture
* apply makeup to mannequin (4 things)
ALL were either "easy" or "super easy" by my book. Boring.
HOS: Only 2 in the time I played 8 puzzles.
* silhouette opens list - super easy
* put back items as back story is narrated to us - super easy, except the owl. Who would know the owl sat on his shoulder?
* silhouette opens list - super easy
* put back items as back story is narrated to us - super easy, except the owl. Who would know the owl sat on his shoulder?
COLLECTIBLES: One of the best reasons to play Dark Romance games, there are a lot!
* posters - 15
* crystals - 48
* theater props - 15
* notes - if these count, they go into the journal
* posters - 15
* crystals - 48
* theater props - 15
* notes - if these count, they go into the journal
If this is a Phantom of the Opera (and it is) why are only 2/3 of the characters given the original names (with different spellings)? Why is Erik now Isaac? If this is a Phantom of the Opera (which it is), it's a very poor one. Are there better? Yes! Mystery Legends: the Phantom of the Opera is available right here, and is much, much better. It has a dissatisfying ending, but the game itself is tremendously good for a 2011 release. This is really a low quality game with a lot of extraneous stuff to make it seem jam-packed with a lot of action.
I don't recommend this game.
Camelot has found a new ally, but needs your help to secure the alliance!
Overall rating
2
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
There are Better...
PostedJuly 26, 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
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Eh... that about sums up my feelings about this game. I own Avalon Legends Solitaire 2, and while it's been a while since I played (it's a 2016 release), I am pretty sure had to be better than this or I wouldn't have bought it!
I don't mind a nice one-up-one-down once in a while, preferring solitaires with more challenge. This one offers two modes, normal and hard. I tried both, seeing no differences. Maybe further on?
The backgrounds are pretty, but the cards are just not quite clear and crisp.
Th game play is just what you'd expect. Match one up or one down, use mulligans to go back, use power-ups, etc. I didn't see nearly all of the 32 power-ups the game is said to contain. 32 seems way too many, I wouldn't possibly remember what I had and when to use it!
My biggest thing about many of these games is the side business. If I wanted to play a builder game, I'd play a builder game. But, I don't. When I want to play cards, I want a card game... period. In this game, after finishing a hand, you are offered the chance to restore the buildings, or vineyards, etc. (using money/energy/food/resources/lumber/etc. gained during the solitaire hands. Even if you don't have enough money to do so, you are still taken to that scene. Then, click the arrow to play more cards, get the map, where you wait for your little boot to walk to the next stop. Too much time between hands. How about a quick "next hand" option?
Fan of one-up-one-down? You may like this. I found it boring, even for a one-up-one-down! I've played much better, and even played them through to the end.
I don't recommend this game.
This original adventure game explores a love story between two beautiful souls through ingenious humor and a bizarre, hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation style.
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 15 found this review helpful
Cute Graphics
PostedJuly 24, 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
2
/
5
Adorable animations. I loved them! But, that doesn't make a game.
I had NO idea what was going on. I didn't see a story, maybe I'm just not good at figuring out these kinds of games.
The hint shows you what you need to do, but as is usual for these kind of puzzle games you can't skip ahead or get any REAL help! You have an inventory. I used my spiky thing and curler (I loved the illustration showing us what the curler was!), combining them without even knowing how I did it. I guess the curler was a disguise for the spiky thing? Then, I did get the eye-whatevers to form the lotus-lady, and the cave to the right opened up. 8 minutes in, and that's where I quit. 8 minutes because I didn't know what to do, it was probably less than 1 if you understood! It probably took me 7 just to get over the gap.
I had NO idea what was going on. I didn't see a story, maybe I'm just not good at figuring out these kinds of games.
The hint shows you what you need to do, but as is usual for these kind of puzzle games you can't skip ahead or get any REAL help! You have an inventory. I used my spiky thing and curler (I loved the illustration showing us what the curler was!), combining them without even knowing how I did it. I guess the curler was a disguise for the spiky thing? Then, I did get the eye-whatevers to form the lotus-lady, and the cave to the right opened up. 8 minutes in, and that's where I quit. 8 minutes because I didn't know what to do, it was probably less than 1 if you understood! It probably took me 7 just to get over the gap.
Very, very cute game. I disliked it because I couldn't figure out what to do. It's not Big Fish usual, which is fine, but I'm not sure us HOG or TM fans will want it! It's the sort of game I see a lot of elsewhere.
I don't recommend this game.
Find the double agent in H.E.L.P. before it’s too late!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 37 found this review helpful
Mixed Bag Game - demo left me confused, but one great HOS!
PostedJuly 22, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I had to read other reviews to clear up my confusion! I'm in Honduras. Our team is ambushed, I escape via parachute, landing... uh... I THOUGHT it was a diner at the bottom of the cliff, which was odd... but, I am suddenly in Montana. I didn't know that until the "police" mentioned it, then I run to the "Metro" where I meet a mime. Did I run all the way to French Canada? Since I didn't miss any cut scenes, and I thought I was awake, I can only figure the segue from jungle to Montana was not done well! I blame that, rather than myself, ok?
The game itself is beautiful. The lovely jungle colors, the rusted automobiles...in Montana...
I love games set in realistic locations, be it the Patuca River in Honduras, or an auto shop in Montana! I also love a game set in modern times, that stays in modern times. Don't get me wrong, I love a good fantasy once in a while, but the real human "bad guy" games are far and few between. That is why I like the HE games, no portals to drippy dungeons or witches with red eyes stealing souls. I don't think the name "Noble Scoundrels" is much of an intimidating name for a gang though! I really have no idea why we jumped up from the diner to chase them either, another plot line left a bit lacking. But, we do, declaring, like Nancy Drew, "That must be the Noble Scoundrels! Let's get them!" Ending up in an auto repair shop, the entire clean the dirty engine bit is a waste of time.
So, two parts to the demo, the jungle and Montana. Both are well made, but actually the puzzles and HOS in Montana were better. In fact, that HOS in the toyshop was one tremendously good HOS! One of the best, and longest I've played. I wish we could have been in charge of the "Rube Goldberg" element of it, rather than just finding the pieces.
HOS otherwise are varied. Silhouettes open texts where you find the highlighted words (everyone is doing this now, it's not new anymore). Text then silhouettes (or outlines).
PUZZLES: twice as many as HOS. Some of the instructions were very confusing, and I skipped. Pick symbols to overlay on partial symbols (easy). Move cursor to keep in crosshairs (stupid). Drag number tiles to others so total 10 (different, and harder). Set arrows on map to avoid H.E.L.P. agents (this is before I knew what was happening and wondered why I was avoiding my own agents!) Rotate cogs to unlock (easy). They missed a chance to give us a puzzle during the carbon dating. We just click and mortars grind and test tubes pour.
COLLECTIBLES: 36 signs, 12 morphs in HOS, fact "cards."
I thought this series had two collectibles, but it might just be the Smithsonian editions of the series.
I thought this series had two collectibles, but it might just be the Smithsonian editions of the series.
There is the EIPIX "souvenir room," which I actually look forward to.
A small pet peeve. I would expect our supervisor to know the correct word is "anyway," not "anyways!"
Will I get the game? Yes. Sale or coupon only, since I want the CE.
I recommend this game!
The killer from an unsolved case returns for more blood!
Overall rating
2
/
5
24 of 30 found this review helpful
Ordinary at Best - Boring at Worst
PostedJuly 19, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Demo only review.
I found the game just ordinary, nothing particularly wrong with it, just rather boring. If you are invested in the family saga, you'll probably want to add this one to your collection. The Gray family games are released twice a year, beginning with the first in 2011. So, it may be a case for me of over-saturation. By now, I just don't care about this unlucky family!
Collectibles are boring. Morphs and "screensaver pieces." These are not jigsaw pieces, so there's nothing to "do" with them once we've found them all. They just put together screensavers, which I don't use (only ever use the Xmas ones from the Nutcracker).
HOS are lists, or the now-boring story where you find the highlighted item in the scene. Also, the "new" mini-HOS where we find a few items in a pop-up window. Not much is being put into HOS these days!
PUZZLES have confusing instructions. Rotate this and pres than to match numbers with symbols... which in turn opens moving tokens down, while each turns others into spaces like itself. Or something like that. In the first puzzle the SG tells us what to do, but the solution is not shown. I wanted a hint, not to follow it all. I wasn't sure what token matched what! Sure, a hat goes to head, but not all were that clear.
HOS are lists, or the now-boring story where you find the highlighted item in the scene. Also, the "new" mini-HOS where we find a few items in a pop-up window. Not much is being put into HOS these days!
PUZZLES have confusing instructions. Rotate this and pres than to match numbers with symbols... which in turn opens moving tokens down, while each turns others into spaces like itself. Or something like that. In the first puzzle the SG tells us what to do, but the solution is not shown. I wanted a hint, not to follow it all. I wasn't sure what token matched what! Sure, a hat goes to head, but not all were that clear.
We get our "helper" ghost, which puts me off the game. We "collect" clues, which are shown in the upper right, we can open the side bar to show them.
A question, based on one of the HOS items found: Why did young women 17 years ago hid their faces behind handkerchiefs to avoid the threat of being murdered?
Not a game for me, based on either the story of the Grays or the puzzles and HOS. It was a chore to play the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
The peace in the White Kingdom is marred by the appearance of the mysterious Black Knight who has stolen your only son! Can you save him in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
14 of 19 found this review helpful
Why One Star if Full Bar Fun? Read on... would be 5 but...
PostedJuly 19, 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
4
/
5
For me, this is one of the best games I've played this year! IF this turns out to be the full game as available elsewhere. During the Big Fish demo there was NO indication of the main game page mentioned collectibles. IF this is a stripped down version of what A.M. released, I do not recommend it! So, it's hard to know how to rate with stars.
This developer/producer consistently makes and/or markets the highest quality games, the ones I have the most fun playing. While a kidnapped child is not a new story, the game is fresh.
I love the graphics, the more cartoon-look to them. The scenes are clear and crisp. Just delightful.
This game is worthy of release as a CE, since it originally had all the bells and whistles (no SG, but that's a Big Fish thing, not the developers). No bonus, but it's a very long game anyway. I thought it was ending at one point, but the story took a surprise turn and continued. Not a short game by any means.
HOS are mostly interactive lists, and storybook emblems. The PUZZLES are varied, and not heavy on the popular token swaps! Move the knots so chains don't overlap (one of my favorite games), create a path for the train by rotating track sections, a jigsaw, switch portraits... it does have my least favorite, one that is used by everyone these days, the boat/horse/carriage ride where you have to click arrows right and left to avoid obstacles. You make several recipes after gathering the ingredients.
You gain spell scrolls, like water, freezing, strength. There is a very simple game to do each time you cast a spell. Spells are not used so often they get tedious. As for me? Each and every time, EVERY time I completely forgot I had scrolls to help me and was sure there was something wrong with the game! No, just me! Nothing pops up in your face to remind you, so that's good.
I recommend the game, it's quality. If I had never seen it before, I'd give it 5 stars for a great SE. But...are there collectibles as stated? Perhaps the main page description was written before the game was stripped of it's extras. This game did come with extras, why did Big Fish decide to offer us this one instead? Bad decision.
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery of the murderous dolls?
Overall rating
1
/
5
47 of 62 found this review helpful
HEADLINE! Puppets Escape Thursday's Game!
PostedJuly 14, 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
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Dolls? We just had dolls the day before yesterday! That one's on Big Fish, releasing two doll-puppet-themed games so close together. The important thing is, is this a good game?
No. This is a terrible game.
Put aside the doll business, if you can. The story is silly. Our actions make no sense. The dialog (with ourselves) is cheesy ("No one messes with Emma! No one hurts the ones I love!"). The doll looks like it spent Friday traveling between games. Apparently she brought along her "Puppet Master," for one is mentioned here too.
Same tasks:
*broken glass - find something to protect our hand
*flashlight with no batteries - take batteries from what may be an important item of evidence
*fuses missing from electrical panel - place them end to end according to paper
* tokens - to open this or open that, run back and forth to find them
*dirty item - find hot water and something to wipe with (hey, at least we used an inventory item for more than one thing!)
*broken glass - find something to protect our hand
*flashlight with no batteries - take batteries from what may be an important item of evidence
*fuses missing from electrical panel - place them end to end according to paper
* tokens - to open this or open that, run back and forth to find them
*dirty item - find hot water and something to wipe with (hey, at least we used an inventory item for more than one thing!)
HOS: I liked the first on the bulletin board. First find missing letters (easy), then unscramble letters (easy) to open text to find the words (still easy, but a nicely made HOS). Some minis, and one mini-mini to find just 4 letters.
PUZZLES: Find the 3 of 5 bricks that match. Find 3 evidences of an attack (you know, the blood, the weird veins, the white eyes?). Nothing interesting.
COLLECTIBLES: I guess. I got a morph by accident, and there are large copies of the magazine I think must be the collectible.
PUZZLES: Find the 3 of 5 bricks that match. Find 3 evidences of an attack (you know, the blood, the weird veins, the white eyes?). Nothing interesting.
COLLECTIBLES: I guess. I got a morph by accident, and there are large copies of the magazine I think must be the collectible.
Speaking of magazines, those past episode/magazine cover shots between scenes were ridiculous! What's with the long wait between scenes in the first place?
I couldn't finish the demo.
I don't recommend this game.