arnold1049's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:4,545
- Reviews Submitted:556
- First Review:February 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 9, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Learn about the most interesting places in the world as you play through colorful and unique mosaics puzzles!
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 35 found this review helpful
WONDERS NEVER BEFORE SEEN!
PostedMarch 16, 2016
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game has a mosaic grid that requires you to swap tiles in order to fill the grid in correctly. I have never seen this type of mosaic before and it presented a unique challenge to me. I really liked the diversity of play in the game.
I played the one hour demo and hesitate to express my opinion after seeing so little of what seems like a complex game.
My hesitation is based on a couple of things that I don't understand about the game and that I didn't find discussed anywhere in the help section. First, since I played the untimed mode, what are the other parameters that are rated for the possible 3 star ratings given to my play? I was able to get 3 stars on some grids, but others only two. I would think number of mistakes made might be one of the criteria, but am at a loss for the other two since time should not be a factor. Therefore I had no idea what to concentrate on in replaying the grids to increase my chance of getting 3 gold stars.
Secondly, at various times during play, a circle would appear in the upper left of the grid with a number in the middle and pieces of the circle "counting down". The pieces of the inside rim of the circle would disappear in clockwise order until the number inside counted down to zero, at which time the circle would disappear. I could never figure out what I did during play that would cause the circle to pop up, nor what I needed to do while the circle "counted down", particularly when I was playing the untimed mode.
I did like having the ability of switching to playing all grids as traditional mosaics only instead of adding the 3 (?) other types of play.
This is a unique game and stands out from the crowd.
I recommend this game!
Discover clues, collect items and use them in your quest to find the Lost Tomb.
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
NO TIMER!
PostedMarch 14, 2016
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played the demo and loved every minute. I was surprised and disappointed to find that the hour was already over.
The storyline is about a granddaughter searching for her grandfather. He disappeared while searching for a lost tomb. He left her an amulet that could have been taken from the tomb and could be the source of a curse that led to her grandfather's disappearance.
I did not, and never do, play with sound. The graphics are crisp, bright, colorful and clear but kind of cartoonish, which isn't necessarily a detraction.
The three different ways to play, (remove gold tiles, drop special objects off the board and collect specific numbers of a certain type of tile) varies from board to board. You do not have a choice of how to play, it is determined by the board you open. This kept the game fresh, as you weren't playing the same type of board over and over again.
The powerups charge quickly and are very useful. I did run out of moves a few times and every time the board regenerated automatically. Since there is no timer, I used the power ups as a last resort and continued to make matches anywhere on the board. Eventually, the board regenerated if necessary or tiles were moved around the area I needed to clear and I was able to complete the level without them.
There is a sequential map and a journal that help move the play and story along. The map shows that the game has many locations and should take a long time to play.
I did collect a couple of inventory items, but did not get far enough into the game to find out how to use them. One puzzle was fairly easy to solve if you know simple math and pay attention while you are playing.
I found absolutely nothing to dislike about this game and it is a sure buy for me.
I recommend this game!
Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympia
Drag your mouse across chains of identical items in this captivating blend of Match 3 gameplay and city-building fun!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
CHAIN TYPE MATCH 3
PostedMarch 9, 2016
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The first time I played a chain type Match 3, I fell in love with the format. This game is 100% chain type, and not just in straight lines with 90 degree angles. I can create a chain from one side of the board to the other, with lots of twists and turns.
There is lots to do in this game. Every board has different goals to accomplish. Powerups can be different depending on what tiles the board is made of. If there are Fire Stones, then you have a rain power up to put them out. A reshuffle power up is always available. Charging these power ups is done by matching a specific type of tile for each power up; blue for the rain, red for selectively eliminating a 3x3 set of tiles, white for the reshuffle, etc.
For each board completed within the allowed time, you earn a designation of either Hero, Expert or Master, in descending order of time used. The least amount of time used got you the Hero designation. Coins are awarded for several types of accomplishments for each board, some based on speed and others on tiles cleared, etc.
At certain intervals, you must solve a board that drops a piece of a hero's pendant off the board. Once all the pieces of the pendant are collected, then you are presented with a swap-tyle jigsaw puzzle to create a picture of the hero that can be used as a screen saver.
One type of board was particularly hard for me; removing all tiles in a limited number of moves. I skipped those a lot. I also skipped some of the boards towards the end of the game that were too complicated for me to solve within the time limit allowed. It would have been nice to be able to play with no time limit. I'm not sure how I won the ability to skip boards.
Trophies could also be won, such as bringing x number of people into the city, destroying x number of a specific kind of tile, completing the castle, all the buildings, etc. In the trophy room in the Museum, there is a scroll that allows you to replay the jigsaw puzzles.
Coins earned during play are used to build and/or upgrade various buildings in the city. Increasing the population of the city as a result of solving boards causes a castle to be built in increments. The ultimate size of the city is called City of Light, which ends the game.
With all these things to do, as well as lots and lots of boards, this game takes a long time to play. I have purchased all the games in this series.
A fun, very challenging game.
I recommend this game!
DragonScales: Chambers of the Dragon Whisperer
Use the power of your mind to place scales on the board and form clever combinations. Experience this unique twist on the match-3 genre!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
MATCH 3 VARIATION
PostedMarch 9, 2016
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game represents an interesting variation on Match 3 games.
The grid consists of empty spots to place colored dragon scales on to make the matches. The dragon scales of various colors become available to place 3 at a time and must be placed in the exact order they are listed. The initial scale of the set of 3 can be placed anywhere on the board. After the first placement, then spots available for the next scale can only be made in the spots touching the first placed scale. Placing the second scale opens a different set of spots that are available for scale placement.
Once a set of 3 scales have been placed, another set of 3 becomes available, with different colors and in a different order. Game play requires concentration and planning ahead so that matches can be made (which clears the board of the matched scales and makes the spot available for additional scales to be placed) and keeping from being backed into a corner where no more plays can be made.
Boards become more difficult as play continues. One example is a new board that contains a few already placed scales. These scales must be eliminated by being matched with same-colored tiles. Once all pre-placed tiles are removed the the board has been completed.
A challenging and fun game.
I recommend this game!
Fill And Cross Christmas Riddles
The most magical night of the year is here...RIGHT NOW! Solve all of Santa's riddles and get 120 presents, rather than just 1!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
TOO MUCH WORK
PostedFebruary 29, 2016
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
The graphics on this game are beautiful.
It's major drawback, and it is a big one, is that, when a column or row is filled out correctly, the remaining squares are not automatically crossed off. This means you have to cross them off manually, requiring a lot of extra work and time for a game that is just average.
Too much hassle.
I don't recommend this game.
Get ready for a romantic journey! 120 fun griddlers await you in Valentine's Day Griddlers!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
TOO MUCH WORK
PostedFebruary 29, 2016
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
As griddlers go, this one is average. What keeps it from getting even average marks is the fact that when a row or column is filled in correctly, the remaining squares are not automatically crossed off. This means that they have to be crossed off manually. And you can't just ignore them, because crossed off squares are needed to solve other squares.
Just too much hassle for an average game.
I don't recommend this game.
Atlantic Quest 2: The New Adventures
Dive into a fantastic underwater match-3 adventure and become the Savior of the Seven Seas!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR
PostedFebruary 28, 2016
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I would have given this game 5 stars hands down except for one big issue.
Using the swap mode, just moving the cursor over the board actually moves tiles, making matches that I never intended to make and that weren't necessarily the most advantageous. This drove me crazy. I finally just gave up and ran my cursor all over the board, letting it make matches without me even looking for them. This is not even playing, it is just acting as an observer as the game does its own thing.
I tried to play only in the chain mode, but this is not possible. There would be no matches available under this mode, forcing me to switch to the swap mode, and again activating this automatic matching frenzy.
So, no challenge to this game at all. What a disappointment, as it is one of the few games that uses the chain style of matching tiles.
I don't recommend this game.
Atlantic Quest
Save the fishes in this Match 3 game! Help four friends explore the ocean floor! Stop a leaking oil tanker before it’s too late!
Overall rating
2
/
5
SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR
PostedFebruary 28, 2016
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I would have given this game 5 stars hands down except for one big issue.
Using the swap mode, just moving the cursor over the board actually moves tiles, making matches that I never intended to make and that weren't necessarily the most advantageous. This drove me crazy. I finally just gave up and ran my cursor all over the board, letting it make matches without me even looking for them. This is not even playing, it is just acting as an observer as the game does its own thing.
I tried to play only in the chain mode, but this is not possible. There would be no matches available under this mode, forcing me to switch to the swap mode, and again activating this automatic matching frenzy.
So, no challenge to this game at all. What a disappointment, as it is one of the few games that uses the chain style of matching tiles.
I don't recommend this game.
Fruit Lockers is back! Double your fun with Fruit Lockers Reborn! An exciting twist on the popular match-three puzzler.
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 24 found this review helpful
UNIQUE MATCH 3
PostedFebruary 25, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This is a great Match 3 game. The graphics are bright and cheerful. Matches can be made in an "L" shape as well as the traditional horizontal and vertical directions. This takes some getting used to, training your eye to recognize "L" patterns.
If you wait too long to make a match, the game will show you a suggested move. As the difficulty of the game progresses, you must meet quotas of matching particular kinds of fruit, removing special tiles, etc., all the while dealing with spiders that spin webs to stop you from making matches.
Powerups include a broom for removing spider webs, spider extinguisher spray, and keys to unlock tiles.
I played the demo under the casual mode, which is not timed. There are numerous chapters with each chapter having lots of grids to play. Three gold stars can be won for each grid and the grids can be replayed if, like me, you want to get the three gold stars.
Lots of fun and a definite buy for me.
I recommend this game!
Ringlore
Lose yourself within an enchanted forests in a game that literally puts a new twist on classic Match 3 gameplay.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
FELL ASLEEP DURING DEMO
PostedFebruary 24, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I'm an insomniac and I fall asleep sometimes while playing games. Often I catch myself and wake back up right away, but other times I wake up and considerable time has passed. Not a problem when I'm playing a game I have already purchased, but a real bummer when I'm playing a one hour demo.
This is what happened to me when I was playing the demo for Ringlore. I was so disappointed because I was really enjoying this game.
I think mrm2006's review sounds very comprehensive and helpful. I do find it worrisome about having to start the game all over again. It makes me hesitate about purchasing the game. However, games are on sale today and even if that were not the case, I have a coupon available so this game is going to go into my Purchase History. I want to find out what I missed! LOL
Thanks mrm2006 for a great review.
I recommend this game!