arnold1049's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:4,545
- Reviews Submitted:555
- First Review:February 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 24, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A terrible darkness threatens the land. Travel through Egypt and collect the ancient pieces needed to defeat the malevolent force once and for all.
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 31 found this review helpful
DIDN'T GRAB MY INTEREST
PostedSeptember 23, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I played the demo and did not get done with the first location, the Port. Perhaps further game play would have changed my opinion.
After 3000 years of dormancy, a terrible force has been unleashed in 1932 Egypt that is capable of destroying the known world. You must go to four locations and find the object in each location that, combined together, will defeat this force. Nothing about this storyline made me particularly curious about how the game ends. So the game play, for me, must carry the game, as the storyline does not.
There is a built-in guide with step by step instructions, unusual for a SE game. The hint is a pyramid and I did not find the recharge time as any kind of hindrance. I actually used the guide more than the hint. I did not seen any place to select a difficulty level, but I saw no sparkles anywhere during the hour I played.
The graphics are crisp, clear and colorful. The game cursor is pretty small so you have to be careful not to move too fast or you will miss when it changes to a hand or to gears, which gives you clues as to what to do next. This is the worst thing about the game that I found during the demo.
I did not see any standard HOS. You pick up items here and there which are added to your inventory to be used later for mini puzzle solutions.
I played the tutorial which was pretty standard. I did not find the game play very linear and it was not always obvious where to go next. For this reason and for help on the mini puzzles, I used the guide several times.
The built-in guide was excellent. Its icon is right at the bottom left of the screen and clicking on it opens it in the same window which made it very convenient. It does not take up the whole screen when it opens so you can still see where you are and what you need to do.
There is some back and forth within the location but I am guessing that once a location is finished, you will not have to come back to it. Again, that is just a guess.
There are lots of achievements to be won but I didn't win a single one while I played. Many of them are based on time and I am just not a fast player or very quick with my cursor movement.
Be sure to play the demo before purchase. This is an OK game for a coupon purchase if you have one that you need to use right away. It just does not stand out from the crowd.
Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles
Guide a young apprentice through a maze of match 3 puzzles, solitaire, mahjong, and more. Explore the magical realm of Skye!
Overall rating
1
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
TOO FAST FOR ME
PostedSeptember 16, 2015
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This is my second attempt to write a review of this game and it will be very short.
You can only complete the puzzles in this game if you can drag and click with the speed of a bullet (think Superman). Every game has a time limit and every game requires you to make extensive use of your mouse. I was unable to finish even one game and the location I was playing, the miners, had 225 games for me to complete before I could go on to the next location for a different type of game.
There is a way to practice each type of game, called Quick Play, that gives you tips on how to beat the clock, but I wasn't even successful in practice.
Before I lose my review again, all I can say is that I am not and never will be a speed demon and playing against a time limit is not my way to relax. This game is a bust for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Little Things Forever
Search colorful patchworks built from hundreds of little things. Over a hundred puzzle pieces to collect and solve.
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
YOU'LL NEED GLASSES AFTER THIS ONE
PostedSeptember 16, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I am a die-hard HOG fan. Adventures are ok, but I enjoy myself most and have the most fun when I'm in the middle of a HOS, particularly a good one.
I played the demo for this game and it is a must-buy for me. At first, I thought it might be too easy and geared for kids, and it kind of is during the hour I played. But the size and variation of the items that need to be found, as well as the timed tests that come around on a regular basis, make it hard enough for adults. I'm not saying that young ones can't play it. In fact, their excellent eyes might be a lot better at seeing all those tiny objects.
The HOS consists of a graphic of an item that is made up of tiny colored graphics of lots of other items. The first item-filled graphic is of an owl. During the demo, I played a chameleon and a domino graphic as well. Successful gameplay opens up additional graphics.
The itsy, bitsy items that you are searching for that make up these bigger graphics can lay over a boundary between two colors and end up two colors themselves.
The items are graphics only; there are no pictures or realistic-looking items. The sizes also vary and are not proportional. A whale might look like a fly speck while a chicken might be an inch wide. Because of the curves and other lines of the bigger graphic, the items can also be skewed. This certainly adds to the challenge of the game.
If you complete a graphic with a good enough score based on time and # of items found, you receive a puzzle piece. When you have collected all of them (a maximum of 4 during the demo), you play the mini game by rotating or switching the pieces until they are in the right place. They do not create a picture, but are squares filled with more tiny objects whose sides must be lined up correctly.
Most of the HOS are not timed and you are not asked to find that many items, at least at first. I think the maximum number of items I needed to find during the demo was 9 to finish the scene. There are hints available, probably more useful in the timed scenes, as well as the ability to zoom into the graphic to increase the size of the objects.
I have seen a lot of reviews that complain about HO's being too small. If that is a pet peeve of yours, then avoid this game like the plague unless you want to use the zoom in option all the time. But if you are a no-frills HOG lover, this will be right up your alley.
I recommend this game!
Walk the razor's edge between fantasy and reality as you stop a lunatic from gaining power over death!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
ANOTHER MEDIOCRE GAME
PostedSeptember 15, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is a standard SE with nothing about it that grabbed me or made me want to continue to play. In fact, the subject matter, missing/kidnapped children, kind of turned me off.
Definitely not a buy or even a free coupon addition for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Find the ancient book of legend, Pahelika! Prove your mind, body, and soul worthy by advancing through unique tests.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
TOUGH TO GET STARTED
PostedSeptember 13, 2015
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I played the demo and I used up a lot of time trying to figure out the first scene. There is no hint button although there is a reference to a free strategy guide.
With a lot of clicking on objects, both sparkling and not, I finally got past the first scene. After that it became a little easier.
The storyline is based on an ancient book of magic that was found by a king and used to defeat an opponent that had dethroned him. Understanding the power of the book, he took great pains to protect it, requiring the solving of riddles to gain access. The book was put in the care of the monks.
You are a modern day person who finds a time-traveling device. After consulting your family history, you are off to find the book by solving the riddles. I was able to complete one time travel location, but got stopped in the middle of the second by the time limit. Given the difficulty I had in getting this far, I think the game is a challenging one. I did not run into a single HOS, only puzzles.
The graphics are ok. The storyline is told in comic-book fashion. I played without sound.
The demo left me intrigued and challenged. There is also another game in this series that may be worth looking into.
I recommend this game!
A strange talisman draws you to Mystery Island. Solve its puzzles and uncover its mysteries in this incredible Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS ISLAND?
PostedSeptember 13, 2015
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I played the one hour demo and was sorry when it ended. This game has so many things to do at any given time that you are never bored.
A soon-to-be married pilot's plane is hit by lightning and he ends up on a remote island with the plane at the bottom of the ocean. This island is populated by people who seem more than willing to help. It also has a phone, an old-style landline phone that actually works. Kind of stretches the reality of the situation, but who said games should be logical?
After accomplishing several tasks, the pilot is able to call his boss and his fiance to let them know where he is and what happened. When his boss hears the name of the island, she is upset. The name means Pirate's Curse.
Each location has items to find and items that need to be placed into the scene. The objects to be found are in pieces so each piece must be found to complete it. Once the item is completed, it remains in inventory until the proper place in the proper location is found for placing it.
The pieces of the items are well-hidden and I had to use the hint button a few times. It works like a geiger counter; it lights up and pulses when you have found the piece. I never had to wait for the hint to recharge, but that was because I didn't have to use it too often. It had plenty of time to recharge so it was always available when I needed it. Therefore, I really didn't notice how long it took to recharge.
In addition to finding and placing objects in the scenes, you also must find 10 or so items that relate to a specific character's business card. The first and only character I ran into during the demo was a sheriff and I had to go through the location finding guns, handcuffs, whistles, etc., objects related to his career. There are lots of business cards.
So between finding and placing objects and getting business card items. you return to the same scene several times. There is a map that you can use to move from place to place. Hovering over the map icon brings up pictures of the scenes available for play and you can move to another location by clicking on the picture instead of actually opening the map. The map shows you how many items must be found and how many items must be placed to finish that location. So you have two ways to move between locations and a lot of information to help you figure out when you need to do something. When you finish a location, it gets a green checkmark on the map.
I don't remember being able to set any difficulty levels. This game is a simple, straight-forward HOG and puzzle game.
The only options available to change are related to the sound.
The only options available to change are related to the sound.
There are lots of achievements to be won, a lot based on time. The graphics are crisp and bright. I had to laugh at the pilot's graphic. He has blond hair that stands on end and he looks way too young to be getting married, particularly when his wife looks a lot older.
This is a delight of a game and a buy for me. There is also a sequel that I hope is as good.
I recommend this game!
The Brooks family boarded the Neptune hoping for a relaxing family vacation, but what they got was an incredible adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
MOM TO THE RESCUE
PostedSeptember 13, 2015
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I played using the normal mode, which was the hardest mode available. Even then practically everything that required some kind of action showed sparkles. I can't imagine how the casual mode could be any easier. So the game doesn't require a lot of effort to play.
The storyline is good, particularly the beginning. A ship is sinking in the middle of a hurricane and the rescue helicopters have been able to remove everyone but a mother looking for her family. You play the mother. The helicopters cannot return until the hurricane abates.
The graphics are very good, giving the scenes a look of reality. The hint button only works in the HOS, which are junk piles. Once or twice an item was hard enough to find that I used a hint. A skip button is available for the minigames. I only found one during the hour demo and it was not too difficult.
There are two achievements; collector and rescuer. The collector involves finding family belongings that can be anywhere in the ship. I believe the rescuer achievement comes into play when you are able to find your family members.
There is a journal and a map. The map is drawn like a child would, kind of cute. It is very informational but is not a jump map. The journal also has a childish feel.
Something different was the small pictures of the locations still requiring action that open at the top of the screen. By rolling your mouse over the picture, it tells you what you have left to do at that location. However, you still cannot jump to that location through these pictures. Between the map and these pictures, it is fairly easy to figure out where to go next.
There is the typical inventory. Some items are found in the locations, others, apparently the majority, are found in the HOS.
There seemed to be a little too much back and forth for my taste, but it wasn't a deal breaker. The good storyline will probably make this a coupon purchase for me.
I recommend this game!
Jane Angel has mysteriously vanished and it's up to her sister to untangle the sophisticated conspiracy and uncover the truth about the family's ancient past.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
MEDIOCRE GAME
PostedSeptember 13, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played the demo and this game has nothing that hooks me into wanting to finish it. At the very least, it needs a jump map that shows where things need to be done. Without it, I found myself going back and forth to the same locations and that drives me crazy.
This is probably the shortest review I've ever written. But when you can't say something good, don't say anything at all. LOL
I don't recommend this game.
Find mystery, magic, and romance in this Hidden Object game! Play as Dela Reese and escape China with the love of your life.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
IS THERE A PART II?
PostedSeptember 10, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played the demo and have put this game on my list to buy. The story line is about a woman pursuing the meanings of her dreams and Part I takes her to China and a search for a riddle box.
The graphics remind me of a comic book but that doesn't really detract from the game. The HOS aren't really "scenes" that sparkle and you click on to bring up a picture with a list of items to find. The HO in this game are part of the main scene for the level you are playing and are handled as part of the list of objectives that you must complete. This may change further into the game.
There are several actions to complete for each level and these actions interact with each other. For instance, you must find 13 metal weapons (the hidden objects) before you can play the mini game of placing them in a box in the right format. The fact that these actions were contained basically in one scene at a time was really nice; no map or running from place to place. Once you finish a level, a new scene comes up with a new list of objectives. Sort of like ending a chapter and beginning another in a comic book.
There are no levels of difficulty to choose from. The hint button recharges quickly. The skip button only becomes available after you use 2 hints. The passage of time adds to the number of hints available to you; they are not unlimited. Letting them accumulate increases your rank and if you accumulate 50 hints, the bonus game is unlocked, a neat addition for an SE.
This game has a lot to do and explore and is different enough from other games to make it worth a try. The name of this game seems to suggest that there is/will be a Part II. It will go on my "to buy" list also.
I recommend this game!
Magic has been drained from the enchanted realm of Skymist - find the lost Spirit Stones and restore peace to the kingdom!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
MAYBE 60 MINUTES ISN'T LONG ENOUGH
PostedSeptember 10, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Strategy, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
In the 60 minutes that I played, I saw nothing special about this game and that was disappointing to me. When the game first opened, I was impressed with the 3-D rendering of the castle and that was pretty much the high point for me.
The princess of Skymist is preparing for her birthday celebration, hoping to find a husband. You are roped into helping her prepare for the event by collecting small makeup items for her. Then you are dispatched to take her place in repairing a fountain. At this point, something goes wrong and you find yourself in a Skymist that has lost all the good things. That's about as far into the story line as I got.
The dialog up to that point was not funny as other reviewers have stated, so I didn't get far enough into the game to see this aspect of it. Adding humor to the conversations would certainly add to the game.
Yes, there are a lot of HOG's, and ordinarily I really like games like that. But for some reason, this game just did not appeal to me. I also did not encounter any mini games during the firs hour of play.
If some of the HOs weren't so hard to find, I would have chalked this game up to being for children and not adults, but the difficulty of finding some of the items puts it way past the skill of most kids.
I wonder what I missed when I see a game like this receiving several 5 star ratings. But I'm going to stick with my first impression and pass on this game.