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:
Help a detective explore a rampant briar growth in Scotland, and discover the true tale of the real Sleeping Beauty!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
NEW TWIST ON A CLASSIC STORY
PostedMay 7, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game is based on the premise that the Prince's kiss never awakened Sleeping Beauty and you, as the Detective, have the honor of doing that job centuries later. As good a premise as any for a fairy tale. Too bad it doesn't involve a kiss.
This is my least favorite type of HIdden Object game, the kind where you have to find pieces of the object for it to be put together. I was hoping as the game went along, that the type of HOS would change for some added variety, but no such luck.
There is no map, let alone a virtual map, which makes this game a little frustrating to play. There is a lot of back and forth through the maze of the castle. There was something called "Inspect" that would show some locations, but I never figured out what that was for or how to use it. I think I saw something about a warning that if you used it, there would be some kind of penalty for the hint button to reload, but I never found out how to use this "Inspect" area, so didn't have to deal with that. Better instructions would have helped a lot. I even went through the tutorial and played on casual mode, but still it was a mystery to me.
The bonus chapter was good, although the only object of the bonus chapter was to unlock the other "extras"; screensaver, music, etc., so not really related to the first part of the game at all. Part of the "extras" was 20 more puzzles to play, which I liked.
The puzzles were interesting and not too hard; I think I skipped a couple just out of frustration for how much time it was taking. I also used the built-in strategy guide (a great plus) only once, so the game flows pretty logically, if not linearly.
Seems like I have a lot of complaints considering my 4 star rating, but with all that said, I did enjoy the game.
I recommend this game!
Mystery P.I.: Lost in Los Angeles
The only copy of this year's biggest blockbuster movie has gone missing the day before the VIP Hollywood premiere! Find the film!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
FOR HO LOVERS ONLY
PostedMay 4, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
All the Mystery P.I. games are set up the same; lots of HOS and a few, fairly easy puzzles, with a big puzzle at the end. As you complete the various levels (25) you get clues to be used at the end. You also have to collect various items to unlock the unlimited play at the end and get bonus points. In this case, it was badges for extra points, and keys and something else to unlock the unlimited play. I did have to use the strategy guide once, at the very end, for some help in how to use the clues to solve the mystery.
And I always enjoy the unlimited play at the end, where you are able to revisit all the locations to find every single HO. You also get to play 25 match 3 games. A fun, relaxing game.
I recommend this game!
Long-forgotten memories bubble to the surface when the past invades the present in the Collector's Edition of Lake House: Children of Silence!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
LOVED THE TRIVIA IN THE BONUS CONTENT
PostedMay 2, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game has almost all the things that make CE games worth the extra cost; built-in strategy guide, map (although it should have been interactive to be perfect), excellent hint button, and a bonus chapter that melded with the game flawlessly. And the bonus chapter was pretty long.
Because the map and the hint button worked so well, I never had to refer to the strategy guide. I don't think I had to skip any puzzles, either. There was a little more back and forth than I normally like (hence the wish for an interactive map), but the rest of the pluses made this game worth putting up with that small amount of frustration.
In the bonus content, there were 9 trivia facts about the development of the game that made the game that much more interesting. Neat addition that I've never seen in any other game.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE CE
PostedMay 2, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game has a lot of good things going for it. I loved the way the map worked; it takes you to the next area of action automatically. There is very little back and forth and the logical way the story progressed was very gratifying. Because of this, the hint button was only available for the HOS.
There were lots of HOS, some of them interconnected so that you had to solve one set before you could finish the next set. They were not extremely hard, but there was usually one or two items that took some looking. The scenes were also interactive, but the item list did not highlight those items that required further action within the scene, so I had to move the cursor around to find these areas.
The puzzles were varied and interesting, but not too hard. However, there were no instructions to tell me how to work the puzzle and it wasn't always evident from the puzzle itself. This required me to go to the walkthrough to figure out how to work some of the puzzles. For example, one puzzle consisted of a set of 5 types of tiles in a 5x5 square. I guessed that the object of the puzzle was to place the tiles so that no tile was repeated in any row or column, a common puzzle for this type of layout. When that didn't work, I had to consult the walkthrough, to find out that the object was to make each row or column the same tile so that they were dropped off the grid until the grid was empty. Because this wasn't the CE, going to the walkthrough required me to exit the game every time. If I had gotten the CE, the strategy guide would have been built in. Considering the time it took to exit the game, refer to the walkthrough, then go back to the game, this was pretty frustrating and could have been addressed easily with a few more instructions.
I really liked the way the map worked and the lack of going back and forth, big pluses in my opinion. I also liked the fact that the game was a pretty good approximation of the Poe story behind it. I'm sorry I didn't get the CE because of the puzzle frustration, and I am curious what the additional chapter would have covered, but I was still very happy with this game.
I recommend this game!
Discover the history and unlock the true potential of a magically enchanted antique mirror in this great Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
RELAXING
PostedApril 30, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game is almost 100% HOS with a few puzzles thrown in. The puzzles are of only 2 types and are repetitious. I got tired of playing them over and over again. However, the quantity of HOS saved the game for me.
It is a pretty simple game and doesn't last too long. I played the timed version and had no problem with finishing the HOS in the allotted time. At the end of the game, you have the option to replay it in "mirror" mode, which just means the HOS are reversed from the first game. I didn't play it again as it wasn't that challenging in the first place.
It contained some interesting facts about castle living back in the day, which I liked. Overall, a fairly easy, nicely paced game for when you just want to relax.
I recommend this game!
A murderous figure in a red mask haunts the streets of a small French town, and the mayor needs your help to track him down. But you soon discover that the mysterious Red Masque might not be the real criminal…
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
NEEDED TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION
PostedApril 28, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The story line was a little confusing to me and I really didn't understand the ending of the bonus chapter. Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention to the characters in the game to be able to keep them straight. Anyway, not that big of a problem in a game that did so many things so well.
The built-in strategy guide was great, and a must for helping me figure out the puzzles so I could get the achievement award for not skipping any. TIP: if you think you are going to need the strategy guide to figure out a puzzle, check it out before making any moves or you might not be able to do it correctly. I did earn every award available for the main game, but got tired and frustrated during the bonus play and missed one there.
The cat character and interaction was a cute addition and made me smile.
The hint button worked great in getting me from place to place; perhaps a map would have worked better. There were lots of HOS and puzzles, so the pace was good. I was able to play without sound and still hear the voiceovers, which is a sign of a really good game in my opinion.
Always neat to have a game based loosely on a real book.
I recommend this game!
Gather items, solve puzzles and make spine-chilling discoveries as you explore a deserted island in Twisted Lands: Shadow Town!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
SURPRISE ENDING
PostedApril 27, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Very unexpected, surprise ending. Although sometimes the bonus play in a CE will continue the theme of the game and reveal more information, I have read the reviews for the CE for this game, and this is not so. Therefore, you are left with the weird ending with no explanation.
This game seriously needed an interactive map, which, again, is not in the CE. There was so much going back and forth that there was no way I could remember where something was that needed to be done. Thankfully, the hint button worked great in pointing my way through the game.
This game has lots of HOS that were pretty cluttered and dark.
The length of the game was pretty long, but if you didn't have to go back and forth so much, it could have been a lot sorter, and less frustrating.
Don't know whether to recommend or not, so I won't do either.
Charles Dexter Ward summons you to the island of Pawtuxet to stop a revenant from murdering the townspeople.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
ACTUALLY BASED ON A BOOK
PostedApril 26, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is based on a book by H.P. Lovecraft and within the game you could buy the ebook version. I actually went to Amazon and got a complete collection of his works in ebook form at a very reasonable price.
I vacillated between giving this game a four or a five rating, and decided on a five because I haven't given a five out in a long time, and I enjoyed this game more than others I have played recently.
The storyline flows fairly logically and linearly throughout the game. There is a lot of back and forth and it could have really used an interactive map. But the hint button was great and showed you where to go next. I never referenced the built-in strategy guide (another plus for the game) even though I could have used it for some of the puzzles. I ended up skipping a few of them. There were a variety of puzzles and none were repeated.
The HOS varied in quality, some being kind of cluttered and dark, others clearer. A few times I ran into an object that I needed to use a hint for.
This game has lots of HOS and puzzles and kept me busy and interested all the way through. I'll be trying out some more from this series, if available.
I recommend this game!
Work as a Park Ranger in a beautiful National Park!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS
PostedApril 24, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game had 3 levels within each HOS. First, there was the normal list of objects to find, then there was a silhouette list of "lost" items, and finally, there were various pieces of litter that needed to be picked up. You obtain a bronze, silver or gold star for each location, depending on how well you do with all 3 levels. You only get a gold star if you find all three sets of objects. In the case of the litter objects, on the first play, there was no way to tell if you had found all of them until you were through with the scene.
Following the HOS, there were various puzzles, none of which were very hard.
You can go back and replay any of the scenes if you want to try to upgrade your bronze or silver star to a gold. I did this, but even with the replays, there were 3 locations that I was unable to get a gold star. Two were because I was unable to find all the litter items and one was because I couldn't find all the "lost" items. The hint button only works for the regular word list of objects to find.
I enjoyed this game as it was bright and had beautiful scenery. It was pretty long, with lots of locations that weren't repeated, unless you went back to replay them.
I'll be playing the sequel soon.
I recommend this game!
Be the detective: Catch the killer in the present and the past!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
NEAT TWISTS
PostedApril 23, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I liked the storyline behind this game; it was very interesting and with jumping back and forth between the present time and 1888, it really held my interest. The focus is on murders in the past that are being copied in the present; you (your player name) actually becomes a murder target. The story also included physic abilities of the protagonist.
The puzzles were varied and sometimes hard; I used the skip button several times. I only referred to the built-in strategy guide (another plus) once, because the hint button was very good at helping me figure out the next step. Collecting dream weavers increased the hints that were available. There were a total of 52 in the game and I found all of them and had almost 20 left at the end. I was also able to collect over 40 badges to open the bonus content, but didn't find all 70, which would have earned me another achievement award.
The achievement awards were pretty hard to accomplish; I think I got about 9 out of a total of around 26. Might be worth playing again to see if I could get more, but I don't have the patience.
The game flowed well; fairly intuitive and linear, but still needed the hints to figure out somethings. All in all, a good, fairly long, interesting game.
I recommend this game!