arnold1049's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:4,545
- Reviews Submitted:557
- First Review:February 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:June 9, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
In Travel Mosaics: A Paris Tour, explore the beauty of France while completing colorful and challenging mosaics puzzles.
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
NO ROOM FOR ERROR
PostedJune 11, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
In order to achieve 3 stars for a board, you cannot make a mistake or use any of the 4 bonuses for help. So why are bonuses even available and, secondly, why would you want to use any of the "money" you earn to upgrade the bonuses when their use removes a star? I can't imagine very many people who play a game intending to make mistakes or use bonuses when both of these actions result in losing a star. It makes absolutely no sense. Thankfully, the mosaics aren't that hard to do using the Easy setting. I am at the fifth location out of 20, so this may change as I continue farther into the game. If the boards get to the point where they can't be solved without help, then I will quit the game and delete it. Why play if you have little or no possibility of obtaining perfection?
To add another design flaw, most of the achievements are based on earning 3 stars, yet the game is designed to make this almost impossible.
In addition to stars, there are also "lives" that "die" when you make a mistake. Each board starts with two lives available and more are added arbitrarily during game play. Lose too many lives and you have to start the board over. I have no clue how this adds to the enjoyment or challenge of the game; making mistakes eliminates stars, so how do lives mean anything?
Three other things also detracted from the game. 1.The pulsing paint brushes for the colors give me a headache. 2.The numbers for the columns and rows were extremely hard to see. The background used for the numbers was the same color as the numbers, providing absolutely no contrast. For example, red numbers against a red background, blue numbers against a blue background, etc. 3.There is no skip option for the bonus puzzle, one for each of the 20 locations. If you can't finish the bonus puzzle, you can't advance to the next location.
This is a poorly constructed, illogical game that sets you up for failure.
I don't recommend this game.
Pack your bags and get ready to travel the world while you play through over 100 levels of colorful mosaic puzzle fun.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
NO VARIETY
PostedJune 5, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I always buy these games without playing the demo because I've always enjoyed them. However, the last two games I'm playing have dropped the Labyrinth and Mystery Lands boards. With only two types of game play, multi-color and shapes, the games have become boring. I particularly like the Labyrinth boards but both this one and the Mystery Lands had some wonderful, colorful graphics and animation. From now on, I'll play the trial for any future releases in these series and if this pattern continues, I will not waste my money, In fact, I'm not sure I'm going to finish the ones I've already purchased. What a disappointment and what a step backwards for what started out as 5 star games.
I don't recommend this game.
Take a trip with the World's Greatest Places Mosaics 3 today! Play 3 different types of mosaics and find out about greatest places of the world.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
NO VARIETY
PostedJune 4, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Where are the Mystery Lands and Labyrinth boards? There are only two types of boards; multi-color and shapes, with shapes predominating. Definitely not up to the quality of the other World's Greatest Places/Cities Mosaics games. Very disappointing.
Assemble patchwork mosaics while you travel with Alice and the famous characters of Wonderland and Looking-Glass Land!
Overall rating
4
/
5
CHECK OUT LEVEL 24
PostedMay 24, 2018
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Level 24, IMHO, is the perfect example of what I think a patchwork design should be. The pattern was totally symmetrical and was something you would see in a patchwork quilt or similar fabric works. Since I have purchased this game, I hope to run into more puzzles of this caliber that support what I would expect from the "patchwork" title.
I recommend this game!
Travel Mosaics is the perfect relaxing challenge for the intrepid armchair traveler!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
WHEN THEY SAY GUESS, THEY MEAN IT
PostedMay 13, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I played 45 minutes of the trial and got to the bonus puzzle at the first location. At that point, there was no way to apply logic to solve the grid, no matter which color you were playing. In the instructions, the word "guess" is used many times, and they weren't kidding. The only way to solve a grid by guessing, and I have done this before, is to use a piece of grid paper and mark all the correct guesses before you run out of lives (make too many mistakes) and have to start over. By using the grid paper, the next time around, you can transfer the correct guesses back to the game grid and have that many fewer guesses to make. As you continue to guess, if you play enough times and make and transfer accurate markings on the grid paper, you will finally be able to solve the grid in order to be able to continue to the next puzzle. Personally, I think this is way too much work when there are so many other games that can be solved with your brain, instead of paper and pen. Well, I guess instead of pen and paper, you could take screen shots and print them out to keep track of your correct guesses.
I would sincerely like to know how the persons who rated this game 5 stars managed to solve the grids that were based solely on guessing. You have limited lives, two to start each puzzle, and limited power ups. Each mistake takes away a life, and when you run out of lives, you have to start over. There is no skip button and the next puzzle does not unlock until the previous puzzle is solved, which means completing the grid with at least one life left.
I purchased the first game in this series and so far, even though the instructions contained the dreaded word "guess", I haven't run into a grid that I have been unable to solve. Once I do, I will uninstall the game and just mark the money I've wasted up to experience. If the developers intend to continue this series, I would suggest that they base the grids on logic, as is expected from this genre, and take the "guessing" out of their product.
I don't recommend this game.
The forest fairies are once again in need of help! Use the magic of numbers and logic to free the captive forest creatures.
Overall rating
2
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
UNABLE TO PLAY WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS
PostedMay 6, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
When this series came out, I was glad to have another choice in this genre. I have now purchased and played all three games in this series and I have the same complaints for all of them.
The background used for the numbers above the columns and next to the rows is a dark blue that the dark colored numbers are impossible to see without a magnifying glass. The background for the tiles is the scene itself, so, depending on what position the tiles fall on the scene, they can also be impossible to see. Additionally, the differences in the colored tiles is often so slight, (black, dark brown, even darker brown), creates another problem that makes the games extremely hard to play.
I'm not sure why I continue to struggle with these games. I even purchased a better magnifying glass to help. I'm thinking that the eye strain caused by the choice of color schemes is not worth it.
The background used for the numbers above the columns and next to the rows is a dark blue that the dark colored numbers are impossible to see without a magnifying glass. The background for the tiles is the scene itself, so, depending on what position the tiles fall on the scene, they can also be impossible to see. Additionally, the differences in the colored tiles is often so slight, (black, dark brown, even darker brown), creates another problem that makes the games extremely hard to play.
I'm not sure why I continue to struggle with these games. I even purchased a better magnifying glass to help. I'm thinking that the eye strain caused by the choice of color schemes is not worth it.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the ancient forest and help forest fairies discover hidden images.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
UNABLE TO PLAY WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS
PostedMay 6, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
When this series came out, I was glad to have another choice in this genre. I have now purchased and played all three games in this series and I have the same complaints for all of them.
The background used for the numbers above the columns and next to the rows is a dark blue that the dark colored numbers are impossible to see without a magnifying glass. The background for the tiles is the scene itself, so, depending on what position the tiles fall on the scene, they can also be impossible to see. Additionally, the differences in the colored tiles is often so slight, (black, dark brown, even darker brown), creates another problem that makes the games extremely hard to play.
I'm not sure why I continue to struggle with these games. I even purchased a better magnifying glass to help. I'm thinking that the eye strain caused by the choice of color schemes is not worth it.
I don't recommend this game.
Get ready to travel through Japan in the springtime. Play through four chapters of love and romance while solving colorful mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
1
/
5
3 of 15 found this review helpful
SO DISAPPOINTING
PostedApril 28, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I was expecting a game on the level of Spring Mosaics, but was disappointed. Some reviewers have already mentioned these issues as well; incredibly hard to read the numbers over the columns and beside the rows, and distracting and confusing paint brush as part of the cursor. Another issue I have may be a problem with my laptop, but the complete screen did not show on my monitor; I could not see the bottom row of icons, including the menu option to be able to use the power-ups, hints, lives, etc., nor the text for the storyline. I thought I saw mentioned a game called Winter in Italy (?), which makes me think this is part of a 4 game series. I sure hope they get the numbers and cursor problems fixed before anymore are released. The fact that the screen does not fit my monitor is probably something wrong with my settings. I have tried several things but have yet to hit on the solution. I love these kinds of mosaic games and was excited to get another one to play. Again, I am so disappointed in the quality of this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Penny out of the time portal by solving new mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 6 found this review helpful
WHY CHANGE A GOOD THING?
PostedMarch 7, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This series of griddlers became my favorite when they added more colors to the grids. Now they have decided to restrict the colors to unlock one at a time, which technically, takes it back to being a one-color (at a time) griddler. Seems like change for change's sake and does not add to the game for me. I didn't realize what was going on until I replayed one level. Only one color was unlocked to play, After I was about half way through that first color, then another color unlocked, but not the next color in order. I don't remember this in the levels I had played before this. I saw that not all the colors were available to play at first, but I'm pretty sure at least two colors where available at any one time. Perhaps the only one color available to play is a penalty for replaying the level.
This will be the last game in this series that I will buy without playing the demo. If they want the game to be more challenging, then add this one color at a time option to the Advanced menu and leave us "boring" players to our relaxing play
I recommend this game!
Find out what mysteries his peaceful village is hiding.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Easy Pleasy Fun Game
PostedMarch 3, 2018
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have not written a review here for years, but I couldn't help but to attract players to try this game. This game had lots of hidden object scenes and everyone of them were mixed in difficulty. I am not a competitive person and I don't like the pressure of timed games. Although the mini games were a tad easy, I played the easiest level of difficulty. I don't want a game that hypes me up because I can't figure out what is going on, or the HO are so small or hidden (invisible) that it isn't fun. This game is relaxing and it's, again, has lots of HOS, a big plus for me. I finished playing this game with a relaxed feeling of accomplishment and saying to myself, "This is a good game". Hope we will see some more just like it.