DiDi212's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.6
- Helpful Votes:1,067
- Reviews Submitted:181
- First Review:October 14, 2013
- Most Recent Review:March 27, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Vesuvia
You are not alone. Join other captives in their quest for freedom as you reveal the evil secrets possessing this puzzling paradise!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Unusual Game!
PostedJune 10, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is a very unusual match-3 game in that you can't see the full screen and must solve several steps to complete each game. I played 40 minutes of the demo. There are 2 modes: quest and frenzy. I played quest mode with untimed option.
You must find and break tiles around 4 compass points and a key to complete the game. There are also obstacles preventing the player from moving to another part of the board like needing to find the raft to use over water or bug spray for bugs.
This is an interesting game. I'm on the fence about purchasing it. Play the demo and read some comments to make an informed decision.
I recommend this game!
Break the Curse: The Crimson Gems
Save a loving couple from the clutches of a powerful alchemist in Break the Curse: The Crimson Gems!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Not a Fan of Puzzles.
PostedJune 10, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on completion of the demo in the easiest of the 2 options. This has no hidden object scenes -- it's strictly puzzles. There is a story line with inventory objects to find and use.
The skip and hint seem to recharge quickly. The music is sort of dreamy and I'm sure at some point I would get tired of it and silence it. The visual is very pretty, which is the thing I liked best about this game.
Since I skipped about half the puzzles I will not buy, even though it's $2.99. Why buy a game where I will skip most of the major focus?
Please play the demo and read some reviews to make an informed choice.
I don't recommend this game.
Antique Shop: Journey of the Lost Souls
In a race against time, Emily and company must solve the riddle of the book or Emily will be forever lost within its confines!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Completely an HOG - no puzzles and no inventory.
PostedJune 9, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This has a lot of dialogue before each location which tells the progress. Other than that it is one HOS after another, with brief looks into "the book of lost souls" where you can purchase upgrades with bottles of ink you acquire after a HOS completion. The objects in the scenes are very small and hard to find luckily the hint recharges quickly.
That's about it. Just not my cup of tea, so I'll pass this buy. Read the reviews and play the demo to see what you think -- you might love it.
I recommend this game!
Crime and Punishment: Who Framed Raskolnikov?
Travel back in time with Special Agents Alex and Kat to solve one of the most famous, and heinous, crimes in literary history!
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
It's a Crime to Purchase and Punishment to Play!
PostedJune 8, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I only played 28 minutes of the demo. What an awful game.
It's mainly just HOS where the items are so tiny, I ended up clicking on items I couldn't recognize just to try to finish the scene. You also have to find an ax, for hints, a feather, a candelabra, a letter of the alphabet, and a book in addition to say 15 objects of gold, or a mixture of junk items, which may contain a specified number of one type of an item.
Each scene takes some time to load, There are no voice over and no map. I didn't play any puzzles.
The visual is dreadful, just poorly drawn scenes.
I didn't have fun at all. I enjoy a good HOS where you really have to look to find items, but the items were so tiny, some were just impossible to find. Where is the fun in that!
I believe the negative reviews have nailed this game as a no buy, it is certainly a no buy for me. Please play the demo and read some reviews. I noticed this game has few reviews and no 5-star ratings. I've never seen a game with no 5-stare ratings and that should scream "rotten game".
I don't recommend this game.
Redemption Cemetery: Curse of the Raven Collector's Edition
Escape from the eerie Redemption Cemetery by helping trapped spirits save their loved ones, and free their souls!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Best of the Lot!
PostedJune 6, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is based on the completion of the SE DEMO only in the regular mode (the other mode is expert) which took 42 minutes. I already own RC: Bitter Frost and RC: Salvation of the Lost. I've just finished the demo of the other 2 SE games in this series. Of the last 3, this was the better game. There is a walk through for this game.
It has many HOS which are visited twice and have 16-20 items to find in a junked-up scene. Many of the items are tiny and the scene isn't very crisp graphically. However I do like HOS so I'm not complaining and I did use the hint button as I wanted to get through the demo before time ran out.
The hint button works in the HOS by pointing to an object and takes some time to reload. Outside the HOS it either points to the items, with a flock of ravens, or it tells you there is nothing left in the scene.
The puzzles aren't challenging and I didn't have to use the skip button so I can't comment on the length of time it takes to recharge.
I turned the music off as it repeated and became annoying. The graphics were rather dull.
Not a great deal of challenge here. Most things are close so, even through there is a lot of back and forth (which is normal in any game), they are easily found in only a few clicks.
I liked the story line, but there wasn't enough there to drag me in for a purchase. Even though I'm not buying this game today, it may be someone's cup of tea. Please play the demo and read some reviews.
I recommend this game!
Time Relics: Gears of Light
Can you restore the Gears of Light to the Clock Tower to defeat an ancient evil?
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Nothing Really Bad About This Game.
PostedJune 5, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is based on completion of the SE in casual mode. This game is neither long or complicated. Great game for relaxing and for beginners.
There are lots of HOS but they are repeated. However the items are cleverly hidden and there are rune stones which change the scene from present to past which shows a few different items. I really enjoyed the HOS.
The puzzles are very easy and there is one that is repeated every time you find a time gear. The skip button recharges quickly.
The hint button also recharges quickly and works well in and out of the HOS including directional hints.
There isn't a lot of back and forth as objects are always within a few clicks of one another. There isn't a map and really no need for one.
The visual is okay, nothing spectacular. The music is very nice.
The level of challenge isn't high, but I like relaxing games.
The story line isn't run of the mill. I thought it was okay.
I liked this game and think it's a good one for all. Read some reviews and play the demo to make an informed decision. There were no technical glitches or misnamed objects, so kudos to the developer.
I recommend this game!
Off the Record: Linden Shades
Something's driven everyone away from Linden Shades.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Fun and Easy.
PostedJune 3, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on completion of the SE in the most casual mode. It's not a very long game, as it is so very easy. I never got lost. There are many HOS and a few puzzles, so if you're really not into lots of HOS you won't like this game.
The sound and visuals are great. Lifelike actors are used which adds some credibility to the game and of course they have great voice overs.
The hint button recharges quickly and works outside the HOS with directional arrows or zooming into the object of the hunt.
The HOS are typical junk piles with very clear objects.
The puzzles are typical and easy with a quick skip button.
There is a walk through, but I don't think you'll need it unless you have trouble with a puzzle. Using the walk through can teach a newbie how to work the puzzle.
This game is not very challenging, but it's nice to play a game that flows and things are easy to find.
I thought the story line was very good. I really couldn't wait to find out who was in the red cape and exactly what was going on. The story really flowed.
I'm glad I bought this game. Read some reviews and play the demo to make an informed decision.
I recommend this game!
Hidden Mysteries: Royal Family Secrets
After discovering that the queen has been having a secret relationship you are sent away to Roanoke Island!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This was an okay game.
PostedJune 3, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is based on completion of the SE version on the easiest game play. This is a very short game but pretty simple. It doesn't have many bells and whistles -- no transporting map -- no voice overs -- and a hint that takes forever to reload.
It does have a map showing where there is something to do, but you have to get there on your own. I depended on the map a lot. There is much back and forth -- sometimes as many as 10 clicks only to turn around and go 10 clicks back to the previous site. I'm really spoiled to transporting maps.
The hint button shows where an item is in both the game play and during a HOS. It also points directions in game play.
I always turn the music down, so I can't comment. I didn't like that there was no voice overs. You'd think with the money the developers saved in visuals and no transporting map they could have had voice overs.
I'm not a history buff so the story line meant nothing to me. It was okay, I guess.
The HOS and puzzles were easy. The items in the HOS are in plain site and are visited twice. The puzzles are simple and the instructions clear. I don't think I skipped many puzzles, which was nice for a change.
This game is short, I guess because it's easy and finding objects are easy using the map.
I own 3 of these Hidden Mystery games and this is the only one I've completed. I just couldn't get into HM: Vampire Secrets and HM: Notre Dame: Secrets of Paris.
I recommend this game especially for beginners.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Trackers: Black Isle
Black Isle was supposedly abandoned after an earthquake but the truth is much more sinister! Join the Mystery Trackers and learn the truth!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Won't Play Again!
PostedJune 1, 2014
DiDi212
fromSmall town just south of Austin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This review is based on completing the SE in the most casual mode. I wanted to quit half way through.
The HOS were extremely hard because things sort of blended in -- way too much use of gold, silver and bright light. Some items were extremely small. Even using the hint, I sometimes couldn't see the object! Also you may need to use inventory items in the HOS.
The hint button works well by showing you the object or at least showing you the area in the HOS. During game play the hint either points to the object in the current scene or tells you where to use an object but doesn't transport you there. There are not directional hints. I used the hint button often about half way through the game.
The skip button works in the puzzles after recharging. I did skip some of the puzzles as they were just too difficult for me, however, I found many of them lots of fun.
The map does transport you to a scene, however it doesn't always have and exclamation mark showing something needs to be done in an area. Like I said previously, the hint button tells you where to use an item, then I would use the map to get there. The map is in several different pieces, e.g., West Wing, East Wing, etc., so you also had to remember where the locations were.
It would be wise to play this game in one sitting because it gets confusing -- there is so much to remember and so much back and forth traveling.
I've seen much better visuals. "Live" people are used. Nothing is crisp, always seemed just a tad out of focus.
The background sound was very annoying so I turned it off, and I turned down the music as well.
The story didn't seem to complete. It started out one way and ended up about something different. Absurd and abrupt ending.
There wasn't much I did like about this game. Read some reviews and play the demo, however, the demo really doesn't begin to show the difficulties of this game. Perhaps this wasn't the best week to play this game as I've had a lot on my mind.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Heritage: Guardians of Hope
Your favorite professor summons you to the island of Castle Rock. He wants you to find the philosopher's stone and save the world!
Overall rating
1
/
5
Not for me.
PostedMay 26, 2014
DiDi212
fromLockhart, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is based on about 30 minutes of the demo played in the most causal mode.
Just couldn't get into it. It's grayish hues didn't add anything in its favor. Not at lot of things to find to help in your quest. I don't even think it has a map.
This is definitely a no buy for me even on a 2 for 1 weekend. Read some reviews and play the demo to make an informed decision. There are so many great games out there, just not this one.
I don't recommend this game.