purpleporpoise's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.5
- Helpful Votes:1,384
- Reviews Submitted:36
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:May 4, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help Robert Cath, a fugitive American with a mysterious background, find his friend’s murderer aboard The Last Express!
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 76 found this review helpful
Finally...a game that makes me think!
PostedNovember 22, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I played this game less than half-an-hour before I fell in love with it! I read the reviews in the BFG forums before I bought it and they were mixed, but I took a chance. I was a little concerned, since there was no trial, that it would run on my 64-bit Vista PC, but I've had no problems so far. It did rearrange my desktop icons a bit, because the screen resolution changes (I presume to a lower one) when you play the game, but my resolution went right back to what it was once I exited the game.
I was a little confused as to how to exit the game prior to completing it (you definitely will not finish it in one sitting), but figured out that if you click off-screen at the very lower right-hand corner, it will take you out to the main menu where you can exit the game. I have a 19-inch monitor and apparently there is a button in the lower right-hand corner that is cut off the screen. I've had that problem with another game, too. It may simply be my monitor. So just be aware of that. The main menu allows you to exit or come back and continue the game where you left off.
Now, for the game itself. Nice music. The graphics are in a style reminiscent of old-fashioned art deco nouveau. If you're expecting the crisp hi-def graphics of the modern computer games we play now, you may be disappointed. I happen to love art nouveau, so it doesn't bother me.
According to what I've read, the game was first released in 1997. I was intrigued by the descriptions of the game and, after watching two youtube presentations, was sold on it. Just Google "Last Express" or search youtube and you will find them.
All the action happens in real time aboard the Orient Express. In other words, if you don't move your cursor and you stand in the diner car for 5 minutes doing nothing, you're literally doing nothing in front of your computer for 5 minutes. So technically, I could stop playing, go wash the dishes, fix lunch and come back and pick up exactly where I left off. HAA - love it!
The graphics look much like a real film that was then animated and that's my understanding of how the game really was made. There is no explanation of what to do, no sparkles, no hints. There may be strategy manuals online, I don't know. You just click and move along the aisles or wherever you're "walking" with your mouse, uncover clues and figure out what to do next.
People speak to you as you "walk" up to them. I DON'T THINK THESE ARE SPOILERS, because they show them in the youtube videos, but people in the diner and coach cars carry on conversations with each other, a little boy runs up and down the aisle of the sleeper car blowing a whistle and irritating his mother who fusses at him, a growling dog warns you away from another sleeper car. People speak French and, but for the translation at the bottom of the screen, you don't understand what they're saying. Very realistic game play and it's fun when you discover something and then you know you're on the right track and the game progresses a little.
It's also my understanding from reading other reviews of the game that there are several ways you can play this game out, so it sounds like you could play it over again once you finish and try doing things differently the next time. There's definitely some strategy to be figured out and the game really makes you think about what to do next. I feel like a detective, just like in a real who-dunnit.
I give it a 4 on fun factor only because some gamers may not like the atmosphere or the graphics and may find that there is not enough explanation of what you're supposed to be doing to make it enjoyable. But for me, it's a win-win because I love who-dunnits and a challenge. I think this game is going to keep me busy for quite awhile and I'm really glad I bought it. Well worth the price!
I recommend this game!
Fairway Solitaire
Pull out your clubs (and your diamonds, hearts and spades) and enjoy a round of Fairway Solitaire!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 19 found this review helpful
Really fun combination of solitaire and golf!
PostedNovember 21, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I know nothing about golf, but I've played solitaire games for years and eventually find them boring and frustrating when I cannot win. But Fairway Solitaire is the most fun one I've played so far. Combining it with golf takes away the boredom for me of simply matching sequential cards. There is some strategy involved in choosing which card to play, just like in regular solitaire, and I'm even learning a little about golf!
Cartoonish graphics are perfect and I love the crowd sounds and the announcers' dialogue! Taking too long to play a card apparently triggers them to make funny remarks, like "I think there's a problem here, I'm not sure what they're doing!" Hilarious! But the dialogue does start repeating after awhile and you can always turn the sound down.
Nice relaxed play and enough difficulty to please even expert gamers IMO. I haven't gotten through all the courses yet and I've read on the BFG forums that the game gets harder as you go along and that some of the levels are difficult and take a long time to play through to get to the next course. But that's fine with me. That's the purpose of a game, after all, and this one should keep me busy for awhile!
If you like golf and solitaire, you'll probably like this game. A definite win-win for me!
I recommend this game!
Peggle Deluxe
Do you have what it takes to become a Peggle Master? Take your best shot! Ready, aim... bounce!
Overall rating
5
/
5
101 of 126 found this review helpful
This game is just plain fun...What more can I say?!
PostedNovember 20, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I can sit and play this game for hours! It's lots of fun, doesn't require intense concentration, so I can play while I'm listening to TV or a radio program. I'm not an expert at arcade games, but I can actually get through some levels and get bonus points.
The sound effects are fantastic and the graphics are cute and very colorful. It says there are 55 levels, but I don't think I've gotten through even 5 yet, so I'll definitely have lots of playtime with this game for some time to come. I can't say how much more difficult the levels get as you advance through the game, but there is definitely skill involved in shooting the balls and deciding which ones to aim for to get the most points.
Win power boosts and extra balls. Replay skill levels. Very entertaining! My daughter told me about this one and it was a definite buy after I tried the trial.
I recommend this game!
Survive the dangerous Magic Island and become a Grand Magician in Mysteries of Magic Island, a fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
I love this one! Fun game - great graphics, medium difficulty HOG
PostedNovember 20, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I'm really having fun with this game! I'm a beginner with hidden-object games, but I think I can reasonably say this is of medium difficulty as far as HOGs go. It's not too difficult, but not too easy either. Some of the objects are more difficult than others to find (you can always use a "hint" and it recharges), so there is definitely a level of challenge. However, perhaps not challenging enough for expert HOGgers. I can't really say anything about the length of the game, because I'm not finished yet.
The story line is simple, but fun. You have to leave Magic Island and make it back to the school in order to become a wizard! I really enjoy games with a medieval or magical theme and this has both. I like that you can actually move some of the hidden objects around to find others - that's the first time I've seen that.
Lots of moving back and forth between scenes and the puzzles are fun, not so difficult that you can't solve in a reasonable amount of time to keep game moving ahead at a decent pace. The music and sounds are pleasant, not intrusive and the graphics are very good to excellent IMO.
I tried this game as a daily deal through the game club after reading reviews of it in the forum, but it would have been a definite buy for me even at full price.
I recommend this game!
Join Steve the Sheriff in an all new Hidden Object Adventure crime saga set in the zany town of Neptuneville.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 44 found this review helpful
Cute characaters, nice break from more intense HOGs....
PostedNovember 19, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Plants vs Zombies
(329)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Steve the Sheriff 2 is a nice change from the more challenging IHOGs I've been playing. I'm newb to hidden-object games and I'm finding some of them hard and a little difficult at times to get to the next level. So this one is a nice break, giving more relaxed play, while still offering me a little challenge here-and-there.
The characters are cute and the graphics are great IMO. Hidden objects are fairly easy to find, but I've had to use hints on a few and I like the way you can hover over an object clue and the magnifying glass will show you the shape of what you're looking for, which has been very helpful a few times.
I've read a few other reviews that say some of the dialogue bubbles between Steve and his family around the dinner table are irritating, but I just click through them fast, so it didn't bother me. The story line is a little silly, but he's a FISH, after all!
If you're new to HOGs, this might be a good one to start out with before jumping on the larger, more challenging games and might be a good one for kids to play, but probably wouldn't be challenging enough or long enough play time for expert HOGgers.
I recommend this game!
Plants vs Zombies
Think fast, and plant faster, to stem a zombie attack! Save your home, and your brains, in this exciting Action/Arcade game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
205 of 281 found this review helpful
Just don't let the zombies eat your brains....
PostedNovember 19, 2011
purpleporpoise
fromUSA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Plants vs Zombies
(329)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I just had to give a review of Plants vs Zombies. I'm a newb, not an expert and this is actually the first arcade game I've played since Gorf on the VIC-20. But this has got to be the most fun so far. I could play for hours. It's my daughter's fault - she got me started!
Fun plant characters. Love the narrator, Crazy Dave. The music is great, not too intrusive or irritating. Even the zombies are cute. I can actually make it to the next levels and there is even some strategy involved: be selective about the plants you pick to use as you advance. OMG, I just found out there's a Plants vs Zombies 2!
If you're new to PC games, this is a great first game! Just have fun and, most important, DON'T LET THE ZOMBIES EAT YOUR BRAINS!
I recommend this game!