Zurreen's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:369
- Reviews Submitted:165
- First Review:January 31, 2015
- Most Recent Review:December 9, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Discover a story of mysterious kidnappings of both children and mafiosi.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
A Wonderful Surprise
PostedOctober 25, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I should note at the beginning that I am not a fan of games *or* movies about the Mafia, mobsters, etc. In fact, I even played this game only because it was a gift. So it was quite a nice surprise as I played the game and found that it was really *not* about mobsters, etc. Rather, it is actually something of a supernatural story, with the mafia and mobsters' being only an *incidental* part of the story.
The storyline is original and interesting. The graphics, the music, and the voice-acting are all very good. The Hidden-Object Puzzles (HOP's) and other puzzles are quite original and fun. Some of them can be rather challenging though. But the good news is that you can use the Hint and Skip even in the hardest difficulty mode. Thus, you can use the Hint to help you in the HOP's and Skip any puzzle you might not like. I should note though that you don't *have* to skip any puzzles because there are some excellent walkthroughs online. [Just one word of caution though: if you get stuck on the painting/color puzzle in the Hall, try the YouTube walkthrough, because the Big Fish walkthrough is somewhat misleading, at least in its solution to that particular puzzle.]
I should also add that the Hint can be used both in the game as well as in the HOP's. Finally, the Map is useful both in showing the various locations, as well as taking you to the ones you have already visited.
In short, this is a pretty interesting game. I enjoyed it, and I think you will too. And that is why
I recommend this game!
You are sent to a remote island to solve a simple case that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between you and the culprits.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Rather Dull For Me
PostedOctober 23, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The storyline is really neither original nor interesting. Just another run-of-the-mill murder mystery, and not really much of a mystery at that. I had hoped that gimmicks like the deduction board, etc., would actually allow me to use my "little grey cells" (as Agatha Christie's Poirot called them) a bit. As it turned out, however, all you have to do is basically throw all the given pieces of evidence into a given circle and see what sticks - literally! So not very exciting at all.
Having said that, I should note that everything else about the game is pretty good. Thus, the graphics, the music, the voice-acting, is all good. You can use the Hint and Skip even in the Expert mode. The Hint can be used both in the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOP's) as well as in the game itself. The Map is useful both for showing locations and taking you to those locations. In the Expert mode, it just doesn't show where an action or task is available.
Since this *is* a Collector's Edition (CE), you have a Bonus Chapter, of course; and, unlike many CE games, the bonus chapter of this game is actually and directly linked to the main game. In fact, it is practically the last chapter of the story, though not necessarily a part of *the* main story. In other words, you can very well play the Standard Edition of the game and not miss much.
Finally, again since this *is* a CE game, you also have Achievements. Most of the achievements are actually very easy to get. Three of them are related just to getting this one set of Collectible: Dolls; and they are all very (in fact TOO) easy to find. There are just a few achievements that are a bit difficult to get, but only because of the ridiculously short amount of time required to finish something (like finishing a HOP in less than 20 seconds, a Minigame in less than 30 seconds, etc.).
In short, this is really a very easy game. In fact, in addition to having a dull storyline, my only other complaint with this game would be that it is just TOO easy. But if you are not looking for an original and intriguing murder mystery, and just want to play a game with very easy HOP's and Minigames, etc., you might well enjoy this game. And that is why
I recommend this game!
Find hidden objects, complete fun tasks and solve exciting puzzles to save a dazzling and enigmatic island.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Great Game, IF You Can Play It All The Way Through!
PostedSeptember 27, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is actually a great game. The story is interesting, the graphics are good, and the puzzles are truly great. The music is nice, but *can* start to get on your nerves after a while. But the good news is that you can adjust it, or mute it altogether! Just go to Options, and look for the speaker icon along with the volume level for the three sounds: sound, music, and effects. Thus, you can adjust or mute any or all of them.
The Hidden-Object Puzzles (HOP's) are the usual kind where you have to pick out objects from a list given at the bottom of the screen. You get Skip and Hint even in the Difficult (most difficult, equivalent to Expert) mode, and the Hint helps both in the game as well as in the HOP's. What's most amazing is that the Hint recharges *instantly*, even in the Difficult mode. Now I didn't use the map much, but I think it shows places where an action is available, in addition to taking you to the various locations, even in the Difficult mode.
The game does have its downsides though. For one thing, except for the actress who plays the heroine, the voice-acting is really bad, especially that of the witch. As I mentioned, the puzzles are really great, but there are just way too many of them. Most critically, however, the game has a fatal bug: it tends to freeze, in which case you can't even go to the Main Menu. You have to use the Windows key to minimize the game to the task bar, and then right-click on the game's icon there and choose "close" to close it. You then have to restart the game, delete your profile, and start the game all over. I personally had to start the game three times before I could finish it. The first time, I had only closed the game in the regular way (going to the Main Menu, etc.). When I came back to resume the game where I had left off, it had frozen. The second time, I tried to play it all the way through without closing it (putting my computer to sleep, when I took any breaks). But then, the over-acting witch popped up to deliver one line, and then left with a big blank dialog box which would not go away! The third time, I *was* actually able to finish the game. But when I tried to replay the game's puzzles that are given in the so-called "Bonus" section, the game had frozen, for no apparent reason! I am not going to report the problem to Big Fish, of course, because they never do fix anything. I am noting this just so that you would beware of that problem and won't be unpleasantly surprised if it happens to you.
In spite of these problems though, the game IS worth playing. And that is why
I recommend this game!
Can you reveal the story behind the watch, defeat the witch and save your sister in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
Kids' Game Not For Kids
PostedSeptember 24, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Make no mistake: this IS a game for kids. If the story and the graphics don't convince you of that, the toy, green, clapping and dancing crocodile used for Hints should!
The game is in fact quite reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland" in just so many ways: the little girl falling down a hole, having an unbelievable companion as a guide, into a world of pure fantasy, etc. Only I don't recall that Alice, at any point, had used a GUN - or any other violent means, for that matter - to deal with any of *her* adversaries. So I was really struck by the fact that the little girl in this game uses a GUN to dispose of the "enemies." And she does this, not once, but several times! And that is why I would NOT recommend this game for kids. Don't we have enough violence already in this country (U.S.), with *adults* shooting and killing little *schoolchildren*, that we should have games that make the children think it's okay to use violence to resolve our problems, no matter how "evil" they might perceive the threat to be?!!
I realize that just because a game is designed as a kids' game, there is no reason that an *adult* cannot play or even enjoy it. Personally, however, I found nothing really appealing about this game. There is a variety of puzzles in the game, yes, but I found most of them to be just plain tedious and boring. There were a few Hidden-Object Puzzles (HOP's) that clearly fit our notion of what we have come to think of as HOP's, but there is nothing very novel or interesting about the HOP's in this game.
In short, I really didn't enjoy this game at all. I finished it only because I like to finish what I start *and* because I believe it's only fair to try the whole game before writing a review about it. But this game was so boring, it was a real *challenge* just to finish it. For that reason,
I don't recommend this game.
What's more important - the fate of the world or the destiny of your family? Find out in this amazing hidden object adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Great Game, But Some Really Bad Puzzles & Achievements
PostedSeptember 21, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The story begins a bit dull, but becomes very interesting as you go along. There is even voice-acting, which is always a plus. Most of the voice-actors are pretty good, except for the one who plays the son. Now I know that the character himself, the son, is supposed to be a really spoiled *brat*; but the actor really overplays, making him almost a caricature and just *too* annoying. (If I had a son like that, I'd probably put him in a military school to learn how to respect your elders, especially your own mother!)
As for the game itself... The graphics are pretty good, and the music is really nice. I played in the Hard mode, which was the hardest difficulty mode. So I don't know how much more help was available in easier modes. I do know though that, in the Hard mode, the Map not only shows locations but actually helps you get from one location to another. Both the Skip and Hint buttons are available; they are just supposed to recharge slowly. The Hint button is supposed to help you both in the Hidden-Object Puzzles (HOP's) and in the game itself. [Note: I say "supposed to" because I never used the Skip or the Hint either for the HOP's or in the game, because doing so would have cost me some Achievements.]
The HOP's are somewhat original, although they can be rather tiresome and not so interesting. But it's really the puzzles that got on my nerves. There are just so many of them! What's more, some of them are really nonsensical. None of them are really original, mind you, often being just overly complex variations of puzzles you find in countless other HO games. But in trying to make some puzzles really complex, the devs have sometimes crossed the lines, beyond sanity in some cases. For example, there is one puzzle where you are supposed to put a sound recording together. I have seen that kind of puzzle in one other game. But there, you actually got to *hear* the pieces of sound, which helped you put the whole thing together. In this game, however, you have to put together six full lines without ANY sound OR clue as to which pieces go on which line, and the recording doesn't begin to play until *after* you have put together all the pieces in the right places! So that can be pretty frustrating, to say the least.
Since this is a Collector's Edition, the devs felt obliged to give us Achievements, of course. If you have read my other reviews, you know that I am not a big "fan" of Achievements, to begin with; but the Achievements in this game are especially annoying. I am not talking about the Collectibles, even though there are far too many "Collections" in this game. You have the usual Morphing Objects; but then, you have SIX other sets of Collectibles as well. However, I was able to find all of them without much difficulty. But there is no need to worry even if you don't find them all. Just wait until you have finished the game, then go as follows: Main Menu > Extras > Collections. and you will get a page showing all the collections and how many you got of each collection. Click on the "Complete collections" in the lower-right corner of the page. The game will ask you whether you want to play the main chapter or the bonus chapter. Click on the one you want (because there is a collection in the bonus chapter too!) and you will be able to visit all the locations in that chapter and try to find what you missed the first time.
So, no, all the collections were not such a problem What *was* the problem, was some of the Achievements themselves. As I mentioned earlier, some of the puzzles are just absolutely nonsensical. Unfortunately, it is usually just such puzzles that you must solve - either in a certain amount of time OR a certain number of steps - to earn an Achievement. Thus, the nonsensical puzzles become even a bigger nuisance, as you try to solve them as fast as you can or in a minimal number of steps. What makes it all even worse is that the game (at least in my Hard mode) barely gives any sensible instructions. Thus, you are likely to lose some time or steps just trying to figure out what in the world you are supposed to do, in the first place!
Normally, under such circumstances where some or most of the Achievements are the biggest nuisance, I would recommend just getting the Standard Edition of the game. Neither the Extras nor the Strategy Guide are really worth the extra bucks. But if you decide to play this game, you actually *need* to buy the Collector's Edition, *only* because of the Bonus Chapter, which in fact provides you the very Conclusion of the main game!
In short, if you don't mind some frustration in tackling some of those bad puzzles, or risking not getting some of those bad achievements, then
I recommend this game!
Prove the innocence of a young queen before she is put to death for a crime she didn't commit!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Rather Grim, For My Taste
PostedSeptember 18, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The story is, true to its title, rather grim... According to the credits, it was inspired by two classics, "The Six Swans" by the Brothers Grimm and "The Wild Swans" by Hans Christian Andersen. I never read either of those classics, so they may well have been as grim as this game's story. Nevertheless, since the game *was* said to be "inspired by" those classics, I would have preferred they had made this story at least somewhat less grim. And, yes, I do know that Hidden-Object (HO) games generally do tend to be rather dark. Still, it really gets to me when innocent folks (especially as many as in this game) are killed off, and so gratuitously at that... :(
As for the game itself now... The graphics *are* pretty good, and so is the music (although rather sad, thus actually befitting the sad story). Both the Skip and Hint buttons are available even in the Expert mode, and the Hint button helps in both the HO puzzles (HOPs) as well as in the game itself. The Map is also quite useful, not only in showing the locations but actually taking you there, again even in the Expert mode. It just doesn't indicate where the next available action is, in the Expert mode.
The HOPs are not that difficult, although they are not the usual kind where you have to find objects from a list given at the bottom of the screen. Rather, they are of the other variety where you must find *pieces* of an object, and only the pieces themselves are depicted at the bottom of the screen. Thus, you don't even know the final object you will get until you have solved the HOP. Definitely, not *my* kind of HOP.
The other puzzles are mostly easy, although neither original nor very interesting. If you have played many HO games, you must have seen countless variations of just about every one of the puzzles in the game.
Since this *is* after all a Collector's Edition, you have Achievements, of course. But they are really not as many as there might appear to be when you check out the Achievements tab. First, you have to find what are called Healer's Sigils (HSs). There are 31 in all, and all of them are quite easy to find. Just be sure NOT to exit the game as soon as you click on a HS because the game tends NOT to Autosave the fact you have picked it up, and thus your total might come out short at the end of the game. So be sure to pause the game and check the Achievements that appear on that pause menu, to make sure the game has registered the new addition. You are welcome. :)
The Achievements themselves are divided into two locations: a Chest and a Book, at the bottom of the Achievements screen. The Book contains 18 achievements, but I would call it a deceptive set, because you get almost all of these achievements just by progressing in the game! The Chest is the real set of achievements, but there are only 11 achievements in it, with three based on just how many HS's (one, half, all) you have gotten in the game. So, again, there are really not that many achievements, and all of them are pretty easy to get.
Finally, there is the Bonus Game. It is not what you would call a prequel to the main game, since it doesn't tell you how we reached the point we did at the start of the main game (all that is explained in the main game itself). Rather, the Bonus Game is just a short story set in the time period before the main game's story begins. I wonder whether the devs thought it might lighten up the mood, so to speak, to end the collection by showing us characters that had been killed off in the main game. But, for me, it only added to the grimness, to see those characters "in the flesh," so to speak, knowing that they *had* been killed off in the main game.
In short, the game is pretty good, if it were not for the above-mentioned grimness. It that grimness doesn't bother you as it bothered me, then by all means
I recommend this game!
Ariel's twin sister, Belle, has been kidnapped and it's up to you to assist in her rescue!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Rather Dull & Dreary...
PostedSeptember 6, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I actually played the Premium Edition, but I don't think that is much different from the Collector's Edition. Either way, I wouldn't give the game a high rating, for the following reasons.
The storyline was a bit original, though it was basically just a variation on the age-old theme of the fight between Good and Evil. At any rate, it was not really very interesting.
The graphics were rather dull and flat. The locations were especially pretty dismal, and the characters seemed to be something out of a children's book - a not-so-well-written children's book...
The Hint and Skip buttons are available even in the hardest difficulty mode. They just take longer to recharge in that mode. The Hint works in both the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) as well as in the game, but it is of limited use in the latter. For example, the Hint will lead you to the location where an action is possible. It will even point at the object you need to examine. But it doesn't tell you what you need to use there (at least it didn't in the hardest difficulty mode). So, unless it is pretty clear what you need to use, you end up using everything in your inventory, sometimes only to realize that you might not yet have picked up the item you need to use there!
Probably the worst thing about the game is that there is NO MAP! So it can be really tedious to get around, especially when you have to go back to location one, for example, to pick up the item you need to use at location eight!
The HOPs are easy enough, though not really very interesting, especially because of the graphics. The mini-games are also rather easy, but most of them are not very interesting either.
The Bonus Game was at least related to the main game. It was also pretty short and straight-forward, but riddled with the same problems as the main game: poor graphics, dreary locations, etc.
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy this game at all. So, unless you don't mind the above problems and enjoy solving a slew of simple and sometimes even fun mini-games,
I don't recommend this game.
Ariel's twin sister, Belle, has been kidnapped and it's up to you to assist in her rescue!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Rather Dull & Dreary...
PostedSeptember 6, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I actually played the Premium Edition, but I don't think that is much different from the Collector's Edition. Either way, I wouldn't give the game a high rating, for the following reasons.
The storyline was a bit original, though it was basically just a variation on the age-old theme of the fight between Good and Evil. At any rate, it was not really very interesting.
The graphics were rather dull and flat. The locations were especially pretty dismal, and the characters seemed to be something out of a children's book - a not-so-well-written children's book...
The Hint and Skip buttons are available even in the hardest difficulty mode. They just take longer to recharge in that mode. The Hint works in both the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) as well as in the game, but it is of limited use in the latter. For example, the Hint will lead you to the location where an action is possible. It will even point at the object you need to examine. But it doesn't tell you what you need to use there (at least it didn't in the hardest difficulty mode). So, unless it is pretty clear what you need to use, you end up using everything in your inventory, sometimes only to realize that you might not yet have picked up the item you need to use there!
Probably the worst thing about the game is that there is NO MAP! So it can be really tedious to get around, especially when you have to go back to location one, for example, to pick up the item you need to use at location eight!
The HOPs are easy enough, though not really very interesting, especially because of the graphics. The mini-games are also rather easy, but most of them are not very interesting either.
The Bonus Game was at least related to the main game. It was also pretty short and straight-forward, but riddled with the same problems as the main game: poor graphics, dreary locations, etc.
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy this game at all. So, unless you don't mind the above problems and enjoy solving a slew of simple and sometimes even fun mini-games,
I don't recommend this game.
Journey through fantastic landscapes and complete many interesting tasks and exciting puzzles.
Overall rating
3
/
5
It was okay, I guess...
PostedSeptember 3, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The storyline is original enough and the game started out as rather interesting too - another venture into the intriguing idea of time travel! Before long, however, the game turns quite dull, monotonous, and even plain boring as the storyline takes a back seat to a practically never-ending series of mini-games.
Don't get me wrong now. The mini-games *are* quite creative and often even fun. It's just that there are SO MANY of them that you can't even touch anything without its turning into yet-another mini-game! And along with the increasing number of mini-games, the game becomes more and more futuristic - a mechanical fantasy, so to speak, with an unbelievable combination of dinosaurs and high-tech!
And, yes, there *are* Hidden-Object Puzzles (HOPs) too. But they are rather few and far in between, and not really very interesting.
There is also a Map, which not only shows the various locations, but also takes you directly to the location on which you click. It is also quite useful in showing where an action or HOP is available.
Finally, both the Hint and Skip are available even in the hardest (Expert) difficulty mode. The Hint works not only in the HOPs, but also in the game itself. So you never run the risk of getting stuck in the game.
In short, the game was, as I said, okay. I actually gave it three stars *because* of the mini-games; but then, there were so many of them, it starts to get rather nauseating. And so, ironically enough, it was *because* of the mini-games that I gave the game *only* three stars. Nevertheless, the game is worth playing at least once; and that is why
I recommend this game!
An unexpected invitation sends you to research mythical standing stones in Brittany.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Bravo! Well Done!
PostedAugust 31, 2022
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The story was quite original *and* interesting. The graphics and the music were wonderful. Unlike many Hidden-Object (HO) games, this one actually had voice acting, and the actors were just perfect for their respective roles.
As for specifics now... The HO and other puzzles were quite fair in difficulty, and very interesting. The game provides Hint & Skip even for the hardest/Expert mode - the two just take a bit longer to recharge. The Hint works not only in the HO puzzles, but in the game itself. So you never have any risk of getting stuck anywhere.
The Map is also quite useful. It not only shows the various locations, but even takes you where you want to go with just a click on the desired spot.
Finally, even though the game is Standard Edition, it does have Achievements. You get most of them by just playing the game, but there are some you have to try to achieve. Most of the latter are quite easy to get. There are four though that may be a little challenging. They require you to find two sets of what you might call collectibles. One is a sets of so-called mosaic pieces. You will actually need these pieces later in the game. There is a total of 40 such pieces. You get an achievement for finding half (20) of them, and another for finding all of them. But don't worry if you don't find them all, because the game itself will *provide* you with the number of pieces you are missing, when it is time for you to actually use them in the game. Thus, you will still get the second achievement *and* will also be able to finish the game!
The other set of collectibles is Mistletoes. There are 70 of these. Again, you get an achievement if you find half (35) of them, and another for finding all of them. Unlike the mosaic pieces, however, you don't get the balance of ones you missed. But don't worry if you don't find all of them. You will not get the achievement for finding them all, of course, but you don't need them for the game itself. They are just a side quest, so to speak, if you care to pursue it at all.
In short, I really enjoyed this game, in just about every way. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I enjoyed a HO game so much! And I do believe you will enjoy it too. And that is why,
I recommend this game!