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:
Return to Blake's Mountain to save an innocent family!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent, In Every Way!
PostedJuly 9, 2020
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I simply loved everything about this game. Unlike most games of this type, even the storyline is not just a backdrop to present a whole slew of puzzles and Hidden Object Scenes (HOS's). Instead, the storyline is quite original and extremely interesting. As for the puzzles and HOS's, yes, there are a whole lot of them - but all quite original and very interesting as well. Even if you play at the hardest level, the challenge is quite reasonable. Finally, the graphics and the music are also quite wonderful.
In closing, I would just like to note that, in all the game reviews I have written, I never gave any game any "grades." I tend to only mark the "My Overall Rating" stars. But I can't resist giving this particular game an A++!!! I just enjoyed it so much, and I hope you will all enjoy it just as much as I did. :)
I recommend this game!
Solve the mysteries of Stoneville and escape with your life!
Overall rating
3
/
5
It was OK
PostedJuly 6, 2020
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The storyline is not really original, and tends to be pretty much like that of other games of this type. It was still interesting enough, at least as a backdrop for the game's numerous Hidden Object Scenes (HOS's) and Puzzles, all of which were pretty simple and interesting enough. In fact, I played the game in the Hardest Difficulty Mode (with No Hints, No Skips, No Tutorials, and not even an icon to show which object in the game we could click on for examination or close-up!), but had absolutely no problem whatsoever either in solving the HOS's and puzzles, or generally proceeding forward in the game. So, if you would like to play a rather light game, with neither a very complicated storyline nor very challenging HOS's and Puzzles, you should enjoy this game.
I recommend this game!
The past returns inside the Zenith Museum of Oddities!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
Not Much New
PostedOctober 30, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I don't know why Big Fish gave this series to Eipix, who seem to be unwilling and/or unable to get away from the old stories like Ravenhearst and Madame Fate that made the Mystery Case Files (MCF) such a successful series, in the first place! I also don't know what kind of Beta Testers quoted in the description played this game, and what prompted them to call it "Absolutely brilliant!" or a "Fantastic game!" because, for us old MCF pro's at least, it is neither brilliant nor fantastic; just a new *way* of, as I said, exploring the same old themes: Ravenhearst and Madame Fate. At one point, we do have a "segment" on MCF: Broken Hour, probably the ONLY original story Eipix ever came up with since it has taken over the MCF. But even that point is nothing but a brief "diversion" and then, before you know it, you are brought back to Ravenhearst and Madame Fate themes again. :(
In short, the storyline is nothing but a new way of exploring the same old MCF "classics" that had originally made the series so popular. Eipix could still have done so much with this "new way," and even converted the approach to a whole new and original story in itself. The game certainly has a sensational opening, which raises so many questions. But then, Eipix fails to answer ANY of those questions, choosing to focus instead on just the aforementioned old themes, while practically bombarding us with an excessive number of HOPs and puzzles.
As for those HOPs and puzzles now, yes, they are all rather interesting and even original. But the HOPs are all way too easy, and so are most of the puzzles. As for the puzzles that are not so easy, it's not that they are really challenging in any way; just tedious. And, again, there are just way too many of these HOPs and puzzles, many not even necessary to the rather skimpy storyline we have been provided.
I must tell you that I do like to say at least something positive in my game reviews. Unfortunately, about the only thing good that I can say about this game is the fact that you can get all the achievements even after finishing the main and bonus games. Thus, you can enjoy the game (for whatever that's worth) and attend to these "extras" IN the Extras section of the main menu. In fact, that is about the only "contribution" Eipix has made to the series - the fact that you don't *have* to try to get those achievements during, and thus possibly distracting you from, the game. Perhaps it would be best if Big Fish brought back the original development team - the one who used to come up with all the original and wonderful stories that made MCF such a popular series - and use Eipix only for the achievements and any special effects they might have introduced.
CONCLUSION: If you really don't care much about having a good and juicy storyline, and like to play HO games just for the sake of some good HOPs and puzzles, then
I recommend this game!
Travel to a family manor and lift the mysterious Curse of the Werewolves in this blood-chilling and enthralling Hidden Object Adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A Simple and Light Hidden Object Game
PostedJuly 10, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
And so it is: a very simple *and* light game. The storyline is pretty straightforward, as described in Big Fish's synopsis of the game. The Hidden Object Scenes (HOS's) are pretty simple too, although some objects can be a little too small to see. But then, you can just use the Hint to find them. Finally, the puzzles are hardly challenging at all!
I should also note that I did not check the Map until I was very close to the end of the game. The reason I didn't was that I played the game in Expert mode, as I do whenever such a mode is available, and the Map in most games usually doesn't offer any help in that difficulty mode. But then, I started to get rather tired of running back and forth, checking all the locations to see whether and where a HOS might have popped up that I needed to solve before I could proceed further in the game. So I checked the Map to see whether it would at least "transport" me to the different locations I needed to check if I clicked on them, one by one, in the Map. Well, as it turned out, the Map doesn't take you anywhere. But, much to my surprise, I found that it does offer the Expert players apparently all the help it is supposed to provide a Regular player. Thus, it uses red dots to show you "points of interest," indicating you need to do something at that location. In fact, as I recall, it (a) shows exactly where in the given location you have to do something, and (b) will give you more than one red point-of-interest dot if you need to do more than one thing at the same location!
More importantly (for my above-stated purposes anyway), the Map also shows you where a HOS *has* popped up. [Note: You have to look carefully, however, as the Map indicates the HOS with a rather fine-print, yellow *outline* of a magnifying glass.] Thus, the Map shows you exactly where you need to go, even though it doesn't actually take you there
I should note that the Map may well show the Expert players an active puzzle, just as it is supposed to do for the Regular players. But I didn't get a chance to check this possible feature because, as I mentioned, the puzzles in this game were really *so* easy, I solved them all right on the spot, i.e., just as they did become "active."
In short, if you are in the mood for some light fun, but not really looking for a complicated story or challenging puzzles and HOS's, you should really enjoy this game.
I recommend this game!
Susan Anderson is back, following the clues of a mysterious benefactor, searching the world for the treasures of legend.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A Wonderful Hidden Object Game
PostedMay 10, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The storyline is quite interesting, but it is minimal. There are also a few puzzles; but they are minimal too, and also quite easy. No, this is primarily a Hidden Object (HO) game. The old-fashioned kind. Basically, you go from one location to another, each one presenting a scene in which you have to find the items named in the list. Yet, the game is more than just a series of HO puzzles (HOPs). It has several features that set it apart from other games of this type.
TOOLS: Around the very beginning of the game, you will acquire four tools: an Item Finder, a Brush, a Hammer, and a Lighter. The last three items are actually necessary because you will need to use one or more of them to reveal items highlighted in blue on your list. The Item Finder, on the other hand, is a substitute for the usual "Hint" in such HO games. I am rather surprised that one of the reviewers couldn't figure out how to use this gadget. For those of you who might have a similar difficulty, here is how. Just take it out of the Tools tab, and hover it across the scene. That's it! The Item Finder will do the rest. It actually works like a metal-detector. As soon as you pass it over an object you haven't found yet, its meter will hit the top and it will sound the loudest. But you don't even have to figure out where that happened! Because, even if you have moved past the object, the Item Finder's meter will remain the highest, and the sound will keep getting louder until the object automatically appears in full view and then disappears. The object is then also grayed out from your list. Pretty cool, eh?
GEOCACHES: Each location has one of these, but you don't *have* to find any of them to proceed in the game itself. They are just there for some additional fun. If you click on the down-arrow right of the word "Geocache" in the upper-right of the HOP, you will be presented with a riddle. That would be your clue as to what you are seeking. Figuring out the riddle helps you look for the geocache item, of course; but you don't have to solve the riddle to get the item. You may well find it *accidentally* as you click around the scene! So, if you like riddles and would rather find the geocache on your own, be sure to check out the riddle before you do anything else at a location.
BONUS HOPs: After you finish the required HOP, the game will take you to the next location on the map, either by plane or on foot. But you can return to the first (or ANY) location simply by clicking on it; OR, if the game has returned you to the Museum, then by clicking on the previous (or ANY) block of locations and then on the location you would like to revisit. When you thus return to a location, you will get a message, essentially telling you that another HOP has been provided for your additional pleasure. This message will also advise you that you don't have to finish this HOP and can just return to the main game. That is why I have called them bonus HOPs. You can play them, if you like; or move on, if you don't.
In short, this is quite a fun game, a real delight especially for the HOP-lovers; and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. :)
I recommend this game!
Join Zoe and Charleston Black as they unravel a powerful and ancient Arthurian legend in this gripping Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Extremely Boring, Misrepresentative, and Pointless... :(
PostedMay 8, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This has to be the worst review I have given a game and that is saying a lot, considering I always try to err on the side of giving better reviews than a game usually deserves...
I should begin by noting the particular "version" of the game I played, since it seems that the game has been released several times in different forms. Mine was a store-bought copy and, unlike what some reviewers have noted, mine did have both the Hints and the ability to skip dialog. But those two features did not make the game any better for me...
Both the front and back covers of the game's case touted how it was supposed to be an "Adventure" game. There was absolutely no indication on the case at all that it was anything but an "Adventure" game. So the fact that it turned out to be a Hidden Object (HO) game was in itself quite disappointing, since I'd started the game thinking that it was going to be an Adventure game! So that is what I meant by "misrepresentative."
In fact, the game is nothing *but* full of HO scenes. There are no puzzles whatsoever. Each "mission" is only a couple of minutes long, depending on how quickly you finish the HO scene. The objects are often tiny and difficult to find. In fact, if it weren't for the Hints, I might not have even bothered to finish the game, because these HO scenes are really not that interesting...
Each mission also starts with a riddle. But if you don't like solving riddles, don't worry - you play no part in solving them. All you have to do is just sit back and (possibly hold your head if it hurts too much as you) listen to what sometimes seems like an endless chatter as the only two characters (a brother and a sister) in the game discuss and interpret the riddles *for* you. In other words, again, you get to do nothing but attend to the HO scene that follows each such chatter...
Speaking of the characters now, once again the front and back covers of the game were so misrepresentative. These covers showed only a few screenshots which never revealed just how bad those "locations" really looked in the game OR that the two characters are nothing but cartoons set on either side of the bottom of the screen! And the music... Was there any music? I can't remember, it must have been quite inconsequential... If anything, I was probably being generous when I assigned 2 stars ("poor") to the Visual/Sound Quality of the game. I should probably have gone with only one star("Awful")...
The storyline is probably the worst of all. It doesn't even make sense! The brother and sister split up, and we play the girl's part as she flies all over the world, trying to follow the clues of this so-called "Book of Legends." But that is not the part I find objectionable. What was really ... well, laughable actually.. is that she continues to communicate with her brother, who basically looks up his computer to help her translate languages, interpret symbols, etc. Considering she is supposed to be quite a smart cookie herself, why couldn't she have just taken her own computer along with her and gotten the same information on her own, rather than emailing him pictures of everything she sees?!!!
In addition, it's hard to believe she can so freely explore and even exploit such historical places all over the world, without *any* resistance or intervention by *any* authorities that usually guard such places! In fact, not only does she explore and exploit for the sake of her main quest, she even blatantly *steals* objects for her so-called "side quests" in order to make money to fund her extensive travels! Indeed, one of the very first places where she does all this is no less than the OVAL OFFICE of the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES!!! So where is the Secret Service?!! Can any tourist break off from the tourist group and go into the Oval Office, and do whatever they like there, as she does?!! Of course, not!!! So, not just unbelievable, but actually ridiculous... :(
Now I know it's only "nice" to say *something* nice about the object of a review, but the one and only thing I can think of is the Hint system, which was apparently added on to later versions of the game. As I mentioned, all you get in this game are the HO scenes. So that's the only place you use those Hints, of course. And the Hint system in this game is in fact quite unique. When you click on the Hint, a grid appears with letters in the left column and numbers in the top row. Along with the grid, a short sentence appears towards the top of the screen, telling you to look at a certain part of the grid, for example, "Check f3." Given the bad graphics, you might still have to struggle a bit, trying to find the object in that particular part of the grid. And the grid does disappear rather quickly, so you better not dawdle. But then, the Hint recharges fairly quickly, so you can try again. Frankly, it might have been better if the Hint just pointed out the object, as they do in most HO games. But, at least, it's a creative idea.
In short, this is quite a boring, unbelievable, and poorly developed game. It's also quite pointless in the sense that you are basically going from one HO scene to another, without much incentive *or* drive to do so. I guess, one might enjoy this game if one were 10-12 years old *or* just having a childlike mood where you just want to sit back, clicking through one HO scene after another, listening to a seemingly never-ending chatter in between. Most of us are not like that, however. And so,
I don't recommend this game.
Can you escape from the grasp of a lovestruck ghost?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Great Game, But... Too Many Puzzles
PostedMay 5, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I thought the storyline was really creative and interesting. The graphics were quite vivid and great as well (as always, in these Dana Knightstone games). The music was very nice and fit the storyline perfectly.
The Hidden Object (HO) puzzles were interesting and fun, and just the right number. But there were just *way* too many non-HO puzzles... In fact, there were multi-part puzzles, meaning multiple puzzles, back to back, before you got the item you needed to proceed further in the game. And as if that weren't bad enough, some of the puzzles were just plain tedious (like the one where you have to untangle a bunch of chains), while others were downright obscure. The latter were especially annoying since the so-called "clue" you get is hardly a clue at all! I am all for challenge, mind you, but reading the puzzle-maker's mind does not count as a challenge! At least in my humble opinion ...
I also did not like the fact that there was no Journal in this game. While I don't really care for long entries, a more cryptic journal actually helps the gamer in so many ways. It can be great for keeping track of both clues and the storyline. And I would say that it is practically essential when you have so many tedious and tiring puzzles. The Journal helps to refresh our memory, so to speak, in case we might have forgotten where we were in the storyline and even what we were doing, by the time we are done solving an especially long, multi-part puzzle.
As for the ghost dog in this game, I guess that was... well, cute, maybe. But personally, I found it rather redundant; and there was especially no need to stick him in the spot that used to have the Journal. It seemed like the heroine was doing just fine reaching high places on her own, even without a ladder! She certainly didn't need the dog for it. Also, it's one thing to be communicating with ghosts, etc., and even receiving items from them. But to have a ghost dog tagging along, every step of the way...? That's stretching things a bit too far, in spite of the overall theme that the heroine can communicate with ghosts.
Finally, I would like to point out that the Hint system is really good in this game. As in other Dana Knightstone games, you can use the Hints even in puzzles. More importantly, however, if you get stuck in this game, clicking on the Hint will not only show you where you need to go, but also give you a "Teleport" button which you can then press to go directly to that location. Pretty neat, eh?
In short, I did like this game for a number of reasons. The only thing I didn't like was the puzzles. As I said, there were just too many of them, and some too obscure to be even worth trying to solve them. The last Dana Knightstone game had the same problem. I wish the developers would realize that making a puzzle challenging does not mean requiring the gamers to read their minds! They also need to understand that having too many puzzles serves to only distract the gamers from the storyline. As I mentioned, the story is really creative and interesting. The developers should let the story - not the puzzles - dominate the game.
I recommend this game!
An imprisoned soul will never be free until you clear his name!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Could Have Been Better...
PostedMay 3, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The graphics were really good, and the music was nice. The storyline was interesting too, but I was quite disappointed by the ending. I just don't see how "justice" could have been served this way. But you would have to play the game to see what I mean...
As for other things... The Hidden Object Puzzles (HOP's) were quite vivid and well-drawn. But I really didn't like that dialog bar at the top of each HOP. You know, comments like "Oh, let's see what we have here," or something to that effect. These comments had nothing to do with the HOP's themselves, and there was no reason for them to continue to linger even as we attempted to solve the HOP's. Even though these comments did not cover or in any way hide the objects we had to find, that whole dialog bar was still quite distracting and, as I indicated, unnecessary.
As for the other puzzles, quite frankly, I cannot think of a single non-HOP puzzle in this game that I actually liked. Oh, most of them were easy enough - but just not really interesting. And then, there were other puzzles which were just overly complicated versions of types of puzzles we are all too familiar with in HO games, for example, untangling ropes (or vines, in this game) or flipping all the tokens to one certain color. In the flipping puzzle especially, there are 25 tokens and it takes you 17 moves to flip them all to blue. Excessive at best, ridiculous at worst...
In short, the story is interesting enough to get you through most of the game at least. The HOPs are only mildly entertaining, but the other puzzles are not very interesting. But if you don't care much about the storyline, and don't mind skipping crazy puzzles, then you might well like this game. If that is the case,
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery of the ghostly violinist?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Rather Disappointing Actually
PostedApril 30, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was so impressed with the last Dana Knightstone game ("Death Under Tuscan Skies") that I decided to get all three games that have been released so far after that one. This is the third one in the series, coming after the Tuscan Skies. So I played it first, and I must say that I was really disappointed...
The game definitely had many positives. The graphics were beautiful, and the locations really nice. The music was wonderful too, and fit the storyline perfectly. The Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) were rather easy, but fun. Most of the non-HOP puzzles were pretty creative and fun, and all fairly easy as well.
I was disappointed, however, because the storyline is really not that interesting. There was not much suspense either. If you pay attention to the notes, journal entries, and other clues, you will pretty much figure out the whole plot long before the end of the game. What is probably worse though is that the storyline - the real ghost story - is not even plausible, let alone realistic. But you will probably have to play the game to see what I mean by that.
In addition, there are just way too many HOPs and non-HOP puzzles. I am glad that, unlike the Tuscan Skies' standard edition, this one did not have any Achievements. But the excessive number of HOPs and other puzzles were just as distracting from the main game as any Achievements. So, again, it was not a good idea to have so many HOPs and other puzzles.
While I was not so thrilled with this game, I would not go so far as to not recommend it. If you don't care much about a good, riveting storyline, and would like to play a game just for the sake of a whole variety of HOPs and other puzzles, you might well love this game. If so, then
I recommend this game!
Play as a clairvoyant detective and investigate the baffling disappearance of a carnival magician in this colorful Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Pretty Boring Actually...
PostedApril 27, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I don't know what some of the "rave" is all about... This game is actually *quite* boring. Even the title is so misleading. The game starts out with a cutscene in which the officer tells us that we are being called because of our "clairvoyant" abilities. Yet the detective shows absolutely no such "ability" in the game! It's just another detective story, and quite a poor one even at that. Our only "clues" are pieces of notes lying around the area. We don't really question any suspects. Rather, upon clicking, they might say a few lines, but mostly just to ask us to fetch this or that for them. In return, they give us an object that we can then use here and there. So, again, not much of a detective story either...
The storyline is far from interesting - more like "much ado about nothing," really. The whole purpose of the game seems to be the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs), and there are SO many of those! In fact, TOO MANY. All of these HOPs are extremely simple. You don't really even need a Hint to solve them - unless you are way too bored to try completing them on your own...
There are also many non-HO puzzles. As I recall, there are maybe only two that are rather - not challenging, but simply tedious. All the others are quite easy, with many too simplistic to even deserve being called puzzles...
In short, this is quite a simplistic and rather boring game. I suppose beginners and carnival-lovers might enjoy it. But then, I doubt that even they would like the dark and absolutely desolate surroundings, not to even mention the fact that most of the HOPs involve going through garbage. Yes, literally, garbage! Even the food items we have to go through are either scraps thrown away, moldy, or lie in a pile of rotten mess. Disgusting, to say the least...
For all the above reasons,
I don't recommend this game.