LogieBaby's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:12,354
- Reviews Submitted:375
- First Review:December 24, 2011
- Most Recent Review:July 5, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve logic puzzles and search for important artifacts to challenge the evil force that occupies the mansion grounds.
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 32 found this review helpful
Much better than lots of Collectors Editions!!
PostedJune 2, 2015
LogieBaby
fromDoes anyone here in HOPA land speak Boggert ??
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
While this game has flaws which I will enumerate, Contract with the Devil is in its own right an amazing game. The story opens with a young lady ( Lisa ) being abducted by a shadow figure and transported through a mirror. Nothing new here as this device has been used quite a few times as an intro to games.
It is Lisa's aunt who is tasked to enter the mirror and rescue the girl. Early in the game we meet an elfin creature, a boggert named Brown. He explains that the devil itself is behind the kidnapping and that capturing other boggerts manifesting themselves as the deadly seven sins are keys to defeating the devil and rescuing Lisa. In the demo the evil represented as Greed is apprehended and brought to a special location where all the sins must be collected.
As is the case in all HOPAs hidden objects must be collected, puzzles completed and other items merely collected as tools to further the quest. The HO segments are somewhat interactive and some items are delightfully hidden in plain sight. The 2 puzzles in the demo involve formulation of a bug killer and the assembly of a projector that enables auntie to enter the mirror. Both require a bit of effort to complete even with detailed instructions.
I would have given this fine game 5 stars were it not for certain flaws. There are spelling errors in the scripted portions, not a major bugbear since lots of games are created by folks who do not have English as a primary language. I found the cursor to be a bit clunky in picking up inventory items. To me the worst flaw is that the human characters are not given voiceover capability while the boggerts, who by the way speak a weird gibberish language, are heard aloud by players. If active voices can be had by some characters, then all should be heard. Another error is that the aunt can understand boggert talk but we are not made aware of why or how she can understand boggert speak.
Back to the plusses. The game is well drawn and it looks to have length. The BFG overview mentions over 50 locations to visit and only a handful are visited during the demo. I used up the entire hour. If I could add a decimal point to my rating, the game gets 4.6 stars. For an SE version, it is an amazing game. I will certainly enter into a contract and acquire this superb offering. It's always nice when a stellar SE game hits the market from the get go.
It is Lisa's aunt who is tasked to enter the mirror and rescue the girl. Early in the game we meet an elfin creature, a boggert named Brown. He explains that the devil itself is behind the kidnapping and that capturing other boggerts manifesting themselves as the deadly seven sins are keys to defeating the devil and rescuing Lisa. In the demo the evil represented as Greed is apprehended and brought to a special location where all the sins must be collected.
As is the case in all HOPAs hidden objects must be collected, puzzles completed and other items merely collected as tools to further the quest. The HO segments are somewhat interactive and some items are delightfully hidden in plain sight. The 2 puzzles in the demo involve formulation of a bug killer and the assembly of a projector that enables auntie to enter the mirror. Both require a bit of effort to complete even with detailed instructions.
I would have given this fine game 5 stars were it not for certain flaws. There are spelling errors in the scripted portions, not a major bugbear since lots of games are created by folks who do not have English as a primary language. I found the cursor to be a bit clunky in picking up inventory items. To me the worst flaw is that the human characters are not given voiceover capability while the boggerts, who by the way speak a weird gibberish language, are heard aloud by players. If active voices can be had by some characters, then all should be heard. Another error is that the aunt can understand boggert talk but we are not made aware of why or how she can understand boggert speak.
Back to the plusses. The game is well drawn and it looks to have length. The BFG overview mentions over 50 locations to visit and only a handful are visited during the demo. I used up the entire hour. If I could add a decimal point to my rating, the game gets 4.6 stars. For an SE version, it is an amazing game. I will certainly enter into a contract and acquire this superb offering. It's always nice when a stellar SE game hits the market from the get go.
I recommend this game!
Can you complete the dose of medicine! Get ready for a challenge in Drop Hunt! Overcome barriers, hop to boxes and find all the drops.
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 40 found this review helpful
This game is brutal...not for the faint of mind
PostedJune 1, 2015
LogieBaby
fromA lab experiment goes kablooey and we get to clean up the mess.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
HOPA's are my absolute game of choice, yet every once in a while I need or want a change of pace to relieve or avoid boredom setting in. This is where offerings such as Banana Bugs ( in my top 10 all time ), Fantasy Mosaics, Bomb the Monsters etc. offer a niche. Drop Hunt is one of those alternatives but fair warning: this game is at the same time cute, engaging, and very hard.
A scientist Dr. Dunno is attempting to formulate an elixir to cure his sick daughter. A lab experiment gone wrong results in drops of medicine being plastered all over the lab. Our job is to clean everything up and return colored drops to the similarly colored jars. Looks easy but NOT!! The drops can move N, S, E or W. The challenge is different color drops all move in the same direction simultaneously unless blocked from doing so. There are Glops which eat the drops if a wrong move is made and each segment of the game has a maximum number of moves allowed to get drops in correct jars. Each segment awards up to 3 stars and there are 20 levels in each set of puzzles. The one glaring downside to the game is each segment must attain 3 stars before being able to progress to the next group of puzzles. Given the move limitations, the obstacles imposed, and the game difficulty I should be panning Drop Hunt as an exercise in futility. There is something strangely addicting to the game so the masochist in me loves it. It's a game I figure can be enjoyed in rather small doses otherwise there could be much
cursing and hair pulling in the offing. It looks and sounds like a kid game. Beware. Drop Hunt does not require Mensa membership to achieve success but it comes close. Were it not for the superb hint available in each section, I wouldn't come near the game with a 20 foot pole. The hint system saves it and I consider it a must have game. BFG lists brain teaser as one of its genres. This game is more of a brain buster!!
A scientist Dr. Dunno is attempting to formulate an elixir to cure his sick daughter. A lab experiment gone wrong results in drops of medicine being plastered all over the lab. Our job is to clean everything up and return colored drops to the similarly colored jars. Looks easy but NOT!! The drops can move N, S, E or W. The challenge is different color drops all move in the same direction simultaneously unless blocked from doing so. There are Glops which eat the drops if a wrong move is made and each segment of the game has a maximum number of moves allowed to get drops in correct jars. Each segment awards up to 3 stars and there are 20 levels in each set of puzzles. The one glaring downside to the game is each segment must attain 3 stars before being able to progress to the next group of puzzles. Given the move limitations, the obstacles imposed, and the game difficulty I should be panning Drop Hunt as an exercise in futility. There is something strangely addicting to the game so the masochist in me loves it. It's a game I figure can be enjoyed in rather small doses otherwise there could be much
cursing and hair pulling in the offing. It looks and sounds like a kid game. Beware. Drop Hunt does not require Mensa membership to achieve success but it comes close. Were it not for the superb hint available in each section, I wouldn't come near the game with a 20 foot pole. The hint system saves it and I consider it a must have game. BFG lists brain teaser as one of its genres. This game is more of a brain buster!!
I recommend this game!
A reclusive star's darkest secrets are coming to light.
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 60 found this review helpful
a good game, just not for me
PostedMay 28, 2015
LogieBaby
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Eipix has made some fantastic series and I own lots of them. For some reason the Final Cuts just don't cut it for me. I think a lot has to do with the settings in these games. I have not been a fan of HOPAs using movies and actors and production sets. Strange since I am a huge film fan.
In this episode the detective is faced with a mystery involving famous actresses and the apparently less than harmonious relationship they have. People have gone missing, others have been drugged and as the demo ends a photographer is run down by a runaway car. A mysterious and possibly sinister raven haired beauty has hired the detective to get to the bottom of the events, some of which are puzzling unless a player continues with the game.
The hidden object sections are routine and the puzzles ( demo only ) are way too easy. Morphs are included in the HO scenes and Wolf Studio insignias are collectibles. I'm sure lots of gamers will appreciate this effort. I do have a problem with the story line sequence, it appears jumbled and inconsistent to me. This might be because I could not become absorbed by the game. This is far from being a stellar Eipix offering. It's good and I surmise it will garner sound reviews and give pleasure to those who buy it. Therefore I'll endorse the game yet as previously stated it just isn't my cup of tea.
In this episode the detective is faced with a mystery involving famous actresses and the apparently less than harmonious relationship they have. People have gone missing, others have been drugged and as the demo ends a photographer is run down by a runaway car. A mysterious and possibly sinister raven haired beauty has hired the detective to get to the bottom of the events, some of which are puzzling unless a player continues with the game.
The hidden object sections are routine and the puzzles ( demo only ) are way too easy. Morphs are included in the HO scenes and Wolf Studio insignias are collectibles. I'm sure lots of gamers will appreciate this effort. I do have a problem with the story line sequence, it appears jumbled and inconsistent to me. This might be because I could not become absorbed by the game. This is far from being a stellar Eipix offering. It's good and I surmise it will garner sound reviews and give pleasure to those who buy it. Therefore I'll endorse the game yet as previously stated it just isn't my cup of tea.
I recommend this game!
Investigate the mysterious death of Count Anthony in 18th century France.
Overall rating
1
/
5
8 of 15 found this review helpful
This year has been feast or famine and today I'm hungry again
PostedMay 25, 2015
LogieBaby
fromThe newspaper banner is in French and the text in English ??
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Demon Archive is an unmitigated disaster. The developer is Twin Cat ( why are the cats very different if they are twins ? )someone new to the genre and hopefully not for long if this is the best they can do. Once again we have an offering that was either made years ago or the developer has a total lack of knowledge as to how to make a good game. The characters are paper doll cutouts with zero movement, on my PC I did not have a full screen option, the HO scenes are total junkpile and in the 15 minutes I lasted before I saved myself from further boredom there was nary a puzzle. The cursor movement was clunky, particularly in picking up inventory items. I usually offer a brief synopsis of the story line in reviews, not in this case. I so want my HOPA colleagues to avoid this trash;therefore I'll offer nothing about the story. As lots of us celebrate Memorial Day, there is nothing at all memorable about a truly awful game.
I don't recommend this game.
Could your little boy be the child of prophecy?
Overall rating
4
/
5
38 of 48 found this review helpful
An Oriental delight
PostedMay 23, 2015
LogieBaby
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the second game titled: Mythic Wonders;however the 2 games have absolutely nothing to do with each other. The first subtitled The Philosopher's Stone is totally different. I have a weakness for games set in the Orient so Child of Prophecy has a leg up from the beginning for me. I wasn't overwhelmed yet the game does produce on many levels. Story lines are very important to me and this one got my attention although it breaks no new ground. An apparent orphaned baby is left at the door of Sumika who takes in the boy and names him Nobu. We fast forward 5 years and the lad is enthused about his upcoming birthday. Sumiko leaves her house for a while and upon returning finds Nobu missing and the house trashed. Sumiko searches her home and finds clues which leads her to venture into a strange forest in the hopes of finding her son. We soon learn he has been kidnapped by someone. Is it a man or a beast?? She encounters an elder who offers Sumiko hints for finding the boy. Deciphering scrolls render information about the boy's origin and the fact he is somehow a child of destiny. There is a bit of interactivity required within the scrolls to further the story. There are a variety of hidden object scenes, not just word lists. Included puzzles are not hard to complete. The game includes origami like collectible swans. I found them hard to find but they are extraneous to the game development. While not exactly cartoonish, the drawing of the characters are not overwhelmingly lifelike. I found the physical settings of the game quite reminiscent of 17th century Japan. The background music is soothing. For me this is not an absolutely must have game. The extras, unless there would be a dynamite bonus chapter, do not call for a CE expenditure. I'll wait on this one until the SE is delivered.
Still it is a very nice effort and is one that newer players might find appealing as a means of delving into the world of HOPAs.
Still it is a very nice effort and is one that newer players might find appealing as a means of delving into the world of HOPAs.
I recommend this game!
Team up with the Red Riding Hood Sisters to defeat the nightmares!
Overall rating
5
/
5
60 of 87 found this review helpful
Why the consternation about the developer??
PostedMay 21, 2015
LogieBaby
fromBlue Tea + Eipix = another masterpiece !!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Some of the reviews lament the fact that Eipix has taken over
Blue Tea Games. I don't think this is the case at all. To me, Eipix is now the distributor of the Dark Parables games. I own all of the prior DP's and Queen of Sands does not appear any different in style or substance. One need only to go back to any of the earlier games to ascertain that Blue Tea remains the driving force behind these brilliant HOPAs. Eipix in the past couple years, while creating magnificent efforts in its own right, has also become a driving force as a leading
vendor of other developer product.
As to Queen of Sands itself, IMO it stands as another solid Blue Tea creation. We play as the detective assigned to the town of Montrafleur in the French Provence. The evil Queen of Sands has transformed otherwise benign Sandmen into monstrous creatures performing nefarious deeds at her beck and call. With the assistance of the Red Riding Hood Sisters, our task is to vanquish the queen and save the town.
As with the prior DPs, this is another FROG style game. I found that some of the fractured objects to be somewhat harder to find and that's a good thing. The puzzles range from very easy to challenging ( at least in the demo ). The items created in the FROG scenes are as always stunning.
Some items are merely picked up as the detective travels throughout the town. Certain items need to be combined with other parts while some stand alone. There are collectible fleur de lis and morphs which decipher the parables.
This game does nothing to diminish my enthusiasm toward the series. While some series have gone downhill over the years, including BFG's own MCF games, Blue Tea continues
to be a master of its craft. So folks, kindly refrain from the flap concerning the partnership with Eipix. It's overblown.
Blue Tea Games. I don't think this is the case at all. To me, Eipix is now the distributor of the Dark Parables games. I own all of the prior DP's and Queen of Sands does not appear any different in style or substance. One need only to go back to any of the earlier games to ascertain that Blue Tea remains the driving force behind these brilliant HOPAs. Eipix in the past couple years, while creating magnificent efforts in its own right, has also become a driving force as a leading
vendor of other developer product.
As to Queen of Sands itself, IMO it stands as another solid Blue Tea creation. We play as the detective assigned to the town of Montrafleur in the French Provence. The evil Queen of Sands has transformed otherwise benign Sandmen into monstrous creatures performing nefarious deeds at her beck and call. With the assistance of the Red Riding Hood Sisters, our task is to vanquish the queen and save the town.
As with the prior DPs, this is another FROG style game. I found that some of the fractured objects to be somewhat harder to find and that's a good thing. The puzzles range from very easy to challenging ( at least in the demo ). The items created in the FROG scenes are as always stunning.
Some items are merely picked up as the detective travels throughout the town. Certain items need to be combined with other parts while some stand alone. There are collectible fleur de lis and morphs which decipher the parables.
This game does nothing to diminish my enthusiasm toward the series. While some series have gone downhill over the years, including BFG's own MCF games, Blue Tea continues
to be a master of its craft. So folks, kindly refrain from the flap concerning the partnership with Eipix. It's overblown.
I recommend this game!
Travel the world completing games of Mahjong that suit any taste.
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
I'm not a fan of mahjong, yet this was decent
PostedMay 19, 2015
LogieBaby
fromthe game has a really good look to it
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Mahjong games have generally bored me no end. I gave this trial a shot based entirely on the shapes of the puzzles in the intro shot provided. I completed all but the last two in the initial section subtitled Argentina. That's when the ennui settled in and I had to depart. I liked the looks of the tiles, mostly the elegant ladies and gentlemen in their powdered wigs. This is the second consecutive day that we are offered new games by the developer 8 floor. Cannot figure out why BFG would do this. Hard core mahjong afficionados should enjoy this stylish looking game. This is why I provide it a 4 star rating. However it's nothing I would ever purchase. What I need is a great new HOPA. ( hint..hint..)
I recommend this game!
Immerse yourself in the exciting world of the true detective! Solve all the villain's riddles! A True Detective Griddlers!
Overall rating
3
/
5
35 of 46 found this review helpful
It's OK, but cannot measure up to Fantasy Mosaics
PostedMay 19, 2015
LogieBaby
fromWhere is Watson???
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I knew from the start this game would be hard pressed to compete with the brilliant grid games produced by Fantasy Mosaics. I was not wrong in the assessment. The one good thing about Detective Riddles is there are some challenging puzzles early on into the game. I had to repeat 3 of the grids after having too many mistakes. I never use hints while playing griddlers. For me the many minuses outweigh the plus. At the beginning I opted for NO tutorial but got one anyway. I have become quite spoiled at having the tri-colored grids that Fantasy provides, so these monochromatic entries started to bore me after about 20 minutes. The background music and the hooting owl ( sounds out after solving a grid ) also got hard to take. I suppose fanatic nanogram players might find Sherlock's Heritage to be a solid effort. For those of us who just want a change of pace from our favored HOPA's, M3's , etc., stick to the FM's beginning with their fourth entry.
I don't recommend this game.
Your daughter's lost in the Maze of Fears, but you'll face more than her disappearance if you dare to enter.
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 110 found this review helpful
To borrow from the author Tom Clancy, this is the sum of all fears
PostedMay 14, 2015
LogieBaby
fromGlad I'm not phobic, 12 fears is a bit much to handle.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was not totally impressed with the prior Sable Maze games, having said that Twelve Fears is a stellar production. A teen girl, Amber, is determined to enter the Maze of Fears while at a carnival despite her dad telling her to wait for him. Amber goes in anyway since kids never listen to a parent and is abducted by a sinister psychologist. The father ( thanks dev for a male protagonist ) learns quickly he must overcome his own fears and that of his daughter to save her. Dad acquires an amulet designed to allay their fears, one is of water and drowning, another is fire.
There are only 2 hidden object segments in the rather short demo. Each contains 6 items and the first found is used interactively to get the second and so on until the last is added to inventory. Early in the game, a telescope is used in a visual maze and the fears found are I guess a harbinger to what follows as the game progresses. The puzzles routine to the genre, some easy and others requiring a bit of savvy. Lots of inventory items are incomplete and need parts to finish construction. A 3 piece gear and a remote control boat are examples.
I find the story to be the most interesting aspect of 12 Fears and despite the short demo I gather the game length is sufficient given a dozen fears to overcome. I very much enjoy the game yet I am on the fence as to buying the CE or waiting for the SE version. I have a feeling this will be a love it or hate it game. Consider me enamored.
There are only 2 hidden object segments in the rather short demo. Each contains 6 items and the first found is used interactively to get the second and so on until the last is added to inventory. Early in the game, a telescope is used in a visual maze and the fears found are I guess a harbinger to what follows as the game progresses. The puzzles routine to the genre, some easy and others requiring a bit of savvy. Lots of inventory items are incomplete and need parts to finish construction. A 3 piece gear and a remote control boat are examples.
I find the story to be the most interesting aspect of 12 Fears and despite the short demo I gather the game length is sufficient given a dozen fears to overcome. I very much enjoy the game yet I am on the fence as to buying the CE or waiting for the SE version. I have a feeling this will be a love it or hate it game. Consider me enamored.
I recommend this game!
Thieves have stolen Charon's most powerful artifact: watches that can stop time. Now only you stand in their way.
Overall rating
4
/
5
48 of 62 found this review helpful
Charon traded his boat for a train
PostedMay 9, 2015
LogieBaby
fromAs Mick Jagger once sang: " Time is on my side, yes it is "
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
In Greek mythology Charon was a boatman who carried deceased souls on the river Styx. He either lost that job or decided that a train was a more convenient means of travel.
Charon now captures criminals but he is stuck on the train. So he has hired Olivia and her husband to be world travelers in pursuit and capture of the evildoers, then return them to Charon. Unfortunately an extreme sort of villainess named Katharine and her henchman Slyboots abducted the husband and that leaves Olivia to free him and thwart Katharines plan to overtake the world. A decent twist on a tried and true HOPA plot. Olivia is endowed with a powerful chronometer which can freeze time so she can return objects to their normal state. Only 4 things must be fixed per chronometer use and they are all easy to locate yet this is something new for a player to accomplish so it's original, a concept often lacking in games. Frozen in Time has the usual HO segments, 2 in the demo, with some interactivity. A few of the many puzzles are clever though none require much effort to complete. There are butterflies to collect and some morphs for those who groove on morphs. Jewels are randomly placed for collection as well.
I liked the game enough to wait for the SE version to arrive but the CE does not grab my attention to the point I must have it. It's a solid 4 star effort .
Charon now captures criminals but he is stuck on the train. So he has hired Olivia and her husband to be world travelers in pursuit and capture of the evildoers, then return them to Charon. Unfortunately an extreme sort of villainess named Katharine and her henchman Slyboots abducted the husband and that leaves Olivia to free him and thwart Katharines plan to overtake the world. A decent twist on a tried and true HOPA plot. Olivia is endowed with a powerful chronometer which can freeze time so she can return objects to their normal state. Only 4 things must be fixed per chronometer use and they are all easy to locate yet this is something new for a player to accomplish so it's original, a concept often lacking in games. Frozen in Time has the usual HO segments, 2 in the demo, with some interactivity. A few of the many puzzles are clever though none require much effort to complete. There are butterflies to collect and some morphs for those who groove on morphs. Jewels are randomly placed for collection as well.
I liked the game enough to wait for the SE version to arrive but the CE does not grab my attention to the point I must have it. It's a solid 4 star effort .
I recommend this game!