ethan1404's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:987
- Reviews Submitted:54
- First Review:December 10, 2014
- Most Recent Review:April 9, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Crime Secrets: Crimson Lily is a captivating blend of hidden object challenges, puzzle solving and daring detective work.
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 31 found this review helpful
Great game!
PostedOctober 13, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a lovely mid-week surprise ... and was able to use one of my coupons! No need to elaborate on the storyline as this was well covered by the previous players and I totally agree with all their comments.
This is a really nice game, not overly challenging if that is your preference, the storyline made sense, had all the hallmarks of a CE game, good length of game-play time, not too many HOP's and whilst some were visited twice, they were of a different genre, i.e. second visit usually entailed finding objects to complete one object, which I personally, enjoy.
If, like me, you are not into being inundated with HOP's, almost from the start, then this game will definitely be enjoyable for you as I began to wonder if there were even going to be any, given the time of play it took before finally having to do one!
A really nice game, lots of fun, couldn't put it down, sotospeak, enjoyable with a lot of CE benefits but without the "price tag".
I definitely recommend this game and a perfect one for those new to this genre of gameplay, to start on. Have fun ...
I recommend this game!
Help young Sam save Princess Aurora and stop the villain from seizing control of the Kingdom of Aurelia in this puzzle adventure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Great mid-week game!
PostedSeptember 9, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a lovely surprise ... a great SE game and could finally use one of my many accumulating coupons! I usually stay with CE games but love surprises like this!
I do believe this game had the quality the be made into a CE game so encourage the DEV's to keep going as they did a wonderful job ... shame it had to end!
I loved the graphics, loved the puzzles and best of all, very few HO moments ... what a breathe of fresh air!
More please BFG ... it was great to have a nice game to play inbetween waiting for CE releases ... and losing so many coupons that run out of time because very little is offered during the week in this genre!
Great game, you will love it especially if you have a coupon or two waiting to be used!
I recommend this game!
Something terrible lurks in the halls of Iron Gate Asylum…
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Not one of my favourites ....
PostedAugust 24, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I didn't like this game very much ... not into asylum's, no real rhyme or reason to it all ... have to admit, love mythology/fairy tales ..... sweet and whisk me away to a place only in my mind, dreams and books!
Graphics are good, games were challenging but not unachievable, loved the new way of finding HO's ... sliders up and down ... very different and quite innovative, made the HO moment so much more fun and interesting!!
I felt this game was way too short ... and as a long-time gamer this really did finish much too quickly, in fact, was clicking on the bonus content in 4 x hours! A lot of money for 4 x hours of play!!
I love MHG's ... they are good, innovative, love the screens that come up ... they are the forefront in change and new ways of playing these sort of games ... but is it at the cost of length of games?
Overall, this game was okay, a bit "dark" so great if that is what you like, well done but way too short ... for me not a good storyline, but of course, our DEV's have to cater for all tastes.
If you are a CE player/collector, as I am, then you will buy this game but for those who either are not, or enjoy this genre of game-play, then I recommend you wait for the SE version.
I recommend this game!
After an explosion at Stonehenge, fiery and icy portals appear!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Great game!
PostedAugust 13, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I loved this game ... a good storyline, beautiful graphics, lengthy, good puzzles, just totally enjoyable!
I find today, most games are not long enough, often, I complete them in an afternoon/evening but this game gave me a couple of days of enjoyment and even the bonus game was fun, in context and also, quite lengthy especially as it was a bonus game!
The storyline, whilst fiction/fantasy of course, was believable (because we are in that head-space) and made sense including the follow-up bonus game. However, as usually happens, the second quest was a bit shorter, easier and over sooner than the first quest ... why do DEV's do that? Running out of ideas, time, cost? But overall, I loved that it was actually, a good, fun, long game.
No need for me to elaborate on the storyline as others have already done this so just want to congratulate the DEV's on a job well done! They definitely put a lot of time and thought and effort into this and it shows!
Puzzles are fun, none that I didn't like or would skip, made sense and some were quite different to the norm. I love that the DEV's are trying to make their games more interesting, puzzles more challenging and HOP's less but where necessary, different, interesting and some are quite thought-provoking.
A fabulous game, one of the best, good value for money, beautifully done, great storyline and enjoyable puzzles ... definitely worth buying!
I recommend this game!
Stop the dark witches before they regain their power!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
Worth buying ...
PostedJuly 31, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I loved it ... but that is because I love fairytales and fantasy games .. not into detective, shooting, who killed that person or dark games ... I love the phoenix rising .. I love games using mythology .. I love escapism! Witches, fairies, magic ..
I BETA tested this game and knew I would buy it .. beautifully done, love my ferret, always by my side, and whilst I dislike HO moments, these were easy and fun and different! I intensely dislike HO moments where they are so small you have no chance of finding them unless you have X-ray vision .. you're in a fantasy world !!
I remember, so many years ago finding HO games ... gosh, they were fun and challenging, but as always, time has progressed ... our games have needed to evolve ... DEVS have now had to develop these marvelous challenging games and HO moments...
I digress .. this game is so nice if you like fantasy/fairytale type of games ... It runs smoothly, gorgeous graphics, storyline could be a bit confusing if you haven't played the series ... naahh ... so classy, so well done anyone will love it .. may even make you buy the rest of the series!
I loved it, love the series, love fantasy, magic, make-believe, love losing myself in these worlds the DEVS create and they are so remarkable and imaginative ... and now ... while it seems HO moments have to be a part of these games, don't know why, would be more exciting, harder, challenging without them, at least now though, they are more interesting, entertaining, and even a bit of fun, where you have to find a knife to slice the cake ... open drawers, fix things up, etc. Good fun ,, takes away just looking for stupid objects ...
Onya DEVS, onya BFG ... gamers today want and expect so much more .. our skills and mentality have evolved so games like this need to be close now to perfection ... aren't yet but fun, challenging and even HO moments ... no weeny, tiny pieces you just can't find... has made HO a little different and lots more enjoyable!
This is a lovely, wonderful game if you are into fantasy ... beautifully done, strange creatures, buy it but if you don't like weird bugs or weird animals or a ferret that helps you who is really a woman ... called Bertha well .........
As you will have noticed by now, I loved this game ... but remember. its about fantasy, magic, fun ... is that your "cup of tea"?
I recommend this game!
The royal couple's honeymoon turns sour when an evil lord enters the picture, and now it's up to you to rescue them (or laugh trying)!
Overall rating
5
/
5
101 of 111 found this review helpful
What a lovely mid-week surprise!
PostedMarch 8, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Word, Card & Board
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I remember playing Royal Trouble over 5 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it! And surprise, surprise, today found them now on their honeymoon!
This is truly a fun, sometimes hilarious game and whilst, if memory serves me correct, not quite as funny as the first, but a great follow-up.
What a joy to get away from murders, mystery, magic people, revenge, detectives .. just comic fun of two who have found themselves caught up in a greedy man's game, who has stolen all their gold and now in jail because they won't sign an IOU. And this is their honeymoon!!
The game switches between the two of them, then they finally meet up again and then are separated again ... great fun playing the both of them and of course, sorry guys, Loreen is the smarter of the two, haha...
Great puzzles, not too hard (probably a little easy for seasoned puzzlers) but enjoyable, achievable and whilst it is noted as a HO game, there are no HO moments, which I absolutely loved... just a fun, adventuring, hilarious time to be had!
Even though it is in cartoon form, graphics are gorgeous, ran smoothly and even loved all the dialogue. Not sure how good the hint system is as I had no need to use it ... my only small complaint would be you need to collect 29 lion heads for Nathaniel's shield and I found these very hard at times to find ... in fact, didn't collect them all and a lot were found by pure luck or just "clicking" around. As I am old, now wear glasses, perhaps DEVS can take this into consideration when trying to "hide" these collectibles!
I absolutely recommend this game even to seasoned players ... just to relax, have fun, a laugh and to remember, enjoyable games do not have to always be about murder, magic, fairytales or detective stories! If you haven't already tried Royal Trouble, I urge you to get that one first, just as enjoyable ... and then play this.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I recommend this game!
In Wishville, all dreams come true, for a price.
Overall rating
5
/
5
24 of 27 found this review helpful
Loved it ...
PostedMarch 5, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As usual, due to time difference, so many reviews have already been published, explaining the storyline, etc. so no need to repeat all this.
This was a lovely game, good storyline, loved all the roses, even the blue ones, ummmm! They were the naughty ones in this game!
Beautiful graphics, ran oh so smoothly, but as usual, far too many HO moments ... and they weren't different, challenging, unique, just finding objects. That was the only spoiler for me however, they weren't repeated, thank goodness and sometimes, the game played without one for a while!
Why cannot these great DEVs start thinking about producing a true puzzle/adventure game without the need for HOPS? The level of quality, sometimes quantity has grown enormously over the years ... but so has our (the players) skill level and hence, why we need more than HO moments ... all too easy to get that needed object! No challenge, no looking for it, what have we missed, where is it?
In saying that, this is a lovely game, most certainly value for money, even the bonus game play was long and enjoyable. I definitely recommend this game and if you don't buy CE editions then make sure you get the SE version ... you will have hours of enjoyment!
I recommend this game!
Some family heirlooms are more trouble than they're worth...
Overall rating
5
/
5
39 of 43 found this review helpful
Great game!
PostedFebruary 26, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Whilst I am only half-way through this game (time difference), I am loving it so much felt compelled to write and urge everyone to buy it either as a CE game or wait and get the SE version (if you don't care about having a strategy guide, bonus game, etc).
I have always enjoyed the Grim Tales ongoing saga but this game has been lifted to new and great heights! It seems it will be of a decent length too .... finally .....), and you can lengthen it even further by either selecting HARD mode or CUSTOM mode and set your own goals.
You do though, have quite a few objects/collectibles to find, such as puzzle parts, figurines and morphing objects. I am not good at remembering to do this so often 'cheat' with the SG however, in this game, means arrowing backwards and forwards as these have been separated ... sort of a bugbear with me... however, good game developers though, do allow you to "find" missing items in the EXTRAS content, which I love .. for personal reasons unknown to even myself, I do love to know I have collected them all!
Others have advised of the storyline so I will just comment on enjoyment, ease of game-play and graphics and overall, "strength"/challenge of it.
Challenge/length so far, is great ... and at times, frustrating, which I love! Most of the time you only have 2 or 3 locations to work on and yet I got so frustrated wondering what to do next I almost hit the SG button! And that is because I failed to look carefully in zoomed in locations or check my inventory to add/fix an item .... well done as it is testing my skills and giving me "value for money"!
As I am not a lover of HOP's, trying to find minute items, even with my glasses on, silly items, items not relevant ... I found this game's HOP's to be "different" so therefore not a chore and they are quite few and far between and NEVER repeated ... at least to date! Again, well done DEV's for taking that extra bit of time to produce a thinking/puzzle game not reliant on finding a needed object in yet another HOP!
This is so far a great game and one I think, won't end in an afternoon so will feel money well spent and give me hours of pleasure.
I recommend you try it for I know you will love it, feel challenged and then elated when you finally solve puzzles and work out what to do next!
I recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
There’s a thin line between the living and the dead.
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Mmmmm....
PostedFebruary 20, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I know probably a lot will pooh-pahh me but I found this to be a very ordinary game, why it got Editor's choice/pick is totally beyond me as there have been many better games released!
I found the game visually nice, and anyway, CE games should be these days so nothing different or unusual there, ordinary storyline, certainly didn't excite me ... worked out the killer easily! But I was extremely disappointed in the length, possibly the shortest game I have played ... and so many HOP's, and I remember 2 x in one scene!
Are you serious? We pay good money for time, challenges, finding that oh so elusive object .. but no, in this game it was in a HOP, one at least in every scene!
Puzzles were ordinary, one was so stupid and frustrating I ended up skipping even after checking the strategy guide! It took me ages to line even some of the pictures up and when the game involves a fine line, such a fine line that a half hour later, you still haven't got it, then not for me as it only taxes my nerves and patience and not my brain!
The bonus content was worthwhile, of a reasonable length and that, to me anyway, was the most enjoyable part. Collectibles, morphing objects and pictures were easy, which I enjoyed and could even be seen on your map if you choose to leave it on, which I do as I am not good at remembering to find all these items.
The bonus content gives you nothing but the bonus gameplay and let's you see how you went with all your collectibles. That is it ... no extra fun, no finding special items, re-playing of games, perhaps a Match-3 challenge... all very boring and over when it is over!
When I buy a CE game, I am looking for challenges, wonderful puzzles, have to think and remember where I needed the object I just found ... very few HOP's ... rather find the item in a hard, but an OMG place where it should be, (hence the OMG#, sensible situation scenario which this game certainly did not display, stupid moments where you could cut a rope one minute with a knife and next minute you can't, you need something else, stupid, ridiculous!) ....
It is a nice game, lovely graphics but not worthy of Editor's choice, and there are many more CE games out there much better than this! I'm sorry if most reviewers don't agree but my expectations are now higher than this!
To those new to this type of gaming genre, you will enjoy it very much, a perfect intro into the puzzle/adventure world we all love. However, to those who play this all the time, this game was only average, at least I thought so!
Not to deter anyone, try it and see what you, yourself think. Whilst I am not a lover of hidden object "moments" this game did try and make them a little different but it still did boil down to finding such things as clocks, weird things that really didn't relate to the game concept which is annoying to me ... but as I said, worth trying/buying ... perhaps though in SE mode... good game and definitely then would be value for money,
I recommend this game!
The sins of the long-forgotten past have returned to haunt the royal family. Help the princess protect her kingdom and the ones she love the most!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 5 found this review helpful
Was worthy of more!
PostedFebruary 6, 2016
ethan1404
fromPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I found this game accidentally .. nothing to play and saw this pop us so used one of my coupons. Well worth a coupon but this game could've offered/gone so much further!
Visually delightful, played smoothly, had a storyline albeit a common one but at least we did/do have a goal! But what spoilt it for me was the amount of HOPS! My goodness, couldn't step into a new scene and there it was ... flashing away! And you have to do each one twice ... even thinking I did some 3 x times ... if not, felt like it!
The DEV's could've done so much more with this game with a little more time and thought, and could've been worthy of a CE offering had they done that rather than resort to constant HO moments! Gamers today want and need more to challenge them, make their purchase fun, interesting, challenging, worthwhile!
So, glad I had a coupon for this game as part of it is great, some puzzles easy but some challenging but never unachievable, which personally I liked. I am good at some games but not so good at others so don't want them to be frustrating but rather worth persevering with.
This game is definitely worth purchasing if you have a spare coupon or two but also definitely leans more to a HOP game. If that is not to your liking then I would advise bypassing it. I personally would prefer these games without any HOPs but seems we will never completely move on from this genre of play ... would be lovely to get a game that is purely adventure with no HOP's to get that much needed item! Particularly if you are immersed in a Fairy Tale and have to find a "clothes peg" or a "CD" or a "phone"!
As I get fed up and bored with continual HO moments, I end up just clicking anywhere and then often get penalised ... now that irks me as it is my game, my choice and whilst popular DEV's now offer the option, some don't and this truly spoils my enjoyment! Oh well .... hopefully one day, all game developers will listen to their customers!
Overall, this is a nice game, had so much potential but well worth a coupon ... and a game to get you through until the next CE offering!