pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4712
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 24, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The ghosts are back on a new puzzle adventure and this time they’re going to have a run-in with a famous wizard!
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 96 found this review helpful
PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE LARUAVILLE GAMES TO DATE!
PostedAugust 10, 2020
pennmom36
fromStill a strategy-based "thinking" kind of game... thanks FRH!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I know a lot of people complained about the last few games being basically the same, but I disagree, I think this developer is very good about adding new features and changing the level layouts without compromising the familiarity of the game mechanics that their fans love. I used to love Imperial Island but they completely changed the game mechanics and lost me as a player and a buyer because of it! This developer chose to create several different Match 3 series to solve the issue of a change of venue, one of which is a very challenging Match 3 game for hard-core players where Laruaville is more of a relaxing, yet still strategy-based, kind of Match 3 game, but there's always something new and unique added!
You can play in a Relaxed Mode, a Limited Moves or Limited Time Mode and there are 30 Bonus Match 3 Levels to Unlock. After each Match 3 level, you can play a Hidden Object Scene, a Higher/Lower Solitaire game or Mahjong game as well as my personal favorites, Spot the Difference with differences that aren't as obvious as you'd expect. You can skip the mini-games (and there is a Hint feature with no penalties) The tutorial is pretty vague as it simply points to your goal or shows a power-up that is required, not how to go about getting to that point, but you can click on the Book at the top of the screen to read everything you need to know, including tips & tricks.
Laruaville is a Match 3 game that's "All About The Coins", the level goals are clear and simple, collect all of the coins, but of course, collecting the coins is anything but simple! There are plenty of obstacles to make the goal more difficult, but overcoming those obstacles only matters if they are preventing you from getting to the coins.
There are several types of Coins available:
•Gold Coins: requires an adjacent match to collect.
•Gem Coins: requires 1 match to remove gems, a second to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating torches.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between.
•Locked Coins: requires unlocking Coin Key.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
•D#@%ed (censored) Coins: do NOT collect you will lose the level! (power-ups cannot tell the difference between regular coins & Da#%'d Coins)
•Gem Coins: requires 1 match to remove gems, a second to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating torches.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between.
•Locked Coins: requires unlocking Coin Key.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
•D#@%ed (censored) Coins: do NOT collect you will lose the level! (power-ups cannot tell the difference between regular coins & Da#%'d Coins)
There are several Obstacles preventing you from getting to the Coins, however, if they aren't blocking a coin there's no need to overcome those obstacles. Power-ups will destroy most obstacles as well:
•Crates: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion. (rockets work too)
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Clay: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Stone: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Portals: requires moving the key to the key portals (portals also move drops and fire)
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Gem Stone Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
Large Matches will earn Power-ups on the board, however, there are times when a Power-up can hurt rather than help (read the Tips & Tricks Book) Most power-ups can be moved or double-clicked to activate.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion. (rockets work too)
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Clay: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Stone: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Portals: requires moving the key to the key portals (portals also move drops and fire)
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Gem Stone Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
Large Matches will earn Power-ups on the board, however, there are times when a Power-up can hurt rather than help (read the Tips & Tricks Book) Most power-ups can be moved or double-clicked to activate.
•Small Rocket: vertical OR horizontal line busters (right-click to direct)
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
Thanks Igore for another fantastic Match 3 game, it's a definite purchase, I have every Match 3 game in every Match 3 series you have made which shows they are different enough to keep on buying them! :)
LARUAVILLE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Laruaville 1 (July 30-2013) 4.2
2-Laruaville 2 (March 4-2015) 4.1
3-Laruaville 3 (August 4-2015) 4.4
4-Laruaville 4 (December 14-2015) 4.4
5-Laruaville 5 (October 17-2016) 4.2
6-Laruaville 6 (June 26-2017) 4.0
7-Laruaville 7 (June 6-2018) 4.1
8-Laruaville 8 (February 20-2019) 3.7
9-Laruaville 9 (December 4-2019) 4.2
10-Laruaville 10 (August 10-2020) n/a
by: FRH Games
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Laruaville 1 (July 30-2013) 4.2
2-Laruaville 2 (March 4-2015) 4.1
3-Laruaville 3 (August 4-2015) 4.4
4-Laruaville 4 (December 14-2015) 4.4
5-Laruaville 5 (October 17-2016) 4.2
6-Laruaville 6 (June 26-2017) 4.0
7-Laruaville 7 (June 6-2018) 4.1
8-Laruaville 8 (February 20-2019) 3.7
9-Laruaville 9 (December 4-2019) 4.2
10-Laruaville 10 (August 10-2020) n/a
by: FRH Games
I recommend this game!
Clear challenging solitaire puzzles and help your friends restore a dying world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
59 of 65 found this review helpful
THE GRAPHICS TOOK A STEP BACKWARDS & IT'S NOT CE PRICE WORTHY?
PostedAugust 8, 2020
pennmom36
fromDid you know that Tinkerbell is real? Her looks were based on an actress named Margaret Kerry, who was hired by Disney animators to be a live-action reference & it's been a tradition to have a Tinker Bell on stage & in movies sets
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I loved the original Dreamland Solitaire because the graphics were beautiful, the fairy was beautiful and I loved building the fairy's house in the middle of an enchanted forest, it was that particular feature that made the game so special. In Dragon's Fury, the graphics suddenly became cartoonish and I was slightly disappointed, but when it came to restoring the village and rebuilding the fairy kingdom, in Dark Prophecy, the graphics really took a step backward with the most unappealing, cartoonish style graphics yet. I played the entire demo and didn't have to replay any on the levels because I was able to remove all of the cards on the first attempt in the Casual Mode.
Everything else is the same as the original two Dreamland Solitaires, as far as gameplay, bonuses, achievements, and mechanics with the exception of being able to choose from 8 Deck Card styles this time, and of course, the addition of the CE features. The CE version has 10 Achievements, 7 Music Soundtracks, 7 Wallpapers, 4 Character Bios, and 80 Bonus Levels, none of which seems worthy of double the price tag to me personally.
This is a Higher/Lower type of Solitaire Game that can be played in a Casual Mode with Standard rules, a Timed Mode where you are given a specified time limit for each turn, or an Easy Mode which gives you 2 decks of cards. You get 1 Undo per level and there is Deck Card Counter and Combos will increase the index points.
The Object is to Remove all of the Cards to earn 3 Stars (levels can be replayed) Glowing Gold Cards contain Coins and Glowing Purple Cards contain Mana. Coins are used to purchase Bonus Boosters and Number Specific Wildcards & Jokers in the Shop. Mana is used to Clear the Dark fog and restore the Village, which as I said earlier, has very cartoonish graphics and isn't appealing, even after the upgrades.
As you progress, Obstacles are added to make the game more challenging. Plank Cards (single, double, triple planked cards) require playing the Axe Cards, Frozen Cards need to be removed Twice, Locked Cards require uncovering and using the Key, Shield Cards require removing Suit Specified Cards, and Mystical Fog Cards requires uncovering the Lantern Card to dispel the fog.
You can purchase Card Specific Wildcards or Jokers with the Coins you earn (you can earn them as well during the levels) and you can purchase a Chain Lightning Bonus (removes random face-up cards) a Fireball (hits selected card) a Magic Shuffle (shuffles cards) or a bonus that allows you to Change a Card to an adjacent one. Once purchased, these can be used on any level, and they recharge as you remove cards of their specified Suit. You can also purchase Extra Cards at the start of each level, Extra Undo's, Increase the Combo multiplier, generate bonuses faster, reduce the cost of wildcards, increase the number of tokens allowed, increase the number of wildcards permitted, or flip random cards over at the beginning of the level.
In my opinion, decorating and upgrading the beautiful forest scenery was the key ingredient or feature that gave the original game the "It Factor" I wish they would have continued that feature, perhaps a new home in a new forest, even better, a new fairy and a new adventure.
DREAMLAND SOLITAIRE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Dreamland Solitaire SE only (March 13-2019) 4.9
2-Dreamland Solitaire: Dragon's Fury SE only (October 15-2019) 4.1
3-Dragon's Fury CE (August 8-2020) n/a
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Dreamland Solitaire SE only (March 13-2019) 4.9
2-Dreamland Solitaire: Dragon's Fury SE only (October 15-2019) 4.1
3-Dragon's Fury CE (August 8-2020) n/a
by: Adept Studio
I recommend this game!
Help stop a killer and keep an important scientific discovery from falling into the wrong hands!
Overall rating
4
/
5
38 of 48 found this review helpful
A SERIES OF CRIMINAL MINDS MAKING POISONOUS PROMISES REVERBERATING DEADLY ECHOES OF TOMORROW
PostedAugust 7, 2020
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
25 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate-Expert
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
25 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate-Expert
And you thought working for Professor Webster with a huge new grant was a good thing? You haven't even started your research and already there's crimes, coverups, CIA operatives, links to government mind-control programs, scams, deceit, and kidnapping?
I loved the story, but it was a little too drawn out and I started becoming bored in the fifth chapter. The HO's were not as stellar as the last game because they didn't include those highly interactive Rube Goldberg styles of Hidden Object puzzle games I had so looked forward to from the previous game, which was a huge letdown for me. In the CE version, the CE collectibles were what I refer to as "clickables' they present no challenge whatsoever, they are so large you can't miss them so they are just there to click on, nothing more than clickables! I still loved the story, it's a great story, but the last Family Mysteries, Echoes of Tomorrow, had the whole package for me :)
웃G.A.D.G.E.T웃
NO gadgets...that's a wonderful feature!
NO gadgets...that's a wonderful feature!
☽☾Morphing Objects/Collectibles: (CE version only)☼
There are 15 Morphing Photo Pieces, one in each scene, but they are way too large and easily spotted the second you walk into the room. There are 14 Character Figurines as well and they look like creepy voodoo dolls, to be honest lurking in the corners or sometimes in plain sight?? There is a lamp indicator on the inventory bar that tells you if the collectibles have been found in that particular scene.
There are 15 Morphing Photo Pieces, one in each scene, but they are way too large and easily spotted the second you walk into the room. There are 14 Character Figurines as well and they look like creepy voodoo dolls, to be honest lurking in the corners or sometimes in plain sight?? There is a lamp indicator on the inventory bar that tells you if the collectibles have been found in that particular scene.
◔Hidden Object Scenes◕
There are only 11 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter and I was really disappointed that there were only one of my favorites included from the last Family Mysteries game :( Although there were a few that were progressive and somewhat creative, the HO's were just the same ole same ole as far as I'm concerned, with the exception of that SINGLE HO. In true Brave Giant fashion, the HO's include at least one object that morphs and can only be clicked on when it is in the correct object form. There are Interactive List Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, or Spot The Difference Finds. My absolute favorite by far is a Progressive Interactive Puzzle type that requires figuring out sequences and codes (the clues are all there folks, you just have to look! similar to a Rube Goldberg type of puzzle where you have to fiddle with several aspects and use discoveries to unlock the next interactions (it wasn't nearly as intricate as the last Family Mysteries Game...what happened??) There is an alternate Associated Pair game available where you flip two tiles at a time and match objects that are similar such as a Horse & Car.
There are only 11 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter and I was really disappointed that there were only one of my favorites included from the last Family Mysteries game :( Although there were a few that were progressive and somewhat creative, the HO's were just the same ole same ole as far as I'm concerned, with the exception of that SINGLE HO. In true Brave Giant fashion, the HO's include at least one object that morphs and can only be clicked on when it is in the correct object form. There are Interactive List Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, or Spot The Difference Finds. My absolute favorite by far is a Progressive Interactive Puzzle type that requires figuring out sequences and codes (the clues are all there folks, you just have to look! similar to a Rube Goldberg type of puzzle where you have to fiddle with several aspects and use discoveries to unlock the next interactions (it wasn't nearly as intricate as the last Family Mysteries Game...what happened??) There is an alternate Associated Pair game available where you flip two tiles at a time and match objects that are similar such as a Horse & Car.
♙Mini-Games♙
There are 53 Mini-Games +10 in the CE Bonus Chapter, most of which are mechanical type puzzles and they are very creative, and entertaining games. That seems like a ton of games, but don't freak out if you aren't a mini-game fan, because a lot of the mini-games are 3-part puzzles that have a few different variations, they aren't brain-burners, but some do require a bit of thought to solve them, and I loved that even the codes required some grey matter to solve versus the standard "sticky note" answers. I'm still going to complain that out of a whopping 63 mini-games, only 8 can be replayed in the extras menu??!!?? Here's a list of a few of my personal favorites:
There are 53 Mini-Games +10 in the CE Bonus Chapter, most of which are mechanical type puzzles and they are very creative, and entertaining games. That seems like a ton of games, but don't freak out if you aren't a mini-game fan, because a lot of the mini-games are 3-part puzzles that have a few different variations, they aren't brain-burners, but some do require a bit of thought to solve them, and I loved that even the codes required some grey matter to solve versus the standard "sticky note" answers. I'm still going to complain that out of a whopping 63 mini-games, only 8 can be replayed in the extras menu??!!?? Here's a list of a few of my personal favorites:
1-Measure specific amounts of colored liquids♡♡♡
2-Swap fuses to equalize the sums of all fuses to the designated numbers. ♡♡
3-Rotate outer circle to align with symbols by following tangled wires. ♡♡♡
4-Cut the correct wire according to riddled descriptions. ♡♡
5-Set each colored knob according to the number of the butterflies in that same color. ♡♡♡
6-Connect joints with a specific number of connections that won't appear unless you enter the correct amount of connections. ♡
2-Swap fuses to equalize the sums of all fuses to the designated numbers. ♡♡
3-Rotate outer circle to align with symbols by following tangled wires. ♡♡♡
4-Cut the correct wire according to riddled descriptions. ♡♡
5-Set each colored knob according to the number of the butterflies in that same color. ♡♡♡
6-Connect joints with a specific number of connections that won't appear unless you enter the correct amount of connections. ♡
✯Bonus Chapter (Collector's Edition version only)✯
I'm not going to say much about the storyline folks, to say anything would give away the awesome plot of the main game. I will say that Nancy Bradford finally gets a chance to use her Mind Controlling device on a human test subject...but she had no other alternatives! There are 8 Scene Locations in this decent-length bonus chapter with an additional 10 Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, however, there are no Collectibles or Morphing Puzzle Pieces.
I'm not going to say much about the storyline folks, to say anything would give away the awesome plot of the main game. I will say that Nancy Bradford finally gets a chance to use her Mind Controlling device on a human test subject...but she had no other alternatives! There are 8 Scene Locations in this decent-length bonus chapter with an additional 10 Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, however, there are no Collectibles or Morphing Puzzle Pieces.
♕Collector's Edition Extra's♕
16 Wallpapers (none of which have characters on them, whoo-hoo! 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Cutscene Videos, 24 Achievements, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Puzzle Pieces, 14 Character Figurines, 5 Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
16 Wallpapers (none of which have characters on them, whoo-hoo! 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Cutscene Videos, 24 Achievements, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Puzzle Pieces, 14 Character Figurines, 5 Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
FAMILY MYSTERIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Poisonous Promises (December 1-2019) 3.4
2-Echoes of Tomorrow (May 10-2020) 4.0
3-Criminal Minds (August 7-2020) n/a
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Poisonous Promises (December 1-2019) 3.4
2-Echoes of Tomorrow (May 10-2020) 4.0
3-Criminal Minds (August 7-2020) n/a
by: Brave Giant Studio
I recommend this game!
Complete fully customizable puzzles designed with warm and inspirational scenes to help you achieve a sense of peace while you play.
Overall rating
5
/
5
82 of 87 found this review helpful
THIS IS WHY I LOVE MY INDIES! HE LISTENED TO OUR REVIEWS ON THE 1ST GAME TO GIVE US A PUZZLE MASTERPIECE!
PostedAugust 7, 2020
pennmom36
fromI did have issues controlling the custom cursor so I turned that off in the settings and it worked perfectly!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Beyond the Invisible: Evening
(72)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The first Puzzle Pieces game in the series didn't thrill too many puzzle geeks with it's less than desirable features, but this developer didn't give up, he used all our feedback to create a better puzzle game, a puzzle with the features WE asked for! So the next time you think your opinions don't matter, think again. I've had people ask me why I have to submit reviews when I don't like a game or when I talk about features I don't like, why I can't just move on. I've spoken with hundreds of developers and they all say that they love to hear positive feedback, but they aren't mind readers and they can't improve features if they aren't given constructive criticism. Yes, your opinions matter to the developers! Yes, they read our reviews, so be specific, tell them what it is that you liked and didn't like, tell them what features you'd like to see in the next game, you might be surprised to see that your idea has been implemented!
There are 8 Chapters, the eighth chapter is a Locked Mystery Chapter that requires Coins which you'll earn by playing some of the most beautiful HD puzzles you've ever seen. Each chapter has 45 Customizable images (we'll get to those in a bit), all of which are interesting and visually appealing, you'll literally have a hard time choosing which puzzle to do first! There are 42 Achievements to earn, and you'll earn a Daily Coin Reward as well. The Puzzles can be played in a timed or untimed mode and you'll earn more coins the faster you place puzzle pieces in the timed mode, but the timer is easily turned off with a simple on/off switch at the top.
CUSTOMIZATIONS:
Enable/Disable: Piece Rotation
Enable/Disable: Timer
Enable/Disable: Puzzle Preview
Enable/Disable: Random Pieces
Puzzle Piece Amount: Drag Slider Bar 30-961
Choose Puzzle Shape: Standard Tab-Squares-Loop Tabs (7 total)
Zoom Feature: Scroll to Zoom (and drag entire board)
Shuffle: Shuffle Puzzle Pieces
Brightness: Adjust Color-Warmth-Brightness
Background: 10 Background Options
Show/Hide: Edges
Show/Hide: Ghosted Image
Buy Additional Time: On Tined Mode
Hint: Hint For Any Puzzle Piece Placement
Puzzle Preview: Can Be Placed Anywhere
Enable/Disable: Piece Rotation
Enable/Disable: Timer
Enable/Disable: Puzzle Preview
Enable/Disable: Random Pieces
Puzzle Piece Amount: Drag Slider Bar 30-961
Choose Puzzle Shape: Standard Tab-Squares-Loop Tabs (7 total)
Zoom Feature: Scroll to Zoom (and drag entire board)
Shuffle: Shuffle Puzzle Pieces
Brightness: Adjust Color-Warmth-Brightness
Background: 10 Background Options
Show/Hide: Edges
Show/Hide: Ghosted Image
Buy Additional Time: On Tined Mode
Hint: Hint For Any Puzzle Piece Placement
Puzzle Preview: Can Be Placed Anywhere
This is a fantastic puzzle game with some of the most beautiful HD images. Please give this game a try, it is by the same developer who created the HO game I put in my "current favorites" on the left, and he's one of the good guys, a Pondie who always asks for our opinions to make better games :)
PUZZLE PIECES SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Sweet Times (February 25-2020) 1.9
2-Shades of Mood (August 7-2020) n/a
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Sweet Times (February 25-2020) 1.9
2-Shades of Mood (August 7-2020) n/a
by: Graphium Studio
I recommend this game!
Can you save an old friend from a deadly legend in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
109 of 130 found this review helpful
OTHER THAN A TITLE WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH EAP'S DEVIL IN THE BELFRY?
PostedAugust 6, 2020
pennmom36
fromEAP's version: In an isolated town called Vondervotteimittiss the punctilious townspeople are strangely concerned with clocks & cabbage & were devastated when a man playing a big fiddle attacked the belfry-man & rang the bell 13 o'clock
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
Hey, I'm not a novelist, but I have played Detective Dupin's character and/or sidekick 18 games in a row, but as far as I can remember, this game has absolutely nothing to do with EAP's Devil in the Belfry. Sure, they mentioned a bell ringing in the first scene, but I didn't hear said bell, I didn't see said bell, I didn't even get the pleasure of seeing a recap or watch someone dream about this Devil ringing said bell in the belfry. After the first chapter, the Devil is out of the picture, (technically) so my point is if you are going to honor Edgar Allan Poe with a series dedicated to his books, shouldn't you at least attempt to base the story around the actual events? This has absolutely nothing to do with the book, the title is the only thing that hints to Poe! (why not just make a new series if you ran out of Poe ideas?)
☽☾Collectibles☼ CE Version Only
Looks like Amax got the memo about skimping on the CE Bling on recent games. They have added some decent Morphs & Collectibles to this game! There are 12 Zoom-Zone Magic Cards that have illusions or magic trick descriptions which I found to be pretty interesting! There are 60 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, usually, 2-3 per scene and they morph at a perfect speed so they aren't super obvious, but they aren't super difficult to find either. The puzzle pieces can be assembled to complete a 60 piece picture as well.
☽☾Collectibles☼ CE Version Only
Looks like Amax got the memo about skimping on the CE Bling on recent games. They have added some decent Morphs & Collectibles to this game! There are 12 Zoom-Zone Magic Cards that have illusions or magic trick descriptions which I found to be pretty interesting! There are 60 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, usually, 2-3 per scene and they morph at a perfect speed so they aren't super obvious, but they aren't super difficult to find either. The puzzle pieces can be assembled to complete a 60 piece picture as well.
◔Hidden Object Scenes◕
There are 20 Hidden Object Scenes 6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, including several smaller Zoom-Zone Hidden Object Scenes which usually preceded the larger main HO scenes. I'm not usually a fan of HO's so I'm already biased, but I didn't think they put forth much effort in most of the HO scenes which were mostly Interactive List Finds. I really wish developers would add a Skip option to the HOP's because most of the time the alternate Match 3 games some of them offer they offer are just as boring so they are both just a complete waste of time for most seasoned players. As I said, most of the HO's are Interactive List Finds but there are also a couple of Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, Fragmented Item Finds, a Progressive-Interactive Zoom Zone HO, a couple of Keyword in Sentence Finds, and my personal favorite, a fairly interactive Swatch Find where you find objects that match the colors shown on swatch samples. There are no alternate Puzzles available.
There are 20 Hidden Object Scenes 6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, including several smaller Zoom-Zone Hidden Object Scenes which usually preceded the larger main HO scenes. I'm not usually a fan of HO's so I'm already biased, but I didn't think they put forth much effort in most of the HO scenes which were mostly Interactive List Finds. I really wish developers would add a Skip option to the HOP's because most of the time the alternate Match 3 games some of them offer they offer are just as boring so they are both just a complete waste of time for most seasoned players. As I said, most of the HO's are Interactive List Finds but there are also a couple of Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, Fragmented Item Finds, a Progressive-Interactive Zoom Zone HO, a couple of Keyword in Sentence Finds, and my personal favorite, a fairly interactive Swatch Find where you find objects that match the colors shown on swatch samples. There are no alternate Puzzles available.
♙Mini-Games♙
There are 36 Mini-Games +8 in the CE Bonus Chapter, and most of them are the easy, relaxing kind of puzzles. Here are some of my personal favorites:
There are 36 Mini-Games +8 in the CE Bonus Chapter, and most of them are the easy, relaxing kind of puzzles. Here are some of my personal favorites:
1-Untangle Ropes.
2-Rotate & Swap parts between plates დდდ
3-Use mechanical hand to grab items in a specified order. დდ
4-Use directional arrows to go fishing while avoiding air bubbles. დდდ
5-Several matching pair variations.დდ
6-Navigate maze variations (some while avoiding dangerous obstacles by timing) დდდ
2-Rotate & Swap parts between plates დდდ
3-Use mechanical hand to grab items in a specified order. დდ
4-Use directional arrows to go fishing while avoiding air bubbles. დდდ
5-Several matching pair variations.დდ
6-Navigate maze variations (some while avoiding dangerous obstacles by timing) დდდ
✯Bonus Chapter (Collector's Edition version only)✯
George and Anna must save their mother when she is accused of fraud and imprisoned shortly after the death of their father. The children have everything to lose, they have just lost their beloved father and now the family business is a stake as well, The Wheeler Theater of Illusion. This chapter unfolds over 8 scenes with an additional 8 mini-games and 6 hidden object scenes (including smaller zoom-zones) You will complete the final 2 Magic Card Tricks Collection and find the final 16 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will allow you to complete the Jigsaw Puzzle of Dupin's Office.
George and Anna must save their mother when she is accused of fraud and imprisoned shortly after the death of their father. The children have everything to lose, they have just lost their beloved father and now the family business is a stake as well, The Wheeler Theater of Illusion. This chapter unfolds over 8 scenes with an additional 8 mini-games and 6 hidden object scenes (including smaller zoom-zones) You will complete the final 2 Magic Card Tricks Collection and find the final 16 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will allow you to complete the Jigsaw Puzzle of Dupin's Office.
♕Collector's Edition Extra's♕
7 Wallpapers, 7 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Screensavers, 16 Movie Cutscene Videos, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements, 18 Replayable Mini-Games, 16 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes,12 Zoom Zone Magic Card Tricks, 60 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (assemble a Jigsaw of Dubin's Office) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
7 Wallpapers, 7 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Screensavers, 16 Movie Cutscene Videos, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements, 18 Replayable Mini-Games, 16 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes,12 Zoom Zone Magic Card Tricks, 60 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (assemble a Jigsaw of Dubin's Office) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
DARK TALES SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Murder's In The Rue Morgue (December 17-2009) 3.7
2-The Black Cat (September 9-2010) 4.4
3-The Premature Burial (October 6-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.5
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.9
12-Morella (December 16-2017) 3.7
13-The Pit and the Pendulum (April 5-2018) 3.2
14-The Oval Portrait (August 30-2018) 3.0
15-Speaking With The Dead (March 23-2019) 2.9
16-Ligeia (July 25-2019) 3.8
17-The Bells (May 14-2020) 3.1
18-The Devil in the Belfry (August 6-2020) n/a
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Murder's In The Rue Morgue (December 17-2009) 3.7
2-The Black Cat (September 9-2010) 4.4
3-The Premature Burial (October 6-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.5
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.9
12-Morella (December 16-2017) 3.7
13-The Pit and the Pendulum (April 5-2018) 3.2
14-The Oval Portrait (August 30-2018) 3.0
15-Speaking With The Dead (March 23-2019) 2.9
16-Ligeia (July 25-2019) 3.8
17-The Bells (May 14-2020) 3.1
18-The Devil in the Belfry (August 6-2020) n/a
by: Amax Interactive
I recommend this game!
Experience a beautiful narrative-driven jigsaw game where the story unfolds as you complete incredible puzzles!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
A BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED STORY-BASED PUZZLE ADVENTURE
PostedAugust 5, 2020
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love Hidden Object Games, but my jam has always been Jigsaw Puzzles. I have been a puzzle geek since I was a kid when my Grandma gave me my first 500 piece jigsaw puzzle for my 8th birthday. I have assembled a lot of puzzles over the years, and eventually, I discovered virtual puzzles, but they were always missing something. They were never optimal, and they were never really as interesting as "the real thing" but then I discovered My Jigsaw Adventures Roads of Life. This isn't just a virtual puzzle game, it's a puzzle journey, an immersive experience, with beautifully illustrated artwork by Bogdan Antoci, synced with amazing music scores by Santiago Stok.
There are 18 Jigsaw Puzzles total and each puzzle can be customized with several options. You can play in a Timed or Relaxed Mode, choose the Puzzle Shape (Traditional-Mozaic-Arrow) and the Number of Pieces (28-60-112-170-220) The small size selection was the only reason I gave this game 4-stars instead of 5-stars, however, the second game in this series, My Puzzle Adventures: A Lost Story has puzzle sizes up to 1000 pieces and I did give that game 5 stars!
The options don't end with the puzzle pieces! You can choose to display Grid Lines on the puzzle, choose the Background and/or Ghost the puzzle's Image and adjust the opaqueness and sharpness of the image.
You can Show/Hide the Timer, select the Zoom Speed (1x-2x-3x) choose to Outline the puzzle pieces (Soft-Medium-Hard) which make the pieces more defined and easier to see. Lastly, there is an icon to change the Background, a Hint, Shuffle, and Restart icon that's easily accessible at the top-right of the screen.
This is a puzzle geeks delight, and a game I have personally waited a long time for because most of the puzzles nowadays just don't have any of the options puzzle geeks actually want...and getting one with a beautiful Adventure story is icing on the Puzzle Cake! The only two features I'd love to see added would be a section to download my own images, and I would like it if the puzzle pieces made a clicking sound when they were correctly placed so I knew it was in the right place immediately. I can't wait for my third adventure!
This is a puzzle geeks delight, and a game I have personally waited a long time for because most of the puzzles nowadays just don't have any of the options puzzle geeks actually want...and getting one with a beautiful Adventure story is icing on the Puzzle Cake! The only two features I'd love to see added would be a section to download my own images, and I would like it if the puzzle pieces made a clicking sound when they were correctly placed so I knew it was in the right place immediately. I can't wait for my third adventure!
MY JIGSAW ADVENTURES SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Roads of Life (June 2-2020) 3.7
2-A Lost Story (July 29-2020) n/a
2-A Lost Story (July 29-2020) n/a
by: Cold Coffee Studio
I recommend this game!
Follow the clues found within these beautifully illustrated jigsaw puzzles to uncover an amazing story!
Overall rating
5
/
5
106 of 123 found this review helpful
A PUZZLE GEEKS DREAM COME TRUE :)
PostedAugust 5, 2020
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Almost everyone knows that I am a Jigsaw Puzzle Geek at heart, and although Roads of Life was an amazing puzzle adventure, A Lost Story took me on an unforgettable journey. Yes, this is a journey experience, beautifully illustrated by Jeremy Adams and synced with amazing music scores by Alec Shea, to completely immerse you as the story unfolds, puzzle by puzzle.
There is 20 Jigsaw Puzzles total and each puzzle can be customized with several options. You can play in a Timed or Relaxed Mode, choose the Puzzle Shape (Traditional-Mozaic-Arrow) and the Number of Pieces (28-112-220-500-1000) You can choose where you want the puzzle pieces to be displayed (top-bottom-left-right-or any combination such as top & bottom) and where you want the cursor to grab the puzzle piece (such as the center of the puzzle piece)
The options don't end with the puzzle pieces! You can choose to display Grid Lines on the puzzle and then adjust the color, transparency, and thickness of the grid lines. You can choose the Background and then adjust the transparency and sharpness of the background. You can Ghost the puzzle's Image and adjust the opaqueness.
We're still not done with the options folks! You can Show/Hide the Timer, select the Zoom Speed (1x-2x-3x) choose to Outline the puzzle pieces (Soft-Medium-Hard) which make the pieces more defined and easier to see. They have now labeled the option feature icons when you move the cursor over them such as Change Background, Hint, Shuffle, Restart, and the Exit icons.
This has just about everything I have ever wanted in a puzzle and more. It automatically saves my progress, I can download the images from the Gallery, it even has a Hidden Challenging Puzzle! The only two features I'd love to see added would be a section to download my own images, and I would like it if the puzzle pieced made a clicking sound when they were correctly placed so I knew it was in the right place immediately. I can't wait for my third adventure!
MY JIGSAW ADVENTURES SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Roads of Life (June 2-2020) 3.7
2-A Lost Story (July 29-2020) n/a
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Roads of Life (June 2-2020) 3.7
2-A Lost Story (July 29-2020) n/a
by: Cold Coffee Studio
I recommend this game!
A wide range of Mahjongg boards, set in Nordland, with many hours of challenging fun for beginners as well as passionate Mahjongg players!
Overall rating
1
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
INCREDIBLY EASY AND BORING
PostedAugust 4, 2020
pennmom36
fromSeriously, can't you ever change the music? Do you have to have the same soundtrack in every game you offer?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Well, the tile selections are colorful and the background wallpapers are beautiful, but I had the same experience as fellow reviewer mouseclick2. The levels are super easy and the matches couldn't be more obvious and it didn't seem to make any difference when I switched off the Casual Difficulty Mode. It literally takes seconds to polish off a level and because there's absolutely no challenge, this is just a really boring game that wasn't worth the time it took to download :(
There are a lot of options, so I guess that's a good thing? There are 11 hand-drawn Mahjongg Tile options (4 Traditional Mahjongg-themed, Black & White Animal-themed, Nature-themed, Viking-themed, Emperor-Themed, Card Suite-themed, Domino-themed, Camping-themed) and 22 Background Wallpaper options. You can choose your resolution as well, but as usual for this developer, the game doesn't cover the entire screen (large screens?) and there are always bars on both sides! You can enable/disable the Auto Zoom feature and 3D View as well.
There are 3 Mahjongg Games available, Parade Mahjongg with 5 different level layouts. Classic Mahjongg with 5 different level layouts, and Duel Mahjongg which has a novice and master level. All Mahjongg games can be played in a Casual or Normal Mode with the exception of the master Duel Mahjongg.
The goal is to earn 3-Stars per level, you must earn a certain number of stars to unlock the preceding levels and using the Hint, Undo, or Redo features will result in a loss of points.
After completing a level, I was at a complete loss as to how to proceed to the next level. There's no X, no play button, no instructions. (there are a lot of typos!) The only way I found to get to the next level was to hit the Exit tab and then click the next game I wanted to play?? Good luck on this one
by: Magnussoft
I don't recommend this game.
Solve fun nonogram puzzles and help your favorite robot catch the criminal!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
THE "HELPER" SCENARIO IS GETTING OLD
PostedAugust 3, 2020
pennmom36
fromThe graphics are dull, the pictures aren't very appealing, and I'm really getting tired of the whole Helper scenario
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I loved Rainbow Mosaics when they first came out because they had better features than the "penguin-themed" games, the colors were more vibrant, they had more tile selection options, and they always had a cute little story attached to them. I know most people don't care about a story in a Mosaic game, but when you purchase an entire series...and that series is a long-running series, then it's nice to have different themes and to me, it seems rather lazy on a developers part to not bother to have to come up with anything new, because the last 6 games have been, "Helper does this, Helper does that".
When they released Detective Agency Mosaics, that game had an amazing storyline and had 16 Five star reviews with an incredible average rating of 5-stars so I think that proves that people ARE looking for a better plot, at least something that doesn't have a Helper theme.
The last couple of games have added Hidden Object Scenes, which would be okay if they had something to do with the detective plot such as collecting clues or investigating a crime scene?? You can skip the HO scene, but you will earn a star for completing the scene, 2 stars for completing the scene using less than 2 hints, and 3 stars for completing the scene using one hint or less.
Fortunately, they have continued with the Tetris-style Mini-game that allows you to solve a puzzle to fill in a Mystery Number on each of the Mosaic Puzzles. You will come across a (?) Question Mark on each puzzle that hides one of the Numbers in a column or row. When you click on the (?) it activates a puzzle that requires you to drag all of the Tetris-style shapes into a grid without overlapping pieces. (btw: the puzzle shapes look really cool in the Lego-style tile selection) You can Skip the mini-game, and eventually, you will be able to figure out the hidden number by a process of elimination without having to click on the question mark, but I love this puzzle feature!
There are 130 Mosaic Levels with 14 Tile Styles ranging from beveled edges to Beveled edges, but my favorite has always been the Lego-style tile. They have also added 2 Crossed-off tile options, one of which has a beveled or rounded edge, the other is the standard square edge. You can play in a Normal Mode which crosses off numbers one by one, or an Expert Mode which only crosses off the numbers when the entire row or column has been completed.
As you correctly fill in squares, you will earn coins that can be used to purchase Street Decorations or purchase upgrades for the Power-ups which are hint forms that will increase in the size of coverage with each upgrade. The Dog power-up opens a random right square, the Lightning power-up opens up a chosen square with no negative outcome, and the Lamp power-up opens a chosen grid area without a negative outcome. Each power-up can be upgraded twice to cover a larger area on the grid.
RAINBOW MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Christmas Lights (December 23-2015) 4.3
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) 4.1
11-Helper's Valentine (February 18-2019) 4.9
12-Easter Helper (April 6-2020) 4.4
13-Detective Helper (June 8-2020) 4.3
14-Hawaiian Vacation (August 3-2020) n/a
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) 4.1
11-Helper's Valentine (February 18-2019) 4.9
12-Easter Helper (April 6-2020) 4.4
13-Detective Helper (June 8-2020) 4.3
14-Hawaiian Vacation (August 3-2020) n/a
by: Awigor Studio
I don't recommend this game.
Solve nonograms and follow your favorite robot to sunny Hawaii!
Overall rating
4
/
5
51 of 55 found this review helpful
I LOVED THE VARIETY OF STORIES RAINBOW MOSAICS OFFERED IN THE BEGINNING
PostedAugust 3, 2020
pennmom36
fromIf you're having issues with a slow-moving cursor, switch ↺ to the "system➣cursor" in the settings ☸ and it works just fine⇪
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I loved Rainbow Mosaics when they first came out because they had better features than the "penguin-themed" games, the colors were more vibrant, they had more tile selection options, and they always had a cute little story attached to them. I know most people don't care about a story in a Mosaic game, but when you purchase an entire series...and that series is a long-running series, then it's nice to have different themes and to me, it seems rather lazy on a developers part to not bother to have to come up with anything new, because the last 6 games have been, "Helper does this, Helper does that". When they released Detective Agency Mosaics, that game had an amazing storyline and had 16 Five star reviews with an incredible average rating of 5-stars so I think that proves that people ARE looking for a better plot, at least something that doesn't have a Helper theme.
The last couple of games have added Hidden Object Scenes, which would be okay if they were somewhat challenging, but the Listed Objects aren't hidden, they are just laying out in the open, and they are large, out of place objects such as an air freshener on the beach? You can skip the HO scene, but you will earn a star for completing the scene, 2 stars for completing the scene using less than 2 hints, and 3 stars for completing the scene using one hint or less.
Fortunately, they have continued with the Tetris-style Mini-game that allows you to solve a puzzle to fill in a Mystery Number on each of the Mosaic Puzzles. You will come across a (?) Question Mark on each puzzle that hides one of the Numbers in a column or row. When you click on the (?) it activates a puzzle that requires you to drag all of the Tetris-style shapes into a grid without overlapping pieces. (btw: the puzzle shapes look really cool in the Lego-style tile selection) You can Skip the mini-game, and eventually, you will be able to figure out the hidden number by a process of elimination without having to click on the question mark, but I love this puzzle feature!
There are 130 Mosaic Levels with 18 Tile Styles ranging from beveled edges to Hawaiian flowers, but my favorite has always been the Lego-style tile. They have also added 2 Crossed-off tile options, one of which has a beveled or rounded edge, the other is the standard square edge. You can play in a Normal Mode which crosses off numbers one by one, or an Expert Mode which only crosses off the numbers when the entire row or column has been completed.
As you correctly fill in squares, you will earn coins that can be used to purchase Street Decorations or purchase upgrades for the Power-ups which are hint forms that will increase in the size of coverage with each upgrade. The Dog power-up opens a random right square, the Lightning power-up opens up a chosen square with no negative outcome, and the Lamp power-up opens a chosen grid area without a negative outcome. Each power-up can be upgraded twice to cover a larger area on the grid.
RAINBOW MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Christmas Lights (December 23-2015) 4.3
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) 4.1
11-Helper's Valentine (February 18-2019) 4.9
12-Easter Helper (April 6-2020) 4.4
13-Detective Helper (June 8-2020) 4.3
14-Hawaiian Vacation (August 3-2020) n/a
by: Awigor Studio
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) 4.1
11-Helper's Valentine (February 18-2019) 4.9
12-Easter Helper (April 6-2020) 4.4
13-Detective Helper (June 8-2020) 4.3
14-Hawaiian Vacation (August 3-2020) n/a
by: Awigor Studio
I recommend this game!