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:
Can you stop townspeople from turning into crystal in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
50 of 60 found this review helpful
THIS SERIES HAS BECOME A LEGEND ALRIGHT
PostedJune 7, 2019
pennmom36
fromWhy doesn't Amax revisit some of their awesome classic one & done games like gothic fiction or dark alleys? ☠
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga Collector's Edition
(161)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed CE Game approximately 4.0 hours
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
I'm not even going to attempt to give a storyline synopsis, there is no storyline to synopt. (no it's not a real word) I had a coupon code that was going to expire so I bought the CE version, I prolly should have just let the coupon expire:( The storyline is utterly ridiculous, they just don't have any "new" plot ideas so they just wing it as they go. Amax hasn't released any new series games so they just keep plugging away at the same handful of series offered since the beginning of time. In the beginning, these games had fresh plots with just enough of an edge to please any crowd, but the beginning is in the rearview mirror folks, the middle flew by about 8 years ago, the end actually occurred a few years back, everyone got the memo, accept for Amax.
The CE collectibles are rather confusing. The SG clearly states that there are Collectibles AND Morphing Objects, but the Collectibles are Jigsaw Puzzle pieces that Morph. Then I discover a Casket that claims it holds Crystals located throughout the game, so I thought they were collectibles, only to discover I need them for the final scene. I have a thing about achieving all available achievements so I read them carefully before starting the game. One of the CE achievements says Make 6 unnecessary moves in the game...what the hot fudge cake does that mean? I played the entire game trying to figure out how to make one unnecessary move, much less 6. Surely I should have achieved the achievement for the simple fact that I completed this worthless game?
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes and 5 Zoom Zone scenes and I actually found some of them to have well-hidden items or interesting interactions. Once again Amax repeated the HOP's twice on every location, which makes them so boring a second time around, and quite frankly it seems lazy to me. There are Interactive Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiples of the same Object Finds, Matching Pair Finds, Description Finds, Related Item Finds, Fragment Finds, Misplaced Item Finds, and Keywords in Sentence Finds. At least there is a good variety, but there are no alternate mini-games available. I've said this before, I'll say it again if devs would offer a mini-game option in place of the Hidden Object Scenes AND a hidden object scene option in place of the mini-games, wouldn't it suit everyone's tastes and increase sales?
There are a whopping 25 Mini-Games, most of which were utterly boring, or simply mindless tasks such as dragging a ball through a gazillion line shapes. I'm going to try very hard to list some of the games I didn't find too boring:
1~Place & align all tokens using directional arrows to direct the moonlight beam. That's about it folks.
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter takes place immediately after the investigation when the Cardinal asks you to investigate how Saint Germain discovered the Well of Souls and its powers, by "recalling the investigation." This is an average length Bonus Chapter across 8 scene locations with 12 additional mini-games and 6 hidden object scenes. You will pick up the remaining 16 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to complete the collection jigsaw.
The Collector's Edition version has 6 Wallpapers, 7 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 8 Movie Video Cutscenes, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements, 13 Re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 Re-playable Mini-Games, 52 Morphing Puzzle Pieces, 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop a deadly magic from destroying the land?
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 81 found this review helpful
THE TROLLS HAD MY ATTENTION UNTIL CHAPTER 5, and 6 and a bonus Chapter that dragged on forever I think I had a birthday or two somewhere in between
PostedJune 6, 2019
pennmom36
fromA Solar Eclipse is when the Moon moves in its orbit between Earth & the Sun The longest a total solar eclipse can last is 7.5 minutes.Almost identical eclipses occur after 18 years and 11 days it can span a width of 10k miles across Earth's surface. ☀
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game approximately 6.0 hours
(including the CE Bonus Chapter and all mini-games)
(including the CE Bonus Chapter and all mini-games)
It's hard to stop a Troll, especially an Angry Troll. Jorlis has lost his only daughter, even worse, he watched his daughter turn to stone before his very eyes. The trolls have been cursed, forced to live their lives by the light of the moon, the sun is their nemesis, but so are the Hunters who dedicate their lives to eradicating these "Monsters" But what if the sun never rose? What if the night never ended? What would it take to allow Trolls the freedom of life without the fear of stone? What if this freedom could be achieved with an eternal Solar Eclipse? What if all it took was the soul of a Troll Hunter? What if you're the Monster Hunter!
The biggest problem I have with this game is that once again Domini stretched the game way too much. Chapters 1-4 were a perfect length, chapter 5 a little bit long but not too bad. Chapter 6 totally lost my attention span because it just dragged on and on. It didn't progress the story, it was just one mini-game after another with a bunch of meaningless tasks requiring me to find and use the same inventory items that I ditched at least 4 or 5 times in the previous chapters. After completing the main game I walked away for hours before forcing myself to play a bonus chapter the size of all 6 main chapters combined. I don't want to repeat the same tasks a thousand times just for the sake of stretching the appearance of a game..just saying...
What kind of Gadget did Domini give us this time, you may ask? Why a Bestiary Book to turn vicious monsters into harmless pets, of course! The Bestiary Book is used 7 times, once you complete a random mini-game that has nothing to do with that particular creature. The good news is that the mini-game is different each time, and they actually aren't bad games for the most part. The CE Morphing Paintings are somewhat obscure but still rather obvious, but I thought the Scrolls were creatively blended into the scenery.
There are 13 Main & 4 smaller Zoom Zone Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter, and there is an alternate Match 3 game available. Surprisingly, the HOP's get better towards the end, mainly because they were creative variations such as Horizontal & Vertical Sliders to match with pictures in the scene, Spot the Differences, Rotating Disk Sections to align objects, where the first half of the game only offered Interactive Listed items, Silhouetted Shapes and Keywords in Sentence finds. Two of my favorites was finding Matching Pairs of beautiful and very colorful birds, and a Riddle puzzle where you had to select two associated items. (_+_=Ballerina)
There are 30 Mini-Games +12 in the CE Bonus Chapter, including 7 Bestiary Book puzzles (each one different). I really liked most of the puzzles but the last 2 chapters worth about did me in, it was just puzzle after puzzle with no progression to the story and very few HO's to break up the chain of mini-games. If you're not a puzzle fan, you probably won't enjoy this game. Below are brief descriptions of some of my favorites. ㋛
1~Align chips so the ones on the center disk are adjacent to the matching ones on the outer disk, by rotating groups of chips. დ
2~Use directional arrows to move 2 tokens through a labyrinth alternating movements to open up various gates for each other. დდდ
3~Move crystal shards into place by clicking on various attachments.
4~Place tiles into empty slots according to clues on rows & columns. დ
5~Rotate kite sections into place and then place duel-colored feathers in between kite sections according to the color combinations. დდდ
6~Place color-coded feathers on empty slots by finding the color pattern.
7~Use directional arrows to move the amulets to the central slot. დ
2~Use directional arrows to move 2 tokens through a labyrinth alternating movements to open up various gates for each other. დდდ
3~Move crystal shards into place by clicking on various attachments.
4~Place tiles into empty slots according to clues on rows & columns. დ
5~Rotate kite sections into place and then place duel-colored feathers in between kite sections according to the color combinations. დდდ
6~Place color-coded feathers on empty slots by finding the color pattern.
7~Use directional arrows to move the amulets to the central slot. დ
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter is so long you'd think it was an actual full-length release. You play as momma Amber who freaks out when daughter Evelyn goes MIA and does what any mother would do, hunt down the bad guy and make him regret the day he was born. Okay, maybe it's not quite that dramatic, but it does involve GOT (anyone else want a final season redo?) scenario of "The Faceless" only nowhere near as awesome. (anyone else wanna know why didn't she become a man w/o a face in the end?) There are 12 Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes in the BC and you will find the remaining 3 Morphing Paintings (say that 3'xs fast) 3 Scrolls, and 6 Medals (of various amounts) to purchase the remaining Observatory items. If you don't get bored playing the main game, the length of this BC chapter is worthy of the CE price. (16 pages according to the SG)
This Collector's Edition has 20 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 35 Movie Video Cutscenes (sit back and watch the show folks) 33 Achievements, 27 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Paintings (learn about the Troll Culture) 15 Collectible Scrolls (well hidden, bio's on past/present member's of the Order of Monster Hunters) 10 Missing Notes (technically they are found notes once you click on them) 70 Zoom Zone Medals to buy 13 Observatory Items, 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
SPIRIT LEGENDS SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Forest Wraith (November 24-2018) 3.4
2-Solar Eclipse (June 6-2019) n/a
2-Solar Eclipse (June 6-2019) n/a
by: Domini Games
Unravel the secrets of Cliffmont Castle in this enchanted match-3 journey! Explore vast levels, collect precious treasures and build majestic castles.
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 82 found this review helpful
THIS GAME WAS WORTH THE LONG WAIT!
PostedJune 5, 2019
pennmom36
fromWhy does the demo always end when you are seconds away from completing a level? ⍥
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was beginning to think that MatchVentures was a one and done Match 3 game because it's been two years since the first release. I think this is a very unique game with very clever features across multiple boards, but it may be somewhat confusing to muddle through if you are new to this genre. I'm not sure if anything has changed in this version, but to be honest, I only remember the basic features and that I really enjoyed the challenge because I've played hundreds of Match 3 games over the last couple of years. I was totally surprised when the demo abruptly ended because I was completely engrossed in gameplay, so in my book, that qualifies it as a "keeper" and I will definitely purchase it when Bonus Punch Monday rolls around. (gotta work the system to get that extra punch)
You can choose to play in a Relaxed Mode with Unlimited Moves or a Normal, Limited Moves difficulty Mode. You can choose from 8 different profile Avatars and 3 custom Cursors, and there are 40 Achievement Trophies to earn. As you progress, you can fortify and upgrade the Castle with the coins you earn while playing the Match 3 levels as well as from Battles, Continued level play (after goals are met) making matches in Sequence, and from explored Caves.
The goal for each level is to clear all Gold Tile Cells, however, there are multiple boards to navigate and each board requires a specific tool or item to unlock them, so finding those items can be quite a chore. A secondary board may require wooden planks, a crowbar, or just a simple key. If you click on the icon in front of the entrance it will tell you the item necessary to unlock it, once the item is found, you must click on the icon to select to "USE" the item. To find the tools or items required, you'll need to bust Crates, dig through Dirt Patches, break Chains, disperse Fog, blow up Grids, find gems for Gem Shaped Boxes, chisel through Rocks, burn Cobwebs, melt Ice, search for Hidden Maps, drop Amulets off the board, Duel Enemies, warp through portals, or unlock Treasure Chests, just about every obstacle imaginable is in this game! Once you complete all of the boards and meet all level requirements, you can choose to Continue to the next level or keep playing to earn Badges and more gold, however, you must earn 3 Stars and Collect every item with your remaining Moves available.
You will earn Amphora's with a Match 4 and a Bomb with a Match 5 or more, and you can combine the Power-ups for an even bigger explosion. As you progress, Power-ups become available for purchase with Gold, such as, Bombs that can be dropped anywhere, Magic Wind Potions to destroy Cobwebs, and Magic Fire Potions to remove Ice Tiles. Portals can be used to warp to another area of the board once you collect amulets by dropping them off the board, and there are optional side quests of making matches in a particular Sequence shown to earn additional gold.
This is a top-notched Match 3 game that doesn't have a ton of power-ups on the board which basically plays the game automatically while you sit back and watch the computer go through the moves. It doesn't seem to have anything different than the last game other than different board layouts, but I haven't played the original game in a couple of years so it seems new enough to add it to my growing collection ㋡
MATCHVENTURES SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Match Adventures 1 (September 25-2017) 4.5
2-Match Adventures 2 (June 5-2019) n/a
2-Match Adventures 2 (June 5-2019) n/a
by: Playcademy
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
39 of 49 found this review helpful
GREAT CONCEPTS AND FEATURES BUT THE "DOWNTOWN" THEME DIDN'T ROCK MY SKYSCRAPER WORLD
PostedJune 3, 2019
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I really liked where Seven Sails was going with this Match 3 game, it has some cool "builder" features and really interesting Obstacles to overcome. In all fairness, most people will probably love the hustle and bustle Downtown theme, but I'm not a city kind of gal. The only traffic jam I run into happens at feeding time when the horses bum-rush the barn door, and the only skyscrapers around my neighborhood are the Corn Crops once they reach knee-high in July. I'm totally fine with my rural lifestyle though, I'd much rather fall asleep listening to crickets and frogs than a million cars running past my window, so right from the start, I was annoyed with all the sound effects of cars honking horns and screeching brakes.
There are 130 Match 3 Levels that can be played in a Casual Mode which has more onboard Power-ups available, Snowflakes that only require one adjacent match to destroy, and Smoke Obstacles that grow at a slower rate. Advanced Mode has a slightly less chance of receiving onboard power-ups, Snowflakes require 2 adjacent matches to destroy them, and the Smoke Obstacles can be fully extinguished. The Expert Mode has very few onboard Power-up opportunities, Snowflakes require three adjacent matches to destroy, Smoke Obstacles reappear after being extinguished, and there are no Power-ups available to purchase in the Shop. You can also choose to play in an Unlimited Time/Moves mode, a Limited Movements Mode or a Timed Mode.
Large Matches will earn onboard Power-ups and you can combine them to create other power-ups. A Match 4 gives you a Bomb, a Match 5 or more in a T or L shape earns you a Firecracker that destroys a column and row when swapped or double-clicked. Swapping a Bomb with a Firecracker creates a Mailbox which destroys all of the same kind of tokens matched with. Swapping two Bombs will create Dynamite for a larger explosion. You can purchase Power-ups in increments of 1-3-5 with Diamonds that can be unearthed in some of the levels. The Jackhammer removes a token of choice, the Shuffle Power-up reshuffles the entire board and the Mailbox Power-up removes all tokens of the same kind matched with. (Power-ups are not available for purchase in Expert Mode)
Most levels have Special Gold tiles that require matches upon them to clear. There are several interesting Obstacles available as well:
~Wooden Boxes: requires an adjacent match to destroy.
~Bars: requires bail via Match3 of whichever token is behind bars.
~Sewer Lids: can't be destroyed, make matches under to drop off the board.
~Snowflakes: matches made near snowflakes will cause it to explode and freeze adjacent tokens.
~Concrete Blocks: require two adjacent matches to destroy.
~Brick Walls: require four adjacent matches to destroy.
~Earth Blocks: making adjacent matches will unearth diamonds. (Diamonds are used to buy Power-ups)
~Ice Blocks: require two adjacent matches to clear road barriers.
~Teleports: tokens that fall into these zones will teleport to another area of the board.
~Switches: make 5 matches adjacent to switches to remove barriers.
~TNT: make 5 matches adjacent to the detonators to detonate the TNT.
~Wooden Boxes: requires an adjacent match to destroy.
~Bars: requires bail via Match3 of whichever token is behind bars.
~Sewer Lids: can't be destroyed, make matches under to drop off the board.
~Snowflakes: matches made near snowflakes will cause it to explode and freeze adjacent tokens.
~Concrete Blocks: require two adjacent matches to destroy.
~Brick Walls: require four adjacent matches to destroy.
~Earth Blocks: making adjacent matches will unearth diamonds. (Diamonds are used to buy Power-ups)
~Ice Blocks: require two adjacent matches to clear road barriers.
~Teleports: tokens that fall into these zones will teleport to another area of the board.
~Switches: make 5 matches adjacent to switches to remove barriers.
~TNT: make 5 matches adjacent to the detonators to detonate the TNT.
Once you earn enough Coins and Stars you will unlock Residential (houses of various size and style) Commercial (supermarkets, cafes, burger joints, bakeries, pizzerias, schools, ice cream shops, and industrial businesses) Parks & Vegetation (bushes, trees, and various parks) Public (Fire and Police stations, hospitals, post offices, schools and city halls) and eventually, Skyscrapers to create your Downtown. You are given quests to obtain specific goals at specific times, and you can place the buildings anywhere you'd like, adding pavement sections to expand the boarders.
Seven Sails Games obviously put a great deal of thought into this clever Match 3 game, but for me personally, I just don't find the theme or the tile selections to be very interesting. Otherwise, it has some unique concepts.
Experience another glorious summer at Pinecreek Hills National Park with the latest in this acclaimed hidden object adventure series!
Overall rating
5
/
5
111 of 128 found this review helpful
OPT FOR THE CE VERSION IF POSSIBLE, IT REALLY IS CE WORTHY
PostedJune 3, 2019
pennmom36
fromCasual Arts can we get some Casual Morphing Objects for this Casual Hidden Object Classic next time? ッ
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Games 1-8
Vacation Adventures 9 approximately 4.5 hours
(not including the 48 CE version mini-game extras!)
Vacation Adventures 9 approximately 4.5 hours
(not including the 48 CE version mini-game extras!)
I read several reviews when the CE version was released stating that they would wait for this Standard Edition version because they didn't think the CE was worthy. If you are a Vacation Adventure fan, you may want to reconsider because the CE version is very lengthy and also includes HO scenes in the Buffalo Valley National Park as well. Besides the 24 Wallpapers, 20 Music Soundtracks (more than any CE game offering I can recall) there are 48 Replayable Mini-Games that are the same types offered in the main game, but each one is slightly different, and 48 replayable mini-games is unheard of in any CE game I've ever come across!
There are 20 Achievements to earn for completing various tasks such as finding Wildlife, buying Souvenirs, Finishing a Mini-Game Quickly or Completing the Game within 5 hours. The CE version offers an Extreme Mode that doesn't allow you to use hints and has more Wildlife & Recyclable items to search for. The SE version only offers a Casual or Challenge Mode of difficulty. You can use the money you earn playing the HO scenes and mini-games, to purchase 16 Souvenirs in the Camp Shop which will be displayed in the Souvenir Room next to the Shop Icon.
There are 20 Achievements to earn for completing various tasks such as finding Wildlife, buying Souvenirs, Finishing a Mini-Game Quickly or Completing the Game within 5 hours. The CE version offers an Extreme Mode that doesn't allow you to use hints and has more Wildlife & Recyclable items to search for. The SE version only offers a Casual or Challenge Mode of difficulty. You can use the money you earn playing the HO scenes and mini-games, to purchase 16 Souvenirs in the Camp Shop which will be displayed in the Souvenir Room next to the Shop Icon.
There Hidden Object Scenes located all around the park, and even scenes where you find Multiples of the Same or related objects. Each scene has several wildlife animals to find that are shown as Silhouetted Shapes in a box to the left of the word search bar and when all the Wildlife have been spotted, the box will close. There is a Wildlife Notebook to see illustrations of the 126 Wildlife animals as you find them. You will also recycle trash that is lying around, such as plastic bottles, crumpled paper, glass bottles, and cans, when all trash has been found, the recycle can icon is displayed and the bin appears full. There are 12 Camera Photo ops available in scenes that have a Camera Icon, with over 50 HO scenes, they can be easily overlooked so keep an eye out for those icons!
You will earn an Eagle Eye achievement if you don't use either the Hint or Mega Hint feature. The Hint feature will show you the location of one random item, and the Mega Hint will show you the location of every item briefly. You will earn a Bronze Star for completing the search, a Silver star if you find all Wildlife OR all Recyclable items, and a Gold star if you find ALL wildlife and ALL recyclable items. Words listed in Blue Print require an interaction of some type, and words in Red Print are hidden inside or behind things, requiring you to click when the Magnifying Glass appears to reveal the item. Most scenes have at least one Zoom Zone that will automatically close once the items have been found, and they may reappear as items are added to the list. Levels can be replayed at any time to better your score or locate items you missed including Wildlife and Recyclable items.
My favorite feature in the Vacation Adventures games is the abundance of Mini Games available after each Hidden Object scene, such as Spot The Differences, Rotating Squares, Placing Map pieces, Word Searches, Matching Pairs, Sliding Square Tile puzzles, and several Jigsaw Puzzle variations.
The Collector's Edition version has 24 Wallpapers, 20 Music Soundtracks, and 48 Replayable Mini-Games such as Spot The Differences, Jigsaw Puzzles, Square Tile Rotation Puzzles, Strip~Swap Puzzles, Word Search, Lable Placing, Identifying Fish, Knots, Animal Puzzles, Matching Games, Cards and every kind of Vacation Adventure Game that makes it fun to play! You also get to visit the Buffalo Valley, National Park.
Either version will make you a Happy Camper but if you're a Park Ranger fan, I think you'll be ecstatic with all the extra's offered in the Collector's Edition version, enjoy!
Either version will make you a Happy Camper but if you're a Park Ranger fan, I think you'll be ecstatic with all the extra's offered in the Collector's Edition version, enjoy!
VACATION ADVENTURES PARK RANGER SERIES
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 1 SE only (July 23-2013) 3.8
2-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 2 SE only (March 31-2014) 3.9
3-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 3 SE only (March 24-2015) 4.5
4-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 4 SE only (March 30-2016) 4.5
5-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 5 SE only (November 15-2016) 4.7
6-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 6 SE only (May 31-2017) 4.6
7-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 7 SE only (March 21-2018) 4.5
8-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 8 SE only (September 24-2018) 4.6
9-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 9 SE (June 2-2019) n/a
2-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 2 SE only (March 31-2014) 3.9
3-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 3 SE only (March 24-2015) 4.5
4-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 4 SE only (March 30-2016) 4.5
5-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 5 SE only (November 15-2016) 4.7
6-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 6 SE only (May 31-2017) 4.6
7-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 7 SE only (March 21-2018) 4.5
8-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 8 SE only (September 24-2018) 4.6
9-Vacation Adventures Park Ranger 9 SE (June 2-2019) n/a
by: Casual Arts Games
I recommend this game!
Can your love overcome a grudge that spans a thousand years?
Overall rating
3
/
5
44 of 54 found this review helpful
AN IMMORTAL FORBIDDEN LOVE
PostedMay 31, 2019
pennmom36
fromCan we get a game about Oberon the Dragon? Perhaps about his previous masters, he was such a cool "helper".
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game just shy of 4 hours
(including CE Bonus Chapter and all mini-games)
(including CE Bonus Chapter and all mini-games)
An Immortal Love knows no boundaries, but Jacob and Alison have a forbidden kind of Immortal Love. Born into rival Clans, this young couple had no idea how deep the hatred ran, most clan members didn't know why they were rivals. No one believed that there was a time when the two Clans were at peace with one another, in fact, they even loved one another. Ahh, but that was long ago, and way before Jason and Alison were cursed, a Forbidden Love, an Immortal Love, a love that remains even though fate has dealt them the cruelest hand, ...and even stole their precious memories.
I'm a fan of most 4Friends games and although this storyline reminded me of one of my favorite older movies, Ladyhawke. I wasn't particularly fond of the mini-games, hidden object scenes or the "gadgets" I was even more disappointed that the Collector's Edition Opaque Sheep and Morphing Objects were so poorly hidden and way too obvious. Normally, I LOVE 4Friends games because of the challenge of their CE collectibles, but I was able to find both sheep and both morphs in each scene within mere seconds, the sheep were too large (and why sheep?) and the morphs too obvious (mostly because they were the only small item in the scene)
There are 2 Gadgets/Helpers since you are playing as both characters from different Clans. Alison is granted 3 Abilities by her Guardian Owl, Owl Defense, Owl Attack, and Owl Agility and Jason has a Guardian Bear that grants him 3 special Abilities, Bear Strength, Bear True Sight, and Bear Wisdom. You will only use these abilities one time per ability per guardian and there are no repetitive mini-games required to use them, but you aren't granted the ability until a Memory Star is collected by "remembering" something to trigger it. The biggest issue I had with this scenario was that the Bear Guardian seemed kind, and just, wanting and willing to solve the 2 clans differences. The Owl Guardian, on the other hand, seemed angry and revengeful, spiteful, and unwilling to see both sides of the coin, quite frankly, kind of an owlhole who wasn't about to bend or try to bury their differences, and this was a huge turn off for me. (and contradicting to the actual plot?) You would think both guardians would be wise and peaceful, especially an owl? There was a similar helper feature in the last Immortal Love, a dragon named Oberon, but Oberon was adorable, graphically appealing, and looked really cool wrapped around the character's wrist as a bracelet, these guardians look rather dull and evil with their blue glowing eyes.
There are 12 Hidden Object Scenes (some are HOP's that include puzzles) +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter (some of the mini-games are cross-overs that could be a HOP but are listed as a mini-game) Nearly all of them are Interactive Listed Item Finds, and most Scenes are Repeated once. Several scenes had fragments hidden under each item that would complete a box image of some sort which would open to reveal the last item. There are also a couple of Silhouetted Shape Finds, and the only one I was impressed by, was a Progressive~Interactive Silhouetted Shape scene towards the end where you had to find images that matched the silhouetted shapes hidden throughout several books. That same scene was repeated and this time you had to click on pages in a layout of open books to create & align images. There are no alternative puzzles available.
There are actually only 18 Mini-Games +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter because some of the Mini-Games are really a type of Hidden Object Scene (finding & replacing items) but 4Friends lists them as Mini-Game, NOT Hidden Object Scenes. I wasn't thrilled with most of the mini-games because they are the same games offered by 4Friends, some of which I believe was just offered in their last recent release of a different series. They are far too simple and can easily be solved on the first attempt. I don't mind easy games if they are fun, but they should also throw in a few more complex mini-games, now and then. Below are a few of my favorite games offered:
1~Select from 3 different patterns to move chips into their corresponding slots.
2~Slide tiles to highlighted positions on a cross until the tiles complete the images on the edges of the cross. ღ
3~Remove all Owl Chips by jumping them with 2 available Bear Chips. (would have been awesome with a little more challenge) ღ
4~Combine ingredients using the pictured equations until you have created the 3 correct ingredients necessary to make medicine required. ღ
5~Place character pictures according to the descriptions (this person loves that person, this person hates this person)
6~Slide puzzle tiles using existing tiles and bumpers to create an image in the center. ღღ
7~Arrange tiles from smallest to largest according to the clues on 3 different stacks.
2~Slide tiles to highlighted positions on a cross until the tiles complete the images on the edges of the cross. ღ
3~Remove all Owl Chips by jumping them with 2 available Bear Chips. (would have been awesome with a little more challenge) ღ
4~Combine ingredients using the pictured equations until you have created the 3 correct ingredients necessary to make medicine required. ღ
5~Place character pictures according to the descriptions (this person loves that person, this person hates this person)
6~Slide puzzle tiles using existing tiles and bumpers to create an image in the center. ღღ
7~Arrange tiles from smallest to largest according to the clues on 3 different stacks.
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter winds the clock back just a tiny bit to learn about another couple whose life and love became shattered by the Amulet of Oblivian. Like Jason and Alison, Douglas and Ayla had a love for one another that was forbidden by their respective clans. Their bond helps them escape the clutches of Vivan as well as what lies ahead waiting to rear its ugly head. The is an average Length Bonus Chapter that takes place over 9 Scene Locations and has 6 Hidden Object Scenes and 5 Mini-Scenes. After completing the Bonus Chapter you will unlock the final 3 replayable mini-games and hidden object scenes. You won't use the Owl & Bear special Abilities but you will continue the Qpaque Sheep Collection (18) and Morphing Object Collection (18) with 2 of each per scene, a feature I do enjoy when the collectibles continue to the very end.
The Collector's Edition version has 19 Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter Scene Locations. 8 Wallpapers (all w/characters noooo) 29 Concept Art Pictures, 4Screensavers, 6 Music Soundtracks, 38 Movie Video Cutscenes, 25 Achievements To Earn, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Replayable Mini-Games, 56 Opaque Sheep (2 in each scene) 56 Morphing Objects (2 in each scene) 5 Collectible Sheep (to unlock by collecting 5-10-25-45-56 opaque sheep) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-in Strategy Guide
IMMORTAL LOVE SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Letter From The Past (January 8-2016) 3.9
2-The Price Of A Miracle (January 6-2017) 3.6
3-Blind Desire (August 27-2017) 3.3
4-Black Lotus (April 20-2018) 4.0
5-Kiss of the Night (October 12-2018) 3.8
6-Bitter Awakening (May 31.2019) n/a
2-The Price Of A Miracle (January 6-2017) 3.6
3-Blind Desire (August 27-2017) 3.3
4-Black Lotus (April 20-2018) 4.0
5-Kiss of the Night (October 12-2018) 3.8
6-Bitter Awakening (May 31.2019) n/a
by: 4Friends Games
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a past case from destroying the present?
Overall rating
2
/
5
200 of 253 found this review helpful
ONE OF THE MOST BORING GAMES I'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR!
PostedMay 30, 2019
pennmom36
fromSherlock Holmes was originally named Sherrinford, Holmes didn’t make deductions he made abductions a logical conclusion based upon a hunch vs deductions that are based on facts Holmes never says Elementary, my dear Watson in the same sentence.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4.0 hours
(including all mini-games)
(Bonus Chapter not accessible)
(including all mini-games)
(Bonus Chapter not accessible)
Sherlock Holmes has been missing for 15 years and crime was at an all-time high, that is until Ms. Holmes stepped in to take advantage of the situation. We join Ms. Holmes on her most recent investigation of the Monster of Baskervilles. Don't get too excited about this "family curse" scenario because it only lasts one chapter before the plot jumps from point A to point Z which has nothing to do with the plot, and basically isn't even mentioned in the following 2 final chapters????
The next 2 chapters have a plot that's been done a thousand times before, a complete letdown, there's not even a "clue searching" feature scenario that you'd expect from someone who self-righteously claims to be equal to the late, great Sherlock Holmes. I take that back, the first chapter required me to find 3-4 tell-tale clues in a room Hidden object style and never used again. I didn't have to gather evidence and draw a conclusion either, I take that back too, twice I had to draw a line to connect the large dots in the correct sequence of events, boo~ring. The Hounds of Baskervilles turned into a cheesy monster, Mr. Sherlock Holmes turned into Ms. Sherlock Holmes, the Monster is completely dismissed, there's no who-dun-it sleuthing involved, there are no "brilliant deductions" made, there's just nothing about this new series that has anything special.
Oohhh, a new series game available, how exciting. Even better, I read on the CE Strategy Guide that some of the collectibles require more than one visit before they show up, NICE! Unfortunately, all my excited anticipations wan as I muddle my way through the first chapter because the storyline is boring and moves at a snail's pace, not to mention the fact that Elephant games have so many cliche tasks and a billion emblems to place on just about everything. We have the standard missing gnome and missing zipper pull, items guarded by angry bees, ants marching single file across random items, glass that needs to be cut precisely with a 5-carat diamond that someone managed to lose (and I ditch it afterward?) the ole skeleton who refuses to hand over the goods until you replace missing jewelry (how bout giving it a 5-carat diamond?)
Naturally, every box, fountain, fireplace, door, and drawer needs an Emblem and for some odd reason, whenever I replace the emblems on a wall, the entire section of bricks caves in, revealing a hidden cache. Was that the sole purpose of bricking up the wall, so that someone could replace the emblems to make it crumble?? My favorite sentence from Ms. Holmes was "The owner seemed to like everything with amulets of the motif shapes" (brilliant deduction Ms. Holmes)
There are 10 main Hidden Object Scenes and 7 smaller Zoom Zone HO's (+6 CE Bonus Chapter) Most of the scenes are Interactive List Finds but there are also Swatch Finds (finding the are that matches the tile swatch) Morphing Object Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Replace Item Finds, Spot the Difference Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, and Uncovering Matching Pair Finds. You can earn Achievements during the smaller Zoom Zone HOP's but there are no alternate Games available to play instead of the HO's.
There are 31 Mini~Games (+7 CE Bonus Chapter) Some of them were the exact one's offered in their last release, but for the most part, they are decent games. Below are brief descriptions of some of my favorite games:
1~Rotate 4 disk centers until the fragments join in a triangular shape and then rotate disk rings until the triangles fit correctly when you click the button. ღღ
2~Select bottom arrows to rotate the central disk to pick up tiles and place them into their matching slots. ღღღ
3~Press arrows to move columns and rows until each row has tiles of the correct colors according to the clues on the board. ღ
2~Select bottom arrows to rotate the central disk to pick up tiles and place them into their matching slots. ღღღ
3~Press arrows to move columns and rows until each row has tiles of the correct colors according to the clues on the board. ღ
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter may or may not be more entertaining than the main game, I wouldn't know because the game froze up once in the first chapter, a second time in the second chapter, and in the third chapter it completely shut down twice. I completed the final puzzle in the main chapter but during the final cutscene after the mini-game, it shut down again. This time it didn't recognize my progress, the hint feature didn't point to anything and when I opened up the final mini-game that I had already finished, the game could be completed again but there were no instructions this time and no skip feature. I completed the puzzle a second time but it doesn't do anything, therefore I can't access the Bonus Chapter because the game thinks I didn't complete the main game. I can tell you that it takes place over 8 scene locations and has 7 Mini~Games & 6 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will find the remaining 8 Puzzle Fragments (to complete the 4th and final jigsaw) 3 Character Bobble~heads, and 8 Morphing Objects according to the Strategy Guide.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 20 Achievements to Earn, 32 Zoom Zone Puzzle Fragments, 4 Fragment Jigsaw Puzzles (collect 8 puzzle fragments per puzzle) 12 Character Bobble~Heads, 24 Morphing Objects *Note: the some of the collectibles are non~linear and may require more than one visit to the scene before they become available* 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built~in Strategy-Guide.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on a paranormal journey through a family’s past in this wonderfully crafted adventure game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
145 of 164 found this review helpful
A SURPRISINGLY GOOD PUZZLE ADVENTURE WITH MORPHING OBJECTS!
PostedMay 28, 2019
pennmom36
fromWhy does Catherine's voiceover sound like a man's voice trying to sound like a woman, but everyone else has normal voices?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The beginning cutscenes were basically sketched pictures and it didn't look very promising, but once the actual game started, I was very impressed with this game's features and storyline, it even has 22 somewhat challenging Morphs! The graphics are "old-school" but in a good way. Clearly, they paid a lot of attention to the details, cracks in statues that make them look authentically aged, algae growing in stagnant fountain water, moss covering tree limbs, paver stones that have seen better days. Everything is decaying and falling apart, after all, the Mansion has been abandoned for years.
The cutscenes (after the opening scene) are computer generated, crystal clear, and the characters are so life-like! This isn't Specialbits first time around the Adventure Game block, they have developed several games similar to this one. Their games can easily slip under the radar, the kind of games that once you discover them they are surprisingly good and I don't think they get enough credit for being able to stand toe-to-toe with some of the well-known big guys!
I suspected Stormhill Mystery: Family Shadows was originally released as a CE version after reading some of the 10 available Achievements that eluded to Bonus Content, not to mention the fact that it has 22 Morphing Objects that are common in CE versions. Turns out my instincts were right! Now I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why on earth BF didn't offer this game in the CE version? Why did they opt for this Standard Edition version because it's a really good game, and certainly better than some of the HOPA games offered lately?
With that being said, if you are looking for a Hidden Object Game, you may be disappointed because this is a Puzzle Adventure. There are still items that are somewhat hidden to pick up and use, as well as Mini-Games to play, but there are no actual Hidden Object Scenes. (at least during the 2 hours I've played so far) So far, the mini-games are quite good, they aren't difficult, but the kind of games you have to put some thought into, such as rotating and placing fragments that are very oddly shaped to make it more challenging, or sliding tiles until the tiles with gears align to create a path and opens a lock.
I've only played this game for a little over 2 hours and the only buyer's remorse I have is that I wish it was a CE version! It has all the features I love, including an option to play in a Hard difficulty mode where Zoom Zones don't close automatically, a good Jump Map and Morphing Objects. I also love the Plus Items feature where you have to drag one plus item to another plus item logically, sometimes it requires 3 or 4 items to be combined! I also really loved the fact that several scenes remain unlocked which hasn't been the case in games of late. This makes the game more fun and more challenging because I can travel back in forth between scenes manually, searching for what needs to be done. When you can travel between 8-10 scenes versus 3 scenes only (within the newer games by the big guys) it's much more interesting! And the icing on the cake...so far I have had a Knife, a Crowbar, and Shovel the entire time and used them multiple times!
I recommend this game!
Solve colorful riddles and discover hidden pictures in the kingdom of the owls!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 56 found this review helpful
NONOGRAM FANS REJOICE!
PostedMay 27, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The tiles are so bright and colorful, they really make the images pop. There are 6 different tile styles to choose from that give them different textures, one looks like a fabric weave, one looks like lego's and one reminds me of a playground mat, even the standard tile selection looks amazing with rounded edges.
There are 10 beautiful Locations with 20 Levels each, and you can set the locations as Wallpapers! You can play in Casual Mode or an Advanced Mode where the tiles are crossed off only when an entire row or column has been completed. There are 6 different Colors on each puzzle, some of which are locked until certain tiles have been correctly filled. The colors are amazing and the finished images are labeled but easily recognizable.
You can earn up to 3 Stars, one star for completing the image, two stars for completing the image with one mistake and three stars if you complete the puzzle without mistakes. There are two different Hint features available, one that fills in a Random Cell, and one that correctly fills Cells in a Cross formation, but once used, it has to recharge. You can purchase 24 different items to decorate Merlin's humble abode with the Coins you earn solving the nonograms.
I love the Solitaire games by this developer so it didn't surprise me that Digimight would offer such a fantastic Logic-based Nonogram!
I recommend this game!
There is a shadow hanging over New York City and time is running out.
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 50 found this review helpful
LOVE THE GAME~LOVE THIS DEV~LOVED THE CE VERSION COLLECTIBLES!
PostedMay 26, 2019
pennmom36
fromClimb aboard the Five-BN Games train, destination New York ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed CE Game approximately 6.5 hours
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all puzzles)
Demo only Standard Version
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all puzzles)
Demo only Standard Version
It can go undetected and unnoticed by nearly everyone. It can remain dormant for centuries, it can affect anyone, it often affects everyone. It may be curable, it may be deadly. It may happen anywhere, it may happen everywhere. It could come on strong and disappear quickly, but it could also be apocalyptic and deadly, and it could be intentional. It could be happening right now, running ramped through the streets of New York. It could be The Outbreak that destroys the human population, and the world as we know it...it could, but will it?
Five-BN is my absolute favorite developer, I fell in love with these dev's the second I had to chop my way through a tree to save little Jimmy in the Lost Lands. They have some of the best Computer Generated Graphics around, clearly, their graphics department is top-notched, so much so, that they deserve some well-earned praise, so I "tip my hat" in recognition of your incredible talent, kudos ))) ღ (((
My favorite Five-BN feature, besides the graphics, is the CE version Morphing Objects, and Collectibles. They can be quite elusive at times, but that's how it's supposed to be! In the CE version, there is a Morphing Object in each of the 31 Scene Locations (no morphs within the 10 CE Bonus Chapter Scenes) completing the Morph Collection unlocks an achievement and 20 extra Mini-Games. In the CE version, each scene also has a Collectible (there are 5 different categories of Collectibles) and for each completed Collectible, you will unlock an Extra Square Puzzle. The Morphs & Collectibles alone make the CE version so entertaining, and receiving extra games and puzzles is just icing on the cake, not to mention it has a very lengthy Bonus Chapter, so if you can swing the extra price, I highly recommend the CE version!
There are 10 Hidden Object Scenes +3 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Five-BN Games is by far the champion in this department. Most of the HOP's (some include mini-game puzzles) are Interactive~Progressive with either Listed Item Finds or Silhouetted Shapes requiring you to find objects and use that item Interactively to expose the next object and so forth. They are far more challenging and definitely more entertaining than any HOP by any other developer...period! There are also Multiple's of the Same Object Finds, Replacing Inventory Item Finds, and Interactive Listed/Silhouette Item Finds available.
There are 38 Mini-Games +7 within the CE Bonus Chapter, 6 of which are within the Hidden Object Scenes. Several puzzles required you to remember clues found earlier, a feature I'd love to see more often because the alternative "sticky note" clue has no challenge whatsoever, which is simply a time-waster! I loved ღ these puzzles, most of them are original, all of them are creative. Here are some of my favorites:
1~Use rotational arrows to guide the steel ball to the center button using gold balls as bumpers. ღ
2~Slide trains along patterned tracks to their color-coded slots x3 challenging layouts. ღღღ
3~Arrange masks so no row or column has the same color or emotion. ღ
4~Use the blue buttons to swap 14 key positions and then rotate the adjacent gem positions according to the clue.ღ
5~Swap numbered buttons so each row equals the sum of 34.ღღ
6~Rotate angles and guide wires through every point x3 boards. ღღღ
7-Arrange square blocks with 4 edge colors to complete a pattern. ღღ
8-Find & use items to navigate rooms w/o being caught before the timer runs out (or you will have to restart) ღღღ
9~Empty all water tanks to the upper right tank by clicking tanks in the correct order. ღ
2~Slide trains along patterned tracks to their color-coded slots x3 challenging layouts. ღღღ
3~Arrange masks so no row or column has the same color or emotion. ღ
4~Use the blue buttons to swap 14 key positions and then rotate the adjacent gem positions according to the clue.ღ
5~Swap numbered buttons so each row equals the sum of 34.ღღ
6~Rotate angles and guide wires through every point x3 boards. ღღღ
7-Arrange square blocks with 4 edge colors to complete a pattern. ღღ
8-Find & use items to navigate rooms w/o being caught before the timer runs out (or you will have to restart) ღღღ
9~Empty all water tanks to the upper right tank by clicking tanks in the correct order. ღ
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter winds back the hands of time to discover the origins of The Order, playing as Hank, one of the founding fathers. Several catacombs were discovered during the construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and The Order has been investigating what seems to be remanents of a similar organization abandoned two decades ago. The priests became concerned and alerted Hank when the investigative team disappeared two days ago, one of which was Hank's sister. There are 10 scenes within the lengthy CE Bonus Chapter that has 7 Mini-Games, and 3 Hidden Object Scenes. There are no Morphing Objects remaining but you will start a new Collection of The Order Medallions, one in each scene.
The Collector's Edition version has 11 Wallpapers 15 Concept Art Pictures, 15 Movie Video Cutscenes, 6 Music Soundtracks, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 22 Achievements, 31 Morphing Objects, 20 Additional Mini-Games (when Morphing Object Collection is Completed) 41 Collectibles in 5 Categories (9 St. Patricks Figurines~6 Vinyl Records~7 Four-leafed Clovers~9 Feathers~Bonus Chapter~10 Medallions of the Order) 5 Bonus Square Tile Puzzles (unlocked with each Completed Collection Category) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide...ps~take lots of vitamin C and if someone sneezes, RUN!
NEW YORK MYSTERIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Secrets Of The Mafia (May 18-2014) 4.4
2-High Voltage (July 5-2015) 4.3
3-Lantern Of Souls (May 1-2016) 4.6
4-The Outbreak (May 26-2019) n/a
2-High Voltage (July 5-2015) 4.3
3-Lantern Of Souls (May 1-2016) 4.6
4-The Outbreak (May 26-2019) n/a
by: Five-BN Games (my all-time favorite developer!)
I recommend this game!