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:
Dark Reapers kidnapped your mother and aunt! Will you be next?
Overall rating
2
/
5
56 of 71 found this review helpful
WHY ARE SO MANY PRINCESSES HAUNTED BY SPIRITS? IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME!
PostedJanuary 4, 2019
pennmom36
fromDo Prince's have this many issues? ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel Collector`s Edition
(134)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed game (CE version 5+hours)
Princesses will be Princesses but these three Royal heiresses didn't foresee the danger of disobeying Fathers warnings not to play where they decided to play. They soon discovered why father forbade them when Miranda's curiosity led to her disappearance into the evil abyss. That was 30 years ago, Lilith, the eldest is now the Queen and Princess Sylvia is now an Aunt, but they vowed an oath of secrecy that is now returning to haunt this Royal Family to their graves!
Personally, I didn't hate this game, it was exactly as I suspected, a take-it-or-leave-it kinda game. A just okay kinda game that has basically the same storyline, has the same black cloaked, floating, red-eyed, evil-doer spirit with the same anti-princess/revenge agenda as all games by Amax offer. I played the entire game which took me about 5.5 hours. I didn't skip any of the mini-games or conversation dialogs, nor did I skip through the cutscenes, and of course I wrote notes. In my opinion, even though there are only 3 Chapters (+Bonus Chapter in the CE version) they are quite lengthy chapters.
In the CE version, each scene has a slow Morphing Lion's Head, and some of the scenes have Collectible Spirit Cards that allow you to predict your future once the collection is complete. I did run into a glitch with one of the cards not being available in the 3rd chapter, inside the tree that you heal. The CE SG shows it being there, and the zoom zone was still accessible, but there was NO card, I even tried clicking everywhere just in case I just couldn't see it, but nothing worked!
Along with another Amax game, we are treated to another Gadget!... sigh. (Song of the Moon) and of course, the Gadget is a Magical Amulet! The Magical Amulet looks like a hand-held mirror basically, and it allows you to search the scene for 7 different Symbols to recharge it. Once recharged, the Magic Amulet will destroy Evil Blossoms that block the Princesses path. A non-magical Scythe or Sickle would have tackled the weeds just as easily and never needs to be recharged, but I'm sure they would require gloves, a new handle, oil to remove the rust and a whetstone to sharpen them, right? Besides, we wouldn't want Princess to break a nail!
There aren't a lot of Hidden Object Scenes in either the main or the CE bonus chapter, this is definitely a puzzle-heavy game. Because there is a Gadget involved that's basically a lens, you are required to find 7 Hidden Symbols located within the entire scene, using the Magic Amulet. The Amulet HOS is repeated 7 different times during the Main game. Most of the main Hidden Object Scenes have 2 different types in each one. There are Interactive Listed Item finds, Multiples of the Same Item finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Pictured Item finds, Silhouetted Shape Recipe Ingredient finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, Pictured Combination finds (a bird + shackles = ____) and Placing Transparent Picture Swatches correctly into the Scene. Most of the HOS's (8) are smaller Zoom Zones where you are tasked with finding 4-7 Multiples of the same Objects such as 8 Roses or 7 Feathers. There are no Morphing Objects as far as collecting them, but a few of the HOS's had several Morphing Objects that had to be clicked on when it was in the correct form. There are no alternative Puzzle or Games available.
There are a ton of Mini-Games and smaller puzzles throughout this game, even the Plus-items require solving a puzzle of some sort. The CE Bonus Chapter is riddled with them as well. Some of the more complex puzzles are available in a Casual or Hard Mode of difficulty, but for the most part, they are solvable on the first attempt. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter within the Main Chapters:
1-Use the Amulet to find 7 hidden symbols in the scene. (used 7 x's)
2-Adjust the clock hands to represent all of the moon's phases.
3-Arrange the tokens according to the hints shown on the wall.
4-Rotate the disks to return animals to their correct slots.
5-Select junction boxes to flip puzzle sections & complete the images.
6-Place 3 fragments into each highlighted slot correctly.
7-Place the completed fragments in the scene correctly.
8-Click fragment sections to align with the objects in the scene.
9-Uncover matching prints that shuffle positions with each turn.
10-Choose partial symbols on a rotating ring to match the center symbol.
11-Use directional arrows to navigate 3 floors of a dark labyrinth by finding tools to overcome obstacles.
12-Drag rings to the bottom rung from largest to smallest in size.
13-Select partial symbols the create the center symbol when combined.
14-Click those partial symbols to the correct colors according to the riddles.
15-Play a Match 3 Game on a Dartboard style board to charge the staff.
2-Adjust the clock hands to represent all of the moon's phases.
3-Arrange the tokens according to the hints shown on the wall.
4-Rotate the disks to return animals to their correct slots.
5-Select junction boxes to flip puzzle sections & complete the images.
6-Place 3 fragments into each highlighted slot correctly.
7-Place the completed fragments in the scene correctly.
8-Click fragment sections to align with the objects in the scene.
9-Uncover matching prints that shuffle positions with each turn.
10-Choose partial symbols on a rotating ring to match the center symbol.
11-Use directional arrows to navigate 3 floors of a dark labyrinth by finding tools to overcome obstacles.
12-Drag rings to the bottom rung from largest to smallest in size.
13-Select partial symbols the create the center symbol when combined.
14-Click those partial symbols to the correct colors according to the riddles.
15-Play a Match 3 Game on a Dartboard style board to charge the staff.
The Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 18 Concept Art pictures, 8 Screensavers, 9 Movie Video Cutscenes, 4 Music Soundtracks, 10 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 re-playable Mini-Games, 15 Achievements to Earn (some available in 3 categories) 26 Morphing Objects (Lion's Head) 15 Collectible Spirit Cards (predicts your future after completing collection) 3 Main Chapters (lengthy chapters) +Bonus Chapter (sequel) and a built-in Strategy Guide.
SPIRITS OF MYSTERY SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Amber Maiden (May 28-2011) 4.2
2-Song of the Phoenix (May 11-2012) 4.7
3-The Dark Minotaur (January 25-2013) 4.2
4-The Silver Arrow (January 10-2014) 4.2
5-Chains of Promise (September 11-2015) 3.9
6-Family Lies (April 22-2016) 3.6
7-The Fifth Kingdom (February 10-2017) 4.0
8-Illusions (July 14-2017) 3.0
9-The Moon Crystal (October 6-2017) 3.7
10-The Last Fire Queen (February 18-2018) 2.5
11-The Lost Queen (July 15-2018) 2.3
12-Whisper of the Past January 4-2019) n/a
2-Song of the Phoenix (May 11-2012) 4.7
3-The Dark Minotaur (January 25-2013) 4.2
4-The Silver Arrow (January 10-2014) 4.2
5-Chains of Promise (September 11-2015) 3.9
6-Family Lies (April 22-2016) 3.6
7-The Fifth Kingdom (February 10-2017) 4.0
8-Illusions (July 14-2017) 3.0
9-The Moon Crystal (October 6-2017) 3.7
10-The Last Fire Queen (February 18-2018) 2.5
11-The Lost Queen (July 15-2018) 2.3
12-Whisper of the Past January 4-2019) n/a
by: Amax Interactive
A dark spell forces Zeus to forget his own children! Help the kids of Hellas in this time management quest!
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 20 found this review helpful
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERSIONS
PostedJanuary 3, 2019
pennmom36
fromKids! What kids? I don't have any kids, those aren't my kids are they? ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Roads of Rome III
(95)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Kids of Hellas is a new Time Management series brought to us from the creators of 12 Labours of Hercules, Alicia Quatermain and most recently, Archimedes. The graphics are really good, the game mechanics are fluent and the tasks require some strategy in order to beat the levels and earn all 3 Stars or Gold Status. There are 30 Achievement Trophies to earn (both versions) and the music is pleasant although it is basically the same music that is offered in all of Jet Dogs TM games. There are 3 difficulty modes to choose from, Easy, Normal or Difficult and each level in both the CE & SE versions have a hidden Puzzle Rune piece to find.
The only extras you get with the CE version is a Strategy Guide, 6 Wallpapers, and 5 Bonus Chapter Levels. I think this is a really fun Time Management game, and to me, this Standard Edition version is the route to go.
Kids of Hellas is a cute light-hearted Greek Mythology based story that takes place after a spiteful curse was cast upon the children of Zeus. Seems Uncle Hades was the instigator behind the spell that dumped the Kids of Hellas to fend for themselves here on Earth. As if the spell itself wasn't bad enough, the kids quickly discover that Zeus has no recollection of them, but I have a feeling that all will end well for the kids, and Uncle Hades will feel the wrath of his brothers' thunderous fury when all is said and done...let's find out, Time Management style :)
Kids of Hellas is a cute light-hearted Greek Mythology based story that takes place after a spiteful curse was cast upon the children of Zeus. Seems Uncle Hades was the instigator behind the spell that dumped the Kids of Hellas to fend for themselves here on Earth. As if the spell itself wasn't bad enough, the kids quickly discover that Zeus has no recollection of them, but I have a feeling that all will end well for the kids, and Uncle Hades will feel the wrath of his brothers' thunderous fury when all is said and done...let's find out, Time Management style :)
There are the usual Time Management tasks, collecting resources, repairing pit holes, cutting down trees, removing wood, repairing bridges and fixing various buildings to get a more consistent supply of food, wood, stone gold, mana wells etc. There are also unusual tasks, one in particular that I enjoyed, shaving the sheep for their Golden wool!
As you progress you will receive Bonuses that will recharge by collecting Stars left behind on some of the tasks you complete. These are the usual tasks that speed up workers or quickly refill resources or allow the kids to store more resources in their backpacks. The Bonus Icons are located on the right side and usually have more than one type of resource available. You can click on the first Bonus that refills or wait for the second one to fill, it just depends on the level goals as to which one is more important, in other words, there may not be a need for faster workers if you don't have enough resources to assign a worker to a task that requires resources that aren't ready at the time.
I recommend this game!
A couple's fixer-upper is haunted by a fierce creature.
Overall rating
3
/
5
126 of 169 found this review helpful
DREADFUL TALES LIVES UP TO ITS NAMESAKE
PostedJanuary 3, 2019
pennmom36
fromThe world's largest moth is the Atlas Moth with a 12" wingspan, there are 160,000 moth species & their wings are covered with tiny scales that camouflage them to mimic wasps mantis tarantulas & even birdpoop, most eat nectar but Vampire Moths eat blood ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Curiosity got the best of me as I entered a quirky little Shop of Oddities, or is it a shop of Needful things? To my delight, I get to choose my first free welcoming gift, a Doorknob from the Haunted Grave Manor. No wonder these doors are always missing doorknobs! Along with the doorknob, I get to hear a Dreadful Tale about Martha and Mark Spencer who bought the fixer-upper Manor sight unseen, and like all abandoned manors, it's not completely vacant, it's haunted!
I'm sure this game will be a smash hit just because it's under a new title, but for me, this truly was a Dreadful Tale. I was really looking forward to this game because I love this genre and there's always the potential for something Eipix to come along. Hopefully, the next game in this new series will be less Dreadful to endure.
I was disappointed once again by Eipix, the graphics are horrible and cartoonish, the storyline moved at a snail's pace, the tasks are mundane and boring most of the time and every room in the house is unappealing and has very few areas of interest. There's no color, and no imagination, there's nothing new here, the HOP's and mini-games are the same styles as several of the last games offered by Eipix, such as going through a box of Horror Books that you published in a Hidden Object Scene.
The worse part for me was the lack of logic or the credibility of some of the features. This house hasn't been occupied by anyone since the previous owners for an entire year, yet after removing a barricade of chairs (proving it was a room we have not yet entered) I finally enter the Basement and the first task is to find a way to stop the washing machine! Are you telling me the washing machine was running non-stop for an entire year? Not only did it not overheat, but the clothes were hardly scathed after a year's worth of soapy agitation! Another thing mentioned was that the house went into escrow after the owner Abitha Grave passed away. I could be wrong, but escrow is an account where money and documents are deposited until both the buyer and seller fulfill their obligations. If a person dies and the property hasn't been willed to an heir, the house would be turned over to Probate Court? (but I could be wrong, or it may vary from state to state or country??)
You play two different Characters the first and third Chapter you play as Martha Spencer, and Chapters 2 and 4 you play as Mark Spencer. In this CE version, each scene has a Hidden Moth, which I'll admit was an excellent choice because the moth blends into the scenery quite well. There are also Collectible Cassette Tapes and Morphing Objects in some of the scenes.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly variations of Listed Item Finds but there are also multi-layered HOP's that require finding and placing plant labels, finding cheese-related items to place on Silhouetted Shapes and Keywords within a Nursery-Rhyme. There are 20 HOP's in the main game but there are no Morphing Objects or alternate puzzles available.
The Mini-Games are really easy to solve but like most Eipix games the 29 available puzzles become a little harder as you progress. They have good instructions that are easy to understand with the exception of a few multi-layered puzzles. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Click when the footprints are directly under each foot.
2-Use directional arrows to guide the flower thru a cube maze.
3-Click on matching Cacti to remove them.
4-Align symbols on 2 disks according to the clue shown.
5-Set 4 dials to the symbols that the above puzzle reveals.
6-Rotate the cover to select the number that corresponds with each letter (clue is found elsewhere)
7-Rearrange the plates to create all 3 shaped keyholes at the same time.
2-Use directional arrows to guide the flower thru a cube maze.
3-Click on matching Cacti to remove them.
4-Align symbols on 2 disks according to the clue shown.
5-Set 4 dials to the symbols that the above puzzle reveals.
6-Rotate the cover to select the number that corresponds with each letter (clue is found elsewhere)
7-Rearrange the plates to create all 3 shaped keyholes at the same time.
This Collector's Edition has 18 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art pictures (with before/after slider bar) 7 Music Soundtracks, 9 Movie Video Cutscenes, 13 Achievements to Earn (6 of which have 32 categories) a Souvenir Room with 16 Souvenirs to uncover (requires a code from the Moth Collection) 34 Well Hidden Moths (one in each scene) 16 Morphing Objects within the scenes, 10 Collectible Cassette Tapes, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide.
I recommend this game!
Create an Inca settlement and construct all the vital buildings and facilities needed to turn your village into a prosperous city!
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 86 found this review helpful
I'M BEGINNING TO DIG THIS SERIES
PostedJanuary 1, 2019
pennmom36
fromI sure would love to see a new game in the Cradle series...sigh :( ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Egypt
(92)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Inca tribe's settlement lay in ruins after an unwarranted attack by a rival tribe, yet their leader shows mercy and releases a young woman entangled in vines after the attack. She assures the Chief that she didn't agree with her tribe's decision to attack his people and that she was banned from ever returning to her tribe. She agrees to help him relocate the settlement to a safe haven well hidden from her tribe. The Chief is well aware that this may be a trap but decides to trust her, and together, they begin to rebuild the village.
This is the fifth game in this Match 3 Series by Magnussoft and I'm really beginning to dig them because they are very similar to my beloved Cradle of Rome series. I still think the graphics could be less cartoonish, but this is a style that Magnussoft uses in all of their games. There is an option to adjust the resolution, but once again, the game doesn't fit the entire screen and has two large black spaces on each side of the screen. There are three Cursor styles to choose from and you can choose between a Relaxed, Medium or Hard Mode of difficulty and there are 34 Achievements to earn as well.
The tutorial can be turned off, and I will admit that it basically explains nothing. You can earn up to 3 Stars per level, but it doesn't allow you to replay any of the levels after completing them. There is a Time Meter on the bottom right and a Star Meter on the bottom left, so what I recommend is that you keep an eye on the meters, and if it appears that you will lose a star, click on the Menu Icon to pause the game and then click "replay level" on the pop-up menu before completing the game. (if you want to earn all 3 Stars for a Perfect Score)
The Level Goals are usually the same for each level and are shown on the top left. The goal for most levels is to make matches on all of the colored tiles, some of which may take up to 3 matches to clear them. Other goals may require you to Collect specific Tiles such as Flowers or Shellfish. I found that you can buy structures faster if you make matches of the coins, so once I knew I was close to finishing my level goals, and I had time remaining, I'd start matching coins and then complete my level goals which will end the level.
Large Matches of 4 or more will give you a Pearl Bomb on the board (it looks like an olive to me?) of various strengths, according to the size of the match made. These bombs can be swapped with any tile, or double-clicked to detonate it. As you progress, Boosters are added to the left and right Icons that can be used at your discretion, once it has been charged by making matches of its icon tile, such as the Fish God which destroys an entire Row.
There are various Obstacles such as Arrows and Double Arrow tiles that require making matches of the same tile that is under them, and they don't necessarily need to be destroyed because sometimes they aren't blocking your goals. After completing a Level, you get to choose a Glowing Orb which hides coins or other resources. If you have earned enough Stars, Coins, and various Resources, you can purchase a new Structure and eventually rebuild the Inca Village.
One of the features I love about this game is how quickly it flows. The levels allow you to make fast, consecutive matches and after completing the level, it immediately rolls away to the Orb selection and then to the building portion, there's absolutely no Lag-time! Even the dialog from the characters is brief and can be skipped. All of the Match 3 games in this series have interesting stories and good Match 3 features. The game mechanics are flawless so they are enjoyable to play too!
LEGEND OF SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Legend of Maya (January 20-2015) 3.7
2-Legend of Egypt: Jewels of the Gods (April 27-2015) 3.3
3-Legend of Egypt: Pharaoh's Garden (July 22-2018) 3.7
4-Legend of Rome: The Wrath of Mars (December 5-2018) 3.8
5-Legend of Inca: Mystical Culture (January 1-2019) n/a
2-Legend of Egypt: Jewels of the Gods (April 27-2015) 3.3
3-Legend of Egypt: Pharaoh's Garden (July 22-2018) 3.7
4-Legend of Rome: The Wrath of Mars (December 5-2018) 3.8
5-Legend of Inca: Mystical Culture (January 1-2019) n/a
I recommend this game!
Play a new fantasy brain-teaser where you can create your own Kingdom with Castles, Knights, Warlocks and Dragons! Great for gamers of ALL ages.
Overall rating
3
/
5
69 of 77 found this review helpful
SAME AS ALL THE OTHER DOODLE GODS
PostedDecember 31, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I actually don't mind playing Doodle God games even though most other players don't like them. There are never any instructions but it's easy to figure out the mechanics. There are 14 Achievements available and 116 Elements to Create under 13 different Groups or Categories. There are Two other types of games included, My Hero which is an RPG and once you Create Dragons, you can raise and care for them in a TM style game.
There are no bells or whistles to this game so if you are looking for a fast-paced game, this will bore you to tears. I love solving puzzles, so for me, this is just a puzzle that requires some actual thought (or you can just guess and see what happens) All you have to do is click on 2 Category Tabs (yes, they can also be the same 2 categories) which will open up all sub-categories of the first tab chosen on the Left of the Book, and all tabs of the second one on the Right Side of the book. Then you click on 2 of the sub-categories (one from the left, one from the right) to combine them such as a Bird + Fire = Phoenix. If you put some thought into it, you can create some pretty unusual things, all of the Elements and even Ghosts and Zombies!
At first, you only have a couple of Elements under a couple of Categories, but eventually, you will discover 13 Categories (magic, humans, housing, mountains etc) Each of those Categories can have 8-10 sub-categories (beasts, sea, wind, lightning, domestic animals, forges, houses, villages, fire etc)
If you get stuck finding elements to combine to create something new, you can click on the Single Lightbulb to get a vague hint of what Element to create next which simply says "Why not create a Landslide _+_ =Landslide" If you can't figure out how to make the suggested hint, you can click the Double Lightbulb icon that will show you the two Categories that will create something, but you still have to figure out which 2 sub-categories to choose. These Hints can be used as often as you'd like but they do have to recharge. You aren't penalized for random choices so you can click on all of them if you want, however, you'll get sarcastic messages from a voice that tells you to "create something already", or "what kind of beast are you trying to make" I'm a fan of sarcasm so I find this more humorous than annoying.
Eventually, you will earn Bonuses that help you with hints, or Block elements that have already been created (my favorite) There is an Icon to the left under the lightbulbs that will show you which icon were already combined and what they created (just the ones that worked)
I actually enjoy these games but they are all basically the same, with the exception of Doodle God: Solitaire and Doodle God Griddlers, so I don't really see a need to buy another version. The original Genesis Secrets game has Elements to Create normal Elements such as Earth, Wind, Fire, Water etc. to create volcanoes, storms, plants etc. The Fantasy World Magic allows you to create fantasy-related things like unicorns and wizards as well as elements while this version has a mixture of both. It may seem boring to a lot of gamers, but it can be quite challenging to find combinations that work and to create new Categories. I definitely recommend giving the demo a shot, you may be surprised to discover you like discovering! (next up: Doodle Devil)
DOODLE GOD SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Doodle God: Genesis Secrets (December 9-2015) n/a
2-Doodle God Solitaire (April-17-2016) 2.9
3-Doodle God: Fantasy World of Magic (September 5-2016) 2.3
4-Doodle God Griddlers (February 9-2017) 4.0
5-Doodle Kingdom (December 31-2018) n/a
2-Doodle God Solitaire (April-17-2016) 2.9
3-Doodle God: Fantasy World of Magic (September 5-2016) 2.3
4-Doodle God Griddlers (February 9-2017) 4.0
5-Doodle Kingdom (December 31-2018) n/a
by: 8 Floor Games
I recommend this game!
Can you disrupt a dangerous plot against the crown?
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 50 found this review helpful
SOLVE A ROYAL MURDER PINNED ON THE QUEEN
PostedDecember 30, 2018
pennmom36
fromIt's good to be the King, until someone wants your Royal Throne! ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I actually played this game for a second time today! I purchased the CE version and finished playing it when it was released in November. I played the demo of this Standard Edition today and remembered how much I enjoyed it, so I downloaded my CE version and played it again, and still enjoyed it! The graphics are beautiful, the storyline is a genre I really like, the puzzles are challenging but not frustrating, and there are a ton of Hidden Object Scenes, what's not to like?
The CE Bonus Chapter takes place shortly after restoring the Queen's reputation, but this time you play as Adriana, your helper/companion from the main game. When Alfonzo's injured horse returns without him, Adriana sets out to find him. There are 7 Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes within the BC and you receive a New Collection Box to fill with 5 new Royal Collectibles, and there are 9 Morphing Objects and a final Jigsaw to assemble after finding the Morphs. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The King of France is Dead! Like most Royal Monarchies, King Henry IV had a price on his head from those that wished to remove him from the Royal Throne through the act of Regicide. As head of The Royal Secret Service, the Queen has asked you to pledge your loyalty and prove her innocence, and that of Lenora's, Her Majesty's Lady-in-Waiting. For Francois Ravaillac, the odds are stacking up against him to uncover the truth, someone has gone through a great deal of trouble to frame Her Majesty, but why? ♛♚
For the first time, I'm disappointed that a game doesn't have a Helper! I was really hoping Captain Louis would return from the first game in this series! He was so funny and so good looking that for me, he was the focal point and the star of the show. As for Regicide, the graphics are amazing and some of the best I've seen in a long time. The characters movements and voiceovers are flawless, the objects are credible for the time period, the music does exactly what it's supposed to do, immerse you into the game without being aware that it's doing so! We HOPA fans tend to ignore the details, but I tend to stop to smell the roses lately, and Vendel Games has obviously put a great deal of effort into this game.
As I stated above, my only disappointment with this game was that Captain Louis didn't make a comeback and that I had to play as Alfonzo, a male character. Eventually, Adriana joins you as a helper/companion, but she's just not that appealing, and certainly not as humorous or good-looking as Captain Louis!
In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a Morphing Object that not only morphs at a slower pace but doesn't morph to an object that sticks out like a sore thumb, and some of them are really tough to spot! For every 5 Morphs you find, a Jigsaw Puzzle is unlocked, (6 total) but the puzzles are very basic and simplistic. There are only 20 or so pieces to each jigsaw and the puzzle pieces are large and don't even require rotation. I would rather unlock a single Jigsaw Puzzle that I could choose how many pieces I wanted (from 24-3000) rotatable pieces and the ability to save it as a wallpaper and to be able to assemble it more than once, that would make a CE totally worth the price difference! When you find the Morph, the icon will turn to a blue gem to remind you that you found it already, a feature I really appreciate. The CE version also has Collectible Royal Objects that unlock extra Hidden Object Scenes, and there is a pull-down tab at the top of the screen that will have a checkmark once you found the collectible.
The Hidden Object Scenes are plentiful in this long-awaited Secrets of Great Queens edition by Vendel Games. (aka Nikolay Vendel Games) Not only are they in abundance, but they vary with different styles each time and are fairly well done I might add. I'll go one step further to say that Vendel Games has done a fantastic job choosing the locations of the HOP's as well such as finding silhouette shaped symbols hidden within a Knights Armor. Some of the HOP's are back to back or at least have a smaller Zoom Zone HOP before or after. There are Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Interactive-Progressive finds, Spot the Difference finds, Multiples of the same Object finds, and finding silhouetted shapes using a Magnifying Glass or special lens. Well done Vendel, and I'm not even a fan of HOP's lately because they never seem to even attempt to actually hide objects nowadays!
The Mini-Games are rather odd at times, especially after the demo. They aren't bad, but some of them have hard to understand instructions (especially the repetitive games that require rotating & sliding through tile selections) and because some of them are new variations those same puzzles are difficult to solve by just winging it. They aren't all like that so don't freak out, change is a good thing, otherwise it's just another cookie-cutter game. I really enjoyed the change and the challenge. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Swap tiles to create a path from the top left to the bottom right.
2-Remove snakes that aren't blocked by other snakes.
3-Swap tiles along tracks to complete the pattern.
4-Examine the letter and find each symbol shown on the decoder.
5-Recreate the decoded symbols by swapping partial sections.
6-Rotate disc sections to complete the decoded symbol's images.
7-Click when 1, 2 and 3 hands are within the targeted circle at the same time.
8-Complete the image by rotating the main circular image and smaller discs on the edges.
9-Find and select the Crest that's identical to the one in the letter.
10-Select and drag the quill through the correct route.
11-Select the correct symbols in the correct order according to the clue found in the HOP.
12-Swap tiles to recreate a map using the center button to swap upper & lower tiles.
13-Rotate disks using central rotation disk to swap pie-shaped color-coded sections.
14-Repeat the sequence of moves to fight your attacker.
15-Follow several recipes in the order shown on clues.
2-Remove snakes that aren't blocked by other snakes.
3-Swap tiles along tracks to complete the pattern.
4-Examine the letter and find each symbol shown on the decoder.
5-Recreate the decoded symbols by swapping partial sections.
6-Rotate disc sections to complete the decoded symbol's images.
7-Click when 1, 2 and 3 hands are within the targeted circle at the same time.
8-Complete the image by rotating the main circular image and smaller discs on the edges.
9-Find and select the Crest that's identical to the one in the letter.
10-Select and drag the quill through the correct route.
11-Select the correct symbols in the correct order according to the clue found in the HOP.
12-Swap tiles to recreate a map using the center button to swap upper & lower tiles.
13-Rotate disks using central rotation disk to swap pie-shaped color-coded sections.
14-Repeat the sequence of moves to fight your attacker.
15-Follow several recipes in the order shown on clues.
The Collector's Edition version has 13 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art Pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 16 Achievements to earn, 30 Morphing Objects (9 BC Morphs + Jigsaw) that unlock a new Jigsaw Puzzle for every 5 Morphs found, 19 Collectible Royal Objects, (5 BC Collectibles) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, enjoy the Royal Adventure.
SECRETS OF GREAT QUEENS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
SECRETS OF GREAT QUEENS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Old Tower (December 2-2016) 4.2
2-Regicide (December 30-2018) n/a
2-Regicide (December 30-2018) n/a
I recommend this game!
Return the Guardians to slumber to keep evil from the universe!
Overall rating
5
/
5
184 of 217 found this review helpful
THANKS GRANDMA, AWESOME FANTASY GAME AND THE BEST REFLECTIONS OF LIFE GAME OF ALL TIME!
PostedDecember 29, 2018
pennmom36
fromSleeping facts: A giraffe only needs 1.9 hours of sleep a day, a brown bat needs 19.9 hours a day. 15% of people sleepwalk, 50% of dreams are forgotten after 5 minutes, 12% dream only in black/white,humans are the only mammals that willingly delay sleep!⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There are five Worlds in this Universe and each of those Worlds has a Sleeping Guardian to defend our worlds against evil Malum. The Sleepers are the last defense between Peace and Chaos, and they must remain asleep at all cost if one awakens, the others will arise as well. The Sleepers protect our worlds from evil, and the Order of Guardians protect the Sleepers. Grace is one of those protectors, a Guardian sworn to protect the Sleepers, just as her father before her. Unfortunately, one of the Guardians has broken the sacred vow and has awoken a Sleeper, a Sleeper who happens to be his own sister! The balance between peace and chaos has been disturbed, and as other Sleepers begin to awaken, Grace must find a way to restore the fine line of balance before the evil of Malum spreads out of control.
GrandMa has clearly worked hard on this fantasy-themed edition of Reflections of Life! I will admit that I haven't been crazy about the last few games by GrandMa Studio's but I have to give credit when credit is warranted, and Slipping Hope has revived my faith in GrandMa once again. They clearly poured their hearts and souls into this game, the quality is superb, the quantity is money-worthy, the entertainment value is off the charts and it's by far the best Reflections Of Life game in the series. I'll go one step further and say that it's one of the best fantasy-themed games I've played in quite some time!
There is a Gadget/Helper, a Mechanical Owl used to retrieve and interact with objects out of our reach. He' isn't used that often and as far as Helpers go, this one actually fits in nicely because it is a fantasy game. My only complaint is that he's a tad bit noisy during his "downtime" as he who-hoots a bit too much. In this Collector's Edition version there are Hidden Spy Bats, and I LOVED them! Only the tips of their tiny ears and tail poke out from their hiding places, but once you click on them they take flight to get out of Dodge quickly. They definitely add the "awe" factor because they are adorable (and should be in a fantasy-themed game!) I wish they were a little bit smaller so they would be harder to spot, but I LOVED this feature too. This CE version also features Hidden Coins of Gold, Emeralds, and Ruby, within Zoom Zones. You can purchase Magical Creatures with the coins AND you get the chance to return to the scenes after completing the Main Game and Bonus Chapter, to pick up any missed coins or bats! Personally, I find this feature very appealing and for going the extra mile, I give this opportunity an A+ and a thumbs up!!! This CE version also has a Bonus Hidden Puzzle which is one of the most creative puzzles I've ever seen, again, GrandMa has gone the extra mile and they raised the HOPA bar for those to come :)
The Hidden Object Scenes are well designed and their locations were interesting. In this Collector's Edition version, each main HOP (not zoom zone HOP's) have a Morphing Owl to spot, or is it a spotted owl to morph? Most of them are Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds or Multiple Silhouetted Shape finds such as finding 12 stone fragments. I really enjoyed the repetitive Progressive Interactive Silhouetted Shape HOP's that require Finding & Replacing the Objects within 3 different scenes by clicking on 3 different emblems to change locations (once you found the emblems) There are several Zoom Zone HOP's where you are tasked with finding groups of 3 silhouetted shapes such as 3 eyes, 3 bones etc. Many of the HOS's include a small puzzle to solve such as placing stone fragments into highlighted sections. You can opt to play an Alternate Match 3 Games instead of the Hidden Object Scenes as well.
The Mini-Games range from super quick and easy to somewhat complex, but I was able to solve all of them without having to skip any of them, nor did I want to because I enjoyed this game immensely. Below are brief descriptions of some of the puzzles available in the demo and main game:
1-Align 4 image sections by adjusting rotation, size, and width.
2-Use the Magic Lens to locate 3 images shown on each page x3.
3-Strum the Harp cords in the order shown on the clue.
4-Swap hexagonal puzzle pieces to restore the image.
5-Shoot identical color/position Bats
6-Rotate sections to place all 4 stones into center matching slots.
7-Select 3 partial symbols to create each symbol shown.
8-Navigate the boat to each lighthouse to clear the fog while avoiding obstacles.
9-Stretch out all of the snakes, clicking one may affect others.
10-Draw a continuous line between all gems.
11-Rotate Hexagonal pieces to restore the picture.
2-Use the Magic Lens to locate 3 images shown on each page x3.
3-Strum the Harp cords in the order shown on the clue.
4-Swap hexagonal puzzle pieces to restore the image.
5-Shoot identical color/position Bats
6-Rotate sections to place all 4 stones into center matching slots.
7-Select 3 partial symbols to create each symbol shown.
8-Navigate the boat to each lighthouse to clear the fog while avoiding obstacles.
9-Stretch out all of the snakes, clicking one may affect others.
10-Draw a continuous line between all gems.
11-Rotate Hexagonal pieces to restore the picture.
This Collector's Edition version has 14 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, re-playable Movie Cutscene Videos, 14 re-playable Mini-Games (out of a whopping 35) 16 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes (16/19) 19 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, 14 Achievements to Earn, 48 Hidden Coins (16 Gold, 16 Emerald, 16 Ruby) 10 Magical Creatures (to purchase with the coins) 36 Hidden Spy Bats (only the tips of their ears & tail are visible) 5 Main Chapters (Finding The Truth) +Bonus Chapter (Testing And Trials) Hidden Puzzle Chapter (Interactive Progressive super-puzzle) a built-in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, sleep well, enjoy!
REFLECTIONS OF LIFE SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Tree Of Dreams (June 21-2014) 4.2
2-Equilibrium (April 18-2015) 4.4
3-Dark Architect (January 14-2016) 4.3
4-Call Of The Ancestors (August 13-2016) 3.5
5-Hearts Taken (May 13-2017) 3.3
6-In Screams And Sorrow (April 26-2018) 2.6
7-Slipping Hope (December 29-2018) n/a
2-Equilibrium (April 18-2015) 4.4
3-Dark Architect (January 14-2016) 4.3
4-Call Of The Ancestors (August 13-2016) 3.5
5-Hearts Taken (May 13-2017) 3.3
6-In Screams And Sorrow (April 26-2018) 2.6
7-Slipping Hope (December 29-2018) n/a
by: GrandMa Studios
I recommend this game!
Can you save the city from an otherworldly predator?
Overall rating
2
/
5
42 of 50 found this review helpful
THIS IS A GRANDMA KIND OF FEAR
PostedDecember 28, 2018
pennmom36
fromGrandMa kind of fear, once you see it you can't "Unsee" it! ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I finished the CE version of this game today, and with each new chapter, it just gets more boring and repetitive because you are doing the same tasks for each and every person the Mirror's have affected. To make matters worse, the Bonus Chapter is a repeat of the same scenario, as a prequel that takes us back to the humble beginnings of young Vivien the ballerina and her lover Louie. There are 9 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes available within the CE Bonus Chapter, and you'll collect the final 2 Hearts, 3 Large Roses, 2 Small Roses, and the center Heart piece that adorn the Jewelry Box. (The Collectibles are listed as Jewelry, which confused a lot of reviewers, but they are actually porcelain Decorations for a Jewelry Box)
The Collector's Edition version also has a Hidden Chapter, but honestly, it's just a single task of restoring Mirrors. To me, this was just an extra mini-game, not an actual chapter. If you like the storyline of the demo, you'll enjoy this game if you don't mind repeating the same tasks over and over for 6 different people. My advice is to play the demo first, but in my opinion, this Standard Edition version is the better option because there's just 1 type of Collectible, the BC is just more of the same and the "Hidden Chapter" isn't a Chapter at all! Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
I purchased this game only to discover that it's a real sleeper! Nathaniel has returned with the unique ability to "see the Unseen" whenever his Tattoo glows, if this Gadget isn't cheesy enough, his other hand begins to absorb the reflections of the destroyed mirror and becomes encased in sharp glass shards, how he functions at this point is hard to imagine?
The storyline bounces all over the place and leaves huge gaps pertaining to "what just happened, how'd I get here, or how'd I do that?" For example, I see Brigitte's chinchilla scurry out the front door, so I decided to see where the fuzzy little fella was going. In the next scene, I'm outside of the house facing the front door when I suddenly see the chinchilla scurry out of the front door! Did I miss something? I thought he had already scurried out the front door when I was watching him from the front room?
If the obvious gaps weren't puzzling enough, I had to endure a bunch of "that's just ridiculous" scenarios. Right from the get-go, I discover a dead body and call the police, that's a good thing. When the policeman arrives, he doesn't ask me questions about the victim, nor does he ask me who I am or why I'm there, that's not so good. At this point, I'm expecting him to get out the famous yellow police tape to cordon off the crime scene because that's what normal police do to keep the area from becoming compromised, right? Wrong! He offers to give me a ride to my next location, how sweet. Now we are off to see the wizard, er, I mean heading to the location all my brilliant investigative skills point to. Because we have plenty of time and because asking him to turn the radio on so I can sing along, would just be awkward, the nice ride-giving officer asks me to fill out a "standard protocol file" Say What!?! A woman is dead and her sister is wigging out! We left the poor woman all alone with her dead sister and I'm being asked to write down all of her life's true aspirations! I don't even know this woman, the first time I met her she was d-e-a-d, dead, as dead as dead can be, she couldn't get any deader! To make matters worse (well probably not worse than being dead) the nice ride-giving officer asks me to provide a picture of the victim for his "standard protocol file," well alrighty officer, can you give me a ride back to the victim's house so I can get you a recent photo?
Finally, we arrive at the next mirror's victim who's about to fall and impale herself on a wrought-iron fence! I'm thinking to myself, "self, could this case possibly get any worse?" I carefully remove shards of glass from the ground so she won't cut herself...Hello!...she'll land on the fence before she hits the glass coved ground! And the icing on the cake? The Ridiculous Award goes to....the cutscenes of Nathaniel riding a bike from one scene to the next! I'm going to leave this one alone, but tell me you don't want to burst out laughing as you watch this paranormal investigator peddling casually to his next big case...clink, clink, squeak, squeak (insert bicycle bell sound, you know the one I'm talking about, the silver bell that clamps onto the handlebars that you push a lever sideways to ring it, brrringgg. brrringg, does anybody have some cards I can put on my spokes?
The Hidden Object Scenes have 2 categories and most of the normal HOP's are repeated in the same location. The regular Hidden Object Scenes are mostly Interactive Listed Item finds or finding & replacing Items, and occasionally have Silhouetted Shape finds, one of which requires you to find clothes to adorn a few animals. There are also Mirror Hidden Object Scenes for each victim that is being haunted by what could have been, and what actually is. Two images are shown, one front facing the other rear facing, and you use a rotation button to find and replace items. This became very frustrating for me because the items had to be placed on an exact set point where the gears were shown, but the gears disappear once you pick up an item, so you had to keep trying to place items where you thought they should go. Some items would just snap into place, other items were so finicky that I just wanted to skip them (but because it's a HOS, there is no skip feature!) There is an alternate Match 3 Game, but I've never been impressed with Match 3 games that are offered as an alternate game. Maybe I could ask that nice ride-giving officer for some help?
The Mini-Games were kind of boring and repetitive, by the time I reached the 6th Chapter I began skipping most of them from sheer boredom. There's only so many times you want to untangle a rope before it simply becomes a chore. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Click to move origami sections into highlighted slots.
2-Click matching pairs of symbols on a book to open it.
3-Move ballerina parts to match the pose shown.
4-Fill in the missing text by selecting icons to complete the sentences.
5-Complete the image using arrows to rotate rows & columns.
6-Untangle Ropes or Vines several times throughout the game.
7-Arrange flowers so that no flower is repeated in the same column or row.
8-Travel to all landmark set points.
9-Arrange dancers in matching colored pairs by sliding along paths.
10-Select Icon Poses to repeat the sequence of the ballerina.
11-Rotate panels to find 3 identical patterns.
12-Use clues to place the dog toys into like & dislike patterns.
13-Place torn picture fragments.
14-Drag a ball through a maze.
15-Use directional arrows to place items on a monkey correctly.
2-Click matching pairs of symbols on a book to open it.
3-Move ballerina parts to match the pose shown.
4-Fill in the missing text by selecting icons to complete the sentences.
5-Complete the image using arrows to rotate rows & columns.
6-Untangle Ropes or Vines several times throughout the game.
7-Arrange flowers so that no flower is repeated in the same column or row.
8-Travel to all landmark set points.
9-Arrange dancers in matching colored pairs by sliding along paths.
10-Select Icon Poses to repeat the sequence of the ballerina.
11-Rotate panels to find 3 identical patterns.
12-Use clues to place the dog toys into like & dislike patterns.
13-Place torn picture fragments.
14-Drag a ball through a maze.
15-Use directional arrows to place items on a monkey correctly.
The Collector's Edition has 10 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 15 re-playable Movie Video Cutscenes, 10 re-playable Mini-Games, 10 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Achievements to Earn, 54 Collectible Jewelry Pieces-2 available in each scene (You can pick up missed jewelry by re-visiting the scenes in the Jewelry section in the Extra's menu) 6 Main Chapters (Reflected Memories) +Bonus Chapter (Behind the Scenes) +Hidden Chapter (Mirror Maze) and a built-in Strategy Guide.
THE UNSEEN FEARS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Body Thief (April 14-2017 ) 4.1
2-Outlive (January 28-2018) 4.2
3-Last Dance (December 28-2018) n/a
2-Outlive (January 28-2018) 4.2
3-Last Dance (December 28-2018) n/a
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save Christmas before it’s too late?!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 30 found this review helpful
__-__-__ (insert HO-HO-HO) MERRY CHRISTMAS..cuz they stole Santa's ho, ho, ho's :(
PostedDecember 28, 2018
pennmom36
fromSomeone done stole Santa's HO, HO, HO's that ain't right! ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Yuletide Legends: The Brothers Claus Collector's Edition
(56)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Out of the three Christmas-themed HOPA games this year, I enjoyed this one the most because the storyline was good, the characters were more believable and the gameplay wasn't as easy-breezy as the others were. I completely agree with fellow reviewer s_s on his assessment of the game. The characters voiceovers and acting were annoying and over-the-top, especially Tinsel the Elf in the Bonus Chapter.
I too found the BC to be a letdown but most BC's aren't as thrilling as the Main Game. He also mentions that you can't return to the scenes to pick up any collectibles you may have missed after completing the main game. I have asked Brave Giant Studio this same question in the forums several times, why can't they allow us to return to the scenes to search for missed collectibles?
Sometimes RL interferes with gaming and you have to exit the game and when you return you just completely space looking for the collectibles. Allowing you to return to those scenes after completing the main game would be awesome, most other developers have this feature! Another option that would work is to allow us to return to all previous chapters scene locations, in other words, don't lock previous scenes on the Map so we can return to look for them anytime we want.
Holly Jolly Christmas Crimes, Santa's been framed I tell ya! Someone's been mistletoeing around and up to no good and now poor Santa is Jingle-Jangling all the way to the Pokey! As if a criminal record isn't as bad as getting a Lump of Coal for Christmas, they took it one step further and stole his Ho-Ho-Ho's! Never fear for Elf is here... well, he was sitting right on this shelf just a few minutes ago, hmf? ...Never fear for I will Spring Santa from doing serious Time in the Slammer, as soon as I find a way to bake a key into these Sugar Cookies, then I'll go dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh, over the fields I'll go, laughing all the way! Let's just hope my trusty steed doesn't get spooked by that evil Krampus pudding!
The Collector's Edition version bling isn't as impressive as last weeks game and there's only one item per scene which is a little disappointing because I love the Yuletide Legends series the most out of all the Christmas oriented HOPA games. Daily Magic has handed the reins over to Brave Giant on this series so I'm anxious to see what they do with next years Yuletide Legends. The CE version has three different types of collectibles, Characters, Puzzles, and Gingerbread Men Cookies. There is a Present Icon on the Inventory bar that closes when the collectible has been found, and the good news is that there are no Gadgets or Helpers!
The Bonus Chapter (CE version only) takes us on a mission to cure Santa's Christmas Flu, playing as Tinsel the Elf. The BC has 5 Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes but there are no Morphing Objects or Collectibles after the Main Game. (with the exception of the Morphing object available in the HOP's) The Bonus Chapter is pretty long and worthy of the extra price as far as quantity goes, but the storyline didn't thrill me as much as I had hoped.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Interactive List Finds, Progressive-Interactive Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiple Item Finds and Keywords in Sentence Finds. Most of the scenes have a Morphing Listed Item that must be clicked on in the correct form. The objects are fast-morphing and the listed text morphs on the inventory bar as well which makes it difficult Not to spot. There is an Optional Monaco Card game available, a Brave Giant standard feature.
The Mini-Games are fun but should be more Christmas-themed in my opinion. They are all fairly easy and many of the games are the same type which disappointed me somewhat for lack of originality. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Use directional arrows to navigate & find landmarks on a map.
2-Find matching pairs of keys.
3-Find and replace items within a book.
4-Select pins in the correct order by trial and error.
5-Select colored buttons according to the color-coded number clues.
6-Surround the Elf by trapping him on a honeycomb style grid.
7-Arrange the presents so that no row or column has matching presents.
8-Spot the differences between pictures.
9-Surround the Gingerbread Man from escaping.
This Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art Pictures,5 Music Soundtracks, Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 re-playable Mini-Games, 8 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 20 Achievements to Earn, 28 Christmas Collectibles (8 Gingerbread Men Cookies, 8 Character Figurines, 12 Puzzles) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
1-Use directional arrows to navigate & find landmarks on a map.
2-Find matching pairs of keys.
3-Find and replace items within a book.
4-Select pins in the correct order by trial and error.
5-Select colored buttons according to the color-coded number clues.
6-Surround the Elf by trapping him on a honeycomb style grid.
7-Arrange the presents so that no row or column has matching presents.
8-Spot the differences between pictures.
9-Surround the Gingerbread Man from escaping.
This Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art Pictures,5 Music Soundtracks, Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 re-playable Mini-Games, 8 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 20 Achievements to Earn, 28 Christmas Collectibles (8 Gingerbread Men Cookies, 8 Character Figurines, 12 Puzzles) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
YULETIDE LEGENDS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Brother's Claus (December 26-2016) 4.4
2-Frozen Hearts (December 25-2017) 3.9
3-Who Framed Santa Claus (December 25-2018) n/a
2-Frozen Hearts (December 25-2017) 3.9
3-Who Framed Santa Claus (December 25-2018) n/a
by: Brave Giant Studio (#3 only)
I recommend this game!
Survive a fictional horror turned real-life nightmare in a creepy hotel!
Overall rating
2
/
5
141 of 178 found this review helpful
HMMM, A HAUNTED HOTEL THAT'S NOT EVEN HAUNTED, IT'S JUST A MONSTER MOTEL
PostedDecember 27, 2018
pennmom36
fromMade famous by the movie The Shining The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Colorado has guests that never leave, Oscar Stanley built the Hotel in the Rockies to cure his Tuberculosis, he also established the town’s first bank, sewer, power and water company ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(322)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Haunted Hotel USED to be one of my top 5 favorite game series. The only thing they got right on this Haunted Hotel was the excellent sound effects! I love creepy games and this series used to push the envelope with images of ghosts briefly popping up in a mirror, a ball coming out of nowhere as it slowly bounces down a flight of creaky stairs, images of dead people flash from the corner of your eyes where they met their demise, ghostly images appeared in windows, paintings that morphed slowly. A lot was left to the imagination, and it was always about ghosts in a Haunted Hotel, but this game is going down the tubes at a break-neck speed. Monsters? Really? Cheesy red-eyed monsters, really??? This isn't a Haunted Hotel, it's a Monster Motel. Why can't anybody develop a truly creepy game? These games are getting more G-rated by the minute. If you want a light-hearted G-rated game, make a Fairytale game series, make a Fantasy-themed game, but don't continue to make games for a HAUNTED Hotel if you are afraid to scare someone and have to compromise the plot! I guarantee you Elephant Games if you make a Haunted Hotel game that is really creepy (not gory, just creepy) people will love it. I realize a lot of you don't like the horror genre, but it's the number 1 genre everywhere else, and the number 1 reason gamers have packed their bags and checked out of this Haunted Hotel!
There are no Gadgets or Helpers in this game, however, it does have ever cliche HOPA feature included. Elephant Games seem to love repeating the same scenarios in every game they offer, and to me, this is proof that they don't have much of an imagination. They don't push the envelope, they don't push themselves to make each game slightly better than the one before.
You can count on using Oil to remove decades of rust instantly, you can count on every zoom zone to have a box missing emblems, a door missing emblems, a statue missing emblems, eyes, and limbs. You can count on something being blocked by a swarm of bees, you can count on thorny vines requiring something to protect your hands, you can count on discarding the hand protectors only to need more hand protectors a few scenes later. You can count on giant spiders and webs to cover those important missing emblems you need to progress. You can count on having to find several torn fragments with the combination to open everything from locked luggage to locked doors in every scene and zoom zone.
The problem with these cliche tasks is that the game is too predictable. You'll know exactly what item is needed and where an item will be used. You know you'll need to use a coin as a screwdriver, you'll know the World Globe tucked in the corner of the room is going to be a zoom zone and you'll know for certain that it will require an emblem or two. You'll know the fireplace is an area of interest, the cabinet is missing a drawer pull or requires a key. This is a game you don't need Black Bar Tips or a cursor to change to a magnifying glass because it is so predictable.
The Hidden Object Scenes are boring and so easy that you won't have to worry about earning all of the HOP related achievements (except for the one that requires you to finish one in over 10 minutes) They are mostly Interactive Listed Items with some Multiples of the same object (3 bones, 3 dogs) The ones that aren't Listed Items are Silhouetted Shape finds. There are 10 HOP's throughout the Main Game and a handful of smaller Zoom Zone HOP's that require you to find items shown as Silhouetted Shapes, one item at a time. There are no alternate puzzles available.
Mini-Games were either so simple a small child could solve them, or so complicated you become maddeningly frustrated. Some of the instructions I would read, then reread, and finally just start fiddling around with the puzzle because the directions didn't do a very good job of explaining what needed to be done and how to go about solving it. There are 16 puzzles throughout the main game, so the balance ratio of HOP: Mini-Games are pretty even. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Slide square symbol tiles using empty space to the sequence shown.
2-Press directional & angular arrows to move token thru the maze.
3-Press arrow-shaped buttons to move blocks to the order shown in clues.
4-Rotate groups of triangles to join all small squares with matching symbols.
5-Move the skeletons parts to match the sketch shown as a clue.
6-Navigate the air shaft using a map, obstacles automatically update.
7-Follow the recipe steps, if you make a mistake you'll have to start over.
8-Rearrange books so the image on their spine creates an image.
9-Follow another stupid recipe in the correct order.
10-Use side buttons to shift skulls & crystals and drag to rotate disks to recreate the image.
11-Rotate tiles using directional arrows to recreate the symbols shown in the middle.
2-Press directional & angular arrows to move token thru the maze.
3-Press arrow-shaped buttons to move blocks to the order shown in clues.
4-Rotate groups of triangles to join all small squares with matching symbols.
5-Move the skeletons parts to match the sketch shown as a clue.
6-Navigate the air shaft using a map, obstacles automatically update.
7-Follow the recipe steps, if you make a mistake you'll have to start over.
8-Rearrange books so the image on their spine creates an image.
9-Follow another stupid recipe in the correct order.
10-Use side buttons to shift skulls & crystals and drag to rotate disks to recreate the image.
11-Rotate tiles using directional arrows to recreate the symbols shown in the middle.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 18 Achievements to Earn, 15 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 re-playable Mini-Games, 14 Morphing Character Figurines, 20 Picture Fragments to assemble 4 Scene Pictures, 30 Morphing Objects, a Secret Room (to locate progressive Morphing Objects in the Hotel) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy your stay at The Prime Hotel!
HAUNTED HOTEL SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Haunted Hotel SE only (March 5-2008) 2.9
2-Believe The Lies SE only (January 7-2009) 2.7
3-Lonely Dreams SE only (August 28-2010) 3.3
4-Charles Dexter Ward (June 10-2012) 3.9
5-Eclipse (October 10-2013) 4.1
6-Ancient Bane (May 29-2014) 3.9
7-Death Sentence (December 18-2014) 4.1
8-Eternity (April 25-2015) 4.2
9-Phoenix (August 20-2015) 3.8
10-The X (November 12-2015) 4.3
11-The Axiom Butcher (April 30-2016) 4.1
12-Silent Waters (September 17-2016) 3.7
13-The Thirteenth (December 24-2016) 3.5
14-Personal Nightmare (May 25-2017) 4.2
15-The Evil Inside (September 30-2017) 3.8
16-Lost Dreams (March 8-2018) 3.8
17-Beyond The Page (December 26-2018) n/a
2-Believe The Lies SE only (January 7-2009) 2.7
3-Lonely Dreams SE only (August 28-2010) 3.3
4-Charles Dexter Ward (June 10-2012) 3.9
5-Eclipse (October 10-2013) 4.1
6-Ancient Bane (May 29-2014) 3.9
7-Death Sentence (December 18-2014) 4.1
8-Eternity (April 25-2015) 4.2
9-Phoenix (August 20-2015) 3.8
10-The X (November 12-2015) 4.3
11-The Axiom Butcher (April 30-2016) 4.1
12-Silent Waters (September 17-2016) 3.7
13-The Thirteenth (December 24-2016) 3.5
14-Personal Nightmare (May 25-2017) 4.2
15-The Evil Inside (September 30-2017) 3.8
16-Lost Dreams (March 8-2018) 3.8
17-Beyond The Page (December 26-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I don't recommend this game.