pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4726
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Magic creatures are in trouble. Hurricane took the Fuzzy family and he must find them! Can you help the magic creature to save his family?
Overall rating
3
/
5
74 of 82 found this review helpful
IT PRACTICALLY PLAYS ITSELF
PostedJanuary 9, 2019
pennmom36
fromI make match go BOOM! ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
4 Elements
(81)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Let me start off by saying that this is a very colorful game with beautiful graphics, but it's a Limited Moves type of Match 3 game, one of my least favorite types. I'm okay with Limited Moves as long as the game is challenging and requires skill to master it, but this one practically plays itself. Because it has so many available matches, it has one explosion after the next, I hardly had to do anything but make a few large matches and BOOM!
The instructions leave a lot to the imagination and after a few levels when the Obstacles started to magically appear it left me with more questions than answers. Wooden Boxes would appear out of nowhere, tiles would randomly turn to Lava etc. it felt as though I was being punished, did I make a wrong choice? Didn't I make a match quickly enough? Should I have made a match over those tiles first so it wouldn't turn into lava? Where's my automatic play bonus BOOMS when I need them the most?
Then there is the scoring issue. I could complete the level goals of making a specified number of matches of specified tiles and clear all Rainbow Cells and have 10-20 moves remaining, yet I'd only earn 1 or 2 Magical Crystals (equivalent to Stars 3=perfect) I'd replay the level, have fewer moves remaining and earn all 3 Crystals! Is the score based upon random luck of the draw tiles available for larger matches thus more automatic play bonus BOOMS?
The Magical Crystals you earn on each level allows you to purchase 4 non-magical Power-ups because 5 would be ridiculous. There's a Hammer to take out a single pesky tile that seems to be immune to the automatic play bonus BOOMS. Lightning which removes all tiles of the same kind, but why do I want to destroy all of the same tiles and miss a golden automatic play bonus BOOM opportunity? The Replace Magic feature allows you to replace any 2 gems on the field so you can hopefully create more automatic play bonus BOOMS. Lastly, there is a Mystery Magic power-up that destroys a random 5x5 area of tiles which may or may not create an automatic play bonus BOOM?
Join Ariadna and help her discover the power within herself. Only she can unite the worlds and save them from falling into chaos!
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 112 found this review helpful
THEY ALWAYS ADD NEW FEATURES WITH EVERY RELEASE!
PostedJanuary 8, 2019
pennmom36
fromBecause they add something new each time, and usually several new types of Clutter Matches, it gives you an incentive to buy this game even though you purchased the one before!⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In a gaming world full of cookie-cutter games that never bother to change features from one game in a series to the next, you can always count on Shaman Games to add a new twist to each release. These guys are constantly reinventing the wheel and I think they deserve to be called out for a job well done. Most of the bigger developers spew one game out after the next with little regard to their fans who put them where they are today, but my heart lies with the mom and pop type developers who still care about developing games of quality!
Hiddenverse: Rise of Ariadna has 3 difficulty modes to choose from, a Timeless mode, a Normal mode, and a Hard mode which gives you 20% less time than the Normal Mode. I've only played the demo portion of the game, but I found that there was plenty of time allotted in the Normal Mode. You can earn up to 3 Stars per level and the levels can be replayed, but I would like to see a feature added that allows you to replay the level mid-game when you select the Menu icon, rather than having to go to the main menu which then takes you to the Mansion Room, then you have to click the back arrow to get to the level menu. It needs to be easily accessible as a replay on the pop-up score icon or when you pull up the menu/pause icon.
After completing the Clutter level you will use your earned Stars to upgrade your own Mansion. Some of the items you buy require 2-3 upgrades to complete, others require a single purchase. As you complete the Mansion upgrades, you are rewarded with Puzzle Pieces. You will need to earn all Puzzle pieces and the puzzle must be assembled before you can progress to the next Chapter, so you don't really have a choice when it comes to upgrading the Mansion, but I actually liked this feature. I would like to see the puzzles become a little more challenging, perhaps several smaller pieces rather than 10 large chunks of fragments?
After completing the Clutter level you will use your earned Stars to upgrade your own Mansion. Some of the items you buy require 2-3 upgrades to complete, others require a single purchase. As you complete the Mansion upgrades, you are rewarded with Puzzle Pieces. You will need to earn all Puzzle pieces and the puzzle must be assembled before you can progress to the next Chapter, so you don't really have a choice when it comes to upgrading the Mansion, but I actually liked this feature. I would like to see the puzzles become a little more challenging, perhaps several smaller pieces rather than 10 large chunks of fragments?
The object of this game is to remove items from a heaping pile of junk, but the styles change with each level. Sometimes you have to remove Matching Pairs, Triple Pairs, Big & Small Matches (1 big object and it's identical match in a small version) Half Matches (2 fragments that go together) Black & White (1 object in color its mate colorless) Clutter games that have one or two piles of clutter requiring you to drag the items one by one, from each heaping pile until you find and remove all matching objects.
There are several newer styles available such as finding objects that match Silhouetted Shapes (and Silhouetted Shape finds in multiple's to fill the shapes) Triple or Double Matches that constantly move around and a clever level that shows two Cards at a time and you must select the only item that is shown on each card (and levels where you find the one item on both cards that have 1 black and 1 white identical object) or Dynamite which will explode when you click on it, which reshuffles all the clutter, this can help sometimes, other times it just buries items you need.
They have added Battle Modes where you have to make matches faster than your opponent, a Battle Mode on Cards where you make a match of the single item on the left card that matches the object on the middle card before your opponent finds and matches the single object on his right side card with the object in the middle card you share. They have added an Associated Pair type where you must find 2 different objects that are Associated with the pictured items (oil + lock = a Rusty Lock pictured) this level was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated! They have also added a Clutter Match type where you click on 2 matching objects and then choose which Chest they go into such as Gold or Silver items or Food or Animal items.
The Challenge levels have returned, after playing four Clutter Levels, the 5th Level allows you to play a multi-game level. You can play these challenges in any order, (and you can replay them as often as you want, and each time the variations are slightly different) which includes a Mini-Game such as a "Pipes" variation (rotate pipes to make a continuous path from point A to B) A Pair Match game where you flip over 2 cards at a time to try to find Matching Pairs and a Match 3 game with various strengths of Bombs and TNT earned on the board for making large matches of 4 or more.
The graphics could be a little less bland but this is an excellent Clutter Match game, and once again I will be adding it to my collection!
HIDDENVERSE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Spirit of the Ancient Forest (June 29-2017) 4.1
2-A Plot Story (September 21-2017) 4.0
3-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
4-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) 2.9
5-Hiddenverse: The Iron Tower (February 7-2018) 3.6
6-Hiddenverse: Tale of Arianda (May 14-2018) 3.2
7-Hiddenverse: Witch's Tales 2 (August 29-2018) 3.5
8-Hiddenverse: Divided Kingdom (October 3-2018) 4.3
9-Hiddenverse: Rise of Ariadna (January 8-2019) n/a
2-A Plot Story (September 21-2017) 4.0
3-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
4-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) 2.9
5-Hiddenverse: The Iron Tower (February 7-2018) 3.6
6-Hiddenverse: Tale of Arianda (May 14-2018) 3.2
7-Hiddenverse: Witch's Tales 2 (August 29-2018) 3.5
8-Hiddenverse: Divided Kingdom (October 3-2018) 4.3
9-Hiddenverse: Rise of Ariadna (January 8-2019) n/a
by: Shaman Games
I recommend this game!
A mysterious villain is playing with time and it’s up to you to fix the time paradoxes in this fast-paced strategy adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
DO YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT?
PostedJanuary 6, 2019
pennmom36
fromHow about adding some morphing objects to the next CE to spice it up a bit? ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Many Years Ago
(10)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The graphics are really bland with hues of grey's and tan's and by the time I reached Level 7, the tasks were the same tasks, just more of them which made the game repetitive. I do think that this is the better version option if you're chomping at the bit to play an ever so elusive Time Management game, but at least BF is beginning to realize that we TM fans are many (and we want more, but we want quality as well)
As far as the differences between this Standard Edition version and the Collector's Edition version, there's not much of a difference. In my opinion, most of the TM games offered in CE versions first, don't have enough extra's to make the game worth twice as much money, like this game for instance. The CE version had no Morphs or Collectibles (some don't even have built-in Strategy Guides!) but it does include 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 cartoon style Concept Art Pictures, and 10 extra Levels, as well as a Strategy Guide, which I believe was a first for this series? (If this had been a HOPA I think everyone would be complaining that the CE version of this game wasn't very CE worthy)
In the first Lost Artifacts game, the archaeological team was able to stop the Dark Priest from doing his Dark deeds, and the team regretfully had to say goodbye to their newfound native friends. Unfortunately, the airplane was no match for a hurricane they encountered, and they crashed on a large but remote island in the middle of the ocean. They discovered a tribe of Atlantean's that had survived when the city of Atlantis was sunk by another evil-doer, and the team had once again agreed to help them return to their beloved city, after defeating the evil-doer of course! In the last episode, the team has to face another evil-doer, a thief who has stolen the legendary Soulstone which possess unfathomable powers. The evil-doer used the stone to awaken a Terra-cotta emperor who was a bigger evil-doer than the thief himself! Now the team is working with a group of scientists who have discovered strange happenings occurring at famous attractions worldwide. Items have been aging at rapid speed and the scientists have invented a device to control time itself, but controlling time has its own set of issues that the team must face, one level at a time!?
There are the usual tasks to perform of clearing paths conveniently lined with happy meals?? (Do you want fries with that?) and wood, as well as constructing, repairing and upgrading Workers Houses, Sawmills for Lumber, Farm Plots to produce various crops, Mills to produce even more happy meals or Blacksmith barns to produce ore? There are also the usual Bridges to repair, Mantraps to dismantle, Holes to patch along the paths, and some levels require that you upgrade certain buildings to a certain level. You may need to build houses to accommodate specialized people to rid the paths from certain obstructions such as Scientists and Hunters to remove Mammoths that block the paths or Living Skeletons (which makes absolutely no sense!
I didn't hate this game, I just didn't find the graphics appealing and the TM tasks are the same tasks offered in hundreds of other TM games. I do actually recommend this Standard Edition version over the Collector's edition version which in my opinion wasn't very CE worthy.
LOST ARTIFACTS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lost Artifacts SE (August 30-2017) 3.1
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island SE (January 5-2018) 2.4
3-Lost Artifacts: Soulstone SE (June 20-2018) 3.0
4-Lost Artifacts: Time Machine SE (January 6-2019) n/a
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island SE (January 5-2018) 2.4
3-Lost Artifacts: Soulstone SE (June 20-2018) 3.0
4-Lost Artifacts: Time Machine SE (January 6-2019) n/a
by: 8 Floor Games
Chaos has emerged from Pandora's Box! Only you can stop the apocalypse!
Overall rating
3
/
5
69 of 75 found this review helpful
PANDORA'S BOX OF PANDEMONIUM
PostedJanuary 5, 2019
pennmom36
fromIt would be quicker to just dive in wouldn't it? ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
The Tiny Tale 2
(31)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I hate saying this because TM games are far and few between, but this is a rather mundane and boring Time Management game. There's nothing captivating to keep my attention and having to go from shore to shore just to collect food and logs was painstaking, I didn't even finish the demo! Just like its predecessor, Golden Fleece, this is just an average, middle of the road, Time Management game.
You can play in an Untimed, Normal or Hard difficulty mode and it allows you to switch back and forth easily before the start of each level with an icon located above the levels. I do like this feature because sometimes it's helpful to play the first go-round in an untimed mode to figure out what the requirements are, such as what materials are needed for each task (bridges, boulders etc) and then play the level again in a normal or hard mode, especially when a TM game requires a lot of strategies, but this one doesn't require a whole lot of strategy to earn 3 stars. Once you have collected 5 Stars, you get to open a Treasure Chest located on the bottom left of the Map screen. That gives you 3 small chests to choose from and you can earn extra resources, bonuses to make the workers faster etc.
You can play in an Untimed, Normal or Hard difficulty mode and it allows you to switch back and forth easily before the start of each level with an icon located above the levels. I do like this feature because sometimes it's helpful to play the first go-round in an untimed mode to figure out what the requirements are, such as what materials are needed for each task (bridges, boulders etc) and then play the level again in a normal or hard mode, especially when a TM game requires a lot of strategies, but this one doesn't require a whole lot of strategy to earn 3 stars. Once you have collected 5 Stars, you get to open a Treasure Chest located on the bottom left of the Map screen. That gives you 3 small chests to choose from and you can earn extra resources, bonuses to make the workers faster etc.
There's really nothing different here than any other TM game. Build Farms for food, Sawmills for wood, Gold Mines, Quarries for stone and Markets for trading food for specific materials such as Stone or Gold. There are the usual Berry Bushes for a renewable food source, as well as the usual path blockers of wood, boulders, puddles, holes, and bread that somehow gets left strategically on a blocked path just when you need it the most, not to mention random caches of gold coins.
The only features offered in this Collector's Edition version, are 10 pages of Concept Art pictures and 5 Music Soundtracks, and a few extra levels in the Additional Campaign section. There are 29 Achievements to earn, but the trophies are usually still included within the Standard Edition versions. Other than the story, this is about the same as Golden Fleece, so I'm going to pass on this one too.
The only features offered in this Collector's Edition version, are 10 pages of Concept Art pictures and 5 Music Soundtracks, and a few extra levels in the Additional Campaign section. There are 29 Achievements to earn, but the trophies are usually still included within the Standard Edition versions. Other than the story, this is about the same as Golden Fleece, so I'm going to pass on this one too.
ARGONAUTS AGENCY SERIES LIST
Title Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Golden Fleece (October 2-2018) 3.3
2-Pandora's Box (January 5-2019) n/a
2-Pandora's Box (January 5-2019) n/a
developed by: Workroom 7-Creobit
produced by: 8 Floor Games
produced by: 8 Floor Games
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!