pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4715
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 17, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve festive nonograms and help repair your robot before the holiday season begins!
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 38 found this review helpful
THIS IS A CHRISTMAS EDITION?
PostedDecember 18, 2018
pennmom36
fromHave a holly jolly Christmas... ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I usually love Rainbow Mosaics games but this one isn't very Christmas-themed. It does have an occasional Christmas or winter scene but most of them aren't, not to mention the colors of orange, pinks, browns etc. aren't really associated with Christmas either?
There are 12 different types of tiles offered but I always choose the Lego style because it's easy to tell where one tile left off and the other begins, not to mention that it looks really cool once completed.
These are always puzzles that are solved by using logic, you don't ever have to guess or use a power-up, they might not be easy to figure out logically, but they can be solved without using "props"
Once you complete a puzzle, the completed image is shown and labeled so you'll never have to guess at what the end result is. You can also choose to play in an Expert mode which only crosses off the numbers once the entire row and column have been correctly filled in, AND the power-ups are disabled.
There are 120 levels, and as you play each level, it unlocks those levels in the Free-play section. As you correctly fill in squares, you will earn coins that can be used to purchase decorations for Christmas or purchase upgrades for the Power-ups which are hint forms that will increase in the size of coverage with each upgrade. The Eye opens a random right square, Lightning opens up a chosen square with no negative outcome, and the Grid power-up opens a chosen grid area without a negative outcome. The power-ups can be upgraded twice, each upgrade offers a larger area of coverage.
For those of you who have never played this type of game before, don't let it intimidate you. When I first started playing games I passed Mosaic puzzles up because they looked so complicated but they really aren't, and they are extremely addicting, once you start playing, it's hard to stop!
RAINBOW MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Christmas Lights (December 23-2015) 4.3
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) n/a
2-Treasure Trip (May 9-2016) 4.2
3-Blooming Garden (September 14-2016) 4.6
4-Christmas Lights 2 (December 12-2016) 4.4
5-Love Legend (March 14-2017) 4.6
6-The Forest's Guardian (November 20-2017) 4.6
7-Treasure Trip 2 (February 5-2018) 3.6
8-Strange Things (June 25-2018) 4.4
9-Garden Helper (October 24-2018) 4.8
10-Christmas Helper (December 18-2018) n/a
by: Awigor Games
I recommend this game!
An amazing brain-jogging mosaics adventure for everybody looking for the spirit of Christmas!
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 26 found this review helpful
WASN'T BRAIN-JOGGING AS PROMISED BUT I LIKED IT
PostedDecember 17, 2018
pennmom36
fromHave a holly jolly Christmas... ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I liked the Christmas-themed puzzles but I did find them to be fairly easy, which isn't a bad thing, if you're like me, you like these games because they are relaxing. I don't really care about the storyline which is a good thing because there isn't really a story to follow, again, not necessarily a bad thing.
Besides the 5 options for crossing off cells, there are 5 Tile options to choose from, my favorite Bubble look, a Square with rounded corners, a Princess Cut Diamond shape, and a multi-faceted tile and a lunar-style. You can play in an Easy mode which crosses off cells for you and applies the appropriate colors, a Normal mode where you have to cross off cells that aren't available, or Difficult mode which only crosses off squares when the entire row and column has been completed.
As you fill in tiles, you will earn coins, lives or Power-up recharges. Power-ups can be upgraded twice from the initial base, and you can also buy various Presents in the Shop.
There are Power-ups such as a Hammer, Sun, Lightning and even a Bomb, which start out with very little area coverage and increases with each upgrade. There are 7 Achievement Trophies to earn as well.
Each of the Locations has 6 main levels, 1 bonus level, and 1 additional puzzle (jigsaw variations) You must earn at least 2 Stars on each main level to open the bonus level, and you must earn a minimum of 2 stars on the Bonus Level to open the additional puzzle. You also have to earn at least 1 Star in each of the main levels to unlock the next location.
Each level starts with 2 Hearts or lives, and as you fill in cells correctly you will earn more Heart Lives. There is a Book icon on the bottom left that gives a brief description of each location, which will come in handy if you make too many mistakes because you will be asked some questions about the locations as a chance to earn another chance to play.
TRAVEL MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Travel Mosaics 1: A Paris Tour (February 19-2018) 3.5
2-Travel Mosaics 2: Roman Holiday (May 13-2018) 3.4
3-Travel Mosaics 3: Tokyo Animated (August 21-2018) 4.6
4-Travel Mosaics 4: Adventures in Rio (October 22-2018) 4.6
5-Travel Mosaics 5: Waltzing Vienna (November 12-2018) 3.2
6-Travel Mosaics 6: Christmas Around The World (December 17-2018) n/a
2-Travel Mosaics 2: Roman Holiday (May 13-2018) 3.4
3-Travel Mosaics 3: Tokyo Animated (August 21-2018) 4.6
4-Travel Mosaics 4: Adventures in Rio (October 22-2018) 4.6
5-Travel Mosaics 5: Waltzing Vienna (November 12-2018) 3.2
6-Travel Mosaics 6: Christmas Around The World (December 17-2018) n/a
by: JetDogs Studios
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a natural nemesis from destroying our land?
Overall rating
3
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
SURE IS GREEN
PostedDecember 16, 2018
pennmom36
fromHave a holly jolly Christmas... ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Dark Romance: Vampire in Love Collector's Edition
(65)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Florena the evil Spirit Witch has been neutralized for three years now. Your father Adam bound her with three locks, but unfortunately, not before she destroyed your mother Evelyn. Adam divided the three keys to assure Florena would never escape wreaking havoc upon another family ever again. Ever never lasts forever, and Florena has just been unleashed to wreak havoc upon all of humanity. Who would do this and why? The bigger question is how to stop an evil witch that can turn forest creatures into monsters?
We don't have Magical Glasses Gadgets, but, we still have to endure a Gadget that seems to be the norm for Domini Games. Because this is a Fantasy-based genre, there are several Hybrid Forest Creatures encountered during the adventure. The Family Bestiary Book will destroy the beast within and change them back into the harmless creatures they were before Florena cursed them, after playing a mini-game of course. I thought it was funny that I deemed a grizzly bear inside the house as perfectly harmless now that he didn't have antlers? :-0
The Hidden Object Scenes aren't very creative and were the reason I deducted a Star. They are all Keywords in Sentence finds and very simplistic at that, but I suppose it's intended to get newbies onboard the HOPA train? A few of them did have an extra portion of Silhouetted Shape finds or Multiple finds after the Keyword sections, and there is an alternate Match 3 Game available, but I wasn't that crazy about these particular Match 3 games either.
The Mini-Games are available in Easy or Hard Modes, and in the Custom Settings Mode, you can choose which mode to start each game (you can still switch to the opposite mode during each mini-game) Below are brief descriptions of some of the games available during the game, to give you an idea of what to expect:
1-Select the correct symbols that are shown on the scroll, selecting 1 may affect others.
2-Swap tiles to complete color-coded connections on a honeycomb grid.
3-Jump tiles on a star grid to remove until all but one tile remains.
4-Use directional arrows to guide the silver ball into the silver slot.
5-Restore the stained-glass by adjusting set points to place pieces correctly.
6-Arrange figures according to how many horns they have selecting 1 may affect others.
7-Guide the ship to the exit using directional arrows and obstacles as bumpers.
8-Guide the sphere to the energy slot using color-coded portals.
9-Color dots according to the numbers shown on each grid square.
10-Swap figurines according to the engravings.
2-Swap tiles to complete color-coded connections on a honeycomb grid.
3-Jump tiles on a star grid to remove until all but one tile remains.
4-Use directional arrows to guide the silver ball into the silver slot.
5-Restore the stained-glass by adjusting set points to place pieces correctly.
6-Arrange figures according to how many horns they have selecting 1 may affect others.
7-Guide the ship to the exit using directional arrows and obstacles as bumpers.
8-Guide the sphere to the energy slot using color-coded portals.
9-Color dots according to the numbers shown on each grid square.
10-Swap figurines according to the engravings.
The Collector's Edition version has 15 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 37 Movie Video Cutscenes, 21 re-playable Mini-Games, 18 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 33 Achievements to Earn, 16 Collectible Magical Seeds (grow into plants with descriptions) 15 Morphing Animal Statuettes (gives a brief description) 70 Hidden Collectible Butterflies (allows you to purchase 15 Butterfly Garden Items) 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy, while humanity still exists!
I don't recommend this game.
Mother Goose has gone missing, and Christmas is in danger!
Overall rating
5
/
5
93 of 111 found this review helpful
QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, MERRY CHRISTMAS DOMINI STYLE!
PostedDecember 15, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hickory, Dickory Dock, Mother Goose has been kidnapped! Hang on to your Hey Diddle Diddle Fiddle's cause this is going to be one Humpty Dumpty Bumpty ride. I've looked up the hill but all I have seen was Jack and Jill tumbling down it. I looked on the farm but saw nothing but the farmer's wife running after three poor little blind mice. I've searched everywhere, I even followed that star light that was shining so bright the three blind mice could see it, still nothing. This leads me to the conclusion that Old King Cole is up to no good in the neighborhood. If I can't find Mother Goose soon she may be a cooked goose and Old Mother Hubbard won't know what to do, Do you?
One of the features I look forward to in Domini Games is that you can interact with just about anything. Click on presents and a bunny jumps out, turn lights off and on, knock things over, ring bells, etc. Just about anything and everything can be interacted with and I love seeing what happens. To me, this is going the extra mile, they don't have to spend time and money to add these features, but they always do, and I for one appreciate the attention to detail!
Another feature you can always count on is the abundance of Collector's Edition collectibles. There are hidden Candy Canes that allow you to buy Christmas Tree Ornaments, Gingerbread Cookies, Fairytale Rhyme Characters and of course a ton of missing journal notes to discover. Each collectible has an icon that alerts you when they are available, depending on the settings you choose.
The Hidden Object Scenes are Christmas themed and vary with Multiples of the same objects, Keywords in Storie Sentences, Interactive Listed Items, Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds, and even Spot the Differences. You can opt for an alternate Match 3 game if you're not thrilled with HOP's.
The Mini-Games are delightful, but they do tend to be on the easy side of the spectrum. As with all Domini Games, you can choose to have them start out in Easy or Hard difficulty modes on the Custom Setting, but you can always switch individually. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Select flowers in the sequence shown.
2-Collect hidden snowflake sections & then assemble them.
3-Paint the picture according to the corresponding symbols.
4-Find all matching parts of the snowflake.
5-Connect all the dots without retracing paths.
6-Restore the bird by dragging pieces to the silhouetted shape.
7-Enter the symbols shown on the clue by combining symbols.
8-Capture musical notes as they fall by clicking the corresponding buttons.
9-Set the black pointers onto the green dots using + & - buttons.
10-Use up & down buttons to avoid obstacles in the path.
11-Connect blue plates w/ the correct symbols.
12-Navigate the maze by finding and using tools to overcome obstacles.
2-Collect hidden snowflake sections & then assemble them.
3-Paint the picture according to the corresponding symbols.
4-Find all matching parts of the snowflake.
5-Connect all the dots without retracing paths.
6-Restore the bird by dragging pieces to the silhouetted shape.
7-Enter the symbols shown on the clue by combining symbols.
8-Capture musical notes as they fall by clicking the corresponding buttons.
9-Set the black pointers onto the green dots using + & - buttons.
10-Use up & down buttons to avoid obstacles in the path.
11-Connect blue plates w/ the correct symbols.
12-Navigate the maze by finding and using tools to overcome obstacles.
This Collector's Edition version has 15 beautiful Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 36 Movie Video Cutscenes, 5 Music Soundtracks, 20 re-playable Mini-Games, 18 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 31 Achievements to earn, 45 Hidden Candy Canes (to purchase Christmas Tree Ornaments)15 Christmas Tree Ornaments (purchase with Candy Canes) 14 Collectible Gingerbread Cookies, 15 Collectible Character Figurines with Fairytale Rhymes, Collectible Missing Journal Notes, 3 Main Chapters (very long chapters and well worth the CE price) +Bonus Chapter (very long BC and definitely worthy of CE price) and a built-in Strategy Guide. You'd better be good for quackness sake, Mother Goose is coming to town! (well hopefully, if we can find her, the only help I can get is from 3 blind mice?)
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Trouble in Oz (December 13-2017) 3.9
2-Mother Goose's Untold Tales (December 13-2018) n/a
2-Mother Goose's Untold Tales (December 13-2018) n/a
by: Domini Games
I recommend this game!
The woods hide a frightening mystery only you can solve!
Overall rating
3
/
5
25 of 34 found this review helpful
MORE CHEESY THAN CREEPY
PostedDecember 15, 2018
pennmom36
fromHave a holly jolly Christmas... ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Rick Rogers at your service! After discovering his true calling as a Paranormal ghost chaser with the ability to withstand the dark forces of evil, after picking up an otherworldly hitchhiker, he's opened up his own Paranormal Detective Agency. His first case may be tougher than he thought when dealing with teenagers that love a good prank. One of the gang's friends has been missing since last year, but they haven't learned their lesson as they return to the Cursed Woods where folks have been disappearing for nearly 300 years, because ghosts aren't real, are they?
I loved the first Paranormal Files but this one wasn't as epic. The "monster" was cheesy and reminded me of Groot, (Stan would probably roll in his grave) The dialog was trying too hard to make Rick funny, yet it's supposed to be a scary/paranormal plot? There were a ton of Logic fails, cliche tasks or tasks that made no sense, but I get it, HOPA world, right? I did, however, love the CE version's bling! Even though the Morphing Objects were fairly obvious and easily spotted, I liked that the Hidden Eyes were fairly challenging to spot, and I loved that the Hidden Character Statues weren't within Zoom Zones that never close until you click on the collectible, so for the bling, I recommend the Ce version.
The Hidden Object Scenes were varied with Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiple Item finds, Sketch finds, Finding 5 tools in 2 categories to use on the objects blocking the Listed items, and a back and forth type where you find the Listed Item followed by Placing the next Object correctly back into the scene alternating between the two. There are several Zoom Zone HOP's and they are usually right before a main Hidden Object Scene. The objects are identifiable and the scenes are clear, but they are way too easy-breezy for my liking. I am disappointed because I didn't think they were this easy in the first Paranormal Files and in Elephant's last Series release they were amazing, so I'm not sure why they regressed??
The Mini-Games were a hodgepodge mixture of puzzles that ranged from super simplistic to more complex yet still not very challenging. They weren't necessarily bad, in fact, I enjoyed many of them, but some of them had me scratching my head wondering why they even offered them because they didn't really require solving, just moving them such as aligning 4 columns of tiles in no particular order? Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Drag the chain thru the maze stopping on buttons to open/close paths.
2-Swap pipe tiles to send current to numbers in a specific order.
3-Drag vertical & horizontal strips to restore the image.
4-Move tokens to the correct slots according to the clue shown.
5-Slide and rotate tiles using directional arrows to complete the image shown.
6-Drag circular discs to align 4 identical symbols until all outer tiles are lit.
7-Find the starting point that will end on the star, following the directional & numbered arrows.
8-Untangle the rope by moving set points.
9-Select pairs of matching arrows by dragging a line between them that doesn't cross other symbols.
10-Rotate the wheel to give the tools to the proper person.
2-Swap pipe tiles to send current to numbers in a specific order.
3-Drag vertical & horizontal strips to restore the image.
4-Move tokens to the correct slots according to the clue shown.
5-Slide and rotate tiles using directional arrows to complete the image shown.
6-Drag circular discs to align 4 identical symbols until all outer tiles are lit.
7-Find the starting point that will end on the star, following the directional & numbered arrows.
8-Untangle the rope by moving set points.
9-Select pairs of matching arrows by dragging a line between them that doesn't cross other symbols.
10-Rotate the wheel to give the tools to the proper person.
The Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 1 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 re-playable Mini-Games, 10 Achievements to earn (some with 3-5 Categories) 12 Hidden Character Figurines, 27 Morphing Objects, 25 Hidden Eyes (unlock Art Collection pictures with 6-12-18-25 Eyes) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, enjoy but he's behind you!
PARANORMAL FILES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Fellow Traveler (June 29-2018) n/a
2-The Tall Man (December 14-2018) n/a
2-The Tall Man (December 14-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
Help the Walker family search through the clutter to find everything they need to create a festive atmosphere in a Christmas square!
Overall rating
2
/
5
71 of 75 found this review helpful
SHIFTING TILES AND POPPING BUBBLES ACTUALLY BEGAN TO AGITATE ME
PostedDecember 12, 2018
pennmom36
fromHave a holly jolly Christmas... ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
This is a complete Clutter Disaster, they have added shifting objects every 10 seconds, and objects that get grabbed and float around in a bubble. I soon began to realize that they weren't obstacles to make it more challenging, they were annoying features that were making me become agitated. Top that off with giant smiley faces, large or ugly objects, and pastel-colored silhouetted shapes and it's just a boring Clutter knock-off game.
This is a Timed Mode game with no other difficulty mode setting such as Relaxed or Challenge modes. You will earn points as you find matches and 10 points are added to the score for each second remaining on the Timer, and another 500 points if you don't use the Hint feature. Levels or Puzzles can be skipped, and any level can be replayed. There are 140 Clutter Levels and after completing 7 Levels, you can solve a Puzzle of various kinds such as Tile Swap, Sliders or Jigsaws.
The Clutter Styles are different each time, you may be required to find Identical Matching Pairs of items, Triple Matches, One Large-one small finds, Same Color and some that require finding objects of a specific genre such as transportation. As I stated earlier, most of the levels involve shifting every 10 seconds and many of those also have bubbles that appear and grab objects. (they can be popped)
You aren't required to find every object and often times I had a ton of time left on the timer and a ton of other matches left. Each scene has a gazillion Sun Emblems scattered about that I believe recharge the hint meter, but I'm not certain because the only game features explanations given are the type of Clutter and the point system. The game is fairly colorless and the items aren't very interesting,
I love Clutter games, but this one doesn't interest me in the least bit, I didn't even play the entire demo!
SHOPPING CLUTTER SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Best Playground (November 7-2018) 3.1
2-Christmas Square (December 12-2018) n/a
2-Christmas Square (December 12-2018) n/a
I don't recommend this game.
Munich’s Oktoberfest hides a dark secret – werewolves are afoot!
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 19 found this review helpful
SHINING THE LIGHT ON ANOTHER DARK CITY
PostedDecember 11, 2018
pennmom36
fromI think I'm coming down with Hypertrichosis ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Sacra Terra: Kiss of Death Collector's Edition
(103)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It took me several days to complete this game because it just didn't thrill me. The plot didn't hold my interest and it kept taking me back to the same boring locations over and over as if the devs ran out of ideas for different scenes so they just returned you to the beginning locations for a do-over. There are way too many "gadgets" that included some of the most simplistic tasks I've ever seen. The evidence placement scenarios highlighted the correct slots so where's the skill in that? Every time I met a half-human they handed me a stupid trinket to place on a pop-up book, am I five years old? (and why do they carry the trinkets in the 1st place, in case they forget who and what they are?)
As far as the differences between this Standard Edition version and the Collector's Edition version, each scene has Morphing Objects and Collectible Coins and Stamps that allow you to purchase more trinkets of the various half-humans (so now I won't forget who or what they are either) The CE Bonus Chapter takes you back to Munich shortly afterward to investigate the kidnapping of Hansel and Gretel. There are 4 Mini-Games and 7 HOP's within the BC and 7 Morphs and 16 Collectibles remaining. You will use your deductive reasoning to draw 3 final conclusions in the Evidence Conclusion Journal (a total of 12 times throughout the game) Here's a recap of my review to help you "conclude" which version, if either, is right for you:
Fresh off of our last investigation in London nabbing the infamous Headless Clockmaker, we've been summoned to Munich Germany in search for the infamous Werewolf. Rumors are spreading quickly about a halfling beast hybrid, part wolf, part human, all werewolf! Victims are piling up and frightening citizens attending Munich's most anticipated event, Octoberfest. Mayor Schulz has invited you to Octoberfest in Munich to find proof that a werewolf actually exists and figure out a way to stop this rogue werewolf, but the Mayor may know more than he claims to know about this legendary beast. Who's really the one howling at the moon?
I'm usually the first one to complain about Gadgets, but this Gadget gives me mixed emotions. Because we are on an Investigation to find a rogue werewolf, we have an Evidence Icon located on the bottom left, where we are tasked with placing the evidence and clues we've collected onto Category Circles. I would ღ LOVE this feature IF it allowed me to make these logical deduction decisions on my own. Instead, the second you pick up an inventory evidence item, the circle on the Evidence Book turns blue to show where to place the item, so why bother? It's just an unnecessary step of clicking if there's no logic or skill required. What a shame because it could have been a really cool feature instead of just a mindless task (meaning you don't have to figure anything out)
After placing the Evidence, you'll need to make a Deduction using the Deduction Icon located on the bottom right. (you'll always need to place the evidence first within the evidence icon, but the Deduction feature is used solo as well when trying to figure things out such as where the culprit was hiding) As with most gadgets and features, there is a mini-game-hidden object type of game associated with it, however, it isn't the usual repetitive match 3 game or fight scene scenario! The type of deduction puzzle offered is always something different, you may have to investigate the scene of a crime by searching or interacting with a Hidden Object Scene or something more like solving a puzzle. That gives the Deduction Feature meaning, unlike the Evidence scenario.
4Friends Games never let me down when it comes to the Collector's Edition version Collectibles and Morphing Objects, and there's always a Pull-Out Tab on the left side to keep track of whether or not you've found all of them because there's always more than one! In the CE version, there are 42 Morphing Objects and each scene has at least one Morph. When you have found enough morphs (3-10-12-20-26-30-34-36-42) it unlocks 9 different Character Figurines. There are also 22 Collectible Stamps and 22 Collectible Coins in the CE version. The Collectibles also have a pull-out tab to show how many are in each scene, and they are stored safely in a Coin & Stamp collectors book. I'm not sure why 4Friends chose to go with normal morphs and collectibles after offering such awesome opaque morphs and opaque glass collectibles that were truly challenging to find because these were easily spotted??? If you're reading our reviews, the fifth friend asks kindly to bring them back, I would have purchased the last few games for those features alone just because I ♥ loved the challenge of searching and finding them!
Normally, I find Hidden Objects rather boring nowadays because they are so not hidden anymore, but this game has a really nice selection of HO variations. There are Interactive Listed Item finds, Multiples of the Same Item finds, Description Item finds (such as 3 things a cat plays with or items related to a boar) Keywords in Sentence finds, Identifying Similar Features, Replacing Items into the Scene finds, Pictured Item finds and several small Zoom Zone HOP's. Because you are a Detective (aren't we always?) there are several Deduction HO-Puzzles such as finding 5 places to hide or searching for differences between 2 characters. There are no alternate type puzzles offered, but honestly, the HOP's are more like a mini-game of finding things logically.
The Mini-Games were enjoyable and pretty much frustration free, but nothing that hasn't been offered hundreds of times in the past. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during and after the demo:
1-Swap masks to the labels of sound each creature makes.
2-Rotate 4 disks to align mask silhouettes & then place masks accordingly.
3-Find suspects in a crowd that matches the pictured description.
4-Select the correct comparison label for all 7 suspects.
5-Determine which suspect has the most matching symbols as the clue.
6-Select 2 images that correspond to each of 4 parts of the city square.
7-Use sliders to change the proportions or size of the 3 images.
8-Swap tokens correctly and choose between blocked slots.
9-Correctly swap 3 face sections for each animal shown
10-Make the required number of connections to each component x3.
11-Rotate pipes to drop the correctly colored gems into their matching snake mouthes.
12-Choose correct answers of deduction for a handwriting analysis.
13-Drag a ball through a maze, avoiding crossing the borders. x3
14-Click & drag 3 or more tokens to fill your color meter avoiding opponents colors.
15-Rotate disc and slide sections in starting with the center pieces.
2-Rotate 4 disks to align mask silhouettes & then place masks accordingly.
3-Find suspects in a crowd that matches the pictured description.
4-Select the correct comparison label for all 7 suspects.
5-Determine which suspect has the most matching symbols as the clue.
6-Select 2 images that correspond to each of 4 parts of the city square.
7-Use sliders to change the proportions or size of the 3 images.
8-Swap tokens correctly and choose between blocked slots.
9-Correctly swap 3 face sections for each animal shown
10-Make the required number of connections to each component x3.
11-Rotate pipes to drop the correctly colored gems into their matching snake mouthes.
12-Choose correct answers of deduction for a handwriting analysis.
13-Drag a ball through a maze, avoiding crossing the borders. x3
14-Click & drag 3 or more tokens to fill your color meter avoiding opponents colors.
15-Rotate disc and slide sections in starting with the center pieces.
The Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 23 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 52 Movie Cutscene Videos, 11 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 re-playable Mini-Games, 25 Achievements to earn (13 collectibles have 3 categories each) Morphing Objects (receive a Character Statuette for each group of Morphs found) 22 Collectible Coins, 22 Collectible Stamps, 3 Main Chapters (longer than average) +Bonus Chapter (fairly long) and a built-in Strategy Guide, be safe, rumor has it, there's a rogue werewolf on the loose!
DARK CITY SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-London (December 29-2017) 4.4
2-Munich (December 7-2018) n/a
2-Munich (December 7-2018) n/a
by: 4Friends Games
In Christmas Wonderland 9 you visit Santa’s workshop, decorate the house, visit grandparents open presents and more. Have the best Christmas ever!
Overall rating
5
/
5
296 of 339 found this review helpful
CHRISTMAS ISN'T CHRISTMAS UNTIL CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND ARRIVES!
PostedDecember 10, 2018
pennmom36
fromAre kids going to know what a Bauble or a Choke knob is? ⛄
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Christmas just wouldn't be the same without waking up one morning and discovering that Casual Arts Games has left a present under the Big Fish Tree. I'm talking about Christmas Wonderland of course, and it's a present I've looked forward to for the past 8 years! Emma and Mike may never age from year to year, but hey, neither have I lol.
Christmas Wonderland is a Classic Hidden Object Game with a ton of puzzles to solve after each HO scene. They have a certain nostalgic charm that you just can't help but fall in love with. The Music is always the same, the features are always the same, the graphics are always the same and the characters are always the same, but that's what gives these games their charm! It's because they are always the same it always triggers joyful emotions the second you hear and see the Christmas sights and sounds in Christmas Wonderland!
Casual Arts is the same developer that offers Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger, and Cruise Director as well as several Holiday themed games. I say this every year, but it's oh so true, these games are Family games, they are designed to be enjoyed by the entire family, young and old, It doesn't matter if you're young or just young at heart, you will be delighted with this Christmas-themed, nostalgic, classic HOG. It's not as easy as it looks at times, some of these objects are very well hidden! You can play in Casual or Challenge mode, depending on how fast you want the hint feature to recharge.
Each scene has beautiful Christmas themed graphics and several listed items to search for within the scene. You will also need to find a total of 50 Golden Reindeer (each scene has at least 1 but usually 3 and when Santa's Sleigh appears in the snowglobe, you've found all of them) Each scene also contains lost and found items, which are shown as silhouetted shapes inside an icon on the left of the screen, the door will close when all lost & found items have been found. Some of the items to find are listed in red which means that the item is hidden in or behind something, such as a train conductor inside the train, which can be clicked on to expose the item. Items in blue text require some type of interaction such as dragging sunglasses to its case.
After each Hidden Object Scene, there will be a mini-game or puzzle available such as rotating puzzle pieces, placing shaped pieces into a map, putting together a puzzle one piece at a time, a word search game, placing icons and pictures to the correct locations, flipping over two ornaments at a time in search of matching pairs and even my personal favorite, spot the difference. The Mini-Games can be skipped, but you will receive 350 points for cpmpleting the puzzles.
Your score will be tallied at the end of each scene and you will earn a bronze star if you find all of the items to complete the scene, a silver star if you complete the level and find all of the Golden Reindeer OR all of the Lost & Found silhouetted shapes, and a gold star if you complete the level, find all of the reindeer AND all silhouetted lost and found items. You can replay any level at any time in order to find items you didn't find the first time.
There are 18 Trophy Achievements to earn and you can visit the shop to buy 16 different Christmas Presents to display on a shelf. There is a regular Hint as well as a Mega hint which highlights all items for a brief period of time, but you will earn an Eagle Eye bonus if you don't use any hints. Make this game one of your family traditions too, enjoy!
CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Christmas Wonderland 1 (December 17-2010) 3.9
2-Christmas Wonderland 2 (December 09-2011) 3,9
3-Christmas Wonderland 3 (December 18-2012) 3.4
4-Christmas Wonderland 4 (December 13-2013) 4.0
5-Christmas Wonderland 5 (December 16-2014) 4.1
6-Christmas Wonderland 6 (December 08-2015) 4.4
7-Christmas Wonderland 7 (December 12-2016) 4.3
8-Christmas Wonderland 8 (December 19-2017) 4.8
9-Christmas Wonderland 9 (December 10-2018) n/a
2-Christmas Wonderland 2 (December 09-2011) 3,9
3-Christmas Wonderland 3 (December 18-2012) 3.4
4-Christmas Wonderland 4 (December 13-2013) 4.0
5-Christmas Wonderland 5 (December 16-2014) 4.1
6-Christmas Wonderland 6 (December 08-2015) 4.4
7-Christmas Wonderland 7 (December 12-2016) 4.3
8-Christmas Wonderland 8 (December 19-2017) 4.8
9-Christmas Wonderland 9 (December 10-2018) n/a
by: Casual Arts Games
I recommend this game!
When Hector, Demon Hunter for hire, agreed to save a lost tourist from the haunted Museum of Mysticism and Monstrosity, he never imagined that he could be the one in need of saving.
Overall rating
3
/
5
48 of 56 found this review helpful
WHY HAS MY BELOVED DEMON HUNTER SERIES ABANDONED DEMON HUNTING?
PostedDecember 9, 2018
pennmom36
fromWhat is up with the one-eyed Hot Air Balloon? What does it mean?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I have played all five Demon Hunter games and what I loved about the first 3 games was the ongoing saga of Dawn who followed in her father's footsteps to become a Demon Hunter, chasing after the archdemon Radner. This game has completely abandoned that original plot, the original characters, and the original creepiness of being a demon hunter, and that utterly disappoints me :(
As far as the difference between the two versions, the CE version has Morphing Objects and collectible Crystals. The CE Bonus Chapter takes place shortly afterward as Hector recalls and relives a defining moment in his life during an interview by a journalist from Paranormal Magazine. There are no remaining Morphs or Collectibles in the Bonus Chapter which is fairly short, but decent. There are 5 Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes within the BC, and you can't pick up any related missing Achievements within the replayable HOP's & Mini-Games. Here's a recap of my review to help you determine which version, if either, is right for you:
There's trouble a-brewing at the Museum of Mysticism and Monstrosity (enough said) Hector encounters more than his fair share of demons and monstrosities in this cursed museum but deciphering between what's real and what's really happening is the real problem. To solve this un-Demonic case, Hector will need the skills of an electrician, a gardener, a plumber, a detective, a doctor, a scientist and lastly, a witch to cast spells! hmmm???
I loved the first 3 Demon Hunter games, they were dark, creepy, and edgy, unfortunately, the last two games are none of those descriptions. This game is not creepy, it's very toned down in an effort to appease those that frighten easily. To me, this is just fence sitting, if you want to create a creepy demonic, edgy game, then go for it! But if you want to create a game that is less creepy, why on Earth would you choose a topic about a Demon Hunter? I apologize to Brave Giant for my less than favorable response, but I loved the first few games and this is just my opinion, I'm sure others will love it.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiples of the same Item finds, and Fragmented finds. At least one of the items listed is a Morphing Object that needs to be chosen when it's in the correct form listed. There is an alternate Monaco Matching Card game available if you don't like HOS's.
The Mini-Games are decent throughout the game, although there's really nothing original offered. The instructions are clear and the puzzles aren't very frustrating to solve. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the game:
1-Collect matching pairs of keys.
2-Place tokens correctly to match the outer edge symbols.
3-Place eyes so that there aren't any identical colored eyes in the same row or column.
4-Trace symbols to see where to set each knobs position.
5-Rotate the double maze so that the blue & red balls land at the same time.
6-Place books correctly according to the clue.
7-Push books from largest to smallest on the clue.
8-Rotate discs to complete the image.
9-Swap fuses of different values to equal the numbers shown.
10-Turn all buttons green by moving sliders, 1 affects others.
11-Rotate and place puzzle pieces on the highlighted slots.
12-Rotate rings to place purple balls on the left green balls on the right.
13-Connect 2 colored wires to partial symbols that create the symbols shown.
14-Equalize the current by swapping colored tokens of different current amounts.
2-Place tokens correctly to match the outer edge symbols.
3-Place eyes so that there aren't any identical colored eyes in the same row or column.
4-Trace symbols to see where to set each knobs position.
5-Rotate the double maze so that the blue & red balls land at the same time.
6-Place books correctly according to the clue.
7-Push books from largest to smallest on the clue.
8-Rotate discs to complete the image.
9-Swap fuses of different values to equal the numbers shown.
10-Turn all buttons green by moving sliders, 1 affects others.
11-Rotate and place puzzle pieces on the highlighted slots.
12-Rotate rings to place purple balls on the left green balls on the right.
13-Connect 2 colored wires to partial symbols that create the symbols shown.
14-Equalize the current by swapping colored tokens of different current amounts.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 4 Movie Video Cutscenes, 8 re-playable Mini-Games, 8 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 24 Achievements to earn, 28 Hidden Crystals, 28 Morphing Scrolls, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, Demon's Be Gone! Enjoy :)
DEMON HUNTER SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Release Date***Average Rating
1-Chronicles from Beyond SE only (April 30-2014) 3.5
2-A New Chapter SE only (August 25-2015) 4.0
3-Revelation (May 15-2016) 4.0
4-Riddles of Light (March 28-2018) 3.4
5-Ascendance (December 9-2018) n/a
2-A New Chapter SE only (August 25-2015) 4.0
3-Revelation (May 15-2016) 4.0
4-Riddles of Light (March 28-2018) 3.4
5-Ascendance (December 9-2018) n/a
by: Brave Giant Games
Dark Reapers kidnapped your mother and aunt! Will you be next?
Overall rating
3
/
5
82 of 112 found this review helpful
ONLY THE BRAVE OF HEART AND WISE OF MIND CAN SAVE THE KINGDOM FROM EVIL
PostedDecember 8, 2018
pennmom36
fromMistletoe possess mystical powers & wards off evil spirits when cut by a Druid w/ a golden sickle. Norse mythology included the tradition of kissing under the Mistletoe which comes from 2 Anglo Saxon words Mistel (dung) tan (twig) poo on a stick!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Spirits of Mystery: Song of the Phoenix
(129)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed game (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 or even dislike 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 this morning. 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, they are quite lengthy chapters.
In this 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 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 bonus chapters, 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 the correct morph. 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 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.
This 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***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Amber Maiden (April 21-2011) 4.2
2-Song of the Phoenix (April 12-2012) 4.7
3-The Dark Minotaur (December 27-2012) 4.4
4-The Silver Arrow (December 12-2013) 4.2
5-Chains of Promise (August 13-2015) 3.5
6-Family Lies (March 24-2016) 3.6
7-The Fifth Kingdom (January 12-2017) 4.2
8-Illusions (June 15-2017) 3.0
9-The Moon Crystal (August 19-2017) 3.3
10-The Last Fire Queen (January 20-2018) 2.8
11-The Lost Queen (June 16-2018) 2.2
12-Whisper of the Past (December 8-2018) n/a
2-Song of the Phoenix (April 12-2012) 4.7
3-The Dark Minotaur (December 27-2012) 4.4
4-The Silver Arrow (December 12-2013) 4.2
5-Chains of Promise (August 13-2015) 3.5
6-Family Lies (March 24-2016) 3.6
7-The Fifth Kingdom (January 12-2017) 4.2
8-Illusions (June 15-2017) 3.0
9-The Moon Crystal (August 19-2017) 3.3
10-The Last Fire Queen (January 20-2018) 2.8
11-The Lost Queen (June 16-2018) 2.2
12-Whisper of the Past (December 8-2018) n/a
by: Amax Interactive