pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4713
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 8, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The woods hide a frightening mystery only you can solve!
Overall rating
4
/
5
105 of 130 found this review helpful
THEY SAY THE TALL MAN HAUNTS THE CURSED FOREST
PostedNovember 15, 2018
pennmom36
fromRobert Pershing Wadlow the tallest man in medical history was 8 ft 11.1 in His shoe size was a 37AA! He died in 1940 from a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
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 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.
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.
This 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***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Fellow Traveler (May 31-2018) 4.4
2-The Tall Man (November 15-2018) n/a
2-The Tall Man (November 15-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I recommend this game!
The King has disappeared with his entire retinue! Save the King and return prosperity to the kingdom.
Overall rating
1
/
5
75 of 82 found this review helpful
WELL NOW WHAT?
PostedNovember 14, 2018
pennmom36
fromClick, click, click...nope, doesn't do the trick, now what?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I always play the Standard Edition version so I can find out what differences there are between the Collector's Edition and Standard Edition versions. I wasn't all that surprised when I still saw that the Hidden Animal Eggs were still visible, because sometimes that's the case in a TM game, and I did try to click on them in the first and second level but nothing happened. I didn't think it was an issue until I reached the third level and as part of the tutorial it pointed to the egg and I couldn't proceed because I couldn't collect the egg animal no matter where I clicked and so I exited out and reinstalled the game. Again, I couldn't collect the egg on any of the first 3 levels. Now I suppose I could just disable the Tutorial to solve the issue of getting past that point, but if the animals are a vital part of the SE version (the magical animals help you finish the levels on time) what good will it do? I'll give them the benefit of doubt that perhaps it's an issue with my computer, even though highly doubtful, at least you'll know that this could be an issue, so please try the demo first!
Here's a recap of my CE review to show you the differences between versions with the exception of the Magical Animals that I have no clue about at this point:
I was a huge fan of the first three Gnomes Garden Time Management games, but now they are just repeats stuck in the past. I'm not surprised because this dev is famous for rehashing the same games over and over, the only thing they ever change is the title. Same features, same graphics, same music, same options, same layouts, and now they are trying to push CE & SE versions on us without giving us CE extras!
In the first edition of Gnomes Garden, the Gnome Princess was tasked with restoring the Royal Garden to help cure the King's illness. In Gnomes Garden 2, the evil Troll Queen kidnapped the Princess, and after she was rescued she and the Troll Queen became friends. In the third episode, a Warlock took over the Monarch's Castle and he too was eventually defeated. In the fourth episode (not including Halloween & Christmas editions) the castle was restored to its former glory, but the lands surrounding the kingdom were desolate so the Princess embarked on another journey to the land of the Elves to obtain the Green Recipe from the Queen to breathe life into the unfertile lands. In this fifth edition, the King, and his men have vanished, and a search party has been sent out to retrace their steps and hopefully rescue the King and his Royal Crew!
All the usual TM tasks are available, and nothing new has been brought to the table. You can play in an Easy, untimed mode or Classic mode, and earn up to 3 stars per level. The graphics are very basic and very "old school" and although you will have to address tasks in a somewhat logical manner, there isn't a whole lot of strategy involved, so the level goals are certainly 3 stars obtainable, and more than likely on the first attempt.
You will gather various resources like food, wood, potions, stone etc, and build or repair bridges, sawmills, workers huts, laboratories, food mills, sorcerer's huts, prospector huts, beehives, Sheep/Donkey houses, cableways, and quarries. Each level after the tutorial has basically the same level goals which become repetitive.
Each level has a Hidden Animal (which looks like an egg with horns?) and I'm assuming this is a CE bling feature? Not sure of this as an SE feature or a glitch? The CE version has 31 Trophy Achievements to earn, 5 Music Soundtracks and 10 Concept Art pictures, which in my opinion, hardly qualify as Collector's Edition bling, at a CE price. There are no extra levels (49 total) and no Strategy Guide.
GNOMES GARDEN SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Gnomes Garden 1 SE only (August 18-2015) 3.9
2-Gnomes Garden 2 SE only (December 30-2015) 3.6
3-Gnomes Garden 3 SE only (May 30-2016) 3.4
4-Gnomes Garden: New Home SE only (March 15-2017) 4.1
5-Gnomes Garden: Halloween SE only (October 23-2017) 3.3
6-Gnomes Garden: Christmas Story SE only (December 23-2017) 4.3
7-Gnomes Garden: Lost King SE (November 14-2018) n/a
2-Gnomes Garden 2 SE only (December 30-2015) 3.6
3-Gnomes Garden 3 SE only (May 30-2016) 3.4
4-Gnomes Garden: New Home SE only (March 15-2017) 4.1
5-Gnomes Garden: Halloween SE only (October 23-2017) 3.3
6-Gnomes Garden: Christmas Story SE only (December 23-2017) 4.3
7-Gnomes Garden: Lost King SE (November 14-2018) n/a
by: 8 Floor Games LTD.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Trito, son of Poseidon, save the entire underwater kingdom in this match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
47 of 54 found this review helpful
BEAUTIFUL ANIMATIONS but...
PostedNovember 13, 2018
pennmom36
fromThe twin Seahorses are so funny, even the sound they make is funny!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Trito's Adventure is a fun Match 3 game, but there are a few features it has that I didn't like. I will say though that this is the first game I've played (that I know of) from Bluembo Entertainment, and I have to give them a shout out for the amazing animations! I've seen some cute animated characters before, but these graphics are some of the best I have seen. I usually don't enjoy animated Match 3 games personally, so the fact that I enjoyed this game says a lot, and if a few features were tweaked, I'd say this would be an off the charts kinda game. These are just my personal preferences in a M3 game, so don't let that stop you from trying the demo, I think you should try this game in fact!
Tito's Adventure is a Limited Moves game with a "builder" aspect, you play levels to earn enough Lightning power to recharge Tito's Trident so that he can restore all of the houses destroyed by a tornado, as well as complete some side quests asked of little Zeus junior. The goal of each level is usually to clear all Sand tiles, but some levels may require you to remove a specified number of specified tiles and complete some levels by clearing a path to allow Octy to reach the treasure.
There are the usual Obstacles of Wooden Crates, Chained Tiles, Stone Tiles etc that block the Sand Tiles. Large Matches will earn you Bonuses on the board such as Twin Seahorses that take out an entire line or row (depending on which way you activate them up and down or left and right) Explosive Crabs that explode to take out a small group of tiles, and even a Pufferfish that blows up an even bigger area when he huffs and puffs. There are also Bonuses that can be used once filled or purchased such as a Trident that removes all of the same tiles as matched with, a Hammer to take out a specific tile or Fishy Twins that swap any 2 tiles. Eventually, you will unlock Bonuses that can be used at the start of each level.
A few features I didn't like was that after each level it takes forever because you have to wait as all unused bonuses explode and then all remaining moves added to the board. If I had the option to just click the board to end all that and quickly move on, would be a nice touch. I also didn't like that you had to pay 75 precious gems to add +5 moves to the board which seems a bit steep and that you can't replay levels whenever you want. Finally, I don't like that as you progress, it seems that the only way you can beat levels is to create and combine bonuses that wipe out the entire board. I actually like to try to beat levels without using power-ups and bonuses when possible.
As I said earlier, these are just my personal preferences in a Match 3 game. It's a well developed Match 3 game and the developers deserve a lot of credit for their talents.
I recommend this game!
Travel Mosaics is the perfect puzzle game for intrepid armchair travelers who like challenges and want a quality gaming experience.
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 38 found this review helpful
THIS IS A "JUST ONE MORE LEVEL" KIND OF GAME
PostedNovember 12, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Travel Mosaics has done it again, bringing another fantastic Griddler Mosaic to the table. This is one of those addicting games where you find yourself saying, just one more level, it's hard to stop playing! I didn't realize that on the last game, JetDogs added 4 other options to chose how the crossed off number cells would look, which was my only complaint, and for that, I apologize to JetDogs, and those who read my review :(
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 Souvenirs 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) 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) n/a
by: JetDogs Studios
I recommend this game!
A powerful artifact is stolen, threatening to shatter time itself.
Overall rating
2
/
5
55 of 62 found this review helpful
THEY STEAL YOUR LIFE BEAT BY BEAT AND SCENE BY SCENE TOO
PostedNovember 11, 2018
pennmom36
fromGood ole Vox, Haunted Legends wouldn't be the same without that cuddly little instigator, right? lol
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Inbetween Land
(84)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played the entire main game and some of the Bonus Chapter but the plot just isn't exciting and at times it's just downright boring. One feature in particular that I found annoying was that you had to pick up so many inventory items that all you're doing is constantly clicking arrows to scroll through the inventory items to find something you need or see if you have something usable.
This is a puzzle-heavy game and the HO scenes are rather on the dark side. The Collector's Edition version has a Morphing Object in each scene which converts to coins to allow you to restore sections of the Castle Entrance. The CE Bonus Chapter is about an evil entity that is accidentally released when Patrick, a young alchemist in training, performs a ritual in an attempt to heal his father Moruan. You play the role of Albert, Patrick's friend and one of Moruan's best alchemy students. There are 8 remaining Morphs in the CE BC, 13 Mini-Games and 5 HOP's remaining. Here is a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The good detective has chosen to come out of retirement to work for "He who was killed but didn't die" after the discovering that a precious ancient artifact had been stolen. The Hourglass of Time wields tremendous power and is capable of stealing an individuals life, beat by beat. Fearing the temptation to immense for a single individual to guard, a Secret Order was formed (well it's not a secret now!) and the founding guards are now being controlled by the thief. Can you solve the riddles of the Keepers to catch the thief within?
Great concept, poor execution. The graphics are dark, dreary and void of color. The storyline could have been so much better had they not revealed the culprit by the third scene, and the tasks at hand were just plain boring. There was no sense of urgency and everything was predictable. There are spelling & grammar issues all over the place such as "I want became a Keeper" and the game froze up every time I tried to play the Match 3 barrel game. I ended up having to skip the puzzle which also means I'm unable to earn 2 of the achievements!
The Hidden Object Scenes have objects that are super easy to spot and there are a ton of Zoom Zone HO's. There are Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds Fragmented finds, Matching Pair finds, Silhouetted Shape finds. One of the HO scenes requires you to find the object that matches a circular tile swatch, some of the swatches in no way, shape, or form even came close to the actual object!
The Hidden Object Scenes have objects that are super easy to spot and there are a ton of Zoom Zone HO's. There are Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds Fragmented finds, Matching Pair finds, Silhouetted Shape finds. One of the HO scenes requires you to find the object that matches a circular tile swatch, some of the swatches in no way, shape, or form even came close to the actual object!
Mini-Games are puzzles rehashed from their previous games and are fairly easy to solve with uncomplicated instructions. Below is a brief description of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Push all tiles in, selecting 1 tile may affect other tiles.
2-Align the silhouetted shapes onto their matching grate sections.
3-Use directional arrows to locate 3 symbol sections shown as a clue.
4-Use directional arrows to locate & draw a line between 2 symbol sections.
5-Rotate ring sections to complete the rose image.
6-Navigate through the city streets to find a way out.
7-Drag a line of at least 3 matching colored barrels to remove all of them.
8-Find matching pairs of symbols on the statue.
9-Activate the symbols in the right order as shown on the clue.
10-Click puzzle sections to change them according to the clue.
11-Rote 3 key sections to match the key slot.
12-Select 2 tiles at a time to uncover matching images.
13-Place fragments onto their silhouetted shape slots.
14-Select 2 tiles to uncover images, tiles move w/ each wrong selection.
15-Swap books so their symbols combined match the center symbol.
16-Guide the latch through every point only once.
2-Align the silhouetted shapes onto their matching grate sections.
3-Use directional arrows to locate 3 symbol sections shown as a clue.
4-Use directional arrows to locate & draw a line between 2 symbol sections.
5-Rotate ring sections to complete the rose image.
6-Navigate through the city streets to find a way out.
7-Drag a line of at least 3 matching colored barrels to remove all of them.
8-Find matching pairs of symbols on the statue.
9-Activate the symbols in the right order as shown on the clue.
10-Click puzzle sections to change them according to the clue.
11-Rote 3 key sections to match the key slot.
12-Select 2 tiles at a time to uncover matching images.
13-Place fragments onto their silhouetted shape slots.
14-Select 2 tiles to uncover images, tiles move w/ each wrong selection.
15-Swap books so their symbols combined match the center symbol.
16-Guide the latch through every point only once.
The Collector's Edition version has 9 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art pictures, 7 Screensavers, 7 Movie Video Cutscenes, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 re-playable Mini-Games, 10 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 18 Achievements to earn, 26 Morphing Objects (1 in each scene which converts to coins to restore the Castle entrance) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide.
HAUNTED LEGENDS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Queen of Spades (January 14-2010) 4.1
2-The Bronze Horseman (October 7-2011) 3.8
3-The Undertaker (December 28-2012) 4.1
4-The Curse of Vox (July 19-2013) 3.9
5-The Stone Guest (December 14-2014) 3.3
6-The Dark Wishes (June 5-2015) 3.9
7-The Secret of Life (December 4-2015) 4.4
8-The Iron Mask (July 29-2016) 3.9
9-Faulty Creatures (January 1-2017) 3.0
10-The Black Hawk (April 7-2017) 3.3
11-The Cursed Gift (September 22-2017) 4.2
12-Monstrous Alchemy (April 22-2018) 3.7
13-Twisted Fate (November 11-2018) n/a
2-The Bronze Horseman (October 7-2011) 3.8
3-The Undertaker (December 28-2012) 4.1
4-The Curse of Vox (July 19-2013) 3.9
5-The Stone Guest (December 14-2014) 3.3
6-The Dark Wishes (June 5-2015) 3.9
7-The Secret of Life (December 4-2015) 4.4
8-The Iron Mask (July 29-2016) 3.9
9-Faulty Creatures (January 1-2017) 3.0
10-The Black Hawk (April 7-2017) 3.3
11-The Cursed Gift (September 22-2017) 4.2
12-Monstrous Alchemy (April 22-2018) 3.7
13-Twisted Fate (November 11-2018) n/a
by: Amax Interactive
I don't recommend this game.
Can you disrupt a dangerous plot against the crown?
Overall rating
4
/
5
100 of 127 found this review helpful
IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING! Well, most of the time, until you get offed, then IT'S GOOD TO BE THE QUEEN, well...
PostedNovember 10, 2018
pennmom36
fromInteresting statistics: Out of 1,513 monarchs in 45 European monarchies over the period 600 to 1800 AD, 22% of Royal deaths were considered accidental, or occurred during battle but only 15% of the Royal Deaths were the result of Regicide!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
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 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.
Why only 4 Stars you may ask? I just wasn't as blown away by the storyline as I was in the first game, and because I wish Captain Louis had made a comeback. (and possibly because I played as a male character this time and didn't feel as much of a personal connection?) Each scene in this Collector's Edition version has a Morphing Object that not only morphs at a nice pace but doesn't morph to an object that sticks out like a sore thumb. For every 5 Morphs you find, a Jigsaw Puzzle is unlocked, but they are simplistic, large sized pieces and not that many of them. I would rather only unlock one puzzle that had some options such as having a large number of pieces (24-500 or even more) rotatable pieces and the ability to save it as a wallpaper and to be able to assemble it more than once. When you find the Morph, the icon will turn to a blue gem to remind you that you found it already, a feature I do like. There are also Collectible Royal Objects that unlock Hidden Object Scenes, and there is a pull-down tab at the top of the screen that will have a checkmark once you find the item.
The Hidden Object Scenes are plentiful in this long-awaited Secrets of Great Queens edition by 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. 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 are not bad, but some of them have hard to understand instructions 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, and I 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.
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.
This Collector's Edition version has 13 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art Pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 16 Achievements to earn, 30 Morphing Objects that unlock a new Jigsaw Puzzle for every 5 Morphs found, 19 Collectible Royal Objects, 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, enjoy the Royal Adventure.
SECRETS OF GREAT QUEENS SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Old Tower (November 3-2016) 4.2
2-Regicide (November 10-2018) n/a
2-Regicide (November 10-2018) n/a
by: Vendel Games
I recommend this game!
When your world and the supernatural realm collide, can you survive?
Overall rating
4
/
5
53 of 66 found this review helpful
THINK OF IT AS A HALLOWEEN THEMED GAME 11 MONTHS EARLY INSTEAD OF A MONTH LATE
PostedNovember 9, 2018
pennmom36
fromPerhaps we should burn this book, in this case I agree with book-burning!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I still really love this game, I just prefer the Collector's Edition version because I love Morphing Objects and sometimes the Collectibles if there is an option to stop the cursor from changing to a hand over them. Most of the time collectibles are located within zoom zones and the zoom zone doesn't close up if you haven't clicked on the available item, so if devs would just put them in the scenes themselves it would be so much better, and more challenging!
I try to show the differences between the two versions, CE & SE, but I don't know what details people want to hear about so I just go with the major key details. The CE version has 24 Morphing Objects, 7 of which are located in the Bonus Chapter. The CE version also has 32 Newspaper Fragments, 8 of which are in the BC which will complete the 4th Newspaper Article. The CE also has 12 Collectible spooky Character Figurines, 3 of which are in the BC. The BC takes place directly after, timeframe wise and little sister disappears once more. Here's a recap of my review from the CE version:
Nobody knows for certain if Delilah was the culprit responsible for those missing children all those years ago, but the townsfolk needed answers, they needed a guilty party to end their suffering. In a fit of rage, they chased her to the point of no return, a horrific and tragic death that would not go without punishment. Some say Delilah returns every few years to steal the children of those who wronged her all those years ago, but that's just another urban legend... or is it?
I know that many of you are not fans of this creepy genre, but Elephant Games is obviously pushing the envelope to see how far they can go with a psychological thriller. This is what I want, this is exactly the kind of storyline I crave, so please, please, please let them run with it, let them continue to push the envelope even further! HOPA games and HOPA players have evolved, and many of us are no longer content with the same old watered-down storylines of HOPA PAST, we want to be creeped out, we want to be frightened from the comforts of our computer chairs, we want more, we want what Elephant is giving us. Elephant Games-this genre is your niche-run with it!
The Black Book is actually a Gadget in the game, but it's not used that often and it's not your usual gadget or helper scenario. When the Book has a blue aura around it, you select the book to tear out a clue and place onto the scene indicated. It will show you how to play a game or what item is needed to overcome an obstacle. In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a Morphing Object and there are Newspaper Fragments to collect that completes a picture in 4 different Newspaper articles about strange phenomena. Twelve of the scenes have a collectible statue that's Halloween related such as a witch, zombie or vampire. The graphics are amazingly realistic and the "horror" scenes are absolutely credible, I don't know what's going on lately, but Elephant Games is on fire! It's clear to see that the team has been rejuvenated and are trying very hard to create top-notched games.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly Listed Item finds with a few interactions required, but this is the old school style I prefer. Don't let the simplistic nature fool you though, because at the end of each scene, after finding all the items a sentence at a time appears saying "open the window" find door # 21, take the diamond, I found this feature alone a very interesting concept that wasn't as easy as you may think. The items are cleverly hidden, and there are a ton of Zoom Zone Hidden Object Scenes. Some have Silhouetted Shape finds and most combine a mixture of both. I particularly enjoyed the mannequin scene, as you click on a mannequin that has the item, they turn around to show themselves, and someone has a vivid imagination!
The Mini-Games are varied in difficulty levels, some are far too easy, some are standard favorites, and some are mind-bending, with just a dash of "selecting one affects others" (ps: I really hate those) I like that the mini-games slowly progress in difficulty, but they still throw in a relaxing "I've got this" quickie now and then. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo and a few worth mentioning afterward:
1-Paint by numbers that appear and disappear in groups.
2-Select columns & scroll until you've spelled the clue word.
3-Click a ball when an opening appears to navigate the maze.
4-Swap tiles to complete the image.
5-Select arrows to slide the bat into the slot using bumpers.
6-Rotate the board & slide gems into their slots simultaneously.
7-Use directional arrows to move colored tiles into matching columns.
8-Guide the ball thru the maze using directional arrows.
9-Rotate & place map fragments correctly.
10-Rotate 2 discs and attach color matching gear sections.
11-Turn all tiles silver, clicking 1 tile moves adjacent tiles. (nemesis)
12-Click 2 bats at a time to find hidden matching symbols.
13-Click to stop each disc ring when they align.
14-Align 3 matching disc sections using empty spaces.
15-Swap identical puzzle pieces to complete the portrait.
16-Slide all symbols to their matching colored slots.
2-Select columns & scroll until you've spelled the clue word.
3-Click a ball when an opening appears to navigate the maze.
4-Swap tiles to complete the image.
5-Select arrows to slide the bat into the slot using bumpers.
6-Rotate the board & slide gems into their slots simultaneously.
7-Use directional arrows to move colored tiles into matching columns.
8-Guide the ball thru the maze using directional arrows.
9-Rotate & place map fragments correctly.
10-Rotate 2 discs and attach color matching gear sections.
11-Turn all tiles silver, clicking 1 tile moves adjacent tiles. (nemesis)
12-Click 2 bats at a time to find hidden matching symbols.
13-Click to stop each disc ring when they align.
14-Align 3 matching disc sections using empty spaces.
15-Swap identical puzzle pieces to complete the portrait.
16-Slide all symbols to their matching colored slots.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 21 Achievements to earn, 32 Fragmented Newspaper Articles, 4 Completed Newspaper Articles (8 Fragments required for each) 24 Morphing Objects, 12 Collectible Halloween Characters (vampire, zombie etc.) A Secret Room with 14 Re-playable Mini-Games and 16 Re-playable Hidden Object Scenes (can only be accessed after completing the BC a feature I don't agree with because sometimes the BC is downright boring) 3 Main Chapters (don't let that fool you, they are lengthy chapters & the BC is even longer) +Bonus Chapter (sequel of returning to the Halloween Nightmare..curse that black book!) and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy the Halloween Nightmare!
HALLOWEEN STORIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Invitation (October 31-2017) 3.7
2-Black Book (November 9-2018) n/a
2-Black Book (November 9-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I recommend this game!
Munich’s Oktoberfest hides a dark secret – werewolves are afoot!
Overall rating
4
/
5
80 of 102 found this review helpful
BET MUNICH HAS A LOT OF ISSUES DURING A FULL MOON
PostedNovember 8, 2018
pennmom36
fromScientists announced recently that they have created the first successful human-animal hybrids, proving that human cells can survive in a non-human organism and even grow inside a host animal in an attempt to create donor organs!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose Collector's Edition
(49)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
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 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 and 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 and it was fun, the Evidence scenario wasn't!
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! There are 42 Morphing Objects and each scene (in the CE) 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 this Collector's Edition 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've would have purchased those last few games with that feature 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.
This 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***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-London (November 29-2017) 4.4
2-Munich (November 8-2018) n/a
2-Munich (November 8-2018) n/a
by: 4Friends Games
I recommend this game!
Help the Walker family clear through the clutter and find the necessary equipment to create the perfect children’s playground.
Overall rating
1
/
5
28 of 35 found this review helpful
WAY TOO EASY AND HONESTLY, KIND OF BORING
PostedNovember 7, 2018
pennmom36
fromI slid down the Walker Family's Playground slide, but didn't have the energy to climb back up the ladder!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Let me start by saying that I love Clutter style games, but this was the first one that I could care less about purchasing. I played the first 7 Clutter levels and the 8th Puzzle level before going to work this morning and I realize that I could care less about finishing the demo much less buying it. This game is by the same devs who offer Travel Mosaics, and it has the same animal characters, the Walker family, as well. The graphics are just okay, and I wasn't really thrilled with the music either.
This is a Timed Mode game with no other difficulty mode setting such as Relaxed or Challenge modes. You will earn points as you play, 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, Same Size Matches, Both Halves of each object, finding triple matches by dragging items from a single pile, or a newbie for me, the Same Colored object, which btw was neon yellows, blues, greens, and pink! I'm sure there are other types as you progress but I just don't have the desire to stick around to find out.
The reasons I found it so boring was because all of the objects were really big and easy to spot. 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 (other than the neon colored levels) and there are so many available matches such as 8 bongo drums, 10 computers, 6 Desks, 8 pairs of glasses, this made the game far too easy and because of the ease, it becomes plain ole boring.
I don't recommend this game.
Some evils are too sinister to keep contained for long...
Overall rating
2
/
5
25 of 32 found this review helpful
THIS STANDARD EDITION ISN'T TINGLING MY SPINE EITHER
PostedNovember 6, 2018
pennmom36
fromCan we do away with statues that can not only move, but reason as well and hold objects for ransome until you offer it something in exchange?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Inbetween Land
(84)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I've tried unsuccessfully to finish this game for three days now and it just isn't tingling my spine as the synopsis states. I did, however, manage to dredge through 3 of the four chapters, but I was bored to death. The mini-games aren't very exciting, and I felt like I was stealing money to pay a shady vendor for goods that were more than likely stolen. I was asked to help sort fish by a kind old man a couple of times and both times I found coins laying around as I did my "good deed." Did I say, "here, I found these coins while I was helping you?" No! I just pocketed the coins and rushed over to the shady vendor's cart right beside the kind old man's fish cart to buy an item that he probably stole from the kind old man in the first place!
I always have to adjust my screen resolution to play an Amax game, and then re-adjust it when I'm finished which is really annoying. I don't have to jump through these hoops for any game by ANY other developer. I have a 27" iMac Pro screen and if I don't adjust my resolution the sides of the game are too stretched and I can't see or access anything on the sides. I can barely see the "options" icons and I can't click nor see objects that are located on the sides in the HOP's. If I try to play in the Windowed mode, the window is about the size of an index card! I've talked with others who've had this issue when they have larger monitors, yet Amax refuses to make a minor adjustment to accommodate our screens. I say this because perhaps if I weren't so annoyed with this process, perhaps I'd enjoy their games more?
There are a couple of features that I actually liked, such as the Icons that tell you if there is a Morphing Rose or a Collectible Amulet in the Collector's Edition version for each scene, it even tells you if there isn't one in that particular scene. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
David and Zyrtec (or is it Allegra?) Campari are collectors of Protective Amulets and Artifacts. David was elated to finally add The Black Cube to his museum's collection, but his interpretation of the Cube's powers was vastly different than that of Nasacort's. Blinded by a burning desire to possess the elusive Black Cube, David chose to believe that the Cube was nothing more than a benevolent amulet. The Campari's are now in grave danger from those sworn to protect the Cube, and even graver danger from the Cube itself...should've listened to Clariton, turns out she was right! Can the good Detective save Flonase from the evil within the Cube, or will evil prevail?
The Hidden Object Scenes are okay, but the objects tend to be a bit on the small side which is the only reason they are even remotely challenging. One HO scene requires finding items that match circular swatches and I found that some of the colors were nowhere close to the samples being shown, and I have an amazing graphics card! I did enjoy a Matching Protective Charms Pair scene, as you selected a Charm that matched the Silhouetted Shape you could read a short description of the charm's "powers" There are also several Interactive List finds available throughout the game, but no alternative puzzle offered.
The Hidden Object Scenes are okay, but the objects tend to be a bit on the small side which is the only reason they are even remotely challenging. One HO scene requires finding items that match circular swatches and I found that some of the colors were nowhere close to the samples being shown, and I have an amazing graphics card! I did enjoy a Matching Protective Charms Pair scene, as you selected a Charm that matched the Silhouetted Shape you could read a short description of the charm's "powers" There are also several Interactive List finds available throughout the game, but no alternative puzzle offered.
I did enjoy a small percentage of the puzzles and Mini-Games offered and I will admit that Amax does a nice job of offering a variety of puzzles and a nice ratio of puzzles to hidden object scenes, but I found most of them to be rather dull and uninteresting. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo which I believe sets the stage so to speak of what can be expected:
1-Swap fan sections to complete the image.
2-Select all matching symbols on the cube to remove them.
-Hard Mode: select spaces to reveal hidden symbols.
3-Follow the vines and select the end of each one being held.
4-Remove all symbols by tracing lines without crossing twice.
5-Use directional arrows to place tokens based on the clue.
6-Swap identical shaped puzzle pieces to restore the image.
7-Avoid obstacles by choosing numbered directional signs to move the horse.
8-Turn over 2 cards that match each card shown.
9-Select the cloud with the evil spirit after the shuffle x3.
10-Select Symbols in the order shown on the clue.
11-Repeat the sequence of statue heads that light up.
12-Find matching pairs or roses when they opened.
13-Swap tokens to their correct spots based on adjacent images.
2-Select all matching symbols on the cube to remove them.
-Hard Mode: select spaces to reveal hidden symbols.
3-Follow the vines and select the end of each one being held.
4-Remove all symbols by tracing lines without crossing twice.
5-Use directional arrows to place tokens based on the clue.
6-Swap identical shaped puzzle pieces to restore the image.
7-Avoid obstacles by choosing numbered directional signs to move the horse.
8-Turn over 2 cards that match each card shown.
9-Select the cloud with the evil spirit after the shuffle x3.
10-Select Symbols in the order shown on the clue.
11-Repeat the sequence of statue heads that light up.
12-Find matching pairs or roses when they opened.
13-Swap tokens to their correct spots based on adjacent images.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 18 replayable Movie Cutscenes, 12 Achievements to earn, 16 re-playable Mini-Games, 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Collectible Protective Amulets (with descriptions & origins) 18 Morphing Roses, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (sequel) and a built-in Strategy Guide.
GRIM FACADE SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Mystery of Venice (July 22-2011) 4.0
2-Sinister Obsession (August 3-2012) 3.2
3-Cost of Jealousy (March 29-2013) 4.0
4-A Wealth of Betrayal (May 23-2014) 4.0
5-The Artist and the Pretender (October 17-2014) 3.8
6-Hidden Sins (July 17-2015) 4.1
7-Monster in Disguise (June 17-2016) 2.9
8-The Red Cat (November 20-2016) 4.3
9-A Deadly Dowry (October 22-2017) 2.8
10-The Message (January 26-2018) 2.3
11-Broken Sacrament (May 11-2018) 3.4
12-The Black Cube (November 14-2018) n/a
2-Sinister Obsession (August 3-2012) 3.2
3-Cost of Jealousy (March 29-2013) 4.0
4-A Wealth of Betrayal (May 23-2014) 4.0
5-The Artist and the Pretender (October 17-2014) 3.8
6-Hidden Sins (July 17-2015) 4.1
7-Monster in Disguise (June 17-2016) 2.9
8-The Red Cat (November 20-2016) 4.3
9-A Deadly Dowry (October 22-2017) 2.8
10-The Message (January 26-2018) 2.3
11-Broken Sacrament (May 11-2018) 3.4
12-The Black Cube (November 14-2018) n/a
by: Amax Interactive
I don't recommend this game.