pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4726
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you and your beloved escape a mad composer in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 29 found this review helpful
I LIKE THE CE VERSION BETTER BECAUSE IT HAS A TON OF BLING
PostedAugust 26, 2018
pennmom36
fromThat's a lot of Blurple!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Domini has done a really nice job with the storyline on this episode of a loosely translated version of Phantom of the Opera. I'm still not a fan of the heavy blurple colors they feel the need to include on all of their games, I get that they think it adds to the glamor of a fantasy, but I'd much rather have vivid color contrasts than to have blurples with splashes of green. I also think they tried a little too hard to add "bad ghost vibes" having a restless spirit causing mischievous problems would be much more credible than a giant hand shooting up through the floor, did one of the beautiful and talented performers suddenly grow a 10' hand when she became angered or was one of the performers a giant from Jack's beanstalk?
If you like collectibles, a strongly suggest you opt for the CE version because there are a lot of different collectibles available, journal notes, posters, theater props, and crystals that allow you to purchase dressing room items. Each collectible has an icon that alerts you to which item is available, or you can disable this feature in the custom setting mode. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
A Performance To Die For is a Domini adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, originally a series of articles published, followed by a novel in 1911, which incredibly, wasn't popular and went out of print. The character is based upon a real person and a real tragedy. The Phantom of the Opera was a man named Erik who helped to construct the Opera and was given his own Box #5. He was rejected by one of the singers at the opera which resulted in his suicide. From his personal box, he fell hopelessly in love, surely convincing himself that she noticed him as well and that the love was mutual. He certainly must have felt that he was as much a part of her life, as she was his, as he watched her amazing performances day after day, it truly was A Performance To Die For!
Where's the Dark Romance? Isn't the Phantom of the Opera supposed to be about a bashful man with no self-esteem because he was born with a facial deformity? Doesn't he fall hopelessly in love with a beautiful performer? Doesn't he take his own life because surely the Beauty could never fall in love with a Beast? Instead, you play duo roles as the fiance & fiancee, and the Phantom is a greedy, soul-stealing man who doesn't love any of these women, they are all just victims of a cruel psychopath. Oh well, maybe I should write these stories lol, any takers?
As usual, Dark Romance is one of the few games that has the feature of playing the game with a split personality, actually as playing the game from both character perspectives, as Christine Burns, the singer who has just gotten engaged, and as fiance Raul Delacroix. Fortunately, that's the only gadget, and it's a good gadget to have! There are Opera Posters and Theater Props to collect as well as not so hidden Crystals to find which allows you to virtually buy virtual items for your virtual dressing room. This game has 6 fairly long chapters and the Bonus Chapter is even longer, so you do get your money's worth from this game. I felt the game presented no real challenge, which kept me from "loving" this game, this is what I call a TO-DO kind of game, when you can finish the demo without pausing to think about what TO-DO, where TO-DO it, or how TO-DO it, you can pretty much count on being able TO-DO everything easily throughout the game.
The Hidden Object Scenes are a bit scarce, and unfortunately, they aren't very impressive. In the demo, there are only a few, the first was a multi-layered scene with Silhouetted Shape finds and an Interactive Listed item find, followed by a Reversed HO scene where you had to take items from the inventory bar and place them into the scene where they logically fit, which were super obvious and not very challenging. You can opt to play a Match 3 Game if you're not thrilled with the HOP's.
I like the fact that Domini always gives you two difficulty mode options on their Mini-Games, Easy and Hard, but wouldn't it be really cool if you could play the game in both modes? I'd love to be able to solve the game on the Easy Mode, and then turn around and complete the same game on the hard mode if I so desired. I realize the CE version offers re-playable mini-games, but not all of them are offered, and you don't have that option in this SE version, so it would be really cool to have that option available. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Move 4 puzzle pieces to the center in the correct order.
2-Guide a ball through the symbol w/o touching the sides.
3-Use the magnifying glass to locate the numbers shown.
4-Untangle the ghostly chains.
5-Light all handcuff components, one may affect others.
6-Swap tiles to complete image, select the knob to change positions.
7-Swap and rotate tiles to complete the image.
8-Apply make-up to match the mirror's reflection.
9-Flip 2 tiles at a time to find matching pairs.
10-Restore the image by selecting a central tile on a disc to rotate the tiles.
2-Guide a ball through the symbol w/o touching the sides.
3-Use the magnifying glass to locate the numbers shown.
4-Untangle the ghostly chains.
5-Light all handcuff components, one may affect others.
6-Swap tiles to complete image, select the knob to change positions.
7-Swap and rotate tiles to complete the image.
8-Apply make-up to match the mirror's reflection.
9-Flip 2 tiles at a time to find matching pairs.
10-Restore the image by selecting a central tile on a disc to rotate the tiles.
The Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 42 Movie Cutscene Videos, 18 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 24 re-playable Mini-Games, 36 Achievements to earn, Missing Journal Notes to discover, 15 Opera Posters and 15 Theater Props to collect, 15 Dressing Room items to buy with 48 collectible Crystals (note: you can opt to disable the "extra indicator icons" in the Custom Setting Mode, otherwise, icons will glow when a collectible is available in that scene or zoom zone) 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (very long BC!)
DARK ROMANCE SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Vampire in Love (March 9-2014) 3.7
2-Heart of the Beast (May 22-2015) 4.0
3-The Swan Sonata (November 15-2015) 3.8
4-Kingdom of Death (May 20-2016) 4.0
5-Curse of Bluebeard (November 11-2016) 4.4
6-Romeo and Juliet (March 26-2017) 4.4
7-The Monster Within (October 6-2017) 3.3
8-Winter Lily (February 16-2018) 4.2
9- 9-A Performance to Die For (August 24-2018) n/a)
2-Heart of the Beast (May 22-2015) 4.0
3-The Swan Sonata (November 15-2015) 3.8
4-Kingdom of Death (May 20-2016) 4.0
5-Curse of Bluebeard (November 11-2016) 4.4
6-Romeo and Juliet (March 26-2017) 4.4
7-The Monster Within (October 6-2017) 3.3
8-Winter Lily (February 16-2018) 4.2
9- 9-A Performance to Die For (August 24-2018) n/a)
by: Domini Games
I recommend this game!
Your brother’s invention has made contact with aliens. Help him defeat an intergalactic invasion before the Earth is destroyed.
Overall rating
4
/
5
69 of 86 found this review helpful
CAN WE GET A FEW MORE ALIENS?
PostedAugust 25, 2018
pennmom36
fromThe Black Death was the deadliest contagion in history, spread by a bacillus called Yersina pestis killing over 20 million people. It also affected Cows, Goats, Pigs & Sheep causing a wool shortage. Some claim Ring Around the Rosie was about the plague.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
We are not alone in this universe, but are we ready for the truth? The truth is, our galaxy is plagued by a destructive force called The Contagion. A deadly contagion that destroys entire worlds, a contagion that's heading towards Earth! There's only one thing that can save the Earth from total annihilation, your twin brother Reggie... but he was abducted many years ago!
Another game, another gadget! At least this gadget seems more credible than a seashell used to talk to the elements. I think I'd find it less credible if I WERE able to communicate with an alien species without some type of technology, so I'll give this gadget a pass. Other than puzzles that are too simplistic and HO's that are unimpressive, the only complaint I have is that for an alien-themed game, there aren't very many aliens??? I want to catch glimpses of little grey aliens scurrying through the cornfields, I want to walk down the sidewalk looking into passer-by's eyes to see if they turn into lizard eyes when they blink, or just a black void of soullessness. Yes, I do watch too much sci-fi!
The Mini-Games are good but there's nothing particularly impressive and certainly nothing exciting enough to write home about. They are varied with Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds that uncover fragments, Keywords in Sentence finds and Returning Misplaced Items into the scene. Each Hidden Object Scene has a Morphing Object to find, and you can pick up Morphs you may have missed by re-playing the HOS in the CE extra's section. You can also earn up to 3 stars and improve accuracy.
The Mini-Games are very easy-breezy and offer very little challenge which is really a shame. I did, however, like the fact that most of the puzzles were theme related. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Place torn photo fragments into the highlighted spaces x2.
2-Rotate the rings to match constellations shown x3.
3-Swap planets to their matching highlighted orbit slots.
4-Click through symbols until they match the symbol on the base x4.
5-Click on symbols from the least intricate to the most complex.
6-Swap tiles to connect identical symbols and paths.
7-Click on lights until they all turn green.
8-Click on the elliptic symbols on the glass to open the container.
2-Rotate the rings to match constellations shown x3.
3-Swap planets to their matching highlighted orbit slots.
4-Click through symbols until they match the symbol on the base x4.
5-Click on symbols from the least intricate to the most complex.
6-Swap tiles to connect identical symbols and paths.
7-Click on lights until they all turn green.
8-Click on the elliptic symbols on the glass to open the container.
This Collector's Edition has 4 Wallpapers, 3 Concept Art pictures with before/after slider bar, 12 Cover pictures (4 from each titled game) 36 Profile Icon pictures (characters) 10 Music Soundtracks, 9 Achievements to earn (some with 3 categories) 19 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes (with the ability to pick up HO Morphs) 29 Treasure Hunt Item Scenes,48 Morphing Objects (19 Hidden Object Scene Morphs-29 Location Morphs) 29 Hidden Galaxy Icons, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy being Contagion free!
BEYOND SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Light Advent (July 26-2015) 4.5
2-Star Descendant (November 19-2016) 4.4
3-The Fading Signal (August 25-2018) n/a
2-Star Descendant (November 19-2016) 4.4
3-The Fading Signal (August 25-2018) n/a
by: Mad Head Games
I recommend this game!
Stop an evil dragon from plunging the Empire into darkness!
Overall rating
3
/
5
100 of 132 found this review helpful
I WENT FROM SLAYING KINGS TO SLAYING DRAGONS IN 5 DAYS!
PostedAugust 23, 2018
pennmom36
fromDragons of ancient cultures-Greeks=Chimeras, China-3 species worshiped, Celts-believed they existed in the afterlife, Brits-oranges give dragon-slayer abilities, Japan-water dieties, Iceland-viking ships w/ a dragon on its prow, denied permission to port
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I never got around to playing the beta version of this game they sent me a while back, but I was really looking forward to its release because who doesn't love dragons? I guess I was expecting Game of Thrones, epic majestic type dragons, but instead, all I GOT was the same ole "evil-doer" awakens with centuries-old vendettas...oh no, who is brave enough to put the leash back on the unleashed? What's that in the distance you say? It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Super Healer! Armed with only a magical scepter and a huge bulky healers box she can save all of mankind from turning into trees, crystals and yes, even birds! Whew, I think I worked up a sweat on that one!
Here we go again, go go gadget machine! We have 2 gadgets to deal with, first, a Diagnostic Scepter to figure out the illness our patients' has, and then a Healer's kit to whip up a fresh batch of snake oil. Normally I loathe recipe type puzzles, but at least this game requires you to think about where to place the ingredients on the machine based upon logic. There are missing Journal and Diary notes, Dragon Statues and Dragon Eggs to collect in this CE version, and you can use the Eggs to purchase items in the Medico Imperium Laboratory/
The Hidden Object Scenes are bright and colorful, but rather unimpressive because the items aren't really hidden, it's just a matter of clicking on items out in the open. Most of the scenes are based upon brief stories but there are several Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiples of the same object finds and of course, smaller Zoom Zone scenes. You can opt for a Match 3 game, however, if you don't like HOP's.
The Mini-Games were just middle of the road average puzzles that are neither good nor bad. You can play the mini-games in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode which is a feature I really like. Because this game involves the use of a Healer's Kit you will repeat the Recipe puzzle throughout the game. To go along with the Healer's Kit, you also get a Diagnostic Sceptor to diagnose your patients' illness or disease, which also involves a mini-game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Rotate 4 tiles until they interlock correctly in the center.
2-Click to turn all red cells blue.
3-Watch then repeat the direction of eye movements.
4-Connect all of the neurons by clicking them.
5-Place all elements correctly according to the clues shown.
2-Click to turn all red cells blue.
3-Watch then repeat the direction of eye movements.
4-Connect all of the neurons by clicking them.
5-Place all elements correctly according to the clues shown.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 17 re-playable Mini-Games, 18 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 36 Achievements to earn, 15 Collectible Dragon Statues with descriptions, Missing Journal pages to find, 15 Pages of Patricia's Diary to find, 70 collectible Dragon Eggs to purchase items in the Medico Imperium Laboratory,5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide.
ENCHANTED KINGDOM SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-A Dark Seed (April 6-2017) 3.9
2-A Stranger's Venom (September 28-2017) 3.7
3-Fog of Rivershire (February 22-2018) 4.0
4-Fiend of Darkness (August 23-2018) n/a
2-A Stranger's Venom (September 28-2017) 3.7
3-Fog of Rivershire (February 22-2018) 4.0
4-Fiend of Darkness (August 23-2018) n/a
by: Domini Games
Guide Hika-Ri and Kao-Ri on the adventure of their lives and enjoy countless hours of time management fun on the enchanted island of Tapa-Tui!
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 35 found this review helpful
MOAI ARE FAMILY!
PostedAugust 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromsounds like a song, Moai, Moai, Moai, Mo-i
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
You can always count on Moai games to be top notch Time Management games. They are always entertaining, and I love the heartwarming stories as we follow the family through one adventure after another, watching the twins Hika-Ri and Kao-Ri from birth to all grown up and taking on more responsibilities. These games are strategy-based and can be somewhat challenging, so I would suggest one of the earlier versions if you're new to this type of game and it's a great way to get the full family storyline.
Moai graphics are always good, the tasks and goals are always interesting and because you have to use strategy, it makes the game really fun to play. You can play in Casual Mode which is untimed, or Normal Mode, and there are 45 Levels (20 CE Bonus Levels)
Each level has Treasure Chests available which contain valuable artifacts and bonuses such as the Sandals of Speed which give the Moai a little more speed to get the job done. There are several different Artifacts to earn that will help you progress, and they can be upgraded twice. The Artifacts are kept in your backpack and you can equip up to 6 items to apply before each level. These artifacts increase resources or productivity of food, stone, wood, gold, iron, or workers and some will decrease the time it takes to recharge. Potions can be crafted once you have collected the ingredients such as a Grain Grower Potion to grow grain faster, a Stone Dresser Potion to speed up quarry production, a Woodcutter Potion to increase sawmill productivity, a Blacksmith Potion to increase the speed of the forge, a Goldminer Potion to increase the speed of mining gold, or a Healing Potion to heal settlers near altars.
There are the standard Time Management tasks to remove obstructions and weeds from pathways, fill in holes along the paths, plant crops for food, harvesting breadfruits, fishing for food, building sawmills and cutting trees for wood, quarries to produce stone, gold mines to build, repair destroyed property, fix broken bridges, collect resources, trade goods at the market and from merchants. Some of the building sites give you the choice of which building to construct, and you'll have to build them strategically in order to complete level goals. (and sometimes build for a period of time and then destroy and build a different type) Trading items with merchants also have several options as well as quantities, which are super exciting, especially when playing in a Timed mode, it truly gets the adrenaline flowing!
Normally, my opinion is that a CE version of a Time Management game is a waste of money, however, this game is somewhat complicated, so I can see the benefit in having a built-in Strategy Guide. The SG in the CE version is actually quite thorough, and it gives a recap of the Goals in a suggestive form, telling you the amount of starting resources, and tips to help you strategize, and of course, step-by-step instructions for each level. I referred to the SG several times when I played the CE version, just to figure out the Haystacks and Signs feature that reveal fruit baskets.
The Collector's Edition version has 5 Wallpapers (which are actually vivid and colorful for a change) 10 Character Pictures with bios, 11 Music Soundtracks +Main Theme, 62 Achievements to earn, 45 Main Levels +20 Bonus Levels, and a built-in Strategy Guide. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either version, enjoy!
MOAI SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Build Your Dream SE only (June 24-2013) 4.3
2-Path To Another World SE only (May 5-2015) 3.7
3-Trade Mission (January 24-2016) 4.1
4-Terra Incognita (July 31-2016) 4.1
5-New Generation (January 12-2018) 3.5
6-Unexpected Guests (August 22-2018) n/a
2-Path To Another World SE only (May 5-2015) 3.7
3-Trade Mission (January 24-2016) 4.1
4-Terra Incognita (July 31-2016) 4.1
5-New Generation (January 12-2018) 3.5
6-Unexpected Guests (August 22-2018) n/a
by: Alawar Entertainment
I recommend this game!
The prince has been turned into a dragon and it’s up to you to reverse the damages in this fun match 3 adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 60 found this review helpful
I DRAGGED MY FEET ON PLAYING THIS GAME, BOY WAS THAT A MISTAKE!
PostedAugust 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromI almost passed on this little gem!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
When I saw the icon for this Match 3 game a few days ago, it wasn't very appealing so I was in no rush to play it. There have been so many cartoon-style Match 3 games being released by one dev in particular, that I thought it was just another version of their M3 games. Last night I was bored so I started playing it, and man was I wrong! Magnussoft has had a few good Match 3's lately, but Wizard's Quest has risen above all with stunning graphics, vibrant and interesting tiles with adorable frogs, purple and white toadstools, crystal balls, bright red apples etc. and with every new level, it seems they introduce an even better icon.
You can play the Swap type M3 in a Relaxed, Normal or Hard difficulty mode, and you can choose the graphics resolution and quality. I chose the Highest Quality setting and the graphics were amazingly crystal clear and detailed, which I'm sure won't be an option for some older computers because it may cause a slow performance. There are 3 Cursor styles to choose from as well.
There are 35 Achievements to earn, most of which have 3 categories within. In this particular M3 game, the achievements are a key component because you have to earn specific achievements to purchase items to build the Kingdom, which in turn allows you to progress. You also need to score a specific number of Points or Stars to purchase the upgrades of the Kingdom.
The goal for most levels is to clear all cells by making matches upon them, and I was pleasantly surprised that the cells were bright red, and some cells are triple-layered requiring 3 matches to remove them. There are a few levels that require you to collect a specific number of resources such as stone or diamonds, so those levels won't have cells to break through. If you break all the layered cells and complete the level within the time frame allotted, you will earn 3 Stars for a Perfect Score. You cannot replay the levels, what you get is what you get even if you don't earn a single star, however, I work around this scenario by keeping my eye on the Star Meter on the bottom left. If I lose a Star on the Meter, I just click the Pause button which pulls up a window that will allow you to replay the level. So if you're like me and have to play until you get all 3 stars, all you have to do is replay the level as soon as the star is deducted, but if you run out of time, this scenario won't work so keep your eye on the meter.
I have to give Magnussoft kudos for "out-of-the-box thinking" where the Obstacles are concerned, my favorite being the ooey, gooey, sticky, green Slime that covers some of the cells, it even looks like it's oozing out and dripping all over the cells beneath them! There are also cells that are flooded with water, tiles that are frozen beneath the ice etc, and it just fits this game to the tee. When you make matches of 4 or more tiles, Potions will appear on the board, the larger the match, the stronger the Potion, the bigger the explosion becomes. You will want to use these potions as often as you can because this will help you earn those ever-so-important achievements I mentioned earlier.
The bottom line here is that if you are looking for a fun Match 3 game with a different vibe, and has amazing and colorful graphics, then you really need to check this game out. I judged this game solely by the icon shown here on BF, which just goes to show you that you can't judge a good match 3 game by its cover icon!
I recommend this game!
The latest Travel Mosaics is here! Complete colorful nonogram puzzles and learn a lot of curious facts about Tokyo!
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 43 found this review helpful
CAN WE JUST CHANGE THE BLACK DOT CROSSED OFF NUMBERS TO SOMETHING LESS BUSY?
PostedAugust 21, 2018
pennmom36
fromIf the dots weren't so distracting, this would be a 5 star game for me!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
First of all, I'd like to thank JetDogs for another great mosaics game. I know they always read our reviews and try to tweak the features we like and dislike (not to mention that you could always count on them to answer our questions in the now abolished forums :( :( :(
With that being said, I would love it if they would just tweak the crossed-off cells feature. As it stands now when a cell is crossed-off, a black hole appears, making it very difficult to figure out where the free cells are still available. The dots would be fine or perhaps a simple X if they were just white or a slightly darker tan than the grid color, rather than stamping black holes all over the grid All those black dots make the grid look extremely busy and chaotic, in fact, I made 2 mistakes during the demo simply because I missed seeing an available free cell. (There is also a "Dark Background" grid available in the Setting options)
There are 4 Tile options to choose from, my favorite Bubble look, a Square with rounded corners, a Princess Cut Diamond shape, and a multi-faceted tile. You can play in an Easy mode which crosses off cells for you, 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. The music once again was rather loud and I found myself scrambling to turn it down as soon as the game loaded, but that's an easy fix.
As you fill in tiles, you will earn coins, 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. I believe the first Travel Mosaics game was this way, but the second one had bumped the star requirements up, so at least it's easier to obtain this way.
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) n/a
2-Travel Mosaics 2: Roman Holiday (May 13-2018) 3.4
3-Travel Mosaics 3: Tokyo Animated (August 21-2018) n/a
by: JetDogs Studios
I recommend this game!
Quadrium is back with a new and exciting mash-up of marble popper and match 3 challenges! Two words… Boss Battles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
70 of 75 found this review helpful
THEY'VE ADDED A FEW NEW FEATURES!
PostedAugust 20, 2018
pennmom36
fromMy PCC and I are so happy today!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I was super excited to see another Quadrium released today. I purchased the original and have played it for hours and hours, and it never gets old. I love games that are strategy based, and although this isn't a difficult game to play, you do have to think about each move carefully, otherwise, the board will fill up quickly.
If you haven't played games like this, it's pretty simple, you shoot the colored orbs located along the parameters at the same colored orbs inside the playing field until all of them have been destroyed. You can play in Relaxed Mode that only requires a Match 2, or Challenge Mode which requires at minimum a Match 3. There's no timer so you can take all the time in the world, however, the Bonuses that appear on random orbs will disappear after a few seconds.
OBSTRUCTIONS
*Locks-first match unlocks, the second match destroys.
*Fog-matching nearby clears the fog patches.
*Glass-direct blows to break the glass and expose orbs within.
*Portals-orbs will portal to another area.
*Arrows-redirects moving orbs.
*Hand- stops moving orbs.
*Wooden Crates-blocks tiles, direct hit destroys.
*Armored Crates-must be hit on unprotected side.
*Stone Walls-can only be destroyed with bonuses.
*Locks-first match unlocks, the second match destroys.
*Fog-matching nearby clears the fog patches.
*Glass-direct blows to break the glass and expose orbs within.
*Portals-orbs will portal to another area.
*Arrows-redirects moving orbs.
*Hand- stops moving orbs.
*Wooden Crates-blocks tiles, direct hit destroys.
*Armored Crates-must be hit on unprotected side.
*Stone Walls-can only be destroyed with bonuses.
BONUSES (tiles morph briefly)
*Explosives-include in a match to detonate the bomb.
*Rockets-hit with any tile to remove 3 random orbs.
*Lightning-destroys all of the same color orbs when matched.
*Bonus Bombs-transforms 4 orbs into bombs, places on outer edge.
*Mines-explode when hit with any colored orb
*Dynamite-explodes when hit with the same colored orb.
*Explosives-include in a match to detonate the bomb.
*Rockets-hit with any tile to remove 3 random orbs.
*Lightning-destroys all of the same color orbs when matched.
*Bonus Bombs-transforms 4 orbs into bombs, places on outer edge.
*Mines-explode when hit with any colored orb
*Dynamite-explodes when hit with the same colored orb.
ANTI-BONUSES (avoid!)
*Orb Anti-Bonus-when hit by any orb, randomly adds orbs to field.
*Lock Anti-Bonus-randomly places locks on orbs when hit.
*Orb Wall Anti-Bonus: activates a row of orbs to fall from the top.
*Orb Anti-Bonus-when hit by any orb, randomly adds orbs to field.
*Lock Anti-Bonus-randomly places locks on orbs when hit.
*Orb Wall Anti-Bonus: activates a row of orbs to fall from the top.
QUADRIUM SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Quadrium I (April 20-2018) 4.1
2-Quadrium II (August 20-2018) n/a
2-Quadrium II (August 20-2018) n/a
by FlashBurn Studios
I recommend this game!
Find the double agent in H.E.L.P. before it's too late!
Overall rating
2
/
5
86 of 95 found this review helpful
TRUST NO ONE!
PostedAugust 19, 2018
pennmom36
fromSam needs desk job!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I became so bored playing this game that it took me a whole day to finish playing the demo! For the first half of the demo, I spent the entire time running back and forth between scenes one and two, solving simplistic puzzles that apparently couldn't be solved by Dr. Zoey Right, one of H.E.L.P's best archaeologists! Once again Sam was just standing there, doing absolutely nothing, until once again, something happens to Sam. He is supposed to be the top dog at the agency but for the life of me, I can't understand why he got promoted a few games back because he gets foiled by the bad guy every time!?? If he doesn't get foiled, he gets hurt and becomes MIA. I was also completely surprised that the demo wrapped-up most of the storyline and revealed key features that would have made the plot more epic, had they not (you'll know what I mean when you get there)
Once again, the CE version bling consists of 36 Collectible Rune Symbols, one in each scene. Once again, the signs are large and in charge, even if you forget to look for them, you won't miss them because they stick out like a sore thumb. In their defense, it's a bit hard to hide a Mayan Rune symbol in a modern day junkyard scene or classic diner, but on the other hand, they could have used a little creativity and pulled it off. The CE version bling also includes a Morphing Object, yet, this dev has already abandoned the Morphs in each scene that they surprised us with, and once again, only included them within the HOS.
The Hidden Object Scenes are better than the mini-games in my opinion, and I really enjoyed the Progressive, Interactive HOP inside the toy shop. It was one of the most innovative HO's I've ever seen created by this particular dev and was somewhat challenging with out of the box thinking required. There are several Keyword find types, as well as Silhouetted Shaped item finds, and in the CE version, each HOS has a Morphing Object to find.
The Mini-Games are a bit scarce and not all that impressive, the HOS definitely outshined the puzzles on this game, which is something I rarely say nowadays. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Click & drag glyphs on the right to the partial glyphs on the left.
2-Move cross-hairs to each incoming ring and hold to navigate.
3-Merge tiles so the combined numbers equal the sum of 10.
4-Select a sequence of moves to navigate w/o getting caught.
5-Align road sections to navigate the car, stopping to get fuel.
6-Select directional arrows to rotate cogs to match the key shape.
2-Move cross-hairs to each incoming ring and hold to navigate.
3-Merge tiles so the combined numbers equal the sum of 10.
4-Select a sequence of moves to navigate w/o getting caught.
5-Align road sections to navigate the car, stopping to get fuel.
6-Select directional arrows to rotate cogs to match the key shape.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Videos, 16 re-playable Mini-Games, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 36 Hidden Rune Symbols, 16 Collectible Fact Cards, 12 Hidden Object Scene Morphing Objects, 24 Hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Piece Souvenirs in the Souvenir Room, 13 Achievements to earn, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide.
HIDDEN EXPEDITION SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Titanic SE only (July 22-2006) 3.6
2-Everest SE only (June 1-2007) 3.3
3-Amazon SE only (June 20-2008) 3.8
4-Devil's Triangle SE only (October 23-2009) 3.6
5-The Uncharted Islands (October 29-2011) 3.4
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (January 17-2014) *no longer available*
7-The Crown of Solomon (August 1-2014) 4.3
8-Smithsonian Castle (January 23-2015) *no longer available*
9-Dawn of Prosperity (September 25-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (February 5-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (July 1-2016) 3.7
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 30-2016) 4.0
13-The Lost Paradise (January 20-2017) 3.8
14-The Pearl of Discord (May 7-2017) 3.1
15-The Curse of Mithridates (November 26-2017) 4.3
16-The Golden Secret (March 11-2018) 3.7
17-The Altar of Lies (August 19-2018) n/a
2-Everest SE only (June 1-2007) 3.3
3-Amazon SE only (June 20-2008) 3.8
4-Devil's Triangle SE only (October 23-2009) 3.6
5-The Uncharted Islands (October 29-2011) 3.4
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (January 17-2014) *no longer available*
7-The Crown of Solomon (August 1-2014) 4.3
8-Smithsonian Castle (January 23-2015) *no longer available*
9-Dawn of Prosperity (September 25-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (February 5-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (July 1-2016) 3.7
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 30-2016) 4.0
13-The Lost Paradise (January 20-2017) 3.8
14-The Pearl of Discord (May 7-2017) 3.1
15-The Curse of Mithridates (November 26-2017) 4.3
16-The Golden Secret (March 11-2018) 3.7
17-The Altar of Lies (August 19-2018) n/a
by: Eipix Entertainment
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover a conspiracy against the king!
Overall rating
5
/
5
242 of 268 found this review helpful
HEAR YE, HERE YE! KINGSLAYER OR ROYAL COVER-UP?
PostedAugust 18, 2018
pennmom36
fromIn Medieval days, the Town Cryer actually shouted "Oyez, Oyez!" which means hear ye! This was a call for silence and attention so that important information could be heard by the townspeople, because most were illiterate.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
We've been framed I tell Ye! This is the story that takes place after the King interfered with the union of his son and his wife, a commoner not born or Royal Blood and certainly not worthy of his beloved son. The King lost everything that fateful day, he lost his only son, he lost his heir, he lost the opportunity for his Royal lineage to continue as it had for centuries. But this isn't a story about the King, this is a story about a Kingslayer...or perhaps a Royal Cover-up, but mostly, this is a story about rising to the occasion and honor.
This game has THE EXACT style of graphics I yearn for! Anyone can make a crystal blue sea on a tropical island look beautiful, but this dev has mastered the art of detail! I'm well aware of how hard it is to perfect graphics of this magnitude, especially when the time period has very few color contrast to work with. This is an area easily overlooked by most because we have become accustomed to large colorful graphics that don't really define anything, but our eye tells our brain, "look how beautiful those colors are" but try to count the stones on a building or look at the detail of the leaves on that tree...you can't, because they don't exist, until now!
I'm only about halfway through this 7 Chapter strong, amazing adventure to clear my name, and I love the story, I love the puzzles, I love the HOP's, and so far no gadgets! I have a tiny complaint, however. Each scene has a Morphing Royal Coin to collect, and the morph is fairly slow, but I wish the morph was slower and the Royal Coin was smaller to make it more challenging to find. Just a tad bit of tweaking perhaps on the sequel?
The Hidden Object Scenes are centered around objects you'd expect to see in the Medieval time period. I knew I was going to enjoy these HOP's from the very first Interactive, Progressive, Silhouetted Shape puzzle, which made me think about what I needed to do in order to progress (this doesn't happen often, I can usually find all items without looking at the list, NOT because I'm so good at them but because they are usually so easy) There are also Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds and HOP's that require you find Fragments within a storybook.
The Mini-Games are quite varied and I love that they are era true. I have enjoyed every puzzle thoroughly, even the repetitive "fight" games where you have to trace every line without retracing on 3 different and progressively difficult shapes. I love the puzzles that I have to strategize or think about, which is one of the reason's I enjoyed this game so much. Although I'm only halfway through the game, the games are still interesting. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Slide the symbol tokens to their matching slots.
2-Trace all lines between dots w/o crossing the same line twice. x3
3-Press pressure plates in the correct order, wrong order resets.
4-Place the portraits into matching slots, each picture pushes the others.
2-Trace all lines between dots w/o crossing the same line twice. x3
3-Press pressure plates in the correct order, wrong order resets.
4-Place the portraits into matching slots, each picture pushes the others.
This Collector's Edition version has 6 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Cutscenes, 14 re-playable Mini-Games, 11 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 18 Achievements to earn, 29 Morphing Royal Coins (+11 I believe are in the BC but due to the length of this game, I haven't completed it yet) 7 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (Act of Deceipt) and a built-in Strategy Guide. Enjoy this amazing medieval plot against two Brothers!
I recommend this game!
The killer from an unsolved case returns for more blood!
Overall rating
3
/
5
61 of 71 found this review helpful
CLEARLY THEY POURED ALL THEIR ENERGY INTO ORIGINS
PostedAugust 17, 2018
pennmom36
from"I'm sure Chris won't mind if I look through his mail" how do you know? You've never even met him, not to mention it's illegal!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Because I own the entire Grim Tales series, I purchased this game in the CE version. The storyline is decent, but the game features are way too cookie-cutter, it's clear that they poured all of their energy into Detectives United, and rushed to get this game released.
The Bonus Chapter returns with Alexander as the lead character as an excited dad-to-be as Natalya is expecting twins. There are 3 more Character photos, 9 Morphing Objects, and 9 more Screensaver pieces to collect in the BC.
I love the Grim Tales series and I own all of them, (scroll down for series order) but this game was rather boring and way too easy. It has all the staple features Elephant can't seem to resist, magic oil that removes decades of rust instantly, instant ink revealer, missing clock hands, items in a sewer drain, cobwebs, tarps over a trailer. Have they run out of new ideas or do they just recycle the same scenes? Because they insist on using the same obvious tasks, this game can be done in your sleep...while you're dreaming....about an entirely different game!
Daddy Richard has returned and honestly, he's the best part of this game. In case you haven't played any recent Grim Tales games, Daddy Richard is as dead as a doorknob! That doesn't stop him from joining your time-traveling adventure though, because Anna Gray takes Daddy Richard's skull with her wherever she goes, hey who doesn't right?
The Hidden Object Scenes are unimpressive and extremely easy to locate all items quickly. Honestly, I was able to find most of the items without looking at the list, and there's just no excuse for this! There are Keyword finds, Interactive List finds and Silhouetted Shape finds as well as several smaller zoom zone HOP's.
The Mini-Games are decent but some of them have vague instructions. There are way too many "navigation" style puzzles in my opinion, which at times, are back to back. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Swap tokens along paths to matching related item slots.
2-Trace wires and enter the symbol for each number shown.
3-Move tokens to matching slots, tiles will change after touching them.
4-Restore the image by turning sections.
5-Turn wheels to enter each code and each image shown.
6-Navigate through the maze by pulling green levers to open barriers.
7-Swap tubes to their matching symbols.
8-Push all lock parts off the board until only 1 remains.
9-Arrange tiles so they match the shape & color of their slots.
2-Trace wires and enter the symbol for each number shown.
3-Move tokens to matching slots, tiles will change after touching them.
4-Restore the image by turning sections.
5-Turn wheels to enter each code and each image shown.
6-Navigate through the maze by pulling green levers to open barriers.
7-Swap tubes to their matching symbols.
8-Push all lock parts off the board until only 1 remains.
9-Arrange tiles so they match the shape & color of their slots.
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 3 Screensavers (once 34 Puzzle Pieces have been found) 5 Music Soundtracks, 17 Achievements to earn, Morphing Objects in each scene, 11 Collectible Character Photographs, Archives, 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
GRIM TALES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Bride (September 2-2011) 3.8
2-The Legacy (February 3-2012) 4.7
3-The Wishes (August 9-2012) 4.4
4-The Stone Queen (February 1-2013) 3.9
5-Bloody Mary (October 11-2013) 4.2
6-The Vengeance (June 13-2014) 4.2
7-Color of Fright (December 3-2014) 3.7
8-The Final Suspect (June 14-2015) 3.8
9-Threads of Destiny (November 6-2015) 2.9
10-The Heir (March 25-2016) 3.6
11-Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12-Graywitch (March 3-2017) 3.9
13-The White Lady (September 1-2017) 3.7
14-The Time Traveler (February 23-2018) 3.5
15-The Hunger (August 17-2018) n/a
2-The Legacy (February 3-2012) 4.7
3-The Wishes (August 9-2012) 4.4
4-The Stone Queen (February 1-2013) 3.9
5-Bloody Mary (October 11-2013) 4.2
6-The Vengeance (June 13-2014) 4.2
7-Color of Fright (December 3-2014) 3.7
8-The Final Suspect (June 14-2015) 3.8
9-Threads of Destiny (November 6-2015) 2.9
10-The Heir (March 25-2016) 3.6
11-Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12-Graywitch (March 3-2017) 3.9
13-The White Lady (September 1-2017) 3.7
14-The Time Traveler (February 23-2018) 3.5
15-The Hunger (August 17-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games