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:
Visit lands from tropical beaches to the peaks of the highest mountains! Solve puzzles to discover a world full of new and familiar memories!
Overall rating
5
/
5
62 of 75 found this review helpful
FLINTSTONES MEET THE JETSONS
PostedJuly 23, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Kudos to the developers of this game. I knew this game was going to be different from the title alone, it's what you'd expect to happen when Fred and Wilma meet George, mind blown! The graphics are beautiful, the picture images are identifiable and labeled afterward, and the challenge is right in the sweet spot. I have just one tiny complaint...some of the puzzles have colors that are either too similar when used next to each other, like black and slate gray, or when they used a tan or white color which made it difficult to tell if the cells were filled in or not, but maybe it was just me?
The genius devs added a feature that had me saying "duh, how come nobody thought of this before?" You can play in a normal picross difficulty mode with immediate solving in the Journey mode, a difficult Brain Heat variant mode where the numbers are only crossed off when the entire row/column has been completed OR the Tea Time mode where it doesn't matter if you make mistakes...this makes this game have a great replay value, play in relaxed mode when you want to chillax or play in hardcore when you're feeling unchallenged, congrats devs for a bright and original idea!
I guess I have 2 complaints now that I think about it, there are bonuses available that recharge when you uncover gems on the grid as cells fill in, but I have no idea what most of them do. I usually don't use bonuses or power-ups because I like to solve the puzzle on my own, but because there were no explanations or instructions that I could find, I clicked on the green bottle or potion, and it filled in an entire row that I had chosen to use it on. There are 4 total, and maybe I just didn't find the description, but if there truly aren't, it would be nice to know.
There are 100 levels and in my opinion, the challenge was great from the get-go and I loved the varying board sizes. The colors to choose between aren't bubbles, they look like a paint palette used in the town of Bedrock lol, happy griddling!
I recommend this game!
Make your way by clearing tiles as you jump your way to victory in this beautiful and unique puzzle game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 17 found this review helpful
EXTENTION OF HEX ONE?
PostedJuly 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromGoya is a beautiful word from the Urdu language that has no direct translation in English. In essence, it means when one is so immersed in a fantasy that for them it becomes reality.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I wasn't over-excited about the first Hex game because it was cool at first, but the repetitiveness made it boring pretty quickly for me personally. I didn't notice anything new in this second edition, so if you purchased the first game, I'm not sure there would be a need for Hex 2?
The goal is to clear all of the hexagons with the exception of the white ones which can be jumped on without disappearing. Gray tiles will turn black the first time you land on it and disappears the second time you land on it. All available jump moves are highlighted, and you can jump one tile or two tiles. As you progress, more hex colors are added, and the gaps between the hex tiles widen and the patterns become more complex.
This is one of those games that requires you to click the replay button to restart the level, several times because you'll rarely solve it on the first attempt! If you like problem-solving games and don't mind having to restart the levels over and over, this is the perfect game for you, but it was just an okay game for me personally.
Hex 1 & 2 by Studio Goya
Can you escape a madman’s grasp before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
42 of 46 found this review helpful
A-MAZE-ING JOB OF BRAIN STEALING
PostedJuly 22, 2018
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Jane Patrick is just an ordinary Math teacher who just put in a full and exhausting day at work. It's late, it's raining and visibility is poor so her senses are on high alert. Jane was prepared for just about anything, but what happens next. In the blink of an eye, Jane finds herself the victim of a maniacal and twisted experiment, when she awakens as a patient at the long-abandoned Mountain View Asylum. Run all you'd like Jane, but you'll never truly escape this Maze of Stolen Minds!
Finally! A decent game with no Gadgets Involved! You will, however, get to make "Choices" during your Maze experiences, such as Fight or Flight, if you make the wrong choice you'll have to play the scene again making the opposite choice. There is also a "Sanity Meter" at the top of the screen, which is simply an attempt to give the game a sense of urgency. The graphics at times seemed cartoonish, and there are a ton of logic fails that for me personally, somewhat took away from the realism, because some of them were just hilarious. Does a round pole fit inside a square opening? Why yes it does! Is there such a thing as vermin spray? Why yes there is! This place looks abandoned do you not see the man on the mower I'm speaking with? Apparently not!
The Hidden Object Scenes are not scarce, but in comparison to the massive number of mini-games, they do fall a bit short. They are typical HOP's for MHG, with the majority being Silhouetted Shape finds, but most are multi-layered with at least 2 different styles. There is Listed Item finds and Multiple Item finds, and several smaller Zoom-Zone HOP's to find 5-6 Silhouetted Shaped objects. One of my favorite HOP's was finding 12 "Monsters" in a dark scene with just a beam of light, I have to give kudos to these guys for making me jump several times during the game! In the Collector's Edition version, each HOP has a Morphing Object to find, some of which were not so easy to spot. If you forget to look for the Morph, you can go into the CE extra re-playable HOP's to pick them up.
The Mini-games are decent, but this game is an extremely puzzle heavy game, so if you aren't into mini-game puzzles, you probably won't like this game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Turn all of the red lights green by turning the valves, 1 can affect others.
2-Click rapidly until the meter bar fills up.
3-Click when the small circle is inside the larger circle to abolish the ghosts.
4-Rotate the plates to allow the bar to slide, 1 can affect others.
5-Rotate discs to move tokens to their matching colored slots.
6-Click the hand rapidly to fill the meter.
7-Drag 4 rings to complete the image.
8-Use directional arrows to guide the raft and avoid obstacles.
9-Place torn map fragments into the correct highlighted spaces.
10-Swap the trophies until all lights turn green.
11-Select and drag wires the correct number of connections per node.
12-Place the knobs in their correct spaces based on color and shape.
13-Move the plates into their matching colored discs.
14-Click when the small circle is inside the large circle to abolish ghosts.
2-Click rapidly until the meter bar fills up.
3-Click when the small circle is inside the larger circle to abolish the ghosts.
4-Rotate the plates to allow the bar to slide, 1 can affect others.
5-Rotate discs to move tokens to their matching colored slots.
6-Click the hand rapidly to fill the meter.
7-Drag 4 rings to complete the image.
8-Use directional arrows to guide the raft and avoid obstacles.
9-Place torn map fragments into the correct highlighted spaces.
10-Swap the trophies until all lights turn green.
11-Select and drag wires the correct number of connections per node.
12-Place the knobs in their correct spaces based on color and shape.
13-Move the plates into their matching colored discs.
14-Click when the small circle is inside the large circle to abolish ghosts.
The Collector's Edition version has 12 Wallpapers, 3 Concept Art pictures, 8 Character Gallery Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 20 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes & # 20 is the best, so play that one first! a Bonus Token Game and an Ultimate HOP (can collect HOP Morphs you missed) 10 Achievements to earn, 9 Wrong Choices option (shows you stats), 28 Scene Morphing Objects, 19 Hidden Object Morphs, 28 Hidden Brains, a Journal with Objectives, Clues and Time Played, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy! (hurry before they steal your mind too)
MAZE SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Subject 360 (August 30-2015) 4.5
2-The Broken Tower (November 6-2016) 4.6
3-Nightmare Realm (September 10-2017) 3.6
4-Stolen Minds (July 22-2018) n/a
2-The Broken Tower (November 6-2016) 4.6
3-Nightmare Realm (September 10-2017) 3.6
4-Stolen Minds (July 22-2018) n/a
by: Mad Head Games
I recommend this game!
Find the double agent in H.E.L.P. before it’s too late!
Overall rating
2
/
5
75 of 92 found this review helpful
I COULD SAVE H.E.L.P A TON OF MONEY, I DO ALL THE WORK ANYWAY
PostedJuly 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromMayan cities had more than 100,000 inhabitants and existed for more than 2000 years and had over 30 languages and dialects. Mayans named their children based upon the day in which they were born.
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Through Andrea's Eyes
(34)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
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 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 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. Fellow Gran is spot on with the assessment that this game is a giant logic fail in every aspect, so I'll just leave that department to her, other than to say I always enjoy the humorous sarcasm.
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 this 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.
This 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***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's 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 (August 14-2011) 3.2
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (December 19-2013) *no longer available*
7-The Crown of Solomon (July 3-2014) 4.1
8-Smithsonian Castle (December 25-2014) *no longer available*
9-Dawn of Prosperity (August 27-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (January 7-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (June 2-2016) 4.1
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 1-2016) 3.5
13-The Lost Paradise (December 22-2016) 3.7
14-The Pearl of Discord (April 8-2017) 3.8
15-The Curse of Mithridates (October 28-2017) 3.9
16-The Golden Secret (February 10-2018) 3.6
17-The Altar of Lies (July 21-2018) 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 (August 14-2011) 3.2
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (December 19-2013) *no longer available*
7-The Crown of Solomon (July 3-2014) 4.1
8-Smithsonian Castle (December 25-2014) *no longer available*
9-Dawn of Prosperity (August 27-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (January 7-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (June 2-2016) 4.1
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 1-2016) 3.5
13-The Lost Paradise (December 22-2016) 3.7
14-The Pearl of Discord (April 8-2017) 3.8
15-The Curse of Mithridates (October 28-2017) 3.9
16-The Golden Secret (February 10-2018) 3.6
17-The Altar of Lies (July 21-2018) n/a
by: Eipix Entertainment
I don't recommend this game.
Using the artifact of life, the gods created wonderful gardens in Egyptian land. Use your match 3 skills to make the gardens thrive one again!
Overall rating
4
/
5
75 of 82 found this review helpful
REMINDS ME OF THE CRADLE SERIES
PostedJuly 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromIt's been a long time since we've been offered a good Match 3 game!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Egypt
(92)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Cradle series is my all-time favorite Match 3 series and this game is really quite challenging as it progresses. You can play in Easy, Medium or Hard modes, and the goal of each level is to clear all of the colored cells by making at least one match over them, and sometimes 2-3 matches are required. You can earn up to 3 Stars per level, but you'll need to keep an eye on the star meter (which goes by the amount of time it takes you to meet the level goals unless playing on untimed mode) because you cannot replay any of the levels once completed, however, you can select the pause button to replay the level if you see that you have lost a star and want to try again to earn all 3.
There are lots of obstacles such as vined and double vined icons, and walls of sand to have to break through. The first several levels seem super easy, but as you progress, the board layouts become more narrow, similar to the cradle series boards and getting available matches becomes more scarce.
Larger matches will give you bonus power-ups on the board such as a mudball, water sphere or typhoon that will destroy tiles adjacent to them. As you progress, Spells and Power-ups are added to use whenever you want to use them, but they will need to be recharged before they can be used again.
After each Match 3 level, you will choose a Lotus that reveals points or bonuses, and you can buy items as well, but each item requires certain criteria to be met such as points, supplies, star rating's and even certain achievements to be met. There are also mini-games available such as a Hidden Object Scene, restoring torn fragments, or making matches of 2 identical patterned scarabs. This is a really fun Match 3 game, you should give it a try, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you keep the past from destroying the present?
Overall rating
4
/
5
75 of 88 found this review helpful
OLD SCHOOL IS COOL!
PostedJuly 20, 2018
pennmom36
fromI like the collectibles and morphs in the CE better, but either game is super fun!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Life may be on fast-forward at times, but at Hotel Victory life is on Rewind. Take a step back in time, to the good old days, and the good old HOG days of the earlier style of Mystery Case Files games, back when you were just a newly appointed Master Detective working for the Queen. Back to the days of Blackpool!
You need to make a major decision right from the get-go when you decide which difficulty mode you want to play in because there's no option to change it unless you start with a new profile! (but that's how it was in the beginning) You can play in a Relaxed mode, a Master Detective mode or a Custom mode. In the custom mode, you must make several choices that may seem confusing. You can set the Level Timer, Hint Recharge Time, Hint Charges (how many x's 1-5) Hint Time Penalty (10-60) and the Skip Time Penalty (10-120) I would suggest you play the first chapter on Easy mode to see if the game would be too difficult for you if it were on a Timed mode because you only get 20-30 minutes to solve each Case or Chapter, and that includes everything (HOGS, Door Super Games, Puzzles) There are 11 different chapters or "Cases"
The Hidden Object Scenes are really fantastic! That's right, I actually said the HOG's were fantastic and if you've read my reviews, I don't favor most HOP's lately! They are Interactive List finds with mini-games to solve. Each scene has a Morphing Object to find as well in the CE edition. You will receive Blueprint sections for completing the HOG's and once you complete the blueprint you will complete a Puzzle to make the key to unlocking the next door.
Unlocking the next Door (once you have made the Key) requires you to solve a Super Puzzle. This is the MCF famous Rube Goldberg puzzle where you must interact with the entire scene by fidgeting with several different and bizarre items like toasters, pipes, valves etc. There are 11 Door Super Puzzles and each Door puzzle has a hidden Electric Capacitor to find in the CE version.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 7 Movie Videos, 36 re-playable HOG's, 11 re-playable Mini-0Games, a Diary (story added after each Case is solved) 13 Achievements to earn, 36 HOP Morphing Objects, 11 Electric Capacitors (within the Super Puzzles) 11 Case Chapters and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy your trip down memory lane!
MYSTERY CASE FILES SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Huntsville SE only (November 14-2005) 3.7
2-Prime Suspects SE only (April 6-2006) 3.8
3-Ravenhearst SE only (December 15-2006) 3.6
4-Madame Fate SE only (November 7-2007) 4.0
5-Return To Ravenhearst SE only (November 26-2008) 4.2
6-Dire Grove (November 25-2009) 4.7
7-13th Skull (November 25-2010) 4.4
8-Escape From Ravenhearst (November 23-2011) 3.6
9-Shadow Lake (November 20-2012) 2.6
10-Fate's Carnival (November 26-2013) 4.4
11-Dire Grove, Sacred Grove (November 25-2014) 3.6
12-Key To Ravenhearst (October 27-2015) 3.6
13-Ravenhearst Unlocked (November 24-2015) 3.5
14-Broken Hour (November 22-2016) 3.5
15-The Black Veil (March 23-2017) 3.0
16-The Revenant's Hunt (November 21-2017) 3.0
17-Rewind (June 21-2018) 3.4
2-Prime Suspects SE only (April 6-2006) 3.8
3-Ravenhearst SE only (December 15-2006) 3.6
4-Madame Fate SE only (November 7-2007) 4.0
5-Return To Ravenhearst SE only (November 26-2008) 4.2
6-Dire Grove (November 25-2009) 4.7
7-13th Skull (November 25-2010) 4.4
8-Escape From Ravenhearst (November 23-2011) 3.6
9-Shadow Lake (November 20-2012) 2.6
10-Fate's Carnival (November 26-2013) 4.4
11-Dire Grove, Sacred Grove (November 25-2014) 3.6
12-Key To Ravenhearst (October 27-2015) 3.6
13-Ravenhearst Unlocked (November 24-2015) 3.5
14-Broken Hour (November 22-2016) 3.5
15-The Black Veil (March 23-2017) 3.0
16-The Revenant's Hunt (November 21-2017) 3.0
17-Rewind (June 21-2018) 3.4
by: Eipix Entertainment
I recommend this game!
The killer from an unsolved case returns for more blood!
Overall rating
3
/
5
111 of 133 found this review helpful
THE FIRST GRIM TALES I DIDN'T HUNGER FOR!
PostedJuly 19, 2018
pennmom36
fromIt's a good thing Anna doesn't work in a DNA crime lab, she's be bouncing all over the place like a ping-pong!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Through Andrea's Eyes
(34)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
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. 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. 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.
This 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 Object 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***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Bride (August 4-2011) 3.9
2-The Legacy (January 5-2012) 4.6
3-The Wishes (July 12-2012) 4.5
4-The Stone Queen (January 3-2013) 3.9
5-Bloody Mary (August 1-2013) 4.3
6-The Vengeance (May 15-2014) 4.5
7-Color of Fright (November 6-2014) 3.7
8-The Final Suspect (May 16-2015) 4.0
9-Threads of Destiny (October 7-2015) 3.9
10-The Heir (February 25-2016) 4.3
11-Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12-Graywitch (February 2-2017) 4.0
13-The White Lady (August 3-2017) 4.0
14-The Time Traveler (January 25-2018) 3.5
15-The Hunger (July 19-2018) n/a
2-The Legacy (January 5-2012) 4.6
3-The Wishes (July 12-2012) 4.5
4-The Stone Queen (January 3-2013) 3.9
5-Bloody Mary (August 1-2013) 4.3
6-The Vengeance (May 15-2014) 4.5
7-Color of Fright (November 6-2014) 3.7
8-The Final Suspect (May 16-2015) 4.0
9-Threads of Destiny (October 7-2015) 3.9
10-The Heir (February 25-2016) 4.3
11-Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12-Graywitch (February 2-2017) 4.0
13-The White Lady (August 3-2017) 4.0
14-The Time Traveler (January 25-2018) 3.5
15-The Hunger (July 19-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
The peace in the White Kingdom is marred by the appearance of the mysterious Black Knight who has stolen your only son! Can you save him in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
64 of 83 found this review helpful
SHOCK AND AWE BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY!
PostedJuly 18, 2018
pennmom36
fromIt's a disappointing Mundi on a Wednesday.
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Left in the Dark: No One on Board
(56)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Normally, I'm a huge fan of AM produced games but several shock and awe moments later has me re-thinking my opinion. For starters, this 90-minute demo only took 45 minutes to complete leading me to believe it's a short game. I'm actually okay with this because it's a Standard Edition and could still merit a PCC at the very least, but still...
Moving on to the graphics, or lack thereof. The characters are fairly well drawn, the close-ups of the horse were excellent, the rest of the graphics are dull, hazy, colorless and at times cartoonish looking with no detail whatsoever, but the weirdest part was that some scenes had a mixture of both really good graphics and horrible graphics, but still...
The characters voiceovers were decent for the adults, but the child's voiceover was obviously that of an adult trying to sound like a child, and it was annoying, grating and painful to listen to. The music would play through the track and abruptly stop leaving nothing but awkward silence until the next track picked up.
The Mini-Games are all basically the same repetitious scenario over and over because you use Magic Scroll Gadgets for just about everything you do, and every scroll you use requires a simplistic "connect the dots" mini-game. When I say connect the dots, I mean 3-6 dots, I suppose if you don't know Roman Numerals this could be considered challenging? When I say you use scrolls for just about everything you do, I mean a Water Scroll, a Strength Scroll, a Fire Scroll, a Lightning Scroll, a Spark Scroll and a Pulling Scroll, and that's just in the 45-minute demo!
The Hidden Object Scenes are all Interactive List finds and not in the least bit exciting. There are also a few other simplistic HO's variations such as finding 12 gears or clicking on two items per book page that are shown as a sketch, but each page only has 3 or 4 items pictured, how can you NOT find them?
Lastly, the storyline. You've played it before a million times, if you play this game, it will make it a million and one. Two kingdoms, one called the White Kingdom, the other the Black Kingdom. Mom chases the bad guy through hills and dales to find her son. Mom does a million favors, whips up brews, sews clothing, solves puzzles and still is only steps away from the bad guy who is walking at a leisurely pace!
If this had been a Collector's Edition, I would have given it 1 or 2 stars, but it's not, and although it's not a fantastic game, it's still probably worthy of a PCC or sale price.
The fate of the realm depends on your ability to reunite the five races and remind them of their vows!
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 52 found this review helpful
SEEMS LIKE I HAVE TO REUNITE AN AWEFUL LOT OF REALMS LATELY
PostedJuly 17, 2018
pennmom36
fromHope you like mini-games, 43 of 'em!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
War raged for an eternity throughout the 5 Realms between the Elves, Goblins, Dwarves, Halflings, and Humans until a Druid appeared to introduce a Peacekeeping Guild. The Sacred Truce was signed and honored by all 5 realms, until now. The Elf King has been attacked and the elves are blaming Humans. As Peacekeeper, you have an almost impossible task at hand, find the responsible party, bring them to justice, and reunite the 5 Realms once more. There's just one small problem, the Elves are evoking their own form of vigilante justice upon the Humans of Saddletown!
I would probably have given this game 5 stars if it wasn't for the "Spells" and the repetitive game that goes along with creating the spell. I've never been a fan of the recipe type games unless you actually have to figure out what goes where and when (vs following a pictured diagram) There are a total of 5 Spells you'll make potions for before using them. (Shield Spell, Sleep Spell, Frost Spell, Unveil Spell and Transformation Spell) most of which are introduced in the first chapter.
The Hidden Object Scenes are decent and located in fairly interesting locations. The objects are easily identified and one object within each scene Morphs (you must click on the morph when it's in the correct form) There are Interactive List Finds, Multiple Item Finds, and Fragmented Picture Finds. You can opt to play a Monaco Card Game where you match cards with identical symbols that are adjacent.
The Mini-Games are just okay puzzles, in my opinion, there's nothing really exciting or new offered. I've never been a fan of Recipe-based puzzles, and the Rune-Spell collection & recipe feature is pointless (you simply can't make a mistake and it doesn't require any skill to complete) Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Spell Kit: click all runes & add the correct potion shown.
2-Click to throw grappling-hook when the target turns green.
3-Choose the correct spots shown as swatches.
4-Follow a pictorial recipe to make a healing potion.
5-Shield-Spell: Drag a line through elements on a Match 3 game.
6-Find and replace 3 items per page during a story.
7-Sleep-Spell: Stop the targets when they are in the center.
8-Find & place elements into the scene correctly.
2-Click to throw grappling-hook when the target turns green.
3-Choose the correct spots shown as swatches.
4-Follow a pictorial recipe to make a healing potion.
5-Shield-Spell: Drag a line through elements on a Match 3 game.
6-Find and replace 3 items per page during a story.
7-Sleep-Spell: Stop the targets when they are in the center.
8-Find & place elements into the scene correctly.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 25 re-playable Mini-Games, 17 Hidden Object Scenes (Chapters 1-4) 6 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes within the Bonus Chapter, 24 Achievements to earn, 15 Collectible Dragon Eggs, 20 Collectible Coins (4 Wheat Coins, 4 Bow & Arrow Coins, 4 Diamond Coins, 4 Gear Coins, & 4 Fish Coins) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
QUEEN'S QUEST SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Tower Of Darkness SE only (October 7-2014) 4.1
2-Stories Of Forgotten Past (October 19-2016) 4.5
3-End Of Dawn (April 23-2017) 3.5
4-Sacred Truce (July 17-2018) n/a
by: Brave Giant Studio
2-Stories Of Forgotten Past (October 19-2016) 4.5
3-End Of Dawn (April 23-2017) 3.5
4-Sacred Truce (July 17-2018) n/a
by: Brave Giant Studio
I recommend this game!
As Cruise Director in charge, enjoy a truly sensational Cruise of a Lifetime aboard the fleet’s super luxurious flagship, USS Liberty of the Waves.
Overall rating
5
/
5
188 of 218 found this review helpful
I LOOK FORWARD TO MY YEARLY CRUISE AS MUCH AS I DO MY VACATION AT THE PARK!
PostedJuly 16, 2018
pennmom36
fromPermission to come aboard captain?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The USS Liberty has pulled into the Big Fish port once again, a cruise you really should board. There's just something about the Vacation Adventure games that have you scrambling to hit the buy now button, and I truly look forward to them. Just like the previous Vacation Adventures, this is purely a HOG with Puzzles and Mini-Games available between each Hidden Object Scene. There are no voiceovers, so you'll have to read dialog boxes if you want to follow the storyline, which is more of a what's next then a plot. Sounds old school, and you're right, but it's a really good old school HOG!
You can choose either Casual or Challenge modes (faster vs. slower hint and puzzle skip recharge) as well as which gender of cruise director you want. The best part about this game is that it's relaxing, there's no timer so you have all the time in the world, and some of the items to find are tiny and very well blended, so it's a good thing there are no time restraints!
Each scene has Lost items that need to be found, the portal on the bottom left will show these items one at a time as silhouetted shapes and when all have been found the portal will close. Each scene also has recyclable items that need to be found such as paper bags, cans, and bottles, when all recyclable items have been found the lid will close. You earn coins as you play and the coins can be used to purchase 16 different Souvenirs, but this feature doesn't really float my boat.
The items to find are list finds, items in red are hidden in or behind something, items in blue are tasks to complete such as finding and dragging batteries to the smoke detector. There are 18 trophies to earn and you will earn a bronze star if you find all items, a silver star if you find all lost items OR all recyclable items and a gold star when you find all lost items AND recyclable items. You will also receive an eagle eye bonus if you don't use the hint. There is a Mega Hint feature that will briefly show you the location of all available items on the list.
After each HOG you will get to solve a puzzle or mini-game such as rotating puzzle tiles to complete a picture, Match 2 identical items by flipping over two cards at a time, Spot the Difference between two almost identical pictures, finding cruise related words in a word search, or putting together a jigsaw type puzzle of the ship's layout. Grab your passport, and enjoy the cruise!
I recommend this game!