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 save escaped magical creatures before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
121 of 145 found this review helpful
PROTECTOR OF ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
PostedAugust 2, 2018
pennmom36
fromEgypt's Pharos of Alexandria, 3rd century BC was the 1st lighthouse. US has more lighthouses than any other country. Michigan has over 115 lighthouses along the Great Lakes. Lighthouse keeping was one of the first US government jobs available to women!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Abe was the last man standing in the Hanson family lineage. His brothers Eliot and Rick both passed away under mysterious circumstances, and now Abe has joined his brothers, resting in peace for eternity. Julia inherited the Hanson Family Lighthouse from Uncle Abe, a decision she thought was rather curious, but nonetheless, she knew her Uncle was quite fond of the lighthouse. Sometimes the gift itself isn't what's important, and Julia soon learns that her inheritance was actually a lifelong journey, a lifetime commitment, a responsibility that had nothing to do with the lighthouse itself!
Good news and bad news! This game has a Gadget AND a Helper! That's the bad news, the good news is that Ash the Corgi is adorable and not annoying. The Magic Cube Gadget isn't as horrible as I had anticipated it to be. The Magic Cube actually has two different features associated with it. The main feature of the cube is to capture magical Creatures that have unique powers allowing them to control elements such as Lightning, Fire, and Ice. To capture the creatures, you'll have to challenge them to a Match 3 game and of course, beat them. (this was one of my criteria factors for deducting a star, not the helper, not the cube, not even the repetitive Match 3 game, but because challenging a griffin or ice wolf to a match 3 game was kind of lame) Supposedly, the Cube is a Sanctuary for these animals, if that's true, why would I need to beat them at a Match 3 game to coax them back into the Cube? They are intelligent enough to play a Match 3 challenge, but not smart enough to return to a safe sanctuary? Once captured, you will acquire their magical ability, such as flying, but you only get one shot to use that ability.
The Hidden Object Scenes are basically all the same, Interactive List Finds, but in all fairness, they did throw in a Keywords in Sentence finds here and there which helps to progress the storyline. The lack of creativity within the HO Scenes was the other deciding factor for deducting a star from my rating. There's no alternative puzzle offered, which surprises me given the fact tact that there's a repetitive Match 3 game during the game whenever the Cube is used to capture a creature (who knew these creatures were capable of a Match 3 challenge!)
The Mini-Games I will admit are rather simplistic and easily solved. That isn't necessarily a bad thing if puzzles are enjoyable and relaxing that's just as beneficial as a complicated, mind-boggling puzzle, you don't always need to be challenged, and this is a fantasy-themed game, so relaxing is okay too. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Drag the dog token along the tracks to every circle point.
2-Swap papers until they form the family motto.
3-Swap figurine accessories to match the motif clues shown.
4-Swap and rotate tokens to restore the image.
5-Make the number of connections between stars with limited moves.
6-Flip records to find all matching pairs.
7-Drag a line through at least 3 specific matching gems shown.
8-Navigate through the maze using items you find to overcome obstacles.
9-Flip clouds to find matching pairs of tracks.
10-Flip clouds to find matching pairs, clouds shuffle after each turn.
2-Swap papers until they form the family motto.
3-Swap figurine accessories to match the motif clues shown.
4-Swap and rotate tokens to restore the image.
5-Make the number of connections between stars with limited moves.
6-Flip records to find all matching pairs.
7-Drag a line through at least 3 specific matching gems shown.
8-Navigate through the maze using items you find to overcome obstacles.
9-Flip clouds to find matching pairs of tracks.
10-Flip clouds to find matching pairs, clouds shuffle after each turn.
Collector's Edition has 6 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art pictures, 5 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 19 re-playable Mini-Games, 11 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 27 re-playable Movie Cutscenes, 15 Achievements to earn, 64 Collectible Opaque Eggs (allows you to hatch 5 eggs with collection totals of 22, 30, 38, 44 and 64) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
EDGE OF REALITY SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Ring of Destiny (April 28-2016) 3.8
2-Lethal Predictions (February 4-2017) 3.6
3-Fatal Luck (April 19-2018) 4.5
4-Hunter's Legacy (August 2-2018) n/a
2-Lethal Predictions (February 4-2017) 3.6
3-Fatal Luck (April 19-2018) 4.5
4-Hunter's Legacy (August 2-2018) n/a
by 4Friends Games
I recommend this game!
The great Archimedes’ latest invention has destroyed the beautiful town of Syracuse! Guide Archimedes and help rebuild the beautiful city!
Overall rating
1
/
5
60 of 68 found this review helpful
I CAN'T EVEN FINISH THE DEMO MUCH LESS CONSIDER BUYING IT!
PostedAugust 1, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid I mention the music was dreadful?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I hate being negative so I always try to find a redeeming quality in every game that I play, but this is one of the few Time Management games that I just hated playing. It didn't just become boring after a few levels, it was boring from level one and just went downhill from there. I love a good TM game, and a good TM game can be replayed several times, in fact, a good TM game can be played in a Relaxed Mode, a Normal Mode and then a Hardcore Mode and still hold your interest, because that's what a TM game is all about! Archimedes doesn't even offer different difficulty modes which throw up a big red flag warning that it's probably not going to be interesting enough to replay!
Normally, I like TM games by this dev, but Archimedes is really a snooze-fest! The music was so loud when I first opened it up, that I couldn't get to the setting page quick enough. I turned the music way down, only to discover a horrible twangy banjo, slapstick tune between levels that was so irritating I finally had to turn the music completely off, which is something I've never had to do in all my game-playing years!
The TM levels were bland with the same yellow-ish hues, it was an immediate turn-off with nothing colorful to look at. The yellow is so bright it's practically blinding. Level after level seemed to present nothing exciting and they are extremely repetitive, build 5 houses, chop down 18 trees, remove all rocks, repair all bridges. Earn a specific amount of gold (I'll get to that gripe soon) It seemed like I was doing the same thing over and over.
When you construct a building you must click on the plot of land, then choose Hut or Facility, then you have to click again on the pop-up or it won't be queued, which seemed like an unnecessary extra step. When you select a tree to chop down, it shows an X, which to me says that it hasn't been queued or there aren't enough workers or resources to do that particular task, so it was confusing. There aren't any food sources, either along the paths or via a farm etc. you have to build a Market to buy the food required.
The whole time you're playing the level, a woman is narrating, you need more "servants" " you don't have enough food", or "you need more gold", which just annoyed me after a while, but at least her voice was more appealing than that dreadful music! I'd prefer to just see a pop-up window that shows me the resources I still need, a voice narration is not needed in a TM game that constantly needs more resources.
Several of the levels required me to build a specific number of Huts and Earn a specific amount of Gold. I was able to build the Huts one after the other, without wasting any time, then I had to sit there with nothing to do while I waited and waited for my huts to earn Gold, and because it took so long to earn the gold, I lost a Star! I replayed the level, built the huts quickly, then upgraded the huts to make more money faster, and I was STILL having to wait. Who wants to watch the huts make money with nothing to do?
As far as the differences between the Collector's Edition version and this Standard Edition version, the CE version offers a built-in Strategy Guide and 9 Wallpapers. Both versions offer 23 Trophy Achievements to earn, and both versions allow you to replay the Movie Cutscenes. I have read a lot of reviews for the CE version, and many reviewers stated that they followed the Strategy Guide step-by-step and still couldn't earn expert status, so if you like this game, I'd have to say that this is the better version option. For me personally, I have no desire to purchase either version, even with a PCC.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Odin’s messenger Munin navigate 9 worlds and lead her to the golden throne of Asgard in this unique puzzle platformer!
Overall rating
4
/
5
48 of 51 found this review helpful
STRANGE PUZZLE GAME BUT I KINDA DIG IT
PostedJuly 31, 2018
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've always been a puzzle geek and I love puzzles that I have to think about or tinker with until I get it right. Although this is a strange kind of game, it really grows on you, and you definitely have to tinker with the scenes to solve them.
The instructions are very basic but the game itself is fairly basic so there's not much to figure out other than how to solve the puzzle. There's only one goal and it's the same goal on every level, collect all the feathers. A simple goal, but not so simple to figure out how to get to the feathers!
There are square sections of the scenes that can be rotated by left-clicking the mouse, but the square that the characters is in, can't be rotated until you move him to the next square section. You can move the character forward, backward, up or down ladders, using the arrow keys. You may need to jump him over obstacles, which can be achieved by right-clicking the mouse while using the directional arrows. You may need to go back and forth on a lower level and then change the square section selection to reach other areas.
The puzzle levels don't end until you get all the feathers, there's no 1-2 or 3 stars to earn, you just keep playing until you figure out a way to collect all the feathers. So far, it doesn't seem to limit you on how many attempts you get if you run the character into a pit or whatever and he dies, it just starts over at the point you died.
This isn't going to be a game for everyone, especially if you don't like games that require you to use the arrow buttons. You can play the game in 9 different languages, and you can set the resolution, so it's not too archaic, and if you enjoy problem-solving puzzles, this fits the bill, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Discover your inner Chef and open the restaurant of your dreams with this fun time-management game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
63 of 71 found this review helpful
JUST AN AVERAGE TM WITH CLICK & DRAG FEATURESAND NOT REALLY CE WORTHY
PostedJuly 31, 2018
pennmom36
fromAt least I didn't have to make a Green Bean Pizza like I did in Happy Chef 2!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Haunted Domains
(48)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've never been a fan of Click & Drag types of Time Management games, so for me, this was just an okay game, neither bad nor good. You can play in a Relaxed or Normal Mode of Difficulty, and there are 100 Achievements to earn. Every time you earn an Achievement you will also earn a Golden Ladle which can be used to purchase various Kitchen Improvements.
In this CE version, there is a Survival Mode feature that allows you to play an Endless Mode. You get 3 Lives in Survival Mode, and you continue to play non-stop for Points (not Coins) until you lose 3 customers. This CE version also has 3 Wallpapers available to download, which isn't really all that special when you consider that this version costs twice as much as the SE version!
Customers arrive at the counter with a thought bubble of food or beverages they desire. The kitchen is a food prep table located in front of the counter, and you need to prepare the food exactly as shown on their thought bubble including appropriate condiments and sides. After the food is correctly prepared, you click the item(s) and drag it to the correct customer, and click the coins they leave on the counter to allow room for other customers. You can replay any level to try for an expert status score, and in the Mini-Game section, you can earn extra coins, by moving the character to collect various food and bonuses before the timer runs out.
There is a Hot Plate for grilling certain meats and veggies, and if you leave the food on the grill too long, it will burn and you'll have to throw it away. In the Workshop prep area, food items need a two-step process. Omelets need to be flipped halfway through cooking, and omelets can also burn if left in the skillet too long or isn't flipped in time. After each level, you can use the coins you earned to buy food items that are more elaborate which customers are willing to pay more for. Each food item can be upgraded 3 times.
Upgrades can be made to the Kitchen's Interior, such as chairs, tables, lamps etc. that will improve customer's patience levels, which ultimately net larger tips. In the Kitchen Aids section, you can use the Ladles you earned with Achievements, to purchase automated features that will help with trivial tasks, such as preparing quick meals, automatically collecting the money, or removing burnt food automatically.
If you like the click-hold-drag type of Diner-Dash Time Management games, I think you will enjoy Happy Chef because it is a well-made game with good feathers otherwise. However, I just don't see a Collector's Edition value and would recommend the Standard Edition version over this Collector's Edition version, if you can wait a month or so for its release.
HAPPY CHEF SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's/Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's/Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Happy Chef 1 SE only (January 9-2012) 3.4
2-Happy Chef 2 SE only (August 6-2013) 3.4
3-Happy Chef 3 CE (July 31-2018) n/a
2-Happy Chef 2 SE only (August 6-2013) 3.4
3-Happy Chef 3 CE (July 31-2018) n/a
by: Nordcurrent LTD Games
Solve the mystery of the Werewolf Shadow in this exciting time management adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
82 of 90 found this review helpful
ROSE RIDDLE ROCKS!
PostedJuly 30, 2018
pennmom36
fromOh noooo...not his gumdrop buttons!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Rose Riddle is a different kind of Time Management game, and I can't wait for the next installment! Not only is this a fantastic TM game that's incredibly fun, but it has a fantastical storyline to boot. I love the way they use the beloved fairy-tale characters of yesteryear as if they were real people. Although you don't have to play the first Rose Riddle to follow the storyline of this game, I highly recommend you do, because it tells how Rose Riddle became the detective in this magical mystery land, plus it's just as good as this edition!
The Gingerbread Man has been attacked! (it's possible they were just looking for a snack) have no fear, for Rose Riddle, is on the case, the problem is, her sidekick partner is quite the Beast (no really, he's a Beast) and it just so happens that he had a horrible nightmare about the attack last night. Did he have a premonition, or did the beast inside cut loose?
There are the usual TM tasks of repairing roads and bridges, clearing debris and puddles from the roads, building farms and cafe's to produce food, Banks to earn money etc. There are also unusual TM tasks like planting magic beans that grow to use as ladders to reach rooftops, magic carpets to fly to inaccessible places, moving cars parked in the way, chasing off flying monkeys and investigating crime scenes for evidence. Soda is a commodity in fairy-land, the more you collect the better everyone works, and by better, I mean faster because collecting soda recharges the bonus icon to speed up workers and make them more productive. There are several different machines available that produce construction materials, money etc, but they eventually run out of resources. There is a number icon above the machines that indicate how many times you can collect resources from each one.
I was really surprised that this second Rose Riddle wasn't offered as a Collector's Edition like the first Rose Riddle was. I suspect that the CE version wasn't as successful as the Standard Edition was, but honestly, I probably would have purchased this game even if it was a CE because I wouldn't have had the patience to wait a whole month to buy it! Don't be afraid of the big bad wolf, this is a must-have game for TM fans, enjoy!
ROSE RIDDLE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Fairy Tale Detective CE (October 24-2017) 4.2
-The Fairy Tale Detective SE ((November 22-2017) 4.5
2-Werewolf Shadow SE only (July 30-2018) n/a
-The Fairy Tale Detective SE ((November 22-2017) 4.5
2-Werewolf Shadow SE only (July 30-2018) n/a
by: Yustas Games Studio
I recommend this game!
Can you escape a madman on the Island of Fog?
Overall rating
3
/
5
51 of 62 found this review helpful
NEVER TRUST FOGG
PostedJuly 30, 2018
pennmom36
fromIt's no house on the hill
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game is so easy you could complete it blindfolded! Not only is this a short game you can complete in about 2 hours or so (3 short chapters) but it also has every cliche HOPA world tasks imaginable. Jug of magical oil to remove 30 years of rust and decay, check. A rusty dull knife that gets discarded after one use once it's sharpened, check. A random item that's been sewn into a pillow, obvious check. A Broken lens that apparently is the standard size for every lens ever made, check, and another check because it's always just a single lens that's cracked. Cobwebs you just can't bring yourself to remove by hand even though you fear for your life, giant check. Wax from a candle to remove because nobody ever uses a candlestick to catch the dripping wax, check. (because the candlestick is always used in the HOS) Flint & Steel to light something just before finding a modern-day lighter, check (usually requiring oil, fuel, fluid and/or a wick). A flashlight with old batteries and/or bulb, check. Important and useful tools discarded only to realize you could have used it in the very next scene, double, check!
Have you ever noticed that when you use an item that gets discarded after it's maiden voyage, that the item just goes poof! and completely disappears into oblivion, even though you haven't moved? Where did it go? Did it join my sock in sock heaven? Did a random animal steal it while I wasn't looking only to hold it hostage until the next random, unsuspecting HOPA player comes along? Will I find the hammer that went, poof! buried in the dirt on the next game I play? Will the saw that just went, poof! show up in the bonus chapter entangled in vines with thorns the size of tyrannosaurus claws? Is there a HOPA cleptomaniac that has an entire shed filled with these discarded items, laughing hysterically as they watch me risk life and limb to find the correct, sturdy hand and footholds to climb my way up a cliffside after falling because I just had to have that backpack slightly out of reach? Would I have this much time to think of all these random thoughts if the game hadn't been so easy and predictable?...check!
The Hidden Object Scenes are downright boring and most of them are the same type. You'll find 4 items to place onto their Silhouetted Shapes that will open the List of items to find. The Silhouetted items are impossible to miss because the cursor turns into a hand when you scan across the items needed. The scenes are repeated shortly afterward with a Matching Pairs HOS. In the CE version, most of the HOS have a Morphing Object, I say most because when the scene is repeated, there aren't any morphs available, and there are no alternate puzzles offered.
The Mini-Games are rather easy for the most part, even though some are available in a Normal or Hard difficulty mode. One of the achievements available to earn is for completing 18 Super Puzzles. This intrigued my interest enough to purchase this game (on a sale of course) but I have completed 2 of the 3 chapters and have yet to see a "super" puzzle. The Hidden Signs claim that finding them will unlock Bonus Content, so hopefully, the super puzzles are still to come?? Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Unlock the handcuffs by dragging the hairpins.
2-Turn all of the tiles red in a limited amount of moves.
3-Use directional arrows to move tokens to their matching slots.
4-Light the correct tiles according to the clue, 1 may affect others.
5-Swap portraits to their matching silhouettes on the wall.
6-Swap adjacent disc portions to complete the image.
7-Move food items into the correct compartments.
8-Light the correct squares on the grid by selecting +,-,x
9-Drop all skeletons off the board in a swap type Match 3 game.
10-Draw a line between each matching gem without crossing the lines.
2-Turn all of the tiles red in a limited amount of moves.
3-Use directional arrows to move tokens to their matching slots.
4-Light the correct tiles according to the clue, 1 may affect others.
5-Swap portraits to their matching silhouettes on the wall.
6-Swap adjacent disc portions to complete the image.
7-Move food items into the correct compartments.
8-Light the correct squares on the grid by selecting +,-,x
9-Drop all skeletons off the board in a swap type Match 3 game.
10-Draw a line between each matching gem without crossing the lines.
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 15 Achievements to earn, 32 Hidden Signs (which unlock Bonus Content), 14 Hidden Object Scene Morphing Objects, 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide.
TALES OF TERROR SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Crimson Dawn SE ONLY (September 22-2012) 3.4
2-House On The Hill (June 15-2014) 3.8
3-Estate of the Heart (March 13-2016) 3.7
4-Art of Horror (April 28-2017) 3.9
5-The Fog of Madness (July 29-2018) n/a
2-House On The Hill (June 15-2014) 3.8
3-Estate of the Heart (March 13-2016) 3.7
4-Art of Horror (April 28-2017) 3.9
5-The Fog of Madness (July 29-2018) n/a
by: Deep Shadows
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy an explosive holiday in the tropics with Solitaire Beach Season: Sounds of Waves today!
Overall rating
1
/
5
49 of 53 found this review helpful
OH LOOK, THEY CHANGED THE TITLE, THAT MAKES IT A NEW GAME?
PostedJuly 29, 2018
pennmom36
fromIs anyone else having issues with more than 1 card flipping when you click the deck card pile?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Ancient Tripeaks II
(4)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Here we go again! I don't like to be negative about a game just because I didn't have fun playing it because it's not the dev's fault that it didn't appeal to me personally. But this is an entirely different scenario because the games offered by this particular dev never change, all they do is re-title it or add a number (season 1, season 2) In this case, they offered Solitaire Beach Season 1, 2 and 3 already, so they retitled it to Solitaire Beach Season: Sounds of Waves. The Levels themselves are just recycled layouts taken from the other solitaire games with different backgrounds, how much work does that involve?
That's not even the main reason I dislike these Solitaire Games! My biggest complaint is that #1, they only offer one type of Solitaire game, the Golf type where you play 10 levels with scoring similar to bowling. (in all fairness they also occasionally offer Match 2 cards, Mahjong style solitaire games too, but you still only have to remove the gold cards to win) #2, they only offer the feature of removing the Gold Cards to win and end the level, even if there are a ton of remaining cards on the board. Not being able to remove all of the cards on the board drives me absolutely bonkers! IF this dev would simply tweak this feature to allow for the OPTION of continuing to play after removing all of the gold cards for points, I would be "all in" and I'd climb back on the 8floor train!
You can choose from 9 Themed card decks and 3 different types of face card fonts. You must start the game in Newbie mode until the tutorial shows you all the features or you click to disable the tutorial. Newbie Mode allows you to replay any of the 10 levels in a deck as often as you'd like, and the Professional mode only allows you to replay the entire 10 level pack. In the case of a perfect score, the points of the current level will be added to the points of the next level similar to bowling scores.
The only features offered are Jokers, a Shuffle feature and an Undo feature, that can be purchased in the shop. Cards that have a Star on the top left are special Bonus Cards that usually give you +499 Coins, but sometimes gives you a Mulligan's (undo) a Joker (wildcards) or a Shuffle (shuffles the cards and re-deals new ones) The goal of each level is to remove the Gold cards from the board which will give you the maximum amount of points, even if other cards remain on the board.
I just hate that I can't play until I remove all of the cards from the board. This is just another boring, Golf/Bowling type Solitaire game that is exactly the same as all of the other solitaire games by this dev. I just can't give kudos to a dev that never bothers to change any feature or add features that we continue to ask for time and time again, but if they do, I'll be more than happy to give them a more positive review!
SOLITAIRE BEACH SEASON SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Solitaire Beach Season 1 (September 8-2015) 2.4
2-Solitaire Beach Season 2 (September 12-2016) 1.9
3-Solitaire Beach Season 3 (June 11-2018) 2.2
4-Solitaire Beach Season: Sounds of Waves (July 29-2018) n/a
by: 8 Floor LTD. Games
2-Solitaire Beach Season 2 (September 12-2016) 1.9
3-Solitaire Beach Season 3 (June 11-2018) 2.2
4-Solitaire Beach Season: Sounds of Waves (July 29-2018) n/a
by: 8 Floor LTD. Games
I don't recommend this game.
Turn back the hands of time to free the Lost Lands!
Overall rating
5
/
5
273 of 318 found this review helpful
THIS IS WHAT A 5-BN STAR GAME LOOKS LIKE BRAVO devs!
PostedJuly 28, 2018
pennmom36
fromThe largest spider in the world is the Golaith bird-eating Tarantula. They can reach up to a foot in body length with an 11" leg span & 1" fangs. It's the size of a dinner plate & weighs the same as a newborn puppy. Females can live up to 25 years!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Holy Arachnoids, those spiders are ginormous! Mistakes have been made in the past alright, a deadly Black Widow Spider must have hooked up with Godzilla! Susan has been summoned once again to the Lost Lands, but something's definitely different this time. (did I mention there are ginormous spiders?) This isn't the Lost Lands of the past, and Maaron is nowhere to be seen. If Maaron didn't summon Susan, who did, and why?
Lost Lands is one of my favorite game series, (& my favorite dev) I fell in love with it the moment little Jimmy got swallowed by a tree! Susan is a relatable character, and this dev does an amazing job connecting you emotionally to the storyline. The CG graphic video cutscenes are extremely realistic, but what I like the most about Lost Lands, is that it's not a cookie-cutter game, they never are. You probably won't come across all the standard cliche tasks like wrapping a rag around a shard of glass and finding a smoker to drive away bees, and that's so refreshing and so appreciated! Another cool feature they offer is that for each group of collections, morphs and manuscripts completed, you will earn an Achievement AND you'll receive a new Puzzle or Mini-Game in the Bonus Levels section! (Collector's Edition version only)
The Hidden Object Scenes are Interactive-Progressive Silhouetted-Shape Puzzles. If you are not familiar with this type of Hidden Object Scene, you're in for a treat, because nobody does this style of HOP as well as this developer, and all of their games have it! You must find an object within the scene, that matches one of the Silhouetted Shapes shown in the Inventory Bar. Then you click on various Zoom Zones to find where the item can be used Interactively, which will expose the next Silhouetted Shape item that will be used in the next Zoom Zone until you Progress through all of the items. There is usually a small puzzle to solve as well. I love this type of HOP, they aren't just brainless click-fests, and they are really fun to solve!
The Mini-Games are awesome! Many of the puzzles make you refer to your good old-fashioned Journal, remember those days! I've always thought mini-games were lame when a slip of paper would appear with the solution code written on it. Why do they even bother including a game that has already solved it..it says everything you have to do, right in front of your face! I love the journal aspect, and it would be even more awesome if the entry wasn't needed to solve an immediate puzzle, but rather several pages later, so you'd have to scan through the journal entries to find what you need. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Place various sized boards w/o overlapping to create stairs.
2-Unscramble the stone letter blocks to create the correct name.
3-Enter the correct code you've seen before, or refer to the journal.
4-Open all clamps in the correct order by trial & error.
5-Place figurines so that they are all holding hands around the circle.
6-Enter the correct date and time you heard earlier or refer to your journal.
7-Create a path to get new boards & then to connect 3 dots.
8-Scan the area with a magnet to find the hidden item.
2-Unscramble the stone letter blocks to create the correct name.
3-Enter the correct code you've seen before, or refer to the journal.
4-Open all clamps in the correct order by trial & error.
5-Place figurines so that they are all holding hands around the circle.
6-Enter the correct date and time you heard earlier or refer to your journal.
7-Create a path to get new boards & then to connect 3 dots.
8-Scan the area with a magnet to find the hidden item.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 16 Movie Video Cutscenes, 8 Music Soundtracks, 22 re-playable Mini-Games, 7 re-playable Puzzles, (more are added when you complete the collections, morphs & manuscripts) 22 Achievements to earn, 7 Collectible Posters, 7 Collectible Bloody Palms, 8 Collectible Funeral Urns, 8 Collectible Arachnoid Gold Spiders, 12 Collectible Roses, 9 Collectible Lost Lands Manuscripts, 30 Morphing Objects (Custom mode allows you to turn on/off the option of the cursor changing over collectibles & on/off option of showing collectibles on the Map) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (very long chapters) enjoy the past!
LOST LANDS SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Dark Overlord (February 22-2014) 4.4
2-The Four Horsemen (January 15-2015) 4.6
3-The Golden Curse (November 7-2015) 4.5
4-The Wanderer (October 25-2016) 4.3
5-Ice Spell (September 12-2017) 4.8
6-Mistakes of the Past (July 28-2018) n/a
2-The Four Horsemen (January 15-2015) 4.6
3-The Golden Curse (November 7-2015) 4.5
4-The Wanderer (October 25-2016) 4.3
5-Ice Spell (September 12-2017) 4.8
6-Mistakes of the Past (July 28-2018) n/a
by: Five-BN Games
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save your brother before your kingdom is destroyed?
Overall rating
3
/
5
36 of 40 found this review helpful
TRUE BLOOD
PostedJuly 27, 2018
pennmom36
fromMaybe it's just Vamperina?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Midnight Castle
(465)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
It's time for another journey to the Castle. Midnight Castle fans know that it's not about what happens in the Castle, it's all about the journey to the Castle. This is a Castle Calling you might not want to answer on your journey, and especially not at Midnight, but if you're Arabella, the things that go bump in the night are probably just your family members!
Good news! There are NO gadgets involved! Bad news, there is a Kitten Helper! Good news, you can opt to leave her where you found her! Although I'm not a fan of most helpers (Elf, Tom & Mr. Jenkins are the exceptions) I still chose to let her tag along for 2 reasons. I wanted to be able to report how intrusive or annoying she was, and I'm happy to report that she was barely noticeable, plus I thought she was rather cute and unusual looking.
In the Collector's Edition version, there are Morphing Objects to find, but they aren't in every scene, however, most of the scenes also have Stained Glass puzzle pieces. The CE version also features 12 Statue Figurines of all the Midnight Calling Characters from Anabel to the Wise Dragon, which I thought was a cool idea, but the collectibles and Morphs are fairly large and hard to miss.
My only complaint is that I'd love to see more realistic graphics versus the cartoon style graphics this series has. I realize this is a Fantasy Themed genre game, but everything is so large and plain looking, the colors are nice, but if they opted for CG graphics they could totally pull this genre off and appeal to more fans. There are several "logic fails" right from the get-go too, like when the druid disappears through brambles that were so thick it required me to find and use a tool two seconds later! There are also several tried and true HOPA cliche items used throughout the game, the famous container of Magic Oil that removes 30 years worth of rust, a glass shard knife, a hive of angry bees and of course, a vial of green acid that eats through a solid chunk of metal instantly.This dev either has some sort of love connection with cliche,cookie-cutter, staple HOPA features, or lacks enough imagination to think outside the box, because all of their games basically have the same tasks, there's always going to be a key inside of a nest, a cobweb covering a much needed item etc.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiple finds, Interactive List finds and Progressive Interactions. Some of the HOP's were quite creative in the way they were presented and the locations themselves were beautiful, but they are much better after the demo where they become more complex. There are several smaller zoom zone HOP's or several objects to find once you open an interactive inventory item. There are no morphs and no alternate games available in either version.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiple finds, Interactive List finds and Progressive Interactions. Some of the HOP's were quite creative in the way they were presented and the locations themselves were beautiful, but they are much better after the demo where they become more complex. There are several smaller zoom zone HOP's or several objects to find once you open an interactive inventory item. There are no morphs and no alternate games available in either version.
The Mini-Games tend to be on the easy-breezy side of the spectrum, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, easy can be fun too. Here's a list of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1-Move the ball through the maze by choosing highlighted areas.
2-Select highlighted areas to move 3 balls avoiding the moving pointers.
3-Rotate disk rings to create the image.
4-Rotate 4 circle wedges until they connect within the circle.
5-Use directional arrows to steer the boat and avoid obstacles.
2-Select highlighted areas to move 3 balls avoiding the moving pointers.
3-Rotate disk rings to create the image.
4-Rotate 4 circle wedges until they connect within the circle.
5-Use directional arrows to steer the boat and avoid obstacles.
The Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 9 Concept Art pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, a Secret Room with 6 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 re-playable Mini-Games, 28 Morphing Objects, 32 Collectible Stained Glass Pieces (Photo Album) 12 Midnight Calling Character Figurines, 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (sequel pirate themed game) and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy your Castle journey!
MIDNIGHT CALLING SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
*Midnight Castle (December 20-2013) 4.0
1-Anabel (October 16-2015) 3.8
2-Jeronimo (July 10-2016) 4.1
3-Valeria (February 17-2017) 3.1
4-Wise Dragon (September 15-2017) 4.6
5-Arabella (July 27-2018)
1-Anabel (October 16-2015) 3.8
2-Jeronimo (July 10-2016) 4.1
3-Valeria (February 17-2017) 3.1
4-Wise Dragon (September 15-2017) 4.6
5-Arabella (July 27-2018)
by: Elephant Games
I recommend this game!
Take a romantic summer journey through the Italian countryside while solving mosaic puzzles.
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 34 found this review helpful
SPRING IN JAPAN, SUMMER IN ITALY, FALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
PostedJuly 27, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I loved the first game in this series, Sprind in Japan, but Summer in Italy didn't thrill me as much. It also doesn't seem to work well with my magic mouse which has no buttons so on several occassions I would get the opposite response, mostly as I chose to X a cell by right-clicking, the game would see it as filling in the cell and count as a mistake made.
Both games create images that are reconizable and both games are visually stunning. They use colors that really pop, like jet black next to cherry red, unlike most Mosaic games that tend to use colors like bubblegum pink, chalky blue, purple-nurple, ghastly green grenade, your grandma's yellow stove, and hazle-walnut mocha from the gas station colors.
You can choose from 3 different difficulty modes, Bronze (Easy) which gives you a 30-second refill timer, 5 Lives, 9 Shovels to reveal a single cell and 3 bombs to remove a 3x3 grid. Silver (Medium) gives you a 60-second hint refill timer, 3 Lives, 6 Shovels and 2 Bombs. Gold (Hard) gives you a 120-second hint refill timer, 1 Life, 3 Shovels and 1 Bomb.
They fixed the issue with the cumbersome brush cursor from the last game and made it easier to see the numbers that previously blended into the background, but the numbers are still a bit on the small side which may be difficult for some people to see. Other than a few glitches here and there, this is a decent game but has nothing particularly exciting offered.
They fixed the issue with the cumbersome brush cursor from the last game and made it easier to see the numbers that previously blended into the background, but the numbers are still a bit on the small side which may be difficult for some people to see. Other than a few glitches here and there, this is a decent game but has nothing particularly exciting offered.