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:
Princess has disappeared, and her statues are under attack!
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 63 found this review helpful
IT'S NOT AS BAD AS I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT
PostedMarch 25, 2018
pennmom36
fromWhy aren't the statues just called statue?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Royal Detective: The Lord of Statues Collector's Edition
(279)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've been playing The Princess Returns for a couple of hours today, and I've changed my opinion. My initial response to the demo, was that it was a boring game, but it's not really, it's just an easy game. I knew exactly what to do and where to go, and there is a lot of back and forthing, but typically just between two scenes. I'm not crazy about the storyline, but there aren't too many original storyline's offered nowadays anyway. I enjoyed several mini games after the demo, which I found to be unique, and even a few HOP's were nicely done. I personally prefer the Morphs and Collectibles offered in the CE version, over the SE. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Princess, which in itself isn't all that bad, but Princess meets a boy named Prince, what are the odds of that? Princess has a unique gift, a magical gift, a gift that allows her to turn any statue to life! Stone statues that can walk, talk, think, reason, and yes, they can even fly! These statues are so grateful (implying that they knew about their existence and their circumstance before being brought to life) that they become loyal servants to Princess, who isn't a Princess! One day Princess receives a letter from her secret lover Prince, who isn't a Prince, asking her to meet him in an abandoned part of town called Stone Peaks which we can only assume isn't a Stone Peak. Princess begins to suspect foul play because she has had dreams about Stone Peaks, which gives her an uneasy feeling of doom and gloom. So Princess writes a letter to her good friend Detective, who does indeed appear to be a Detective, asking for help, just in case this rendezvous has dire consequences. Princess doesn't expect you to fly solo, so she has sent along Sheriff, which isn't a Sheriff, the stone dog (shouldn't Sheriff be called Dog?) Together the Detective and the Sheriff begin sniffing out stone clues and chasing stone breadcrumbs, to find the person responsible for the nefarious no good plans, otherwise known as Villain!
I'm usually a huge Elephant Games fan, because in my opinion they have some of the most amazing graphics, and they almost always have Morphing Objects which is my favorite feature in a HOPA game. The Lord of Statues was an amazing game, Queen of Shadows wasn't a bad follow-up, but the last 3 games have really flatlined! I know a lot of people hate helpers, and I will admit that Sheriff becomes annoying and distracting when he starts twirling around in place. However, if he didn't twirl, I think it wouldn't be a bad addition, because he is rather adorable, and I would much rather have Sheriff as a helper, than to have to make potions in a Healer's kit, like the last game offered! The Collector's Edition version has 14 Collectible Dog Statues to find as well as a Morphing Object in each scene.
The Hidden Object Scenes are decent, although a couple of them had objects that stuck out like a sore thumb. There are Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, and Silhouetted Shape finds. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's, but no alternate game is offered.
The Mini Games are okay, nothing new, and there are a lot of them, so if you don't like games that are heavy Puzzle games, you're definitely not going to enjoy this game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Swap tiles correctly based on their images.
2) Swap two crown sections along clock hands to match.
3) Rotate arrow in the right direction to the correct number.
4) Arrange the runes to complete the symbols shown.
5) Move all 4 keys to the slots in the middle of the board.
6) Drag chains to matching squares.
7) Rotate triangles to their matching colored slots.
8) Move tokens to its associated picture.
9) Place bridle sections onto the correct highlighted slots.
10) Repeat the sequence.
11) Rotate and change the size of the images.
2) Swap two crown sections along clock hands to match.
3) Rotate arrow in the right direction to the correct number.
4) Arrange the runes to complete the symbols shown.
5) Move all 4 keys to the slots in the middle of the board.
6) Drag chains to matching squares.
7) Rotate triangles to their matching colored slots.
8) Move tokens to its associated picture.
9) Place bridle sections onto the correct highlighted slots.
10) Repeat the sequence.
11) Rotate and change the size of the images.
The Collector's Edition version has 3 Screensavers, 14 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks (does anyone ever download this music?) 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 re-playable Mini Games, 20 Achievements to earn, 14 Collectible Dog Statues, 30 Morphing Objects, 5 Main Chapters + Bonus Chapter and a built in Strategy Guide.
ROYAL DETECTIVE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Lord of Statues (June 14-2012) 4.7
2-Queen of Shadows (May 1-2014) 3.8
3-Legend of The Golem (February 4-2016) 4.2
4-Borrowed Life (February 11-2017) 3.7
5-The Princess Returns (February 24-2018) 3.2
2-Queen of Shadows (May 1-2014) 3.8
3-Legend of The Golem (February 4-2016) 4.2
4-Borrowed Life (February 11-2017) 3.7
5-The Princess Returns (February 24-2018) 3.2
by: Elephant Games
Elephant Games Available:
Royal Detective*Grim Tales*Christmas Stories*Surface*Chimeras*Halloween Stories*Haunted Hotel*Midnight Calling*MCF (Dire Grove, Sacred Grove & Fate's Carnival)*Riddles of Fate*Hallowed Legends*Death Pages*Unfinished Tales*Detective Quest*Found*Urban Legends*Lost In The City*Super Granny Run*Quark Attack*Up Balloon Up*Ball Craft*Wise Gal*Love Is*Real Stories*Bloom*RIP Trilogy*Road Rush*Jungle Heart*Avalon*Just Bones*Sir Match A-Lot*Ship of Bones*Masquerade Mysteries*
Royal Detective*Grim Tales*Christmas Stories*Surface*Chimeras*Halloween Stories*Haunted Hotel*Midnight Calling*MCF (Dire Grove, Sacred Grove & Fate's Carnival)*Riddles of Fate*Hallowed Legends*Death Pages*Unfinished Tales*Detective Quest*Found*Urban Legends*Lost In The City*Super Granny Run*Quark Attack*Up Balloon Up*Ball Craft*Wise Gal*Love Is*Real Stories*Bloom*RIP Trilogy*Road Rush*Jungle Heart*Avalon*Just Bones*Sir Match A-Lot*Ship of Bones*Masquerade Mysteries*
I recommend this game!
Ancient Tripeaks II
Get lost in the mythical land of Greece as you challenge yourself to unlock and construct the greatest heroes of the past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 18 found this review helpful
THIS IS AN AMAZING SOLITAIRE GAME!
PostedMarch 24, 2018
pennmom36
fromThis game will keep me occupied for a long long time!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Ancient Tripeaks II
(4)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I randomly came across this game when I was looking for a new solitaire game to play, and was I surprised! This is the best solitaire game I have ever played, and I bought it immediately. Not only did I buy it, but I paid full price for it, which is something I never do!
The first feature that piqued my interest was the Greek God theme. Everything is made of stone, the look and even the sounds. You can choose from 6 different Card Back Colors and themes, and 3 Font styles of cards. More card styles are added as you reveal more statues. There are several different games to choose from, as far as layouts, in fact, there are a whopping 16 different layouts including Tri-Peaks, and a Bonus game is unlocked with each God or Goddess Statue revealed, for even more variety.
You play the games consecutively, round by round, until you lose the round by not clearing all the cards. The game ends at the point, and two stone tablets open up to reveal you statistics, showinh how many rounds you completed, how long it took you, your best combo etc. and then you start over. You can continue playing in one particular type of solitaire, or choose Random, to give you a different style with each round.
You can choose to blay in a Power-up mode, which has bonus cards on the board, +5 Cards, Wildcard, Reveal a % of cards, Shuffle cards, +50k points, Reveal a % of the Statue, Increase the Multiplier, Freeze Time (completing levels within the time limit gives you extra points but doesn't matter otherwise) as you remove cards, the multiplier index rises up to 5X's. As you progress, there's a hunk of granit on the left and several little workers that chisel away at it to reveal the statue, which I think is cute, it also kind of reminds me of the original Tri-Peaks where the little character falls through traps, fires and dropping boulders.
I love the size and style of the cards, but the only complaint I have, is that there's no custom cursor, so the system cursor being white and quite small in contrast, gets difficult to see at times. If you love solitaire games, especially Tri-Peaks, you've got to give this fantastic game a try!
I recommend this game!
Embark on a secret mission to save Princess Isabella!
Overall rating
3
/
5
86 of 118 found this review helpful
I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE
PostedMarch 24, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that in 1622 the 3 Musketeers were created to guard the king only when he was outside of the Royal residence? The candy bar of the same name was because originally there were 3 different bars, a vanilla, chocolate and strawberry!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel Collector`s Edition
(134)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
It's no secret that I'm not a fan of Amax (formerly ERS) because the relevance of their game series has deminished. The hand drawn graphics and whitewashed appearance of their earlier games became dated, and the storylines repetitive. But things are improving with each game released by Amax lately. The crude graphics are being replaced with CG graphics, and it's apparent that Amax is going to great lengths to introduce different aspects and features, seeing what works and what doesn't, isn't that what we want? Don't we want a developer to step outside the box? I'd much rather see a developer try something that doesn't work or isn't liked, than to try nothing at all! That is exactly why some devs continue to spew out one identical game after the other, giving birth to the Cookie Cutter games we have today. Because they bother to try, I will bother to notice. I'm not saying this is a blow your socks off kind of game, and the storyline has been beaten to death, but it's a good game that held my interest.
This Collector's Edition version isn't floating my boat so to speak, the Collectible Crystal Apples in itself aren't bad, but using them as currancy to buy Costumes is just kind of stupid and worthless. I'd much rather see a Morphing Object in this genre, including Beyond skeletons or shadow creatures seems more of a fit than a crystal apple doesn't it?
The Hidden Object Scenes are far and few between, although some of the Mini Games qualify as HOP's such as finding symbols, and vice versus, some HOP's qualify as MG's. There are Keywords in Sentence finds, Multiples of the same items, (using a torch in a dark room) Finding Pairs of Related items, and standard List items. There are no alternative games available. I've always wondered why devs don't have HOP alternatives for Mini Games, and Mini Games as an alternative to HOP's. It seems to me that this is an easy fix, and would bring joy to fans of either MG's or HOP's......oh how I wish I could create one of these games lol!
There are a ton of Mini Games available, and I found many to be creative, and enjoyable. I'm not a fan of games, where moving 1 affects others, but this feature is used sparingly this time. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Guide tokens along track to matching slot shapes.
2) Click when balls of various speed are in green zones.
3) Click tentacles to correct positions, 1 affects others.
4) Drag tokens so all elements are placed correctly.
5) Release all skeleton fingers, 1 affects others.
6) Select 1 token on each knight to recreate symbols on clue.
7) Navigate through the catacomb maze.
8) Bend sections on a wire to match the lock teeth.
9) Repeat the sequence of Musketeers shown.
10) Move the token through the path w/out touching the sides.
11) Use a magnet to locate Nails, magnet vibrates when close.
12) Select unbroken tiles in each scrolling column.
13) Swap book binders to recreate image.
14) Place pins to match vertical & horizontal clues.
15) Find 4 matching symbols for each symbol shown.
16) Rotate or swap tokens to recreate each symbol shown.
2) Click when balls of various speed are in green zones.
3) Click tentacles to correct positions, 1 affects others.
4) Drag tokens so all elements are placed correctly.
5) Release all skeleton fingers, 1 affects others.
6) Select 1 token on each knight to recreate symbols on clue.
7) Navigate through the catacomb maze.
8) Bend sections on a wire to match the lock teeth.
9) Repeat the sequence of Musketeers shown.
10) Move the token through the path w/out touching the sides.
11) Use a magnet to locate Nails, magnet vibrates when close.
12) Select unbroken tiles in each scrolling column.
13) Swap book binders to recreate image.
14) Place pins to match vertical & horizontal clues.
15) Find 4 matching symbols for each symbol shown.
16) Rotate or swap tokens to recreate each symbol shown.
This Collector's Edition has 5 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 5 Screensavers,4 Music Soundtracks, 27 Movie Videos, 12 re-playable Mini Games, 15 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Achievements to earn, Collectible Crystal Apples to purchase 3 different costumes for 3 missions, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
HAUNTED LEGENDS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Queen of Spades (December 9-2010) 4.2
2-The Bronze Horseman (September 8-2011) 4.1
3-The Undertaker (November 15-2012) 4.4
4-The Curse of Vox (June 20-2013) 4.0
5-The Stone Guest (November 15-2014) 4.0
6-The Dark Wishes (May 7-2015) 3.7
7-The Secret of Life (November 5-2015) 3.9
8-The Iron Mask (June 30-2016) 4.1
9-Faulty Creatures (December 3-2016) 3.1
10-The Black Hawk (March 9-2017) 3.4
11-The Cursed Gift (August 24-2017) 3.9
12-Monstrous Alchemy (March 24-2018) n/a
2-The Bronze Horseman (September 8-2011) 4.1
3-The Undertaker (November 15-2012) 4.4
4-The Curse of Vox (June 20-2013) 4.0
5-The Stone Guest (November 15-2014) 4.0
6-The Dark Wishes (May 7-2015) 3.7
7-The Secret of Life (November 5-2015) 3.9
8-The Iron Mask (June 30-2016) 4.1
9-Faulty Creatures (December 3-2016) 3.1
10-The Black Hawk (March 9-2017) 3.4
11-The Cursed Gift (August 24-2017) 3.9
12-Monstrous Alchemy (March 24-2018) n/a
by: ERS (games 1-9)
by: Amax Interactive (games 10-12)
by: Amax Interactive (games 10-12)
ERS/AMAX GAMES:
Haunted Legends, Puppet Show, Redemption Cemetery, Spirits of Mystery, Dark Tales, Grim Facade, Shadow Wolf Mysteries, Queen's Tales, Twilight Phenomena, Reveries, Christmas Eve, Maestro, Ghosts of the Past, Forgotten Books, Beyond the Unknown, Haunted Halls, Flights of Fancy, Azada, Reality Show, Phantasmat (Crucible Peak only), Gothic Fiction, Dark Alley's, Hidden Wonders of the Depths, Pathfinders, Sarah Maribu, Steve the Sheriff, Many Years Ago, Mysterious Travel
Haunted Legends, Puppet Show, Redemption Cemetery, Spirits of Mystery, Dark Tales, Grim Facade, Shadow Wolf Mysteries, Queen's Tales, Twilight Phenomena, Reveries, Christmas Eve, Maestro, Ghosts of the Past, Forgotten Books, Beyond the Unknown, Haunted Halls, Flights of Fancy, Azada, Reality Show, Phantasmat (Crucible Peak only), Gothic Fiction, Dark Alley's, Hidden Wonders of the Depths, Pathfinders, Sarah Maribu, Steve the Sheriff, Many Years Ago, Mysterious Travel
I recommend this game!
Travel through alternate realities to restore the fabric of the universe!
Overall rating
3
/
5
28 of 33 found this review helpful
A LITTLE SLOW MOVING AT TIMES BUT AT LEAST THE STORY IS GOOD
PostedMarch 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromI found a reference to Jack from Witches Legacy, accusing him of believing in good witches lol!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Mayan Prophecies: Ship of Spirits Collector's Edition
(114)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I don't think this game is all that bad, it does tend to drag at times, but at least the story is somewhat creative. The only feature I hate, is a feature that all EleFun Games has, the "loading" page that pops up every time you enter a new scene. I know they are large games, but why they haven't figured out a way to avoid this huge annoyance, is beyond me! In case you're interested, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The Queen of Creation creates the history of the Universe on her Canvases of Eternity, but what if somebody were to steal one of the Canvases? Would you still exist? Would the World still exist? Would a new reality be created to take its place, or would there just be emptiness? These are scenarios Alice Carpenter does not want to see happen in her lifetime, but time is of the essence, or there may be no worlds left for a Guardian to protect!
There is a gadget, which can be either good news or bad news, depending on your preference. (only used 7 times) Alice is equipped with the Guardian's Bracelet, which is a magic bracelet that possesses powers of 3 elements. The Red Gem invokes a Fireball, the Blue Gem creates a Frost Sphere, and the Green Gem allows you to move heavy objects.
There is a gadget, which can be either good news or bad news, depending on your preference. (only used 7 times) Alice is equipped with the Guardian's Bracelet, which is a magic bracelet that possesses powers of 3 elements. The Red Gem invokes a Fireball, the Blue Gem creates a Frost Sphere, and the Green Gem allows you to move heavy objects.
In the Collector's Edition version, there are hidden Feathers to find, Mythological Creatures which increase your rank, and Crystals to collect that allow you to access the Spectra History Room, to learn the secrets of the Spectra World by unlocking parts of the story with the discovered Crystals. This is an okay feature, but I'd prefer the Morphing Puzzle pieces, that EleFun Games used to include within all their CE games.
The Hidden Object Scenes include those famous EleFun scenes where you find a handful of fragments located around the entire scene. There are also Interactive List Finds, Multiple Finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, and several HOP's where you find Keywords in Sentence finds. They do offer an alternate Triangular shaped Puzzle game, if you're not into the HOP's.
The Mini Games tend to be on the easy breezy side, and most of them can be considered HOP's as well. In my opinion, they don't present any challenge whatsoever. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Find multiple symbols shown, hidden on pages in a book.
2) Find matching pairs of feathers.
3) Drag fragments to recreate the images.
4) Find matching pairs of related objects on canvases.
5) Use arrows to switch scenes, finding and replacing items.
6) Change your clothes to match the outfit on the poster.
2) Find matching pairs of feathers.
3) Drag fragments to recreate the images.
4) Find matching pairs of related objects on canvases.
5) Use arrows to switch scenes, finding and replacing items.
6) Change your clothes to match the outfit on the poster.
The Collector's Edition version has 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 3 Screensavers, 35 Music Soundtracks (really, why?) 19 Achievements to Earn, 16 Bestiary Mythological Creatures to help you rank up, 6 hidden Feather's, 20 hidden Crystals that allow you to learn secrets of the Spectra World, 5 Main Chapters + Bonus Chapter, and a built in Strategy Guide.
THE FORGOTTEN FAIRY TALES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Spectra World (May 20-2017) 3.3
2-Canvases of Time (February 17-2018) 2.6
2-Canvases of Time (February 17-2018) 2.6
by: EleFun Games
ELEFUN GAMES AVAILABLE:
The Forgotten Fairytales, Agency 33, Witches' Legacy, Fear For Sale, Mayan Prophecies, Cake Shop, Story of Fairy Place, Puzzle Mania
The Forgotten Fairytales, Agency 33, Witches' Legacy, Fear For Sale, Mayan Prophecies, Cake Shop, Story of Fairy Place, Puzzle Mania
Can you defend the townspeople from the dangerous black lotus?
Overall rating
4
/
5
88 of 117 found this review helpful
THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE.....AND TO MAINTAIN IMMORTAL YOUTH
PostedMarch 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that the Lotus Flower can control its own temperature? It only blooms in white or pink hues (black lotus originated in Conan The Barbarian) Egyptians used the lotus in math, 1 lotus = 1,000!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The delicate Lotus flower has long represented spiritualism and religion, and is associated with ascension and enlightenment, as it rises from the earth and blooms ever so briefly The White Lotus is known for its beauty and grace, and above all, purity, but the Black Lotus, well that's an entirely different story. The Black Lotus was born out of magic, dark magic that is used to steal one's youth, as it drains their life essence. Once the victim receives this cursed, deadly flower, there's no escaping the inevitable. Once the petals of the beautiful Lotus turn completely black, the victim is doomed. Can the power of love be strong enough to break the curse?
This Collector's Edition has a whopping 68 Phoenix birds to find, usually 2 per scene, and there is a pull out tab that will tell you how many remain in each scene. They are very well blended into the scenery and difficult to find, but not because of how well they are hidden, but because the graphics are so blurry. The graphics issue was my biggest turnoff with this game, the colors seem faded and whitewashed, blurry and undefined, a huge disappointment. I'm not quite sure what "look" these devs were trying to achieve, I was super impressed with the beginning cutscenes and cover page, only to be utterly disappointed with the graphics moving forward!
The Hidden Object Scenes are actually pretty decent. They are mostly Interactive List finds, but there are several interactive objects. There are also Multiple Silhouetted Shape finds, and scenes where you must find and Replace items.
The Mini Games aren't very creative and they all seem rather easy to solve, not horrible, just not very creative. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Guide pink bubble over clear ones from smallest to largest.
2) Swap tiles to match 2 related tiles in each column.
3) Click 2 lotus flowers to find the matching symbols (rotates)
4) Align the crosshairs over sandbag to shoot arrow.
5) Swap pie shaped pieces to complete each portrait.
6) Remove all comb teeth by selecting in correct sequence.
7) Remove 3 or more identical gems until none remain (x3)
8) Choose Attack, Defend or Disarm icons to beat opponent.
9) Swap books to complete the image.
10) Select discs to complete image, click icon to switch to day.
2) Swap tiles to match 2 related tiles in each column.
3) Click 2 lotus flowers to find the matching symbols (rotates)
4) Align the crosshairs over sandbag to shoot arrow.
5) Swap pie shaped pieces to complete each portrait.
6) Remove all comb teeth by selecting in correct sequence.
7) Remove 3 or more identical gems until none remain (x3)
8) Choose Attack, Defend or Disarm icons to beat opponent.
9) Swap books to complete the image.
10) Select discs to complete image, click icon to switch to day.
This Collector's Edition version has 5 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art pictures, 4 Screensavers, 6 Music Soundtracks, replayable Hidden Object Scenes, Mini Games and Movies, 28 Achievements to earn, 68 hidden Phoenix Birds (to unlock 5 Phoenix Birds) 4 Main Chapters, a Bonus Chapter, and a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
IMMORTAL LOVE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Letter From The Past (December 10-2015) 4.0
2-The Price Of A Miracle (December 8-2016) 4.3
3-Blind Desire (July 29-2017) 4.2
4-Black Lotus (March 22-2018) n/a
2-The Price Of A Miracle (December 8-2016) 4.3
3-Blind Desire (July 29-2017) 4.2
4-Black Lotus (March 22-2018) n/a
by: 4Friends Games
4Friends Games:
Immortal Love, Dark City, Living Legends, Bridge To Another World, Edge Of Reality
Immortal Love, Dark City, Living Legends, Bridge To Another World, Edge Of Reality
I recommend this game!
Return Egypt to its former glory and win the favor of the gods in this time management adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 34 found this review helpful
A GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT GAME THAT REQUIRES STRATEGY
PostedMarch 21, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that Ramses the Great led one of the earliest well-recorded and largest chariot battles? He also signed the first known International Peace Treaty, and erected more statues and monuments than any other pharaoh!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Adelantado Trilogy: Book Three
(108)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Technically this game isn't what I consider to be a TM game, because it requires more strategy than time management. A Time Management game is actually a sub-genre of a Strategy game, which focuses on gathering resources in a consequent order to fulfil level goals, whereas a Strategy game, requires you to make specific decisions of what and where to build and in which order, and can potentially have several different outcomes.
Ramses: Rise Of Empire, requires you to make several decisions per level (50 levels total) which buildings to keep, which ones to destroy (and when) which buildings to build that will give you the most return, and when to upgrade. Most of the board has grid patterns, and each building, or religious item, takes up a different amount of grid space, so it may be more beneficial to destroy a smaller hut for example, that may clear the grid and enable you to place 2 houses, which will earn more money. Strategically placing Religious items means the gods will favor those surrounding it, so you'll have to decide if the religious item will help you meet the level goals faster than placing a structure there. You also need to know when to sell property and when to buy it back (for more money of course) There's way more to this game than simply clicking resource after resource along a given path, and building a sawmill, farm or mine
You can play this game in a Relaxed or Normal difficulty mode, to earn up to 3 stars per level, and the levels are re-playable. You will earn Utens for each level completed which allows you to build the Great Pyramid (9 different items) or study and learn the Sciences which will basically give you bonuses of faster construction, netting more money, cheaper construction, increased population, buy and sell faster etc.
There are two different components to this game, and two different icons to switch between. The Building Tab has different structures to choose from, and tabs within for Huts, Houses, Villas, Estates and Palaces. Once you construct a building, you can upgrade it to a 3 star upgrade which gives you more income and more population, you can also Sell the property, or demolish it, and they will break down and need repaired after time. There is also a Religion tab that allows you to buy various statues and monuments, each one has different strengths or value. There is an Icon for Production materials, that you will need to buy in order to construct buildings. The stone is available in different amounts, the bigger the quantity, the cheaper the material. You can also hire more workers, from 1-5, and again, the more workers you hire at once, the cheaper the labor.
Is this a complicated game? Yep! But like all games, once you get the hang of it, it's easily navigated. It can be challenging, because there are so many decisions to make, it's not a game for everyone, and really can't be compared to strickly a Time Management game, where most of the time, you can't make a wrong decision. As far as the decision to wait for the Standard Edition versus this Collector's Edition, the only feature I think may be of value (because of the complexity) is with the Strategy Guide, otherwise a few cartoon picture, music and Bios you can read about on the internet, don't seem worth paying twice as much, in my opinion.
This Collector's Edition version has 6 Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 7 Amulets to find, 7 Character Bios, 30 Achievements to earn, and a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Spend a summer helping rangers run the Pinecreek Hills National Park and go on an adventure packed with great HOGS and puzzles.
Overall rating
5
/
5
206 of 237 found this review helpful
I LOOK FORWARD TO A VACATION ADVENTURES AT PINECREEK HILLS EVERY YEAR
PostedMarch 21, 2018
pennmom36
fromI gots to pack my bags!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There's something about Vacation Adventures that always brings a smile to my face. It's as if I'm returning to a familiar vacation destination, with a familiar family. I look forward to playing this game each and every year, and I'm never disappointed! A few days ago, I wrote a review for an old fashioned HO game, and I stated that a HOG can still be relevant, and that good HOG's exist, and this is what I was referring to! If you haven't gotten onboard the Vacation Adventures train, you're totally missing out on an epic HO adventure, and the happy feeling you'll get, every time you play this game!
There are seek and find puzzles in scenes all around the park, and even scenes where you find multiples of items such as 20 non-human mammals. Each scene has several wildlife animals to find that are shown as silhouettes in a box to the left of the word search bar, when all animals have been spotted, the box will close. You can even access a Wildlife Notebook to see illustrations of all the wildlife you have found. You will also recycle trash that is laying around, such as plastic bottles, crumpled paper, bottles and cans, when all trash has been found, the recycle can icon will be displayed and the bin will be full.
There are seek and find puzzles in scenes all around the park, and even scenes where you find multiples of items such as 20 non-human mammals. Each scene has several wildlife animals to find that are shown as silhouettes in a box to the left of the word search bar, when all animals have been spotted, the box will close. You can even access a Wildlife Notebook to see illustrations of all the wildlife you have found. You will also recycle trash that is laying around, such as plastic bottles, crumpled paper, bottles and cans, when all trash has been found, the recycle can icon will be displayed and the bin will be full.
You will earn an Eagle Eye achievement if you don't use either the Hint or Mega Hint feature. The Magnifying Glass will show you a hint of one item and the Mega hint will show you the location of every item left to find. You earn a Bronze star for completing the search, a Silver star if you find all wildlife OR all recyclable items and a Gold star if you find all wildlife AND all recyclable items. Words listed in blue require an interaction of some type, and words in red are hidden inside or behind things, requiring you to click on an item to open it or move it, which will reveal the hidden item. Many of the scenes have an area that zooms in which will have several items within, that are on the list. Levels can be replayed at anytime to better your score or locate items you missed the first time.
My favorite feature in the Vacation Adventures games are the abundance of Mini Games available after each search, such as, Spot The Difference, Word Search, Match Two and several different styles of puzzles, rotating tiles and putting together maps and pictures with different shaped pieces. You can use the money you earn playing the game, in the Souvenir Shop to purchase 12 vacation park souvenirs, everything you purchase is kept in a display case in the Souvenir Room, and you can earn Achievements Badges as well, happy camping, enjoy!
VACATION ADVENTURES: PARK RANGER GAMES
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-VA Park Ranger 1 (July 23-2013) 3.8
2-VA Park Ranger 2 (March 31-2014) 3.9
3-VA Park Ranger 3 (March 24-2015) 4.5
4-VA Park Ranger 4 (March 30-2016) 4.5
5-VA Park Ranger 5 (November 15-2016) 4.7
6-VA Park Ranger 6 (May 31-2017) 4.6
7-VA Park Ranger 7 (March 21-2018) n/a
2-VA Park Ranger 2 (March 31-2014) 3.9
3-VA Park Ranger 3 (March 24-2015) 4.5
4-VA Park Ranger 4 (March 30-2016) 4.5
5-VA Park Ranger 5 (November 15-2016) 4.7
6-VA Park Ranger 6 (May 31-2017) 4.6
7-VA Park Ranger 7 (March 21-2018) n/a
I recommend this game!
Follow the story of a young woman exploring a fantasy world full of unique treasures!
Overall rating
1
/
5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
PERHAPS THE CAVES SHOULD REMAIN A SECRET
PostedMarch 20, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that MCF: Huntsville was the first HOG the Big Fish Studios created?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Apparently you had a vivid dream about a woman who is lost (in your dream?) with no memory of who she is or how she got there (I'd like to know how she got there too, it's my dream!) however, she did meet a gnome (why are these people in my dreams?) and this particular gnome has agreed to help her, but of course needs a few random items, before doing so. My dreams certainly have a lot going on, and a lot of junk to sift through, so I'm thinking the sooner we get this thing started, the sooner I can wake up.
This is a very outdated type of Hidden Object Game, similar to the original HdO where you click, scroll to zoom in and out, and drag the scene around to find Listed items or Pictured items, which can also be scrolled through. When a HOG game requires this particular style, you can count on the fact that items are going to be small, and not very distinguishable, and that's exactly the case here. The graphics aren't very detailed, and each scene tends to be of one hue, such as searching for bluish items in a bluish scene or gold items in a golden hue scene.
You can use the Hint system if you can't find items, but the hints are limited, and starts out with 5 hints. I'm not sure how you get more hints, but to be honest, I didn't have to use the hint (other than the one required to get through the automatic tutorial) This is a Timed game, but only from the standpoint that you are scored and receive more points for time remaining. They repeat HO scenes in the same locations, another feature I hate, and with only 16 different locations, there's either going to be a lot of repeated scenes or this will be a very short game!
Although I prefer a game with something other than HO scenes,at least a mini game or puzzle now and then, I'm not completely opposed to them. Unfortunately this game is dreadful, and there are plenty of good, if not great, HOG's available. This is a definite no for me, even with a coupon code, and I strongly recommend that you play the demo before buying this antique!
I don't recommend this game.
In Mundus: Impossible Universe, dynamic gameplay meets a captivating plot with a plethora of levels and unique match 3 variations to explore.
Overall rating
3
/
5
64 of 72 found this review helpful
THE HONEYCOMB GRIDS WERE KINDA COOL, OTHERWISE JUST A MEDIOCRE MATCH 3 GAME
PostedMarch 19, 2018
pennmom36
fromWarning: The beginning has flashing lights, spinning spirals and lightning effects, in case you have any sensitivities.
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Trial of the Gods: Ariadne’s Journey
(13)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm always excited to see a cover or introduction page with crystal clear graphics, the first picture looks amazing, doesn't it? What a letdown, because those promising graphics fall flat after that, to rather dull and lifeless colors, and any 3D effects are thrown out the window at that point. You only get 2 difficulty mode options, Normal, or Easy, the later gives you more moves, or time, and warns that you will lose (loose as they have spelled) intrigue, and you can't switch midstream without starting a new profile! You can't have more than 5 profiles at a time either.
This is a Swap type M3, and most of the levels are Limited Moves with goals of making matches of a specific amount of specific tiles. You may also have to make matches 1-3 times over gold, blue and teal colored cells, drop items off of the board, or blast through obstacles such as crates. Some of the levels have a honeycomb style board, which I actually enjoyed, because of the different perspective or angle to make matches.
Large matches will give you a bonus on the board such as Rockets, Bombs, Dynamite or TNT. The bad news is that it will cost you a move every time you activate them or swap them! You also can't replay the levels, it's just a win or lose game If you beat the level by reaching the goals within the limited moves, you get 1 star and also coins. If you run out of moves before reaching the level goals, you can use coins to add 5 more moves, or you can quit and replay the level.
The Stars allow you to unlock new Elements, some of which come with a Power-up to use at will, such as a Hammer, Bomb, Rocket etc. There are 15 levels in the first of 4 worlds, so unless the other worlds have more than 15 levels, it appears to be a rather short game. You can unlock the other worlds with 2000 coins per world.
The bottom line, is that there's nothing special about this M3 other than the honeycomb grid. It's just a typical M3 with typical features and Limited Moves at that. When you factor in the fact that it's just a win or lose game, and seems to be a short game, it may be worthy of a PCC, but I'm not impressed enough to shell out real bucks for little bang.
RUMBIC GAMES:
Mundus, Lost In Reefs, Jumba, Age of Emerald, WizardLand, Woodville Chronicles, Lost in Night
Mundus, Lost In Reefs, Jumba, Age of Emerald, WizardLand, Woodville Chronicles, Lost in Night
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
Overall rating
4
/
5
35 of 39 found this review helpful
IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER
PostedMarch 18, 2018
pennmom36
fromApparently his black magic isn't useless!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'll be honest, I was unable to finish playing this game because I kept having compatibility issues, and I'm going to have to make a few adjustments and make sure everything's up to date. I was however, able to progress far enough past the demo section, to confirm, at least in my mind, that this game is absolutely worth the effort, and worthy of my purchase dollars. There are 6 Main Chapters (+ bonus chapter in the CE) and the storyline is very interesting, without all the highs and lows that you sometimes encounter after some game demos. I purchased this game in the Collector's Edition version, which is my personal preference because I love the extra challenge of finding collectibles. It is only because of this preference that I knocked this Standard Edition version down by one star, versus the five star's I gave the Collector's Edition version. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The enemy has breached the castle gates, as they stand at the threshold, they make their demands. "You can't hide in the castle forever, your armies are defeated, and your black magic is useless, we've won, surrender!" The King had no intention of surrendering, and his black magic is anything but useless, in fact, what he does next, may very well, punish the townspeople for generations to come!
Sure, this story has been done before, but I gotta give Mariaglorum credit for putting a fresh perspective aspect to an age old storyline. The graphics for the most part are fantastic, but at times, seem cartoonish within zoom zones or Hidden Object Scenes. But the one thing that stands out in this game, are the abundance of Mini Game Puzzles, not just small easy puzzles, but multi-layered puzzles, puzzles that are creative and FUN! I also fell in love with the fact that this game starts out in Medieval Times, but fast forwards into modern times.
In the Collector's Edition version, there are 23 Hidden Crowns to search for, and 8 Character Figurines to Collect. One feature I've always liked, that's offered by this dev, is that you can refer to the Collections Icon, and see exactly where you missed finding a collectible, because the missing collectible spot glows and tells you which scene the missing collectible is located in. I also like the unique Achievement they always offer, of answering simple questions about the game, to see if you're paying attention to details.
The Hidden Object Scenes themselves aren't that special, but they are highly interactive. What does make them special, is the fact that they have included Mini Games, the keyword here being Game(s) Which I will list in the next paragraph. As I said earlier, I felt like the graphics could have been less cartoonish within the HOP's and Zoom Zones.
The Mini Games, well, quite frankly, I had a blast, this game is a Puzzle Geeks dream come true! There are so many puzzles in this game, so if you're not into a game heavy on the puzzle side, you may want to sit this game out. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Click on tumbler wheels to match symbols shown on the clue, that automatically posts above the lock. (I do miss the good ole days of having to remember clues or refer to your journal!)
2) Sift through several keys to find the key that matches the image on the clue.
3) A three part super puzzle #1: Move the wires by adjusting various sliders so that none of the wires intersect.
4) #2:Select and drag two colored switches to the tiles of partial symbols so that the two images combined, match the colored symbol shown.
5) #3: Reassemble the image by swapping square puzzle tiles.
6) HOP puzzle: Align the radio waves, by adjusting a slider bar and two different adjustment knobs.
7) Assemble torn picture fragments to complete the image.
8) Use directional arrows on the GPS map to locate the correct destination.
9) Guide the raccoon through the dimly lit maze, to find two fuzes.
10) Create paths between matching colored locks by drawing a line between each lock without crossing paths.
2) Sift through several keys to find the key that matches the image on the clue.
3) A three part super puzzle #1: Move the wires by adjusting various sliders so that none of the wires intersect.
4) #2:Select and drag two colored switches to the tiles of partial symbols so that the two images combined, match the colored symbol shown.
5) #3: Reassemble the image by swapping square puzzle tiles.
6) HOP puzzle: Align the radio waves, by adjusting a slider bar and two different adjustment knobs.
7) Assemble torn picture fragments to complete the image.
8) Use directional arrows on the GPS map to locate the correct destination.
9) Guide the raccoon through the dimly lit maze, to find two fuzes.
10) Create paths between matching colored locks by drawing a line between each lock without crossing paths.
The Collector's Edition version has 18 Wallpapers, 30 Concept Art pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 6 Movie Videos, 10 Achievements to earn in 3 different categories, (including an achievement for answering simple game questions) a Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 23 Hidden Crowns, 8 Collectible Character figurines, 6 Main Chapters, a Bonus Chapter and a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
MYSTERY OF THE ANCIENTS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
MYSTERY OF THE ANCIENTS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lockwood Manor (September 22-2011) 4.2
2-Curse of the Black Water (November 1-2012) 4.5
3-Three Guardians (January 30-2014) 4.5
4-Deadly Cold (February 5-2015) 4.1
5-Mud Water Creek (April 14-2016) 4.2
6-The Sealed And Forgotten (March 2-2017) 4.0
7-Black Dagger (February 15-2018) 4.3
2-Curse of the Black Water (November 1-2012) 4.5
3-Three Guardians (January 30-2014) 4.5
4-Deadly Cold (February 5-2015) 4.1
5-Mud Water Creek (April 14-2016) 4.2
6-The Sealed And Forgotten (March 2-2017) 4.0
7-Black Dagger (February 15-2018) 4.3
by: Mariaglorum Company
Mariaglorum Games Available
Mystery of the Ancients/League of Light/Kate Arrow/Bonfire Stories
Mystery of the Ancients/League of Light/Kate Arrow/Bonfire Stories
I recommend this game!