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 reviews
    0
 
 
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pennmom36's Review History
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Follow the story of a young woman exploring a fantasy world full of unique treasures!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
PERHAPS THE CAVES SHOULD REMAIN A SECRET
PostedMarch 20, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromDid you know that MCF: Huntsville was the first HOG the Big Fish Studios created?
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Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
 
 
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
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This is a very outdated type of Hidden Object Game, similar to the original HdO where you click, scroll to zoom in and out, and drag the scene around to find Listed items or Pictured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.
+10points
12of 14voted this as helpful.
 
In Mundus: Impossible Universe, dynamic gameplay meets a captivating plot with a plethora of levels and unique match 3 variations to explore.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
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
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pennmom36
fromWarning: The beginning has flashing lights, spinning spirals and lightning effects, in case you have any sensitivities.
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Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Trial of the Gods: Ariadne’s Journey
4.4 out of 5(13)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
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
+56points
64of 72voted this as helpful.
 
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
35 of 39 found this review helpful
IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER
PostedMarch 18, 2018
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pennmom36
fromApparently his black magic isn't useless!
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Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
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.
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
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
by: Mariaglorum Company
Mariaglorum Games Available
Mystery of the Ancients/League of Light/Kate Arrow/Bonfire Stories
I recommend this game!
+31points
35of 39voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
98 of 138 found this review helpful
THE BEST PART OF THIS GAME IS THE ORIGAMI DOG THAT BOUNCES A BALL TO DOT THE I'S IN DOMINI
PostedMarch 17, 2018
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pennmom36
fromDid you know that the first (electronic) tv was demonstrated in 1927? The first transmission was a simple line, the second was a dollar sign, because investors asked the 21 year old inventor, when they would see some dollars from this thing!
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Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Through Andrea's Eyes
3.6 out of 5(34)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
Ever get that creepy vibe that somebody's watching you? What if your television was responsible? What if something otherworldly had the ability to use our televisions as a means to visit our world from The Other Side? Those "what if's" may have become what now's, in the town, that a corporation grew a city around. A corporation that coincidentally manufactures cutting edge, technologically advanced televisions! Natalie Stein, a paranormal Investigator, knew she was in over her head, investigating this strange phenomena solo, so she called for reinforcements from the best....you!
Once again, somebody in the graphics department, got a little crazy with the blues and purples. Not just a splash here, a dab there, I'm talking about blue hues on top of purple hues, layered with a few more coats of blue, and a half a gallon of purple...and the other half of it poured on for some final touches. The good news is that all that color goes well with those stupid Glasses. The ones that not only allow you to see the exact glimpse of the exact past event you need, but also allows you to interact with, and use, items that were there in the past, but not the present! Hmf, that's more impressive than the killer TV!
In this Collector's Edition version, there are Morphing Demonic Artifacts, Coins to collect and buy virtual items for your College Yard (huh?) Missing Demonic Grimoires Pages and of course several Missing Note pages that ALWAYS get swept away right from the get go. Doesn't this lady own a stapler? You can choose whether or not you want an indicator icon for these extra features, on the Custom Setting mode.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds and even finding areas in the scene that match the swatches shown. There is an alternative Match 3 game offered as well.
The Mini Games are available in an Easy or Hard mode, and on the Custom difficulty mode setting, you can choose one or the other to automatically start out with, but you still get the option to switch it for each puzzle. (if you selected Easy mode, the mini games will automatically appear in the Easy mode, and you'll have to select the Hard mode if you want to change it for a particular puzzle) Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select lock pins, upper and lower, in the correct sequence.
2) Use arrows to rotate paths and swap gems to colored slots.
3) Swap picture frames to match the silhouetted shapes.
4) Find icons on a map to match keywords (ridiculous path!)
5) Adjust the arms, legs and head positions to match picture.
6) Swap inner and outer puzzle sections to swap.
7) Rotate discs to show correct number of icons through holes
8) Rotate circles to combine images shown on the sides.
This Collector's Edition version has 16 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 19 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 19 re-playable Mini Games, 38 Achievements to Earn, 12 Morphing Demonic Cult Artifacts, 108 collectible Coins to buy items for a College Yard (totally makes sense) Missing Note Pages and Demonic Grimoires Pages, 6 Main Chapters, a Bonus Chapter and a built in Strategy Guide.
MYSTERY TALES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1- The Lost Hope (January 25-2014) 4.0
2- The Twilight World (January 24-2015) 3.5
3- Alaskan Wild (August 24-2015) 3.9
4- Her Own Eyes (February 18-2016) 4.1
5- Eye of the Fire (September 29-2016) 3.4
6- The Hangman Returns (January 26-2017) 3.7
7- The House of Others (June 29-2017) 3.9
8- Dangerous Desires (October 14-2017) 3.1
9-The Other Side (March 17-2018) n/a
by: Domini Games
DOMINI GAMES:
Mystery Tales, Dark Romance, Labyrinths of the World, The Christmas Spirit, Enchanted Kingdom, The Curio Society, Travel Adventures, Island of Death, In Search of the Lost Temple, Mysteries of Ancient Inventors, The World's Legends
I don't recommend this game.
+58points
98of 138voted this as helpful.
 
Recover the artifact that contains the secrets of H.E.L.P.'s past.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
35 of 37 found this review helpful
WHY IS THIS ARTIFACT SUCH A SECRET?
PostedMarch 16, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromDid you know that the first 5 Hidden Expedition games were developed by Big Fish Games Studios? (& Flood Light Games on #5) Games 6-16 were developed by Eipix Entertainment.
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Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Hidden Expedition: The Fountain of Youth Collector's Edition
4.3 out of 5(44)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
Once again, Eipix puts all the good stuff inside the demo, to get you to buy the game. Once you buy it, you find out that the rest of the game flatlines after the demo, and all you're left with is a mediocre game, neither good nor bad, here nor there, it just is. The good news is that there are 5 chapters (+ Bonus Chapter in the CE version) so at least it gives you a lot of game for your buck. I suppose you could look at it as a worthy purchase as a CE, because at least you get collectible Fact Cards, Souvenir collectibles, HOP Morphs and the staple Hidden Signs to find in each scene. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
Your mission Agent, should you choose to except it, involves buying an artifact at the Geneva Auction House. The artifact, known as the Golden Wheel, contains vital information pertaining to when H.E.L.P was founded. This should be an open and shut case, and you should be able to return to return to the slopes, and enjoy the remainder of your vacation, quickly......yeah, right!
Since The Golden Secret is on the topic of H.E.L.P's origins I thought I'd add a little of my own research that I included on one of my earlier HE reviews. I researched some fun facts, because I wanted to find out what H.E.L.P stood for, the P was stumping me. It turns out that this league has had a few name changes over the years, that I didn't even realize! In Hidden Expedition: Titanic, the league went by the name of H.E.A.L, which was the Hidden Expedition Adventure League. In Hidden Expedition: Everest, the league was simply the Hidden Expedition Club, and in Hidden Expedition: Devil's Triangle, it was referred to as H.E.A.T which stood for Hidden Expedition Adventure Team. The newer games have transitioned into the name H.E.L.P which stands for Hidden Expedition League of Preservation. Pretty cool useless information right?

The features are everything I expected, but it's because Eipix never "thinks outside the box" is it because of laziness, or because they are on the top of the HOPA pile and they don't think they need to? I would really love to see the famous H.E.L.P box upgraded to reflect technology of the first century of the 3rd millennium, the century of the Anno Domini era, better know as the 21st century! It's the equivalence of carrying around a large boom box instead of a cell phone or mp3 device! The "artifact" in question has more technology than my help box, and to make matters worse, the surveillance video was recorded on a VHS tape! (are those still available?)
SPOILER ALERT:
Funny Logic Fails (or things that just don't make sense in this game)
*why did I help myself to the receptionist's printer ink cartridge? Those are expensive, couldn't I ask first?
*after the robbery, my partner says "I'll make sure the police don't get involved" why, am I doing something illegal?
*Sam has set me up with a rental car, but when I open the trunk, I discover a whole slew of miscellaneous items, including, old shoes, baseballs, and leftover chinese food?
*the rent-a-cop asks me to stop the bleeding (don't worry there's no blood) before he can access the before mentioned VHS tape, yet the second I bandage him (which btw, that loose safety pinned cloth seems to work wonders) he immediately hands me the tape?
*Thank goodness the perp took off his mask and looked straight into the camera don't they all?
*why does H.E.L.P have so many employees going rogue, don't they do backgrounds checks, they are a spy organization after all?
* why do I try to disguise my appearance, then pick up a large fish net to carry, won't that draw unwanted attention?
END SPOILER ALERT
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, and they have done a nice job of incorporating the HOP's relevant to the story, such as searching for files in a filing cabinet. There are List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, Multiple finds, and the typical HE, find items that fit the descriptions of two pictures added together as combo items, such as a quill & ink equals a pen. There are also a few zoom zone HOP's where you are tasked with finding a handful of items within a small zoomed in window. Most of the main HOP's have a Morphing Object, that is indicated with an icon on the right of the inventory bar, within the Collector's Edition version.
The Mini Games are not bad, and range from easy to medium difficulty, without too much frustration. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select 3 different numbers whose sum equals the number the auctioneer calls out. This is required a total of 4 times.
2) Drag the signs (<,>, =) to the correct boxes to compare facial features between 2 photographs.
3) Drag all directional fragments to form a path for the claw to take.
4) Rearrange the tiles to form multiple patterns on a 3 tiered corner puzzle.
HIDDEN EXPEDITION GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Titanic (Standard Edition only) (July 22-2006) 3.6
2-Everest (Standard Edition only) (June 1-2007) 3.3
3-Amazon (Standard Edition only) (June 20-2008) 3.7
4-Devil's Triangle (Standard Edition only)(October 24-2009) 3.6
5-The Uncharted Islands (August 14-2011) 3.2
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (December 20-2013) n/a
7-The Crown of Solomon (July 3-2014) 4.1
8-Smithsonian Castle (December 24-2014) n/a
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) 3.7
BY: Eipix Entertainment
EIPIX ENTERTAINMENT GAMES:
Hidden Expedition, Danse Macabre, Saga of the Nine Worlds, Mystery Case Files, Dead Reckoning, Phantasmat, Vermillion Watch, Amaranthine Voyage, Dark Parables, Sea of Lies, Final Cut, Off The Record, Fearful Tales, Myths of the World, Free The Witch
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 9 Movie Videos, 9 Music Soundtracks, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, a Souvenir Room with 25 Hidden Souvenir's to find, 17 re-playable Mini Game Puzzles, 13 Achievements to earn, 20 collectible Fact Cards, 36 Hidden Signs, a built in Strategy Guide, 5 Main Chapters and a Bonus Chapter.
+33points
35of 37voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
66 of 88 found this review helpful
WELCOME BACK HOME BLUE TEA....AND DUMP THE PRODUCER NEXT TIME!
PostedMarch 16, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromDid you know that the Wieliczka Salt Mine, located 135 meters underground within the Krakow metropolitan of Poland, was proclaimed a Historical Monument in 1994?
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose Collector's Edition
4.1 out of 5(49)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
I bought Return of the Salt Princess immediately, no demo necessary. because it was developed once again by Blue Tea Games! I have read all the reviews and forum posts, opinions ranging from the good, the bad and the ugly. I haven't finished the game yet, but as usual, I have to throw my two cents worth of opinions into the HOPA pot! Give me a chance to explain my take on this game, from a different perspective.
There have been many complaints about the lack of a custom difficulty setting, and a worthless map that doesn't allow you to jump instantly to whatever scene you may want to go. I "get it" but not the complaint part, I get what Blue Tea was trying to accomplish by offering this come-back game the way it is. Blue Tea was trying to bring back nostalgia! If you have played any of the earlier DP games, I'm sure you'll remember a worthless map that simply showed boxes and paths as they were unlocked, in that small window (just like this game) those maps never allowed for jumping from place to place. You know why I'm okay with it? Because I actually enjoyed having to remember how to get here and there, by virtually walking, as if I were actually a part of the game. Games lately are so cookie cutter, they have been made so easy to play, you could do it in your sleep, everything is, click, and boom! you're at the exact place you need to be because the map says so! What I'm trying to say is that having the built in features that most games have nowadays, have made the games far too easy, which make the game too boring many times.
It's true, this game has only 3 difficulty modes, and no custom mode available. Again, so what, this is how the original DP games were, and most other games as well. I know I've asked for games to be more like the games of earlier days, to bring back the magic, the mojo, so to speak, and I've heard this sentiment resonating from others too. Blue Tea tried to bring back the magic, by bringing back the same features as before. So yea, I get it, and hopefully, you'll get what they were trying to do too, just look at it as an "old school" challenge!
So why have I only given this game 4 stars after that long winded statement? Well, it's because they went to great lengths to make this Dark Parable game like the original BUT (there's always a but...) they didn't make any effort to make the Cursed Objects like the original games.(yes, there are 20 normal Cursed Objects in this CE version) In the original DP games, objects didn't morph the first time you entered the room. Nope, they were non-linear games that required some kind of trigger in an entirely different scene, and the beauty of it was, you never knew which action triggered which morph! This added a whole new challenge, like an Easter Egg hunt, you could literally pick up an item or solve a puzzle in the 6th location, and discover that the very first scene had a Cursed Morphing Object triggered that wasn't there before! I still don't blame BT for this, I blame the producers, and there's no doubt in my mind that this topic was heavily battled, and simply lost by the little guy in the ring. Not to mention that , if BT were to put these awesome "triggered" morphs into this game, it would have topped the charts, and how would that have looked? The first 7 games were by BT, games 8-13 were by the same devs that are now the producer for this the 14th game (think about it!)
I think I'm done with the who's, what's, where's, why's and history lesson. So let's talk about the Grak Kingdom, whose source of wealth is Salt, and Salt is also the source of its demise! The salinization of the kingdom, isn't the reason for our investigation today, but rather, the Salt Princess of Grak. The Grak Kingdom has been crumbling for nearly a hundred years, and Princess Brigid has been missing just as many years, until now, and amazingly, she looks the same as she did a century ago! Princess Brigid of Grak has an incredible ability to summon dragonfly's that turn anything they touch into salt. Since returning to the Kingdom however, her abilities have begun to fade. Why has the Princess returned after a hundred years, and why has she been adversely affected by returning?
The Princess has returned, and so has Blue Tea, the original creators of Dark Parables! If you haven't played any of the games in this series, you may be put off by some of the features, or lack thereof, but Blue Tea created some very unique features back in the day, and in this Collector's Edition version, you'll get to enjoy 2 of the most unique features made famous by them. The Hidden Object Scenes are FROG's, this is where you are tasked with finding fragmented objects, that are shown as pictures in three different sections of the inventory bar. Once all fragments have been found in each of the sections, the 3 fragments join together to create a single inventory item. You would think that finding bright and shiny fragments in a scene would be super simple, but you may be surprised, and personally, I love FROG's! You will also come across several Parable collectibles which allows you to read (or listen to) a short Parable story once all 4 parables have been collected. There are 5 Parables including The Moon Prophecy, The Untold Story of the Frog Prince and of course story of the Salt Princess. This CE version also has 20 Cursed Objects, which I complained about earlier, I love the morphs offered, I just wanted them to be like they were originally.
This Collector's Edition version has 12 Wallpapers, 24 beautifully illustrated Concept Art drawings, 5 Music Soundtracks, 6 Movie Cutscenes, 9 re-playable Puzzles, 26 Achievements to earn, 20 collectible Parables for 5 different stories, 20 Cursed Objects, a built in Strategy Guide, 6 Main Chapters, and a Bonus Chapter titled Moonlight Romance, enjoy!
DARK PARABLES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Curse of Briar Rose (March 11-2010) 4.3
2-The Exiled Prince (February 25-2011) 4.3
3-Rise of the Snow Queen (December 1-2011) 4.6
4-The Red Riding Hood Sisters (September 21-2012) 3.7
5-The Final Cinderella (May 23-2013) 4.4
6-Jack and the Sky Kingdom (February 6-2014) 4.2
7-Ballad of Rapunzel (June 26-2014) 4.3
8-The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide (November 13-2014) 3.7
9-Queen of Sands (May 21-2015) 3.5
10-Goldilocks and the Fallen Star (November 19-2015) 3.4
11-The Swan Princess and the Dire Tree (July 7-2016) 3.8
12-The Thief and the Tinderbox (September 22-2016) 3.4
13-Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow (February 23-2017) 3.1
14-Return of the Salt Princess (March 15-2018) n/a
by: Blue Tea Games (developer)
by: Eipix Entertainment (producer)
BLUE TEA GAMES AVAILABLE
Dark Parables (games 1-7 & 14) Cursery, Enchantia, Enlightenus, Fabled Legends, Macabre Mysteries, Forgotten Lands, Forgotten Riddles, Teddy Tavern, Cactus Bruce, Mavenfall
I recommend this game!
+44points
66of 88voted this as helpful.
 
Use your knowledge of alchemical arcana to save the young prince from the clutches of dark magic!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
47 of 57 found this review helpful
AT LEAST THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION HAS COLLECTIBLE ROSES TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED
PostedMarch 14, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromHopefully The Forgotten Well won't be as forgettable!
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
4.7 out of 5(163)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
The good news about this game is that it has 4 very long Chapters. The bad news is that those are the most boring chapters known to mankind. At least with the Collector's Edition version, you can look for a hidden Rose in each scene to take your mind off the fact that the game is so uneventful. I played the demo of the CE when it was released, and then played the demo of this Standard Edition version this morning, and I noticed something I hadn't noticed the first time. In the first HOP, one of the items was an Ace bandage all wrapped up and pinned tightly together with 2 metal clasps, you know, the kind they make presently, not hundreds of years ago!
After muddling my way through the demo, I tried to play beyond the demo, and I gave it a valiant attempt, but I just couldn't do it. Constantly trying to make potions and recipes is just too much. I don't even enjoy following the directions to make a recipe in a mini game, much less having to repeat one after another! This is a game of quantity, not quality, with 4 long chapters (CE has a Bonus Chapter titled Behind The Mirror) If you think you can muddle through, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
Another game with an evil imprisoned witch trying to escape, another naive Prince all grown up and ruining everything, another Alchemist who whips up potions using recipes that are conveniently laying around, which btw, always seems to be THE exact potion at THE right time. Top it all off with Royal Golden hues, repetitive puzzles and and boring tasks, what does that equal? Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery! (not to mention the fact that # 3 has already been released, but it must have gotten Lost)
In all fairness, I've never been a fan of recipe related games, and the repetitive Match 3 games that come with it. In the Collector's Edition version, there are 31 hidden Roses, which is a nice touch, but I think Crystal collectibles would've been more appropriate. Other than the usual Music, Wallpapers, Concept Art pictures, and replayable Mini Games and HOP's, that's about all that's offered. The 6 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes don't even have a gold, silver, bronze trophy feature, or any type of timer to try to beat your best score, they are just plain ole HOP's, a one and done kind!
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, and offer no alternative puzzle types. There are Interactive List finds, Multiples of the same items, Keywords in Sentences, Silhouetted Shapes to open up the listed finds. I will admit, that the HOP within an aviary was colorful and really well done, as you are tasked with finding the birds that match the Silhouetted Shapes shown, followed by finding 10 Feathers.
The Mini Games aren't really bad, but they are too repetitive, and I became bored after the third or fourth repeat of the same puzzle. As I stated before, I really don't like concocting alchemy recipes, there's no skill involved, so it's just a useless task to make ridiculas potions (example "Odor Sleuth" really?) Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Manipulate the padlocks to untangle the chains.
2) Recipe Match 3 game (repeated after each potion, progressively more difficult) this is a chain type Match 3 game requiring you to drag chain matches of a specific number of specific tiles, within a specified amount of moves.
3) Find objects in the telescope according to the keywords during a conversation.
4) Interact with the pages by clicking the correct objects pertaining to Keywords in a story.
5) Click gems in the correct order by repeating the sequence shown 3 times.
6) Place the Chasm Mirror pieces in their proper places.
7) Place the guards so that they secure every spot in the castle (vertical and horizontal coverage) on 3 different boards.
8) Swap tiles to create an image.
9) Find 5 differences between 3 different soldiers.
10) Combine 2 elements to create the new element shown at the top (air, water, earth etc.)
11) Swap the tiles to match the clue shown.
12) Move the character to the other side by pushing statues out of the way without getting stuck. repeat 3 times, in between the potion Match 3 games.
The Collector's Edition version has 6 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 6 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 6 Mini Games, 9 Movie Cutscenes, 12 Achievements to earn, 31 Hidden Roses, a built in Strategy Guide, 4 Main Chapters and a Bonus Chapter. (Behind The Mirror)
LOST GRIMOIRES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Stolen Kingdom (March 6-2017) 4.3
2-Shard of Mystery (February 20-2018) 3.4
3-The Forgotten Well (????)
by: Artifex Mundi
ARTIFEX MUNDI GAMES AVAILABLE
PRODUCED:
*9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek * The Ward
*Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden
*Agent Walker: Secret Journey
*Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
*Dark Arcana: The Carnival
*Dark Heritage: Guardians of Hope
*Deadly Puzzles: Toymaker
*Demon Hunter: Chronicles From Beyond*New Chapter*Revelation*Riddles Of Light
*Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse*Frozen Path
*Enigmatis: The Ghosts Of Maple Creek*The Mists Of Ravenwood*The Shadow Of Karkhala
*Eventide: Slavic Fable*The Sorcerer's Mirror*Legacy Of Legends
*Fairy Tale Mysteries: The Puppet Thief*The Beanstalk
*Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride*Song Of The Dark Swan*The Dark City
*Left In The Dark: No One On Board
*Lost Grimoires: Stolen Kingdom*Shard Of Mystery*The Forgotten Well
*Mind Snares: Alice's Journey
*Modern Tales: Age Of Invention
*Mythic Wonders: Philosopher's Stone
*Nightmares From The Deep: The Siren's Call*Davy Jones
*Noir Chronicles: City Of Crime
*Persian Nights: Sands Of Wonders
*Princess Isabella: The Rise Of An Heir
*Queen's Quest: Tower Of Darkness
*Scarlett Mysteries: Cursed Child
*The Secret Order:Masked Intent*Ancient Times*Beyond Time*The Buried Kingdom*Bloodline
*Time Mysteries: Inheritance*The Ancient Spectres*The Final Enigma
*Tiny Tales: Heart of the Forest
*Vampire Legends: The True Story Of Kisilova
DEVELOPED:
*300 Dwarves
*Abyss: The Wraiths Of Eden
*Clockwork Tales: Of Glass And Ink
*Dark Arcana: The Carnival
*Deadly Puzzles: Toymaker
*Enigmatis: The Ghosts Of Maple Creek*The Mists Of Ravenwood*The Shadow Of Karkhala
*Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride*Song Of The Dark Swan*The Dark City
*Maluch Racer 3
*Nightmares From The Deep: The Cursed Heart*The Siren's Call*Davy Jones
*The Emerald Maiden: Symphony Of Dreams
*Time Mysteries: Inheritance*The Ancient Spectres*The Final Enigma
I don't recommend this game.
+37points
47of 57voted this as helpful.
 
Sail back to the Caribbean Sea with seasoned pirates in this solitaire adventure game!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
31 of 37 found this review helpful
AVAST YE HEARTIES, THARRR TRYING TO HORNSWAGGLE ME BOOTY
PostedMarch 14, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromArrr the Pirates must be in the briney deep visiting Davy Jones' Locker because there aarrrne't any here!
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Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
4.5 out of 5(101)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
There's one feature that 8 Floor Games never changes in their Solitaire games, (arrr to be truthful, those yellow bellied landlubber scurvy's never change any features) once you remove all Gold Cards, it's game over. Arrrr, Golf Solitaire, drives me nutz, I may as well walk the plank! If I can't remove all the cards from the board, what's the point of playing?
Unfortunately, the cons outweigh the pros for me, the only pro feature for me personally, is that this is a Higher/Lower type of Solitaire, (with a Golf or Bowling system of scoring, which is a con for me) There are 12 Pirate themed card designs to choose from, and 3 face card styles and fonts available. You can play in Newbie mode which allows you to replay any level, or Professional which only allows you to replay the entire 10 pack level.
The cons, the graphics are rather bland and really has nothing to do with pirates. The music soon becomes annoying because it's the exact same music from all games by this dev
but fortunately, you can turn the music off or at least lower the volume. I will replay a level over and over, until I get a perfect score, I'm totally ocd about it, which is why I don't care for the feature this game offers where you win the hand if you remove all "Special" or plated cards, even if regular cards remain. It annoys me to no end, to have several cards left on the board, but because I removed the last special card, the level ends, it's especially hard when you are on a long chain streak, and you can't complete the record breaking chain!
My final complaint is that there are never any new or exciting features added, ever! If you have played any Solitaire game requiring you to remove all special or gold cards, it's probably made by this same dev, and this one is no different, other than the title. Because the cons outweigh the pros for my personal tastes, I really don't recommend Legend of the Pirates 1 or 2.
If you are looking for some good Solitaire games try Magic Solitaire, The Chronicles of Emerland, Zombie Solitaire, Home Run Solitaire, Snow White or Jewel Match Solitaire.
8 FLOOR GAMES AVAILABLE
Solitaire Legend Of The Pirates, Solitaire Ted & P.E.T, Picross Ted & P.E.T, Griddlers Ted & P.E.T, 1001 Jigsaw Earth Chronicles, Alice's Patchwork, Asian Riddles, Asian Mahjong, Caribbean Jigsaw, Caribbean Mahjong, Christmas Mahjong, Christmas Griddlers, Christmas Patchwork, Chronicles of Witches and Warlocks, DayD Mayhem, Detective Riddles, Dino Rage Defense, Easter Riddles, Egypt Picross, Egypt Solitaire, Elly's Cake Cafe, Fairytale Griddlers, Fairytale Mosaics, Fill and Cross Trick or Treat, Fill and Cross Royal Riddles, Fill and Cross Christmas Riddles, Fill and Cross World Contest, Forty Defense, Gems of the Aztec, Gnomes Garden, Griddlers Beach Season, Griddlers Victorian Picnic, Halloween Night Mahjong, Halloween Patchwork, Halloween Riddles, Holiday Jigsaw Christmas-Easter-Halloween-Thanksgiving-Valentine's Day, Holiday Mosaics Christmas-Halloween Puzzles, Holiday Solitaire Easter, Iron Heart, Iron Sea Defenders, Jigsaw Boom, Jigsaw Puzzle Beach Season-Women's Day, Knight's Solitaire, Lost Artifacts, Magic Griddlers, Mahjong Business Style, Mahjong Christmas, Mahjong Royal Towers, Mahjong Valentine's Day, Mahjong World Contest, Medieval Defenders, Mosaics Galore, Mysteries of the Undead: Cursed Island, Mystery Solitaire, Pirate Jigsaw, Pirate Mosaic Puzzle, Pirates Solitaire, Portal of Evil, Royal Defense, Royal Gems, Royal Jigsaw, Sakura Day Mahjong, Santa's Toy Factory Nonograms, Solitaire Beach Season, Solitaire Christmas-Solitaire Doodle God, Solitaire Christmas-Halloween, Solitaire Halloween Story, Solitaire Jack Frost, Solitaire Match 2 Cards Valentine's Day, Solitaire Victorian Picnic, Spooky Mahjong, True Detective Solitaire, Valentines Day Griddlers
I don't recommend this game.
+25points
31of 37voted this as helpful.
 
 Warlock: The Curse of the Shaman
Warlock: The Curse of the Shaman
Travel through ghost worlds to investigate the mysteries of your family. Can you uncover the mystery of the tribal curse?
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
VERY RETRO=VERY ENTERTAINING
PostedMarch 13, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromI am my father's son...even if we never meet!
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Agency of Anomalies: Cinderstone Orphanage
4.2 out of 5(90)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
When this game first came out, I was unable to play it on my computer for whatever reason. I recently got a new computer with Windows 10, and I thought that if it wouldn't play on my Windows 7 version, there's no way it's gonna work on a newer version. Surprise! I'm so glad I took the chance, because although this is a retro game with rather archaic features, it has a certain appeal and I rather like it! The only complaint I really have is that the game cursor is so teeny tiny, that I can't tell whether it's a finger, magnifying glass or just a regular pointer, but I suppose it adds to the challenge. You have 3 difficulty modes to choose from, Easy, Casual and Expert (no glints, slow hint recharge and has misclick penalties.
You were born with a symbol on your forearm, and you have been having visions lately. After one such vision, you awaken in an abandoned house, and immediately begin to search for clues, why are you here, how did you get here? Once you find the letter your father left for you, it all becomes crystal clear. Your family has been cursed by a Shaman many generations ago, a curse that doesn't allow son's to meet their fathers, when a son is born, the father loses his life in exchange.
Your father has dedicated most of his life trying to find a way to break this curse, and has left behind all of his findings and clues. Breaking this curse will require you to find the missing pieces of voodoo dolls, and reconstruct the ritual once they have been completed. But finding these cursed dolls isn't so easy, because this is no ordinary game!
This is the kind of game that you can't solve by clicking here, and clicking there, like most games today. This is the kind of game that requires you to think outside the box. Puzzles have horrible instructions and are difficult to figure out at times, BUT, they are sometimes unique and for the most part, creative, and well worth the effort.
The Hidden Object Scenes are basic Interactive List finds, you know, the old school kind, but again, I really liked them. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy in the game itself, and continues that motiff within the HOP's but it adds more challenge that way in my opinion. Give this one a try, especially if you miss those games of yesteryear :)
I recommend this game!
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Solve the case and bring a criminal to justice in this time management detective game!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
109 of 132 found this review helpful
BY FAR THE MOST ENTERTAINING TIME MANAGEMENT GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED!
PostedMarch 13, 2018
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromCarl the Mouse did it! (in the shipyard with the candlestick)
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
Haunted Domains
4.5 out of 5(48)
 
 
 
 
 
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I've always been a fan of the Delicious series of TM games, and I was totally blown away by Parker & Lane: Criminal Justice, so much so that I'm not going to wait for the Standard Edition version to be released!
Detective Parker is assigned to her first case, a Faceless Crime, after a jogger finds half a dead body! That's right, only half, and not the easily identifiable half either! I was super excited right from the get go, what could be better than being a detective and solving cases TM style? This game has a great plot, and the TM tasks for the most part are really good.
Detective Parker has her work cut out for her (although I seem to be doing all the work!) Even Carl the Mouse is curious about this investigation, and pops up in every scene. It is Parker's job to assign the investigator's to their desired posts, by selecting the investigator and clicking on the station he is requesting. Each investigator has a thought bubble with an image of his expertise, or where he wants to go. Once he has been directed to the correct location, he will show images of inventory items he needs to get the job done, tools, camera etc.
As with most TM games, some equipment will require multi steps in a specific sequence, before delivering, and some inventory items are in limited supply, and require restocking occasionally. Once the investigator has finished, you need to click on him to get the case findings. The longer they wait, the more angry they become, and the less points you'll receive.
Some requests, require Parker's personal opinion, or a mini game to be completed such as using a slider bar, or picking up evidence with tweezers. There's only one camera, so the investigator's have to take turns, and there are 3 different pieces of the camera they may need, the camera, a flash, and a tripod.
The Challenge Levels suddenly have more meaning (I'm assuming they are only offered in this CE version) but when you complete a Challenge level, you will not only earn a Trophy Achievement (again I'm assuming this is a CE only feature) but it allows you to unlock and build case files. You get to reconstruct the crime scene! The Achievements are just as awesome, and have unique quests and milestone trophies. You can find 9 dead people and body parts, complete 15 daily challenges,and even unlock endless levels.
This is such an awesome game, there's no clicking an dragging of the characters, a feature I hate, and I love that I get to sleuth. The studio's that shall not be named, has done an awesome job with this game, and they have created a really fun TM game! What are you waiting for? Go solve some crimes, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
+86points
109of 132voted this as helpful.
 
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