pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4700
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:January 15, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Who could turn down an opportunity to change the past?
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 67 found this review helpful
WALKING A MILE IN DALIMAR'S SHOES
PostedApril 14, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Completed Game: a little over 5.0 Hours
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter)
19 Main Game Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter)
19 Main Game Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced
Charles Dalimar wanted nothing more than to be a good boy growing up. His mother, Abigail, worked at the Madame Fate Carnival as "The Fattest Lady Alive," while his father Alister, spent his days and nights trying to become immortal. Abigail was abusive to Charles, causing him to spend all of his free time constructing intricate locks to help him feel safe in his own home. Charles didn't stand a chance of living a normal life. Like his father before him, Abigail placed this 11-year-old child in the Manchester Provincial Asylum, where he would spend the next 10 years of his life!
Charles was no longer interested in being a good boy; he was only interested in following in the footsteps of his father, Alister, and continuing his work to become immortal...but in the end, he didn't succeed...or did he? Master Detective will never be the same after walking a mile in the shoes of a madman, Charles Dalimar!
This game had me on the fence. On one hand, I felt that this was Grandma Studios' finest work of art. The mechanics were flawless, and the game moved at a good pace, never boring and never repetitive. The Collectible Medallions were well blended for the most part, one of which Morphed at a slow enough rate to make it a great extra challenge. I found myself looking forward to the Hidden Object Scenes, which is a very rare occurrence nowadays! Although the "Rube Goldberg" puzzles were technically just multiple mini-games, they were perfect games; they fit the theme perfectly, and with a little patience, they are doable non-frustrating puzzles.
On the other hand, the story was good but should have been a little more Ravenhearsty. It should have taken place in a creepier Manor with way less green glow! It should have been edgier, with all the props of a Ravenhearst Manor kind of game. Mystery Case Files has always been the kind of game that pushed the envelope and had an environment that made you feel as if you were being watched by one of the sick and twisted Dalimar's...and it was also the series that put Big Fish on the map...so why should the envelope stop moving now?
HELPERS/GADGET
There are no infamous MCF gadgets. Technically, there is a Robot sidekick, but he comes and goes throughout the game.
There are no infamous MCF gadgets. Technically, there is a Robot sidekick, but he comes and goes throughout the game.
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHING OBJECTS (CE version only)
Grandma did not disappoint in the Collectibles/Morph department. Each scene has two heart-shaped Medallions, one static and one that morphs. They did a pretty good job blending the medallions into the scenery, and I felt the morphing medallion was a great challenge in some of the scenes because it morphed slowly!
There are also 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw. They are actually tough to spot at times, but unfortunately, they can't be accidentally overlooked because the zoom zoom won't close until you click the puzzle piece.
Grandma did not disappoint in the Collectibles/Morph department. Each scene has two heart-shaped Medallions, one static and one that morphs. They did a pretty good job blending the medallions into the scenery, and I felt the morphing medallion was a great challenge in some of the scenes because it morphed slowly!
There are also 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw. They are actually tough to spot at times, but unfortunately, they can't be accidentally overlooked because the zoom zoom won't close until you click the puzzle piece.
There is a pull-out tab on the left that keeps track of the Collectibles, but if you missed a collectible or Jigsaw Puzzle Piece, you could return to the scenes to collect them (after completing the Main Game) by clicking on the puzzle piece, or Medallion...love this ability!
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
There are only 10 Hidden Object Scenes (and a small zoom zone HO) +3 in the CE BC, but they are really enjoyable and located in interesting locations. The majority of HO scenes are Interactive List Finds, but they have unique aspects that make them feel fresh and somewhat different...you will notice this right from the get-go! There are also Fragment Finds, Related Pairs that resets if you make a mistake (I loved this one!), a really cool Swatches HO that had unusual interactions with beautiful flowers, Stained Glass where you rotate sections to align the HO's, one where you pull ropes to swivel chalkboards, and Silhouetted Shape Finds...very well done @Grandma!
There are only 10 Hidden Object Scenes (and a small zoom zone HO) +3 in the CE BC, but they are really enjoyable and located in interesting locations. The majority of HO scenes are Interactive List Finds, but they have unique aspects that make them feel fresh and somewhat different...you will notice this right from the get-go! There are also Fragment Finds, Related Pairs that resets if you make a mistake (I loved this one!), a really cool Swatches HO that had unusual interactions with beautiful flowers, Stained Glass where you rotate sections to align the HO's, one where you pull ropes to swivel chalkboards, and Silhouetted Shape Finds...very well done @Grandma!
MINI-GAMES:
As I said earlier, the DOOR puzzles were not technically Rube Goldberg puzzles where each action activates a different part of the puzzle and must be solved by figuring out subtle clues on the door itself...BUT...they were multi-layered puzzles that were hands down the best Grandma has ever created! There are five Door puzzles in the main chapters and a total of 19 mini-games +5 in the CE BC. I didn't find any of the mini-games frustrating, and really, the only game I didn't like was one where you had to fill the board with your tokens by jumping or moving tokens to multiply them while your opponent was doing the same, but that just my personal nemesis!
As I said earlier, the DOOR puzzles were not technically Rube Goldberg puzzles where each action activates a different part of the puzzle and must be solved by figuring out subtle clues on the door itself...BUT...they were multi-layered puzzles that were hands down the best Grandma has ever created! There are five Door puzzles in the main chapters and a total of 19 mini-games +5 in the CE BC. I didn't find any of the mini-games frustrating, and really, the only game I didn't like was one where you had to fill the board with your tokens by jumping or moving tokens to multiply them while your opponent was doing the same, but that just my personal nemesis!
BONUS CHAPTER: (CE version only)
The One That Got Away should have been the name of this BC! This is played as Angelica, the maid that escaped toward the end of the game. I don't want to explain further because it will ruin the plot. This is an average-length Bonus Chapter that spans over 7 scene locations, with five additional Mini-games and two Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final 14 Medallions and 5 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces to assemble a single Jigsaw Puzzle.
The One That Got Away should have been the name of this BC! This is played as Angelica, the maid that escaped toward the end of the game. I don't want to explain further because it will ruin the plot. This is an average-length Bonus Chapter that spans over 7 scene locations, with five additional Mini-games and two Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final 14 Medallions and 5 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces to assemble a single Jigsaw Puzzle.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 12 Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks ♪, 11 Replayable Mini-Games♙, 10 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Achievements, 52 Collectible Medallions (1 Morphing-1 Static), 20 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 4 Main Chapters (Past Atrocities) +Bonus Chapter (Escape) and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 12 Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks ♪, 11 Replayable Mini-Games♙, 10 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Achievements, 52 Collectible Medallions (1 Morphing-1 Static), 20 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 4 Main Chapters (Past Atrocities) +Bonus Chapter (Escape) and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
MCF fans, unite and join us at my new forum for great company and tons of fun. Check out the Game Series Lists, find gaming help & share tips, or just chillax by the campfire and enjoy nature at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the riddle of the dancing men in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
166 of 218 found this review helpful
A SOLID 4.5 KIND OF GAME-THE BEST IN THIS SERIES TO DATE!
PostedApril 13, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Expert
Let me start by saying that I'm really becoming disgusted by the review system here at Big Fish Games. We're not competing for the position of vice presidency at a major corporation here; we're submitting reviews to help others make decisions on purchasing or playing games, right? At least that's what I thought the objective was, yet we have some reviewers who feel the need to "acquire" the games a day early just so they can be the first to submit a review (why, what's the rush?) This option isn't available to everyone, therefore, it shouldn't be an option for anyone.
Then there are those who decide to abuse the voting system to bash individuals with a ridiculous amount of No votes as if they were a seven-year-old elementary school child pushing kids off the monkey bars at recess. (that's fancy talk for "grow up!") Most Reviewers are submitting reviews because they want to help others; we certainly aren't getting paid to do this, and it's certainly easier to just play a game and not worry about writing a review. Reviews are simply opinions; you may disagree with a reviewer's opinion, and there's nothing wrong with that because differences are what make the world go round!
Lately, the reputation of the review process at Big Fish Games has become about as tarnished as tarnished gets! Piracy and Fraudulent Voting were practices that Paul Thelen would never have tolerated in the past; now, they seem to openly support cyberbullying and cyber fraud. Is this what we've become?
As for Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men, it is my opinion that this is absolutely the best game in the series. In fact, I would venture to say that it is one of the best quality games Elephant Games has developed in a long time. The plot pushes along at a good pace, and the tasks are fairly non-repetitive. It did have a few dull moments, but for the most part, it held my interest.
DIALOGUE CHOICES:
Throughout the game, you will choose a conversation response with your sidekick, Oscar. Supposedly, the choices you make affect your relationship with Oscar, and you will probably figure out pretty quickly where it is heading. I felt this option didn't add anything to the story, and I could have done without this overused feature. (used 4 times)
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Expert
Let me start by saying that I'm really becoming disgusted by the review system here at Big Fish Games. We're not competing for the position of vice presidency at a major corporation here; we're submitting reviews to help others make decisions on purchasing or playing games, right? At least that's what I thought the objective was, yet we have some reviewers who feel the need to "acquire" the games a day early just so they can be the first to submit a review (why, what's the rush?) This option isn't available to everyone, therefore, it shouldn't be an option for anyone.
Then there are those who decide to abuse the voting system to bash individuals with a ridiculous amount of No votes as if they were a seven-year-old elementary school child pushing kids off the monkey bars at recess. (that's fancy talk for "grow up!") Most Reviewers are submitting reviews because they want to help others; we certainly aren't getting paid to do this, and it's certainly easier to just play a game and not worry about writing a review. Reviews are simply opinions; you may disagree with a reviewer's opinion, and there's nothing wrong with that because differences are what make the world go round!
Lately, the reputation of the review process at Big Fish Games has become about as tarnished as tarnished gets! Piracy and Fraudulent Voting were practices that Paul Thelen would never have tolerated in the past; now, they seem to openly support cyberbullying and cyber fraud. Is this what we've become?
As for Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men, it is my opinion that this is absolutely the best game in the series. In fact, I would venture to say that it is one of the best quality games Elephant Games has developed in a long time. The plot pushes along at a good pace, and the tasks are fairly non-repetitive. It did have a few dull moments, but for the most part, it held my interest.
DIALOGUE CHOICES:
Throughout the game, you will choose a conversation response with your sidekick, Oscar. Supposedly, the choices you make affect your relationship with Oscar, and you will probably figure out pretty quickly where it is heading. I felt this option didn't add anything to the story, and I could have done without this overused feature. (used 4 times)
DEDUCTIONS:
Ms. Homes puts the pieces together to make 4 Deductions by playing a repetitive mini-game where you draw an arrow between tokens in the correct time-line sequence. I grew very board with this mini-game quickly!
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
This was the only feature in the game that I felt was a letdown. I miss having Morphing Objects in an Elephant game. The Collectibles were not very interesting, and the Magnifying Glasses in each scene are so obvious it's the first thing you see when entering a new room. Each magnifying Glass converts to a Jigsaw Puzzle piece, allowing you to assemble a 25-piece jigsaw puzzle in the Secret Room (what's so secret about it?) After completing the main game, you can return to any of the scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Magnifying Glass Puzzle Pieces in the Expedition Room.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
There are only 9 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter, however, there are also 6 Zoom Zone HO's throughout the main game that is actually pretty decent. There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Spot the Difference Finds, and Swatches (actually quite challenging) Two of my favorites were finding matching Pairs by removing the hats from gnomes two at a time and one where you had to place items on the shelves according to partial images shown on fragments of a photo.
MINI-GAMES:
There are 21 Mini-Games +7 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Elephant Games rarely disappoint me when it comes to their mini-games because they usually have several mechanical-type puzzles which require some tinkering & thinkering to solve. I enjoyed several of the mini-games, such as swapping rings on hands so the chains in between were related to two similar images, and another where you had to use directional arrows to move two emblems along tracks, using them as bumpers to align them with the slots to their matching places. I didn't have any issues completing the puzzles and didn't feel that any of the mini-games were frustrating. I did have an issue with the Reset button that didn't want to work until I exited out of the puzzle and back in.
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
Olivia rushes to the hospital when her friend Elizabeth is hospitalized. There have been an unusual number of teachers and students becoming mysteriously ill, so Olivia calls in the expert, Sharlotte Holmes, of course! There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes across an additional 8 scene locations. You'll continue your search for the final 3 Collectibles and 8 Magnifying Glasses that convert to jigsaw puzzle pieces.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S:
6 Wallpaper, 1 Screensaver, 0 Video Movie Sequences, 0 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 20 Achievements, replay 13 Hidden Object Scenes, and 13 Mini-games, 12 Collectibles, 25 Magnifying Glasses that convert to Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle in the Secret Room, an Expedition Room (return to scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Magnifying Glasses) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Ms. Homes puts the pieces together to make 4 Deductions by playing a repetitive mini-game where you draw an arrow between tokens in the correct time-line sequence. I grew very board with this mini-game quickly!
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
This was the only feature in the game that I felt was a letdown. I miss having Morphing Objects in an Elephant game. The Collectibles were not very interesting, and the Magnifying Glasses in each scene are so obvious it's the first thing you see when entering a new room. Each magnifying Glass converts to a Jigsaw Puzzle piece, allowing you to assemble a 25-piece jigsaw puzzle in the Secret Room (what's so secret about it?) After completing the main game, you can return to any of the scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Magnifying Glass Puzzle Pieces in the Expedition Room.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
There are only 9 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter, however, there are also 6 Zoom Zone HO's throughout the main game that is actually pretty decent. There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Spot the Difference Finds, and Swatches (actually quite challenging) Two of my favorites were finding matching Pairs by removing the hats from gnomes two at a time and one where you had to place items on the shelves according to partial images shown on fragments of a photo.
MINI-GAMES:
There are 21 Mini-Games +7 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Elephant Games rarely disappoint me when it comes to their mini-games because they usually have several mechanical-type puzzles which require some tinkering & thinkering to solve. I enjoyed several of the mini-games, such as swapping rings on hands so the chains in between were related to two similar images, and another where you had to use directional arrows to move two emblems along tracks, using them as bumpers to align them with the slots to their matching places. I didn't have any issues completing the puzzles and didn't feel that any of the mini-games were frustrating. I did have an issue with the Reset button that didn't want to work until I exited out of the puzzle and back in.
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
Olivia rushes to the hospital when her friend Elizabeth is hospitalized. There have been an unusual number of teachers and students becoming mysteriously ill, so Olivia calls in the expert, Sharlotte Holmes, of course! There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes across an additional 8 scene locations. You'll continue your search for the final 3 Collectibles and 8 Magnifying Glasses that convert to jigsaw puzzle pieces.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S:
6 Wallpaper, 1 Screensaver, 0 Video Movie Sequences, 0 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 20 Achievements, replay 13 Hidden Object Scenes, and 13 Mini-games, 12 Collectibles, 25 Magnifying Glasses that convert to Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle in the Secret Room, an Expedition Room (return to scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Magnifying Glasses) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise...join us, won't you? thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Complete incredible works of art one pixel at a time!
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 115 found this review helpful
A PIXEL COLORING GAME IN REVERSE? GENIUS!
PostedApril 12, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
At first glance, I thought this was just an ordinary Pixel coloring game. Five minutes later, I was so engrossed I didn't want the picture to be completed! This is no ordinary Pixel Art game; instead of painting individual pixels, you chisel the pixels off to reveal the color. There's just something gratifying about watching the boxes tumble and cascade downward; it's kind of like popping bubble wrap bubbles, ya see 'em and have to pop 'em, lol.
The pictures are available in Small, Medium, Large, and Huge..., all of which are unlocked and available to color in any order! These are interesting images with beautiful colors and a ton of landscapes available. Unlike the "other" Pixel Art game, you get to paint the entire image, not just a tiny bowl of fruit in the center of a gray page! You can use the Zoom Tab or scroll the picture larger with the mouse wheel. There are several tabs on the right side that allow you to change the cell color, the background color, and even the size of the paintbrush.
My first suggestion would be to change the color of the cells to a bright color that is easy to spot. I chose the teal color, which made it very obvious. I found that the color stood out so well that I didn't even have to zoom the picture larger. Remember, you are scraping the boxes off; you aren't filling them in, so it really doesn't matter how small or how large you make the picture because you aren't having to find a single cell to fill in with color. Don't worry; you may not be painting individual pixels, but there is an incredible amount of detail AND shading. I have completed several of the pictures, and every picture has incredible detail!
I would also suggest using the largest brush size; again, you are scraping the cells off versus filling them in. Go big and swipe away! Using the large brush size is especially helpful when doing the landscape pictures because, in my opinion, there is a ton of detail in sections. This is hard to describe, so you'll have to play to understand.
The best feature, hands-down, is the Grid Lines! The outside edges around the image itself have grid lines. The number of cells remaining (for the current numbered cell) will be shown within those grid lines. If you do miss a cell or two, their location is easy to spot by simply following the path of the vertical & horizontal grid (where they would intersect is the area the missed cells are located.
After completing the picture, you can sit back and admire the detail; it doesn't whoosh away as most Pixel games do. You can even adjust individual colors afterward by clicking the color wheel on the bottom right!
Come join us at The Woods Forum; we always have wonderful guests of honor to chat with at thewoodsforum.boards.net
The pictures are available in Small, Medium, Large, and Huge..., all of which are unlocked and available to color in any order! These are interesting images with beautiful colors and a ton of landscapes available. Unlike the "other" Pixel Art game, you get to paint the entire image, not just a tiny bowl of fruit in the center of a gray page! You can use the Zoom Tab or scroll the picture larger with the mouse wheel. There are several tabs on the right side that allow you to change the cell color, the background color, and even the size of the paintbrush.
My first suggestion would be to change the color of the cells to a bright color that is easy to spot. I chose the teal color, which made it very obvious. I found that the color stood out so well that I didn't even have to zoom the picture larger. Remember, you are scraping the boxes off; you aren't filling them in, so it really doesn't matter how small or how large you make the picture because you aren't having to find a single cell to fill in with color. Don't worry; you may not be painting individual pixels, but there is an incredible amount of detail AND shading. I have completed several of the pictures, and every picture has incredible detail!
I would also suggest using the largest brush size; again, you are scraping the cells off versus filling them in. Go big and swipe away! Using the large brush size is especially helpful when doing the landscape pictures because, in my opinion, there is a ton of detail in sections. This is hard to describe, so you'll have to play to understand.
The best feature, hands-down, is the Grid Lines! The outside edges around the image itself have grid lines. The number of cells remaining (for the current numbered cell) will be shown within those grid lines. If you do miss a cell or two, their location is easy to spot by simply following the path of the vertical & horizontal grid (where they would intersect is the area the missed cells are located.
After completing the picture, you can sit back and admire the detail; it doesn't whoosh away as most Pixel games do. You can even adjust individual colors afterward by clicking the color wheel on the bottom right!
Come join us at The Woods Forum; we always have wonderful guests of honor to chat with at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 17 found this review helpful
SO MANY OPTIONS, SO MUCH VARIETY
PostedApril 11, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
At first, I thought this was just another knockoff HOG, and I didn't realize this was developed by Brain VM Games, the one that offers the Photo Box Puzzles! This isn't just a Hidden Object Game; it has Word Games and a variety of mini-games and puzzles...just what I've come to expect from this developer who always "thinks outside the Box!"
You get choices! You can choose the number of Hidden Objects in each scene (13-15-18-20), and then you choose which mode to play. You can choose a Relaxed Normal Mode, a five, or 10-minute Timed Mode; you can also choose to play in a Missing Vowel mode.
Each HO level has a specified number of Hidden Diamonds and Postcards, shown to the right of the Listed Items bar. Finding Diamonds will unlock adorable pet pictures, and finding Postcards will unlock wallpapers of beautiful locations across Europe.
My only complaint with the HO scenes is that there isn't a Magnifying Glass or zoom option available. Most of the objects are large enough to see without a magnifier, but there were a few congested areas where a zoom feature would have been helpful. For the most part, the listed objects were blended into the scenery and added a decent challenge factor.
After each HO scene, you will play a mini-game which is usually an HO variation, such as Spot The Difference (with very subtle differences, quite enjoyable) There are round tokens with clipart images to match, and Clutter-style HO scenes where you find specified objects, shown as pictures, three at a time, which was more challenging than I thought it would be. There are also Tile Swap games to recreate a picture...and it gives you the option to select Tile Rotation, Tile Swap, or Split Tiles (horizontal/vertical rows) You can also choose from three different puzzle sizes, small, medium, or large.
If none of the above-mentioned features interest you, how about 322 Word Search levels that progress in size & difficulty? There is also an infinite game called Find Numbers, a game I fell in love with in the Photo Box series. You are tasked with finding a specified number token, shown one at a time at the top of the screen.
My absolute favorite game was the Anagrams (2,109 of them!) This is a Word game where you type as many legitimate words as you can think of from the letters shown. The game starts with 4 letters and eventually progresses with more available letters. This game was really fun and made me realize I was a bit rusty because I haven't played a game like this in a long time...I wish BF would offer more Word Games!
The WORD around the country is that The Woods Forum is THE place to go. Chat about the daily games and so much more at thewoodsforum.boards.net
You get choices! You can choose the number of Hidden Objects in each scene (13-15-18-20), and then you choose which mode to play. You can choose a Relaxed Normal Mode, a five, or 10-minute Timed Mode; you can also choose to play in a Missing Vowel mode.
Each HO level has a specified number of Hidden Diamonds and Postcards, shown to the right of the Listed Items bar. Finding Diamonds will unlock adorable pet pictures, and finding Postcards will unlock wallpapers of beautiful locations across Europe.
My only complaint with the HO scenes is that there isn't a Magnifying Glass or zoom option available. Most of the objects are large enough to see without a magnifier, but there were a few congested areas where a zoom feature would have been helpful. For the most part, the listed objects were blended into the scenery and added a decent challenge factor.
After each HO scene, you will play a mini-game which is usually an HO variation, such as Spot The Difference (with very subtle differences, quite enjoyable) There are round tokens with clipart images to match, and Clutter-style HO scenes where you find specified objects, shown as pictures, three at a time, which was more challenging than I thought it would be. There are also Tile Swap games to recreate a picture...and it gives you the option to select Tile Rotation, Tile Swap, or Split Tiles (horizontal/vertical rows) You can also choose from three different puzzle sizes, small, medium, or large.
If none of the above-mentioned features interest you, how about 322 Word Search levels that progress in size & difficulty? There is also an infinite game called Find Numbers, a game I fell in love with in the Photo Box series. You are tasked with finding a specified number token, shown one at a time at the top of the screen.
My absolute favorite game was the Anagrams (2,109 of them!) This is a Word game where you type as many legitimate words as you can think of from the letters shown. The game starts with 4 letters and eventually progresses with more available letters. This game was really fun and made me realize I was a bit rusty because I haven't played a game like this in a long time...I wish BF would offer more Word Games!
The WORD around the country is that The Woods Forum is THE place to go. Chat about the daily games and so much more at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
32 of 54 found this review helpful
SAME AS KATY & BOB BUT MORE CARTOONISH
PostedApril 11, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game would make a better app than a PC game. The gameplay is almost identical to the Katy & Bob series, with the same exact restaurant setup and features. It is a very glitchy game, and some of the items don't appear when and where they should, not to mention the fact that new customers instantly replace old ones with the same character at the table. One second, you have an old customer; the next, a brand new customer morphs in their place without any indication that a new customer has arrived.
You can play in a Timed or Untimed Mode. There are four different restaurants, Oriental, Mexican, Bistro, and Hawaiian. Each restaurant has 15 levels, and there are 9 Trophy Achievements to earn.
The tasks are simple, customers come in and place their order via a thought bubble. Most of the food requires a few different steps, such as adding rice from a rice cooker or giving a plate of chicken to the chef to be cut; then you place the raw chicken on the frying pan and magically get a prepared dinner back with several ingredients added. After serving the food to the customer, you click the table to receive tips and serve the next customer.
At the end of each day, you will upgrade kitchen equipment which helps by making food faster or adding a premium selection to earn more money. Some upgrades help keep the customer happy, such as playing music to keep them from leaving.
The characters bob up and down when idle, which I found slightly annoying. The bottom line is that this game doesn't have any wow factors, and it's really no different than all the other restaurant games. After playing the demo, I just didn't have the desire to continue playing, therefore, there's nothing about this game that makes me want to buy it.
Let's scrap the Kung Pao chicken and head on over to The Woods Forum! thewoodsforum.boards.net
You can play in a Timed or Untimed Mode. There are four different restaurants, Oriental, Mexican, Bistro, and Hawaiian. Each restaurant has 15 levels, and there are 9 Trophy Achievements to earn.
The tasks are simple, customers come in and place their order via a thought bubble. Most of the food requires a few different steps, such as adding rice from a rice cooker or giving a plate of chicken to the chef to be cut; then you place the raw chicken on the frying pan and magically get a prepared dinner back with several ingredients added. After serving the food to the customer, you click the table to receive tips and serve the next customer.
At the end of each day, you will upgrade kitchen equipment which helps by making food faster or adding a premium selection to earn more money. Some upgrades help keep the customer happy, such as playing music to keep them from leaving.
The characters bob up and down when idle, which I found slightly annoying. The bottom line is that this game doesn't have any wow factors, and it's really no different than all the other restaurant games. After playing the demo, I just didn't have the desire to continue playing, therefore, there's nothing about this game that makes me want to buy it.
Let's scrap the Kung Pao chicken and head on over to The Woods Forum! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Help the Walker family open their coffee house!
Overall rating
1
/
5
3 of 16 found this review helpful
MATCHING PAIRS OF FROZEN FOOD INSIDE ICE CUBES, REALLY?
PostedApril 10, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
A cup of Hot Fun? It's more like a cup of Hot Mess! When I play the original Clutter games, the quality is amazing. The objects are really interesting, and every level is unique. When I play Shopping Clutter, I'm tasked with finding pairs of the most uninteresting objects imaginable. I may be tasked with finding a different category of objects, but every level has the same group of objects over and over. Nothing changes, and it becomes annoying by the time you reach levels in the third chapter. In the real clutter games, most of the objects are real objects, and many of those objects are items you have or have seen before. In Shopping Clutter, the objects are cartoonish clip-art pictures that certainly don't spark a nostalgic feeling, and no one has ever owned a neon pink dishwasher.
I don't expect every game to have eye-popping graphics, but I do expect a developer to make an attempt to improve gameplay after 21 consecutive games. When ratings start to plummet, as they have in this series, a developer has to pay attention to the players and the changes they are asking for. That constructive criticism isn't meant as a jab at the developer. Reviewers are stating what they like...or don't.
Reviewers are trying to help the developer by suggesting improvements. Reviewers for Shopping Clutter games have repeatedly stated that they don't like cartoon icons. If they have to be cartoon icons, at least pick more interesting subjects. Above all, mix up the icons from level to level; we're tired of the same group of objects on every level. The objects are easily spotted because it becomes a pattern; therefore, the levels are finished within a few seconds, and the challenge aspect is non-existent.
There are 140 Shopping Clutter Levels and 20 mini-games. The puzzles are mostly a variation of Square Tile Swapping. There are two modes of difficulty, Easy Mode, which has no time restraints, and Difficult Mode, with a time limit that gives you 500 extra points for not using Hints and 10 extra points for time remaining.
Each level has a different task, such as removing Matching Pairs, or Triple's of objects, removing objects that are the same Size, or Color, removing one Large & one small of identical objects, or removing objects from a specific category, such as Edible items, Inedible objects, Animal Figurines, Drinks, or objects made of Flour. There are three types offered that I absolutely hate, one where the items have been saturated to bright neon colors, a Pastel-colored, Silhouetted Shape variation, and the Transparent item variation. I do enjoy the levels where you are able to move objects out of the way; I especially like the levels where all the objects are in one large heaping pile.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS:
• Why do I have to erase "player" before putting my name in the profile?
• Why can't I skip the conversations?
• Why are there more Sun Hints than objects to find on each level, and why do they have to be so large?
• Why does the Walker Family name their kids according to their species, such as Squirrel or Hare? (Let's hope they never have twins, the developer may have to resort to naming them Thing 1 and Thing 2!)
When you finish clearing the Shopping Clutter, swing by my new forum for some rest & relaxation by the campfire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't expect every game to have eye-popping graphics, but I do expect a developer to make an attempt to improve gameplay after 21 consecutive games. When ratings start to plummet, as they have in this series, a developer has to pay attention to the players and the changes they are asking for. That constructive criticism isn't meant as a jab at the developer. Reviewers are stating what they like...or don't.
Reviewers are trying to help the developer by suggesting improvements. Reviewers for Shopping Clutter games have repeatedly stated that they don't like cartoon icons. If they have to be cartoon icons, at least pick more interesting subjects. Above all, mix up the icons from level to level; we're tired of the same group of objects on every level. The objects are easily spotted because it becomes a pattern; therefore, the levels are finished within a few seconds, and the challenge aspect is non-existent.
There are 140 Shopping Clutter Levels and 20 mini-games. The puzzles are mostly a variation of Square Tile Swapping. There are two modes of difficulty, Easy Mode, which has no time restraints, and Difficult Mode, with a time limit that gives you 500 extra points for not using Hints and 10 extra points for time remaining.
Each level has a different task, such as removing Matching Pairs, or Triple's of objects, removing objects that are the same Size, or Color, removing one Large & one small of identical objects, or removing objects from a specific category, such as Edible items, Inedible objects, Animal Figurines, Drinks, or objects made of Flour. There are three types offered that I absolutely hate, one where the items have been saturated to bright neon colors, a Pastel-colored, Silhouetted Shape variation, and the Transparent item variation. I do enjoy the levels where you are able to move objects out of the way; I especially like the levels where all the objects are in one large heaping pile.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS:
• Why do I have to erase "player" before putting my name in the profile?
• Why can't I skip the conversations?
• Why are there more Sun Hints than objects to find on each level, and why do they have to be so large?
• Why does the Walker Family name their kids according to their species, such as Squirrel or Hare? (Let's hope they never have twins, the developer may have to resort to naming them Thing 1 and Thing 2!)
When you finish clearing the Shopping Clutter, swing by my new forum for some rest & relaxation by the campfire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Return home in style with this cozy puzzle collection!
Overall rating
1
/
5
21 of 41 found this review helpful
I GUESS I WAS EXPECTING THE PICTURES TO BE MORE "HOMEY'
PostedApril 10, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I hope you like the color white because, in almost every picture, they have white furniture, white cabinets, white decorations, and even white clothing donned by random people. The starkness of the colorless images is a nice photo op but completely opposite of what you'd want in a puzzle. There are only a handful of pictures of the outside of a home where at least those have scenery and a few different colors! The puzzles themselves are okay, but the small photos in the album itself are really blurry, why?
Once again, I ran into a glitch; when you scroll through the 13 pages of each box, some of the boxes won't let you arrow back to the beginning page; it gets stuck on page 11, so you get stuck with just three lousy pages to choose from. They must know this glitch exists because, in past games, every box had this issue. This time it was just a couple of boxes, and I was able to reset the pages back to the beginning by closing & reopening the game.
After completing the puzzle, a window appears to show you the statistics, such as how long it took you to complete the puzzle. For some reason, they chose a yellow font that is literally impossible to read! Obviously, they either didn't care or didn't bother to go back and look at the completed game because the Credits are in yellow font as well. You would think they would want people to be able to read the credits!?
There are 5 Boxes, and each box contains 100 puzzles. The puzzles can be modified with the number of pieces, the cut shape, and whether or not you want the pieces to rotate. There are 4 different backgrounds to choose from (pink, green, blue, and grey) and a box to store extra pieces. The largest modification you can make is around 300 pieces, so you probably won't have a need for a storage box.
There is a Sort option with no rhyme or reason because, most of the time, it just shifts the pieces around the board. Sometimes you get lucky, and the pieces sort to the correct general corners; otherwise, it mostly just throws a bunch of pieces into the center of the puzzle...exactly where you DON'T want them! There is a Border only option, a Hint option, and an available Magnifying glass to enlarge pieces.
Once again, I ran into a glitch; when you scroll through the 13 pages of each box, some of the boxes won't let you arrow back to the beginning page; it gets stuck on page 11, so you get stuck with just three lousy pages to choose from. They must know this glitch exists because, in past games, every box had this issue. This time it was just a couple of boxes, and I was able to reset the pages back to the beginning by closing & reopening the game.
After completing the puzzle, a window appears to show you the statistics, such as how long it took you to complete the puzzle. For some reason, they chose a yellow font that is literally impossible to read! Obviously, they either didn't care or didn't bother to go back and look at the completed game because the Credits are in yellow font as well. You would think they would want people to be able to read the credits!?
There are 5 Boxes, and each box contains 100 puzzles. The puzzles can be modified with the number of pieces, the cut shape, and whether or not you want the pieces to rotate. There are 4 different backgrounds to choose from (pink, green, blue, and grey) and a box to store extra pieces. The largest modification you can make is around 300 pieces, so you probably won't have a need for a storage box.
There is a Sort option with no rhyme or reason because, most of the time, it just shifts the pieces around the board. Sometimes you get lucky, and the pieces sort to the correct general corners; otherwise, it mostly just throws a bunch of pieces into the center of the puzzle...exactly where you DON'T want them! There is a Border only option, a Hint option, and an available Magnifying glass to enlarge pieces.
You can also ghost the image of the puzzle to the background or hang a picture in three different sizes. I wish they would ditch the shadow on the puzzle pieces or create an option to disable this annoying feature!
What's NOT puzzling is the decision to sign up on my new forum. If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days, then hike on over and become an official Woodsy at thewoodsforum.boards.net
What's NOT puzzling is the decision to sign up on my new forum. If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days, then hike on over and become an official Woodsy at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 92 found this review helpful
THIS IS HOW ALL HOPA GAMES SHOULD BE!
PostedApril 9, 2023
pennmom36
fromI'm still impressed with the chicken poop!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game in approximately 11 Hours
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter
32 Scene Locations +12 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (& for beginners who love a challenge)
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter
32 Scene Locations +12 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (& for beginners who love a challenge)
Chicken Coop Poop:
It's hard not to love a Five-BN story. Every series features a female protagonist as the main character. They are confident, intelligent women who refuse to be intimidated by anyone or anything standing between them and their mission, whatever that may be. They boldly face their adversaries head-on. They may bend, but they can't be broken. They are steadfast and won't stop until their goals are achieved...yet they somehow still manage to be compassionate and optimistic.
It's hard not to love a Five-BN story. Every series features a female protagonist as the main character. They are confident, intelligent women who refuse to be intimidated by anyone or anything standing between them and their mission, whatever that may be. They boldly face their adversaries head-on. They may bend, but they can't be broken. They are steadfast and won't stop until their goals are achieved...yet they somehow still manage to be compassionate and optimistic.
When it comes to graphics, this team seldom gets the recognition they deserve! You can have an amazing cast of characters and an incredible plot that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat...but without creative artwork to set the scene, the story simply can't come to life.
The Lost Lands may be a fictional world, but that doesn't stop this team from creating a realistic atmosphere. We play the game but rarely stop to smell the roses (in this case, the gaseous mushrooms, lol) of the Lost Lands. No one stops to think about the tedious, minute details that have been added to every aspect of the game by the graphics department. When a developer is passionate enough to make a chicken coop this realistic, chicken poop and all...can you imagine how much effort went into the rest of the game?!! As you play this game, take the time to notice the beautiful quality of the graphics, no detail has been overlooked because, clearly, Quality & Quantity matters to Five-BN Games!
Morphing Objects/Collectibles (CE version only)
This is my favorite feature, and definitely worth opting for this Collector's Edition version! There are 30 Morphing Objects that can be quite challenging to spot because they morph slowly AND morph into a similar object that always blends with the scenery. They are small, so they will never stick out like a sore thumb as they do in games by other developers, but large enough to see without straining your eyes.
This is my favorite feature, and definitely worth opting for this Collector's Edition version! There are 30 Morphing Objects that can be quite challenging to spot because they morph slowly AND morph into a similar object that always blends with the scenery. They are small, so they will never stick out like a sore thumb as they do in games by other developers, but large enough to see without straining your eyes.
Every scene also has a Collectible from several different categories. There are 8 Hourglasses-7 Horseshoes-7 Turtles-8 Shoes-12 Spikelets (in the Bonus Chapter) and 10 Lost Lands Manuscripts. You will unlock a Bonus Puzzle for each Collection & Morph category Completed and a Bonus Mini-game when you complete the Lost Lands Manuscript collection.
You can disable the cursor from changing to a hand change when you encounter a morphing object or collectible, as well as show the scenes with missed collectibles & morphs on the map.
Hidden Object Scenes:
The HOS by this developer isn't a typical Hidden Object Scene; they are Interactive-Progressive Puzzles requiring you to find an object that matches the Silhouetted Shape shown. Then you use that object somewhere in the scene, interactively, to uncover the next object, lather-rinse-repeat. Trust me when I say you will open and close zoom zones over and over, trying to find something to help you progress. At times, you will be at a loss as to what to do next...something that never happens in a typical HOS! Keep in mind that these are puzzles that need to be solved, and the solution is always logical. They may be frustrating at times, but when you solve the HOS, you walk away with a sense of pride and accomplishment...and you deserve to feel this way in a game!
The HOS by this developer isn't a typical Hidden Object Scene; they are Interactive-Progressive Puzzles requiring you to find an object that matches the Silhouetted Shape shown. Then you use that object somewhere in the scene, interactively, to uncover the next object, lather-rinse-repeat. Trust me when I say you will open and close zoom zones over and over, trying to find something to help you progress. At times, you will be at a loss as to what to do next...something that never happens in a typical HOS! Keep in mind that these are puzzles that need to be solved, and the solution is always logical. They may be frustrating at times, but when you solve the HOS, you walk away with a sense of pride and accomplishment...and you deserve to feel this way in a game!
STRATEGY GUIDE:
Yes, the Strategy Guide takes a few steps to access. First, you have to click the Menu button, which pops up a window to access all the features of the game, and then select the Strategy Guide. Another reviewer complained about the location of the Strategy Guide, but I have a different take on this opinion. All games by Five-BN Games are "thinking" kinds of games. They are NOT the typical cookie-cutter games offered by the other two developers week after week. You will have to think outside the box; you will have to solve complicated (but doable) puzzles; you will have to revisit scenes you had long forgotten had open tasks. Five-BN wants you to use your brain, follow the clues, and rely on your instincts. The point is to play this game without the temptation of a single-click, easy-to-access Strategy Guide!...think about it :)
Yes, the Strategy Guide takes a few steps to access. First, you have to click the Menu button, which pops up a window to access all the features of the game, and then select the Strategy Guide. Another reviewer complained about the location of the Strategy Guide, but I have a different take on this opinion. All games by Five-BN Games are "thinking" kinds of games. They are NOT the typical cookie-cutter games offered by the other two developers week after week. You will have to think outside the box; you will have to solve complicated (but doable) puzzles; you will have to revisit scenes you had long forgotten had open tasks. Five-BN wants you to use your brain, follow the clues, and rely on your instincts. The point is to play this game without the temptation of a single-click, easy-to-access Strategy Guide!...think about it :)
Mini-Games:
Put on your thinking caps because these puzzles aren't for the faint of heart! They aren't impossible puzzles to solve, but they will require a little bit of thought and a lot of patience. These aren't the kind of games that can be solved in one or two moves, and certainly not by luck of the draw. From the first Gate puzzle, you will know that you're in for a treat; by the time you make it to the Gem Sword puzzle, you'll rethink your puzzle skills. You'll probably want to give up on the Boat puzzle, but you won't because it feels great when you solve finally solve it! When pushing piles of leaves onto a hammock, you'll find yourself clicking the reset button multiple times, but you'll also realize how much fun you are having and be surprised that you are looking forward to the next challenge!
Put on your thinking caps because these puzzles aren't for the faint of heart! They aren't impossible puzzles to solve, but they will require a little bit of thought and a lot of patience. These aren't the kind of games that can be solved in one or two moves, and certainly not by luck of the draw. From the first Gate puzzle, you will know that you're in for a treat; by the time you make it to the Gem Sword puzzle, you'll rethink your puzzle skills. You'll probably want to give up on the Boat puzzle, but you won't because it feels great when you solve finally solve it! When pushing piles of leaves onto a hammock, you'll find yourself clicking the reset button multiple times, but you'll also realize how much fun you are having and be surprised that you are looking forward to the next challenge!
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
The Bonus Chapter features a new female protagonist...Susan's granddaughter, Kiana. She is not a toddler, and this is definitely not an easy-breezy chapter! There are 3 incredible Hidden Object Scenes and 12 maddening Mini-Games across 12 additional locations. There are no Morphing Objects remaining in this chapter, but you will search for the final 12 Collectible Spikeletts, which unlocks the final Bonus Puzzle.
The Bonus Chapter features a new female protagonist...Susan's granddaughter, Kiana. She is not a toddler, and this is definitely not an easy-breezy chapter! There are 3 incredible Hidden Object Scenes and 12 maddening Mini-Games across 12 additional locations. There are no Morphing Objects remaining in this chapter, but you will search for the final 12 Collectible Spikeletts, which unlocks the final Bonus Puzzle.
Collector's Edition Extras:
10 amazing Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 16 Video Cutscenes, 22 Achievements, 22 Replayable Mini-Games, (+8 Bonus Puzzles) 30 Morphing Objects, Collectibles: 8 Hourglasses-7 Horseshoes-7 Turtles-8 Shoes-12 Spikelets (in the Bonus Chapter) 10 Lost Lands Manuscripts. You will unlock a Bonus Puzzle for each Collection & Morph category Completed and a Bonus Mini-game when you complete the Lost Lands Manuscript collection. 6 very long and intense Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
10 amazing Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 16 Video Cutscenes, 22 Achievements, 22 Replayable Mini-Games, (+8 Bonus Puzzles) 30 Morphing Objects, Collectibles: 8 Hourglasses-7 Horseshoes-7 Turtles-8 Shoes-12 Spikelets (in the Bonus Chapter) 10 Lost Lands Manuscripts. You will unlock a Bonus Puzzle for each Collection & Morph category Completed and a Bonus Mini-game when you complete the Lost Lands Manuscript collection. 6 very long and intense Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
We've had a thread open for this game for a couple of months! Come join the fun at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Soak up the sun and have some fun!
Overall rating
3
/
5
42 of 67 found this review helpful
DON'T FORGET YOUR GLASSES
PostedApril 8, 2023
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I completely agree with @cbtx; the items are way too small! To make matters worse, I had to play in windowed mode because it isn't compatible with my large 38" Alienware curved monitor. The screen was so stretched that icons located in the middle of the screen overlapped the settings icons on the bottom of the screen, and all of the edges were cut off.
Playing in windowed Mode solved the missing edges scenario but made the items smaller. I had to use the Magnifying glass for every scene 100% of the time, but the magnifying glass wasn't much help in the zoom zones, which were nearly impossible to spot objects. The hummingbird was pretty realistic because he was nearly impossible to find if he was located in a zoom zone. I actually started out on the Hard Mode, which has a 3-minute timer & misclick penalties. I quickly realized there was no way to find these tiny objects in 3 minutes, not to mention how many misclicks penalties I received. The Medium setting has no timer but still had a misclick penalty, so I ended up playing on the Easy Mode.
Otherwise, the developer did an excellent job blending objects into the scenery; even if they weren't so small, I think they would be challenging to spot. I felt that the Floridian scenes were pretty generic because most of the locations were beach Camping, Beach Bar, or a Dolphin Show that could literally be anywhere in Florida versus a specific tourist attraction. Even when they got specific about a location, it was still generic, such as the Clearwater Beach Hotel.
The objects were the same objects in every scene with the same broad descriptions, such as a Mouse, which was really a Gerbil...apparently, there isn't a developer in the world that knows there is a difference between them!? Out of all the exotic birds in Florida, I had to keep searching for the same Crow, the same Mallard Duck, and the same Anna's Hummingbird that isn't even native to Florida.
There are 5 Variations of HOGs as you replay the scenes. Listed Items, Silhouetted Shapes, Scrambled Letters, Missing Vowels, and Riddled Clues. The Scenes will have either a US Flag or a Seal to find. Collecting 60 US Flags will unlock the Unlimited Mode, and finding 60 Seals will unlock 60 Bonus Mini-games. Each scene also has an 8-Ball that is worth 50,000 extra points. Items listed in Blue require an interactive task, such as "placing a spyglass on the stand."
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
Some of the levels are CE-exclusive, as indicated by a red flag icon. There are 19 Souvenirs, which are simply Achievements, so I'm not sure what the "point" of earning points is for? There is a Diary of Fun Facts about Florida, 60 US Flags that will unlock Bonus Mini-Games, 60 Seals that unlock Unlimited Play, and 60 hidden 8-Balls for 50,000 extra points.
Do you miss the Big Fish Forums? Then you're gonna love my new nature-themed forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
Playing in windowed Mode solved the missing edges scenario but made the items smaller. I had to use the Magnifying glass for every scene 100% of the time, but the magnifying glass wasn't much help in the zoom zones, which were nearly impossible to spot objects. The hummingbird was pretty realistic because he was nearly impossible to find if he was located in a zoom zone. I actually started out on the Hard Mode, which has a 3-minute timer & misclick penalties. I quickly realized there was no way to find these tiny objects in 3 minutes, not to mention how many misclicks penalties I received. The Medium setting has no timer but still had a misclick penalty, so I ended up playing on the Easy Mode.
Otherwise, the developer did an excellent job blending objects into the scenery; even if they weren't so small, I think they would be challenging to spot. I felt that the Floridian scenes were pretty generic because most of the locations were beach Camping, Beach Bar, or a Dolphin Show that could literally be anywhere in Florida versus a specific tourist attraction. Even when they got specific about a location, it was still generic, such as the Clearwater Beach Hotel.
The objects were the same objects in every scene with the same broad descriptions, such as a Mouse, which was really a Gerbil...apparently, there isn't a developer in the world that knows there is a difference between them!? Out of all the exotic birds in Florida, I had to keep searching for the same Crow, the same Mallard Duck, and the same Anna's Hummingbird that isn't even native to Florida.
There are 5 Variations of HOGs as you replay the scenes. Listed Items, Silhouetted Shapes, Scrambled Letters, Missing Vowels, and Riddled Clues. The Scenes will have either a US Flag or a Seal to find. Collecting 60 US Flags will unlock the Unlimited Mode, and finding 60 Seals will unlock 60 Bonus Mini-games. Each scene also has an 8-Ball that is worth 50,000 extra points. Items listed in Blue require an interactive task, such as "placing a spyglass on the stand."
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
Some of the levels are CE-exclusive, as indicated by a red flag icon. There are 19 Souvenirs, which are simply Achievements, so I'm not sure what the "point" of earning points is for? There is a Diary of Fun Facts about Florida, 60 US Flags that will unlock Bonus Mini-Games, 60 Seals that unlock Unlimited Play, and 60 hidden 8-Balls for 50,000 extra points.
Do you miss the Big Fish Forums? Then you're gonna love my new nature-themed forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
Solve a series of near-hopeless cases full of suspense and drama!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 14 found this review helpful
GREAT GAME IF YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A DIRTY COP
PostedApril 7, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed Game in about 4.5 hours
29 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting really bored being a detective in every game Domini makes. Heck, I'm willing to play the villain at this point. I may as well because this game makes it clear that I "don't follow protocol" and they test that character flaw on almost every conversation choice, urging me to do something slightly illegal, "in the name of justice," of course! It literally feels like you are being encouraged to be a dirty cop if you want the option of extended gameplay.
To make matters worse, if you do choose the extended gameplay option, they plaster an icon of a giant pearly-white smile on the top right of the screen. I'm a detective investigating three different homicides, three individuals who were brutally murdered and I have a giant Cheshire grin on my face. Does that make sense?
EXTENDED PLAY OPTION:
You will come across several conversation options, 14 to be specific (+2 in the CE Bonus Chapter) If you choose the first conversation option, it unlocks a side quest with additional scenes, extra mini-games, and hidden object scenes. They do give you the option to change your mind by clicking on the icon with locked chains on the top left. To be clear, these are just optional extras and won't affect the main game's story or its outcome.
COLLECTIBLES/MORPHS (CE version only)
There are 15 Morphing Evidence items, 15 Collectible Vinyl Records, and 70 Zoom Zone Free Beverage Stickers that are used to purchase 15 Boudoir Items (which are actually Bar items) Apparently Domini didn't feel energetic enough to rename the Boudoir label to a Bar? What's even weirder is that my currency is a "FREE BEVERAGE STICKER" so I was expecting to purchase various cocktails with my vouchers....nope, the first thing I purchased with my free beverage coupon was Electric Eels for the aquarium behind the bar. wtf?
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
The Hidden Object Scenes are located in the most unimaginative locations possible. A suitcase stuffed with random objects that no one would even think about packing. Finding icons for places of interest on a cartoon map that match the description of two silhouetted shapes combined. Swatches of areas in a lab that somehow helps you analyze fingerprints. They just don't put forth much effort nowadays.
ALTERNATE MATCH 3 GAME:
An alternate Match 3 game is available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. Unfortunately, it's the same M3 game, with the same boards and the same icons offered in every game for over a decade. Why not at least change the icons or the M3 type occasionally???
29 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting really bored being a detective in every game Domini makes. Heck, I'm willing to play the villain at this point. I may as well because this game makes it clear that I "don't follow protocol" and they test that character flaw on almost every conversation choice, urging me to do something slightly illegal, "in the name of justice," of course! It literally feels like you are being encouraged to be a dirty cop if you want the option of extended gameplay.
To make matters worse, if you do choose the extended gameplay option, they plaster an icon of a giant pearly-white smile on the top right of the screen. I'm a detective investigating three different homicides, three individuals who were brutally murdered and I have a giant Cheshire grin on my face. Does that make sense?
EXTENDED PLAY OPTION:
You will come across several conversation options, 14 to be specific (+2 in the CE Bonus Chapter) If you choose the first conversation option, it unlocks a side quest with additional scenes, extra mini-games, and hidden object scenes. They do give you the option to change your mind by clicking on the icon with locked chains on the top left. To be clear, these are just optional extras and won't affect the main game's story or its outcome.
COLLECTIBLES/MORPHS (CE version only)
There are 15 Morphing Evidence items, 15 Collectible Vinyl Records, and 70 Zoom Zone Free Beverage Stickers that are used to purchase 15 Boudoir Items (which are actually Bar items) Apparently Domini didn't feel energetic enough to rename the Boudoir label to a Bar? What's even weirder is that my currency is a "FREE BEVERAGE STICKER" so I was expecting to purchase various cocktails with my vouchers....nope, the first thing I purchased with my free beverage coupon was Electric Eels for the aquarium behind the bar. wtf?
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
The Hidden Object Scenes are located in the most unimaginative locations possible. A suitcase stuffed with random objects that no one would even think about packing. Finding icons for places of interest on a cartoon map that match the description of two silhouetted shapes combined. Swatches of areas in a lab that somehow helps you analyze fingerprints. They just don't put forth much effort nowadays.
ALTERNATE MATCH 3 GAME:
An alternate Match 3 game is available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. Unfortunately, it's the same M3 game, with the same boards and the same icons offered in every game for over a decade. Why not at least change the icons or the M3 type occasionally???
MINI-GAMES:
Nothing new here, folks, the same simple puzzles we've solved hundreds of times before. Move 3 different levers to align a camera, which, btw, congratulated me with an achievement even though I had not yet aligned all 3 targets. Restore an image by swapping squares and flipping a switch to reveal more squares. Turn the outer ring and click on fragments when the are aligned with the shapes on the inner circle. The only game I really enjoyed was guiding 3 tokens to the correct objects by clicking on various patterns to move the tokens into place.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS (CE version only)
9 Wallpapers, 9 Concept Art Pictures, (less is more?) 5 Music Soundtracks, 18 Movie Video Cutscenes, 35 Achievements, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 16 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Evidence Items, 14 Vinyl Albums, and 70 Zoom Zone Free Beverage Stickers that are used to purchase 15 Bar Items, 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Join us by the campfire and enjoy nature at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
Nothing new here, folks, the same simple puzzles we've solved hundreds of times before. Move 3 different levers to align a camera, which, btw, congratulated me with an achievement even though I had not yet aligned all 3 targets. Restore an image by swapping squares and flipping a switch to reveal more squares. Turn the outer ring and click on fragments when the are aligned with the shapes on the inner circle. The only game I really enjoyed was guiding 3 tokens to the correct objects by clicking on various patterns to move the tokens into place.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS (CE version only)
9 Wallpapers, 9 Concept Art Pictures, (less is more?) 5 Music Soundtracks, 18 Movie Video Cutscenes, 35 Achievements, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 16 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Evidence Items, 14 Vinyl Albums, and 70 Zoom Zone Free Beverage Stickers that are used to purchase 15 Bar Items, 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Join us by the campfire and enjoy nature at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.