pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4726
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Follow Jonah as he goes from being an ordinary man to a prophet of God in this unique match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 31 found this review helpful
FIVE STARS FOR JONAH, 2 STARS FOR THE GAMEPLAY
PostedFebruary 26, 2018
pennmom36
fromThe bubble poppin' s kinda fun!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Rome
(35)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I appreciate that BF offers the occasional biblical themed game, in fact, I think there should be more (nothing offered since Chronicles of Noah's Ark in 2016) I actually really enjoyed the progressive story about Jonah, an ordinary man, chosen by God to become a prophet, and the turmoils that follow. I also thought it was a unique feature of progressing through Match 3 levels to unlock chapters of the story, instead of constructing buildings or collecting resources and power-ups.
With that being said, the Match 3 game itself, isn't at all challenging, and the tiles themselves are too similar, making them difficult to differentiate from one another. I would probably be willing to overlook this flaw, IF the game allowed you to replay the levels. I hate it when a Match 3 game scores with a 1,2 or 3 Star system, and then doesn't give you an option to replay previous levels to try to earn a better score. It does allow you to restart the current level at any point during the level, but not once you've finished the level, I could be wrong, but I searched everywhere for a map level or replay option, and came up empty handed.
To sum it all up, for my personal preference, although I loved the story, the game features have two major strikes against it, tiles that are too similar, and no replay option. I'll have to pass on this game, but Jonah and the Whale get an A+
I don't recommend this game.
Donna’s childhood friend is overwhelmed by a cursed tree that poisons everything it touches!
Overall rating
2
/
5
62 of 82 found this review helpful
WELL....I DON'T THINK THEY WERE "THINKING" LOL
PostedFebruary 25, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that there is a Spanish Tree called Mancinella (manzanilla de la muerte) which is the world's deadliest tree!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Yep, I bought this dreadful game, (CE version) but fortunately, it was during a BOGO sale. I really enjoyed the first Donna Brave: And The Strangler of Paris, so I thought I'd give this game a fair shake. I can't give a full assessment of the game in its entirety though, because try as I may, I just couldn't make it past the third chapter (5 chapters total + Bonus Chapter in the CE) it's just a whole lot of back and forthing, doing meaningless tasks that offer nothing more than filler tasks. In fact, the entire second chapter from what I can recall, told me nothing more about the plot, I knew as much about the plot entering the third chapter as I did towards the end of the demo! If you're "Brave" here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
Donna Brave could hardly wait to see her friend Kathi, after all she hasn't seen her since they hung out together at school. When Donna arrives, she is greeted by a very nervous Kathi, who explains that she needs Donna's help to solve a deadly mystery. Is it a whodunit murder mystery? Nope, its a killer tree!
Mad Head Games should have made this new series more like an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Instead, they went from a Strangler in Paris to Killer Tree Roots.To make matters worse, the graphics are horrible at times, close ups in some scenes make everything look like it was drawn for a cartoon. I'm more than a little upset that MHG dropped the ball with this uninteresting and ridiculous plot.
There are so many inconsistencies and logic fails, that one is left scratching one's head, trying to keep up with the story. For starters, the game supposedly takes place somewhere around 1923, yet Kathi is spelled with an i not a y, which I can't imagine parents in the 1900's doing. The clothes also don't seem period appropriate. I find a wooden tool box that of course is missing a handle, and I simply can't open the lid until I find a replacement. Oh looky here, an iron handle, I simply place it on the lid, and it lifts the lid with ease. Are there magnets involved here, how did it stay attached? Next up, I've got to melt some ice, do I use my matches, do I use my kerosene lantern, of course not, they won't do the job, but I can use a single match to catch a stick on fire without any fuel! Once I rescue my bestie from the killer tree, and drag her body inside, her father decides to help, so I heave Kathi's limp body into dads arms. Now dad informs me that her wounds are lethal and she has 24 hours to live. Kathi's dad has figured out the solution! I must destroy the vile death tree, or Kathi will die in less than a day! He seemed so sure she would live 24 hours, just a second ago, but now she has less than a day? If the wounds caused by the tree are fatal (and you have 24 hours to live give or take a few hours) how will it fix things if I destroy the tree? Are the wounds one and the same as the tree?
I may not like the story, but I loved the bling available in the Collector's Edition version. Each scene has a Morphing Object to find, and each HOP has one as well, now that's more like it! Each scene in the CE version also has a hidden Magnifying glass to find as well, which unlocks Bonus Content once they have all been collected, some of which are nicely blended into the scenery.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, and each HOP has a Morphing Object to find. There are Silhouetted Shape finds, Matching Pairs and scenes where you place objects into the scene instead of taking them out. There aren't a whole lot of HOP's or MG's for that matter , and there are no alternate puzzles available.
The Mini Games are far too simplistic in my opinion, and there just aren't enough of them, at least not in the demo.(probably because of all the meaningless tasks you have to do) Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Rotate tiles to create an unbroken path.
2) Swap shoes to match their silhouetted shape shoe prints.
3) Choose a card from your hand, then select however many cards necessary to equal the sum of the card in your hand. (if you choose an 8 as your hand card, you must then choose cards whose sum equal 8 such as a 5 and a 3) the first person to take use 15 or more cards wins.
4) Place animals on their correct habitat continent.
5) Rotate disks to align the images.
6) Move knights to their color coded board spots.
7) Play the piano keys in the correct order according to the clue.
DONNA BRAVE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Donna Brave: And the Strangler of Paris (August 26-2017) 4.3
2-Donna Brave: And the Deathly Tree (January 27-2018) 3.0
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Donna Brave: And the Strangler of Paris (August 26-2017) 4.3
2-Donna Brave: And the Deathly Tree (January 27-2018) 3.0
by: Mad Head Games
The Collector's Edition version has 4 Wallpapers, Concept Art pictures, 10 Music Soundtracks, 10 Achievements to earn in 3 categories each, 8 Character Gallery pictures, Card Game to play(once all Morphing Objects have been found), 28 hidden Collectible Magnifying Glasses, 47 Morphing Objects (1 in each scene and 1 in each HOP) 19 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
A time-traveling killer is taking out the Gray family, one by one.
Overall rating
3
/
5
28 of 35 found this review helpful
BONUS CHAPTER APPEARS TO BE THE BEST PART OF THE GAME, BUT....
PostedFebruary 25, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that William Bickford invented the first Fuse in 1831, which consisted of a tube filled with gunpowder surrounded by a waterproofed varnished jute rope?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Out of all the developer's, I personally love the type of graphics Elephant Games offers. Unfortunately, it's a hit or miss when it comes to the storyline's on some of their series games. I've always enjoyed the Grim Tales series, but after playing The Time Traveler, I have to admit that this is my least favorite out of the series.
The Time Traveler is a very short game, with only 3 Chapters (plus Bonus Chapter in the CE) and the chapters themselves aren't even very long, the SG shows about 6-8 pages per chapter. The first chapter is decent, the second chapter was downright boring, but the third chapter picked back up slightly. The Bonus Chapter, however, started out with an interesting plot, all I can really say is that you and your husband Dorian have discovered that nephew Mike is missing (any more info will ruin the main game's plot) I barely got to play the BC, because I encountered an access violation and the game was terminated, so I'm not sure what that's all about yet, but it looked to be the best plot of the entire game!
My favorite feature offered in a HOPA game, is Morphing Objects, and Grim Tales always offers Morphing Objects (thank you Elephant Games for always including Morphs in your games!) So my personal preference is the Collector's Edition version, but here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
Move over Anna, there's a new Time Traveler in Town, and he's seeking revenge on everyone, well at least the Gray and McGray family members. Anna Gray and her dear ole dad, Richard, were heading to the new McGray mansion, for a family barbecue with James and Elizabeth, when Anna is forced to swerve off the road to avoid hitting a stranger. (I wonder if Anna straps the seat belt over Richard's skull?) After hoofing it to the mansion, Anna discovers a horrifying, grizzly sight, so once again, Anna must perform the sacred family ritual, that allows her to travel back in time, where hopefully, she'll be able to stop a mysterious Time Traveler from destroying her entire family!
I've always been a fan of the Grim Tales series, and I've always loved the realistic graphics that Elephant Games brings to the table. Lately, the Collector's Edition goodies have been diminishing little by little, from some of the devs, but not from this pachyderm proboscidea! Each scene in the Collector's Edition version of The Time Traveler, has a Morphing Object (yea! my favorite CE feature) and some of the scenes have collectible Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Screensaver, as well as collectible Gray & McGray family Statues, that give brief descriptions of who's who to whom.
Every time I play a new Grim Tales, I'm always left with more questions than answers, it seems. As I rummage through my (aka Anna) family photos, one is labeled Anna, Elizabeth McGray and her two sons. I have to label my own name on the photo, yet I can't label the kids names, they are just Elizabeth's two sons? Then when I arrive at the mansion, I immediately say "oh I'm too late" am I psychic as well? Shortly thereafter, I see that the Red Wine has been Cosbeyed (think about it) which turns the red wine to green. Unless I just polished off an entire bottle of wine, wouldn't I notice my red wine was now green?
I pick up a threatening memo left behind by the perp, know how I know it's from the perp? Cause he signed it....a demon from the past. Once I finally make my way inside the mansion, I discover cobwebs in every nook and cranny. They can afford a mansion, but not a maid? The mansion comes with a beautiful pond, stocked with blacktipped sharks? In the backyard, is a fireplace with a pot of boiling water. Okay, after all they were having a picnic, but no matter how many times I return, it never boils and evaporates, again okay. But the real question is, if time supposedly stands still, if everyone is "frozen" in place, and Anna is the only one that can move, why is the water boiling?
The good news is that I use the same screwdriver FOUR times just in the demo! (can't say the same for the net, which is discarded immediately, only to discover the next scene requires something similar) Later on, I come across a spiders web that I simply cannot brush away with my bare hands, but I'm totally down for picking up the wild mouse that's living in the baseboards, right next to the yucky spidersweb? [end confusion]
The Hidden Objects vary, and are nicely done, but there are no alternative games available if you're not into HOP's. There are Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds and Pair finds where you move two objects at a time to find matches. There are also smaller Zoom Zone HOP's with just a handful of Silhouetted Shape objects to find.
The Mini Games are good, although nothing really new is presented. Most are easy to medium difficulty. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Swap triangles to complete the pattern, swapping vertically will rotate triangles.
2) Rotate inner and outer circles to restore the pattern.
3) Swap lock parts to match the carved dowels.
4) Arrange the fish so they will fit into their matching slots when the you press the play button.
5) Swap the footprint tokens to match their animal counterparts.
6) Swap colored elements that create connections until all connections have been closed.
7) Guide the gold golf ball to make a hole-in-one, by moving the red balls against the gates to create a path (repeat x2)
8) Turn the dial to input the correct code according to the clue.
GRIM TALES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1- The Bride (August 4-2011) 3.8
2- The Legacy (January 5-2012) 4.6
3- The Wishes (July 12-2012) 4.5
4 -The Stone Queen (January 3-2013) 3.9
5 -Bloody Mary (August 1-2013) 4.3
6 -The Vengeance (May 15-2014) 4.5
7 -Color of Fright (November 6-2014) 3.8
8 -The Final Suspect (May 16-2015) 3.9
9 -Threads of Destiny (October 7-2015) 3.9
10 -The Heir (February 25-2016) 4.3
11 -Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12 -Graywitch (February 2-2017) 4.0
13 -The White Lady (August 3-2017) 4.0
14-The Time Traveler (January 25-2017) 3.5
2- The Legacy (January 5-2012) 4.6
3- The Wishes (July 12-2012) 4.5
4 -The Stone Queen (January 3-2013) 3.9
5 -Bloody Mary (August 1-2013) 4.3
6 -The Vengeance (May 15-2014) 4.5
7 -Color of Fright (November 6-2014) 3.8
8 -The Final Suspect (May 16-2015) 3.9
9 -Threads of Destiny (October 7-2015) 3.9
10 -The Heir (February 25-2016) 4.3
11 -Crimson Hollow (August 25-2016) 4.1
12 -Graywitch (February 2-2017) 4.0
13 -The White Lady (August 3-2017) 4.0
14-The Time Traveler (January 25-2017) 3.5
by: Elephant Games
The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, Archives, 14 Collectible Family Statues, Morphing Objects in each scene, 18 Achievements to earn, 26 hidden Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Screensaver, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Princess has disappeared, and her statues are under attack!
Overall rating
2
/
5
107 of 133 found this review helpful
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT A GIRL NAMED PRINCESS AND A BOY NAMED PRINCE?????
PostedFebruary 24, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that the first statue in the world is the Lowenmensch figurine located in the Swabian Alps in Germany, approximately 30,000-40,000 years old?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Princess, which in itself isn't all that bad, but Princess meets a boy named Prince, what are the odds of that? Princess has a unique gift, a magical gift, a gift that allows her to turn any statue to life! Stone statues that can walk, talk, think, reason, and yes, they can even fly! These statues are so grateful (implying that they knew about their existence and their circumstance before being brought to life) that they become loyal servants to Princess, who isn't a Princess! One day Princess receives a letter from her secret lover Prince, who isn't a Prince, asking her to meet him in an abandoned part of town called Stone Peaks which we can only assume isn't a Stone Peak. Princess begins to suspect foul play because she has had dreams about Stone Peaks, which gives her an uneasy feeling of doom and gloom. So Princess writes a letter to her good friend Detective, who does indeed appear to be a Detective, asking for help, just in case this rendezvous has dire consequences. Princess doesn't expect you to fly solo, so she has sent along Sheriff, which isn't a Sheriff, the stone dog (shouldn't Sheriff be called Dog?) Together the Detective and the Sheriff begin sniffing out stone clues and chasing stone breadcrumbs, to find the person responsible for the nefarious no good plans, otherwise known as Villain!
I'm usually a huge Elephant Games fan, because in my opinion they have some of the most amazing graphics, and they almost always have Morphing Objects which is my favorite feature in a HOPA game. The Lord of Statues was an amazing game, Queen of Shadows wasn't a bad follow-up, but the last 3 games have really flatlined! I know a lot of people hate helpers, and I will admit that Sheriff becomes annoying and distracting when he starts twirling around in place. However, if he didn't twirl, I think it wouldn't be a bad addition, because he is rather adorable, and I would much rather have Sheriff as a helper, than to have to make potions in a Healer's kit, like the last game offered! This Collector's Edition version has 14 Collectible Dog Statues to find as well as a Morphing Object in each scene (the only reason I gave this game 2 stars instead of 1)
The Hidden Object Scenes are decent, although a couple of them had objects that stuck out like a sore thumb. There are Interactive List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, and Silhouetted Shape finds. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's, but no alternate game is offered.
The Mini Games are okay, nothing new, and there are a lot of them, so if you don't like games that are heavy Puzzle games, you're definitely not going to enjoy this game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Swap tiles correctly based on their images.
2) Select the central clock hand arrows to swap two crown sections to match.
3) Rotate the triangular arrow in the right direction to the correct number according to the clue.
4) Arrange the runes to complete the symbols shown in the center.
5) Move all 4 keys to the slots in the middle of the board, by selecting the buttons on the edge with numbers showing how far it reaches.
6) Drag chains to their matching squares, dragging one chain may affect others.
7) Press the center arrow buttons to rotate triangles to their matching colored slots.
8) Move tokens to its associated picture, selecting one token may affect others.
9) Place bridle sections onto the correct highlighted slots.
10) Repeat the sequence by selecting stones in the correct order shown.
11) Select circle buttons to rotate and change the size of the images and drag the diamond shaped buttons to match the symbols.
This Collector's Edition version has 3 Screensavers, 14 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks (does anyone ever download this music?) 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 re-playable Mini Games, 18 Achievements, 14 Collectible Dog Statues, 30 Morphing Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
Royal Detective Games Available
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Lord of Statues (June 14-2012) 4.7
2-Queen of Shadows (May 1-2014) 3.8
3-Legend of The Golem (February 4-2016) 4.2
4-Borrowed Life (February 11-2017) 3.7
5-The Princess Returns (February 24-2018) n/a
2-Queen of Shadows (May 1-2014) 3.8
3-Legend of The Golem (February 4-2016) 4.2
4-Borrowed Life (February 11-2017) 3.7
5-The Princess Returns (February 24-2018) n/a
by: Elephant Games
Elephant Games Available:
Royal Detective*Grim Tales*Christmas Stories*Surface*Chimeras*Halloween Stories*Haunted Hotel*Midnight Calling*MCF (Dire Grove, Sacred Grove & Fate's Carnival)*Riddles of Fate*Hallowed Legends*Death Pages*Unfinished Tales*Detective Quest*Found*Urban Legends*Lost In The City*Super Granny Run*Quark Attack*Up Balloon Up*Ball Craft*Wise Gal*Love Is*Real Stories*Bloom*RIP Trilogy*Road Rush*Jungle Heart*Avalon*Just Bones*Sir Match A-Lot*Ship of Bones*Masquerade Mysteries*
Royal Detective*Grim Tales*Christmas Stories*Surface*Chimeras*Halloween Stories*Haunted Hotel*Midnight Calling*MCF (Dire Grove, Sacred Grove & Fate's Carnival)*Riddles of Fate*Hallowed Legends*Death Pages*Unfinished Tales*Detective Quest*Found*Urban Legends*Lost In The City*Super Granny Run*Quark Attack*Up Balloon Up*Ball Craft*Wise Gal*Love Is*Real Stories*Bloom*RIP Trilogy*Road Rush*Jungle Heart*Avalon*Just Bones*Sir Match A-Lot*Ship of Bones*Masquerade Mysteries*
I don't recommend this game.
Experience the wonderful world of The Far Kingdoms and complete unique solitaire challenges to retrieve the elixir and save your sister!
Overall rating
5
/
5
67 of 77 found this review helpful
THE FAR KINGDOMS ALWAYS HAVE A NICE STORY TO ACCOMPANY A RELAXING SOLITAIRE GAME
PostedFebruary 23, 2018
pennmom36
fromAnother Princess needs my help, it's exhausting!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Far Kingdoms have always been among my favorite Solitaire games, they have all the features I like, beautiful music, and a somewhat decent story as you progress.
This is a Higher/Lower type Solitaire game that allows you to replay any level. I like the fact that I get to remove all cards from the board, not just those annoying "special" cards. You can earn up to 3 Stars, and there are 10 Trophies to earn. Combos start at 5 cards, and there is a Card Counter icon, and an Undo icon, that starts each level with 1, additional's can be purchased in the shop (located on the bottom right)
In the Shop you can purchase items to help you beat a level, and the good news is that they are cheap to buy, however, you can only use them at that exact moment, they can't be saved.
As you progress, there are obstacles that require special tool cards such as a Sword to cut Vined cards, a Hammer to crush Stone cards, Locked cards that require making a Combo of a specific amount, and Chained cards that require two plays to remove them. (once to remove chains, a second time to remove the card itself)
THE FAR KINGDOMS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Release Date***Genre***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Genre***Average Rating
1-The Far Kingdoms: November 13-2013 (Hidden Object) 3.1
2-Winter Solitaire: September 9-2014 (Solitaire) 3.6
3-Elements: November 24-2014 (Hidden Object/Match 3) 3.4
4-Age of Solitaire: April 13-2015 (Solitaire) 3.9
5-Sacred Grove Solitaire: December 29-2015 (Solitaire) 4.0
6-Magic Mosaics: April 11-2016 (Mosaic Griddler) 4.0
7-Forgotten Relics: April 4-2017 (Solitaire) 3.5
8-Garden Mosaics: October 2-2017 (Mosaic Griddler) 3.2
9-Spooky Mosaics: October 23-2017 (Mosaic Griddler) 4.3
10-Awakening Solitaire: February 23-2018 (solitaire) n/a
2-Winter Solitaire: September 9-2014 (Solitaire) 3.6
3-Elements: November 24-2014 (Hidden Object/Match 3) 3.4
4-Age of Solitaire: April 13-2015 (Solitaire) 3.9
5-Sacred Grove Solitaire: December 29-2015 (Solitaire) 4.0
6-Magic Mosaics: April 11-2016 (Mosaic Griddler) 4.0
7-Forgotten Relics: April 4-2017 (Solitaire) 3.5
8-Garden Mosaics: October 2-2017 (Mosaic Griddler) 3.2
9-Spooky Mosaics: October 23-2017 (Mosaic Griddler) 4.3
10-Awakening Solitaire: February 23-2018 (solitaire) n/a
by: Lazy Turtle Games
Lazy Turtle Games Available:
The Far Kingdoms*Mystery Expedition*Artifacts of Eternity*The Count of Monte Cristo*Mystery Chronicles*Eternity*Abandoned (Chestnut Lodge Asylum)
The Far Kingdoms*Mystery Expedition*Artifacts of Eternity*The Count of Monte Cristo*Mystery Chronicles*Eternity*Abandoned (Chestnut Lodge Asylum)
I recommend this game!
Save the citizens of Rivershire from a terrible plague!
Overall rating
4
/
5
83 of 119 found this review helpful
DEMONS BEGONE!
PostedFebruary 22, 2018
pennmom36
fromDid you know that kerosene was invented in 1846 as a substitute for whale oil?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Apparently the citizens of the Tar Empire could use a snickers bar, because they are becoming little demons with a big attitude. It's a good thing I'm immune to any and all diseases, because this demonic plague transforms an average adult into a horned beast with green glowing eyes. Six inch horns protruding from almost every inch of their bodies, apparently has no lifelong complications once healed, not even a scar remains, but then again, I am THE Honored Healer!
I've got everything I need to perform this exorcism, Healer's Kit, check! All seeing Diagnostic Lens (aka: magnifying glass, hey, I'm not Wonder Woman), check! A Quill that magically writes and draws pictures with several different colors at the same time without needing ink, check! A Dagger given to me by a warrior guard to defend myself upon this dangerous mission, check....cancel that check, because I discard it after one use, and have to revert to burning ropes when I could have just hung onto the dagger! So now I mount my trusty steed, hoping he doesn't catch the plague, otherwise it's going to be a miserable road trip. I ditched my dagger for some odd reason, but I hung onto a small metal pin, because my healing ability senses told me I'd need to fix a door hinge, and I was spot on, I did indeed need a door hinge pin on my first leg of the journey! After curing a very grateful healer, I wave goodbye and continue my journey, why not, two healers is just a crowd right? My next stop is at the witches hut, which was weird, why? Well, the witch wasn't able to whip up her own witch hazel wellness cure, which was worth wondering about when I realized her witchy witch-hut was locked from the inside...this is going to be a long journey!
Normally, I'm not a fan of recipe making mini games, because there's usually no skill involved, it usually entails throwing ingredients into a cauldron in a specific order, and half the time it doesn't allow you to place the wrong ingredient in the wrong order. However, I don't mind the Healer's Kit mini game as much, because at least you have to make educated guesses. The first step, is to use the Diagnostic Lens to examine the patient, which cannot be done incorrectly, because it glows a reddish-pink to alert you to click on an area you can basically already see with the naked eye. After zooming into the affected area, you have to click once again to select it, which automatically queues that magic quill to jot down the findings in the Healer's Book. Now that you've made a diagnosis, that same magical quill draws some beautifully detailed pictures in every color imaginable, of the ingredients you'll need whip up a demon hex cure. Once you have found all of the ingredients, you open up the Healer's Kit, and play a mini game to complete the potion, which for some reason is different with every patient?
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Silhouetted Shape finds, Interactive list finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, and replacing items correctly back into the scene. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's, and there is an alternate Match 3 game available.
The Mini Games are available in either an Easy or Hard mode. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Diagnostic Lens games where you find and click on several suspicious areas to determine the illness. (repeated throughout the game)
2) Healer's Kit games where you must place the ingredients into the Kits device, where you think they logically belong, and press the play button to see if you are correct. (repeated several times throughout the game)
3) Guide your horse through a maze while avoiding the monsters.
4) Move the bronze tile through all cells using all arrowed tiles to direct the bronze tile.
5) Connect all the dots without overlapping.
6) Move the center arrow to light all symbols, by clicking the 3 clockwise or 4 counterclockwise buttons to move the arrow that number and direction.
7) Reassemble the symbols by rotating discs.
8) Select buttons to swap tiles to match the clue shown.
9) Choose the correct cup that contains a butterfly wing in a cup shuffle game 3 times.
10) Repeat the sequence of flashes the demon makes.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 17 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 17 re-playable Mini Games, 26 Achievements to earn, 15 Collectible Creature Eggs (click to hatch within the Medico Imperium) 15 Collectible Medallions (represents a different theater personality) 76 Hidden Coins (used to buy 15 Magic Lab items) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
ENCHANTED KINGDOM GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-A Dark Seed (April 6-17) 3.9
2-A Stranger's Venom (September 28-17) 3.7
3-Fog of Rivershire (February 22-2018) n/a
2-A Stranger's Venom (September 28-17) 3.7
3-Fog of Rivershire (February 22-2018) n/a
by: Domini Games
Domini Games Available
Dark Romance*Labyrinths of the World*The Christmas Spirit*Mystery Tales*Enchanted Kingdom*The Curio Society*Travel Adventures*Island of Death*In Search of the Lost Temple*Mysteries of Ancient Inventors*The World's Legends
Dark Romance*Labyrinths of the World*The Christmas Spirit*Mystery Tales*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 recommend this game!
1001 Jigsaw World Tour: Great America provides a fantastic opportunity to feel the true American spirit through beautifully crafted jigsaw puzzles!
Overall rating
1
/
5
49 of 55 found this review helpful
FELLOW PUZZLE GEEKS...MAKE A STATEMENT..."WE WANT MORE!"
PostedFebruary 21, 2018
pennmom36
fromMore features please!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Jigsaws Galore
(121)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I'm a puzzle geek, I can't get enough of them, real puzzles, virtual puzzles, it doesn't matter, in fact, I've even completed the World's largest puzzle consisting of 32,000 pieces! (I had to tape four 6 ft. tables together just to fit one 8,000 piece section!)
If you are a puzzle geek, please make a stand here at Big Fish, to encourage them to give us more. I have nothing against 8 Floor LTD. but they are all the same, nothing ever changes. The features are the same, the music is the same, the puzzles are basically the same, and never offered in larger sizes, and they give us NO OPTIONS whatsoever!
Great puzzle games with great customizations exists, they're out there, why aren't they offered here? I did find a couple of puzzles here on BF, that have awesome pictures and custom features available. Yes, I'll admit, at first they seem intimidating because there are so many features to choose from, but after a few minutes of exploring the features, you soon realize that it isn't difficult, and your angst turns into excitement from all the possibilities.
In 1001 Jigsaw World Tour: Great America, you can choose puzzles from 5 different boxes, the pictures are once again, mostly staged pictures, and not very appealing. You can also earn Trophies for reaching goals such as playing a certain amount of hours, joining up to a million pieces, scoring a certain amount of points, solving a puzzle without making a mistake, solving various sized puzzles, or solving a puzzle without using hints, sorting, or pocket features. There are also Top Scores and personal Best score tallies.
Any of the puzzles can be modified with the number of pieces, the cut shape of the pieces and whether or not you want the pieces to rotate. There are 4 different backgrounds to choose from, pink, green, blue and grey, a box to store extra pieces until needed, a Sort option 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.
These are the EXACT same features offered in all puzzle games by this dev, and trust me, there are better features available! For example, in Jigsaws Galore, you can assemble a puzzle with up to 64,000 pieces! And there's so many more unique features, so I've included some bullet points of just some of the custom features available in Jigsaws Galore, features which we SHOULD expect from all puzzle games:
*Each category is kept in folders, the pictures inside each folder is shown as thumbnails, choose the size of each thumbnail, create and label as many new folders as you want.
*Capture your own images, or import photos, you can even crop specific sections, you can also share pictures with others who have Jigsaws Galore.
*Change the size, shape or number of pieces, you can even change these features midway through a puzzle without having to restart the puzzle.
*Choose the shape of the pieces, you can even add "fun" or "mystery shaped" pieces to the mixture by %, for example, add 5% of fish shaped pieces randomly into the puzzle, or 0 if you just want normal shaped pieces.
*Ghost the image, AND choose the brightness of the ghosted picture, hang a picture for reference, choose the background color OR the type of material used.
*Open up as many trays as you want to hold puzzle pieces, (not just a single box that can't be sorted, labeled or even easily viewed) choose the color of each tray and label the trays, right click each tray and fetch the pieces you want in each tray, such as blue pieces, or fun shaped pieces, you can choose how to arrange the pieces within each tray, line the trays along the sides, top or bottom, which can be clearly viewed and know what pieces are in which trays (sky, water, land, blue, specific shapes, however you want!)
*Select how you want to sort the puzzle pieces, along the edges, in grid formation, random, you can ever de-arrange pieces, and this option is available inside each tray as well. They will even arrange by grouping the same shaped puzzle pieces together.
*The toolbar can be on the top, bottom or side, and you can hide the toolbar to give you more room.
*There is a zoom feature, a magnifying glass which can be set at different strengths.
*Choose how thick or thin the pieces are, add shadows, turn on/off anti-aliasing (graphics realism) whether you want the outlines to disappear once the pieces snap together to show a smooth image. You can even choose the snap distance of the pieces, and choose puzzle piece rotation preference of clockwise or counterclockwise.
*Auto save the puzzle at specific intervals automatically, such as every 5 minutes, never lose your progress again!
*Use tools such as undo, demo, next piece finds, hints, mystery mode, auto solve, overlay pictures, zoom, or even timers. It even shows you the number of pieces in the puzzle, and how many pieces you have placed.
Now do you want more?? When you know what CAN BE available, it makes a big difference doesn't it? I'm sure there are lots of gamers who don't care about all these features, and just want a relaxing and simple puzzle to while away the time, but if you do want to see more puzzles offered with these kinds of options...make a stand and let your voice be heard....WE WANT MORE!
I don't recommend this game.
This highly anticipated addition to the Cursed House series has you taking your match 3 skills to the next level!
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 146 found this review helpful
SWEET STRATEGY BASED MATCH 3 GAME...CURSE THAT HOUSE!
PostedFebruary 21, 2018
pennmom36
fromMy brain hurts!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
One of the reasons I love this Match 3 series is that I have to use strategy in order to master the levels. This isn't a Match 3 game where you blindly swap tiles at a breakneck speed. This is a game that's all about the coins, nothing else really matters, but getting to the coins is where the strategy comes into play, and the addiction that follows.
You can play in a Relaxed mode as well as Limited Moves or Limited Time, and you can switch between modes on different levels to help you beat difficult levels. Eventually, you will be given the option to skip a difficult level without penalty, after several replay attempts, and in the Bonus Levels, you will receive interactive hints after 10 replay attempts.
The Cursed House is filled with evil spirits, that can only be banished by an ancient Amulet. The Amulet can only be powered by collecting hundreds of coins, so once again, this cursed house needs cleansing of its domain of evil spirits.
Large matches will give you a Power-up, and power-ups are critical, because most coins are blocked by obstacles that require a power-up to destroy them. A match 4 will give you Dynamite to explode by moving it or double clicking. A match 5 will give you a Morphing Power-up to choose either a Rocket which targets obstacles, Lightning which destroys all identical tiles match with, or a Dynamite Barrel. You can choose the power-up by clicking as it morphs, and if you chose the wrong one, you can cancel it by right clicking.
Levels with Trunks require you to collect Trunk Coins, when all trunk coins have been found, you need to make a match adjacent to the trunk or trunks that will vibrate to alert you that all trunk coins have been located. Once the trunks are opened, you receive bonuses and other parts of the board are unlocked.
Some levels have Cannons that require you to make matches next to the wick to fire the cannon to start a chain reaction, some cannons are locked and you must make matches in front of the key to allow the key to move towards the lock. Firing the cannon also opens up other parts of the board.
There are several types of coins besides the gold coins and trunk coins, Dusty coins that need two matches, coins that are split in half requiring matches in front of the pieces to join the two halves. Coins that need filled in by collecting falling drops of liquid or gold by dropping them off the board to fill a vial. Bug coins need to be collected to get rid of pesky bugs that annoy you, and Red bugs need to be pushed off of the board because they are invulnerable to power-ups.
Some tiles have obstacles such as boarded tiles, some boarded tiles have shields that require matches made on the sides without the shield for more challenge. There are Stone tiles, Lava tiles, Chained tiles, ice tiles, Rock tiles and Fog tiles that require either a match adjacent to them, most but not all obstacles can be destroyed with lightning explosions or bombs. There are even Green and Red Hot Stone tiles that require matches on top to destroy them. Torches will spread the flame as adjacent matches are made, which needs to reach frozen tiles or flameless torches. The Ray of Light shoots a beam of light to destroy the Darkness, but a path must be cleared first.....the not so easy scenario!
After playing a few levels, you get to play a Mini Game such as Higher/Lower Solitaire that has an extra slot to store any face up card to use in a match later and unblock cards on the board. There are also Hidden Object Scenes and one of my favorite games, Spot The Difference which has very subtle differences and wasn't as easy as you'd expect.
CURSED HOUSE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Cursed House: 1 (December 15-2010) 4.1
2-Cursed House: 2 (October 31-2012) 4.0
3-Cursed House: Irish Language version (July 15-2014) 4.0
4-Cursed House: 3 (May 23-2016) 4.3
5-Cursed House: 4 (September 11-2017) 4.0
6-Cursed House: 5 (February 21-2018) n/a
2-Cursed House: 2 (October 31-2012) 4.0
3-Cursed House: Irish Language version (July 15-2014) 4.0
4-Cursed House: 3 (May 23-2016) 4.3
5-Cursed House: 4 (September 11-2017) 4.0
6-Cursed House: 5 (February 21-2018) n/a
by: FRH Games
FRH Games:
Cursed House*Spellarium*Floria*Laruaville
Cursed House*Spellarium*Floria*Laruaville
I recommend this game!
Use your knowledge of alchemical arcana to save the young prince from the clutches of dark magic!
Overall rating
2
/
5
51 of 72 found this review helpful
IS IT OVER YET???
PostedFebruary 20, 2018
pennmom36
fromFoiled again!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
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 this 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 really all that's offered, so I think the Standard Edition version will be the better value, if you can be patient.
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.
This Collector's Edition version has 6 Wallpapers, Concept Art pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, replayable Hidden Object Scenes, Mini Games and Cutscenes, 31 Hidden Roses, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
LOST GRIMOIRES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Stolen Kingdom (March 6-2017) 4.3
2-Shard of Mystery (February 20-2018) n/a
3-The Forgotten Well (????)
2-Shard of Mystery (February 20-2018) n/a
3-The Forgotten Well (????)
by: Artifex Mundi
Artifex Mundi Games:
Lost Grimoires*Noir Chronicles*Endless Fables*Bladebound*Eventide*Modern Tales*The Secret Order*Queen's Quest*Ghost Files*Scarlett Mysteries*
Lost Grimoires*Noir Chronicles*Endless Fables*Bladebound*Eventide*Modern Tales*The Secret Order*Queen's Quest*Ghost Files*Scarlett Mysteries*
I don't recommend this game.
In Travel Mosaics: A Paris Tour, explore the beauty of France while completing colorful and challenging mosaics puzzles.
Overall rating
2
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
A "GUESSER" GRIDDLER WITH HARD TO SEE GRIDS
PostedFebruary 19, 2018
pennmom36
fromIf only.......
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game has two major strikes against it..Some of the levels aren't based upon logic, requiring you to either guess or use a Power-up to solve it. The second strike is that the grids start out entirely black, and the crossed off squares are are also black, with a circle. This makes it really difficult to tell which squares are crossed off, and for me it became frustrating, as I tried to figure out where one square stopped and another started.
It's too bad that these two flaws exist, because otherwise this would be an awesome Griddler that has otherwise some good features. The filled in squares are colorful, and look like 3D bubbles. You can play in an Easy mode which crosses off one by one or Difficult mode which only crosses off squares when the entire row or column has been completed. I wasn't crazy about the music, but that's an easy fix.
As you fill in tiles, you will earn coins, or Power-up recharges. Power-ups can be upgraded, and you can also buy Souvenir's. There are Power-ups such asa Hammer, Sun, Lightning and even a Bomb, they start out with very little coverage area which increases with each upgrade.
Each Location has 6 main levels, 1 bonus level and 1 additional puzzle. You must earn at least 2 Stars on each mail level to open the bonus puzzles, and you have to earn at least 1 Star in each of the main levels to unlock the next location.
There is a Book icon that gives a brief description of the locations, which comes in handy if you make too many mistakes, because you will be asked some questions about the locations as a chance to earn another chance.
I don't recommend this game.