pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4713
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 8, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
Overall rating
5
/
5
274 of 329 found this review helpful
THIS GAME HAS SO MANY PUZZLES! THE HOP'S HAVE PUZZLES, THE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE PUZZLES, EVEN THE PUZZLES HAVE PUZZLES!
PostedFebruary 15, 2018
pennmom36
fromDon't all wild raccoons rub their bellies and point to their mouths to explain that they are hungry? Probably only when asked to go fetch fuses because he's so eager to help you
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The enemy has breached the castle gates, as they stand at the threshold, they make their demands. "You can't hide in the castle forever, your armies are defeated, and your black magic is useless, we've won, surrender!" The King had no intention of surrendering, and his black magic is anything but useless, in fact, what he does next, may very well, punish the townspeople for generations to come!
Sure, this story has been done before, but I gotta give Mariaglorum credit for putting a fresh perspective aspect to an age old storyline. The graphics for the most part are fantastic, but at times, seem cartoonish within zoom zones or Hidden Object Scenes. But the one thing that stands out in this game, are the abundance of Mini Game Puzzles, not just small easy puzzles, but multi-layered puzzles, puzzles that are creative and FUN! I also fell in love with the fact that this game starts out in Medieval Times, but fast forwards into modern times.
In this Collector's Edition version, there are 23 Hidden Crowns to search for, and 8 Character Figurines to Collect. One feature I've always liked, that's offered by this dev, is that you can refer to the Collections Icon, and see exactly where you missed finding a collectible, because the missing collectible spot glows and tells you which scene the missing collectible is located in. I also like the unique Achievement they always offer, of answering simple questions about the game, to see if you're paying attention to details.
The Hidden Object Scenes themselves aren't that special, but they are highly interactive. What does make them special, is the fact that they have included Mini Games, the keyword here being Game(s) Which I will list in the next paragraph. As I said earlier, I felt like the graphics could have been less cartoonish within the HOP's and Zoom Zones.
The Mini Games, well, quite frankly, I had a blast, this game is a Puzzle Geeks dream come true! There are so many puzzles in this game, so if you're not into a game heavy on the puzzle side, you may want to sit this game out. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Click on tumbler wheels to match symbols shown on the clue, that automatically posts above the lock. (I do miss the good ole days of having to remember clues or refer to your journal!)
2) Sift through several keys to find the key that matches the image on the clue.
3) A three part super puzzle #1: Move the wires by adjusting various sliders so that none of the wires intersect.
4) #2:Select and drag two colored switches to the tiles of partial symbols so that the two images combined, match the colored symbol shown.
5) #3: Reassemble the image by swapping square puzzle tiles.
6) HOP puzzle: Align the radio waves, by adjusting a slider bar and two different adjustment knobs.
7) Assemble torn picture fragments to complete the image.
8) Use directional arrows on the GPS map to locate the correct destination.
9) Guide the raccoon through the dimly lit maze, to find two fuzes.
10) Create paths between matching colored locks by drawing a line between each lock without crossing paths.
This Collector's Edition version has 18 Wallpapers, 30 Concept Art pictures, 8 Music Soundtracks, 6 Movie Videos, 7 Achievements to earn in 3 different categories, (including an achievement for answering simple game questions) Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 23 Hidden Crowns, 8 Collectible Character figurines, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
MYSTERY OF THE ANCIENTS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lockwood Manor (September 22-2011) 4.2
2-Curse of the Black Water (November 1-2012) 4.5
3-Three Guardians (January 30-2014) 4.5
4-Deadly Cold (February 5-2015) 4.1
5-Mud Water Creek (April 14-2016) 4.2
6-The Sealed And Forgotten (March 2-2017) 4.0
7-Black Dagger (February 15-2018) n/a
2-Curse of the Black Water (November 1-2012) 4.5
3-Three Guardians (January 30-2014) 4.5
4-Deadly Cold (February 5-2015) 4.1
5-Mud Water Creek (April 14-2016) 4.2
6-The Sealed And Forgotten (March 2-2017) 4.0
7-Black Dagger (February 15-2018) n/a
by: Mariaglorum Company
Mariaglorum Games Available
Mystery of the Ancients/League of Light/Kate Arrow/Bonfire Stories
I recommend this game!
Set off on a time-tripping adventure to the medieval past in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 70 found this review helpful
I LOVE THE HUMOR
PostedFebruary 14, 2018
pennmom36
fromHappy Valentine's Day ♡
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Finally! I've waited patiently for the Standard Edition of this game to be released! I waited so long, I forgot to save a PCC, so I'm just going to have to wait a little while longer, but trust me, if you like Time Management games, this one's worth it. The graphics are really good, and it's got a humorous storyline, with likeable characters. You can play in a Relaxed, untimed mode, or Normal mode, but unfortunately, for all you hardcore TM gamers, there isn't an Expert mode. I'm not an expert when it comes to TM games, I've played a ton of them, and I really like them, but Normal mode offers plenty of challenge for my level of expertise.
There are the usual Time Management tasks, of clearing paths, harvesting food, cutting down trees, repairing bridges, and gathering other resources. Mana is gathered to allow Mary to cast spells, which give you Faster Workers, Faster growing Crops, and instant Tree regrowth etc. Buildings of various types must be constructed, such as Sawmills and Foundy's, and as you progress, other buildings become available to help you replenish various resources faster, depending on the level goals. Those dreaded Zombie Skeleton's have returned, (and sooner than I expected) and if you don't pay attention, they can easily mess up your strategy plans. As soon as they are spotted, you'll need to click on them, which sends John to destroy them in his tight, but shining armor. If you aren't quick enough, workers will get scared off, and all of the queued tasks you had selected previously, will have to be re-clicked, once John has won the battle, and cleared the way.
When I first played the Collector's Edition version demo, I wasn't as thrilled as I had anticipated being. I thought that they gave you too many workers, to begin with. Surely having 5 or 6 workers, would make collecting resources less challenging, rather than only having a couple of workers available, or waiting to build up necessary resources to be able to afford upgrading the camp to receive additional workers. I also wished that there was more of a variation of tasks to complete. Having several of the same kinds of tasks, such as 5 piles of gold, 5 of the same kind of trees to cut, 7-10 wheat crops as the only source of food, and particularly, having 5 identical Mana wells, isn't very exciting. I just think it would be more fun, and look more appealing, to have a little variation.
As far as the Collector's Edition version versus this Standard Edition version, this version is the route to take, in my opinion. I personally don't see a need for a Strategy Guide, (although, I would love to see some sort of Hint feature added, to use when I'm not sure what I should do next, on occasion) and I could care less about most of the CE extras offered, such as, Wallpapers and Music. I did however, enjoy finding the hidden Puzzle Piece in each level, which allows you to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle in the CE, but that's not a feature I'm willing to pay twice as much for!
NEW YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Version***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Version***Release Date***Average Rating
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #1 (May-7-2012) 3.9
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #2 (January-30-2013) 4.2
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #3 (December-24-2013) 3.6
(Santa's Service Christmas Edition)
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court # 4 (December-19-2018) 4.3
(Collector's Edition Version)
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #4 (February-14-2018) n/a
(Standard Edition Version)
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #2 (January-30-2013) 4.2
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #3 (December-24-2013) 3.6
(Santa's Service Christmas Edition)
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court # 4 (December-19-2018) 4.3
(Collector's Edition Version)
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court #4 (February-14-2018) n/a
(Standard Edition Version)
by: Yustas Games Studio
Games Available by Yustas Games Studio:
Weather Lord/The Beardless Wizard/Rose Riddle/New Yankee In King Arthur's Court
Weather Lord/The Beardless Wizard/Rose Riddle/New Yankee In King Arthur's Court
The Collector's Edition version has 30 Achievements to earn, Movies, 10 Music Soundtracks, 5 Wallpapers, Collectible Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle, a Strategy Guide and Bonus CE levels, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Complete mahjong solitaire boards to collect stone and gold tiles and construct thirty amazing buildings in five different regions!
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 53 found this review helpful
MAHJONG MASTERS: TEMPLE OF THE TEN GODS WAS BETTER
PostedFebruary 14, 2018
pennmom36
fromHappy Valentine's Day ♡
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I really liked the first game in this series, Mahjong Masters: Temple of the Ten Gods, and that's saying a lot, because there aren't many Mahjong games that excite me. Usually, Mahjong games get old and repetitive, very quickly, it isn't a game of skill, it's a game of chance, and the odds of available matches depend on whatever percentage the game has been set at.
Mahjong Masters in my opinion, is the exception to the rules, because of its features, I felt like it had purpose, that there was a reason I needed to match the tiles, because it allows me to construct something for my Mahjong efforts. There are only two different tile sets to choose from, Simple Traditional Mahjong Tiles, and Themed Mahjong Tiles, which are bright and very colorful, but would've been better as an ancient stone slab type. The theme of this game is to master the different types of architecture, across 5 vast lands. You can choose any of the 5 regions to play, but each region requires you to construct 6 buildings, so you will have to play mahjong several times in each region, until you reach 100% capacity to construct the available building.
There are two different types of Mahjong, Building Construction (traditional Mahjong requiring you to uncover all Gold tiles) and Special Build (you make matches of Numbered Tiles whose sum will equal the number shown, which changes after each match, until all tiles have been removed) I actually liked the Special Build number game, I'm not sure why, but it's different, and seems to require at least a small amount of strategy and thinking.
I really liked the first Mahjong Masters game, because it had an amazing storyline, and you played Mahjong games to collect the necessary amounts of resources to construct the Temple. The features were different in this game, some of which I really didn't dig, especially the horizontal split screen, which not only reduced the size of the layout board, but had the main character (cartoon image at that) walking to and fro constantly which was distracting and annoying.
Another feature I could have done without, was having to "pay" to play, a Small layout cost 700, a Medium size cost 1200, and a Large layout cost 1500 coins (you start out with 5000) As if that wasn't bad enough, you had to pay again, each and every time you needed to use the reshuffle feature, and of course almost every game required me to use this feature at least once, so it's difficult to get ahead! You can earn up to 3 Stars on each level, I'm assuming a star is removed for every Gold tile that isn't removed? Gold tiles just require a single click to remove them, and before the start of each game, only the gold tiles are shown for several seconds before the remaining tiles are added, to help you memorize the general area they are located. You don't need to remove all tiles, just all of the Gold Tiles.
Although I'm not a fan of basic Mahjong games, I was interested enough in this game, to finish the demo, and would probably consider using a PCC to purchase it. However, I will say that the first game, Temple of the Ten Gods, was an amazing mahjong game, that I purchased immediately, and thoroughly enjoyed playing, so be sure to check that game out as well!
MAHJONG MASTERS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Mahjong Masters: Temple of the Ten Gods (July-3-2017) 3.7
Mahjong Masters: The Amazing Architect (February 14-2018)
Mahjong Masters: The Amazing Architect (February 14-2018)
Are you up for a new challenge? Join Emily and Patrick as the moms put the dads through their paces!
Overall rating
4
/
5
63 of 79 found this review helpful
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BELOVED DELICIOUS SERIES?
PostedFebruary 13, 2018
pennmom36
fromThis one wasn't love at first sight for me
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The baby's have arrived! The O'Malley's certainly have their hands full now, so Patrick has taken some time off to help Emily, and it's a good thing, because she has a lot of work to catch up on! Her number one fan has just added Little Luna's Products, featuring Emily's recipes, so Emily dives right in to endorse her products! Times have changed, and it's no longer an era of mom's the only one who can handle childcare, and Patrick's got this, right? It's moms vs dads, and my moneys bettin' that Patrick just needs a little nudging in the right direction!
I've always said that the Delicious series is one of the most entertaining TM game series out there. With that being said, I must admit, I didn't like Moms vs Dads right from the get go. I played the first 3 levels and quit, utterly disappointed! Determined to be open minded and less judgemental, I revisited this game, to finish the demo. Everything seemed different, it wasn't my usual Delicious, and Luna seemed to be stealing the show. Emily was stuffed in a corner booth, barely noticeable, quietly restocking fruits, and grilling an occasional carrot or two. After each level, the only shop upgrades available were a few decorations, and the only menu items offered were similar products IF I had sold a specific quantity of the old product, which were boring, olive oil, a single olive a plastic bag, and cannelloni. This is a good TM game, not great, and after completing the demo, my opinion changed slightly. If I compare this to the previous Delicious games, it doesn't hold a candle to them, but if I pretend it's just another TM game, it's a decent game, hopefully that makes sense.
I've always said that the Delicious series is one of the most entertaining TM game series out there. With that being said, I must admit, I didn't like Moms vs Dads right from the get go. I played the first 3 levels and quit, utterly disappointed! Determined to be open minded and less judgemental, I revisited this game, to finish the demo. Everything seemed different, it wasn't my usual Delicious, and Luna seemed to be stealing the show. Emily was stuffed in a corner booth, barely noticeable, quietly restocking fruits, and grilling an occasional carrot or two. After each level, the only shop upgrades available were a few decorations, and the only menu items offered were similar products IF I had sold a specific quantity of the old product, which were boring, olive oil, a single olive a plastic bag, and cannelloni. This is a good TM game, not great, and after completing the demo, my opinion changed slightly. If I compare this to the previous Delicious games, it doesn't hold a candle to them, but if I pretend it's just another TM game, it's a decent game, hopefully that makes sense.
Time Management games of this type are fairly easy to figure out, but not necessarily easy to master within the allotted time frame. The customers will have a thought bubble showing the items they want to eat, as well as their hearts indicating their level of happiness and patients. The goal is to serve them as quickly as possible to get the largest tip possible. The longer you take to serve them, the more hearts they will lose, which means a lower tip, or they might even leave without paying! Some items require a single click to add to your tray, some items require multiple steps, and some food item require you to restock when supplies diminish.
When Carl the mouse pops up, you will receive 100 points if you click on him. You can earn extra points by serving customers super fast, checking out several customers at the same time or serving multiple people consecutively. You can earn Trophy achievements that are actually Postcards that allow you to write personal messages and send them to friends. Some levels have Challenge levels that allow you to earn Diamonds which can be used to decorate the O'Malley's front porch and yard.
Here's a list of the Delicious Series in order of release:
(games with dates are BF release dates)
Here's a list of the Delicious Series in order of release:
(games with dates are BF release dates)
1-Delicious
2-Delicious 2
3-Emily's Tea Garden
4-Emily's Taste of Fame
5-Emily's Holiday Season
6-Emily's Childhood Memories (June 23-2015) 4.1
7-Emily's True Love ((July 22-2015) 4.6
8-Emily's Wonder Wedding (March 11-2015) 4.9
9-Emily's Honeymoon Cruise (March 18-2015) 4.5
10-Emily's New Beginning (December 20-2014) 4.7
11-Emily's Home Sweet Home CE (June 27-2015) 4.9
12-Emily's Hopes and Fears CE (January 2-2016) 4.7
13-Emily's Message in a Bottle CE (September 6-2016) 4.6
14-Emily's Christmas Carol CE (December 13-2016) 4.2
15-Emily's Miracle of Life (November 7-2017) 3.5
16-Emily's Moms vs Dads (February 13-2018) n/a
2-Delicious 2
3-Emily's Tea Garden
4-Emily's Taste of Fame
5-Emily's Holiday Season
6-Emily's Childhood Memories (June 23-2015) 4.1
7-Emily's True Love ((July 22-2015) 4.6
8-Emily's Wonder Wedding (March 11-2015) 4.9
9-Emily's Honeymoon Cruise (March 18-2015) 4.5
10-Emily's New Beginning (December 20-2014) 4.7
11-Emily's Home Sweet Home CE (June 27-2015) 4.9
12-Emily's Hopes and Fears CE (January 2-2016) 4.7
13-Emily's Message in a Bottle CE (September 6-2016) 4.6
14-Emily's Christmas Carol CE (December 13-2016) 4.2
15-Emily's Miracle of Life (November 7-2017) 3.5
16-Emily's Moms vs Dads (February 13-2018) n/a
I recommend this game!
Legends of India
Experience the atmosphere of ancient India while enjoying colorful and brilliantly designed match-3 puzzles.
Overall rating
1
/
5
28 of 32 found this review helpful
I'LL SEARCH FOR THE LOST CITY TREASURE ELSEWHERE'S
PostedFebruary 12, 2018
pennmom36
fromHope that poor little monkey gets those bananas!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is certainly a colorful game, but compared to the other amazing Match 3 game released today...well there isn't any comparison, this game is awful! I had to force myself to make it to level 10, and that's only because I was curious as to why there was a magnifying glass on top of the level icon. Turns out, it was to alert me that there was a horrible HO coming up, involving searching for missing bananas!
Legends of India is by Playzzy Games, the same devs who offer the Secret Investigation games and The Spell, which are also horrible games. The graphics are bright and colorful, but the characters are cartoonish animated in nature, with talking monkeys and an elephant tutorial guide. I suppose this would be a good game for kids, especially given the fact that they don't need to read instructions which are simply shown before each level. This is a Limited Moves type Match 3 game that can be played in an Expert or Relaxed mode of difficulty. The Relaxed mode is untimed and offers more coins in each level, Expert mode is timed with less coins available.
The Level Goals are shown to the left of the board, which usually involves removing a specified amount of a specified tile or tiles, as well as removing Silver Cells by making matches on them. Coins can be collected with a single click, but I have no idea what the coins are for, I found no shop, no upgrades or building to construct to use in exchange for them.
After a couple of levels, the tutorial explained that a Match 4 would award me with a Bomb on the board, but just a couple of levels ahead, the tutorial says that a Match 4 would give me a Cross on the board to use, so that's confusing???
There are the usual obstacles such as crates to bust by making matches next to them, and the sound effects certainly get loud when they burst, the music also gets extremely loud during the pop up score board, which was really annoying, and seemed to take forever because of it. Apparently, I found missing artifacts during the levels, because the game would take me to a dark room, where an object would magically appear, and when I exited the game, the dark cellar room was tucked neatly into a treasure chest at the bottom of my screen. I wasn't aware I had found these items, what am I supposed to do with them? Should I store my useless coins in the treasure chest too?
I just can't see the value in this Match 3 game. It's boring, it doesn't make sense, there's no exciting features, it's basic bare boned, it's just no fun, I wouldn't even use a PCC to buy this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Be the hero Olympus needs and save the city from new threats in this match-three puzzler!
Overall rating
5
/
5
149 of 165 found this review helpful
A MATCH 3 LEGEND HAS BEEN BORN!
PostedFebruary 12, 2018
pennmom36
fromYou even get to assemble puzzles!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Heroes of Hellas fans have been waiting a long time for this amazing Match 3 game to be released, and this game was well worth the wait! This is a Chain type M3 game, that can be played in a Timed or UnTimed mode of difficulty. There are 12 Rewards or Achievements to earn, and 15 Bonus Chapters to unlock, as you team up with Hermes to rebuild the Pantheon of Heroes.
It took me a few levels to really get into the game, but once I got the hang of it, and figured out the mechanics and features of the game, it quickly became addictive. When you make long chain matches, Coins will appear on the board. Coins can be used as a Wildcard so to speak, because they can be included in a match with any tile, as long as there are 3 or more tles total in the chain. Resources and Gems can be collected by dropping them off of the honeycomb shaped board, and Weapon Pieces are hidden underneath the Brown celled tiles, which require a match made on top of the brown cells. Gold Tiles can also be collected by making matches on them.
Power-ups will appear on the board such as Bombs and directional Lightning Bolts, which are activated when you include them within a Chain Match. Other power-ups such as Hermes, will shuffle the tiles, once you select the Icon. This type of power-up, must be recharged by matching the green tiles, or whichever color tile is associated with the the power-up. Winged Tiles will reveal hidden sections of the board, once they are activated by including in a chain. Storm Clouds partially cover the board, and require matches made next to them, to make the clouds dissipate. Ropes require a being included in a chain match with whichever tiles are covered by the ropes. Stone Monoliths can only be removed when you include the tile with the same symbol on each monolith, has been matched.
Even though I'm not a fan of Chain type Match 3 games, there are a few select games, that just somehow works for me, such as Cradle of Persia, and of course Heroes of Hellas. If you don't like this type of M3, I urge you to at least try the demo, I think this game may change your mind about it, enjoy!
HEROES OF HELLAS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Heroes of Hellas 1 (April 15-2009) 4.2
Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympia (January 13-2010) 4.5
Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens (October 26-2011) 4.7
Heroes of Hellas 4: Birth of Legend (February 12-2018) n/a
Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympia (January 13-2010) 4.5
Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens (October 26-2011) 4.7
Heroes of Hellas 4: Birth of Legend (February 12-2018) n/a
by: Alawar Entertainment
by: Jaibo Games
by: Jaibo Games
I recommend this game!
Trial of the Gods: Ariadne’s Journey
Prince Theseus has been captured by cruel Amazons and it’s up to you to help Ariadne on her dangerous and exciting journey!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
ADDICTIVE GEM MATCH 3
PostedFebruary 11, 2018
pennmom36
fromI still get amazed when I discover an older game that has better features than some of the newer games!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Rome
(33)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I came across this Match 3 game by accident, and it turned out to be a decent Match 3 game. After playing the demo, I realized that this is the second game of a sequel, the first one is, Trial of the Gods: Ariadne's Fate. I haven't played the first one yet, but it didn't receive very good ratings, so I'm not super eager to check that one out.
You can play two different modes, Ariadne's Adventure, which follows a storyline and can be played in a Timed or Untimed mode. Level goals are shown at the bottom, and when the level goals have been completed, you receive a new item to restore the goddess's temple. You must figure out where to place the items in the temple, (highlighted) When several items have been placed, you will earn an Artifact to help you progress.
In Ariadne's Loom, your goal is to move the spool of thread down to the bottom of the board. The spools will eventually weave the tapestry, and the game has no time limits to accomplish the goals.
When you make large matches, you will earn Bonuses on the board. A match 4 earns you an Emerald gem which removes all tiles in a horizontal line. A match 5 earns you an Onyx gem which removes all tiles in a vertical row. Making two matches within one move earns you a Topaz gem, which will remove all tiles in a diagonal line. Making consecutive matches quickly will earn you either a Quartz gem that removes all tiles of the same color matched, a Purple Celestial Sphere that removes a small group of adjacent tiles, or a Brown Celestial Sphere that removes a large group of adjacent tiles, when you collect Coins with a single click before they disappear.
Magic Artifacts given to you by the gods, such as a Hammer to remove any vertical line of tiles you choose, or a Caduceus' which shuffles all the tiles, can be recharged by making matches over all brown cells.
There are Obstacles such as Purses of gems, that require a match of whichever gem is shown on the purse, or a power-up to remove, or Grids that must either be dropped off of the board, or destroyed with a power-up. The grid allows you to make matches with the gems inside, but the grid will remain on the board until destroyed or dropped off. The purses cannot be moved even if you are swapping with a different useable tile, until it is matched with 2 others of the same gem as shown inside the purse.
There are also Hidden Object Scenes to break up the monotony, and I enjoyed some of the level goals of making matches with all gems that have pearls on them, or collecting all Playing Cards for example. It's an older Match 3 game, and the graphics aren't all that great, but it's still a fun and addictive game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop an old evil from wreaking its vengeance?
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 35 found this review helpful
I DON'T THINK THIS GAME IS HORRIBLE, IT'S JUST NOT GREAT
PostedFebruary 11, 2018
pennmom36
from"All your descendants will suffer" why? They didn't do anything!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I actually believe that this game has potential as a new series. It's not a fantastic game, it's just an okay game, but I think Deep Shadows can take some constructive criticism, and mold this game into a fantastic detective series.
This is one of those games that was stretched with unnecessary filler tasks to make it appear to be a longer game, it has 5 Chapters and a Bonus Chapter. I found myself getting bored towards the end of each chapter, but only because of said filler tasks, that really added nothing to the story. Each chapter is basically about thwarting Malefic's evil agenda, and trying to save a different victim.
Fortunately, there isn't a lot of back and forthing, because most items are found and used within that scene, or the previous scene. I did find too many of the puzzles to be the frustrating kind, throughout the game, the kind where clicking on one, affects several others. To me, those types of puzzles don't require as much skill as they do patience, therefore, they are just frustrating, aggravating and not that fun, and a little goes a long way, but that's just my personal preference.
As I said earlier, I don't think this is a horrible game, but there's nothing special about it, which makes it average. However, I do think Deep Shadows should continue with this series, because I love a good detective game, I would especially love a detective game that takes place in modern times. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
Burned at the stake, purified by fire (nope, its not a marshmallow) accused of atrocious, unspeakable crimes and witchcraft. Such a savage punishment, yet, before the flames engulfed his entire body, Malefic vowed to return. "You and all your descendants will suffer" That was two hundred and fifty years ago, but Detective Pike fears the "Man of Shadows" has returned to enact his revenge upon the distant relatives who so barbarically ended his life.
Detective Pike seems to be the only one who believes that Katherine Garrison-Oaks was murdered, much less at the hands of a city legend superstition. He has asked Claire Arlington to join his investigation, and help him get proof that the Man of Shadows has once again returned. Claire has a supernatural gift, one that allows her to see past events with the help of an all seeing Amulet. I know, I know, another amulet, another psychic medium that sees into the past while in a trance, been there done that, but the "Eye Amulet" isn't used that often, and there's not really any repetitive puzzle involved. The graphics are well done, and I thought the Hidden Object Scenes and Mini Games were very well constructed, although I do think they went overboard with the puzzles where, moving one affects others, which to me are frustrating. I want to see more from Deep Shadow Games, I think they're on to something here!
In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a Hidden Symbol, and most of the Hidden Object Scenes have a Morphing Object, as indicated by a drop down icon that appears and disappears once found. The Eye Amulet is used about 3 or 4 times within the demo, but you don't have to scan the room or complete a mini game to use it, the only thing the amulet is actually used for, is to show a brief movie clip of a past event. Evidence is gathered in groups of usually 3 items, and will automatically go into the Evidence icon.
One of the Hidden Object Scenes I'm happy to report, was actually cleverly constructed. (unfortunately this game is a bit lite in the HOP department) I don't usually find HOP's all that impressive nowadays, because in most games they are just random items thrown into a pile of junk. I particularly enjoyed the HOP where you had to find listed objects in pairs, such as 2 arrows or 2 ink impressions. Another one I liked, was a simple Interactive List that opens up once you find the silhouetted shapes and placed them into the matching sections. There are a total of 20 Hidden Object Scenes total in this game.
The Mini Games are decent, but tend to lean towards the easy side of the scale.Several of the puzzles are categorized as super puzzles, which simply means puzzles that are back to back in a 3 pack. There are a total of 18 Super Puzzles available in this game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Click on puzzle sections until the box image matches te pictured clue.
2) Move color coded tiles to their matching colored slots, by clicking tiles in that will move 1 space at a time in an indicated direction. The direction will change when the tile passes over a directional arrow, and tiles can push each other as well. (challenging and somewhat lengthy but I really liked this one)
3) Swap tiles to complete the pattern.
4) Restore the image by rotating discs, rotating one disc may affect others. (look for the pattern)
5) Move the colored chains to their matching colored cells. (medium challenge but doable and enjoyable)
6) Swap labels to match the symbols shown on the label and the bottles. (part 1/3)
7) Recreate the photo by finding matching symbols flipping 2 tiles at a time (part 2/3
8) Use directional arrows to scroll through the pictures to find a matching hair sample (part 3/3)
DEEP SHADOWS GAMES AVAILABLE
Medium Detective*Tales of Terror*Haunted Train*Family Tales*Exorcist*Whispered Stories*Sandra Fleming Chronicles
Medium Detective*Tales of Terror*Haunted Train*Family Tales*Exorcist*Whispered Stories*Sandra Fleming Chronicles
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 15 Achievements to earn, 10 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, 32 Hidden Symbol Signs, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
Jigsaws Galore
Put together the beautiful jigsaws included, or make your own new puzzles from photos or screen captures in Jigsaws Galore!
Overall rating
5
/
5
26 of 28 found this review helpful
THIS JIGSAW IS NOW OVER 20 YEARS OLD BUT HAS BETTER GRAPHICS AND MORE FEATURES THAN JIGSAWS IN 2018!???!!
PostedFebruary 11, 2018
pennmom36
fromand to think, I've been complaining about puzzles not having these options, and it was here all along!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Jigsaws Galore
(121)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm a jigsaw geek and have put together thousands of physical jigsaws, I even completed the world's largest jigsaw, which comes in 4 sections, each section contains 6000 pieces. (I had to tape 4 six foot tables together just to hold one section, and had to place the puzzle pieces on several paper plates!) I started transitioning over to virtual puzzles, which are a whole lot cheaper and I never lose pieces lol. But something was just "missing" it wasn't the same. To make matters worse, most of the puzzles offered by BF are from the same dev, and they offer the same cookie cutter versions, all of which are lacking customizable features, with not so thrilling pictures offered.
Well folks, all that has changed, because I finally discovered this game, Jigsaws Galore! Apparently this game was released in 1996, but I can assure you, this game is still ALIVE AND KICKING! There are 200 puzzles included in this version, but Gray Design Associates still offers upgrades, the game version is currently on version 7 as of 2017, and you can also get more puzzle packages, hundred of more puzzles, and you can capture any picture from your desktop to use as a puzzle, OR use the completed puzzles as a screensaver that puts the puzzle together, piece by piece!
Most puzzle games have the same boring features, and most allow you to modify the shape and amount of pieces, usually up to 300 pieces, boring huh? How would you like to assemble a puzzle with up to 64,000 pieces? Yep, you guessed it, Puzzles Galore has that option! There's so many options, there's probably an option for the options! Here's some bullet point features I have discovered so far, that I think are just amazing!
*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, choose the brightness of the ghosted picture, hang a picture for reference, choose the background color or type of material.
*Open up trays to hold puzzle pieces, 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.
*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. 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, choose puzzle piece rotation, clockwise or counterclockwise.
*Auto save the puzzle at specific intervals, such as every 5 minutes, never loose your progress.
*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.
If you don't like complicated features, and you just want to do a puzzle the way it is, that's okay too, just double click on any picture and voila! But if your like me, and need to be able to customize each and every aspect, this puzzle will make you jump for joy, look no further than Jigsaws Galore, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Recover the artifact that contains the secrets of H.E.L.P.'s past.
Overall rating
4
/
5
89 of 126 found this review helpful
THE LEGACY MUST BE PRESERVED, THE SECRET MUST REMAIN HIDDEN!
PostedFebruary 10, 2018
pennmom36
fromThe fact card factoids aren't that interesting this go round??
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your mission Agent, should you choose to except it, involves buying an artifact at the Geneva Auction House. The artifact, known as the Golden Wheel, contains vital information pertaining to when H.E.L.P was founded. This should be an open and shut case, and you should be able to return to return to the slopes, and enjoy the remainder of your vacation, quickly......yeah, right!
Since The Golden Secret is on the topic of H.E.L.P's origins I thought I'd add a little of my own research that I included on one of my earlier HE reviews. I researched some fun facts, because I wanted to find out what H.E.L.P stood for, the P was stumping me. It turns out that this league has had a few name changes over the years, that I didn't even realize! In Hidden Expedition: Titanic, the league went by the name of H.E.A.L, which was the Hidden Expedition Adventure League. In Hidden Expedition: Everest, the league was simply the Hidden Expedition Club, and in Hidden Expedition: Devil's Triangle, it was referred to as H.E.A.T which stood for Hidden Expedition Adventure Team. The newer games have transitioned into the name H.E.L.P which stands for Hidden Expedition League of Preservation. Pretty cool useless information right?
I'll admit, when I saw today's Hidden Expedition game, I got kind of bummed out. Let's face it, the games in this series, lately have been less than stellar. I was pleasantly surprised! This game actually has a very interesting plot, but there are still some major epic fails as far as logic goes. The features are everything I expected, but it's because Eipix never "thinks outside the box" is it because of laziness, or because they are on the top of the HOPA pile and they don't think they need to? I would really love to see the famous H.E.L.P box upgraded to reflect technology of the first century of the 3rd millennium, the century of the Anno Domini era, better know as the 21st century! It's the equivalence of carrying around a large boom box instead of a cell phone or mp3 device! The "artifact" in question has more technology than my help box, and to make matters worse, the surveillance video was recorded on a VHS tape! (are those still available?)
SPOILER ALERT:
Funny Logic Fails (or things that just don't make sense)
Funny Logic Fails (or things that just don't make sense)
*why did I help myself to the receptionist's printer ink cartridge? Those are expensive, couldn't I ask first?
*after the robbery, my partner says "I'll make sure the police don't get involved" really?
*Sam has set me up with a rental car, when I open the trunk, I discover not only a whole slew of miscellaneous items, including, old shoes, baseballs, and leftover chinese?
*the rent-a-cop asks me to stop the bleeding (don't worry there's no blood) before he can access the before mentioned VHS tape, yet the second I bandage him (which btw, that loose safety pinned cloth does wonders) he immediately hands me the tape?
*Thank goodness the perp took off his mask and looked straight into the camera?
*why does H.E.L.P have so many employees going rogue, don't they do backgrounds checks, they are a spy organization after all?
* why do I try to disguise my appearance, then pick up a large fish net to carry, won't that draw unwanted attention?
END SPOILER ALERT
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, and they have done a nice job of incorporating the HOP's relevant to the story, such as while searching for files in a filing cabinet. There are List finds, Keywords in Sentence finds, Multiple finds, and the typical HE, find items that fit the descriptions of two pictures added together as combo items, such as a quill & ink equals a pen. There are also a few zoom zone HOP's where you are tasked with finding a handful of items within a small zoomed in window. Most of the main HOP's have a Morphing Object, that is indicated with an icon on the right of the inventory bar.
The Mini Games are not bad, and range from easy to medium difficulty, without too much frustration. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select 3 different numbers whose sum equals the number the auctioneer calls out. This is required a total of 4 times.
2) Drag the signs (<,>, =) to the correct boxes to compare facial features between 2 photographs.
3) Drag all directional fragments to form a path for the claw to take.
4) Rearrange the tiles to form multiple patterns on a 3 tiered corner puzzle.
HIDDEN EXPEDITION GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Titanic (Standard Edition only) (July 22-2006) 3.6
2-Everest (Standard Edition only) (June 1-2007) 3.3
3-Amazon (Standard Edition only) (June 20-2008) 3.7
4-Devil's Triangle (Standard Edition only)(October 24-2009) 3.6
5-The Uncharted Islands (August 14-2011) 3.2
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (December 20-2013) n/a
7-The Crown of Solomon (July 3-2014) 4.1
8-Smithsonian Castle (December 24-2014) n/a
9-Dawn of Prosperity (August 27-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (January 7-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (June 2-2016) 4.1
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 1-2016) 3.5
13-The Lost Paradise (December 22-2016) 3.7
14-The Pearl of Discord (April 8-2017) 3.8
15-The Curse of Mithridates (October 28-2017) 3.9
16-The Golden Secret (February 10-2018) n/a
2-Everest (Standard Edition only) (June 1-2007) 3.3
3-Amazon (Standard Edition only) (June 20-2008) 3.7
4-Devil's Triangle (Standard Edition only)(October 24-2009) 3.6
5-The Uncharted Islands (August 14-2011) 3.2
6-Smithsonian Hope Diamond (December 20-2013) n/a
7-The Crown of Solomon (July 3-2014) 4.1
8-Smithsonian Castle (December 24-2014) n/a
9-Dawn of Prosperity (August 27-2015) 3.7
10-The Fountain of Youth (January 7-2016) 4.3
11-Midgard's End (June 2-2016) 4.1
12-The Eternal Emperor (September 1-2016) 3.5
13-The Lost Paradise (December 22-2016) 3.7
14-The Pearl of Discord (April 8-2017) 3.8
15-The Curse of Mithridates (October 28-2017) 3.9
16-The Golden Secret (February 10-2018) n/a
BY: EIPIX ENTERTAINMENT
OTHER GAMES BY EIPIX ENTERTAINMENT:
Danse Macabre*Saga of the Nine Worlds*Mystery Case Files*Dead Reckoning*Hidden Expedition*Phantasmat*Vermillion Watch*Amaranthine Voyage*Dark Parables*Sea of Lies*Final Cut*Off The Record*Fearful Tales*Myths of the World
Danse Macabre*Saga of the Nine Worlds*Mystery Case Files*Dead Reckoning*Hidden Expedition*Phantasmat*Vermillion Watch*Amaranthine Voyage*Dark Parables*Sea of Lies*Final Cut*Off The Record*Fearful Tales*Myths of the World
This Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 9 Movie Videos, 9 Music Soundtracks, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, a Souvenir Room, 17 re-playable Mini Game Puzzles, 13 Achievements to earn, collectible Fact Cards, 36 Hidden Signs, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!