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:
Beyond the Invisible: Darkness Came is a stunning hidden object adventure game that will challenge even the most seasoned detectives.
Overall rating
3
/
5
85 of 123 found this review helpful
BEYOND DISAPPOINTMENT
PostedJanuary 10, 2018
pennmom36
fromWhy was I so determined to write a report when I found a flair shell in the sewer, yet moments later unwilling to take the blame for catching the town square on fire? (those bricks sure can burn)
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
Beyond the Invisible: Evening was a really good game with an excellent creep factor, so naturally I was super excited to see that Darkness Came, was finally released today. After playing the demo however, my excitement turned to disappointment. There's no creep factor other than the fact that the gamma correction controls are darker than most games. The hand drawn graphics are well done, but basic and cartoonish in appearance, I'm more impressed with the CG in the game itself.
In Beyond the Evening, the town of Woodville was shrouded in a strange dark mist, anyone who dared to venture into the darkness, never returned. The Detective had just solved the case, when a distress call came in from the neighboring town of Gateville. Was his fatigue getting the best of him, or did a phantom just appear in the middle of the road?
You know the game's going to be predictable when it starts out with a mysterious cloaked dark figure standing in the middle of the road. The first game in this series was so creative, so unique, and the orphan girl made the story come to life. What happened? Why did the devs make us wait nearly 3 years, just to give us the same ole same ole?
The Hidden Object Scenes are Interactive List finds, with somewhat creative interactions. The graphics are decent, but there's nothing here to write home about.
The Mini Games range from easy to medium difficulty, they are decent games, but some of the directions are a bit vague, fortunately, they are solvable, and easy enough to figure out. Below are brief descriptions for some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Use the buttons to arrange the contacts in the order shown on the clue.
2) Find matching pairs of ampules.
3) Turn all switches green by rotating circuit paths.
4) Dial the number on the disc, using buttons to arrange and apply codes.
BEYOND THE INVISIBLE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Beyond the Invisible: Evening (March 10-2105) 3.3
2-Beyond the invisible:Darkness Came (January 10-2018) n/a
2-Beyond the invisible:Darkness Came (January 10-2018) n/a
by: Graphium Studio
This game may appeal more to someone who hasn't played the first game in the series, but if you have, it will probably disappoint you as well. I think the game is worthy enough of a credit, PCC, or a good SE sale, hopefully the game gets a little creepier and less predictable after the demo?
An innovative puzzle game with realistic physics and multi-tiered levels!
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 47 found this review helpful
K3Y APPEALS TO MY INNER PHYSICS PUZZLE GEEKINESS
PostedJanuary 9, 2018
pennmom36
fromNot sure why I have to dress the octopus in disguises?
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
I love physic based puzzles and this game is similar to "Jar of Marbles" with the added challenge of physics. I think however, this game would be more awesome as a phone app to while away the hours.
I'll be honest, at first I wasn't digging this game at all, but after just a few levels, the physics kicked into gear, and I quickly became addicted to the challenge. The rules of engagement are fairly simple. You just aim the ball shooter at the top of the screen, to shoot the same colored marbles that are strategically hanging below. If 3 or more identically colored balls touch, they will disappear, and you will consequentially receive another move.
The goal is to release all 3 keys to open up the next level, until you reach the final level (more on this in a moment) Each of the 3 keys are encased in several multi-colored layers marbles. You must first shoot a marble of the same color as the outer casing, to release the hanging marble. You must then shoot marbles to make matches of at least 3, to chip away the casings, until all 3 key marbles touch each other to unlock the gate, which drops open. The goal is to match all 3 keys, it doesn't matter if marbles remain hanging, (other than you can get extra moves when they are matched) but any remaining unmatched marbles that aren't hanging, that are laying on the gate, will drop through the gate when it opens. (sometimes it helps you, sometimes not, as they then hit the hanging marbles on the next level which knocks them down)
When you get to the fifth and final level, the goal changes to "Don't let anything fall through the gate" So if all 3 keys are matched before you are able to match any marbles remaining on the gate floor (not the ones hanging) it will feed the octopus when the gate opens, and you will loose one out of three available stars for the level. It is a little difficult to keep track of the levels, because it's easy to forget that you're on the final level, but the levels you earned keys on, are shown on the left of the screen.
If you run out of moves, you will have to start the entire level over from the top floor. It sound easy in theory, but the further you progress, the more difficult it becomes, as they add way more marbles, more colors, and more layers around the keys. And of course, these are glass marbles which don't always land where you want them to because they bounce, and the hanging marbles can create a log jam as well!
As I said earlier, this is a fun and addicting game, but I think it would be more fun to play on a phone when you're really bored. I'll use a coupon for this one, I'm just not sure how long you can play this game before it potentially becomes boring?
I recommend this game!
Do you have quick reflexes? Wanna prove it? Join the fruit adventure of a lifetime now and exercise your match 3 skills.
Overall rating
1
/
5
213 of 222 found this review helpful
THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF A MISTAKE
PostedJanuary 8, 2018
pennmom36
fromThere are NO Jewels, and NO adventure!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Rome
(33)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Surely the game I downloaded wasn't the same game as described in the synopsis???
*Levels with various modes
*Beautiful graphics
*Entertaining music
*Lots of difficult levels
*Beautiful graphics
*Entertaining music
*Lots of difficult levels
First of all, there are no "Levels with various modes" on my game, in fact, the only customization my game has, is to mute the "Entertaining music", which isn't really music, it's just a pop, pop, pop, every time you make a match. There is no tutorial, no illustrations to show you what to do or what the level goals are. I'm assuming the level goals are all the same, I only lasted 10 levels before bailing, in those levels my only goal was to fill the bar by making matches. There are no "Beautiful Graphics" in fact, the fruit tiles are rather large and blurry. There probably are "Lot's of levels" but they are anything but "difficult"
In the game I downloaded, I had to first click on the tile I wanted to swap, then I had to click on the tile I wanted to swap the first tile with. You can't simply swipe the tiles to make a match, and you can't make another match until all the tiles have finished dropping and matching, therefore, you cannot quickly make matches to earn a bigger score, as also described in the synopsis. My game also didn't have a timer, and didn't have a Limited Moves counter either. All my game had was a Match 3 Board with blurry fruit, a Light Bulb icon which gives you a match hint, a Musical Note icon that allows you to mute that so called beautiful music pop pop sound, and an icon with three lines on it that asks if you're sure you want to exit the game (which then takes you to the main page that has no Exit option whatsoever!) YES! I'm quite sure I want to exit!
All that I've just described isn't even the bad stuff! The real kicker is that there are no Power-ups or Bonuses given for large matches (at least not in the first 10 levels that I so painfully endured) It get's worse folks! You cannot make L shaped matches, well, you can make them but it only excepts the Match 3 that you made the swap with, such as the three vertical matches, but not the three horizontal matches it made with the L formation! This game also doesn't accept a match 3 of one tile and a consequential match 3 of another kind by default.
When you make a match of 4 identical tiles, the only thing you get is the word "good" if you make a match 5, the only thing you get is the word "Awesome". YES YES YES, I am quite sure I want to exit this game, as soon as I find an exit button that is!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop an old evil from wreaking its vengeance?
Overall rating
4
/
5
162 of 195 found this review helpful
HE IS COMING
PostedJanuary 6, 2018
pennmom36
fromDr. Martin concluded that Katherine died of a heart attack caused by paranoia?
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
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 this story line is somewhat different, and not once did I grow weary from boredom in the demo, the graphics are well done, and I thought the Hidden Object Scenes and Mini Games were very well constructed. I want to see more from Deep Shadow Games, I think they're on to something here!
In this 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. The other one 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)
This 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!
I recommend this game!
Go on an unforgettable adventure to restore Atlantis and defeat the villain!
Overall rating
3
/
5
91 of 99 found this review helpful
ATLANTIS REALLY DOES EXIST
PostedJanuary 5, 2018
pennmom36
fromTurns out that a bathyscaphe is real, and is apparently better than a bathysphere, who knew!
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 just finished playing both versions of the demo today, back to back. I was actually shocked by the fact that the Collector's Edition version had so little to offer, for such a high price tag! There were no Collectibles, no Morphing Objects and no Strategy Guide available. The only difference between the two versions, are that with the CE version you get 5 downloadable Music Soundtracks, 10 cartoon style Concept Art pictures, 23 Trophy Achievements to earn and a handful of Bonus Chapters. Are these exciting enough extra's to warrant double the price? As for the Time Management game itself, this is just an average game, neither bad nor good, and certainly forgettable. In my opinion, a Time Management game should be exciting enough to make you want to re-play the game, at least once, perhaps in a different difficulty mode, and for me, this is more of a one and done, kind of game, than one that I'd find myself playing several times. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
I used to think that no TM game could benefit from being a CE at twice the cost, but after playing both versions of Elven Legends 5, I realized that I did actually enjoy finding the Morphing Objects, that were only offered within the CE version. For me, that feature was challenging because I was on the clock so to speak, to not only finish the levels with 3 stars, but I also had to take time away from my TM tasks, in order to look for the Morphs. However, I still don't feel the need to pay a CE full price, even with Morphing Objects, but I now realize that I might opt for the CE on sale at an SE price, IF it has Morphing Objects, and collectibles and only IF it's a really good TM game. One of the features I didn't like in Lost Artifacts, is that there aren't any real boosters available to speed up workers or temporarily add a worker, for example.
In the first Lost Artifacts game, the archaeological team was able to stop the Dark Priest from doing his Dark deeds, and the team regretfully had to say goodbye to their newfound native friends. Unfortunately, the airplane was no match for a hurricane they encountered, and they crashed on a large but remote island in the middle of the ocean. They discovered a tribe of Atlantean's that had survived when the city of Atlantis was sunk by another evil-doer, and the team has once again agreed to help them return to their beloved city, after defeating the evil-doer of course!
There are the usual tasks to perform of gathering resources of Food, Wood, Ore, Gold, Lumber, and the usual buildings to repair such as Huts for workers, Sawmills for Lumber, Farms for food, Mills or a Blacksmith barn. Some levels require that you upgrade certain buildings to a level 2 as well. You may need to build a house to accommodate a specialized person to rid the paths from certain obstructions such as a Mages house to restore statues, defenders houses to rid the path of snakes or repair a beehive so the swarming bees will return to the hive. At least in the demo, you don't get the chance to construct new buildings, you just repair them, personally, I like the strategy of figuring out which building to construct strategically to achieve the goals, similar to Rescue Team TM games.
I would recommend this game to those who haven't played a lot, if any, TM games, because this one is very easy to play. I would also recommend this game to those who want to play in an Easy mode, because this game has an Easy mode with no timer AND you still get to earn 3 stars, which is something I really don't understand, it kind of makes playing in a timed mode worthless? If you are a seasoned Time Management fan, I think you'll find this game to be a bit bland, with not a whole lot of challenge.
LOST ARTIFACTS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lost Artifacts (July 18-2017) 3.0
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island (September 19-2017) 3.0
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island (September 19-2017) 3.0
by: 8 Floor Games
Go on an unforgettable adventure to restore Atlantis and defeat the villain!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
DECENT TIME MANAGEMENT GAME BUT UNNECESSARY CE OPTION
PostedJanuary 5, 2018
pennmom36
fromIs Atlantis considered a Lost Artifact or is it the bathyscaphe?
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
Once again we are offered a Time Management game as a Collector's Edition, and once again, I'm going to gripe about the unnecessary need for a CE version, especially when it has very little to offer! There are no Puzzle Runes to find, no Morphing Objects to discover, and no Strategy Guide, at least none that I could see.
I used to think that no TM game could benefit from being a CE at twice the cost, but after playing both versions of Elven Legends 5, I realized that I did actually really like finding the Morphing Objects. For me, that feature was challenging because I was on the clock so to speak, to not only finish the levels with 3 stars, but I also had to take time away from my TM tasks, in order to look for the Morphs. I still don't feel the need to pay a CE full price, even with Morphing Objects, but I now realize that I might opt for the CE on sale at an SE price, IF it had Morphing Objects, and collectibles and IF it was a really good TM game.
In the first Lost Artifacts game, the archaeological team was able to stop the Dark Priest from doing his Dark deeds, and the team regretfully had to say goodbye to their newfound native friends. Unfortunately, the airplane was no match for a hurricane they encountered, and they crashed on a large but remote island in the middle of the ocean. They discovered a tribe of Atlantean's that had survived when the city of Atlantis was sunk by another evil-doer, and the team has once again agreed to help them return to their beloved city, after defeating the evil-doer of course!
There are the usual tasks to perform of gathering resources of Food, Wood, Ore, Gold, Lumber, and the usual buildings to repair such as Huts for workers, Sawmills for Lumber, Farms for food, Mills or a Blacksmith barn. Some levels require that you upgrade certain buildings to a level 2 as well. You may need to build a house to accommodate a specialized person to rid the paths from certain obstructions such as a Mages house to restore statues, defenders houses to rid the path of snakes or repair a beehive so the swarming bees will return to the hive. At least in the demo, you don't get the chance to construct new buildings, you just repair them, personally, I like the strategy of figuring out which building to construct strategically to achieve the goals, similar to Rescue Team TM games.
There are the usual tasks to perform of gathering resources of Food, Wood, Ore, Gold, Lumber, and the usual buildings to repair such as Huts for workers, Sawmills for Lumber, Farms for food, Mills or a Blacksmith barn. Some levels require that you upgrade certain buildings to a level 2 as well. You may need to build a house to accommodate a specialized person to rid the paths from certain obstructions such as a Mages house to restore statues, defenders houses to rid the path of snakes or repair a beehive so the swarming bees will return to the hive. At least in the demo, you don't get the chance to construct new buildings, you just repair them, personally, I like the strategy of figuring out which building to construct strategically to achieve the goals, similar to Rescue Team TM games.
I would recommend this game to those who haven't played a lot, if any, TM games, because this one is very easy to play. I would also recommend this game to those who want to play in an Easy mode, because unlike Bloom, this game has an Easy mode with no timer AND you still get to earn 3 stars, which is something I really don't understand, it kind of makes playing in a timed mode worthless? If you are a seasoned Time Management fan, I think you'll find this game to be a bit bland, with not a whole lot of challenge.
LOST ARTIFACTS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lost Artifacts (July 18-2017) 3.0
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island (September 19-2017) 3.0
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island (September 19-2017) 3.0
by: 8 Floor Games
Accompany Diana as she chases the thief of an ancient artifact into another world in this hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 34 found this review helpful
ANOTHER FANTASTIC LEGACY
PostedJanuary 5, 2018
pennmom36
fromYuck, I just got flushed down the sewer drain!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love games that have Aztec type graphics, and this game reminds me of the Mayan Prophecies series. There are 6 chapters, so it's well worth the money as far as I'm concerned. Yes, it's basically the same scenario as the first game in the series, but it works for me, just like it does in the Lost Lands, or Nightmares of the Deep. It stays on track throughout the game, and does a great job of not letting you forget the main plot (The Prisoner) even though Diana is sidetracked with different missions, of helping first the High Wizard and then the Elder, etc, who all try to help her return, but also to fix the prisoner situation. I haven't yet started the Bonus Chapter, because I like to finish my review before getting the main story line confused with the BC which is usually a whole different subject matter. I love this game, but have only given this Standard Edition version 4 stars because I preferred the Collector's Edition version which offers Collectibles & Morphing Objects. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either is right for you:
Diana has gotten herself into another predicament! She just returned home from the last portal that swallowed her, and she hasn't yet learned her lesson, don't mess with ancient gadgets! Once again she has tampered with an ancient portal, and once again, Diana is trapped in another world, a prison at that! The good news is that she's not alone, this prison has two other prisoners, one of which is supposedly a volunteer. The prison was built to imprison Rhitoris, an evil demon, and Kitron has sacrificed his freedom, using his own magical powers to block the demon's evil powers. Diana will need to use her skills to avoid traps, and help the people of this strange new world, as she searches for a way to return home, that is IF there's a way home!
Five-BN Games have created some powerful games before, but this sequel has to be their best creation yet. I'm a fan, I can honestly say that every game series they have created is amongst my favorites, and they are truly worthy of a 5 star rating! Lost Lands, Darkness & Flames, New York Mysteries, House of 1000 Doors, Sacra Terra, Eternal Journey, and one of my top 5 favorites, Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town, are just a few of their epic games available. The Legacy is quickly becoming a Legacy adventure in my book.
The sights and sounds are so realistic, I have surround sound speakers hooked up to my computer and I can't tell you how many times my poor little dogs and cat, have perked their ears up and looked all around the room, to try and figure out where those birds were coming from. They have done a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere to make you feel as if you were there. I love the abundance of Collectibles and Morphing Objects, and that they unlock puzzles and mini games in the Extra's section of the Collector's Edition version. Each and every scene has them, they blend in with the scenery very well, AND you can choose whether or not you want the cursor to change when you scan across an item, and if you want the items to be included on the map as to whether or not they have all been found, how awesome is that!
The Hidden Object Scenes have the standard Interactive Listed items, that includes finding all the cliche objects, a hat, shoe, teddy bear, spoon, necktie, wrench and necklace with missing beads. However, they also have a very creative HOP style that was a staple in the original game, and if I'm not mistaken, I think they were also in Darkness & Flames. The Progressive, Interactive, Silhouetted Shape find type, in my opinion is one of the best HOP's I've ever played, they are creative, items and tasks are very well blended, they are logical, and extremely entertaining, but most of all I love this type because they make me have to think! Some of the HOP's have a small puzzle to solve as well, but at least in the demo, there isn't an alternative game available.
The Mini Games are all solvable, non frustrating, and well crafted, although not really original. I love that most of the Mini Games are Aztec themed as well. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Enter the correct code on the keypad using the clue you found earlier.
2) Place exhibit items correctly using the photo as reference.
3) Enter the number of the lost artifact into the GPS, recalling by memory or referring to the Journal. (YEA, a journal to recap the story and use for referral, has returned!)
4) Rotate the circle parts to align the fragments into their matching grooves.
5) Using the hint you found, draw a line to connect the dots of the constellation.
6) Select the matching plates until all but one tile remains.
7) Move the block with the emerald to the exit on the opposite side in a game of "blocks" where you must move other sections to clear a path.
THE LEGACY GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Forgotten Gates (March 11-2017) 4.1
2-Prisoner (December 5-2017) 4.4
2-Prisoner (December 5-2017) 4.4
The Collector's Edition has 21 Wallpapers, 37 Concept Art pictures (I love that they have a feature that allows you to download All Wallpapers and Concept Art, or just the ones you want) 16 re-playable Movie Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks, 13 re-playable Mini Games, 7 re-playable Puzzles, 22 Achievements to earn, 30 Morphing Objects that will unlock a Bonus Game in the extra's, 48 Collectibles (4 Vases, 4 Masks, 4 Golden Dishes, 7 Seashells, 5 Beetles, 6 Skulls, 12 Statuettes) that will unlock a new Bonus Puzzle for each Category Completed, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Decipher ancient Persian scriptures to discover the magical Golden Sword and marry the Princess in this stunning Match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
1
/
5
55 of 61 found this review helpful
THIS MATCH 3 IS HARDLY A TREASURE
PostedJanuary 4, 2018
pennmom36
from"Find me that sword, or else!" or else what dad?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Rome
(33)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I was completely and utterly disappointed by this Match 3 game, and it looked so promising! The first feature I checked on was the Settings option, and noticed there was an on/off selection for FX. Okay, birds chirping pleasantly in the background, I can live with that, but it turns out that this also includes a round of applause at the end of every level, what? I might also add that the music has nothing to do with Persia, what, what?
Let's back up a bit. This story starts with dialog explaining that Persia is the world's oldest civilization, known to have conquered Europe, Asia and Africa. It continues to say that in the heart of Persia, is Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, yada, yada, yada then something about ancient mythological figures. Then the story then does a complete 180 from where I think the story is leading, to a young Persian couple, excited about their upcoming marriage, until daddy steps in to demand that his daughter's fiance, bring him a legendary sword, as written in the scriptures, or he will not allow him to marry his daughter!. (insert needle scratching on a record here) Okay, so now we have a one on one story line, involving three people tops, so who exactly is doing the clapping?
Before each level, you are shown a single illustration showing you what happens when you make a Match 4, the next level a Match 5, L shapes etc. You can also look at all these pretty pictures when you click on the question mark icon. I say "look at all the pretty pictures" because that's all they are, it shows you what you receive when you make large bonuses, but it doesn't tell you what happen when you use those bonuses. If you go to the page that shows you all of the pretty pictures, it vaguely tells you that you receive a special bonus, but you're on your own to figure out what they do, or how to use them. There are no Power-ups available to use on stubborn tiles either.
Things aren't looking good by this point, but I proceed with caution, only to discover that this is a Limited Moves type Match 3, my least favorite kind. I finished the first level, with 5 remaining moves, and I earned nearly 1200 points, the level goal was to earn a mere 300 points. My reward? Well I earned 2 out of 3 available stars, what, what, what? Carry on, says I, level two. Somehow I earned a measly 540 points, even though this level was longer and slightly more complicated. My reward this time was 3 Stars, I'm still scratching my head on this one!
I knew this game was hitting rock bottom when I was tasked with a Hidden Object Scene, with Limited Moves as well.. I ended up losing all my lives (this is where I first discovered that the Hearts are your lives) I lost them because I kept running out of move clicking on just about everything in the room, trying to find the objects that matched the silhouetted shapes shown. Turns out the first 2 objects are actually jewels that don't match the silhouetted shapes whatsoever! Your reward? Well, you earn a Heart or life, in my case I lost several lives trying to "see" what they see, only to gain 1 life!
Other features that I hate are here as well. You can't make matches consecutively, one after another, you have to wait until the tiles finish falling. On several occasions, I made large matches, but didn't receive the bonus tile on the board. On one level the board is fairly large with large tiles, the next level the board itself is larger and includes twice as many tiles, that have suddenly shrunk in size. After completing the level goals, I have to wait an eternity for all of the bonuses to do their bonus thingy, before my score is finally totaled, isn't it bad enough that I have to wait after every match I make before matching again?
Please, please, please, try the demo before buying this game, even if you use a coupon. It has way too many annoying and unfun features! If you don't mind a Chain type Match 3 game, try Cradle of Persia instead.
I don't recommend this game.
A vacation becomes a nightmare as you’re forced into an impossible game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
212 of 249 found this review helpful
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE GAME OF THREE WORLDS
PostedJanuary 4, 2018
pennmom36
fromWhew! For a minute there I thought THIS game was dangerous!
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
A vacation in Greece with your best friend Christine, it just doesn't get any better than this! After a quick tour, the two of you decide to meander through the Sanctuary of Apollo, the site of the ancient Oracle in Delphi. In no time at all, Christine's curiosity gets the best of her when she discovers a hidden cache within the ruins. After a brief lapse of judgement, the dynamic duo discover what appears to be a board game, but this is no ordinary game, this is A Dangerous Game! (:don't roll those dice,Christine, please don't roll those dice, too late, zap!:)
I know that a lot of people don't care for this series, but I really love the story lines they come up with. (;and this one would make Robin Williams proud;) For the most part, they are pretty original, and they choose locations that are real, which is a unique concept, and many of these locations are surrounded with conspiracy theories. A Domini Games Collector's Edition never skimps on the bling either. There are collectible Notes from previous pawns of the game, hidden Artifacts, and lost Deck Cards that give you insight on the characters you meet throughout this wicked game of survival. There are also Gold Nuggets to discover, and can be used to purchase virtual items for a virtual room. There are icons on the inventory bar that light up when one of the collectibles are nearby, and you can click to enable alerts on the interactive map as well.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, the scenes are clear and bright, and are located in interesting locations. There are Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, and Multiple finds, as well as several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's available. You can opt to play a Match 3 game instead of the HOP's.
The Mini Games are in abundance, and most are available with an Easy or Hard difficulty mode, which is an awesome feature in my opinion, because you can choose the mode you want on each individual game. There is an option on the Custom Settings page to select either Easy or Hard game modes, but I'm not sure how this works. I didn't select either one, and I was given this option on each game, so I'm wondering if you choose either Easy or Hard on the custom setting page, if you then don't get to choose the mode on each game? Here are some brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Use directional arrows to align the blue tokens so they match the pattern shown.
2) Swap puzzle strips to recreate the image.
3) Light up all points of light from beginning to end without using the same line twice.
4) Choose 3 icons that relate to each character.
5) Use directional arrows to allow each color coded head to drop to its matching colored body at the bottom.
6) Choose the color and then select the puzzle sections to color that must be adjacent to one another. Then click on the sections that need the color removed to match the sample shown.
7) Scan the area to reveal symbols and select the correct symbols in the order shown.
8) Repeat the sequence of flashing eyes by choosing the leaves corresponding to the statue's eyes.
9) Use directional arrows to move the token to the end, if a token passes over a colored cell, the token will teleport to that colors space.
LABYRINTHS OF THE WORLD GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Shattered Souls (September 6-2014) 4.3
2-Forbidden Muse (June 13-2015) 3.5
3-Changing the Past (January 9-2016) 3.8
4-Stonehenge Legend (August 6-2016) 4.1
5-Secrets of Easter Island (January 5-2017) 3.8
6-The Devil's Tower (April 29-2017) 3.8
7-A Dangerous Game (January 4-2017) n/a
2-Forbidden Muse (June 13-2015) 3.5
3-Changing the Past (January 9-2016) 3.8
4-Stonehenge Legend (August 6-2016) 4.1
5-Secrets of Easter Island (January 5-2017) 3.8
6-The Devil's Tower (April 29-2017) 3.8
7-A Dangerous Game (January 4-2017) n/a
by: Domini Games
This Collector's Edition version has 21 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 27 Movie Videos, 18 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 20 re-playable Mini Games, 32 Achievements to earn, 12 hidden Artifacts to find, 14 hidden Deck Cards (find missing cards to learn about the characters) 63 hidden Gold Nuggets to find (allows you to purchase items for your virtual Beach House room) Missing Note Pages to discover (notes written by previous players) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
34 of 36 found this review helpful
YEP, BIG BEN HAS BEEN CURSED, IT SAYS SO RIGHT THERE ON THE SIDE, CURSED!
PostedJanuary 3, 2018
pennmom36
fromDo I still get paid for solving this case? After all, the guy who hired me got killed AFTER we shook hands (think I should buy a new detective case, my old one has issues)
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
I love this game, the more I played it, the better it got, which is a rare thing nowadays! I love the voice of the detective too, I think its by the same person who did the voice-over in the Enigmatis series. If you love Sherlock Holmes type mysteries, that take place in the Dark City itself, you're in for a treat with Dark City: London, I just hope they continue this series, that this isn't a one and done kind of game. Even though the game is a fairly easy game to play, it never seems repetitive and boring, unlike some games who include a bunch of meaningless tasks to stretch the game out to give it the appearance of being a long game. The only reason I gave this game just 4 stars, is ONLY because I prefer the Collector's Edition version, over this Standard Edition. My favorite feature is finding Morphing Object's, and in the CE version, not only are there collectible Dominoes to find, but there are also two Morphing Objects to find in every location (I'm doing my Happy Dance right now :) Here's a recap of my review, to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you: (you really should give this game a try)
When Big Ben's cursed chimes play, London's sky will burn, the waters of the Thames river will rise and boil, the moon will eclipse to bring forth the Headless Clock-maker to herald the apocalypse of Death! The Headless Clock-maker will spare no one, his fury is fueled by revenge. His vengeance has an unquenchable thirst, a thirst for blood from those responsible for his families demise. But how can you stop a force as powerful as a dead man's sorrow?
Welcome to London Detective, what a case! Not only are you tasked with finding the jealous culprit responsible for the clock-maker and his son's death, but also with solving a supernatural case of a curse as well! Is someone trying to sabotage the unveiling of the iconic Big Ben Clock Tower, or has the clock-maker indeed, risen from the grave to enact the unthinkable?
You're a Detective, one of London's finest, so you won't be needing a puppet on a pillow, a scarecrow kid with glowing eyeballs, a mysterious device that checks the room for glowing orbs, or even a supernatural pair of glasses that let you see past events. Nope, you get to use a case file journal, and good ole' investigative reasoning's and deductions! Hmf, imagine that! You don't even have to trace an imaginary symbol without going outside of the line, to draw a conclusion, hmf, imagine that too! My only complaint is that I wish the categories didn't highlight automatically, to show you where each piece of evidence should be placed. I think it would have been more meaningful, if I had to figure out which category each piece of evidence went, using my own logic skills. (after all, I AM the best detective in London, right?)
Oh, this game is looking better and better to me, 4 Friends has included Morphing Objects and collectible Dominoes in every scene, and sometimes more than one in the Collector's Edition version! There is a pull out tab on the left of the screen that tells you how many of each remain, AND they unlock special bonuses and games. Move over E, I've got a new best Friend 4ever, and they don't think it's too much work to offer Morphing Objects in every scene vs. only within a handful of HOP's, and collecting and playing dominoes is way cooler than finding the same old sign over and over in every single game.
The Hidden Object Scenes are for the most part, multi-layered, creative and far less boring than most, although an alternative would be nice. There are Interactive List finds, Multiples of the same object or Multiples of similar objects such as food items or circus related items. There are several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's and some scenes have a small puzzle to solve. Each time you make a "deduction" you will find items within a black and white scene, to piece together the circumstances leading up to the current deduction as a chain of events.
The Mini Games are well done with clear instructions to help you solve the puzzles. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Find and rotate torn picture fragments to assemble the photo.
2) Move the latch to the round hole by choosing various numbers on the padlock, to move the latch that many moves as directed by the arrows.
3) Walk through the maze using the diagram to check your position and possible paths.
4) Drag a chain of 3 or more identical symbols to collect enough of each color to fill up your tubes. Avoid collecting your opponents colored symbols which will empty your tubes. The first to fill all 3 tubes, will take a punch, 3 punches win the fight.
5) Swap valves so each one matches the hole shape by following the twisted pipes.
6) Follow the twisted lines and rotate the outer ring to align the figures, and click to slide them into the outlined shape.
7) Arrange the pins according to the clue, note that the cards position is upside down.
The Collector's Edition has 14 Concept Art pictures, 7 Wallpapers, 4 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, re-playable Movie Videos, 6 re-playable Mini Games, 20 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 28 collectible Dominoes (unlocks special bonuses) 31 Morphing Objects, 23 Achievements to earn, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!