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:
Sound the alarm! Someone has put the holiday at risk by stealing all the Christmas candy! Help save it in this candy-coated Match-3!
Overall rating
2
/
5
65 of 70 found this review helpful
SUGAR COATED MATCH 3 GAME
PostedDecember 20, 2017
pennmom36
fromHave a Holly Jolly Christmas/ and Happy Hanukkah for those who are celebrating the Festival of Lights!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Egypt
(92)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Another sugar coated Match 3 game by the same devs who offer Pretty Snails 1 & 2, Owl Rescue, Flying Fish and Mystery Loss. Everything's the same, with the exception of finding items hidden within the map levels. You can play in Relaxed or Normal difficulty modes, and this is a Limited Moves game with different goals for each level such as making matches over all ice tiles or earning a specific amount of points.
All Match 3 games by this dev have the same unusual feature, every time you make a match, sections of the board do a shuffle as they move into different positions, usually ruining what could have been an epic setup! On the negative end, you cannot make a move quickly or back to back until all tiles have repositioned or explosions finish doing their thing.
Large matches or T & L shaped matches will give you power-ups on the board which are color specific such as Spiral Candies, Colored Santas, or Super Spirals. Combining power-ups will create mega explosions.
I hate Match 3 games that make me wait after each match, for all the tiles to stop, before making my next match. I also hate it when I have to wait again after the level is complete, for all the tiles to finish doing their explosions, and adding my unused moves. I prefer a fast paced Match 3 game. I'm sure you'll love this game if you loved Pretty Snails, but for me personally, it's a big NO!
Large matches or T & L shaped matches will give you power-ups on the board which are color specific such as Spiral Candies, Colored Santas, or Super Spirals. Combining power-ups will create mega explosions.
I hate Match 3 games that make me wait after each match, for all the tiles to stop, before making my next match. I also hate it when I have to wait again after the level is complete, for all the tiles to finish doing their explosions, and adding my unused moves. I prefer a fast paced Match 3 game. I'm sure you'll love this game if you loved Pretty Snails, but for me personally, it's a big NO!
I don't recommend this game.
Set off on a time-tripping adventure to the medieval past in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 58 found this review helpful
IT'S DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE GOLD STATUS
PostedDecember 19, 2017
pennmom36
fromHo, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas!
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 graphics have improved significantly, but I was disappointed that they didn't release another Christmas themed Time Management game. Again, I'm also not thrilled that this game is offered as a Collector's Edition, because I personally don't see a need for a Strategy Guide, and I could care less about Wallpapers and Music, so perhaps I'll revisit the Standard Edition version when that is released.
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 cast spells which give you Faster Workers, Faster growing Crops, and instant Tree regrowth etc. Building of various types must be built,. Sawmills, Foundy's, and other buildings that help you replenish resources faster to meet the level goals. Skeleton's have returned, and if you don't click on them fast enough, the workers get scared off an the tasks selected will need reclicked if the workers retreat.
I liked this TM game, I just didn't love it. I found there to be too many workers, too many of the same task items, and too difficult to achieve Gold Status. I like levels to have a lot of different tasks, not 20 gold piles, 15 trees, 25 wheat fields. There's no variation in the levels, so I quickly became bored with the repetitiveness. I did enjoy finding the Puzzle Piece in each level, but more CE collectibles may have helped persuade me to shell out the big bucks!
This 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!
Enjoy this cosmic griddler adventure while getting to know more about 12 zodiac signs.
Overall rating
2
/
5
48 of 55 found this review helpful
AND YET ANOTHER GUESSER GRIDDLER COMES OUR WAY
PostedDecember 18, 2017
pennmom36
fromHappy Holidays!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
How many of these games have they made? How long will it take before they "get it" that Griddlers are puzzles you solve using LOGIC not fancy named power-ups or by GUESSING!!?! Once again the game starts out with tutorial pages explaining the features, and the first explanation states, "To solve a griddler, you must guess and fill in the colored squares" That is NOT how it works! To solve a griddler, you're supposed to use logic and NEVER guess at filling in the colored squares!!!!! But these guys throw in several super simple Griddlers, followed by one that forces you to guess or use a power-up.
The grids are super basic, and super easy. The filled in cells have a border around all 4 sides which give them a flat appearance. When you hover the cursor over a cell with the intention of crossing it off (right clicking to fill cell with an X) the cell automatically shades the cell with the color it would be when filled in, which is confusing, and some of the colors are similar hues, which can be confusing at times, when you can't tell where one color starts and the other ends.
There are 12 Zodiac Achievements, mostly for finishing a certain amount of levels, and they tell you about each of the Zodiac signs, info on the constellation and kind of a horoscope.
There are 3 different Power-ups available, which can be upgraded with the coins you earn solving guessers griddlers.
SUPER NOVA: Fills in a Random cell, upgrade fills in 2 Random cells.
SHOOTING STAR: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
BIG BANG: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
You can also purchase the right to make 4 or 5 mistakes, because this griddler is based upon guessing!
SHOOTING STAR: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
BIG BANG: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
You can also purchase the right to make 4 or 5 mistakes, because this griddler is based upon guessing!
This is a horrible griddler with pictures that make no sense. An Apple? A Duck?? Really? The are far better griddler games available that are based upon logic. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one!
I don't recommend this game.
Help Santa make it the best holiday ever. Visit Santa’s wonderland workshops and decorate the house in the latest Christmas Wonderland adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
213 of 233 found this review helpful
EVENTUALLY THESE KIDS HAVE TO GROW UP, BUT I DON'T CARE IF THEY NEVER DO
PostedDecember 18, 2017
pennmom36
fromSanta Claus is coming to town......
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
I look forward to Christmas Wonderland every year, it's not Christmas until this game is released! If you've never played any of these games, you really should, they are old school Hidden Object Games, but really fun! This dev also brings us Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger, and Cruise Director as well as several Holiday themed games. I say this every year, but it's oh so true, these games are Family games, they are designed to be enjoyed by the entire family, young and old will be delighted. It's not as easy as it looks at times, some of these objects are very well hidden! You can play in Casual or Challenge mode, depending on how fast you want the hint feature to recharge.
Each scene has beautiful Christmas themed graphics and several listed items to search for within the scene. You will also need to find a Golden Angel, and each scene also contains lost and found items, which are shown as silhouetted shapes inside an icon on the left of the screen, the door will close when all items have been found. Some of the items to find are listed in red which means that the item is hidden in or behind something, such as a backpack, which can be clicked on to expose the item. Items in blue text require some type of interaction.
Each scene has beautiful Christmas themed graphics and several listed items to search for within the scene. You will also need to find a Golden Angel, and each scene also contains lost and found items, which are shown as silhouetted shapes inside an icon on the left of the screen, the door will close when all items have been found. Some of the items to find are listed in red which means that the item is hidden in or behind something, such as a backpack, which can be clicked on to expose the item. Items in blue text require some type of interaction.
After each seek and find game, there will be a mini game or puzzle available such as rotating puzzle pieces, putting together a puzzle one piece at a time, flipping over two ornaments at a time in search of matching pairs and even my personal favorite, spot the difference.
Your score will be tallied at the end of each scene and you will earn a bronze star if you find all of the items to complete the scene, a silver star if you complete the level and find all of the angels OR all of the silhouetted shapes, and a gold star if you complete the level, find all of the angels AND all silhouetted lost and found items. You can replay any level at any time in order to find items you didn't find the first time.
There are Trophy achievements to earn and you can visit the shop to buy Christmas presents to display on a shelf. There is a regular Hint as well as a Mega hint which highlights all items for a brief period of time, but you will earn an Eagle Eye bonus if you don't use any hints. Make this game one of your family traditions, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Save a missing family from an infamous haunted house!
Overall rating
3
/
5
113 of 148 found this review helpful
MORELLA DE VIL, MORELLA DE VIL, IF SHE DOESN'T SCARE YOU NO EVIL THING WILL
PostedDecember 16, 2017
pennmom36
fromHow long does it take in between Dupin receiving the letters asking for his services, and the time it takes him to arrive at the scene?
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
Apparently I have been too critical of these games lately because everyone else seems to love them, but this game is no different than the last 11 games in the series. Nothing changes, same graphics, same sights and sounds, same tasks, same puzzle and HOP styles, and basically the same storyline.
For the life of me, I can't differentiate one charter from another, other than Detective Dupin! Louisa looks no different than Marie Roget, or any main character, Mark looks no different than any other male character either. The only reason Lilly looks different is because she has black eyes, and Dark Tales rarely features kids in their games, but I'm confident the next child will have red hair and braids!
I knew the second I freed Mark, that I was going to need to whip up an ointment for bandages, and didn't I have to free the last female character from a giant water tank, the same character that had an incurable "condition" just like Louisa? Do all women in EAP's novels have an untreatable illness? Do all of the manors have evil spirits? Are all Amulets/Medallions evil spiritually connected? Do all evil spirits have the same M.O of binding doors with thick vines? Do all statues, doors, mirrors, drawers, mailboxes, and picture frames require an emblem to access them, emblems that are ALWAYS missing. Have all evil spirits been banished, they apparently don't exist in the 1900's, because all Dark Tales seem to take place in 1840. These poor people, not only are they burdened with having to solve a puzzle just to enter the next room, but they always get trapped by their own devices!
I will admit that the Collector's Edition Fortune Cookies that encase a Jigsaw Puzzle Piece is much more creative than trying to hide a puzzle piece, that always sticks out like a sore thumb, however, the jigsaw puzzle itself is far too easy. Why do they have to show the outlines, can't they at least give you an Easy/Hard difficulty mode? As far as a Collector's Edition version goes, just offering puzzle pieces is pretty lame, and certainly not worthy of the CE price tag. At least offer Morphs or some other feature, is almost as if this game were from the 1800's.
The Hidden Object Scenes are pretty basic too. Most of the HOP's require you to find Multiples of objects such as 12 Keys, 15 Pages, and one HOP was a simple Listed Item find without interactions! Well I guess I should be grateful that they no longer seem to be doubling up on the same scene, like they did in the 1700's!
The Mini Games are okay, but very similar to all the other games available in Dark Tales, and I am grateful that I haven't had to use a Memory Device to catch flying orbs of lights! Some of the games are available in Casual or Hard difficulty modes. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Use wooden angled pieces to guide each ball into it's matching colored bowls at the bottom.
2) Position the symbols according to the clue, by moving them along the tracks to an empty space. Use directional arrows to rotate the rim.
3) Select the red buttons to rotate groups of valves until all valves turn green.
4) Use rotation and flip buttons on each wooden tree puzzle piece, and place correctly.
5) Select the correct symbols, one on the page, one on the field to match the symbols shown.
6) Click on pairs of matching symbols to reveal the secret area where the lines intersect.
7) Recreate the symbol shown by drawing lines on a honeycomb grid.
DARK TALES: EDGAR ALLAN POE'S GAMES AVAILABLE:
Title Collector's Edition Release Date Average Rating
Title Collector's Edition Release Date Average Rating
1-Murder's In The Rue Morgue (December 17-2009) 3.7
2-The Black Cat (September 16-2010) 4.6
3-The Premature Burial (October 7-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.4
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.8
12-Morella (December 16-2017) n/a
2-The Black Cat (September 16-2010) 4.6
3-The Premature Burial (October 7-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.4
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.8
12-Morella (December 16-2017) n/a
This Collector's Edition has 10 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art pictures, 6 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 re-playable Movie Videos, 6 Sweets to taste (whoopie) 7 Brave Ladies bios (bet they all have heart conditions) 60 hidden Fortune Cookies with Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle, 15 Achievements to earn, 17 re-playable Mini Games, 15 replayable Hidden Object Scenes (that's a whole lotta keys) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
After your friend is abducted, can you escape the cemetery?
Overall rating
2
/
5
86 of 110 found this review helpful
TO LIKE OR NOT TO LIKE, THAT IS THE MORAL QUESTION
PostedDecember 15, 2017
pennmom36
fromIs it really horrible that I considered not getting Karen unstuck? Who'd know, well there is the undead crow, rats!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I really tried to like this game, I bought the CE version on a BOGO sale, and I have tried to finish this game several times. Try as I may, I just can't do it! The best part of this game was the first 15 minutes, when that wicked looking spirit and his undead horse (that horse was looking pretty rough) came to life, after that all I got was a stupid raven! To make matters worse, I spend most of my time saving Karen, first she's abducted in the graveyard, and we hadn't been there 10 minutes yet, then she gets kidnapped by venomous snakes, then she get thrown in a well, (which btw, is in no way, shape or form, a well, it's an underground prison cell) then she gets stuck under a bunch of rocks! I'll be honest with you, when it came down to me choosing between saving Nathan or saving Karen, I chose to save Nathan. Surely he's more capable of handling himself, and he's so much cuter! Well, anywho, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either (I recommend "if either" lol) is right for you:
When your best journalist comes knocking at your door in the middle of the night, you can bet on the fact that she's stumbled onto something incredible. That bet will pay off, because Karen has discovered a cemetery where she believes, people are just dying to get in! This cemetery is heavily guarded (and by heavily guarded, I mean one guard who refuses to sink with the ship) but her investigative skills have now led her to believe that the guards aren't there to keep people from getting in, it's to keep people from getting out!
Clap, clap, clap, clap. I have good news, and bad news. The good news is that Amax is really digging their heels in, they are jumping in with both feet, they refuse to accept the agony of deFeet (sorry, can't help myself, gotta use those pun opportunities) In all honesty, it's clear to see that they are really trying to get it right, they aren't sticking a toe in the HOPA waters, they are getting both feet wet (oops I did it again) They are trying to give us something new in a stagnate environment. The bad news is that I think they are trying too hard, because some of these features initially piqued my interest, but quickly became annoying.
The first new feature Amax added was way more dialog to sift through in an attempt to build a character/gamer relationship bond. Then they added Conversation Options, which in itself isn't all that bad, but it takes place on almost every conversation in every scene, multiple times. Again, that in itself isn't all that bad, however, for me it became annoying because I was constantly having to click on the dialog box at the bottom, to advance the conversation, then up to the top to click whichever choice I wanted, and then back to the bottom again to advance the conversation. If I chose the wrong answer, I would have to go back to the conversation option to click on the dialog option once again. A little goes a long way, they went a little overboard with it, and it may have helped if the two boxes were closer to the bottom dialog box?!?
They have also added a feature that looks to me like it's the majority of the CE bling. There aren't any collectibles or morphs offered, just points to earn to tip the scales of justice. When you are making those above mentioned decisions, depending on which answers you choose, you receive either Order points or Chaos points, moral or immoral choices. There is a moon on the bottom left that will turn red if you begin to make Chaotic or unethical decisions during the game. I like this theory, because it can make the game more interesting to replay, by making different choices, IF it effects the outcome of the story. (but at the rate I'm going, I'll never make it to the end, wouldn't it be nice to be able to fast-forward through the game if you wanted to?)
The Hidden Object Scenes have changed as well. First of all, they didn't repeat any HOP in the same scene, awesome! Most of the HOP's require you to use a lantern, the same lantern, even more awesome! You use the lantern in a dark scene to find several rabid bats, in a highly interactive scene where the bats consume the entire scene and attack you when you least expect it. Another scene requires you to use the lantern to pan several areas in search of dangerous creatures and ignoring the creatures who aren't dangerous. There is also a Spot the Difference HOP that was fairly well done.
The Mini Games sometimes requires help and guidance from your talking Crow friend, or the use of a camera for picture references. The camera can also help you find secret areas, or to see thing in a different light. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Drag skulls over the holes in the glass, moving one skull may affect others.
2) Swap tokens to match the riddles and picture references.
3) Use the fishing rod to guide the key out of the well, avoiding obstacles on the way up.
4) Follow the crows directions to interact with the character, by choosing the correct left and right side of the character facing you.
REDEMPTION CEMETERY GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Curse of the Raven (August 9-2010) 4.4
2-Children's Plight (August 12-2011) 4.5
3-Grave Testimony (August 12-2012) 4.3
4-Salvation of the Lost (April 18-2013) 3.8
5-Bitter Frost (December 26-2013) 3.4
6-The Island of the Lost (March 15-2015) 3.6
7-Clock of Fate (September 29-2015) 3.6
8-At Death's Door (May 5-2016) 3.8
9-Night Terrors (February 9-2017) 3.4
10-Embodiment of Evil (May 17-2017) 4.0
11-One Foot in the Grave (November 16-2017) 3.3
2-Children's Plight (August 12-2011) 4.5
3-Grave Testimony (August 12-2012) 4.3
4-Salvation of the Lost (April 18-2013) 3.8
5-Bitter Frost (December 26-2013) 3.4
6-The Island of the Lost (March 15-2015) 3.6
7-Clock of Fate (September 29-2015) 3.6
8-At Death's Door (May 5-2016) 3.8
9-Night Terrors (February 9-2017) 3.4
10-Embodiment of Evil (May 17-2017) 4.0
11-One Foot in the Grave (November 16-2017) 3.3
The Collector's Edition version has 20 Concept Art pictures, 10 Wallpapers, 9 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 10 Movie Videos, 18 re-playable Mini Games, 17 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, Order and Chaos Points to earn, 12 Achievements to Earn, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, the end.
I don't recommend this game.
Venture into the dream world and save your husband from the wicked spirit of nightmares!
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 89 found this review helpful
BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE
PostedDecember 15, 2017
pennmom36
fromVacation's over, time to pack up before thing's get weirder!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am really digging these Clutter style games! They all have terrific stories, told a sentence or two at a time after each Clutter level. This one has a couple of features I don't recall being in the last two games. They have added a Star rating system, allowing you to earn up to 3 stars per level, and you can replay any level from the level map. They have also added Dynamite on some levels, when you click on one of several, the dynamite will explode and all the remaining objects will reshuffle, which can help you, but can sometimes make things worse. These may not be new features, but I don't recall them being available in the last two games.
The object of this game is to remove items from a heaping pile of junk. This may not seem thrilling, but I can assure you, this game isn't as easy as you'd think, and it's very addicting. You can play in a Relaxed Untimed mode, Casual, or Hard mode. Some levels may require removing two identical objects, groups of three identical objects, removing objects that either have two or three of the same objects, or removing one object in color, it's match without color. Some levels require you to clear objects heaped in the center as you search for matching objects.
Crystals can be removed with a single click, and this will make the Hint option recharge faster. After a few Clutter levels, you get to assemble a different type of puzzle such as a Jigsaw or Slider type, which will give you an extra hint. If you don't use a hint, you will receive extra points, and you get points for any remaining time you may have.
I'm really intrigued by this storyline, about a young couple who begin experiencing odd behavior while vacationing at a resort. I own the other two games in this series, and this one's definitely going to join them, enjoy!
GAMES IN THIS SERIES
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-A Plot Story (September 21-2017) 4.0
2-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
3-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) n/a
2-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
3-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) n/a
I recommend this game!
Can you save the holidays before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
107 of 132 found this review helpful
BREAKING NEWS: EVIL GOBLIN STEALS CHRISTMAS GIFTS-CHRISTMAS DOOMED-EVIL WITCH OF THE NORTH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY-OZ IN TURMOIL-SCARECROW RESIGNS
PostedDecember 14, 2017
pennmom36
fromSo much for teaching the citizens of Oz the real meaning of Christmas, Dorothy!
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
*************film at 11****not available in demo*************
Dorothy and Toto are building a snowman, having fun, and minding their own business when out of nowhere appears a hot air balloon. As luck would have it, the balloon immediately collides with a falling star. (I guess it's more like karma) Toto panics and begins barking, roughly translated, "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" The deflated balloon apparently has no ill effect and the basket lands gently in the snow, poof, the glistening snow dissipates into the cold wintery air. The unscathed pilot brushes the snow off his freshly pressed uniform's epaulettes, and introduces himself to Dotty, as Clutch the guardian of the gates of Emerald City. Clutch has traveled over the river and through the woods, to deliver a very important invitation to Dot, an invitation to join her good friends from Oz for their very first Christmas Celebration! Let's not forget, the balloon has been badly damaged by a fiery ball of light entering our atmosphere so Clutch hands you the balloon (how'd he remove the balloon so fast? Must be a Christmas Miracle!) and tells you to sew a patch on the balloon to repair it. (I have no good comment about this sewing gig, so I'll just leave it at, "oh no he didn't) Thanks to my awesome domestic skills, the Balloon is good to go, Do & To are off to Oz to see the wonderful Wizard of Christmas future. This leaves me with one question, am I young D or a much older D?
I'm quickly becoming a fan of Domini Games, they have creative stories, and the graphics are always colorful and very realistic.I wasn't super thrilled with the tasks, they didn't seem very creative, but the story is kinda cool! Toto joins Doro on this Christmas journey as a helper, but he's not annoying or cutesy, I'd put him in second place right next to Elf, who is much more adorable and has a name more fitting for a Christmas themed game.
As a Collector's Edition, this one fits just right, with some really good collectible features. There are missing Task pages that are scattered throughout the adventure, which allows you to read about each character and what they have been up to since you've been gone. There are collectible, hidden Emeralds, that allow you to buy Decorations for the Christmas Tree, hopefully not the one that Doto chopped to shreds! The coolest collection, however, are the Fireworks, which allows you to blast them into the night sky for an awesome personalized fireworks display!
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied each time with Keywords in Sentence finds, Interactive Listed Item finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Reversed Item finds where you take items from your inventory and place them into the scene where they logically belong. There is an optional Match 3 game to play if you're not into HOP's.
The Mini Games are decent, but I haven't come across anything new. All of the puzzles allow you to select an Easy or Hard difficulty mode! Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select and drag the buckles to the outlined spaces, moving one buckle may affect others.
2) Lead the hot air balloon to the finish while avoiding obstacles hidden under the clouds.
3) Lead the gnome token to the bag after collecting all other tokens without backtracking.
4) Press disks to move the token to the bottom right. The coin will enter any open adjacent disk slot.
5) Swap cips correctly based on the images located on each column and row.
6) Move the characters chips into their correct frames based upon their color and the matching colored map areas.
7) Pose the scarecrows arm and Leg sections based on the image shown, moving one section may affect others.
This Collector's Edition has 10 Concept Art pictures, 15 Wallpapers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 30 Achievements to earn, 18 re-playable Mini Games, 17 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 27 re-playable Movie Videos, 60 collectible Emeralds which allow you to buy decorations for the Christmas Tree, Missing Storybook Pages, 13 Fireworks that can be loaded in a cannon and shot into the sky for a personalized Fireworks display, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The Love Boat™ Collector's Edition
Join the Love Boat crew and relive the famous TV show in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 26 found this review helpful
LOOKS LIKE CARL THE MOUSE IS LOOKING FOR LOVE TOO
PostedDecember 13, 2017
pennmom36
fromWhy did Emily's mom send her and her sister on a Love Boat cruise, what's wrong with Patrick?
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 Love Boat is ready to set sail across the Pacific, with special guest stars Emily and Angela, and wouldn't ya know it, Carl the mouse has stowed in search of love too! This cruise will be more nerve wracking than most because Mr. & Mrs. Skoggstad are on the cruise, and love is certainly not in the air for this couple who just acquired the cruise line!
I really wanted to love this "exciting & new" Time Management game because I remember looking forward to watching this show every week as a kid, with my mom. It has some glitchy issues, and really annoying canned laughter, however at least the laughter feature can be turned off (took me a few minutes but I finally found that option on the main page setting, otherwise the other option page only allows you to adjust the music) I couldn't get the PC version to play at all, so I eventually downloaded the Mac version which worked. I still had issues clicking on some items, especially the magazines, which would cause me to get all messed up, thinking that the magazine I clicked just clicked on would be available, but when I tried to deliver it to the customer, it wouldn't be on my tray. I click on as many consecutive tasks as possible, to earn more points, and not getting an item on the first try, can ruin your mojo on a TM game!
Just like most Time Management games, the customers arrive and you need to click on the item or items they desire as indicated by their thought bubbles, click on the customer to deliver the goods, click on the register to receive payment and if they have been sitting at a table, you need to click the table to have Gopher (how appropriate! lol) clean the table. Some items just require a single click (unless it's glitchy) others require multiple items, such as a champagne bottle followed by a corkscrew, followed by a glass, before serving it to the customer.
Some items, such as the magazines are in limited supply, and require restocking, and in between customers, Julie has different Quests to fulfil for bonus points. Multi-tasking and fast service also gives you bonus points, the goal is to keep the customer happy for bigger tips, as indicated by their Hearts. If a customer waits too long, they might leave without paying! Carl the Mouse has climbed aboard, everyone was expecting him to, because he's actually the star of this show and all of the other TM games by this dev. You will earn extra points if you click on his tiny little mouse head when he pops up on every level unexpectedly.
You can earn up to 3 Stars per level when you achieve expert status, and any level can be replayed at anytime, via the Level Map. There are 60 levels and 30 Bonus Levels available in this Collector's Edition version. After each level, you can purchase items in the Shop with the Coins you earned. In the Shop you can upgrade items to keep customers happy and more patient, make service faster, or allow for larger storage capacities. After a few levels, Challenge levels become available, which allows you to earn Diamonds, and the Diamonds allow you to purchase 12 different versions of Carl the Mouse.
This Collector's Edition version has 7 Music Soundtracks, 20 Trophy Achievements to earn, 15 Cast Member bios, 12 different Mice to purchase with Diamonds, and 30 Bonus Levels, enjoy the cruise and the trip down memory lane!
I recommend this game!
Can you save your sister on the Day of the Dead?
Overall rating
1
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
A MYTH TOLD BY THE DEAD IS APPROPRIATE FOR A LONGTIME SERIES HEADED FOR THE GRAVEYARD
PostedDecember 13, 2017
pennmom36
fromIt's difficult to fear a Bruja when everything's so colorful!
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
Like most other longtime running series by this dev, Myths of the World, is spiraling downhill. There hasn't really been a game in this series with at least a 4 star average rating since The Whispering Marsh near the end of 2015, which barely got 4 stars. Behind the Veil is a very beautiful game, but in the end, it's just another cookie cutter Eipix game, with nothing new to offer, yet every cliche feature you'd expect. Here's a recap to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
Behind the Veil certainly won't overload your cerebral cortex, however, the occipital lobe is a whole different matter. I don't recall any Eipix game having such bright, beautifully vivid graphics. (perhaps my hippocampus needs some neuron stimulation) This is a very short demo, I still had a half hour left on the demo clock, which leads me to believe the game in it's entirety is probably short as well.
I have to give these developer's credit, when and where credit is merited. I think they are finally beginning to realize that we are no longer content to accept cookie cutter, sub par games, that are being released at a breakneck speed, with minimal attention being paid to the details, and with repetitive story lines that barely have a plot. In the past, it was difficult to tell one series from another offered by this dev, but the tides are turning, just a wee bit, and it's clear to see they are trying to see what works and what doesn't. I think they are getting there, improving the graphics is a great start, but I think they are having difficulty leaping over the hurdle to create a different kind of "bad guy."
At first, this game looked promising, but in the end, it's just another floating spirit seeking revenge on an innocent town, and whomever happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. In my opinion, the "bad guy" should never be revealed during the demo. Instead, the villain's character should be mysterious, and the plot should thicken just before the end of the demo, we should be left saying "I've got to find out who or what is responsible!"
Myths of the World has another myth to unveil, a death defying myth. A myth set out to prove that you cannot die if there is no Death to claim your soul! A myth that begins to unveil on the island of Alma, as they prepare for The Day of the Dead celebration. But this celebration won't be very festive, once the unwelcomed dead arrive.
Oh no! We have yet another otherworldly gadget at our disposal, the Xolotl Blade, powered by the Lapis Stone, which, you guessed it, needs replaced and recharged after each and every use! In the Collector's Edition version, we also get to search for those infamous Hidden Signs, the same offered in all the games by this dev. It sure would be nice if this feature was tweaked, at least once in awhile. This CE version also has the standard Eipix feature of only offering the Morphing Objects within the HOP's, a feature I love, just not when they are offered only in the HOP's!
Some of the Hidden Object Scenes, I must admit, are actually quite good. I particularly liked the stone disk HOP where you had to rotate the disks to align the different pictures shown. There are also Listed Item finds, Multiples of the same type of Item finds, and even smaller Zoom Zone HOP's with Silhouetted Shape finds. In the CE version, there is a Morphing Object available within most of the HOP's and there is an alternate Skipping Stones Match 3 type game to play as an alternate.
The Mini Games are average and lean towards Easy to Medium difficulty. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Match the keys with the correct keyholes based on the shape of the handle, using directional arrows to move between locks.
2) Follow directions on a recipe.
3) Display the pendant parts that make up the full pendant, select red buttons to scroll through the pieces without duplicating displayed pieces.
4) Arrange the soldiers and tribesmen in combat so that a shield is always blocking a sword, by swapping tiles.
5) Select the correct symbol for each shadow fisherman to push them away from the prince.
6) Match the fruits with their corresponding plates.
7) Move token along the grid to make their lines overlap with the pattern drawn in the background.
8) Destroy all of the connections between the knots by selecting only 3 knots.
9) Stack all of the sombreros together starting with the largest and ending with the smallest.
MYTHS OF THE WORLD GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Chinese Healer (January 29-2013) 4.3
2-Stolen Spring (November 6-2013) 3.6
3-Spirit Wolf (January 23-2014) 4.2
4-Of Friends and Fairies (June 7-2014) 4.1
5-Black Rose (October 25-2014) 4.3
6-The Heart of Desolation (April 11-2015) 4.2
7-The Whispering Marsh (September 3-2015) 4.1
8-Born of Clay and Fire (March 10-2016) 4.0
9-Island of Forgotten Evil (August 18-2016) 3.3
10-Bound by the Stone (December 17-2016) 3.0
11-The Black Sun (March 18-2017) 3.3
12-Fire of Olympus (July 6-2017) 2.9
13-Behind the Veil (November 11-2017) 3.0
2-Stolen Spring (November 6-2013) 3.6
3-Spirit Wolf (January 23-2014) 4.2
4-Of Friends and Fairies (June 7-2014) 4.1
5-Black Rose (October 25-2014) 4.3
6-The Heart of Desolation (April 11-2015) 4.2
7-The Whispering Marsh (September 3-2015) 4.1
8-Born of Clay and Fire (March 10-2016) 4.0
9-Island of Forgotten Evil (August 18-2016) 3.3
10-Bound by the Stone (December 17-2016) 3.0
11-The Black Sun (March 18-2017) 3.3
12-Fire of Olympus (July 6-2017) 2.9
13-Behind the Veil (November 11-2017) 3.0
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 18 Movie Videos, 21 re-playable Mini Games, alternate re-playable Skipping Stones games, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 HOP Morphing Objects, a Souvenir Room, 13 Achievements to earn, 35 (not so) Hidden Signs to collect, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.