pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4711
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 30, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Play 4 different types of mosaics puzzles and learn more about the greatest cities of the world.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
I LOVE THE VARIETY OF MOSAICS AND IT'S BASED ON LOGIC!!!!
PostedDecember 11, 2017
pennmom36
fromI love looking at the Mystery Lands completed puzzles, such beautiful winter scenes, just in time for the Holidays!
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
World's Greatest Cities sure knows how to shake up the Mosaic puzzle world! I love the variety of Mosaics they offer, but I would like to have a few more colors added to the traditional multi-colored type, which only has 3 available colors presently. I think those colors could be a little more vivid, and I wish they would label the pictures afterwards. My final complaints (the reasons for only 4 stars) are the fact that in the Mystery Lands type, the colors are at times too similar, making it difficult to tell them apart, and sometimes the cells don't automatically cross of on either setting, and I have to go through and cross them off manually. I do like reading about all the different Cities around the World, which is a feature offered in this game, as well as World's Greatest Places.
You can play in a Casual, Normal or Expert difficulty mode, or you can customize the difficulty mode by choosing if you want to play in a timed mode, if you want bonus points as a time bonus, whether you want numbers crossed off one by one or only when the entire row has been completed, and you can set the number of mistakes allowed from 1-5 and how long it takes for the hint feature to recharge from 30-120 seconds.
There are 4 different types of Mosaics offered:
*Traditional (multi-colored) which has 3 different colors to switch between to help you solve the puzzle.
*Mystery Lands which fills in each cell with 3 different kinds of pictures that when complete forms a beautiful scene, often with swimming fish, turtles etc.
*Rome Game is the same as Traditional except the numbers are presented as Roman Numerals, but if you scan the mouse over the numbers it will show the traditional number.
*Labyrinth Game is similar to Mystery Lands, but after completing the puzzle, you move objects from point A to B by clicking on intersections of a maze.
WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES/PLACES MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 1 (March 7-2016) 3.5
2-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 2 (October 20-2017) 4.6
3-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 3 (December 11-2017) n/a
2-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 2 (October 20-2017) 4.6
3-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 3 (December 11-2017) n/a
1-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 1 (March 16-2016) 2.8
2-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 2 (September 6-2017) 4.8
2-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 2 (September 6-2017) 4.8
WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES/PLACES MAHJONG SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-World's Greatest Cities Mahjong (January 12-2012) 4.3
1-World's Greatest Places Mahjong (January 17-2012) 4.2
If you're looking for a Mosaic game with something different, this is it! And even better, you get to solve the puzzles using logic, not by using a hint or guessing like some Mosaic games, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you save yourself and your daughter in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 31 found this review helpful
TESTING THE LIMITS OF THE HUMAN BODY
PostedDecember 10, 2017
pennmom36
fromSomebody shot a cement sign with a bullet and I plan on reusing the bullet?
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 loved this game, and I loved the ending, but I'm a fan of the CE bling, especially finding those famous Surface Flowers, if you can, opt for the CE, but either version is a winner in my book! It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a game this much from beginning to end! I especially loved the ending, I really didn't see that one coming, and it seems to have left an opening for a sequel perhaps? I haven't finished the Bonus Chapter, but so far it seems like a decent game from Detective Riley's perspective. When I first played the CE demo, I was disappointed with the fact that the story line sidelined to a nightmare realm, but most of the game takes place within the town, and you only visit the nightmares of a few people, to help them move on. I enjoyed the HOP's, especially the one where I had to find matching swatches of material. My favorite Mini Game was navigating through a maze finding items and solving puzzles to get me through it, I actually had to use my noggin for it! I highly recommend this game, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The sun is setting, and Jennifer Palmer needs to find a place to stop before nightfall. What Jennifer witnesses next, proves she might be more exhausted than she thought, animals by the dozens are evacuating the nearby town! Seconds later, a crow fly's into the windshield of her motor home which, causes her to veer off course and hit a large tree. Jennifer was knocked unconscious, she has no idea how long she was out, but it doesn't take long for her to realize that her daughter Maya is missing! Fortunately, Gray Falls is just up ahead, unfortunately, the town is behind a large locked gate! It soon becomes abundantly clear that Gray Falls has been evacuated since 1991! There's something weird going on here, and all roads seem to lead to the Research Institute, and the unethical experiments they conducted on it's citizens, called Project Dawn. Now Jennifer wonders, is the gate there to keep people from getting in, or is it there to keep people from getting out!
Project Dawn has clawed its way to the Surface, and it's abundantly clear that Elephant games is rising to the top of the HOPA pile! I knew this was going to be a fantastic game the moment the gates opened to reveal a post apocalyptic abandoned town. The details and graphics are exactly what you'd expect in a town that was quickly abandoned nearly 30 years ago. I was a tad bit disappointed when the game took a drastic turn, and I entered the "nightmare" world. I would rather have stayed right where I was, searching for Maya in an abandoned town, because the atmosphere is so cool, and there are too many games with a dreamscape theme. The good news is that you bounce back and forth, so I can live with that.
The Collector's Edition version has 12 Morphing Collectible Character figurines to collect, which tells you the background story of who they are, but it also fills in the gaps that you otherwise wouldn't have known about. Each Scene also has the famous Surface Flowers to collect, some of which are located within zoom zones on various notes you come across, and some of them are very well hidden.
The Hidden Object Scenes are fantastic!, these devs have been listening! The objects to find aren't just laying on top of junk piles, they are cleverly blended within other items, just like the good old days. There are Listed item Finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiple Symbol finds (clever mannequin scene) and scenes where you place an item into the scene logically, followed by finding a listed item, and back to replacing an item as it alternates between finding and replacing items. Some of the HOP's have a small Mini Game puzzle to solve.
The Mini Games are just as fantastic. Everyone of the Mini Games, even after the demo, are doable, and have just the right amount of difficulty to make them fun, but not frustrating.
Below are brief descriptions of some of the mini games you'll encounter during the demo:
Below are brief descriptions of some of the mini games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Drag puzzle pieces and rotate to assemble a picture.
2) Move cars into their matching colored slots using the empty slot to swap cars along the track.
3) Move the tokens to match the clue shown by selecting and rotating knobs surrounding them.
4) Select groups of two or more identical items to remove all items from the board, this is a 3 board progressive game.
5) Select a bottom tile that relates to the image displayed on the top board, repeat this process until all tiles are removed.
6) Select matching pairs of keys.
7) Rotate pipe sections to make a path from top to bottom of all energy buttons.
8) Select the gears to rotate the path sections.
9) Use the knobs to create a continuous radio wave.
10) Arrange the figures so their colors match the color s of the arrows in each column and row.
11) Guess the correct animal shape a pair of hands would make as a shadow.
12) Close the eyes on the rings in the correct order according to a nearby clue.
13) Find matching pairs of items by flipping over two buttons at a time, then change the color of eye under each icon according to the clue.
SURFACE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1- Mystery of Another World (February 2-2012) 4.3
2- The Noise She Couldn't Make (July 26-2012) 4.5
3- The Soaring City (January 24-2013) 4.6
4- The Pantheon (September 18-2013) 4.3
5- Reel Life (April 10-2014) 3.7
6- Game of Gods (November 20-2014) 4.1
7- Alone in the Mist (June 4-2015) 3.6
8- Return to Another World (November 21-2015) 3.5
9- Lost Tales (June 16-2016) 3.9
10- Virtual Detective (November 26-2016) 4.0
11- Strings of Fate (June 3-2017) 4.0
12-Project Dawn (November 9-2017) 4.0
2- The Noise She Couldn't Make (July 26-2012) 4.5
3- The Soaring City (January 24-2013) 4.6
4- The Pantheon (September 18-2013) 4.3
5- Reel Life (April 10-2014) 3.7
6- Game of Gods (November 20-2014) 4.1
7- Alone in the Mist (June 4-2015) 3.6
8- Return to Another World (November 21-2015) 3.5
9- Lost Tales (June 16-2016) 3.9
10- Virtual Detective (November 26-2016) 4.0
11- Strings of Fate (June 3-2017) 4.0
12-Project Dawn (November 9-2017) 4.0
The Collector's Edition has 10 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 1 Screensaver, 5 Music Soundtracks, 15 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 11 replayable Mini Games, 12 Morphing Character Figures, Surface Flowers to collect that will unlock the Secret Rooms of HOP's, 9 Achievements to earn with several categories within each achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy their nightmares!
I recommend this game!
Join the snails on an around-the-world trip to find their missing friend in their latest hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE FROM THE LAST ONE?
PostedDecember 10, 2017
pennmom36
fromI think the snails held my computer hostage! Or maybe it was just a bug bwahaha
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
All Match 3 games by this dev have the same unusual feature, and I really didn't notice any big changes from the original Pretty Snails. 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.
Most of the level goals require you to make matches over the Moss filled tiles within a specific number of moves, but some levels require you to make a specified amounts of specific Shell matches, or earn a specified amount of points.
Large matches or T & L shaped matches will give you power-ups on the board which are color specific such as Super Shells, Directional Bombs or Color Coded Flower bombs. Boosters are added as you progress such as +5 to add 5 additional moves, or a Trowel to remove an obstacle or tile of your choice.
After every third level, you can search for a Hidden Object as shown as a quest, somewhere on the Level Map, at first the objects are obvious, but become increasingly more difficult to locate.
I really didn't see anything new added to this Match 3 sequel to Pretty Snails, except for the computer freeze feature. If you don't mind a Limited Moves type Match 3 game, and you can get it to work in it's entirety, it may be a good family game, but after playing the first version, this one just seems like a repeat to me.
I don't recommend this game.
Awakened from centuries of slumber, you must save the future!
Overall rating
4
/
5
86 of 106 found this review helpful
....................LOADING.................................!
PostedDecember 9, 2017
pennmom36
fromIf the key to the Tree of Worlds is supposed to be hidden to protect evil from entering our world, why would you hide it inside a cathedral that has a giant Tree symbol above the entrance? Just put up a sign that says.......loading..
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
There are two Worlds that exists, our World, which consists of witches' and mankind, and the other World of evil creatures and dark spirits. Centuries ago, the Lord of the other World nearly destroyed our World, if not for the ultimate sacrifice of the Ancient One, who captured the demon Ezar. But prisons never hold forever, and our World has once again been plunged into a war of apocalyptic proportions! Anabel has awakened the Ancient One, once again to help save our World from total destruction, but it may already be too late.........loading........can the Ancient One defeat Lord Ezar and save our World.....loading.....before it's too late?
I think EleFun Games has been listening to the complaints, and the average rating plunges, ever since they introduced Jack, Anabel and Bertha. Jack and Anabel only make a brief appearance in the demo (although Anabel does make a reference to return without Jack) Personally, I fell in love with this story line which was all about the trials and tribulations of a kind hearted witch named Lynn, whose entire family was destroyed by evil witches trying to turn her good intentions into an evil agenda. Even her family dog was turned into an Imp. I just couldn't make a connection with Jack and his girlfriend, now wife, Anabel who happens to be a good witch also. To make matters worse, Jack's good friend Bertha, had only one power as a witch, the ability to turn into a ferret, with an annoying voice. With Jack and Anabel mia, there's no need for Bertha, so it's a win, win situation, for me, and I'm already enjoying the changes! HOWEVER.....loading.....EleFun still has one HUGE feature that still needs to change.....loading......can you figure out what that might be?.......loading........!
This Collector's Edition has some decent CE bling, but they have changed some features in all of their games that used to include a point system. There used to be points awarded for earning Achievements, finding Morphing Items and Collectibles. I never really paid that much attention to that feature, but I'm kind of saddened that they aren't offered anymore, because it was a feature only offered by this dev, and I had come to expect those features, when playing one of their games. There are no longer hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to find and assemble pictures as Screensavers, but there are hidden Footprints to find, some of which are within zoom zones, and once you have collected 4 Footprints in each category, you still get to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle, but with different shaped pieces, and it will give you a small biography of 8 different Monsters. Each scenes also has a Morphing Object, but they didn't provide an option to not have the cursor change when it scans over a collectible or morph.
The Ancient One is a powerful witch that has an Ancient Grimoire Book of spells that contain recipes and various spells. When a spell is needed, the book will open as an indication. New spells first require all ingredients, then requires following the directions in a specific order. The various spells include Restoration Spells, Protection Spells and a Darkness Binder spell to defeat a single monster. You will eventually defeat 8 Monsters using the spell, and of course you must play a Mini Game puzzle to unlock each spell.
The Hidden Object Scenes are just okay, neither good nor bad, and certainly nothing new. I think the graphics could have been better, especially within the HOP's, but every scene could have been a little sharper.and there is an Alternate Matching game to opt for instead of the HOP's. In the demo, there are Interactive List finds, slightly Interactive Silhouetted Shape Finds, and Keywords in sentences of a story. There are also the zoom zone smaller HOP's found in all EleFun Games, where you are tasked with finding several Fragments that are located all around the scene while still zoomed in to zoom zone object. There are a total of 24 Hidden Object Scenes throughout the entire game.
The Mini Games are fairly creative, some more difficult than others, and there are a total of 32 Mini Games to solve in the entire game. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Move figurines to the correct slots by moving them along the tracks to their outlined slots.
2) Light all spheres by selecting the right arrow to move the spheres 1 space to the right or the left arrow to move the spheres 2 spaces to the left.
3) Rotate the rings of a disk to complete the image.
4) Use the Grimoire Spell Book to strike each monster in the head, when they appear. (which btw, required me to use a ladder to reach the room, but I was able to reach the train without any help, on a bridge taller than the rooms window.)
5) Find all hidden fragments and return them to the scene by interacting with the scene.
6) Swap figurines to their correct spaces.
7) Throw the hook when the green crosshairs when they intersect over the bag.
8) Assemble the torn fragments to restore the photos.
9) Swap sides of the real world tokens and our world tokens, without allowing opposing tokens to occupy neighboring spaces.
10) Arrange the inner and outer orbs to match the center symbols using arrow buttons to rotate the orbs.
11) Draw the symbols that appear on the flying objects that appear.
WITCHES' LEGACY GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Charleston Curse (January 19-2012) 4.3 (Lynn original)
2-Lair of the Witch Queen (June 27-2013) 4.3 (Lynn original)
3-Hunter and the Hunted (January 9-2014) 3.9 (Lynn original)
4-The Ties That Bind (August 16-2014) 3.8 (Lynn original)
5-Slumbering Darkness (February 26-2015) 4.4 (Lynn original)
6-The Dark Throne (July 2-2015) 4.3 (Lynn original)
7-Awakening Darkness (December 24-2015) 4.0 (Lynn original)
8-Dark Days To Come (July 30-2016) 3.9 (Jack spinoff)
9-The City That Isn't There (January 7-2017) 3.4 (Jack spinoff)
10-Covered By The Night (July 13-2017) 3.6 (Jack spinoff)
11-Rise of the Ancient (December 9-2017) n/a (Jack spinoff)
2-Lair of the Witch Queen (June 27-2013) 4.3 (Lynn original)
3-Hunter and the Hunted (January 9-2014) 3.9 (Lynn original)
4-The Ties That Bind (August 16-2014) 3.8 (Lynn original)
5-Slumbering Darkness (February 26-2015) 4.4 (Lynn original)
6-The Dark Throne (July 2-2015) 4.3 (Lynn original)
7-Awakening Darkness (December 24-2015) 4.0 (Lynn original)
8-Dark Days To Come (July 30-2016) 3.9 (Jack spinoff)
9-The City That Isn't There (January 7-2017) 3.4 (Jack spinoff)
10-Covered By The Night (July 13-2017) 3.6 (Jack spinoff)
11-Rise of the Ancient (December 9-2017) n/a (Jack spinoff)
*EleFun Games*
This Collector's Edition has 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 3 Screensavers, 3 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements to earn, 31 Morphing Objects, 32 Monster Footprints (to assemble 8 Jigsaw Puzzles with 8 monster bios) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Play Pirate Jigsaw and dive into romantic high-sea adventure where pirate treasure abounds on beautiful tropical islands.
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 15 found this review helpful
WHERE ARRR YE PIRATES, arr at least real ones????
PostedDecember 7, 2017
pennmom36
fromI'm puzzled from the lack of pirates in a pirate themed puzzle game?
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
The last puzzle game offered by this developer was Jigsaw Puzzles Beach Season 2 (to the best of my knowledge) which had a whole bunch of pictures that had little to do with beaches. Now they're back offering jigsaw pictures that have a whole bunch of pictures that have little to do with pirates! The few pirate pictures they do offer are just people dressed up as pirates, the rest of the pictures are nautical, reef or beach themed (ironically they should have been offered in the Beaches jigsaw game) and most are just staged items like fruit, flowers, animals and food? Are you as confused and disappointed as I am?
Some of the puzzle pictures are really nice, but most of the pictures aren't appealing and if the pictures aren't interesting the puzzles are worthless. Nothing ever changes with puzzles by this dev, and I doubt they ever will. There are 5 different boxes of puzzles and each box has 100 different puzzles for a total of 500 puzzles. You can Ghost the image on the background or hang a picture with 3 different sizes, and you can change the resolution and the background colors of green, pink, blue or gray.
There is a Box to store extra pieces in, and you can Sort the pieces into the general location, and choose just Border pieces. There is a Magnifying Glass and a Hint feature as well as a Top Score tracker. My favorite feature allows you to Modify any puzzle with the number of pieces you want, the shape of the puzzle pieces and whether or not you want the pieces to rotate. I use the Modify feature with every puzzle so I can choose how many pieces I want to assemble.
I don't understand why these devs present these cookie cutter versions, over and over, without EVER changing a single feature. Here are 3 features I would love to see offered or changed, all of which seem like easy fixes in my opinion:
1-WALLPAPERS....why on earth isn't there a feature that allows the player to set any of the finished puzzles as wallpapers. Instead, they are one and done, don't look back puzzles, there's not even an option to look at the puzzle once they have been completed.
2- SORT....when you select the sort option, the puzzle pieces shuffle around into little random piles that seem to have no rhyme or reason, and definitely not what I'd consider sorted. The only thing I can figure, is that they are sorted to the area they belong (top right, bottom right) Wouldn't it be cool if there were options within the sort icon, to be able to choose if you want the pieces sorted by area, color or shape, and above all, sorted so the pieces were sorted on the outside edges, not smack dab in the middle of the border and around the edges!
3-PUZZLE STYLE.....this is a biggie folks, how about an option for puzzle style such as squares. Last year I bought an older puzzle game called Jigsaw Mania, and I play this game everyday. That game allows you to customize every aspect of the puzzle, including the ability to listen to your own music. You can download pictures from the internet, and your own photos as well. You can save them and use as wallpapers, you can even email them to a friend so they can do the puzzle as well. The feature I love most of all, is the availability to choose each puzzle style, wavy, shaped, regular jigsaw pieces in small, medium and large, flower shaped pieces that are the same on every piece etc. I never expected that I would become addicted to doing puzzles where every piece is a small square, approximately 1/4" squared. It makes the puzzle challenging and way more interesting!
If you don't really care about the pictures themselves, then you'll probably be okay with this puzzle, however, if you're a puzzle geek like me, and you want something different, check out Jigsaw Mania (it's an older game, so the first thing you'll want to do is click to download all new pictures from the internet, there's hundreds of them in several different sizes) and don't forget that you can use your own photos as pictures that will actually mean something to you, Happy Holidays!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you break an evil curse and save the day?!
Overall rating
5
/
5
230 of 280 found this review helpful
CHRISTMAS ISN'T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS STORIES
PostedDecember 7, 2017
pennmom36
fromThe dog is "scaring" the fox and I feel sorry for him, so I use a loud megaphone to scare away the dog?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Christmas Stories: Nutcracker Collector's Edition
(323)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Curses! The evil witch has cursed everyone who attended the Royal Wedding of Prince Edward and Rose! (it's a good thing I was late!) This is no ordinary curse, that witchy woman turned everyone into something else, it's a good thing the best man is now a fox, how else would I have strung the Christmas lights on that gigantic tree? (hey, don't laugh, the wedding may be off, but Christmas must go on!) Poor Rose is, well, she's still a Rose, but now she's a Rose with thorns, and roses don't last long. Their only hope for normalcy, is to repair the clock that cursed them, when the clock strikes Midnight, the curse will end. Unfortunately this clock isn't striking anything, because it's missing vital parts, 2 ornamental pieces, 2 gears and 2 screws, which is the equivalence of finding a needle in a haystack, compared to the size of the Royal Palace. Everyone has a stake in this cursed game, so you'll be assisted by some pretty unusual wedding guests, on this magical Christmas adventure!
Christmas just isn't Christmas until Christmas Stories releases their annual magical game. There are 3 Christmas themed games that I so look forward to each and every year. This game has beautiful Christmas themed music, gorgeous graphics, and a whimsical story adaptation of the classic tale, A Little Prince, what could be better? You're not going to experience any logic in this silly game, after all, how logical is a curse that has turned people into pianos, foxes and mice? None of that matters, what matters is the entertainment factor, and I hope you like solving puzzles, because there's enough Mini Games and Puzzles to stretch out two different games in this Christmas themed game! This Collector's Edition is worthy of it's namesake, because there are so many collectibles. Each Scene has a Morphing Snowman, and at least one hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Piece, and some scenes contain collectible Wedding Guest Figures. The only disappointment I have with this 6th game in the series, is that there aren't many objects you can interact with, other games in this series, have had presents you could open or various decorations you could fiddle with for absolutely no reason other than entertainment. I should at least be able to shake a snow globe or throw a snowball! (come on Elephant, be creative!)
The Hidden Object Scenes are just you're average HOP's, nothing really creative, but then again, it's pretty hard to change this feature, it is what it is, even I don't have any fresh ideas for a more interesting HOP. There are only four HOP's offered in the demo (the mini games make up for that) and so far there aren't any alternative games offered. There are Interactive Listed items, Silhouetted Shape finds with minimal interactions, Finding 6 Pairs of Objects hidden under piles of styrofoam balls, and an Interactive List find HOP that leave gems behind each item to repair the main object.
The Mini Games are between the easy and medium range of difficulty, and are in abundance, and that's awesome! Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Restore the day and night cycles on the stone by swapping discs. Click the green button to check your solution.
2) Swap tile sections to align the musical notes correctly.
3) Swap square tiles to complete the image, select tiles that are turned over to complete each section.
4) Enter the code using the clue, by dragging the dial either left or right as indicated.
5) Guide each train to their matching colored stations by selecting levers to create paths.
6) Remove all but one set of berries by jumping over another set of berries, berries can only jump onto blue tiles. Repeat on the next board.
7) Cover the gold center by selecting petals to move the silver disc in that direction. The larger the flower petal, the further the disc will move.
8) Guide each beam of colored light in a continuous line to the center by rotating hexagon sections.
9) Follow the instructions to create a potion, by selecting and placing items in the scene correctly.
CHRISTMAS STORIES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Nutcracker (November 29-2012) 4.7
2-A Christmas Carol (December 5-2013) 4.5
3-Han's Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier (December 4-2014) 4.2
4-Puss In Boots (December 3-2015) 4.3
5-The Gift of the Magi (December 1-2016) 3.8
6-A Little Prince (December 7-2017) n/a
2-A Christmas Carol (December 5-2013) 4.5
3-Han's Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier (December 4-2014) 4.2
4-Puss In Boots (December 3-2015) 4.3
5-The Gift of the Magi (December 1-2016) 3.8
6-A Little Prince (December 7-2017) n/a
This Collector's Edition has 14 Wallpapers,16 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 20 Achievements to earn, 12 re-playable Mini Games, 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room, 14 Collectible Wedding Guest Characters, 26 Morphing Snowman's, 48 hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 3 Screensavers, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy the Magic of Christmas Stories!
I recommend this game!
Team up with fantastic characters and complete challenging solitaire puzzles.
Overall rating
5
/
5
119 of 128 found this review helpful
BEAUTIFUL GRAPHICS, BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, RELAXING SOLITAIRE
PostedDecember 6, 2017
pennmom36
fromWill Jack be joining the search for magic beans?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
The Chronicles of Emerland Solitaire
(147)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I realize that Solitaire lovers keep asking BF for something different than the Higher/Lower type solitaire. I agree that there are a ton of other Solitaire games out there, but I also realize that every time Solitaire games are offered with several varieties, they are horrible games that are highly criticized. Therefore I understand why developers are leery to produce a game that sits on the shelf collecting dust! Once you start offering a more complicated version, it's difficult to incorporate features that will appease everyone. Looking back on games that tried (and ultimately failed) such as Solitaire 220 & 320 Deluxe, just about every reviewer had a different feature they liked or disliked, and personally, I only enjoyed a few of the hundreds of types offered. Higher/ Lower, Spider and Tri-Peaks are my go to Solitaire games, and only when they have specific features, particularly the option to remove all cards on the board, not just "special" cards.
Snow White Solitaire has all the features I want in a Higher/Lower type Solitaire game, and really none that I don't like, and I will buy this game to pick up where the demo ended. This game is very similar to one of my favorites, The Chronicles of Emerland Solitaire, but with much better graphics. You can choose from 4 different card themes, and 2 face card fonts, and there are 14 Achievement Trophies to earn on your journey through the Cursed Kingdom, to find 5 Magic Beans required to lift the curse of eternal slumber.
The goal is to earn 3 stars per level, and any level can be replayed as often as needed, if you want to earn all 3 stars. If you remove all cards from the board, you'll earn 3 stars, if 1 or 2 cards remain, you'll earn 2 stars and if 3 or 4 cards remain, you'll earn 1 star, if 5 or more cards remain, you won't get any stars, and you must earn at least 1 star on every level to unlock the next world. There is an Undo feature that allows you to undo your last move, and each level allows for a single use.
Bonuses appear randomly on some of the cards, but only temporarily, so if you're not able to use that card within a few seconds, it will disappear, but usually reappears fairly quickly on a different card. The type of Bonus varies, the Coin will give you 50 extra coins if you're able to include that card in a chain, and the Tornado will reveal 2 random face down cards on the board once you include the card in a chain. You will occasionally earn number specific Wildcards and Jokers as you progress. Obstacle cards are eventually introduced as a challenge such as cards with Leaves that require two plays, the first time the card is used, it removes the leaves, the second time it's included, will remove the card entirely.
As you search for the Magic Beans, Helpers will join you on your quest. During the demo, the Knight offers his service to swap a card from the deck, with a useful card. You can upgrade the Helpers abilities with the coins you earn, in the shop once they become available. Eventually the Goblin, Golem, Dragon and Sorceress will join forces with you. You can also purchase the Titan's Eye Amulet that let's you see available moves on the board, the Amulet of Hermes which adds two cards to the deck at the beginning of each level, or purchase Jokers to use as a wildcard.
I found this game very relaxing, with beautiful 2D graphics, soothing Music, a good storyline, and all of the must have features I want in a Solitaire game, such as removing all cards from the board, not just the special cards and you're done with the level even though regular cards still remain. Give it a try, especially if you enjoyed The Chronicles of Emerland Solitaire which is very similar, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Accompany Diana as she chases the thief of an ancient artifact into another world in this hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
173 of 194 found this review helpful
FIVE-BN GAMES HAS RISEN TO THE TOP OF MY HOPA JUNKPILE
PostedDecember 5, 2017
pennmom36
fromKitron: "I'm dying of thirst, could you bring me some water?" Me: yea, in a second, but first let me search this room for collectibles, I've got quite the collection going ya know!"
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
Diana has gotten herself into another predicament! She just returned home from the last portal that swallowed her, and she hasn't 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 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.
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. 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. 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, logical, and extremely entertaining. 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. 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) n/a
2-Prisoner (December 5-2017) n/a
This Collector's Edition has 21 Wallpapers, 37 Concept Art pictures (wow) 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!
Become a beautician and help Sally find her long lost love in this wonderful time management game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
26 of 33 found this review helpful
SALLY JUMPED ON THE DELICIOUS TRAIN AND DERAILED!
PostedDecember 4, 2017
pennmom36
fromSnuggford has a mouse problem!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Sally's series was an excellent Time Management game series. I say was, because Sally's Salon: Beauty Secrets is nothing like the earlier games. It seems that nowadays, every TM game by this dev jumps on the Delicious Series train, to incorporate all the characters that made Delicious so lovable. Just because Emily and her family and friends, pop in to get a beauty treatment, doesn't mean this game will be just as great or just as fun. Snuggford may be a small town, but it sure has a lot of businesses, and everybody seems to know everybody. Sally games used to be unique, but now it's nothing more than a spinoff extension of Delicious, a spinoff without quality entertainment!
You can play this game in Beginner, Normal, or Expert difficulty modes, and all the features are the same as the Delicious, Fabulous Angela, Mary le Chef and Hearts Medicine, with just different Salon related tasks. Even Carl the mouse makes an appearance for bonus points. There is a Star Meter to show you when you have reached Expert status, and you can replay any levels to try for a better star rating. Every fourth level has a bonus level you can play to earn Diamonds that will allow you to help Sally complete her memories of her favorite singer Julio, and there are 17 Trophy Achievements to earn.
The goal is to provide clients with the service they desire, as quickly as possible to keep their heart score as high as possible. When clients arrive, you simply click on the station that matches their thought bubble, and then complete a quick minigame such as shampooing their hair or using scissors to clip the stray hairs. You select the items necessary to complete the tasks such as scissors, curlers, blow dryers or hair color. Some items may require combining several items, others may just require a single click. To apply the task at hand you simply click on the client, and at least in the demo there is no need to drag the customer here or there which is a feature I don't really like. When the customer is ready to pay, you click on the register to check them out. You need to clean the stations after each client leaves to allow new clients to arrive, and you can use the money you earn to upgrade counters, stations and equipment that will keep customers happy and more patient, or give them faster service or allow more clients to be served at the same time.
Sally's Salon, unfortunately ain't what it used to be. Here's a listing of Sally games offered By Big Fish
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Sally's Salon (April 6-2007) 4.6
2-Sally's Spa (June 4-2008) 4.7
3-Sally's Studio (July 14-2010) 4.5
4-Sally's Salon: Beauty Secrets CE (November 23. 2017) n/a
2-Sally's Spa (June 4-2008) 4.7
3-Sally's Studio (July 14-2010) 4.5
4-Sally's Salon: Beauty Secrets CE (November 23. 2017) n/a
Can you catch a murderer that’s terrorizing a local university?
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 21 found this review helpful
SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISING ENDING BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTING AFTER DEMO
PostedDecember 4, 2017
pennmom36
fromReminds me of a "Fringe" episode, I miss Walter :(
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 spent a few hours yesterday playing this game, there are 6 chapters and a bonus chapter, so the quantity of the game is good, but the quality of entertainment could have been better. I was truly expecting this "whodunit" mystery to take a few twists and turns from chapter to chapter, but it simply drove the story home. By this I mean that instead of taking several chapters to set up the plot by making me think , oh he did it, well maybe she did it, making me unsure who did it while suspecting nearly everyone, as you'd expect from a whodunit murder plot. Because that wasn't really the case, chapters 5 and 6 got a bit boring at times, because nothing new was introduced to thicken the plot, to keep me constantly guessing, therefore, it could have been wrapped up by chapter 4 or 5! Other than that, the game is good, but could have been epic. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
The Discipulus University should consider changing the name to Murder College, because the faculty is dropping off like flies lately! Miss Douglas, the author of the Dead Reckoning novels, has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for her literary contributions. The ceremony will have to be postponed, however, because someone has been murdered, again! Look on the bright side, it's great material for her next novel!
I've always wondered if devs actually read the feedback we fishies give on their games, and other games as well. I think they must, because it looks to me like Eipix has tried to duplicate the font and style of one of my favorite devs (not sure I'm allowed to mention which rival it is) I don't remember this particular style being used by Eipix before. If you play a lot of HOPA games, I'm sure you'll recognize the familiar font used, and even the same modern look of the information tabs, and the style of all the extras, even the look of the icon that pops up when you select the hint to allow you to travel quickly to that scene. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's one of the things I love about the other dev, the clean sharp lines, crisp graphics, and the use of modern technology! In my opinion, Eipix has evolved (a teeny tiny bit)! They were able to take a dated series (I reckon I should say dead series) and modernize it to be relevant with just a few tweaks. NO, this isn't a cookie cutter version, take notice, because I for one, want these guys to know that we grew weary of the same thing over and over in every game series they create. I want them to know that we "see" the change, even though they are are just small changes, and appreciate their effort! Otherwise they will remain in their comfort zone, and never attempt anything new, baby steps, one step at a time.
I don't have a gimmicky gadget that allows me to see glowing orbs or hidden symbols, I have a modern Tablet to use, YEAH! Just proof that once again Eipix is evolving, when is the last time you pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil to write down something important when you are on the go? Everyone I know uses a smartphone or tablet. Need a flashlight or a magnifying glass? Need to take a picture or reference information? The first thing you reach for is your cell phone or tablet, and nobody leaves home without one! Because this is a college of cutting edge technology, important apps are automatically downloaded to your tablet while on the campus grounds (ok, that's a bit intrusive) In the Collector's Edition version, there are 37 Mortar Boards (black academic caps) to find, one in each scene, (but because they have a red tassel, they tend to be easily spotted,) the usual achievements and extras, Morphing Objects within the HOP's, and eventually 12 Souvenir's to collect.
The Hidden Object Scenes are modern with crisp graphics. Again, some have a familiar flare, particularly in the computer screen HOP where a computer generated voice tells a story one sentence at a time, and you must find the computer generated sketches representing the Keywords in the sentences. There are also Spot the Difference HOP's with small puzzles to solve, and of course the Dead Reckoning famous HOP's where you find clues and signs, indicating whether or not suspects are being truthful in their statements. In the CE version, there is a Morphing Object available in most of the HOP's, and some have an alternate Bubble Shooting game to play.
The Mini Games are decent, but could use a little modernization as well. Most of the games are doable on the first attempt, but I personally don't mind easy puzzles, or difficult puzzles for that matter as long as they are fun to solve. Most of these games are fun throughout it's entirety, but nothing really new. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Create a path that avoids strong wind currents, by rotating tiles in a "pipes" style game. (on the tablet)
2) Connect the dots to form the correct pattern that matches the clue shown.
3) Turn all of the lights green by selecting the flags in the correct order. (on the tablet)
4) Drag the key across all of the lock symbols, filled squares can't be crossed over, empty squares can only be passed through once. (repeat on second level)
5) Swap pool balls to match the clue shown.
6) Select angles of bumpers on a pinball machine to direct the ball correctly.
7) Swap trophies correctly according to clue.
DEAD RECKONING GAMES AVAILABLE:
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Silvermoon Isle (July 12-2014) 4.4
2-Brassfield Manor (March 12-2015) 4.4
3-The Crescent Case (July 23-2015) 3.5
4-Broadbeach Cove (February 20-2016) 3.8
5-Snowbird's Creek (August 27-2016) 3.5
6-Death Between the Lines (October 29-2016) 4.4
7-Sleight of Murder (June 10-2017) 3.6
8-Lethal Knowledge (November 4-2017) 4.1
2-Brassfield Manor (March 12-2015) 4.4
3-The Crescent Case (July 23-2015) 3.5
4-Broadbeach Cove (February 20-2016) 3.8
5-Snowbird's Creek (August 27-2016) 3.5
6-Death Between the Lines (October 29-2016) 4.4
7-Sleight of Murder (June 10-2017) 3.6
8-Lethal Knowledge (November 4-2017) 4.1
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art pictures, 6 Movie Videos, 7 Music Soundtracks, 10 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 9 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, 12 Souvenirs, a Souvenir Room, replayable Bubble Shoot Games,19 replayable Mini Games, 23 Achievements to earn, 37 Hidden Mortar Boards to find, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy
I recommend this game!