pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4706
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 1, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A magical adventure awaits!
Overall rating
2
/
5
70 of 120 found this review helpful
GNOME BODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN; GNOME BODY KNOWS MY SORROW
PostedApril 6, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Gnome pun intended I used to like this Time Management series back in the day. Although they have added a few new features to the game, most of the resources and tasks are the same as the previous eight Gnomes Garden games. (Note to developer: can you add the resolution 3840 x 1600 so it is compatible with larger screen monitors?) I had 2 giant black bars on either side and the SG was so stretched I couldn't see tasks on the outer edges...maybe they have a tool to fix this issue at Gnome Depot?
Before I played a single level, I checked out the features and discovered that I had already earned the Trophy for "collecting the entire collection," which I am assuming was the Artifacts, huh? Speaking of Artifacts...apparently, there are 5 different artifacts that require finding 6 pieces to complete each one. During the second level, a drop-down banner appeared with a countdown timer telling me I had 20 seconds to find the artifact. What artifact? What am I looking for? What happens to the artifact after the time ends? I played with the tutorial hints, so you'd think they would explain this mysterious feature! The Strategy Guide doesn't show them either! Did I not have artifacts because the game already thought I completed my entire collection? (note to developer: why is it spelled Artefacts in the main menu and then spelled as Artifacts during the game?)
Collector's Edition Extras:
15 Trophies, 49 Levels, 5 Different Artifacts with 6 parts each, 6 Music Soundtracks, and Wallpapers (if you click on the wallpaper icon, it goes to an automatic download so you can't pick & choose which ones you want) and a built-in Strategy Guide (that doesn't show where the artifacts/artefacts are located!
There's gnome place like gnome. Join us at my new forum where you'll feel right at gnome. It's good to be gnome with gnome worries
@ thewoodsforum.boards.net :)
Before I played a single level, I checked out the features and discovered that I had already earned the Trophy for "collecting the entire collection," which I am assuming was the Artifacts, huh? Speaking of Artifacts...apparently, there are 5 different artifacts that require finding 6 pieces to complete each one. During the second level, a drop-down banner appeared with a countdown timer telling me I had 20 seconds to find the artifact. What artifact? What am I looking for? What happens to the artifact after the time ends? I played with the tutorial hints, so you'd think they would explain this mysterious feature! The Strategy Guide doesn't show them either! Did I not have artifacts because the game already thought I completed my entire collection? (note to developer: why is it spelled Artefacts in the main menu and then spelled as Artifacts during the game?)
Collector's Edition Extras:
15 Trophies, 49 Levels, 5 Different Artifacts with 6 parts each, 6 Music Soundtracks, and Wallpapers (if you click on the wallpaper icon, it goes to an automatic download so you can't pick & choose which ones you want) and a built-in Strategy Guide (that doesn't show where the artifacts/artefacts are located!
There's gnome place like gnome. Join us at my new forum where you'll feel right at gnome. It's good to be gnome with gnome worries
@ thewoodsforum.boards.net :)
I don't recommend this game.
Spring into fun and relaxation just in time for Easter!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 36 found this review helpful
GRAPHIUM STUDIOS ALWAYS TAKES NOTES & ALWAYS IMPROVES
PostedApril 4, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
What I love the most about this developer is that they always listen to what reviewers are saying. They take suggestions and even criticism to heart and go back to the drawing board to make the next game even better! That's exactly what they have done with the My Hobby: Needlework series. Features have improved with each new release...features or changes that reviewers have asked for!
I was a fan from the get-go! I love the texture of the filled cells with yarn, and I love the custom "needle" cursor. I love that the colors are spools of thread lined up at the bottom and that they disappear when all corresponding cells have been filled. I love that the current cells are grey with a white circle around the number because they are easily spotted (I don't have to search for eons to find them; they really are easily spotted)
Some of the images were very appealing, especially the ones with wild birds. I wasn't crazy about most of the Easter images that seemed too generic, such as Easter Eggs, Baskets, Chicks, and Bunnies, but it IS an Easter version, so it makes sense that they are included.
There are 3 Chapters; the first and second chapter has 24 levels, and the third chapter has 21 levels. Each picture tells you how many cells are available. Your progress is saved if you aren't able to complete the image, and will keep track of your progress as a percentage.
Mostly, this type of game is all about the images...throw in some colorful pictures with lots of curb appeal, such as adorable kittens, mandolins, colorful flowers, castles, old barns, unicorns & horses, dragons, fairies, etc.; the broader the variety, the larger the audience it will attract!
I was a fan from the get-go! I love the texture of the filled cells with yarn, and I love the custom "needle" cursor. I love that the colors are spools of thread lined up at the bottom and that they disappear when all corresponding cells have been filled. I love that the current cells are grey with a white circle around the number because they are easily spotted (I don't have to search for eons to find them; they really are easily spotted)
Some of the images were very appealing, especially the ones with wild birds. I wasn't crazy about most of the Easter images that seemed too generic, such as Easter Eggs, Baskets, Chicks, and Bunnies, but it IS an Easter version, so it makes sense that they are included.
There are 3 Chapters; the first and second chapter has 24 levels, and the third chapter has 21 levels. Each picture tells you how many cells are available. Your progress is saved if you aren't able to complete the image, and will keep track of your progress as a percentage.
Mostly, this type of game is all about the images...throw in some colorful pictures with lots of curb appeal, such as adorable kittens, mandolins, colorful flowers, castles, old barns, unicorns & horses, dragons, fairies, etc.; the broader the variety, the larger the audience it will attract!
There's something for everyone at my new nature-themed forum... thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Follow Morgan and his team to reveal the mystery of a missing ship!
Overall rating
1
/
5
18 of 46 found this review helpful
WHY ARE THE TILE ICONS BLURRY? ARE THEY HAUNTED?
PostedApril 3, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If you don't already own one of these games by e-FunSoft, you will probably love this game. Normally, the graphics are bright and colorful, and they still are, but for some odd reason, the icons are blurry this go-round.
There are only so many new customers you can reach, and eventually, everyone else will notice that every game is exactly the same as the last game and won't have a need for another identical Match 3 game. I'd like to see this developer stretch their imagination and put on their thinking caps to create unusual power-ups or at least add a few that do something different the next time. Add some creative features like fire to melt ice, Morphing Blocked Tiles, or a Volcano that spews molten lava to encrust a few tiles that would require an identical match with the encased tile or perhaps just a few adjacent matches to break free.
One of my favorite features was the Spiders that covered tiles with spiderwebs if left unattended. The web-covered tiles were challenging because you had to stay one step ahead of the spider until you could destroy it; otherwise, the whole board could potentially become webbed & blocked! Unfortunately, this entertaining little feature didn't last long; it was ditched to appease those who dislike spiders...I don't like REAL spiders either, but it's pretty easy to distinguish between clip art & reality, especially when it's an entertainment factor! Here's an outside-the-box solution...Change the Spider to a Caterpillar who undergoes metamorphosis, which encases some tiles within the cocoon (actually, it's called a chrysalis). When the correct match is made, out pops a beautiful Butterfly, and butterflies couldn't possibly give a player the heebie-jeebies!
In past games, making large matches would fill the Energy Mana Meter, allowing you to use any power-up tool that had been previously purchased. Now they randomly give you 2-3 tools, at the start of each level, to use at your discretion (once recharged) while adding small & large Bombs to the board for a Match 4 or Match 5. The Bombs are worthless because they can only be detonated where they land; you cannot manipulate them by swiping them up, down, or over to the desired direction, as is the case with every other Match 3 game!
The same "Worldly" goal of purchasing four World Upgrades before you can progress to the next Chapter, with the single Star you earn for completing each level. There are never any options to choose a particular style, and it doesn't allow you to manually place the new construction to create your own visionary world. Without options, the repetitiveness becomes rather boring, so put on your thinking caps, devs, and get creative, please!
If you miss the BF forums, fear not, my friends! Just don a pair of hiking boots and head on over to the campfire to chat about games or whatever's on your mind...in between bites of Smores, of course! (just keep your eye on Woodsy, the Bear; he thinks Smores are a Bear Necessity! thewoodsforum.boards.net
There are only so many new customers you can reach, and eventually, everyone else will notice that every game is exactly the same as the last game and won't have a need for another identical Match 3 game. I'd like to see this developer stretch their imagination and put on their thinking caps to create unusual power-ups or at least add a few that do something different the next time. Add some creative features like fire to melt ice, Morphing Blocked Tiles, or a Volcano that spews molten lava to encrust a few tiles that would require an identical match with the encased tile or perhaps just a few adjacent matches to break free.
One of my favorite features was the Spiders that covered tiles with spiderwebs if left unattended. The web-covered tiles were challenging because you had to stay one step ahead of the spider until you could destroy it; otherwise, the whole board could potentially become webbed & blocked! Unfortunately, this entertaining little feature didn't last long; it was ditched to appease those who dislike spiders...I don't like REAL spiders either, but it's pretty easy to distinguish between clip art & reality, especially when it's an entertainment factor! Here's an outside-the-box solution...Change the Spider to a Caterpillar who undergoes metamorphosis, which encases some tiles within the cocoon (actually, it's called a chrysalis). When the correct match is made, out pops a beautiful Butterfly, and butterflies couldn't possibly give a player the heebie-jeebies!
In past games, making large matches would fill the Energy Mana Meter, allowing you to use any power-up tool that had been previously purchased. Now they randomly give you 2-3 tools, at the start of each level, to use at your discretion (once recharged) while adding small & large Bombs to the board for a Match 4 or Match 5. The Bombs are worthless because they can only be detonated where they land; you cannot manipulate them by swiping them up, down, or over to the desired direction, as is the case with every other Match 3 game!
The same "Worldly" goal of purchasing four World Upgrades before you can progress to the next Chapter, with the single Star you earn for completing each level. There are never any options to choose a particular style, and it doesn't allow you to manually place the new construction to create your own visionary world. Without options, the repetitiveness becomes rather boring, so put on your thinking caps, devs, and get creative, please!
If you miss the BF forums, fear not, my friends! Just don a pair of hiking boots and head on over to the campfire to chat about games or whatever's on your mind...in between bites of Smores, of course! (just keep your eye on Woodsy, the Bear; he thinks Smores are a Bear Necessity! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop your lookalike from destroying the flow of magic?
Overall rating
3
/
5
37 of 45 found this review helpful
I'M INNOCENT, I TELL YA!
PostedApril 3, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game in approximately 4.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +6 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
I would have given this game 5-stars if Anna Gray was lugging daddy Richard's skull around in her purse! What is going on at Elephant Games lately? Not only is Richard still MIA, but the Morphing Objects are no longer available in any Elephant Game, and now the replayable Mini-games & HO scenes are MIA?!
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +6 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
I would have given this game 5-stars if Anna Gray was lugging daddy Richard's skull around in her purse! What is going on at Elephant Games lately? Not only is Richard still MIA, but the Morphing Objects are no longer available in any Elephant Game, and now the replayable Mini-games & HO scenes are MIA?!
First, they ditched Elf in the Mystery Trackers series, which was clearly the worse decision a person could make in a long-running, successful series. The ratings fell, and they haven't added a new MT game in two years.
Then they ditched Rick Rogers from the beloved Paranormal Files series. This series WAS Rick Rogers; after helping a ghost in the first game, he opened his own Paranormal Files agency. Fans are upset because they want Rick Rogers to return, but game after game, Rick is MIA, and fans are no longer fans.
Grim Tales is suffering the same fate. First, they surprised us with a long-lost daughter that Anna knew nothing about. That didn't seem to go over well, so they ditched the daughter. As a reward, Elephant decided to surprise us by ditching daddy Richard and replacing him with Mommy Dearest, Anastasia. What a disaster! Richard was sarcastic, funny, delightful...and clearly dead, but we loved him!
All three of these series have taken drastic turns, and all three have one major thing in common...Fans don't like the change and are begging Elephant Games to make it right...but they don't. How exactly did Elephant Games come to the conclusion that it was a great idea to ditch beloved characters, and who is making the decision to ignore the fans?
웃 Gadgets/Helper: 웃
Anastasia is a gadget and a helper. Whenever her Cameo glows, she has something on her mind...followed by a random inventory item she just happened to stumble upon. This scenario happens 6 different times in the main chapter, and neither adds to the story's charm nor takes away from it other than replacing a beloved Richard.
♪Audio/Visuals:♪
I've always loved the graphics in Elephant Games. Even though they took a drastic turn a few years ago, you can certainly see a shift lately with graphics that look more realistic and more up-to-date.
☽☾ Collectibles & Morphing Objects (CE Version Only): ☼
Unfortunately, there are no Morphing Objects...a huge disappointment :(
There are 12 Collectible Mismatched critters, such as a Catbird or a Chimeras. There are 24 Zoom Zone jigsaw puzzle pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle in the Secret Room, which can be accessed anytime. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you can search for missed collectibles in the Expedition Room.
◔ Hidden Object Scenes: ◕
The Hidden Object Scenes are better than they have been in the past, the objects are identifiable, and the scenes are clear and bright. They have the usual Listed Items, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Swatches of specific areas in the scene, Descriptive Find, and Matching Pairs in a very colorful mushroom patch. There are a handful of small Zoom Zone HO scenes as well.
♙ Mini-Games: ♙
They tried to stick to a detective theme when it came to the Mini-games, such as reconstructing and matching fingerprints or moving Anna via a map. But they also included match 3 against opponents, selecting buttons to connect 2 circuits, pattern recreations, and catching flowers by anticipating the pattern of movement. I felt that the games were rather simplistic, such as rotating rings to recreate pictures. This is unusual because Elephant usually has more complex puzzles that require several steps to follow, which is one of the features I love in their games.
✯ Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only) ✯
It seems Lady A still has a few tricks up her sleeve, and it's up to you to stop her once and for all as The Keeper of the Portals! There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final 3 Collectible Animals and 6 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces over 6 additional scene locations.
♕ Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only) ♕
5 Wallpapers, 1 Screensaver, 5 Music Soundtracks, 21 Achievements, Zero Replayable Mini-Games, Zero Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Collectible Mismatched Animals, 24 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzles (in the Secret Room) Expedition Room (search for missed collectibles), 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
All three of these series have taken drastic turns, and all three have one major thing in common...Fans don't like the change and are begging Elephant Games to make it right...but they don't. How exactly did Elephant Games come to the conclusion that it was a great idea to ditch beloved characters, and who is making the decision to ignore the fans?
웃 Gadgets/Helper: 웃
Anastasia is a gadget and a helper. Whenever her Cameo glows, she has something on her mind...followed by a random inventory item she just happened to stumble upon. This scenario happens 6 different times in the main chapter, and neither adds to the story's charm nor takes away from it other than replacing a beloved Richard.
♪Audio/Visuals:♪
I've always loved the graphics in Elephant Games. Even though they took a drastic turn a few years ago, you can certainly see a shift lately with graphics that look more realistic and more up-to-date.
☽☾ Collectibles & Morphing Objects (CE Version Only): ☼
Unfortunately, there are no Morphing Objects...a huge disappointment :(
There are 12 Collectible Mismatched critters, such as a Catbird or a Chimeras. There are 24 Zoom Zone jigsaw puzzle pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle in the Secret Room, which can be accessed anytime. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you can search for missed collectibles in the Expedition Room.
◔ Hidden Object Scenes: ◕
The Hidden Object Scenes are better than they have been in the past, the objects are identifiable, and the scenes are clear and bright. They have the usual Listed Items, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Swatches of specific areas in the scene, Descriptive Find, and Matching Pairs in a very colorful mushroom patch. There are a handful of small Zoom Zone HO scenes as well.
♙ Mini-Games: ♙
They tried to stick to a detective theme when it came to the Mini-games, such as reconstructing and matching fingerprints or moving Anna via a map. But they also included match 3 against opponents, selecting buttons to connect 2 circuits, pattern recreations, and catching flowers by anticipating the pattern of movement. I felt that the games were rather simplistic, such as rotating rings to recreate pictures. This is unusual because Elephant usually has more complex puzzles that require several steps to follow, which is one of the features I love in their games.
✯ Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only) ✯
It seems Lady A still has a few tricks up her sleeve, and it's up to you to stop her once and for all as The Keeper of the Portals! There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final 3 Collectible Animals and 6 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces over 6 additional scene locations.
♕ Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only) ♕
5 Wallpapers, 1 Screensaver, 5 Music Soundtracks, 21 Achievements, Zero Replayable Mini-Games, Zero Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Collectible Mismatched Animals, 24 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzles (in the Secret Room) Expedition Room (search for missed collectibles), 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Reconnect with long-lost forum friends and become an official Woosdey when you join us on my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Sometimes there is far more than meets the eye.
Overall rating
3
/
5
58 of 87 found this review helpful
THIS GAME IS SO GENERIC THE NAME PLATE ON MY DESK JUST SAYS "CRIME REPORTER"
PostedApril 1, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game in about 7.0 hours
22 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
"Solving this case is as easy as ABC" couldn't be a more accurate statement! Put yourself on auto-pilot and start clicking to figure out why someone is murdering people in alphabetical order. You know what to do, Fix that leaky steam pipe, fix that wheelbarrow blocking your path so you can expose that freshly dug pile of dirt, look for a coin screwdriver, use that cork as a handle, find something to clean up the pile of glass shards, find matching motif's to open drawers, prop up that sofa that is missing a leg, (why would a sofa be missing one leg in the 1st place?) use something to rip out stitches because someone decided to sew something into the lining of a brand new coat. Of course, you will need that hairpin spoke the detective endowed you with! The murderer will be pretty easy to spot in a crowd; just look for someone wearing a cloaked hoodie! When you get finished with all these tasks....don't worry; chapter two will give you another chance to complete the same tasks, lather, rinse, repeat!?!
DIALOGUE CHOICES:
If the game isn't boring you out of your mind, you can opt for extended gameplay via Conversation Choices. The story itself will not be affected if you opt out, but if you opt in, you will get an extra quest with additional puzzles and HO scenes. This option would be amazing if the tasks weren't so cliche and repetitive. Can you imagine this feature in a game like Lost Lands?!
COLLECTIBLES/MORPHING OBJECTS (CE version only)
Can't they come up with anything different to add or change? Okay, in all fairness, they did change one of the collectibles in the last game to 14 versus the usual 15 per game! Does that count as a change? There are 15 Miniature Invention items, 15 Morphing Evidence items, and 70 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase 15 uninteresting Boudoir items. I'm sorry, but purchasing 15 Boudoir items such as a hat or a dollhouse just screams, "we don't really care about this CE extra, but BF makes us add them" Is it because you don't care what the player thinks, or you just don't want to have to recode a game to make the collectibles more appealing?
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
WOW! They have really lowered the standards on a lot of these HO scenes! Several of the HO scenes are identical to the scenes offered in their simple HOGs (Connected Worlds & The Intersection of Worlds) This is where they list 3 words at a time, some of which are x3 (multiple's of the same object) and as the player finds an item, another listed word takes its place. If you have played the HOGs mentioned above, you will realize that the objects aren't hidden, and the HO scene is over within seconds! There are also Interactive Listed Items, Silhouetted Shapes, Spot the Differences, Find & Replace, and Keywords in Sentence Finds. Many of the scenes are dark, which makes it difficult to recognize objects...I don't consider this to be "challenging" just because they have poor graphics! The HO scenes are located in uninteresting and very typical locations. They were so boring that I opted to play the Alternate Match 3 game which was slightly less boring.
ALTERNATE MATCH 3 GAME:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. NOTHING has changed in this Match 3 game for decades! Not only are the icons & features exactly the same in every match 3 game, but you cannot make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match.
MINI-GAMES:
They did try to add a few new games, one of which I just couldn't figure out why my solution wasn't correct when sliding icons to the correct spot according to the clue shown. I finally referred to the SG where they were showing the placement of one of the icons, which was nowhere near the location of the clue shown. All the other icons were correct and did match the clue shown, so the only thing I can figure out is that it was a glitch of some sort. I really enjoyed the Key puzzle; although there have been several variations of this game in the past, it was still fun to swap key sections on the left & right to align 2 sections because the sections that matched were hidden behind a panel.
BONUS CHAPTER (CE Version Only)
In the Bonus Chapter, you play as Fred Jones, a character from the main chapter who is being sued by a famous actress who claims Mr. Jones used inferior materials that caused an allergic reaction. There are 10 additional Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes taking place over 9 additional scene locations. You will continue searching for the final 5 Morphing Evidence items, 4 Miniature Inventions, and 9 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase the final items in the Boudoir.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 21 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 21 Replayable Mini-Games, 23 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Miniature Invention items, 15 Morphing Evidence items, and 70 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase 15 uninteresting Boudoir items, 4 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
We are having a water balloon fight; come join the fun! thewoodsforum.boards.net
22 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
"Solving this case is as easy as ABC" couldn't be a more accurate statement! Put yourself on auto-pilot and start clicking to figure out why someone is murdering people in alphabetical order. You know what to do, Fix that leaky steam pipe, fix that wheelbarrow blocking your path so you can expose that freshly dug pile of dirt, look for a coin screwdriver, use that cork as a handle, find something to clean up the pile of glass shards, find matching motif's to open drawers, prop up that sofa that is missing a leg, (why would a sofa be missing one leg in the 1st place?) use something to rip out stitches because someone decided to sew something into the lining of a brand new coat. Of course, you will need that hairpin spoke the detective endowed you with! The murderer will be pretty easy to spot in a crowd; just look for someone wearing a cloaked hoodie! When you get finished with all these tasks....don't worry; chapter two will give you another chance to complete the same tasks, lather, rinse, repeat!?!
DIALOGUE CHOICES:
If the game isn't boring you out of your mind, you can opt for extended gameplay via Conversation Choices. The story itself will not be affected if you opt out, but if you opt in, you will get an extra quest with additional puzzles and HO scenes. This option would be amazing if the tasks weren't so cliche and repetitive. Can you imagine this feature in a game like Lost Lands?!
COLLECTIBLES/MORPHING OBJECTS (CE version only)
Can't they come up with anything different to add or change? Okay, in all fairness, they did change one of the collectibles in the last game to 14 versus the usual 15 per game! Does that count as a change? There are 15 Miniature Invention items, 15 Morphing Evidence items, and 70 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase 15 uninteresting Boudoir items. I'm sorry, but purchasing 15 Boudoir items such as a hat or a dollhouse just screams, "we don't really care about this CE extra, but BF makes us add them" Is it because you don't care what the player thinks, or you just don't want to have to recode a game to make the collectibles more appealing?
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
WOW! They have really lowered the standards on a lot of these HO scenes! Several of the HO scenes are identical to the scenes offered in their simple HOGs (Connected Worlds & The Intersection of Worlds) This is where they list 3 words at a time, some of which are x3 (multiple's of the same object) and as the player finds an item, another listed word takes its place. If you have played the HOGs mentioned above, you will realize that the objects aren't hidden, and the HO scene is over within seconds! There are also Interactive Listed Items, Silhouetted Shapes, Spot the Differences, Find & Replace, and Keywords in Sentence Finds. Many of the scenes are dark, which makes it difficult to recognize objects...I don't consider this to be "challenging" just because they have poor graphics! The HO scenes are located in uninteresting and very typical locations. They were so boring that I opted to play the Alternate Match 3 game which was slightly less boring.
ALTERNATE MATCH 3 GAME:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. NOTHING has changed in this Match 3 game for decades! Not only are the icons & features exactly the same in every match 3 game, but you cannot make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match.
MINI-GAMES:
They did try to add a few new games, one of which I just couldn't figure out why my solution wasn't correct when sliding icons to the correct spot according to the clue shown. I finally referred to the SG where they were showing the placement of one of the icons, which was nowhere near the location of the clue shown. All the other icons were correct and did match the clue shown, so the only thing I can figure out is that it was a glitch of some sort. I really enjoyed the Key puzzle; although there have been several variations of this game in the past, it was still fun to swap key sections on the left & right to align 2 sections because the sections that matched were hidden behind a panel.
BONUS CHAPTER (CE Version Only)
In the Bonus Chapter, you play as Fred Jones, a character from the main chapter who is being sued by a famous actress who claims Mr. Jones used inferior materials that caused an allergic reaction. There are 10 additional Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes taking place over 9 additional scene locations. You will continue searching for the final 5 Morphing Evidence items, 4 Miniature Inventions, and 9 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase the final items in the Boudoir.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 21 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 21 Replayable Mini-Games, 23 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Miniature Invention items, 15 Morphing Evidence items, and 70 Zoom Zone Broaches that are used to purchase 15 uninteresting Boudoir items, 4 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
We are having a water balloon fight; come join the fun! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Get creative in the newest Paint By Numbers collection!
Overall rating
2
/
5
46 of 89 found this review helpful
A SECOND STAR BECAUSE IT HAS A FREEPLAY OPTION
PostedMarch 29, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I used to love the Paint By Numbers series when it was first released back in 2019. Back then, there wasn't an alternate painting game on Big Fish, so there was basically nothing to compare it against. Naturally, other developers began to jump on the Painting Band Wagon, and the creative juices began to flow. Each developer added a unique flare and different options.
Here we are four years later with a new Paint By Numbers game that has undergone little to no improvements over the years. Just to rub salt in the wound, this developer has refused to make improvements to the images offered. This is supposed to be a Painting game, yet there's very little painting involved because the majority of pictures are tiny, simplistic clipart images placed in the center of the page with a plain background that cannot be colored.
On rare occasions, you come across an image that finally looks appealing and appears to have plenty of detail. Unfortunately, you soon realize that the colors are dreadfully boring. Apparently, this developer is fond of tan, orange, and green in shades that are unappealing. The bottom line is that the demo of this game did nothing to convince me to buy it.
Here we are four years later with a new Paint By Numbers game that has undergone little to no improvements over the years. Just to rub salt in the wound, this developer has refused to make improvements to the images offered. This is supposed to be a Painting game, yet there's very little painting involved because the majority of pictures are tiny, simplistic clipart images placed in the center of the page with a plain background that cannot be colored.
On rare occasions, you come across an image that finally looks appealing and appears to have plenty of detail. Unfortunately, you soon realize that the colors are dreadfully boring. Apparently, this developer is fond of tan, orange, and green in shades that are unappealing. The bottom line is that the demo of this game did nothing to convince me to buy it.
The colors are always beautiful in The Woods! Join me at my new forum where you can find or share gaming tips and even create your own pixel art thewoodsforum.boards.net ☯
I don't recommend this game.
Can you uncover the truth behind a deadly shadow entity in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 70 found this review helpful
IS ELEPHANT GAMES RICKROLLING US?
PostedMarch 24, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game in approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
RICK ROGERS IS BACK! Oh, never mind, false alarm...again!?! Hang on a minute. You sure look like Rick; let me take a closer look; I hope you don't mind standing there while I poke you in your blue eyeball and examine that huge scar on your face...I sware, it's barely noticeable; seriously, I'm sure no one else notices. I can't believe there is an actual Parallel World here! Are you telling me that this has been here the whole time we were looking for Real Rick? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the whole parallel world scenario; it seems so unbelievable...but that Phoenix over there is an entirely different ballgame! He just lit my incense...now that's really impressive!
Happy 20th Anniversary Elephant Games! This is a wonderful way to kick off the event. I loved the sci-fi mystery theme and the unusual camera angles used. The graphics gave the game a modern, crisp look; everything about this game seemed different than previous games in the series.
I have to admit that at first, I thought it was ridiculous that Rachael was still searching for Real Rick 14 years later, not to mention it's been the same MO for three games in a row. How long was this missing-person storyline going to drag out? But, as the game progressed, I realized that it was a darn good plot and that finding Real Rick would be anti-climatic at this point, so I understand why Elephant Games has temporarily ditched the main character.
As I said, the storyline is darn good, but I can't say the same for the gameplay. Elephant Games loves Emblems, and this game still has its fair share of Emblem-placing to go along with the abundance of cliche tasks.
웃 Gadgets/Helper: 웃
In the past, Real Rick Rogers' tattoo was a gadget, but since Real Rick is MIA, we have no need for a gadget. I did find it strange that when we were comparing Real Rick to Wrong Rick, we didn't check for his tattoo?
In the past, Real Rick Rogers' tattoo was a gadget, but since Real Rick is MIA, we have no need for a gadget. I did find it strange that when we were comparing Real Rick to Wrong Rick, we didn't check for his tattoo?
♪Audio/Visuals:♪
I've always loved the graphics in Elephant Games. Even though they took a drastic turn a few years ago, you can certainly see a shift lately with graphics that look more realistic and more up-to-date.
I've always loved the graphics in Elephant Games. Even though they took a drastic turn a few years ago, you can certainly see a shift lately with graphics that look more realistic and more up-to-date.
☽☾ Collectibles & Morphing Objects (CE Version Only): ☼
Unfortunately, there are no Morphing Objects...a huge disappointment :(
There are 12 Character Statues that are pretty hard to miss; they look like an award from the Oscars.
Each scene has a fairly well-hidden Collectible Eye (25 total) that converts to a Jigsaw Puzzle piece, allowing you to assemble a single Jigsaw Puzzle Screensaver.
Unfortunately, there are no Morphing Objects...a huge disappointment :(
There are 12 Character Statues that are pretty hard to miss; they look like an award from the Oscars.
Each scene has a fairly well-hidden Collectible Eye (25 total) that converts to a Jigsaw Puzzle piece, allowing you to assemble a single Jigsaw Puzzle Screensaver.
◔ Hidden Object Scenes: ◕
The Hidden Object Scenes are better than they have been in the past, but really nothing to write home about. They have the usual Listed Items, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords, or Multiples of items within a background story, or find & replace.
The Hidden Object Scenes are better than they have been in the past, but really nothing to write home about. They have the usual Listed Items, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords, or Multiples of items within a background story, or find & replace.
♙ Mini-Games: ♙
I loved most of the Mini-games because they required multiple steps or planning a few steps forward to get the right solution. Most of the games are doable, although you may have to reset the puzzle to try a different solution.
I loved most of the Mini-games because they required multiple steps or planning a few steps forward to get the right solution. Most of the games are doable, although you may have to reset the puzzle to try a different solution.
✯ Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only) ✯
You will return to the World Mysteries shop playing as Rachael as she encounters ghosts whose contracts were voided by Fake Rick. Rachael must navigate a series of Room mazes in her ongoing quest to find the Real Rick in an additional 8 Locations. There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final 8 Collectible Eyes and 3 Character Statues.
You will return to the World Mysteries shop playing as Rachael as she encounters ghosts whose contracts were voided by Fake Rick. Rachael must navigate a series of Room mazes in her ongoing quest to find the Real Rick in an additional 8 Locations. There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final 8 Collectible Eyes and 3 Character Statues.
♕ Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only) ♕
5 Wallpapers, 1 Screensaver Jigsaw Puzzle (when all Eyes have been collected), 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Achievements with several sub-categories, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 25 Hidden Eyes, 12 Character Statues, 5 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
5 Wallpapers, 1 Screensaver Jigsaw Puzzle (when all Eyes have been collected), 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Achievements with several sub-categories, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 25 Hidden Eyes, 12 Character Statues, 5 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Reconnect with long-lost forum friends and become an official Woosdey when you join us on my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Get ready to investigate another ghostly case in a new solitaire mystery game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
36 of 64 found this review helpful
PERFECT SCORE?
PostedMarch 22, 2023
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm past the notion that the solitaire games by this developer will ever change or add features that appeal to most solitaire fans. A perfect score is a game where you are able to remove all cards from the board, not just a few special cards.
The game is over the second you remove the Gold Cards, there is no option to continue playing, and they arrange the special cards specifically so you cannot possibly remove other cards before removing the special cards, which lay on top of several other cards.
I'm worried about BF; they can't seem to get new developers, so we're left with some pretty lame daily game choices by the same handful of devs. Good luck with that!
Join the fun at my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
The game is over the second you remove the Gold Cards, there is no option to continue playing, and they arrange the special cards specifically so you cannot possibly remove other cards before removing the special cards, which lay on top of several other cards.
I'm worried about BF; they can't seem to get new developers, so we're left with some pretty lame daily game choices by the same handful of devs. Good luck with that!
Join the fun at my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy a memorable vacation to The Golden City!
Overall rating
2
/
5
48 of 75 found this review helpful
MACARONI IS A NOODLE-THERE'S NO "I" IN A MACARON (or Macaroon with coconut)
PostedMarch 20, 2023
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Looks like the Macaroni disguised as a Macaron has returned! This developer may want to start reading reviews because everyone was complaining about not being able to find Macaroni in the last game, and here we are with the same misspelled item in game number two! Lord help the player who starts with the Missing Vowel or Scrambled Letter Mode!
I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of all the travel-themed games! It's bad enough that the devs always choose New York first, followed by California (we have 50 states, ya know), but why do they have to use the same tourist locations in every game? How many times do we have to find hidden objects spewed about The Aquarium on the Bay? Surely, there is more than one stock photo available for this massive aquarium?
I get that developers have to use non-licensed iStock images, but can't they think outside the box and choose something other than Hats, Fans, Ropes, Neckties & Bowties, Keys, Microphones, Shovels, Pipes, Bats, Wheels, Frogs, Crowbars, Baguettes, Shoes, Flutes, and Hangers as the HO objects?...and definitely not Macaroni-Macarons!
I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of all the travel-themed games! It's bad enough that the devs always choose New York first, followed by California (we have 50 states, ya know), but why do they have to use the same tourist locations in every game? How many times do we have to find hidden objects spewed about The Aquarium on the Bay? Surely, there is more than one stock photo available for this massive aquarium?
I get that developers have to use non-licensed iStock images, but can't they think outside the box and choose something other than Hats, Fans, Ropes, Neckties & Bowties, Keys, Microphones, Shovels, Pipes, Bats, Wheels, Frogs, Crowbars, Baguettes, Shoes, Flutes, and Hangers as the HO objects?...and definitely not Macaroni-Macarons!
You can play in a Relaxed mode with no timer or opt for a 10-minute or 3-minute Timed mode. You will earn a single Gold Star when you complete a scene, and those stars unlock the next destination. Eventually, you will have to replay the scenes to unlock the other scenes. You can choose which HO mode to play, such as Listed Items, Missing Vowels, Silhouetted Shapes, Scrambled Letters, or Mirrored Mode, where the words, as well as the scene itself, is a mirrored image (like seeing the word ambulance thru your rearview mirror)
Each scene has two Zoom Zones (look for glints in the scene) as well as at least one Recyclable object shown as a Silhouetted Shape. Obviously, we don't want to leave a footprint because being environmentally conscious is the right thing to do...just try to overlook the "Other" trash that we aren't being asked to remove...Also, you're going to want to carefully step over those sleeping bags & camping gear as it appears someone has decided to make the hallway of the Aquarium their permanent residence!?
Each scene has two Zoom Zones (look for glints in the scene) as well as at least one Recyclable object shown as a Silhouetted Shape. Obviously, we don't want to leave a footprint because being environmentally conscious is the right thing to do...just try to overlook the "Other" trash that we aren't being asked to remove...Also, you're going to want to carefully step over those sleeping bags & camping gear as it appears someone has decided to make the hallway of the Aquarium their permanent residence!?
SCENE LOCATIONS:
Golden Gate-Aquarium By The Bay-Academy of Science-Chinatown-Ferry Building Marketplace-Golden Gate Park-Alcatraz-High Tea-Japanese Tea Garden-Little Italy-Lombard Street-Fisherman's Warf Pier 39-Market Street-San Francisco Bay-San Francisco Zoo
When you get back from San Francisco, come join us at my new Nature-themed forum at thewoodsforum.booards.net
Golden Gate-Aquarium By The Bay-Academy of Science-Chinatown-Ferry Building Marketplace-Golden Gate Park-Alcatraz-High Tea-Japanese Tea Garden-Little Italy-Lombard Street-Fisherman's Warf Pier 39-Market Street-San Francisco Bay-San Francisco Zoo
When you get back from San Francisco, come join us at my new Nature-themed forum at thewoodsforum.booards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
32 of 56 found this review helpful
RATHER GLITCHY!
PostedMarch 19, 2023
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I chose to play in the Hard Mode, which has penalties for misclicks, and boy, was I penalized! The game didn't accept some of my clicks for 2-3 tries before it would finally remove the listed item. It wouldn't be so bad, but when I had to triple-click on the whale, for example, the first two clicks penalized me -500 points each! It got worse by the time I got to the second scene, or the "Evening" scene on the golf course, which required me to find matching pairs. Obviously, you have no clue what those items were, so I clicked on a snowflake. The snowflake did not have a matching pair, so I was penalized with another -500 points, but then I had to wonder if the snowflake did actually have a match because, in the first HO, I had to click on some of the objects 3-4 times?!?
I'm not sure if this is a translation issue, but some of the objects had weird names for common items, such as a Spanner=Wrench, and a Bunting=Flag Banner (I thought it was a bird?), not to mention searching for a mouse that was clearly a rat.
One would think that the scenes in a Hawaiian-themed game would be very lush and exotic. I was expecting scenes to show how beautiful Hawaii is, but the first scene takes place in a resort room, and the next is on a typical golf course, followed by a close-up of a floatplane, which is no different than a scene in every other Hidden Object Game. The fun facts bored me to tears with facts about resorts & their owners, golf courses, planes, and political offices, not to mention a weird fun fact about syphilis & gonorrhea! You would think they would focus on the beautiful Islands' history or features?!
Several interactions are available in most scenes, such as dragging one item to another to complete a task. They also added a locked zoom zone that requires a "key," but the key may actually be a simple decal that needs to be found and placed on the door. They have added a small puzzle in each HO scene as well. There are several Hidden Object Modes to choose from, Listed Items-Riddled Descriptions-Silhouetted Shapes-Missing Vowels-Matching Pairs-Pictured Items-Scrambled Letters, which is my favorite!
Each scene has a "?" to find to receive a fun fact. There are five fun facts per scene which means that you have to replay the same scene five different times. The items to find are usually different each time, and you get to choose between seven different HO varieties, but unfortunately, the mini-game feature they added to each scene doesn't change. It wasn't so bad to replay the memory match card game because the card images were random (same images but in different spots), but when playing a simple puzzle like the mermaid puzzle, it was almost unbearable to have to assemble the same puzzle five times in a row!
The Hidden Object Scenes weren't bad; I just thought the scene locations could have been less ordinary...we should have taken one look at the scene and said, "that's definitely Hawaii"; instead, we get a scene with an ordinary golf cart on a golf course as if Hawaii is only known for their golf courses. When I find a fun fact, I want to learn about Hawaii's culture or unique attractions or how the Islands were formed; Hawaiian legends would have been extremely interesting, too...who cares when the first resort was opened in Hawaii or who the first Asian-American politician was! Don't get me wrong, this is history to be proud of, but this is a travel-themed game about Hawaii, so the fun facts should have been more touristy-related...we're talking about Hawaii here!
Collector's Edition Extras:
6 Bonus Chapters, 18 Achievements (16 Achievements in the SE version), 12 Wallpapers, 11 Soundtracks, 40 Photo Journal replayable Mini-games (26 Mini-Games in the SE version), 5 Fun Facts per Scene (120 Fun Facts in the SE Version), and an Unlimited Play Mode (24 Hidden Object Levels in the SE Version).
6 Bonus Chapters, 18 Achievements (16 Achievements in the SE version), 12 Wallpapers, 11 Soundtracks, 40 Photo Journal replayable Mini-games (26 Mini-Games in the SE version), 5 Fun Facts per Scene (120 Fun Facts in the SE Version), and an Unlimited Play Mode (24 Hidden Object Levels in the SE Version).
After your trip to Hawaii, head on over to the Woods Forum and become an official Woodsy at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.