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:
Restore castles in a royal match-3 adventure to help Matthew marry a Princess!
Overall rating
5
/
5
204 of 229 found this review helpful
SUCH AN INTERESTING STORY, I THINK I WEPT A TEAR OR TWO
PostedNovember 24, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhat did the Queen expect only allowing Princess Sophia one friend?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Rome
(33)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Jewel Match games are quickly becoming my favorite Match 3 games, and this one has such an interesting story!. The graphics are stunning in all of the Jewel match games, and there's so much to do that it's extremely entertaining. You can play on a Timed Mode, a Limited Moves Mode or a Relaxed Mode. Each level has several "rooms" to complete, when one room is cleared, you click on the arrows to visit the next room. If you have time remaining after completing a level, you can either continue or go to the previous levels and search for bonus items. I don't know of any other Match 3 that has this feature. The coins and amulets you earn are used to build your castle which can be set at anytime for your wallpaper. Stars are used to purchase extra's for your castle such as trees or decorations.
Matches of 4 will earn you a Rainbow tile that can be matched with any tiles, matches of 5 tiles or more awards you with a Royal Arrow that clears rows, columns and diagonal lines. The object is to clear all gold cells by making matches over the gold cells. Some items require you to make matches under the items such as keys or amulets until they fall off the board. Coins that appear can be clicked on but they will disappear eventually, and bags of coins must be dropped off the board.
Some tiles are blocked with crates, chains, double chains, ice, or dark fog, requiring matches next to them or of the same type of tile contained within. There are Safe Tiles that require a specific number of matches to break as displayed inside. You earn a new life every 50,000 points and are given the option to use one of your lives for extra time shortly before the timer runs out. This is a fantastic Match 3 game, with a fantastic storyline, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
It's time to begin your journey to help a ghost captain and save the world.
Overall rating
5
/
5
73 of 93 found this review helpful
CAUSE I'M A WANDERER AND LOST LANDS IS WHAT I DO
PostedNovember 23, 2016
pennmom36
fromDo you think anyone from Lost Lands will come to Susan's rescue if she needs help?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have been a fan of the Lost Lands saga from the very beginning when Susan and her young son Jimmy were first transported to the Lost Lands. I remained faithful as time after time I watched this poor woman get yanked from her everyday real world life to help solve all the otherworldly apocalypses. This time, the Lost Lands have come to her world to ask for help, sort of. Susan has just met the captain of the Grey Flounder, Finuer Steelburn, who explains that the ship isn't real, the giant octopus that brought her aboard isn't real, not even the captain himself is real! The real Finuer Steelburn is being held prisoner, and cursed into an eternal slumber. In his dreams, the captain has traveled to many worlds, and each time he visits, the worlds he traveled to have experienced cataclysmic disasters. Susan must return to the Lost Lands, find the real captain, and release him from his eternal slumber or both worlds will suffer dire consequences!
As I stated earlier, I've been a fan from the beginning of this fantasy themed adventure series, and I love the storyline of this latest edition, with reservation....What is up with the really poor graphics? I have always prefered computer generated graphics over hand drawn graphics, but what kind of computer did they use, or software, I just don't get it. The colors don't pop, it may as well be a black and white, there are few details, and at times they even look blurry! I would expect graphics to evolve and become crisper with each new game because technology evolves so quickly, did they go over budget and decide to cut corners and use cheap software?
On the brighter side, they haven't cut corners on all the Collector's Edition bling that this series is so famous for, and because there are so many collectibles offered, I highly recommend you opt for the CE version. Each scene has a Collectible from one of 4 different categories, there are 8 skulls, 8 bottles of Rum, 8 sailboats, and 8 fish statues altogether. There are also 15 Collectible Masks, and 20 Lost Manuscript pages, and 8 Map fragments that will unlock 20 bonus level Mini Games. There are several Achievements to earn and last but certainly not least, there are 32 Morphing Objects. Many reviewers have complained in the past that these collectibles are too small, but I prefer it that way because it makes them more credible (morphing snail for example) I only wish the cursor didn't change to a hand whenever you come across one of these.
The Hidden Object Scenes are all the same, and I'm assuming will continue that way after the demo. It's not a bad thing because they are extremely Interactive Progressive Silhouetted Shape finds requiring you to find an object that matches the Silhouetted Shapes, and then use those items within the scene interactively to expose the next items. Most of the HOP's have interactive puzzles to solve as well.
The Mini Games are quite nice, many of them newer puzzles, and some can be challenging. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Arrange the symbols inside the inner circle to match the ones on the outer circle.
2) Repair the ferry floor by placing boards of different patterns so all holes have been covered.
3) Click on the crystals to redirect the beam of light to travel through all of the crystals only once.
4) Input the correct code by turning three dials to match the code you found earlier.
5) Rotate the fields to move the green cube to the green cell.
The Collector's Edition has 9 Wallpapers, 26 Concept Art pictures, 21 Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks, 23 replayable Mini Games, 7 replayable Puzzles, 21 Achievements to earn, 32 Morphing Objects. 20 Lost Manuscript pages, 15 Collectible Masks, 8 of each, Collectible Fish Statues, Sailboats, Skulls, Bottles of Rum, 8 Map Fragments that will unlock 20 bonus levels of Puzzles, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Uncover the mystery of Huxley’s Boarding House before time runs out!
Overall rating
5
/
5
305 of 375 found this review helpful
TICK TOCK ON THE CLOCK BUT THE PARTY DON'T STOP AT HUXLEY'S BOARDING HOUSE
PostedNovember 22, 2016
pennmom36
fromMCF certainly doesn't skimp when it comes to Morphing Objects that are offered in the main game not the HOP's!
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
Ever wish you could turn back the hands of time, back to a simpler way of life? Welcome to Huxley's Boarding House, where they have turned back the clock to the Victorian era where life moves at a much slower pace. No phones, no technology (say what! I'm outta here!) no modern day hustle and bustle, race against the clock drama. As long as you can agree to follow a few simple rules, and a strict schedule, you'll find yourself enlightened and refreshed after your stay....well, only IF you survive the horrifying secrets held within the Huxley's Boarding House!
This just might be another one of MCF's famous series ranking right up there with Madame Fate and the famous Ravenhearst games. This game will be tough for beginners, but doable, because this is not a hand holding type of game, and I love it. Many of the tasks require you to reference codes and clues you've seen previously, and your journal doesn't always have the exact clue written in it, or there may be more than one clue that may seem applicable which can be confusing. After the demo, things seem easier once you get into the swing of things. Then again, MCF has made those Super Puzzles famous, and they can be really challenging, but, they do let you skip sections of the super puzzle if one of the multi-layered puzzles boggles your brain, which has happened to me, especially by the end of the game, lol! There aren't any fuzzy wuzzy helpers to assist you in finding the Queen's Royal Photographer, George Pritchard, whose last known whereabouts was at the Huxley's Boarding House. Each scene has a Morphing Object to find, some are very well hidden and the cursor doesn't change to scream :here I am" I absolutely love that I have to actually use my brain to solve this case!
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly Interactive List finds but MCF games are all about the Mini Games and solving tasks. The HOP's are well done and entertaining, but nothing compared to the puzzles, especially the Super Puzzles. Don't forget to look for the Hidden Ladybugs, one in each HOP.
The Mini Games are fantastic, even the tasks themselves are more like a mini game than just a mindless operation of turning a key etc. Below are brief descriptions of some of the mini games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Locate and enter the right code.
2) Memorize the darkened squares, then insert the punch card an press those same memorized squares.
3) Super Puzzle which is a multi-layered puzzle using a decoder to solve the encryption and learn a story.
4) Set the time on the clock by pressing on the cogs to rotate the hands.
5) Place the 5 different clock hands onto the correct clock and then set the correct time by referring to your journals clues.
6) Super Puzzle, another fantastic multi-layered puzzle following blueprints and solving several puzzles within.
This Collector's Edition has 27 replayable Mini Games, 14 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, a Developer's Hunt game, Case Files, Concept Art, Wallpapers (most require you to earn and spend tokens in the Hunt game to access) 11 replayable Movies, 9 Music Soundtracks, 42 Morphing Objects, 14 Lucky Ladybugs within the HOP's, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Grim Facade: The Red Cat
When the Red Cat is upon your door, you're next!
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 40 found this review helpful
THIS ISN'T A VERY NICE KITTY
PostedNovember 21, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhat we need is a really good hunting dog!
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 was actually on the fence with this game when it was first released, because I wasn't "blown away" by this latest edition in the Grim Facade series, like others were, Why? Because there's a lot of familiarities, same scenery in Venice, same style of graphics, similar characters, same voiceovers, same tasks, similar and all too familiar storyline, and above all, the same features of collecting coins (actually looting other people's coins) to buy inventory items, and the same prop, a Memory Fragment Detector to catch the same orbs. All I have to say is, surely they mass produced this device in order for all my clients to have one in their possession, so why is that I don't have one? I'm a detective that seems to need this device in each and every case, so perhaps I should loot enough coins to buy one for myself.
One feature I did like with the Collector's Edition version, was with the collectibles, starting with the Mechanical Spiders that allow you go into the collections room, then you get to play a fantastic game using the spider to eat all the flies on his web. It's not even that easy (but still quite doable) because you have to choose the highlighted flies and it's very easy to get stuck if you choose the wrong pattern. I was hoping that you got to collect more spiders and play increasingly harder spider/fly games, but the next collectible disappointed me with a stupid bird where you swap puzzle tiles to create a picture. The only repeated feature I didn't mind was the return of the scrappy 'ole cat who seems to be everywhere, but I can't remember his name offhand. He offers you one of his 9 lives after the demo, once you answer 3 riddles to spell R.I.P.
As I stated earlier, this is a rehash of the same story, a member of a small private organization within a small usually wealthy community goes rogue and seeks revenge on members who did him wrong. When the Mayor's son is slated to be the next victim, the detective is finally called in for help, and as always, they all know who the killer is and why, but don't bother to tell you because they know they deserve the punishment, they just don't want to die for their sins. In this case we have a gentleman dressed in a Red Cat suit, that sounds like darth vader, and leaves his signature calling card of a red cat symbol on their door, to torture them psychologically before doing them in. He seems to be playing a game of Cat and Mouse with the detective, as naturally, he's always one step ahead of him.
Once again you are loaned a Memory Fragment Detector which is used in most scenes to scan for Memory Fragments to capture a recent memory which will be shown as a silhouetted clip. You will also collect coins all around town as you deem them free game, and you will launder these coins at the local shop to buy merchandise is needed to advance. I thought the Collector's Edition Bling was well worth the extra price point because of the previously mentioned collectible Mechanical Spider Mini Game of Eat all the Bugs in one continuous pattern, but after purchasing this game in the CE and finding out that the collectibles were different types of Mini Games, I wish I had waited for this Standard version. The CE also has the usual Achievements to earn as well, actually there's one achievement that requires you to use the Hint feature in every scene, which is out of the normal or usual achievements to receive, so keep that in mind.
The Hidden Object Scenes themselves aren't all that impressive because most are Interactive List finds, AND most of the HOP's are repeated twice which is a feature I loathe because it's just too boring a second time around. One thing I did find enjoyable was that almost every one of the HOP's have a puzzle to solve such as swapping square tiles, or putting fragments together. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HOP's that are Multiple finds such as 5 nails or 4 ladder boards. (btw, what do you think happened to the shopkeepers ladder that caused the boards to fly off the ladder and land above the doorway?)
The Mini Games are really entertaining, and are usually available in Casual or Hard difficulty settings which is genius because sometimes I want more challenge than other times. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) A four part Super Puzzle, Restore the circular image by swapping the pipe pieces.
2) Match all of the mechanical eyes by opening two eyes at a time.
3) Swap sides of red and blue tokens by sliding or jumping tiles.
4) Complete the image by rotating each token to align the images.
5) Drag the pipes covering the spiders legs to find and align holes over the symbols until you find the symbols that match the ones shown in the spider's eye.
6) Memory Fragment Device games require you to scan the device around the room when it glows until you capture all the floating orbs that cannot be seen with the naked eye. (but you can see all kinds of crazy things other than orbs!)
7) Catch the criminal by choosing the arrows to program your movements.
8) Follow the code to choose owl in the correct order.
9) Slide tiles to empty slots until the star can slide out easily.
10) Arrange the celestial symbols as shown on the clue by sliding on a track to available slots.
11) Swap hexagonal tiles so all the colors connect and light up.
12) Fill the gauges by dragging lines to connect at least 3 same colored lamps.
The Collector's Edition has 15 replayable Mini Games, 19 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 8 Movies, 4 Music Soundtracks, 4 Screensavers, 6 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art, 12 Achievements to earn, Collectible Mechanical Spiders with Mini Games, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Pick out a turkey, decorate the house and invite people over! Thanksgiving Day Mosaic has 120 patchwork-style puzzles for the whole family!
Overall rating
5
/
5
47 of 56 found this review helpful
THANX 4 GIVING US ANOTHER MOSAIC PUZZLE GAME
PostedNovember 21, 2016
pennmom36
fromI hate the gong going off towards the end of the allotted time, it causes me to rush and make mistakes.
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
If you're a puzzle geek like myself, you'll love this mosaic puzzle game. Recently they have added a Relaxed mode which is feature I appreciate because sometimes I just want the relaxing pleasure of trying to place the fragments correctly, but at my own pace instead of at the usual neck breaking speed needed to complete the mosaic within the time allotted.
The idea behind this game is to assemble the mosaic picture with the fragments that become available to the right of the puzzle, which is about 8 fragments at a time. You will get one star for completing the puzzle, a second star for completing without mistakes and the third for completing the puzzle within the allotted time.
You can use coins to purchase extra time in 30 second increments, or you can add more hints if you run out. There are 6 Rooms and each room has 20 levels. Six different materials are used, one in each room, starting out with Cloth, then moving onto Wood (my favorite) and eventually, Stained Glass, Gemstones, Paper and Metal. There are special tasks to accomplish which allows you to earn 18 different trophies as well, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Your new dream home has become a deadly nightmare!
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 41 found this review helpful
THIS HOUSE HAS A WHOLE LOT OF SKELETON'S IN IT'S CLOSETS
PostedNovember 20, 2016
pennmom36
fromHello, 911 I've just found 11 skeletons in my house, but I had nothing to do with their murder, and btw my kids are missing as well!
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
Personally, I liked this game, and I purchased the Collector's Edition to find out why so many sinful people were attracted to this house. Are evil people attracted to this house because they are evil, or does the house find the evil within them because the house is evil? Of course there are illogical aspects of the game, they buy the house sight unseen, they buy a house that has a haunting past, but the fact of the matter is, just about every HOPA game has illogical storylines and tasks to accomplish that make no sense. I rather enjoyed the storyline of Harrowed Halls, and I believe that this new series will come out with a nearly perfect physiological thriller on their next attempt.
Today's the day that Rachael gave her law firm a letter of resignation, so she can open up a Bed and Breakfast with her husband Danny, in a very large and beautiful house, her dream home. They got this house at a phenomenal price, way below the market value, because it has a tainted past. It would appear that this house has claimed the lives of several inhabitants that have disappeared without a trace, but Rachael and Danny don't believe in all that hype. Besides, haunted houses can draw a ton of clients searching for the paranormal. They haven't even had time to unpack a single box before the kids are in trouble. Luke and Zoe are being sucked into a portal through the kids playroom, but it would seem that nothing these frantic parents do, can save them, they too have vanished, without a trace! Ahh, but wait, apparently, there is a way to save them. A very old television begins to broadcast a message from beyond, a message from a very creepy man, a man who offers them a deal. Time is running out, precious time needed to find 11 keys to appease the creepy man who apparently has some very high moral standards. The 11 keys the creepy man desires, are keys to unlock the prison that binds him, one key is in the possession of each of his 11 previous victims. Their crimes were mortal sins, at least in the creepy man's opinion!
Yes, this game starts out way too slow, but once it gets into the "grit" of things, it becomes much more interesting. I actually love this moral storyline. We experienced gamers are constantly asking for fresh new material because we've seen it all and want something new. For the most part, this is a fresh approach to a story, and I want to play this one through to the end. You will receive a Smartphone from your amature ghost busting niece Siqourney, that's used throughout the game with several Apps that are actually Mini Games to catch ghosts. I also loved the fact that many of the Plus Sign inventory items have a small and fun mini game to perform before using them.
The Collector's Edition version, offers the usual Achievements to earn but for some unusual tasks, one of which is to spend more than 5 minutes on the main menu, another to wait 5 minutes before starting a mini game. There are also 44 Morphing Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble 6 different jigsaw puzzles and set as a screensaver, AND, the cursor doesn't change to say "here I am!" You will also collect 11 Mortal Sin Portraits of the victims, as you come across the culprits.
The Hidden Object Scenes are actually far and few between. There are a couple of Mini Games that are more like HOP's, that I have listed in the next section. The HOP offered in the demo requires you to find 4 gears to open up a very large Silhouetted Shape list with some interactions, after the demo, most of them are Interactive List finds, some of which are very interactive.
The Mini Game I found to be very doable, and entertaining. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Choose shoestrings in the correct order to untie them.
2) Drag the three sliders to align the three keyhole sections.
3) Drag the loose pieces of plaster to the correct places to match the pictures with the mortal sins.
4) Slide tiles into the correct positions by selecting the tiles and moving them to available slots.
5) Set the correct picture combinations using a crypted description code.
6) Flip the correct switches to light up all the bars, flipping some switches may affect others.
7) Match sound waves with your phone app to find the ghost.
8) Find the objects in the scene that matches the images shown as an example.
9) Untangle ropes by moving skeleton heads until all ropes are green.
10) Rotate all the circles to the correct positions to free a latch, one may affect others.
11) Find Keywords in a story by interacting with the scenes.
12) Restore the torn picture fragments.
The Collector's Edition has 40 Developer's Diary pictures, 11 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 10 replayable Mini Games, 6 Jigsaw Puzzles, 17 Achievements to earn, 44 Morphing Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. Don't be deterred by the negative reviews and give this game a chance. It starts out slow but picks up the pace, and with each new sinful victim, the story stays fresh, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Travel beyond our galaxy to bring your lost son back home.
Overall rating
5
/
5
147 of 166 found this review helpful
MOM TO THE GALACTIC RESCUE!
PostedNovember 19, 2016
pennmom36
fromTo infinity and BEYOND!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A mother's love knows no boundaries, she will travel to the end of the world, and other world's if necessary to protect her children. When Thomas receives an unusual present for his 11th birthday, his mother Sarah proves she's willing to do anything to keep him safe, even if she has to travel to a planet she's never even heard of, planet Nenshe. Sarah has always known Thomas was a star child, but she never suspected that he would one day return to the stars, and certainly not like this!
Mad Head games has done it again! They have proven that a sequel can be just as brilliant as it's predecessor, and who doesn't like a good alien story, right? I do however, have a few complaints with this particular game, starting with the Morphing Objects that are only available within the HOP's. This is the same feature offered in the first Beyond, but I hate it when I forget to look for the morph because I'm caught up in the moment and there's no way to return if you do forget. Can you imagine how epic this game would be if it were offered in the game scenes themselves. I also found the graphics to be a bit bland, I get that its otherworldly, but the graphics are unappealing, I just hope they improve and perhaps move along to that jungle planet they talked about. I also wish they would have made a better attempt at tying the story to the first Beyond, but perhaps that will be clarified later on as well.
You do have to put up with a sidekick with this game, a Robotic Suitcase, he's adorable and reminds me of Number 5 (remember # 5 is alive??) but they could have been a little more creative considering this planet is light years ahead of us in the technology department. This Collector's Edition has the usual Achievements to earn, the Morphing Objects within the HOP's only and 31 very well blended Rocket Ships to find in every scene, so not much has changed from the original features.
The Hidden Object Scenes have the typical Interactive List finds, but they also have fantastic and futuristic finds as well. One of my favorite HOP's was in a three part series which was a feature I enjoyed throughout the first Beyond. The first scene requires you to locate 3 navigation points by finding the exact galaxies shown. Then you eliminate the dimmest star by taking a section from the inventory bar and placing it onto the correct star to replicate the star shown. Finally you find planets that match the descriptions being told. In this CE, each HOP has a Morphing Object, and an icon to let you know if the Morph has been found which is helpful when you are doing a multi-layered HOP.
The Mini Games are decent, and geared to be mechanical or space themed. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Trace the path shown with a laser pointer to attract the cat.
2) Arrange the books so that the spines form the symbol shown.
3) Multi-layered puzzle where you first place gears so they all make contact. Then you move ink tanks to their colored coded positions by sliding tiles to an empty space. Finally you swap picture fragments to create a ticket image.
4) Rotate the labyrinth using directional arrows to drop the ball into the hole. (I thought I needed that gravity ball?)
5) Rotate the wheels to complete the path from right to left, rotating one wheel may affect others.
6) Find the misplaced items in the scene an place them correctly to hear a story.
This Collector's Edition has 19 replayable Hidden Object Scenes and 1 Bonus HOP, Morphing Objects within the HOP's,Music Soundtracks, Jigsaw Puzzles, 22 Character Biographies, 14 Achievements to earn, 12 Wallpapers, 31 Hidden Rocket Ships, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery behind a local woman's death?
Overall rating
3
/
5
85 of 112 found this review helpful
THEY MUST PURGE
PostedNovember 17, 2016
pennmom36
fromAren't you supposed to yell "clear" and then back away while using a defibrillator?
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
Bloody Rosie is certainly better than Her Cruel Intentions, it's predecessor, but I've never been a fan of any of the PuppetShow games. The graphics are hand drawn and masterfully done, but I've never been a fan of that type either, I'll take a game with computer generated graphics any day. I think most gamers have a hard time relating to these games because it's really hard to imagine a world where puppets are normal much less normal back in the days of horse drawn carriages. In the last PuppetShow game you chose from 3 different characters, in this game there are 6 to chose from, three women and three men. During the game you'll collect Roses, in the scenes as well as the HOP's, and these roses are used to purchase Medallions. Every 3 Medallions purchased will unlock a character upgrade such as hairstyles, clothing and accessories. For me, I don't get this feature's appeal but i'm sure it will delight others.
Surprise! You play the role of a detective, summoned to the mechanical town of Oldern, where the local doctor, Thomas Cox believes his wife was murdered contrary to what the local police believe. Upon your arrival, you are almost immediately attacked by puppets who don't seem amused by your investigation. The bigger question however, is who's pulling the strings?
In the last game we were assisted by a mechanical cat, this time out assistant has been upgraded to a picture taking, flying doll. If that isn't ridiculous enough for ya, how about a shoot out with a shurikens throwing puppet? Not only do I load my over/under shotgun with just 2 bullets, (yep, I loaded my shotgun with 50 cal. bullets not shotgun shells) but I shoot at the puppet and the shurikens multiple times in a rapid succession! It gets even more amusing when I have to locate several items in a HOP centered around the doctor's wife's dead body, then I carry a wounded soldier to the ambulance by dragging a tiny character icon towards the ambulance. Now the good doctor at this point is getting on my nerves when he suggests that we put his wife in there as well, and stop by his puppet making friends place on the way to the hospital! Oh, I almost forgot the best part! The doctor said he'd watch the soldier while I fix the broken carriage wheel, say what! I almost want to play this one through for more comedy.
The Hidden Object Scenes are boring and the scenes are repeated. Most are typical interactive list finds or Multiple finds. There's really nothing further I can add to this topic because they were all the same.
The Mini Games are incredibly easy, and unfortunately they are the easy games that aren't really all that fun. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Swap soldier figurines until they are correctly placed and turn green.
2) Aim the target at the throwing stars to shoot them which brings you closer to the main target, you must shoot the puppet as well 5 times to win.
3) Select and drag the candle while trying to avoid falling snowflakes.
4) Guide the horse by playing a 3D Match 3 game.
5) Interact with the play as you place items from the inventory list into the scene correctly. (possibly a HOP)
6) Using the clues shown, put the hearts into the correct positions with gears.
This Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 7 Concept Art pictures, Collectible Roses to upgrade your Character, 14 replayable Mini Games, 20 replayable HOP's, 13 Achievements to earn, 6 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 replayable Movies, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
Stop a strange phenomenon that could threaten the entire world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
46 of 59 found this review helpful
JUST AN ORDINARY GAME WITH A 3.3 AVERAGE RATING TO REFLECT THE FACT
PostedNovember 16, 2016
pennmom36
fromSure enough, the missing ventilation lever was in the first place I looked, a balcony filled with junk that required a ladder to reach!
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
When the Collector's Edition of Clashing Worlds was released, it received a measly 3.3 rating, with just slightly over 50% of the reviewers recommending this game. I only gave this game a 3 star rating, and my review was still on the first page because only 7 people loved it and 0 people gave it a 4 star rating. I'm certainly not faulting those reviewers, because everyone has different tastes and enjoy different storylines, and we shouldn't punish other reviewers with no votes just because of a difference of opinion. I'm only making this point because in my opinion, something went wrong with this version of Haunted Train. The first Haunted Train was so fresh and unique, a train of souls so to speak, a train that carries criminals who have committed heinous crimes against society. It was a fantastic game, and the second game was just as inspiring. But for some reason, this game seems sloppy, and boring, it's the same story with the same features that have driven so many games into a rut, a rut that some series are unable to bounce out of. I purchased this game in the CE because I own the other two and I was hoping it was just a glitch in the demo or that I was having a bad day when I played it. Sadly, nothing really changes, the game stays stagnant, just like the souls on the train, neither alive nor dead, just a mediocre game. In case you're still interested in this game as a purchase, here's my review.....
The Haunted Train has come to a screeching halt in Amsterdam where several dimensional Rifts have opened throughout the city, claiming the lives of innocent people. (it is Amsterdam, gotta wonder, if you catch my "rift") Charon's visions of impending doom have led him to believe that Olivia has been trapped inside the museum during an investigation. Daniel wastes no time getting to work, closing the rifts, using Charon's Amulet of Eternal Tranquility, to clear a path to the museum to save his beloved, before the rifts consume everything, and everyone!
I for one, am tired of this storyline. It seems that once a new storyline is presented, for example, Alice in Shadowland, everyone hops on the band wagon and presents the same "shadowland" plot. Haunted Train is another shadowland themed game, another world domination and destruction game, another game with cloaked bad guys wearing masks with beaks that were worn by doctors during the plague. The graphics are weak, the scenery bland and unappealing, and everything looks the same as the last Haunted Train game. Where's the new here folks? Where's the storyline that has me on the edge of my seat, can't stop playing because I want to learn more about it? Apparently it was sucked into the first rift Daniel closed, this game just doesn't have any mojo, that's why the train stopped!
There are decent features in the Collector's Edition, not "wow" features, but enough substance to convince me to give the game 3 stars instead of 2. For starters, there are 7 Chapters, the demo is a mere 20% of the entire game, so it is a fairly long game. Each scene in the CE, has a collectible Hidden Omega Sign, apparently because the name of the planet that is involved in the supernatural rift is Omega. Some, but not many are blended into the scenery nicely. The CE version also has hidden Morphing Pearls in each of the 29 Hidden Object Scenes, that were a nice touch, but I've stated many times that I prefer a good Morphing Object within the main game itself. There are also the usual Achievements to earn, but there doesn't seem to be any unusual awards outside of the normal, make no mistake, use no hint, awards.
The Hidden Object Scenes are typical, with no pizazz, just been there, done that puzzles to solve. Many of the Hidden Object Scenes are duplicated, offering a slightly different style of HOP in the same boring area. There are Interactive List finds, but most are the standard Progressive, Interactive, Silhouetted Shape finds where you find an item that matches the Silhouetted Shape shown, and then use that item back into the scene Interactively. There are also several Keyword Finds in a story, however they are presented as a Mini Game not a HOP. Again, in the CE version, each of the scenes have a Morphing Pearl to discover, and the pearls are very well hidden in my opinion, as from what I can remember, the cursor doesn't change to say "here I am" either.
The Mini Games are decent, not too difficult, but mostly variations of Puzzles with tiles. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Complete the image by finding and moving 7 pieces to their correct position on a split scene bas-relief, then...
2) Complete the image by rotating the circular tiles, then resizing the tokens using plus and minus arrows, then...
3) Complete the image by moving the misplaced items to their correct positions. (As you finish each of these three puzzles, you get to learn more of the game's story)
4) Arrange the decorations so that they are on the correct hats by swapping 3 different sections.
5) Create the image by dragging the picture tiles horizontally and vertically.
6) Stop the machine by turning off all the glowing segments. some segments are numbered and can only be toggled with that specific number.
7) Find items that match Keywords during a pictured story.
8) Repeat the sequence shown by pressing on stained glass sections in the correct order.
9) Drag energy from the crystal balls to light all the gems, some gems can pass through rays, but rays can't cross crystals or each other.
The Collector's Edition has 29 Hidden Object Puzzles with a Morphing Pearl in each scene, 20 Super Puzzles, Character Bios as you progress, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 15 Achievements to earn, 44 Hidden Collectible Omega Signs (here's your sign...again) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. I'm on the fence with recommending this game, for me it was no different than hundreds of other games. It's not really a bad game, just nothing special offered.
Solitaire Match 2 Cards - Thanksgiving Day Card Game is a card game with a cozy autumn atmosphere! 120 new levels await you!
Overall rating
3
/
5
49 of 57 found this review helpful
COZY AUTUMN ATMOSPHERE IS THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THIS COOKIE CUTTER SOLITAIRE GAME
PostedNovember 16, 2016
pennmom36
fromCan you imagine how easy it must be to make bank on a new game like this, simply modify the colors and title and, viola, you've got a new 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
Pick a holiday, any holiday, Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and you'll find this exact solitaire game with that holiday's theme. I'm actually surprised that they haven't released one for Independance Day, Veterans Day or maybe even Election day, but I'm sure they will eventually. It wouldn't be so bad if they would just change something, anything in the game to make it new and keep the series fresh, but I can assure you, they haven't changed a thing! (except for the theme)
Granted, there's not a lot you can do with a Match 2 type solitaire game, which is basically a Mahjong style card game. There's nothing different, no unique features, everything is exactly the same, exactly as the last Match 2, the same as the one before that and the one before that. They take the game and change the background and music and say, ta dah! and then offer it as a new game. I will admit that this is my least favorite type of solitaire game, I prefer the Higher/Lower type solitaire game which is more entertaining because you can make large chains and keep going until you run out of cards.
The object with this game is to remove all Golden Cards to receive a perfect score, there's no need to remove all the cards from the board, just the Gold cards, which is more difficult than you'd think. Some cards are Bonus Cards which give you +499 coins, a free Shuffle or a free Mulligan. These same bonuses can be purchased with the coins you earn playing the game.
There are 10 different card backs and 3 face card options to choose from. You can play the game in Newbie, which allows you to replay any level, or Pro, which only allows you to replay the entire pack. There are 12 different packs, and each pack has 10 levels. If you receive a perfect score, the points from that game are added to the next level, similar to bowling scores. Each level requires you to earn a specific amount of points to unlock the next pack.
This isn't a horrible solitaire game, it's just a boring style of solitaire that offers nothing new and there are no incentives to make this an, "I've gotta have it" kind of game. If you've purchased any one of these games by this dev, or even played any of these solitaire games, there's no need for this game or any future games for that matter, unless you've just gotta have a different theme.
I don't recommend this game.