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:
It's time to begin your journey to help a ghost captain and save the world.
Overall rating
5
/
5
201 of 226 found this review helpful
Susan May Want To Relocate
PostedOctober 25, 2016
pennmom36
fromWell, at least I hang on to the important inventory items this time, like my knife and hammer!
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. 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.
This 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!
Play more than 100 classic jigsaw puzzles, unlock bonus items with slider puzzles and decorate the house for Halloween.
Overall rating
4
/
5
66 of 73 found this review helpful
Halloween Trick Or Treat?
PostedOctober 24, 2016
pennmom36
fromI hated the trick or treat puzzle, that was the hardest one for me.
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
This is a game similar to the Mosaic Puzzles we are usually presented with on most holidays, except this is a Jigsaw style Puzzle instead of mosaic pieces. From what I can tell, there is no Relaxed mode, therefore you must complete most of the puzzles within the allotted time in order to progress because each Stage takes a specific number of stars to unlock. The goal is to earn enough points to buy Halloween decorations to decorate the witch's house because they were stolen.
You will earn the first star when you complete the puzzle, the second star if you make no more than 3 allotted mistakes and the third star if you complete the puzzle before the timer runs out. The puzzles start out small, and with fairly large pieces and are easy enough to finish with plenty of time remaining. Each progressive puzzle has more pieces added, and the pieces added to place are difficult pieces because there's no pieces in place for a reference, many times forcing you to guess.
There is a Hint feature on the top left as well as a Ghost feature (ghosts the puzzles image on the board) and a Freeze Timer to temporarily stop the timer, but they will cost you points to use them. Personally, I'm a jigsaw puzzle geek and placing the pieces wicked fast aren't usually a problem for me, so I dig these types of games.
After approximately 9 Jigsaw Puzzles in each Stage, you will play a sliding puzzle to open up the Halloween Shop. You are timed on this puzzle as well, and you must slide the puzzle pieces to an empty slot as you try to duplicate the pattern shown on the example. I hate this type of puzzle so for that reason, I deducted a star because after completing 9 puzzles at a frustrating pace, I just wanted my prize, not another frustrating puzzle that has nothing to do with jigsaws in the first place!
This is a nice Halloween themed competitive Jigsaw Puzzle game, but in my opinion it has two strikes against it. The first being that it has no Relaxed or Untimed mode and the second are the sliding tile mini games. In all fairness, the sliding type puzzle is something I personally don't enjoy, but you may. I remember my mother used to hand me a small plastic version of that game when I was little, to keep me occupied during church. I hated it and would spend the time plucking out the plastic square tiles and snapping them back into the desired slots. Technically, I did solve the puzzle, right? Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you save your boyfriend before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
78 of 98 found this review helpful
Just Take It One Page At A Time
PostedOctober 23, 2016
pennmom36
fromWho did this to you little guy? Helen, he's not real, just saying,,,
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
When Helen receives a frantic call from her boyfriend Ian Barton pleading for help, she rushes to the home of Ian's mentor, Benedict Bell, to help. She finds Ian trapped behind a door bound by otherworldly chains. Ian shoves a novel he wrote, "The Hidden Doorway" through a small opening between the chains explaining that reality is fluid here, like fiction, and with his book she is able to change the story to a more favorable outcome! Helen then sets out to free Ian from Mr. Bell, who seems to have gone completely mad. Once she realizes that she has become a character in the stories that he has written, she knows she must somehow outwit the author, as she searches for Ian within the chapters of Taleworld. Helen has an even bigger problem however, just who is the monster in reality, Ian or Benedict Bell?
Ian's novel will be your guiding light in this world as well as Taleworld. At certain points in the game, you will read a paragraph, words in purple text can't be changed directly, but the words in blue text can be altered to have a more favorable outcome. When you click on the word in blue, several items will be presented at the top of the page, you must then choose the item from several shown, that will best suit the situation and change the outcome to a favorable outcome by using that item. The Collector's Edition version has a Hidden Collectible Sign in each scene, as well as the usual Achievements to earn, which also allows you to earn Gold, Silver and Bronze stars for each of the 9 Achievements.
The Hidden Object Scenes have a Morphing Object to find in the CE, as well as an icon indicator to remind you to look for the Morph. This is something I appreciate because I have a hard time remembering when they are within the HOP. There are Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiples of each item finds, items listed that simply move to expose fragments to complete a puzzle, and even smaller Zoom Zone scenes with just a handful of items to find. (note that some zoom zones have arrows to move the scene up and down, some have rotation arrows that allow you to flip the item to see the back of it)
I really enjoyed the Mini Games, they weren't too frustrating yet not too simple either. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Arrange the pie shaped pieces so that the ball can roll down through the maze at the bottom.
2) Cut all the bushes by controlling the scissors. Scissors will cut in a straight line until the hit a hedge wall or other obstacle and the scissors can't cross their own path.
3) Select and rotate the two suns until the positions of the smaller planets align with their bigger versions.
4) Recreate the image by selecting square tiles and placing them in the correct squares.
5) Rotate the safe numbers using arrows from the clues you found earlier.
The Collector's Edition has a Hidden Sign in each scene, 9 Achievements available in Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories, a Morphing Object in each Hidden Object Puzzle, 16 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 22 Concept Art pictures, 17 Wallpapers, 10 Music Soundtracks, Avatars, a Scrapbook, a Gardening Puzzle, a Nostalgia Section, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Grim Facade: The Red Cat Collector's Edition
When the Red Cat is upon your door, you're next!
Overall rating
5
/
5
146 of 181 found this review helpful
It's Darth Kitty!
PostedOctober 22, 2016
pennmom36
from"my store is here for you even when I'm not" or when I lock it with a complicated lock.
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 was actually on the fence with this game 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. For those reasons I would rate this game with 4 stars. However, there was one feature in particular that helped to throw my other leg over the fence. There are collectible Mechanical Spiders, eh, no biggie in itself, but, if you go into the collections room, 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. This type of thinking is way outside the box so for that reason alone, I gave it the 5th and final star fur purrfection. 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.
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. The Collector's Bling is well worth the extra price point because of the previously mentioned collectible Mechanical Spiders that offer a sweet Mini Game of Eat all the Bugs in one continuous pattern. There's 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.
The Hidden Object Scenes themselves aren't all that impressive because most are Interactive List finds, AND some 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 spiders 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.
This 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!
An arsonist is burning down the Mountain Kingdom's forests!
Overall rating
4
/
5
85 of 95 found this review helpful
I Began To Grow Weary Of Finding And Placing Emblems By The Third Chapter
PostedOctober 21, 2016
pennmom36
fromI always try to find all of the fragments in the FROG's without looking at the opaque examples shown in the inventory bar, just to make it more interesting.
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
Dark Parables is a fantastic series, and The Thief And The Tinderbox is no exception. I purchased this game in the Collector's Edition, and after I downloaded the full version, I decided to restart the game from the beginning to get a fresh perspective for this review. By the time I got to the third chapter, I started to become bored by the daunting task of finding emblem sections, combining the two halves and then finding and placing them where they belong. I realize that Emblem's are what Dark Parables are all about, but perhaps the storyline fell a bit flat by this point in the game. In all fairness, it was probably because I restarted the game, but I wanted to mention this because the cliffhanger ending of the demo was so dramatic, that it makes the rest of the game seem just average. It's still a really good game, and I love how they were able to tie in the characters from other DP games, even if it was just the mention of names at times.
The Thief and the Tinderbox is Dark Parables version of Aladdin's Lamp, and this lamp as an artifact the strikes fear in even the King himself. For ages, many have sought to find and possess this gift granting Tinderbox, but young Kai has been so blinded by jealousy, that he has yet to discover why he has to be careful what he wishes for, because he just might be granted his wish!
Once upon a time, back in the day, when I first discovered my love for HOPA's, I discovered this epic series, Dark Parables. I became hooked, purchasing one Dark Parable game after another, I just couldn't get enough of them. The stories were fantastically creative, taking well know fairytales and twisting the plot ever so gently to draw you in hook, line, and sinker. But my favorite feature was the Morphing Objects which to be honest with you I didn't know they even existed until I was a couple of chapters in on Curse of Briar Rose, the first DP game I played.You know why? Because the developers were geniuses! Dark Parables were non-linear games, Morphing Objects didn't Morph until they were eventually triggered by an action you did in an entirely different scene. These Morphs were challenging to say the least and often times you had to travel to a scene several times, and then had to be patient to spot the Morphs because they morphed so slowly slowly. I beta tested The Thief and the Tinderbox, and requested that the devs please consider going back their "roots" to give us this style of morph in the game itself, and not within the HOP's. Unfortunately, this game only offers a handful of Morphing Parables to find throughout the main game, in the Collector's Edition, I really hated this feature, why bother, it's just not very fun to search for a storybook puzzle piece when there are so few pieces to find. There are 3 parable pieces to find to assemble 7 different parables so they will be far a few between. I also noticed that the graphics are becoming much crisper too, at one point the glittery gold hues were almost overbearing, especially in Jack and the Sky Kingdom, so I'm glad to see that feature change.
The Hidden Object Scenes haven't changed, and that's a good thing. Dark Parables are famous for their FROG's, this is where you are tasked with finding several fragments in three different sections. When all fragments have been found in a section, those pieces will automatically combine, and once all three sections are found the three sections will combine to make a single inventory item, usually an Emblem or fancy key, because DP are also famous for requiring you to find all kinds of fairytale emblems which seem to be missing or at least partially missing from just about every door, window, box or passageway in the kingdom. I know it may seem boring that all of the FROG's are the same type, but the scenes aren't as easy as you'd think, and they offer a nice change of pace. Other games have tried unsuccessfully to incorporate this type of HO but somehow never seem to be quite as fun as they are in this series.
The Mini Games are always a treat in this series, I look forward to solving the fantasy themed puzzles and rarely skip them. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Recreate each of the masks by swapping the parts, press the arrow to rotate the masks right or left.
2) Untangle the lasers by dragging the tokens along their tracks. Press green arrows to rotate the wheel to move the center of the tokens.
3) Press buttons to guide the knight through the maze and complete the tasks. The first task is to take the checkered tile and then defeat the dog, then take the treasure in the corner, but the dog will kill you if you don't have the tile. The second task is to press arrows to move through the rotating rooms. If you get blocked you'll have to start over. The third task is to swap the tiles to create a path for the knight to reach the final treasure, you can only swap green tiles. Use the tiles to rearrange the arrow tiles. You can "skip" any or all of the three stages in this multi-layered puzzle.
4) Guide the King to the castle by arranging the number tiles in the right order, press the play button to check your solution.
5) Arrange the stars so the rays go through each of the puzzle tiles.
The Collector's Edition has 6 Concept Art pictures, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Music Soundtracks, 21 replayable Mini Games, 17 replayable FROGs, 39 Hidden Signs, 16 Videos, Collectible Souvenirs, 12 Achievements, Morphing Parables, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Your new dream home has become a deadly nightmare!
Overall rating
5
/
5
193 of 228 found this review helpful
11 Deadly Sins? This Guy Must Have A Higher Moral Standard Than Most (Or did I not get the memo about the last 4 additions?)
PostedOctober 20, 2016
pennmom36
fromThe realtor only brought one pen with him to a house closing?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There must be a ton of Harrowed Halls, because from what I can tell, this whole house is haunted. Rachael gave her firm a letter of resignation to open up a Bed and Breakfast with her husband Danny, in a very large but beautiful house, her dream home. They got this house at a phenomenal price, way below the market value, because of it's 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. 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 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 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.
This Collector's Edition 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 as you come across the culprits.
The Hidden Object Scenes are actually far and few between, I'm not sure how many are in the full version because I haven't downloaded the full version yet. 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.
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.
This 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, give this game a few minutes, it starts out slow but picks up the pace, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
When a famous shapeshifting alchemist is charged with looking into the murder of the king's most trusted agent and friend, the last thing she expects to discover is an intricate network of shadowy criminals, intent on bringing chaos to the land.
Overall rating
5
/
5
103 of 120 found this review helpful
One Of The Best Fantasy Themed Games Of The Year
PostedOctober 19, 2016
pennmom36
fromHas Robin Hood joined a group of not so merry men?
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've played a lot of different characters in a lot of different games. I've been a female detective, I've been a male detective, I've been a mother, I've been a father, I've been a sister, I've been a brother, I've been a witch, I've been an Aunt, I've been a Princess, I've been a Queen (I don't think I've been a King??) I've even been a vampire before! This however, is the first time I've been a bird, a hamster and a snail, yep, for about 5 minutes I joined the slug kingdom! There's a perfectly good explanation for all the shapeshifting I do, it's because I'm a Alchemist with the unique ability to transform into just about anything. Not only can I shapeshift, but I can whip up some pretty unusual recipes with just a few plants and berries, and they always seem to be at my disposal just when I need them the most!
This certainly is an unusual game to say the least. Even though I'm sarcastically describing this game's plot and features, I had fun playing yet another game where the King calls upon my services. (at least I'm not a Princess, but now I think I want to be a King) and I immediately bought the Collector's Edition. No Alchemist would be credible without a portable Alchemist Box, so naturally I have a space age (you'll see what I mean) state of the art Alchemist Box that allows me to whip up a ton of shapeshifting potions. The icons to the left of the inventory bar will show you as either human or animal just in case you forget that you just drank a huge bottle of the potion you just got done whipping up. I just hope none of them wear off too soon, I'll really get myself into a pickle then! In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a collectible Jigsaw Puzzle piece to find, (which I think may become available as a Screensaver, but most of the CE extras don't become available until the main game is complete, and I still have one chapter remaining) and some of the scenes have collectible Figurines to find which also give you brief descriptions about them, such as Trolls and Fairies and other mythical forest creatures.
The Hidden Object Scenes are pretty decent, and every HOP was different. Just in the demo alone, there were several styles offered. There are Interactive list finds, Morphs, Multiple of the same objects, Multiples of sharp objects, Fragmented Object finds, Symbol finds, Progressive Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds, Outlined Drawing finds and even an interactive soup recipe with Silhouetted Shape finds. You can opt to play a Matching Pair game where you flip over tokens that aren't blocked by other tokens to find matching pairs, if no pairs are available you can click the arrows to rearrange the tokens.
The Mini Games are fairly easy, but once again, they were fun to solve. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo as well as a few notable games after the demo:
1) Follow instructions to set the temperature and all the conditions before pouring the ingredients of 3 different recipes.
2) Reach the castle, when the arrow stops moving click to open up a problem to solve: A-use directional arrows in a specific order to maintain balance. B-find the right path through mountains by clicking on the mountain that stands out from the others. C-find pairs of identical birds. D-repeat the sequence of clouds lit up by thunder and lightning.
3) Place stained glass fragments correctly to form a picture.
4) Click on the thorny vines in a specific order and drag them to the bottom of the screen to remove them.
5) Ring the bells in the order depicted on the beam above them, using the cypher clue sheet to discover which bell corresponds to which musical note.
6) Compare the DNA of the two samples by choosing a microbe from one sample, then switching to the other sample and choosing it's matching microbe for a total of 3 matching microbe samples.
7) Solve the puzzle by combining the puzzle pieces in the right order, clicking will rotate each puzzle fragment.
8) Find an exit through the tunnels by interacting with each scene to open up the gates. Each gate has a specific symbol so you will have to figure out which symbols to follow using a clue shown.
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, replayable Hidden Object games, replayable Mini Games, 15 Collectible Character Figurines, 34 Collectible Jigsaw Puzzle pieces, 15 Achievements to earn, Fairytale Character Bios, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. I've got a weird craving for some bird seed, gotta go, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Stop a strange phenomenon that could threaten the entire world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
98 of 117 found this review helpful
They Are Coming
PostedOctober 18, 2016
pennmom36
fromTwo puzzles and several meaningless tasks later, I use a single bucket of water to douse a large fire that amazingly leaves no charring and not even a single puff of smoke, it's a miracle I tell ya!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The 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 this 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, so it would seem that this is a fairly long game. Each scene 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. There are also 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 games scenes. 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. 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"
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 games 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.
This 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, but there's nothing offered that make me want to continue playing Haunted Train after the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
Help the stranded ghosts build a ship and return to the mainland in this match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
141 of 150 found this review helpful
Laruaville Is A Fantastic Match 3 Series But They Aren't Easy
PostedOctober 17, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhy do the Ghosts need a boat, can't they just float home?
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
Two of our friendly ghosts from Laruaville have been stranded on a deserted island after an unexpected storm tore their boat to shreds. Luckily, the mainland is in sight, all they need to do is build a boat. For whatever reason, they need money to do so, and the only way to get money is to play a Match 3 game, Laruaville style. The story starts out with the two ghosts on an island, the only reason I know what happened is because I read the BF introductory, so either I missed part of the story or the devs left a lot up to imagination as to how or why they got there. This isn't an easy breezy Match 3 game, but there are three modes to choose from, Relaxed, Limited Time or Limited Moves.
Keep this in mind when playing this game, it's all about the coins, don't worry about obstacles UNLESS they are standing in the way of getting to a coin. Coins are collected when you make at least a Match 3 adjacent to them, beside them, over them and directly below them. You want to try to match at least 4 tiles to receive a pack of dynamite, or other power-up, because many of the obstacles require a power-up to destroy it in order to progress.
Some Coins are in half, requiring matches next to them to make the halves come together in a straight line. Eventually there are Dirty coins that need a power up to clean, Icy coins that require fire, coin molds to fill with Gold to create coins, Vials that need filled, and coins with Locks and keys that need joined, along with obstacles such as Ground, Clay, Stones, Fire, Ice, Fog, Rocks, Shielded Crates (require matches on unshielded sides to destroy) and even Bugs!
The coins will help the ghost get to the mainland eventually, and each item you buy usually comes with a new powerup. After a few levels you get to play various types of Mini Games such as Spot The Difference, Solitaire or a Hidden Object Scene, so get your Match 3 game on and enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you escape Silent Waters before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
92 of 108 found this review helpful
Dad? Is That You?
PostedOctober 16, 2016
pennmom36
fromWelcome to the hotel Silent Waters, such a lovely place, but you have no face...
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
You had no idea what fate had in store for you on this stormy night. It may have been your eyes playing tricks on you, it may have been bad luck, it may have been Fate, whatever it was, IT was standing in the middle of the road. You swerved, and lost control of the car, punching through the guardrail which sent you careening over the side of the rocky cliff, surely to your own demise! That's the good news, the bad news, someone or something took it upon themselves to drag your limp, lifeless, unconscious body from the scene of the crash, to a very old, dilapidated, abandoned building. This is no ordinary dilapidated building, this is Silent Waters Hotel, and this Hotel is home to a very malevolent spirit! It soon becomes clear that checking out of this Haunted Hotel, isn't in the cards, just ask any of the haunted guests, they'll tell you they died trying!
Haunted Hotel may have hit a bump in the road with the last game, but I can assure you Silent Waters is one of the best Haunted Hotel yet! You'd better play this game with the lights on, because this game has it all, spiders and plenty of webs, creepy crawly bugs, gargoyles that move, pictures that come alive, things that go bump in the night, and spirits coming out of the walls. If that doesn't freak you out, keep playing and catch a glimpse of the spirits meeting their demise. I bought this game in the Collector's Edition because there's no doubt the CE gives you your money's worth, with 22 Morphing Objects, 29 Hotel Crest Collectible pieces, and a wonderful array of items to brighten the Music Room, (if the ghost's would just leave them alone that is) and of course plenty of Achievements to earn.
The Hidden Object Scenes are fantastic! Each one is different, all of them are fun and entertaining. There are Interactive list finds, Progressive Silhouetted Shape finds, uncovering Pairs of items, Finding Fragments, and even Zoom Zone puzzles with Multiples of the same item to find. My favorite was the shapeshifting HOP where you had to find listed items when they were in the correct form. The scenes take place in really creepy locations too!
The Mini games are fresh and just as entertaining. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter in the demo, and some of my favorites from the main game:
1) Move the buttons into the correct positions based on their color.
2) Guide the ball to the bottom right using arrows to rotate the tiles and arrows to move the ball.
3) Place flowers in the correct spots based on outlines.
4) Place elements correctly in a diary.
5) Move dials to correct positions based on the clues, one affects others.
6) Pull down angels in the correct order, finding three specific combinations.
7) Rotate the stars so that each circle is the same color.
8) Create a path by rotating pipe tiles.
9) Make a lever according to the picture. Use levers and knobs to select the appropriate drill bits where they are placed and the depth they go.
10) Shoot a slingshot by stopping the horizontal and vertical sliders when they are in the red zone of the meters. There are three different shots to take and each time, the red meter become smaller and smaller.
11) Arrange the pipe pieces inside a grid so that they all fit without overlapping.
12) Keep the temperature as close to the center as possible using directional arrows.
13) Swap horizontal and vertical lines so that all the dots are filled in, by swapping the lines. Choose the button to check your progress.
14) Figure out which skulls to lift and in which order.
The Collector's Edition has 22 Morphing Objects, 13 Collectibles for the Music Room, 29 Hotel Crest Emblems, 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 1 Screensaver, 4 Music Soundtracks, Achievements, a Souvenir Room, 13 replayable Hidden Object Games, 16 replayable Mini Games, a built in Strategy Guide, and a Bonus Chapter, hope you packed your bags, you're going to be there for a long time, enjoy!
I recommend this game!