pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4714
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 15, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Travel to a Klondike Gold Rush town to solve a murder!
Overall rating
1
/
5
61 of 66 found this review helpful
This Just In...Seth Savage Unveils New Project....From The Bottom Of The Lake
PostedSeptember 1, 2016
pennmom36
fromSheriff: You'll have to wait till we clean up this mess. Detective: okay, I'll just wait on my boat in the freezing cold while you do your murder investigation.
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm not a hard person to please when it comes to games, usually I can find entertainment value in every game I play. I had a really difficult time finishing just the demo, which thankfully was short, taking me just under an hour to finish.
When Dead Reckoning was first released, I thought it was a terrific whodunit adventure that appealed to my sleuthing side. Lately, the epic games of the past are spiraling downhill while some lesser known titles are stepping up their game. Probably because the devs believe the game will be a hit because most gamers automatically purchase games because "all of the other games were really good" and lesser know devs still strive to produce a better game than the last one, right?
As far as whodunits go, I suppose this is a good enough plot, just not one that I could relate to. Seth Savage is a railroad tycoon that has the Klondike gold rush community of Snowbird Creek split. Railroads could make or break the hard workers, some risking their lives panning for gold, others rely on making their money working on Seth's latest tunnel project. When Seth Savage is found murdered, the list of suspects begins to pile up in this ruthless untamed town, and of course that's where your skills come into play. Finding out who killed Seth Savage and why!
As far as Collector's Editions go, this one does seem to have all the "extra's" one could ever want. The only thing I would question about the CE's worthiness is that the entire game may be quite short if the demo itself is a mere hour, give or take. Each scene has a Hidden Sign, but the bright gold fishing trophies are hard to miss, they stick out like a sore thumb. There are several Achievements to earn, and most of the Hidden Object Scenes have a Morphing Object to find.
The Hidden Object Scenes are typical, with several of the standard type scenes. There are Interactive List finds, and scenes where you find 5 identical items in 2 different sections which give you an item to release the rest of the listed items such as a hook to grab the net that covers the inventory bar. The only HOP that was slightly different required you to find items in a general store with just the inventory numbers such as 516 or 331. There is a Morphing Object in each scene and you can opt for a Match 3 game instead of the HOP. Technically, each time you interrogate a suspect (or examine a body) it's in the form of a HOP because you have to find evidence one item at a time.
The Mini Games are entirely too simple. Most of them can be done in seconds, which at least allows you to earn an achievement pretty easily. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Arrange the financial records so that their lines complete a pattern.
2) Match all of the inner rope fibers by opening two fibers at a time.
3) Find related pairs of hiking items.
4) Dial the numbers written on a clue you found earlier.
5) Orient the tracing on the map by rotating the tracing and dragging it around until it lines up with the original.
6) Charge the tram by traveling through each point on the map without traveling to the same point twice.
7) Repeat the pattern by pressing the left or right keys to match the birds movements.
8) Move the golden keys to the 3 slots on the left. Select arrows to move all of the keys which move until they hit an edge, obstacles or each other.
This Collector's Edition has 6 Videos, 7 Music Soundtracks, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 23 replayable Puzzles, 13 replayable Hidden Object Puzzles, replayable Match 3 Games, a13 Morphing Objects in the HOP's, 13 Achievements, 40 Hidden Signs, a Souvenir Room to store the collectibles, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. Give this one a try before you buy, it's just to iffy of a game.
I don't recommend this game.
The penguin family is thrilled to discover a new palette of colors for mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 71 found this review helpful
Mrs. Penguin Is Going To Be Jealous!
PostedAugust 31, 2016
pennmom36
fromI'm not sure we should trust her!
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
Mr. Penguin better tread lightly. Another Lady Penguin has just arrived, which could spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e for him if Mrs. Penguin gets jealous! The good news is that she has brought a few new colors with her to make our grids a little more diverse.
Every step you take in this puzzle helps the penguins discover unusual items for their alien garden, with 5 different levels and 5 puzzles within each level. You can switch between the color bubbles to help you solve these colorful griddlers, and you can earn a Gold trophy if you make no mistakes, a Silver trophy if you make one mistake and a Bronze trophy if you make two mistakes, three mistakes require you to replay the level. You will also earn up to three gold Stars if you don't use any hints, one star is deducted each time you use a hint. Therefore, it is possible to make a mistake or two but still earn 3 stars if you don't use any hints.
This is a griddler or mosaic type puzzle game where you fill in and cross of cells on various sized grids, using logic. There are groups of numbers located on each column and row of the grid, each group of numbers must be separated by at least one blank or crossed off cell. Sometimes it's easier to figure out where numbers can't possibly fit to reduce the amount of cells and narrow the playing field down a bit. Some cells contain bonuses such as extra hints, extra mistakes allowed or an extra pickaxe which allows you to choose which cell you want a hint on. There is a Sun icon as well that when fully charged, will give you a mega hint, filling in or crossing off a 3x3 area of your choice.
The one feature that makes Fantasy Mosaics stand out from the rest of the griddler games, is the vibrant array of colors available, and now there's six different colors used to make the pictures even better. It can also help you solve the puzzle when you get stuck, because you can switch to another color which ultimately narrows down the available cells. Unlike many griddler games, these pictures actually make sense, because they have six different colors you know what image you have created.
This is my favorite Mosaic Griddler series and is one of the best available, and certainly the most colorful. This is a must have game for griddler geeks and an immediate purchase for this geek, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Welcome to glorious England! Stroll through beautiful parks, visit a masquerade ball, and drink tea with noble ladies and gentlemen.
Overall rating
1
/
5
31 of 33 found this review helpful
I Was Bored Out Of My Mind Playing This Solitaire Game!
PostedAugust 30, 2016
pennmom36
fromYawn, Sigh, Yawn, Zzzz.
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
The Chronicles of Emerland Solitaire
(147)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
To be fair, I hate Solitaire games that require matching pairs (regardless of suit) because it's nothing more than a Mahjong game with cards instead of tiles. The hand drawn graphics might be lovely to look at, but this game is just plain ole boring, I couldn't even finish the demo. In fact, there was no incentive for me to even re-play a level to try for a perfect score, I just didn't care.
There are 10 different styles of cards to choose from and three different face styles. You can play in Newbie Mode which allows you to replay any level, or Professional mode which will only allow you to replay the entire set of levels. (12 different locations each having 10 hands or levels) Each pack requires you to earn the necessary amount of points in order to unlock the next pack.
The goal is to remove all Gold cards which will give you the maximum amount of points even if regular cards remain. If you remove all gold cards the score from that level will be added to the next level similar to bowling scores. Some of the cards have red ribbons and give you bonuses when removed such as extra points, Jokers, Mulligans (redo's) or Shuffles. You can purchase Jokers, Mulligan's and extra Shuffles in the shop with the points you earn.
This game is exactly like the last Match 2 Solitaire game and the 50 other ones before that. There isn't the slightest deviation in features or mechanics, the only thing different is the spelling of the title and the pictures. I don't understand why devs continue to release these cookie cutter Mahjong style Solitaire games when clearly, the Higher/Lower type Solitaire is the most popular amongst us little fishes.
I don't recommend this game.
Stop the dark witches before they regain their power!
Overall rating
2
/
5
44 of 51 found this review helpful
Dark Days Have Come And Gone
PostedAugust 30, 2016
pennmom36
fromBoil,Boil, Toil and Trouble, this game really Troubles me!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
My opinion of this newest edition of Witches' Legacy hasn't changed, which (or witch) saddens me because I loved the original storyline with Lynn and Edward. In the beginning this was somewhat of a believable story, Lynn's family was killed by the evil witch Elizabeth and her dog turned into an Imp. Lynn is adopted by Carrie and together the two of them endure many adventures together. Lynn meets Edward, Edward turns out to be an undercover Witch Hunter but soon realizes his mistake and falls deeply in love with Lynn and they eventually wed. All this takes place while defeating first Elizabeth and then the Queen Morgana, Lynn was also nearly turned into the dark Queen Witch herself but of course Carrie and Edward's love for her, helped her overcome all of these adversities and used her magic for only good things. Dark Days To Come is just too bizarre, I may have enjoyed this game, just maybe, if it had nothing to do with my beloved Witches' Legacy series.
In this adventure, the last of the Dark Witches have revived Marcus and Mara, the Ice Twin Sorcerers, beseeching their help in locating an artifact hidden within the world of humans. This artifact can help the Dark Witches rise into power once more, This artifact is a powerful staff that Edwin used to build and rule a secret city for the good witches. To keep the Dark Witches from obtaining the staff, Edwin cast a powerful spell upon it, which cost him his life! Edwin entrusted the staff to his daughter Eva for safekeeping, only a good witch with a pure heart can control and use the staff. The twins have tricked Annabel into activating the staff, which could mean the Dark Witches will rise to power and destroy the Good Witches and the humans they protect! Annabel's fiance Jack has followed her into the portal of the Witches domain, if he cannot stop the Icy Twins in time, Annabel and the few Good Witches left, will perish.
I am truly disappointed in this installment of Witches Legacy. I'm not at all a fan of the "fantasy world" theme this game opted for. Just in the demo alone, there are giant mushrooms, talking snails, unicorns, robots, Moai statues, snowmen who come to life, Cinderella's pumpkin carriage, talking ice sculptures, mythical Phoenix birds, a Yeti who needs a haircut, Oompa-Loompa type little people with annoying squeaky voices and let's not forget about Bertha the talking ferret! Where are all the witches, this isn't scary, this is Fantasy Island! I just can't take this game seriously, and I just couldn't get into the characters, there's somewhat of a disconnect there, and I just don't like the fairytale graphics in a game about evil Witches.
As with all Witches Legacy games, the Collector's Edition has Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to collect that gives you four different Jigsaw puzzles to complete once you have found all of the pieces. Once assembled, you'll learn more about the story and characters and you can use the puzzles to set wallpapers on your computer. The CE also offers Morphing Objects, one in each scene, and a whole slew of Achievements to earn.
The Hidden Object Scenes are multi-layered, each HOP usually has two or three different types, Interactive List Finds, Multiple Finds, Interactive Progressive Silhouetted Shape Finds, Items matching descriptions told in a short story, Items given to unlock lists such as a rag to clean a mirror, items that have Fragments behind them that give you a lens to find items you can't see without looking through the crystal lens, and you can opt to play a Matching game where you choose two items in search of matching pairs.
The Mini Games are pretty decent but do tend to be on the easy breezy side. The following are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Help Bertha pass through the labyrinth by clicking on the correct flame stones to open ice barriers on columns and rows.
2) Put the flasks in the correct places so they all connect.
3) Put objects in correct places.
4) Create a picture by selecting and placing the mushrooms into a silhouetted shape.
5) Restore the villains portrait from memory, study the picture then select the correct hair, eyes, nose and moth from memory.
6) Connect the fireballs with a continuous line alternating colors, lines cannot intersect.
The Collector's Edition has 36 Collectible Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (that can be used as 4 different Wallpapers) 34 Morphing Objects, 28 Achievements to earn, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
Guide Dracula on a madcap quest to find out who's zombifying the masses through their cell phones!
Overall rating
5
/
5
121 of 137 found this review helpful
Just An Ordinary Family Man With Really Long Teeth
PostedAugust 30, 2016
pennmom36
fromWant fries with that?
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
The Incredible Dracula is no longer a bachelor, yep, he's a family man thanks to his online dating stalker, also known as Princess. The Count soon finds trouble in paradise, when people start to become hypnotized after using their cell phones. The Count and the Princess hit the road, together this time, to search for answers and destroy the billboards and other technology responsible for zombifying everyone.
I've truly never enjoyed a Time Management game more than this series, Chasing Love was an exceptional game and The Last Call is even better! You can play in relaxed mode, multi click and timed modes and each level has a present to find and open to receive collectible stickers.
I've truly never enjoyed a Time Management game more than this series, Chasing Love was an exceptional game and The Last Call is even better! You can play in relaxed mode, multi click and timed modes and each level has a present to find and open to receive collectible stickers.
This game has it all, Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves and Trolls. You will need to hire zombies to clear paths, gather resources and collect food. My favorite part is building BloodDonalds hamburger shacks when the Count gets hungry, but of course there's the normal buildings such as sawmills and mines. Rufus is your go to zombie guy but has very little to say other than uugghh. Some items you collect will go towards crafting objects, after all, Princess still requires luxury. You will gradually earn bonuses that can be used once the meter fills such as swift feet which speeds up the zombie workers temporarily (but I thought everyone hated fast zombies!?) . I love how everything is related to the story, the garlic, the BloodDonalds, and even when you repair the road, the zombies simply slap a few misguided boards on top. The goal is to earn 3 gold stars, and you can replay the levels to achieve a better score.
This Collector's Edition has 30 Hidden Presents with stickers, 10 Biographies (hilarious) 6 Wallpapers, 5 Creepy Music Soundtracks, 5 Concept Art pictures, 34 Trophies to earn, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy....if you dare!
I recommend this game!
Mysterious creatures are terrorizing the train!
Overall rating
3
/
5
90 of 112 found this review helpful
My Vacation Has Been Ruined By Evil Doers!
PostedAugust 26, 2016
pennmom36
fromMy high tech laser can cut through an iron fence with just a single 9V battery!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I don't need to track this mystery very far, the slow moving train derailed at the beginning and came to a screeching halt followed by derailment after the demo! Normally I'm a huge fan of the Mystery Trackers series, but these devs are going to have to dig a little deeper moving forward to get the series back on the right track. Right from the beginning, I found the tasks at hand to be monotonous at times as I had to search each train compartment for supposedly my own personal belongings that somehow ended up in some impossible places. I found it a bit bizarre that no matter how long it took me to do my thing in other compartments, each time I returned to my own cabin, I brushed passed a young girl scared out of her mind, peeking around the corner. Do I say, hey I'm on it, no worries? Do I say, hey why don't you hide, because at this point I have not yet discovered which "girl" the villains are after? Nope, I just walk past her with a trusty bottle of oil to fix the zipper of my own bag that I didn't bother to fix before departing, don't mind me sweetie, btw, have you seen my cool new device that can open any electronic lock? Well once I play a match 3 game of course! Then there's the TYPO's, oh dear my big eared proboscidea mammalia pachyderm what's up with that? Have you ever wondered how that's even possible? Surely someone or multiple someone's played the game through once it was completed, or at least one Beta tester from BF said, " hey, great game, tons of fun but these words don't make sense!??
Well, anywho, on the bright side, Elf hasn't retired yet and seems to be in really good health considering he's been working hard for six straight years. He needs this vacation as much as I do and he's dressed for the occasion wearing his Aloha Hawaiian button shirt and a Panama hat, clearly there's no fashion faux pas here. Your only tool for this job is the aforementioned electronic lock pick that can unlock any electronic lock, (unless it's been melted by the villain) and you will need to play a Match 3 game each time its used, matching the specific number of icons shown to the left. This is a very boring Match 3 game, and slow because you have to wait for all the action to stop before you can make another match, but the device isn't used that often so all's good. The Collector's Edition version has 32 collectible Jigsaw Puzzle pieces to assemble, as well as Morphing Objects and Monuments to find. Normally I love Morphs but I just wish the cursor wouldn't change to a hand whenever the cursor passes over the available morph. The CE also has Achievements to earn and both versions have plenty of Plus Sign inventory items to keep you busy.
The Hidden Object Scenes are good, I have no complaints because they offer a variety of entertaining styles. Do you remember when the HO's in this series required you to switch back and forth using inventory items you found in the game to progress through the Hidden Object Scene? I loved that feature and wish they would incorporate that again, rut row was that a complaint? There are Interactive List Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiple Finds, and even an interactive scene where you have to administer First Aid items to one of the passengers. There are also several Zoom Zone HOP's where you just have to find a handful of items.
The Mini Games are awesome, mainly because of the famous Super Puzzles. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo as well as a few memorable puzzles from the main game:
1) Guide the star through the grid filling in all squares without overlapping.
2) Super Puzzles requiring you to tinker with several aspects of the game, without pulling out your hair.
3) Select the numbered arrows until only the three symbols in the code shown are lighted. One arrow moves the counter four to the left, the other moves the counter three to the right.
4) Rotate the gears so that the symbols inside the wire pulleys match.
5) Another Super Puzzle which will allow you to pull out some of your hair.
6) Rotate the central part of the mechanism and swap the elements to place them correctly.
7) Move the handle up and down to guide the key through the mechanisms as it constantly moves forward.
8) Find pairs of daggers with matching symbols on the blades.
9) Another hairbending Super Puzzle, nuff said.
10) Place the birds in the correct nests by moving them along highlighted routes.
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 6 Music Soundtracks, 32 collectible Jigsaw Puzzle pieces, Morphing Objects, a Secret Room, 21 Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter!
Can you uncover the secrets of Crimson Hollow in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
202 of 226 found this review helpful
A Cringeworthy Addition To Grim Tales!
PostedAugust 25, 2016
pennmom36
fromBlack is the new Gray!
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
Detective Anna Gray has a new case to solve, one that might be a little too close for comfort! Rosette Darkwood has asked Anna to look into the mysterious disappearances of several of her Boarding School students that have gone missing. The headmistress has a few theories of her own, because all of the women were last seen with the handsome Dorian Black, at his family's mansion, Crimson Hollow. The Black family and the Gray family might have more in common than Anna ever imagined, and Dorian may be impossible to investigate if he has the same abilities as Anna!
Daddy dearest is alive and well, sort of. If you remember the last episode, Anna received some unexpected help from her father Richard's spirit when her nephew's son was kidnapped. After the investigation, Anna kept her father's powerful skull (weird right?) and just so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands, she has brought the skull with her. Once inside Crimson Hollow, Richard Gray is awakened once more, perhaps because of the family ties that bind.....whenever his skull glows, dad has something important to discuss with you, but just bits and pieces of information at a time. There are a couple of devices to help your investigation, Anna's trusty detective kit with a lockpick, a screwdriver and a flashlight (high tech stuff) and a Charm that was actually given to Dorian by richard. The charm is called the Sphere of Time and is capable of allowing its owner to travel to the past even when protected by magic.
One thing's for sure, this series just keeps getting better and better! You can always count on Grim Tales games to have exceptional graphics and a flawless incorporation of real characters. What often goes unnoticed however is the sounds. You can hear the wind howling, and the crackle of fire, everything is realistic, and several things can be interacted with, just because you can! Stop playing for just a few seconds and listen, the sights and sounds are what make or break a game and you may not even know it. This Collector's Edition has hidden Jigsaw Pieces that will allow you to assemble 3 different Screensavers. As far as I can remember, all Grim Tales have Morphing Objects, and the Morphs in Crimson Hollow are very creative, some of which aren't very obvious. There are also the normal CE bling of Achievements, Wallpapers, Secret Rooms and even Archives.
The Hidden Object Scenes are really just average, for me, that's okay as long as the Mini Games are decent and in abundance and they certainly are. There are Silhouetted Shape finds, finding items that match Keywords in a story setting, Listed Item finds and even small Zoom Zone HOP's where you are tasked with finding a handful of fragments.
The Mini Games are a mixture of small and simple puzzles to longer more frustrating types, but seem to be very doable. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo (puzzles from the main game will be added on my review of the Standard Edition because I wait for 2 for 1 sales)
1) Select a word from each column that relates to the clues given, then click search on the computer. If correct you will read information pertaining to the search.
2) Fill each bronze plate with the correct number of spheres based on the number clues next to them and use the green triangle to move the spheres from one plate to another.
3) Control the magnet to take out all of the fragments from the fountain.
4) Move the cubes so that they will fit into the top slots of the lock using directional arrows on rows and columns.
5) Release the brides spirit from the door by selecting locks from beginning to end on chains that are free.
6) Trap the white checker piece in the corner using black checkers that can be moved to highlighted places on the board.
7) Move the clock hands so that the clock is set to Midnight, moving one hand may affect others and at different speeds.
8) Navigate to the center of the labyrinth in a specific number of moves, using directional arrows.
This Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, Archives, a Secret Room, 5 Music Soundtracks, Hidden Jigsaw Puzzle pieces that allow you to assemble 3 different Screensavers, Morphing Objects, 15 Achievements (to the best of my knowledge) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy the wedding!
I recommend this game!
Queen Aerin saves her kingdom from a new menace – evil Duke von Gross.
Overall rating
5
/
5
93 of 107 found this review helpful
Finally, The Standard Edition!
PostedAugust 24, 2016
pennmom36
fromI never thought Mortessa would join our adventures!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
What I love most about the Elven Legend series is the challenge it presents. Most Time Management games are based on endless clicking without any strategy involved, but not this one. It is nearly impossible to achieve all three stars on the first attempt, you have to task queues in a specific order to have the resources to progress. If you build a sawmill at the wrong time when you need a farm or crystal mine, it will leave you in a bind, unable to progress while you wait for the correct resources to become available. To me, this is how I want a TM game to be, strategically challenging. I can always switch over to the Relaxed mode if I want a less intense game.
I also love the graphics Elven Legend games offers, and each level has really good layouts with plenty of active areas to interact with. This isn't an easy breezy game, and I will admit that I had to restart several of the levels just in the demo alone, to "get it right" by slightly altering the order in which I queued my tasks, otherwise I had to waste time waiting for the necessary resources to be available because I used them on a different task that I thought had more benefits. You can earn up to 3 stars in each level, and you will have to use strategy to earn all three stars.
The goal is to help Queen Aerin find the thief that stole the evil witch Mortessa's Diadem and return this dangerous artifact. In the Collector's Edition, each level has a hidden Book to find and some of the levels have a Morphing Statuette to discover. I just didn't see the benefit of purchasing this game in the CE, so I patiently waited for this version so I could use one of my many credits. There are the normal resources to collect, food, wood, stone etc. and the same tasks of clearing the roads, repairing bridges and filling in pits along the way. Queen Aerin will do all the magic work, once she has enough magical crystals to charge her staff, and her trusted Griffin has joined her on this adventure as well. There are several Altars of Resources available in each level that will produce resources over a period of time and each level has a Bonus meter that recharges to give you temporary boosts such as faster workers, more resources, or extra workers. Queen Aerin will use her magic to collect Golden Petals which can be used to rebuild the Elven Capital one building at a time, and you get to name the Capital before you rebuild.
The Collector's Edition has 9 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 6 Hidden Objects, 50 Collectibles, 8 Character Encyclopedia bios, a built in Strategy Guide, 40 Levels & 10 Bonus Levels, 38 Achievements, High Scores and a Bonus Chapter, but as I stated before, I really think this Standard Edition is the route to go, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Cathy is chasing the dreams of others instead of her own. But once she discovers her passion, her strength will be put to the test. Will Cathy stay true to herself?
Overall rating
3
/
5
53 of 71 found this review helpful
Third Place Winner
PostedAugust 23, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhy do I have to catch the mice, why can't Ming catch the mice?
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
It's hard to write a review that's fair for Cathy's Crafts because I can't help but compare it to it's popular rivals. After 12 seasons of the Delicious Emily series I have grown very fond of her games and usually purchase her games sight unseen because they are all fabulous. Speaking of Fabulous, Emily's baby sister Angela, has her own fashion series too, with fantastic graphics. So if I compare apples to apples, Cathy's Crafts takes the Bronze when comparing these three similar Time Management games. (Emily and Paige do make a cameo appearance after all) It's really just more of the same thing with a different title, and other than a few trophies to earn, this game doesn't offer anything worthy of the Collector's Edition price.
Cathy's Crafts offers 10 levels in each of the 6 different locations, and you get to choose which character avatar you want as your profile picture. You can choose to play Beginner, Normal or Expert difficulty modes, and you will be asked if you want a quick Tutorial. The graphics are a bit toned down from the vivid HD quality of Fabulous and the last couple of Delicious games, they aren't bad, they just aren't very crisp or detailed.
The object of the game is keep the customer happy, and of course, make money! When a customer arrives at the Hardware/Craft Store (Fred and Ivy have left the business in the capable hands of their daughter Cathy while touring Hardware stores in Asia) they will tell you what they are interested in purchasing as shown as an idea bubble over their head. Then you simply click on the product they want, click again on the customer to deliver the goods and then click on the cash register to collect the money. Some customers will sit at the available tables which requires an extra step of cleaning the table after collection the money. You will need to manage your time as quickly possible, if you are too slow the customer will lose patience in the form of a heart above their head, which means less of a tip. As you progress, more customers arrive at the same time, more items to sell are added (some of which require combining two or more items in the correct order) and more side tasks are added too. You can earn up to 3 gold stars per level and you can replay the level as often as needed to try to earn a better score or make more money.
The money you earn is used to purchase upgrades such as a larger more efficient Counter Workstation, Larger tables to accommodate more people, Comfortable Sofas and other various decorations. Each of the upgrades help you progress by allowing Cathy to work faster, help the customers remain patient longer or make the customers happier and tip better. Each scene has at least one Mouse that pops up randomly around the Hardware store and if you click on the mouse 0r mice, you'll earn bonus points. Ming the cat also helps customers lighten up and tip better IF the customer likes cats, if the customer doesn't like cats, they will actually lose their patience and tip less. The problem is, Ming likes to eat, so if you forget to feed him, everyone will become less happy! Don't forget to feed Ming, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Explore the ancient forest and help forest fairies discover hidden images.
Overall rating
4
/
5
90 of 100 found this review helpful
Riddles Of The Forest?
PostedAugust 22, 2016
pennmom36
fromI hope my mouse doesn't get a splinter!
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 griddler game starts out with very basic and easy grids but quickly adds puzzles that become far more challenging. I really liked the "wooden" shades of colors that are presented but they are all just one basic color per grid.
At first I thought all the puzzles were forest related images, such as tadpoles, turtles and even fish, but then they threw in images of wine glasses, people and streetlamps which confused me. There isn't a story that goes along with this game, but it is soothing and relaxing.
You begin with 3 stars and a star is deducted if you make mistakes. You can choose an auto option that will cross off empty cells, and when the cells are empty, the cells become clear, which is another feature I enjoyed. The Hints are Fairies that when chosen will fly down and fill in 2 or 3 cells for you.
There are 20 grids in each of the 6 categories offered, the 6th one has to be unlocked, I'm assuming as you progress. I really liked this griddler game and would probably have given it 5 stars if there were more colors offered in each grid. Give it a try for yourself to see what you think, enjoy!
I recommend this game!