pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4709
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 15, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you save your sister before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
219 of 239 found this review helpful
I Thought My Thieving Days Were In The Past!
PostedJune 11, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhere did the magic mirror come from, is it a nanny cam?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Jeronimo had put his days as a thief behind him, and is content running an honest Tavern for the locals. That was all fine and dandy, until his baby sister Ellie fell terminally ill. There's only one hope for a cure, an elixir potion heavily guarded by a vicious forest witch, and she has no intention of sharing! Jeronimo will have to come out of retirement and steal the formula from the evil witch, this won't be an easy job, but after all, Jeronimo was the best thief Rockville has ever seen and earned him the nickname "Safe Cracker"
I actually loved the first Midnight Calling too, I just wished this was a continuation of the original story, Midnight Castle. This is an easy game, but sometimes that's okay and makes for a relaxing afternoon! The graphics could be better (hand drawn instead of computer generated) and the mechanics of the game are a bit slow and clunky, as are the voiceovers which are horrible, picture a foreign movie with english dubbed over it, the lips move for 5 minutes, and then the voice chimes in, but oh well, it's just a game. There are plenty of Achievements as well as Hidden Cards, Morphing Objects and Coins that can be used to buy all your little forest friends their favorite snacks at the forest's edge. Yes, you get a cutsie little helper, actually, you get two cutsie helpers but no one's counting right?
The Hidden Object Scenes are okay, nothing to write home about but nothing horrible either. There are mostly Silhouetted Shape finds but there are also tiny Zoom Zone HOP's where you find 4 or 5 fragments to make one complete item.
The Mini Games are easy, some are really quick, some more lengthy, but again, sometimes you need no brainer puzzles just to have fun without the overload. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Rotate tiles to complete the image by clicking on the center of each circle section.
2) Place the symbols on the correct rows based on the images they're associated with by swapping them.
3) Select the shield when the circle is on it block. Then attack by pressing the bottom disk when the arrows are in the green area.
4) Using the crystals, color the marks on the head based on their matching shapes.
This Collector's Edition has 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 24 Achievements, 1 Screensaver, a Secret Room, Morphing Objects, Hidden Cards, Hidden Coins to use at the Forest Edge, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a heartless criminal before it's too late?
Overall rating
2
/
5
96 of 116 found this review helpful
It's A Small World After All****** It's A Small Small World
PostedJune 10, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhy did they hide a mask inside a cache that required a mask to open?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Imagine a world without laughter and without joy. Now imagine a world without pain without suffering, without crime without hatred. This is the world Frederick had envisioned, a world with no emotions, bad or good. A world where no one had to suffer or feel pain, a world where everyone was equal. Together with the help of Susanna, a rogue agent from The Curio Society (again using an antique shop for cover) Frederick's dreams will come true now that this dynamic duo has a powerful artifact in their possession! This artifact is capable of amplifying the effects of anything it is applied to, including the Anti-Emotion Potion that renders its users emotionless! You must join the forces of the resistance to stop Frederick's nefarious plans, after all, Leroy Johnson, the man responsible for creating the potion as well as the antidote, formed the resistance together with his wife, Alice. Can you stop Frederick from creating the Not So Perfect Emotionless World in time?
I wasn't impressed with the first game in this series, and I'm certainly not impressed with this middle of the road game either. Both games offer nothing new or exciting, both games seem a bit lame in my opinion. The Collector's Edition version offers a whopping 32 Achievements to earn making it nearly impossible to make a move without earning one. The CE also offers two icons above the inventory bar that will indicate whether or not that scene has a Morphing Object and or a Collectible Rorschach Card, some scenes contain one of each, some scenes only have one or the other and some scenes have neither. You will also find Medical Profiles in the CE that describe different emotions such as Apathy or Euphoria. At the beginning of the game you will be given a journal with available Tasks, and throughout the game you'll find Journal Notes that are automatically added to your journal, this feature is available in both the Collector's and Standard Edition's. In my opinion none of these "extras" are actually hidden or difficult to find, they're just sitting in plain view within the scenes and present no challenge whatsoever.
The Hidden Object Scenes are okay, again nothing new or remotely creative. There are the usual Progressive Interactive Silhouetted shape finds, Silhouetted Shape finds requiring several of the same items, Morphing Object Finds, and items that match the Keywords in each paragraph. The only one I thought was unusual had a switch that turned on a blacklight and panned to the rear of the scene, switching back to the front of the scene with a dimly lit regular light.
The Mini Games are okay, but once again I feel they lack imagination and creativity, they all seem to be variations of choosing correctly because choosing one affects others. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Restore the portrait by swapping pie shaped sections.
2) Click on typewriter keys with fingerprints in the correct sequence.
3) Use levers to rotate rows of test tubes to position the correct colored liquids above the tubes, rotating one row affects others.
4) Find matching pairs of symbols by flipping over two tokens at a time. If you fail to make a match, the tokens will swap.
5) Follow the recipe in the correct sequence.
6) Restore the image using arrows to adjust rows.
7) Flip switches to open the central cache, flipping one switch may affect others.
8) Locate objects in the picture mentioned in the story and click to adjust the images to match.
9) Glide the slider from the far left to the lower right passing through every one of the gears one time only.
The Collector's Edition has 32 Achievements to earn, 12 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 Collectible Rorschach Cards for a Personality Test, Collectible Medical Profiles and Journal Notes, 15 Morphing Objects, an Archive Room, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save your uncle before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
395 of 425 found this review helpful
More Promising After The Demo Which Is A Bit Slow
PostedJune 9, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhy would someone keep a large oil can in a locked briefcase?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Alexandra hasn't heard from Uncle Paul for a few days so she decides to pay him a visit at the Antique Shop. Uncle Paul's nowhere in sight, and you get the feeling something's very wrong. Your instincts serve you right when a thug appears out of nowhere demanding you give him the book you just picked up. After gathering your wits and composure, you do a little snooping around the shop, hoping to find some sort of clue that will shed light upon this dark situation. What you discover is that Paul Anderson's Antique Shop is no ordinary shop, and his antiques are no ordinary antiques. Some of Uncle Paul's antiques are actually very powerful artifacts, so powerful that they require "Keepers" to protect them from those who seek their powers!
I don't know about you, but I will be a little leary about visiting antique shops in the future because apparently, nothing ever goes well inside them! This is a new series that seems to have a lot going for it, decent graphics, and flawless mechanics above all else. This Collector's Edition has a ton of extra features, Achievements to earn for each milestone, 33 Morphing Objects, 36 Memories of the Past Jigsaw Puzzle pieces that allow you to assemble the puzzles to learn more of the storyline and use as Wallpapers, and 33 different Hidden Collectibles in 5 different categories, Gramophone records, Galaxy's, Portraits, Horn of Plenty and Cages with Birds, most of which are creatively blended into each scene. Seem's Uncle Paul collects some unusual items, one of which is Spark, a Fire Salamander that will be your sidekick in this adventure and help out by shedding some light to the dark and of course, giving you a "spark" of flame when you need it the most. I really wish that sidekicks would stay in the genre they belong (fantasy themes) when you are playing a game that is trying to remain realistic yet supernatural, it would be nice to have a lighter and a multi purpose tool that I hang onto for the whole game.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied and multi layered with Interactive List finds, finding items that match Keywords in a story, and Silhouetted Shape finds, most of which have interactive puzzles within to make them more entertaining. There are several Zoom Zone HOP's where you find 5 items scattered around the room such as stereo parts, instruments or gears.
The Mini Games range from super simple quickies to multi-layered puzzles. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select pairs of orange symbols on the outside of the picture that comprise the blue symbols shown in the center.
2) Select badges in the correct sequence as demonstrated.
3) Select plates to flip to reveal an image, selecting one affects others, when all sections have been flipped, swap sections to complete the image.
4) Spot the differences between two pictures.
5) Keep the target reticle in the center of the green circle until it reaches the umbrella target.
This Collector's Edition has 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 3 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements, 26 Hidden Object Scenes, 26 Mini Games, 33 Hidden Collectibles, 36 hidden Jigsaw Puzzle pieces, 33 Morphing Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
After a terrible hurricane carried away all the pets, they need help getting back to their home town! Help them by making long chains in this fun match 3 game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
87 of 99 found this review helpful
Lighthearted Match 3 Game The Whole Family Can Enjoy
PostedJune 8, 2016
pennmom36
fromThat tornado did some real damage, the pets lost their bodies!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The pets of Petsville are lost! After getting whisked away by a tornado (contrary to the games description of a hurricane, it sure looked like a tornado to me) these adorable pets are stranded in the middle of nowhere and need help getting home. I do however, find the game a bit ironic, how does it help to get them home if you're destroying them with lightning and bombs?
This is a Chain type Match 3 game where you click and drag a chain of identical pets to remove them, I mean send them home. This is my least favorite type because it makes the game way too easy, but this one's designed to be a relaxing game that appeals to the entire family. You have three options of modes to choose from, Relaxed, Limited Time or Limited Moves. I played this game in Limited Moves which gives you a Bonus of earning a color coded Foot which adds 7 moves when used in a match of the same color. In Limited Time mode you can earn a Time Bonus which adds 30 seconds to the timer. There is a Magic Hand that will remove a group of pets of your choice when filled, and a Shuffle feature that will shuffle the icons once filled. If you don't use these features, it will continue to grow and become more powerful on future levels.
The goal on every level is to destroy the stones that are under some of the honeycomb shaped cells. Some tiles have Slabs that require two matches upon them, and there are Blocked Pet Tiles, Frozen Tiles etc. that require a match adjacent to them to break or the use of a bonus to destroy. You will earn bonuses on the board when you make large matches such as:
Rainbow Pet- can be used in any chain match and is earned with matches of 5 or more pets.
Bombs- bombs are color coded and will destroy several tiles when matched with the same color pet and is earned with matches of 6.
Lightning- color coded lightning removes 9 random pets of the same color across the board and is earned with matches of 8.
Star- this causes an explosion when included in a chain and is earned when you make a match of 9 pets.
Directional- this bonus will destroy tiles in a diagonal or vertical pattern and is earned when you match 4 or more tiles in a straight line.
If you're looking for a fast paced and challenging game, this game will NOT float your boat, but if you want to play a cute game that will pass some time without frustration, you WILL like this game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The dastardly Pirate King is out for blood... and you're his next target!
Overall rating
4
/
5
59 of 67 found this review helpful
Shiver Me Timbers Mates That Dastardly Pirate King Is Up To No Good!
PostedJune 7, 2016
pennmom36
fromChips Ahoy! Arrr, Ships Ahoy!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Remember how exciting the very first Sea of Lies game was. The storyline was so different than all of the other games, and took place either at sea or on the coastline with lots of pirates and seafaring mates. The dialect was convincing as was the time period props and wardrobe. I really thought this series was going to be one of my all time favorites, however, Sea of Lies was releasing a new game every time you'd turn around it seemed like, and I began to notice a change. Sea of Lies distanced themselves away from the one thing that set this series apart from all the other genre's, the Pirates! They weren't about treachery and mutiny on the high seas, nobody walked the plank, why? Because there was no plank to walk, most of the games weren't even taking place on a ship, some barely mentioned a ship and even then, there were no pirates.
Finally! I think Leviathan Reef will be Sea of Lies' saving grace, with it's beautiful graphics and fantastic pirate flare, I'm not going to complain about a single thing! The Collector's Edition version has 41 Hidden Messages in a Bottle, and some of the scenes have a Morphing Object as indicated by the icons above the inventory bar, features I happen to love so I personally prefer the Collector's Edition over this Standard Edition.
The Hidden Object Scenes vary with just about every style, Interactive List Finds, Progressive Interactive, Silhouetted Shapes and even Sketches, my favorite takes place on the shoreline where you are tasked with finding multiples of each item, new items wash onto the shore with each ebb of the tide, pretty creative if you ask me. The Mini Games are all pirate themed or nautical themed as well, rotating tokens until all images are in their correct habitat or swapping tiles to complete a pirates map.
The Collector's Edition has 18 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 25 replayable Puzzles, replayable Match 3 games, 14 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art pictures, 41 Hidden Messages in a Bottle, 17 Achievements, 9 Music Soundtracks, 9 Videos, a Tribute Video, a Souvenir Room, 18 Morphing Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy all ye scallywags!
I recommend this game!
Experience an exciting Mahjongg adventure in a land full of lovable and strange creatures!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 81 found this review helpful
Speed Mahjongg
PostedJune 7, 2016
pennmom36
fromLook out elves, I'm in a hurry!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Normally Mahjongg games are my least favorite because I find them boring after a few rounds, but I really enjoyed the thrill of this fast paced Mahjong. There are 5 different tile sets to choose from and 10 different backgrounds available, you will collect Mana with each tile set matched and when filled, you can use one of four different bonuses for a short period of time such as darkening unavailable tiles. Each level will give you a set of goals to achieve and you will have to match tiles quickly if you want to earn all three available stars. After a few levels you will play a very simple Mini Game such as finding several tiles or placing tile fragments correctly. You can skip these games but you won't be able to earn a "milestone" or trophy. There's just something about this game that I found exciting, the need for speed. There is an easy mode which I'm assuming is a relaxed mode with no timer if you don't have a need for speed, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Explore fascinating unexplored worlds and save the Earth from catastrophe in this thrilling Hidden Object Adventure.
Overall rating
3
/
5
73 of 91 found this review helpful
Not As Good As The First "Invasion"
PostedJune 6, 2016
pennmom36
fromSo...a hurricane vortex remains in the same area and time is increasing, yet nobody else is there to investigate the anomaly?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Last week a vortex appeared just off the coast of a Pacific island and has remained in the same area. Since it's appearance, earth has gained time daily leading Mike to believe that aliens might be involved. The hurricane causes Mike's plane to crash on the island so there's no turning back now!
This is a decent game with really interesting puzzles to solve, however, Doomed, isn't nearly as exciting as the first Invasion was, perhaps it's just the storyline. There are only two modes of difficulty, with the only difference being the hint and skip length of recharging. There are 16 Achievements to earn, 25 Find 5 (where you find the exact area that 5 different circular images belong) 25 replayable Puzzles, and several levels of Crystal Match 3 games. Not too shabby for a Standard Edition.
The Hidden Object Scenes are all the same type requiring you to find 3 items and place them onto the silhouetted shapes on the inventory bar which opens up interactive Listed items. The scenes are well done and entertaining, but some of the items are kind of small.
The Mini Games are really good, most are games I haven't seen before. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Position the arrows (clock type hands in different positions) so that the point to all 6 flowers shown on the right.
2) Move the colored balls to their correct color coded slots using directional arrows to move each line of balls.
3) Remove balls from the field by clicking on groups so that no more than 10 remain.
4) Hit all rotating targets with a crossbow.
5) Restore the picture by swapping square tiles.
6) Place all fragments correctly.
My favorite feature in this game is the Find 5 feature. It's always nice to find a Standard Edition that includes so many extras, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you help the tormented spirits before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
71 of 89 found this review helpful
Knock Knock
PostedJune 6, 2016
pennmom36
fromWho's there?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Redemption Cemetery has never been one of my favorite series because some games are really good, some are really bad. At Death's Door, however, has given this series redemption with spectacular graphics and a storyline that holds your interest from beginning to end. I love the creepiness of the game starting out with an ominous cemetery where you are knocking at Death's door and hoping he ain't home! I also loved how this game takes us full circle, allowing us to learn how the first redemptor came to fruition, which disrupted the natural order and balance between life and death. After freeing Seera, the Keeper of souls from her eternal chains of imprisonment, you learn there's only one way out of this eternal damnation, redemption. You must save three souls so that they might find their redemption, by returning to their past to help them right the wrong that has prevented their souls from resting in peace.
At Death's Door is pretty Bare Boned when it comes to collectibles offered in the Collector's Edition, so this Standard version is probably the better choice. (There are still collectibles of different time devices, but only a mere 14). There are Achievements to earn like all Collector's Editions include, but I must give the devs kudo credit on how interesting they have made this often overlooked feature. When you earn an Achievement, you are shown statistics which is really cool for the HOS which tells you the percentage of accuracy, the number of clicks and how long it took you to find all of the objects. This would be a really cool feature without the achievement award, I for one would love to see statistics for all HOS and Puzzles. So if you want this feature you'll have to opt for the CE.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with the usual types of scenes, Interactive List finds, Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds, Multiples of a single item finds and finding items in Bold print during a background story, either as is or interactively. The scenes are somewhat dark, but the items are easy to find and identify.
The Mini Games are decent, none seem too difficult or too frustrating. The following are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Click on skeleton arms in the correct order to open the door. Choosing one arm may affect others.
2) Put the runes together using directional arrows to rotate, and swapping fragments.
3) Recreate the puzzle image by selecting and dragging rows horizontally and vertically.
4) Select matching molds that aren't obstructed by other molds.
5) Select branches to climb, followed by using directional arrows to avoid falling rocks, and then selecting the correct branches for the final step.
6) Align bags, selecting one affects others.
The Collector's Edition has 15 Concept Art Pictures, 10 Wallpapers, 9 Screensavers, 3 Music Soundtracks, 10 Movies, 18 replayable Mini Games, 20 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 16 Achievements, 14 Collectible timepieces, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Help Cheddar the Mouse solve exciting chess puzzles until he becomes a Grandmaster ready to play against the King himself!
Overall rating
1
/
5
36 of 55 found this review helpful
I'm Baffled
PostedJune 2, 2016
pennmom36
from??????????????????
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I understand this is a game designed to teach kids the basics of playing chess, however, I just don't think it's fun. The beginning of the game starts out with very simple tasks with the host being a cartoon mouse named Cheddar. This includes selecting the correct shapes, squares, triangle etc. and choosing the correct directions, left, right, up down over and under. What I don't get about this game is what age group it's trying to target, I'd assume a 4-5 year old would be learning these basics, but why would a 4 or 5 year old want to play chess? Anyway, there are mini games to play such as I spy or catch the correct shapes, and you earn stars which can be used to design your own castle one section at a time. I'm impressed with with Grandmaster Gerry Kasparov who was the world chess champion from 1985-2000, so I'll just take his word for it that this will excite your young child enough to learn chess, who knows, they might be a Chess Champion some day too.
I don't recommend this game.
Set out across the globe to stop the end of the world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
303 of 365 found this review helpful
TEARS OF GOLD
PostedJune 2, 2016
pennmom36
fromI've got to find Freyja's husband, then she won't cry, problem solved!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Freyja is the Nordic goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, war and death. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats with a boar by her side. Freyja rules over the heavenly afterlife and receives half of those who died in battle (the other half go to Odin's hall) and has been known to help deities who often use her cloak made of falcon feathers. Freyja's husband is often absent which saddens the goddess, causing her to weep red gold tears for him. It is those tears that are capable of destroying the world and even the gods themselves, and those tears are being sought out by someone within the SAGA organization who will go to great lengths to find them. This is going to be the most crucial case the H.E.L.P agency has ever embarked upon, the world depends on you to to stop these madmen before they reach their destination, Midgard's End!
Looks like were going to have to step up our game, because Sam has just been promoted! This is quite literally the best Hidden Expedition to date, just when you think this series couldn't get more action packed and intense, they up their game. As with all Hidden Expedition games, there are collectible Fact cards that give you interesting facts about items associated with the theme. There are also 43 Hidden Signs, one in each scene to find throughout your adventure, as well as 13 Achievements to earn.
The Hidden Object Scenes are extremely entertaining and take place in some unique places with unique features. There are Interactive List finds, Sketch finds and even items to find from key words in a speech given. Each scene has a Morphing Object to to add a little challenge. My favorite was finding and interacting with items by opening up different rooms of a miniature house.
The Mini Games present a nice challenge as well, below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Connect all the nodes without crossing lines.
2) Move boxes to their correct positions, boxes can only move in the direction they are pointing but they can move other boxes into place or change directions by landing on a cog.
3) Plot a course on a map using directional arrows.
4) Rearrange wires using clues shown to cause a short circuit in the Cabaret.
5) Arrange Queens on a chessboard so that no queen can be taken by another either straight or diagonally.
This Collector's Edition has 17 replayable Puzzles, 15 replayable HOP's, 11 Videos, 8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, a Souvenir Room, 13 Achievements, collectible Fact Cards, 15 Morphing Objects within the HOP's, 43 Hidden Signs, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Adventure, enjoy!
I recommend this game!