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:
It's up to you and your canine companion to save the city!
Overall rating
5
/
5
165 of 188 found this review helpful
SOLID ENTERTAINMENT FROM BEGINNING TO END
PostedMay 27, 2016
pennmom36
fromCan't we just paint an ostrich egg and give it to momma dragon?
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
This is a fantastic fantasy themed game that gets better with every chapter. I have purchased so many games that are really fun in the demo, but become stagnant the further you progress. Nothing about this game became tedious, not even the mini games associated with the Magical Ring, which often are boring with little challenge, I really looked forward to each new chapter.
An adorable Golden Retriever puppy has just adopted you at the Lost Hope animal shelter. (If you've ever been to an animal shelter you know they choose you, not vise versa lol) This adoption was meant to be, this is your destiny, and his! Turns out, Ice is no ordinary companion, Ice is from another world and he has been sent to find a human worthy of the Ring of Destiny. The Ring of Destiny is capable of moving mountains or changing history, the ring will transfer you to the world in need of help, which just so happens to be Agora. The Chief Wizard of Agora will be your mentor, and will prepare you to fulfil your destiny to face the Shadow people who have nefarious plans to destroy the world.
The Ring will need to be recharged after each use, in a Match 3 type game where you click and drag as many identical symbols possible until they have all been matched. Eventually your ring will have many capabilities (flight, sight etc.) , but for now, the ring can only ward off the evil Shadows. In the Collector's Edition, each scene has 2 opaque Hidden Dragon, as indicated by an icon tab on the left of the screen, some of which present a nice challenge to find! The CE also has several Achievements to earn, and both versions offer plus sign inventory items that require some type of interaction before using them such as a small puzzle.
The Hidden Object Puzzles are just so-so, in the beginning, but become increasingly more interesting as you progress. There are HOP's where you find key words during a story, Interactive list finds, Fragment fins, Silhouetted Shape finds or following a recipe in the correct order. My favorite one was on the deck of a pirate ship inside the mouth of a giant whale!
The Mini Games are actually creative, some super easy, some frustrating, but interesting enough to look forward to the next. The following are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo, and a few of my favorites after:
1) Lead Ice to the shoreline avoiding monster arms, when the number on the spaces change to the number 1, the monster arm will appear there on the next move.
2) Restore the image by selecting different pearls to swap puzzle sections.
3) Using the clues, select runes in the correct order, followed by a Match 3 game.
4) Several puzzles where you must trace shapes without going outside the lines.
5) Help Ice find the correct path by selection matching prints in variations.
6) Destroy all of the shadows by moving the wizard to spaces adjacent to them, the shadows will multiply in areas further from the wizard.
7) Select the objects in the scene as shown on the scrolls to talk to the dragon.
8) Connect a continuous line of numbers in ascending order, the numbers are not continuous however, the number may start at 15 and the next highest may be 62 etc.
9) Arrange masks on a grid using one empty space to slide masks until each mask is on it's matching square.
10) Move the green star to the red star by choosing numbered buttons only once. The star will move to the nearest star with that number.
The Collector's Edition has 4 Music Soundtracks, 7 Wallpapers, 4 Screensavers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 12 replayable HO's, 16 replayable Mini Games, 11 Movies, 15 Achievements, 46 Hidden Dragons, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Adventure, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
What mysteries are hiding in your family's history?
Overall rating
5
/
5
316 of 370 found this review helpful
^^^^^^^^WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW^^^^^^^^^^
PostedMay 26, 2016
pennmom36
fromGo after that dangerous bandit, here, take my dagger you may need it! Yep, I'll just cut this rope and discard the dagger, surely I won't need it for anything else!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
They say that history repeats itself. The people who live in Invert County Scotland know this scenario all too well because September 18, 1751 is a day in history that repeats itself over and over. William Sutherland may never wed his beautiful fiance, Elizabeth Heartfell if the dark Chimera curse isn't lifted and there's only one way to break this Groundhog Day spell, and that requires saving Elizabeth from certain death!
This is a beautiful love story with an interesting plot that would make Bill Murray proud, however, this isn't the game that the Chimera series is known for. Chimeras are fire-breathing female monsters with a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail, NOT a dark spell! I'm just going to pretend that this game has nothing to do with my beloved Chimeras series because this game doesn't hold a candle to the other games in the series!
This Collector's Edition has the usual Achievements to earn, Morphing Objects, Collectible Tarot Cards with descriptions about mystics of the 1700's, and some rather large, not so hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that can be assembled to form 3 different Screensavers.
The Hidden Object Scenes lack imagination in my opinion, most are basic Listed items with slight interactions to perform, mostly opening drawers or containers. There are also smaller Zoom Zone scenes and a scene where you click two items at a time to uncover 6 matching items.
The Mini Games are way to easy, but hopefully get increasingly more difficult as the game progresses. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Complete the picture by moving the pieces to the right spot by swapping and rotating pieces.
2) Play the correct tune on bagpipes by repeating the notes in the same order as demoed.
3) Place wooden boards in the correct positions so they form a complete gapless fit.
4) Throw a lasso when the meter shown is in the green target zone, three times correctly.
5) Restore the stained glass picture by placing shards into the outlined slots.
6) Move the hand, shield and helmet of a knight into the correct positions as shown on a sketched clue.
7) Recreate symbols shown in the center bar by swapping symbols on the top and bottom columns so that when combined create the symbol shown.
8) Move the tokens from the left column to their positions on the right column without passing the tokens over each other.
This Collector's Edition has 5 Music Soundtracks, 16 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art pictures, 18 Achievements, 36 collectible Jigsaw Puzzle pieces that will form 3 Screensavers, a Secret Room, 16 collectible Tarot Cards, 32 Morphing Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Prehistoric Tales
Bring an ancient world to vibrant life as you build and protect a fledgling settlement!
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 127 found this review helpful
Addictive Quest Driven Time Management/Battle Game
PostedMay 25, 2016
pennmom36
fromThat T- Rex is a lot quicker than I expected!
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
This isn't your usual Time Management game! You won't be collecting resources and clearing junk off of a predetermined path until the path is cleared. Yes, you will still collect resources, but this game is a quest driven game where you click on icons and determine what tasks need to be performed to accomplish the quests. You need to construct huts for more workers, training camps for warriors, Barracks and Elder Tents. Resources include food from fishing, collecting onions and walnuts or from Garden Beds or Hunters Huts, you can mine gold, collect stones or lava and chop down trees. You will have to have enough resources to finish most quests, which get more difficult as you level up. As you gain experience, you will level up and get rewarded with the bonus of your choice that will either help you in the camp or during battle.
Battles are waged and must be fought, the enemy is swift and fierce but we have bonuses on our side right? You can equip your warriors with the bonuses and then begin the battle against the enemy manually or with auto battle which does the work for you. You can hire new Warriors at anytime, different warriors have different strengths, and choose which one's to battle with.
There are so many things to do with in this game where the village gets larger and the battles get tougher. I love the fact that I'm not doing predetermined tasks level after level, and having to start all over in the next level. The graphics are decent, everything seems to be large enough to identify but small enough to keep it in perspective, and I love the dinosaur theme. I wish Big Fish would offer more of this type of game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Use your time-management skills to help Angela win the chance to take over for legendary fashionista Truly!
Overall rating
5
/
5
204 of 235 found this review helpful
Fabulous Angela Is Just As Delicious As Emily
PostedMay 24, 2016
pennmom36
fromThat pesky mouse is everywhere!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you are a fan of the Delicious series with Emily, you are going to love Fabulous starring Emily's sister Angela. Angela's husband Jimmy, a.k.a. Jimmy the Snake, has been busted! Seem's Jimmy was having an affair with Angela's boss, Yum-Mee, but that's all in the past and Angela is single once again. In this episode, Angela is trying to design a fabulous dress that will hopefully land her one of 6 spots available to compete for the replacement of the world renowned designer, Truly.
The object of this Time Management game is to serve customers that come into the boutique as quickly as possible so they remain happy and patient. When customers arrive they will show you which make-up product they desire, you click on the correct item, then click on the correct customer, then click the register to complete the sale, if a customer tried the make-up on at the mirror, you will need to clean up the station as well. Some items require multiple steps to combine the product, and eventually some products are located inside of display cases. You will earn up to three gold stars, each star earned gives you 50 coins that can be used in the shop. You will earn extra points if you find and click on the mouse that pops up, and combining tasks quickly. There are 90 levels located in New York, Tokyo, Rio, Milan, Paris and Las Vegas, and you can play in Beginner, Normal or Expert modes of difficulty.
You can purchase upgrades that will serve more customers, help keep them patient and in a good mood, or make things easier, such as counters, displays, decorations or a temporary helper. Upgrades with a pink price tag are only good for one level and will have to be repurchased each time. Some levels have bonus tasks to complete such as sketching out dress designs or putting up displays, that can be done in between customers for bonus points.
This is one of the better Time Management games, I still love the Delicious series the best, but I love the way they have tied the two series together with new faces and familiar faces too. This Collector's Edition offers Trophies to earn (everything Angela needs for her purse) as well as bonus levels, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
This house is cursed and it has been a haven of evil spirits for as long as anyone can remember. Do you dare to banish them?
Overall rating
5
/
5
226 of 253 found this review helpful
NOW THAT'S THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX
PostedMay 23, 2016
pennmom36
fromI think I need a bigger timer!
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 original Cursed House was offered by Big Fish in 2011 and Cursed House 2 was offered in 2012. Both games received high star ratings by most reviewers, and now I know why. Cursed House 3 is spooktacular and jammed pack full of very unique features right from the get go. I loved the fact that each level offers new challenges, but still have the challenges from the previous levels. You can choose from a Relaxed Mode, a Limited Time Mode or a Limited Moves Mode, so there's a mode to suit every type of Match 3 gamer. The object of this Match 3 game is to collect coins and to fill up the Amulet of the Eye which will uncurse the Cursed House a little bit at a time.
When you make matches of 4 or more identical tiles, you will receive a Lightning tile, and when 3 or more lightning tiles are matched, it creates an explosion to destroy several tiles, and some obstacles. Levels with Trunks require you to collect Trunk Coins, when all trunk coins have been found, you need to make a match adjacent to the trunk or trunks that will vibrate to alert you that all trunk coins have been located. Once the trunks are opened, you receive bonuses and other parts of the board are unlocked.
Some levels have Cannons that require you to make matches next to the wick to fire the cannon to start a chain reaction, some cannons are locked and you must make matches in front of the key to allow the key to move towards the lock. Firing the cannon also opens up other parts of the board.
There are several types of coins besides the gold coins and trunk coins, Dusty coins that need two matches, coins that are split in half requiring matches in front of the pieces to join the two halves. Coins that need filled in by collecting falling drops of liquid or gold by dropping them off the board to fill a vial. Bug coins need to be collected to get rid of pesky bugs that annoy you as well.
Some tiles have obstacles such as boarded tiles, some boarded tiles have shields that require matches made on the sides without the shield for more challenge. There are Stone tiles, Lava tiles, Chained tiles, ice tiles, Rock tiles and Fog tiles that require either a match adjacent to them, most but not all obstacles can be destroyed with lightning explosions or bombs. There are even Blue and Red Hot Stone tiles that require matches on top to destroy them.
After playing a few levels, you get to play a Mini Game such as Higher/Lower Solitaire that has an extra slot to store any face up card to use in a match later and unblock cards on the board. There are also Hidden Object Scenes and one of my favorite games, Spot The Difference which has very subtle differences and wasn't as easy as you'd expect.
This is definitely a fantastic and entertaining Match 3 game that has very unusual features. That's thinking outside of the box, and now I want to play the previous versions to see if they are just as fun, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you help the people of this frozen world?
Overall rating
3
/
5
71 of 83 found this review helpful
Sacrifices Must Be Made
PostedMay 22, 2016
pennmom36
fromI'm not going to by a ticket for this lottery!
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
Eve Glover has received a distress signal from Corra, one of many worlds the portal has given her access to. Corra is a brutally cold world that would be uninhabitable if not for the Pylon Core, an amazing device that provides a source of heat. In order for this civilization to survive, the Core requires an unusual type of energy, humans! People are "chosen" by lottery during the Thawing Ceremony by the Harvesters, a group controlled by the Senate, and feared by the people of Corra. Eve must find out why the Core needs human sacrifices, and why the chosen never return, before the Thawing Ceremony takes place.
Normally, I'm a huge fan of this Sci-fi series, the original Amaranthine Voyage shed light onto a whole new genre, and it had a storyline like none we've ever played. Winter Neverending, however, offers nothing new or exciting, I think this series needs to separate itself from the other ones, with new characters, and new ways of traveling to other worlds. The reason everyone liked the first couple of games was because of the concept of visiting alien planets, but this storyline doesn't feel like I'm on another planet, just someplace really cold, like Ohio. The Collector's Edition version has a Hidden Sign to collect in each scene, some of which are cleverly blended into the scenery, and there are the usual Achievements to earn. Both editions equip Eve with a Translator that works automatically, a Bow and Arrow, and a quick travel map, other than that, there are no gimmicks or sidekicks available.
The Hidden Object Scenes are the same ole same ole that duplicate all other games this dev produces, usually layered with 2 or 3 different types. There are Sketches of items to find, Interactive list finds, Morphing Object finds, and Progressive-Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds where you find the first item that matches the silhouetted shape and then use that item back in the scene interactively to expose the next item and so forth. In the Collector's Edition, some of the HOP's have a Morphing Object to find (there is a morphing icon when a morph is available) and you can opt for a Bubble Shooting Game instead of the Hidden Object Puzzle.
The Mini Games, with the exception of a couple, are way too simple to even qualify as a puzzle. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Rotate the mirrors to direct the paths of light between pairs of like colored runestones.
2) Use a Bow and Arrow by lining the site onto the targeted object, and then selecting the tension to shoot the arrow.
3) Place puzzle fragments correctly.
4) Steer the vehicle along the path using directional arrows when it flashes to make left and right turns.
5) Select a gold token and move it to an available slot to turn adjacent blue tokens gold, followed by a computer move. The goal is to have more gold tokens than blue.
6) Align the outer ring with the inner ring symbols.
7) Select the sets of symbols that match the center symbol shown.
8) Move the yellow runes to their matching gray runes by selecting gray tiles to rotate the corner runes.
The Collector's Edition has 16 Achievements, 42 Hidden Signs, a Souvenir Room, 12 Morphing Objects within the HOS, 8 Music Soundtracks, 23 replayable Puzzles, 16 replayable HOP's, replayable Bubble Popper games, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 10 Videos, replayable Puzzles and HOP's from Phantasmat games, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
It's up to you to rescue your friend and discover what the dark forces are after!
Overall rating
5
/
5
283 of 320 found this review helpful
A FANTASTICAL MAGICAL ADVENTURE YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO END
PostedMay 21, 2016
pennmom36
from"Based on the coordinates this should be the right place" of course it's the right place, how many buried kingdoms do you think are down there?
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
After Sarah Pennington's last mission, the Griffin Order banned all time travel and destroyed all time traveling devices including the Frigate that took us on so many epic adventures in time. Sarah has decided to take some time off to reconnect with her family, and her sister Julie has some very exciting news to share. Julie is a renowned explorer and after years of searching, has finally discovered the Buried Kingdom, a legendary kingdom where dragons and humans thrived together, until a tidal wave buried the kingdom under the ocean forever. Legends have been told for generations about this mythical kingdom that adapted to the oceanic conditions, but until now, was only speculation! Somebody doesn't want this discovery to be known, and someone or something has kidnapped Julie, so it's up to Sarah to search the kingdom for answers and find a way to save Julie, with the help of an unusual sidekick of course!
Griffins can't swim, and they don't make scuba equipment large enough to fit a large beasts anyway, so for this underwater adventure you'll need a purple baby dragon, DROI. Droi is adorable to say the least, and can retrieve items from places only a dragon could reach, and of course the fact that he breathes fire is a big plus too. You will also receive a Dragon's Eye that will be used to unlock special entrances, but needs recharged with a mini game after each use. There are plus signs on some inventory items that indicate some type of interaction is required before the item can be used such as assembling a torn photograph. This Collector's Edition has several extras to keep you busy, there are 24 Achievements to earn, 20 Morphing Objects that must be in the correct form to click on, and Collectible Dragon Eggs in Blue, Green and Purple and a mystery collection as well.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, and very well done. There are Interactive List finds, Interactive Progressive Silhouetted Shape finds, finding items that match Keywords in a story and one of my personal favorites, Fragment finds where you find fragments for three different sections that will combine to make a useful inventory item, the same type as in the Dark Parables series.
The Mini Games tend to be on the easy side, but all are fun and entertaining. The following are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) The Dragon Eye recharging games are a series of progressively more difficult versions of connecting pipes from the dragon symbol to the dragon's eye by rotating pipe sections.
2) Guide a ship through all of the points to reach the yellow spot, without revisiting any of the points.
3) Use a magnet to guide the key through a maze to reach the upper right corner.
4) Find scuba equipment and place in their correct silhouetted shapes.
5) Place the symbols from the sheets in their proper places on the stone relief.
6) Rotate the 4 outer circles to light up all the gems on the wheel, with circles that move 2 places right, 2 place left, 3 places right and 3 places left.
This Collector's Edition has replayable Mini Games and Hidden Object Scenes, 24 Achievements, 20 Morphing Objects, 21 Collectible Dragon Eggs of different colors and mystery bonus game collectibles, replayable cutscenes, 18 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you save your true love from the God of Death?
Overall rating
4
/
5
79 of 93 found this review helpful
ON HOLIDAY WITH UNCLE HADES
PostedMay 20, 2016
pennmom36
fromI'm still blown away by the fact that Persephone's nurse drank a cup of blood and turned into a white dove!?
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
5
/
5
You just received Zeus' blessing to marry his beautiful daughter Persephone when she vanishes into thin air! Uncle Hades and Uncle Poseidon have set a trap to lure Zeus into the underworld by using Persephone as bait. The powerful god knows he cannot help his future son-in-law rescue his daughter without jeopardizing his own safety, so Elias is on his own to find his way to the underworld and save his fiance.
Dark Romance has done it again! They have presented us with a beautiful love story where love obviously has no boundaries. As with all Dark Romance game, you get to play the game from both lovers perspectives, switching flawlessly between Persephone's character in the land of Hades and Elias character who's desperately trying to find his beloved. The Collector's Edition has Achievements to earn, 14 Artifacts of the Gods to find, 38 Olive branches to collect that allow you to purchase items for the Muse Statues in the Boudoir, both editions offer collectible Power-Ups for the Match 3 games (bombs, lightning, Rainbows) as well as journal pages located throughout your adventure.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with familiar favorites such as Interactive List Finds, as well as Progressive Silhouetted Shape Finds and Spot the Differences, there are even small Zoom Zone HOP's where you find Multiples of items. You can opt for a Match 3 game instead of the HOP's and use the bonus tokens you have collected throughout the game.
The Mini Games are fairly easy, although some are a bit time consuming and a tad frustrating. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Choose the matching symbols on the note and the scroll to reveal coded words.
2) Move items to clear a path for a net to catch a fish, which are grid size related.
3) Cover the board with more green than blue stones. If you move one space, the stone will duplicate leaving one behind. If either colored stone touches a different color, the different stone and all adjacent stones will change color.
4) Arrange the plates so that they match the charms hanging below.
5) Place each of the animals on its constellation so the stars line up to key points.
6) Open all the flowers, clicking on some flowers will affect other flowers.
The Collector's Edition has 24 Achievements, 9 Boudior muses to adorn, 28 Concept Art pictures, 19 Wallpapers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 14 Collectible Artifacts of the Gods, 10 Movies, 38 Collectible Olive Branches, Journal Notes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The real Bloody Stanley was caught, or so they thought...
Overall rating
4
/
5
228 of 269 found this review helpful
BLOODY STANLEY, BLOODY STANLEY......I don't think you should say his name three times in a row either!
PostedMay 19, 2016
pennmom36
fromWhy would anybody look through a bullet hole in the door while someone on the other side is still shooting a gun?
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
Hank Williams has been arrested for the gruesome murders that have occurred recently. This serial killer has been dubbed "Bloody Stanley" and he's scheduled to be executed, the town can rest easy now that he's behind bars....or is he? Seems like Hank may be innocent, because there's been another murder with the same MO! You're first day as detective is going to be a doozy, not only do you have to prove one man's innocence, you have to find the real murderer, before yet another name is crossed off his list!
The graphics are fairly decent, but the storyline is getting old. The storyline waivers a bit from a serial killer to paranormal once you find an Orb that can detect memory fragments floating throughout some scenes for you to catch in the form of a mini game of sorts. As you scour the town for evidence and clues, you will come across several silver coins that are used to purchase miscellaneous items from a shady back alley vendor's trench coat lining. These coins are also used to pay the coach driver for each new location (or chapter) he takes you to. These coins are not to be confused with the collectible Gold Coins that you find and use to buy Knives from around the world such as the Tanto a Japanese sword, the Kukri a machete from Nepal and the Sgian-dubh a knife used with the traditional Scottish Highland dress. That's all fine and dandy, but I don't get this feature at all, who cares about fake virtual buying? I'd rather find the knives themselves as a collectible or better yet, a morphing knife object. There are also Collectible Skull Masks, mostly within the Hidden Object Scenes. Whenever you speak to other characters, you are given several conversation options, usually one straight to the point option, one slightly introverted, and one slightly sarcastic. There are a handful of Achievements to earn, the usual Plus Sign inventory items, and custom difficulty settings. Normally I don't mention the Map feature because there's always a map and nowadays' they all allow you to jump to any location quickly, but I was glad they decided to change the map feature from the Beta Version The map in the Beta version had the most annoying feature I've ever seen, the map was constantly moving and was difficult to zero in on any specific spot much less click on it!
The Hidden Object Scenes lack imagination and are all basically the same, usually Interactive List Finds with some multiples of the same item, followed by Silhouetted Shape Finds. Most of the Hidden Object Scenes have a collectible skull mask to find, which is very easy to spot because of the bright colors, and the fact that the cursor changes to a hand when you scan over the mask with the cursor. Some of the scenes are repeated which is a feature I despise, it's just too boring the second time around, even more so when it was boring the first go round.
The Mini Games aren't bad, but there isn't anything new presented either. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo.
1) Place flower tokens of different shapes on the board so that they fit together. (one of my favorite games)
2) Catching memory fragments using your Orb ghost catcher each time it's used by clicking on each floating orb until the orb indicator is full.
3) Move the silver token to the empty silver space on the board. Move the gold chips to move the frame and create a path for the silver tokens.
4) Move the silver chip to the empty space on the plate using arrows to rotate the disk.
This Collector's Edition has 9 replayable Mini Games. 18 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 22 Movies, 4 Music Soundtracks, 5 Screensavers, 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 16 Achievements, 11 Collectible Masks, 15 Knives from around the globe to purchase with Collectible Gold Coins, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
The graphics are fairly decent, but the storyline is getting old. The storyline waivers a bit from a serial killer to paranormal once you find an Orb that can detect memory fragments floating throughout some scenes for you to catch in the form of a mini game of sorts. As you scour the town for evidence and clues, you will come across several silver coins that are used to purchase miscellaneous items from a shady back alley vendor's trench coat lining. These coins are also used to pay the coach driver for each new location (or chapter) he takes you to. These coins are not to be confused with the collectible Gold Coins that you find and use to buy Knives from around the world such as the Tanto a Japanese sword, the Kukri a machete from Nepal and the Sgian-dubh a knife used with the traditional Scottish Highland dress. That's all fine and dandy, but I don't get this feature at all, who cares about fake virtual buying? I'd rather find the knives themselves as a collectible or better yet, a morphing knife object. There are also Collectible Skull Masks, mostly within the Hidden Object Scenes. Whenever you speak to other characters, you are given several conversation options, usually one straight to the point option, one slightly introverted, and one slightly sarcastic. There are a handful of Achievements to earn, the usual Plus Sign inventory items, and custom difficulty settings. Normally I don't mention the Map feature because there's always a map and nowadays' they all allow you to jump to any location quickly, but I was glad they decided to change the map feature from the Beta Version The map in the Beta version had the most annoying feature I've ever seen, the map was constantly moving and was difficult to zero in on any specific spot much less click on it!
The Hidden Object Scenes lack imagination and are all basically the same, usually Interactive List Finds with some multiples of the same item, followed by Silhouetted Shape Finds. Most of the Hidden Object Scenes have a collectible skull mask to find, which is very easy to spot because of the bright colors, and the fact that the cursor changes to a hand when you scan over the mask with the cursor. Some of the scenes are repeated which is a feature I despise, it's just too boring the second time around, even more so when it was boring the first go round.
The Mini Games aren't bad, but there isn't anything new presented either. Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo.
1) Place flower tokens of different shapes on the board so that they fit together. (one of my favorite games)
2) Catching memory fragments using your Orb ghost catcher each time it's used by clicking on each floating orb until the orb indicator is full.
3) Move the silver token to the empty silver space on the board. Move the gold chips to move the frame and create a path for the silver tokens.
4) Move the silver chip to the empty space on the plate using arrows to rotate the disk.
This Collector's Edition has 9 replayable Mini Games. 18 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 22 Movies, 4 Music Soundtracks, 5 Screensavers, 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 16 Achievements, 11 Collectible Masks, 15 Knives from around the globe to purchase with Collectible Gold Coins, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Take a journey through an isolated research facility in the Antarctic and discover the secrets of its past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
262 of 281 found this review helpful
SURVIVING THE WINTER IN A RESEARCH FACILITY IN ANTARCTICA IS BRUTAL..and so is this hardcore game!
PostedMay 18, 2016
pennmom36
fromGlad I found this jacket, it's really cold here!
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 have just woke up inside a frozen icy cell, next to you is a bottle of sleeping pills and a letter from your sister Alice. The letter from home is heart wrenching, your mother passed away from the same vile disease that took your dad's life, as well as your grandparents lives. This disease is the single reason you volunteered to stay at the facility alone for the second winter in a row. You know a cure must be found, before it claims your life and your sister's life. There's just one problem, you have no idea what happened here at the facility, and no recollection of how you ended up inside of a jail cell, or why! You must search the facility known as Arctus, for clues, and figure out a way to survive the brutal winter without going insane.....unless you already have!
This is one hardcore adventure, you must figure out what to do every step of the way. The cursor doesn't change to alert you of areas of interest or what items to collect and where to go. There are no black bar tips to tell you what item you'll need to perform the task, there's no map to warp travel or tell you what area has an available task. Everything about this game is realistic, if you hang onto that kettle of boiling water too long, it will become cold and useless! There are clues everywhere, most of the time you don't know that something was a clue until later on, and because there is no journal to reference, you will either have to remember all of the clues, write them down or retravel to the different locations to find them. Because there is no map, you will find traveling becomes more and more difficult as you open up new areas, many of which are rooms or labs within a room, and the back and forthing gets progressively harder to remember which rooms are where.
There is no dialog, the story progresses as you find diary pages or notes left behind from the different scientists as they communicated with each other, so you will have to do a fair amount of reading. This is NOT a HOPA, there are no hidden object scenes. There are mini games to solve, and most of them will require you to solve them using clues you have found somewhere in the facility. You may have to figure out passwords by finding some type of clue relating to that particular scientist, or mix a batch of acid using only the correct chemicals located around the facility in different areas, again because of clues you found.
I was really impressed with the graphics, Arctus looks exactly how you would expect a research facility in the middle of Antarctica to look, and they are hand drawn not computer generated! If you don't like to have to figure out everything by yourself, pass on this game. There is a hint system that will tell you what needs to be done next (if you want or need a push in the right direction) but for the most part this game is designed to make the player "feel" like they are actually there, and if you are actually there and alone, you wouldn't have a cursor telling you what to do next or showing you where to go, right? Enjoy!
I recommend this game!