pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4700
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:January 15, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Discover the beauty and fun of jigsaw puzzles!
Overall rating
1
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
NOTHING WORTH RAVEN ABOUT IN THIS PUZZLE GAME
PostedDecember 2, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I used to love the Earth Chronicles series by this developer because it had incredible images of wildlife and their natural habitats from across the globe. The images were so beautiful that I was willing to overlook the fact that they had no real features or worthwhile options. Over the last 3-4 years, the puzzles keep rolling out, game after game...but not a single feature has been added or changed other than the title...and the once incredible pictures are now just a collection of unappealing stock images.
There's not a single aspect here worthy of Raven about, even more puzzling... there are very few raven-themed scenes! Apparently, BF couldn't even find 3 lousy puzzles with Ravens to display in the above synopsis..but they did manage to find a picture of an owl, an eagle, a locomotive, a beach at sunset, a black kitten, and a goofy-looking dude with a sword on the 3rd image, I guess that's close enough to a Raven??
Once again, there is no option to continue playing after the Gold Cards are removed, and once again, the Shop still only has the same 3 features, a Mulligan (Undo) to purchase for 2500, a Shuffle for 2500, or a Joker to purchase for 5000. Once again, there are 9 Raven-themed card backs, and 3 different face cards, one of which is a large font. Once again, the soundtracks are exactly the same as every other solitaire game they've developed.
Once again, you begin the game in Newbie mode, which allows you to replay any hand, the Professional mode, which only allows you to replay the entire pack of 10 levels, can be accessed after starting the game in the Newbie Mode. There are 20 different Packs, and each pack has 10 levels, requiring the player to earn a specified amount of points to unlock the next pack. Once again, the scoring is similar to bowling.
Once again, the tutorial forces you to click another card from the deck on the first level (the same first-level design offered every single time) even though there are several more cards available to remove from the field. I'm STILL reluctant to skip the tutorial just in case they have added a new feature...which never happens...but still, I keep the faith!
I hate that when you remove a card with a Rose Seal, it takes forever as it explains what the card gave you. It freezes continued gameplay with a popup telling you what you won, usually +499 extra points, but occasionally you get a Joker, Shuffle, or a Mulligan. Finding two of these cards back to back is maddening!
Join our daily BF game discussions or chat with fellow fishies on hundreds of other topics from gaming to funny cat memes. It's easy, it's fun and totally free, and so are Rudolph's Presents so stop by to send & receive them before the big guy arrives at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Visit a brand-new fantasy world where your decisions matter!
Overall rating
3
/
5
62 of 74 found this review helpful
I RARELY BAIL ON A HOPA until now
PostedDecember 2, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game:
Nope, couldn't even finish the 1st chapter!
21 Main Game Scene Locations +7 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range:
Suited for those who have never played a great HOPA from yesteryear only-OR for seasoned players who ran out of other things to do, like organize their closet, paint the bedroom, or sit in the line at the BMV.
Nope, couldn't even finish the 1st chapter!
21 Main Game Scene Locations +7 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range:
Suited for those who have never played a great HOPA from yesteryear only-OR for seasoned players who ran out of other things to do, like organize their closet, paint the bedroom, or sit in the line at the BMV.
Right off the bat, I get a pop-up window telling me "If you pay attention you can find interesting things" Then a large pointer says "Take This" and points to Evelyn's scarf...or so I thought. I clicked on the scarf, and I clicked on the gem holding the scarf but nothing happened. I started randomly clicking anything and everything, I practically clicked every single eyelash on this poor maiden's face, and still, nothing happened. Alas, turns out you have to close the window first! Was that supposed to be the interesting part?
The next thing you know, I've been involved in an accident...in the middle of the forest, not a soul in sight...except for that unfortunate Bard, man, he came out of nowhere! All's good, not only is the Bard good-looking, but he's pretty agile too, considering I just ran him over with a 1200-pound horse! So I bring the Bouncy Bard home to meet dad but he doesn't make a particularly good first impression when the Po-po bangs on the Pa-pa's door to issue a BOLO.
I get another pop-up at pops place to explain that Dialog Choices have an input on the game's storyline. Now, THIS is interesting! Well, the concept isn't really interesting, what IS interesting is the fact that the Strategy guide doesn't show an alternate plot at any point which can only mean one thing...the only plot alteration is the immediate response given depending on which choice you made...the plot UNthickens...
After "remaining silent" I'm faced with yet another pop-up window to explain another amazing feature...surely, this will be a cutting-edge feature... I shiver with anticipation! Hmmm, there's an arrow pointing to the Morphing Collectible explaining that "some items should be assembled" Wait, WHAT! my morphing "Useful Trinkets" requires assembly? How cool is that! With a steady finger on my Mouse, both feet planted squarely on the floor to brace myself for incredible happenings, I carefully click on the trinket and you'll never guess what happened...literally, you'll never guess because nothing actually happened? Did it just assemble itself? Was I being punished for not having the bounce-back Bard's back?
What a letdown, so I say to myself "Self, let's take a break and spend some hard-earned Gold to buy items for my Boudoir" (okay, a little bit of an exaggeration, they are actually Gold-colored Leaves..were you expecting Forest-dwellers to use actual gold as currency? Gold doesn't grow on trees ya know, but leaves do!) WOW-wee-WOW my Boudoir is HUGE! Oh crap, this isn't my Boudoir, this is my log cabin living room... must be a typo? Awe, I can buy an adorable kitty for just a handful of leaves! As I carefully count my leaves, praying for kitty's sake that they didn't crumble to dust in my pocket, I notice something odd and confusing. The description says I'm purchasing a Black Cat but I want the adorable Grey Tabby shown snuggling up in a ball on the sofa...surely this is a "Bait & Switch Scam"?!
Obviously, Domini Games is desperate to redeem itself from a whole slew of subpar game offerings of late. Clearly, they are just coming up with new series by simply re-titling older games and now they are taking it one step further by pretending to offer new & exciting features within the games when in reality, they are bogus.
The last 10 or so games have been riddled with glitches, and typo's that are actually occurring because they copy/pasted features from the previous game and didn't bother to match the name with the feature. The last game had 3 different names for the featured collectible in 3 different places (the Extra's menu-the pull-out tab-strategy guide) and this game is riddled with oversights as well.
We don't want "shiny" we just want a game that challenges us a bit, makes us have to think about what to do next, a game that isn't cloned over & over...just like the games that were created when Domini first jumped into the BF pond! What happened to your pride Domini? Why can't you break the mold to create something better than the 2.5 average rating games you keep offering? We prefer quality over quantity...have you read any of your reviews? How many reviewers have to say they gave up on your games and will just go replay an older game...that say's it ALL!
Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
There are 14 Morphing Useful Trinkets, 14 Magical Beasts, and 70 Zoom Zone Leaves that are used to purchase 14 Boudoir Items (the Boudoir is actually a living room in a log cabin) and the black cat is actually a grey tabby but whose keeping track?
There are 14 Morphing Useful Trinkets, 14 Magical Beasts, and 70 Zoom Zone Leaves that are used to purchase 14 Boudoir Items (the Boudoir is actually a living room in a log cabin) and the black cat is actually a grey tabby but whose keeping track?
Hidden Object Scenes:
The Hidden Object Scenes were varied, such as Keywords in Sentence Finds which was very difficult to find objects on a black stone with sketches made of white chalk, not to mention that the correct object didn't seem to correlate with the description. I did enjoy the HO where you had to find items on a picture map as riddled descriptions (? + ? = Tools of a Woodcutter) and the next item was related to the first one but had the first word filled in, such as, Axe + ? = Tools of the Woodcutter. I think they missed the make a tad bit by attempting to make it more challenging, the objects weren't very sensible most of the time. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HO's where you were tasked with finding 6 Silhouetted Shapes shown.
The Hidden Object Scenes were varied, such as Keywords in Sentence Finds which was very difficult to find objects on a black stone with sketches made of white chalk, not to mention that the correct object didn't seem to correlate with the description. I did enjoy the HO where you had to find items on a picture map as riddled descriptions (? + ? = Tools of a Woodcutter) and the next item was related to the first one but had the first word filled in, such as, Axe + ? = Tools of the Woodcutter. I think they missed the make a tad bit by attempting to make it more challenging, the objects weren't very sensible most of the time. There are also several smaller Zoom Zone HO's where you were tasked with finding 6 Silhouetted Shapes shown.
Alternate Match 3 Game:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. It's the same M3 game, the same boards, the same icons offered in every game. Why not at least change the icons or the M3 type once in a while???
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene. It's the same M3 game, the same boards, the same icons offered in every game. Why not at least change the icons or the M3 type once in a while???
Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 35 Movie Video Cutscenes, 41 Achievements, 21 Replayable Mini-Games, 21 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Morphing Useful Trinkets, 14 Magical Beasts, and 70 Zoom Zone Leaves that are used to purchase 14 Boudoir Items, 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 35 Movie Video Cutscenes, 41 Achievements, 21 Replayable Mini-Games, 21 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Morphing Useful Trinkets, 14 Magical Beasts, and 70 Zoom Zone Leaves that are used to purchase 14 Boudoir Items, 3 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
If you miss the BF forums then come to my new forum which has even more features to enjoy, Rudolph's Presents are now available for Christmas so stop on by, join in a snowball fight! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save literature’s most famous story worlds from ruin?
Overall rating
3
/
5
54 of 71 found this review helpful
A KINDLE MAY SOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES!
PostedNovember 27, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game in about 3.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
15 Main Game Scene Locations +5 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
15 Main Game Scene Locations +5 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
I would have given this game at least 4-stars if not for the fact that nearly every single task could be completed within the same scene...need an emblem to open a cache, look to the right, need a tool to open a window, just look two steps behind. I want a little bit of a challenge! Remember how fun games were like Dire Grove where you had free roam of all the scenes from beginning to end?
MORPHING OBJECTS/COLLECTIBLES: (CE version only)
There are 12 Morphing Book Collections and 20 Zoom Zone Picture Part pieces. I appreciate the Morphs so I won't complain.
There are 12 Morphing Book Collections and 20 Zoom Zone Picture Part pieces. I appreciate the Morphs so I won't complain.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied and what I am noticing from this developer in the last few games, is a marked improvement. I like that I'm having to actually "search" versus having a free for all clickfest! There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Find & Replace, Swatch Finds, Associated Item Finds, and a handful of smaller Zoom Zone HO's. There are no alternate games available in lieu of the HOs.
.
MINI-GAMES/PUZZLES:
I was a tad disappointed with the mini-games this time because most were just revamped puzzles we've solved in past games, over & over. Arrange books according to the clues shown, draw a line between two points as shown in the pictures, restore the image to match the page on the right, and swap bars with gems so that when overlapped there are no empty holes...just in the demo alone!
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied and what I am noticing from this developer in the last few games, is a marked improvement. I like that I'm having to actually "search" versus having a free for all clickfest! There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Find & Replace, Swatch Finds, Associated Item Finds, and a handful of smaller Zoom Zone HO's. There are no alternate games available in lieu of the HOs.
.
MINI-GAMES/PUZZLES:
I was a tad disappointed with the mini-games this time because most were just revamped puzzles we've solved in past games, over & over. Arrange books according to the clues shown, draw a line between two points as shown in the pictures, restore the image to match the page on the right, and swap bars with gems so that when overlapped there are no empty holes...just in the demo alone!
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
Megan finds herself in another chaotic situation just one month later when the town is invaded by book characters summoned by Bertha...maybe Megan should just invest in a Kindle? There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes within just 5 scene locations. You will continue your search for the remaining 3 Morphing Book Collections and 5 Zoom Zone Puzzle Pieces. After completing the Bonus Chapter the Secret Room becomes available which allows you to search for any missing collectibles, and an Expedition Room to search for objects in a timed mode.
Megan finds herself in another chaotic situation just one month later when the town is invaded by book characters summoned by Bertha...maybe Megan should just invest in a Kindle? There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes within just 5 scene locations. You will continue your search for the remaining 3 Morphing Book Collections and 5 Zoom Zone Puzzle Pieces. After completing the Bonus Chapter the Secret Room becomes available which allows you to search for any missing collectibles, and an Expedition Room to search for objects in a timed mode.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
5 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Morphing Book Collections, 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 4 Screensavers, Jigsaws, 12 Mini-Games & 13 Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room which allows you to return to the scenes to search for missed collectibles, an Expedition Room to play a Timed HO, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
5 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Morphing Book Collections, 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 4 Screensavers, Jigsaws, 12 Mini-Games & 13 Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room which allows you to return to the scenes to search for missed collectibles, an Expedition Room to play a Timed HO, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Miss the forums and familiar friends? Come join us at my new forum for game talk, general chats, and great company at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you save literature’s most famous story worlds from ruin?
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 14 found this review helpful
WOULD BE A GREAT GAME IF TASKS COULDN'T BE COMPLETED IN THE SAME SCENE
PostedNovember 27, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game in about 3.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
15 Main Game Scene Locations +5 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
15 Main Game Scene Locations +5 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
I would have given this game at least 4-stars if not for the fact that nearly every single task could be completed within the same scene...need an emblem to open a cache, look to the right, need a tool to open a window, just look two steps behind. I want a little bit of a challenge! Remember how fun games were like Dire Grove where you had free roam of all the scenes from beginning to end?
MORPHING OBJECTS/COLLECTIBLES: (CE version only)
There are 12 Morphing Book Collections and 20 Zoom Zone Picture Part pieces. I appreciate the Morphs so I won't complain.
There are 12 Morphing Book Collections and 20 Zoom Zone Picture Part pieces. I appreciate the Morphs so I won't complain.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied and what I am noticing from this developer in the last few games, is a marked improvement. I like that I'm having to actually "search" versus having a free for all clickfest! There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Find & Replace, Swatch Finds, Associated Item Finds, and a handful of smaller Zoom Zone HO's. There are no alternate games available in lieu of the HOs.
.
MINI-GAMES/PUZZLES:
I was a tad disappointed with the mini-games this time because most were just revamped puzzles we've solved in past games, over & over. Arrange books according to the clues shown, draw a line between two points as shown in the pictures, restore the image to match the page on the right, and swap bars with gems so that when overlapped there are no empty holes...just in the demo alone!
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied and what I am noticing from this developer in the last few games, is a marked improvement. I like that I'm having to actually "search" versus having a free for all clickfest! There are Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Find & Replace, Swatch Finds, Associated Item Finds, and a handful of smaller Zoom Zone HO's. There are no alternate games available in lieu of the HOs.
.
MINI-GAMES/PUZZLES:
I was a tad disappointed with the mini-games this time because most were just revamped puzzles we've solved in past games, over & over. Arrange books according to the clues shown, draw a line between two points as shown in the pictures, restore the image to match the page on the right, and swap bars with gems so that when overlapped there are no empty holes...just in the demo alone!
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
Megan finds herself in another chaotic situation just one month later when the town is invaded by book characters summoned by Bertha...maybe Megan should just invest in a Kindle? There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes within just 5 scene locations. You will continue your search for the remaining 3 Morphing Book Collections and 5 Zoom Zone Puzzle Pieces. After completing the Bonus Chapter the Secret Room becomes available which allows you to search for any missing collectibles, and an Expedition Room to search for objects in a timed mode.
Megan finds herself in another chaotic situation just one month later when the town is invaded by book characters summoned by Bertha...maybe Megan should just invest in a Kindle? There are 7 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes within just 5 scene locations. You will continue your search for the remaining 3 Morphing Book Collections and 5 Zoom Zone Puzzle Pieces. After completing the Bonus Chapter the Secret Room becomes available which allows you to search for any missing collectibles, and an Expedition Room to search for objects in a timed mode.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
5 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Morphing Book Collections, 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 4 Screensavers, Jigsaws, 12 Mini-Games & 13 Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room which allows you to return to the scenes to search for missed collectibles, an Expedition Room to play a Timed HO, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
5 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Morphing Book Collections, 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 4 Screensavers, Jigsaws, 12 Mini-Games & 13 Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room which allows you to return to the scenes to search for missed collectibles, an Expedition Room to play a Timed HO, 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Miss the forums and familiar friends? Come join us at my new forum for game talk, general chats, and great company at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Asgard is cut-off, and all the realms are at risk!
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 30 found this review helpful
FRUSTRATION ISN'T FUN
PostedNovember 26, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I used to love the Viking Brothers/Heroes series but now it's become a frustrating game because the timer has become way too stingy and it's nearly impossible to complete levels with 3 stars...and I'm referring to the Normal Mode! Sure, I could play in the Easy Mode but I've never seen the point of playing a Time Management game without time restraints? I like the challenge of trying to complete the tasks before losing a star, but lately, most of the games by this developer have been the same way (with the exception of Golden Rails) and it has sucked all the fun out of the gameplay for me personally.
You can play in an Easy, untimed Mode, a Normal Mode, or Hard Mode. Perhaps Yustas would consider adding an in-between mode where the Normal Mode would have a Normal difficulty, and for those who love to play at a break-neck speed, you could add an Extreme, or Hardcore Mode?
The Viking Heroes have quite a task at hand when they become stranded on the Bifrost Bridge to Asgard. The goal is to clear a path to free our heroes who possess different skill sets which help us progress.
Naturally, you will clear & repair the pathways, repair bridges, build sawmills and farms, and collect resources along the way. Most of the resources come from Resource Chests that regenerate over time, such as Food, Gold, Stone, and Crystals...crystals that are ironically used to remove large crystals???
I loved the location terrain of most of the original Viking Brothers games, but I have to admit, this one wasn't that appealing it just seems sci-fi-ish. These are Vikings and Asgard was one of the sacred nine realms overseen by Odin. Vikings who died during battle were brought to Valhalla, a great majestic hall within Asgard, and considered by Vikings to be a tremendous honor! Asgard itself was a celestial city of high towers surrounded by a great wall which is clearly not depicted in these scenes. I get that it's just a game, but ya gotta have curb appeal!
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
14 Wallpapers, 16 Music Soundtracks, 21 Collectible Owls, 42 Achievements (40 Achievements in this SE version) 50 Main Levels, and 15 Bonus Levels.
14 Wallpapers, 16 Music Soundtracks, 21 Collectible Owls, 42 Achievements (40 Achievements in this SE version) 50 Main Levels, and 15 Bonus Levels.
We all miss the Big Fish Forums, which is exactly why I created The Woods Forum. Come join the fun at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Get inspired with the newest Paint By Numbers collection!
Overall rating
1
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
FELT LIKE I WAS PUSHING DAISIES
PostedNovember 26, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I chose to "color" the Daisies on stained glass (?) because it was the only image I could access that allowed me to color the entire scene. The "stained glass" background turned out to be nothing but puke brown hues and the daisies were white & grey.
To make matters worse, most of the colors chosen for the center of the daisies, stems, etc. were all the same color and simply separated by black lines. In most painting games, a single flower, even a daisy would have several hues of the same color to give it contrast, and depth.
The end result was a painting that was finished in seconds and couldn't have been more unappealing because of the ugly colors chosen!
To make matters worse, most of the colors chosen for the center of the daisies, stems, etc. were all the same color and simply separated by black lines. In most painting games, a single flower, even a daisy would have several hues of the same color to give it contrast, and depth.
The end result was a painting that was finished in seconds and couldn't have been more unappealing because of the ugly colors chosen!
The colors are always beautiful in The Woods! Join me at my new forum where you can find or share gaming tips and even create your own pixel art: thewoodsforum.boards.net ☯
I don't recommend this game.
A ski resort high in the mountains hides a dark past!
Overall rating
4
/
5
224 of 246 found this review helpful
IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A MYSTERY CASE FILES GAME...but...
PostedNovember 22, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game: a little over 4.0 Hours
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
I have come to terms with the fact that we will never get another HOPA where I can get lost or forget where something goes because the scenes were never locked. In games of the past, you would never complete a task by finding an inventory item AND a place to use it in the same exact scene! The Dire Groves, Ravenhearsts, and Fates Carnival games of yesteryear are long gone. Developers won't spend money or time to recreate those amazing HOPAs because they think HOPAs have seen their time. (If they only realized that it's because they started making the games fool-proof, we are still HOPA fans but fans of the way they were, not the way they are!)
I must admit, The Last Resort didn't feel like a MCF game. I miss the typewriter keys clinking as I tried to save enough energy to use a hint, I miss that mysterious vibe of being a Master Detective whose face is never shown, I miss the cool gadgets, I miss the dark and misty scenes in the moonlight, the creepy rooms, the seedy characters, etc. of the MCF masterpieces, and I definitely miss those fantabulous Rube Goldberg door puzzles that could drive a person insane!
With that being said, this is a really good game. I did not feel bored at any point in time and I did enjoy the game. I've given up on the way they were so I will try to rate this as just another game versus another Mystery Case Files game.
HELPERS/GADGET
There are no Helpers. At the beginning of the game, you find Lord Simon's camera and eventually begin to find cassette tapes to play, using Simon's Camera. This is short-lived and it felt like the developers forgot this feature existed because I found tapes 1 and 2, then I found one labeled #4. I kept thinking I'd stumble across the missing #3 tape but never did and that was the end of this gadget?
(including completion of all puzzles & Bonus Chapter)
17 Main Game Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
I have come to terms with the fact that we will never get another HOPA where I can get lost or forget where something goes because the scenes were never locked. In games of the past, you would never complete a task by finding an inventory item AND a place to use it in the same exact scene! The Dire Groves, Ravenhearsts, and Fates Carnival games of yesteryear are long gone. Developers won't spend money or time to recreate those amazing HOPAs because they think HOPAs have seen their time. (If they only realized that it's because they started making the games fool-proof, we are still HOPA fans but fans of the way they were, not the way they are!)
I must admit, The Last Resort didn't feel like a MCF game. I miss the typewriter keys clinking as I tried to save enough energy to use a hint, I miss that mysterious vibe of being a Master Detective whose face is never shown, I miss the cool gadgets, I miss the dark and misty scenes in the moonlight, the creepy rooms, the seedy characters, etc. of the MCF masterpieces, and I definitely miss those fantabulous Rube Goldberg door puzzles that could drive a person insane!
With that being said, this is a really good game. I did not feel bored at any point in time and I did enjoy the game. I've given up on the way they were so I will try to rate this as just another game versus another Mystery Case Files game.
HELPERS/GADGET
There are no Helpers. At the beginning of the game, you find Lord Simon's camera and eventually begin to find cassette tapes to play, using Simon's Camera. This is short-lived and it felt like the developers forgot this feature existed because I found tapes 1 and 2, then I found one labeled #4. I kept thinking I'd stumble across the missing #3 tape but never did and that was the end of this gadget?
Collectibles & Morphing Objects (CE version only)
Grandma did not disappoint when it came to collectibles & morphs! The collectibles themselves aren't necessarily exciting, but finding them was not easy and I really enjoyed the added challenge!
Grandma did not disappoint when it came to collectibles & morphs! The collectibles themselves aren't necessarily exciting, but finding them was not easy and I really enjoyed the added challenge!
There are 46 House Details, one that morphs, and one that is static (emblem of a house) There are also 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that are blended into the scenery extremely well! If a zoom zone doesn't close automatically, that's your clue that a puzzle piece is still there! After finding all Jigsaws, you can assemble & download a 20-piece Jigsaw Puzzle.
There is a pull-out tab on the left that keeps track of the Collectibles but if you missed a collectible or Jigsaw Puzzle Piece, you can return to the scenes to collect them (after completing the Main Game) by clicking on the puzzle piece that shows "incomplete" or clicking on the house section that shows "incomplete". I love this ability, I love the challenge of the collectibles so thanks Grandma Studios!
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are only 10 Hidden Object Scenes +2 in the CE Bonus Chapter. (not sure where the other 5 HOs were hiding as stated by another player, there was a mini-game where you rotated the rings of 3 disks to match stained glass patterns BUT this was listed as a Mini-game with actual instructions) I don't normally enjoy HO scenes in most of these games because the objects aren't hidden and most of the time I can find the objects without looking at the list! This was definitely not the case in this game, in fact, I would stare at some of these scenes for a while trying to find a lousy paperclip or the last book, so bravo Grandma! Most of the HO's are Interactive Lists, but there were Silhouetted Shape Finds, Morphing Object Finds, Multiples of the same Object (find 12 books) Swatches where you pinpoint areas shown inside tokens)
There are only 10 Hidden Object Scenes +2 in the CE Bonus Chapter. (not sure where the other 5 HOs were hiding as stated by another player, there was a mini-game where you rotated the rings of 3 disks to match stained glass patterns BUT this was listed as a Mini-game with actual instructions) I don't normally enjoy HO scenes in most of these games because the objects aren't hidden and most of the time I can find the objects without looking at the list! This was definitely not the case in this game, in fact, I would stare at some of these scenes for a while trying to find a lousy paperclip or the last book, so bravo Grandma! Most of the HO's are Interactive Lists, but there were Silhouetted Shape Finds, Morphing Object Finds, Multiples of the same Object (find 12 books) Swatches where you pinpoint areas shown inside tokens)
Mini-Games:
Some of the mini-games were quite challenging, some of which were multi-layered. In the first couple of chapters, there were actually a couple of decent Rube Goldberg Door Puzzles where you find components to open up one puzzle at a time to unlock the door. Unfortunately, they were MIA in the last few chapters! There were a couple of multi-layered puzzles to open the next chapter but these were just a series of mini-games and aren't even close to being considered a Rube Goldberg Puzzle which is what made MCF games stand out in a crowd! My theory is that game production was halted midway through the game when Russia invaded Ukraine, and the last half was patched together quickly...but I completely understand! Grandma is faced with dreadful conditions, loss of electricity 50% of the day, not to mention most of their team is fighting in the war for their country, so when you think about their circumstance, the fact that they are able to produce such quality in any game is amazing!
Some of the mini-games were quite challenging, some of which were multi-layered. In the first couple of chapters, there were actually a couple of decent Rube Goldberg Door Puzzles where you find components to open up one puzzle at a time to unlock the door. Unfortunately, they were MIA in the last few chapters! There were a couple of multi-layered puzzles to open the next chapter but these were just a series of mini-games and aren't even close to being considered a Rube Goldberg Puzzle which is what made MCF games stand out in a crowd! My theory is that game production was halted midway through the game when Russia invaded Ukraine, and the last half was patched together quickly...but I completely understand! Grandma is faced with dreadful conditions, loss of electricity 50% of the day, not to mention most of their team is fighting in the war for their country, so when you think about their circumstance, the fact that they are able to produce such quality in any game is amazing!
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
You will play Katie in a prequel that fills in some missing gaps in the main story. If I explain any further it would spoil the main game's plot. This is an average-length Bonus Chapter that spans over 7 scene locations, with 6 additional Mini-games and just 2 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final 14 House Details and 4 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces which allow you to assemble & download a Jigsaw Puzzle.
You will play Katie in a prequel that fills in some missing gaps in the main story. If I explain any further it would spoil the main game's plot. This is an average-length Bonus Chapter that spans over 7 scene locations, with 6 additional Mini-games and just 2 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final 14 House Details and 4 Jigsaw Puzzle pieces which allow you to assemble & download a Jigsaw Puzzle.
Collector's Edition Extras:
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 24 Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks ♪, 10 Replayable Mini-Games♙, 12 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Achievements, 46 Collectible House Details (1 Morphing-1 Static) 20 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 5 Main Chapters (Last Vacation) +Bonus Chapter (Redemption) and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 24 Movie Cutscene Videos, 8 Music Soundtracks ♪, 10 Replayable Mini-Games♙, 12 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Achievements, 46 Collectible House Details (1 Morphing-1 Static) 20 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a Jigsaw Puzzle to assemble, 5 Main Chapters (Last Vacation) +Bonus Chapter (Redemption) and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Like most of you, I too missed the BF forums so I created The Woods Forum so everyone could enjoy all the benefits of a community built by like-minded gamers. Reconnect with friends, join group play games, check out the Game Series Lists, find gaming help & share tips, or just chillax by the campfire and enjoy nature at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Enjoy story-driven time management in the Wonderland of the past.
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
WHY DOES THIS SE STILL INCLUDE A SG WHICH SHOWS COLLECTIBLES THAT AREN'T AVAILABLE?
PostedNovember 21, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I found it odd that this Standard Edition version still includes a Strategy Guide...which clearly shows the location of the collectible flowers that are only available in the Collector's Edition version!
I love Alice's Wonderland so I was excited to see a brand new series by this developer, but it's basically the same game with just a different title. Well, technically this game doesn't have Alice because it is focused on The White Rabbit, but the Tweedles' are still the helpers who work for candy, you still need Candy Factories and Stump Huts for Bark. I doubt anyone would know the difference if it wasn't for the fact that Alice is MIA!
They did change the Teacup Puzzle Piece feature, this time you collect specific flowers on each level to create a bouquet (CE version) which in turn gives you a puzzle piece to assemble a picture. I absolutely loved picking the flowers! Once you collect all of the flowers, an Icon pops up to show the completed bouquet and the puzzle piece fills in on the level map. If you missed the flowers on a particular level, you can replay that level to just pick the flowers and exit out, your star rating will remain intact.
Also in the CE version, each scene also has a Morphing Bat to collect but he's a crafty little bat and he disappears pretty quickly! You will receive a color palette that allows you to paint a picture.
The tasks and resources are basically the same, collect bark, candy, gold, and carrots for the White Rabbit, fill in holes, collect debris, and build various factories or resource alters. The White Rabbit's hut allows you to "craft" items by selecting the required icon. You can build Magic Alter Towers, catch fireflies and even chase away ghosts.
This is a fun TM game but I was hoping it would be a stand-alone game series that had different characters and game mechanics. I would recommend the CE version over this SE version because picking flowers was a really enjoyable feature!
Come join us at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
I love Alice's Wonderland so I was excited to see a brand new series by this developer, but it's basically the same game with just a different title. Well, technically this game doesn't have Alice because it is focused on The White Rabbit, but the Tweedles' are still the helpers who work for candy, you still need Candy Factories and Stump Huts for Bark. I doubt anyone would know the difference if it wasn't for the fact that Alice is MIA!
They did change the Teacup Puzzle Piece feature, this time you collect specific flowers on each level to create a bouquet (CE version) which in turn gives you a puzzle piece to assemble a picture. I absolutely loved picking the flowers! Once you collect all of the flowers, an Icon pops up to show the completed bouquet and the puzzle piece fills in on the level map. If you missed the flowers on a particular level, you can replay that level to just pick the flowers and exit out, your star rating will remain intact.
Also in the CE version, each scene also has a Morphing Bat to collect but he's a crafty little bat and he disappears pretty quickly! You will receive a color palette that allows you to paint a picture.
The tasks and resources are basically the same, collect bark, candy, gold, and carrots for the White Rabbit, fill in holes, collect debris, and build various factories or resource alters. The White Rabbit's hut allows you to "craft" items by selecting the required icon. You can build Magic Alter Towers, catch fireflies and even chase away ghosts.
This is a fun TM game but I was hoping it would be a stand-alone game series that had different characters and game mechanics. I would recommend the CE version over this SE version because picking flowers was a really enjoyable feature!
Come join us at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy story-driven time management in the Wonderland of the past.
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
I LOVE COLLECTING FLOWERS FOR BOUQUETS & TRYING TO CATCH THE MORPHING BAT...but...
PostedNovember 21, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I love Alice's Wonderland so I was excited to see a brand new series by this developer, but it's basically the same game with just a different title. Well, technically this game is more focused on The White Rabbit, but the story is almost identical. The Tweedles' are still the helpers who work for candy, you still need Candy Factories and Stump Huts for Bark, etc. If you didn't read the titles you probably wouldn't know they were different game series'
They did change the Teacup Puzzle Piece feature, this time you collect specific flowers on each level to create a bouquet which in turn gives you a puzzle piece to assemble a picture. I absolutely loved picking the flowers! Once you collect all of the flowers, an Icon pops up to show the completed bouquet and the puzzle piece fills in on the level map. If you missed the flowers on a particular level, you can replay that level to just pick the flowers and exit out, your star rating will remain intact.
Each scene also has a Morphing Bat to collect but he's a crafty little bat and he disappears pretty quickly! You will receive a color palette that allows you to paint a picture.
The tasks and resources are basically the same, collect bark, candy, gold, and carrots for the White Rabbit, fill in holes, collect debris, and build various factories or resource alters. The White Rabbit's hut allows you to "craft" items by selecting the required icon. You can build Magic Alter Towers, catch fireflies and even chase away ghosts.
This is a fun TM game but I was hoping it would be a stand-alone game series that had different characters and game mechanics. It's a good game but basically the same exact game as Alice's Wonderland.
Come join us at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Help Aladdin fight to save the classic story as a sinister plot threatens the kingdom!
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
NOT A BAD GAME BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THE LAST GAME OFFERED
PostedNovember 21, 2022
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If you are new to this developer's games then you will probably enjoy the game, but if you've played a few e-FunSoft Match 3 games it's pretty clear that nothing has changed feature-wise. It's bright and colorful with a cool Egyptian theme and music, unfortunately, it has the same game mechanics, the same obstacles, the same powerups, and the same level layouts as most of their other games...but again, if you are new to this genre or don't mind a repeat, it is a decent game.
Some icons are trapped under Spiderwebs or Ropes that require making matches of whatever tile is blocked within them, but most of them are just filler features, and unblocking the tiles is never a necessity to progress unless they block other areas of interest. They also got rid of the spiders that everyone seemed to hate but I actually liked them because at least it was a challenging feature. (but I guess they weren't shiny enough)
The only goal really is to make matches over all of the Gold, Silver, or Blue Cells and make the required number of matches of each specified element tile. Some levels have Treasure Chests that can be collected by dropping them off the board when you make matches under them.
Powerups with various abilities are added at the start of each level, two at a time. They changed this feature slightly a few games back by not allowing you to purchase powerups at your discretion, which could then be recharged by making matches to fill the mana meter...less is more, right?
Each powerup comes with a limited amount but I have no clue if you can purchase more when it runs out because I prefer to try to beat levels without using powerups on Match 3 games. The powerups are the same in every e-FunSoft game, they just change the name, such as a Halberd to clear a single tile, a Dagger to clear a 5-tile radius horizontally, or a Lantern to clear a 5-tile radius vertically. Bonus Bombs are added to the board as well, a Match 5 awards you with a Medium Bomb on the board and a Match 6 awards you with a Large Bomb (I have never received a small bomb on any of these games so I'm not sure it exists??)
You must purchase all 4 World Upgrades to progress to the next Chapter, 5 Chapters total, with the single Star you earn for completing each level. There are no options for the upgraded worlds, such as which building to construct, nor does it allow you to place the building where you want, so it's a boring and meaningless feature for me personally because basically it just allows you to read more text about the saga at hand...not to mention this scenario takes forever before you can move on, but it is sparkly!
Have you been to The Woods Forum yet? It's free to become a member and super easy to navigate so stop by and chat with fellow BF gamers thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.