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:
After being contacted by a secret organization of elite mystery solvers, you're sent out in the field to prove your skills. This job interview may be your last!
Overall rating
2
/
5
50 of 62 found this review helpful
Some Games Are So Ridiculous They Can't Be Taken Seriously, This Is One Of Them!
PostedDecember 3, 2015
pennmom36
fromAt least I'm not a detective this time!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I get it. It's just a game and it's all make believe, so no game is meant to be taken seriously, but come on. You saved the neighbors baby from a burning house, so a mysterious man in a fedora and cloak, hands you a business card, with little information other than your heroic deed qualified you for a position in their secret society, The Curio Society! Of course we show up to the undercover society building disguised as an antiquity shop and a woman resembling the detective from New York Mysteries greets you and welcomes you to the "society" I must now prove my worthiness, (probably for the HR dept) I find several items in a HOP, play a simple Mini Game, and viola! I've just nailed this interview, I'm a full fledged agent.....where's my gargoyle cannon?!? It gets better, I discover a "special" suitcase that can tell me everything I want to know about anything and everything (technically only things that will fit into the suitcase) after solving a quick jigsaw variation puzzle, the suitcase spits out a polaroid picture. So that tells me nothing about the item, I put in a gargoyle figurine, and I get a picture of an angel figurine in return. I thought it was supposed to tell me everything about that object. Oh well, good thing I recognized the angel statue as the same angel statue hanging on the wall of the Curio Society, so I place the picture upon the statue and low and behold, my ride has just been activated! Is it a sweet batmobile? Nope, it's a Hot Air Balloon! Do I arrive at my destination in time to save the world? Who knows how long it's gonna take on this puppy, do I even know how to operate one of these? The answer is no, because I have to make a crash landing, luckily, it landed me smack dab in the middle of Mesina, exactly where I needed to be(which btw I was able to find with my handy constellation map, good thing it was nighttime) helping Lara Croft rid the world of gargoyles with a diamond fueled cannon! (why didn't I get one of those, did I not pass the same test, are we not Cirio Brethren? ) Let's fast forward to the evil dude Ignotus, with an evil agenda, who glides through the air just like Peter Pan with one leg slightly bent. This guy is as scary as it get's, after all he was the most powerful magicians of Ancient Rome, and he's got a thing for gargoyles. For whatever reason, he chooses only gargoyle statues to bring to life. Did ancient Romans even know what a gargoyle was, wouldn't it make more sense to work his evil magic on that lion statue?
I totally agree with fellow reviewer kateblue (who btw, seems to have a great sense of humor as well) I too started to play this game when it was released, quit after a few minutes, then had to start all over when I sat down to finish the game a few days later because nothing about the game was memorable, I have no desire to purchase this game, there's nothing to set this game apart from all the other games, archaeologists mistakenly awaken an ancient evil magician, evil magician brings statues to life to help him conquer the modern world, average joe is the only person who can stop him etc etc etc, it's a no go for me, and this game should be kept at the bottom of Santa's list.
I don't recommend this game.
Why would anyone want to stop Christmas from coming?
Overall rating
5
/
5
276 of 325 found this review helpful
Oh Holy Night The Stars Aren't Brightly Shining *****Puss-In-Boots Has Stolen Santa's Magic Star!
PostedDecember 3, 2015
pennmom36
fromCan't Santa's helpers make a new star?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It's Christmas Evening, not a creature was stirring, except for that cute cuddly kitten shivering on your doorstep! Aaahh, but magic is in the air, and you soon find out that Simon is no ordinary cat, he is one of Santa's helpers, he can talk, he can walk just like you and I, and he needs help saving Christmas! A thief has stolen the Magic Christmas star in Catstown, without the star, the magic of Christmas won't happen!
Christmas Stories has delivered a purrfect game this year. Puss-In-Boots will tug at your heartstrings and engulf you in a fantastical storyline, like a good book, you won't be able to stop until the very end. My only complaint, is with the graphics, although they are decent, they are nowhere near the quality of the Nutcracker eye candy. Simon will join you on your investigation to nab the star thief, and proves himself invaluable when it comes to retrieving items only a cat could accomplish. There are Snowflakes above some inventory items, indicating some type of interaction is required before the item can be used, some of which involve solving a puzzle of some sort. There are 12 Morphing Objects that morph between a cat and a mouse, and there are 36 Hidden Puzzle pieces that will create 3 different Screensavers once completed.
The Hidden Object Scenes cover just about every different type, Interactive List finds, Multiples of each item finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, finding items that match keywords in a story, and even scenes that require you to pick up items from the inventory bar and place them into the scene where they belong.
The Mini Games are a delight, however, they are all really easy to complete, but keep in mind that Christmas Stories games are intended for family fun, a game that can be enjoyed by young and old. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you will encounter:
1) Find pairs of matching constellations in three sections.
2) Put torn photo fragments together.
3) Select ring sections and use directional arrows to complete an ornament.
4) Spot the Difference between a photo and the scene.
5) Throw snowballs when the indicator is in the green zone.
6) Use weights to move clock hands to the correct time.
7) Move a feather duster around to clear dust.
8) Color the image to match it's twin.
9) Guide a ball through a maze using directional arrows in an allotted amount of moves.
10) Press cash register buttons in the correct order by trial and error.
11) Use a Looking Glass to find tools hidden in each scene.
This Collector's Edition has 24 Achievements, 12 Morphing Objects, 3 Screensavers, 36 hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, a Secret Room, 17 Concept Art pictures, 15 Wallpapers, 5 Music Soundtracks, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Embark on an epic quest to build the greatest structure in the history of mankind, The Great Wall of China.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 48 found this review helpful
Lacks A Wow Factor
PostedDecember 2, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhy does the fisherman's hut produce ham hocks?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The first game in this series was introduced in 2012, which makes you wonder why it's not a spectacular Time Management game with all that time to inbetween. The graphics are bland and not very appealing, and there are several misspelled words which for the life of me I can't understand why, don't they have spellchecker available, or at least someone who can give it a quick proof read? However, there are a few features that I think are fantastic. I love the factoids that are given at the beginning of each level about China, and the Great Wall of China, which is a feature I've only seen done in the Monument Builders series. Another feature I think is awesome is the option to deposit some of your resources into the Caravan, which will carry over to the next level! There are 16 Artifacts to collect and 49 Achievements to earn throughout the 40 levels, and you can choose Relaxed or Normal modes of difficulty. The tutorial is excellent so even if you aren't familiar with this type of game, you will be walked through the basics of the game and know how to play it with no problem.
This is a typical Time Management game where you must collect resources such as food, wood, stone, gold, and coal, but the goal is to build the Great Wall of China, sections at a time. A feature not so typical is that you must purchase Upgrades with the money you earn, before it will be available within the game itself. For example, you must go into the upgrades section and purchase the Main Camp upgrade before the start of the next level. Once you start that level, you will still have to acquire enough resources to upgrade the Main Camp within that level, if you haven't purchased the upgrade requirement, you will not be able to upgrade it within the level, the upgrade requirement will stay in effect, but you will still need to upgrade the main camp during the next level.
There are several buildings that can be upgraded, such as:
-Main Camp (extra workers)-Farms (produce more food)-Quarry (produces more stone)-Fisherman's Hut (produces food)-Sawmills (produce wood)- Gold and Coal Mines (produce gold and coal)-Caravans and Storehouses (store supplies for the next level) and Monk's Hut (only for Monks)
-Main Camp (extra workers)-Farms (produce more food)-Quarry (produces more stone)-Fisherman's Hut (produces food)-Sawmills (produce wood)- Gold and Coal Mines (produce gold and coal)-Caravans and Storehouses (store supplies for the next level) and Monk's Hut (only for Monks)
I love the factoids that tell you things you probably never knew, like the fact that China invented the first suspension bridge in 25 B.C. which was 1800 years before it was first used in the West. In my opinion, the graphics could have been better but it's a decent TM game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Edna & Harvey: The Puzzle offers a completely new puzzle-experience and will challenge the players' skills by combining various pieces of 90 puzzle backgrounds.
Overall rating
4
/
5
28 of 29 found this review helpful
Simple But Fast Paced Puzzle Game
PostedDecember 2, 2015
pennmom36
fromWho's Edna?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a different kind of puzzle game, where you choose the correct tile image that goes into the section of puzzle that is outlined. At first, there are only a handful of tiles to choose from, but as you progress, more tiles are added to choose from and the tiles become smaller. If you place the correct tile immediately you receive 100 points, but the longer it takes you to find the correct tile, the less points you will receive. If you choose the wrong tile, that tile will be removed from the selection and the mistake meter on the right side of the screen will slide down a notch, if it reaches the bottom of the meter, it's game over and you will have to start over. The goal on all 90 levels is to achieve a 3 star rating. I have only played a couple of puzzle games like this, and my only complaint is that the pictures aren't very interesting, and many of the tiles are dark which makes it very difficult to know where to place that tile. If you don't like fast paced, race against the clock puzzles, you won't like this game, because I didn't see an option anywhere that lets you play this game in a relaxed mode. If you're okay with a timer, this game will be quite addicting for you, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Get into the midnight mood - build networks of festive light streams and neon lamps!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 38 found this review helpful
I'm In A Midnight Mood
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromI have nothing but 4 way tubes, can't I have just one elbow?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a cool puzzle game this is, I'm going to have to download the last one of this series to see if it's just as fun. This is a simple game that blends two different types of games together, Tetris and Pipes. There are 55 levels as well as a Tutorial level, and the instructions are very clear and easy to understand. The goal on all levels is to connect the light tubes (clear pipes) from one light source to the other without any "leaks" or openings between. The light tubes come in different shapes such as straight tubes, T's, 4 ways, elbows and caps. Any tube can be rotated, swapped or moved to an open cell. Some of the tiles will have timers, which slowly outlines a cell, when it completely outlines a cell, a new tube will appear. You can speed up that process by clicking on a timer cell for an immediate tube. If you don't complete the lamp before all cells are filled, you will have to start the level over, and naturally, the further you progress, the quicker the cells fill and the harder it becomes to receive the good tubes that you can use. There are Bonuses to earn such as Lightning which will remove a tube of your choice, an Hourglass which freezes the timer cells for 1 minute or a Crystal Ball which shows you a preview of the next tube to appear. In order to unlock new levels, you must earn enough Stars. The only way to get stars are to route the tubes so that they land on cells with a star, which is usually far away from the direct path. I found this game to be a yin yang kind of game, it's easy yet hard, simple yet complicated, relaxing yet frustrating, but above all it's fun and entertaining, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Take the exciting journey into the world of dreams, where nothing is impossible!
Overall rating
1
/
5
21 of 31 found this review helpful
Exciting Journey?
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromI'm not that great at playing RPG's but this game's glitchy and sloooowww!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
To be perfectly honest, I only played about 15 minutes of this game, which was more than enough time to figure out this game wasn't for me. I usually like battle type games, but this game seemed to have no rhyme or reason and the numerous dialog boxes were pointless. Your main character is Lily who seems to have some pretty bizarre dreams. She cries out for her mother and father but soon realizes that she has magic powers, she's better off without them, and a battle ensues. I choose to use the tutorial which took me through a few pages of explanation of the mechanics of the game and which keys to use as hotkeys, but no real explanation of what my goals are or what I'm supposed to do in order to win this battle. When you are faced with a battle, you can choose to Fight or Escape. Each character has both health and magic and the goal seems to be to defeat the enemy by depleting him of health while retaining your own health. If you choose to "fight" there are four available actions to choose from, each move requires you to choose one of these actions for each character. You can ATTACK to deal physical damage, SKILL allows you to use magic or a particular skill against the enemy, ITEM allows you to use various items within your inventory, or DEFEND which causes less damage on you character. I had to guide Lily to an icon on an oval stained glass picture, and after choosing one of the items I was asked if I wanted to use that item. I had no idea what the item was used for and why, nor did I have any clue as to what the other available items actually did. Then you guide her to the top of the picture to a spinning portal which took me to another stained glass picture with yet another few items to choose, and another portal. Between each portal was the credits sections so you had no choice but to read the credits one section at a time! If this review sounds confusing, check out the game and see what confusion is all about!
I don't recommend this game.
WMS Slots: Quest for the Fountain
Spin on nine brand new, never before seen slot games and 6 classic casino slots from WMS Gaming!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 93 found this review helpful
Excellent Graphics
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromJust my luck, I get 10 free spins and don't win a thing!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
You get to choose the graphics settings from Fantastic to Fastest, and they are stunning, I even loved the sound of the slot machines on this game. You start out with $2,500 dollars and you can choose denominations of 1, 2,5, 10, or 25 cents, but don't worry about the money, if you fall below $250.00 the bank bumps it back up to the original $2,500 mark.
There is a Challenge Tracker that keeps track of all your goals, completing the challenges given will earn you Doubloons which unlocks new slots and new locations. At first there are only 3 Slots available, Mayan Sun/Frozen Inferno/Nemo's Badge. Mayan Sun is a looser slot machine but I really liked Nemo's Badge which was an underwater adventure. This is a great virtual game to relax with, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Build and construct to your heart’s desire! Will your bridges be able to pass the stress test?
Overall rating
2
/
5
22 of 25 found this review helpful
Not Much Fun
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromI'd rather just watch the trucks crash
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I suppose if you enjoy autocad drawing, this game would be right up your alley, but I was bored before I finished the Tutorial levels. Basically you are tasked with building a bridge from point A to Point B, using different materials to accomplish your goal. Each type of material has it's strengths and weaknesses, and you will have to decide which materials will be appropriate for each scenario, Concrete is the strongest but costs more, Cables can be used when there is a large span to cover, Steel beams are stronger than wood etc. You can incorporate Triangles, or even suspension type bridges depending on the area of construction, and right clicking any section will undo that element section. Once you have completed the bridge you click on the Play or Test icon and then choose Autos or Semi's to see if the bridge holds (semis yield more points because they are heavier) and you can earn up to 5 Badges for each level. Any level can be replayed to achieve a better rating.
I don't recommend this game.
A fun, new and fast paced Time Management game of running a tavern in an imaginary location up in the sky.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 48 found this review helpful
The Sky's The Limit
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromI liked the first Tavern better than the second one.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Cid and Markus have opened up a Potion Tavern on cloud nine, or somewhere in the sky. The first tavern is kind of a dump, but with each new level, they open a new tavern that get's progressively more modern. The basics of this Time Management game (available in Casual or Expert modes only) is the same as with most restaurant themed TM games, Click and drag the customers to an available table (matching colors are worth more) wait for them to make a decision from the menu and Click on them to take their order, Click on the menu pile on the bar to place their order with Marcus, Click on the order when it's ready and click again on the correct table to serve the order. When they are finished, you click on the table to collect the gold and a round meter will appear, if you click on the meter when the arrow is in the green zone you will receive a bonus tip, if you click too early or late you get no tip. The final step is to click on the treasure chest which is your cash register.
After each level you can visit the Shop to purchase upgrades such as Running Shoes to make Cid move faster/ Upgrading Markus' potion making skills/ Upgrading the Tables to have better timing/ Shorten the Menu's to make ordering faster. You can also choose to play (or skip) a Match 3 game which will reward you with potions that can be used during any of the levels, the Match 3 game is short, but not appealing or fun, in my opinion.
Each type of customer has a different level of Patience, Slowness and Generosity.
-Old Man Jefferson: gives twice as many points for any action once served.
-Howard: once seated, he will give each young ladies party a bonus.
-Elite: when served he gives three times the usual points for each action.
-Christie: owns a nearby tavern and will help by speeding up the way customers order drinks.
-Klara: will make sure other customers son't lose their patience.
-Jim: is a geek, and he will give you a bonus for each Geek party you seat while he's seated.
-Howard: once seated, he will give each young ladies party a bonus.
-Elite: when served he gives three times the usual points for each action.
-Christie: owns a nearby tavern and will help by speeding up the way customers order drinks.
-Klara: will make sure other customers son't lose their patience.
-Jim: is a geek, and he will give you a bonus for each Geek party you seat while he's seated.
This isn't the best DD type TM game around, but it does have excellent graphics, interesting characters and some unique features, so give it a chance, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Explore Ancient Egypt and save the beautiful High Priestess from the evil clutches of Imhotep!
Overall rating
5
/
5
129 of 149 found this review helpful
Forbidden Love
PostedDecember 1, 2015
pennmom36
fromApparently, the Chief of guards wasn't doing a very good job in the first place.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Iset the High Priestess of Hathor and the Chief of the Pharaoh's guards share a forbidden love. When the evil Imhotep, one of the Pharaoh's advisors, kidnaps the Priestess along with pieces of an ancient artifact, you must gather your best men to rescue Iset. To pay the men on this search and rescue mission, you must gather gems, Match 3 style of course!
There are two goals on every level, make matches over each gold tile, and gather a specific amount of each gem available. Some of the tiles are blocked with Chains, Double Chains or even Stone that require one or more matches to break the tiles. Matches of 4 gems will earn you a Fireball on the grid, and matches of 5 or more will earn you Lightning which will destroy several tiles when clicked.
As you progress, you will receive Power Boosters, that will require specific amounts of gold to unlock and then a smaller amount of gold each time it's used, such as:
-Ankh Shield: destroys an entire row of tiles. (10k to unlock/2k each use)
-Anubis Spear: destroys all of the same chips chosen. (20k to unlock/4k each use)
-Horus Dagger: multiplies and destroys several random chips. (30k to unlock/ 7k each use)
-Sphinx Scynte: destroys all chips on the board. (40k to unlock/10k each use)
-Anubis Spear: destroys all of the same chips chosen. (20k to unlock/4k each use)
-Horus Dagger: multiplies and destroys several random chips. (30k to unlock/ 7k each use)
-Sphinx Scynte: destroys all chips on the board. (40k to unlock/10k each use)
My only complaint with this game is that the chips become increasingly more difficult to distinguish from each other, the black cats blend into the dark background cells, cobra's are the same color as some gems, etc. Other than that I really enjoyed playing this game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!