pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4713
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:May 8, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover™
Welcome back to Gardenscapes! Turn the hall into a masterpiece!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover
PostedSeptember 25, 2015
pennmom36
fromYou get the chance to name your dog so have fun with that.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Austin the butler has agreed to help us fix up the mansion that grandpa left us. We were so busy revamping the dilapidated garden that we completely forgot about the house. There's no time to waste, all our friends are coming to visit anytime now!
I know this was probably an awesome game in it's heyday, but I just got so bored sifting through junk piles in each room of the house and finding stupid items that customers supposedly wanted. Is anyone seriously going to buy a spoon or an old used sponge? Anyway you can play in a Relaxed or Timed mode, as customers pop up with items they are looking for, they are willing to pay top dollar for it, however on timed mode, they longer it takes you to fulfil their needs, the less they are willing to pay you for that item. Some scenes contain Question Marks that will earn you an extra hint when found, some have cameras that will briefly show you they location of several items with a white background, and almost all of the scenes contain gold coins to collect for extra cash.
The money you earn selling these random useless items to customers is used to upgrade the mansion with new furniture, flooring, fireplaces, dog beds, portraits and various other decorations. Each category gives you three style and color options, each option costing a little bit more. That's it in a nutshell other than a few random tasks such as finding 10 Teddy Bears or 10 Dog bones.
I don't recommend this game.
A mountain observatory is hiding a big secret!
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 119 found this review helpful
Welcome To Optimus The City Of The Mind
PostedSeptember 25, 2015
pennmom36
fromCode Red Activated, this is not a drill, Sam's missing all the excitement!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Get ready for another action packed Hidden Expedition adventure agent. Pinpointing the source of man-made earthquakes will be the easy part, finding a way to penetrate the dome of the old Observatory is a whole different ballgame. Separating reality from fiction could prove impossible in the city of the mind, a matrix world inspired by one man with a vision to create another world filled with lies and deceit! It just takes a little skill, some motivation, and a bitterness that lies deep within the pit of a rejected child's stomach.
I recently researched some fun facts about the Hidden Expedition series recently, because I wanted to find out what H.E.L.P stood for, the P was stumping me. Turns out that this league has had a few name changes over the years. In Hidden Expedition: Titanic, the league went by the name of H.E.A.L, which was the Hidden Expedition Adventure League. In Hidden Expedition: Everest, the league was simply the Hidden Expedition Club, and Hidden Expedition: Devil's Triangle was H.E.A.T which stood for Hidden Expedition Adventure Team. The newer games feature the name H.E.L.P which stands for Hidden Expedition League of Preservation (my guess originally was protection) I guess this is a lot of useless information, but now you know!
In true HE fashion, there are 20 Fact Cards to collect with information on such topics as average precipitation, radio telescopes, magnetic tape, and even the meaning of sound waves. Many of the inventory items have Plus Signs which indicate some type of interaction needs to take place before the item can be used. The Collector's Edition has the addition of Collectible hidden Globes, Achievements to earn and Morphing Objects within the HOP's.
The Hidden Object Scenes are over the top as expected in this series, progressive, interactive silhouetted shape finds where you must find items and use those items within the scene to expose other items. HOP's where you find 5 ink pens and 5 staplers to use on an ink pot and papers which opens up an interactive list search, and there is even a Hidden Object Scene where you must use binoculars to find items related to the clues shown in a paragraph at a time. There are also a few smaller HOP's within zoom zones where you just have to find a handful of useful items.
The Mini Games are really fun and all seem to be related to the subject at hand, decoding the signal by moving soundwave segments to their correct positions using sliders and arrows. Arranging tokens using empty slots so that the lowest values are on the left and the higher values are on the right. There are even small games where you are tasked with stopping the target in the correct safe zone or aligning targets to pinpoint the correct areas.
The Collector's Edition has 13 Achievements, 10 Morphing Objects, 28 replayable Puzzles, 12 replayable HOP's, 6 Videos, 44 Collectible Globes, 12 Concept Art pictures, 8 Wallpapers, 9 Soundtracks, the Making of, a Souvenir Room, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Submerge into the unknown! Step into the shoes of paranormal detective, Iris Birdwood and solve an otherworldly kidnapping.
Overall rating
4
/
5
87 of 102 found this review helpful
Someone Doesn't Want This Dream To Come True
PostedSeptember 25, 2015
pennmom36
fromCouldn't be more obvious, very gloomy indeed
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
The year is 1926 and Iris Birdwood. a paranormal Detective just witnessed a young woman vanish before her very eyes! The woman just happens to be Lara King, girlfriend to a famous inventor, Dr. Macario Magnus and daughter to his boss from King Industries. It would seem that the good Dr. has invented something others want, including a ghostly apparition who will stop at nothing to enter this invention, The Dreamatorium!
This game is cheesy to say the least, and Iris's voice and dialog tend to be a bit unnerving at times. Iris has a magical Amulet (doesn't everyone these days) which can sense supernatural traces and give you intense visions of the past. Eventually you will find a Multi-tool gadget that you keep with you (that's amazing) and select which tool you need to use for each task, a knife, scissors or screwdriver. I'm pretty sure it needs a corkscrew and flint and steel as well because I seem to need those item in every game too! There are dialog choices to ask each character you interview, and there are stars above some inventory items that indicate some type of interaction is necessary before using it. You get to search for 22 Eye of Horus symbols throughout the game as well as earn Achievements.
The Hidden Object Scenes vary with a bit of every style, Returning items to their proper place in the scene which exposes puzzle pieces for a final puzzle, Fragmented finds that will combine to make an inventory item and even progressive interactive silhouetted shape finds where you find one item that matches the silhouetted shape and then use that in the scene interactively to expose the next item and so forth.
The Mini Games were mostly puzzle variations, nothing new but at least nothing frustrating as follows in order:
1) Rotate triangle puzzle pieces to complete an image of a fish.
2) Follow the directions in order, on a diagram to brew a cup of tea.
3) Use a telescope to find the images shown by adjusting the telescope directionally as well as sliding a focus button to clarify the scene.
4) Swapping square tiles to create an image.
5) Sliding Tokens of three different kinds to their correct slots using one empty slot to free up space for mobility.
6) Place fuses in the right slots so the sum of the connected fuses matches the values given.
7) Open a safe using codes paying attention to the direction of the dial either left or right.
2) Follow the directions in order, on a diagram to brew a cup of tea.
3) Use a telescope to find the images shown by adjusting the telescope directionally as well as sliding a focus button to clarify the scene.
4) Swapping square tiles to create an image.
5) Sliding Tokens of three different kinds to their correct slots using one empty slot to free up space for mobility.
6) Place fuses in the right slots so the sum of the connected fuses matches the values given.
7) Open a safe using codes paying attention to the direction of the dial either left or right.
This game features quite a bit for a standard edition game, 15 Achievements, 22 Collectible Eye of Horus symbols, Concept Art and Wallpapers, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Gardenscapes
Create the perfect garden! Comb the rooms of a mansion for hidden items and restore a once stunning garden to its former glory!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Gardenscapes
PostedSeptember 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromJust sell the whole house and build a new one, much less work!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Seems your grandfather has passed away and left you his country mansion and his beautiful garden. Only problem is, the garden has gone to shambles and you must sell items from each room of the house to make money in order to fix up the garden to it's former beauty! This game is a seek and find game where customers tell you what they want and how much they'll pay for the item, the longer it takes you to find the item the less they are willing to pay. The game can be played against the clock or in relaxed mode, however you do earn more money in timed mode because you get money for unused time. There are also several gold coins to click on in each scene for extra money, and if you find a Camera it briefly shows you items to find on a white screen, and a Thermometer icon found can be used to locate items as it get's hotter the closer you come to the item. Each location in the house is a seek and find game, which are basically piles of junk scattered about making it difficult at times to find items especially when racing against the clock.
The money you earn is used to purchase Benches, Fences, Ponds, Kennels, Statues, Bushes, Lawn, and even lamps to spruce up the garden. Each category has three different styles to choose from each one a little more expensive. If you enjoy seek and find games and don't mind junkpiles, this is a fun game, and you can use your garden as a screensaver at any point in the game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Red Crow Mysteries: Legion
You have been chosen to defend all of mankind in Red Crow Mysteries: Legion! Stand up to a terrible evil and save humanity!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 21 found this review helpful
Red Crow Mysteries: Legion
PostedSeptember 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromMy name is Legion, we are many! How creepy is that!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
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 thought you just woke up from a realistic dream, but your room your entire house still seems different like it's still a dream. Visions of your mothers ghost keep taunting you along, until she fill appears as a full apparition, explaining that Legion is coming and you must pass the test to see if you are the one to save mankind, there have been others, but Legion will return, he always does!
This game is available in Easy, Casual and Adventure modes, but be forewarned, even in Casual mode, this is a game you will have to figure out for yourself, there is no handholding here, the hint button will only show you available points of interest, not where to go or what to do. Some of the inventory items can be combined but there are no indicators as to which ones. There are 20 Achievements to earn and 21 very well Hidden Roses to find, but I'm pretty sure they aren't in every scene.
There are very few Hidden Object Scenes per say, but most of the locations will show a picture or a list of a few items that need to be found in that particular area. Don't let all of this scare you away from playing this fantastic game, the graphics are decent and creepy, the story is intriguing and the Mini Games are fantastic, you just have to think about what you're doing, but it's doable. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
A terrible darkness threatens the land. Travel through Egypt and collect the ancient pieces needed to defeat the malevolent force once and for all.
Overall rating
4
/
5
110 of 148 found this review helpful
Nothing But Puzzles And Mini Games
PostedSeptember 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromNo HOP's, just game after game.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Although there are a few inventory items to pick up and use throughout the game, this game is made up entirely of Puzzles and Mini Games. The graphics are so-so and there's not much to the storyline, but that's okay, I really enjoyed the endless puzzles. The goal of the game is to find hidden gems to an ancient amulet, one is located in the Port, one in the Oasis, one in the Temple and the final piece in the Pyramid. The Egyptians were able to defeat the evil darkness that threatened to destroy the world, they buried the darkness deep within the ground but someone unearthed the darkness which unleashed the darkness once more. An egyptian woman appears to warn that you must find the hidden gems to stop the darkness and prevent an apocalypse.
Many of the Mini Games require you to search for clues located throughout the scene, such as color sequence and placement before you can solve the puzzle. Some of the games are easy to solve, some are a bit more frustrating, but there is a built in Strategy guide if you get stuck. Below are a list of the games encountered in the demo only:
1) Place ships in the correct order according to color and shapes according to the clues you have found elsewhere.
2) Take balls from the upper line and place them on the bottom in the opposite order using one empty space.
3) Place all weights on both scales so that the scales are even on both sides.
4) Guess the correct sequence to light up several lights.
5) Step on the logs in the correct order so that you don't disturb the alligator.
6) Rotate rings to complete an image.
7) Figure out how many squares are in 3 different diagrams that you have found elsewhere in the game.
8) Slide several color coded gems to their matching slots.
9) Swap tiles and rotate to complete an image.
10) Click in the direction you want all symbols to move until they all slide into the matching shaped slot within 4 moves.
11) Move tiles with 4 different shapes into the correct columns using one empty space.
12) Jump balls over each other until only one ball remains in the center of a Chinese Checkers type board.
13) Click on strings lacing up tent flaps in the correct order.
14) Find and drag the correct shaped stamps to the image shown.
15) Move the wheel to enter the correct password. The answer is a sequence of moves not numbers.
2) Take balls from the upper line and place them on the bottom in the opposite order using one empty space.
3) Place all weights on both scales so that the scales are even on both sides.
4) Guess the correct sequence to light up several lights.
5) Step on the logs in the correct order so that you don't disturb the alligator.
6) Rotate rings to complete an image.
7) Figure out how many squares are in 3 different diagrams that you have found elsewhere in the game.
8) Slide several color coded gems to their matching slots.
9) Swap tiles and rotate to complete an image.
10) Click in the direction you want all symbols to move until they all slide into the matching shaped slot within 4 moves.
11) Move tiles with 4 different shapes into the correct columns using one empty space.
12) Jump balls over each other until only one ball remains in the center of a Chinese Checkers type board.
13) Click on strings lacing up tent flaps in the correct order.
14) Find and drag the correct shaped stamps to the image shown.
15) Move the wheel to enter the correct password. The answer is a sequence of moves not numbers.
If you are looking for a Hidden Object game, you will be out of luck here, but if you want to play endless puzzles and mini games and are willing to overlook the imperfections and lack of bling with this game (other than Achievements and a built in Strategy Guide) you might just enjoy it.
I recommend this game!
G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor
As a new investigator for G.H.O.S.T. Hunters you have been called to Majesty Manor to investigate a possible haunting or to uncover a clever hoax.
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor
PostedSeptember 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromBoring zzzzz!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is your first assignment at the G.H.O.S.T. Hunters organization and you have 15 days to round up a list of suspects and determine if the Majesty Manor paranormal activity is a haunting, or a hoax. You start each "day" with 5 hints, but, you can earn more hints when you find the hidden battery in each Hidden Object Scene. There really isn't much of a story to go along with this game and, it's nowhere near as interesting as the other game in this series that takes place in the Spear Renaissance Faire. This is basically the older style Seek and Find games with a timer.
There are no interactions, nothing to do but find items in various junkpiles throughout the manore in the bathroom, parlor, library, kitchen, bedroom etc. To make matters worse, when you use a hint, you just get a multi scanner wand that clicks when near an item and there are several lights that light up the closer you get to an item, but I still wasn't able to find the item I was searching for so I exited out of the game and quickly deleted it out of shear frustration, a no go in my opinion.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel around mysterious Asia with over 100 Mahjong levels to suit any taste in Sakura Day Mahjong.
Overall rating
3
/
5
51 of 59 found this review helpful
At Least The Graphics Are Beautiful
PostedSeptember 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromOh look I matched two gold tiles, oh two more, how fun!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Seen one Mahjong game seen em all, this game has nothing new to offer, but it is a pretty game. There are 6 Levels available and each level offers 20 different patterns, and you can choose from 3 different tiles. The objective is different for each game, every game requires you to remove all gold tiles and some require you to earn a specific amount of points, some require you to remove the gold tiles within a specific amount of moves, others have a specific time limit. The goal is to earn 3 keys for each level. Matching tiles quickly will cause the point index to go higher which gives you more coins. Collecting silver tiles will refill the shuffle feature and there is an icon that will shade the unavailable tiles to make it easier to spot matches. That's it in a nutshell, nothing new here, try the recent Lost Amulets if you want a mahjong game that's fun.
I don't recommend this game.
An amazing tower defense game is waiting for you! Build powerful tools, plan defense strategy and level up from rookie to general!
Overall rating
4
/
5
57 of 62 found this review helpful
The Abundance Of Options Are Too Confusing
PostedSeptember 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhat do the mechanics do?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Toy Defense 2
(27)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love a good Tower Defense game, and this is a fun game, but the devs may have gone too far trying to make this game just a bit different than the normal TD games. I do however appreciate it when devs "think outside the box" but I still have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing when it comes to improving my weapons. (I'll explain this to the best of my knowledge)
Instead of having platforms that you build upon, there are just heaps of material that you click upon and then choose which weapon to build. There are Ballista which can help in any situation and is the only one that can destroy air attacks. Mortar shoot's cannonballs and is good against large infantry, and there's even a machine that freezes the enemy and slows them down. All of the weapons can be upgraded to shoot with more force in a wider range once you earn enough money to do so.
You receive quests from different people and they also tried to add a Time Management feature where you can click to cut down trees which earns you silver coins. Once the enemy attack begins (you get more money if you start the battle early by clicking on the battle icon) and the icon is located where the assault will take place. There are several bonuses you can use when the enemy slips past your defenses suches as Lightning, and fireballs, located on the left of the screen.
The most confusing feature was using the gems you earned to improve the mechanics of the weapons, which in my opinion was poorly explained. You choose which weapon you want to improve and then you click and drag the mechanic piece to the bottom matching slot, at that point I'm not really sure what this does for your weapon, because nothing seems to change. Perhaps I needed to play longer until all the shapes were filled with the mechanics. Apparently you can change the mechanics at any time as well. For this confusing reason alone, I deducted a star, other than that, it's a decent TD game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can the handsome scientist Ted and his clever robot P.E.T. uncover the mysteries of the past? Can you?
Overall rating
1
/
5
38 of 46 found this review helpful
Griddlers; Ted and P.E.T.
PostedSeptember 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromTed, go back to the D.R.A.W.I.N.G board
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Fantasy Mosaics 9: Portal in the Woods
(18)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I have never played a griddler game that was so uninteresting ever! Who wants to spend a fair amount of time solving a puzzle that just makes random shapes? If they are supposed to be an image of something, label it so I can take another look at it and say, oh yeah, now I get it! To make matters worse, the puzzles are very tiny, not the grid size itself, but the entire puzzle can fit inside the palm of your hand. There aren't even interesting colors, just a flat green ugly shade. I guess I just got spoiled by my favorite griddlers, Fantasy Mosaics, so if this is the first griddler game you've played, don't let this game spoil it for you, play Fantasy Mosaics (currently 9 available and a variation of several colors are introduced from 4-9) Even World Mosaics are great griddler games. No way can I recommend this game.
I don't recommend this game.