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:
Escape Whisper Valley
A sudden rockslide has left you trapped in an abandoned mountain village. Can you find the clues that will lead you back home?
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Escape Whisper Valley
PostedMay 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromThere goes my cursor again!
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 would love the Escape, seek and find series, if my mouse didn't wander all around the screen with absolutely no way to control it. I tried to play the games with and without "hardware acceleration" but this did nothing for my possessed mouse! This is purely a Seek and Find game, you are trapped in an abandoned village named Whisper Valley and you will find items that will help you escape. Each item you find will give you points, the more quickly you find items, the more points you will receive, however, it's nearly impossible because you can't control the cursor! Each scene has one lock and one key, if you find all 25 locks and 25 keys, it will unlock a mystery game and Unlimited Seek and Find games. You can opt to play this game in a relaxed, untimed mode as well as receive unlimited hints. The items are list finds, some are vague descriptions such as, "sings at dawn (rooster) and at least one item requires an interaction such as "place flowers in vase". After each location has been completed, there will be a mini game such as Blocks, and you will receive an item that will help you Escape Whisper Valley.
I don't recommend this game.
Only the Rose of Life can cure your father’s illness.
Overall rating
4
/
5
76 of 88 found this review helpful
Beastly Prince
PostedMay 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhere does one find all these magical wonders?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Finding the Rose of Life is proving to be a difficult task for Beatrice. This magical life giving flower has been stolen by a witch who desires youth and vitality (don't we all) and will stop at nothing to keep the rose for herself! The true owner of this fantastic flora, Prince Jonathan, has been cursed with a spell of beastly proportions, once a handsome young man, now neither man nor beast! Fortunately, Beatrice has found an all revealing frame, which revealed that all of the Prince's servants have been transformed into animals! Can Beatrice save these cursed souls before the beast inside takes control?
Dark Romance has a very unique feature, in order to progress, you must switch between characters. You will start out playing the character Beatrice, and then click on Jonathan's portrait to play the game from his perspective. It's incredible how you are able to play from both characters perspective, flawlessly. There are plus signs on some inventory items that usually require you to combine two inventory items together, many have a small puzzle to complete before using the item. The Collector's Edition of this game has Achievements to earn, 10 Magic Objects (cauldrons etc) 26 Hidden Butterflies and Collectible Portraits of each character that Claudine turned into an animal.
The Hidden Object Scenes are incredibly varied, and you have the option of playing a Match 3 game instead of the Hidden Object Puzzles. There are progressive silhouetted shapes, where you find the first item that matches the silhouetted shape and use that item in the scene to expose the next item and so forth. The HOP I thought was creative required you to find a mushroom for a hedgehog to eat which made him move away from a lantern which would move to light up another section which revealed another animal, each animal you fed resulted eventually to light up the entire scene, and then you received a list of items to find with some slight interactions such as opening a purse or moving a blanket. The Mini games range from quick puzzles to solve such as putting correct shapes needed to complete a butterfly sketch, to longer puzzles such as using rotation buttons to move a tile with Jonathan's picture, to the Castle opening, avoiding obstacles along the way that the tile couldn't access. All puzzles were extremely easy, in fact most of them can be figured out without even reading the instructions!
The Collectors Edition has music, Art, Wallpapers, 26 Hidden Butterflies, 10 Magic Objects, Collectible Character Portraits, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
After a devastating earthquake rocks the city, David must reach the museum before nightfall and save his wife and daughter!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Escape The Museum 2
PostedMay 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromMaybe Caitlin should stay home next time
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Susan decides to take Caitlin to work with her once again, as dad grabs a quick nap on the couch. Again, an earthquake occurs and dad does everything in his power to reach the museum (on foot) and save Susan and Caitlin. The graphics have improved somewhat, the grainy graphics of the first Escape the Museum, are no longer, and the seek and find items are larger and easily recognizable. A homeless man decides to tag along, because he "collects" random hoarding items, he can help you find items you are having difficulty finding. Each scene has an objective such as rescuing a woman trapped in her car, or building a makeshift bridge to cross a gap in the road caused by the quake. You are tasked with finding items and using those items to accomplish the task by scouring seek and find scenes, which are usually simple listed item finds or finding multiples of a single item. There are Side Missions to complete, as you come across several misplaced dogs and cats that need to be reunited with their owners, however,the directions weren't clear as to whether or not these missions are mandatory. (who doesn't want to help these virtual pets?) I'm not sure which game I liked better, the graphics are better in this game, but the atmosphere was more realistic in the first, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The Queen of Creatos is missing, and if you don't get her back soon... the entire world will crumble!
Overall rating
4
/
5
56 of 61 found this review helpful
Guardian Of Dreams
PostedMay 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromHope the Princess doesn't sleepwalk!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your services as Guardian of Dreams are required immediately by the King and Queen of Creatos! Princess Espera has been imprisoned by thorny vines and has fallen into a deep coma, only an evil sorcerer could be responsible for this madness! The people of Creatos use their vivid imaginations to create beautiful palaces and giant towers, over time they have even learned to master the chaos of human fantasies. The Queen, blinded by the love of her beautiful Princess, has been lured into the sorcerers evil world! Without their beloved Queen, all worlds will fall into dire despair! Grace must encounter some of the most spectacular and breathtaking fantasy worlds that ever existed, as she tries to rescue the Queen and save all of humanity before it's too late!
Prepare yourself, this fairytale fantasy has beautiful graphics, soothing soundtracks and mystical creatures fit for a King, or at least a Princess! It's just what you'd expect from a Kingdom where fantasy and reality are one and the same. As the saying goes, you're only limited by your imagination, but in this game, the sky's definitely not the limit! No fantasy themed game would be complete without a sidekick, so Grace has brought her majestic Owl to join this adventure as well. The Owl can soar to heights you simply cannot, so whenever your cursor icon changes into a pair of wings, it's time to call upon his services. Some of the Owl's tasks are a tad bit interactive, but from what I can remember, not as interactive as the last episode. You will eventually receive a magical ring, the Vision Ring, capable of revealing hidden treasures. The ring is used once you have restored magical timepieces, but in reality it's a glorified magnifying glass that allows you to search the room until you locate four symbols. Once the symbols have been found you are rewarded with an image that needs placed onto the correct area within that scene. The biggest feature difference between the Collector and Standard Edition's are with the Mirror Shards. In the Collector's Edition, every scene has hidden mirror shards that will alert you when all pieces have been found in that location. When you have found all of the mirror shards, you will unlock a Hidden Chapter, which is a chapter above and beyond the Bonus Adventure!
I was surprised that there weren't a whole lot of Hidden Object Scenes in this game. They did however, try to mix it up with scenes requiring you to find hidden images in a book and replace them where they belong, or smaller HOP's where you find 4 swords, 4 flowers etc. My favorite HOP was extremely interactive, requiring you to interact and toggle between 3 different scenes as you tinker with tasks to receive an item that belongs in one of the other scenes. The Mini Games were decent, AND, you can choose to make the Mini Games more difficult if you use the Custom Difficulty setting mode before starting the game! Most of the games are puzzle type games where you swap tiles, but I was very intrigued with one such puzzle that in my opinion was unique. You need to swap tiles to create an image and some tiles need to be rotated, however when you click on the start button to check your solution, the tiles follow a directional path, which means that what you thought was a completed picture isn't because of the twists and turns the tiles follow!
The Collectors Edition has Achievements, Collectible Shards, re-playable Hidden Object Scenes and Mini Games, Music, Movies, Wallpapers, Concept Art, a built in Strategy Guide, a Bonus Chapter AND a Hidden Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Team up with the Red Riding Hood Sisters to defeat the nightmares!
Overall rating
5
/
5
328 of 373 found this review helpful
Shackled By One Man's Dreams
PostedMay 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromI feel so sleeepy...zzzzz
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have always been a fan of the Dark Parable series, purchasing each and every parable that was released sight unseen.....until everything changed including the devs. Dark Parables has always been a nonlinear type game, where an action in one scene activates a feature with a previous scene. DP are famous for their clever Morphing Objects, and they were difficult to "see" because you had to complete an action in one scene and then return to previous scenes to look for the Morphs, but you never knew which action would actually trigger the reaction! Dark Parables are also famous for their FROG's, beautiful scenes with fragments of three sections of an item that will combine to complete a single inventory item. This part hasn't changed, but the music that accompanied each fragment found has changed, and I missed it dearly, it was a recognizable and distinguished sound. Queen of Sands is an excellent game, but it just doesn't feel like a Dark Parables game because the devs are straying away from all the features that made DP such an enjoyable series.
Collectible Parables are another famous feature of this series, several items are required to complete each parable story. When a group is complete, you will get to play a short tale about that parable. The parable items can Morph, so keep alert. There are collectible Herald of Montafleur's, hidden throughout the game, for a total of 39, one in each scene. This Collector's Edition also has 12 Achievements to earn, mostly the usual achievements such as using the map or finding objects quickly in the FROG's.
Dark Parables is all about the Emblems. Every door, and just about everything else will require at least one emblem to open it. Therefore, you will scour each location looking for the correct emblem, often traveling back and forth several times as you try to accomplish each objective. Several inventory items are plus items requiring you to combine that item with another item or putting broken pieces back together.
This Collector's Edition has Concept Art, and Wallpapers (within the Art Gallery), replayable Mini Games and FROG's (play against the clock for a better score) collectible Parables (morphs), collectible Herald of Montafleur's, a Souvenir Room, Bonus Video's, Movies, beautiful Music, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter (The Seven Ravens) Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Discover and collect all of the videos to uncover the collector’s mystical story!
Overall rating
3
/
5
67 of 83 found this review helpful
Not Great But Not Horrible Either
PostedMay 20, 2015
pennmom36
fromBees don't bite, they sting sheriff!
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
A young couple are seen taking a leisurely drive through the country as they enjoy some tunes on the car radio. Breaking news informs the couple that a nearby collector has discovered a rare crystal during an archeological expedition of an abandoned temple. The young woman excitedly turns to the young man and says this is the place we should go! I won't ruin the story for you, but what happens next is totally unexpected, I didn't see that coming!
Unfortunately, the game takes a drastic downhill spiral after the introductory video! I wasn't expecting much so it didn't really bother me, but this is just a run of the mill type game, a take it or leave it, unforgettable game, that isn't horrible, but just isn't worth playing it to the end either.
There aren't any "frills" or extras, no unusual features, no companions (other than a camera to watch video tapes) no collectibles, and only two modes of difficulty to choose from, Casual or Expert. This is an easy game that can be mastered on Expert mode no matter how inexperienced you are.
There is one feature that I loved in this game, so I have to give credit when credit is due. One of the Hidden Object Scenes required you to find several Morphing Objects, however, it would have been really cool if the objects morphed a bit slower and was less obvious. The other HOP's were slightly interactive list finds. The Mini Games are almost non existent, and the only memorable one within the demo was using your mouse to outline a pattern on a board with a pencil. After repeating this process several times as the shapes became smaller, I was ready to skip the puzzle out of sheer boredom! Good luck getting thru the demo on this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel the world completing games of Mahjong that suit any taste.
Overall rating
5
/
5
67 of 87 found this review helpful
Beautiful Mahjong With Creative Patterns
PostedMay 19, 2015
pennmom36
fromTime to Shuffle!
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
Mahjong is one of my least favorite game genres, but the beautiful artwork and amazing mahjong patterns really sold me on this game! There are six different mahjong locations, and 20 games per location, so there are plenty of games to keep you busy for hours. There are only 3 tile patterns to choose from which is a bit disappointing, but what I enjoyed the most was the unusual layouts, my favorite was the stiletto.
The object of this game is to remove matching tiles that aren't blocked by tiles either on the sides or on top, the faster you remove the tiles, the higher the score you earn. There are flower tiles and season tiles that can be matched to any other tile of that category even if they look different. Removing Silver tiles will restore the Shuffle feature, and all Gold tiles must be removed to win the level.
Each level will have several goals that must be completed to achieve a three star game. You must remove every gold tile, (gold tiles can be matched to regular tiles if they are the same pattern) and you may also have to complete the level within a specific amount of time, or within a specific number of moves, or earn a specific amount of points. The more regular tiles that are left on the board gives you a higher score, and any level can be replayed if you want to achieve a higher score, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Immerse yourself in the exciting world of the true detective! Solve all the villain's riddles! A True Detective Griddlers!
Overall rating
3
/
5
57 of 64 found this review helpful
Did I Solve The Case? What Case Did I Solve?
PostedMay 19, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhat's with the howling wolf, does it have anything to do with my mystery case?
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
I don't understand why these games of late are making it sound as if you are solving a mystery of some sort. From what I can tell, there isn't a storyline of any kind, just dark backgrounds with a chimpanzee who can apparently fly because he has a set of wings. As far as the tutorial goes, I experienced the opposite of what Logiebaby commented on. I didn't find an option at all for the tutorial, I usually opt for the tutorial so I can critique it. I played both the Beginner training levels and the Expert training single level and neither one showed me how to play this Griddler puzzle, it just gave me 5 x 5 easy grids to play. If I didn't know how to play this type of puzzle, I would have to figure it out on my own, so why bother? If you are new to this type of game, I would suggest passing on this one, the tutorial isn't very informative and the grids progress quickly, the storyline is nonexistent, the grids only have one basic color, and the final picture often leaves you scratching your head as you try to figure out what it represents.
Griddlers or Mosaic puzzles require you to fill in squares on grids of different sizes. There are numbers on each column and row, and each set of numbers must be separated by at least one empty cell. If the grid is a 5 x 5 grid and the number on the first row is 2 2, you would fill in the first two cells, the third would be left blank (or crossed off with a right click) and the final two cells are filled in. You continue this process of deduction until all cells are filled in, if you get stuck, there are hints available that will fill in a random cell for you. Some cells contain hints or coins when filled in correctly, the coins can be used to purchase 2 starting hints, the right to make 3 mistakes instead of 2, or you can refill the available hints on that level.
I really don't recommend this game for beginners, most grid lovers choose the Fantasy Mosaic series, or the World Mosaics, which have brilliant and vivid colors that really pop, enjoy!
There’s a corpse in your house, but who killed him?
Overall rating
5
/
5
198 of 223 found this review helpful
The Gray Family Turmoil Continues!
PostedMay 17, 2015
pennmom36
fromOh no, not the pruners!
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
Anna Gray has amnesia! Jackie quickly fills in the blanks for her Aunt Gray who has no idea who's responsible for the death of Howard Kelly, the man she found dead in her own house! The police seem to think Anna Gray killed this man in self defense, but there's only one way to find out. Anna never thought she would have to solve her own murder mystery, but she knows the only way to find out the truth, is to visit her past and find out who, what, where, when and why this murder took place!
Grim Tales has given us another fantabulous episode of the Gray family saga. This game has just about any feature you can imagine, Morphing Objects, an Evidence Panel, Panoramic Scenes, Dialog Options to choose, Plus Sign interactive inventory items and a whole bunch of Achievements that will make you feel downright proud of your gaming efforts! Stuff all those features into a top notch game with excellent graphics and one of the best whodunit, time traveling, mysteries available!
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly Silhouetted Shape finds, and they are a bit scarce, at least within the demo time. There are however, a ton of entertaining Mini games and puzzles, ranging from simple tasks, swapping tiles or clicking on gems to change colors, others are longer and slightly more complicated. My favorite was the Fishing game where you attempt to catch fish by dropping the hook upon the desired fish, but, a frog protects the fish and you must either be faster or outwit him. The goal is to score 100 points, large and slow blue fish are worth 8 points, Orange fish are worth 10 points and the small Red fish are worth 15 points.
This Collector's Edition has Concept Art, Achievements, Morphing Objects, Collectibles, Wallpapers, Music, a Secret Room, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Ominous Objects: Phantom Reflection
A mysterious mirror is causing havoc in your client's house!
Overall rating
4
/
5
60 of 70 found this review helpful
The (Phantom) Man In The Mirror
PostedMay 15, 2015
pennmom36
fromOk Patrick, let me just whip up a quick sketch of the butler!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Lilith Armstrong thought the antique mirror she purchased at the auction was a bargain. (10k seems over the top to me) Unfortunately, she got way more than she bargained for, because this mirror has a Phantom reflection that came along with the deal! When the Phantom begins to prey upon the Armstrong household, they turned to Leia Gofford for help. Leia is a detective who specializes in cases dealing with Ominous Objects, because she experienced paranormal phenomena herself, and has dedicated her life to helping others with similar problems. Leia arrives just in time to witness this dark Phantom in action, the butler narrowly escapes the possessed mirror, but young Patrick isn't so lucky! Can you save the Armstrong family and stop this madness before it's too late?
This game just didn't knock my socks off. The graphics are overwhelming shades of blue and purple, (Blurple) which made the game seem too fairytaleish, and certainly no where near Ominous! There are Plus Sign's on almost every inventory item, requiring you to perform some type of interaction with the item before using, such as opening up packages or combining with another inventory item. You are also equipped with special Goggles that allow you to see through the Ominous Object's mist and reveal it's true nature. Some areas require the feline services of Mr. Jenkins, as you gently guide him from his comfy throne to the areas you can't seem to reach on your own. The Collector's Edition allows you can equip Mr. Jenkins' posh abode with over the top decorations and toys with the Collectible Cat Coins that are located throughout the game, in not so hidden places.
The Hidden Object Scenes add a new color, bright gold! Not very challenging, mostly list finds or progressive finds with an occasional interactive game such as placing items into the scene correctly. You can opt to play a Match 3 game instead of the Hidden Object Puzzle by making matches of a least 3 mirrors of the same design. The Mini Games are on the easy breezy side as well, such as sliding a mirror around a shadow box to collect all figurines. The mirror moves forward three cells at a time or until it hits an obstacle, and you can only visit a cell once.
The Collector's Edition has a Developer Diary, Game of Dots, Collectible Cat Coins, Concept Art, Wallpapers, a Cat Room, Music, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!