pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4708
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 13, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An exciting outer space Match 3 adventure with 80 levels, incredible powerups, a funny comic story and tons of unique special quests.
Overall rating
4
/
5
63 of 68 found this review helpful
Light Years Away From A Great Match 3
PostedMarch 24, 2015
pennmom36
fromI think I saw spock far far away
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Not a bad M3 game, but certainly light years away from being an awesome M3 game. As other reviewers have stated, the music is outdated and annoying, but that's an easy fix. The concept of this intergalactic Match 3 game is really good but poorly executed. The Match 3 items are too unappealing, white, blue, yellow, and red crystals that at the very least should have been more vibrant in color, not enough "eye candy" in my opinion. Basically, you make matches of at least 3 identical items by swapping tiles, you must make matches over all yellow cells, and collect a specific number of each crystal that is shown at the top of the playing field. The main goal is to collect the scarce green crystals which are supposed to be Energy Crystals, which will be used to power bonuses (galactic weapons) You travel from your home planet, Earthoc, to the planet Lavar as you chase down the interstellar villain who heisted your Time Machine, eventually making your way to all of the planets, Dorund, Asil and Korak. You can replay any level at any time, if you want to beat the highest scores and become the Champion of space, I didn't see an option to play this game without a timer, but it may exist in another galaxy lol.
If you make matches of 5 or more crystals, a Bomb will appear on the playing field which will explode if clicked to destroy all tiles nearby. Occasionally, a Meteorite will slam into the playing field, you want to click on it as soon as possible to break it up, and you will get a whole slew of bombs on the board. As you progress, you will earn different bonuses, BUT, each one requires a lump sum upfront, and then more energy crystals each time they are used, the weapons are available at the bottom of the playing field, and cannot be used until you unlock them first. There is a Crystal Laser with an initial cost of 27,500 energy units and 4,500 energy units each time you use it, the laser destroys an entire row in one shot. The Seeker Drone can be programmed to find certain stones to destroy, the initial cost is 47,500 energy units and an additional 7,500 energy units for each use. The Ion Beam cost 70,000 energy units to activate and an additional 2,500 energy units to use, this beam automatically finds it's target and focuses all it's energy on it until it's destroyed. The Ultra Sonic Torpedo requires 105,000 units of energy to complete and 12,500 energy units to deploy, this weapon upends the entire playing field and reshuffles all of the tiles. Some of the tiles are blocked and unavailable until you make at least one match beside the obstruction such as a lunar rock, which makes the game more challenging. I did enjoy playing this Match 3 game, I just wish they would have made the game more epic and colorful, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Pinecreek Hills just keeps getting better! Help the Rangers protect Animals and Visitors, clean up the Park and spot Wildlife.
Overall rating
5
/
5
240 of 268 found this review helpful
Keep 'Em Coming
PostedMarch 24, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhat in the world is a Plectrum?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Congratulations on your new promotion to Senior Ranger! Pinecreek Hills has never been better, so choose the gender of Ranger you want to portrait and get to work finding missing items, and cleaning up the park. There are seek and find puzzles in scenes all around the park, each scene has several wildlife animals to find that are shown as silhouettes in a box to the left of the word search bar, when all animals have been spotted, the box will close. You will also recycle trash that is laying around, such as plastic bottles, crumpled paper and cans, when all trash has been found, the recycle can icon will be filled to the top. You will earn an Eagle Eye achievement if you don't use either the hint or mega hint feature. You earn a Bronze star for completing the search, a Silver star if you find all wildlife OR all recyclable items and a Gold star if you find all wildlife AND all recyclable items. Words listed in blue require an interaction such as finding an air pump to fix a tire, words in red are hidden, requiring you to click on an item to open it which will reveal the hidden item, and most scenes have an area that zooms in which will have several items within that are on the list. Levels can be replayed at anytime to better your score or locate items you missed the first time. My favorite feature in the Vacation Adventures games are the abundance of Mini Games available after each search, such as, Spot The Difference, Word Search, Match Two and several different styles of puzzles, rotating tiles and putting together maps and pictures with different shaped pieces. You can use the money you earn playing the game in the Souvenir Shop to purchase anything from a coffee mug to a Turquoise Necklace, everything you purchase is kept in a display case in the Souvenir Room, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
87 of 95 found this review helpful
A Tragedy in Haven Rock
PostedMarch 24, 2015
pennmom36
fromI gotta go hide a cassette now.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Christine has just learned that her Grandpa, Charles Crenshaw, has passed. Not from a letter, not from an attorney, not even from a distant family. Nope, she read about her Grandpa's passing in the newspaper! If that isn't odd in itself, grandpa was writing a letter to Christine, telling her that he was being followed and he was fearful for his own safety. He signed this letter of desperation simply, Charles, not Grandad or even Grandpa Charles. There are 15 audio tapes hidden around the town, which also seems strange to me. Some of the tapes are recorded by granddad Charles, some recorded by granddad's caregiver, Lily. Who does that, who sit's down, pops in a blank cassette, records a 30 second rundown of another person's behavior, and then hides the cassette in the church, or in another random building for safe keeping?
The hidden Object Scenes are a hodgepodge of variations, interactive silhouetted shapes, requiring you to find items that match the silhouetted shape shown, standard list finds, and finding several items of one kind such as 12 napkins. The most unusual HOP, required you to find items to feed a very hungry hamster, one at a time as indicated by the hamsters "thought bubble". Some of the Hidden Object Scenes are repeated, however, the second time around is usually a different style of HOP. The Mini Games are good, nothing new, but nothing mind boggling either, such as lighting all purple candles and distinguishing all yellow candles (clicking on one candle would affect the results of other candles) Another game required you to swap tiles to create pathways that allow a blue, green and purple gem to travel from the top to the bottom.
The Collectors Edition has 15 Audio Cassette Tapes (also available in this SE) to locate, 46 hidden Masks, an Art Gallery, Wallpaper, Music, Achievements, re-playable Mini Games and Hidden Object Scenes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
When Julia reaches an abandoned laboratory to rescue her sister, she discovers there is more to this mystery than a mere abduction.
Overall rating
5
/
5
133 of 143 found this review helpful
I Kinda Dig It
PostedMarch 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromHave you ever noticed that all HOS have at least one feather, handcuffs, glasses and a hammer to find, can we choose something different, no acorns, pinecones, snails, apples, and weights either
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game definitely grows on you, and it's the perfect game to start out the week with because it's an easy breezy game that doesn't require a lot of effort to enjoy. The story intrigues me, a young woman receives a frantic phone call from a stranger stating that her missing sister Sophia is alive, but is the victim of cruel experimentations by The Oracle's of Doom! This could very well be a trap, but Julia has been left no choice, she must try to save her sister at any cost. When she arrives at the lab, something even more bizarre occurs, what she thought was just a recurring nightmare, turns out to be real life visions. Has she been here before, are these her memories or is her sister communicating with her somehow? Who are these evil men dressed in black apocalyptic style clothing and what are these experiments for?
Even though this is only a Standard Edition, there are 10 Oracle's Emblems to collect and 9 missing Diary Pages to find, which also gives some insight to Sophie's state of mind during her captivity by the Oracles, and shed's light upon the storyline. I really liked the first Greed (mad scientist) but this is a completely different storyline, and from what I could tell has no bearing on this game. Inventory items are easy to find, and are usually used within the same scene or shortly thereafter, and most tasks are logical so you will probably know exactly where to use an inventory item.
The Hidden Object Scenes are clear, and the objects themselves are easily identifiable, but not every item is easily found. There are good old fashioned list finds with several items requiring some type of interaction, usually just clicking on an object to move it which exposes the object you are looking for. There are also Hidden Object Scenes requiring you to find objects that match a silhouetted shape shown, and dark scenes where you must find listed objects with a flashlight, one of the scenes was repeated, but had a different type of search the second time around. The Mini Games are fairly easy, most of them are the type that when you select one, others are affected such as rotating square tiles to complete an image, when you click on one tile, others move as well, or selecting the correct combination on a lock, when you rotate one dial, others move as well.
There aren't a lot of bells and whistles, but this is a decent game with pretty good graphics, well done voiceovers, entertaining Hidden Object Scenes and clever Mini Games. There are Collectible Oracle Emblems and missing Diary Pages to go along with an interesting story, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Explore beautiful underwater temples! Search for artifacts to uncover the dark secrets of the Evil Empress and her hideous plans.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Empress of the Deep: The Darkest Secret
PostedMarch 22, 2015
pennmom36
fromAnna, Anna, wake up, you've been asleep way too long!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Empress of the Deep was the first Hidden Object Adventure games that I played, and it drew me in hook, line, and sinker. I bought this game when it was first released, and it seemed so awesome in it's heyday. After re-visiting this game, everything about it seems different after all those years. I remember it being difficult and complex, in fact it's a very easy and basic game. I remember the graphics as being very detailed when in reality the graphics are just okay, and in fact are blurry in the HOS's. Don't get me wrong, it is a great game with a really unique story, it's just a different style of game then most.
Anna has been released from a sarcophagus that held her prisoner for a century. She doesn't remember anything, who she is, where she is, or even why she was held captive! All she knows is that the voice of a kind old man named Jacob is encouraging her to seek the truth. That's not the only voice she hears, the voice of a young girl has been taunting her as well, and she is encouraging Anna to question Jacob. One thing's for sure, the entire city is deep beneath the ocean, so how are you going to escape, and who is telling the truth?
When I first played this game, I found one feature invaluable, once you complete all available tasks in a location, a star will appear on the upper left of the screen saying "area complete". Now I realize just how easy this game is, with usually just one inventory item available, and occasionally a HOP or a Mini Game. The map isn't the best either, just a piece of paper with stars showing the locations you have visited. The Hidden Object Scenes can be difficult at times, mostly because the items are blurry, and at times unrecognizable. All HOS are list finds with no interactions available. The Mini Games are really good, many of them requiring you to find clues or combinations first. My favorite game required you to light up 6 connectors along a round tablet, by turning several round tokens with wire connections on the inside, to allow the power source at the center to flow freely along those wire connections. During it's heyday, I would have given this game five stars, but I now realize that this game had some flaws. Still a fantastic story and I really do enjoy playing it, give it a try, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Trapped in the past, Sarah must find a way home.
Overall rating
5
/
5
216 of 248 found this review helpful
Stuck In The Past
PostedMarch 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromI like the griffin better than the mousedog
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Sarah Pennington is a member of The Order of the Griffins, a secret society sworn to protect against the Dragon Clan. She boarded the Royal Griffin, traveling back in time to destroy unstable artifacts at their origin in Aeronhart. Unfortunately the Royal Griffin sank, but there's still hope for the time machine, thanks to Flavius, a local inventor. (and a flux capacitor or two)
I'm not too thrilled with the direction this adventure is heading, the original Secret Order was fantastic and had a really intriguing storyline. The next one added a baby griffin which made the game less credible in my opinion. This time they have given us Nubi, who is neither cute nor intimidating, and looks more like a mouse than a dog. To make matters worse, Nubi "learns" new skills, such as Fetch and then the power to control Lightning. Totally unnecessary, but other than giving him an outfit to begin with, at least I don't have to dress him up or give him a room with luxury items. There are 10 Eagle Masks, 10 Jaguar Masks and 10 Crocodile Masks hidden throughout the game and a bunch of Achievements to earn too.
The Hidden Object Scenes are list finds with several progressive interactions items to solve. There is an optional game of Mahjong available for those who have grown weary of Hidden Object Scenes. The HOS are well done but I thought the graphics could have been better within the scenes. There are a lot of Mini Games, none of which require in depth thinking, such as clearing a path to allow a necklace to be removed at the top of the board in a classic game of "Blocks"
This Collectors Edition has Soundtracks, Achievements, Collectible Masks, Game Art, replayable Mini Games, Wallpapers, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions
Overall rating
5
/
5
166 of 179 found this review helpful
Back On Track
PostedMarch 20, 2015
pennmom36
fromha ha ha ha
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It would seem PuppetShow has gotten the train back on track with The Price of Immortality, bravo! Everyone knows puppets aren't real, they don't experience emotion or pain......unless you live in the town of Immortale that is. Your investigation won't be easy, every journalist who has ever investigated this puppet town has never been heard from since, including your good friend Enrique Torres! This is a dangerous town where good puppets are pitted against evil puppets, hopefully you won't become just another missing journalist!
You will collect several abandoned puppet dolls, one of which will help you every step of your investigation. A Dollhouse icon located next to the inventory bar will allow you to access this feature any time, and each doll can be upgraded with Doll Coins that you find throughout the game. Personally, I found this feature kind of worthless, nevertheless, it's a feature some will love. There are Achievements to earn and some of the inventory items have a magnifying glass above them which indicated that some type of interaction is necessary before that item can be used.
The Hidden Object Scenes were a tad bit disappointing to me, the same scenes are repeated, and I really don't like that. With tasks such as replacing missing doll parts, the HOP's are on the easy side, but there are also good ole fashioned list finds as well. The Mini Games can be played in Casual or Hard modes which is a feature I do like, there are typical puzzles where you rotate pieces to fit in correct spots or even a wicked game of "find the missing girl" as an unlucky patron gets shuffled about by an overgrown puppet under larger than life cups.
This Collectors Edition has replayable HOP's and Mini Games, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Screensavers, Movies, Music, Achievements, Collectible and upgradeable Dolls, a Dollhouse, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy
I recommend this game!
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget
A newlywed is threatened, and supernatural forces are afoot!
Overall rating
5
/
5
120 of 137 found this review helpful
If Only The Dead Could Talk.....
PostedMarch 20, 2015
pennmom36
fromMon ami
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
......They just might tell you what you want to know! Detective Dupin is doing just that, listening to the ghostly spirit of Lola Saunie. Auguste Dupin hasn't seen Jacque Lumin since they attended the University together, unfortunately, this won't be a social meeting. Jacque desperately needs help unraveling a mystery that only a detective as skilled as Dupin could solve. (and of course you, his top assistant) Solving this case proves quite difficult for Dupin, when the best lead he has just happens to be dead, but that's never stopped us before right?
Jacque's Grandmother gave him a Magic Mirror when he was six years old. Since he no longer has use for this mirror he passes it down to Dupin, which proves to be invaluable in this investigation. Any inventory item that has a green checkmark above it can be used on the Magic Mirror to reveal that items original nature, revealing sources and even codes and combinations. Personally, I thought this feature was ridiculous, why don't we just equip Dupin with some pixie dust while we're at it, it just doesn't belong in this kind of game. You will also receive an official Dark Tales Detective Badge, which will be stored to the left of the inventory bar along with the map and journal.
The Hidden Object Scenes are far and few between, I believe there were only three in the entire demo, consisting of fairly interactive list finds. The Mini Games are very entertaining, smaller puzzles are abundant such as selecting bats in the correct order, turning 3 cylinders to complete a pattern or swapping books until the symbols on the book matched the correct genre symbols on the shelf. There were also longer, more complicated puzzle such as a Mahjong game with barrels where you click on two identical symbols that are free and available, or assembling torn poster pieces, using a rotation button to turn the pieces. Most games are available in Casual or Hard modes.
The Collectors Edition has Morphing Creatures, Achievements, Movies, wallpapers, Concept art, Screensavers, replayable Hidden Object Scenes and Mini Games, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Restore the royal amulet to break an ancient curse and stop an evil witch from regaining her terrible powers!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Echoes of the Past: The Castle of Shadows SE
PostedMarch 20, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhy me?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When the Royal House Museum invites you to visit their latest exhibition, you jump at the chance to see 19th Century art centered around this cursed Royal Family. Rumor has it, one painting in particular is haunted! Sure enough, a mysterious woman featured in this painting asks for your help once again. The witch has destroyed the family Amulet and scattered it's pieces throughout the kingdom. Can you find all the pieces and lift the Royal Curse, or will you become a mere stone statue and join the Royal family members forever?
This isn't an easy game, I found myself looking at the Strategy Guide on more than one occasion, which is something I don't usually do, so for that reason alone I recommend the Collectors Edition over the Standard Edition. Throughout the kingdom you will see several "ghostly" objects, grey and misty, which are missing objects that need replaced once found. Ghostly spirits will also appear with a dilemma of sorts, once you solve their dilemma, they will reward you with a piece of that all important Amulet.
The Hidden Object Scenes are very well done. The first time you play the HOP, the items are interactive list finds. The second time you revisit that scene, you will replace items found from a different scene back into that scene where they belong. Some of the scenes are repeated a third time with multiples of a single item such as 15 feathers or 15 arrows for example. Each scene contains two mirrors that aren't on the list, which will give you an extra hint for each mirror found, however the hint system is very vague outside if the hidden object scenes. The Mini Games are my favorite part of this series. Almost every puzzle is unique even though this is an older game. My favorite was correctly placing figurines upon two shelves with only scraps of torn images as clues.
The Collectors Edition doesn't have a lot of frills, Wallpapers, Concept Art, a Bonus Chapter and a Built in Strategy. As I stated earlier, this is a difficult game at times, and the fact that I could use the built in Strategy Guide when I got stumped, was invaluable, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Restore the royal amulet to break an ancient curse and stop an evil witch from regaining her terrible powers!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Echo's of the Past: The Castle of Shadows CE
PostedMarch 19, 2015
pennmom36
fromThat witch sure does like to break things!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Royal House Museum cordially invites you to attend their newest exhibition featuring 19th century art, which includes a fascinating portrait of a mysterious woman who often disappears from the painting! You're no stranger to the Royal House, who seems to have a bond with you, and insists that you solve all problems created by that bitter and relentless witch. Another featured artifact is a beautiful golden Amulet stand, the whereabouts of the Amulet itself is a mystery. Your destination into the past reveals this mystery, that evil witch is at it again! She has broken the Amulet in pieces, scattering the pieces throughout the kingdom. Can you find all the pieces to the Amulet so the Royal spirits can finally rest?
This isn't an easy game, I found myself looking at the Strategy Guide on more than one occasion, which is something I don't usually do, so for that reason alone I recommend the Collectors Edition over the Standard Edition. Throughout the kingdom you will see several "ghostly" objects, grey and misty, which are missing objects that need replaced once found. Ghostly spirits will also appear with a dilemma of sorts, once you solve their dilemma, they will reward you with a piece of that all important Amulet.
The Hidden Object Scenes are very well done. The first time you play the HOP, the items are interactive list finds. The second time you revisit that scene, you will replace items found from a different scene back into that scene where they belong. Some of the scenes are repeated a third time with multiples of a single item such as 15 feathers or 15 arrows for example. Each scene contains two mirrors that aren't on the list, which will give you an extra hint for each mirror found, however the hint system is very vague outside if the hidden object scenes. The Mini Games are my favorite part of this series. Almost every puzzle is unique even though this is an older game. My favorite was correctly placing figurines upon two shelves with only scraps of torn images as clues.
This Collectors Edition doesn't have a lot of frills, Wallpapers, Concept Art, a Bonus Chapter and a Built in Strategy. As I stated earlier, this is a difficult game at times, and the fact that I could use the built in Strategy Guide when I got stumped, was invaluable, enjoy!
I recommend this game!