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:
Travel from the Dark Middle Ages to the present to save the inhabitants of the Orion kingdom in Echoes of the Past - The Citadels of Time!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Echos of the Past: The Citadels of Time SE
PostedMarch 8, 2015
pennmom36
fromAnd you thought this would be just another trip to the museum!
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
I played both versions of this game, the Collectors Edition and the Standard Edition, to see if there were any significant differences. In my opinion, unless you want wallpapers, this game is the better option. It is easy enough to complete without the Strategy Guide, and the Hint system is very good
The witch is still refusing to let you leave the museum, seeking revenge upon the inhabitants of the Royal House of Orion for spurring her powers, oh so long ago! The witch has bound you to the house with a clock, dismantled the clock, and then hid all the pieces of the clock around the kingdom! You must travel the citadels of time, and repair the clock within each era or become trapped eternally in time!
The graphics and mechanics have made a remarkable improvement since the first episode, and the hint system is now available everywhere, not just in the HOP, like before. There is still a lot of back and forth traveling as you find items in one era and use them in another or from one scene to the next.
The Hidden Object Scenes are slightly interactive list finds with the final inventory item found in the form of a description. The Mini Games are old school, but I loved em, such as selecting different levers to control stairs as you try to engage every step to appear.
The Collectors Edition doesn't offer much, Mini Games to replay, Wallpapers, a Bonus Chapter and a Built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Travel from the Dark Middle Ages to the present to save the inhabitants of the Orion kingdom in Echoes of the Past - The Citadels of Time!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 12 found this review helpful
Echos of the Past: The Citadels of Time CE
PostedMarch 8, 2015
pennmom36
fromAnd you thought this would be just another trip to the museum!
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
The witch is still refusing to let you leave the museum, seeking revenge upon the inhabitants of the Royal House of Orion for spurring her powers, oh so long ago! The witch has bound you to the house with a clock, dismantled the clock, and then hid all the pieces of the clock around the kingdom! You must travel the citadels of time, and repair the clock within each era or become trapped eternally in time!
The graphics and mechanics have made a remarkable improvement since the first episode, and the hint system is now available everywhere, not just in the HOP, like before. There is still a lot of back and forth traveling as you find items in one era and use them in another or from one scene to the next.
The Hidden Object Scenes are slightly interactive list finds with the final inventory item found in the form of a description. The Mini Games are old school, but I loved em, such as selecting different levers to control stairs as you try to engage every step to appear.
The Collectors Edition doesn't offer much, Mini Games to replay, Wallpapers, a Bonus Chapter and a Built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
You're cordially invited to attend the world's greatest magic show! Thurman the Magnificent will give a performance no one will forget!
Overall rating
4
/
5
133 of 145 found this review helpful
Master Of Flames
PostedMarch 8, 2015
pennmom36
from"I hope, you'll consider a generous tip" Yep, let me just fish it out of the storm drain first.
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
Perhaps Thurman the Magnificent Master of Flames should have stuck with the disappearing act, or pulled a bunny out of a hat, because he really hasn't mastered the flame. Galdor's Bluff will never be the same now, best known for it's rivals between two young apprentices, Joseph Thurman and Roger Addington, who were trained by the Master of all time, Charles Galdor. Thurman's suspicions might be true, detective, perhaps someone is trying to sabotage the Master of Flames!
Although this game isn't receiving rave reviews, it really isn't all that bad. It is an extremely short demo, it is an extremely easy game, there are a ton of Hidden Object Scenes, but it's not a horrible game. The story is interesting (yes, there have been a slew of illusionist games as of late) the graphics are decent, not fantastic, but the games mechanics are flawless, with no noticeable glitches. I love Morphing Objects, but this game made a grave mistake with this feature, because the 37 (more available within bonus game) Morphing Crystal Balls are all round, all you have to do is search for the one and only round object in the scene.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly list finds with just a few items requiring interactions, but there are also scenes where you find the items and replace them where they belong in the scene. Usually I stick with the HOP, but in this case I opted for the alternate game of Solitaire for two reasons. The HOP's are basic and the items can all be found instantly, and the Solitaire game is very unique. The object of the solitaire game is to select two cards from the pyramid and/or the deck, so that the total sum of the two cards equal 13. Kings are worth 13, therefor they can be removed by themselves, Queens are worth 12, Jacks 11, Ace 1, all other cards are face value. The Mini Games are variations of the classics, such as memorizing the patterns of flashing lights and repeating or turning discs to complete a picture.
This Collectors Edition has Concept Art, Wallpapers, Achievements, Morphing Crystal Balls, Solitaire Games (several variations available) a Bonus Chapter and a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Ice giants are attacking citizens as a deadly blizzard arrives.
Overall rating
4
/
5
98 of 110 found this review helpful
Baby, It's Cold Outside
PostedMarch 6, 2015
pennmom36
fromBurrr, this game reminds me of something, winter in Ohio!
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
Kira has invited her best friend to Baumholder to meet her new husband, Victor Allen, A.K.A Victor Snow. Victor seems quite the prize, he's handsome, quite muscular and he's also apparently 7 foot tall according to his ID card! There's no time to get acquainted though because this seemingly quiet town is about to get really crazy! It appears that Victor has been keeping his true identity from Kira, which has caused a wickedly cold assault upon Baumholder as Icy Giants invade this newlywed couples honeymoon and turn everything into a freezing tundra....and it's in the middle of summer!
Some of the inventory items have plus signs indicating that something needs to be done to that item before it can be used such as putting pieces together or combining that item with another inventory item.
The Hidden Object Scenes are well done, most are progressive silhouetted shape finds where you find the first item that matches the silhouetted shape, and use that item in the scene which will then expose the next item and so forth. One HOP had silhouetted shapes that required you to find two of the same type, the first item found would only fill in the shape 1/2 way. The Mini Games were very entertaining, some easy, some a little more frustrating such as clicking on frozen ice patches in a specific order or more ice patches would form.
In case you are on the fence between the CE or this SE, there are 25 Hidden Hares and 6 Collectible Character Figurines throughout the Collectors Edition adventure, and plenty of Achievements to make you proud of yourself for not using the hint button and muddling through that frustrating puzzle! The Collectors Edition has Achievements, Concept Art, Wallpapers, Music, 25 Hidden Hares, 6 Collectible Figurines, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Reveal an ancient curse and save the kingdom and its inhabitants. The last prince of Orion is waiting for your help!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Echos Of The Past: Royal House Of Stone
PostedMarch 6, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhy me?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A trip to the Royal House Museum turns out to be more educational than you thought. Somehow you managed to time warp yourself smack dab in the Middle Ages, you have no choice now, the only way you can make it back to civilization is to break the curse that has rendered the Royal Family into stone!
This is an older game that would be fantastic with the features offered in todays game (did I just timewarp?) It tends to be on the difficult side at times due to the fact that there is no Hint feature available outside of the HOS. The only advice I can give you is to try all inventory items on areas that are blocked, as indicated by a red slash on cursor, some actions don't seem logical, but they work.
The Hidden Object Scenes are simple list finds, but there are Magic Mirrors available in each Hidden Object Scene that will give you an extra hint for each one found. The Mini Games can also be difficult at times, some require you to find clues before playing. My absolute favorite puzzle requires you to use blocks and gears to allow a lock mechanism to work, a frustrating but totally entertaining game that I have never seen done before, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Redemption Cemetery: The Island of the Lost Collector's Edition
You crash-land on an island populated by ghosts. Like them, are you trapped here forever?
Overall rating
5
/
5
217 of 246 found this review helpful
Lost Souls Looking For Redemption
PostedMarch 5, 2015
pennmom36
fromHang on Mattie, I gotta finish this puzzle first!
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
Crash landings are never good, but this airplane just crashed onto an island swarming with lost souls! Plagued with turmoil and guilt, these dearly departed souls have been long forgotten. Ruled by an evil ghost who who feasts upon their suffering only adds to their pain and grief, perhaps this island is your destination after all. If you have the courage and the strength to find the one thing the evil entity fears, the Ancient Amulet, perhaps you can rid this island of evil, and free the long lost souls who are searching for Redemption.
This island's too small for an entire story to take place, naturally you must enter the portals of the undead, to right the wrongs that are responsible for their restlessness, one soul at a time. You won't have to go it alone, a friendly crow from the island has nothing better to do so he's along for the ride and is willing to help you retrieve all those inventory items that mysteriously made their way to the most unlikely and out of reach places! You will be happy to learn that the crow has both of his eyes and they don't even glow! Some of the inventory items have plus signs that indicate further action is required before that item can be used. You must combine that item with another inventory item by simply clicking on one item and dragging it to the other item. There are Collectible items located around the island, and each set of Collectibles will shed some light upon the story.
I was a bit confused with the fact that not every Mini Game gave you the option to choose Casual or Hard modes which is a feature that is unique to this devs game. Sometimes I love a challenge, other times I just want to chill and have some fun. Most of the Mini Games were puzzle types such as swapping picture tiles or putting together torn pieces of a picture, but there are also games such as finding two identical letters by flipping two tiles at a time, but if you guess incorrectly all the tiles scramble around quickly to throw you off and make it more challenging.
This Collectors Edition is loaded with goodies, Screensavers, Concept Art, Movies, Music, Chronicles, re-playable HOP's and Mini Games, Collections, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide, a Bonus Chapter and you can even take a Test to see how well you paid attention to the details, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Listen to the Echoes of Sorrow and remember who you are as you explore your memories in this fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Echos Of Sorrow
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromI must admit, I'm curious about the prison chapter!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I try to keep in mind that this is an older game as I write my review, therefore I'm not going to base my rating upon the older style of graphics, lack of voiceovers or lack of frills. One of the problems I have with this game is with the hint system, or should I say, lack thereof. When I became stumped as to what I was supposed to do next or where to go, the hint system would merely point me to the object in that location that needed an inventory item used upon it, but that was a problem because I knew it needed something, I just didn't know where to find that item or what I was supposed to do next. This game is about a young woman who lies comatose in a hospital bed after a traumatic experience, she doesn't know who she is. You will enter her most memorable milestones in chapters, her childhood house, the church she attended, her college experiences and prison! You must solve the first chapter mystery before you can proceed to the next. There are several Hidden Object Scenes which are simple list finds, which have a feature I haven't seen before, when the cursor is near an item on the list, the listed item glows slightly almost as if it's smoking. There are Mini games as well but nothing to write home about such as reconstructing a painting by placing torn pieces in the correct place. This is just a middle of the road game, neither bad nor good, a take it or leave it forgettable hidden object game.
Solve a murder in the world famous Eastville Opera House! The Queen of Drama, Dolores Molinero has been killed and the suspect is still at large.
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Eastville Chronicles: The Drama Queen Murder
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhy does everybody blame the janitor?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The Eastville Opera House is full of passion and intrigue, one character will become a murderer, another the victim; but this isn't a re-enactment.....this is what really happened when the curtains fell! Alex Hunt has been assigned to investigate the crime scene and find the phantom of the opera who murdered Delores, the star of the show.
This is an older game, so I'm not going to complain too much about the simplistic graphics, which are a little on the dark side to give the game a creepier vibe. The games features are pretty basic, with only two modes of difficulty, Casual or Expert, and a pad of paper that holds basic objectives. The Hidden Object Scenes are simple list finds, a couple of the items are used as inventory items. I must admit that I loved the mini game that required you to decipher symbols, letters and numbers to reveal the name of this Phantom of the Eastville Opera, but other than that, this game has no unique qualities and I quickly became bored with the abundance of dialog boxes I had to read in order to keep up with the storyline.
I don't recommend this game.
Fabulous fun in this Easter Eggztravaganza. Help Mike and Sally make this the best Easter ever!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Easter Eggztravaganza
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromHappy early easter!
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
Whether you are young, or young at heart, this seek and find game will surely delight you with it's bright colors and Easter themed activities. You can choose from two modes of difficulty, Casual which has a tutorial, sparkles and a faster hint and skip feature, or Challenge which has no sparkles, no tutorial and the hint and skip features are slow to recharge. There are several listed items to find, and some areas can be opened up to reveal hidden items whenever the cursor changes to a magnifying glass. Each scene has 1 "special bunnie" to find which is the mascot for this series, as well as unspecified numbers of Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies that aren't on the list, and they will earn you extra points. After each Seek and Find game, you will play a mini game such as rotating puzzle squares or a jigsaw puzzle to complete a picture, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
5
/
5
156 of 170 found this review helpful
This Isn't A Who-Dun-It, It's A Who-Is-It
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromWill the real Marion please stand up?
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 wealthy parents of Marion Ashworth have requested Madame White's services to investigate their daughter's murder at the prestigious Belfort Academy of Dance. Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth are certainly devastated by this horrifying news, but they haven't forgotten what Marion looked like, and this victim isn't her! This case only gets more bizarre as the investigation continues, it would seem that Marions imposter was the only Marion anyone ever knew including the headmistress Ms. Compton! Who exactly is the murder victim, and what happened to the real Marion? Did the murderer intend to murder the real Marion or the fake Marion?
There are 41 hidden Collectible Masks throughout this game, as well as a ton of Achievements to earn, AND receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze categories within those thirteen achievements. Some of the inventory items have plus signs indicating that further action is required before that item can be used, such as fixing that item or combining it with another inventory item. There are 10 Morphing Objects, but they are only available within the Hidden Object Scenes. To help you remember, there is an icon that will flash until you find the changing or morphing object.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly interactive list finds, but there are unusual scenes as well, such as searching the murder victim for signs of a struggle, or finding a specific number of personal items. You can opt to play a Match 3 game in place of the HOP. The Mini Games are good, but I was surprised to find most of them just revamped puzzles, matching two related items, or using arrows to rotate several fabric buttons on a diamond shaped grid until the buttons were in their matching colored holes.
This Collectors Edition has all sorts of goodies, Souvenirs, replayable Mini Games and HOP's as well as Bonus HOP's once the Bonus Chapter has been completed, the Making of, Achievements, Pictures which has both Wallpapers and Sessions, Movies, Match 3 games, 41 Collectible Masks, Music, 10 Morphing Objects, and a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!