pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4721
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:June 22, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Eastville Chronicles: The Drama Queen Murder
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
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)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.
Easter Eggztravaganza
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
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)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!
Danse Macabre: Deadly Deception Collector's Edition
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
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)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!
Dreams from the Past
As darkness falls, strange dreams from the past haunt Dianne. Help her uncover the hidden secret that lies within her dreams and unravel a love story that’s lost within time.
Overall rating
1
/
5
2 of 5 found this review helpful
Dreams From The Past
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromShe would sleep better if she didn't have junkpiles of HOS all over her house!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Nope, it's not a dream, it's a really boring Hidden Object Game about a woman named Dianne who is a photographer that is haunted by recurring dreams. Every night she has the same dream and struggles to discover who the people are in her dream, and what the dream means. She receives a phone call requesting her expertise as a photographer in Cairo Egypt and jumps at the chance to become one step closer to finding out what her dreams are telling her, because in her dreams, the characters are Egyptian!
The problem with this game isn't with the storyline, or even the simplistic graphics with no voiceovers. The problem is with the clumsy mechanics and unresponsively slow features. Just trying to access the inventory bar is painstakingly slow, the lock feature unlocks every time you move to a different location or zoom into an area. The arrow button has to be dead on, in order to move to a different location. To make matters worse, trying to find any areas of interest are extremely difficult. The HOS are junk piles, many items are tiny and partially obscured under other items, the same items are in every scene and you just have to find the same item over and over in every scene. There are mini games as well, such as Spot the difference which I did enjoy. There is no hint system outside of the HOS leaving you to scour the scene endlessly until you get frustrated.
I don't recommend this game.
Dream Sleuth
Follow the crystal clear dreams you`ve been having about a missing little girl! Use them as a guide to find and save her.
Overall rating
1
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Dream Slueth
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromHow did Grandma know the girls name but the granddaughter had to figure it out in a dream?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I couldn't even make it through the demo, it's that bad. The graphics are as basic as it gets, the voiceovers are horrible, when grandma speaks her lips move up and down so fast it looks like she's a puppet! The story is about a girl who visits her grandma who used to be a top notched investigator, but now is a bit absent minded. There has been a kidnapping and the granddaughter has a dream about this girl, in her dreams she sleuths crime scenes and finds out pertinent information about the girl who has been kidnapped. There's no explanation as to how she got these super sleuthing abilities in her dreams. The tasks are repetitive and boring, every scene requires you to find a few items in a room by clicking on everything that sparkles as your mouse hovers over an available item that can be moved or opened to expose meaningless items. There are mini games such as repeating the sequence on a toy piano. A definite no for me, and the first single star rating I have ever given!
I don't recommend this game.
Laruaville 2
The moon has vanished from the sky. Help the friendly ghosts return it!
Overall rating
5
/
5
182 of 209 found this review helpful
Lunar Troubles In Laruaville
PostedMarch 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromChicken Little is never going to believe this!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Well at least the moon is, but who knows what will happen next in this ghost town. The friendly ghosts of Laruaville are back, and they need to find an explanation, why has the moon disappeared? They will have to build libraries, observatories and houses for the experts, and lot's of equipment is needed to get to the bottom of this mystery, but first you need to earn some coins, Match 3 coins.
Choose Relaxed, Limited Time or Limited moves, but don't let this cartoonish game fool you, some levels are difficult when you play with a timer or limited moves. There are achievements to earn as well, and the object of the game is to make matches next to several coins on the board, some of which are tucked away in slots that are difficult to find available matches. Some tiles are frozen, some are blocked with barrels, some are surrounded by a dense fog, but keep in mind, the only goal is to get the coins you don't have to clear the obstacles if they aren't in the way. After a few Match 3 games there will be a Mini game, such as Mahjong or Solitaire, and those earn coins as well.
If you make a Match 4 you will receive a Firework which destroys a small area of tiles, Match 5 gives you dynamite which makes a large explosion, Match 6 and you get a pack of Fireworks, Match 7 gives you a pack of Dynamite for a super big explosion. Once enough coins have been collected, you will use those coins to purchase buildings that will help the experts figure out a solution to their lunar problems, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Big Bang West 2
A strategy game set in the American Wild West where you build towns and defend them against hordes of bandits.
Overall rating
4
/
5
94 of 99 found this review helpful
Tame The Wild West
PostedMarch 3, 2015
pennmom36
fromCan I hire a posse?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a Time Management game with a rustic wild, wild west theme, requiring you to hire local workers to construct buildings, and a sheriff to keep the peace. New goals will be given at the beginning of each level, such as building up the population and constructing specific buildings. Some buildings can only be constructed if the town's population can support it, therefor you build lower level buildings first and upgrade them as the town grows. The first thing you must do is hire workers, then you click on a free land space and build a house for dwellers. Ranches must be built to produce food, Lumber, Gold and Silver mines can be built to produce a cash flow as well as materials needed to build. Some townsfolk will pop up on the screen occasionally, to inform you that there isn't enough food or no places to live, which will help you make the necessary adjustments. Each level goal will have a time limit, in this case, you will have a specific amount of days to complete the tasks, and you will earn Gold, Silver or Bronze trophies in the form of a sheriff's badge, and there are achievements to earn as well. Icons will be posted which will allow you the option of completing a quest for additional points. You will eventually build towns that include General Stores, Churches and even a Saloon, and as with every prosperous town, the occasional bandit will come along to rob from the hard working people of the town, so be prepared and hire that sheriff as soon as possible! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Fantasy Mosaics 7: Our Home
Join the penguin family on a new exciting mosaics journey!
Overall rating
5
/
5
81 of 87 found this review helpful
Make This House A Home
PostedMarch 3, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhere is Mrs. Penguin?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Seems the penguin has decided to settle down, and start a family! The "garden" is the penguins new house, and every step you take in this Fantasy Mosaic game will help decorate his house and make it a home. This is the seventh installment in one of the best series of Mosaic games out there, which incorporates stunningly bright vivid colors such as blue, yellow, green and even magenta, to create pictures such as hippos, kittens and guinea pigs.
The object of this game is to fill in the correct number of cells on grids of various sizes. There are numbers on each row as well as columns, and you must figure out the correct placement of those groups of numbers, using logic (and sometimes hints) Each set of numbers must be separated by at least one empty cell, if you get stuck, simply switch to the next color available which will help by eliminating cells which make the grids smaller because of the available cells remaining.
Some of the cells have bonus coins that are released when you correctly fill in that cell. You will receive extra hints, tools and even the right to make a third or fourth mistake. You can earn Bronze, Silver or Gold trophies depending on the amount of time it takes you to finish the puzzle. There are two modes of difficulty available, Casual which crosses of the numbers one by one automatically, and Advanced which only crosses off the numbers when the entire row or column has been completed. Either way you cannot go wrong with this series whether you are a beginner or a griddler expert, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Shiver: The Lily's Requiem
Can you uncover what's causing the strange symptoms in Blackwill?
Overall rating
4
/
5
131 of 144 found this review helpful
Shiver Has Lost It's Mojo
PostedMarch 2, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhy on earth would Dr. Thompson want to run that hospital, his last place of employment must have been pretty bad!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Like the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! The Shiver series has always been an edgy game filled with mystery and suspense. Lily's Requiem is just a mediocre, knockoff, not a bad game, but it certainly doesn't live up to Shiver expectations. This game lacks high quality graphics and the story just isn't scary enough to be a Shiver game, it lost it's Mojo! My favorite game in this series is the Vanishing Hitchhiker, but this game pales in comparison. The other games did a phenomenal job of connecting you to the game, you really feel as if you are all alone in an old abandoned town or searching old haunted rooms, or chasing down werewolves! The Lily's Requiem is a decent game, I just wish the devs would stick to the theme of the series, stick to the same creepy graphics, and above all, don't make me collect pet goldfish and redecorate my house, what does that have to do with a suspenseful supernatural thriller named Shiver??? (NOTE: available in the CE)
Dr. Robert Thompson has just accepted a position at the Blackwill Hospital, and this hospital is disgusting, which makes me wonder if he checked out the hospital before making his decision! It's not even his first day at work and and he's come across a nearly catatonic woman who has been attacked by something or someone. After a healthy dose of the doctors medicine, he finds out that this was no chance meeting, she had been searching for the good doctor, following him to Blackwill when she found an article in the newspaper. The victim is Beatrice Stanley, daughter of Kat Stanley, Dr. Thompson's former patient, is it possible that both women are victims of the Blackwill curse?
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied from silhouetted shape finds, to interactive list finds (after all these years I'm still partial to the old school list finds). The Mini Games are pretty good, although they have been done several times before such as using arrows to bend a paperclip in order to push lock tumbler pins to their correct positions marked with a red line on the pin, matching up to the red line on the lock itself.
The Collectors Edition has collectible black pearls throughout the game, hidden in zoomed in areas, and the scenes themselves, they are even located within the HO's. You will use these pearls to buy upgrades for your dilapidated house such as wallpaper, flooring, furniture and decorations. Each category will have several options and costs to choose from. The Collectors Edition also has a rescued pet goldfish, and you can change his name from Felix to whatever floats your fish. Oddly enough, you will also find random aquarium supplies, from decorations to fish food, laying conveniently around the town for you to acquire. Not a bad feature, just a bad choice of features in a serious thriller genre. The Collectors Edition has, Achievements, Collectible Black Pearls, Collectible Aquarium Supplies, Wallpaper, Concept Art, Videos, replayable HOP's and Mini Games, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. I prefer this edition because the extras just seem out of place and distracting, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The Big Secret of a Small Town
Find out what is hidden behind the mysterious disappearance of the Mayor.
Overall rating
5
/
5
133 of 149 found this review helpful
My Brain Hurts
PostedMarch 2, 2015
pennmom36
fromAaaarrrrrhhhhh!!!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you discovered a power source that produced energy, yet needed no energy to produce, would you do anything in your power to possess this device? Suspicions and accusations start flying when the Mayor disappears from a room with only one door, and that door was guarded by security the entire time. You must find out how the Mayor managed to disappear, where he disappeared to, and whether or not he disappeared of his own free will......and if he did willingly disappear, why?
PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAP! This game isn't easy, it seems uncomplicated at first, almost simplistic, but trust me, it requires you to search for cyphers, clues and symbols to solve problems every step of the way. This isn't a Hidden Object game, there are several puzzles to solve, and the story is unique, but HOS fans will be disappointed with this game. At first the mini games seemed simple, turning discs to complete a picture, but slowly they morphed into hardcore, frustrating scenarios. The puzzles require you to search for clues and use those clues as cyphers, you will need to figure out what the clues mean and then how to apply that information!
You will have to have a keen eye, most of the inventory items you find are small and barely recognizable, if you are anything like me, you will have to re-visit locations to find things you missed. If you need a hint, you will receive nothing more than a nudge in the right direction, which can be frustrating. I suggest you play this game on Casual which has a faster hint recharge then Detective mode, unless you really love hard core, on your own games.This game has Achievements to earn, and there are hidden Elephant sketches (listed as Bishops??) that will make a trumpet sound when you click on them, but I have no idea how many of these symbols are available.
This isn't going to be a walk in the park, but if you're in the mood for a challenge, this is your lucky day, enjoy!
I recommend this game!