pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4712
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 24, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Castle Secrets: Between Day and Night
Explore a castle full of secrets and save the world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
141 of 183 found this review helpful
Castle of Betrayal
PostedDecember 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromI need more energy!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This castle is owned by the ancient Hildegard family who has protected humanity from the forces of evil since time immemorial. Recently the castle has been attacked, Sire Aaron Hildegard's brother, Talbot Hildegard has led this attack along with minions of evil! You must equip yourself with various weapons and tools to fight and destroy these minions, Vampires, Witches, Werewolves and even cold blooded killers and rogue agents!
This game is very similar to Dark Manor, so if you don't like Hidden Object games that give you various quests to accomplish by searching the same rooms or locations repetitively, steer clear, otherwise, the graphics are clear and hidden objects are easy to recognize and entertaining to search for. There are so many features in this game that it may seem really complicated at first glance, thankfully there is a really helpful tutorial that will guide you through the main features of the game, step by step.
The first thing you will do is accept a quest from various residents of the castle, these are icons on the left of the screen with exclamation points. The quest will open up to show you all the information you need such as, what the quest is, what your reward will be for that quest, how much experience you will gain, and even which room or location. The next step is to enter that area and search for hidden objects shown on the right side of the screen in either a list form or silhouetted shape, and the scene will either be in the daytime or night which is a dark room with just a flashlight to search with. There are various tools you can purchase to help with the HO's such as a Marmot to stop time for 30 seconds or 60 seconds, a Magnifying Glass which will point to one object or 2, Dynamite which explodes 5 items and even a Golden Flash to increase the size of light during the night scenes. When you are done with the HO scene, you click on Get Rewarded to receive your reward.
Don't forget to rid the castle of those evil minions! Click on the minions to learn what it takes to kill the minion, usually this means you have to pay for the weapon that will destroy that particular minion, again you just click on the rewards that the minion leaves behind. You will occasionally click on the Collections icon to review what items you need or already have in order to complete several different collections or weapons. As you gain experience you will level up, the higher the level, the more locations you will unlock which will make the game less repetitive, so try to stick it out because the game really gets interesting when there are several locations available, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Help Jill & Mike to save their wedding and uncover Jill's heritage!
Overall rating
5
/
5
142 of 157 found this review helpful
Another Fantastic Gardens Inc.
PostedDecember 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromOoohh noo, what happened to Mike???
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Something horrible has happened to Mike! As he lies in a hospital bed clinging to life, Jill nervously waits beside her fiance, hoping he will pull through! What happened to Mike, will this affect their wedding plans? Time to rewind three months earlier and hopefully find out what went so terribly wrong. Mike and Jill have traveled to Barcelona, Spain in search of Garden contracts to expand their business outside of the United States, but business is slow and the money is running out. Angie has come to the rescue once again to enter Gardens Inc. into several contests with some pretty stiff competition, so bring your A game and start planting!
Each level starts out with several goals to achieve such as: gathering packs of tools, gathering packs of seeds, removing leaves, removing weeds, planting flowers, building tool sheds to give you extra tool supplies, and even upgrading the truck which gives you additional workers. Each level also has a Bonus Goal Clue for additional points such as: One color for all flowers or, Different flowers paired together. When you plant flowers, you will get to choose which flowers and colors you want to plant, however you can change the flowers or colors anytime. You can click on several available tasks to multi task the workers, and if you right click the task, that task will be canceled. You will be able to use the money you earned to build Mike and Jill's new house, from the ground floor up, and most of the upgrades you choose can be exchanged for another choice.
This Collectors Edition has a built in Strategy Guide, Wallpapers, Bonus Levels, and 10 different Trophies to earn such as: Earning all gold levels, beating all developers time records, and collecting all of the gold coins, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Gem Legend
The ancient Chaos has devoured the abode of the gods. Save the gods from Chaos and become a legend!
Overall rating
3
/
5
62 of 66 found this review helpful
Not Very Legendary
PostedDecember 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromWill I know when I have the artifact in hand?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Ancient Chaos is devouring the House of Gods, even the all-seeing Goddess of Wind can't stop him! Everything will turn to stone if a savior doesn't come soon, this savior will have the artifact in hand so it's now up to you (with a little help from the Goddess of Wind) to find the ancient artifact and save the world!
This is a Match game that requires you to match groups of 2 or more identical artifacts by simply clicking on the group, no need to swap any tiles. This game says that the colors are vibrant yet in my opinion I found the artifact gems to be uninteresting and the graphics look like something from the flintstones era. You will need to complete the game within a specific amount of moves with goals such as making matches on all green cells or matches to turn all cells into stone. The goal is to receive 3 golden stars, but I found this difficult to achieve on some levels because you just couldn't get enough tiles to make large matches. If you run out of moves, you will get the option to use your points to continue the same game with extra moves, but I found it better to just replay the level with a whole new set of tiles. There are bonuses that will appear on the board when you make large matches, and as you progress, you will be given the option to purchase bonuses such as the White Tiger Whirlwind which destroys random tiles, or Pan's Feather which adds 5 additional moves to that level. This is an okay game, but not my cup of tea, I prefer Match 3 games where you swap tiles to make matches, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Fishdom: Depths of Time
Submerge into the unique deep-sea world with your amusing aquatic buddies that will never let you feel bored in Fishdom: Depths of Time.
Overall rating
4
/
5
80 of 84 found this review helpful
Something's Fishy
PostedDecember 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhy does the tutorial tell me to buy a flame angel and point to a yellow tang?
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I loved the interactive fish you purchase for your aquarium and the Match 3 game itself is entertaining, with colorful aquatic icons such as Scuba Masks, Lilies, Sharks, Crabs and seashells. You can also replay any level to achieve a better score, and there is a bobber used for the timer. You will purchase items for your aquarium with the money you earn, some items aren't unlocked until you reach a certain level. The coolest feature available is the fact that when you purchase a new fish, you get to choose either a male or female, and you choose it's name from an extensive list, OR you can choose your own name (have fun with that , p.s. the fish will call you by the name you choose at the beginning as well) You will also need to decorate your aquarium in order to gain XP points which is a requirement for adding more fish. You can choose from several different themes such as, Mesoamerica, Prehistoric World, Ancient Greece, Future City, Fantasy, Extraterrestrial, Medieval Europe or Atlantis. As you progress, you will be able to have several aquariums, but keep in mind that you need to feed your fish when they are hungry, decorate each aquarium to keep the fish happy, and keep the aquariums clean.
The Collectors Edition has Achievement trophies, 150 Bonus Levels, Soundtracks, Concept Art, Wallpapers and you can use any of your aquariums as a Screensaver! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Christmas Eve: Midnight's Call
Do you have what it takes to save Christmas?
Overall rating
3
/
5
80 of 87 found this review helpful
Lump Of Coal
PostedDecember 28, 2014
pennmom36
fromSis adapted well
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
"On Christmas Eve, your dreams are sweet, at midnight all your fears you'll meet. When the clock strikes 12, it's time to hide, from the darkness emerge those who've died. The ancient evil is again made flesh, they'll turn your living world to ash. What do you see, is it a dream? Wake up, try not to scream!"
With an opening poem, such as this, I was expecting more, than just Christmas bliss. I'm told that an ancient evil will soon be alive, but there's really nothing scary, so why should I hide? The Queen of Snow Hill, want's to make me a deal, just save the kingdom from the wicked sorceress so real, and she will return my dear sister, so our family can heal! I haven't yet seen the dead arise, just presents and decorations as you can surmise!
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly interactive list finds, with only one or two items requiring a simple interaction such as pulverizing a mushroom with a pestle. I did however, really enjoy the mini games which allow you to choose between Casual and Hard modes for each game. My personal favorite was putting a calendar together by matching two sections of different animals. The center buttons rotate the outside disk, the inner disk is stationary with pictures of half of the animal, and there are dragons on the outside of the disk on the left and right side which will swap to adjacent tiles until you have complete pictures of each of the animals.
The Collectors Edition has Music, Screensavers, Videos, Wallpapers, Concept Art, replayable HO's and Mini Games, Collectibles, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. This is an entertaining game, but it just left me wanting a little more, see what you think, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Magic Cards Solitaire
Enter the magical world of Knoxford the Sorcerer! Play exciting levels of Solitaire and venture through a mystical world filled with secrets!
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 63 found this review helpful
I Kinda Liked It
PostedDecember 27, 2014
pennmom36
fromSparkle sparkle glitter glitter spin!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I don't know why everyone hated this game so much, we ask for something "different" with the solitaire games of late, and when a dev attempts to give us some pizazz, we complain!? With that being said, this is your typical solitaire game where you attempt to remove all the cards on the board by playing a card either one higher or one lower (regardless of suit) than the card shown on the deck. You can replay any level to attempt a better score, 3 gold stars are the goal. There are collectible artifacts hidden under some of the cards, and you can also earn trophies. With the points or money you earn, you can purchase bonuses such as a Joker wild card. Yes, there is a lot of glitter and sparkle and at times it seems to take forever, however, the graphics are stunningly clear and the colors are beautiful, the music is pretty good too, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The Smithsonian Castle’s secrets lie in a Civil War past.
Overall rating
4
/
5
115 of 127 found this review helpful
Time Travel At The Smithsonian?
PostedDecember 25, 2014
pennmom36
fromThey say true love stands the test of time, so that's what it means!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I was super excited that Hidden Expedition's was on the menu for today's release.......but I was a wee bit disappointed with this time traveling love story. The storyline is okay, but the game itself lacks that action packed element, it just seems like I'm visiting a random museum on a school field trip. As a member of H.E.L.P, you have been asked to investigate strange phenomenon with the electricity at the Smithsonian Castle. What you discover is fascinating! Sarah Jackson is a senior lecturer at the Smithsonian who has fallen in love with another employee, Eli Pike, a lab assistant.......from 1862!!
Once again, H.E.L.P has equipped us with a communication device that doubles as a fact finding device that tells us various fun facts about people, places and items related to the Smithsonian, as you find the cards throughout the game. They have added a new feature that allows you to scroll up, down, right and left on several of the zoomed in locations. Another new feature that I thought was kinda cool, were the random Kiosks throughout the museum that allowed you to listen to even more Smithsonian information. Some of the inventory items are complex items that require some form of interaction before they are available for use, such as solving a quick mini game or combining that item with another inventory item. There are also 43 Hidden Symbols to collect, one in each location!
Some of the Hidden Object games were really good, others were ho hum. Some are silhouetted shapes, some are sketches, most of the sketches represent an item and aren't necessarily exact images. One of the HOS had sketches of two items with a plus sign between them requiring you to find the item that both items combined would represent such as, Ear + Music Notes would equal headphones. In Hidden Expedition tradition, all of the HOS have a morphing object (16 total morphs), and to remind you to look, there is a morphing object icon to the right of the inventory bar. The mini games were way too easy, but still entertaining, matching top and bottom bar codes, or filling in hollow letters with several different shapes, or aligning all planets horizontally however selecting one planet will affect others at the same time.
This Collectors Edition has Movies, Pictures (screensavers & wallpapers) Puzzles, HOP's, Music, a Souvenir Room, Collectibles, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Downtown Secrets
Discover the Downtown Secrets! After mysteriously disappearing for three years, Marie is back in Alex’s life and needs his help!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
Downtown Secrets
PostedDecember 23, 2014
pennmom36
fromHe must really dig Marie!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is actually a decent game with a who-dun-it vibe. My only complaint is that some of the hidden objects are small and difficult to identify. Alex is a criminal attorney who receives a call in the middle of the night from Marie Vernet, the woman who left him three years ago without any explanation. She informs Alex that she has been arrested for murder and desperately needs a favor...a criminal favor! She wants Alex to visit the crime scene and remove documents before the police find them. When he arrives at Mark Brandt's house, the scene of the murder, he is surprised that an old friend turned private detective is there as well. Turns out his friend Nick is involved in this case as well, and naturally wants Alex to help him out as well! Things just keep getting more complicated and everyone is under suspicion.....just who killed the multinational CEO?
You will be equipped with a Dossier which can be accessed on the right of the screen, and all the information is stored there with bio's on each person you make contact with throughout the game. Each location you come across will have a hidden object list find and at least a couple of interesting mini games, which require codes and keys that you find in that location. I really enjoyed the game of finding the correct safe code using a bookmarker with several holes cut out, requiring you to scan the bookmarker over pages in a book until you found the correct placement of numbers.
This game has decent graphics, keep in mind this game was released in 2011. There are no voiceovers, but at least there aren't a billion dialog boxes to read, once the introductory story has been told, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Delicious: Emily's New Beginning Collector's Edition
After living on a pink cloud for over a year Emily decides to reopen Emily's Place!
Overall rating
5
/
5
142 of 158 found this review helpful
It's Time!
PostedDecember 23, 2014
pennmom36
fromAre they going to the hospital in PJ's?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
With the arrival of baby Paige, the restaurant business just got a bit more complicated. You can choose to play this Time Management Game in Beginner, Normal or Advanced mode, but whichever mode you choose, you're in for a fast paced and highly addictive treat, Emily style! The first thing you must do is look at the forecast menu which predicts which type of customers will be eating at the restaurant that day. Then you open up the presents that contain all the items you will need, and choose the menu items that will be ordered by the groups forecasted to dine. The rest of it it simple (but fast paced) take the customers order, deliver their food, collect their money at the register, and clean their tables. The more you progress, the more customers you have to serve, and the more complex orders become. Don't forget about the baby! It's okay to let Paige crawl around as long as she's happy, she can even earn you a better tip if the customers like her, but if they don't you will need to scoop her up and place her back into her play area. You will want to purchase upgrades with the money you earn that will either make your customers more patient, or make Emily move faster, you can even purchase a pacifier for Paige that will keep her happy and content to stay put! This Collectors Edition has available Achievements to earn and a scrapbook for both Emily and Paige, to store pictures in of those wonderful moments like Paige's first steps! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Search a magnificent garden on a huge property to uncover the secret to your inheritance!
Overall rating
2
/
5
81 of 85 found this review helpful
Not A Bad Game If You Like Click And Drag Scenes
PostedDecember 23, 2014
pennmom36
fromIs the puppy supposed to be real, or is he a stuffed animal?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This isn't as bad as it seems from the reviews, it just becomes tedious when you have to click and drag the scene around searching for items. Personally, I'm not a fan of the click and drag style HO searches, and I'm pretty sure my mouse was beginning to overheat. Another annoying feature was the automatic tutorial and the excessive dialog boxes which were very slow moving. Basically you have just inherited your Aunt Selma's beautiful estate, well at least that's how you remember it from the summer you spent there when you were just a kid. You choose which location you want to search such as the kitchen garden, or gazebo and then you click on the magnifying glass to zoom into a section, and then you can click and drag the scene up and down back and forth, searching sections for the listed inventory items. Before you can access the list, you will have to find multiples of a single item such as 10 tomatoes or 12 butterflies. You will come across items that have been damaged and you will find fragments throughout the game such as 16 pages of Aunt Selma's diary, or 14 table fragments. If you can overlook some archaic style features and don't mind dragging the scene all over the place, then you just might like this game.
I don't recommend this game.