pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4724
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 6, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Insane Cold: Back to the Ice Age
An amulet purchased in an antique shop has awakened an ancient and terrible evil. Help rescue your beloved and save mankind from the coming eternal frost!
Overall rating
5
/
5
61 of 71 found this review helpful
INSANELY GOOD!
PostedOctober 1, 2014
pennmom36
fromMr. Hope isn't giving me much hope!
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
I have played a ton of games and the first thing I noticed in this game was insanely awesome graphics, not necessarily with the scenery, but the characters themselves. It's almost like a video game, I haven't seen such fluid movements in a PC game ever. Think about it, whenever a character walks, it is jerky and stiff with no joint movements, and don't get me started on animals, a recent game I played had a small dog that glided sideways and his legs didn't even move! Pay attention during the cut scenes and you'll see what I'm so impressed by.
Jacob purchased an ancient medallion from the local antique shop to give to his wife Helen for their anniversary. Jacob was watching Helen from the window of the cafe they were to meet at when a 7 foot giant appeared just behind Helen. Before Jacob could get out of the booth, the stranger blasted Helen with his icy blue eyes and froze her in her tracks, threw her into a black coffin and dragged her into the darkness! Jacob returns to the antique shop to confront Mr. Hope who fesses up that he inherited both the shop and the medallion from his great grandfather who told him of a legend about 7 foot ice giants that need human souls to survive. The only way to stop the giants is with the medallion that needs the souls of 17 people to activate. Jacob sets out on a quest to collect 17 souls one at a time from the innocent bystanders now frozen because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can Jacob destroy the ice giants in time to save Helen?
The Hidden Object Scenes are slightly interactive list finds with at least one zoom in area that contain items listed in red. Some of the scenes are repeated which disappoints me, I hate repeated scenes because it's boring and you know where everything is a second time around. There are only a handful of mini games but there are plenty of inventory items to pick up and use as well as tasks to accomplish. This game surprised me, I wasn't expecting much from a stand alone edition but I really did enjoy playing this game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Rush Hour! Gas Station
Your Uncle Tony needs you now more than ever! He's just spent all his savings on his lifetime dream: running his own gas station!
Overall rating
4
/
5
81 of 93 found this review helpful
The Need For Speed
PostedOctober 1, 2014
pennmom36
fromI think I just had a virtual car crash!
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
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Uncle Tony has hired you to work at his new gas station, but he may have made a mistake hiring me, I don't think I'm cut out for this job! The gas station theme works, it's an excellent choice for a Time Management game, I just haven't figured out if it's the game mechanics or my mechanics that made this game awkward. You have a line of cars that travel in front of your gas station and you click on the cars with the gas pump icon, and then you click on the pump you want them to go to. You start out with two pumps but you can add more as you progress, and you will want to purchase extra parking spaces to put excess cars in while waiting for a pump to open up. Once the car has filled up you click on the car again and then the exit/cash register. You earn more money for color combos, everything is colored, the pumps, the register and the cars. Eventually you will upgrade your station with garages and mini marts and you will be able to purchase tools to make the TM process easier.
The problem I had with this game is that it was sometimes difficult to click on a moving car and the multitask clicking wasn't obvious enough. In other words I wasn't sure if the car had been selected as well as the action, and then the car would just drive on past. This would be an awesome game if the tasks were shown on each item as 3 checkmarks or something to let you know what was going on with that item. I found it a bit odd that the vehicles move sideways and even run through another car as if it wasn't there, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Manor Memoirs Collector's Edition
Help Scarlett write her next novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Garage Sale Seek And Find
PostedSeptember 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhat we need is a dog, a cat and a cow!
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
Scarlett has writers block, the big city usually inspires her famous novels, but not this time. The solution, buy a fixer upper manor nestled in the beautiful countryside. The manor was more expensive than she budgeted for so we must have a garage sale, out with the old, in with the new!
This is a really fun find and seek game, not really a hidden object game because the items are scattered about not really "hidden" with the exception of semi hidden coins in each scene that help fatten the piggy bank. The customers show up on the left of the screen with either a picture or list of the items they want to buy and how much they are willing to pay for that item. If you find the items quickly they pay full price but as they lose their patience, the less money they will be willing to pay. You will earn more money if you find groups of items such as 4 books, before searching for another customers request. You will use the money you get from the garage sales to refurbish the manor with new sofas, televisions and desks. You can play this game in relaxed or timed modes, and choose to get sparkle hints or not.
This Collectors Edition has 24 Achievements, Concept Art, Exclusive Wallpapers (less available in Standard Edition) Soundtracks, a special Bonus level and there are more options to choose from under the furnishing (5 furniture options in each category vs. 3 furniture options per category in SE) Both editions are fun, but I'm not all that excited with the extras included in the Collectors Edition, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Manor Memoirs
Help Scarlett write her next novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 40 found this review helpful
Speedy Seek And Find Game
PostedSeptember 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromWrite a book called "Buyer Beware"
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
Scarlett no longer get's inspiration for her novels in the big city so she bids on a 1.5 million dollar mansion and to her delight she's the proud owner of a very dilapidated country manor. Unfortunately she spent all of her money to purchase the house so she decides to have a garage sale in each room of the manor to get rid of the old junk and refurbish the house with new furniture.
You will have a seek and find garage sale in each room such as the attic, living room, darkroom and study. Customers will show up on the left side of the screen with the item they are wanting to buy either a listed item or a picture of the item, and how much they will buy that item for. If you find that item before they lose their patients (as indicated by hearts) you will get that price, if they lose patients they will pay less for that item. Some customers want multiples of items such as 4 books and you will earn more money if you find all 4 books in that group before finding another customers item. There are hidden coins in each scene that will earn you more money as well. The money you earn can be used to buy furniture and decorations for Scarlett's manor such as sofa's, televisions, and desks.
You can play this game in Relaxed mode with no timer, or Against the clock where you must complete each level before the timer runs out. There is also a setting to turn off sparkle hints. Most of the mini games involve finding multiples of a single item such as 22 records or 27 pawprints, nothing too difficult and there is a tutorial and a hint button. You can click on the design icon to change any of your purchased item to a different style if you change your mind, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Enjoy this beautiful adventure set in a unique interactive 3D Thailand! Complete mysterious puzzles and find hidden objects. Prepare for an unforgettable experience!
Overall rating
3
/
5
39 of 42 found this review helpful
Nice Concept But Way Too Slow
PostedSeptember 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromI have a chocolate addicted Gecko named Stickey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I really liked the 3D concept of this adventure which allows the player to click and drag the screen to get a 3D perspective of the entire scene from left to right and even up and down. Although the click, drag and zoom feature has failed in the past, this concept really gives you a 3 dimensional view not just a larger view and allows for more realistic interactions within the game. Some of the inventory items require further action before using them such as rotating and pushing buttons to open a lid that exposes a useful item inside and this is where you will really notice the 3D effect.
This is an adventure that takes place in Asia from Melissa's point of view, about a young Monk that has disappeared the evening before he would become her student. The story is interesting but the mechanics of the game was so frustrating that I quickly became bored and didn't even finish the demo. I tried both the Adventurer and Expert modes of difficulty but neither mode allowed for cursor changes, I had no clue what items or areas to click on because the cursor remained a hand the entire time. Perhaps the cursor changed to a magnifying glass on active areas in Novice mode but I just gave up at this point. The graphics are actually not bad for a stand alone edition, and there is a back button icon above the inventory bar. Because you are playing in a dimensional game, you will need to guide where Melissa goes, if you want to walk towards a door you will need to click on the door to activate her to walk forward first, you may even need to turn around before the door comes into sight! If you fear change you don't want to play this game!
The Hidden Object Scenes are slightly interactive where you may have to click on an object to remove the lid which will expose an inventory item, and they are Fragment finds that will become a single item once all fragments of the item have been found. The mini games weren't bad either, such as moving a purple water lily from the top to a matching slot on the bottom. You could move any of the yellow lilies around the basin, but if they get too close to the edge they will spill over and you will have to start over. This game also has Achievements available to earn and there are several animal helpers to find such as a Gecko, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Pirate's Solitaire 2
Play the new Pirate Solitaire right on the shores of Britain! Outplay seasoned sea dogs and prove that you're the best of the best!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 88 found this review helpful
Pirate Solitaire On The Salty Sea!
PostedSeptember 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromAaarrr I've matched ye gold mates
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
Nothing better that playing Solitaire except playing Solitaire with a Pirate theme! This game has 120 levels and 21 trophies or achievements to earn. You will start with a tutorial on the junior mode which allows you to replay any level, after that you can switch to Sea Wolf mode which only allows you to re-play an entire deck. The object of this game is to make matches of cards regardless of suit, and the goal is to match all available gold cards. If you match all gold cards before the deck is returned you will automatically win that hand even if other cards remain. Some cards are bonus cards which will give you extra points when you match them and you can purchase extra shuffle cards, Mulligan cards which will allow you to undo any last action, and a Joker which changes any open card to a joker which can be matched with any card. There is a multiplier bar at the top which fills as you make matches, the more matches you make in a row, the higher the multiplier bonus, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Amaranthine Voyage: The Shadow of Torment
A mysterious artifact has been uncovered, opening a portal to another world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 24 found this review helpful
The Chosen Ones
PostedSeptember 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromIf you don't want women to touch something, don't say "don't touch it" we will touch it!
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
Professor Burns is on another archeological expedition when an Energy barrier is accidentally activated. Her knowledge and expertise of ancient ruins has the situation under control in moments, but something is different about this site, it doesn't appear to be ancient at all! Once inside the site Professor Burns learns that she has entered a portal to another realm, and this world has been waiting for her a very long time! There is a prophecy in this world that one day a kind savior will use the Wayfarer's Pearl to enter the portal and save the people of Anther from the darkness that has consumed their world. The brave-hearted one will bring the pure-hearted one to save the people of Anther. Turns out that one of your assistants has been looking for this pearl as well, the brave-hearted has led you to Anther, could you be the chosen one, the pure-hearted?
I'm a bit disappointed in this Amaranthine Voyage, the graphics are blurry at times and the beginning of this game moves so slow that I had a hard time getting into the plot, but the game does pick up once you are in Anther. Some of the inventory items have a + sign indicator that requires you to either fix that item or combine it with another inventory item before it can be used.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly silhouetted shape matches with the final item being a brief description of that particular item. There is a Bubble Shoot game alternative that is similar to Tumblebugs, where you have a cannon that shoots bubbles of different colors (right click to swap to a different color) and you shoot the bubble at a moving line of bubbles in order to make a match of at least 3 of the same colored bubbles. As with all of the Amaranthine Voyage's, the puzzles and mini games are in abundance, such as repeating the sequences of tiles shown in a demo, or my personal favorite, using directional arrows to guide a centerpiece of a jigsaw puzzle toward surrounding outer pieces that will automatically attach to the center piece. As you add pieces to the puzzle you must make sure that there is enough room for the main puzzle to maneuver to the outer pieces or you will have to start all over.
The Collector's Edition has 41 Flowers of Remembrance to collect and they have done a very nice job concealing them. You will also find lost paintings that will allow you access to a HOP from another game, Myths of the World: Chinese Healer, Amaranthine Voyage: The Living Mountain, and Sea of Lies: Mutiny of the Heart! This Collector's Edition also has a Bonus Game, Flower Collection, Pictures, Achievements, Lore Book, Making of, Puzzles, Music, Movies, Bubble Poppers, Finding Objects and of course, a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Bella Design
It's time to open your own fashion boutique! Discover the wonderful world of fashion in the new Bella Design game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
68 of 85 found this review helpful
Yee Haw
PostedSeptember 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromI sold a purse to cowboy, bet he wanted cowboy boots
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
Bella opens up her very own country Boutique (probably to avoid her Uncles request to feed the chickens) why not, she's already making clothing for all the neighbors. As with most Time Management games, you need to help the customers before they lose their patients and leave. Because this is a Boutique based game, you need to figure out what each customer wants such as new clothing, shoes and handbags, place them in the correct location and show them the products available. This game allows the customer to choose as you scan over each item until they see something they really like and nod their head with a smile. When the customers are finished they will walk to the cash register where you can collect the money, again the object is to keep the customer happy as indicated by the hearts above their heads. There are hidden Gold and Red Hearts that will increase the customers patience if you find them. The money you earn can be used to purchase upgrades such as extra handbag stands, extra assistants, extra booths and chairs, which is the only way to really progress in this type of game. If you complete any level within expert time, you will earn stars that can be used to upgrade Bella's new house inside and out, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Death and Betrayal in Romania: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector's Edition
Can you escape from the grasp of a lovestruck ghost?
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 30 found this review helpful
A Ghostly Love Story
PostedSeptember 28, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhy did I set the time at 8:55 when the example was 5 minutes till 8?
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
Dana Knightstone is traveling to a book signing for Death at Cape Porto, when her car is hit by an avalanche that nearly sweeps her over the cliff! As luck would have it, the caretaker of a nearby castle rushes in and saves Dana just in time and brings her back to the castle to recover. Of course this castle is haunted as they always are, and the ghost of this castle believes Dana is his runaway bride returning to his side after all these years. Dana soon discovers that Lucian was left standing at the altar, but he wouldn't live long enough to discover the truth....she had been murdered! Now Dana must reunite these two ghostly lovers so they may live happily ever in the afterlife.
Dana has always had the ability to communicate with the dearly departed, and even her dearly departed dog Bandit has found his way back to her. Bandit looks a bit pale, however he can jump pretty high to retrieve items that have been randomly thrown up in a trees and other unusual places, so for now he can stay. ( how bad can it be if a ghost dog isn't housebroken?)
The Hidden Object Scenes are a mixture of finding items that match silhouetted shapes as well as pictured items, and smaller versions where you find multiples of a single item or fragments to complete an object. I enjoyed the mini games such as removing gems in groups of at least two, but as you remove gems the top gems fall down so you need to use strategy to plan for this action. I also liked the puzzle where you swap stained glass pieces to create complete portraits of 4 different characters.
This Collectors Edition has 12 different Achievements (some with as many as 56 categories) Cut Scenes, Concept Art, a built in Strategy Guide, Soundtracks, Wallpapers and of course a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Death and Betrayal in Romania: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Can you escape from the grasp of a lovestruck ghost?
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 136 found this review helpful
AVALANCHE!
PostedSeptember 28, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhy did I set the time at 8:55 when the example was 5 minutes till 8?
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
Dana Knightstone is traveling to a book signing (which just happens to be Death at Cape Porto) when her car is nearly swept over the cliff by an avalanche! Luckily the caretaker of a nearby castle rushes in and saves Dana just in time and brings her back to the castle to thaw out and recover. Naturally this castle is haunted as most are, and the ghost of this castle believes Dana is his runaway bride returning to his side after all these years. Dana soon discovers that Lucian was left standing at the altar, but he wouldn't live long enough to discover the truth....she had been murdered! Now Dana must reunite these two ghostly lovers so they may live happily ever after. (in this case way after)
Dana has always had the ability to communicate with the dearly departed, and even her dearly departed dog Bandit has found his way back to her. In my opinion Bandit looks a bit freakish, however that dog can jump pretty high to retrieve items thrown up in a tree so for now he can stay. (besides, how bad can it be if a ghost dog isn't housebroken?)
The Hidden Object Scenes are a mixture of finding items that match silhouetted shapes as well as pictured items, and smaller versions where you find multiples of a single item or fragments to complete an object. I must say that I enjoyed the mini games such as removing gems in groups of at least two, but as you remove gems the top gems fall down so you need to use strategy to plan for this action. I also liked the puzzle where you swap stained glass pieces to create complete portraits of 4 different characters. It seems that each new edition to the Dana Knightstone series keeps getting better, enjoy!
I recommend this game!