pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4700
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:January 15, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Play as a bungling detective Max Stone, who takes on Evergreen Heights' criminal underworld and hunt down Jimmy Menendez and his gang!
Overall rating
5
/
5
65 of 121 found this review helpful
Fantastic Solitaire With a Sense Of Humor!
PostedAugust 4, 2014
pennmom36
fromJust one more cookie right?
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
I could play solitaire all day, and this game has a few choices, Story Mode, challenge and TriPeaks and you can choose Normal or Tricky difficulty modes for each game. The Story Mode is a story about a Private Detective and it allows you to choose different locations to visit, the challenge mode is the same game without a story and the TriPeaks is timed as well. The object of the game is to remove all of the cards on the board by making matches with the deck either one higher or one lower, as you strive for long combinations. You can purchase items in the shop, Wild Cards, and Bullets with specific suits on them from the face cards, Ace King, Queen, Jack, to the numbers 1-10, and you can unlock new card suits as well. Good game but addictive, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you bring Maria back from a shadowy realm?
Overall rating
5
/
5
79 of 135 found this review helpful
The Actions Of A Few......
PostedAugust 3, 2014
pennmom36
fromOhh the cookie monster is gobbling up all the cookies again making a mockery of the entire review system!
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
Once Upon a time, a beautiful glowing flower bloomed, revealing it's creation for all to see. This would be the rise of an evil Goddess, throwing the world into total darkness, before being defeated. This Goddess left behind a loyal servant, who was desperate to revive his floral master. He began searching for three innocent souls to rejuvenate his beloved but wilting flower Goddess to restore her powers.
Maria Kolak opened a present for her 16th birthday, and the lamp inside would forever seal her fate as the first innocent soul victim. Can this supernatural anomaly be stopped before another innocent soul is taken, can Maria be saved before it's too late?
The story is a bit too vague, perhaps it's explained in more detail as you progress. How did this strange flower come to be? Where was this flower, here or another world? How did the Goddess leave behind a servant, in the form of seeds? How did she transform the world into darkness and who defeated her, how did they defeat her?
The story is a bit too vague, perhaps it's explained in more detail as you progress. How did this strange flower come to be? Where was this flower, here or another world? How did the Goddess leave behind a servant, in the form of seeds? How did she transform the world into darkness and who defeated her, how did they defeat her?
The Collectors Edition extras include, concept art, replayable mini games, achievements, a bonus game and a built in strategy guide and there are 30 collectible hidden flowers to earn with an icon to view the collected flowers. There are also 16 morphing objects, but in my opinion, they are too obvious, such as a large blue monster, so I wasn't very impressed with the morphs even though I'm a huge fan of morphs. As with the other Secrets of the Dark games, you need to transform dark areas into normal lighted areas, in this case you will use the lamp in Maria's room. Some of the things you do in the transformed areas will affect what happens within the other realm and visa versa.
You have some type of device that enables you to scan doorways that have been locked with a supernatural force field. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I don't think the device gadget has a name. To use the device you click on the icon located to the right of the screen and scan the desired area to receive the code. Each time you use the device, the code becomes larger, but the process is the same. The left knob has a negative number such as -3 and the right knob has a positive number such as +5. You adjust the knobs either three numbers down or five numbers up until your device numbers match the code, one digit at a time. I actually found this mini game kind of fun. Most of the other mini games are fairly easy such as using arrows to slide four different rows with various open slots so that two colored balls at the top of the board drop to the matching colored slots at the bottom. The Hidden Object Scenes were mostly progressive interactions where you find the first item that matches the picture shown such as a battery. You then pick up the battery and place that battery in the camera which will take a picture and reveal a ring which goes onto a ring holder to reveal the next item and so forth.
You have some type of device that enables you to scan doorways that have been locked with a supernatural force field. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I don't think the device gadget has a name. To use the device you click on the icon located to the right of the screen and scan the desired area to receive the code. Each time you use the device, the code becomes larger, but the process is the same. The left knob has a negative number such as -3 and the right knob has a positive number such as +5. You adjust the knobs either three numbers down or five numbers up until your device numbers match the code, one digit at a time. I actually found this mini game kind of fun. Most of the other mini games are fairly easy such as using arrows to slide four different rows with various open slots so that two colored balls at the top of the board drop to the matching colored slots at the bottom. The Hidden Object Scenes were mostly progressive interactions where you find the first item that matches the picture shown such as a battery. You then pick up the battery and place that battery in the camera which will take a picture and reveal a ring which goes onto a ring holder to reveal the next item and so forth.
Although I was slightly disappointed with this game because it didn't seem as exciting as the other games in this series, I do think it's a decent game, with some fun and entertaining aspects, and hopefully you'll like it as well, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Witch Hunters: Full Moon Ceremony Collector's Edition
Defeat the evil witches and save the world from eternal darkness!
Overall rating
5
/
5
112 of 242 found this review helpful
A New Moon Queen Is About To Be Chosen!
PostedAugust 2, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhy did I use a jar full of termites to eat a board when I had a crowbar two seconds ago?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Every century a ceremony is held during a full moon (half moons are worthless) to choose the new Moon Queen. The Moon Queen brings hope and light to the world, but that wouldn't be a very interesting story, so if the ceremony doesn't take place, despair and darkness will rule the world, now that's a story! A group of evil witches will do anything to stop this ceremony and are wreaking havoc in your house. The evil witches have sent an annoying little goblin to your house to destroy your Aunt Isabella's antique mirror, he seems to be having a goblin of a time breaking things, freezing entire rooms, turning sticks into giant snakes and has used the power of the moon to cause thorny roots to bust through your house, he's just not a nice goblin. Turns out that you have a pure heart (what's considered an unpure heart btw?) and the worlds counting on you to defeat the evil witches and save the world!
There are 35 MORPHING OBJECTS which just so happens to be my favorite feature in a game, in fact I rarely purchase a game that doesn't have morphs. The morphs are done well, they really did a nice job making the morphs discrete not obvious and some are very small such as a beetle! SPARKLES, I was a wee bit disappointed that in the advanced mode, there were still sparkles or glints, not as often but still annoyingly there all the same. There are a lot of ACHIEVEMENTS, there may even be an achievement for writing a review lol. The MUSIC was appropriate for the genre of game, but I had to turn the music down twice because it started to get overbearing and was making it hard to concentrate, but in all fairness it could have been just one particular track. The GRAPHICS are very well done, in fact some of the animation was incredible, water forms on the ceiling and becomes an upside down puddle which then forms a giant droplet that falls, splatters and out pops the evil goblin, nicely done!
The HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES are well blended piles of random items, they all seem to be interactive list finds, at least in the 90 minute demo. A couple of the items were small and unrecognizable, particularly the mouse in the first HOS, and one of the scenes had a gladstone bag listed which I personally have never heard of so I just clicked on anything that was a bag until I found it. The MINI GAMES are simple puzzles, nothing too elaborate, rotating discs to complete a picture or choosing which triangular piece to click that would light up the symbols on all three sides of the main triangle that matches the three symbols shown to the left.
This Collectors Edition has WALLPAPERS, CONCEPT ART, MUSIC, PUZZLES, a STRATEGY GUIDE, and of course a BONUS CHAPTER which shows your sisters perspective. This isn't really a scary game, even the main character (aka you) isn't afraid of the witches or the goblin, and at times I found the game comical, I just wanted to hug that little ole gremlin and give him a cookie. It really is an entertaining game with lot's of inventory items to find and use, there are very appealing scenes, indoor and outdoor, modern to medieval which kept up my interest and probably yours as well, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The expedition continues... Track down the fragments of King Solomon's crown and foil a madman's plot in this exciting follow-up to the bestselling series!
Overall rating
5
/
5
79 of 174 found this review helpful
I Need H.E.L.P
PostedAugust 1, 2014
pennmom36
fromI guess the museum's never going to get the Robideaux treasures!
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
Get ready for another heart pumping action packed Hidden Expedition folks, this rides gonna be bumpy! It's hard to believe that Smithsonian could ever be topped, but that's exactly what has happened, move over Smithsonian and make room for the new King, or at least King Solomons crown! King Solomon fashioned a crown to pass to his heirs, unfortunately this crown was stolen and broken into several pieces and scattered around the world. He who possesses the crown will rule the world, and a ruthless smuggler, Gordon Redgrave will stop at nothing to get his hands on this crown, there even seems to be a spy amongst the H.E.L.P agency.
Once again agent, you are equipped with a communications box which allows you to receive messages from other agents and will come in handy as you find 20 fact cards spread throughout the game which gives you interesting information about people and places you visit. The Hidden Object Scenes are well done but a bit on the easy side. There are several types ranging from interactive list finds, finding multiples of an item, and finding items that match either a colored picture or a sketch. The mini games are simple puzzles such as picture fragments to reconstruct or pressing three different designs that when combined will match the pictures shown.
The Collectors Edition has a bunch of extras that you may want to consider, Morphing Objects, 44 hidden crowns, Achievements, Puzzles, HOP, a Souvenir room, Making of, a built in Strategy Guide, a Bonus chapter, a Picture section that allows you to assemble a camera before accessing pictures of the actors, and a movie section where you get to play a mini game of throwing rotten tomatoes at the bad guys, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
A mysterious artifact has been uncovered, opening a portal to another world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
100 of 146 found this review helpful
Everything I Loved About Amaranthine Voyage Is Gone!
PostedJuly 31, 2014
pennmom36
fromMay the pearl be with you!
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
Remember those really unique Hidden Object Scenes that time warped you to the same scene in a different time? Gone! The gorgeous graphics with vibrant colors? Gone! With that being said, this is still a good game, but I can't help but to compare this game to the other two. Professor Burns is now one of the "chosen" fulfilling the prophecy of the world of Anther. The brave-hearted will bring forth the pure-hearted and save their world from destruction, but did the prophecy foresee the pearl being stolen by.........
The Hidden Object Scenes are sketches of silhouetted shapes, several items must be found which will trigger the next scene which zooms in and then out quickly focusing on a new scene. There is a morphing object within the scene and you have the option of switching to a bubble shoot game. The mini games range from simple to complicated, repeating sequences etc. I loved the mini game that required you to use directional arrows to move the center jigsaw piece toward several other pieces which would lock onto the main piece when touched, but, you have to assemble the puzzle in a specific order or the puzzle will be to large to reach corner pieces.
There are 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 has all kinds of extras, a Bonus Game, Flower Collection, Pictures, Achievements, Lore Book, Making of, Puzzles, Music, Movies, Bubble Popper, Finding Objects and of course, a built in Strategy Guide, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
For 25 years, you thought you had no family. But one night, a man steps through a mirror from another world, claiming to be your uncle... changing your life forever.
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 136 found this review helpful
Where Do The Nightmares Go?
PostedJuly 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromDoesn't this owl have a name?
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 people of Earth fall asleep, the dreams they create come to life in the Dreamworld which feeds Vi Animo (roughly translated breathes life) the Tree of Dreams. Twenty five years ago, Grace was taken to an orphanage, with an amulet and a simple note, take care of our baby Grace she is in great danger! Grace assumed all these years that her parents were dead, but today she would find quite the opposite. A man claiming to be her Uncle Sominus stumbles into her living room through a full length mirror (a hand mirror would never work) telling her she must come with him if she wants to live! Well I'm not sure if this is a great idea because no sooner do those words spew out of his mouth, an ugly monstrous figure attacks him and drags him back into the mirror leaving behind a wise ole owl (yep he is indeed wise) and a crystal. Naturally Grace uses the crystal to transport herself and the owl into the world of dreams, which now seems to be the world of nightmares!
This is a beautifully designed adventure game with bright vibrant colors and clever games, but you may want to consider upgrading to the Collectors Edition which has so much to offer. Achievements, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Movies, a built in Strategy Guide, and a Bonus Chapter that can only be accessed after finding 176 Magic Leaves. Each scene has several leaves hidden (again only in the CE) and theres no need to worry if you've found them all because a tab will appear showing how many leaves are in that scene and how many are left to find. Many of the inventory items you find will have a plus sign indicator that means you either have to fix that item in the form of a mini game, or you need to combine that item with another item such as a filled tobacco pipe that you light with a flint.
The Hidden Object Scenes are slightly interactive list finds where you may have to click on a purse or cabinet to open or place flowers onto a mask to create a mask with flowers. The scenes are repeated which is a feature I really don't like because it's too boring the second go round. The mini games range from super simple, such as swapping puzzle pieces to a variation of blocks where you have to drop keys from the top to the bottom keyhole by shifting several rows of blocks left and right to allow the keys to drop one row at a time, but you have to be careful that you don't permanently block in any keys.
Your Uncle gives you that wise ole owl which turns out to be an attack owl who will vehemently attack those monsters on command. Whenever his services are needed you simply click on that area and guide him where to attack or what to retrieve! This is a fairly easy game to play, if you opt for the casual setting the map will show you areas that have something to do, or you can use the hint button which will show you the area you need to visit as well as ask if you want to teleport there quickly, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Medieval Match 3 fun! Solve puzzles and build your own kingdom by cleverly using resources.
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 57 found this review helpful
Similar To Cradle Of Rome, But No Wow Factor
PostedJuly 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromNow I understand why the Gingerbread Man was afraid of the Muffin Man!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
My absolute favorite Match 3 games are the Cradle of Rome Series hands down. This game has almost identical features as the original COR game but the graphics aren't very good, the levels don't progress fast enough and there just isn't much difference from level to level and the game becomes monotonous. The goal is to collect resources in each level to be able to build your city. You need to make matches on the yellow cells to turn all cells black, some tiles are covered in chains, or double chains, some are blocked etc. and you will need to make matches until the cells are unlocked. There are cyan crystals on some of the cells that must be matched with cyan cells first before making the final match of a resource. Once you have enough resources to purchase the blueprints for a building, you will have to solve a very basic puzzle such as swapping puzzle tiles or matching identical pictures, then you can build that building which will give you another type of resource to match. This isn't a bad M3 game, it's just not epic, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Unravel the web of intrigues against the Vikings and bring peace to their lands!
Overall rating
5
/
5
91 of 167 found this review helpful
Loved The Underwater Scenes!
PostedJuly 30, 2014
pennmom36
fromNow I understand why the Gingerbread Man was afraid of the Muffin Man!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Nothing more fun than a well developed Time Management game, and Northern Tales is bar far one of the best TM series out there. The graphics are very well done, the tutorial does an excellent job explaining the mechanics of the game, and the goals and tasks are clear and uncomplicated. You can choose Normal mode, No Timer and allow multi-click gestures to stack up if you prefer, but be careful multi-clicking, it can veere you away from the tasks that need to be completed. There are 50 levels, 89 awards and each level has 9 pieces of the adventure collection hidden on all levels! The goal is to earn 3 stars per level for a total of 150 stars, you can restart any level if you want to improve the score.
Time Management games such as this one require you to clear paths, repair bridges and ladders, collect food and resources such as ore and gold, and you will need to repair and build farms, workshops, and druid tents. Some tasks at hand aren't completed on the first attempt, for instance, in order to build a Viking Ship, you will need to collect resources in a three step process before completion of the ship. You will rescue Foresters, trapped Vikings and remove obstacles such as wolves, malicious scarecrows and even Mantas in the really cool underwater scenes.
This is a really fun and very addictive game, if you have never played a TM game, this is a good one to try because the mechanics of the game are easy. Even though the mechanics are uncomplicated, the goals can still be challenging to meet within the specified time. There are bonuses to earn which will help you achieve your goals in time such as: time freeze, extra Viking worker for 20 seconds, faster moving workers, +1 resource and even faster building production (you can reuse multiple times but must recharge after each use). You can also exchange resources with the Merchants at a rate of exchange that is favorable to the Merchant. One feature I love about this game is the tidbits of information given about the facts and fictions of the Vikings, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Nightfall: An Edgar Allan Poe Mystery
Travel to Paris and work with Monsieur Dupin! Investigate lots of cases and meet unforgettable personalities!
Overall rating
5
/
5
129 of 323 found this review helpful
I Never Knew Detective Dupin Had A First Name, Did You?
PostedJuly 29, 2014
pennmom36
fromIs it Charles? How about Chuck, Chuck Dupin
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
Yep, apparently it's C. Auguste Dupin (okay so the C parts still a bit vague) I never liked the F2P games at first, I fear change, but the more I play them the more addictive they become. I still like Midnight Castle the best, but this one's pretty good. You are Detective Dupin's newest recruit in his agency and his assistant, Anna Flers is his secretary and will also show you the ropes to get you started, these games seem complicated at first but are actually quite easy to navigate.
You will be given quests which are tasks or objectives, and to finish that task you will need to go to that specific location, such as Dupins house, a cafe or a hotel corridor and even a dungeon. Each location is a Hidden Object Scene with either a list find or a silhouetted shape find, sometimes you have to search that location with a flashlight. The faster you find items back to back, the more points you gain which will progress you in levels. There are bonuses you can earn or purchase to help you such as a more powerful lantern, a tuning fork to cause items to shake or even a flare.
You will need to purchase energy (food) to investigate, the coins are easy to earn, the crystals far and few between so be conservative with those. There are achievements to earn and you can purchase and receive gifts from other players. There are amulets to earn, and you can store items you earn and purchase in your office. The office has an achievements case, a diary to store important information, a furnishings store to decorate your office, and a wardrobe closet where you can buy, store and change your wardrobe, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
After a suspicious accident, you find yourself stranded at a run-down motel. But you soon realize the area hides a terrifying secret...
Overall rating
5
/
5
86 of 178 found this review helpful
There's Something Evil In The Cornfield
PostedJuly 27, 2014
pennmom36
fromDid Hank just knock me out?
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
Like a Stephen King novel, this game will draw you in hook line and sinker, can you feel your heart pounding? There is something very wrong with this disintegrating motel in the middle of a cornfield, something wicked, you want to run but there's nowhere to run to, hide, but it will find you! Why are you having these visions, as if you are a different person, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel? Are the victims of the cornfield guiding you, keeping you safe, or will you be the next missing person victim?
This game is brilliant, creepy, twisted, frightful, and slightly demented, and I love it! You're not going to find any cuddly ferrets, fluttering fairies or neon colored flowers in this game folks, nothing but creepy dolls, crows, abandoned cars, dust and cornfields, and those visions....Every time you have a "vision" you are actually time warped into a Hidden Object Scene, and oh what a HOS they are! Completely interactive, you search around the scene for clues to solve puzzles such as which rings go on which fingers, and you need to pick items up and put them where they belong as well as finding items to use within the scene such as scissors to cut string. The mini games aren't as exciting as the HOS but still quality entertainment, turning dials in an electrical panel or clamping two colored wires on the correct leads with the clues given. My favorite game was actually in the HOS where you had to overlap 3 sections of fingerprints onto the original whole fingerprint sample until you had the correct combination.
If possible, consider upgrading to the Collectors Edition it has so much to offer! Collectible bucks to use in the motels gift shop, postcard jigsaws to purchase, you can decorate a scarecrow, music tracks on a jukebox, concept art in a scrapbook, wallpapers, replayable games, movies on an old tv, a bonus chapter and a built in strategy guide. What are you waiting for, I'll save room # 3 for you, enjoy if you dare!
I recommend this game!