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:
Visit a boarding school abandoned after a terrible accident. Unravel the mystery of the loss of its former students.
Overall rating
4
/
5
177 of 204 found this review helpful
A Case Of Revenge?
PostedMay 21, 2014
pennmom36
fromDoes anyone else think the cloaked figure walked through the woods just like bigfoot?
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
Hope Lake has huge potential for a Standard Edition Game (and price). The graphics are good, and the story is kind of like a dangling carrot that keeps you playing the game just to gather a bit more information about Peter and Louise Braun and the evil treatment she inflicted on the children at Lake Hope Boarding School. A cloaked figure is responsible for the brutal abductions of the former students of the boarding school, could this be the work of Louise Braun, didn't she drown several years ago in a boating accident? Sheriff Bill Cooper has assigned Detective Kelly Wells to investigate these strange abductions, and as she searches for clues at the abandoned boarding house, motives become clear!
This game also promises 6 hours of gameplay with 18 hidden object scenes and 26 mini games which are mostly in the form of simple puzzles such as turning disc rings to allow a completed line or circuit to go from start to finish, or sliding animal tokens around on a square grid until the animal is in the correct environment such as a fish in a stream and a bat in the night sky. The Hidden Object Scenes are repeated a couple of times in the same area, they are interactive list finds and the scenes are on the darker side which can make it difficult to recognize some items. Hint: there is a flashlight you retrieve out of your car which can also be used in the HOS that may help. I do have a couple of complaints, some of the listed items are way off base, a sphere is a pool ball and a jar is actually an empty half crushed cola can just to name a few so think outside of the box if you can't find an item. There were also a few glitches where it seemed as if the game were skipping or freezing for a split second but it could have been my computer, or perhaps Louise. I also noticed that you have to be fairly precise where you place the inventory items, if too far off the item is rejected so if you think an item should be used there but it bounces back, try again exactly where the gears are turning.
This game isn't going to knock your socks off, there are no collectibles, no morphs, you are armed only with a briefcase for evidence (technically you "collect" evidence) a flashlight and a jump map. What you will get is an entertaining game that will hold your interest, at a Standard Edition price, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Travel through the world in this special edition jigsaw game. Now with 1001 unique photos!
Overall rating
5
/
5
249 of 268 found this review helpful
The Only Thing That Can Top This Is 1002 Puzzles!
PostedMay 20, 2014
pennmom36
fromIs it my birthday?
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, I'm a puzzle freak, not only are there 7 boxes containing a total of 1001 puzzles, BUT, every puzzle picture is exactly the genre I love. I prefer animal pictures and landscapes and that is exactly what you get in this edition, Earth Chronicles. There are of course beautiful sunsets, flowers, beaches, forests and even underwater landscapes. Most of all there are animal pictures, wallabies, hamsters, squirrels, dogs, cats, lions, bears giraffes, sea turtles, peacocks, chimps, lemurs, pandas, hippos, and all kinds of exotic birds and mammals!
There are 7 trophies to earn and a feature available that allows you to modify any puzzle with the amount of pieces from 15 to a whopping 345! You can also choose the cut style from straight pieces to curved, and choose whether the pieces can be rotated or not. This is my favorite feature because if you like one of the pictures but there are too many or too few pieces, it's an easy fix. Each puzzle allows you to image the picture on the top left in x1, x2, or x3 size. You can Ghost the image on the background and choose from 4 different colored backgrounds. There is a hint feature and a magnifying glass, and you can store extra pieces in the box selection. There are also features that allow you to choose just the border, and sort the pieces. If you are a puzzle geek and like me, you love the animal pictures this one fits the bill. I can honestly say that I liked every picture in this edition. I was working on a 345 piece modified puzzle of a lake scene and was almost finished when the demo ended, can you imagine how many hours of enjoyment 1000 more puzzles can bring, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Put your culinary skills to use. Prove that you are the best chef and beat your boss in each restaurant’s final Battle.
Overall rating
5
/
5
106 of 114 found this review helpful
Sushi Chef 2
PostedMay 20, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhere can I get a magic sushi rolling mat?
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
Sushi Chef is back, and this game is going to put your reflexes and memory to the test. Maybe it's just me, I liked the graphics of the first one better, but I think the look they were going for on this game was a more modern one. A customer will sit down at the counter with a conveyor belt system and an icon will appear above their head indicating what items they are ordering. Drink orders are done directly by clicking on the correct drink and then on the customer. The sushi orders are prepared on a roll up mat (real sushi chefs would not appreciate this idea) You look at a recipe book for instructions on what ingredients are needed for each item, and I suggest that you jot this down for quick reference if you cannot memorize several different orders, beleive me it can get confusing especially at a fast pace. After clicking on the correct ingredients you will click on the prep mat which will roll up and magically put these ingredients together and send it off to the conveyor belt which will eventually make it to the customer, then you clear their plates when they leave. If you run out of ingredients, you use your phone to reorder and decide if you want free delivery or pay for expedited shipping There are upgrades that you can buy with your earned gold,
Coffee-more coffee at once
Faster Conveyor Belt-faster delivery to customer
Phone-more ingredients available in a single order
Fast food Prep-your food prep is quicker
Trick Tools-these increase customers patients
Theme Drinks-hold more drinks in stock
You can also purchase bonuses with your earned money, theses are located on an inventory bar for quick access that will allow you to freeze time for a few seconds, give customers instant happiness and even transform all dishes into delicious meals.If you don't like fast paced, race against the clock games (or if you're hungry) skip this game, if you do then put on your chef's hat and get to work, enjoy!
Faster Conveyor Belt-faster delivery to customer
Phone-more ingredients available in a single order
Fast food Prep-your food prep is quicker
Trick Tools-these increase customers patients
Theme Drinks-hold more drinks in stock
You can also purchase bonuses with your earned money, theses are located on an inventory bar for quick access that will allow you to freeze time for a few seconds, give customers instant happiness and even transform all dishes into delicious meals.If you don't like fast paced, race against the clock games (or if you're hungry) skip this game, if you do then put on your chef's hat and get to work, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Criminal Minds
Join an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Criminal Minds
PostedMay 19, 2014
pennmom36
fromJust solving a ritual murder case, that's all!
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
You will be a fan of this game even if you haven't watched the TV series, Criminal Minds. This game is centered around the FBI department of BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) which is the center for the analysis of violent crimes. This is an elite team of profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, in order to anticipate the predators next move before they can strike again. The members include Aaron Hotchner, the supervisor for the team, David Rossi who is the leader of the BAU, Emily Prentiss who specializes in international intellectual and is bilingual, Dr. Spencer Reid, a genius who graduated with multiple degrees at age 12, Penelope Garcia a technical analyst and computer wizard, Derek Morgan a black belt, former Chicago police officer and bomb squad leader and Jennifer Jareau (JJ) a former Pentagon employee who has worked on and off for the BAU. You will play each of these characters throughout the game and the character you are portraying at the moment will be shown in the bottom right corner. You gather evidence and solve the case by finding clues and evidence. The hidden object games are list finds, somewhat interactive where you might have to click on a lid to remove it and expose an item. Each scene has some words that are in blue and the words are scrambled, you must find a question mark for each of these words in order to unscramble the words and allow you to find the correct item. The mini games are fairly easy such as right clicking on a torn piece of paper to rotate in order to reconstruct the paper. My favorite mini game was unlocking the laptop by coloring in the numbers on a painting using a key code with clues such as # of continents=orange, # of baseball innings=green and so forth. This is a nice hidden object game with creative concepts, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Sky High Farm
Plant city rooftops with fertile gardens and sweet-smelling orchards! Reap the harvest and earn a profit with your flourishing farm!
Overall rating
5
/
5
117 of 140 found this review helpful
Upon The Roof
PostedMay 19, 2014
pennmom36
fromGood thing Jessica showed up before the house was sold!
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 Jessica's returns home from college she learns that her parents are selling their home to support their struggling restaurant (apparently she was kept out of the loop) and they are moving to an apartment in the city, even worse, they can no longer afford college. Jessica comes up with a wonderful plan to build a garden on the rooftop and sell produce to pay for college. You will purchase different items to accommodate the growing business such as extra potting stands, watering cans etc. and you earn salad machines, juice machines etc as you progress. The goals are set at the beginning and you first need to purchase the seeds and plant the correct items according to the tasks at hand. You will need to water the seeds by clicking on the watering can and then on the water pump and finally to the potted seeds. When the seeds are ready to be harvested a heart will appear and you click on the basket and then on the crop and then empty the basket either onto the elevator or to the correct bin that the neighbors have brought up for produce. The salad machine takes two separate vegetables such as carrots and cucumbers. Eventually you will build organic gardens on different rooftops in America, and you will build Italian rooftops, Asian rooftops and Mexican rooftops. The only complaint I have is that sometimes waiting for the vegi's to grow seems like an eternity, other than that it's a fun game, Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Travel back in time with Special Agents Alex and Kat to solve one of the most famous, and heinous, crimes in literary history!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Crime and Punishment: Who Framed Raskolnikov?
PostedMay 18, 2014
pennmom36
fromUnfortunately, now I don't even want to read the novel!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is a Hidden Object Game based on the novel, Crime and Punishment by the famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. I haven't read any of these novels myself and that may be one of the reasons I couldn't connect with this game. The year is 2058 G.I.A which stands for Genius-Intelligence-Agency. Agents Alex and Kate have been assigned to investigate Rodin Raskolnikov who has been accused of a murder. Alex and Kate jump into the G-I-A's company time machine and head to St. Petersburg Russia in the year 1866, completely adorned with clothing from that time period, such magic! One thing that totally annoyed me was the fact that I had to watch the credits before the game started and from what I could tell there was no option to skip this feature. Each scene has hidden axes to find for extra hints, a letter of the alphabet, a candelabra and a feather, which will restore the pages of the novel (one page at a time) There are a few interactions available in each scene such as zoomed in areas or locked drawers which require you to find and use keys for example. The HOS are mostly simple list finds or "find 12" object that are marked with red stripes, or 15 gold items. Some items are stored as inventory to use in that scene or the next scene. Other than the fact that you can travel to different countries and different time periods, there just isn't anything to keep your interest let alone keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm not even sure this game would interest me even if I had read the book, making this a no go for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Discover a story of mysterious kidnappings of both children and mafiosi.
Overall rating
5
/
5
201 of 227 found this review helpful
Say Hello To My ...Favorite Game
PostedMay 18, 2014
pennmom36
fromHe looks pretty good after a decade long coma!
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
There are only a handful of games that can stand the test of time, games that are as exciting to play today as they were a week ago, a month ago and even a year later, this is one of them. This game has superior quality in every aspect, from the high quality graphics and voiceovers to the detail and freshness of the puzzles themselves. The year is 1955 and 5 mob bosses have disappeared, a strange green fog appears out of nowhere and poof! Nothing left but green goo and a butterfly, even stranger is the fact that children have disappeared at that exact moment leaving behind a drawing of the same butterfly as found at the scene of the mob bosses! You play the role of Laura James, a journalist and experienced detective, who has been summoned to the American Museum of Natural History where mob boss Don Luigi had just disappeared. Things take an unexpected turn, you discover a series of tunnels under the city and what appears to be an abandoned operations center. This is the first of many twists in this enthralling mysterious and secretive story. I won't deny that the Collector's Edition has enough bells and whistles to please any player, the story is the backbone of this game but there are 9 collectible briefcases, 9 ties, 9 statues of liberty, and 9 poker chips hidden throughout the game as well as 35 phantom morphing objects available with the Collector's Edition, you can't go wrong with either edition.
The Hidden Object Scenes are progressive silhouetted items to find. You find the first item that matches the silhouetted shape and use that item in the scene to retrieve the next item such as finding a box knife and then using the box knife to cut open a package that will reveal the next useful item. Each HOS has a mini game inside such as finding clues of how much water to place into 5 different glasses and finding the order to play music on the filled glasses, after you figure out how to correctly pour the measured amount of water into each glass, you then tap the correct glass from 1-5. The mini games were fresh and entertaining such as placing a frame over the correct pictured items in each row that would be used to make the item that is shown at the top left and right and repeating that process for each item. There were puzzle type games such as placing masks on 3 shelves in the correct order with only a few clues towards their placement. My favorite mini game involved two large discs, one on the left the other on the right, with 4 tokens on each disc of different objects like fish, bears, trees or birds. There were also 2 smaller discs between the larger discs which are used to exchange the tokens between discs until all tokens were in their correct spots.
The only decision you need to make is whether to purchase the Collector's Edition or the Standard Edition. Don't let this one slip through the virtual cracks, it is the game to stand any test of time, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water
Two sisters are about to go on the strangest vacation of their lives. Mischievous Aztec gods strive to make life a little more difficult.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water
PostedMay 17, 2014
pennmom36
fromSugar?
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
This is a surprisingly, fun hidden object game with a cute sense of humor. The story is about two sisters that are on vacation in Mexico and they are approached by a narcissistic yet handsome man with a talking coyote. The coyote tells them that the end of the world and mankind is approaching unless they can summon all the gods. There aren't any sacrifices in this game, instead you search different locations with an aztec theme for items that are hidden. You can choose to play as one of the sisters, one is timed, the other untimed. You can choose to search for items that are listed or switch to a picture or image of the item, one item at a time and you can click the arrow to scroll through the different images. The HOS start out incredibly easy, prompting me to almost giving up on the game, but each scene seems to get progressively more difficult. After each level of HOS are complete you will play a mini game, again they are really easy so don't sweat it. There are cards to flip over with the goal of matching the correct pairs, and discs to turn until each ring has a different number from 1 to 8. When the puzzle is complete you have summoned that god who will give you a helpful artifact. This is a lighthearted, relaxing game with a tad bit of humor, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Find your sister and escape from a terrifying haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
278 of 334 found this review helpful
The House That Feeds On Fear
PostedMay 17, 2014
pennmom36
fromIf I do get out, do I get a refund?
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
A word of advice, if a house suddenly appears out of nowhere, don't go on a haunted tour of said house! This is exactly what Hope and Sophia Aldridge decided to do even though the tour guide warned that the house appeared out of nowhere just three short months ago! (okay, I'd probably go too) As soon as your group arrives, the lights begin to flicker, the house begins to morph and shift and you are instantly shut off from the rest of the group including your sister. As you wander around this terrifying mansion, fixing everything broken and finding keys that open doors, you come across the house's last victim Sam. He and his wife were meeting a broker to purchase this lovely house when the same thing happened to him, "you cannot leave this house no matter how hard you try" he explains that the house thrives and grows larger, feeding on the fears of others. Even if you are able to save your sister, will the house allow you to leave?
I love the story, who doesn't love a haunted house? There are achievements to earn and there is a special room that will house statues of the people you come across, good and evil, including a mysterious red eyed cloaked figure that seems to control the house. There are 46 hidden hearts, one in each scene to collect and some of them are nicely blended into the decor. Even though I love the story, and I think the characters are extremely lifelike, and I like the fact that some of the puzzles are new, I don't think there is enough substance in this Collectors Edition, I think the Standard Edition will be the better value. On the bright side, some games need all the bells and whistles to make them exciting and I think this game will be able to stand it's ground without them.
I know some players will be upset, but the Hidden Object Scenes are doubled up, the first time you find items on the list and that object moves out of the way to expose a pie shaped piece of the final items need, a disc that opens up a secret compartment. The second time has different items to find, which are really easy to find because you just searched this same scene. I was happy to discover that some of the mini games were new and creative such as trying to maneuver a key disc to a lock disc. Some of the discs on the board were stationary, others moved up or down whenever you used the directional arrows to move your key disc. If your key disc touches any other disc you had to start over. Other games were more common such as completing a painting by using the clues already provided.
Hopefully you don't have botanophobia like Sam,or suffer from claustrophobia with panic attacks like our tour guy because you're going to have to remain calm so the house doesn't add a room addition in your name, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Coronation Street: Mystery of the Missing Hotpot Recipe
Help Betty track down the missing pieces of her famous hotpot recipe before they fall into the wrong hands! Visit iconic Coronation Street locations and met up well-known characters from the TV Show.
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Coronation Street: Mystery of the Missing Hotpot Recipe
PostedMay 16, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhy does she need this recipe in a bar anyway?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
All I have to say about this game is, BORING! Betty was afraid that the competition was going to steal her Hotpot recipe so she tore the recipe into pieces and wouldn't you know it a gust of wind blew the pieces all over the bar. The owner offers anyone who finds a piece a free pint of beer. First you have to look for random items thrown into a heap of junk, this is supposed to be a bar yet the bar itself has a cluttered mess of teddy bears, skates, drill bits, parrots, drums and other items that have nothing to do with a bar or any other theme for that matter. After you find everything on the list you are then tasked with finding a single scrap of paper which is part of the recipe. If you click on the hint button, everything in the scene is transformed into shades of grey except the item you are looking for as horrible music is played quite loudly. There is no wow factor or even a remote hint of something exciting to come. The story is stupid, there is an option of freeplay hidden object scenes but they aren't that great either. Sorry for the brutal review but I couldn't even finish the demo.
I don't recommend this game.