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:
Viva la Dolce Vita! Dive into Italy’s allure on a dream vacation!
Overall rating
2
/
5
SALUTE, AMICO MIO! 🍷
PostedAugust 28, 2024
pennmom36
fromSometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart...always missed, never forgotten❣️ Loki 07-02-2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I thought I'd treat myself to some tempo di relax by taking a virtual tour of Italy from the comfort of my sedia del computer. Turns out that this isn't a very rilassante game at all, unless you don't mind the fact that you'll have to click on objects at velocità della luce (at lightning speed).
You can earn up to three stars in each Hidden Object scene; however, you can only earn all three stars by clicking on objects consecutively to bump the combo meter to the maximum.
The HO's vary from scene to scene with traditional Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shapes, Keywords in Sentence finds, items that match the Photos shown, Swatch finds, Matching Pairs, Multiples of the same items, and Combo items where you have to find two items that when combined will create the object ( ? + ? = Car)...so they have thrown in the whole kitchen sink with this one!
After completing the HO scene, there will be a simple Mini-game or puzzle, such as a Jigsaw Puzzle or a Marble Shooting game. Nothing to write home about, unfortunately :(
Collector's Edition Extras:
71 Levels +Bonus Chapter (Island of Capri), 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Achievements, 15 Italian Treats, 15 Boudior items.
71 Levels +Bonus Chapter (Island of Capri), 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Achievements, 15 Italian Treats, 15 Boudior items.
The CE extras are pretty poco attraente, in my opinion and definitely not worth the extra soldi.
The 15 "Italian Treats" are basically dishes with various Italian foods, like a plate of pasta. These dishes are located within some of the HO scenes, but good luck remembering what dishes you are looking for, much less remembering to search for 15/71 HO scenes!
The 15 Boudoir items are downright ridiculous! I realize that Do Games loves to add a shop...and yes, Do Games & Relax Games are one and the same, but why is it always a Boudoir? Do they not realize that no one stores food in their boudoir? (Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the word boudoir French?) Why would I have a plate of grapes in my boudoir? The exchange rate must be way out of proportion too because that plate with a single bunch of grapes, a Gondolier's Paddle, or 3 souvenir magnets will cost you 7000 coins, while a Mandolin cost 17500 coins???
I have compiled a really cool Series Game List and a One Hit Wonders game list that you might want to check out if you are looking for games that are more entertaining. Pop over to my forum and say hello at thewoodsforum.boards.com. We'd love to hear from you!
I don't recommend this game.
Unravel a complex kidnapping case where anyone could be lying!
Overall rating
3
/
5
THE TRUTH IS...🍒
PostedAugust 15, 2024
pennmom36
fromSometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart...always missed, never forgotten❣️ Loki 07-02-2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The truth is, I have grown weary of finding an emblem to open my purse, only to discover I needed something to open a broken zipper pull. I have grown weary of having to use oil to unlock a door's bolt latch as if no one has used this door in a small office a thousand times before. I have grown weary of using a nail file or coin to unscrew screws. I'm tired of having to find and replace batteries and wires. Mostly, I have no desire to spend 90% of my time in a game replacing shaped motifs and gluing broken items back together.
The truth is, HOPAs weren't like this in the past. I just finished replaying a fantastic older game called Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome from 2012. This game was released before the creation of a Jump Map, so I had to hoof it with my own virtual feet (I think I may have even broken a virtual sweat). I unlocked dozens and dozens of doors and discovered secret passageways, and not a single scene was locked behind me in the entire 7 chapter game! Every task, every mini-game, and every Hidden Object Scene had a purpose necessary to progress further.
Why is this important? Because at some point between then and now, developers lost sight of the "adventure" in Hidden Object Puzzle Adventures! I no longer have to figure out where to place an inventory item because they lock the scenes behind us. How can a game be challenging or require critical thinking if you only have to keep track of 2-3 scenes? It's impossible to get lost or not figure out where something goes when there are only 2-3 available scenes at any given point, not to mention the fact that everything is shaped.
Back then, Hidden Object Scenes were challenging but completely entertaining, and you looked forward to the next one. Items were blended into the scenery; sometimes they were hidden in plain sight, but somehow, you still had to scour the scenes several times to find a listed object. The prize was always a much-needed tool or inventory item, and you often had to travel back to previous scenes to see if another HOS was available. HO scenes were a vital part of the game, now they are just mindless fillers.
Back then, the puzzles and mini-games were creative and fun. Almost everyone could complete them without having to refer to six pages of tutorials, yet you still felt a sense of pride when you completed them. Now we are tasked with gluing torn picture fragments together, swapping square tiles, or finding and replacing a handful of items in a scene. How can you feel a sense of pride when you enter a safe code by simply clicking on the dial 3-4 times while the correct combination is automatically entered?
Developers:
Please put the ADVENTURE back into our HOPAs! Stop shoving us forward in these games like we're in cattle chutes and can never go backward. Create games that make us have to remember how and where to get back to a scene to complete a task. Give us a little credit, we're capable of doing so much more than gluing statuettes together, taping wires, and placing shaped motifs!
Please put the ADVENTURE back into our HOPAs! Stop shoving us forward in these games like we're in cattle chutes and can never go backward. Create games that make us have to remember how and where to get back to a scene to complete a task. Give us a little credit, we're capable of doing so much more than gluing statuettes together, taping wires, and placing shaped motifs!
HOPA Fans:
If you feel the same way, stop by The Woods Forum and voice your opinions at thewoodsforum.board.net
If you feel the same way, stop by The Woods Forum and voice your opinions at thewoodsforum.board.net
I don't recommend this game.
Can you use your magical gifts to save the prince from a deadly fate?
Overall rating
3
/
5
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER GAME...🌹
PostedAugust 1, 2024
pennmom36
fromSometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart...always missed, never forgotten❣️ Loki 07-02-2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
William Shakespeare himself would agree that this is a beautifully illustrated game. It has everything you'd expect in a fairy tale: Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Villains and Heroes, Beauty and Beasts...but with a twisted plot, of course!
I'm not going to complain about the fact that I still had nearly an hour left after completing the 90-minute demo or the fact that this fairy-tale story was so predictable it felt like I'd played it a million times. I won't complain about the fact that nearly every task could be completed within the same scene or even the fact that the majority of the tasks involve finding and replacing shaped motifs.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence that every game lately seems to require a drop of resin to fix broken statues, has a much-needed item in the middle of a pond, or is buried in a "freshly dug" pile of dirt.
It is possible that no one else picks up a diamond ring and instantly looks around for a piece of glass to cut or wonders how the kingdom is able to function when absolutely everything requires keys, especially when clearly someone has been put in charge of finding random places to store the keys, such as the before-mentioned pile of dirt. Surely, the Royal Key Keeper isn't bright enough to be entrusted with this sacred duty? They can't even safeguard the keys from all the enchanted forest critters who are apparently starving and unwilling to give up the goods until you offer a formidable exchange...and don't get me started on the statues who are obviously playing the same keep-away game! (and to think I just glued him back together just moments before)
Lately, I have been replaying some HOPA classics. Currently, I am re-playing the House of 1000 Doors series, and there's just no comparison! The entertainment factor and quality of gameplay have dwindled to nothing more than Autopilot Games nowadays. If you want a real eye-opener, play the Mystery Case Files series from the beginning. MCF: Huntsville was the first Hidden Object game ever created. As you play the series in order, you will see the transformation of HOG to HOPA as they slowly add features we take for granted today. Keep playing through, and you will witness the rise and fall of a great genre.
Come join us at thewoodsforum.boards.net for great game recommendations from fellow Woodsy's and so much more :)
Embark on a mesmerizing journey with Amanda and Charlie through time and space!
Overall rating
3
/
5
SURE COULD USE A LITTLE MAGIC HERE 🎩🪄
PostedJuly 29, 2024
pennmom36
fromSometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart...always missed, never forgotten❣️ Loki 07-02-2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I really tried to give this game a chance. I haven't played a Match 3 game by eFunSoft for ages, and I was hoping for a little magic from Amanda's spell book (Remember when the series was called "Amanda's Sticker Book?" That last Sticker must have packed a powerful punch lol)
Unfortunately, nothing has changed. They still use the same level layouts on every new release. The only things that change from game to game are the Icons used (sometimes, not always) and the names of the power-ups!
For those of you who haven't purchased prior Match 3 games from eFunSoft, and aren't expecting to play a hardcore challenging game, this is a decent game with somewhat of a story. The tiles are quite large, colorful, and easily discernible from one another, perfect for aging eyes.
But...if you have purchased or played other eFunSoft Match 3 games, you may want to play the demo first to see if you get deja vu.
Come join the fun at my nature-themed forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
TRICKY DOORS 🚪TRICKY PUZZLES!
PostedJuly 3, 2024
pennmom36
fromSometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart...always missed, never forgotten❣️ Loki 07-02-2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Tricky Doors was offered as a free-to-play game on the site that starts with S and ends with team last October, so I thought I'd compare the two versions.
Both versions have 20 locations. From what I can see, they are the same locations, but they are in a different order on the Big Fish version. The f2p version does include Bonus Puzzles.
The f2p version starts you out with a few coins to purchase Hints, which could eventually cost you real money. This Big Fish version has a Hint and Skip feature that simply requires recharging between uses, which makes it much more convenient (BTW: there are lots of walkthroughs online if you get stuck)
This is not a typical Five BN HOPA game. Although you'll find inventory items to use, there are no Hidden Object Scenes. The cursor doesn't change to a magnifying glass when you scan over a "hot spot" to give the player a more realistic playing aspect; however, if you have played HOPA games, you'll probably know what areas to click on.
The goal is to find and use everyday items in the current location to progress or "escape." For example, in the first location, you're inside the hallway of a moving train. You'll have to figure out how to open doors using normal items at hand...albeit some items will be used in un-ordinary ways. Again, if you have played HOPAs in the past, you will probably already know which objects to use and how to obtain them.
Keep a mental note whenever you come across random notes with numbers, dates, or times because chances are, they are cryptic codes or clues that are used to open locks or settings. Unlike today's no-brainer adventures, a magical sticky note will not be slapped above the safe with the correct codes....but guess what; you can always go back to the scene and double-check because, unlike today's easy-breezy games, they don't lock the scene behind you every time you enter a new location!
There are a ton of mini-games, as most "Escape the Room" games have, so if puzzles aren't your Jam, give this game a hard pass! Again, if you've played HOPAs in the past, you'll probably recognize most of the puzzles.
The mini-games range from simple Spot The Difference scenes, or a variation of "Blocks," to more intricate games that require thinking a few steps ahead. For example, the goal of one of the puzzles is to use directional arrows to place 4 buttons into the 4 slots at the same time, so you'll have to use the bumper piece in the center in order to space the buttons correctly.
If you haven't played an Escape the Room type of game before, this is a great game to start out with because it has so many features that are similar to HOPAs (tasks & puzzles)
Come join the fun at The Woods Forum and catch up with old friends from the BF forum days, and meet some new friends too at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Archaeologist Helena Nightshade is drawn into the mystery of the Eternal Lunar Eclipse.
Overall rating
4
/
5
THEY SAY PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE...
PostedJune 29, 2024
I have patiently tried to download this game since 6 a.m. I'm not gonna lie; I was super excited when I realized that Boomzap had dipped their toes back into the HOPA pond. It may be a fantastic game, it may be a dud, but I'm going to be patient and wait for the download issue to be resolved before judging...(only 1 person was able to play this game? That seems odd)
I'm not upset with Boomzap in the least bit; I know how much work they put into their games before releasing them. Perhaps the issue is that this is a massive 1 GB download (which somehow turned into a 2 GB on the BF game manager queue).
I am, however, annoyed with Big Fish Games! It is their responsibility to ensure games can be downloaded! Boomzap re-entered the HOPA market (after being shafted on the final Otherworld game in the series) only to be devastated with a debut that never happened. By the time BF fixes this issue, the damage has already been done. Members who wanted to play this game Saturday morning have long given up, and the hype around today's new "Collector's Edition" release will fade. The revenue that would have been generated with a fresh new release on a prime Saturday morning has been slashed.
I'm not going to give Boomzap a 1-star rating; they are suffering enough through no fault of their own.
Instead, I've listed some of the fantastic HOPA games Boomzap created in the past...when HOPAs were amazing!
Emberwing: Lost Legacy
Botanica: Into the Unknown
Botanica: Earthbound
Death at Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Upon An Australian Sonata: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death At Cape Porto: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death and Betrayal: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Awakening: The Dreamless Castle
Awakening: Moonfell Wood
Awakening: The Goblin Kingdom
Awakening: The Skyward Castle
Awakening: The Sunhook Spire
Awakening: The Redleaf Forest
Awakening: The Golden Age
Awakening: The Dreamless Castle Remastered
Awakening: Moonfell Woods Remastered
Otherworld: Spring of Shadows
Otherworld: Omens of Summer
Otherworld: Shades of Fall
(BF decided not to continue the Otherworld series, which would have been called The Eternal Winter)
Botanica: Into the Unknown
Botanica: Earthbound
Death at Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Upon An Australian Sonata: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death At Cape Porto: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death and Betrayal: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Awakening: The Dreamless Castle
Awakening: Moonfell Wood
Awakening: The Goblin Kingdom
Awakening: The Skyward Castle
Awakening: The Sunhook Spire
Awakening: The Redleaf Forest
Awakening: The Golden Age
Awakening: The Dreamless Castle Remastered
Awakening: Moonfell Woods Remastered
Otherworld: Spring of Shadows
Otherworld: Omens of Summer
Otherworld: Shades of Fall
(BF decided not to continue the Otherworld series, which would have been called The Eternal Winter)
Swing by thewoodsforum.boards.net to chat about past and present games, or just stop by to say hello and chat with fellow gamers.
Can the Detectives United team unravel the secrets of Myst Hill in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
💕LOVE THE FOUR ACES ♠️♥️♦️♣️ THROWBACK STORY💕
PostedJune 27, 2024
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away. Rest in Peace დ Loki 07/02/2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I can't help but wonder why the remaining 3 HOPA developers haven't figured out yet why the genre is dying a slow death. Fans of this genre aren't tired of playing HOPAs...we're just tired of getting the same game with a different title.
Lately, I have been replaying some of my favorite series back-to-back, and I'm still delighted with the genre. Take Mystery Trackers, for example. The earlier games were phenomenal. They had great stories, challenging puzzles, old-school Hidden Object Scenes (the ones that were actually fun), tasks that weren't mundane, and most importantly, you had to roam from scene to scene trying to figure out what to do and where.
Today's HOPAs have forgotten to put the Adventure into the HOPA (Hidden Object Puzzle ADVENTURE!) Finding something and using that something in the same scene is not an adventure; it's just a mundane task that doesn't require critical thinking.
I can see the gears slowly turning in Elephant Games' mind. They ditched key characters in almost every series because it's easier than building and maintaining a specific character. They replaced characters such as Elf, Rick Rogers, and our beloved Richard. They tried to replace these staple characters with a new crew of agents fresh out of high school as if they were trying to appeal to a younger generation. I don't know who is giving Elephant Games advice, but these newer HOPAs don't appeal to most Gen Zers...but the older HOPAs would if they had updated graphics!
Obviously, Elephant Games is starting to see the light because they are finally bringing back these beloved characters. They have to be realizing that their older games had an "IT" factor, otherwise, they wouldn't be tying the plot into Detectives United! If Elephant Games were smart, they would replay their original games first, such as Mystery Trackers: Four Aces, and then go back to the drawing board to put the Adventure back into a HOPA. If their production budget is as low as it would seem (according to the content we now get) then start offering these games on the place that starts with S and ends with team and bump up the price a bit. The alternative isn't sustainable!
With that being said, I highly recommend giving this game a whirl if you are in the age bracket that actually remembers playing Mystery Trackers: Four Aces! I love the throwback story, I loved the return of Richard, and I really enjoyed some of the puzzles, especially the mechanical-type puzzles). My only complaint is that every inventory item is found & used in the same scene, again, that's not an adventure, it's just another mundane task that requires little to no skill!
Let's talk about games. Join fellow casual gamers on my nature-themed forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Immerse yourself in a unique hand drawn short adventure game and help Copperbell defeat the demon that has settled in the nearby forest.
Overall rating
3
/
5
YOU CAN RING MY BELLLLL 🎵 RING MY BELL
PostedJune 16, 2024
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away. Rest in Peace დ Loki 07/02/2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Okay, technically, you can't ring this Copperbell because he doesn't have his clapper. Copperbell sets out on a quest to retrieve his clapper from the basement when he discovers a hole in the floor, and the adventure begins.
This is a short game that states it can be completed in about one hour. Although Copperbell sets out on an adventure, this is a platformer game that requires you to use keyboard arrows to move and a couple of keys to perform certain tasks (the game will prompt you to use a specific key) To be honest, a demo is available on the site that starts with an S and ends in Team where you can use an Xbox controller to move with ease.
Copperbell is equipped with a tool to slice through vines and defeat enemy bugs he encounters as he tries to find his way back from the caves below the basement. Finding jars of Fireflies will restore your available lives.
If you like platformer games, jumping onto various flat platforms without falling while avoiding pitfalls, enemies and gooey lava drips, etc., this is a cute game.
I'm really happy that BF is finally branching out with new genres BUT there are so many games available in so many genres, yet they offer the least appealing games, most of which are super old. If they would start offering games like A Tower Full of Cats, BF would be a happening kind of place again!
Come join us for great game conversations and so much more at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
A sweet match-3 adventure that’s out of this “swirled!”
Overall rating
1
/
5
I'M SCREAMING, BUT IT AIN'T ABOUT ICE CREAM🍦
PostedMay 31, 2024
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away. Rest in Peace დ Loki 07/02/2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
If you G👀gle this game, you'll literally find about 30 sites offering this game Free2play.
The game mechanics are just like the last 2 games offered, Big Farming Fun and Crazy Cookie. The levels literally take less than two minutes to beat. If you use the available Bomb, Hammer, or Tile Destroyer tools (which, btw, will replenish on the next round), the level will take less than a minute to master.
Why has BF stooped so low with the games offered lately? Offering nothing would be better than offering this kind of cheapo game; it's not like we get free PCC coupons as we did in the past, which allowed us to roll the dice on a questionable game.
This a really bad Mobile to PC conversion, nothing more...heck, even andrew hated the game!
I'd love to hear your thoughts! Swing by my nature-themed forum to share your thoughts, or just say hello to fellow BF gamers at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
How deep do the dark waters go?
Overall rating
3
/
5
I GOT MAIL! I JUST NEED TO FIX THE MECHANISM TO GET IT OPEN...
PostedMay 16, 2024
pennmom36
fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away. Rest in Peace დ Loki 07/02/2021
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As luck would have it, my latest case will require me to embark on a pleasure cruise! What's that? This is a Titanic replica? Hmm...well, okey dokey, surely they have since implemented better safety measures, so All Aboard!
Well, I haven't been to my cabin yet, so I'll just lug around my briefcase and luggage and do some detectiving...inconspicuously, of course. Dang it! I need a broom to sweep away the debris preventing me from entering this door. (note to self: Remain calm, and keep your wits about you so no one gets suspicious. I'm sure no one will notice me breaking & e̶n̶t̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ sweeping )
Anyone got a crowbar? I was going to buy a newspaper to conceal my detective snooping, but I couldn't help but notice this suspicious wooden box sitting next to the newspaper stand, sealed tight with a dozen or so nails. Whatever's inside must surely be important...don't mind me; go about your cruising business...if only I had one of those fancy hair combs!
Obviously, my client didn't spring for a first-class ticket; from what I can tell, maintenance doesn't pay much attention to the equipment on the lower-class deck. Not only does this ship have a rat infestation, but I've had to find and replace door handles, tape wires back together, oil hinges, remove a ton of goo, and replace several shaped motifs...don't even get me started on the fact that I had to solve complicated and intricate puzzles just to open a friggin' door as if I were working on a mystery case file...now where did I leave that crowbar? (Note to self: I'd better go to the bathroom now, just in case the loo requires a quick game of chess. Let's hope I don't have to play a game of Battleship, tee-hee-hee.)
Does anyone else wonder why they use shaped motifs that are removable?
Well, this cruise isn't floating my boat. I've spent the entire time fixing everything that's broken. I'm so exhausted that I'm seeing dead people now! I think I'll just pin the whole crime on that D$@& who threw my cabin keys overboard and grab a quick bite to eat in the dining room. Crap, I forgot about that triangle puzzle!
Won't you join us for some great conversation at my Park Ranger-themed forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!