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:
Can you undo Neptune’s deadly curse in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 11 found this review helpful
I RECOMMEND THE CE VERSION OVER THE SE BECAUSE FRIENDLY FOX HAS AMAZING COLLECTIBLES
PostedMarch 26, 2022
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
19 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
19 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
It's Neptune Day on Sunshine Island! Normally, this is a much-anticipated festival celebrating the alliance between Humans and Sea Dwellers but the Lord of the Sea has no desire to calm the seas for humans that betrayed him. Neptune's beautiful daughter Ayrine is missing and presumed to be dead which prompted the Sea Dwellers to unleash their fury upon the townsfolk, cursing those responsible to live as lowlife sea creature mutations!
Collectibles/Morphing Objects: (CE version only)
There are 52 Opaque Mermaid Characters (2 per scene) which unlocks 9 Mermaids in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-15-20-25-30-35-45-52. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
There are 52 Opaque Mermaid Characters (2 per scene) which unlocks 9 Mermaids in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-15-20-25-30-35-45-52. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
Each scene also has two Morphing Objects and there is a pull-out tab on the left side to keep track of the collectibles available or found.
Gadget/Helper:
There is no Helper but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is an Amulet that houses Morgana, The Keeper of Sunshine Island. Morgana will help you lift the curse of 7 different characters that were cursed as hideous Sea Monsters by Neptune himself...after finding a Magical Pearl of course. Morgana will shed some light as to how and why each character was cursed and you will have to battle each character in a repetitive Match 3 game where you have to remove your 3 specified tokens to fill the bars, removing the characters 3 specific tiles will fill their bars and lower your bars, naturally, there always seems to be more of their tokens available than yours??
There is no Helper but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is an Amulet that houses Morgana, The Keeper of Sunshine Island. Morgana will help you lift the curse of 7 different characters that were cursed as hideous Sea Monsters by Neptune himself...after finding a Magical Pearl of course. Morgana will shed some light as to how and why each character was cursed and you will have to battle each character in a repetitive Match 3 game where you have to remove your 3 specified tokens to fill the bars, removing the characters 3 specific tiles will fill their bars and lower your bars, naturally, there always seems to be more of their tokens available than yours??
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 19 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also have Swatches Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Related Pair Finds, and Combo Finds (__ + __ = ?) All of the HO scenes are Sea-related or Mermaid-themed and some of the locations were really interesting. I particularly liked the one where you had to turn a ship around to find & replace various parts interactively. There are also several Zoom Zone HOs that were interesting such as finding various Slip Knots pictured one at a time.
There are 19 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also have Swatches Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Related Pair Finds, and Combo Finds (__ + __ = ?) All of the HO scenes are Sea-related or Mermaid-themed and some of the locations were really interesting. I particularly liked the one where you had to turn a ship around to find & replace various parts interactively. There are also several Zoom Zone HOs that were interesting such as finding various Slip Knots pictured one at a time.
Mini-Games:
There are 32 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Even though there wasn't anything new, they were able to put a nice twist on the puzzles, such as a Navigation game where you could opt for an easy mode or a Hard mode of difficulty which made it more challenging than usual.
There are 32 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Even though there wasn't anything new, they were able to put a nice twist on the puzzles, such as a Navigation game where you could opt for an easy mode or a Hard mode of difficulty which made it more challenging than usual.
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
Land Ho! Captain Adam, and Davy Jones team up to save the Flying Dutchman ship from the ghost of Mary Reed who was cursed by the evil Sea Witch! The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 6 mini-games and 9 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Mermaid Collection and locate the final Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Characters per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Characters.
Land Ho! Captain Adam, and Davy Jones team up to save the Flying Dutchman ship from the ghost of Mary Reed who was cursed by the evil Sea Witch! The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 6 mini-games and 9 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Mermaid Collection and locate the final Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Characters per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Characters.
Collector's Edition Version Extra's:
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 7 Music Soundtracks, 44 Movie Video Cutscenes, 18 Achievements (12 are available in 3 category progressions) 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 52 Opaque Mermaids (2 per scene) that unlock 9 Characters, 52 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 7 Music Soundtracks, 44 Movie Video Cutscenes, 18 Achievements (12 are available in 3 category progressions) 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 52 Opaque Mermaids (2 per scene) that unlock 9 Characters, 52 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
There's always something interesting going on at my new forum! If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you undo Neptune’s deadly curse in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 20 found this review helpful
NEVER TRUST THE SEA WITCH-SHE'S GOT A THING FOR VOICES
PostedMarch 26, 2022
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
19 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
19 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
It's Neptune Day on Sunshine Island! Normally, this is a much-anticipated festival celebrating the alliance between Humans and Sea Dwellers but the Lord of the Sea has no desire to calm the seas for humans that betrayed him. Neptune's beautiful daughter Ayrine is missing and presumed to be dead which prompted the Sea Dwellers to unleash their fury upon the townsfolk, cursing those responsible to live as lowlife sea creature mutations!
Collectibles/Morphing Objects: (CE version only)
There are 52 Opaque Mermaid Characters (2 per scene) which unlocks 9 Mermaids in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-15-20-25-30-35-45-52. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
There are 52 Opaque Mermaid Characters (2 per scene) which unlocks 9 Mermaids in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-15-20-25-30-35-45-52. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
Each scene also has two Morphing Objects and there is a pull-out tab on the left side to keep track of the collectibles available or found.
Gadget/Helper:
There is no Helper but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is an Amulet that houses Morgana, The Keeper of Sunshine Island. Morgana will help you lift the curse of 7 different characters that were cursed as hideous Sea Monsters by Neptune himself...after finding a Magical Pearl of course. Morgana will shed some light as to how and why each character was cursed and you will have to battle each character in a repetitive Match 3 game where you have to remove your 3 specified tokens to fill the bars, removing the characters 3 specific tiles will fill their bars and lower your bars, naturally, there always seems to be more of their tokens available than yours??
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 19 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also have Swatches Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Related Pair Finds, and Combo Finds (__ + __ = ?) All of the HO scenes are Sea-related or Mermaid-themed and some of the locations were really interesting. I particularly liked the one where you had to turn a ship around to find & replace various parts interactively. There are also several Zoom Zone HOs that were interesting such as finding various Slip Knots pictured one at a time.
Gadget/Helper:
There is no Helper but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is an Amulet that houses Morgana, The Keeper of Sunshine Island. Morgana will help you lift the curse of 7 different characters that were cursed as hideous Sea Monsters by Neptune himself...after finding a Magical Pearl of course. Morgana will shed some light as to how and why each character was cursed and you will have to battle each character in a repetitive Match 3 game where you have to remove your 3 specified tokens to fill the bars, removing the characters 3 specific tiles will fill their bars and lower your bars, naturally, there always seems to be more of their tokens available than yours??
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 19 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also have Swatches Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Related Pair Finds, and Combo Finds (__ + __ = ?) All of the HO scenes are Sea-related or Mermaid-themed and some of the locations were really interesting. I particularly liked the one where you had to turn a ship around to find & replace various parts interactively. There are also several Zoom Zone HOs that were interesting such as finding various Slip Knots pictured one at a time.
Mini-Games:
There are 32 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Even though there wasn't anything new, they were able to put a nice twist on the puzzles, such as a Navigation game where you could opt for an easy mode or a Hard mode of difficulty which made it more challenging than usual.
There are 32 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Even though there wasn't anything new, they were able to put a nice twist on the puzzles, such as a Navigation game where you could opt for an easy mode or a Hard mode of difficulty which made it more challenging than usual.
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
Land Ho! Captain Adam, and Davy Jones team up to save the Flying Dutchman ship from the ghost of Mary Reed who was cursed by the evil Sea Witch! The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 6 mini-games and 9 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Mermaid Collection and locate the final Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Characters per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Characters.
Land Ho! Captain Adam, and Davy Jones team up to save the Flying Dutchman ship from the ghost of Mary Reed who was cursed by the evil Sea Witch! The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 6 mini-games and 9 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Mermaid Collection and locate the final Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Characters per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Characters.
Collector's Edition Version Extra's:
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 7 Music Soundtracks, 44 Movie Video Cutscenes, 18 Achievements (12 are available in 3 category progressions) 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 52 Opaque Mermaids (2 per scene) that unlock 9 Characters, 52 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers, 7 Music Soundtracks, 44 Movie Video Cutscenes, 18 Achievements (12 are available in 3 category progressions) 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 17 Replayable Mini-Games, 52 Opaque Mermaids (2 per scene) that unlock 9 Characters, 52 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
There's always something interesting going on at my new forum! If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you save your kingdom from a malevolent creature in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
42 of 57 found this review helpful
A VERY TWISTED, TWISTED FAIRY TALE ❅ SWEET!
PostedMarch 26, 2022
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game approximately 3.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
The Queen leaves the castle for a few lousy minutes and when she returns all @%$! has broken out! The castle is a disaster, most of the staff is missing, the King is MIA, and the guards are in a zombified trance mumbling "somethings wrong in the castle your majesty" The only one who managed to keep their composure through this ordeal was poor little Princess Snow White...hey wait a minute, she may be “as pure as the driven snow”, but something tells me she's left her footprints in this snow before!
I'll admit, I loved the twisted fairy tale plot in Cursed Fables which twists everything you thought you knew about Snow White and the Seven Dwarves upside down! I would have given this game 4-Stars if I didn't encounter an annoying glitch with the Custom Cursor that caused it to be jerky, slow to respond, and was constantly disappearing when idle. I did change to the system cursor which improved these issues but it didn't exactly resolve the lagging issue and it was frustrating to play at times.
Once again, Elephant Games forgot to re-label the Collector's Edition Collectible Cards to Dwarven Dolls. I didn't play the beta of White As Snow but I'm betting it had collectible cards and the developers made a last-minute decision to change the cards to dolls but forgot to change the feature in the collectibles tab and strategy guide (available in the CE version)
I really wish Elephant Games would change the way they list their Achievements. (CE version) It's impossible to tell how many achievements there are, or what the achievement is actually for because in every Elephant Game, they are scattered around a scene invisibly and only show up when you scan your cursor over the scene and happen to scan over a silhouetted shape. They are never organized because they are just scattered about, and for those of us who want to earn all of the achievements, it's frustrating, and definitely aggravating to try to find each hidden achievement much less trying to read them to figure out what my goals actually are! Oh, how I'd love to be a quality control tester for the big Elephant :(
GADGETS/HELPER:
There are no helpers or gadgets.
There are no helpers or gadgets.
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
The Collectibles Tab states there are 12 CARDS to collect and the Strategy Guide affirms this as well, but they aren't cards they are dolls, hideous dolls representing the 7 dwarves...and then some...? There are 48 well-blended Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will create Four 12 piece Jigsaws to assemble with rotational tabs.
The Collectibles Tab states there are 12 CARDS to collect and the Strategy Guide affirms this as well, but they aren't cards they are dolls, hideous dolls representing the 7 dwarves...and then some...? There are 48 well-blended Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will create Four 12 piece Jigsaws to assemble with rotational tabs.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
There are 9 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter with a few Zoom Zone HO's throughout the game. There is 1 Keyword in a Sentence Find, 1 Matching Pairs, 1 Slider Bar (align 2 parts using top & side scroll bars), and 1 Find & Replace Hidden Object Scene, the rest of the scenes are either Listed Item Finds or Listed Item Finds with slight Interactions. The locations were so boring because they were so predictable, such as, inside a carriage, on a table, inside a tent, inside a hollowed-out tree, located on top of a sleeping guard, shelves in a shed, and a vanity top. I shouldn't be able to walk into a new scene and know exactly where Elephant has chosen to place an HO scene, this is a classic feature lately, it's called Linear Gameplay! I did actually enjoy the HO located on the vanity because you had to find objects and then place them correctly according to the mirror's reflection...because it required a little bit of thought!
There are 9 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter with a few Zoom Zone HO's throughout the game. There is 1 Keyword in a Sentence Find, 1 Matching Pairs, 1 Slider Bar (align 2 parts using top & side scroll bars), and 1 Find & Replace Hidden Object Scene, the rest of the scenes are either Listed Item Finds or Listed Item Finds with slight Interactions. The locations were so boring because they were so predictable, such as, inside a carriage, on a table, inside a tent, inside a hollowed-out tree, located on top of a sleeping guard, shelves in a shed, and a vanity top. I shouldn't be able to walk into a new scene and know exactly where Elephant has chosen to place an HO scene, this is a classic feature lately, it's called Linear Gameplay! I did actually enjoy the HO located on the vanity because you had to find objects and then place them correctly according to the mirror's reflection...because it required a little bit of thought!
MINI-GAMES:
There are 17 Mini-Games +8 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Usually, I enjoy Elephant Games puzzles but most of these were either super simplistic, or they have been offered so many times in past games that you could solve them in your sleep.
There are 17 Mini-Games +8 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Usually, I enjoy Elephant Games puzzles but most of these were either super simplistic, or they have been offered so many times in past games that you could solve them in your sleep.
Most Enjoyable Puzzles:
1-Arrange various-shaped boards to fit inside the grid.
2-Make the correct number of connections for each square by drawing a line from point to point.
3-Swap bird parts correctly by choosing the correct skeleton hands to grab and exchange parts.
4-Align color-coded, shaped sections correctly on a honeycomb-shaped grid x3
5-Move key "teeth" up or down and test the solution to turn all lights green.
1-Arrange various-shaped boards to fit inside the grid.
2-Make the correct number of connections for each square by drawing a line from point to point.
3-Swap bird parts correctly by choosing the correct skeleton hands to grab and exchange parts.
4-Align color-coded, shaped sections correctly on a honeycomb-shaped grid x3
5-Move key "teeth" up or down and test the solution to turn all lights green.
Least Enjoyable Puzzles"
1-Swap 3 Gnomes according to silhouetted shape.
2-Trap the spider by clicking on honeycomb-shaped cells to surround him.
3-Swap & rotate symbols to match those shown in the center.
4-Move figurines so their shadows match their outline on the tree.
5-Drag 3 different knots along a rope (trace the shapes)
1-Swap 3 Gnomes according to silhouetted shape.
2-Trap the spider by clicking on honeycomb-shaped cells to surround him.
3-Swap & rotate symbols to match those shown in the center.
4-Move figurines so their shadows match their outline on the tree.
5-Drag 3 different knots along a rope (trace the shapes)
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
First, the party decorations went missing in the Dwarven Kingdom, and now it appears that the conductor has gone MIA as well! The Dwarven King fears foul play is working at hand here so he calls the best detective there is...you! There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes that take place over 8 additional locations. You'll continue your search for the final 3 Collectible Dolls and 12 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble the final 12 piece Jigsaw Puzzle. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you'll gain entry to the Secret Room and Expedition Room.
First, the party decorations went missing in the Dwarven Kingdom, and now it appears that the conductor has gone MIA as well! The Dwarven King fears foul play is working at hand here so he calls the best detective there is...you! There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes that take place over 8 additional locations. You'll continue your search for the final 3 Collectible Dolls and 12 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble the final 12 piece Jigsaw Puzzle. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you'll gain entry to the Secret Room and Expedition Room.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS:
5 Wallpaper, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Achievements, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes,12 Collectible Dolls, but the game refers to them as CARDS, 48 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will create Four 12 piece jigsaws to assemble with rotational tabs, a Secret Room (timed HO within the scene locations) an Expedition Room (return to scenes to find any missed collectibles) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
5 Wallpaper, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Achievements, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes,12 Collectible Dolls, but the game refers to them as CARDS, 48 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that will create Four 12 piece jigsaws to assemble with rotational tabs, a Secret Room (timed HO within the scene locations) an Expedition Room (return to scenes to find any missed collectibles) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise...join us and become a Woodsey too, won't you? thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Join the Ghosts as they build a glorious recreation of the Wild West and challenge yourself to some incredible new Match 3 puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
104 of 120 found this review helpful
THE WILD WEST ISN'T SO WILD IN THE AFTERLIFE LOL
PostedMarch 22, 2022
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
"Saddle Up, Shut Up and Hold On Tight", partner, the Ghosts of Laruaville are rebuilding the Wild West! The newest BandiGhost may have crossed over but he still has an itchy trigger finger and he's dying to rob the train...cuz that's what he does! I wonder if the Wanted Posters say "WANTED: Dead or Undead?"
You can play in a Relaxed Mode, a Limited Moves, or a Limited Time Mode. After each Match 3 level, you can play a Hidden Object Scene, or a mini-game, such as Blocks, Mahjong, or my personal favorite, Spot the Difference with differences that aren't as obvious as you'd expect! You can skip the mini-games (and there is a Hint feature with no penalties) There is also a Hint feature on the Match 3 levels that point to the main goal feature, and of course, they have a Strategy Guide Booklet that explains every feature, including a Tips & Tricks section which is incredibly invaluable.
Laruaville is one of my favorite Match 3 games because you don't have to strain your brain to complete the level goals, and the goal of every level is simple...collect all the coins. Collecting these coins, however, can be incredibly challenging because this developer (LGT-SIA) is a master craftsman when it comes to M3 game mechanics. He is the one who blazes the path for other developers to follow because he's constantly creating unique and challenging features.
There are plenty of obstacles to make the goal more difficult, but overcoming those obstacles only matters if they prevent you from getting to the coins because getting the coins is all that matters.
There are several types of Coins available:
•Gold Coins: requires an adjacent match to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating fires.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between the two halves.
•Locked Coins: requires bringing the key to the coin by making matches in front of the key to create a path.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
•Gold Coins: requires an adjacent match to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating fires.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between the two halves.
•Locked Coins: requires bringing the key to the coin by making matches in front of the key to create a path.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
Every level is unique and requires a different strategy, figuring out that strategy really appeals to my inner puzzle geek! The Obstacles are usually different for each board or area within the level and the multi-layered strategies make the game challenging. In my opinion, this series is the easiest when compared to this developer's other series, such as Spellarium, and Cursed House. There may be a ton of Obstacles at each level, but again, if they aren't blocking a coin, and they don't interfere with a strategy to get to the coins there's no need to overcome those obstacles, especially when playing on the Limited Moves Mode.
Power-ups will destroy most obstacles as well:
•Crates: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion. (rockets work too)
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Clay: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Stone: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Portals: requires moving the key to the key portals (portals also move drops and fire)
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Gem Stone Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
•Crates: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion. (rockets work too)
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Clay: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Stone: requires power-up or explosion to destroy.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Portals: requires moving the key to the key portals (portals also move drops and fire)
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Gem Stone Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
Large Matches will earn Power-ups on the board, however, there are times when a Power-up can hurt rather than help (read the Tips & Tricks Book) Most power-ups can be moved or double-clicked to activate.
•Small Rocket: (match 5) vertical OR horizontal line busters (right-click to direct)
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
•Small Rocket: (match 5) vertical OR horizontal line busters (right-click to direct)
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
The Coins are used to construct the town, this time we have a Ghostly Bandit who just can't seem to comprehend that a Ghost has no need for money...he doesn't even have pockets!
I've been playing for almost two hours now and it's immensely entertaining...Thank you Igore, for always thinking outside the box and creating awesome Match 3 games!
If you've been missing the BF forum then come join us at my new Woodsy-themed forum and reconnect with old friends or meet some new ones. (don't worry, the Bears are friendly!) thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Discover hidden worlds on a journey to solve a captivating mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
45 of 56 found this review helpful
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SALE IF NEED BE~ GAMES DON'T HAVE TO ME DRAWN OUT TO BE ENTERTAINING
PostedMarch 20, 2022
pennmom36
from2-3 Hours of entertainment isn't worth $6.99? It is to me!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I know a lot of people complained about this game being too short. There are only 9 Rooms to "escape" and 5 of those rooms can probably be completed during the demo. So what? This game is a breath of fresh air, ironically, since it takes place in a dungeon, lol. We are constantly asking BF to offer something different and to bring new developers on board, then when they finally offer what we have been asking for, everyone complains about it just because it's not what they are accustomed to...how does that make sense??? BF offers plenty of sales and a game doesn't have to be a long-drawn-out game to be entertaining, in fact, that is the reason Domini games are so boring and repetitive because they stretch the gameplay by making us repeat the same tasks over and over! So please give this game, give this developer a fair shot, by at least taking advantage of a sale so you won't judge a great game based upon its length :)
Let me go one step further, in order to entice new developers to enter the market, they have to be assured that they won't lose their life savings on their first attempted game. Most Indies don't have producers to back them up financially like the big guys! We will never get fresh new developers with innovative ideas if we don't give them a chance! Tell them what they need to do to improve the next game and give them stars that reflect how entertaining the game was (even if it was short, 2-3 hours of entertainment is worth $6.99, wouldn't you stream a new movie for 1.5 hours for the same price? ) because this star rating determines whether BF gives them a second chance and encourages the developer to go back to the drawing board...and encourages other creative minds to enter the market!
Yes, the graphics are basic (you can set the graphics from Low-Medium, or High) and they are dark and dreary, but you have just been sucked into the 14th century (guesstimate) so this is how I'd expect the atmosphere to be!
You can choose to "walk" naturally by clicking on areas you want to visit and wait while your character moves naturally to the area, or you can choose to "teleport" which transports you to the area you click instantly by going to the Options Tab. You can explore the rooms entirely, from floor to ceiling, by clicking and dragging the scene in any direction. Don't worry about getting disoriented or lost, you will be in one room at a time.
If you are new to the genre, I think this is a great game to start out with because it's easy to navigate and the tools you'll find are fairly easy to figure out where and what to use them on. The goal of the game is to find the Iron Key in each room that unlocks the door. Naturally, you'll come across tasks that require a tool of some sort so you'll have to explore the scene, finding and using inventory items that ultimately help you escape the rooms. There is a Hint Feature but it will only point you in the right direction by clues each time you click the Question Mark icon...which is the biggest difference between Adventure Games and HOPAs. FYI the hint will give you clues based upon the area you are currently at.
When you come across something that has an eye icon, there's nothing required of the player, it usually just explains what you are looking at, or shows the text of newspaper clippings, etc. Important things will have an icon that says "Inspect", "apply" or "Interact" and those usually require finding the right item to interact with them. The tasks are logical although it may take a while to figure out what to do and where to look for what is needed to progress. Items you need will say "Take" and when you need to "Apply" an inventory item, you simply drag the item to the circle icon to use it. If it shows red sparkles it is the wrong item, if it sparkles green, it is the correct item and it will work on the task.
The Collector's Edition version has 12 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 7 Music Soundtracks, Hidden Notes from the Professor, 9 Chapters (rooms)
There's always something interesting going on at my new forum! If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
A breathtaking voyage through dreams, reality, and places in between!
Overall rating
5
/
5
284 of 331 found this review helpful
SAY WHAT! A NON-LINEAR THINKING KIND OF GAME..GENIUS!
PostedMarch 17, 2022
pennmom36
from"Cause baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth"
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
32 Main Game Scene Locations
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (doable for beginners)
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
32 Main Game Scene Locations
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (doable for beginners)
This developer is a genius! He has restored my faith in the HOPA genre by creating a game that had me stumped at times, made me laugh (re: squirrel), and challenged me to think outside the box! This is how HOPA games were back in the day, this is how they should be today, and this developer deserves to be the top developer of tomorrow.
This is a non-linear game, you WILL be confused at times as to what to do and where to go but eventually, you will get the hang of the gameplay...this is because the only HOPAs we have played for a long time have the exact same, predictable, cookie-cutter mechanics and we have forgotten what it is like to have to think versus being on auto-pilot! If you are willing to let go of the big D's hand, you will take an amazing journey back to Tearstone to find the missing Heart while solving original puzzles and the most unique Hidden Object Scenes ever.
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
My first impression of the Symbol of Luck Collectible (32 total) was wow, these are huge, why? Trust me, they could be the size of a bus and still be challenging to spot because this developer has mastered the art of blending in plain sight! დ
COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
My first impression of the Symbol of Luck Collectible (32 total) was wow, these are huge, why? Trust me, they could be the size of a bus and still be challenging to spot because this developer has mastered the art of blending in plain sight! დ
There are also 11 Morphing Objects that morph at a perfect pace and normally, I'd say this was my favorite feature, but I was kind of digging trying to find the elusive 7 Cards of Destiny hidden within nooks & crannies and places I'd never thought they'd be! დ
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES
WOW...Hidden Object Scenes that are challenging...who'd have thunk I'd get stumped a few times! Not only are the scenes incredibly beautiful, but they are also extremely interactive and require you to figure out what the heck to do at times! Some require Matching Pairs or Related Pairs of objects, while others require a Progressive-Interactive workout but not a single one of them is boring! My favorite HO scene required you to adjust the temperature, lighting, filtration..even feed the fish in an aquarium...super-cool!
WOW...Hidden Object Scenes that are challenging...who'd have thunk I'd get stumped a few times! Not only are the scenes incredibly beautiful, but they are also extremely interactive and require you to figure out what the heck to do at times! Some require Matching Pairs or Related Pairs of objects, while others require a Progressive-Interactive workout but not a single one of them is boring! My favorite HO scene required you to adjust the temperature, lighting, filtration..even feed the fish in an aquarium...super-cool!
MINI-GAMES
Heck, the entire game is a puzzle! When you find clues they go into your journal or you'll have to memorize things that look important because they don't slap a sticky note with the answer or code to locks, patterns, or safes. Yes, there are Mini-games too, and yes they have directions, but they usually require a little bit of thought or memory of sequences. Just fiddle around with the puzzles and you'll get that aha moment!
Heck, the entire game is a puzzle! When you find clues they go into your journal or you'll have to memorize things that look important because they don't slap a sticky note with the answer or code to locks, patterns, or safes. Yes, there are Mini-games too, and yes they have directions, but they usually require a little bit of thought or memory of sequences. Just fiddle around with the puzzles and you'll get that aha moment!
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
The Bonus Chapter is a huge bonus for puzzle geeks as you are quested to solve a giant Progressive-Interactive Hidden Object Puzzle game! You'll have to find zoom zones and then figure out what it will take to progress or open up a puzzle. My absolute favorite was trying to weave ribbons to match the pattern shown. It's not easy-breezy but you definitely walk away with a sense of accomplishment when you overcome these hurdles!
The Bonus Chapter is a huge bonus for puzzle geeks as you are quested to solve a giant Progressive-Interactive Hidden Object Puzzle game! You'll have to find zoom zones and then figure out what it will take to progress or open up a puzzle. My absolute favorite was trying to weave ribbons to match the pattern shown. It's not easy-breezy but you definitely walk away with a sense of accomplishment when you overcome these hurdles!
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRAS
6 Wallpaper, 4 Concept Art Pictures, 10 Music Soundtracks, 14 Movie Cutscenes, 12 Achievements, 12 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 32 Collectible Symbols of Luck, 11 Morphing Objects, 7 Cards of Destiny (opens a series of HO's) 7 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (Portal Todd), and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
6 Wallpaper, 4 Concept Art Pictures, 10 Music Soundtracks, 14 Movie Cutscenes, 12 Achievements, 12 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 32 Collectible Symbols of Luck, 11 Morphing Objects, 7 Cards of Destiny (opens a series of HO's) 7 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter (Portal Todd), and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll through The Woods and feed some friendly bears at my new forum. If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just come as you are...keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Mediterranean Journey 6
Visit cities and islands across the Mediterranean while experiencing its unique culture.
Overall rating
4
/
5
57 of 70 found this review helpful
GREAT JOB BLENDING OBJECTS, ESPECIALLY THE COLLECTIBLES (but please ditch the cartoon characters)
PostedMarch 16, 2022
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I definitely noticed that the developer put a lot of work into this latest edition of Mediterranean Journey! The scenes aren't cluttered with a bunch of junk yet there are plenty of objects to distract you from the ones you are looking for. I especially loved that the Heart Collectibles, and sometimes even the GPS symbols, were carefully placed and not as obvious to spot. The Morphing Object morphs slowly and most of my time was dedicated to finding those litter buggers!
Speaking of litter buggers, not only has my nemesis beady-eyed Spider returned but so has the Chocolate Bar, and this time the chocolate bar is intact...let's see who gets to it first bwahaha!
The Hidden Object Scenes can be played in an Easy Mode with no Timer or Misclick Penalties, a Normal Mode which is Timed but has no Misclick Penalties, or a Hard Mode which has a Timer and Misclick Penalties. You can earn up to 3 Stars when you complete the scene and find all of the collectibles (Hearts and GPS Icons) There is a Zoom +/- feature (click to zoom & drag the screen around) as well as a Hint Feature that must recharge after each use. In the Timed Mode, you are given approximately 15 minutes to find 15 Listed items.
Each scene has a single Zoom Zone location that contains the final 3 objects, or the first 3 objects, or quite possibly the middle 3 objects, depending on how you look at it...speaking of how you look at it, I'm pretty sure Mr. Spider is inching his way towards my chocolate bar as we speak!?
The giant Gold Coin has returned (1 per scene) this coin is so big it would crush Mr. Spider faster than that infamous anvil that seems to have suspiciously disappeared this go-round, did you strike a deal with the spider LBG?
Each scene has 3 Hearts and 3 GPS icons that recently became smaller than in the previous games, while the spider suddenly morphed into a Jurassic-sized tarantula? Finding all 3 Hearts will unlock 3 new animal pictures (180) in an album, I think they captured Mr. Spider's better side, don't you? Finding all 3 GPS icons will unlock a new picture of the HO scene (60 total) You can also purchase 18 Gift Shop Souvenirs but clearly gifts are for giving and I'm disappointed that I can't buy something nice for the spider, just in case he read the part about the anvil tee-hee-hee.
You can improve your star rating by replaying the scenes, but the objects to find are different each time you play, be careful tho, you don't want to sneak up on the spider, he startles easily (prolly just chocolate jitters)
After each Hidden Object Scene, you'll play a Short mini-game because obviously, Tall mini-games don't fit into the game as easily. Mini-games include a game of Spider Solitaire, wait, what do you mean it's just regular solitaire?... Great, what a way to make the spider feel important... a Memory Match Card game containing just about every animal imaginable...except for spiders, or Spot the Differences which surprisingly has nothing to do with spiders, however, kudos to LBG, the STD was AMAZING and quite challenging, clearly a lot of thought went into this...well, except for the missing spider scenario. They added a diamond-shaped jigsaw where you had to drag & rotate pieces, however, no matter what I tried, the pieces just wouldn't rotate so I had to skip the puzzle ...I did grab a snack since I saved a little time, I think I prefer dark chocolate!
Once again, I'd like to say that I absolutely love this developer's ongoing sense of humor for playing along ;) Clearly they put a lot of effort into these games and I for one appreciate that!
Drop by my new forum and chat with old friends or make some new ones. We'll save you a seat on the log by the fire...just be careful, Mr. Spider thinks it's funny to grab the saved spots! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can a legendary treasure save your family from ruin?
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 72 found this review helpful
STAY SAFE FRIENDLY FOX WE STAND BESIDE YOU დ
PostedMarch 13, 2022
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
Legend has it that the Leprechauns Pot of Gold can only be found on the evening of the Solstice. That's exactly what Shannon plans on doing, otherwise, she'll have no choice but to marry Patrick, a man she does not love.
Who says there's only one HOPA developer left nowadays? Not only is Friendly Fox still in the race...they just won the race! What an amazing ride it was, this was a fantastic adventure filled with magical creatures, gold & greed, and mystery abound. I played non-stop because of the story...the adventure was awesome. I didn't even have to fan smoke or repeat lame cliche tasks until my finger and mind were numb! Thank you FF for another amazing game, mostly thank you for reviving my faith in HOPA games!
Collectibles/Morphing Objects: (CE version only)
There are 50 Opaque Foxes (2 per scene) which unlocks 5 Fuzzy Foxes in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-28-45-50 foxes found during the game. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
There are 50 Opaque Foxes (2 per scene) which unlocks 5 Fuzzy Foxes in the Extra's Menu @ 5-10-28-45-50 foxes found during the game. I love Friendly Fox Collectibles, they remind me of the collectible Owls that were offered in the League of Light series back in the day...so absolutely NO complaints here!
Each scene also has two Morphing Objects. I also love this feature but some of the morphs were very obvious objects and immediately looked out of place. In the past, Friendly Fox seemed to have the perfect recipe for morphs with objects that weren't too small, weren't too large, and they usually blend them by making the objects change into something that was less obvious. (for example, a fairy didn't morph into a baseball in the middle of a forest) Morphs are supposed to be an added challenge, this is one of the reasons they are only offered in the CE version, so please keep this feature challenging, instead of making a huge portrait morph, why not just make something inside of the portrait morph? Why not have a shutter change color rather than adding a morphing weathervane?
There is an available pull-out Tab on the left side that tells you how many morphs & collectibles remain in each scene, a feature I for one appreciate.
Gadget/Helper:
There are no Helpers in True Treasure, but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is a Guardian Fox Spirit Bracelet that has an associated repetitive Puzzle and a backstory about each of the Mystical Creatures you'll encounter while searching for the Pot of Gold. The puzzles are basically the same with some minor variations where you are tasked with finding the right circular tokens to complete an image of that specific character. The Bracelet is used 5 times during the main game only and I thought they did a nice job with the backstories and tying them all together.
There are no Helpers in True Treasure, but Friendly Fox always includes a Magical Gadget. This time it is a Guardian Fox Spirit Bracelet that has an associated repetitive Puzzle and a backstory about each of the Mystical Creatures you'll encounter while searching for the Pot of Gold. The puzzles are basically the same with some minor variations where you are tasked with finding the right circular tokens to complete an image of that specific character. The Bracelet is used 5 times during the main game only and I thought they did a nice job with the backstories and tying them all together.
CHOICES: (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT)
After completing the third chapter, you are given the choice to help Patrick or Liam so Chapter's 4 and 5 cover those 2 characters in order of the character chosen.
After completing the third chapter, you are given the choice to help Patrick or Liam so Chapter's 4 and 5 cover those 2 characters in order of the character chosen.
At the end of the game, you will be given a second Choice Option to make which slightly affects the outcome. I kind of liked this scenario but I can see where some may not like making this particular decision.
Hidden Object Scenes:
I only encountered 15 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, but there were several smaller zoom zone HOs. Although some of the scenes towards the end of the game are duplicated, the type of HO varies on the repeated scene. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also had Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Matching Pair Finds, Swatches Finds, Replace Items into the Scene, and Progressive-Interactive-Silhouetted Shape Finds. Many of the HO scenes include a small puzzle as well.
I only encountered 15 Hidden Object Scenes in the main game +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, but there were several smaller zoom zone HOs. Although some of the scenes towards the end of the game are duplicated, the type of HO varies on the repeated scene. Most of the HOs are Interactive List Finds, but they also had Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Multiples of the Same Object, Matching Pair Finds, Swatches Finds, Replace Items into the Scene, and Progressive-Interactive-Silhouetted Shape Finds. Many of the HO scenes include a small puzzle as well.
Mini-Games:
There are 22 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Although it took me a few minutes to figure out what I was supposed to do, I absolutely loved the Card Game and the Domino Game (in the Bonus Chapter)
There are 22 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these puzzles and they are all completely doable without being frustrating. Although it took me a few minutes to figure out what I was supposed to do, I absolutely loved the Card Game and the Domino Game (in the Bonus Chapter)
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
Join the two sisters, Glenna and Ita, from the main game, before the grey hair and wrinkles set in as the clock winds back 25 magical years...actually, you'll just be hanging with Genna mostly because Ita gets kidnapped by the Sidhe right off the bat lol. The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 9 mini-games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Fox Collection and Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Foxes per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Foxes.
Join the two sisters, Glenna and Ita, from the main game, before the grey hair and wrinkles set in as the clock winds back 25 magical years...actually, you'll just be hanging with Genna mostly because Ita gets kidnapped by the Sidhe right off the bat lol. The BC spans 7 additional scene locations with 9 mini-games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes. You will complete your Opaque Fox Collection and Morphing Objects (2 Morphs, 2 Foxes per scene) which will unlock the final 2 Foxes.
Collector's Edition Version Extra's:
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Screensavers, 6 Music Soundtracks, 43 Movie Video Cutscenes, 30 Achievements (10 are available in 3 category progressions) 19 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Replayable Mini-Games, 50 Opaque foxes (2 per scene) that unlock 5 Foxes (@ 5-10-28-45-50 foxes found during the game) 50 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
8 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 8 Screensavers, 6 Music Soundtracks, 43 Movie Video Cutscenes, 30 Achievements (10 are available in 3 category progressions) 19 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Replayable Mini-Games, 50 Opaque foxes (2 per scene) that unlock 5 Foxes (@ 5-10-28-45-50 foxes found during the game) 50 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
There's always something interesting going on at my new forum! If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Amateur blogger Kate goes on a life-changing adventure through Paris!
Overall rating
4
/
5
121 of 146 found this review helpful
BETTER THAN FAIRCROFT'S ANTIQUES BUT NOT AS GOOD AS I LOVE FINDING MORE CATS
PostedMarch 10, 2022
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I did enjoy this new HOG, some of the items were very challenging to spot, there is a nice variety of HO styles, and I was somewhat interested in the story about a blogger from Dayton, Ohio who has been asked to promote a failing Hotel business in Paris.
I get it, everyone wishes BoomZap would go back to its roots and create the HOPA masterpieces we fell in love with, but the truth be told, they make a bigger profit on HOGs, not to mention the fact that they didn't have much of a choice in the matter (long story)
I have a feeling the remaster of Awakening: The Dreamless Castle will get rave reviews and hopefully embolden the developers and prove to Big Fish that HOPA fans are still fans, HOPA fans are still numerous, but THEY changed the narrative! THEY changed the gameplay and encouraged the developers to cut corners by copying and pasting the format from one game to another to make a bigger profit until we were sick of playing the same game with a different story over and over. Now they think HOPAs are a dying phase because we complain about the cookie-cutter games lately. They just don't get it, they can't figure out that we prefer to replay our older HOPAs because those games were far better than what we are offered nowadays. They just don't get that the biggest majority of HOPA fans are way past the Beginner stage and require less hand-holding, which ironically, was reversed, they went from challenging to easy-breezy?...or maybe they do get it if they are Remastering the originals, so why can't they put forth this effort on newer models?
First Time in Paris can be played in an Easy Mode (Hint recharges in 15 seconds-Super Hint recharges in 30 seconds) Medium Mode (Hint recharges in 30 seconds-Super Hint recharges in 45 seconds) or a Hard Mode (Hint recharges in 45 seconds-Super Hint recharges in 60 seconds)
Each scene has a ? to find with an associated Fun Fact, and the levels can be replayed to earn a better score but the objects to find each time are different. Each scene usually has an interactive task (Drag item to the logical source) and once the interaction is complete, the object becomes a zoom zone with more Hidden Objects. The HO's vary with Listed Item Finds, Multiples of the Same Type, Scrambled Words or Matching Pairs where you must find the object and the matches.
After completing the HO scene, you will play a mini-game such as a Jigsaw, Matching Pairs, Cycle Through squares to find the correct picture, or Drag & Swap squares to complete an image. The mini-games can be skipped once the skip bar fills.
This CE version has a Story Mode, Unlimited Mode (scenes unlock as you play them in Story Mode) 6 Bonus Chapters, 16 Achievements, 38 Photo Journal Pictures (unlocks as you play the mini-games) 13 Music Soundtracks, and 12 Wallpapers.
There's always something interesting going on at my new forum! If you miss chatting with fellow fishies from the Big Fish Forum days then grab a thermos full of coffee, throw on your favorite jeans & t-shirt, and lace up your hiking boots...ah who are we kidding...just keep your comfy fuzzy slippers on, and come chillax with us by the fire at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
You’ll have to think fast to solve these colorful labyrinth puzzles and bring color to your world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
28 of 44 found this review helpful
THE KEYBOARD CONTROLS ARE EASY TO FIGURE OUT-IT'S A SUPER FUN GAME BUT...
PostedMarch 9, 2022
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
You are moving a ball around a labyrinth so this game requires you to use the keyboard controls or a game controller. These precise moves wouldn't be possible (or fun) any other way! I know most of us have gotten used to point & click games, but please give me a chance to simplify the basics so you can play the game with confidence and see for yourself how fun this game can be!
You simply move the ball around various labyrinths layouts. As the ball moves, it colors in the path you have taken and the goal is to paint the entire labyrinth. The ARROW keys will guide the ball flawlessly and it's the easiest method unless you are old-school and grew up using the WSAD keys to play games like Oregon Trail.
Here is a brief summary of the controls:
ESC: press the escape tab to bring up the menu at any time
ENTER: press enter to start the game, or skip cutscenes
SHIFT: instantly restart the current level to replay at any point in time
SPACE BAR: zooms out and shows you the entire board versus a close-up section (press a 2nd time to zoom in)
ARROW KEYS: moves the ball up, down, left, right.
ESC: press the escape tab to bring up the menu at any time
ENTER: press enter to start the game, or skip cutscenes
SHIFT: instantly restart the current level to replay at any point in time
SPACE BAR: zooms out and shows you the entire board versus a close-up section (press a 2nd time to zoom in)
ARROW KEYS: moves the ball up, down, left, right.
The first thing I do is click the space bar to see the entire labyrinth, so I can plan my strategy, otherwise, you only get to see the section where the ball is currently. Take your time planning, then simply click the SHIFT key to instantly restart the timer (and then click the space bar again if you want a full view) You simply click the desired arrow key to move the ball around the labyrinth, using the walls as bumpers to position the ball, allowing you to color all paths. You can overlap paths by backtracking which is important because that route may not be available again, depending on the route you take.
As you progress, obstacles are added. PINK BLOCKS are bumpers, you cannot cross over them and they will often bounce you into a never-ending loop, forcing you to restart with no other possible routes. STONE BLOCKS will block the path and require you to cross over a WOODEN BUTTON to lower it...eventually, several blocks are added and several wooden buttons so you'll have to figure out which button activates which block because you can use blocks strategically to move the ball into different path positions that won't be possible once the stone lowers. PORTALS simply move the ball to a different portal, usually on a different side of the labyrinth.
I love strategy-based games and this game is incredibly fun with just the right amount of challenge. You may be confused as to why I gave only 3-stars to a game I enjoyed so much...it's because this game has several flaws, but those flaws are flaws that allow me to still play the game, but flaws are flaws and every reviewer complained about the same flaws which tell me that BF knew about the issues and chose to release the game anyway. This is not fair on the developers, perhaps they could have fixed the issues beforehand and gotten a better average rating?
FREEZING: when I first started the game it made it to the "loading" page and froze up. I had to click ctrl/alt/del and restart the computer. The next time it loaded but froze again a few minutes later. I deleted the game, emptied the recycle bin, and then re-installed the game and so far it hasn't frozen since.
STARS: supposedly, you can earn up to 3-stars per level but you won't get rewarded with stars EVER! The stars are always opaque no matter how fast you complete a level or even if you finish a level perfectly with minimal moves and no backtracking.
DIRECTIONS: the instructions are pictorials...with missing obstacles they are trying to tell you about. The directions are vague and don't explain how you earn stars or how many moves the level requires to earn all 3 stars. I was able to figure out the game mechanics by trial and error, certainly not by their instructions!
PROFILES/REPLAY: the developer didn't think this one through, they included 11 different language options but forgot to add a profile option. You cannot start a new game under a new profile, and once you complete a level, you cannot replay that level...there isn't even a level map!
The bottom line is that the game itself is easy yet challenging, and extremely fun to play. Like Cyril48, I decided that I didn't care about earning stars or completing a level within a certain amount of moves, I was happy just to be able to complete a level, trust me, they get super complicated and I found myself trapped several times, unable to finish a level if I chose the wrong path. Hopefully, this information will make the gameplay clearer and encourage you to give it a chance and maybe even enjoy it...flaws and all, lol
Stroll on over to The Woods Forum and chat about the game, or chill by the campfire and enjoy chatting with friends at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!