pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4706
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 1, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Complete an enchanting new collection of puzzles and uncover what’s hidden behind the doors of the hand-drawn Advent House?
Overall rating
4
/
5
42 of 62 found this review helpful
LOVE THE ADVENT ROOMS-NOT AS CRAZY ABOUT THE IMAGES THIS TIME
PostedDecember 14, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I absolutely loved the images in Fairy Ring and although I like the concept of finishing puzzles to earn Snowflakes to unlock each Advent Room, I wasn't crazy about the selection of images this go-round. It's still an amazing puzzle game and I love this developer immensely because he truly does care about making the best game possible!
There are 6 Categories with 46 puzzles each, a section to add your own images, and a Surprise Chapter available. Each puzzle is 100% customizable with so many different puzzle shapes, the number of pieces desired, background, brightness, pictured images, ghosted images, and more, you even get to choose whether or not you want a Timer. You'll earn Snowflakes for completing the puzzle with or without the timer, (some puzzles are more difficult than others and worth more) The Snowflakes allow you to unlock Rooms on the Advent to explore.
There are 6 Categories with 46 puzzles each, a section to add your own images, and a Surprise Chapter available. Each puzzle is 100% customizable with so many different puzzle shapes, the number of pieces desired, background, brightness, pictured images, ghosted images, and more, you even get to choose whether or not you want a Timer. You'll earn Snowflakes for completing the puzzle with or without the timer, (some puzzles are more difficult than others and worth more) The Snowflakes allow you to unlock Rooms on the Advent to explore.
I really, really want to see a couple of features added to this series...I want to be able to adjust the opaqueness of the Ghosted Image and a feature that allows me to grab groups of pieces and click a tab that straightens that group into a tidy section (or at least a tab that straightens up all pieces remaining on the board. It would be cool if the pieces made a clicking noise when placed as well.
Go over the river and through the Woods, hang a right at the tall oak tree and stop by The Woods Forum just in time to give and receive Rudolph's Presents at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Help the Walkers dig through the clutter and arrange the perfect vacation for Mr. Claus!
Overall rating
3
/
5
74 of 89 found this review helpful
IT'S NOT VERY CHRISTMASSY?
PostedDecember 13, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was surprised that this Christmas-themed version wasn't very Christmassy. I get that the big guy went on vacation but that doesn't mean that they can't create a game with Christmas-themed icons and add a bit of Christmas Music? As for the gameplay, I made it over the river and thru the demo but I was completely bored by the end and I started skipping levels that had back to back tasks of matching pastel-colored objects, all of which involved movement of some type and they just weren't fun, it was stressful!
Most of the levels involve finding related pairs such as Hammocks, Cocktails, Beach Umbrellas, Pool Floaties, etc. followed by Matching Pairs with the occasional Triplets of objects. A lot of the levels have semi-transparent objects or pastel-colored silhouettes which I've never been a fan of. Nearly all of the levels have some type of movement or shifting involved which I think is a big mistake.
There are two modes of difficulty, Easy Mode which has no time restraints, and a Difficult, Limited-time Mode that gives you 500 extra points for not using Hints, and 10 extra points for time remaining. There are 140 Clutter-type levels that can be replayed if you want to earn a better score and there are 20 Puzzles available as well.
Each scene has a ton of GIANT Sun Emblems scattered among the junkpiles to recharge the Hint Meter, seriously, what's the ratio of the number of objects required to find versus how many Sun Hints there actually are? The only reason I click on them is that their presence annoys me and they are always in the way, they need to be smaller, much smaller!
Come take a stroll through The Woods in my new forum, just in time to give and receive Rudolph's Presents at thewoodsforum.boards.net
Can you keep the fairest woman in Taleville from paying the ultimate price?
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU REPEAT THE SAME TASK IN ONE GAME...ABOUT AS MANY TIMES AS THERE ARE MISSING NOTES IN A DOMINI GAME!
PostedDecember 12, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
31 Main Game Scene Locations +13 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
31 Main Game Scene Locations +13 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
Once again, Domini stretched out the game by adding a ton of repetitive, cliche tasks. The game was boring, to begin with, and has been told a thousand different ways...always with the same "seen it coming" outcome.
In the first few minutes of the game, I picked up a statuette/award trophy of some sort and knew immediately that I would be using it as a hammer. How many times do we have to pound nails with a heavy object before going insane?
I knew instantly that I would have to search my car for an inventory item, and I knew 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would need to pick the glovebox lock or replace a button during the beginning cutscene...before the tasks were even clickable at the start of the game, that's how predictable Domini has become! I can remember how exciting it was to get a rare Domini HOPA game back in the day, now it's a sad day knowing Domini doesn't care about their reputation!
Audio/Visuals:
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner becomes bored by the end of the game? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion! I will say that I loved the interaction in the first scene when you click on the full moon...give it a try!
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner becomes bored by the end of the game? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion! I will say that I loved the interaction in the first scene when you click on the full moon...give it a try!
Gadgets/Helper:
Every Fairy Godmother needs a magic wand but apparently, the magic is ALL in the Sparkles that recharge this wand. Who knew that a Fairy Godmother was just an ordinary person with no magical powers whatsoever? The wand requires you to find 3 Sparkles before using the wand each time and is used in the Main Game only 8 different times.
Every Fairy Godmother needs a magic wand but apparently, the magic is ALL in the Sparkles that recharge this wand. Who knew that a Fairy Godmother was just an ordinary person with no magical powers whatsoever? The wand requires you to find 3 Sparkles before using the wand each time and is used in the Main Game only 8 different times.
Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Witches Items and 15 Wedding Favors Clickables. I say "clickables" versus collectibles because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gem Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Magic Lab Items...it's always a Boudior or Lab that we get to fill with uninteresting, meaningless things that have no rhyme or reason. There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Witches Items and 15 Wedding Favors Clickables. I say "clickables" versus collectibles because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gem Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Magic Lab Items...it's always a Boudior or Lab that we get to fill with uninteresting, meaningless things that have no rhyme or reason. There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes never have a wow factor or exciting features. They are the same standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, etc., and always just items laying in a pile on a table or shelf??
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes never have a wow factor or exciting features. They are the same standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, etc., and always just items laying in a pile on a table or shelf??
Alternate Match 3 Game:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS.
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS.
Mini-Games:
There are 24 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) The puzzles are always the same, they simply change the graphics to match the game's theme.
There are 24 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) The puzzles are always the same, they simply change the graphics to match the game's theme.
Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only)
Prince Oliver is such a stud! In this incredibly boring, not-such-a-bonus, Bonus Chapter you get to play Prince Oliver who is trying to get rid of another stalker in love. There are a ton of the same tasks you just completed 30 times in the main chapters with 9 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final gazillion meaningless notes, 3 Wedding Favors, 4 Morphing Witches Items, and 10 Zoom Zone Gem Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the not-so-magical Lab.
Prince Oliver is such a stud! In this incredibly boring, not-such-a-bonus, Bonus Chapter you get to play Prince Oliver who is trying to get rid of another stalker in love. There are a ton of the same tasks you just completed 30 times in the main chapters with 9 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final gazillion meaningless notes, 3 Wedding Favors, 4 Morphing Witches Items, and 10 Zoom Zone Gem Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the not-so-magical Lab.
Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Witches Items, 15 Wedding Favors, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gem Coins, 15 Magic Lab Items (purchase with Gems) 8 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Witches Items, 15 Wedding Favors, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gem Coins, 15 Magic Lab Items (purchase with Gems) 8 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll thru The Woods at my new Forum just in time to give & receive Rudolph's Presents! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Can you keep the fairest woman in Taleville from paying the ultimate price?
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
THIS GAME IS SO BORING IT TOOK ME 3 MONTHS TO FINISH IT!
PostedDecember 12, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
31 Main Game Scene Locations +13 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
31 Main Game Scene Locations +13 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
Once again, Domini stretched out the game by adding a ton of repetitive, cliche tasks. The game was boring, to begin with, and has been told a thousand different ways...always with the same "seen it coming" outcome.
In the first few minutes of the game, I picked up a statuette/award trophy of some sort and knew immediately that I would be using it as a hammer. How many times do we have to pound nails with a heavy object before going insane?
I knew instantly that I would have to search my car for an inventory item, and I knew 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would need to pick the glovebox lock or replace a button during the beginning cutscene...before the tasks were even clickable at the start of the game, that's how predictable Domini has become! I can remember how exciting it was to get a rare Domini HOPA game back in the day, now it's a sad day knowing Domini doesn't care about their reputation!
Audio/Visuals:
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner becomes bored by the end of the game? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion! I will say that I loved the interaction in the first scene when you click on the full moon...give it a try!
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner becomes bored by the end of the game? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion! I will say that I loved the interaction in the first scene when you click on the full moon...give it a try!
Gadgets/Helper:
Every Fairy Godmother needs a magic wand but apparently, the magic is ALL in the Sparkles that recharge this wand. Who knew that a Fairy Godmother was just an ordinary person with no magical powers whatsoever? The wand requires you to find 3 Sparkles before using the wand each time and is used in the Main Game only 8 different times.
Every Fairy Godmother needs a magic wand but apparently, the magic is ALL in the Sparkles that recharge this wand. Who knew that a Fairy Godmother was just an ordinary person with no magical powers whatsoever? The wand requires you to find 3 Sparkles before using the wand each time and is used in the Main Game only 8 different times.
Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Witches Items and 15 Wedding Favors Clickables. I say "clickables" versus collectibles because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gem Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Magic Lab Items...it's always a Boudior or Lab that we get to fill with uninteresting, meaningless things that have no rhyme or reason. There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Witches Items and 15 Wedding Favors Clickables. I say "clickables" versus collectibles because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gem Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Magic Lab Items...it's always a Boudior or Lab that we get to fill with uninteresting, meaningless things that have no rhyme or reason. There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes never have a wow factor or exciting features. They are the same standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, etc., and always just items laying in a pile on a table or shelf??
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes never have a wow factor or exciting features. They are the same standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, etc., and always just items laying in a pile on a table or shelf??
Alternate Match 3 Game:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS.
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS.
Mini-Games:
There are 24 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) The puzzles are always the same, they simply change the graphics to match the game's theme.
There are 24 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) The puzzles are always the same, they simply change the graphics to match the game's theme.
Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only)
Prince Oliver is such a stud! In this incredibly boring, not-such-a-bonus, Bonus Chapter you get to play Prince Oliver who is trying to get rid of another stalker in love. There are a ton of the same tasks you just completed 30 times in the main chapters with 9 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final gazillion meaningless notes, 3 Wedding Favors, 4 Morphing Witches Items, and 10 Zoom Zone Gem Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the not-so-magical Lab.
Prince Oliver is such a stud! In this incredibly boring, not-such-a-bonus, Bonus Chapter you get to play Prince Oliver who is trying to get rid of another stalker in love. There are a ton of the same tasks you just completed 30 times in the main chapters with 9 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final gazillion meaningless notes, 3 Wedding Favors, 4 Morphing Witches Items, and 10 Zoom Zone Gem Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the not-so-magical Lab.
Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Witches Items, 15 Wedding Favors, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gem Coins, 15 Magic Lab Items (purchase with Gems) 8 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 23 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Witches Items, 15 Wedding Favors, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gem Coins, 15 Magic Lab Items (purchase with Gems) 8 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll thru The Woods at my new Forum just in time to give & receive Rudolph's Presents! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Santa’s sleigh is sidelined and only you can save the season!
Overall rating
4
/
5
44 of 55 found this review helpful
A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND TRADITION
PostedDecember 12, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Everyone knows "It isn't Christmas until Christmas Wonderland arrives" and this is a game tradition I look forward to even more than the Christmas HOPAs which always seem to be a hit or miss. I don't care how repetitive, or how cheesy this game series is, year after year, they are an instant buy for me and always will be. It's like that feeling you get when you bring out your favorite sweater or a favorite pair of warm boots for the winter. It's the feeling you get as you decorate your tree and turn on some Christmas Music. Now it feels like Christmas...Hang on to your Reindeers and Ho, Ho, Ho...Let the Holidays Begin!
Are people who are scared of Father Christmas Claustrophobic?
Would a singing elf be called a wrapper?
Did you know the Christmas alphabet only has 25 letters – there’s Noel.
Is a female elf called a Shelf?
Where do elves go to dance?
Christmas balls.
Christmas balls.
When Santa’s in your room, can you sense his presents?
You can play in Casual, Challenge, or Extreme difficulty mode, which is a Timed Mode requiring you to find all Golden Angels and Lost & Found items to earn all three stars. There are 18 Achievements to earn and 16 Christmas Presents to purchase, and you can see the presents you've purchased by clicking on the Christmas Presents Display Tab on the Top of the screen, opposite of the Shopping Cart Icon where they are purchased,
Each Hidden Object scene has about 12 Listed Items to find, items in Red are hidden in or behind something, and items in Blue require a task such as dragging a Flag to the flagpole, or putting a nose on the snowman. There are usually two Zoom Zone Areas in each scene, the zoom zones (indicated by twinkling stars) may come and go, depending on whether or not the items are available on your list yet.
You will earn a Bronze Star if you complete the HO scene, a Silver Star if you complete the HO scene and find all Golden Angels OR all Lost & Found Items, and a Gold Star for completing the HO scene and finding all Golden Angels and Lost and Found Items. When all of the Golden Angels have been found, the doors will close on the Icon on the bottom left by the Inventory Bar. The Lost and Found Items are shown as Silhouetted Shapes within the Snowglobe and Santa's Sleigh will appear to indicate all items have been found. Remember, you will not earn all 3-stars if you don't find all 3 lost & found items and all golden Angels in each scene.
Some of the Scenes have a Photo Opportunity Icon located somewhere within the scene. Once you find the icon, you can click on it to add the photo to your Photo Album which can be viewed by clicking the Camera icon located next to the trophy icon on the bottom left of the screen.
My favorite part of the HO games by this developer is the puzzles! Yes, they are the same puzzles, yes, they are super easy, but they are still fun and I still feel like a kid on Christmas morning playing them! After each Hidden Object Scene, you'll solve a simplistic mini-game or puzzle such as placing those infamous puzzle pieces into Springfield's map, Rotating Square Puzzle Tiles, Jigsaw Puzzles, Word Search, Matching Pairs, or Spot the Difference.
Collector's Edition Extra's
On the CE version, Bonus Levels have been incorporated into the main game scenes and have Gold Rosette Ribbons to identify them. There are 18 Wallpapers, 20 downloadable Music Soundtracks, and 48 Replayable Mini-Games and Puzzles.
On the CE version, Bonus Levels have been incorporated into the main game scenes and have Gold Rosette Ribbons to identify them. There are 18 Wallpapers, 20 downloadable Music Soundtracks, and 48 Replayable Mini-Games and Puzzles.
CE Version Mini-Game Extras:
❆-8 Jigsaw Puzzles
❆-8 Flipsaw Puzzles
❆-8 Rotation Puzzles
❆-4 Spot The Difference Puzzles
❆-4 Concentration Matching Pairs Puzzles
❆-8 Word Search Puzzles
❆-Santa's Places (place labels & icons)
❆-The Woodwork Shop (find HO's shown on a phone)
❆-Delivery List (rotate & swap)
❆-Cake & Cookies (swap puzzle strips & rotate disks)
❆-Advent Calander (open the days in order)
❆-Nativity Window (rotate disk rings)
❆-World Flags (place flags on each country)
❆-Santa's Grotto (click & slide squares)
❆-8 Jigsaw Puzzles
❆-8 Flipsaw Puzzles
❆-8 Rotation Puzzles
❆-4 Spot The Difference Puzzles
❆-4 Concentration Matching Pairs Puzzles
❆-8 Word Search Puzzles
❆-Santa's Places (place labels & icons)
❆-The Woodwork Shop (find HO's shown on a phone)
❆-Delivery List (rotate & swap)
❆-Cake & Cookies (swap puzzle strips & rotate disks)
❆-Advent Calander (open the days in order)
❆-Nativity Window (rotate disk rings)
❆-World Flags (place flags on each country)
❆-Santa's Grotto (click & slide squares)
Christmas is beautiful in The Woods so stop by and throw a snowball or two. You'll be just in time to give & receive Rudolph's Presents (Earn more present tokens with every post made!) at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
An investigation into a disappearance reveals ghostly secrets in a mountaintop hotel!
Overall rating
3
/
5
40 of 54 found this review helpful
GOOD STORY-IT'S A SHAME THEY RUINED IT WITH COOKIE-CUTTER TASKS
PostedDecember 10, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all Mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all Mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +9 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
I didn't think this game was as dreadful as the last several games Domini has offered. Although the gameplay is still really cookie-cutter and has exactly the same features as every game developed by Domin, I thought the plot was better than most and I was glad to see that they were attempting to re-create a "Haunted Hotel" scenario. Hopefully, they will branch out a little more and take larger steps towards games that aren't so G-rated?
If Domini would just make their games a little more challenging they wouldn't be so bad...why does every game have tasks that are solved by finding and placing objects that are available in the same scene (occasionally two) before the next scene becomes available? There's absolutely nothing to have to figure out when all you have to do is click on exactly 3 active zoom zone areas per scene to solve the task or find the correct inventory item?! The first zoom zone may require finding a knife to cut something or needs a code to open a lock, etc. but you'll never, ever have to wait or meander through several scenes before finding the necessary object or code because it's always available within that scene or occasionally the next. Having to remember where a tool was required once you find it was part of the challenge in games from the past...and it's one of the features that made those games so much better than they are today!
BONUS CHAPTER: (CE Version Only)
Holy Sheet Albert Hall! Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a Haunted Mansion! This is no ordinary mansion, this mansion belonged to your dearly-departed grandparents and good 'ole grandpa needs your help finding someone special...not just some old fling he dug up...he's looking for Granny Ghost...once he finds her this will be one heck of a get-together, better than an I Scream Social! I sure hope he finds her because he has Mist her so much! I'd better renew my Haunting License before taking on this case! One thing's for sure, granny's not in the Living Room! Poor grandpa, without grandma he's got No Body! I wonder if this mansion has an elevator, that would help lift grandpas Spirit! Bwahaha, I've got a million of 'em! There are 5 Hidden Object scenes and 10 Mini-games spread out over 9 additional scene locations. You will continue your search for the final 4 Hotel Signs, 2 Morphing Hotel Items, and 8 Zoom Zone Film Rolls of varying amounts which allows you to purchase the final Darkroom Items...same collectibles/morphs different names.
Holy Sheet Albert Hall! Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a Haunted Mansion! This is no ordinary mansion, this mansion belonged to your dearly-departed grandparents and good 'ole grandpa needs your help finding someone special...not just some old fling he dug up...he's looking for Granny Ghost...once he finds her this will be one heck of a get-together, better than an I Scream Social! I sure hope he finds her because he has Mist her so much! I'd better renew my Haunting License before taking on this case! One thing's for sure, granny's not in the Living Room! Poor grandpa, without grandma he's got No Body! I wonder if this mansion has an elevator, that would help lift grandpas Spirit! Bwahaha, I've got a million of 'em! There are 5 Hidden Object scenes and 10 Mini-games spread out over 9 additional scene locations. You will continue your search for the final 4 Hotel Signs, 2 Morphing Hotel Items, and 8 Zoom Zone Film Rolls of varying amounts which allows you to purchase the final Darkroom Items...same collectibles/morphs different names.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S: (CE version only)
10 Wallpapers (why do they have to have characters slapped on every one of them? Can't you offer at least one of two that simply highlight your amazing graphics with just the scenery?) 9 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 31 Movie Video Cutscenes, 40 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Hotel Items, 15 Hotel "do not disturb" Signs, 59 Zoom-Zone Film Rolls, 15 Darkroom Items (purchase with film rolls??) 4 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll in The Woods at my new forum where you can chat about games, find game help & solutions, game series lists, and so much more. All ya have to do is swing by and log on to reconnect with long-lost forum friends and maybe even feed a bear or two at thewoodsforum.boards.net
10 Wallpapers (why do they have to have characters slapped on every one of them? Can't you offer at least one of two that simply highlight your amazing graphics with just the scenery?) 9 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 31 Movie Video Cutscenes, 40 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Hotel Items, 15 Hotel "do not disturb" Signs, 59 Zoom-Zone Film Rolls, 15 Darkroom Items (purchase with film rolls??) 4 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll in The Woods at my new forum where you can chat about games, find game help & solutions, game series lists, and so much more. All ya have to do is swing by and log on to reconnect with long-lost forum friends and maybe even feed a bear or two at thewoodsforum.boards.net
The bad kids are taking over the Polar Express!
Overall rating
2
/
5
86 of 120 found this review helpful
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT-THE GOOD LITTLE BOY STOLE A COIN FROM HIS PARENTS DESK & THEN DECIDED TO SNEAK OUT THRU HIS BEDROOM WINDOW?
PostedDecember 9, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
23 Main Game Scene Locations +10 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
23 Main Game Scene Locations +10 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
Great Green Grinches! We wait patiently for an entire year to play the infamous Christmas-themed games but it looks like this year all we got was a Lump Of Coal! In the past, it was well worth our wait, but this year the Sleigh Bells are Ringing but no one's Listening while we're left outside in the cold Glistening snow hanging on to our Christmas Balls wondering what went wrong.
Some people apparently found a Golden Ticket to the North Pole but I think mine got switched with one of Willie Wonka's leftover chocolate fringed tickets because I've yet to see a magical wonderland and I have a sneaky suspicion that I got dropped off somewhere near Glasgow, Montana and Peck, Idaho cuz there's not a lot going on here.
I just have one question...why did they decide that Christopher should receive a Golden Ticket to visit Santa at the North Pole because he was such a "Nice" kid...only to turn around and have him do an entire List full of "Naughty" deeds? He made plans to sneak away from home without alerting the parents of his intentions to flee. Just before giving his parents the slip, he steals a Gold Coin from the drawer and shimmies out his bedroom window on a makeshift ladder, boards a train SOLO and heads off to Santa's Wonderland at the North Pole! I'm pretty sure Santa would consider all these deeds as a check on the Naughty List?
Audio/Visuals:
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner would take notice? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion!
I can never really find fault with the audio or graphics in a Domini game. Lately, this is the only aspect of their games that really shines with superior quality, the stories are unimaginative and the tasks are so repetitive that surely even a beginner would take notice? Domini is also known for adding items that can be interacted with but as you'll soon discover, these interactions become a rarety after the demo portion!
Gadgets/Helper:
Fluffy, who isn't fluffy is our Christmas Elf helper. Of all the creative names they could have given a talking dog with an attitude, they chose Fluffy...nuff or ruff said!
Fluffy, who isn't fluffy is our Christmas Elf helper. Of all the creative names they could have given a talking dog with an attitude, they chose Fluffy...nuff or ruff said!
Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Christmas Items and 15 Christmas Card Clickables. I say "click on" versus collect because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gingerbread Star Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Boudior Items...what does this have to do with Christmas? There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Once again, there are a gazillion Missing Notes to discover, and the same collectibles and morphs...only the names have been changed to deceive the innocent! There are 15 Morphing Christmas Items and 15 Christmas Card Clickables. I say "click on" versus collect because they are NEVER hidden or challenging to find! There are the same infamous 70 Zoom Zone Gingerbread Star Coins that are used to purchase 15 boring Boudior Items...what does this have to do with Christmas? There is an optional Collection Icon Tab that can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu which will light up when there is a collectible in the current scene. You can also choose to show/hide the availability of collectibles on the Map.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 14 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes were Christmas-themed but none of them have a wow factor or exciting features. These are no different than the HO's offered in the last several Domini Games, you'd think they would at least try to blow our socks off with some amazing Christmas scenes?? There are the standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, and Fill in the Blanks with ? + ? = a Doll
There are 14 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter. The Hidden Object Scenes were Christmas-themed but none of them have a wow factor or exciting features. These are no different than the HO's offered in the last several Domini Games, you'd think they would at least try to blow our socks off with some amazing Christmas scenes?? There are the standard Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Objects, and Fill in the Blanks with ? + ? = a Doll
Alternate Match 3 Game:
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS. (just once)
There is an alternate Match 3 Game available if you don't want to play a Hidden Object Scene, which still doesn't allow you to make consecutive matches quickly because you have to wait for all tiles to stop falling before you can make the next match which makes the game super boring. The M3 boards are always square and they never add obstacles or new features to make it progress in difficulty. FYI: one of the achievements requires you to play the alternate Match 3 game in place of the HOS. (just once)
Mini-Games:
There are 19 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) Christmas only comes once a year but these puzzles come every game...nothing new here folks! Do any of these sound familiar?... Swap the gears to make them rotate, Adjust paddles in a snowball-pinball game, place cupcakes according to the mathematical clues, remove stains in a chain type match 3 game, choose accessories to play dress-up according to the picture shown, place items in a box so they don't overlap when the box folds, select directional arrows to move a character from point A to B, use right & left arrows to avoid obstacles...this is a Christmas game, HOPA fans wait all year for these special games so why offer us the same ole same ole you offer in games that are released twice a week by the same developer?
There are 19 Mini-Games +9 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game) Christmas only comes once a year but these puzzles come every game...nothing new here folks! Do any of these sound familiar?... Swap the gears to make them rotate, Adjust paddles in a snowball-pinball game, place cupcakes according to the mathematical clues, remove stains in a chain type match 3 game, choose accessories to play dress-up according to the picture shown, place items in a box so they don't overlap when the box folds, select directional arrows to move a character from point A to B, use right & left arrows to avoid obstacles...this is a Christmas game, HOPA fans wait all year for these special games so why offer us the same ole same ole you offer in games that are released twice a week by the same developer?
Bonus Chapter (CE Version Only)
Georgie the Elf is trying to sabotage Christmas so put down your cocoa and hang on to your jingle bells, it's time to save Christmas! There are 9 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final gazillion notes, 5 Christmas Cards, 5 Christmas Items, and 9 Gingerbread Star Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the boring Boudior.
Georgie the Elf is trying to sabotage Christmas so put down your cocoa and hang on to your jingle bells, it's time to save Christmas! There are 9 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will continue your search for the final gazillion notes, 5 Christmas Cards, 5 Christmas Items, and 9 Gingerbread Star Coins of varying amounts to finish decorating the boring Boudior.
Collector's Edition Extra's: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 25 Movie Video Cutscenes, 39 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Christmas Items, 15 Christmas Cards, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gingerbread Star Coins, 15 Boudior Items (purchase with gingerbread stars) 7 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
15 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 25 Movie Video Cutscenes, 39 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Christmas Items, 15 Christmas Cards, a gazillion Missing Notes, 70 Zoom-Zone Gingerbread Star Coins, 15 Boudior Items (purchase with gingerbread stars) 7 stretched out Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
Take a stroll thru The Woods at my new Forum just in time to give & receive Rudolph's Presents! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Elf is back! Solve festive match-3 puzzles and build a winter town!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 31 found this review helpful
CUTE CHRISTMAS MATCH 3 BUT NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST ONE
PostedDecember 8, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Looks like it's that time of year again, time to rebuild Elf Town that is! It's been about 5 years since the last game was offered but it doesn't look like anything has changed, the tiles and game mechanics are the same as last time, even Elf Town itself was the same town with the same buildings to rebuild (is this another revamped game?)
You can play in a Relaxed or Timed Mode and switch between modes at any point in time. Levels can be replayed but the levels are pretty easy and can be finished faster than a sleigh bell rings while the snow is glistening. The Stars are converted to coins which are used to rebuild Elf Town with Houses, Factories, etc., or to complete tasks such as gathering firewood.
Large matches will give you a Powerup on the board. A Match 4 gives you a Jewel, a Match 5 gives you a Bomb and as you progress, Bonuses are added to the right of the board to be used at your discretion. There are Directional Rockets, Mighty Bombs that clear a 9 cell square, and Magic Wands that clear all of the same type of tile as chosen.
There aren't a whole lot of Obstacles other than Snow or Ice covered Tiles. Some levels require you to drop a Treasure Chest or two off the board but it doesn't have a whole lot of bells and whistles...especially when comparing it to the amazing Cursed House which was just released a few days ago!
Come join us at The Woods forum just in time to give and receive Rudolph's Presents at thewoodsforum.boards.net
Philatelist is an indie jigsaw puzzle game inspired by philately where you piece together stamps and add them to your collection!
Overall rating
1
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
PUZZLES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RELAXING??
PostedDecember 7, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm a puzzle geek but I want puzzles that take me out of the zone and away from the hustle and bustle of the world. I want puzzles that have beautiful scenery in remote locations that I can only dream about visiting, pictures of wild animals in beautiful, vibrant colors, or even fantasy-themed pictures of Fairies, Gnomes, Dragons, or worlds seen through the artists' minds.
Unfortunately, the only puzzles offered here are stamps...they aren't even stamps with colorful images or scenery, they are just pastel-colored, plain Jane stamps :(
To make matters worse, they have 3 modes of difficulty, which in itself isn't so bad, but if you want to earn all 3-Stars, you have to play in the Hard Mode which is a Timed Mode (120 seconds) with 24 Pieces AND the pieces are constantly spinning...who wants to assemble spinning puzzle pieces?? The Normal Mode allows you to earn just 2-Stars, there is no timer but you must complete the puzzle within 60 moves AND the pieces are desaturated...they are ugly enough without desaturating them?? You can play on the Easy Mode without all the spinning desaturated pieces but you can only earn a single star... the worse concept I've ever seen in a puzzle game!
There are 3 Features available on the right side. A Red Ticket that adds 1 Random puzzle piece, a Green Ticket that adds 3 Random Pieces, and a Blue Ticket that adds 20 seconds to the Timer, and eventually one that adds 20 extra steps or moves...the worse features I've ever seen in a puzzle!
The Stars earned are used to purchase new Tickets, and the Stamps you complete are stored as a Collection that can be sold...whose buying them? You will collect 9 stamps from 9 different countries (Italy, U.K., France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine, Russia, and Japan)...the worse collections feature I've ever seen in a puzzle???
Come join me at my new forum just in time to give and receive Rudolph's Presents thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.
Go on an outer space adventure while completing colorful and challenging pixel art puzzles!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
IT NEEDS AN OPTION TO SELECT THE COLOR OF THE AVAILABLE CELLS
PostedDecember 7, 2021
pennmom36
from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
If you are a fan of the other pixel art games, prepare yourself because this series is lightyears ahead of Pixel Art! I still think it needs a few tweaks such as images where the entire scene is available versus a small image in the center of nothingness. The biggest issue, however, is that once you use any yellow crayon, the available cells shown on the map are impossible to differentiate. Perhaps giving us the option to change this color at will would solve the issue?
Other than that, I still think this series is fantastic. I love that the colors are shown as individual Crayons (# or letter specific) at the bottom of the board and once you highlight a crayon, all associated cells will appear in an easy-to-spot yellow color. Even better, there is a Map on the top right corner that shows the image and where all those yellow cells are located within the picture so you'll know exactly where the cells are located! (unless the colors are yellowish) I also love how the cells flip over as you are coloring them and that the cursor tip is a fine point to reduce accidental coloring.
The Crayons were so much more authentic versus a table with colored blocks! When you click on a crayon, a tab appears to tell you exactly how many cells are available in that specific color. When all cells are filled in, the associated crayon disappears! There are two difficulty mode options as well, a Relaxed mode, and a more like the real thing mode which doesn't protect the previously colored cells. In this mode, if you accidentally paint a cell that was already colored with a different color, the cell returns to default and the crayon will reappear, requiring you to repaint that cell...how cool is that! (again, if you don't like this feature, choose the relaxed mode!) It may be fun to mix it up a bit from game to game and change the crayons to artists' brushes with different colored tips, or perhaps tubes of paint...maybe even add a bit of texture to the filled-in cells?
Some of the cells will reward you with icons that fill the Power-ups, similar to mosaic puzzles. There is an Autofill Powerup that will automatically fill in the desired group of cells, a Rainbow Crayon Powerup that will paint the cells using any color correctly, and a Blockbuster powerup that blasts a rectangular area with the correct color.
There are 6 Chapters with 20 puzzles available, and 16 Reward Trophies to earn as well. You cannot visit another Chapter until it's unlocked, but you can choose to play any of the 20 puzzles on the current chapter in any order!
Come join us at my new forum, just in time to send and receive Rudolph's Presents! thewoodsforum.boards.net :)
I recommend this game!