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:
Go on a spooky adventure with this new batch of pixel art puzzles!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 10 found this review helpful
LOT'S OF YELLOW SHADES WHICH RENDERS THE MAP A BIT USELESS
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
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I love the Artists of Fortune series but this one has a ton of yellow shades (understandably because of the Halloween theme) so once you fill in cells with yellow shaded crayons, it renders the really cool map feature kind of worthless because from that point on, you can't differentiate between the yellow cells to be filled-in versus the yellow shades you've already filled in. This has always been a problem on this series, but you can usually work around that by waiting until the end to select the yellow shades, unfortunately, a Halloween-themed game has a ton of yellow shades so most of the time I couldn't use the really cool map feature! Seems to me this issue could be solved by adding a new feature that allows us to change the color of the available cells at will?! (such as purple, red, etc)
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!
Christmas is coming, along with a new collection of festive pixel art riddles to complete!
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 38 found this review helpful
MAGICALLY MORPHING PICTURES?
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
5
/
5
I fell in love with Artists of Fortune from the get-go, and I still love the features offered but I don't understand why some of the completed images magically morph into a beautiful swan, so to speak, that looks nothing like the actual picture? In other words, after completing the image a small pixellated picture appears for a brief moment as you ponder just what in the heck it's supposed to be. Within a second or two, a new image appears beside the pixellated image without the pixels and the pixellated image suddenly morphs to match what the image is supposed to look like, not the image you just created. To be clear, this isn't the case with every picture, just some of them, most notably the second image of a white blob. It just left me wondering why they chose to include those images if they couldn't replicate the image when pixellating them...especially when the images are practically unrecognizable?
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! 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!
Set out on an exciting journey around the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 42 found this review helpful
BEAUTIFUL PUZZLES BUT FAR TOO EASY TO ASSEMBLE
PostedDecember 5, 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
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Review based on completion of India & Australia only
First of all, let's give credit to New Bridge, they have created a gorgeous game and I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Patchwork: Explore the World is a different game than Patchworkz, Alice's Patchworks, and Frozen Patchworks (those were developed by 2 different developers)
First of all, let's give credit to New Bridge, they have created a gorgeous game and I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Patchwork: Explore the World is a different game than Patchworkz, Alice's Patchworks, and Frozen Patchworks (those were developed by 2 different developers)
The puzzles couldn't be more beautiful, or more colorful as they span the globe with images from India, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and Canada. (USA, Mexico, and Japan in the CE version's Bonus Chapter) There are 25 puzzles for each country with fragmented pieces of different materials, such as Wood, Paper, and Metal.
Unlike the above-mentioned series, this game has no Timer so it's designed to be a relaxing, Zen kind of puzzle. The problem is, the difficulty doesn't progress fast enough, if at all, and I breezed through the first 2 levels (50 puzzles) before the demo stopped and I still had time left on the demo! I'm okay with Zen, but the pieces were huge and all I had to do was look at the color patterns to get a general idea of their placement. It didn't matter which random piece I chose, it was easily placed and eventually, I became bored because of the lack of challenge!
You will earn one Star for completing the puzzle, one Star for completing the puzzle with No Mistakes, and the third Star for completing the puzzle without using Hints. One feature they did right, was to add a Magnifying Glass feature that allows you to view your completed puzzles at any time!
If you don't mind that these puzzles can be solved in less than a minute, I do recommend this game because the images are so incredibly beautiful, but for me personally, I need a little more challenge to prevent boredom....but then again, I am a puzzle geek who plays computer jigsaw games every day.
The CE Version has 5 Achievements, 10 Wallpapers, 6 Music Soundtracks, and a Bonus Chapter with 25 puzzles each in the USA, Mexico, and Japan.
Come join us at my new forum, just in time for Rudolph's Presents! thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Extraterrestrials have arrived! Fortunately, they’re not here to invade, they just want to observe. Can you find them all?
Overall rating
5
/
5
194 of 220 found this review helpful
PUT ON YOUR TINFOIL HATS CUZ THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
PostedDecember 4, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What an incredible Hidden Object game! This is the most unusual, unique, non-linear HO game I have ever played and Yustas has just raised the bar on how a game should be done! I haven't been this entertained by a game in a long, long time. Looking For Aliens is Light-years ahead of all those cookie-cutter games Big Fish has been offering lately and I strongly urge this developer to delve into the Hidden Object market because this game proves that THIS genre is actually their wheelhouse!
At first, you may be slightly intimidated because it's not easy to find the pictured items. Some of the objects, characters, and aliens are hidden in plain sight, some objects are blended into a crowd of people that look almost identical, others may require going on a hunting expedition that requires dragging the extended scene around.
You can interact with almost everything...in fact, you'll need to check under boulders, open doors, boxes, and hatches to find the objects and/or aliens shown at the bottom of the screen. There are tons of achievements to earn for various interactions as well, such as eating 100+ food items, turning on monitors, etc. so click on everything and have fun with it! (there are no penalties for clicking and no timer, it's designed to put a smile on your face) Yustas has added some really clever interactions and their imagination and inner creativeness shines through in this incredible game.
If you can't find an object, you can click on that object's picture (bottom of the screen) to get a Text-based hint. I absolutely love this feature, the hint doesn't take you to the exact location the item can be found, it simply gives you a clue as to where the item can be found...don't worry, the clues are very helpful if you pay attention to what the clue says! I also love that there are no penalties for using the hint clues, it's designed to be fun... 100% entertainment!
Each level requires you to find a certain number of objects to unlock the next level, which is shown in the lower right corner. Once you meet these criteria, you can opt to play the next level even if you haven't found all the pictured items. The Lock icon will change to a UFO when the next level can be accessed and the Level Monitors (level map icons) will show how many objects remain on each level. Objects that have a Star next to them indicate you must find every object in a set, for example, the pictured object may show a lady standing next to 4 tires so you'll have to find and click on 4 different tires to recreate the picture shown.
Collectibles:
Bonus Objects are available on each level and are shown on the bottom Left Corner. When you find all Bonus Items, you will earn a new Collectible Card (25 Bonus Cards total) This is an optional feature and you do not have to locate these items to proceed in the game. I think it would have been kind of cool if these Bonus Items were Morphing Objects to give them a bit more challenge??
Bonus Objects are available on each level and are shown on the bottom Left Corner. When you find all Bonus Items, you will earn a new Collectible Card (25 Bonus Cards total) This is an optional feature and you do not have to locate these items to proceed in the game. I think it would have been kind of cool if these Bonus Items were Morphing Objects to give them a bit more challenge??
Unlike most Hidden Object Games that have large, out-of-proportion objects slapped onto a stationary scene, Looking For Aliens is a moving scene with aliens and humans constantly moving around. The objects you search for not only tell a story, but they are proportionate and incredibly well hidden, it's almost like a "Spot The Difference" Interactive Hidden Object hybrid and practically impossible to describe!
Please give the demo a try long enough to get the hang of the unique type of gameplay. We tend to be critical when a game comes along that is different than what we have become accustomed to but I truly believe "The Truth Is Out There" and if you keep an open mind you will see that Yustas has put a lot of time and effort into making this unique and incredibly creative game!
This Collector's Edition has 4 Wallpapers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 59 Achievements, 25 Collectible Bonus Cards, and 5 Bonus Levels.
Stop by my new forum and chat about this game and so much more at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Help Robin Hood pursue and defeat the villainous Gisbourne!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 43 found this review helpful
"You Know Somethin', Robin. I Was Just Wonderin', Are We Good Guys Or Bad Guys?" (Little John)
PostedDecember 3, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ 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 loved the first Robin Hood and the second one was good but it was crazy-difficult to earn all 3-stars. I had given up all hope by the time Hail to the King rolled around because it seemed the developers had nothing left to offer and were just rolling out new games without putting forth any effort, probably just to keep up with the demands (and contracts lol). Robin Hood: Spring of Life, on the other hand, is absolutely perfect and has me singing the ♪ Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally, Golly What A Day♪ song once again!
You can play in an Easy (untimed) or Normal Mode and each level has 3 Hidden Objects that unfortunately aren't so hidden. Some of them are partially hidden but they are too large and too colorful to miss! I love collectibles but these are more like clickables, they are supposed to be an added challenge so it would be amazing if they were blended better into the scenery on the next game, it would be even more fantastic if they morphed! Each level has different objects but you can see which collectibles are available by looking at the level map. The clickable-collections include Crowns, Potions?, Crystal Balls, Banners, Torches, Chests, Maps, Swords, and Gems.
There are the usual Time Management tasks of Clearing Paths of weeds, Wooden Logs, Boulders, and stakes used to guard the Gold Taxes collected from the peasants. You will harvest Berry Bushes, Apple Trees, Walnut Trees, Food Caches, and go Fishing for food, Repair Rope Buildings, Sawmills, Farms, Bridges, and Ladders. Shearing the sheep will allow the posse to make even more rope which is used to repair bridges and concoct traps to capture the sheriff's guards! "Every Town Has Its Ups And Downs, Sometimes Ups ♪ Outnumber The Downs, ♪ But Not In Nottingham." (Alan-A-Dale) ♪♪♪
Robin Hood and his merry men steal Gold from the Rich to Give to the Poor so you will be required to set up elaborate traps and snares, and of course, shoot arrows at the watchmen guards. These guards are either pretty resilient, or they have some kind of awesome superpower because Robin Hood's arrows only "stun" the guards temporarily in this game! This feature is puzzling, why do the arrows only stun the guards, are the arrows defective? Has Robin Hood lost his toxophilite, marksmen edge? Are the guards wearing some kind of arrow-proof or magical armor? Is Robin Hood having a "woke" change of heart? Did the developers get a lot of complaints about arrow violence in the Robin Hood TM series? Or, did the developers just have a hard time coming up with a better scenario than allowing the Merry Men to gather resources in guarded areas only after being "stunned" by an arrow? Oo-de-lally, golly what a stun!
All good deeds will help to fill the Bonus Bar. You will receive permanent bonuses for each hero when you fill the good deeds bar. Before starting the level you can choose which Hero's will be joining the quest and the order in which they will arrive to join the posse! The hero's abilities can be Upgraded to last longer, recharge faster, etc. These bonuses will make them run faster, add extra outlaws, produce more resources, and even add more good deed points.
Robin Hood and his outlaws can be equipped with new bandit outfits as you progress but this wasn't really a feature that interested me personally. I did, however, love the Heist Levels which allows you to rob the sheriff's people to earn more gold with a slightly different type of gameplay than the normal, resource-collecting levels.
This Collector's Edition has 6 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 3 Hidden Collectibles on each level, 38 Main Levels, 12 Bonus Levels, 10 Heist Levels, 17 Achievements, 8 Character Outfits, and a built-in Strategy Guide.
Come to The Woods and check out my new forum where you'll find game talk, series lists, what's on deck, general chit chat and so much more! thewoodsforum.boards.net :)
I recommend this game!
When Santa’s sleigh is damaged as he’s leaving the North Pole on Christmas night, only one person can save the holidays. You!
Overall rating
5
/
5
219 of 257 found this review helpful
LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN!
PostedDecember 2, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
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.
What’s a female elf called?
A shelf.
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 29 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
The CE 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.
The CE 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.
❆-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 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 at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Blon is a cute pixel-art 2D platformer game. Unlock spells, heroes and weapons, fight monsters and bosses and explore an unknown world in hopes of rescuing your family.
Overall rating
4
/
5
45 of 60 found this review helpful
WOW, A 2D PLATFORMER GAME ON BF?!?
PostedNovember 30, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I actually enjoy playing platformer games every once in a while, especially when they have an adventure story and sharp graphics. Although the graphics on Blob are purposefully designed to be an Arcade, Pixellated-Retro style (my least favorite) I did think it was fun. My only complaint is that I couldn't figure out how or where the checkpoints were to save the game from that point and after battling the snail and chicken I would randomly die and have to start over from the beginning so the repetitiveness became a tad boring. I believe I have to defeat all 3 enemies per level but the instructions weren't clear on this.
If you have never played a platformer game, it's super easy to figure out. Blob keeps running forward and never stops so it's up to you to jump Blob (space bar) over obstacles that are harmful, or onto various levels of platforms to avoid falling. You will also jump to collect Leaves and various "Ability Powerups" along the way.
STORY MODE:
*You can play in a Normal, Hard, or HE-double hockey sticks Mode of difficulty.
*You will face 3 enemies in the story mode
*The distance and difficulty increases
*New environmental hazards appear
*New Abilities are added for the enemy's
*You'll earn a Skull when you complete the level
*You'll earn a Leaf for finishing with the most leaves
*You'll earn a Heart when you finish without being hurt too much
*You'll earn a Star for surviving for a long distance
(leaves are used to build your Castle and get abilities)
*You can play in a Normal, Hard, or HE-double hockey sticks Mode of difficulty.
*You will face 3 enemies in the story mode
*The distance and difficulty increases
*New environmental hazards appear
*New Abilities are added for the enemy's
*You'll earn a Skull when you complete the level
*You'll earn a Leaf for finishing with the most leaves
*You'll earn a Heart when you finish without being hurt too much
*You'll earn a Star for surviving for a long distance
(leaves are used to build your Castle and get abilities)
ARCADE MODE
*There are no enemies to fight
*The goal is to go the distance as long as you can
*There are no enemies to fight
*The goal is to go the distance as long as you can
There are various Goodies along the way that give Blob temporary abilities, such as Mushrooms that give you an extra jump when you bounce on the mushroom once, tornados that suck up all the surrounding leaves, and Bubbles that protect Blob. Water slows Blob down and there are tons of obstacles that deduct points & health, such as Bees, Lightning, Fire, Thorns, etc. that will eventually kill Blob, including any defensive obstacles the enemy leaves behind...but you just restart the level and repeat until you get it right.
Come join the fun at my new forum thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a merciless arsonist from destroying San Francisco?
Overall rating
3
/
5
65 of 83 found this review helpful
I'VE ARCHIVED THE OBVIOUS
PostedNovember 28, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ 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 5.5 hours
(including completion of all Mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +12 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-extremely linear
I'm a bit baffled by the rave reviews for this new series by Domini? It's not a horrible game, but how is it any different than the last 3 detective-themed games by this developer? Thanksgiving treated us to a new MCF game that had an amazing story, fantastic graphics, and above all, had non-linear, non-cookie-cutter game mechanics with tasks that made us actually have to think, but everyone hated it? Reviewers were brutal because it didn't live up to a Dire Grove standard (even though those days are long gone because the profit margins are slim to none nowadays, hence, the budgets are lower) yet here we get a cookie-cutter game with neon purple graphics and every cliche task known to HOPA mankind and it's adored?
(including completion of all Mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +12 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-extremely linear
I'm a bit baffled by the rave reviews for this new series by Domini? It's not a horrible game, but how is it any different than the last 3 detective-themed games by this developer? Thanksgiving treated us to a new MCF game that had an amazing story, fantastic graphics, and above all, had non-linear, non-cookie-cutter game mechanics with tasks that made us actually have to think, but everyone hated it? Reviewers were brutal because it didn't live up to a Dire Grove standard (even though those days are long gone because the profit margins are slim to none nowadays, hence, the budgets are lower) yet here we get a cookie-cutter game with neon purple graphics and every cliche task known to HOPA mankind and it's adored?
This game is no different than the last game Domini offered or the one before that! It took me two days to complete this game because it was so "typical" that I was bored. When I'd return after an hour or so, I couldn't remember what the plot was about, the characters' names, who the bad guy was, I couldn't even recall what my character's goal was or what I was supposed to be doing from an hour before...yet I can STILL remember everything about MCF nearly a week later!
If I'm wrong about this game, then none of these tasks will sound familiar to you as you read them. If I am right, you'll instantly recognize these "same-ole, same-ole" tasks and have the same questions I stated above:
*Corkscrews to open drawers that are missing knobs..every single one of them!
*Carts missing wheels...4 different carts
*Carts missing wheels AND blocking our path...every single one of them!
*Crows that won't budge...shoo them with your own 2 hands, people, they are just birds, they aren't even pterodactyls!
*Valves missing...I lost count after chapter 2
*Pipes with holes and whooshing pressurized steam, naturally 500 degrees or higher. Available in each unlocked scene!
*Pipes with holes that just leak: shove a rag, sponge, or cork in it & don't forget to wrap it tightly with a belt or tape. 4 per chapter
*Hanging Bird Cage: no Domini game is complete without at least 1 cage just out of reach and full of random items, why?
*Objects too high/far to reach: you know what to do, shoot it down, throw something ate it, use a stick, where's a squirrel when you need him?
*Rake Leaves: DO NOT use your foot to brush aside leaves covering something on the ground, that would be blaspheme!
*Dig something up: If you find a spoon, shovel, bowl, hat, cup, or goblet ya better hang on to it because, in HOPA world, people bury random objects because no one ever suspects a thing. Clearly, it's magical dirt because no matter how long things are buried, they'll always come out clean & in mint condition, ALWAYS!.. it's HOPA WonderDirt!
*Objects in a Sink full of nasty water even tho I'm pretty sure none of the pipes have running water...just pressurized steam?
*Objects in a Fountain/Pond/Lake/Pool: requires a net, fishing pole, and or cup, usually a goblet...Goblet stores must make a killing!
*Missing Gears: anyone feel a puzzle coming on?
*Broken Chains every chain has a broken link, links break because the force was too high yet any low gauge metal will do the trick, even paper clips!
*Heavy Object & Wedge: QUICK...think of any 2 random objects as fast as you can...that combination will be used at some point in the game, most likely, several times.
*Diamond Ring: it's a Detectives best friend because it can cut glass in a perfect circle every single time.
*Statues missing emblems/jewelry/limbs: replace them and the rigid cement statue will snap back into its original posture?
*Secret Caches: yes, items ARE indeed buried behind brick, under floorboards, and behind wallpaper.
*Sewn Caches: this task is used so many times I feel it needs its own category. Grab a glass shard and start cutting any and all patches that look suspicious!
*Carts missing wheels...4 different carts
*Carts missing wheels AND blocking our path...every single one of them!
*Crows that won't budge...shoo them with your own 2 hands, people, they are just birds, they aren't even pterodactyls!
*Valves missing...I lost count after chapter 2
*Pipes with holes and whooshing pressurized steam, naturally 500 degrees or higher. Available in each unlocked scene!
*Pipes with holes that just leak: shove a rag, sponge, or cork in it & don't forget to wrap it tightly with a belt or tape. 4 per chapter
*Hanging Bird Cage: no Domini game is complete without at least 1 cage just out of reach and full of random items, why?
*Objects too high/far to reach: you know what to do, shoot it down, throw something ate it, use a stick, where's a squirrel when you need him?
*Rake Leaves: DO NOT use your foot to brush aside leaves covering something on the ground, that would be blaspheme!
*Dig something up: If you find a spoon, shovel, bowl, hat, cup, or goblet ya better hang on to it because, in HOPA world, people bury random objects because no one ever suspects a thing. Clearly, it's magical dirt because no matter how long things are buried, they'll always come out clean & in mint condition, ALWAYS!.. it's HOPA WonderDirt!
*Objects in a Sink full of nasty water even tho I'm pretty sure none of the pipes have running water...just pressurized steam?
*Objects in a Fountain/Pond/Lake/Pool: requires a net, fishing pole, and or cup, usually a goblet...Goblet stores must make a killing!
*Missing Gears: anyone feel a puzzle coming on?
*Broken Chains every chain has a broken link, links break because the force was too high yet any low gauge metal will do the trick, even paper clips!
*Heavy Object & Wedge: QUICK...think of any 2 random objects as fast as you can...that combination will be used at some point in the game, most likely, several times.
*Diamond Ring: it's a Detectives best friend because it can cut glass in a perfect circle every single time.
*Statues missing emblems/jewelry/limbs: replace them and the rigid cement statue will snap back into its original posture?
*Secret Caches: yes, items ARE indeed buried behind brick, under floorboards, and behind wallpaper.
*Sewn Caches: this task is used so many times I feel it needs its own category. Grab a glass shard and start cutting any and all patches that look suspicious!
CHAPTER TWO
*Lockpicks: at this point, I have literally found & discarded so many makeshift lockpicks that I've probably left a trail more noticeable than Hansel & Gretel could ever imagine.
*Mailbox Flag: fun fact...mailbox flags do not activate a spring to open or close the mailbox, it just signifies "you've got mail" but I'm almost positive all Domini Games require replacing at least 1 flag.
*Newspaper/Key poke: funny thing...I needed the newspaper for this clever trick 3 times...the 4th didn't require it, hmmmm?
*Raise water levels to reach the floating objects: why can't I just make another fishing pole?
*Lockpicks: at this point, I have literally found & discarded so many makeshift lockpicks that I've probably left a trail more noticeable than Hansel & Gretel could ever imagine.
*Mailbox Flag: fun fact...mailbox flags do not activate a spring to open or close the mailbox, it just signifies "you've got mail" but I'm almost positive all Domini Games require replacing at least 1 flag.
*Newspaper/Key poke: funny thing...I needed the newspaper for this clever trick 3 times...the 4th didn't require it, hmmmm?
*Raise water levels to reach the floating objects: why can't I just make another fishing pole?
*Speaking of Fishing Nets, at one point I found parts to repair a fishing net then I used the fishing net...and then I cut it up for parts, hmmm
*Insects: I literally had to kill a dozen or more bees that were surrounding a bouquet of flowers inside someone's front room...seriously?
I stopped writing down the cliche tasks after Chapter Two. You heard me correctly, all the above tasks were from just the first two chapters, some of which were repeated several times. I know a lot of people will say "it's HOPA world" that's just how things are. Cliche tasks are only used because developers don't want to have to think outside the box and we let them! As I said, MCF's latest game didn't have all these repetitive tasks and it was so much more enjoyable to play!
BONUS CHAPTER: (CE Version Only)
With the first case filed in the Archives, it's time to travel to New York for your next Criminal Investigation. Once again we have a dead body and no one to point the finger at so it's up to us to find the killer of a recently divorced woman who may have borrowed money from some shady Loan Sharks! There are 5 Hidden Object scenes and 10 Mini-games spread out over 12 additional scene locations, chock-full of the same repetitive tasks we just completed a million times in the main chapters. You will continue your search for the final 6 Morphing Building Figurines, 5 Newspaper Clippings, and 9 Zoom Zone Stone Coins of varying amounts to purchase the final Office Items...same collectibles/morphs different names...how creative guys!
BONUS CHAPTER: (CE Version Only)
With the first case filed in the Archives, it's time to travel to New York for your next Criminal Investigation. Once again we have a dead body and no one to point the finger at so it's up to us to find the killer of a recently divorced woman who may have borrowed money from some shady Loan Sharks! There are 5 Hidden Object scenes and 10 Mini-games spread out over 12 additional scene locations, chock-full of the same repetitive tasks we just completed a million times in the main chapters. You will continue your search for the final 6 Morphing Building Figurines, 5 Newspaper Clippings, and 9 Zoom Zone Stone Coins of varying amounts to purchase the final Office Items...same collectibles/morphs different names...how creative guys!
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers (why do they have to have characters slapped on every one of them? Can't you offer some of them with just the scenery?) 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 26 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Building Statuettes, 15 Newspaper Clippings (sooo boring!) 70 Zoom-Zone Stone Coins...because people in the early 1900s totally saw the value in rocks versus Gold? 15 Office Items spread randomly throughout a dark and dusty room (purchase wheelchairs & skeletons with your stone-not-gold coins) 6 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
15 Wallpapers (why do they have to have characters slapped on every one of them? Can't you offer some of them with just the scenery?) 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 26 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Building Statuettes, 15 Newspaper Clippings (sooo boring!) 70 Zoom-Zone Stone Coins...because people in the early 1900s totally saw the value in rocks versus Gold? 15 Office Items spread randomly throughout a dark and dusty room (purchase wheelchairs & skeletons with your stone-not-gold coins) 6 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
I don't recommend this game.
Can you rescue a child with magical powers in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
50 of 59 found this review helpful
I HAVE DRAWN AND REDRAWN MY WAY THROUGH THE PAINTED TOWER
PostedNovember 28, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +7 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (but doable for beginners because of the Strategy Guide)
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +7 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate-Expert (but doable for beginners because of the Strategy Guide)
Review Based on Comparison of Drawn versus ReDrawn:
(CE Version: 5✏Stars ✎ SE Version: 4✏Stars)
(CE Version: 5✏Stars ✎ SE Version: 4✏Stars)
Drawn takes us on an incredible, and sometimes heartbreaking journey through a series of magical drawings painted by a young girl named Iris who has been locked away in the Painted Tower. Iris has a special gift, a unique talent that brings to life anything that can be "Drawn" allowing her to enter worlds limited only by her imagination!
Iris has been sent to live with Franklin for protection from the King and his evil Chancellor. Unfortunately, Franklin has been turned to stone and Iris has been imprisoned within The Painted Tower...and so the saga begins as you try to rescue Iris...one drawing at a time!
ReDrawn makes me long for the days when HOPA games were incredible. I have played (& replayed) the entire Drawn series and no other game has been able to replicate the uniqueness of the artwork and game features, let alone the creativity of the story itself!
When I first entered the world of Drawn, originally released in 2009, I was blown away by the uniqueness of this game. Even though I considered myself an expert player, I found the original Drawn to be quite challenging but it also gave me a sense of accomplishment when I completed my adventure through Iris' imaginative drawings.
Although the gameplay is still somewhat challenging, I felt that Friendly Fox did the game a disservice when they revamped some of the mini-games to make them really simplistic, and the fact that they felt the need to add Hidden Object Scenes. What really made my heart sink was when I discovered that they had ReVamped the original Hint feature! We aren't the cowardly Scarecrow, we already have a brain...so next time give us some credit because the "old" Hint system was really cool and it made us think for ourselves with just a nudge in the right direction...besides if we had to, we could use the newly added Strategy Guide!
In the original Drawn, Franklin had still been turned to stone, but he was still able to assist, without the normal hand holding hint system that we see in today's remastered ReDrawn. Instead, you could choose which objective you needed help with from the list provided to the left of Franklin's portrait and he would give you a nudge with the first of three vague clues. If you couldn't figure out what to do next, you simply asked Franklin for another clue. Usually, you could figure it out by the third and final clue. This is the kind of gameplay that made older HOPA/Adventure games fun, nowadays they are so fool-proof that they are downright boring...next time, REMASTER✏don't REVAMP a masterpiece!
There were no Hidden Object Scenes in the original Drawn game, unfortunately, ReDrawn was ReVamped, not ReMastered, to include Hidden Object Scenes...there was a reason the original Drawn got 138 amazing 5-Star reviews, so why would you assume we wanted another lame HOPA game like they are today versus games of the past that received ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT FIVE STAR reviews?
I haven't figured out if it's Big Fish that doesn't "get it" or if the developers are the ones who are clueless? Everyone LOVEs older HOPAs, we replay them daily because back then they had amazing storylines, and they made us use our brains to figure them out versus playing on auto-pilot! How many times do we have to complain about how lame HOPAs are nowadays before Big Fish and the developers finally see the light? When a game gets 138 Five✏Star reviews and it doesn't have a single Hidden Object scene in the game, that should be your first clue that HO scenes aren't necessarily a necessity...just look at the HOPAs today, you'll be hard-pressed to find one that received 4✏stars much less 138 Five✏star reviews...think about it!
Because this game still has some of the original aspects...it is still a Fantastic game and lightyears better than HOPAs offered lately. My only complaint here is that FF felt the need to "add" to or take away from an already amazing game versus simply remastering a 5✏star Classic for compatibility on newer computers?? (the original cannot be played on today's newer 64-bit computers)
They have added 62 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces and 62 Morphing Red Scarves as well as a pull-out tab that tells you how many collectibles remain in each scene. I don't have an issue with the collectibles because the SE version does not include them for someone who may want a version without these added collectibles. If the developers wanted to remain true to game features of the past, the morphs would have been much smaller and slower as well.
This adventure is like no other, yes you will still collect a few inventory items here and there, these items are to help you find the clues that Iris has left you within her drawings. First, you have to find the missing fragment of the torn picture, then you enter the picture and solve the puzzles within, usually in the form of a Progressive-Interactive puzzle where you may need to find a knife first and then use the knife to expose an item within a pumpkin, and so forth until you have found the last item that will help you to progress to the next door in the Painted Tower.
If you are a puzzle fanatic like me, listen up, cause there are so many clever puzzles you're going to love. Some are simple such as swapping tiles to create a picture or rotating disks, some are a little more difficult. My favorite one was replacing window fragments by rotating and placing the glass geometrical shapes. The pieces have to go into specific slots and at first, it seemed as though there weren't enough pieces no matter what I tried. Then I realized that a space will be empty to create a specific shape! (I won't tell you what that shape is) HOWEVER, in ReDrawn, they dumbed it down and took away the Rotating feature so all you had to do was snap pieces into place...it doesn't get any easier than this folks, the question once again is WHY would you take a great challenge and make it so simple a 6-year old could complete it???
Bonus Chapter (CE Version only):
Follow Iris on the day before she is taken to the tower as she is quested with 3 tasks to prove her worthiness as Queen. There are 7 additional scene locations with 14 additional Puzzle Pieces and 14 Morphing Scarves. There are 7 Mini-games but just one Hidden Object Scene within the Bonus Chapter.
Follow Iris on the day before she is taken to the tower as she is quested with 3 tasks to prove her worthiness as Queen. There are 7 additional scene locations with 14 additional Puzzle Pieces and 14 Morphing Scarves. There are 7 Mini-games but just one Hidden Object Scene within the Bonus Chapter.
Collector's Edition Extra's:
7 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art Pictures, 7 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 14 Movie Videos, 9 Replayable Mini-Games, 4 RePlayable Hidden Object Scenes, 62 Morphing Scarves, 62 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (you can return to the scenes to pick up any missed collectibles) 25 Mini-Games, 4 Hidden Object Scenes, 4 Main Chapters, Bonus Chapter, Strategy Guide.
Come join the Woodsey's at my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
7 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art Pictures, 7 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 14 Movie Videos, 9 Replayable Mini-Games, 4 RePlayable Hidden Object Scenes, 62 Morphing Scarves, 62 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (you can return to the scenes to pick up any missed collectibles) 25 Mini-Games, 4 Hidden Object Scenes, 4 Main Chapters, Bonus Chapter, Strategy Guide.
Come join the Woodsey's at my new forum at thewoodsforum.boards.net
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue your daughter from her puppet look-alike?
Overall rating
3
/
5
55 of 67 found this review helpful
ANNA NEEDS A NANNY!
PostedNovember 26, 2021
pennmom36
fromRemembering You Is Easy, I Do It Every Day-Missing You Is A Heartache That Never Goes Away ~ 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 4.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
20 Main Game Scene Locations +6 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
20 Main Game Scene Locations +6 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner
What happened to Grim Tales? In the beginning, this was one of my top 10 favorite HOPA series (start playing the series from the beginning, you won't regret it!) The story was really good but then for some odd reason, Elephant took a 180-degree turn, adding new characters, and ditching beloved ones. Grim Tales started morphing into a saga that was far from the original plot, wandering all over the place as if they had forgotten what the saga was about. Eventually, they settled into a story that focused on Anna Gray's time-traveling character and her dead daddy Richard as her otherworldly sidekick. Admittedly, I wasn't crazy about the new path Grim Tales had embarked upon, but eventually, I became a fan of Richard's sarcastic personality and the fact that Anna lugged her daddy's skull around in her purse. Grim Tales is morphing again as Anna seems to be passing the torch on to her only daughter Alice...if she ever makes it through her childhood because she's been kidnapped twice now in the few games offered since her introduction!
If my daughter was kidnapped I would be inconsolable and moving mountains to find her yet both times Anna nonchalantly goes about her investigation as if this were the next-door neighbor's dog that went MIA??? It's bad enough that the developers can't keep up with their own plot, but they never seem to bother to listen to all the reviewers who keep asking for games with decent gameplay, NOT a game whose only challenge involves placing an emblem of the right shape! Cut glass with glass high heels? Mannequin body parts hidden within a brick wall? Cutting a perfect Windstar out of a thick piece of wood using a chisel and hammer? (and of course, it fits perfectly without any adjustments) REALLY? If the developer doesn't care, why should I?
BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
Travel back in time to the days where Anastasia and Richard first met. Naturally, there's evil-doing going on as momma Elanor tries to bring her son back from the dead. There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you'll gain entry to the Archives, Expedition, and Secret Rooms.
Travel back in time to the days where Anastasia and Richard first met. Naturally, there's evil-doing going on as momma Elanor tries to bring her son back from the dead. There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you'll gain entry to the Archives, Expedition, and Secret Rooms.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S:
1 Wallpaper, 1 Jigsaw Fragment Puzzle Screensaver, 5 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Collectible Theater Props, 24 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments, a Secret Room (return to scenes in a timed scavenger hunt) Expedition Room (return to scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments) Archives Room (replay 13 Hidden Object Scenes and 13 Mini-games) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
1 Wallpaper, 1 Jigsaw Fragment Puzzle Screensaver, 5 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 12 Collectible Theater Props, 24 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments, a Secret Room (return to scenes in a timed scavenger hunt) Expedition Room (return to scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments) Archives Room (replay 13 Hidden Object Scenes and 13 Mini-games) 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 won't you? thewoodsforum.boards.net
I don't recommend this game.