chezmah's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:717
- Reviews Submitted:67
- First Review:February 13, 2014
- Most Recent Review:June 14, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Venture into a magical world and experience the struggle of good versus evil!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
Not spectacular but enjoyable
PostedFebruary 25, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This was a relaxing game set in a fantasy environment with colorful scenery that was quite creative. One moved forward at an easy going pace.
For a standard edition game it was quite good, above average really.
For a standard edition game it was quite good, above average really.
The story line was basic and straightforward: hero boy must rescue kidnapped girlfriend and save her from being forced to marry the evil one who wants to rule the kingdom.
The artwork was crisp and the decors were varied
The music was tranquil and soothing, almost too much so.
The HO's were good, fun to do, not to hard but hard enough.
The puzzles were fairly easy ... instructions were clear.
The characters were a bit stiff and cartoon-ish as were their dialogs.
There were a number of vocabulary errors throughout the game that were almost fun to try to figure out. Nevertheless, it would be better if these were avoided by competent proofreading before release of the game.
The artwork was crisp and the decors were varied
The music was tranquil and soothing, almost too much so.
The HO's were good, fun to do, not to hard but hard enough.
The puzzles were fairly easy ... instructions were clear.
The characters were a bit stiff and cartoon-ish as were their dialogs.
There were a number of vocabulary errors throughout the game that were almost fun to try to figure out. Nevertheless, it would be better if these were avoided by competent proofreading before release of the game.
Although the game was not very sophisticated it was quite enjoyable and relaxing to play with just enough challenge to keep you thinking.
I bought this game with a coupon code and don' regret having done so !
I bought this game with a coupon code and don' regret having done so !
I recommend this game!
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 16 found this review helpful
Not overly exciting game
PostedFebruary 21, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I have just finished the demo and i do not plan to purchase this game.
The story in itself could well be an interesting tale, but ...
The setting is unremarkable, and drab,
The art work was ok, but dated and dreary.
The characters are stilted with little to no personality.
Puzzles were ok,
Ho's were rather fuzzy. (some better than others)
As for the game play, one just plods along... carrying out a series of not very challenging pick up and place the items in order to move forwards . Nothing innovative or new , just a repetition of what we have seen and done a hundred times before in other games.
It did not feel real and it was not much fun.
There were grammatical errors in the texts which are very annoying to me.
I would not go as far as to give this game a rating of "poor", but can hardly say it was "good" either.
I might not have rated this game so harshly if it were a standard edition that had come out a year or two ago, but I don't consider that it is up to par with today's expectations of a CE game.
The setting is unremarkable, and drab,
The art work was ok, but dated and dreary.
The characters are stilted with little to no personality.
Puzzles were ok,
Ho's were rather fuzzy. (some better than others)
As for the game play, one just plods along... carrying out a series of not very challenging pick up and place the items in order to move forwards . Nothing innovative or new , just a repetition of what we have seen and done a hundred times before in other games.
It did not feel real and it was not much fun.
There were grammatical errors in the texts which are very annoying to me.
I would not go as far as to give this game a rating of "poor", but can hardly say it was "good" either.
I might not have rated this game so harshly if it were a standard edition that had come out a year or two ago, but I don't consider that it is up to par with today's expectations of a CE game.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Tales™: Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget Collector's Edition
A newlywed is threatened, and supernatural forces are afoot!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 34 found this review helpful
4 ++ A game worth purchasing
PostedFebruary 19, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I will preface this review with a personal comment on ratings.The value of a rating is conditional to a combination of objective and subjective criteria. I prefer fantasy games that are creative, innovative and that have an element of surprise and with a bright, cheerful, fun ambiance. Others prefer dark mysterious ambiances with a certain "scare" element to them. So even though i think that a game is quite good, it may not elicit a 5 star rating from me.
The Mystery of Marie Roget CE was quite good. If i could give it 4 ++ stars, i would because i consider it better than good but not quite EXCELLENT (which would correspond to the the best available rating of 5 stars).
The game is up to par in quality with the previous Dark Tales Edgar Allan Poe Mysteries.
+The art work is very good.
+The VO's are good,
+The music is better than in the past, creating an ambiance that is just right and which accompanies the story quite well.
+The HO's are clear and crisp, a certain challenge to finding objects...but no annoying no frustration involved ! I really enjoyed them.
+The puzzles are colorful and and fairly novel.
+The interactive map does the job and without being exceptional, it is sufficient to help you get around (I like a really good map!)
Is it "ONE of the BEST GAMES I EVER PLAYED!!!" .... ??? I would say : NO, it is not, and that's why for me it's a 4++ stars and not a 5 stars.
The Mystery of Marie Roget CE follows suite to the other games of the Dark Tale series and that's quite ok. Like the other games in the series, it is a well designed and a fun to play classic. A good classic !
All in all, it is a quality game that is enjoyable to play and that i have no problem spending money on. I recommend it highly to those who like the Edgar Allan Poe mysteries!
The game is up to par in quality with the previous Dark Tales Edgar Allan Poe Mysteries.
+The art work is very good.
+The VO's are good,
+The music is better than in the past, creating an ambiance that is just right and which accompanies the story quite well.
+The HO's are clear and crisp, a certain challenge to finding objects...but no annoying no frustration involved ! I really enjoyed them.
+The puzzles are colorful and and fairly novel.
+The interactive map does the job and without being exceptional, it is sufficient to help you get around (I like a really good map!)
Is it "ONE of the BEST GAMES I EVER PLAYED!!!" .... ??? I would say : NO, it is not, and that's why for me it's a 4++ stars and not a 5 stars.
The Mystery of Marie Roget CE follows suite to the other games of the Dark Tale series and that's quite ok. Like the other games in the series, it is a well designed and a fun to play classic. A good classic !
All in all, it is a quality game that is enjoyable to play and that i have no problem spending money on. I recommend it highly to those who like the Edgar Allan Poe mysteries!
I recommend this game!
For 25 years, you thought you had no family. But one night, a man steps through a mirror from another world, claiming to be your uncle... changing your life forever.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Really enjoyed playing this game !
PostedFebruary 16, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I found this game to be relaxing and enjoyable. It allowed me to amble through some beautiful scenery and play at a level of challenge that was well above average and especially just right for me.
The puzzles were original and one needed to think a bit to solve them but i did not feel frustrated by them or need to skip any.
The HO's were clear, required some interaction and were fun to play.
The map was sufficient to help you along and get you to where you needed to be.
One had to search for leaves throughout the game and some were easier than others to find. What i liked was, at the end of the game, to be able to return to the areas where i had missed some leaves and to take my time to find them all. The reward for finding all the leaves is a puzzle !
The CE edition had a "hidden" chapter in addition to the bonus chapter.... obviously a plus.
I considered this a quality game, the developers put thought and effort into the variety of puzzles and in every aspect of the game. Relaxing game play in an imaginative environment is what i enjoy and this game met the bill.
It took me several evenings to complete it. No rushing, just enjoying... !
In my opinion it was definitely worth buying this game.
The puzzles were original and one needed to think a bit to solve them but i did not feel frustrated by them or need to skip any.
The HO's were clear, required some interaction and were fun to play.
The map was sufficient to help you along and get you to where you needed to be.
One had to search for leaves throughout the game and some were easier than others to find. What i liked was, at the end of the game, to be able to return to the areas where i had missed some leaves and to take my time to find them all. The reward for finding all the leaves is a puzzle !
The CE edition had a "hidden" chapter in addition to the bonus chapter.... obviously a plus.
I considered this a quality game, the developers put thought and effort into the variety of puzzles and in every aspect of the game. Relaxing game play in an imaginative environment is what i enjoy and this game met the bill.
It took me several evenings to complete it. No rushing, just enjoying... !
In my opinion it was definitely worth buying this game.
I recommend this game!
You've been asked to cover a highly anticipated competition in New York City when something goes terribly wrong. Can you escape the world of illusions?
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
So - so ... neither great nor bad
PostedFebruary 14, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
To begin with i found that the demo was very short and in the very limited time allotted i did not feel any real engagement in the story or the characters.
The graphics were pretty good, quite colorful. The music was ok, neither bad nor great. The voice of the "villain" was rather annoying.
The puzzles were fairly interesting, neither too difficult nor too easy. As for the hidden object games, some were fairly interactive, clear and crisp, fun to do. On the other hand i found that in the HO's with silhouettes it was difficult to identify what the silhouettes represented. So i was more clicking and guessing than actually seeking and finding the objects.
Overall, this MAY be a good game but it was hard to tell as the demo was too short to really get me hooked into the story, the characters or the suspense which may well develop further into the game (or not).
The graphics were pretty good, quite colorful. The music was ok, neither bad nor great. The voice of the "villain" was rather annoying.
The puzzles were fairly interesting, neither too difficult nor too easy. As for the hidden object games, some were fairly interactive, clear and crisp, fun to do. On the other hand i found that in the HO's with silhouettes it was difficult to identify what the silhouettes represented. So i was more clicking and guessing than actually seeking and finding the objects.
Overall, this MAY be a good game but it was hard to tell as the demo was too short to really get me hooked into the story, the characters or the suspense which may well develop further into the game (or not).
I don't recommend this game.
For years, Barton Mansion sat abandoned, a haunting reminder of an obsession gone wrong. But something sinister still lurked there...and it's stirring.
Overall rating
3
/
5
28 of 31 found this review helpful
It seems ok but really nothing very exciting about this one
PostedFebruary 12, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Have just finished the demo and seriously doubt that i will be purchasing this game. Why ? Because i don't feel it's anything special.
The graphics are good, even though the general ambiance in the scenes never varies much from the reddish hues and darkish ambiance. The characters are ok, nothing new, different or particularly engaging. The story line is the usual, haunted house scenario, sister being kidnapped by clutchy vines and held captive. A ghost that appears and disappears,
A friendly dog "helper" .... who makes things easier than they already are.
Basically, the game is just barely above a medium entertainment level and in my opinion lacks in originality, creativity and challenge.
One moves from one scene to the other picking up items that are fairly easily found, placing them in fairly obvious locations near by, completing very easy puzzles and encountering a few HOPs that are also nothing to write home about.
Even though the game is not BAD, I will not recommend this game it as i have the feeling that should i buy it, i will get half way through and be bored... waiting only to get thru it so as to be able to find something better to do.
I am scoring this game a 3 star rating because i find that we should not necessarily be satisfied with average CEs.
I will reserve a 5 star rating for the really GREAT ones and a 4 star for those that are good, interesting and have some pluses.
As for the games that are the same old story, the same old predictable puzzles, HO's and scenes with nothing that makes me say WOW !!! they deserve no more than a 3 which is already better than average (average being 2.5/5).
If you want an EASY, predictable game, you may want to try this out. If you want the BEST.... i would not recommend this game.
The graphics are good, even though the general ambiance in the scenes never varies much from the reddish hues and darkish ambiance. The characters are ok, nothing new, different or particularly engaging. The story line is the usual, haunted house scenario, sister being kidnapped by clutchy vines and held captive. A ghost that appears and disappears,
A friendly dog "helper" .... who makes things easier than they already are.
Basically, the game is just barely above a medium entertainment level and in my opinion lacks in originality, creativity and challenge.
One moves from one scene to the other picking up items that are fairly easily found, placing them in fairly obvious locations near by, completing very easy puzzles and encountering a few HOPs that are also nothing to write home about.
Even though the game is not BAD, I will not recommend this game it as i have the feeling that should i buy it, i will get half way through and be bored... waiting only to get thru it so as to be able to find something better to do.
I am scoring this game a 3 star rating because i find that we should not necessarily be satisfied with average CEs.
I will reserve a 5 star rating for the really GREAT ones and a 4 star for those that are good, interesting and have some pluses.
As for the games that are the same old story, the same old predictable puzzles, HO's and scenes with nothing that makes me say WOW !!! they deserve no more than a 3 which is already better than average (average being 2.5/5).
If you want an EASY, predictable game, you may want to try this out. If you want the BEST.... i would not recommend this game.
I don't recommend this game.
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
dark, dreary, dull, tedious,
PostedFebruary 9, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I am having trouble finishing this one ! Its back and forth, back and forth, thru dark dreary decors to pick up items and then trudge back thru the same dull scenery to place the object in some obscure place and then wonder where to go next. No map to help speed up all this repetitious come and go. One never seems to move forward, just round and round with no real sense of where one is going or when the monotonous meandering will bring you any significant advancement . It just seems like a never ending exhausting journey thru an old and dated sub standard edition of gloom and doom....Totally unacceptable to sell this as a Collector's Edition !!!
Here and there one comes across a HO scene, or a room that is holds your interest for a moment or two, but really, way to much back and forth thru the same old same old scenery without even a map to help you speed up the progress. I found this game neither entertaining nor challenging. It was boring, dreary and dull !!
I certainly DO NOT recommend buying it at CE rate or even at 60% off.
Here and there one comes across a HO scene, or a room that is holds your interest for a moment or two, but really, way to much back and forth thru the same old same old scenery without even a map to help you speed up the progress. I found this game neither entertaining nor challenging. It was boring, dreary and dull !!
I certainly DO NOT recommend buying it at CE rate or even at 60% off.
I don't recommend this game.
Dreampath: The Two Kingdoms Collector's Edition
Your sister, the Queen, has fallen deathly ill. Now you must travel to a faraway kingdom to find the cure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Had a great time playing ! Want more like this !
PostedFebruary 8, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I found this game very entertaining, neither too hard nor too easy ... just plain fun. The graphics were colorful and scenes imaginative. I really felt that i was in a delightful world of fantasy that felt real. I was not bored for a minute during the entire game.
The puzzles were challenging, different and never frustrating. The HO's were really varied and just perfect. Some interaction, but not too much so.... really just right for my tastes.
The dragon was cool, the king could definitely have been better, significant improvement needed on that character! As for our friend the cat, well yes, a tad stiff (not so much so as the king) but he was nevertheless a pleasant fellow, with a good sense of humor and not so "cutesy" that he became annoying. On the contrary, as the game progressed, i kinda found him to be a rather fun personage and companion.
The map was very well done and i encountered NOT a single glitch in the entire game.
If you like fantasy games and enjoy a really good variety of puzzles, ho's and fun scenery to travel through, i recommend this game. I really certainly enjoyed it and hope that there will be more of these coming our way. A definite buy it for me.
The bonus chapter was rather short but did not skimp in content or puzzles....i thought the quality of it was really quite good ! Extra bonus there is fun little game in the extras that i enjoyed playing also!
This developer should be encouraged.... good stuff !
The puzzles were challenging, different and never frustrating. The HO's were really varied and just perfect. Some interaction, but not too much so.... really just right for my tastes.
The dragon was cool, the king could definitely have been better, significant improvement needed on that character! As for our friend the cat, well yes, a tad stiff (not so much so as the king) but he was nevertheless a pleasant fellow, with a good sense of humor and not so "cutesy" that he became annoying. On the contrary, as the game progressed, i kinda found him to be a rather fun personage and companion.
The map was very well done and i encountered NOT a single glitch in the entire game.
If you like fantasy games and enjoy a really good variety of puzzles, ho's and fun scenery to travel through, i recommend this game. I really certainly enjoyed it and hope that there will be more of these coming our way. A definite buy it for me.
The bonus chapter was rather short but did not skimp in content or puzzles....i thought the quality of it was really quite good ! Extra bonus there is fun little game in the extras that i enjoyed playing also!
This developer should be encouraged.... good stuff !
I recommend this game!
A stay at a peaceful hotel turns into a nightmare when a witch from the Twilight World takes your daughter!
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
Nothing to write home about !
PostedJanuary 24, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Have only played the demo and do not intend to purchase as i found this game rather simplistic and slow.
Further more during the demo the game got stuck and i had to turn off my computer to be able to exit.
I nevertheless tried again hoping that the problem would not reappear... it did not. But i found that moving around was a bit tedious as the game play seemed to lag a lot.
The story line was abit "same old, same old"....story. Mom and teenage daughter go on a trip, stop in "haunted" motel. Evil witch kidnaps daughter to use her body for some evil (don't quite know what ????) purpose. Mother must try to release her daughter from the witch's nasty spell. There is a crystal ball (that must be recharged) which takes you back and forth thru time (or some alternate dark side).
I felt that the story line lacked in depth and intrigue.
I was not at all impressed by the artwork, it was ok but not particularly original or imaginative. Colorful and kinda cutesy but it did not draw me into the scenes or the story.
The characters were stilted and not engaging.
As for the voice overs, i found them completely out of sync and unrealistic.
The puzzles were rather fun but not overly challenging. I felt that some of the instructions could have been clearer.
The HO were original enough but again not overly challenging.... i could zip through them fairly quickly without having to give a lot of thought to the research of items.
This game had the basics and not much more. It could be entertaining but in my opinion it was nothing exceptional. The concept and the game play were too childish for my taste. No feeling of adventure.
Further more during the demo the game got stuck and i had to turn off my computer to be able to exit.
I nevertheless tried again hoping that the problem would not reappear... it did not. But i found that moving around was a bit tedious as the game play seemed to lag a lot.
The story line was abit "same old, same old"....story. Mom and teenage daughter go on a trip, stop in "haunted" motel. Evil witch kidnaps daughter to use her body for some evil (don't quite know what ????) purpose. Mother must try to release her daughter from the witch's nasty spell. There is a crystal ball (that must be recharged) which takes you back and forth thru time (or some alternate dark side).
I felt that the story line lacked in depth and intrigue.
I was not at all impressed by the artwork, it was ok but not particularly original or imaginative. Colorful and kinda cutesy but it did not draw me into the scenes or the story.
The characters were stilted and not engaging.
As for the voice overs, i found them completely out of sync and unrealistic.
The puzzles were rather fun but not overly challenging. I felt that some of the instructions could have been clearer.
The HO were original enough but again not overly challenging.... i could zip through them fairly quickly without having to give a lot of thought to the research of items.
This game had the basics and not much more. It could be entertaining but in my opinion it was nothing exceptional. The concept and the game play were too childish for my taste. No feeling of adventure.
I don't recommend this game.
Characters from classical literature are coming to life!
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Tedious and annoying... Certainly not worthy of a CE rating
PostedJanuary 20, 2015
chezmah
fromFrance
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I can't imagine how this game can rate as a Collector's Edition.
There was no flow to the storyline which was disjointed and rather absurd.
The whole ambiance was dark and gloomy ; the graphics were grainy, the artwork sloppy and uninteresting . It was difficult to see the objects.
Too much jumping from one area to another in order to find the next object. No real logic involved. One either used the map (very so so map) or one guessed.
I had to force myself to finish the demo !!!
There seemed furthermore be a number of technical glitches which made the game difficult to play smoothly.
Basically i would say that this game was :
Boring, frustrating and borderline depressing .
There was no flow to the storyline which was disjointed and rather absurd.
The whole ambiance was dark and gloomy ; the graphics were grainy, the artwork sloppy and uninteresting . It was difficult to see the objects.
Too much jumping from one area to another in order to find the next object. No real logic involved. One either used the map (very so so map) or one guessed.
I had to force myself to finish the demo !!!
There seemed furthermore be a number of technical glitches which made the game difficult to play smoothly.
Basically i would say that this game was :
Boring, frustrating and borderline depressing .
I don't recommend this game.