alsteele28's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.2
- Helpful Votes:1,950
- Reviews Submitted:209
- First Review:August 5, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 22, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Take on the role of a railroad entrepreneur and build your very own railroad empire in this unique new puzzle game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 25 found this review helpful
Probably my most pointless review ever!
PostedMay 5, 2013
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
This will be my shortest review ever (amazingly), I thought this game would be a watered down version of full price PC games such as Railroad Tycoon etc. To an extent it was, and much as I did love this genre of game, what semi put me off was the music, The soundtrack to this as to that was what I call 'old wild western music' (there is probably a proper name for the genre), but tunes such as 'O Susannah' and 'she'll be coming round the mountain', are tunes that for me give me the 'goose shivers' every time I hear them, there is no rhyme nor reason for this but there are a few that do and this style of music is one of them. The upshot of this then is that I couldn't play the game because of the music.
I know what people are thinking (if people are actually reading this review), why don't I turn the sound down, off, yes I could have done, but for me the music is part of the game and if I can't get 'on' as it were with the music, then no matter how good the game is, I don't play. With the music all being olde western I really couldn't get on with it, and even if I had turned the sound down I would have still 'known'.
I know what people are thinking (if people are actually reading this review), why don't I turn the sound down, off, yes I could have done, but for me the music is part of the game and if I can't get 'on' as it were with the music, then no matter how good the game is, I don't play. With the music all being olde western I really couldn't get on with it, and even if I had turned the sound down I would have still 'known'.
From what I did play, the game started of with the basics of connecting towns and growing in stature to meet the criteria, other than that there is not really a lot more I can say as I didn't play for much longer.
The point of the review, none probably, just thought I would share my musings of the soundtrack of the game, sorry
For me personally I wouldn't recommend the game but that is purely based on the soundtrack.
Ok it was not short, but just a rant, sorry.
I don't recommend this game.
After disaster strikes during a stormy night, you once again face the difficult task of rebuilding your village and farm!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Where's my delivery!
PostedMay 5, 2013
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This as is usual with TM 'next in the series' games, in that it follows what was before and adds additions to the game.
The game in set-up and design is pretty much similar to 'save the village', the game-play again is pretty much the same, though in this game you have the addition to purchase 'perks' in order to help you 'down on the farm'. The game is again a 'delivery type game' rather than a traditional TM building game. The are a few improvements in that if you are wanting to combine to make a recipe and you have multiples of the correct ingredients then it will allow you to make multiples. Other improvements, were the graphics seemed to be a bit better, the voice overs were slightly improved (though on occasions could be a tad tiresome), and the music was suited to the game.
In the hour trial I completed a year, mostly with 'gold' first time round, so whether it because it was the first year and it was like a 'trainer' year or whether I am superbly brilliant at this type of game (highly unlikely), or the game is 'pegged' for a younger audience I don't know, but towards the end of the year (autumn/fall), it was getting a bit tougher (unfortunately though my hour ran out :)),
Given that I now understand the game-play and that I have realised it is not a farming game in the populas sense, i would still recommend if you like to play a farmer version of the 'UPS' guy/guyess :)
Give it a spin, I would recommend the game.
I recommend this game!
Welcome to the great outdoors! Create and run your very own campsite in this rugged resource management game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
One camping trip I won't be repeating.
PostedMay 5, 2013
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
TM games are suppose to be a tad stressful (that's what makes 'em), this though was way over, there was a lot of text to read, and as the graphics were older then it was a bit blocky, thus this meant that the text was a bit 'rough around the edges' making it harder to read. I could only play the game for around 20 minutes, and because I was still in 'learning' mode there was a lot of text to read. I killed guests, because I didn't put the fire out in time, owing to the fact that the menu/toolbars were not always that intuitive. I missed guests as I didn't always see the cars (or built the tents too late), thus lost customers/income.
There was a lot wrong (INMHO) with this game (I couldn't also see the end goal (which for a TM geek like myself is essential), thus I gave up.
I personally wouldn't recommend the game, but it may appeal to someone, if you are wanting a camping style game then try 'campground' it is a quirky, but the graphics are better and the game whilst possibly simplistic compared to this at least 'flows' better.
I don't recommend this game.
Start your own business developing astonishing eco-friendly campsites, uncover a hidden artifact, and become the Campground Developer of the Year!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Greed or ecology YOU decide!
PostedMay 5, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This is kinda like a build-a-lot for the camping world. The game is fun and like the build-a-lot franchise eases you in to the game fairly gently.
A nice twist with this game is that it enables you to decide whether you want to put 'greed' over the ecology, which I thought was a nice touch, if you chose the ecology then you were awarded 'ecology' points which would then enable you to gain 'respect' from others. Obviously if you choose money first then you would complete the levels quicker, but you do sacrifice not only the scenery but your 'green standing' with those around.
In the earlier levels (this review is based on the hour trial demo), you have to build factories and greenhouses, in order to build the tents and gardens (extra eco points) for the tents (though I always thought tents were canvas not wood, but hey ho, artistic licence and all that).
The aim of the earlier levels was to build tents and gain eco-points within a time-limit (at the beginning of the game you could chose whether you wanted timed (strategy) or casual (a 'relaxed' game).
Overall the game is fun and brings a different slant for those who like the build-a-lot franchise of games, there was some 'move the debris' type of game play but unlike the Royal Envoy or My Kingdom for a Princes series of games, this was not the main-stay of the game.
I would recommend the game especially those people who like the 'build-a-lot' franchise.
I recommend this game!
Stop the Big Boss and save the village! After destroying almost everything on the farm, Big Boss is out to execute his evil plans!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
More delivery person than farmer
PostedMay 4, 2013
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
The idea of the game is to re-build the village, by delivering items to various shops in order to gain money so that shops can be upgraded in order for more goods to be produced from the various shops.
The game is very simplistic in formula (and not really a farming game if this is what you are after (I put farming games into the BF search engine and this game came up), the game as said above is more of a delivery game but of farming products.
The graphics are basic (guessing the game is a good few years old now), the music is on par with this genre, but as an added bonus there is a voice over, that drives the story.
The game though to me is a tad confusing at the beginning as it doesn't really explain about the different time bonuses with regards to collection of the 'stock' and I was filling up with the same item (in order to get extra money), not realising that I needed to watch which stock items were going to amber and red in order for the time bonuses and ultimately the level (if the stock got to 'red' to many times then it was 'level over'). That sounded a tad confusing I know but basically the longer you leave stock 'hanging' the more likely you are not to 'win' the level.
Over all I am not sure about this one, I trialled it on a whim as I thought it was another farming game (my new favourite, genre-wise), but whilst initially disappointed, that it wasn't and was going to stop playing after 10 minutes or so, decided to give it a full trial, and must say whilst the game still seems simplistic, there is depth to it as you have to combine items in order to fulfil different food orders, and collect wood to upgrade, and complete all the different tasks, so whilst I am not sure whether I will purchase (though as it is on offer this weekend I may do), I would certainly semi-recommend to others if they want a slight deviation from the normal farming games.
I recommend this game!
Islanders are here again! Become part of a new adventure and help the shaman get his true appearance back! Follow them in a fascinating journey through time and make new friends!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Mists of time covering the gameplay
PostedApril 29, 2013
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This game is the standard 'clear the path' to achieve the goal type of game (think Royal Envoy, Ballard of Solar, Viking Brothers etc). The difference with this game is that the there is a 'mist' covering the gameplay level at the start of the each stage and in order to uncover more of the level, you had to complete different 'mini' activities, I like this and (having briefly trialled the previous instalment), I believe this feature is peculiar to this series. Other differences between this and other 'clear the path' TM's is that you could collect diamonds, which added to your game-score (unsure whether they did anything else), and also a character comes in on the right-hand side of the screen with an item to collect within a (very) short time-period, (again not really sure what this 'added' to the game-play), but it give the game a 'slight' added depth.
The storyline is the usual 'need to complete the tasks in order to restore peace' type of games (to be honest I don't really read the storyline (though I noted for this game there seemed to be quite an in-depth storyline (maybe I will read it when I buy it).
The music etc was good, and there were very occasional VO, soundbytes. Over all it was sufficiently different enough for me to add it to my ever growing collection.
With regards to IT3, I will keep to my usual 'mantra' with regards to additions to the series (i.e. where there is more than one in a TM series (doesn't quite work for a HO game as the story is usually a continuation (i.e. and extra chapter) of the series)), as the graphics seemed to be not quite as polished as IT4, so will stick to and purchase this game.
Overall good, if you are new to the series I would certainly purchase the game as as I say it is sufficiently different to other TM's out there if you have others in the series then I am unsure as to what 'extras' it will bring to the series.
Overall though I do recommend this game.
Help Leia keep and develop her farm by growing crops and caring for animals in this beautiful Time Management game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
In this game the chicken came before the egg!
PostedApril 29, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I have only recently got into farming sim games (with TV farm 2), and thought I would explore others in the genre, this game had good reviews and thought I would download the free trial.
This is a good game, and significantly different to TV farm that I think I will add both to my collection (ever growing), this game is a mixture of arable and livestock. The game has two modes either casual (for a 'relaxed' game) or strategy for those amongst us who like a challenge to our 'casual' gaming.
As I like a challenge I chose the 'strategy' option, obviously as is normal with these types of games the first few levels were relatively 'light' on time and could be completed fairly easily within the 'gold' time limit. From about level 5 onwards though when several things had to be achieved strategy kicked in and you really had to think about whether you needed extra storage or livestock in order to complete the goals.
The game is as such that even in the first few levels you are needing to not only feed the livestock (chickens) but grow wheat and make flour, this means that have to make sure you are growing enough food for the chickens to lay the hens as well as producing enough food to make the wheat. This therefore kicks the challenge in early on in the game.
The only downside to this is (and where it loses its star), is that if you are selling goods (such as eggs) and one of the stages goal is to have a certain amount of eggs (say 5), then if you need to sell them to make money, this number is 'lost' thus you have to overproduce as it were in order to meet the criteria for the stage. I think the times of the level compensated in a way for this but it did slightly annoy me that 'you couldn't borrow from Peter to pay Paul' as it were (in that you had to have the exact number of both (or three etc), criteria together in order to meet the goal criteria.
This though was the only negative in an otherwise excellent game.
As usual graphics, sound and story were on par for this genre and I had no problems with any of it.
If you can get over the slight niggle in having to 'overproduce' in order to meet the criteria of the game, then I would highly recommend the game.
For those that are confused by the title, download the game (even if only for a trial) and you will see what I mean :)
I recommend this game!
Become the hero in the challenging world of farming! TV Farm 2 takes you into the world of reality television in this exciting Time Management game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
60 of 70 found this review helpful
The farmer's in his (her) den, the farmers in his (her) den
PostedApril 29, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This is my first foray into the casual farming sim games, I have played others off-line, such as Harvest moon and PC games that had elements of farming in them such as industrial giant, but have never played 'casual', for some reason I thought they would be very basic and almost char like. Yes the graphics are like most TM games (no matter what the 'sub-genre'), 'quirky', almost cartoonesque, but not quite, but really fitting in with the whole 'casual' style game-play.
The game reminded me of similar cookery sim games such as Top Chef or the 'Cake Mania Lights, Camera Action games, in that you were in a competition to win a prize, just that the setting this time is 'down on the farm'. The game play starts with a 'front story' which is like the aforementioned just farm based instead of food based. You are then taken to the game proper and the first few levels are as always tutorials which ease you in to the mechanics of the game.
I like the fact that in this game from level 2 onwards you have to think strategically, in that you have to sell things in order to fund to purchase seeds. This is good as it makes you think what will yield the most profit and what to upgrade in order to fulfil the level criteria. This therefore got the grey matter thinking early on, but as the goals were 'fairly' easy then it eased you gently into the game. Another good thing was that if the goal criteria was to make a certain amount of money then you had to be careful what upgrades and purchases you made in order to make the money and fall within the 'golden time' (expert score), even as early on as level 3 I had to restart the level as I didn't hit the 'golden time'. You can't therefore go in 'all guns ablazing' you have to assess (fairly quickly as the clock is ticking), as to what seeds to purchase, what buildings to build etc to fulfil all criteria. One good thing (of the many good things), is that the game registers that you have produced something even if you then sell it. For example you have to make popcorn, but need to sell this in order to fulfil the overall criteria, in some TM games I have played if you have used some of the item in order to fulfil that games particular goal it comes 'off' the total so to speak thus you have to ultimately produce more, this game recognises that you have produced the item and doesn't penalise you if you then sell it, I like this.
Graphics, sound etc are usual standard for this game and don't annoy, just a few short sound-tracks that repeat, but nothing 'offensive' as it were. No VO but then it is unusual in this type of game to get them, graphics as mentioned were usual of the genre.
The only slight negative (and this is only because I am basing this review on the hour is that there was a 'technology' room, that you went to after every level, that certaninly for the time I played didn't mean anything. You earned 'technology point's based on how quickly you completed the level and these could be used to purchase upgrades. I suppose further in the game this room would have had more use (guess I am going to spend moolah (which I will do) to purchase the game.
Overall this is good and game and a fine example of the genre.
I would highly recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Snowy is opening an eatery to win the restaurant contest.
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 37 found this review helpful
Dinner dash with bears!
PostedApril 23, 2013
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
This is to all intents and purposes a dinner dash game but just with animal staff rather than humans.
There is all the traditional elements there, colour multiples, plate multiples, meal ticket multiples etc.
The music is quite jaunty for this genre and the graphics are good solid and certainly do the job.
For me though I felt the game had a very slight racist edge, in that the white bear was called 'snowy' and the brown bear was called 'browny', maybe it is the country I live in that finds this offensive, but it certainly but a slight taint on the game for me.
I knew this was going to be a 'dash' style game when I downloaded the demo, but I was wondering whether the genre had moved forward and added any 'extras', sadly no the genre is the same as always. The only slight different is that the 'non-stop' mode opens up quite early on in the game, indeed I had only played the game for 20 minutes and it had opened up for me. I was also getting 'expert' scores every level, and considering I wouldn't say I was an expert at this genre, I am tipping the game maybe too easy for someone who thoroughly enjoys this genre of game.4
Owing to the negatives as detailed above, I can't recommend the game (unless you don't find offence in 'name calling', but if you are after a quirky dash game and you can overlook the above, then I would recommend downloading first as you may find the game too easy.
I recommend this game!
Enjoy 50 levels of rollicking time management fun, learn the heroic ways of the Vikings and experience an epic story of love, valor and legend!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Invasion of the vikings!
PostedApril 21, 2013
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This review will not be too indepth as these games have been done a lot before (think any 'clear the path' style of games.
I will therefore just go into the differences between this game and others of this subgenre of the TM genre. The game itself is nice and colourful and the graphics do the job very nicely. The game is basically about two brothers. The game is intuitive in that there is no 'empty-handed' syndrome as I call it. By this I mean if the any of the characters are empty handed they can be directed to do other tasks without them having to go back to their 'home' and back out again, (I always feel in other TM games that this is wasteful (not only of my own personal time but of the game-time, and I am sure I have lost out on an 'expert' score because of this (possibly :)), this game doesn't and another bonus is that you can queue up jobs so that when one task is completed the character knows what job is next. This is good as on others the game would not let you do this.
Another great improvement of the game was that if you clicked on a building or bridge or anything that needed repairing and you had not got all the resources it would highlight (by blinking), the resources that were required (such as trees if wood was required, or the gold mine if more gold was required), this to me was a huge step forward as it showed in graphic detail exactly what elements were needed, to build the building, bridge etc. Also I liked if you tried to click on something and the path was blocked then there would be footprints up to where the path was blocked indicating what needed to be done to unblock the path. This again was good as on some games it may not have always been obvious what needed to be achieved to clear the path.
There were other touches that I felt enhanced the game, but I will leave these for you to discover :) (or to put it another way I sure there will be other things that enhance the game-play I just haven't discovered them yet.:),
The graphics are nice and 'chunky' (this is not in a negative, but I mean they are clean and bright and solid), the music is a much of a muchness, but I guess does the job (as I have said before these games are not necessarily played for their soundtrack).
This game for me is a definite keeper, I have loads of this style of game but there is always something slightly different in them that makes me want to add others to my collection.
I wholeheartedly recommend this game.
This is the 'clear the path' style of TM that is popular on Bigfish.
I recommend this game!