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:
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent
PostedSeptember 8, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was a really good game, plenty of challenges, excellent cut-screens (especially the time-travel one near the end of the game). The story line was excellent, the puzzles were good (some samey some different, (had to skip on one as I just couldn't understand it all), but apart from that was good, The only thing was it was too short, I am sure if the developers wanted to they could make numerous sequels out of the game as they have a good solid nucleolus there. The reason I didn't give it 5 was because the game only took me around 4 hours, and I just thought it was a tad short and if I am being honest possibly a tad to easy in some places, the 'chess' section was a tad confusing if you don't play the game. Apart from that though it was a really good game. Hopefully there will be a sequel in the not too distant future.
Adele
I recommend this game!
The magic world of Lumina needs a new hero! It's up to you to face Tenebria, the queen of the dark world in the original Match 3 game, Mystika!
Overall rating
3
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Average Match 3 game
PostedSeptember 3, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
If this game ever became 'catch of the week' or 'deal of the day' then I may consider it as it is this is a bog-standard match 3 game. Yes there is extra touches such as having to kill bats and turtles/tortoises in order for your blocks not to go back to gold. But apart from that I couldn't really see any difference between this and any other standard match 3 game.
Also I have no clue as to where the HO sessions come in. I mean in other hybrids the match 3 element is instead of playing the HO scene (such as Sisters of Anomalies (think that is the right name)), but in this game there were seemingly randomly thrown in there to add a bit of variety. Now I am all for change, but it would be better if it seemed to make sense and not just 'thrown in' on the whim of the designer.
To me the story also seemed a bit lame.
I am not a conniseour of match 3 games and my extent is just the Jewel Quest series and the bejeweled games and out of these two I tend to just play the Jewel Quest series now. I think that to me like the Mahjong games as it is just a the same game concept it is hard for developers to come up with anything special and until they do will just stick with the jewel quest series.
Also I have no clue as to where the HO sessions come in. I mean in other hybrids the match 3 element is instead of playing the HO scene (such as Sisters of Anomalies (think that is the right name)), but in this game there were seemingly randomly thrown in there to add a bit of variety. Now I am all for change, but it would be better if it seemed to make sense and not just 'thrown in' on the whim of the designer.
To me the story also seemed a bit lame.
I am not a conniseour of match 3 games and my extent is just the Jewel Quest series and the bejeweled games and out of these two I tend to just play the Jewel Quest series now. I think that to me like the Mahjong games as it is just a the same game concept it is hard for developers to come up with anything special and until they do will just stick with the jewel quest series.
I don't recommend this game.
Become the hero of the hit reality show TV Farm! Grow plants, sell products, and improve your farm in this Time Management game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 10 found this review helpful
Strategy and TM nice combo
PostedSeptember 3, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
After playing the demo and considering the price (deal of the day), this is a definite keeper for me. The game is a mixture of TM and strategy.
Unlike most TM games on Bigfish (specifically the Build-A-Lot series all you had to do was wait for rent to come in and hit a certain money 'score' and that was it. With this game there is so much more depth, in that you have to plan what you are going to grow and sell, and also what products you are going to use to make into other products (i.e corn to eggs or flour/eggs to bread). There is therefore a lot of strategy involved and on some of the levels it is difficult to get silver let alone gold. This to me reminded me of some retail strategy games in that there is a lot of depth within the game that made it for me well worth the price.
Unlike most TM games on Bigfish (specifically the Build-A-Lot series all you had to do was wait for rent to come in and hit a certain money 'score' and that was it. With this game there is so much more depth, in that you have to plan what you are going to grow and sell, and also what products you are going to use to make into other products (i.e corn to eggs or flour/eggs to bread). There is therefore a lot of strategy involved and on some of the levels it is difficult to get silver let alone gold. This to me reminded me of some retail strategy games in that there is a lot of depth within the game that made it for me well worth the price.
I think the game most have been translated from another langauge as sometimes the text didn't flow. The storyline for me was a bit 'rubbish' but if you ignore this and 'lost in translation' the game is good.
One more slight criticism is that when the levels load it gives you tips, this is one occasion when I wish I had a slower computer (not really obviously), but because my computer loads the levels pretty quickly I usually miss the tips. It would have been nice if instead of going straight in to the game it had a 'continue' button so that you can finish reading the 'tip'. That though is my only criticism and it is a very minor one. Try it you might like it :)
I recommend this game!
After the police and FBI come up empty in their investigation, Bella turns to forces beyond our world to find her missing son!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good for the younger/newbies amongst us
PostedSeptember 3, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I downloaded the demo for this game about a month ago and thought that it was ‘different’ as it kind of ‘held’ your hand by telling you how many activities you have left to do in that particular area and it also came up with a ‘pop-up’ box telling you that at that particular time there was nothing left to do on that particular section. Others have said that they felt this was possibly aimed at children or ‘newbies’ in to the genre, I would tend to agree, as normally I have to use a walkthrough at least once during a game with this there was just a couple of times when I was confused as to what to do and had to hit the hint button for guidance but at no time did I need to use a walkthrough. Time wise I reckon it took me around 4 hours all in which is less than normal, this is possibly not that it is a particularly short game but because I had more experience at these types of games, then I suppose I did complete it a tad faster (but then the target audience may find it a bit longer). The puzzles were all that I have experienced before (move circle to achieve shape, jigsaws, and the line/rope not touching), nevertheless there were used to good effect and sometimes you had to complete two or three progressively harder ones to actually complete that particular task.
Overall I would say it is a good game and aimed at the younger end/newbie target audience. Graphics maybe a bit two ‘twee’ cartoony for some but I felt that they fitted nicely with the storyline and the music was good, and unlike some games didn’t grate as it changed frequently to match what you were doing, and there wasn’t a constant soundtrack.
Good game good graphics and for the money I paid (bought it as a ‘catch of the day’) defiantly worth the money.
This review was for the SE not sure what differences they are for the CE.
I recommend this game!
Discover the history and unlock the true potential of a magically enchanted antique mirror in this great Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Average
PostedAugust 28, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you want a bog-standard HOG with a predictable storyline then this is the game for you. As it is an oldish game the graphics don't make use of high resolution graphics. There are no voice-overs and a good command of the English language is needed as there is plenty of reading (that is how the story is driven, no characters at all).
The story is a slight twee (IMHO) in that it is about a duke who smashed a mirror (because a suitor was wrong for his daughter) and the mirror got smashed and you have to find the shards. That's it. The main scenes are HO and there only seems to be one mini-game (moving blocks to light the mirror).
I would recommend this to people just starting out in the HO genre or children, as there is no violence. black-magic storyline or other 'scary stuff'.
Fortunately I bought it 'off-line' with two other games in a deal, so am not too disappointed.
The story is a slight twee (IMHO) in that it is about a duke who smashed a mirror (because a suitor was wrong for his daughter) and the mirror got smashed and you have to find the shards. That's it. The main scenes are HO and there only seems to be one mini-game (moving blocks to light the mirror).
I would recommend this to people just starting out in the HO genre or children, as there is no violence. black-magic storyline or other 'scary stuff'.
Fortunately I bought it 'off-line' with two other games in a deal, so am not too disappointed.
Start building your very own amusement park in Dream Builder: Amusement Park! Grow the park by adding the coolest new rides, the yummiest concession stands and the most entertaining attractions.
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 23 found this review helpful
A very poor Theme Park clone
PostedAugust 20, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Didn't even finish the free trial. This most be one of the most boring TM games I have ever played. The graphics picture looked good and so did the preview video, this though did not live up to the reality. All it was a case of was opening a menu and placing a ride. Very basic and becomes very boring very quickly. You couldn't set prices, you didn't see the 'characters' on the rides/attractions, so there was no 'fun-factor' there. All in all a total dissapointment. It is almost as if BigFish knew this was a 'non-starter' by offering an extra 'punch' if bought. I would like to give a 'punch' but maybe not the same as Bigfishes to the wall for even trying this game :).
If you were a fan of Rollercoaster tycoon and the Theme Park series, please don't buy this as it will sour happy memories.
If you were a fan of Rollercoaster tycoon and the Theme Park series, please don't buy this as it will sour happy memories.
I don't recommend this game.
Rescue your canine companion, and solve the mystery of Houndspoint!
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 14 found this review helpful
Bordering on cruelty
PostedAugust 18, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I was going to purchase this on the BOGOF offer bigfish have this weekend. I am so glad I didn't 'rush in' and purchase the game. The opening scene put me off (when the man was chased and then killed by the dogs, but what put the final death knell of for me was when they took the 'family pet'. I am not a big lover of dogs, but I did feel that the opening for me was just a tad cruel and put me of what I am sure is really good game with a good story and a 'meaning' behind it all (and I sure as so often is the case all things sort themselves out). I just found though these first scenes a tad to realistic and upsetting.
Sorry I know it is only a game, but even so!!
Sorry I know it is only a game, but even so!!
I don't recommend this game.
Jo's Dream: Organic Coffee
Help make Jo’s dreams come true! Join her in a challenging journey to build a coffee shop. Learn to make different brews, take orders and manage staff!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Wake up and smell the coffee
PostedAugust 16, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is the 'usual' scenario for this type of game. Serve customers, upgrade items to make more drinks, serve more food. Restore etc. But what is slightly unique about this (I haven't seen it before), is that you play a kind of 'God' character in that you don't directly control someone (like flo (in dinner dash games for example), but you can play the 'hand of god' and serve customers directly. You can hire staff and their 'AI' (one you are passed level 2) good enough for them to be able to work independently. I decided against the waiter though as I thought this more a hindrance than a help as the 'Barista' (is that the correct spelling) can take the order and serve.
Good game, and for the price you can't go wrong
I recommend this game!
Explore the mystical woods and mountains to defeat the evil spirit called Strix in this Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 9 found this review helpful
OK for a first HO game
PostedAugust 5, 2012
alsteele28
fromYorkshire England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I got this on a 'special' deal of the day. I played an hour and though I knew it was going to be easy (as a seasoned HO'er) I did find the storyline quirky and interesting.
This would be an ok game for a younger player or someone who is not used to HO games as for me easy was to generous a word for the mini-games, while a distraction they were like doing a 'dot-to-dot' puzzle (easy to follow) either that or it was just random guesses but it was over in a matter of seconds.
So whilst I found it easy I think this game would be a good introduction to someone who is new to this type of genre.
This would be an ok game for a younger player or someone who is not used to HO games as for me easy was to generous a word for the mini-games, while a distraction they were like doing a 'dot-to-dot' puzzle (easy to follow) either that or it was just random guesses but it was over in a matter of seconds.
So whilst I found it easy I think this game would be a good introduction to someone who is new to this type of genre.
At the bottom the question 'would you recommend' I would but only to as stated above! :)
I recommend this game!