xedster's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:552
- Reviews Submitted:24
- First Review:February 1, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 17, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls Collector's Edition
Free the trapped souls and reunite a love long lost in Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 13 found this review helpful
No Mystery Here: This Is a Very Good Game
PostedMay 20, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've only played the demo so far, but I thought many of the puzzles were unique and not necessarily mind-numbing to solve, which is more than OK with me. I want to solve puzzles, not be left wondering "what was that all about?"
The crowbar reared its ugly head as one of the first objects to find (as in every hidden object game I've ever played), and some objects are so well hidden one needs to use a hint occasionally.
The game is well put together and fun. The casual mode moves quickly, the puzzles hold interest, the hidden objects are in general all locatable, and while there are dialogues between characters, the dialogues are not "endless" and pretty much get quickly to the point. I like that. A lot.
Just one criticism of sorts: The transitions between scenes as they load are a bit longer than usual. I wish they would go faster, but it's not a deal breaker.
I'm buying this game. I liked the demo it very, very much.
I recommend this game!
Runaway With The Circus
An endearing 1930s love story set around a traveling circus.
Overall rating
4
/
5
81 of 85 found this review helpful
It's a Trip to the Circus
PostedApril 23, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a straight shooting hidden object game. Play a HOS, then complete a simple minigame, and you're done ... move on to the next HOS. But don't get me wrong: the very fact that it is beautifully drawn and straight shootin' is what works! No long complicated, difficult-to-solve puzzles. Nope, it is what you asked for: a HOG, not some great mystery to solve and no monsters or bugs walking on the screen.
I'd definitely recommend it. You just need to be straight on what you're buying.
I recommend this game!
Victorian Mysteries: The Yellow Room
How did the attacker escape a room locked from the inside?
Overall rating
5
/
5
21 of 25 found this review helpful
What a Beautiful Game!
PostedApril 17, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I loved the graphics, which are absolutely beautiful and work so well with the time period. They are somewhat darker than normal but that's okay, it was perfectly easy to see everything needed.
I moved from scene to scene without a hitch, and the hidden objects, though a bit more difficult to find than usual, were somewhat different than the usual fare--for example, the standard hidden crowbar was missing, at least in the demo.. How can that be? lol Amazingly, I survived without a crowbar.
This game is worth a buy for the graphics/scenery along and it is worth the time spent playing it. Very well done developers!
I recommend this game!
Word U
Enroll at Word U and spell words to get rid of the letters that are overrunning the library!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A Huge Disappointment
PostedApril 11, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I was very excited to download this word game, for I am a huge word game fan, but ultimately it was a disappointment.
Moving letters from one place to another on the board was awkward and didn't always work on the first several tries. Then, in several early levels some letters could only be moved if other letters below them were removed--which was almost never. The letters needed were almost never supplied. Ugh.
And to think I couldn't wait for this game to download ... Huge disappointment. Could someone please develop something similar to Scrabble? Let the computer be the opponent, and I'll be glued to playing that game forever.
I don't recommend this game.
Ghost Encounters: Deadwood
The town of Deadwood is being terrorized by the ghost of a murderous outlaw! Break his curse and save the day!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 9 found this review helpful
The Next Logical Move? Buy It!
PostedMarch 24, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I liked this game. Clear, crisp graphics, solvable minigames (yea!), rooms that are not overly complex or filled with a kazillion clickable items. It's a simple game, but not overly so.
In most games, I want to reach the finish line, but often games are so complex and convoluted, they are difficult to finish without constant reference to a strategy guide because the "next move" is not logical. A logical "next step" is good; an illogical "next step" is somewhat ridiculous. Developers, it's OK if a player can finish a game on his or her own. Honest!
A negative? Where's the hint button? Hint buttons are GOOD; they reduce a player's frustration level and help the player along to the finish line.
I'm not sure what's up with all the negative reviews, but I feel the game is well worth the price and most players will enjoy it.
I recommend this game!
Small Town Terrors: Livingston
Your family is missing and the town is in chaos in Small Town Terrors: Livingston!
Overall rating
2
/
5
25 of 45 found this review helpful
A No-Go
PostedMarch 17, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
It feels as if the developer woke up one day and thought, "That's it! I'll take a little bit from this game, a little more from that game, I'll make it all dark and gloomy, and I'll throw in the ever-popular crowbar as a hidden object, a few skulls, murky water, several zombies from another game, a few scares--and pretty much I'm done!"
Er, no. We gamers at BFG need and always hope for more. Something new and refreshing ... something amusing and unique. In this game, the developer delivered on none of the above.
Sorry, this is a no-go for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Silent Nights: The Pianist Collector's Edition
Save your sister and uncover the secrets of an ancient organization in Silent Nights: The Pianist!
Overall rating
4
/
5
159 of 171 found this review helpful
What a Terrific Game!
PostedMarch 15, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is exactly the type of game I have been looking for this week: An interesting storyline and dialogue, moves along at a good pace and smoothly, attractive graphics, nicely put-together HOSs (with the usual one-cannot-live-without crowbar), quickly recharging hint meter, no hand-slaps for misclicking objects. The absence of monsters, goblins and ghouls was absolutely refreshing (OK, there was a lame ghoulish person or two, but they could totally be dealt with.).
Are there any negatives? Why must scenes be so dark? Even with an option of "extra brightness" many scenes could be lighter. My only other objection is to the number of critters running through the scenes: mice, bugs, etc. I saw a beautiful cat or two though, so that's always a good thing.
I like this game very much and think you might too. So much better than many of the games I've seen lately.
Mystery Agency: Visions of Time
After going to a remote cabin, Isabel stumbles upon an old lab that contains a serum that lets her see Visions of Time!
Overall rating
2
/
5
34 of 35 found this review helpful
Let Me Out of Here!
PostedMarch 12, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I expected so much more from this game based on preview graphics and the game description. For me, it turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Navigation through a game shouldn't be this difficult. One should be able to simply point and click to get from here to there. Yet in this game, you point, you click, then you get a little box with a right-pointing arrow that you point and click again to go forward. Awkward, slow, and time-wasting.. Within HOS, finding an object can be needlessly clumsy and difficult because the object is either too small, hidden in the dark, or just not identifiable though it's right in front of you.
Ultimately, I was so frustrated and bored by the game that when I decided to quit, I couldn't quit quite fast enough. I had the feeling of "Let me out of here!" Definitely not a game for me, probably not for most of you.
I don't recommend this game.
Ghost Towns: The Cats of Ulthar
Upon arriving in a strange city, you find the citizens ready to burn Menes at the stake in Ghost Towns: The Cats of Ulthar!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
I Love Cats, But ...
PostedMarch 10, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
My desktop wallpaper is that of a black cat. My Christmas cards always contain images of cats. I'm cat-obsessed (I have lived with many over the years), but nevertheless I was disappointed in this game.
Why are there two levels of graphics? Some are sharp and clear, others rather distorted. What is that all about? Also this is one of those HOGs where one moves endlessly between scenes, to the point of nausea: From Room A to B to C to B to A to C to B to A ad infinitum. I'm now dizzy! There has to be a better way! Also, the whining cat that lights up as the hint is enabled gets old after about the 3rd whine,
What's good here? The cats! They are wonderful creatures, and I'm so glad to see a game in which so many cats appear. If you can get over the hint-cat whining, the repetitious visits to the same scenes, and the strange mixture of poor to well-drawn graphics, you might very well like, even love, this game. Worth a try I suppose ...
I recommend this game!
Dark Strokes: Sins of the Father Collector's Edition
Guide Ethan Black as he attempts to rescue his bride-to-be from a terrifying menace known as the Faceless Ones!
Overall rating
5
/
5
140 of 154 found this review helpful
Excellent game!
PostedMarch 8, 2012
xedster
fromNew York Tri-State
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a most excellent game! It is visually beautiful and the storyline kept my interest. I normally skip cutscenes, but not here. I didn't want to miss a thing!
Of course, there was the usual crowbar serving as a HO, which made me laugh (how can one possibly make it through life without a crowbar?), but, in general, hidden-object scenes were very well designed, often containing multiple objects that need to be combined to create a third object.
The game contains many minigames, but they are not overly difficult and can be solved rather quickly.
This is how to put together an HOG, devs! Use this as a guidepost. I look forward to more games such as this, BigFish!
I recommend this game!