Polecat1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.4
- Helpful Votes:337
- Reviews Submitted:37
- First Review:October 15, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 23, 2021
- Featured reviews0
An investigation into a disappearance reveals ghostly secrets in a mountaintop hotel!
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
I wanted to like it
PostedNovember 23, 2021
Polecat1
fromNJ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I tried to get through the trial.
I couldn't.
Not only is everything boiler plate, but the thing that got me the most, the thing that stopped me from completing the trial was this never ending gong noise every time anything was accomplished. And, apparently, there are constant accomplishments. Entirely too many. Really? Every time a collectible is found? Every time I complete something? Enough!
I couldn't.
Not only is everything boiler plate, but the thing that got me the most, the thing that stopped me from completing the trial was this never ending gong noise every time anything was accomplished. And, apparently, there are constant accomplishments. Entirely too many. Really? Every time a collectible is found? Every time I complete something? Enough!
Don't bother with this game. There is only the same old rehashed stuff. Find x to open y. Get z to do a. It is ridiculously easy. There is nothing new and the storyline is the same old trite. Find the missing person, ghost, blah, blah, blah.
Where are the hard games, the inventive games, the adult games that used to be here? Lately everything is trash.
I don't recommend this game.
Dr. Goodwin's miracle cure is once again under threat in this haunting hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Short, poor quality, disappointing
PostedJanuary 2, 2018
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
So, you are again trying to save the day. This time you must stop the evil people from stealing the cure that your father wanted free for all. (I don't remember it saying what the cure is for.)
The game play is very short. This is good because half the time I clicked on items, it did not register with the game and I had to use a hint, which told me to use the item I was trying to use and where it had to be placed on the screen. A lot of THAT time, I was putting whatever the item was on the right spot. The placement is very exact. And very frustrating. This is the bad quality. But the graphics and sound are good.
As for the HOS. They are easy to see and find. But they get reused a lot. There is a skip, but it takes about 2 minutes to be able to skip. I didn't time it, but that feels about right.
Puzzles are very easy. There is a skip function here, too, and again it seems to be about 2 minutes.
The characters' mouths do not move when they talk. It's a little old school and a little dis-concerning. (More bad quality.)
All in all, I wish I hadn't bought it. Bleh.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop a devious plot against the Vermillion Watch?
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Definitely not a "mature audience" game, just disappointing
PostedJanuary 19, 2017
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I usually do not buy CE games. I'm not all into the collectibles and unless the bonus game is important to me, I stay with the SE.
I purchased this game because I LOVE games for mature audiences, psych thrillers, etc.
I was sooo disappointed. There was nothing "mature" about this game. There wasn't even anything INTERESTING about this game.
The plot was thin... If you've played the other Vermillion Watch games, you know about the "Red Queen". Well, there was nothing further on it besides a few mentions. The story arc of the series was in no way furthered by this game.
Basically, once again, you have to come in and save the damsel in distress, rid the world of the bad guy (although through the bonus game, you see the second bad guy disposed of in a different way. It was kind of interesting.) and - oh yeah - get out of a couple of traps yourself.
I purchased this game because I LOVE games for mature audiences, psych thrillers, etc.
I was sooo disappointed. There was nothing "mature" about this game. There wasn't even anything INTERESTING about this game.
The plot was thin... If you've played the other Vermillion Watch games, you know about the "Red Queen". Well, there was nothing further on it besides a few mentions. The story arc of the series was in no way furthered by this game.
Basically, once again, you have to come in and save the damsel in distress, rid the world of the bad guy (although through the bonus game, you see the second bad guy disposed of in a different way. It was kind of interesting.) and - oh yeah - get out of a couple of traps yourself.
The graphics were very dark.
The mini-games boring and easy or just so annoying I skipped them.
The HOS also had very dark graphics. You had a bunch of the picture lists (they show a picture and you have to find the item) and a few "add" lists (you see a picture of a girl and a fish and have to find the mermaid, for instance).
Just frustrating due to the dark graphics and insanely redundant and boring.
There was no option to play a different game (puzzle/match-3, majong, etc) in lieu of the HOS.
I wish I hadn't purchased it.
Yuck.
Just frustrating due to the dark graphics and insanely redundant and boring.
There was no option to play a different game (puzzle/match-3, majong, etc) in lieu of the HOS.
I wish I hadn't purchased it.
Yuck.
I don't recommend this game.
Act as Adam Wolfe, an investigator of the paranormal. Discover an occult world hidden in modern San Francisco!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Most excellent!
PostedDecember 5, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This plays out as a film noire novel. It is not quite what you are used to in a HOPA game.
It is mostly adventure. The hidden object scenes are mostly part of the story: you are told what is needed and then you find it from the scene. Some are junkpiles, tho.
There are a few puzzles, but they are easy.
You are a supernatural detective, and your goal is to find your sister. You narrate the entire story. There is a map, and the only way to go from place to place is via the map.
Every case (and there are two in this game) brings you more clues to help you.
While the visuals worked well with the whole "film noire" thing, I found them very hard to see (dark). But they worked as a whole.
Because it is such a different feel that I like it. Not the same old "oops, I had a big car/plane accident" start. No the world is going to be destroyed. No witches, no fairies, no helpers. Just a plain old mystery book story.
And I love it.
It is mostly adventure. The hidden object scenes are mostly part of the story: you are told what is needed and then you find it from the scene. Some are junkpiles, tho.
There are a few puzzles, but they are easy.
You are a supernatural detective, and your goal is to find your sister. You narrate the entire story. There is a map, and the only way to go from place to place is via the map.
Every case (and there are two in this game) brings you more clues to help you.
While the visuals worked well with the whole "film noire" thing, I found them very hard to see (dark). But they worked as a whole.
Because it is such a different feel that I like it. Not the same old "oops, I had a big car/plane accident" start. No the world is going to be destroyed. No witches, no fairies, no helpers. Just a plain old mystery book story.
And I love it.
I recommend this game!
Something terrible lurks in the halls of Iron Gate Asylum…
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Very disappointed.
PostedAugust 31, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Maybe I was expecting too much from the description blurb and the other reviews.
This was not creepy/spooky/scary. It was just another "save my (family member)" game. It started in a prison asylum, which seemed cool. The beginning of the game was promising. Then it became normal.
Anyway.
The game was long. The bonus game was long for a bonus game. Big pluses in my book.
The puzzles are ridiculously easy. And this is coming from someone who has no patience with puzzles.
The HOS are varied. There is apparently a new HOS out there - and this game takes full advantage of it! You have to find objects that are split in half - but wait! - they must be overlaid to become complete. So you are moving the screen overlay up and down/side to side to find and put together the objects! Sooooo cool. I'd love to see more of these!
There is also (thankfully) not an overabundance of HOS. They are well balanced in the game with the puzzles and the adventure/storyline leads the way. Good adjunct for the story.
As for bonuses, you collect "eyes" in every scene. If you miss them, at the end of the bonus game (where you also collect eyes) you can go back and find them... then you use the eyes to complete a puzzle.
There is a treasure hunt in the bonus, a shadow puppet show, a bonus game, wallpapers and the normal stuff. I did find some morphing things, but they didn't seem to meet up anywhere I could find as a collection.
This would be a good game for beginners, again because it is so easy.
I might be giving it a higher rating if I hadn't been expecting so much more.
I recommend the game for beginners.
This was not creepy/spooky/scary. It was just another "save my (family member)" game. It started in a prison asylum, which seemed cool. The beginning of the game was promising. Then it became normal.
Anyway.
The game was long. The bonus game was long for a bonus game. Big pluses in my book.
The puzzles are ridiculously easy. And this is coming from someone who has no patience with puzzles.
The HOS are varied. There is apparently a new HOS out there - and this game takes full advantage of it! You have to find objects that are split in half - but wait! - they must be overlaid to become complete. So you are moving the screen overlay up and down/side to side to find and put together the objects! Sooooo cool. I'd love to see more of these!
There is also (thankfully) not an overabundance of HOS. They are well balanced in the game with the puzzles and the adventure/storyline leads the way. Good adjunct for the story.
As for bonuses, you collect "eyes" in every scene. If you miss them, at the end of the bonus game (where you also collect eyes) you can go back and find them... then you use the eyes to complete a puzzle.
There is a treasure hunt in the bonus, a shadow puppet show, a bonus game, wallpapers and the normal stuff. I did find some morphing things, but they didn't seem to meet up anywhere I could find as a collection.
This would be a good game for beginners, again because it is so easy.
I might be giving it a higher rating if I hadn't been expecting so much more.
I recommend the game for beginners.
I recommend this game!
Stop the evil Princess of Hearts and discover your true destiny!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
Actually, the game is higher rated, the bonus game, lower
PostedAugust 22, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, and have probably read, played, seen all the renditions and alternatives. Seriously, my favorite book. That being said....
The main game:
The main game is good. It is long. The graphics throughout are beautiful. The sound is good. And if it were by itself, easily 4 stars.
There are a bunch of HOS (more on that in a minute) and they are mostly junkpiles. Sadly, they are repeated. And there are a fair quantity of them, which would be great if there were variety. Or an alternative.
The puzzles are average. Not to hard, not to easy.
There are cards and morphing objects to collect. It is easy to make sure you have everything because the game shows you how many of each are in every scene. So, you don't miss them unless you don't want to.
Now the bonus game.
I rarely buy CE games because I'm not into collectables and if there is no bonus game, it just doesn't pay. (Plus, totally HATE morphing objects!) Even with a bonus game, I'm good doing without.
I bought this one because, love the Alice thing.
Maybe 2 stars. There were probably more HOS in the bonus game than most of the regular game put together. And all junkpiles. Ugh. It was incredibly easy. It was short. And no further morphing objects or cards to collect. Did not add to the story at all. Massive waste of the add'l money/credit.
So, If you are into Alice, I'd suggest you save some money/credit and go for the SE. If you are really into the whole CE experience, just expect to be disappointed come the bonus game.
I recommend the STANDARD edition when it comes out.
The main game:
The main game is good. It is long. The graphics throughout are beautiful. The sound is good. And if it were by itself, easily 4 stars.
There are a bunch of HOS (more on that in a minute) and they are mostly junkpiles. Sadly, they are repeated. And there are a fair quantity of them, which would be great if there were variety. Or an alternative.
The puzzles are average. Not to hard, not to easy.
There are cards and morphing objects to collect. It is easy to make sure you have everything because the game shows you how many of each are in every scene. So, you don't miss them unless you don't want to.
Now the bonus game.
I rarely buy CE games because I'm not into collectables and if there is no bonus game, it just doesn't pay. (Plus, totally HATE morphing objects!) Even with a bonus game, I'm good doing without.
I bought this one because, love the Alice thing.
Maybe 2 stars. There were probably more HOS in the bonus game than most of the regular game put together. And all junkpiles. Ugh. It was incredibly easy. It was short. And no further morphing objects or cards to collect. Did not add to the story at all. Massive waste of the add'l money/credit.
So, If you are into Alice, I'd suggest you save some money/credit and go for the SE. If you are really into the whole CE experience, just expect to be disappointed come the bonus game.
I recommend the STANDARD edition when it comes out.
I recommend this game!
Phantasmat: Town of Lost Hope
Carrying the lives of many on your shoulders, you are forced to balance on the tightrope placed between life and death.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
The ending... didn't see that coming!!!
PostedMay 26, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, pretty much the review title says it all...
The game was good. Not so many HOS (which is fine by me), some nice puzzles...
Little bit on the creepy side story-wise...
The ending made the game. Really.
I thought it was just along the regular story lines until then.
The game was good. Not so many HOS (which is fine by me), some nice puzzles...
Little bit on the creepy side story-wise...
The ending made the game. Really.
I thought it was just along the regular story lines until then.
All I can say: Wow.
I recommend this game!
There’s more to this restoration project than meets the eye.
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 9 found this review helpful
Good game, very quick at the end
PostedMarch 16, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game was really good. But this game, like so many others, seems to rush the last 1/3-1/4 of the game.
The last part seemed more like a bonus game than part of an actual game. It went very quickly.
It was easier to find what I needed and very little travel or thought as to where to put the objects.
But the game in and of itself was fairly long.
The last part seemed more like a bonus game than part of an actual game. It went very quickly.
It was easier to find what I needed and very little travel or thought as to where to put the objects.
But the game in and of itself was fairly long.
Other than that, the game had great graphics, the HOS were different than your usual junk piles... well, they had them but they were done differently. And sometimes there were multiple parts to the HOS. I enjoyed the variety.
Puzzles were on the easier side. Voice overs were done well. I don't know about the sound because I never play with it on.
It was well in keeping with the other Hidden Expedition games... and I liked reading the fact cards that are unique to this series.
Well worth the money.
I recommend this game!
When an asteroid hits the fragile world of Tiny Planet, it breaks into pieces! Save the population of Tiny Planet!
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Do not waste your money or credits
PostedMarch 4, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Ok. So this is not an adventure game as advertised. It is the most true HO/puzzle game out there. (Mostly HO) You find stuff, then there's a puzzle associated with it.
The plot line is basically your world shatters into puzzle pieces and you have to put it (the puzzle pieces that are the world) back together. You get a set number of puzzle pieces for each "chapter". I finished two.
There is no conversation. There is nothing but (mostly) finding stuff. After clicking on the right thing. you must find "x" number of associated items to put into whatever thing needed them.
Then there is the puzzle associated with it.
There are no skips.
There is a hint, but after using it you must click 30, yes 30, bugs to go back into the hint bubble so that it is recharged. By the way? The bugs move.
I finally gave out after the second Atari-like game wherein you had to go around various objects while the game "board" moves. And when you crash, the game resets to the beginning... not to where you crash, not even close to where you crash. And the games are long so you probably will crash at least once.
Fortunately, I used a credit.
I really should have used the trial. I regret that sorely.
My bad.
I don't recommend this game.
You're the last hope to stop the ancient curse!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Only problem...
PostedJanuary 13, 2016
Polecat1
fromEdison, NJ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a very good, long (Yay!) game.
The HOS are actually puzzles... you find an object and use that to find another object. Which is a nice change of pace. Also, there aren't too many HOS scenes.
The puzzles are on the easy side.
The only problem mentioned in the review title? I kept turning off the audio, though, because one of the characters that continually helps you along (a little girl) has the most annoying voice. She is just irritating. This is pretty much the only part of the game I hated.
If you need to have your objectives delineated constantly, you should know that there is no clear cut objective list, so remember what you need to do, because you will not hear it/read it again.
The jump map is wonderful because there is a lot of going from one place to another. And with 5? 6? areas (I forgot how many), this is not just a pleasure, it is a necessity.
Did I mention the game is long? You really get your money's worth!
All in all, a really good game.
The HOS are actually puzzles... you find an object and use that to find another object. Which is a nice change of pace. Also, there aren't too many HOS scenes.
The puzzles are on the easy side.
The only problem mentioned in the review title? I kept turning off the audio, though, because one of the characters that continually helps you along (a little girl) has the most annoying voice. She is just irritating. This is pretty much the only part of the game I hated.
If you need to have your objectives delineated constantly, you should know that there is no clear cut objective list, so remember what you need to do, because you will not hear it/read it again.
The jump map is wonderful because there is a lot of going from one place to another. And with 5? 6? areas (I forgot how many), this is not just a pleasure, it is a necessity.
Did I mention the game is long? You really get your money's worth!
All in all, a really good game.
I recommend this game!