TnT_TJ's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:1,756
- Reviews Submitted:76
- First Review:May 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 15, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The history of Ravenhearst Manor is shrouded in mystery. Unlock the secrets within this episode of Mystery Case Files™.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Dated but Good - A guy's review
PostedMay 22, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is basically a pure HOG to HOG game occasionally interrupted by some very clever puzzles. The graphics are dated and these days it feels quite grainy. Because of this some players might struggle a little in the very cluttered HOG scenes. Some objects are very cleverly hidden and can be hard to find, but none are extremely small.
The music and sound effects are quite good. At times it can make you jump and make you a little uncomfortable, but that goes with the territory of the game.
The story is actually also quite good, but it is told purely through text and drawings.
The added flavor of puzzling together some drawings and the VERY clever door puzzle locks adds to the fun of this game and are good breaks from the HOG scenes.
There are two difficulties of which you can choose from. Both of which are timed. Relaxed mode gives you more time than Detective mode. The time is shared between several scenes and puzzles. I played in detective mode and never ran out of time. There are also hints that can be used.
I would recommend this game to any HOG lover that can stand a bit more grainy graphic. I think the game is considered a classic.
For the guys:
There should be no problem for any guy to enjoy this game. No princesses, fairies or unicorns to be seen ;o)
TJ
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
10 of 11 found this review helpful
An old HAG...uhm...HOG! - A guy's review
PostedMay 22, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in timed mode*
Well, I don't really know how old this game is, but I hope it's made some time ago when I look at the graphics. It is kinda grainy and low res. Not so much that it is unplayable, but it can hardly be compared to the high res games we see released these days.
It is a very classic HOG to HOG game, where you go from one room to the other to find objects, only interrupted by the occasional light beam puzzle, find the differences scenes and flip tiles puzzles. The cluttered HOG scenes along with the low resolution might make it a bit difficult for some to find the objects, but I never really had a problem. There is no insanely small objects to find.
There is a story involved, but only in written text that you read between scenes. I guess the story is a bit meh as I found myself skipping through several parts.
There is two difficulties to choose from. Relaxed (untimed) and timed. As the scenes were not too hard I never had a problem reaching the time limit. You have a number of hints you can use, and you find extra hints within the scenes.
After playing through the game you open a second mode to play. This is basically just the same game with the scenes being mirrored, and that was simply not interesting enough for me to even bother.
All in all it is an ok HOG that I, in this time and age, only would recommend to pure HOG fans or as a Daily Deal.
For the guys:
Even though the game is somewhat aimed for the female players I do not see any problem for a guy to play this game. It is only barely noticeable through bits and pieces of the storyline.
TJ
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
5
/
5
Hard, frustrating and TONS of fun :o) - A guy's review
PostedMay 21, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game is eyecandy AND braincandy. There is nobody to hold your hand through this game, no way of skipping puzzles and basically no instructions either. You are left with having to figure out for yourself what needs to be done, and o'boy is it fun and refreshing :o).
Visually the game is stunning. It is somewhat a cute steampunk type setting. Everything is crisp and clear. It all looks like it is a sort of drawn children's book, but make no mistake, though child friendly graphically, the puzzles and tasks are hard for even the most advanced players. There are puzzles in there that makes you want to take your computer with you to the highest building in the area and drop it off from the top, and then get Mythbusters to blow the remains up with a good dosage of C4. Then you buy a new computer, download the game again, and keep on trying to solve it :o).
Getting this game as a Daily Deal is a bargain. I would recommend this game to anyone who likes a challenging experience, even for a full price.
For the guys:
In a female dominated casual game scene (which I have nothing against at all), this game is well suited for both genders.
I would advice anyone that is in doubt about the challenge this game gives, to try it out first before buying. Some items are small, so if you have problems with your eyesight, it might leave you with a challenge.
There is actually a hint function, and IMO one of the best hint functions I've seen. You actually have to work manually to fill up the hint bulb by collecting mosquitoes that fly around on the screen. Ingenious.
One of my favorite games so far on Big Fish and I hope there is a follow up at some point :o)
Highly Recommended
TJ
I recommend this game!
Welcome to Top Secret Finders. Your first mission is to save a small town, uncover the truth about a government conspiracy and stop the villain in his tracks!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
Interesting HOG adventure - A guy's review
PostedMay 21, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
*Review based on completing the full game in advanced mode*
This is a good game, even though I feel that it could have been even better. The story about the mysterious ghost town and how it got to be that way and the mystery that unravels itself through visions in bits and pieces throughout the game keeps the story and gameplay interesting. It is a bit shallow, and could have been made a bit deeper with not too much extra effort. Nonetheless I found the storyline catching.
The visual quality of the game is quite nice, even though it feels a bit grey and empty at times. The hog scenes (and there is quite a bit of them) are not really too crowded, but most of them are rather dark, and I feel that the graphics could have been slightly sharper here.
Sound quality is good, and the background music is not annoying (still I always turn the music down low). The voice acting however leaves much to be desired, though this is not a big buck Hollywood production, so one does not expect too much in this department. I have seen (or heard) better in similar games though.
The game has live acting as opposed to animated, and that too is somewhat flawed, but it is never annoyingly bad. The lipsync seems way off though, and it seems to me that this game is dubbed from another language.
The game itself has, as mentioned earlier, quite a lot of HOG scenes, a good amount of puzzles and standard adventure elements of "pick-ups and use". There is quite a bit of moving back and forth through the map, but for those who hate that there is a hint function to take you directly to where you need to go without the penalty of using the hint. The hint function only needs recharging after getting specific instructions within the scene where you are at. Most of the HOGs and puzzles are from easy to intermediate in difficulty, even playing in advanced mode.
A BIG positive is that the game actually comes to a conclusion in the end, and don't leave you hanging.
For the ones who need a little extra guidance, there is a casual mode as well which will create sparkles and recharge the hint function faster.
For the guys:
As we can see these days most casual games are targeted towards the better gender, which is only fair seeing that we guys have been targeted in most everything else. I have no problem with that at all, but some do, and some like to stay clear of the most "girly" games. This game should be no problem for any guy. There is no gender bias except for playing a female character. There is no danger of fairies, unicorns, poems or knights in shiny armors ;o).
I found the game highly enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who likes HOGs and puzzles with a good story to boot. It might be considered a little short, especially among the more advanced players, but I'd say it is worth the regular price.
I think (and hope) we will see follow ups to this, and maybe we'll see a bit deeper storytelling then.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Help The Fool become a hero and save the beautiful princess Catherine from the jaws of a terrible dragon!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Short and sweet - A guy's review
PostedMay 21, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A nice "save the princess" story in wonderful fantasy/steampunk settings. It looks wonderful and is quite lighthearted, which should suit those who doesn't like the creepier games out there (I like all kinds as long as the story is ok).
It gives you two choices of difficulty level: Casual and Expert.
I played it on expert level, but still found it rather easy, though sparkles only appear on the HOG scenes.
There are some nice creative puzzles and some well created interactive HOG scenes. The HOG scenes seems very well thought out, and it seems to me they are not too overcrowded and items are close to true size.
It never gets too frustrating, though at times I feel a bit lack of information on what you are supposed to do, or i.e. how many items you need to collect of a certain type.
The biggest downside to the game is the length. It is rather short, but I was lucky to get it at a Daily Deal, and feel it was well worth that price. I am not sure I would recommend it at full price, but be sure to look out for deals on this little gem.
The casual gaming scene is basically been overrun by the better gender, and one can often see that in the way the games are created too. I don't really mind as I am in it for the puzzles and challenges, but some guys might struggle with some settings in some games. This game though, I think is suited for both genders, and your character is actually male in this one.
Recommended as a Daily Deal or if you are looking for something short and sweet
TJ
I recommend this game!
Search a mysterious estate and find a brilliant and mysterious inventor in Syberia, Part 1! Experience the first part of this incredible trilogy!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Forever Classic!
PostedMay 20, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
An intelligent game, an intelligent story by an intelligent game creator. It is basically a "must have" for all adventure/puzzle fans.
Even though it has aged a bit, and the conversion is not top notch, it is still rather beautiful looking and well playable.
You play as a corporate lawyer sent to a small mechanic village in France to handle the overtaking of an automatron toy factory. But things do not go as smoothly as was expected when the company's owner abruptly passes away and an inheritance claim might be eligible.
You are tasked to get the overtaking finished before returning back to the States.
You'll get to solve some clever puzzles in some beautiful surroundings, and meeting some interesting characters along the way.
In this version you do have an option of a help button, that lightly guides you if you get stuck, or wonder where to go next, though it can never be called hand-holding as it just guides you to where you need to go and what you need to achieve. Not how to reach your goals.
The only negative I found in this game, is that it might be considered a little short (at least I did), but it is one episode out of two.
I recommend this game to everyone who likes adventures and puzzles with a good storyline added in the mix. Some puzzles might be hard for the ones who usually rely on "skip" buttons or strategy guides.
TJ
I recommend this game!