RastaPasta's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.2
- Helpful Votes:873
- Reviews Submitted:31
- First Review:April 25, 2012
- Most Recent Review:February 15, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Investigate a mysterious and deadly curse! Save a town from the grip of supernatural hysteria!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 13 found this review helpful
Nothing New Here.
PostedAugust 10, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played this game before, but it had a different name. Same plot - people are dying, family curse, witch is responsible, Uncle's estate... really, how many variations of this same old storyline can developers come up with.
On the plus side the witch was somewhat young and good looking (until her face morphs). Much better than those old and decrepit looking witches that I've seen time and time again.
I thought that the graphics were a bit bland in this game - hand drawn that look like they've been hand drawn.
Hint button charges rather quickly, but the standard "nothing to do here" variety of hints... nothing exceptional.
Three modes of game play to choose from.
To be honest, this game really didn't catch my interest... I didn't even complete the trial.
Remember: try before you buy. Whether or not you like this HOG will be a matter of preference.
I don't recommend this game.
Escape a cursed island of lost souls by helping three of the trapped spirits in Redemption Cemetery: Grave Testimony!
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 64 found this review helpful
An Enjoyable Game!
PostedAugust 2, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game "grabbed" me right from the get go (I can usually tell if I'm going to like a game within the first 15 minutes of game play... this game didn't take nearly that long).
The game uses real characters in the cut scenes; not Academy Award winning quality, but enough to keep it interesting.
The HOS is refreshing (insofar as the number of them that I was able to do in the free trial). Interactive- an object is needed to obtain another object, and sometimes there a puzzles to complete... but the puzzles in the HOS are pretty basic/easy... HOS puzzles don't have a "skip" option.
You receive a bird (crow) that assists you in obtaining certain objects (provided that you have a "token" to "bring the crow to life"). Crow tokens are found in various stages of the game.
The hint button works in and out of the HOS, but it's the same basic "nothing to do here right now" hint system that ERS usually uses in all of their games. I haven't had to use the strategy guide (yet).
Items that you find a long the way sometimes require that you combine them with another item before they can be used.
There are three levels of game difficulty to choose from.
Music is ok, but I keep the volume low in any case.
This game isn't the most difficult one that I have played. This review is based on the free trial... I haven't completed the game in it's entirety, and so it may become more challenging later on.
I am going to purchase this game.
It's not overwhelmingly difficult game, nor is it one that requires little to no thought. It falls somewhere in the middle. But the game is "different" in some respects; not completely original, but definitely not the "same old, same old".
It's definitely worth someone taking a look at. You can try before you buy, so there's nothing to loose in the first hour of game play.
I recommend this game!
Travel back in time and save the ones you love in this Hidden-Object Adventure game! Switch between 1912 and the modern day as you play in 2 time periods.
Overall rating
1
/
5
148 of 174 found this review helpful
The WORST Big Fish Game Ever!
PostedJuly 31, 2012
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is a terrible game. I'm surprised that Big Fish has even presented such a game on their website.
The graphics are clear, but rather odd (you have the game screen which has a border around it).
But the most awful thing about this games is that it seems like it's just HOS.
I'm not kidding.
The game opens up, and you are immediately in a HOS. As soon as you complete it, you are immediately in a second HOS. Complete the second HOS, and you are immediately in a third one. I actually gave up on the game at that point, and uninstalled it forever and ever.
PLEASE. Do yourself a favor and try, try, try this game before you even think of buying it. It's not even worth a sale price.
I don't recommend this game.
After crashing your car in the middle of nowhere, you stumble upon a mysterious town with a shady background. Solve a dark mystery!
Overall rating
2
/
5
32 of 38 found this review helpful
A Five Star Dud...
PostedJune 24, 2012
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm in the minority here. Most everyone that has played this game and posted a review here have given it a 5 star rating.
Not me - this is one of those games that goes into my "retired early" pile; started but never completed.
The Good:
The storyline was intriguing, and kept me interested in the game... at least for a while.
The graphics were decent; not stunning, not spectacular, but easy to look at.
The music was bearable, and the sound effects added a bit of mystique to the game.
It wasn't especially hard to get around.
The hint system is good. Takes about a minute to recharge in HO scenes; 3 minutes everywhere else.
They have in game achievements if that's your thing.
The Bad And The Ugly:
There's no map... not that you really need one for this game, but it would have been an added enhancement.
There's no journal... I like to have a journal so that I can read where I've already been. Additionally, a journal allows me to "refresh" my memory if I haven't played the game in a while. This game, however, does provide a player with a task menu that lists whatever objectives they may have acquired.
HO scenes were crowded with junk. Some objects were hard to see (poor lighting). Although this game provides a player with the option to switch to and from match 3 (at any time during a HOS), I found that match 3 just wasn't worth the time (because it takes up too much time).
The idea is to get a golden eye to the bottom of the board in order to get credit for and object (one object per eye). That sounds easy enough. Problem is that the golden eyes don't always spawn right away, and when they do it's almost always in an area where nothing matches up... so getting them to drop down the line is long and drawn out.
Fact is, at one point it took me 40 minutes to get one eye to drop at which time I received a credit toward 1 hidden object. Why do I want to spend 40 minutes doing that when I can complete the entire HOS (in hidden object mode) in around 8 minutes? So I can get an achievement? I'll pass, thank you very much.
There isn't a long list of achievements (when compared to other games that I've played). Not that I really care. I'm really not interested in acquiring achievements in HOGS (or MMORPG's for that matter) because they're just a time sink as far as I'm concerned.
There are plenty of cut scenes in this game (too many imho). The voice overs are good, but it just got to a point where I lost interest in them (most of them took a while to get through). First I watched them. After a bit of time I sped them up (a mouse click allows a player to advance the cut seen). Finally I just skipped the cut scene altogether. The number of cut scenes actually began to lead to my disinterest in the storyline as well.
MY BIGGEST GRIPE!
HOS, HOS, HOS, HOS and HOS, followed by HOS, HOS, HOS and more HOS.
As you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of HO scenes (the less the better) because I prefer the adventure aspect of any HOG that I play.
The number of HO scenes in this game was just too overwhelming for me, and is the main reason why I retired this game after having completed 48 percent of it (the game tells you what percent of the game you've completed). Between cut scenes and HO scenes, this game just started to get boring, boring, boring.
As I said, I prefer the adventure aspect of a game, If you like HO scenes this game is definitely up your alley.
For me, the game wasn't very much "phun".
I don't recommend this game.
After being invited to the Christening of your sister’s son, you arrive to find a deserted estate! Save your sister before it’s too late!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Elephant Games Does It Again!
PostedJune 17, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Ok... I suspect that a good many HOG players find one particular game designer to their liking.
I happen to like Elephant Games, and this HOG is an example as to why.
There are three game modes to choose from; casual, advanced, and hardcore. I opted to play on casual mode (I always do) because I don't play as much for the challenge as I do just to have fun. I also HATE puzzles, and so I like the option of being able to skip over them (something else I usually always do).
So what was good about this game? Well just about everything.
The graphics were good. They weren't sharp and bright (which I don't like), nor were they dark and dreary. Elephant Games used soft tones in this HOG (which was to my liking).
In casual mode, the hint and skip functions charge quickly.
Hints were outstanding throughout the game. Each hint gave you an objective to complete (as opposed to just saying "there's nothing to do here right now"). In fact, I rarely had to use the strategy guide at all (though I hadn't played the game all the way through and by the time I got back to it, I had to use the SG to refresh my memory a bit). The strategy guide (if you choose to use it) keeps it's place throughout the game (no need to scroll through pages).
The game has a map which lists objectives in explored areas, and provides players with a teleport funtion... something which is needed when you get to portions of the game that require a player to get to and from the "fountain".
HOS weren't that difficult and nicely done. Nothing was cluttered, and they didn't require any kind of interaction; something I don't care for in the first place.
There were a decent amount of puzzles as well, but (as previously mentioned) I usually skip over them anyway... and so I can't present any kind of viewpoint regarding that aspect of the game.
The bonus chapter was a bit short (imho) but I found Grim Tales The Legacy to be an overall outstanding game.
I recommend this game!
Help the secret organization of Mystery Trackers find 3 missing celebrities in the mysterious Void family mansion!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Not My Favorite, But Not Bad Either
PostedMay 16, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This wasn’t a bad game at all. The graphics were good and I liked the storyline. I thought that the level of challenge was decent enough, and there were some humorous moments as well (when you eventually open the mailbox in front of the hotel, there’s a little teddy bear with beady orange eyes and green teeth that sings a funny little song… which I listened to a few times).
Although I have nothing against the occasional puzzle and/or HOS, this game (Imho) went a bit overboard. I found myself having to take numerous breaks, because the sheer number of them really started to get on my nerves. (38 HO scenes and I believe an equal number of puzzles).
Now if HO scenes and puzzles are something that you feel passionate about, then this game is suitable to put on your “must have” list.
The fact that I (obviously) don’t share the same fervor for so many of them doesn’t make this a bad game at all. It just means that they (puzzles and HO scenes) aren’t my favorite things to do.
I haven’t played the bonus content yet (I have to take another “break”) but all in all I still think that The Void is a decent game and so that’s why I gave it the rating that I have.
I recommend this game!
Rescue a young girl from the Penumbra Motel. Solve puzzles, unravel a long standing mystery of death and disappearances in this heart-pounding adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 9 found this review helpful
A Bit Of A Let Down
PostedMay 14, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Thus far, most of the folks that have posted their review(s) concerning this HOG have given it five stars.
I’m going to have to agree to disagree with my fellow fishies on this occasion, as I am only willing to give Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel CE a three star rating without a game recommendation.
What drew me to the game was the fact that there are no HO scenes throughout the game – I was interested to see how that would work out and thought that it would be an interesting change.
I played the game using “Casual” mode.
The graphics and voice overs were ok – nothing that I would consider to be outstanding (if you want a great HOG with AMAZING graphics check out “Surface: Mystery of Another World”… the CE is money well spent).
The storyline to Penumbra Motel was intriguing enough to keep my attention, but I was disappointed by the manner in which the main game came to an end. I haven’t played the bonus chapter yet, but don’t really have a burning desire to do so.
I didn’t think that the game presented a very strong challenge - I finished it in a few hours.
I can’t really say much about any of the puzzles. I’m very bad at puzzles, and skip over them more often than not (as I did in this game). I will, however, say that in Penumbra Motel, some of the puzzles became redundant (same puzzle, just more difficult each time).
Hint button tells you: “There’s Nothing To Do Here Right Now”, which is something a player usually already knows… so hints aren’t that great.
Not the best game Imho.
I don't recommend this game.
Face your fears and unravel the mystery of the abandoned asylum!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Not Such A Great HOG
PostedMay 8, 2012
RastaPasta
fromNJ, USA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I thought that this HOG was bland. There were only two characters that you interacted with at the beginning of the game- the rest of the time you're on your own.
There weren't a whole lot of hidden objects in the game; there were some, but most objects were either out in the open or obtained from HO scenes.
I thought that the storyline was pretty weak and not at all interesting.
One thing that I thought odd... according to the strategy guide there should have been a HOS (which never appeared).
Additionally, I had an object in my inventory which I was suppose to use in order to complete an objective (again, this was according to the strategy guide), but I never completed the objective and the game ended without having ever used the item in my inventory.
There are 22 morphing objects in the game - I found 18 and could have gone back and looked for the other 4, but I just wanted the ordeal to be over with.
Al in all this HOG wasn't worth my time. Good thing I got it as a freebee.
I don't recommend this game.
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
I Liked This Game
PostedMay 5, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you like HOS, than this is a game for you. There are a lot of them in this HOG… perhaps a bit too many for my taste.
There are puzzles; some are more difficult than others but as a general rule I skip over them anyway because I’m not very good at them.
There are two modes; regular and expert – I played the game using the regular setting.
The bonus content is your standard stuff: music, wallpaper, concept art and screensavers; certainly nothing to write home about. I’m new to HOGS, and so I get the CE for the sake of having a strategy guide… which I only needed to use a couple of times in this game.
The hint button can only be used in the HOS, but not in the rest of the game. It recharges in a short time span, but takes a while if you want to skip over a puzzle.
I liked the storyline although the bonus chapter on the CE left me feeling a bit short changed; the story ended rather abruptly.
The graphics were decent, and as the game progressed I really felt as if I was taking a walk through the countryside.
Overall, I thought that this was a good game.
I recommend this game!
Save your sister and uncover the secrets of an ancient organization in Silent Nights: The Pianist!
Overall rating
4
/
5
A Good Starting Point For Someone New To HOGS
PostedMay 5, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game has a “challenge” mode and I suspect that this game is more difficult on that setting, however, I’m relatively new to HOGs; I played this game using casual mode.
There are nine chapters to this game plus a bonus chapter on the CE. I thought that the storyline was a bit weak and didn’t quite flow in the CE, but that’s pretty much irrelevant insofar as gameplay is concerned. Bonus content on the CE opens up after completing the main game.
There were a reasonable number of HOS, but they weren’t overdone. There wasn’t much running around in this game – I never felt overwhelmed insofar completing the various tasks were concerned.
The hint button can be used in game or in the HOS, and recharges in a relatively short time span.
There were some puzzles; I’m not very good at them and so if I couldn’t figure it out within a few minutes, I just skipped over them.
There were some puzzles; I’m not very good at them and so if I couldn’t figure it out within a few minutes, I just skipped over them.
I only had to use the strategy guide two or three times because a missed a few steps and/or objects along the way.
The graphics in the game were decent enough, but wouldn’t win the Rembrandt trophy of the month.
The graphics in the game were decent enough, but wouldn’t win the Rembrandt trophy of the month.
Overall, I think that this would be good game for folks that are just delving into HOGs for the first time – it’s a good starting point, and a beginner won’t feel completely lost as the game progresses.
I recommend this game!