sfr8rfan's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:5,257
- Reviews Submitted:171
- First Review:July 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help Sara find her missing husband and stop an evil pirate’s ancient curse in Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
What a challenge!
PostedApril 3, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I thought this was an excellent game for many reasons:
a. The video cut scenes were fantabulous! They crossed a few lines of propriety (crudeness...but it was totally acceptable and fit in with the setting of the mystery).
b. The HOGs were enormously challenging. I've never played a game which commanded more time to complete the HOGs. Many complain about the difficulty of HOGs. Sometimes it's because of poor design or stuff being crammed or just plain bad. This is very difficult, but I felt challenged, not like my time was being wasted.
c. The story line was very interesting and the game progressed without ever making a misstep vis a vis fidelity to the story. It was also a mystery to me. Others may have figured it out, but I really didn't know the "outcome" until near the end.
d. The puzzles were many and they were challenging, creative, essential to the plot line and they were good.
a. The video cut scenes were fantabulous! They crossed a few lines of propriety (crudeness...but it was totally acceptable and fit in with the setting of the mystery).
b. The HOGs were enormously challenging. I've never played a game which commanded more time to complete the HOGs. Many complain about the difficulty of HOGs. Sometimes it's because of poor design or stuff being crammed or just plain bad. This is very difficult, but I felt challenged, not like my time was being wasted.
c. The story line was very interesting and the game progressed without ever making a misstep vis a vis fidelity to the story. It was also a mystery to me. Others may have figured it out, but I really didn't know the "outcome" until near the end.
d. The puzzles were many and they were challenging, creative, essential to the plot line and they were good.
I only gave this a four for one reason (if I could have given a 4.5 I would have): I couldn't complete the game. At the very end there is one task which I simply couldn't overcome and even using the strategy guide I couldn't figure it out. This leads me to my one complaint...and I think this is an MCF complaint in general: I don't care for visual strategy guides. I prefer the written word.
If it weren't for that, I would likely say that this is the BEST HOG/Adventure game I've played. It was equally both of these and very good at both.
I strongly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
C'mon, did y'all drink the koolaid? IT WASN'T BAD
PostedApril 2, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I just finished a very detailed review but I think I accidentally deleted it...and I'm not going to write it again.
Suffice to say: despite everyone's complaints about this game, it simply isn't that bad.
I recommend getting the SE, not spending the extra money for the CE...I can't tell what I spend it on.
I recommend getting the SE, not spending the extra money for the CE...I can't tell what I spend it on.
Aside from that, I liked the puzzles...though repetitive in nature, I thought they were fun. If I didn't like them maybe I'd not be so positive.
In the end I recommend it....I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I recommend this game!
Help Scarlet Frost outwit evil itself in a dark and mysterious theatre to save an innocent girl’s soul from the most sinister of perils.
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
My New Number 1
PostedMarch 29, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was so excited about this game I stopped 30 minutes into it to see how others had reviewed it. I was shocked that it wasn't higher than a 4.
I understand that people may find it "creepy" or scary but protestations that it's demonic or satanic are ridiculous. It is not. Perhaps it's baroque? But NO, it's not pure evil. It's a game. And it is pure...pure brilliance. That's one man's opinion. I notice that others who think it's satanic also like nothing else about the game. I think their moral concerns have colored their objective reviews of the game.
Enough "preaching." While some complain that the HOGs are too difficult, too grainy, impossible to see, I say this: Yes, they are difficult. And I think that some of the graininess is what makes it difficult. And I LOVE IT. It's great to have an HOS which presents a challenge. It took me much longer than normal to complete HOG but I really enjoyed them. They were brilliantly hidden.
The background music was a perfect match for the content of the game. The voice overs both from cut scenes and from the regular progression of the game were wonderful. The woman who's the main narrator and protagonist has a very effective tonality. It reminded me a bit of an emotion-filled, determined actor delivering lines in a way that the script demanded: unemotionally yet effectively. That is acting.
The course of the game was always pushing North...always moving forward. It was not an East-West game. I felt progress to an important conclusion was always being made.
Despite what people have written, I think they know not of which they write. Go to any dramatic, beautiful, old Christian cathedral and you'll see gargoyles. There are a lot of gargoyles in this game. And they add to the ambience. There's fire...it adds to the ambience. There are demons. It's what the story is about.
I heartily recommend this game. It is not just good. It is the best I've ever played. My only regret is that I didn't get the CE. One man's opinion.
I recommend this game!
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Boy it's been a long time since I've seen something this good!
PostedMarch 24, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Review title says it all...but it's begging the question. Maybe I've never seen something this good.
BRILLIANT!
BRILLIANT!
a. Not an overwhelming amount of HOG, which is perfect for me. Those that are available are either the standard "find it" or a misplaced item HOG wherein you need to find where it goes. NOT as facile as ones you've seen before: when you find the proper location for the misplaced item they make things WORK!!! It's wonderful.
b. Storyline: Scary house, lots of detours (not backtracking, though, always moving forward). One discovery is never a dead end but instead opens another possibility.
c. Games: Some of the MOST exciting, creative games I've ever seen in a game. Three cheers for the development team here. The games are nonpareil.
d. Music: this is perhaps the weakest portion of the game. A little variety would be nice. I've grown tired of it after just an hour...it drones on, the same thing over and over.
Yes, that right. I've only played it for an hour. I took a chance and bought the game without playing the trial period(based on the reviews of others). I am absolutely NOT disappointed. This is the type of game that will keep me coming back for more.
THREE CHEERS!! HUZZAH!!
Words cannot describe how great this is. But, I wanted to share the pleasure so, while I don't know how the game grows from here, I'm very confident. Above I give it three out of five for challenge: Indeed, it's not the hardest game I've ever played, not by a long shot. It's challenging, not overwhelming. Most importantly, it's VERY VERY FUN!!!! BUY IT, RATE IT (get the average rating higher than it is currently. This should be far closer to a five IMO.
Words cannot describe how great this is. But, I wanted to share the pleasure so, while I don't know how the game grows from here, I'm very confident. Above I give it three out of five for challenge: Indeed, it's not the hardest game I've ever played, not by a long shot. It's challenging, not overwhelming. Most importantly, it's VERY VERY FUN!!!! BUY IT, RATE IT (get the average rating higher than it is currently. This should be far closer to a five IMO.
I recommend this game!
Black Isle was supposedly abandoned after an earthquake but the truth is much more sinister! Join the Mystery Trackers and learn the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
It just DOES NOT get any better than this.
PostedFebruary 3, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I haven't enjoyed a game as much as this in a very long time. Artistically, it was superb with exceptional graphics and background music.
The story line was top notch. It wasn't scary so much as it was intriguing. I felt compelled to continue. I'm a good player but not a fast player. Consequently, it can take a long time for me to finish a game and often I need breaks. I COULDN'T STOP PLAYING THIS.
There wasn't wasted backtracking. There was a purpose to every step, and each step propelled the story. The story is of one man's sequestration from society and the pain and anger he felt as a result.
The different features of the game were all exceptional: the HOGs were well conceived and the puzzles were challenging without being impossible. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I completed one. I HAD TO complete puzzles without skipping or using hints. I was disappointed when it was over, but it was the perfect length. And, as an appropriate tease at the end, it seems that there will be a sequel.
I'm sure this isn't the type of review most gamers prefer..I'm not giving you specifics on the game play. I'm trying to communicate the excitement I felt playing it and to encourage you to get the game also. Trust me, the technical aspects of the game are all great. It's the intangibles which are more important. "Great" doesn't begin to describe this game.
I recommend this game!
Dupin needs your help solving the mystery of the gold bug. Crack the codes and follow the clues to one man’s obsession with an old legend.
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
What went wrong?????
PostedJanuary 28, 2013
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I enjoyed previous Dark Tales editions but this one is BAD.
The scenes are beautiful, I'll say that. That handles the positives.
Negatives: It's just too simple. It's misnamed: if you like dark, mysterious, scary, this isn't the game for you. There's a peculiar element where you match up something from your inventory with a pet dog who performs a small search for you. (This is not giving anything away. You'll learn of it early on.) The puzzles are so simple as to be insulting. They aren't challenging...and honestly, they're not a bother, either, because it takes 30 seconds or less to solve them.
This was just a real disappointment and I'm so sorry I wasted credits for a Collector's edition. There is NOTHING SPECIAL about this. I can't imagine recommending this to anyone as a CE. It's barely recommendable as a SE for an elementary school child.
BOO HISS.
I don't recommend this game.
After your son, Bobby, mysteriously disappears, it's up to you to find him in Surface: The Mystery of Another World!
Overall rating
1
/
5
3 of 6 found this review helpful
I still don't know if it ever ended
PostedNovember 10, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If you like going back and forth constantly you will love this. If you like one HOS after another you will like this.
Suffice it to say, as though you couldn't tell already...I did not enjoy this game and cannot recommend it.
Even in the cut scenes, the idea was so preposterous as to render this unenjoyable I'm afraid. I really can't tell if the game got worse as time went on or if I just grew less tolerant.
I was supremely disappointed because the game came so highly recommended.
Caveat Emptor.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the vastness of a ship lost in time, what mysteries will you uncover amidst its Mayan idols, menacing sea creatures, and exotic treasures? Find out in this exciting new Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game on the open seas!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Smooth Sailing to the Land of FUN!
PostedOctober 13, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I haven't enjoyed a game this much in months. It's exceptional.
The storyline was consistent and moved along nicely. What needed to be accomplished was clear. If you're a goal-oriented puzzler as I am, the clarity will be welcome. I think part of this clarity results in a minimum of "back and forth" movements. I didn't have to retrace my steps every other move.
The HOS were excellent and there weren't too many. This was an adventure. There were special features that kept me on my toes throughout the game: Collecting 32 parts of one puzzle; identifying 30+ morphing objects; collecting 34 of another item. These were side challenges which ran the length of the game. Along with this there were puzzles, the completion of which earned useful items to complete the adventure. If I have a criticism it is only that the puzzles could have been a little tougher. (I note, that some puzzles, seem more of a time killer rather than really skill-oriented).
The music, graphics and voice overs were all excellent. There was as available map which allowed me to quickly get to another scene. I didn't often use it but when I did it was very helpful.
I strongly recommend this game. I have always enjoyed the darker, "sicker," scarier games...this is not frightening at all. Despite that Ship of Spirits is in my top 5 games all time to date.
BUY THIS
I recommend this game!
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
It's No Secret: This Game is GREAT!!!
PostedSeptember 26, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a great game!
The storyline was masterfully laid out, progressed logically and to those who played from beginning to end, very rewarding, I'm confident.
The storyline was masterfully laid out, progressed logically and to those who played from beginning to end, very rewarding, I'm confident.
The HOS were clear, not jumbled piles of junk. Each HOS ended with an item which was essential for moving forward. The "cinematography" was beautiful.
I experienced two issues which, when solved, will make this game perfect: a) Once I got so locked up I had to uninstall the game and re-install in order to continue. b) There were sound effects but no music, really. I enjoy music with a game. I think it's a great conduit for building excitement.
The above issues are important but they are not so important that I would hesitate to give this a top rating.
I recommend this game!
Explore a haunted amusement park in Weird Park: Broken Tune! Investigate a rash of “accidental” deaths and solve the case!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Let's Clown Around a Little
PostedSeptember 19, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I thought this was an excellent, fun and very different game. Nothing about it is typical.
The story line is less important that the amusement park theme which is all pervasive. The HOS were excellent: challenging without being impossible. The items were visible because the scenes weren't dark and murky but bright and this helped immensely.
The puzzles were plentiful and challenging, just the way I like 'em. I did once go to the walkthrough (I don't have the CE, so I googled it) and realized I played the game much differently than set out in the walkthrough. I think if I'd followed the directions I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much....there would have been too much back and forth. Instead, just letting my instincts lead me, I loved it.
I have to make a special mention here: the music is the best I have ever heard in a game. Something about it was haunting. It was splendid. I found myself pausing playing so i could just listen to the music.
BUY THIS!
I recommend this game!