Italia47's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:1,608
- Reviews Submitted:336
- First Review:December 29, 2012
- Most Recent Review:January 30, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Sable Maze: Norwich Caves
Your students have gone missing during an expedition under the university. Can you track them down before the water rises?
Overall rating
3
/
5
Water is rising and so is my temperature!
PostedJuly 3, 2016
Italia47
fromHoney, check the basement. I don't think the sump pump is working properly!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
You've got to conquer a wet blanket called, The Master of Water, who had been sealed for centuries but someone brought him back to life. And I wonder who that someone is? Hmm!! Anyway, students are missing and you need to track them down before something terrible happens to them!
The concept of this game is excellent--right up there with the best; but the gameplay is slow and poor, in my opinion.
First off, the map is useless--all it is a jump-to map. I seem to be using the hint button more which serves as a navigator. It doesn't take you to the exact spot though. I'm playing in the advanced mode which doesn't seem to alter the use of the map. So it can't be that.
The HOPS are elementary. Pick up an item to access yet another item to complete a task. The bad part is if you don't center your mouse in the right spot, it won't work. This is supposed to be a 21st Century game and plays more like a game from the 1990s.
Don't get me wrong, this SE version which I've almost completed has a lot of potential. But because of the poor map and some of the gameplay's inconsistencies, I'm only rating it 3.25 stars.
The concept is great--the production is average. You're going all over the place and back again and you will frequent areas for the HOPS too. I'm opening up scenes to be told for e.g., there is no key to unlock such and such, but I have to find another method of opening it. Is the item around? No where to be found, unless you manage to go through another gate, for instance, and perhaps you will find the item you need for scene one! We've all pretty much played this type of game before but this game is a game of 'no direction'--and the gameplay is quite disorganized--resulting in a no-flow game for me. I've played other Sable Maze games which were better to be honest.
The actions again are elementary; the puzzles and mini-games are not challenging or interesting enough for me. Why would I use a growth formula rather than a rope to save someone in a deep cavern. But I should be used to this because 8 out of 10 game concepts are no better or different.
The storyline is good though. Not your typical demons, ghosts, paranormal stuff that has grown old for me these days.
The artwork is very well done. The music is unobtrusive; the voiceovers are very good and are character appropriate.
I do recommend this game. You may like it. Try it out.
Who broke the agreement between good and evil?
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Step aside BIG BOY! (In that Mae West drawl.)
PostedJuly 2, 2016
Italia47
fromBartender, I'd like some wine with cinnamon, please. You know, mulled wine! Hmm, still doesn't register? I must be in the wrong tavern!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I would like to first congratulate EIPIX for their cleverness on such an amazing production. I've completed the Main Game and am in the Bonus Game right now. They put an extreme amount of work into this game, and for that I give them a 5-star, but I'm only rating the game 4.25 stars because as ingenious as the EIPIX devs are they could have done better with the gameplay. I look for games that have a balance of aesthetics and gameplay, which could make or break the flow.
EIPIX, to me, has the best cut scenes, music, special effects, and graphics to date. They're one of the most talented devs around. The graphics are smokin'! Very exciting storyline with an old tale but with a new twist. Poor Dr. Jekyl!. I feel for the guy! Also, there was mention of Jack the Ripper and I had thought I might run in to him but didn't! Needless to say, anything Victorian England, I love, love, love!
Again, the aesthetics are beautiful in this game, some dark and gloomy scenes, too, but it's part of the storyline, which is very good, by the way. I wanted to give this a 5-star rating but EIPIX, in my opinion needs to work on the strategy--some of the tasks even the puzzles and mini-games seemed senseless to me. They go all out with everything else, do the same for that, devs.
You will certainly get your money's worth on this one but I was growing tired of the silhouette combinations in the HOPS and clever as some were, the mini-games didn't do it for me. They were unintelligible and silly, to be honest. I even skipped a few out of frustration.
One of the tasks required me to go all the way to the eighth floor of Inferno Prison to break through a cement wall or whatever and find a box that had a 'spring' in it. All that work for a spring! Boring, devs! You're one of my favorites but you need to pick it up a notch in that area.
The music was fantastic. There are 10 tracks and my favorite was entitled, Empty Home, which features a cello solo. Beautfiul! EIPIX, you've got class! And there was enough of the music to play throughout this somewhat long game.
Most of the voiceovers were excellent and whenever a British accent is used, whether he or she is a goodie or not, I could listen to them all day! Now there were a couple of male actors who had a deep voice that rivaled Timothy Dalton's #James Bond#. Sighhhh!! But the rest of the actors were great, too!
Regarding Irene Adler's voiceover, it was definitely not appropriate to her character at all. She sounded more like Mae West, "Come up and see me sometime!" No offense! Lovely voice though but not character appropriate.
Great morphing objects to find in the HOPS and over 40 signs to find. Well, I tried to remember to look for them, I can truthfully say I've found 23 and I'm sure there are more to find in the Bonus Game. But if I don't, after you complete the Bonus Game, you can go back and find them and even replay the HOPS and mini-games, too. You get lots for your money, I can tell you that much.
Another thing I love about EIPIX devs is their humor. The little notes they left around in the game, e.g., a picture of two love birds with the inscription: "Let's lock our hearts together and throw away the key!" These devs have a great sense of humor and feeling as well! Part of another note: "...For me, you will always be the brilliant man I loved."
Great game and I highly recommend it! Try it out first, though.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age is in full swing in this decadent adventure. Bring this legendary American novel to life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Pushing up 'daisies', old sport?
PostedJune 30, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you're not going to turn the voices off or read the text be aware there is one cuss word toward the end and profanity is used as well, which should not have been used in this game. I'm certainly not a prude when it comes to these matters but I'd keep this game away from the kiddies. I'm sure they've heard unpleasant language in their lifetimes but using God's name in vain, whether you believe in Him or not, is a no-no in my book for any reason. I'm sorry folks but that's my opinion. It's possible my review may not be used, even so, those words could have been omitted. The odd thing is the narrator was reading the typed text and missed reading the word 'thereabout.'
I've seen the both movies--the one with Robert Redford and the other with Leonardo DiCaprio, and this game was very much true to the story.
The gameplay was excellent. Except there were a few times when I tried using objects for some scenes and the mouse just wasn't cutting it. The drive-by scenes, for instance, I'd see the item, click on it and nothing happened and after trying that several times, I had to actually come to that scene and hit the hint button I order for it to work. Glitch in the system for sure. Toward the end trying to use the pool was working so I had to skip that part. I was disappointed in that.
The game was very unusual and very, very clever, indeed! I give it a 5-star for that and the artwork was good--color sketches basically. Lots of junk piles to be sure but more tedious in finding the items than those park rangers games I've played. I especially loved guessing the word for each scene. Very good, devs!
Very enjoyable game to say the least, but not perfect. So I'm giving it a 4.50 star rating
You can opt to turn off anything you want but I think there should have been a warning about language.
The music is awesome except turn the end I had to turn it off because it was repeated so much. I still can hear the tunes in my head and I was even whistling to them from time to time when playing the game.
The acting was so-so, not the greatest but okay. I still recommend the game and because of the subject matter, it should only be for grown-ups.
I do enjoy reading the text and listening to the dialogue very much. The game was well-done otherwise. Really innovative tasks which I enjoyed thoroughly. Good job,, devs!
The fabled Minotaur waits patiently in his labyrinth to be reborn. Only the descendent of Ariadne can stop him... which just happens to be you!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Endless Fables: The Minotaur's Curse...will this game ever end?
PostedJune 26, 2016
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm half-way through this SE version and I'm sorry to say I'm bored to tears. I love fables but I don't think this game is cutting it for me. It does have good moments, mind you, but not enough to warrant even a 4-star rating from me. I'm giving it a 3.25 stars.
The HOPS are boring to me. The mini-games I've played thus far, are clever, but there were a couple of puzzles that if I moved my mouse too far to the bottom, it would knock me out of that particular mini-game..Very annoying.
The voiceovers are good. However, one of the actors pronounced Ariadne incorrectly. I don't think all the characters are voice appropriate.
The graphics are nice; the gameplay--struggling! The devs did a great job on the artwork and there is some good direction but to me the gameplay is fair to borderline poor to say the least. In other words, not the greatest flow for my taste. Sorry! Just my opinion. You may very well love this game and by all means, play the demo first. Just because I'm not into this game doesn't mean you won't be.
Parts of this game are very thought-provoking but slow. My mouse seems to hover over objects once too often to get any action. It's not my computer nor is my graphics card faulty. Just can't get into this game, but I'll certainly finish it. It's not the worst game I've every played.
I recommend this game!
Not all fairy tales are just stories…
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
On the surface it seems all is lost, but not so!
PostedJune 25, 2016
Italia47
fromOver the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go! Oh, dear! She's not home!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
My review is based upon a completed CE version.
From Reality to Fairyland--you're side-kick buddy is Cindy's Cat--Cheshire Cat, who just gave his view on the matter from time to time, that's all he did! Cindy Allen is Cinderella, who prevented the Huntsman from stealing the Book of Fairy Tales, but the book sustained some damages and Cinderella vanished into the real world. Our job is to save Fairyland! What a great journey it is!
The main character actually is Sophia Alan, aka Black Forest Witch; then you've got Christine Redd, aka Red Riding Hood; Red Riding Hood's cute grandmother with a voiceover that seemed slightly young for the character. These are just a few of the characters whose paths you will cross in this very fine game. Elephant Games did a splendid job with the storyline. Awesome!
Regarding one of the voiceovers, I'm not sure if it was a child's voice or not but whomever it was, it was great!
The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the gameplay from time to time. I mean the variety of hidden object scenes, puzzles, and the mini-games were truly fantastic, but for me, I prefer using my inventory items fairly quickly. I realize that we'll have items for several scenes but in this case I was nearing the end of the main game before I was able to use it. That makes me a tad nervous and I often get impatient. Having to find five items to complete any given object is annoying as I just want to get on with the new tasks at hand.
However, I loved the music and there are five tracks as follows: The Main Theme, which I loved and saved; Hidden Object Theme; Secret Theme which was a softer version of the Main Theme; Danger Theme; and Final Theme. These played throughout the entire Main and Bonus Games. I loved it. I didn't mind the repetition. Kudos to the composer!
The graphics were rocking!!! Wow! Loved the artwork, Elephant Games! The collectibles were many and I believe I missed one rose but not having the option to go back to find it was discouraging. Pishshaw! But the game was so wonderful and innovative, I'm giving it a low 5-star rating.
The story continues in the Bonus Game with Hansel and Gretel. Loads of fun and great puzzles--some were not that easy either but intriguing. Great job, devs! Appreciate your hard work and ingenuity. I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets of Riverside, the abandoned town without memory. Save your love and avert the catastrophe facing the doomed town!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
If memory serves me right, Emily was proposed to right over there!
PostedJune 16, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Riverside citizens have lost their memories! Oh, no! Emily must save them! Robots are all over the area! What a to do and what a great SE game! I just finished it and I'm wondering if there will be a sequel!
At first I wasn't too keen on the bubble search popups but as the game rolled on I noticed that the tasks from these searches were quick and well-thought out by these developers. and I had the most fun in completing them, too. Good map and hint button; a bubble head dog was at the bottom right of your screen most likely for show. Cute though.
The flow of this game was amazing..You had to go back to an area perhaps no more than twice, three times but once done, you moved on.
I loved the strategy, the attention to every detail on this game. The artwork was good for this genre and the music was subtle, the sounds were cool, and the voice actors were wonderful, although the mouths on the characters kept on going even after the dialogue was done. Some of the published text had some grammatical errors but because of the great storyline and the unusual and ingenious mini-games, I had the time of my life playing this game. I'm giving it a low-five star rating.
I'm not a math person but I managed to figure out a code in one of the mini-games that, to me, was rather perplexing, but I finally did it, and thank goodness I wasn't being timed!
An awesome and different game, which I completely enjoyed playing. I highly recommend it. Bravo MysteryTag and FarMills devs! Just make sure to edit the text and dialogue material beforehand.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your uncle before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Daddy dearest, you must pay heed to your daughter, Rose!
PostedJune 12, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Enter the world of nightmares--books, books and more books! Big Fish and Elefun Games, you outdid yourselves on this one! A melting pot of talented devs for sure--intelligently written storyline, the strategy was right on--flow was great--an immense amount of work and thought went into this game and not to mention that there are 28 tracks on the soundtrack--a couple over 3 minutes long--it's like listening to movie soundtracks. The piano didn't sound like it was synthesizer generated nor did the cello, which was beautiful. And even if they were, I thoroughly enjoyed the music. You devs spared nothing on this one.
Now, I must say I don't think the game was a perfect game there were some tasks, very few actually, that didn't make any sense, and some of the objects in the HOP scenes were hard to see; and the lip syncing at times seemed off, like the actors were speaking in another language but that's not to say that the actors/voiceovers weren't excellent because they were fabulous!
Considering the storyline, the artwork was wonderful. I've seen better graphics but there was so much work put into just that area that I'm not complaining. As I mentioned, some of the HOP scene items were hard to detect at times, but thank goodness for the matching game which was much like a Mahjong game. Toward the end of the Main Game I was getting tired - not bored- of the HOP scenes and being able to play the Matching Game was a lifesaver--because there are tons of HOPS--a plethora of tasks to perform; puzzles and mini-games galore. Fantastic, innovative, dreamscape or nightmarish, whatever you want to call it--it was comical at times so you're not playing a disturbing, dark, creepy, real spooky game.
Loads of collectibles, puzzles to collect to piece together for a story in each one. Mini-games among mini-games. So much effort and work that I'm flabbergasted!
I just started the Bonus Game which is about books again but that's all I'm telling you!
You're Alexandra who needs to save her Uncle Paul and Joe and all the people or as they are referred to--prisoners in the portraits.
An excellent jump-to map that will direct you with no problem. Yes, there is a lot of going back and forth but lots of forwards too. I didn't mind that at all in this game and because the tasks were so much fun and interesting, I didn't get bored once!
I loved some of the clever antics from the devs--the typewriter that grew spider legs and was hungry for something, which I'm not going to divulge to you. You'll just have to try out the game to find out.
Or collect all the question marks on the demon #who isn't real scary at all actually). Very clever dev, very clever!!
The puzzles were tedious which isn't surprising and I completed the majority of them--some I skipped but I didn't use the hint button once for the HOPS.
It was a sheer pleasure playing this game and I highly recommend it to you. Try out the demo first. Pleasant dreams, everyone!
I recommend this game!
It's up to you to rescue your friend and discover what the dark forces are after!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
Just when Sarah has a chance for some time off, she's pulled back in!
PostedJune 11, 2016
Italia47
fromWhere's my pendant for the door with the yellow eyes?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Okay, so here goes! I'm giving this game a low-4 star. Although a wonderful game by these developers, the fun factor was not that much fun to be honest--very innovative tasks at times granted but nothing to write home about. Some of the puzzles' tasks were vague and rather quirky at times. I love challenges, the harder the better, but some of the puzzles didn't make sense to me and seemed too overdone for my tastes.
For one, making the potion, which I thoroughly enjoy doing, seemed nonsensical in this game. I didn't want to skip it so I played it out to the end, which I thought would NEVER END!
One of my least favorite puzzles to do was swapping the triangular tiles to create a completed image. So very boring to me!
The HOP scenes were very good but lots of junk piles in my opinion.
The voiceovers were great; lip syncing didn't always sync but no big deal! I do believe a real child's voice was used for the young man's character in one scene. He was outstanding.
For charging the dragon amulet you had to line up the connections from one end to the other. I managed to get through that but the one I just completed now was quirky. All the connections were lit but nothing happened. I tried again, same thing--nothing happened until I redid it and changed the path it worked. It shouldn't have lit up if it was wrong. Obviously, that was the challenge but I didn't like it. I wanted to move on to the game.
The graphics are very cartoonish but well-done, a bit small in many areas. I commend the Devs, nonetheless, on their hard work and attention to detail in the artwork. Lots of intricate artifacts but there are items which I couldn't tell what they were at times,
I usually play in the harder or custom mode. No sparkles, etc. But there were items that needed tending to by your little helper, the dragon, and I wouldn't have known that had I not clicked all around to see what I needed to do next, that is, without using the hint button, which, by the way, is a very good one.
Choppy flow for me for this game because of the factors I mentioned. The music was fantastic. The storyline okay.
I'm almost finished with the Main Game #CE version#. There are a lot of good things in this game; lots of tasks and puzzles but I wish there had been a match game as an option for some of the HOP scenes. The map is good, journal with objectives as usual. Good game. I do recommend it. Try it and see for yourselves.
I recommend this game!
Dreampath: Curse of the Swamps Collector's Edition
A mystical rain is turning everyone into frogs! It's up to you to find the cause of this wicked weather and save your loved ones.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Boolat Devs, you give me FEVER...in the morning; fever all thru the night! Yea!
PostedJune 9, 2016
Italia47
fromHmm, I've never eaten fried, frog legs and don't intend to either!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Swamp fever that is! This is most definitely a 21st century, hippest game I've played thus far! Awesome and delightful! Bravo, devs! I'm halfway thru the CE version and I'm having the time of my life!
Other reviewers already gave you a great synopsis of the storyline, I don't feel I need to elaborate but I must say this game is outstanding so far. It started slow for me because I thought just for a moment there that I would be bored, but not so!
The HOPS are so innovative and clever, please allow me to give you one example as to what you're in for if you do play this game. I don't think I'm really giving out spoilers here because so often HOPS are mentioned by other reviewers in detail. Anyway, there is a HOP scene with a bunch of items encircled by flour sacks. And some of the items listed that you need to find are covered with flour while there may be two or three visible items listed. Once you find those visible items, then the flour will lift off one item at a time, which becomes visible and you find that and so forth and so on. But that's not the end of it. When you find all those then there are a couple of silhouette items you need to locate amongst the pile and even within that pile there are unbelievable interactions. Then in that same HOP scene you will need to locate 5 wheat spikelets, 3 of which are hidden. Then after that you have one silhouette item that needs to be found but in that list are fan strips which you have to put together and voila' you will find that item that will be useful elsewhere. And so ends that HOP scene. I mean this is just one of the fab things about this game you will encounters. Well thought-out, clever game. Very involved and I'm in no hurry to finish it either!
The puzzles are very, very tedious not too difficult but you must be patient. You have skip button that works well, hint button that's great, strategy guide if needed, a wonderful map with a journal of notes and objectives. The butterfly on the right of your screen is needed actually and flashes red/pink when it needs to be used. You will hover that over the area and its antennae will flash a different color at the tips and you will obtain a fragment that will be useful for other tasks. Extremely innovative tasks and loads of things to do in this game!
Now, some gamers may find subject line even the artwork a bit cutesy, but let me tell you this is so refreshing for a change--the artwork/graphics are extremely well done--a palette of vivid, crisp colors--so pleasing to the eye that I'm in awe of the Boolat artists!
The music is great and unobtrusive; the sound effects--various birds chirping, a woodpecker pecking away in the background throughout the areas--just wonderful!
The cutesy animals are a delight. The characters are wonderful and the voiceovers are fantastic.
We've got a 21st century, class act game here, folks!Compared to the dark and gloomy and dreary and spooky games I've played these few years, this is a breath of fresh air!
The only minor thing I came across thus far is if you don't position your mouse on an object to insert an item properly, it won't work on the first or even 2nd attempt. There's nothing wrong with the game. Position your mouse properly and all will be fine.
Boolat devs, I'd give you a kiss but I'd be afraid you'd turn into frogs, or worse yet, I'd get warts! Only kidding!
I highly recommend this game!!
You’re drawn into a web of deceit when your train stops in Andville, where the Black Widow lies in wait...
Overall rating
4
/
5
Jacob Stevens is a bug brain...he knows everything there is to know about insects!
PostedJune 4, 2016
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Web of Deceit: Black Widow SE version really isn't bad. Let me suffice it to say that there are loads of mechanical spiders that look real, and other bugs but real people are in the scenes as well. Not sure if I dig that as much but it's not a bad thing, to be honest.
The graphics/artwork was rather very good--muted colors here n-there--but I have to commend the artists for their hard work and cleverness.
Real actors were used in this game and though I'm not against that, but I do have ambivalent feelings about this.
Not sure if the voiceovers came from the actors in the story but I found them to be quite slow in the delivery of their dialogues. Too slow, in fact. The actors were great, though. Then you have your journal that will give you lots of tips and a map is included. I did not like the map at all. Just a go-to map and the hint button acts as a navigator as well. Half the time I remembered where I needed to go and you will go around and back again. For instance, I needed an item for scene 4 and had to wait for that in scene 10. But I'm pretty used to this sort of thing.
Normally I would have given this a lower score because of the disorder of the game but because many of the tasks made a lot of sense I upped it a bit.
There are tons of things to do in this SE version. The storyline is good--you're a journalist who needs to catch up with the villainous, Morgana--people are getting murdered so you had better high tale it to prevent more murders.
Creepy mechanical spiders that actually look real -- one giant wasp is awakened as well. You can replay the scenes in your journal if you wish.
Anyway, the puzzles are okay; the tasks are numerous; the HOS were okay and very interactive but lots of junk piles too. No match-three game as an option though, which would have come in handy after a while.
The puzzles were your usual puzzles and mini-games were good. I'm rating this game 3.50 starts out of 5. Perhaps a low 4 star score.
I do recommend this game as I think BLAM developers are innovative and very talented.
I recommend this game!