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:
Can you break a curse in time to save Christmas?
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 16 found this review helpful
Christmas theme or not, this was a very charming game!
PostedDecember 25, 2021
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Not a perfect 5-star rating because of some of the quirky mechanics of the game plus having to click on the right spot in order to complete a task, and in a few of the mini-games and puzzles, there was a lack of instruction not that I need hand-holding. I figured it out obviously. I chose the custom mode which had limited instructions for some of the puzzles and mini-games and that made it a bit more challenging which is fine by me. Even so, I completed this CE version and found it quite delightful, clever, and fun. Not a cookie-cutter game which I'm happy about.
Was this a true Christmas theme? No. But it was a game that I enjoyed playing and was not the least bit boring. I had fun with all the tasks and mini-games, etc. I found the bonus game to be a "big" bonus for me. More fun tasks to complete. I loved all of the characters in the story including the pixie-cat helper. Most of the tasks were very enjoyable indeed.
I won't get into the storyline because other reviewers are so much better in that area than I am. But I loved it, nonetheless. I liked the voiceovers, the graphics, the music. The hint button can be used as a transporter and for hints as well. Good feature. Also, I found 44 out of the 50 morphing and collectible items but after playing the bonus game you do have the option to go back to those scenes to retrieve them, which I did. Yay! Another great feature! Not all games offer this. Good job, devs!
I loved helping the residents to become themselves again. It was quite an intriguing journey and lots of great things to do. That's what I look for in a game. The pros outweigh the cons. I can't complain!
I very much recommend this game. It's different and all in all, the devs did a great job! Well cone!
I recommend this game!
Can you save Christmas before it’s too late?!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Yo, Krampus, you're "kramping" my style!
PostedDecember 17, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am nearing the end of this wonderful SE game that I purchased and must report that I love, love, love this game! I have read the negative reviews regarding Yuletide Legends: Who Framed Santa Claus and I respect and tend to agree with the reviewers because they have high standards, as do I. The grammar does indeed need work, there were a few errors, a word missing and the word "clock" should have read "clocks". And at first, the mechanics of the game was a little quirky, but I was able to deal with it. I do recall when I quit out of the game and went back into it the next day a couple of the tasks I had performed had to be repeated. Done and dusted!
Brave Giant Studio devs are ingenious. This game is intelligently written, has great strategy, lovely graphics, music that is unobtrusive, and it is different and I, for one, love different!! I am having a blast completing all the very clever tasks before me. I wish all devs could follow Brave Giant devs' suit. Really!!
However, I must agree with some of the reviewers about that silly, little elf who always demanded candy in order for us to get his help. He was annoying and that particular voiceover did not fit the character at all. They should have used a real child's voice or age-appropriate. But I quickly got over that. The detective's voice, at first, was annoying, but I got used to it and she was fine and got better as the game went on. The voiceover for Officer Jenkins did not suit him either. But the rest of the characters and their voiceovers were perfect. Mind you, I'm not saying those voiceovers for Jenkins, the detective, or the elf were bad. Not at all--they just didn't suit the characters. The character who asked the three questions with three choices each in order for the detective to proceed to the room--well, his voice blew me away! Very elegant and deep and wonderful!
All those very clever tasks, along with the great music, sound effects, special effects--I was just thrilled to be playing a game that flows well, and is intelligently engineered for a change! The tasks and interactive minigames within the tasks are fantastic.
Even with the aforementioned negatives, I'm still giving a rating of 5 stars across the board because #1, for once I'm not playing a cookie-cutter game; #2, I'm not being led by the hand; #3, I'm not at all bored, and #4, I am enjoying the storyline as I go along, and #5, I intend to play this game again and again. But as others always suggest, play the demo first and see for yourselves. To each his-her own. I highly recommend this delightful game. Great job, Brave Giant Studio devs! Great job! Please produce more great games!
I recommend this game!
Can you help the train’s passengers save their holidays in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Choo! Choo! All aboard!
PostedDecember 9, 2021
Italia47
fromHansel and Gretel are a team for sure! Whether the storyteller returns or not, that remains to be seen.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Three stories and under the guidance of the good or bad storyteller. You decide. I loved the storyline which I rate a 5-star but for the mechanics of the game, quirky moves, etc., I rate a 3-star. Elephant Games devs never disappoint on the esthetics of the game. Very pleasing to the eye.
The back n' forth business is typical for most games and I'm used to it, but I prefer order and intelligent strategy. Some of the tasks, as in many other games, lack logic but again, I'm used to it. But I expect more from all developers these days as good games become more scarce. The game flow was not great but good, and your little helper is cute as a button as usual.
I loved the concept of this game and seeing the festive scenes, the minigames, all in all, I really liked the game. Short game but sweet and great to play with the kiddies.
I recommend this game!
When Santa’s sleigh is damaged as he’s leaving the North Pole on Christmas night, only one person can save the holidays. You!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Hmm, which iron are you referring to?
PostedDecember 9, 2021
Italia47
fromHey, put on your coats and boots, kids!!! It's cold and it's snowing!!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Aside from the fact that it is winter and it is usually snowing outside and there is indeed snow on the ground, some of the characters are clothed in open jackets or no coats at all, not to mention their footwear. And what's with the astronauts in full geer at any given scene other than outer space or at the space station?
I purchased the CE version and played the game in casual mode as well as in extreme mode. However, with the extreme mode, I still was not able to get the bonus games even though I paid for them. What's up with that Casual Arts? I was able to play the extra puzzles, etc., but not the bonus games.
I really liked #12 in this series but it does not warrant a 5-star rating. There are some good improvements and a better variety of games and puzzles. Though jigsaw puzzles are not my favorite especially the ones with a million, tiny pieces, with rotation to boot, I did complete the newer ones that CA created that were fun to do. Like the Christmas flower arrangement and others. I don't use the hint button but I did skip some puzzles because I wanted to proceed with the scenes; plus the fact that I was impatient. What's cool is there is something for everyone!
The music was even better this time around, but redundant once again. So when that bothers me I turn it down and up the special effects' sounds and then go back and turn up the music. The repetition gets to me. During playtime, CA should loop other songs instead of using the same old song over and over again.
I hated to end this game because it is very festive and always keeping with the situation, but all good things must come to an end. CA devs, great job but you need to be more creative and for CE versions, you need to make it worth the money we spend. I've played all 12 games but what I want to know is if you collect basically all the items in the shopping cart, what do you get, a nice achievement? I got all the snapshots and can view them while in the game but can't I see those after I've completed the entire game. Doesn't make sense to me.
The artwork was better in this game but again, I've seen some of the same scenes in previous games. Still, I commend the devs for their hard work and diligence.
With all its redundancies, the game was great but it's only getting 4 stars. However, any change is a good change and I see that CA is really trying! Not all devs seem to read our reviews because obviously there have been no changes. I also notice that many of the new games are getting lower reviews and I do read the negative ones first.
Help Santa prepare for the most wonderful time of the year!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Click! Click! Click! What did I just click on?
PostedNovember 24, 2021
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
These past few months have been real challenging and I'm grateful to Casual Arts for these games so that we can unwind and give the ol' mind a rest. This genre is very calming and mostly fun to do. Christmas Wonderland fits the bill perfectly. The games are more sophisticated of late, and I have played game 5 through 11. I finished 4 of them this week. Number 5 was glitchy technically speaking but I worked around it; and it was before the photo album shots addition; and obtaining items and returning them to their destinations were tricky since you had no prompt to tell you where to put them as you do with the later games. However, I'm playing #6 now, and finished 5, 9, 10, and 11 this week. Easy peasy to some extent but very challenging in others. My only gripes are that oftentimes I'm selecting items I have no idea what they are and they are strategically situated in hard places, which is clever enough and a good thing, but the drawn items themselves are so tiny, you do need a magnifying glass to find them. Also, 'm seeing some of the same scenes throughout this series, the music is basically the same. In #6, the special effects sounds are good except every time I find an item, you'll hear tinkle bells, cute enough, but then it's followed by this annoying sound. So since then, there have been great improvements but the artwork, though tedious and decent looking, I commend the graphic artists for the hard work, but the artwork is shoddy in many of the scenes especially in the junk pile scenes.
When I searched the Lost and Found book with images found and some still unfound, nowhere in the image viewer at the scene could I find anything that looked like it, but I did eventually. I am happy to say never once playing these games have I ever used the hint button. However if I were to be timed, I would fail. Also, in #10 or #11, I skipped a minigame--rotating jigsaw puzzle--ugh, my least favorite. I have not patience for those, but I'm doing better. Also, in the later versions, you can now see a transparent image or small colorful image of the puzzle. A good thing!
But this specific game was very festive and in the spirit of Christmas and I enjoyed playing the SE versions as well. I only wish we go back and see once again what we have bought and perhaps check all the lost and found images. You can't do these things in CE versions either.
Still, I recommend this game! But CA, you need to get more creative and give this series an overhaul!
I recommend this game!
Let's take a vacation across stunning California in this sunny puzzle adventure game with fun trivia thrown in!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
The minigames were my favorite in this series!
PostedNovember 16, 2021
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is my first time playing games from Point8 Games devs and although somewhat in the line of Vacation Adventure Park Ranger & Cruiser, this game is more challenging actually. I liked that. The exciting thing is I found all the flags and bears and 8 balls. Yayyy!
I really liked this CE version and I was able to unlock the minigames and unlimited scene games. I prefer the minigames because I enjoyed the Wordagrams, the scene differences, Match Three games, paring images, the Sudoko puzzles, and this developer's version of jigsaw puzzles was a whole lot better than Park Ranger and Cruiser versions. Loved those! Same concept of junk piles but you are given the chance, for instance, to play some of the same scenes over and over again to remember where a specific item was that you may have forgotten in previous scenes; also, items that were not clicked on throughout the game were in the inventory list eventually.
The artwork was better in some scenes more than others but since these devs used some of the same scenes repeatedly, there wasn't a good variety of them. Plus the fact we are being timed as well which makes me nervous but I did pretty good considering. It's good practice though.
Music was good and this was a very long game--lots of levels to complete. I got my money's worth for sure! I'm giving this a 4-star rating because of the redundancy of the scenes. These devs' attention to detail is amazing but some of the graphics had muted colors and many of the items were quite small to find. You have a hint button if need be but that clock is still going on. Pretty cool!
I would recommend this game to those who like a little bit of a challenge and wouldn't mind the repetition. Again, you get a lot of bang for the buck! Nicely done, devs! Nicely done!
I recommend this game!
Help Santa give the kids the best Christmas ever!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Twelve dollars for Christmas trees! Not in 2021 for sure!
PostedNovember 10, 2021
Italia47
fromDid you know that walking canes are more medical in nature and walking sticks are more recreational or even fashionable.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I purchased several Christmas Wonderland games, and I must say that I enjoy these much more than Vacation Adventure Park Ranger and Cruise Director. Casual Arts does a great job really. There is room for improvement, though, and yes, this series is the same old, same old, and some of the puzzles do not leave much to be desired, like for instance, the jigsaw puzzles, which I do reluctantly. I haven't skipped ne're a one yet. However, I did skip the one puzzle that you must move the blocks to form an image. I don't have the patience. I've never used the hint button, but I'm happy it's there. I always complete the silhouette items and the gold Christmas trees and/or gold reindeer first to get them out of the way. I decided not to purchase the CE version because as some other reviewers mentioned, it is a waste of our money really. But I love this series very much. It is festive; the music is redundant but delightful. Again, Casual Arts is a very good developer and having this series, even with all its negatives, is truly worth the purchase. I love Christmas Wonderland and will continue to purchase them when they are on sale. I should have bought more when I had the chance but such is the nature of the beast.
As for each scene, when you get to the last 4 or 5 items to find, I've noticed that I'm clicking on them and have no idea what they were. My eyesight is pretty good but I think CA should add a magnifying glass to the scenes. Also, if I had been timed in playing the junk pile scenes, I probably would not fair very well. The clutter can be overwhelming. Christmas Wonderland #8 and #9 were my perfect games, though, and one of them was rather short.
Also, I believe it was #7 whereby a crook or a staff was to go to the shepherd in one particular Nativity scene. Joseph was a carpenter not a shepherd. That's all I'll say about that, Casual Arts. Go back and check and you'll understand what I mean.
Casual Arts, I've asked this before, would you at least give us an option to play Mahjong or Match Three games instead of those certain long, drawn out jigsaw puzzles with teeny tiny pieces that you have to rotate?
The artwork is pretty good except for the fact that the scenes seem more like photos. And the background scenes become less clear and the items more tiny. With all due respect, I realize that is part of CA's strategy but I think by now CA would be heeding many of the reviewers' comments.
What I really liked was seeing the Nativity scenes throughout the game, including a Nativity scene puzzle here n' there. Bravo, Casual Arts. I was glad to see the Baby Jesus, the Cross, and the Bible for a change. Thank you, CA. It is after all Christmas. Santa is cute and the elves were very productive at times looking angry or probably too busy to smile, I guess! I think I saw a couple smile now and then! The elves looked more like leprechauns to me or garden gnomes.
I love Christmas and the season. The scenes, whether repetitive or not, are festive, beautiful, cozy, and very inviting. So far there have been no bugs on or around the food, which is a plus. LOL!
I highly recommend this series but the SE version. Keep creating them, CA! Thank you for your hard work and the great music.
I recommend this game!
Help Rangers run Pinecreek Hills Park and National Academy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
An insect drawn on or around food or on people really BUGS me!!
PostedNovember 6, 2021
Italia47
fromAll insect lovers and collectors, no offense! I respect your vocation or hobby but as for me, I'll keep using my organic bug repellents, if you don't mind!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've got all 12 games in this series and for the record, I am a big fan, but I have a few suggestions. Yes, the game is the same old, same old as far as routines go but I have to say that #11 is my favorite, thus far. My only negatives are that we should have the option to play a match game or sudoku game in place of those jigsaw puzzles, which can be boring at times. This genre is laid back and calming and fun to do when you're in the mood but the jigsaw puzzles, which can be challenging at times, are not my favorite puzzles to complete. It's old school stuff and, again, can get boring after a while. However, I'm glad that Casual Arts still presents them but you need to add some other options if we choose to not want to play them. I don't skip puzzles, by the way, and please understand, they are good things to have in the game but just give us other options, too. Out of the 12 games that I've purchased, four of those are CEs. Number 11 is one of them, which is a keeper!
One of my pet peeves with these games is within the junk piles, Casual Arts often features (not so pretty) insects which is understandable for out in the woods, etc., but please don't draw them on or around food or on people. Eek! It's bad enough to have flies around food but those other species!! Ugh! Also, it's okay to have a butterfly on a person's shoulder, but roaches or even scorpions on a person's shoulder--I don't think so!!
Sometimes there is no rhyme to Casual Arts' reasoning where the objects are placed plus the fact that I would like to actually see the object in its proper form. I still have good eyesight but you do need a magnifying glass now and then to find the items which are positioned in the craziest of places. I know it's only a game and part of the game's strategy but I would like to see those real teeny-tiny items that I'm clicking on--sometimes they are "hit or miss." And if I see another snake, lizard, scorpion, and spider in the Wild Life category, I will scream!!
I want to commend Casual Arts, though, for their hard work, and attention to detail, the artwork, the script, but specifically, the music in this game. There are two songs I really liked: Time Won't Wait and Cowboy. Though repetitive and depending upon how long it takes for you to complete a puzzle or game, I found myself singing along with the singers on those two songs. Great job!
I'm rating #11 game an imperfect five star with my comments--whether pro or con. I do highly recommend this series for sure.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the worlds from a deadly creation in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
I want to use my ornithopter again!
PostedFebruary 28, 2021
Italia47
fromThat clothespin sure came in handy. I think I could survive in the wilderness after playing all these games!!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a great game! Domini, you did it again! Bravo to all concerned! I loved most everything about this game! Top shelf stuff! My review is based on a completed CE version.
You will be dealing with the enemy Zul, an ice elemental, who wants to be reunited with Astrid. This Zul is not to be confused with Zuul the Gatekeeper, in the movie, Ghostbusters, who was one of the demonic deity known as Gozer.
Regarding Zul, you know love is a many splendored thing but not always. It brings out the worst in some of us!
I loved the HOPs which were very innovative. Games within games and some very challenging too. The tasks were cookie-cutters from other games but very interesting to accomplish. The game-flow was great; the graphics were stunning; the voiceovers were fantastic. And you even get to baby-dragon sit for a short time.
I was able to collect all the morphs, crystals, and constellations for probably the fifth time in my history of adventure-hidden object game playing. I did skip two mini-games because of my impatience. I wanted to get back to the game. But the selections were a nice variety and fun to complete.
I enjoyed the storyline as well and found this game to be rather long and one that I looked forward to completing. Some games are so boring you can't wait until they end. Not this one. Hint button was wonderful; same with the map. I highly recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Something is terribly wrong in the toy world, and only you can help!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Nice take on the storyline! Great game!
PostedJanuary 31, 2021
Italia47
fromHey, Mouse Claus! Pick up that candy wrapper you dropped on the floor. No littering allowed!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I completed the SE version and found this to be a great game--full of intrigue and fun things to do. I loved everything about it but best of all the storyline. Really different and very clever! Hmm, I now see Geppetto in a different light, I might add! This is a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game and pretty long for an SE. Lots of interesting characters in this storyline. It wasn't the most challenging game but it had its moments.
Great job Friendly Fox devs! I loved giving Mouse Claus his sweets to get more info from him. Sure had a sweet tooth, that one!
Beautiful graphics as usual. Top-notch game! Well done, devs! I highly recommend this game!