tesamoine's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:4,958
- Reviews Submitted:551
- First Review:March 13, 2013
- Most Recent Review:August 2, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Christmas Stories: A Christmas Carol Collector's Edition
Everyone deserves a second chance – even the stingiest of them all.
Overall rating
4
/
5
0 of 3 found this review helpful
Puts one in the Christmas Spirit
PostedDecember 5, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Where Angels Cry
(104)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I just couldnt wait to play the demo of this. There's nothing I like more than the Christmas season. I will say I liked last years offering of the Nutcracker better, however, this is a great game. Not too many (at all) HOS. Those I did encounter were a tad difficult with things hidden amongst the shadows. The puzzles were cute and interesting. You have 4 levels of difficulty to choose. A jump map which shows you the picture of the room you want to go to.... not too crazy about that. There are morphing penguins, those little guys are quick. You get help with a "good" scrooge, which was very nice as compared to a fuzzy animal helper. There is a lot of tooing and froing in this game, which I personally like. That is why I do not like a jump map which shows me a picture of the room. My one qualm, and it's a small one, the game is too quiet. The music is basically non-existent and other ambient noises, such as maybe snow blowing or church bells ringing are no where to be found. I will buy this, but as an SE. Im not a fan of the wallpaper, etc. And the penguins did not do much for me. Happy festive gaming !!!!
I recommend this game!
Kingdom's Heyday
Have you ever wanted to rule a kingdom? Now is your chance! Help the princess restore prosperity.
Overall rating
3
/
5
25 of 29 found this review helpful
Get out the Magnifying Glass
PostedDecember 5, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Finders
(138)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a cute builder game, where you actually get to choose where to put your buildings (along the lines of the build a lot games). You need homes, production facilities, and nice things that raise the happiness of the town. This could have been good, however, I had man cons with the game. Everything is SMALL. The control bars where you choose what you need to to or how much materials you have are tiny. The houses are small. I found myself with my nose almost against the computer (ok maybe that's a bit of a stretch lol). It just wasn't a comfortable game for me. This is a pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Crystals of Time
Help Ashley Ford find her father and solve the mystery of the Three Oak Mansion.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 5 found this review helpful
Not too Shabby
PostedDecember 4, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Christmas Stories: Nutcracker Collector's Edition
(325)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This SE by a small company isn't too bad. It took me a bit to get into the game. I almost quit a few times but felt this deserved the entire demo period to write a review. There are no voice overs. Everything is text., Spelling errors abound. HOS are a bit too plentiful for my taste, but they were clean and clear. Puzzles were either easy or so obscure that I needed to skip them (puzzles are not my strong suit). Once I got into the game, I noticed it is mostly an adventure game, and I enjoy that. I did not like the concept of being a thief. That was a negative for me. I don't judge games on music, but the music WAS depressing lol. Long game. It was a purchase for me with a coupon.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files®: Fate's Carnival Collector's Edition
Something wicked has taken over Fate’s Carnival!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 22 found this review helpful
Well Then.....
PostedDecember 1, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
League of Light: Dark Omens Collector's Edition
(87)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I see I am in the vast minority here. I must say, I did not play Madam Fate, nor did I really enjoy any MCF games that I've played thus far. This game obviously is leaning heavily on the player having played previous games in the series. Regardless of that, yes, there are many collectibles and yes the colors are bright and crisp. Puzzles are ok. I just found the entire game to be too busy. Way too much STUFF. Sometimes less IS more. We go trekking from tent to tent to tent picking up odds and ends, with no real story going on. Another pass for me on an MCF game.
I recommend this game!
Death at Cape Porto: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector’s Edition
An imprisoned soul will never be free until you clear his name!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Dana is Back :)
PostedDecember 1, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
League of Light: Dark Omens Collector's Edition
(87)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The game mechanics have been described very well by other reviewers. Dana is in Europe this time hunting ghosts. This game is on par with the other Knightstone games. Lots of puzzles (some very simple), very few HOS, relaxing music, and intrigue. Normally, I don't go for stories such as these, but the Knightstone novel games, I enjoy. I find them very relaxing and soothing for some reason. Definitely, this is NOT a CE by any means. Either catch it on a good sale, or wait for the SE. I liked it but will wait.
I recommend this game!
Secret Trails: Frozen Heart Collector's Edition
Your surprise visit is ruined by a blizzard. Who caused it, and what does he want with your little sister?
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 11 found this review helpful
Not CE material
PostedNovember 23, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Trapped: The Abduction
(22)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Here we have a very basic game. Colors, graphics and music are all good. (As far as game music can be considered good lol ) 3 modes of play. A journal that keeps track of your progress. Your sister was expecting you for her birthday in July when a freak blizzard strikes and the villian freezes Emma. Game play is very linear. HOS are simplistic. Puzzles and fairly simple. Story line is just ok. I didn't care for the story, so quickly lost interest in the game. There are butterflys to collect, but that's about all, other than the usual wallpaper, etc. found in CE's. I see nothing to warrant this a CE edition. In fact, I doubt I'd buy it as an SE. It had no WOW or interest factor for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Haunted Halls: Nightmare Dwellers Collector's Edition
You thought this would be just like any other investigation. But now you find yourself lost in a mysterious mansion brimming with strange creatures, comatose colleagues, and mysterious tentacles around every corner…
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 43 found this review helpful
What has happened here?
PostedNovember 21, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I must say Haunted Halls is one of my favorite series of HOPA games. Until this one. First, yes, you can choose your level of difficulty, including custom. The graphics are good with good background music. We see glimpses of tentacles of the old Dr. Blackmore. The HOS are mostly silhouette. The puzzles were childish. Very easy. You get a pair of goggles to investigate paranormal activity, and each time you do this, you need to solve the same sort of puzzle over and over. This I did not like at all. The gameplay was linear, however, it was absurd. The items found that matched where the item was needed was ridiculous. Here, we have a series of games called Haunted. Not Cute Haunted. Haunted. However, we get little animal helpers that can be dressed. We get a zoo for goodness sake. The CE does include the SG which isn't very necessary and some collectibles. It seems more like an SE with some fluff thrown in to make it a CE. I realize I am totally against the grain of the vote here, but I absolutely disliked the game. And it's a shame because I really enjoyed the first 3 games of this series. :(((
I don't recommend this game.
Save The Prince
Help the young maiden Giselle free those held captive in the castle and rescue her beloved prince from an evil curse.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Ehhhhhhh
PostedNovember 21, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Whispered Secrets: Into the Beyond Collector's Edition
(48)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Oh how my eyes widen when I see a new TM game. Then, sadly, I play the demo and realize it's another dud. There has not been IMO a good TM game is a very long time. This one has too much blabbering, diaglogue, etc. More of the game is taken up with dialogue than with game play. Good points... there is an untimed mode and you can click ahead. Other than that, it's just little dwarves spinning around running aimlessly. I'll pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Grimville: The Gift of Darkness
Darkness has engulfed Grimville! Use your cunning and wits to unravel the evil intrigues and save the town!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 7 found this review helpful
Im very confused :)
PostedNovember 18, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
The Happy Hereafter
(59)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I stuck through the entire demo, although after 5 minutes, I had had enough. The loose story here is that you are a hunter of darkness and need to investigate... well... dark happenings? I think lol. You need to interact with many characters and make choices on what to do. Your choices will affect the play of the game. The visuals were cartoons. The music was just piped in noise. You had to read everything... no voiceovers. I disliked the game from the beginning and disliked it at the end. Try for yourself, you may like this type of game. Happy gaming !!!
I don't recommend this game.
Punished Talents: Seven Muses Collector's Edition
Life imitates art with deadly results in this thrilling whodunit!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Loved it !!!
PostedNovember 18, 2013
tesamoine
fromJersey Girl
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
The Happy Hereafter
(59)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Set in the 1930's era, this game grabbed me from the beginning. I'm not sure, for me, why some games have it, and some don't. The storyline pulled me in: Your husband, a mystery writer is subjected to a copycat murderer who is murdering his victims just as your husband's books predict. You set out to prove him innocent. The HOS were pretty standard. Not too many of them. The puzzles were different and some were quite challenging. You do have a nice map and a great hint system if needed. For the CE, you get the "regular" stuff, plus search for teapots and fingerprints. For the latter, you get a magnifier to search for the fingerprints. I missed the CE sale this weekend, but will definitely buy this as a CE when another sale comes along. The BC itself is another 2 hours of play and is interesting (according to other reviewers.). I highly recommend.
I recommend this game!