skullfun's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.7
- Helpful Votes:11,503
- Reviews Submitted:649
- First Review:February 24, 2013
- Most Recent Review:January 2, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Someone in Fairy Tale Land is selling wishes, but at what cost?
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 12 found this review helpful
~~FAIRY GODMOTHER STORIES SEQUEL DOESN'T MEASURE UP TO THE FIRST ONE~~
PostedAugust 22, 2020
skullfun
fromI Love Domini Games, but this series needs more "originality" so that fan's will enjoy playing future editions of this fantasy series!!!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
After having successfully solved the Cinderella case, the Fairy Godmother is back for her second adventure in Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal. A trip to visit your godchildren Gerda and Kai goes south when you discover that something is wrong with Kai. With dark forces involved and a dangerous figure named The Seller at the helm, can you put your magical power to good use and settle this case?
Although the first Fairy Godmother game was based on a well-known fairy tale, Dark Deal seems to take a different approach and construct a new tale from the ground up. Still, originality runs low in this “new” storyline. A troubled relative, a mysterious villain, and hints of dark magic – nothing stops Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal from becoming just another predictable fantasy hidden object game that feels all too familiar.
Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal’s lack of innovation rings even truer when it comes to its gameplay. The adventure portion of the game is incredibly straightforward. Despite the massive volume of tasks to be completed, they are all cookie-cutter tasks that recycle a lot of the same-old HOPA tropes. Most tasks make logical sense given the context of the game, but there is also a handful of silly, out-of-place ones, including the totally unnecessary Magic Wand gadget. Domini Games exercise more creative control with the hidden object scenes and the puzzles and introduce a slew of neat ideas, but not nearly enough to save the game from being just another indistinguishable entry in the Domini machine.
Whether it be Labyrinths of the World or Dark Romance, Domini Games’ signature colorful visuals are always present. Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal fits right into the studio’s neon-colored portfolio. As a fantasy-themed game, Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal can afford to experiment more with its visuals, which it does so occasionally through breathtaking locales and gorgeous graphics. The audio components are also effective in bringing the game to life, from sound tracking the game’s magical landscapes to inserting personality into the characters.
Should you purchase the SE or CE?
I purchased the Collector's Edition but in hind sight I could have waited and purchased the Standard Edition for the price.
Fairy Godmother Stories: Dark Deal took me just under four hours to complete, plus an extra hour for the bonus chapter. The Collector’s Edition is filled to the brim with extra items; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, videos, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, morphing objects, and suitcase items that can be purchased.
I like this new series and I like Domini Games, I just hope the next installment has a better storyline with more creativity; we'll just have to wait and see. Cheers!
I recommend this game!
Take on a thief’s quest to recover a sorcerer’s recipe book from her deadly tower!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
~~IT'S NOT EASE ESCAPING THE TOWER OF BEATRIC, BUT YOU CAN DO IT!~~
PostedJuly 19, 2020
skullfun
fromI LOVE THIS PUZZLE HIDDEN OBJECT GAME AND I HAVE NEVER PLAYED ANY XBOX GAMES....EVER!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As a thief for hire, it can be a tricky life; sneaking around and finding ways to infiltrate any security measures in order to acquire whatever the contractor desires. No job seems as straightforward as the most recent one though, with a mysterious client wanting you to steal an old book from a decrepit tower. Simple enough, right? Wrong. It’s a book of recipes and it belongs to a powerful sorcerer who isn’t going to give it up so easily. This is The Tower of Beatrice!
That’s the premise of The Tower of Beatrice, the 2019 Xbox One puzzle adventure now available on Big Fish. A point-and-click experience that’ll really tax the brain but it’s a game that falls a tad short when compared to the many other offerings within the genre. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad.
The Tower of Beatrice sees the aforementioned thief trapped inside the tower, with only cunning wit and a book full of recipes to aid in escaping the dreaded place. There are six floors to work your way through and each one aims to offer a different atmospheric themed room to get your head around. Whilst on this journey to freedom, you’ll encounter a lot of strange beings and creatures, including a lovely old spider, a chilled-out devil and a massive ball-shaped thing that’s snoozing and blocking your path. There’s also some fun banter to be had with Beatrice, however the conversations are lacking depth and done via text only. It’s disappointing though that the dialogue occasionally doesn’t make sense, with mistakes in grammar seemingly slipping through the net in development.
Nevertheless, as is the norm for point-and-clickers, gathering items from these floors for the inventory will be the key aspect in finding solutions towards making progression. Life is made slightly easier by being able to cycle through all clickable spots by following the QUESTION MARKS, instead of searching every nook and cranny. As such, the acquisition of items is very simple, but what you do with them is the hard bit.
When it comes to using the stuff within the inventory, logic is the first port of call, like using a knife to slice open a bag. But the solutions won’t always make a lot of sense, so trial and error is then the best method – trying to interact with anything and everything. What’s quite cool though is that the book of recipes you’re stealing actually has useful potion ideas in it which will help to overcome various obstacles. For example, if you’ve got a fair few feathers at hand, some coal and have access to hot air, stick them all in the on-screen cauldron and it’ll give you a levitation potion.
In regards the puzzles, these do a decent job of testing the old grey matter as you attempt to correctly organise cogs, create colours by mixing paint, recognise and recreate patterns or shapes in order to problem solve, and more. A lot of the solutions to the puzzles are simply a matter of using information found around the room, which is perfectly fine as it’s still making you think, but there’s nothing groundbreaking concept-wise. The only issue I’ve had is the game sometimes failing to distinguish the correct answers to the problem at the first time of asking; it’s a real pain, especially when you aren’t sure you’ve even got it right, for it to then work when input again.
Let’s just say The Tower of Beatrice is a little rough around the edges on the technical front and the same can be said for the visuals. The designs of the rooms cannot be knocked as there’s real character in each floor to ensure they don’t feel samey, with one having an artistic vibe while another screams ‘torture room’, however the visual clarity is lacking and wouldn’t look out of place on the previous console generation. In the sound department, the background music is fairly repetitive without coming across as annoying, which is a blessing because you will hear the endless loops for quite a while.
Overall, The Tower of Beatrice manages to present itself as a cheap and mildly enjoyable point-and-click offering that’ll last a couple of hours. Sure, the puzzles aren’t overly adventurous and the inventory-based conundrums are lacking ingenuity, but there’s still enough here for a slightly challenging experience. Its strongest asset is having different themed rooms and a host of oddball characters to add a few memorable moments. On the flipside, it’s let down the most by the failure to recognize the correct solutions from time to time and it’s visually unimpressive for the current standards.
The Tower of Beatrice is worth considering if you’ve got a penchant for the puzzling point-and-click genre. Cheers!
I recommend this game!
A romantic spa getaway hides a terrible secret!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 19 found this review helpful
~Haunted Hotel: Lost Time is a worthy addition to this best-selling series.~
PostedJuly 19, 2020
skullfun
fromThis is the 19th game in the series and while I love them all, Haunted Hotel: The Axiom Butcher is my all time favorite!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
James Blackthorn and his girlfriend Jessica have now been together for a year and to celebrate this special occasion, they planned a weekend getaway at the luxurious Victorian Spa Hotel. Given James’ track record, he probably should have known that this trip would not end well. With Jessica missing and strange happenings around the hotel, can James survive another nightmare situation in Haunted Hotel: Lost Time?
I am actually quite astonished by how the Haunted Hotel series is able to bring new ideas to each new sequel. Unlike most other long-running series, Haunted Hotel never feels stale or recycled; each new installment feels different and exciting. Haunted Hotel: Lost Time is a good example of this. Although the idea behind the plot is not unique by the slightest, the spa hotel setting is original enough to keep the player engaged. This game also excels in terms of pacing and delivery. There is always something intriguing waiting at every corner, whether that be storyline development or just a creepy moment.
Haunted Hotel: Lost Time is also, perhaps, the most heart-pounding thrilling installment since the excellent Haunted Hotel: The Thirteenth (all though Haunted Hotel: The Axiom Butcher) is my personal favorite. The visuals in this game serve the psychological thriller genre of the game well. Most scenes are dark, but with thoughtful touches of colors to make them pop and edgy. The actual design of the locations and the details in them are astounding, which further proves why Elephant Games manages to maintain its position at the forefront of the HOPA genre for so long. Further, the background music and the voice-overs are appropriately ominous and help enhance the experience of the game.
For a hardcore hidden object fan like me, Haunted Hotel: Lost Time is not the most challenging game in this long running series. The gameplay is fast-paced and hectic, yet straightforward and familiar. The hidden object scenes and the puzzles contain some neat ideas, but never fully execute them. Thus, they remain simple and easy to solve.
Should you chose the SE or CE version?
I chose the Collector's Edition because of the exhilarating storyline and the 3.5 hours main gameplay flew by for me like it was nothing. The bonus chapter was equally well-done and took me another 45 minutes to complete. The Collector’s Edition also includes a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, screensavers, soundtracks, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, morphing objects, jigsaw puzzle, and a secret room! Cheers and happy gaming.
Other Haunted Hotel games to check out:
Haunted Hotel
Haunted Hotel II: Believe the Lies
Haunted Hotel: Lonely Dream
Haunted Hotel: Charles Dexter Ward
Haunted Hotel: Eclipse
Haunted Hotel: Ancient Bane
Haunted Hotel: Death Sentence
Haunted Hotel: Eternity
Haunted Hotel: Phoenix
Haunted Hotel: The X
Haunted Hotel: The Axiom Butcher
Haunted Hotel: Silent Waters
Haunted Hotel: The Thirteenth
Haunted Hotel: Personal Nightmare
Haunted Hotel XV: The Evil Inside
Haunted Hotel: Lost Dreams
Haunted Hotel: Beyond the Page
Haunted Hotel: Room 18
Haunted Hotel: Lost Time
Haunted Hotel
Haunted Hotel II: Believe the Lies
Haunted Hotel: Lonely Dream
Haunted Hotel: Charles Dexter Ward
Haunted Hotel: Eclipse
Haunted Hotel: Ancient Bane
Haunted Hotel: Death Sentence
Haunted Hotel: Eternity
Haunted Hotel: Phoenix
Haunted Hotel: The X
Haunted Hotel: The Axiom Butcher
Haunted Hotel: Silent Waters
Haunted Hotel: The Thirteenth
Haunted Hotel: Personal Nightmare
Haunted Hotel XV: The Evil Inside
Haunted Hotel: Lost Dreams
Haunted Hotel: Beyond the Page
Haunted Hotel: Room 18
Haunted Hotel: Lost Time
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a new monster brought to life before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 47 found this review helpful
PUPPETSHOW #17 FANS DON'T MAKE A FATAL MISTAKE BY NOT PURCHASING THIS ONE!
PostedJuly 10, 2020
skullfun
fromPuppetShow: Fatal Mistake has many thrilling moments and a must have installment in this classic hidden object series.
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
When you received an urgent message from your university professor, you knew that something bad had happened! Travel back to your university and join forces with the professor’s assistant, Natasha to rescue the professor from his mechanical kidnappers. As his star student, can you live up to your potential in PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake?
The PuppetShow series has its peaks and valleys and this latest sequel falls somewhere in between. On one hand, the storyline about a kidnapped professor is far from original and the mechanical puppets aspect starts to get a little tiring. On the other hand, exciting, action-packed sequences that happen every so often are effective in maintaining the thrills and the player’s interest throughout the entire game.
The gameplay is fashionably predictable unless you've never played ANY of the games in this series. Plus the gameplay elements in PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake are NOT recycled. There are few clear attempts at delivering creative twists on familiar concepts, whether that be through hidden object scenes or mini-games. Although the game remains fairly easy to complete for most of its run, these minor imaginative flourishes make the game noticeably more enticing and entertaining.
AMAX Interactive sticks to their signature visual style in PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake, which is by no means a bad thing; it's what we all have grown to love about the series. The visuals are artistically designed, expertly drawn, and richly painted. Special effects and cutscenes are smooth and engaging, and so is the background music and voice-overs. Unlike many hidden object adventure games nowadays, I like how PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake does not just focus on one color hue, but plays with the full color spectrum. This allows each scene to be significantly different from one another, while glued together by a cohesive aesthetic.
Which should you purchase, the SE or the CE?
Well, I chose the Collector's Edition. I completed PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake in about 4 hours and the bonus chapter in roughly an hour or so. The Collector’s Edition feels more like a “nice to have” than a “must have”, it includes a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, videos, screensavers, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, and collectibles.
This edition is definitley worth purchasing especially if you have a free coupon. Cheers!
Also in the series SE & CE
PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
PuppetShow: Lost Town
Puppetshow: Return to Joyville
PuppetShow: Destiny Undone
PuppetShow: Lightning Strikes
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality
PuppetShow: The Face of Humanity
PuppetShow: Her Cruel Collection
PuppetShow: Bloody Rosie
PuppetShow: Arrogance Effect
PuppetShow: Poetic Justice
PuppetShow: The Curse of Ophelia
PuppetShow: Faith in the Future
PuppetShow: Porcelain Smile
PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake
PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville
PuppetShow: Souls of the Innocent
PuppetShow: Lost Town
Puppetshow: Return to Joyville
PuppetShow: Destiny Undone
PuppetShow: Lightning Strikes
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality
PuppetShow: The Face of Humanity
PuppetShow: Her Cruel Collection
PuppetShow: Bloody Rosie
PuppetShow: Arrogance Effect
PuppetShow: Poetic Justice
PuppetShow: The Curse of Ophelia
PuppetShow: Faith in the Future
PuppetShow: Porcelain Smile
PuppetShow: Fatal Mistake
I recommend this game!
Two serial killers are back from the dead. What is their connection to an infamous vampire, and how can you stop them?
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
~~VAMPIRE LEGENDS 3 IS A FANG-TASTIC CONCLUSION TO THE TRILOGY!~~
PostedJuly 6, 2020
skullfun
fromVampire Legends is over but leaves an incredible legacy!
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
Are you ready for another Vampire Legends? This last installment is based on the true story of the Carter Brothers, a pair of serial murderers that haunted New Orleans in the 1930s. As a paranormal investigator, you visited New Orleans and witnessed with your own eyes, the ghost of this monstrous sibling. Are there really vampires in New Orleans, are the Carter Brothers back for their bloodthirsty revenge?
The strongest aspect of Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans is undoubtedly its storyline. The Count of New Orleans delivers such solid storyline that is both suspenseful and creepy, and the fact that it is based on a true story makes it even better – this game just feels different from what we have been offered with lately. The game progresses as you meet new characters, and although I thought some of dialogs were a little awkward, the characters were interesting nonetheless.
Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans also has quite a solid production. The graphics might not be the best in the industry, but they are realistic, sharp and reflect on the eerie mood of the game well. The scenes in the game can look somewhat bland, as there are not that many details and things to look at in each. However, the soundtracks in the game are mainly piano ballads, all of which are really pleasant.
Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans also has quite a solid production. The graphics might not be the best in the industry, but they are realistic, sharp and reflect on the eerie mood of the game well. The scenes in the game can look somewhat bland, as there are not that many details and things to look at in each. However, the soundtracks in the game are mainly piano ballads, all of which are really pleasant.
In addition, Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans is professionally crafted. Regardless, the game could have benefited from a more challenging gameplay and some more creative ideas. As for now, the adventure portion of the game is predictable, the hidden object scenes are just fine and the puzzles are mostly easy. The game also comes with a Camera and a Dark Room, in which you can use to take and develop photos – a smart and relevant tool!
CE or SE Version? I chose the Collector's Edition
It was a blast to play Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans and it took me over four and a half hours to complete the game, plus another hour for the equally-captivating bonus chapter. The Collector’s Edition also includes a strategy guide, achievements, collectibles, wallpapers, screensavers and soundtracks. Cheers and Happy Gaming with this one!!!
Also in this series:
Vampire Legends: The True Story of Kisilova
Vampire Legends: The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bathory
Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans
Vampire Legends: The True Story of Kisilova
Vampire Legends: The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bathory
Vampire Legends: The Count of New Orleans
I recommend this game!
Return to Rosemount to stop the Ice Queen in this updated classic!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 13 found this review helpful
~~LIVING LEGENDS ICE ROSE IS DEFINITELY A FAN FAVORITE!!!~~
PostedJune 6, 2020
skullfun
fromLiving Legends Ice Rose was the very first game in this long running series!!!
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
Back in March of 2012, 4 Friends Games started the Living Legends series off with a bang. The original Living Legends: Ice Rose was a massive hit and quickly became a fan favorite and a staple for the hidden object adventure genre. Fast forward to May of 2020 as this developer decides to give this classic hit a necessary upgrade with Living Legends Remastered: Ice Rose.
In Living Legends Remastered: Ice Rose, your lover, Edward Grand goes missing while on a trip to the city of Rosemount. When you arrive at this snow-covered city to investigate, you discover that the Ice Queen has frozen the whole city and held Edward captive. There begins your journey through a well-written storyline that is equal parts enchanting and thrilling. It was as much entertaining in 2012 as it is now and the graphics are much shaper and clearer.
In terms of gameplay, Living Legends Remastered: Ice Rose is still gold. The hidden object scenes are genuinely challenging, which makes one wonder why hidden object scenes nowadays often fail to do the same. As for the puzzles, they are fun and well-integrated into the winter theme but are mostly quite simple and easy to solve. Like most HOPAs released during the same period, this game contains no gadgets or helpers but includes one comprehensive journal for the player to relive the storyline and pick up on any missed details. I've read enough reviews over the years to know that gadgets and helpers have a 50/50 chance of being popular, especially with advanced players who may perceive them as unnecessary.
In terms of gameplay, Living Legends Remastered: Ice Rose is still gold. The hidden object scenes are genuinely challenging, which makes one wonder why hidden object scenes nowadays often fail to do the same. As for the puzzles, they are fun and well-integrated into the winter theme but are mostly quite simple and easy to solve. Like most HOPAs released during the same period, this game contains no gadgets or helpers but includes one comprehensive journal for the player to relive the storyline and pick up on any missed details. I've read enough reviews over the years to know that gadgets and helpers have a 50/50 chance of being popular, especially with advanced players who may perceive them as unnecessary.
On the surface, this remastered version is identical to the 2012 version, given the exact same storyline and gameplay. Upon closer inspection, Living Legends Remastered: Ice Rose enhances the original version in multiple areas, most notably with the production. Firstly, the developer fully reworked the game’s visuals. The graphics are now sharper and special effects are more abundant. While the quality of the visuals is comparable to more recent Living Legends games, the updated artwork is stunning...so kudo's to the artist's at 4 Friends Games for a job well-done!!! Moreover, voice-overs with fully-synced character lip movements are now available in this remastered edition. These voice-overs are masterfully done and the Ice Queen’s snarky remarks now resonate better than ever.
SE or CE? I chose to play the Collector's Edition
The Collector’s Edition migrates all the content previously included in the original; a bonus chapter, a strategy guide, wallpapers, screensavers, concept art, soundtracks, videos, re-playable hidden object scenes, re-playable mini-games, achievements, collectibles, and morphing objects. It would have been ideal had Big Fish Games offered this remastered edition for FREE to those who already owned the original edition. Nonetheless, considering the amount of extensive reworking that was done, this game is still be worth a repurchase during a sale IMHO. Which is what I did during a recent BOGO. Cheers!
I recommend this game!
Can you traverse the Underworld and make it out alive?
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
~~MYSTERY TALES EDITION #13 = 3.5 STARS FOR ME~~
PostedMay 31, 2020
skullfun
fromDid you know? This game was previously titled Mystery Tales: Dead Bride.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Your niece Heather Neville’s fiancé mysteriously collapsed and remained unconscious at the wedding rehearsal. As an experienced paranormal investigator, this case seems to be right up your alley! Travel to land as far as the Underworld to learn the truth about a vindictive spirit that tried to disrupt the wedding in the latest Mystery Tales chapter – Til Death.
Domini Games‘ Mystery Tales series has now come to its thirteenth game. All hidden object series have their fair share of highs and lows and in the case of Mystery Tales, a lot of middle-of-the-roads. Although the storyline in Mystery Tales: Til Death is not dreadfully boring, it pales in comparison to other notable bride-themed HOPAs such as Grim Tales: The Bride and Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride IMHO. The characters in this game are not layered enough for the player to feel passionate about them nor do they possess distinct personalities that take them above what is expected.
A so-so storyline can often be elevated by stellar, engaging gameplay. However, Mystery Tales: Til Death’s gameplay is also somewhat predictable and mundane. The hidden object scenes and the puzzles are far from original, even the option to switch to more difficult puzzles seems futile given that these puzzles have been used in a hundred other games before. The adventure gameplay is equally uninspired, it is packed with cookie-cutter tasks and an incredibly annoying helper Morty the cat. Sure, his ability to travel between the land of the dead and the land of the living is cool and all, but his constant snarky remarks are useless, distracting, and don’t serve the game any good.
Despite all these rough patches, at least Mystery Tales: Til Death looks great. While the series’ signature blueish-green filter still washes over most scenes, most scenes are creatively designed with beautiful detailing. The audio components of the game are also solid. The voice actors did what they could to bring these thinly-developed characters to life and the eerie music injects some much-needed suspense into the game. Which is why I gave this edition a 3.5 to 4 star rating....
CE OR SE? I chose the Collector's Edition.
Mystery Tales: Til Death Collector’s Edition is around four-hours long with an additional hour from the bonus chapter. The bonus section includes a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, videos, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, morphing objects, and a customizable boudoir.
I've been an avid fan of this series since it's conception; perhaps the next adventure will be more innovative and conceptually inviting. We'll just have to wait and see...Cheers!
Also in this Series:
Mystery Tales: The Lost Hope
Mystery Tales: The Twilight World
Mystery Tales: Alaskan Wild
Mystery Tales: Her Own Eyes
Mystery Tales: Eye of the Fire
Mystery Tales: The Hangman Returns
Mystery Tales: The House of Others
Mystery Tales: Dangerous Desires
Mystery Tales: The Other Side
Mystery Tales: The Reel Horror
Mystery Tales: Dealer's Choices
Mystery Tales: Art and Souls
Mystery Tales: The Lost Hope
Mystery Tales: The Twilight World
Mystery Tales: Alaskan Wild
Mystery Tales: Her Own Eyes
Mystery Tales: Eye of the Fire
Mystery Tales: The Hangman Returns
Mystery Tales: The House of Others
Mystery Tales: Dangerous Desires
Mystery Tales: The Other Side
Mystery Tales: The Reel Horror
Mystery Tales: Dealer's Choices
Mystery Tales: Art and Souls
I recommend this game!
An intruder’s puzzling calling-card means certain doom for the Holmes family line!
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 34 found this review helpful
~~MS. HOLMES RETURNS IN A SEQUEL MUCH BETTER THAN IT'S PREDECESSOR!~~
PostedMay 25, 2020
skullfun
fromA pip is a small fruit seed, like an apple seed. Typically, pips are found in multiples. Generally people just use seed to refer to pips. "I love oranges but prefer seedless ones because I dislike spitting out the pips.".
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
For a veteran HOPA developer like Elephant Games, it is easy enough to rely on proven hits and continue to develop sequels for those catalog series. Thus, I really appreciate how Elephant Games innovates and comes up with a new series once in a while – Detectives United, Paranormal Files, Halloween Stories, and Ms. Holmes: The Monster of the Baskervilles are some of the recent examples. I really enjoyed Ms. Holmes: Five Orange Pips far better than the last edition because it incorporated a new character...Oscar Watson,.the son of Doctor Watson! You're also going to be surprised who the villain is in this edition too! HINT - Who was Sherlock Holmes arch Enemy???
I have also resigned to the fact that if you're going to play any of the numerous Elephant HOPA's you're going to be searching for lots of Amulets these days...but I don't mind. It makes the investigation last longer at least. When it comes to the visuals, Ms. Holmes: Five Orange Pips is expectedly on-point. The mysterious and gloomy environment is appropriate for a game of this nature, this goes the same for the ominous background music. I also think Elephant developers splurged with their budget because the graphics look nice and polished which was not implemented in the last edition of Ms. Holmes.
Ms. Holmes Five Orange Pips is offered as a Collector’s Edition, which might be worth the price when on sale IMHO. It offers players roughly 4 hours of play including the Bonus chapter. The bonus section includes the usual bling: a bonus chapter, a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, repayable hidden object scenes, repayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, and morphine objects (which are so overrated) LOL. Try this second edition because it is an improvement over the first game, just don't pay full price like I did or wait until the SE is released in a month or less. Cheers!
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets is destined to be a Fan Favorite!!!
PostedMay 25, 2020
skullfun
fromNOTE: this game contains blood, use of alcohol, use of tobacco, violent references...what more could you want? LOL
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
House of 1000 Doors is something of an odd case, since the story that the player finds themselves participating in has very little to do with the plot they're promised at the outset. Never the less it's a really interesting and fascinating HOPA!
After a chilling opening movie, the main character is contacted by a ghostly relative, and told that the only way to clear their family's name is to go to the house. So the player does, and finds herself tasked with traveling to the sites of a variety of murders—all involving a tragic death in the past (some more gruesome than others)—and solving puzzles to put the ghosts involved to a peaceful rest.
The bizarre part is that the main character's relative isn't mentioned. The nature of her scandal never comes up, and by the time the end of the game rolls around I'd almost forgotten what the point of the whole endeavor was supposed to be in the first place. It wasn't until the main character mentions in her final monologue that she'd gotten the evidence she needed to vindicate her ancestors that I was reminded of the game's purported storyline—and mildly annoyed, since nothing like that had actually happened.
After beating the game I discovered that the main story—really the entire central plot of the game, is entirely dealt with and resolved in a bonus unlockable chapter that's included only in the "collector's edition" of the game. Luckily the publishers were kind enough to provide me with that version for review, but I worry that anyone playing the standard game would come away completely disappointed (and somewhat baffled) by the utter lack of a resolution.
With all the ghosts, murders, and tragic histories one would expect from a gothic melodrama, House of 1000 Doors does a great job of finding an eerie tone for the game and giving players a consistent level of challenge as they explore their way through it. It definitely loses marks for the bizarre mishandling of its plot, but beyond that, the mechanics are solid, and it's successful at everything else it attempts. Approximately 6 hours of play to complete the Main game plus the Bonus Chapter. Rating: Definitely 5 Stars or More!!! I highly recommend this edition of House of 1000 Doors as well as all the other editions too. Cheers!
The bizarre part is that the main character's relative isn't mentioned. The nature of her scandal never comes up, and by the time the end of the game rolls around I'd almost forgotten what the point of the whole endeavor was supposed to be in the first place. It wasn't until the main character mentions in her final monologue that she'd gotten the evidence she needed to vindicate her ancestors that I was reminded of the game's purported storyline—and mildly annoyed, since nothing like that had actually happened.
After beating the game I discovered that the main story—really the entire central plot of the game, is entirely dealt with and resolved in a bonus unlockable chapter that's included only in the "collector's edition" of the game. Luckily the publishers were kind enough to provide me with that version for review, but I worry that anyone playing the standard game would come away completely disappointed (and somewhat baffled) by the utter lack of a resolution.
With all the ghosts, murders, and tragic histories one would expect from a gothic melodrama, House of 1000 Doors does a great job of finding an eerie tone for the game and giving players a consistent level of challenge as they explore their way through it. It definitely loses marks for the bizarre mishandling of its plot, but beyond that, the mechanics are solid, and it's successful at everything else it attempts. Approximately 6 hours of play to complete the Main game plus the Bonus Chapter. Rating: Definitely 5 Stars or More!!! I highly recommend this edition of House of 1000 Doors as well as all the other editions too. Cheers!
I recommend this game!
Detectives United is out of options and working for the villains!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
~~DETECTIVES UNITED 3 RETURNS WITH A GREAT STORY LINE!~~
PostedMarch 30, 2020
skullfun
fromThis latest installment is one of the franchise’s better releases as well as containing the studio’s most interesting story-line to date!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Elephant Games’ hidden object crossover series continues with its third installment in Detectives United III: Timeless Voyage. Join James Blackthorne, Anna Gray, and Agent Brown once again as they face Dark Anna Gray from the previous adventure who is back with a vengeance and sends the detectives scattered across different time periods. With the unit separated, each detective needs to hunt down a specific artifact to defeat Dark Anna once again! Are you up for the challenge???
Although this is already the third installment in the Detectives United series, the novelty of the original game is still very much intact thanks to the three time periods concept...with Mystery Trackers’ Agent Brown in the past, Grim Tales’ Anna Gray in the present, and Haunted Hotel’s James Blackthorne in the future – the game is able to exploit the storyline in a creative and interesting manner. There is no question that this multiple timelines scenario can be quite difficult to keep track, but the constant change in environment and perspective successfully keeps the game fresh and engaging from start to finish!!!
Detectives United III: Timeless Voyage looks and sounds fantastic just as I expected it would. The sharp graphics and epic cutscenes make it clear that this is a high-budget production and the varied visual settings across three timelines offer a nice change of pace every time which is also true for this latest edition. On the audio side, the voice-overs, the soundtracks, and the sound effects are all effective in creating a gloomy atmosphere and contributing to driving a suspenseful narrative.
Detectives United III: Timeless Voyage has a standard length of just under four hours and the bonus chapter (included in the CE version) extends the game for another 45 minutes. That's always an added plus for me, because I feel like I'm getting more "gameplay" for money well spent IMHO.
So, Kudo's to Elephant's design team for another well-executed time-travel storyline with strong production values; making Detectives United III: Timeless Voyage a perfectly enjoyable adventure. Cheers!
I recommend this game!