FrancisMay's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.8
- Helpful Votes:100
- Reviews Submitted:16
- First Review:May 4, 2013
- Most Recent Review:May 3, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Bookworm Adventures
Battle through books in a spelling sensation of epical proportions! Bookworm Adventures is the ultimate test of vocabularic valor!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Use Your Brain, Increase Your Vocabulary
PostedMay 3, 2015
FrancisMay
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
You will get to use your brain in this game. I have played this for ages over a long period of time (and am still going) and find that my ability to think of new words, think flexibly using different letters, and even make up words that I didn't even know existed, has increased amazingly.
The only down-side to this game is that for some strange reason, it would not accept legitimate words that I know exist in a dictionary (non-country specific), which left me baffled. The graphics are not highly spectacular, but are good enough for a word-game.
The level of challenge increases the higher you go and the longer you play. Some of the later boss battles are hard, but not overly difficult to overcome with persistence.
The mini-games do help and keep you motivated when you feel like giving up, or just want to play for fun once the mini-games section is completely unlocked.
If you get frustrated, just play a little bit each day and come back to it - you will notice that your ability to think of more words improves, and even your writing skills.
I would highly recommend this game to anyone, but especially for children and for older adults looking to improve their brain function.
I recommend this game!
Hodgepodge Hollow
Travel to Hodgepodge Hollow and learn the time-honored profession of magical potion creation in this fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
"Shake Fairy Vigorously Over Bowl to Capture Laughter"
PostedJanuary 17, 2015
FrancisMay
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
So cute this game is!
The above quote from a game scene captures it all for me - whimsical, light, quirky, and oh so relaxing - the harp music almost put me to sleep.
Most people like a quick, "should I just buy this already?" review, so here goes for you:
Pros:
- Beautiful artwork.
- Captivating storyline - cutesy but still lovely.
- Not all HO scenes (you may feel this way after a while, but there are other games mixed in).
- Fun potions to make.
- Extremely calming - play this game if you are particularly stressed or wanting to chill out - veerrry relaxing.
- Lovely music.
- Beautiful artwork.
- Captivating storyline - cutesy but still lovely.
- Not all HO scenes (you may feel this way after a while, but there are other games mixed in).
- Fun potions to make.
- Extremely calming - play this game if you are particularly stressed or wanting to chill out - veerrry relaxing.
- Lovely music.
Cons:
- Some of the artwork is hard to see in HO scenes, but hey, there's the challenge.
- Can be a bit repetitive if you play the game without a break, so play it in smaller doses rather than all at once.
- Some of the artwork is hard to see in HO scenes, but hey, there's the challenge.
- Can be a bit repetitive if you play the game without a break, so play it in smaller doses rather than all at once.
So go for it - you won't regret having this game in your collection - also notice as at January 2015 so far that there is no low review (3 stars or below), so what are you waiting for?
Maybe if we 'shake the world vigorously' with love and games like this we can capture more laughter in our lives hey? That's worth bottling :-)
I recommend this game!
Christmas Stories: A Christmas Carol Collector's Edition
Everyone deserves a second chance – even the stingiest of them all.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Christmas Stunner - This is worth buying :-)
PostedJanuary 11, 2015
FrancisMay
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Just finished the main game and will be playing the bonus to extend the joy. Review based on main game for both SE and CE players:
The CE is a a long game - started just before Christmas and finished it now over several weeks. The graphics are stunning - bright, cheerful, and cute (especially the Warrior Cats). Once again, the creative artists at Elephant Games deserve congratulations. The 3D effects were brilliant.
Music is a key element of games for me. In this game it was beautiful and sweet, although for some reason it stopped after a while and did not resume (I did not manually turn this off) - going back and forth helped the music 'switch on' again. I would have liked the music to be more continuous. I especially liked the carolers when they didn't have all of their sheet music - making up the words to 'Silent Night' was funny, but they were in perfect form once they had their full music (really put me in the mood for my own singing!). I'll have to revisit the credits to find out who the singers were and other music acknowledgements.
Game complexity - this game is not hard - I did not use the Strategy Guide at all, but did have to use the hints a fair bit as it was sometimes difficult to know where to go next. I found that this game tested my memory and improved my brain/thinking skills overall - the minigames, puzzles, and remembering which scenes had what clues. Another important element of a game is: does it make you think rather than go through endless mindless HO scenes - which it did. There was a good balance of intelligent HO scenes and other puzzles.
Storyline - in a nutshell: sweet and feel-good. I especially loved the good deeds element, saving Tim's life, rescuing the girl in the snow, providing food, and turning Scrooge's life around for the better - it encouraged more feelings of compassion and peace, which is what our world really needs now in this new year.
So, if you are wondering whether this is just a colourful cute game for children and too sugary for you - well, yes, it can be those things, but it is a decent game and a sweet collectable which is worth having. It is not too kiddy, but done in a sophisticated, artistic, movie-like manner appealing to various audiences. It has action, romance, history, art, and twists to hold your interest. It will leave you feeling good about what life can be, and that it is never too late for good to win over evil.
More games like this please Elephant Games!!
I recommend this game!
Nearwood
The fate of the magical world is in your hands – free it from evil!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Simply Magical. I want to go there!
PostedAugust 1, 2014
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293) I have not even finished this game yet and absolutely love it.
Despite the glitchy and out-of-sync voiceovers (didn't always match the text) which I experienced, I have still given this game five stars, although this problem impeded my full enjoyment of the game.
Nevertheless, the game is whimsical, graphics were stunning, colours vibrant, storyline kept my interest, and the minigames were challenging.
I also adore the flyover at the beginning - albeit delayed and glitchy as well - but I could look at that for ages without getting tired, and no plane ticked required!
The game is a test of memory, as you do have to go back and forth to the same locations a lot of times in order to complete the puzzles and gather more clues, which was sometimes tiresome, and I had to use the hint button regularly.
So my review is mixed, but I still rate it highly overall as the effort put into the scenery, the puzzles, and the story overrides the negative experiences. And I love the fact that there are hardly any hidden object scenes!
Do consider getting this - hopefully there won't be technical problems for you, so maybe try the demo first, but it's well worth the purchase.
Coconut Queen
Soak up the sun while building your very own paradise empire in Coconut Queen! The island of Lui Lui beckons you!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Horribly Good
PostedJuly 4, 2014
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I hated this game the first few minutes I played it. But then I stuck with it and found myself getting addicted, but didn't want to admit it. Yes, it's probably horribly sexist towards men and bimbo-ish but hey, playing this on a Friday night after work for some fun and relaxation - it's ace!!!
I think the graphics could be much better (and bigger), but the game is fun in it's simplicity and problem-solving tasks. And I love beach games, especially when it's cold outside. Don't be fooled by the apparent foolishness of this game - there is a fair amount of time management and strategy involved, and yes, you do get to use your brain.
Why not! I like it. Buy it!
I recommend this game!
Cadenza: Music, Betrayal and Death Collector's Edition
You've returned from school to visit your father at his famous Jazz Pepper Club during Mardi Gras, but everyone is hypnotized. Have they heard the wrong note?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Why, this is just swell!
PostedJune 28, 2014
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you want to feel like you've gone back in time to solve a mystery while enjoying sumptuous views and swinging music, this is the game for you!
The graphics are just gorgeous and jazz music is sumpt'n special. The game is not all that difficult if you use common sense and logic, although I did get terribly stuck on one of the puzzles and had to skip it.
Coming from an Australian perspective, the accents and old style 40s-50s American Cajun atmosphere is exotic and a feast for the eyes and ears. I love the way Mad Head uses the movie-style scenes inbetween the still images (I'm sure there is a technical term for this technique), but it adds to the reality of the game - more like a movie experience than a game.
And like a movie, I always like to stay for the credits at the end - I'd like to congratulate the Mad Head staff (and a sizeable team it is too) for putting this game together. It must be interesting to go to work every day and know that you are being so creative and doing something fun. Keep the good games coming.
One suggestion I'd like to make for the team (or any game developer) is to come up with a game for the BBC series "Lark Rise to Candleford". It is a delightful series set in an English rural hamlet town with diverse characters and storylines - not a murder mystery or particularly thrilling for some, but I'd love to see it as a game!
But back to this game - yes, do put this one on your list as a definite buy - you won't regret it.
I recommend this game!
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover™
Welcome back to Gardenscapes! Turn the hall into a masterpiece!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
A lovely, lovely game
PostedDecember 9, 2013
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
PROs
This is a lovely, relaxing game. The graphics and characters are sweet, the music gets you in a happy mood, and Austin is an engaging character, as is his dog. I especially like the fact that the caged bird you buy gets to fly free around the house, and you choose your own decor. Many a stressed working day has ended with this game and it leaves me feeling more peaceful!
CONs
You have to take the game in small doses as it can get very repetitive, unless constant HO finding is your thing.
I would have liked more puzzles or to have helped Austin with more tasks around the house, just to break up the hidden object hunting, as it can get a bit much after a while. More dialogue with Austin and other characters would also have been good (eg. like the 'choose your own adventure' stories).
You don't really need the hints if you play in relaxed mode. Some things I found a bit strange though - eg. finding a gun in a bathroom (in Australia, we're not used to having any guns, anywhere!) and soap for $43.
Overall though, this game is entertaining as long as you don't attempt to complete it in one sitting - do mix it up with other games you may have. I'm going with full marks for this review all up as it is a sweet and entertaining game for anyone, and any game without violence is a top game for me!
I recommend this game!
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
You were just about to relax with a good book when a stranger leaves a baby on your doorstep.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
This Is NOT A Game To Play...
PostedNovember 21, 2013
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Nevertales: The Beauty Within Collector's Edition
(293)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This IS a 'movie' to enjoy again and again with bonuses galore! Wow. Of all the games I have purchased, this is by far the best. Three cheers to the developers for this one.
At first I thought it was strange, with so many twists and turns and a Dr Who-type storyline, buzzing in and out of different worlds, but it is so much more than that. There are lessons to be learned here, and brain-strengthening puzzles. That's the kind of game I like - not blood and guts.
The extras you get at the 'end' of the game are fantastic. I haven't even finished those yet...
I did have to end up using the hints quite a few times, but did not need the Strategy Guide, as I found that my brain got better at working things out - and that's also the fun of it, even thought you get frustrated at times.
And as for the scenery and graphics - stunning, stunning, stunning. I longed for a cottage and a garden like the ones bursting through my PC screen (while the 'real' world was grey and rainy outside...).
The game length is also just right - not too short, and not terribly long.
I don't want to spoil it by revealing too much - suffice to say that if there is only one game you must get this year, it is this one. Go for it, and find your 'beauty within'!
I recommend this game!
Live Novels: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
Live one of Jane Austen’s most famous novels, Pride and Prejudice as you unravel a plot of intrigue, envy and romance!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
It's Not A Bad Game
PostedSeptember 25, 2013
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I usually believe the low ratings and stay well away from those games, but I bought this without looking at the reviews first (first and last time - not a good idea!). But I was actually pleasantly surprised by this game.
Visually, this game is stunning - the developers have put a lot of effort into making this game very realistic and the outdoor gardens are particularly lovely. The 3-D effect is very appealing. Well done for that.
Yes, there were aspects of this game that were dorky - the constant scrolling from side to side, and particularly some of the language - poor spelling (always check your spelling before publishing anything!), and unrealistic dialogue eg. "I think she's cute" or words to that effect - something a 21st century teenage boy would say, not Mr Darcy! Also, Mr Bingley I think he is, looks like a 1980s punk video star. Mrs Bennett looks a lot like the BBC character - good one.
Other than that, I can't fault this game. It is not hard, and some of the mini-puzzles were quite lovely. I am surprised it was so poorly reviewed.
Lesson - don't always believe the reviews. I liked this game. I did buy another game with high reviews which I did not like at all.
Give this a go.
I recommend this game!
Jane Austen's: Estate of Affairs
Search for Jane Austen's missing novel and help save the Austen estate from greedy villains!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 50 found this review helpful
Pray, do not scoff at this one!
PostedSeptember 17, 2013
FrancisMay
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a lovely game to get lost in.
Pros:
- Beautiful scenery.
- Appropriate music and characters.
- Interesting adventures and little challenges.
- Engaging for those who love this period.
- No evil, scary, or wicked storylines.
- I love any historical game, especially one involving an old mansion or garden.
- BBC involvement.
- Beautiful scenery.
- Appropriate music and characters.
- Interesting adventures and little challenges.
- Engaging for those who love this period.
- No evil, scary, or wicked storylines.
- I love any historical game, especially one involving an old mansion or garden.
- BBC involvement.
Cons:
- For me, installation was a major issue until I figured it out on the third attempt (I hadn't downloaded the game installer/manager files properly).
- Some scenes are a little too dark to see the hidden objects.
- Too short.
- The game is mostly quite easy. There are some challenging moments, but on the whole, it is relaxing and not demanding.
- For me, at times the English accents sounded more like Americans trying to sound English.
- For me, installation was a major issue until I figured it out on the third attempt (I hadn't downloaded the game installer/manager files properly).
- Some scenes are a little too dark to see the hidden objects.
- Too short.
- The game is mostly quite easy. There are some challenging moments, but on the whole, it is relaxing and not demanding.
- For me, at times the English accents sounded more like Americans trying to sound English.
I would heartily recommend it!
I recommend this game!