hermitcave's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:407
- Reviews Submitted:240
- First Review:March 27, 2014
- Most Recent Review:October 27, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A simple, basic game
PostedJuly 19, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Ashford family is in financial trouble, having sold all of their most prized possessions with no relief in sight. Florence's father has decided that the only solution is for Florence to marry into a wealthy family on the condition all of their debts are paid. Florence has agreed and travels to the mansion of the man she is to marry to meet the man and prepare for the wedding.
While freshening up in her room, she finds a disturbing message that indicates things are not as they seem. Interaction with the butler, housekeeper and a house guest provides further evidence that things are not right.
When she finally meets the man who she is to marry, she decides to write her father and tell him things are not right but before the letter can be sent, her future husband refuses to have the letter mailed and she is locked in her room as a prisoner.
Your mission is to escape, find the truth and expose the fraud going on here. Not a bad story and adventure with some puzzles and HOS sprinkled throughout.
An older style game with no voiceovers, pleasant music and good basic graphics where most all objects are easy to find. Casual setting provides guidance through the entire game so gameplay is fairly easy regardless of experience level.
Other than being locked in her room, there is no violence.
While freshening up in her room, she finds a disturbing message that indicates things are not as they seem. Interaction with the butler, housekeeper and a house guest provides further evidence that things are not right.
When she finally meets the man who she is to marry, she decides to write her father and tell him things are not right but before the letter can be sent, her future husband refuses to have the letter mailed and she is locked in her room as a prisoner.
Your mission is to escape, find the truth and expose the fraud going on here. Not a bad story and adventure with some puzzles and HOS sprinkled throughout.
An older style game with no voiceovers, pleasant music and good basic graphics where most all objects are easy to find. Casual setting provides guidance through the entire game so gameplay is fairly easy regardless of experience level.
Other than being locked in her room, there is no violence.
I recommend this game!
Help Minha save her father from the gallows in this 19th century epic based on Jules Verne’s novel La Jangada.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
More story than game
PostedJuly 19, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you like a few HOS sprinkled in among your story with a couple of puzzles thrown in then you will like this one. Each screen has to be loaded so thus it is an old game. The graphics for the story are very nice but the HOS contained bits and pieces hidden almost completely behind other items making them very hard to find. The story was well written and all of the HOS and puzzles do support the story.
For a story buy this one; for a game pass on it.
For a story buy this one; for a game pass on it.
I don't recommend this game.
Escape from Thunder Island
Join the more-brave-than-brilliant aviatrix Rita James on a quest to rescue her kidnapped father in Escape from Thunder Island!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
I found this one fun to play
PostedJuly 17, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played the sequel Shangri La first and didn't enjoy it as much as this one. It was funny, quirky and I enjoyed the flow of the game. Yes, there are a lot of repeating style of puzzles especially the complete the picture types where you have to find the pieces and put them in their right place. The graphics are the cartoon type cut scenes with good voiceovers and it is divided into chapters much like the old TV serial type programs. The story was better written than Shangri La and pretty easy to follow. You often had several directions in which you could go so it was helpful to have a task list. There were some funny parts especially with the poor monkey who is the real hero but never gets the credit. The HO screens had some small objects that required you to really look closely to find. There is a skip button for all of the mini games.
I recommend this game!
Rita James and the Race to Shangri La
Join the “More Brave than Brilliant” Rita James on another whirlwind adventure in search of the mythical paradise of Shangri-La!
Overall rating
4
/
5
A cartoon style graphics game with the old serial style of story presentation
PostedJuly 13, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Cartoon style graphics divided into chapters much like the old TV serial type programs where they end an episode on a cliff hanger and then come back the next week and getting out of the situation. The story was interesting and easy to follow but there were times when where to go next could be confusing. As you often had several directions in which you could go, it was nice to have a task list (which I didn't discover until a third way through the game) to let you know when an area was completed.
There were some funny moments in the game especially with the monkey and panda sidekicks with plenty of HO screens to hunt through containing interactive items some requiring multiple steps to complete. Some of the mini games had little or no direction leaving you to figure out what needed to be done and a few were timed with very short time frame to complete the tasks. Fortunately it only restarted the mini game and didn't repeat some of what was already completed. There is a skip button for all but the final scene.
Not a bad way to spend a few hours when you have nothing else to do.
There were some funny moments in the game especially with the monkey and panda sidekicks with plenty of HO screens to hunt through containing interactive items some requiring multiple steps to complete. Some of the mini games had little or no direction leaving you to figure out what needed to be done and a few were timed with very short time frame to complete the tasks. Fortunately it only restarted the mini game and didn't repeat some of what was already completed. There is a skip button for all but the final scene.
Not a bad way to spend a few hours when you have nothing else to do.
I recommend this game!
Use your powers of observation and deduction to unlock glimpses of events from the past and solve an 80 year old mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
Not your usual hidden object adventure game
PostedJuly 12, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
You will not like this game if you are looking for the usual hidden object type game. This is more of an adventure type game with theme-associated objects to be found in various scenes throughout the seven chapters and finale. It is very story driven requiring you to read or listen (depending on if you chose to have dialogue displayed) and to remember some specific characters and what they represent for use in the finale.
There is an introduction that gives you the basics of gameplay which is helpful especially if you have not played the prequel "3 Cards to Midnight." It does help you better understand the storyline if you have played it but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. Pay particular attention to the directions you receive throughout the game as they will make completing mini games and chapters that much easier.
Throughout the various chapters, you will travel with Jess to locations where cutscenes will set the stage and then there will usually be 3 or so screnes presented to find items that are associated to a particular theme. Most are fairly intuitive but some will require you to think about the theme to find the right item. Often you have to find items tied together such as skull and bones or ball and bat. It does require you to look at the all objects in the scene to determine if they fit. The graphics were a little dated making it hard to determine what some objects in the scene were but most could be identified. I think all of the objects you had to find for the theme were well defined. Fortunately, most screens only require you to find 3 or 4 items before breaking to the next cutscene. Be sure to look at the lower left of the screne for what object association you are to find before you start clicking on objects as there is a limited number of "misses" you are allowed before you have to repeat the chapter or scene. There are hints and you do earn more for every 100 points you acquire but they are usually only useable in the find the object screens.
I found the story well written and interesting with multiple characters flowing in and out of the chapters. Tarot cards are used throughout the game as instruments of rememberances to move the story along and you do have to remember what cards are associated with certain characters by the end of the game for the finale. There is one point in the game #don't remember which chapter# where you have to make a decision that affects the outcome of the game so there are basically 2 endings so if you want to see both endings you will need to play through the game a second time choosing the other alternative.
Sprinkled between chapters are mini games that end the chapter and are usually associated in some fashion with what you have just finished. The first time the dialogue balloon came up to announce the puzzle mini game it took a few seconds to actually associate the balloon with the puzzle action icon in the lower right corner of the scene. It is a highlighted jigsaw puzzle piece but the dialogue balloon was so large with the indicator point so dark that it was hard at first to see that it was pointing at the puzzle piece. Some mini games could not be played until all else in the chapter had been completed. There is a skip button for all of the mini games except the final one in the finale.
There is an introduction that gives you the basics of gameplay which is helpful especially if you have not played the prequel "3 Cards to Midnight." It does help you better understand the storyline if you have played it but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. Pay particular attention to the directions you receive throughout the game as they will make completing mini games and chapters that much easier.
Throughout the various chapters, you will travel with Jess to locations where cutscenes will set the stage and then there will usually be 3 or so screnes presented to find items that are associated to a particular theme. Most are fairly intuitive but some will require you to think about the theme to find the right item. Often you have to find items tied together such as skull and bones or ball and bat. It does require you to look at the all objects in the scene to determine if they fit. The graphics were a little dated making it hard to determine what some objects in the scene were but most could be identified. I think all of the objects you had to find for the theme were well defined. Fortunately, most screens only require you to find 3 or 4 items before breaking to the next cutscene. Be sure to look at the lower left of the screne for what object association you are to find before you start clicking on objects as there is a limited number of "misses" you are allowed before you have to repeat the chapter or scene. There are hints and you do earn more for every 100 points you acquire but they are usually only useable in the find the object screens.
I found the story well written and interesting with multiple characters flowing in and out of the chapters. Tarot cards are used throughout the game as instruments of rememberances to move the story along and you do have to remember what cards are associated with certain characters by the end of the game for the finale. There is one point in the game #don't remember which chapter# where you have to make a decision that affects the outcome of the game so there are basically 2 endings so if you want to see both endings you will need to play through the game a second time choosing the other alternative.
Sprinkled between chapters are mini games that end the chapter and are usually associated in some fashion with what you have just finished. The first time the dialogue balloon came up to announce the puzzle mini game it took a few seconds to actually associate the balloon with the puzzle action icon in the lower right corner of the scene. It is a highlighted jigsaw puzzle piece but the dialogue balloon was so large with the indicator point so dark that it was hard at first to see that it was pointing at the puzzle piece. Some mini games could not be played until all else in the chapter had been completed. There is a skip button for all of the mini games except the final one in the finale.
I recommend this game for those wanting something different than the usual HO game.
I recommend this game!
Clean up the Clutter in this amazing Hidden Object game! Take on minigames and put everything in order again!
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
A true junk pile game dominated by the creator's ideals about life
PostedJuly 11, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I hate timed games but what I hate more are the games with true junk piles requiring you to sort through and find the matches by sheer luck of the removal of the right pieces or in some piles by the movement of the right piece so you can see the pieces beneath it. And there is no method to speed up this process such as a "de-clutter" button that allows a piece of junk to be moved or be "seen" through. You can click on a piece in most screens and it will move in a random direction a short distance but it often moves back or becomes part of another clump hiding even more pieces.
Another frustrating type of pile of junk provided for you to click through involves objects blurred on purpose that allows you to see something under it but then trying to find the right place to click to select that item was difficult. Add to that another pile of junk where half of the items were in color and the other matching half were in black and white all mixed together. Oh, and of course the items were not oriented the same and were often two different sizes adding to the "suspense" I guess. The one redeeming factor was the hint system that maxed out at 99 hints by completing screens and mini games and winning hints.
The mini games sprinkled between "chapters" were of the same 6 types ranging from placing groups of coins from various stacks filling a checkerboard in a specific order to finding specific items flashed on the screen in a random order. This was the only part of the game that had a skip button.
On top of all this, the game creator's head shot appears throughout the game offering his "bits of wisdom" on how you can do better next time or learn from these screens that life is one big junk pile but you can deal with it if you "de-clutter" yourself.
The mini games sprinkled between "chapters" were of the same 6 types ranging from placing groups of coins from various stacks filling a checkerboard in a specific order to finding specific items flashed on the screen in a random order. This was the only part of the game that had a skip button.
On top of all this, the game creator's head shot appears throughout the game offering his "bits of wisdom" on how you can do better next time or learn from these screens that life is one big junk pile but you can deal with it if you "de-clutter" yourself.
If you want true junk piles to sort through and don't mind the "preaching", this game is for you.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Stan Riddle escape the Haunted Manor! After being trapped by the Lord of Mirrors, Stan needs you to guide him to safety!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Good basic HOSA with an engaging story that kept my interest
PostedJuly 4, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was a good basic story involving a mirror and a demon gathering souls. There is no map but the story is very linear so one is not really needed. There is a basic task list that gives some guidance but most directions are obtained from the dialogue with the trapped souls you meet. It is pretty straightforward travel from location to location through mirrors that you encounter in each scene and the only time you have to travel back to a place you have already visited takes place as part of the last puzzle to collect zodiac signs.
The few puzzles scattered throughout are fairly easy and the HOS scenes are not over cluttered with most items findable.
The game is geared toward beginner and intermediate players.
The game is geared toward beginner and intermediate players.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A good game if you like visiting lots of places with HOS
PostedJuly 3, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game requires you to visit a lot of different areas and does have a lot of hidden object screens that gives you items required usually in another location. You either need to keep notes about what and where an item is needed or have a good memory as there is no map or task list. An interactive map would have made this game much more fun to play. Most objects you need make sense but often are some distance from where they are used thus all that traveling.
The story was good. You receive a letter from your sister asking for help at the old family manor. You arrive and find out that all of your family has been killed and you need to find out why and the location of your sister. The story involves demonic possession and you have to send the demon back to its prison locked in a special amulet.
The puzzles are fairly easy and the HOS are reasonable as to item size and locations (there are no real tiny items or items of a color on top of something else of the same color. There was maybe 2 items that I could not find and they were in shadows. I did like the game but was glad to finally reach the end which was appropriate for the story leaving an opening for a sequel. If you like visiting many places and doing HOS you will like this game.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
I thoroughly enjoyed this game because of the intriguing story and straight forward game play
PostedJune 24, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the few games I have played lately that really kept my interest to the end and was enjoyable to play. The story is simple and engaging with puzzles and HOS that compliment the story and actually make sense. The game is short by today's standards but I felt that the story was sufficient to keep me interested so it didn't have that short feeling. The game is geared toward beginners and intermediate with puzzles that are entertaining and the hidden objects are not so obscure as to not be found. The story was complete and the ending made sense and did leave the door open for a sequel. Unfortunately, I have not found one. If one does come along I will be there to buy it.
I recommend this game!
After your father dies, your sister Violet requests your help at the Family Castle. Get to the bottom of a dark mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
An older game that is a nice change from the current interactive type HOS you get today
PostedJune 23, 2014
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I found this game entertaining and engaging. Fun is not really an option do to the subject matter - how can exploring scenes where vampires have been at work be considered fun? I found the storyline interesting and the lack of blood everywhere refreshing. Several scenes do include bodies but it was not overdone.
You are contacted by your sister to meet her at a hotel but she does not seem to be there until you start seeing ghosts. Your goal is to prevent a vampire king from being resurrected and taking over the world.
The HOS are sprinkled throughout the game with some fairly easy puzzles to deal with. The game is geared toward beginning and intermediate players but I think anyone would enjoy the game.
You are contacted by your sister to meet her at a hotel but she does not seem to be there until you start seeing ghosts. Your goal is to prevent a vampire king from being resurrected and taking over the world.
The HOS are sprinkled throughout the game with some fairly easy puzzles to deal with. The game is geared toward beginning and intermediate players but I think anyone would enjoy the game.
I recommend this game!