hopqueen's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:804
- Reviews Submitted:75
- First Review:May 10, 2018
- Most Recent Review:July 6, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An investigation that will open up a new world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Excellent Game, Unique Story!
PostedJune 15, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well it's rare to come across a storyline that's so unique, but this developer did it! Fantasy worlds you access through paintings with a special varnish, bizarre monsters and the crystals they'll follow, a person preferring to be a monster than a human. Wow, so much to take in and really a wonderfully different concept.
The atmosphere of the game is good, with scenes in the city and scenes in the country for variety. Some areas have a lighter ambience and some darker - no matter what you like, you'll find it in there. Plus the fantasy landscape.
The characters are definitely old-school design, very plasticky, and the lip movements are bad, but the quality of the game overall outweighs those things.
There is a morphing object and a collectible (different kinds) in each scene. Sometimes they're easy to spot and sometimes quite difficult.
It's a good long game with lots of both HOP scenes and puzzles. They can be hard, but they're all doable.
The bonus game is not a game but 20 levels of the same puzzle in increasing difficulty. Not what I prefer - I prefer another storyline or prequel - but the puzzle is actually fun, and the challenge level increasing makes it a lot more fun. I still would trade it for more actual game.
I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
A legendary ghost ship has returned, and ghostly sailors walk the streets!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Excellent all the way through!
PostedMay 28, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a truly excellent game, as I've come to expect from the Dark City series since the very beginning. This one, however, might just be the best yet!
We've got lots of different settings in Amsterdam, including a flower shop, a smuggler's cove, the streets of Amsterdam, docks, a lighthouse island, etc. Fantastic art, lots of varied locations.
Plenty of both puzzles and hidden objects of varying difficulty. You're never bored with this game.
The main game was a lot of fun, discovering the truth about the ghostly Flying Dutchman and its equally ghostly crew. The bonus game in the collector's edition was excellent too, trying to find out who was poisoning one of the characters. It's rare that the main game and bonus game are equally high quality, but this one was! My favorite puzzle was the one in the flower shop in the bonus game—that was so much fun, and it was visually enjoyable.
The classic music of this series is still the same, which I love. That music gets stuck in my head and I love it.
Collectibles include 2 ships and 2 morphing objects in every scene. Some are easy to spot and some are quite challenging. There's a little toggle on the left side of the screen where you can check if you got all the collectibles in each scene.
I highly recommend this game. It's one I'll be replaying in the future.
I recommend this game!
Good intentions pave a dangerous road.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Good but repetitious
PostedMay 12, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game is a fun one, if you like mostly HOPs with some mini games thrown in. The scenes are nicely put together and vibrant. Good detective storyline too. Cute music.
But I don't at all like that scenes are repeated so close together, even if there is a different style of HOP for the scene.
Immerse yourself in a tale of horror and suspense!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Beautiful Fall in Spring
PostedMay 10, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Stars or no stars, this game has a great dark fall ambience and an enjoyable storyline. If you don't like the stars, just ignore them. It's that easy.
This game certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel, but then again, neither does any other game at this point. HOPA games are now (and have been for a while) more about the ambience and enjoyable gameplay than anything else.
Witness in the Rye gives us fall in spring. Not everyone will be in the mood for that, but I'm always in the mood for fall, always in the mood to play as a writer character, and also always in the mood for a dark hotel setting. So this game appeals to me.
As always, the collectibles are in a little menu on the left-hand side of the screen, so it's easy to know whether you did or didn't get what you need from the scene or closeup. They're themed in line with the game's story.
I recommend this game if you're up for fall, dark hotel setting, and a typical HOPA. Relax about the stars, they're not going to hurt you.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you navigate an alternate timeline and find Rick Rogers?
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Moment We've All Been Waiting For!
PostedApril 24, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Finally we reach the end of our quest to find Rick Rogers that we've been on for the past few games! It's great to see a series wrap up a long-term quest, and it's very satisfying. It also seems like the series will continue, which I genuinely hope it does.
Playing as Rachel, we get to meet more Alt personalities in this game, which is a lot of fun to see how they're the same and different from Rachel's friends.
There are some wonderful and varied settings in this game. My favorite was the black-tie party Rachel and Gabriel attended - every room in that location was fabulous. On the other end of the spectrum was the gray dystopian streets and ruined shops, which suited what had happened perfectly. So you get a little bit of everything.
I'm not sure what other reviewers are referring to when they say the graphics aren't great - they're no better and no worse than the previous games. I also don't understand what they mean when they say that the game lags - that's to do with an individual's computer capacity, not the game itself.
This was a fun game with the usual Paranormal Files collectibles: an eye in every scene and a statue in some scenes. The statues are easy to find, but the eyes can be pretty tricky. It's a good balance.
The bonus chapter is from the perspective of the villain, and I always love anything like that. Seeing the chain of events that led up to Rick Rogers's situation was great.
I recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the truth behind a deadly shadow entity in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Perfect Except for Glitch!
PostedMarch 16, 2023
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I don't want to give this game a bad rating because of its major glitch, because overall it's an excellent game. But I did have to remove a star. As everyone else has also said, if you put the toolset where it literally tells you to put the toolset, you've made a mistake that you can't undo. You're supposed to put the toolset by the cybernetic hand, even though the prompt on the hand is to use one tool, not the toolset. So that's their mistake in directions and a major glitch in the game. When will they come out with a patch? I don't want to replay the whole thing... If they don't come out with a patch, I'll be waiting quite a while before restarting the game because it won't be fun to replay it right away.
Otherwise, this is a fantastic new game in the Paranormal Files series. The story picks up with Rachel trying to track down Rick Rogers and coming across a double of his. Honestly it's a bit like a novel or a movie, which is really cool. I love following the Rick mystery. I just hope they won't leave us on a cliffhanger, and eventually we'll find him!
Collectibles include the classic eye in each scene as well as a statue in random scenes. Some of the eyes are pretty hard to spot. The statues are easy.
The graphics are on the darker side like in all Paranormal Files games, and the locations look great. One thing this developer has done very right in terms of improvements is starting to expand their facial construction. For a while, every character that popped up basically looked like Rick, but they've done some work to fix that, which I'm very happy about. Obviously the main characters have to remain the same though.
If you like this game series, I think you'll love the forward movement on the storyline in this particular installment! Now let's just hope for a patch to fix the major glitch...
I recommend this game!
Can you save your sister from a carnival of monsters?
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Best Halloween Game So Far in 2022
PostedOctober 16, 2022
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm thrilled with this new Halloween game and series from Domini! I was a little nervous that the unnecessarily poor reviews from those who hate on Domini just for the sake of it had scared them off; I hadn't seen a game from them for a short while but longer than usual. Thank goodness that isn't the case since there are only about 2 developers left on this site that make HOP games.
Gloomy Tales offers a Halloween-infused game that really gets you in the mood for the holiday. Every inch of it screams Halloween, which is exactly what I always hope for. The ambience is a Halloween-themed carnival where even the "employees" are decked out, just like at a real Halloween-themed place. Made me wish this carnival was real!
There is creativity in the puzzles and games, including HOPs, with great twists on what we're used to.
There are three different collectibles, and as always there is an indicator on the left side to tell you what you should be looking for. Two collectibles are in full scenes, one is in closeups.
The acting is wonderful, the lip movements are dead on, the details couldn't be better. Make sure you click around full scenes - lots of things move and come to life! I've become really spoiled by Domini Games's quality and creativity.
I highly recommend this game, especially if you love Halloween!
I recommend this game!
A bone-chilling mystery that will leave you questioning everything!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Great Creepy But Beautiful Game!
PostedJuly 16, 2022
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Another winner from Domini, this time with more of a creepy feel!
As usual, Domini's graphics are fabulous, very detailed, and vivid. Their design of faces, both making them all unique and realistic, is constantly improving. They've really mastered adding natural lines to faces to age them, something not many developers have achieved well or gracefully. The realism of the designed characters is improving all the time. Sometimes I just marvel at it.
This game has a creepy vibe but not overly so. It isn't an asylum vibe or anything, and in a new twist, the "horror" involves swimming pools! There's a lot of attention to detail, and if you click around on random objects in scenes, you'll find a good jump scare or two and fun little movements, something that has become an entertaining hallmark of Domini games.
The collectibles are sometimes tricky, sometimes easy, all findable. In general scenes, we need to find dolls and runes (they kind of look like matis/Greek evil eyes to me), and both kinds morph. In the closeups, it's snapshots.
I really like the concept behind this game and the plot. Really nice change and a good combo of factors involved. I won't spoil it for you.
And now for a PSA: If you don't like Domini Games, stop playing them. The complaints are the same over and over again. The developer is what it is, and that's not going to change. These are never going to be some Elder Scrolls-level games with brand-new items and concepts in every game, so don't expect something other than what you know you're going to get. Part of the problem seems to be that so many developers' games aside from Domini got negative reviews from many of these same people and for many of the same reasons (they like to say all old games are better than the new ones, but they complained about the same things in the past on other developers' games), that most developers have jumped ship. In all past games, no matter the developer, we've needed to find screwdrivers, we have had broken keys in locks, and we've needed a valve. That's just how it is. Because of these ongoing complaints that started years ago and have included most developers' games, all we have left now is pretty much Domini and poorly remastered games—don't ruin it for all the many people who still love Domini. If they stop making HOPs, Big Fish will have no HOP developers left.
Reviewers are so busy raining down fire on Domini Games simply for the purpose of hating on the developer (note: when they first called themselves Do Games, the reviewers were much kinder and more generous and liked the game; when they figured out Do Games was Domini, the hate became unreal), they missed the actual mistakes. There were a couple of sloppy mistakes in this game, which is why my rating dropped from 5 stars to 4 stars. For example, a repeated line of spoken dialogue that replaced what was supposed to be a different line, and something in our inventory called the wrong name (I think it was a scoop being called a spatula). These aren't game ruiners, they just mean the developer could use some more careful quality control.
This game is a fun one—judge for yourself in the demo instead of reading the broken-record bad reviews. Keep it up, Domini.
I recommend this game!
Can you take on Goldilocks’ mantel and protect the kingdom?
Overall rating
2
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
Nostalgic But Far Too Easy, Nothing Exciting
PostedJune 16, 2022
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a "remastered" game from the past. I think its strongest point is the nostalgia factor, but what I really wish is that the developer would focus on making new games instead of remastering old ones!
The story is a good one, a nice play on Goldilocks. I think most people will appreciate the different take on a classic story.
Other than the story, this is a flop for me, aside from the nostalgia factor. Keep in mind, this game was great in its day, but nowadays, it plays as dated, easy, and boring.
As I said, the game plays as an old game. It's too easy, everything is handed to you. There are "puzzles" where you can't figure it out for yourself because they insist on giving you a hand icon where they want you to click and no place else...so the answer is literally handed to you. No challenge and doesn't even count as a game/puzzle. The HOPs have this feature as well, making them irritatingly easy. Let me find it by myself, don't give me a hand that tells me where it is if I accidentally pass over it with my mouse!
The HOPs are in that old style where you don't need to look at the list of things to find—they stick out like a sore thumb. Just look for anything that seems like it wasn't naturally designed into the scene. Again, this is a common feature of old games that has been fixed in newer ones. I'm not a fan; it's too easy.
The game attempts to keep you occupied with little bits and bobs to click on along the way, mostly pointless time wasters. Basically you'll enter a close-up scene and have a bunch of pieces of glass scattered around. You click each one, and the game puts it into place. Pointless, just something to occupy your time and extend the gameplay. I'm not a fan of that, but some people may enjoy it.
Most puzzles are so easy, you don't need to look at the instructions. Today's games have added more complications to the puzzles you'll find here. For example, you simply put pieces in their place (very easy to spot) instead of having to rotate them and also find their place. Super easy.
There are two kinds of collectibles: morphing "runes" (they are actually morphing objects of all sorts that turn into runes after you select them) and sprites that are blue and a bit transparent. Most of them are pretty easy to find, but some of the morphs are a little tricky. If you're not sure how many collectibles there are in the scene, click on the little diamond on the left-hand side of the screen to see. I really like that feature.
All in all, this wasn't worth remastering. It would be way more worth the developer's time (and our money) to build a new game, start a new series—anything new and challenging.
I don't recommend this game.
Can the twin detectives stop another murderous evil?
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 of 51 found this review helpful
Much Anticipated Next-In-Series!
PostedJune 2, 2022
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've been waiting for this, and finally it's here! I love Twin Minds, and this one is no exception. It's not an easy game—you do have to think a bit—and the HOPs are a little more creative, which I really enjoy.
We flip back and forth between the brother's and the sister's perspectives, and that's one of those things in HOPs that I look forward to. If you're not into that, you won't enjoy this.
The atmosphere is dark but not horror dark, despite the ghost/vampire things going on. Slightly gritty cop dark. Great graphics, good music.
There are 3 collectibles: the brother's things in general scenes, movie posters in general scenes, and tickets in closeup scenes. The brother's things can be hard to find, very small in some places. The movie posters are pretty easy, and the tickets vary, sometimes being obvious and sometimes blending into the background.
Make sure to click around on random objects in this game because a lot of them react! I always love that feature that so few developers include.
This game is quite a good one, and I recommend it. Very fun.
I recommend this game!