SparkleGlow100's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:3,053
- Reviews Submitted:371
- First Review:September 24, 2014
- Most Recent Review:November 18, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Explore the abandoned house and search for the missing heir!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
I LOVED IT…AND I HATED IT. Beginners should not try this game, or anyone who wants a clear map, or a quick hint recharge.
PostedSeptember 7, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
EXTREMELY ATMOSPHERIC, IN AN OLD MANOR. LOTS OF HOPS. No puzzles. Not an easy game. Even on” Easy” or “Custom,” the hint button took about 3 MINUTES TO RECHARGE. As far as brightness of the game goes, you’ll either have to set your computer brightness to FULL and/or play the game in a slightly darkened room.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT: Beautiful in a shabby-chic, dusty antiques, “still -life paintings” kind of way: misty, curling, peeling, colorful and shaded. Realistic looking in many places. Lots of details. It was sheer joy looking at some of these scenes. Beautiful to look at HOPS that are either word lists or drawings of what you must find. Filled the whole screen – nice.
WHAT I HATED ABOUT IT: 1) There is a BIG pause (5-6 seconds) between most areas, and a “Marauder’s”-type map shows up instead of blank screen. I didn’t mind at first, but then I did. However, I found the game so interesting, that I decided it was a sacrifice worth making. (NOTE: It’s quicker to use the map, go directly to the place you want to go, and get one 5 second pause, instead of going on “foot” and getting multiple 5 second pauses, transferring between many scenes.)
2) GUTS spilling out on a medical model were also YUCK and unnecessary I thought. To me, it just wasn’t why I was enjoying the game. They made it look real, and then, just as you’re trying to forget it, you get a teddy-bear you have to open and the stuffing spills out in the same manner. YUCK! The rest of the game was so good, that I decided to risk it and keep on playing which was ok, thank goodness.
3) Don’t be surprised if at least a couple of times ghostly figures you need to interact with, suddenly scream at you, flying at you in all their gory glory, and try to scare the life out of you. I found it unpleasant.
OTHER STUFF: The JOURNAL displays 3 tabs: TASKS, NOTES and HISTORY. It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that you check in at every step with the TASKS, because in this game, the hint button is not the provider of all knowledge. I wouldn’t have known what to be looking for in a room if I hadn’t referred to it continuously.
This could also prove frustrating to some: The MAP can be used as a jump –map, BUT, rooms/areas on it AREN'T LABELED. When you are standing directly in front of a particular door and it and you click it, the name does appear, BUT NOT once you’ve opened it, and never again after that! You do get an exclamation mark where there’s something to do.
LASTLY: When you get to the children’s room, and you’re supposed to “light up the room” with a jar of fireflies, I must have tried a dozen different things and tried them repetitively. Eventually the only way it worked is when I moved the jar to the middle of the screen, and it landed on a bed.
My 4* rating would have easily been a 5* IF the massive pauses hadn’t been there.
I recommend this game!
Witch Hunters: Full Moon Ceremony
Defeat the evil witches and save the world from eternal darkness!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
May the Force of Light be With You!
PostedAugust 30, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Nice Graphics! However, not consistently good in every scene. Effective music with variety. An evil little gnome tries to block you at every step, who has been summoned by an Ice Witch. There is also a Water Witch and numerous others who try and use their dark power to make you stumble. Their plan is not for the good of mankind. It’s your job to succeed and keep the balance firmly on the side of good. You’ll have to rescue your family members, collect mirror shards, complete HOPS, puzzles and more. Storyline got a bit sluggish from time to time, and had to quit, play some other game, and return to it later or another day. But I find all games I rate at 3* and 4* like that.
I hated the morgue, it gave me the creeps and I felt like they could have given that a miss; it just didn’t fit with the rest of the game. I tried to spend as least time in there as possible and didn’t stare at anything for too long. The gnome and witches by comparison were more like from a fairytale.
All the usual niceties of modern games provided with locking inventory, transport map and journal. Looked best on my computer as full screen and not widescreen
I recommend this game!
Time is running out for a worried bride! Locate her groom in a town plagued by mysterious drownings.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Moonlit mystery
PostedAugust 29, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The town of Lake Bliss looks very European and I’m guessing the game is set sometime mid -20th century. Disappearances and something/someone is creating havoc. ..Why? And what can you do about it Inspector? Lots of places to visit: all around town, a castle, a crypt and caves, all set around LAKE BLISS on a moonlit night. Very nice graphics and ambient sounds, HOPS and a mix of puzzles to play.
Filled the whole screen. The hint button will take you where you need to go, and circle a specific “to be done,” but not which inventory item to use. The map can transport you and shows you active areas with an exclamation mark. You have a journal. The inventory can’t be locked and was particularly “jumpy” in this game, I think mainly because it was very sensitive to the cursor when I was trying to move backwards. Enjoyable ghostly game, but like many 3* or 4* games, it was one I had to play intermittently along-side other games.
I recommend this game!
Fight your way out of a coma by exploring your deepest memories!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
3.5* - Somewhat Somber
PostedAugust 29, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A game to take your time with. Your 3 chaptered settings include a nice house, a lighthouse and woods. Visually, I enjoyed the last part in the woods the most. Basically you are in a coma and on the precipice of death. You have life issues to resolve and ghost relatives to help, including your relationship issues with your mother after a tragic accident occurred years ago (which is the main first part).
Lots of puzzles and HOPS. A few elaborate looking HOPS, but mainly piles of other stuff. The puzzles were of all kinds. Your sound options include music, sound and voice, but the ambient sounds aren’t nearly enough as I’d have liked them to be. The music got tedious quickly. A voice resembling Morgan Freeman's belongs to a figure who appears at pivotal moments and who guides and supports you on your journey.
No map, but hint will take you directly to location. Hint will circle what needs to be done, but not what inventory item to use. Fullscreen not widescreen. .
I recommend this game!
When a new romance blossoms, the door to mystery opens in Love Alchemy!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Great graphics. Enjoyable game.
PostedAugust 28, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A game that has 2 alternative endings for the last 1 minute of play. The story is similar in some respects to “Haunted Manor: Painted Beauties”, only, much, MUCH milder, and I was glad it was, otherwise it could so easily have become a horror. Medium number of HOPS, not so many puzzles.On my computer looks best on full-screen not widescreen. Images and items are more than visible, so, no problem. The widescreen option is referred to as “keep proportions.”
Note no map! There’s quite a lot of traveling required to and from different parts of the castle. Usually I’m not too bad at remembering where I am, but this time I had to use the hint button quite a lot just to take me to the correct location. Also inventory doesn’t lock. With sound, a lot of the ambient sounds are tied in the music. So, much to my reluctance I had to have the music on low, to get the effects of the crackling fire, for example. However, the music itself is nice, just a bit repetitive in places. About the sound, there seems to be some minor fault with it, in that, occasionally, when there was a particular “aha” moment in the game, or a cut-scene, the sound would become so much louder, to the point where I had to nudge my headphones off a little, until it had passed.
I recommend this game!
A magic bear summons you to help save the neighboring kingdom of Nypha.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
EXCITING ACTION, ADVENTURE, FANTASY
PostedAugust 26, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
7 hours on the main game and that includes skipping some puzzles!
A few minutes of playing this game and it was an instant YES. Lots to do, something for everyone, from mechanical things to some ornate or antique-looking. Monsters to subdue and destroy. An on-going game of joining at least 3 dots of one color, to eliminate them, with a certain number of limited chances. Nice scenery and places throughout. HOPS and puzzles of varying difficulty. Impressive and well-balanced sound effects, music, voices, odd and amusing characters. The music has harps, violins and flutes. The big, deep, thunderous voices are done one time too many I think, but then it just becomes funny. You play as Queen Valera. 44 crowns to collect AND morphing objects. I like the fact that once you’ve collected a crown in a specific scene, it appears in the right-hand, lower corner, so that you remember you already have it, when/if your return to that area.
The Bonus Game is the prequel to the main story, took an additional hour, and after getting past the first ¼, became equally exciting.
I recommend this game!
Your friend, Mary, disappears and it's up to you to save her. Uncover an exotic land with unearthly secrets as you find and help your friend leave the flying island.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
PUZZLES, PUZZLES, PUZZLES AND FROGS!
PostedAugust 25, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I loved this game! Lots and lots of puzzle!. Great atmosphere and gentle pace. Not the best graphics, because it is an older game, and it looked better on my computer to be full-screen, not wide-screen. Game took a little over 3.5 hrs, which included skipping some puzzles. The story was very good, about a land in the sky. But who are the citizens???
I’m giving this a 5* because of the enjoyment factor.
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
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
You have to LIKE these kinds of dramas/books to enjoy this game.
PostedAugust 25, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was RELAXING. You know it’s an old game and I wasn’t expecting much, but it has a lovely slow pace that I tend to favor. It’s a HOPA with lots of rooms to visit, HOPS and puzzles. No map, but there aren’t that many places at any one time, because of the chapter division. The indoors is done much better in general. I found the outdoors is a bit lackluster at times, by comparison.
I liked the sound effects (always important to me). You have to have the music option set to “on” to be able to hear the voices, but you can read the subtitles too. Also it doesn’t fit the whole screen, but there is a widescreen option. Mine looked better non-widescreen. Graphics aren’t terribly clear all the time for anyone who needs crisp graphics.
The game is a fairly decent length, although I didn’t time it. I liked the fact that the time of day changes.
The game is a fairly decent length, although I didn’t time it. I liked the fact that the time of day changes.
Ever played the Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet HOPA? The atmosphere and pace was similar to that. If you’re a BFG member, you could get this at the $3.49 deal time.
Don't buy this if you're looking "action-packed" with the latest thrills and spills.
I recommend this game!
Paranormal activity has turned Smalltown upside-down! As the newest initiate of the Order of the Light, you must investigate why.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Relaxing & Lots of HOPS!
PostedAugust 17, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Stylized, fantastic graphics, which were beautiful to look at - very story-bookish look, like in a classic children’s tale; clear but not hard-edged. Not a scary tale.
Hint will direct you in words, which appear along the top of the screen. You’ll be told where to go and what to do there, and with what, but you won’t be taken there or shown. You can use the jump map though, which'll have exclamation marks for you where there are things to do. Inventory can be locked and you get an electronic journal.
This game had a funny little device that detects and catches ghosts, a “kerchink” click, followed by a “dwoooop!” LOTS of places to go. LOTS of HOPS. Good puzzles.
At some point though the game lost its momentum, perhaps 2/3rds of the way through. Hence a 4* and not 5*.
I recommend this game!
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
A father returns home to find his children missing - all but one, who refuses to say a word...
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
3.5*
PostedAugust 15, 2015
SparkleGlow100
fromMichigan, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A game with OUTSTANDING GRAPHICS. It isn’t a scary story. The kidnapping part isn’t creepy or obnoxious , as a result of not seeing anything bad happen to them, apart from being whisked away. Also there’s nothing scary about the baddie. He has red eyes, but otherwise looks pretty normal. I think this game was developed for many ages to play.
There are quite a lot of HOS and a mix of puzzles, and lots of places to visit. I found the drawback/weakness of this game related to the lack of involvement I felt with it. It’s a game I played along-side of others, because it wasn’t one that I could play continuously and get to the end . Every time I returned to it, I always got quite a kick out the superb, clear graphics.
I recommend this game!