phatkhat's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:1,517
- Reviews Submitted:70
- First Review:February 4, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 7, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Join a cute robot on his multi-colored mosaic assignment to clean up the garden!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A little disappointed
PostedNovember 13, 2018
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I dislike the transition from real, adult people/kids/pets in the earlier editions to the silly cartoonish robots in this one. Meh. The game is still good and challenging - well, more than the penguins, anyway. The overall quality is good - what is expected from this series. I also am finding that even with the "system" cursor, it is clunky and slow. Not sure I will buy this one because of that. Wish they would give us the real system cursor - i.e. the little arrow - instead of a mini version of the game cursor.
I recommend this game!
Can you keep the past from destroying the present?
Overall rating
1
/
5
111 of 142 found this review helpful
Ugh. Just. Ugh.
PostedJune 21, 2018
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This review is based upon the beta, because I can't bring myself to suffer through that many HOS again. The game reminds me more of the Huntsville game, with a little storyline linking Madame Fate and the Dalimars thrown in to hopefully snare players into it.
Now, if you are old school and love purely HO games, you will probably love it. But if, like me, you merely suffer through the HOS to get to the puzzles, mini-games and adventuring, not so much.
I will give it good marks for the art and sound quality. But that's Eipix. They're good at what they do. (They'd be better if they produced fewer, I expect.) The lock puzzles were the best part, as they were in the original Ravenhearst. I surely suffered through the cluttered HOS in that game!
It used to be the event of the year, when BFG released a MCF game; now it's just another day. (Sure miss the days of Dire Grove and RTR.)
I don't recommend this game.
Follow Malcolm on this nonogram adventure as he strives to make the most delicious pie in the world to attract customers to his cafe.
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Not my cuppa - needs improvement
PostedOctober 19, 2017
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I am a nonogram nut. I buy 'em all. I bought this one the day of release elsewhere, and I regret it. This is a rerun of Wolf's Stories, by the same developer, and I didn't buy that one.
The challenge level is superb. It is truly great in that regard. HOWEVER, I never got further than the 10x10 grids, and they go up to 20x25. I am NOT doing that to myself.
So what is the problem? Well, you work with three colors, and all of them are on the same page. I can figure it out, so far, and find the mental workout challenging. BUT. I made beaucoup mistakes - game ending mistakes - because I would forget to change the color. Bad enough at the beginning levels, but I can't imagine having a 20x25 grid almost done after an hour or so of work, and then losing it all because I forgot to change the color.
I wrote the developer to suggest that either they offer an undo button or a save feature. The only other thing to do - as I have done with 8 Floor puzzles - is do a screen grab. And do it OFTEN.
Meh. I probably will never play it again. Added to the pile of unfinished games in my inventory.
Don't recommend unless you are either a brainiac that never forgets to change colors, or a total masochist.
I don't recommend this game.
Grandpa's Table is a very atmospheric puzzle game where you need to group tokens of various colors.
Overall rating
5
/
5
73 of 79 found this review helpful
Wow! This is different!
PostedJune 28, 2017
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Very atmospheric, a tad melancholy, and wholly engrossing. The music is lovely, the graphics lovely, and the whole thing just was relaxing.
The story will, no doubt, unfold as it goes. The puzzles are just right up my alley - sort of a mechanical slider. It took me a bit to figure out exactly what to do - the instructions are sparse. Once I got the hang of it, it was fun and challenging.
You can explore the room - move your cursor until it turns blue, then click. You will find things. Not sure what will be done with them, yet.
I still don't quite know how to exit - if there is a way. I just finally pushed "Escape" and it immediately took me to the game manager. This is a must buy with the sale. A new puzzle game - the nonograms are getting just a little old...
I recommend this game!
Journey to the mythical Nine Worlds to save the Earth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
136 of 148 found this review helpful
Wow, finally it's here!
PostedMay 27, 2017
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Did the beta eons ago - well, early February, at least. I'm sick of the cookie cutter games that are all the same old, same old. So much so, I pretty much quit buying anything but nonograms/picross/griddlers. Then I got the beta, and it blew me away!
The story is familiar - have to save the princess and the world. But the game itself is different, and the characters you have to gather to help you are certainly interesting. Not necessarily likeable, but interesting.
This is not your standard HOPA, as someone else pointed out, but more of a quest/adventure game. Lots of puzzles, and not embarrassingly easy, either. There are a few HOPs, but they, too, are well done and a tad different.
Wow, and a sale, to boot. Yep - getting this one for sure!
I recommend this game!
Aim precisely and clear all the bubbles in this amazing bubble shooter!
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
A cure for insomnia!
PostedNovember 3, 2016
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I am a marble popper fanatic, and still play Luxor regularly. This one, however... As someone said, I can get better FREE Android games. This one reminds me of a very slow, clunky Phlinx, without the pretty graphics of Phlinx. In fact, I like Phlinx.
At any rate, also as another reviewer stated, not even for a PCC. Maybe if it were totally free...
Besides playing as though you're underwater, there is no way to accurately aim. You can't shoot between balls because they will stick. You CAN bounce off the walls, but there is no aiming line option. (NO options, really. Only sound/music on/off and full screen or not.)
Where they came up with this one, I can't imagine. I can't even imagine a kid over about 3 playing this.
I don't recommend this game.
Solve multicolor pictographic puzzles in order to save classic works of fiction from the evil Victor Vile!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Pretty good, could be better.
PostedSeptember 7, 2016
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
First, I always buy all the griddlers! Love 'em to death, and am totally addicted. But some ARE better than others. I'm not a big fan of the Penguins (know I'm in the minority) because they are way too easy. Some, notably 8 Floor games, are mind-numbingly difficult. World Mosaics, Gizmo, Arizona Rose, Hidden Clues, and a few others straddle the middle way, and these are my faves.
As to WM 8... It seems a little old-fashioned, a little slow and clunky. And no autofill! How retro is that? ;o)
Pros:
*Cute storyline
*Nice music
*Neutral background
*No ambiguities found*
*Good level of challenge
*As long as you don't release the mouse button, you can cancel your selection
*You can drag either tiles or pins out of the line/column without either losing your marks or making unwanted ones. (My biggest gripe with FM, since my hand/eye coordination could be better these days!)
*Cute storyline
*Nice music
*Neutral background
*No ambiguities found*
*Good level of challenge
*As long as you don't release the mouse button, you can cancel your selection
*You can drag either tiles or pins out of the line/column without either losing your marks or making unwanted ones. (My biggest gripe with FM, since my hand/eye coordination could be better these days!)
Cons:
*Non-skippable tutorial (Should be separate from gameplay)
*No autofill
*The colors! The story mode was fine, because it was a straight one color grid. The color mode, however, frankly sucked. WHY in the world would you put white tiles on a white background!?!? Too many of the colors were very pale, and hard to distinguish, either from the background or each other. FM uses unrealistic, garish colors, but at least you can SEE them. Couldn't they use the actual colors of the finished picture for the puzzle?
*Non-skippable tutorial (Should be separate from gameplay)
*No autofill
*The colors! The story mode was fine, because it was a straight one color grid. The color mode, however, frankly sucked. WHY in the world would you put white tiles on a white background!?!? Too many of the colors were very pale, and hard to distinguish, either from the background or each other. FM uses unrealistic, garish colors, but at least you can SEE them. Couldn't they use the actual colors of the finished picture for the puzzle?
Despite the cons, I liked the game a lot, and will no doubt replay it. I do recommend it highly - warts and all!
I recommend this game!
The penguin family is thrilled to discover a new palette of colors for mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Meh, another one.
PostedSeptember 1, 2016
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Large File, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Yet another in the penguin series.
Pros:
- It's a griddler
- It has autofill
- The music is very pleasant
- It has autofill
- The music is very pleasant
Cons:
- More weird stuff to put in a scene, including a stoner robot
- No story, though it doesn't matter much. I do like stories, though.
- Dragging on color tiles is touchy, and drops everything if you stray. OTOH, dragging on empties will get you errors if you stray. No likey.
- More weird stuff to put in a scene, including a stoner robot
- No story, though it doesn't matter much. I do like stories, though.
- Dragging on color tiles is touchy, and drops everything if you stray. OTOH, dragging on empties will get you errors if you stray. No likey.
I buy them all, because I am a picross addict. But this is probably my least favorite series because of the childishly easy puzzles. Very few are actually difficult. Each series has good points and flaws, but lack of challenge is the worst. I have gotten to level 3-3 in less than two hours. With interruptions.
If you want a challenge, try WM 8, Gizmo or the Hidden Clues series. If you want to pull your hair out, any of the 8 Floor games will accommodate you! THOSE are a griddler's delight, despite the lack of shiny colors and other add-ons.
I suppose I recommend this one for children and addicts who want a relaxing break from real puzzles.
I recommend this game!
The murders are escalating in the city! Follow the clues to crack the cases and arrest the killers!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Not bad, not great.
PostedMay 10, 2016
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Adventure, Large File, Marble Popper, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hidden Clues is the latest entry in the multicolor griddlers genre. There are now three of them out - not all at BFG. I like these games, but they are not the very best of them.
They have a story, such as it is. Better than Fantasy Mosaics, not as good as World Mosaics. You solve puzzles to get clues to solve murders. The detectives you work with are a strange lot, especially the dude in the bowler hat!
Graphics are sharp and clear, music good but repetitive - I don't listen to it. (I found the music coming back on by itself, and I had to move the slider to max and then to minimum to get rid of it. There should be an on/off button.) The colors vary from puzzle to puzzle. My gripe with the colors is that some of them are awfully close together, and I mistake them.
Mechanics are the usual left- right- click modes. Blank spaces autofill when a row/column is done. The highlight crosshair is pretty noticeable.
One thing I do NOT like is that once a square is filled, you can't commence counting more squares with it. The counter will only count squares not previously filled. This makes manual counting necessary, and is one of my biggest dings on the game.
My other gripe - and one I have with ALL the griddlers - is that you cannot choose a relaxed mode in which there are unlimited errors. I don't care about stars and achievements. I play for fun only. And it is NOT fun when you are almost done and make a fatal mistake and it's game over, start over. On complex grids, I have taken to making screen shots to avoid having to do it from scratch.
The game has some very easy grids, and some really hard ones - and they are, like Fantasy Mosaics, scattered through the game, not progressive.
I like it, I bought it, but it isn't the very best of them.
I recommend this game!
Refill four magic runes and help the poor wizard return back home.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
Beautiful, enjoyable, and not fatally flawed.
PostedApril 30, 2016
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Adventure, Large File, Marble Popper, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Okay, I'm addicted to these things. Many HOPAs lie abandoned in the virtual dust while I while away hours on griddlers. This one is one of the best in a long time, IMHO. It does have some flaws, at least for me, but they were not enough to spoil the fun.
The graphics are lush and beautiful. My only wish is that the animations could be turned on or off. Some of them are really distracting, at least to me. I listen to Pandora while I play, so can't comment on the music. Even the best of it gets tiresome after a while.
This is not the hardest griddler out there, but not the easiest, either. I find the challenge similar to Fantasy Mosaics, easier than the rest. MUCH easier than the hair-pullingly difficult 8-Floor games. The more colors, the easier, they seem. Except World Mosaics Chroma.
The storyline is about par for this type of game. That was good with World Mosaics and Gizmo - they actually had real stories that compelled me to keep playing.
To me, for a fairly easy, relaxing griddler, this beats Fantasy hands down. Why? The mechanics! If you accidentally hit a wrong square in FM, too bad, and the mouse is tetchy in FM to boot. This game allows you to back out of a bad move as long as you haven't let go of the mouse button. The play is smooth and flows, no jerkiness or hesitation. It also has autofill when a row is done. Best of all, it doesn't have those annoying conundrums that require guessing or using hints that FM has way too many of. (Don't get me wrong, I own all 14 of the FMs!) I also like the integrated appearance of the art of the runes, etc. I think the progress rewards in FM are just plain weird. In 13 it was the flat panel TV in the candlelit cottage. In 14 it was all those stoner animals, LOL.
There are a couple of things that could be improved. As others have mentioned, the numbers are pale and often fade into the background. For those of us with older eyes, that's a problem. I also wish the columns and rows lit up more when you move over them. That especially helps on larger grids, like the 20x20 ones.
As someone who started out on paper and pencil grids, I enjoy the ease of playing these. But I wish ALL the developers would give us a chance to turn OFF the limits on mistakes. I play to relax and give my brain a workout, not for achievements or a score. I really don't care about that, and hate it when I'm almost done, make a fatal mistake and have to start over!
Last of all, Fat Boy, one of my cats, LOVES the animations of the coins flying into the treasury. He sits on my desk and watches for them. >^..^<
I recommend this game!