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:
Venice Deluxe
Venice is sinking! Launch treasures and score tumble bonuses to restore the city to glory!
Overall rating
5
/
5
26 of 28 found this review helpful
Unique and addictive!
PostedNovember 27, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Venice Deluxe
(13)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Every now and then you stumble on a game that grabs you and won't let go! For me, Pathstorm was like that, and is still one of my favorites 5 years later. This is one of those games, albeit not quite as lengthy nor as "thinky" as Pathstorm!
You can call Venice a puzzle game, but it isn't like anything else I've ever played. It has elements of marble popping, elements of shape matching, elements of virtual mini-golf, and elements of brick busters. You try to shoot objects at their matching silhouettes, and as the game progresses, this isn't easy, as there are blockers, bouncers, and moving parts to overcome! If your shot goes astray, you have to catch the object you fired before it falls in the water.
A nice feature is that if you totally blow a level, you start the level over - you don't lose your place in the game. You have a little helper - a cherub very reminiscent of the cherub in Slingo, LOL. You will also get some interesting powerups.
There are 4 modes of play: Journey, Flood, Trick Shot and Survival. Trick shot can be unlocked by completing journey mode, and survival by completing flood. There are only 70 levels or so, but in all the different modes, that amounts to quite a few.
Journey is your basic play, flood is timed, and it is HARD! LOL, that one will take a long time to beat - at least for me. Haven't unlocked the other modes yet, but I expect even greater challenges.
Graphics are of good quality, colors bright, and artwork original. You can play fullscreen or windowed. There are volume controls for music and sounds, but that is about the extent of the options. The storyline is vague and superflous, but easy to ignore. I want story in HOPAs, but in this kind of game, meh.
Not sure how I missed this first time around, but glad I saw it when looking over the sale games. Bought it the second the demo was done! You gotta try this one!
I recommend this game!
Luna’s friend calls her to a remote island after unearthing ancient mystery. Now together they face the cult of the Wolf Man.
Overall rating
5
/
5
61 of 63 found this review helpful
Gorgeous game!
PostedNovember 26, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Oh, but the artwork in this game is gorgeous! It is a bit art deco in places, a bit steampunk, and a lot of dream world - or sometimes nightmare! Dark, but still colorful, beautifully drawn, and totally immersive environment.
I'm puzzled as to why some are saying the graphic quality is bad - it isn't! It has a softer quality to the art, and not the very "hard edged" look that I think people refer to as "crisp", but which I am not crazy about. But it is NOT muddy, and objects are easy enough to see.
This is one of my favorite devs (Empress of the Deep, Theater of the Absurd, Secrets of the Dragon Wheel), and this is a winner in my book. I saw a beta for it some months back, and have been eagerly awaiting the release. They know how to make it creepy without being ugly.
This is an adventure game, not a HO game. There are scenes where you find inventory items and parts to make something work, but mostly it is exploring, adventuring, and solving puzzles. Yay!
I haven't used the strategy guide, so can't comment on that. I'm playing on expert mode. You will get objectives to carry out, but no sparkles. This is not an overly difficult game, but it is still challenging enough to be fun without being hairpullingly frustrating. Hints are given as to what you must do, so pay attention. The cursor doesn't change, so you must pay attention and try different things. If it looks like you can pick it up, try it!
The map is helpful for finding out where you are, but it is not a jumping map - yay! I like to wander and look for things. The game is fairly linear, but you can wander off on side paths and see stuff you will need to go to later.
Voiceovers are good, occur throughout the game, and some are quite quirky. The ambient sounds and music are fitting and unobtrusive.
There is a bonus unlevel to unlock, and it appears that it will be a good length. I think the game will be as well, because there is a lot on the map, and I don't even have all the pieces of it yet!
This is a definite buy for me!
I recommend this game!
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
I'd actually give it 3.5 stars.
PostedNovember 23, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm not done with it, but several hours in, I'm not changing my mind about it. It has plenty of good, bad and ugly, IMHO. Not great, but not downright bad. By itself, it would probably be getting better ratings, but as a part of the MCF franchise, it just isn't up to the standards of the brand.
First of all, I'm really puzzled by BFG's insistence on the live actors, given the bad feedback they've gotten on them in the past. I liked the video clips in Dire Grove, because they had sort of a Blair Witch quality, and to me, added to the terror of the whole game. I didn't like the vids in 13th Skull - and was so put off that game I didn't buy it until it was a DD! The cutscenes in the Ravenhearst games fit in, and didn't feel "added". This one is like Skull, with cheesy overacting.
But acting aside, the game isn't that bad, though there are some things that totally suck, like the "strategy guide".
Good:
- Puzzles are challenging and much like those found in old adventure games. Yeah!
- Storyline isn't bad, but not as well developed as it could be.
- Gotcha moments are fun.
- Graphics are good, and the scenes are interesting.
- Not too many HOS, and stuff not too hard to find.
- Like having to explore multiple areas to find all the objects.
- Puzzles are challenging and much like those found in old adventure games. Yeah!
- Storyline isn't bad, but not as well developed as it could be.
- Gotcha moments are fun.
- Graphics are good, and the scenes are interesting.
- Not too many HOS, and stuff not too hard to find.
- Like having to explore multiple areas to find all the objects.
Bad:
- Don't like the map - though lots of people do, I suppose. I am not fond of "jumping maps", and would rather wander. This game doesn't give you that option as many do.
- Right behind that is that the scenes are static. No real sense of moving around. No getting to just explore.
- VERY linear. I don't like linear.
- Between linear and the babbling psychic, there is a lot of handholding I didn't want or expect. (I am probably playing on casual - I didn't see where you choose, and there is no option in game to change it.
- The morphing objects are too easy to spot.
- "Strategy guide". What? I can't figure out how it works, but it doesn't seem to be very helpful. I wanted to get a feel for the length of the game, but it isn't laid out in chapters like most. I wanted a hint on the safe in the quarry, and all I got was a picture of the gates, which I'd already opened. Oh, well. Thanks to the peeps in the forums, LOL. Not sure I'd have EVER gotten that one.
- Not much of a soundtrack. I'm one of those who likes a good soundtrack.
- Don't like the "village in the fog" thing. Too much like some of the "island" TM games. What's wrong with finding the path and following it, like in other games. (Maybe spend less on actors, and more on game next time, eh?)
- Don't like the map - though lots of people do, I suppose. I am not fond of "jumping maps", and would rather wander. This game doesn't give you that option as many do.
- Right behind that is that the scenes are static. No real sense of moving around. No getting to just explore.
- VERY linear. I don't like linear.
- Between linear and the babbling psychic, there is a lot of handholding I didn't want or expect. (I am probably playing on casual - I didn't see where you choose, and there is no option in game to change it.
- The morphing objects are too easy to spot.
- "Strategy guide". What? I can't figure out how it works, but it doesn't seem to be very helpful. I wanted to get a feel for the length of the game, but it isn't laid out in chapters like most. I wanted a hint on the safe in the quarry, and all I got was a picture of the gates, which I'd already opened. Oh, well. Thanks to the peeps in the forums, LOL. Not sure I'd have EVER gotten that one.
- Not much of a soundtrack. I'm one of those who likes a good soundtrack.
- Don't like the "village in the fog" thing. Too much like some of the "island" TM games. What's wrong with finding the path and following it, like in other games. (Maybe spend less on actors, and more on game next time, eh?)
It comes across as cheaply made, to me. A lot of things are old school, like the limited scenes and inability to look around. It's a slideshow instead of an interactive movie.
Nevertheless, it's still a decent play. As I said, the story is low key, but interesting, the characters from the past are interesting, too. And the puzzles are quite fun and challenging - at least for me. And there are still some "Easter eggs" to find - like the snarky D-ive Motel, LOL.
However, unless you are seriously totally nuts for morphing objects, wait for the SE - the morphing objects ARE the bonus play, and that is not even enough to be worth the extra for me. (I love 'em myself, and DID like EFR for those.)
I didn't participate in the speculation this year, and I had no build up, so maybe the letdown wasn't as bad for me. I am looking at it as a standalone game, and it's okay. It's decent. But it isn't excellent, and it certainly isn't great.
I recommend this game!
Help XIII find his true identity in this mysterious Adventure game! With a host of enemies and danger at every turn, XIII needs your help!
Overall rating
5
/
5
26 of 26 found this review helpful
This is an interactive novel kind of game...
PostedOctober 7, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The story is like a thriller novel, and it has so many twists and turns it's amazing. The story IS the game on this one, and for those who don't like to read dialog, well, then, you won't like it, because it's the whole point of the game.
The graphics are good, though static. The characters are cartoon style, but okay. Music is unobtrusive, but relaxing and fits the game. And, surprisingly, it's quite long. Took me about 5 hours with no skips and only a few HOS hints.
The HOS are mostly easy, and vary from lists to silhouettes to find x number of... Some of them have small objects, though, and I did use a few hints. The puzzles range from very simple to hair-pullingly hard! There is one wire puzzle near the end that is a doozie.
I really don't think this game merits such bad reviews. It's really quite a good game - it just is not a typical game - it's different, and I enjoyed it a lot. So much, in fact, I sat down to play and didn't get up until it was finished! For me, that's rare, but I just had to finish the story - like reading a good book.
I recommend this game!
The entire world is in danger! Join Seraphine in this amazing adventure and save the world from its doom.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Nope.
PostedAugust 22, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Okay game that could have been outstanding.
Pros:
- Graphics and artwork are excellent. Loved the lush, colorful scenery, and the good resolution.
- Storyline excellent. Good sci-fi theme, with the magnetic field switch theory.
- Graphics and artwork are excellent. Loved the lush, colorful scenery, and the good resolution.
- Storyline excellent. Good sci-fi theme, with the magnetic field switch theory.
Cons:
- Music was awful after about 3 minutes. Same loop, heavy beat that was really annoying.
- The floating board. This is not the kind that moves as you progress, ala 4 Elements, but seems to move in response to where you make matches almost at random. I'd rather see the whole thing, thank you.
- Fewer options. If I recall, the first IP had more game mechanic options. This one only has two - swap and chain.
- No relaxed mode. The timer is fast, and I almost lost the second M3 level already. No go for me!
- Music was awful after about 3 minutes. Same loop, heavy beat that was really annoying.
- The floating board. This is not the kind that moves as you progress, ala 4 Elements, but seems to move in response to where you make matches almost at random. I'd rather see the whole thing, thank you.
- Fewer options. If I recall, the first IP had more game mechanic options. This one only has two - swap and chain.
- No relaxed mode. The timer is fast, and I almost lost the second M3 level already. No go for me!
I really wanted to like it, but the floating board and short timer were killers. Might think about it as a DD, but not for a credit.
I don't recommend this game.
Alice plans to build a theme park where visitors can enjoy lots of world-famous landmarks. Are you ready to help build her dreamland?
Overall rating
5
/
5
21 of 25 found this review helpful
WooHoo! Yes! It's Mahjong Rivers!!!!!
PostedJuly 18, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Gemsweeper
(16)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is a fantastic game, and I bought it after about 10 minutes. When I read what others were saying, it started dawning on me that it sounded like Rivers, and it is! Years ago, I had a game called Kyodai Mahjong, and it had one play mode called Rivers, which became my favorite Mahjong game. It was played with a solid block of tiles, rather than the open layouts, but the play is the same. Maybe by the end of this it will be solid blocks.
This is NOT a match 3 - it is mahjong. Sadly, it isn't appealing to the M3 players, and mahjong players may overlook it, if they don't like M3. I almost passed it by. The main difference from mahjong is that new tiles fall to replace the ones you took out, so it is kind of a hybrid between M3 and Rivers. But it is ORIGINAL and that is something sadly lacking in most of the games coming down the pike.
I think the story is kind of lame, and the language stiff. But, who cares. The music is a smooth jazz track, and you can turn down the music separately from the sounds. I like the music, but different strokes.
Starts out easy, so that you can learn to play, and moves into more complex layouts. There are plenty of powerups, and that will probably help in later levels.
Try it, and you may find you like it. Don't let the bad reviews scare you off. It's a really good game!
I recommend this game!
A chance discovery sends Arizona Rose on a new life of adventure and it’s up to you to help her decipher Blackbeard's treasure maps!
Overall rating
4
/
5
55 of 60 found this review helpful
Almost a great game!
PostedJuly 5, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
KUDOS! For one really fantastic feature found in no other picross game I've tried: If you exit in the middle of a puzzle, it saves your progress!! This is super, especially on the harder puzzles. One of the gripes I have with the World Mosaics/World Riddles is that some of the puzzles are truly difficult, but you cannot save your progress for another session.
I've been playing the game for a couple of weeks, as I bought it on release day elsewhere. So, alas, I also have some rotten tomatoes to hurl... For one thing, there are ambiguities in these puzzles. In other words, you can find spots where two solutions are equally possible and correct. So you either guess at it or use a hint. I've never found ambiguities in the other series.
Secondly, when you clear blank tiles, they simply vanish, leaving the background showing through. On some of the puzzles, it is VERY difficult to tell where tiles are gone, still undetermined, or positively id'd. They really need to change that. Many reviewers at other sites have complained about the same thing, and I hope they will release an updated version with opaque and plain background that makes it easy to see where you are.
I like the art, the music (very relaxing), and the picross puzzles, except as noted above. It's a nice long game, too. The story is okay, but in this type of game, I can take it or leave it. The puzzles are the thing! I guess they wanted to offer some variety, so there are a few HO scenes, which I wish had a skip button.
There are also some mosaic inlay type puzzles that get harder as you go. I don't like these in the first place, and you cannot skip them. I got stuck on one, and no matter how hard I tried, couldn't finish it in time. I thought I was stuck forever. After about 6 tries, I finally finished, but I don't want to see the next one! Those REALLY need a skip button.
I wish developers would understand that if you like the main puzzle genre, you may not like the others, or may not be good at them, and it kills the game for you if you HAVE to play them to progress. I almost canned the game because of the mosaic puzzles. It's our game, we bought it for our pleasure, and we should be able to play it the way we want to - not the way the developer thinks it ought to be played!
I recommend this game!
Return a valuable idol in Kate Arrow Deserted Wood! Help Kate travel deep into the jungle in this fun Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Old hat
PostedJune 24, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
In a word: Boring. I knew there was a reason I didn't buy it when it came out, and playing again today reminded me what it was. Even for two bucks, I'll pass.
Pros:
- Passable storyline, though without any real excitement.
- The soundtrack is pleasant, if repetitive
- Graphics are sharp and clear
- Passable storyline, though without any real excitement.
- The soundtrack is pleasant, if repetitive
- Graphics are sharp and clear
Cons:
- There is nothing here that makes me want to go on.
- HOS after HOS after HOS
- Extremely linear
- Objects can be hard to find - very hard to find
- Hint refills slowly
- Puzzles really easy
- Can't turn off the sparkles
- There is nothing here that makes me want to go on.
- HOS after HOS after HOS
- Extremely linear
- Objects can be hard to find - very hard to find
- Hint refills slowly
- Puzzles really easy
- Can't turn off the sparkles
This is a straight HOG with a few puzzles tossed in. If you like HOGs, you may well like it. I prefer adventure, and if there is any in the game, I didn't get to it before I got tired of playing. It didn't require much thought, it was obvious what inventory was used for, and you find it, use it, rinse, repeat.
Some obviously have liked it, but not for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Rescue a young girl from the Penumbra Motel. Solve puzzles, unravel a long standing mystery of death and disappearances in this heart-pounding adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Better than most ERS games...
PostedMay 30, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm not a huge fan of ERS, as they seem to be pretty much junkpile style HOGs with a little adventure thrown in. Their production values are good, but the games are kind of cookie cutter as a rule. This one breaks the rules, and I liked it. Not enough to buy the collector's edition, but I will be getting the SE. (From the description, I don't see any extra gameplay mentioned, just the frou-frou, which I don't care about.)
Interestingly, they used film clips throughout, sort of like the ones in Dire Grove. It's a feature I really like, as it adds to the suspense.
I only played the demo, on medium difficulty, and here's my rating:
Pros:
- Graphics/visuals
- Little "gotchas" that made me jump
- Great voiceovers
- Engaging storyline
- NO HOG scenes!!! YES!!!
- Little "gotchas" that made me jump
- Great voiceovers
- Engaging storyline
- NO HOG scenes!!! YES!!!
Cons:
- Way too linear. Find it, use it. Rinse, repeat. You really didn't need to think much about inventory items. Very obvious.
- Too many slider/swap places puzzles. I skipped a couple.
- I didn't find the little girl very likeable, and she screamed too much.
- Too many slider/swap places puzzles. I skipped a couple.
- I didn't find the little girl very likeable, and she screamed too much.
Yeah, I'm still waiting for the next Myst or Syberia, but in the meantime, this one isn't half bad. I did enjoy my hour, and look forward to the SE.
I recommend this game!
Rediscover your identity and prove your innocence in The Cross Formula, an incredible Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
112 of 120 found this review helpful
Having a ball with this one!
PostedFebruary 4, 2012
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Marble Popper, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This is a different game - even for an adventure game. It has the feel of a graphic novel, with minimalist artwork, all hand drawn. I happen to like the style, but some may not. The music was suited to the scenes, but I wish there had been voiceovers.
This is classic adventure. You are dropped, clueless, into the story, and you have to discover what the story is. You will have to find things, but they are all inventory, and some of them are hard to find. You will interact with other characters, and converse with them, though I don't find this one particularly dialog heavy.
You have to figure out what to do, and what you need to do it. Then there are puzzles that increase in difficulty as you progress. Some of them are quite difficult. I played on medium difficulty, which gives you no hints, but will allow you to skip puzzles, which, so far, I have not. It's challenging without being frustrating, and my major quibble is that it is too linear, but it is a casual game, after all, not a large file adventure.
This is the sort of game you either love or hate, I think. If you don't like wandering and exploring, hunting and thinking, or if you do like sparkles and hand-holding, it isn't your cuppa! But if you like "thinky" games, adventures, and something a little different, you will probably enjoy it. (Not liking it doesn't make it a bad game, or a rubbish game, it just means it isn't your style of play.)
Myst or Syberia it's not, but it is still a very interesting and fun game. I'm very glad BFG offered this game, and kudos to the developers. I'm sick of HOGs, especially dark, foggy, junkpile ones, and this is such a refreshing change!
I recommend this game!