ninja226's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.1
- Helpful Votes:1,277
- Reviews Submitted:359
- First Review:July 23, 2016
- Most Recent Review:April 26, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve this maritime mystery to reunite a pirate with his lost love.
Overall rating
4
/
5
A haunting pirate mystery and love story
PostedAugust 31, 2017
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is a bit old school, but a good storyline combined with fun HOP and mini puzzles lifts it above average.
It doesn't have any special effects, and the voiceovers come in the form of a British voice narrating transition points and letters found during journey. Instead of hand drawn artwork, the scenes appear to be actual photographs of actual places, and modified to look mysterious, haunted, and gloomy. But then there are paintings in the castle which have cartoon character drawings.
In other respects, it is the usual HO mystery adventure. The one distinctive game feature is there are coins dispersed in all scenes, and yes, you have to find as many coins as possible to open up chests that hold a specific item (key, orb, scroll etc) that are pivotal to progressing through the game. Fortunately, the map tells you where coins can be found and has exclamation point in places where tasks are available. HOPs are standard, with a few interactions needed. Mini puzzles are not too hard.
The one thing I didn't like is the Hints provided don't lead you by arrows to where the action is. Instead you get a message in small font telling you what needs to be done.
The story is above average in its telling, and is more like a mystery than many of the usual BF offerings, which are a combo of adventure and far-fetched mystery fantasies.
An interesting and fun pirate romance and mystery well worth trying for a slightly different game experience.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the Metzengerstein line before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Romeo and Juliet with happy ending
PostedAugust 29, 2017
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The artwork for game makes up for lackluster storyline and game play. It's not a TERRIBLE game, just OK.
I recommend this game!
When minotaurs attack, only you can save the day.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Game Gold
PostedAugust 29, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Loved this game. The music is Enya-like, ie soothing. Game moves quickly, with mini puzzles being easy, and HOPs are varied. There are fairytale elements such as Minotaurs, a prince who can light items with a ball of fire, and an amulet that allows you to "see" invisible items. The story is easy to follow. Artwork is beautiful, with scenery and setting reminiscent of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I have no complaints about this game, and had a thoroughly good time traveling through this imaginary world for 4 hrs.
I recommend this game!
Mysterious creatures are terrorizing the train!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
GREAT game, but way too short
PostedAugust 26, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Loved this game, especially the artwork, which is gorgeous. It's fun being on a train with interiors from a luxe hotel.
The game goes by quickly, but alas, game is too short.
Elf the chihuahua is very helpful and wears a loud Hawaiian shirt, too cute.
Wish it could have been longer.
The game goes by quickly, but alas, game is too short.
Elf the chihuahua is very helpful and wears a loud Hawaiian shirt, too cute.
Wish it could have been longer.
I recommend this game!
Someone’s attacking the Witches’ University!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
The magic is back!
PostedAugust 26, 2017
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Maybe a 3rd generation of witches need to be developed. Bertha the ferret makes an appearance, but it is brief, and for the most part, the ferret just lounges at the bottom of the taskbar.
The beginning is very promising, with a lot of creative touches. I especially liked the mouse lab where the mice create fantastic magical items for the students. The middle of the game drags a bit, and many of the actions in this part are not logical or obvious. Then it picks up again, with a nice ending.
I would have bought the CE version, which has morphing objects and jigsaw puzzle pieces to find, in addition to all the usual stuff found in the SE. A few of the puzzles were harder than usual, requiring me to skip. One game had terrible instructions.
The graphics are clearer than usual, but the art itself is very good. If the devs had bothered to make everything hi-def, it would be awesome, but they chose to make the game just shy of high def, so it doesn't have that Wow factor.
One thing I did not like is the devs were fixated on the orange-red moon, so you got a red moon every time you moved to a different area within the scene. The other annoying thing was you could not skip the intro video cut scene.
I'm not one to call an end to this series, but I do think the devs need to create everything in high definition imagery. There is a lot of creative, imaginative touches to the characters, the setting, the magic associated with ordinary actions, but it suffers because it's not in high def. This game had more sharpness and clarity compared to the older games, but the video cut scenes still looks slightly fuzzy around the edges.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the secrets buried under Karkhala Peak.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Into the heart of darkness
PostedAugust 26, 2017
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game has the feel of Indiana Jones in Nepal, except Indy is perpetually injured and the protagonist is an intrepid heroine who collects "evidence" with her iphone.
The game can be played on expert mode, which allows Hint & skip, as well as helpful messages.
The setting is Vermont (briefly), with most of the game occurring somewhere in Asia, with lots of mountains and a mute Chinese girl Fang, who plays a pivotal role towards the end.
I liked that the game takes place in a remote and exotic locale, for a change, from the usual dark, creaky, haunted houses of most HO games. The VOs are good. Artwork is well done for the most part. The puzzles are not too hard, but HOPs are challenging, as items to find are really blended in well with other items.There are a few typos in the HOP lists, but a lot of poetry in the messages heroine finds in her adventure. The story is pretty elaborate, hard to follow for me, but a lot of work went into developing the narrative.
It's a fun adventure without the usual hassles of travel in exotic locales.
I recommend this game!
When a casual fling turns steamy for a brilliant wedding photographer, Mackensie decides to try to capture the romance!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
For girly-girls who like weddings and HO
PostedAugust 19, 2017
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game is a take off on one of Nora Roberts novels, with the author herself introducing the game in a brief video clip.
The characters of the story are cameo sized, but all extremely good looking and narrate the story with voiceovers.
The HOP are static pictures of heavily layered objects on top of objects. The setting is contemporary, the images are very clear, sharp, and true to life. Objects to find are really SMALL, and no magnifying glass or zoom feature to help find. You have choice of playing in timed mode or carefree (no timer). Even on timed mode, you get 20-30 minutes for each chapter, so there is plenty of time to search for objects and enjoy the imagery. Each HOP has V-O-W-S monogrammed letters that if found, earns you a Hint to use.
In between the HOPs, there are mini games to play, such as creating a flower bouquet matching the silhouette drawing; create a wedding cake matching the picture; taking photographs and cropping photos to match specific criteria; and escorting guests at the wedding reception. Each completed mini game earns you one credit.
This game is not for everyone, as it does not have special effects, morphing objects, HOPs with interaction etc, but it has its own charm. If you are a girl-woman who likes romance novels, realistic and high def wedding imagery, and like the challenge of finding teeny-tiny items in HOPs, this game may be up your alley. I suggest you try the demo to see.
The HOPs scenes do repeat, but items to find change. There are multiple scenes that hint at a love scene, but you will not get a blow-by-blow of the seduction scene in graphic words. The game does follow linear progress, as it's based on a novel.
It's a good change of pace from the usual BF games, and definitely worth a game credit or bought on sale.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a destructive scientist before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
SUPER long game, many brain teasers & gadgets
PostedAugust 18, 2017
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a super long game when played on advanced mode. Having a strategy guide as part of the game is useful, because several of the mini puzzles are challenging (well, I played on Hard mode, so that is my perspective).All mini puzzles have the choice of Easy or Hard mode that is chosen at any time of game play.
There are more puzzles than HOS, and even some of the HOS items are more challenging than usual. However, you have the option of playing match 3 instead of HO. There's even an achievement if you play 5 match 3 games instead of HO.
Instructions for the puzzles are well done, except for one, which I have never seen before and there was no instruction indicating when you have reached a solution.
Collectibles include film strips, Maxwell's inventions, and morphing objects. There is an indicator at bottom center that lights up blue to tell you a morphing object or invention to find in scene, which is extremely helpful to help you keep track of collectibles. I wish all CE games had this function, as I am always missing a few collectibles.
At the end, there is a display room for Maxwell's inventions and morphing objects, which is a collection of gadgets that you wish we had in real life. They are whimsical, creative, and sometimes, outright preposterous. You click on the collectible, and it pops out an explanation of what the gadget's function or purpose is. The filmstrips add up to film reels that give a brief description of what happens to the main characters encountered in the game. That is a nice touch. The written narrative for the film reels flash on the screen for 3 seconds, which is way too fast--I had to play the reels several times just to catch what was written.
The bonus game is long, and explains how the villain in the main chapter went rogue and became a baddie.
The artwork is high def and good, but it's not a fairytale setting with lots of flowers and elegant interiors. It has a masculine and machinistic feel to the setting.
If you like gadgets, this game is for you. HO and mini puzzles are replayable. Concept art, music, and wallpapers are above average.
The devs went over and beyond the usual in creating this game, which has a lot of detail and thought. It's a game you could play again and not be bored.
This game is well worth the price of a CE, and you will get a lot more when you purchase the CE over an SE.
I recommend this game!
Return to Blake's Mountain to save an innocent family!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Super cute scarecrow child, otherwise ho-hum game
PostedAugust 17, 2017
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The best part of the game is your scarecrow child helper/assistant. The game's storyline, HOS, and mini puzzles to me did not present anything innovative, outstanding, or just plain fun. The game doesn't cover any new territory.
Worth a game credit.
Worth a game credit.
I don't recommend this game.
Submerge into the unknown! Step into the shoes of paranormal detective, Iris Birdwood and solve an otherworldly kidnapping.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Fantastic fun sci-fi HO mystery game
PostedAugust 17, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This seems to be an old game, with not real fancy special effects, but good storyline, not too many HOS, mostly mini puzzles that are pretty easy, and good artwork. All elements of the game flow together seamlessly, making for a quick game.
This game also has extras normally included with CE version, such as 22 collectibles (eye of Horus), wallpaper, concept art, achievements, but no bonus game.
The only flaw of the game is the voiceover for Iris Birdwood has her speaking really s-l-o-w, while all the other characters speak at normal pace.I found it really exasperating, when she's the detective who is following all the clues to rescue the missing girl, girl's father, and Dr. Magnus.
Thoroughly enjoyed this game. Too bad there are not more Iris Birdwood sequels. This game takes place in 1920s and features Art Deco buildings, if you're into that.
This game also has extras normally included with CE version, such as 22 collectibles (eye of Horus), wallpaper, concept art, achievements, but no bonus game.
The only flaw of the game is the voiceover for Iris Birdwood has her speaking really s-l-o-w, while all the other characters speak at normal pace.I found it really exasperating, when she's the detective who is following all the clues to rescue the missing girl, girl's father, and Dr. Magnus.
Thoroughly enjoyed this game. Too bad there are not more Iris Birdwood sequels. This game takes place in 1920s and features Art Deco buildings, if you're into that.
I recommend this game!