ecblisa's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:3,199
- Reviews Submitted:76
- First Review:February 3, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 10, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Wordary
Push your lexical skills to the limit! Wordary is an original and addictive word game that the whole family can enjoy.
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 32 found this review helpful
Not for me, but might be for some
PostedJune 18, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
There are few word games I don't like, but this one is one of them. There are several game modes, but they are all timed. When I play a word game, I want to have time to think and be creative, not race against the clock, which forces one to make relatively easy words. I also don't much like the "word search" aspect, in the sense that to keep rotating the wheels to find letters that go together bores me.
Still, it is not an inherently bad game, and for people who do like the timed aspect and the word search aspect, I recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Sophie wakes up in an empty room with no idea who she is. Help her regain her memories and uncover the truth in this unique Match 3 experience.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Great potential, but still needs work!
PostedJune 5, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've played this game for 2+ hours, and there are a few things I really like about it: the many different game modes, with new ones still coming along now; the well constructed puzzles; and the different game options, including completely untimed. Because of this, I do recommend it, but barely. It is a nice game for a match-3 beginner to learn all the different game modes.
Unfortunately, the first problem I stumbled upon was a pet peeve of mine: no ability to make the music quieter without turning it off altogether. The next was that the characters are, to me, very annoying. I dislike them both.
The main issue, though, is that this far into the game, there is still little real challenge. Each level is just a little too easy to be quite enough fun. I only play untimed, so maybe the challenge is in a rigid timer.
This game could be a really nice one with some relatively simple improvements. Too bad it didn't get them already.
I recommend this game!
Help Rupert and his friends retrieve the Oracle of Ur?
Overall rating
4
/
5
54 of 62 found this review helpful
Not worse than earlier J Q Mysteries, gets quite hard later
PostedMay 22, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've played all the Jewel Quest games, and I don't agree that this one is not up to the others. I've now finished the first chapter, and there have already been some tough mini-games. The Jewel Boards are getting harder also.
It is a forgiving game, in that the HOG scenes are not terribly tough, and hints are available. There is a timer on some of the jewel boards, but you can buy extra time. Mini-games are infinitely resettable and skippable.
To me, the mix of puzzles, match-3 boards with unusual features, and attractive HOG and "fix the mechanism" scenes hits the spot. I don't mind the somewhat excessive dialog, and the less than stellar story.
Not the perfect game for the action addict, for sure, but a nice relaxing game for a more laid-back player, except for a few of those frustrating mini-games I never want to skip!
I recommend this game!
Retrieve the Magic Pearl from Sprutto the octopus!
Overall rating
4
/
5
40 of 46 found this review helpful
Fun, but gets very frustrating
PostedMay 21, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Having played about 90% of this game, I find the way the tokens move very frustrating at the higher levels, and ultimately boring when I get stuck. The tokens do not move predictably, but rather flow along a path partly driven by the direction in which the last group was selected.
This starts out as a relatively normal match-3 game, but then you have to first have the crab pick up a key, or open a chest, and lastly both pick up the key and open the chest on the same level. If a player is familiar with the "make a path" type of match-3, this seems not that bad, but here you have to make the tokens move toward the goal as a group, taking the crab along. Given the obstacles and sometimes just too few good matches, as well as the convoluted board shapes at higher levels, this can get the player stuck for quite a while doing much of nothing, just to unblock the crab's path. The game is enjoyable for me in the untimed mode, but it's not one I'll keep replaying.
I recommend this game!
Journey into the world of imagination and recreate sumptuous Japanese woodblock prints by moving the shadows in this innovative puzzle game for players all ages!
Overall rating
4
/
5
35 of 37 found this review helpful
Very difficult but fun puzzle game
PostedMay 16, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As often happens, I'm writing a review after playing this game for some time in order to help people be clear about what the game does and does not do.
Let's get the negatives over with: sound only goes on and off (but I enjoy the music#, how to play can be obscure, and hints can be irritatingly unhelpful.
Now the good part: This is a truly original game. You get various black shapes that can be turned each of four ways, and you need to assemble them into a picture. This can be quite difficult and frustrating. The fact that the name of the picture is in Japanese does not help, except in the case of a few Japanese words I do know #koi might help everyone!#
I'm not sure why people say you can't progress without getting 3 stars. That is simply not true. You do have to play the "easy" level of each group to go to the "medium" level, so that may be the confusion. Also, there is no timer. The score is turn-based #how many manipulations of the pieces did you need to solve the puzzle?).
I love it when the black-and-white outline changes into the very nicely rendered color picture. It's worth all the agony.
As a photographer, I enjoy trying to read some sense into the outlines.
For those who like a game that takes some real effort, with no time constraints and a good reward, I recommend you try this.
I recommend this game!
Help the world rediscover all the beauty of past generations. Rebuild famous historical buildings while having fun with classic Match 3 gameplay!
Overall rating
4
/
5
68 of 72 found this review helpful
You might like this game if you keep playing it
PostedMay 9, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Let's get one thing out of the way up front: this game is not really timed. The timer only limits your ability to get resources and money, you do not ever "lose" a level, and you can replay any you didn't do well at. Also, the time given is extremely generous. The only reason for the timer is to avoid the possibility of people intentionally not finishing a level and just gathering lots of resources, which is not the point of the game.
I've played the game for about 4 hours, and it is really quite a fun game #OK, traditional match-3, but I like that#. The levels get new bells and whistles, eventually locks and probably worse. It seems to be an extremely long game.
As far as the building of monuments is concerned, I actually like the fact you don't have to waste a lot of time watching someone build them #like in Cradle of Rome#. Instead, you go to your album and see a picture and get a written history of the thing you worked to build.
The two things I will criticize are the fact that you have to wait for all tiles to fall before you can make any move #even on the far side of the board#, and the music, which is frankly crazy-making in its insistent repetitive nature.
Bottom line: If you like a pretty classic match-3 that has few truly bad features, this might be your game.
I recommend this game!
Enter the Whispering Woods and meet the Peablins in this handtastic puzzle game! Help them join hands and escape the Bogeyman!
Overall rating
5
/
5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
A very nice game that gets quite hard
PostedApril 25, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I like puzzle games, and this one reminds a little bit of Puzzling Paws, which I also enjoyed. Entirely different styles, but both involve thinking through moves and letting your little grey cells work at a solution, and both have lovable graphics.
The game gets steadily harder. I am not that far past the demo, but already met one level that baffled me for a while. As the complexity of the game pieces rises, the difficulty of finding a solution rises. Still, the game play is very understandable -- no mystery moves -- and you can choose to solve a level without getting the gold star and then go back later and try again once you have more experience.
No time pressure whatsoever, which is really nice.
I recommend this game!
Enjoy this classic tabletop game of Crokinole redesigned as an exciting new casual game experience in Clockwork Crokinole!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Waiting for version .2
PostedApril 21, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is an addictive game, and I agree with previous reviewers about its attractions. I have bought it and played it several times. Still, it needs to be made into a mainstream game. How about these fixes: Remember the human player from the last game; have a high score table; fix whatever makes the game crash whenever I play with four players; let us choose opponents and keep their scores as well. Just my wish list, but so far it is a mini-game with great potential as a full-sized game far as I am concerned.
I recommend this game!
Explore the mysteries of evolution in this exciting puzzle game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Rather fun, once you get it.
PostedApril 20, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've played this game to the end, and think it has replay value. What you have to get is the math. Three worms to make a salamander, three salamanders to make a toad and so on. To keep evolving the species in each level, you have to make more and more matches. There are three worlds, and each works the same way. Each level up is a new level of evolution and requires more and more matches.
The game is flawed, I admit. There is only an on/off button for sound (no level control, no separate music control#, and levels #which can take 20 or more minutes to play) cannot be saved unless they have been completed. There is a timer that determines how many stars you get for playing the level, but the slow fall of new tokens is the main obstacle to getting a good time.
Still, this is an interesting and different game. I especially enjoyed the animated game pieces.
I recommend this game!
The Hods, magical beings and pure of heart, once lived in harmony with the holy Tree of Life. But the endless greed of a dark demon forced the Hods into hiding. Now, new hope springs eternal. Rebuild the world of the Hods in this Match 3 Adventure Game and restore the Tree of Life to its old strength!
Overall rating
5
/
5
133 of 160 found this review helpful
A truly new Match-3 with something to offer
PostedApril 14, 2012
ecblisa
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a creative new game with some lovely art -- many attractive backgrounds, and nice tile sets. It requires both tile breaking and "resource gathering" to get past each level.
I can only speak to the untimed adventure game, because I have not played the others, but I've played that past about 50 levels I think. If there are level numbers somewhere, I have yet to find them. There are 100 levels in the Adventure game portion.
The game is not terribly hard, but it has some quirky challenges, like spaces that are very difficult to match and will need power-ups to clear, or holes in the board that make matching difficult in all areas. Easier levels seem to interchange with harder ones, perhaps to allow people who find the hard ones challenging to recharge the power-ups.
The power-ups come very slowly in the beginning, which is something I like, and then start building up. You have to earn them by matching coins, and the coins get more valuable as the game goes on.
This may not be the right game for someone who craves a big challenge, but it is by no means too simplistic, and just a great way to spend a rainy Saturday, as I'm doing.
So far, the game has run flawlessly for me, which is nice.
I recommend this game!