SeaBamboo's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:3,793
- Reviews Submitted:147
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 21, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Save your sister and uncover the secrets of an ancient organization in Silent Nights: The Pianist!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
Excellent gameplay - good mini games
PostedMay 7, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was surprised there wasn’t more piano music given the title of the game but it did not spoil my enjoyment. The voiceovers were excellent & I was able to change the brightness in the options, thanks to the developer for this. The graphics were clear & the artwork very good although the hidden object scenes were junk piles which was a let down. There were several different cats in the H0s – I wonder if they belong to the artists.
There are two modes, casual with a 30 second hint recharge, sparkles & glints for areas of interest & challenge with a 60 second hint & sparkles for the H0 scenes only. The hint button is helpful; it will point which way to go if you get stuck.
There are about the same number of H0s as there are mini puzzles; the puzzles were fun & some take patience to solve. There are the usual opening locks, Simon says, etc. but also some I haven’t played before. There is a skip button if you need it.
As you get deeper into the game a lot of different areas open up & there is a great deal of going back & forth to either find items or returning to a scene after an item has been found. At times you will end up with a lot of inventory objects waiting to be used.
There is no journal so might like to make a few brief notes about any codes you may find.
The ending is excellent; it gets your heart racing as it makes you feel you won’t solve the puzzles to save your sister & leaves room for a sequel.
I recommend this game!
Face your fears and unravel the mystery of the abandoned asylum!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
In built strategy guide & wallpapers - kudos to the developer
PostedMay 7, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This offering from Lazy Turtle Games has an integrated strategy guide so no looking for a walkthrough, there are six achievements to win & 22 morphing objects (not all of these are shown in the guide unfortunately), wallpapers, all this in a Standard Edition. Kudos to the developers.
I found the screen size difficult to set for my monitor (widescreen 24 inch) – the actual fullscreen setting meant I could not read the words at the top of the screen but if I switched off the screen was at least 1 inch too small all round & I could see my desktop.
The graphics are reasonably sharp (depending on how you set the screen size) but the artwork is dark & dreary & this is where the game is really let down. The lack of contrast in the scenes made it very difficult to make out an object within the H0 scenes; in addition some of the items are extremely small. They are the usual word lists but have several interactive items within each one.
The mini puzzles that I met during were all easy; lock picking, tile sliding, finding several items to open a lock, etc.
The mini puzzles that I met during were all easy; lock picking, tile sliding, finding several items to open a lock, etc.
There are two modes of gameplay, casual with a 30 second hint recharge, sparkles & glints or expert with 60 second hint & the hidden object scenes sparkle. I confess I did not find a great deal of difference between the two. The hint button is not much use outside of the H0 scenes except to tell you that there is no outstanding task in an area although if you use it when there is a task to finish but for which you do not yet have the items this will be highlighted.
There are a few voiceovers when you encounter a character & these are excellent, the music & background sounds are very subtle. There isn’t much of a story element & initially the game wasn't that creepy but it does get scarier once you reach the patients rooms.
There is a lot of going back & forth to find items to open locks & suchlike, an interactive map would have helped. Still it took me just under four hours to finish so this is a good length game.
I recommend this game!
In this adventurous romance, outwit powerful villains and break an evil curse inflicted upon your love, Hari, while saving your best friend’s life!
Overall rating
2
/
5
77 of 87 found this review helpful
Only for those who love to solve mini puzzles
PostedMay 6, 2012
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Since I bought Tiger Eye Curse of the Riddle Box I have really looked forward to the second game; there is a brief resume of the first game in the prologue & this can be played in isolation but you will miss the background to Dela & Hari’s story if you did not play the first one.
Here you explore Dela’s hometown & try to find her friend who has been kidnapped & to free Hari from the influence of the riddle box, however the exploring is rather disjointed, there is not as much story with this game & it feels as though you are moving to different places simply to collect items & solve puzzles rather than following a logical process. The graphics are clear but the artwork is not as good as the first game & many scenes remind me of a junkpile H0G (Dela’s workshop for instance).
There are 3 modes of play, casual with sparkles, advanced without & you start off with 6 hints in both; if you earn 20 hints in one of the easier modes it unlocks expert where the puzzles are harder & there is no hint or skip button. Extra hints are earned through the game so you are unlikely to run out.
This is a game that concentrates on solving puzzles & these are excellent, numerous & varied – there are some I have not played before. In addition occasionally Dela uses her physic power & it triggers a match 3. Each puzzle has 2 hints to help you solve them which is really helpful as I certainly could not solve them all without; if you still cannot get the answer then there is a skip button.
There are hidden objects but they are not the usual word list; mostly you have to find a specific set of items to solve a puzzle or repair an item, etc. & you search for the items within the main scenes.
All in all neither the story nor the artwork is as good as the first game & I miss the interaction between Dela & Hari as it is brief & sparse here. It is also rather short; it took me around 2-1/2 hours to finish, I would only recommend if you really like solving mini puzzles.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Nelly and Tom free the unlucky ghosts being trapped by the evil alchemist in Treasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
Not too hard & an entertaining game
PostedMay 5, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I first played this game back in February 2010 but decided to replay in May 2012; the graphics are still clear but unfortunately the artwork has suffered over the two years; the contrast is not as good as it was & in the hidden object scenes in particular look rather like an overexposed photograph.
Still this is a reasonably lengthy game; about 3 hours for me, & was fun to play as there are a 5 different countries to visit & of course the scenery changes with each one. There are no voiceovers & the dialogue is clickable. The hint recharges in 60 seconds on casual mode or 2 minutes on advanced.
The hidden objects are of two types, there are a few of the normal word lists & the main ones are wheels of pictures within the main scenes, there are some interactive items (more as you play further into the game).
The mini puzzles are pretty easy, mostly of the reassemble a picture or a letter type. You do get a task list & this is the main purpose of the game, to find & assemble items to solve the task & eventually move to the next area.
The bonus game does not have anything to do with the main game so you will not be deprived of anything if you buy the standard edition rather than the collectors. It only took me 45 minutes to play the bonus chapter so is not worth the extra cost.
This is an entertaining game & is not too hard to play.
I recommend this game!
Follow a mysterious signal to the middle of the ocean with Professor John Darby and explore an island that has magically appeared!
Overall rating
3
/
5
51 of 52 found this review helpful
Straight hidden object game
PostedApril 30, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is definitely a game for hidden object lovers as each scene will present you with a word list; there are mini puzzles within the scenes, find the matching pairs, balance a scale, spot the difference, get the gears moving, etc; these all add interest to the gameplay & there is a skip button.
The objects can be quite difficult to find as many are well hidden; there are scenes within the scenes such as a suitcase to open to find some items. In addition your camera will take pictures & these are used as inventory items.
There is no choice in the mode of play, no timers & a hint that recharges in 60 seconds. The scenes are varied & well drawn although many of them are really just junk piles & can take time to make sense of the mess.
You will want to play your own music but if all you want to do is find items this is a good choice to play.
I recommend this game!
After Awakening in a mysterious castle it's up to you to collect clues and items needed to solve perplexing puzzles and escape!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Light & cheerful to play
PostedApril 30, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is the first in a trilogy of ‘Awakening’ games from my favourite developer Boomzap; it has the usual beautiful fairy-tale artwork & bright cheerful clear graphics that I associate with them. Unusually there is a choice of 4 languages & although the few cut scenes still retain spoken English the clues & other writing through the game are in the chosen language.
There is no choice of gameplay mode so expect sparkles to abound anywhere of interest, the hint recharges in 60 seconds. This is useful in the hidden object scenes but of limited value in the main scenes; if you clear all the open tasks in a scene & then select the hint it will still point at the one task that you cannot complete until you have found a specific object. This can be a little frustrating as it is not always obvious what your next move is so you might end up wandering through scenes trying to recall what needs to be done.
The cursor does tend to be obstinate on some items & it can take several clicks to pick things up, this occurred to me quite a lot; be warned some of the items to collect are very small.
There are not many H0 scenes; this game is about solving puzzles for which you usually have to gather a number of items or mini games most of which are easy; they tend to be of the Simon Says; match items; move tiles to create picture; mah-jong type.
The game took me around two hours to finish so isn’t very long but it is worth playing & once you finish you can play unlimited Goblinjong which is a mah-jong matching game. As you play the levels of this extra you learn more about the world of Awakening.
Too easy for experienced gamers & rather too feminine for the male population but a lovely game to play.
I recommend this game!
Uncover a dark scheme in Entwined: Strings of Deception and solve an elaborate murder mystery!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Too dull, too plodding
PostedApril 16, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I love detective mysteries but this was definitely way too boring to hold my attention & all I could do was plod through the game to get to the end as soon as possible. It was a classic murder but without any of the ingeniousness of an Agatha Christie or the enjoyment of a James Patterson.
The objectives are very clear & you will end up with a long task list; if you get stuck simply click on the task & you will get a list of actions to solve the puzzle, sort of like a built in walkthrough.
The voiceovers are excellent but unfortunately none of the dialogue is clickable so you have to sit through interminable speeches or skip the scene altogether. The graphics remind me of the old fashioned games, they are very flat & uninteresting.
The hidden object scenes are all junk piles, the puzzles are nothing new & you end up filling up your inventory with items & wondering what to do with half of them. You do get to collect 17 fingerprints & 20 pieces jewellery as an extra task during the game but even this extra did not warm me to the gameplay.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the mystical woods and mountains to defeat the evil spirit called Strix in this Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
53 of 55 found this review helpful
More task oriented than hidden object
PostedApril 15, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The graphics are lovely & the artwork is very European; it reminds me of some old fairy tale books I used to read. A couple of times I went into a scene & thought 'wow this is really dark' but of course I hadn't lit the candles or performed some other task
The music is unobtrusive & fits well with the story, I also liked the voiceover dialogues although they are not clickable. I read much faster than I listen & was ready to move on before the character was halfway through a sentence but did not want to skip in case I missed an important clue.
This is definitely more adventure than hidden object game & the puzzles gave my brain a good workout, it took me hours to play & I spent quite a lot of time wandering about trying to find out what to do next. The hint button only worked in the H0 scenes so I did resort to a walkthrough a couple of times. The cursor was very large & clunky; something a little more elegant would fit in better with the artwork
I recommend this game!
When the ghost of the beautiful Diane de Poitiers appears in front of you, you are transported back in time in Amulet of Time: Shadow of la Rochelle!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Visually colourful but rather too easy
PostedApril 15, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The story is based on an assassination attempt on the French King in the 16th century which gives some very pretty scenes to visit. The graphics are very clear & everything is well drawn, this is a bright & colourful game.
There are the usual hidden object scenes with word lists & others whereby you have to find a list of objects to collect to assemble something, a dress or parts for a machine & these can be found in different locations. If you are not sure of what an item looks like you can hover over the word with your mouse & get a silhouette. This is very much a hidden object game; there are a great many of them & if you like adventures with only a few H0 this will not be for. You will collect a lot of items in your inventory but most of them get used quite quickly.
There are some puzzles which are, for the most part, very easy; sliding tiles to make a picture, a lot that require hand/eye co-ordination such as stopping a light in a specific area of the screen, untangling lines, etc.
There are two modes of play, easy with a 45 second hint recharge, sparkles & glints on significant objects or difficult with 90 second hint & not a sign of a sparkle anywhere. You get a ledger that tracks the story as you go & gives you a pocket history of some of the characters you encounter & a task list to keep you on track.
You will not need a map as there is not a lot of going back & forth between locations. The music is not very noticeable & the voiceovers are average but a nice easy to play game; it took me around 3 hours to finish. One odd little thing was an evil jester who popped up from time to time; never figured out why he was there.
I recommend this game!
Special Enquiry Detail: Engaged to Kill
Help detectives Turino and Lamote investigate the case of the brutal bride murderer.
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
Very challenging mini puzzles, excellent gameplay
PostedApril 8, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The graphics are extremely clear & the artwork in the cut scenes are similar to a good comic book; the locations are excellently depicted; the music leaves a lot to be desired so I used my own. There is no choice of gameplay, the hidden object scenes have sparkles & there are glints if you don’t click on an active area reasonably quickly.
You get a task list to keep you on track & in the bottom left of the screen is a TV which contains a map that shows where you are & is occasionally used to move you to a new location. You will need to keep your wits about you as towards the end you will have to remember what the victim’s name is, where found & which objects apply to the crime scene.
The hidden object scenes are, for the most part well drawn, I did not find any too small, some objects are cleverly hidden behind others or are laid at an odd angle however there are a few where the locations are rather dark which makes it difficult to spot the items. The hint button recharges in 40 seconds which helps.
There are a lot of mini puzzles; some are very easy such as move boxes of differing sizes from one place to another to the really difficult such as trapping a gunman in a maze. There is wide variety of puzzles & they make for a more interesting game (there was a variation on the old slider that took me ages to solve). If you get stuck there is a skip button which I was thankful for.
This was a long game (took me about 5 hours) & if you love mysteries with hidden objects thrown in then this is for you but a word of WARNING the murder scenes are very realistic.
I recommend this game!