HeavenBound7729's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:26,774
- Reviews Submitted:964
- First Review:June 6, 2017
- Most Recent Review:September 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An investigation into a disappearance reveals ghostly secrets in a mountaintop hotel!
Overall rating
2
/
5
63 of 89 found this review helpful
New Series, Yes! New Game, No!
PostedNovember 11, 2021
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Today's paranormal story involves hostile ghosts and hotel guests checking out via disappearing. The Mystical Riddles Detective Agency will uncover what is behind all the paranormal activity and hopefully get things back to normal. I played the entire demo and I fail to understand how this game is anywhere near a 5 star rating. Domini no longer makes high standard games. They deliver the same old stuff over and over again.
The tasks are too numerous, as usual, as I try to make my way into the adventure. The idiotic tasks are always the same and, for the most part, seem to be in the same order in each game. And now I had to mess with a camera in the investigation to add to the aggravation. I found little creativity or special attention to detail in this paranormal case. It's a good storyline but could've used a bigger dose of imagination to take it to a more interesting, entertaining level.
When Domini first came on board, they were great . But those days are long gone. Domini no longer provides more game for the $$ as regularly claimed by one reviewer. Plus a long game from this dev only means an abundance of ridiculous tasks and fillers, too many puzzles. The HOPs always feature a good variety but the blue "flashes" were annoying as the items were eliminated. I enjoyed some of the demo's puzzles, most were familiar. 35 puzzles in a game are too much, for me. I would end up skipping most because they eventually become tedious and then I lose interest in continuing the game.
Haven't much to say about the characters, the voices were fine. Graphics were excellent, very sharp and colorful which are always consistent in Domini games. The scenes/locations weren't terribly overloaded with misc. clutter and featured the usual scant amount of animated objects that some players enjoy. The music and SFX were okay, suited to the game.
Regarding the CE version, it really doesn't offer much. Why must it always be 15 of something, 15 morphs, a bunch of collectibles for decorating a room of some sort? It never changes. In my opinion, each game should have a whole new set of extras to keep it interesting. It would be a plus to make the collectibles harder to spot. The entire game is lacking a good challenge, even in the more difficult modes.
I love paranormal stories and have enjoyed previous ones from Domini. But for a very long time Domini has been missing the mark in quality entertainment. They've fallen into that lazy rut that has plagued so many of BFG's top developers. Or they have just left us for whatever reasons. Now most of the games we get are just "a dime a dozen". Thank goodness for my extensive collection of the old games to fall back on!
Domini fans will likely hasten to add "Snowy Peak Hotel" to their collection. Mystical Riddles may turn out to be a fun new series with plenty of paranormal cases to dig into. It seems to be an easy game that any skill level can enjoy. The Custom Mode makes it doable for everyone and there are lots of puzzles for those who don't care much for the HOPs.
I no longer buy Domini games but that doesn't mean that this one isn't a great purchase for other gamers. It just means that for me it isn't enough to fill my expectations in the fun dept. or satisfaction in CE content. The demo is a good example of what to expect. The game ran smoothly and with no tech issues.
Help Inspector Magic track down a faceless villain and save the world of magic in this solitaire mystery game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
No Ghost, No Mystery, No Fun!
PostedNovember 9, 2021
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
This high/low solitaire never offers anything to warrant purchasing. The levels are very easy, the graphics and cards are ugly. The developer seems to be really attached to this game because other than the title it NEVER, EVER changes. The Gold Cards are still the main flaw, the achievements are a joke and the mystery (?) is a mystery. This game has nothing interesting or entertaining about it.
Each of the 12 locations contain 10 levels and the next location is unlocked after earning the necessary number of points. Replay any level in Newbie Mode. In Professional Mode you can only replay the entire 10 levels. The Gold Cards allow you to earn a perfect score and roll the points over to the next level, so it's easy to rack up enough points when you want to visit the Shop with its scant inventory.
This is a plain, easy solitaire to grab when you want to kick back and play without much thought or challenge and you don't care that the Gold Cards determine when the level finishes. If you are a fan of this series and this developer's games, you will be pleased that nothing has changed. If you have never played any of them you may find that entertainment awaits, however, there will be no need to buy future games unless you just like to see new graphics.
I do keep checking the demoes, hoping that the dev has finally stepped up and revamped the game. Good card games don't come along that often at BF, so solitaire lovers are always on the look-out. But for me, again, this is a no-go!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you rescue a child with magical powers in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
42 of 50 found this review helpful
Sometimes Remastering Isn't Such A Good Idea!
PostedNovember 4, 2021
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I loved the original game and have played it often over the years. This new version, though the excellent story still grabs my attention but just isn't as great as it could or should be. The graphics are excellent, the vibrant colors in Iris' paintings cast a brilliance in a happy place created by her imagination. A sharp contradiction to the dark, bleak, depressing tower that confines Iris.
The devs, IMO, should have left well enough alone. The tweaks have not made a positive difference. For instance, the HOPS. They seem out of place in this game and there are only 4, so why even bother! The games, so far, feel easier than before. I'm not a great puzzle fan but I loved the ones in the original version. The challenges are missing that made Drawn so much fun, now there is too much hand-holding. And why was it necessary to mess with the Hint Feature?
I bought Redrawn because the old version does not work on my new computer. Overall the game is still entertaining but, for me, just not as much as I was expecting. This due to the changes the devs threw in. The story is still compelling and the horrid king is still making life miserable in the dismal tower. Finding and using the items in the paintings in order to progress is still fun, but doesn't require much guesswork as in the original game. However, compared to other games these days, this adventure is a breath of fresh air. I just wish the devs had done more remastering and less tweaking. It has made a significant difference in the quality. We don't need another flimsy HOPA game. BF has been quite generous with them already!
Redrawn has been pretty enjoyable, I've been playing for a few hours. The scenes in the paintings are so pretty and bright. The plight of the dismal, bleak world is in the hands of sweet Iris, who will save herself and the world with beautiful light and hope. If the story is left in tact without some new, crazy ending I will be satisfied. Hopefully, I will have the same sense of accomplishment when it is done as when I played the original game.
I do recommend Redrawn, especially if not familiar with Drawn. It is a heartwarming story full of hope and determination. Beginners may find it a little difficult but the SG is right there and Custom Mode. There are a couple of collectibles (60 of each), not difficult to spot, no achievements. I think it a little short for a CE but maybe quality will make up for the lack of extra content.
I recommend this game!
Painting has never been easier! No stress of picking up colors. Just relax and enjoy! Choose from a variety of super fun images and follow the numbers to bring them to life.
Overall rating
1
/
5
36 of 109 found this review helpful
Another One Bites The Dust!
PostedNovember 2, 2021
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I keep checking the demoes, hoping to find something positive in this long running series. But, alas, today the same issues still exist. The devs seem so unconcerned or they just don't read our reviews. Either way it is very sad, especially since this is such a popular genre and competition is closing in! I've moved on to the new games with nice clear images, good variety, gorgeous colors, great fun features.
The pictures are very unappealing, colors are bland, poor quality in the finished piece because it is so blurry. The dark grey shading for the numbered cells hinders more than helps. The images are mostly so full of pixels to fill in that it is impossible to make it out of the first level to see what lies ahead. However, for me, the first level is always a good indicator of what to expect. The subject matter is usually quite limited and there are a lot of juvenile or boring objects to paint. In the beginning it was such a new idea and it was fun, but it has grown stale and boring.
Many fans are very happy with Pixel Art and many are not. We all have different tastes. It is a pity that a reviewer feels that negative opinions should be silenced and becomes rude about it. As far as Pennmom's "essay" as referred to by that person, a simple solution would be not to read it. There is no need for unkind comments toward a fellow gamer!
Pixel Art is a fine game for those who appreciate the extensive time it takes to complete an image. More colors were added to the palette along the way which did help to add shading and depth to the pics, eliminating the "flat" look. Plus the images of scenery have become more complex. The few features available are helpful and the game is relaxing and perfect, if all you want to do is just paint something to fill in some free time. Try the demo to see if Pixel Art is right for you!
Explore incredible new artwork and let your creative side shine as you complete these colorful paint-by-numbers puzzles.
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 51 found this review helpful
'Tis The Season
PostedNovember 1, 2021
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Art By Numbers 9 will be a delight to all who love this time of year. If my count is correct, there are 35 Winter/Christmas images in this new collection. It is so nice to see all the images up front and choose wherever you want to start. There are 72 as usual and the colors are always striking, really making them a lot of fun to paint.
The paint brush cursor is still a little too plump for my taste, hopefully that might be changed to a slimmer version in future. Also, I don't enjoy painting the robot, this time with a "girlfriend". I think he just uses up space that could be filled with something much more appealing. I noticed this time quite a few images that were smaller than usual, without the extra background to color. They aren't quite as enjoyable when just sitting in the center of screen with nothing surrounding them.
There isn't a lot of variety in this set of pictures and many of them seemed much simpler in design, making them even easier to complete. That, for me, makes the game fly by and makes me think twice about purchasing. I painted one picture from each level just to check out the colors and, of course, they were all vibrant and just beautiful.
I always look forward to the new Art By Numbers games. They are so gorgeous! However, I may wait for a Club Coupon for this one, only because the images didn't make me "light up" as much as they usually do. It's a great art game for the entire family. Besides the fun, it's nice and relaxing. Just what we need as the holidays approach and things get a little hectic.
I recommend this game!
Go on a spooky adventure with this new batch of pixel art puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
32 of 45 found this review helpful
Over-The-Top Cartoonish But For Halloween It's Lots Of Fun!
PostedOctober 31, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I love this series! The images are cute, unique and brightly colored to tickle your Halloween spirit. If the kids can catch onto the painting process, it should be a blast for them because of all the cute Halloween images they uncover. Normally, I do not like cartoonish pics, but with Artists of Fortune games I can easily overlook that.
Each "planet" contains 24 Chapters and although the pics are hidden, the title is shown by hovering your mouse over the Chapter. You can paint them in any order, but cannot go to the next planet until all of them are completed. Even with the titles, I never knew what to expect because the artwork is so whimsical and unusual. It was always a little surprise.
There are so many colors that it added another level of quality to the game. They are displayed as crayons along the bottom of the screen. Hooray! No more up and down on a fidgety scroll to reach the color you need. They each disappear when all the cells are completed with your chosen color. Filling in the areas of all the same number is a snap with one click on the Paint Pot. It takes a teensy bit for it to refill after each use.
I like that you cannot accidentally paint the wrong cell. Only the color you are working with fills in. If you prefer sweeping over the image to save time, this is a great little helper. In our other pixel art game I was always having to undo a mistake. The Zoom Feature and the Map are also very helpful. Since there are not the annoying various shades of grey in the images, it makes finding the numbers so much easier, no eye strain. However I find just the right amount of challenge, considering that it took me the entire demo to finish two pictures.
The cursor is a creepy little hand that is precise and moves easily. There are Awards to earn. They are mostly for the number of cells painted and some for time spent. One of them is for 20 hours so that is an indication of a nice long game. Unless some "artists" are speed demons it will last much longer than that, making this a great value. And it's BOGO day!
So I'm glad the astronauts are grounded for Halloween and we can enjoy these crazy little pictures, painting away the hours of this favorite "holiday". Try the demo, it's a little different than Pixel Art. I thought the differences enhanced the experience and, for me, it was perfect. By the way, the Microsoft C+ comes with, but I just clicked the "repair" bar and in a split second the game was ready to play. Thanks devs, for stepping out of the box with this fun series!
I recommend this game!
Piece together some visual Halloween treats with this incredible set of jigsaw puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 28 found this review helpful
Can I Rate 50 Stars?
PostedOctober 27, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Sweet Holiday Jigsaws has rescued us from a treatless Halloween. No tricks here! Just hundreds of fun, colorful puzzles to brighten things up around here. AIl the puzzles in the demo are Halloween related and what a fantastic variety of everything spooky, festive and cute. No disappointments! This really put me in the mood. I was beginning to drag out my table puzzles and thankfully that won't have to happen now!
There are lots of features/options that make the game so entertaining and different from the others. A good idea to experiment a little to see how they work. Choose number of pieces from 30 to 1024. Pick your favorite cutout, I love the skulls and paws. After choosing a puzzle to assemble, click the arrows on either side to scroll through the others in the chapter. The close-ups show all the details nice and clear which helps me decide which one I want to do next. Set up your preferences for working the puzzle and you're on your way to a ghoulish good time!
There are 5 chapters with 36 (hope I recall correctly) puzzles in each. Check out the extra challenges and bonuses. Also the images can be used as wallpapers. That right there makes this a very special package! These devs really know how to do it right and I very much appreciate their creativity and efforts to make this such a lovely game. It's all about customer satisfaction. And unless someone is uber hard to please this is a definite winner.
This game makes up for all the rotten ones we've gotten for the "holiday" so far. The demo was delightful and I can hardly wait to dig into the rest of the puzzles. It was an immediate purchase, $$ well spent. This set will be brought out every Halloween to entertain family and friends. And kitties, too, although they prefer the table puzzles! I open a box of old puzzles from time to time for them to play and lay in and knock all over the place. My computer is hooked up to the TV so sharing the fun is simple and even more colorful on the big screen.
I own the other sets from the Sweet Holiday series and there seems no end to the amazing images and hours of relaxing entertainment. Every puzzle is exceptional, sometimes it's hard to choose which one I want to assemble.
I recommend this game!
With this series, painting has never been easier! Avoid purchasing expensive painting supplies and making a mess. Just relax and enjoy!
Overall rating
2
/
5
18 of 33 found this review helpful
I'd Love To Love This Game
PostedOctober 26, 2021
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
but that will never happen if it continues as is. Even the few recent changes do not improve the experience. The pictures are simplistic and boring, the black lines chop up the images, they take no time at all to complete, the colors lack vibrancy. Our painting reaps no rewards! The images don't give us anything much to paint without a background to complete the entire picture. They are not interesting, therefore unappealing to me.
All we have in the end are a bunch of oval and round shapes that are flat, uninteresting images that belong in a child's coloring book. The new Freeplay option isn't even fun because it limits the colors you can use and you have to complete the picture in the main game first. Without the freedom to choose any color we want, it is hard to get creative with our "own thing" and really let our imagination loose.
Competition is taking over big time with better features, a wider, more interesting variety of images, gorgeous colors. There is no reason for me to purchase something inadequate just for the sake of adding another paint game to my collection. As Pennmom mentioned, why not bring an artist on board with the creative talents to get the job done right?
If you love the easy-breezy painting experience offered in Paint By Numbers and are just looking for something to pass some free time after a crazy, busy day this game will do nicely. Even the kids will have fun with it. And no mess to clean up!
Gather your courage, explore an eerie swamp, and solve incredible new mosaics puzzles!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 46 found this review helpful
Nothing But Halloween TRICKS So Far!
PostedOctober 25, 2021
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
When are these penguins going to pack their bags and leave? 49 of this game is just too much. Yes, I can look the other way and get over it. BUT when I wait all the time for a new, good mosaic game AND I'm also expecting something fun and new for Halloween, this isn't exactly a treat.
The pictures are cute, the colors are great, features are fun, there's always a new "adventure" and items for decorating, there are plenty of levels, the game runs smoothly. However, it is the same old thing forever. Why do we need so many? The only inkling of change I see with this one, and I may be wrong, is that the challenge has dwindled down. Obviously it's easier to be lazy than it is to be creative!
I wanted to play the entire demo but even the cute pictures weren't enough to keep it going for me. In the beginning, I used to love the penguins' little escapades and collecting. Never less than 5 stars! However, after 20 ( ! ) purchases and no changes it was time to stop. There are many fans of this series and I know this 49th addition will be perfect for your trick or treat entertainment. It will be a pass for me. Hope you enjoy!
If this is all we get for Halloween this year, I am sorely disappointed. The big day is right around the corner and we have nothing to show for it but a few sorry games that have a handful of reviews and a few stars. Big Fish is really slacking! I'll be content playing the great Halloween games from the good old days!
Sort through the clutter and help the Walker family decorate their home for Halloween!
Overall rating
3
/
5
22 of 41 found this review helpful
I Won't Be Spending Halloween With The Walkers!
PostedOctober 23, 2021
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Ever hear the saying "more is sometimes less"? Well, that applies here. The more Walker games we get, the less quality I see. Except today, this one actually isn't so bad. Is this a Halloween trick or is something a little different this time? I always try the demo, looking for improvements, but again will not be purchasing. It's still too boring.
It seemed to be a little more challenging in the Difficult Mode, both Easy and Hard have usually been way too easy. The items were more interesting. There were a couple of new puzzles. But that's about it for the changes I was able to see in the demo. Although the demo was okay, I eventually became bored because there wasn't enough variety. It was mostly finding pairs. And why do we need 35 Sun Emblems in one scene?? I guess they're easy enough to move or eliminate, but it's just annoying.
I did like the Halloween theme, very colorful. The music was okay but could have been a little spookier. I did not enjoy the puzzle placing the square pieces on top one another. It was frustrating, every move forward put me a move back and I just didn't have the patience for it. The transparent appearance of the objects in some of the scenes were a problem for my not-perfect eyes, but it did provide an extra little challenge.
The point system is generous but I didn't see the need for a leader board with fake opponents. Maybe that's fun for the younger players where "competing" with the animals keeps them interested and motivated to do their best. I think the kids will really enjoy this Halloween themed game. The graphics are colorful and cutesy with the Walker Family telling about how they are spending their Halloween, again something appealing for the younger fans.
There were no tech issues, instructions are always easy. Lots of levels, all can be replayed to earn higher scores. So if you love the Walkers, this is a good buy because of its replay value. Hopefully the puzzles are a good mix, without the frustration of the one I did not like. If looking for some easy Halloween fun, this will be nice to have on hand for the kids.