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:
A frantic distress signal uncovers a mysterious disappearance at Misthill!
Overall rating
3
/
5
52 of 74 found this review helpful
Changes Aren't Always A Good Idea
PostedApril 8, 2021
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've not been a huge fan of Mystery Trackers because the games weren't consistently entertaining, but I did love Raincliff's Phantoms and Blackrow's Secret. Elf, our sweet little canine detective, was a highlight in this dark, brooding series. It is a great shame that he has been eliminated! And for what reason??
I'm seeing that today's new installment is missing some of the old familiar elements. The characters have been updated, giving a different feel to the game. Will this new spin be a winner for Mystery Trackers? New detectives provide new ways of approaching and solving mysteries, so we shall see. The demo was just okay, the graphics were fine, but I found the scenes and locations unappealing.
The puzzles weren't especially challenging, a bit boring. The HO scenes, always my favorite, were nothing special here and items were easily found. I didn't enjoy them much at all. The tasks were easily accomplished, the game progressed at a good pace. It seems that all age groups may be attracted to this game, though a little on the easy side, and there are several choices for challenge as in most games these days.
There's not much in the way of extra content so, IMO, this CE isn't a good deal. Plus, for me, without Elf providing that little ray of sunshine to the atmosphere of Mystery Trackers, it is easier to say no to "Forgotten Voices". I'm curious about how it all plays out with its changes, but not enough to purchase. On the other hand, this might be just the perfect game for your entertainment needs.
I recommend this game!
Complete incredible jigsaw puzzles made from beautiful hand-painted works of art and piece together this incredible narrative!
Overall rating
5
/
5
90 of 102 found this review helpful
We've Had A Jigsaw Dry Spell For Years
PostedApril 5, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
but My Jigsaw Adventures proves that a thoughtful developer with a creative flair and an eye for beauty can turn it all around. We puzzle lovers have been unhappy for the longest time with the poor quality jigsaws at BF. Now we can look forward to beautiful puzzles, quality options and features and MANY hours of top entertainment. I own all of this series and not once have I been disappointed.
The images are so different and interesting, and the story adds a special touch to the fun. There's a wide range of sizes that can please just about anyone with 28 to 1000 pieces to play with. Depending on your choice they can become quite small, but for me it increases the challenge. I love it and love the beautiful end result. Just perfectly perfect!
My Jigsaw Adventures and my other favorite, Puzzle Pieces, have made me a very happy fishy. With these and Jigsaws Galore, I am in puzzle heaven. The beauty and outstanding subject matter turn this pastime into pure pleasure for me. I hope this dev and the others who put forth such effort and quality are here to stay. What a breath of fresh air! And what a bargain when you think of the high cost of each puzzle in this set if they were store-bought!
I recommend this game!
Return to the undersea world of Atlantis Solitaire in a brand-new adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
91 of 113 found this review helpful
Yes! There Are Fantastic Solitaire Games!
PostedApril 3, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Jewel Match CEs are always brimming over with extras. I never think twice about purchasing and this is the perfect time with today's BOGO. The Solitaire Atlantis editions are exceptionally gorgeous and I love building the palaces of this dreamy, serene city beneath the sea. Everything about this game makes it a winner beyond compare in beauty and entertainment. And what a relief from all the sub-par solitaires we get so often!
600 levels means it won't be over any time soon. There are challenge and super-sized levels, bonus levels, a variety of obstacle cards, gems to collect for castle building, pretty cards that are easy to read, and more. I love the quests that unlock the fish to populate this undersea world. The many styles of solitaire are a big plus, only a few are familiar, so this is a chance to learn some new ones. The music is lovely. The graphics and color are superb.
The only downside for me is the Mahjong. I simply do not like the game. In my opinion it is very boring and tedious. I do wish other types of games were included, as I definitely don't enjoy passing up 100 bonus levels. But what displeases me, will be someone else's cup of tea. If you are unsure about Atlantis Solitaire, check out the demo and take a look at the other Jewel Match games, too. I love them and own most.
I really appreciate this dev's creativity and eye for beauty! Anxious to see what they have up their sleeve for our next bout of entertainment, hoping it isn't a long wait.
I recommend this game!
Art By Numbers is back with a new world of wonderful paintings, elegant curves and bright colors.
Overall rating
5
/
5
27 of 33 found this review helpful
It Seems Miracles Do Happen
PostedApril 2, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
What a surprise! I actually liked all the images in the first level. But still there is no freedom of choice. Each level is locked and must be completed to open the next. Restrictions diminish the fun! I wish the devs would eliminate this irritating feature. Other than that, I enjoyed the demo and bought Art By Numbers 3.
Helper, from Rainbow Mosaics, is in the first pics and had the least small sections, the others are much busier and more interesting. The array of scrumptious colors really bring the images to life. The vivid shades add that extra pizzazz that make this art style a treat for the eyes. The choice of either flat or textured finish is also a big plus. The completed images are not blurry or too small so I don't feel cheated at the end. Part of the fun is admiring my piece of art.
The images being white with black numbers is a positive. When you click your choice in the palette, the segments with that color turn grey. For me it eliminates the tedious task of finding the number I'm working with, easier on my eyes. The brush-tip cursor is not the best for the very tiny pieces. My own smaller one is a little quicker and is more precise. Some of the sections are impossible to spot, being near microscopic. If not for the numbers above the cursor and super-zooming, I would be searching forever. The Hint Feature is also great as it rebounds quickly with no recharge time that I can tell. These 3 features are absolutely must-haves. You can click on each number individually or sweep the cursor over the areas being colored, filling them in more quickly.
The image can be moved around and a slider bar or your mouse wheel enlarges it. Change the background to various shades of black and grey with a slider. The colors can be used out of sequence. A good thing since I move on to other colors and come back to the numbers I need help finding. Your completion time appears under each image, but it's not a beat the clock thing. However, restarting an image to better your time is an option. I don't like rushing and just enjoy the relaxing fun that I find in these games.
I really love the Free Coloring Mode where you can paint with your own color choices. It's so much fun to do your own thing! Choose from a different palette and customize your colors with a slider. There are very helpful instructions, but I'm having trouble applying the colors. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, I didn't have this problem in Art By Numbers 2. Hopefully that light bulb goes on before I get too frustrated and just quit. There is a Save Feature which means no stressing if the need to quit early pops up!
Overall, I think this is a fine game with plenty of color to brighten up a dreary day or enjoy on quiet evenings, with no muss or fuss. Kids will love the pics suited for the younger artists. Everyone can enjoy the more intricate ones without eye strain, thanks to the great zoom and other help-features. There are no age boundaries. The pictures aren't limited to just simple childish things. Still, a wider variety of subject matter and images, not so whimsical, for adults would be very nice. Art By Numbers is one of my two favorites. I'm looking forward to Number 4.
I recommend this game!
Help Rangers run Pinecreek Hills Park and National Academy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
57 of 91 found this review helpful
Off I Go To My Favorite Vacation Spot
PostedApril 1, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Once again Vacation Adventures delivers a stellar HOG that can't be beat. This time Microsoft C+ popped up with a repair option needed to complete installation. It presented no problems and was done in a few seconds, game running with no issues.
Fans of every age and skill level can look forward to quality entertainment at Pinecreek Hills each and every time. The fun isn't over in a jiffy, with its abundance of levels and mini-games. I enjoy the Extreme Mode for most of the game, there are other play options but the differences aren't extreme. I love the challenge of the game. Locating the HOs is not exactly easy-peasy, they are small and well-blended into the scenery. Finding all the Wildlife and Recycle Items is a fun task and I start my search for those right away, as sometimes I forget to look for them.
I love the Achievements and Souvenir Shopping with the coins I've earned. Very appealing to me are the real-people park visitors and the little bits of background activities in all the scenes. The graphics are brightly colored and very sharp. The locations are beautiful, busy and interesting. overflowing with all sorts of things. By now most of us are familiar with the content so I won't continue with tons of info. I know other reviewers are much better at breaking it down in detail, with a more thorough description. I can just sum it all up by saying I love this series. Even though each installment is basically the same, it never fails in fun and quality. The replay value is excellent, too!
But as much as I love Vacation Adventures I see no need for a CE version since it already has so many levels and mini-games. There are fans who just do not want the bigger game and bigger cost. Wouldn't it be great if the SE and CE were offered at the same time, so everyone can enjoy at once? The extra levels and puzzles are enticing and I sometimes go for the CE, but my budget doesn't always allow that.
I totally recommend this game. If you've not tried it, give the demo a look-see. I think you may be impressed if you love HOGs that are beautiful and somewhat challenging. The whole family can enjoy this one.
I recommend this game!
Ready for another Wilderness adventure? Follow Claire to the mystical Easter Island and uncover a challenging new set of pixel art puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
33 of 41 found this review helpful
I'm Still In Africa
PostedMarch 30, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
and was surprised and pleased to see another Wilderness Mosaics so soon. I love this series and hope it continues for a long time. Easter Island is a location rarely seen in games so I was eager to get started. I played only a portion of the demo so don't know if the beautiful Easter artwork pictured in the synopsis was actually used in a game or just as decoration.
Wilderness Mosaics 3 had 142 levels and 18 games, Number 4 has only 120 levels and 16 games. I was disappointed with the big difference. There are the usual tile choices, my favorites are the pearl and rough, I switch between them while playing. The glass finish is a little too bright and glossy for me to look at for very long, but it's pretty. The custom cursor works smoothly but I prefer my own smaller one. My cursor choice doesn't remain in place after exiting the game. Each time I return it has to be reset. Don't know if this problem is exclusive to my PC, but it's a minor annoyance.
The graphics are always bright and crystal clear, the colors are exceptionally pretty. Not just your basics, I love the variety and some are quite different, adding an extra punch to the image. All the images pertain to the locations and each is labeled. Sometimes I don't recognize what has emerged but once I see the label, it becomes perfectly obvious to me. Funny how that works! I enjoy the facts always included with the images. The artwork is so gorgeous and I like that the scenes are ghosted behind the puzzles, rather than seeing just a plain one-color background.
The mini-games are okay, but not enough variety. I do not like the slider puzzle, have always struggled with this style. Too frustrating and I say thank goodness for the Skip Feature. Each game shows you the next chapter of your journey. The completed images don't just vanish as in other mosaic games. View as long as you like and then just click it away.
Each puzzle starts off with 5 free mistakes. I never use hints but I do use the 2 power-ups without much guilt attached. The butterflies are earned as you play, each reveals a single cell. They are replenished as you go and are handy-dandy for those awful times with just ones and twos on the grid. I've accumulated as many as 7 of them, don't know if more are possible. The whale uncovers a 3x3 area and recharges, a bit slowly, after each use. The Hint Feature is quicker to recharge.
Wilderness Mosaics is described as a no-guessing game, solved solely by logic. However, I don't find it overly challenging which surprises me since I'm definitely no expert at this. I've not encountered any brain-busters. Some of the puzzles are quite difficult for me without the power-ups and some are far too easy. All the puzzles can be replayed and I've done plenty of that, striving for the 5 stars.
I'm pretty addicted to mosaic games and it continues to be a learning process as I sharpen my skills. I absolutely love the Wilderness Series for their top-notch quality and beauty. Lots of fun. Try the demo even if you are hesitant because it seems too difficult. I was intimidated at first but once I caught on, there was no turning back. Maybe it will be a new source of fun for you, too!
I recommend this game!
Curse House is back with a new property to cleans and some frighteningly clever puzzles that will haunt your dreams!
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 162 found this review helpful
Here We Go, Folks!
PostedMarch 24, 2021
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Another exercise in brain-taxing Match 3 entertainment! Cursed House is THE challenge. It is always relentless as I slowly progress through the levels, trying not to give up. I did uninstall games 7 and 8 due to frustration, but revisit them regularly because I hate defeat. Now I'm ready to tackle Cursed House 9 and torture myself once again.
Even with the strategy skills I take pride in, I struggle to get a win. It's a Match 3 game that you just can't breeze through. I like the Limited Moves mode because I can take my time planning my next move using that very crucial strategy. The obstacles are fun and frustrating, the power-ups are great for getting me out of a jam or helping to complete a level. One thing for sure, doing things in the right order is essential. I'm embarrassed to say The Hint Button is becoming my best friend in this new release.
The board layouts appear similar to Laruaville but are more complicated. The tiles are pretty plain looking, but the graphics are sharp and colorful. There are more levels this time. The mini-games, I think, are due for a change. However, I really like the challenge of Spot the Difference but wish it had more objects to locate. Ridding the Cursed House of its demons is the task at hand in this quality Match 3 game. Remember , the goal to succeeding is to destroy all the coins. Just go for the coins!
I own all the Cursed House games and recall how exciting it was playing the very first one. It was so different! If you've not yet tried any, give the demo a whirl and take a look at the earlier games, too. Yes, they are definitely challenging but in a very good and fun way.
I recommend this game!
Remember the best moments of Winter and greet Spring in Puzzle Pieces 4: Farewell Dear Winter!
Overall rating
5
/
5
91 of 139 found this review helpful
Spring Is In The Air
PostedMarch 22, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
with this dazzling collection of puzzles. The beauty never stops, every release is a special treat! Since discovering the Puzzle Pieces series, I have abandoned my old friend Jigsaws Galore. Every set of puzzles truly brings me so much pleasure. I know that if these puzzles were selling in a store, I'd be looking at $20 or more for each one! What a bargain we have here at the SE price or using a coupon! Plus Bonus Monday makes it even a better deal.
There are so many great features and options to make assembling the puzzles really enjoyable. I have trouble choosing which puzzle to work on and I'm always eager to see the beautiful result of my well-spent time. It is wonderful that the completed puzzles can be saved and that we can use our own images. That, right there, is a very big deal to me! It means endless jigsaw fun and a very happy fishy!
I love this developer!
I recommend this game!
Let's take a vacation across stunning California in this sunny puzzle adventure game with fun trivia thrown in!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 88 found this review helpful
Right Up There With Park Ranger And Cruise Director
PostedMarch 21, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a treat! I bought the CE for the extra levels but the SE will be just as much fun without them. Either version is worth every penny of the cost. The developer didn't skimp on anything and the quality shines through. It's nice to see a glimpse of my home-state as I play Vacation Paradise: California. The graphics are super sharp and colorful, the many features and extras make it lots of fun and more interesting.
There are 3 Difficulty Modes. The Easy Mode comes without a misclick penalty and a shorter recharge time. The 5 HO styles allow whichever you prefer for each location and can be changed each time you return to that scene. There is a flag or a bear to find in each scene which unlock an Unlimited Mode and bonus gameplay. There is also an 8 ball in some scenes. I found each easy to locate and searched before starting on the list, so I wouldn't forget about them.
The mini-games were a little too easy but still enjoyable. However, the hidden objects were quite the challenge due to their small size and being so well blended into the scenery. The magnifying glass helped me out a few times. You can replay the scenes as often as you like which is great if you strive for that perfect game.
Each location comes with a bit of interesting trivia which is kept in a diary along with your Achievements. A score board appears after each level, showing your accumulated points as you progress. Extra points are earned in a variety of ways and the faster you can find the HOs, the more points you get. I liked that extra challenge.
This excellent game provides plenty of HO entertainment , the mini-games are fun, plus the replay value makes it a very good deal. Point8 Games knows how to do it right. No evidence here of poor quality or lack of creative effort. It is so nice to make a purchase that really satisfies!
I recommend this game!
Modern Art is back with a new set of fun images you can help bring to life! Painting has never been easier!
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 57 found this review helpful
Modern Art Is a Keeper!
PostedMarch 19, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This developer really aims to please and always comes through, bringing us changes and features that make the games more enjoyable. He acknowledges our requests and suggestions. There is a vast difference in quality between this color by number and the one we got a few days ago. Amazing, what can be created when effort and caring are at the forefront.
I enjoyed the demo, but wasn't able to make it through the entire first level. I really wanted to see what lies ahead, so decided to buy the game feeling I won't be disappointed. Eager to see the other pictures and I'm also still working on Modern Art 1. Don't like to finish everything all in one swoop with nothing left for future fun. The variety of subject matter is good and the images are fun to paint because I know something lovely will emerge when I'm done.
The pictures really come to life with the beautiful range of colors and use of shading that add depth and detail. The texturing, too, brings that special touch which makes the images look more like a work of art. There are 64 images (wish there were more), hopefully more will be added along the way. I'm always wishing for more nature, birds, people and intricate artwork. Maybe that will come later, too.
Except for these on-going issues, I am satisfied and having fun with the Modern Art games...(1) Having to complete the first level before gaining access to the other levels is just so aggravating! I want to see it all and paint whichever images I choose. This ridiculous feature needs to go. No one likes it! (2) I'd love to see the picture in full size after completion. It's disappointing when all I get for my efforts is a little "blip" of what I created, plus it can't even be recalled for viewing at another time. (3) Many of the images in Modern Art 1 were really beautiful as I'm sure is the case in Modern Art 2. I would like to save some of them, just in a collection or maybe as wallpapers.
Other than these few matters, I think this is very fine paint by number game. I know it will provide many hours of relaxing entertainment and I appreciate not having to drag out all my supplies and clean up afterwards. On the days I feel that artistic bug biting me, it's the perfect go-to when my energy level is low.
I recommend this game!