caseyduhamel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.4
- Helpful Votes:3,948
- Reviews Submitted:148
- First Review:October 29, 2019
- Most Recent Review:December 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Overcome ever-present horrors in a haunted house full of mysteries!
Overall rating
5
/
5
SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!!!
PostedJanuary 4, 2024
caseyduhamel
fromHappy New Year from South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Do you like puzzles? Then this is the game for you! Leave it to Brave Giant to come up with this funny, whacky premise- you have to solve puzzles in his bedroom in order for this sleep deprived fellow to get some shut-eye. Some are quite tricky. You earn coins that are used to buy hints. You'll need them! I'm loving this- along the lines of the "find Waldo" games and other similar non-conformist games. This game's a hoot- if you don't like quirky puzzles, this is not for you. As for me, I'm happy as a clam in spite of my having contracted covid! This game is helping me chase away the covid blues. Stay safe everyone.
I recommend this game!
Help Santa’s elves pull off a miracle on a magical night!
Overall rating
4
/
5
BUSY BUSY BUSY
PostedDecember 14, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromMerry Christmas from South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Whew! OK, I'm writing this after only playing a few hours but here are some take aways that I find significant: Domini games- in all its different manifestations - and I really don't get along (remember their "purple" days?) but once in a great while I am surprised. Not so here. One thing that annoys me: you can't traverse the Domini world you're in unless you access the map. You can't go back and forth on your own, you have to go through the map. I really don't like that. I like to walk around. The scenery; it looks like Christmas exploded in every scene. The scenes are so busy it's hard to focus all the while mixing a 50's look with high-tech. Make up your mind, Domini. An outstanding game that was also very busy looking was "Enchanted Express", which I LOVED, because all the busyness was done along a very consistent theme in a very attractive way which celebrated Christmas instead of screaming it. Back to this fable- the storyline is ok, Christmassy enough. I mean how many different Christmas tales can you come up with? The collectibles are definitely fun, three types: Christmas morphs, gifts, and what the developer calls "seats" which had me extremely confused. "Seats"?! What the heck is that?! Turns out they're wooden reindeer for a carousel. Still fun to find and you've got your reminder on the left side to let you know if one of the collectibles is present. The HOPs are blindingly Christmassy, just warning. There's always the switch to match three. And of course, there's all the emblems to find to open things to fix things to lead to the next step. But the animation is good as is the artwork, busy as it is, it is still very nicely done. I give it four stars- a good effort. And the Domini playing board is always very well done. I just wish they'd let me walk around the environment on my own instead of always having to go through the map. Merry Christmas everyone!
I recommend this game!
Travel across a wintery wonderland for over 200 levels of holiday Match-3 fun!
Overall rating
5
/
5
THE BEST!
PostedDecember 8, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromMerry Christmas and Happy Hannukah from South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a wonderful match three game: the developer added so many different ways to go here. The Christmas music is so subtle and beautiful- I put mine on the loudest it could be, as well as the ambient sounds: fireplaces crackling, wind blowing, loved it. This game is very challenging- you have to think- no hand holding here. This is a lovely game to add to the Christmas season- because it's not just a holiday, it's a season. This game is outstanding and I wish all the BFG community a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah xoxo
I recommend this game!
Every passenger is another piece of the puzzle...
Overall rating
4
/
5
Maybe Domini/DO/Relax Should Just stick to HOG's
PostedNovember 23, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces, Great Govenor-South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
For so many years Domini has disappointed many, though they do have their fans. Every once in a while a gem will pop through their repertoire, but for me, that's a rarity. Too many times I've wasted money on inane story lines, idiotic tasks and really mediocre graphics. Remember the "purple" days? Eew! So, I just felt like relaxing with a new HOG game, this one popped up, I bought it not knowing it was a Domini production- as soon as that super-pointed swaying cursor (which I like) introduction came up, I knew I'd been had. "Relax Games" indeed. But you know what- it's not half bad. The voicing is quite good except the mouths don't move. The graphics are pretty equal and on a par with most today's visuals. And it is simply a HOG game- and nicely done, I might add. I enjoy murder mysteries, especially on a train. And for a production giant like Domini to go back to basics, that's pretty cool. Some of the usual Domini annoyances are there, but no biggie. If you're in the mood for a nice, non-frustrating HOG game, you can't go wrong with this. Happy Thanksgiving all!!
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
5
/
5
They Just Don't Make "em Like This Anymore
PostedNovember 22, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces, Great Govenor-South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
From the graphics, voiceovers, storyline, strange music, very challenging puzzles and collectibles- this is outstanding! And I look for these older games because the games of the present and for the last few years have been the same old story with the same old pastel, washed out cg graphics. There is a minimum of hand-holding in this wonderful game and talk about atmosphere!! Do yourself a favor- grab this one! This is right there on top with True Fear, except for the completely different storyline. I haven't played a game this good in a while-unfortunately, you have to hunt these old gems down and that takes time. Maybe Big Fish could list these games by date?
I recommend this game!
An investigation that will open up a new world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
IT'S UP TO YOU NEW YORK, NEW YORK!
PostedNovember 2, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces, Great Govenor-South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Being a native New Yorker, Queens to be exact (how I ended up in South Dakota is still hazy), I have to say that the graphics depict old school New York City very, very well. We're talking the 40's-50's NYC, when women were dames and all men wore fedoras and ties regardless of the season. I have all of the New York Mysteries series and the way the city itself is presented in all of the editions is really spot on (Central Park in Fall- excellent). I even appreciate the developer's attempt at the voicing of New York accents. They're not authentic, but the effort is definitely there and lends to the atmosphere- which leads to me to a minor disappointment. Atmosphere- that is really important to me. And although the graphics excel, I wouldn't call them stellar; they've got a tiny bit of "cookie-cutter" to them. I like the storyline in that it concerns art and if New York knows anything, its pizza, bagels, and ART. I've learned to overcome the "ooooooh, scary!!" basis of the story and just accept the paranormal aspects of the series. Love the fact this game is puzzle heavy and they are not easy and require work and thought. I love me some puzzles and collectibles- two in every scene, so no worry: is there? or isn't there? Two in every scene-go find 'em. I'm enjoying this game very much and appreciate the dev's efforts here to bring old school New York back to life (the dev team has probably never even been to NY-or the U.S. for that matter). It's very nostalgic for me- the good old days when there was a hot dog stand on every NYC corner, a fresh doughnut in every coffee cup ("regular": New York-ese for milk, 2 sugars), and a monster in every art museum messin' up da joint. Sheesh, fuggedaboudit!
I recommend this game!
Can you help Catherine rescue her friends in a terrifying new case?
Overall rating
2
/
5
OH BROTHER
PostedOctober 5, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces, Great Govenor-South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I have to say, in all honesty, that when I saw one of the main characters with a man-bun that this little journey was just going to be annoying. And it is. Very childish. Our man-bun dude goes up in flames and we hear screams, yet the actual character on the screen is not even moving- not even a wince from the deadly flames- bush league, Elephant, bush league. I have many of the Halloween Stories series, but this has to be the worst. Save your money and wait for other Halloween games to come out. Scenery is good- very Halloweeny, but I don't think you want to spend your money on scenery.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save literature’s most famous story worlds from ruin?
Overall rating
4
/
5
Elephant, Good Job
PostedSeptember 5, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGod, I hope this is not a sign of the times.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Very new subject matter for the same ol' same ol' and I didn't expect Elephant to come up with that. Great job! Can't argue with the graphics and storyline- excellent. That took some thought. Actually, my only beef was how short the bonus game was- done in half an hour. But that's ok- the Pachyderm came under rough times, and this was a terrific game. One more beef...as a published author, I am so disappointed that Big Fish decided to remove the "I found this helpful"/"I did not find this helpful" prompt. Big Fish, with whom I have been very happy with and they've gotten tons of my money with no problem (on either end) has removed the audience participation. That's not a good idea- so none of us are supposed to excel? We all get participation trophies? For a die-hard gamer in this arena, half the fun is reviewing...and when you see fellow gamers in this community either appreciating you or not (either is good- it's free speech, after all), it shows you are part of the community. Big Fish- bring back the helpful/not helpful. We are adults here, not crybabies.
I recommend this game!
Can you work with animals to save a local zoo’s celebration?
Overall rating
4
/
5
Who Knew?
PostedAugust 31, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces- South Dakota
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Yes, who knew? There was no way I was going to purchase this game- the premise seemed sophomoric. Definitely not my genre. And, knowing the Pachyderm, I would be hit with the oldest tasks in the HOPA world as soon as I crossed the threshold: the stupid broken key, the even stupider dig-up-dirt, and the stupidest- toenail clippers in the mailbox. So, what possessed me to purchase a game involving a zoo detective?! I don't know, but I did- and I'm glad. This is an Elephant of a different color. Very different paradigm. One thing that annoyed me was the cursor- it's chubby. Yeah, I know, laugh, but I like my cursors angular, thin, and to a fine point. Back to the game- new takes on HOPs, puzzles, definitely a different storyline which I am still not sure I like but I am definitely enjoying the game play. Palette is very nice, although I'm not thrilled with the comic book features of the characters, but hey, that's just me. Nice to see this Elephant- I gave you a chance, and I am diggin' it. Oh, and by the way, how come my ability to vote on whether or not a review helps me or not has disappeared? Do we not have that feature anymore?! That will not make me happy.
I recommend this game!
Join an epic quest to restore lost memories!
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 31 found this review helpful
This Is One New Yankee!
PostedAugust 13, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromGreat Places, Great Faces- South Dakota
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played my first New Yankee when they were still in single digits. I fell in love with the series after I played my first round and have collected them all. This has to be one of the most imaginative, enjoyable time management games ever to grace my monitor and I have tried many, many of them. There is actually strategy involved with this game and it can be quite challenging. The story is lots of fun and weaves itself throughout. The palette, character rendition and motion, music, and special effects are flawless! It's the New Yankee we expect...but not! A few curve balls have been thrown in this lucky 13! My program is running perfectly, and this wonderful adventure always has me wide-eyed. If time-management is something you enjoy, you can't do better- buy it and have a blast. And don't forget those puzzle pieces!
I recommend this game!