caseyduhamel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.4
- Helpful Votes:3,948
- Reviews Submitted:154
- First Review:October 29, 2019
- Most Recent Review:October 2, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town Collector's Edition
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
Current Favorite:
Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town Collector's Edition
(117)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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)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
Current Favorite:
Shiver: Poltergeist Collector's Edition
(156)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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)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!
Embark on a magical adventure in Thicket Wood to help fairies in this magical hidden-object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
33 of 34 found this review helpful
Deserves Much Better Ratings
PostedAugust 9, 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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This game delivers exactly what it promises- hidden objects. No story line, no dialogue, nothing but very pretty fantasy scenes of hidden objects and various puzzles. If your brain is tired of sleuthing through HOPAs or straight-up adventure games and you enjoy HOPS at it's most basic and relaxing, then this is your game. Personally, I'm loving it. It deserves better ratings.
I recommend this game!
Each clue pulls you deeper into the darkness between the stars.
Overall rating
2
/
5
74 of 74 found this review helpful
How Many Aliases Does Domini Have?
PostedAugust 9, 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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I usually buy games without checking the demo because I know what I like and who I like. We have all witnessed Domini's decline over the recent years, so I was concerned enough to wonder if this particular offering was just a Domini game in a new dress...again. So based on the demo, these are things that I'd rather do than play this game: listen to Yoko Ono sing for seven straight hours, pour Tabasco sauce in my eye, take a vacation in Somalia. There you go.
I don't recommend this game.
A struggle for the truth in a city of deceit!
Overall rating
5
/
5
122 of 131 found this review helpful
The Friendly Fox Is A Welcome Guest In My Henhouse!
PostedAugust 3, 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
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Where to start? I have the entire Dark City series- all are fantastic, some more than others. Dark City Paris and Dark City Budapest were the best- up until now.
There are some "indie" developers that I really like. But Friendly Fox is at the top of the heavy-hitter-heap, no debate there. They've come such a long way and it shows. The artwork in this particular game -graphics, color palette and saturation, the characters themselves -OUTSTANDING. The story is very engaging and absolutely original. The voice acting is very good. Friendly Fox has taken us all over Europe and the UK. And, for whatever reason, regional accents are never employed. The accents are always straight-up American. Once in a great while you might catch a hint of a character's accent. This has always bothered me as it doesn't allow me to completely immerse myself into the story. However, in this game the voice acting is good enough that I don't even mind. The attention given to Ukranian tradition is wonderful. Some of the puzzles were definitely harder than others and the collectibles are not obvious- you have to look. Thank you, Friendly Fox for a completely enjoyable experience!
There are some "indie" developers that I really like. But Friendly Fox is at the top of the heavy-hitter-heap, no debate there. They've come such a long way and it shows. The artwork in this particular game -graphics, color palette and saturation, the characters themselves -OUTSTANDING. The story is very engaging and absolutely original. The voice acting is very good. Friendly Fox has taken us all over Europe and the UK. And, for whatever reason, regional accents are never employed. The accents are always straight-up American. Once in a great while you might catch a hint of a character's accent. This has always bothered me as it doesn't allow me to completely immerse myself into the story. However, in this game the voice acting is good enough that I don't even mind. The attention given to Ukranian tradition is wonderful. Some of the puzzles were definitely harder than others and the collectibles are not obvious- you have to look. Thank you, Friendly Fox for a completely enjoyable experience!
I recommend this game!
Lost in the City: Post Scriptum
Help Hero and Ann wake up all of mankind in Lost in the City: Post Scriptum! Put an end to the curse and save the entire world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Elephant, where did you go?
PostedJuly 19, 2023
caseyduhamel
fromSpectacular South Dakota!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
(324)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A Fantastic sequel- you have to hunt to find these gems, but it's worth it. Elephant was once a brilliant developer- what happened?
I recommend this game!