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:
The twin detectives are back on the case!
Overall rating
1
/
5
28 of 33 found this review helpful
Domini Has Hit The Gaming Wall
PostedSeptember 6, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromIs There a 12-Step Program For Those Who Abuse The Color Purple?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I thought Domini was making a comeback. I was wrong. This awful edition proves it- if you're playing Domini games as of late, you're betting on a dead horse. Nothing new, everything predictable. And have I ever mentioned the words "Domini" and "purple" in the same sentence? Yes, I believe I have...a lot. Well, it looks like the devs dropped this game into a bucket of purple paint and called it done- the game is positively drenched in the most obnoxious, retina-searing shades of purple known to man and some shades that haven't been invented yet. Domini is really going to have to get off their rumps and do some serious reworking of their gaming paradigm to get this gamer back- and I'm sure I speak for others.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop a dangerous Order from bringing back the dead?
Overall rating
4
/
5
70 of 75 found this review helpful
You're Almost There, Domini!
PostedJuly 26, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromThe Little Origami Dog That Could! :-)
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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
Anyone who reads my reviews (and I thank those that do!! xo) knows I really have a thing for pallet/graphics. To me, it's 50% of the game- %25 being storyline and %25 percent being actual gaming. The storyline and gaming are most assuredly integral to the gaming experience but without awesome graphics, the project is kaput. Let's take "Gone With The Wind" or "Dr. Zhivago". Outstanding script, mesmerizing storyline, but without some of the most astounding cinematography in the history of film, each of the afore mentioned masterpieces would have been a runner-up instead of an Oscar winner, which they both were. Now, I'm not looking for Oscar winners when I'm gaming but I am looking for the same type of escapism. I studied cinematography and film in university so I do lean the way of the optical. The graphics in this offering from Domini (which I purchased with some amount of trepidation- the color purple has ruined the friendship Domini and I once had) are actually quite good and very atmospheric (love atmosphere- I want to feel the story!) Plus, I am also an author, so a game about writers- count me in! BUT, must this friendly little Origami dog ALWAYS remind me his owners are addicted to the color purple? Granted, the colorists have at least kept the purple appearances to a minimum, but when it shows up, it's like a purple explosion. However, other than that, the pallet is beautifully done...could have been just a tad more subtle- it's a little loud in some areas.
The find 'ems are great (you call them collectibles). There's a handy indicator to the left of the inventory bar letting you know if one is present. I like that consideration as I have lost many a collectible during the heat of game play. And a big plus- the scavenger hunt for emblems is not annoying, tedious or inane- sure some we've seen of these forays before but for the most part I really the enjoyed the sleuthing. You've got the Match-3 option on the HOPs, but the HOPs are actually fun and this comes from a gal that is absolutely not a HOPs gal...and I enjoyed all of them and appreciate the twist Domini put on them.
Now, the storyline may be a bit more suitable for Halloween, but that's ok- heck, half the time I don't even know what day it is anyway. The musical score is quite suitable for the storyline and very well done- really sets the mood. The characters are well executed, the dialogue is believable (if not just the littlest bit cheesy). All in all, thoroughly enjoyed the game and was able to get over the purple and the few retina burning colors. Domini, get your pallet down to a level where the gamers are affected in a way that draws them right into the environment of the story and you will be TOP DOG of the BIG THREE! Good job!
The find 'ems are great (you call them collectibles). There's a handy indicator to the left of the inventory bar letting you know if one is present. I like that consideration as I have lost many a collectible during the heat of game play. And a big plus- the scavenger hunt for emblems is not annoying, tedious or inane- sure some we've seen of these forays before but for the most part I really the enjoyed the sleuthing. You've got the Match-3 option on the HOPs, but the HOPs are actually fun and this comes from a gal that is absolutely not a HOPs gal...and I enjoyed all of them and appreciate the twist Domini put on them.
Now, the storyline may be a bit more suitable for Halloween, but that's ok- heck, half the time I don't even know what day it is anyway. The musical score is quite suitable for the storyline and very well done- really sets the mood. The characters are well executed, the dialogue is believable (if not just the littlest bit cheesy). All in all, thoroughly enjoyed the game and was able to get over the purple and the few retina burning colors. Domini, get your pallet down to a level where the gamers are affected in a way that draws them right into the environment of the story and you will be TOP DOG of the BIG THREE! Good job!
I recommend this game!
Can you find an elusive shop to save your long-lost partner?
Overall rating
5
/
5
117 of 126 found this review helpful
Elephant, You've Been Listening With Those Big Ears
PostedJuly 10, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromElephant rises from the ashes like a huge chubby big-eared Phoenix!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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 was not going to buy this game as I had given up on the big three. Normally, I search out smaller devs or older games simply because I can find fresh ideas and game play within that arena. But, I have played Paranormal Files before and generally enjoyed them to the tune of a three-four star rating. So, that, accompanied by the positive reviews, I went ahead and bought this game. Graphics are extremely important to me. You can have an outstanding storyline and game play, but without great graphics to support the whole project the game is ruined. Well, I was really surprized when I stepped into this game: the best graphics Elephant has ever produced! They are gorgeous! Gone is that horribly annoying neon palette and the abuse of the color purple- the colors blend beautifully, muted where they need to be and a tad bolder where it counts. Characters are well drawn, their movements are more fluid during the cutaways, and the dialogue is believable, matching the mouth movements. Well done! Right off the bat when starting the game, I was hit with a HOP and a puzzle: both challenging (some very challenging) as are most of this game's puzzle and HOP offerings. No match-3 option on the HOPs, so yes, you gotta play them through. No indicator telling you about the presence of collectibles, you must hunt them out. The statuettes are fairly easy but the souvenirs not so much. Great creepy story featuring our favorite ghost hunting team. The scavenger hunts are actually fun and not tedious or ridiculous...gotta thank the graphics here as they kept me glued to my screen. Great turn here, Elephant, and thanks for listening!! Hopefully the others (and you know who you are!) follow your lead.
I recommend this game!
When Leitan Keyes, a famous inventor, finishes his latest invention a sudden visit from the future will shatter his world.
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 15 found this review helpful
OUTSTANDING SERIES
PostedJuly 4, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSD, Good Ol' U.S. of A.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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 series never disappoints! Excellent artwork and palette, great dialogue, terrific storylines, challenging puzzles and fantastic twists on the same ol' HOPs. I never thought I'd ever say this, but the HOPs in this game were very challenging and I enjoyed everyone of them! And I am not a HOPs person. Definitely some added humor in the dialogue. The VOs were very well done by the voice actors although the dialogue between Carlos and his wife was a bit schmaltzy at times, but no biggie. This challenging game is money well spent and I had a great time navigating it.
I recommend this game!
Play fun Match 3 levels and solve incredible puzzles to uncover the culprit behind a deadly threat!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Great Match Three Game W/ HOPS And More!
PostedJune 25, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSD, Good Ol' U.S. of A.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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
Great storyline. Really challenging game and very different from any Match-3 I've ever played. Highly recommend this!! Don't understand the negative reviews at all- the dialogue was half the fun!
I recommend this game!
Arthurian legends are just stories, but sometimes fiction hides the truth.
Overall rating
4
/
5
69 of 70 found this review helpful
Story Is Right Up My Alley
PostedJune 19, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSD, Good Ol' U.S. of A.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm not a huge fan of Domini Games. The reasons are always the same- lack of attention to detail, truly absurd scavenger hunts that make no sense, flat storylines, and (my favorite) the abuse of the color purple. BUT (and, hey, that's a big 'but'! lol), I have usually really enjoyed their Hidden Expedition series due to its historical take on legends and myths and the absence of fairies, dwarves, etc. A more cerebral game play, shall we say. And for me, King Arthur is a biggie...I would go so far as to say huge as I actually travelled to Glastonbury, England (the Tor and Chalice Wells) and to Caerleon, Wales (possibly Camelot) for my own personal Arthurian research. I am in the middle of linking the Arthurian bloodlines to the French Merovingian bloodlines via Charlemagne. And this game hits them all!! Though the game's central Arthurian local is Cornwall and Doxmary Pool- all viably correct Arthurian hotspots- I was thrilled to find the devs had entered this kingliest of kingly realms. So right there, for me, the storyline is worth the price of admission. Why not five stars? Well, the usual Domini faux pas. They really went nuts on the purple in this one- the entire palette isn't just loud, it roars. The VO's are not believable and amateurish. Why must every Domini female lead sound like she's fresh off the plane from California? The lack of attention to cultural detail: example- in Rome, "police" is spelled "polizia", not the English "police". Also, Italian police speak with an Italian accent when they are speaking English, not a New York accent. That really chafes me. But, I did enjoy the find 'ems, the variations on the HOPs, got through on the puzzles on difficult mode and if you look past the purple (which is hard to do), the graphics are actually good, not stellar but good. The scavenger hunts were actually believable for the most part. I had to get into a mailbox, which I dreaded, but HEY- I actually found mail in it, not toenail clippers or a chain saw! There's the usual chores to complete, you know what they are. But, at the end of the day, the storyline really wins it for me! I'm a happy gal!
I recommend this game!
Can you find your husband and escape an otherworldly foe?
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
A Puzzler's Delight!
PostedJune 5, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSD, Good Ol' U.S. of A.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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
Thank you, Mad Head...I thought you were leaving me there for a while, going the way of the "Big THREE". But, you are back. Terrific graphics on this game, which to me are a huge part of the narrative. Yeah, we're saving a loved one again, but you devs are making it fun and immersive. Love those find 'ems- those skulls ain't easy! lol I wouldn't recommend this game for beginners, it can get a bit complex. Took me two days just to get out of the hotel! And that's the way adventure gaming should be! In these days of instant gratification and split second information, isn't it nice to have to think, ponder, and try...and try...and try...until-BINGO! Great game, thanks Mad Head
I recommend this game!
In The Wild Case, go on a first-person point-and-click adventure and explore a remote village located deep within a mysterious forest.
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Ahhh, Just Like The Old Days
PostedJune 5, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromDosvedaniya (look it up! lol)
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game reminds me very much of one of my very favorite games- Deja Vu. Both are Russian and both boast the outstanding graphics that present us with a post-Soviet world. The neon palette doesn't exist here. It's Russia. Now this game is a bit more fantasy than Deja Vu. Deja Vu was an incredibly well done mystery involving the search for a missing fiancé in post-Soviet Russia. Plus there was the added bonus of info cards giving the fascinating history and way of life of Soviet Russia. This game has us searching for the reason behind the morphing of indigenous Russian predator mammals (bears, boars etc.) into red-eyed, "steroid-pumped" aberrations. A good story, for sure. My beefs: although there are no vocals and all dialogue is readable, the mouth movements are really kinda silly. Which is a shame because the artwork on the scenes rock- looks hand drawn. Best kind. Also- every character needs you to perform a favor in order for you to get one simple act completed. Not going to give anything away here so let me give a made-up example. You want an ice-cream. But the store is closed. You try to find what time it opens so you ask a local vagabond what time the store opens and he won't tell you until you bring him a drink of vodka. But, since the store is closed you have to ask the locals if they have any vodka. Well, yes, one comrade does but he won't give you any unless you paint his truck. So now you have to find paint. See what I mean. Still, very much like the adventure games of old- no HOPs and lots of favors to deliver. I'm really enjoying this!
I recommend this game!
Can Camelot survive the wrath of the Green Knight?
Overall rating
5
/
5
32 of 38 found this review helpful
As My Italian Gramma Used to say: "Datsa Good!"
PostedMay 24, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSouth Dakota, Good Ol' US of A
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, 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
Oh thank you, thank you. Not a top three developer but what a fantastic world they have placed us in. The graphics and accents are terrific. You say "Camelot" I am there! Other reviewers have covered the detail very well here- thanks penmom. If you want a really good storyline and love to step into the the days of the Hero Knights, and of course immerse yourself into King Arthur lore (I actually went to the Tor in Glastonbury where he is supposedly buried), this game will take you to where no aircraft can during these awful covid times. Thanks to the devs and Big Fish for bringing this to us who long for adventure...and want to get the heck outta Dodge!! xoxoxo
I recommend this game!
Ariel's twin sister, Belle, has been kidnapped and it's up to you to assist in her rescue!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Not a Lover of Dragons, But...
PostedMay 24, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromSouth Dakota, Good Ol' US of A
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hey, don't hate me because I'm not thrilled with dragons, elves dwarves, vampires, ad infinitum in fantasy land. I love conspiracy, real hermeticism and esoteric magick. I'm a bit of a realist and a history buff, but that's just me. I'm not going to count this game down because of the fantasy presence- I bought it, so I should play it. And I'm glad I did- really quality stuff here- graphics, dialogue, storyline. And it ain't easy play folks! Hurrah, thanks for the challenge...don't hold hands too much. Give it a shot! :-)
I recommend this game!