caseyduhamel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.4
- Helpful Votes:3,948
- Reviews Submitted:152
- First Review:October 29, 2019
- Most Recent Review:June 13, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help Jane restore her house in time for Halloween!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Great Challenge
PostedOctober 18, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromBOO!!
Skill Level:Intermediate
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
Might be a bit simplistic, but the game itself is terrific. Sometimes simplicity is best- but don't let that fool you. The boards are challenging! The puzzles, including the sliders (which I love) were no challenge at all, but the game itself was loads of fun and lots of game for the buck. I think one of the characters was dressed up as Caitlyn Jenner for Halloween (seriously). Now, that's scary! lol
I recommend this game!
A strange board game makes a Halloween party go very wrong!
Overall rating
4
/
5
76 of 80 found this review helpful
Not My Cup o' Brew, But...
PostedOctober 14, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromBOO!!
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
3
/
5
Well, I am in the middle of playing this monsterful little opus. I like a good old fashioned Halloween, so I have to admit this is just not my style of gaming as far as Halloween goes. So I am going to be objective here as many of you will enjoy this game. I am always a little trepidacious when buying a Domini game as I am usually disappointed. Vapid story lines, same bells and whistles, a deluge of the color purple, ridiculous scavenger hunts and the most outrageous uses for mail boxes. But, it's Halloween, so this game was a go, no questions asked. Well, I was surprised to find really good graphics with barely any purple at all! The graphics are chock full of interactive detail which added to the fun- honestly, I am impressed. Domini usually has great find 'ems and I like the hunt. I am enjoying the puzzles-most of them are based on the usual paradigms but have a few twists in them to make them interesting. The HOPs have the match-3 option and are also enjoyable with a few imaginative twists here and there. When beginning the game, I came upon the dreaded mailbox: uh-oh, what would be in here? Tree trimmers and my grandmother's old slip covers? No!!! It was actually mail!!! A talking letter!! Again, Domini gets another star for improvement. The voice-overs are annoying and underwhelming. But, I'm giving Domini a pass here as maybe Samantha (female lead character) really is from Sherman Oaks, California as her Valley Girl Speak is spot on...totally, fer sure. (lol) As I've said previously, this particular Halloween game is a little sophomoric for me, the characters shallow. I don't like the plot line or monster theme, especially when they are squid- like. Halloween is about the one night when the veil between living humans and those that have passed into the beyond is thinnest. Not monsters...although my mother-in-law, may she rest in the peace she never gave me, might be able to pass for a monster but other than that... Only kidding folks (kinda). Just trying to lighten it up. In closing, the graphics in this game are truly its saving grace. They're busy and fun. I'm having fun finding my way through the game but I'm not blown away. But, that's just me. There are many, many that will love this game. I definitely recommend it for some spooky fun.
I recommend this game!
A trio of hoax hunters get the shock of their lives!
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 93 found this review helpful
Newsflash! The Irish Now All Speak Like Americans
PostedOctober 7, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromPLEASE HIRE DECENT VOICE ACTORS THAT CAN DO ACCENTS!!!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
My biggest beef with this game so far has to do with attention to detail. The graphics were very good- Elephant has really improved their palette and it shows- very atmospheric and Halloween is one very atmospheric holiday, love the "feel" of the game. I also really like the storyline- different countries have different traditions regarding the night when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. Good job there, Elephant. The chores and scavenger hunts were fairly typical. The puzzles range from easy to very challenging- I'm a puzzle gal so I really enjoyed those and I really appreciated the different takes on the HOPs. I loved the info cards. The background music was appropriate for the season. But why-oh why- must people in foreign countries speak like Americans?! That's insulting. For example- at the beginning of the game we are in Ireland and there is not one Irish brogue to be found- all the folks speak with generic American accents. And the Wood Nymph sounds like she's right out of Sherman Oaks, California. It's like really totally bad, like totally. (lol) The voice acting itself is so underwhelming that it profoundly takes away from the game. But, I enjoyed the game, short as it is (that might be merciful), so it's a "yes" from me.
I recommend this game!
Can you solve a ghostly mystery to escape a film?
Overall rating
4
/
5
42 of 43 found this review helpful
Domini Makes a Comeback- Again!
PostedSeptember 12, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromNO PURPLE!!!!! HURRAY!!!!!
Skill Level:Intermediate
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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, I feel bad because I trashed Domini's last offering, but I shouldn't feel guilty because it was really not good. What I really enjoyed about this game was #1- Domini calmed down their palette. The colors were more natural considering #2- the setting was the American Wild West. No cemeteries, haunted hotels, aliens, robots, goblins, elf kings, other-worldlies and the like. This game was a realistic depiction with a realistic fun story. The graphics are very good, the cutaways, for the most part are smooth, not robotic and stiff. The voicing...well, the most believable was Fannie, the saloon keeper. But, as usual our female lead sounds like a typical California Valley Girl. The voice actors were ok, a little over the top. Now, attention to detail. Domini sometimes has a problem with this but I have to say I was very surprised to see that the western tack supplied for the horse was all correct- bridle and saddle. I did have a chuckle when I saw one cowboy in the crowd obviously has his hat on backwards. A nice turkey buzzard was there to greet us BUT, what was a Jerboa doing in the South Western American dessert when they only exist in Northern Africa and Asia...shame, shame, Domini. The puzzles were great- lots of new ones and some were definitely challenging. I enjoyed the HOPs, the match-3 option, and of course find-ems are always fun. Domini is still congratulating you for everything you do, even stuff you have to do to keep the game moving forward- these awards are like participation trophies and unnecessary. But, I did enjoy this game- something very different for Domini and I appreciate their effort to bring us something new, although many of the game's "chores" we've all seen before (the hair comb to remove nails...yeah). Definitely recommend- nice to see the bad guy in a cowboy hat!
I recommend this game!
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
Current Favorite:
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel Collector`s Edition
(134)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
Current Favorite:
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel Collector`s Edition
(134)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
Current Favorite:
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel Collector`s Edition
(134)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!