Joybelle_2's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:7,892
- Reviews Submitted:176
- First Review:October 23, 2019
- Most Recent Review:October 30, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Complete fun Match 3 puzzles and help Granny restore her cottage so she can celebrate Halloween!
Overall rating
4
/
5
61 of 64 found this review helpful
After I gave it a chance..it was quite good!
PostedOctober 7, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
At first this seemed a lackluster game, and as I had not played No.1, I had nothing to expect or judge it against.
The reasons I was going to mark it low was I didnt like not having a cursor option (and still dont like it even though I have got used to it) At first it seemed the timer was over generous, but it soon ramped up on some levels (you can play relax, timed or limited moves) I felt the house graphics were a bit ordinary..and a bit expensive.
Why I upped my rating... There is a lot to this game, it becomes quite intricate and has a lot going on. There are caldrons to collect in order to build the house and must match next to them. Automatic fall of the tiles or explosions do not count in this game..the matches must be made manually.
There are the usual blocks and chains, but there is a feature that if you match next to the featured tile..helps you our by knocking a random piece off for you. Times when you must collect a certain amount of a shown tile to get it from blocking your way. You get a shuffle and a hammer quite early on, and large matches make explosives of varying strengths.
Then the mini-games were a lot of fun, if you are playing in timed..they too are timed. I had no trouble with them, (so far a jigsaw, a memory card game, and a slider)...but I did appreciate that you can toggle your difficulty in this game without losing progress or starting a whole new profile.
So I really warmed to the game as I went. Try the demo, see what you think and keep an open mind. It starts to become intriguing and fun IMHO.
I recommend this game!
Join the battle of the gods to retain their immortality!
Overall rating
5
/
5
45 of 52 found this review helpful
Not much new..but loads of fun as usual.
PostedOctober 3, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Zues does not believe that prophecies are coming true and basically your gameplay gathers evidence to convince him. Things like 'talking sheep' and metal birds...(one goddess does shoot these birds with an arrow..so be warned if you dont like that...but its pretty benign) I dont think she needs to...but probably realistic of the times..
There is not a lot new here (based on the demo so far..but I did buy it) You will build forges, olive groves, quarries, and banks. Hire workers along the way..or you may just come across 'the head on the road' which was a shock in my first game....but now I know it is another worker to click and use lol. Then there are traders who will sell you what else you need such as medical supplies to heal the locals asking for help, or torches to drive wolves away etc.
You often need to construct a temple or a statue to the god you need to help you with your tasks too. You then gather the 'power of the gods'..which helps you build 'Olympus' which is actually your boosters..each building completed makes something cheaper or faster. It will happen automatically when your builders complete their task. Remember with this series...you do NOT need to wait for your workers to complete the building...just set them to work and go back to your game. There are bird feathers to pick up that also give a power boost.
There are a few new 'finds' on the road, secret boxes with goodies and piles of gold to mine, as well as what you pick up. It's sweet and colourful game, and I did have to replay a lower level or two. You can turn off the tutorial, as it will wiggle at you if you dont spot something..but I left it on till I knew what i was doing again.
So a humourous, lively, choc full of resources game that keeps you very busy. I play in normal. There is a relax and an expert mode, but I find that enough for me..well timed for my skill level. So as always, try the demo..but this is a quality and fun game. There is a written strategy guide, and wallpapers and music. I grabbed it just for my fun factor! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Addie needs a break, but who can fill her shoes?
Overall rating
5
/
5
73 of 76 found this review helpful
Top class series...plenty of levels here!
PostedSeptember 26, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This has always been a delightful TM series to play, it's clever, its eye pleasing and always gives a great variety of tasks.. Indeed in this CE offering, there are no wallpapers or music choices, just lots of levels instead. No frills, good value.
There are 50 standard levels, 6 secret levels, opened when you find all the jigsaw map pieces and marked with a wooden cross (often really hard to find..but you can go back without losing your stars and leave after you pick it up and they are marked on the levels but not on the strategy guide) ,And there are 20 extra challenge levels! All levels are covered with a written move by move strategy guide. That's 76! There are also achievements to be had.
It is a standard build, upgrade, gather TM with the twist this series has toward ecology factors. Gardens and preserving nature are a feature of the tasks. (now they have stopped any shooting in their games)
The first few levels are super easy and pretty much a tutorial, that wont let you move ahead until you learn, but you can skip the dialogue and get going if you know what you are doing. I did get a bit ahead of myself at first, and couldn't work out why the trees I cut down didn't seem to register on my materials score. You must wait till the meter of the worker is full, and if you click again in haste...he will not finish the task..but start again. This applies to all tasks.
I am playing in easy, as I learned in the past this series soon ramps up to be quite difficult even with the guide, and you can't toggle without starting a new profile. There is a relax option, normal and expert too.
Gameplay includes building campgrounds, tents trailors etc..but soon its cabins and mansions. You will need food vans to make materials, to build the camp and get a daily income and hire workers. Then you will need greenhouses and seeds to add to your 'eco' score. Houses with gardens pump out free fruit as well as the $. I saw on the screen shots there is fishing to be had and a market and shipbuilding also. One task was to build scaffold to retrieve what looked like a laser gun...so who knows where that part of the storyline will go?
Its a great TM. Its a 'smile on your dial' feelgood game. Plenty to do and lots of levels. You do have to employ strategy as the tasks often require demolition and your choices may be influenced by how much free fruit you are getting or what materials you have in hand. An instant buy for me! Always try the demo...but what's not to love? Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Help the team of brave young cooks save the world from big, scary and very, very HUNGRY INVADERS!
Overall rating
4
/
5
35 of 40 found this review helpful
Its a five star game..but I had to be tough.
PostedSeptember 23, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Yes..it's a kids game. Yes it's a 'free2play' adaption, but I not only smiled playing it..I was grinning!
There is just so much going on in this game. It involves feeding monsters by placing their food orders on a catapult and making them dissapear before they reach and destroy your food flinger. Sounds simple..well firstly all monsters have their own characteristics..some fast some slow..some who will eat anything and some who grab the food meant for others etc. Their is a bio on them all in the monsterpedia.
As you go you earn money to buy upgrades on the speed your plants grow, and upgrades such how many trays you have to prepare things ready for the incoming monster demands. It reminiscent of a cross between those games that send us into a frenzy or those that have us dashing about.
Various processing machines show up..and then there are the 'calmers'..like a gramaphone that slows them down, or a fan that holds them back. Gingerbreads that totally remove them..they all can be purchased or gained from completing quests. Really its just hilarious and adorable including the graphics..
There are achievements you get cash from, and also quests in one of the five worlds you will encounter. And you will join the kids club where they text things regarding the state of knowledge on the monsters..there is reward to collect here too.
So why did I have to take a star off? Firstly it seems there is only one profile and I am hoping I get to reset at the end? So just a one player game. Secondly even though the monsters really slow down when you use your 'calmers and slowers'..there really should be a relax option for kids and big adult kids who struggle with speed and who really would be unable to complete the levels even at the slowest pace. Kids and adults with disabilities are pretty much excluded from enjoying what could be a totally fabulous game with a relax option, as you can lose the level and have to keep trying until you win.
Always try the demo to see what you think, but I have only touched on the surface of what this game entails, and it was an instant buy for the 'big kid' within. I have had to apply strategy both with my purchases and choices of which lane of monster I shall use my 'calmers' on. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Solve dark mysteries and master battles against enemy creatures within the Forgotten Land. Break the evil forces' dark spell.
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 27 found this review helpful
Not as 'dark' as it says.
PostedSeptember 22, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This was described as 'dark' in the promo, whereas I found it rather 'light' compared to some battle games with gruesome enemies. All have a little bit of character about them, and they dont seem too dark and scarey to me. It is a limited moves game, but you can play in relaxed with as many moves as you like.
As battle games go (and I admit I usually dont like them much).. this is well put together and you play in teams often and you all have different skills..such as healing each other or delivering an extra hard punch etc. You get bombs and dynamite and other explosives on making large matches, and you charge your 'skill colour' by matching those colour tiles ..then you can help your team mates or yourself if battling alone.
The tiles are colourful, and its easy enough to play a few levels and build your village which has quite good graphics.. There are also achievements to chase after. And minigames as well that are basically 'clutter' matching.
I dont know whether it was a glitch or more likely my computer, but I did find on some levels I began to move in slow motion..it fixed once I started the next level..but returned sometimes too. So absolutely make sure you try the demo to make sure it runs well for you.
Its is a battle game involving a fair bit of strategy watching how the tiles will fall, not just matching things, so as not to line your enemy up with a weapon to use. All pretty good really.
I recommend this game!
Join the Hudson family on their trip south of the border - to amazing Mexico!
Overall rating
5
/
5
78 of 89 found this review helpful
Old fashioned family fun travelling the world.
PostedSeptember 21, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is yet another in a long line of 'same games' in a series where you travel to various locations around the world. Its not a negative however in this case, as the countries all differ and the developer always mixes up the minigames that are part of it.
The scenes are sweet, colourful and a little 'junky'..and things are not where you expect to find them nor particularly the size you expect..you may find an elephant on a roof, or a giant glass of wine on the road..who knows lol.
You play each hidden object scene several times in various modes such as straight lists, silouhette, jumbled letters etc and this gives you stars to open up other scenes and the minigames.. You can play a location as many times as you like. There is also always a 'lazy turtle' to find once in each location.
The minigames in this one are a jigsaw, mahjong, word search of Mexican cities, memory match cards, and my favourite a 'chain' style M3. All are fun.
Its just an all round great little game. You can play relaxed or time yourself for 10 or 3 mins to complete. You can have 5 profiles so the whole family can play this. Try the demo as always, but its good clean distraction, and you will learn facts about the country you are playing. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
A journey through time to save ancient Greece!
Overall rating
2
/
5
38 of 42 found this review helpful
This series is not getting better.
PostedSeptember 19, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This series has never done well. It is from a developer that pumps out these games like a burger joint. This is one of their even lesser offerings.
It does have a strategy guide, and it can get complicated to choose which building to upgrade but that is because in most cases their is just one way to do a level and that's it. The sounds are just horrid zappy and chainsaw like. You cant skip the dialogue and it sounds like its aimed at young children.
In fact as a game for young ones it would pass the test. Its childish and if you turn off the setting 'high complexity' you can play it in relax mode. For me its tedious and repetitive and the graphics are really underpar.
There was on one level a site with a "h' on it..and during play wherever I went it said 'no path'...finally after honestly being stumped..the dialogue kicked in and told me I had a hovercraft. (I did have the tute turned off though..as early on it forced me to use a resource I needed on the level)
I dont think this game has one quality factor to it I could point out and say 'at least'...I find it boring, and although you get 10 extra levels with the CE there is nothing here that attracts me to play it let alone pay double. But always try the demo..I just expect more from a game, this is very old school. So like their old games too with the timer counting down in numbers.
I don't recommend this game.
Free the home village of the Huntress from an evil curse by winning exciting Match-3 battles against dangerous foes!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 19 found this review helpful
Kapow kablooee!! Bang, Bang!
PostedSeptember 16, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I cant let my own personal taste detract from the quality of this offering. If you love a total kapow and explosion battle game, this one will delight you!
Its fast paced and you will feel your adenaline rise as you play battles against various foes and bad news spells taking over your board. The tiles are bright and clear and the graphics are quite intricate. I did get a download prompt for a microsoft framework 4.0 to play the game, but that all installed without problem (other than a bit of a wait for it to do it).
This is not my style of game, but I do know if you like a good battle on your board this will please. There is a help book and though i didnt play in relaxed I never seemed to struck a time limit, and it says you only lose a battle when you have no matches or bonuses left or your screen is overtaken? So not sure about that I'm afraid. I always won even though I had no idea what I was doing a lot of the time lol.
You will clear bats, blow up spores that the queen throws at you in battle and they get thicker and harder to get rid of if you delay. Mostly I seemed to be trying to make large matches to create bombs and then blow them up with the three bonus spells was first given. One that clears a whole line of enemy, one that reigns down arrows (thus you can set your bombs off) and a single tile arrow. They charge incredibly quickly so you are hardly ever left without a weapon of some sort. And matching some tiles also gets rid of them..but if they get totally covered you cant see the colour! That's when you need your bonuses or a photographic memory!
Try the demo. Its not for me but it seems a really good game with quick play for battle and explosion fans. Cheers
I recommend this game!
Help Allura and Glenn bring peace to the kingdoms and restore the balance in this incredible match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
40 of 48 found this review helpful
No timer or moves option..no buy from me
PostedSeptember 15, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There are quite a few games from this developer out there, And every time I say the same thing. It would be a great game if it had a timer or limited moves option.
The tiles are sweet, the underwater kingdom is eye pleasing, and there is a small challenge in reaching the target goals of certain tiles to collect on each level. And if you do take too long you dont get your three stars. But you dont know how long that is exactly as there is no visible timer. Nor the option for those who like to take their time but be challenged by limited moves.
Even if you are a player who likes to play M3's in a relax mode there is a catch with not getting your stars if you take too long and therefore being held up from completing your build sooner. I will leave it to others to explaing the obstacles that you encounter and other features. And it does have a few..but its not a buy from me without being given the options that I really enjoy with my game play. Try the demo and see what you think. I dont want to just swap tiles as an excersise.
Help Archmage Gideon regain his former glory as you complete clever solitaire puzzles set in a fantasy world!
Overall rating
4
/
5
18 of 22 found this review helpful
Nice little game..couple of fault's, but I bought it
PostedSeptember 9, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is what I would call my 'goldilocks' level of solitaire. Not too hard or easy..'just right'
The game has a good selection of card options, bio's on the characters, achievements (trophies) wallpapers and minigames as well as the solitaire which is pretty good for an SE.
I had no trouble with the game playing smoothly but I took off a star for two fault's I found. I could not find any way to get an extra undo, it is not offered in the bonus buys. I play solitaire late at night when I am often a bit dopey and most games give you the option to buy extra ones. The other was how long it takes to earn the money to buy anything, and some bonuses dont open until you reach a certain level. And lastly I dont like games that make you use a feature in the tutorial. Although they seemed to give them back to you shortly after.
But it is a nice bright game to play, I really enjoyed the one minigame I have managed to open, a jigsaw with that 'just right' amount of difficulty and I have had to use strategy and repeat the odd level. I like the bonuses that appear on the cards while you are playing and there are good amount of obstacles to overcome and things to find to unlock etc..
Always try the demo..but this one made me come back for it after I passed at first..so it got me!
I recommend this game!