krystal59's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:1,152
- Reviews Submitted:217
- First Review:November 14, 2011
- Most Recent Review:May 17, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Characters from classical literature are coming to life!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Best one so far!!
PostedJanuary 29, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
And I have them all. This one was a little less focused on historical American figures and a lot more focused on fun. Loved the special effects.. figures zipping into books, statues singing and exploding pumpkins just to name a few. Same collectible clovers with the addition of collectible gold coins that drop down from a chain every time you find one. Also a good selection of achievements. There was a fair amount of interaction with many different characters. The graphics here were really beautiful. There was one scene with some row houses and a horse and carriage that was so detailed I had to stop and admire it for a few minutes.
But the best part for me was the mini games and there were lots of them. Not your average turn the pipes.. these were pretty imaginative. Loved the board game and the on going stage game where you had to put the pieces in order. I will say that the bonus chapter was not the most exciting I've ever played but the game itself was quite good.
But the best part for me was the mini games and there were lots of them. Not your average turn the pipes.. these were pretty imaginative. Loved the board game and the on going stage game where you had to put the pieces in order. I will say that the bonus chapter was not the most exciting I've ever played but the game itself was quite good.
So I am happy to recommend this one. It was a ton of fun. Oh and the other best part.. no one went missing or was kidnapped. That storyline has been so done to death that it makes me reconsider the purchase. In this game you must discover which character in the writer's books has come to life, turned evil and is trying to usurp him. Interesting.
I recommend this game!
A fire breaks out during a concert, and now your daughters are both missing. Hurry to track them down – their music may hold the key to life and death!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
old school
PostedJanuary 21, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
this game might have made the cut seven or eight years ago but not today. The SAME old storyline.. my god STOP please STOP!! A mother's children are.. can you guess? yes kidnapped. sigh.. by the evil person from the first game and he wants to steal their musical ability to heal his wife.
The graphics were okay. Nothing stunningly beautiful but okay. I did like some of the puzzles but there were also some old old ones.. turn the pipes, rotate the pieces to make the puzzle... you know. There were a fair amount of locales some of which were quite detailed. Lots of inventory objects and the HO's were find this and use it to find that. pretty good. There were some extra details like finding three dragon pieces that told you some background and writing down musical notes to open various safes and things. So not a bad game. But I must say that for me.. the game came across as very old school. Been there, seen this, played it many times in various forms. I was quite happy to be done. The characters were hokey and parts of the game were nonsensical. When you rescue one of the children she says she'll go get help and disappears but you drove this car/boat thing over to this island and so she has no way of going for help. The bad guys have guns but try to choke you instead and despite being told that you could kill your child with one wrong touch to some machinery you proceed to shut down everything while the villain just stands and watches you. Right. Like I said old school. This was not the best thought out storyline. It did offer a few good puzzles and some not bad HO scenes but I would not recommend it unless you have a free coupon or a really good sale. I did play the first one and liked much better. Let's cross our fingers for something more polished for the third installment.
Sable Maze: Forbidden Garden Collector's Edition
Your parents always told you to stay away from the mysterious maze behind their house…. and you’re about to find out why.
Overall rating
4
/
5
don't give up
PostedJanuary 17, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
When I started to play the demo, I must say the opening was a little off putting. It was ultra feminine with loads of pink and purple floral, along with excessively ornate surroundings. The storyline is the done to death.. been kidnapped.. ugh please.. by the evil whoever.. double ugh. It even managed to come off as quite hokey. But I told myself.. I like fairy tale games and I had enjoyed the other sable maze games even if this one seemed very different. So I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did. It's too bad that this game was released after a glut of fairy tale games that we were all really tiring of because it is actually very good as fairy tale games go. I guess timing IS everything.
There are 10.. yes that's 10 good sized chapters plus a bonus chapter, 2 different collectibles with one set that morphs, five pages of achievements and some rather well done cut scenes. As you complete each set of collectibles you then play a match 3 game to get a piece of the story. The art work throughout is really stunning. Gorgeous stained glass, ornate fireplaces, loads of color and detail. Even the floors are designed and detailed. Just a massive amount of work there. The gardens were loaded with color and dripping with Wisteria flowers which just happens to be your character's name. I like how she actually speaks. Your mother is turned into an ermine who immediately becomes your helper.
There is a huge variety of both mini games and HO scenes. The mini games range from simple to the more complex.. like the blowing out and relighting of candles to form a pattern. Very good. The HO scenes range from find and use to silhouettes, to collect 12 of, or you could play a match 3 games instead. You also have a journal that keeps track of the information pages you find which give you clues about how to overcome obstacles.
All in all this one turned out to be a long, complex and fun game. If you can overlook the awful, massively overdone storyline... this game was probably one of the better fairy tale ones I've seen. Don't let the beginning turn you off. It gets better as it goes along. Give this one a chance and you may just be happy you did.
There is a huge variety of both mini games and HO scenes. The mini games range from simple to the more complex.. like the blowing out and relighting of candles to form a pattern. Very good. The HO scenes range from find and use to silhouettes, to collect 12 of, or you could play a match 3 games instead. You also have a journal that keeps track of the information pages you find which give you clues about how to overcome obstacles.
All in all this one turned out to be a long, complex and fun game. If you can overlook the awful, massively overdone storyline... this game was probably one of the better fairy tale ones I've seen. Don't let the beginning turn you off. It gets better as it goes along. Give this one a chance and you may just be happy you did.
I recommend this game!
An unexpected invitation sends you to research mythical standing stones in Brittany.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Wow great game!!
PostedJanuary 6, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
First.. I love this style of animation. It was absolutely beautiful, full of color and detail. Some amazing cut scenes and well done VO's. Good music and an interesting storyline. I loved the time countdown. You must stop a man who has been possessed from releasing a demon. And things you would not expect in a SE game. Two different collectibles and achievements. I loved that the collectible olive branches sometimes had several per area and were also mixed in the HO scenes. There were also pieces for a mosaic to collect. Some really well done mini games as well. And this game was quite long. Really impressed with this one. Nice to see some of the lesser known dev's step up and put out such a high quality game as this. Don't miss this one. And I bought it with a free coupon. Wow amazing.
I recommend this game!
Save your friends and escape from a deadly game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Super super short !!
PostedJanuary 3, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
What is with Elephant games? You used to be able to count on them for detailed, long games with really good storylines. The Templar game jumps to mind. This was just not up to snuff for me. I love lots of puzzles but these were so easy I could complete them in one or maybe two minutes at the outset. The gameplay was standard stuff like releasing trapped spirits, more people being kidnapped.. groan.. how many times??.. we have seen this over and over and over and over and over. (bangs head into table).. If I said over for how many times I'd seen it, it would fill the whole page. The real game begins with you telling a police officer that your friends were kidnapped into a game. You are then somehow strong armed into playing yourself. Of course you must save your other three friends and then defeat the "gods" who's game it apparently is. This is absurdly easy and makes for quite an anti climactic ending.
I think I finished this game in under 4 hours and I am a player who likes to take my time and enjoy all of my surroundings. There are the usual flowers to collect, some figurines and some fairly basic achievements. The flowers buy wallpaper and a kitchen in what appears to be your character's apartment?? I dunno, I can only say how a game feels to me and this one just felt like their heart wasn't in it. It was an okay game I guess as games go. Nothing overly exciting, rather run of the mill, extremely short, visually nice, just okay game. I really can't understand the five star ratings but everyone has their own opinions.. this was mine.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Meredith retrieve the ancient tomes and stop the Wizard’s wrath in this hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
WOW
PostedJanuary 1, 2015
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Great game. I bought it with a free coupon and therefore was not expecting much but boy was I surprised. The game opens with you looking at your Aunt's house which is now in flames. There is this world and then three crystal holders that take you to other worlds.. a blue orc one, a white human one and a green elf one. All are beautifully drawn, detailed and full of warm colors. Really lovely. You are searching for three books that the evil wizard has stolen back from you. I like that the main character speaks which always makes her/him more relateable and real.
For a SE game this had some unexpected extras.. collectible crosses and some achievements. It had a good jump map that showed the location of objectives and a good hint system. The Ho's were a mix of lists and silhouettes. It also had some length to it. A decent story and the occasional treat like a stone gollum made this game both memorable and rather enchanting. Quite enjoyable. I will for sure look for more by this developer. It even had a link on the opening page for me to write this review. Nice job.
For a SE game this had some unexpected extras.. collectible crosses and some achievements. It had a good jump map that showed the location of objectives and a good hint system. The Ho's were a mix of lists and silhouettes. It also had some length to it. A decent story and the occasional treat like a stone gollum made this game both memorable and rather enchanting. Quite enjoyable. I will for sure look for more by this developer. It even had a link on the opening page for me to write this review. Nice job.
I recommend this game!
Another bloodcurdling tale ripped from the pages of history. This time, the horrifying legend of Elizabeth Bathory is yours to discover!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Wow
PostedDecember 28, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Now this was a good game! All kinds of new stuff here. You are a gypsy with a horse drawn caravan and you bring with you your herbal potion making abilities. Girls seem to be going into the Countess's palace and never being seen again. Loved the collectible taro cards that told your immediate future. Very cool. This game had some length to it too which is so important if you are to become immersed in it. There's nothing worse than just starting to really get into a game and it's over. The graphics here are beautifully detailed and full of color. very nice. You also have psychic abilities that take you to puzzle visions. My favorite were the HO scenes that were a real mix. I loved the one that was a storybook and also the find five things to do with witchcraft, weather etc. I loved making the potions and this game often made you think. The collectibles carried over to the bonus chapter which ended the game nicely. Really really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
I recommend this game!
The Rat King's wand has fallen into the hands of a vengeful baron. Team up with your new friend, the Tin Soldier, to stop him!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
charming
PostedDecember 20, 2014
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I love this style of animation. Loved the Charlie doll and the little tin soldier. Some good HO's and some pretty fun mini games. Moving Charlie through the mouse house was fun. Really, this was the best of Elephant games. There were puzzle pieces and animals in gift boxes to collect. The cut scenes were well done. I especially liked flying in the plane. Overall this was a very charming, albeit somewhat short game that was beautifully drawn and animated. I quite enjoyed it.
I must add though that the storyline was really mundane. How many kidnapped storylines must we play?? Over and over and over and over. Even within this game it gets tedious. First Nina is kidnapped and must be rescued.. sigh.. then in the extra chapter the cat gets kidnapped ..oh for god's sake is there no other storyline?? Okay so that's my one beef with this game.
Otherwise it was really cute and a nice addition to Christmas 2014.
I must add though that the storyline was really mundane. How many kidnapped storylines must we play?? Over and over and over and over. Even within this game it gets tedious. First Nina is kidnapped and must be rescued.. sigh.. then in the extra chapter the cat gets kidnapped ..oh for god's sake is there no other storyline?? Okay so that's my one beef with this game.
Otherwise it was really cute and a nice addition to Christmas 2014.
I recommend this game!
A shadow from the Gray family's past has returned for revenge. Can you save your family from their worst nightmares?
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
revenge
PostedDecember 16, 2014
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I quite liked this one. The revenge of an adopted child who after showing some serious mental health issues is sent to a clinic for help. I loved all the morphing objects, the collectible creatures and the collectible objects left over from other games in the series. There was a new addition of a palette that included draw by numbers and then paint by symbols. That object would them come to life and you could use it in the main game. That addition was fun to use. It was beautifully drawn although the color palette was a bit dark. I always notice little extras like the pond that sprays up when you click it. how the lamps turn on and off or how the pages float gracefully into the diary. This game was a reasonable length with a rather predictable outcome. You must rescue each set of people. The extra chapter was good and I always prefer that the morphing objects etc. carry over as it gives me more incentive to play it. The addition of the full page puzzles (think MCF) were fun.. I chose the little train one as my fave. It had a good teleporting map also. I liked the extra extra game where you are timed to find a series of morphing objects before the bomb exploded. FUN
I do though have a couple of things that were not so great. The SG was on the main page rather than being accessible through the map so while trying to keep track of 3 different collectible I was having to leave and come back often. I try to make sure my number 20 matches theirs for example to make sure I don't miss any and having to close the game and go back to the main page each time was well Not fun. Also while there were 3 things to collect, there was not an achievement for completing any of them. Kind of disappointing.
But overall this was a good addition to the series. I enjoyed playing and would recommend it.
I recommend this game!
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
on the fence
PostedNovember 30, 2014
krystal59
fromBC Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
3.5 maybe? You know if you just took this as any other game it was pretty good as games go. But MCF quality it was not. I sort of went back and forth with this one.
What I liked
well it was relatively long
you could choose to play as male or female
no one went missing or was kidnapped
I enjoyed the full screen puzzles although I did find a few of them had no rhyme or reason
the morphing houses and collectible puzzles pieces
the clue collecting and deducting
the HO puzzles were standard elephant games
there was a jump map that used flags to mark locations
you could interact with characters by asking them questions
my character actually spoke
there were achievements to achieve
the bonus chapter had a squirrel helper
well it was relatively long
you could choose to play as male or female
no one went missing or was kidnapped
I enjoyed the full screen puzzles although I did find a few of them had no rhyme or reason
the morphing houses and collectible puzzles pieces
the clue collecting and deducting
the HO puzzles were standard elephant games
there was a jump map that used flags to mark locations
you could interact with characters by asking them questions
my character actually spoke
there were achievements to achieve
the bonus chapter had a squirrel helper
What I didn't like
the graphics the graphics the graphics! They were all brown and purple. Dull and kind of fuzzy in parts. Gone are the crisp bright locations of the first Dire grove. In other MCF games you felt like you were there. This one felt more like it was drawn and then poorly colored.
the graphics the graphics the graphics! They were all brown and purple. Dull and kind of fuzzy in parts. Gone are the crisp bright locations of the first Dire grove. In other MCF games you felt like you were there. This one felt more like it was drawn and then poorly colored.
the characters- they have divided themselves into two groups the "mistwalkers" who protect the forest and the hunters who...well we're not sure. For me there was way too much testosterone here. Or perhaps anger management issues. Everyone seemed to be on a quest for vengeance. I will avenge this death for my family name blah blah blah. And although the extra chapter did some to explain why.. I just couldn't get into it. Combine that with them all wearing fox heads, animal pelts and deer masks and it made for some really odd stuff.
I did find the plot a bit muddled. It did get cleared up in the end but it ended with the old mwah ha ha the evil whoever is going to perform a ritual for eternal life.
the attempt to connect the game near the end to the characters from madame fate and ravenhearst just came off as kind of lame and that too little too late feeling.
I remember the cut scenes at the end of R2R just blew me away. The quality and the detail. And I have always liked the use of real people especially in the pirate one. But this one had none of that. Nothing that blew me away, no real people, kind of a weird plot, a run of the mill ending. I dunno.
I remember the cut scenes at the end of R2R just blew me away. The quality and the detail. And I have always liked the use of real people especially in the pirate one. But this one had none of that. Nothing that blew me away, no real people, kind of a weird plot, a run of the mill ending. I dunno.
Like I said in the beginning I am on the fence. If you just bought this as an elephant game.. it had a lot of work put into it and was a pretty good game as any standard CE version game. But if you are expecting the MCF graphics, innovation and story.. meh not so much. I would like it if they would just do a new game and not try to always tie it in to the others. I did play the extra chapter but just did not care enough to play the alternative ending so I cannot comment on that. This one was decent if not overly exciting. Didn't like the graphics or color palette but appreciated the huge amount of work that went in. Play it as a good elephant game.
I recommend this game!