coffeyfan77's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:672
- Reviews Submitted:141
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 27, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Incredibly Good Follow-Up
PostedDecember 8, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I can't imagine anyone playing the first one in this series, Dorian Gray, and not enjoying the heck out of it. If you haven't, check the follow-up out and you'll no longer be a skeptic. I won't say that this game is perfect, but the small issues here and there don't even come close to taking away from what is nearly a perfect game in my view.
You play as a father looking for his missing daughter and trying to prevent her from becoming the latest victim of an unknown killer in Victorian England. In order to accomplish this, you obtain the help of your friend, a policeman and accompany him as you scour multiple locations looking for suspects and clues. It's a good thing you're there too, since the police essentially wait for you to do everything in order to make the plot advance. But what fun would it be otherwise?
The game looks amazing. The animation of the characters is frequent and on par with higher-priced adventure games. Scenes are really well done, and hidden object searches benefit from really nice little touches that a veteran gamer will appreciate. I liked the music, but found the voice acting a bit uneven. I love that you get full voice throughout, but a couple of the actors sound like they are screaming every line of dialogue. Still entertaining, though.
There are three difficulty levels. I found it especially challenging playing on expert, as you get no sparkles, no hints, and no map. That said, the game itself is not particularly hard. You'll encounter a locked cabinet or door, it will be immediately obvious what you need to open it, and chances are what's inside that cabinet or door will be a piece to the next cabinet..or door. Minigames are interesting takes on things you've seen before, and there are a couple that will take you a while. Overall, though, this game is less about the challenge and more about the characters and plot. That's not even close to a bad thing in a genre where throwing messy piles around a screen and calling it a day is all too common.
I also liked that the collector's edition felt like one for a change. One majorly appreciated bonus was an interview with the developers of the game, which is a solid half hour of them explaining elements of the game. I absolutely loved it, as it answered some questions I had and made me feel like I was watching a director's commentary on a DVD. More of that please. The bonus chapter is brief, but entertaining, and provides a bit more closure.
Overall this was money well spent. I realize that plenty of games have mined this territory before, but this was a journey well worth undertaking. Beautiful to look at, fun to play, and interesting to think about. Can't ask for more than that.
I recommend this game!
The wolf has returned and Red Riding Hood is in danger - but this is no fairytale!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Not Always A Happy Ending
PostedDecember 7, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game is a solid hidden object affair that doesn't do anything particularly spectacularly, but overall is quite enjoyable. The plot is that you are being taunted by a mysterious killer known as the Storyteller who likes to dress mannequins up in fairy tale roles as he performs his crimes. Standard creepy fare, but the game does a good job at revealing the surprises as you go. I wouldn't say you ever feel you're in imminent danger, but the tone is definitely on the suspenseful side.
Standard hidden object scenes abound, and you'll revisit some more than once. You also have the added challenge of sometimes needing more than one piece of something in order to move forward. Minigames are about what you'd expect. There were some twists on the standard puzzles, but not enough to make them stand out for me. I played on the hardest difficulty level and the only real challenge is finding HO scenes with no sparkles after you've opened up the whole map.
I enjoyed the settings in this game. You'll go through multiple run-down locations that have seen better days. Again, the art even in cutscenes is hardly eye-popping, but it's effective enough. Music is fine, although the noise made when selecting hidden objects sounded like a suction cup being removed.
As usually seems to happen with games that aren't collector's editions, the ending was weak after the time invested in getting there. Backtracking was a bit excessive in the final stages, but you should get a few solid hours of gaming in on this. Overall, it was an interesting premise that mostly paid off.
I recommend this game!
Unearth your forgotten childhood memories to reveal the secret of the ancient labyrinth.
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 18 found this review helpful
Could Have Been Stronger
PostedOctober 7, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Sable Maze: Sullivan River is decent, I'll say that for it. The basic idea is that you end up heading back to your childhood campground to discover secrets about your past under the advice of your psychiatrist. I'll leave it to you seasoned game players to determine what happens next. Suffice it to say it involves witchcraft, druids, and lots of hidden object hunting.
That's a pretty solid intro, but the game falls flat where it counts. For starters, there are simple things that mystify me. Why is the psychiatrist's picture so prominent in the graphic for the game when he's barely in it, for instance? Why does your character fire five bullets through a lock? Why can't you just whip up a bunch of magic potion to destroy the rest of the living trees? Sadly, these questions will never be answered.
In addition to those more obscure queries, a larger one is in order: how could a game with a promising plot like this utterly fail to deliver? The ending is satisfactory enough (and the bonus game adds to it nicely# but the plot just hangs there largely unresolved. The game would be far scarier if it relied more heavily on the bullying aspect of the kids at camp and less on the lame scare attempts of a ghost appearing on screen. I can safely say very little #including the killer vegetation) approached scary.
The technical aspects of the game are also marginal. The graphics are okay. I enjoyed exploring the rundown camp and appreciated that certain areas were obviously no longer needed to prevent needless backtracking. Voices are fine, but they are few and far between and monotonous after a while due to them all being ghostly. The soundtrack was not memorable to me. Certain noises, like a horse or a woodpecker, would just grate on you as they constantly played until you could get rid of them.
Hidden object scenes are average also. I needed about one hint to finish them off, and that's not a good thing in my book. Some objects are used on others, which is a nice touch, but overall I found them too easy and too frequent. There is also a whole lot of "pick up important object, immediately use said object" for my taste. Animations were well done.
Then we get to the coup de gras: the sable maze itself. I was expecting a dramatic cocoon of twists and turns, and it's..very underwhelming. I think the developers just gave up midway through. A subplot involving adult characters goes nowhere. You have your choice of three difficulty modes. I played on hard and finished in under three hours. The minigames are variations on things you've done before and range from simplistic to time-consuming but easy. Not much to test your mettle. You can win awards, but there are no collectibles.
All in all, I think it was an original story but the game is just okay. Not sure it merits a collector's edition purchase unless you're a completist or hopelessly addicted like me. Had the developers spent a bit more time fleshing out the dreaded maze and adding to the backstory, this could have been a winner. Instead, it's one you can skip.
I don't recommend this game.
Play as recently deceased Claire unraveling the secrets of her undead powers in this shadow-soaked Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Go To Sleep Instead
PostedJuly 15, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Realizing that hidden object games have really developed since this game was released, at the end of the day, it's still pretty bad. The vampire storyline is the best thing this game has going for it, and it is well done...playing through to the end, your only reward will be the twist ending.
As to gameplay, where to begin? You'll be doing a bunch of hidden object scenes (including some of real places, which was a nice touch# and they are junkpile style. Objects will be sized randomly, so you'll find the Statue of Liberty and a hairpin at the same size, which is disconcerting and rather silly. You'll have little difficulty completing these scenes in the time allotted, particularly since chaining several items in a row will result in a time bonus.
In addition to that, you'll play three simple minigames that are all pretty bad. One is a matching game, one is a "Simon" type color puzzle, and the other is picking colors in sequence. None of them are hard, and it wouldn't matter anyway since you'll have a stockpile of hints just from completing the standard HO scenes. Fortunately, you can skip them #and not bother collecting hints#, as they are all too frequent and completely monotonous. They simply exist to draw out the game.
Sound is rather techno and grating; it wasn't the worst I've heard but nothing to write home about. Cutscenes are storyboarded comic-style. You'll get a lot of them; this game plays more like a Twilight graphic novel. Good idea, but terrible execution. In addition, not scary at all considering the subject matter. You'll wish you were asleep.
I don't recommend this game.
NightShift Legacy: The Jaguar's Eye
Mike and Isabel are on the trail of an ancient Aztec Codex known as the Jaguar`s Eye, an artifact of incredible power.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Underrated Hidden Object Sequel
PostedJuly 15, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This sequel to The Nightshift Code (itself a great game) is actually pretty darn good. This is the type of game that will not blow you away with its graphics or its sound, but the challenge and depth of storyline make it above average in my opinion, particularly for an older title.
The game is mainly hidden object hunting. The scenes are decently rendered, but you're going to be doing quite a bit of straining to see some of the items (silhouettes, shadows, etc.# In addition, there are several map-type scenes that require close scanning or a game-provided magnifying glass. If you like searches, this game will work for you. The most challenging part will be the end of each chapter, where you'll be required to search through several scenes in order to find the items you'll need to move on. The game does not tell you when an area's items have been completed, which I thought was a nice #though eventually tedious) extra challenge to your standard game.
You'll also repeat several puzzles, including a crossword-type cipher and a lockpicking puzzle. While they aren't hugely difficult, they are segmented into parts that go up in diffiiculty. The game is timed, so you will be up against the clock in some cases, particularly because when you guess wrong, time is deducted from you. These games were not groundbreaking, but made for an interesting diversion. I would have preferred a little less repetition, but it didn't detract from my overall experience too much.
Where this game really shines is the storyline. You'll travel multiple countries in multiple decades to get to the bottom of the secret, and get to visit some locations in different eras which makes for a deeper experience in my view. The story is advanced in comic strip style blocks, and while there is no voice acting, I found the dialogue and back story to be better than the usual for games of this type. That's important, since the music is grating and repetitive. No reason to keep those speakers on for this one!
The game also does a nice job with replayability by adding an "arcade" mode, where you can revisit the HO scenes and try to get through them all before time runs out. I thought this was a really good idea, although there's no chance you'll want to go back to those scenes right away after completing the game because you'll be tired of them. I also liked the degree of difficulty of the final chapter, where several of the previous challenges are grouped together and you only get one block of time for everything. Hints do recharge, but they are not fast.
All in all, I think this is an underrated game for those gamers that appreciate a challenge. If you're looking to be blown away by graphics, this is not for you. But if you're looking for a compelling and truly difficult game to try your luck on, this sequel is for you.
I recommend this game!
Save the souls of prodigy children and their caretaker who disappeared during the fire in The Agency of Anomalies: Cinderstone Orphanage!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Been There, Done That...For The Most Part
PostedJune 17, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I enjoyed the first Agency game, and the second takes a step back into marginal territory in my view. The plot is still something right out of an X-Men comic, as you're a detective attempting to find out what happened to several orphans with magical abilities who have disappeared at a run-down orphanage. There is of course a mad doctor involved, but I didn't have to tell you that, did I?
For the most part, this plays like a standard HO game you've already gone through before. The setting, characters and plot are largely uninspired, as if the developers thought "Well we have to make a sequel, so.." That's not necessarily a bad thing, as hidden object searches are frequent and look pretty good. It's just not adding much to the genre.
A couple touches I did enjoy that I'll make mention of: Upon going through the rescue of each child, you'll get a special power from them that you can use to advance in the game. I don't think enough was done with this, but I did like the concept and it made getting to previously inaccessible areas of the orphanage more interesting.
I also liked the added feature in the HO searches. Things you collect in one scene are then added into another scene to make it more interactive. It wasn't consistent throughout, however, which was unfortunate. I really liked the continuation and thought it added a different dimension to the game.
The puzzles are decent, but nothing stood out to me. There is a sequence at the end where you'll do 5 in a row and it takes a while to plod through them..sliders, jigsaws and rings oh my! You'll backtrack a bit, though not excessively, and music and voice is unobtrusive but nothing special. The ending is pretty weak compared to the story of the game.
Overall, this was enjoyable enough but I expected better. I think it diverged from the first game but didn't really follow through. Too many inconsistencies and unfinished promises for me. Pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Scarlet Frost outwit evil itself in a dark and mysterious theatre to save an innocent girl’s soul from the most sinister of perils.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Unlike Anything Else Out There
PostedJune 11, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is going to be one of those games that people either love or hate. I choose the former. The main reason why I am willing to look past this game's flaws (more on that shortly# is because I am a big fan of doing something different. There is almost nothing about this game that reminds me of hidden object games I have played before, other than the setup, and I love the way it twists convention and couples it with a truly deep and twisted storyline.
The setup is you are attempting to save a young girl from a demon by gathering parts of a bell. Yeah, that's plenty odd, but it somehow works. The voice work is decent #hard to voice a demon and have it not sound like a bad Halloween sound effect# but a lot of it sounds like it was done inside a tunnel. The graphics likely won't blow you away, but much of it is very well done. I loved the scope of the backgrounds, the uses of color and shapes, and the overall H.P. Lovecraft look to the castle. One of the truly spookier atmospheres in a game. Hidden object scenes are less successful, with junkpile objects against less interesting backgrounds, but still decent.
You'll gather quite a bit to aid you in those scenes, and this is the start to some of the odd #and interesting) departures for this game. Minigames are variants on things you've done before, but I wasn't bored, even when doing yet another pipe puzzle or identifying pieces of a jigsaw. Nothing particularly difficult, but good enough for me. You also get powers to help you, and hints if needed appear in red on your arm! That was a nice touch. You always know what your next big task is and there's not too much backtracking because the game environment isn't so big as to cause difficulty.
As to the plot, it's got a predictable ending but the trip is worth it. I really like taking a chance on something different, and this game is exactly that. There may be a spelling error here and there and it's clearly not perfect, but full marks from me on keeping the tone intense and different. Great game for a rainy day.
I recommend this game!
Help the secret organization of Mystery Trackers find 3 missing celebrities in the mysterious Void family mansion!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Near Perfection
PostedJune 5, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The first Mystery Trackers game is hugely fun, immensely replayable, and really makes you feel like you've entered another world. It's simply a must play for any fan of either hidden object or adventure games.
The storyline is excellent and very deep. You are a detective called to investigate several suspicious disappearances at a strange house, and what a surprise, everything is not as it seems! The story is presented through a variety of clippings and papers that you gather and is top-notch. Generally these plots don't make sense, but this one very much does and keeps you guessing in a good way.
The graphics and sound are also very solid. The hidden object scenes in particular look realistic and well rendered, and there are a few examples of animation that fit well in the story. Voice acting is minimal but acceptable.
I particularly liked the layout of this game. You'll explore the mansion and the grounds, but the methods with which you use to do that are inventive and fun. No simply walk through random doors here..you even get a (sort of) car chase! This method also makes it clear where you're going and where you no longer need to worry about. Hidden object scenes are plentiful but only need to be done once. You can also unlock a boatload of achievements for not using hints or skips. Only one level of difficulty and hints recharge very fast.
My only issues with this game are minor quibbles. The biggest would be the "list form" of finding hidden objects, meaning collect "10 ladybugs" and so on. I feel that's an artificial way to make the game appear longer and quite frankly a bore. Puzzles make sense and range from very easy to devilishly challenging, but I never once wanted to skip. Well done work all around and makes you want to try the rest of the series.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Ambitious But Flawed
PostedJune 3, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
There are a few reasons to like White Haven Mysteries, and as mentioned in other reviews, the storyline is the big one. Plenty of recent hidden object games have incorporated the scary mansion and the evil doctor, but rarely have they done so in such an effective and genuinely spooky way.
The game begins with a recommendation that you play with the sound on and the lights off. I would recommend you do neither of those. The voice acting is acceptable but infrequent, and the music (while haunting) is more than mildly annoying after you hear it a few times. I found myself racing through hidden object scenes just to make it stop. As to the scares, there's one cheap one early on that's pretty enjoyable but not much to be afraid of after that. I felt like they should have delivered better after going out of their way to tout the scary factor.
There's not much setup to the story. You play a woman who needs an antidote because she's been drugged, and you also are trying to save a little girl from some unknown horror. The story is fleshed out by collecting paper scraps from all over the mansion and grounds. In addition, you'll play a good amount of hidden object scenes. The art overall is very well done, and the scenes are big and enjoyable. The puzzles are very few and far between and require the most basic interaction. This game is all about the HO scenes, really, so whether that's a plus or a minus depends on the gamer.
I thought the pieces were there to make this a winner, but a couple of things worked against it. One big one was an early scene where your character hallucinates due to the drug she's been given. I felt this added an interesting dimension to the game but it goes nowhere after that. Another issue is the abrupt ending, which goes for mystery and surprise but really falls a bit flat. The twist is a great reveal but there's not enough there to make it as fun as it could have been. The game (at least standard edition# is pretty short and not hard at all. You'll have it done in a couple of hours.
Overall, the game has an interesting premise and a great look to it but doesn't live up to its own hype. You could definitely play worse, but this should be a skip. There are better examples of this type of game #and theme) out there more worthy of your time.
I don't recommend this game.
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good, Spooky Hidden Object Fun
PostedMay 28, 2012
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
ERS is a company that definitely gets it right when it comes to hidden object games, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Shadow Wolf series. The first game is a mystery where you assume the role of detective in order to help the local police solve a series of murders with supernatural implications.
There is plenty to like about this game. The opening graphic is fantastic, and the characters are very lifelike with touches of motion that make them even more realistic. The voice acting is also strong and well done. The game looks pretty good, too, with the weak point being the hidden object scenes in terms of visuals. The game is plenty big, but not so overwhelming that you'll get lost.
Speaking of HO scenes, there are quite a few of them, and even on the expert setting, you won't wait that long for a hint recharge. I liked that when you revisit a scene after playing it once, the objects stay found. Puzzles are pretty basic, but tweaked enough that they are more fun than usual and a couple of them are pretty challenging. They take just enough time without being frustrating or forcing you to skip.
The ending is on the weak side, and continues the unfortunate trend of a cliffhanger which might or might not be resolved with the purchase of the collector's edition, but it's not enough to take away from an enjoyable adventure. This is a very good game worth more than a look, and will keep you guessing (and entertained) for a while.
I recommend this game!