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:
For many years, locals have avoided the manor by the woodside. Solve the manor’s mystery and save the journalist before it's too late!
Overall rating
1
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
The Mystery Is How It Got Made
PostedJanuary 30, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I'll agree that this game has a retro feel to it, but that's not a good thing. HO games have come a long way, but you wouldn't know it playing this. You're dumped at a manor to find a fellow journalist, and have to figure out what happened with a series of murders from a while back. Or at least I think that's what you're supposed to do, between the wooden Russian voices and the interchangeable grammar I found it hard to be exactly sure.
I feel like this was halfway through development when they just sent it out. Hidden object scenes are straightforward and relatively easy, except for things being called names you won't know. Minigames (the couple there are) take a second. Find a code and have to write it down when the thing it opens is in the same room? You bet.
You will gather an extensive inventory, and at one point I think I used seven objects in a row to get seven more objects from different areas of the house. If that's your cup of tea, enjoy. Otherwise stay far, far away.
I don't recommend this game.
Is fear the price or the reward?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
The Price of Fear
PostedJanuary 19, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Fear For Sale series, in my experience, goes for story over looks, and I can appreciate that. You are once again journalist Emma Roberts, handed out the task of locating a colleague who went missing under strange circumstances at a remote house. Ghosts of course will play a part, and as with most of the games in this series, multiple twists are provided as you uncover the real goings on.
That to me is what I felt this game lacked most. You meet four or five characters, most of which aren't relevant to the game, and then do the standard job of breaking down the house and the environment around it sorting through decently down HO scenes and average minigames. It moves along okay, and the conclusion makes sense, but I wasn't wowed by any particular factor.
Voice acting is fine. Graphics are good but nothing special, and to me took a step back from other games in this series. Music was good. There is unquestionably a very good game lurking here. But it never came to the forefront for me. Exciting enough and worth a try. Not necessarily a buy.
I don't recommend this game.
The eyes are watching... and they're everywhere.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Statues of Limitations
PostedJanuary 18, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It's time for another installment of Fear for Sale, where you play as a journalist investigating odd goings-on in a small town. In short, the statues have come alive for some reason and are attacking townspeople. Naturally that doesn't stop you. The big positive for HO fans like me is that there are plenty of them, including multiple times at the same location. Unfortunately they aren't very tough and that's a common theme for the game.
Voice acting was fine but nothing special. Graphics were underwhelming overall to me, even during cutscenes. The mystery element of the game was fine, but you'll see what happens coming from almost the very beginning. There's just not enough characters here, and they all fall into the standard tropes.
Minigames are varied but not challenging. I will give the developers credit that they made the game pretty creepy, and allowed for plenty of mouse clicking exploration with fun results. As for the end of the game, it's tacked on to a degree that feels phony. It's like every bad movie ending you've ever seen. While the gameplay was fun and nothing was outright bad, I found this entry limited and it leaves me wondering if this franchise has reached its expiration date.
I don't recommend this game.
Toxic flowers have been claiming victims and withering plant life in the Netherlands. Can you cultivate the answers to this mystery?
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Green Thumbs Up
PostedJanuary 17, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The European Mystery series has been one of my favorites since the start, and this continuation might be the strongest entry of the bunch. You are a colonial detective investigating a strange series of events where vegetation is attacking members of the community, and you unravel the events while staying one step away from disaster thanks to the efforts of the shadowy antagonist. One really nice touch is that the "bad guy" in this mystery has their reasons as well, which adds another layer to the character not normally seen in these type of games.
The graphics here are very solid, as mentioned, with animated cutscenes and up-close shots of the main characters complete with their lips moving when speaking. The only misfire were pencil-drawn animations when you discover notes throughout the game, which looked nice enough but didn't match the speed of the text. Music is fine but nothing special.
The game plays well, with lots of action sequences and changes to the surroundings. There was never a dull moment, and the developers did a good job making the game expansive without the fifty screens of backtracking you usually have to do. Bonus game was fun and gave you a different environment to play in. Standard morphing objects and item collection for CE. HO scenes were well designed and there were just enough of them for me.
All in all, highly recommend playing this one. It's a different take on something we've seen before and well worth the investment of time.
I recommend this game!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Decent Entry in a Strong Series
PostedJanuary 6, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There's a lot to like in the Danse Macabre games, from the mystery element of each story to the chase to capture the evildoer. All of it is present in Deadly Deception, but it's not enough to hold up to the stronger entries in the series.
Your character is called to solve a puzzle involving murder, mistaken identity, and more. Scenes look nice and the voice acting is good as usual, but I felt this entry was a bit shorter than the others and wrapped up a bit too quickly for me. HO scenes are good, with a nice variety of items. You can as always Match 3 if you prefer.
Bonus content is acceptable but nothing major. The bonus chapter is underwhelming, and you can collect souvenirs which are one obvious item per scene. There are also morphing objects in the HO scenes and masks in each scene of the game for the completist.
All in all, the game is fun and decently done but not super memorable. There are far stronger entries in the series.
I don't recommend this game.
Your own mind can be your worst enemy.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Another Solid Entry
PostedJanuary 6, 2017
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've really liked the Danse Macabre series, and Lethal Letters is no exception to the rule. You play a famed psychologist assisting a friend at the opera, and of course things escalate quickly from there. Soon you're solving a murder and racing around town to do so, and I love the pace of the game. It's just right, with the puzzles not bogging you down and a sense of urgency about things that doesn't happen often enough in these type of games.
Voices are solid throughout, and the game looks and sounds great. Hidden object scenes are frequent but not overdone, and you get different types. You can also Match 3 if you prefer, which is a nice touch. Bonus includes an extra chapter that I quite liked, which continues the action rather than providing back story. There are also two different types of collectibles and a video that shows a bit of how the game was made, another nice touch.
None of the puzzles are very difficult, but a couple of them are challenging and unique. All in all it's a very enjoyable game with decent bonus content and what else can you ask for? Definitely recommend whether you've played other entries in the series or not.
I recommend this game!
Your investigative report on the Weeping Woman of San Cristobal turns personal after you witness a kidnapping. Is the legend true?
Overall rating
4
/
5
Short But Detailed Mystery
PostedDecember 10, 2016
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This charming and exciting little hidden object game reminded me of a Scooby-Doo mystery, where you meet a few principal characters and pretty much know who did what with a few twists along the way. I liked that the game layered on a "local legend" scenario to make things more interesting, and it progresses logically as you investigate a small town and its residents to find out where their children are disappearing to. By the time everything works out, it's a surprisingly intelligent storyline, which is lacking in many other games.
Graphics and sound are good but relatively unobtrusive, and the voice acting I found better than average. Hidden object scenes are plentiful and generally easy, with objects clearly standing out against the background. There are some minor manipulations needed to find them, like opening cabinets and such, but you'll likely have very little trouble. Puzzles are variations on ones we've seen before, but the level of challenge is up and down. Some are done almost immediately, others can take a bit longer. I personally didn't need to skip any, which is a good thing.
Bonus content includes collecting morphing flowers and golden skulls. The skulls are hidden in various scenes so you'll have to pixel hunt. You also get a bonus chapter, which is a related but separate story that I also quite liked. Good work on this game which is a very enjoyable way to spend an evening or an afternoon.
I recommend this game!
Investigate a virtual reality program that’s turning some players comatose.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
An Adventure Through Time
PostedDecember 5, 2016
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is really less of a detective story than it is a trip through various scenes of virtual reality in a future scenario where your character digs into their past to uncover some interesting secrets. Gameplay is similar to previous titles in this series, with a decent combination of puzzles and hidden object sequences. There are multiple types of HOs to play, which is nice to break up the monotony. They also threw in some shooter sequences and even a small platform game, which are less successful.
The story is a good one, and the slow reveal of what went on continues in the bonus chapter which did add to the game and wrapped things up. There's also a big choice to make at the end of the game that made things feel important, which I quite liked. Other bonus content are the standard collection of objects and flowers, which often times stand out harshly against the otherwise good-looking game. Voices and sounds are good but nothing of note.
This is a good continuation of what's been a strong series, and one thing it has going for it is it's constantly introducing new characters and themes rather than sticking with the same tired formula of other long-running titles. It's not quite as heavy on HOs as I would like, and the end sequence was drawn out, but it makes a good purchase as a CE.
I recommend this game!
A killer is on the loose in a remote European castle. Track them down before they strike again!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Doctor Detective To The Rescue
PostedMay 22, 2016
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
In Stolen Awards, you play the role of a doctor headed to a castle to participate in an award ceremony. A series of events shows that one of the folks up for an award is planning on dispatching of their competition, one by one. This blatant takeoff on And Then There Were None serves as the backdrop for a hidden object game that is stuck in the middle in terms of quality.
The idea for the game is good, but I assume the developers decided to take down the content a notch by not having the killer actually murder anyone, despite numerous attempts. That means you get to help each of the people you encounter, but made it a little less realistic for me. I'm not mister macabre, but it might be the least effective murderer ever.
The game itself is standard in just about every way. Voice acting was decent, puzzles were varied, and hidden object scenes were frequent enough but a bit too easy for my taste. I did like the fact that your character uses their medical skills once or twice, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to make this different than other better games out there.
There is also a strange decision to zoom in for character conversations or item examinations that then force you to click back out again. It's a minor detail, but there's no need for it and it's frustrating after a while. The plot is standard, and that subtracts from the overall storyline, but the layout of the game makes sense and there's nothing overtly bad here.
All in all, it's entertaining enough. I feel they could have done more with the mystery theme.
I recommend this game!
A great evil unlocks deep within Ravenhearst!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Nobody Does It Better
PostedMay 22, 2016
coffeyfan77
fromPhiladelphia, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Word, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The MCF series has been good from the very beginning, and what has carried it more than anything for me has been the variety of experience. This allows for anyone from the novice gamer to the seasoned pro to have a great time while playing the game. That trend continues here, and once again the action takes place in and around the Ravenhearst we've come to know and love in previous games, with a bit of a twist.
The best thing about this series has been the puzzles. MCF is known for its massive puzzle sequences with tons of moving parts to them, and it's a good call to allow the player to skip a certain part of it without risking frustration while still letting them complete the rest. The game looks great, and there's nice touches like getting to look left and right in some scenes and just enough interactivity in the hidden object scenes you play these games for.
The characters are fairly well known at this point, but you do get a nice background on their motives and the bonus chapter playing as the villain is a blast. I wish more developers would put this much time and energy into their bonus features. It really makes you feel like it was worth the extra investment. Collectibles and even the credits are well worth it. Voice acting is good, as always, and the game was plenty long enough for me.
I'm already looking forward to the next one. Top of the class in this genre.
I recommend this game!