drustorm's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:233
- Reviews Submitted:29
- First Review:December 30, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 28, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Experience a new and exciting solitaire adventure with magician Knoxford in the land of elves!
Overall rating
5
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
Very Enjoyable
PostedJuly 15, 2017
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Marble Popper, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Beautifully drawn game with relaxing yet fun solitaire play. Each section of the map is a different type of variant match or golf solitaire, so it never gets boring.
You can repeat a hand as many times as you want, gaining either 1, 2 or 3 stars for completion as well as attempting to reach a perfect game. This gives the game a lot of replayability, more so than most solitaire games where once you achieve the goal, you simply move on. You can also go back to replay a particular hand to improve your score.
Played this all the way to the satisfactory end. The last several sections set the completion goals high, so it becomes challenging to reach the goals or a perfect hand.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for an easy to understand, satisfying and fun to play game.
I recommend this game!
The castle needs a hero – protect the castle from hordes of trolls! Build towers, save money, learn spells and keep the enemy away!
Overall rating
2
/
5
It's A Grind
PostedJune 21, 2017
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Marble Popper, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This game is difficult to play without being terribly rewarding. While other reviewers laud the game's difficulty and provide pointers, the game is poorly balanced, particularly at the early levels when you are trying to get a sense of the game play.
I agree that you have to repeat lower levels in order to get strong enough to compete at the higher levels. And that equals a grind and a long one to get enough jewels to level up your towers enough to be effective even at level 5 or 7.
However, if that approach to TD interests you, then you will enjoy this game. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something more enjoyable and less of a repetitious grind, then another TD may work better for you.
Because this game is directed at a narrow audience of TD enthusiasts, I don't recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.
The war is picking up steam! Combine deadly traps and the arcane power of the elements and put the invading army to flight!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Cute, But Not Serious
PostedJune 6, 2017
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
This is indeed a cute game, good graphics and fun gameplay. But can't really take it too seriously because the cons are pretty strong for TD lovers:
There's no in-game book/aid to tell you what elements enemies are, so if you don't remember when they are introduced, you have to guess what traps will kill them.
There's no ability to cursor over enemies to get that information, either.
There's also no aid for traps, so you can't tell the higher level upgrades for traps until you level them up and then are given the option. Even then, you must remember what each trap does.
If you are able to remember all the details of the enemies and the traps from one play time to the next, then you'll enjoy this game. Otherwise, you might find this frustrating.
If you just play the hour demo, you might not run into this problem.
I recommend this game!
Explore a fantastical world and save the King in this innovative new match-3 experience!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
Too Hard To Be Fun
PostedMay 27, 2016
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I enjoyed this game up to level 32, at which point it became impossible to play in Normal mode. After several attempts and not even getting close to clearing the red tiles on all the boards, I switched to "relaxed" mode. Relaxed mode is not really relaxed; it simply gives you twice as many moves to complete a level.
I agree with other commenters that the game is over-stuffed. The horse is particularly silly (this is very obviously not a children's game as it is far, far too difficult). Moreover, there's no indication of what your horse does for you. Gives you more moves? Okay, but how many?
In addition, in order to keep your horse from dying, you must craft items to "groom" it. You can only craft an item when you have a Royal Shield. You get a Royal Shield by making shield matches. Once you have acquired a Royal Shield, you may craft one item. One. This includes power ups, items for your quests and items to keep your horse from dying. The game gives you no indication how many shield matches are required to make a Royal Shield or how close you are to getting one. In other words, the game forces you to make a strategic decision, but gives you no information on which to base that decision.
The graphics are gorgeous, the boards are very interesting and the challenges of clearing them are engaging. But, the higher you go the less likely you are to be able to finish, even in Relaxed mode.
Because the ramp up in difficulty is sudden without a corresponding increase in the ability to deal with it; because the game does not give you information you need to make decisions; and because it requires a considerable amount of lower level grinding, like others I am not recommending this game for someone who simply enjoys a good Match 3. This is really an adventure/strategy game with a Match 3 component. The Match 3 portion of the game, because of the limited number of moves, is completely strategic.
You may enjoy this game if you like games that become increasingly difficult to impossible. If, for instance, you liked the original Jewel Quest, you might enjoy this. If, however, the Montezuma or Fishdom match 3 games are more to your liking, this is probably not for you.
I gave it 3 stars for the excellent graphics, but downgraded it on fun because at a certain point, it just isn't.
Travel to the glory days of ancient Egypt when impressive and mysterious
buildings characterized the western shores of the Nile.
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Challenging game poorly executed
PostedApril 4, 2016
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm sure if I bought this game and spent several hours at it, I'd like it. But as it is, it isn't worth a buy. Here's a few of the downsides:
1. Movement of your men is clunky. You must click on a unit and then click on the movement icon each time you wish to move them. They will only move a screen at a time. This quickly becomes tedious.
2. There are no clear instructions about how the carrier works, so much so that many posters here don't realize that you can assign a worker to pick up your goods.
3. The first oasis is in the corner of the map, really jammed up in the corner of the map so it is possible to build things and actually not be able to see them because the map will not scroll that far.
4. Arsonists appear all most at once and begin burning down your buildings.
5. You do not have enough beginning supplies to complete the tasks assigned. Only, you aren't told that. So you build your farm and your mill and two fields and run out of wood. But you don't have enough wood to build a sawmill, because that isn't one of the tasks assigned. So you start over and build a sawmill first, as any long-time city builder will tell you. But then you run out of food and no one will work.
This game is, indeed, either a cleverly challenging game in which you start again and again until you figure out the right build order or it is a poorly thought out and executed game.
Pros:
Good music
Nice graphics
Undoubtedly challenging
Nice graphics
Undoubtedly challenging
Discover the secrets of Olympus in this match-3 adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Interesting Gameplay with Reservations
PostedOctober 10, 2015
drustorm
fromSan Francisco
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is a strategy match 3 game that uses either maximum number of moves or timer for each level. The gameplay is fairly simple but occasionally frustrating as it relies on random drops to reach very tight goals. This means you will be playing the same level over and over again in order to meet goals.
The auto hint which recommends a move is generally useless, ignoring the goals of the particular level you are playing and simply pointing out a possible match 3. Since there is no way to turn these off, they quickly become very annoying and distracting.
Technically, the game doesn't allow you to adjust the screen resolution. As a result I experienced frequent black screens caused by the incompatibility of the game with my native screen resolution.
The music is fine but repetitive.
The levels themselves are quite interesting. It's too bad this game doesn't have a straight match game or an endless match mode as the graphics are quite good and I can see that as very enjoyable.
Trying to accomplish the goals of each level with either limited time or moves is where the challenge comes in and earns the 3 star rating. I would probably give this a 4 star if not for the annoying auto-hint.
I recommend this game!
Your home has been raided. Your father is missing. Set off on a dangerous journey to save him, and become the Hero of the Kingdom!
Overall rating
5
/
5
24 of 25 found this review helpful
Thoroughly Enjoyable
PostedDecember 23, 2012
drustorm
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There's quite a lot to enjoy about Hero of the Kingdom. Part adventure, part resource management, and even some hard to find objects to look for, the narrative of the game keeps moving right along through all the tasks you need to complete to get to the next one. You start out as a farm boy collecting fruit, progress through stages of learning, and end up working to take down the villains.
You don't need any particular clicking skills, as nothing is timed and nothing requires speedy action. You will need to remember where things are or write key things down, but there are not so many as to be difficult to do. If you get lost, hints will tell you where to go for the main storyline. The challenge is in managing your resources.
The visuals are nicely done with a style that matches the gameplay. The music is repetitive, but melodic enough not to be annoying.
It's a fun world to explore for a few hours, with a satisfactory conclusion at the end of the adventure.
Highly recommended.
I recommend this game!
Solitaire Mystery: Stolen Power
The oldest deck of cards in the world has been stolen from the Museum of Ancient History. Find the magical cards and save the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Not for Lovers of Solitaire
PostedApril 4, 2012
drustorm
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Finally, another solitaire game. Great! Except, not so great. The concept is interesting and engaging for about the first 20 or 30 minutes. Then the card blockers are introduced with their little inventory items to clean them, unlock them, dust them off. I counted 9 inventory slots. Which means that by the end of the game, there would be 9 different types of card blockers that would have to be removed in order to see what the card was and that's when I went, uh, no. The game is slow enough as it is, but requiring the use of a click-drag-activate item to read cards only slows the game down more. If you're okay with that, you may enjoy this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Play a great update to the classic spider solitaire game. Dynamic visuals and multiple play modes make this a must-have card game.
Overall rating
1
/
5
54 of 76 found this review helpful
Don't Be Fooled
PostedDecember 30, 2011
drustorm
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
The first 15 levels of Spyde are fun, but suddenly at Level 16 you are presented with an unsolvable puzzle that will frustrate you for months if you bother sticking with it. Nothing that comes before prepares you for a 4-suite spider. Restarting does NOT reshuffle the cards, so you must solve the puzzle as presented. There is no skip button and no hint button. So, unless you are willing to play the same game over and over again and fail, do not bother with this game. Don't be fooled by the first 15 levels into thinking this will be a relaxing or enjoyable game.
Fun Factor: Up to level 16, pretty fun, but 16 is the spoiler you can't get past, taking all the fun out of this game.
Visual/Sound: The music is repetitious and gets annoying once you are stuck on level 16 for hours on end. There is a "full screen" mode, but I was unable to get the game to go into full screen, so ended up playing in a small window.
Level of challenge: Up until Level 16, the challenge level is fine, but at 16 the challenge is so absurd that you cannot progress any further.
I would not recommend this game to anyone except someone who considers themselves a master at spider.
I don't recommend this game.