tuskel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.6
- Helpful Votes:1,854
- Reviews Submitted:27
- First Review:November 21, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 9, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help a Bennet sister find a husband as you take a starring role in Jane Austen’s most popular novels in Matches & Matrimony!
Overall rating
5
/
5
24 of 26 found this review helpful
Can you figure out how to marry Mr. Darcy? ;)
PostedFebruary 19, 2012
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When this game first appeared in BFG, I downloaded the demo file and then kind of forgot about it. However, with that recent Valentine's Day sale on, I noticed it on the list and tried it. I can't believe I hadn't done it sooner!
Now I must say that I like Jane Austen very much, I would even go as far as saying that she is like female Dickens - her characters are always great and funny. And the romance bit doesn't leave me cold either.
In this game, several Austen's novels are mixed together. I noticed Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, but only because I have read both of them recently. You, as Elizabeth (or whatever you decide to name your girl) have a choice of suitors and actions, and every week you can choose between different activities (reading a book, going visiting, doing needlework, resting etc) to grow your different attributes - like willpower, wit, kindness, energy etc.
You can save the game any time you like, but I didn't think 14 slots was enough, and I would have liked to name my own games. I did manage, albeit it was confusing and I kept thinking I missed something. "Back" button was a very useful feature.
The graphics were all right, a bit cartoonish, but well enough done and I really liked the colours in all the scenes. Music was nice and unobtrusive and didn't become a bore even after hours of play. There is a lot of reading, though, so not really recommended to people whose first language is not English (and mine's not, I had to use dictionary a few times!)
The replay value is good, you have a choice of 6 men and 9 endings. I did download a short "walkthrough" guide to see what they were and, without giving too much away I hope, am glad to see there are 2 endings for Mr. Darcy and even some where Elizabeth doesn't marry at all (I wonder if she becomes a writer?...)
Also, If you have managed to reach chapter 17, you'll be doing quite well and it's not really possible to go completely wrong. (There were 20 chapters in all in the game I played)
So, do you like Jane Austen and always wanted to marry Mr. Darcy? This is the game for you!
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
P.S. I did! :)
I recommend this game!
Planet Horse
Saddle up for adventure in Planet Horse! Ride your mighty steed through different riding competitions and challenges!
Overall rating
5
/
5
257 of 306 found this review helpful
A Beautiful Game
PostedJanuary 16, 2012
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I'm always looking around for something different after getting bored with HOGs and this is a very nice game. It is obviously targeted to younger girls (the only player option is a young woman, some of the challenges are a bit black-and-white and whoever has collected things hovering in the middle of the road?), but it is nevertheless a very nice, and challenging game.
I am a bit undecided whether the mouse only control is a good idea - yes, it is very easy (you just have to hold the mouse button down), but after a few levels you start getting cramps. That said, it is my only issue with this game, everything else is very good.
There are 34 challenges to complete - some include collecting items throughout the game and there are also two (one on each continent) where you have to find sights. Other challenges are show-jumping, cross-country competitions and collecting things. (Beware - to get gold on every level you do have to buy more horses, with special skills.) And you have to clean your horse after every three levels or so. Slightly annoying, nicer and faster later in the game when you can do washing, but I guess it is like real life.
I'm not complaining about the choice of breeds or colours - then again I am not horse mad - but I think it was great to have zebra and unicorn as an option! :) And don't forget to name your horses! I ended up with three Leopolds! :D
Another optional bit in the game (again targeted to girls) is that you can buy clothes for "yourself" and accessories for your horse. I skipped that and saved my money.
Graphics are nice, colours are beautiful, even on a low-ish level. I also liked the music, nice and airy and didn't become annoying.
Definitely worth the money.
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Help Nancy Drew solve the ancient secret behind a thief`s scarlet handprint. Follow long-buried secrets and solve the mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
27 of 29 found this review helpful
SSH - one of my favourites
PostedDecember 21, 2011
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
SSH is one of my favourites. There's a wonderful ancient story, on top on the modern mystery, and if more museums were like the one in this game, kids would love to visit them.
Yes, it requires a bit of note- taking, but I love a challenging game. I don't complain about the graphics, there's a certain style you get used to, and for the sixth game in the series, it's very good. Besides, games at the time were made compatible with Win98.
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
In a house full of trap doors and secret tunnels and suspicious fires, one misstep means Nancy won't stand a ghost of a chance!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 21 found this review helpful
MHM - earliest game on BigFish
PostedDecember 21, 2011
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
MHM is the third game in the Nancy Drew series and the first on BigFish. You, as Nancy Drew, have to investigate accidents and bad luck in an old San Francisco mansion. Is it haunted or is someone from the team trying to scare the owners away?
MHM was the second ND game I played, and I found it slightly less challenging than my first, which was CUR (but that is a hard one!) and a bit similar. It is, obviously, slightly simpler game, however, it does have its moments and the characters and mystery are as good as in any other ND game. If you like Nancy Drew, you will like this one, too.
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Bus Driver
Transport passengers following a planned route according to a timetable and learn the basics of professional driving!
Overall rating
5
/
5
834 of 981 found this review helpful
Become a Bus Driver - almost for real!
PostedNovember 23, 2011
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Bus Driver is a great simulation game - you have to drive around a city obeying traffic rules and taking care of your passengers while encountering different routes, weather and seasons. If you drive well, you get bonus points (green light bonus, proper usage of blinkers, keeping your passengers happy for one mile etc). But, as this is very realistic game, you can go very wrong as well - crashing into lampposts and other cars, driving through red lights, and even just breaking too hard earns you penalties. Someone even said in the forums that they managed to crash into a petrol station and the bus exploded!
I found it a great game - the intelligent traffic is great, land- and cityscapes beautiful - shame only that you can't look at them too long - as a driver you need to concentrate on driving and getting your passengers safely to their destinations!
There were only a few things I found a bit unbelievable - the changing of seasons in one level (in the airport it's always winter, but quite soon, when you drive further into the city, it will be summer again) and that people actually stop and wait as long as you indicate you want to change lanes. I also found the controls slightly confusing, but I got used to them by the end of the first tier. I wasn't really keen on the music either, and had to turn it off. Apart from these little faults, it's a very well planned and made game.
I recommend this game!
Delve into legends lurking in an English mansion! As Nancy Drew, find out what hides in Blackmoor Manor.
Overall rating
5
/
5
52 of 55 found this review helpful
A classic Nancy Drew game
PostedNovember 21, 2011
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This was the first Nancy Drew game I ever played, and it's a great one. Quite hard, lots of puzzles, fairly creepy and deals with interesting themes. Plus, it is set in England and full of mediaeval history. (Which is always a plus with me.)
Controls are as usual - just point and click everywhere, talk to people and solve puzzles. This games is full of them, and best of all - they are actually relevant to the storyline (there have been complaints that in the later games HER has put puzzles in just as fillers).
Being one of the "middle" games as I like to call them, CUR does give the player a lot of hints, and Nancy also has a notebook which can give the player additional ideas about solving the mystery.
All in all, this is one of the best Nancy Drew adventure games, even though it was released a good seven years ago. It comes regularly into the top three of ND games in polls and even though the graphics might be not too up to date (I remember being annoyed about the 3D people in the beginning, but I was quickly absorbed into the story), the music and the design of the manor are absolutely brilliant. It's a good game, even for beginners. Jump in and enjoy!
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
P.S. After finishing this one, I thought I would never ever play a ND/adventure game again. However, few months later Message in a Haunted Mansion came to BigFish, and I ended up buying it. :O The rest is history. :D
I recommend this game!
Join Nancy Drew as she goes undercover to expose the truth behind the calamitous production of a cursed Hollywood remake!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
Nice HOG with a twist
PostedNovember 21, 2011
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
First one in the (now sadly discontinued) Dossier series, published by Her Interactive. Nice to hear that Lani Minella was still the voice of Nancy.
In the ND Dossier series, people have to find and pair "matching " items, like lock and key, battery and remote control etc. Obviously these are very simple examples, and a lot of it is much more confusing and depends on the actual scene you get. What makes it more tense is the fact that every time you match something right, you get points, and bonus points for chains. You also get points and chains for choosing correct replies when talking to people. There are two endings, depending on the amount of the points you manage to collect throughout the game. (And the "good" ending requires about 90% or even 95% of the points!)
There are also clever little minigames, like lock-picking and hacking into PDAs. I especially enjoyed the cocktail-mixing one.
There are also clever little minigames, like lock-picking and hacking into PDAs. I especially enjoyed the cocktail-mixing one.
I found the story a bit too long for what it was, but it was interesting to play through the first time. There was a fair bit of lock-picking and it did become slightly tedious, and also, it wasn't as easy to navigate than the second one. However, for a first go, a good new game (and a new type, I haven't seen or heard of any other HOGs where player has to match the objects). Nice cartoon-like graphics, even though people were still 3D.
Simpler than the Adventure games, but with an interesting story and making a welcome difference from your usual "find 20 items in this junkpile"-type of HOGs. Give it a try.
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!