heidid's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:105
- Reviews Submitted:10
- First Review:November 18, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 27, 2016
- Featured reviews0
heidid's Review History
The fate and well-being of this zoo lies entirely in your hands! Do you have what it takes to run an amazing Zoo?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Doesn't make me want to keep playing
PostedApril 27, 2016
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Most of the time, TMs are right up there among my favorite games. This one seemed very promising, but just didn't make me want to keep playing. I tried it on "normal" mode and got through about 7 or 8 levels before I gave up on it.
Pros:
1) You can queue actions
2) You can also cancel the queue if you want to
3) Reasonable goals (I completed each day in the required time and with expert level, though in one case i only made it by a few seconds)
1) You can queue actions
2) You can also cancel the queue if you want to
3) Reasonable goals (I completed each day in the required time and with expert level, though in one case i only made it by a few seconds)
Cons:
1) Movement is WAY too slow. I get that part of the upgrade system is to speed things up, but I would much rather start with something that doesn't feel like a snail, and upgrade to something that looks really speedy - my blood pressure was probably going up just waiting for her to get places.
2) This is not going to matter to most people, but I find it irritating when someone creates a game like this and makes no attempt to be the least bit realistic with it. They could have picked anything they wanted for "food" for the animals, and having hay for zebras & fish for bears is a good start. BUT - feeding bananas and oranges to zebras, giraffes, and lions? Why not go that extra small step and use, say, carrots for the browsing animals? Or a different type of meat for a big cat? This isn't a gameplay issue, just a choice on the part of the developers that I find baffling.
3) Why should I have to "carry" the vet or custodian to a pen? This goes back to the "she moves way too slowly" problem...it would be much more sensible to be able to control them separately, and it would be a much more interesting game. And the custodian should, at that point, be picking up his own bag of trash.
4) I really don't like HO games, and when they pop up in the middle of a different type of game I just roll my eyes and sigh. They don't prevent me from progressing in this game, but it's more of an irritating distraction that needs to be endured than a bonus, even if it does provide extra money.
1) Movement is WAY too slow. I get that part of the upgrade system is to speed things up, but I would much rather start with something that doesn't feel like a snail, and upgrade to something that looks really speedy - my blood pressure was probably going up just waiting for her to get places.
2) This is not going to matter to most people, but I find it irritating when someone creates a game like this and makes no attempt to be the least bit realistic with it. They could have picked anything they wanted for "food" for the animals, and having hay for zebras & fish for bears is a good start. BUT - feeding bananas and oranges to zebras, giraffes, and lions? Why not go that extra small step and use, say, carrots for the browsing animals? Or a different type of meat for a big cat? This isn't a gameplay issue, just a choice on the part of the developers that I find baffling.
3) Why should I have to "carry" the vet or custodian to a pen? This goes back to the "she moves way too slowly" problem...it would be much more sensible to be able to control them separately, and it would be a much more interesting game. And the custodian should, at that point, be picking up his own bag of trash.
4) I really don't like HO games, and when they pop up in the middle of a different type of game I just roll my eyes and sigh. They don't prevent me from progressing in this game, but it's more of an irritating distraction that needs to be endured than a bonus, even if it does provide extra money.
Overall, most of my complaints are minor and probably not a problem for a lot of people, but I find that I'm not really interested in playing this further, or buying it.
I don't recommend this game.
Put your culinary skills to use. Prove that you are the best chef and beat your boss in each restaurant’s final Battle.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Very poor second installment
PostedJune 10, 2014
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I just finished playing through the first game, and started up the demo version of this one with a few things I was looking for. So far, however, this seems to be a big step down. The problems I had with the first game seem to still exist, and there are a bunch of extra things thrown in that don't really improve gameplay for me.
Issues with both games:
1) I want to be able to study the recipes without worrying that my time is running down. Either let me examine the book outside of the levels, or pause the timer while the recipe book is open.
2) It drives me nuts when customers "steal" items that were intended for a person farther down the belt. I really wish there was an option to give an item directly to a customer on occasion - not make it the default, that would be awful, but have it available - maybe as a powerup, or something.
1) I want to be able to study the recipes without worrying that my time is running down. Either let me examine the book outside of the levels, or pause the timer while the recipe book is open.
2) It drives me nuts when customers "steal" items that were intended for a person farther down the belt. I really wish there was an option to give an item directly to a customer on occasion - not make it the default, that would be awful, but have it available - maybe as a powerup, or something.
Issues with this version -
1) I really don't like the change in graphics. This one is way too bright and cartoon-like. I really enjoyed the soothing atmosphere of the first.
2) Music - also something others have mentioned. The first one had separate sliders for music & sound effects. Why take that away?
3) Gameplay seems pretty much the same - even some of the same recipes, but they have changed the icons, sometimes to something harder to recognize.
4) Not sure I like the new ordering system - it requires more mouse movement, which is less efficient. This might be less of an issue if I hadn't *just* finished the first game, however.
5) No explanation whatsoever on the levels - why is only 1 star filled in when I got at least double the target income?
6) tutorial, what there is of it, completely interferes with gameplay, can't be skipped, and my timer ran out when I was "forced" to go buy more rice, even though there was only 2 seconds left on the timer and I knew I didn't actually need it.
1) I really don't like the change in graphics. This one is way too bright and cartoon-like. I really enjoyed the soothing atmosphere of the first.
2) Music - also something others have mentioned. The first one had separate sliders for music & sound effects. Why take that away?
3) Gameplay seems pretty much the same - even some of the same recipes, but they have changed the icons, sometimes to something harder to recognize.
4) Not sure I like the new ordering system - it requires more mouse movement, which is less efficient. This might be less of an issue if I hadn't *just* finished the first game, however.
5) No explanation whatsoever on the levels - why is only 1 star filled in when I got at least double the target income?
6) tutorial, what there is of it, completely interferes with gameplay, can't be skipped, and my timer ran out when I was "forced" to go buy more rice, even though there was only 2 seconds left on the timer and I knew I didn't actually need it.
In all, i won't be buying. This is about a 2.5/5 for me. The changes make the game more irritating and more confusing. If anyone wants to play a sushi game, stick with the first one.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on your fantasy journey to distant lands and experience this new and exciting collection of mosaic puzzles through 100 custom built levels.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Good for a casual puzzle game
PostedMay 9, 2014
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I am a long-time fan of these types of puzzles. Hanjie, Nonograms, by whatever name they are one of my favorite logic puzzles. This game has lovely graphics, reasonably pleasant background music, and a fun setting for puzzles.
My biggest problem with this game stems from my love of logic puzzles in general and this puzzle type in particular. There is too much information given. These puzzles should be able to be solved with pure logic. After a few rounds (I got up to level 4-4 by the time my demo hour was up), I began to notice a few things. Traditionally, you are required to deal with every box on your own - either filled or unfilled. This game automatically fills in the "unfilled" boxes in each row and column if you correctly fill in the needed boxes. This isn't a huge problem - I didn't notice if it's possible to turn it off, but it doesn't actually give you information you were missing.
The deal-breaker for me, personally, was when I figured out that if I filled in a set of boxes (say a set of 3 in a row labeled "2 2 3 3"), the game automatically crossed off the appropriate number for me. Unlike my previous comment, this is a huge problem - it gives a lot of information to the person solving the puzzle. In this example, for instance, if the last "3" was crossed out for me, I would potentially know a whole set of boxes to mark as "unfilled". It also tells me, say in a row marked "4,6", if I have 4 boxes filled in but it didn't cross off the "4" - then I am working on the set of 6, and I can deal with the empty boxes to the left with that information. In other words, they give information that would not be available if I were solving this with pencil and paper. I love these puzzles on the computer because filling in all the boxes by hand can get tedious, but I still want to solve them myself.
I won't be buying this game, mostly because it feels like cheating to get all the extra details. If I become accustomed to it, I'll start making lots of mistakes the next time I work on these puzzles in a different game. For those who are less OCD about their logic puzzles than I am, this is a good game - without this flaw I would have purchased. If you like puzzles but often find them too difficult, this would be a good choice.
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 21 found this review helpful
There's more to games than graphics
PostedNovember 3, 2013
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Some have complained about the look of this game. Being a person who is really tired of beautiful but incredibly boring HOGs, I was happy to see an interesting, challenging puzzle game.
Yes, the theme is train-switching, which some consider childish. I really appreciate puzzles, however, and once you get past the first couple of levels, this has a lot going for it.
1) Simple goal - get each train to its matching "station"
2) Do so in as few moves as possible (each use of a switch or signal is considered a move).
3) Don't let the trains crash. This is a lot harder than it sounds, since trains will stop at banks, or sometimes block the track when they are in the station. There's a lot of pre-planning involved in most of the levels.
4) Simple controls - click on a switch or signal
5) Speed controls - you can slow the trains down considerably and makes for a much easier game.
6) Later levels get hard very quickly - lots of strategy is needed to plan out exactly how to accomplish your goals.
2) Do so in as few moves as possible (each use of a switch or signal is considered a move).
3) Don't let the trains crash. This is a lot harder than it sounds, since trains will stop at banks, or sometimes block the track when they are in the station. There's a lot of pre-planning involved in most of the levels.
4) Simple controls - click on a switch or signal
5) Speed controls - you can slow the trains down considerably and makes for a much easier game.
6) Later levels get hard very quickly - lots of strategy is needed to plan out exactly how to accomplish your goals.
This is definitely a "try first" game. However, for those who love puzzles I highly recommend it. It requires thought, strategy, and analysis, which is sadly not the case for most games out there these days.
I recommend this game!
Halloween adventures await you in this tasty puzzle game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Not a true logic puzzle, just looks like one
PostedNovember 1, 2013
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I really hate to give this only three stars, as I love logic puzzles of many varieties. This has a fun theme and is one of my favorite puzzle types. However, although this looks like the same kind of puzzle (nonogram, hanjie, logic pictures, many other names) as several other games, there is a big flaw in this one.
For me, a huge attraction of logic puzzles of all types is that there is no need for guessing. If you can look at the given data, and analyze it correctly, you can eventually come up with the single, unique solution. In only 20 minutes playing this game, I have already encountered two puzzles (out of 13) with multiple possible solutions. The only way to solve these is by guessing (clearly not a good approach) or using a hint.
I hoped the first one would be a fluke, but the second instance was worse - there were 6 different possible solutions, though the game only recognized one as correct. This is a game-breaker for me, and I definitely will not be buying it. For those who are less fanatical about their logic puzzles, it had a fun theme, but it's not for me.
Pros: Fun theme, music was nice, cute graphics.
Cons: Had to turn off the custom cursor - it was slow & annoying. Puzzles had multiple solutions.
Cons: Had to turn off the custom cursor - it was slow & annoying. Puzzles had multiple solutions.
Summary - if you like Halloween-themed games and don't mind using hints on logic puzzles, go for it. If you're just looking for a good logic game, try Gemsweeper or World Mosaics instead.
I don't recommend this game.
Help the gnomes restore their magic potion franchise!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Interesting idea, very badly developed.
PostedSeptember 27, 2013
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game could have been pretty good. It's not one of the same restaurant/building/clear the paths games that have been so common lately. Unfortunately, the execution fails miserably.
Flaw one - no untimed mode. And if you don't get at least silver, you have to replay the level to advance. Lots of frustration issues right there for an awful lot of people.
In addition, you have multiple stress factors. You have imps trying to steal your ingredients. Your gnomes must return to "home base" before you can reassign them and you can't queue tasks. Instead, you have to first click the place where the ingredient is produced, then you have to click again to select the little gnome (if you started a different gnome on a task instead of waiting for it to get there) and then a third time on his destination with the item. It's absurdly easy to forget one step...in which case the game may simply auto-select one of the gnomes for you. It may not be the one you're planning on sending, and there's no way to intercept them once you click wrongly. Your ingredient is then wasted if it went to the wrong color cauldron.
In addition, you sometimes have to change the target color (of a garden, or the bottle factory, or whatever), and it's not easy to do. The game first assumes you're clicking on the ingredient, making you click multiple times before it gives you what you want, and wasting valuable time when there isn't much to spare in the first place.
I have to agree with those who said this game is a mess. It had potential, i'll say that much - I've been waiting for a TM with an interesting and well-developed concept to appear. Interesting, yes. Too clumsy & frustrating for me, however.
I'll give it a 1.5/5, for effort and the attempt to make something that's not "just another building game copycat". It's really not playable, though.
I don't recommend this game.
Save scores of disaster victims by taking contol of your own Red Cross Emergency Response Unit in this thrilling game of life or death!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
More challenging than you expect
PostedMay 13, 2013
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm a big fan of strategy and TM, and this one hits both notes. I've played through this game multiple times on various difficulties.
Some have complained that the game is not long enough. I have not had this problem; if you play on the higher difficulties it can take a few tries to get through even a single level, especially if you are trying to accomplish every goal.
There are some issues trying to figure out the different controls, and their explanation isn't always as helpful as it could be. It took me a while to figure out the most effective use of the different vehicles, helicopter, and airplane.
All in all, if you like strategy I recommend you try this. I still go back and replay it every so often. It makes you think!
I recommend this game!
Journey into the world of imagination and recreate sumptuous Japanese woodblock prints by moving the shadows in this innovative puzzle game for players all ages!
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 22 found this review helpful
Creative and Interesting
PostedMay 17, 2012
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
After reading prior reviews I was not sure I'd like this game, but I find myself really enjoying it. I finished the first 18 levels (level one for 3 categories) in 30 minutes, with no hints.
Others have said there is no way to gain more hints, but you do accumulate them as you play and finish the puzzles. I did not analyze how quickly you gain them, however.
It is not clear how the "star" rating works, but it seems to be a combination of speed and the number of moves it takes you to finish a puzzle. In general, I spent some time on each moving the pieces around to see how they fit, then once it was solved I could re-do the puzzle and could usually get 3 stars on the next try. For the first set of puzzles there are only about 5 pieces to manage.
Of the hints they describe in the tutorial, the one that shows the final picture is probably the least useful. I could usually distinguish (though not always) a recognizable element - a tree, or animal, or water feature, etc. that helped me orient - and I would recommend, don't be shy about starting the puzzle over. it's much more confusing to have all the pieces there if they are not aligned correctly.
Pros:
Relaxing music
No "timed" mode
Beautiful pictures
Just enough challenge to be stimulating
Relaxing music
No "timed" mode
Beautiful pictures
Just enough challenge to be stimulating
Cons:
Not much instruction, but i found it pretty self-explanatory
Other have indicated not enough hints (I didn't have a problem, though)
Not much instruction, but i found it pretty self-explanatory
Other have indicated not enough hints (I didn't have a problem, though)
Some have indicated that skill at art would be useful; I can say for myself that I have virtually no artistic talent whatsoever. You should have a good sense of spacial relationships though, and definitely it's for those who enjoy puzzles. It's possible that experience with jigsaw puzzles would be helpful.
Bottom line: Give it a try for yourself, you might be surprised!
I recommend this game!
Lead Saturn's son to the top of the Pantheon and help him become a mighty god in All My Gods! Use divine powers to change the life of Romans!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Surprisingly Addictive...
PostedMarch 1, 2012
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I enjoy games that have hard puzzles and tricky levels, but this slower-paced simulation/builder game was surprisingly fun for me. Although not a "challenge" in any sense of the word, it was different enough from most games I have tried (at least recently) to make it very entertaining, as well as a relaxing change of pace.
I have seen others compare it to Westward or various building sims; I would also say it has some similarities to Colossus, especially in the overall feel of the game. There are very few elements that are timed, and usually those are optional.
As for storyline, you play from the point of view of someone trying to please the Roman Gods, to become one of them. They set you various tasks, which you can usually complete at your own pace; as you do so, it unlocks further buildings or resources. I was amazed at how quickly a few hours went by, and I wasn't even close to finished with the game. My best guess is this would be 4-6 hours of steady gameplay (I have not finished it yet).
I recommend this game!
Use your powerful army to conquer the world in Land Grabbers, a fun Strategy game set in the Middle Ages!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 30 found this review helpful
Unique strategy game
PostedNovember 18, 2011
heidid
fromSeattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
At first glance, this game seems simplistic. The graphics are not the strong point, though they are not bad. The gameplay consists of taking over buildings with your "soldiers" (most buildings generate more at a set rate). The different buildings have different advantages - the units there may have more speed or strength for attacking, or the structures may be easier to defend.
The strategy comes in by way of the opponents. They are trying to take over buildings as well, and will attack any perceived weaknesses. If you are lucky, when there is more than one opponent they will attack each other instead of you.
An interesting game. Very little storyline, but I've never seen another game like it, and some levels are pretty difficult to pass.
I recommend this game!