Janie42's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:676
- Reviews Submitted:24
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 5, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Will you escape the mansion, or become its permanent resident?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Solid game, some really nice parts but weak story
PostedOctober 5, 2019
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
=Completed Game=
Good not great but high production values. 3.5 stars. The story isn't much--evil house attacks group. But there are lots of neat scenes, good hos, & some interesting puzzles; although I found some puzzles tedious, just not my preferred types.
Good not great but high production values. 3.5 stars. The story isn't much--evil house attacks group. But there are lots of neat scenes, good hos, & some interesting puzzles; although I found some puzzles tedious, just not my preferred types.
**Bonus chapter**
I greatly enjoyed. It's Howard's story of his progress, how he set up the stuff we find in main game. The settings are mostly from the main game; the story makes sense & the puzzles were fun to me.
I greatly enjoyed. It's Howard's story of his progress, how he set up the stuff we find in main game. The settings are mostly from the main game; the story makes sense & the puzzles were fun to me.
Extras are Eipix's usual, which I think provide good value. (I still yearn for Top Evidence Studios...the original Haunted Manor devs. They were good story-tellers!)
I recommend this game!
A Halloween party becomes a spine-tingling fight for survival!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 11 found this review helpful
Fun & moves quickly
PostedOctober 16, 2017
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
COMPLETED GAME & BONUS
A fun-to-play game...story's quite simple, true, but attention to Halloween-type details & gorgeous scenes are lovely. Game is short-ish; IMO that's because no padding (no 6 steps to open lock & running back 8 scenes for final part, etc), yay!
-HOS are beautiful & puzzles & mini-games, while most are rather easily do-able include some that offer challenge. -Collectibles are excellent to me as some figurines are hard to find & many puzzle pieces to gather.
** BONUS GAME extends story in an engaging manner & is high-quality (way better than usual bonus games).
Overall, a fun, easyish game that moves at a great pace with low frustration--making it one of the few games in months I've played straight through. Well done devs!
A fun-to-play game...story's quite simple, true, but attention to Halloween-type details & gorgeous scenes are lovely. Game is short-ish; IMO that's because no padding (no 6 steps to open lock & running back 8 scenes for final part, etc), yay!
-HOS are beautiful & puzzles & mini-games, while most are rather easily do-able include some that offer challenge. -Collectibles are excellent to me as some figurines are hard to find & many puzzle pieces to gather.
** BONUS GAME extends story in an engaging manner & is high-quality (way better than usual bonus games).
Overall, a fun, easyish game that moves at a great pace with low frustration--making it one of the few games in months I've played straight through. Well done devs!
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the Logan Family's terrible secret in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
Poor MIA storyline hurts great production values
PostedApril 17, 2017
Janie42
fromCanada
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
= COMPLETED GAME =
Lovely settings yet per usual from Eipix almost zero storyline to hold interest or create anticipation. Still, atmosphere is gorgeous, moody, like original Phantasmat but better; Eipix artists are super! Music good too, not the loud racket Eipix often uses.
Lovely settings yet per usual from Eipix almost zero storyline to hold interest or create anticipation. Still, atmosphere is gorgeous, moody, like original Phantasmat but better; Eipix artists are super! Music good too, not the loud racket Eipix often uses.
I really liked the hos, good variety & great looking. Nice puzzles, too! Best IMHO are the extra touches/mini-activities that help player feel involved. My favourite was using wrench to fix boards on a bridge: easy but neat.
Eipix needs to move its university partnerships beyond software/coding instead to humanities/arts to secure interns professionally trained in story-telling, narrative, & multi-modal communication IMHO. Eipix stories are weak to start & devs don't use characters properly to add to the risk-reward mechanics. Nearly all story details come via note or diary, which is plainly stupid vis a vis most plots. What bad guy/gal really leaves notes all over to him-/herself? Drab, that.
BONUS GAME is follow on to main story, excellent start, then *poof* it's over, 15 minutes, definitely not worth paying the extra. A big disappointment. Other Extras are the usual & I credit Eipix for including Video, which many devs are too cheap to do.
Why has the Everlast returned after twenty years at sea?
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Well worth buying...
PostedDecember 18, 2015
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Good! ...based on completed game...
Bright, colourful, interesting storyline, really gorgeous scenes/artwork, high production values all around. (I liked the song as well.)
Mini-games are fun, sensibly connected to story, and a few are original in design. I enjoyed the engineering-type puzzles that let us build items like the flying machine. HOS are attractive with a couple variations (and not too many HOS).
SE ending is quite fine, satisfying, and the finale puzzle is well presented. Also, this game is a right length...just long enough to stay fast-paced throughout.
Mad Head are strong developers IMO and their games always high quality.
Bright, colourful, interesting storyline, really gorgeous scenes/artwork, high production values all around. (I liked the song as well.)
Mini-games are fun, sensibly connected to story, and a few are original in design. I enjoyed the engineering-type puzzles that let us build items like the flying machine. HOS are attractive with a couple variations (and not too many HOS).
SE ending is quite fine, satisfying, and the finale puzzle is well presented. Also, this game is a right length...just long enough to stay fast-paced throughout.
Mad Head are strong developers IMO and their games always high quality.
I recommend this game!
As Sara tries to find a miracle cure for her ailing brother, she unravels the dark events of her own past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
Terrific adventure SE
PostedNovember 13, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Seriously good SE, well worth buying. Why? Great storyline, good puzzles, lovely graphics, locations & cutscenes; everything I want for entertaining adventure gameplay.
Scenes are good variety, lovely colour palette, realistic looking; well done animations & seamless transitions.
Elevator run is so realistic & the labs & locations very detailed & just plain interesting as I've not been in 50million labs. Dialogues & voice are high-quality.
Elevator run is so realistic & the labs & locations very detailed & just plain interesting as I've not been in 50million labs. Dialogues & voice are high-quality.
Great story--sure, we've watched something like it on TV; but that's perfect as now we get to play the role & do the engineering/tinkering.
And letting us skip hos is such a treat. Indeed, because devs gave *choice* to skip, I didn't ! Hos aren't too many, just a sensible number, all crisp & not rubbish heaps.
And letting us skip hos is such a treat. Indeed, because devs gave *choice* to skip, I didn't ! Hos aren't too many, just a sensible number, all crisp & not rubbish heaps.
Value-added with sensible collectibles but sadly there is no gallery/achievement but this is a SE.
Game is *not* padded with tedious hos or unnecessary backtracking/padding, so it isn't as long as some, yet every minute was interesting to me.
Hint button is helpful & journal well made/pretty. IMO, for experts, there are too many textbar clues/hints on hardest mode, however. (Naturally, with fewer text-hints, game would've been an hour longer.)
Overall a really engaging adventure IMO...
looking forward to this dev's next game!
looking forward to this dev's next game!
I recommend this game!
The quaint mountain town of Hochwald hides a deadly secret. Defeat a mechanical mastermind and save your friend before another earthquake strikes!
Overall rating
3
/
5
41 of 54 found this review helpful
CE *NOT* worthy...
PostedAugust 11, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
=COMPLETED GAME=
Entertaining *BUT* CE version close to a rip-off!
Bonus chapter is < 45 mins! It's a prequel, Dr Ink's story, all re-used locations & hos but 1. Too many hos too. Plus, various spelling/text errors. Seems rather thrown together? Not worthwhile!
Entertaining *BUT* CE version close to a rip-off!
Bonus chapter is < 45 mins! It's a prequel, Dr Ink's story, all re-used locations & hos but 1. Too many hos too. Plus, various spelling/text errors. Seems rather thrown together? Not worthwhile!
Re MAIN GAME: solid adventure, good story, gorgeous hand-drawn sceneries & good cutscenes BUT we cannot replay them--CEs should allow that IMO.
Voices mostly excellent, giving characters some real personality. Tasks are fun, yet not many puzzles, all easy & somewhat lacking variety: lots of spin this & rotate that.
Re HOS, most are list-type, attractive & pretty easy; not too many, yay! The few FRAG hos are, however, excellent.
Re HOS, most are list-type, attractive & pretty easy; not too many, yay! The few FRAG hos are, however, excellent.
Sadly, hardest mode has all nonsense blackbar tips/hints; so, combined with the very linear gamescript, challenge is low for experienced players. This & a lousy bonus chapter make game NO good as CE, yet I do recommend SE version as an entertaining if easy adventure.
I don't recommend this game.
Over and over the same nightmare is following you: your sister Anna is trapped in a strange existence, begging you to help her escape. But what if these are not just random nightmares?
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 25 found this review helpful
A good SE adventure...
PostedMay 20, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Solid game, quick moving with lots of puzzle variety, some challenging too. Tasks very adventure-based & some nice settings, esp, in the fantasy world.
Lovely artwork overall but sound is limited. No voiceovers, but that didn't bother me.
Odd is I quite enjoyed the hos--usually I hate them. Some hos here were like mini-puzzles, very clever, & not too many hos & all beautifully drawn.
Story is reasonable but not deep. Best is game is fun to play. Took me @ 5 hours on expert, skipped one puzzle only.
Well worth the price IMO, esp for adventure-puzzler fans!
Good hint system too.
Good hint system too.
I recommend this game!
A terrible legend has become reality. The legend of a terrifying creature returned from hell.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Great except HOS overload...
PostedApril 1, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*based on COMPLETED game*
Excellent story-telling, gorgeous graphics, lots of mini-games, some even challenging (and, yay!, all worked perfectly). BUT downside is the 500million hos, every time we turn around. Each must be done 2x, 1st as list & 2nd as locate the pictured object. Nicely drawn but way too many. HOS became tedious for me.
Otherwise, it's good adventuring, fun puzzles & tasks. Collect horseshoes nice extra. Voices, music, ambient sound, all professional.
Great ending! Kudos to devs for how well story is developed & integrated with our tasks!
Would be 5-stars except too many un-skippable hos--yuck!--so if you can bear the hos...
Excellent story-telling, gorgeous graphics, lots of mini-games, some even challenging (and, yay!, all worked perfectly). BUT downside is the 500million hos, every time we turn around. Each must be done 2x, 1st as list & 2nd as locate the pictured object. Nicely drawn but way too many. HOS became tedious for me.
Otherwise, it's good adventuring, fun puzzles & tasks. Collect horseshoes nice extra. Voices, music, ambient sound, all professional.
Great ending! Kudos to devs for how well story is developed & integrated with our tasks!
Would be 5-stars except too many un-skippable hos--yuck!--so if you can bear the hos...
I recommend this game!
A simple murder investigation in Spain becomes a puzzling whodunit filled with intrigue.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Good quality, high fun factor...
PostedMarch 21, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on completed game:
An entertaining & colourful CE. Fast-paced gameplay. Enjoyable yet predictable detective plot. Lots of fun adventure tasking. Aiden assistant is annoying, but the fox is a sweet pet, well animated/drawn too.
An entertaining & colourful CE. Fast-paced gameplay. Enjoyable yet predictable detective plot. Lots of fun adventure tasking. Aiden assistant is annoying, but the fox is a sweet pet, well animated/drawn too.
Lovely music, cutscenes & some clever hos along with standard hos. Not too many hos, either! Nice challenge level on hardest & not boring. Puzzles a bit easy, except for one toughie, yay, in bonus part.
BONUS gives a nice plot twist <SE ending will still be 100% okay>, good action, all-new settings, fun to play. To me, though, bonus has too many boring standard hos just for filler/padding; BUT other bonus extras are very good: replayable mini-games, hos & movies (which I love); a short, fun trivia game with clever non-usable rewards; & I'm one who adores the concept art & world of colours!
On hardest, game took +4.25 & bonus another 1.25 hours. Good value!
I recommend this game!
The Tribloos are back in a brand new adventure! Join them as they try save their home once more.
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 36 found this review helpful
Unbelievably good puzzler/builder game..
PostedJanuary 17, 2013
Janie42
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
E.P.I.C: Wishmaster Adventures
(43)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Not a kid's game, with over 70 levels, finally a builder game that depends more on brain power to strategize than on clicking until your wrist is numb. The logic aspects are superbly addicting. *NO timer* means success with every level, yet for competition we can replay all levels for Silver or Gold even. The quest to determine the perfect strategy is really captivating.
Storyline is fun & characters are cute. Best are the huge variety of missions, level challenges & buildings. Unlike most builders, Tribloos2 offers something new for nearly every next level. From driving an airship to baking to repairing machines to using ziplines to building weather stations & other not-seen-before structures, nothing boring here. And the game is *not* an endless clickfest. Brain power more than wrist action will give the best results, a definite attraction for puzzle lovers.
Unique & silly-fun yet challenging mini-games add extra value along with awards & bonus levels that are devilishly tricky for seasoned players even.
Music is wonderful, backgrounds & graphics attractive with colourful environments. Plus, the unique side-on perspective (vs typical top-down view) is more effective & engaging.
Overall, a wonderful game to satisfy builder lovers or anyone who enjoys logic-type challenges. Better than Tribloos1, many hours of entertainment, huge replayability: a steal at $6.99!
I recommend this game!