megwoman25's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:1,465
- Reviews Submitted:285
- First Review:December 20, 2011
- Most Recent Review:December 7, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The Missing: A Search and Rescue Mystery
A group of college students have gone missing from a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. You are called in to rescue them, but nothing is as it seems.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A lot of scenes but not much else...
PostedOctober 29, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
For a game that has sooo many locations and having to find 56 crystals, I really thought this game would be longer, be more interesting and have lots of things to do. However, it is rather short, not much going on and the story line just did not make sense after some time. The hidden object scenes I only played once so kudos to that as there were a lot of them and having to play them twice would have been overkill so in that respect maybe I am happy it ended when it did and didn't make us go back to do "busy work" with the hidden object scenes.
The hidden object scenes were silhouette and regular list kind. Both were easy enough to do except the silhouette ones were usually in the dark with a flashlight which made them somewhat challenging. I played in advanced mode and although there wasn't supposed to be active areas, well the hidden object scenes were sparkly.
The game was quite short so the plot never really had time to play out well. I thought the mystery of the island was great at the start but by the end, I just had no idea what was really going on even after I read the journal. There is a map but its not interactive and you cannot jump which makes me a little upset because when you hit the hint button, it shows you the location you need to be yet you can never jump to get there, so you just have to figure it out.
There were soooo many locations and at each one, besides maybe a hidden object scene and finding a crystal which is laid out in plain sight, there was nothing else to do. The cursor would change to an eye but nothing I clicked on did anything. It would just say "I cannot look at that right now" or something like that which made me wonder why an eye even appeared. It seemed to have depth to the scenes but they were easy and went nowhere and that made me quite bored as games with tons of locations with nothing to do, don't really appeal to me.
The mini games varied. Some were so easy that I didn't qualify them as puzzles, more as time killlers. Some were medium and the last one I tried multiple times and couldn't do it and had no directions as how to do so, so I had to skip it but otherwise the puzzles were pretty bland.
Not much going on in this game but will say it was a nice game to play inbetween a big game that fries your brain. This one was relaxing just the story line fell apart and made me not so interested in the end. This game does have a solid ending though and if you don't care about plot, I can see how one would enjoy the mechanics of this game.
Oh the other thing that would have made this game 100 times better was if there were voiceovers. There are sooo many characters and it would have given the game some depth instead of having to click through dialogue. Over all, this game just feels like a missed opportunity to show what this company can really do. I've seen better developers and I can't in good conscience recommend this game although I am sure some will find it just fine. But just fine, isn't okay with me. I don't like to settle.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Dimensions: City of Ash
A dark dimension has fallen over Phoenix Hill, turning its residents into volcanic ash. Help them rise from the ashes.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Boring Storyline...
PostedOctober 25, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I really like this series, wax beauty is my favorite as I thought it was well written and unique and I absolutely love this developer's hidden object scenes however this game didn't live up to the hype of the last two in this series. I felt like this game was rushed and didn't tell the story very well because of it. There seemed to be nothing all that worthwhile to uncover and by the time you get to mine, the game is over.
I did like the interactive hidden object scenes and actually wished there had been more. The puzzles were okay. Some were really easy, some took me longer to solve and others I just skipped out of sheer boredom. The game mechanics are fun but the story line doesn't hold up well. The visual/sound quality was very nice. I liked the music and the voice overs were done well however the plot just never captured my interest the way it should have so I never got emotionally wrapped up in this game therefore I felt like it was more of a chore to play. Hopefully the next one in the series will be a bit more likeable, longer and have a better plot line. I like these games because they are unique but this one felt cookie cutter and unoriginal.
It does have a proper ending so if for some reason this game does tickle your fancy, it will satisfy you without having to purchase the collectors edition. For that alone, I recommend this game but the plot doesn't get better as it goes along so if you like a good story like myself, this is not it.
I recommend this game!
Embark on a fascinating adventure in a world of magic. Break the town’s evil spell to bring joy back to its citizens in this beautiful Match 3 game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Needs better Instructions.
PostedOctober 18, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I am a smart person and I have been trying to figure this game out for weeks but there is not enough instruction and even after reading game reviews and looking for strategy guides on other sites, Im just at my wits end with this game!
Yes it a match 3 game BUT you are trying to put back together a town. Each gem you collect is counted and thats how you buy potions aka powerups to help you within the levels. After that though, it becomes unclear to me what happens. I was playing a match 3 board when it tells me that my people are leaving so it sends me back to the town but when Im there it doesn't look like anything is really happening. You can click on the buildings with the yellow/green suns and upgrade them but then you have to visit the potion maker again to buy potions to stop people from leaving. I didn't understand why they were leaving to begin with.
I played on timed but it made no sense to me because once the timer was up, it still let you play and you could complete it.
I just felt like I was moving pieces to move pieces. That there was no logic to anything I was doing and this game is one that requires a strategy although the instructions just tell you how to play the match 3 game not what else is going on. Glad I got this as a daily deal because had I spent full price on this, i would not be a happy camper. Usually I don't give games a bad review if I don't understand them but I don't find the gameplay itself interesting either. This game needs better instructions and a better story line and a less complex power up system. Just not a fan of this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Excursions of Evil
Audrey makes her living writing about her extreme adventures. But will she be able to retell this tale?
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 35 found this review helpful
Review of Demo Only
PostedOctober 15, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I don't usually do reviews on demos but since there is no forum, I'll give this a whirl.
The game out for only mac players (which rarely happens), is about a woman who lives in New York and loves adventures. It has voiceovers as it describes her life and then she gets an email on her phone from a friend who says she has a special once in a lifetime type adventure that is an "excursion of evil" and you must leave immediately so you pack up your cat and deport for London. When you get to London, you are told that you are staying in the same house as a serial killer did and that he may still be alive.
Although I liked game initially, after 30 minutes of playing, I did not feel this game would be something Id buy. First of all the music is either on or off, there are no buttons to turn it down. The options menu is where you pick the difficulty and there is casual and advanced however there is no telling what those 2 entail since there is no description. It starts with a mandatory tutorial which I didn't feel was that necessary however its quick and painless.
The main focus of this game appears to be the cell phone. You get messages from your friend and also voice messages from the killer. Its unclear if you are part of a game or its a real murder to solve. You also get games sent to you from the killer and it implies you must play these arcade type games and get a score of 1000 or more or "there will be no telling what I might do". They were games like marble poppers, match 3 with a twist and a brick type game so far. In some of the hidden object scenes, you get joker cards and they can be used while playing these arcade games to extend your time if you die. I really didn't like these arcade type games. If I wanted to play games like that, well thats what I do on my iphone.
There are lots of hidden object scenes and although not interactive are still pleasant to the eyes and easy enough to do. However, the objects you get from the scenes seem to be repetitive. I have played a large number of scenes and only received keys and joker cards. The inventory bar stays up but even if hovered over or picked up, it does not tell you what the items are. So all the keys look the same and therefore it takes multiple tries to open doors etc. There were a lot of hidden object scenes but I liked them.
I did run across a few puzzles that weren't the arcade ones in the cell phone. They were reminiscent of the ravenhurst, madame fate type style where solving a puzzle triggers a bunch of things to move however those puzzles were a lot harder than these. I did like them but I wish there had been more to them, if that makes sense.
And so, thats my real issue with this game. I liked it but I felt like I needed more. There are lots of locations but once in said location, there is nothing to do besides one hidden object scene or a puzzle. There is nothing to pick up yet there is lots of walking around. I kept thinking I was stuck but then Id move the mouse and realize there were arrows pointing to different areas I could go. The hint button is helpful however make sure you put the battery in it in the beginning or else it won't work in the hidden object scenes. Its a cat, so that was appealing but overall I felt like something was missing in this game and I decided it wasn't for me.
However, I do think some will like this game. It is different and well written. It has potential to be a good game. Its just not for me. Try it and see how you feel!
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Review of Completed Game...
PostedOctober 15, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The standard edition completely ties things up so there is an actual ending and no need for a bonus chapter. The only reason Id recommend this as a Collector's Edition is if you are a person who needs help with puzzles and would need a strategy guide. There are a lot of them in this game and a lot of them repeat. This is one of the reasons I felt this game did not deserve 5 stars. I love puzzles, Im a huge fan of having to use my brain to solve them however I am not a fan of puzzles that repeat over and over again. Some of them were doable like I felt the last puzzle of the game although it had 3 parts and took me awhile to think it out, was a puzzle that most people could get through if they paid attention to which way they directed the ball each time. However, there were other repeat games that I felt were tedious and I did not want to keep doing them again.
The hidden object scenes in this game were fabulous and I wish there had been more. Some of them were the misplaced objects, others regular seek and find and this time there were interactive ones where you had to put things together. They would give you a picture of the first piece but once you found it, you'd have to find the 3 other objects within the scene to create it. An example would be a hot air balloon. You'd be shown the balloon and then a list of 3 items that would go with it. Gas, Basket, String and it would put it together for you. At the end, the scene would move and you would get a useful object. I really liked these and wish there had been more.
I really love the "shade effect" in this series. I think the light to dark areas are awesome and I loved the interactions among them. I own all of this series and I hope they keep making more. These developers, Orneon, know how to spread their tasks out smoothly so throughout the entire game, you always have a purpose and know exactly what to do. If you don't know what to do, hit the hint button and it will show you a picture of where to go and what to do and what object to use there. Only thing is, if you try to click it to go there, you can't. You have to walk and there is no map in this game.
I left off a star for the repeating puzzles, the fact there is no map which wasn't a deal breaker but it would have been nice especially after receiving the hints. Also, even though I really liked this game, I was hoping for a more original atmosphere. The first two were in locations that were quite interesting especially the 2nd one which was set in Thailand and is my favorite one. This edition took place in a house and although there were tons of nooks and crannies and way more locations than I anticipated, I would have liked a more unique area. But I still enjoyed myself and I definitely recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Rescue the princess, defeat the villain and save your homeland!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Tedious & VERY Strategic
PostedOctober 13, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover™
(277)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I LOVE TM builders. I thought I was pretty good at them until I played this game. There are some levels that you have to think out before pressing start. I like strategy but what I don't like is making it halfway through a level and then realizing that I don't have the tools to move forward so I have to start over. I love the roads of rome series and my kingdom for the princess. This game just disappointed me.
It has 40 levels, each in different areas like fire or snow etc like usual games. The bad guys aka trolls, knights, thieves etc in this game were just TOO MUCH! You have to be real careful about when you build the barracks because once you do, the bad guys will start coming and if you don't have enough other supplies they will take over your camp. There are 4 help buttons you get throughout the game. The first one helps you build things faster, the second one makes your guys run faster, the third one makes your factories produce goods faster and the 4th makes the barracks fighters, fight the bad guys faster and that last one is REALLY helpful on later levels.
I found it was really hard in some levels to get enough supplies like food or wood and it made it almost impossible to get gold. I am a person who likes to play until I get gold on a level but this game was tedious and I just wanted it to end so I didn't get gold on most levels. Even if you run out of time, you can still advance to the next round, you just don't get a medal for the level. It only happened to me once.
There are lots of achievements to get. I got all of them except 3 and this game took me forever to play. 40 levels may seem short but they are long levels and since you need to be very strategic, it can take even longer than usual to get through some of them. I found this game to be quite boring once I got through a few chapters. The buildings are really hard to level up in my opinion because after the first couple, it would take 3 times as many supplies to upgrade and thats most of your inventory or so it seemed! Sometimes I felt that there were too many buildings to worry about but you would always need all of them especially to get gold.
I guess I just didn't feel this one. Same old save the princess type story but you actually get to save her and then deliver her home by doing the dirty work instead of just watching the game end. I started out really liking this but by the end, I was just happy to finish it. There was just nothing real special about this game and I never felt like I had enough time or resources no matter how much I planned.
I recommend this game to die hard TM fans who like a challenge and lots of achievements. To builder fans who like more of a relaxing vibe, I don't know if this is the game for you as there is no untimed mode and although levels can still be advanced even when time runs out, its quite a frenzy.
oh and I had several sound issues with this game. In the beginning I could hear the sound of buildings being built and food being picked up but near the end of the game, all those sounds had disappeared. I tried deleting and reinstalling but nothing helped and I haven't had this problem with any other games. I missed the sound effects.
A disastrous avalanche... an evacuation... did anyone survive? The ski trip you've dreamed of for so long turns into a nightmare.
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Couldn't Even Finish It...
PostedOctober 11, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I am so disappointed that I bought this game. The demo would have been just enough of this game had I played the full hour of it. The first phantasmat was an amazing game and I loved it. It was challenging, fun and although had a similar theme, it was done in a very different and original way. I CARED about the story and the people involved. I WANTED to know what happened to them and it made me dive headfirst into the game and complete it within days of purchasing it. This game I've had in my library for months and just am now attempting to play it.
With the exception of the graphics and the true to life blizzard scenes and the fact I've been stuck in a whiteout storm so this game feels very real in that sense, there is not much else appealing about this game and I don't understand why Codeminion (the original developers) didn't just end the series since their company disbanded. There was no need for a sequel especially one by a different company. I did like however how ERS kept the option of doing Match 3 in the hidden object scenes but the hidden object scenes were boring and hard on the eyes because it was light blue print on a light blue background.
The hint system is useless, tells you what to do but not how to do it or where it is and there is no map so going back and forth and back and forth gets annoying really quick. I like doing that when I see a purpose to it but this was like illogical busy work type stuff. No point to it. The voice overs were terrible. I love accents but these were not authentic in any way. The people were boring, none of them had a life story I cared about or wanted to help with.
It was just a poor adaptation of what the original one was. ERS recycled music from the Haunted Halls games. I felt like I was looking for Tim and not playing a new game. I got 46% done according to the task list and just could not play one more second of it. There are good games and then there are games that are trying to be something they are not and Im sorry but ERS bit off more than they could chew with this game and whoever handed it off to them should be ashamed of themselves. One was enough.
Clearly, I do not recommend this game. I know die hard ERS fans will love it as they love their rendition of the Azada games which I don't care for either. Do the good series' justice and just let them rest without trying to make more and more money from them.
I don't recommend this game.
Be careful what you wish for... A deadly bargain has been made, and it's up to you to set things right before your nephew pays the terrible price!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Review of Completed Game...
PostedOctober 10, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I rounded to 5 stars but I feel this is a solid 4.5 star game. It has amazing graphics and sound just like any elephant game. I feel sorry for this family! They have the weirdest stuff happen to them! If it wasn't for Luisa's sister, they'd be forever doomed! I loved the different places to go like the different worlds but also that when you came back to the start each time, you still had tasks to complete there. I could also stop this game once I went into another world and then come back and start at that world and not have to use the hint button a bunch of times to remember what it is I was doing.
The map was jumpable and easy to follow. I felt like the puzzles were a little on the easy side for me AND there were a lot of the same kind like jumping over pieces or making more pieces of something. I would have liked a little more variety but I did have fun doing them. The hidden object scenes are very interactive and I liked that.
It has a REAL ending in the Standard Edition unlike some developers who leave a cliffhanger if you don't buy the collector's edition. I felt satisfied with the conclusion of this game.
My only criticisms are that the puzzles were repetitive BUT also a big pet peeve of mine is not being able to lock the inventory. It bugs me to see it bobbing up and down and I rather it stay put and have the option to lock it in place. This game did not have that function and every time I came back to this game, I wished it was there. For those 2 is why I took 1/2 star off. However, this game kept my interest and I loved playing it hence the 5 star rating.
I definitely recommend this one! but play the whole series! because in order to love this series you have to understand how unlucky they are and how great the sister is! She always saves the day!
I recommend this game!
Build food orders and satisfy a variety of customers to discover the truth behind a mysterious food-making contraption.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
AWESOME & LONG GAME
PostedOctober 6, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love this game and Im so glad there is a sequel although even without it, this game can go on indefinitely due to all the different levels. There is the story mode but after about 10 levels of that, relax and challenge mode open and after you beat the story mode, you get an expert mode which has all new levels but gets harder and harder as you progress and has ALL the people unlike the other levels where it varies.
Each level you beat in story mode, you get to choose a new item to sell or an upgrade for the next level. The object is to fill everyone's orders without them leaving or having bad service. I was able to achieve a perfect score in every level on story mode except for the Alien chapter because the aliens have a really hard order that is long to make and all the other people get mad. Luckily they aren't around really in the expert mode until you go back to space.
The relax mode puts you in each of the 8 chapters and basically you serve customers at your pace. $5000 earns you the gold medal in those levels but they are infinite and you can go on and on and on if you choose. The challenge levels puts you in one of the 8 chapters and starts off real slow and then speeds up gradually. Its basically a "how long can you hold on" type thing. Once a person leaves or you don't level up in time, you are out. I really did not make it very far lol
Expert mode is a whole new game just harder as you go. I was good for the first 4 chapters and now I can barely beat the levels, let alone get perfect scores.
This game has something for everyone and its taken me many, many enjoyable hours to finish it and Im not even completely done. I find that Im not fast enough to get the perfect scores on some levels but this game is sooo fun and the sound effects so real that I don't mind. I have been craving cheeseburgers all week since playing this game! The sound of everything is so life like. I can't say I would enjoy working at a burger shop in real life but on the computer, this time management game is non stop fun and I LOVE it. Its the best one I've ever played in terms of upgrades and length. Its never-ending it seems.
Definitely Recommend this game!! I am about an intermediate level when it comes to TM games as I just started them about 6 months ago but this one is really fun for the newbie or the expert. It has all modes and was designed for everyone!
I recommend this game!
Several young women have gone missing in Paris. Now only you can stop a maniac’s murderous trail of fragrance and deception!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Review of Completed Game...
PostedOctober 6, 2013
megwoman25
fromNorthern California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I enjoyed this game although I wish I had gotten the standard edition. I buy collector's for the collectibles and these ones are extremely hard to find so it kind of took the fun out of it and the reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. There are little x's in the scenes and behind them are little objects (collectibles). There are 35 and it goes into the bonus level. I was able to find 21 and that was lucky in my opinion. Supposedly there is an x in every scene. Im young but apparently my eyes aren't too sharp because I couldn't find them.
The actual game itself is great. I loved making potions and the whole collect the scents idea was really fun. It almost felt like that was part of the collectibles. The achievements were fun but most of them were for doing things you would have to do like visiting certain characters or collecting all the fragrances. They weren't hard to earn because you had to do them to progress. However there were the do 10 hidden object scenes without a hint or mini games without a hint etc
The hidden object scenes are all interactive and I don't remember playing each one more than once. There are lots of people you interact with, lots of nicely done voiceovers. The music fit the time period and I liked all the locations. The overall story was kind of silly especially when you figure out what its about but the scent thing was new and I like originality hence the high rating.
The standard game has an actual ending so kudos to that but it implies there will be a sequel. However, that supposed sequel is the bonus chapter. The bonus chapter was ok, nothing that special. You get to keep looking for the collectibles and new scents so I liked that but other than the setting of London, there is not a lot to really do and the things you are doing don't really make a lot of sense. This is why I felt I would have been better with just the standard ending.
I usually really enjoy BLAM! games and always give them 5 stars but the bonus chapter was kind of boring and short not to mention with the almost invisible collectibles, it just wasn't as great as some of the others they offer. However, I do recommend this game because if you have sharp eyes and love a challenge finding collectibles, this will be for you. The overall game took me about 5-6 hours to play. There is a jumpable map and you can choose if you want the map to be interactive or not in case you do want a harder challenge. I like having customizable options so kudos to that! I welcome more from this developer =)
Oh I do want to say that I left this game for a couple days and still knew what to do when I returned. Although there are a lot of locations, after awhile some of the locations you cannot return to so if you are hunting for the collectibles make sure you prepare yourself for these changes in the strategy guide. Thats part of why I didn't get them all. Blindness and not knowing there were going to be parts of the game you were unable to get to later on. I did like that though because there was less back tracking and I could always figure out what direction I needed to go!
I recommend this game!