calsmom2001's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:188
- Reviews Submitted:14
- First Review:December 28, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 2, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Escape the Emerald Star
You awake to find your cruise ship abandoned and in disarray. Can you track down all the fragments of a map and escape the ship?
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Nothing new, but there's nothing wrong with that
PostedAugust 6, 2012
calsmom2001
fromBoston, MA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
OK, for those of us who cut our HOG teeth on MCF:Huntsville this game doesn't exactly break new ground. But I don't think that's an automatic negative. Yes, I love my HOPAs and IHOGs, but sometimes I want to go back to my roots. No one does straight HOGs better than this developer. The scenes are clear, the search difficulty ranges from very easy to pretty difficult, and the clues can occasionally be ambiguous. I've come across at least four different mini-games at the level ends - none of them are new, but that's okay, too. There are achievements that unlock mini-games and unlimited search-and-find; again, pretty standard fare for this dev.
Since there is an untimed option, this is a very pleasant way to spend a few relaxing hours, as long as you know what you're getting. I would recommend doing the trial - this won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who like the "Escape" series, this is a solid entry into it.
Oh and BTW, the dev gives you the opportunity to opt out of at least ONE level of "are you sure you want to quit?". Two thumbs up for that alone!
Since there is an untimed option, this is a very pleasant way to spend a few relaxing hours, as long as you know what you're getting. I would recommend doing the trial - this won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who like the "Escape" series, this is a solid entry into it.
Oh and BTW, the dev gives you the opportunity to opt out of at least ONE level of "are you sure you want to quit?". Two thumbs up for that alone!
I recommend this game!
Save your brother and try to solve the mystery behind the silver screen in Final Cut: Death on the Silver Screen, a thrilling game set in the 1950's!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
New developers, GREAT game!
PostedJune 4, 2012
calsmom2001
fromBoston, MA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, this game by a new developer is definitely a keeper! I loved the story, (this is the third game in my PH with a "golden age of Hollywood" theme - love 'em) and it was refreshing to have something other than a haunted castle or asylum. I am a real sucker for exploring mansions, and this one, with its spot on Art Deco design, is a genuine pleasure. The level of difficulty was just about right for me - I checked the SG a few times, but mostly because there are so many places to go and things to do that I got a little lost. (Devs, an interactive map would be a good thing for the future.)
The puzzles were good, although I had difficulty with some understanding the instructions; could have just been that I should have been sleeping rather than playing. There was a nice mix of familiar puzzles with "Wow, what's going on here?". Also, the best "move the block to a designated location" slider I've ever come across.
If you like achievements, this game is for you! TONS of achievements, some easy, some not. One thing I noticed; the acquiring of achievements was not always reliable. I received both the achievement for using a "Skip" on a puzzle (which I did, several times), and the award for "All puzzles without a skip". To me this is a small thing, as awards are nice but not an obsession, but others may mind this more. Considering the amount of programming this game took, I can take a relaxed view of this.
There are also lots of extras. The bonus chapter, obviously, but you also have the ability to replay both puzzles and HO scenes. I don't believe I've ever seen that last option before. There's the usual wallpapers and music, but there is also a funny "making of" that's worth checking out. One thing I noticed in that is just how long this game must have taken to develop: there is one scene with snow on the ground and several that are clearly summer; the devs took their time, and it shows. (Even the credits are worth checking out; there's humor in that too.)
All in all, this makes my list of all time favorites (it may even replace Brink of Consciousness!)
I recommend this game!
Unlock the secret rooms in the Howard’s mansion and restore a precious antique collection hidden there.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A nice little game
PostedMay 30, 2012
calsmom2001
fromBoston, MA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Well, this was a surprise! When I began the demo I thought this game might be a little too "old-school" for me. The graphics looked like something from 5+ years ago, and at first I was a bit put off by that. However, the scenes are bright and crisp, and nicely detailed, so I quickly decided that in this case, "old-school" was a plus.
There is one HO scene per room, and they do not replay, so there's nice variety (and for those, like myself, who do not like returning to an HO scene and finding that "found" objects are back where they started from, well, that's not a problem here!). Some of the objects were pretty small, and VERY well hidden, but I play on a netbook, use a magnifying glass, and had no problems. I might have used two hints throughout the game, but no more.
As for gameplay, the hint system outside of the HO scenes is fairly unhelpful. At one point, early in the game, I referred to the walkthrough to advance, but after that, I found that checking everything carefully and thinking things through was enough to get me through the game. There are sparkles of a sort (more like gleams), but they are minimal, and give you a chance to find things for yourself before pointing you in the direction you need to go.
The storyline is fun, although predictable, but at least we're not in asylum/hospital/orphanage, and there are no ghoulies or ghosties. There's inoffensive music and minimal voiceovers. I usually turn both of these off, so I don't have much of an opinion about either.
The one big negative for me was: it would have been really nice to know that once the game is complete, you cannot return to the auction gallery to upgrade the collections gallery. I was very disappointed by that, as I only did one auction, intending to play the rest of them at the end. I liked this game very much, but not enough to play it through again immediately. I'm sure I'll get around to it again at some point.
All in all, a nice little game for an SE price.
I recommend this game!
Help Sam rescue his love Anna in Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
More games like this please!
PostedDecember 28, 2011
calsmom2001
fromBoston, MA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
It took me only about 15 minutes of the demo to know I would be buying this game. As it turned out I purchased it during the CE sale, along with two other games. I saved this for last and it certainly was the best! First, I must give kudos for the voice acting. I normally play with the sound off, but I happened to leave it on when starting this game, and then I had to leave it on throughout. "Oscar" is just wonderful, and really adds to the atmosphere.
The story is engrossing and actually makes sense: I couldn't wait to advance to each new location, and there are a LOT of locations in this game. Although there is a lot of back-and-forth, I found I was able to remember where I needed to go most of the time because the game gradually moves you throughout the estate, so that earlier locations are left behind and not re-visited. I did need some help from the SG, but for a game of this length I would have expected to need it more. The mini-games were marvelous, some very unusual ones, and for the most part the difficulty was just right. I did skip some. Some instructions were not as clear as I would have liked, though I might just have been getting tired. I also appreciated the detail in the minis: there is one game where you have to shoot a ball around a track with just the right amount of force. There's a gauge above the plunger, so you don't have to guess how much force you're applying, you can see it. That sort of nicety is a rare thing.
The story is dark, to be sure. But for those who dislike occult themes, be reassured: the evil here is wholly human, not a demon or a ghost to be seen. There have been some comments about "not for the squeamish" and there sure are a lot dead bodies, but none of them are gory. I didn't find it too unpleasant, and I CAN NOT watch slasher movies.
A final note, the graphics were beautiful! I want to play this game again just to take a better look at all the wonderful rooms. For those who like wandering around a BIG house, this is your game!
The story is engrossing and actually makes sense: I couldn't wait to advance to each new location, and there are a LOT of locations in this game. Although there is a lot of back-and-forth, I found I was able to remember where I needed to go most of the time because the game gradually moves you throughout the estate, so that earlier locations are left behind and not re-visited. I did need some help from the SG, but for a game of this length I would have expected to need it more. The mini-games were marvelous, some very unusual ones, and for the most part the difficulty was just right. I did skip some. Some instructions were not as clear as I would have liked, though I might just have been getting tired. I also appreciated the detail in the minis: there is one game where you have to shoot a ball around a track with just the right amount of force. There's a gauge above the plunger, so you don't have to guess how much force you're applying, you can see it. That sort of nicety is a rare thing.
The story is dark, to be sure. But for those who dislike occult themes, be reassured: the evil here is wholly human, not a demon or a ghost to be seen. There have been some comments about "not for the squeamish" and there sure are a lot dead bodies, but none of them are gory. I didn't find it too unpleasant, and I CAN NOT watch slasher movies.
A final note, the graphics were beautiful! I want to play this game again just to take a better look at all the wonderful rooms. For those who like wandering around a BIG house, this is your game!
I recommend this game!