kgustavson's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.9
- Helpful Votes:1,707
- Reviews Submitted:116
- First Review:December 16, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 17, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Explore kingdom ruins and meet the exiled Salt Princess.
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 23 found this review helpful
Was having a good time until about chapter 3...
PostedMarch 18, 2018
kgustavson
fromkleenex box
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was thoroughly enjoying the throw-back mode of play and was humming along quite nicely when it began to dawn on me - there are only 4 puzzle styles. They keep repeating over and over to the extent that I just started skipping them, I was so annoyed. And the FROG scenes repeat not once, not twice, but THREE times. I was halfway through the final chapter when a FROG started fluttering at me again and I had had it. Maybe I'm just crabby because I have a lousy cold, but I don't know if I'll even finish this one despite the hefty price tag.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Story a little wonky but..
PostedFebruary 20, 2018
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I really enjoyed this game. Level of challenge in the HOPs was very good, lots of interaction. Puzzles were well done as well, but the story was a little strange. Very nice bonus game with all new locations and I have to give a big nod to the developers for that. All in all, I really liked this one!
I recommend this game!
Recover the artifact that contains the secrets of H.E.L.P.'s past.
Overall rating
2
/
5
38 of 46 found this review helpful
So sad to see this series die a mediocre death
PostedFebruary 11, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Wow - shortest demo ever! I had 55 minutes left and I did not skip any puzzles, I play with no sparkles or plus item indicators (not like that really matters with these guys), and used no hints in the HOPs or elsewhere in the game. I didn't even need to jump map. I did find some of the puzzles a bit of a nice change, but the HOPs were same old. Graphics were good, but not enough to change my mind. Story is pretty much the same as all of them. Given their recent trend toward 15 minute bonus games I am a sad "no buy" for this one. Extras are rather slim as well and I personally do not care for the "souvenir hunt" as I find it a silly waste of time. Such a shame as the first few of this series were really, really good.
I don't recommend this game.
Save the kingdom by casting down it’s evil dictator in this imaginative hidden object game set in a steampunk world.
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Just gets old
PostedFebruary 10, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The problem with this game is that is just gets repetitive after level 2. It's the same challenges over and again and they don't get any more difficult. Every level starts with a simple jigsaw puzzle and then the next one is a match 2, the next either match 3 or big and small, yada yada yada, wash rinse repeat. This game becomes so boring that I stopped caring about the story line. Ugh, save your pennies.
I don't recommend this game.
Beyond the Invisible: Darkness Came is a stunning hidden object adventure game that will challenge even the most seasoned detectives.
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Glad I stuck it out
PostedFebruary 2, 2018
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Wish BF would let us give 1/2 stars as I would rate this 3 1/2 as there certainly are some really clunky moments, but oddly enough they seem to happen during the demo time. The translation stuff was of no care to me at all as the voice over work here was really exceptionally well done, and the story line really picks up after the demo. As for game play, I enjoyed that it was more adventure-focused and I think there were only 2 HOS (yay!!) that did repeat but were rather interactive with inclusive puzzles. There was very little "find this to put on that" back and forth stuff and I found the game very straightforward. I admit to hammering the hint button a number of times and was not disappointed with the help offered.
I strongly recommend this one!
I strongly recommend this one!
I recommend this game!
A vacation becomes a nightmare as you’re forced into an impossible game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
They've done better
PostedJanuary 22, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I normally really like this series, but this one left me flat. The story was ok, but it just got buried under the weight of relentless inventory items that I constantly had to replace. I think that by the end of the game I needed about 7 knives, 10 crowbars, a handful of cauldrons, and a vast number of assorted wrenches, screwdrivers, chisels and hammers. Thankfully, no missing zipper pull. This is just ridiculous and really takes a lot of fun of the game away for me. Hopefully they change their tune for the next installment.
Restore the magic of Christmas to a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Delightful Holiday game
PostedJanuary 15, 2018
kgustavson
fromFremont, Seattle WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I thought this one was just top class game-play. I rarely give anything 5 stars, but I think this one has it all for me: really wonderful detailed graphics including little interactive items in a scene, varied HOS that were very entertaining, and a variety of mini-games that I found really enjoyable. The story is a little bit "huh?" but we are saving Santa after all! This one took me a good 6 hours and I skipped one puzzle - a very nice bonus game as well with mostly all new scenes and tasks that took me the better part of an hour.
IMHO, "Christmas Stories" series had better take note of this fabulous offering!
I recommend this game!
A Halloween party becomes a spine-tingling fight for survival!
Overall rating
2
/
5
51 of 58 found this review helpful
One should only be allowed to review after playing the full Game
PostedOctober 16, 2017
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
There was a little voice in my head that said "don't buy this game. Disappointment awaits." I should start listening to the little voice in my head. While the demo time was full of "Wow! What fun!" the rest of the game was not only shockingly short (2 1/2 hours), but sorely lacking in the "what fun" factor. What were creative HOS in the first hour turned into boring list items with one or two interactive items. Puzzles were either dull or just annoying. Oh, and of course there's a missing zipper pull. Seriously. And the magic rust remover. *sigh*
Add to this the fact that all of my custom settings disappeared after the demo (never had that happen before) and the game crashed twice (note the tech thread - it's rather long) this one should have spent more time in R&D before it's release.
Resist the pull of the demo for this one. It's a dud.
I don't recommend this game.
Snow, Ice and the deadly wind blowing from the Frozen Mountains! The Lost Lands have been overtaken by ice in the middle of summer!
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 22 found this review helpful
Not that this needs another 5 star review but I'm still doing my happy dance
PostedSeptember 22, 2017
kgustavson
fromAmazon HQ1
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
(8) (8) (R) <:0) Happy Dance (8) (8) (R) (^) (pi) (d) Whew - my fins are tired!
This series just continues to be fantastic and I don't even need to demo it before I hit the buy button.
Might not be much of a review, but if you don't get sucked into the graphics, scenery, characters and logical gameplay then I don't know what the heck you're looking for in a game 'cause this is it kids.
Fabulous (crush)
Might not be much of a review, but if you don't get sucked into the graphics, scenery, characters and logical gameplay then I don't know what the heck you're looking for in a game 'cause this is it kids.
Fabulous (crush)
I recommend this game!
Can you break free from your nightmares in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Loved every creepy moment!
PostedSeptember 17, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was just a fabulous game and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Creepy factor is very high which I enjoy and the story line is great. HOS are varied from lists to FROGS to progressive and there aren't a ton of them. Graphics are of high quality and the puzzles aren't pull-your-hair-out difficult but appropriate to the game. And a wonderful Bonus game to boot. Well done!!!
I recommend this game!