bajacalla's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    2.2
  • Helpful Votes:
    214
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    9
  • First Review:
    February 3, 2012
  • Most Recent Review:
    May 4, 2015
  • Featured reviews
    0
 
 
bajacalla's Review History
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
18 of 20 found this review helpful
strangely unsatisfying
PostedMay 4, 2015
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Strategy, Word, Mahjong, Brain Teaser, Family
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
at first glance, Rite of Passage: The Lost Tides CE looked like just the sort of game I enjoy: hidden objects, clever puzzles, different storyline. unfortunately, the story was disjointed and illogical, the puzzles were extremely simple (match bubble sizes of 4 pairs of bubbles??), the hidden objects were not really hidden, but placed behind larger objects in the scene, virtually every one. and the art and animations were very poorly done. collectibles and morphing objects were apparently there, but it wasn't until the end of the game that this was made apparent. the characters were completely unbelievable and easily disposed of - I'm still totally unclear on who the mermaid was or why she was even part of the story.
all in all, a very disappointing game.
I don't recommend this game.
+16points
18of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Follow our intrepid investigators as they explore this unique Paris setting that combines fantasy and the Crazy Years.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
wanted to like this
PostedSeptember 17, 2014
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
I really did. but constantly clicking on dialogue for it to continue annoy the heck out of me. maybe if I were majorly bored this would appeal to me, but the slowness of pace just irked me.
I don't recommend this game.
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
 The Jim and Frank Mysteries: The Blood River Files
The Jim and Frank Mysteries: The Blood River Files
Join two best pals, Jim and Frank as they set out to uncover the mystery of the Blood River!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
makes me miss "King's Quest"
PostedAugust 7, 2014
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
because King's Quest moved more quickly, had a more intriguing story line, better animation, and appropriate music.
this entire game plays like an early attempt to create an educational game for third-graders.
I don't recommend this game.
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Create your own pottery studio in this brand new style of Match-3 game with elegant graphics!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
virtually unplayable
PostedSeptember 3, 2013
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
well, it didn't lock up my computer, but that's about the best I can say about this game - it was like playing in molasses, it was that slow. I understand that there's a free version of this for iPad - I sure hope it plays better than this version did. even at "free," that would be a sheer waste of money. too bad - could have been a cute, fun game for my grandchildren.
I don't recommend this game.
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
What would adventure be, without the element of uncertainty? Play as Jennifer as she explores the ruins of the Maya civilization in search of her father.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
86 of 95 found this review helpful
old school
PostedJuly 30, 2013
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
advisement: I've not finished the demo.
I love Maya architecture, history, art, language, and culture, so I was excited to see a Mayan theme HOG/adventure game come up, even if it wasn't a CE. but boy, this is a disappointment.
this game has all the hallmarks of having been released in the mid 1980s - no animation, all click-through text dialogue, fuzzy graphics, repetitive music, and other than geographical data, not much archaeological interest at all.
the introduction indicates that this game is somehow connected with the "2012 Mayan Apocalypse" prediction, but I'd have bet my life that was an add-on for current release.
nothing of interest here; move along.
I don't recommend this game.
+77points
86of 95voted this as helpful.
 
Join Oink-oink on the journey to save his friends in Push the Box, a new exciting puzzle game with attractive graphics that will definitely give you a challenge.
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
20 of 21 found this review helpful
Lolo redux
PostedMarch 11, 2013
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I quite liked this game! It reminds me a lot of the old Nintendo game "The Adventures of Lolo," and I've been looking for a similar game for some time now.
Basically, you are rescuing your brothers, The Three Little Pigs, from their cages in The Big Bad Wolf's dungeon filled with boxes, traps, and other obstacles. You have to push the boxes out of the way - avoiding killer traps - to reach each piggy, making sure you leave yourself an escape route to the exit!
It's quite clever, and you are challenged increasingly with each level. No difficulty options to choose, but there is a "replay" function to allow you to reroute your path should you not think far enough ahead.
I recommend this game!
+19points
20of 21voted this as helpful.
 
Judge Dee is the newly appointed magistrate of Yiwang prefect. Help him uncover the truth behind a town's dark secret, its corrupt officials and the true cause of a mysterious illness!
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
41 of 59 found this review helpful
Judge Dee: The City God
PostedSeptember 17, 2012
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I'm really mixed on this one. it's pretty, it's a bit different from other HOGs, and the levels of difficulty make it easy, ok, or difficult.
BUT - you can go in circles looking for the next clue because the game doesn't disable replaying the HOG screens so you don't realize you're not actually getting anywhere doing that. and there's just too much text dialogue.
I bought it with free game credits, but I can't really recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.
+23points
41of 59voted this as helpful.
 
Climb your way through the evolutionary ladder. Start as a little organism and transform into a magnificent aquatic being.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
37 of 42 found this review helpful
Screensaver
PostedAugust 24, 2012
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
This is a visually appealing game, but I'm using the word "game" very loosely.
The instructions are relatively simple, if not intuitive, but they're pretty sketchy besides "up" and "down" and directional. You can watch your little creature change appearance by eating other organisms, but that's all I was able to determine was the point of the game after playing half the demo.
For those of us old enough to remember when screensavers were a really big deal, this game reminded me of the aquarium one, where you could choose the number and kinds of fish, change the aquarium background, and just sit and watch the complete randomness of the whole thing.
This game reminds me of that screensaver. Beyond that, I really didn't see much point of it, but maybe I've missed something?
I don't recommend this game.
+32points
37of 42voted this as helpful.
 
The Fairy Godmother, Gwendolyn, needs you to repair and upgrade Albian Castle for the Convention of Magic Masters!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
5 of 10 found this review helpful
unfortunate
PostedFebruary 3, 2012
Customer avatar
bajacalla
fromAlbuquerque, NM
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
I bought this game sight unseen, based on the 4+ star reviews. what a mistake. the HOG scenes are pile-ups, very grainy, tiny tiny objects almost impossible to see, and altogether make the game virtually unplayable for me. I would have known all this had I downloaded the trial first and would never have spent a credit on it.
I don't recommend this game.
0points
5of 10voted this as helpful.