Tufty57's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:5,072
- Reviews Submitted:119
- First Review:March 14, 2013
- Most Recent Review:April 9, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Track down the wily Fox’ before he slips away into the beauty of Venice!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 70 found this review helpful
"Who's the Baddy?"
PostedApril 17, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
La Volpe is back from retirement it appears and you are sent to Venice to track him down. But all is not what it seems:
* a mysterious employer
* a strange woman questioning who you should trust
* a mysterious employer
* a strange woman questioning who you should trust
Who will you believe in your quest to uncover the truth and get your 'scoop'?
A full on CE with so much to seek and collect that doubtless some will be put off. Not me though, I love having to take the time to find things and, in the main, they are not impossibly hidden. It slows down the gameplay, yes, but it also stretches it out and stops me from barrelling through in my haste to uncover the story.
Four choices of challenge - Casual/Expert/Insane/Custom. I always play trials on Casual but will step up when I play again.
As said above, this game is dripping with CE bling:
* Travel Guide pages
* Fox figurines
* Letters
* Morphing objects
* Achievements to earn, although I wish there wasn't one for playing the tutorial. Anyone but an absolute beginner cannot therefore win the 'earn all' achievement :-((
* Travel Guide pages
* Fox figurines
* Letters
* Morphing objects
* Achievements to earn, although I wish there wasn't one for playing the tutorial. Anyone but an absolute beginner cannot therefore win the 'earn all' achievement :-((
From the demo, it seems that HOSs outweigh puzzles and, again, this will disappoint many players.
HOSs are various so far:
* All silhouettes so far but...
* Find -> use -> find ->use
* Find 4 then 'transport' to further HOSs to find more
* Mini HOSs and puzzles within objects
* All silhouettes so far but...
* Find -> use -> find ->use
* Find 4 then 'transport' to further HOSs to find more
* Mini HOSs and puzzles within objects
Puzzles are a good range with some requiring a lot of thought/logic to succeed.
Tools to help:
* A jump map which, in casual, shows active areas
* A camera with filters to collect and use as the situation requires.
* A jump map which, in casual, shows active areas
* A camera with filters to collect and use as the situation requires.
I always get a frisson of excitement when I hear this developer's intro music. They have never yet disappointed me.
All in all, this is right up my street and, fingers crossed for a weekend sale, will be joining my collection. If not, still reckon it's worth the money though. Try it and I hope you love it as much as I do.
I recommend this game!
Travel between the worlds of the living and the dead to save a loved one!
Overall rating
4
/
5
55 of 56 found this review helpful
Give it a try!
PostedApril 17, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I nearly switched off during the intro, hating the artistic style and finding the depictions of the characters very unappealing.
What kept me going was the music and, once into the action, I began to enjoy the gameplay. I was disappointed when the trial finished as had been drawn in.
It is not a 'classic' game to be kept forever and replayed, but it is entertaining, straightforward enough for novice players and definitely worth a fiver or a coupon if, like me, you are a HO addict currently experiencing a bit of a dearth of SE games.
Give it a try, stick with it and, like me, you may well enjoy it!
I recommend this game!
You've returned from school to visit your father at his famous Jazz Pepper Club during Mardi Gras, but everyone is hypnotized. Have they heard the wrong note?
Overall rating
5
/
5
21 of 37 found this review helpful
Absolute delight!
PostedApril 12, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
WOW, Wow, wow!
Ticking every box, this game is just amazing!
Set in New Orleans during Mardis Gras, sights and sounds are fantastic. Wonderful jazz music playing, fantastic voices and superb characterisation.
The blurb gives all you need for the storyline, people hypnotised, mysterious sax player killing off band members and you on the trail to save your father. May sound familiar, but believe me it isn't!
Gameplay is just gobsmackingly good:
* HOSs are so original so was dismayed that there were only 2 during the trial
* Puzzles hidden everywhere, in back story cut scenes, posters, within hidden caches. Some not difficult but a real treat to keep coming across them
* 5, (YES FIVE!) levels of difficulty to choose from including custom. I just excluded the tutorial and then played the equivalent of casual and it really had my grey cells working at times
* Inventory objects to add to or amend
* Hidden notes to find (some really tricksy)
* Achievements to earn
* HOSs are so original so was dismayed that there were only 2 during the trial
* Puzzles hidden everywhere, in back story cut scenes, posters, within hidden caches. Some not difficult but a real treat to keep coming across them
* 5, (YES FIVE!) levels of difficulty to choose from including custom. I just excluded the tutorial and then played the equivalent of casual and it really had my grey cells working at times
* Inventory objects to add to or amend
* Hidden notes to find (some really tricksy)
* Achievements to earn
This is now officially my all time favourite game and I have only played the demo.
Try it! I know you will buy it! Off to click the button now!
I recommend this game!
A famous actor has literally stepped off the screen to kidnap your niece. Now you must find a way into the dangerous and exciting world of the film to save her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 52 found this review helpful
Good, but not great
PostedApril 10, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on demo played on casual.
Wow, what an opening! Grabbed my attention immediately and couldn't wait for my participation to begin.
Although a well-used premise - girl kidnapped by her dead husband, a movie star, and taken off into the world behind the cinema screen - this is certainly a different approach and I loved it. Called in to rescue her and her mum, you explore the cinema, fend off the various creatures who have escaped through the screen and discover the way to follow her into the unknown.
Graphics are really good and clear, music is atmospheric and appropriate at times, at others, no music, just sound effects of the environment.
CE bling:
* The usual screen savers, music etc
* Achievements to earn (though I do sigh with disappointment when there is one for taking 10+ minutes to complete a HOS :-( )
* 80 flowers to collect which have different values and are used to 'buy' access to the bonus films in a secret room. I only earned enough to see one and it was a movie trailer which begins to give further hints as to what the conflict might be. Shame on devs and testers that they didn't spot the erroneous apostrophe!
* Bonus chapter
* Map with actions and remains active if there is a flower to collect
* Hint shows you where to go and you can jump there.
* The usual screen savers, music etc
* Achievements to earn (though I do sigh with disappointment when there is one for taking 10+ minutes to complete a HOS :-( )
* 80 flowers to collect which have different values and are used to 'buy' access to the bonus films in a secret room. I only earned enough to see one and it was a movie trailer which begins to give further hints as to what the conflict might be. Shame on devs and testers that they didn't spot the erroneous apostrophe!
* Bonus chapter
* Map with actions and remains active if there is a flower to collect
* Hint shows you where to go and you can jump there.
Lots of puzzles of varying difficulty. I skipped the harder ones to make progress in my limited trial time but they should be doable with patience and thought.
Only 3 HOSs so far and I was disappointed. One a simple list, one using a single inventory item to solve and a further with two 'special' items. I want more these days.
Once the opening was over, I found the gameplay rather simple, items found are used fairly quickly. There are items for which you have to add elements or adapt them, marked with a +.
Clicking on movie posters will give back story and this is where the game slowed right down. Don't skip or you will miss some info but slowly focussing in on a picture with no result is frustrating.
There are 3 levels of challenge, Casual/Advanced/Hardcore but no Custom (boo!)
So, will I buy it? Probably. The story is intriguing enough to make me want to go on. But it could have been better and that is why only 4* from me.
Do try it, simply because it is so different!
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the mist and find your lost brother?
Overall rating
5
/
5
67 of 84 found this review helpful
Intriguing and original
PostedMarch 29, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on the demo, casual mode.
What a great new take on the old "my brother has been kidnapped by a dark mist" story. I was drawn in from the very beginning and, although playing on casual, there was no hand holding and the sparkles were unobtrusive so plenty of challenge even at this level.
Briefly (cos I hate it when reviews tell you the story) your brother has been drawn across the bridge by a strange mist and now, 20 years later, the mist has returned enabling you to follow and rescue him.
Things I love:
* graphics and music are excellent
* voices etc are appropriate and no grown ups putting on children's voices
* a helpful dragon
* morphing mythical creatures to spot
* challenging HOSs which really made me think
* puzzles are doable but, again, require some thought/logic to solve
* map to help with navigation
* graphics and music are excellent
* voices etc are appropriate and no grown ups putting on children's voices
* a helpful dragon
* morphing mythical creatures to spot
* challenging HOSs which really made me think
* puzzles are doable but, again, require some thought/logic to solve
* map to help with navigation
Things I don't like:
* just really our hero's voice which is a bit like the voice over for a film trailer
* just really our hero's voice which is a bit like the voice over for a film trailer
This is a definite buy for me as I love this type of game. Don't be put off by the fairies, it is not a 'fluffy' game at all.
Can't wait to get it and find out how the story develops. I have the feeling this will be a long game for me so long as I don't resort to the hint button and make myself work things out!
I recommend this game!
Nightmares from the Deep: Davy Jones Collector's Edition
Escape the cold incarceration of Davy Jones' brig and discover the otherworldly origins of his galleon in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 53 found this review helpful
Davy Jones is back! Hurrah!
PostedMarch 27, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on the demo in casual mode.
Davy Jones is back and once more creating havoc for our trusty museum creator. Interrupting her lecture in fury for daring to reveal his secrets, he seizes the curator and her daughter who must then ecape his grim clutches.
In keeping with the Nightmares of the Deep series (probably helpful to have played the others in the series as this explains the 'relationship' between the combatants) it has the same excellent graphics and sound, high level of challenge and gripping storyline.
Lots of collectibles to find:
* seahorses
* pirate cards
* puzzle pieces
* fancier doubloons to find this time to reveal the story.
* seahorses
* pirate cards
* puzzle pieces
* fancier doubloons to find this time to reveal the story.
HOSs are interactive and quite challenging - finding pieces of an object required or progressive interactive, however puzzles have been quite straightforward so far
So happy to see the return of this series and can't wait to buy it.
I recommend this game!
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 55 found this review helpful
Dupin is back!
PostedMarch 20, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the Dark Tales series and this one is no disappointment. One of the Usher twins is missing and Dupin (with your help) has to find her before her brother pines away.
Got so absorbed in the trial and forgot to make notes so, if I remember rightly:
* Usual CE stuff like wallpapers (that I am not bothered about)
* Achievements to earn
* Coins to collect to get stuff for your lab (This was my only disappointment as finding them is too easy and repetitive)
* A little helper that you have to train first
* Usual CE stuff like wallpapers (that I am not bothered about)
* Achievements to earn
* Coins to collect to get stuff for your lab (This was my only disappointment as finding them is too easy and repetitive)
* A little helper that you have to train first
There is a jumpable map, pictures to match to scenes which kick in the HOSs (which are quite challenging and of various styles) and your trusty camera, if you do not get too engrossed and forget to use it.
Found this more challenging than earlier ones in the series and resorted to hints to move on through the trial, but will try harder when I buy it for myself (which I certainly will!)
Can't recommend highly enough! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
A serial killer nicknamed “the Toymaker” is wreaking havoc on a sleepy town. Can the lead detective piece together clues left at the scene and stop him before he sets his sights on her?
Overall rating
1
/
5
34 of 39 found this review helpful
Boring!
PostedMarch 19, 2014
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
OK, so I love HOGs, but even for me this is way too much!
A 'Toymaker' is murdering people and leaving clues for you, the detective. Fine so far. He taunts you with puzzle boxes, bits of map and videos. Great concept.
BUT...
Every place you visit is a simple HOG, collecting bits for the boxes etc.
Played on casual so got unecessary sparkles. Since the only location is your office and a choice of 'the desk' (assemble a puzzle box) or 'the map' (go to next HOG) it is hardly a difficult decision!
Trial lasted 36 mins! Only carried on in the vain hope that something different may happen.
A game for absolute beginners only. Anyone with any experience of playing HOGs, don't waste your time.
CERTAINLY don't waste your money!
I don't recommend this game.
To save your father from a hideous monster, you've decided to sacrifice your own freedom. Now you must journey through a strange and magical land before time runs out!
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 19 found this review helpful
A different take on Beauty and the Beast
PostedOctober 31, 2013
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on demo in Casual Mode.
On his way home, Father stumbles across the beast's castle and, as in the classic tale, takes an item precious to the beast, in this case the golden nightingale. The beast demands his daughter or him. Daughter goes in his place, but is prevented from getting to the castle by a mysterious witch.
With a permanent helper (the nightingale) and many random ones, it becomes a race against time to reach the castle before midnight.
Plenty of CE bling for those who like it:
* Wallpaper/Concept Art/Screen Saver/Movies/Music plus replayable minigames and HOSs
* Achievements to earn
* Birds to collect
* Wallpaper/Concept Art/Screen Saver/Movies/Music plus replayable minigames and HOSs
* Achievements to earn
* Birds to collect
There are 3 levels (Casual, Advanced and Hard) plus a customisable option.
An interactive map arrives a little later in the game.
HOSs are few, as are puzzles. These are all pretty straightforward and the HOSs have been either lists with a couple of interactions or find a number of similar items.
Lots of finding different shaped 'keys' or using the various random helpers to solve problems.
I think it is this very randomness that took the edge off this game for me. Maybe there is more challenge at a higher level, but I found myself having to use the hint as logic failed.
Lovely graphics and music make for a pleasureable experience but I will not be rushing to buy.
Do try it as you might find something I didn't. I look forward to seeing reviews from those who go straight in at the harder levels.
I recommend this game!
While visiting your uncle, you stumble upon a curious case. Men are vanishing, reappearing dead days later. Who killed them?
Overall rating
4
/
5
70 of 79 found this review helpful
CE bling and possibility of spiders!
PostedSeptember 21, 2013
Tufty57
fromCambridgeshire UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on demo played in casual mode.
You are summoned to help your uncle in Transvall and, although your plane crashes just outside the town, you emerge unhurt and set off to find him. Although you catch fleeting glimpses of him and a mysterious woman, you only discover his problem through a series of clues he has left behind. Men are vanishing and being poisoned by spider bites.
A pleasant change that 'our hero' is a man.
CE 'bling' is all present and correct:
* Strategy guide
* Achievements for completing HOSs, puzzles and other challenges
* Collectables - 30 posters to find
* Wallpapers/Music/Concept Art/Mini Games/Video
* Bonus game play
* Strategy guide
* Achievements for completing HOSs, puzzles and other challenges
* Collectables - 30 posters to find
* Wallpapers/Music/Concept Art/Mini Games/Video
* Bonus game play
Three levels of challenge: Casual/Advanced/Hardcore plus you can customise the map
Map is jumpable once you have visited a couple of areas and shows current location, immediate tasks and where to come back later. As mentioned above, you can customise this.
Graphics are excellent, in cut scenes characters/voices etc are good and well synched, though these can be quite lengthy at the start. Music is subtle and appropriate.
HOSs are encountered fairly often and are all word lists with some objects needing one or two stages of interaction.
Puzzles are straightforward with one or two new challenges so far.
Objects quite easy to find. In casual mode there are subtle but noticable sparkles in scenes and in HOSs and some 'hand-holding'. Experienced gamers may wish to try the demo in a more challenging mode.
All in all I liked it and would have bought it today if the sale included CEs :-(. As it is I will wait as it just didn't have that special something, that WOW factor, to make it irresistable.
I recommend this game!