FrauMeike's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:1,652
- Reviews Submitted:33
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 24, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
PuppetShow: Destiny Undone Collector's Edition
A wonderful story of the citizens of Joyville. Can you change their destiny? You will see – nothing is impossible!
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 26 found this review helpful
Surprisingly disappointing.
PostedMarch 30, 2013
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
(Review of the whole game)
The graphics in this game are stunning as in all games from this developer. I'm pretty much in love with this oldfashioned, hand-drawn look that resembles a children's book.
Plus, the game contains several collectibles, 10 puppets and multiple hats for your little puppet helper.
Plus, the game contains several collectibles, 10 puppets and multiple hats for your little puppet helper.
However, I was a little disappointed.
Here's why:
Here's why:
1.) I encountered a bug in one minigame (the one with the grey capsules in Chapter 6) which made it impossible to do anything. All I could do to continue the game was skipping the minigame. That was really a let-down.
2.) The strategy guide is not very userfriendly. I hadn't found all the collectible puppets and wanted to check where I missed one. Since there's no chapter in the guide for collectibles and no special "collectible color" in the screenshots, I had to look for the word "puppet" through all the guide, page by page, which was a bit annoying.
3.) The voices have been mentioned often enough and I agree: they didn't fit the children and were rather unpleasant.
4.) Some ways are very long. Although there's a map which allows you to travel, there are locations that can only be reached by train, elevator or ropeway. The map wouldn't help with these so it's really tedious to visit them.
Since the minigame bug seems to occur only rarely (according to the forums) and the graphics are really beautiful, I would recommend the game.
I just expected a little more from a "Puppet Show" game.
I just expected a little more from a "Puppet Show" game.
I recommend this game!
Gardens Inc.: From Rakes to Riches
Become a garden master and win the gardening challenge to save Jill's grandparents' home from demolition in this colorful time management game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 15 found this review helpful
Nice, not addictive
PostedMarch 27, 2013
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I'm a big fan of building games.
Sending out workers, collecting food and wood, building farms, towns, ships or such is absolutely my thing and when I like a game I play it over and over again.
Sending out workers, collecting food and wood, building farms, towns, ships or such is absolutely my thing and when I like a game I play it over and over again.
I must have spent thousands of hours with games like "Kingdom Chronicles", "Northern Tale", and "Royal Envoy 2".
But for some reason, this game didn't reach me.
But for some reason, this game didn't reach me.
I don't know whether it's
- the super-annoying "Right away" the workers yell everytime you send them to a job,
- the (to me as a European) foreign and unfamiliar asian garden with pagodas, cherrytrees, and gazebos with asian rooftops that I couldn't identify with,
- the fact that every task needs so much time to finish. Upgrading a building feels like a minute or something (yes, I tend to be impatient sometimes),
- or the fact that it becomes very inconvenient to collect material in higher levels. Instead of collecting tools and boards from shacks, you need to exchange them in trading posts (e.g. give tools to get boards) and then exchange the exchanged material (boards) AND another material (e.g. seeds) in another trading post to get a third material (stones). That's too laborious for me.
- the super-annoying "Right away" the workers yell everytime you send them to a job,
- the (to me as a European) foreign and unfamiliar asian garden with pagodas, cherrytrees, and gazebos with asian rooftops that I couldn't identify with,
- the fact that every task needs so much time to finish. Upgrading a building feels like a minute or something (yes, I tend to be impatient sometimes),
- or the fact that it becomes very inconvenient to collect material in higher levels. Instead of collecting tools and boards from shacks, you need to exchange them in trading posts (e.g. give tools to get boards) and then exchange the exchanged material (boards) AND another material (e.g. seeds) in another trading post to get a third material (stones). That's too laborious for me.
Overall, the game was alright, I guess. Very colorful and clear graphics, just not my cup of tea.
I bought it, but uninstalled it before reaching the end.
I bought it, but uninstalled it before reaching the end.
I don't recommend this game.
Enchantia: Wrath of the Phoenix Queen Collector's Edition
Explore the magical world of Enchantia as you race to save the land from the evil Phoenix Queen.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Let's kill them all!
PostedFebruary 24, 2013
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I would give the game 4 stars for the graphics and puzzles.
The backgrounds are very detailed, sometimes a bit too detailed so that it was quite tricky to find the morphing objects. But one gets used to the rich details after playing a while so that wouldn't have bothered me too much.
The puzzles were fun to solve, not too hard, not too easy. The same for the HO scenes, I didn't use the hint button very often.
The puzzles were fun to solve, not too hard, not too easy. The same for the HO scenes, I didn't use the hint button very often.
However, there's a big, fat "but" which makes the game really questionable for me: at one point, the game leads you to decide which one of two warring tribes you want to extinguish.
I would always consider the annihilation of a whole tribe an inappropriate feature in a game that's clearly addressed to younger players, but to make the player decide which race to kill makes this especially gruesome. The pictures of battlefields filled with countless dead animals and bodies, in pale, washed-out colors, significantly decreased the fun for me. I think there would've been plenty of possibilities to depict the war between two tribes in a less explicit and cruel way.
I would always consider the annihilation of a whole tribe an inappropriate feature in a game that's clearly addressed to younger players, but to make the player decide which race to kill makes this especially gruesome. The pictures of battlefields filled with countless dead animals and bodies, in pale, washed-out colors, significantly decreased the fun for me. I think there would've been plenty of possibilities to depict the war between two tribes in a less explicit and cruel way.
Without that element and with a less brutal story, the game would easily reach 4 stars since it's technical realisation is clearly above average.
Because of the very good realisation (except for the story, obviously), I'd recommend this game for adults, but not for teenagers or children.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
2
/
5
839 of 924 found this review helpful
What have they done to my alltime favourite?
PostedNovember 20, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
My heart is bleeding. No really, it is bleeding.
First of all, I'm probably the biggest MCF fan ever. Seriously. It would have needed a lot to disappoint me. 'A lot' like in 'a huge amount'.
But now I am. Disappointed.
The biggest let-downs to me are:
1.) Where are the beautifully drawn backgrounds that made all MCF games look so lovingly and oldfashioned?
In "Shadow Lake" the backgrounds seem totally artificial. The surfaces are unnaturally smooth which gives them a sterile touch and takes much of the atmosphere.
1.) Where are the beautifully drawn backgrounds that made all MCF games look so lovingly and oldfashioned?
In "Shadow Lake" the backgrounds seem totally artificial. The surfaces are unnaturally smooth which gives them a sterile touch and takes much of the atmosphere.
2.) Until now, I didn't see any morphing objects. That's so disappointing! I love morphing objects, in fact I love them so much that I usually buy only HO games that have that feature. Since MCF invented morphing objects (they first appeared in "Madame Fate"), I consider it kind of a betrayal that they didn't include them in "Shadow Lake".
3.) Lea Thompson.
I like her as an actress, I really do, but she doesn't seem to take this job very serious. Actually, she acts like she's embarassed to play in a computer game.
I like her as an actress, I really do, but she doesn't seem to take this job very serious. Actually, she acts like she's embarassed to play in a computer game.
4.) Subitles and HO lists. The font is awful, boring like a standard W*nd*ws font. The speech bubble is boring as well.
Where is the creativity and artistic work in interface design?
Where is the creativity and artistic work in interface design?
The only thing I really liked was the beautiful map that made travelling so much easier.
The other MCF games set super-high standards and thus, super-high expectations. "Shadow Lake" couldn't meet these expectations. At all.
"Shadow Lake" is okay. Okay, but far from extraordinary like all the other MCF games. I guess the standard edition would have been enough.
"Shadow Lake" is okay. Okay, but far from extraordinary like all the other MCF games. I guess the standard edition would have been enough.
I'm off. Crying in my pillow or something.
I don't recommend this game.
Twilight Phenomena: The Lodgers of House 13 Collector's Edition
An evil villain is luring people to his beautiful mansion and preparing them for a terrible ritual. Can you keep your head on the shoulders?
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Another eye-candy
PostedOctober 25, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Must be month of the stunning drawings.
This is the second game in a very short period of time that I think is extraordinarily drawn. The graphics are amazing. A bit weird, an ounce of steam punk, dusty and old-fashioned in a very charming way.
I only played this game 30 minutes and I absolutely adore it.
I only played this game 30 minutes and I absolutely adore it.
Not only because of the amazing scenes and backgrounds, but also because of the puzzles. It's not that they reinvented the wheel, but there's something very special about them so you can find new fun even in well-known puzzles.
The setting and story are rather unique. A strange dark house with eerie monkeys jumping around and a speaking head with no body make this game pretty scary, and I love games that give me the creeps.
I will definitely buy this game.
I recommend this game!
Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Cursed Wedding Collector's Edition
After being called to Paris, you find yourself in the middle of a shocking mystery involving an ancient werewolf hungry for revenge.
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 25 found this review helpful
Challenging eye-candy
PostedOctober 20, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I really must say that this is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. The backgrounds and sceneries are breathtaking with their vibrant and pleasant colors and rich details. It's such a joy to simply watch the scenes.
The drawers definitely did a phantastic job here.
The drawers definitely did a phantastic job here.
The game play is very good as with all the "Shadow Wolf Mysteries" games.
There's one thing, though. When you click on things with your magnifier cursor there's no text that tells you what to do or what's missing. That makes tasks a little more challenging than in games where you get precise hints what to do or collect.
Personally, I like this feature. I probably played hundreds of HOGs and recently, I noticed a little fatigue in myself, because most of them are very similar. The mini-games are similar, the HO scenes are similar, the stories are similar. The level of challenge is not very high in most of them, because all you have to do is follow the instructions.
Personally, I like this feature. I probably played hundreds of HOGs and recently, I noticed a little fatigue in myself, because most of them are very similar. The mini-games are similar, the HO scenes are similar, the stories are similar. The level of challenge is not very high in most of them, because all you have to do is follow the instructions.
So not chewing the food for you is definitely a plus for me.
And thus, it's no surprise that I would strongly recommend this game. ;)
Have fun!
I recommend this game!
Mystery Trackers: Four Aces Collector's Edition
Save Brightfield from a shocking plot by a dastardly organization!
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 85 found this review helpful
Yay, the next level of morphing objects
PostedOctober 11, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
What a stunning game!
I must say that I'm not the biggest fan of the "Mystery Trackers" series so I wasn't too eager to download, but - boy! - am I glad I did it!
I love morphing objects and I love animals, so what could be more fun than a town full of eerie and strange fantasy animals (such as snakibri, a mix of snake and hummingbird, or pythiger, python and tiger) that are morphing?
I must've died and gone to heaven. :) That's what a biologist who loves HO games was waiting for.
I must've died and gone to heaven. :) That's what a biologist who loves HO games was waiting for.
The graphics are very good, the story's gripping and funnily I really like the voice overs. Normally I don't like too much talking in a game, but here it creates an atmosphere.
The story being told by a narrator gives me the feeling of a grandpa reading fairytales to me. Scary fairytales full of threats and dangers, but fairytales nonetheless. ;)
The music is intense and significantly adds to that atmosphere.
The story being told by a narrator gives me the feeling of a grandpa reading fairytales to me. Scary fairytales full of threats and dangers, but fairytales nonetheless. ;)
The music is intense and significantly adds to that atmosphere.
I did not yet finish the demo, but I will definitely buy the game.
I recommend this game!
Farm Fables
Help Leia keep and develop her farm by growing crops and caring for animals in this beautiful Time Management game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 9 found this review helpful
This one made it half the way to a real good game
PostedJuly 18, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This one is a really cute game. The animals are so fluffy that you want to drag them out of the computer to cuddle them. Cute graphics, nice sound, gameplay ok.
It's only half the way to a _good_ game, though, because in my opinion there are several things missing which would add fun, challenge, and pace to this game.
Let me just list some of the things I am missing here:
1. There's no shop to buy upgrades, for example to expand your soil patches or to make the machines work faster. The lack of upgrades makes earning money appear rather useless - you can't buy stuff anyway.
1. There's no shop to buy upgrades, for example to expand your soil patches or to make the machines work faster. The lack of upgrades makes earning money appear rather useless - you can't buy stuff anyway.
2. There's no score whatsoever. When you finish a level faster than the given time there's no time bonus. No bonus for earned money, either.
3. With the aforementioned there's no reason to endeavour to finish the levels as good as possible.
There's no reward for being good in this game. Neither points nor money nor upgrades. Nothing.
There's no reward for being good in this game. Neither points nor money nor upgrades. Nothing.
4. There's no storyline. Up to now (I played several hours), I encountered two or three comic panels, but nothing gripping. Usually, I don't pay much attention to the story, but I don't want NO story.
I liked "Farm Craft 2" where you really get drawn into the story of Ginger and her farm.
I liked "Farm Craft 2" where you really get drawn into the story of Ginger and her farm.
5. And last not least the sound and details. Yeah, the singing nightingale was pleasant, but not all the time, not spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There were butterflies flying around even in the winter levels. That was too much repitition for me. A little more variation in sound an visual details would have added amusement.
This was a nice break filler and that's why I recommend it, but I guess expert players will get bored at some point.
I recommend this game!
Shaban
After Shaban's sheep are stolen by thieves, he sets off on an epic adventure to get back what belongs to him. Help Shaban on his journey in this intriguing hidden object adventure game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 8 found this review helpful
What a waste of potential
PostedJune 20, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I was so delighted when I saw this game. Judging from the screenshots it's comparable to "Tiny Bang Story", a stunning and extremely underestimated jewel of adventure/HO gaming.
So I was really curious if this game could meet my expectations.
So I was really curious if this game could meet my expectations.
The graphics were beautiful, I really enjoyed the "tim-burton-ish" look, everything's a bit skewed and a bit weird. I prefer this look over everything cute and pretty.
I found the music a bit annoying, but well, I guess I could've muted the sound.
I found the music a bit annoying, but well, I guess I could've muted the sound.
But then the drama began.
First, the demo ended only after 29 minutes of playing, which was really disappointing.
First, the demo ended only after 29 minutes of playing, which was really disappointing.
Second, the game lacks text or voices to explain what's the deal. Instead, it uses symbols that are rather vague. Based on the symbols you have to guess what to do next which can be frustrating sometimes.
Third, the mini-game with the colored wires was kind of unprecise. Even after I turned my monitor brighter, the screen was terribly dark so it was rather difficult to follow the wires to the correct outlet.
Especially, since the wires were so vaguely drawn that you simply couldn't tell if the certain wire goes left or right.
That was a bit irritating. I'm fine with challenging mini-games as long as they're challenging because of the logic and not of the inaccurate programming/graphics.
Especially, since the wires were so vaguely drawn that you simply couldn't tell if the certain wire goes left or right.
That was a bit irritating. I'm fine with challenging mini-games as long as they're challenging because of the logic and not of the inaccurate programming/graphics.
Overall, I was really disappointed, because this was so promising. I'd consider the game a waste of potential, because this could've been so much more fun.
What a pity.
What a pity.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Dimensions: Wax Beauty Collector's Edition
Travel to Red Lake Falls to track down the latest Dark Dimension!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Back to the drawing board, please.
PostedJune 3, 2012
FrauMeike
fromBerlin, Germany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I think that this game had the potential to be outstanding. It was beautifully drawn with a captivating, dramatic story. But there were so many flaws in the details that I really am a little disappointed.
First, the voices weren't anywhere close to synchronous. There was a lot of lip movement going on with no voice and vice versa. That was really a let-down.
Second, the mini-games.
I'd consider myself a 100% hidden object/mini-game expert. I've played hundreds of HO games and I know all kinds of mini-games. But I never encountered a game where I simply didn't have the faintest idea what to do or how to achieve the goal.
For example, the mini-game on the door with the golden chains and the "infrared" wax: Turn the gear in the top right corner left until the other gear is on the top position, put the switch to position 1, repeat two times, turn the gear at the bottom left corner right to move the gear on lever 2 to the right, pull the lever, then put gear ... wait, what?!
I swear to God that this is the first game EVER where I had to skip not only one but several mini-games, because I found them too complicated. That's not challenging, that's frustrating.
So, mini-game design: F. Repeat class.
I'd consider myself a 100% hidden object/mini-game expert. I've played hundreds of HO games and I know all kinds of mini-games. But I never encountered a game where I simply didn't have the faintest idea what to do or how to achieve the goal.
For example, the mini-game on the door with the golden chains and the "infrared" wax: Turn the gear in the top right corner left until the other gear is on the top position, put the switch to position 1, repeat two times, turn the gear at the bottom left corner right to move the gear on lever 2 to the right, pull the lever, then put gear ... wait, what?!
I swear to God that this is the first game EVER where I had to skip not only one but several mini-games, because I found them too complicated. That's not challenging, that's frustrating.
So, mini-game design: F. Repeat class.
I guess, someone who is more into super-tricky riddles or complicated mechanisms would have a real good time playing this game.
Overall, I would recommend this games, although the above reasons significantly decreased the fun for me.
Overall, I would recommend this games, although the above reasons significantly decreased the fun for me.
I recommend this game!