EnvirEng's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:444
- Reviews Submitted:50
- First Review:December 14, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 29, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve the mystery of the Serpent of Isis on board the famous Mont Palu Express in this beautiful Hidden Object Adventure game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
If you REALLY like HO games, this is for you
PostedApril 3, 2013
EnvirEng
fromSharpsburg, MD
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Look, I don't like HO games that much and this is almost all HO, but I did finish it. If you LOVE HO games, you will probably love this one.
You travel around Europe on a train looking for five amulets that comprise the Serpent of Isis, which your grandfather knew all about. To complete your mission you need to search some train cars twice, but you only visit locations in the cities once. Sometimes you need to revisit a location after you have picked up an item at another location.
There are certain items related to the five main characters that are not listed but you can find in scenes to increase the number of hints. (Fortune cookie, cigar, paint brush)
The levels are timed (a fairly generous amount of time), but that might be a drawback for slower players.
There are a fairly generous number of hints on each level.
Pros:
-There many, many interesting locations to visit.
-The story is pretty good.
-In some locations, there are mini games or sub-locations to visit.
-The graphics are good.
-The mini games are good, but pretty easy.
-If you like HO scenes, this is almost all HO scenes.
-Sound effects are good.
-No voice overs, all text and you can click through it.
-The search area covers most of the screen, so look carefully at the bottom and top of the screen.
-There is a sequel.
-There many, many interesting locations to visit.
-The story is pretty good.
-In some locations, there are mini games or sub-locations to visit.
-The graphics are good.
-The mini games are good, but pretty easy.
-If you like HO scenes, this is almost all HO scenes.
-Sound effects are good.
-No voice overs, all text and you can click through it.
-The search area covers most of the screen, so look carefully at the bottom and top of the screen.
-There is a sequel.
Cons:
-If you take pride in never using hints, this IS NOT the game for you.
-Some of the items you need to find are truly microscopic. (Find three popcorn kernels, find seven scraps of paper)
-Some of the items are impossible to find. (Black insect on black background) In a few cases, I had to look very hard to find an object, AFTER I used a hint to tell me where it was.
-No joke, I had to turn off the lights and tip my monitor down so I could find everything.
-In some scenes you have to find multiples of an item. (Seven scraps of paper, six house flies)
-In a few cases, the listed item didn't exactly fit the item you had to find ('bolt' meant lightning bolt, not nuts and bolt and don't get me started on 'wooden container')
-If you take pride in never using hints, this IS NOT the game for you.
-Some of the items you need to find are truly microscopic. (Find three popcorn kernels, find seven scraps of paper)
-Some of the items are impossible to find. (Black insect on black background) In a few cases, I had to look very hard to find an object, AFTER I used a hint to tell me where it was.
-No joke, I had to turn off the lights and tip my monitor down so I could find everything.
-In some scenes you have to find multiples of an item. (Seven scraps of paper, six house flies)
-In a few cases, the listed item didn't exactly fit the item you had to find ('bolt' meant lightning bolt, not nuts and bolt and don't get me started on 'wooden container')
Strangely enough, I enjoyed the game. I played through and while I don't think I will get the sequel, I recommend that you give it a try. You might like it, too.
I recommend this game!
Legends of Atlantis: Exodus
Atlantis is facing its end of days and it's up to you to save the people and their kingdom in this innovative and exciting time management game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Great Time Management Game
PostedMarch 28, 2013
EnvirEng
fromSharpsburg, MD
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game was long, but I really wish it was longer or they would come out with a sequel.
A TM game, a little like MKFTP. Personally, I loved the graphics. The sound effects are good, too. The music could be better, IMHO, but I didn't hate it.
Basically, Atlantis is being destroyed and you have to build roads (docks, airports, temples) to get everyone out. The story is ok. You get advice and direction from your adviser and later the queen. Dialogue is in text bubbles and can be clicked through.
You need to collect resources (crystals, wood, stone, etc), construct buildings (water well, lumber mill, market, etc) and repair structures. You can upgrade the worker's hut so you can have three workers at once. You can click on a number of items and the tasks will be completed in sequence. And, you can cancel one or all of the tasks.
There are two modes, timed and un-timed.
Be advised, if you make bad decisions (use up all the wood and not build a lumber mill), you can't finish the level and have to start over.
There are a number of things that make this game special. Each section of the map has a special building project (canal, library, etc). On certain levels, there are robots that you can repair. They will work for you for a while.
On some levels, there are monsters that can only be killed by hunters. Also, you will encounter bandits that can only be killed by knights.
There are useful power ups. You might need to adjust your strategy, depending on which one you get.
Also, as you move around the map, you encounter some really cool locations: caves, burning forests, flooded cities.
The game play is broken up by some Hidden Object scenes. While the backgrounds vary, the items remain the same throughout the game and you are given pictures of which items to find. Also, there is a ball drop/matching game.
My complaints about this game are minor. I really wish that the levels were numbered, so when I replay a level I know which one I've just finished. (The map is laid out in a spiral. It is hard to keep track.)
Sometimes, objects are very close together and it is hard to click on the right one.
But my biggest complaint is that there isn't a sequel. So much thought went into this game and all the cool details. I really hope another game is in the works.
I recommend this game!
When Houdini’s promises of contact from beyond go unkept, his wife comes to you in a final plea to unravel his mysterious passing.
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Great Game, Great Story
PostedMarch 28, 2013
EnvirEng
fromSharpsburg, MD
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This HO/Adventure game is just about perfect.
The graphics are fantastic. The ambiance is wonderfully appropriate (artillery fire in the WWII scene, for example). Sound is awesome, too.
You travel to different locations in different times, talking to ghosts and solving problems to discover who killed Harry Houdini. And appropriately, the game has a little magic thrown in, which I always like.
The HO scenes are very well done. Some items are listed, as they are, some require interaction and some are worded as riddles. For me, that was fun.
There are a lot of different locations and once each is finished you move on to the next site, so no getting lost or wearing out your shoes.
In most scenes, you can find a hidden four leaf clover and a crow. You start with a certain number of hints and each crow you find, adds one. I think I finished with 23 hints left, so no worries. When you get enough clovers, the game unlocks HOS's to replay. Very fun, since you have to find EVERY item in the scene.
The story is interesting and involved. So many people could have been the killer!
My only complaint is that the story got a bit too involved, for me.
Overall, this is a wonderful game and I highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Discover The Island’s past as you travel back in time! Explore the familiar paths and take on new quests in The Island: Castaway 2!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Wonderful Game with Compelling Story
PostedMarch 26, 2013
EnvirEng
fromSharpsburg, MD
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Better than the first game in the series! Very interesting story line and you don't have to play the first game to know what is going on.
Your character is a young native boy on a tropical island. You direct your character around the island, collecting items you need and performing tasks, which includes studying to become a Shaman.
Strangers (a white scientist and adventurers) arrive by boat and create a lot of problems!
The graphics are beautiful. The game area has lots of interesting places to explore. The voice overs are good and come with text, which can be clicked through. There are a lot of tasks to perform, many trophies you can win and a big collection of 'rarities' to find.
Unlike the first game, you can now create potions that will be very useful.
The interactions with boars, 'quick leaps' (quail), fish, snakes and crabs are very well done.
While the story unfolds in a linear manner, there is no time limit. So, you can take all the time you want. Everyone will wait, while you go exploring.
The best thing is the story. As you play, you find out much more about your character, speak to your father's ghost and learn more about being a Shaman. And, the story and advice from the stories' characters are NOT game-like. They are sometimes very thoughtful.
There are a few downsides. There is A LOT of running around. Collecting food to keep yourself fed can be a bit tedious, but you can stock up.
Also, in this game, there are special items that can only be found in certain places at certain times. It really did add to the game, but I had to check out the BF forum and replay the game to find them all.
Overall, this is a great game. I highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
An ocean liner was caught in a storm and wrecked in the ocean. Discover mysteries, save your friends, and get back home!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Original Game Play: Interesting Story
PostedMarch 26, 2013
EnvirEng
fromSharpsburg, MD
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Really fun, but the sequel (which is actually a prequel) is better.
You and several other people are stranded on an island. You must survive and befriend the natives, which gets complicated as things start to go wrong, but who is to blame? Lots of area to explore and lots of things to pick up and use.
The graphics and sounds are great. The voice overs are good and you can click through quickly, if you want. The game play, directing your character around the island, interacting with the environment and people is fun and intuitive. The 'game area' is beautiful and filled with interesting things. The interactions with boars, crabs and fish are very well done. The story is long and involved--and compelling. You really do want to find out how it ends.
While the story unfolds in a linear manner, there are no time constraints, so you can take as long as you want to play.
There are a few downsides: You have to run around A LOT and collecting items to keep yourself fed can be a bit tedious.
Also, the other castaways are a lazy bunch, but that is needed for the game to work. You have to do everything.
I've never played a game like this before and found it to be novel and refreshing. After I played the sequel, I replayed this game. Can't wait for the next one!
Highly recommend.
I recommend this game!
Build a thriving colony in a vast wilderness teeming with surprises!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Wonderful Sim/TM
PostedFebruary 5, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The reviews are right, this is a great sim game. Reminds me of Artist Colony, in so much as you have to assign people to perform certain tasks, educate them, engage in money making (trade, in this case) and complete assignments.
The graphics are great. There is a lot of stuff to do. Decent story line and good sound effects.
I've played through twice now. Finished much faster the second time around since the tutorial (is there one?) is seriously lacking.
The first time around, I did not figure out that having the right type of person working in the right place really speeds up production. (Farmers in fields, workers cutting wood, etc.) I also didn't figure out that there is a stand of wild healing herbs to supplement the ones you grow. Etc.
There is a Angry Birds aspect, which you can access, (when the time is right) by opening the ship/trade page and clicking on Hunting at the top of the page. While it is challenging to get five stars on each of the 12 levels, you can proceed with only one. You just don't get the full reward.
Be warned though, it is slow going, especially getting enough education points to 'learn' new things. Train four or five scientists and leave them to study.
Unlike some other games of this genre, no one dies, no kids are born, no one starves if you forget about them. The game does not continue when you shut it down.
The houses are puzzles. To add more people (hire them from the port), you have to build new houses or add rooms to the existing houses. You have to pay for the new rooms and fitting them together can be tricky!
The maximum number of people is 50!
There are a lot of interruptions. Your trade advisor pops up to tell you what is selling for a high price at port. The other advisor pops up to tell you to build a new building (or several). And, the natives periodically ask for stuff in trade.
Trying to meet all these tasks takes some skill and some tasks have a time limit, but the game is untimed and if you miss a deadline, you only forfeit the time bonus.
If you enjoy sims, like Artist Colony, you will probably love this game. I did.
I recommend this game!
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
Dive into an epic journey as a museum owner in pursuit of an undead pirate who has kidnapped your daughter in Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Great Story and Graphics, no Challenge in the Game Play
PostedFebruary 5, 2013
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The graphics, sound, cut scenes and story are all great. The creepy guy guarding the chest was outstanding!
The HOS are junk piles and are somewhat interactive (move knife to apple to get a peeled apple). While some scenes were dark, the items were easy for me to find. If you get stuck, there is a very nice alternative. You can switch to a game of Mahjong. Great idea!
There are maps, which you need to find and then can refer to. While not interactive, the maps do indicate where actions are needed.
There is a good bit of walking about and many very interesting locations to explore. Game play is typical--nothing inventive, IMHO.
I played in the easier mode, so there were sparkles, but there are more difficult modes.
In most ways, this game is wonderful, but there was nothing really challenging. Not the HOS or the puzzles.
If you want something that pleases the eye (morbidly, I mean) and is relaxing, this could be the game for you. It didn't do much for me.
I don't recommend this game.
There's a terrible secret hidden deep within Lockwood Manor!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Ok Game with a lot of HOS
PostedSeptember 16, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
For me, this was an ok game. Too heavy on the Hidden Object scenes.
The story is ok. You need to go to an abandoned mansion and do battle with a demon. In the extended play, you send the demon back to you know where.
The graphics are very good. The music and sound effects are, too. The cut scenes are nicely done. And, I consider this a long game. I would guess there is another hour of game play in the 'Extra' part.
There are a large number of interesting places to explore. The actions required aren't particularly original #put mirror together, assemble ladder, etc#, but enjoyable.
My main problem with this game is the number of HOS. Way too many for me. The HOS are clear and not too difficult to complete. No interaction at all.
I played in the more advanced mode #no sparkles except to indicate HOS# and there were a few areas of interest that I missed. The hint system is fairly useful, but it only indicates where you should go. It doesn't tell you what to do.
There is no map.
The game does require a good bit of walking back and forth, which can be very annoying--especially if you don't remember where you need to go. A map would have helped.
Also, there is a strange machine in one room and I never figured out what to do with it. Maybe I missed something.
There are a number of achievements that you can try for. I managed to get all but one without even trying. Then I checked on the one remaining achievement #find five items in a HOS in five seconds#. Got that on the next HOS.
If you really like HOS, you will probably love this game. I found it to be nicely done, but unoriginal. If you are new to HO/Adventure games or are looking for something that isn't that challenging, this game might be for you. So, I will recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Black Isle was supposedly abandoned after an earthquake but the truth is much more sinister! Join the Mystery Trackers and learn the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Superb Game
PostedSeptember 11, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Fantastic game. I was really surprised to see the negative reviews. More surprised to find out why the reviewer didn't like the game. What one reviewer hated is exactly what I loved about the game. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
I didn’t play in the hardest mode, so I got sparkles and was glad to get them. There are MANY areas of interest in most locations. Without sparkles the game would have been much harder.
This game has everything you would want and expect in a great HO/Adventure game. The story is ok. You go to a haunted island to find a reporter and her camera man. The ‘Others’ –actually just one Other—is there and tries to stop you with his supernatural powers. You need to find out what is going on and save the reporter.
The graphics are photo-real and superb! The sound effects are top notch. The cut scenes are excellent. The HO scenes are truly interactive with mini-puzzles to solve, in some. You may need to use items you have picked up to finish the HO scenes. Absolutely wonderful. I am so tired of HOS, but these were fun and inventive.
There are lots of puzzles and mini-games, which are challenging but not impossible. Many are quite original. I love puzzles and found the ones in this game to be fun and refreshingly different. If you don’t like mini-games, you probably won’t like this game.
There is a map that indicates where OBJECTIVES that need to be completed are. The map is interactive and will transport you to other locations. This is very helpful because this is a big game.
The only downside of the map is that it does not indicate where TASKS need to be completed. For example, you need to defrost the camera man. That is an OBJECTIVE and is indicated on the map. You also need to open a locked compartment, but that is not an objective and therefore not on the map. So, you can easily forget where you need to go to open things and finish actions.
No problem really because the hints are wonderful. I’ve seen some complaints about having to exit the game to access the Strategy Guide. I am confused. I got stuck a few times, but the excellent, in-game, hint system put me back on track in a second.
There are a few weird tasks. I do agree with one reviewer who complained about the bell and its use in the game. How did I manage to carry around a bell that weighed so much? I don’t know. When I picked it up, I didn’t realize it was so big and heavy. At least I used a wheel barrow to move the cutting torch. You are going to carry around some items for a long time before you use them and some items have unexpected uses.
This is a long game, filled with mini-games and HOS. Absolutely perfect for me and I highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Explore Dr. Blackmore’s latest experiment in a Haunted Halls: Fears from Childhood, a terrifying Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Good, but nothing new or creative
PostedAugust 26, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
You must rescue your boyfriend and a number of children from an evil doctor who is terrorizing them to absorb the energy from their fear.
It is a good quality HO/Adventure game, but I've seen variations on this too many times before.
Great graphics, good music. Voice overs with text you can click through. Interesting places to see. Somewhat interesting things to do.
Each child is a 'chapter,' so there isn't that much wandering about. I thought it was a reasonable length. The additional CE game play is an extra child. Not sure that is worth the additional money.
Too many HO scenes for me. Very minor interaction required for a few items. Actions required in the game play are pretty mundane. Mini games are good enough.
I understand that this is fantasy and actions can't be be realistic, but at one point it just got ridiculous. Let's just say, I couldn't have moved it, let alone carried it and swam with it underwater.
If this was the first game I played like this, I probably would have given it five stars, but I've played a million.
It is not bad, it is just uninspired.
I recommend this game!