timothya's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:1,143
- Reviews Submitted:192
- First Review:June 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Explore the worlds of eternal winter and help the boy find his family in Beyond Stories: Long Road Home .
Overall rating
5
/
5
A Winter Odyssey
PostedDecember 27, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Another beautiful jigsaw game from this Dev, in time for winter. Get a cup of hot chocolate ready before diving into this one!
Pros: Gorgeous art, excellent game controls, high production values throughout. It seemed a little longer than the Halloween entry, with excellent writing and a nice resolution.
Cons: The music was atmospheric, definitely wintry but not in the least with any holiday spirit: meandering, amelodic, loosely structured, and rather mournful. A single entry in a major key might have helped the bleakness, but no such luck.
Overall, a very enjoyable time at the perfect seasonal moment.
I recommend this game!
One way or another, the past always comes back.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Those Hotels Do Keep Getting Haunted
PostedNovember 4, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yes, I miss the old Haunted Hotel series now that James Blackthorn is happily married off. And so what is this? We play as Harry, estranged son of a man who turned his beautiful manor into a hotel and ended up losing his entire family - Harry's little brother disappeared mysteriously after Harry left and the parents died in grief. Harry returns to his inheritance with understandably mixed feelings and walks into a nightmare mirror world with a very great deal to be set right. But it's more than he can handle alone, and so he enlists the aid of a fellow with a very familiar name: Blackthorn.
Pros: outstanding writing here, most of the characters finely drawn and sympathetic. Hard to imagine a satisfying resolution to this tragic premise, but they actually manage one, at least assuming that those characters brought forward into the 21st century don't go crazy from the shock.
Cons: one tick against the writing: the villain's own character is hardly explored at all and beyond being the embodiment of evil we hardly know what it is about. Blackthorn is going to have to work a little harder to become more than a "here, take this" NPC without the personality of his predecessor. And one technical issue - several character voices are very muffled and nearly inaudible at times.
Bonus Game: a prequel - here we play as Valorie, an heiress whose familial disapproval of her marriage years ago resulted in the loss of her lover to a now familiar grim spirit, but not the loss of her determination to obtain justice. In the company of her exorcist friend she does exactly that, trapping the spirit in a mirror and locking it away, never to be found...or is it?
Overall, it appears a favorite series has received a shot in the arm with a new character and a solid mystery that left me begging for more.
I recommend this game!
A literature professor is recruited to help a master of horror!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
PostedNovember 1, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A nice Halloweeny entry with some great literary references and engaging characters. Despite the spooky atmosphere it's really rather sweet. We play as Professor Newman, dragooned by none other than Death himself for a little help in settling the unresting soul of Edgar Allen Poe. It's the old Redemption Cemetery formula with three scenarios following three of Poe's stories, and the prize is sparks of inspiration that will guide Poe into the afterlife.
Pros: some clever writing from people who actually have read the source material and managed to insert our hero without damaging the continuity of the original. That sort of respect is appreciated. Great graphics, puzzles a little on the easy side but in keeping with the story (for a change).
Cons: others have noted its brevity but it's enough to make mention here. A couple of additional Poe stories could have fit this format nicely but alas, three is what we get, and not all that much of those.
Bonus Game: here we play as Death himself, harassed by a busy schedule in terms of clearing out unresolved issues with spirits bound to this world until he does so. Our client is Professor Newman himself, confused about what within his life could even have been considered incomplete enough to bind him to this world. We must find out and resolve - great length of play on this one and nowhere near enough real exposition at the end to make for a resolution, but enough hints to make it marginally satisfying.
Overall, a short but very presentable Halloween effort. One star off for brevity, and the idea that only with the CE do you get a generous amount of game play. I liked it but didn't love it.
I recommend this game!
Discover the wonders of the dark world of "Beyond Stories: Jester."
Overall rating
5
/
5
Halloween Spookiness
PostedOctober 3, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Another excellent offering in the Jigsaw genre. This one is Halloween oriented and the brilliant colors in the autumn picture set are gorgeous. But be warned: the plot is dark, very dark indeed. Our character is a fellow with an evil alter ego, a Jester, that threatens to destroy him for his past sins. The art picks up the menacing atmosphere, concentrating on a panoply of Halloweeny monsters, (even if the Witch Girl is awfully cute). Music this time is a little over-fond of drum rolls and cymbal splashes that fortunately can be turned down. Overall, a rather intense (and too short) plot covering what we're really here for, some beautiful art. Still, a question for the artist, or rather the editor who chose the pieces. Is there no room for little boys in your fantasy world? It must be a boring place.
I recommend this game!
Help weigh the life of Richard Gray to determine his fate!
Overall rating
5
/
5
A Long Awaited Game
PostedSeptember 9, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
For a disembodied skull Richard Gray has proven pretty difficult to get rid of, hasn't he? And so off to the Other Side with him, but not so fast. There are some loose ends to be tied and some of them are pretty important. Richard doesn't remember them himself, for good reason, and until he confronts those missing links in his life he cannot go on to what comes after. Whatever that turns out to be...
Pros: It's the sequel for which we've been waiting in vain for longer than I'd care to recall. Richard, for all his sins (and they are many) deserved better than a walk into a mirror and a magical Sayonara. And so here we are, playing as Richard, standing in front of a somewhat exigent Guardian and filling in the blanks, Richard meets Redemption Cemetery or something like that. Certain familiar characters make an all too brief appearance, but there's no time for nostalgia when evil is afoot. (Which is too bad, because little Billy is getting really interesting).
Cons: OK, rough launch. Wow. It seems mean to rip on it at this point but after all, this is a long-awaited game and deserved a little better care at release to market. That's fixed now; the game actually downloads and works, hurrah! It's short, unfortunately, very plot driven, and it's hard to imagine how someone unfamiliar with the cast of characters could keep up. Once again, details important to the meta-story are reserved for the Bonus Game.
Bonus Game: We play as Anna here, stuck with a cleanup task in the now abandoned family mansion, sinking into ruin through desuetude but not quite as deserted as it seems. It turns out to be quite a task.
Four and a half stars stretched to five for the writing. Overall, it's the game longtime fans needed. Whether it's the one they wanted, that's another question. But the one question we are left with is where from here, because this thing...isn't over...
I recommend this game!
Unravel a complex kidnapping case where anyone could be lying!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Very Strange Investigations
PostedSeptember 6, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It's strange, all right. We have, for a change, a genuine Whodunnit, with multiple suspects, several different character arcs, and an ending that seems truncated, and is. For a reason. There's more than one mystery going on here.
Pros: For the main game, however, we really do have some excellent mystery writing. Dana and Malcolm are sucked into a kidnapping that is more than it seems by people who are more than they seem. Nice reveals properly timed, a variety of HO scenes, puzzles that are a little too easy, but overall a short but nicely paced mystery.
Cons: It gets a little silly toward the end of the main game - the police set a trap for the evildoers and casually say, "Oh, by the way, Dana, we need you to repair and operate this deck crane to make it work. See you, bye!" and walk off. Um...no.
Bonus Game: We have come to care about Dana Strange's past and how it has wounded her, and the repeated appearance of the bees and the odd apparition that is named Eve. The recurring attraction about this series was always that Dana's life was dominated by her love for her lost sister and her failure to save her. And so who is Eve, really? And is the answer that we think we get, the true one?
Overall, a solid four stars for outstanding writing and some questionable editing. And it seems unfair to those who purchase the SE, but the real meat in this one for long time fans had to wait until the bonus game. Where the series goes from here is going to be very interesting indeed.
I recommend this game!
Escape a terrifying hotel with a haunted past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Nice Old-School Fun
PostedJuly 29, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Greetings to my The Catch friends! Yes, they used to be this good. Sister Tilly has taken a job in a hotel that is more than it appears, and we have to delve deep into the horror to extract her. What's not to like?
Pros: Clean, straight writing. Lots of creepy scenes, some altered upon return to be creepier still. Classic Sister-to-the-Rescue game, plenty of play, lovely graphics, some very nice mini-games, and a plethora of HO scenes. Atmospheric music, excellent voice acting.
Cons: Not a lot. The villain isn't very well developed but is suitably creepy and has enough lines to develop a nasty personality indeed.
Bonus Game: It looks like we're not quite through with the creature's minions. This time they're going to get it!
Overall, one of those great Eipix games from a departed but dearly remembered Dev. Five stars compared to what we have before us now.
I recommend this game!
The past isn’t set in stone. Now’s your chance to change it!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Nice Find
PostedJune 24, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A thoroughly engaging game with beautiful art, plot twists, terrific pace, and a rather wild story line.
First, the silly stuff - you'd better bring a bucket-full of suspension of disbelief, because in the first few minutes of the game we are presented with a hero flying a light aircraft (can't she drive?) through a terrifying storm, which plane bursts into flame presently, and she has to kick open a suicide door that such aircraft don't have, don a parachute which they don't carry, and gently float to the ground in the midst of a tempest that has blown off roofs and destroyed buildings. We are then presented with a gizmo-wielding scientist attempting to capture an electrical storm with an ancient amulet resulting from the inexplicable presence of an oriental temple - heavy Chinese influences with a dollop of Japanese trimmings - in the middle of a small American town ominously named Ashen Rise. A monk named Omni appears to be angry over something (I'd be angry too if I were named after a car) and we proceed merrily into magic, revenge, and a murder mystery.
You'd think with all this going I'd hate the game but in fact I loved it. Even the part where we plug a high-pressure supply line with a wad of used bubble gum. Because why not?
Pros: Extraordinarily beautiful art, straightforward tasks, a nice variety of HO scenes, and mini-games challenging enough for intermediate players. Gorgeous soundtrack by Jovian Audio. A plot that actually makes perfect sense in the midst of all this weirdness and unfolds rapidly enough to keep the interest level high.
Cons: Some of those tasks have pretty improbable solutions, so just roll with it. Bittersweet ending more sweet than bitter, not really much of a con but still a little sad.
Bonus game: Omni finds closure. A lovely ending, but you have to be playing the CE to get it.
Overall, a wild one but a fun ride. One suspects somebody spiked the writing team's tea, but you can't complain about the results. Players who are combing older games looking for missed gems would do well to take a look at this one.
I recommend this game!
Rick and Daemon stumble upon a sinister plot at a rock concert!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Will Rick Recover?
PostedMay 30, 2024
timothya
fromSandpoint, Idaho
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Rick's back - or is he? Writing the protagonist out of his own series was really weird, and the recovery has been long, painful, and frustrating. This version of Rick is "back" but definitely wounded, as 13 years of netherworld exile could not help but do, and what was apparently burned out of him was the fun that made him an attractive character in the first place. So will he recover even a little in this episode? Let's see.
Daemon (the only really interesting character in Rachel's team) invites Rick to a concert to attempt a little normality therapy and what they encounter is anything but: a Mean Muse who eats souls, and the boys are definitely on the menu.
Pros: Some nice if fairly conventional HO scenes. Decent pacing, plenty of locations. A couple of novel mini-games that are pitched toward intermediate players (not much for the advanced player).
Cons: Very linear plot, no real mystery in this one - we know from the outset how the sides line up and it becomes a bit of a generic quest scenario. The villain is a cardboard cutout that doesn't really excite much interest, nor is there any character development at all with the rest of the cast. Daemon does a little - but only a little - more than act the Damsel In Distress role he filled when Rachel was at the helm, and if he says "I found this" one more time this player is going to scream.
Bonus Game: Daemon, Rachel, and Rick go into Rick's world of dreams to confront the being that held Rick for 13 years.
Writing: Some acknowledgment should be offered to the writing team - I see some heavy hitters in the credits - who began the project having been written into a corner by their predecessors from which escape always was going to be a job. Wounded Rick was probably the best alternative; unfortunately a partial return isn't going to satisfy fans who have waited patiently through half a dozen teases by now. But toward the end of the main game we do, in fact, get flashes of the old Rick, and they're like a breath of fresh air.
Overall, the game itself is fairly bland, simplistic, and a cover for the meta-plot, where it's evident that the writing staff made its principal effort and unsurprisingly is the real point of the game. There are, though hints of better things to come, and a partial Rick recovery is better than no recovery at all. Four stars for the meta-plot and two for the actual game make a nice solid three.
I recommend this game!
Discover untold stories from familiar pasts!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Blew Me Away
PostedMarch 8, 2024
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This one is something extraordinary. I had thought going in that these would be three dissociated stories, but they're not at all. Telling more would be spoiling the surprise, but this is beautifully written and the pieces fit together brilliantly, not just with themselves, but with what went before. Past fans of the series had better buckle up, because we're in for a ride.
Pros: Where to start? Graphics are first class, animation is a little creepy at times but well done. The mini-games merit a special mention below. There are easter eggs aplenty here for players of past games in the series (don't blink or you'll miss the Ulf origin story, and it's really good). The writing is outstanding as it has been throughout this series, although hearing fantasy characters utter "OK" is so cringe-worthy it's almost funny. Some points require a bit of a stretch of imagination - a sweet little girl braving a giant spider cavern and climbing a sheer snow wall with ice axes is the shortest way to Grandma's house? And she's done it before? Tough kid. And she'll be back.
Cons: The mazes. Well, the first one, anyway. Come on, Devs, a timed maze? I want to savor it, not race through it. They get better, though. Much later, but more of that in a bit.
Mini-games: Some nice twists on some classic games here, with some cute traps for over-thinking - the "punch the code" button push in the Riding Hood chapter is just MEAN and I laughed out loud when I finally figured it out. A warning: the difficulty level of many games is well above the ability of a beginning player. A few might even be described as over-elaborate, but they're worth the work. You can skip them...but you won't want to.
Bonus game: Brace yourself - there are no fewer than six. Not kidding, six. Each is a separate story incorporating some characters we've seen before. It's six free re-visits to a charming world. Buy the CE, you won't regret it.
Overall, I haven't seen a game like this in a very long time. If I could give this six stars I would. Writing, graphics, puzzles, length of play, and production values are all outstanding and this must have taken a lot of work by some seriously talented people. For pure value this sets a new standard. Highly recommended.
I recommend this game!