Pearly11's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.1
- Helpful Votes:3,115
- Reviews Submitted:126
- First Review:January 28, 2012
- Most Recent Review:September 16, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Travel to Florence and treat your old friend’s mysterious illness in Borgia: Faith and Fear!
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
What a shame!
PostedMay 3, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I read all the reviews (mainly negative ones) and then decided to give this a spin. The subject is right up my alley and with the references to the Borgia and the Medici I thought I might detect a real gem of a game here.
Sadly, I did not! This game comes across like an unfinished project. The HO scenes are totally fine, nothing wrong with them, nothing impossible to spot, really enjoyed those. But then there are the puzzles ;-). I found the puzzles really innovative and they would've been seriously brilliant, PROVIDING...they would come with some form of reference. Not that the developers left us in the dark on what it is that they want us to do, but it seemed to have completely escaped their minds, that in order to solve a puzzle one needs some sort of idea. I give you an example and as this scenes happens very early into the game don't think I can spoil the fun:
There is a chest in the room of Basil's friend's mistress for which you need four keys with different symbols on them in order to open it. Once I found the keys I went back to the chest and then....well...yeah....then what? :-). All I could think of doing was trying to find the correct order by accident. I did not come across any other reference anywhere, no clue as to where each key would fit. I'm not a great mathematician, but I know that if you have four different keys and four different locks I would take you quite some time to figure out the correct locations. When I asked for a hint all I was told was to open the chest. So I did :-) using the SKIP button :-). The puzzles are not really puzzles but more like guessing games and this is not fun.
The skip button for the puzzles is one the most useful features the game offers.
What I have seen about the graphics was fine, really liked the locations and you can tell that great effort went into creating these.
Sadly, I can't report any more than the above findings. Not because I got annoyed and left the demo early, but because the game (seconds after having assembled some letter) then just shut down. Not playable. At least not for me.
A real shame. This could've been a fantastic game and I really hope the developers pull the current version off the market and re-address the whole thing.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Abigail Hildegard find her father and wake Adalar from his dream in The Secret of Hidergards, a fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
18 of 20 found this review helpful
I really can't recommend this game
PostedMay 3, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This seems quite an old game, but that really doesn't excuse the poor quality.
It's very dark and depressing with items that are so blended into the darkness that the task borders torture. Hence I gave it an 'excellent' for Level of Challenge :-). One reviewer mentioned the naming of the items. Well, all I can say to that is that English really does come in different languages. I learned UK English and the first time I came across having to find 'faucet' I had to google the meaning of it, as over here a 'faucet' is a 'tap'.
It's very dark and depressing with items that are so blended into the darkness that the task borders torture. Hence I gave it an 'excellent' for Level of Challenge :-). One reviewer mentioned the naming of the items. Well, all I can say to that is that English really does come in different languages. I learned UK English and the first time I came across having to find 'faucet' I had to google the meaning of it, as over here a 'faucet' is a 'tap'.
If at all, I could recommend this game to somebody who likes stabbing about in the dark and doesn't get easily annoyed. For me it's not even worth spending the reduced price as today's D/D.
I don't recommend this game.
Challenge yourself in the role of the scientist-historian-scholar of ancient civilizations and mystical legends and save your friend from the Demon of Darkness!
Overall rating
3
/
5
19 of 31 found this review helpful
Didn't grip me
PostedMay 3, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I deliberately didn't rate on Fun Factor, because I just didn't have any fun doing the one hour trial. The graphics are ok, but nothing that really stunned me. The storyline is nothing extraordinary either: The ancient Demon of Darkness and his minions kidnap the friend of the hero in the jungle in Thailand, friend comes straight to his rescue and in the process has to find keys to open doors, missing pieces to solve puzzles, he has to find and/or fix tools to get other items he needs to solve other problems.
It amazes me how ill equipped some people set off on a search and rescue operations. Had this guy here brought a Swiss Army Multitool he would had not only a knife, but also a saw, nail clipper and among an array of other useful tools probably even something to clean horses hooves with.
The HOG scenes are dark but I haven't come anything that was so blended in or tiny that was undetectable without a hint.
The puzzles I came across were ok, but can't be skipped if you choose the hardest of the three available game modes.
Its an ok game, but really nothing I haven't yet played and for me certainly not worth spending the extra money for the CE.
I don't 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
2
/
5
49 of 62 found this review helpful
TM Builder
PostedMay 3, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Legend of Atlantis:Exodus is very much in line with the My Kingdom for the Princess series. You have to remove objects, re-build roads and buildings and all with limited resources. You can choose between relaxed and expert mode, but I couldn't find any explanation as to what I'd have to expect in expert mode, so I went for this expert :-). Quite frequently you run out of energy, wood, stone, water (to mention the ones I came across) and with the tasks the Queen of Atlantis expects you to do (fixing roads, buildings, collecting certain objects, etc) you really need to budget and try not to waste any resources unnecessarily.
I found the music a bit over-dramatised and annoying, but it can be turned off.
The story line is ok, Atlantis is threatened by frequent earthquakes which increase in magnitude. So you have to fix the roads to save the people.
Not too keen on the graphics. Nothing wrong with the quality, but it's like as if you look at a painting that looks as if the painter couldn't really be bothered on the day he painted it. And this is how perceived the game. It doesn't feel as if lots of love went into its creation.
I really would advise to do the one hour trial before purchase and if you haven't yet done, then take the time to do the tiral of My Kingdom for the Princess also, so you have something to compare it to. Personally, I favour Kingdom for the Princess over this one. Much more fun, challenge, nicer graphics and the music is really catchy.
Hope this helps.
I don't recommend this game.
Welcome back to the Cooking Academy! This time you'll be writing your own cookbook!
Overall rating
4
/
5
47 of 58 found this review helpful
I you enjoyed the two previous ones then you'll love this one
PostedMay 2, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Pretty much like its two predecessors but with new and different actions. These games are real mouse trainers and it can begin to hurt playing them after a while. Also you have to be quite observant and precise in what you're doing or the head chef Henri Fromage may get upset :-).
These games are fun for all and great for young children as they really are all about mouse control, observation and precision.
Had Big Fish put the two predecessors as a D/D package I would have bought all three today ;-)
These games are fun for all and great for young children as they really are all about mouse control, observation and precision.
Had Big Fish put the two predecessors as a D/D package I would have bought all three today ;-)
Great game series
I recommend this game!
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover™
Welcome back to Gardenscapes! Turn the hall into a masterpiece!
Overall rating
4
/
5
193 of 230 found this review helpful
Lovely yard sale game
PostedMay 2, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Very much like the first one apart from that you now have to raise funds to refurbish the interior of the mansion. To do that you sell items customers request and find coins hidden in each scene. Amazing what some people pay for a old shuttle cock lol. I'm in the wrong business :-).
You can play in relaxed or timed mode and can change your chosen settings during the game. With the money you make from selling your junk, you can buy interiors for your mansion. These can also be changed later, should you decide that a red sofa doesn't quite go with your favourite fireplace.
The HO scenes are very easy on the eyes with items easy to find. The hint system lets you see what the items look like rather than telling your where they are hidden and you can find power ups such as 'camera view' which after clicking on will let you see all the items your current customers are requesting.
You can play in relaxed or timed mode and can change your chosen settings during the game. With the money you make from selling your junk, you can buy interiors for your mansion. These can also be changed later, should you decide that a red sofa doesn't quite go with your favourite fireplace.
The HO scenes are very easy on the eyes with items easy to find. The hint system lets you see what the items look like rather than telling your where they are hidden and you can find power ups such as 'camera view' which after clicking on will let you see all the items your current customers are requesting.
It's a very basic game and is a welcome break to the all singing and dancing complex games. I really quite like it and am considering buying as this one is one that for me has got real replay value.
I recommend this game!
Help the garden-inhabiting plants defend against hordes of insects trying to demolish the garden!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
Strategic War without the Gore and great fun
PostedMay 1, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This one is such great fun. I can't see myself playing this game for hours on trott, but it really IS great fun :-). I played as the Sergeant as I find higher ranking officers within the armed forces so.."overwhelmingly and tediously boring that it happens to be beyond my wit to understand their rather silly 'oh gosh jolly jokes' :-)"
This one is great fun and a strategic war game without the gore of a real war. I'd recommend it for any age and without a shadow of doubt the younger generations will do much better on this than me old war horse :-)
I recommend this game!
Brainville
Train your brain by helping the colorful townsfolk of Brainville in a variety of mind-building challenges. Watch the town flourish as you sharpen your mind!
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 17 found this review helpful
No brains at home there in this ville?
PostedMay 1, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
I tried really hard, but couldn't make any sense out of it. Inside Brainville you can bounce into various buildings and then............well whoever is in there will give you tasks to do without explaining what it is they want you do? ;-) So am I supposed to think that they are BEYOND my intelligence? Well, yes I am, more clever, I turned it off very quickly and deleted it :-) That's how clever I am ;-)
This entire game is so confusing...I'm at loss for words to explain how stupid this is :-)
This entire game is so confusing...I'm at loss for words to explain how stupid this is :-)
I couldn't even give it anything for Level of Challenge :-). Simply because I couldn't see any challenge other than guessing on what I need to do? Same goes for story line. If this game would have storyline it could lead to global mass suicide :-)
I don't even hate the game, I just hope these developers will find their forté and this is NOT in developing games :-)
I don't recommend this game.
Dracula: Love Kills Collector's Edition
The Queen of Vampires is back and is determined to destroy the world! Help Van Helsing and Dracula as they team up to stop her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 56 found this review helpful
A CE worth every penny
PostedMay 1, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you are undecided whether to go for the SE or the CE for this game then take my advice along with many other reviewers and invest into the CE version. I never played the SE version, but I assume it would end before the bonus game? And if this is the case, then the game doesn't really have a proper ending. Now obviously I won't give away how it ends :-), but it's really good. Also, the bonus play in this CE version is the longest bonus game I ever played in any CE.
I started playing Dracula: Love Kills CE yesterday as a second visit to the game and it still took me about 9.5 hours to complete, that's including the bonus play, but with skipping a few of the mini games. Without the bonus play I would've completed about 1.5 to 2 hours earlier and this should convince anyone of the great value the bonus game has. Now to the game itself:
This CE is the sequel to the game Dracula Origin, but personally I class them as two completely different games. Not just in genre but also in subject. Fair enough, they're both about the famous vampire Count Dracula and in both you will meet the infamous vampire hunter Van Helsing (now you know with whom lays my loyalty :-) ) but that's really about it. Oh, they look the same in both games, but that really is all the characters and the games have in common. So, if you haven't yet or don't want to play Dracula Origin, then you will not be disadvantaged in any way. Dracula Origin is a pure and very fantastic adventure game with no HO scenes and plenty of puzzles and when I played it I had to jot some notes down. Dracula: Love Kills is completely different it being a HO-Adventure but WOW :-) it's also "Puzzle Galore".
Dracula: Love Kills has a lot to offer. Plenty of HO Scenes, which are very crisp. These are a bit on the dark side, but still very colourful and I have not come across anything that was impossible to spot due to it being blended too much into the background or it being too small.
The mini games or puzzles are well explained, some of the puzzles I found quite innovative and the difficulty of these depend very much on the playing level you choose (if you chose to play in hard core mode, then the puzzles will be more difficult.
The game has a map which you can use to 'teleport' to different scenes and it will show you in which places there is still something to be done. I always find this helpful, as I am one these people who get lost inside a tunnel.
The story line I find hilarious :-). Dracula has a really cool accent and he and Van Helsing converse about the problems on hand (yes... believe it or not the two work together in this one :-) ) and Dracula's sidekick Igor adds his mustard to everything, but him being physically disadvantaged Dracula ends up having to do all the graft :-). The chats of the trio is something I wouldn't skip for the world as a lot of it is quite funny and gives a nice break every once in a while.
Dracula has special powers and can use them, providing he drank enough blood. This he finds in vials or by biting a few ladies all of which don't mind as they want to get turned in vampires anyway. So you can chose for yourself whether you want to oblige or not. None of this is gory in fact I find the slurping sound he makes quite cute.
You can earn plenty of achievements in this game such as completing a HO scenes without using the hint button. You will always be given some bizarre title when you achieve something.
To me the whole game comes across more like a spoof than a horror game and even though it is about vampires it is in no way as occult as many other games from this genre or as it's prequel Dracula Origin. As I mentioned before I find it really difficult to see the two games connected for anything else but the characters.
The CE comes with a strategy guide and after completing the game you can go back and play all HO scenes and puzzles again. So you can do plenty of training to get all the achievements ;-).
I usually play these type of games in an afternoon or in one evening but even on the second time around I found this impossible.
So, I seriously and without any hesitation recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a great HO-Adventure and puzzles. It's so worth spending the extra on the CE for this one. The greatest value for a CE price so far.
Hope this helps in your decision making and enjoy playing :-)
I recommend this game!
A powerful wizard has been sucked into a portal and is lost! Only you can save him from death in Allora and the Broken Portal!
Overall rating
5
/
5
23 of 31 found this review helpful
This one is gorgeous and relaxing
PostedApril 29, 2012
Pearly11
fromEngland
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Wow today's D/D really is a great one. The game is pretty simple, mainly HOG with a few very easy puzzles to solve. This said the game wins for me purely because of the beautiful scenes in this gorgeous land of the fairies. The scenes are so beautifully created that whenever I got really stuck finding an item I didn't even want to use the hint button.
This game is one to relax over and enjoying the artwork.
This game is one to relax over and enjoying the artwork.
Really loving it, a definite buy for me.
I recommend this game!