TopazMystique's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.2
- Helpful Votes:354
- Reviews Submitted:31
- First Review:July 30, 2012
- Most Recent Review:February 25, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Help Sophia uncover the secret behind the Curse of Laroche Palace and rescue the Royal Family from their magical slumber.
Overall rating
5
/
5
54 of 63 found this review helpful
Gem of a game!
PostedMay 16, 2013
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I lucked out on this game. I had previewed the info and sample graphics and thought it looked interesting. But I had not demoed the game when it popped up as a $3.99 sale item after I purchased another game. I had recently skipped Hallowed Legends: Ship of Bones when it popped up on sale because I hadn’t demoed it and deeply regretted that decision after demoing. So… I took a chance and bought this one on sale without trying it first and am so glad I did!
Things I hate in any game and contained in Mystery Murders 2:
• “nothing to do” messages (although they can sometimes be helpful by methodically going through every location which I did numerous times)
• Clicking BACK to close journal & map (I much prefer clicking anywhere outside the area)
• Interactive map that doesn’t show active areas (active areas would have helped tremendously with such a large map)
• Active areas that remain open after being read or completed (put them in the journal and then inactivate them)
• Hints that show something to do but items not in inventory to complete (if action can’t be completed, showing it with a hint is frustrating)
• Lots of backtracking (map helped tremendously with this… as long as I remembered where I could use something once I found it)
• Clicking BACK to close journal & map (I much prefer clicking anywhere outside the area)
• Interactive map that doesn’t show active areas (active areas would have helped tremendously with such a large map)
• Active areas that remain open after being read or completed (put them in the journal and then inactivate them)
• Hints that show something to do but items not in inventory to complete (if action can’t be completed, showing it with a hint is frustrating)
• Lots of backtracking (map helped tremendously with this… as long as I remembered where I could use something once I found it)
In spite of all that, I absolutely loved this game! I am not one that likes to wander around searching for things and doing a lot of backtracking but I really didn’t mind it in this game… in fact, I rather enjoyed it. The graphics had a lot to do with it because I am a visual person and the beautiful and sometimes rather breathtaking graphics were a pleasant surprise. I also enjoyed the unfolding story, voice acting, scene animations, game play… just about everything else with this game!
I did get thoroughly stuck twice. First time I was able to continue after leaving and coming back the next day. Second time I was too excited to see what would happen so broke down and used the walkthrough in the forums (thank you, retroFish!). For those of you who demoed and skipped the game, I think you missed out on a great game! For those of you who played all the way through and didn’t enjoy it, it’s a shame because I think this game has a lot to offer.
For everyone who is undecided… definitely try it if you haven’t already. You may find it’s a real gem of a game like I did!
I recommend this game!
Play as Ginger and save the county`s homesteaders from Agrocorporate assimilation in this fun Time Management game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Fast timer and lots of repetition
PostedMay 6, 2013
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I very rarely quit a game but this is one that I did. I am only writing this review because a 5-star game this may be for time management enthusiasts but I think casual TMers will be disappointed.
The story is engaging and graphics are cute but the timer is way too fast for me. I got trophies on two out of 7+ levels (quit in the level that starts with helping the supplier get a new store for $300). First few levels were fun (demo time) but once out of that, the levels became extremely long and boring to me and way too much repetition. Constant dig, plant, fertilize, water, pick, feed, and then start the routine all over again. For those who like this sort of repetitious game, enjoy! If not, I'd say skip this one or at least try before you buy.
I don't recommend this game.
Rita James and the Race to Shangri La
Join the “More Brave than Brilliant” Rita James on another whirlwind adventure in search of the mythical paradise of Shangri-La!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Shades of “Rocky & Bullwinkle”!!!
PostedApril 27, 2013
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Rita James and the Race to Shangri La
(45)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was disappointed to see that this game did not receive a higher rating so am adding my 2 cents.
I love the Rita James series and hope there will be more! This series is one of the most fun I have ever had in a casual game! Hats off to the writers and voice actors! The writing is hilarious and the voice actors are excellent! I especially love the cliff-hanger episodes… just like Rocky & Bullwinkle (for those who remember the flying squirrel and his moose sidekick)!
Although I could do with lighter scenes & fewer multiples in the hidden objects, I still enjoyed the game tremendously. I love the adventure aspect, the great story, beautiful and colorful graphics, and the hilarious characters. I actually feel sorry for those who did not enjoy such a great game.
For those of you who enjoyed this one and haven’t played “Escape from Thunder Island”, I believe it was the first Rita James game. If you liked this one, you should enjoy that one also.
Hats off to Big Finish for a super great game series! Please keep it up!
I recommend this game!
Listen to the Echoes of Sorrow and remember who you are as you explore your memories in this fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Definitely a sleeper hit in my book!
PostedApril 13, 2013
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I only review games that I think are rated too high or too low and this one is rated way too low in my book!
Echoes of Sorrow is one of those games that just got under my skin and I couldn’t stop playing until I finished. Yes, the hidden object scenes are on the easy side but I still got stumped along the way. I thought the graphics were excellent for a 2-year old game although a little dark in some of the hidden object scenes but it still wasn’t dark enough that I had to change the brightness on my PC.
But this game gets an EXCELLENT rating in my book for the story alone. The story… Wow… what a cliff-hanger! I felt like I was right in the middle… reliving everything that was happening. I really got into the story as it progressed with my emotions taking over and of course jumped to the wrong conclusion (happily) towards the end. But it is one of the best stories that I have encountered in a long time in a casual game!
I will definitely be on the lookout for more games by this developer!
I recommend this game!
An unseen prankster plagues the exclusive Redondo Spa! Now it’s up to you, as Nancy Drew, to stop them before the clients retreat!
Overall rating
1
/
5
17 of 19 found this review helpful
If you are memory- or arcade/action-challenged... SKIP this game!
PostedDecember 28, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Legends of Atlantis: Exodus
(68)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I usually don't review a game unless my opinion is contrary to what the norm is and this unfortunately is one of those games.
I was really enjoying this game even though it requires a lot of memory recall in order to successfully proceed. However, what finished me was that the arcade & action mini-games cannot be skipped. Same problem as Avenue Flo. So if you are not fast enough to complete the mini-game, you cannot proceed. What a shame! When will hidden object & adventure game developers understand that adding ANY type of mini-games over and above the base genre of the game should include a SKIP for those who are not good at them? Very unfair to have the gamer fail and be unable to complete the game because of a mini-game genre that is different from the base genre of the game!
Level of Challenge was GOOD even though it required a lot of memory recall for the best score. But because it was impossible to skip the arcade & action mini-games, it was AWFUL because I could not proceed. Too bad...
I don't recommend this game.
Help Arthur clear the land, stop invaders, and work with magical beings to save Princess Helen from a terrible dwarf!
Overall rating
1
/
5
19 of 21 found this review helpful
Another dissenting vote --- EXTREMELY disappointing!
PostedDecember 7, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
For those who are really good with TM games, you will probably like this one. I am NOT a great time management player being not as fast as most but I absolutely LOVED the first MKFP so was really looking forward to playing the second. In MKFP 1 I was able to finish all levels with EXPERT except for 2 and since the only thing that finishing all levels with expert supposedly did was to add a rainbow over the castle, after several attempts to get EXPERT on those 2, I just decided to quit. But I did thoroughly enjoy playing all levels in MKFP 1.
There are time management games that are so addictive that I just have to replay to get gold on all levels. Kingdom Chronicles and Royal Envoy 1 & 2 come to mind. But this game is NOT one of those... at least not for me. It was just too frustrating. As usual with most time management games, the first levels are relatively easy to get you hooked into buying the game. So it was no surprise that I was able to get gold on the first 16 levels, some of which I did have to replay to get. But starting with level 2.5 I gave up and just finishing the level was good enough because the game was not enjoyable enough to warrant replaying levels to get gold. What I found was that I usually lost the level by seconds and just didn't have enough fun to replay for gold.
Graphics were just okay and although the levels were different, they were also the same. Just seemed to be the same thing over and over again with very little variety and very boring. Where MKFP1 had a cute castle building for every gold level completed, this one has a plantation-style which was not very appealing.
In levels 2.5 to 4.4 (24 levels), I was able to get two golds and the rest silver except for the last one. The last one and one other I actually ran out of time on the first attempt. That tells me that this game is way too time-intensive for me. I did replay one of those two but when I hit the second one, I quit. Another thing I found very frustrating was finding some of the goals for the game. Especially difficult was finding plants and buried treasure which caused me to miss gold on several levels. Not worth wasting any more of my time on this game.
I dislike not being able to chain actions and having to wait for the workers to return to the house before assigning them another task. (What a great way to make a so-so game longer, huh?) And I'm sure because of that, once a task is assigned there is no UNDO. Another drawback for me is the click-fest and/or arcade/action levels in between the islands. After the first one, I just forced a failure so I could go on to the next level.
What I found so disappointing about this game is that it seems in order to get gold on islands 2+, there seems to be only one way to win and it pretty much has to be followed exactly and as fast as possible. One miss-step and gold is out the window. And most of the levels I played had to clear all or almost all of everything. There were very few levels that you could skip clearing obstacles. I know the speed-ups help but I forget to use them and find it frustrating not being able to pick the ones I want to use for a level but having to pick from the ones that were picked for the level.
I have slogged through many a game because I just hate to not finish no matter how bad the game but this is not one of them. Since I found the game so boring, difficult and unentertaining, I quit! I guess from now on I won't be buying any TM games that do not include at least a somewhat relaxed version and should have known when I saw that NevoSoft was involved.
I recommend the game for seasoned TM players but not for casual TM players like me.
I don't recommend this game.
Use magic and manpower to restore a broken land! The citizens of Hidden World are counting on you in this stunning Strategy game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 of 43 found this review helpful
FINALLY! A developer that understands "relaxed time management"!
PostedNovember 4, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was a most welcome diversion from normal time management games! I am not very good at them mainly because of the speed needed in most TM games. I was disconcerted when I saw that playing in relaxed mode was also timed but the times are so generous (like an hour or close to it on some), it provides plenty of time to complete all the goals and also watch the action (something I never seem to be able to do in most TMs). I also had time to upgrade each building to its maximum level even if it was not required to complete the goals.
Although I did have to restart several levels because of poor strategy, it wasn't one of those games that I had to keep repeating and repeating to get a gold. Most levels I was able to get the golden lantern on the first try.
Graphics are beautiful, bright and colorful and the animations are cute. I would have liked to be able to save a picture of each level after completion since I just love the color palette and graphics.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing Hidden Worlds even if it is a click-fest. It's one that I will definitely play again... something I cannot say for most TM games. Usually if I manage to finish them, I'm so glad to be done with them that I never want to play again.
Hoping for a sequel!
I recommend this game!
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
Shine up your matching skills and exercize your eyes. Swapping jewels has never been so fun!
Overall rating
1
/
5
19 of 32 found this review helpful
Boring, boring, BORING!
PostedAugust 16, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This is the first time I have played any Bejeweled game that was downloaded and just found it boring. I managed to last for 9 whole minutes so please keep my comments in that context.
What first turned me off was the very simplistic graphics. Most games I buy are because of the graphics. I am a visual person and love to look at beautiful things. This game does not fit in that category. And although the game play was fast, it was choppy (Windows XP) and most of the time the announcer was unintelligible.
I played Classic and got to level 3 with a "no more moves" message and the game ended. Excuse me? What kind of a game ends that quickly? Even though I was high scorer, who cares.
There are so many more beautiful and entertaining match 3 games available. I wouldn't play this game if it was handed out for free. Just seemed like a waste of time to me and as I said before BORING! :P
Just an FYI... I tend to be the voice of opposition. I only add a review if I feel very differently about a game than the general consensus.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the Portals to the Unknown with rescue pilot Veronica Rivers in this mysterious Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Ahead of its time when it was created!
PostedAugust 11, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I have had this game for awhile but just played it today knowing that it is almost 4 years old on Big Fish. With that in mind, I thought the game was ahead of its time when it was released. Yes, there are better games out there now and thankfully some of them are by the same company!
Cons:
o One cut scene preceding spot-the-difference repeated each time.
o Some of the graphics could have been clearer.
o Some of the movements in hidden object scenes were a little nauseating.
o One cut scene preceding spot-the-difference repeated each time.
o Some of the graphics could have been clearer.
o Some of the movements in hidden object scenes were a little nauseating.
Pros:
o Works for lefties.
o Fast game play, i.e., able to click items quickly in succession.
o Graphics were fairly decent.
o Good action in cut scenes.
o Able to use hints and or auto-draw throughout game especially on spot-the-difference & copying symbols.
o Loved the portal puzzles.
o Story, even though a little disjointed, was intriguing to me.
o Works for lefties.
o Fast game play, i.e., able to click items quickly in succession.
o Graphics were fairly decent.
o Good action in cut scenes.
o Able to use hints and or auto-draw throughout game especially on spot-the-difference & copying symbols.
o Loved the portal puzzles.
o Story, even though a little disjointed, was intriguing to me.
All in all, given the age of the game, I thought it was a decent way to spend an afternoon and is much better than a lot of games being released now!
I recommend this game!
The latest, greatest adventure in puzzling will take you from the jungles to the plains and everywhere in between.
Overall rating
1
/
5
29 of 48 found this review helpful
Very frustrating game!
PostedAugust 1, 2012
TopazMystique
fromUSA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I guess I am the voice of opposition since I tend to review games that go against the current opinion.
I was unsure how to rank the "level of challenge". I think it would be more descriptive to have the ranks listed as "very easy", "easy", "moderate", "difficult", "very difficult". So my "excellent" is the equivalent of "very difficult".
I was enjoying this game for the first few countries. From the map it looks like there are 14 total. Each country has 5+ levels and the look of the vines changes from country to country which was fun.
But then the game became frustrating because of the ladybugs that keep changing the tiles back. The boards get smaller and/or more difficult with tiles that are blocked. I gave up after starting my 7th country. And it looks like the high scores are only for a session. It doesn't seem to keep a running total if you leave and then come back so I'm not sure what the point is of tracking high scores. My time on a single board varied from 1+ minutes to 20+ minutes which is way too long for me to play a single board.
I play to relax and enjoy a game, not to get frustrated and this game is way too frustrating for me. I may go back and replay the beginning levels but that's it. I would never be able to finish this game and I hate that.
For those who enjoy a good challenge, definitely try this game. For those that don't, I would say "pass".
I don't recommend this game.