euphoria's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.8
- Helpful Votes:534
- Reviews Submitted:25
- First Review:January 29, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 30, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Beyond the Unknown: A Matter of Time
It’s time to solve the secret of this mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
37 of 39 found this review helpful
Review Based on Completing Game
PostedAugust 26, 2014
euphoria
fromIronically, I named him after my cat
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Just finished and really enjoyed this. This game is the most customizable I've ever played; you can choose not only difficulty level, but how quickly hints recharge and whether individual areas/HOG scenes sparkle. You can even choose, on the options menu, whether there will be a tutorial. I appreciated this very much!
The HOG scenes have a couple of interactive items in each, and you have the option to switch to a match-3 type game at any time if you prefer...or switch back if you prefer. The match-3 game sounds and elements always coordinated with the HOG scene you were playing, so that was a nice touch.
Interaction with characters was mercifully brief and they spoke with lip movement, which was a nice touch. The story is pretty straight-forward; you are to find four golden birds in order to open a sarcophagus that will prevent an evil man from controlling time. One aspect of the story I did not understand was the ghostly vision of haunted flying women, who appeared at odd times and in watery places, sometimes actively hindering you; other times just being a bit scary. It wasn't adequately explained who or what those were and that aspect of the story did not get resolved.
Having said that, I enjoyed the game immensely; it was super long (three sessions of at least a couple hours each to finish) and kept my interest piqued throughout. I did have to skip some of the puzzles as the directions did not adequately explain the goal/movements thoroughly enough, but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the overall quest.
There were no "morphing" objects to find, no trophies to win, no rooms to furnish for an animal companion. You do have a little dog that accompanies you (whom you get to name), but he is used a surprisingly small number of times, so the annoyance factor is kept to a minimum, should you be one of those who hates "helper" characters.
Recommended!
Return to the House of 1,000 Doors to save mankind from annihilation!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Review Based on Completing Game + Bonus Game
PostedAugust 9, 2014
euphoria
fromYou get to play a man and a woman both!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Near-perfect game, and certainly best in the series. Excellent graphics, music and storyline. Admittedly, it's heavy on the snake theme, but I wasn't repulsed by the snakes at all; they actually managed to make them somehow very beautiful, even though they are the villains in this story.
In the HOG scenes you are either to find objects (some are unavailable until you interact with the scene in different ways), or to use objects from the list to complete the scene (eg, if you have a candle in the list, you'd drag it into the candle holder in the scene). I found this variety very enjoyable.
The level of challenge in this game was absolutely spot-on. I cannot tell you what happens when you click the "hint" button, because I did not use it - not even once. Something about this game and this story makes you want to take your time, complete all the puzzles and challenges on your own, and not rush through or get impatient. I do believe this is the first game I've ever played in which I never used the hint button; not because it was easy, but because everything followed a logical sequence. Everything made sense. And not because this is a short game; on the contrary, I would guess I spent at least eight hours all told, probably more. I did use the map very frequently, and I'm not one who normally does that. It very clearly marks areas that have actions you can complete and "teleports" you there with one click. This saved me a lot of time and also helped clue me in on what could be done next. Thus, no need for the strategy guide or help button!
I also did not skip any mini-games. They ranged from somewhat easy to fairly challenging, but never became frustrating or boring, and I was proud of myself for being able to solve every single one of them without help!
There are 40 morphing objects to find; I managed to find all but three. Not a big deal, though, as there are no "trophy rooms" keeping track of silly things like finding three objects in three seconds or completing a particular minor goal. It was fun to look for the morphing objects, but I didn't feel like I'd missed out on anything by not finding them all.
Wonderful game; I highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Resolve a family squabble before the gates to the realm of the dead swing open and horrors beyond imagination pour into this world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 36 found this review helpful
So. Much. Fun.
PostedJuly 24, 2014
euphoria
fromDoes Boris have a Natasha?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you enjoy parody and satire (and a little bit of snark), you will love this game. It pokes fun at not only other games of the same genre, but also at itself. For instance, when you find an axe head stuck in a log, your helpful guide, Boris the cat, tells you that's just how things always go in these situations; you can't use the axe until you find a handle.
Others have described the plot very well, so I won't go into that, but I really enjoyed the quirky mini games, the interactive HOG scenes and that things you need can be found and used fairly quickly; there isn't a lot of backtracking (and in some cases, you can't go back in any event). This game is just plain FUN.
I love the many humorous touches throughout; such as the homage to Grumpy Cat (which made me laugh out loud) and the fact that Lily the ghost/witch looks exactly like Mila Kunis (who is known for playing a witch herself)! Those who gave up early because of the "hand-holding" cat should give this game another chance. He's only annoying for the first few minutes; after that, he only shows up if you keep clicking on an area or object you're not sure what to do with.
Highly, highly recommend. This SE game is head and shoulders above most of the CE games I've played in the past few weeks and I look forward to more from these developers.
I recommend this game!
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait Collector's Edition
A father returns home to find his children missing - all but one, who refuses to say a word...
Overall rating
5
/
5
69 of 80 found this review helpful
Review Based on Completing Game + Bonus Game
PostedJuly 22, 2014
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was a beta tester for this game and couldn't wait to buy it. The character you play (patriarch of a family in supernatural peril) is wonderful; I enjoyed the actor's voice very much. (One of the kids' voice actors could use a little more experience, but it didn't detract from the game.)
If you love cats, this game is a must. "Mr. Jenkins," the family cat, plays a huge role as your invaluable assistant, and there is a running cat theme throughout the bonus game. If Mr. Jenkins seems just a BIT too smart for a cat, there's a good reason for this, which you'll find out at the very end.
Excellent story line, great characters (I fell in love a little bit with the daughter, Leia; she's so precious!), well-drawn graphics and pleasant, non-intrusive music.
I especially liked the HOP scenes, which were interactive in a "chain reaction" sort of way. You find one item, use it, and that action reveals another item, which you must use to reveal the next item. It's mostly intuitive, though clicking on various items will reveal clues as to what they "need" to reveal their secrets, so it's not at all difficult or frustrating.
This game is super long; I enjoyed many hours of play over the course of a couple days, and the bonus game is also good for a couple hours if you take your time and don't skip any mini games. Unfortunately I did have to skip a few of them because I couldn't figure out exactly what the goal/object was and/or how to achieve it. The directions could have used some fleshing out in that area. (I could have used the guide, but all that does is tell you which order to click on things, it doesn't go into why/how they need to be moved in that certain way.)
My favorite "extra" was the Kitty Playroom, wherein the gold you run across throughout the game can be used to purchase fun items for Mr. Jenkins to interact with. Hint: I purchased the silver pitcher last, thinking it was just a decoration of sorts, but it turned out to be the cutest and most fun item in the room!
Speaking of Mr. Jenkins, he must be magical himself, considering he apparently started life as a short-haired striped tabby kitten and somehow grew up into a beautiful, fluffy Himalayan. It also doesn't make sense, once you reach the end and a particular secret is revealed, that the family would even have a drawing of Mr. Jenkins as a kitten. But we'll just chalk that up to witchy interference and let it go at that!
Highly recommended.
I recommend this game!
A strange and deadly pollen is spreading around the world, and you’ve been hired to track down its source. But the secrets you discover in the fabled kingdom of Floralia are much darker than you imagined...
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Beautiful, Challenging
PostedJuly 7, 2014
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As with the other titles in this series, you can expect impeccable graphics, well-written dialogue and interesting characters. The music and sound effects are consistent throughout the series; I do love that familiarity.
Two things bothered me a little this time around. While every object and scene you encounter is lush and beautiful, as always, many are to the point of starting to look alike. When it's time to fit a particular object into a slot, which of the nearly identical flowery, ornate objects actually fits? I wasted a bit of time trying different objects in my inventory, all of which could have worked, until the "right" one clicked. A little variety would have been welcome.
The second problem was the complexity and tediousness of some of the challenges. While I understood what was to be done and how to go about it, I found myself getting bored after a few minutes and skipped so I could get on with things. I don't want to spend 10 minutes making objects go 'round in various circles until they end up in the right positions; it just wasn't fun. More enjoyable were the puzzles in which you are to "interact" with each part, in several different ways, to achieve a mini goal. I would love to see more of these kind of puzzles in future iterations.
Having said all this, I did enjoy the storyline and the amazing graphics and look forward to more of this enchanting series.
I recommend this game!
Discover a story of mysterious kidnappings of both children and mafiosi.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Unique Story, Wonderful Characters
PostedJuly 5, 2014
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Just finished, and what a great, quality game. Very lengthy, too; it took me three sessions of at least two hours each. Everything that had to be done was logical and helped further the quest(s); there were no morphing objects to click or certain items to find everywhere or funny little characters to help you or other silly distractions. This is straight-forward mystery solving and you'll need to use your brain.
The hidden object scenes are interactive; silhouettes of the items to be found are shown and you can usually only find one or two just lying about. The rest are found by using the items already in hand, such as putting a handle on a door or inserting a key.
I thoroughly enjoyed the well-thought-out characters and smart, challenging puzzles. As well, I appreciate it so much when a developer goes to the trouble to hire a good proofreader! Nothing throws me off a game more than frequent typos or misspellings and I didn't see a one. I grant you, a couple of items were not labeled correctly (a wire cutter labeled as a pliers, for instance), but these were but minor flaws in a very well done and enjoyable game.
The ending was also very satisfying (and rather sweet!). Highly recommend!
I recommend this game!
This city is clamping down on candy cravings by outlawing sweet snacks! Solve a series of quirky cases by gathering clues, tracking down witnesses, and questioning suspects to reveal the truth behind this city’s sugarcoated secret. This is a case too sweet to turn down!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
So Glad I Tried It
PostedJune 5, 2014
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm surprised to see so many reviews panning this fun and quirky game. While I usually despise a tutorial you can't opt out of, the one for this game is really very necessary, and it's important to pay attention to what you're being told rather than try to get through it as quickly as possible so you can get on with things. (Yes, I am VERY guilty of this most of the time.) After playing for a few hours, I realized I had missed some crucial info, so I started another game on my laptop and paid attention this time. Now things are much easier and clearer and I'm having a blast.
Others have described this game very well and very succinctly, so I'll skip that part and just say I highly recommend this. As a free game, it's super fun and I haven't been tempted in the slightest to make a purchase. So far there hasn't really been a need, and while my purchasing power takes awhile to build up, I find it's more fun if you have challenges rather than just having everything handed to you. As in life. :)
I recommend this game!
Can you master the tongue of King Oddball? End the world in this compelling and easy to learn skill based physics puzzle game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Deceptively Simple
PostedJanuary 14, 2014
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
My Singing Monsters
(1,198)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A really different game from your standard Big Fish fare; you need only click the mouse button at the proper time. When is the proper time? Well, that's the challenge! The game starts out easy and lets you build up that learning curve while destroying incredibly cute little tanks, helis and soldiers (who are apparently robots, given their glowing red eyes# by picking up and flinging rocks with your...tongue.
Yes, YOU are King Oddball, the oddest ball-shaped, helmet-wearing king who ever...lived?...and your job is to destroy the world. I was surprised at how enjoyable this is, love that there are awards to be won, a secret world to find and peppy, infective music to accompany the fun. #Who knew I could learn to love the accordion?) Deceptively simple; extremely addictive. The developers did an amazing job with this; many kudos!
I recommend this game!
Found: A Hidden Object Adventure
After a crash landing, you find yourself stranded on a secret island. As you explore you will meet pirates, discover ruins and so much more in this thrilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
If you loved "LOST"...
PostedMay 12, 2013
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board
Current Favorite:
Found: A Hidden Object Adventure
(342)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
For those who are put off by the hilariously scantily-clad flight attendant, please know that this entire game is a spoof, loosely based on the extremely popular show "LOST." There are dozens of stereotypical characters to meet (pirate, head hunter, snow queen, boy scout, Sherlockian detective, etc) and stereotypical locations to visit (evil scientist's lab, vampire castle, spy submarine, etc) - it's all in fun and all very tongue in cheek.
I've been playing FOUND since it became available for PC and haven't missed a day. It is not your typical adventure. It is not your typical HOG. It is not your typical strategy game. It is all those things rolled into one and surpasses them all. The graphics are beautiful; the gameplay is simple, yet addictive, and the excitement of new updates is not to be missed!
Looking forward to the future of FOUND; it just keeps getting better.
I recommend this game!
Emerald City Confidential
Help Petra explore the seedy underbelly of Emerald City, and find Dee Gale’s missing fiancé. Mysteries abound in this dark tale.
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Twist Ending, Great Characters
PostedJuly 13, 2012
euphoria
fromFlorida
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Enjoyed this immensely. I've read ALL the Oz books and it was a treat to revisit some of the characters I haven't thought of in years. The dialogue was wonderful and witty and the voice acting superb. A game made by clever minds and talented artists!
My only regret is that I didn't notice until 3/4 of the way through the game that I could have increased the "walking speed" of Petra and thus saved time watching as she crossed from one side of the screen to the other. Aside from that, a thoroughly enjoyable experience and highly recommended.