biscuitsmama's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:67,036
- Reviews Submitted:1148
- First Review:July 13, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 16, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Overall rating
2
/
5
Another Sequel Bites the Dust
PostedApril 14, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, California
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
When the first Secrets of the Dark game was released, I thought it was a fun, different and interesting concept and I truly enjoyed the adventure, the story and the gameplay. I found the mechanics of the game to be different and I believe it was one of the first games that I played where we could change our reality by changing the light.
This sequel and the fourth game in the series is terrible. I think it needs a lot of work before it is released or it will fall flat and be another unsuccessful attempt at continuing game after game in a series.
As I mentioned earlier, the first game was wonderful and the second followed the same concept and again was an excellent game. The third game in the series was not nearly as good as the first two and now this horrid mess follows upon the heels of that less than inspiring third game that was released last year. I don't care for the art work, and the story is so jumbled that I can't make heads nor tails of what on earth is going on. IMHO, the developer needs to scrap this game and do some major overhauls before it is ready for market.
I don't recommend this game.
You've returned from school to visit your father at his famous Jazz Pepper Club during Mardi Gras, but everyone is hypnotized. Have they heard the wrong note?
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 16 found this review helpful
Incredible and Refreshing. I Love the Soundtrack
PostedApril 12, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromLost on Bourbon Street
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
All I can say is that this is one of the best games to come our way in quite some time. Cadenza Music Betrayal and Death, picks up the ambience of old New Orleans. Anyone who loves jazz would want to purchase this game if only for the soundtrack and nothing else. Aside from the wonderful music, there is a mystery here of betrayal amongst friends and of revenge - a mystery to be solved by a daughter bent on saving her father from the wrath of dare I say it, the “undead.”
The graphics are very good and depict the flavor of New Orleans circa 1930’s. The game has excellent graphics and very realistic voiceovers. I absolutely love the soundtrack for this game that takes me back to when I lived in the south and some of the wonderful sounds from Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Another bit of good news is that the “Improviser” gameplay selection has truly covered all the bases when it comes to customizing your gameplay choices.
You will find the usual tools but in a departure from what we normally expect, the HOPs are quite different. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun so I will only say that they are a bit different and sometimes challenging to figure out. It is so refreshing to have a game where we finally get to challenge our brains a bit.
The game is loaded with extras and I can honestly say for the first time that I am looking forward to the music in the extras. Aside from the music we have morphing objects and collectibles to find and achievements that can be earned during gameplay. When you play the demo of the game and even when you purchase the CE it is difficult to tell exactly what all the extras are because they are not unlocked until you accomplish certain goals in the game. For me, because of the game’s music, the CE is definitely worth the CE purchase price.
Wow and more wow, I love this game and think it truly deserves the five-star rating. The game developers have created a game that is different from the norm and one that I hope satisfies a wider range of gamers. Bottom line is that I highly recommend Cadenza Music Betrayal and Death but as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
A famous actor has literally stepped off the screen to kidnap your niece. Now you must find a way into the dangerous and exciting world of the film to save her!
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 31 found this review helpful
This One Should Have Been Buried Beneath the Surface
PostedApril 10, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromTrying to get back to reality
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I am a person who doesn’t usually bother writing a review if I don’t care for a game but felt that I wanted to put in my two-cents worth on an incredibly nonsensical game by one of my favorite developers. For this game to be part of the Surface series seems to be quite a stretch of the imagination and a sad departure from the previous games in the series. I can see Surface perhaps because of the two realities the “reel life” as opposed to “reality” but the whole premise of the game was exceptionally odd to me. The story seemed disjointed and just didn’t gel.
Although the graphics were very clear and good quality the characters were cartoonish to a fault. The one great thing that Elephant did with this game was add lip-syncing but that, IMHO, was not enough. The music and soundtrack were okay but not really great. It seems that almost everything about the game fell flat.
You have all the usual tools with an interactive map thrown in that is very necessary because there is a lot of back and forth in the game.
As with most Elephant games, the HOPs were very straightforward HO scenes with very little interaction required to complete the scene. The puzzles were okay but nothing spectacular.
Maybe I am having an off day but I found the gameplay confusing and very ho-hum, it just didn’t make a lot of sense. In fact, I was so happy to see the game end that I was ready to do a happy dance.
Aside from the inclusion of the strategy guide, there is nothing in my opinion that qualifies this game as being worthy of a CE. We collect the hidden flowers and what do we get but access to a secret room where we can play videos of the game.
Sorry Elephant, this is one of the first games that you have presented that I just didn’t care for. Although this version of Surface was a huge disappointment for me, I suggest that you try the demo because it just might be your cup of tea.
I don't recommend this game.
Puzzle your way through Fill-A-Pix or Pic-A-Pix on your quest to restore the Great Tapestries and save Mysteria from darkness!
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
A Beautiful, Entertaining and Challenging Puzzle Game
PostedApril 3, 2014
biscuitsmama
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Mystery Riddles is not usually the type of game that I review but griddler or pictocross type puzzles are some of my favorites. There have been some recent griddler type puzzles that I don’t particularly care for since they have a timer on them and quite frankly I had my fill of time management or working on deadlines before I retired – lol. That being said, what I love about this game and some of the other great mosaic type games is NO TIMER, I play games to relax.
I must admit that when I opened the game I was disappointed because there was no widescreen and I had black bars on the sides. However, after clicking around the home screen I finally found the options by clicking on the gears. I like things spelled out a bit more so I hope the developers take note and include a clear indication of where to change the options in the game. Once I found the options I was able to unclick fullscreen which then allowed the game to fill my laptop screen. Another thing that I found very annoying is that there is no way to skip the tutorial. Since I play these types of puzzle games all the time I know how they work so I would urge the developer to also include a skip tutorial option. The only reason I gave the game four stars rather than five is because of the comments above.
I love Mystery Riddles and will buy it. I love the colorful grids and found the boards very easy to navigate with my mouse. I can see that I have hours of fun and challenge ahead with the game. I highly recommend Mystery Riddles and find that for me at least, it is the perfect game to play when I want a change from the HOPA genre. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Ghostly warnings in the water are terrifying a grieving family. What's causing them, and what really happened to Julia White?
Overall rating
5
/
5
37 of 62 found this review helpful
Another Excellent Fear for Sale Game
PostedApril 3, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSwimming Around in All This Water
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
We play the game as Emma Roberts who investigates paranormal activity and now we have been called upon by Adrian White whose wife Julia was recently killed in a tragic boating accident to help him find out what is happening in and around his home. The water at Adrian’s home seems to have a life of its own and is out of control with water dripping from the walls and pictures in his home. He implores us to help him find out what is causing this terrifying activity. Shortly after we meet with Adrian he is swept away by a wall of water and locked in his basement, now this is where our investigation and the fun begin. Will we be able to solve the mystery of Julia’s death and discover what she is trying to tell us?
The graphics are generally very good but appear slightly grainy and lack the crisp clarity of some other games by this developer. The previous Fear for Sale Nightmare Cinema was a game with excellent crisp graphics but unfortunately that graphics quality seems to be missing from the current game. In this installment of Fear for Sale, the game uses live actors as well as animated or computerized characters so there are lip-synced voice overs which I always like in a game. The sound package is excellent and I didn’t find the music to be intrusive or annoying except when I clicked on the Extras section and the music was horrible. Thank goodness that didn't carry over into the game.
As far as tools we have a diary that contains our objectives as well as notes that will help us as we progress on our adventure. We also have an interactive transporter map that indicates where we have tasks to accomplish. Another unique tool is acquired shortly into the game and I have found it to be quite helpful when confronted by a soggy situation. I find the seashell adds a new dimension to what we usually do with our “helpers”.
All of the HOPs, during the demo at least, were the standard interactive list type and I must say that they were generally piles of junk and that made it difficult to discern the objects to find. If we choose not to look through the piles of stuff, we do have the option to complete a jigsaw puzzle instead – one of my favorite options. As far as the puzzles in the game are concerned none of them are too difficult and some are downright simple. Alas, I guess the new trend in HOPA games is for overly simple puzzles so that the developer doesn’t frustrate those gamers who like easy and don’t want the challenge of solving a difficult puzzle. I wish the devs would include more challenging puzzles in their games because there is always the “skip” option for those who just can’t handle the challenge.
IMHO, we finally have a CE game that is really what I consider CE worthy and justifies the added cost. Fear for Sale Phantom Tide is a game that is fairly loaded with extras that almost borders on overload. We have morphing or beyond objects to find and several collections, each of which has five different objects to locate. Throw in the achievements that are earned during the course of gameplay and we have a CE game that is full of the things that are sure to keep us busy for several hours and challenge us as we make our way through the games.
In conclusion, Fear for Sale Phantom Tide is a solid five-star game and so entertaining that when the demo ended I was surprised because I was so absorbed in the storyline. This is definitely a CE game that I look forward to adding to my game collection and I might add that it is one of those games that I can see myself replaying. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the mist and find your lost brother?
Overall rating
5
/
5
61 of 73 found this review helpful
Beware the Mist!
PostedMarch 29, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromLost in the Mist
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In Bridge to Another World Burnt Dreams we play the game as a man whose brother, Dorian, disappeared into a strange mist twenty years ago, and now our main purpose in life is to investigate strange phenomena in hopes of one day finding out what happened and hopefully to reunite with our brother.
The graphics are terrific and I think very crisp, although sometimes they do appear less than sharp but that may have been intentional for some scenes. It has been a long time since I have heard such wonderful voice overs in a game. Not only are the voice overs excellent but they are lip-synced as well, which is something that all the top developers are now including in their games. The soundtrack is very good and creates just the right atmosphere for the game.
There is a diary that contains objectives as well as notes that will help us as we travel through this mystical and entertaining adventure to find our missing brother. We also have an interactive transporter map that indicates where we tasks to accomplish. I love my dragon that I found shortly into the game and even though some hate their animal helpers, I think that little Drako is extremely cute and useful.
As is the case with the more recent games, we have a variety of HOPs with some being the standard interactive list as well as the silhouette type. I am sure that as I get further into the game there will be other types of HOPs. One thing that is missing though is the option to switch to an alternate to locating the objects in the HOPs. I know that in more recent games we do have match 3 or other types of mini games included in the HOPs if we don't want to find objects. The puzzles are scattered throughout the game and seem to be what we would expect. After all, how many different types of puzzles can game developers think up to keep us entertained. I know there will be moans and groans from those who think games are always the same old, same old but my response to them is that they don’t have to play a game if they don’t like it! I happen to love the HOPA genre and always find something to entertain me even if it is the same old thing - lol.
For the extras (or at least I think they are only in the CE version) we have achievements to earn and collectibles to find. There are 21 collectible creatures that are very difficult to find since they are not obvious. My only suggestion is to click on everything in a scene to see if you can locate a collectible item. The other extras are what we find in all CE games and although I don’t normally use the wallpapers, I might for this game. I also appreciate the ability to be able to replay the puzzles at the end of the game. Sometimes if I am looking for something to pass the time I will go back to my CE collection and replay the puzzles.
Needless to say, I find Bridge to Another World a beautiful and entertaining game. I anticipate that I will have several hours ahead of me where I can be totally immersed in this visual feast. I am so enjoying the creativity of 4 Friends and commend them on their efforts. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Nightmares from the Deep: Davy Jones Collector's Edition
Escape the cold incarceration of Davy Jones' brig and discover the otherworldly origins of his galleon in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
80 of 103 found this review helpful
Can You Save Your Daughter from Her Eternal Pact with Davy Jones?
PostedMarch 27, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSomewhere on the Seven Seas
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In this third installment in the Nightmares from the Deep series you once again will match wits with the infamous Davy Jones. After your two previous brushes with the nefarious old sea dog you are about to reveal the man behind the myth during a presentation at the museum. No sooner have you started the slide show when the old pirate himself shows up and captures you and your daughter once again. Just as you are about to escape his grip, the fiendish old devil manages to trick your daughter into signing a pact with him in order to spare your life. True to form, Davy Jones keeps his word sort of . . . and this is where your adventure begins. Will you be able release Cory from her eternal pact with Davy Jones?
The graphics are excellent, crisp and clear just as I knew they would be – no surprise here with the beautiful scenery and stunning cut scenes. In fact all the technical aspects of the game are excellent - from the lip-synced voice overs to the ambient sound and the music, the game is a total visual and auditory feast.
As you travel on your adventure you have a diary that contains your objectives as well as your notes, and shortly into the game you will receive the map that will help you navigate Davy Jones hidden island.
In what is becoming the norm with most recent HOPA games we have various sorts of HOPs, including the standard list, FROGs and the progressive silhouette. If you don’t care for the HOPs, or if you can’t find an item, you do have the option of switching to a mahjong type matching game. There are puzzles scattered throughout the game that all have varying degrees of difficulty. The ones I encountered during the demo were fairly easy but entertaining. What I enjoyed the most is that the puzzles were well integrated into the gameplay and I didn’t feel like I was stopping just to solve puzzles.
As you play the CE version of the game (at least I believe this is CE content only) you will collect 24 hidden puzzle pieces as well as 12 seahorses 10 pirate cards. The remainder of the CE content is the standard array of useful and not so useful fluff depending on what you like or expect. I happen to like the integrated strategy guide and although I seldom use it, it can be helpful and in most cases it justifies the cost of the CE.
I loved the first Nightmares from the Deep game and found the second one to be almost as good but, IMHO, this third installment is by far the most entertaining and best of the three games. It sometimes seems that games in a series go downhill after the first game but that is not the case with Nightmares. The developer has done a great job building the story of Davy Jones in all of the games. I love the quests we have to complete and, of course, love Davy’s ghostly skeleton crew that presents a lot of humorous fun during the adventure. If you liked the other games in the series I think you will like this one too but as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Will you heed the director’s final casting call?
Overall rating
5
/
5
64 of 87 found this review helpful
Lights, Camera, Action – An Awesome Final Cut and Well Worth the Wait
PostedMarch 22, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Final Cut Homage is the third game in the series and in this offering we are on the tail of a serial killer who is obsessed with our father and his films and who as such is after our family. As our suspect says in the beginning cutscene he is tired of being an extra and wants to “star” in the drama of his creation. With the help of an ally in the person of a reporter, will we be able to stop this killer and save what is left of our family?
The graphics are excellent with the same art deco design and scenery of the two previous games in the series. I love the voiceovers and the creepy voice of our serial killer who taunts us throughout our adventure. It is unique that this game uses a combination of live actors along with their animated likenesses. I really love the way this game has been presented both in graphics and sound. As with the other two games “the projector” serves as our link between reality and the director’s creation. All I can say is that I am so impressed with the talent of this game developer who has presented some excellent games over the past year or two.
We have a diary that contains our notes and objectives as well as a map that we find early in the game. The way we navigate in the game to various locales is with our car but I’m not going to mention how it works because part of the fun is figuring out how to navigate.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. What is unique is that there are HOPs within HOPs and the types within each can vary. Although we have seen these types of HOPs before they are done so very well in Final Cut Homage and add a whole new dimension to HOPA games. Then we have the puzzles which are terrific. Although I didn’t find a lot of puzzles in the demo, the first one was such an excellent maze type puzzle that it had me doing my “happy dance.” I just hope that the puzzles continue to be as much fun in the rest of the game.
In this the CE version of Final Cut Homage, there are achievements to be earned as well as collectibles to find. Once we find all of the collectibles we can find out how to use them at the end of the game. The remainder of the CE content is standard fare with nothing exceptional in the package. That being said, this is a game that I feel is definitely CE quality by recent standards and one I don’t want to pass up.
In the end, this is a spectacular game and the best of the series, IMHO. Although I enjoyed the first game, I wasn’t thrilled by the second one but this third offering has captured my interest, not only in the story but with the gameplay itself. Thumbs up and kudos to the team at EIPIX who has presented a wonderful new HOPA adventure for our enjoyment. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 98 found this review helpful
Wow, a Great Dark Tales Game – Very Creepy at Times
PostedMarch 20, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
No doubt about it, our wonderful Inspector Dupin has finally made another long-awaited appearance. This time he is off to solve the mystery of the enigmatic Usher twins Madeleine and Roderick whose lives mirror each other in sickness and in health. You have been summoned to the Usher estate by a Dr. Morris who has been the twins’ physician over the years and now that Madeleine has gone missing, he is very concerned for the welfare of Roderick. Your task is to find Madeleine as soon as possible and to solve the mystery of the House of Usher.
This is an ERS game so the graphics are very good quality. The voiceovers are quite good but ERS has seemingly taken a step back and has not included lip-synced voiceovers in their past few games. It is sad to see a team that was once at the pinnacle of innovation in game development now take a step backwards. The soundtrack is very much the ERS signature with the music that I liked but what stood out most are the creepy ambient effects in the game. I found myself jumping more than once as I played the demo.
You have a diary that contains your notes as well as the photos that you collect. The interactive transporter map that indicates where you have tasks to accomplish and I find it one of the most valuable tools I can have in a game.
The first HOP I encountered was one where we locate the items based on description, and then there was a scene where we find a certain number of a specific item. There followed the progressive silhouette and the standard interactive list type HOPs, so I would venture to guess that there is something for everyone as far as the HOPs go in this game. If you get stuck in locating the items, or if you don’t want to bother with the HOPs, you can switch to a type of match 3 game. I encountered only a few puzzles during the demo but one of them was very tricky and difficult to get right so I am hoping that this is indicative of the puzzles for the rest of the game.
This installment of the Dark Tales series has some interesting “tools” that you will acquire as you move through the game. Early on you will find photos scattered about and when they are matched with their game locale they will yield an important item for use in the game. You will also find miniature houses that when looked at with a magnifying glass will earn you a reward. Fairly early in the game you will release a very useful helper and no, he/she is not a cute furry little animal. This helper will prove to be very useful given some very stony situations that must be resolved.
Among the tools is a camera that is used to take photos of scenes in the game, which are then saved in an album in our office. Since a complete strategy guide is not included in the demo, I’m not sure what we will be able to do with the photos we take but they may only be part of the CE content for the game, which remains to be seen. I would say that given what I have seen of the demo, this is definitely a game that I will want to have in the CE version. I think that there are so many extras included that bring the gameplay to the higher level that I look for in a CE.
My overall impression is that this is most likely going to be my favorite of all the Dark Tales games thus far. I am thoroughly enjoying the story and the gameplay so I know that this game is an immediate purchase for me. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
A dragon has awoken after a hundred years - and it's after your son.
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 62 found this review helpful
Step Into a Fantasy World of Dragons and Elves
PostedMarch 15, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Although dragons used to dwell in the land it has been a hundred years since they have been seen in the Dark Forest but you soon come face to face with the reality of a mammoth-sized, fire-spewing beast of a dragon that plucks your son from your home before your very eyes, and this is where the adventure begins. You must rescue Tevin from the clutches of the dragon and find out why he was taken. Enter the Dark Forest and travel through a world of elves, dragons, and other mythical characters that you will meet on your journey in a beautiful fantasy land.
The graphics are wonderful and beautiful - just what I expect in a fantasy game. This developer has brought us some of the best fantasy games and always does a wonderful job creating beautiful environments for our enjoyment. The sound package in Emberwing is excellent with music that evokes a wide range of emotions, sometimes being very soothing and at others creating tension and suspense. The one area where the game is lacking is that there are no lip-synced voiceovers (sigh).
I didn’t notice a journal but there is an interactive transporter map that indicates where there are areas of interest or tasks to complete.
During the demo there was only one interactive list type HOP scene with the others being the type where we need to find a certain number of a specific item, and for good measure the developer included the diorama type HOPs that I quite frankly can live without. Since there are a lot of puzzles to be solved I think of Emberwing as more of a puzzle type game, and since I really like puzzles this is fine with me. Unfortunately, although there are a lot of puzzles they are very simple with very little challenge and can be easily solved, but the recent trend has been towards fairly easy puzzles that appeal to a broader audience (sigh).
Recent CEs have been very “light” on extras or what I consider to be CE worthy content, and it doesn’t surprise me that many gamers are waiting for the SE versions to be released. In Emberwing we have fifty collectible medals to find and a smattering of game-based achievements to be earned. Aside from a bonus chapter and the SG there is not much else.
My above comments regarding CE content aside, Emberwing Lost Legacy is a game designed just for me. I have been enamored with dragons since the 70s when I fell in love with the Dragon Rider books and always wished that I could have my own personal dragon. As I played this demo I was able to get lost in the fantasy story and knew that Emberwing would be a definite purchase. For me this is the perfect game with the perfect story but as always, I recommend that try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!