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:
The gates to another world will open soon! You can stop the impending disaster - if you track down the stolen runes!
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
Where Will the Runes Lead You?
PostedMay 9, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The story begins as you are having a nightmare and suddenly awaken in your room. You go downstairs to find a letter from Archbishop Benedict who is an old friend of your grandfather Abraham, urgently asking you to come to St. Peter’s Cathedral to discuss business concerning your grandfather who has been missing for several weeks. The story is very interesting and one of the strong points in the game. I was drawn in and really wanted to continue and find out they mystery behind what is happening in St. Peter’s Cathedral. It won’t be long before you find that there is more than meets the eye in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
The game opened automatically in widescreen on my Windows8 laptop but there are options for fullscreen and widescreen as well as resolution. There are two modes of gameplay – casual or expert. If you prefer, you have the option to select the Windows cursor. The graphics are good but seem a bit foggy and not really crisp – but they change and sometimes they are better than at others, so not really consistent. The graphics are very reminiscent of those in the Empress games for example. The voiceovers are good but seem to be slow. The game’s soundtrack is appropriate for the theme and quite good.
You have a journal, and shortly into the game you will receive a jumpable map that shows you where something needs to be done. Throughout the game you need to find 15 hidden messages. At first the game seems more of an adventure puzzle game but there are iHO scenes as well. There are a couple types of HO scenes, the list and the replace the object in the scene types. In all HO scenes there is no indication that an item might be hidden and I had to click around to find areas that would open. In the list type scenes and item that needed specific interaction to find was listed in a different color. The puzzles are very good and some a bit difficult and because I had to put on my thinking cap, I loved the puzzles.
If you are one who really likes a lot of bonus material in a CE, you won't find it here. Aside from the bonus game and the usual stuff, there are NO morphing objects or achievements.
Unless you are sensitive to the subject matter of demons and the battle between good and evil, I think you will enjoy the game. I recommend you at least try the demo before you decide. IMHO, the story is excellent and makes this an excellent game.
I recommend this game!
Explore the incredible underwater hidden object world of Aquascapes.
Overall rating
5
/
5
61 of 79 found this review helpful
Come Here Little Fishies
PostedMay 8, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
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
Aquascapes is such a relaxing, wonderful little game. I love Fishdom 3 and this is very similar except that to earn money you play a HOG. While in the HO scenes be sure to look for seashells that help you purchase some items in the shop.
The game opened automatically in widescreen on my Windows8 laptop. You can choose to play in either relaxed or timed game mode. Another option is that you can turn on sparkles if you want a bit more help.
This is the perfect HO game for when you want to play during a quick break since there is not a story to follow – just a fun and perfect game that is suitable for everyone in the family. Have fun building your aquarium and caring for your fish!
I recommend this game!
Help Sophia uncover the secret behind the Curse of Laroche Palace and rescue the Royal Family from their magical slumber.
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 68 found this review helpful
May The Force Be With You
PostedMay 7, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Mystery Murders Sleeping Palace begins as you awaken alone in a strange palace and find that everyone else is asleep. You encounter numerous doors and areas that are blocked by a magical force and you must open them to awaken the castle’s inhabitants. It isn’t too long before you figure out that this is a mystery that is loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty theme.
The game opened automatically in widescreen on my Windows8 laptop. There are two modes of play – casual and challenge. The graphics, although lovely and colorful, seem a bit blurry and not crisp. There are voiceovers although there were none during the beginning cut scene and I had a was unable to read all of the dialogue as it quickly disappeared. I got the gist of the story but I am wondering why have voiceovers in the game and none at the beginning when setting the story – odd. There is a journal and a map that is jumpable. I have found that the hint button is virtually useless unless you are in an area where something needs to be done. If you are lost, go everywhere and try using the hint until it works or you.
The game has the requisite HO scenes but they are fairly straightforward. There are many puzzles to be solved and, IMHO, they are the strong point in the game.
After a rash of so many dark themed games of werewolves, vampires, and zombies this is a refreshing change. Since the game is colorful and has a sort of fairy tale atmosphere, I purchased the game. I recommend that you try the demo to see if you like the game as much as I do.
I recommend this game!
Castle: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover
Solving murder has never been so much fun!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 11 found this review helpful
This Book Should Have Stayed on the Shelf
PostedMay 4, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Castle Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover is a mystery type game based on the TV series. Our story starts with a murder where the victim is posed to depict a novel, the first one being Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.
The game opened automatically in widescreen. There are no voiceovers. Although the graphics are very good, the game seems so dated. There are not many options except for two modes of gameplay – rookie and veteran. There is an interactive map but no journal. We do have an evidence board.
This game might be great for beginning players but it is a fairly basic HOPA game. There is some interaction in the HO scenes but again, very basic junk piles. Mini puzzles are not too exciting.
I guess this game will be good for addicted HOPA lovers who have nothing else to play and just need a filler game to get them through.
With your carriage broken, and a wolf nearby, you must find shelter. What awaits you in the village just ahead?
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 46 found this review helpful
Be Wary of the Wolves
PostedMay 2, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Shiver Moonlit Grove is the third game in the Shiver series but it is not necessary to play the others first since it is not a true sequel.
The game starts as you are on your way to take over the medical practice of your step-father who has recently gone missing. While traveling to your new post, you are attacked by a wolf and the story develops from this point. The story is interesting enough to capture my attention and keep me going.
The graphics are good even though a bit dreary with lots of brown and grey tones. This is not a visually “pretty” game but then again, it is “Shiver.” The game has voiceovers and dialog but be warned that if you click your screen while someone is speaking the voiceovers and dialog vanish and you are left wondering what was said. If you miss the dialog, you can go to your diary on the lower right and it will let you know if you missed something important. The Diary also has a tab for tasks to keep you on track. The music and ambient sounds are appropriate and add to the spooky environment of the game. There is no map but I am not sure that it is needed.
Shiver Moonlight Grove has very interactive HO scenes. I found myself wondering what to do in the first HOS after finding the obvious items and had to use the hint button to help me until I caught on – very, very cleverly done interaction. The mini puzzles are not overly difficult but some are a bit challenging and a lot of fun.
I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if you like it. The story is quite interesting and it isn’t long before you will catch the theme.
I recommend this game!
Save yourself from an unknown disease and leave the island!
Overall rating
3
/
5
30 of 36 found this review helpful
Oh Despair!
PostedMay 1, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I thought this sounded like an interesting game and it could have been but, IMHO, didn’t quite make it.
The story seemed interesting but somehow got lost in translation. It looks like the developer possibly wanted to release the game as a CE but never quite reached that goal. There is no strategy guide but I did find an achievements area, which makes me think this may have been intended as a CE. I really wish I could get past some of the distractions that seem to get in the way of making Island of Death enjoyable because there is just a hint that this could be a really good game.
Although the graphics are very crisp and there are voiceovers, the game itself just didn’t ring my bell. There was no option for widescreen but we were offered three modes of gameplay. The music is really okay but there is just SO MUCH rain – constantly. Anyone ever hear of water torture?
Island of Death has interactive HO scenes but the first one was so agonizing that I used the hint button just to get through the thing. Objects were tiny and dark in a junk heap. Although some items were interactive, it was difficult to find where to use them since items are tiny and seemed to fade into the background. I think game developers would do far better with marketing their games if the first HO scene was at least passable. There are mini puzzles in the game that seem promising and fun.
All in all Island of Death seems to miss the mark. That being said, I might use a free punch and get the game just to see if it improves.
Please note, I am only recommending that you try the game to see it you might like it.
I recommend this game!
Explore the zombie island and break an ancient curse! What caused the disaster? Was it a virus or magic?
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 24 found this review helpful
Could Have Been Great!
PostedApril 30, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Mysteries of the Undead Cursed Island has an interesting storyline, which is a good thing because the game itself lacks some of the newer technology that would make the game a lot better. As it is, I don’t think it will generate much interest from seasoned gamers who have come to expect the high-end features that are incorporated into most HOPA games today.
The game has no voiceovers – only written dialog, and if you don’t read fast it disappears before you finish. The music and ambient sounds are very good and fit the creepy atmosphere of the game. There is option for selecting modes of gameplay. The game did open automatically in widescreen without any adjustment required. I don’t like large arrows showing up for navigation from one scene to the next and did find them a bit irritating. The graphics are excellent so it is disappointing that the developer didn’t take the extra effort to incorporate voiceovers. I also found in one scene that the coding for a graphic appeared rather than the description of the item. There is a jumpable map that does show locations where something needs to be done. IMHO, the game could have used some editing before coming to market.
The game is a fairly basic HOPA that would great for beginning gamers who haven’t experienced some of the more recent higher-end games. The HO scenes lacked the indicators that let me know whether an item needed some interaction in order to find an object, so I did a lot of clicking around to stumble on something I might need. Unless there is a walkthrough available, the game might prove frustrating for some gamers. The puzzles are fairly basic and easy.
Given the interesting story, the game is worth the demo.
I recommend this game!
Track down a missing detective and fight an evil curse!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
If You Crave Difficult, Look No Further
PostedApril 28, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
There are so many reviews posted already that I don't need to get into the technical stuff but I want to give my game rating so here goes.
For those of you who have been craving something more in games and want a real challenge, you have just stumbled upon one of the most difficult HOPA games offered recently. I consider myself an expert and I struggled. This is not one of those games that you complete in an afternoon but more like a week of intense play to really solve the game. I love puzzles and we certainly have them with this game.
I am not sure I would recommend this game for beginners as it is one tough game. A beginner might spend most of the time in the strategy guide in order to find out what to do. I admit I even peeked at it when I was stuck and had absolutely no idea of what to do next. There is a hint system that also will lead you in the right direction when lost.
All in all, this is an absolutely excellent game that will keep you on your toes and maybe even provide a little brain burn. Since I had seen the beta of the game, I went ahead and purchased it outright since I knew what to expect. I believe it is certainly worth the money and with a weekend sale it is an absolute value and a must to have in your game library.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
45 of 52 found this review helpful
A Hidden Gem
PostedApril 26, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Every once in a while BFG slips a hidden gem of a game into the mix. Although the game is sort of a match 3 game, it really is more of a puzzle.
It seems that since finding this game yesterday, I have spent hours trying to solve the puzzle of how to make those danged tiles go away. The great thing about this game is that it gets progressively more difficult and one has to think of the best next move.
The game has colorful stones to remove from the board and it also has very calming and lovely background music. I ended up playing this game until 1am because I couldn't tear myself away from solving the mystery of my current level.
If you like match 3 and puzzle type games, I would highly recommend that you give this one a try. What seems deceptively easy for the first levels gets so much better.
I recommend this game!
A murderous figure in a red mask haunts the streets of a small French town, and the mayor needs your help to track him down. But you soon discover that the mysterious Red Masque might not be the real criminal…
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 76 found this review helpful
An Instant Buy For Me. Excellent Game!
PostedApril 25, 2013
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I’ve been waiting for this one since playing the beta and knew right away that this was an instant purchase. Of course I feel that way about every game that comes from the excellent team at ERS. Never have I been disappointed with one of their games.
The Masque of the Red Death begins as our beloved Inspector Dupin is called in to solve a mystery and prevent the death of the town’s mayor by someone who has been killing off his advisors. As with the other Dark Tales games this one is very loosely based on an Edgar Allen Poe classic. If you are a fan of Poe, you won’t find too much in common with the original story. That being said, I always am entertained by the stories in games that come from this developer. The ERS team has a way of holding my interest while providing hours of entertainment in each tale that they spin for my enjoyment.
For those of you who may have had issues in the past with the widescreen presentation in ERS games, I am happy to say that this now seems to be resolved. I know the screen presentation makes a big difference to many gamers so a big thumbs up to ERS on finally resolving this issue. The game runs very well on my Windows8 laptop and I experienced no technical issues.
IMHO, ERS has listened to the comments from BFG members and is clearly on the right path towards making their CE games the TRUE CE value they should be. Masque of the Red Death is loaded with extras. Not only do we have the standards but we can replay the puzzles and HO scenes. There are many achievements to be earned throughout the game – I think I counted fourteen. A nice touch is the camera that not only adds photos to our map but that can be saved to an album for use as wallpapers. There is a journal or diary that contains notes and important information that we gather as we move through the game, and you will find your jumpable map located on one of the diary's tabs. When I was exploring “my office” I came across a wall that has certificates with my name – all kudos from Dupin for assisting him with his other Dark Tales cases. How cool is that!! And, what would an ERS game be without the loveable animals that are always present in their games? In this case we have a cute little kitten who we will supply with items that we find throughout the game.
In Masque of the Red Death the graphics are the usual colorful art scenes that we have come to expect from ERS. The voice-overs and audio are excellent. Of course the music is pretty much the same as in all the ERS games. I guess it is their “branding” and you either love it or hate it. Sometimes it can be annoying and it is the one thing I would change in their games. The HO scenes have some interactive items and some are the silhouette type. What I really like in ERS hidden object scenes is that it is not overly difficult to find most items since they are drawn so well that they truly look like the item we are trying to find. Most of the puzzles that I have encountered are fairly standard and not overly challenging. I love puzzles in a game but I also like them to be solvable and not frustrating – so this game is just right for me.
If you love this developer as much as I do, I recommend that you just go for it and buy the CE. If not, try the demo and hopefully find something you like.
I recommend this game!