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:
Can you stop a mad mayor and his destructive robots?
Overall rating
5
/
5
87 of 130 found this review helpful
THE FALL OF IRON ROCK – A TERRIFIC MYSTERY TRACKERS GAME!
PostedApril 18, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Mystery Trackers returns with The Fall of Iron Rock the 16th game in this long-running series. IMHO, the game is wonderful and it somehow seems reminiscent of Raincliff that was my all-time favorite Mystery Trackers game. In The Fall of Iron Rock you have been sent to the town of Iron Rock to see if you can find agent Redford who disappeared while investigating reports of town residents who possessed paranormal abilities. With your pal Elf by your side, you are on your way to finding the missing agent.
Mystery Trackers would not be the same without Elf and I am always happy to watch his antics as he sets off to retrieve some items that I might need to progress in the game. As another reviewer commented he might not be for everyone but Elf does have a fan base.
Although the game is not difficult it is perfect for the way I like to play but there were times that I did need to use the hint button as I couldn’t figure out where to find something I needed. Of course I play the game with the sparkles turned off so I am not having the constant sparkle hints indicating active areas.
I love the HOPS in the game since the original list type is my favorite. The is also variety included with the HOPS and Mini-HOPS where we find items by silhouette, reading a story, or finding matching pairs. No matter what type of HOP appears in the game it generally includes some interactivity before you can find certain items. Thankfully, the game has a balance between the HOPS and the Puzzles so the game does not seem overwhelmed by one or the other. The Puzzles in the game are excellent and many of my favorites are included in the mix.
Since I don’t want to give away what happens in Iron Rock I will l simply say that it did have a few surprises and the game is one that I recommend you purchase so you can see the whole storyline unfold. I couldn’t wait to buy the game because it is one of the best in the Mystery Trackers series. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if Mystery Trackers The Fall of Iron Rock is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Enter an immersive world in the clouds and restore balance to your civilization!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 38 found this review helpful
SKYLAND HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN IS A TERRIFIC STEAM PUNK GAME
PostedApril 17, 2019
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Skyland Heart of the Mountain is a surprisingly good game. I say surprisingly because I am not generally a fan of steam punk but I found myself absorbed in the gameplay and knew almost immediately that this was a game I would enjoy. The storyline is interesting as a family must band together to defeat an enemy that is destroying their cities.
The graphics are great and create the futuristic atmosphere for the game. The characters are well depicted and the game has excellent voice overs. I am not overly fond of gadgets and I could have easily done without Uncle Leo’s futuristic glove. I personally found the mini-game that was attached to using the glove a bit annoying but thankfully I didn’t need to use it very often.
The HOPS contain variety with some being list type while others rely on silhouettes or finding various shapes. I found none of the HOPS to be difficult and they were enjoyable. The Puzzles were not too difficult except that I disliked the one attached to the glove. By the time I finished the game I did find that there were far too many puzzles and sometimes it seemed that they were simply thrown into the game as time fillers. Although I found most of the HOPS and Puzzles to be rather middle of the road as far as challenge, I did find that I was not always sure what my next steps in the game should be and that kept the gameplay interesting.
Skyland Heart of the Mountain is for me an excellent game but that doesn’t mean that everyone will share my opinion. As I mentioned earlier, I purchased the game right away because I did enjoyed the demo and I had to keep playing. Even though the game is perfect for me, please try the demo to see if you will enjoy Skyland as well. Happy gaming!
Can you find Gulliver and escape Lilliputia in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
51 of 67 found this review helpful
GULLIVER SYNDROME IS ANOTHER AMAZING BRIDGE TO ANOTHER WORLD
PostedApril 14, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromHere is a game that has everything I love in HOPA games – creative HOPS and not an overwhelming amount of puzzles. Everything is perfect for me.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Since this review of Bridge to Another World Gulliver Syndrome is a day late, I am not going to have much to say that hasn’t already been said in other reviews. I’m going to simply say that I loved this game. I have played through the whole game and found it to be wonderful, including the storyline.
As many of you may already know, I have asked for quite some time that games are not overloaded with puzzles or mini-games but that they are at least equal in number to HOPS. 4Friends Games got it right with this game as it is not overwhelmed with puzzles at every turn and that the puzzles are almost equal in number to the HOPS. So, a huge thank you to a developer who listens to what gamers want included in HOPA games.
When I began to play the game I found the HOPS to be very creative. One of the first ones is a spin on one from another game by this developer and although it isn’t exactly the same, it is just as enjoyable. There were so many small touches in the game that made it a graphic delight for me and the way I like to play. I tend to be a slow player because I always become so immersed in the graphics and every little detail to be found in the different scenes. 4Friends is a developer who does an awesome job with creating their games that I always have to gawk at every scene to see what I can find and mostly what I don’t want to miss.
Not only were the HOPS excellent, IMHO, but so were the mini games. I loved the first one where I had to trap the donkey – how fun! And then when the donkey brays and I see his teeth that are so detailed I had to laugh. The entire game has been a delight for me and one that I will replay many times in the future.
My thanks and kudos to BFG and to 4Friends for Bridge to Another World Gulliver Syndrome. As always, even though I loved this game I recommend that you try the demo to see if it is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you find the truth hidden behind the castle walls?
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 35 found this review helpful
A JEALOUS YOUNGER BROTHER AND A MURDER SET THE SCENE FOR AN EXCELLENT GAME
PostedApril 12, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromAlways on the outside and never living up to big brother must be difficult
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Whispered Secrets Cursed Wealth is the ninth game in the series. It’s been almost a year since the last game and after playing the beta I’ve been waiting for Cursed Wealth to be released. Although there is a ghost in the game, it is more of a mystery type game rather than another evil entity waiting to take over the world or to reincarnate.
The storyline is interesting with the death of a bride beginning the game. As a detective and a friend of the grieving widower you are on your way to Masonville to help solve the mystery. Was the death accidental or was it murder? You will need to play this excellent game to find the answers.
The overload of puzzles early in the game was a bit of overkill and I wasn’t sure that I would purchase it. It seemed like I was playing a puzzle at every turn before I could make any real progress. Get off the train and find Lord Abel’s secretary – play a puzzle, collect my luggage – play a puzzle, saddle my horse play yet another puzzle, and the list goes on. I do enjoy puzzles but not when there are twice as many as there is HOS. The puzzles are very easy but they do pick up and have at least some challenge at times. It seemed to me that the developer jumped onto the “we want more puzzles” bandwagon and just popped them in at random as game stretchers. Now that I got that off my chest, I can say that Cursed Wealth is an excellent game and one that I did enjoy even though there are more puzzles than HOS.
HO scenes are what I enjoy the most in HOPA games; well those and the storyline. Others might like the puzzles more than the HOS but it would be nice to find a more equal amount of each so all gamers can enjoy each game. Even though there are not many HOS in the game they are very entertaining with just the right amount of variety. As I mentioned above there are a lot of puzzles with most being very easy. There are a few more challenging puzzles but the game is in no way a brain drain. This is an entertaining game that flows well and kept me involved.
The graphics are excellent and colorful without being garish. The characters are well depicted and don’t seem to be too cartoonish. The gameplay moves along at a good pace and doesn’t seem to get bogged down with minutiae.
Whispered Secrets has for the most part been a series that I have always enjoyed and Cursed Wealth is quite good. If you enjoy a good mystery game with a touch of the paranormal then you will most likely enjoy this game. If you want to get your money’s worth with a game, this CE has not only one but two bonus chapters. I purchased the game right away because from the beta I knew it was a keeper for me. Even though I really like Cursed Wealth, please try the demo to see if it is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Solve Match 3 puzzles and help the tree dwellers return to their home in the newest addition to the Quadrium series.
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 41 found this review helpful
QUADRIUM III IS EXCELLENT AND SO MUCH FUN
PostedApril 10, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I think Quadrium is such a terrific puzzle game. Although it is listed as a Match 3 game it can be either Match 2 or 3 depending on how you set up your game. I enjoyed the first game and had a difficult time tearing myself away. Then came Quarium II and it left me flat and bored with nothing to really grab me at all. Today’s game Quadrium III is excellent and I’ve had a hard time tearing myself away all morning. Quadrium III comes with some new extras such as wooden blocks and glass baubles or shapes that need to be removed. On top of that we have crystals to collect. It is terrific how such little changes make all the difference.
At this point, I’m simply going to recommend that you try Quadrium III to see if you will be as hooked as I am on this terrific game that makes you think and plan ahead. Great game. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
Get ready for the most exciting Un-Hidden Object games you will ever play!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
CLUTTER 1000 IS AMAZING AND CREATIVE
PostedApril 8, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI can't seem to stop playing this wonderful new Clutter
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Just when I thought I had seen it all with Joe’s creativity he comes up with Clutter 1000. Clutter 1000 is a terrific game that is different from the previous Clutter games that most of us love. This one is different in appearance but once you figure it out, you will realize that this is Clutter on steroids. Joe has created so much with Clutter 1000 that it will keep Clutter addicts happy and playing for hours. Clutter 1000 was definitely worth the wait because this one is terrific.
Although there are other clutter type games out there, most are simply the same old thing and none are from the Clutter master. Joe keeps raising the bar with each new entry in his Clutter series as he thinks up new things to keep the fun coming our way.
I will admit that there is a bit of a learning curve with Clutter 1000 because this one is definitely different. At first I was scratching my head and not understanding what I should do. I began clicking around the home screen and then the light bulb came on and I figured it out. Gosh there are so many different Clutter screens that I am not sure which I like the best. I found the boards with the Smileys a bit more difficult but they are some of my favorite to play. Just when I thought the smileys were fun, I then get to the board with the spinning circles that is terrific even though I thought my eyes were going to cross. That screen might not be for everyone but if you try it, you just might be hooked.
Even though I think that Clutter 1000 is probably one of the best Clutter games ever, please try the demo to see if you will enjoy it as well. Happy gaming Clutter friends!
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the hidden city and save your mom in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 52 found this review helpful
JUST IGNORE COLLINS AND THE GAME GETS BETTER
PostedApril 7, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromHmmm, why does this island only appear once every twenty years?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wanderlust The City of Mists was, initially, a disappointment compared to the first game in the series. I found the comic relief of Collins to be rather annoying when I played the beta for the game and when I tried the demo there he was again with his irritating bag of tricks. However, in order to give the game a fair chance I continued on and to my surprise I found the game to be far better than my initial reaction. By the time I reached the island I was rather hooked on the game so I decided to go ahead and purchase it so I could continue playing.
Perhaps I would have enjoyed the game a bit more if Collins had been portrayed as a more mature character rather than one who was rather full of himself but he does redeem himself a bit later in the game. We do have a tool kit that I felt was a bit of a gadget as it jiggled around on the side of my inventory bar when it should be used. I am guessing the developer didn’t think I could figure out that I needed a certain tool when a rope should be cut.
Simply because some gamers happen to enjoy puzzles in HOPA games, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the HOS should be any less important. I happen to enjoy terrific HOS – yes, even the old school list type and I want the items to actually represent what must be found. I am so tired of this new trend of brown items melting into a background in order to make a HOS seemingly more difficult. Please developers return to great HOS and stop with all these storybook scenes. I love interactive, list scenes and can do without all of the storybook type where we must find an item according to a word on a page. Honestly, the HOS in The City of Mists were some of the worst scenes I’ve found in a game. I’ve become tired of dark and drab decaying buildings and generally lackluster HOS which is why I have only purchased maybe half of the HOPA games released since last October. Up until that time, I had purchased every CE HOPA since they began in 2009.
The mini-games or puzzles were actually much better than the HOS, proving that this is where most developers are putting their energy when designing games. Even though I prefer quality HOS to an abundance of mini-games, I did enjoy the ones in The City of Mists. Of course there were a couple of puzzles that I skipped. I don’t recall previously ever seeing the puzzle where I needed to place navigation triangles onto a map to determine a location. That was a rather fun puzzle even though it took some time to get it right. Overall I enjoyed the puzzles more than the lackluster HOS in the game.
The storyline and the gameplay are what sold me on the game and those are what kept me playing. After a rather annoying start to the game it became more enjoyable as I found The City of Mists. In the end I found that this Wanderlust is a terrific game and one that I hope you will enjoy as well. As always, please try the demo and give the game a chance. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Solve a series of devious puzzles to escape Arcana manor and uncover the dark secrets of the mysterious magician once lived there.
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 53 found this review helpful
A PUZZLE GAME THAT WILL KEEP YOU HAPPILY ENTERTAINED FOR HOURS IF NOT DAYS
PostedApril 6, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromHappily solving puzzles as I search for the 13 keys
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana is an amazing Puzzle game. Although it has a Hidden Object designation it is definitely more of a puzzle than hidden object game. As you may know I am not a huge fan of having far too many puzzles in HOPA games BUT with The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana being what I consider a Puzzle game I love it. Now these are the types of puzzles that I love to solve. Yes, I am looking around for bits and pieces to help me solve them I still don’t consider it to be a HO game.
Everything about The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana is high quality and amazing. The graphics are rich and the voiceovers are incredible. Wow, Monolith Graphics created a masterpiece with this one!
The puzzles in the game require some thought to solve but if you find yourself stuck, there is an excellent journal and then you can find additional help in the Cheater’s Compendium that is included in the Extras section. If you enjoy puzzles where you need to use your brain instead of your fingers to twist this or that then you are sure to enjoy this game.
We don’t often see a terrific game like The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana here at BFG and I hope that we see more like this in the future. Even though I am now a fan of this developer and this wonderful game, as always I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is one you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
Your friend was taken. Are you brave enough to find him?
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 160 found this review helpful
THIS ENDLESS FABLES WAS WORTH THE WAIT
PostedApril 6, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromPutting an end to the nightmares as I help Agnes find her brother
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Endless Fables Shadow Within is the fourth game in the series and, IMHO, it is the best. Twenty years ago when your father was doing some archaeological research in Mittenwald your childhood friend Hans disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Now you receive a letter from his sister Agnes asking you to return to Mittenwald and help her search for Hans.
The Endless Fables has not been one of my favorite series but Sunward Games has nailed it with this graphically beautiful game. Everything about the game is quality from the gorgeous graphics, voiceovers and well-told storyline. It didn’t take long before I was immersed in the game and had to buy it so I could continue. The game is a long with five chapters, a bonus chapter, and a fifty-six page Strategy Guide. If you choose the custom mode, when setting up the game, you will find that the times pre-set for hints and skips is better than most.
The HOPS are excellent but most of them seem to be finding certain numbers of items but those items require some interaction to find and are not always easy to spot. There is variation with the style including storybook, find matching pairs, and even the list type that I prefer. The scenes are well-crafted and not always easy to complete without using the hint button. I’m not sure of the ratio between HOPS and Mini-games but it seems that they are fairly balanced as I didn’t notice being overwhelmed with Mini-games as I played. Although we can replay the Mini-games and HOPS in the Extras section, those features don’t open until the entire game including the Bonus games have been completed so I’m not sure without going page by page through the SG exactly how Mini-games are included. Even though I don’t know the exact number, I really enjoyed the ones I encountered as I made my way through the game. Some were a bit tricky but I was able to solve them without too much difficulty.
The gameplay was excellent with lots of items to find as I made my way through the storyline. It was not always immediately apparent where some found item should be used and I seemed to cart some around with me for quite some time. Although there is some back and forth in the scenes I don’t see that as a bad thing. I happen to enjoy a game that is not strictly linear where I find something and then use it within a few minutes.
Overall the game is excellent and one, that to my surprise, I enjoyed a lot. I haven’t always been a fan of the Endless Fables series but Shadow Within is an excellent game. Even though I find this game to be perfect for me and the way I enjoy playing, please try the demo to see if Endless Fables Shadow Within is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a dangerous game from taking more lives?
Overall rating
2
/
5
70 of 106 found this review helpful
ANOTHER COOKIE-CUTTER GAME WITH A REHASHED THEME
PostedApril 4, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI'm running away as fast as I can from cookie-cutters and objectionable themes
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Mystery Tales Dealer’s Choice is the latest in the popular Mystery Tales series but unfortunately it has cookie-cutter written all over it. It took only about five minutes to know the gist of the story – someone stealing souls in order to bring a beloved back to life after a tragic accident. The game begins with your friend Virginia receiving an invitation from William Gladstone the billionaire owner of a gambling cruise ship. What could be better than a relaxing vacation with your best friend as you play the onboard games of chance?
This developer always provides us with long games that are filled with extras and for the most part excellent gameplay. My issue with Dealer’s Choice is that I dislike a game where the premise is to steal the gamer’s soul. I find this theme in games much more difficult to accept than a good old cloak and dagger mystery theme. I wonder when developers will use their amazing creativity to come up with something other than soul thieves and demonic entities. This gamer is rather burned out by the same old rehashed storylines.
Not only is the storyline a rehash but Dealer’s Choice is simply puzzles, puzzles, and then more puzzles. Yes, the puzzles are fun and some are challenging even when the “easy” mode is selected. The puzzles were enjoyable but there were simply far too many of them with twice as many puzzles than HOPS in the game. Even though a few squeaky wheels seem to demand more puzzles in HOPA games, there are still many of us who play hidden object games because we love HOS.
The HOS are very good and they are well-crafted, some are even very creative. I found them very enjoyable but wish there had been more rather than finding a puzzle at almost every step in the game. As mentioned earlier the puzzles are very good with some of my favorites included in the mix.
The overall gameplay was excellent and there were a lot of activities to keep me busy. Even though some items were used almost immediately after they were found. Several lived in my inventory to be used later in the game and I had to remember exactly where I had seen the locations where they should be used.
Mystery Tales Dealer’s Choice is an excellent game that many of you will love but for me it was simply another cookie-cutter game with a theme that I didn’t like. Please try the demo to see if this game is for you. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.