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:
Discover a lost Slavic legend, where love is greater than death!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 98 found this review helpful
OH NO, JENNY'S IN TROUBLE
PostedMarch 7, 2017
biscuitsmama
from"Mirror, Mirror on the wall” – oh wait, that is a different story.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Another great SE game this week and they are both from the same developer. In Eventide 2: Sorcerer’s Mirror you must save your niece from an evil sorcerer who wants to use her for his nefarious purpose. While scaling a dangerous cliff, you and Jenny are almost killed but even worse, Jenny is kidnapped and now you must find her at all cost.
It looks like Sorcerer’s Mirror was originally designed for release as a CE since there are collectibles to be found during your adventure. The graphics tend to be a mixed bag with some of them being hand-drawn while others seem to be computer generated. Overall, aside from the coloration, the graphics are excellent. The game offers a custom setting but you cannot turn off the misclick penalty so I don’t really see the point. When the game begins you are told that the choices you make along the way will change the game’s outcome. You have an interactive map to help you during your adventure as well as a Journal that includes notes, tasks and a Herbarium that identifies rare plants.
Although many of the HOS are fragmented object scenes (FROGs) there is still some variety to be found. I happened to like the scenes as most objects were easy to spot and not dreadfully small as those in a recent game that almost made me crazy. The scenes are well-designed and enjoyable to play.
Although many of the HOS are fragmented object scenes (FROGs) there is still some variety to be found. I happened to like the scenes as most objects were easy to spot and not dreadfully small as those in a recent game that almost made me crazy. The scenes are well-designed and enjoyable to play.
Yes, the puzzles are very easy but there are times when I enjoy easy puzzles. I am a puzzle lover and look forward to them in HOPA games but I enjoy a mix of moderate to challenging puzzles in a game. If the puzzles are all too easy then they quickly become rather boring. I am hopeful that the puzzles will increase with difficulty as I move through the game.
There is no strategy guide but the game includes wallpapers, music, concept art, videos, and replay of HOPS and Mini-games. All in all the game has everything that most CEs include aside from the SG and Bonus game.
I am finding the gameplay to be quite enjoyable. Even though the storyline is nothing new it is interesting and well-told. I happen to enjoy games from this developer so I purchased the game right away this morning with one of those free coupons I acquire for purchasing CE games. Please try the demo to see if Eventide 2: Sorcerer’s Mirror will be a keeper for you as well.
I recommend this game!
Can you save reality from the Imaginary World?
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 13 found this review helpful
FIND, ANALYZE AND NEUTRALIZE THE DANGEROUS ARTIFACT
PostedMarch 7, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromWho would have guessed that being a Keeper would be such a tough job!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
You play this second game in the Keeper of Antiques series, The Imaginary World, as Alexandra who agreed to continue her Uncle Pau’s work as a Keeper of Antiques. It’s a good thing that we now have you on the job when an artifact becomes activated and triggers a catastrophic event that is allowing strange creatures and plants from another dimension into our world. The current events certainly look bleak but with help from the Keeper’s Device, a tool that is designed to locate, analyze and neutralize artifacts, along with a few other tools that you might just have up your sleeve, there is no doubt that you can save the world. Well, off course, you must find the Keeper’s Device first, and so another saga in the Keepers of Antiques series begins.
There are four modes of game play offered so that you can select the one that best suits the way you like to play a game: Casual, Normal, Hard, and Custom. If you select the Custom mode the hints recharge in a range of 10 to 35 seconds, and the puzzle skips in a range of 10 to 50 seconds.
There are four modes of game play offered so that you can select the one that best suits the way you like to play a game: Casual, Normal, Hard, and Custom. If you select the Custom mode the hints recharge in a range of 10 to 35 seconds, and the puzzle skips in a range of 10 to 50 seconds.
The graphics are drenched in a lot of blue and pink tones that seem to be used almost exclusively in this game. Not only is there an overabundance pink and blue in the graphics, they often appear misty or fuzzy as they were in the early games in the Witches’ Legacy series. The voice overs are okay but they are rather flat, lack emotion and at times are slow or drawn out. Your tools include the customary transporter type map that provides a gold star when you have located all of the collectibles, morphing objects and puzzle pieces in a scene. Another tool is the Keeper’s Device that will help you find and neutralize dangerous artifacts. Of course, it is one of those tools that will need to be periodically recharged by playing a mini-game.
The HOPS are varied and interactive but nothing really new. If you are familiar with other games from this developer I am sure you have seen the types of HOPS they include in their games. I happen to love the games from this developer and find their HOPS creative and, most importantly, fun to play.
The HOPS are varied and interactive but nothing really new. If you are familiar with other games from this developer I am sure you have seen the types of HOPS they include in their games. I happen to love the games from this developer and find their HOPS creative and, most importantly, fun to play.
The puzzles or mini-games are not difficult even though there is one early in the game that was tricky and had me stumped until I finally got it. After playing another CE this week that was puzzle heavy, I am happy to find a game with bit more balance between HOPS and puzzles. The puzzles in The Imaginary World are far more enjoyable and not the frustrating toggle/spin types that I happen to dislike.
If you prefer the CE version of games this one includes morphing objects, collectible items, and puzzle pieces to find located in the various scenes in the game. If you love earning the achievements then you will be happy that there are 18 of them in this game with many of them being multi-part. Other extras include the standard fluff such as wallpapers, artwork, screensavers and soundtrack, a bonus chapter, and a 47-page strategy guide. This developer always includes a ton of extras in their CE games so they are a very good value if you happen to love finding extra goodies and taking advantage of the in-game strategy guide.
The Keeper of Antiques 2 the Imaginary World is not, IMHO, as good as the first game but maybe I feel that way because I am becoming a bit tired of fantasy games and would like to see a bit of variety with some mystery or sci-fi games in the mix since a steady diet of one thing becomes rather boring. That being said, although this is not a stand-out game it is still quite good. When writing my reviews I try to remember that there are always new gamers who have not played as many HOPA games as some of us and they are probably as enthusiastic over the HOPA genre as I was many years ago. So in deference to some of the newer gamers I will say that The Keeper of Antiques 2, the Imaginary World is a game full of discovery, great gameplay, and a lot to do. All in all it is a very entertaining and enjoyable game with an interesting storyline. As always I suggest that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
A malevolent monster is causing accidents in Universe City!
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 36 found this review helpful
STOP THE LETHAL PREDICTIONS AND SAVE THOSE YOU LOVE
PostedMarch 7, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromThings have gone crazy and it is up to you to stop them
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It has been less than a year since the first Edge of Reality game The Ring of Destiny was released and since I enjoyed it, I have been eagerly waiting for a sequel. However, when I beta tested the game for BFG, I had mixed feelings on whether it could live up to that first game but I decided that since there is a good 2fer sale, to go ahead and purchase Lethal Predictions. Although there are some things that I am not too sure I like, I still find the game to be very good.
The artistic style and the graphics are colorful and quite clear with only a bit of mistiness when the artists felt it was needed. One of the things that I find annoying is that some of the voiceovers are very slow and dragged out, making them seem painful. Your tools include the integrated map and a special bracelet that you receive early in the game. As is usually the case with special tools, its use is accompanied by a puzzle to solve.
The HOPS are my favorite type being mostly list with a bit of interaction. There is some variety included but, happily for me, the developers stayed with tradition. The puzzles are mildly challenging at times but for the most part they are not brain-numbing difficult.
There are some good extras in the CE version of the game along with the standard stuff such as achievements, concept art, wallpapers, screensavers, music, videos, replay of HOPS and puzzles, a bonus chapter and the strategy guide. Some of the collectibles to be found are quite hard to spot, and, yes, I did cheat when there was one that I absolutely could not find.
Although not everyone will like the game, it was perfect for me. We have yet another rainy wet weekend here so Lethal Predictions is the perfect way for me to spend the day since I can’t be out in my garden. Even though I have played HOPA games for over ten years, I still found places in Lethal Prediction where it was a bit difficult and I couldn’t find what I needed to do to progress. There are some gamers who might become bored with the game but I love it and am enjoying gawking at everything I see. Because I really enjoyed the first Edge of Reality game I hope that Lethal Predictions lives up to my expectations but thus far, I find it entertaining. Maybe because I am a dog lover with my own personal pack of Yorkies and a Chihuahua, I find the antics of Uni enjoyable to watch. Who could help but love a dog with big droopy eyes who wants to play at every turn? Edge of Reality 2: Lethal Predictions is, IMHO, a wonderful game but please try the demo to see if it is a game you will enjoy as well.
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue her from a mysterious monster in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 20 found this review helpful
ONE MORE TIME RICHARD AND IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO GO AWAY!
PostedMarch 7, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromI am so tired of sequels, I am so tired of sequels – did I really say I am tired of sequels?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Yes Aunt Gray, you are off to save yet another or your relatives as your niece finds herself in trouble in game number twelve of the Grim Tales series, Graywitch. While researching a distant relative, Victor Gray, Stacy disappears and it is up to you (with the help of your dearly departed and I might add annoying grandfather Richard) to save her. As the story unfolds, do you really want to know more about Victor Gray and his beloved wife?
As is the case in games from the Mammoth, the graphics are excellent and crystal clear. Even those scenes that might be dark and dreary out of necessity are crisp and easy to see. The game offers the usual four modes of play, one of which is the custom mode where hints and skips recharge in a range of 15 to 90 seconds depending on your preference. Your tools include an interactive map. Richard is around to help you periodically and to give you items that you might need during your adventure.
As is the case in games from the Mammoth, the graphics are excellent and crystal clear. Even those scenes that might be dark and dreary out of necessity are crisp and easy to see. The game offers the usual four modes of play, one of which is the custom mode where hints and skips recharge in a range of 15 to 90 seconds depending on your preference. Your tools include an interactive map. Richard is around to help you periodically and to give you items that you might need during your adventure.
Since there are many other reviewers who provide every detail of a game, I am not going to duplicate their efforts. I will only say that I did find the HOPS and the puzzles quite enjoyable. There is variety found with both the HOPS and puzzles but I’ve seen it all before.
With Graywich being game number twelve in the Grim Tales series, I am wondering if we see endless sequels because developers find it easier to include artwork and other details from the previous games or, perhaps, it might be Felix, who is demanding sequels to generate sales based on previous profitability. Whatever the reason, I think there should come a time when the developer or Felix realize that enough is enough. Even though I am personally over the edge with this series and wish it would take Richard and go to that game graveyard in the sky, I have to say that Graywitch is a terrific game and still enjoyable, more so for those who are new to the genre. So why did I give the game a high rating? Simply because, not everyone will be as tired of the series thing as I am, and the game is great, but just not for me. This developer knows how to tell a story and how to craft a top-notch game. Although I think the game is excellent, I am still on the fence about purchasing yet another sequel in the BFG library. It really is time for a “breath of fresh air” and some new ideas to grab those of us who have been HOPA addicts for years. As always, please try the demo because Grim Tales Graywitch might just be the game you love.
I recommend this game!
Investigate the secrets hidden in the shadows of the throne!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 64 found this review helpful
NOW WHERE DID I PUT MY ALCHEMY KIT?
PostedMarch 6, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromA dab of this and a dab of that will solve most problems
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Every once in a blue moon, BFG gifts us with a wonderful SE game on a Monday when we can take full advantage of those game club member free codes that we acquire. This doesn’t happen often and it makes a terrific game like Lost Grimoires Stolen Kingdom seem like a gift.
Get your alchemy kit ready to create some potions and solve a mystery in the process. As a child your father left the family and then your mother passed away so you were left without a family. A master alchemist stepped in and raised you and taught you as you grew. After going off to the Alchemy University you return home to tumultuous events that leave you shaken. Now is the time to pull yourself together and use the tools you learned while you were away.
I happen to love this developer and games. Now with Lost Grimoires Stolen Kingdom they return with a wonderful game where we can have an entertaining time mixing potions and solving mysteries. The graphics are gorgeous and the storyline, although nothing new, is well-told.
The HOPS are creative and I did find some items difficult to find particularly in the first scene that is devoted to finding objects by solving riddles. I must admit that I didn’t get some of them and had to use the dreaded hint button to finish the scene.
The puzzles are not difficult but I am not one of those gamers who really cares for mind-numbing puzzles but do like some challenge along the way. As with most games, I am sure the puzzles will be a bit more difficult later in the game.
Thank you BFG for a fun SE game that is a step above those we normally see on a Monday or Tuesday. Now I am going back to making potions that will get me through the rest of the game. As always, please try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
A locked room murder awaits you! Was the killer human or something else?
Overall rating
5
/
5
47 of 51 found this review helpful
A MYSTERY WITH SOME TWISTS AND TURNS
PostedMarch 6, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Mystery of the Ancients Sealed and Forgotten is game number six in the series. I loved this game and at the time of this review I have played the entire game and am considering replaying it simply because it was very enjoyable. IMHO, Sealed and Forgotten lives up to the promise of the first two games in the series that were excellent, with Curse of the Blackwater probably being my favorite. In this game you, a paranormal investigator, have been called to the scene of a murder where the victim has been found in a locked room with no other exit. As you begin to investigate, the unbelievable happens and you are marked with an icy, burning rune. Now the race is on to solve the murder and to find a way to stop the “curse” from spreading.
The graphics are excellent with a sound package that completes the overall experience. I happen to love the character of Donovan who is a look alike for a popular TV crime scene investigator and I am sure that many of you noticed the resemblance as well. Your tools include an interactive map and a very cute little tree who will act as your helper or not. The developer has provided an option for you to opt out of having the helper accompany you on your journey if you want to go it alone. I happen to think the helper is rather cute and I do enjoy his antics whenever I want him to help me acquire an item or perform a task.
The HOP scenes are for the most part quite good and very creative. I always enjoy the list type scenes the most but this game includes a wide variety of scene types and some I don’t care for quite as much.
The puzzles were good but generally easy. There were a few puzzles that took more time to complete and then there were one or two that I skipped just because I didn’t care for them. All in all, even those who are not huge puzzle fans will probably enjoy this game. If you don’t care for the puzzles, there is a skip button available.
The CE version of the game includes all of the standard extras such as the strategy guide, bonus game, wallpapers, concept art, music and videos. I enjoyed searching for the collectible clovers with some of them being very obvious and others quite difficult to spot. The figurines are fairly easy to find as well and I did manage to find all of them as well as most of the clovers.
The game’s storyline was so interesting and held my attention throughout the game. I will only tell you that there are some twists and turns at the end of the game that I didn’t expect and that made it much more fun. Given the HOPs and puzzles the game is one that I can recommend as being a very good 5-star game. We all happen to like different things so please try the demo to see is you might enjoy this game as well.
I recommend this game!
Can you give Romeo and Juliet the happy ending they desire?
Overall rating
1
/
5
7 of 13 found this review helpful
AN UNBELIEVABLE ROMEO AND JULIET
PostedMarch 6, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromOh Romeo, I don’t need my stiletto so just use it as a screwdriver
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The Dark Romance games have always been rather hit or miss for me and this one is really a miss by a mile. The storyline is just unbelievable and poorly told. To say I disliked the game would be an understatement.
The game developer is one who has quickly risen to the top tier of BFG game developers with some very creative offerings but Romeo and Juliet is certainly not one of them. The back and forth between Romeo and Juliet was annoying and disrupted the flow of the game.
At the time of this writing, I played the entire game and trust me it took a lot of patience for me to continue until the game was completed. If you are searching for a great game to play, I would definitely suggest you look elsewhere since Dark Romance Romeo and Juliet is probably one of the not so great games in the vast BFG HOPA category.
Although the graphics were good, items were so out of line with the time period setting. For instance Juliet handing Romeo a stiletto high heel that she no longer needs is just unbelievable. I would suggest that not only this developer but others pay more attention to the items they insert in their games. HOPA games could be a learning experience for many younger gamers but using items that are so out of timeline is teaching them something that is not true.
As a CE the game had all of the collectibles and other fluff you could hope to find. So if you decide to suspend your sense of reality and play the game, you might enjoy the CE.
In the end, the game is another of the recent HOPA offerings that is just not worth the download time.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow Collector's Edition
A dark illness has befallen the townspeople of Anaben!
Overall rating
2
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
ANOTHER DARK PARABLES GAME RUINED
PostedMarch 6, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromThis will be my last Dark Parables game until the new team "gets it".
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The original Dark Parables games were among my favorite games and still are. I have played the Dark Parables games by the original developer over and over again. Unfortunately when the developer decided to no longer create the games and passed them off to another BFG developer, they started to lose their luster. At one time the games were full of gorgeous FROG scenes that were so much fun to search but that is no longer the case.
The first DP game created by the new team was very good but they have continued to go downhill with each new offering. The FROGs are now drab and loaded with indistinguishable fragments that often look nothing like their depiction in the search box. In this latest game, even with my 32" monitor, the items are so tiny and so drab that the only way to make it through the scenes is to virtually click every little item in the scene. I decided that this will be my last Dark Parables game purchase until this developer "gets" it and actually tries to emulate the scenes in the original games.
Enter the puzzles in the game which are dreadful. Most of the puzzles are doable but there is a horrid piano puzzle that is virtually impossible even when following the poorly written instructions in the strategy guide. In spite of many complaints in the forum, the developer has made no attempt to correct the technical issues with the game or submit an update that includes a skip button for the piano puzzle. Had it not been for the piano puzzle I would have been enticed to move forward but as it currently stands, I cannot complete the game.
A colossal disappointment and waste of time. My advice - run away as fast as you can until there is an update offered for the game.
I don't recommend this game.
Open a puzzle box to unlock four extraordinary worlds!
Overall rating
5
/
5
83 of 107 found this review helpful
THIS ONE MIGHT BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST GAME IN THE SERIES
PostedFebruary 18, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromI've been waiting almost two years for this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Today we finally have the second game in the Subliminal Realms series, The Call of Atis, a sequel that I have been waiting almost two years to see. When Subliminal Realms the Masterpiece was released in 2015 I thought it was one of the best games thus far in that year. I think I enjoyed every minute of playing through the painting portals and solving puzzles along the way. Now in the Call of Atis the game is much better.
Albert is on a diving trip when he finds an object that is definitely much more than he should handle. You play the game as his fiancé, Samantha, who just happens to be nurse at the hospital where Albert is recovering from his accident. After assuring Samantha that everything is okay, Albert is whisked away through a portal and Samantha is off to rescue her man.
Although the graphics might appear cartoonish to some, I still find them okay because the hand-drawn artwork in the scenes is terrific. The characters do appear flat but I can get over that because the game itself is terrific. You have all of the other technical features we have come to expect such as a custom level and an interactive, transporter type map that proves to be very helpful. There is another tool that you receive early in the game and it is a special box that will get rid of the evil fog you encounter in the game. In order to use the box you must solve a mini-puzzle but most of them are fairly easy.
The HOPS are interactive and items are well-hidden or you must solve a puzzle to find them. I hardly ever use the hint button but I did so many times in Call of Atis. You might have to use it as well since some items are difficult to find. The HOPS are very creative and you need to think about where to find items in the scenes.
I found the puzzles enjoyable but not really too difficult. I don’t do well with the hand-eye coordination puzzles and didn’t particularly care for those. One of the stinkers had three levels and I made it through the first two but finally hit the skip button on the third level. The other puzzles were terrific and some were even challenging.
The CE version of the game has 90 crystals and 15 morphing objects to find in various scenes in the game. Other extras include achievements to earn, posters, concept art, videos, music, replay of HOPS and puzzles a strategy guide and a bonus chapter.
Since I loved the first game in the series, it was a given that I would purchase the game as soon as it was released. I played the beta of the game several months ago and have been waiting for Call of Atis. The gameplay, HOPS, puzzles, and storyline all combine to make this a terrific game. It might not be for everyone, particularly those expecting more polished graphics but I love the hand-drawn artwork so it works for me. Please try the demo to see if Call of Atis is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece Collector's Edition
Albert's worst nightmare becomes reality when a creature from his grim paintings kidnaps his family. What does she want?
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A WONDERFUL AND INTRICATE GAME
PostedFebruary 18, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromMoving through portals to help Albert finish his paintings
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I purchased this game in 2015 but for some reason never posted my review so here it is now. In the past couple of years there have been several games released that have painting portals but, IMHO, none have been done as well as in Subliminal Realms The Masterpiece. When the game was first released as a CE I didn’t think I would like it but I did give it a fair shot and it ended up being one of my favorite games of 2015.
The graphics are very good and quite colorful as we paint our way to the end of the game. One of the unique features of the game is that throughout our progress we help Albert complete his works of art. In each scene that comes to life there are many things to accomplish that will help us move forward.
Fortunately, our tools include an interactive map that is very necessary in this game. We do have a helper, a flying dog character who can help us retrieve certain objects. I rather liked Smudge and didn’t find him annoying at all, in fact, I really enjoyed his sense of humor.
All in all the game took several days to complete and I loved every minute that I spent searching for objects and completing Albert's paintings. Without hesitation I would heartily recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like. I know that I am glad I decided to give The Masterpiece a second look.
I recommend this game!