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:
In Monument Builders: Golden Gate, oversee the construction of the most legendary bridge in the United States and learn its history.
Overall rating
3
/
5
30 of 45 found this review helpful
A PURE BEAT THE CLOCK GAME WITH NO RELAXED MODE
PostedOctober 6, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromStaying home and relaxing while others play beat the clock
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Monument Builders Golden Gate Bridge is a pure TM game with no options for a relaxed mode. You earn stars based on completing a variety of tasks within a specific time frame. This is not my favorite type of game so I have no comparison to the other games in the series and really have no inclination to go back and check out the others.
The game opened with bricks on either side of the playing field since it is not programmed to open in widescreen. I don’t care for the graphics style or the music. The first thing I did was go to the options menu and mute the music. The other sound effects were not as troublesome so left those alone.
Overall the game is okay if you enjoy running around a screen completing task after task. There are facts about the Golden Gate Bridge that pop up after completing a scene so that is a nice touch. Since this is not my favorite genre, I found nothing in the game that would entice me to purchase it but, as always, I recommend that you try the demo because this might just be a game you will love.
I don't recommend this game.
Do you have the courage to stop the inquisitor?
Overall rating
2
/
5
28 of 57 found this review helpful
THIS ONE MADE ME CRY
PostedOctober 4, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
After the first Where Angels Cry game was released I had very high hopes for Tears of the Fallen but what a colossal disappointment. The game was so terrible that I barely made it through more than twenty minutes of the demo before quitting. It is very hard to write a comprehensive review of a game this bad because I know that for many of you, the game will be one you like.
Where the first game played more like an adventure game, Tears of the fallen is a combo of different styles – FROG and HOS. The graphics are very flat and cartoonish with none of the polish that I expect in Collector’s Edition games. Yes there are extras including collectible but nothing else aside from the inclusion of the Strategy Guide would warrant the CE designation.
To say that I didn’t like this game is putting it mildly and it is definitely not for me. Perhaps some of you who actually purchase and play the game can share your thoughts, which might change my mind. Even though Where Angels Cry Tears of the Fallen is not for me, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I don't recommend this game.
The arts-loving town of Everton has been overrun by sentient shadows. Race to escape before you're trapped in the darkness forever!
Overall rating
5
/
5
107 of 182 found this review helpful
AN EXCELLENT NEW DARK DIMENSIONS
PostedOctober 3, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
After the last game in the Dark Dimensions series I had told myself that I was through with this series but then a new one comes my way and I at least had to give it a try. It does look like the series has been somewhat revamped with a new look and a new storyline. You haven’t seen your friend Ashley in quite a long time and now she needs your help. Ashley has done well for herself and is now a radio personality but with fame comes the threat of unwanted attention and Ashley fears she is being stalked. What can a friend do but rush off to help and that is exactly what has you entrenched in a new dark dimension.
The game offers four modes of gameplay: Casual, Advanced, Hard, and Custom If you select the Custom mode you can set your hint and puzzle skips to recharge anywhere from 1 to 100 seconds. You can also turn of the search click penalty and fiddle with other settings so you can play the way you like.
The graphics are updated and fairly sleek with the feel of computer generated graphics. The color palette still uses quite a bit of mauve and blue but overall they are not too bad. The voiceovers are good and the lip-syncing is much better than in some recent games.
Your tools include yet another gimmick, this time a lantern that is used to get rid of the dark shadows, and yes you do have to play a mini-game to get the thing working. You also have a journal that keeps track of game information. You will find the interactive transporter type map during the first HOP in the game.
The HOPs include a variety of styles and they are interactive with the objects being clear and well defined which made them easier to spot. The puzzles are not difficult but they are fun and some require a bit of thought but nothing too taxing. I particularly liked the first puzzle that is a sort of slider type where we combine pieces to make a complete item.
The CE version of the game includes collectibles to find and achievements to earn. The game is fairly light on extras and aside from the in game strategy guide and bonus game there is not much else. I would say that there is not much to recommend getting the CE versus the SE version of the game if you can wait. The problem with determining the extras is that unless you purchase the game you can’t see the complete scope of the extras; sort of like the old saying buying a pig in a poke. Since the full guide and the extras are not available, my guess is that there is not much extra content.
I have to admit that by the time the demo ended I was looking forward to purchasing the full game. Of course there was a sort of cliff-hanger finish so I knew I had to find out more. The gameplay was more fun than I expected so I guess I am not too jaded and can still enjoy the entertainment value of HOPA games. Yes I know, all of them are very similar and seem to follow a set pattern of find this and do that, then solve a puzzle for a bit of a break but I still love the genre and can generally find something I love in each new game that comes along. The plus for me with Dark Dimensions Shadow Pirouette is that it is much better than I thought it would be and that was a nice surprise. Even though I am a hopeless HOPA game fanatic and can always find something I like, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
The twinkling lights in the marsh look pretty, but they hold a mysterious power. Whatever you do... do not follow them!
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 69 found this review helpful
IS HE REAL OR A CHILDREN’S FABLE
PostedOctober 2, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromI,m not going into the marsh unless I have my lantern
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As the County Bounder you certainly have your hands full this time. Are you chasing after a fantasy or is something much worse going on in the Whispering Marsh. Your help is needed because many citizens of the town have gone missing in the forest around Whispering Marsh and now it is up to you to figure it out and to stop the disappearances. But before you even start you have an accident as you are approaching the town. Not only is your carriage disabled, your coachman has now drowned in the marsh. Not a very auspicious beginning to your investigation. Once you reach the town you find there is a curfew and the citizens are in a panic. The sheriff is now among the missing and things seem to be getting worse all the time. You learn that there is a local legend of the “Lantern Man” who whisks away those who enjoy laughter, dancing and merriment. Some say it was a bedtime story to frighten misbehaving children but maybe he isn’t a fable at all. Just beware – you mustn’t laugh or have any fun while playing or you just might go missing too.
One look at the devs name on this game and you know the graphics will be excellent. The sound package in the game is quite good with voiceovers that okay but not the best I have heard in a game. Technical Aspects of the game include four modes of gameplay: Explorer, Professor, County Bounder, and the custom mode – Swamp Dweller where you can fiddle with settings so you can play the game the way you like. In the Swamp Dweller mode the hints can be set in a range of 10 to 120 seconds and the skips from 10 to 400 seconds in the custom level you can also turn off the penalty setting for random clicking in the HOPS.
:
You have an interactive transporter type map that is found very early in the game. Yes there is a gimmick – a lantern that you acquire early in the game. You will use the lantern to drive away the swamp lights but you must charge it by playing a mini-puzzle before it is ready to be used.
:
You have an interactive transporter type map that is found very early in the game. Yes there is a gimmick – a lantern that you acquire early in the game. You will use the lantern to drive away the swamp lights but you must charge it by playing a mini-puzzle before it is ready to be used.
The HOPS included the standard interactive variety of scenes that we now see in HOPA games so there is nothing new or earth-shaking here. That being said the HOPS are very good with items that are fairly easy to spot. If you don’t want to search for items in the HOP scenes you may choose the option of playing the alternate game of Mah-jongg. In my humble opinion, some of the puzzles seem to be getting better and have a bit more challenge in recent games. I am hopeful that the trend continues in Myths of the World The Whispering Marsh but initially I didn’t encounter any that were too difficult. I know that the puzzles generally become progressively more difficult as a game progresses so I hope that is the case with The Whispering Marsh.
Myths of the World is one of my favorite game series and The Whispering Marsh is a game I have been eagerly awaiting. This developer knows how to formulate a great story and this one definitely captured my interest. Even though I couldn’t wait to hit that buy button, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like
A visitor arrives through Prof. Bennett's portal, seeking help.
Overall rating
5
/
5
99 of 158 found this review helpful
MEET KRAIXX IN THIS GREAT NEW AMARANTHINE VOYAGE
PostedOctober 1, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As we begin the game we see that our old friend Professor Bennett from the last Amaranthine Voyage is back and you, playing the game as Eve Glover, are once again working with the CCPP. As the leading expert in the field of Harmonium, your help has been requested as a visitor from another has shown up on the professor’s “doorstep”. Kraixx has crossed through a portal to seek our help to save his world from doom caused by dark Harmonium energy that has gone awry. Unfortunately, it appears that our visitor has brought an unwelcome dark energy with him so now Earth is in the same boat. Follow Kraixx back to his world and help him overturn the Watchers and restore the balance in this new game in the Amaranthine Voyage series - The Orb of Purity.
There are six chapters to the main game plus the bonus game. You can select from a choice of four modes of gameplay: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Custom. If you choose the custom mode you can set the hint recharge time in a range from 10 to 120 seconds and puzzle skips from 10 to 400 seconds. There are other settings you can fiddle with and most importantly, at least IMHO, is that you can turn of the click penalty. Of course with this being a game from my favorite game developer, I know that I am getting top quality in graphics and sound. Not to mention excellent gameplay!
After formulating a cure for Kriaxx we receive a special gauntlet from him that will absorb both light and dark energy but, of course, we must play a mini-game in order to charge the gauntlet prior to use so it is basically another time filling gimmick. If I like the mini-games I am not as bored by these gimmicks but in some games they are rather a nuisance to complete when I need to get on with saving someone or something – lol. We also have an interactive transporter type map that is located on the right side of the user interface area.
The HOPs include a variety of types with some requiring that we find so many of a certain item where others are the type where we find items based on silhouette. There is also my favorite list type included in the mix but no matter the type of scene many are quite interactive and that increases the fun. The puzzles include rotating items to a specific location, matching of rune figures, and there is at least one super puzzle during the game’s demo that can be a bit tricky. I love these multi-faceted puzzles that require a bit more thought to solve. All in all, the HOPs and puzzles are terrific and even though some of the puzzles might seem easy, there is a good mix of difficulty so there is something for everyone.
During the game you can earn twelve achievements and find 43 collectible owls. Other extras include HOPs and new HOPs, and a souvenir room where you will revisit scenes to find certain items. You can also replay the mini-puzzles which is fun if you skipped any during the game. There are the other fairly standard extras such as pictures, videos, music, strategy guide and the bonus game.
The Amaranthine Voyage series includes some of my favorite games although I wasn’t too thrilled with the last game in the series, so fortunately The Orb of Purity seems to be a much more stimulating and entertaining game. I love any game has a sci-fi theme and this one is right up my alley more so than the recent Amaranthine Voyage games. The storyline is quite good and I really want to help Kraixx put his world in order. Of course I am really not too sure who the bad guys are here but it won’t be long before I figure it all out and in the meanwhile I have an entertaining day ahead as I delve into The Orb of Purity. Needless to say the game was an instant purchase for me but, as always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Journey across ancient Rome in this colorful mahjong game – enjoy 100 exciting levels.
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 40 found this review helpful
A SO-SO ENTRY INTO THE FIELD OF MAHJONG GAMES
PostedSeptember 30, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromToo bad the proofreaders were on vacation when this game came along
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It seems like mahjong games are a dime a dozen these days and 7 Hills of Rome is another entry into that field. As mahjong games go this one is fairly decent but the translation and grammatical errors in the written instructions put me off.
The graphics are very good and the mahjong tiles are different than the traditional with some being quite lovely. There are no voiceovers only the written dialogue that is riddled with errors. I checked the credits to see who designed the game but the only thing that showed up was programming language. It looks like 7 Hills of Rome is yet another untested game from BFG.
As I mentioned above the tiles are different and they are small. I prefer larger tiles and have only found one mahjong game that I really love, and I play that one almost daily. One of the things I like about 7 Hills of Rome is that there doesn’t appear to be a timer so I am not playing beat the clock to clear the field to find special tiles and that fact alone makes the game far more enjoyable. Now if I could only get past the dialogue the game would be a keeper. I doubt that I will purchase the game but for many of you who don’t have a lot of mahjong games to use as a comparison might just find that 7 Hills of Rome is a game you will love.
I recommend this game!
Explore the Wild West and help Ted and his friends in their adventures.
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 108 found this review helpful
WHAT A SURPRISE - I LOVE THIS GAME!
PostedSeptember 29, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Country Tales is an amazing TM/Building type of game with a terrific storyline that captured me from the beginning. I had to force myself to stop playing so that I could write this review. Now, I can’t wait to get back and help Ted make a success of his life and win his sweetheart.
The graphics are terrific with wonderfully drawn characters. The graphics are also crisp and very colorful. Generally I don’t care for the music in these types of games but I found the music in Country Tales rather enjoyable. Country Tales is from a game developer who generally brings us very good HOPA type games so I am not surprised that Country Tales is such a wonderful game in a different genre.
One of the things I appreciate about this game is the relaxed mode of gameplay. Sure, I know that I will never earn all the achievements but my days of rushing to beat the clock are over. Still, as I become more engrossed in the TM games, who knows that might eventually change because I do love a good challenge.
If you are looking for a great change of pace from HOPA type games, then I highly recommend Country Tales as being an excellent and entertaining way to dip your toes into a new experience. What a fun and entertaining game! Even though I love the game and know it is a buy for me, I suggest that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Help Ruby and her friends rebuild their home in this fun and exciting match three game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
33 of 41 found this review helpful
GAMETIME FOR THE LITTLE ONES
PostedSeptember 28, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Good morning kiddies let’s all go play in fairyland. I have to say that this game seems like it was designed with pre-school little ones in mind.
The cartoonlike graphics were bright and cheerful but did not fill my screen. The game had side borders that filled out the graphics. There are no voiceovers and the screen dialogue is littered with grammatical errors. Does no one proofread anymore? Even though the game seems to have been developed with toddlers in mind who probably can’t read anyway, it is adults who test the games before letting little Johnny or Susie play. Then there is the music that is so redundant and annoying that it was muted within two minutes of playing the game. Honestly, I couldn’t last more than two minutes anyway so it really didn’t matter.
If you have little ones running around who are learning to use a computer this might be an entertaining game for them to try. For me it was a bust and a definite pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Mystery Tales: Alaskan Wild
Call on the animal spirits to help find your sister.
Overall rating
3
/
5
39 of 50 found this review helpful
SHADES OF JACK LONDON AND MOMMY DEAREST
PostedSeptember 27, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It has been a while since you have seen your sister Ellie who lives in Alaska and she really wants you to come for a visit. Since you are a writer, it doesn’t take much for Ellie to convince you that your next book could be about Alaska so with that as an extra incentive you soon find yourself on a flight to Alaska for a long overdue visit. When you arrive at the airport Ellie is glowing and you learn her secret as she invites to a special dinner with her fiancé Daniel. As you and Ellie arrive for dinner at Daniel’s home you get to meet our villainess, a real mommy dearest, who is sure to be the mother-in-law from you know where. Abigail uses some powerful magic and whisks Ellie away so now you must rescue sis and finally put Abigail in her place. As you trek across the glorious wild vistas of Alaska you encounter wild wolves, huge bears, and some very interesting characters.
Just as a note, the game did not automatically open in widescreen on my laptop and I had to click the widescreen button to get the black side bars to disappear. The game offers four modes of gameplay with catchy little names: Casual Moose, Expert Wolf, Hardcore Grizzly and my favorite – Wise Owl, where you can fiddle with all sorts of settings so that you can set up the game for the way you like to play. The sound package includes lip-synced voiceovers that are generally very good and special sound effects that are awesome. One of the effects that I particularly enjoyed was the realism created by the howling winter wind as it was blowing through the trees. The graphics are amazingly beautiful and colorful despite all of the white, snowy vistas that we move through. After all the recent winter themed games it seems like BFG wants to give us something to cool the blistering hot days of summer. Of course this is fine with me since winter is my favorite time of year. In Alaska Wild we get to enjoy the beauty of the frosty northern tundra and the special delight of those wonderful Northern Lights, something I would like to experience first-hand.
In the user interface area you will find your inventory and other tools. You have a compass that when clicked opens your interactive, transporter type that will indicate areas where there are available tasks depending on your mode of gameplay. Other tools include a special amulet that you receive early in the game that allows you to animate animal totems. You also have a camera so that you can take photos of any animals you that will be stored in an album.
The HOPS include a variety and most of them have several levels. Early in the game I found them quite a bit of fun but later in the game they deteriorated into total junk heaps where it was very difficult to find the items. During the demo there was one storybook type where we find and replace items on the page but most of the others are more traditional. If you really don’t want to complete the HOPS then you can choose play an alternate Match 3 game if you prefer. I am so excited that the game has more mini-games than HOPS with 23 mini-games to 13 HOPS. Some examples of the mini-games include: rotate tiles to complete a picture, untangle ropes to clear them, push buttons in a specific order to open a cache, get a boat to safety by completing mini-puzzles. This just lists a few of the puzzles and there are many more. Some were very easy but others are a bit more difficult. The puzzles throughout the entire game were easy, easy, easy and most of them could be figured out without even thinking.
I purchased the CE of the game and had incredibly high hopes for the game in the beginning. However, after the demo the game kept going downhill and became an exercise in boredom. Even though I gave the game a high rating at first, in afterthought it is really a very mediocre game at best. The storyline was jumbled and full of inconsistencies. I think this developer needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out what they did wrong with this game. It had so much potential to be much better than it was.
If you like easy games with gorgeous graphics, then this might be the game for you. If you want far more challenge then look elsewhere. Of course, these are just my thoughts on the game and, as always, I suggest you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
If you like easy games with gorgeous graphics, then this might be the game for you. If you want far more challenge then look elsewhere. Of course, these are just my thoughts on the game and, as always, I suggest you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
You’re called in to photograph a wedding, but what you really expose is murder.
Overall rating
5
/
5
103 of 156 found this review helpful
A GHOSTLY MURDER MYSTERY – WHAT COULD BE BETTER!
PostedSeptember 26, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What better way could there be to cool off a hot early fall day than to solve a wonderful, ghostly murder mystery set during a dark and stormy day. In Dark Canvas A Murder Exposed, you play a photographer who is hired to take photos at the wedding of Carol Whittle and Frank Gelson. Take a step back to the 1950s as you try to solve a murder and find out who is haunting the Whittle’s Hollow Oak Estate.
The game offers a choice of four modes of gameplay: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Custom. In custom mode you can set your hints and skips to recharge in a range of 15 to 95. The graphics are excellent and crisp being nice and colorful rather than the dark and grimy ones that we normally find in a ghostly game. The sound effects are excellent and truly set the tone for the game with the thunder that is frequently heard in the background. There are voiceovers that are quite good but sadly the game lacks the lip-sync component. Even though there is no lip-sync with the story being so excellent, after a while I didn’t really notice the lack of lip movement.
Tools include an interactive, transporter type map that is present at the beginning of the game so you don’t have to look for one. You have a camera that will be used to take photos that will show important information that you will use at some later point in the game. You will also use your camera to take hidden photos that can be snapped when you notice a certain symbol.
The HOPS in the game are quite different than normal and at least early in the game none were the standard list type. Some were to find pairs of related items, match items that are again related, a silhouette type and to search a room through a keyhole to find items that are highlighted in a sentence. The puzzles were very easy with the first one being the type where we move tokens to the appropriate space – no thinking required here. The next puzzle was a math type where we use equations to figure out a combination. It appears that the game is well balanced between HOPS and puzzles.
The CE version of the game includes the following extras: Collectibles, Haunted Objects, Achievements, Art Gallery, Hidden Objects, Puzzles, The Attic, and Wallpapers, Strategy Guide, and Bonus game
Dark Canvas A Murder Exposed is a wonderful game. There is so much to discover and so many things to find that at first the game seemed a bit more difficult than usual. Things are not easily found and that alone makes the game better. For instance, we don’t discover that we need a screwdriver and then find it lying on a chair right next to where we need to use it. The entire package blends together to create a game that I love. Because the game seems a bit more difficult I know that I won’t be able to rush through it and will have hours of entertainment ahead. Even though the game is a buy for me, as always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!