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:
There’s a corpse in your house, but who killed him?
Overall rating
5
/
5
130 of 161 found this review helpful
And The Final Suspect Is . . . ? A Wonderful New Grim Tales
PostedMay 16, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Grim Tales is back and, IMHO, this one is absolutely terrific. What would you do if you wake up in the hospital and find you have murdered an intruder into your home and have no recall of the event? Well if you are one of my favorite psychic detectives, Anna Gray, you will work with the police and use your skill and talents to find out everything you can about the murder.
After a string of so-so adventures, this one has it all and is everything that I love in a great game – wonderful graphics, lip-synced voiceovers, and a very good overall sound package. The game offers four modes of gameplay – Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, and Custom.
The tools are fairly standard and include your interactive, transporter-type map that also shows other information when the map icon is clicked. I didn’t find any helpers pet or otherwise, which is refreshing. As we move forward in the game we will collect evidence that is stored in a pop out side tab that can be kept visible or hidden if you choose.
The HOPs are varied and interesting with some interaction required. It is so nice to find a game that offers a variety in the HOPs and not just the same type throughout. Some of the HOPs require association and it can be fun to figure out what those might be. My only issue is that some items are very tiny and difficult to spot. Many gamers are older and our eyes might not be as sharp as they once were so slightly larger items are appreciated rather than those that appear so small that they are almost invisible.
There is a nice variety in the puzzles and at least one in the demo is the Rube-Goldberg type that many gamers enjoy. Although I sometimes struggle with them since it is not always apparent what one needs to do to start the action, I generally enjoy Rube-Goldberg type puzzles. All in all the puzzles were quite good in the demo and that generally means that they will progressively become better as we move forward.
The game has morphing objects, collectibles, and achievements to earn. There are also wallpapers, concept art, strategy guide, bonus chapter and then the secret room all of which make The Final Suspect a true CE value.
In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the demo of The Final Suspect and couldn’t wait to hit that buy button. Our mammoth friends know how to put together a great game and this one is no exception. I know I have several hours of fun and entertainment ahead as I try to solve the mystery of Howard Kelly and how he turned up dead in Anna’s home. Even though the game was an instant buy for me, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Your daughter's lost in the Maze of Fears, but you'll face more than her disappearance if you dare to enter.
Overall rating
1
/
5
54 of 64 found this review helpful
Eleven Fears too Many!
PostedMay 14, 2015
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Fear, one of man’s most primal emotions can destroy us but there is a cure if we are willing to face it. In Twelve Fears we follow Amber through the Maze of Fears that she enters at an amusement park. The question is will you be able to make it through this game without suffering an excessive fear of boredom.
The graphics are very good, crisp and clear. The voiceovers are also better than usual, in fact I would probably say excellent. Now if the graphics and sound constituted most of what I like in a game, I would say this is probably one of the better games to come along; however, the gameplay was just way too tedious.
There are some interesting tools that quickly became another layer of tedium in this game. The map is worse than useless and provided no help at all. Perhaps I have been spoiled by excellent maps in games that clearly show the terrain and objectives.
It seemed like almost every HOP was so interactive that I hated finding another one. I have said it many times before variety, variety and more variety. Please don’t make almost every HOP the same type. Then we get to the puzzles that at first seemed okay but then they deteriorated. Many of them seemed to suspended logic. I love puzzles but I would like clear instructions and, even though there was some direction in the SG, many of the puzzles didn’t make sense.
This is definitely NOT a CE worthy game. We will collect random pieces of memorabilia that become part of Marissa’s bulletin board. The question is what does Amber have to do with all of this? Quite frankly, I wish that I had not purchased the game because it is just way to grueling to be called fun by any stretch of the imagination.
Sable Maze is just another very disappointing game. This is one gamer whose fear will make her steer clear of these magical games in the future. Even though I was clearly less than enchanted by the game, I recommend that you try it for yourself because you may love Twelve Fears.
Haunted Legends: The Dark Wishes Collector's Edition
Restore the threads of Fate, before they cause a disaster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
41 of 51 found this review helpful
Follow the Threads of Fate to Save Roberto and Lucia
PostedMay 7, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Duke Roberto of Florence is about to marry his love Lucia when he gives her a fine gift, a beautiful pendant that is actually the Philosopher’s Stone in disguise. Fearing that someone will try to steal the stone he pen’s a letter to his old professor from the Venetian School for Mages, asking for his assistance. No sooner does he present his fine gift to his beloved than someone murders him and poor Lucia is arrested for his murder. Now you professor, are on a mission to save Lucia and find out the true fate of Roberto.
The game has all the wonderful artwork and absolutely gorgeous graphics that we have come to expect from this developer. The sound track, complete with lip-synced voiceovers is quite good.
We find the standard tools that are available in this type of game but the one that is unique to this game is the magic staff that you will use to absorb energy. Aside from your staff there is an interactive, transporter type map that does indicate the areas that have not been completed as you play the game.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, and I found them to be quite enjoyable. The puzzles are extremely easy and required hardly any thought at all to complete. I should mention that this relates to the puzzles in the demo only and I do know that this developer makes its puzzles more difficult as the game progresses, so I am holding out hope for a bit more challenge later in the game.
There is only one type of collectible to find in the game and not all of them are easy to find. Unfortunately, this developer does not add a lot of extra content to its games but there is the inclusion of the SG that would normally be an extra charge. However, the game seems so easy that I doubt the SG is necessary unless one is new to playing this type of game.
As a final thought, although many of the glaring time period references are unbelievable, I still find that this developer always creates games that are, IMHO, very enjoyable and entertaining. HOPA games seem much easier now than they did in the past but that might only be because I have played so many of them that after a while they all seem very much the same. That being said, I love the genre and rarely find a game that I dislike, and since I find the storyline in The Dark Wishes is interesting and has a mystery that I want to solve, the game was an instant buy for me. I hope to see Roberto and Lucia reunited in the end, which is that hopeless romantic in me that longs for the happy ending. Even though I couldn’t wait for the SE and jumped right in to purchase the CE, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
A simple job protecting a bumbling professor becomes a nightmare when a masked figure threatens to kill him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
53 of 71 found this review helpful
A New Theme for Haunted Hotel - This One is Dark and Really Creepy
PostedApril 25, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This latest installment of the Haunted Hotel series is certainly a departure from the previous games in the series and this one is for those of you who love dark and creepy.
The graphics support this latest game and seem to be more of the ultra-clean computer generated style. Gone is that wonderful hand-drawn artwork that I happen to prefer in my games. The game does have voiceovers that are excellent and go along with the creepy theme as do the music and sound effects.
Tools seem to be limited to the interactive map that does prove very useful when you have no idea what to do next, which is something that happened to me frequently. At least there are no helpers – furry pet or otherwise. You are pretty much left to your own devices to work your way through Haunted Hotel Eternity.
The two HOPs in the demo are varied and slightly interactive and the puzzles, although easy, are varied as well.
The CE has morphing objects and collectibles to find. We also will collect puzzle pieces scattered about as we go through the game. Of course, we have the obligatory achievements that are mostly earned by being present and playing the game. Throw in the SG and a few of the other extras and we have a worthy CE offering that many will want to add to their collections.
Although creepy games are not my favorite, I certainly found myself sucked in by the storyline and excellent gameplay. All in all Haunted Hotel Eternity will be a very good game and one that many of you will undoubtedly enjoy. The storyline is different and I did find myself intrigued and did want to find out how it will all end. I’m not sure that I will rush right out and get it but at some point I am sure it will end up being purchased either as a CE if there is a good sale or as an SE where I can use one of those many coupons I have hanging around. As always, I recommend you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Only the Rose of Life can cure your father’s illness.
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 37 found this review helpful
A Great Twist on the Beauty and the Beast Theme
PostedApril 23, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromOut searching for a mystical rose and perhaps a new love.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In Dark Romance Heart of the Beast you play the game as Beatrice who is on a mission to save her father who is dying. It is said that the Rose of Life that can be found in a distant kingdom will be able to save your father from the terrible illness that he is suffering and he implores you to find it for him. Just as you arrive at the castle where the rose is protected, an evil witch whisks it away along with your hope of saving your father.
The graphics are beautiful consisting of excellent hand-drawn artwork in the style that I love. It is nice to find a fantasy type game that is not drenched with tones of pink and purple and instead find a game that uses a wonderful intense and rich color palette. Not only are the graphics colorful, they are very crisp and clear except in scenes where a bit of mistiness is needed to enhance the story. I must admit that I really enjoyed clicking different items in each scene since they are not stagnant and many responded various ways when clicked. The sound package includes voiceovers that are generally very good although some did seem a bit dragged out and slow.
We have the standard tools that we normally find in HOPA games but we also have some unexpected other tools. I am not going to say that we have a pet helper in the game but we do have some animal helpers. Since I don’t want to give away too much, you will just need to try the demo for yourself to find out what you have available in your bag of tricks. There are even some special twists included in the game that certainly give us a different perspective.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. If you don’t want to find the various items in the HOPs you do have the option of a match 3 game, but I found the HOPS interesting and entertaining so chose to find the items. The mini puzzles are not at all difficult but sometimes I like the easy and fun ones just for a change. After a very recent complex game with difficult puzzles, the ones found in Heart of the Beast are a definitely easier and that is just fine for me right now.
The CE version of the game includes various collectibles to find, achievements to earn (groan) and all of the normal extra inclusions we expect to find. Because there are many different collectibles to find, some of which were quite a surprise, I think that Heart of the Beast is actually a very worthy CE value.
Although the package is beautiful and the game does have some interesting features, we once again are dealing with an evil witch and a fantasy type game. As much as I love these types of games, I am becoming tired of the worn out theme and long for a refreshing new storyline. As far as this type of game goes, Dark Romance Heart of the Beast is excellent and did eventually draw me in. I love some of the unique gameplay features and that is one of the reasons this game is one I will definitely add to my collection. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
The Queen of Creatos is missing, and if you don't get her back soon... the entire world will crumble!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 88 found this review helpful
Reflections of Life:Equilibrium is the Most Creative and Outstanding Game of the Year!!
PostedApril 18, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When I first did the beta test for Reflections of Life: Equilibrium, I wasn’t sure about the game since it seemed far too busy with graphics that were just so over-the-top fairy tale and inundated with those tones of pink that I really dislike. Then today the game was released and even though I still wasn’t sure that I liked it, I decided to give it another chance which turned out to be one of the best gaming decisions I’ve made in a long time. There is really no need for me to go into the story line or set the stage since other reviewers have done a good job with that so I am only going to tell you what I think.
As I attempted to evaluate why I initially felt the game was overly busy, I had to accept the fact that in more recent games of the past year or two we have been conditioned to games where each scene might have one or two active areas at most, which is certainly not the case with Equilibrium. Recently games have become very simple with gameplay being almost automatic: find this, use it here and then move on to the next scene. Yes, there might be a puzzle to complete or a HOS thrown in but most times the games seem very easy and don’t require a lot of mental effort. With Equilibrium the developers have created a phenomenal game where we have multiple things to do in each scene and often it is not readily apparent what must be accomplished before moving forward. It didn’t take long before I was totally immersed in the challenge that is Equilibrium. This development team has presented a creative and totally awesome game that is so different than what we normally expect to find in the HOPA genre and I am hooked.
The HOS in Equilibrium are quite different from those we find in almost every other HOPA game and I loved them. Even though we are still finding hidden objects the presentation is excellent. I find the game refreshing, challenging and quite unique given the creativity this development team has used in creating what I think is a phenomenal game.
Reflections of Life: Equilibrium is a great game that stands on the quality of its content and doesn’t need a lot of meaningless extras to make it a CE game. Nevertheless, the developers have provided quite a bit of extra content to keep many of us very happy. Not only do we have collectibles to find, achievements to earn, a SG, and bonus chapter, we also have an extra bonus hidden chapter to play.
Reflections of Life: Equilibrium now has my vote for best HOPA game of the year. I am so happy that my initial thought about the game turned out to be wrong, and I guess that when I am wrong, I am really very wrong. Equilibrium is truly a ten-star game among a world of many five-star games. All I can say is kudos to this awesome and creative development team for an outstanding game that is truly at the top of the list. Well done developers!!
I recommend this game!
Ominous Objects: Phantom Reflection Collector's Edition
A mysterious mirror is causing havoc in your client’s house!
Overall rating
1
/
5
33 of 43 found this review helpful
There is no MAGIC in This Mirror!!
PostedApril 16, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromCalifornia, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
As a special investigator who is skilled in ominous objects you have been called upon by the new owner of an ancient mirror to help her escape what is lurking in its depths. Well, I thought the last game from this group was probably one of the worst to hit the market in a long time and now they follow up with Phantom Reflection and I can only say that they must be scraping the bottom of the barrel. This magical team should be more aptly called the daily drag because the game is terrible.
I managed to suffer through the demo and it only went from bad to worse. An attempt at steampunk certainly had nothing more to offer than a lot of steam. Although the graphics can be considered good we are deluged with an abundance of pink, purple and blue that quickly overwhelmed me. Perhaps this team has lost their color palette as well and is trying to find it in the mirror.
Well I’m not too sure how long this game has been in development but we have an annoying pet helper, Mr. Jenkins who appears to be a beauty of a Himalayan. I think most of us are so ready to be done with pet helpers and maybe this game has been in development so long that it was far too late to ditch the cat when they realized we are so over the cuddly factor. The only valuable tool we have in the game is an interactive, transporter type map that can be useful at times and does save a lot of back-tracking. Our other tool is a special pair of goggles that we use to see special areas and, quite frankly, I don’t see the point of having to do some motion puzzle to open a door.
The HOPS are the standard variety and do come with an option to switch to a match-3 game if so desired. The puzzles are just there and not very difficult at all.
I disliked the game so much that CE content became a moot point and, IMHO, they couldn’t include enough extras in this game that would ever entice me to purchase it.
In the end, I couldn’t exit this tedious absolutely terrible game quickly enough. I think this development team needs to find their magic once again and certainly stir up something a lot better than a Phantom Reflection. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I don't recommend this game.
Sorcerer's apprentice Anton has accidentally reset the teleporter's destination and he must now face an extremely dangerous test.
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 41 found this review helpful
Another Great Puzzle Game
PostedApril 15, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A few years ago another game from this developer "Stones of Rome" quickly became one of my favorite games to play when I wanted a quick puzzle or a game that wasn't really story driven. Needless to say I have been waiting to see what this development team had to offer next, so today when I found Game of Stones my wait was over.
Although the game mechanics are a bit different than in their previous offering, the overall principle of the game is the same and that is to clear stones from the board by matching groups of stones. There is extra challenge in this game because we are awarded stars based on how many moves it takes for us to clear the board. As we move through the various boards the level of challenge increases.
It didn't take long for me to decide that Game of Stones is another great little puzzle game so for me it was an almost instant purchase. Some of you might like this type of game and others may not but for me it is a refreshing change and a game that I will play over and over again until I can beat some of the trickier levels. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
It was supposed to be a routine mission. But when a dragon attacks your plane, crash-landing in a lush valley, you're drawn into the adventure of a lifetime!
Overall rating
5
/
5
97 of 115 found this review helpful
There is No Desolation in This Awesome Game!
PostedApril 11, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Heart of Desolation is the sixth game in the Myths of the World Series and we find ourselves back in Asia where it all began. As the game begins we are on a mission to drop food and medicine into a small village near the Burmese border. We are not too far into our mission when something huge hits our plane and we crash land right into this exciting new adventure. The developer has created a beautiful setting for the game that brings to life the terracotta warriors, dragons, and gorgeous scenery. I found myself fully immersed in the environment and the gameplay so for me the game became an instant purchase.
The graphics are superb and crystal clear not to mention gorgeous. The artwork is stunning and full of color and depicts the beauty of the remote village where I have landed. There are lip-synced voice overs that are quite good and a wonderful soundtrack that enhances the game even more.
Tools include an interactive transporter type map that is customizable to show objectives if you happen to choose that option in either custom settings or the gameplay mode where that option is preset.
There are various types of interactive HOPs and I love them. The HOPs are multi-level and quite varied so there is a lot of entertainment value. Although there are a lot of items in each scene I think the HOPs are a notch above the standard junk pile since the items are clearly defined, well-spaced and large enough to spot. Of course if you don’t like searching the HOPs for items you can switch to an alternate mahjong type game. I happen to enjoy the HOPs from this developer so for me the alternate game isn’t something I use unless I am really stuck finding items since I hate to use the hint. Of course you will need to keep your eyes open to spot the special item in each scene. There is not much new to say about the puzzles except that they are abundant and cover the spectrum from easy to more difficult. Some of the puzzles I absolutely love and found most of them enjoyable and easy to complete. Even though they might be easy they add to the gameplay value of the game.
In the CE content we have the ever present achievements to earn, and honestly I don’t know why they are included as extras since we can easily earn most of them simply by playing the game. Along with the achievements we have collectibles and morphing objects to find so there is a lot to do, see and find during this great adventure.
I am swept away by this game and it captured me from the beginning. As I moved through the adventure my interest increased with each scene and that sometimes doesn’t happen. The game began with a puzzle and just kept moving on from there - what awesome way to start a game. The story is very interesting, and when I find a game with dragons I am extremely happy even though all of them are not good. This game has so much to offer that I know I have hours of entertainment ahead where I can be lost in the ambience of Asia and the wonderful story. Although the game is an instant purchase for me, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Your enemy imprisoned your father, but now he’s forcing you to marry him! Can you escape and save your father?
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 78 found this review helpful
Portals and Potions Abound
PostedApril 9, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromCalifornia, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It’s time for bed and the queen has chosen another tale to send you off to dreamland but I highly doubt that this is a tale I would tell a child. Although the game seems interesting, I have been there and done that many times. In the end Queen’s Tales Sins of the Past is simply another game with magic potions to distill and portals to enter. After playing the demo, I am unsure whether I wish to enter into my pocketbook portal without a great sale to entice me.
This developer is another of my favorites and I love the artwork in their games. The soundtrack is signature and identifiable for this developer with voiceovers that are okay but some are very choppy and dragged out. Among the gameplay modes there is a custom setting that is something I appreciate in a game so that I can set my own hint and skip times.
Early in the game we discover an interactive map but I am not sure how much it will be needed since there doesn’t seem to be a lot of backtracking required. We also acquire a rather rag-tag looking phoenix who becomes our helper to dispel those dark magic areas that scattered throughout the game. I find those flapping phoenix wings rather annoying and would appreciate being able to figure out that I might need to use the bird on my own without it going crazy when it wants to do something.
The slightly interactive HOPA scenes are overly crowded with items and the puzzles are so easy I could finish them without any thought at all. We have the annoying click this and it moves something else type of puzzles that drive me nuts. I prefer puzzles that present some challenge and require a bit more thought than those presented in the demo. As a rule the puzzles generally become more difficult as we progress through a game so maybe there is some hope of challenge ahead.
In the CE we find a few collectibles and can earn achievements but there was not much else. Because this developer generally provides very little in the way of extras, I am not certain this is a CE value unless you think you need the strategy guide. Most gamers who are familiar with the genre, won’t need it and since the game seems very easy, I doubt that even those who are just discovering HOPA games will need it. So if you just love the game and can’t wait for a sale or the SE, I say go for it.
Yes, the game is a wonderful presentation of beautiful artwork and special effects but I am not sure that it offers the level of gameplay I require to keep me entertained. I am giving the game a high-star rating because for many who are new to the HOPA genre, it will be one of the better games they will find. For those of us who have been there, done that and seen this storyline told and retold it is a bit stale. That being said, the game still comes in a beautiful wrapper and might be very entertaining for many of you. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!