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:
A mysterious artifact has been uncovered, opening a portal to another world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 94 found this review helpful
Fly Away in a Great New Amaranthine Voyage
PostedJuly 31, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Dr. Burns is back and in this Amaranthine Voyage she is with an archaeological group that gets into trouble at an excavation site. You play the game as Dr. Burns who opens a portal to Anther, a world that has been plagued by a mysterious force called Torment. Anther is an idyllic world where everyone lived in harmony until Torment unleashed a devastating blight upon the world. You soon learn of the prophecy that the brave one and someone of pure heart will come to save Anther – perhaps the brave one is you!
The opening cinematic for the game is wonderful and gives us a hint of what is to come. The graphics are excellent and colorful, although in some scenes they appear muted and not as vibrant as I like. The sound package for Amaranthine Voyage is probably one of the best I’ve heard in recent games, of course with this developer; most of their sound packages are top-notch. I found the voiceovers to be very realistic and they enhanced the visual characters which were extremely well depicted.
Early in the game we will find a map that is set up a bit differently than those normally found. There is a pocket on the right side of the map with pull out cards that contain information on the current objective. The map itself is the interactive transporter type that I like since it is often one of my most helpful tools. Although there isn’t a journal, I don’t think one is necessary since the objective cards in the map’s pocket seem to provide most of the information needed. Another tool that we acquire early in the game is an orb that requires shards to activate it. As a shard is inserted into the orb there is a mini-puzzle to complete to activate it. The hint is helpful in that it will transport us to the area where something is to be done.
The HOPs are interactive and multi-level, which is standard for EIPIX. For the most part the items are not too difficult to find but sometimes the riddle at the end made no sense and I admit to using the hint. If you would rather not complete the HO scenes, you have the option of switching to a bubble-shooter game but once the items are found you still must answer the riddle to progress. The puzzles are interesting and I even encountered one that was different from what we normally find. Although most of the puzzles were fairly easy which is becoming typical in most games now, I still enjoyed them and even a few were a bit challenging.
During the game you will collect 41 Flowers of Remembrance to find. Of course there are achievements that can be earned that are mostly gameplay-based. Along with collectibles and achievements we have a bonus chapter, the SG and various other frills to entice us to purchase the CE.
Amaranthine Voyage the Shadow of Torment is, IMHO, better that the others in the series and promises to be a bit more exciting in the long run. When the demo ended I was left wanting more and 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.
I recommend this game!
Medieval Match 3 fun! Solve puzzles and build your own kingdom by cleverly using resources.
Overall rating
1
/
5
26 of 41 found this review helpful
A Poor Imitation of a Match 3/Builder Game
PostedJuly 28, 2014
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Although I generally like match 3 type games, everything about Village Quest screams low budget game. I have no idea where this game came from or how long it’s been sitting on a shelf in someone’s garage but I have certainly seen far better match 3 games.
There are very few options in the game so what you see is what you get. The game opened with wood side panels around a smaller playing field. The graphics are flat and nothing special. Okay, so I can deal with not having widescreen but one thing I certainly dislike is playing a game with a timer no matter how slow it may be. Again no option, so we are stuck with the timer like it or not. The only sounds in the game are the music and effects and quite frankly, after about 10 minutes the music drove me crazy so I had to mute it as much as possible. There is no narration of the story – again, low budget game.
The game is basically a match 3 game with a builder component. We make match after interminable match to earn resources to build on the land that we won in a tournament. The issue with the builder component is that until we open the blueprint we have no idea how many resources are required to purchase an item. Once we open the blueprint, which is accomplished by completing a very simple puzzle, then we can buy something. That’s it – then we play many more match 3 rounds until we can buy the next item. It would have been far more fun had we had the option to choose what to buy and if we could buy more than one of a certain item. IMHO, the game falls flat on the builder side.
After about 30 minutes of gameplay, the match 3 graphics became very hard on my eyes and I felt like the small squares were blending together. I guess it might be because the play area is small and, as a result, the squares with the items seem right on top of each other. I think that if this developer hopes to make it in today’s world, they will need to get with the program and offer widescreen programming. For me the game was a bust and a no go. However, if you are desperate to get rid of a PCC on a “Bonus Punch Monday”, then I would recommend you at least try the game. You might like it!
I don't recommend this game.
After a suspicious accident, you find yourself stranded at a run-down motel. But you soon realize the area hides a terrifying secret...
Overall rating
5
/
5
57 of 103 found this review helpful
A Terrific Game but Not My Cup of Tea!
PostedJuly 27, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Oh my, Fright certainly lives up to its name in the first cutscenes that we see in the game. You are being chased through a cornfield and come across a young girl on a swing, who dissolves into nothingness as you approach, and then a very frightening scarecrow. Finally you emerge at a house inhabited by our earlier spectre. Was it all a dream after all or was it a premonition of things to come?
Overall the graphics are very good. There are also live actors in the game that gives it that additional touch of realism. Unlike some games with live actors, the ones in Fright are very good and add to the game’s quality. The game has excellent graphics and very realistic voiceovers, some of them very good. The issue for me with the graphics is that this is a game set in a dirty, run down motel. I prefer games with gorgeous, colorful graphics rather than those with filthy scenery and lots of brown.
You have a diary that as well as an interactive transporter map that is a bit different than those we normally see in HOPA games.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. The HOPs are interesting to say the least and are one of the best parts of the gameplay for me. There are not too many puzzles in the early part of the game but the ones I encountered are interesting and require some thought.
I know that Fright is a game that will appeal to those of you who dislike all of the fantasy type games and I guess it is what some of you may refer to as a “gritty” game. As for me, although I purchased the CE I never finished the game. Even though Fright was really not for me, it is an excellent game for those of you who like this type of storyline and setting. That being said, and in deference to those of you who love this type of game and to be objective; I will give it a high rating. 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 investigative report on the Weeping Woman of San Cristobal turns personal after you witness a kidnapping. Is the legend true?
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 108 found this review helpful
A Vibrant, Colorful Game
PostedJuly 26, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In Lost Legends: The Weeping Woman we have a tale of loss and revenge. The legend tells the story of Maria who, after the heartbreaking loss of her children, takes her own life in the river near her village, and now her spirit claims the lives of young children who are careless enough to wander too close to her watery grave. In order to placate the Weeping Woman’s spirit, the villagers have created a special day to commemorate her death, Flores de los Muertos, and for many years all was well but now the disappearances have started again. As a reporter you are here to investigate the disappearances as well as to delve into the legend of The Weeping Woman.
The graphics are excellent and crisp with wonderful use of vibrant color. The artists have created characters that are very realistic and with the addition of the lip-synced voiceovers they come to life on the screen. The rest of the sound package is exactly what I like in a game with music and ambient effects that create just the right touch of excitement and mystery. It is so refreshing to have a game with vibrant, bright color in comparison to recent games that have been all pink and purple – please devs give us more games like this!
There is a diary that contains your objectives as well as your notes to help you as you travel through your adventure. The interactive transporter map indicates where you have tasks to accomplish.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. The puzzles in the game are nothing new but I still find them entertaining. Even though we see many of these puzzles in our HOPA games, each dev puts their own spin on these familiar puzzles so it still makes them fun and sometimes even challenging to complete.
In the CE version of the game there are collectible golden skulls to find, and you will need to keep your eyes open because some of them are extremely well hidden. The game also has morphing flowers so be on the lookout for these as well. The rest of the CE extras are standard fare.
Since I was fortunate enough to play the beta for The Weeping Woman, I have anxiously been waiting for its release so it was an instant buy for me but 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 strange and deadly pollen is spreading around the world, and you've been hired to track down its source. But the secrets you discover in the fabled kingdom of Floralia are much darker than you imagined...
Overall rating
5
/
5
193 of 216 found this review helpful
Beautiful but Predictable
PostedJuly 25, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When I was little I always looked forward to bedtime when my grandmother would read fairy tales to me as I was falling asleep. The story of Rapunzel, locked in a tower and letting her locks down so that she could meet with her prince, was always one of my favorite tales. As usual Blue Tea has given us their darker spin on a beloved story and now it is a great new game in the Dark Parables series.
Because this is a Blue Tea game, the graphics are beautiful and of excellent quality. The music has the haunting quality that is found in all of the games in the series but that doesn’t matter since I happen to like it and find that it adds to the game.
In the Dark Parables games we don’t really have a journal but you can locate your objectives or current tasks. The map does show where we have something to do and others have commented (in other games in the series) that the maps are transporter type but I have never found that to be true, so either they don’t work on my laptop or they really are not transporter type maps to begin with. At least the map does clearly show where something is to be found or done.
The Dark Parables games are FROG type so the HOS are for locating portions of symbols, medallions or other objects. Although I am not a huge fan of FROGs in general, I do love the ones in games from this developer because the fragments or items to find are always hidden in beautiful scenes. There are puzzles to be found in the game and, IMHO, some of them took a bit of thought and were not overly easy to complete.
There is much about this game in the beginning that is reminiscent of others in the series. I don’t know if it is because the music is the same but I definitely notice the slight remake of scenery to fit the current game. The one sad thing is that the Dark Parables games have become very predictable and each one is much the same as the others even though the characters and story may be a bit different. As much as I like the FROGs from this developer, I would like to see them branch out and use their skills to develop a different type of game. That being said, I will add this beautiful game to my collection. Because of the quality of the game and because people who are new to playing the Dark Parables series will most likely love the game, I am giving it the five-star rating it deserves. 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!
Sable Maze: Forbidden Garden Collector's Edition
Your parents always told you to stay away from the mysterious maze behind their house…. and you’re about to find out why.
Overall rating
5
/
5
118 of 177 found this review helpful
A Different Sable Maze! Give it a Chance - it Gets Better.
PostedJuly 24, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
My first though when I saw Forbidden garden was good grief, what has happened to Sable Maze? The Forbidden Garden appears to have taken a 360 degree turn from the first two games in the series and is now presented as a fairy tale, fantasy type game. Unfortunately the early part of the game seems more like “Dream Day Wedding” than an intriguing Sable Maze game. Oh well – on with the story. You will play the game as Wisteria who has returned to the family estate for your marriage to your sweetheart Ryan but, alas, poor Ryan manages to get himself captured and dragged through a mysterious portal in the family garden and, yes, you must save him. You soon learn that there is more to the mystery in the garden than the mere kidnapping of Ryan, for it seems that someone has a vendetta against your dad who has been hiding a family secret for years.
Yes again in another game from this developer, we have all those pink and purple tones that normally appeal to eight-year old girls. The graphics are excellent but just a bit over the top for my liking – at least in the early part of the game. That being said, the graphics are excellent and really beautiful, which will appeal to those of us who like “pretty” games. The voiceovers are okay but the dialog seems a bit corny. Overall the sound package is very good and even has lip-synced voiceovers.
We have the standard tools including a little “spinner” on the lower left that contains our notes, trophies, collections and other bits of information. We can also gain separate access to the map by clicking on the map icon below the spinner. Fortunately the map is the interactive transporter type that will show us areas where we have tasks to complete, which I always find helpful when I am at a loss for what to do next. Okay, early in the game we do acquire a pet helper who is really mom, who has been changed into an ermine. At least we can use “mom” to help us in certain situations.
There are the various types of interactive HOPs that we have come to expect in games from this developer, and most of the HOPs involve completing one or more puzzles to finish the scene. There are quite a few puzzles in the game with some being more difficult than others.
As we move through the game we will find various bewitched jewels that are morphing objects. There are several different collections consisting of several jewels in each so there are quite a few morphing or bewitched objects to find. We also find a blank book that is completed as we encounter various animals or creatures on our journey. Most of the other extras are fairly standard fare but I do happen to like the inclusion of the Developer’s Diary where we can see the team at Daily Magic at work and play.
If you like fairytale, fantasy type games then you will most likely find Sable Maze Forbidden Garden to be an interesting and entertaining game. The game is a gorgeous game with excellent graphics that many of you will immediately love but for others, if you can get past the pink and purple flowery, over the top, early part of the game, the story develops and becomes far more interesting. Because I love some of the other excellent games from this developer, I know that I am in for a treat and decided to purchase the game. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will.
I recommend this game!
Collect colorful tiles, release the magic power and return life to Floria!
Overall rating
5
/
5
80 of 105 found this review helpful
Restore Floria to its Former Glory - Oh and Have Lots of Fun
PostedJuly 23, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Floria is a surprising match 3 type game that is more than meets the eye at first glance. It is fun, charming and, at times, more than a bit difficult. When I saw Floria this morning I sort of groaned and said to myself “not another match 3 game” but then I decided to at least try it.
The graphics are quite colorful to say the least. Our goal is to bring Floria back to life after it fell into gloom when an evil sorcerer cast a spell upon the once blooming and beautiful world. Now it is our task to find the tiles that hold the key to restoring Floria to its life and beauty.
Although the game is a match 3 game, there is a healthy dose of puzzle thrown in to keep things interesting. I found myself absorbed in the gameplay and decided that Floria is a match 3 game I don’t want to pass up on, so I am off to hit the buy button. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if you happen to find Floria as enchanting as I did.
I recommend this game!
Discover mysterious Aztec treasures in this exciting Match-3 game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
96 of 157 found this review helpful
Fun Little Game
PostedJuly 22, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Aztec Venture at first seems like a fairly easy match-3 type game but you soon realize it has a healthy dose of puzzle game thrown into the mix. I found the game functioned well and was a fun and entertaining game to play. The big challenge is to earn the full amount of stars that can be awarded for each level, which I only did one time. Every fifth row in the game was a puzzle to break up the monotony of a straight match-3. When we complete the puzzle round we earn a decorative mask to put into our tent.
The graphics are very good and colorful. The sound became a bit annoying after a while but thankfully it could be turned down. There are several modes of play to choose from to make the game much more challenging.
All in all, of you are looking for a fun little game to while away the hours, then I can wholeheartedly recommend Aztec Adventure. I enjoyed the game and decided that it was a 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!
For 25 years, you thought you had no family. But one night, a man steps through a mirror from another world, claiming to be your uncle... changing your life forever.
Overall rating
5
/
5
78 of 119 found this review helpful
Beautiful Worlds to Explore - A Great Game
PostedJuly 20, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yes, once again we have a game about the struggle between good and evil, darkness and light but, IMHO, in Reflections of Life Tree of Dreams the storyline is excellent and put together in a way that captured my interest and . I’m not going to give a recap of the story since I think it is up to you to discover but I will say we have a game with parallel worlds and some beautiful locations to visit as we challenge the dark forces that surround us.
The graphics are very good and the artwork is excellent and creates the beautiful fantasy worlds that I love to see in games. We also have lip-synced voiceovers that are quite realistic.
You have a journal but it is not the type I like since most of it is done with video clips that need to be replayed. I happen to like the interactive transporter map in Tree of Life. It is very interactive and not only does it show where you have tasks available, it also allows you to zoom into different areas. This is a great way to do a map because we have a lot of territory to cover.
The HOPs in the demo are the standard list type with some easy extra steps to find incomplete or hidden items. The good thing is that if you don’t want to search for items on the list, you have the option of switching to a match 3 game. The puzzles are mostly the type we have seen before, but realistically how many different types of puzzles can a developer come up with that we haven’t already encountered in one game or another. Most of the puzzles are very easy but once in a while you will encounter one that takes a bit more thought to solve. It doesn’t bother me that some of the puzzles are quite easy because they are still entertaining and fit into the story.
Although we have seen the storyline done before, I liked Reflections of Life Tree of Dreams since it was artistically beautiful and held my attention throughout the game. I purchased the CE and was not disappointed. The game was entertaining and had some challenge to it, which is something I always like. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
Save your daughter from a mysterious mirror-hopping monster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
101 of 139 found this review helpful
A Great Follow-up Game in the Nevertales Series
PostedJuly 19, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Last year Nevertales the Beauty Within took the casual gaming world by storm, and here at BFG the game received 235 five-star ratings out of 266 reviews, which is an almost unheard of, extremely high, positive rating for a game. Finally, after a year of waiting we have a sequel to this wonderful HOPA game with Nevertales Shattered Image. Belle and Pierre have returned along with their daughter, Alice, who is now a young girl of twelve. Belle and Pierre have a special gift that allows them to travel through portals to different worlds and their daughter has been blessed with this gift. However, as often happens to the young, they sometimes experiment with things they shouldn’t, and Alice is now in serious trouble. Without a moment to spare, we are out to save our offspring from a dire fate and, hopefully, our brains and gifts will be enough to save Alice as we travel through the adventure that is Nevertales Shattered Image.
The graphics are very good, although they are at times shrouded in a bit of mistiness. Fortunately the graphics have improved since the beta release and the developer has toned down all of the horrid pinks and purples in the game. Even though there is still quite a bit of purple to contend with, I no longer feel like I am drowning in a sea of candy hearts. The voiceovers in the game are very good, and they are lip-synced – something I always enjoy in a game. The rest of the sound package is extremely good with excellent and sometimes haunting music and wonderful ambient sounds that set the stage in each scene of the game.
We have the standard tools with a diary or journal that is found on the lower right of the screen. We also have an interactive map that is a transporter type so that we can move quickly from one location to another. Whether it is a glorious moment or a huge disappointment for the many gamers out there, we find no animal helper or cuddly pet in site.
The HOS in this game have a lot of variety and are very similar to those found in the first Nevertales game; however, it seems that in Shattered Image you need to build more of the items you need from very well-hidden, vague pieces. I tended to find the HOS very tedious at times but that might be because I found some of the items difficult to find or distinguish in dark scenes. The puzzles from this developer are all very good so they do keep me interested. Some of the puzzles may seem easy but they are more difficult than you think.
Nevertales Shattered Image CE is loaded with extras. The interesting thing is that even though I purchased the CE, many of the extras remain locked and hidden until the game is completed. From what I can see there are HOS to replay, music tracks, concept art and wallpapers. The game has a bonus game as well as hidden chapters. And of course we have achievements, collectibles to find, and morphing objects – all of which make this a true CE value.
I loved the first Nevertales game and Shattered Image promises to be just as good. The games from this developer are always challenging and a bit different from those that we can drift through without having to use our brains. For some the game may seem to start off slow but there is a lot to do as we try to save Alice. Parts of the story may seem very familiar, such as our journey to meet our old friend Maria; however, there are many new challenges that lie ahead. For me the game was an instant purchase based on the merits of the first Nevertales game but 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!