steve_san's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:5,408
- Reviews Submitted:242
- First Review:November 28, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 3, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Ice giants are attacking citizens as a deadly blizzard arrives.
Overall rating
3
/
5
38 of 50 found this review helpful
This Deadly Cold Is No Mystery
PostedFebruary 5, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Setting: Your best friend Kira has recently gotten married and has invited you to visit her town of Baumholder. The weather reports are warning of an impending summertime blizzard. Just after you arrive, a huge icy tower shoots up in the distance, spewing snowy clouds of destruction and ice men.
Oddities: First, Kira's husband, whose name happens to be Victor Snow *ahem*, is listed as 7'-0" tall but, unless Kira is really tall, he's drawn much shorter. Second, it's time-period challenged. Victor's DOB is listed as 1977 on his license, issued in 2006. But there's a 1970's era TV and camera, and the autos date to the 1950's. Also, their house uses old style electrical fuses. Thirdly , they show a manhole cover held down with two Phillips head screws. Lastly, there is a raccoon who is apparently a pet and has his own lockable door.
The palette is heavy on the blues, but rather unimaginatively so. Most scenes are saturated with that familiar shade of light blue that we've seen a thousand times before.
The quality of the voices was average, and I was not bothered by Kira's voice. However, if she is my best friend I have questions about my own character as she is somewhat of a ditz. Music was of the muzak type.
Hidden object scenes were interactive semi-silhouette type. Puzzle solutions were very simple. Transportable map with objectives.
There is much hand-holding early on, even with the optional tutorial turned off. As play approached the end of the trial, this tapered off. The problem is that the story is unimaginative as well, just a rehash of of the usual characters. The trial ends with a pseudo surprise that you knew was coming. I found my interest waning by then.
Skip lovers: There are the usual three difficulty settings, plus custom. There is one slider which controls both the Hint and Skip recharge, and its configurable anywhere from 1 to 90 seconds.
Extras and pseudo extras: Six collectible character figures, 20 achievements (including pseudo ones) and 25 collectible hares. Why hares? Not sure. These were mostly well hidden. Strategy guide, bonus level, other stuff.
The collectible hares were the most appealing feature. However, I found it lacking in just about every other area so, if I ever decide to buy, I'll choose the tortoise over the hare and wait for the SE.
Two and 1/2 melting ice men who should come in from the Deadly Cold
I don't recommend this game.
Characters from classical literature are coming to life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 27 found this review helpful
Dickens and Irving Are Ghostwriters?
PostedFebruary 3, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The premise here is, in short, "Drawn" for writers. In Drawn, the pictures come to life. Here, Washington Irving has discovered that his stories come to life and they can be entered, the portals being the books themselves. Accordingly, this makes him a "Ghostwriter." But there is also evil lurking inside these stories, and Mr. Irving has called upon his friend Charles Dickens - also a Ghostwriter - to help him eliminate it.
The drawing quality is very high and there is definitely a distinctive "look" to the environment. There is no dominant color scheme, but the slightly distorted style gives everything an air of peculiarity which is well suited to the stories that we visit, like Sleepy Hollow.
The hidden object scenes are fairly standard, crowded and interactive. The puzzles are not challenging, but could have been clearer, especially the painting puzzle. However, they fit in nicely with the theme and surroundings.
The game play was where there was degree of frustration. If you are the type that clicks everywhere, you will have no problem. However, if you look for visual clues for where to click, you may become frustrated (I played in Custom mode with sparkles turned off). Some active areas were frustratingly difficult to find. There is also a great deal of backtracking, but no map is provided.
The voices I found to be well done, but here and there the emphasis of some phrases was awkward. As far as the singing character, I agree 100% with our resident singer:
NancySusan wrote:... the idea of having a song was inventive, her voice was pretty good, even if the song was rather awfully written...
Midnight Mysteries is a series I have generally liked, except not-so-much the last one (Witches of Abraham). The concept here is good and it promises, if nothing else, a trip through the locations of some classic literature.
Three and 1/2 Headless Horsemen
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover what’s causing the strange symptoms in Blackwill?
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 57 found this review helpful
Requiem Borders On Lilies - Literally
PostedJanuary 31, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Setting: You are Dr. Robert Thompson, returning to the town of Blackwill (uh-oh!) after being away for 17 years. There is a legend that a creature once roamed this town causing women to fall into a catatonic state, until the townspeople built a wall to confine it. However, upon your return a young redhead named Beatrice seeks you out. Her mother was Kat(atonic) Stanley, a patient whose case you could never cure.
First of all, I get that the title is "The Lily's Requiem," but that does not require a flowery lily border around all the pop-up scenes. I wished they had dropped this idea because I did not find it appealing. In fact, for me it had the opposite effect. But other than that, the visual look of the game was not bad; another game utilizing the full color spectrum with a fantasy-realism style set in a 1940's time period.
Voices are well done. There is some scripted interactive conversation between your character and the others.
The HO scenes (17) are also interactive types, but fairly standard. There were no twists encountered during the trial. The puzzles were easy: in one you'll face off against another character in a game of Battleship. Some others in the trial were shape recognition - i.e., identifying the shape of ampoules, keys, and reassembling the broken pieces of a jeweled tree.
Special features: There are collectible black pearls in plain sight. These are used to buy furnishings for your "house." There are also collectible items used to decorate your aquarium. Neither of these features were appealing to this reviewer because they simply do not interest me, not necessarily because they were poorly done.
The play was rather uneven. There is an attempt to "doctor" your actions, but some of the things that are done are just plain strange, like (spoiler) stitching up a paper funnel. There is a transportable map with the feature of indicating actionable areas - this can also be turned off in the Custom settings.
Having not played this series since The Vanishing Hitchhiker, I feel no urge to get this game either, especially as a CE. The story is OK if not really new, and the play was just average. I'm content to either pass or wait for the lily to bloom as an SE.
I don't recommend this game.
The Lost Lands are in danger again... There's only one brave soul who can face the four evil horsemen to save it – you!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Five Stars for Four Horseman - Review of completed came
PostedJanuary 30, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Setting: you are a 30-ish woman in a parking garage speaking to your young son on your cell phone when you are suddenly whooshed away into another world - or rather five worlds. Each world is visited via a portal which must first be unlocked by finding a rune. The characters and story elements bear a strong resemblance to the LOTR series, i.e. a friendly wizard, a dwarf, elves, men, a tower, and most importantly the four horsemen - Fire, Ice, Death and Darkness.
Our heroine seems to take this all in stride as she is seemingly unconcerned about her son and takes up the task to save the world quite calmly. That aside, the play and story are fairly reasonable in this setting. There is a lot of detail in each scene so you must be very active in exploring. The palette consists of a broad spectrum, and the different worlds differ more in style than color or hue.
The puzzles are well designed and not too difficult, though some may take a little persistence - isn't that why we call it a puzzle? Many of the hidden object scenes are the silhouette type, and some of those are progressive as well. The developers have managed to make these interesting while keeping them uncluttered.
There is a map which is a tabbed design, one tab for each of the worlds. It is most helpful and really necessary both because of the portals and the high degree of back and forth travel that is required.
There are collectible character pages (20), machine parts (35), and morphing objects (35), the last two items being very well hidden and a challenge to find.
The main game is a good length, I estimate six or seven hours, and the story keeps it's interest until the end without being too complex. The characters that you'll meet and interact with along the way also help to hold your interest.
After all the ordinary and sub-standard games of late this is a welcome relief. This proves you can still make a great game even when using borrowed elements. I highly recommend you invite Four Horsemen into your "stable" of games.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious plague is sweeping through towns along the coast, and you're the only one who knows the truth!
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 39 found this review helpful
Will Our Nurse Hero Lead Us To "Wellport?"
PostedJanuary 29, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Setting: as Nurse Bridget Tramell, you're helping Dr. Griffin fight a plague in the town of Port Talbot. The nearby town of Millfield has already been devastated, and at this point it is necessary to evacuate everyone to the aptly named town of Wellport. Stories are circulating that some mysterious "chemists" are the cause of the plague.
My first impression is the game shows ample evidence that the developers put a great deal of work into the visual design. The scenes of the town are quite highly detailed. Items to pick up are scattered everywhere. The palette leans more heavily on reds, yellows and oranges.
This design effort extends to the hidden object scenes (18) which are clearly drawn and have a variety to their play. Some have multiple stages, followed by a riddle to identify the final object. Unfortunately, the riddles are unclear unless you are familiar with an object called a (spoiler) dibber. There is also a match three option for those so inclined.
I found the puzzles (20) to be well integrated into the game, but for a reason I cannot fully describe, they did not greatly appeal to me. All I can say is that they are the types that take time to complete but are not really difficult. However, they are cleverly designed.
Game play was the aspect that was most in need of improvement. Throughout the trial, the use of objects involved many logical inconsistencies. The most egregious one was the (spoiler) use of a harpoon gun to lower a ladder. Odd.
Voice acting was good and there is character lip movement, if not exact synchronization.
There are four modes of play including custom with the Hint slider from 10-120 seconds, Skip from 10-400 secs, and Glints from 1-10 secs.
There are 44 collectible globes which are slightly hidden. the strategy guide does not show the collectibles. Completing the main game unlocks that as well as souvenirs and the bonus game. The other usual pseudo-extras round out the CE package.
Burning Coast did not really light my fire. I'm on the fence, with the nice design and story offset by the somewhat clunky play and not-so-appealing puzzles. I'll still give it four star's due to the obvious effort that went into it.
The border between life and death is fragile. Restore the course of nature, solve puzzles and search for clues in Frankenstein: Master of Death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
Hey Victor, What Have you Been Up To?
PostedJanuary 26, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Master of Death is a twist on the familiar Frankenstein story. You are summoned by your friend Victor Frankenstein to see his amazing scientific breakthrough, but when you arrive (surprise!) it is apparent that something terribly horrifying is going on.
The strength of this game is the cut scenes. They are all expertly done and bring a terrifying realism to both the characters and story. The drawing style is somewhat colorful, heavier on the grays, greens and browns, but everything is decrepit and run down looking in order to aptly suit the gruesome storyline. Note: there are some scenes involving rats that may be disturbing to some.
The music is also a strong point. The tracks consist of very nicely done orchestral arrangements which set the mood perfectly and blend well with the visual style. Sound affects are also good, as well as the pleasing chime when a puzzle is completed. Voices are average to good.
The puzzles and games are not as strong, most of them are very easy, even on the "Hard" difficulty setting (the other setting is "Easy"). Hidden objects are mostly large and visible. While the hidden object scenes have some objects in blue that require additional tasks, one difference here is that there is no "active" cursor to assist you in discovering where to click. You will have to look carefully for visual clues.
The game play is fairly simple, you'll find a lot of unusual looking keys to open doors throughout the game. There is onscreen help to give you clues as well. I would say this game is best suited for beginners or those who like easier play. But if you like the story and cut scenes as much as I did, all levels of players should consider this. Due to the simple level of play it is also not a really long game.
You don't have to be a "Master" to play this, you just have to have a desire to play a creepy game about a strange and horrifying evil.
I recommend this game!
A stay at a peaceful hotel turns into a nightmare when a witch from the Twilight World takes your daughter!
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 37 found this review helpful
Cats, Bunnies and Witches, Oh my!
PostedJanuary 25, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
To begin with, there are collectible cats and bunnies. That was a clue that the developers did not have players like me in mind (male) when this was designed. However, there are many players in the pond who enjoy cats and bunnies, so if you are one of them, here goes...
You are the mother of a grown daughter. You're traveling and decide to stop at a quaint hotel. Things go bad quickly when you get separated from your daughter and discover that a witch is trying to take over her body. Turns out the hotel was built on property that was formerly owned by the witch.
The game is pleasing to look at as all the scenes are very colorful. There doesn't seem to be any particular dominant color except blue, but all the scenes are filled with just about the full spectrum and the colors are quite saturated.
Puzzles and games are very easy. Some of them look more difficult at first, but one you begin they are quite easy. They were actually too easy for my tastes. As this has to do with a witch, there is also a crystal ball with which you'll travel back and forth between reality and the "twilight world." Each trip requires you to collect three crystals.
There are other characters in the game. Each has a what I would describe as a cardboard cutout appearance. The dialog with them is somewhat awkwardly phrased, making them all seem a little strange and mysterious.
I did not experience any technical problems in playing to the end of the trial - except the daughter's voice missing in the very beginning. I did not look at the SG.
I never really got engaged in the story and so I am not really interested in what will happen. Coupled with easy game play, this left only the colorful scenes to draw my interest. That said, I could re-visit this as an SE with a coupon code on a rainy day.
For me, this game exists in the Twilight World between "didn't like" and "didn't care."
I don't recommend this game.
Help Goldilocks’s son protect his village from invading bears!
Overall rating
2
/
5
30 of 40 found this review helpful
"Wrath" Was Almost Un-BEAR-able
PostedJanuary 22, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You are Goldilocks's son (who knew?). She died three years ago - in 1895 I believe. But now, bears are threatening your village of Fortress because they are after a certain artifact. You must stop them.
The production quality of this game is top-notch - the drawing, cut scenes, voices and music - really no complaints with anything from that standpoint. The puzzles and games are nice and easy if that is what you like. It's true that the "low" setting for Hint and Skip is rather high, but unless the degree of difficulty increases exponentially (literally), I seriously doubt you will need those very often anyway.
But the story - oh, the story. I did not care for the story at all, to the point that I had to stop. From the beginning it was kind of "out there" and then it went way beyond. I played the demo as long as I could, but lasted only 35 minutes. Full disclosure: I generally do not favor fairy tale style games, so if they are your thing, definitely give this a try as my objection is entirely with the storyline.
Unfortunately, this one was definitely not "just right." I'll give it three bears for production quality, and minus one for story.
I don't recommend this game.
In this scarier-than-ever story, find out what really happened on prom night, 1964...
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
Endless Night Revisits A Tragic Stag Party
PostedJanuary 10, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This third entry in the Phantasmat series also involves a tragedy that happened long ago. This time it is a poison gas explosion at a cosmetic factory that killed the attendees of the Corcrest High School prom (mascot - Stags) 50 years ago.
The game opens as you are driving your daughter Aimee to her prom in the present day. Then the all-too-typical ghostly figure appears and your car crashes. When you awake, you discover you have been transported back 50 years to 1965 - and your daughter is missing. Where is she and who is behind all this?
The artwork is drawn in a old, dilapidated style to set the mood. However there is plenty of saturated color, mostly blues, greens and browns as shown in the word "Phantasmat" in the game's icon. The drawing also has a slightly grainy look, probably for the same stylistic reason. Some scenes have additional areas to zoom in so be sure to check everywhere.
Game play consists of 20 mini-games and 16 hidden object scenes. Both are varied, with the puzzles seeming easier than the HO scenes. There is a lot of back and forth, and fortunately there is a transportable map (you even get an achievement for using it). There are also some unusual tasks to perform and some objects are used in non-standard ways so keep an open mind.
There are four levels of play including a Custom, and Hint and Skip refill can be set from 10 to 120 seconds. You can also adjust or turn off the helpful glints.
This CE has 41 collectible eye symbols, strategy guide (only two chapters in trial), achievements, souvenirs, replay of HO's and puzzles and a match 3 game. There are also the usual pseudo extras.
My impression after the trial was that the game is good but the weakest part is the story, which is just another variation on the common missing child theme. However, based on the preview and the movie, there are some interesting locations so you won't be confined to an old high school the entire time.
As good as the original (which actually seemed endless)? No, but certainly worth an above average four stars.
I recommend this game!
A dark wizard awakens the ice queen using your daughter!
Overall rating
3
/
5
36 of 49 found this review helpful
Great Ice Rune Lair Story
PostedJanuary 8, 2015
steve_san
fromPhiladelphia PA USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is a game that the player will know within the first two minutes whether or not she will like it.
Briefly, this is a fairy tale type game. It contains the following:
amulets
magic mirrors
crystal balls
history scrolls
runes
potions
spells
evil wizard
good wizard
missing child
... and other fairy tale-ish stuff too numerous to mention.
amulets
magic mirrors
crystal balls
history scrolls
runes
potions
spells
evil wizard
good wizard
missing child
... and other fairy tale-ish stuff too numerous to mention.
If fairy tales are your thing, then most likely you will love, maybe really love, this game. If not, you will have a hard time playing to the end of the demo. Because everything else - i.e. artwork, sounds and music - are high quality. So this will not be a detailed review since I do not think it would help anyone make up their mind.
I must add that in the custom difficulty level, the scale for the sliders for hint and skip recharge are labelled as Very long and Quickly instead of the number of seconds. Bad decision in my opinion as this forces you to guess what the setting actually is.
The Ice Queen is not for me, but she may be for thee. Enjoy.