mikesilverman's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.6
- Helpful Votes:396
- Reviews Submitted:53
- First Review:August 5, 2012
- Most Recent Review:October 18, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Push your detective skills to the limit in a fantastical faraway land and find a prince's lost love.
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 20 found this review helpful
BEYOND AWESOME
PostedFebruary 3, 2013
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a breathtakingly beautiful journey through a fairytale storybook brought to life. You feel transported into another world as the stunning visuals bring you through palace treasuries , forests filled with classic medieval creatures like Griffins , Harpies and unicorns, Dragon lairs filled with gold and rare objects, and so much more as you quest to find Cinderella.. she's not called that in the game, but it's the classic Cinderella story in every way except the name. The hidden object scenes are wonderful. Rather than the normal hunt-and-click hidden object scenes, you are provided with an inventory of objects that "fit" into the scene and you have to place the objects into or onto the correct object in the scene in order to complete the scene. Every time you place an object a clever and fluid bit of animation accompanies it, such as placing a sword in the hand of a knight causes him to swing the sword. It's total high quality from beginning to end. The map in the game allows you to jump from one location to any other location you have already visited which saves a lot of time, and the map also clues you in to where there are still tasks to be completed, so if you get stuck just look at the map and it will tell you where you need to go. The puzzles are excellent, not too hard and not too easy. I averaged between 5 and 8 minutes per puzzle. Most of them are moderate in difficulty , a few are simply easy. But mostly the puzzles strike exactly the right balance to make them enjoyable without being frustrating. This is everything that a hidden object adventure game should be. I very highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
A classic Christmas tale tail, with a whole new twist! Help the Nutcracker rescue the princess from the evil Rat King!
Overall rating
5
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
SURPRISINGLY GOOD
PostedDecember 15, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this game. When I first saw it become available, I thought to myself..., The Nutcracker is not exactly the kind of story that interests me. But I gave the free demo a try, and I was immediately hooked on this game. With it's beautiful interactive hidden object scenes, its very deep story, and all of the very surprising locations and rooms to explore it held my attention all the way through to the end. It has everything from interactive maps that you can use to jump from one location to another..., to indicators on the map that let you know where you have to go ..., to interactive characters who you add into your inventory and use from time to time to help you perform various tasks. For example, the Nutcracker himself gets added to your inventory and you can use him at various times to scare way rats and cut through ropes. A cute little cat gets added to your inventory who becomes very helpful at reaching objects in high places. And a living animated candle also becomes part of your inventory to help with lighting up various things. The game was a lot of fun, and I very highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Unfinished Tales: Illicit Love Collector's Edition
After the Raven Queen crashes her wedding, Thumbelina must save her prince to reclaim her happy ending!
Overall rating
5
/
5
AN AWESOME AND INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
PostedDecember 15, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game has done everything right. It includes an interactive map that lets you jump from one location to any other location if you have been there before. It has a hint system that works well within hidden object scenes and while adventuring through the game. Every frame of the game itself is a beautiful work of art with animation and ambient lighting, glowing sunbeams and leaves blowing in the wind. The perspective is excellent as everything that is a part of Thumbelina's tiny world is seen from the point of view of someone who is only a few inches tall. A traveling puppet theater is mounted on the back of a hedgehog, a pirate ship is built on the back of a turtle, just to name a few things. You are drawn into the story by an engaging exciting adventure where you need to accomplish heroic tasks to advance as you uncover the mystery of why the prince is being attacked by a rival lover. The hidden object scenes are beautiful, carefully crafted to fit the environment and are interactive. This is a fun game. Just one thing though, if you have an older computer system it might have some difficulty with the high level of graphic requirements. The game uses very deep graphic detail and imagery that will require a reasonably strong computer. But it worked well for me on my 2.4 gigahertz processor with two gigabytes of ram and a one gigabyte Nvidia video card. The point is, carefully test the "free" download of this game first, to make sure it works correctly on your computer.
I recommend this game!
Uncover Poseidon’s ancient secrets hidden under the town of Black Water!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A LOT OF FUN
PostedNovember 25, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I greatly enjoyed this game. It had features that really helped. For example it has an interactive map, if you have already visited a place , you can jump back there at any time from anywhere by clicking on that location on the map. Also, the map has symbols that point out where you should be going in order to progress the story. I like the way the hidden object scenes and mini puzzles were set up to allow you to win a trophy for the number of puzzled you did not "skip" over and for the number of hidden object scenes you did not have to click "hint" on. It makes the game more fun to play as a challenge to you hidden object skills and puzzle skills.
I recommend this game!
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
LOVED IT. EXCELLENT HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES
PostedNovember 25, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a very well designed hidden object mystery game that gives you the sense of being in a turn-of-the-century murder mystery in high society england. You get drawn in as characters talk to you, and you respond vocally in the game. You can choose not to engage in conversation beyond the initial needed conversations that progress the game, or you can click on characters and have them converse at length with you, but you don't need to go through the complete conversations in order to advance and play the game. The hidden object scenes are the best I've encountered in a long time. If you love playing hidden object games, you should enjoy this. The scenes are active and entertaining. For example, in a hidden object scene behind one of the locked gates there is the typical mix of objects but there is also a can of paint hanging from a rope. You have to tip the can of paint to make it spill over a ball on the ground to turn the ball red and then collect the red ball. And there is a cat toy, a squeaking rubber mouse, you touch it to make it squeak and four different cats stick their heads out from behind various objects... you have to click on the black cat to collect it.., but the cats duck down again quickly so you have to be ready, and each time you squeeze the cat toy the black cat pops up in a different place. That's just an example of the clever and creative design that went into making the hidden object scenes lots of fun to play in this game. I highly recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Prepare for a mind-bending journey into the realm of the weird in Haunted Halls: Revenge of Dr. Blackmore! Brace yourself for the unexpected in this exciting Hidden Object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 4 found this review helpful
FUN BUT CHALLENGING
PostedOctober 6, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is a like a carnival funhouse on adrenaline. some of the characters you encounter are very strange. It's almost like a horror version of Alice in Wonderland. The images are creepy and odd. It's as much fun to explore the game scenes as it is to simply play it. This hidden object game uses three types of hidden object scenes.., some scenes are structured where you need to find objects on a list ( a ball, glove, flashlight , etc..), while in other hidden object scenes you need to find scraps of a single object ,such as pieces of a gear. Yet other hidden object scenes require you to find certain objects in the scene that match the shadow of that object in the inventory window. As the game begins, you must work your way through Doctor Blackmore's estate until you find the portal room. You will notice a "glove" vending machine in the hall outside of your starting room. You will have to throw the loose wires into the tank with the electric manta ray in order to power it up, You will also need to find two coins to put into the machine. But, you will ALSO need to perform a mini-puzzle task to fit a set of gears into the machine. This was frustrating for me, because I kept clicking on the little door on the vending machine where the puzzle was obviously located but it would not engage. I had to click all over that area before I finally found the right spot and the puzzle started up. If you don't know how to pass the doorway that is covered in spiders, you will need to use the egg, a nest, and some fertilizer. When you finally reach the portal room you will find a computer connected to stacks of television screens that lead to different places and times. You must rescue each of Blackmore's victims from their specially designed prisons. As you enter each realm, be sure to search "carefully" for items you will need to pick up. For example , in the first portal where the fire is burning, once you get into the house ( and blackmore appears destroying the staircase ) ..., look at the paintings on the staircase, one of them holds the answer to a puzzle, and then check the umbrella stand to engage the puzzle. Also, if you are not sure of what the cat wants to eat..., it wants a baked fish. ( bake it using the oven in the kitchen ). Once you feed the kitty, you will be able to use him to power a fan that blows the smoke out of the house. Occasionally you will have to use your "portable laboratory" to create a compound element to use in the game. The portable lab looks complicated but it's actually very easy to use. The box containing it will light up when you need to use it. Just follow the mixing instructions that appear in it carefully when creating something.
I recommend this game!
Discover the Red Riding Hood Sisters and defeat the nefarious Wolf Queen!
Overall rating
4
/
5
CHALLENGING BUT REPETETIVE
PostedSeptember 30, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A big twist on the classic fable of Little Red Riding Hood. The game makes good use of live voice actors to make the characters of the "Riding Hood Sisters" seem more human and sympathetic, but the story line is a bit baffling to me. This is an intermediate to expert level game, the hidden object scenes require some serious focus and careful observation, and the path forward is not always obvious. The trick is that you have to examine each scene very carefully, run the cursor over every inch of each scene as you may find very small objects in a corner that you need to pick up. You're a detective going to investigate a missing person and you are attacked by a strange powerful wolf. You travel through the woods looking for clues, discovering the secret hideout of the Riding Hood sisters, a support group of sorts that has been battling the Wolf Queen to prevent her from dominating the earth. The images are beautifully crafted highly detailed and unique. The puzzles are original and fun to play. But..., be aware that the hidden object scenes are re-used many times during the game. If you find yourself wondering what you need to do next, try going back to one of the former hidden object scene areas that you already completed, you may find that it is active again and you need to explore again to find another game element. The hidden objects are not exactly objects ( gloves, balls, keys, etc..) , but rather they are segments or pieces or scraps of one object that you are seeking up in order to build a key item you need in the game. The game is fun, but it is challenging, and I was not able to get into the storyline since it seemed very convoluted as it tried to mix various fairtytale elements and other stories and I don't think that part of it was very effective. But definitely get the game.
I recommend this game!
Rescue your daughter, Hannah, from the clutches of an evil witch before it's too late in this chilling Hidden Object adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
IT SHOULD HAVE / COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER
PostedSeptember 9, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
There are things about this game that makes it fun to play, That would include the graphic touches such as the the inventory screen that rises up like a rusty old cemetery fence. The creepy vines everywhere with eyes that follow you. The living paintings. The multitude of strange rooms to explore. HOWEVER..., there are some serious problems with the design. The amount of backtracking you need to do is ridiculous. Back and forth, back and forth, over and over the same scenes again and again in order to carry one element of the game across the map to another element of the game. Since the game includes a map, I don't understand why there was no feature to allow you to jump from one location to another if you have already visited it. This lack of quick mobility made it VERY frustrating. Also, be aware..., there is a storybook connected to the inventory of the game, and the book has missing pages. As you explore the environment you discover the missing pages here and there. BE SURE you get ALL of them. Here's why. When I finally got to the end of the game and was at the final scene, and was waiting for the mini movie to play and show me the end, it never happened. This is because there was still one page missing from the story book. The game makes no indication of this, doesn't in any way let you know that this is the problem. I figured it out by flipping through the book and seeing that I was missing page 19. So then I had to go on a hunt and retrace ALL of my steps from the start to see if I could figure out where the missing page is. I found it, and finished the game ,but GOOD GRIEF, it was awfully frustrating. Try the demo, if you like it..., go ahead and get the cheaper version of the game. But be prepared to spend a long time going around and around in this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
AMAZING - THE BEST
PostedAugust 22, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is simply an amazing example of what can happen when a game designer does everything right. From beginning to end you are drawn into the scenes with beautifully detailed artwork and ambient lighting. The story is eerie and captivating as you dig deep into the mystery and try to solve the puzzle of Gray's Castle. Every scene is a work of art, with intricate detail, such as damp winding cobblestone roads lined with hauntingly realistic old shops and homes and gardens. A castle with ramparts that run outside along narrow cliffs leading to secret passages and decrepit old towers with hidden secrets. The game is huge. It is a long and fascinating journey. Unlike some games it does not run short at all. And another thing I like is that it never repeats a hidden object scene. Every scene of hidden objects is completely different and beautifully painted and constructed. I wanted this game experience to never end. Other game studios should look at this one as an example of perfection.
I recommend this game!
Rescue your canine companion, and solve the mystery of Houndspoint!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
WORTH BUYING - BUT.....
PostedAugust 18, 2012
mikesilverman
fromMassachusetts
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Okay, here's the thing about this game. I liked it, but there were too many times that I found myself having to reach for the strategy guide to clue me in to what I was failing to find. I consider myself a very well versed expert in adventure games and I found it disappointing that I needed to look at the strategy guide more than once. While the animation and the artwork are excellent, there are simply too many areas that ended up being a little too dark in the hidden object screens, you should not have to squint at shadows and wonder if there is an object there or not. And there were some interactive scenes that were in areas of the screen you would never think to click on. The construction of the game overall could have been better. Still, I found it entertaining enough to push through to the end. I do recommend the game , but not the added expense of the collector's edition. Get the regular edition of this game and then locate a downloadable walkthrough that you can refer to. You will probably need it.
I recommend this game!