MSBAM100's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.7
- Helpful Votes:8,578
- Reviews Submitted:240
- First Review:January 11, 2013
- Most Recent Review:January 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A peaceful island town erupts into a violent witch hunt and your friend’s daughter is the target! Can you protect her from the townspeople?
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Witches and a cemetery and a lost little girl
PostedSeptember 30, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Sable Maze: Norwich Caves Collector's Edition
(58)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I actually was enjoying this game when the demo ended rather quickly. While not as sophisticated as some of the games presented as CEs, it is fun to work on something a bit easy yet with some nice features. Particularly if you have a coupon!
You receive a letter from your friend Bloom Witmer, who is jailed as a witch in the town of Cold Peak. She is worried about her daughter, Lily. When you arrive (nice ocean graphics), you find Bloom has been executed, the town has turned on Lily and Lily has disappeared into the cemetery by some unknown force.
Along the way, you meet a few characters - the Reverend, and a Cemetery worker, who assign you three quests each, after which they give you an object you need on your journey to find Lily.
There are only two modes of play - regular and advanced. There is a diary, a lockable inventory, an interactive map (no sparkles however), and a hint button that tells you what you need to do next. The HOS are a bit dark, but they are either a list or a FROG. The quests require you to find three specific items for each character. The mini-puzzles are easy. The graphics are good, but it doesn't play on a full wide screen monitor -- you have the black bands.
All in all, if you are looking for a fairly easy game with an interesting story and a different way of finding objects via quests, this game is for you.
I recommend this game!
One night the ghost of President Lincoln appears, asking for your help. Can you find the hidden Confederate treasure?
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 32 found this review helpful
Honest Abe and Jesse James?
PostedSeptember 28, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is the fifth game in this series, and unfortunately, it was so annoying I couldn't even finish the demo. The other four games in SE mode were very good. This is a CE game and it is full of little irritations, perhaps due to the change in developers. The journal is unreadable -- something is wrong with the background of the letters that makes them dissolve into the background. The map is not much better. And the ghosts have no eyes which kind of ruins the effect.
You are a writer visited by the ghost of Abe Lincoln who tells you about a Secret Society, the Knights of the Golden Circle, led by William Quantrill and Jesse James. They have a hidden treasure he wants you to find. But first you have to find Jesse James' helmet that will let you enter the secret meetings. Quantrill Raiders historically did not intersect with Jesse James, to my knowledge, so even the story is a bit of a stretch for me.
The mini-puzzles are fairly easy, the HOS a bit harder. I never found any ravens to add to my hints, but they seemed to regenerate anyway. You can look for 40 clovers as well. The cut scenes are jerky, the graphics are clear but not spectacular. What a disappointment after four great previous games.
I don't recommend this game.
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 85 found this review helpful
Prepare to be scared!
PostedSeptember 26, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a great game! This is the second in the series, but it doesn't matter. You are still the detective, with your evidence board of crucial information. You are investigating disappearances along the Redwood Highway when you stumble on a crashed camper with a little girl, Becky, inside. Becky says her mom and dad were taken by monsters, and suddenly a monstrous raven with red eyes swoops down and takes Becky as well.
Ravenwood, a Redwood Carving Heritage Park, seems to be the place the Sinsom family has disappeared into. By day, all seems normal. Except for the prisoner in the basement, who tells you the story of the archdemon Asmodai and his 12 demons, a mysterious maze with a river of bodies, and the scary birds and demons that appear. At night, the park workers become zombie-like, and............then the demo ends!
The HOS are outlines or pictures of object, or the fragmented kind where you assemble an object from its pieces. The mini-puzzles are cool and not too hard. The voice overs have lips that actually move, and the cut scenes are realistic enough that I jumped three times during the demo (and I never do that!) The map is not that useful yet, and the hint button just points to where to go. You collect 30 "illusive" objects, and 30 ethereal butterflies. You can lock open the inventory, and choose from 3 modes of play.
This is one of the best games I have played recently and I am buying NOW.
I recommend this game!
While visiting your uncle, you stumble upon a curious case. Men are vanishing, reappearing dead days later. Who killed them?
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 17 found this review helpful
Spiders, spiders, everywhere!
PostedSeptember 21, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Evidently this game is a continuation of a game I didn't play, but the backstory is supplied so it is not an issue.
You are flying a plane to meet your Uncle Sam in Transvaal, but a sandstorm engulfs your plane and you crash, after seeing an image of a woman in your windshield. So you set off to find your uncle, but only see visions of him and the mysterious woman. The woman turns out to be Morgana, The Black Widow, whose spider bite is killing men all over town. Hopefully, not your uncle! Your plan is to track her to her lair, where perhaps you will find your uncle.
There is the normal bonus game, achievements, strategy guide, three modes of play, an interactive map with flags that can be turned off, and 30 collectible posters. There are lots of video scenes to move the story along. You also have an "analyzer" that tells you what kind of bite is on the dead person, but so far the only bite has been a spider bite. Not a lot of sand, however.
The HOS are all lists, and quite dark and junky. The edges cannot be seen on a large monitor -- you have to stand up, which really annoys me. Brightness should be customizable, perhaps. The transition between scenes is a bit slow. The hint button doesn't give hints, only points to where you should go, but it is not hard to figure out what to do. The hardest part of the game for me, were the puzzles, which are not even really unique. The directions are not very clear, and even when you think you have solved it, you haven't. So unfortunately I used the skip button more than I like to.
I will probably wait for the SE version of this game -- too many other good CEs out right now!
I don't recommend this game.
It should have been a tremendous achievement, but the tunnel through the Ridge of Leviathan became the site of a great disaster. What really happened that day?
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 58 found this review helpful
Will Gina find her daughter and husband?
PostedSeptember 19, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the fourth in the Surface series and it doesn't disappoint. You don't need to play the others -- they are not related, but you will want to!
You are Gina, mother of Melanie and wife of Richard who took the Capital Express train on its inaugural ride but you were late and missed the train. And just like within the Bermuda Triangle, the train vanished inside the tunnel! One year later, you go back to investigate, meet the scientist Dr. Bors, take your own train ride (after fixing up the train) and land in the same strange world as your family. Seems this world is run by the Masters, who have taken Richard away from the settlement and put collars on the rest of the inhabitants. Melanie is here, but you have yet to meet up with her - just see her image.
What a great story! The graphics are crisp and clear, and become appropriately "muddled" inside the strange new world. There are 3 modes of play, an interactive map with activities marked on it, a task list, and a hint button that gives you specific hints as to what to do next so you don't really need the strategy guide.
The voiceovers and cut scenes are very good. The HOS are all lists that sometimes require inventory items to complete. The mini-games are unique and thoughtful, but solvable without skipping. You collect flowers that open up the Pantheon Treasury, and win achievements for the normal things like speed of solving and not using hints in HOS.
This game moves along quite quickly, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! A definite buy!
I recommend this game!
Your father was murdered while he was investigating a crime. Travel back through time to save him!
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 42 found this review helpful
The Blood Ruby is cursed!
PostedSeptember 14, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It is hard to tell how long this is, as the Strategy Guide for the demo only has 3 Chapters. The game itself is fun and interesting, but without the bells and whistles found in most CE's.
You play the daughter of a detective who has been killed by the evil man possessing the Blood Ruby. A family heirloom lets you travel back in time to a month before your father is killed, hopefully to save him. You arrive the home of Lady Campbell, who owns the ruby after discovering it at the Temple of Blood. Her jeweler warns her to get rid of it, as it has evil powers. You see Lady Campbell die, and the murderer steals the ruby. The murderer is just a minion, and is shortly killed by the true villain (who is maybe Lady Campbell's son Kay, who was made into a body from a doll using the ruby.# Whew! Great storyline!
You get a hint button, an interactive map with available actions clearly marked, a bonus chapter, and a strategy guide which is useful in the very beginning. Once the map takes effect, it is sufficient to use as a guide. There are the normal 3 modes of play, but no achievements or collectibles as in most CEs.
The HOS are all lists with a few silhouettes within the list to find and use to complete the HOS. None of these are hard. Also, the mini-games, mostly unique, are also fairly easy -- only used the SKIP button once! Inventory items are combined to make new items #and marked which ones to combine.)
All in all, this is a very good game -- but not sure if it is worth the price of a CE.
I recommend this game!
Someone has stolen two powerful magic doves from your kingdom, and the consequences could be disastrous. Embark on an extraordinary journey to stop the thief.
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 41 found this review helpful
Fairies and elves and evil Baron!
PostedSeptember 12, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Another hit from ERS! This one is much harder than the others -- I've used the strategy guide quite a bit, in casual mode even.
Your are the Countess (haven't seen a Count!#, whose faithful assistant William informs you that, while you were out celebrating at the King's engagement party, your heirloom magic dove has been stolen and your house ransacked. Evidently there is a second magic dove somewhere #hence the title# but not yet visible in the demo.
You meet a fairy friend who can use magic if you supply it to her, and eventually are able to free an elf from a bottle who then becomes your hint "archer" #he shoots arrows at things you are supposed to do#. You find arrows along the way that give you more hints, but the hint button refreshes quite quickly that they are not useful. It is sometimes hard to see where the arrow went.
You also collect 15 enchanted kingdom inhabitants along the way, and put them in a jewel box for later redemption, I suppose. There is the evil Baron Kass with red eyes, who seems to be behind all the badness.
There is a diary and a map and an artist who tells you part of the background story in brief encounters. The map is interactive, the HOS are also interactive, and the mini-games are challenging -- when you think you've solved one, you haven't. So you do need the strategy guide #and the skip button, unfortunately#.
This is a delightful game, with lots of evil magic to overcome, beautiful graphics, and cute characters. There are also a variety of achievements that are awarded in the form of yummy cupcakes. All in all, a very satisfying game!
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the Four Horsemen and save the city?
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 66 found this review helpful
The Four Horsemen, Witch Ghosts, Dragons - oh my!
PostedSeptember 5, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a clever tale with scary graphics and special effects. You are a detective summoned to the city of Osville that is being terrorized by dragons and demons and all sorts of magical creatures. It seems they are searching for the daughter of one of the Four Horsemen (Death) who was sent to kill the King's daughter but instead fell in love and had a child with her. You free the prisoner (who seems to be Death# and try to fight the ghost army to regain the town.
The game is filled with many nice touches. There were only two HOS #lists# in the demo, but the mini-games were so clever and advanced the story line. You free a friend, Louis the Bat, who helps you with a potion and hard to reach items. There is a nice interactive map with objective areas marked. The hint button tells you what to do next, rather than just pointing to a direction. The task button lists what you are supposed to be doing. And a crystal ball button takes you to your collectibles screen. The collectibles #so far# have been statues of the Bone King and the four Horsemen and when you gather all of them, you get more background to your story.
Of course there are achievements to win, a strategy guide, three modes of play #casual, advanced and hardcore), and a bonus scenario. There is also a "secret room" listed under bonus items but you can't tell what it is in the demo.
This is a good game with a great story and everything works together to advance the story. It certainly is worthy of the CE rating and a definite buy for me!
I recommend this game!
What happens when the heart turns against itself?
Overall rating
5
/
5
29 of 33 found this review helpful
Pirates, Treasure and the Labors of Hercules!
PostedAugust 31, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a great new game, not part of any series. It opens with a hanging of a pirate, who throws out a necklace and a challenge to find his treasure. Your neighbor's son, Jimmy, brings you the necklace and so the adventure begins.
You are Madame Adams, with a reputation as an investigator. You are summoned by Baron Le Fay (with a sophisticated, snooty voiceover and animation). He wants you to find the treasure, or else poor Jimmy will suffer. Turns out the Baron's wife used to be with the pirate, and the Baron hanged him out of jealousy!
There is a reference to the twelve labors of Hercules in the demo, with the lion and the hydra ones called out first. Somehow, I think you will be doing these, or something similar.
The HOS are wonderful -- best I've seen. Each one starts as a list, but one item on the list opens out into another HOS with a silhouette list to find. Plus each HOS has a few interactive objects that automatically delete themselves when the interaction is finished - nice touch! The mini-games are unique but not too hard. The scenery is bright and beautiful and the the voiceover actors are very good. You can play a Match-3 game instead of the HOS if desired.
Additionally, there is a hidden scroll in every scene that represents a code for the alphabet that I assume you will have to crack to read something. There is a jounal with your diary and your objectives. And the map is interactive, and gorgeous. The hint button is a bit slow to fill during the HOS, but during the game opens to a picture of where you need to go, or what objects need to assembled.
Of course there are achievements to easily view via an icon on the main screen. And a Strategy Guide and Bonus. I can't wait to see what's next!
I recommend this game!
Sable Maze: Norwich Caves Collector's Edition
Your students have gone missing during an expedition under the university. Can you track them down before the water rises?
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 82 found this review helpful
The Water is Rising!
PostedAugust 29, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I did not play the first Sable Maze story but it doesn't seem to matter. You are Prof Edwards, who is enlisted by Diane, the daughter of Prof Buildson to find her father and four students who are in the labyrinth under Norwich College. It seems the college was founded by professors of English, Math, Biology and Medicine, and that happens to be the majors of the four missing students! The founders sealed the Water Master in the maze because he could control water and make it flood.
Of course it is now raining and the students in the maze are going to drown if you don't get them out. It seems Prof Buildson has other ideas however -- using them to perhaps awaken the Water Master by activating the four wells in the maze. Kind of complicated!
The HOS are interactive, and hard. You use an item on the list to get the next item. I had to use the hint button a few times during the HOS. The map is interactive, and shows you where you can perform a task. The modes are casual, advanced and hard. The hint button refills quickly. I did not need the Strategy Guide, although I confess I did skip a puzzle or two because they are also a bit hard!
You have 22 trophies to achieve, plus a collection of photographs to fill an album -- each photo requires you to find 3 objects about the person in the photo. Of course there is a bonus game.
I can't tell yet if Prof Buildson is a bad guy or not, but I certainly plan to purchase this to find out. The demo hour passed very quickly and I have just barely cracked the surface of this game.
I recommend this game!