mizmoose's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:1,244
- Reviews Submitted:61
- First Review:November 14, 2011
- Most Recent Review:December 1, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Restore the Driftwood! Seaside's top resort has fallen into disrepair. Fix up the rooms, the inn, and renew the garden!
Overall rating
3
/
5
134 of 142 found this review helpful
This game could be so much better
PostedJanuary 16, 2012
mizmoose
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
The best thing about this game is that every time you return to a room, you are doing something different.
The setting for the game is an Inn, the outside of which you slowly get to update and redecorate as the game progresses.
Each room in the game is visited three times.
o The first time, you are placing items in a room. [This is skipped for the first room, for obvious reason.]
o The second time, you are doing a standard hidden object scene. Some of the items you are finding are ones that will be placed in other rooms. As you collect enough items for other rooms [tracked at the bottom of your screen], the rooms become available.
o The third time, you are searching for multiple versions of an item themed to the room.
o The first time, you are placing items in a room. [This is skipped for the first room, for obvious reason.]
o The second time, you are doing a standard hidden object scene. Some of the items you are finding are ones that will be placed in other rooms. As you collect enough items for other rooms [tracked at the bottom of your screen], the rooms become available.
o The third time, you are searching for multiple versions of an item themed to the room.
You can do the first two times in a row, but there is a wait until the third time becomes available.
Overall the idea is cute and fun, and this could be a fantastic game. But there are major problems.
- In the first part, the game will sometimes refuse to place the item, even if it's the correct spot. This can lead to frustration, because the game has the ancient "you clicked wrong too many times, so your cursor is no longer under your control" gimmick.
- In the first part, the game will sometimes refuse to place the item, even if it's the correct spot. This can lead to frustration, because the game has the ancient "you clicked wrong too many times, so your cursor is no longer under your control" gimmick.
Also, it is usually clear where items are to be placed, but not always, which means you need to waste a hint. In a few cases, the place makes no sense.
- In the second part, some of the items you seek are miniscule and hard to spot, and sometimes they are mostly hidden by other items. Fortunately, there are a variety of free mechanisms to help you find items that do not count against the regular "hints". And sometimes you can click on things correctly but the game rejects it, which can also be difficult with the previously mentioned "too many clicks" punishment.
The worst part of the game, however, is the sound effects. A few repeated items [tuba, clock, radio, etc.] are in nearly every HOG scene and make the same noise over and over again. But the "innkeeper" is the absolute worst. Full of trite "British" phrases ("Jolly good show!" "Most exemplary!" etc.) there are just a few phrases and it is not long before you tire of hearing them.
It's not the toughest of games, though it can get fairly frustrating and tiresome. This is one of those games where I wish there was a recommendation choice of "Maybe" or "Yes, but." I wouldn't pay full price for this game -- get it on discount or use a punch-card credit for it.
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good hidden object game
PostedJanuary 14, 2012
mizmoose
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I rate Hidden Object Games by specific criteria:
- How hard is it to find things in the HO scenes? In this game, the HO difficulty is perfect. You're not hunting for tiny things obscured by other objects, nor is it trivially easy to find everything.
- Do return visits to HO scenes contain things already found? In this game, yes. I understand that removing items means that return visits to a HO scene might become easier, but seeing things that are already in my inventory annoy me. (However, it is not a deal breaker.)
- Do you get stuck in dialogue/cut scenes? In this game, no. You can skip out of cut scenes that are there to move the plot along. Dialogue scenes are set so that if you can read the captions faster than the character speaks, mouse clicks can move you through quickly.
- How annoying is the plot? Not at all. There's enough drama without it being over-the-top soap opera cheesy.
Overall I really liked this game. I have one huge complaint with it -- once you've examined special areas, they still show up as "special". That's fine if there's something left to read or see, but when it's empty, it's just one more place that you waste time on when you go back into a room. I found that very annoying.
I recommend this game!
Go on the ultimate treasure hunt in Pickers! Find unusual and valuable items for your shop to turn a profit!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Interesting and fun game
PostedJanuary 10, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Pickers is a game that combines Tycoon/Business type games (but not Time Management) with Hidden Object games.
The basic object is to find things to turn around and sell, concentrating on what is "hot" during each turn. There is limited "ask an expert" help available to determine what items are really worth. You run the risk of paying too much for some items and selling them for too little. You can also buy things and then auction them off; however, the auction house will take a cut off the top of the sale price.
There are hidden object scenes available within the game, which both generate cash for you and give you items to sell. You do not have to play the HO scenes to play, but you're foolish if you don't, because when they give you items you can only profit from their sale.
The first time through playing I kept a notebook nearby to keep track of what I found where for the pairs of items. When you find an item that has a pair, the owner will usually say, "Oh, I probably have the other half here somewhere" but sometimes they don't. After a while it becomes crazy trying to remember where you saw that other ice skate, the picture tube to the old tv, or the cane top to the walking stick. The notebook helps a lot.
Over all this is a fun game, and it's definitely re-playable.
I recommend this game!
Discover The Island’s past as you travel back in time! Explore the familiar paths and take on new quests in The Island: Castaway 2!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
Pale comparison to the original
PostedDecember 31, 2011
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
The original "The Island: Castaway" game was relatively unique. The game play was different from a lot of the other games out there and it was a mix of "find things" and "go on this adventure", along with a solid story line. Clearly a lot of work and imagination went into it.
The sequel, however, is pretty much the original game with a few changes made and a new story line. The map is almost completely identical to to the original. A lot of the game play is similar, too, and that can be both good and bad. If you already know how to work the tools and do the cooking from the first game you'll have an easy time adapting to this game, and if you don't you'll learn quickly.
There is some new stuff [like making potions, new shops and new ways to make some things], but most of the game is a rehash of the original.
Another big complaint for this game is how the forwarding of the plot is far more contrived and forced. There are places in the plot that imply you have a choice about how things will go and then it turns out the game forces the choice for you. That, and the fact that most of the endgame is all pre-made recorded clips, took a lot out of the game for me.
They need a new map, some new, original additions, and the next one could be a winner.
This game is fun, but I would get it with a coupon-code or a punch-card freebee. This is one of the times I wish the 'Recommend This Game?" had an option for "maybe". I don't disrecommend it, but it is just not as good as the original.
I recommend this game!
Help Jack travel to the past and rule a primitive tribe in Jack of all Tribes, a fun Time Management game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
53 of 55 found this review helpful
Fun but limited
PostedDecember 5, 2011
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
This game combines time management with brief hidden object scenes.
Overall the game is fun. You're stuck on an island and are both building or rebuilding areas and dealing with invaders, plus local "politics." There's an air of the supernatural to the plot. Plus points for not having a plot overgrown with piles of babbling exposition. The game moves along quickly.
But that same quickness is part of the problem. Each scene/level is relatively short. Most are very simple to do, with the exception of a few which have some challenge to them. The hidden object scenes are trivially easy for anyone who likes hidden object games. Do not choose this game for the HO scenes.
It's a cute game, and I don't disrecommend it, but I do recommend that you get it on sale. And like others, I'd love to see a sequel - preferably something longer, too.
I recommend this game!
Westward Kingdoms
Embark on a quest to prove your worth and regain the king’s favor in Westward Kingdoms, a thrilling Strategy game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
53 of 56 found this review helpful
Best of the Westward games yet
PostedDecember 2, 2011
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
The Westward games keep getting better and better and this one is terrific.
As with the previous games there are required quests/missions and optional ones. For maximum fun I recommend doing everything you can think of, and then some.
The game is divided into three sections, but once you've moved on to the 2nd section you wind up having reason to go back to the first, and then you eventually find yourself going back and forth between all three. In fact, to fully play the game you have to bounce around for a while.
The game play still has characters with silly stock phrases they repeat over and over [until you want to reach through your screen and smack 'em]. But there are more characters, more flexibility and better game play. The basics of controls are like that of Westward IV but with continued improvements.
Of course since this is a fantasy-based game and not a Western things are different. Instead of gunfighters you're dealing with knights and trolls and dragons, and they all have their own phrases, too. (Well, the dragon just kinda snorts a lot, but you know what I mean.) And instead of helping out of luck ranchers and the like, you're dealing with dippy kings and princesses.
The game is a lot of fun and will keep you busy for hours. Say Hi to Patsy...er, I mean, George.
I recommend this game!
Turn one diner into a promenade of five-star restaurants! Pick the menu, and decorate your restaurant to impress your customers!
Overall rating
5
/
5
130 of 143 found this review helpful
Different and fun
PostedDecember 2, 2011
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Before I bought this I read a review on some game review site that called it "boring". It complained that you don't get to actually direct the cooking of the food or the serving or such. I thought to myself, I am going to like this game. And I was right.
Your job in the game is to be management -- learn recipes, plan the menu, hire and train the staff, decorate the house -- and then the host(ess), seating tables.
But you quickly learn that everything is inter-related. Customers get impatient if they have to wait long. The right decorations might help their patience but not if they don't get seated in time. If they don't get the kind of food they want they'll be upset. Cooks don't just need skill and knowledge they need decent equipment. Your decorating includes the tables in the restaurant -- how many of what kind will fit, and how will it work with what kind of customers are thrown at you?
The happier your customers, the more money you make. The more money you make, the more you can improve things and workers. But it's a vicious cycle, and spending your money on the wrong thing can set you back.
You really never "fail" this game, which is good, but a mis-step can make "winning" (completing all the goal stars) each restaurant take longer. Each restaurant starts with less and is harder to get up to speed.
I keep coming back to this game every other month or so. It is really different than most of the other restaurant games out there.
I recommend this game!
Restore the Aztecs to their former glory! Packed with challenges and rewards, Aztec Tribe: New Land is an exciting Strategy game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 44 found this review helpful
Fun and replayable
PostedDecember 2, 2011
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I love this game more than I should.
The original of this game gets repetitive, as you pretty much have to start things the same way over and over. In the New Land, what you start with and your goals change from level to level, keeping things fresher. Sometimes you get access to a fish hatchery, sometimes you use something else for food.
The pesky warriors who come steal your things can now be smacked around, just like animals, but you don't get food. You get, usually, a unit of gold, but if you're lucky you'll get a special crystal worth 10 units of anything in trade. Or you can collect them to get a trophy.
There's a lot more to do than in the original, and there's also a set of 'free play' levels that come with or without disasters.
All in all this is a great game for folks who like the building/time management games, you can play it again and again.
I recommend this game!
Help Kate expand her car-repair empire all over the world! Purchase cars, fix them up in workshops and sell them!
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 35 found this review helpful
Best of the Fix-It-Up games (so far)
PostedDecember 2, 2011
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I have all three of the current Fix-it-Up games and the World Tour game is by far my favorite.
The game play is similar in all of them -- you're running a garage that can, eventually, do anything from fix to "upgrade" a variety of vehicles. In this version, you do two 3-game sets in an of the world, and then there's an optional 3-game set where you build something special. With each game set you have a new garage with different cars and different goals. Also, each area can have different needs based on climate and culture.
The game play is a lot more fun in this version, I think, and it is a very replayable game.
I recommend this game!
Rose sees dead people. Help her battle ghostly visions and an asylum`s evil doctor in this thrilling Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 31 found this review helpful
Repetitive and dull
PostedDecember 2, 2011
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
The game is so incredibly repetitive. You go between two or three hidden object screens and then a minigame or two.
The hidden object scenes mostly use the same things to find, but many things are overly hard to find. I had to use the hint button at least once per scene. Worst are the "find the shadow" ones where you're looking for a shadow that could fit multiple things on the screen. Fortunately the game doesn't count wrong clicks against you. Unfortunately the game doesn't let you click things in a rapid sequence, so you have to wait a second or two before it acknowledges your next find.
The mini games are repetitive: A scene with 20-ish items of the same type (ie. "Find all the teeth"). A scene broken down into a grid where you have to identify 12ish grid pieces at the bottom. And a very simple anagram puzzle that moves the overly wordy plot along.
The best things I can say for this game is that it doesn't count wrong clicks against you and that you gather hints by finding hidden roses in every scene, so there's no "wait for the hint to refill."
If you're really bored for a HoG game, pick this up on one of the really cheap sales. Otherwise I'd pass it by.
I don't recommend this game.