Ratatouille's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.1
- Helpful Votes:994
- Reviews Submitted:8
- First Review:November 18, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 11, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Ratatouille's Review History
Put together the beautiful jigsaws included, or make your own new puzzles from photos or screen captures in Jigsaws Galore!
Overall rating
5
/
5
389 of 439 found this review helpful
Best quality I've seen in a jigsaw puzzle game!
PostedJanuary 11, 2012
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game wins the trophy for best jigsaw puzzle game in my book! I've played quite a few other similar games, and Jigsaws Galore's the best so far!
Why is this one better? For its attention to details, its easy-to-use interface, and above all its large amount of customization options (there are options for everything, from gameplay to interface and graphics -- everything's customizable! Many of those options, I'd wished for in other jigsaw games, so I'm elated to finally find them here!)
The game comes with 200 pre-made (but customizable) puzzles, and we can of course play with our own pictures. We can change the amount, shapes and size of the pieces, and whether we want them to rotate or not (which brings in more challenge).
I love the fun unusually-shaped pieces one can choose to include in any puzzle (at the percentage of our choice, too). Not only that, but we can even create our own if we want to!
The custom Trays are easy to use (you can even select to automatically fill a tray with all the remaining edges, or middle pieces, etc), the different auto-arrange/disarrange features work great (both for Trays and loose pieces), you can set the pieces "Snap-to" sensibility to your liking, the working area's background and Tray backgrounds can be set automatically to a constrasting or matching color (or you can manually select colors and texture if you prefer), etc... So many availabe features I couldn't possibly mention them all!
In short, if you like jigsaw puzzles at all, this is the one to get! It has everything you could ever wish for and more!
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
51 of 57 found this review helpful
Original and not stressful
PostedDecember 27, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Virtual City 2: Paradise Resort
(10)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game is very original and not at all stressful. It's more of a "tycoon" game than time management -- very much in the style of Restaurant Empire, but a lot simpler.
I really enjoyed trying to guess which ingredients made up particular recipes from all the different countries. Also appreciated all the options available to customize my restaurants.
I wish there were more games like this one, less clicky and more relaxing.
I recommend this game!
The Palace Builder
Design and manage the construction of the most beautiful structures in the kingdom! Will you find fame and fortune?
Overall rating
1
/
5
13 of 24 found this review helpful
Poor interface, poor graphics, poor gameplay, and timed only
PostedNovember 25, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I think this game aimed for gameplay in the style of Be Rich or Build-a-Lot, but failed miserably in every respects.
The graphics look very dated, with drab colors and very low resolution. The in-game maps are small and you can't zoom in or out. The interface is rather ugly too, and I found it cumbersome (more so than other games in the same genre). For instance, to build anything, you have to click the "Build" button, which opens a window that hides the entire gameplay area, and from there you have to click a tab to view item categories, and only then select which item you want to build. On top of that, there aren't a lot of different items to choose from at all.
There is no sandbox or any other game mode available. The game is timed and does not offer any untimed mode -- if you can't finish a level in time, you'll just have to start it over and over... and since it wasn't very interesting in the first place... woohoo. From what I see on the main level map, there's only 35 levels total, and no replay value at all.
I couldn't bring myself to give it more than 1 star, as it had no redeeming value in my opinion.
I don't recommend this game.
Unveil the drama in this Sim masterpiece of love, betrayal and ultimate creativity. Inspire artists as they perfect their craft!
Overall rating
2
/
5
52 of 61 found this review helpful
Beautiful but boring and repetitive
PostedNovember 25, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Virtual City 2: Paradise Resort
(10)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I was initially charmed by the pretty graphics but, for me, it turned out to be all eye candy and no substance. After only a couple hours, I started being utterly bored doing the same things over and over without much difference with the results -- that's when I realized the game was actually very shallow. Gameplay's incredibly repetitive, doesn't have any depth at all, and everything quickly became tedious for me. On top of that, it has zero replay value because it's entirely tasked-based.
The core gameplay consists in 1) Training any new artist in his/her 2 given skills up to 10 points each, 2) Having each artist create a total of 20 masterpieces, and 3) Selling masterpieces. Rinse and repeat, as the rest is pretty much inconsequential.
There aren't enough buildings to restore or upgrade. I didn't know what to spend all my money on even before I was a third into the game, because there was nothing left to spend it on. That kind of killed the incentive to continue on right there.
I also found the overall interface very cumbersome. Dragging and dropping artists around the map is made difficult because the area you'll want to drag to is almost never visible on screen due to the very close up view - and there's no zoom out option or on-screen map. The constant dragging and dropping hurt my hand after a short while, as that's what 99% of the gameplay consists in. On top of that, I thought the toolbar to find and jump to specific artists was clunky when you start having more artists to browse through.
I couldn't find any reason to make my artists fall in love, as it doesn't really affect the game one way or the other. As for the rest, like regularly searching for artists and dragging them to the kitchen area to eat, or to the dorms or rest areas to sleep, didn't add anything to the gameplay for me - just more dragging and dropping, only elsewhere.
The colony's land isn't very big and there aren't enough areas of interest on it. I was hoping for more there, too.
I wanted to give it 2.5 stars but, in the absence of halves, I'll have to go with a 2. I wish the game had more depth, something to hold my interest, and also a more efficient interface.
I don't recommend this game.
Take up new tricky tasks and overcome challenges in Roads of Rome 2, a game that combines Strategy and Time Management gameplay!
Overall rating
5
/
5
106 of 118 found this review helpful
Beautiful varied levels and great gameplay!
PostedNovember 24, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Virtual City 2: Paradise Resort
(10)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
New buildings, new terrains, new options! The first one in the series was great already, and this one's even better with the new features added!
The gameplay is very similar to My Kingdom for the Princess, but I like the Roads of Rome series more. I think it has prettier graphics and animations, and it's a bit less frantic and stressful. Also, there are no "in-between/bashing" levels to spoil the fun, as in MKFP.
The levels are varied, lovely to look at, and very well thought-out. The timing to finish each level was just right for me, even though I'm usually not the greatest with timed games -- not frustrating in any way.
You can't go wrong with this one!
I recommend this game!
Follow a romantic story, explore barbarian lands, win recognition, and achieve success in Roads of Rome, a fun Time Management game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
191 of 212 found this review helpful
Lovely and not too hard
PostedNovember 24, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game is very similar to My Kingdom for the Princess, but I personally prefer the Roads of Rome series. The levels are a bit less "busy", the graphics are prettier, the animations and little details lovely, and the gameplay feels less frantic and stressful.
The levels are very well thought-out and the timing perfect, not at all frustrating (I'm not the greatest with timed games, but this one wasn't too hard for me).
Absolutely love it!
I recommend this game!
Build an empire out of grass hut roots! Take the role of an emperor cursed to live without his love until he appeases his god!
Overall rating
5
/
5
98 of 112 found this review helpful
Very unique, delightful, and relaxing!
PostedNovember 21, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Virtual City 2: Paradise Resort
(10)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
What a superb and original game! Drop-dead gorgeous graphics and animations, soothing sounds, relaxing music, very long and with great replay value -- I can't find a single thing to criticize :)
The game is incredibly innovative and, while it is undoubtedly a hidden objects game to the core, it's so much more than that. As you play along, you will progressively discover the game is deeper and more intricate than it seems at first, but it never becomes too complicated or tedious or frustrating.
It's not timed, although there is a time element to contend with in the way that one day passes whenever you go into a hidden objects scene or puzzle. Everyday, food and wood is needed to keep your people happy and working, in amounts that progressively increase as your settlement does.
Each location offers several types of resources, which randomly change every day. For instance, you might find wooden sticks, berries and reeds in the forest one day, and then only wood and mushrooms the next. The amount of resources you can carry at once is limited, so you must choose wisely what you gather in relation to what you need most at the moment. Each locations has a number of different, randomly selected scenes (there are really a lot of unique scenes in total!)
As the game expands, more locations and different types of resources become available, new and improved buildings and tools, new things to research, and new minigames -- all offering different benefits to your settlement. A lot of freedom is given to the player as to which hidden objects scene or minigame they feel like tackling next.
I bow in awe to the developers and pray they'll make a sequel! I wish there were more games of this quality out there!
I recommend this game!
Virtual City
Build the city of your dreams- a residential paradise or an industrial center in Virtual City, a fun and exciting Simulation game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 102 found this review helpful
Very entertaining, with lots of contents and replay value
PostedNovember 18, 2011
Ratatouille
fromUS
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Virtual City 2: Paradise Resort
(10)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game's a gem! Without getting too complicated, I think it offers more depth and contents than a lot of other casual games in this genre. And something else I find rare and precious: replay value -- both in letting you replay any individual level, but also with 5 large sandbox maps (1 per unlocked region) where you can play freely! Endless fun! :)
Gameplay's very relaxed, and the goals are varied and not too difficult. You can try to beat the "Expert" time for a challenge, but won't be penalized in any way if you don't complete a level in time -- you can continue playing until you reach the assigned goal, and then onto the next level (and you can still come back and replay a level any time). So, in this manner, the game is not at all stressful, and not even "clicky". You can just relax, enjoy the beautiful graphics and have fun building up your city and transportation network.
The campaign game (50 levels) plays on various maps in 5 different locations, many of which large enough to be scrollable. Between those levels, new buildings as well as upgrades and other types of improvements are unlocked for you to purchase.
If you like "tycoon" games that are not too difficult or frustrating, not too frenetic and clicky, where you can just enjoy building up and setting things up, looking at your creation, then this game's for you.
I recommend this game!