dancemom1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:13,287
- Reviews Submitted:871
- First Review:April 15, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Stop Morgana by helping Princess Arianna find the essential elements to remove the curse from her kingdom.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
If you like Match 3 games....
PostedNovember 24, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Well, guess I'm going to be one of the few on this game. I'm a huge HOP/IHOP/FROG gamer, but I do like to try other things as well. I didn't care for either of the first 2 in this series and I'm not kicked out about this one either. The graphics are pretty good, but very cartoon like and very old school. It seems to fit this game. Colors are clear and there seems to be more pinks and purples than if necessary. Game play was good and it did fit my large screen quite well. Music is okay, but get annoying quickly.
Since this is a Match 3 game, you will find that they are everywhere. You play them to proceed to another location, or to obtain a needed item to continue your play. I do like some, but Wow! Naturally, there are only a couple of HOPs in this one, just for something a little different. Nothing is difficult, but some items in the Match 3 games are very hard on the eyes. Yes, they get progressively more difficult...by that, I mean larger and more "special" items that need to be brought down in order to complete the match, so you spend a lot more time in them. Of course, you must remember to use the amulet for certain things in the game as well. That is something I kept forgetting, causing some frustration on my part.
Maybe it's the lack of sound FX, or voice overs, or challenge, or the over abundance of Match 3 games that turn me off this game. It was just very slow, very quiet and didn't have anything that drew me into the story at all. I'm sure there are numerous Match 3 fans out there who will love this game, and that is the only reason I will recommend it. Not for me today.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Find out who framed your fiancé for murder and clear his name
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 17 found this review helpful
Not CE worthy...
PostedNovember 22, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Hi all. Well, this is the 4th in the Final Cut series and I think it might be time to archive the film. The graphics were nice and clear, but nothing special. Colors were bright and true. Game play was very good and filled my large screen quite well. Voice overs were very good, when we got them. They are very few and far between. Music was about the same as all the others...yes, I have those too. I was very annoyed with the beeping sound I heard in the beginning, until it dawned on my that it was a phone off the hook. It was so small, I didn't even know it was a phone.
Not much in the way of HOPs either. You can switch between the HOP and a match 3 game. Items are very easy to find, no challenge there. Puzzles were extremely simple. The one thing I did like was the use of the viewfinder. Different and fun, but simple. Hint system worked okay and did transport to long distances. The one thing I didn't care for, was that if there was nothing to do, it didn't send you to the next area, it just said "maybe you need to look somewhere else." What good is a hint if it doesn't give you one? It did fill fairly quickly, so that was a plus. Didn't bother with the SG, it didn't give you anything but the first chapter anyway.
There are many achievements, most are the same, but some are quite silly, e.g. using the hint button numerous times. The only collectibles I found are the usual film strips, which are not too difficult to find. Some are a bit small, so look around, there are 40. I accidentally found a morphing object in a HOP. There are 13 to find.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed in this game, compared to the first 3. It lacked adventure or excitement and definitely no challenge.. Someone got very lazy with this one. Even with the collectibles, I do not feel this is CE worthy. I'll wait for the SE to come out and give it another try. A game has to be exceptional in all aspects for me to give it 5 stars, and this one was not. There was nothing here that kept my interest or made me want to buy it. It was just a very slow moving game. No buy for me. I will recommend this one for a beginner, but not for someone who wants a real challenge...or at least some challenge.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for today. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Save your friends and escape from a deadly game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 24 found this review helpful
Excellent game...
PostedNovember 20, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. Well a new addition to the Surface series, this is number 6 I believe. I have all the others of course. Hmmm, shades of "Jumanji" with Robin Williams. I really like this story line. Yes, it was a movie, but it sure makes for a fun and interesting game. Graphics are very nice. Colors are a little muted, but quite clear. Game play was very good during the demo, with no problems and game filled my large screen quite well. Music was very interesting and not at all annoying, and moved with what was happening at the time. Voice overs were nice, but not a lot of them during the demo.
HOPs were clean and clear and items were not hard to find. I actually found them fun. Puzzles were fairly easy, with nothing new being added, but some did take some time and thought to complete. There is a jump map, that is quite helpful, but the hint system works very well with the transport directly from the hint to where you need to go. I really like that feature, as I seldom use the SG except to see what collectibles I need to be looking for, or to check to make sure I have them all. Hint refills very quickly, so you don't waste game time waiting.
The collectibles I found are the flowers, of course, and there are multiples in some scenes, so be sure and look over everything. They are not difficult to find but they can be hidden within a scene as well. It says that you can "spend" your flowers in a bonus room...I see that you are "furnishing" that room. Nothing exciting there, but it is a little different. At least you are not dressing an animal. You also collect 13 statues of what looks like characters in the game. These are very easy to spot.
This was a very short demo, but I found the game to be fun, with enough challenge to keep me moving and wanting more. I think this game will appeal to all levels of players and yes, I am adding this one to my ever growing collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Haunted Legends: The Stone Guest Collector's Edition
Someone is stealing the hearts of children – literally! Is it a brilliant inventor, seeking to cure his ailing son? Or has dark magic taken over the village...
Overall rating
3
/
5
46 of 51 found this review helpful
Creepy dwarf again...
PostedNovember 15, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have the 5th in the HL series and yes, I have the other 4 already (no surprise there). This one is very much like the others, even having the creepy little dwarf again. Graphics are good and clear, colors are bright and true. Game play was good, no problems at all during the demo. Either there wasn't much music, or it was so low I couldn't hear it. Not much in the way of sound FX either. Voice overs were pretty good, even sinister in some cases, but few.
HOPs were standard and very simple. Items were very easy to find. Puzzles were way too easy. Hint button filled fairly quickly, but the skip was very slow on the return. Hint was not as helpful as it should have been. When I want a hint, I don't want to see "keep moving, or might be clues elsewhere." Show me something! There is a jump map that is quite helpful, since the hint does not transport you to other locations. You do run back and forth quite a lot.
The only collectibles are hearts for an amulet that is suppose to do something when you find all the hearts. Don't know what. There are hidden symbols to find that help solve the easy puzzles.
As much as I liked the first 4 games, I was somewhat disappointed in this one. Not much of anything in the way of collectibles, very few achievements and no challenge anywhere. If you aren't into voodoo dolls and black magic, then you won't care much for this game. Actually, it might be time to retire this series. This game will probably appeal to beginners #and that is the only reason I will recommend it#, but not too sure about seasoned players. I do not feel the need to purchase this game as a CE. I'll look at it again when the SE comes out, but no buy for me today.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
You've been called to investigate a strange purple tide. And that's when the mermaid shows up...
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Very Nice Game...
PostedNovember 13, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have #8 in this series and it is right in line with all of the others. Yes, naturally there is a special and I already have all of the others. The colors seem to be much brighter than in previous DP games, but they are very nice. I was taken aback when I first started watching, because of the blurry scenes...fortunately that cleared up when the game play started. Other than that, the graphics are very nice. Game play was very good, no problems filling my large screen and saw no glitches in the demo. Music is the usual and not at all annoying this time. I do have to make a comment about the "magician" in the opening scene. Every time I see him in a game, I cringe. Sorry, but in order to pull off that look, you need a big muscular guy, or better yet, a wizard. The voice of the "hooded helper" would have been much better if it were a bit lower and more masculine #I think if was a man...if not, sorry about that#. Okay, of my soapbox.
I do like an occasional FROG, but it would be nice to have a little change up now and then. Maybe switch between FROG/match 3. Just a thought. Items are fairly well blended, but not all that difficult to find. Puzzles were the usual as well, but some were quite interesting and fun. I didn't look at the SG. I seldom do, unless I'm really stuck somewhere, or to make sure I have found all the collectibles. The hint system works very well and is quite helpful. It does not transport you to locations, but the jump map is a good one and I used it a lot to save time and shoe leather.
The only collectibles I found during the demo are #40# crescent moons. According to the achievements, there are also tea cups #didn't see any# and you need to find Felix the Fish #he is sneaky#. Again, there are 5 Parables #stories relevant to the game#. I find the Parables to be the most challenging part of the game, since you don't really know what you are looking for.
I have really enjoyed all of the games in this series and this one is no exception. It does need to be brought up to date a bit, but it is a very nice game and one that I think all levels of players would enjoy. It is not extremely difficult or challenging, but there is enough going on to keep you busy and moving. Yes, I will buy this game and add it to my ever growing collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
A shadow from the Gray family's past has returned for revenge. Can you save your family from their worst nightmares?
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 25 found this review helpful
Awesome addition to this series!
PostedNovember 6, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hi all. I am a lovin' this game, and I haven't said that in a very long time! Yep, you guessed it, I have the other 6 in this series and they are all very nice games. This one seems to have almost everything you want in a really good game. Graphics are excellent. Game play is almost perfect...a little lag time between scenes, but no problems at all and the game filled my large screen. Colors are very clear, clean and true. Music is very nice and somewhat soothing, until it needs to put you on the edge of your seat. Voice overs were good, but Thomas could have used a little deeper and more sinister voice. I don't care much for the scrolling screen, but it works well and seems to fit this game.
HOPs are extremely well done and quite fun. Items are not difficult to find and there are no junk piles. Puzzles were also very fun and a little different. Not all that challenging, but well done. There were not a lot of HOPs or puzzles in the demo, almost not enough. Hint system is quite helpful, fills at a nice rate, and does transport, which is a good thing, since you transport long distances in most cases. I did not find the need to use the SG except to see how many chapters there are, but it is well done and easy to follow.
The collectibles are challenging...morphing objects that are not as easy to find as you may think; 24 little monsters that are easy to miss if you aren't looking for them. There are numerous achievements and some are a little different than what we have been used to seeing in these games. I really like how they included paintings as part of the game play. This is quite simple, but it is something different.
I think one of the things I liked the most, was how they used the family album to incorporate all of the other games in this series into this one. It brings you up to speed and reminds you of what has happened...very well done. I do not give 5 stars easily and the only reason I am not on this one is because you cannot "skip" through or hurry up the cut scenes, for those of use who read faster than they speak. The game has enough challenge and intrigue to keep you interested, moving and wanting more. I think this game will appeal to all levels of players and yes, I am definitely going to get this one for my collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games you may not care for this one at all. I would be surprised if you didn't. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Visit the ancient and powerful city of Istanbul, ever-steeped in history, in the latest chapter of the hit classic hidden object series.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Somewhat disappointing..
PostedNovember 3, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, I think I'm finally catching up with last week, since this is the last game I needed to review. I love the BC Adventures and have them all. The one constant about these games is that they are all the same as far as graphics, game play, and puzzles. Graphics and game play are good. Music is appropriate for Istanbul, but gets very annoying very quickly.
HOPs are basically junk piles with extremely small items. Most of which are so well blended that you get a headache trying to find them. You can make HOPs challenging without blending too much of the scenery with the items. The only easy items to see are the coins and the camels that you collect in each level. I completed 16 levels and just started 17 when the demo ran out. Puzzles are the same and so terribly simple.
I think the devs got extremely lazy with this one. Way too much eye strain, very quickly, even faster than any of the other games in this series. One of these days, the dev is going to pay attention to the reviews and see that the worst of the eye strain are the awful postcards. The "brush stroke" painting of the cards is so blurry and hard on the eyes. That alone makes me not want to buy this game. All that being said, I do like these games and I can stop and start as much as I like and not forget what's happening in the game. I am going to put this one in my puddle and see how long it takes for my headache to go away, before deciding if I want this one or not. Quite serious about the headache!
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one not as hard to look at as I do. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
When minotaurs attack, only you can save the day.
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
Disappointing, but not a bad game...
PostedNovember 1, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Been out of town Trick or Treating with the Grandkids, so now trying to catch up. We have another addition to the Awakening series. I have 5 already. Graphics were very nice. Colors were very bright and clear, not a lot of blues and pinks for a change. Game play was good, no problems anywhere and filled my large screen quite well. Music was pretty much the same as all the others and did get annoying very quickly. Not a lot of sound FX, but what there was, was well done. Voice overs weren't too bad, but fell a bit short of emotion or believability. Voice of the head Minotaur was really nice.
There is a jump map, helpful, but it is quite bland. Could not see a Strategy Guide anywhere either. HOPs are very few and far between. Items are not hard to find. Colors are true and HOPs are clean and clear. No eye strain here. Puzzles, well now, we have lots and lots of puzzles. I found none of them particularly challenging, very simple actually.
The only collectibles I found are fairies. They are very small and very light in color. Not at all easy to spot. This is the challenging part of the game. Either they are not in every scene, or they blend into the scenery too well for my eyes to see them.
I did like the time period of this game, and the characters, but this one just wasn't as good as the other in the series. It was very disappointing for me as a CE. It just didn't have the challenge I expect from this dev. Yes, I liked it, but not enough to get the CE version. I have been known to change my mind when the SE comes out, but then I only purchase the SE version. I will put this one in my puddle and wait. I'm sure this will appeal to beginners and those who like more puzzles than HOPs, but that isn't me.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Prove the innocence of a young queen before she is put to death for a crime she didn't commit!
Overall rating
3
/
5
30 of 38 found this review helpful
For beginners only....
PostedOctober 26, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well, as much as I liked the GL Forsaken Bride, this one fell much too short of a better or at least equal game. See my review of the CE below:
"I have the first in this series and really liked it. This one didn't seem quite as good and definitely not better. Graphics were nice, but more one dimentional and cartoon like in a lot of scenes. This is a fairytale, so it might work. Color was excellent, very clear and bright. Game play was good. Music was okay, nothing exciting. Voice overs were well done.
HOPS were the usual "put the parts together to make something useful," which I do like. However, they were few and far between. Items were well blended and not all that easy to see within like colors. Puzzles were not all that difficult, just some took a bit longer to do than others. Standard SG. Hint system was helpful and filled at a nice rate. Between the jump map and the hint system, you really don't need the SG.
The only collectibles I found were the "healer's sign," which is not that difficult to see. You just have to know what you are looking for. These can be found anywhere in the scene and some blend quite well. No eye strain for these items.
I do not feel that this game is CE worthy. It is quite simple and seemed to be geared more toward the beginner. I do recommend for beginners, but not as a CE. I have been known to change my mind when the SE comes out, but only for the SE version. There was no real challenge or excitement and nothing that grabbed me and made me want to buy the game and add it to my ever growing collection. No buy for me today."
Well, I did try the SE and no, I have not changed my mind about the game. It just felt like you were going through the motions and had nothing really fun or exciting about it. As I said before, I would recommend this for a true beginner, but not for anyone else. No buy for me.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may find this one to be exactly what you are looking for. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!
Track down a vampire hiding on a Mississippi riverboat cruise.
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 32 found this review helpful
HOPs and puzzles very well done!
PostedOctober 25, 2014
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hi all. Well, we have the 5th addition to this series, all of which I have and enjoyed. I have read a number of not so good reviews on this one, but as usual, I am not going to go with the flow. The graphics were pretty nice, although a little fuzzy in some areas. Colors were a bit purple and somewhat brassy, but this was at night (naturally), and they were not over done. Otherwise, colors were fairly nice. Game play was good, no problems at all and picture filled my large screen very well. There is a jump map that is a little boring to look at, but is very helpful, as you do a lot of running back and forth. Music was very quiet and not a lot of it. Voice overs were nice when you had them, as were the sound FX. There is no little animal to help you, but you do have Simon...poor Simon (and that's all I'm saying about that#.
I do have to say that I did like this game. Not because it was particularly challenging #it wasn't#, and not because of the story #sick of vampire and zombie movies, TV shows and games# but because the HOPs and puzzles were very different and interesting. They made this game fun. Nothing in this game was overly done, it flowed well and had enough things going on to keep you moving and interested. You could switch from the HOP to a bubble shoot game, which I thought was a little childish and too simple. As I said, the puzzles were different as well and some took me more than a little time to figure out and complete. I especially liked the puzzles that had "sets" to complete. Very well done. Hint system is quite helpful and does transport you to far off locations when needed. It also fills quickly.
The only collectibles I found are the morphing objects in the HOPs, which are quite subtle and not that easy to spot. You also find 10 pumpkins #I found 2 in the demo# and 43 black roses #found 7), which are not easy to spot either, as some blend into the dark background colors pretty well. The collectibles are the real challenge.
I don't give 5 stars easily, a game has to be exceptional to get them, but this one well deserves 4.5 for going beyond the usual HOPs and puzzles. I think this game will appeal to most all levels of players. There is just a lot to do in this one and I find the need to add it to my ever growing collection of CE games.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for this one at all. Thanks for the reviews.
I recommend this game!