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:
The search for a missing art critic uncovers an otherworldly web of lies!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 39 found this review helpful
Don't take my picture!
PostedJanuary 23, 2020
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As usual, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story line to others. Colors started out with a lot of blues and pinks, which are quite hard and tiring on the eyes, but then cleaned up a bit. Still, in some cases, the colors were almost too bright. Graphics were fairly nice in this one. Didn't notice much blurring at all. Voices were age and character appropriate and actually had some emotion and urgency, depending on what was happening at the time. We did occasionally have to choose dialogue, which I find quite boring, since You have to ask all three questions anyway. We can click through dialogue if we read faster than they speak. Game play was very good, with no problems during the demo. Animation was fairly smooth. Music was okay. Sound FX were fairly nice when we had them. Again, we have supernatural powers, which seemed out of place on occasion.
HOGs are nothing new, we have interactive HOGs. A bit more variety would have made this a much better game. Scenes are fairly clean and items were not difficult to find. You can switch to a match 3 if you get bored. The puzzles were very simple and took no time or though to complete, with the exception of one. Hint system is helpful, but we do not have the transport feature, unless it shows up later in the game. I've had that happen with other games. We do have a lot of back tracking in this one.
Collectibles are a bit disappointing. All I found was that we have 54 photos, two in each scene. One is stationary and the other morphs, but neither is difficult to find. We also have paint pallets to collect. These double as money to buy paint to complete a paint by the number picture. These are a little small, but still can easily be seen...just remember to look for them.
The story line is nothing new, but I found myself really getting into it by the time the demo ended. This game is not challenging, but you are constantly on the move and there is enough character interaction to keep you interested. Looks like someone read the reviews on the beta and made a few changes along the way. I think most level of players will find something good about this one. I found the story interesting enough to make me want to play it out and see where it's going. Yes, I am adding this one to my CE collection. I'm sticking with my beta score of 4.0 on this one, mostly because of the colors.
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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
An otherworldly adventure in the heart of the Big Apple!
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 30 found this review helpful
Very nice addition...
PostedJanuary 16, 2020
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hello friends! As always, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story to others. A new addition to this series! As always with this Developer, we have beautiful colors, very bright but not over powering. Graphics are quite good, even with the slight blur blurring when going in and out of close up scenes. This seems to be the norm for this Developer. Excellent animation, with eye and mouth movements and smooth body movements as well. Voices are age and character appropriate, when we have them, and we can click through dialog if we read faster than they speak without missing a clue or helpful item. Again, there was not a lot of character interaction. Music was okay, but just didn't seem to fit the game or what was happening at the time...it was just there. We had sound FX when we used or received an item, but not much else during the game, except the music. We had our "helpful" tattoo, but it wasn't used much yet.
HOGs are varied and well done with silhouettes, highlighted words, place pieces in scene and interactive HOGs. Items are not difficult to find and the scenes are fairly clear. Don't know if we could switch to something else. I was so engrossed in the HOGs that I didn't even notice. I always demo in easy mode to get a feel for the game, and found the puzzles to be pretty simple, but I still had to think about how to complete a couple of them. No real challenge on easy mode. The hint system is very helpful. When we needed to transport to another location, the map opens and areas are clearly identified by picture and name. It also indicates where we may have missed a collectible. You can also choose not to use this helpful feature if you want even more challenge. This is one my all time favorite maps.
Really like the collectibles in this series. We have 15 pictures, which are not difficult to find. You just have to remember to look for them. Then we get to find 65 coins to buy 14 items in the souvenir shop. These aren't difficult to find, but easy to overlook. Then we have the 15 morphing statuettes. Now, we have a real big difference between what I think a statuette is and what they think it is. These morph quickly and are very small. Most of the challenge is finding the collectibles.
I really like this series and this addition is no exception. The story isn't anything new, but well done. We don't have much character interaction, but we are constantly on the move. I found in this one, that we didn't seem to do as much backtracking before we found and used items. Still, the story was easy to follow, but I must have missed something along the way. Not quite sure what the "chalk" is yet. That said, I have the need to play this one out. I think most all levels of players will find this one interesting. I gave it a 4.5. Yes, I am adding this one to my CE 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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
A vacation to India becomes a legendary adventure in the animal kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 12 found this review helpful
Talking animals....
PostedJanuary 8, 2020
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As always, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story to others. And the series just keeps on rolling! Graphics in this addition are very nice, except when going in and of closeups, then it becomes a little blurry, but not as bad as it used to be. Colors are very bright, but not over powering. Animation is well done, but not as much as there could have been. Game play was excellent, with no problems during the demo. Voices are nicely done and are age and character appropriate for the type of setting. The accents are very well done. Even so, there wasn't a lot, but more than we had in the last game in this series. You can click through the dialog if you read faster than they speak, without missing any of the story line or clues. Music is okay, but I turn it down so I can hear the background sounds. The sound FX are really well done and pretty much throughout the game. We have a lot of "outside" jungle sounds, of course, which fit the setting. Please be aware that occasionally we have very bright lights when traveling, but you can click through those as well.
HOGs are very well done, with a combination of highlighted words, silhouettes, and lists. Scenes are clear and items were not difficult to find. We do have a match 3 if you prefer that over the HOGs. The puzzles were somewhat challenging and took time and thought to complete, even on easy mode. We did have a few that were very simple. You do have the option of choosing hard for a lot more challenge. Hint system is very helpful. Rather than a transport feature, we have the excellent map that opens and shows us where we need to go next. As usual, you have the option of not having the hint that you have missed one of the collectibles in a particular location. Something I like, because I have the need to find them all, without using the Strategy Guide. However, the SG does come in handy now and then.
Really like the collectibles. We have challenge here, as a lot of the items you need to find are either morphing and/or quite small and not as easy to spot as you may think. We have to find 15 animal picture stones, very small; 70 butterflies to purchase items for our bungalow, very easy to overlook; and 15 figurines that not only morph, but are very, very small. Yes, quite challenging!
The story was interesting, and a little different, and of course, it picked up at the end of the demo. You are constantly on the move in this one, so you don't have time to get bored. Of course, I think the excellent SFX have a lot to do with that too. I haven't been too thrilled with the last few in this series, but I do like this one. It had just enough of everything to keep me interested and challenged. I think this one will appeal to all levels of players. Don't remember beta testing this one, but I gave it a 4.5, only because of the slight blur and the very small items (even though I do like the challenge). Yes, I am adding this one to my every 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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
Can you save your hometown from the entity that killed your family?
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 20 found this review helpful
Are you my Brother?
PostedDecember 30, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As always, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story line to others who do a much better job than I. Another addition to this long running series. Graphics are quite well done in this game, very clear and no blurring when going in and out of closeups. Colors are not as bright as in others in this series, but still well done. Animation, when we have it, is extremely well done, very smooth. Voices are age and character appropriate, but are very few and far between. Not much character interaction in the demo. Game play is excellent, no problems during the demo and it fit my large screen quite nicely. Music is soothing and unobtrusive, just quietly in the background. Sound FX are well done, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of them. We still have our trusty pal, Elf, but we can choose not to use him during the game. He doesn't get used much, but he is quite helpful when needed.
HOPs are a combination of lists and silhouettes, so far. Hoping there is more variation as we progress. Scenes are fairly clear and items were not difficult to find. I did not see where you could switch to something else if you did not care for the HOPs. Puzzles are challenging, where you need to take your time, think about it and be patient. Hint system is very helpful and it does transport to longer locations. You do a lot of back tracking to the same few locations, so put on your tennis shoes for this one. We have a jump map, but it is rather boring and not needed with the transport feature. SG is the standard set up and does show you where collectibles can be found, in case you missed one.
Collectibles aren't bad, and are challenging to find in most cases. We have to find various morphing items, that sometimes are a bit small and not easy to spot. We also have puzzle pieces that are used to complete 3 large jigsaw puzzle. These are fairly large, but still easy to over look, as they are not shaped like a puzzle piece. We also have 12 lighthouses to find. So far, these are plenty large enough to see.
The story in this one is nothing new and moved rather slowly. I think it would have been much better if we had more character interaction and action. Hopefully this picks up as the game progresses, and of course, the game seemed to be heading in that direction at the end of the demo, so hard to tell if it will continue throughout the game. Not quite sure what is happening yet, as it didn't really pick up where the last one left off, and didn't explain much either. This one is interesting enough to make me want to add it to my collection. I think most all levels of players will find something they like about it. Gave this one a 4.25, simply because of how quiet it was.
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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
A fortune is on the line in a mansion full of supernatural secrets!
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 16 found this review helpful
Slow, no challeng...
PostedDecember 22, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Hello friends! As usual, I mostly review on the game and not much on the story, as others do a much better job than I. Another addition to this long running series. Graphics are a bit blurry throughout, not just in cut scenes. Game play was very nice, with no problems during the demo. Colors are brassy orange and a lot blues, which are very tiring on the eyes. Animation isn't bad, but not a lot of it. Our characters float in and out, but have nice mouth movements. Voice overs aren't too bad, but somewhat monotone. Music is very monotonous and annoying, and does not fit the story or game at all. Not a lot in the way of SFX either.
HOGs are varied, with interactive lists, straight lists and fragments. Didn't see something different to switch to if we don't care for the HOGs. They are fairly clear, and items are not difficult to find. Puzzles were nothing new, but some did have a little challenge to them. Hint system is quite helpful and it does transport to longer locations. As usual, there is constant back tracking in this addition, so the transport comes in quite handy. The map is very bland and boring, but it does jump you to locations, and it shows areas you may have missed a collectible.
Collectibles weren't bad. We need to find 48 jigsaw pieces, which are fairly large, but quite difficult to find. They blend well into the background scenery and colors. We also have 25 varied morphing items. These morph fairly quickly, but I found them much easier to spot. They are fairly large. We also have 12 card showing various information. They are easy to overlook, as they do not stand out.
When this series first came out, it was an awesome game. However, it has steadily gone downhill. This addition was extremely quiet, except for the annoying music. We had very little character interaction, which also means we have very little action. We just had a lot of running around looking for things. It is very slow moving, and not challenging enough to keep me interested. I try to find something positive about every game, so I can recommend it to others, but sometimes it is just too difficult. Other than game play, I just couldn't bring myself to recommend this one to even a beginner. Gave it a 2.0. 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. Play on!
I don't recommend this game.
Who will save Fairytale land when Dame Gothel threatens to end Christmas forever?
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 18 found this review helpful
Many characters & some challenge...
PostedDecember 12, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hello friends! As usual, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story line to others who do a much better job than I. The colors are bright, but not over powering, beautiful and true. Graphics are very good, yes we still have the slight blur when going in and out of scenes and close ups, but that seems to be the norm these days. Game play was excellent, with no problems during the demo. Animation is very well done, with realistic eye and facial movements. I do find the teeth a bit creepy, though. Voices are well done, age and character appropriate, and don't sound like someone is just reading a script. You can click through dialog if you read faster than they speak, and not miss any of the story line or clues. Music is monotonous and annoying, even on low. Sound FX aren't bad when we have them. We do have a magic mirror that lets us talk to Dad, who gives us help and needed items to continue. We have to find crystals to make it work, but fortunately, it isn't a lot. Be aware that we do have very bright lights when traveling to some locations.
HOPs are extremely well done, and are a combination of interactive lists; silhouettes; and a couple of surprises. They are fairly clean and items are not hard to find. If you don't wish to play the HOP, you can switch to a match 3. Puzzles have the option of easy or hard. Even in easy, some take time and thought to complete, but are not all that difficult. We don't have a transport feature in this game, but we have the best jump map ever. Areas are clearly marked, in color and also tell us if we missed a collectible, if you choose that option. You can go back and collect them if you missed any. Hint system is very helpful.
Collectibles are somewhat challenging. We need to find 88 Gingerbread star cookies to use to update the boudoir; 15 constellations that sound easy, but are not; and 15 morphing trees that morph into something other than a tree. Some are a bit small and not easy to spot either. Very well done.
This Dev is quite creative with this story. He uses a lot of characters from the Grimm Fairy Tales and integrates them into the story. Very well done. You are constantly on the move, with lots of things to find and use to progress in the story. Even though I felt this addition could have used more character interaction, or at least more sound FX, I loved this game. It has enough challenge to keep you interested and moving. I think all levels of players will find this one worth the CE price. Gave this one a 4.75. Yes, I am going to add it to my collection.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes and you may not care for this one at all. Play on!
I recommend this game!
Can you prove your innocence after a string of magical burglaries?
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 17 found this review helpful
Cinderella!
PostedNovember 22, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As always, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story line to others. This developer always has bright clear colors, but they are not over powering or tiring on the eyes. Graphics are very well done, with no blurring except occasionally when going in and out of close ups. This seems to be the norm for any developer these days. Animation is not too bad. Some movements are a bit stiff, but otherwise nicely done. Voices are age and character appropriate, but still not a lot of character interaction. Music became quite annoying very quickly. Fortunately, it was not constant. We did have a lot of "dead air" during the game, where there could have been some sort of background sfx, but we had none. What few sfx we did have were well done.
HOGs are a variety and quite well done. We have highlighted words, silhouettes, interactive lists and lists. Items are not difficult to find and the scenes are fairly clutter free. We could switch to a match 3 game if you wanted something different. Puzzles for the most part were challenging, even in easy mode. Nothing new, but a nice variety. Hint system is very helpful and, of course, we have the perfect map. Areas are clearly identified by picture and whether or not you have missed a collectible. This also doubles are our jump/transport map.
I always enjoy the collectibles from this developer. We have a combination of morphing fairyland items (15); various magic shoes (15), and moonstones (53). The shoes were quite easy to spot, but the other two...no so much. We use the moonstones to buy what looks like items for a lab or a magic shop. Nicely done.
Even though I was caught off guard by the roll reversal between Cinderella and her stepmother, I did like this game. We are constantly on the move, with not a tremendous amount of backtracking, and we have some challenging puzzles to deal with as well. I think I need to play this one out and see why the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak. I think most all levels of players will find this one interesting and challenging. Gave this one a 4.75. Yes, I am buying this one.
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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue your daughter and save both realms in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Um, what charms?
PostedNovember 14, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Hello friends! A new addition to this series. As always, I review on the game play and leave the story line to others. Graphics in this addition are very nice and very clear. Game play was quite good, with no problems during the demo. What little animation we had was smooth and well done. Colors are very bright and almost overpowering, with a lot of blue and pinks. Very tiring to the eyes. Voices are well done and are age and character appropriate, but were a bit blah, with barely any emotion or excitement, etc. Sound FX aren't many, which make the game a little too quiet. We had more nature sounds than anything else. Music is soothing until something is happening or about to happen and then it picks up.
HOGs are a combination of interactive lists, and highlighted word search, and are few and far between. The scenes are fairly clear and items are not difficult to find. Most of the puzzles were quite simple and took no time to complete. Hint system is very helpful and it does transport to longer locations. You do a lot of back tracking, so this saves a lot of time.
Collectibles were not many, but nicely done. We need to find 26 morphing items (looked like birds). These morph quickly and are easy to miss, and some very small. We also have 12 character statuettes. None are difficult to find. We still have 49 jigsaw puzzle pieces to find. These are more difficult to see, as they blend quit nicely into the background they are sitting on.
This story was the same old story, nothing new. It moved very slowly, which made it a bit boring for me. There is no challenge to this game at all, and very little character interaction. Personally, I feel it is geared more toward a beginner. The colors were more off putting than anything else. I'm sure there will be those who find this one appealing, but it isn't for me. Not enough action to keep me interested. I will recommend it for beginners, but not for the seasoned gamer. 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. Play on!
I recommend this game!
Reprise your role as Cruise Director and enjoy a worldwide cruise of a lifetime while finding hidden objects and completing clever mini games.
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
All aboard!
PostedNovember 2, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As usual, I review on the game play and leave the story to others. We now have #6 in this series. If you like straight HOG's, this series is for you. Not a whole lot of story, as such, but lots of different scenes to search. I love these and have them all. Now and then, you just need to leave the spooky, dreary behind and do something fun. As in all the others, there is no speaking dialog, only reading. If you skip it, you won't miss anything important. The same annoying music, but really nice colors and sounds of the sea. Graphics are quite good in this addition.
Very little animation. Very nice colors.
Very little animation. Very nice colors.
Of course, we have to find garbage and lost and found items. Some items are still a bit small, but not really difficult to find. Although, I did have a problem finding one. I'm one of those people who just has to find all the extras in order to get as many point/coins as possible. I do like the varied puzzles, and yes, they are the same as in all of the others in this series.
Some of the characters had that "creepy" look, with the wide-eyes. Did someone just say "boo?" This type of straight HOG is relaxing for me and a lot different than what I usually play. Not a lot of action or challenge, but I do like them. So much so, that I buy them with giving them a try first. Wish they were a bit longer. If you like a straight HOG, or just need a change of pace, this game is for you. Gave this one a 4.75. Yes, I bought it.
As always, try it for yourself and see what you think. We all have different tastes in games and you may not care for it at all. Play on!
I recommend this game!
Can you save the townspeople from a maniacal specter in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Challenging and fun...
PostedOctober 16, 2019
dancemom1
fromYakima, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello friends! As usual, I review mostly on the game play and leave the story to others to tell. I do, however, comment on it now and then. Another addition to this series. Graphics are very well done, with very little blurring, which seems to be the norm these days. Game play was excellent, with no problems during the demo. Animation is fairly smooth. Colors are very nice and not over powering. Voices were age and character appropriate, except I felt that Mr. Rogers voice sounded a bit too young for his face, and the Southern farmer's voice was a bit over the top. It was nice to see that we have considerably more character interaction in this game than we have had in many of the others lately. You can click through the dialog without missing any clues or additional useful objects. Music was soothing and unobtrusive. Sound FX are well done and move in and out with whatever is happening at the time.
HOG's are very well done, with interactive lists, silhouettes, highlighted words and picture pieces. Items are not difficult to find and the scenes pretty clear. Puzzles had more challenge than I expected and took a bit more time to complete. Hint system is helpful and we do have the transport feature for longer locations. As in the others in this series, we do backtrack quite a lot. We do have a jump map, which is nothing special, but it does show you where a collectible is found, or missed.
Collectible are very well done. We have eye silhouettes that are well blended into the background and not easy to spot. So far, they are in every scene. We various morphing items that are very easy to miss. We also have 12 dolls to find. These are very difficult to see, as they are mostly very small and in dark places. Of course, if you just can't find these collectibles on your own, they are listed clearly in the Strategy Guide.
This story is nothing new, but it is well done. You are constantly on the move and there is enough challenge in the puzzles and collectibles to keep you interested. I think all levels of players will find this one fun and challenging, and I feel this one is worth the price of a CE. I like this series, so yes, I am adding to my CE collection. I gave this one a 4.5 on my scale.
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. Play on!
I recommend this game!