Poem123's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:2,200
- Reviews Submitted:37
- First Review:January 26, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 21, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
Dive into an epic journey as a museum owner in pursuit of an undead pirate who has kidnapped your daughter in Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart!
Overall rating
3
/
5
92 of 147 found this review helpful
Not for me
PostedMay 17, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I almost didn't try this based on the title alone. I know plenty of people still enjoy the creepier games but I feel like I've played the best ones already. If it has both "nightmares" and "cursed" in the title, it better blow me away. This did not.
Visually, the game is beautiful. Lovely graphics and artwork. The usual cut-scenes, voice overs, animations. The story begins in a museum (which I love) before moving to a haunted ship. If you enjoy this theme, you may like this game, it's well done. The story is presented nicely (with attempted scares) and the game feels polished.
Here are the things I did not like:
- Only 2 difficulty modes, meaning either sparkles (really annoying in this game) or lose the active zones on the map.
- Very linear, and you are hand held through what to do.
- Artificially slow, everything uses slow animations: break the glass slowly 3 times to get in the case, unpack the crate slowly. The cursor is sluggish and I suspect intentionally so. There are too many extra steps: put the key in the lock, turn the key, press the handle (all with slow animations you have to wait to complete).
- I don't like the cursor icons, especially the gear for actions that can be done right now. I'm used to a gear representing possible interaction and a hand representing actual action, like opening a door handle.
- Music: a bit dreary. Object scenes were usual with clear objects and some interactive items but nothing fun about them.
I think overall, there is a lot of potential in this game. It has the right elements - if only they fit together properly.
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 45 found this review helpful
Wonderful
PostedMay 15, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This game is a delight for tower defence fans.
In a refreshing take on a familiar genre, your goal is to protect a central fortress in an archipelago. You build towers on the various islands to defend against the incoming attack ships.
There is an excellent tutorial which is skippable. As with most good strategy games, this one starts off slowly and gets gradually more challenging. There are 3 difficulty levels. You can purchase bonus items that you unlock which provide additional perks such as mines, cliffs and an air balloon that collects treasure chests dropped by ships.
This game is not without its flaws - it's far from perfect. Graphically and interface-wise, it looks like something made 15 years ago. You have an overhead view and cannot zoom in or scroll around. Objects, including towers, are tiny and strain the eyes. There are shifting clouds that further obscure the view. There are options to turn down effects and particles but they didn't disappear. It's also almost impossible to see the red circles that indicate which directions ships will be approaching from. Another fault is there is no way to advance the next wave or increase the game speed. It feels very slow early on when only one or two ships advance. I also didn't think there was enough variety in the towers available to build, their price does not increment and you could easily just build your preferred type.
One nice inclusion is a mini-video of each item in the bonus store to show you how to use it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this take on the tower defence theme. It's refreshing and fun with the option to play through again on a higher difficulty. There are enough little differences to make this game stand out in the genre. While I found game play to be too slow and lacking challenge early on, it picked up enough to promise several hours of addictive game-play.
Lots of fun and definitely re-playable as different strategies can be used.
I recommend this game!
Investigate and foil the conspiracy against Marie Antoinette!
Overall rating
1
/
5
59 of 66 found this review helpful
Maybe it gets better after the first 5 minutes
PostedMay 15, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
... but I wouldn't know, I only lasted 2.
It's rare for me not to give a game a good chance, especially when set in a historical period that I adore.
This is the barest of adventure HOGs - the artwork is terribly basic, I got as far as finding 10 sheets of paper, that looked like cream blobs, scattered at my location and couldn't bring myself to "find a place to assemble them".
The interface is clunky, the cursor unresponsive. There are gigantic hints telling you what to do that can't be skipped and you must do what they say. Example: tells you that the cursor changes to a gear when something is interactable... except it DOESN'T change while the tutorial box is up and there's no close button so you have to figure out what it wants you to do to close it.
No voiceovers. There is text dialogue to click through but no pre-scene to explain who you are, why you are there.
I almost always advise people to try something for themselves but in this case don't even bother with the demo, especially if you are on limited broadband like me.
It's just awful.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover the Sea Secrets of the Flying Dutchman in Secrets of the Seas: Flying Dutchman!
Overall rating
4
/
5
154 of 165 found this review helpful
Pleasant but not ground-breakinbg
PostedMay 12, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a lovely, polished adventure game with considerable hidden object scenes and a variety of puzzles. Although not innovative in any way, the developers have stuck to a particular formula that makes the player feel comfortable.
Here is my overview of the various aspects of this game:
Graphics: the hand-painted look. While a little washed out and grainy, everything is clear and easy to spot. I personally really like this style of artwork but it does not have the almost-photo-realism of some games.
Story: A refreshing twist on the usual themes. You are visiting an old friend in a quaint, seaside town when a pirate ghost ship sails in and kidnaps the two of you as deckhands. You are still rescuing people and saving souls but it's different to crashing your car at an abandoned property. Pirates have been done before, sometimes with better humour, however the atmosphere and feel is nicely handled. There are cut-scenes and voice-overs to set the mood.
Challenge: 3 difficulty modes. I played the easiest (to avoid the hint penalty) and the sparkles were subtle and occasionally useful.
Hidden-Objects: I loved these actually. The items are clear and large. There is variety in the interactive items without having too many, and they are appropriate to the scene. There appear to be quite a few HO scenes but they are spaced out so you're not doing them one after the other. After finding the items on the list, you are tasked with finding a final item that is added to your inventory. The scenes are animated but subtly and don't distract.
Puzzles: nothing special here, the usual. Clear, easy to understand what to do. Not that many of them in the first hour.
Hints: standard fare. An animated lobster that I liked. He is available outside the HO scenes and hints are of the "nothing to do here" variety. They don't suggest where to go/what to do.
Music: sound quality is excellent. The music changes as your location does and suits the mood.
Other: No map but each chapter contains a limited playing area so you don't get lost. There is a journal that you acquire early on but don't start with. Some English is a little incorrect but still understandable, e.g. the/a used wrongly.
Final thoughts: this is a game that grew on me as I progressed through, rather than grabbing me right away. Play for more than 10 minutes to get a real feel for it.
I didn't finish the demo before the time ran out - that's unusual for me, and a big plus.
I recommend this game!
When a bolt of lightning sends you back to the days of King Arthur, you trade in your farmer's hat for a suit of armor and set off on a journey to find the Fountain of Youth!
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 35 found this review helpful
A nice but familiar game
PostedMay 7, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
It's been done before many times. Collect resources with a limited number of workers, and build various structures. However it is a nice addition to the genre and I found the gameplay enjoyable.
I never buy these games as they don't hold my interest but I know many people love them so I wanted to leave a review based on the demo.
Graphics are pleasant enough, the workers are quirky and have their own charm as they wander about waiting for a task, all the animations are nicely done. The game runs smoothly, tasks are clear and easy to complete. The timer is fairly short. The tutorial is almost non-existent but helpful arrows pop up to show you what to do next on the first couple of levels.
If you like RoR and MKftP and similar games, you should enjoy this one. Whether it offers enough uniqueness to be worth getting in addition to those is better for others to comment on.
Well made, polished, smooth.
I recommend this game!
Help The Fool become a hero and save the beautiful princess Catherine from the jaws of a terrible dragon!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Lovely, quirky, fun
PostedMay 7, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I bought this game when it was first released. It is refreshingly fun and upbeat with a quirky, humorous style - and interesting enough to play again.
Will suit fans of adventure games looking for something whimsical, and is well worth purchasing. Highly recommended.
I recommend this game!
In this adventurous romance, outwit powerful villains and break an evil curse inflicted upon your love, Hari, while saving your best friend’s life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
47 of 50 found this review helpful
Worth a try! Not your usual HOG
PostedMay 6, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on the demo:
Set in California, with a strong Asian theme in both the aesthetics, and the story, and involves magic and assassins.
This will definitely appeal to people who are tired of the same old plot lines involving mansions and asylums. However, it won't appeal to everyone. Give the demo a try if you're unsure, it's worth the free hour at least.
There are no traditional hidden object scenes, instead you find related items (for example: weapons, cards) scattered throughout the locations you pass through.
The cut scenes use voice-overs and are frequent but brief (can be skipped).
There are many puzzles, some similar to what's been done before, some quite unique. Each puzzle has clear instructions and 2 hints available after which they can be skipped.
Hints charge up over time and are abundant. They reveal hidden objects, as well as offer excellent suggestions on what to do/where to go next.
Graphically... looks a little like a photo scrapbook montage. Items can be tiny but usually look out of place. Related items are all in adjacent rooms, not too much wandering. The text fades out when there are no more at your current location. The graphical style does not appeal to me personally but the images are crisp and clear.
3 difficulty modes. 1. Sparkles 2. No sparkles 3. Advanced/hardcore. I played the middle one.
The story/plot is well thought out and nicely paced. The level of challenge suits me, but of course, everyone is different. The demo took me 47 minutes, I always take my time with demos, watch all the cutscenes, never skip puzzles. I used around 3 hints in that time with maybe 16 or so still available.
There is a compass that shows you all available exits. I did not see a map.
The journal features an excellent to-do list.
Give this a try if you enjoy adventure stories with a lot of puzzles, or oriental themes. It's been made with care.
I recommend this game!
Help the garden-inhabiting plants defend against hordes of insects trying to demolish the garden!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 34 found this review helpful
For tower defence fans
PostedMay 1, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This is a fairly simple tower defence game (once again with a garden theme) that I'd recommend for fans only.
There is very little to make this stand out in the genre. Making money takes time - literally, so speeding up the waves is against your interest, and you want monsters to take the longest path, and to slow them on their way. This makes the game drag on a bit (a lot actually).
One quirk is that if the creatures reach your garden patch, they don't necessarily eat the fruit, but try to drag it away.
The graphics are simple with no particular charm to them. You can choose between 3 difficulty levels, and can switch whenever you like (the only difference is the prices). It is easy to replay a level as often as you like, and there are achievements/trophies you can gather.
For newer players, I'd recommend the similar but superior Garden Panic (which I love), or even Plants vs Zombies if you're one of the two people that have never tried it. For TD fans, this is a decent way to pass the time, and I purchased it immediately after the trial.
I recommend this game!
After inheriting a manor in England, you begin to explore the Kangale Estate and discover its history!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 49 found this review helpful
Well-crafted and delightful
PostedApril 28, 2012
Poem123
fromMelbourne, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a wonderfully well-crafted hidden-object, puzzle adventure game which strikes a good balance between all these aspects.
Having loved the previous title in the series, I bought the CE version and was not disappointed.
The developers really know how to tell a good story, not just through excellent writing, but also through visual effects, sounds and music. As with the first game, this is designed to literally make you shiver with its chilly atmosphere.
While the theme has been over-done in the genre, this series was one of the original "darker" games.
An excellent in-game hint system negates any need for a strategy guide or external reference. Puzzles are fun, attempt to different, and instructions are clear.
The storyline is complete but not satisfying (as in "too many loose ends") without the bonus play from the CE, however the length and quality of the general game make this well worth the SE price.
Shiver: the Hitchhiker remains my favorite of the two so far, but this is still a wonderful addition to what is hopefully an on-going series.
I recommend this game!
After using a secret alias to board the Titanic, things go terribly wrong and you find yourself trapped among the wreckage. In order to earn freedom from your watery tomb you must appease your captor by re-writing history and freeing the spirits trapped aboard the 'unsinkable' luxury liner as well as discover why fate has chosen this destiny for you.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 10 found this review helpful
Flawed but lovely
PostedApril 16, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I bought this without demoing it as I love anything Titanic themed. I was unsure of the story at first but the time travel and saving poor souls grew on me as the game progressed.
The game is quite flawed however.
- artificially lengthened by slooooooowing everything down (such as interacting with items) to the point of frustration.
- useless hint button
- very confusing on where to go/be at any point in time
- can't access whole ship at one time in the past but can in the future when you don't need many areas
- can interact with some people, not others
- artificially lengthened by slooooooowing everything down (such as interacting with items) to the point of frustration.
- useless hint button
- very confusing on where to go/be at any point in time
- can't access whole ship at one time in the past but can in the future when you don't need many areas
- can interact with some people, not others
Some positive notes:
- the past hidden object scenes are beautifully rendered, some are quite glorious, especially the buffet/dessert scenes.
- the storyline is odd at first but eventually satisfying
- excellent artwork
- the past hidden object scenes are beautifully rendered, some are quite glorious, especially the buffet/dessert scenes.
- the storyline is odd at first but eventually satisfying
- excellent artwork
I recommend this game!