mrssharon's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.7
- Helpful Votes:828
- Reviews Submitted:49
- First Review:January 5, 2012
- Most Recent Review:January 9, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Fight your way out of a coma by exploring your deepest memories!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 8 found this review helpful
Just So-So
PostedDecember 2, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Yikes, another vehicle crash. Done, done, and done some more.
I felt the story line was going to be okay (not a knock-your-socks-off kind of game, but okay) but it didn't really move very fast. Once the mother's ghost appeared to the daughter, why didn't they just have a heart-to-heart and clear the air? The demo time ended before I could learn why the mother blamed the daughter, so unless there was a good reason it seemed improbable that the estrangement even happened.
I did like the hint system, although when I got to the word puzzle in the living room, there was something tucked away nearby and it took me a few tries to figure out why it kept sending me back to the word puzzle.
The graphics were nice, the home looked like a pleasant place to live. No gray on gray, there were nice colors. The hidden object scenes were interactive, but not over the top exciting. The music was what I would call soothing (like funeral home music) and didn't really fit the mood of the game. It should have been a little more disturbed and off-key. It did almost lull me to sleep. It would be floating along but then abruptly stop and then start again for no apparent reason. Maybe the loop just ended and had to reset?
All in all, I think the game was a kinder, gentler play than some we've had lately, so that was a plus.
However, I can't really recommend the game because it didn't have that wow factor some of us seem to be looking for right now. But if you're into soft lulling music and not-too-fast action, you may enjoy it.
I don't recommend this game.
The Brothers Grimm have assigned the task of revealing the truth behind missing children in the town of Arbourshire; it is up to you to discover the secrets of the Fairy Tale Mystery, before it is too late.
Overall rating
1
/
5
22 of 23 found this review helpful
A Really Poor Example of an HOG
PostedDecember 2, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This game was probably the poorest example of a hidden object game I've played in a while. It was even worse than a seek and find game where that is all you do.
In the first few cut scenes we find a man who seems to be speaking for the crowd. His actual voice was okay, but there was no expression on his face, just his lips moving.
The music was dreary (if you want to call it music) and didn't change throughout the demo, at least not that I noticed.
Some reviewers have said there was no color and mostly I have to agree. Even the scenes with color were bland.
The puzzles were first-grade simple and finding a key to open a lock was made so easy by attaching a key chain with the symbol of the lock on it... well, why have us hunt for the key then?
The HOS were a bit of a challenge but only because the objects were small sometimes or blended into another object so subtly you didn't spot it. I also agree with other reviewers that once a scene is used, create a new one for the next HOS. Reduce, reuse, recycle just doesn't work here! And while I'm on the subject, the objects to be found should be kept in the period of the story. The only time an exception should be made is in the case of a time-travel game.
I did not like all the back and forth of the game. Waste of time. Why have me find objects all over the place only to send me back to the start to make it usable in another scene farther down the road? It could have been made usable right next to where I had to use it.
I can't comment on the strategy guide since I didn't use it. I usually find them to be little more than a walk-through.
I have played games by this developer before and they were usually very good. Makes it seem like they found this one in someone's desk drawer and said, "Oh, we forgot to use this 3 years ago!"
Would love to see fresh story lines, more modern settings, and less gloomy been there, done that, bought the t-shirt games.
Definitely not a game for me.
I don't recommend this game.
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Not the Greatest MCF Game
PostedNovember 24, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I previewed this game 2-3 weeks ago so I knew it was coming. I thought then that it would be a rather unique game with a completely different style than other MCF games and I was right.
I completed the demo and just because it's a MCF game doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be "good" or to everyone's taste. I never buy without trying something out. I strongly suggest you try the demo first, then decide.
Here's my two-cents worth:
Live actors in a game: The over-the-top acting was just that. But keep in mind this is a melodrama. It's supposed to be over the top. At least you didn't have a live actor to start with that became an animated character after the cut scene (saw that recently).
Strategy Guide: I didn't use it so I have no comment on that except to say I don't care to have the step-by-step explanations that are usually in them, just a hint and then you have the "duh" moment.
Inventory Panel: As another reviewer said, "I don't like the inventory panel mechanism." I have to agree. It kept opening whenever my cursor got too close to it and it made an annoying mechanical noise and whatever you were near on it kept popping up. I prefer to have it open at all times so I can see what I've got. It helps me to figure out what to do next sometimes.
Scenery: I also agree the scenery was dark and dreary. But it starts with an old motel followed by an abandoned prison. It's supposed to be dreary. Colors would not fit with this.
Hidden Objects: I did like the challenge of having to really hunt for the hidden objects in the list. They were placed in different rooms and areas, which is kind of a new twist, not just in one window that opens and is used repeatedly where everything is the same picture.
One thing I thought was fun were the rabbit ears (antenna) on the TV. Not many of the younger players have ever even seen those. Ditto with the coin-operated bed vibrator. Haven't seen one of those in many, many years and I recall how fun they were as a child! Youngsters, you don't know what you missed!
Overall. there were many good innovations in this game. But for me, the demo didn't pull me in enough to buy the game, especially not a CE version. I think they were "thinking outside the box" and I like what they tried to do. It just didn't excite me enough. Maybe as an SE, but I'll have to really think about even that.
Find the clues, solve the mystery of November 1963.
Overall rating
1
/
5
22 of 29 found this review helpful
Worst Game on Big Fish Ever
PostedNovember 19, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The fact that the main theme is related to an actual assassination of an American president should make this "game" a non-starter. But, out of curiosity over what other reviewers have said, I went ahead and played the demo to its end. The game had no logic. If the person is having visions, why are real items appearing out of them?
Running back and forth trying to find the items you need to progress was frustrating. The puzzles were awful. I think I skipped 3 of them because, again, there was no logic in them.
Some dude kept popping up out of thin air, and I never did get a clue who he was or why he was part of this story. It made no sense.
The graphics were amateurish and the items were really not hidden. There was no interaction in the HOS. Most of the items I collected would probably have been explained further into the game, but at the point where the demo ends, you have no clue what you would possibly do with them.
The dialog by other characters had no energy and amounted to not much more than one-liners.
The biggest puzzle of all is why the developers created this "game", and I use the word loosely. A game is supposed to be fun and when you think of what happened on that day in 1963, it makes me sad and a bit angry that anyone would think this "game" would be fun. Very tasteless is the kindest thing I can say about it.
I don't recommend this game.
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Not Up to Par
PostedNovember 18, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I found the game to be tedious with too much dialog (can be skipped, but thought I'd follow other reviews and let it play). The storyline itself was obvious but nothing explained finding "something" in the park. Guess I missed what the relevancy was to the story.
I wondered why certain items were hidden where they were. Most didn't make sense and there was a lot of backtracking to get them. Maybe that ties in later? The map made finding those items too easy.
The music was good for the feel of the game, subdued and kind of mysterious. Voice overs were okay and I was especially happy the devs didn't try to lip sync to the characters. Some of the accents did not seem appropriate to the person speaking.
I found the puzzles too easy and some items in the HOS were very difficult to see either because the scene was dark or the item was very small.
Overall, not a disastrous game, but not one I'd enjoy enough to purchase.
I don't recommend this game.
In a fading world devoid of color, the ghost of Nikola Tesla reaches through the Ether and invites you on an incredible adventure through time and space.
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 8 found this review helpful
Not Enough Oomph
PostedMay 27, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Like most of the reviews, I felt there was way too much dialog. Some said you can skip it, other said you can click through it. Either way, the amount of dialog really detracts from the game play.
I found some of the mini-games (in the demo) were not really logical. I was able to solve one, not by being intelligent enough to figure it out, but just by clicking switches until the puzzle was solved. Not very exciting. Give me a real sweat-on-the brow challenge and I'm in heaven. Yes, I'm stubborn and don't give up until it's done. The lock pick puzzle was pretty unresponsive, I agree. But I did get mine to work, though it's just a question of remembering which tumbler to click next.
Over all, not worth the time.
I don't recommend this game.
Investigate the dastardly deeds of a wealthy socialite and prove your fiance is not a thief in Snark Busters: High Society!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Not Just Your Usual Snark Busters
PostedMay 24, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I really enjoyed the first 2 Snark Busters games. The characters were a bit mischievous and lively and everything was a bit cheesy which especially fit the second character. The music in the first 2 games really fit the themes of the games.
At first, with this new Snark game, I was disappointed that the music wasn't very upbeat. The "almost" ragtime music from before was a big part of the feel of the games. However, if you think about the title of this new one, High Society, the music fits the game.
As for the objects being whole or fragmented, I like both types. The objects are still a challenge to find and that's the point, right?
The puzzles are doable, not tear your hair out hard.
Overall, I ended up liking the game in spite of the changes. I hope this developer continues this series and change is good for us, but maybe combine the styles and music a bit next time,huh?
I recommend this game!
Welcome to Top Secret Finders. Your first mission is to save a small town, uncover the truth about a government conspiracy and stop the villain in his tracks!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
Not Even Close to Exciting
PostedMay 20, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I did not completely finish the trial because the story just didn't grab me.
The game is dark and gloomy, as stated previously. It was slow to get started and really dragged on. No big surprises or wow factors.
I felt the transition from one scene to the next took quite a while and the screen stayed dark a long time (may be my video card, but I don't usually have this problem).
Maybe (probably) it's me, but I'm getting sort of tired of this style of game. I want some color, and I would love something that will make me stay tuned in longer than 30 minutes.
Nothing exciting here and I will pass on this one.
I don't recommend this game.
After being invited to the Christening of your sister’s son, you arrive to find a deserted estate! Save your sister before it’s too late!
Overall rating
3
/
5
49 of 62 found this review helpful
Falls Short
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
mrssharon
fromWashington, Utah
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I thought the intro was going well until suddenly, without any lead in, you have a car crash. The story didn't really need that to work.
There was a lot of back and forth (it is not a linear game) but it was often unclear where to go next. There was a lot of gathering items in order to progress.
Although some of the puzzles were different and not too easy, the strategy guide really didn't help if I was stuck on how to begin a puzzle; it only showed a screen shot of it, no directions. I wasn't looking for the solutions, just how to begin.
The graphics were not really great and some of the items in the hunt and find scenes (what some people describe as junk piles) were very small.
The story just didn't grab my interest even though I liked the first game, Grim Tales The Bride, this game just didn't do it for me.
I don't recommend this game.