JulieRy's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:207
- Reviews Submitted:20
- First Review:May 26, 2012
- Most Recent Review:June 3, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Warriors of darkness have just attacked your people. Now you alone can defeat them and save your fellow Healers!
Overall rating
4
/
5
44 of 49 found this review helpful
Good game, but not "Echoes of the Past"
PostedNovember 17, 2014
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I generally liked this game, but I have a few reservations(see below). The story was good, and it was interesting playing a character that was a shape-changer. Mira seemed like a child, rather than a young and precocious adult. She was enthusiastic and made mistakes that an inexperienced child would make. I liked that. She also seemed like she was a talented healer, which was also nice. They were promoting her beyond her years, which bothered me, but at least she seemed like a good candidate.
I also liked that you were in just a few areas at a time, and when you were finished in the region you did not go back to it. That limited the need for the map areas to be highlighted when there was something to do in the area. That was good, as the only level available that highlighted map areas of interest was the beginner level, which also showed sparkles everywhere.
I had some issues with some of the game play itself. Apparently the evil warriors are blind and mostly deaf. Otherwise, how could you spend several minutes hitting wooden posts in a barn within a few feet of the warrior, and he doesn't notice until you send the whole shelf crashing down?
I also didn't see how this game is part of the "Echoes of the Past" series. I enjoyed playing those games, and I was looking forward to this one. But there was no reference to the kingdom of the other games, nor was there any reference to its characters. The only possible connection I could think of was that the evil person here becomes the witch of the other stories. Sort of an origin story. But if that is the case, it isn't clear to me.
The HOPS are a variety of kinds, including lists with some interactive aspects, riddles and silhouettes. I don't play with sound, so cannot comment on that. The art work was on par with the other games in the series. There were three levels of play, and I tried the beginner level for the demo and the intermediate level for the game itself. Both were fine. The hint button was very helpful, allowing you to jump to the location with something to do. Each area had a jump map associated with it, which I also liked. The game is a decent length, though a bit on the short side. There are no extras like extra collectibles or achievements in the standard edition (SE).
All in all, it was a good game and worth the price - especially if it is on sale. :)
I recommend this game!
Stop the bitter Spirit of Cold from killing your ancestors!
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Good story, but ridiculous things to do
PostedApril 25, 2014
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Other reviewers have stated that they don't like the story because of the time paradox: If you kill your grandfather, you will never be born. Others have disliked the Christmas theme because the SE came out after Christmas. I am ok with both of these. "Back to the Future" is a fun concept! And the way you have to save your ancestors is still in "Redemption Cemetery" fashion, which is fun! But the things you have to do to meet your goals are ridiculous at best.
To explain what I mean, I will have to give a couple of spoilers. None of them affects the plot of the story, so it only "spoils" your having to figure out what to do in a couple of spots.
For example, you have to go into a tree house (in a bizarre fashion) to get to a rope you can use to slide down to the greenhouse to get into the mansion. Ok. But since there is apparently no way out of the greenhouse except to go back the way you came, how do you slide UP the rope? But that's what you do!
The second one I will mention is much worse. You come across an ice wolf, which you tame with magic and it becomes a cute puppy. Ok. But now you have a dripping puppy, which you are supposed to use as a clean source of water to make a snowflake for another item! Huh?
Other things include using a small lighter to melt a lot of ice or making an upside down, broken snowman with a bad hat happy by giving it a new hat. Huh? Or having a skeleton release a shovel by putting a ruby in its wrist. Huh?
The game is littered with these silly solutions to problems. They are in no way intuitive, though you do get decent help with the hints and the map. But I want to be able to logically work my way through a game, using the hint key sparingly. When the actions you must do make no sense, it is difficult to allow yourself to enjoy the story and the game.
I don't recommend this game.
What happens when the heart turns against itself?
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This game could have been so much better!
PostedOctober 21, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The game was ok, but not worth the CE price.
Pros: It had a jump map, and in casual mode it showed where there was an available action. The graphics were good. I don't use sound, so cannot comment on that.
The story flowed well, and the betrayals of some of the characters made a lot more sense than some stories, where pirates are portrayed as good people who are simply misunderstood.
Cons: The game was too easy, and there were way too many "sparkles" in the hidden object games in casual mode. Also most of the puzzles were too easy. I only chose the casual mode because I like to use the jump map to go to locations with available actions.
The only additions I cared about were the bonus chapter and the collectibles. By collecting the map pieces along the way, you piece together the story of the pirate this game is based upon, but there is almost nothing in the game relating to this pirate.
The bonus chapter was about getting back to town after the adventure ends and completing the story. However, it was more busy work (repairing the ship) than adventure and was not well done.
The total reversal of some of the characters' personalities was very odd, to say the least. They start out bad and end up good, or the other way around.
Summary: The game is fine for a lazy afternoon, but not worth the CE price.
I don't recommend this game.
Department 42: The Mystery of the Nine
Help Department 42 collect nine mysterious and evil artifacts and protect the world! Stop pure evil and save the day!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Good story, impossible hidden object scenes
PostedJuly 19, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I enjoyed the story of this game, which was to collect magical evil objects in different parts of the United States so they could be contained. There are nine objects, so there are nine locations (chapters).
The problem I had with this game was the hidden object scenes. In each scene, there were multiple objects that were so small or so dark that I couldn't find them. The hint button recharged very slowly, so these HOs took a lot of time and quickly became frustrating for me. Because of this issue, I cannot recommend the game.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Dimensions: City of Ash
A dark dimension has fallen over Phoenix Hill, turning its residents into volcanic ash. Help them rise from the ashes.
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Good game. On par with the other Dark Dimension games
PostedJuly 1, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on the completed game.
While I agree with other reviewers that this game is rather short, it is still fun. If you have played the two previous games, you will know what to expect from this one. The first game had an all-encompassing fog encase a silent city, brought on by demonic forces surrounding a young woman's death. The second game was a Michigan town deserted due to an earthquake, again with demonic forces in play that centered around a wax museum owner with a tragic accident that happened to her daughter. This one is about a volcanic eruption that destroys a town around a gold mine. The mayor and his daughter are at odds over closing the mine, but a demonic presence is forcing the father to keep the mine open. The daughter dies in the struggle, and a dark dimension forms.
If you liked the first two games, you will like this one. The HO's are more interactive, and the puzzles are easier. I don't play with sound, so I cannot comment on it. The art work was the same as the other two games, and is quite good.
I recommend this game!
A wonderful story of the citizens of Joyville. Can you change their destiny? You will see – nothing is impossible.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Strange HOPs
PostedJune 17, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Overall it was a fun game. There were many times I wasn't sure what they expected me to do, but I eventually figured it out. The only real problem for this game were the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs). It was often a wild guess to determine what it was I was expected to find. For example, one of the clues was "curtains." After looking for curtains for quite a while, unsuccessfully, I randomly clicked on the tassels, and the "curtains" were crossed off my list. Huh?
I have enjoyed this series, and I wouldn't let this ruin the game for anyone, but be prepared that some things just won't make sense.
The graphics and visuals were comparable to the other games in this series, and other ERS games. I don't use sound, so cannot comment on that. I liked the story, and it has a satisfying, if abrupt, ending.
I recommend this game!
Search for a town consumed by fog! Unlock forbidden doors and uncover mysterious items!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good game, lousy hint system
PostedJune 3, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Overall, I liked this game. However, the hint system was terrible! If you really don't know what to do, your best option is to go to the blog walkthrough. The hint either told you that you were done in that area for now, or it circled something you still have to do, but do not necessarily have the items to do it with!
The game also could have used a map, preferably an interactive one, since there was a lot of back and forth, especially in search of angels for a mini game. If the developers decide to make a new version of this game with an appropriate hint system and a map, I would give it 5 stars.
The game was interesting with a good plot and a surprise climax. Many things were reasonably logical, and the mini games were mostly challenging. The HO scenes had an interesting twist, in that you used items you pick up to find other items in the scene. Many were difficult to guess, but most were at least possible!
I don't play with sound, so I cannot comment on that. The graphics were good, though a gorgeous 6'2" blond in a small town in Maine in the late 1800's was a bit odd. However, it didn't detract from the story, so it was unimportant.
This has an occult theme and spooky settings in an abandoned town from over a century ago. There were a few incongruities, such as rotting meat in a butcher shop. After 100 years, I think that would have finished decomposing. But aside from these minor points, it was a very good game.
I recommend this game!
Dark magic threatens our world! Can you stop the Shade and his minions before it's too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
Fun game
PostedMarch 20, 2013
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is based on completion of the full game. I will not repeat what others have said, but mainly want to comment on the "mature" player issue. I believe this was given because it has fairies, which are usually cute and harmless. The Shade is a "fey creature" who is a nasty character and makes the world dark. No one dies. No one is transformed into a monster. It is no worse than the original game, "Spring of Shadows." However, I can see a young child seeing a cute fairy and thinking this is a typical fairy tale with Barbie and Rainbow Ponies. It isn't. But it isn't going to send anyone to bed with nightmares either.
I 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
4
/
5
9 of 15 found this review helpful
Interesting Game
PostedDecember 28, 2012
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game has received a lot of negative reviews, and I do understand some of them. However, I felt this was a very interesting game. It was laid out a bit differently than most HO games, but that was a nice change as far as I was concerned.
Pros: The HOs were of two types. The first is the usual list of objects to find. However, they were scattered around several rooms in one location, rather than in a single junk pile. The other type was to match a small piece of a picture to an actual object. Sometimes you needed to put objects in a picture to make it match.
The hints were usually useful, though I did need to go to the walkthrough blog for a couple of things. The challenge level was decent.
The map allowed you to "teleport." However, it also forced you to teleport, and when you went to the library, it took several steps "forward" to get there. In several cases, walking the block to get to the teacher's house (for example) would have been faster.
I didn't mind going back and forth to the medium. It gave nice chapter breaks in the story.
Cons: It is a very large file and takes a lot of RAM. As a result, moving to a new location takes longer than usual.
I hated the floating puzzles. I knew exactly where the pieces went, but it was a major nuisance to get them to go where they belonged. One of them was so bad I just skipped it, and I generally love puzzles!
I really didn't like the exorcism. SPOILER ALERT! When the priest tries to do an exorcism, he and those with him are killed in an earthquake spawned by the demon. If you are going to include occult themes, don't use Christianity (or other mainstream faith) to fail to resolve the problem. Instead, it uses a more occult-themed resolution, which, of course, is entirely successful.
I don't use the sound on my games, so I cannot comment on that.
Overall, I enjoyed the game. It was different enough from the usual fare to capture my interest, and it was challenging without being frustrating most of the time.
I recommend this game!
Drift away and have fun with the classic Japanese board games Hexajong and Ishidoku in a relaxing new environment.
Overall rating
3
/
5
47 of 53 found this review helpful
Decent mahjong and ok sudoku-like game
PostedMay 26, 2012
JulieRy
fromMinneapolis, MN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The mahjong part was good, though I would have liked to see a list of the matches that have already been made. For example, if I know that I have four N tiles left, I may wait to make this particular match. But if this is the last pair then I will just do it.
The mahjong tiles were beautiful, and I liked the way they highlighted the ones you could use in green and the ones you couldn't in red as you passed the mouse over them.
I was less impressed with the Ishidoku game. It is a lot like Sudoku, but with colored tiles instead of numbers. I like Sudoku, though I do it with pencil and paper. I can put multiple numbers in each box and eliminate the wrong ones as I identify them. In this game that is not an option, which is ok, but not my preference. There is a button that will tell you how many errors you have, but not which ones. There is also no way to know what your last 10 moves (for example) were, so if you have placed 30 or so tiles and see 9 errors, your best option is to take all of the tiles off individually and start over. There is no "reset" button that I could find. Or, you can take off tiles systematically and check your "error" button each time. It sort of defeats the purpose of the puzzle to me.
I don't use the sounds, so I cannot comment on that.
Exiting the game is not intuitive. I discovered, through trial and error, that the "zen" button on the side is the way to exit the game.
I don't recommend this game.