sportygal2009's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:8,859
- Reviews Submitted:221
- First Review:November 12, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 28, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Challenge yourself in the role of the scientist-historian-scholar of ancient civilizations and mystical legends and save your friend from the Demon of Darkness!
Overall rating
5
/
5
158 of 170 found this review helpful
Very Enthralling Game With LOTS To Do
PostedMay 5, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the whole game playing in the hardest mode.
The story: For those of you who've played "Temple of Night" this time your adventure is in Thailand, and you collect a lot of the native objects traveling between words (old and new). if you haven't played Temple of Night it isn't necessary to do so as this game stands alone on its own.
7 chapters
3 play modes: Regular, Advanced, Hardcore: Hardcore there is no skip or hint.
Bonus: Locked along with wallpapers, etc. until you play the main game.
Strategy Guide: Doesn't follow you along as you play however stays where you left it. A total of 65 pages. Pages 1-45 is the main game. Pages 46 - 65 is the bonus chapter.
There is a journal which keeps track of notes/some puzzle clues however no map.
There is voice over
HO scenes: All are interactive along with an extra item you have to find(inventory) at the end of each scene. There's also some scenes "misplaced items" which are down at the bottom and you have to put them back into the scene to acquire an inventory item to use elsewhere.
Some of the rooms to acquire items you have to change the lighting in the room. As I mentioned earlier you are going between worlds (old & new), There's also "special items" that you will acquire and you take it to a statue and put it on the "plate" to be turned into an inventory item to be used in a part of the game.
Puzzles: Quite a few puzzles ranging in difficulty from very easy to kinda frustrating at least for me but to those of you who love puzzles and the harder the better well then don't pay attention to what I say about the puzzles here as far as difficulty.. Some of the puzzles are also repeated as you'll do them more than once.
The bonus: Save 7 people by finding the statues. You also visit a few new areas. Some are the same as the main game. HO scenes are interactive however there isn't any misplaced items scenes where you have to put them back in the scene like the main game.
My overall impression of the game:
Well a little patience must of really sneaked in on me as I took the plunge and played in the hardest mode. I just LOVED this game for the most part as I can sure tell just like the first game Temple of Night the developer put some time and thought into these games.
The graphics, voice over, cut scenes are just superb. Very well done here. I also LOVED going between worlds and having to change the room. Just a lot to do and places to go in this game. i also thought the bonus chapter was very well done as well.
I didn't have any difficulty at all (even puzzles) until I got to chapter 5 as this is where I lost some patience. I'm not sure what was up with me and chapter 5 but I did have to use the strategy guide to find the last item on a couple of HO scenes as I couldn't find them to save myself.
I also could of done without a couple of them puzzles. Way too much going left, right, up, down so many times to solve it as these are repeated a couple of times. Good Lord I looked those up in the guide or I'd probably still be sitting here trying to solve those.
Oh and I also could of did without the move the ball and trying to get the "cap piece" to the center. As you move the ball the cap piece goes in the other direction and trying to navigate that well if you don't have arthritis like I do well you just might after that puzzle. I didn't look this one up but that was tough navigating for me.
This is also why i knocked down the "fun factor" to good as them puzzles a couple of them I didn't care for.
As for game length: Main game 6 hours for me and the bonus was 2 1/2 hours You may or may not get this much time out of the game here.
Overall, even though I didn't care for a couple of them puzzles there was just way too much I LOVED about this game so I'm giving it 5 stars.
Thanks Big Fish and developer.
As always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Help Scarlet Frost outwit evil itself in a dark and mysterious theatre to save an innocent girl’s soul from the most sinister of perils.
Overall rating
1
/
5
26 of 43 found this review helpful
More Like Disturbing- Hey Big Fish Cut This Off And Pull The Plug
PostedApril 30, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This review is for the demo playing in advance mode.
Warning: Lots of demonic images references and disturbing images.
Story: You take on the role of Scarlet Frost to outwit evil and save an innocent girl's soul.
7 chapters + bonus
Strategy Guide: Follows you along and stays were you left it.
2 play modes - Casual/Advance.
Journal which list the tasks that need completed.
No map
Hint/Skip - ready for use pretty quick.
Voice overs
Strategy Guide: Follows you along and stays were you left it.
2 play modes - Casual/Advance.
Journal which list the tasks that need completed.
No map
Hint/Skip - ready for use pretty quick.
Voice overs
HO scenes: I only did 4 scenes during the demo here which are by word list. 12 objects to find in each scene. They are not interactive.
Puzzles: Find each circle within the scene, rotate the rings, swap the pieces.
My overall impression of the game:
Well I'm usually into the games that are on the dark side but this one was a bit disturbing even for me. Demonic references/images in games usually don't bother me but in my humble opinion this game was overkill. That little girl in the cage now granted she doesn't exactly look like Linda Blair from the Exorcist but for some reason made me think of her. She was a bit too creepy for me along with this Scarlet Frost lady. The story line itself didn't bother me but these demonic images/references just everywhere.
OMG! Then we have these HO scenes which are downright dreadful as they have a constant flashing yellow light and also Sanford & Son junkyard piles and some items are very small. Then the hint which is a big ole circle - flashing light and would sometimes just about cover up the item to find. The hint is also used outside of HO scenes and while different as it's an arm that extends out with writing (tattoo style) I also found kinda creepy and I don't mean this in a good way.
Puzzles: What I did during the demo time while they are far from my favorite I had no problem with them. Pretty easy in this game.
I also usually like games with voice over but this Scarlet lady I found downright annoying as every time you examine something she always has to talk and it's usually the same thing over and over again. UGH!
Sorry Big Fish and developer as I always try to give a game a fair chance but this far from WOWED me. This game is dreadful and disturbing in my humble opinion. The demo of this game was all I could cope and just barely. Way more than enough for me already! Those HO scenes gave me a headache and about nausea the yellow flashing light. So this definitely gets the 1 star: Stop madness, cut off and pull the plug on this already.
As always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Face your fears and unravel the mystery of the abandoned asylum!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 16 found this review helpful
The Chestnut Lodge Definitely Creepy and Eerie
PostedApril 29, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on the whole game playing in Expert mode.
A HOPA game (hidden object puzzle adventure)
The story: This starts out with a well done cut scene that draws you into a personal nightmare of being chased through a ramshackle building that ends with falling into an elevator pit. You waken to find that in reality, someone else has met your fate. There's also several cut scenes throughout the game.
The graphics: Dark, dreary, dull and grainy.
There are voice overs.
2 play modes: Casual/Expert: Expert Mode hint/skip don't take very long before you can use them. Hint is also helpful outside of HO scenes. Also has sparkles just for the HO scenes. Areas of interest bring up a "magnify glass."
5 chapters which comes with a strategy guide (37 page); doesn't follow you along as you play however stays where you left it.
There's also a brightness setting in the options menu if you need any adjusting. Also has a widescreen and stretch screen option.
There is a journal which keeps track of notes and clues on how to solve puzzles however no map.
HO scenes: There are a total of 23 scenes with 12 objects to find in each one. Yes I counted them! LOL! All found by word list. Some are in a purple color (at least on my computer here) which are the interactive ones. The majority of the scenes are interactive. A few are not. A little on the Sanford & Son junkyard pile side but not too bad in my opinion. I found most of them pretty easy however did have to use some hints cause it was pretty dark for some of them.
Puzzles: Arrange chip parts, pick lock, rotate valves, slider puzzle, click tiles to restore image, move a key along a wire, without actually touching it, and a repeat the sequence. Just to name some. I skipped the restore image, move the key along the wire and repeat the sequence cause my tolerance for these is a big ole zip - none. I hate these.
There are achievements, 22 morph objects, wallpapers which are not locked as you have access to them right away, the game does keep track of your time you've played and there's also a sneak peak at another game Frozen.
Now for my overall impression of this game here:
Well although this game has the dull, dreary, grainy graphics along with the run-down, derelict buildings with no color and nothing nice to look at as after all the "asylum" setting I was drawn into this game immediately with the opening cut scene along with the characters and voice overs. Definitely creepy/eerie and I mean this in a great way as I'm a die hard fan of these kind of games.
I also found this game to have lots of different places to go/things to do. Lots of back/forth in my opinion. I did get hung up a couple of times and had to use the strategy guide which I found helpful. This also has the usual stand fare of inventory items. Some times I found myself with a lot of inventory items and then not.
As for game length: I got 5 hours out of this game. You may or may not.
Overall I give this 5 stars as I absolutely loved this game although I got lost a couple times and didn't care for some of the puzzles but they can be skipped.
Thanks Big Fish and developer. Thanks for a great game.
So as always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
An endearing 1930s love story set around a traveling circus.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Could Of Been A Great Trip To The Circus But I'm Running Away From This One
PostedApril 25, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the 1 hr demo. playing in relaxed mode.
*30 levels
*Timed/Relaxed Mode
* No voice over - Text boxes that come up to read which can be skipped if you don't want to follow the story and just play the game.
* Graphics are definitely from the 1930's which is the era for the game and are grainy. *Music is also from the 1930's.
* The game play here is 1 HO scene followed by one puzzle.
* Sometimes you have to zoom in on a poster to find10 spinning tops for example. I did come across some interactivity in HO scenes later on i.e. put battery in torch.
*The puzzles what I played of this game: Find the matching pairs, spot the difference, and a cross word puzzle. Puzzles can also be skipped.
* There are some achievements/penalties to this game:
* Find 2 hearts in each HO scene (level) to unlock a 1930's era video. Find all 60 to unlock unlimited puzzles.
* For every item found you get 1000 points. If you find items in quick succession you get 1250 points.
* There's also a time bonus if you play in timed mode.
*For each hint used cost you 5000 points and you can't use the hint again for about another minute.
*Timed/Relaxed Mode
* No voice over - Text boxes that come up to read which can be skipped if you don't want to follow the story and just play the game.
* Graphics are definitely from the 1930's which is the era for the game and are grainy. *Music is also from the 1930's.
* The game play here is 1 HO scene followed by one puzzle.
* Sometimes you have to zoom in on a poster to find10 spinning tops for example. I did come across some interactivity in HO scenes later on i.e. put battery in torch.
*The puzzles what I played of this game: Find the matching pairs, spot the difference, and a cross word puzzle. Puzzles can also be skipped.
* There are some achievements/penalties to this game:
* Find 2 hearts in each HO scene (level) to unlock a 1930's era video. Find all 60 to unlock unlimited puzzles.
* For every item found you get 1000 points. If you find items in quick succession you get 1250 points.
* There's also a time bonus if you play in timed mode.
*For each hint used cost you 5000 points and you can't use the hint again for about another minute.
My overall impression of the game:
Well although the graphics are grainy along with the 1930's era video clips I still liked them along with the music. I also enjoyed the story what I played of this.
The puzzles what I played of this were also very easy as I didn't skip any.
The HO scenes in my opinion trying to find some of the objects as some of them were REALLY small or REALLY blended into the scene. I wouldn't consider the scenes Sanford & Son junkyard but since these were so small still kinda like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I don't expect them to be easy but make it big enough I can see it and my eyesight is pretty good. This was overkill.
OMG! And the hint has to be about the worst "hint" I've ever come across in a game as it will just show a big ole sparkle and would stay up on the screen for a bit as I would have to click just so to find the object and sometimes I had to use the hint twice just for one object so of course lost points.
Overall I give this 3 stars as I knocked this down 1 star for the small objects and another star for this gosh awful hint. This for me absolutely ruined what could of been a great game. One hour at the circus was more than enough for me.
Thanks anyway Big Fish and developer of this game while there are some things I liked about this game and it had real potential here but I'll have to pass up the rest of the circus cause I'd like to keep my eyesight intact. Sorry but I wouldn't purchase it as the daily deal or catch of the week either.
As always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Unlock the secret rooms in the Howard’s mansion and restore a precious antique collection hidden there.
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
An OK Game - Could of Been Better!
PostedApril 23, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the whole game
* 7 chapters
* Only one play mode. This game does have sparkles to it. You can click "hide tips" option.
* There are some voice over to the game.
* Journal which list objectives along with a hint button if you need help with the objectives to be completed.
* Map shows you where you are, where the next secret room can be found, once unlocked, and where you still have things to do, and it shows all the other locked areas. You also can't use the map to travel back/forth.
*You also have to find keys to unlock secret rooms.
*There is some traveling back/forth to this game but I wouldn't consider it a "wandering around" all over the place type of game like most of played.
*HO scenes aren't Sanford & Son junkyard piles however some are really small and/or blended into the scene really good (in my opinion anyway) You have to locate the scroll which isn't hard at all because it sparkles. Objects to be found are by word list. After each scene you then collect the inventory of course but sometimes you get several and pretty much used right away.
* Only one play mode. This game does have sparkles to it. You can click "hide tips" option.
* There are some voice over to the game.
* Journal which list objectives along with a hint button if you need help with the objectives to be completed.
* Map shows you where you are, where the next secret room can be found, once unlocked, and where you still have things to do, and it shows all the other locked areas. You also can't use the map to travel back/forth.
*You also have to find keys to unlock secret rooms.
*There is some traveling back/forth to this game but I wouldn't consider it a "wandering around" all over the place type of game like most of played.
*HO scenes aren't Sanford & Son junkyard piles however some are really small and/or blended into the scene really good (in my opinion anyway) You have to locate the scroll which isn't hard at all because it sparkles. Objects to be found are by word list. After each scene you then collect the inventory of course but sometimes you get several and pretty much used right away.
Some objects you find in the HO scenes are the "special antiques" and when you unlock the secret room, you can then sell at an auction to upgrade the museum. This is not required however to complete the game. Just if you want to upgrade the museum.
There are several people and they raise up bid signs. You really have to pay attention to the signs the raise up as it will show you off to the side what to look for on their signs. Just an example: The ladies signs will have a check mark and the man's signs will have a smile face on them. As you move along in the game, there are more than one kind of symbol on the signs you have to look for but again off to the side it will show you what to do.
When they raise up their signs you then click on the people. If you click wrong your items don't sell for as much. You also either have 30 or 60 seconds, depending how far along in the game you are, to sell your item for as much as possible. You can also replay the auction to try to get more for your items if you wish.
*Lots of mini games/puzzles
*Hint/Skip charge up really quick.
*Hint/Skip charge up really quick.
My overall impression of the game:
Well this started off with a lot of promise here as it really had my attention during the hour trial before I purchased it . On the surface the graphics are really good. I also enjoyed the story. The voice overs in the beginning was quite a bit but then comes and goes but very well done in my opinion.
Where this went a bit down the hill for me was the HO scenes as I don't expect them to be too easy but some of these were REALLY small and blended into the scene so I had to use the hint more than I would of liked and usually do for games. I didn't have much trouble at all during the hour trial but once I purchased the game OMG!
The mini games and puzzles some I found pretty fun and easy while others where way too much madness for me and too challenging so I skipped those. I'm sure they will be easy though for those of you who love puzzles and have way more patience than I do.
OMG! And then the auction bidding. That also started off pretty easy but the more I moved along in the game that went way too fast for me. The people raising their signs and trying to keep up with what symbol they had on their sign. I did try to redo a couple of the auctions however I finally had to stop all madness and pull the plug on that so I didn't finish upgrading my museum.
So as for game length: Was about 4 hours for me and more than enough already but I did have to use more hints than usual, skip some of the puzzles and didn't finish the museum. Depending on your game play you may or may not get more than 4 hours.
Overall I give this 3 stars as I knocked this down 1 star for the REALLY small items and another star for that auction bidding. cause I really wanted to finish the museum.
Thanks though Big Fish and developer of the game here. An OK game here but could of been better. I still do recommend the game here.
As always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself!
I recommend this game!
Criminal Minds
Join an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds!
Overall rating
1
/
5
120 of 181 found this review helpful
The 1 hr Free Trial More Than Enough For Me Already - Cut This Off!
PostedApril 21, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
* 2 Chapters
* 2 play modes - Casual/Expert - I played expert mode.
* No voice over
* Graphics: Characters are cardboard cut outs.
* No widescreen. Black bars. I had to change my settings.
* HO scenes: 3 different colors: BLACK you find the objects. BLUE are scrambled and you either find a ? mark or figure it out for yourself item to be found. GREEN are hidden and an extra step needs to be taken to uncover those.
*There is an FBI book that will tell you about the case and gives you info on all the agents.
* Tasks are listed down at the bottom. If you get stuck, click on the hint and it will bring up the tasks. If there are several listed, you can "arrow through" up at the top and select the one you want and it will list step by step how to solve it.
* Hint/Skip charge up pretty quick.
* Mini games
* 2 play modes - Casual/Expert - I played expert mode.
* No voice over
* Graphics: Characters are cardboard cut outs.
* No widescreen. Black bars. I had to change my settings.
* HO scenes: 3 different colors: BLACK you find the objects. BLUE are scrambled and you either find a ? mark or figure it out for yourself item to be found. GREEN are hidden and an extra step needs to be taken to uncover those.
*There is an FBI book that will tell you about the case and gives you info on all the agents.
* Tasks are listed down at the bottom. If you get stuck, click on the hint and it will bring up the tasks. If there are several listed, you can "arrow through" up at the top and select the one you want and it will list step by step how to solve it.
* Hint/Skip charge up pretty quick.
* Mini games
My overall impression of the game here:
Well usually I'm REALLY into these crime solving games but I'm sorry to report this one just fell REALLY flat. Oh and I've never watched the TV show cause I'm usually at work when it comes on so no comment there.
I'm going to start off with these graphics here as I didn't much care for the "cardboard cut out" type characters.
The HO scenes: I found to be pretty clear as I didn't have trouble locating too much. The finding by different colors however is nothing I haven't seen before.
What I played of this there is a little bit of back/forth but not too much and inventory is pretty much used right away.
Where this game REALLY went down the hill for me was OMG! The click, click, click of dialogue so I really couldn't follow the story of the murder case. This is also why I marked the story as "OK." I'm sure it would of been great if it wasn't for all this click, click, click of dialogue. This absolutely ruined it for me. As one review mentions here. The year is 2012? Really all this click, click, click. I want to play a game here. If I want to read I'll do one of two things and that is either pick up a book and prefer Stephen King or I'll go to work as I'm a transcriber so plenty of reading there and some of that is pretty hard to decipher.
The mini games which you click on the ? mark to get directions and a big huge box comes up on the screen. What I played of this I did two mini games: Finding the finger print that is different and a Mahjong game and while I'm trying to complete the mini games the dreadful click, click, click of dialogue comes up. UGH!
As for game length: Although this is only two chapters I'd still think you'd get a minimum of 4 to 5 hours out of this at least if you are one who takes your time and reads everything cause lots of reading here unless you're one of the "expert" game players but the hour demo was way more than enough for me already. Actually I played for a 1/2 hour and quit. I thought maybe if I came back to it a few hours later I might have a whole different outlook on this game but sorry no such luck here.
I'm sorry Big Fish and the developer of this game but this is dreadful in my humble opinion. The best I can do for this game is my 1 star: Stop madness, cut off and pull the plug on this already! I'm sorry but lets forget the daily deal or catch of the week as I wouldn't finish this game for free. If by chance there is going to be another one of these Criminal Minds games I hope the developer here does away with the "cardboard cutout characters" and all the clicking of the dialogue here.
As always definitely give it a whirl and decide for yourself as some have really liked it but definitely not for me.
I don't recommend this game.
How did the attacker escape a room locked from the inside?
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 79 found this review helpful
Very Enthralling Game - Loved It
PostedApril 16, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on the whole game playing in hard mode.
* A mystery HOPA game (hidden object puzzle adventure)
* 5 chapters
* 2 modes of play: Easy/Hard
* Hard mode has sparkles just for the HO scenes.
* Hint/Skip take at least a couple of minutes. Very slow.
* Hint is only available for the HO scenes.
* Journal which you take pictures. Also has tabs for evidence, characters, and story.
* Map shows your present location, areas of interest: evidence, needs investigating, HO scenes, and completed areas. You can't use it to travel back/forth locations however.
* Also shows list of task(s) that need to be completed.
* Graphics: Characters look very realistic and also has several cut scenes throughout the game.
* Voice overs for all the characters but your own.
* 5 chapters
* 2 modes of play: Easy/Hard
* Hard mode has sparkles just for the HO scenes.
* Hint/Skip take at least a couple of minutes. Very slow.
* Hint is only available for the HO scenes.
* Journal which you take pictures. Also has tabs for evidence, characters, and story.
* Map shows your present location, areas of interest: evidence, needs investigating, HO scenes, and completed areas. You can't use it to travel back/forth locations however.
* Also shows list of task(s) that need to be completed.
* Graphics: Characters look very realistic and also has several cut scenes throughout the game.
* Voice overs for all the characters but your own.
My overall impression of the game:
Well I really loved this game. Very enthralling story/mystery. I was hooked to this right from the get go and held my interest to the very end. I did not stop playing this until I got to the end. This game is kinda on the lines of an Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes type of story in my opinion.
The graphics right along with the cut scenes I found to be very well done. Also the voice overs.
I found this game to have more "adventure" to it than HO scenes cause there is a lot of traveling back/forth. Adventure side the usual standard fare of inventory items.
While this game didn't have a hint button in regards to where to go/do next I did find the map pretty helpful but i will admit I did get hung up at the end of chapter 3 so used the walk through for just that one part only. Other than that I had no problems. I did have to think a bit on where to go/do next but far from frustrating.
HO scenes I found to be very well done. Only had to use a couple of hints. Majority pretty ease to locate.
Puzzles I found pretty easy: Putting together pieces of letters, gears, hit in right sequence, match/move circle rings. Also a slider puzzle. I only skipped one puzzle.
As for game length: I was quite surprised I got through this in 3 1/2 hours. That's rare for me since I'm a slow game player. I take my time. I found this to be long enough for me however as the game seemed longer than that so no complaint about the game length.
Overall, I give this 5 stars. While I did get hung up on one part of the game I overall found this to be a pretty relaxing and a fun game.
Thanks Big Fish and developer for an excellent game here.
I recommend this game!
Special Enquiry Detail: Engaged to Kill
Help detectives Turino and Lamote investigate the case of the brutal bride murderer.
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
This Could Of Been A Great "Whodunit"
PostedApril 9, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the whole game.
The story: Special Enquiry Detail detectives Turino and Lamonte are back for another case. A serial murderer known as the Engagement Killer is loose in the city and has been killing young brides.
* No choice of play mode
* 6 chapters
* Task(s) list
* Map which is occasionally used to move you to a new location as there's not really a whole lot of "wandering around" in this game. You do get inventory items however pretty much used right away.
* Graphics are kind of a "cartoon comic book" style but yet have a "realistic' look to them.
* Voice Overs for parts of the game while some is text dialogue to read/click through.
* Hint/Skip refill pretty quick. Hint is also useful outside of HO scenes.
* Mini games/puzzles.
* 6 chapters
* Task(s) list
* Map which is occasionally used to move you to a new location as there's not really a whole lot of "wandering around" in this game. You do get inventory items however pretty much used right away.
* Graphics are kind of a "cartoon comic book" style but yet have a "realistic' look to them.
* Voice Overs for parts of the game while some is text dialogue to read/click through.
* Hint/Skip refill pretty quick. Hint is also useful outside of HO scenes.
* Mini games/puzzles.
My overall impression of the game:
Well just like the Special Enquiry Detail made before this one (The Hand That Feeds) i really enjoyed the story. Liked the cartoon style characters and voice over.
This game however went down the hill for me were the HO scenes as they kinda remind me of Sanford & Son junkyard and as one review mentioned the HO scene with the dresser drawers as I found some items to be so small and this HO scene was downright annoying. Some other HO scenes also very small items and in dark areas. The HO scenes i found to be more cluttered and small items than the first game in this series.
I also didn't care for the majority of the puzzles especially the tedious manhole cover having to use the Silicon spray and trying to get a poster off a wall as you have to do things just so. Just to name a couple of things. Patience is a must for some of these puzzles which sorry patience isn't mine for such tedious things. I play games for fun & escape not to be frustrated.
As for game length: About 4 hours for me but honestly would of been longer if I didn't skip the majority of the puzzles.
Overall the best I can do for this game is 3 stars and what a shame as it could of been great as I found the story to be just excellent. For me the story saved this game otherwise i probably would of rated this 2 or even 1 star. This is also why I finished the game cause I wanted to see how it ended. i sure hope if another one of these are made the developer works on these HO scenes and get rid of these tedious puzzles with some different ones. Also the game would of been great to use the voice overs throughout instead of part of it and then have to click, click, click through dialogue.
I still recommend this game because the story is excellent in my opinion and I know some people really love puzzles and have way more patience than I do.
Thanks though Big Fish and developer however needs some work if there are going to be future ones of the Special Enquiry Detail which I sure hope so but needs work.
I recommend this game!
Help the Special Enquiry Detail crack the case, and catch a criminal, in this fun and exciting Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
A Very Good "Whodunit" To Be Solved
PostedApril 8, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the whole game playing in story mode.
The story: The newly formed Special Enquiry Detail, Brody LaMonte and Cathy Turino, are investigating the murder of Carmody, the daughter of wealthy philanthropists.
* 2 modes of play: Story & Find All Objects
* 12 Chapters
* Voice Overs plus text on screen to read/click through.
* Graphics realistic looking.
* List of Task(s) that need to be completed.
* Map
* Hint/Skip refill pretty quick
* Mini games/puzzles
* 12 Chapters
* Voice Overs plus text on screen to read/click through.
* Graphics realistic looking.
* List of Task(s) that need to be completed.
* Map
* Hint/Skip refill pretty quick
* Mini games/puzzles
My overall impression of the game:
I really liked this game. Definitely hope to see more like this one. If you have played and like the Women's Murder Club series then you should enjoy this as it's pretty similar to this. I sure felt like a real detective and part of the game here interrogating the suspects which this had some twist & turns. Just when I thought I knew who murdered this young girl... NOPE! Also gathering/collecting evidence.
The graphics had a "realistic" look to them and I found to be very well done along with the voice overs however I wish the voice overs would of been throughout the whole game instead of parts of the game and then the rest you have to click through dialogue/text but not a whole lot of reading.
There's also quite a few HO scenes to this and I must admit I had trouble finding some of them because they are so small and/or really blended into the scene.
You also acquire some inventory items however pretty much used right away as there is no "wandering around" in this game. There is a map however only list 1 or sometimes 2 locations to go to.
There's also mini games/puzzles which I found to be pretty easy and fun. Nothing frustrating here.
As for game length: Obviously varies from player to player. Although this has 12 chapters however they are pretty short as I completed the game in about 5 hours but found it long enough and quite enjoyable.
Overall I give this 4 stars. I knocked this down a star for the very small objects to find as some are very small. Also if the voice overs would of been used throughout the whole game this would of been a 5 star game for me.
Thanks though Big Fish and developer for a pretty good game here. I sure hope to see more of the "whodunit" type games like this one brought to the site here.
I recommend this game!
Guide Kate Reed as she searches for the artifacts that can break the power of a cursed gem in House of 1,000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
An Excellent Sequel Absolutely Loved It
PostedApril 7, 2012
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the whole game playing in expert mode.
* There are 8 chapters + bonus chapter
* 2 play modes: Casual & Expert
* Expert mode no sparkles not even for HO scenes.
* Voice Overs
* Integrated strategy guide
* Journal
* Map
* H0 scenes all interactive.
* Hint button, refills quickly in expert mode, useful outside H0
* Skip button also refills quickly in expert mode.
* Mini games/puzzles
* There's also 46 "beyond morphing objects"
* 2 play modes: Casual & Expert
* Expert mode no sparkles not even for HO scenes.
* Voice Overs
* Integrated strategy guide
* Journal
* Map
* H0 scenes all interactive.
* Hint button, refills quickly in expert mode, useful outside H0
* Skip button also refills quickly in expert mode.
* Mini games/puzzles
* There's also 46 "beyond morphing objects"
My overall impression of the game:
Well for playing in expert mode I found the game pretty easy but I definitely found this to be an excellent sequel. I was hooked to this right from the get go. It is a continuation but this time we know along with Kate why we are there. There is an underlying backstory, premise if you will, of a family with a gift to communicate with ghosts with dilema, and free them. This story just flowed very well and made sense to me.
The graphics, cut scenes, characters and voice overs I can sure tell there was some time spent on this by the developer. Very well done. Just excellent. Perfect. The music is also fitting and not intrusive.
I found this to have a nice balance of "adventure" the traveling back/'forth and HO scenes. I did appreciate that the HO scenes didn't sparkle in the expert mode. I also didn't have trouble locating much at all as I only used 2 hints. I also never got "lost" in the game but just used the hint once just to see how "helpful" it was and it is useful outside of the HO scenes as I mentioned.
The strategy guide: i didn't need it but did check it out and it stayed where I left so it does follow along as you play the game.
The journal mostly keeps track of story however gives some clues on how to solve some of the puzzles.
The map is also very helpful as it will show where you are currently and where there are things to do. Areas with things to do have green exclamation point(s). You can also use it to travel back/forth locations which I did use the map.
The mini games/puzzles: I found most to be easy however skipped the egg one repeat the sequence as that was too fast for me. My attention span for repeat the sequence is about the size of a flea. LOL!
Oh and those 46 beyond morphing objects well I'm never too good at finding those but to my surprise I located 40 out of 46 which is pretty good for me. Once you start the next chapter can't go back and try to find ones you missed.
As for game length: Obviously varies from player to player but for me was about 4 hours and definitely long enough for me. Honestly probably would of took me longer without the map. The bonus chapter I found very enjoyable and took me about 1 1/2 hours. You do visit some new locations however a few are same as the main game. Well worth the extra money for me.
I thank you Big Fish and developer for a wonderful game here. An excellent sequel. Very well done here.
I recommend this game!