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:
Charon's train has left the station, and you’ll never believe who’s on board!
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 25 found this review helpful
The Haunted Train Has Some Issues - Review Of Completed Game
PostedJanuary 12, 2014
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: You take on the role of Daniel. It is your wedding day and your bride Olivia has been killed and you've been knocked unconscious. When you come to you have a train ticket in your hand and you just manage to catch the train before it leaves. Once you are on board "the ghost" of your bride Olivia explains what you must do Charon, the train master who takes souls over the Styx would be more than glad to let your bride go but first he sends you on a quest to find four villains who have died but refuse board the train to the afterlife. If you manage to capture all four, your bride will be given back to you. The setting of this game appears to be early 1900's and starts off in Paris but you'll visit several different European cities throughout the game.
12 Chapters plus bonus chapter
3 PLAY MODES: All have sparkles and black bar tips. Only the hardest mode has the hint/skip disabled. I played the middle of the road mode. Hint is directional outside of HOS. Hint/skip didn't seem to take too long.
JOURNAL: Is the "floppy" cards down at the bottom which holds notes and some used for puzzles.
MAP: This is transporter and shows where there are things to do.
MONOCLE Shortly into the game you get one of these that helps you "see" ghostly people and areas.
GAME PLAY: Lite adventure. Emphasis on HOS and puzzles.
HOS: All found by interactive word list and the same scenes are visited twice. Some scenes for me I thought were well done and graphics clear along with some cleverly hidden, some not so clear and grainy, and some downright "Sanford & Son junkyard. I did have to use a few hints here.
PUZZLES: Not a fan. Less the better. Some of them while I found them to be easy they were different from what I've seen in other games and some the usual run of the mill that varied in challenge for me. I did skip a few of these.
ENDING: Main game came to conclusion for me. The bonus chapter does start off where the main game ended as far as location and Charon sends you on one "last" quest and all areas but a couple are from the main game. The ending of this which also came to a satisfactory conclusion for me however seems to hint a sequel. Whether or not there will be one well time will tell but that was my impression.
MY PLAY TIME: Main game 5 hours. Bonus Chapter 1 hour.
CE EXTRAS: Bonus Chapter, Strategy Guide, 8 wallpapers, 6 music and 9 concept art
I honestly wanted to rate this higher but this had some issues for me. I'm gonna start off with the positive for me though The graphics/art work is right up my alley. I had no problem with the graphics except for a few of the HOS I thought could of been more sharp and clear. Also era appropriate. The story held my interest and I liked the characters. Voice overs a well done along with sound effects. I also enjoyed using the monocle throughout the game. This was also long enough for me as I don't need for games to go on for many hours. As for collectibles, achievements, morphs, meh, I no longer need this extra "fluff" in my game.
Now for the issues: First off after the demo I got 3 access violation errors. I didn't have to start the game over but it was an annoying disruption of my play time so I deducted one star just for that. My other star deduction is I don't understand why this developer has 3 play modes if they are going to sparkle/black bar tip all of them and just disable hint/skip on hardest mode. Just do a custom mode and let us choose what we want. Since I absolutely LOATHE this. ENOUGH with the cutesy animals especially when they don't fit with a game that is suppose to be creepy. I shouldn't have to give a dog a bone and cat some milk. Are you kidding me??? Thank goodness this was VERY BRIEF. Yet another game if I would of had to name them dress them up, well this would of been getting the stop madness, cut off and pull the plug rating. My last issue since this is a CE I thought the bonus chapter should of been all new locations and NOT just about all from main game.
As for my "recommending" this game. If you are one that the extra fluff is important then well no I don't. While this stuff is no longer important to me well I didn't and wouldn't pay $13.99 I would definitely get this on sale like I did in my opinion.
As always, give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Welcome to the Any Wish Hotel, where guests don't check out – they simply vanish! You've been called in to investigate a perplexing disappearance. Can you solve the case before you become a permanent guest?
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 31 found this review helpful
Cruel Game Play At Times But Pretty Good - Review Of Completed Game
PostedJanuary 9, 2014
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: You are a detective called to France by a hotel manager of The Any Wish Hotel who is missing a guest. As you search the hotel you discover that guests are being abducted by a sinister man known as "The Collector" for their inventions. You do meet up with 4 of the guests: An inventor, an artist, an illusionist, and a musician. They are all acting peculiar, and it has something to do with a butterfly and "The Collector". The setting of this game appears to be the 1950's due to the 1957 Chevy (love the car ) in the opening scene of the game but not everything in the game has to do with this era.
GRAPHICS: Will definitely be "too dated" for some but I had no problem with them being blurry except for the video scenes those were blurry and grainy for me. Other than that they were bright and colorful and seemed fitting to the game. Also on the "cartoonish" side drawn especially the characters. There is no voice overs so will be at first a lot of reading but then comes/goes and there is also some music at times which seemed appropriate. I actually liked the music and don't mind "dated" graphics. Actually I quite like them.
There are 3 play modes to choose from. I had no sparkles however some black bar tips. Hint/Skip slow on charge up. Hint is helpful outside of HOS.
JOURNAL: Holds notes and you can also play back some of the cut scenes if you wish. Also some notes will be used for some of the puzzles.
MAP: This is transporter. Shows where you are, areas that have been completed, and areas where there are things to do however at times I found I didn't have the inventory yet to do some things.
HOS: All found by interactive word list. No problem for me since I like HOS but for people that don't... These start out few and far between. I believe I did one maybe two scenes during the demo but after the demo time these do appear more frequent and sometimes back to back. You will also visit them same areas twice.
PUZZLES; Not a fan. Less the better for me. These started out pretty easy for me but some I found to require a little thought and a few downright annoying and frustrating. The instructions for the puzzles leave much to be desired and one paper to use to solve one of the puzzles was so hard to make out and this one couldn't be skipped but I was able to solve it. I did skip a few of the puzzles.
MY PLAY TIME: This was about 5 hours for me.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Well the title of this game alone "The Any Wish Hotel" really intrigued me. I just HAD to see where this game ended up taking me. The story is definitely "out there" but I really enjoyed it and held my interest till the end.
For the most part I really enjoyed the game play. At first seemed to be more on the light adventure side but more into the game opened up to a lot of HOS and some puzzles but there is still some back/forth to this game. I found this to have a lot to do and places to go.
The only criticisms I have with this game is I thought some well done voice overs would of really added even more to this game, the puzzle instructions on a couple of these and most important since I loathe them I came across two animal "helpers" more into the game (a cat and a squirrel) but didn't have to dress them up or get toys for them. Their appearance was very brief otherwise this game would of been getting my 1 star stop madness, cut off, and pull the plug rating. ENOUGH with the animals in the games. Though I will say the cat didn't look all that "cute." The cat actually startled me when I first saw it. Looked pretty scary.
Thanks and developer for an overall pretty good game here.
As always, give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
The fabled land of Agartha awaits your discovery in Esoterica: Hollow Earth! Experience a sci-fi adventure that will take you to the depths of the Earth.
Overall rating
4
/
5
34 of 39 found this review helpful
Old Fashioned 1920's Sci-Fi Right Up My Alley Review of Completed Game
PostedJanuary 7, 2014
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORYLINE: This is a 1920's Sci-Fi. You take on the role of the granddaughter of a scientist/archaeologist looking for a lost civilization underground in the fabled land of Argartha. He has been kidnapped and is being pursued by some sinister men so of course you have to find and rescue him.
GRAPHICS: Definitely old-fashioned and dated. Remember the era is the 1920's here so for the time period very appropriate and fitting to the game here. Some scenes is liking watching an old movie This also wasn't true "widescreen" for me. When I first went into the game I had a couple inches of "black bar" but then I typed in my name to actually start playing the game then it fills my screen but graphics definitely stretched just a bit.
2 PLAY MODES: I played the hardest of the two. I had sparkles at times for the HOS on some scenes not all of them and there are some black bar tips at least for me there were stating what needed to be done at times. Hint is directional outside of HOS and not too long on charge up.
JOURNAL: You will get this shortly into the game and you will need to refer to it to get through some parts of the game and there is no map.
GAME PLAY: This is definitely a story/character driven game. There is lots of dialogue and some done with voice overs that can be skipped but then you'd miss a lot of this game. Having said this... There are also a lot of HOS and puzzles as well once really into the game. While the adventure is on the light side for the most part and will even tell you when areas have been completed but some things can easily be missed so have to be sure to go over the areas pretty thorough and at times I had to go back a few scenes for some things.
HOS: There are 2 types: Slight interactive word list and silhouette (not interactive). The word list ones at first I thought the writing was a bit on the small side but more into the game my eyes adjusted to it. Some objects cleverly hidden or some in very dark areas and some scenes a bit on the Sanford & Son junkyard pile side. Overall though not much difficulty finding anything.
PUZZLES I am not a fan. Less puzzles the better. This game had too many for me. Having said this... Some the usual run of the mill but some I found to be quite different. Most pretty easy and some annoying. The skip is pretty quick.
COLLECTIBLES: There are 29 gold punch cards that you have to find throughout the game and when translated tell the story of the characters.
MY PLAY TIME: This was about 5 hours for me.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I must say when I first saw this game I almost didn't download it. It didn't look too appealing but so glad I decided to give this a whirl. This ended up being right up my alley for the most part. With one exception so far anything from the 1920's/30's era is usually a go for me. I'm fascinated with this time era. I thought the graphics were great right along with the voice overs except for the little girl she was downright whiny and annoying. I'm so glad she didn't last long in the game. I also enjoyed the game play for the most part except for too many puzzles for me. I prefer games more on the adventure/HOS side. Oh and them sparkles/black bar tips. Please stop this already.
Overall a very good game and well worth the use of my game credit.
Thanks Big Fish and developer.
As always, give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
2
/
5
12 of 23 found this review helpful
Feedback For Blam! Review Based On Demo
PostedJanuary 6, 2014
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is just feedback for BLAM! here to let them know what kept me from purchasing their game.
I'm so sorry to say but I just didn't enjoy this game. For me this was a disappointment compared to your last game I played and reviewed: Punished Talents Seven Muses.This game you got 5 stars from me.
This game here started out just the way I like it the 1930's era as this is right up my alley. I really like these kind of graphics. You really had me with the storyline at first but then when it went to this "fantasy" world especially with the purple little helper that I had to name well you lost me there. Please no more cutesy little helpers in the game.Enough of this already! I also don't care for these kind of graphics.
I will say I did like that I could customize the game settings to my liking as there were no sparkles/black bar tips telling me what I needed to do in the game.
The HOS which I usually enjoy were beyond Sanford & Son junkyard piles. I didn't care for these too much.
The puzzles I am not a fan. Less puzzles the better for me. I prefer more on the adventure/HOS side but these were doable the ones I came across during the demo.
The achievements/collectibles in this game also didn't appeal to me. Truth be told I'm finding myself moving away from this "fluff" that once appealed to me.
Sorry but the best I can do for this game is 2 stars. I just couldn't get into it. I do however look forward to your next game offering unless of course you are taking your games to the "fantasy" type and graphics along with cute little animal helpers. If so well I'll have to add you to the no demo/no buy list.
I don't recommend this game.
When a new romance blossoms, the door to mystery opens in Love Alchemy!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
A Travel Through Portraits - Review of Completed Game
PostedJanuary 1, 2014
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: You take on the role of Ellie where an internet romance with Charles, an artist, turns into an actual meeting with a candle lit dinner and then he takes you to his castle in France where he leaves you for some mysterious business in the valley. While he is awhile you are going through the castle and you discover that Charles isn't as charming as he appeared. You end up having to save 7 women lovers of the artist here that are trapped in portraits.
WIDESCREEN: There is a "keep proportions" option within the options. I had to deselect that for the game to go into widescreen otherwise I would of had black bars.
2 PLAY MODES: I played the hardest of the two. Sparkles came up for me for the HOS and there were also black bar tips telling me at times what needed to be done. The hint I didn't use it so no comment there.
GRAPHICS: May be "too dated" for some but I really like these kind of graphics. Some of the scenes also "cartoon" style type drawn. These were nice and clear for me. No problem.
VOICE OVERS: NO
JOURNAL: YES. Holds story/notes.
MAP: YES but I didn't use it. Checked it out though. It's transporter but doesn't indicate if there is anything to do or not at least in the hardest of the 2 modes.
HOS: At first didn't seemed to be few and far between but did pick up as they appeared more frequent. All found by word list and are not interactive. These were nice, crisp, and clear for me. I had no problem here.
PUZZLES: I am not a fan. The less amount of puzzles the better for me. I enjoy games more on the adventure/HOS side. Having said this these for me were all on the easy side so I didn't need to skip them though I will say I didn't see a skip button. Just a help and quit buttons at the top and a hint button at the bottom. Not too many in this game.
MY PLAY TIME: This was 3 hours for me. I was just fine with the game length. Well worth the use of my punch card coupon code.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I'm gonna start by saying this does start off as a "Christmas" type setting game but then went to the demonic/occult side so some may really be offended by this game. It didn't bother me at all though.
I was definitely intrigued by the story and was drawn in immediately. I just had to see where this ended up going and I must say it was kinda "out there" and "off the wall" but I really enjoyed the story. It held my interest from beginning to end.
I also enjoyed the game play which seemed to be more on the lite adventure side as there is some back/forth to this game that is if you don't use the map.
I do have some criticisms about this game. The first being: No true widescreen as I had to deselect the "keep proportions" options so the graphics did appear stretched for me. Second: I thought the dialogue at the beginning of the game went by just a bit too fast unless of course you are a speed reader which I'm not but then thank goodness slowed down and I also prefer the characters in the game to talk. My last criticism with this game the sparkles and black bar tips. Just provide me with a hint and skip button and I'll decide when I need help or skip any of the puzzles.
Overall 4 stars from me. I rated this on the higher side due to the story as it was so "out there." I was taken in by it and intrigued.
Thanks Big Fish and developer.
As always give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
An invitation from your long lost mother leads you to a mysterious facility deep below the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 47 found this review helpful
Intriguing/Engrossing Definitely "Out There" Review Of Completed Game
PostedDecember 28, 2013
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: This starts off London 1957. You receive an invite to an underwater dream theater with the understanding that you will finally meet your biological mother who left you at an orphanage 25 years earlier. The rest of the story the majority of it anyway is 1920's or 30's so of course the graphics will be "dated" and not 2013.
Shortly into the game you do get a robot helper and you will have to find/rescue some kittens but you don't have to buy things, dress them up or feed them. The robot helper stays with you but the kittens don't cause if I would of had to do any of this stuff well I would of pulled the plug on this game.
6 CHAPTERS plus bonus chapter
WIDESCREEN: I had no problems here. I have a Asus 20 inch monitor and my "recommended" settings are 1600 x 900. I didn't have to "adjust" anything. This filled my screen just fine. NO black bars. The graphics didn't appear to be "stretched" for me either.
3 PLAY MODES plus a Custom Mode: Custom Mode didn't work for me no matter how I set it. It kept taking me back to the choices I could make. I ended up playing the hardest mode. I didn't come across any sparkles but I definitely had "black bar tips."
STRATEGY GUIDE: This is down at the bottom. Looks like a book next to the menu button. To show the contents click up at the top and you can chapter select. Stays where you last left it at least it did for me. I didn't use it just checked it out. This also list the collectibles.
MAP: I didn't use for the game but did check it out. This is transporter. Shows where you are and things to do.
HOS: There are 3 different kinds. Interactive word list, progressive silhouette, and misplaced items. I had no problems here. These were quite clear for me. I thought they were well done.
PUZZLES: I am not a fan. Nothing I would consider new. These were all on the easy side for me. I had no problems here.
ENDING: Main game does come to conclusion. The bonus chapter I don't find to be necessary however this does continue the story. All new locations. The HOS are still the 3 different types. There's puzzles of course. This also comes to conclusion however does hint at a sequel.
MY PLAY TIME: Main game was 4 hours. Bonus chapter: 1 hour. No hints, skips, map or strategy guide.
CE EXTRAS: Bonus chapter. Strategy Guide, Characters: There are 14. This gives you info on them. 6 Concept Art. 82 Sketches. 8 Wallpapers. 28 movies. Collectibles: A total of 24. 16 roses main game. 8 sailboats bonus chapter.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I'm so glad I live by the rule: Never read "reviews" before playing a game. I'm going against the majority here. The story is definitely "out there" in my opinion but it was definitely intriguing/engrossing. I was totally absorbed and drawn into this game immediately and before I knew it the demo time was up and I hit the buy button.
As for the graphics being "dated" well truth be told I have a fascination with these kind of graphics. These were great for me. I really enjoyed watching the film clips. I find myself moving away from all the high tech graphics and while I did enjoy finding the film reels and collectibles well I'm even finding myself moving away from this as well. I no longer need this stuff either. Just give me an overall good/great story along with game play and I'm sold. I was also just fine with the game length. I don't need for games to go on for many hours.
The game play for me seemed to be more HOS which I like and don't mind along with lite adventure and some puzzles thrown in.
While I did enjoy this game well I do have some criticisms: As I mentioned the custom mode didn't work for me. I prefer no sparkles (which there weren't any in this game) and no black bar tips as they were there and while I didn't use the hint/skip for this game I still prefer them to be there with quick charge up just in case needed. Games don't have to be hit your head against the wall challenging for me but I do like to figure out on my own and thought this could of been just a bit more challenging. The voice overs I thought were good but the mouth movement was definitely off. Also while I didn't find the robot "helper" intrusive or rescuing the kittens but enough of this stuff already. Please leave out the helpers and rescuing of pets in your next game offering.
Thanks Big Fish and Developer for an overall very good game. I look forward to this developer's next game offering.
As always, give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Solve the mystery of the island of abandoned ships in a new classic Hidden Object Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 18 found this review helpful
Very Thrilling/Engrossing- Review Of Completed Game
PostedDecember 19, 2013
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: You're on a yacht all alone in the Sargasso and you find yourself trapped in a fierce storm. You lose consciousness. When you come to you are greeted by a sinister ghost man who needs souls to feed the Dark Stone. He tells you that you have 24 hours till you die.
2 PLAY MODES: I played the hardest of the 2. Sparkles for HOS and there are some black bar tips. Some things you have to figure out on your own. Hint/Skip slow on charge up. Hint is directional outside of HOS.
JOURNAL: While there is some voice overs some of the story/notes is held here along with some to solve a few of the puzzles.
MAP: This is transporter and shows where you are but doesn't show if there is anything to do in the locations.
HOS: There are quite a few scenes and each visited twice. All found by interactive word list. You will also have to "move" some things to find some of the items. For the most part these were well done for me. A couple of scenes a few objects very small and on the Sanford & Son junkyard pile side.
PUZZLES: Nothing new here from the many games offered here at Big Fish. I am not a fan. I prefer adventure/HOS (more adventure though). Most of these I found boring and annoying especially the click and drag puzzles. I'm glad there weren't a lot. I skipped most of them.
MY PLAY TIME: This was about 5 hours for me but I skipped most of the puzzles though as I said. I was still just fine with the game length. May be more/less for you of course.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
What a thrilling, engrossing story. I was hooked from the get go and held my interest to the end. The graphics may be "dated" for some but for me they were quite good. The voice overs a well done here. The music also fitting to the game. I enjoyed the creepy/eerie feeling. Very atmospheric game. I also enjoyed the game play for the most part as it was more on the adventure/HOS side.
I do have a few criticisms about this game: The first being I was over 2 hours into this game and had a glitch and had to start over under a new profile. I also wish all developers would learn how to do play modes. Just give us a custom mode. I prefer no sparkles/black bar tips along with a quick hint/skip button and I'll decide when/if I need help in the game. I also thought this game could of had just a bit more character interaction with the sinister man. The ending was also a bit abrupt for me.
Overall a very good game and happy to add to my collection!
I recommend this game!
Stop a madman from taking over a city using a mind control device!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
Sherlock Holmes-Style Right Up My Alley Review Of Completed Game
PostedDecember 17, 2013
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
STORY: You take on the role of a detective Alex Hunter and you are helping a professor's daughter locate her missing father.
2 PLAY MODES; Casual and Expert. I played Expert mode. The hint and skip are slow on charge up. Hint is directional outside of HOS. There are sparkles for the HOS along with black bar tips. In Casual mode you have to find at least 25 secret symbols to unlock bonus chapter. Expert mode you have to find at least 35. There's also achievements.
JOURNAL: Holds notes along with some to solve some of the puzzles/mini games.
COMPASS: This is next to the journal and this is where the map is located. This is transporter. Shows where you are and an ! where there is something to do and will also show if there is a secret symbol in that scene.
FOOTPRINTS: Next to the hint you will see footprints and this is where the strategy guide is and is a "pictorial." You have to click on the pictures and then there is text. Also list the secret symbols. I didn't use it just checked it out.
HOS: All found by interactive word list and there are quite a few scenes. Most scenes nice, crisp, and clear but there were a couple of scenes a bit on the dark side and was challenging for me to find a few of the objects.
PUZZLES/MINI GAMES Quite a few of these as well. The usual run of the mill. Nothing I would consider "new." I did most of them but skipped a few cause they are the kind I don't like.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I didn't think too much of this game until I read the game description and saw it was a Sherlock Holmes-style story. This is right up my alley. I love and am fascinated with this time era. I absolutely loved the story. Hooked right from the get go and held my interest to the very end.
The graphics, cut scenes, voice overs, characters - excellent. A very well done here as everything era appropriate and fitting. I also enjoyed the game play for the most part as it flowed pretty good except for the sparkles/black bar tips on what's suppose to be the hardest mode. Thanks for providing a hint/skip button as I like those available in case needed. Also too many puzzles for me.
Since this had a bonus chapter. Main game came to conclusion and bonus chapter was just that for me. A bonus chapter. I enjoyed this as well.
Oh and great game length as the whole game was about 8 hours for me. Time well spent and use of my game credit.
I recommend this game!
This was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But instead of walking down the aisle, you're in another dimension, battling a mad inventor to save your family!
Overall rating
5
/
5
68 of 73 found this review helpful
Review Of Completed CE Game
PostedDecember 11, 2013
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Story: This is the second game in this series. The first being Whispered Secrets: The Story of Tideville and while it's not absolutely necessary to play the first I recommend it. Tim was a young boy in the first game. In this game he is all grown up and a scientist/inventor.and is about to marry his fiance Erin but his mother has been poisoned and he has been kidnapped by the mad scientist who is back yet again. So you are taking on the role of Erin to try and save them both.
7 CHAPTERS
3 PLAY MODES: I played the hardest mode. No sparkles. Black bar tips. Hint is directional. Hint/Skip very slow on charge up.
There is a journal that holds notes along with some to solve puzzles. Transporter map. You also get a "helper" dragonfly that removes toxins from the locations.
HOS: Found by word list and are not interactive but you will have to "move" some things to get to some of them. The locations are also visited more than once. If you don't feel like finding objects you can play match 3. These were nicely done for me. Nice, crisp and clear.
PUZZLES: Some the usual run and a few I haven't seen before. These varied in challenge for me. Most very easy, some required a little thought and some downright frustrating and annoying. The skip couldn't charge up fast enough.
The main game also ended satisfactory for me. I didn't think the bonus chapter was needed. This was a new story for me and I enjoyed it.
MY PLAY TIME: 7 hrs. main game.
CE EXTRAS:
Bonus Chapter, Strategy Guide, achievements, 164 eye ball observer collectibles, movies, wallpapers, screen savers, concept art.
Bonus Chapter, Strategy Guide, achievements, 164 eye ball observer collectibles, movies, wallpapers, screen savers, concept art.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I've played the CE version. I did check the walkthrough for the SE here and I didn't see the achievements or the 164 eye ball observers listed.
Just like the first game in this series I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I loved the story. Nice to see Tim and his childhood friend Rudy all grown up. I thought this was very really well told. It held my interest from beginning to end.
The graphics for me were excellent. I really liked them a lot. The voice overs also very well done.
While I'm not into "helpers" in a game the dragonfly I didn't find intrusive at all cause I didn't have to feed it, buy clothes and dress it up or I would of stopped the madness and pulled the plug on this REAL QUICK!!!
Outside of a few puzzles I didn't find this game to be very challenging as most things used either pretty much right away or not much traveling to use and that is fine. The only two criticisms I have about this game is the black bar tips on the hardest mode and the skip is way too slow. I do like to figure out on my own and when I want to skip something well that's what I want to do is skip it. Thank you for no sparkles though. Oh and definitely long enough as I take my time with games and not to see how fast I can click through it.
Thanks Big Fish and Developer
As always give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 18 found this review helpful
A Good Game But Has Some Issues - Review Of Completed Game
PostedDecember 10, 2013
sportygal2009
fromSouth Bend, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Story: You've just been in a car wreck and once you regain consciousness your daughter is no longer in the car with you and is missing. Once you get out of the car you come upon a house that a military family use to live and while searching for your daughter you learn about the project the father was working on called The Fog and all the strange happenings and here your journey begins.
2 play modes: Novice and Expert. I played Expert mode. There's also an option within the settings to enable hints and for me whether it was checked or not checked still had sparkles for the HOS and black bar tips on most things. Some things have to figure out on your own. Hint is directional outside of HOS.
Shortly into the game you get a "case box" that gets put next to your journal. Some items you find throughout the game will go here and it will give you items to use elsewhere in the game.
Journal: This holds story as there is no voice over at least for me there wasn't, some notes to solve puzzles and also tells you about the characters.
MAP: This is not transporter. It does show where you are and where there are things to do but the map is not labeled with the names of the locations.
HOS: All found by word list and interactive. These were nice, crisp and clear for me however there was one scene didn't recognize my clicking on an item so I use the hint and still wouldn't let me get the item and it wasn't one of the interactive ones just one you'd find like usual.
PUZZLES: Most the usual run of the mill and a few I haven't seen before. The skip didn't seem to take too long. Most I found pretty easy but did skip a couple of them.
MY PLAY TIME: I kept track the best I could here as I had some issues but I'd say about 4 to 5 hours actual game play.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Wow! I didn't think I was ever going to finish this game as I had to restart it 3 times. The first time being after I bought the game it didn't save my progress . The 2nd being in a HOS it wasn't recognizing my clicking on an item used the hint and it directed me to where I was clicking but wouldn't give me the item. The 3rd being half way through this game I use the inventory in a scene and it wouldn't let me get my item to use in another scene elsewhere in the game.
Having said all that... Once I finally got to play the game with no interruptions the graphics a very well done. Definitely eerie/creepy just what it's suppose to be. The game play once I got past the rough patches I really liked the balance of HOS, puzzles and adventure. The story was definitely intriguing for me as it held my interest until the end however this ended a bit abrupt for me. It did come to conclusion just a bit abrupt. The game was also just a bit too quiet for me as some well done voice overs would of been nice and really add to the game. Some scenes didn't auto close when I was done and as I mentioned one scene closed without giving me my item.
Overall 3 stars from me. I knocked this down a couple of stars for the issues I had with it. Since I was able to complete it as my patience meter was quiet high today still worthy of a punch card coupon code is how I purchased the game.
As always, give it a whirl and decide for yourself.
I recommend this game!