Emerald_Storm's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:569
- Reviews Submitted:29
- First Review:January 15, 2012
- Most Recent Review:June 15, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Meet the most fun & challenging clutter yet!
Overall rating
1
/
5
32 of 44 found this review helpful
Looking To Match Clutter Objects? Move Along - It's Not This Game.
PostedJune 15, 2023
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I think I own every Clutter game Joe has made. For the most part I love the games. But, like everyone, there are parts I don't enjoy as much as others, but not enough to detract from playing the games.
This was a different experience as I found very little in this game enjoyable. It's matching flat discs, shapes with neon borders, things floating in circles, more flat pictures and every now and then a black and white clutter object level to match.
Almost no OBJECTS to match - just mostly flat pictures of things, so if you're a clutter OBJECT junkie like me, this is not your game, my friend. Nope.
I didn't preview play the game because I have NEVER been disappointed with Joe's games. There are few game developers that I am so sure I'll love the game that I don't try it in a preview first. Puzzles By Joe used to be one. Not anymore.
I'm sorry, Joe, but this one wasn't for me. I guess I'm a boring person who loves the old Clutter style of games with objects. I don't need an ever-escalating level of devilish difficulty, either.
I don't think I've ever left such a low review on anything before - and I've been a Big Fish Member since 2009, so to say I've bought and played a few games here is an understatement, so it pains me to leave this review (honestly)
Sorry. I've already uninstalled and am going back to my old Clutter games. I don't think I've ever uninstalled a game in less than two hours in my life, and no one is more surprised - and saddened - than me.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Marcus Victorious save its citizens and bring back life to its previous glory.
Overall rating
2
/
5
33 of 33 found this review helpful
Meh.
PostedJanuary 10, 2016
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I own the first installments of Roads of Rome, and LOVED them - perfect level of challenge, great flow of gaming - everything I want - so of course I didn't hesitate to buy this game before trying it.
I wish I'd taken the trial version, first.
Annoyances:
- The Scary Animals take three times as long to click away now - they are a REAL nuisance.
- You CANNOT queue up your tasks. You will send someone out to do a job, then you have to wait (drum your fingers on the desk) until the next worker is free before you can assign a new task.
- The traders/market. PAIN IN THE you-know-what. I would groan every time I had to deal with a market. (Trade 9,850 food for 12 pieces of stone - or something like that)
- Strategy is different - the balance of being able to access certain necessary buildings and the order in which you can get to them seemed out of balance - stupidly hard and unhelpful at times.
- You will spend a LOT more time in this game having your workers mine their own stone and gold than in any of the previous games.
- The *tolerances* are much tighter in this edition, for example: If you upgrade your worker tent and use up all your stone, you may not be able to fix the stone bridge - which you need to get to the quarry. Replay the level and start over . . .
- The hidden stuff. Just - ugh. NO.
- The Scary Animals take three times as long to click away now - they are a REAL nuisance.
- You CANNOT queue up your tasks. You will send someone out to do a job, then you have to wait (drum your fingers on the desk) until the next worker is free before you can assign a new task.
- The traders/market. PAIN IN THE you-know-what. I would groan every time I had to deal with a market. (Trade 9,850 food for 12 pieces of stone - or something like that)
- Strategy is different - the balance of being able to access certain necessary buildings and the order in which you can get to them seemed out of balance - stupidly hard and unhelpful at times.
- You will spend a LOT more time in this game having your workers mine their own stone and gold than in any of the previous games.
- The *tolerances* are much tighter in this edition, for example: If you upgrade your worker tent and use up all your stone, you may not be able to fix the stone bridge - which you need to get to the quarry. Replay the level and start over . . .
- The hidden stuff. Just - ugh. NO.
Everything about this new edition seemed tedious - very disappointing as I really enjoyed the first three.
I don't recommend this game.
A city is left in ruin at the hands of a corrupt official, and you have been called in to rebuild it in this exciting new installment of the Be Rich franchise!
Overall rating
1
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Large Whack-A-Mole Game...
PostedMay 21, 2014
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I own Be Rich and Be Richer. - and I loved them! I read the reviews for Be Richest, and decided to do a trial before buying. I am thankful I did.
I couldn't imagine the third installment would be so drastically different and decidedly awful - but it is.
You will spend most of your time clicking the mouse button furiously to build things in time, exterminating rats, yetis and the like - or miss collecting the rent on that house.
No matter how hard you try you CANNOT please the residents. They want a store? Fine. Build one. Upgrade it to the max - it doesn't matter - the neighbors are still demanding a store. I built THREE stores. I RINGED the house asking for a store with (you guessed it!) four grocery stores. Literally touching the property of the house in question on all four sides with a store, and it made no difference.
There is no strategy with this game; no planning. Just whack down the problems as fast as you can, and pray you have time to build whatever your residents are demanding in the meantime. (Which will also require insane clicking if you'd like it built before the two or three days it takes to build itself)
Carpal Tunnel is guaranteed with this game if you persist in it.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you solve the mystery of the ghostly violinist?
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
FULL CE Review - Good Mixture of Adventure and HOS
PostedDecember 26, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is for the full Collector's Edition as well as the Bonus Content.
I'm a true Adventure gamer, and less of a fan of HOS or HOG's, but I found this game to have the right mix of each.
The HOS's were spaced evenly throughout the game, and were not just dimly lit junk piles, but very selective items placed in decent lighting. All HOS's required some interaction for at least a portion of the objects.
There were puzzles and games to acquire needed objects, but most were mid-level challenging, and ranged from rotating rings, organizing musical notes in the right order to repairing a fog machine and serving coffee. (Not all are as simple as they might sound)
As for the adventure itself, it was pretty straightforward, with a minimal amount of back and forth collecting objects. (At least, compared to hardcore adventure games) Items that you needed were typically presented in a fairly logical and sequential order - meaning you weren't holding something you found early in the game, but don't use it until the very last second of the game. (once again - that is typical with a true adventure game)
I have no complaints over the graphics or sound - they were good quality, though not the highest I've ever seen.
The most irritating thing for me was the ghost (Elise or Luthier or whomever) They would appear - you'd click... click... Oh! Yes! I see they want me to notice something... click... click... ghost goes away... click... click... FINALLY I can click on what I'm supposed to be looking at. Other than that - zero complaints.
I found that sometimes I was so busy looking for a complex way of doing something that I'd overlooked the simplest way to get what I wanted. (Like... that mirror... in the other part of the train... *smacks forehead*)
Hints - useful without too much hand holding.
BONUS REVIEW: unlike many CE's that leave the SE with a choppy and abrupt ending, and begin with a Bonus game that reeks of laziness, this Bonus game content had several new scenes to visit and explore, as well as several items to collect, puzzles to crack, and one final mystery to solve. Everything was fluid and cohesive, and was a nice side story to the main game. Bonus game took about 45 minutes, maybe an hour. (I was sleepy-tired by the end and used a lot of hints)
Overall, this was a VERY enjoyable game. For those that don't like the macabre or supernatural, this game will be fine for you - ghost and all, as there is no spooky element - it's more of a lost love/romance scenario.
This was my first Dana Knightstone game, but will not be my last.
I recommend this game!
Welcome to Top Secret Finders. Your first mission is to save a small town, uncover the truth about a government conspiracy and stop the villain in his tracks!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Fast moving!
PostedMay 22, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm more of an adventure gamer than a HOG player - but this game has a good balance of both.
Right from the start, you are finding objects and completing tasks to move the game forward. There are HOG scenes, but they aren't overwhelming like many so-called adventure games. (Which are really nothing more than numerous HOG's strung together with a thin story line)
Pros:
-Fast tool usage. (Using that pick axe is FAST)
-Fast hint recharge
-Hint is detailed, and gives an option to jump to where you need to be
-Game-play is logical - you have the chance to find what you need WHEN you need it.
-Fast moving game-play
-Interesting town venue to explore (once you leave the station)
-Fast tool usage. (Using that pick axe is FAST)
-Fast hint recharge
-Hint is detailed, and gives an option to jump to where you need to be
-Game-play is logical - you have the chance to find what you need WHEN you need it.
-Fast moving game-play
-Interesting town venue to explore (once you leave the station)
Cons:
-I would have liked a longer game!
-Music, sirens, etc can be annoying after a while.
-I would have liked a longer game!
-Music, sirens, etc can be annoying after a while.
This game made sense to me - so many don't!
I recommend this game!
Free the trapped souls and reunite a love long lost in Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 10 found this review helpful
All Around Dreary Game
PostedMay 22, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The graphics were good, but the overall *feel* of the game was dreary. I don't mean the story line itself - I mean the overall feel of the game was drab, dreary, and dull. Granted, the overall storyline isn't a sunny, happy one. But it doesn't have to be so... DRAB!
That isn't to say it isn't a good game - it's a decent game with a good mix of HOS's and true adventure searching and collecting.
Pros:
-Graphics
-Ease of navigation
-Logical direction for *most* moves
-Right level of mini puzzle challenge
-Good mix of HOS and Adventure
-Challenging/tricky HOS (but not the kind that makes you go blind)
-Fast hint recharge
-Graphics
-Ease of navigation
-Logical direction for *most* moves
-Right level of mini puzzle challenge
-Good mix of HOS and Adventure
-Challenging/tricky HOS (but not the kind that makes you go blind)
-Fast hint recharge
CONS:
-Even in *full screen* mode, it is NOT full screen
-HOS's tend to be clustered together. (There are two within the first five minutes of the game)
-*Some* video can not be skipped, yet some dialogue can.
-Even in *full screen* mode, it is NOT full screen
-HOS's tend to be clustered together. (There are two within the first five minutes of the game)
-*Some* video can not be skipped, yet some dialogue can.
Overall, the game was good, but didn't have the WOW factor I'm always looking for - and it pains me to say it, because it's clear the game developers put a great deal of work into this game.
I'll still recommend this game, but with some reservations to those who have played a lot of games, or for those who prefer true adventure over HOG's.
Break a dangerous curse that is engulfing an ancient tower in A Gypsy’s Tale, an entertaining Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Dreamlike-Storybook Adventure Game!
PostedMay 22, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The graphics for this game are astounding - they give the feel of a heavy, dreamlike fairytale to set the mood.
Challenge level was just right for me: Plenty to twist my brain without driving me mad, beautiful scenes to search for things without making me go blind, but none of it so easy that I became bored.
The developers obviously put a great deal of thought into the layout of the game - everything is very intricately woven, leading you to most of the things you need in a logical fashion.
Hint system was just right; recharged in an adequate time frame, but wasn't too fast.
MOST games that I play disappoint me because I'm more of an adventure gamer, and it seems that a great many HOG's with a storyline are listed as adventure games. This game isn't like that. There are indeed plenty of HOS's in the game, but the adventure of looking for things kept the momentum of the game moving forward in just the right way.
I recommend this game!
The demons of the Seven Deadly Sins have broken free of their fiery prison and taken up residence in Sacra Terra!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Challenge, Storyline, Graphics - All Good For Me!
PostedMay 22, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The storyline may be a bit jumbled for some, but that really didn't detract from the game-play for me.
Most direction/tasks are pretty clear - you shouldn't be too confused about what to do next, or where to use an object - most things are pretty evident once you've found them.
The hint system will show you which direction to go without depleting itself (sparkles to the left, right, etc) The hint system recharged fairly quickly in casual mode.
The areas to explore are larger than they first appear, with new areas constantly being made available. The main centerpiece (the cathedral) has very little that you can do other than deposit the runes.
The only annoyance was that every time a rune was found, you had to click, click, click. click (etc) to go back to the cathedral. I'm not big on map jumps, but this game needed one!
I recommend this game!
Explore the Nightingale Theater, which was ravaged by a devastating fire 40 years ago, and uncover a dark mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Beautiful Game, But Frustrating!
PostedMay 21, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The graphics, sound, video cuts and storyline are all beautifully done. Video scenes can be skipped.
There is a journal with a map and character profiles, but don't look to it for much help. The map will show where you are, and the area of interest or something to do. In theory, anyway. I only saw the green diamond for area of interest once.
Hints recharge fairly fast in regular mode. The hint will help you find an object in HO scenes, or show you what a particular item will be used for. (and will disable the hint function for five minutes if you check it to see what an item is used for) If you are stuck in the game, and don't know what to do next, you WILL have to resort to checking a walk-through. There is ZERO help within the game.
Also, be warned that you may have to go through the entire walk-through to find the one thing you missed in order to go forward. Certain things must be done to unlock other options and HOs/items. So even if you are at point X in the game, the action or option shown in the walk-through might not be available to you, if you didn't do something further back.
I enjoyed the game, but there is a lot of senseless back and forth. It also became a bit predictable in that you must do an HO to get the item to unlock the ticket, then do another game to unlock the machine that takes the ticket to get into that part of the theater.
I recommend this game!
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Engaging, but...
PostedMay 18, 2012
Emerald_Storm
fromCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
My review is for the Collector's Edition
The graphics and storyline are good - I have no complaints.
The graphics and storyline are good - I have no complaints.
The hint button recharges fairly well in regular mode, but outside of Hidden Object scenes, you must rely on the journal (which highlights in red your next action or destination) or the strategy guide.
As for the strategy guide, there were a few things i found that seemed to be missing - I had to go to the forums to figure out where the flint stones were located. There were a few other items/things that just weren't in the strategy guide.
My biggest complaint is the ending - it was very abrupt. The game takes you back to the main menu screen, and you have to hit *extras* to play the last few scenes for the Collector's Edition. Even with those last few scenes, I had the feeling it was suddenly rushed. (The same two HO scenes over and over, etc)
I still thought the game was worth the money, however.
I recommend this game!