sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:815
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help young kitties find love in this whimsical point-and-click puzzler!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 71 found this review helpful
A PURR-FECT ESCAPE THE ROOM GAME
PostedSeptember 21, 2022
sunnyglow
fromHope this game "cat-apaults" this developer into producing more escape the room games!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Can true love triumph in the land of cats? Help a love-sick tomcat reach his true love by traveling through a house, escaping room-after-room via pet doors to win the heart of a foxy feline. A bi-colored eyed Cupid will help you along the way by removing obstacles within your path. Beware your beloved’s owner, a grumpy grandma who will try to sabotage you for your quest for your feline love.
It is a whimsical escape the room game, one which should please cat lovers. Even if you don’t like cats, this game is a great strategy game. Interact with each scene to figure out the steps needed to exit it. The difficulty increases as you progress within the game. The game requires logic skills in assessing the activities and the sequence of those activities to escape. Clicking on the items will activate Cupid to perform them for you. The game is a whimsical delight with our poor tomcat being bantered around by his true love and the other hissing felines within the scenes. There was a beta for this game; however, it appears that the developer did not create a collector’s edition for the game.
I love the graphics and the whimsical humor displayed within it. I was glad to see Grandma have a pot crash land on her old great-haired nasty head. She is a mean grannie but think Cupid will win out in the end. Perhaps, Granny will come to accept you, as a lovesick Romeo, into her family.
Since this is a daily game there is no strategy guide nor “extras” as within the Collector’s Edition games. However, there is a hint button which will indicates all the activities needed to escape each room.
This is the “purr-fect” game for beginners in the world of escape the room games. The rooms are not terribly difficult to master. It is also a great game for cat lovers and children as well. If you are interested in this gaming genre, this game is an excellent starter game.
I recommend this game!
Only you can end the curse of Bird’s Nest Castle!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 125 found this review helpful
WHERE DID ALL “THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BIRDS” GO? THEY ARE IN THIS GAME!
PostedSeptember 1, 2022
sunnyglow
fromLocation? At Bird’s Nest Castle cleaning up after this game. The number of birds from “Twelve Days of Christmas” is nothing compared to this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 67 pages
Love bird watching? Are you a member of the Audubon Society? Then, you will love this game! Birds of all kids pop out at you everywhere in this game! Play Alex Meijer, a brother out to visit his newlywed sister, Katrina, an accomplished artist. Travel to Bird Nest’s Castle the ancestral home of her husband, Baron Kasper Van Garrett. However, your visit will evolve into a nightmare as you try to locate your missing sister, who is trapped somewhere within this castle. It appears your sister, her husband, and the castle itself are the victims of Bluebeard’s Curse. Learn another legend about Bluebeard and the perils of a doting father. Portraits are coming to life with birdlike creatures appearing throughout the castle. Discover the history behind the past residents of this estate and how this history has affected your sister and her husband. With the help of ghosts of previous castle residents, save your sister from this sinister curse.
A lot of work went into creating this game. This is a very long game with a lot of activities. This game is almost twice the size of many other HOPA games. Birds permeate every inch of this game, with most of the activities centering around different types of birds. Flocks of them are within most of the HOP scenes and mini-games. There are two collectibles, birds, of course, and morphing objects. There are two of each per scene except in the bonus chapter. Two of the scenes only have one of each toward the end of the game. I found some easy to locate and others, somewhat difficult to find. Upon completion of the game, if all the birds are collected, the player can play a Spot-the-Differences scene within the collectibles section. There is a gimmicky music box with a bird name Charlie perched on top. After placing a feather into a slot on the music box, Charlie narrates history about the castle and six (6) characters themselves, most of whom have been transported into portraits as birds. There are some fantastic graphics within this game. I truly enjoyed the graphics and puzzles within a section of this game within the library of the castle. There are flying books which must be captured and placed in a cage. Each of the books has a simplistic puzzle to accompany it.
My only complaint about this game is the storyline. I feel the story is too complex and detailed for a HOPA game. Less is more sometimes, and I feel that the story branches out into all different directions, bringing in a host of extraneous characters. The story is a variation of the Bluebeard legend; however, there is even a little bit of Dorian(na) Gray thrown in as well. Nevertheless, I feel the player gets his or her money’s worth with this game. There are a ton of activities which provides a good pace. For those who play these games for the HOP scenes and puzzles, I don’t think this game will disappoint.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 24 achievements.
• Collect 52 birds to unlock 7 bird figures and and spot the differences game
• Collect 52 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Charlie a bird, perched upon a music box Upon providing him with a feather, he discloses information about the castle and game characters. He sits on the left side of the inventory bar.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
• 24 achievements.
• Collect 52 birds to unlock 7 bird figures and and spot the differences game
• Collect 52 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Charlie a bird, perched upon a music box Upon providing him with a feather, he discloses information about the castle and game characters. He sits on the left side of the inventory bar.
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Katrina, whose son is struggling with fear. He has drawn pictures which reflect that fear, and it appears that monsters and dark mists are appearing. When his hair turns blue, you, as his mother, are afraid he may be the victim of the baron’s curse. However, a wise wizard has suggested you redraw those pictures to get rid of the negativity of those fears. I did not care for the story behind this chapter; however, I felt the activities were excellent. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games. Continue to collect the collectibles. For me, it is worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-four (24) HOP scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to be found. There is a nice variety of different types of scenes. There are standard lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There are storybook scenes in which items outlined in text which must be found within a scene of some narrative. There is a rebus clues scene. There is also an amazing scene in which items are situated on a segmented circular wheel. Sections of the wheel must be rotated to combine two halves of an object to remove it. There are also a couple of scenes in which fragments of the scenes must be located. There is also a slider scene which is unique in that the slider must move half of an item to its matching half to remove it. I don’t believe I have seen this type of scene before. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them.
MINI-GAMES. Wow! There are SIXTY-TWO (62) mini-games in this game. However, there are only sixteen (16) which can be replayed! This number is double what most developers offer within their games. A few are available to be played in either a casual or hard mode. There is a repetitive Match-3 game which is played throughout the game as new characters are introduced. After playing, the player receives a magic ball which transforms the bird people in the portraits back into their former selves. I found most of the mini-games easy; however, there are a few which I would consider of middle difficulty. I found none challenging. There are many picture puzzles throughout the game. Most of the puzzles are ones seen within other games.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE SIXTY-TWO (62) MNI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME
A. *REPEATED PUZZLE. Match-3 game. Drag up, down, across and diagonally to match 3 or more tokens to remove them Melt frozen tokens by connecting neighboring ones. Collect 15 of 3 colors – blue, pink, and green
B. Casual/Hard. Strategy Puzzle. Trap a chick before it leaves the edge of a field by selecting grass tokens to surround it. The hard version provides less chances to entrap the chick.
C. Sequence puzzle. Place 7 rings in the proper sequence according to a given diagram. Then rotate them to restore the given pattern.
D. Picture puzzle. Click on triangular pieces on a box until an image is restored.
E. Maze puzzle. Create a path using up, down, left, right arrows to move two metal balls at the same time to traverse a maze to the end. Both balls must reach the end at the same time.
F. Switch puzzle. Restore a honeymoon route by switching postcards from the trip with segments of the routes connected with each other.
G. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle chains by switching the position of the chains so none intersect each other.
H. Matching/Sequence puzzle. Place keys into a lock in the order in which they appear on a series of postcards.
I. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid, switch 9 squares to restore an image
B. Casual/Hard. Strategy Puzzle. Trap a chick before it leaves the edge of a field by selecting grass tokens to surround it. The hard version provides less chances to entrap the chick.
C. Sequence puzzle. Place 7 rings in the proper sequence according to a given diagram. Then rotate them to restore the given pattern.
D. Picture puzzle. Click on triangular pieces on a box until an image is restored.
E. Maze puzzle. Create a path using up, down, left, right arrows to move two metal balls at the same time to traverse a maze to the end. Both balls must reach the end at the same time.
F. Switch puzzle. Restore a honeymoon route by switching postcards from the trip with segments of the routes connected with each other.
G. Rope puzzle. In this case, untangle chains by switching the position of the chains so none intersect each other.
H. Matching/Sequence puzzle. Place keys into a lock in the order in which they appear on a series of postcards.
I. Switch puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid, switch 9 squares to restore an image
Book puzzles. Solve puzzles and place books in a cage (next 4 puzzles)
J. Picture puzzle. Assemble a picture by placing fragments in the proper location.
K. Matching puzzle. Uncover images under orbs and match them – 3 matches. After each match, the orbs change location
L. Switch puzzle. Switch colored owls into position according to a give clue.
M. Ye olde book shelf puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf so their spines create an image
J. Picture puzzle. Assemble a picture by placing fragments in the proper location.
K. Matching puzzle. Uncover images under orbs and match them – 3 matches. After each match, the orbs change location
L. Switch puzzle. Switch colored owls into position according to a give clue.
M. Ye olde book shelf puzzle. Arrange books on a bookshelf so their spines create an image
N. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles to restore a family portrait
O. Checkers puzzle. Remove hearts until only one remains. Must jump over hearts of a different color. 2X
P. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! Tic Tac Toe puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid with 9 squares place a cookie into a square while the computer places a stone. Get 3 cookies in a row either in a row or a column to feed a mouse.
BONUS CHAPTER:
Q. Switch puzzle. Switch family portraits according to the shape of the frames
R. Matching puzzle. Arrange books to match the bottom shelf of a bookshelf
S. Connection puzzle. Lead a knight through a maze connecting al points along the way.
O. Checkers puzzle. Remove hearts until only one remains. Must jump over hearts of a different color. 2X
P. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! Tic Tac Toe puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid with 9 squares place a cookie into a square while the computer places a stone. Get 3 cookies in a row either in a row or a column to feed a mouse.
BONUS CHAPTER:
Q. Switch puzzle. Switch family portraits according to the shape of the frames
R. Matching puzzle. Arrange books to match the bottom shelf of a bookshelf
S. Connection puzzle. Lead a knight through a maze connecting al points along the way.
I recommend this game!
Can you protect the King and his realm from dangerous magic?
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 154 found this review helpful
AN HEIR WHICH IS NOT APPARENT
PostedAugust 18, 2022
sunnyglow
fromEvery man is his own ancestor, and every man is his own heir. He devises his own future, and he inherits his own past. (Frederick H. Hedge)
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages
Court intrigue and family drama await you as you venture into a royal battle for the succession to the throne. As the Royal Advisor of Magic, you have been summoned to the court by King Richard, who is near death! The Healers believe it is dark magic; however, as you investigate, you discover there is a more realistic answer to the King’s maladies – he has been poisoned! Who did this dastardly deed? Family skullduggery is afoot, and it will take an investigation and evidence to identify the perpetrator. This is another fantastic game from DO Games. I loved the story behind the game and feel the game has a good pace. This is a very long game chock full of puzzles and HOP scenes.
DO Games always provides more game value for the money. One aspect I like about their recent games is the extra footage. The nice thing about that extra footage is that is it optional. The player can either play it or decline it. There are four additional and optional scenes with this game. The extra footage involves entering library to locate a folio on dark magic. The second location is an alchemy lab in the attic of a house where you can make a special portion. Third is a visit to the royal family crypt. The fourth is within the bonus chapter, visiting the royal family crypt to discover why a poisoning was attempted.
Play the game your way! The format is identical to previous games by this developer. As in their previous games, the player has a lot of options as to gameplay. Most of the mini-games have the choice to be played in either a hard mode or an easy mode. This difficulty can be set within the menu; however, it can be changed while playing the game. Enjoy the easy level for a laid-back game or choose the hard mode, designed for those who want a little more challenge. However, personally, I have never found any of the puzzles within this developer’s games terribly challenging.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing royal household items and 15 magic bracelets
• Collect 70 vials of potion to exchange for items to place within a Secret Room.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing royal household items and 15 magic bracelets
• Collect 70 vials of potion to exchange for items to place within a Secret Room.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 17 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play the Royal Advisor of Magic finding yourself investigating another incidence of poisoning at the court. King Richard announced his son, Roald has returned. While celebrating with a glass of wine, Roald falls to the ground, poisoned. Who has poisoned the legal heir to throne and why? Suspects are everywhere; however, with the help of a new citizen to the kingdom, you uncover a plot to keep Roald from ascending to the throne. By why would someone prevent this ascension? Skullduggery is afoot and you, as the investigator must uncover those behind the poisoning. I found this a nice addition to the game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and nine (9) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) HOP scenes within the game, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. DO games always provides a nice variety of HOP scenes and as always, provides creative designs to the scenes. Two of the HOP scenes are within the special footage provided within this game. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them. My favorite scene is one in which items are represented as tattoos on the back of one of the game characters. The sliders return in this game in two of the scenes. Match up the silhouettes with the actual items to remove them from the scene. Another novel concept to me was locating items within pictures and then placing them in slots within the pictures. Returning are silhouette scenes, storybook scenes, lists of items, search and replace scenes, searching for areas of the scenes based on a fragment from the scene, and matching. There is one spot-the-differences scene and one scene using rebus clues. Instead of the HOP scene, a player can play a Match-3 game instead.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-six (36) puzzles, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. My fondest desire is for this developer to provide the replay option to more of the puzzles and less of the HOP scenes. Almost all of the mini-games have the option to be played in either a casual mode for an easy play, or a hard mode for those who want more challenge. I did not find any braincrushing puzzles within this game. Most of the puzzles are of moderate difficulty.
SPOILERS: LISTED ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME.
A. E/H. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate circular segments on a circular grid to restore an image using gears at the top of the screen. The easy version has 3 circular segments and 3 gears to rotate. The hard version has 4 circular segments and 4 gears.
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Using a diagram, place items into a bottle in the proper sequence. The harder version has more steps.
C. E/H. Place sticks of dynamite into a grid so that the explosion reaches every square in the grid. The easy version has a smaller grid and has 7 sticks of dynamite while the hard has 8.
D. E/H. Chess puzzle. On a 4 x 4 chessboard with 16 squares, move the men so that no two of the same color ae within each of the 4 rows and 4 columns. The easy version only requires switching the pieces while the hard version uses arrows at the side and bottom of the board to move pieces one space at a time
E. Maze puzzle. Find 3 keys to open a main door. Go down dark hallways to locate them along with items which are used to amble around the old castle to find those keys.
F. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 2 gears to cause a ball to fall into a hole in the middle of a grid and not off the grid itself. There are bumpers within the grid to keep the ball from falling off. The harder version provides more opportunities for the ball to fall off the grid.
G. E/H. Maze/Sequence puzzle. Escape with your life! Plot a course by using arrows to set a sequence of steps necessary to escape while avoiding obstacles within your path. The hard version has one more arrow to place. Use all arrows with the number of steps listed on them.
H. E/H. Ye Olde Fox and Chickens Cross the River puzzle. In this case, ferry frogs and herons from one side of the river to the other using a boat. Herons cannot outnumber frogs on either bank. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each animal.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Take a boat downstream avoiding obstacles within your path. The harder version has more obstacles
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments to connect water from one chute to another chute. The harder version has more fragments to connect.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces on a picture to retore it. Pieces can only be switched with those next to it. The easy version has 18 pieces and the hard has 28 pieces.
L. E/H. Paint Picture puzzle. Paint a picture according to a given image. In the hard version the player must combine colors to create new ones.
M. Physics puzzle/Mirror puzzle. Connect liked colored gems by using mirrors to refract beams of light between matching crystals.
BONUS CHAPTER:
N. E/H. Switch puzzle Rotate and switch petals of flowers so that each flower has petals of the same color. Petals can only switch with those across from it. There are more flowers in the hard version than the easy version.
O. Matching puzzle. Arrange peaches by the holes which must match up with the number of teeth of each lion in the scene. Put the peaches in the lions’ mouths, matching the holes within the peaches with each lion’s teeth.
P. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines so they match the symbols above their heads.
Q. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a map according to given directions listed upon the map itself. The easy version has fewer connections than the hard version. 3X
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Using a diagram, place items into a bottle in the proper sequence. The harder version has more steps.
C. E/H. Place sticks of dynamite into a grid so that the explosion reaches every square in the grid. The easy version has a smaller grid and has 7 sticks of dynamite while the hard has 8.
D. E/H. Chess puzzle. On a 4 x 4 chessboard with 16 squares, move the men so that no two of the same color ae within each of the 4 rows and 4 columns. The easy version only requires switching the pieces while the hard version uses arrows at the side and bottom of the board to move pieces one space at a time
E. Maze puzzle. Find 3 keys to open a main door. Go down dark hallways to locate them along with items which are used to amble around the old castle to find those keys.
F. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 2 gears to cause a ball to fall into a hole in the middle of a grid and not off the grid itself. There are bumpers within the grid to keep the ball from falling off. The harder version provides more opportunities for the ball to fall off the grid.
G. E/H. Maze/Sequence puzzle. Escape with your life! Plot a course by using arrows to set a sequence of steps necessary to escape while avoiding obstacles within your path. The hard version has one more arrow to place. Use all arrows with the number of steps listed on them.
H. E/H. Ye Olde Fox and Chickens Cross the River puzzle. In this case, ferry frogs and herons from one side of the river to the other using a boat. Herons cannot outnumber frogs on either bank. The easy version has 3 of each and the hard version has 4 of each animal.
I. E/H. Map puzzle. Take a boat downstream avoiding obstacles within your path. The harder version has more obstacles
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments to connect water from one chute to another chute. The harder version has more fragments to connect.
K. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces on a picture to retore it. Pieces can only be switched with those next to it. The easy version has 18 pieces and the hard has 28 pieces.
L. E/H. Paint Picture puzzle. Paint a picture according to a given image. In the hard version the player must combine colors to create new ones.
M. Physics puzzle/Mirror puzzle. Connect liked colored gems by using mirrors to refract beams of light between matching crystals.
BONUS CHAPTER:
N. E/H. Switch puzzle Rotate and switch petals of flowers so that each flower has petals of the same color. Petals can only switch with those across from it. There are more flowers in the hard version than the easy version.
O. Matching puzzle. Arrange peaches by the holes which must match up with the number of teeth of each lion in the scene. Put the peaches in the lions’ mouths, matching the holes within the peaches with each lion’s teeth.
P. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines so they match the symbols above their heads.
Q. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect dots on a map according to given directions listed upon the map itself. The easy version has fewer connections than the hard version. 3X
I recommend this game!
Take on villains, magic, and luck itself to prove that love conquers all!
Overall rating
5
/
5
56 of 117 found this review helpful
CAPTURING THE HEART OF PERFECT LOVE
PostedAugust 13, 2022
sunnyglow
fromAfter all the calamities this example of perfect love have experienced working in the theater, perhaps they should look for a safer line of work – their own reality show – "Finding Perfect Love with Franz and Beatrice!”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Is it true that love conquers all? For gambler, Dreyer Crowley, all his financial success in life he owes to “true love.” Unfortunately, it is not due to his own “true love;” but rather, the “true love” of others. His attention has focused on two actors, Franz and Beatrice, whose true love is so perfect, it rivals that of Romeo and Juliet – over even the angels up above! Now this deranged gambler is out to capture Beatrice’s heart (literally) to perform a ritual, offering it to Fortuna, the goddess who keeps Dreyer in a stash of cash. Join tag team sweethearts, Beatrice and Franz, as try to thwart this crazed villain’s continuous efforts to steal Beatrice’s heart!
Enjoy another well-designed game from DO Games. I found the storyline somewhat inane. Beatrice is captured, imprisoned, and then escapes at least three times within this game. Even Franz is captured twice! I felt this was a little excessive. I felt tempted to send the poor lovesick girl pepper spray. Nevertheless, I play HOPA games for the puzzles and HOP scenes and the ones in this game are superb. The format is the same as within their other games. Play the game your way! There is a choice to play most puzzles in either a hard mode or an easy one. This level of difficulty can be set in the menu, but it can be changed while playing the game. I love this feature as I love having a choice on the difficulty of playing each puzzle.
A nice addition from this developer is the extra footage within the game. As with the last two games from DO Games, the player has the choice to play additional footage if they wish. In the main game, the player can venture off into a greenhouse to learn more about Dreyer’s life. Later in the main game, the player can opt to visit a forester’s kitchen to bake an apple pie. In the bonus chapter, the extra footage involves visiting the afterlife with a ghost. All these extra scenes have one or two activities attached.
As in other games, Domini has three collectibles. There are morphing decorations and puppets. These two collectibles alternate between the scenes. Also collect playing cards which can be exchanged for items to outfit a “dress circle.” I have no idea what a “dress circle” is, but, to me, it looks an awful lot like a dressing room at a theater. I found some of the collectibles difficult to locate within the scenes. I would love to see DO Games make these collectibles easier to see within the scenes.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 puppets and 15 morphing decorations
• Collect 70 cards to exchange to provide items for a “dress circle.”
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 puppets and 15 morphing decorations
• Collect 70 cards to exchange to provide items for a “dress circle.”
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Who is behind all the fires and explosions at the theater where Franz and Beatrice are performing “The Phantom of the Opera?” Franz has been asked to investigate the cause of the calamities. Many of the actors have witnessed a masked phantom within the walls and mirrors of the theater. As Franz, save the theater, help the ghost, Erik, save your beloved Beatrice, and find evidence to imprison the culprit behind these crimes. I found this to be a nice addition to the game and worth the price of a collector’s edition designation. There are four (4) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There is a variety of different styles of scenes. All are interactive and puzzle-like in design. They include the usual lists of items, silhouette, matching, and storybook scenes. Also within this game are scenes with morphing objects, rebus clues, and spot-the-differences. There is also a scene where items are to be placed within the proper location within the scene. My only complaint are the chains which appear if the player clicks too many times within the scene. I hate this and hope this developer will get rid of this nuisance.
MINI-GAMES: DO Games is the “puzzlemeister” of HOPA games. There are forty (40) puzzles within this game. My only complaint is that only sixteen (16) can be replayed. I wish there were more puzzles to replay and less HOP scenes. As in other games, most of the puzzles can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” mode.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES FROM THIS GAME: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch gears within a pendant to create a picture. The hard version has more gears to switch, and the gears must rotate as well.
B. E/H Assembly puzzle. Press on organ keys with symbols on them in sequential order so that designs on a sheet of music are formed. The easy version has 5 designs to create and the hard version has 8. Designs light up when all the symbols have been pressed.
C. E/H. Paint/Strategy puzzle. Paint a picture so that adjacent fragments are not the same color. The hard version has more fragments to paint than the easy version.
D. E/H. Strategy Puzzle. On a chessboard, move colored chess pieces so no two of the same kind are in the same row and column. In the easy version the player switches the pieces. In the hard version, the player must click arrows at the bottom and left side which slides the pieces one space at a time.
E. Maze puzzle. Lead a horse down a path avoiding obstacles within your path. The player gets 3 lives before restarting.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Put numbers on a clock in sequential order. The hard version gives the player only 5 moves.
G. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to create an image. The easy version has flower pictures. The hard version has pictures of star constellations. 3X
H. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect two yellow gems on a checkers board grid by connecting all the blue ones. All gems must be connected and connections cannot be diagonal. The harder version hs more gems to connect.
I. E/H. Bats in the Belfry! Bullseye puzzle. Shoot balls of light to get rid of bats in a belfry. The harder version has bats flying faster thus harder to knock off.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move parts on a globe to create a map of Europe and Africa. The hard version has more sliders on the globe to move the pieces, making it more difficult
K. Sequence Puzzle. Place masks in the proper location based on clues on a sheet of paper.
L. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments so that water reaches all the circles within the grid. Use the red valve to turn on the water to see if all are connected.
B. E/H Assembly puzzle. Press on organ keys with symbols on them in sequential order so that designs on a sheet of music are formed. The easy version has 5 designs to create and the hard version has 8. Designs light up when all the symbols have been pressed.
C. E/H. Paint/Strategy puzzle. Paint a picture so that adjacent fragments are not the same color. The hard version has more fragments to paint than the easy version.
D. E/H. Strategy Puzzle. On a chessboard, move colored chess pieces so no two of the same kind are in the same row and column. In the easy version the player switches the pieces. In the hard version, the player must click arrows at the bottom and left side which slides the pieces one space at a time.
E. Maze puzzle. Lead a horse down a path avoiding obstacles within your path. The player gets 3 lives before restarting.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Put numbers on a clock in sequential order. The hard version gives the player only 5 moves.
G. E/H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to create an image. The easy version has flower pictures. The hard version has pictures of star constellations. 3X
H. E/H, Connection puzzle. Connect two yellow gems on a checkers board grid by connecting all the blue ones. All gems must be connected and connections cannot be diagonal. The harder version hs more gems to connect.
I. E/H. Bats in the Belfry! Bullseye puzzle. Shoot balls of light to get rid of bats in a belfry. The harder version has bats flying faster thus harder to knock off.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. E/H Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move parts on a globe to create a map of Europe and Africa. The hard version has more sliders on the globe to move the pieces, making it more difficult
K. Sequence Puzzle. Place masks in the proper location based on clues on a sheet of paper.
L. Connection puzzle. Rotate pipe fragments so that water reaches all the circles within the grid. Use the red valve to turn on the water to see if all are connected.
I recommend this game!
What is Richard up to? Pursue Anna’s missing father through time!
Overall rating
5
/
5
68 of 130 found this review helpful
GRANTING RICHARD GRAY’S FONDEST WISH
PostedAugust 11, 2022
sunnyglow
fromIs this the end of the Gray family drama? Richard Gray is one of my favorite gaming characters. Going to miss seeing his skull hanging around the inventory bar.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages
Where is Daddy Dearest, Richard Gray? Zigzag back and forth through time and space as Anna Gray searches for her father Richard. Follow his trail to the 1930’s, the Middle Ages, and finally to China as you help her discover the true purpose of her father’s quest. As Anna, help your father get his fondest wish. Seldom seen, Anna’s mother, Anastasia helps her in her journey, hidden within a cameo sitting on the inventory bar. This family reunion may be the last, so enjoy this family’s last outing!
This is a somber game. Richard’s humor is replaced by a sad, somber demeanor. His humor is missing within this game. I did like the game for the most part; however, I found the story somewhat confusing. The player zigzags through several time periods in several locations as well. I needed to review my notes to figure out the relationship between the relics collected within this game. The story became more transparent, however, as I reached the final chapter.
There are two collectibles, screenshot fragments and pictures related to your investigation. If the player misses any collectibles within the game, they can search for them in the Expedition Room. As in their other games, Elephant provides a Secret Room which allows the player to return to the scenes to locate morphing objects. Upon completion of the game, players can also replay thirteen (13) HOP scenes and thirteen (13) mini-games in the Archives Room.
THE BEAUTY OF THE ORIENT! I truly enjoyed the beauty of the graphics within the chapter dealing with China. There are some beautiful scenes within this chapter and this beauty is reflected within the HOP scenes and mini-games as well. This was my favorite part of the game and must give kudos to Elephant Games for a beautiful story set against those gorgeous graphics.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 pictures related to your investigation,
• Collect 24 screensaver parts which complete a screensaver at the end of the game.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Expedition Room – Allows the player to return to scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Archives Room – Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room – Return to the scenes to locate morphing objects
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 pictures related to your investigation,
• Collect 24 screensaver parts which complete a screensaver at the end of the game.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Expedition Room – Allows the player to return to scenes to collect missing collectibles
• Archives Room – Replay 13 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Secret Room – Return to the scenes to locate morphing objects
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play Detective Conrad Matthews as he tries to locate the Elusive Gang, a group of criminals who commit murders but leave no clues. Get some help from Richard Gray whose only desire is to spend some alone time with them to get information he needs for his quest. I found it a nice addition to the game. There are two Rube-Goldberg puzzles in this chapter. There are also almost as many mini-games as there is within the main game. There are nine (9) mini-games (some of which are part of a Rube Goldberg puzzle) and four (4) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are not many HOP scenes nor mini-games within this game. There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes. There are also many mini-HOP scenes, in which the player locates only five or six items within the scene. The scenes are creatively designed and highly interactive. They include lists of items (some of which contain three scenes). There are silhouette scenes along with scenes in which fragments from the scenes must be located. There is one scene in which the player alternates between locating an item and placing an item into its proper location.
HOP SCENES: There are not many HOP scenes nor mini-games within this game. There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes. There are also many mini-HOP scenes, in which the player locates only five or six items within the scene. The scenes are creatively designed and highly interactive. They include lists of items (some of which contain three scenes). There are silhouette scenes along with scenes in which fragments from the scenes must be located. There is one scene in which the player alternates between locating an item and placing an item into its proper location.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-two (22) mini-games within this game, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. I thought most of the puzzles were easy. I found none even moderately difficult. I did enjoy the paint puzzles which we rarely see in most HOPA games. I also enjoyed dressing the Chinese warriors in their proper warrior attire.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Battle the Knight! Locate symbols situated on the top left of the screen upon a knight’s armor within the time designated.
B. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it discloses the route to where it leads.
C. Matching. Move leaves on a tree to match like fruit.
D. Paint Puzzle. Paint the faces of 4 masks based on clues upon the masks themselves.
E. Assembly puzzle. Dress Chinese warriors in costumes according to given diagrams
F. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens representing different times of the day and night placing them in chronological order. Tokens show sun and moon placements.
G. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Paint by Number. Paint a picture according to numbers assigned to sections of the picture..
(2) Jigsaw puzzle. Create a picture by placing fragments into position
(3) Picture puzzle. Click on slats until all, when combined, create a picture.
H. Map puzzle. Nab a criminal by using arrows to program your path. Reach the criminal in 6 moves. You must make a new move at crossroads or when hitting an obstacle. 3X
B. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so it discloses the route to where it leads.
C. Matching. Move leaves on a tree to match like fruit.
D. Paint Puzzle. Paint the faces of 4 masks based on clues upon the masks themselves.
E. Assembly puzzle. Dress Chinese warriors in costumes according to given diagrams
F. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens representing different times of the day and night placing them in chronological order. Tokens show sun and moon placements.
G. Rube Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Paint by Number. Paint a picture according to numbers assigned to sections of the picture..
(2) Jigsaw puzzle. Create a picture by placing fragments into position
(3) Picture puzzle. Click on slats until all, when combined, create a picture.
H. Map puzzle. Nab a criminal by using arrows to program your path. Reach the criminal in 6 moves. You must make a new move at crossroads or when hitting an obstacle. 3X
I recommend this game!
Gather your courage for this mystical journey to a distant world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 122 found this review helpful
HELP BRIDGE A WORLD ENGULFED IN SADNESS AND CHAOS
PostedAugust 4, 2022
sunnyglow
fromOpening a book can lead anyone to amazing new worlds!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages
You never know what secret worlds await you within books! Play Aurora who returns to a fantasy world after opening an old book buried away in a box. Return to Celestis, a city which you and former friend, Victor helped create. However, you soon discover the city is in peril as a curse has been placed upon the world. Sadness has permeated the kingdom causing an evil dragon to emerge. Artists cannot distinguish colors, people are scared and the bridges connecting the islands within this fantasy world, have been severed. Now, with the assistance of characters from this kingdom, discover what caused the curse and locate a remedy, all while reconnecting with old friends from the past, including a talkative fox.
I found this a delightful game to play with a good pace. There are many puzzles and HOP scenes within this game. It is a long game with a good storyline. However, due to the story behind the game, there are some very dark scenes, especially in the bonus chapter. I found it hard to navigate some scenes because of the extreme darkness of the scenes. You get a gimmicky cube which opens five (5) picture puzzles which you play throughout the game. Collect a token which opens up each puzzle.
Collect morphing roses and puzzles pieces. There are usually two of each per scene, but in the bonus chapter, some of the scenes have three (3) puzzle pieces. Because this is a dark game, (all the happiness is gone from the kingdom), I found it difficult to locate some of the collectibles, especially within the bonus chapter. At the end of the game, if you collect all the collectibles, you can play a game. I feel this game would be better if the player could create the jigsaw pictures instead of having the two scenes completed. The bonus game is a strategy game which can be played with either one or two players. Choose between characters Snake and Victor and try to accumulate more tokens than your opponent.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 26 achievements. Some have 3 parts.
• Collect 52 jigsaw pieces and 50 morphing roses collectibles (unlocks a bonus game)
• 6 wallpapers along with 7 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• 26 achievements. Some have 3 parts.
• Collect 52 jigsaw pieces and 50 morphing roses collectibles (unlocks a bonus game)
• 6 wallpapers along with 7 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 19 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Victor, Aurora’s friend from the main game. A totalitarian government has taken over Celestis and the surrounding islands. As Victor, try to save Celestis from a misguided authoritarian leader. This is a long bonus chapter chuck full of HOP scenes and mini-games. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and fifteen (15) mini-games. As stated previously, I feel the scenes in this chapter are too dark, especially in locating the collectibles. I had to use the strategy guide to help locate many of them. Also be warned that two of the scenes have three puzzles pieces instead of the normal two per scene.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also some mini-HOP scenes with five of six items to be located. I found them creatively designed with a nice variety of different styles. They include the usual lists of items and silhouette. Also included are some storybook scenes in which the player locates items which are highlighted within a narrative within the scenes of some book. There are pattern scenes, in which the player must locate areas of the scene based on fragments of those scenes. I loved the rebus clues and there is even a scene with some cryptic clues.
MINI-GAMES: There are fifty-five (55) mini-games in this game! That is the most mini-games I have ever played in any HOPA game! However, again, the player can only replay twelve (12) of those mini-games. I cannot understand why this developer did not offer more of these for replay. Most of the puzzles are easy. Some of them are of moderate difficulty. However, did not find any which I would consider difficult. There are a few puzzles with can be played in either a casual or hard mode, but I did not see any after the demo.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE 55 MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Map puzzle. Lead Aurora and the fox to cells with their images on them dodging attacks by a serpent. Green cells can be used as cover. There is a hold button to wait out the attack in a safe place.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch 16 pieces on a puzzle board to restore an image.
C. Sequence puzzle. Play drums with symbols on them in the proper sequence.
D. Set the time on a clock by using dials and pressing on clock weights to move the dials.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with those next to it to restore an image.
F. Card puzzle. Play against your opponent taking cards from the same column. There are 4 columns. At least one card may taken but at the end, you goal is to get the last card.
G. Switch puzzle. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books to that their spines create a picture.
H. Fifth Cube Puzzle: Picture Puzzle. Switch slats to create an image
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Follow the fox thru a dark maze Using arrows
J. Fence in that spider. On a grid with hexagons, click on them to enclose an itsy bitsy spider so it cannot escape.
K. Map puzzle. Use arrows to move through a sentry’s house. Pick up supplies along the way
L. Sequence puzzle. Remove rods intertwined with each other in sequential order.
M. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird so the darkest feathers are o the top and the lightest ones are on the bottom
B. Switch puzzle. Switch 16 pieces on a puzzle board to restore an image.
C. Sequence puzzle. Play drums with symbols on them in the proper sequence.
D. Set the time on a clock by using dials and pressing on clock weights to move the dials.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with those next to it to restore an image.
F. Card puzzle. Play against your opponent taking cards from the same column. There are 4 columns. At least one card may taken but at the end, you goal is to get the last card.
G. Switch puzzle. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books to that their spines create a picture.
H. Fifth Cube Puzzle: Picture Puzzle. Switch slats to create an image
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Follow the fox thru a dark maze Using arrows
J. Fence in that spider. On a grid with hexagons, click on them to enclose an itsy bitsy spider so it cannot escape.
K. Map puzzle. Use arrows to move through a sentry’s house. Pick up supplies along the way
L. Sequence puzzle. Remove rods intertwined with each other in sequential order.
M. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird so the darkest feathers are o the top and the lightest ones are on the bottom
GLITCHY GLITCHY GLITCHY GOO! I was able to purchase this game by going into the my list of games and pressing the “buy” button there. Even got points off. But I must admit, I could not purchase it either from the front page blurb nor from the game itself when I exited and tried to press the “buy” button. It is a great game – just needs the glitches to be fixed! This is not the developer's fault - it is some glitches within the new system.
I recommend this game!
A mystery-filled ride to unknown cosmic shores!
Overall rating
4
/
5
98 of 182 found this review helpful
ALL ABOARD! ENJOY A FANTASTIC TRIP RIDING THE MOONTRAIN
PostedJuly 30, 2022
sunnyglow
fromThis game is a wonderful tribute to the developer, Chris from Dragonseye, who passed away recently. May he rest in peace and perhaps he is riding that Moontrain into eternity with Maximillian, the conductor.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: Strategy Guide: 115 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
All aboard for a fantastic new cartoon adventure game from Dragonseye! After being derailed along the way, with four previous attempts at playing this game, I can now state that with BFG’s Collector’s Edition, I was finally able to complete the game. BFG has provided a version which has fixed the glitches which were numerous when the game first came out. Luckily, I was able to ride this train all the way to its final destination!
Play a down-on-his-luck Detective Paw, who will soon face eviction if he does not rustle up some new business. When Max Vigor, the owner of the Mouse Circus, arrives on his doorstep, this detective is off to search for Max’s cousin Sam, the star attraction of his circus. He has been missing for years and Detective Paw is now the 33rd detective to try to locate this superb magician. Along with his assistant, Dr. Molly, Detective Paw will amble his way through the Moontrain, meeting many interesting characters who will aid him in his quest to find his cousin. This train is hiding many secrets which will be uncovered along the way.
This is a point-and-click adventure game which has many puzzle-like activities. The player will need to click on items throughout the scenes to uncover a silhouette picture of an item which will be used to interact with the item from the scene. Even if an item is used within the game, if there is no picture of the item at the top of the scene, the player cannot collect it. There are puzzles to be solved; however, the principal activity of the game is to click your heart out on items within each scene, then after a picture appears at the top of the screen, search for that item which interacts with those items within the scenes.
Throughout the game there are some HOP-like activities. To further the story of the game, the player will search story scenes searching for 3 items within each scene which must be placed in the proper location within the scene. These scenes are dark, a little too dark for me. I had some difficulty in locating the items and figuring out where they should be located. There are forty-four (44) gems to collect throughout the game. These gems can be traded for items to fill a detective case.
I feel the puzzles and puzzle-like nature of the game is of moderate difficulty. Many of the actual puzzles are ones seen in many HOPA games. However, I did have some difficulty solving the puzzles within the train car filled with bottles. However, if the player takes the time to assess the scene, I do believe most players can figure out what to do with those bottles. Nevertheless, I still found this a difficult scene and needed some help via a walkthrough to figure out what to do within the scene. For me, this was the most difficult scene within the game.
MECHANICS:
-Hint button and strategy guide
-Collect 44 gems which can be exchanged for items to fill up a detective’s case
-Answer quizzes about the game to produce 5 screenshots
-20 soundtracks along with concept art.
-Notebook with pictures of the game characters with descriptions of them
-Collect 44 gems which can be exchanged for items to fill up a detective’s case
-Answer quizzes about the game to produce 5 screenshots
-20 soundtracks along with concept art.
-Notebook with pictures of the game characters with descriptions of them
BONUS CHAPTER: There is a bonus chapter. Try to stop water from flooding the Moontrain. Return to scenes from the main game and search for items to stop the leak. Along the way meet some new characters, one of which is a giant who always wanted to visit Earth but had problems fitting into the train. I felt the bonus chapter was a nice addition; however, I felt the game did not really need the bonus content to be worthy of a collector’s edition.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a fantastic game from Dragonseye. However, the player may encounter some glitches. I did find a glitch within the game – same glitch which was in the earlier version of this game. Be warned! After entering the train there is a scene where the player opens a door to the next compartment of the train. This door is opened by moving two men on a seesaw back and forth to open a grid with tiles which must be moved to uncover 3 numbers. Every time I played this scene, I had problems and had to restart this game. However, I found that if I moved the lever back-and-forth several times and waited, eventually I could get the squares to move by just clicking them. This was the only glitch I discovered, and with patience, I believe most players can get the door to open. I also believe the lever which moves the men back-and-forth on the seesaw needs to be centered in the proper position to work.
SHOULD I PLAY OR STAY AWAY? This is a fantastic game from Dragonseye. However, the player may encounter some glitches. I did find a glitch within the game – same glitch which was in the earlier version of this game. Be warned! After entering the train there is a scene where the player opens a door to the next compartment of the train. This door is opened by moving two men on a seesaw back and forth to open a grid with tiles which must be moved to uncover 3 numbers. Every time I played this scene, I had problems and had to restart this game. However, I found that if I moved the lever back-and-forth several times and waited, eventually I could get the squares to move by just clicking them. This was the only glitch I discovered, and with patience, I believe most players can get the door to open. I also believe the lever which moves the men back-and-forth on the seesaw needs to be centered in the proper position to work.
I recommend this game!
Race to prevent a bloody conflict between elves and vampires!
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 148 found this review helpful
DIP YOUR FANGS INTO A NEW VAMPIRIC DELIGHT: I CAN’T BELIEVE ITS NOT BLOOD!
PostedJuly 23, 2022
sunnyglow
fromI wonder if the artificial chemical concoction of fake blood served to the vampires in this game has the same effect as artificial food does on humans – can it cause blood clots or hardening of the arteries?
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 84 pages
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 84 pages
Emerge yourself into another delightful game from Domini Games! The sleuth duo at the Magic City Detective Agency is back on another case, one they can really sink their teeth into. An envoy from the vampiric kingdom, Geoffroi, needs help locating one of the elders of the elf kingdom, Cornelius. To keep peace between the elf and vampire kingdoms, Cornelius developed an artificial blood serum which allows the vampires to satisfy their thirst for blood without victimizing others. However, now, this elf elder has disappeared and the supply of this serum is dwindling. With shortages, a bloodbath is looming - vampires are starting to attack elves and humans alike. Where is Cornelius and why did he vanish? Surprises await as to the culprits in this game.
Domini is my favorite HOPA developer, providing more game value for the money and this game is no exception. This vampiric jaunt is one of the longest games I have played from this developer. However, I was not bored, nor did I get tired of playing it! I found the stories in both the main game and bonus chapter intriguing and the pace excellent with many fun-filled activities throughout the game. There are many extras in this developer’s games which other developers do not provide. As always, Domini always adds some new element to their games, this time it is the search for fragments in a few of the HOPA scenes.
The gaming format is the same as in all this developer’s other games. There are three collectibles. They include morphing vampire amulets, plants, and vials of blood which can be exchanged at the end of the game to deck out a vampire’s chamber. I found all easy to locate. Hurrah! Domini has provided larger pictures in the strategy guide making it easier to see the location of those collectibles. This is a nice feature as the images in previous games have been so small it was impossible to see where the collectibles were located. As in the last game you have the option to add more supplemental game footage – this time it is meandering around a library to learn the history of vampires, and later in the game, in learning the history of a magical artifact. I would love to see this feature added to other developers’ games. You do have the option to opt out of the extra footage if you wish. The extra footage adds another HOP scene or puzzle.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing vampire amulets plus 15 plants
• Collect 70 bottles of blood to exchange for items to decorate vampire chambers
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 21 HOP scenes and 20 Mini-games
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing vampire amulets plus 15 plants
• Collect 70 bottles of blood to exchange for items to decorate vampire chambers
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 21 HOP scenes and 20 Mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a continuation from the main game. A mysterious chemical brew is being sold to vampires which are turning them into glass statues. Uncover the evildoer behind this serum and learn the reason for his or her madness. A tale of revenge is involved and you again as part of a detective duo must stop it. Continue collecting the collectibles. There are four (4) HOP scenes and ten (10) mini-games. This chapter is a wonderful addition to the main game. I felt the activities were equal in quality to those in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. The scenes are very creatively designed. All are interactive and two of them have puzzles within the scene. As in previous games, the player can play a Match-3 game instead of the HOP scenes. These are some of the best HOPA scenes out there and all are somewhat puzzle-like. There are storybook scenes which further the story behind the game. There are lists of items, silhouette, and matching morphing objects. There are a few scenes in which the player searches for fragments to create an image. There is also a scene in items are provided which must be placed into the scene in the proper location.
MINI-GAMES: This game is puzzle-intense. There are thirty-eight (38) mini-games, twenty (20) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As in other games, most of the puzzles can be played in either an easy or a hard mode. In this game, Domini spent more time in puzzle development than in creating HOP scenes. There are twice the mini-games as HOP scenes. Again, with so many wonderful puzzles within this game. I wish this developer had offered a few more to replay at the end of the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MIND GAMES FROM THIS GAME (E = Easy; H = Hard)
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MIND GAMES FROM THIS GAME (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Domino puzzle. Switch pentagram-shaped tiles into position on a round grid so that sides which abut each other have the same symbols The hard version has one extra pentagram-shaped tile in the center, in which each side must match with each of the other 6 pentagram sides surrounding it.
B. Assembly puzzle. Place tokens with pictures on them so that each token is placed under one of 3 pictures which matches up with it thematically. There are path segments which must be switched to create paths to the pictures
C. E/H. Ye olde Fix-the-Net Puzzle. Place strands of rope onto a net with holes in it to create a complete net. The player only receives a specific number of ropes to fix the net. The harder version provides one more piece of rope and the net has more holes to fix.
D. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Click on columns of toys so that a space is created between the rows and columns which allows the rows to be removed. The easy version has one less column and one less row.
E. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Click on digits in order from 1 to 10. Use arrows along the side of the grid to disclose the numbers. The grid is more complex in the hard mode.
F. E/H. Use arrows to move musical notes so they fit into their slots on a harp. The easy version has 6 notes, and the hard version has 8.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Place animal tokens on a grid so that each row has either one color or one type of animal.
H. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch portraits so that the shape of each portrait matches the shadow beneath it. In the hard version. Two of the portraits are hidden by a shutter.
I. Gear puzzle. Switch gears until each is within its proper location and all mesh.
J. E/H. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books on a bookshelf so the spines create a picture. In the hard version the player can only move one book at a time.
K. Mathematical puzzle. Connect wires to numbers on the bottom of a grid to according to a given clue
B. Assembly puzzle. Place tokens with pictures on them so that each token is placed under one of 3 pictures which matches up with it thematically. There are path segments which must be switched to create paths to the pictures
C. E/H. Ye olde Fix-the-Net Puzzle. Place strands of rope onto a net with holes in it to create a complete net. The player only receives a specific number of ropes to fix the net. The harder version provides one more piece of rope and the net has more holes to fix.
D. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Click on columns of toys so that a space is created between the rows and columns which allows the rows to be removed. The easy version has one less column and one less row.
E. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Click on digits in order from 1 to 10. Use arrows along the side of the grid to disclose the numbers. The grid is more complex in the hard mode.
F. E/H. Use arrows to move musical notes so they fit into their slots on a harp. The easy version has 6 notes, and the hard version has 8.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Place animal tokens on a grid so that each row has either one color or one type of animal.
H. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch portraits so that the shape of each portrait matches the shadow beneath it. In the hard version. Two of the portraits are hidden by a shutter.
I. Gear puzzle. Switch gears until each is within its proper location and all mesh.
J. E/H. Ye olde book puzzle. Switch books on a bookshelf so the spines create a picture. In the hard version the player can only move one book at a time.
K. Mathematical puzzle. Connect wires to numbers on the bottom of a grid to according to a given clue
I recommend this game!
A bone-chilling mystery that will leave you questioning everything!
Overall rating
5
/
5
93 of 198 found this review helpful
A FUTURE BRIDE WHO IS A REAL DOLL
PostedJuly 14, 2022
sunnyglow
fromAre you a parent to a son? As this game demonstrates - you just never know what kind of “ghoul” your son will bring home.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 pages
Kudos to DO Games for another “phantasmic” spookfest! Enjoy a ghostly jaunt into the world of the paranormal as a detective with your own agency, Mystical Riddles. Your companions on these two haunts will be from the ghostly realm. In the main game, help a future mother-in-law discover why her future daughter-in-law gives her goosebumps and why she seems so cold to her. Although her son considers her as a real doll, mom is less impressed. In the bonus chapter, help a neurotic husband locate his wife. And if this hubby seems somewhat strange, there is a reason!
DO Games is my favorite HOPA developer, providing more game value for the money and this game is no exception. I loved the storylines in both the main game and the bonus chapter. I found the pace excellent with fun-filled activities throughout the game. There are many extras in this developer’s games which other developers do not provide. For me, I cannot wait to play the games from DO Games.
The gaming format is the same as in all this developer’s other games. There are three collectibles. They include morphing runes, dolls, and photographs which can be exchanged to outfit a boudoir at the end of the game. You get a gimmicky camera which takes photos of the world of the paranormal. Just push the button every time you see a glimmering light. As in the last game you have the option to add more game footage – this time it is meandering around a doll house and within the basement of a forest cabin. I love this new option within this developer’s games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 44 achievements.
• Collect 15 dolls and 15 morphing runes.
• Collect 59 snapshots which can be traded to items to deck out a boudoir
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 21 HOP scenes and 18 Mind Games
• Gimmicky camera to take pictures of the paranormal
• 44 achievements.
• Collect 15 dolls and 15 morphing runes.
• Collect 59 snapshots which can be traded to items to deck out a boudoir
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 21 HOP scenes and 18 Mind Games
• Gimmicky camera to take pictures of the paranormal
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a different story than from the main game. Play the paranormal detective in solving yet another case. Help a husband locate his wife who is missing. Also, help a ghostly green hound from the underworld who is trying to collect a wayward soul. There are five (5) HOP scenes and seven (7) mind games (AKA puzzles). This chapter is a wonderful addition to the main game. I felt the activities were equal in quality to those in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) scenes, all of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. The scenes are very creatively designed. All are interactive and two of them have puzzles within the scene. As in previous games, the player can play a Match-3 game instead of the HOP scenes. These are some of the best HOP scenes out there and all are somewhat puzzle-like. There are only two standard lists of items (which I find boring). There is a variety of different styles. There are scenes with cryptic clues, rebus clues, and matching. There are the usual storybook scenes with silhouetted items to be located. The player will also discover a scene in which items which are out of place must be identified, and once clicked, return to their proper position. For me, this developer’s HOP scenes are creative works of art.
MIND GAMES: There are thirty-three (33) puzzles, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. As in other games, most of the puzzles can be played in either an easy or a hard mode. I love the phrase “mind games.” However, even the “harder mind games” are not terribly challenging. I only wish that this developer would provide more of these puzzles to be replayed upon completion of the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MIND GAMES FROM THIS GAME (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Strategy/Physics puzzle. Set the value on shut off valves so that the pressure causes a ball to go from one end of a pipe to the other. The easy version has 5 valves and the hard has 6.
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Enter a code to open a chest by using pointers to select and place tokens into slots at the bottom of the grid in sequential order. The easy version has 3 tokens to place while the hard has 5
C. E/H. Maze Escape puzzle. Move through a maze choosing between 3 routes at the proper time to escape ghosts. 3X
D. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Place cutlery into position into a suitcase so all fit without overlapping. Easy version has an easier arrangement than the hard version.
E. E/H. Pant by Number puzzle. In this case, paint by symbol. Paint a picture with paints matching symbols within the scene. The hard version has symbols which morph in and out of the picture.
F. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move 2 minecarts to houses of the same color removing obstacles along the way. Alternate between the carts to remove obstacles to open paths. The hard version has more obstacles.
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Neat puzzle in which you guess 8 animals being portrayed by hand shadows. In the hard version, the animals are divided into segments; the player must click on all the animal segments to remove them.
H. Switch puzzle. On four tokens, each with 4 different colored segments, rotate the tokens to change the position of their segments until each of the four has segments of the same color.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Map puzzle. Move 4 pieces of a tiara to their matching slots at the side of a grid. Move them on a 11 x 6 grid with rotating tree roots. Keep the pieces from hitting the tree roots while moving them to their slots.
J. E/H. Strategy puzzle. On a grid, press on squares with up to 5 dots on them to throw dirt on a fire. The dots indicate how many squares it can extinguish. The easy grid as 25 squares and the hard 36 squares.
B. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Enter a code to open a chest by using pointers to select and place tokens into slots at the bottom of the grid in sequential order. The easy version has 3 tokens to place while the hard has 5
C. E/H. Maze Escape puzzle. Move through a maze choosing between 3 routes at the proper time to escape ghosts. 3X
D. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Place cutlery into position into a suitcase so all fit without overlapping. Easy version has an easier arrangement than the hard version.
E. E/H. Pant by Number puzzle. In this case, paint by symbol. Paint a picture with paints matching symbols within the scene. The hard version has symbols which morph in and out of the picture.
F. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move 2 minecarts to houses of the same color removing obstacles along the way. Alternate between the carts to remove obstacles to open paths. The hard version has more obstacles.
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Neat puzzle in which you guess 8 animals being portrayed by hand shadows. In the hard version, the animals are divided into segments; the player must click on all the animal segments to remove them.
H. Switch puzzle. On four tokens, each with 4 different colored segments, rotate the tokens to change the position of their segments until each of the four has segments of the same color.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Map puzzle. Move 4 pieces of a tiara to their matching slots at the side of a grid. Move them on a 11 x 6 grid with rotating tree roots. Keep the pieces from hitting the tree roots while moving them to their slots.
J. E/H. Strategy puzzle. On a grid, press on squares with up to 5 dots on them to throw dirt on a fire. The dots indicate how many squares it can extinguish. The easy grid as 25 squares and the hard 36 squares.
I recommend this game!
In this remastered classic, reawaken in that mysterious castle, and solve perplexing puzzles to escape!
Overall rating
2
/
5
22 of 65 found this review helpful
A CHORE AND A BORE:
PostedJuly 7, 2022
sunnyglow
fromWas stuck in a magic castle, but with the help of an escape button was able to safely get out of this castle and boring game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A CHORE AND A BORE:
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter: Strategy guide is a scroll which rolls down to provide information. There is a scroll for each chapter.
Return to the magic castle for a dreadful revamped version of the original game. Join Sophia as she battles her way again through this castle to liberate goblins from the darkness. Along the way you might find yourself battling to keep yourself awake while playing this revamped monstrosity. Along the way, pick up more puzzles (mainly picture puzzles) for her to solve.
I found this game boring. I did not play the original game, but this remastered version seemed more like a patch job rather than an enhancement. If this developer was going to remaster the game, instead of throwing in dozens of additional puzzles and sprucing up the HOP scenes, he should have remastered the menu. I did not finish this game. It is a long game and with the wait time involving the hint and skip buttons, I just gave up. I did not play the Bonus Chapter so cannot comment on it. However, the player can play the bonus chapter without finishing the game.
IT’S THE MENU: Unlike current HOPA games, the menu is archaic. The player does not have the option to choose between three levels of difficulty. In addition, there is no ability to set the time for the hint button nor the skip button. I got tired of waiting for the hint button and skip button to reload. During the game I went out to get a snack and when I returned to the game, the hint button still had not recharged. However, I did like the scroll feature of the strategy guide. I found this much easier to use than the book-style guides created by other developers.
I found the game confusing to navigate as well. There is little direction as to procedures needed within the game. The player cannot replay HOP scenes nor any of the mini-games. However, you can play as many games of Goblin-jong (a form of mahjong) you desire. To do so, you must collect all the collectibles within the game, morphing fairies and Goblin-jong pieces. There are two each within each scene.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 66 shape shifting (morphing) fairies and 66 goblinjong tiles There are 2 of each in each scene
• 11 wallpapers along with concept artwork in the Dev Journal, music, and video sequences
• You get a magnifying glass for close up shots
• Goblinjong. Upon completion of the game you can play 24 additional puzzles of this game. You unlock a bonus puzzle for every two Goblinjong tiles found within the game
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 66 shape shifting (morphing) fairies and 66 goblinjong tiles There are 2 of each in each scene
• 11 wallpapers along with concept artwork in the Dev Journal, music, and video sequences
• You get a magnifying glass for close up shots
• Goblinjong. Upon completion of the game you can play 24 additional puzzles of this game. You unlock a bonus puzzle for every two Goblinjong tiles found within the game
HOP SCENES: There are very few HOP scenes. Most are puzzle-like and require some thought as how to locate items within the scenes. Most of the scenes have one to two puzzles within them. The ones I played were all lists of items and matching.
MINI-GAMES: Picture puzzles, picture puzzles and even more picture puzzle! I got so tired of playing picture puzzles – just one after another within this game. Half of the puzzles I played involved creating an image or a statue by place fragments into position. There are a lot of puzzles within this game. When I stopped playing, I had already played thirty-five (35) mini-games and had not even finished the game. In the beginning the puzzles are easy; however, as the player progresses, they become harder and there are more puzzles as well.
MINI-GAMES: BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES FROM THE GAME:
A. Mathematics puzzle. Switch numbered hexagons on 3 columns so that three rows of numbers when added or subtracted equal the number on the third column. 2 X
B. Picture puzzle. Place fragments into place to create a flowerpot.
C. Picture puzzle. On a 5 x 4 grid, click on 20 pieces, changing the image with each click until you find the proper fragments to create the picture
D. Picture puzzle. Click on the quarters of 4 circles until they form an image which matches up with those within a book.
E. Matching. Match up like- butterflies on a pond.
F. Sequence puzzle Click on taps of vats of 3 prime colors in the correct order to create the colors at the bottom of the tubes leading to them.
G. Mathematical puzzle. Click on a -3 glass and a +8 glass until you move the needle in the center between the 2 glasses to the green area of the dial.
H. Sequence puzzle. Take bottles of colored sand with mixed colors throughout and move back and forth so that each of the 5 bottles has one color of sand
I. Sequence puzzle. Play strings of a harp in the proper sequence.
J. Switch puzzle. Switch 5 gem-studded clusters and place in the proper numerical sequence.
K. Sequence puzzle. Click chimes in the correct order.
B. Picture puzzle. Place fragments into place to create a flowerpot.
C. Picture puzzle. On a 5 x 4 grid, click on 20 pieces, changing the image with each click until you find the proper fragments to create the picture
D. Picture puzzle. Click on the quarters of 4 circles until they form an image which matches up with those within a book.
E. Matching. Match up like- butterflies on a pond.
F. Sequence puzzle Click on taps of vats of 3 prime colors in the correct order to create the colors at the bottom of the tubes leading to them.
G. Mathematical puzzle. Click on a -3 glass and a +8 glass until you move the needle in the center between the 2 glasses to the green area of the dial.
H. Sequence puzzle. Take bottles of colored sand with mixed colors throughout and move back and forth so that each of the 5 bottles has one color of sand
I. Sequence puzzle. Play strings of a harp in the proper sequence.
J. Switch puzzle. Switch 5 gem-studded clusters and place in the proper numerical sequence.
K. Sequence puzzle. Click chimes in the correct order.
I don't recommend this game.