sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:826
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:September 4, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you keep this bewitching case from becoming your last?
Overall rating
4
/
5
147 of 207 found this review helpful
HELP A “FOX-Y“ LADY REUNITE WITH HER BEAU
PostedMay 6, 2021
sunnyglow
fromLocation: Flusstal Woods. Wandering these woods for a “spell” to help a “fox-y” lady return to her former self.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus 2 Bonus Chapters – Strategy Guide: 29 pages (My Time – 8 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus 2 Bonus Chapters – Strategy Guide: 29 pages (My Time – 8 Hours)
STORY: Here comes the bride! Well not – yet! Which girl will make it down the aisle? You are off to visit your friend, Wolf in the town of Flusstal to attend the wedding of his son, Uwe, to a local girl, Ellie. However, upon entering Flusstal Woods, you are bombarded with black magic, being hurled at you by the witch Urusla. Meet a foxy lady, Agnes, a woman who was transformed into a fox by this evil witch. She is Uwe’s true love, but Ursula has erased his memory of her for her own nefarious purposes. This witch is out for revenge! Vanquish this witch's power as you help Agnes transform into her human form and reunite with her true love.
OPINION: Do not let the short strategy guide fool you. This is a long game, and one which I enjoyed playing for the most part. A lot of work went into creating it. I found it an easy play with a good pace throughout and did not experience any technical glitches or difficulties. However, I did find a few elements which I disliked about the game. However, this is a matter of personal preference on my part. There is a lot of travelling to-and-fro, searching for inventory items and fewer HOP scenes and mini-games than in most other HOPA games. I prefer to have more activities within a game.
I think the story is a little too complex for a HOPA game with too many characters and too much history. Less is more and I think that applies to this game. I got tired of reading the excessive number of stories and the history concerning this town. I think the game would have been better without the overabundance of characters and the numerous subplots and stories.
There are two collectibles - envelopes (some morphing ones) and jigsaw puzzle pieces. I found some of them difficult to locate and some of the envelopes did not look like envelopes to me. The same can be said for the jigsaw puzzle pieces. Some were difficult to see from the way they were positioned within the scene. I like the fact there is an indicator bar at the left of the screen which indicates how many of collectibles are within the scene and whether all have been collected. I wish more developers would provide this feature. There are two (2) bonus chapters; however, the second bonus chapter is just a mini-game to provide closure to the story behind the game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw pieces to complete a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game.
• Collect 48 collectibles. (envelopes) – some are morphing.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 12 HOP scenes and 9 mini-games.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 20 jigsaw pieces to complete a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game.
• Collect 48 collectibles. (envelopes) – some are morphing.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 12 HOP scenes and 9 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER 1: It is a prequel. Play a young Ursula before she became an evildoer. Wolf asks for her help to stop his dad from practicing black magic. As Ursula you are off to help Wolf locate a grimoire and hide it away in a cave so it can no longer be used for nefarious purposes. However, when you meet one of the original First Dwellers, an evil magician named Manfred, you will engage in some deal making with a surprising outcome. Continue collecting collectibles. There are nine (9) mini-games and two (2) HOP scenes. The chapter is short; however, it does add clarification to the main story. I feel the puzzles are more creatively designed this chapter than in the main game. To me this chapter is worthy of a collector’s edition classification.
BONUS CHAPTER 2: it is a sequel and provides closure to the game. Play the detective and finally end the black magic generated by the grimoire. There is only one activity – a puzzle which seals the grimoire so it can never be used again.
HOP SCENES: There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes plus numerous mini-HOP scenes with six (6) to eleven (11) items to be located. Twelve (12) of these can be replayed at the end of the game. They are interactive requiring the player to interact with each scene to remove the items. Most of the scenes are standard lists of items or silhouette. There are some matching scenes as well. Although there is not as much variety as in some other developers’ games, found them creatively designed. There is an optional Match-3 puzzle which can be played instead of the scene. My favorite scene involved searching for people and items within a model of the town of Flusstal.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-six (26) mini-games, nine (9) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. They vary in style and difficulty. I feel most are on the easier side. I found none challenging. There is a Rube-Goldberg puzzle in this game. As the player enters a hall, he plays four (4) consecutive puzzles to reach the door to exit the hallway.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tracing puzzle. Trace two letters on a locket to open it.
B. Match-3 puzzle. Connect 3 or more like-colored hands to turn the squares behind them light blue. Connections can be made vertically or horizontally. Tokens must be switched to create the connections. Game is complete when all the squares are turned light blue. Play this puzzle 3 times within the game.
C. Maze puzzle. Slide town landmarks along paths into their proper position based upon a map of the town.
D. Connection puzzle. Connect the dots on a bear as per a given diagram.
E. Balance puzzle. Move the detective across a bridge using a pole to maintain balance. Click on the bridge on the right or left to maneuver in that direction.
BONUS CHAPTER 1
F. Rube-Goldberg Puzzle
1. Lock puzzle. Press down 5 tumblers with a bobby pin. Release when they begin to shake.
2. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence with tiles on a floor by pressing down the tiles in the proper order.
3. Sequence puzzle. Deactivate electric rods as per a given sequence.
4. Block puzzle. Move blocks to create a path for a key to move from the left to a keyhole on the right.
G. Maze puzzle. Move a mouse through a maze in the dark collecting 3 leaves to remove beetles in your path.
B. Match-3 puzzle. Connect 3 or more like-colored hands to turn the squares behind them light blue. Connections can be made vertically or horizontally. Tokens must be switched to create the connections. Game is complete when all the squares are turned light blue. Play this puzzle 3 times within the game.
C. Maze puzzle. Slide town landmarks along paths into their proper position based upon a map of the town.
D. Connection puzzle. Connect the dots on a bear as per a given diagram.
E. Balance puzzle. Move the detective across a bridge using a pole to maintain balance. Click on the bridge on the right or left to maneuver in that direction.
BONUS CHAPTER 1
F. Rube-Goldberg Puzzle
1. Lock puzzle. Press down 5 tumblers with a bobby pin. Release when they begin to shake.
2. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence with tiles on a floor by pressing down the tiles in the proper order.
3. Sequence puzzle. Deactivate electric rods as per a given sequence.
4. Block puzzle. Move blocks to create a path for a key to move from the left to a keyhole on the right.
G. Maze puzzle. Move a mouse through a maze in the dark collecting 3 leaves to remove beetles in your path.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a maniacal murderer before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
116 of 181 found this review helpful
MURDER, MAYHEM AND EXCITEMENT AWAIT YOU IN PITTSBURGH
PostedApril 29, 2021
sunnyglow
fromHopefully, all the Michiganders will take a gander at all the University of Massachusetts banners on the buildings at Michigan University in the bonus chapter. Well at least they were not Ohio State nor were the campus chipmunks chomping on buckeyes.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Detective! Travel to the exciting, crime infested city of Pittsburgh to investigate a copycat killer out for revenge. Two years prior, you apprehended a serial killer, Roderick Alcala, a twisted psychopathic who photographed his victims to capture their emotions before he killed them. Now a newbie detective, Darby, has contacted you for help. Recent killings resemble those of Alcala. Someone is out to exact revenge against those who they feel helped this killer escape the death sentence. Locate this avenger and discover an unlikely motive.
To me, this is a long, decent game plagued with a few errors throughout. To me, this is not Domini’s best work; however, even Domini’s less-than-perfect fare is better than many developer’s best games. I love murder mysteries and whodunits and felt this was a good play. The stories behind both the main game and the bonus chapter are well-written. The game has a good pace throughout. The player will spend time saving one murder victim after another in this game. I feel the graphics are excellent in portraying a decaying urban sprawl. Domini always provides more game for the money and this one is no exception.
There are the standard three (3) collectibles, morphing personal items, photographs, and tokens to purchase items for a boudoir. I personally love the sidebar which indicates if there is an inventory item within a scene. I found many of these difficult to locate. Some are well-hidden within the scenes. I had to check the strategy guide to locate some of them.
There are the standard three (3) collectibles, morphing personal items, photographs, and tokens to purchase items for a boudoir. I personally love the sidebar which indicates if there is an inventory item within a scene. I found many of these difficult to locate. Some are well-hidden within the scenes. I had to check the strategy guide to locate some of them.
TO ERROR IS HUMAN: This game was rushed into production. There are minor errors throughout this game. I have never seen this number of errors before from this developer. Nevertheless, they did not interfere with the enjoyment of this game – they are just oversights for the most part. First, there are sixty-one (61) tokens to collect not ninety-two (92). The beta had this number, and the sidebar still has that number listed. I found that I had sixteen (16) tokens remaining after I purchased everything for the boudoir. Perhaps that is not an error, but usually after everything is purchased, nothing remains.
However, I was happy to discover that instead of only fifteen (15) puzzles to replay (as indicated in the extras section at the beginning of the game) there are twenty-five (25). While searching through the extras section of the game, I found myself locked in the collectibles room and pressing the “X” did not exit me from that scene. I exited the game and restarted it, but it still did not fix that problem.
Although I am from Ohio and not really a University of Michigan fan, (boo!) I did get a chuckle in the bonus chapter that the pendants and signs on the buildings at “Michigan University” have the University of Massachusetts written on them instead! Well at least it is not Ohio State, nor did they have buckeyes on those trees in the pictures of the campus! But my “enquiring” mind would love to know why they changed it from one university to the other.
Although I am from Ohio and not really a University of Michigan fan, (boo!) I did get a chuckle in the bonus chapter that the pendants and signs on the buildings at “Michigan University” have the University of Massachusetts written on them instead! Well at least it is not Ohio State, nor did they have buckeyes on those trees in the pictures of the campus! But my “enquiring” mind would love to know why they changed it from one university to the other.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing personal items, and 15 photos.
• Collect 62 (not 92) tokens to exchange for items to place in a boudoir.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• 29 cutscenes from the game
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 25 mini-games.
• achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing personal items, and 15 photos.
• Collect 62 (not 92) tokens to exchange for items to place in a boudoir.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• 29 cutscenes from the game
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 25 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another game. You are off to Michigan University (who has a penchant for University of Massachusetts pendants), to investigate a series of murders at a college campus. There is a killer on the loose, one who is seeking revenge for the actions of the mayor of the town. This is another great story despite the developer not quite certain if he is in Massachusetts or in Michigan. There are ten (10) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. Continue to collect the collectibles. It is a long chapter and well-worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They vary in style and design. And although Domini is best-known for their puzzles, their HOP scenes are creatively designed. Included are the standard lists of items and silhouette. However, there are two of my favorites which are replacement scenes – searching for items and then using them within the scene to locate other items. There are also matching scenes, spot-the-difference scenes, and scenes with rebus clues. A thematic Match-3 game can be played instead of the scene.
X DOES NOT MARK THE SPOT! Returning in an encore performance are those dreaded “X”’s which appear if you click on the wrong item in a scene. Accompanying each huge X, is a dreadful sound indicating YOU ARE WRONG! Please Domini, make this an option in the menu setting. I, for one, absolutely hate seeing those X’s and listening to the nerve-wrenching sound accompanying them.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-one (31) mini-games, twenty-five (25) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most have the option to be played in an “easy” mode for a more casual experience, or in a “hard” mode providing more challenge for those who want it. The difficulty can be set in the menu at the beginning of the game; however, the difficulty can be changed while playing the game as well. There is also a Rube-Goldberg puzzle in the demo.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE NUMEROUS PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Play melodies on a piano in the proper sequence as per a given guide. The easy version has 3 and the hard version has 5.
B. E/H. Lock puzzle. Use lock picks to open a lock. Move the picks into the proper positions to release the tumblers. The easy version has 4 tumblers and the hard has 6 tumblers.
C. E/H. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide levers on a radio up-and-down, so each is positioned as per a given guide. In the hard version, moving one lever affects the others.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. In the dark, move through a maze finding parts of a ladder to create the ladder to escape. The harder version has more ladder pieces to locate.
E. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Find the proper sequence to push pieces of an item into the center of the grid to restore it. The easy version has only 4 pieces while the hard version has 8.
F. E/H. Rope puzzle. Untangle rays of light so none cross each other. Hard version has more lights and is a larger tangled string.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle: Go to the dining room in the college by selecting the correct paths to get there.
H. E/H. Chess puzzle. Move a knight on a chess board to get a shield and a sword. As you move, enemies will try to defeat you. Maneuver the board so you do not get caught and be forced to restart.
I. Sequence puzzle. Deactivate a bomb. Cut the wires in sequential order. In the hard version you are timed with only 30 seconds.
B. E/H. Lock puzzle. Use lock picks to open a lock. Move the picks into the proper positions to release the tumblers. The easy version has 4 tumblers and the hard has 6 tumblers.
C. E/H. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide levers on a radio up-and-down, so each is positioned as per a given guide. In the hard version, moving one lever affects the others.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. In the dark, move through a maze finding parts of a ladder to create the ladder to escape. The harder version has more ladder pieces to locate.
E. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Find the proper sequence to push pieces of an item into the center of the grid to restore it. The easy version has only 4 pieces while the hard version has 8.
F. E/H. Rope puzzle. Untangle rays of light so none cross each other. Hard version has more lights and is a larger tangled string.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Maze puzzle: Go to the dining room in the college by selecting the correct paths to get there.
H. E/H. Chess puzzle. Move a knight on a chess board to get a shield and a sword. As you move, enemies will try to defeat you. Maneuver the board so you do not get caught and be forced to restart.
I. Sequence puzzle. Deactivate a bomb. Cut the wires in sequential order. In the hard version you are timed with only 30 seconds.
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue your children from a dangerous board game in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
166 of 252 found this review helpful
TRAVEL THROUGH LITERARY KINGDOMS IN ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR!
PostedApril 22, 2021
sunnyglow
fromOne of the characters asks, "Is the game finished?" Perhaps, but hopefully not this series. Hope to see more of this quality of game in the future.
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: 38 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 38 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
Want to play a game? Be prepared to play one of the best HOPA games this year! Throw the dice and land in a game within a game, rich with activities, creativity, and a plethora of collectibles! For me, this is a classic. Seldom do I ever want to replay a game; however, this is one game I will keep on my classics list to replay in the future. I have been waiting anxiously to play this game and was not disappointed.
Play Zoe, a mother of three rambunctious children, who are transported into the game they are playing, with each one ending up in a different literary kingdom. Their friend Alex has brought the game to share with them; however, he alone escapes being transported into the game. Enter the game to save your children, traveling to Wonderland, Lilliputia, and Oz. Rescue them from the different perils they encounter in these kingdoms and hopefully, return them home safely.
For me, this is one of the best games produced this year -a masterpiece! The game is designed as board game with activities such as map and maze puzzles to emphasize that fact. This is a nice-sized game, a fabulous one which returns the player to the literary kingdoms from the previous games within this series. The pace is excellent with a plethora of creatively designed HOP scenes and puzzles. For once in a long time, I enjoyed playing a game which I would want to replay. I have not had that feeling about a game for years.
The graphics are breathtaking, and I found the story well-written. There are one-hundred collectibles, two within each scene. I love the sidebar on the left side of the screen which indicates how many collectibles are within each scene and how many have been collected. This feature makes it easy to see if any collectibles have been missed within a scene. Find all the collectibles and enjoy a fantastic puzzle which consists of creating a road to travel along a three-dimensional grid to reach a destination point. Very few developers have bonus games as well-designed as this one! I loved the charm bracelet in this game The player gets a charm bracelet which adds new charms as he/she traverses to the different literary kingdoms. There is a helper owl, Luna, who provides background information by telling the story behind the game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 26 achievements – some with 3 parts
• Collect 50 morphing objects and 50 figurines.
• 6 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Helper owl named Luna who tells stories upon receiving amulets you collect within the game.
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games.
• Collect charms for a charm bracelet as the game progresses.
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 26 achievements – some with 3 parts
• Collect 50 morphing objects and 50 figurines.
• 6 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Helper owl named Luna who tells stories upon receiving amulets you collect within the game.
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 16 mini-games.
• Collect charms for a charm bracelet as the game progresses.
BONUS CHAPTER: Finish what you start Jonathan! As Jonathan, you must finish the game or the boundaries between the literary kingdoms and the real world will collapse. Enter Speilland and try to stop Pinnochio from breaking through into the real world. Along the way, discover something surprising about Pinnochio. I found this an excellent addition to the game. It is set in the kingdom from this developer’s Christmas game. There are nine (9) mini-games and six (6) HOP scenes. It is a long chapter and well-worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes in the game, sixteen (16) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes with scenes with six (6) or less items to be located Wow! I am impressed by the creativity displayed within these HOP scenes. There is a wide variety of styles and they are all highly interactive. They include very few lists of items and silhouette. Most the scenes are varied including storybook scenes, matching scenes, and spot-the- difference scenes. There are quite a few of my favorites as well. I loved searching for items and then replacing them back within the scene. My favorite was a scene with a stained-glass window in which the player does not locate items but pieces with shapes and symbols from the window. There are some beautiful scenes in this game.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-five (35) mini-games, sixteen (16) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. In the demo, there are some puzzles which can be played in either “casual” or “hard” mode; however, after the demo, there are no more puzzles with that designation. Although this game is superior to many other developers’ games, I would have liked to have seen more puzzles offering both the casual and hard options of difficulty. There are quite a few map and maze puzzles which I enjoyed. Nevertheless, there are a variety of puzzles within the games from easy to moderately difficult. At the introduction of each new literary kingdom, the player plays a puzzle on a gaming board in which he must use numbered tokens to set up a path from the start to the finish of the board.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Maze puzzle. Move Zoe through a smoke-filled circular maze until she reaches the middle of the maze.
B. Map/Maze puzzle. Maneuver through a maze by collecting and using tools to clear the path for you to advance.
C. Sequence puzzle. Ring bells in the proper sequence based on given clues.
D. Gear puzzle. Place gears into a machine according to size and shape.
E. Weights and balances puzzle. Create a potion by adding ingredients in the proper sequence. Measure ingredients using 3 weights on a balance scale.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Move Dorothy to a castle at the other side of the board using 5 numbered space tokens.
G. Bullseye puzzle. Pick the correct trajectory to hit a lion with snowballs.
H. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so that a yellow brick road is connected to all its parts.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Rope puzzle. Uncross chains by moving the chains using knobs.
J. Picture puzzle. Click on pieces of a picture to change the image and restore the picture.
K. Switch puzzle. Switch gears to create an image.
L. Slider puzzle. Slide colored screws so each one is placed within its like-colored slot.
M. Connection puzzle. Connect all flames within a grid.
B. Map/Maze puzzle. Maneuver through a maze by collecting and using tools to clear the path for you to advance.
C. Sequence puzzle. Ring bells in the proper sequence based on given clues.
D. Gear puzzle. Place gears into a machine according to size and shape.
E. Weights and balances puzzle. Create a potion by adding ingredients in the proper sequence. Measure ingredients using 3 weights on a balance scale.
F. Mathematical puzzle. Move Dorothy to a castle at the other side of the board using 5 numbered space tokens.
G. Bullseye puzzle. Pick the correct trajectory to hit a lion with snowballs.
H. Origami puzzle. Fold a map so that a yellow brick road is connected to all its parts.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Rope puzzle. Uncross chains by moving the chains using knobs.
J. Picture puzzle. Click on pieces of a picture to change the image and restore the picture.
K. Switch puzzle. Switch gears to create an image.
L. Slider puzzle. Slide colored screws so each one is placed within its like-colored slot.
M. Connection puzzle. Connect all flames within a grid.
I recommend this game!
Rampant fires could burn the Brussels Secret City to ashes!
Overall rating
5
/
5
148 of 223 found this review helpful
ALL FIRED UP FOR A NEW ADVENTURE IN A NEW SECRET CITY
PostedApril 15, 2021
sunnyglow
fromErgill, the fire drake, is so adorable. He really sets my heart on fire. However, can someone please tell me - What is the difference between a dragon and a fire drake?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages
STORY: Detective! Bid farewell to London and journey to the Secret City of Brussels. Fires are breaking out all over the city and the Fire Lakrians believe it may be the work of a fire drake, Ergill. Flammel, a Fire Lakrian, demands the fire drake be returned to keep the city safe. However, could there be other hidden motives involved? As you trek around this new hidden city, you will discover hidden tensions and animosity seething beneath the surface.
OPINION: Domini is my favorite developer, and this game is another fantastic example of their gaming craftsmanship. I was glad to see a new location and some new creatures within the new location. We finally meet some Merfolk, which I do not remember seeing in previous games. There are three collectibles: figurines, morphing props, and tokens which are exchanged to provide items to fill up a circus wagon. I love the indicator bar which lights up when a collectible is available within a scene. Again, as in previous games, the level of difficulty for the puzzles can be set to create an easy play or a more challenging one. The game is aflame in the fiery brilliance of bright colors along with Domini’s signature colors of plum purple and neon green. I found the pace excellent with many activities to keep a played actively engaged.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 figurines and 15 morphing props.
• Collect 70 tokens to exchange for items to deck out a circus wagon.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 19 Mini-games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 figurines and 15 morphing props.
• Collect 70 tokens to exchange for items to deck out a circus wagon.
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 19 Mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Ramona, a Yotan from the main game. After the harrowing incidents from that game, Ergill, the fire drake, is now residing with you. He still needs training to keep his fire breathing in check. However, when a member of the Secret City Ministry, Solas, takes him into custody, you are off to save him. Your final test to become initiated as a Shaman rests in saving Ergill. I found this a nice addition to the game with a story which provides closure from the main game. Continue collecting the collectibles. There are five (5) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They are creatively designed and there are a variety of different types of scenes. There are the usual standard lists of items and silhouette; however, there are matching scenes, a cryptic clues scene, a spot-the-differences scene, and a scene in which items are removed based on a display of a small segment from them. One of my favorites is a silhouette scene in which sliders are used to match up the silhouette with the item to remove it.
X DOES NOT MARK THE SPOT! I have only one complaint about this game. Why on earth did Domini add BIG “X”s which pop up when mistakes are made in locating the hidden objects? If you make a mistake, a big “X” appears to indicate you ARE WRONG! And not only are you WRONG, you will be punished by listening to an annoying, ear cringing sound which accompanies the “X” as well. Please, Domini, to keep the sanity of your players, get rid of this feature. It is annoying!
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-seven (27) mini-games, nineteen (19) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the puzzles can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” version. This allows for an easy play or a more challenging play for those who want a little more difficulty in playing the puzzles. The difficulty for the mini-games can be set in the menu; however, the difficulty can also be changed while playing the puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Mathematical puzzle. Place fuses into position to that the sum of each pair equals the number written on a plate beneath them. The easy version has only 5 numbers; the hard version has 6.
B. E/H. Map puzzle. Fly a griffin through the sky avoiding obstacles in your path. You get 3 lives to lose in the easy version and only 1 in the hard version.
C. Lock puzzle. Enter a number code according to fingerprints on a safe.
D. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Plot a route to Antwerp for a motorcycle by pressing directional arrows in sequence. There are some arrows which have question marks, requiring to the player to choose the direction. The easy version has only 2 directions to ascertain; the hard version has 5.
E. Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move 4 pieces of a picture along tracks to create the complete picture. The pieces will move and rotate as they move along the tracks to the center of the grid.
F. E/H. Logic puzzle. Remove runes on a grid by using patterns with blue squares on them to remove them. Plot a course so none remain. The easy version has only two pattern pieces to use – the hard version has 3 which are more complex.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Transfer liquid between test tubes so each test tube has only one color of liquid. The hard version has more tests tubes to fill.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch sun and moon tokens so that the suns are on the top and the moons are on the bottom.
I. E/H. Alignment puzzle. Place colored beads into position by sliding them up and down until each bead is next to its given color featured at the side of the grid. The harder version has more beads to position.
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Switch statues so that all connect with orbs between their hands. The easy version has 8 statues; the hard version has 12.
B. E/H. Map puzzle. Fly a griffin through the sky avoiding obstacles in your path. You get 3 lives to lose in the easy version and only 1 in the hard version.
C. Lock puzzle. Enter a number code according to fingerprints on a safe.
D. E/H. Sequence puzzle. Plot a route to Antwerp for a motorcycle by pressing directional arrows in sequence. There are some arrows which have question marks, requiring to the player to choose the direction. The easy version has only 2 directions to ascertain; the hard version has 5.
E. Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move 4 pieces of a picture along tracks to create the complete picture. The pieces will move and rotate as they move along the tracks to the center of the grid.
F. E/H. Logic puzzle. Remove runes on a grid by using patterns with blue squares on them to remove them. Plot a course so none remain. The easy version has only two pattern pieces to use – the hard version has 3 which are more complex.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Transfer liquid between test tubes so each test tube has only one color of liquid. The hard version has more tests tubes to fill.
H. Switch puzzle. Switch sun and moon tokens so that the suns are on the top and the moons are on the bottom.
I. E/H. Alignment puzzle. Place colored beads into position by sliding them up and down until each bead is next to its given color featured at the side of the grid. The harder version has more beads to position.
J. E/H. Connection puzzle. Switch statues so that all connect with orbs between their hands. The easy version has 8 statues; the hard version has 12.
I recommend this game!
A frantic distress signal uncovers a mysterious disappearance at Misthill!
Overall rating
4
/
5
136 of 228 found this review helpful
A GREEN LIGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS
PostedApril 8, 2021
sunnyglow
from“Enquiring” minds want to know – With this new crop of detectives, still green behind the ears, what happened to Elf and his sidekick detective?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 25 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 25 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
STORY: Join newbie agents, Ginger, Slate and Black as they tackle their first field job. After Slate receives a year-old distress signal from three students at Mistville College, the team is off to investigate. However, none of the students nor the headmaster of the school remember these students, yet evidence around the college suggests otherwise. This game will be wearin’ of the green as the player discovers what happened to these students while experiencing an out-of-control green wave of energy!
OPINION: Elephant Games has hit the restart button on this series with a new cast of characters. Gone is Elf, the whimsical sidekick canine helper agent which helped solve cases, but also, stole many a heart with his fashion sense and dawg-gone cuteness. Team effort is the new trend in HOPA games it appears. This game is no exception. The new cast of characters consist of three newbie detectives, fresh out of detective school. I do believe this makeover gives the game a fresh look, sprucing it up with this younger cast of characters. I believe this may be an attempt to appeal to the younger generation; however, I am not certain this type of game appeals to this generation.
This game does alternate characters throughout the game which provides a nice break within the game. I feel the pace is excellent aided by this change of characters. I feel the story is well-written as well. I believe this game can be played by all age levels. Nevertheless, I believe some will be unhappy to see that Elf is not in this game and has probably been retired from this series. For me, this game is an easy play and enjoyable. Nevertheless, I experienced two glitches in the bonus chapter. I had to restart the game to undo the freezing in two scenes. However, although irritating, the game could be played to the end. There are two collectibles, but there are very few to locate within this game. However, some of the collectibles were somewhat difficult to locate.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 9 achievements.
• Collect 24 puzzle pieces to play a circular jigsaw puzzle in the Secret Room at the end of game.
• Collect 12 items belonging to the 3 detectives.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Expedition Room allows the player to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games.
• 9 achievements.
• Collect 24 puzzle pieces to play a circular jigsaw puzzle in the Secret Room at the end of game.
• Collect 12 items belonging to the 3 detectives.
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Expedition Room allows the player to return to the scenes to locate missing collectibles.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. When Ginger receives a call for help from Alana at the Mistville College, the happy trio set off to investigate. While the college was restructuring the college’s oldest building, a series of dungeons were found beneath the foundation. Now, the students from the main game are missing within these dungeons. I found this chapter a nice addition to the game. The story is more of the same from the main chapter. The pace is excellent with six (6) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes, fourteen (14) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They are consistent with ones seen in other games. I found none especially creatively designed – no wow factor here. Most of the scenes are standard lists of items and silhouette. There is one with rebus clues, one which involves replacing items back into the proper location, and a scene in which items are searched according to their pattern or based on a small portion of the item. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes which entails searching for a small number (6 to 8) items.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty (20) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the puzzles have been seen in other games.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Ye Olde Block puzzle. Move blocks to create a path for a motorcycle to move from the left to the right end of a grid.
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate all tiles on a round grid choosing the 4 correct tiles to create a picture in the center of the grid.
C. Maze puzzle. Rotate fours segments of a square maze so that a ball moves smoothly from the top right to the bottom left.
D. Logic puzzle/Card game. Play a card game to collect 3 lightning cards to win the game. Follow the rules to collect cards against your opponent.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird to restore it as per a given diagram.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Maze puzzle. Create a path for a flame to move from the bottom left to the exit point by connecting flames within the squares of the grid.
G. Connection puzzle. Connect all dots to move through a maze.
H. Paint puzzle. Using blue and red paint – paint the correct spaces within a grid to create two different animals.
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate all tiles on a round grid choosing the 4 correct tiles to create a picture in the center of the grid.
C. Maze puzzle. Rotate fours segments of a square maze so that a ball moves smoothly from the top right to the bottom left.
D. Logic puzzle/Card game. Play a card game to collect 3 lightning cards to win the game. Follow the rules to collect cards against your opponent.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch feathers on a bird to restore it as per a given diagram.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Maze puzzle. Create a path for a flame to move from the bottom left to the exit point by connecting flames within the squares of the grid.
G. Connection puzzle. Connect all dots to move through a maze.
H. Paint puzzle. Using blue and red paint – paint the correct spaces within a grid to create two different animals.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a dangerous order from abusing time for their nefarious plans?
Overall rating
3
/
5
96 of 169 found this review helpful
ZIGZAG THROUGH TIME IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME
PostedMarch 25, 2021
sunnyglow
fromDo you wish you could go back in time to change the past? I wish I could go back and not to waste the money and time playing this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages (My Time: Less Than 5 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages (My Time: Less Than 5 Hours)
Zigzag through time with Anna Gray as she battles a secret society, Omen, ran by an evildoer out to annihilate time travelers. It will be a short jaunt, however. As Anna, time will fly by on this time trip – this game is short! I played the entire game completing all activities within less than five (5) hours. This is one of my favorite series. Unfortunately, I am very disappointed by this latest entry.
This game lacks the quality and activities seen in other collector edition games. There are few extras. The collectibles are time related, twelve (12) timepieces and twenty-four (24) screensaver pieces. Many scenes only have one collectible. There are only two screensavers and one wallpaper! There is a secret room which is opened upon completion of the game in which to search for morphing items within the twenty-six (26) scenes of the game. There is also an expedition room which allows the player to return to the rooms to search for collectibles missed while playing the game. Some of the HOP scenes and mini-games can be replayed at the end of the game.
The story behind this game takes a dark turn. Daddy dearest, Richard, does not appear in this game to provide comic relief as in past games. This game is very dark in comparison to others in the series. I believe Elephant made a mistake by going down a dark path and not including Richard as comic relief for this game. Instead, this game goes into some dark history which I found very disturbing. It is difficult to reconcile the fun and loving relationship Anna Gray has with good ole dad after his sordid history is exposed. I found the game has a good pace; however, it is so short it is not difficult to maintain a good pace.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 time pieces and 24 screensaver pieces.
• Secret Room – opened upon completion of the game to search for morphing items within the scenes. You are timed in the search.
• Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the 26 game scenes to search for missing collectibles.
• One wallpaper along with 2 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 14 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 12 time pieces and 24 screensaver pieces.
• Secret Room – opened upon completion of the game to search for morphing items within the scenes. You are timed in the search.
• Expedition Room which allows the player to return to the 26 game scenes to search for missing collectibles.
• One wallpaper along with 2 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 14 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Play Aubrey, a character from the main game, as she tries to rescue Anna Gray, trapped within a looking glass. This chapter lacks all the adventure of a Wonderland excursion. It is another short excursion into more of the same as within the main game. There are six (6) HOP scenes –two of which are what I consider mini-HOP scenes, searching for six items. There are also five (5) mini-games. Continue collecting the collectibles within this game. I found the story absurd.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) HOP scenes within the game with seven (7) of these being mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for only six items. Thirteen (13) can be replayed upon completion of the game. All of them are either a standard list of items or silhouette along with two mini-HOP scenes with matching items. There is one scene in the demo where items are replaced back within the scenes. I wish there were more creatively designed scenes such as this one. There are some unique scenes for some of the searches such as items on a map and on a wall full of family portraits. However, I found most of the scenes lack creativity and to me, are rather ho-hum and boring.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty (20) mini-games, fourteen (14) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They are the best part of this game. One of the mini-games I have never seen before. It is a puzzle which requires placing tiles into position to create a 3-dimensional image.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MNI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces on a circular maze to create a path for a wire to travel along it to the opposite side of the maze.
B. Sequence puzzle. Slide parts of four tubes to expose numbers; then, press the numbers in ascending order. Numbers are hidden within the tubes and sections of each tube must be slid to expose the numbers.
C. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate three circular dials on a safe so that the arrow on each dial faces north.
D. Connection puzzle. Move connectors on a grid to create a continuous path from the left to the right side of the grid.
E. Stacking puzzle. Arrange and stack tiles onto a grid to recreate a 3-dimensional image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Logic puzzle. Fit all items in a wardrobe onto two grids at the sides so each item is placed and there are no items stacked on top of each other nor any empty spaces.
G. Tangram puzzle. Move tangram pieces from the right side of the screen to the left filling in all spaces and finding a place for all items.
H. Paint puzzle. Paint a portrait of Dorian by matching a numbered brush with a numbered color and touching the palette to fill the color in
B. Sequence puzzle. Slide parts of four tubes to expose numbers; then, press the numbers in ascending order. Numbers are hidden within the tubes and sections of each tube must be slid to expose the numbers.
C. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate three circular dials on a safe so that the arrow on each dial faces north.
D. Connection puzzle. Move connectors on a grid to create a continuous path from the left to the right side of the grid.
E. Stacking puzzle. Arrange and stack tiles onto a grid to recreate a 3-dimensional image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Logic puzzle. Fit all items in a wardrobe onto two grids at the sides so each item is placed and there are no items stacked on top of each other nor any empty spaces.
G. Tangram puzzle. Move tangram pieces from the right side of the screen to the left filling in all spaces and finding a place for all items.
H. Paint puzzle. Paint a portrait of Dorian by matching a numbered brush with a numbered color and touching the palette to fill the color in
**I recommend this game based on the quality of the mini-games.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your hometown from the Headless Horseman?
Overall rating
5
/
5
189 of 311 found this review helpful
TRAVEL TO SLEEPY HOLLOW: A PLACE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HEAD OVER.
PostedMarch 11, 2021
sunnyglow
fromSpeaking of losing your head, I am trying not to lose mine while trying to solve one of the puzzles within this game!
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: 38 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 38 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Join childhood sweethearts, Kane and Katrin as they battle The Headless Horseman, a supernatural being who is victimizing the town of Sleepy Hollow. As a former FBI agent from New York, Kane has been asked by childhood friend Katrin for his help in investigating the mystery behind this case. Is this supernatural being controlled by the witches in the area in an act of revenge, or is there another vengeful entity behind these murders?
OPINION: I found this another fantastic game in this series. Domini is my favorite developer and always provides more game for the money. For me, this is one of their better offerings. The story is a loosely based variation of the Washington Irving classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This is another tag team event in which the player will portray both Kane and Katrin as they work together to solve this whodunit.
I found the game an easy play with no errors. This game follows the same format as in this developer’s other games. The graphics are colorful and reflect the atmosphere of 18th century New England. This developer’s trademark colors of vivid purple and neon green are evident throughout the game; however, they are more subtle than in many of their previous games. There are the same number of collectibles (three) as in past games. I found the collectibles easy to locate within most scenes; however, there were some which I found well-hidden. Personally, I do not like collecting coins, stones, or anything else to exchange for items to place in some room or location. I do wish this developer would discontinue this from their games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 38 achievements.
• 34 Scenes.
• Collect 15 items for a witch’s toolbox, 15 morphing insects, and 70 stones to exchange for items for the Mayor’s Room.
• 15 Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games.
• 38 achievements.
• 34 Scenes.
• Collect 15 items for a witch’s toolbox, 15 morphing insects, and 70 stones to exchange for items for the Mayor’s Room.
• 15 Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Katrin from the main game as she battles Ragehild, and evil witch out for revenge. Save Kane before she turns him into the next Headless Horseman! I found this a long chapter and an excellent addition to the game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games within the chapter. The pace is good, and I found both the puzzles and the HOP scenes creatively designed. This is a nice addition to the game and worthy of a collector’s edition designation.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) scenes, and all can be replayed at the end of the game. For a developer who is best known for their puzzles, the HOP scenes within this game are creatively designed. There are many different styles besides the standard list of items and silhouette. There are two with rebus clues (each in a different format). There is a spot-the-difference scene, a couple pattern scenes in which items are located based on a small segment of that item, and matching. My favorite is an interactive scene in which items are located sequentially and then used within the scene to further the search. As in their other games, there is a thematic Match-3 game which can be played instead of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-seven (27) and eighteen (18) can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the puzzles have the option to be played in either an “easy” or a “hard” mode. This option can be set in the menu; however, it can be changed while playing the game. It was a treat for me to see a nonogram puzzle within a HOPA game. Not often do developers use this puzzle within their games. It is one of my favorite genres and enjoyed playing the two provided.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a key through a circular maze avoiding blocks with directional arrows written upon them. The arrows indicate the direction the block moves. If the key runs into a block, the game must be restarted. The hard version has more blocks within the circular grid.
B. Nonogram puzzle. One of my personal favorites. Enter colors into 2 nonogram grids to create pictures based upon numbers at the side and top of the grid. 2X
C. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch photograph pieces to restore 3 images The hard version has more pieces to place
D. E/H. Gear puzzle. Place gears into a grid so all connect with each other and rotate. The harder version has more gears to place into the grid.
E. Assembly puzzle. Follow a recipe to bake bread.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch the numbers on a clock so the numbers are properly located. The hard version has Roman numerals instead of digits.
G. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate squares with pieces of pipe on them to make a connection from a skull to a point on the opposite end.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. E/H. Connection puzzle. Guide butterflies to a slot of a matching color without being eaten by a big ole spider.
I. Picture puzzles. Create images from 4 difference puzzles, each designed differently.
J. E/H. Checkers Puzzle. Remove all red tokens by jumping over them. The hard version has a 5 x 5 grid. The easy version has a 3 x3 grid.
B. Nonogram puzzle. One of my personal favorites. Enter colors into 2 nonogram grids to create pictures based upon numbers at the side and top of the grid. 2X
C. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch photograph pieces to restore 3 images The hard version has more pieces to place
D. E/H. Gear puzzle. Place gears into a grid so all connect with each other and rotate. The harder version has more gears to place into the grid.
E. Assembly puzzle. Follow a recipe to bake bread.
F. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch the numbers on a clock so the numbers are properly located. The hard version has Roman numerals instead of digits.
G. E/H. Connection puzzle. Rotate squares with pieces of pipe on them to make a connection from a skull to a point on the opposite end.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. E/H. Connection puzzle. Guide butterflies to a slot of a matching color without being eaten by a big ole spider.
I. Picture puzzles. Create images from 4 difference puzzles, each designed differently.
J. E/H. Checkers Puzzle. Remove all red tokens by jumping over them. The hard version has a 5 x 5 grid. The easy version has a 3 x3 grid.
I recommend this game!
The original Clutter series is back with its most amazing and challenging set of puzzles yet!
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 186 found this review helpful
A KILLER GAME FROM THE CLUTTERMEISTER, JOE
PostedMarch 6, 2021
sunnyglow
fromHere’s to you Joe! One the best game designers in the business and one of the nicest as well! Hope to see many more games from you in the future!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
TRIBUTE TO A GAMESMITH: Some of you may be wondering – where’s the collector’s edition game today? Well, this game, along with other games from this developer are collectors and this game is one which can be played repeatedly. Many of us on the Pond Friends Forum have known Joe for years. He is frequent visitor to the forum and some of us have helped beta test his games. His games are in a class of their own, timeless, designed by a master craftsman in the art of puzzle design. Few games demonstrate the quality and craftsmanship of his games. So for those of us who have played his games for years, we are not surprised this gaming company gave Joe (as we know him) a Saturday slot.
MECHANICS This is a “killer” game, one with thousands of puzzles. Returning are the cluttered heaps of items to be matched – all lumped together. All can be played either timed or untimed; however, Joe suggests you at least try to take the challenge by trying to get all the matches in the time required. Items to be matched include some incredibly beautiful butterflies, yummy looking donuts (which might find you trying to eat a few), jewels, buttons, pictures (round and square), children’s plastic figurines, and a variety of other items. Matches can be with like items, smaller with larger of the same item, the same category of item but different shapes, black-and-white, or halves of items to be matched.
There are some new features within this game – one being nerve-racking white cubes, which, after playing for some time, seem to transform into a white blurb. Also new are bright, colorful letters, with many of the games having several letters clumped together. To add a little more challenge to the games, this game has buttons placed within buttons to match. Returning are the slider puzzles and box quotes.
TYPE OF PUZZLES: This is a list of the type of puzzles available. Most have several hundred to over a thousand games.
• Killer Quest: Junk piles with over 1600 puzzles
• Stackers: Some new variations here of cluttered items
• Memory Variations: New puzzle in which two stacks move back and forth out of sight of each other and requires the player to memorize where the matches are located.
• Accordion: One of my favorites. Columns of items move back-and-forth within the scene in which the player must locate the items and match them. The speed can be adjusted.
• Clutter Jong: Mahjong all cluttered up with matching and removing items.
• Old School Quest: Matching in different formats.
• Stockpile: More piles of junk to match.
• Clutter Gaps: Switch pictures of items to match up two halves of items.
• Potpourri: Dizzy yet? Rotating rings of items to match while they whirl around the screen. Speeds increase as puzzles progress
• Picture Quest. Create pictures with slats, switching pieces etc.
• Select and Swap. Switch pieces to create pictures.
• Slider: Move slats up, down, and sideways to create complete pictures.
• Square Jigsaw: A unique puzzle using squares.
• Clutter Picture Variations: Match up round, square, oval shaped pictures.
• Killer Quest: Junk piles with over 1600 puzzles
• Stackers: Some new variations here of cluttered items
• Memory Variations: New puzzle in which two stacks move back and forth out of sight of each other and requires the player to memorize where the matches are located.
• Accordion: One of my favorites. Columns of items move back-and-forth within the scene in which the player must locate the items and match them. The speed can be adjusted.
• Clutter Jong: Mahjong all cluttered up with matching and removing items.
• Old School Quest: Matching in different formats.
• Stockpile: More piles of junk to match.
• Clutter Gaps: Switch pictures of items to match up two halves of items.
• Potpourri: Dizzy yet? Rotating rings of items to match while they whirl around the screen. Speeds increase as puzzles progress
• Picture Quest. Create pictures with slats, switching pieces etc.
• Select and Swap. Switch pieces to create pictures.
• Slider: Move slats up, down, and sideways to create complete pictures.
• Square Jigsaw: A unique puzzle using squares.
• Clutter Picture Variations: Match up round, square, oval shaped pictures.
HISTORY OF PUZZLES: Joe always provides a little history or background information while playing these games. In this game, Joe takes us on a nostalgic journey through his experiences with puzzles. From crossword puzzles to his experiences with a Rubik’s Cube, Joe gives us insight on how he became a “puzzlemeister.” It was a little nostalgic for me as well having cut my teeth on crossword puzzles, the various “Games” magazines through the years and as an aficionada and collector of Will Shortz’s puzzle books.
I do not usually play nor review many non-HOPA games. However, this is one of my favorites. I play one of the puzzles from his games almost daily. They are a great way to take a short break from work. Most of the puzzles (under the time crunch) can be played in a few minutes. However, as the puzzles progress in each section, the time is less, and the puzzles become more difficult. Sometimes, I need to play some of those puzzles several times to get all the items listed. However, to me, well-worth it for the enjoyment of the challenge. For the price, if you love puzzle games, this game is a steal!
I recommend this game!
Can you claim your powers and save your mom in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
152 of 295 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO FAYRON! (UNLESS YOU ARE HUMAN)
PostedMarch 4, 2021
sunnyglow
fromAs you prepare for battle and march through the bonus chapter remember these words - "Keep calm and carry on in Faryon!”
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: 34 pages (My Time: 7.5 Hours)
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 pages (My Time: 7.5 Hours)
STORY: Welcome to Faryon, a magical kingdom inhabited with a variety of wondrous creatures. Play Diana, whose mother, Ruby, is whisked away to this kingdom and awaits execution. Her crime? She is a human which is considered a loathsome of creature and banned from entering this kingdom. Diana enters this kingdom to locate her mother and free her. During her stay within this magical land, Diana will learn about her past, her connection to this kingdom all while discovering and unleashing extraordinary powers she possesses. She will need those powers as she battles an evildoer named Bane who is out to exact revenge on the inhabitants of the kingdom.
OPINON: This is another great game within the series. I found the story well-written with a good plot. The kingdom of Faryon is beautifully depicted with an assortment of adorable creatures. Nevertheless, I did not care for the story behind the game. This is just a matter of personal preference and has nothing to do with the overall excellence of this game. The story is well-written, and the game has a good pace. Although the setting is a fairytale kingdom, it is less bucolic than warlike. There is a lot action within this game with many battle scenes.
MECHANICS: There are twenty-eight (28) scenes within the game. Each scene has two collectibles – morphing objects and feathers. There are two indicators at the side of the screen which indicate if a collectible has been located. Some of the feathers I found difficult to locate but not the morphing objects. Mad Head has a lot of extras in this game. There are three (3) jigsaw puzzles which can be played at the end of the game along with an ultimate hidden object scene. There is also a Match-3 puzzle playable upon completion of the game as well which allows the player to collect up to 1,000 items. One of the special powers Diana has is “second sight” which allows the player to see hidden items within other items. There is an indicator at the left side of the screen which lights up when the power of “second sight” is needed within a scene.
IN A NUTSHELL:
• Five (5) levels of play including a customized version.
• 11 achievements (Most with 3 parts).
• 28 scenes.
• Collect 28 feathers and 28 morphing objects.
• Collect 20 morphing objects within the HOP scenes.
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 20 HOP scenes but no mini-games.
• An Ultimate Hidden Object puzzle playable upon completion of the game
• 3 Jigsaw puzzles playable upon completion of the game.
• A Match -3 game playable at the end of the game with 3
levels: easy (200), medium (500) or hard (1,000).
• Second sight ability: allows items to be seen through solid objects.
• 11 achievements (Most with 3 parts).
• 28 scenes.
• Collect 28 feathers and 28 morphing objects.
• Collect 20 morphing objects within the HOP scenes.
• 4 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 20 HOP scenes but no mini-games.
• An Ultimate Hidden Object puzzle playable upon completion of the game
• 3 Jigsaw puzzles playable upon completion of the game.
• A Match -3 game playable at the end of the game with 3
levels: easy (200), medium (500) or hard (1,000).
• Second sight ability: allows items to be seen through solid objects.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel but the story behind this chapter provides a historical perspective of the past. Join Neero from the main game as he relays the story of John, his friend, whose traumatic childhood affected his decisions in life. When John discovers the truth of his lineage, he becomes vengeful and it will require Neero and others in the kingdom’s army to stop him. I found this chapter too warlike and militaristic for me. I did not care for the booming sounds, shaking and warlike atmosphere. I could not wait until this chapter was over. For those who love war movies or games, you will probably like this chapter. However, for me, it was over the top. There are five (5) HOP scenes and five (5) minigames. I feel that the HOP scenes and mini-games are creatively designed. I found it worthy of a collector's edition; however, it is just not a style of game which I enjoy.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are a few mini-HOP scenes, each one containing six (6) items to be located. Most of the scenes are standard lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There is one storybook scene as well. Each scene has a morphing object within it, some which I had difficulty finding. I found the scenes were creatively designed and very interactive. There are some beautiful scenes within this game, including one which involves searching for celestial objects.
MINI-GAMES. There are thirty-one (31) mini-games. There is a wide variety of styles. My only complaint is that this developer does not provide for a replay for any of the mini-games. Personally, I would rather replay puzzles than HOP scenes.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Maze puzzle. Fly on the back of a phoenix while avoiding obstacles in your path.
B. Checkers puzzle. Jump over other tokens to place 6 tokens into position at the top of a grid.
C. Picture puzzle. Move pieces into position to create a helmet.
D. Spot the differences puzzle. Usually a HOP scene, locate differences between 2 pictures.
E. Blocking puzzle. On a grid move obstacles in the path of a mouse to block him from escaping the grid.
F. Sleight of hand puzzle. Watch 3 boxes with 3 card symbols hidden under them as they are shuffled. Then, try to find the box which contains the image which matches a given one. 3X
G. Assembly puzzle. Place pieces in the proper place to restore a statue.
H. Assembly puzzle. Place 5 lenses with holes within them on a star-studded sky so every hole on each lens matches up with a star in the sky.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Plot a course within a maze to go from the entrance of the maze to the end using arrows at the side of the grid to create your path. There are prevailing winds which affect your movement.
J. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate squares with numbers on each of the four points so that a number pattern matches that of a given diagram
B. Checkers puzzle. Jump over other tokens to place 6 tokens into position at the top of a grid.
C. Picture puzzle. Move pieces into position to create a helmet.
D. Spot the differences puzzle. Usually a HOP scene, locate differences between 2 pictures.
E. Blocking puzzle. On a grid move obstacles in the path of a mouse to block him from escaping the grid.
F. Sleight of hand puzzle. Watch 3 boxes with 3 card symbols hidden under them as they are shuffled. Then, try to find the box which contains the image which matches a given one. 3X
G. Assembly puzzle. Place pieces in the proper place to restore a statue.
H. Assembly puzzle. Place 5 lenses with holes within them on a star-studded sky so every hole on each lens matches up with a star in the sky.
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Maze puzzle. Plot a course within a maze to go from the entrance of the maze to the end using arrows at the side of the grid to create your path. There are prevailing winds which affect your movement.
J. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate squares with numbers on each of the four points so that a number pattern matches that of a given diagram
I recommend this game!
In this scholastic escape room puzzler, help Mya to freedom after she’s locked up in school!
Overall rating
5
/
5
127 of 193 found this review helpful
EVER WANTED TO ESCAPE A CLASS DURING SCHOOL? NOW YOU CAN!
PostedMarch 3, 2021
sunnyglow
fromThis game brings back memories of high school. Just wish I would have known some of the methods within this game to escape some of the boring classes I had in days of yore.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wow! what a fantastic surprise! I am an escape room aficionada having spent many an hour with friends at a local one in my area. My buds and I have spent more than a few hours scratching our heads attempting to solve brain-crushing puzzles under a time crunch at this establishment ! Luckily, this game does not have a time element. The player has all the time in the world figure out how to unlock each door in this game.
LOGIC IS THE KEY TO OPENING THE DOORS: This is a puzzle lover’s dream game. This game is based on the logistics of the escape room arcades situated in many cities and towns. In this case the player must escape through one-hundred forty (140) doors within a school, moving from one classroom to another. To escape each room, the player must survey the scene and search for clues on how to unlock the door to leave. The player must interact with the room. Most involve some type of puzzle or searching for a key or items to unlock this door.
The puzzles I played involved matching, searching for lock combinations and collecting items to create something to open the door. There are also scenes which involve shaking items, breaking items and moving or uncovering items to find a key. As you progress in the game, the puzzles become more difficult to solve. However, there are hints given throughout the game to help navigate the scenes.
Do not let the simplistic graphics fool you in this game! This game will require some skills in deduction to see the association of the items within the room and how they can be combined and/or used to unlock each door. There is a full screen and windowed version, and the graphics are drawn so that items which are needed are fully visible and not difficult to see. The player can restart the level if they wish and there is a hint button if the level proves to difficult to solve.
FINAL NOTE: I do not play nor review daily games, being more interested in the HOPA games from this gaming site. However, this genre is one of my favorites and this is one I have been wanting to play for some time. I have not completed the game; however, from the levels I have played, I have not been disappointed and looking forward to playing the remainder of the game. I for one would love to see more of these escape room games on this site and perhaps a F2P one as well,
I recommend this game!