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:
Can you save him and the Secret City from destruction in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
110 of 185 found this review helpful
ARTIFACTS, ARTIFACTS, AND EVEN MORE ARTIFACTS IN THE BONUS CHAPTER WILL PUT YOU TO SLEEP
PostedDecember 26, 2020
sunnyglow
fromGlad I did not play this game on Christmas Eve! I might have fallen asleep and missed Santa!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 pages (My Time: 6 Hours? Not certain. I fell asleep while playing it)
STORY: Detective! Return to the Secret City to investigate mysterious artifacts which are causing havoc within the city. Since arriving at the local museum, these strange items are affecting the local citizens, causing them to lose their willpower, entering a zombie-like trance. A vengeful social misfit may be behind the chaos affecting the city and it will be up to you to stop him before he can use these artifacts to charge a powerful device to suppress the will of the people.
OPINION: Domini Games is my favorite developer; however, this series is not. This creature feature is another game in which some evildoer tries to destroy the inhabitants of this city hidden away from human folk. I found the game monotonous. There is a great deal of back-and-forth motion within the game. There is not much of story behind the game – just running to-and-fro from one scene to another searching for the culprit behind the chaos while collecting inventory items. The graphics are decent with the Domini’s signature neon green and purple splattered throughout the scenes.
There are three (3) collectibles. Collect morphing objects and photos. The photos practically jump out at you within the scenes. The morphing objects are better hidden, but still obvious within the scenes. Collect coins to purchase items for a private jet. The coins are easily seen as well. I hate collecting coins to purchase items for some room or other locale. This is one collectible I wish this developer would eliminate from their games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing artifacts and 15 photos.
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for your private jet
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 morphing artifacts and 15 photos.
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for your private jet
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another game. You have been asked to investigate another case involving - you guessed it - even more artifacts. A well-known criminal within the city has been sending artifacts to the city’s residents with disastrous consequences. Upon receipt, the residents are falling into a deep sleep and not waking up (like me playing this game). This human evildoer has plans to capitalize on selling these magical artifacts to humans causing untold havoc between the two kingdoms. Now you must try to stop him.
I found this bonus chapter a rehash of the story from the main game. It is the same story with another villain. Ho Hum! To me this is just more of the same from the main game. There are eight (8) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. There are also two mini-HOP scenes in which the player locates 6 items. I did not think the mini-games were as creatively designed as those from the main game. The chapter seemed as if it were rushed through without any creative thought or design. To me this chapter is not worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes; all can be replayed at the end of the game. I do like the variety of the HOP scenes with Domini Games; however, these scenes are not as creatively designed as in many of their other games. They include the standard lists of items and silhouette. However, there are some spot-the-difference scenes, rebus clue scenes, and some pattern scenes in which an item is chosen based upon a small piece of it or its pattern. My favorite is a search-and-replace scene in which items are located then used within the scene to find the next item.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-eight (28) puzzles within the game; eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of them can be played in either an “easy” mode for an easy/breezy game or in a “hard” mode which provides a more challenging game. There are some “puzzles” within this game which I would hardly call “puzzles.” Entering a code written on a piece of paper is NOT a puzzle.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a ball through a maze using arrows to direct its motion. Move it until it reaches a hole within the maze. The ball will keep moving until it hits a blocker in its path. The harder version has a more complex route to follow to the hole. 3X
B. Switch puzzle. Switch icons on a computer screen to match that on a given code
C. Gear puzzle. Switch gears so that all mesh with each other.
D. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch a pair of tokens at a time so that each token is in its proper location. The harder version has a space between the pair of tokens to be switched
E. Lock puzzle. Enter a given code into a vending machine to get a ticket. (This is NOT a puzzle)
F. E/H. Map puzzle. Choose between 3 paths at the right time to move through a scene without being caught by the patrolling police. The harder version has one more policeman 3X
G. E/H. Switch/Connection puzzle. Switch tokens with lights emanating from them so the lights from the tokens connect with each other and create a design.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Assembly puzzle. Move 4 pieces of a medallion into position by rotating the pieces and pushing them into the center. 2X
I. Lock puzzle. Enter 4 numbers to open a lock.
J. E/H. Map puzzle. Place arrows on a grid to lead a token to a shop. Avoid soap traps. Test your results after placing the arrows. The harder version has more arrows to place.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch icons on a computer screen to match that on a given code
C. Gear puzzle. Switch gears so that all mesh with each other.
D. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch a pair of tokens at a time so that each token is in its proper location. The harder version has a space between the pair of tokens to be switched
E. Lock puzzle. Enter a given code into a vending machine to get a ticket. (This is NOT a puzzle)
F. E/H. Map puzzle. Choose between 3 paths at the right time to move through a scene without being caught by the patrolling police. The harder version has one more policeman 3X
G. E/H. Switch/Connection puzzle. Switch tokens with lights emanating from them so the lights from the tokens connect with each other and create a design.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Assembly puzzle. Move 4 pieces of a medallion into position by rotating the pieces and pushing them into the center. 2X
I. Lock puzzle. Enter 4 numbers to open a lock.
J. E/H. Map puzzle. Place arrows on a grid to lead a token to a shop. Avoid soap traps. Test your results after placing the arrows. The harder version has more arrows to place.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Santa prepare for the most wonderful time of the year!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 205 found this review helpful
MANY HOURS OF HOLIDAY CHEER TO HOPEFULLY USHER IN A HAPPIER NEW YEAR
PostedDecember 19, 2020
sunnyglow
fromMerry Christmas and may your search for the numerous items within this game help you find the hidden joy of this holiday season!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Merry Christmas! Get ready to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Christmas. With the pandemic keeping most of us from our usual holiday plans, this game helps brighten the darkness of the times in which we are living. This is a festive game chock full of Christmas goodies. If this game does not get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will!
I never play retro-HOP games and have never reviewed this type of game before! However, after being homebound for months, this game with its glistening graphics beckoned to me. I enjoyed this game. It is a long game jam-packed with all the beauty and merriment of the holiday season. One thing I like about this game are the Christmas songs playing in the background. I enjoyed singing (in my horrible voice – so bad my cat covers his ears in torment) “Jolly Good Old St Nicholas” and other Christmas melodies. The menu allows you to choose between twenty (20) Christmas songs. Do you want to add Christmas wallpaper to spruce up your computer? There are 18 beautiful wallpapers to choose from.
The game consists of a series of HOP scenes in which you search for items within a festive Christmas environment within the town of Springfield or the North Pole. I think Springfield may be in Texas with all the references to the Tex-Mex culture and maps of Texas and state flags, but, at the same time, I saw many California license plates on the cars. However, it is not unusual nowadays in Texas to see California plates as many Californians are moving here in droves.
Alternating between the HOP scenes is a puzzle. The puzzles vary with a variety of different styles. There are picture puzzles - jigsaw puzzles, flipsaw puzzles, and rotating tiles puzzles. There are also others such as word searches, concentration puzzles, and spot-the-difference puzzles. I found the jigsaw puzzles challenging as there many pieces, and they must be rotated as well. As an added present - you can play forty-eight (48) additional puzzles at the end of the game.
Within the HOP scenes there are gold Christmas trees to be found, a bunch of lost objects, a photo to be taken of the scene, and interactive activities to be performed. The scenes are jam packed with items and I found some difficult to locate. You can earn three (3) stars for each scene played - one for finding all the trees, one of finding all the lost items and one for finding all the items listed.
This game provides a lot of gaming pleasure for the price. I have not even begun to play the additional puzzles; however, I have already spent more time on this game than most of the HOP games I usually play. Kudos Casual Arts for a fantastic game! I am now an aficionada of your games!
MECHANICS:
• Three levels of play – Casual, Challenge, and Extreme
• Play 48 additional puzzles
• Collect golden Christmas trees and lost items
• 18 wallpapers
• 20 Christmas songs to choose from as background music
• Play 48 additional puzzles
• Collect golden Christmas trees and lost items
• 18 wallpapers
• 20 Christmas songs to choose from as background music
I recommend this game!
Something is terribly wrong in the toy world, and only you can help!
Overall rating
5
/
5
182 of 342 found this review helpful
CRACK OPEN THE DOORS TO A BATTLE IN A MAGICAL KINGDOM
PostedDecember 17, 2020
sunnyglow
fromMerry Christmas to all and to all a good fight! (against the evildoers in 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
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 pages (My time: 7 Hours - a long game)
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 pages (My time: 7 Hours - a long game)
STORY: After many years, you, Marie, are off to see your godfather, Drosselmeyer, and childhood friend, Fritz, for the Christmas holiday. Your godfather is a famous toymaker and your friend, Fritz was his apprentice and is now a toymaker as well. You have many fond memories of you and Fritz playing with a toy castle which, through its doors, whisked you away to the enchanted kingdom of Speilland. Upon arrival, you learn Fritz has disappeared into this kingdom. Help your old friend who is engaged in a battle to save the kingdom from an evildoer out to destroy both the kingdom and your godfather.
OPINION: Loosely based on characters from the “Nutcracker,” the story behind this game is not related to the Christmas classic. I enjoyed this game; however, it does not have the Christmas flavor of the two previous Christmas games. You will not be singing Christmas carols in this game. Instead, you will be decked out in battle gear and shouting a war cry. It is decked out with toy soldiers, battling mice headed by the Mouse King, and an evildoer out for revenge. It is a fast-paced game in which you spend most of your time battling one evildoer after another. It is a long game with oodles of activities. It is decked out in Christmas attire; however, there is little peace and good will in this game.
The collectibles are snow globe symbols and morphing items. There are two(2) of each within each scene. I found them easy to locate. The snow globe symbols are traded in for seven (7) ornate snow globes at the end of the game. The morphing objects can be traded for mechanical toys. The graphics are superb and there are some creatively designed HOP scenes and mini-games. A lot of work went in to designing this game. It is a fantastic game – but be prepared for more of a fantasy game rather than a soft, quiet Christmas delight.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 27 achievements.
• Collect 54 collectible snow globes symbols to exchange for 7 snow globes
• Collect 54 morphing items which you exchange for mechanical toys
• 7 wallpapers along with 5 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Claus, a mouse who will give you background information about the story behind the game if you give him sweets
• Extra puzzle played after collecting all collectibles. It is a maze puzzle in which a mouse collects presents and ornaments
• Replay 25 HOP scenes and 14 mini-games
• 27 achievements.
• Collect 54 collectible snow globes symbols to exchange for 7 snow globes
• Collect 54 morphing items which you exchange for mechanical toys
• 7 wallpapers along with 5 screensavers, concept art, music, and video sequences
• Claus, a mouse who will give you background information about the story behind the game if you give him sweets
• Extra puzzle played after collecting all collectibles. It is a maze puzzle in which a mouse collects presents and ornaments
• Replay 25 HOP scenes and 14 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. You, as Marie, have been invited to a Christmas party at the bequest of the Mouse King in Speilland. Gepetto’s assistant, Pinnochio, has a strange artifact which is causing more havoc for the kingdom. This misguided puppet wants to become human; however, he is being deceived in his quest and is destroying the kingdom in the process. Now you must stop him. I found this chapter a nice addition to the game. There are fourteen (14) mini-games and seven (7) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-five (25) HOP scenes in the game; all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There is a chubby, adorable mouse, Claus, who will provide background information on the story if you feed him some sweets. Up pops a storybook scene in which you must place given items back within the scene. He pops up five (5) times within the game. There are also the usual lists of items, matching, and silhouette scenes. Some of the scenes have puzzles within them. My favorite scene was a creatively designed one in the bonus chapter in which you flip the room upside down and back again to search for items and interact with them within the room. However, turning the room upside down did cause me to become dizzy!
MINI-GAMES: There are forty-three (43) mini games in this game! They are creatively designed. However, you can only replay fourteen (14) of them. I wish this developer, along with others as well, would offer more mini-games to replay. There are many I want to replay but I am not going to replay the entire game to do so. There are also a few puzzles which can be played in either a casual or hard mode. At the end of the game there is an extra mini-game provided in which the player must run a mouse through a maze to collect presents and ornaments.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Queens 8 puzzle. In this case – Queens 4. Move 4 queens on a modified chessboard to that no two queens are in the same column, row or diagonal.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens on a 3 x3 grid to restore an image
C. Casual/Hard. Rotate and place puzzle pieces into position to restore an image. The harder version has more pieces to place within the grid.
D. Maze puzzle. Go through a circular maze while avoiding tin soldiers. If a soldier sees you, you return to the beginning
E. Assembly puzzle. Click on stars from a constellation map to create a constellation which matches that on the map.
F. Connection puzzle. Fill in hexagons by connecting them based on given numbers on the grid. All spaces will be used within each grid and all spaces for each number must connect with each other. 2X
G. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 3 rings to restore an image
H. Rope puzzle. Untangle lines so they do not cross each other.
I. Domino puzzle. Rotate gears with images on them so that adjacent gears have the same image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. Assembly puzzle. Find the symbols which comprise a more complex symbol. If correct, the symbol will light up if all parts are located 3X
K. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with similar oriented ones to restore an image
L. Connection puzzle. Switch mice in a grid so that the pieces of rope they are holding connect with each other.
M. Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored wires with each other by creating paths. Rotate squares to create a connection with the squares surrounding it.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens on a 3 x3 grid to restore an image
C. Casual/Hard. Rotate and place puzzle pieces into position to restore an image. The harder version has more pieces to place within the grid.
D. Maze puzzle. Go through a circular maze while avoiding tin soldiers. If a soldier sees you, you return to the beginning
E. Assembly puzzle. Click on stars from a constellation map to create a constellation which matches that on the map.
F. Connection puzzle. Fill in hexagons by connecting them based on given numbers on the grid. All spaces will be used within each grid and all spaces for each number must connect with each other. 2X
G. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate 3 rings to restore an image
H. Rope puzzle. Untangle lines so they do not cross each other.
I. Domino puzzle. Rotate gears with images on them so that adjacent gears have the same image.
BONUS CHAPTER:
J. Assembly puzzle. Find the symbols which comprise a more complex symbol. If correct, the symbol will light up if all parts are located 3X
K. Switch puzzle. Switch triangular pieces with similar oriented ones to restore an image
L. Connection puzzle. Switch mice in a grid so that the pieces of rope they are holding connect with each other.
M. Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored wires with each other by creating paths. Rotate squares to create a connection with the squares surrounding it.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious abduction and a strange hospital lead to a terrible secret!
Overall rating
3
/
5
81 of 197 found this review helpful
WELCOME TO THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
PostedDecember 12, 2020
sunnyglow
from'Twas the nightmare before Christmas and all through the house, mutated creatures were stirring, even a chimera mouse.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 33 pages (My time: 4 Hours)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 33 pages (My time: 4 Hours)
STORY: Welcome to a monstrous nightmare world! Play Rosalee Franco. After being stalked and kidnapped, you awaken to find yourself handcuffed to a bed in a hospital. Your memory is waning and soon discover you are part of an experiment being conducted by a beastly, mad scientist. Now, after escaping, you, along with a friend and a misguided doctor, must locate this fiend and stop his research. If not, your inner beast will break free and you may find yourself in a beastly mood!
OPINION: Take a break from the sugary sweet Christmas games and get prepared for a dark, psychological thriller. Santa will not be making his rounds in this research hospital! Leaving Santa’s reindeer in front of this hospital could see them morph into psycho killer deer out to bring holiday mayhem! This game is dark with a story delving into the dark side of genetic research. I did like the story behind the game; however, I found the game itself a monstrous bore.
After last week’s creatively designed Christmas game from this developer, I found this one just the opposite. The game is short and mediocre, lacking the creativity and quality of that game. I found it snail-paced. There is a lot of back-and-forth movement throughout the game with few activities to keep up the pace. There are only two collectibles – puzzles pieces for four (4) puzzles to be completed at the end of the game and cards about medical disorders. I found most easy to locate but some I found somewhat challenging to find. At the end of the game, there is a secret room which allows the player to locate more items within the scenes of the game. This activity is timed.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles (12 each)
• Collect 12 cards with information about medical conditions
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Secret room in which you locate additional items within the scenes. Return to the scenes from the game and search for new items. You are timed.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles (12 each)
• Collect 12 cards with information about medical conditions
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Secret room in which you locate additional items within the scenes. Return to the scenes from the game and search for new items. You are timed.
• Replay 14 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Rosalee’s friend, Adalina. When a chimera breaks into your home, you are off to find the doctor from the main game, Brian. You all believed that the mutation gene which created the chimeras had been destroyed, but obviously not. Now, by poring over research notes, you must find out why this happened and see if you can destroy the genetic link between you and the chimera. I found this chapter to be equal to the main game. It is a short chapter with five (5) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. To me, this chapter is not worth the extra cost of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes, fourteen (14) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are several mini-HOP scenes with six or less items to be located as well. Most of the scenes consist of lists of items and silhouette items. Although they are interactive, I found most boring, lacking variety and creativity. I found the ones in the demo better designed than those within the main game.
MINI-GAMES: There are sixteen (16) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. I found the mini games more creatively designed than the HOP scenes. However, like the HOP scenes, there are just not enough of them within the game to keep up the pace.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Maze puzzle. Rotate 4 pieces of a maze to create a pathway to lead a square to the exit point. All the pieces must be position and the square must pass over 4 dots (one in each segment of the maze) before exiting.
B. Switch/connection/sequence puzzle. Switch squares with parts of wire on them so that a continuous flow of electricity flows between numbered lightbulbs in sequential ascending order.
C. Jigsaw puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into position to restore an image
D. Match -3 Game. Fill your 3 power bars before your opponent does. You gain power by matching 3 or more of your colored tokens assigned to you. If you cannot match your tokens, you are forced to match those of your opponent.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Maze puzzle. In a smoky maze, plot a path to reach the abandoned factory.
F. Logic Problem. Turn all lights green on a grid. Clicking on one, lights it and all lights surrounding it, or if lit, turns them off. Plot your moves in the proper sequence to get all to light up and stay lit.
G. Two part. (1) Moving tiles puzzle. Slide 4 tokens along paths so each token representing earth, wind, fire, and air are next to an associated figure (2) Matching. Uncover and match tokens
B. Switch/connection/sequence puzzle. Switch squares with parts of wire on them so that a continuous flow of electricity flows between numbered lightbulbs in sequential ascending order.
C. Jigsaw puzzle. Rotate and place pieces into position to restore an image
D. Match -3 Game. Fill your 3 power bars before your opponent does. You gain power by matching 3 or more of your colored tokens assigned to you. If you cannot match your tokens, you are forced to match those of your opponent.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Maze puzzle. In a smoky maze, plot a path to reach the abandoned factory.
F. Logic Problem. Turn all lights green on a grid. Clicking on one, lights it and all lights surrounding it, or if lit, turns them off. Plot your moves in the proper sequence to get all to light up and stay lit.
G. Two part. (1) Moving tiles puzzle. Slide 4 tokens along paths so each token representing earth, wind, fire, and air are next to an associated figure (2) Matching. Uncover and match tokens
**I recommend this game with reservations. It is a short, mediocre game with few HOP scenes and mini-games. Nevertheless, the story behind the game is excellent
I recommend this game!
Can you reach your new family in time for Christmas?
Overall rating
5
/
5
179 of 275 found this review helpful
ALL “DOLLED UP” FOR CHRISTMAS
PostedDecember 10, 2020
sunnyglow
fromDolls are precious reflections of joyous light, whose only hope is to delight " quote by Gayle Wray, famous dollmaker.
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: 49 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 pages
STORY: Play Bell Doll, an adorable, big-eyed doll attired in a flared dress who is the cherished Christmas present desired by a girl named Frances. However, Frances may not get her prized gift. As Bell, you fell out of Santa’s bag of toys and now are off on a journey to find your way to Frances’ home to greet her Christmas morning. However, a misguided elf named Terrence is determined to keep you from reaching Frances. The journey will be fraught with danger with Terrence in hot pursuit, but you will get some help from some broken toys. Enjoy a wondrous, beautiful Christmas adventure in this game!
OPINION: Grab some eggnog and some of Santa’s cookies and get ready to enjoy another fantastic holiday game! What a bright, festive game! This is another Christmas game decked out in holiday attire with ornament laden Christmas trees, bright lights, elves, and toys galore! For me, this is one of the best games from Domini this year. I loved listening to the Christmas background music and singing along. This is a great game for the entire family. The story, the joyful music, the beautiful Christmas graphics, and the creatively designed HOP scenes and mini-games make this game a classic.
The stories are well-written in both the main game and in the bonus chapter. Both stories emphasize the hope and joy of the holidays. The game has a good pace with plenty of activities to keep a player occupied – all set in a beautiful Christmas environment. Collect presents, Christmas treats from around the world, and coins to purchase items to deck out the town square. I found most easy to locate.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 presents and 15 Christmas treats from around the world
• Collect 88 coins to purchase items for the town square.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 presents and 15 Christmas treats from around the world
• Collect 88 coins to purchase items for the town square.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is another story. Help two toymakers, Carlos and Mrs. Tolevare, patch up their differences and renew their friendship. Envious of Carlos, Mrs. Tolevare has put an enchantment on Carlos. Now you must try to release this enchantment while repairing the relationship between the two. This is a nice addition to the game. The chapter has six (6) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. The HOP scenes and mini-games are creatively designed. One of the HOP scenes involves locating items on a pop-up Christmas card and another requires searching for items and then placing them back into the proper location. This chapter is well-worth the price of the Collector’s Edition.
HOP SCENES. There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Domini is better known for their puzzles; however, hands down, these HOP scenes are some of the best I have played this year. They are thematic and include a wide array of styles. They include lists of items, including one scene in which you make some yummy Christmas cookies. There are silhouette scenes, rebus clues, spot-the-differences, items listed on letters to Santa and scenes in which items are located based on their pattern or from small piece of the object.
MINI-GAMES. There are twenty-six (26) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the puzzles have the option to be played in an easy mode for those who want an easy breezy game or in a hard mode for those who want a little more challenge in their games. Most are thematic reflecting the Christmas theme.
GETTING ALL DOLLED UP FOR CHRISTMAS WITH SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H Singing Elsa Doll. Switch puzzle. Switch piano keys so that all are placed correctly on a sheet of music. In the hard version keys can only be switched with those next to them
B. E/H. Barbie Rainbow Lights Doll. Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored lights on a grid without crossing over other connections. The hard version has one more set of lights to connect
C. E/H. China Doll. Mathematical puzzle. Place tokens on an abacus so each row and column contain the number of tokens as indicated on the sides and bottom of the grid.
D. E/H. Cabbage Patch doll. Tangram puzzle. Place pieces onto a birdhouse grid so that all pieces fit without any gaps. The easy version has less pieces to fit into the grid.
E. E/H. Raggedy Ann Doll. Maze puzzle. Move on a floor avoiding broken floorboards. If you land on a broken floorboard you must restart. The easy version has less options on which floorboards to walk on.
F. E/H. Bobble Head Doll. Assembly puzzle Copy a given 3-D image by adding and removing blocks on the grid until it matches the given image. The easy version has a less complex design to copy
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Santa Claus Doll. Map puzzle. In the hard version – plot a path for a sleigh by plotting a course placing arrows into position. Press start to reach a house while avoiding hidden obstacles in your path. In the easy version just move a sleigh one square at a time.
H. E/H. Paper Doll. Move arrows up and down to change a doll’s appearance to match that of a given diagram.
I. E/H. Matryoshka Dolls. Assembly puzzle. Using gemstones, create an image matching that on a given diagram. The easy version has a more simplistic design to copy
B. E/H. Barbie Rainbow Lights Doll. Connection puzzle. Connect like-colored lights on a grid without crossing over other connections. The hard version has one more set of lights to connect
C. E/H. China Doll. Mathematical puzzle. Place tokens on an abacus so each row and column contain the number of tokens as indicated on the sides and bottom of the grid.
D. E/H. Cabbage Patch doll. Tangram puzzle. Place pieces onto a birdhouse grid so that all pieces fit without any gaps. The easy version has less pieces to fit into the grid.
E. E/H. Raggedy Ann Doll. Maze puzzle. Move on a floor avoiding broken floorboards. If you land on a broken floorboard you must restart. The easy version has less options on which floorboards to walk on.
F. E/H. Bobble Head Doll. Assembly puzzle Copy a given 3-D image by adding and removing blocks on the grid until it matches the given image. The easy version has a less complex design to copy
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H. Santa Claus Doll. Map puzzle. In the hard version – plot a path for a sleigh by plotting a course placing arrows into position. Press start to reach a house while avoiding hidden obstacles in your path. In the easy version just move a sleigh one square at a time.
H. E/H. Paper Doll. Move arrows up and down to change a doll’s appearance to match that of a given diagram.
I. E/H. Matryoshka Dolls. Assembly puzzle. Using gemstones, create an image matching that on a given diagram. The easy version has a more simplistic design to copy
I recommend this game!
Can you bring back magic and rescue your mom in time for Christmas?
Overall rating
5
/
5
183 of 273 found this review helpful
SINGING THE PRAISES OF ANOTHER FANTASTIC HOLIDAY GAME IN THIS SERIES
PostedDecember 3, 2020
sunnyglow
from“Deck the Halls!” “Christmas Time is Here Again!”and…. “Here Comes Santa Claus” (let us all beware!) Last year “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (Santa please take care!)
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: 35 pages (My Time: 7 Hours plus one hour singing Christmas carols)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 35 pages (My Time: 7 Hours plus one hour singing Christmas carols)
STORY: Enjoy a festive, fun-filled adventure into the Christmas forest as you play Inga, a young girl in search of her mother who has disappeared. A misguided, evil sorceress is behind her disappearance. A magical snow globe will allow your mother to communicate with you and lead you to her location. In your journey you will face trials and difficulties. However, you will get some help from Winter and Grandfather Christmas as you try to not only find your mother but save Christmas and this misguided sorceress as well.
OPINION: Grab a hot cup of cocoa, some Christmas cookies, and enjoy another fantastic seasonal game from Elephant Games. This year’s offering is decked out for Christmas with glistening lights, Christmas trees chock full of glitter and ornaments, garland, and sweets of all kind. I love the Christmas games from this developer and this one is no exception. Playing it got me into the Christmas spirit. I enjoyed the musical background, which is Christmas-like. However, I wish the developer had used traditional Christmas carols as they did in the past. I loved to sing along with those background songs. Nevertheless, it is a fun game full of Christmas spirit with a message of redemption. The grinchy, green goblins which pop up periodically, provide a sprinkling of comic relief throughout the game. The graphics are incredibly beautiful. Baked into this game are some incredibly beautiful scenes.
There are three collectibles - morphing presents, puzzle pieces, and characters from the game. I found some of the puzzle pieces difficult to locate. I also found some of the morphing presents difficult to locate as well. Many are cleverly hidden within a pile of other presents in some of the scenes. However, I found the characters easy as mincemeat pie to locate. I always enjoy the secret rooms at the end of the games. Searching the scenes for additional items is fun but can be vexing. Some are well-hidden.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 26 morphing presents, 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles, and 12 mascots
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 mini-games and 13 HOP scenes
• Secret Room. At the end of the game enter the secret room to revisit scenes from the game to search for more items.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 26 morphing presents, 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles, and 12 mascots
• 12 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 mini-games and 13 HOP scenes
• Secret Room. At the end of the game enter the secret room to revisit scenes from the game to search for more items.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Welcome to a Catstown Christmas! Poor little kittens are receiving fake presents instead of real ones. You, as a white cat in shining armor, are to the rescue! There is a misguided creature behind the hidden presents. Can you locate him and help recover his Christmas spirit? I loved this chapter. The big-eyed cats in the chapter are beyond adorable. The graphics are in keeping with the Christmas theme. The chapter is a nice length and is another story of redemption of a misguided spirit. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games. To me, it was well-worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: Most are creatively designed with a Christmas motif. There are nineteen (19) HOP scenes, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There is a variety of types of scenes including silhouette, matching, storybook, and lists of items. There are also some mini-HOP scenes which involve searching for six or seven items. My favorite scene was a scene using sliders to move glass shards into position on a window.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. They vary in difficulty from extremely easy to some which I found moderately difficult. However, for the most part, the puzzles are on the easier side making this game a great one for the whole family.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE CHRISTMAS MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Maze puzzle. Move through a forest of Christmas trees by using yarn. Locate the symbols in the scene and click on them. Then, rotate the ball of yarn until it shows you the direction in which to move. 3X
B. “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus” Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so that parts of the rope do not cross each other.
C. “It’ Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Picture puzzle. Rotate and place glass shards within a stained-glass window to create a picture
D. “Nutcracker Waltz of the Snowflakes” Matching puzzle. Match up snowflakes to remove them. The snowflakes are only partial flakes. Click on them to see the complete snowflake.
E. “Unlock the Holiday Magic” Logic puzzle. Set parts on a key by moving them up and down until they fit a lock. If the segment is correctly placed, it will turn green.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. “Shake Hands with Santa Claus” Connection puzzle. Switch 6 figurines so their hands interconnect.
G. “Christmas Memories” Switch puzzle. The story of a bear’s life. Place tokens in the proper order around a circular grid to tell the life story of a bear.
H. “Blue Christmas” Switch puzzle. Switch blue, green, red, and yellow tokens with connectors on their ends so that all tokens of the same color connect in a smooth line.
B. “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus” Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so that parts of the rope do not cross each other.
C. “It’ Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Picture puzzle. Rotate and place glass shards within a stained-glass window to create a picture
D. “Nutcracker Waltz of the Snowflakes” Matching puzzle. Match up snowflakes to remove them. The snowflakes are only partial flakes. Click on them to see the complete snowflake.
E. “Unlock the Holiday Magic” Logic puzzle. Set parts on a key by moving them up and down until they fit a lock. If the segment is correctly placed, it will turn green.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. “Shake Hands with Santa Claus” Connection puzzle. Switch 6 figurines so their hands interconnect.
G. “Christmas Memories” Switch puzzle. The story of a bear’s life. Place tokens in the proper order around a circular grid to tell the life story of a bear.
H. “Blue Christmas” Switch puzzle. Switch blue, green, red, and yellow tokens with connectors on their ends so that all tokens of the same color connect in a smooth line.
I recommend this game!
When volcanic eruptions uncover hidden caves in Samoa, you can’t wait to decipher the ancient texts inside! But this educational expedition quickly takes a dangerous turn when someone steals your research! Legend says the Maori hid a powerful artifact, and there’s no telling what damage it could do in the wrong hands! Can you find the artifact and save the world in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
113 of 228 found this review helpful
ENJOY AN ISLAND ADVENTURE IN ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedNovember 19, 2020
sunnyglow
fromFrom the fact cards I discovered why people are “flocking” to New Zealand. There are 9 sheep for every person in that country. That could be “baaad” news if you try to drive the country roads. That could be a wild and “woolly” situation.
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
8 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
8 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 54 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
STORY: Agent! At the invitation of your friend, Macana, you are off on a Polynesian vacation on the island of Forgotten Cloud, off the coast of New Zealand. However, your vacation plans will be dashed when you meet an unscrupulous agent of the Black Market who dupes you into helping her in her quest to locate a valuable relic, the Sun Drop. This artifact brings power and wealth to whoever owns it; however, it comes with a price – death and destruction to the world. Now you and your friend must race against time to locate this artifact before she does.
OPINION: What a fantastic game – a classic! I found this game to be one of the best ones I have played this year. With the pandemic thwarting any vacation plans I had this year, at least for a few hours, I felt I was on vacation on this island paradise. The graphics are incredibly beautiful. For once, Domini left the vivid purple and neon green in their crayon box and brought out soft pastels and bright blues to reflect an island paradise. I found the background music relaxing and soothing. I was completely immersed in this game. In my opinion, Domini is the one to beat in producing this genre of games. They even outdid themselves with this game. Kudos to the “gamemeister!”
This is a long game! However, the time just sped by playing it. The pace of the game is excellent. Once I started, I just wanted to finish it! There are plenty of activities and a change of scenery to keep a player engaged. Collect fact cards, tattoos, and souvenirs of your trip. The fact cards provide trivia about New Zealand. It was nice to see that there were no collectible coins, seashells or any other currency used to exchange for some trinkets to put in a beach bungalow, aquarium, or any other location. I, for one, really liked just collecting the three provided. I found most easy to locate but some were somewhat difficult.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 41 achievements.
• Collect 15 fact disks which give facts about New Zealand, 15 tattoos and 15 souvenirs
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 41 achievements.
• Collect 15 fact disks which give facts about New Zealand, 15 tattoos and 15 souvenirs
• 13 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: As an agent of H.E.L.P. you are off on another case, this time to another tropical paradise, Hawaii. The Black Market is planning a heist to steal a Maori tablet which is being transported to the Hawaiian Museum. When you arrive, you see the perpetrator escaping with the tablet. Now you are off to recover it. I found this chapter to be a nice addition to the game. There are five (5) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. I found the quality of activities the same as in the main chapter. Continue to collect all the collectibles in this chapter.
HOP SCENES: Feast your eyes on some incredible eye candy with these scenes! There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes; all can be replayed at the end of the game. They are creatively designed and there are many different styles. The underwater scenes are breathtaking! There are two scenes which I found outstanding. In one, the player locates shells underwater in three different scenes. These three scenes are just incredibly beautiful. In another scene, the player locates symbols with some glistening Maori works of art. Domini is best known for their puzzles; however, the scenes in this game are some of the best I have ever played.
MINI-GAMES: As always, Domini provides more game for the money. This is evident in the mini-games. There are twenty-four (24) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the mini-games can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” mode. This option can be set in the menu but can be changed as well while playing the game. I love this feature. It allows the player to tailor the game to his taste – an easy breezy game for some to a challenging one for others. There is a wide range of puzzles as well.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO (E = Easy; H= Hard)
A. E/H Tangram puzzle. Place pieces to fill in gaps in a bridge so that a full bridge is created with no gaps. The hard version has more pieces to place.
B. E/H. Connection puzzle. Use fuses to connect matching numbers to create an electrical current between them. The easy version has 4 numbers. The hard version has 6
C. E/H Sequence puzzle. Somewhat like a HOP scene. Search for a specific number of items on a computer screen. In the hard version you must do them in sequence. In the easy version, just locate the number of items requested.
D. Map puzzle. Swim in an ocean grid to reach an exit avoiding dangerous jellyfish in your path. Choose between 3 paths and click on the path at the right moment. 3X
E. Connection puzzle. Connect jellyfish with the number of lines emanating from them which matches the number written on them
F. E/H. Moving tiles puzzle. Move cylinders to display numbers and press on them in sequential order from 1 to 7 in the easy version and 1 to 10 in the hard version.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H Alignment puzzle. Align bars with symbols on them with those at the bottom of the grid so all symbols are lit up at the bottom of the grid. The harder version has more symbols and more bars to align.
H. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch books so that the hands of the images on the spine have a sphere between them. Hard version has more books to switch
A. E/H Tangram puzzle. Place pieces to fill in gaps in a bridge so that a full bridge is created with no gaps. The hard version has more pieces to place.
B. E/H. Connection puzzle. Use fuses to connect matching numbers to create an electrical current between them. The easy version has 4 numbers. The hard version has 6
C. E/H Sequence puzzle. Somewhat like a HOP scene. Search for a specific number of items on a computer screen. In the hard version you must do them in sequence. In the easy version, just locate the number of items requested.
D. Map puzzle. Swim in an ocean grid to reach an exit avoiding dangerous jellyfish in your path. Choose between 3 paths and click on the path at the right moment. 3X
E. Connection puzzle. Connect jellyfish with the number of lines emanating from them which matches the number written on them
F. E/H. Moving tiles puzzle. Move cylinders to display numbers and press on them in sequential order from 1 to 7 in the easy version and 1 to 10 in the hard version.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. E/H Alignment puzzle. Align bars with symbols on them with those at the bottom of the grid so all symbols are lit up at the bottom of the grid. The harder version has more symbols and more bars to align.
H. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch books so that the hands of the images on the spine have a sphere between them. Hard version has more books to switch
I recommend this game!
A paranormal festival is held hostage by a mystery man demanding the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
129 of 233 found this review helpful
TRAPPED IN A WEB OF LIES
PostedNovember 12, 2020
sunnyglow
fromWhat kind of spider weaves a web of lies? Perhaps a black widow lying in wait for her next victim.
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: 40 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 pages
STORY: Will those little white lies get you into trouble? Better watch out! The God of Truth may trap you in those lies and you may never escape. Join Rick Rogers as he tries to save four liars from being trapped for eternity, including his own girlfriend, Rachel. All these liars attended the United Paranormal Fair and have been trapped within the worlds of their lying by the God of Truth. Hopefully, the wit and wisdom from Rick can assuage this by-the-book god.
OPINION: I love this series and found this game the best one in the series to date! If you lie – you eventually get caught, which is what happens in this game. Each liar gets trapped within a web of his lies and Rick must discover the lies to open the portal to their entrapment and battle to free them. There are four (4) stories, and you have a choice in the order in which you deal with two of the characters. The scenes reflect a carnival atmosphere and many of the activities are based on arcade games. I found it a fun, easy/breezy game and feel it is a great game for the whole family. However, some might find the bonus chapter a little unsettling with the creepy clowns and dolls.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 24 morphing objects, 12 statues, 25 puzzle pieces to create a puzzle in the Secret Room
• 8 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 15 HOP scenes and 12 Puzzles
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 24 morphing objects, 12 statues, 25 puzzle pieces to create a puzzle in the Secret Room
• 8 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 15 HOP scenes and 12 Puzzles
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Join the characters from the main game as they play “Face Your Fears.” With the throw of the dice, find yourself in a nightmare world of clowns, creepy dolls, dangling roller coasters as you help each of four characters battle their fears. I loved this chapter. I found it a nice addition to the game and worthy of the designation of a collector’s edition. There are four (4) HOP scenes with an additional four (4) mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to locate. There are six (6) puzzles in this chapter which I found thematic.
HOP SCENES: There are fifteen (15) HOP scenes. All can be replayed at the end of the game. I am not a big fan of HOP scenes, but I enjoyed playing these. There are not as many as in other games, but I feel these are stellar and creatively designed. They are mainly lists of items, matching, and silhouette; however, there are creative elements within them which makes each one unique. There are some beautifully illustrated HOP scenes in this game.
PUZZLES: I love the fact this developer calls these “puzzles” and not mini-games. There is no difference to me, and I always wonder why the term “mini-games” is used to describe puzzles. Many of the puzzles have the flair of arcade games at a fair. There are a few which I enjoyed because they are unique and not regurgitated ones seen in many HOPA games. My favorite is the pinball puzzle in which bumpers must be angled correctly for a ball to bounce its way to the exit. It is a fun puzzle and has two parts.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Casual/Hard. Maze puzzle. Create a path to lead Rick through the fair in 9 steps. In the casual mode Rick moves one step at a time and in the hard mode Rick must plot his steps and check if they are correct 2X
B. Shadow play. Choose the correct animal among 16 which is created by the shadow of a mechanical hand. Locate 8 animals.
C. Escape puzzle. Choose a route at the right time to escape guards as you enter a fair.
D. Sequence puzzle. Press on buttons in sequential numerical order by moving the sliders on 3 cylinders back and forth to display numbers through holes within in the cylinder.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Sequence puzzle. Place tokens on plug outlets in the proper order to make a flower grow. Each of the tokens is related to the others and causes some action upon the next one in the sequence.
F. Pinball Puzzle. Move bumpers in a pinball machine to create angles so that when the “Start” button is pressed, a ball bumps off the bumpers and reaches the exit point.
G. Sequence puzzle. Turn on all lights in a round string by pressing on them. Each light affects the others around it, turning them either on or off.
B. Shadow play. Choose the correct animal among 16 which is created by the shadow of a mechanical hand. Locate 8 animals.
C. Escape puzzle. Choose a route at the right time to escape guards as you enter a fair.
D. Sequence puzzle. Press on buttons in sequential numerical order by moving the sliders on 3 cylinders back and forth to display numbers through holes within in the cylinder.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Sequence puzzle. Place tokens on plug outlets in the proper order to make a flower grow. Each of the tokens is related to the others and causes some action upon the next one in the sequence.
F. Pinball Puzzle. Move bumpers in a pinball machine to create angles so that when the “Start” button is pressed, a ball bumps off the bumpers and reaches the exit point.
G. Sequence puzzle. Turn on all lights in a round string by pressing on them. Each light affects the others around it, turning them either on or off.
I recommend this game!
Budapest is under attack as vampires stalk the streets!
Overall rating
5
/
5
126 of 261 found this review helpful
A BLOODY GOOD GAME YOU CAN SINK YOUR FANGS INTO
PostedOctober 29, 2020
sunnyglow
fromHappy Halloween! This game illustrates how sleuthing can get into one’s blood.
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: 42 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 pages (My Time: 6 Hours)
STORY: Detective! Is prophecy being fulfilled? Is a lunar eclipse portending the resurrection of Dracula? Vampire bats have invaded Bucharest creating chaos throughout the city. Vampire hysteria is rampant! The victims are young men in their twenties, found dead with red eyes, seemingly the cause of a vampire bite. After her brother is a victim, a budding detective, Agatha, has asked your help in sleuthing this case. Has Dracula returned or is there an elaborate hoax being perpetrated by an unlikely suspect?
OPINION: This is a “fang-tastic” vampire themed game. It is a nice addition to this week's Halloween games. I enjoyed this detective game with a story which turned out to be nothing what I expected it to be. I found the story behind the game well-written and loved the surprise ending. It is a fast-paced game with beautiful graphics portraying Bucharest of the late 1800’s.
I love the layout of this game. There is a sidebar at the left side of the screen which indicates if there is a collectible within the scene and if it has been located. I wish more developers would provide this feature. There are two collectibles within the game, morphing objects and playing cards. There is one of each in every scene. I found most easy to locate; however, I did find a few well-hidden. At the end of the game, you will use the playing cards to play an additional card game. As you play the game you will make deductions in two formats. In one, the player analyzes a murder scene searching for a list of clues within the scene. In the other, the player is presented with six suspects or items from the game and places them into the blanks of a narrative summarizing the events just witnessed.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 24 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 28 cards to play a card game at the end of the game.
• Collect 28 morphing objects, mostly bats.
• 9 wallpapers and 8 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 24 achievements – some with 3 parts.
• Collect 28 cards to play a card game at the end of the game.
• Collect 28 morphing objects, mostly bats.
• 9 wallpapers and 8 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Agatha, a character from the main game, who has earned her detective stripes. The chauvinistic policeman, Laszlo, now realizes her talent for detective work and has asked her to help him with a case. Monsters have invaded Bucharest and are tearing up the town. These creatures have superhuman strength. Where did these creatures come from and what Frankesteinian nightmare has been unleashed on the city? I liked the story behind the game. There are five (5) mini-games and seven (7) HOP scenes. The scenes are reused as well as some of the HOP scenes in this chapter. One of the mini-games was a repeat of one in the main game. It is a decent; nevertheless, I liked the main game better.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (21) scenes in the game. All can be replayed at the end of the game. Most are lists of items, silhouette, or matching pairs. There is also scene in which items are identified by their pattern or based on a small segment of the item. My favorite is one which involved taking papers with punched out constellations and overlaying them over those on a star globe to remove them from the globe.
MINI-GAMES: This game is a puzzle-lovers dream! There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be played at the end of the game. I found them creatively designed. There is one which can be played in either a “hard” mode or “casual” mode. I wished the developer had provided a few more puzzles with that option. There is a wide variety of different styles of puzzles as well.
MINI-GAMES: This game is a puzzle-lovers dream! There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be played at the end of the game. I found them creatively designed. There is one which can be played in either a “hard” mode or “casual” mode. I wished the developer had provided a few more puzzles with that option. There is a wide variety of different styles of puzzles as well.
SPOILERS: LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Connection puzzle. Rotate 5 cylinders with path segments on them to create a continuous path for each of 3 tokens to reach the other side
B. (Hard/Casual) Maze puzzle. Move through a maze collecting parts to build a ladder. In the hard version the maze is dark, only displaying a small lighted area as you move through the maze. In the easy version the scene is lit up.
C. Matching puzzle. Match up like bats
D. Switch puzzle. Switch masks and clothing on 3 mannequins so each has the appropriate mask and clothing
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Jigsaw puzzle. Rotate and connect pieces together to form a picture of a vampire
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate 3 dials so that the correct number appears through a hole on each of the three dials
G. Math problem. Move a dial on a pressure gauge to a green zone using two valves to move the dial either 3 spaces to the right or 5 spaces to the left.
B. (Hard/Casual) Maze puzzle. Move through a maze collecting parts to build a ladder. In the hard version the maze is dark, only displaying a small lighted area as you move through the maze. In the easy version the scene is lit up.
C. Matching puzzle. Match up like bats
D. Switch puzzle. Switch masks and clothing on 3 mannequins so each has the appropriate mask and clothing
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Jigsaw puzzle. Rotate and connect pieces together to form a picture of a vampire
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate 3 dials so that the correct number appears through a hole on each of the three dials
G. Math problem. Move a dial on a pressure gauge to a green zone using two valves to move the dial either 3 spaces to the right or 5 spaces to the left.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious invitation promises rare treasures but exposes dark secrets!
Overall rating
5
/
5
157 of 251 found this review helpful
A COLLECTOR’S EDITION TO APPEAL TO COLLECTORS EVERYWHERE
PostedOctober 22, 2020
sunnyglow
fromBeing a collector can be dangerous. One of the collectors in this game who collected photographs faced being frozen in a photo. Does that mean the if you are a collector of HOPA games, you could end up as a collectible morphing object in some HOP scene?
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
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
OPINION: Are you a collector of creepy HOPA games? You might want to add this surrealistic thriller to your collection. Someone let cat out of the box – in this case, a crazed harlequin named Curioso. Collectors are disappearing and you, as an agent from the Dark Light Detective Agency, have been asked to investigate the disappearances by a mysterious stranger. Attend a private auction where you will learn the stories of three (3) collectors who will stop at nothing to get a prized collectible. They have been drawn to this private showing, all searching for that special collectible. All of you are trapped within an old Gothic mansion, with each collector reliving their secret, tawdry past. The maniacal harlequin, Curioso, will be your guide. At the end, you will decide their fate for their transgressions.
OPINION: Play the game your way! One of the nice features of this game is the ability to tailor it to your own taste. The game has three (3) options of gameplay. The player can choose more mini-games, more HOP scenes, or an equal number of each. Each chapter centers on one of the collectors and at the end, the player chooses between three (3) outcomes for each of them. Nevertheless, I did not find that the choice I made altered the outcome of the game. For me, it was nice to have more puzzles to play and fewer HOP scenes. With its fast pace, gorgeous graphics, and a boxload of extras, this is a fantastic game for the Halloween season.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 48 morphing collectibles and 20 jigsaw pieces for a puzzle played at the end of the game
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Hidden chapter which contains a HOP scene.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 48 morphing collectibles and 20 jigsaw pieces for a puzzle played at the end of the game
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Hidden chapter which contains a HOP scene.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel entitled, “Story of Woe.” Look into the soul of Curioso and relive his tormented childhood and learn his tragic fate. It is a lengthy chapter and a nice addition to the game. Since I chose to play more mini-games than HOP scenes, I can only indicate the number of each I played. I played eight (8) mini-games and two (2) HOP scenes. I liked the story behind the chapter and feel it is well-worth the price of the collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: Since I played the version which contained more mini-games, I only played thirteen (13) HOP scenes. I found the few I played were creatively designed. I enjoyed the eyeball bending scene in which all the items within the scene morphed. I also loved the search and replace scene set within a storybook setting in which items are located within four (4) scenes and then replaced into another scene. There is a Match-3 game which can be played in lieu of the scenes. The player is timed, and an accuracy percentage is provided for each scene at the end of the game.
MINI-GAMES: I played the version which had more mini-games and was not disappointed. In this version there are twenty-eight (28) mini-games. They vary in difficulty and there are a few mini-games which can be played in an “easy” or “hard” mode. Most are ones seen in other games. There are quite a few picture puzzles in this game; however, there are different styles of those puzzles.
SPOILERS: THERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Picture puzzle. Switch puzzle. Switch blades of a fan to restore an image upon it.
B. Picture puzzle. Slat puzzle. Move slats into position to restore an image
C. Sequence puzzle. Remove colored strings in the proper sequence.
D. E/H Matching puzzle. Uncover and match up fruit on cards
E. Switch puzzle. Switch piano keys with symbols on them as per a given diagram.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Multiple-step puzzle. (1) Block puzzle. Move blocks within a grid to create a path for a gold token to reach the end. (2) Move a token on a chain through a maze to its destination
G. Arcade game. Get the parrot. Move a toy crane up-down-and sideways to move a grabber on a toy crane to get the parrot.
H. Assembly puzzle. Locate pieces on a circular grid which, when combined, create the items in the center of the screen
B. Picture puzzle. Slat puzzle. Move slats into position to restore an image
C. Sequence puzzle. Remove colored strings in the proper sequence.
D. E/H Matching puzzle. Uncover and match up fruit on cards
E. Switch puzzle. Switch piano keys with symbols on them as per a given diagram.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Multiple-step puzzle. (1) Block puzzle. Move blocks within a grid to create a path for a gold token to reach the end. (2) Move a token on a chain through a maze to its destination
G. Arcade game. Get the parrot. Move a toy crane up-down-and sideways to move a grabber on a toy crane to get the parrot.
H. Assembly puzzle. Locate pieces on a circular grid which, when combined, create the items in the center of the screen
I recommend this game!