sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:822
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:July 10, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you save your world from magical beings bent on its destruction?
Overall rating
5
/
5
143 of 238 found this review helpful
ENJOY THE MAGIC OF THE HILLS OF IRELAND
PostedSeptember 17, 2020
sunnyglow
fromWith all the amulets and lucky charms – this is one game which I found magically delicious!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages (My time: 7 hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 pages (My time: 7 hours)
STORY: Enjoy the magic of Ireland as you and your sister, Catherine, head off to locate your missing grandfather. After Catherine receives an amulet from him after years of his absence, she begins to experience haunting dreams about him. Now she wants to discover why she is having those dreams and how they are related to your missing grandfather. Discover facts about your roots as you uncover a hidden kingdom inhabited by the Seeds. These purveyors of magic are hidden within the hills of the countryside. Learn the history of this race and its connection to your family.
OPINION: This is a long game and one which is beautifully illustrated. It has the flavor of Ireland with shamrocks, wearin’ of the green, and even an Irish setter. This is a puzzle-heavy and HOP-lite game. Nevertheless, I found it an easy play, a little too easy for my taste. However, it is one which can be played by the entire family. Adults and children alike will love the Irish setter. He is a helper throughout the game, digging up items needed in the game. He is not used excessively, only five (5) times within the game and does not appear in the bonus chapter at all. Locate beads for a gimmicky magical amulet Every time a bead is located, you will hear more information about the history surrounding the game and search for five (5) runes using the amulet. There is a sidebar on the left which indicates how many collectibles are within the scene and if they all have been collected. This is one feature I wish more developers would include in their games.
Collect elves (which look surprisingly like fairies to me) and an assortment of collectibles. There are two of each per scene. The fairies are easier to locate as the game progresses. As you collect the elves, you “purchase” five (5) elves housed within the collectibles section under “extras.” If you collect them all you can play additional HOP scenes. The other collectibles are not defined - they vary within each scene and I just clicked on what I thought might be a collectible to locate them.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 52 collectibles
• Collect 52 elves to uncover 5 elves
• 26 scenes. There are two of each collectible in each scene
• 10 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Get a magical amulet and collect beads to charge it.
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 13 Mini-games
• Play additional HOP scenes within the section containing the collectible elves if all are collected
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 52 collectibles
• Collect 52 elves to uncover 5 elves
• 26 scenes. There are two of each collectible in each scene
• 10 wallpapers and 5 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Get a magical amulet and collect beads to charge it.
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 13 Mini-games
• Play additional HOP scenes within the section containing the collectible elves if all are collected
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. In the sequel, play Catherine as she tries to learn more about her family history. In this chapter, she searches for her grandmother, who has not been seen for years within the World of Seeds. The King of Seeds is facing a rebellion by some of his subjects, and you must help restore order to the kingdom, hopefully with the help of your grandmother. Be careful! Not everyone is as they seem. Be prepared for some surprises. It is a long chapter and worth the price of a collector’s edition. There are eleven (11) mini-games and six (6) HOP scenes. I found both equal in quality and style to those from the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes and all can be replayed at the end of the game. Most are either lists of items or silhouette. They are interactive and most require some manipulation of the scene to remove an item. There are also some storybook scenes, matching, and a couple of search-and-replace scenes. There are many mini-HOP scenes searching for a small number of items.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-five (35) mini-games, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed. Again, I wish this developer, and all others as well, would provide more puzzles to be replayed. I found the mini-games easy, a little too easy for my taste. I did not find any which were even moderately difficult. There is one which can be played in either a casual or hard setting in the demo. However, there are also activities which are puzzle-like such as jigsaw puzzles which are not identified as such within the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide five chess pieces to their corresponding places on a pentagon
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles with path pieces on them to create a path for a ball to move from top left to top right of the grid.
C. Matching puzzle. Match up like orbs 2X
D. Map puzzle. Place 9 markers with numerical arrows on a grid so they create a path for you to move from start to finish, landing exactly on the ending point. All markers must be used.
E. Maze puzzle. Go through a fog-filled maze in the dark locating items to help get through the maze.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Sequence puzzle. Lead 5 fireflies to same colored flowers in the correct sequence avoiding a spider at the top of the screen. Moving one firefly affects the others’ movements.
G. Matching puzzle. Match up images under leaves
H. Matching. Uncover matching symbols under orbs
I. Beat the computer. Match 3. Connect your colored tokens to remove them. Upon removal you will fill up your tubes. If you have no matches, then connect those of your opponent. Your tubes will lose liquid as well. Fill up your tubes before the evildoer does.
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles with path pieces on them to create a path for a ball to move from top left to top right of the grid.
C. Matching puzzle. Match up like orbs 2X
D. Map puzzle. Place 9 markers with numerical arrows on a grid so they create a path for you to move from start to finish, landing exactly on the ending point. All markers must be used.
E. Maze puzzle. Go through a fog-filled maze in the dark locating items to help get through the maze.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Sequence puzzle. Lead 5 fireflies to same colored flowers in the correct sequence avoiding a spider at the top of the screen. Moving one firefly affects the others’ movements.
G. Matching puzzle. Match up images under leaves
H. Matching. Uncover matching symbols under orbs
I. Beat the computer. Match 3. Connect your colored tokens to remove them. Upon removal you will fill up your tubes. If you have no matches, then connect those of your opponent. Your tubes will lose liquid as well. Fill up your tubes before the evildoer does.
I recommend this game!
Enjoy many new Clutter variations mixed in with your old favorites for a quest you'll never forget!
Overall rating
5
/
5
24 of 61 found this review helpful
CLUTTERED UP TO THE "XTREME!" ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedSeptember 14, 2020
sunnyglow
fromLocation: Buried under massive heaps of clutter trying to remove all of it in the time allotted.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE COMPLETED GAME (If that is possible! – this clutter is endless!)
What a fantastic game! Our "cluttermeister" has outdone himself, crafting another fantastic clutter game with more clutter and more time crunching puzzles. No other developer provides the quality of clutter games like this developer, the originator of this type of game.
This little gem has large variety of puzzles and thousands of them as well. It provides hours of gaming pleasure! The puzzles can be played in either a casual mode which is untimed or in the more challenging timed mode. Blow your mind with massive heaps of clutter which must be removed in specific amount of time. I played the puzzles in the timed mode, having to replay some of the scenes numerous times to remove the clutter in the time allotted.
There are eighteen (18) varieties of puzzles including Mah Jong and sliders. The sliders have been on a diet, I believe. The slats are skinnier, and many of the slider puzzles are nerve racking with slats which are somewhat difficult to match up. There are several types of matching as well. Match up two or three items. This game introduces those fantastic fours, quarter pieces which must be matched up to create a completed item to remove.
The picture puzzles are a new feature. They vary in style and variety with some variations I have never seen before. The box quotes have returned. Get more wit and wisdom from our developer with these pithy sayings.
The scenes are amazing with cats, dogs, smiley faces, hearts, Easter eggs, people, and massive amounts of junk (leftovers I believe from the junkpiles from HOPA games). Some of the scenes are dedicated to just one type of these items and others have all them jumbled together in one large heap of confusion.
For me, this is a game I play in-between HOPA games. It is one game which can be played and replayed numerous times for a short period time or to wile away the hours. It is a must-have for puzzle lovers!
MECHANICS:
• Strategy guide with hints on how to play the various games
• Timed or Untimed versions
• Hints which are earned as you play the game.
• Timed or Untimed versions
• Hints which are earned as you play the game.
VARIATIONS:
Clutter Quest,
Mah Jong
Color variation,
Circles
Sliders
Clutter Picture Variations
Original Clutter
Gap War
Abstract Quest
Clutter Mah Jong
Number Variations
Lines
Square Jigsaws
Fantastic Fours
More Extreme Clutter
Clutter Gaps
Picture Quest
Box Quotes
Joe's Jam
Mah Jong
Color variation,
Circles
Sliders
Clutter Picture Variations
Original Clutter
Gap War
Abstract Quest
Clutter Mah Jong
Number Variations
Lines
Square Jigsaws
Fantastic Fours
More Extreme Clutter
Clutter Gaps
Picture Quest
Box Quotes
Joe's Jam
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover and stop a dangerous menace terrorizing new cadets?
Overall rating
3
/
5
78 of 156 found this review helpful
MONSTROUS PROBLEMS AWAIT YOU AT THIS TRAINING CAMP
PostedSeptember 10, 2020
sunnyglow
fromWhat a great game to begin the school year! It just goes to show you that there will always be a few little “monsters” within any school setting.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)
STORY: Detective! Enjoy some nostalgic memories as you return to the Mystery Trackers Training Camp. You were once a student at this camp; however, now you have been asked by one of your fellow students, Shade, to help train new cadets. You will have your work cut out for you as two of the students have discovered secrets within the forest which have caused monstrous consequences for the camp. Relive you own memories as you tie in recent incidents to those from your own past.
OPINION: This is a decent game; however, for me, it is not of the same quality as previous games from this series I feel this game was rushed through without being checked for accuracy nor detail. There are many activities to keep a player engaged for the most part. Nevertheless, I found some parts of the game somewhat tedious with a great deal of back-and-forth activity. I found the story somewhat confusing as well. There are scenes where the detective returns to her own time as a student at the camp. I could not ascertain if she went back in time or was simply reliving memories. Many will be delighted Elf returns as a helper. However, he is an optional helper which is a nice touch for those of us who dislike helpers in games.
The collectibles are morphing objects and puzzle pieces. However, the number of puzzle pieces to be collected do not match up with those shown in the strategy guide. At the end, I was missing two puzzle pieces. The jigsaw puzzle shows twenty-four (24) pieces, but the strategy guide only shows the location for only twenty-two (22). The strategy guide also indicates there are collectibles within the game (marked in red); however, there are none. It seems that the strategy guide was not double-checked for accuracy.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 13 achievements.
• Collect 27 morphing objects and 24 puzzle pieces
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• Elf as an optional helper
• 13 achievements.
• Collect 27 morphing objects and 24 puzzle pieces
• 5 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 12 mini-games
• Elf as an optional helper
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play Agent Howl, a recruit to the research center mentioned in the main game. When an experiment goes terribly wrong, it will be up to you as this agent to open three lockdown facilities to reach the facility administrator. It is a long chapter and well-worth the price of a collector’s edition. There are five (5) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games. I found the mini-games and HOP scenes better in this chapter than in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) HOP scenes, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed upon completion of the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes, searching for a small number of items. They vary in style and include lists of items, silhouette, spot-the-difference, and storybook in which items to remove are highlighted. There is a scene in which an item is found based on a small section or pattern of that item. My favorite scene was a cleverly designed matching one in which drawers in a cabinet are opened with an item removed to match with its partner in yet another drawer.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-four (24) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. I found most of the mini-games easy with a few which were of middle difficulty. My favorite puzzle was a map puzzle in which the player must go through a forest by creating paths. This is accomplished by locating items to help remove obstacles which block those paths.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Place kitchen utensils in the proper order as per given clues
B. Matching puzzle. Using a gun, shoot two identical figures in an arcade game.
C. Maze puzzle. Climb up a tree using arrows to avoid obstacles in your path.
D. Map puzzle. Find your way through a forest by taking paths and locating items which will help clear new paths.
E. Assembly puzzle. Choose runes which, when combined, produce a symbol at the bottom of the screen.
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate and slide tiles with symbols on them so they match the ones in the center of the grid. 2X
BONUS CHAPTER
G. Beat the computer. Matching puzzle. Click on a column on a chess board to release checker-like tokens to try to get a row, column, or diagonal of 4 of your tokens before your opponent
H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines standing on pedestals with two colors on the bottom so those colors match up with colored arrows at the bottom and sides of the grid.
I. Connection puzzle. Place connectors into a grid connecting one end to another so that the lines pass through all cold items while avoiding hot items.
B. Matching puzzle. Using a gun, shoot two identical figures in an arcade game.
C. Maze puzzle. Climb up a tree using arrows to avoid obstacles in your path.
D. Map puzzle. Find your way through a forest by taking paths and locating items which will help clear new paths.
E. Assembly puzzle. Choose runes which, when combined, produce a symbol at the bottom of the screen.
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using arrows, rotate and slide tiles with symbols on them so they match the ones in the center of the grid. 2X
BONUS CHAPTER
G. Beat the computer. Matching puzzle. Click on a column on a chess board to release checker-like tokens to try to get a row, column, or diagonal of 4 of your tokens before your opponent
H. Switch puzzle. Switch figurines standing on pedestals with two colors on the bottom so those colors match up with colored arrows at the bottom and sides of the grid.
I. Connection puzzle. Place connectors into a grid connecting one end to another so that the lines pass through all cold items while avoiding hot items.
I recommend this game!
Can your love survive the vampire’s curse?
Overall rating
5
/
5
102 of 184 found this review helpful
ETERNAL LOVE TAKES A BITE OUT OF A VAMPIRE’S PLANS
PostedSeptember 3, 2020
sunnyglow
fromLocation? “Staking” out the evil inhabitants residing in the Carpathian Mountains.
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: 49 pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 pages
STORY: Welcome to Transylvania! Enjoy your stay in the Carpathian Mountains as you help two star-crossed lovers fight an ancient evil. Play the tag team duo, Gabriel Dracula and his fiancée, Sabrina as they try to thwart a vampire, Tamash, and his evil plans. After his mother was bitten by Tamash, Gabriel was born half human and half vampire. Now having reached adulthood, his hidden vampire self is emerging. Tamash’s ambition is to release Gabriel’s vampire self to help fulfill his dastardly plan. However, this couple has other plans on how they plan to spend their eternal bliss! Will their love conquer all and defeat this ancient evil?
OPINION: What a fantastic “horromance!” This Gothic, action-packed thriller is a fantastic addition to this series. It is reminiscent of the Hammer vampire movies from the past. The graphics are creepy and spooky - set in the vampire infested area of Transylvania. It is chock full of bats, garlic, coffins, spider webs, all set in a gloomy castle set high above town in the Carpathian Mountains. It is a lengthy game filled with plenty of activities. With the ability to choose the difficulty level for the puzzles, this game should appeal to both those who want an easy-breezy game as well as those who want more challenge. It is also chock full of collectibles. There are three collectibles with at least two per scene. I found most were easy to locate.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 pieces of jewelry and 15 morphing blood samples
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a salon
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequence
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 pieces of jewelry and 15 morphing blood samples
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a salon
• 15 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequence
• Replay 17 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Join Dr. Diana Helsing (character from the main game) as she battles another vampire, Marku. After her mother arrives home with tell-tale bite marks on her neck, Dr. Helsing is off to battle the vampire behind this. I found this a nice addition to the game. The game is worthy of the collector’s edition designation. There are five (5) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. I found the story behind the game decent. However, I did feel that activities in this chapter were not as creatively designed as those in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes. All can be replayed at the end of the game. There is a Match-3 game which can be played instead of the searches. There is a nice variety of scenes as well. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette scenes. However, there are matching scenes and storybook scenes as well. They are creatively designed and highly interactive. Most have some creative element which makes them unique. One of the scenes has the player searching for items in a vampire’s coffin. Many have multiple scenes in which to do the searches. Some of the silhouette scenes require rotating disks to combine two halves of an item before it can be removed.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes. All can be replayed at the end of the game. There is a Match-3 game which can be played instead of the searches. There is a nice variety of scenes as well. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette scenes. However, there are matching scenes and storybook scenes as well. They are creatively designed and highly interactive. Most have some creative element which makes them unique. One of the scenes has the player searching for items in a vampire’s coffin. Many have multiple scenes in which to do the searches. Some of the silhouette scenes require rotating disks to combine two halves of an item before it can be removed.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-seven (27) mini-games, eighteen (18) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Most have the option to be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. This option can be set within the menu; however, the puzzle difficulty can be changed if the puzzles seem too difficult or too easy. I found most of the puzzles thematic and well-designed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E=Easy; H=Hard)
A. Switch puzzle. Slide two rows of candles – red and blue, so that the candles of each color are bunched together within their designated places
B. E/H Matching puzzle. Match up playing cards. Easy version has less cards to match
C. E/H. Maze puzzle. Ride a horse. Navigate a horse through snowy Transylvania avoiding obstacles in your path. Hard version has more obstacles.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a key through a maze within a lock. A big-eyed cat will appear as you move in the maze. If the cat sees you move, He will swipe at you and you must restart. Easy version has a lazier cat who does not seem to care.
E. E/H. Matching puzzle. Match up icicles to climb a mountain.
F. E/H Matching puzzle. Choose the correct tools to create a design on a loaf of bread. Easy version has less designs.
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Recreate an image on a grid by coloring in the cells. The easy puzzle has an easier image to recreate.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Strategy puzzle. Trap a racoon. Place bags within a honeycomb grid to enclose and entrap a raccoon.
I. E/H Lock puzzle. Using 3 arrows, move 3, 4, or 6 spaces clockwise or counterclockwise to land on symbols as per a given guide. The easy version has less symbols
J. Connection puzzle. Connect wires to light up all lights on a grid.
K. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Arrange tiles with numbers on them to plot out the number of steps needed to move the character to its destination ending with the exact number of spaces needed. Easy version requires fewer moves.
B. E/H Matching puzzle. Match up playing cards. Easy version has less cards to match
C. E/H. Maze puzzle. Ride a horse. Navigate a horse through snowy Transylvania avoiding obstacles in your path. Hard version has more obstacles.
D. E/H. Maze puzzle. Move a key through a maze within a lock. A big-eyed cat will appear as you move in the maze. If the cat sees you move, He will swipe at you and you must restart. Easy version has a lazier cat who does not seem to care.
E. E/H. Matching puzzle. Match up icicles to climb a mountain.
F. E/H Matching puzzle. Choose the correct tools to create a design on a loaf of bread. Easy version has less designs.
G. E/H. Assembly puzzle. Recreate an image on a grid by coloring in the cells. The easy puzzle has an easier image to recreate.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Strategy puzzle. Trap a racoon. Place bags within a honeycomb grid to enclose and entrap a raccoon.
I. E/H Lock puzzle. Using 3 arrows, move 3, 4, or 6 spaces clockwise or counterclockwise to land on symbols as per a given guide. The easy version has less symbols
J. Connection puzzle. Connect wires to light up all lights on a grid.
K. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Arrange tiles with numbers on them to plot out the number of steps needed to move the character to its destination ending with the exact number of spaces needed. Easy version requires fewer moves.
I recommend this game!
A small-town murder case hides a revelation that will shake the agency to its core!
Overall rating
5
/
5
153 of 282 found this review helpful
DEATH IS IN THE AIR WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO TOWN
PostedAugust 20, 2020
sunnyglow
fromKudos to our GrandMA for knitting together images from past games into the fabric of this new one – tying them together in a fantastic addition to this series
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: 47 pages (My time: 7.5 hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages (My time: 7.5 hours)
Master Detective! Death is in the air as you travel to Darkmoor to investigate a murder of a young man. Death is spreading throughout this town, searching for more victims. According to a young mysterious psychic, everyone is doomed to die, including you. Who is this young girl, an amnesiac who cannot remember anything about her past? As you investigate, you will see characters and other reminders tied to past cases. Hopefully, Death will not find you before you solve the case.
OPINION: This is a long game and a nice addition to the series. I found it vastly different from the other games within this series. This is an easy-breezy game. The mini-games are less difficult and there are less of them as well. There are also less HOP scenes. The story is a variation of a Celtic legend, providing some surprises as to the culprit. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep a player engaged. The graphics are better than in some of the other games in this series. There are some beautiful scenes within the bonus chapter. However! Beware! Snake alert! There is nasty snake which jumps out at you in one of the scenes!
MECHANICS Collect morphing tarot cards. Also collect jigsaw puzzle pieces to complete a puzzle at the end of the game. The morphing cards are related in some way to past Mystery Case Files games and some of the characters are wearing masks to avoid the corona virus. I found this a humorous touch. There are two tarot cards per scene. I found most easy to locate. I like the sidebar on the left side of the screen which indicates how many collectibles are within a scene and how many are left to locate. There are two gimmicks within the game – a energy anomaly device and an energy cube. A puzzle must be played to use the energy anomaly device.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 54 morphing tarot cards and 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces for 4 puzzles
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky device to destroy energy-based anomalies
• Gimmicky energy cube which you inherit from Aisling as you play the game
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 15 achievements.
• Collect 54 morphing tarot cards and 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces for 4 puzzles
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Gimmicky device to destroy energy-based anomalies
• Gimmicky energy cube which you inherit from Aisling as you play the game
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 13 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play a character from the main game (to name it will spoil the story) who must regain her power by engaging in three challenges within the Spirit World. I found this a nice addition to the game and worthy of a collector’s edition designation. There are seven (7) mini-games and three (3) HOP scenes. There is one Rube-Goldberg puzzle in this chapter. The graphics are incredibly beautiful, set in a forest.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) HOP scenes and all can be replayed. There are various mini-HOP scenes in which the player collects five or six items. I found them well-designed and highly interactive. They include the usual lists of items, silhouette scenes, and storybook scenes. There are also replacement scenes in which items are placed within the scene. There is one which has items located by pattern or from a small segment of the item. My favorite is one with cut out cards which must be placed on items within the scene to remove them.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-six (36) mini-games – thirteen (13) of which can be replayed. There are five (5) Rube-Goldberg puzzles with four (4) or five (5) puzzles each. I found the mini-games excellent. There is a wide range of styles. Most are easy but there are a couple which are somewhat challenging. There is one mini-game which has an easy and hard option. That one is in the demo; however, I wish they developer had included more. There are puzzles which must be played when the Energy Anomaly device is used.
SPOILERS: THESE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sleight of hand. A token is placed under a cup. The cups are then shuffled. Identify the cup which has the token underneath it. 3X. Uses 2, 3 and finally 4 cups
B. Sequence/Connection puzzle. Connect the faces of game characters with like slots. They must be placed sequentially. Rotate 4 cylinders with paths on them to create the connection.
C. Energy Anomaly puzzle. Chain link puzzle. Move 3 chains with 5 items each to their appropriate slots on a grid.
D. Domino puzzle. A variation. Rotate crocheted pieces with four flowers on them so flowers of the same color are next to each other.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch strings of colored beads so they match a given diagram
F. Physics puzzle. Place mirrors into a grid filled with Celtic bonfires so all are lit.
G. Rube-Goldberg puzzle.
1. Block puzzle. Move lines back and forth between 5 rows to move two girls’ heads so they fall and land on their shoulders
2. Rope puzzle. Untangle ropes by moving the pieces around a circular frame
3. Picture puzzle. Maneuver 4 pieces of an image to reassemble the image on the other side of the grid.
4. Maze puzzle. Rotate parts of a grid to get a ball into a hole. Buttons along the sides and bottom manipulate the scene
H. Riddles. Locate items within a scene which answer given riddles
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Connect the Dots. Using a knife – connect all dots without retracing steps.
J. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces to restore an image of an Yggdrasil
B. Sequence/Connection puzzle. Connect the faces of game characters with like slots. They must be placed sequentially. Rotate 4 cylinders with paths on them to create the connection.
C. Energy Anomaly puzzle. Chain link puzzle. Move 3 chains with 5 items each to their appropriate slots on a grid.
D. Domino puzzle. A variation. Rotate crocheted pieces with four flowers on them so flowers of the same color are next to each other.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch strings of colored beads so they match a given diagram
F. Physics puzzle. Place mirrors into a grid filled with Celtic bonfires so all are lit.
G. Rube-Goldberg puzzle.
1. Block puzzle. Move lines back and forth between 5 rows to move two girls’ heads so they fall and land on their shoulders
2. Rope puzzle. Untangle ropes by moving the pieces around a circular frame
3. Picture puzzle. Maneuver 4 pieces of an image to reassemble the image on the other side of the grid.
4. Maze puzzle. Rotate parts of a grid to get a ball into a hole. Buttons along the sides and bottom manipulate the scene
H. Riddles. Locate items within a scene which answer given riddles
BONUS CHAPTER:
I. Connect the Dots. Using a knife – connect all dots without retracing steps.
J. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces to restore an image of an Yggdrasil
I recommend this game!
A geological adventure into a secret world inside our planet!
Overall rating
5
/
5
180 of 276 found this review helpful
GO UNDERGROUND TO UNCOVER A NEW WORLD OF ADVENTURE
PostedAugust 13, 2020
sunnyglow
fromAfter this playing this game, I am going to purchase all my souvenirs at tourist traps! Better than being a tourist trapped by a souvenir!
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: 50 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 50 pages (My Time: 7 Hours)
As Simon, you are off on your dream vacation with your friend, Olivia. However, this dream will soon become a nightmare when you are hurled underground, to a land which houses three (3) worlds. When Olivia becomes possessed by the power of a crystal from this underground world, her monstrous presence must be dealt with. Battle her possession before a prophesized war erupts between humans from the outer world with the inhabitants of the inner world.
OPINION: This is yet another creatively designed adventure by Domini Games. This is the first game in this series by this developer. It is a matter of personal preference, but I like this developer’s approach to this series better than that of the previous one. It is a fast paced with plenty of activities. This developer always provides more game for the money with more collectibles, HOP scenes, and puzzles than other developers. For me, their games are in a league of their own – pure artistry in gaming. The graphics include their signature neon green and vivid purple, tastefully incorporated into their scenes. There are some incredibly beautiful underwater scenes in the bonus chapter. In my opinion they are truly becoming the top “gamemeister” for Big Fish Games.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 collectibles for a backpack and 15 morphing birds,
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a garden
• 19 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 33 Scenes, 29 mini-games, 18 HOP scenes
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 40 achievements.
• Collect 15 collectibles for a backpack and 15 morphing birds,
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a garden
• 19 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• 33 Scenes, 29 mini-games, 18 HOP scenes
• Replay 18 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Learn the story of Etien from the main game and how he arrived in the world of the Underground. Help him locate a manuscript from a ship for Gibson Vermi, a misguided man with hidden intentions in his quest to find an important relic from the Underground world. I found this a nice addition to the game, making it worthy of the designation of a collector’s edition. There are nine (9) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. I found it equal in quality to the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes, all of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Although Domini is better known for their puzzles, I find their HOP scenes better than those from most developers. They offer a variety of creatively designed ones. They include the standard lists of items, silhouette, and storybook scenes; however, there are some creative touches incorporated into them. My favorite is the slider silhouette scene in which the player moves sliders at the top and side of the scene to match the silhouette of the item with the item itself before removing it. There is also a scene with rebus clues and two spot-the difference scenes. A Match-3 game can be played instead of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: This is a puzzle-lovers delight! There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games, most of which can be played in either a hard or easy mode. This provides a nice game for those who want an easy play, however, it also provides some challenge for those who want that element in their games. Eighteen (18) of the mini-games can be replayed at the end of the game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E = Easy; H = Hard)
A. E/H. Strategy puzzle. Enter 5 numbers so that no column, row nor connected string has duplicates of the same number
B. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens embedded with musical notes so that all the musical notes symbols surrounding them light up Easy version has less note tokens to switch.
C. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch colored gears within 5 like-colored circles so all mesh. Gears will light up when placed correctly. Easy version has less gears to place.
D. E/H. Queen’s 8 puzzle. In this case, place 5 falcon heads on a board so that none are in alignment with each other either by row, column or diagonally. 3 are already placed. Easy version has only 3 tokens to place
BONUS CHAPTER
E. E/H. Dot-to-Dot puzzle. Recreate a given image by connecting the dots. The easy version has less dots.
F. E/H. Map puzzle. Navigate a submarine through water in the dark avoiding mines and bubbles. You get only 3 lives to do this. In the easy mode there are no lives lost - just avoid bubbles
G. E/H. Map puzzle. Navigate to an exit by moving on a path with squares. Choose to go either 4, 5, 6, 9 or 11 spaces.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. In this case, move cannons blocking the path for a crate to move from one end to the other.
I. Rope puzzle. Maneuver rope so that is covers all dots on a grid without crossing lines.
B. E/H. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens embedded with musical notes so that all the musical notes symbols surrounding them light up Easy version has less note tokens to switch.
C. E/H Switch puzzle. Switch colored gears within 5 like-colored circles so all mesh. Gears will light up when placed correctly. Easy version has less gears to place.
D. E/H. Queen’s 8 puzzle. In this case, place 5 falcon heads on a board so that none are in alignment with each other either by row, column or diagonally. 3 are already placed. Easy version has only 3 tokens to place
BONUS CHAPTER
E. E/H. Dot-to-Dot puzzle. Recreate a given image by connecting the dots. The easy version has less dots.
F. E/H. Map puzzle. Navigate a submarine through water in the dark avoiding mines and bubbles. You get only 3 lives to do this. In the easy mode there are no lives lost - just avoid bubbles
G. E/H. Map puzzle. Navigate to an exit by moving on a path with squares. Choose to go either 4, 5, 6, 9 or 11 spaces.
H. E/H. Block puzzle. In this case, move cannons blocking the path for a crate to move from one end to the other.
I. Rope puzzle. Maneuver rope so that is covers all dots on a grid without crossing lines.
I recommend this game!
Can you save an old friend from a deadly legend in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 168 found this review helpful
DON’T ASK FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS IN THIS TOWN
PostedAugust 6, 2020
sunnyglow
fromAttention evildoers! Tired of the same black hooded robe you wear in every game? Want something with the latest technological advances to help you escape from nosy detectives and irate townsfolk? Check out the iridescent invisible robe from 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: 39 pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages
You are off with Detective Dupin to the town of Morden to investigate the disappearance of your friend, Constable Simon Loyalle. Something is amiss in this town. An old curse appears to have been resurrected! A bell tolls thirteen (13) times at midnight, with a person dying after the tolling ceases. A mysterious cloaked phantom figure is seen while the bell is pealing, disappearing in front of those who spot him. Can a ghost be responsible for these deaths? Does the blame rest with two siblings who are illusionists, or is there someone or something else behind these deaths?
OPINION: Ring-a-ding-ding! What a fantastic game! I found this game a vast improvement from recent ones in this series. A lot of work went into the game and it shows. The story is superb with a few surprises along with way. Amax Interactive has returned to producing a quality game and this one is a perfect example of that excellence. The game has a good pace and is filled with a lot of activities. The graphics are beautiful as always with this developer’s games. Unfortunately, I do not feel the demo does this game justice. The game is better after the demo.
One of the elements I enjoyed about this game is the puzzle-like nature of some of the activities within some scenes. There are several instances in which the player interacts with the scene searching for items by trial and error which are then returned and used within the scene. This interactive process continues until a final inventory item is located. I found this a nice touch. Another puzzle-like element consists of choosing from a series of actions which are to be performed in a certain sequence such as opening a door to a house or punching out an evildoer.
There are two collectibles, morphing jigsaw puzzle pieces and cards. The puzzle pieces are used to create a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game. I found both collectibles easy to locate. If did feel the jigsaw pieces were too large. They practically jump out at you from the screen. This is probably the only complaint I have about this game.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 12 achievements.
• Collect 60 jigsaw pieces and 12 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers, 8 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 18 Mini-games
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 12 achievements.
• Collect 60 jigsaw pieces and 12 morphing objects
• 7 wallpapers, 8 screensavers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 16 HOP scenes and 18 Mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: Play George Wheeler, the illusionist, as a child. Along with your sister, Anna, save your mother from being imprisoned for fraud. Your father left a will naming your mother along with you and your sister as heirs to the Wheeler Theater of Illusions. However, a banker has accused your mother of fraud and claims the theater as his own. Find documentation to prove your lawful inheritance. I found the chapter a nice addition to the game. There are eight (8) puzzles and three (3) HOP scenes with three (3) mini-HOP scenes. This chapter has one puzzle which can be played in either a hard or casual mode and a very creatively designed 3-part Rube-Goldberg escape puzzle. This chapter is worth the extra price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: There are few HOP scenes in this game. I counted only sixteen (16) HOP scenes in the entire game. All can be replayed at the end of the game. There are ten (10) mini-HOP scenes in which the player locates six (6) to eight (8) items. Some are extremely interactive. Most are lists of items but there are some matching and one silhouette scene.There are also several storybook scenes to provide background information about the story behind the game.
MINI-GAMES: There are forty-one (41) mini-games within this game. Only eighteen (18) can be replayed. They vary in style and difficulty. Most of the puzzles I found easy or of average difficulty. I found most them creatively designed. My favorite was a Rube-Goldberg escape puzzle in which the player escapes prison by playing three (3) life or death puzzles. There are some puzzles within the HOP scenes which I found a creative touch. My only complaint is that I do wish more of the mini-games could be replayed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch 9 stamps so that no two are in the same row or column
B. Ride that horse! Ride a horse down a trail using arrows to avoid obstacles, including snakes, along the pathway
C. Removing bars puzzle. Create a path for a skeleton to reach its destination by rotating bars to create the path.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch books on two shelves so each book is situated in the proper location based upon clues surrounding them
E. Switch puzzle. Switch statues so that each one is in the proper position according to clues along the sides of the shelves.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Connection puzzle. On a frame for a net, connect each of two nodes around the net with yarn so that all intersect at the same place within the middle of the frame.
G. Rube-Goldberg Escape puzzle. (1) Run through swinging axes (2) Choose the proper squares to step on to avoid spikes (3) Run through swinging sabers without getting killed.
B. Ride that horse! Ride a horse down a trail using arrows to avoid obstacles, including snakes, along the pathway
C. Removing bars puzzle. Create a path for a skeleton to reach its destination by rotating bars to create the path.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch books on two shelves so each book is situated in the proper location based upon clues surrounding them
E. Switch puzzle. Switch statues so that each one is in the proper position according to clues along the sides of the shelves.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Connection puzzle. On a frame for a net, connect each of two nodes around the net with yarn so that all intersect at the same place within the middle of the frame.
G. Rube-Goldberg Escape puzzle. (1) Run through swinging axes (2) Choose the proper squares to step on to avoid spikes (3) Run through swinging sabers without getting killed.
I recommend this game!
Someone in Fairy Tale Land is selling wishes, but at what cost?
Overall rating
5
/
5
154 of 272 found this review helpful
A GAME TO FULFILL ALL YOUR WISHES
PostedJuly 23, 2020
sunnyglow
fromThis game proves the saying: When you wish upon a star - you might be happier the way you are
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: 43 pages (My time: 6 Hours)
8 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 pages (My time: 6 Hours)
OPINION: Be careful what you wish for! You may get more than you bargained for in this game. Buyer beware! In this game deal with the Seller, a misguided evildoer who grants wishes; however, not in the way the buyer expects. Play Fairy Godmother in her quest to stop the havoc caused by this evildoer out for revenge.
This game fulfilled my wishes. Again, Domini Games has delivered an outstanding game! The story behind the game is well-written, incorporating characters from well-known fairy tales such as the Seven Dwarfs, Rapunzel, and the Snow Queen. The bonus chapter includes revamped characters from the “Wizard of Oz.” The game is not as lengthy as previous games; however, to me, it is a quality game packed with extras no other developers provide in their games. I found the graphics decent with the developer’s signature neon green and vivid purple splashed throughout the scenes. I found it an easy and smooth play. It is a fast-paced game chock full of activities.
There are one to two collectibles in every scene. They include morphing fairy tale objects and shards - one for each character within the game. Collect coins to purchase items for your own sales suitcase. Returning is the indicator bar to indicate if there is a collectible within the scene. I like this feature and wish more developers had this feature within their games. There is a gimmicky magic wand which is used throughout the game. It is charged with energy spheres collected while searching the scenes for inventory items. I hate gimmicks within games; however, although I feel the game would have been better without the wand, it is a logical addition to the game.
MECHANICS:
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 shards, each one representing a character within the game
• Collect 15 morphing fairy tale objects
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a suitcase.
• 18 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Magic wand to transform items. The wand lights up when needed
• Replay 16 minigames and 17 HOP scenes
• 39 achievements.
• Collect 15 shards, each one representing a character within the game
• Collect 15 morphing fairy tale objects
• Collect 70 coins to purchase items for a suitcase.
• 18 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Magic wand to transform items. The wand lights up when needed
• Replay 16 minigames and 17 HOP scenes
BONUS CHAPTER: Go back in time to Fairy Godmother’s first case, right after graduation from the Godmother Academy. Learn how she met Goodwin, her lifelong sidekick in detective work. Dark magic has infiltrated Talesville, perpetrated by an evil witch, Odette. Odette was vanquished, but has resurfaced with her guards, the Fire Lion, the Hideous Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodcutter. Now you, as Fairy Godmother, must battle Odette and destroy her guards. I found this a nice addition to the game and worthy of a collector’s edition designation. There are six (6) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. I found the HOP scenes more creatively designed than in the main chapter. There is a beautiful scene set in a birdhouse with colorful birds. There is another clever one in which a vending machine item is chosen based on two items within the product.
HOP SCENES: There are seventeen (17) HOP scenes in the game. All can be replayed at the end of the game. They are somewhat interactive. I enjoyed them but found them not as creatively designed as in previous games. They include lists of items, silhouette, spot-the-differences, and matching. There is one scene with rebus clues, another with searching by pattern or design, and one storybook scene with highlighted items to be found in a descriptive narrative.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games, seventeen (17) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. Except for two mini-games in the bonus chapter, all can be played in either an easy or hard mode. This makes the game appealing to those who want an easy, breezy game as well as those who want a little more challenge within a game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO: (E=Easy, H=Hard)
A. E/H Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate lines on a diamond shaped grid so they recreate a given pattern. Harder puzzle has more lines to rotate and maneuver
B. E/H Mathematical puzzle. Using darts, hit numbers on a dartboard which total equal 105 in the hard version – 95 in the easy version.
C. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place puzzle fragments into position to create a train track. Easy version has less pieces
D. E/H Connection puzzle. Place tiles with lines upon them so they connect and reach the top left of the grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. E/H Assembly puzzle. Connect a wire between two tiles which, when combined, produce one of the six images at the bottom of the screen. The easy version has only 4 images to create
F. E/H Shooter puzzle. Shoot colored balls into their appropriate holes by rotating the shooter to face the proper hole. Hard has more balls to get into holes
G. Maze puzzle. Choose the right road, at the right time, to get a bull to a farm while keeping him from seeing red flags along the way.
A. E/H Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate lines on a diamond shaped grid so they recreate a given pattern. Harder puzzle has more lines to rotate and maneuver
B. E/H Mathematical puzzle. Using darts, hit numbers on a dartboard which total equal 105 in the hard version – 95 in the easy version.
C. E/H. Picture puzzle. Place puzzle fragments into position to create a train track. Easy version has less pieces
D. E/H Connection puzzle. Place tiles with lines upon them so they connect and reach the top left of the grid.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. E/H Assembly puzzle. Connect a wire between two tiles which, when combined, produce one of the six images at the bottom of the screen. The easy version has only 4 images to create
F. E/H Shooter puzzle. Shoot colored balls into their appropriate holes by rotating the shooter to face the proper hole. Hard has more balls to get into holes
G. Maze puzzle. Choose the right road, at the right time, to get a bull to a farm while keeping him from seeing red flags along the way.
I recommend this game!
Can you and your friends save all the worlds in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
116 of 210 found this review helpful
THE DREAM MACHINE HAS PRODUCED MY OWN NIGHTMARE – PLAYING THIS GAME
PostedJuly 16, 2020
sunnyglow
fromFree at last! I have just escaped the Dream Machine, having ended my own nightmare of playing this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 pages (My Time: An agonizing 6 hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 pages (My Time: An agonizing 6 hours)
When fellow Watcher, Estelle, contacts you as her astral self, you are off to save the real world from the evildoer, Dr. Blackmore. He is holding captive Dupin, along with the other fellow Watchers, the Cardinal and The Puppet Master. He has enslaved them along with others with his Dream Machine. This device transforms anyone exposed to it into zombie slaves with piercing blue eyes. You are the last Watcher Blackmore has not zombified. Only you alone can you save the world and your fellow Watchers.
OPINION: I bought this game and then regretted it. This is one of the most boring games I have played this year. This game does not possess the same quality as other games from this developer. After playing the bonus chapter, I felt as if I had been exposed to the Dream Machine myself - brain dead and zombified! I found the story very strange with a lack of clarity of its intent. There are dangling characters. St. Germaine appears in the beginning and seems to be behind some of the chicanery. However, he disappears, never to be seen again after the first chapter. What happened to him? The demo is excellent; however, for me, the game falls apart afterward.
One thing I enjoy about AMAX games are the beautiful graphics. However, I did not find the scenes to be of the same quality as those from previous games. There are only 14 collectibles within the entire game, including the bonus chapter. Not all the scenes have a collectible within them. They are crystals which contain stories from the Keeper of Untold Stories which can be read at the end of the game. I found it frustrating that some of the crystals listed in the strategy guide were not even in the scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: What waste of space – and time! It appears as if this chapter was just tacked on as filler. For me this was the worst part of the game and not worthy of a collector’s edition. It is another story, happening within the same time as the main game. Play Estelle who, in her astral form, has been asked by Dupin to locate parts of the astral key. This key is used to help the Watchers get to the evildoer, Dr. Blackmore. In this game the player receives four (4) powers which must be powered up by playing a HOP scene. Unfortunately, there are seven (7) of these cookie cutter variations of each other. within the chapter. I found them tedious after playing a couple of them. There are six (6) additional HOP scenes as well. There are six (6) mini-games
.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-four (24) HOP scenes (from what I counted) and a myriad of mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for six (6) to eight (8) items. Twelve (12) of these can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette. They are very interactive. Also included are one storybook scene with items in highlighted letters plus a few matching scenes and one search–and-replace scene.
BONUS CHAPTER: What waste of space – and time! It appears as if this chapter was just tacked on as filler. For me this was the worst part of the game and not worthy of a collector’s edition. It is another story, happening within the same time as the main game. Play Estelle who, in her astral form, has been asked by Dupin to locate parts of the astral key. This key is used to help the Watchers get to the evildoer, Dr. Blackmore. In this game the player receives four (4) powers which must be powered up by playing a HOP scene. Unfortunately, there are seven (7) of these cookie cutter variations of each other. within the chapter. I found them tedious after playing a couple of them. There are six (6) additional HOP scenes as well. There are six (6) mini-games
.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-four (24) HOP scenes (from what I counted) and a myriad of mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for six (6) to eight (8) items. Twelve (12) of these can be replayed at the end of the game. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette. They are very interactive. Also included are one storybook scene with items in highlighted letters plus a few matching scenes and one search–and-replace scene.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-eight (38) mini-games, twelve (12) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There is one Rube-Goldberg puzzle in the demo. They vary in style. I found the mini-games the best part of the game. There are a few creatively designed puzzles; nevertheless, not even these could not save this game. There are quite a few picture puzzles and the Rube-Goldberg puzzles contains three of them in a row. There is a creatively designed maze puzzle. There is also a cleverly designed sequence puzzle which features Geisha girls on a chess board.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Using a dial which moves a bar 3 spaces clockwise or 3 spaces counterclockwise, move glass shards so each colored shard matches that on the star it is next to.
B. Block puzzle. Move blocks to release 4 deadbolts
C. Sequence puzzle. Choose geishas in proper sequence on a board according to statements made about them. Awesome puzzle
D. Sequence puzzle. Move 8 dragon chains so they are situated in the saw row as their image on the left side of a grid. Moving one dragon chain affects the others.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch hexagonal pieces to restore an image
F. Maze puzzle. Move the game characters through the maze to open doors and release a doctor. Pick up items to help in the rescue. Awesome puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Moving tiles puzzle. Move blue and green colored marbles on a round grid so all the same colored marbles are grouped together.
H. Moving tiles puzzle. Move colored gears along lines so each ends up next to the same colored one on the left.
B. Block puzzle. Move blocks to release 4 deadbolts
C. Sequence puzzle. Choose geishas in proper sequence on a board according to statements made about them. Awesome puzzle
D. Sequence puzzle. Move 8 dragon chains so they are situated in the saw row as their image on the left side of a grid. Moving one dragon chain affects the others.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch hexagonal pieces to restore an image
F. Maze puzzle. Move the game characters through the maze to open doors and release a doctor. Pick up items to help in the rescue. Awesome puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Moving tiles puzzle. Move blue and green colored marbles on a round grid so all the same colored marbles are grouped together.
H. Moving tiles puzzle. Move colored gears along lines so each ends up next to the same colored one on the left.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore a fascinating world, save a werewolf and defeat cruel witches in this amazing hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
65 of 137 found this review helpful
ENJOY AN EPIC JOURNEY IN ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR
PostedJuly 11, 2020
sunnyglow
fromKudos to Five-BN for a game which is a fantastic start to a wonderful new series!
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: 48 pages (My Time: 8 Hours)
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 48 pages (My Time: 8 Hours)
Be prepared to battle a band of witches in this new series by Five-BN. Play Lucia, a young girl in search of her older brother, Ulf, kidnapped by this witchly crew for his special energy. Your family is from a long line of werewolves and your energy is special, needed by the witches for a special ritual. Travel through various locations and scenes, (including a ride on the back of a large tortoise to cross a river), to save your brother, getting some help from magical beings along the way.
This is a fantastic game not to be missed! It is a long game; however, for me, the time passed quickly playing it. It is fast-paced with plenty of activities throughout. The graphics are amazing! It is puzzle laden with over twice the number of puzzles in relation to the HOP scenes! I found this game better constructed than previous ones from this developer. Be warned! There is no hand holding in this game. You will need to write down or memorize codes which are used with puzzles throughout the game.
This is a dream game for those who love searching for collectibles. There are seventy (70) within the entire game. They include morphing objects, along with figurines, goblets, tarot cards, and goblets. The goblets are collected in the bonus chapter. You will earn extra puzzle games in the bonus section if you collect all the collectibles. Most scenes have two or three collectibles in the main game and I found most easy to locate.
MECHANICS:
• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 8 medallions, 8 figurines, 7 flowers, 7 tarot cards, and 10 manuscripts
• Collect 30 morphing objects.
• Collect 13 goblets in the bonus chapter.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 mini-games
• Bonus game is a strategy game in which colored gems are moved so each one is situated next to a like gem. (20 plays)
• Play 5 jigsaw puzzles if you collect all the various types of collectibles
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 8 medallions, 8 figurines, 7 flowers, 7 tarot cards, and 10 manuscripts
• Collect 30 morphing objects.
• Collect 13 goblets in the bonus chapter.
• 10 wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences
• Replay 14 mini-games
• Bonus game is a strategy game in which colored gems are moved so each one is situated next to a like gem. (20 plays)
• Play 5 jigsaw puzzles if you collect all the various types of collectibles
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a side story happening at the same time as the story from the main chapter. Play a young orphaned boy who was released from a cage by Lucia in the main game. This young boy wants revenge against the witches who killed his parents. Help him earn membership into the Resistance by rescuing a member from the Witches Prison. This is a long chapter and a wonderful addition to the main game. There are twelve (12) mini-games and three (3) HOP scenes. Collect 13 goblets within the chapter. They are easy to locate within each scene.
MINI-GAMES: This game is a puzzle-lover’s delight. There are forty-nine (49) mini-games, fourteen (14) of which can be replayed. They vary in style, but I found most of the puzzles easy with a few of middle difficulty. There are puzzles within most of the HOP scenes and I found that a nice touch.
HOP SCENES: There are only fifteen (15) HOP scenes within the game. However, the scenes are puzzle-like. They are either lists of items or silhouette scenes. They are highly interactive. Most have one or two mini-games within them. Most require searching for items which are then returned to the scene to be used or combined with other items. I love this type of scene.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE A FEW OF THE 40 MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tokens - 3 each from 3 of the animal kingdoms and place them according to their habitat – ocean, earth, or sky
B. Logic puzzle. Paint the petals of a rose with 4 different colored paints so each petal does not adjoin a petal of the same color.
C. Variation of a block puzzle. Move blocks within a grid to create a path for a token to move from left to right to its designated location.
D. Connection puzzle. Connect 2 like-colored gears with chains without crossing lines with other paired gears.
E. Connect-the-Dots puzzle. Connect dots as you move a token from left to right end of a grid passing through all dots once.
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles to create a path to lead a ladder to an exit on the right
G. Sequence puzzle. Scale a cliff choosing the proper places to move to without falling. If you fall, you start over. Find the right sequence of rocks to climb to get to the top
BONUS CHAPTER
H. Physics puzzle. Place barriers on a racetrack as you run a race in which all 4 horses arrive at the finish line at the same time.
I. Gear puzzle. Place gears into position so they interconnect and mesh with each other.
J. Maze puzzle. Get through the underground maze of a city as based on a given map.
K. Rube-Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Connect the dots. Connect all stones in a continuous line on a grid
(2) Assembly puzzle. Move tokens with lines emanating from them to create a design as per a given diagram
(3) Rotating disks puzzle. Rotate disks to restore an image.
B. Logic puzzle. Paint the petals of a rose with 4 different colored paints so each petal does not adjoin a petal of the same color.
C. Variation of a block puzzle. Move blocks within a grid to create a path for a token to move from left to right to its designated location.
D. Connection puzzle. Connect 2 like-colored gears with chains without crossing lines with other paired gears.
E. Connect-the-Dots puzzle. Connect dots as you move a token from left to right end of a grid passing through all dots once.
F. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate tiles to create a path to lead a ladder to an exit on the right
G. Sequence puzzle. Scale a cliff choosing the proper places to move to without falling. If you fall, you start over. Find the right sequence of rocks to climb to get to the top
BONUS CHAPTER
H. Physics puzzle. Place barriers on a racetrack as you run a race in which all 4 horses arrive at the finish line at the same time.
I. Gear puzzle. Place gears into position so they interconnect and mesh with each other.
J. Maze puzzle. Get through the underground maze of a city as based on a given map.
K. Rube-Goldberg puzzle.
(1) Connect the dots. Connect all stones in a continuous line on a grid
(2) Assembly puzzle. Move tokens with lines emanating from them to create a design as per a given diagram
(3) Rotating disks puzzle. Rotate disks to restore an image.
I recommend this game!