sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:821
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 27, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Escape a terrifying hotel with a haunted past.
Overall rating
3
/
5
98 of 156 found this review helpful
A GAME WHICH IS A MONSTROUS BORE
PostedFebruary 23, 2019
sunnyglow
fromThis game is corrupted by numerous HOP junkpiles within it. Hopefully the developer will include this on their “list of items” to do: Provide more creative HOP scenes and throw out the piles of junk!
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages
OVERVIEW: You are off to visit your sister, Tilly, at her new place of employment, the Somber Hills Hotel. After surviving a car crash near the hotel, you are taken inside the hotel in a state of unconsciousness. Upon awakening, you realize something is amiss within this hotel. Your sister has written you about its seemingly haunted past. However, is it haunted or is something more sinister lurking within this hotel? Now within its walls, you must battle the evil within this hotel to save yourself, your sister, and the others trapped by a monstrous force who feeds on the life force of everyone who resides there.
OPINION: I purchased this game based on the demo and regretted my decision. This is a long game with a decent story. The dark graphics and creepy voice of the monster add to the scare factor in this game. However, after the demo, I found the pace dragged. Instead of being scared, I became bored. For me the game is too long, lacking enough activities to keep up the pace. There are some great puzzles but too few of them. There is little dialogue and too much running back-and-forth between scenes to collect inventory items to place in yet another scene. I grew tired of the constant search for inventory items. Most of the HOP scenes are junkpiles with standard lists of items or silhouettes with few creative touches. I found this game more boring than scary. I love this series, but to me, this game does not match up to the quality of the previous games within the series.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirteen (13) achievements. Collect forty-five (45) signs and nineteen (19) morphing objects (within the HOP scenes). The collectibles are easy to locate. Collect twenty-three (23) souvenirs at the end of the game. You can replay twenty (20) puzzles and twenty-one (21) HOP scenes. You can also replay the bubble shooter game. There are four (4) wallpapers along with concept art and music and video sequences.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Your arm has been corrupted by the monster from the main game. You discover an imprisoned miner who promises he can help heal your arm if you free him. However, you will discover there are consequences and complications involved in freeing him. There are four (4) puzzles and four (4) HOP scenes within this chapter. It is a long chapter which I also found snail-paced. To me, this chapter is not worth the extra price of the collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: Missing all those junkpile scenes from yesteryear? Then this game is for you. There are twenty-one (21) in the game along with some mini-HOP scenes. Most, but not all, contain a morphing object. You can play a bubble shooter game in lieu of the scenes. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette. Most scenes have a combination of both. There are also a couple of scenes with rebus clues. These are some of the most boring HOP scenes I have ever played. They lack creativity and there is little interaction within the scenes. By the end of the game I was so tired of playing the HOP scenes, I wished the monster from the game would corrupt the whole game so they would disappear. After playing one junkpile after another, I could not tell one scene from another.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are excellent in this game. They are varied in difficultly and style. There are some which are unique and a few I have not seen in other games. Nevertheless, there were not enough of them to make the game enjoyable for me. There are only twenty-three (23) in the entire game. The lack of puzzles I feel adds to the monotony of playing this game. There is one puzzle repeated throughout the game. It is a variation of bubble shooter game in which you must shoot spheres before they reach the bottom of the screen. This puzzle is used when you battle an evil force. This is yet another game from this developer in which I found some puzzles with confusing directions.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Arrange dice on a grid so all the numbers align to match a given number code. Every given number code must be seen within this grid. Excellent new puzzle never seen before
B. Maze puzzle. Follow a maze-like map through the woods, choosing between two to three paths in which proceed until you come to the exit.
C. Matching puzzle. Using two dials, bring a picture into focus. 2X
D. Switch puzzle. Switch grooved metallic pieces on a grid, so they mesh with each other and the sides of the grid.
E. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate two interconnected rings with skulls and beams of light mixed together so that the beams of light are on side and the skulls are on the other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Pattern puzzle. Copy four different patterns onto a grid using plus and minus buttons to add or delete color to produce the images.
G. Sequence puzzle. Press arrows on a grid in the proper sequence so all are pressed. The arrows indicate how to proceed within the grid. It is up to you to find the proper order.
B. Maze puzzle. Follow a maze-like map through the woods, choosing between two to three paths in which proceed until you come to the exit.
C. Matching puzzle. Using two dials, bring a picture into focus. 2X
D. Switch puzzle. Switch grooved metallic pieces on a grid, so they mesh with each other and the sides of the grid.
E. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate two interconnected rings with skulls and beams of light mixed together so that the beams of light are on side and the skulls are on the other.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Pattern puzzle. Copy four different patterns onto a grid using plus and minus buttons to add or delete color to produce the images.
G. Sequence puzzle. Press arrows on a grid in the proper sequence so all are pressed. The arrows indicate how to proceed within the grid. It is up to you to find the proper order.
I don't recommend this game.
Get lost in a haunted house that keeps changing!
Overall rating
5
/
5
185 of 281 found this review helpful
HAVE NO FEAR – THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR!
PostedFebruary 21, 2019
sunnyglow
fromYou may want to escape this house, but you won’t want to escape playing this game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 50 Pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 50 Pages
OVERVIEW: After receiving a distressing call from your friends, you are off to an isolated motel to investigate. Upon entering this rundown establishment, you are informed that you are trapped within its walls and will need help to escape. This help will come from the Navigator, a televised image which will aid you in that escape. This hotel feeds on the fears of those who are within it, creating worlds to generate that fear. Open portals to new worlds as you search for your friends and find a way for all of you to escape.
OPINION: What a fantastic game! It is also a long game. I enjoyed every minute of this game – after the demo. Unfortunately, the demo does not do justice to this game. The story is well-written. The pace is excellent. Entering the different worlds comprising this game provides fast-paced action. The puzzles are exquisite with some I have not seen lately, including a variation of a Rube-Goldberg puzzle. The graphics are dark and well-portray the ambiance of this game. It is refreshing to play a game which is not a cookie cutter version of some other game. It is a game which is unique and different than most of the carbon copy ones we have experienced lately.
FAVORITE SEGMENT OF THE GAME: My favorite segment of this game was maneuvering a plane to keep it from crash landing. Although not a puzzle, you must follow directions working with the instrument panel of the plane. There are several steps which must be performed to keep the plane from crashing.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are ten (10) achievements, some with three parts. Collect twenty-three (23) keys and seven (7) figurines of characters from the game. For once the collectibles do not “jump out” from the scene. I found the collectibles difficult to locate in some scenes. There are sixteen (16) wallpapers along with concept art and music and video sequences. You can replay five (5) mini-games. They vary on the number of times you can replay each mini-game. There is a fresco (jigsaw puzzle) which you must assemble to get one of the achievements.
THE DISAPPEARING HELPER ROBOT: There is a helper robot in this game. He is used extensively in the demo. After the demo, he disappears for some time and is not used to perform the same stunts as in the demo. I feel the developer did themselves a disservice by the inclusion of this helper. The game would be better without this gimmick. I almost did not purchase it because of the robot.
BONUS GAME: It is a prequel. Learn about the origins of this house and its original owners, Franklin and Beatrice. Learn what led to the evil within the house. There are no collectibles within this chapter. There are five (5) HOP scenes and seven (7) mini-games. However, three (3) of those mini-games are the same puzzle in which you must swivel a distorted image up-and-down until it is aligned.
HOP SCENES: There are only twenty (20) scenes in the entire game. I enjoyed the scenes in which you must locate a large number of one item. In one scene you search for fifty (50) skulls and in another you search for fifty (50) keys. Most of the scenes in the game are lists of items; however, the scenes have creative elements within them. In one you search for items in books which open and close while you are searching for those items. My favorite scene was one in the bonus chapter in which you search for items on a moving conveyor belt.
MINI-GAMES: They are incredible! It was refreshing to play a game with some new puzzles or those I have not played in some time. As stated, there is a variation of a Rube-Goldberg puzzle in this game. There are thirty-seven (37) puzzles within the game. (I consider the Rube-Goldberg puzzle as one puzzle with six (6) parts). They vary in style and difficulty. Most of the puzzles are of moderate difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Rube-Goldberg puzzle. Solve a series of puzzles to set a code. They include:
(1) Rope puzzle. Untangle wires so they do not cross each other.
(2) Matching puzzle. Uncover tokens to match up pictures
(3) Sequence puzzle. Flip switches for lights in sequential order so that all turn green
(4) Mathematical puzzle. Add, subtract and multiply numbers to get a certain number shown on the grid.
(5) Lock puzzle. Locate a combination and enter it to open a lock.
(6) Finally – click on letters on a grid based on those given to you from solving the previous five puzzles.
B. Assembly puzzle. Place items into a box so that none touch each other.
C. Strategy puzzle. Amazing puzzle in which you must move your token from the left to the right on a grid moving 5 spaces at a time while avoiding four red tokens which move 3 spaces per turn. Red tokens can be directed into holes in the board to get rid of them.
D. Logic puzzle. Place nine characters into slots on a curio based on what they like while avoiding placing them next to characters they dislike.
E. Physics puzzle. Using a catapult, choose the wind speed and angle to center 3 rocks to hit a castle.
F. Connection puzzle. Mirror puzzle. Adjust mirrors within a grid so all are connected with a beam of light.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Connection puzzle. Connect colored neurons so that same colored ones are NOT connected with each other.
H. One my favorite puzzles. On a grid, click on a colored cell which changes the color of all the cells around it of the same color. Continue until the whole board is one color. You get 30 turns to do so.
I. Mathematical puzzle. Light 4 sets of candles in a circle so that the candles lit equal the numbers between the sets.
(1) Rope puzzle. Untangle wires so they do not cross each other.
(2) Matching puzzle. Uncover tokens to match up pictures
(3) Sequence puzzle. Flip switches for lights in sequential order so that all turn green
(4) Mathematical puzzle. Add, subtract and multiply numbers to get a certain number shown on the grid.
(5) Lock puzzle. Locate a combination and enter it to open a lock.
(6) Finally – click on letters on a grid based on those given to you from solving the previous five puzzles.
B. Assembly puzzle. Place items into a box so that none touch each other.
C. Strategy puzzle. Amazing puzzle in which you must move your token from the left to the right on a grid moving 5 spaces at a time while avoiding four red tokens which move 3 spaces per turn. Red tokens can be directed into holes in the board to get rid of them.
D. Logic puzzle. Place nine characters into slots on a curio based on what they like while avoiding placing them next to characters they dislike.
E. Physics puzzle. Using a catapult, choose the wind speed and angle to center 3 rocks to hit a castle.
F. Connection puzzle. Mirror puzzle. Adjust mirrors within a grid so all are connected with a beam of light.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Connection puzzle. Connect colored neurons so that same colored ones are NOT connected with each other.
H. One my favorite puzzles. On a grid, click on a colored cell which changes the color of all the cells around it of the same color. Continue until the whole board is one color. You get 30 turns to do so.
I. Mathematical puzzle. Light 4 sets of candles in a circle so that the candles lit equal the numbers between the sets.
I recommend this game!
When a young man is apparently abducted by spirits at an abandoned movie theater, you rush to investigate. You arrive to find truth to the tales as you encounter specters from the very movies shown in the theater! Can you navigate dangerous films to save the living in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
127 of 189 found this review helpful
ENTER THE HAUNTING WORLD OF CLASSIC MOVIES
PostedFebruary 16, 2019
sunnyglow
fromAfter playing this game, I have decided to stop watching classic movies. “Screen grabs” from those movies may have a different meaning than what one might expect!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 Pages
OVERVIEW: The Fright Chasers are back with another paranormal adventure! As a member of a blog dealing with the paranormal, you, and fellow blogger, Lisa, are off to the run-down Odeon Theater to investigate ghostly activity. While watching an old movie, Donny and Joy, a romantic duo, are shaken when a ghost walks off the screen and kidnaps Donny, dragging him into the film. Now you must enter the film yourself to save him from this ghost. Before you are finished with this investigation, you will find yourself entering three different films searching for the cause behind the ghostly apparitions. While you investigate, your cohort, Lisa, will be held captive by the three ghosts from those films until you are able to vanquish them within the films.
OPINION: This is a great game for those who love games dealing with the paranormal. It is also a very long game, well worth the purchase price. The story behind the game is excellent. Each chapter will be set in a different location except for the last chapter which has you revisiting all the locations again. The pace is excellent as well with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. I feel it is a nice touch to allow the player to play two of the chapters in random order. I also feel the graphics and dialogue do a nice job of portraying the different genres of classic movies.
MECHANICS: There are five (5) levels of play including a customized version. There are eleven (11) achievements, most containing three parts. Collect twenty-eight (28) morphing objects within the scenes, eighteen (18) morphing objects within the HOP scenes, and twenty-eight (28) clapboards. There are four (4) wallpapers along with concept art and soundtracks from the game. You can replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes. At the end of the game, after finding all the collectibles, you can play the Ultimate HOP scene. There is an Ultimate Puzzle to play as well. Chapters 3 and 4 can be played in any order you choose. You revisit three locations at the end which also can be played in random order.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel with a different story. You have always wanted to be in a fairy tale and now you have your chance, finding yourself within a fairy tale film. Search for a golden witch-box for an elderly gentleman who has given you few options to not do so. The chapter is long and worth the extra price of the collector’s edition. There are ten (10) puzzles and four (4) HOP scenes within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes. There are morphing objects within each scene. I found the HOP scenes disappointing and boring. Luckily there are not many of them. Most of them are straight lists of items lacking any creative design. There are a couple of storybook scenes, a couple of matching scenes and a silhouette scene in the bonus chapter. There is one scene in which you must keep filling a kerosene lantern to keep it lit to see the items to be located from the list. After the sixth time filling the lantern, I became irritated. Hopefully the developer will discontinue this type of scene in the future.
PUZZLES: There are forty-two (42) puzzles within this game! With that many puzzles, I am disappointed that this developer did not provide a replay for some of the puzzles. I found the puzzles better than the HOP scenes. They vary in style and difficulty. They are creatively designed and are the best part of the game. Most are easy; there are none which I would consider challenging. There are a few of moderate difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sliding tiles puzzle. On a 3 x 3 grid move tiles so that three rows are formed with like tiles in each one.
B. Sequence puzzle. Click on three (3) to five (5) symbols in the correct sequence to defeat a ghost. This puzzle appears three times in the game
C. Maze puzzle. Move through a clouded maze picking up keys along the way to open new parts of the maze.
D. Tracing puzzle. Trace a symbol without touching the edges. (I wish the developers would get rid of this type of puzzle)
E. Checkers puzzle. This time use gray marbles to jump over red ones to remove them. Remove all the red marbles from the grid
F. Tangram puzzle. Place all pieces of luggage onto a grid so no spaces remain between them.
G. Weights and Balances puzzle. Place weights on a scale until both sides are in balance.
BONUS CHAPTER
H. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles with symbols on them, so that when combined, they create the emblem on the left side of the screen.
I. Obstacle puzzle. Slide a magnet along the side of a glass jar to move a key to the top while avoiding moving obstacles in its path.
J. Matching puzzle. On a cabinet with a maze-like design, use a lighted square to locate three identical matches on this cabinet to three given squares at the bottom of the screen. (Nerve-wracking!)
B. Sequence puzzle. Click on three (3) to five (5) symbols in the correct sequence to defeat a ghost. This puzzle appears three times in the game
C. Maze puzzle. Move through a clouded maze picking up keys along the way to open new parts of the maze.
D. Tracing puzzle. Trace a symbol without touching the edges. (I wish the developers would get rid of this type of puzzle)
E. Checkers puzzle. This time use gray marbles to jump over red ones to remove them. Remove all the red marbles from the grid
F. Tangram puzzle. Place all pieces of luggage onto a grid so no spaces remain between them.
G. Weights and Balances puzzle. Place weights on a scale until both sides are in balance.
BONUS CHAPTER
H. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles with symbols on them, so that when combined, they create the emblem on the left side of the screen.
I. Obstacle puzzle. Slide a magnet along the side of a glass jar to move a key to the top while avoiding moving obstacles in its path.
J. Matching puzzle. On a cabinet with a maze-like design, use a lighted square to locate three identical matches on this cabinet to three given squares at the bottom of the screen. (Nerve-wracking!)
Can you save the city from the dangerous criminal Quasimodo?
Overall rating
5
/
5
141 of 214 found this review helpful
A VALENTINE DELIGHT TO REJUVENATE YOUR LOVE FOR HOP GAMES!
PostedFebruary 14, 2019
sunnyglow
fromHappy Valentine’s Day! Looking to rejuvenate your appearance? This game provides a new alternative to plastic surgery!
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: 51 Pages (This is a long game)
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 51 Pages (This is a long game)
OVERVIEW: You, Captain Frederic de Bone, have been summoned by Cardinal Frollo to aid in the apprehension of the criminal, Quasimodo. The Cardinal believes that the street dancer, Esmeralda, is in danger from this criminal and you have been asked to bring her to the court for protection. You are off to Notre Dame Cathedral, the haunt of Quasimodo to try to apprehend him. Be warned! While engaged in hunting down this criminal, you will uncover some unsettling details concerning the Cardinal and his true intentions concerning Quasimodo and Esmeralda.
OPINION: What a sweet surprise for Valentine’s Day! I loved playing this game. I found the game is fast-paced with a well-written story. The Victor Hugo story is an excellent backdrop for this game. As always, Domini has included those little extras which other developers don’t. The game is long with fantastic, well-designed puzzles and HOP scenes. As in their other games, Domini provides an “easy” and “hard” version for most of their puzzles. My only complaint are the graphics. Although they are realistic, I feel the colors are garish with too much purple and neon green. I wish Domini would use more subtle colors in their games.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirty-three (33) achievements. Collect fifteen (15) diary pages, seventy (70) golden bracelets (used to purchase items for your boudoir), and fifteen (15) morphing tarot cards. There is an indicator on the inventory bar which indicates when there is a collectible within the scene. You play two characters, Captain De Bone and Esmeralda, switching periodically between them within the game. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with concept art and music and video sequences. You can replay fifteen (15) mini-games and eighteen (18) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. It is a long chapter well-worth the additional price of the collector’s edition. Esmeralda receives a letter from King Louis XII informing her that she is his illegitimate daughter and heir to the throne. However, the king’s wife, Agatha, has other plans for Esmeralda in her own quest to become queen of France. You continue to collect the collectibles within this chapter. The HOP scenes and mini-games are similar as those in the main chapter. There are nine (9) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) scenes within the game. You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes. Domini has upped their game with the HOP scenes. They are innovative with some creative flourishes. They are varied in style. They include scenes with lists of items, matching, rebus clues, spot-the-differences, and silhouette. There are also storybook scenes with items to be removed in highlighted letters. My favorites are the scenes with the rebus clues and those with the sliders in which the player must slide a silhouette over a listed item to remove it.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-four (34) mini-games within the game. They are superb with most having the option to be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. My only complaint is that I wish Domini would have offered more of the puzzles to be replayed. Less than half of the puzzles are available to be replayed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place tiles with grooves in them for emblems on a grid so that all the tiles cover the emblems with no emblem left uncovered.
B. Switch puzzle. In a variation of dominoes, switch segments with two symbols on them so that the symbols on each segment match up with the segment next to it.
C. Maze puzzle. On a grid, move an incense burner to locate bees hidden underneath a series of cells. You must locate all the bees (by trial and error) in a specific number of moves.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch colored gemstones on the top and bottom of a 3-tiered grid so that the combination of the colors on the top and bottom equal the color of the symbol in the middle.
E. Maze puzzle. Move two gems through a maze at the same time to the middle of the grid. The gems will mirror each other in their moves.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Connection puzzle. Connect flowers with their matching colored gemstones without crossing lines.
G. Physical puzzle. Move a bucket out of the well clicking on roots to move them out of the way. If a root hits the bucket you must start again.
H. Logic puzzle. Paint a spiral so that no two colors which are next to each other are the same.
A. Tangram puzzle. Place tiles with grooves in them for emblems on a grid so that all the tiles cover the emblems with no emblem left uncovered.
B. Switch puzzle. In a variation of dominoes, switch segments with two symbols on them so that the symbols on each segment match up with the segment next to it.
C. Maze puzzle. On a grid, move an incense burner to locate bees hidden underneath a series of cells. You must locate all the bees (by trial and error) in a specific number of moves.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch colored gemstones on the top and bottom of a 3-tiered grid so that the combination of the colors on the top and bottom equal the color of the symbol in the middle.
E. Maze puzzle. Move two gems through a maze at the same time to the middle of the grid. The gems will mirror each other in their moves.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Connection puzzle. Connect flowers with their matching colored gemstones without crossing lines.
G. Physical puzzle. Move a bucket out of the well clicking on roots to move them out of the way. If a root hits the bucket you must start again.
H. Logic puzzle. Paint a spiral so that no two colors which are next to each other are the same.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the city from a dangerous magic-wielding criminal?
Overall rating
4
/
5
97 of 160 found this review helpful
PINOCCHIO WITH AN URBAN FLAIR
PostedFebruary 7, 2019
sunnyglow
fromIf Chris Andersen turned into wood, would not his tattoo be tied up in knots?
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:
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective Chris Andersen is back on the case! Return to Bay City where tensions are rising between the Marked and Unmarked people. While riding on a subway, a touch by a stranger has caused Andersen to slowly transform into wood. The stranger involved wants justice. Is this stranger out for revenge against the detective? Be prepared to enter the seamier side of the city and deal with a band of criminals engaged in a devious plot. Aiding Andersen again in his investigation will be the power of his tattoo, which allows him to view scenes in a different perspective. Also adding her skills is his girlfriend, Rachel. Can you stop a group of criminals before they cause more havoc for the city?
OPINION: I found this game much better than the first one in the series. Loosely based upon the tale of Pinocchio, the storyline is excellent with a plot which takes some twists and turns along the way. The demo does not go into much detail concerning the plot behind this game. The game is much better after the demo. I found the pace excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. In a turnaround for EIPIX, I found the HOP scenes much better designed than the puzzles. The scenes are very creative. I am disappointed in the puzzles. Usually EIPIX provides more challenging puzzles within their games. The puzzles are easy – too easy for my taste. This is a great game for those who like easy breezy games. There is not much challenge within this game. It seems as if this game was designed with younger players in mind.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twelve (12) achievements. Collect thirty-five (35) aerosol cans. Also collect (15) morphing objects within the HOP scenes. All are easy to locate. Many practically jump out at you! You can replay nineteen (19) puzzles and fifteen (15) HOP scenes. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences. There is a souvenir room to place the seventeen (17) souvenirs you collect at the end of the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Play Katt who is locked within Rat Tower by an evildoer. Help her plot her escape from this building so she can join her friend to start a new life away from Bay City. It is a decent length for a bonus chapter. There are three (3) puzzles and four (4) HOP scenes within this chapter. After being disappointed in the puzzles from the main game, I found the puzzles more challenging in this chapter. You continue to collect the collectibles and morphing objects within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes within the game. Most will have some type of morphing object within the scene. They are creatively designed. Most of the scenes are multiple step ones in which the player searches for items in two or more different formats. There is a wide variety of scenes as well including lists of items, silhouette, matching, and rebus clues. My favorite scene is one in which the player matches striped umbrellas and then searches for items from a list, all while pushing the umbrellas aside to locate them.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-six (26) puzzles within the game. Although most are easy, there are a few moderately difficult puzzles (mainly in the bonus chapter). It astounds me what EIPIX considers a “puzzle” as differentiated from activities within the game they do not consider “puzzles”. Some of the activities in the game are more difficult than their “puzzles.” There is one designated “puzzle” in which you place three (3) cat-shaped pieces into a grid to complete a jigsaw puzzle. To me, this is NOT a puzzle.
CONFUSING DIRECTIONS! Once more, I found the directions confusing for some of the puzzles. More clarification is needed. There is one in which you must track a guide marker through a ventilation system. I could not figure out exactly what to do with that marker. Finally, I just gave up and skipped the puzzle. Upon skipping the puzzle, I was able to figure out what I was supposed to do by watching the solution.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Jigsaw puzzle. Place 3 cat-shaped pieces into a grid to complete a puzzle.
B. Lock puzzle. Move a metal plate with a path grooved upon it around a button until the plate is removed.
C. Paint-by-number. In this case, paid a fox mask according to a given diagram.
D. Connection puzzle. Place dolls on a map so that every path is covered within the sight of all the dolls.
E. Map/Sequence puzzle. Place a series of tokens on a path so they lead from the beginning to the end avoiding police cars on the path. Each token moves a specific number of moves. Place them in a specific order to reach the end.
F. Matching puzzle. On a grid, match up statements with the proper pictures to represent the given statement.
G. Car chase! Follow a car while avoiding other cars within your path.
H. Climb up a rope while avoiding obstacles in your path. Use arrow to maneuver left, right, and up.
BONUS CHAPTER
I. Card puzzle. Blackjack! Place cards onto a table so that each row and column of 4 cards equals 21.
J. Pipe puzzle. Arrange pipes so that marbles can exit.
B. Lock puzzle. Move a metal plate with a path grooved upon it around a button until the plate is removed.
C. Paint-by-number. In this case, paid a fox mask according to a given diagram.
D. Connection puzzle. Place dolls on a map so that every path is covered within the sight of all the dolls.
E. Map/Sequence puzzle. Place a series of tokens on a path so they lead from the beginning to the end avoiding police cars on the path. Each token moves a specific number of moves. Place them in a specific order to reach the end.
F. Matching puzzle. On a grid, match up statements with the proper pictures to represent the given statement.
G. Car chase! Follow a car while avoiding other cars within your path.
H. Climb up a rope while avoiding obstacles in your path. Use arrow to maneuver left, right, and up.
BONUS CHAPTER
I. Card puzzle. Blackjack! Place cards onto a table so that each row and column of 4 cards equals 21.
J. Pipe puzzle. Arrange pipes so that marbles can exit.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a madman from using puppets to take over the island?
Overall rating
2
/
5
72 of 146 found this review helpful
JUST ANOTHER PUPPETSHOW ON A STRING
PostedJanuary 31, 2019
sunnyglow
fromThis game affirms the statement, “all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.” I knew one day that important skill of staying within the lines while tracing an image would come in handy in playing a mini-game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
OVERVIEW: You off to visit an old college friend, newlywed Dee Dee Ferguson. Upon arriving, you realize she is in danger. Her new husband, Otis, has gifted her with a special one-of-a-kind doll created by the renown dollmaker, Master Alexander. However, a hooded evildoer is trying to get this doll from her for some seemingly nefarious purposes. She has been receiving threatening letters from this individual demanding she turn over the doll. Can you save your friend? Be prepared for this latest in the string of puppet show games to take some twists and turns. Surprises and danger await both you and your friend.
OPINION: This is an easy breezy game which should appeal to those who like this series and/or want a nonchallenging game. I do like the story behind this game. It appears the story will take some unexpected twists and turns in relation to the plot. Nevertheless, I found the demo very boring. With a few exceptions, I found the puzzles too easy for my taste. The HOP scenes for the most part are lists of items. And, of course, it would not be an AMAX game without animal noises. Be prepared for the wailing of cats within the demo. Hopefully, one day, AMAX will rid their games of all the barking dogs, baying wolves and screeching cats. I found nothing which compelled me to purchase this game. It is the same Puppetshow game containing many of the same puppets with, of course, some hooded evildoer appearing within mounds of black smoke.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. You can choose the appearance of your character within the game. There are twelve (12) achievements. Collect twenty-six (26) morphing flowers. Collect fifteen (15) bells which represent each of the games within the series. Once collected, you can read a summary of that game. I found the collectibles easy to locate. You can replay fourteen (14) HOP scenes and eleven (11) mini-games
HOP SCENES: The scenes in the demo are principally lists of items. They are somewhat interactive. There is one scene in which you take items at the bottom of the screen and place them back into the scene within their proper location. There are also several mini-HOP scenes in which you search for only a small number of some item.
MINI-GAMES: I found the mini-games within the demo easy – boringly easy. There is one within the demo which has a “casual” or “hard” option. However, even the “hard” version is not difficult. The demo contains several sequence puzzles in which you press items in sequential order. There are also a couple of easy switch puzzles. Can you stay within the lines? Returning are those tracing puzzles which require you to trace a path through a symbol without touching the sides. This is one “puzzle” I intensely dislike.
SPOILERS: HERE THE MINI-GAMES WITHIN THE DEMO:
A. Rotating disks puzzle. Rotate three rings to restore an image.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch blades on a fan to restore its image
C. Tracing puzzle. Pass a line through a given path without touching the sides to retrieve a fan.
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Move flower tokens on a track upon a jewelry box, placing them into their proper slots.
E. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles within a 3 x 3 grid so that slotted edges of three of the tiles create an opening to release a heart
F. Casual vs. Hard. Matching/Assembly puzzle. Place masks into a grid so that the image on each side of the mask matches up with the mask next to it both up-and-down and sideways.
G. Sequence puzzle. Replicate a light sequence illustrated on parts of a brain.
H. Sequence puzzle. Press on tokens in the proper sequence to disconnect a device attached to a head.
I. Switch puzzle. Switch colored fuses attached to winding wires so that each fuse is connected to another of the same color.
J. Sequence puzzle. Put out a fire by pressing on flames in sequential order.
B. Switch puzzle. Switch blades on a fan to restore its image
C. Tracing puzzle. Pass a line through a given path without touching the sides to retrieve a fan.
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Move flower tokens on a track upon a jewelry box, placing them into their proper slots.
E. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles within a 3 x 3 grid so that slotted edges of three of the tiles create an opening to release a heart
F. Casual vs. Hard. Matching/Assembly puzzle. Place masks into a grid so that the image on each side of the mask matches up with the mask next to it both up-and-down and sideways.
G. Sequence puzzle. Replicate a light sequence illustrated on parts of a brain.
H. Sequence puzzle. Press on tokens in the proper sequence to disconnect a device attached to a head.
I. Switch puzzle. Switch colored fuses attached to winding wires so that each fuse is connected to another of the same color.
J. Sequence puzzle. Put out a fire by pressing on flames in sequential order.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop an ancient menace from taking over the city?
Overall rating
4
/
5
85 of 144 found this review helpful
A FRACTURED FAIRYTALE: THE LITTLE MERMAID
PostedJanuary 24, 2019
sunnyglow
fromPoor King Delmar. His children give a whole new meaning to the concept of “behavior problems.”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME:
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 Pages
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 49 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to the Secret City on another case. Sakir has asked for your help dealing with a power-hungry mermaid. Tenebris, the princess of the merfolk, is out to destroy the Secret City. Having been stopped in the past, she has re-emerged searching for her generals to vanquish the city. She has a secret weapon this time, a special crystal which she plans to use to gather enough souls to resurrect her army. Only you, as a human, can save this kingdom. Can you save it before this princess resurrects her immortal generals?
OPINION: This is decent but not outstanding game. This game is not consistent with the quality of many of Domini’s other games. It is a long game. The game has a well-written story and the pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. There are more puzzles than HOP scenes, although the HOP scenes within the game are well-designed and varied.
Nevertheless, there are elements in this game which I did not like. (1) The game has a collectible bar on the right-side of the screen. It is cumbersome and I wonder why the developer changed its location, which is usually attached to the inventory bar. You need to click on it to see if there is a collectible within the scene. I found this annoying. (2) There are fewer puzzles within this game than in previous ones. There are also very few puzzles with the option to be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. (3). I found the colors within the graphics intense and garish with the overuse of neon green and purple within the scenes. Hopefully Domini will tone down these intense colors.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are eighteen (18) achievements. Collect fifteen (15) pages, thirty-six (36) starfish, and thirteen (13) morphing statuettes. I found most easy to locate. You can replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes and nineteen (19) mini-games. There are eleven (11) wallpapers along with concept art and music selections.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. You are invited by Cassiopeia, a judge, to partake in the elections for a new leader of the Merfolk Kingdom. However, a malcontent, Hakkar, feels he is the rightful heir to the throne. You must stop him before he performs a ritual to raise a powerful deity to aid him in his cause. It is a long chapter, one well-worth the price of a collector’s edition. There are ten (10) puzzles and four (4) HOP scenes. There are more puzzles which can be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode toward the end of the chapter. You continue to collect the collectibles in this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) in the game. You can replay all of them. There are also four (4) mini-HOP scenes in which you locate a small number of some item. The scenes are varied and creatively designed. There are the usual lists of items, storybook, and silhouette scenes; however, there are also matching scenes. There is one with rebus clues and another with cryptic clues. There is a Spot-the-Differences scene, a replacement scene and a search-and-replace scene in which you must locate the items and then replace them within the scene.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-four (34) mini-games within the game. After the demo, there are few which have the option to be played in either an “easy” or a “hard” mode. I was rather disappointed that there were not more of these puzzles. They are varied as well. Although there is not an option for the difficulty in playing the puzzles, they are creatively designed.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-four (34) mini-games within the game. After the demo, there are few which have the option to be played in either an “easy” or a “hard” mode. I was rather disappointed that there were not more of these puzzles. They are varied as well. Although there is not an option for the difficulty in playing the puzzles, they are creatively designed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place boards on a grid so that all the boards mesh together with no spaces between.
B. Switch puzzle. Restore a picture by switching pieces. There are two sides in this puzzle which you turn on-and-off. Work on one side at a time until the picture is restored.
C. Maze puzzle. Move an owl to an exit at the right of the maze by pressing arrows. The owl will keep going until it meets a boundary. 3X
D. Mathematical puzzle. Plot a route for a train on a maze of tracks. You only have a specified number of spaces you can move. Calculate the proper number of spaces to move so that you can maneuver around the maze to its end. There are holes within this maze. If you fall into a hole you must restart.
E. Connection puzzle. Connect beams of light between tokens based upon the number of each token. Each token must have beams emanating from it as per the number upon it.
F. Tangram puzzle. Using a crane, place boxes onto a grid so that no spaces remain.
G. Map puzzle. Move footsteps through a scene following a given set of directions to arrive at your destination. You can activate a close-up of each scene to ascertain how to go.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. Lead tokens along a path to their designated slots. They must be placed along the path sequentially, so they end up at the proper slot.
I. Assembly puzzle. Paint sections of a grid so that no two colors are next to each other.
B. Switch puzzle. Restore a picture by switching pieces. There are two sides in this puzzle which you turn on-and-off. Work on one side at a time until the picture is restored.
C. Maze puzzle. Move an owl to an exit at the right of the maze by pressing arrows. The owl will keep going until it meets a boundary. 3X
D. Mathematical puzzle. Plot a route for a train on a maze of tracks. You only have a specified number of spaces you can move. Calculate the proper number of spaces to move so that you can maneuver around the maze to its end. There are holes within this maze. If you fall into a hole you must restart.
E. Connection puzzle. Connect beams of light between tokens based upon the number of each token. Each token must have beams emanating from it as per the number upon it.
F. Tangram puzzle. Using a crane, place boxes onto a grid so that no spaces remain.
G. Map puzzle. Move footsteps through a scene following a given set of directions to arrive at your destination. You can activate a close-up of each scene to ascertain how to go.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Sequence puzzle. Lead tokens along a path to their designated slots. They must be placed along the path sequentially, so they end up at the proper slot.
I. Assembly puzzle. Paint sections of a grid so that no two colors are next to each other.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop an ancient evil from breaking free?
Overall rating
4
/
5
87 of 145 found this review helpful
CAN AMAX FIND REDEMPTION WITH THIS GAME?
PostedJanuary 17, 2019
sunnyglow
fromCan AMAX find redemption with this game? They have entered a portal into the past, pulled out the same game and refurbished it with a new story and cast of characters. Nevertheless, the activities and graphics are the same.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME:
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
OVERVIEW: Can you save mankind from the soul devourer, Olaf? You have been informed by the Keeper of the World, Kear, that you have been slated to be one of Olaf’s next victims. A mark on your wrist ties you to Olaf. Now, with the help of Kear, you must go to Redemption Cemetery to stop this evildoer before he escapes into the world. You only have until dawn to stop him from resurrecting the dead and bringing chaos to the world. His defeat lies in you returning to the past to save the first three souls he devoured. Can you stop him in time?
OPINION: For me, this is a decent 4-star game, lacking in quality to be considered a 5-star game. Although it has many mini-games and HOP scenes, I consider it a short game. I played this game in a little over four (4) hours, including the bonus chapter. The dark muted colors provide a nice backdrop to the story. Nevertheless, I wish AMAX would eliminate the mounds of black smoke within their games. The pace is decent. There are three stories set within different locations to maintain the player’s interest. There are only two collectibles. You collect coins, but I have no idea why they are collected since there are no items to purchase for some special room as with most AMAX games.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty (20) achievements. Collect twenty-six (26) morphing skull coins and fourteen (14) cards. I found most easy to locate. There are eight (8) screensavers, twelve (12) wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences. You can replay eleven (11) HOP scenes and twelve (12) mini-games.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Return to Redemption Cemetery to help your friend, Alex, locate his missing son, Dave. A demon has possessed Alex, using him to search for tablets which will allow this demon to return to the physical world. Return to the past in search of a memento to defeat this demon. I found the HOP scenes and puzzles within this chapter better than in the main game. You continue the search for the two collectibles. There are twelve (12) puzzles and thirteen (13) HOP scenes and mini-HOP scenes within this chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-eight (28) HOP scenes and mini-HOP scenes within this game. I was disappointed in this aspect of the game. They lack variety, with most being lists of items. There are some matching scenes. There are only two scenes which I found somewhat creative, both of which are within the bonus chapter. There is one scene which provides a panoramic view in which to search for items. There is another scene within the same chapter in which you match up items by opening boxes.
MINI-GAMES: There are forty-three (43) mini-games within the game. I found these better than the HOP scenes. There are some mini-games which can be played in either a “casual” or “hard” mode. There are repetitive puzzles (increasing in difficulty) to be played as you enter the past with each new character. However, I feel there are too many jigsaw-like puzzles dedicated to restoring some image. There are also quite a few maze mini-games. However, I found these creatively designed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Mathematical puzzle. Begin with the number 20. Land on numbers on a grid so as they subtract from 20, you are left with zero (0) at the exit of a maze.
B. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Slat puzzle. Using arrows, move slats up-and-down and sideways to restore a picture (There are several of these within the game)
C. Unique new puzzle. Jigsaw puzzle. Move pictures pieces into position to restore an image. As you move a piece, it will change the image. Adjust those pieces so they combine to produce an image. (There are several of these within the game)
D. Maze puzzle. Move through a maze while avoiding falling rocks. If you get hit by rocks, you must restart the puzzle.
E. Choice between Casual and Hard. Row, row, row your boat. Maze puzzle. Maneuver a boat to the finish line while avoiding whirlpools and ice.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Lock puzzle. Bend a wire to match a configuration within the tumblers of a lock
G. Maze puzzle. Move a rotating flame through a maze to a wolf. What makes this difficult is that the wolf/wolves will keep moving his/their position. Since the flame is revolving you must click on the flame as approaches an opening or it may enter the entrance to another location. Another wolf is added with each level. 3X
H. Matching puzzle. Match up tokens with each other until only one remains. Some of the tokens have two images on them which can be matched. You can jump over tokens; however, you must plot your moves so only one remains. Increases in difficulty with each new level.
B. Choice between “casual” and “hard” modes. Slat puzzle. Using arrows, move slats up-and-down and sideways to restore a picture (There are several of these within the game)
C. Unique new puzzle. Jigsaw puzzle. Move pictures pieces into position to restore an image. As you move a piece, it will change the image. Adjust those pieces so they combine to produce an image. (There are several of these within the game)
D. Maze puzzle. Move through a maze while avoiding falling rocks. If you get hit by rocks, you must restart the puzzle.
E. Choice between Casual and Hard. Row, row, row your boat. Maze puzzle. Maneuver a boat to the finish line while avoiding whirlpools and ice.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Lock puzzle. Bend a wire to match a configuration within the tumblers of a lock
G. Maze puzzle. Move a rotating flame through a maze to a wolf. What makes this difficult is that the wolf/wolves will keep moving his/their position. Since the flame is revolving you must click on the flame as approaches an opening or it may enter the entrance to another location. Another wolf is added with each level. 3X
H. Matching puzzle. Match up tokens with each other until only one remains. Some of the tokens have two images on them which can be matched. You can jump over tokens; however, you must plot your moves so only one remains. Increases in difficulty with each new level.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your brother and the worlds in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 204 found this review helpful
BECOME “ENTRANCED” ENTERING PORTALS TO OTHER WORLDS
PostedJanuary 10, 2019
sunnyglow
fromI am entranced by this game and mesmerized by its excellence. However, Is the reason I like this game based on its merits or does Dietrich have me under his hypnotic spell?
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
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 Pages
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 Pages
OVERVIEW: Margaret! Are you ready to save the world? The earth’s crust has developed a crack, causing chaos and destruction. The evil Dietrich, a master hypnotist, has escaped from the Seekers’ Prison and has kidnapped your brother, a fellow Seeker. He has put your brother into a hypnotic trance, using him to locate the Heart of the World, an artifact which keeps the earth in balance. His plan is to use this artifact along with the three hearts from the other worlds to destroy the energy net of the Seekers, preventing them from using their teleportation abilities. Dietrich will then be able to travel anywhere in the universe, escaping capture. Now you are off traveling to the other worlds to apprehend him. Can you stop him in time before your world is destroyed?
OPINION: This is a long, creatively designed game. As with their other games, Domini provides more game for the money, providing extras not found in many other games including more collectibles, more chapters for a longer game, more puzzles, and a choice in difficulty for those puzzles. The pace is excellent with a decent story and plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. For me, the graphics are better than in previous games. Domini has toned down the vivid purple and neon green evidenced in many of their other games. Some of the graphics are breathtaking, especially in the chapter dealing with the Aerial World. For me, this game is better than the previous ones from this series.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirty-three (33) achievements. Collect sixty-nine (69) tokens to purchase strange animals for a Magic Zoo. You also collect twenty-one (21) cards of characters from the various worlds and fifteen (15) “Dietrich Wanted” posters. There is an indicator bar on the inventory bar which alerts you when there is a collectible within the scene. I found most easy to locate. You can choose the difficulty for the puzzles in the menu; a choice between “easy” or “hard” modes. There are seventeen (17) wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences. You can replay twenty (20) mini-games and eighteen (18) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a story not related to the main story. The prison guard at the Seekers’ Prison has asked for your help in retrieving the Portal Brush, a brush used to draw portals to other worlds. Grimmor, a dangerous criminal, has stolen this artifact and you must stop him before he creates a world in which he and other criminals can escape. This is a long chapter. There are nine (9) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes within this chapter. You continue to search for collectibles within this chapter. I found some of the puzzles and HOP scenes better than those in the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) scenes within this game. You can replay all these HOP scenes after you complete the game. There are also several mini-HOP scenes in which you collect a small number of some item. They are some of the most creative scenes I have seen from this developer. They include lists of items, silhouette, and storybook scenes; however, they also include matching scenes and a scene with rebus clues and one with cryptic clues. The bonus chapter has one scene which contains morphing objects. You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the puzzles.
My favorites include one in which you must rotate three circles to create the items to be removed. For those music lovers out there, there is one in which you search for musical symbols while changing the scene using three colored keys on a piano. In another scene, which is similar, you switch scenes using three colored lenses while searching for items.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-eight (38) puzzles within the game. Most of the puzzles have the option to be played in either an “easy” or “hard” mode. I found most the puzzles also creatively designed. There are quite a few map puzzles and lock puzzles within this game. However, demonstrating the creative talents of this developer, the map puzzles and the lock puzzles differ from each other in some aspect.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Map puzzle. Move a set of footsteps through an unlit labyrinth, picking up items to help you overcome obstacles.
B. Assembly puzzle. Choose a pair of hands, which, when combined, will create a shadow figure of a given animal. Do this for six (6) animals.
C. Connection puzzle. Connect six star-shaped spheres with each other so that the number of connections for each sphere equals the number of the center within the sphere.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using knobs with plus and minus numbers upon them, use them to move a red line so you end at a designated number on a thermometer.
E. Physics puzzle. Ye Old Mirror Puzzle. In this case, angle 3 beams of light moving crystal lenses so that the light beams hit three lamps on the left side of the screen.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Assembly puzzle. Prepare sausage by following instructions in a book and pressing start to see if the combination is correct.
G. Sequence puzzle. Click on symbols according to pieces of paper which have years written upon them. The symbols must be chosen according to the year from earliest to the latest in sequential order.
B. Assembly puzzle. Choose a pair of hands, which, when combined, will create a shadow figure of a given animal. Do this for six (6) animals.
C. Connection puzzle. Connect six star-shaped spheres with each other so that the number of connections for each sphere equals the number of the center within the sphere.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using knobs with plus and minus numbers upon them, use them to move a red line so you end at a designated number on a thermometer.
E. Physics puzzle. Ye Old Mirror Puzzle. In this case, angle 3 beams of light moving crystal lenses so that the light beams hit three lamps on the left side of the screen.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Assembly puzzle. Prepare sausage by following instructions in a book and pressing start to see if the combination is correct.
G. Sequence puzzle. Click on symbols according to pieces of paper which have years written upon them. The symbols must be chosen according to the year from earliest to the latest in sequential order.
I recommend this game!
A couple's fixer-upper is haunted by a fierce creature.
Overall rating
5
/
5
151 of 221 found this review helpful
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH SOME MUCH-NEEDED RENNOVATION BY EIPIX
PostedJanuary 3, 2019
sunnyglow
fromThis house is now featured on a new reality show - “Paranormal Fixer Upper,” a new show dedicated to renovating haunted houses by removing rotten lumber, old appliances, demented inhabitants and hard-to-remove ghosts.
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: 44 Pages
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages
OVERVIEW: Welcome to The Old Curiosity Shop, a shop dedicated to the sale of peculiar items with strange tales attached! As a new customer, you receive a key to open a box, a box containing an old doorknob. This doorknob opens a door – a portal unfolding a story of the newlywed couple, Mark and Martha Spencer, and their entrance into a world of danger. Martha, a real estate agent, found this house, a fixer-upper with a reputation for being haunted. Mark, a novelist of horror stories, saw this as an opportunity for this crumbling structure to provide some much-needed inspiration to cure his writer’s block. The history of this ramshackle house will come to life to haunt this couple. Now relive this tale. Just remember as you play this game - don’t go down in the basemen! There is always something in the basement!
OPINION: This is a great first game from a new series from EIPIX. The story is well-written and for me, it is more of a mystery than a horror game. I found the dark graphics added to the suspense of the game. It is “lights out” for many of the scenes. Most of the game is set in some room within this house. Nevertheless, I found some parts of the game rather snail-paced. There are sections which fall flat due to lack of activities. The back-and-forth motion searching for inventory items could have been replaced with a few more puzzles or HOP scenes. You play a tag team couple, alternating roles with each new chapter. A couple of times in the game, you must make choices between two paths. If you choose the incorrect one, you will be sent back to the curio shop; however, you will not have to restart the game. Although I do not feel this is one of this developer’s best games, for me, this game is a much-needed improvement from some of their recent ones. Although I would normally give this game four (4) stars, I awarded an extra star for improvement.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirteen (13) achievements. Collect sixteen (16) morphing objects), thirty-four (34) moths and ten (10) cassettes. At the end you will collect sixteen (16) souvenirs. To collect the souvenirs, you must collect all the moths and get a number illustrated by the moths to unlock the puzzle. I had a hard time reading the number. For me, it was blurry. The souvenirs are well- hidden, and you will need to uncover items to locate them. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with concept art and music selections and video sequences. You can replay fourteen (14) HOP scenes and twenty (20) puzzles.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Return to the house and follow the paranormal crew from the hit reality show “Paranormal Hour” who disappeared while shooting a segment within the house. Discover what happened to them within this “haunted” house. Most of the scenes are the same as within the main game. You continue to collect the same collectibles as in the main game. There are four (4) mini-games and four (4) HOP scenes within this chapter. To me, what makes this chapter is the ending! You will not want to miss this surprise ending!
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) HOP scenes within the game. I found them well-constructed with a variety of different styles. Most of the scenes are silhouette or lists of items. There is one replacement scene and some of the scenes are multiple-step. There are some creative backgrounds for the scenes which include searching for items on mannequins, cobwebs, and even scratched up doors.
ITSY, BITSY CREEPY SPIDER! There is one creatively designed storybook scene. You listen to the nursery rhyme, “Itsy, Bitsy Spider” while searching or highlighted items in a storybook scene – all spoken in a creepy, demonic-sounding voice. Then, enjoy a revised version of this nursery rhyme while searching for more of those highlighted items. For me, this is the best HOP scene within the game.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-nine (29) mini-games within the game. I found them creatively designed and with most of easy or middle difficulty. There are quite a few mathematical puzzles. Surprisingly there are also quite a few physical puzzles in which you must climb up a wall, keep your balance, hit a bullseye, or keep a marker within a circle. I feel there are too many of these within this game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Connection puzzle. Connect the dots on a sheet of paper without crossing over the drawings upon the paper. You may cross over lines already drawn.
B. Mathematical puzzle. On a series of five (5) tubes, using up-and-down arrows, combine three numbers at the sides of the tubes, either adding or subtracting them, so they total the number next to an orange line on each tube.
C. Maze puzzle. Using arrows, navigate through ventilation tunnels. You are completely in the dark and the exit is not designated. You must locate it on your own.
D. 1000 Rooms puzzle. Move a doll by using arrows to double doors within a dollhouse. The doll and the rooms move and there are ladders to climb to move up to the next level. 2X
E. Tangram puzzle. A variation of this puzzle. Place pieces of attic junk into position so that all pieces fit and there are no gaps between the spaces.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Moving tiles puzzle. Move four colored disks in three columns from the left column to the right column so the disks are in the proper colored slots. Use the middle column to help move the disks. Disks cannot move around other disks
G. Connection puzzle. On a net, connect each thread with its opposite side so that the threads intersect in the middle of the net.
H. Sequence puzzle. Bar removal puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order to open an entrance to a cave
B. Mathematical puzzle. On a series of five (5) tubes, using up-and-down arrows, combine three numbers at the sides of the tubes, either adding or subtracting them, so they total the number next to an orange line on each tube.
C. Maze puzzle. Using arrows, navigate through ventilation tunnels. You are completely in the dark and the exit is not designated. You must locate it on your own.
D. 1000 Rooms puzzle. Move a doll by using arrows to double doors within a dollhouse. The doll and the rooms move and there are ladders to climb to move up to the next level. 2X
E. Tangram puzzle. A variation of this puzzle. Place pieces of attic junk into position so that all pieces fit and there are no gaps between the spaces.
BONUS CHAPTER
F. Moving tiles puzzle. Move four colored disks in three columns from the left column to the right column so the disks are in the proper colored slots. Use the middle column to help move the disks. Disks cannot move around other disks
G. Connection puzzle. On a net, connect each thread with its opposite side so that the threads intersect in the middle of the net.
H. Sequence puzzle. Bar removal puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order to open an entrance to a cave
I recommend this game!