sunnyglow's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    4.3
  • Helpful Votes:
    80,084
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    815
  • First Review:
    November 27, 2011
  • Most Recent Review:
    March 25, 2025
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Status:
 
 
sunnyglow's Review History
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Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
77 of 132 found this review helpful
THE RESURRECTION OF THE VAMPIRE GAME!
PostedSeptember 13, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromTurning pale and feeling like death warmed over after taking your prescription? If you are “out for blood” against the doctor who prescribed that medicine – Watch out! As in this game - those pangs may produce fangs!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 pages
OVERVIEW: Holy Vampire - Batman! – Vampires are back! Travis Montgomery – find yourself as part of the world of the bloodsucking living dead. When the love of your life, Valerie, becomes deathly ill, you purchase a remedy to cure her. However, when you both drink this potion, you both die, only to reawaken as vampires. Alexander, the Master Vampire, is behind your deaths. He is on a quest to become the most powerful of all the vampires, and the key to his invincibility rests with Valerie. He plans to marry her and to make her his Queen of the Night. In this love triangle, will your immortal love conquer all? You will be tested to see if you have what takes to take on these “bloody” fiends. You will get some help from the Order of the Hunters, a group which studies and destroys vampires.
OPINION: After a couple of years of being buried by other genres, it appears that vampire games have resurrected on BFG. This game should appeal to those who love this genre. Personally, I had hoped vampire games would stay buried in the past; however, I believe we are in for another “bloody” onslaught of them. The re-emergence of vampire games indicates to me, that the casual gaming community needs to reawaken its creative spirit and develop some new gaming themes.
This is a decent, but not outstanding game. I did purchase this game because the story provides a unique twist on the vampire myth. The game is somewhat short, lacking in the amount of activities and quality demonstrated in other developers’ games. I found the graphics cartoon-like. The pace is decent in most of the game; however, it becomes snail-paced within the middle of the game.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-three (23) achievements. Collect sixty (60) glass figurines and fifty-nine (59) morphing objects. Most scenes have two (2) of each collectible and I found some easy to locate and some not. The figurines blend well into the scenes and some are difficult to locate. There are four (4) screensavers and eight (8) wallpapers along with casual art and music selections. You can replay fifteen (15) puzzles and ten (10) HOP scenes.
GIMMICKY DRAGON BRACELET: You receive a bracelet with the dragon Oberon upon it. He consumes power from other vampires to give to you, his new master. You will get those powers every time you encounter a vampire and kill it. Each power is only used once.

BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. An old adversary returns to cause havoc on your wedding day. A wedding gift turns deadly for your bride. Find out why a seemingly innocent gift is now causing her to die. I found the chapter of decent length. It is comparable to the main chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are only nineteen (19) HOP scenes in the game. Most of the scenes are lists of items with many scenes repeated. In my opinion, a collector’s edition game should not contain any repeated HOP scenes. There are also a couple of silhouette scenes, one matching pairs scene, and two replacement scenes (one being in a storybook format). I found the scenes nondescript with very little interactivity. If you enjoy straight lists of items, then you may enjoy these HOP scenes.
PUZZLES: There are only twenty-one (21) puzzles within the entire game. I loved most of the puzzles within this game, my favorite being a logic puzzle. I feel the puzzles are more creatively designed than the HOP scenes. They are thematic, varying in both style and difficulty, with most being of average difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Weights and balances puzzle. Place seven (7) metallic wolves on scales, placing them so that each wolf has its mouth on a bat.
B. Multiple-step puzzle (1) Jigsaw puzzle. Place pieces into position to restore a picture in a book. (2) Slider puzzle. Slide slats into position to restore another picture.
C. Logic problem. Based upon given statements, place photos into the proper location to indicate the relationship between seven (7) characters within the game. Between the pictures are “love” and “hate” symbols.
D. Assembly puzzle. Using two lenses on a telescope, switch lenses to align the stars to create nine (9) constellations.
BONUS CHAPTER:
E. Beat the computer. Checkers puzzle. Defeat bad bats by either jumping over them or touching them which turns them into good bats. Collect more bats than your opponent.
F. Switch puzzle. Switch and rotate triangular pieces to restore an image on a book.
G. Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order.
I recommend this game!
+22points
77of 132voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
137 of 202 found this review helpful
A GAME CAPTURING THE “REEL” FEAR IN MOVIE MAKING – A CRAZED DIRECTOR! – ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR!
PostedSeptember 8, 2018
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sunnyglow
fromI just discovered there is another “medium” to contact the spirit world, that being social media. Just saw this message: “Ghost social media has some ‘ghoul friends’ you may know. Should we add them to your ‘fiend’ list?"
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE MAIN GAME
8 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 66 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to the movies. As a paranormal detective, you have been called in to investigate some ghostly activity at an abandoned movie theater. While restoring this theater, Sebastian’s Horror Cinema, an architect and her crew disappeared, believed to be the caused by a ghostly presence. Meet the crazed, arrogant ghost of Sebastian Fleming, a director consumed with the passion of capturing the true expression of fear on film. However, his methods of capturing that emotion are unconventional. Unable to fulfill his desire to create a realistic horror story in life, he now wants to create “reel” fear to bring himself back to life. Stop him before he completes his “final” film and creates more victims from his madness.
OPINION: This is an academy award winning performance in gaming! If there were only one game I could purchase this year – this would be it! This is a long game, well worth the full price for this game. It should appeal to those who love mildly scary fare with a little satirical humor. There is some witty tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the game. You will receive humorous messages on your phone – a little corny perhaps, but I found some of them rather witty as well. Clicking on the scenes will produce some unexpected movement within the scenes. This is a puzzle-lover’s dream game. However, the HOP scenes are creatively designed as well. Domini is my favorite developer and they always provide more game for the money. The games are longer with extras that most developers do not provide. My only criticism would be the excessive amount of purple within this game. It truly is a case of purple overload.
MECHANICS: There are four levels of play which include a customized version. You have the choice to play a female or male character. There are thirty-three (33) achievements. You can set the difficulty of the puzzles within the menu between “easy” and “hard.” You can also change the difficultly as you play the puzzles. Instead of the gimmicky pair of glasses from previous games in the series (which broke), you now use a smartphone to see paranormal activity. Collect fifteen (15) cinema attributes, eleven (11) movie posters and fifty-six (56) tickets. The tickets are exchanged for items to place in an Auditorium Hall. There are moths on the inventory bar to indicate when there is a collectible within a scene. I found most easy to locate. There are ten (10) wallpapers plus casual art along with music and video sequences. You can replay eighteen (18) puzzles and nineteen (19) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. After receiving a disk containing movies from Sebastian Fleming, Shelley, the wife of one of the game’s characters, seems possessed – obsessed with watching these movies. What horror is Sebastian planning? I have not completed the bonus chapter due to the length of this game. However, it appears to be a long chapter- well-worth the extra money for the additional chapter.
HOP SCENES: There are fourteen (14) in the main game. I have no idea how many are in the bonus chapter. Most of the scenes include lists of items and silhouette scenes, some within a storybook format. The scenes are interactive, and many contain mini-puzzles within the scenes. There are three I found creatively designed. One is a spot-the-differences scene. Another is a rather unsettling one with a creepy doll who chants before you locate silhouette items. I found that one a little chilling! My favorite is one in which you must use sliders along the sides of the scene to align silhouettes of the items with the actual items before you can remove them.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-nine (39) puzzles JUST in the MAIN GAME! Most puzzles have the option to be played in either an “easy” or “hard mode. They vary in style and there are some truly amazing puzzles within this game. There are some new puzzles I have not seen in other games. However, I do regret Domini did not provide a replay for more of their puzzles. I believe you can replay all the HOP scenes but less than half the puzzles.
SPOILERS: THESE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Remove interconnected shopping carts one-at-a time in the proper sequence until all are removed. You must clear them in a specific order to remove all chains binding them.
B. Connection puzzle. Create a path between a power source and two lights. Place connectors on a grid so that the ends connect to a plus and a minus. Lights will light up when placed correctly. You have seen this puzzle in other games. The directions are better written in this game.
C. Gear puzzle. Rotate four intermeshing grooved gears so that the openings within the gears match up with wires. Moving ones affects the others.
D. Strategy puzzle. Place marbles on a moving, winding path in a grid so they match with a given alignment. As the marbles move down the path, they change direction and realign.
E. Maze puzzle. Move colored chains on a grid to their proper location.
F. Connection puzzle. On a chemistry chart, start at the top and create a path turning all cells blue without retracing your steps. There are only a certain number of moves to do this.
G. Sequence puzzle. Follow the directions. A new puzzle not seen before. On a grid, move a test tube using directional arrows to pick up medicine in a specific order. If you do not pick them up in order, you must restart. The test tube will keep moving until it hits one of the items or is stopped at an edge of the grid.
H. Connection puzzle. Move a submarine on a grid connecting all checkpoints on the grid. Choose the correct arrow which will maneuver it through the path. Unique puzzle not seen before.
I recommend this game!
+72points
137of 202voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
128 of 199 found this review helpful
SUBMERGE YOURSELF IN AN INCREDIBLE UNDERSEA ADVENTURE
PostedSeptember 6, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromAtlantean evolution? Planet of the Sea Monkeys? Did Atlanteans evolve from Sea Monkeys? The ones in this game look very similar to the critters from my childhood Sea Monkey Ocean Zoo kit.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME:
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! You are off to Atlantis! Submerge yourself in a breathtaking undersea adventure to battle the Dark Trackers. When a researcher of ancient artifacts, Russell Jackman, goes missing, you are sent to an underwater settlement to locate him. Upon investigation, you find out he discovered an ancient Atlantean relic with tremendous power, one which allows the user to control the sea. Now the Dark Trackers want this device for their own nefarious purposes. Enjoy some incredibly beautiful underwater scenery as you attempt to rescue Dr. Jackman and stop the Dark Trackers in their track!
OPINION: I LOVED playing this game! What an incredibly beautiful game with oceanic graphics which are phenomenal! Kudos to Elephant for a well-designed game. This was an instant purchase for me as I have always had a fascination about Atlantis. This game should appeal to those who are interested in Atlantean mythology or those who love marine life. The game is somewhat short, but in this case, it is quality over quantity. To me, this is one of the best games from Elephant this year. This is an action-packed game full of creative HOP scenes and fantastic and unique puzzles.
ELF – MIA: It would not be a Mystery Trackers game without Elf. However, his services are not used much in this game. He is only used as a helper five (5) times in the main game and only three (3) times in the bonus chapter. He completely disappears after the demo – the reason you will discover as you play this fabulous game. All of those who hate helpers in games, you might want to rethink not playing this one. Elf does not have much of a presence in this game.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are eighteen (18) achievements. Collect thirty-two (32) jigsaw pieces which provide a finished jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game. Collect twelve (12) denizens of the sea and twenty-seven (27) morphing objects. I found most easy to locate, although I found a few which were well-hidden. There are eight (8) wallpapers plus the usual casual art and music selections. You can replay twelve (12) mini-games and sixteen (16) HOP scenes hidden within the Secret Room. I feel this developer does themselves a disservice by not announcing the replay of the HOP scenes and puzzles in the opening part of the game. I, for one, evaluate whether to purchase a game based on whether I can replay the puzzles.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Dr. Jackman is in trouble again! For a second time, he has been kidnapped by the Dark Trackers. This time, the Dark Trackers are seeking information on the location of the underwater civilization of Atlantis to rescue a fellow member. You are off to rescue him and save Atlantis. The same excellence within the main game is evident in this chapter as well. There are some fantastic HOP scenes and puzzles in this chapter. It is a long chapter making this game worthy of the classification “Collector’s Edition.”
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes in the game, many of which are creatively designed, with most scenes being thematic. Many are two-part scenes in which you search for items in one format and then switch to another. They include the usual lists of items and silhouette scenes, some within a storybook setting. However, there are also matching scenes, search and replace scenes, morphing objects within one scene, and one cryptic clues scene. There are three (3) amazing panoramic scenes in which you must expand the scene via arrows to locate all the items. In one, you move the scene up-and-down, which I have never seen before.
PUZZLES: There are thirty (30) puzzles within the game. However, there are several instances of multiple-step puzzles. You play one puzzle and then immediately play another one. They vary in design. I found most of them of medium difficulty; however, there are some easy ones as well.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Move pieces up-and-down and sideways (using arrows) until an image emerges.
B. Multiple step. (1) Switch puzzle. Switch pieces to restore an image on a tracking device. (2) Map puzzle. Follow the directions. Move a car the exact amount of spaces and in the correct direction on a given code until all directions are completed. If you make a mistake you must restart.
C. Mathematical puzzle. On a grid with numbers assigned to each row and column, add or subtract holes in each cell of the grid so that the number of holes equals the number assigned to each row and column.
BONUS CHAPTER:
D. Domino puzzle. Rotate and place dominos within a grid so that all the ends match each other.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch pearls so they match up with the background pattern in which they are placed.
F. Sequence puzzle. Choose symbols in the middle of a grid which are etched on the two columns on the sides of the grid. They must be chosen in sequence. They light up if the proper symbols are chosen. If you choose the incorrect symbol you must restart the puzzle.
I recommend this game!
+57points
128of 199voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
110 of 172 found this review helpful
A GAME WHICH IS LESS THAN PICTURE-PERFECT!
PostedAugust 30, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromWhat is the price of beauty? You don’t need to play this game to find out! Just ask any woman how much she spends per year to maintain her beauty regimen!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Game – Strategy Guide: 30 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! What is the price of beauty? You will find out as you take an “artful” journey to Bedford, joining Dupin on another case. An artist’s models are disappearing! After posing for the famous artist, Tussole, the models simply vanish! The police suspect that the artist himself may be involved. However, is he the culprit? After one of the girls receives a letter indicating that her soul will be devoured by her portrait, it appears there may be a supernatural element involved in these disappearances. Discover what is behind the disappearances and learn the surprising identity of the culprit.
OPINION: This is a very short game. I finished this game, including the bonus chapter in less than four hours. To me, there is nothing to distinguish it from the thirteen (13) previous games within the series. The game is based on an obscure two-page Edgar Allan Poe story. It may appeal to those who love this series or perhaps those who love Edgar Allan Poe. However, I found this game a rehashed cookie cutter version of the others in this series. I was surprised at the “Editor’s Choice” designation. To me, with the brevity of the game, the lackluster HOP scenes and puzzles, plus the lack of extras, this game is not worthy of this rating. To me, it is a decent game but not an outstanding one!
I found this game somewhat boring as well. The game lags in some places. There are several scenes in which you collect the same items in multiple mini-HOP scenes. To me, this seemed like time filler. Why not just collect all the items in one standard HOP scene? And of course, it would not be an AMAX game without collecting coins to purchase items. However, the coins are not collectibles; rather, they are collected within mini-HOP scenes. The graphics are realistic with some breathtaking scenes. However, beautiful graphics cannot compensate for this lackluster game. I purchased it and then regretted it.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. The residents of Bedford turn against the old hag from the main game. A curse is put on the town, but not by the witch but by her brother, Bernard. His magical brushes are turning living creatures into stone. Now, with the help of the old hag, stop her brother and return the town to normal. As stated previously, the chapter is very short. There are only five (5) puzzles and three (3) HOP scenes within this chapter. To me, it is not worth the extra money to play this chapter.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twelve (12) achievements. Collect thirteen (13) figurines and twenty-six (26) morphing objects. You can replay twelve (12) mini-games and twelve (12) HOP scenes. There are the usual music selections along with video sequences and concept art. There are six (6) wallpapers and five (5) screenshots as well.
HOP SCENES: There are thirteen (13) HOP scenes in the entire game. There are also fifteen (15) mini-HOP scenes in which you search for a small number of one item or pieces of items. There is a variety of HOP scenes including lists of items, silhouette, and storybook scenes in which you must search for items which are highlighted in the text. There is also a matching scene and a couple of search and replace scenes. I found two (2) creatively designed. In one you replace items back onto an iron gate. I found it somewhat difficult to find the location for the items. In another, you open boxes to match up items.
PUZZLES: There are only twenty-three (23) puzzles in the entire game. There are three puzzles in this game which are variations of ones I played last week in other games. The styles may vary, but they are basically the same puzzles. There are a few puzzles which allow the player to choose between a “Casual” or “Hard” version of the puzzle. I found that the puzzles had a good mix of easy and difficult ones.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Jigsaw puzzle. Move between three (3) doors to place pieces into place on a grid to create numbered door placards.
B. Cleverly designed puzzle. Cabinet puzzle. Begin with one drawer in a cabinet. Pull out a door handle and place it into position on the cabinet to open yet another drawer. Continue until all drawers are open. Within the drawers you will locate items you will need to use to interact with items in other drawers.
C. Map puzzle. Walk through a series of hallways to get to the exit. Place eleven (11) arrows onto a grid to plot the route and then press Play to see if you have the right combination. Played this same puzzle last week in another game.
D. Sequence puzzle. Unusual puzzle in which you are given a code with four (4) symbols, each associated with three (3) numbers. Based on this code enter the numbers in sequential order on a telephone
E. Rotating tiles puzzle. Place tokens into position to open a gate. After rotating the pieces, press the play button to see if they move to the center to form a circle. Just played this puzzle last week in another game.
F. Excellent puzzle. Match -3 game. On a 3-dimensional grid match up obstacles by threes to remove them and open a path for a carriage to move through. Best puzzle in the game.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Assembly puzzle. Combine two or more symbols, from two rings so that when combined they produce a symbol in the middle of the screen.
H. Maze puzzle. Go through a maze with a flashlight picking up items to help you overcome obstacles in your path. Just played this puzzle in another game last week.
I recommend this game!
+48points
110of 172voted this as helpful.
 
Your brother’s invention has made contact with aliens. Help him defeat an intergalactic invasion before the Earth is destroyed.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
102 of 180 found this review helpful
ALIEN INVASION! SAVE EARTH IN A GAME WHICH IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
PostedAugust 25, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromIn the game you get a “weird device,” allowing you to communicate with aliens. However, this was not necessary. What about cell phones? With poor reception, at times, I could swear I am speaking with aliens.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages
OVERVIEW: Alien invasion! Get prepared Amelia to defend planet Earth! When you were children, your twin brother Reggie vanished in a beam of light never to be seen again – until now. Upon receiving a message from him, you are off to a deserted hotel to reunite with him. Upon arriving, you discover Reggie has been in training with the Galactic Force and is now the Sentinel protecting this planet. Now the planet is in under attack by an extraterrestrial force, the Contagion. When Reggie is injured, it will be up to you, Amelia, to save the Earth! Are you up to the challenge? The destiny of the planet now rests on your shoulders! Get ready to take on the Eradicators, a nasty bunch of robots headed by a buggy-eyed queen. Let us see if you have the right stuff to fry their circuits!
OPINION: I LOVED playing this game. It should appeal to sci-fi enthusiasts. It is high tech with robots, gadgets, and gizmos which don’t exist in the real world but are fun to tinker with in this game. The graphics are cartoonish with excellent sci-fi scenes. The story is vastly different from the beta/survey game; nevertheless, I feel it is better than the one in the beta. It is a fast-paced game with plenty of activities to keep you busy. You get a “weird device” (as it is called in the game) which allows to communicate with interplanetary beings.
MECHANICS: There are five (5) levels of play including a customized version. There are nine (9) achievements, most containing three (3) parts. Collect twenty-nine (29) planet-type objects and twenty-nine (29) morphing objects. There are also morphing objects within the HOP scenes. I found some well-hidden and others not. If you miss the morphing objects, at the end, you can return to the scenes and retrieve them. At the end of the game, collect twenty-nine (29) treasures as well. You must locate all the collectibles before you can search for the treasures. There are seven (7) wallpapers. You can replay nineteen (19) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Amelia is trying to save her brother Reggie from an alien infection. You are off to the American West to locate a pyramid with an underground Galactic Force base which will allow you to restore his health. I found the bonus chapter an excellent follow-up to the game. There are a decent number of cleverly designed puzzles and HOP scenes.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes in the game. This includes the five (5) in the bonus chapter. The scenes in this game are incredible! They are cleverly designed and the best part of the game. There is a wide variety of styles as well – lists of items, silhouettes, storybook scenes, search and replace, and matching. In one scene you use robotic arms to choose items to create a robotic prototype. In another you use binoculars to locate geometric shapes. There is an incredibly beautiful storybook scene in which you locate constellations on a star map. Superb!
PUZZLES: There are thirty-five (35) puzzles in the game which include the nine (9) in the bonus chapter. They vary in style and difficulty; however, most are thematic and mechanical in nature. I wish Mad Head would provide a replay for some of the puzzles. With this number of puzzles, there are several I would like to play again. I found most of the puzzles creatively designed. However, I do feel in this game, the HOP scenes are much better designed than the puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Arcade puzzle. Maneuver your space capsule to avoid asteroids in your path.
B. Maze puzzle. Lead a token through a maze (with moving gears which change the path), so it picks up a key and travels to a lock at the end.
C. Connection puzzle. Move a green token through a path filled with red tokens. The path must be continuous passing through each red token without retracing steps.
D. Maze/Mathematical puzzle. On a grid, move a token by pressing on numbers at the side which will move that token that many spaces. Arrows within the grid will change the direction. However, to change direction you must calculate the correct number of spaces you need to travel to arrive at an arrow which changes direction.
E. Match-3 puzzle. Beat the nasty alien by getting more crystals than the alien.
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Assembly puzzle. Build a totem pole with given pieces.
G. Assembly puzzle. An awesome puzzle in which you rotate three wheels with partial symbols on each one to create a slot for five symbols at the bottom to be fit when placed upon these wheels.
H. Assembly puzzle. Rotate and move hexagonal tokens to recreate a given image.
I. Jigsaw puzzle. Recreate a piece of pottery.
J. Maze puzzle. Move a token from beginning to end in a specific number of moves (17)
I recommend this game!
+24points
102of 180voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
92 of 161 found this review helpful
A DRAGON’S TALE WHICH JUST SEEMS TO “DRAG ON”
PostedAugust 23, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromAfter playing the demo of this game with those bright purples, funky pinks, and neon greens, I have the urge to turn on a “lava lamp” and listen to some disco from the 1970’s.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
OVERVIEW: Honored Healer, you are off on another case for the Imperium Medico. A petrified dark dragon has been found by the kingdom’s archaeologists. Queen Tar-liss wishes to display it to the public; however, unbeknownst to her, this dragon is Gromoss, an evil dragon out for revenge. When he is released from his prison, a protective shell, he goes into battle mode – out to conquer the kingdom and avenge himself. His aim is to release dark demons to aid him in his conquest. He is also spreading a contagion which turns humans into dragons. With your remedy kit in hand, heal those affected while attempting to stop Gromoss from his quest to conquer the kingdom.
MY FUNKY PURPLE, PINK, AND NEON GREEN OPINION: Boring! I usually love Domini games; however, this is one series I hate. Play one - play them all! This game is a cookie cutter version of the other three preceding it. Insert a new monster with some contagion and presto! - you have the next game in the sequel! I found it snail-paced and even with the numerous puzzles and collectibles, I could not wait for the demo to end. For a game which should be action-packed, this one is not. The graphics are dark with those over-used splashes of the purple, pink and iridescent green everywhere. Hey, Domini - the 1970’s want their colors back for tie-dye shirts and bellbottoms! Peace out!
NOW REPEAT THIS THREE TIMES! You will spend most of your time performing the same three activities. First, encounter an afflicted person and perform a diagnostic evaluation on him/her with a diagnostic scepter. To complete the diagnosis, you play three (3) puzzles. Second, after making your diagnosis, receive a list of five items you must locate to prepare a cure. Third, after making a tedious search back-and-forth between numerous scenes for the five items, put them into a distiller in proper order to get the cure. Are you bored yet? Yawn!
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirty-six (36) achievements. Collect fifteen (15) dragon figurines, fifteen (15) notes and seventy (70) dragon eggs to purchase fourteen (14) items for your laboratory. There is an indicator on the inventory bar indicating if there is collectible within the scene. The player can also choose the level of difficulty (casual or hard) for the puzzles within the menu as well. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with the usual concept art and music selections. There are two (2) gimmicks in the game – a healer kit with an accompanying diagnostic scepter. There is a replay option of eighteen (18) HOP scenes and seventeen (17) puzzles.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scenes in the game. In the demo, the HOP scenes are silhouette and lists of items. There are also some mini-HOP scenes in which you locate a small number of items. I found the scenes very creatively designed and much better than in previous games. There are some innovative locations to search for items. You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-seven (27) puzzles in the game. You can choose between a hard and casual version for most puzzles. As stated previously, you play three puzzles as part of diagnosing an infected person. You play another puzzle in which you decided where to place five (5) items into a distiller to create a cure. Where the ingredients are placed is a matter of random guessing. There is no logical method of assessing where they are placed. The other puzzles are thematic and creatively designed. I always enjoy the puzzles Domini provides; however, it is not enough for me to play this game.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES IN THE DEMO:
VARIATIONS OF A AND B ARE USED THREE (3) TIMES IN THE DEMO:
A. Diagnosis puzzle. Multiple-step. (1) Sequence puzzle. Click on red dots until all turn blue. Clicking on one affects the others. (2) Simon Says puzzle. Repeat the movements on an eye. 3X (3) Connection puzzle. Connect all paths between red dots without retracing steps.
B. Distiller puzzle. Assembly puzzle. After you search and locate all the ingredients put them into their proper position in a distiller and press “play” to see if you are correct.
OTHER PUZZLES:
C. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate four (4) pieces of an image and then press “play” to see if all four pieces, as they rotate on their path to the center, form a unified circle.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using numbered levers, add or subtract liquids so that each liquid reaches a designated line on each tube.
E. Physics/Mirror puzzle. Move and angle crystals so that beams of light connect crystals to tokens of the same color.
F. Maze puzzle. Move footprints through a maze locating items along the way to remove obstacles in the path.
I don't recommend this game.
+23points
92of 161voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
79 of 136 found this review helpful
A GAME ROYALE - FLUSH WITH PALACE INTRIGUE
PostedAugust 18, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromIf all efforts fail and Randall does not ascend to the throne, all is not lost. His comeliness, noble stature, and British accent could always land him a job as “king” at one of the Medieval Times dinner theater franchises.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages
OVERVIEW: Return to the Middle Ages to play a game steeped with palace intrigue. Play the son of the King’s trusted advisor. You and your brother, Randall, have been chosen to clear a route for the king. However, while performing this duty, the king’s carriage is ambushed, with the king being killed. Now you and your brother are charged with the king’s murder. You have been framed by an evildoer. After escaping armed guards, you arrive home to discover your father has been murdered as well. However, after searching through your father’s possessions, you discover that your brother is the rightful heir to the throne. Now, you and your brother must battle against an evil tyrant out to usurp the throne.

OPINION: This game should appeal to those who love the Middle Ages with royal courts filled with palace intrigue. It should also appeal to those who like easy breezy games. However, this game is not my cup of tea. Although not outstanding, I believe it is a decent game by this new developer. I found the graphics dark, filled with gray hues and dull colors. Even with the swordplay and battle scenes, I found the demo snail-paced. I believe this is the result of excessive back-and-forth motion between scenes searching for items. Much of this activity seemed like time filler. The demo was boring to me even with only playing the short demo.
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a bonus chapter. Collect twenty-nine (29) medallions. The collectible indicator on the inventory bar states there are twenty-nine (29 medallions; however, the strategy guide indicates forty (40). I did not purchase the game, so I have no idea why eleven (11) more were not added to the inventory bar. I found them easy to locate. You can replay nine (9) HOP scenes and ten (10) puzzles. There are wallpapers (exact number I could not verify) along with concept art plus the usual music and video selections.
HOP SCENES: There are only three (3) in the demo. They are creatively designed. There is an interactive one which involves searching for items and replacing them back within the scene. The other two are lists of items.
PUZZLES: They are easy, a little too easy for my taste. Again, there are only four (4) in the demo, so it is rather difficult to assess the genre of the puzzles from just the demo.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Slider puzzle. Slide colored tokens to like-colored slots.
B. Tracing puzzle. Trace all lines in a geometric figure without crossing lines.
C. Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequential order to open a door.
D. Slider puzzle. Place portraits into the proper position on an assembly rail so that as they travel, they end up in their proper positions on a family tree.
I recommend this game!
+22points
79of 136voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
130 of 208 found this review helpful
A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND MYTH SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A POLYNESIAN PARADISE
PostedAugust 16, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromWhy does Princess Hina want to marry? Could it be shared parenting? Now her new hubby can help by getting up at wee hours of the morning to play the ocarina to lull that little monster to sleep through the night!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPONTHE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 36 Pages
OVERVIEW: Up and away you go to partake in an exciting adventure in Polynesia.! Travel by balloon to Tahiti to help Princess Hina from the island of Raiatea. Help her regain a magical ocarina, stolen by her jilted, obsessed lover, Hiro. This special musical instrument calms a monster slumbering beneath the ground of this island. According to the island myth, the princess must play a lullaby nightly on this ocarina to keep the monster subdued. Failure to do so will cause him to awaken in a rage with dire consequences for the island. Now that the ocarina has been stolen, the monster could awaken at any moment! Travel to Hiro’s island, Huahine, recapture the ocarina and the princess’ pearls. May the elementals of earth, water, fire, and wind guide you on your adventure.
OPINION: EIPIX has finally departed Europe, venturing out to other parts of the world. This is a beautiful game with incredibly gorgeous graphics portraying the beauty of the Polynesian islands. The bright tropical colors splashed against a background of aqua blue waters is a refreshing break from the purples, pinks and dark colors from many of their other games. The myth is a beautiful tale explaining the history of a volcano and the origin of its violent eruptions. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. Enjoy the island ambiance while listening to some calming, tropical background music. This is one game I heartily recommend!
MECHANICS: There are the usual four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are thirteen (13) achievements. Collect thirty (30) types of sea creatures plus twenty (20) morphing objects. There are eight (8) wallpapers plus the usual casual art along with music and video selections. At the end of the game, return to game scenes to recover fifteen (15) souvenir items (Polynesian cultural items) to place in your souvenir room as mementos of your time in Polynesia. I found the collectibles easy to locate. You can replay twenty-one (21) puzzles and seventeen (17) HOP scenes.
GIMMICKY SHELL. You get a shell encrusted with pearls. Every time you need to summon an elemental (wind, fire, water, earth), you must play a matching game. Symbols are hidden under the pearls.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Princess Hina is holding a competition called “The Great Challenge in the Crypts of the Elements,” to find a suitable mate. Play a suitor who will overcome all obstacles and tests by the elementals to win her hand in marriage. The chapter is an excellent addition to his game. The quality is as good as the main game with quite a few puzzles and HOP scenes as well.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-one (21) HOP scenes in the entire game. Some of the scenes are breathtaking! They are thematic and vary in style. As usual, EIPIX provides two-step scenes in which you must first search for items in silhouette and then search for a list of items. All the scenes are either lists of items or silhouette. Most are creatively designed and interactive. You have the option to play a Skipping Stones puzzle in lieu of the scenes.
UNIQUE NEW HOP SCENE: There is a scene which I have never seen before. The backdrop for the scene is a three-ring wheel which must be rotated to align symbols from each ring. At the bottom are the combinations of the symbols on all three wheels which you must remove. Very creatively designed.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-three (33) puzzles within the game. Most of the puzzles are of middle difficulty. There is a matching puzzle played four (4) times to summon an elemental god – one each for earth, wind, fire and water. I loved playing the puzzles except for one which involves playing a drum which appears three (3) times. It requires nothing more than choosing between two “notes,” and following a given script. It is ridiculously easy, and I wonder why EIPIX threw this puzzle into the mix. Other than this rather strange puzzle, the rest are excellent.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place tangram pieces of a net back into position to restore the net
B. Maze puzzle. Lead a fish through currents until it reaches the other side of the maze. Avoid obstacles. There are whirlpools throughout the maze which whisk you to other locations or completely out of the maze, at which time, you must start over.
C. Sequence puzzle. Place sea life into slots according to their ranking on the food chain.
D. Spin your wheels! Spin three circles to ignite all of them on fire making certain they are all lit at the same time.
E. Sequence puzzle. Clever puzzle in which you play an ocarina by choosing finger positionings which match up with sine wave patterns. Each segment of the sine wave corresponds to the holes on the ocarina. 3X
BONUS CHAPTER:
F. Assembly puzzle. Push on nine (9) squares in a grid which changes their size until they all combine size-wise to restore the image of a tree.
G. Maze puzzle. In a maze split in half, move a token within each half of the maze so that each reaches its destination point. The two tokens must be moved at the same time.
H. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide slats with openings and maneuver each of three flames so they drop down three levels landing on a torch of the same color.
I. Maze puzzle. On a maze with water dripping down, choose three plugs within the maze which, when removed, will allow the water to flow from the top to the bottom.
I recommend this game!
+52points
130of 208voted this as helpful.
 
You are sent to a remote island to solve a simple case that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between you and the culprits.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
73 of 139 found this review helpful
AN ISLAND GETAWAY WITH MURDER
PostedAugust 11, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromShould I play the bonus chapter of this murder most “fowl?” I am too “chicken” to continue. I would need to “duck” out from time-to-time to “gander” out the window to keep from being bored. To me, this game laid a giant “goose” egg!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE MAIN GAME:
7 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 67 Pages
OVERVIEW: Get out your notepad inspector! As a rookie for the police force, you are off on your first case to a private island owed by millionaire Henry Blackford. The dead body of the security guard, Mark Spector was found washed up upon the beach. Now you must investigate what appears to be a murder. Who committed the dastardly deed and what was the motive? The island is isolated, so the murderer must be one of the residents of this estate. There are plenty of suspects who were residing at the mansion the night of this murder most foul. You will be accompanied by a seasoned pro. You and your “partner-in-crime” will be working in tandem to solve this whodunit.
OPINION: I purchased this game and regretted it. I enjoyed the demo; however, after the demo, I found this game tedious and boring. The story is a fantastic whodunit, keeping you on your toes investigating and speculating the motive(s) behind the murders. The story becomes more complex as you play into the game. However, I found the gaming mechanics less than exciting. To me, this is a poorly designed game. Most of the game involves trekking back-and-forth between scenes searching for clues and inventory items. The player gathers evidence, questions suspects, and then evaluates that evidence. There are few puzzles or HOP scenes. All the HOP scenes after the demo are all lists of items with no interactivity within the scenes.
This game is more of an adventure/detective game than a standard HOP game. This game is an example of quantity over quality. The game just rambles on. This game had the potential to be a fantastic game. In my opinion, this game would be better with the elimination of two chapters which, to me, are filler. More creative HOP scenes and more puzzles would have made this game better as well. This is a great game for those who like HOP scenes which consist of nothing more than searching for items in junkpiles. It may also appeal to amateur sleuths, or those who just love a good mystery. It was “murder” for me to finish the main game; however, I did want to solve the case.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play along with a customized version. There are sixteen (16) achievements. Collect twenty-eight (28) ugly morphing dolls. They are easy to locate - they practically jump out at you. A doll token on the inventory bar turns red when one is within a scene. You have a file in which to place your evidence. Review all evidence when you have enough to do so. You will get notice with a flashing light when enough evidence has been gathered. You get a gimmicky camera to take crime scene photos. There are six (6) wallpapers plus concept art and musical selections. You can replay twelve (12) puzzles and sixteen (16) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. In this chapter you are off to capture a criminal who escaped your grasp from the main game. He has shady ties to a kidnapping ring, and now you and your partner-in-crime are off to capture him. I did begin the chapter; however, I did not finish it. I probably won’t finish it. It has the same format as the main game. I don’t think I can handle playing another chapter of this boring game.
HOP SCENES: There are sixteen (16) in the main game. As stated, after the demo, they are all straight lists of items. There is one silhouette scene in the demo. The HOP scenes need to have more variety in style. I wish the developer had provided more scenes like the silhouette one in the demo which was creatively designed and involved interaction with the scene.
PUZZLES: There are fourteen (14) in the entire main game. They are better designed than the HOP scenes. There are not many, but there is a nice variety. Most of the puzzles are of middle-difficulty with some easy jigsaw puzzles thrown in. Most of these are variations of ones seen in many other games. The chess puzzle is almost identical to the one played in Thursday’s game.
SPOILERS: THESE ARE ALL THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO IN THE MAIN GAME:
A. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles, rotating them as they move along a path to their proper locations.
B. Chess Puzzle. Using a knight from chess, make the usual “L” shaped moves until all squares of the board have been visited at least once. (Did I not just play this a couple of days ago in another game?)
C. Slider puzzle. On a sky globe, slide five (5) slats up-and-down to create a space picture in the center. Moving one slat affects the other.
D. Mathematical puzzle. Using only two beakers with 50-liter and 20-liter markings, get the correct amount for each of three chemicals to formulate silicon.
E. Jigsaw puzzle. Restore a statue’s face by placing pieces into the proper location.
F. Sequence puzzle. Move four handles as per given instructions. Moving one affects the handle next to it. 3X
G. Assembly puzzle. Create given symbols by connecting two wires to symbols, which, when combined, produce the given symbol.
H. Connection puzzle. Connect pipes so they all connect with each other.
I. Assembly puzzle. Spin three wheels with colored marbles upon them so that the marbles are aggregated by color.
J. Sequence puzzle. Arrange statues (which are in pieces) so they stack up from largest to smallest, with the smallest one on the top.
K. Maze puzzle. Navigate two marbles to the center of a maze by rotating a round grid passing through openings to create a path to the center.
I don't recommend this game.
+7points
73of 139voted this as helpful.
 
Three legendary detectives join forces to solve a horrible crime!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
160 of 240 found this review helpful
SUPERSLEUTHS UNITED TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE!
PostedAugust 9, 2018
Customer avatar
sunnyglow
fromFaster than a speeding police car! More paranormal than a psychic! Able to time travel in a single bound! In a leave of absence, each from their own series, come Brown, James and Anna – Supersleuths United!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 42 Pages
OVERVIEW: The supersleuths of the detective world are uniting to battle a master criminal, the Collector, bent on bending space and time to rectify a tragedy from his past. Three of Elephant’s finest detectives, Dorian Brown, James Blackthorne, and Anna Gray have joined forces to defeat him. Valuable artifacts are missing, including one from the royal treasury of the Queen. This madman thief is planning on accumulating four artifacts to create the Reality Cube, a cube with immense powers. Even worse, he is gaining new powers with each piece of the cube he locates. Play each detective in this tag-team event and stop this madman before the universe is hurled into chaos. Go Supersleuths! And, by the way, Anna’s dad, Richard will be tagging along from the spirit world to help in the case.
OPINION: Welcome to a fantastic new series from Elephant! This is a detective-style version of the Avengers, with the superheroes replaced with supersleuths. This new series is a brilliant concept for Elephant. The story is excellent. You play all three detectives in a tag-team effort to defeat the evildoer. This is an action-packed game with decent graphics. This is a great game for those amateur sleuths out there who like detective stories, or those who love an action-packed game.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are eighteen (18) achievements. Collect fourteen (14) figurines of characters from the game. Also collect twenty (20) picture parts for four (4) pictures as well as twenty-nine (29) morphing objects. There is a side-bar on the right of the screen to indicate how many you have collected. I found some easy to locate and others not. There are ten (10) wallpapers along with concept art and music selections. You can replay fifteen (15) HOP scenes and thirteen (13) puzzles. There is a secret room which opens at the end of the game, allowing you to search for a variety of detective-oriented morphing objects from the scenes of the game.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Two of the supersleuths, Dorian Brown and Anna Gray, are off to Louisiana to save the third, James Blackthorne. Be prepared to meet a creepy, deranged ghost of a little girl at the abandoned, ramshackle Danver Mansion. She may have kidnapped James! The chapter is long. The HOP scenes and puzzles are identical to ones in the main game. I am disappointed in the content from this chapter. The storyline is missing relevant information about this case. It seems to have been tacked on leaving many questions regarding the history behind this mansion.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes within the game. I am disappointed at the lack of variety and creativity of the scenes. Most of the scenes are silhouette and carbon copies of each other. In most of the scenes either you search for silhouette items in junk piles or you search for silhouette items one-at-a-time. Interspersed in the game are a few matching scenes and lists of items. The lists of items are straight searches with little interaction with the scene.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-eight (28) puzzles within the game. They vary in style and difficulty. I feel the puzzles are excellent, most being of middle-difficulty. It surprises me that this developer provided more of the somewhat boring HOP scenes to replay than the puzzles. Most are thematic. There is a creatively designed super puzzle within the game. I want to replay some of the puzzles; however, they are not offered for replay.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Awesome puzzle. Switch colored pieces on three owls so that each owl is one color.
B. Chess puzzle. Move a knight (horse) across a chess board, making the “L” shaped move associated with this token, until all squares have been visited once.
C. Maze puzzle. Escape a labyrinth in the dark by following a map while avoiding traps
SUPER PUZZLE: (3 consecutive puzzles – E to G) Extremely well-designed.
D. Assembly puzzle. Rotate a figure upside-down and sideways until a figure is created. Moving it changes the image of the figure. 2X
E. Switch puzzle. Click on the center of a grid consisting of connected pentagons to that a given figure is assembled in the center of the grid.
F. Bubble popper. A variation in which you must remove three (3) or more gems at a time by adding gems to remove them. Eliminate all the gems on a moving snake-like chain before it reaches its destination.
BONUS CHAPTER
G. Maze puzzle. Move a ball through a maze using arrows. Choose between two to four arrows to create a path from top to bottom of the maze.
H. Slat puzzle. Place strips with symbols upon them on a crossword-style grid so that where two slats meet, the symbols are the same.
I recommend this game!
+80points
160of 240voted this as helpful.
 
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