sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:815
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The penguins are off on a new adventure to solve colorful puzzles and find the treasure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
27 of 50 found this review helpful
PENNY PENGUIN LEADS US TO ANOTHER TREASURE TROVE OF GREAT NONOGRAM PUZZLES
PostedApril 23, 2018
sunnyglow
fromSearching for gaming treasure today! Getting ready to dig into this game and bring up some great puzzles to play!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Open another treasure trove of great nonograms in this game! Penny Penguin has located a treasure map. Now, she has enlisted the whole Penguin family to search for the treasure by playing these puzzles!
NEW FEATURES HAVE RETURNED: As with the last game in this series, you cannot switch from color-to-color for all the colors at the beginning of the game. You must play into the game to unlock some colors. This makes this game a little more difficult! You also have a choice of five (5) different styles of tiles for the game.
What a wonderful Monday surprise! A BIG THANK you to BFG for offering a game in one of my favorite genres. Match Gems has upped their game with these new additions! This is another excellent 5-star game from Match Gems.
GAME FACTS:
• Levels: Casual and Advanced.
• Colors: The game has up to six colored screens. In this game you will need to play one color until you have uncovered enough of the cells to release the next color.
• You have the choice of five (5) different styles of tiles in which to play the game.
• Autofill: There is auto-fill so you do not have to fill in the unused boxes. However, you can use your mouse to right click “X’s” for unused spaces.
• Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on the difficulty of the puzzle and how well you perform in solving the grid
• Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 100 puzzles – 20 levels with 5 puzzles per level in the game.
• Aids: You have a pickax as an aid in the game
• Awards: There are 3 trophies: a gold trophy for no mistakes, a silver trophy for 1 mistake, and a bronze trophy for two mistakes. If you make 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again.
• Colors: The game has up to six colored screens. In this game you will need to play one color until you have uncovered enough of the cells to release the next color.
• You have the choice of five (5) different styles of tiles in which to play the game.
• Autofill: There is auto-fill so you do not have to fill in the unused boxes. However, you can use your mouse to right click “X’s” for unused spaces.
• Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on the difficulty of the puzzle and how well you perform in solving the grid
• Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 100 puzzles – 20 levels with 5 puzzles per level in the game.
• Aids: You have a pickax as an aid in the game
• Awards: There are 3 trophies: a gold trophy for no mistakes, a silver trophy for 1 mistake, and a bronze trophy for two mistakes. If you make 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again.
I highly recommend this game if you like Sudoku games or any type of mathematical puzzle.
I recommend this game!
Save the town of Blackhill from an army of shadows!
Overall rating
5
/
5
79 of 132 found this review helpful
A ROLLER COASTER RIDE THROUGH TIME AND PARALLEL UNIVERSES
PostedApril 21, 2018
sunnyglow
fromLocation? Spiraling down a rabbit hole (wormhole) and hopping out into an alternate universe to attend a tea party for “me” prepared by “myself.” Joining us are my other “selves” from other alternate universes, and, of course, A.L.I.C.E.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UPON ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages - Time: 4 hours.
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages - Time: 4 hours.
OVERVIEW: OVERVIEW: Detective! Climb aboard an interdimensional roller coaster as you spiral between time and space and enter parallel universes! Out of the fog and into your life comes monsters! Yes, nasty, red-eyed interdimensional nasties are invading the small town of Blackhill! You and Elf are off to a small town to tackle these denizens of the fog. Working on project involving the space/time continuum, Professor Xiao and his genius niece, Sophie, opened a portal into a parallel universe. When Sophie, the professor’s niece, is kidnapped, you, with Elf at your side, are off to save her and investigate this case.
QUALITY OR QUANTITY? Quality! What else can I say – Elephant is one of those champagne developers whose games I truly enjoy. I love the story which revolves around the string theory of quantum mechanics and parallel worlds. This is another great entry into this series! This game should appeal to all the Elf lovers out there! The graphics are decent. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep you occupied traveling through time and space.
THE POLAR OPPOSITE! Quantity! What a disappointment! This game very short. I finished it in less than four (4) hours including the bonus chapter. It appears that with each game produced, they are becoming shorter and shorter not just for this developer but others as well. Also, I also wish there was an option to replay some of those puzzles. I found a few difficult and would like to play them again. You cannot replay any HOP scenes either.
QUANTUM MECHANICS: This game is short on extras! You collect twenty-six (26) picture fragments to complete photos at the end of the game. You also collect twelve (12) figurines of Elf attired in different costumes. This is a nice whimsical addition to the game. Although not a dog person, I felt they were adorable. There are twenty-four (24) morphing objects. I found all somewhat easy to locate. I counted twenty-one (21) achievements to earn.
TO ELF OR NOT TO ELF: I have only purchased a few of these games due to Elf. There are some of us who are not dog lovers or do not want helpers in the games. However, you do have the option to forgo his help. He will frown and go away dejected – but - will not be seen throughout the main game. However, why didn’t this developer offer this in the bonus chapter? You cannot opt out of using him and he is used quite a bit in this chapter.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is related to the main game with the same characters from that game. In the bonus chapter you must save Professor Xiao and Sophie from an evil organization from an alternate universe. When the professor is kidnapped you will be zipping back and forth through time in alternate realities. Like the game, I did not feel it was long enough to be worth the additional price of the game.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty-three (23) HOP scenes in the game – five (5) of those in the bonus chapter. This also includes several mini-HOP scenes which require searching for a small number of one item. They are varied as well. However, I felt the ones in the demo were better created than the ones after the demo. They include the usual lists of items, silhouette, matching and storybook scenes. However, there were two I felt were rather creative. There is one which is a rebus scene in the demo and in the main game there is one which has looking for patterns or pieces of the scene instead of actual items. There are also several scenes in which you search for four (4) morphing objects after locating items within the scenes.
PUZZLES: There are thirty-three (33) puzzles within the game. They vary in difficulty and style. Most are relatively easy; however, there are a few which are difficult. Some of the puzzles relate to the theme of this game. However, to create puzzles based on the theme of this game would be rather difficult. Unless you are an “Einstein,” it is probably better the developer DID NOT base puzzles on this branch of physics.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Assembly puzzle. Create three images by choosing between patterns which, when combined, will produce a given image.
B. Kill the “itsy bitsy” spider’s polar opposite! Physical puzzle. (1) Place triangles on a square which acts as a shield before a worm tries to invade. (2) Click on a target when cross hairs enter a glowing orb.
C. Through the looking glass. Assembly puzzle. Using four buttons with different geometrical shapes, recreate a “mirror” image to one given.
D. Map puzzle. Follow directions and lead your car to various locations to get to your final destination. You will need to move the screen to locate the landmarks
E. Queens 8 Puzzle. Ye olde chestnut in which you must place (in this case) chips on a chess board so that no row or column has more than one chip within it.
F. Escape puzzle. On a grid move a detective from square-to square avoiding beams of light which rotate after each move. If you get zapped by a beam of light – you must start over.
B. Kill the “itsy bitsy” spider’s polar opposite! Physical puzzle. (1) Place triangles on a square which acts as a shield before a worm tries to invade. (2) Click on a target when cross hairs enter a glowing orb.
C. Through the looking glass. Assembly puzzle. Using four buttons with different geometrical shapes, recreate a “mirror” image to one given.
D. Map puzzle. Follow directions and lead your car to various locations to get to your final destination. You will need to move the screen to locate the landmarks
E. Queens 8 Puzzle. Ye olde chestnut in which you must place (in this case) chips on a chess board so that no row or column has more than one chip within it.
F. Escape puzzle. On a grid move a detective from square-to square avoiding beams of light which rotate after each move. If you get zapped by a beam of light – you must start over.
I recommend this game!
Survive a dangerous game of luck to uncover your past!
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 198 found this review helpful
ROLL THE DICE - ODDS ARE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR!
PostedApril 19, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game has developed a “hunka, hunka” burning love for Vegas – Baby! “Going to the chapel” to look for a high-rolling Elvis to tour the strip; play the slots: dine at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and truly enjoy the “magic” of Vegas with Penn & Teller.
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 MINUS THE BONUS CHAPTER
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 Pages – Time: 4 Hours
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 45 Pages – Time: 4 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Hello Sunshine! Get ready to participate in a winner-take-all tournament. Just remember to don your mask and cloak and follow all the rules! Failure to do so will result in your “final” elimination! Nevertheless, winning will result in the fulfillment of your fondest wish. However, by the end of this game, your fondest wish may be to never see a casino again! Return to the 1920’s. As an infant you were left at an orphanage with a torn picture, a poker chip and a burned card with the word “Azara.” Now, searching for clues concerning your parents, find yourself in this tournament at the newly constructed Azara hotel. You will compete against six (6) fellow competitors. Hopefully you will learn something about your parentage and hopefully, you will survive this tournament!
OPINION: I LOVE this game, although it is short with a part-time helper. I purchased it immediately. In my opinion, 4 Friends is upping the quality of their games. This game should appeal to those who love casino-style games (which constitute most of the puzzles) and those who love mysteries. The graphics are full of bright lights – displaying a colorful casino-style environment. Think – Vegas, baby! The game is well-constructed with most of the activities related to gambling. The pace is excellent with many of the puzzles based on casino games.
MECHANICS: You collect fifty (50) jokers which, when you have collected enough of them, add a player to a card game. There is a sidebar which indicates if there is a joker within the scene. I found most of the jokers easy to locate. You will also be collecting six cards which give you powers you can use throughout the game – strength, sensing gold, mechanical strength, illusion shattering, impersonation, and a joker. There are fifteen (15) achievements you can earn along with seven (7) wallpapers, concept art, and music. You can replay eleven (11) HOP scenes and fourteen (14) mini-games.
CLOVER THE RUNAWAY HELPER: You will have a part-time helper in this game, a small, doe-eyed dog. This little pooch will help you and then disappear only to reappear again in the game. He is not used often in the game and he “helps” you quickly. Although I hate helpers, he was tolerable within this game. He does not sit at the side of the inventory bar no does he bark.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel to the game. In this chapter you will need to save someone dear to you. To state more would give away too much about this game. It is a continuation of this game. I feel you would need to purchase the CE version or you could be left hanging if you purchase the SE. I did not complete the bonus chapter; however, it appears to be of decent length.
HOP SCENES: There are fourteen (14) within the main game. They are thematic; however, most are straight lists of items. Only the first scene displays any creativity. There is one scene repeated within this game. The HOP scenes are my biggest disappointment. With this theme, I feel more could have been done with the scenes. They are not considered HOP scenes; however, there are scenes in which you must use a magic lens to locate hidden objects within a scene.
PUZZLES: I LOVE the puzzles in this game. In the main game there are twenty (20) puzzles. All the creativity within this game lies with the puzzles. The puzzles fit nicely with the casino theme of the game. They vary in style and difficulty. There are a couple of difficult puzzles within this game. Play puzzles which deal with cards, dice, slot machines, and dominoes. They are well-crafted games and in many you will have to beat the computer. I purchased this game for the puzzles and want to replay some of these. Just exquisite!
SPOILER: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between cards so that the lines emanating from the card matches that on the card.
B. Tangram puzzle. Place pieces into position to create an image. Place the pieces so there are no spaces within the grid to create this image.
C. Mathematical puzzle. Arrange billiard balls within two circles so that the total of any two of the balls equals one centered between the two. Difficult. You can switch out the numbered five extra balls.
D. Blackjack! Place cards faceup and try to get 21 to remove the cards. You must find this combination six (6) times in the scene.
E. Cube puzzle. Pull on arrows on a cube with colored pegs extending from them. Pull on the arrows until all the pegs match up with the background. Difficult.
F. Hit the jackpot! Slot machine. Move the handle and try to get the same token across the screen. You can hold symbols for one turn of the slots.
G. Assembly puzzle. Swap the corners of torn cards to create complete the cards. Cards are face down. Cards rotate as you try to restore them. Somewhat difficult.
B. Tangram puzzle. Place pieces into position to create an image. Place the pieces so there are no spaces within the grid to create this image.
C. Mathematical puzzle. Arrange billiard balls within two circles so that the total of any two of the balls equals one centered between the two. Difficult. You can switch out the numbered five extra balls.
D. Blackjack! Place cards faceup and try to get 21 to remove the cards. You must find this combination six (6) times in the scene.
E. Cube puzzle. Pull on arrows on a cube with colored pegs extending from them. Pull on the arrows until all the pegs match up with the background. Difficult.
F. Hit the jackpot! Slot machine. Move the handle and try to get the same token across the screen. You can hold symbols for one turn of the slots.
G. Assembly puzzle. Swap the corners of torn cards to create complete the cards. Cards are face down. Cards rotate as you try to restore them. Somewhat difficult.
I recommend this game!
Unlock the secrets of the moor to save your niece from the banshee!
Overall rating
3
/
5
66 of 119 found this review helpful
I SEE A BAD MOON ARISING!
PostedApril 14, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAn island in the sun? Swimming with the dolphins? After playing this week’s games, I am staying clear of islands. After that “sun” goes down, a full moon rising brings out creatures I don’t want to swim with.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages – Time: 4 hours
3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages – Time: 4 hours
Pack up your kilts Detective Pamela. You are off on a Scottish fling to Kirkwall, Scotland to celebrate your niece Pamela’s birthday. However, while you and your family are preparing for her party, Nora is whisked away by a demon, a banshee said to inhabit a neighboring island. This beast of the moor, known as the Banshee of MacConnell Island, is on the prowl for more souls to steal. As the red moon rises over the moor, a demon spirit is out to feed upon whatever souls it can capture. You will need to sail to this dark, evil-infested island, to the abandoned cursed MacConnell estate, to save your niece. This game has some surprises! Search the highlands and the lowlands of Scotland to find the source of this evil.
OPINION: This is another short game which I played in approximately four hours including the bonus chapter. I bought it because I loved the demo. However, after the demo, I felt the quality of the game deteriorated. To me, it denigrated into incessant wandering around an island with little dialogue with an occasional puzzle or HOP scene to play. I regret purchasing this game. To me, this game is not worthy of a collector’s edition designation. Frankly, I am torn in whether to recommend it. - so, I AM RECOMMENDING THIS GAME WITH RESERVATION.
It is a game which should appeal to those who love spooky games (nothing here very frightening) or just want an easy-breezy game to play. There is nothing challenging in this game. I love the legend behind the game. The dark ambiance with the bloody moon-stricken graphics of the moor bring a sense of foreboding to this game. The Scottish accents by the actors behind the characters also add a wee touch of authenticity to this game. The pace is excellent in the demo with plenty of activities to keep you busy. However, after the demo, the game slows down to a turtle’s pace, especially in the bonus chapter.
MECHANICS: You receive a gimmicky amulet attached to a dreamcatcher. You will use this to defeat cursed creatures. It will glow when it is needed in the game. You will play the same puzzle which increases in difficulty with each cursed beast you must defeat. You will pick up four (4) more amulets as you play the game and you will need a different amulet for each cursed creature you encounter. You collect twelve (12) pumpkins and ten (10) morphing objects. They are easy to locate. Each pumpkin you collect provides more information about pumpkins that you would ever wish to know. You can replay ten (10) HOP scenes and twenty-nine (29) puzzles. There are seventeen (17) wallpapers along with concept art and a soundtrack. You can also earn ten (10) achievements.
BONUS CHAPTER: The short bonus chapter is a sequel. Go into the heart of nature to help a shaman heal the heart of a tree, stolen and destroyed by a rascally cat! You must cure the tree which provides life for this kingdom and deal with a major mean kitty! The game goes off in a new direction from the main game. It enters the world of fairy tales with birds you can fly, goblins, curses, and huge rats! I don’t like fairy tale games and absolutely hated this sequel. I also hated the voice of the shaman whose high-pitched elfin voice got on my nerves. However, the graphics were colorful and beautifully rendered.
HOP SCENES: There are only thirteen (13) HOP scenes in the entire game, including the bonus chapter. Most are lists of items with little interaction within the scenes. One of the scenes in the main game is used twice. To me, no scene should be recycled in an editor’s edition game! There is one FROG and one silhouette scene. I did like one scene in which you must search for items and then replace them within the scene. However, overall, the HOP scenes are few and to me, rather boring.
PUZZLES: This is a puzzle-intense game. There are thirty-one (31) puzzles within the game. Most of the puzzles are easy but are varied in design. However, there are a few more challenging ones. I found none which I would consider brain crushing. There are several storybook puzzles in which the player searches for items within a storybook setting. To me, these are NOT puzzles – they are HOP scenes. Most of the puzzles are ones seen in other games. There are a couple of bullseye puzzles to defeat the evildoers. My favorite was a logic puzzle in which you must reconstruct the MacConnell family tree.
AMULET PUZZLE: Each time you need to defeat a cursed beast, you will play a puzzle in which you must find runes which do not match up with those from the amulet. You can replay this puzzle all four times it appears; however, I feel this is overkill.
SPOILER: Here are some of the puzzles AFTER the demo:
A. Connect-the-Dots. Connect points on lines on a dragon so that each dot and line is visited without retracing your steps. This same puzzle also appears in the bonus chapter with a necklace.
B. Matching pattern puzzle. Rotate gems on three different circles moving the gems around so that the pattern produced by the gems is the same as one given to you to copy.
C. Logic puzzle. Create a family tree. Place portraits of the MacConnell family according to given clues. Excellent puzzle not often seen.
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide masks into the proper rows matching them to the masks at the side of the grid. Each of three rows will have three masks.
E. BONUS CHAPTER: Diagnosis for a heart. Spot the differences. Spot the differences between the heart in a book and a real one.
B. Matching pattern puzzle. Rotate gems on three different circles moving the gems around so that the pattern produced by the gems is the same as one given to you to copy.
C. Logic puzzle. Create a family tree. Place portraits of the MacConnell family according to given clues. Excellent puzzle not often seen.
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide masks into the proper rows matching them to the masks at the side of the grid. Each of three rows will have three masks.
E. BONUS CHAPTER: Diagnosis for a heart. Spot the differences. Spot the differences between the heart in a book and a real one.
I recommend this game!
Delve into the Morante family’s past to stop a murderer!
Overall rating
5
/
5
116 of 195 found this review helpful
“ALL IN THE FAMILY” – THE MORANTES OF MORANTE ISLAND
PostedApril 12, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAfter this game, I think the Morante women should produce their own “family drama” reality show – The Real Housewives of Morante Island. And, Selena could act as the “ghost writer” for the series.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME:
6 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages – Time: 4 Hours
6 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 pages – Time: 4 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: On the first of this week’s island adventures, you, Detective are off to investigate the murder of Don Raimondo Morante in his estate on Morante Island. Seemingly, he fell to his death; however, did he have a little help from someone out to kill him? The dearly departed fifty-seven (57) year old, has left behind a pregnant wife, Dora, and adult children, Leon and Adelina (who is engaged). Superstition abounds in this village as most village inhabitants believe the culprit for his demise is the ghost of his first wife of Don Raimondo, Selena. Is she out to exact revenge on the family which she believes may have violated a contract with another family? Has a curse been unleashed or is someone out to claim his or her share of a sizeable inheritance? However, could there be another reason for the murder? There are plenty of suspects within this game. You will need polish off your best sleuthing skills to solve this case.
OPINION: This is a short game. I played the entire main game and bonus chapter in four hours. This is a nice easy-breezy game for those who love whodunits. The story behind the game leads you down a slippery path which takes some twists and turns as it leads to a surprise ending. The graphics appear hand-drawn and are breathtaking as usual for AMAX games. The scenes are rich in color and well-portray an Italian estate. The pace is decent, although I did feel it slowed down in some places. I feel this sluggishness rests with the need to search for supplies to create potions and medicines. For me, these are boing activities. As in most AMAX games, you collect coins to purchase items to be used within the game.
OPINION: This is a short game. I played the entire main game and bonus chapter in four hours. This is a nice easy-breezy game for those who love whodunits. The story behind the game leads you down a slippery path which takes some twists and turns as it leads to a surprise ending. The graphics appear hand-drawn and are breathtaking as usual for AMAX games. The scenes are rich in color and well-portray an Italian estate. The pace is decent, although I did feel it slowed down in some places. I feel this sluggishness rests with the need to search for supplies to create potions and medicines. For me, these are boing activities. As in most AMAX games, you collect coins to purchase items to be used within the game.
FILLER – THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ITALY: Are you a detective or a housekeeper? I hate games which have the player doing senseless activities which have nothing to do with the theme of the game. Thus, it is in this game. You become a housekeeper to help some guy (who just appears out of the blue) within this game. It feels as if all the activities within this segment are fillers for the game. What does ironing clothes, tidying up a place, setting a table, and cooking dinner have to do with sleuthing?
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a sequel to the original game. More family drama awaits you detective as you get involved in the kidnapping of a family member. To write more would spoil the game for those who have not played it. There were few HOP scenes; however, I felt the puzzles were excellent and much better than in the actual game. My favorite puzzles are within this chapter.
MECHANICS: You collect coins to purchase items to repair a yacht, the Queen Victoria. Those huge blue disks are easy to locate. There are fifteen (15) achievements to earn. There are twenty-seven (27) morphing letters (G and F) which are also easy to locate. You can replay 14 HOP scenes and 14 puzzles. There are an even amount of HOP scenes and puzzles within this game.
HOP SCENES: With the number of mini-HOP scenes, it is difficult to give an exact number of HOP scenes. However, I counted twenty-one (21) within the game. There are some cleverly designed HOP scenes within this game. However, most of the scenes are mini-HOP scenes in which you search for a small number of items, usually pieces of some object. There are the usual lists of items, but there are also quite a few matching scenes and storybook scenes as well in which you search for items listed in green letters while listening to a story about the family. There were two scenes which involve searching for items within three different scenes and then placing those items into the correct location within the three scenes. To me, these were the best scenes of the game.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-six (26) puzzles within the game and most are easy. They vary in design and difficulty. However, there are few puzzles which I would consider difficult. There is a new one I have not seen before which has the player removing runes by using six sheets of paper with holes to display the runes to be removed. This is not an easy puzzle and one I will replay as I did not solve it the first time. In the demo there are some puzzles which have the option to be played in a hard or casual mode. However, those options cease to exist within the main game. There is one in the bonus chapter which does allow you this option.
SPOILER: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Matching puzzle. Match up images within books which open when they are selected.
B. Sequence puzzle. Click on octagonal stones in the proper sequence to fill in holes within a grid. Stones must be chosen in the proper sequence to fill in the holes or you must restart the puzzle.
C. Maze puzzle. Traverse a dark maze with only the light of a torch. Your torch will light your way as you search for items to get rid of obstacles in your path. Nicely done and easy to maneuver.
D. BONUS CHAPTER: And then there were none! A little toughie! Use 6 sheets of paper with holes cut into them. Place them on a grid with runes. Align all the holes with runes on the grid to remove them. It becomes more difficult as you remove more and more runes. You must remove all runes and that is not easy.
E. BONUS CHAPTER: Choice between Casual and Hard. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to restore a picture. Fairly difficult
F. BONUS CHAPTER: Nonogram Puzzle. Place stones on a grid so that the number of stones in each row and column matches the numbers on the left side and top of the grid.
B. Sequence puzzle. Click on octagonal stones in the proper sequence to fill in holes within a grid. Stones must be chosen in the proper sequence to fill in the holes or you must restart the puzzle.
C. Maze puzzle. Traverse a dark maze with only the light of a torch. Your torch will light your way as you search for items to get rid of obstacles in your path. Nicely done and easy to maneuver.
D. BONUS CHAPTER: And then there were none! A little toughie! Use 6 sheets of paper with holes cut into them. Place them on a grid with runes. Align all the holes with runes on the grid to remove them. It becomes more difficult as you remove more and more runes. You must remove all runes and that is not easy.
E. BONUS CHAPTER: Choice between Casual and Hard. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to restore a picture. Fairly difficult
F. BONUS CHAPTER: Nonogram Puzzle. Place stones on a grid so that the number of stones in each row and column matches the numbers on the left side and top of the grid.
I recommend this game!
Can you save the city from a tattoo artist’s magical ink?
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 192 found this review helpful
A GAME IN A NEW SERIES WHICH SHOULD BE A “HOWLING” SUCCESS!
PostedApril 7, 2018
sunnyglow
fromGrandma what BIG RULES you have! After Little Red and Chris left the back-alley bar for a play date with milk and cookies at Grandma’s house, Grandma nagged Little Red to clear the “cookies” off her computer.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? You may be after playing this game. Bet you won’t be getting any wolf tattoos! Prepare for another retelling of Red Riding Hood set in modern day Bay City. Play Chris Andersen, a detective, residing in the seamier side of this city. His girlfriend, Rachel, is this modern day Red Riding Hood. People are missing in this city and it may be tied to tattoos created with an exotic, poisonous ink. These glowing tattoos have some hidden purpose for their wearers - that purpose is up for you to discover. When your own tattooed Little Red is kidnapped, you are off to save her and the city as well from a crime ring headed by – you guessed it – a big bad wolf!
OPINION: This game is a great start for a promising new series. Presumably the “Andersen” referred to is Hans Christian Anderson; however, Red Riding Hood was not written by this author. No matter. It appears the fairy tale games in this series will be more adult in nature and set in the present. This game is reminiscent of the now defunct television show, “Once Upon a Time”. It has blended and contrasted a “noir” crime ambiance with that of the innocence of a fairy tale. There is some tongue-in-cheek humor as well. That contrast is well depicted by Little Red’s rendezvous with her boyfriend. After sitting in a run-down bar in the seamier side of Bay City, our little Red can’t wait to take her beloved to granny’s house for milk and cookies. The dark graphics include fairy tale elements including wolves, red capes, and even the three little pigs.
This game is a great for those who love film noir or detective whodunits. It might also appeal to those who like their fairy tales lite in sugary goodness. The pace is excellent and will keep you guessing what will happen next. There is minimal back-and-forth action within the game. Most of activities are relegated to one or two scenes - a HOP, skip and a jump from your locality in the game. No tennis shoes needed here for running to-and-fro. The HOP scenes and puzzles are creatively designed, with some which are thematic as well. I will purchase it and play this weekend. From the demo, it appears promising. Hopefully it will live up to the demo.
MECHANICS: This game is a vast improvement for EIPIX. However, there are not many extras. You can replay seventeen (17) puzzles and sixteen (16) HOP scenes. Collect thirty-one (31) Little Red Riding Hood figures which practically jump out at you. Collect sixteen (16) morphing objects which are located only in the HOP scenes. There are eight (8) wallpapers along with casual art, music selections, and videos. There is also a souvenir room as well.
HOP SCENES: There were only three (3) in the demo. However, I feel the scenes are creatively designed – at least in the demo. There is one which has the player searching for items on a television screen during a newscast. It is a silhouette scene with three different types of silhouettes. In another you open doors within a cabinet to locate items. At least there are no straight lists of items as in previous games.
PUZZLES: From the demo, it appears that EIPIX has created some unique puzzles. There is a nice mixture of easy and difficult puzzles. I enjoyed the assembly puzzle in which you must scale up a building by using bridges and ladders. There is a thematic switch puzzle in which you switch the characters of Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf on a grid. However, one puzzle is recycled from an MCF game. It still has the same confusing directions from that game. However, having played it once, I was up to the task. You need to move levers up and down to light up three rows of fuses so that levers are used, but you would not discern that from the directions.
I recommend this game!
Can you save Dupin from a malevolent murderer in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
99 of 177 found this review helpful
DUPIN IS PULLING SOME SURPRISES OUT OF HIS HAT IN THIS GAME!
PostedApril 5, 2018
sunnyglow
fromShock! Dupin lost his hat! Our cool “Cat in the Hat,” Dupin lost his hat for a short period of time in this game. Perhaps AMAX used it to pull out some illusions within this game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE MAIN GAME:
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 33 Pages – Time: 3 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 33 Pages – Time: 3 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Things are not always as they seem, detective! Expect some twists and turns in this game. Enter a world of illusion beginning at the Pendulum House, as you assist Dupin in another mystery based upon a Poe classic. Dupin has asked you to help him investigate the death of his friend, Zula, a psychic medium and illusionist. She has been shot by a poison dart and it appears her assistant, Jacob may be the culprit. When he – POOF – disappears right in front of your eyes, you will both find yourself on a case containing some surprises! Beware! Sleight of hand is at work here and what you see in the demo may be an illusion in more ways than one!
OPINION: This is a great game for those who love this series, those who love whodunits or those who want an easy breezy game. I purchased this game based on the demo and soon regretted my decision. The game is short! I played the main game in less than three hours. I was also shocked at the poor quality of this game after the demo. The game seems to have been rushed. It lacks all the beauty and quality of the first games in this series. The graphics are shocking! Some of the scenes are blurry. There are one-dimensional pop-up scenes toward the end of the game. I felt as if I were reading a pop-up book. Returning within the game are scenes with annoying animal sounds. Please, AMAX, get rid of the baying wolves, screeching cats, and howling dogs.
The saving grace within this game is the story, which is excellent. It has nothing to do with original Poe classic “The Pit and the Pendulum.” It is a well-written story with elements of surprise throughout the game. It is an excellent whodunit. Unfortunately, the game mechanics do not display the same quality as the story. To me this game is poorly constructed. The activities are boring. Most of the HOP scenes are straight lists of items with little or no creative design. Most are not very interactive. The puzzles are ones seen in many other games and most are not thematic. They just seem to be thrown into the game. There were only a couple which I felt were decent. To me, this game is NOT worthy of the collector’s edition designation. It is a shame that a game with such a great story lacks everything else to make it a spectacular game!
MECHANICS: There are not many collectibles within the game. You collect nine (9) cards and twenty-six (26) morphing objects. Most of the items are easy to locate. There are sixteen (16) achievements for you to earn. You can replay sixteen (16) mini-games and twelve (12) HOP scenes. There are six (6) wallpapers along with the standard concept art, music and videos.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel to the story. The story revolves around the quest for an ancient artifact which could be deadly if it falls into the wrong hands. I have not finished the bonus chapter and may not bother to complete it. The activities are like those of the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are nineteen (19) in the main game (including the mini-HOP scenes). Most of these are lists of items, and toward the end of the main game, they are all lists of items. They lack creativity, and most are not very interactive. I found the ones in the demo better than those in the actual game. There are quite a few mini-HOP scenes in which you collect a small number of one item. There is one multiple-step scene in the game, which is probably the only scene I found somewhat well-designed. One of the scenes also contains a mini-game.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-six (26) puzzles in the main game. Most of the puzzles are easy. However, there are several puzzles which provide the option to play them in either a hard or casual mode. Most of the puzzles are easy to solve even in the hard mode. I found none which were challenging. I found the puzzles better toward the end of the game. There are three which I enjoyed. There is an interesting modified chess puzzle involving knights (in this case horses) and a mahjong puzzle, which is seldom seen in games. There is also a maze puzzle which involves a train trying to reach a station while avoiding other trains in its path.
SPOILER: HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Ye olde bar removal puzzle. Remove bars from a door in sequential order. The bars must not have any other bars stuck within them.
B. Casual vs. Hard. Chess puzzle. Move 3 knights (colored horses) to the appropriate colored slots following the “L” shaped move from chess.
C. Casual vs. Hard. Sleight of hand. Watch a ball under a cup switched around with two other cups. Choose the cup which has the ball after they stop moving. 3X
D. Casual vs. Hard. Maze puzzle. Take the train. Take a train to town by choosing the correct tracks to traverse while switching tracks and avoiding other trains in your path. If you make a mistake, you return to the beginning.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch twelve (12) tokens so that four rows containing three tokens each are all related to each other.
F. Mahjong puzzle. Remove blocks according to pattern design and color.
B. Casual vs. Hard. Chess puzzle. Move 3 knights (colored horses) to the appropriate colored slots following the “L” shaped move from chess.
C. Casual vs. Hard. Sleight of hand. Watch a ball under a cup switched around with two other cups. Choose the cup which has the ball after they stop moving. 3X
D. Casual vs. Hard. Maze puzzle. Take the train. Take a train to town by choosing the correct tracks to traverse while switching tracks and avoiding other trains in your path. If you make a mistake, you return to the beginning.
E. Switch puzzle. Switch twelve (12) tokens so that four rows containing three tokens each are all related to each other.
F. Mahjong puzzle. Remove blocks according to pattern design and color.
I recommend this game!
Nobody comes back from the Dark Side unchanged, but it’s the only way to re-light the fading flame.
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 166 found this review helpful
CRASH LAND INTO A FANTASTIC GAME
PostedMarch 31, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThe Easter Bunny is HOP-ping in to wish you a wonderful HOP-filled Easter!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED UON THE ENTIRE GAME:
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 44 Pages – Time: 5 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Alice! Crash land into the third episode of your never-rending battle against the Darkness headed by the Dark Warrior. Sorry to “burst your balloon,” but blowing up the dam did not annihilate the Dark Warrior. Whirling through a tornado, your hot air balloon crashes into the Dark Canyon. Dust yourself off and find yourself in a quest to locate your Uncle Colin, friend Farador, and to destroy the Darkness with your unique power, a tattoo containing a fiery phoenix. This time you will get some help from another teen, Ray. Will you ever destroy the Dark Warrior and conquer the Darkness? Perhaps the third time’s the charm – especially with your own Prince Charming to help!
OPINION: I have been eagerly awaiting this game! This is a great game for sci-fi and adventure game lovers. It is also a great game for ‘tweens’ like our heroine Alice. With scaling up cliffs, being timed while escaping a maze, or fighting off the Darkness - get prepared for an action-packed game! Grab your tennis shoes as you will be traveling back-and-forth between scenes in this game. You will be grateful for that transportable map. Remember to jot down where you see actions which need to be completed, otherwise you could be stuck within this game a long time. I felt this game equal to the others in the series.
The graphics are cartoon-like. They are varied as well. They are bright and colorful in some scenes; gray and dark in others; and incredibly beautiful in some scenes. There will be scenes of desolation; however, you will also encounter incredibly beautiful exotic communities, hidden in caves away from this post-apocalyptic world. This game is HOP light and puzzle intense. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to engage in as you battle the Dark Warrior. There are a host of collectibles within this game and quite a few morphing objects as well. Some are easy to locate and some not. It is jam-packed with extras from forty-two (42) collectibles to a bonus puzzle with twenty (20) different puzzles within it. You also get an extra seven (7) original puzzles to play if you collect all the collectibles within each set of collectibles. If you are missing collectibles within each set, you can collect more in the bonus chapter.
MECHANICS:
• 22 Achievements
• Replay 21 Mini-games
• Play 7 brand spanking new Puzzles (you receive one NEW puzzle every time you complete a collection)
• Collectibles: Thirty (30) morphing objects and forty-two (42) collectibles - (7 gold figurines, 7 lotus blossoms,8 brooches, 6 jade frogs, 6 rings, and 8 origami pieces).
• Bonus Puzzle with twenty (20) different games to play
• 9 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Videos
• 22 Achievements
• Replay 21 Mini-games
• Play 7 brand spanking new Puzzles (you receive one NEW puzzle every time you complete a collection)
• Collectibles: Thirty (30) morphing objects and forty-two (42) collectibles - (7 gold figurines, 7 lotus blossoms,8 brooches, 6 jade frogs, 6 rings, and 8 origami pieces).
• Bonus Puzzle with twenty (20) different games to play
• 9 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Videos
INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL BONUS GAME: It is a prequel with incredibly beautiful graphics! Wow! Follow Helen from the main game as she tries to save the captured people from her village from the Darkness. They have been encapsulated into the webs of a spider. Help her find the knowledge concerning a magical flower to help save them from this evil.
HOP SCENES: There are only nine (9) in the entire main game and three (3) in the bonus game. Although there are not many in this game, the HOP scenes are creatively designed. There are few standard lists of items within this game. However, the ones in the game require a great deal of interaction with the scene and some contain mini-puzzles. There are creatively designed silhouette scenes. My favorites were the search and replace scenes in which you must locate items and interact with them within the scene. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes to locate a small number of one item.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-eight (28) within the main game and eleven (11) in the bonus game. Many are ones seen in many games, thematically designed to fit the game. There is a nice mixture of easy puzzles (some I would hardly call puzzles) with some moderately difficult ones. The puzzles reflect the scene in which they are situated. There are quite a few easy puzzles involved with restoring images, entering codes to open a lock. There are also puzzles which are jigsaw in nature.
SPOILER: HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES FROM THE GAME AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Moving tiles games. Exchange the positions of snakes and eagles by following paths provided between tokens. No eagle and snake can stand on neighboring cells.
B. Matching puzzle. Rather cool. Match up hexagonal plates on a stone wall. If matched correctly, the plate will flip and change to another image to match up. Match up all plates.
C. Replacement puzzle. Rather awesome. On a ship, locate and replace pieces into the proper location.
D. Bonus Chapter. Matching puzzle. Three colored dragonflies have numbers on their wings. Click on the wings of those in the scene to change their color so there are the exact number for each color. This puzzle is incredibly beautiful!
E. Bonus Chapter. Shark attack! Bullseye Shoot five sharks as they quickly pass the screen.
B. Matching puzzle. Rather cool. Match up hexagonal plates on a stone wall. If matched correctly, the plate will flip and change to another image to match up. Match up all plates.
C. Replacement puzzle. Rather awesome. On a ship, locate and replace pieces into the proper location.
D. Bonus Chapter. Matching puzzle. Three colored dragonflies have numbers on their wings. Click on the wings of those in the scene to change their color so there are the exact number for each color. This puzzle is incredibly beautiful!
E. Bonus Chapter. Shark attack! Bullseye Shoot five sharks as they quickly pass the screen.
I recommend this game!
Can you confront an otherworldly foe and save your nephew?
Overall rating
5
/
5
19 of 51 found this review helpful
BLAST OFF INTO A NEW SCI-FI SERIES FROM MAD HEAD GAMES
PostedMarch 29, 2018
sunnyglow
fromMy location? HOP-ping around in a spacecraft between Planet Priora and its two moons searching for alien technology I can reverse engineer to bring back to Earth. I do want the multi-task light spear!
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 MAIN GAME:
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 40 Pages -Time: 4 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter - Strategy Guide: 40 Pages -Time: 4 Hours
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND: Get prepared for an out-of-this-world experience in a new sci-fi series from Mad Head Games. Enter a planetary system with two moons. Play Uncle Arthur, inventor of gadgets and gizmos on this planet. While on your way to a Victory Day celebration on the planet Priora, your nephew, Isaac, discovers a UFO which crash landed in the woods. When he disappears into the UFO, you are off to rescue him. The discovery of this UFO will see you blast off into a world of adventure and intrigue for both you and your nephew. Battle some interplanetary evildoers, lurking in the background out to conquer your planetary system. Can you rescue your nephew and save your planetary system?
OPINION: Sci-fi meets the Renaissance Faire along with a few pirates thrown into the mix as well. This is a great game for sci-fi aficionados, adventure game lovers, those who love fantasy games, and ‘tweens.’ It is an easy breezy game with most puzzles on the easy side with only a few which I would consider moderately difficult. Some might find some of the puzzles a tad too easy. The HOP scenes are standard fare seen in most games. I found none containing what I call the “wow” factor. Yet, the story behind this game and those stellar graphics make this an enjoyable game for sci-fi lovers! The graphics encapsulate both the high-tech alien landscape of the space colony and “ye olde” Medieval environment of the planet Priora. “Star Wars” is alluded to within this game from the evil empire to the use of “light spears.” This is a fast-paced game with plenty of activities to keep you busy. This was an automatic purchase for me.
MECHANICS:
• Game Helper: Hand augmentation device (bracelet) which allows you to understand the alien language and gives you power to fight off evildoers
• Replay sixteen (16) HOP scenes (I wish Mad Head would allow for the replay of puzzles as well)
• Achievements: Eleven (11) (Some with three (3) parts).
• Collectibles: Thirty-one (31) swirls and thirty-one (31) morphing objects (some in HOP scenes). Same collectibles as in all their games.
• Four (4) wallpapers plus music selections and concept art.
• Game Helper: Hand augmentation device (bracelet) which allows you to understand the alien language and gives you power to fight off evildoers
• Replay sixteen (16) HOP scenes (I wish Mad Head would allow for the replay of puzzles as well)
• Achievements: Eleven (11) (Some with three (3) parts).
• Collectibles: Thirty-one (31) swirls and thirty-one (31) morphing objects (some in HOP scenes). Same collectibles as in all their games.
• Four (4) wallpapers plus music selections and concept art.
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a sequel. Nephew Isaac has decided to study at a university on one of the Moons learning new technology not available on Priora. However, evildoers out for revenge may foil some of his plans. I have not played the entire bonus chapter, but the quality appears to be consistent with the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are fourteen (14) HOP scenes in the main game. There are probably at least two more in the bonus chapter. There are a few mini-HOP scenes within the game as well. These mini-games include searching for pieces of inventory items or searching for a small number of items within a scene. Generally, I was not impressed with the scenes. Most of them consist of silhouette scenes, list of items, or matching scenes. There are some which are interactive; however, most are simplistic searches for items. The only one I thought creative was a panorama one which involves switching between two scenes to locate symbols on two ravens.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-six (26) puzzles within the main game. I felt the puzzles were better in the demo than in the main game. Some of these I would not even consider puzzles. There are several “puzzles” which only consist of entering a given code for a lock or device. To me, this is NOT a puzzle. However, Mad Head did include a few moderately difficult puzzles which I did enjoy. I would consider this game a mixture in both the variety of puzzles and difficulty as well. However, generally, the puzzles tend toward the easier end of the spectrum.
SPOILER: HERE ARE A SAMPLING OF PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Ship Ahoy! Map puzzle. Create a path for a ship to follow by landing on spaces with one of three (3) images upon them. However, you cannot land at the end of the path until you have exactly five (5) of each of the three images.
B. Alien Technology. Physics/Mathematical puzzle. Fill three bowls with liquid within a contraption with pipes and valves. Open the valves and fill the bowls according to the amount posted next to each bowl.
C. A-maze-ing! Maze puzzle. Navigate a maze. Collect items as you traverse through the maze. They will need to be collected and used to get through the maze.
D. Claustrophobic? Surround puzzle. Move five (5) marbles to enclose a red marble by rotating the marbles until they completely encapsulate the red marble.
E. I see stars from this knock-out! Avoid those asteroids! Using arrows, avoid asteroids in your path.
F. Bullseye! Center two sets of sliders to knock out a raven. 2X
G. Beat the computer! Skipping Stones puzzle. In this case, they are tokens. Play against the computer. Connect more like-colored tokens than the computer (who is the evildoer) in this game.
H. A checkered past. Matching. Fill in squares on a checkers -like board so it matches a given diagram.
B. Alien Technology. Physics/Mathematical puzzle. Fill three bowls with liquid within a contraption with pipes and valves. Open the valves and fill the bowls according to the amount posted next to each bowl.
C. A-maze-ing! Maze puzzle. Navigate a maze. Collect items as you traverse through the maze. They will need to be collected and used to get through the maze.
D. Claustrophobic? Surround puzzle. Move five (5) marbles to enclose a red marble by rotating the marbles until they completely encapsulate the red marble.
E. I see stars from this knock-out! Avoid those asteroids! Using arrows, avoid asteroids in your path.
F. Bullseye! Center two sets of sliders to knock out a raven. 2X
G. Beat the computer! Skipping Stones puzzle. In this case, they are tokens. Play against the computer. Connect more like-colored tokens than the computer (who is the evildoer) in this game.
H. A checkered past. Matching. Fill in squares on a checkers -like board so it matches a given diagram.
I recommend this game!
Embark on a secret mission to save Princess Isabella!
Overall rating
3
/
5
75 of 165 found this review helpful
ENJOY A MONSTROUS ISLAND ADVENTURE
PostedMarch 24, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAfter time spent at the French “Court,” Pascal, the loveable hunchback, decided to build upon this “court” experience and pursue a law degree at a prestigious university in the U.S. He is now known as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
OVERVIEW: Detective – The Cardinal has given you a “monstrous” task of international significance! The Spanish princess, Isabella has been kidnapped and sequestered to a private island owned by the infamous Fontainebleau family. This is a matter of international importance as the princess is betrothed to the Prince of France. Uncover why has the princess been kidnapped by this nefarious family. This is a “beastly” task, but you are the Cardinal’s last hope in this tale of intrigue and revenge.
This is a great game for those who like this series, or perhaps those who have a penchant for French history or hunchbacks (as in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”) However, although I am a Francophile, the demo did not ring any bells for me. I did not purchase it. I have enjoyed other games within this series; however, for me, this game is not as good as some of the others. The incredible AMAX graphics are amazing. The pace is excellent with plenty of interaction within the scenes and little back-and-forth movement.
MECHANICS: This is a bare bones game. There is only one collectible - coins hidden within an apple. It would not be an AMAX game without collecting coins. They are in all their games. You use the coins to purchase clothing. Please AMAX, find some other collectibles! You can replay twelve (12) mini-games and fifteen (15) HOP scenes. There are achievements which you can earn. The amount is not given in the demo of the game. There is no mini-game to play in lieu of the HOP scenes and there are no morphing objects.
THE HUNCHBACK OF THE CATACOMBS OF AMAX: The grunting dwarf, St. Germaine, does not make an appearance in this game. However, not to disappoint those who love the bizarre, AMAX has added a little hunchbacked man, Pascal, as a guide within the game. He is the cowardly personal attendant to the princess. I have no idea if he is with you for the entire game; however, he is omnipresent in the demo. On the plus side, at least he does not grunt. This game is rather quiet without the usual howling cats, baying wolves, or barking dogs – and of course, no ringing of any bells!
CONGRATULATE YOURSELF WITH BIG BANNERS! Want to know how well you did in locating the items in the HOP Scenes? A BIG BANNER will appear to give you statistics of your accuracy in locating those items. If that is not enough of a BIG FLOURISH within this game, you will be lauded with another BIG BANNER when you get an achievement. These banners cover the entire screen, so it will be hard to ignore them. After the first one appears in the first HOP scene, you have the option to get rid of it. However, you cannot get rid of them for the achievements.
HOP SCENES: The scenes are standard fare. I found no scenes which had that “awe” factor. However, they are thematic. They include the standard lists of items, matching, silhouette, and storybook. There is some interactivity within them. You begin the game with a storybook scene outlining the game’s storyline. I felt this was a nice touch. There are several mini-HOP scenes. Symbols and runes abound in this game and there is a HOP scene in which you locate more than one symbol in the eye of a snake.
PUZZLES: The puzzles vary in style and difficulty. They are all variations of puzzles seen in most games. Most of them are easy. There are three (3) in the demo which I found moderately difficult. The demo consists of a variety of matching puzzles, moving tiles puzzles, Simon Says puzzles and sequence puzzles. Surprisingly, there are some puzzle-like activities which are not considered puzzles.
As good as some of the puzzles are, others I felt were poorly constructed or just plain boring. Returning is another tracing puzzle in which you must not touch the sides of the figure which you trace. The most ridiculous puzzle I played was one in which you must locate nails using a magnet. Not much imagination needed here – just move a magnet up and down and nails will magically appear.
THIS GAME WILL 'RUNE' YOUR DAY: No! Not again! Returning for the umpteenth time in a game is the assembly puzzle in which the player must combine two symbols to create a larger symbol in the middle of the scene. There are two within the demo. However, one of these is somewhat creative as it uses light reflections to create those symbols.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE MY TWO FAVORITE PUZZLES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Amazing Maze Puzzle. I wish all the puzzles in this game were as good as this one. In a maze puzzle you must traverse the catacombs by choosing the correct path to exit. There are items which you must collect to perform actions which are needed to proceed. If the other puzzles were as good as this one, I would have purchased this game.
B. Battle for Global Domination: Logic puzzle. Place On a globe, place tokens so that the number of each of three (3) tokens matches up by row and column. Nice puzzle design.
B. Battle for Global Domination: Logic puzzle. Place On a globe, place tokens so that the number of each of three (3) tokens matches up by row and column. Nice puzzle design.
I recommend this game!