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:
Save the citizens of Rivershire from a terrible plague!
Overall rating
5
/
5
116 of 182 found this review helpful
A GAME WHICH PROVES THAT “BRAIN FOG” CAN CREATE A MONSTER
PostedFebruary 22, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThis game explains the demonic scourge of early morning brain fog. Perhaps that explains why I look and act like a “monster” when I awake in the morning!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME – Time: 5 Hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 56 Pages
OVERVIEW: Honored Healer! Grab your healing kit - you are off to the green fog infested town of Rivershire in another outstanding game by the puzzlemeisters, Domini! You will be battling the resurgence of a demonic infection hiding within this fog, causing those infected to turn into monsters. Of course, behind this epidemic is an evildoer. BFG is “breaking out in a rash” of games this week involved with alchemy. You will be collecting supplies to create medicines and potions. This game should appeal to those who love this series, medical staff or those aspiring to those professions. The main game kept me engaged. Be warned! This game is long and the bonus chapter is as well.
This is not my favorite series from this developer, but even the mediocre games from Domini are better than the best games by many developers on this site. My only complaint is that there is a great deal of back-and-forth action to collect items to create the remedies. Nevertheless, this game demonstrates the same outstanding craftsmanship by Domini in providing excellent puzzles and decent HOP scenes. I purchased this game because Domini always provides those extras (which no other developer provides) which make the game well worth the investment. They are my favorite developer on the BFG site and my overall second favorite for HOP games.
MECHANICS AND GIMMICKS: The story is similar as those from the previous games within the series. Some disease has you out and about to discover the cause and provide a cure all while defeating some evildoer behind the epidemic. The game is beautifully illustrated as usual for Domini. You get two gimmicky devices. One is a special lens which allows you to diagnose the seven (7) infected individuals you encounter in your travels. At the end of your diagnosis you receive a grocery list of supplies you will need to forage in the area to create the medicine. You will then need to place those supplies into a modified type of distiller in proper sequence to create that medication. I did find this activity somewhat tedious, however. I found that placing the items in the correct location on the distiller to be illogical. For me, I discovered the proper locations by trial and error.
EXTRAS: Domini provides a plethora of extras within their games. There are three (3) collectibles which are fifteen (15) eggs, fifteen (15) medallions, and seventy-six (76) coins. I found all easy to locate within the scenes. The inventory bar indicates if there are any of these items within the scene as well. With the collected coins, you purchase items for your “laboratory.” There are also lots of achievements to earn, twenty-six (26) in total. The inventory is interactive requiring assembly and manipulation of the items. You can replay seventeen (17) HOP scenes and seventeen (17) puzzles.
BONUS CHAPTER: This story is somewhat different from the main game. In this chapter you play the Royal Magician to the king. In yet another demon attack, his son, the prince is kidnapped by the demons and you must save him. I have not finished this chapter; however, the activities are similar with those within the main game. The player continues to locate collectibles.
HOP SCENES: There are twenty (20) scenes within this game. The scenes are ones seen in other games. They include lists of items, storybook scenes, and silhouette scenes. The scenes are somewhat interactive. There are no unusual nor extremely creative scenes however. They are not as creative or well-designed as the puzzles, but they are decent. My favorite was a scene within the main game in which you must search for items and place them back into their proper place. You have the option to play a thematic Match-3 instead of the scene.
PUZZLES: There are twenty-seven (27) puzzles within the game. Domini shines in this area and the puzzles are the best feature of the game. Unlike most other developers, this developer allows you to have the option to solve those puzzles in either a casual or hard mode. There is a nice variety of puzzles as well. Below is a sampling of puzzles within the game AFTER THE DEMO:
SPOILERS: THESE ARE A SAMPLING OF PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO: MOST HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN A CASUAL OR HARD MODE:
A. You’re not just a number! Connection puzzle. Connect adjacent stones with lines based on the number on each stone. Each stone should have the exact number of lines emanating from it as indicated on the stone.
B. I’m on fire! Connect the dots. Connect all dots in a fiery scene without retracing the lines between them.
C. Nice book series you have Domini! Switch puzzle. Switch books to create an image on the spines of the book.
D. A Pretty in Pink Ball. Maze puzzle. Move arrows on a grid of blocks so that a pink ball can go through every block within the grid before it exits the grid. The hard level has blockers in the path.
E. Become “beady” eyed. Alignment puzzle. Move six (6) rods with beads with symbols upon them so that when aligned properly, every symbol is highlighted at the bottom of the screen.
F. Skulduggery! Slider puzzle. Slide a skull through a grid with cells so that each cell is visited by the skull without retracing steps. The hard version has blockers to create more paths for the skull to visit.
G. AI will never replace humans! Outsmart the computer. Play the computer as you try to get more of your colored stones on the board than the computer. When you move next to computer’s colored stones, you change them to your color. Play until all squares are filled.
H. Let’s get together! Combination puzzle. For three rows of symbols, switch the top and bottom rows of symbols so, when combined, creates the symbol in the middle.
I. Triangulation! Rotating tiles puzzle. Create a path by rotating triangular tiles so that an orb can move from top to bottom of the path.
J. Can you “spell” that? Maze puzzle. Lead a token to one end of a maze to the other by creating a path consisting of blocks with patterns upon them. You must pass through a specific number of each of those blocks before you reach the end. To make it more interesting you will be trapped within some of these blocks and must use one of three (3) spells to get out of the trap. Each spell can only be used once.
B. I’m on fire! Connect the dots. Connect all dots in a fiery scene without retracing the lines between them.
C. Nice book series you have Domini! Switch puzzle. Switch books to create an image on the spines of the book.
D. A Pretty in Pink Ball. Maze puzzle. Move arrows on a grid of blocks so that a pink ball can go through every block within the grid before it exits the grid. The hard level has blockers in the path.
E. Become “beady” eyed. Alignment puzzle. Move six (6) rods with beads with symbols upon them so that when aligned properly, every symbol is highlighted at the bottom of the screen.
F. Skulduggery! Slider puzzle. Slide a skull through a grid with cells so that each cell is visited by the skull without retracing steps. The hard version has blockers to create more paths for the skull to visit.
G. AI will never replace humans! Outsmart the computer. Play the computer as you try to get more of your colored stones on the board than the computer. When you move next to computer’s colored stones, you change them to your color. Play until all squares are filled.
H. Let’s get together! Combination puzzle. For three rows of symbols, switch the top and bottom rows of symbols so, when combined, creates the symbol in the middle.
I. Triangulation! Rotating tiles puzzle. Create a path by rotating triangular tiles so that an orb can move from top to bottom of the path.
J. Can you “spell” that? Maze puzzle. Lead a token to one end of a maze to the other by creating a path consisting of blocks with patterns upon them. You must pass through a specific number of each of those blocks before you reach the end. To make it more interesting you will be trapped within some of these blocks and must use one of three (3) spells to get out of the trap. Each spell can only be used once.
I recommend this game!
Use your knowledge of alchemical arcana to save the young prince from the clutches of dark magic!
Overall rating
4
/
5
46 of 96 found this review helpful
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, IS THAT WITCH STILL IMPRISONED AFTER ALL?
PostedFebruary 20, 2018
sunnyglow
fromAmazing Auntie: Here is an alchemist who can fight off an evil witch and still trudge along dragging a huge alchemy kit with her to prepare potions to defeat this witch and her minions!!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
OVERVIEW: Auntie! You have been the guardian for King Fern since his father died in the aftermath of a battle with the evil witch, Drosera. Now twelve years later, the young king is an adult, in love with the fair Rose, and soon to face more problems with this troublesome witch. You don’t believe in black magic, Auntie, being the purveyor of science and alchemy. However, you may change your mind after dealing with this witch. After a long battle, the witch was imprisoned in a mirror along with her minions, protected by an amulet. However, this amulet which has protected the young king, is beginning to lose power. You must now help Fern save the kingdom once again.
MECHANICS: This is a beautiful fairy tale come-to-life. The graphics are stunning! I surveyed this game for Artifex Mundi. It is not created by them, but by one of their fellow developers. It is a great game for those who love fairy tale games steeped in magic with many potions to create. You are required to create a great deal of potions within this game. For this, you must search the scenes for items to create those potions. Creating each potion requires playing a variety of a Match-3 puzzle.
Although it will appeal to many, I found the pace tedious and the game very boring. There is no strategy guide. You collect 31 rose emblems. You can replay some HOP scenes and puzzles. You receive a gimmicky alchemy kit to retrieve formulas and to collect those items to produce medicines and potions. To me, searching for supplies and creating those potions slowed down the pace of the game. I found this game tedious.
HOP SCENES: There are only three in the demo and they are standard fare. I did find the one scene searching for birds very beautiful.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are creatively designed. They vary in style and difficulty. I do like most of the puzzles within this game. None are terribly difficult. I would have purchased this game except for the tedious activities involved in creating all the potions. My favorite puzzle from the demo is a maze puzzle in which you must search for your nephew while avoiding obstacles in your path. That puzzle does take some time to maneuver. I like the Match-3 game (Skipping Stones) to create the potions. You are only allowed a specific amount of turns to retrieve a given amount of each colored stone. The other puzzles are ones we have seen in other games including a rope puzzle, a Simon Says puzzle, and a map puzzle in which you must angle guards so that all halls in the castle are within site of at least one guard.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom
Hints and Skips: 10 to 120 seconds
Hints and Skips: 10 to 120 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
You get an alchemy kit to help you in the game
You can replay some HOP scenes and mini-games.
12 Achievements
Collect 31 roses
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music,
Map is provided as you play the game
You get an alchemy kit to help you in the game
You can replay some HOP scenes and mini-games.
12 Achievements
Collect 31 roses
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: (A) List of items. (B) Silhouette – Beautiful birds. (C) List of items
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
To create potions. Variation of a Match-3 game. Connect like tokens to remove them. You must collect a specific amount of each stone and only have a specific number of moves to achieve that goal.
A. Rope puzzle (in this case, chains). Maneuver chains so that none cross each other. Rating: 2
B. Variation of a HOP scene. Storybook. Locate items through a telescope. Move 3 dials to locate the images. Rating: 2
C. Another variation of a Storybook scene. Interact with the pages of a storybook. Rating: 1
D. Simon Says puzzle. Follow a given sequence on stones. 3X Rating: 1
E. Physics puzzle. Place guards on a map so that all areas of the castle are covered by sight from at least one of the guards. Rating: 2
F. Find the differences. Find the differences between a group of statues. Rating: 1
G. Switch puzzle. Switch slats on a jewelry box to restore an image. Rating: 1
H. Assembly puzzle. Match up two weather related symbols to create a third weather symbol at the top of the screen.
I. Maze puzzle. Move characters through a maze eliminating obstacles in their path. 3X Rating: 2
B. Variation of a HOP scene. Storybook. Locate items through a telescope. Move 3 dials to locate the images. Rating: 2
C. Another variation of a Storybook scene. Interact with the pages of a storybook. Rating: 1
D. Simon Says puzzle. Follow a given sequence on stones. 3X Rating: 1
E. Physics puzzle. Place guards on a map so that all areas of the castle are covered by sight from at least one of the guards. Rating: 2
F. Find the differences. Find the differences between a group of statues. Rating: 1
G. Switch puzzle. Switch slats on a jewelry box to restore an image. Rating: 1
H. Assembly puzzle. Match up two weather related symbols to create a third weather symbol at the top of the screen.
I. Maze puzzle. Move characters through a maze eliminating obstacles in their path. 3X Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
Overall rating
5
/
5
91 of 146 found this review helpful
GET BATTLE READY TO TAKE ON AN EVILDOER LURKING BEHIND “THE SHADOWS”
PostedFebruary 15, 2018
sunnyglow
fromCoffee, Tea, or Detective Duncan? After this game our detective duo has a sweet future with so much in common including the most important thing - they love the same donut shop!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON ENTIRE GAME
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 Pages
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 40 Pages
OVERVIEW: Battle up Detective! You are off on another case involving the supernatural! Get battle ready to take on the Dark Lord in an action-packed game! An evildoer is helping the Dark Lord to enter the real world and regain his power for nefarious ends. A dagger is behind all the calamities, being wielded by shadow being from another dimension. Now you must find the generational links and shift back-and-forth between the past and the dark dimensions to locate the artifacts to battle this dark entity out to conquer the world. You will get some help along the way with the ancestors who first destroyed this monster and, of course, the ever-so-handsome Detective Duncan!
MECHANICS: This is an action-packed game with plenty of activities to keep the player busy! I almost did not purchase this game; however, I am glad I did. For me, the demo does not do justice to this game – it is much better AFTER THE DEMO! For me, the pièce de résistance are the three (3) Rube Goldberg puzzles. Although it is a puzzle-intense game, the true ingenuity within this game rests in the HOP scenes. This is a great game for those who like supernatural detective stories or those who like action games. There are quite a few battle scenes fought with some type of puzzle.
The graphics are decent, but I did find some scenes somewhat grainy and blurry. You collect eight (8) characters from the game and twenty-three (23) crowns. Most of these are easy to locate There are not many achievements; however, six of them have three parts. There are eighteen (18) wallpapers, which is more than I have seen from any other game! You do not replay either HOP scenes or puzzles; however, in this case, I feel the HOP scenes in this game do not lend themselves to replay and the puzzles are too easy to merit replay.
BONUS GAME: The bonus game is a sequel to the main game. Follow the Dark King’s son as he tries to destroy everything associated with his father. This may not be as easy as it may appear! This Daddy Dearest is in no mood to put up with his son trying to destroy all he holds dear.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are the BEST part of the game. This game provides some of the best interactive and creative scenes HOP scenes I have seen in quite some time. There are ten (10) HOP scenes within the main game. That does not seem like many; however, the scenes require a great deal of interaction and some have mini-puzzles within them. One of the scenes has two (2) mini-puzzles within the scene. All the scenes are interactive. Most are search and replacement scenes in which you must search for an item and then return it to the scene. Many are storybook scenes and in most you will need to locate more than one item for each item listed.
PUZZLES: There are nineteen (19) puzzles within the main game. However, three of those are Rube Goldberg puzzles which include up to four or five mini-puzzles within a larger puzzle format. The puzzles are ones seen before in other games. Some of the puzzles are also included within the HOP scenes. The puzzles vary in style and difficulty. However, I did not find one which was even slightly difficult. Most of the puzzles are easy, extremely easy.
Here is a sampling of puzzles AFTER THE DEMO:
SPOILERS: DO NOT CONTINUE UNLESS YOU WISH TO SEE SOME OF THE PUZZLES OFFERED AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Ye Ole Book puzzle! Sequence puzzle. Place books in sequence to uncover a design on the spines.
B. Battle up! Rube Goldberg puzzle. (1) Match up runes to knock out a zombie baddie (2) Connection puzzle. Connect points on a figure to trace it without retracing your steps. (3) Jigsaw puzzle. Put pieces into place to create an image.
C. Lock them up! Switch puzzle. Switch tumblers on the top and bottom of a lock so they mesh.
D. Bullseye! Fight the Shadows by aligning one to three lines so they intersect in the middle of a central point. Increases in difficulty. 3X
E. You just “runed” my day! Simon Says puzzle. Defeat 3 dark knights. Battle the evil knights by repeating the sequence of displayed runes. 3X Increases in difficulty
F. Match me up buttercup! Match-3 Game. Match up 3 or more stones to remove them. You must remove enough of them to light up two bars. You are limited on the turns you have.
G. Build a bridge, not a wall! Tangram puzzle. Build a bridge. Place tangram pieces so they leave no empty spaces except for the red squares within the grid. Rating: 2
H. Rube Goldberg puzzle. (1) Memory puzzle. Remember the items on a shield and choose the correct one among a variety of available ones. 4X (2) Matching puzzle. Match up a rune with its twin. (3) Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide slats up-and-down and sideways to restore an image of a shield. (4) Bullseye! Click on two sliders as they enter the middle zone of their respective bars. (5) Matching puzzle. Match up pairs of items hidden on cards.
B. Battle up! Rube Goldberg puzzle. (1) Match up runes to knock out a zombie baddie (2) Connection puzzle. Connect points on a figure to trace it without retracing your steps. (3) Jigsaw puzzle. Put pieces into place to create an image.
C. Lock them up! Switch puzzle. Switch tumblers on the top and bottom of a lock so they mesh.
D. Bullseye! Fight the Shadows by aligning one to three lines so they intersect in the middle of a central point. Increases in difficulty. 3X
E. You just “runed” my day! Simon Says puzzle. Defeat 3 dark knights. Battle the evil knights by repeating the sequence of displayed runes. 3X Increases in difficulty
F. Match me up buttercup! Match-3 Game. Match up 3 or more stones to remove them. You must remove enough of them to light up two bars. You are limited on the turns you have.
G. Build a bridge, not a wall! Tangram puzzle. Build a bridge. Place tangram pieces so they leave no empty spaces except for the red squares within the grid. Rating: 2
H. Rube Goldberg puzzle. (1) Memory puzzle. Remember the items on a shield and choose the correct one among a variety of available ones. 4X (2) Matching puzzle. Match up a rune with its twin. (3) Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide slats up-and-down and sideways to restore an image of a shield. (4) Bullseye! Click on two sliders as they enter the middle zone of their respective bars. (5) Matching puzzle. Match up pairs of items hidden on cards.
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
8 Achievements 6 with 3 parts and 2 others as well
Collect 8 game characters and 23 crowns
18 Wallpapers, 30 Concept Art, Music, Jigsaw puzzle, Video
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
8 Achievements 6 with 3 parts and 2 others as well
Collect 8 game characters and 23 crowns
18 Wallpapers, 30 Concept Art, Music, Jigsaw puzzle, Video
I recommend this game!
Recover the artifact that contains the secrets of H.E.L.P.'s past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
135 of 198 found this review helpful
EIPIX HAS UNCOVERED A GOLDEN SECRET “HISTORICITY” WITH THIS GAME!
PostedFebruary 10, 2018
sunnyglow
fromFidget Spinner: Finding yourself getting nervous from exploits of the evildoers in this game? Afraid you cannot solve some of those puzzles? EIPIX has provided the anxiety buster you need - a Fidget Spinner in one of the HOP scenes.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME - Time: 4 ½ hours
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 39 Pages
OVERVIEW: H.E.L.P. returns in another action-packed game! Agent - How much do you know about the origin of H.E.L.P.? In this game, many of the agency’s secrets will be revealed! Get prepared for a fast and furious adventure beginning in Geneva, Switzerland. From there, enjoy a danger-filled trip taking you to a castle in Germany; then travel to the creepy dark hidden chambers within a London cemetery; finally find yourself in the jungles of South America! This time, you are off to thwart a rogue agent who has stolen a diary along with its key, a South American artifact called the Golden Wheel. He and his evil cohort are using the diary to unlock an important agency secret. In this game you will learn the history of this organization and hopefully thwart the rogue agent and his fellow evildoer from their nefarious plans. And remember this paradox - “some things need to be destroyed to be preserved.” With the rash of less-than-spectacular games lately from this developer, I was not going to purchase this game, but I am happy I did. This is one you DO NOT WANT TO MISS!
MECHANICS: What a fantastic, turnaround game with an engaging, well-written gaming script. Unlike many of this developer’s games, this game is BETTER AFTER THE DEMO! The graphics are incredibly beautiful, especially the jungle scenes. The story behind the game is well-written and I was surprised by the direction the story took within this game. I cannot imagine any player becoming bored playing this game! The pace is excellent with plenty of action-filled scenes and a plethora of activities to keep the player engaged. This game should appeal to adventure game lovers! Beginning players should enjoy this game as well. The story is easy to follow and the HOP scenes after the demo are very creative. However, those intermediate and expert gamers will love the challenging aspect to this game. A couple of the puzzles are truly difficult. I skipped two of the puzzles and will replay them after I finish the bonus chapter.
EXTRAS: You collect thirty-six (36) fact cards (as in all the games in this series) and twelve morphing objects (some are not part of the HOP scenes). Both are easy to locate. There are thirteen (13) achievements. You can also replay fourteen (14) HOP scenes and seventeen (17) puzzles. The collectibles in the bonus chapter are twenty-five (25) souvenir items. Hopefully, EIPIX will continue to listen to the creative muse they have resurrected. Kudos, EIPIX! This little “sleeper” kept me alert!
BONUS CHAPTER: The bonus chapter is a sequel. It continues where the main game ends. I have not completely played the bonus chapter. Return to the jungles of Colombia to locate and capture an evildoer and bring him back to justice.
HOP SCENES: There are fourteen (14) HOP scenes within in the main game. The HOP scenes are better after the demo. They include the usual lists of items, silhouette scenes and storybook scenes. There are also a couple of rebus puzzle scenes as well. They are thematic and each one fits well into the geographic location in which they are placed. There are quite a few storybook scenes to further the story of the agency. However, within the storybook scenes, the player will search for more than one item for items listed in BOLD letters. One of the scenes has the Cycle of the Moon mini-puzzle. There is one scene set in the Colombian jungle which is very creative. It requires searching for silhouette items on four scrolls. It is incredibly beautiful and one of the best HOP scenes I have seen this year!
PUZZLES: There are eighteen (18) puzzles in the main game. The puzzles are creatively-designed. They vary in difficulty and there are a couple which are very difficult. The puzzles are also thematic, relating to the scene in which they appear.
SPOILERS: Here is a sampling of puzzles appearing AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Let’s get together! Assembly puzzle. A unique puzzle in which you must assemble five (5) pieces into one item by moving them on a path and then using wheels to rotate them. Bring them together so they “snap” together. At times, you will need to move and rotate pieces on individual paths before you can move other pieces. A little toughie! Rating: 3
B. Come fly with me! Physical puzzle. Following the “hand(s)” at the side of the screen, climb up a ladder to a helicopter avoiding frayed areas on the rope. Rating: 1
C. Where is my secret decoder ring? Matching/Code puzzle: Match up symbols on the Golden Wheel with written letters within the diary to provide a super-secret message. Rating: 3
D. Where art thou quill and ink? Maze puzzle. Using ye quill and ink – draw a path through a maze to lead to an inner chamber. Choose between three entrances to chart your course. If thy pen touches the lines of the maze, thou must begin again! Rating: 2
E. Where is Tarzan when you need him? Maze - Escape puzzle! Choose arrows to lead a cart through the jungle. As you traverse the jungle, you must choose the path to follow by choosing between two arrows. Not choosing the proper arrow fast enough causes you to die! Keep on clicking! Rating: 2
F. Hands off! Those don’t belong to you! Matching puzzle. Match up items (axes, headdresses, and skirts) belonging to four statues so that each statue has the proper items which belong with it. Move between scenes to place the items into their proper location. Rating: 2 Unique and well-done.
G. Keep your arms to yourself! Connection puzzle. Move arms extending from a main token to attach to other jeweled tokens. Then attach the jeweled tokens to other tokens to set off an earth-shaking event. Truly difficult. Rating: 3
B. Come fly with me! Physical puzzle. Following the “hand(s)” at the side of the screen, climb up a ladder to a helicopter avoiding frayed areas on the rope. Rating: 1
C. Where is my secret decoder ring? Matching/Code puzzle: Match up symbols on the Golden Wheel with written letters within the diary to provide a super-secret message. Rating: 3
D. Where art thou quill and ink? Maze puzzle. Using ye quill and ink – draw a path through a maze to lead to an inner chamber. Choose between three entrances to chart your course. If thy pen touches the lines of the maze, thou must begin again! Rating: 2
E. Where is Tarzan when you need him? Maze - Escape puzzle! Choose arrows to lead a cart through the jungle. As you traverse the jungle, you must choose the path to follow by choosing between two arrows. Not choosing the proper arrow fast enough causes you to die! Keep on clicking! Rating: 2
F. Hands off! Those don’t belong to you! Matching puzzle. Match up items (axes, headdresses, and skirts) belonging to four statues so that each statue has the proper items which belong with it. Move between scenes to place the items into their proper location. Rating: 2 Unique and well-done.
G. Keep your arms to yourself! Connection puzzle. Move arms extending from a main token to attach to other jeweled tokens. Then attach the jeweled tokens to other tokens to set off an earth-shaking event. Truly difficult. Rating: 3
I recommend this game!
Save the town and free your husband from a witch's vengeance.
Overall rating
3
/
5
72 of 144 found this review helpful
“BEWITCHED, BOTHERED, AND BEWILDERED” IN THE RHINE RIVER
PostedFebruary 7, 2018
sunnyglow
fromI am “bewitched, bothered, and bewildered” by this game. I am bewitched by the excellent puzzles, bothered by the use of a gimmicky lens, and bewildered why this developer continues to use the same boring HOP scenes in all their games.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
OVERVIEW: Can a witch and a human find happiness? The dueling families in this Romeo and Juliet themed game obviously have not seen the “Bewitched” reruns. The families of a human and those of a witch forbade the interspecies marriage of their lovesick offspring. Now, the vengeful, ghostly young witch of the duo is haunting an island in the Rhine River. Based on the German myth, “Die Loreley,” you play the wife of a retired couple hoping to find some happiness in your golden years on this island. However, this restless witch is not about to allow you two old lovebirds have any peace. When this young ghostly witch kidnaps your husband, you are off to save him. Climbing up cliffs, ascending castle walls and hiking around this island, you will learn more about the history of this island. Perhaps you hold the key to help this witch and save your husband and the town as well. You may also win a physical fitness medal. You go granny!
MECHANICS: We are off to Germany this week with EIPIX. EIPIX again waltzes us around Europe with a loosely based adaptation of a German myth. The graphics are hand-drawn and reflect the beauty of the Rhine River valley. For me, the graphics are amazingly beautiful and better than I have seen in many of this developer’s games. The pace is good with our tormented, angry ghost brewing up a storm of trouble for the in habitants of the island. At times, the pace does slow down a trifle– I believe due to both the lackluster HOP scenes and the back-and-forth action of looking for inventory items. It is a decent, but not a stellar game. It is standard EIPIX fare. However, I do feel it is much better than many games they have produced lately. You can replay thirteen (13) HOP scene and twenty-five (25) puzzles. You collect hearts and morphing objects.
HOP SCENES: Nothing special here! The scenes are standard fare, and to me, lack creativity. You can play a variation of a Match-3 game (Stepping Stones) in lieu of the scenes. Beside their signature HOP scene, there are also some multiple step ones, lists of items and silhouette scenes. EIPIX needs to spend some time on some in providing some creative elements within their HOP scenes. These are not the scenes I expect to see in an "Editor's Choice" game.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are excellent and better than the HOP scenes. They are varied in both style and difficulty; however, there are none which are extremely difficult. Surprise! The instructions are well-written for a change. I did not find one puzzle I could not solve because of missing information within the instructions. There is one which requires some “observation” to solve. However, I am not certain this was not part of the design of the puzzle.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: RIBBIT! There is a mathematical puzzle which has been seen in other games. Create a path for a frog to land on a lily pad by setting up a mathematical sequence of moves by using numbered tiles which move the tiles clockwise and counterclockwise. I thought the use of the frog was a novel idea.
GIMMICKY LENS: H.E.L.P.! Could those agents from that EIPIX series please enter this game and get rid of the gimmicks! Returning in yet another developer’s game is the gimmicky lens to allow the player to see all those “objects” which cannot be seen without this special device. This “magical” lens has been used in many, many, many developer’s games. Like the EIPIX HOP scene, it has been used in so many games, it is now irritating.
LEVELS: Easy, Medium, Hard, Custom
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
13 Achievements – Some with 3 parts
Collect 34 Heart signs and 17 morphing objects
Replay 25 puzzles and 13 HOP scenes and Stepping Stones (variation of a Match-3 game)
8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art
Map is provided as you play the game
13 Achievements – Some with 3 parts
Collect 34 Heart signs and 17 morphing objects
Replay 25 puzzles and 13 HOP scenes and Stepping Stones (variation of a Match-3 game)
8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: You can play a variation of a Match-3 game (Stepping Stones) in which you connect like stones to remove them.
(A) Multiple step. (1) List of items. (2) Silhouette. (B) EIPIX HOP Scene (1) Search for five each of two items (2) List of items. (C) List of items (Mini-list) (D) Silhouette (E) Storybook
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Tangram puzzle. Fit wood planks into position on a grid. However, in this one, you must leave red spaces uncovered. Rating: 2
B. Matching puzzle. Match up runes hidden within clouds to remove the clouds. Rating: 1
C. Sequence puzzle. Climb up ye wall to a castle. Press arrows in the right sequence to ascend a wall. You go granny!
D. Mathematical puzzle. Plot a path for a frog to reach the exit. Place markers with a specific number of dots onto a scale (which moves the frog that many spaces either clockwise or counterclockwise) so that it leads a frog to a lotus flower all while avoiding snakes in its path.
E. Magical lens. (Yes, Virginia the same one you now see in ALL games). Push it around to locate all those hidden runes in the scene. Rating 1 and Boring!
F. Maze puzzle. Move three tokens to like slots on a circular maze. However, there are blocks in the way. You can only move the tokens to the next level of the rotating maze by entering a slot of the same color as the token. Moving them will open other paths (which is missing in the directions) Rating: 2
G. Logic puzzle. Set hands on a clock according to given directions. (Both hands move a different amount of spaces on the clock. Rating: 2
H. Matching puzzle. Match up book covers with the books which they fit. Rating: 1
I. Matching puzzle. On a hand rail, place animals with their matching habitats. Rating: 1
B. Matching puzzle. Match up runes hidden within clouds to remove the clouds. Rating: 1
C. Sequence puzzle. Climb up ye wall to a castle. Press arrows in the right sequence to ascend a wall. You go granny!
D. Mathematical puzzle. Plot a path for a frog to reach the exit. Place markers with a specific number of dots onto a scale (which moves the frog that many spaces either clockwise or counterclockwise) so that it leads a frog to a lotus flower all while avoiding snakes in its path.
E. Magical lens. (Yes, Virginia the same one you now see in ALL games). Push it around to locate all those hidden runes in the scene. Rating 1 and Boring!
F. Maze puzzle. Move three tokens to like slots on a circular maze. However, there are blocks in the way. You can only move the tokens to the next level of the rotating maze by entering a slot of the same color as the token. Moving them will open other paths (which is missing in the directions) Rating: 2
G. Logic puzzle. Set hands on a clock according to given directions. (Both hands move a different amount of spaces on the clock. Rating: 2
H. Matching puzzle. Match up book covers with the books which they fit. Rating: 1
I. Matching puzzle. On a hand rail, place animals with their matching habitats. Rating: 1
I recommend this game!
Can you save the young starlet from the wicked doll's curse?
Overall rating
3
/
5
69 of 128 found this review helpful
CURSES! ANOTHER DEAL BREAKER FOR AN ACTRESS UNDER CONTRACT!
PostedFebruary 2, 2018
sunnyglow
fromWhat a doll! The helper doll in this game is the perfect sidekick companion for Grumpy Cat
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
OVERVIEW: Detective! Travel back in time to 1887 – to Katzenburg, to investigate a case based on a curse - the Ophelia curse! Angela, the lead actress for this role in “Hamlet,” has gone into a coma. Apparently, this “curse” has affected her as it affects all the actresses who play this part. The actress assigned to play Ophelia receives a doll and then ends up dead the next day with symbols all over her body. Snooping around a town known for its puppets, you will soon discover there is more to this case than meets the eye! Who is the puppet master behind all the drama within this game? This is another great game for those who love this series or those who like easy breezy games. It is a good game for children as well. This will be a pass for me; however, I do believe it is somewhat better constructed than most games within this series.
MECHANICS: As usual for AMAX, the graphics are gorgeous with soft tones and rich colors. They are truly classic in design. Just breathtaking! The story is just another variation of the same ones we have seen in the past. The theme is always the same. Some evildoer creates or uses puppets to do his/her dirty work against a person or group of people. The pace is excellent. There are plenty of activities within the game. Many of the inventory items require assembly or some type of action performed upon them before they are operational. You have six choices for your character, choose between three female and three male characters. You can replay eleven (11) puzzles and nineteen (19) HOP scenes. You collect snowflakes and a massive number of flowers. The puzzles are extremely easy. This game does have its groupies; however, I wish AMAX would develop some new series. This ten-year old series is well past the expiration rate and has been “milked” for all its worth.
HELPER: GRUMPY DOLL! There is a helper, a black-eyed, black-hearted piece of porcelain. With a scowl on her face, reluctantly she helps you retrieve items. Grumpy Cat would love this doll! At least she does not prance around nor make faces at you from the side of your inventory bar. However, she does alert you when she is to be used. I will not play games with helpers, so this is another reason I did not purchase this game.
HOP SCENES: In the demo there are an even amount of HOP scenes and puzzles. I feel they are more creative than the puzzles. Most are standard lists of items and silhouette scenes. However, there is one replacement scene in which the player places items back into the scene. There are quite a few mini-HOP scenes in which the player searches for a small amount of one item. There is one scene which requires the player to locate items based on their fabric pattern or their material constituency rather than the silhouette of the object.
PUZZLES: They are all easy. I did not find one which was even moderately difficult. Most of these are excellent for children. In one, lead a horse down a path while avoiding obstacles in its path. There is also an excellent tracing puzzle for children which involves outlining a design without touching the edges of the design. Others include matching mask halves, switching or rotating tiles or rings to recreate pictures, and a “punch out the evildoer” puzzle which I feel is more creatively designed than most I have seen from other developers.
LEVELS: Doll, Puppet, Puppeteer, Puppet Master
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
A doll helper used to retrieve items.
20 Achievements
Collect 29 Snowflakes and a massive amount of flowers
Replay 11 Puzzles and 19 HOP scenes
7 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art, 5 Screensavers, Music, Movies
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
A doll helper used to retrieve items.
20 Achievements
Collect 29 Snowflakes and a massive amount of flowers
Replay 11 Puzzles and 19 HOP scenes
7 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art, 5 Screensavers, Music, Movies
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) List of items (B) Silhouette. Locate items in groups of 3. (C) Mini-HOP scene. Silhouette. (D) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 9 rose petals. (E) Variation of a silhouette. Locate items based on fabric patterns which appear on the items to be located. (F) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 7 swirls. (G) Replacement scene. Replace items back within a scene. (H) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 5 components.
PUZZLES: They are all easy – extremely easy.
A. Switch puzzle. Switch tiles to create a picture on a round disk.
B. Multiple step. (1) Switch puzzle. Switch mask halves to complete the masks. (2) Gear puzzle. Place gears into the proper location.
C. Sequence puzzle. Ring bells in order as to a given code.
D. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles so that those tiles with broken edges arrange to provide an opening to uncover a key.
E. Follow the leader. Follow Leroy’s horse while avoiding obstacles in your path.
F. Tracing puzzle. Trace a line through an image without touching the outside lines.
G. Switch puzzle. Switch the halves of books to create the symbol in the middle of the books.
H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to recreate an image.
I. Punch out the evildoer. Click on a fist quickly to change the background to green and move an arrow to green to knock out an evildoer.
B. Multiple step. (1) Switch puzzle. Switch mask halves to complete the masks. (2) Gear puzzle. Place gears into the proper location.
C. Sequence puzzle. Ring bells in order as to a given code.
D. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles so that those tiles with broken edges arrange to provide an opening to uncover a key.
E. Follow the leader. Follow Leroy’s horse while avoiding obstacles in your path.
F. Tracing puzzle. Trace a line through an image without touching the outside lines.
G. Switch puzzle. Switch the halves of books to create the symbol in the middle of the books.
H. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate rings to recreate an image.
I. Punch out the evildoer. Click on a fist quickly to change the background to green and move an arrow to green to knock out an evildoer.
I recommend this game!
Can you survive the island and save your brother?
Overall rating
5
/
5
75 of 163 found this review helpful
KUDOS TO MAD HEAD! A SCI-FI THRILLER WHICH PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THEIR BEST!
PostedFebruary 1, 2018
sunnyglow
fromThere is one good thing concerning traversing between alternate universes. You can be at two places at the same time!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
OVERVIEW: Get prepared to play a fantastic sci-fi thriller! I was ecstatic to see this game out today! When your brother ends ups missing due to an explosion on a corporate-controlled island, you are off to rescue him. Play Erica and enter a zombie-filled island to find your brother Mark, who has been missing for three (3) years! Your brother was involved in a secret research project. He helped design the “Mirror,” a device involved in rearranging atomic structure to produce an alternate energy source. But what is the true story behind this island and its research? There is more here than meets the eye! Did this experiment open an alternate universe? You need to act fast! The island is infested with zombie, shadow-like creatures, including your brother, Mark. This will be an automatic purchase for me! It is a futuristic look at science gone amok. This is a must-have for sci-fi fans.
MECHANICS: This is an action-packed game with a fantastic story about an unsettling apocalyptic vision of the future. The pace is excellent with plenty of activities to keep the player engaged. The graphics are cartoon-like, with a comic book flavor. You collect morphing objects -swirls, as in their other games. They are easy to locate. I do think that some of the morphing objects are so large they practically jump out at you. You can also replay some HOP scenes. As with other games, Mad Head always is on the cutting edge of using high-tech devices. Receive a GPS to help navigate the island. You will use a taser gun against those zombies! And, what would a sci-fi thriller be without a drone?
HOP SCENES: The scenes are thematic and consist of the usual silhouette and lists of items. There is a storybook scene with items listed in highlighted letters. They are creatively designed. I especially liked the scene which uses various materials to hide the items to be found within the scene.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are creatively designed. They are thematic as well and vary in difficulty and variety. There is a lock puzzle which involves elementary mathematics in moving a dial either clockwise or counterclockwise in increments of either two or three spaces until the dial lands on all the code numbers. There is a rotating tiles puzzle to move colored tokens into their matching colored spaces on a set of three wheels. There is also a cleverly designed matching rune puzzle.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: MATHEMATICAL WIZARDRY! My favorite puzzle is a tricky little mathematical problem which requires some basic mathematical equations to arrive at a number 43! This will not be as easy as you may think! You will have the choice between two to four numbers on each turn. The number will either multiple, add or subtract from the total you have on the calculator. You may need to reset the puzzle until you locate the pattern involved in arriving at this number.
LEVELS: Accident, Hazard, Disaster, Catastrophe, Custom
Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game.
You get a GPS locator to help you on the island.
10 Achievements – Some with three (3) parts
Collect Morphing objects
Replay of HOP scenes
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music,
Map is provided as you play the game.
You get a GPS locator to help you on the island.
10 Achievements – Some with three (3) parts
Collect Morphing objects
Replay of HOP scenes
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) Storybook with items in highlighted letters. (B) Multiple step. (1) Silhouettes of flowers. (2) List of items (C) Multiple step. (1) Locate 4 cards (2) List of items (D) Silhouette (E) Storybook. Items listed in highlighted letters
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Lock/Mathematical puzzle. Enter a code on a dial to open a door. Arrows move the dial either two spaces counterclockwise or three spaces clockwise. Rating: 2
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate three (3) wheels so that nine (9) colored beads are distributed to the wheel of the same color. Rating: 2
C. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a sequence of four (4) lights as they light up on a screen Rating: 1
D. Mathematical puzzle. On an unusual keypad with plus, minus and multiplication signs next to the numbered keys, create a mathematical equation so the series of mathematical functions equals 43. Rating: 3
E. Switch puzzle. Switch glass fragments on a grid so they are in the correct position. They will turn green when properly placed. Rating: 2
F. Matching pairs. Match up runes. Rating: 1
A. Lock/Mathematical puzzle. Enter a code on a dial to open a door. Arrows move the dial either two spaces counterclockwise or three spaces clockwise. Rating: 2
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate three (3) wheels so that nine (9) colored beads are distributed to the wheel of the same color. Rating: 2
C. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a sequence of four (4) lights as they light up on a screen Rating: 1
D. Mathematical puzzle. On an unusual keypad with plus, minus and multiplication signs next to the numbered keys, create a mathematical equation so the series of mathematical functions equals 43. Rating: 3
E. Switch puzzle. Switch glass fragments on a grid so they are in the correct position. They will turn green when properly placed. Rating: 2
F. Matching pairs. Match up runes. Rating: 1
I recommend this game!
When a Myth Seekers agent goes missing, you’re called in to discover the truth in this hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
110 of 202 found this review helpful
ONE OF THE BEST GAMES FOR 2017 COMES TO BFG
PostedJanuary 30, 2018
sunnyglow
fromVulcan had a face only a mother could love. Unfortunately, not his mother!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide 61 Pages
OVERVIEW: Return to 1929 Rome, Italy. Play Amelia, part of the Myth Seekers. You are called into action when a fellow member, Phillip Miller vanishes. He was searching for Vulcan’s hammer, trying to locate it before Mussolini. The power of the hammer is immense, having belong to Vulcan himself. Before his disappearance, he was in possession of the Vesuvian Code, which is somehow tied to this hammer.
In a great cloak-and-dagger game, find yourself in the aftermath of a full-screen earthquake (watch your screen shimmy and shake) trying to locate the code and working against time to keep Mussolini from getting Vulcan’s hammer. This is a true cat-and-mouse thriller with a plentitude of cats throughout the scenes. However, like most cats, they are very independent and will not help you -at all!
MECHANICS: This game will appeal to all levels of gamers, those who love suspense, and/or those who are interested in Roman mythology. The gaming script is well-written. The pace is excellent. This story has more twists and turns than the mountain roads of Italy. The graphics are beautiful and well-depict the Italian countryside. There eighteen achievements – nine which are skilled based and nine which are story-based. You collect twelve pictures of Roman gods and goddesses. There are thirteen morphing objects as well. You can also replay some HOP scenes and puzzles. I have been awaiting this game and it was an automatic purchase.
META POWERS!!! Your helper in this game are five METAPOWERS! In the beta you receive the first one, a cornucopia. You should be able to defend yourself throughout the game with these handy dandy items.
META POWERS!!! Your helper in this game are five METAPOWERS! In the beta you receive the first one, a cornucopia. You should be able to defend yourself throughout the game with these handy dandy items.
HOP SCENES: There are only two in the demo of this game. One of these is a silhouette in which you locate items. However, the other is a new style of HOP scene! Instead of searching for items, you interact with the scene until you get the inventory item. I have seen variations of this in other games, but never one which is solely interactive. It is beautifully designed.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are all easy or moderately difficult. There are quite a few storybook sequences. My only slight complaint is that the Roman myths concerning Vulcan and then the Vesta Virgins, are a little too much. A great deal of time is spent in expounding on these two tales.
FAVORITE PUZZLE I did like a tangram puzzle in which you must restore a picture by placing tangram pieces in place. However, the background is a complete picture and the tangrams blend in so well with the background, they are difficult to see.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom
Hints in HOP scenes: 5 to 60 seconds. Hints in the game: 5 to 90 seconds Skips: 5 to 120 seconds
Hints in HOP scenes: 5 to 60 seconds. Hints in the game: 5 to 90 seconds Skips: 5 to 120 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
18 Achievements – 9 each of story-based and skill-based.
Collect 15 Gods and Goddesses
13 Morphing objects
Map is provided as you play the game
18 Achievements – 9 each of story-based and skill-based.
Collect 15 Gods and Goddesses
13 Morphing objects
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. Interactive scene. Relatively new. Not exactly a HOP scene nor a puzzle. Click are items and use them within a scene to locate a doorknob.
B. Silhouette.
B. Silhouette.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult (4) Challenging
A. Switch puzzle. Switch books to recreate a scene. 3X Rating: They increase in difficulty
B. Storybook puzzle. Rotate tiles to learn the story about Vulcan. Rating: 1
C. Assembly puzzle. According to a diagram – set a table Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Sort and place items with like items.
E. Connection puzzle. Lead a fireball through a maze without crossing lines along the way. Rating: 2
F. Sequence puzzle. Replicate a sequence on a door as per a written code. Pushing one buttons affects the others. Rating: 2
G. Two-part. (1) Slider. Slide 3 rings to create an image. (2) Switch puzzle. Switch rings to match up with their tokens. Rating: 2 Very creative. Rating: 2
H. Zap the Cyclops. Manual Dexterity game. Align two beams to center on the eye of a cyclops. Rating: 2
I. Maze puzzle. Move a marble through a maze. Rating: 2
J. Jigsaw puzzle. Create a fresco by manipulating jigsaw pieces, rotating them and placing them in the proper location. Rating: 2
K. Variation of a tangram puzzle. Move pieces to restore a picture. I found it difficult to move the pieces and use them as they blended too much into the picture. Rating: 2
B. Storybook puzzle. Rotate tiles to learn the story about Vulcan. Rating: 1
C. Assembly puzzle. According to a diagram – set a table Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Sort and place items with like items.
E. Connection puzzle. Lead a fireball through a maze without crossing lines along the way. Rating: 2
F. Sequence puzzle. Replicate a sequence on a door as per a written code. Pushing one buttons affects the others. Rating: 2
G. Two-part. (1) Slider. Slide 3 rings to create an image. (2) Switch puzzle. Switch rings to match up with their tokens. Rating: 2 Very creative. Rating: 2
H. Zap the Cyclops. Manual Dexterity game. Align two beams to center on the eye of a cyclops. Rating: 2
I. Maze puzzle. Move a marble through a maze. Rating: 2
J. Jigsaw puzzle. Create a fresco by manipulating jigsaw pieces, rotating them and placing them in the proper location. Rating: 2
K. Variation of a tangram puzzle. Move pieces to restore a picture. I found it difficult to move the pieces and use them as they blended too much into the picture. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Donna’s childhood friend is overwhelmed by a cursed tree that poisons everything it touches!
Overall rating
2
/
5
85 of 136 found this review helpful
GETTING TO THE “ROOT” OF THE PROBLEM OF THIS GAME.
PostedJanuary 27, 2018
sunnyglow
fromPlaying this game has convinced me to stop being a “tree hugger.”
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
OVERVIEW: Although poet Joyce Kilmer wrote he would never see a poem as lovely as a tree, he never played this game! In truth, I hope I may never see – another Mad Head game about a tree! Ever! I love Mad Head games. We get so few of them on BFG. However, to me, this is one of the strangest and most boring demos I have played. This is a game concerns birthday girl, Kathi, receiving a tree as a present. Great present, right? The tree kills those who are in contact with it. The only way to stop this tree from killing its victims, is by using flower petals on the victims. Donna Brave, school friend of Kathi, has been called in to locate the source of this malady and stop this zombie tree from sending its roots out into the world.
NEVER GOING TO HUG THIS TREE NOR THIS GAME: The demo consists of going back-and-forth throughout a house (where this evil zombie tree is located) searching for items and then interacting with them. So, the pace is slow – very slow. After some time, I began to feel like a potted plant in this house, hoping said zombie tree would give me a leaf (which destines you do die) – to “re-leaf” me from this game. Sorry for the pun – just could not help it! There is just not enough action within this game. I fell asleep once and when I begin looking at my watch to see how long I had been playing a game. It is a non-purchase for me. The game could get better after the demo, but I don’t want to purchase it to find out. I am very disappointed, as I usually purchase every Mad Head game.
MECHANICS: The graphics are cartoon-like. You collect twenty-eight (28) magnifying glasses and there are twenty-eight (28) morphing objects to collect as well. You can replay nineteen (19) HOP scenes. Again, I wish Mad Head would allow their players to replay some of the puzzles within the game. As with many other developers’ games, there is a gimmicky medallion which allows you to view all those “hidden objects” within a scene. This is another gimmick which has been overused in games by not just this developer, but others as well.
HOP SCENES: The scenes are indicative of those seen in other games. There is nice variety of silhouette, lists of items, matching pairs, and replacement of items back within the scene. The are somewhat interactive. However, I found none which were outstanding.
PUZZLES: The puzzles within the demo are easy. I found none challenging. One of the puzzles is merely placing shoes into their correct position according to their heel marks. Another has the player place animals according to their continent. There is a chess puzzle with knights, but with its design, it is also boringly easy.
WHICH ONE IS KATHI? The developers change the appearance of the character, Kathi, throughout the game. Her hair and facial features change throughout the game. I had a difficult time differentiating her from Donna Brave. Once you have drawn a character, please stop changing her appearance.
GOOD NEWS: I know Mad Head has an upcoming game which is terrific! I do believe sci-fi and horror are their strongest suit – not this “tree rot.” Please spend more time developing those wonderful games of alternate universes, space aliens, based on all those conspiracy theories out there! Donna Brave - unless you are an alien from Planet Xenon – I think you need to take the next train back to Paris!
LEVELS: Seedling, Sapling, Bloom, Canopy, Heritage Tree
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
Replay 19 HOP scenes
You get a memory medallion to see all those hidden objects within scenes.
10 Achievements – Some with 3 parts
Collect 28 Morphing Swirls and 28 Magnifying glasses
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Card Game (played if you collect all morphing objecs
Map is given to you at the beginning of the game.
Replay 19 HOP scenes
You get a memory medallion to see all those hidden objects within scenes.
10 Achievements – Some with 3 parts
Collect 28 Morphing Swirls and 28 Magnifying glasses
Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Card Game (played if you collect all morphing objecs
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
(A) Silhouette. (B) Silhouette. Find items on gold coins. (C) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 5 buttons. (D) List of items (E) Matching pairs. Match up pairs of pipes (F) Replacement. Place items back within the scenes.
(A) Silhouette. (B) Silhouette. Find items on gold coins. (C) Mini-HOP scene. Locate 5 buttons. (D) List of items (E) Matching pairs. Match up pairs of pipes (F) Replacement. Place items back within the scenes.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult
A. Connection puzzle. Rotate tiles on a grid so that the lines upon the tiles create a continuous path from one end to the other. Rating: 2
B. Matching puzzle. Place five shoes in proper locations according to slots under them which match up to the shoe heels. Rating: 2
C. Card puzzle. Never seen this before. Choose a card from your hand and try to pick up cards which equal the value of the card in you hand. First to collect 15 cards wins. Rating: 2
D. Matching. On a map, place the correct animal with its proper home continent. Rating: 1
E. Assembly. On a rotating disk on the center of a gate, rotate the disk so that the petals of flowers end up on the correct flower. Rating: 1
F. Chess puzzle. Move four knights to colored squares of their same color. Rating: 2
G. Matching puzzle. Choose keys on a piano keyboard to play a turn based on a given music sheet. Rating: 2
A. Connection puzzle. Rotate tiles on a grid so that the lines upon the tiles create a continuous path from one end to the other. Rating: 2
B. Matching puzzle. Place five shoes in proper locations according to slots under them which match up to the shoe heels. Rating: 2
C. Card puzzle. Never seen this before. Choose a card from your hand and try to pick up cards which equal the value of the card in you hand. First to collect 15 cards wins. Rating: 2
D. Matching. On a map, place the correct animal with its proper home continent. Rating: 1
E. Assembly. On a rotating disk on the center of a gate, rotate the disk so that the petals of flowers end up on the correct flower. Rating: 1
F. Chess puzzle. Move four knights to colored squares of their same color. Rating: 2
G. Matching puzzle. Choose keys on a piano keyboard to play a turn based on a given music sheet. Rating: 2
I don't recommend this game.
A time-traveling killer is taking out the Gray family, one by one.
Overall rating
5
/
5
91 of 158 found this review helpful
“BACK IN TIME” FOR ANOTHER GRAY FAMILY REUNION
PostedJanuary 25, 2018
sunnyglow
fromIf I were Anna Gray, I think I would try to try remove myself from this dysfunctional family tree loaded with a bunch of rotten apples.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
3 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER – Strategy Guide: 38 Pages
Welcome to another Gray family reunion! After surviving another car accident, Anna Gray returns to save more family members. This time she goes back in time to save a niece and nephew from a fellow time traveler out for revenge against the whole clan. She will get some help from her “daddy dearest,” from the spirit world. This time bending game is a nice addition to the Grim Tales series. This is an excellent game for beginning and intermediate players, along with those who like some light-hearted trips back in time. I did purchase this game. This is a decent game; however, I don’t consider it an outstanding one. For me there is no “wow” factor here. From the demo I found nothing in the way of HOP scenes nor puzzles which I have not seen in dozens of other games.
MECHANICS: The story is a good ghostly whodunit. The helper, the dearly departed, Richard Gray, provides some witty repartee with his daughter Anna. The graphics are colorful and cartoon-like. The pace is good with plenty of activities to keep you busy chasing a time traveler within the Gray mansion. There are quite a few collectibles within this game. Collect twenty-six (26) pieces to create a screensaver. You also collect fourteen (14) statues of the characters from the game. There are twenty-seven (27) morphing objects as well. I found them all easy to locate. The game appears to be short and there is no ability to replay the HOP scenes nor the puzzles.
HOP SCENES: For me, the scenes are the weakest part of the game. In the demo they lack creativity. Most are standard ones seen in other games. They include the usual lists of items along with scenes with silhouette items. There are some interactive activities within the scenes but nothing which I would call creative nor innovative. There is also a matching pairs scene. I would recommend Elephant designing more creative HOP scenes.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are tame fare. The puzzles are easy with a few of middle difficulty. In the demo, they are puzzles which have been featured in other games. Some have been modified to fit the theme. I did not play one puzzle I have not played before. I found none challenging. However, there is a nice variety in the types of puzzles.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: My favorite puzzle is a switch puzzle in which dowels above and below a lock mechanism must match up with the indentations on that mechanism. This requires switching the dowels so that when all are properly placed, the top and bottom combine with the lock mechanism to create a closed unit.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Custom
Hint and Skips: 15 to 90 Seconds
Hint and Skips: 15 to 90 Seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the start of the game
19 Achievements
Collect 25 pieces s to create a screensaver and 14 statues of the characters
Morphing objects: There are 27 morphing objects.
8 Wallpaper, 8 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music
19 Achievements
Collect 25 pieces s to create a screensaver and 14 statues of the characters
Morphing objects: There are 27 morphing objects.
8 Wallpaper, 8 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES
HOP SCENES:
(A) Mini-HOP scene. Locate silhouette items within your purse. (B) List of items (C) Silhouette (D) List of items (E) Pairs of objects
PUZZLES:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch six triangular tokens on a box so that the lines upon each one connects with the lines on the slot in which it lands. Moving vertically rotates the triangle. Rating: 2
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate four tokens so that the lines upon them match up with the lines connected to them. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 2
C. Matching puzzle. Match five (5) dowels with the proper section on a lock. Dowels are above and below the locks and can only be moved up-and-down and next to each other. Rating: 2
D. Sequence puzzle. Move five (5) fish with variegated bodies, placing them in sequential order so that when a circle with slots for the fish is started, all the fish end up in their designated slots. Rating: 2
E. Switch puzzle. Switch four animal prints that each one matches up with the appropriate animal. Rating: 1
F. Connection puzzle. Move tokens on a grid so that all the lines within the tokens connect with each other.
G. Obstacle map puzzle. Move a golf ball from its start to a flagged hole, all while removing obstacles within its path. 2X Rating: 2
H. Matching puzzle. Enter a code based upon runes to open a safe. Rating: 1
B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate four tokens so that the lines upon them match up with the lines connected to them. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 2
C. Matching puzzle. Match five (5) dowels with the proper section on a lock. Dowels are above and below the locks and can only be moved up-and-down and next to each other. Rating: 2
D. Sequence puzzle. Move five (5) fish with variegated bodies, placing them in sequential order so that when a circle with slots for the fish is started, all the fish end up in their designated slots. Rating: 2
E. Switch puzzle. Switch four animal prints that each one matches up with the appropriate animal. Rating: 1
F. Connection puzzle. Move tokens on a grid so that all the lines within the tokens connect with each other.
G. Obstacle map puzzle. Move a golf ball from its start to a flagged hole, all while removing obstacles within its path. 2X Rating: 2
H. Matching puzzle. Enter a code based upon runes to open a safe. Rating: 1
I recommend this game!