sunnyglow's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:80,084
- Reviews Submitted:830
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 23, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Stop the dark witches before they regain their power!
Overall rating
1
/
5
111 of 187 found this review helpful
DREADFUL!
PostedJuly 30, 2016
sunnyglow
fromMy own witch chant: “Boil, Boil, Not Worth the Toil norTrouble.” I would rather kiss a toad than play this game! Looking for the “Remove Cutesy Helpers Spell ” in my own grimoire.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
OVERVIEW: To me, this the worst demo I have played this year. This series should have ended two games ago and now, it is apparent, that the developer is grasping at straws for ideas to keep this series alive. The game script is absolutely ludicrous, rambling in all directions. The game begins with Isabela being kidnapped by the black witches. To save his budding witch (still in school at the University of Witchcraft), her beau, Jack, is off to the rescue. The story becomes even more bizarre and confusing as more themes are added (probably because the developer or scriptwriter has run out of ideas on how to evolve this series), resulting in a ragged quilt of random ideas aimlessly sewn together. The “acting” is amateurish and “voice overs” are poorly done, especially for Jack.
Surprisingly, I found this game to lack the quality of other games from this developer. The graphics are blurry and are not nearly as beautiful as in the previous games. The HOP scenes and puzzles are poorly constructed. It is difficult to ascertain what constitutes puzzles and what constitutes HOP scenes. Many of the puzzles are storybook in nature and seem more like a HOP scene. All the puzzles are boringly easy. In the demo, the HOP scenes are principally lists of items to locate and some of the scenes are used twice.
HELP ME BERTHA (get me out of this game!)! And, yes, there is another dreadful "cutesy" helper in this game - a dancing, prancing ferret, which slows down the pace of an already snail-paced game. The ever “cuter than a bug” helper, Bertha, is a witch transformed into a ferret which needs to be dressed, is used excessively and performs annoying little routines. One of these “cutesy” routines requires you to dress Miss Ferret in a wintry outfit so she may whirl and twirl, skating on a cake stand to retrieve an item. With no end to her talents, our little clown “hams it up” by performing a magic trick, plays the drum for you as well and dances while being invisible. The most ridiculous moment for this game is when she shaves an ice giant. Your little friend sits at the side of the inventory bar and grunts and groans throughout the game. To me - beyond annoying!
Extras include an option of a poorly constructed boring matching game in lieu of the HOP scenes. You collect 34 puzzle pieces to construct a puzzle at the end of the game, and 34 morphing objects. I could not wait for the demo to end. Yes – it is that boring – at least to me!
My suggestion, as always, is to try it yourself. If you adore cookie cutter games lacking imagination and creativity with nondescript HOP scenes and boringly easy puzzles, this is your game! If I were to recommend this game for anyone, it would be for grade school children, and even then, I don’t think most children of that age would like it either.
FINAL NOTE: Elefun produces wonderful games – however, TO ME, this is NOT one of them. This series should be put to rest along with the “cutesy” helpers in these games. From a demonic imp to a reconstituted dog, and now a ferret, it seems this developer has not gotten the hint that it is not the choice of the helper in the game –it is the excessive use of the helpers in their games!
LEVELS: Casual, Normal, Hard, Custom
Hints 10 to 35 seconds Skips 10 to 50 seconds
Hints 10 to 35 seconds Skips 10 to 50 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the start of the game
12 Achievements
Collect 36 puzzle pieces for four jigsaw puzzles played at the end of the game
Collect 34 Morphing objects:
Strategy guide
9 Wallpapers, 3 Screensavers, 2 Soundtracks, and an Art Gallery
Map is given to you at the start of the game
12 Achievements
Collect 36 puzzle pieces for four jigsaw puzzles played at the end of the game
Collect 34 Morphing objects:
Strategy guide
9 Wallpapers, 3 Screensavers, 2 Soundtracks, and an Art Gallery
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a thematic matching game instead
A. List of items to locate. Very primitive and old-school. As you locate items, you receive pieces to open up a sliding tiles mini-game to create a picture.
B. Mini-HOP scenes. Locate 6 bells to douse lights on red-eyed candles. You also get to hear a “bell” ring every time a candle is extinguished. Sorry - no angel nor witch gets their "wings."
C. Multiple Step: (1) List of items which is a “piece of pie” once you expose it by cutting a “berry” yummy strudel to expose the list. (2) Place some “cutesy” jackalopes (via Texas) onto a cake cover to get an item for the inventory
D. Multiple step. (1) List of items to locate. As you locate items, you receive pieces of a crystal. Once complete use the crystal to find 6 ice crystals to melt frozen Lilliputians. (2) Locate 8 bars of soap to create suds.
E. Multiple-step. (1) Storybook sequence with items listed in colored letters (2) Locate 6 cherries. (3) List of items to locate. Reused HOP scene.
A. List of items to locate. Very primitive and old-school. As you locate items, you receive pieces to open up a sliding tiles mini-game to create a picture.
B. Mini-HOP scenes. Locate 6 bells to douse lights on red-eyed candles. You also get to hear a “bell” ring every time a candle is extinguished. Sorry - no angel nor witch gets their "wings."
C. Multiple Step: (1) List of items which is a “piece of pie” once you expose it by cutting a “berry” yummy strudel to expose the list. (2) Place some “cutesy” jackalopes (via Texas) onto a cake cover to get an item for the inventory
D. Multiple step. (1) List of items to locate. As you locate items, you receive pieces of a crystal. Once complete use the crystal to find 6 ice crystals to melt frozen Lilliputians. (2) Locate 8 bars of soap to create suds.
E. Multiple-step. (1) Storybook sequence with items listed in colored letters (2) Locate 6 cherries. (3) List of items to locate. Reused HOP scene.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Storybook puzzle. Replace items back into the proper places in a scene. You will learn more history about the “witches.” Rating: 1
B. Assembly puzzle. Create a picture by placing mushrooms into the correct position. Learn more about the Witch clans. 3X Rating: 1
C. Switch puzzle. Switch tile pieces to create a puzzle. Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Recreate the face of the villain. Rating: 2
E. Matching puzzle. Match and connect colored lights in a sequential string by alternating the colors. 2X Rating: 2
A. Storybook puzzle. Replace items back into the proper places in a scene. You will learn more history about the “witches.” Rating: 1
B. Assembly puzzle. Create a picture by placing mushrooms into the correct position. Learn more about the Witch clans. 3X Rating: 1
C. Switch puzzle. Switch tile pieces to create a puzzle. Rating: 1
D. Assembly puzzle. Recreate the face of the villain. Rating: 2
E. Matching puzzle. Match and connect colored lights in a sequential string by alternating the colors. 2X Rating: 2
I don't recommend this game.
Mysterious creatures are terrorizing the train!
Overall rating
5
/
5
212 of 372 found this review helpful
ALL ABOARD FOR LUXURY 5-STAR TRAIN EXCURSION
PostedJuly 28, 2016
sunnyglow
fromSome vacation! With a child arsonist, a barking dog, cramped quarters, rowdy fellow travelers, added to having to be a handyman to keep this “luxury” train running– next time I book a flight!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
5 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER - REVIEW BASED ON THE DEMO
OVERVIEW: All aboard Detective! Get your train pass ready and get on board for an outstanding 5-star game excursion where your traveling companions are some dark hooded monsters. As you amble through the train you see them lurking about a train destroying all in their path and kidnapping a girl for her pyrokinetic abilities. I feel the game is significantly better than the others in the series.
This is an action-packed game with phenomenal graphics, decent HOP scenes and exciting puzzles. The HOP scenes and puzzles are very creative and well-done. There are more puzzles than HOP scenes. There are also quite a few extras as well including 21 achievements. You also collect 12 magnets, 27 morphing objects, and 32 jigsaw puzzle pieces (probably to play a jigsaw puzzle at the end of the game). You get the map at the beginning of the game and there is a strategy guide, 8 wallpapers, 8 concept art scenes, music and a secret room.
Elf (dressed in his own summery Hawaiian shirt) is back; however, he has been removed from his “top dog” status on the sidebar of the inventory and been demoted to the “baggage” section. He has been placed in the inventory itself, so he is less annoying. It appears he is also used less in this game (only 3 times) – at least from the demo. He performs his actions quickly as well.
ARE YOU A HANDYMAN? Most of the puzzles and actions in the demo require some handyman skills. You will be “screwing around” and sawing your way through this game with a host of tools, (saws – electrical and manual, screwdrivers – real and innovated, lug wrenches, nail pullers and wire clippers). You will also correctly learn that electrical tape, NOT duct tape is the proper tape to splice a wire – although you should probably turn off the electricity first!
PUZZLES: I LOVE the puzzles in this game. There is another “helper” in the game – an electronic lock opener. You will use this to open any lock. Upon using the device, you will activate a Match-3 game with designations of “Casual” and “Hard” settings. The only difference in the settings (from the beta) is the amount of items which you must locate. Very cleverly designed.
There is also a SUPER PUZZLE! The Rube Goldberg puzzle in this game has five different puzzles, one of which is difficult. There is a very easy matching puzzle, an easy switch puzzle, a logic puzzle, and two sliding rings puzzles – one of which is difficult! All can be individually skipped as well.
Other puzzles include a maze puzzle which requires you to create a path without retracing your steps, a type of assembly puzzle in which you move two dials to recreate a pictured train, a type of gear puzzle in which you must match up symbols on intersecting gears, and a difficult logic puzzle in which has you move 3 to 4 spaces at a time to light up only three symbols on the lock. If you use logic it is not too difficult.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are also well constructed. There are two silhouette scenes and one list of items. However, the silhouette scenes require you to locate two of the same item before the silhouette is removed.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Detective (Custom)
Hints and Skip times not given
Hints and Skip times not given
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. Silhouette scene. Locate two of the items to remove each silhouette.
B. List of items. In this case food. Hope you don’t get hungry in your search! A lot of food in that fridge!
C. Silhouette scene. Locate items relating to horses. Locate two of the items to remove each silhouette.
A. Silhouette scene. Locate two of the items to remove each silhouette.
B. List of items. In this case food. Hope you don’t get hungry in your search! A lot of food in that fridge!
C. Silhouette scene. Locate items relating to horses. Locate two of the items to remove each silhouette.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. REPEATED PUZZLE THROUGHOUT GAME. Match-3 puzzle. Choice between “Casual” and “Hard.” Use a device to open locks and devices activating this puzzle. You collect a specific amount of different items in the puzzle. Rating: Casual - 2 Hard: 3 (The Hard version has more items to collect and is a tad more difficult to maneuver)
B. Maze puzzle. Move a star in a 36 block square so that the star goes through every square without repeating any square. Rating: 2
C. Assembly puzzle. (1) Sync two dials on a clock to match up a symbol color and image. (There are 4 symbols to create) (2) Look at the arrows at the bottom and top of the screen and click a button until the image matches up with the combined image the arrows are pointing to. Rating: 2
D. Lock code logic puzzle. Move a dial so that you light only three symbols on a round dial. The spaces which your cursor will move are 3 and 4 clockwise. No other symbols must be lit up – only the three given. A little difficult. Rating: 3 to 4
E. Gear puzzle. Move five gears to that the symbols on each one match up where they intersect. Rating: 2
F. Rube Goldberg puzzle. (Super puzzle). YOU CAN SKIP EACH PUZZLE
(1) Matching puzzle. Match up like items Rating: 1
(2) Pipe/Sliding rings puzzle. Slide five rings into position to connect train tracks for a train. Rating: 1
(3) Rotating rings puzzle. Arrange three rings within a triangle so that the trains match three triangles and also those along the sides of the pyramid. Rather difficult. Rating: 4
(4) Switch puzzle. Switch tiles along a circle to create a design. Rating: 2
(5) Logic puzzle. Within two disks, rotate the disks to identify which type of train matches up with each color. Then, looking at the side of the screen, swap the trains to place them with their correct color. Rating: 2
B. Maze puzzle. Move a star in a 36 block square so that the star goes through every square without repeating any square. Rating: 2
C. Assembly puzzle. (1) Sync two dials on a clock to match up a symbol color and image. (There are 4 symbols to create) (2) Look at the arrows at the bottom and top of the screen and click a button until the image matches up with the combined image the arrows are pointing to. Rating: 2
D. Lock code logic puzzle. Move a dial so that you light only three symbols on a round dial. The spaces which your cursor will move are 3 and 4 clockwise. No other symbols must be lit up – only the three given. A little difficult. Rating: 3 to 4
E. Gear puzzle. Move five gears to that the symbols on each one match up where they intersect. Rating: 2
F. Rube Goldberg puzzle. (Super puzzle). YOU CAN SKIP EACH PUZZLE
(1) Matching puzzle. Match up like items Rating: 1
(2) Pipe/Sliding rings puzzle. Slide five rings into position to connect train tracks for a train. Rating: 1
(3) Rotating rings puzzle. Arrange three rings within a triangle so that the trains match three triangles and also those along the sides of the pyramid. Rather difficult. Rating: 4
(4) Switch puzzle. Switch tiles along a circle to create a design. Rating: 2
(5) Logic puzzle. Within two disks, rotate the disks to identify which type of train matches up with each color. Then, looking at the side of the screen, swap the trains to place them with their correct color. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Uncover the secrets buried under Karkhala Peak.
Overall rating
5
/
5
258 of 388 found this review helpful
CRASH LAND INTO A 5-STAR PLUS ACTION PACKED ADVENTURE! PURE SHANGRI-LA!
PostedJuly 23, 2016
sunnyglow
fromI feel as if I have crash landed into Shangri-La with this game. I will be spending my weekend fighting Asmodai while enjoying the TIbetan scenery.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
6 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER – REVIEW BASED ON THE DEMO PLUS PART OF CHAPTER 3
OVERVIEW: Pack your parachute and fuel up your plane and get ready for an action packed adventure in the third and final episode of the “Enigmatis” series. To me this is a LONG 5-star plus game which is more of an adventure game than a HOP game. Set in a monastery in the Himalayas of Tibet, this game is just pure pleasure to play - developed by one of the best game designers in the business. I have been awaiting the release of this game for months!
After a two-year hiatus, the game picks up where the last one left off, with you and your partner Rick looking for the Preacher, the remaining Reaper. The game has a thrill-a-minute pace. The HOP scenes are very creatively designed. The puzzles are easy and vary in style. There are three collectibles - 15 feathers, 8 flowers called Widow’s Sorrows, and 21 morphing objects. There are 37 achievements as well. You will collect evidence throughout the game which will be displayed on an evidence board kept in your cell phone. .
This game demonstrates excellence in creative game design with hand-drawn scenes. As you play the game, you hear in the background the sounds of Tibetan shamanic meditative music.
STORY: The gaming script is excellent, continuing the tale of the fight between good versus evil. In this final chapter, there is only one Reaper remaining, the Preacher. This final episode of the series finds the demon Asmodai trying to resurrect himself in the body of the Preacher. You must locate something called the “Wrath of God” which is the only way to stop the transference of the demon, Asmodai from occurring.
HOP SCENES: The two HOP scenes in the demo are lists of items. One of them is a list of items which is interactive. The other one involves a stained glass window and is very creative in design. You look for items which are cleverly integrated into a stain glass window. This developer uses stained glass windows to reflect the element of “light” to contrast the “dark” nature of the game. AFTER THE DEMO: The HOP scenes I played were a list of items and a silhouette scene.
PUZZLES: There are more puzzles than HOP scenes and all are easy; however they are unique and very creative. There is a maze puzzle which gives some background on the story of the Reapers. One of my favorite puzzles in this game was a multiple-step one in which you use a compass to triangulate the position of three points on a map to locate the Preacher. Other puzzles include a matching puzzle in which you match up symbols in a picture, a manual dexterity puzzle which has you using your mouse to balance yourself on a tree perched between two rather tall mountains, and a sequence puzzle involving books. AFTER THE DEMO: The puzzles I played included a logic puzzle to create medicine and a pipe puzzle. Both were easy.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom
Skips and Hints for Mini-Games 10 to 120 seconds Hints for HOPS: 5 to 240 seconds
Skips and Hints for Mini-Games 10 to 120 seconds Hints for HOPS: 5 to 240 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
37 Achievements (from what I could count)
Collect 8 Widow’s Sorrow – a flower
Collect 15 feathers
Collect 21 morphing objects
Replay of HOP scenes and mini-games
Strategy guide - 72 pages
14 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Cutscenes
Map is provided as you play the game
37 Achievements (from what I could count)
Collect 8 Widow’s Sorrow – a flower
Collect 15 feathers
Collect 21 morphing objects
Replay of HOP scenes and mini-games
Strategy guide - 72 pages
14 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Cutscenes
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. List of items. This is a very creative HOP scene using a stained glass windows to locate the items which are well hidden within other objects within the window. So beautiful and so creative.
B. List of items to locate. Interactive and puzzle-like.
AFTER THE DEMO:
C. List of items to locate which are thematic and include creating a sand mandala
D. Silhouette puzzle to locate herbs and flowers. Well done
B. List of items to locate. Interactive and puzzle-like.
AFTER THE DEMO:
C. List of items to locate which are thematic and include creating a sand mandala
D. Silhouette puzzle to locate herbs and flowers. Well done
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Logic problem. Move rungs of a telephone poll so that you may climb up the pole. Rating: 2
B. Maze puzzle. Move Asmodai’s dagger on a path in which you must make contact with every circular hub in the maze. Learn more about the demon Asmodai and his followers. Rating: 2
C. Inventory puzzle. Sliding rings. Slide four rings into position to create a picture on an inventory item. Rating: 1
D. Matching puzzle. Used throughout the game to analyze evidence which has been collected.
E. Map puzzle. Locate three symbols on a map using a magnifying glass on a compass. Triangulate the 3 locations to learn your location. Rating: 2
F. Manual dexterity puzzle. Cross a deep chasm between mountains using a fallen tree as a bridge and a ski pole for balance. You will move your mouse left and right to keep your balance. Very creative puzzle. Hope you are not afraid of heights! Rating: 2
G. Multiple Step. (1) Matching puzzle. Reposition books in a line according to a picture. With an adorable baby blocking the books in the picture, this one is not as easy as it seems! Rating: 3 (2) Sequence puzzle. Push symbols on the books in correct order. You will start over if you slip up. Rating: 2
H. Matching: Match up symbols between two books. Rating: 2
AFTER THE DEMO:
I. Logic puzzle. Interact with the scene to locate items you need to formulate medicine for a wound Rating: 2
J. Pipe puzzle. Connect pipes so that like colored ends meet. Rating: 2
B. Maze puzzle. Move Asmodai’s dagger on a path in which you must make contact with every circular hub in the maze. Learn more about the demon Asmodai and his followers. Rating: 2
C. Inventory puzzle. Sliding rings. Slide four rings into position to create a picture on an inventory item. Rating: 1
D. Matching puzzle. Used throughout the game to analyze evidence which has been collected.
E. Map puzzle. Locate three symbols on a map using a magnifying glass on a compass. Triangulate the 3 locations to learn your location. Rating: 2
F. Manual dexterity puzzle. Cross a deep chasm between mountains using a fallen tree as a bridge and a ski pole for balance. You will move your mouse left and right to keep your balance. Very creative puzzle. Hope you are not afraid of heights! Rating: 2
G. Multiple Step. (1) Matching puzzle. Reposition books in a line according to a picture. With an adorable baby blocking the books in the picture, this one is not as easy as it seems! Rating: 3 (2) Sequence puzzle. Push symbols on the books in correct order. You will start over if you slip up. Rating: 2
H. Matching: Match up symbols between two books. Rating: 2
AFTER THE DEMO:
I. Logic puzzle. Interact with the scene to locate items you need to formulate medicine for a wound Rating: 2
J. Pipe puzzle. Connect pipes so that like colored ends meet. Rating: 2
I recommend this game!
Can you save the Metzengerstein line before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
197 of 314 found this review helpful
DUPIN RETURNS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE “FAMILY FEUD”
PostedJuly 21, 2016
sunnyglow
fromBerlifitzing and Metzengerstein? What ever happened to Smith and Jones? One of your “achievements” in this game is to spell these names without looking! You also get a gold star if you can pronounce these names!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON THE DEMO:
OVERVIEW: Follow me – as we return to 1847 Hungary in a dark mystery game with a ghostly masked figure, a family curse, and a tragic love story. Dupin is back in a game based on Poe’s first short story. As the assistant to Dupin, find yourself embroiled in a feud between two families and a love story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. I find this a decent 5 star game. The story is engaging; the pace is decent; and the graphics are dark and brooding providing an excellent background for a macabre Poe story. There are only four HOP scenes in the demo, two of which are storybook to provide some background on the story. The puzzles are varied and some contain a “casual” and “hard” setting. Your “helper” in this game is a camera to take pictures every time you see a purple fog in the scene. The pictures provide information you need in playing the game. You collect 15 cards relating to the Poe stories. You can replay both the HOP scenes and the mini-games and there are 18 achievements.
STORY: Will the feud between the Berlifitzing and the Metzengerstein families ever end? Someone has attacked Frederica and the Metzengerstein family has asked Dupin to investigate. When a masked stranger kidnaps Frederica, you are off to find her. A budding romance between Frederica and the son of the rival family, Wilhelm, has ended in tragedy when Wilhelm is killed, burned in a fire. Was her father responsible for his death, not wishing her to marry due to a bitter feud and the Berlifitzing family curse? And who is the masked stranger lurking in the shadows?
HOP SCENES: In the demo, the HOP scenes consist of two storybook scenes, a list of items to locate and a mini-HOP scene.
PUZZLES: Returning are the “hard” and “casual” versions of SOME of the puzzles. There are a couple of manual dexterity puzzles. One of these is a tracing puzzle and the other is one in which you ride a horse while avoiding obstacles in the road. Other puzzles include a switch puzzle to recreate a picture of a “Poe raven.” The “hard” setting I found a little difficult in this puzzle. The other puzzles include a very easy sequence puzzle and a sequence of two moving tiles puzzles involving skulls. There are some puzzles in the inventory as well including an assembly puzzle to create a bucket.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
You get a camera to take pictures. Take pictures every time you see the fog. You receive a picture which will help you in the game.
18 Achievements
Collect 15 cards
Strategy guide
Replay 16 Mini-games and 21 HOP scenes
10 Wallpapers, 5 Screensavers, 7 Concept Art, Music and Movies
Map is provided as you play the game
You get a camera to take pictures. Take pictures every time you see the fog. You receive a picture which will help you in the game.
18 Achievements
Collect 15 cards
Strategy guide
Replay 16 Mini-games and 21 HOP scenes
10 Wallpapers, 5 Screensavers, 7 Concept Art, Music and Movies
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. Storybook sequence. Locate items listed in colored letters.
B. Storybook sequence. Locate items listed in colored letters. Return to the same scene to continue the story
C. List of items to locate
D. Locate 12 nails.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
B. Storybook sequence. Locate items listed in colored letters. Return to the same scene to continue the story
C. List of items to locate
D. Locate 12 nails.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Inventory puzzle: Assembly puzzle: Assemble a lighter from inventory items.
B. Manual dexterity puzzle. Trace two symbols. Rating: 2
C. Switch puzzle. Choice between Casual and Hard settings. Switch tiles to recreate a picture of a raven. Rating: Casual 3 Hard 4
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Move letters on a purse to the correct position based on a diagram. Rating: 1
E. Inventory puzzle. Sliding tiles. Slide 3 rings to recreate a picture. Rating: 1
F. Inventory puzzle. Open a lock. Press numbers to open a lock according to a code Rating: 1
G. Matching pairs. Match up pipes to remove them. Rating: 1
H. Sequence puzzle. Move horseshoes in the proper order to open a lock to a gate. Rating: 1
I. Manual dexterity puzzle. Guide a horse down the road by avoiding obstacles in its path. Rating: 2
J. Inventory puzzle: Assembly puzzle. Assemble a bucket. Rating: 1
K. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide skulls into the proper slots by color. 2X Increases in difficult. Rating: first puzzle – 2; second puzzle - 3
L. Inventory puzzle. Switch puzzle. According to a diagram, switch stars into the correct position
B. Manual dexterity puzzle. Trace two symbols. Rating: 2
C. Switch puzzle. Choice between Casual and Hard settings. Switch tiles to recreate a picture of a raven. Rating: Casual 3 Hard 4
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Move letters on a purse to the correct position based on a diagram. Rating: 1
E. Inventory puzzle. Sliding tiles. Slide 3 rings to recreate a picture. Rating: 1
F. Inventory puzzle. Open a lock. Press numbers to open a lock according to a code Rating: 1
G. Matching pairs. Match up pipes to remove them. Rating: 1
H. Sequence puzzle. Move horseshoes in the proper order to open a lock to a gate. Rating: 1
I. Manual dexterity puzzle. Guide a horse down the road by avoiding obstacles in its path. Rating: 2
J. Inventory puzzle: Assembly puzzle. Assemble a bucket. Rating: 1
K. Moving tiles puzzle. Slide skulls into the proper slots by color. 2X Increases in difficult. Rating: first puzzle – 2; second puzzle - 3
L. Inventory puzzle. Switch puzzle. According to a diagram, switch stars into the correct position
I recommend this game!
A young woman joins the Order of monster hunters and discovers its dark secrets.
Overall rating
5
/
5
207 of 302 found this review helpful
ONE OF THE BEST GAMES THIS YEAR! A FIVE-STAR PLUS ADVENTURE INTO CREATIVITY
PostedJuly 16, 2016
sunnyglow
fromOur heroine Sylvia expresses my thoughts exactly: ““Never thought hunting demons would require me to play ‘little princess.’ “
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE ENTIRE GAME - 6 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER
OVERVIEW: First, I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Artifex Mundi for giving me the opportunity to play this FIVE STAR PLUS OUTSTANDING game gratis. This is my favorite developer and this game, as their others, does not disappoint! This is another topnotch game from an outstanding developer! This is an amalgamation of an adventure game combined with a HOP gaming format. It is creative, innovative and illustrates excellence in gaming! The pace is excellent with a variety of activities within each scene, including some puzzle-like activities to figure what action you need to perform to move to the next scene.
STORY: The Order is back, with an acolyte of Master Solomon, Sylvia, leading the fight against a new monster, the Koshmaar. For centuries this dark force has been imprisoned within a crystal called the Incarceri Stone hidden deep within the vaults of the Order headquarters. However, someone, wishing to access the great power of this crystal, has stolen it, risking the release of this evil entity. It will be up to you, as Sylvia, along with your mentor, to retrieve this stolen artifact. When a magical rift appears over the town of Lichenteim, you are able to discover its location. Traveling to Lichenteim, you will be in for the fight of your life to stop the Koshmaar, a parasite which feeds off the negative emotions of its hosts, turning them into zombie-like creatures called Maskwraiths. Further investigation reveals that the evil is preying on an overly ambitious mother, her daughter, Camilla, a disgraced member of the Order - Gabriel, Camilla’s maid and a wealthy suitor vying for Camila.
GRAPHICS: The graphics emphasize the game’s theme of “dark” powers fighting those of the “light.” The graphics use realistic imaging with dark tones throughout to provide a sinister environment. I felt the addition of the stained glass window puzzles was a nice contrast providing some “light” to the otherwise dark ambiance of this game. This contrast is evident with the characters themselves. Our heroine is portrayed as a strong warrior demon hunter. Her presence is contrasted with that of Camilla, the “pretty princess” in this game. The voice overs are excellent as well.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom
General hints and skips: 10 to 120 seconds. Hints for HOP scenes: 2 to 240 seconds. There is a penalty for random clicking.
General hints and skips: 10 to 120 seconds. Hints for HOP scenes: 2 to 240 seconds. There is a penalty for random clicking.
MINI-GAMES: There are 27 puzzles in the game, which almost twice the amount of HOP scenes. They are very creative and innovative. This game is more of an adventure game than a standard HOP game. Much of the game requires some strategy skills in figuring out what actions you need to perform in order to proceed. One of the best examples of this is a “booby trap” sequence in which you need to formulate the steps to take and what inventory you will need to get through the series of booby traps in a cathedral.
As for the standard mini-games found in most standard HOP games, I found the puzzles varied in difficulty and variety. They include matching puzzles, assembly puzzles, sequence puzzles, sliding tiles puzzles, lock pick puzzle, and mathematical puzzles.
INTERACTIVE 3-DIMENSIONAL PUZZLES WITH OBJECT MANIPULATION: This is a NEW CONCEPT for HOP games. As in many of today’s adventure games, there are interactive puzzles with objects in this game. This is not found in most standard HOP games. There are three instances of this within the game. One of these involves a camera in which you must locate and remove a negative within the camera. You must interact with the camera rotating it in a 3-dimensional format by locating and pushing buttons on the camera to open up various parts of the camera. You must then locate items from the camera, placing them back onto the camera in the proper location. You will interact until you finish getting the photographic negative. This same 3-dimensional activity is performed throughout the game with a skull with phrenology symbols and a phonograph, which requires twisting and turning and manipulating items in order to get it to work. (Actually, the phonograph puzzle is similar to one I just played in another adventure game, “The Alphabet Murders”).
REPETITIVE MINI-GAME TO FIGHT EVIL: Throughout the game, each time you encounter an instance in which you must remove the parasitic Maskwraith from a victim, you must play two puzzles. The first puzzle is a “spot the difference” puzzle in which you must locate the token in a set of red tokens which differs symbolically from the symbols in a set of blue tokens. The second puzzle is a storybook one using stained glass windows to tell the story of the victim reflected in their memories. So creative and innovative! There is a variety of puzzles used in the storybook sequences. They include jigsaw puzzles, sliding tiles puzzles, and moving panes of glass into the proper location.
HOP SCENES: There 14 HOP scenes in the game. These are probably the weakest part of the game. Most of the HOP scenes are lists of items (usually a number of one particular item to be located). There are also a few FROG scenes as well to create inventory items. I felt the Bonus Game had more creative HOP scenes. The format for the HOP scenes in the bonus games is different from the rest of the game.
EXTRAS:
Map is given to you at the start of the game
28 Achievements
Collect 30 Skeleton-like dolls
Replay of 12 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
Strategy guide – 52 pages
6 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art, Soundtrack, and Cut scenes.
Map is given to you at the start of the game
28 Achievements
Collect 30 Skeleton-like dolls
Replay of 12 HOP scenes and 18 mini-games
Strategy guide – 52 pages
6 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art, Soundtrack, and Cut scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: Play Gabriel, Sylvia’s brother, trying to escape the prison of the Incarceri Crystal. You must once again fight the Koshmaar which again has been let loose. You will locate the source of the Koshmarr’s power plus face a difficult heart wrenching decision.
There are four puzzles with a storybook sequence and five HOP scenes. I feel that the HOP scenes are better constructed than those in the main game with more variety including silhouette and a little more variety on the lists of items to locate. The puzzles are excellent as well. I particularly enjoyed a mathematical puzzle and a puzzle using mirrors to direct beams to destroy enemies. You will face a difficult choice in this final chapter.
I recommend this game!
Return to Blake's Mountain to save an innocent family!
Overall rating
2
/
5
87 of 146 found this review helpful
IT DIDN´T TAKE A SCARECROW TO SCARE ME OFF FROM PLAYING THIS DREADFUL GAME
PostedJuly 14, 2016
sunnyglow
fromI am off to follow the yellow brick road to Oz hoping to escape the Scarecrow , a creepy white-eyed “helper,” and this game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON THE DEMO:
OVERVIEW: As a detective with the League of Light, you are off to Blake Mountain, where some evil force is turning people into scarecrows for nefarious purposes. Hank Hunter has asked for your help as someone is following his family. To me, this is a poorly constructed 2-star game. It will appeal to some; however, this is one of the most boring demos I have ever played. It is the perfect storm of elements I dislike in HOP games. Personally, I find the graphics blurry; the pace is very slow due to the constant back-and-forth motion in the game combined with the antics of the “cutesy helper. I also find the story bizarre; the characters poorly drawn, and the puzzles boringly easy. However, on the plus side, I do feel the HOP scenes are somewhat creative and innovative. The collectibles are six figurines of the game characters, pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and owls which practically jump out at you. You also have the choice of gender for your character in the game. I could not wait for the demo to end. I was completely shocked that this game earned an Editor’s Choice Award. Even without the annoying helper, at best I found it to be a mediocre game.
AND YET ANOTHER ANNOYING HELPER: Breathing a sigh of relief that the days of the “cutesy” nonessential helpers in games were over on this site has proved premature. Yes, we have the return of the “cutesy” helper in this game. He is Hank’s son, Tom, who has been turned into a creepy white-eyed scarecrow. He is used five (5) times in the demo alone. Before he is used to perform some “cutesy” antics to retrieve an inventory item, you will need to have him interact with items in the inventory. In one case you must tie him to rope; in another you must give him milk, and in one you must give him a potion. Too much time is wasted in preparing him to perform his time-consuming activities. Frankly, the helper spoiled what I would call a mediocre average HOP game for me. In my humble opinion, I feel the game would be better WITHOUT this annoyance.
LEVELS: Casual, Experienced, Masterful, and Custom
Hints and Skips: 1 to 90 seconds
Hints and Skips: 1 to 90 seconds
You have the choice between a male or female character in the game. The voice for the female character is Lani Minella of Nancy Drew fame.
STORY: You play a detective called into a case from a man named Hank Hunter whose family is being observed and followed. You are sent from the League of Light; however, there seems to be an imposter who is impersonating a detective from the same agency. Based on a local legend, it seems that the superstitious townsfolk believe a “scarecrow” (who years ago kidnapped children) has returned. But has he really returned? A man or perhaps a living scarecrow is on the loose turning people into scarecrows, including Hank and his son. Now being a white-eyed scarecrow, Hank’s son will help you throughout the game to defeat whatever evil is behind the scarecrow figure. Seemingly there is a master plan behind all of the kidnappings. You will come across all types of fantasy characters, including a giant. What evil is occurring in this town and who is behind all of this?
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes in my opinion are the best part of the game. They are varied in the demo and include cryptic clues, a list of items to locate, matching, and a mini-HOP scene with one particular item to locate.
PUZZLES: All the puzzles are easy. There was only one puzzle in the demo which I found somewhat enjoyable – a maze puzzle in which you must lead your character and the annoying helper through a maze while avoiding guards. If a guard notices one of the characters, you must restart the puzzle. Other puzzles include a sequence puzzle, a manual dexterity puzzle, a logic problem (which we have seen many times before), two storybook puzzles, and a matching puzzle.
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
9 Achievements – some have 3 segments
Collect 6 Figurines of the characters for the game
Collect 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces
Collect 24 owls
Strategy guide
18 Wallpapers, 36 Concept Art, Music
Map is provided as you play the game
9 Achievements – some have 3 segments
Collect 6 Figurines of the characters for the game
Collect 20 jigsaw puzzle pieces
Collect 24 owls
Strategy guide
18 Wallpapers, 36 Concept Art, Music
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. Cryptic clues. Sentences are used to describe the items to be located on a wall in a prison. Very nicely done. Very creative.
B. Mini-HOP scene. Locate pieces to create a fishing rod.
C. List of items to locate
D. Collect 12 coins. Interactive with some items difficult to see.
E. Replacement. Match up labels with their proper bottles.
B. Mini-HOP scene. Locate pieces to create a fishing rod.
C. List of items to locate
D. Collect 12 coins. Interactive with some items difficult to see.
E. Replacement. Match up labels with their proper bottles.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Sequence puzzle. Remove slats from a lattice in a proper sequence to open up a storage area. Rating: 2
B. Manual Dexterity puzzle. Using a rope with a hook at the end, try to snag an inventory item by using a bar with a floating cursor you must center on the bar. Rating: 2
C. Logic puzzle. Place 6 different items into a 6x6 grid with 36 squares so that no two of the same item is in the same row or column. Rating 2/3 depending if you have seen a variation of this puzzle before.
D. Storybook. Locate and place items back into their proper locations to narrate a story. 3 X Rating: 1
E. Another storybook sequence. Identical to D. Rating 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up coins. Rating 1
G. Maze puzzle. Move you and your zombie-like helper through a maze while avoiding the bandits. . Rating: 2
B. Manual Dexterity puzzle. Using a rope with a hook at the end, try to snag an inventory item by using a bar with a floating cursor you must center on the bar. Rating: 2
C. Logic puzzle. Place 6 different items into a 6x6 grid with 36 squares so that no two of the same item is in the same row or column. Rating 2/3 depending if you have seen a variation of this puzzle before.
D. Storybook. Locate and place items back into their proper locations to narrate a story. 3 X Rating: 1
E. Another storybook sequence. Identical to D. Rating 1
F. Matching puzzle. Match up coins. Rating 1
G. Maze puzzle. Move you and your zombie-like helper through a maze while avoiding the bandits. . Rating: 2
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
57 of 87 found this review helpful
TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME IN THE BIG APPLE
PostedJuly 12, 2016
sunnyglow
from“Ganging” up on two of my favorite activities (playing detective and solving nonograms) in one great game. Solving crime one square at a time!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As an outstanding detective, venture off to New York to help the New York City police department solve some crimes involving street gangs. A gang war has erupted and you are helping them solve a series of) crimes by playing a series of nonogram puzzles per crime. A BIG THANK YOU to BFG for providing these puzzles. This developer calls them mosaic puzzles. However, no matter whatever you call them, they are a fun variation of Sudoku.
This game involves a series of twelve (12) cases to solve with ten (10) puzzles per case. The grid size varies between 10 x 10 to 20 x 20 grids - if this game is like previous ones. Each puzzle reveals a picture answering a series of 10 questions concerning the case: (1) the crime scene, (2) the identification of the victim, (3) the victim’s age, (4) the victim’s gang, (5) the murder weapon, (6) the cause of death, (7) the killer, (8) the killer’s gang, (9) the killer’s role, and (10) the motive.
The puzzles in this game are a tad more difficult than those provided by some other developers. There are multiple-colored screens. I played one case and it had three colors. The colors are vivid and easy to see. However, I find the actual pictures created by solving the nonograms very nondescript. Most of the puzzles I solved had pictures which looked more like blobs than any actual item. I also dislike the feature of thumb tacks instead of X’s to fill in unused squares.
You have the choice between Normal (in which each number is crossed off one-by-one in each row and column) and Advanced (in which numbers are not crossed out until you complete a row or column).
You begin with the ability to amass six errors and as you proceed, depending on your time, you will receive more free passes. If you exceed the amount of errors allotted to you, you will need to restart the puzzle. As you play you are timed and receive hints based on your time.
There is autofill for squares not used. However, you have the ability to use the right side of the mouse to enter X’s to fill in unused square.
DETAIL SUMMARY:
HOW TO PLAY: This is variety of a Sudoku puzzle. In this puzzle, create pictures by filling in squares in a grid. The grids in this game will vary in number from 10 x 10 to 20 x 20 if this game is like the games in the past. Each side of the grid will have numbers for each line of squares indicating the amount of squares which are to be filled in for that line of squares. Squares are filled in where the squares intersect between the two sets of numbers on each side.
• Levels: Normal and Advanced. The Normal screen marks off the numbers individually while the Advanced screen marks off the numbers after a line is filled. The grids are the same for both levels. You will begin with a 10 x 10 screen.
• Colors: The game has three (3) colored screens which can be switched at any time while playing the puzzle.
• Autofill: There is autofill 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.
• Time: You are timed in solving the puzzles.
• Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on time spent solving the puzzle.
• Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 120 puzzles – 12 cases with 10 puzzles per case
• You begin with six allotted errors and if you exceed the number of errors, you must restart the game. You earn more error passes according to your time.
I recommend this game!
The head of the Maybard family has been murdered!
Overall rating
5
/
5
177 of 323 found this review helpful
AN AWARD WIINNING WHODUNIT! ONE OF THE BEST OF THE YEAR!
PostedJuly 9, 2016
sunnyglow
fromEnjoy a memorable Murder Mystery Weekend at the Maybard Mansion. You will enjoy a weekend full of good food and “spirits.” However, be careful of what you eat and drink! Too many “spirits” could be dangerous to your health!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
6 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER. BASED ON THE DEMO PLUS CHAPTER 3
OVERVIEW: Who killed Emmett Maybard? As a detective with the ability to see ghosts, you are off to solve a murder case. I LOVE this OUTSTANDING 5-STAR PLUS supernatural mystery. Be prepared! This is a LONG game as well. To me, this is one the best for Daily Magic and also on my list for one of the best games of the year. The game script is superb and very well-written. I am still trying to figure out who killed this man and I am accustomed to solving these fairly quickly. The graphics are a beautiful representation of the Victorian era with realistic looking characters. The HOP scenes and puzzles show a major improvement from previous games by this developer. You receive a monocle which you will use to test your psychic ability to ferret out clues in the case. You also collect morphing cards of the characters from the game and there are quite a few achievements. In this game you will be able to choose the gender of the detective. I used to hate this developer’s game; however, they are definitely “in it to win it” with this game. And the best thing about this game - there are also no “helpers” (animal, human or ghostly) to help in solving this mystery.
STORY: In trying to solve the murder of Emmett Maybard, you will be investigating a host of suspects (all of which would have ample motive) and use a series of investigative techniques to do so. It seems someone is poisoning members of the family. And, as in most murder mysteries, you can never trust your family and friends! As a detective with the ability to see ghosts, you will have an advantage other detectives do not have! It is apparent that the murderer is in the mansion and seems to want to get rid of you as well. As the will is read, it will become apparent that some may have had a financial stake in seeing the demise of Emmett. And as the old saying goes – follow the money – and this case will be no different!
HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scene. In the demo there are a couple of multiple-step ones which are creatively designed. One of them involves locating five of two items followed by a list of items. The other is a combination of locating and replacing items into four silhouettes which opens up a list of items to locate. We have seen this format before; however, to the credit of this developer, they have provided a few “twists” in presenting these HOP scenes. AFTER THE DEMO: The HOP scenes have exactly the same format as the demo.
PUZZLES: One of your tricks of the trade will be a monocle which you will use to investigate people and scenes looking for clues. Yes, it is a gimmick, however it fits well into the game. The puzzles range in difficulty from extremely easy to difficult. To me, this is a vast improvement in the puzzles from the developer, which in the past were all very easy. There are the usual array of puzzles including a couple of moving tiles puzzles, matching puzzles, gear puzzles, rotating rings puzzles, and an assembly puzzle. AFTER THE DEMO: After the demo I found two which are somewhat challenging. They are varied as well in design. They include a sliding tiles puzzle, a matching puzzle, an awesome lockpick puzzle which is slightly difficult and a moving tiles puzzle which is difficult.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
You have the choice to play a male or a female in the game.
Hints and Skips: 1 to 100 seconds
You have the choice to play a male or a female in the game.
Hints and Skips: 1 to 100 seconds
EXTRAS:
Map is provided as you play the game
Fingerprinting kit to collect fingerprints
Monocle which allows you to collect clues from the murder victims
26 Achievements
Collect 13 morphing cards of the game characters
Strategy guide - 61 pages
10 Concept Art, 6 Wallpapers, Music, Replay of Match-3 game
Map is provided as you play the game
Fingerprinting kit to collect fingerprints
Monocle which allows you to collect clues from the murder victims
26 Achievements
Collect 13 morphing cards of the game characters
Strategy guide - 61 pages
10 Concept Art, 6 Wallpapers, Music, Replay of Match-3 game
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a thematic Match-3 game instead
A. Silhouette. Search for items in a solarium to get an inventory item from a dog.
B. Matching. Match up bottles by pairs to remove them to get an inventory item.
C. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
D. Multiple step: Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.
AFTER THE Demo
E. Mini-HOP scene. Locate picture fragments.
F. Multiple-step. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
G. Mini-HOP scene. Another puzzle in which you locate picture fragments.
H. Multiple step. Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.
B. Matching. Match up bottles by pairs to remove them to get an inventory item.
C. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
D. Multiple step: Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.
AFTER THE Demo
E. Mini-HOP scene. Locate picture fragments.
F. Multiple-step. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
G. Mini-HOP scene. Another puzzle in which you locate picture fragments.
H. Multiple step. Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Throughout the game use a monocle to search for clues in the case. Rating: 2
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move diamond shaped tiles into position to recreate a family picture. There are arrows along the sides to move the tiles into proper position. Rating: 2
C. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and move tiles to recreate a family crest on a chest. There are four buttons involved in rotating the moving the tiles. Rating: 3
D. Matching puzzle. As you climb up a tree (1) Match up 3 pairs. (2) Then 4 pairs (3) Then 5 pairs. Rating: 1
E. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings so they align with silver clasps. Rating 1
F. Checkers puzzle. Jump checker pieces to remove them from a checkers board. Rating: 2
G. Matching puzzle. Move 4 sets of gear strings to match the positioning on a diagram. You will move an entire string of gears not just one by one. Rating: 2
H. Spot the difference. Looking through a lab window, find the differences between two scenes. Rating: 1
I. Assembly/moving puzzle. Place pictures from a family tree into correct position according to the shape of the picture. You will rotate the pictures in to position using 5 buttons to rotate the pictures. Rating: 3
J. Gears puzzle. Move gears into correct position to open a lock. Rating: 2
AFTER THE DEMO:
K. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles to recreate a picture. Rating: 3
L. Matching puzzle. Place portraits into correct position on a wall Rating: 1
M. Lockpick puzzle. Slide lockpicks and tumblers in correct order to open a door. Rating: 3
N. Sliding tiles puzzle. Press button along the outside of a picture to move four stones into positions. Rating: 4
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move diamond shaped tiles into position to recreate a family picture. There are arrows along the sides to move the tiles into proper position. Rating: 2
C. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and move tiles to recreate a family crest on a chest. There are four buttons involved in rotating the moving the tiles. Rating: 3
D. Matching puzzle. As you climb up a tree (1) Match up 3 pairs. (2) Then 4 pairs (3) Then 5 pairs. Rating: 1
E. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings so they align with silver clasps. Rating 1
F. Checkers puzzle. Jump checker pieces to remove them from a checkers board. Rating: 2
G. Matching puzzle. Move 4 sets of gear strings to match the positioning on a diagram. You will move an entire string of gears not just one by one. Rating: 2
H. Spot the difference. Looking through a lab window, find the differences between two scenes. Rating: 1
I. Assembly/moving puzzle. Place pictures from a family tree into correct position according to the shape of the picture. You will rotate the pictures in to position using 5 buttons to rotate the pictures. Rating: 3
J. Gears puzzle. Move gears into correct position to open a lock. Rating: 2
AFTER THE DEMO:
K. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles to recreate a picture. Rating: 3
L. Matching puzzle. Place portraits into correct position on a wall Rating: 1
M. Lockpick puzzle. Slide lockpicks and tumblers in correct order to open a door. Rating: 3
N. Sliding tiles puzzle. Press button along the outside of a picture to move four stones into positions. Rating: 4
I recommend this game!
Enjoy new collection of mosaics puzzles with up to six colors!
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 50 found this review helpful
COLOR ME A RAINBOW TO ENTER A NEW WONDERLAND OF GRIDDLERS
PostedJuly 7, 2016
sunnyglow
fromThis game has added a little "color" into my life and put a smile on my face!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I feel like Alice, going through the looking glass and ending up in a bright, beautiful world of multi-colored griddlers. A BIG THANK YOU to BFG for releasing a new adventure with Mr. Penguin. Our penguin has expanded his world to now include six colors in completing the grid. I LOVE these games and this developer is the BEST developer of them on the BFG site
HOW TO PLAY: This is variety of a Sudoku puzzle. In this puzzle, create pictures by filling in squares in a grid. The grids in this game will vary in number from 10 x 10 to 20 x 20. At times, the grids may be 25 X 25 if this game is like the games in the past. Each side of the grid will have numbers for each line of squares indicating the amount of squares which are to be filled in for that line of squares. Squares are filled in where the squares intersect between the two sets of numbers on each side.
• Levels: Casual and Advanced. The Casual screen marks off the numbers individually while the Advanced screen marks off the numbers after a line is filled. The grids are the same for both levels. You will begin with a 10 x 10 screen.
• Colors: The game now has SIX (6) colored screens which can be switched at any time while playing the puzzle.
• Autofill: There is autofill 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 more than 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again.
• Collectibles. When you complete one level of 5 puzzles, you receive an item to place in your garden
I highly recommend this game if you like Sudoku games or any type of mathematical puzzle.
I recommend this game!
It’s up to you to save the Swan Princess’s kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
148 of 287 found this review helpful
SMOOTH SOME RUFFLED FEATHERS ON A FEATHERY FLIGHT OF FANCY TO A “KINGDOM UNDER THE TREE”
PostedJuly 7, 2016
sunnyglow
fromLike Ariel’s Kingdom under the Sea, Flora’s Kingdom under the Tree should have its own Disney theme song. Borrowing from Ariel: Under the tree. Under the tree It's better weather Where there are feathers
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW BASED ON THE DEMO:
OVERVIEW Get ready to dance to the “dire” tune of some deceptive swans in this modified fable of Swan Lake. I rate this feathery offering 4 stars. For those who love fantasy games and/or FROGS, you will love this game! However, for me, the game falls flat lacking an engaging story, creative HOP scenes, and a decent pace. The whole “black swan/white swan” theme has been used so often in gaming and other entertainment venues, it has become trite. In this case, I found the game script very bizarre evidenced by using a tailor to “seam” together cracks on the surface of the kingdom. Sorry to disagree with our “editor;” however, I see nothing in this game which makes it anything but an average fantasy game. Perhaps, it may be I am just tired of fantasy games with pretty princesses and nonsensical stories.
I felt the pace of the game is bogged down by the back-and-forth travel in the game searching for items. To me, this is more time consuming than the activities in the game. There appears to be an equal amount of HOP scenes and puzzles. The HOP scenes are all FROGS in the demo (with the exception of one), which fit nicely into the swamp-like atmosphere in the game. However, the lack of variety in the HOP scenes also adds to my lack of enthusiasm for this game. The puzzles are varied in both style and difficulty with a couple of difficult ones toward the end of the demo. However, the excellent puzzles are not enough to salvage this game for me.
This game has the “flavour” of Blue Tea more than EIPIX. The graphics are all Blue Tea and are amazing as usual for this developer. The extras include the replaying of HOP scenes and puzzles. Back are the usual signs which you collect in EVERY EIPIX game! It would be nice if EIPIX would come up with some new ideas for collectibles. You also collect pieces to open up parables.
If you love fantasy games, you may enjoy it. For me, this game is a disappointment for the EIPIX/Blue Tea venture. However, that being said, this game is a fairly decent fantasy game for those who like this genre. However, in my opinion, it certainly does not merit the any special recognition.
STORY: You return as a detective investigating the Kingdom of Dire Island. The Black Swan has stolen a magic seed which holds the key to the regeneration of the goddess Flora, who keeps nature in balance. The theft has caused cracks to develop throughout the kingdom. Desmond McBride is a tailor who has been summoned by the kingdom’s princess to heal the cracks in the surface of the kingdom. However, he will also aid you in your quest. Venture into a swamp to search for the villain in this game. Just watch out for feathers flying between the swans as you trek through this game!
HOP SCENES: Keeping with the swampy atmosphere of the game, all the scenes are predominantly FROGS. You will locate pieces of inventory items.
PUZZLES: The puzzles in the demo vary in difficulty. They include a matching puzzle in which you use a looking glass to locate items which is somewhat unique and creative. There is also a switch puzzle in which you search for and replace items back into a scene in a storybook. I found this puzzle not only extremely easy but also extremely boring. There is a decent logic (mathematical) puzzle and a fiendish maze puzzle which is unique and very creative.
LEVELS: Casual, Hard, Insane, 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
12 Achievements
Collect 39 signs (the same as with every EIPIX game)
Replay 22 puzzles and 12 HOP scenes
Strategy guide
8 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Souvenirs
Collect pieces to unlock 7 parables.
Map is provided as you play the game
12 Achievements
Collect 39 signs (the same as with every EIPIX game)
Replay 22 puzzles and 12 HOP scenes
Strategy guide
8 Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Souvenirs
Collect pieces to unlock 7 parables.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
HOP SCENES:
A. FROG to create an inventory item
B. FROG to produce an inventory item
C. Given a set of symbols, locate them on a wall
D. Mini-FROG scene. Locate items of armor to create an inventory item
E. Another FROG. Locate pieces of Flora’s mosaic.
A. FROG to create an inventory item
B. FROG to produce an inventory item
C. Given a set of symbols, locate them on a wall
D. Mini-FROG scene. Locate items of armor to create an inventory item
E. Another FROG. Locate pieces of Flora’s mosaic.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult
A. Matching puzzle. Match up landmarks with symbols along the side of a type of a looking glass. Must be done in sequence Rating: 2
B. Switch puzzle. Search for and replace of items back into the correct locations in a storybook. Rating: 1
C. Switch puzzle. Not listed as a puzzle; however, you must switch pieces of a picture to create a picture to open a door. Rating: 2
D. Logic/Mathematical puzzle. Connect squares using lines based on the amount of dots in each square. The number indicates how many connections that square should have with the other squares. 2X Rating: 2 to 3 depending if you have played this type of game before
E. Maze puzzle. Create paths to get 3 balls to the bottom of a segmented maze so that each ball matches up by color and symbol with those on the bottom of the maze. Rating: 3
B. Switch puzzle. Search for and replace of items back into the correct locations in a storybook. Rating: 1
C. Switch puzzle. Not listed as a puzzle; however, you must switch pieces of a picture to create a picture to open a door. Rating: 2
D. Logic/Mathematical puzzle. Connect squares using lines based on the amount of dots in each square. The number indicates how many connections that square should have with the other squares. 2X Rating: 2 to 3 depending if you have played this type of game before
E. Maze puzzle. Create paths to get 3 balls to the bottom of a segmented maze so that each ball matches up by color and symbol with those on the bottom of the maze. Rating: 3
FINAL THOUGHTS: I, for one, am tired of the consistent diet of sugary sweet fantasy games. Hopefully BFG will provide something different such as sci-fi game in the coming weeks.
I recommend this game!