Tikatoy's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:1,359
- Reviews Submitted:111
- First Review:November 15, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 30, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Uncover a dark scheme in Entwined: Strings of Deception and solve an elaborate murder mystery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Play for the story, nothing else
PostedApril 8, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When I started the demo, my initial reaction was that I hated the graphics. It's a very plain, realistic art style with not many artistic textures or detail. But I was intrigued by the mystery and the way you got to gather evidence and interview suspects, so I bought the game anyway.
The hidden object scenes and puzzles are super easy, even for a HOG, but the story delivered. This might not be enough for most people, but it was for me.
I don't recommend this game.
The Queen's Hope Diamond is gone. No one is talking. It's up to you to recover the stolen gem. You be the detective.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Surprisingly good for an old game
PostedApril 5, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
The hidden object scenes are ugly junk piles with many nonsensical objects in nonsensical locations. You end up playing some scenes again several times and objects are always in the same locations. Some of the scenes are in the dark or behind a wall, meaning that you get a flashlight/X-Ray machine that lets you inspect only a small round area of the scene around your mouse. There is no adventure game element at all (no inventory items). There are only 3 simple, repetitive minigames and the majority of the game play is hidden object scene after hidden object scene. Each level is timed and the timer is NOT generous, and running out of time means playing the entire level again, which could mean replaying 6-8 hidden object scenes. You get only four hints per level and they don't recharge.
And yet... despite all of the above, the game is still strangely fun! Playing the same scenes over is actually not that bad because as you get familiar with the scenes you can complete them more quickly (essential for later levels). There are case files for each suspect and they're all pretty funny; the game overall has a great sense of humour. The map is well done and it's fun to unlock new locations.
If you really like playing hidden object scenes and don't want to deal with getting/using inventory items or doing puzzles, and don't mind the issues I've listed above, check this one out. I think most wouldn't fit into this description, so that's why I don't recommend the game although I found it fun.
I don't recommend this game.
Blood and Ruby
Use ancient magic, alongside your wits, as you hunt for your missing brother in a haunting city possessed by vampires!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Decent HOG with an interesting original gameplay mechanic
PostedApril 5, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I was iffy about getting this at first because I'm somewhat sick of vampires in TV/movies/books, but it turned out to be a pretty fun game with some unexpectedly original gameplay.
The graphics were of a different style than I've seen in a HOG before. It didn't appeal particularly to me but I appreciated the difference and the colourful palette worked well for modern and Renaissance Venice. I wasn't a fan of the cut scene art though. I thought the music was good and fit in well with the game.
The hidden objects are placed in logical locations (i.e. not junk piles) and there was one particular variation I enjoyed where you're confronted with a threat and you have to find hidden objects, but then you have to use them in the scene to defeat the threat. The puzzles were of average to above average difficulty and several of them were original, or had an original twist on a standard puzzle.
The game seemed short compared to other HOGs and there weren't that many locations to explore, even including the Renaissance versions. i was satisfied with the game length anyway.
I recommend this game!
Help a shaman protect his tropical island from a deadly tidal wave in The Treasures of Mystery Island: The Ghost Ship!
Overall rating
5
/
5
51 of 52 found this review helpful
Great adventure FROG
PostedApril 3, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I like FROGs (fragmented object games) much more than HOGs (hidden object games) so it was an easy decision to get this one. It's mostly an adventure game though, and a pretty well-constructed one.
The game is divided into four chapters, corresponding to different parts of the island, each containing about 15 locations. A few are open at the beginning and you unlock more locations as you proceed. There is a good map that indicates locations where you can do stuff.
The fragmented objects can be a little tricky to find as they are on the small side and could be in a different orientation from what's displayed in the object list. All fragmented objects become inventory items when you find all the pieces. The puzzles are of average difficulty (i.e. easy) for a casual game.
I liked the way the story unfolded. You're working to prevent a catastrophe and often when you enter a location, some text is displayed with the name of the location, and how much time you have left until the climactic event. It gives a good sense of urgency.
I played the second game in the series (but not the first) but this story doesn't seem to have any connection to it. Maybe I just don't remember the story well enough. I believe the presence of "morphing objects" are new though. These are small objects that slowly morph into a different object then back every few seconds or so. They have no effect on gameplay but are a nice added challenge.
I recommend this game!
Help Anna find her way to the mystical floating cloud city, seek out the Children of Light and save them from the Evil Empress!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 29 found this review helpful
Amazing city in the sky
PostedApril 1, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played and loved the first game, so I was excited to see there was a sequel. The graphics are an improvement, and the storytelling (my favourite part of the first game) is just as good.
I wasn't a big fan of the art style actually, but I really loved the design and architecture of the floating city. It was so creative and gorgeous with a variety of different features and buildings like soaring spires, statues and the ubiquitous balloons chained to the island to keep it aloft. The music was soothing and fit in with the look of the city, and I really loved the sound that gets played when you find objects in hidden object scenes.
The scenes didn't look as good as the location graphics although I wouldn't say they were bad. Your standard junk pile. Puzzles were pretty easy, but that's of average difficulty for the casual games genre. I disagree with the reviewers who say that makes this game more suitable for younger kids because pretty much all casual games are this easy!
What I liked most about the previous game in the series was that you had a couple of characters trying to guide you who told you to do different things and your character didn't quite know who to trust (although as a player it was obvious). That repeats in this game, except that it's not as clear who is truly trustworthy for most of the game, and the way it unfolded was really satisfying. I also loved the feeling of isolation and loneliness in both games.
I recommend this game!
During the finale of The Maze, the transmission is mysteriously stopped. Now it's up to you to find the missing contestants!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Great setting, challenging puzzles
PostedMarch 31, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
The premise is a refreshing change from the usual haunted house/asylum/amusement park; it's a reality game show set in a large warehouse with a variety of stages/sets full of traps and puzzles. A masked madman terrorizes the contestants and you have to rescue them.
The game is divided into 6 chapters which correspond to different stages of 4-5 locations each. The chapters are self-contained, which means no backtracking. There is also a map that shows you locations where there are actions to take, e.g. a hidden object scene, inventory item to pickup or use, or a puzzle.
The graphics are nice and do a really good job of depicting the distinctive setting. I especially liked the cameras in every room to reinforce the fact that everything is being filmed. There are also hidden control rooms scattered throughout the game with monitors and video editing equipment. The stages look very different and I appreciated the change in scenery. Cut scenes were well done and animation in general was very good.
The hidden object scenes are big junk piles, but they looked nice. There was a shorter list of objects to find, which I appreciated. I think most, if not all, of the scenes weren't repeated. They were pretty balanced with the puzzle and adventure elements in the game.
I really liked the puzzles. There were quite a few original puzzles, but even the ones that weren't original had a bit of a twist to them to make them more challenging. A lot of them required logic and thought/planning. Nothing frustrating though (this IS a casual game after all) and there's a skip button anyway.
Overall a great game with a cool setting/story and excellent puzzles. Lots of fun to play!
I recommend this game!
After the dead start to rise, Funeraria Loca sees their funeral parlor business go down the tubes! Find a new way to put them to rest!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 11 found this review helpful
Addictive time management game
PostedMarch 25, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Gameplay is very much like the Sally's Salon/Spa/Studio series, except that you're pampering zombies instead and laying them to eternal rest. :P
I loved the exaggerated cartoon-style graphics and smooth animations, but I especially loved the cut scenes which are done as a zombie finger puppet show. ZOMBIE FINGER PUPPETS. I can't fully express how much I love that. :)
I'm really into achievements and the "perfect score" achievement gave me a good reason to replay the whole game (in some earlier levels, you can't get perfect scores unless you replay them after you've bought a bunch of upgrades). Things get a bit hectic later on, but I was able to get expert scores on the first try most of the time, so I'd imagine that meeting the basic goal for each level shouldn't be that tough.
The challenge level was good; you definitely have to be able to keep your eye on several things at once, quickly discerning if one of the zombies is about to "wake up" and start rampaging and needs to be taken care of, when to use power ups and what order to service the zombies. There is an added challenge on some of the levels where you have to click on rats or raccoons running through the level, or find hidden objects. This is tricky to do while managing the zombies at the same time! There are also a few logic or arcade-style zombie mini-games after every three or four levels that were fun.
I was totally addicted to this game and I hope there's a sequel!
I recommend this game!
Trapped at the bottom of the sea by Davy Jones, you must discover his secrets, save your father and find a way to escape!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
Interesting undersea setting
PostedMarch 25, 2012
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I liked the setting and the premise: you and your father are dragged down to Davy Jones' Locker trapped with his other victims. You get to explore the bottom of the ocean where numerous ships (and a plane!) from different eras have been sunk.
There's an excellent map that shows you locations where there's something to do and I used it constantly; it saved me lots of time with backtracking! At first I was concerned that the map seemed small and it would be a short game, but there there are a lot of adventure game elements that require you to get inventory items and use them in various locations. This is actually the bulk of the gameplay, with the hidden object scenes and puzzles being secondary. I liked this as it felt more like an old school adventure game.
I wasn't a fan of the graphics although I liked how the characters looked. I especially didn't like the hidden object scenes, which seemed grainy to me. I did like that a lot of the objects appear covered in scum and when you click on them, you see the clean version briefly before they disappear.
The hidden object scenes were all easy, as were most of the puzzles, although there were a few that required a little more time. I really enjoyed "Boneyard", a variation on the "sliding blocks" puzzle where instead of moving blocks to clear a path to slide a special block through, you have to move each block into a specific position.
Overall a pretty good game and really interesting setting, probably would have given 5 stars if the graphics had been better.
I recommend this game!
After leaving something in your car, a hitchhiker vanishes! Track her down and return her things in Shiver: Vanishing Hitchhiker!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Scariest casual game I've played
PostedMarch 22, 2012
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm usually not a fan of the realistic look in HOGs, but it works really well here because of the high resolution and the realism adds to the creepy atmosphere. There are lots of genuinely scary moments with effective use of sound/music. I liked that you occasionally went into dark rooms and had a permanent flashlight in your inventory that would let you explore these places.
The puzzles and hidden object scenes are of average difficulty (i.e. easy) for a HOG, although one of the minigames which involved guiding a boat between obstacles was especially well done visually; the way ahead was shrouded in fog and the reflections in the water looked good.
I felt a sense of dread as I explored the deserted town and was reluctant to enter new locations for fear of what I might see. There was no gore but lots of tension as you discover what happened in the town. A very well-executed (if not original) story.
I recommend this game!
Alice's Teacup Madness
Alice has fallen down the rabbit hole! To earn enough money to get home, she must serve tea and pastries to whimsical characters!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Basic gameplay is fun, but it gets very repetitive
PostedMarch 21, 2012
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I love Alice in Wonderland and tea (the meal) so those aspects of the game definitely appeal to me. :)
This is a TM game kind of like Diner Dash. A nice gameplay mechanic is that you can select items and click and drag over the workspace to set 2-4 items of that type, then click a button to serve everyone at once. The basic gameplay is interspersed with a couple of special optional levels: easy hidden object scenes and an arcade-style game where you have to "catch" food while avoiding teacups.
The graphics are cute and colorful but rather low-res and I thought they could have been nicer, especially with such a fun Wonderland theme to play with!
The game is not much of a challenge as you basically do the same thing over and over again of seating 3 patrons at a time and serving their identical orders. Only level 64 posed a bit of a challenge--otherwise I was almost always able to get expert on the first try. Every level is timed, but the score you have to attain to proceed onwards is pretty easy to get.
I recommend this game!