rosekaufmann's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:18,036
- Reviews Submitted:831
- First Review:April 2, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 27, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
WELL THAT WAS A SURPRISE ENDING
PostedNovember 15, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Almost 5 hours of gameplay on casual mode. You are engaged by the prefecture to determine if the rumors of a werewolf murdering innocents is true? You have a journal and the blessing of the prefecture in your investigation. Additional pages are added to your journal as you progress, giving you hints on what to do next if you need it. There are a limited number of locations, so a map is not necessary. In the main game, you find the answer to your investigation, but don’t know exactly what happened to the antagonists – that’s in the bonus play of the CE.
OTHER STUFF:
PUZZLES: Doors are opened by puzzles and give you a new area to explore. They are mostly the standard puzzles, sliding, tile swapping, a few are unique. Challenge varies from very easy to mildly complex. HOS: Are list based and -there are more in the 2nd half of the game. The scenes almost look hand-drawn and sometimes it is moderately challenging to find all the objects due to the color palettes used (i.e., it is not challenging because items are tiny, which I don’t think of as challenging at all, but some developers apparently do). So the HOS were fair. ANIMATION: is good, including creepy shadows that crawl across part of the screen you are investigating. GRAPHICS are lovely in a detailed natural country town scene way (i.e., they are not breathtakingly colorful) but realistic color combinations.
PUZZLES: Doors are opened by puzzles and give you a new area to explore. They are mostly the standard puzzles, sliding, tile swapping, a few are unique. Challenge varies from very easy to mildly complex. HOS: Are list based and -there are more in the 2nd half of the game. The scenes almost look hand-drawn and sometimes it is moderately challenging to find all the objects due to the color palettes used (i.e., it is not challenging because items are tiny, which I don’t think of as challenging at all, but some developers apparently do). So the HOS were fair. ANIMATION: is good, including creepy shadows that crawl across part of the screen you are investigating. GRAPHICS are lovely in a detailed natural country town scene way (i.e., they are not breathtakingly colorful) but realistic color combinations.
Very nice game.
I recommend this game!
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
WELL THAT WAS A SURPRISE ENDING
PostedNovember 15, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Almost 5 hours of gameplay on casual mode. You are engaged by the prefecture to determine if the rumors of a werewolf murdering innocents is true? You have a journal and the blessing of the prefecture in your investigation. Additional pages are added to your journal as you progress, giving you hints on what to do next if you need it. There are a limited number of locations, so a map is not necessary. You find the answer to your investigation, but I don’t know exactly what happened to the antagonists – that’s likely answered in the bonus play of the CE.
OTHER STUFF:
PUZZLES: Doors are opened by puzzles and give you a new area to explore. They are mostly the standard puzzles, sliding, tile swapping, a few are unique. Challenge varies from very easy to mildly complex. HOS: Are list based and -there are more in the 2nd half of the game. The scenes almost look hand-drawn and sometimes it is moderately challenging to find all the objects due to the color palettes used (i.e., it is not challenging because items are tiny, which I don’t think of as challenging at all, but some developers apparently do). So the HOS were fair. ANIMATION: is good, including creepy shadows that crawl across part of the screen you are investigating. GRAPHICS are lovely in a detailed natural country town scene way (i.e., they are not breathtakingly colorful) but realistic color combinations.
PUZZLES: Doors are opened by puzzles and give you a new area to explore. They are mostly the standard puzzles, sliding, tile swapping, a few are unique. Challenge varies from very easy to mildly complex. HOS: Are list based and -there are more in the 2nd half of the game. The scenes almost look hand-drawn and sometimes it is moderately challenging to find all the objects due to the color palettes used (i.e., it is not challenging because items are tiny, which I don’t think of as challenging at all, but some developers apparently do). So the HOS were fair. ANIMATION: is good, including creepy shadows that crawl across part of the screen you are investigating. GRAPHICS are lovely in a detailed natural country town scene way (i.e., they are not breathtakingly colorful) but realistic color combinations.
Very nice game. 4 1/2 stars which I rounded up because it was a logical and fairly lengthy game play.
I recommend this game!
Explore a world of magic to stop an ancient evil!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
MAGICAL WORLD OF FEYS AND CREATURES
PostedNovember 15, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A continuing story of Fiona and the Storm Cat saving the world from the evil Shade, who wants a winter wonderland 24/365. Game offers a lot: challenging puzzles, incredible color, beautiful animation, danger and evil vs. beauty and stunning graphics in a magical setting. The graphics and colors are so gorgeous that you just want to touch everything (and you can without penalty) to see what they are or what they do.
HOS are quite different – no crowded junk piles, no finding a list of objects which you don’t need. They are finding similar worked into an item already in the world (such as finding a number of crowns, fey characters and snowflakes on Shade’s eternal prison i.e., tomb). Flawless gameplay. The story is interesting – you don’t know where it will take you next. Extremely helpful Magic Storm Cat, who will show you where you should go or what you should do if you are stuck. The Otherworld games are near perfect and this one is no exception.
I recommend this game!
Explore a world of magic to stop an ancient evil!
Overall rating
5
/
5
63 of 67 found this review helpful
MAGICAL WORLD OF FEYS AND CREATURES
PostedNovember 15, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A continuing story of Fiona and the Storm Cat saving the world from the evil Shade, who wants a winter wonderland 24/365. Game offers a lot: challenging puzzles, incredible color, beautiful animation, danger and evil vs. beauty and stunning graphics in a magical setting. The graphics and colors are so gorgeous that you just want to touch everything (and you can without penalty) to see what they are or what they do.
HOS are quite different – no crowded junk piles, no finding a list of objects which you don’t need. They are finding similar worked into an item already in the world (such as finding a number of crowns, fey characters and snowflakes on Shade’s eternal prison i.e., tomb). Flawless gameplay. The story is interesting – you don’t know where it will take you next. Extremely helpful Magic Storm Cat, who will show you where you should go or what you should do if you are stuck. The Otherworld games are near perfect and this one is no exception.
I recommend this game!
A kingdom’s future rests in the light of three beacons. Can they be lit in time? Will the shadows be cast into light?
Overall rating
5
/
5
WHAT A GEM
PostedNovember 14, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Continuation of the adventure of Painted Tower. Iris has the ability to make her paintings come to life and the evil king wants to harness those powers for himself. She hid herself in a magical book when the king discovered her location and brought the towers down. Story picks up from there as you find your way among the rubble and seek to light 3 beacons of magical light to erode the darkness and save Iris. The well thought-out story becomes even more complicated when Iris has to light the last beacon herself.
Stunning artwork is beautifully rendered by hand. There are hidden objects to find, riddles to solve, puzzles of varying challenges to finish, pictures to enter, drawings to complete, and secrets about Iris and her family to uncover. You will have to return to some of the puzzles before you can solve them. Sometimes you must find something to finish a drawing so that you can use it in the real world (such as a bridge). If you get stuck, the hint system is very helpful in advising how to progress in the game and where and what to do if you become hopelessly lost.
Lovely game of above-average length and complexity. Excellent production value. As with the original, this was a fantastic and enchanting game you are sad to see end.
I recommend this game!
A kingdom’s future rests in the light of three beacons. Can they be lit in time? Will the shadows be cast into light?
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
WHAT A GEM
PostedNovember 14, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Continuation of the adventure of Painted Tower. Iris has the ability to make her paintings come to life and the evil king wants to harness those powers for himself. She hid herself in a magical book when the king discovered her location and brought the towers down. Story picks up from there as you find your way among the rubble and seek to light 3 beacons of magical light to erode the darkness and save Iris. The well thought-out story becomes even more complicated when Iris has to light the last beacon herself.
Stunning artwork is beautifully rendered by hand. There are hidden objects to find, riddles to solve, puzzles of varying challenges to finish, pictures to enter, drawings to complete, and secrets about Iris and her family to uncover. You will have to return to some of the puzzles before you can solve them. Sometimes you must find something to finish a drawing so that you can use it in the real world (such as a bridge). If you get stuck, the hint system is very helpful in advising how to progress in the game and where and what to do if you become hopelessly lost.
Lovely game of above-average length and complexity. Excellent production value. As with the original, this was a fantastic and enchanting game you are sad to see end.
I recommend this game!
After Sara inherits a home, she discovers that a restless spirit can speak to her! Help her sooth Emily’s soul in Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
OTHERWORLDLY EXISTENCE
PostedNovember 14, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
SUMMARY: Game took 3 ¾ hours to complete on casual mode. Travel back and forth between the dilapidated mansion you inherited and the mansion’s opulent splendor in the realm of the ghosts.
Details:
• HOS are plentiful, attractive and fairly easy.
• Puzzles are scarce, in comparison to the HOS and are not too challenging.
• Find and trace glyphs to open new mirror portals between the now and the ghost realm.
• Game is linear, so there’s not much back and forth. Objects needed are nearby. Areas are marked completed when it’s time to move on.
• Found objects in the ghost realm must be cleverly hidden so you can find and use them in the real world.
• Customize your gameplay by adjusting the difficulty of tips, visual cues and hint recharge time.
• No map, but none is needed due to the linearity.
• Diary tells the tale of the family, but you have to find the pages. Miss a page and you miss part of the story.
• Very good graphics, especially in the ghost realm.
• Sounds are realistic. Playing at night in L.A., I had to look out the window to see if there really was a rainstorm.
• HOS are plentiful, attractive and fairly easy.
• Puzzles are scarce, in comparison to the HOS and are not too challenging.
• Find and trace glyphs to open new mirror portals between the now and the ghost realm.
• Game is linear, so there’s not much back and forth. Objects needed are nearby. Areas are marked completed when it’s time to move on.
• Found objects in the ghost realm must be cleverly hidden so you can find and use them in the real world.
• Customize your gameplay by adjusting the difficulty of tips, visual cues and hint recharge time.
• No map, but none is needed due to the linearity.
• Diary tells the tale of the family, but you have to find the pages. Miss a page and you miss part of the story.
• Very good graphics, especially in the ghost realm.
• Sounds are realistic. Playing at night in L.A., I had to look out the window to see if there really was a rainstorm.
I recommend this game!
After Sara inherits a home, she discovers that a restless spirit can speak to her! Help her sooth Emily’s soul in Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
OTHERWORLDLY EXISTENCE
PostedNovember 14, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
SUMMARY: Game took 3 ¾ hours to complete on casual mode. Bonus chapter adds another hour. Travel back and forth between the dilapidated mansion you inherited (loved the ethereal guard cat) and the mansion’s opulent splendor in the realm of the ghosts.
Details:
• HOS are plentiful, attractive and fairly easy.
• Puzzles are scarce, in comparison to the HOS and are not too challenging.
• Find and trace glyphs to open new mirror portals between the now and the ghost realm.
• Game is linear, so there’s not much back and forth. Objects needed are nearby. Areas are marked completed when it’s time to move on.
• Found objects in the ghost realm must be cleverly hidden so you can find and use them in the real world.
• Customize your gameplay by adjusting the difficulty of tips, visual cues and hint recharge time.
• No map, but none is needed due to the linearity.
• Diary tells the tale of the family, but you have to find the pages. Miss a page and you miss part of the story.
• Very good graphics, especially in the ghost realm.
• Sounds are realistic. Playing at night in L.A., I had to look out the window to see if there really was a rainstorm.
• HOS are plentiful, attractive and fairly easy.
• Puzzles are scarce, in comparison to the HOS and are not too challenging.
• Find and trace glyphs to open new mirror portals between the now and the ghost realm.
• Game is linear, so there’s not much back and forth. Objects needed are nearby. Areas are marked completed when it’s time to move on.
• Found objects in the ghost realm must be cleverly hidden so you can find and use them in the real world.
• Customize your gameplay by adjusting the difficulty of tips, visual cues and hint recharge time.
• No map, but none is needed due to the linearity.
• Diary tells the tale of the family, but you have to find the pages. Miss a page and you miss part of the story.
• Very good graphics, especially in the ghost realm.
• Sounds are realistic. Playing at night in L.A., I had to look out the window to see if there really was a rainstorm.
I recommend this game!
This was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But instead of walking down the aisle, you're in another dimension, battling a mad inventor to save your family!
Overall rating
5
/
5
180 of 193 found this review helpful
PARALLEL WORLDS - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
PostedNovember 14, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Story is of parallel worlds. There are 164 observers scattered around the environments to capture - once you see their roving eye and click on them, they look like spiders which you can then capture. Since they move around, it's quite a bit of extra fun.
You can choose HOS or match 3. The HOS are moderately crowded and everything is richly detailed and easily recognizable. Loved how the bed opens up to a storage space under the mattress - way to create extra out-of-sight hiding places. Didn't try the match 3 because I like the HOS so much. They are hand-painted and there is some interaction. Puzzles vary in complexity, but are easily solvable.
Graphics are hand-drawn and marvelously detailed. Music is unobtrusive. Lots of achievements in the CE - some are quite easy to earn. Voice overs are pleasant enough. Lips don't sync, but I don't really care as the games seem to be translated into several languages, so there will always be sync problems - if not in English, then in Spanish or whatever. Dialogue is also written.
Good production values and fun to play. Hint is very helpful. Since I really enjoyed finding the observers, I'm opting for the CE. Can't wait to see where they come from and why they are observing the particular family starring in this game. Highly recommended.
I recommend this game!
Dark things bubble to the surface when the past invades the present!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
ALL GROWN UP AND DRAWN BACK TO CHILDHOOD
PostedNovember 13, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
SUMMARY: Took 3 ¾ hours to play this somewhat spooky adventure-HOG. Hand-drawn artwork lends itself perfectly with the moody and mysterious atmosphere. Plenty of HOS with cleverly-drawn objects and a wide variety of puzzles. If you have the CE, the bonus chapters are about ¼ of the length of the main game. Very well-thought out and put together game. Surprising ending.
DETAILS:
• Gripping story holds your interest to the end.
• Watch portions of the characters’ childhood through film reels found throughout the game.
• Incredible animation at times, when completely unexpected.
• Good ratio of HOS to puzzles. Fun puzzles sometimes have a little adventure attached to them for added interest. HOS are crowded but you can find everything – note that occasionally an object will be at the very edge of the screen. They seemed to get more crowded the deeper into the game you went. Some imaginative puzzles are more challenging, but they are small enough to be solvable (ex: you need to place objects in the pathway of only 3 steeplechasers so that all finish at the same time).
• Very helpful and very fast-recharging hint system in casual mode.
• Map – didn’t seem to be interactive, so I only used it once near the end when I forgot where some place was. It’s not really needed as there are a limited number of environments to explore at any one time.
• Gripping story holds your interest to the end.
• Watch portions of the characters’ childhood through film reels found throughout the game.
• Incredible animation at times, when completely unexpected.
• Good ratio of HOS to puzzles. Fun puzzles sometimes have a little adventure attached to them for added interest. HOS are crowded but you can find everything – note that occasionally an object will be at the very edge of the screen. They seemed to get more crowded the deeper into the game you went. Some imaginative puzzles are more challenging, but they are small enough to be solvable (ex: you need to place objects in the pathway of only 3 steeplechasers so that all finish at the same time).
• Very helpful and very fast-recharging hint system in casual mode.
• Map – didn’t seem to be interactive, so I only used it once near the end when I forgot where some place was. It’s not really needed as there are a limited number of environments to explore at any one time.
I recommend this game!