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:
Save the kingdom and reunite Princess Isabella with her prince in the exciting conclusion to the Princess Isabella trilogy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
GOOD ENTERTAINMENT WITH MAGICAL POWERS
PostedJune 15, 2014
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
Lots of fun to play, with its magical elements and lovely graphics. And there are numerous cutscenes to tell the story and give you clues. Rescue your 3 fairy godmothers before you recapture your kingdom. Magic flute and magic wand have powers to help you on your quest. NOTE: You get a lot of question marks; the topbar gives you a description of the object. Watch which ones suggest rather obtusely that you use your wand or flute. Much better than the previous Princess Isabella's. Great afternoon of entertainment.
I recommend this game!
The runestone that has protected the town of Neverville for centuries has disappeared. Now, the evil necromancer Grimhall is threatening its people. Can you save them from this grim fate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 49 found this review helpful
OFFERS SOME UNIQUENESS AND MAYBE SOME RECYCLING
PostedJune 15, 2014
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
4
/
5
Seems there are a lot of dangerous fogs out there lately. But the story is interesting and gameplay was very good and occasionally quite challenging. HOS are very, very crowded in spots, requiring patience to find everything. But I've never seen this before, you can actually skip HOS after a while. Some puzzles are quite challenging and a little different (ex: a slider puzzle, where each piece can be moved up and down as well as sideways, which oddly made them more difficult). Graphics are beautiful. Sometimes I felt like I played portions of the game before - but it may be recycled scenes which didn't bother me much since they were so pretty. Lovely game.
I recommend this game!
Find your sister and escape from a terrifying haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 77 found this review helpful
ENTER AND NEVER RETURN TO YOUR LIFE
PostedJune 15, 2014
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
SUMMARY: A fetching story about a haunted house that appears out of nowhere, where anyone entering never escapes and which moves itself. The diary will give you backstory. A wonderful adventure with quite a lot of intoxicating puzzles and a few HOS. A fun adventure. I recommend buying the SE as the CE is light on values needed to buy it.
IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS, HERE THEY ARE:
ADVENTURE: Your sister is suddenly trapped and disappears behind a door with a strange man, while the room morphs, closing all exits. The house is haunted: it's full of traps, constantly shifting walls, people disappear (usually leaving no trace of themselves), and you run across a man who disappeared in the same house in another state last year and tells his story.
ADVENTURE: Your sister is suddenly trapped and disappears behind a door with a strange man, while the room morphs, closing all exits. The house is haunted: it's full of traps, constantly shifting walls, people disappear (usually leaving no trace of themselves), and you run across a man who disappeared in the same house in another state last year and tells his story.
PUZZLES: There is a large variety of puzzles and mini-games, ranging from fairly easy to very challenging. I actually gave up on the first mini-game (getting a key to the lock on the opposite side of the board, which is very unusual for me). But I was able to solve all the others. The puzzles aren't the usual run-of-the-mill puzzles either. On casual, the skip rate is rather fast. On the hardest level, there is no skip.
HOS: There aren't too many HOS but there are many puzzles. Some of the HOS are interactive (such as revealing a piece of a puzzle needed to open the final object to find the last item). Scenes are not too crowded and objects are clearly visible though many are well disguised.
OTHER STUFF: 3 modes of play: The hint and skip buttons recharge fairly fast in casual play, but there are no hints or ability to skip puzzles on the hardest level. Read the journal, because it adds a bit of backstory as you play. Map is interactive, so even though there may be quite a bit of back and forth, it is not a chore. Terrific graphics and animation. Enough rooms that it seems to be an average-length game.
I recommend this game!
Dreampath: The Two Kingdoms Collector's Edition
Your sister, the Queen, has fallen deathly ill. Now you must travel to a faraway kingdom to find the cure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
27 of 44 found this review helpful
GREED CAUSES PROBLEMS
PostedJune 14, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Princess must find the Dragon who knows the Elixir of Life so that she may save the Queen, who is currently on her deathbed. Immerse yourself in the story of greed and origin of the dragons. Graphics are lovely; music is easy-listening. Traditional and find a number of objects for the HOS. Puzzles and mini-games were somewhat challenging. Fun to play and plenty to do.
I didn't particularly like portrayal of the characters - they seemed stiff - nor did I like the cat's voice. In the CE, you collect 60 coins to furnish cat's room and are given awards for your achievements. A nice production of interest and entertainment.
I recommend this game!
When his sister is murdered, you must prove your nephew's innocence!
Overall rating
5
/
5
32 of 37 found this review helpful
MUST HAVE
PostedJune 13, 2014
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
SUMMARY: A great adventure game with a small amount of HOS and plenty of puzzles. Outstanding cutscenes and graphics. Nice hint system. Good story situated in England [though slight unrealistic - you don't start discovering evidence as the trial starts; it's before.] Smooth gameplay. Lots of entertaining fun.
MORE DETAILS IF YOU WANT:
STORY: James McGray is accused of killing his sister in order to inherit a rich estate. You play their aunt and, after the initial cutscenes setting the scenarios, arrive at his trial. You are to look over the physical evidence to determine what should be presented at the trial. [Really? But this is a made-up story to encompass all the activities.]
STORY: James McGray is accused of killing his sister in order to inherit a rich estate. You play their aunt and, after the initial cutscenes setting the scenarios, arrive at his trial. You are to look over the physical evidence to determine what should be presented at the trial. [Really? But this is a made-up story to encompass all the activities.]
GAMEPLAY: As you look at the evidence, it will take you to different locations, where you will see more of the background story and collect clues. There are quite a few cutscenes that catch you off-balance as they suddenly zoom at you. You can interact with objects, such as clicking on a cat who then purrs (I like that type of play).
You are given tasks to complete. If you need a hint, you will be shown a cutout of a different location to which you can teleport. Alternatively, if there are still things to do in your current location, the hint will point to the activity. Gameplay is relatively straightforward. Usually there are many things to do that are outstanding at one time.
HOS AND PUZZLES: The HOS are mildly crowded, interactive and list-based. They are fair and objects are distinct and of a good size. Puzzles are varied and vary in difficulty; but none are what I'd say are so challenging as to make you want to tug your hair.
OTHER STUFF: Lots of cutscenes. Great animation and sound. Graphics are colorful and artistically done. Voice overs are realistic (I ignore lip sync since games are likely translated into other languages and the developers aren't going to redo all the lips for each language). Pleasant music. 3 modes of difficulty.
I recommend this game!
Twenty years ago, the children of Greystone were taken by a mysterious fog - only you escaped. It’s time to find out why...
Overall rating
5
/
5
102 of 126 found this review helpful
YEARS LATER AND IT STILL GETS YOU
PostedJune 12, 2014
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
SUMMARY: Very well written and thought out story with twists and turns. Smooth and creative gameplay. Lots of fun to find out the mysteries of the now and then. Accumulate karma in talking with people, which will determine the outcome of the game. So you can replay the game and have different results. This is one glorious game to play.
STORY: A mysterious girl asks to play hide 'n seek and asked "it" to recite a chant instead of counting. Everything changed then; only the girl who was "it" left the woods that day. She and her mother move to another town. After the mother dies, the girl finds a postcard from her father and learns that he is still alive. She decides to go to Graystone in search of her dad. Once there, she finds out that people are still going missing whenever the fog appears. She must solve this mystery.
GAMEPLAY: A massive dose of creativity in giving you things to do and discovering current and past mysteries. You learn that the scar you received when playing hide 'n seek (so many years ago) has given you special powers. The first one revealed is the ability to melt ice. There is also a karma meter that changes depending on how you converse with people you meet (you have choices of what is said) and the amount of karma affects the outcome of the game. Several types of HOS; plenty to do and see.
OTHER STUFF: Graphics are beautiful - sometimes hazy and sometimes very clear. Animation is believable - the fog reminds me of a tornado touching ground. Music is so relaxing and wonderful. Voice overs are very good. You can customize your gameplay, including whether to show your objectives and showing active areas on the map.
CE has 43 handprints to find (seems to be about one per scene), 18 achievements, 43 alchemical ingredients to find and all the usual accountrements of a CE.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the true cause of the disturbances and track down the disappeared townspeople before darkness falls on Middleport forever!
Overall rating
5
/
5
66 of 79 found this review helpful
CE FOR THE PRICE OF SE
PostedJune 11, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Game has all the important accoutrements that a CE offers except no bonus game. Lots of fun and things to do. There were 4 modes, one of which is customizable and you can choose harder HOS and/or mini-games if you want. Good story (see below) and smooth gameplay. Replayable - you get different HOS lists each time you play. Well put together and quality game. Other details:
STORY: Pirates have hidden their booty beneath the town of Middleport and laid a curse on the treasure if someone else tried to claim it. People have been disappearing into thin air lately and you are called in to investigate, as the disappearances have a possible connection to the supernatural.
GAMEPLAY: Smooth intuitive gameplay. As you play, be on the lookout for hidden (usually in plain view) animals, busts of people, and posters of the missing. You can teleport easily through the map. Good ratio of HOS and mini-games and puzzles; but note this is more of an adventure game than a HOG (i.e., you don't run across a HOS every 4 minutes). I tried replaying with the harder HOG and mini-games, and didn't notice a huge difference - I wasn't pulling my hair out.
OTHER STUFF: Good animation - I was at first thrown off when the diary you were reading jumped up and down while you were traveling by train. Special effects were very good; the whisper of the dark cloud moving and dissipating into and through objects was done very well. Voices were very good. Graphics were a bit hazy, but I still found them acceptable (some people may be put off by them, but I think they add to the atmosphere of the subject of the game).
I recommend this game!
Reveal the secrets of the past, find ancient scrolls, and find out about the prophecy ancestors!
Overall rating
2
/
5
18 of 27 found this review helpful
SO SLOW PACED, I ALMOST NODDED OFF
PostedJune 10, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Thought I'd give it a try since I haven't played this type of game before. I hate when you have no choice but to follow the game's instructions to do whatever and whenever it says you need to do something. I do have a brain. Example: I had to use a hint to find an object I had already located; yet it wouldn't let me pick up the object without using the hint. This really slows down the game. I play to be entertained, not to be put to sleep in the first 10-15 minutes. Pace is way too slow (and I always play games on casual and like to look at the scenery, so there it is). Takes "holding your hand" to a new level.
That said, the color palette is nice. You have a map when you're traveling. You have a limited number of hints to use and must find more. Quests would be interesting if your hand wasn't held so tightly. Music could certainly have been more lively.
I don't recommend this game.
In a race against time, Emily and company must solve the riddle of the book or Emily will be forever lost within its confines!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 39 found this review helpful
LOVE THIS GAME
PostedJune 9, 2014
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
Pretty much a straight HOS with a good voice over telling the story. Don't know what it is about the game, but I really liked it, despite the fuzzy darkish graphics and no adventure element. Maybe it was the narrator who held my interest. I do like straight HOS, but this one really got to me in a way that adventure-HOS games do.
You need to collect objects to free souls lost in a book. It was pretty funny when the first one was freed. The HOS contain a mini-HOS, which can be turned sideways, up and down to locate a new list of objects. You have a light beacon and magnifying glass to help you find objects [Objects can be very indistinct, especially if far away.]. I found many objects by accident.
I recommend this game!
Haunted Manor: Painted Beauties Collector's Edition
A peaceful day at the park becomes a journey into the surreal when you become the latest victim of a troubled artist's deal with Death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
HAD HIGHER HOPES
PostedJune 8, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Maybe if I hadn't played some really great games recently, this might have been a 5-star. I had higher hopes. So in comparison, it's only a 4-star or a little more.
The story is very interesting, but the wicked artist painted the ladies who disappeared over the last 100 years. How does recapturing their souls from their paintings allow them to return to their lives - if they died 75 years ago, no one would be around that they knew.
Graphics, special effects and voice overs are very good. Well put together and thought out. Hint system is exceptionally helpful. It just didn't wow me in the way that some of the games I've recently played did. [I'd had some of the games on my computer for awhile, but just got around to playing them.] I'll likely wait for a DD just because I've got quite a few games I must have.
I recommend this game!