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:
The lighthouse fails and darkness invades Willow Ridge. Your husband runs into the forest for answers, unaware of the shadow hunting him.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
REALLY UNIQUE FEATURES - LOVED IT
PostedSeptember 25, 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
With so many reviews, probably no one will read this, but here it is.
SUMMARY: There was a lot to do and see; gameplay was not linear. Much of it was unique and will likely become more common in the future. The main game is fairly length. This is a game I heartily recommend and I am very happy that I bought it.
SUMMARY: There was a lot to do and see; gameplay was not linear. Much of it was unique and will likely become more common in the future. The main game is fairly length. This is a game I heartily recommend and I am very happy that I bought it.
Music was spooky and sung by a child at the beginning, but he just disappeared suddenly. It set the tone for the entire game. There are quite a few dark and foreboding dark spots, which you need to clear with your magic amulet. If you were, for example, in the woods, it would become brilliant after using your amulet. Your inventory will eventually include a hamster who helps out in tight places. I won’t go into detail of the story since others have already done so.
Some HOS were list based and there was always something under the objects which was used for the last object. Other HOS were unique. I’d like to see other games with this type. You are given silhouettes which represent categories instead of specific objects and you usually have to find 2 of each. So, if the silhouette is a beetle, you may need to find a bug and a caterpillar (this one took some thinking when I saw no more bugs anywhere). Or you are shown a silhouette of a candy, which you find, but the category is sweets, so the other object is a cupcake.
MINIGAMES were fantastic and a lot of fun. I especially liked the game with the paper cannon. There were lots of pieces to it – much like putting a miniplay together. The cutscenes or minishows were very unique and I loved them. They told a story in storyboard fashion and you had to put 4 misplaced items in the scene where they belonged as the story unfolded. It sure was a lot of fun. In the CE, you get to replay them.
CE: Bonus game has new locations: lady’s house (which was locked in game) and stables. I think it took about an hour (I spent 2 ½ hours replaying a few HOS and puzzles and didn’t break down the time spent on the game and the replayables).
I recommend this game!
The lighthouse fails and darkness invades Willow Ridge. Your husband runs into the forest for answers, unaware of the shadow hunting him.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
REALLY UNIQUE FEATURES - LOVED IT
PostedSeptember 25, 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
SUMMARY: There was a lot to do and see; gameplay was not linear. Much of it was unique and will likely become more common in the future. The main game is fairly length. This is a game I heartily recommend and I am very happy that I bought it.
Music was spooky and sung by a child at the beginning, but he just disappeared suddenly. It set the tone for the entire game. There are quite a few dark and foreboding dark spots, which you need to clear with your magic amulet. If you were, for example, in the woods, it would become brilliant after using your amulet. Your inventory will eventually include a hamster who helps out in tight places. I won’t go into detail of the story since others have already done so.
Some HOS were list based and there was always something under the objects which was used for the last object. Other HOS were unique. I’d like to see other games with this type. You are given silhouettes which represent categories instead of specific objects and you usually have to find 2 of each. So, if the silhouette is a beetle, you may need to find a bug and a caterpillar (this one took some thinking when I saw no more bugs anywhere). Or you are shown a silhouette of a candy, which you find, but the category is sweets, so the other object is a cupcake.
MINIGAMES were fantastic and a lot of fun. I especially liked the game with the paper cannon. There were lots of pieces to it – much like putting a miniplay together. The cutscenes or minishows were very unique and I loved them. They told a story in storyboard fashion and you had to put 4 misplaced items in the scene where they belonged as the story unfolded. It sure was a lot of fun. In the CE, you get to replay them.
COMPARISON WITH CE: If you're comparing whether to get the CE or SE, th bonus game has new locations: lady’s house (which was locked in game) and stables. I think it took about an hour (I spent 2 ½ hours replaying a few HOS and puzzles and didn’t break down the time spent on the game and the replayables). I haven't regretted getting the CE.
I recommend this game!
Help Jane, a fantastic copywriter, explore her past lives and write an award-winning story. Travel through time in Reincarnation!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
A GOOD BEGINNING
PostedSeptember 25, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Quite a short unremarkable game (about 2 ½ hours). I probably liked it more when I first played it in 2010 when I was at most an intermediate player, since I have bought additional Reincarnation games. The story is interesting enough but the gameplay is quite simple. I liked the Uncover the Past and Back to Reality much more as far as both story and gameplay goes. Plays in widescreen automatically with 3 volume controls.
The HOS are quite picturesque – colorful and moderately crowded. Objects are easily seen. The Puzzles are easy, but amusing. As research for a news article, you visit 5 past lives: one of serenity, prison escape (which was very short and lacked a reason for being imprisoned), one filled with magic (this was the longest), a Maltese in Paris (who didn’t make very ladylike noises) and one of a little girl’s wishes.
This is definitely a good game to get your feet wet in playing adventure-HOGs and is a nice prelude (but not necessary) to the following Reincarnations game. The studio really improved a lot for the sequels, which I heartily recommend.
I recommend this game!
Visit the Seven Wonders of the World as you journey to ancient civilizations in World Riddles: Seven Wonders, a fun Puzzle game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
REMEMBER TO CHANGE THE CURSOR
PostedSeptember 25, 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
3
/
5
Really like this type of game. You learn fun facts about the wonders of the world while solving nonograms and a wide variety of puzzles/mini-games. For each level of the nonogram, you're scored on time, hints used and errors. You can replay the level until you score gold. The hard part is remembering to change your cursor to break the tiles or turn them - it's easy to try another tile, only to find out you forgot to change the cursor. Game gets harder as you reach higher levels. You can easily spend hours completing the game to score gold.
I recommend this game!
Deep in the heart of an enchanted forest, a forbidden love blooms. Guide the human Eveline as she sets out to rescue her beloved from the clutches of a tyrant.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
MORE INTERESTING THE DEEPER YOU GO
PostedSeptember 23, 2013
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
5
/
5
This is a different type of game than I normally play. It's an adventure game with an intriguing story which gets you more interested as you go deeper into it. I found myself liking it more and more, though I was somewhat mediocre about it at first.
WHAT YOU GET:
3 sound volumes
automatic widescreen
relaxing music
2 game modes
journal with map, notes, tasks and memos
separate map without opening journal if wanted
tasks listing without opening journal if you prefer
a potion lab
3 sound volumes
automatic widescreen
relaxing music
2 game modes
journal with map, notes, tasks and memos
separate map without opening journal if wanted
tasks listing without opening journal if you prefer
a potion lab
GAMEPLAY:
You'll find 70 memos along the way that will give clues and tell the story of the felizes and humans, the war, disappearances, and other interesting facts. You will also be given potion recipes periodically and ingredients you find will automatically go to the potion lab instead of into your inventory tray. The potion lab is given to you by a shaman in the forest and she will appear periodically to help you since she knows the land of the felizes (and of the humans) so well.
You'll find 70 memos along the way that will give clues and tell the story of the felizes and humans, the war, disappearances, and other interesting facts. You will also be given potion recipes periodically and ingredients you find will automatically go to the potion lab instead of into your inventory tray. The potion lab is given to you by a shaman in the forest and she will appear periodically to help you since she knows the land of the felizes (and of the humans) so well.
Something always seems to happen that gives you clues as to what direction to head to next. That's good because there are a few unexpected twists and turns to the story.
HINTS are in the form of a dragon, which will go so far as to show you where you can do something and what inventory item to use (which is helpful because it isn't always clear that an inventory item can be used there). There are little balls of light in various scenes that will recharge the dragon. But unlike some games, you won't waste the charge by clicking on it if your dragon doesn't need recharging.
OTHER STUFF: Dialogue is written and spoken; clicking on a dialogue popup will hurry it along (since you can read faster than listen to the spoken words). Voices are middle-of-the-road - neither great nor terrible.
Visuals are pleasant to look at. Animations are very, very good. I think this game was listed as a HOG, but it's not the usual type where there are HO scenes. You do have to find stuff to complete the puzzles though, and they are in the various environments other than the one you're in. If there's one drawback to the game, it's that the story is occasionally a little slow to develop - but I prefer fast-paced stories.
SUMMARY: Well thought-out story and gameplay. I'm not sure that the CE has enough to offer, so I've opted for the SE.
I recommend this game!
Defeat the Chaos God and escape from his mysterious orb!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
NICE RAINY DAY OR NOVICE GAME
PostedSeptember 23, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Nice easy game. Pleasant nonintrusive music. Two types of HOS: list based which are nicely detailed and easy to find and fragments which are not difficult and are interactive. Can't fast forward through dialogue even though there is a "Continue" button, which I assumed meant that I finished reading the dialogue and looking at the picture and was therefore ready for the next piece of the story.
Graphics were not bad, but not brilliant either. Animation was pretty good. Seemed like once you finished certain scenes and didn't have to go back to them. Saves on some backtracking. Rating 3 1/2 stars; it was pretty easy for me, but I might buy it on sale as a rainy day filler. I don't think this game would be frustrating for novices.
I recommend this game!
Who is responsible for your children's disappearance? Follow the trail!
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 21 found this review helpful
HANSEL, GRETEL AND GINGERBREAD
PostedSeptember 23, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This was a rather easy game. The graphics were simple; HOS were easy to find and the mini-games were fun. Dialogue not over-abundant. Really good voice-overs. At times, I thought the game was more about gingerbread men - they seemed to be everywhere. Liked how the gingerbread helper recharged - I'd stop playing to watch him. I wavered between 3 and 4 stars for a couple categories and ended up rounding upward because it is a cute little game.
I recommend this game!
Who is responsible for your children’s disappearance? Follow the trail!
Overall rating
4
/
5
HANSEL, GRETEL AND GINGERBREAD
PostedSeptember 23, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This was a rather easy game. The graphics were simple; HOS were easy to find and the mini-games were fun. Dialogue not over-abundant. Really good voice-overs. At times, I thought the game was more about gingerbread men - they seemed to be everywhere. Liked how the gingerbread helper recharged - I'd stop playing to watch him.
I recommend this game!
While visiting your uncle, you stumble upon a curious case. Men are vanishing, reappearing dead days later. Who killed them?
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
INTERESTING GAME BUT COULDN'T GIVE IT 5 STARS
PostedSeptember 21, 2013
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
There are 3 difficulties. You get a separate task list to bring up, a journal and interactive map. I really like that you can turn the flags showing where tasks are to be performed on or off. The CE has achievements and collectibles plus all the other usual stuff.
Your uncle has followed Morgana to a new town, which she is terrorizing with her spiders. You see her kill a man (actually, you just see the aftermath). And a lot of sand appears. Gameplay is relatively straightforward, but not linear. There is a lot to do. Voice overs are superb. Graphics and artistry is good, but not as crisp and vivid as I like.
HOS are crowded and are interactive. Some objects are very well hidden (possibly due to the palette used), so they took a wee bit longer. Puzzles and mini-games were nicely done. You need a screwdriver near the beginning and, lo and behold, you have one in your HOS object list. But, you don't get it. You have to find it elsewhere. Why do they do that to us?
I thought some of the scene changes took a long time - I was getting somewhat bored looking at a black screen. Don't know if it's my computer settings or the game. I took off for that - my computer is only a few months old. Maybe the SE will be better at scene changes.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE WRONG - GLAD I TOOK A CHANCE - I LOVED IT
PostedSeptember 20, 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
SUMMARY: I played half the demo and based on that and the reviews, I just didn’t think I’d like it much except to pass the time. Boy, was I wrong! (I got it because I had a coupon.) Compelling story and oodles of fun to play. Good memory or pen and paper needed. Lots of puzzles. Completed game in 5 hours.
STORY: Madame Flemet took over a girls’ finishing school and began stealing students’ youth and beauty. You go to confront Flemet at the school and regain your youth. Instead you find five students and employees who were forced to remain until they solved a problem or performed a task. While contemplating the chores over the years, they developed surprising abilities, which they give to you after you help them complete their task.
WHAT YOU GET: Widescreen; 3 difficulty modes; Music and sound volumes; very good detailed hints, NO map and NO journal but it didn’t take away any of the fun in playing
GAMEPLAY: Hint system is very good if you need help. You determine that you need an object to complete a puzzle in Location 1, go find it in another location (Location 2), determine that there is nothing more to do in Location 2, return to Location 1 to use the object you just found, determine there is nothing more you can do in Location 1 until you find another object in another location. Repeat many, many times. You are always going back and forth for one item.
You have to help 5 students and employees finished a task they have been working on for all the years since the school closed. After helping them, they give you their abilities: see through things, tame animals, stop motion, turn evil into good, and animate objects. You will see where to use these abilities when you get a colored picture when you mouse over (such as a green eye, white hourglass, etc.)
There are a couple puzzles you encounter at the very beginning: you can’t see into a hole in a tree, a statue needs to hold some type of weapon, and a grate needs two outlines (they look like cats to me) to open. You won’t be able to solve them until the end of the game is near.
HOS & PUZZLES: List based, uncrowded and done artistically well. Puzzles are many and varied. See above: you will be moving all around to find the pieces of the puzzles and only one at a time. So there’s lots of back and forth. Even though there’s no map, it is not too hard to navigate (probably because you visit each location so often).
I recommend this game!