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:
After waking up chained to the floor of a cabin, you must discover the Secret of Agony Creek and escape before it's too late!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
LOVE SURPRISE ENDINGS
PostedNovember 6, 2012
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
4
/
5
STORYLINE: You’re investigating the downfall of a dilapidated abandoned town at the request of Evelyn. People you talk to keep disappearing before your eyes and mysterious photos turn up showing their faces burned out. What is going on? Then, Evelyn warns you against Diane, a cop who has murdered 5 people already. Officer Diane says she needs your help in figuring out what happened to the town and warns you that Evelyn is just a con artist. Who is right? Your life may depend on it.
Interactive HOS: uncrowded, somewhat drab, large and identifiable objects. PUZZLES: A wide variety; none exasperating. For mini-games, sometimes you can insert an object even if you need two. Othertimes, you will need to have accumulated all of the objects in inventory before you can use them for the puzzle. Good mix of HOS to puzzles and mini-games. GAMEPLAY: Easy to get around. Graphics look good on my 27” screen and sound effects are good. Piano music is unobtrusive. Voice overs are fairly good (dialogue is also written if you turn off voices). Story moves at a fast pace. The ending was a real surprise. About 4 hours casual play.
I recommend this game!
Bejeweled 3
Escape to the biggest, brightest Bejeweled ever! Discover all-new ways to play the world's #1 puzzle game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 24 found this review helpful
NOT AT ALL CHALLENGING
PostedNovember 6, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
This is not a very challenging game at all. I was new to this type of game. In a relatively short time, I played 14 different games (quest, diamond, ice storm, poker, et al) and exceeded the goals on the first try, thus earning achievements I didn't feel I worked for. The levels were all very easy. I can see where some people could get addicted to it, especially since it doesn't really occupy your mind, but not for me except on a sporadic basis.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
18 of 19 found this review helpful
WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF LONGER WITH TWISTS
PostedNovember 5, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
GAMEPLAY: Most of the game is made up of HOS: Scenes are somewhat but not overly crowded. Click on a word and you’ll see a silhouette briefly. Items are not always proportionate (ex: a comb could be half the length of a door). Besides the HOS, there are “put everything in its place” puzzles. If you can’t figure out where something goes, move the cursor around until it changes to a hand. Something will go there.
STORYLINE: Hazel undergoes hypnotherapy to discover why she has been having terrible nightmares since her father died (her mother passed away under mysterious circumstances when Hazel was 5). She has little memory of her mother. She goes back to the family mansion and finds that her mother was shot and she and her father moved out suddenly. She discovers that her father was in tremendous debt and selling off many assets. Why not sell the mansion instead of letting it decay into ruin?
THE REST: Music unobtrusive. Good animation and sound effects. Abrupt but satisfactory ending. Rather short game, so you might want to wait for a sale or coupon – I would not pay full price even though I liked it a lot. The premise to the storyline was such that a much longer game could have been developed using the mind and its workings by adding twists and turns to the story. That and the length would be the shortcomings. I have a 27” monitor and was able to play on the entire screen and still get crisp delineation of objects.
I recommend this game!
The Fairy Godmother, Gwendolyn, needs you to repair and upgrade Albian Castle for the Convention of Magic Masters!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
MAGICAL CONVENTION
PostedNovember 4, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
STORYLINE: Albian Castle is hosting this year’s Convention of Magic Masters, but is in disrepair. You arrive to help your fairy godmother to make repairs before the guests arrive. Lovely setting and rooms to visit.
GAMEPLAY: Timed or untimed modes. First you need funds to make repairs. The HOS will provide the needed treasures to be sold to the magical pawn shop. The HOS are somewhat cluttered and objects may occasionally be small, but they are crisp, clear and very colorful. You start with 3 hints, but there are fairies hidden in the scenes, who will find one random object for you. There are also ways to earn extra money: find gems scattered throughout the scenes; finish a scene with extra time on the clock in timed mode; earn $25 for each unused hint; get bonuses for speedily finding the next item appearing in your list.
Take your treasures to the pawnshop. The proprietor is an interesting character. Repair sections of the castle as you accumulate funds. There are an eclectic mix of designs for the towers, bridges, etc. and you can change the design later if you want. PUZZLES: There is an array of puzzles available. After the game is finished, you have the option to replay the puzzles. You also get a selection of wallpaper for your desktop, an unusual benefit of a SE.
I recommend this game!
After crashing his ship, Columbus sees a beautiful apparition. Now, he must explore a mysterious island and battle for survival!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
VERY PLEASANT AFTERNOON OF PLAY
PostedNovember 4, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
9 Chapters. Fairly easy game with a few challenges. A little over 3 hours on casual (but I may have not counted a half hour). STORYLINE: Felipa’s life-force (trapped in stone) has raised Columbus from the dead after the Pinta’s been caught in a storm. But he must release her spirit by the next full moon or he will die and Felipa will stay forever in the stone. To release her, he must complete an amulet after first fixing the Pinta and travelling to Corsica, France, and Spain, also visiting the Queen and a market, to complete several tasks and to gather the parts for the amulet. He makes it just in time.
GAMEPLAY: Nice-sized beautifully detailed and brightly-colored HOS (so objects aren’t too difficult to find). Besides interactive HOS, there are FRAGS which are clearly distinguishable. Proper proportion of HOS to FRAGS. Linear play - you have a task list that tells you the next thing that needs to be done. Various puzzles and mini-games, becoming more challenging as the game progresses. Lovely scenery and background music. Gameplay is not too mind-boggling, so it’s a pleasant afternoon of play.
I recommend this game!
Fight your way out of a coma by exploring your deepest memories.
Overall rating
4
/
5
58 of 64 found this review helpful
RELAXING
PostedNovember 4, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A vision appears while you are in a coma, telling you to make amends for past wrong doings. There are 4 “stories.” Not my usual cup of tea, but there’s a life lesson to be learned here. Interesting puzzles and mini-games, crisp and clear interactive HOS that aren’t too crowded; lovely graphics. Straightforward gameplay - probably won't need the strategy guide. Entertaining diversion from the usual car crashes, kidnapped person and ghost stories. Music is a little too relaxing for me but would be good if stressed out. Hint system on casual recharges very fast. Very relaxing game.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
CAN YOU SOLVE THE MYSTERY?
PostedNovember 2, 2012
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
You and Monsieur Dupin follow a mysterious black cat to clues and various locations as you try to solve the disappearance of Mr. Davies’ wife from his vast estate. Well developed and polished classic story and non-linear gameplay. There was a lot of thought into creating a believable story. There is a lot of backtracking, but it’s usually within 3 or 4 scenes, until near the end. Beautiful visual effects – creative efforts show when the cat looks as real as a live cat as it moves in and out of the scenes to catch your attention.
HOS: interactive, uncrowded, large objects are well defined and seeable. Wide variety of interesting puzzles and mini-games, which vary in difficulty from easy to intermediate. Some are standard HOG fare, but updated with varying degrees of twists and turns. Dialogue is written; music is pleasant. Lovely scenery. Although I like all the Dark Tale stories, this is my least favorite. That being said, it is still among the best games out there.
I recommend this game!
Explore the vastness of a ship lost in time, what mysteries will you uncover amidst its Mayan idols, menacing sea creatures, and exotic treasures? Find out in this exciting new Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game on the open seas!
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 69 found this review helpful
INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL MAYAN ARTWORK
PostedNovember 2, 2012
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
3
/
5
Your partner and a poacher is missing, a boy is crying for help and Mayan treasures are scattered all about. Just dive in and explore this ship. An interactive map takes you to locations with active tasks. You also have a journal and the cutscenes to keep the action rolling. Plenty of interactive HOS - if you get stuck, or if you prefer, you can switch back and forth between a list based object search or mah jong. You never have to wait for the hint button.
Although there are the standard puzzles, you’ll need to think about how to solve the few that are more challenging. Excellent animation and sound effects, but the VO’s could use a lot of improvement. Graphics are somewhat dark and gloomy, as befitting an undersea shipwreck, but the detail for the Mayan artifacts are beautiful with incredible coloring. A very well developed, polished game. I did take off 1/2 star because the story is too used; still, it's a great game.
I recommend this game!
Uncover Poseidon’s ancient secrets hidden under the town of Black Water!
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 36 found this review helpful
FUNTASTIC
PostedNovember 1, 2012
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
A challenging and unique adventure game with an interesting story. You see a huge tentacled creature is not only pursuing one of the missing archaeologists in an abandoned town, but it is everywhere and putting up obstacles to block your way every chance it gets. Lots of places to visit, things to do, and challenging puzzles. Interactive map and a journal Mini-games are unique, fun and moderately challenging.
Interactive HOS are large, clearly defined and not too cluttered (always important). Great graphics; you can adjust the ambient sound. Dialogue is written; nice sounding narrator; music apropos. For the CE, you collect turtles. I would have liked a little more of a challenge in figuring out what to do next. It seemed pretty clearcut on where you had to go and what you had to do next. Still, it is a funtastic game.
I recommend this game!
Go on a fun adventure in Barbados! After trying on a cursed ring, you must now find 6 stolen treasures or pay the ultimate price!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
A LUCKY FINGER? NICE TWIST ON HOS
PostedNovember 1, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
STORYLINE: Isabel is on vacation and comes across a ring in a curio shop. The ring has been there forever and is waiting for someone on whose finger it fits. Isabel is that lucky person, so the ring is now hers. Along with the ring, she must track down 6 treasures of Pirate Flint or the ring will suck the life out of her.
HOS are a clearly defined mess of junk. There is an added element of interest to the HOS hunts: the list of objects are scattered among various rooms in the location. But to keep the roaming in check, since there are sometimes quite a few rooms, a little lock icon will appear on the object if you’re searching in the wrong room. HINTS work well enough within the HOS; however, you’re pretty much on your own outside of the HOS. PUZZLES are plentiful and the varieties are the usual choices. Average length.
I recommend this game!