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:
What was a regular day turned into a nightmare for a young woman wakes up not knowing what happened or what will happen next!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
WORTH BUYING ON SALE
PostedSeptember 21, 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
3
/
5
A nice, pleasant and enjoyable game. You have to fix the mirrors that your children broke; each mirror has its own environment from the sea to snowy winter. Game is basically a FOG; not many puzzles. While the graphics were not breathtaking, they were quite good. Two voice overs that sound pleasant. Each location icon logs the number of objects remaining to assemble and the number still to be placed.
For 7 mirrors, each with 4 or 5 locations, the game was pretty short (took me less than 3 hours and I really take my time playing). Since each mirror is a story of its own, there could have been more mirrors or more complicated FOGs. Still, it’s well-made and worth buying on sale. Overall, a little above-average game, and lots of fun to play. Plan to have a nice afternoon but don't expect the game to be spectacular or lengthy.
I recommend this game!
Rescue your daughter, Hannah, from the clutches of an evil witch before it's too late in this chilling Hidden Object adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
107 of 112 found this review helpful
SUCKS YOU IN FROM THE BEGINNING
PostedSeptember 21, 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
A very spooky adventure in an old school, trying to get your daughter back and save other children captured by a witch. Excellent production values - the developers did a fantastic and creative job in making this one of the creepiest games around. There’s so much to do. Even with a map (not interactive) to tell you where actions are required, a pen and paper will come in handy.
Uses real actors with voices and natural-sounding dialog that is spot on. Soundscapes (especially the background screaming and wind storm sounds) add to the already eerie atmosphere. Graphics are a visual delight - beautifully drawn and detailed environments, befitting the story perfectly. Little roving eyes found everywhere add to the creepiness. Wide variety of innovative and brilliant puzzles that are a lot of fun.
This game just sucks you in from the beginning and is the perfect game to play on a stormy night with the lights low and no one around.
I recommend this game!
Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake
Discover the Secrets of Grey Mist Lake! FBI Agent Claire Ellery has discovered another Strange Case and she needs your help!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Good Solid Game
PostedSeptember 20, 2012
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
2
/
5
Storyline is nothing new – car crash, disappearing town, witch, and disappearing person needing to be found. They could have added a twist to it. Good mix of puzzles and HOS. Puzzles can be very creative and can be real head bangers, but can be skipped. Find a green card in the HO scenes before you get a list of objects to find. Although it was interesting at first, it did get tedious after a while. Your inventory is in a case rather than in an inventory tray, so you must open it every time you want to place something.
You have objectives throughout the game and, every time you finish one, a green card appears with your next task. Graphics set a moody atmosphere and the voice overs and music are complementary. They add a lot to the story, although the VO's are amateurish and exaggerated. Took about 5+ hours to play. Bonus game has Clarie exploring the making of the witch and took me about 1 ½ hours. Not quite as good as I thought it would be, but still had a pleasant time playing.
I recommend this game!
Discover the Red Riding Hood Sisters and defeat the nefarious Wolf Queen!
Overall rating
5
/
5
110 of 132 found this review helpful
WINNER WINNER WINNER!
PostedSeptember 20, 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
If you’ve played any Dark Parables games, you won’t be disappointed in this one. It is as fantastic as the others. But it should come with a warning that it contains violence and is not intended for children. A few;people will find some of the scenes disturbing as the scenes are quite detailed rather than just giving an impression of what action is taking place. Others will not want to play at night when home alone, especially in a storm.
Otherwise, production values are terrific, with superior graphics and animation. Story is as original as Snow Queen and Briar Rose. This is a very well developed game with a lot of attention given to the details. HOS are nicely sized and well-defined. Intriguing puzzles (there’s always a twist), Music is relaxing, but contrary to the subject matter. Map helps you keep your running shoes from wearing out needlessly. With the bundle sale going on, I would also highly recommend adding at least one of the other Dark Parables games to your collection.
I recommend this game!
The nefarious treasure thief Jacques has kidnapped another damsel, and it’s up to you to stop his plans before she is sacrificed!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 19 found this review helpful
NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS SIMPLE AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
PostedSeptember 18, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Gameplay took 6 ½ - 7 hours. Game was much more challenging than I thought it would be. Although this is another “people crashed on an island” game, the plot did get more complicated. There are 20 locations and plenty of things to do. You are frequently looking for several things at once – at one time, you have 12 things to find for different reasons. There is an interactive map – you’ll frequently need to go back to a scene later to complete it. Your tasks may mention a location. So, when you are in a new location, I suggest you look at the map to see where it is on the map, because locations are not identified by name and the illustrations clearly identify only a few locations. (There are several village and lake locations, for example, so it helps to know where they are specifically.)
HOS and inventory: HOS are moderately challenging, but items are identifiable and nicely sized. Even people you find go into inventory. Some inventory is used well after it is found. You will also encounter situations where you need an inventory item, but will not be able to get it until quite a while later. So you’ll always have several things going on at once. You do have a journal written after the fact like most, but it is helpful in solving a few puzzles. If outside of the HOS, the hint system will tell you what to do and usually in what location; it’s almost like having a strategy guide. But you need to know where those locations are, so see my comment above. Otherwise you’ll be aimlessly backtracking quite a bit. Graphics were good, except that the people looked waxlike. Puzzles are varied and many were more of an adventure than your typical puzzle. Music was appropriate for the game.
I recommend this game!
Embark on a thrilling rescue mission in the Town of the Cyclops!
Overall rating
5
/
5
176 of 191 found this review helpful
SIMPLY OUTSTANDING
PostedSeptember 16, 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
I have nothing but praise for the Margrave Manor games. I have about 450 games and grade them. Less than 15% earn an A (so I know I will enjoy them several times) and the Margrave games have all earned an A. So if you liked the previous Margrave games, you’ll like this one. If you haven't tried them, I suggest you might like what you find.
Storyline: 18th Century: One-eyed Oban was considered a god of the pagans by the Puritans. The town disappeared 300 years ago on an island lost to cartographers and appears every 300 years. Present day: The town has appeared and Tom is kidnapped, presumably by an ominous citizen. Who kidnapped him and not Edwina, and for what purpose, are part of the mystery to be solved. Edwina has to find him before the town disappears for another 300 years.
Gameplay: Lots of things to do and see. Interactive map which provides a bird’s eye view of the town. Map can be changed to “discover” mode which shows where tasks can be performed. Edwina encounters many surprises along the way. Example: Huge statutes guarding the town appear from the ground after Edwina solves a puzzle, and the statutes are another puzzle which must be solved before gaining access to the town. You get the idea – there are a lot of refreshingly unique and challenging but fun puzzles to solve which have a direct correlation to the play on your quest to find Tom.
The production values are outstanding. You do have to think about what to do and how to go about it. The hint system is just that – only a hint. It won’t point you to the exact location or action to take. The artistry is so gorgeous and very detailed that you sometimes just want to relax and look at it. Music changes periodically. The intro would appeal to the younger generation, but it later changes to something that you might like listening to. Voices are English with British pronunciation. There are HOGS every so often (but not as often as puzzles). The objects are good sized but still the HOG is not too easy because many of the objects are so cleverly hidden that it’s easy to bypass them. The developers constructed a very well-crafted and polished game.
I recommend this game!
Step into the shoes of detective Sarah Green and solve the mystery of Dr. Magnus' disappearance in this beautiful Hidden Object adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 29 found this review helpful
More Run of the Mill Than New
PostedSeptember 9, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Game has extremely slow loads in some places, which I hardly ever experience. Story is a mystery, but it seems to be a very slow-paced game, with no mental sense of urgency. In your search, you come across recipes related to dreams that go into your journal for use later. You also come across papers which need to be deciphered by water or fire (like the disappearing magic ink we had as children). Gameplay is straightforward. The HOS have very large, clearly defined objects. My one complaint is that you come across newspaper articles occasionally. It’s too bad that they are too blurry to read, except for the headlines, because the stories seem to have some connection to the story. Graphics are nicely-sized and wonderfully detailed. The game seems to be “run of the mill” in that there is nothing new. Still, it can be a nice game for newbies to spend an afternoon playing.
I recommend this game!
Help Melissa find her son, figure out who is behind his kidnapping, and stay off the police radar in Vault Cracker!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
A Busy Burglar
PostedSeptember 9, 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
5
/
5
Really enjoyed the 5 ½ hours it took to play this very refreshing game a second time. It's a 4 1/2 star game and it's a toss-up as to whether to round up or down.
Storyline: Melissa is a retired cat burglar whose son is held ransom until she robs a bank. She recruits a former buddy to help her (male for you guys). Never saw the ending coming – it was a little surprising. With her deductive reasoning and bravery, she should look into being a detective as a legitimate career since she is once again retired.
Gameplay: There are a limited number of environments. You get to choose her wardrobe for each of the 5 chapters. It took some getting used to not being able to back out of scenes. Instead, you click on the character, then hover somewhere in the scene until you get a picture of a walking person to show that you can do something at that location. There is only one such location open at a time. The gameplay itself is not too easy and not too difficult. I thought it was perfect when I wanted to exercise my brain, but only a little.
HOS: Two kinds. (1st) straight HOS with a small amount of interaction, crisp, clear and best of all, no little objects here – so it was a real pleasure to play them. Whenever you found an object, game made a couple cool sounds I would never tire of. It amused me that there were so many Gogii products in the HOS. Many of the items found in the traditional HOS are used in the Circle HOS. (2nd) Circle HOS (put items into a circle to get another object). Can be working on 2 or 3 circles at a time. When you hover over an item, a hand tells you it can be used in one of the circles.
Puzzles special kudos: Really cool puzzles and mini-games that get a progressively more complex. Tied nicely into the story and gameplay. What’s extra nice is that there are verbal instructions and visual examples of how to play the mini-games. Wish more games had this so I don’t have to read unclear and minimal instructions, then try to figure out what in the world did they mean and what am I supposed to do. At the end of each chapter, you have to crack open a safe before the big finale.
Graphics were beautifully crafted and each location fit the story perfectly. Music was relaxing, with a slight upbeat. It recycled, but it was so pleasant to listen to.
I recommend this game!
Investigate a mysterious and deadly curse! Save a town from the grip of supernatural hysteria!
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 93 found this review helpful
SIGN OF THE SPIRIT
PostedSeptember 8, 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
This game actually plays in widescreen-yeah! From the beginning, this is an ominous outing. Liked that the sound effects were close to, but not quite, realistic sounding. and the animation (the ghostly figure added to the atmosphere) and graphics were absolutely terrific. The music plays to the spooky theme. A fun game to play without getting stressed out or tired because the HOS are too cluttered and small. Here they were nicely sized and the list of objects was large enough to easily see. The main question for me is whether to get the CE or SE.
I recommend this game!
Follow a mysterious signal to the middle of the ocean with Professor John Darby and explore an island that has magically appeared!
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
FOR HOG LOVERS
PostedSeptember 8, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Summary: You are on a boat expedition, trying to track a signal from some mysterious source. Supposedly, it would lead to Atlantis. You wake up suddenly and find all the crew has disappeared and you search the island for them, checking that you are on the right track by following coins planted by the captain. If you like going from HOG to HOG without having to go through hoops to get to the next one, this is for you. It has:
- Little to do other than HOGs and puzzles
- Light story, but what there is makes sense and is easy to follow
- Lots of HOGs, lists of objects, some objects are small; making them crisper would have helped minimize that flaw
- No moving to new locations - you’re automatically taken to next HOG
- Easy puzzles (although difficulty increases marginally later in the game)
- HOGs heavily outweigh puzzles in frequency
- Picturesque artwork
- Written dialogue
- Hints work well in the HOS and recharge fairly quickly
- Music – had to turn it off
- Light story, but what there is makes sense and is easy to follow
- Lots of HOGs, lists of objects, some objects are small; making them crisper would have helped minimize that flaw
- No moving to new locations - you’re automatically taken to next HOG
- Easy puzzles (although difficulty increases marginally later in the game)
- HOGs heavily outweigh puzzles in frequency
- Picturesque artwork
- Written dialogue
- Hints work well in the HOS and recharge fairly quickly
- Music – had to turn it off
Reason for only 3 stars is that there are too many HOS for me.
I recommend this game!