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:
Follow orphan Eva on a trip to mystical Prague. Will she find out about her Royal origins, find real love, and save the world from a monster? It’s all up to you.
Overall rating
4
/
5
28 of 32 found this review helpful
Prague Legends
PostedSeptember 7, 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
3
/
5
An entertaining adventure of an orphaned woman who is suddenly a heiress to a mansion in Prague in a very ominous setting. Even the assistant who meets her seems menacing (but not to the heiress). Brilliant artwork - Prague is a beautiful city and the graphics show it. Live actors (though their performance is bit stunted) in the street is a good touch. Cool puzzles; minute detail for animation (little flies crawl on the wall). The sudden appearance of “things” (read parts of beings, like talons) lends to the suspense. Disappointed in the long load between some scenes where you are staring at black. Interesting IHOGS: sometimes you have to find parts of an object in the scene and put them together; other times, you will use something in your inventory in the IHOG; still other times, you will have to go out and find part of an object in one of the environments before putting it into the IHOG. The environment is very large so you will need pencil and paper to keep track of what needs to be done in which locations. A well-crafted game.
I recommend this game!
After discovering a new system of caves, the entire town is excited to explore, until Suzy is kidnapped by a mechanical beast!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Another ERS Top Quality Game
PostedSeptember 7, 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
Storyline: Suggest that you play at least Mystery of Joyville so that you have the gist of the series. Felicia is continuing her pursuit of being young and beautiful and, this time, she has absconded with a little girl into a cave in the mountains and her mother asks you to find her. The familiar spider-bot is back, but isn’t featured here. Most of the town is deserted or its residents dead, but you do run across several puppets that remain but haven’t been functioning for some time. The town isn’t very large but, once you get into the caverns, there are a few times when you have to trek clear across town to get one object.
Graphics are stunning, as usual, and the music follows in the wake of its predecessors (it’s actually grown on me). This time, you get to finish one of the puppets and fix a couple others to work. The animation is astounding. HOS are nicely sized and easily identifiable. Although you do repeat the HO scenes, not everything is returned to the way it was originally. So if you broke something the first time, it may still be broken when you revisit the HOS. You will need a lot of objects to help you on your journey, so there are a lot of HOS to provide them for you. Puzzles are beautifully-crafted; many are unique. Some are quite challenging, especially toward the end, but there is a skip button available.
This is another game by ERS that is top-notch in everything.
I recommend this game!
Enter the abandoned hotel and find your missing twin!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
PostedSeptember 7, 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
5
/
5
Storyline: Based on the novel and characters of the book written in 1927. Charles and his sister grew up in an orphanage and inherit a hotel in a desolate location from their Uncle Curwen. Charles went to check it out before telling his sister, but has been gone a week. The police aren’t interested, so she goes to find him. Only one taxi driver is willing to take her to the hotel, provided he can drop her off 1 mile from the hotel. The tale unfolds as pages and notes are found scattered throughout the game.
As the hotel is haunted and locals stay away, there’s an underlying sinister feel to CDW, especially when thick black smoke keeps appearing out of nowhere, then abruptly seems to be blown away. While the HOS has large objects, the edges can be murky. But given the spooky nature of the story, that may have been intentional.
Puzzles are tried and true, some with a nice twist. Difficulty ranges from easy to moderately difficult. Graphics are outstanding at creating a spooky, gloomy atmosphere without being overbearing. And the sound effects and animation add to the creepiness, what with the creaking doors, the black clouds, and blood red words of warning.
If there’s a CON to the game, it’s that you stare at a black screen between location changes.
Overall, this is a brilliant adaptation of the novel. Wikipedia has a nice summary of the Charles Dexter Ward novel, which the developers have integrated nicely into this game. You will see that they put a lot of thought and creativity into the game to maintain the story’s integrity. It was a pleasure playing it. Although it's about a haunted hotel and its owner, it isn't too scary. Length would be 4-5 hours in casual mode if you aren't a rusher.
I recommend this game!
Be the detective: Catch the killer in the present and the past!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 42 found this review helpful
REFRESHINGLY UNIQUE STORY
PostedSeptember 6, 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
5
/
5
Finally a unique story. Angelica Weaver is a visionary profiler who can be victim and killer simultaneously, currently investigating the murder of Andrew Chapman and trying to establish a connection with a murder she sees years earlier in London. Hard to wait until the end to find out what that connection is. This is more of an adventure game with a few HOS (nicely sized) and puzzles (several as unique as the story) that tie nicely to the story. Puzzles are sometimes incorporated with the HOS – such as finding 20 pairs of matching shoes from the time period of the London murder, with some hidden in cupboards and under chairs. Angelica is the narrator (pleasant to listen to) and the hint system – you only start with 3 but can earn more as time passes. The artwork is superb - the work put into the details and colors is simply marvelous. The gameplay is challenging. A beautifully-crafted and polished story that is a joy to play.
I recommend this game!
After having a strange vision, Veronica Rivers finds a mysterious warning! Veronica's vacation is about to end abruptly!
Overall rating
2
/
5
20 of 20 found this review helpful
Not Up to Expectations
PostedSeptember 5, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The demo wasn’t bad. But having played Portals to the Unknown in its entirety, I’m very disappointed in this offering and couldn’t wait for it to end. With Veronica being a rescue pilot and with the earth being in danger, the story had a lot of potential but fell short. Not much to do – just search for objects and play puzzles. There is no inventory. Anything you find in the HOS automatically goes where needed, so you’re even deprived of that activity.
There are many interesting puzzles with difficulty ranging from easy to challenging, but I would expect the game to match the more sophisticated puzzles in quality. Graphics were murky, especially in the HOS. Music changes, depending on the environment, and the cutscenes and dialogue were okay. Ending was blasé. Seemed to be a cliffhanger suggesting a sequel, but the game design and production values need to increase a lot for me to consider buying. 2 1/2 stars, downgraded because this studio can and does offer more.
I don't recommend this game.
After the Countess is discovered dead, it’s up to you to find her murderer in Mystery Chronicles: Betrayals of Love!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
YOU GOTTA LOVE HOGS
PostedSeptember 4, 2012
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Story: A countess has been murdered and her husband has disappeared. [Mystery readers beg the question: Did he kill her?] An unfortunate fisherman who found the deceased is being charged with her murder. But the police lack enough evidence to convict, so have called on you to investigate. As you determine who the suspects are, you stumble across the answer. Ending presents closure but is a little surprising.
HOS/PUZZLES: I would classify this as a HOG with a little adventure thrown in, because it seems that almost every time you turn around, there’s another HOS. [Really, like a new HOS every 2 minutes!] They can be quite challenging. Although they are not too cluttered and most items are not too small, the difficulty is that the objects are blended into shady backgrounds so well, and I am taking a star off for that. There are a few standard puzzles, some with a clever presentation - nothing too challenging.
HINTS: Outside of the HOS, the Hint system will tell you where you need to go and what you need to do. If you choose not to use it, prepare to wander aimlessly until you find a HOS and then figure out where to use whatever inventory item you get. This would be a good candidate for an interactive map that tells you where actions are possible.
Graphics in the numerous locations are appealing; music and cutscenes adequate. Gameplay is not linear. Story is nothing new, nor are the HOS and mini-games. However, it is a nice solid HOG.
I recommend this game!
Return to the PuppetShow in this spooky sequel! Solve new mysteries and uncover dark secrets in Puppetshow: Souls of the Innocent.
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 14 found this review helpful
Souls of the Innocent
PostedSeptember 3, 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
5
/
5
Game took 3 ½ hours, but it was my third time playing. So add an hour or two, depending on your skill level, for a first-time play.
Storyline: Refreshingly original and cohesive. Joyville people are falling into a deep sleep and you are investigating why. Little do they know that Felicia is stealing souls so that she can use them to regain her beauty. The cute scuttling spider doll is back to again tease you. Ending was satisfactory for some, not so for others.
Gameplay: Although not linear, it is usually apparent what needs to be done. How is not as easy, especially once many more environments become open. Artwork is clear, exquisite and beautifully detailed and the animation is again superb. There are a lot of HOS and they are a pleasure to play – objects are well defined, lovely and good sized. Puzzles and mini-games are diverse and well-crafted, complexity ranges from fairly easy to moderately challenging and they are tied together by the story.
Game design is once again awesome, as are all ERS games. About 4 1/2 stars, rounded up because of the unique storyline and gorgeous artwork.
I recommend this game!
Uncover dark secrets, find hidden clues, and solve nefarious puzzles, in PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Mystery of Joyville - First Story
PostedSeptember 2, 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
This is a delightfully wonderful game to play. This was my third time playing it and it took me 3 hours to complete. (I don’t ever rush through games.) Add one or two hours, depending on your skill level, for a first-time play.
Graphics are clear, crisp, and meticulously colored to portray a slightly decaying town. Animation is top-notch, especially the cute scrambling mechanical spider-doll running just ahead of you. It’s a joy to play the HOS, as the objects are good sized and clearly identifiable. HOS are partially interactive. The types of mini-games and puzzles are varied and the difficulty ranges from somewhat easy to more challenging. They aren’t just there as fillers, but instead move you along in the story. Music is apropos to the story and helps to create a suspenseful and unsettling atmosphere.
Details of the storyline were beautifully conceived. The addition of the spider-doll lurking and scuttling about was a nice touch to create a refreshingly unique spin on the tried and true “missing people” story. If you take your stories too seriously, it can be a little unsettling at times, and it does have its tragedy and the obligatory cliffhanger.
I recommend this game!
After being kidnapped, your friend is about to be sacrificed to a powerful demon and it's up to you to save him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 13 found this review helpful
Worth the Money
PostedSeptember 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
Storyline: Game is about investigating a supernatural force behind the disappearance of people in a city. You will meet a few of those mysterious dark forces very briefly.
Gameplay: Game is a Reverse HOS (put objects where they belong in the HOS), with some animation. [If you see a skeleton, click it.] Objects are nicely sized and not merely peeking out from behind some other object. Graphics and sound effects are good.
Different: Game differs from others in that you open or close curtains to change the illumination of 4 locations (hotel, hospital, sheriff, museum), which is really changing from the “now” to “sometime in the past.” The differences are dramatic and you only close/open the curtains in the first room in each location. Changes in the past affect the present and vice versa. The last 20% of the game is in one illumination, and there are popup clues about when to change illumination so you don’t wander around for half an hour trying to find something because it’s not in that environment.
Limited traveling to the 4 locations, with 3 of the environments having only 3-4 rooms each. Variety of puzzles and mini-games which vary in difficulty. One cool thing: There are a few flipping games to get all the lights on, or variations thereof. You can restart the mini-game as often as you want, if you get so stuck that you’re dizzy and ready to give up. 30 minute skip penalty.
SE vs. CE: I would recommend the CE. 2 bonus games continue the story: you are saving the sacrificed residents of the city in new locations and trying to cleanse the city from any residual dark forces in the same locations as the main game.
TIME: The main game took me just over 5 hours. The bonus games added 3 1/2 plus.
I recommend this game!
After being kidnapped, your friend is about to be sacrificed to a powerful demon and it’s up to you to save him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 45 found this review helpful
Well worth the CE
PostedSeptember 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
Storyline: Game is about investigating a supernatural force behind the disappearance of people in a city. You will meet a few of those mysterious dark forces very briefly. The bonus games continue the story (see below), although the main game has a conclusion.
Gameplay: Main game is a Reverse HOS (put objects where they belong in the HOS), with some animation. [If you see a skeleton, click it.] Objects are nicely sized and not merely peeking out from behind some other object. Graphics and sound effects are good.
Different: Game differs from others in that you open or close curtains to change the illumination of 4 locations (hotel, hospital, sheriff, museum), which is really changing from the “now” to “sometime in the past.” The differences are dramatic and you only close/open the curtains in the first room in each location. Changes in the past affect the present and vice versa. The last 20% of the game was in one illumination. There are popup clues about when to change illumination so you don’t wonder around for half an hour not finding what you need because it’s not in that environment.
Limited traveling to the 4 locations, with 3 of the environments having only 3-4 rooms each. Variety of puzzles and mini-games which vary in difficulty. One cool thing: There are a few flipping games to get all the lights on, or variations thereof. You can restart the mini-game as often as you want, if you get so stuck that you’re dizzy and ready to give up.
BONUS: There are 2 bonus games which continue the story. “Book of the Dead” is puzzles and the locations are new. You are saving the sacrificed residents of the city. In “Magic Crystals, you’ll encounter traditional HOS with lists of objects in the same locations as the main game, as you try to cleanse the city from any residual dark forces. You will not be changing illuminations very much in either bonus game. You can also replay the mini-games to your heart’s content.
TIME: The main game took me just over 5 hours. The Book of the Dead bonus game was about 2 hours and Magic Crystals bonus game was 1 ½ hours. I play casual/relaxed mode. So you get a lot for your money.
CON: The font is small and too fancy (though there are worse) to read easily. What’s wrong with Century Gothic or Calibri?
I recommend this game!