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:
Spirits of Mystery: The Silver Arrow Collector's Edition
The mystical Silver Arrow has been stolen from you on the eve of your wedding. Without it, you can’t marry your beloved Prince Philip! Can you track down the arrow in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
GOOD FAIRY TALE
PostedMarch 20, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
SUMMARY: [Keeping short because others have gone into the details of the game.] Terrific sound and special effects. Nonlinear fairy tale. HOS are "place the objects" into the scene. Objects are found near where they can be used. Map with pending activities shown. Outstanding graphics and artistic extravagance, with very good color palettes. Lots to do in this mostly adventure game. Nice storyline. Well thought-out gameplay. CE has the usual enticements.
I recommend this game!
Spirits of Mystery: The Silver Arrow
The mystical Silver Arrow has been stolen from you on the eve of your wedding. Without it, you can’t marry your beloved Prince Philip! Can you track down the arrow in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
MOSTLY ADVENTURE IN A FAIRY TALE
PostedMarch 20, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
SUMMARY: [Keeping short because others have gone into the details of the game.] Terrific sound and special effects. Nonlinear fairy tale. HOS are "place the objects" into the scene. Objects are found near where they can be used. Map with pending activities shown. Outstanding graphics and artistic extravagance, with very good color palettes. Lots to do in this mostly adventure game. Nice storyline. Well thought-out gameplay.
I recommend this game!
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher Collector's Edition
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
27 of 49 found this review helpful
ERS OUTDID THEMSELVES
PostedMarch 20, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a superb game with outstanding voice overs, crisp graphics, sound and logical but complex nonlinear gameplay, plenty to do and see. Compelling music and cutscenes. HOS are only mildly crowded - I like the clue-driven object finds. There are alternative games to play in lieu of the HOS. Puzzles are many and vary widely in difficulty. This is one Poe book I didn't read - it's mysterious, fascinating and a little scary of what comes next. Visual and sound effects are easily award winners. This may well be the best Edgar Allan Poe game from ERS to date, which says a lot. They outdid themselves.
I recommend this game!
Order of the Light: The Deathly Artisan Collector's Edition
Paranormal activity has turned Smalltown upside-down! As the newest initiate of the Order of the Light, you must investigate why.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
FUN GAME
PostedMarch 19, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Lots of fun. Change difficulty level at any time. Good voice overs and narrator. Map with objectives. Hint is specific in what to do. HOS are uncrowded, list-based and objects are quite detailed and a nice color palette. Graphics are good and special effects are awesome (although there aren't a lot and they are similar). Can figure out what to do. Nonlinear game with lots and lots to do and several directions to take at your will. Catch the ghosts with your special ghost apparatus (it glows; you cannot see the ghosts without it). Puzzles are easy. Objects you find are used within a short distance of where you find them, so you don't wander around aimlessly wondering where you can use an object. Good production values with a very good story development (I like ghost stories, especially when you keep running across ghosts). Fun afternoon of play.
PS: Don't know if the CE has enough to warrant a CE price with its collections and achievements and the usual fare.
I recommend this game!
Order of the Light: The Deathly Artisan
Paranormal activity has turned Smalltown upside-down! As the newest initiate of the Order of the Light, you must investigate why.
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 41 found this review helpful
FUN GAME
PostedMarch 19, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Lots of fun. Change difficulty level at any time. Good voice overs and narrator. Map with objectives. Hint is specific in what to do. HOS are uncrowded, list-based and objects are quite detailed and a nice color palette. Graphics are good and special effects are awesome (although there aren't a lot and they are similar). Can figure out what to do. Nonlinear game with lots and lots to do and several directions to take at your will. Catch the ghosts with your special ghost apparatus (it glows; you cannot see the ghosts without it). Puzzles are easy. Objects you find are used within a short distance of where you find them, so you don't wander around aimlessly wondering where you can use an object. Good production values with a very good story development (I like ghost stories, especially when you keep running across ghosts). Fun afternoon of play.
I recommend this game!
Mysterious Oasis
You are one of the planet's only survivors after a natural disaster devours all signs of life. Amid the destruction, the legend of a Mysterious Oasis offers a glimmer of hope...
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 31 found this review helpful
BARE BONES BUT STILL TERRIFIC
PostedMarch 19, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a no frills game. No map or journal. Only 2 difficulty modes. But it does have a good storyline and very good sound effects and music. Play is logical. Puzzles are fairly easy, but I found them fun. The graphics look handdrawn and I like them for their simplicity. Hint system works well. For a bare bones game, I really like it and will buy it. It is better than many games with a little more to offer. Sometimes, it's nice to just get back to basics without the trappings to distract me.
I recommend this game!
Deadly Puzzles: Toymaker
A serial killer nicknamed “the Toymaker” is wreaking havoc on a sleepy town. Can the lead detective piece together clues left at the scene and stop him before he sets his sights on her?
Overall rating
5
/
5
63 of 83 found this review helpful
LOTS OF HOS WITH INTERESTING STORYLINE
PostedMarch 19, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Lots and lots of HOS in this HOG-adventure. "Play" games with the killer to get clues to his identity and stop the murders. Sound effects are superb. Voice overs are very good, especially the detective's. Graphics are detailed and use various color palettes. Puzzles are solved by collecting additional pieces to solve the puzzle at various locations with HOS. Hint system is good. This is a fun game for those who like a lot of HOS with an interesting storyline.
I recommend this game!
Myths of the World: Spirit Wolf Collector's Edition
The wolf spirit still haunts… will you heed its call?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
LOVE THE ALLURE
PostedMarch 18, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Compelling music and opening scene with terrific narration. Good voice overs. Game grabs your attention at the beginning and it doesn't wane.
BASICS: Map with objectives (unless turned off). You have 4 difficulty modes, one of which is customizable so you can choose what help you want, set HOS penalty, recharge and skip time. The customization seems to be the norm lately, and I'm glad. It should cut down on people not liking a game because of difficulty settings.
GAMEPLAY: Sound effects and visual effects (though few) are spectacular. HOS are list or silhouette based and interactive; mildly crowded but very detailed. One minor irritation is that the feathers from the hint system are easy to accidently click when trying to click on an object in that area. You can play bubble shoot if you don't want to play the HOS.
Well-developed storyline (won't repeat what others have already said, but I like it). Puzzles are varied in type and difficulty. Fun to do. Not particularly linear gameplay, but you do have to do certain actions to progress (such as to open up a HOS). Good production values. Wonderfully entertaining.
CE Extras: replay the mini-games and HOS, watch the making of the game, cutscenes, achievements, and all the usuals.
I recommend this game!
Myths of the World: Spirit Wolf
The wolf spirit still haunts... will you heed its call?
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
LOVE THE ALLURE
PostedMarch 18, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Compelling music and opening scene with terrific narration. Good voice overs. Game grabs your attention at the beginning and it doesn't wane.
BASICS: Map with objectives (unless turned off). You have 4 difficulty modes, one of which is customizable so you can choose what help you want, set HOS penalty, recharge and skip time. The customization seems to be the norm lately, and I'm glad. It should cut down on people not liking a game because of difficulty settings.
GAMEPLAY: Sound effects and visual effects (though few) are spectacular. HOS are list or silhouette based and interactive; mildly crowded but very detailed. One minor irritation is that the feathers from the hint system are easy to accidently click when trying to click on an object in that area. You can play bubble shoot if you don't want to play the HOS.
Well-developed storyline (won't repeat what others have already said, but I like it). Puzzles are varied in type and difficulty. Fun to do. Not particularly linear gameplay, but you do have to do certain actions to progress (such as to open up a HOS). Good production values. Wonderfully entertaining.
I recommend this game!
Amaranthine Voyage: The Living Mountain
Your strange travels continue in this sequel to the exciting game that took you on an Amaranthine Voyage...
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
WORLD CLASS GAMEPLAY
PostedMarch 17, 2014
rosekaufmann
fromLos Angeles
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Surface: Mystery of Another World
(224)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
SUMMARY: Flawless gameplay; outstanding graphics and color palettes. Well thought-out story development and exceptional production values. Lengthy game with plenty to do and see. A nice day of exciting gameplay. I haven't finished it, but it might just rival my favorite game.
GAMEPLAY: Immediately grabs and holds your attention. Superb artistry - full of color. Special effects are outstanding. Voice overs are terrific; music is compelling; lots of HOS (list and silhouette; very detailed and not too crowded, with nice color palettes); fun and interesting puzzles (wide variety of difficulty). Play bubble shoot instead of HOS if you want.
BASICS you get: map with objectives and active areas (you can turn off); journal; 3 standard plus one customizable difficulty mode (turn on/off only those aspects you want, including time sets for hint and skip recharges); hint shows snapshot of where you should go; helpful messages. Helper dog (but he won't dig, only fetch).
If you're interested in the SE vs. CE: CE includes achievements; collect fairies, souvenirs and dog biscuits; making of; pictures of process of drawing characters, et al.
I recommend this game!