petporcupine's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:340
- Reviews Submitted:21
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 4, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Black Circle: A Carol Reed Mystery
Help Carol investigate the death of a local resident! Stop a cult before they strike again in Black Circle: A Carol Reed Mystery.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
One of My Favorite Adventure Game Series Ever
PostedFebruary 6, 2015
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
East Side Story
(7)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really wish BFG would carry all of the MDNA Games titles. There have been several episodes since this one: Amber's Blood, Cold Case Summer, and Bosch's Damnation. There's even an older one, Hope Springs Eternal, that isn't available through BFG.
These games are very relaxing yet challenging at the same time. The music is soothing, and the photography is beautiful. I love feeling like I'm exploring a foreign country while playing amateur detective. Just top-notch productions, all of the Carol Reed games.
I recommend this game!
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 37 found this review helpful
A Bit of a Let-Down
PostedNovember 26, 2014
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
There's no denying that MCF games are among the best of their kind. However, the original Dire Grove is one of few games that made excellent use of live actors, and I have to admit that I was disappointed to see the game swap them out for drawn characters.
I've also noticed a trend with newer games--including Dire Grove, Sacred Grove--where there are things you need to click that aren't very much fun. (Example: In a different game, you had to click to pick up a telephone receiver, and then click on the buttons to dial a number.) I call these "mousebreakers." DGSG incorporates these tactics.
The level of challenge in the puzzles and minigames is strangely skewed. Some activities could have easily been given a bit of a challenge, but instead were made ridiculously simple. On the other hand, those puzzles where you had to interact in a particular order had no sense of logic to them and couldn't be solved without asking for puzzle hints. Again, more fairly random clicking!
To sum up my disappointment, the game seems to cater to people who simply like to click their mouse and ignores people who like to use their brain to solve puzzles. And I played on the hardest level. Still, it's better than most of the games out there in this genre.
Help Christine explore the spooky Ashburg Asylum and find her missing grandfather in this dark Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
One of Few I Enjoyed Playing Again
PostedJune 29, 2013
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm at a pretty advanced level and enjoy adventure-style games (especially the old large files), so I'm pretty demanding when it comes to HOAGs. This one has everything. The storyline is one of few that I've found actually compelling, and that's reinforced by the excellent voiceovers. Puzzles are challenging and different. Objects in HO scenes are easy to find, which I don't mind bc that's not my favorite part of playing anyway. I especially like the red herring aspect: You can click on various parts of each scene for comments and additional story points. I wasn't a fan of the Opera installment, but I'm looking forward to trying the next in the series for sure!
I recommend this game!
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 3 found this review helpful
Glad I ignored the bad reviews.
PostedJanuary 5, 2013
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I really enjoyed this game. I read the warnings and proceeded with the knowledge that the storyline would be unsettling. It was, but in a humorous way. It certainly was not as disturbing as a number of movies I've seen (and wished I hadn't). I thought that exploring the psychology behind the madman was brilliant, and the live actor who played him did a great job. This is a well-written story that made me laugh. I even recommended it to a friend of mine who had undergone shock treatment in the past; I thought she would get a kick out of the game's light treatment of mental health. (We both have suffered from depression and prefer to laugh at ourselves rather than be offended by everything.) We both laughed at the Lobotomy setting on one of the dummies!
I am an expert player and found the game to be just challenging enough without having to resort to a walkthrough, which means it's perfect for me. I personally am a huge fan of the morphing objects. I couldn't believe somebody said they weren't that hard to find. I found them more interesting and more challenging than standard HOS.
I will play this one again, and I don't say that about most games.
I recommend this game!
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 13 found this review helpful
Some People Can't Handle Change. Some Embrace It.
PostedNovember 21, 2012
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm really surprised at the bad reviews. My review is based on the demo only (I only purchase SEs), but this developer is trying to bring something new and different to the table. The idea of an interactive movie or TV show is appealing to me. People who want the same old game formats can go back and replay their games (and I don't mean this in an insulting way). I don't know why somebody would want to spend money on a "new" game that is just like his or her old favorite game.
The picture matching was new and different, and I liked the HO scenes that were split up among different areas. I do agree that the one puzzle offered in the demo was far too easy.
I personally am interested in paranormal phenomena and find that many of these games are based on spirituality (ghosts, demons, etc.), so I had to laugh when one reviewer said she was turned off by the subject matter. How many of these games are based on some evil spirit, haunting, etc.?
Final analysis: At least try the demo--don't overlook this one simply based on the reviews you've read or the overall star rating.
I recommend this game!
Sherlock Holmes VS Jack the Ripper
Sherlock Holmes faces off against England’s most violent and mysterious killer in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
17 of 17 found this review helpful
Amazingly Well-Done Mystery Adventure!
PostedSeptember 15, 2012
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Who wouldn't love an interactive mystery movie? The writing is great and even amusing at times, the characters are interesting, the original story is terrific, and the voice-overs are thoroughly believable.
I'm sad to see the bad reviews of this game. It's true, this is not a cute little mindless game to be played on a coffee break or while waiting for cookies to bake. This is an in-depth story that requires a lot of attention and analysis of facts. As a real-life detective would, you will spend your time looking for evidence, scouting out locations, interviewing interesting characters, and making deductions to solve a murder. Expect to take up to an hour at one sitting; the game lasts for several hours.
This game is for a specific audience, and those who have played the other similar Sherlock games by this developer or the Agatha Christie games will love this episode. I found it slightly easier but more interesting than others I had played. I liked the multiple choice deduction board, timeline, and motive analysis tasks better than the tests that needed to be passed in "Silver Earring."
I'm disappointed to see this type of game falling away to HOAGs (ex: "Art of Murder," "Chronicles of Mystery," "Dracula: Origin," even "Hound of the Baskervilles") and hope there are more of these to come in the future. A true workout for the brain and thoroughly enjoyable!
I recommend this game!
When a young woman is found comatose by the side of the road with a bloody knife beside her, it's up to you to unravel her story!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Most Engrossing Storyline Ever
PostedSeptember 1, 2012
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I found the storyline creative, fascinating, and well-written, a fresh change from all of the ghost stories and other similarly themed games out there. The "rooms" to be navigated through are actually parts of the main character's subconscious mind. Elephant Games is one of the best developers out there right now, and I'd say this one of their best games, if not the best.
I found the game to be sufficiently challenging on Hardcore mode yet did not ever have to refer to a strategy guide or walkthrough. I did not experience any bugs with the game. If you are an experienced player of adventure games with some HO scenes, I highly recommend this one.
I recommend this game!
A rash of murders has struck, and it’s up to you as an FBI agent to find the murderer in Mystery Valley, a dark Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 17 found this review helpful
Not that bad and OK for a diversion if on sale.
PostedDecember 21, 2011
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This is not one of the highest-quality games I've played, and I wouldn't recommend paying full price for it because it was fairly short. Still, it wasn't a total stinker, either. There are some typos and incorrect labels for objects, but this happens a lot considering they are translated from other languages.
The puzzles were really not that difficult, although some of them took a while to solve. I did not use any walkthroughs or skips and enjoyed being challenged (I find most puzzles way too fast and easy, sometimes even insulting). The HO scenes were challenging, and I had to use a few hints to find everything.
The story line was compelling but ended too abruptly. The graphics were oddly mixed and looked like they were done by different people or with different programs; for example, the main character's face was well done, but then she has the ugliest hairstyle ever! LOL.
I am recommending only at a sale price.
I recommend this game!
Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches
Explore a haunted farmstead in Wales called Ty Pryderi! Chris has been asked to house-sit, and is in for a spooky surprise!
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 80 found this review helpful
One of my all-time favorites.
PostedDecember 4, 2011
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Great game with a compelling story line, good adventure, beautiful scenery. Long play time. I know the developers had another game in the works, Coven, but it has taken a long time and still no sign of it. I can't wait for more work from this high-quality production studio. If you get tired of HO scenes and want a straight adventure, you'll like this, although the navigation did get complicated at times, as there are so many choices. But it was a challenge that I enjoyed.
I recommend this game!
After a group of young students go missing, the Mystery Trackers are called in to search the city of Raincliff!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 37 found this review helpful
Absolutely great!
PostedDecember 2, 2011
petporcupine
fromReading, PA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This game went on and on. I was very pleased with the length of game play. Includes some puzzles I hadn't seen before. I would compare the Mystery Trackers games to the Mystery Case Files series. You won't be sorry with this one!
I recommend this game!