pjries's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:238
- Reviews Submitted:9
- First Review:March 19, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 3, 2021
- Featured reviews0
pjries's Review History
When Santa’s sleigh is damaged as he’s leaving the North Pole on Christmas night, only one person can save the holidays. You!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 11 found this review helpful
Always love these, but....
PostedDecember 3, 2021
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I enjoy these games. They are mindless and repetitious and sometimes that's what I want, just to zone out. I don't mind that I'm seeing the same scenes each year, just altered slightly. And I can count on the same mini-games with little variation - matching, jigsaw puzzles, math calculations, slider puzzles, swap images, spot the differences, find the words, etc.
There are some new things each year. This year, the Vacation Adventures Pinecreek rangers are incorporated into the game and that's fun. And I notice little Easter Eggs, like a guy who looks like Jim Halpert from the show, "The Office" popping up in scenes.
Here's the "but" in my review tho... maybe it's my aging eyes, maybe something else, but it hurts me to look at the game this year. The colors are too bright or the contrast too high, too garish, almost as if I need 3D glasses to play it. I can't play it for very long stretches and I'm close to not being able to play it at all. I'd love for the developers to tone it down a bit. I don't have / haven't had this problem with Casual Arts games and I think I own them all. It's the only thing that makes me sad about it. Like getting a lump of coal in my stocking along with all the fun stuff. :(
I recommend this game!
My Brother Rabbit is a beautifully drawn adventure set in a surreal world that mixes reality with a child’s imagination
Overall rating
3
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
So Depressing
PostedApril 20, 2019
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this game when I first saw it. The art reminded me of the Dream Chronicles series which I loved. I am sure that it will appeal to some and I applaud the game developer's ingenuity and attempt to find new ways to present the fragmented objects. But this one is just not for me.
I found this storyline so very depressing. The graphics are beautiful, but the depiction of the sick child is too sad and too realistic an experience for me. I also wasn't entirely sure what was going on. With little narration or explanation, it was hard for me to understand whether this was a story the boy was telling his sister or a completely separate reality.
I did appreciate some parts of the gameplay - letting me know that I had found all of the items in a scene and the way a scene changed when an object was moved. I try very hard not to use skips or hints but I had to resort to those a number of times with this game.
As I say, I'm sure this will appeal to some but I'm not the audience for this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop the townspeople from mysteriously aging?
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 16 found this review helpful
Mystery is the key
PostedMarch 25, 2017
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Disclaimer: I never liked the turn that the Mystery Case Files series took when it started the Ravenhearst storyline. And the ventures into Dire Grove, etc. Those were so out of place with the original concept. They may have been good games, but not MCF.
So I'm glad to see this series return to the idea of solving a mystery, even though it still focuses too much on the supernatural and fantastic for my tastes.
So I'm glad to see this series return to the idea of solving a mystery, even though it still focuses too much on the supernatural and fantastic for my tastes.
This is based on the demo, and I have to say that for the first time in a long time, I actually played a demo all the way through, and didn't have time left over.
What I liked:
The puzzles in puzzles in puzzles concept, where you solve one puzzle to open others.
The three panel hidden object scene where you travel back and forth between sections.
The variety of challenges, including a marble-popper.
Some of the puzzles took a little time for me to figure out what they were looking for, even with the instructions, and that's a nice bonus challenge.
The puzzles in puzzles in puzzles concept, where you solve one puzzle to open others.
The three panel hidden object scene where you travel back and forth between sections.
The variety of challenges, including a marble-popper.
Some of the puzzles took a little time for me to figure out what they were looking for, even with the instructions, and that's a nice bonus challenge.
What I wasn't crazy about:
The darkness of the scenes and the dulled-down, almost monotone colors
The supernatural aspect of the storyline
The stilted graphics that have a character's mouth moving but nothing else.
The darkness of the scenes and the dulled-down, almost monotone colors
The supernatural aspect of the storyline
The stilted graphics that have a character's mouth moving but nothing else.
Overall, I do recommend this game, especially if you, like me, buy most of the Eipix games. I usually like playing them. They hold my interest, despite the feeling that they sometimes rely too much on tired devices like the blinking eye video and challenges that require more dexterity (and patience) than I have.
This one does introduce some new features and varies enough from the formula for me to want to buy it and finish it today.
I recommend this game!
Unravel this creepy-crawly Match-3 adventure and unveil haunted castles that will leave your spine tingling!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Still play this. Still love it.
PostedOctober 23, 2016
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I love this game! I still play it from time to time, and especially during the Hallowe'en season! There are shortcuts and strategies to managing the gameplay and there are several options for playing, from relaxed to timed to a limited number of moves.
Each level has two or more screens and a "crypt" which you can choose to explore once you've completed the level. There's a map, if you like, to help you navigate these screens. You can also return to the completed screens and grab the power-ups or the extra coins (for buying power-ups in the "store").
I'll sometimes set a challenge of my own, like targeting all of the coins or all of the hammers. The hammers reset for each level, so best to use them. You can't take them with you!
The special features that set this game apart from other match 3s are things like a fishbone "spell" that clear entire rows or columns and one that zigzags. There's an expanding box that clears all squares beneath it and blocks that require several matches around them to clear. Each time you make a match near by, you hear a click and the number on the box counts down. Some areas are covered with "smoke" which you have to clear by making matches nearby. (Here's where the map comes in handy!)
Graphics are decent. I like them much better than a lot of the match 3 games. Frogs, skulls, witch's hat, Jack O'Lanterns, brooms, ghosts, etc.
The music is spooky, but not annoying. There are scenes to build to complete each level, and you don't have much of a choice, but I don't play these games for those building aspects.
All in all, a great game!
I recommend this game!
Could your little boy be the child of prophecy?
Overall rating
5
/
5
65 of 75 found this review helpful
Give this one a chance
PostedMay 23, 2015
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Large File, Marble Popper, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Not a bad game. The graphics are not as intricate as those in some other games, but I don't think they're intended to be. The game has a dreamy quality to it. The voice overs are decent and the storyline (based on the demo) is interesting. I judge a story by whether I want to keep playing to find out what happens, whether I care about the characters. This one is intriguing enough to hold my interest.
As with many HOGs, there's some back and forth, finding a piece here to work with a piece there - and you do have to suspend logic - like why wouldn't the main character have a key to her own closet with her?
But I do think it's worth playing the demo, at least. And this is one I probably will buy.
As with many HOGs, there's some back and forth, finding a piece here to work with a piece there - and you do have to suspend logic - like why wouldn't the main character have a key to her own closet with her?
But I do think it's worth playing the demo, at least. And this is one I probably will buy.
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets of your family’s past on a mystical island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
This is More Like it!
PostedMarch 24, 2013
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Quoting pennmom36 "It has been a long time since I have wanted to purchase a game after the demo." I totally agree. In fact, it's been a long time since I even wanted to play a demo.
This game is such a change for the better. So far - and I've only played the demo - I've encountered no abused children, no mutilated animals, no grubby scenes, no insane asylums, no violence, no tortured souls. That's a win for me, right there.
The storyline is intriguing which is one of the main things I look for. I, too, want to know what happened and how it all comes together.
The graphics are lovely and the voice acting is extremely good. The adventure seems well thought out and I'm not scratching my head wondering what the developer is thinking. This is one I will definitely will buy!
The storyline is intriguing which is one of the main things I look for. I, too, want to know what happened and how it all comes together.
The graphics are lovely and the voice acting is extremely good. The adventure seems well thought out and I'm not scratching my head wondering what the developer is thinking. This is one I will definitely will buy!
I recommend this game!
Help the Professor track down 100`s of stolen antiques as you travel the globe to retrieve priceless antiques and hidden artifacts.
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 49 found this review helpful
Still Fun After All These Years!
PostedAugust 3, 2012
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I bought Hidden Relics when it first came out years ago and I keep coming back to it. There are so many facets and it doesn't feel dated to me even now.
The storyline is interesting. The developers put a lot of work and thought into those fake descriptions of the antiquities you're searching for. They're cleverly written with great attention to detail.
I enjoyed the music and the visuals. Objects weren't terribly hard to find and you can earn hints which are very helpful along the way, and I did use those occasionally, along with the descriptions and images - which were also helpful. For each location, you receive a letter grade - and I found that fun and a nice twist on the usual point systems.
There are two levels of gameplay and I recommend playing them both, if you are looking for a challenge. The mini-games play an important part in the story. They help you gather the tools you need in order to find some of the objects which are *truly*hidden. You can only find them with one of the tools. You can choose when to play the mini-games and they get progressively more difficult as you earn more tools which adds to the challenge.
There are two levels of gameplay and I recommend playing them both, if you are looking for a challenge. The mini-games play an important part in the story. They help you gather the tools you need in order to find some of the objects which are *truly*hidden. You can only find them with one of the tools. You can choose when to play the mini-games and they get progressively more difficult as you earn more tools which adds to the challenge.
It took me awhile before I realized that there were built-in hints as to what tools should be used in what locations to find the special objects, but once I did, it made it possible for me to find them all within the time limit.
Yes, there is a timer, so if you're looking for a completely relaxing experience, this probably isn't it.
But if you're looking for a game to engage you, with a lot going on and a good challenge, one that you may find yourself coming back to again and again, then I recommend Hidden Relics.
At least give it a try!
I recommend this game!
Unravel a tale of murder on the RMS Titanic. Help Professor Magnusson solve puzzles and expose clues to piece together evidence of a dark conspiracy!
Overall rating
4
/
5
64 of 67 found this review helpful
My Advice: Play the demo and decide
PostedMay 14, 2012
pjries
fromSchererville, IN
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I bought this one and played to the end. It was not terribly challenging and the storyline is convoluted and implausible. It also says some not very nice things about some very real (now dead) people which may border on libel. *But* there was no torture, there were no "experiments on humans" or animals, no vampires, and none of the stuff that's so prevalent in HOG, FROG and IHOG games these days that I've almost completely stopped buying them.
Yes, there were murders and there was death and yes, there was "blood", but it didn't have the potential to give me nightmares.
What I liked about the game were the graphics. Truly beautiful colors and drawings for most of the game. There are some portions that are comic strips to advance the story, and even those were well done, in black and white.
The hidden objects were not all that tough to find - just enough of a challenge for me. The puzzles weren't complicated and the game guided me well. The map colors are dim, so it may be hard to see when one picture lights up. That's how they indicate where to go next. That and the sparkles on the map icon in the lower right. If the map is not sparkling, you're not done in the current scene.
Overall, I would recommend playing the demo to get a taste of this one before buying it. If you have coupon credits to spend, it may be worth it to you, especially if you, like me, are getting VERY tired of the far too many far too dark themes for hidden object games these days.
Yes, there were murders and there was death and yes, there was "blood", but it didn't have the potential to give me nightmares.
What I liked about the game were the graphics. Truly beautiful colors and drawings for most of the game. There are some portions that are comic strips to advance the story, and even those were well done, in black and white.
The hidden objects were not all that tough to find - just enough of a challenge for me. The puzzles weren't complicated and the game guided me well. The map colors are dim, so it may be hard to see when one picture lights up. That's how they indicate where to go next. That and the sparkles on the map icon in the lower right. If the map is not sparkling, you're not done in the current scene.
Overall, I would recommend playing the demo to get a taste of this one before buying it. If you have coupon credits to spend, it may be worth it to you, especially if you, like me, are getting VERY tired of the far too many far too dark themes for hidden object games these days.
I recommend this game!
Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles
Charles Baskerville is the latest victim of a centuries-old curse! Help Holmes break the curse before the next murder occurs!
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 47 found this review helpful
Terrible Game
PostedMarch 19, 2012
pjries
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If I could give this a negative star rating, I would do it. And I so wanted to like this. I expect that developers will take liberties with the stories on which they base their games but this adaptation went far beyond poetic license. It was a complete disappointment to me.
The gameplay - as far as I got - was challenging and interesting, but I could not get past the depictions of animal cruelty and the human carnage. They're just not scenes I want in my brain and it's impossible to "unsee" them.
The gameplay - as far as I got - was challenging and interesting, but I could not get past the depictions of animal cruelty and the human carnage. They're just not scenes I want in my brain and it's impossible to "unsee" them.
This is the first game for which I wished there had been a rating as we see on some other games, indicating the level of violence and other issues which might be objectionable to some.
I cannot and will not recommend this game. And I've stayed away from the developers since this came out, believing that I can no longer trust that I am in the target audience for the games they produce.
I don't recommend this game.