BlackCat16's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:111
- Reviews Submitted:14
- First Review:January 11, 2013
- Most Recent Review:February 13, 2013
- Featured reviews0
Join Esther as she attempts to influence the past in order to change the future and learn the secrets of the Ambrose family!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Fun Game But a Little on the Easy Side for CE
PostedJanuary 21, 2013
BlackCat16
fromGreenland, NH
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The story is overall interesting, and I found it moderately intriguing. There were a few predictable elements, but I didn't find this a problem. (After all you can only re-invent the wheel so many times.) Here we have time travel added to the story, and as you are in pursuit of information and items to complete tasks, you get are allowed to see futures as well as pasts of the various characters thanks to a time travel map.
This game is quite beautiful. The graphics are expert. The music is a nice blend of dramatic and gently melancholic, and this adds to the scenes. Voice overs are nicely done as well.
The story line incorporates a time travel map which allowed some interesting twists to the story. The map serves up clues which aided in the navigating the time travel, and switching between these scenes was technically done well. There was a great deal of potential in this story line, but I left the game feeling that the story was a little flat.
There were a lot of puzzles, most of which were on the easy side. The hint button refills quickly, which means I relied on it too much.
Although I enjoyed this game, I fail to see what would make it CE. It seemed a little too simple for this, and considering the extra money you pay for these editions, it just isn't worth it. Too bad.
I don't recommend this game.
Dupin needs your help solving the mystery of the gold bug. Crack the codes and follow the clues to one man’s obsession with an old legend.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Fun Adventure/HO Game with Hot Side Kick!
PostedJanuary 16, 2013
BlackCat16
fromGreenland, NH
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I don't usually care for HO games, but I really enjoyed this one. This game is typical in that there are puzzles and mini games to solve that allow the clues which move you forward. These were fun, but not too challenging, and I was a little disappointed in that. I was intrigued by the story line, and was actually disappointed when I ran out of time on the 1 hour demo! Voice overs helped move the story along, but were slightly cheesy (but honestly, how can they not be!). Other than the very slight criticisms, I really liked this game.
And regarding the "hot side kick" comment - Dupin reminded me of a co-worker for whom I had a huge crush many years ago. Mutual feelings didn't help the situation as we were both married. However, morality reigned, and there really isn't more to the story than this. But looking at Dupin sent me straight down memory lane, and it was a nice trip.
I recommend this game!
Get land to build cities with houses, schools, markets, farms and a network of roads to improve the quality of life and the economy of the Roman Empire.
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
OK Time Management Game
PostedJanuary 15, 2013
BlackCat16
fromGreenland, NH
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Time Management, Marble Popper, Match 3, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I am a time management game hound. This type of game is what I play almost exclusively. What attracts me to these games is a combination of goal setting, task completion, and to a lesser degree, story line pitted against a deadline. Ancillary to these is the visual attractiveness of the game and the music and sound effects.
So this is what I have to say about this game. The sound effects, which are usually a secondary consideration, are annoying enough that I mention them first. In fact I attempted to turn off the sounds so that I could concentrate on the game, but seemingly random sounds were still heard; very distracting. I found the music overly dramatic and turned this off before I began playing the game. So for the secondary considerations to be that irritating was a weak start for me.
The challenge in this game is to build a city with the services that the people need within appropriate proximity. I played the demo for almost an hour, and overall I found the premise to be predictable (not necessarily a bad thing), but the screens hard to see and the increasing difficulty somewhat lame. With time management games the increasing difficulty is typically dependent on faster actions to accomplish the goal while dealing with increasing problems. Part of the challenge with this game has to do with how quickly you could hit certain keys when dealing with a crisis, which I didn't like at all. I prefer to address a crisis by assigning the game characters the task of defeating it, and not by having to hit the space bar or some other key quickly enough to prevent being overcome. Couple this with having to build quickly, squinting to see the rather small icons, and being startled by the random sound, and the game quickly becomes tedious; a trait I don't much care for in game playing.
I didn't find this game particularly fun, and don't recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the vastness of a ship lost in time, what mysteries will you uncover amidst its Mayan idols, menacing sea creatures, and exotic treasures? Find out in this exciting new Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game on the open seas!
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 20 found this review helpful
Beautiful with an OK challenge.
PostedJanuary 11, 2013
BlackCat16
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
What beautiful screen shots! I found the rescue component of the story compelling, and personally I love all things oceangoing. Overall I'm not a fan of hidden object games which accounts for the so-so rating. There was a fair amount of going from scene to scene to get useful information and items to solve the various mysteries, and not only did this feel a bit tedious, but it triggered my anxiety about getting to the heart of the matter quickly (fodder for my next therapy session). I was drawn to play it by the other reviews, which I did for about 45 minutes. Not a bad game for the genre, and if you like hidden object games I would recommend it.
I recommend this game!