Granny_Gruff's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.6
- Helpful Votes:22,850
- Reviews Submitted:883
- First Review:December 23, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 23, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help Seuss stop Ariadna and prevent her from uniting all the worlds before it’s too late!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 19 found this review helpful
Clutter is Fun!
PostedFebruary 12, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromAs Suess was killed off in an earlier Hiddenverse game, it's nice to see him resurrected.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Another Hiddenverse game has hit the ground running. As the story is always secondary to the game play - and usually does not mesh exactly with the ones before it - we'll let that go.
As a Clutter HOP game, you will play through eight HOPs, with two "special" games - your choice of Match 3, card pairing, or pipe connect games - in each level. Along the way, you will gather stars to use in "upgrading" a scene and puzzle pieces for a jigsaw puzzle that must be completed to advance to the next level. The HOPs range from piles of miscellaneous junk to battles with an imaginary foe, color two items correctly to collect them, unstack a single pile of items to find matches, and a variety of other HOP variations. All the items are crisp and clear with good color balance. You can collect ten crystals during most HOPs to earn an extra hint.
There is nothing particularly new, but these games are always relaxing and fun for me as an alternative to the other games I play.
There is nothing particularly new, but these games are always relaxing and fun for me as an alternative to the other games I play.
Bonus: The few English errors I found were welcome relief to the dozens that marched across the screen in earlier games.
Please try the demo and enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Detectives United is out of options and working for the villains!
Overall rating
2
/
5
31 of 35 found this review helpful
Another Series Heads Downhill!
PostedFebruary 8, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromDoes crashing a "Titanic" constitute a return to games that start with a vehicular crash? And if Dark Anna has the power to send our heroes to 3 separate time periods, to find her 3 different artifacts, why didn't she just conjure those up for herself?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Our three fearless detectives are heading out on another adventure. This one is, unfortunately, directed by Dark Anna Gray, their nemesis from the last game. She is out for revenge and is casting a wide net as she sends each detective to a different time period, past, present, and future, to look for three different artifacts. This time even Richard, Anna Gray's Father's ghost, doesn't see the danger ahead of her in time to warn her. All three detectives will find challenges as they try to survive in their respective time periods.
Good stuff: The first HOP is innovative. The story is filled with collectibles, HOPs, puzzles, and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: All subsequent HOPs are not only generic but seemed progressively darker and contained small and smaller items to find. Those collectibles include collector cards - which were usually items, not cards. The morphing items seemed to be larger than life and twice as obvious. And every scene was dark, darker, darkest. The soundtrack consisted of a persistently ringing phone with occasional bursts of a few bars of melody. (I eventually turned off the sound in self-defense.) As for the scenes in the various times for each detective, the artwork was well done, and you will see it over and over as you keep jogging back and forth from one scene to the next and back, again and again and again....
Bottom line: You have a short demo, for a short game, with a dark premise and game play that will leave you sad and disappointed from a series that started out with so much promise.
Good stuff: The first HOP is innovative. The story is filled with collectibles, HOPs, puzzles, and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: All subsequent HOPs are not only generic but seemed progressively darker and contained small and smaller items to find. Those collectibles include collector cards - which were usually items, not cards. The morphing items seemed to be larger than life and twice as obvious. And every scene was dark, darker, darkest. The soundtrack consisted of a persistently ringing phone with occasional bursts of a few bars of melody. (I eventually turned off the sound in self-defense.) As for the scenes in the various times for each detective, the artwork was well done, and you will see it over and over as you keep jogging back and forth from one scene to the next and back, again and again and again....
Bottom line: You have a short demo, for a short game, with a dark premise and game play that will leave you sad and disappointed from a series that started out with so much promise.
Please try the demo. Please.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the kingdom from a crystal curse?
Overall rating
2
/
5
99 of 142 found this review helpful
Didn't We Already Do This?
PostedJanuary 30, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromOne more try: Bees, hornets, and wasps do not swarm at night, certainly not in the snow. Fireflies are creatures of summer.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You are on your way to a ball in the Crystal Kingdom to see your childhood friend, Anna. You are instructed to arrive just before midnight and are greeted at the door by the majordomo. A squirrel steals your invitation and you will need to retrieve it before the witching hour!
After a few puzzles you are just in time to approach the door as the clock strikes and the entire palace is engulfed in giant crystals. You must get inside and save everyone. Good luck.
After a few puzzles you are just in time to approach the door as the clock strikes and the entire palace is engulfed in giant crystals. You must get inside and save everyone. Good luck.
Good stuff: There are all the usual game elements and a twisted take on Cinderella. You will repair the majordomo's clock and feed it crystal tears so it will help you and give you bits of the story. There are transparent mice and morphing items to collect along with an assortment of CE bling.
Bad stuff: We once again have a talking item that must be fed something to help us - at least it's not drops of blood again! And once again we will be fending off a swarm of bees - this time at night, in the snow! All we have to do is collect the insecticide, a bottle opener, and a sprayer to get rid of those pesky insects swarming around some crystal people - you know how sweet they are. Along with the tiny bits of story, you find out that both the queen and her son have magical items that will get rid of the crystals - or at least some of them. Luckily the wicked person at the heart of our problem has so much power, she didn't worry about those items. Of course she still needs our help in her nefarious scheme. And we play a character so smart that, after seeing everyone else in the palace turned to crystal including the queen and prince who possess magical items, we don't question finding our friend still human and asking for help.
Are you confused yet?
Please try the demo. After running through snowy halls and a courtyard, you may enjoy chasing fireflies and bees.
I didn't.
I didn't.
I don't recommend this game.
The search for a missing art critic uncovers an otherworldly web of lies!
Overall rating
3
/
5
25 of 34 found this review helpful
Can You Picture Nathaniel In This Game?
PostedJanuary 24, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromCan you imagine locking up everything in your home with multiple keys for each item? Including the trash?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Nathaniel, the supernatural detective with the wicked glowing tatoo, is once again called in to help a friend. This time it is Carlos, alarmed when a critic friend vanishes while interviewing a photographer. Can Nathaniel find the missing man? Will he vanish into a photo? And how do the Muses figure in this mystery?
Good stuff: Two collectibles in each scene, lots of HOPs and puzzles, clear bright artwork, and good VO's all seem to promise a good game.
Bad stuff: The story is slow moving and disjointed as well as confusing. You may be able to overlook all that. I just wasn't involved in the story, invested in the characters, or desirous of continuing the adventure.
Please try the demo. The game is not bad, just another of the same old, same old.
Good stuff: Two collectibles in each scene, lots of HOPs and puzzles, clear bright artwork, and good VO's all seem to promise a good game.
Bad stuff: The story is slow moving and disjointed as well as confusing. You may be able to overlook all that. I just wasn't involved in the story, invested in the characters, or desirous of continuing the adventure.
Please try the demo. The game is not bad, just another of the same old, same old.
Step into the shoes of Agent Sarah, solve puzzles, find hidden objects and solve a crime!
Overall rating
1
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
If You Did, Then You've Played This One!
PostedJanuary 20, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromDid You Play The First "Hidden Investigation?"
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The developers of the first "Hidden Investigation" saw no reason to step up their game.
So they didn't even try.
Each level involves repetitive HOPs in the same location until you earn 5 stars. The word lists vary in type, but the room/scene remains the same. All dialogue - stilted at best and brief - is read on screen. You will cycle through the different HOPs until you get those five stars, then you solve a simple puzzle and move on to the next segment of the "story."
So they didn't even try.
Each level involves repetitive HOPs in the same location until you earn 5 stars. The word lists vary in type, but the room/scene remains the same. All dialogue - stilted at best and brief - is read on screen. You will cycle through the different HOPs until you get those five stars, then you solve a simple puzzle and move on to the next segment of the "story."
Be forewarned: Some of the items are incorrectly named and sizes vary wildly from life-sized down to microscopic and up to gigantic. Items are also hidden in deep shadow.
You have a slow charging hint and a magnet to help you get through each level.
You have a slow charging hint and a magnet to help you get through each level.
Play the demo for this one, please.
(I like an occasional "junk-pile" HOP game, but this one is like slogging through quicksand in a full suit of armor, trying to carry your horse!)
(I like an occasional "junk-pile" HOP game, but this one is like slogging through quicksand in a full suit of armor, trying to carry your horse!)
I don't recommend this game.
An otherworldly adventure in the heart of the Big Apple!
Overall rating
2
/
5
45 of 68 found this review helpful
The New Car Crash - Failure to Vet Your Story!
PostedJanuary 16, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromAnother emergency med kit that needs a combination to open!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Another game in the Secret City series has landed, with as many confused moments as usual. Domini Games has once again failed to vet their story line.
Confusion reigns supreme and I resent it!
Confusion reigns supreme and I resent it!
How hard is it to come up with a reasonable clear story – especially when you are custom designing the world you are placing it in?
This newest SC game revolves around the Chalk of Fate, an artifact that was left by the Titans, who created all four of the magical peoples in the Secret Cities. Despite a premise so promising, you know how bad things are going to be when a home owner hands you a bottle of acid to open his padlock and chained back door!
I hung on to the end of the Demo.
The game has HOPs, puzzles, mini-games, and CE bling. There are collectible “statuettes,” which is a bit of a misnomer, as they are various object that turn into something else, not necessarily a statue. A couple of these items I came across did not turn into whatever, but were still the collectible statuettes, according to the game. (A cane/crutch that turned into a sword, for instance.)
There is lots of over-colored artwork and so-so Vos, just a dearth of intelligent story telling.
There is lots of over-colored artwork and so-so Vos, just a dearth of intelligent story telling.
Please try the demo for yourself as I’m sure you have different criteria for choosing your games.
I don't recommend this game.
A vacation to India becomes a legendary adventure in the animal kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 34 found this review helpful
Tolerance Increases With a Great Story!
PostedJanuary 3, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromSeek and ye shall find...A princess.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This time we play as a male Seeker on an adventure not of his own planning. While on a vacation given him as a birthday gift, he enters a parallel world through a window in the Palace of the Winds in India. He finds himself in the Animal Kingdom and just in time to help Princess Manu, who is being stalked by Jagan, tiger ruler of the cats.
Good stuff: Collectible morphing items, jewels, and butterflies are among the CE bling. The game has a lush jewel toned look that seems to evoke India and enhance the story being told. There are all the usual game elements and a Match 3 alternative to the HOPs.
Bad stuff: I know that a good story needs suspense, But does it need suspense so much that all common sense is thrown to the winds? Repeatedly our Seeker finds himself declaring the need for urgency - Save the elephant, help the princess, etc. _ and then he stops to solve puzzles, wander to other scenes, solve HOPs, make potions & sprays, and construct musical instruments. So much for urgency.
Bottom line: I really liked the story, the characters, and the artwork so I am going to focus on those items and give this Labyrinths four stars.
Please try the demo for yourself.
Good stuff: Collectible morphing items, jewels, and butterflies are among the CE bling. The game has a lush jewel toned look that seems to evoke India and enhance the story being told. There are all the usual game elements and a Match 3 alternative to the HOPs.
Bad stuff: I know that a good story needs suspense, But does it need suspense so much that all common sense is thrown to the winds? Repeatedly our Seeker finds himself declaring the need for urgency - Save the elephant, help the princess, etc. _ and then he stops to solve puzzles, wander to other scenes, solve HOPs, make potions & sprays, and construct musical instruments. So much for urgency.
Bottom line: I really liked the story, the characters, and the artwork so I am going to focus on those items and give this Labyrinths four stars.
Please try the demo for yourself.
I recommend this game!
Can you save your hometown from the entity that killed your family?
Overall rating
2
/
5
28 of 36 found this review helpful
Not Really...
PostedDecember 29, 2019
Granny_Gruff
fromSo much promise, so little realized.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
15 yrs. after the hometown disaster that left you without your parents and little brother, Will, you are sent back to Watch Hill by MT to investigate a resurgence of the original problem. You are eager to get there after you see a news feed that features your little brother being taken away by a scientist. From that point on it is all downhill, but not in a good way.
Good news: There is clearly drawn artwork, HOPs without the tiny invisible objects popping up lately, puzzles, and a sci-fi story line.
Bad news: The only way the artwork could be more drab is if the game came in black and white - It's nearly there now. The HOPs are perfectly reasonable, except for the mislabeled items on the lists. The puzzles have almost clear instructions - please note the "almost." And that story? Well, let's say no one vetted it.
The missteps are legion and they start before you get off the pier where you docked your small boat on arrival. Poor little Elf is already dressed in a Hazmat suit, but without a helmet. No helmet means you might as well have skipped the suit.
Of course you need a suit also. Let's steal one out of the ambulance at the end of the pier!
The missteps are legion and they start before you get off the pier where you docked your small boat on arrival. Poor little Elf is already dressed in a Hazmat suit, but without a helmet. No helmet means you might as well have skipped the suit.
Of course you need a suit also. Let's steal one out of the ambulance at the end of the pier!
Bottom line: The story had promise, but it's just not realized in this game. And those comments about game length? The demo breezes by in a fraction of the 90 minutes allowed for it.
As a Mystery Trackers fan from the beginning, I so wanted to like this game. As it stands, I am sorely disappointed.
You may be more tolerant, less exacting, more mellow than I am.
As a Mystery Trackers fan from the beginning, I so wanted to like this game. As it stands, I am sorely disappointed.
You may be more tolerant, less exacting, more mellow than I am.
Please try the demo before you buy.
Legends become reality when a nightmare pirate stalks the streets of Saltshore!
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 29 found this review helpful
Taking rubber stamp games to a new level!
PostedDecember 28, 2019
Granny_Gruff
fromHappy New Year! Please play responsibly.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The Mayor calls for your expert detective skills when a citizen is murdered and others attacked by the ghost of a pirate who should have remained dead. Everyone in town is staying close to home while you wander around trying to catch the perpetrator, who may not be as ethereal as a ghost should be.
But.....
An amulet that is powered by crystals was also part of another recent game. And it too talked to the player and gave some of the back story after a crystal was found and inserted in the amulet.
Unfortunately the feeling of "been here, done that" was more than I could bear. With a story that had more holes than Swiss cheese, lackluster game play, and other elements too familiar, I bailed in relief when the trial was over.
Please try the demo for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the city from nature’s destructive forces in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
23 of 24 found this review helpful
No One Vetted Any Part of This Game!
PostedDecember 24, 2019
Granny_Gruff
fromHappy Holidays anyway!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Premise of story: Strange plants springing up in town, plants destroying buildings and infrastructure, citizens missing, citizens breathing plant pollen turning into monsters, plants destroying buildings and infrastructure.
Actual game moments: You, as detective, go out to hunt samples of the dangerous flowers from these plants and end up in a narrow alley next to a flower puffing out that lethal pollen - and you stay to play!
You come upon a female citizen who is looking for help for her gentleman, who fell asleep when he breathed the pollen.
Some flowers look to be the size of large boulders while others seem to be comparable to day lillies. The little ones you pick are squeezed for the massive amounts of liquid they contain, enabling the scientist you are working with to create a poison to stop the plants. When you down a large flower, you just lug it back to the lab. Whoopee!
So much for the story. It was killed early and never resurrected.
There are lots of HOPs available interspersed with puzzles but, as so many have complained, the HOPs were challenging not because of the items' excellent hiding places, but because they were too tiny and the area dark. Some of the puzzles were good, but you have to judge if that makes the whole game saleable.
As there is no fix for the HOPs problem, take a hint from all the reviews and try before you buy.
This is one Christmas present the Grinch wrapped up before he reformed!
Actual game moments: You, as detective, go out to hunt samples of the dangerous flowers from these plants and end up in a narrow alley next to a flower puffing out that lethal pollen - and you stay to play!
You come upon a female citizen who is looking for help for her gentleman, who fell asleep when he breathed the pollen.
Some flowers look to be the size of large boulders while others seem to be comparable to day lillies. The little ones you pick are squeezed for the massive amounts of liquid they contain, enabling the scientist you are working with to create a poison to stop the plants. When you down a large flower, you just lug it back to the lab. Whoopee!
So much for the story. It was killed early and never resurrected.
There are lots of HOPs available interspersed with puzzles but, as so many have complained, the HOPs were challenging not because of the items' excellent hiding places, but because they were too tiny and the area dark. Some of the puzzles were good, but you have to judge if that makes the whole game saleable.
As there is no fix for the HOPs problem, take a hint from all the reviews and try before you buy.
This is one Christmas present the Grinch wrapped up before he reformed!
I don't recommend this game.