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:
Uncover the secrets buried under Karkhala Peak.
Overall rating
2
/
5
18 of 27 found this review helpful
Reapers, Raven, Preacher - Ho Hum.
PostedJuly 25, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromWhy was there a coffin in the basement?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You are still chasing the last Reaper, AKA the Preacher. The story continues in this third installment with a plane crash, flash backs to the previous installment and your recent investigations, and then rejoins you back at the crash site.
Good stuff: The artwork is good. Music is occasionally quite pretty. There are HOPS, mini-games, several collectibles, and CE bling.
Bad stuff: There is a distinct feeling of been here, done this about the game. There is a return to the traditional opening vehicle crash along with the usual lapses in logic - i.e. you are flying into the Himalayan Mountains and pack an emergency flashlight without batteries. You are having serious problems flying in but even after losing cabin pressure, no one bothers to put on a parachute. Once the plane has crashed and is dangling in space, you break out the old crossbow and rope to fasten the rope to a distant tree - and I do mean distant. Seriously?
There is an evidence board in your phone that you use to help you make deductions about the case, but it is more distraction than help. You have a partner at the start of the game, but you have to take care of him.
This may be the last installment of the series, but it is not as gripping as the second chapter.
I'll pass on the CE and revisit the game as an SE.
Please try the demo before you buy.
Good stuff: The artwork is good. Music is occasionally quite pretty. There are HOPS, mini-games, several collectibles, and CE bling.
Bad stuff: There is a distinct feeling of been here, done this about the game. There is a return to the traditional opening vehicle crash along with the usual lapses in logic - i.e. you are flying into the Himalayan Mountains and pack an emergency flashlight without batteries. You are having serious problems flying in but even after losing cabin pressure, no one bothers to put on a parachute. Once the plane has crashed and is dangling in space, you break out the old crossbow and rope to fasten the rope to a distant tree - and I do mean distant. Seriously?
There is an evidence board in your phone that you use to help you make deductions about the case, but it is more distraction than help. You have a partner at the start of the game, but you have to take care of him.
This may be the last installment of the series, but it is not as gripping as the second chapter.
I'll pass on the CE and revisit the game as an SE.
Please try the demo before you buy.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the Metzengerstein line before it's too late?
Overall rating
1
/
5
59 of 76 found this review helpful
After I Built the Bucket to Put Out the Fire....
PostedJuly 22, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromHow low can you go - Check this out!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Yes, Gamers, we have sunk to a new low - You have to build the bucket to hold the single splash of water to put out the fire at the door of the old church.
I might have gotten past that, but I'd just been searching in the burnt out barn, not once, but twice.
What's wrong with that, you ask?
The fire was days ago - there were two newspaper articles about it - and yet, the embers were still active and burning in the pouring rain!
I would recap the story, but it is beyond my powers at the moment.
Good stuff: the VOs and sound effects are good. The are the usual game elements and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: Just about everything else!
Ignore the mixed time periods and the craziness if you will, but I can only mourn the passing of a once great series as I behold the sad remnants of what the DEVs would pass off as a finished game.
I'll provide the sack cloth if someone will douse the fire and gather the ashes!
For your own sake, please try the demo first.
I might have gotten past that, but I'd just been searching in the burnt out barn, not once, but twice.
What's wrong with that, you ask?
The fire was days ago - there were two newspaper articles about it - and yet, the embers were still active and burning in the pouring rain!
I would recap the story, but it is beyond my powers at the moment.
Good stuff: the VOs and sound effects are good. The are the usual game elements and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: Just about everything else!
Ignore the mixed time periods and the craziness if you will, but I can only mourn the passing of a once great series as I behold the sad remnants of what the DEVs would pass off as a finished game.
I'll provide the sack cloth if someone will douse the fire and gather the ashes!
For your own sake, please try the demo first.
I don't recommend this game.
Return to Blake's Mountain to save an innocent family!
Overall rating
1
/
5
24 of 32 found this review helpful
Scarecrow Fixation Hits Again!
PostedJuly 18, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromRun, little scarecrow, run.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The last League of Light game had not one,but two bonus chapters. At the end, I felt sure we had dealt thoroughly with the whole scarecrow problem - to the point of excess.
But here we are back dealing with the bad guys turning the same poor schnook and his son into scarecrows.
As much of the artwork seesaws between clear and fuzzy, I suspect that the Devs had some leftover scene ideas that they just couldn't let go of, so why not make them into another game, however flimsy and disjointed? Just add a totally unconnected opening and let her rip.
So they did and this is it.
Good stuff: Give me a minute and I'll think of something.....
Bad stuff: Scant story, blah game elements, artwork that is incredibly smudged in one scene and crystal clear for a mini-game a second later, only to revert back after the game is complete, lots of running back and forth to little purpose, and no sense. You get to pick the voice of your character, which did not actually work for me - I picked female and my character spoke in a distinctly male voice and had a male silhouette and male head shot.
Good stuff revisited: There are collectibles and CE bling.
Bottom line: For heaven's sake, play the Demo before committing to this turkey!
But here we are back dealing with the bad guys turning the same poor schnook and his son into scarecrows.
As much of the artwork seesaws between clear and fuzzy, I suspect that the Devs had some leftover scene ideas that they just couldn't let go of, so why not make them into another game, however flimsy and disjointed? Just add a totally unconnected opening and let her rip.
So they did and this is it.
Good stuff: Give me a minute and I'll think of something.....
Bad stuff: Scant story, blah game elements, artwork that is incredibly smudged in one scene and crystal clear for a mini-game a second later, only to revert back after the game is complete, lots of running back and forth to little purpose, and no sense. You get to pick the voice of your character, which did not actually work for me - I picked female and my character spoke in a distinctly male voice and had a male silhouette and male head shot.
Good stuff revisited: There are collectibles and CE bling.
Bottom line: For heaven's sake, play the Demo before committing to this turkey!
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 26 found this review helpful
Fairytales Barge into Surface - or Are We Halucinating?
PostedJuly 17, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromHo, hum, nap time.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Book of Fairy Tales was almost stolen from the magical land and there was a tussle during which the book lost some pages. Your tale was one of the affected stories and you ended up in the real world as Cindy Allen. Luckily your memory started to come back and you will need to straighten out the mess made of both the real world and that of fairy tales and find out what started this crisis. You'd better hurry as the Huntsman is hunting you and the missing pages!
Good stuff: Four levels of game play, beautiful art work, multilevel and varied HOPS, mini-games, good VOs, and a very wicked looking Huntsman out to get you.
Bad stuff: This is not the Surface we've come to expect from the series. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on how much you like fairy tales and this story line. I felt as though I was watching an episode of a popular TV series, which I don't care for. And didn't I just save the world yesterday?
Mostly this is just another fairy tale based game with bad guy, no better or worse than many others.
This will definitely be a game for which you need to play the demo. Then you can decide for or against saving the fairy tale kingdom/world again.
Good stuff: Four levels of game play, beautiful art work, multilevel and varied HOPS, mini-games, good VOs, and a very wicked looking Huntsman out to get you.
Bad stuff: This is not the Surface we've come to expect from the series. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on how much you like fairy tales and this story line. I felt as though I was watching an episode of a popular TV series, which I don't care for. And didn't I just save the world yesterday?
Mostly this is just another fairy tale based game with bad guy, no better or worse than many others.
This will definitely be a game for which you need to play the demo. Then you can decide for or against saving the fairy tale kingdom/world again.
A young woman joins the Order of monster hunters and discovers its dark secrets.
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 17 found this review helpful
Hunt Down Rogue Agent Gabriel and Stop the Koshmaar!
PostedJuly 17, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromBack from vacation and enjoying playing again!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Pretty much the title is the story synopsis - You play as Sylvia, an apprentice Hunter under Senior Hunter Simon. You are both chasing a rogue agent who has stolen a powerful artifact in an effort to resurrect his deceased love. Unfortunately his failed resurrection attempt released the Koshmaar, a monster that enters a host and enslaves other humans.
Good stuff: The story is engaging as you follow Sylvia, who lost her memory in an accident a year before this story opens. The VO's and characterizations are very good. HOPs and mini-games are just so-so, while the artwork is well done as are the other game elements. There are collectible little goblin/demon figures and CE bling along with four levels of game play.
Bad stuff: There is nothing egregiously bad, just nothing brilliantly new or innovative.
Overall the game is better than average, but not great enough for five stars.
Try the Demo and enjoy.
Good stuff: The story is engaging as you follow Sylvia, who lost her memory in an accident a year before this story opens. The VO's and characterizations are very good. HOPs and mini-games are just so-so, while the artwork is well done as are the other game elements. There are collectible little goblin/demon figures and CE bling along with four levels of game play.
Bad stuff: There is nothing egregiously bad, just nothing brilliantly new or innovative.
Overall the game is better than average, but not great enough for five stars.
Try the Demo and enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Haunted Legends: The Iron Mask Collector's Edition
Explore 17th-century France as you track down a masked killer.
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 17 found this review helpful
Ho Hum
PostedJuly 4, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromWake me when it's over!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Yes, our little dwarf is back, presumably as nasty as ever despite that "last" game.
So Man in Iron Mask sending warning letters, killing recipients.
You go to investigate.
Good stuff: All the usual "stuff" is here, mostly a rehash of previous games in the series. You collect horse shoes.
Bad stuff: Way too easy and familiar: Dwarf warns you, takes emblem of gate to thwart you. You easily reach through gate with poker you are carrying around, retrieve emblem, solve mini-game. Time: 20 seconds. Ho hum.
It is all pretty enough but just like so many games before it.
Pretty much that's all I can tell you as I fell asleep in the square at the HOP and awoke to find trial over!
If that doesn't tell you enough about this oh-so-average-game, please try the demo yourself.
So Man in Iron Mask sending warning letters, killing recipients.
You go to investigate.
Good stuff: All the usual "stuff" is here, mostly a rehash of previous games in the series. You collect horse shoes.
Bad stuff: Way too easy and familiar: Dwarf warns you, takes emblem of gate to thwart you. You easily reach through gate with poker you are carrying around, retrieve emblem, solve mini-game. Time: 20 seconds. Ho hum.
It is all pretty enough but just like so many games before it.
Pretty much that's all I can tell you as I fell asleep in the square at the HOP and awoke to find trial over!
If that doesn't tell you enough about this oh-so-average-game, please try the demo yourself.
I don't recommend this game.
A magical egg is about to turn one girl's world upside-down.
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 41 found this review helpful
Finally - A Game To Love
PostedJune 29, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromI'm inside playing this game - can we put off the cookout till I'm done?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Alice discovers a strange box in the water near her home. She opens it and picks up a unique egg inside the box. She instantly acquires a strange tattoo on her arm from the flaming phoenix that hatches out of the egg and her hair turns grey! Her father insists she hide in the attic of their home while he goes for a doctor. Alice hears his return from her hiding place - he is accompanied by soldiers who are looking for Alice.
**Spoiler Alert: There is gratuitous violence at this point as Alice's father is killed.**
Alice will need, not only to escape the soldiers and find help to survive, but to discover what has happened to her and why.
Good stuff: Some of the best artwork I've seen this year with gorgeous nature scenes, great characterizations with excellent VOs, interactive HOPs that are not just junk piles, lots of minigames and puzzles, and good FX, as well as a comprehensive diary and map.
Along with the expected CE bling are morphing objects and two types of collectibles.
Bad stuff: Only three levels of game play and no custom level.
I have been repeatedly disappointed as game after game, series after series has fallen short this year. There have been few games to get excited about, much less to recommend.
This game plays well, the story is a bit different, and there isn't a cutesy element in site.
Please try this one and see if you want to join my cheering team!
**Spoiler Alert: There is gratuitous violence at this point as Alice's father is killed.**
Alice will need, not only to escape the soldiers and find help to survive, but to discover what has happened to her and why.
Good stuff: Some of the best artwork I've seen this year with gorgeous nature scenes, great characterizations with excellent VOs, interactive HOPs that are not just junk piles, lots of minigames and puzzles, and good FX, as well as a comprehensive diary and map.
Along with the expected CE bling are morphing objects and two types of collectibles.
Bad stuff: Only three levels of game play and no custom level.
I have been repeatedly disappointed as game after game, series after series has fallen short this year. There have been few games to get excited about, much less to recommend.
This game plays well, the story is a bit different, and there isn't a cutesy element in site.
Please try this one and see if you want to join my cheering team!
I recommend this game!
Who broke the agreement between good and evil?
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 36 found this review helpful
Good vs. Evil - Guess Which Team We're On!
PostedJune 23, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromSurely London occasionally has sunny days.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Of course, we are one of the good guys - or more accurately one of their relatives.
Good old Uncle Ernest, whom you barely know, has called you to London in 1845. In a dingy back alley you meet and he is killed before you can say, "Bad day in London town."
After a quick HOP and watching Uncle's body dissolve, you run as you are now being stalked by the killer, a monster of a man strangely like Mr. Hyde of Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, who is running across the rooftops above you.
Just as all is almost lost, Phineas Fogg rescues you and the game is on.
Good stuff: Multi-layered HOPs, good mini-games, excellent music and VOs, fine albeit dark artwork, four game play levels,a good story, and a lot of CE bling including scene collectibles and HOP morphing objects.
Bad stuff: I'm a little confused by the face insets in the corner of the screen when a character speaks as neither the inset nor the whole figure has moving lips. Each scene is very dreary - rain, fog, and dirt being the order of the day. Most of you would point out that London at that time was dark, dirty, and foggy. I just wish there was some light along the way. And of course we are once again defeating evil, but at least there are no witches - in the demo anyway.
Mostly this is a nice addition to the Eipix catalog of games.
Give it a try.
Good old Uncle Ernest, whom you barely know, has called you to London in 1845. In a dingy back alley you meet and he is killed before you can say, "Bad day in London town."
After a quick HOP and watching Uncle's body dissolve, you run as you are now being stalked by the killer, a monster of a man strangely like Mr. Hyde of Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, who is running across the rooftops above you.
Just as all is almost lost, Phineas Fogg rescues you and the game is on.
Good stuff: Multi-layered HOPs, good mini-games, excellent music and VOs, fine albeit dark artwork, four game play levels,a good story, and a lot of CE bling including scene collectibles and HOP morphing objects.
Bad stuff: I'm a little confused by the face insets in the corner of the screen when a character speaks as neither the inset nor the whole figure has moving lips. Each scene is very dreary - rain, fog, and dirt being the order of the day. Most of you would point out that London at that time was dark, dirty, and foggy. I just wish there was some light along the way. And of course we are once again defeating evil, but at least there are no witches - in the demo anyway.
Mostly this is a nice addition to the Eipix catalog of games.
Give it a try.
I recommend this game!
Can you defeat the mysterious Blade Master?
Overall rating
2
/
5
23 of 27 found this review helpful
Riddle: How Many Knives Can You Throw and Not Hit Me?
PostedJune 21, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromThere is no sadder discovery than a good series gone bad!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Unfortunately the answer is still being tallied, but apparently it will run into the hundreds!
You play as a young woman.
My husband and I are celebrating our first anniversary with a trip and decide to stop off for a one time dinner show featuring a knife throwing act by the Blade Master. After a quick HOP to get the tickets by finding the seller's glasses, we settle at our table. I am called up to assist the Blade Master and have a close up view as he knifes another audience member and then my husband, who has heroically thrown himself in front of a knife meant for me.
Naturally, in my concern for him, I leave him on the floor, turning black from a poison on the knife blade, and start after the Blade Master to get an antidote. (Note to self - if the poison acts this quickly spreading through my husband's body, perhaps I should just spend his last minutes with him.)
Never mind - I follow the bad guy no matter what I have to do - including moving a crashed vehicle, chasing birds, and rescuing a puppy, among other time consuming chores - while my beloved is presumably dying.
Good stuff: (There had to be something after that story line.) There were a couple of HOPs with some interaction, basic mini-games, good artwork, and good storm sounds. You get a knife box from another victim of the Blade Master for which you collect symbols to get knives out of the box to further your progress in the game. There are morphing objects that you collect as puzzle pieces to put together later, four levels of game play, and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: Besides the sorry story line, there were lots of knives flying around. I finished the Demo in well under half the allotted time. I found the game play average at best and sorely lacking any sanity/logic in spots.
I have the earliest Dark Dimensions games, but the last one in the series was also disappointing.
Please play the demo.
As we have been shown time and again over the last year, just because a series started strong does not mean it will continue strong.
This one hasn't!
You play as a young woman.
My husband and I are celebrating our first anniversary with a trip and decide to stop off for a one time dinner show featuring a knife throwing act by the Blade Master. After a quick HOP to get the tickets by finding the seller's glasses, we settle at our table. I am called up to assist the Blade Master and have a close up view as he knifes another audience member and then my husband, who has heroically thrown himself in front of a knife meant for me.
Naturally, in my concern for him, I leave him on the floor, turning black from a poison on the knife blade, and start after the Blade Master to get an antidote. (Note to self - if the poison acts this quickly spreading through my husband's body, perhaps I should just spend his last minutes with him.)
Never mind - I follow the bad guy no matter what I have to do - including moving a crashed vehicle, chasing birds, and rescuing a puppy, among other time consuming chores - while my beloved is presumably dying.
Good stuff: (There had to be something after that story line.) There were a couple of HOPs with some interaction, basic mini-games, good artwork, and good storm sounds. You get a knife box from another victim of the Blade Master for which you collect symbols to get knives out of the box to further your progress in the game. There are morphing objects that you collect as puzzle pieces to put together later, four levels of game play, and some CE bling.
Bad stuff: Besides the sorry story line, there were lots of knives flying around. I finished the Demo in well under half the allotted time. I found the game play average at best and sorely lacking any sanity/logic in spots.
I have the earliest Dark Dimensions games, but the last one in the series was also disappointing.
Please play the demo.
As we have been shown time and again over the last year, just because a series started strong does not mean it will continue strong.
This one hasn't!
I don't recommend this game.
Not all fairy tales are just stories…
Overall rating
3
/
5
46 of 49 found this review helpful
Somebody Has Been Watching Too Much TV
PostedJune 17, 2016
Granny_Gruff
fromHow cute can this get?
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The Book of Fairy Tales was almost stolen from the magical land and there was a tussle during which the book lost some pages. Your tale was one of the affected stories and you ended up in the real world. Luckily your memory started to come back and you will need to straighten out the mess made of both the real world and that of fairy tales and find out what started this crisis.
Good stuff: Four levels of game play, beautiful art work, multilevel and varied HOPS, mini-games, good VOs, the surface flowers to collect, CE bling, and a very wicked looking Huntsman out to get you.
Bad stuff: This is not the Surface we've come to expect from the series. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on how much you like fairy tales and this story line. I felt as though I was watching an episode of a popular TV series, which I don't care for. And I just saved the world yesterday.
This will definitely be a game for which you need to play the demo. Then you can decide for or against saving the fairy tale kingdom.
Good stuff: Four levels of game play, beautiful art work, multilevel and varied HOPS, mini-games, good VOs, the surface flowers to collect, CE bling, and a very wicked looking Huntsman out to get you.
Bad stuff: This is not the Surface we've come to expect from the series. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on how much you like fairy tales and this story line. I felt as though I was watching an episode of a popular TV series, which I don't care for. And I just saved the world yesterday.
This will definitely be a game for which you need to play the demo. Then you can decide for or against saving the fairy tale kingdom.
I don't recommend this game.