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:
Mystery and betrayal at Rosings Park darken an alternate version of Jane Austen’s classic!
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 25 found this review helpful
Just Because You Can, Does Not Mean You Should
PostedFebruary 15, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromNothing is sacred; anything can be filched; beware letting your copyright lapse.
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
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
There must be many things in life that are just not a good idea even if you can do them.
Yes, you can take a classic and twist the heck out of it.
Is it a good idea?
Frankly, I vote NO. The names have been retained from the Austin classic, an incident from the book opens the story. From there onward, your ride is ALL downhill, straight to the swamp.
Once you hit the bats and witches, you will wonder why they wanted to lean on Ms. Austin's shoulder rather than stand alone. The Devs certainly only wanted that small byplay from her book and the names and they could surely have spared Ms. Austin's work from being dragged through the muck.
Yes, you can take a classic and twist the heck out of it.
Is it a good idea?
Frankly, I vote NO. The names have been retained from the Austin classic, an incident from the book opens the story. From there onward, your ride is ALL downhill, straight to the swamp.
Once you hit the bats and witches, you will wonder why they wanted to lean on Ms. Austin's shoulder rather than stand alone. The Devs certainly only wanted that small byplay from her book and the names and they could surely have spared Ms. Austin's work from being dragged through the muck.
So Good stuff: There are collectible bats, among a scant assortment of CE bling. You do get exactly thirty minutes to try this game full of dark scenes and scrambled plot.
Bad stuff: The "new" plot is just absurd and takes the story in directions the original author would find distasteful. Some of the game play is more disjointed and stilted than the plot. The accents will drive many players wild and the dialogue is unnatural. Movement through the game is slow to the point of torture. Luckily, you only have to play thirty minutes. This is one time when brevity is a real blessing.
Bottom line: Another great deceased author is unable to defend their work.
Please play the demo - there are multiple reasons so many people gave this game one star.
Please play the demo - there are multiple reasons so many people gave this game one star.
I don't recommend this game.
Mr. Radcliffe's traveling theater hides a terrible secret!
Overall rating
3
/
5
53 of 57 found this review helpful
Another Dark Tale Set in the Past
PostedFebruary 12, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromStill in isolation. There is no where else, is there? And I'm too young while still old and cratchety.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Oliver is eager to surprise Emma and does, just not exactly in the manner he wished. He announces his new role as the Raven King in a play. This role will give4 them money to buy a home and start a family. Emma is ready to help Oliver rehearse when the evil head of the traveling theatrical company spirits him away. Emma will have to travel far to save her husband and this is no cake walk.
Good stuff: The game has lovely art work, lots of HOPs of various forms, a good variety of mini-games, and a straight-forward story. The CE bling includes two morphing items and two dragons in the scenes, along with a generous assortment of other usual goodies. You will find and reanimate a small dragon who will help you defeat evil and contribute story details.
Good news: You won't have to name the dragon and he does tell a good story, while you solve the minor puzzles that go with his narration.
Bad stuff: All the scenes had a dark cast to them and there is a lot of green smoke, some of which gives new meaning to the old song, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."
Not every HOP variation was as successful as the creators were hoping it would be.
Not every HOP variation was as successful as the creators were hoping it would be.
Bottom line: The story is a bit more successful than others we've seen lately. A couple of the mini-games were suitably challenging but doable.
Once again I highly recommend you check out the Demo for yourself. After all, I've lead a very sheltered life for the last ten months!
I recommend this game!
A quest to recover a mysterious relic has surprising implications!
Overall rating
4
/
5
52 of 68 found this review helpful
Is a Match 3 Game Ever a CE Game?
PostedFebruary 6, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromIn isolation. There is no where else, is there?
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
3
/
5
Ah, there you have me.
You are sent on a mission to retrieve a stolen artifact. You don't know why the artifact was stolen. You will follow the thief to a distant city in hopes of recovering the artifact.
You move down the road courtesy of the Match 3 boards with paths that appear before you. You just need to match items in your way to get to the end of each path. The points you collect contribute to your meter. Once full, you can choose a "skill" to learn to help you on the Match 3 boards.
As you go along there will be places to explore or characters to conquer. You will pick up objects that will help you and earn or discover pieces of others. Each time you decide to investigate/explore there will be a Match 3 board to conquer.
If there is a threatening character, you will fight it by winning the most matches in a challenge Match 3 board. Occasionally you choose to explore an area, open something, or take a different path. You will have to work out small puzzles to do these things.
I never saw any need for a guide. Extra levels are OK, but I just can't imagine a Match 3 CE being worth the price.
I did enjoy playing the game. I'll be very interested to see the SE when it appears.
In the mean time, please try the Demo to see if you like this new Match 3 game.
You are sent on a mission to retrieve a stolen artifact. You don't know why the artifact was stolen. You will follow the thief to a distant city in hopes of recovering the artifact.
You move down the road courtesy of the Match 3 boards with paths that appear before you. You just need to match items in your way to get to the end of each path. The points you collect contribute to your meter. Once full, you can choose a "skill" to learn to help you on the Match 3 boards.
As you go along there will be places to explore or characters to conquer. You will pick up objects that will help you and earn or discover pieces of others. Each time you decide to investigate/explore there will be a Match 3 board to conquer.
If there is a threatening character, you will fight it by winning the most matches in a challenge Match 3 board. Occasionally you choose to explore an area, open something, or take a different path. You will have to work out small puzzles to do these things.
I never saw any need for a guide. Extra levels are OK, but I just can't imagine a Match 3 CE being worth the price.
I did enjoy playing the game. I'll be very interested to see the SE when it appears.
In the mean time, please try the Demo to see if you like this new Match 3 game.
Your daughter’s uncanny gift draws the attention of a sinister organization!
Overall rating
2
/
5
52 of 68 found this review helpful
Story Had Potential . . . .
PostedFebruary 4, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromDid no one see all the problems before they sent it to market? Really?
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
Once again I am confused as to the process of bringing these games to market. This story had real potential and then Mad Hatter derailed it completely.
You and your brother were visiting a lake sixteen years ago when he brought you a baby girl and asked you to raise her.
You both look to be in your late teens. . . .huh.
You both look to be in your late teens. . . .huh.
He stays at the lake doing research while you raise this child alone. When she turns sixteen, strange things happen and you are off to get answers from brother dear.
You just drive off to the lake without calling him . . . huh.
You just drive off to the lake without calling him . . . huh.
You arrive to find his front door unlocked and see someone inside running out the back way. Then a black van kidnaps your daughter standing out front. You decide to run from the kidnappers and find your brother.
Your brother's phone call sends you to an old clock tower at an abandoned facility. The bad guys are searching the area for you and you need to climb a rope up to the top of the tower repeatedly trying to find the items your brother wants you to see. The last item of the group of four is down at the bottom of the tower, under the feet of a crow. You use a bicycle horn to scare the crow to retrieve the item. The bad guys know where you are, now . . . . huh.
Bottom line: The story tanked, the game elements were not particularly interesting or challenging, and there was nothing to entice you to keep playing.
Please play the demo. This is one of those times when I wish the developers had given the whole thing much more thought.
I don't recommend this game.
A detective meets a mysterious stranger in her first case!
Overall rating
2
/
5
66 of 78 found this review helpful
Elephant Games Desparate For Editor/QA Expert
PostedJanuary 28, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromSnow, snow, and more cold...
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
Elephant is trying out a new series, which is good.
Apparently they have run out of people to edit or fact check what they send out, which is bad.
The mistakes are simple and readily apparent, but so disconcerting that I was discouraged from purchasing the game.
The story centers around a young woman who lost her sister eleven years ago when she was kidnapped by a serial killer. And we go downhill from there.
From the erroneous description of the kidnapped girl's clothing to the totally out of era picture of her summer camp experiences, to the ladder hammered together under the open window of a possible kidnapper's home, each new fact fail left me cringing.
I was under the impression that part of the beta testing that goes on before games are released is to catch these quirks before sending the game to market.
I was wrong, and I am sorry someone didn't catch this one before it escaped.
Please try the Demo. You will get more than your share of stings.
Apparently they have run out of people to edit or fact check what they send out, which is bad.
The mistakes are simple and readily apparent, but so disconcerting that I was discouraged from purchasing the game.
The story centers around a young woman who lost her sister eleven years ago when she was kidnapped by a serial killer. And we go downhill from there.
From the erroneous description of the kidnapped girl's clothing to the totally out of era picture of her summer camp experiences, to the ladder hammered together under the open window of a possible kidnapper's home, each new fact fail left me cringing.
I was under the impression that part of the beta testing that goes on before games are released is to catch these quirks before sending the game to market.
I was wrong, and I am sorry someone didn't catch this one before it escaped.
Please try the Demo. You will get more than your share of stings.
I don't recommend this game.
Join Mia Faircroft on a holiday adventure to her hometown!
Overall rating
2
/
5
30 of 38 found this review helpful
What to Say? What to Say?
PostedJanuary 24, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromI'm reminded of watching my slow cooker in action.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
There is a story if you care to read massive quantities of dialogue on screen. I tried but found there was almost no plot to be found in the dozens of dialogue boxes I read through.
The HOPs were busy scenes with well-camoflogued items interspersed with some fairly basic puzzles. There is a way to adjust the music and sound.
The HOPs were busy scenes with well-camoflogued items interspersed with some fairly basic puzzles. There is a way to adjust the music and sound.
The game is labeled a CE, although I can't imagine why. There is no SG, or CE bling. The BFG blurb claims extra bonus content at the end of the CE game, something I will never be able to attest to myself. While there is a way to bypass dialogue and speed up the process, I have no desire to wade through this game to see if there really is any bonus content.
Please try the Demo as this may be just what you are looking for. . . or not.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the worlds from a deadly creation in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 24 found this review helpful
Sometimes the Story Gets Confusing
PostedJanuary 23, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromI'm making a new mask to match my outfit.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You play as Simon, a Seeker asked to assist Davona as she follows an anomaly in the Northern Lights to a portal to another world, Frostwind. You arrive in time to be attacked by a dragon on a world full of snow and ice. Can you dig your way out of the snow and find a way to help this world and two others threatened with an invasion of dragons?
Good news: There will be pretty artwork, less acid green and purple and LOTS more blue and mossy green. A nice variety of puzzles and HOPs move the story along slowly. The CE bling includes morphing dragons, constellations, and crystals with an ambitious selection of Wallpapers and Concept Art.
Bad news: Aside from the various copycat actions found in every game and the sometimes fractured mini-game instructions, the story trips over itself courtesy of Zul, an elemental created to help deal with that dragon problem. Zul informs us that the dragons were happy to serve humans and would have kept on doing so, but they were not thanked vociferously enough and so turned on their masters. I suspect that these few seconds of the game were overlooked from a very early version with a different story line than where the game ended up.
Bottom line: This LOTW is a cut above the last one and will be joining my collection, more for the length of the game and improvements in the artwork and CE bling assortment than for the story. And I have hope they may iron out the story's kinks before the end!
Please play the demo to see what you find to love/hate in the different worlds you will visit.
Good news: There will be pretty artwork, less acid green and purple and LOTS more blue and mossy green. A nice variety of puzzles and HOPs move the story along slowly. The CE bling includes morphing dragons, constellations, and crystals with an ambitious selection of Wallpapers and Concept Art.
Bad news: Aside from the various copycat actions found in every game and the sometimes fractured mini-game instructions, the story trips over itself courtesy of Zul, an elemental created to help deal with that dragon problem. Zul informs us that the dragons were happy to serve humans and would have kept on doing so, but they were not thanked vociferously enough and so turned on their masters. I suspect that these few seconds of the game were overlooked from a very early version with a different story line than where the game ended up.
Bottom line: This LOTW is a cut above the last one and will be joining my collection, more for the length of the game and improvements in the artwork and CE bling assortment than for the story. And I have hope they may iron out the story's kinks before the end!
Please play the demo to see what you find to love/hate in the different worlds you will visit.
I recommend this game!
A sinister revenge plot is tearing a kingdom apart!
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
What Shall We Do With the Dynamite We Made?
PostedJanuary 8, 2021
Granny_Gruff
fromFrozen in Kentucky
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A new chapter in the Spirit Legends series has dropped. It is much the same as the previous entries. You will set out to fight for truth and justice armed with your trusty Bestiary, a large volume filled with a different puzzle to help you deal with each marauding monster.
You arrive at the king's palace in time to repair, replace, and rescue the kingdom before you are even initiated into the Guardians of Harmony. Your adventure has you on the run from the moment you meet Pythia, your contact from the Guardians. She gives you a rundown on the current crisis on your way to meet with the king.
Good stuff: There is a good deal of content in this game. The many chapters and locations are well drawn and highly colored. The HOPs with the Match 3 alternative, mini-games, and puzzles are sprinkled through the game with a liberal hand. The storyline is clear and you have your volume of the Bestiary to assist you with quelling any monsters you encounter. There is a generous allotment of collectibles and CE bling.
Bad stuff: There is a fair amount of running back and forth. You will see things to do, but will have to come back shortly to do them, again and again.
Bad stuff: There is a fair amount of running back and forth. You will see things to do, but will have to come back shortly to do them, again and again.
I gave an extra star for the bee hive we do not have to spray or smoke out. I took one star away for the dynamite I made after gathering container, salt peter, fuse, and gunpowder from various scenes I'd been through several times already.
Bottom line: This is an average game with a decent story.
Please try the Demo for yourself.
The most perfect town in the world hides a terrible secret!
Overall rating
2
/
5
49 of 66 found this review helpful
This is SO SAD
PostedDecember 31, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromNo one phoned this game in - that would have required effort - they just left a sticky note on the door!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
A new mystery confronts the three agents from Detectives Unlimited. Agent Brown had gone off on a mission of his own. Now the two remaining members of the team, Anna Gray and James Blackthorn, are following his trail as Agent Brown hasn't been heard from in a while. Luckily he left a file for them. Unhappily it says very little to help his teammates. On to Restville, a sleepy little town with eye-opening problems.
Good stuff: The price is the same as the last CE I bought.
Bad stuff: This game is short on CE bling, skimpy on storyline, and features fuzzy edged scenes and dim characters.
Worse: There are swarming insects as soon as you reach town.
You will use a headlight bulb in a flashlight - either the flashlight is huge or the headlight is abnormally small.
Later your jail cell pillow case contains a jack. This is a double fail as the sheriff knocked you out with a punch and would have presumably laid you on the cot with your head on the jack inside the pillow. (I know they were probably working remotely on this game, but how could no one see how stupid that was?)
The CE bling (that is supposed to make us feel better about paying double for the CE version) is the extreme diet version for this game.
The storyline isn't - a story, although it is about a line long.
You will use a headlight bulb in a flashlight - either the flashlight is huge or the headlight is abnormally small.
Later your jail cell pillow case contains a jack. This is a double fail as the sheriff knocked you out with a punch and would have presumably laid you on the cot with your head on the jack inside the pillow. (I know they were probably working remotely on this game, but how could no one see how stupid that was?)
The CE bling (that is supposed to make us feel better about paying double for the CE version) is the extreme diet version for this game.
The storyline isn't - a story, although it is about a line long.
This new addition to the Detectives United Series is just sad and an embarrassment to the developers.
2020 has gone out with a whimper at BFG.
2020 has gone out with a whimper at BFG.
Please try the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save him and the Secret City from destruction in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 34 found this review helpful
Not My Favorite Christmas Present
PostedDecember 27, 2020
Granny_Gruff
fromStill home.
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
As the Secret City detective, I am responding to the museum employee's call for my help as he is concerned about my friend, Sakir. He has not heard from Sakir since he went to investigate some artifacts bequeathed to the Secret City Museum by their deceased owner. I find Sakir at the museum and under some kind of evil influence. I follow him as the mystery intensifies.
Take a hint! When a lab tech says her glasses were knocked off and you find them LOCKED in her purse, it means nothing good for logic, the game plot, or the outcome.
Then I run around a scene trying to find a noise-maker and its buttons to scare away a crow that stayed put even during my search of his perch. I even pounded a chisel into ice inches away from this bird and he didn't flinch. And Logic dies again.
So we have a mediocre game with multiple artifacts to open everything, a minimal story, and some very dicey moves for the player, moves that we've seen a thousand times before.
On the plus side the artwork and animation are well done. There is a Match 3 alternative to the HOPs. There is CE bling.
But are those enough of a reason to sink money into this game?
Please try the Demo to decide for yourself.
I don't recommend this game.