cathybobcat's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.5
- Helpful Votes:2,025
- Reviews Submitted:149
- First Review:May 18, 2018
- Most Recent Review:May 25, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Researching the cause of a mysterious supernatural epidemic will have wildly unpredictable consequences...
Overall rating
2
/
5
32 of 50 found this review helpful
THERE IA AN EPIDEMIC.....OF PUZZLES
PostedOctober 20, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Graphics and atmosphere are nice, but everywhere you turn there are puzzles. I did not finish the demo because of it. Came across two HOS and there were puzzles in them, too. I don't mind some puzzles, but when they start putting them in HOS, it's a no buy for me. I do not want to spend most of game time with puzzles and that clearly is what you are doing as well as collecting inventory and going back and forth constantly. It was tedious and not enjoyable.
There are more puzzles than gameplay in this. You get to replay ONLY 25 of them in the Extras (there are tons more than that). You will even be rewarded with more puzzles in the Bonus after you gain your collectibles. I saw no replay of HOS....maybe because there are hardly any. Why this is in a category of Hidden Object is beyond me and very misleading. It is disappointing and very aggravating that there is no balance of gameplay in this.
When your world and the supernatural realm collide, can you survive?
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
BACK AND FORTH...BACK AND FORTH....I NEED DRAMAMINE
PostedOctober 18, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There is so much going back and forth in this that it makes you dizzy. It is way too much. The graphics are atmospheric and the game has a uniqueness of its own, but I did not enjoy the gameplay, which was confusing at times. So many things need inventory and I didn't have it until way down the road. There is a jump map, but I found the back and forth to be tiring. I am also adamant about mini and story type hos, which were all I came across in the demo except for one where you are finding dumb symbols again and in an extremely foggy room. They are so cheaply done....like nobody cares. I almost refuse to buy games with them any more. More emphasis is on the numerous mini games, as usual.
There is a great deal to look at in scenes which makes it very interesting....quite a bit of effort put into them, but the gameplay did it in for me.
Can you save your hometown from dangerous monsters in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
38 of 57 found this review helpful
A CURE FOR INSOMNIA
PostedOctober 18, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Could not bring myself to finish the demo....and for the first time, I quit in the middle of one of the most boring hos ever. Too many story type hos, poorly done.....too many mini games...too much collecting of inventory for senseless tasks... And a ridiculous, juvenile, uninteresting, slow moving story. This appears to be intended for younger players. The only positives I can say about this horrible demo are the graphics and uninstalling it.
A powerful artifact is stolen, threatening to shatter time itself.
Overall rating
1
/
5
16 of 23 found this review helpful
YES....THIS IS THE WORST ONE OF THEM ALL
PostedOctober 14, 2018
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The only thing going for this is the atmosphere. Other than that, it totally sucks. I could not even finish the demo. All I am doing is dealing with super annoying puzzles one right after another....a stupid story line where we have to deal with multitudes of symbols again, matching them up....story type hos...finding pieces in 2 scenes, then having to put them together whether you want to or not....just more puzzles to do. Then there is a mini hos where I am matching fruit. This nonsense didn't stop. It is totally empty of interest. It doesn't matter if there is a story or not. They have you held hostage to all of their mini games. When I play a game I like to have balance and this clearly does not have any balance at all. I do not want to be spending all my time with excessive puzzles. If I wanted a puzzle game then that is what I would get. And haven't we had enough of symbols all over the place?
After having all of the others in this series, I was hoping and expecting for something better than this....but not to be. It's twisted alright... a bore and a chore. The most exiting thing was uninstalling it.
Some evils are too sinister to keep contained for long...
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 13 found this review helpful
SHORT AND FORGETTABLE
PostedOctober 13, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The best part of this is the graphics which are always atmospheric and inviting in this series. That is as far as it goes and not a game I will want to play again. It was also too short and repeated scenes too frequently.
I have all of these, some CE and others SE, and think this one is the most lacking of all. The story was confusing, particularly the end. Huh???
You can replay 16 HOS and 13 Puzzles. There are many more puzzles in this than that, so you get to replay what they give you. As usual there are always more puzzles than HOS which I would like it to be the other way around.....wishful thinking.
The collectibles are not outstanding....only 12 amulets and 18 morphs, which there are indicators for. Although the Extras section is attractive, there is nothing of interest that I found. There are 12 Achievements which is a very pretty wreath....18 movie scenes....8 wallpapers...12 concept art...4 music tracks....and a not so attractive room where your collectible amulets go that contain info...and where David looks like he is hung over.
The Bonus Chapter is what did me in with repeated scenes from the main game...only one or two new ones. It is utterly loaded with puzzles, and only a few hos which only one was done well to me. If you chore through these annoying puzzles it only makes the game seem longer than it actually is, which I think is the reason for incorporating them into a game. I do not care to be spending time with them. It is not balanced or enjoyable. The main game is sufficient without this garbage or an empty story, so the SE would be quite sufficient.
P.S. I really miss Felix. It isn't the same without him. Bring him back.
Can you stop a crazed kidnapper in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
9 of 19 found this review helpful
AN ABSOLUTE WASTE
PostedOctober 6, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The worst part of this very short game was the horrendous graphics. FOG and HAZE EVERYWHERE....washed out scenes....eye strain deluxe. It was sickening.
Story was depressing with drab scenery to match. Too many mini hos...and puzzle instructions that didn't make sense at times. This was not enjoyable at all, seeming to go on and on, going nowhere. I couldn't wait to get it over with and didn't even care about the stupid collectibles of 36 ghost signs and 16 morphs or even having replay of hos and puzzles. It was boring and an utter waste of time, even to talk about. No effort put into this and has a definite lack of artistry. With an abrupt ending.... a 35-45 minute bonus if you chore through the puzzles, this is by far the worst Phantasmat of them all. Unbelievable.
The only psychological thrill of this was uninstalling it.
Can you unite the witches and hunters to defeat an unimaginable foe?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 10 found this review helpful
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.....COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
PostedSeptember 24, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There isn't much for CE extras to be offered....31 morphs and 31 Tarot cards which there is no indicator for. There is NO replay of HOS and puzzles, which is not acceptable for CE standards. I found this to be a lack of effort to say the least. No care here.
The gameplay was rather slow. You are not overwhelmed with activity or going back and forth in excess. It did hold my interest even though it was lacking in satiety at completion. It just left me wanting for more.
The voices of the females are horrid with the fake, over dramatic desperation, sounding of a dire need for milk of magnesia. It is enough to gag you and I had to mute them. It would be nice to get some real improvement in the acting dept.
There are more puzzles than HOS, as usual. Some of the puzzles were frustrating and time consuming, so I just skipped them as I did not feel like being bothered with them. I was relieved at not having to encounter a rotating wheel puzzle upon finding a wheel ring in the beginning of the game....what a surprise. It was done for us. I hate those where you move one and every thing else moves, too.
The HOS were of a variety, and there were too many story type ones, although I must admit, they were different and creatively done. There was an artistic effort put into the HOS for the most part. I was very disappointed at being cheated of not having replay.
There is also too much mixing of potions. They are no big deal to do, but I found them to be excessive.
The graphics were done nicely with a variety of different scenes. This didn't seem to be a very long game to me. The BC had too many puzzles, some interesting HOS....and wasn't that lengthy either....but we have surely seen shorter ones.
I have all in this series, most SE. I didn't dislike this game. It was relaxing for the most part and I am not sorry to have bought it. I just don't feel that it is one I would want to play again because of my disappointment in the lack of Extras, which are mostly standard for CE's today. It is very lacking in that aspect and this would have been a much more enjoyable game had that effort been put into this.
Head on back to beautiful Pinecreek Hills and use your outdoor experience to help the rangers in this hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 13 found this review helpful
ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE...AND NOBODY EVER AGES
PostedSeptember 24, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Even if you played one you have played them all, this is still a very much welcomed edition of another VA...as always. There is a variety of things to do to keep you interested and no scenes are repeated. I own all of these and it's like you just can't get enough of them. What a delight~...a comfort game for sure.
The only thing I did not like in this was the sound effects of some guy clearing his throat and coughing like he has COPD. That was not pleasurable to listen to at all and I went to mute it. It was very distracting....so hope next time they omit this.
Solve the puzzle of the red mist and save a missing camper before they meet a terrifying end.
Overall rating
2
/
5
26 of 40 found this review helpful
A DRAG
PostedSeptember 20, 2018
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There is nothing here that warrants this to be CE worthy. No replay of HOS and Puzzles. Your collectibles are 22 hearts and 12 figurines of the characters....no big deal and leaves much to be desired.
The indicators for your map, the hearts, tasks and SG are located by the hint on the lower right and are hidden unless you hover your mouse over the compass icon. Not very good. You have access to the collectibles in the SG, which I did use because some of the hearts are hard to find because of the cloudy and hazy graphics. There is also a pop up on the left side whenever you gain an achievement or find a collectible.
It is an atmospheric game, but the graphics could have been much more defined with better lighting and less fog. The Gamma can be adjusted in the Options which helped immensely as some scenes are very dark and eye straining.
The map is cheezy, but one plus is it does show you if there is a collectible still to be found in a scene by showing an outline. I found this to be for the hearts and cannot say for the figurines because those were fairly easy to find.
The women's voices have got to go. They are so phony and a chore to listen to. The men's were more professional and convincing.
The gameplay is very slow and boring....wearing a gas mask gadget at times. Uh oh, we need to find a zipper pull. AND after finding a lantern, fuel, I then come across the first HOS and have to find 12 matches in order to light it....that was it for the 1st hos. What a wonder.
The HOS are really cheap and I won't go into the puzzles except to say you are not overwhelmed with them. They were stupid. I hated the one with the buttons where you have to light them all up and touching one affects the others. And how about that horse arcade game? Forget it.
There was another thing I noticed and that is I couldn't find where to change the player mode options. I looked everywhere. Maybe I was missing something, but it looks like once you choose, that is it. I might be wrong, but thought it was worth mentioning because I was playing on custom and it was taking forever for the hint to fill even though I set it to the lowest. I wanted to check it and could not find where to do so.
I quit the demo as soon as I had to sedate a barking dog by finding a can of food, a can opener, then a bowl. And to top everything off, I then was supposed to find something to feed a squirrel. That was it. There are other things I would rather do then ridiculous tasks such as the ones I came across in this game. It was a drag.
Can you rid the city of a malevolent monster in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
16 of 50 found this review helpful
PUZZLE... AFTER PUZZLE... AFTER PUZZLE... AFTER PUZZLE
PostedSeptember 15, 2018
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
There is nothing here but a million puzzles. What a WASTE of a game.