tinkerbell63's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:275
- Reviews Submitted:7
- First Review:December 7, 2011
- Most Recent Review:July 9, 2012
- Featured reviews0
tinkerbell63's Review History
Spirits of Mystery: Song of the Phoenix
Reunite the Dragon and Pheonix Kingdoms to stop the evil witch!
Overall rating
1
/
5
18 of 31 found this review helpful
Silly and Simple
PostedJuly 9, 2012
tinkerbell63
fromPhoenix, Arizona
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
The best thing about this game was its animated introduction, seconded by its reviews. After these, I was expecting a game so brilliant, I nearly bought it without playing the demo.
Wow. So glad I didn't.
First, I found it absurdly childish. When the "Evil Plants" spring up, you have to find your Protecting Light Symbols by swishing around the screen with your Magic Amulet (AKA cursor) until you have clicked on all seven or so of them.
Assuming you survive that threat, you may encounter a so-called HOS. Except that these are not Hidden Object Screens at all. They are mini-games with perhaps 10 silhouettes which identify objects that will allow you to perform tasks: cut a rope, dig up a plant, etc. These remind me of puzzles I wrote for fifth grade logic books.
Should you prove smarter than a fifth grader, you may exit the room/courtyard/whatever and find a challenge, a puzzle or an actual mini-game. These are so simple that you might almost have to be smarter than a third grader. (Just kidding. Not that smart.)
Wow. So glad I didn't.
First, I found it absurdly childish. When the "Evil Plants" spring up, you have to find your Protecting Light Symbols by swishing around the screen with your Magic Amulet (AKA cursor) until you have clicked on all seven or so of them.
Assuming you survive that threat, you may encounter a so-called HOS. Except that these are not Hidden Object Screens at all. They are mini-games with perhaps 10 silhouettes which identify objects that will allow you to perform tasks: cut a rope, dig up a plant, etc. These remind me of puzzles I wrote for fifth grade logic books.
Should you prove smarter than a fifth grader, you may exit the room/courtyard/whatever and find a challenge, a puzzle or an actual mini-game. These are so simple that you might almost have to be smarter than a third grader. (Just kidding. Not that smart.)
The atmosphere is definitely not dark and foreboding. It is fairy tale and lovely, even if the villain does appear and inform your majesty that you must marry him on the morrow, and his black panther does growl menacingly (whilst slurping up buckets of water, and how scary is that!)
So play the demo, and if you really think you can stand an entire game of it, have fun. For me, the single hour sufficed.
So play the demo, and if you really think you can stand an entire game of it, have fun. For me, the single hour sufficed.
I don't recommend this game.
The Secret of Hildegards
Help Abigail Hildegard find her father and wake Adalar from his dream in The Secret of Hidergards, a fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
47 of 52 found this review helpful
A very positive review
PostedMay 3, 2012
tinkerbell63
fromPhoenix, Arizona
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I must disagree with my two negative fellow game-players. This is a fine game. The storyline is, as indicated, no more than a setup to motivate you for your search. Something mysterious has happened in your prestigious British family, and you determine to return to the estate to search for "clues." Essentially, this is a game for people who enjoy hidden object games, with minigames thrown in for good measure. These people tend to pick up books (or their Kindle) when they want an actual storyline.
The music is fine, if you enjoy music playing with your game. It's tinkly piano and violin, and I even saw my doggie nodding her head in time.
There are no interactive hidden object puzzles, and I didn't catch any characters speaking out loud.
The art work is elaborate, and has an old-fashioned look about it. This adds to the atmosphere, and does not cause objects to become hard to identify. In fact, it is quite possible to play in windowed mode, even on a laptop, and to continue to work in a different program at the same time, switching back and forth during the pauses. I enjoy doing this, and it isn't easily done with some games. There are, as is usual, 12 objects listed per scene, but one of those is a multiple object: 7 feathers, 12 springs, etc.
To answer specific objections: rowanberries are the berries from a rowan bush, just as blackberries are the berries from a blackberry bush. They aren't common in the US, but that doesn't make them extinct. Secateurs are pruning shears. Ta-da! You've learned a new word. Look it up if you don't believe me.
Interestingly, there were not multiple "umbrellas" in a scene. There was one umbrella, which happened to be the required object, and one parasol. The difference is, one is used as protection against rain, and the other, usually more decorative, is used as protection against sun. Humans did not always have access to bottles of goo containing spf 15. If you would like an easy reference, recall the scene in Sound of Music where Martha says she wants a pink parasol.
I encountered no difficulties when clicking on objects. The only requirement was that the point of the clicker needed to be on the object, and not simply somewhere in the vicinity.
I had no trouble whatsoever spotting the bright cyan cluster of stars that resulted when the HINT button was pressed. But in the case that I had missed the stars, HINT recharges very quickly
As for gameplay, this game is unique. #BTW, there is no such thing as "very unique."# You have choices as to the direction you take within the Hildegard estate. Once your choice is made, you find several sparkling areas, indicating hidden object scenes. You play a scene, and are rewarded with - not a necessary object, but - a minigame! These games range from simple to HELP ME!!! Thank goodness for the skip button. When you complete #or skip# the game, you are again rewarded, this time with a token.
I have bought the game, but that's as far as I'm going to take you in this review. By now you should know whether you will enjoy the game or not. I think the negative reviewers were just cranky when they played, because they wouldn't have chosen a HOG if they didn't like this type of game. I haven't finished playing, so I can't answer two questions which are of importance to me: how long is the game, and if I play again with the same player name, will the objects be different? If it is of good length, and if the objects change, then it is perfect. I'll be interested in finishing it #in which case I will reply to my own review here# or in reading the answers in another gamer's review.
Thanks for reading. - Christine
I recommend this game!
Mystery of the Earl
Lillian's fiance, Christian, has been kidnapped by an evil witch! Help Lillian explore Christian's castle and save her love!
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 34 found this review helpful
Fine for the right gamer - Roses instead of Blood
PostedJanuary 29, 2012
tinkerbell63
fromPhoenix, Arizona
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
This is a pretty game, and very nice for younger gamers, so moms, go ahead and get it for your daughters, especially if they like being the one who saves the guy, instead of the other way around. Ha!
This isn't a horrible game, so I don't want to sound too negative. It's short and simple, and not worth the money to a more experienced gamer. If you've been around a while, you'll feel as if you got into a sixth grade classroom, when you belong in tenth grade at least. But you'll probably be polite and finish the game.
The story has a beautiful girl ready to wed a gorgeous, titled guy, who is rich and reads her poetry. But on their wedding day he vanishes with only intense words of regret for his foolishness. Of course, the fair maid is no way as silly as the guy, so she doesn't leave it at that. She sets about gathering what she needs to save him - hence the hidden object scenes. You'll need items from different scenes to solve riddles, but there isn't too much walking about. The scenes are close to one another, and the girl nags you when you are finished in an area for the nonce. (Good word, nonce.)
So buy it, if you fit the profile of the gamer who will love it, and leave it if you prefer the more mature hidden object/adventure game. Actually, I suppose the only difference between the two types is the length and the content, and the roses in place of skulls and blood.
I recommend this game!
Twisted Lands: Insomniac
Help Angel figure out what is real and what is in her head as she attempts to escape from a Mental Hospital!
Overall rating
5
/
5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
Completes what the First Game Started
PostedJanuary 23, 2012
tinkerbell63
fromPhoenix, Arizona
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Weird Park: Broken Tune
(159)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
When I finished the first Twisted Lands game, my head immediately started rewriting the ending. It was so wrong! Well, this game completes the story and supplies the answers and the ending the gamer needed after playing that first game.
You'll recognize some of the scenes from the first Twisted Lands game, but don't think you'll be playing the same game. It's as if you were stuck in the dreamscape with the character, and things are familiar, but never quite the same. The old nightmare sneaks through at times, but is quickly overwhelmed by the new nightmare that has hold of Angel this time. The ending is right, and unexpected, though it still may have you wondering whether she truly escaped...
The actual gameplay is all it should be. The puzzles never were overly challenging for me, but they were always original and interesting. Solving a scene sometimes required remembering a task for an extended time, and always the mix of one reality and another left you wondering whether they were actually one and the same - as confused as Angel.
I found this game as captivating as a novel, a very interactive novel. It has all the ingredients of a HOG, puzzles, adventures, characters to care for, or to fear, story line, voices and cut scenes that may be skipped (though you won't want to) and anything else you can think of. I highly recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Mystery P.I.: The Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove
Travel to New England to investigate a counterfeiting ring in Mystery P.I.: The Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Like An Old Shoe
PostedDecember 13, 2011
tinkerbell63
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
If you've been around awhile, you've probably played P.I Mystery Hidden Object games, and if you like them, here's a new one with new screens for you to slip comfortably into. Many of us still like a plain hidden object game without having to solve puzzles to get to the correct next screen before we can find another HO game.
If you are new to gaming, this series is likely to be your favorite for a time, at the very least. There are no characters to talk to, no minigames to assemble pieces for, and no travelling from one screen to another, trying to remember where you saw a marble or a frying pan. Every screen has all the things you are looking for, its own riddles to solve, with perhaps a play on words or a visual direction, such as, "Fish in Barrel." There are repeating objects, such as the key and lobster in each screen, that you must find to open secret areas. In this game there is a third repeating object that grants you yet more honors. Once you have mastered the basics, you can try to better your time, and it's a great game to play with your kids. If they are old enough to read, they can play alone or practice sounding out words. The objects to be found will change at random each time you play.
While you may outgrow this series and move on, it's hard to find a gamer who doesn't feel he got his money's worth or who didn't go back and play them again at some point.
If you are new to gaming, this series is likely to be your favorite for a time, at the very least. There are no characters to talk to, no minigames to assemble pieces for, and no travelling from one screen to another, trying to remember where you saw a marble or a frying pan. Every screen has all the things you are looking for, its own riddles to solve, with perhaps a play on words or a visual direction, such as, "Fish in Barrel." There are repeating objects, such as the key and lobster in each screen, that you must find to open secret areas. In this game there is a third repeating object that grants you yet more honors. Once you have mastered the basics, you can try to better your time, and it's a great game to play with your kids. If they are old enough to read, they can play alone or practice sounding out words. The objects to be found will change at random each time you play.
While you may outgrow this series and move on, it's hard to find a gamer who doesn't feel he got his money's worth or who didn't go back and play them again at some point.
I recommend this game!
Mountain Crime: Requital
Someone is killing the guests at a mountain resort, and you could be next if you don't figure out the mystery and solve a Mountain Crime!
Overall rating
3
/
5
101 of 121 found this review helpful
It's A Game - It Doesn't Have To Make Sense
PostedDecember 12, 2011
tinkerbell63
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
While "Mountain Crime" has great visuals and an interesting concept, the holes in the story line were distracting even to my 9 year old. He likes to help with the Hidden Object screens. Both of us were disappointed in these when they turned out to be the kind where you find the fragments of objects by their shapes instead of searching for objects by names. This might be good for players who are tired of looking for the same objects in junk piles in every game, but if you don't like finding broken bits, it's a bore. The main character, a doctor, begins by forgetting to take his medical bag when he hears a cry of pain. The victim is then left lying on the floor.
Everything, from minigames to locks, is missing parts, and apparently they must be solved in order. I like being able to leave one path or area to solve others, and to find pieces in different areas and then later to come back, but this game seems to be mostly linear.
All in all, this might present a welcome challenge to a super expert game player, but I found the story mistakes annoying, the Hidden Bits, instead of hidden objects, disappointing, and the inability to play minigames when found, instead of in a certain order, frustrating.
Everything, from minigames to locks, is missing parts, and apparently they must be solved in order. I like being able to leave one path or area to solve others, and to find pieces in different areas and then later to come back, but this game seems to be mostly linear.
All in all, this might present a welcome challenge to a super expert game player, but I found the story mistakes annoying, the Hidden Bits, instead of hidden objects, disappointing, and the inability to play minigames when found, instead of in a certain order, frustrating.
I don't recommend this game.
Revenge of the Spirit: Rite of Resurrection
The day famed mystery writer Adora Graves died the lights went out in Beacon. Cast light on the town or be stuck in the shadows!
Overall rating
4
/
5
60 of 76 found this review helpful
Exactly the Kind of Game I Like
PostedDecember 7, 2011
tinkerbell63
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This game could have been made to order for me. It's on the dark side, with graceful, masterfully painted graphics and enough Hidden Object screens to qualify it for that genre, but not so many as to become tiresome. The story line can be followed with much reading, or with a glance at the character's comments, as you please. Puzzles offered enough challenge to make me feel a bit clever, but not so much as to make me snap at my family if they interrupted me. I would say it is a good way to pass a wintry evening, with more difficult levels than the one I played.
I recommend this game!