Innovativemom's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:476
- Reviews Submitted:51
- First Review:April 23, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 5, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help James, a young talented private detective, find a stolen treasure map and solve the case in this Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Old Fashioned Hidden Object Game
PostedOctober 15, 2017
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I loved this game. I can't stand hidden object adventure games. All the running around, back and forth is not my idea of fun. I just want to search for objects and work a few puzzles. I mute games and forward though storylines.
This game was nothing but HOGs and puzzles. The game went along quickly. There was no waiting on hints, pages to load, or stories to rattle along. There were no penalties for missed clicks. Each scene had 5 tiny little magnifiers hidden in the scene for extra hints. The scenes went back and forth between word lists HOGs and HOGs with the picture outline of objects for you to find. I liked having the mix of the two. It added to the fun factor. The puzzles were a good mix. There wasn't much repetition in the puzzles or the HOG scenes.
Now I want to address the language problem that so many reviewers complained about. As I said, I mute games, so no language problem there for me. There were no language problems with the picture outline HOGs either. In the list I came across very few problems. I didn't personally consider them problems but more like a little challenge added to the game. The words were not out of left field. They were just a little off in American English. Examples (these were not in the puzzles) cup instead of glass, sweeper instead of broom, blooms instead of flowers, etc. I did not have to spend extra time looking, I thought they were close enough to the name I might have otherwise used that it worked OK for me, especially since you weren't penalized for using extra clicks.
I can't wait to try the next two games in the series.
I recommend this game!
Solve a murder mystery involving greed and mistrust among friends in this suspenseful, back-stabbing Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
What Game Are These Other People Playing?
PostedJuly 9, 2017
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
First and foremost let me make this clear. This is a straight up HOG (Hidden Object Game). It is not a HOA! There is no adventure. This game is an old-fashioned HOG with only HOG scenes and puzzles.
I mute games so I can't give an opinion on music or voice overs. I skip stories. I read books for that. I am there to play and nothing else. I am not in a hurry. When at all possible I don't use hints or skip puzzles. Taking the time to keep searching or trying to figure something out is part of the satisfaction when it does happen. Now don't get me wrong. I said I'm here to play not torture myself. If objects are tiny or obscure, instructions are missing or make no sense, or the game has me doing more running than playing I will uninstall that game faster than anyone.
This game is none of the above. No the scenes are not in HD but they are very clear and some a little more challenging than others but that is why there is a hint button. The hint button stayed lite and recharged in seconds. If you can't find something is a scene give it a little more time. This is one of those games that when you do find it you'll think, how could I not have seen that. The puzzles were all different and unlike most puzzles you see. They were not hard just pleasingly different. The directions were clear and easy to follow.
Try the game and decide for yourself. Don't just go on reviews. Reviews, mine included, are opinions of a large variety of people that all favor different game genres.
I mute games so I can't give an opinion on music or voice overs. I skip stories. I read books for that. I am there to play and nothing else. I am not in a hurry. When at all possible I don't use hints or skip puzzles. Taking the time to keep searching or trying to figure something out is part of the satisfaction when it does happen. Now don't get me wrong. I said I'm here to play not torture myself. If objects are tiny or obscure, instructions are missing or make no sense, or the game has me doing more running than playing I will uninstall that game faster than anyone.
This game is none of the above. No the scenes are not in HD but they are very clear and some a little more challenging than others but that is why there is a hint button. The hint button stayed lite and recharged in seconds. If you can't find something is a scene give it a little more time. This is one of those games that when you do find it you'll think, how could I not have seen that. The puzzles were all different and unlike most puzzles you see. They were not hard just pleasingly different. The directions were clear and easy to follow.
Try the game and decide for yourself. Don't just go on reviews. Reviews, mine included, are opinions of a large variety of people that all favor different game genres.
I recommend this game!
Grandpa's Table is a very atmospheric puzzle game where you need to group tokens of various colors.
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 17 found this review helpful
Disappointed
PostedJune 28, 2017
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
After reading the game description I was excited. I love puzzles but good games with all puzzles are hard to find. I quickly found out (or at least in the first 50 minutes) that there was 1 puzzle that changed a little each time. That is not what I think of when I read the word puzzles but I guess it can be put that way.
I would describe it as a type of board game. You have these little items/pieces/buttons that you have to move around. Each puzzle starts out with at least 2 sets of three and more are added as you progress.
The object is to group like ones together. The catch is that you have to group them on marks that are on the board. There are 2 things which makes the puzzle challenging. First you have to use other pieces to block off where you don't want to go. Those other pieces are also needed to get them to the correct spots. The pieces need to be moved in a certain order because of the way they help the other pieces. It is very easy to have one left out in the middle facing an impossible place it needs to be. Also the second that three pieces of the same color touch, they lock in place. All this causes a lot of undo's and restarts.
Skipping around or not doing so great is not an option. Each puzzle is worth 3 stars. As far as I could tell you could replay each puzzle as many times as needed to get your 3 stars. If you don't earn the 3 stars on every puzzle your options get progressively worse. The stars are used to buy help. They also have something to do with areas that you access later on. I didn't get that far.
I would suggest trying before buying on this one. I enjoyed playing the puzzles much more in the first half hour. After a while though it became less fun. I don't like having to replay the same game to earn stars. Even as I progressed the puzzles didn't change enough to keep my interest. This is a very specific type puzzle. You will have to really enjoy that type puzzle to keep from getting burned out.
I would describe it as a type of board game. You have these little items/pieces/buttons that you have to move around. Each puzzle starts out with at least 2 sets of three and more are added as you progress.
The object is to group like ones together. The catch is that you have to group them on marks that are on the board. There are 2 things which makes the puzzle challenging. First you have to use other pieces to block off where you don't want to go. Those other pieces are also needed to get them to the correct spots. The pieces need to be moved in a certain order because of the way they help the other pieces. It is very easy to have one left out in the middle facing an impossible place it needs to be. Also the second that three pieces of the same color touch, they lock in place. All this causes a lot of undo's and restarts.
Skipping around or not doing so great is not an option. Each puzzle is worth 3 stars. As far as I could tell you could replay each puzzle as many times as needed to get your 3 stars. If you don't earn the 3 stars on every puzzle your options get progressively worse. The stars are used to buy help. They also have something to do with areas that you access later on. I didn't get that far.
I would suggest trying before buying on this one. I enjoyed playing the puzzles much more in the first half hour. After a while though it became less fun. I don't like having to replay the same game to earn stars. Even as I progressed the puzzles didn't change enough to keep my interest. This is a very specific type puzzle. You will have to really enjoy that type puzzle to keep from getting burned out.
I recommend this game!
Ruby Maze Adventure 2
Help Ruby to navigate ancient mazes and discover lost treasure
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Loved It, Something Totally Different
PostedMay 25, 2017
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I loved this game. It was a nice change of pace from the games I normally play.
I don't bother with stories or sound so I can't say yea or nay on these but the game itself was a blast. It's the kind of game I like to play for 30 to 45 minutes. I get bored with more than that. The game play can be a bit repetitive but by limiting the length of my playing time it will stay interesting for quite a while.
Some complained about constantly falling through. I'm not saying you won't ever fall through but if you will be ready the second you hit a 'fall through square', immediately without pause hit the next square you're going to. Sometimes that will be the square ahead of you and sometimes it will be the square you were just on. If you do this it will cut your falls down to just a few and you will get less frustrated and discouraged.
It is a buy for me. At least give it a chance with a trial run.
I don't bother with stories or sound so I can't say yea or nay on these but the game itself was a blast. It's the kind of game I like to play for 30 to 45 minutes. I get bored with more than that. The game play can be a bit repetitive but by limiting the length of my playing time it will stay interesting for quite a while.
Some complained about constantly falling through. I'm not saying you won't ever fall through but if you will be ready the second you hit a 'fall through square', immediately without pause hit the next square you're going to. Sometimes that will be the square ahead of you and sometimes it will be the square you were just on. If you do this it will cut your falls down to just a few and you will get less frustrated and discouraged.
It is a buy for me. At least give it a chance with a trial run.
I recommend this game!
Solve mysterious crimes and expose insidious criminals in this exciting, multilevel hidden object game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
13 of 16 found this review helpful
Disappointed By A Straight Up HOG, My Favorite Type Of Game
PostedDecember 26, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
After reading some reviews I was excited. It sounded like a straight up HOG instead of the usual Hidden Object Adventure Game which I loathe.
It was a straight up HOG. You were given images to find. There were no lists. In every scene there was one set of images that had to be combined in order to find another of the images. Example: find coffee cup, find spoon, combine the two and out pops a piece of lemon?? which was one of the images. The combination of items didn't always make sense to me
The images were mostly very large (too large for the scene), in very illogical places (like cats in the sky), and the images themselves were strange. Some had no relation to the scene they were in at all (jack-o-lantern on top of a plane in an airport setting). If you paused for more than a couple of seconds a screen would pop up advising you of the available hint.
I had planned on finishing the demo but that was not to be. When I finished the first chapter (45 minutes) the game would not let me move forward. It said I had to replay the level and earn more stars. In some of the scenes I found each item quickly in succession without using hints. The game still only awarded me one of three stars.
It was a straight up HOG. You were given images to find. There were no lists. In every scene there was one set of images that had to be combined in order to find another of the images. Example: find coffee cup, find spoon, combine the two and out pops a piece of lemon?? which was one of the images. The combination of items didn't always make sense to me
The images were mostly very large (too large for the scene), in very illogical places (like cats in the sky), and the images themselves were strange. Some had no relation to the scene they were in at all (jack-o-lantern on top of a plane in an airport setting). If you paused for more than a couple of seconds a screen would pop up advising you of the available hint.
I had planned on finishing the demo but that was not to be. When I finished the first chapter (45 minutes) the game would not let me move forward. It said I had to replay the level and earn more stars. In some of the scenes I found each item quickly in succession without using hints. The game still only awarded me one of three stars.
I don't recommend this game.
Match zombies, witches and ghosts to reach the next level of fun in this Match 3 Halloween adventure!
Overall rating
1
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Yawn!!!!
PostedNovember 1, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
There was no challenge even on the hardest level. I think that most children over six years old would get bored after playing this game for a short period of time.
I don't recommend this game.
Be the Cruise Director, in charge of the luxurious USS Liberty of the Waves!
Overall rating
5
/
5
94 of 104 found this review helpful
HOG Heaven
PostedAugust 9, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
This is my kind of game, nothing but hidden objects and puzzles. I won't repeat the game details and instructions which have already been spelled out by others. I would disagree on items being tiny and hard to find. The only things that gave me a hard time were the colored glass recycling bottles. They tend to blend in with chair legs, sign posts, etc.
I think the 3rd time is the charm. I found this game more appealing than the first two. There was more variety in the puzzles with quite a few unexpected gems among them. Other than the puzzles, I can't quite put my finger on why it seems better than the other 2 in the series, but it does.
There is no end to the hints and very little waiting for a recharge. Click to your hearts content. The curser doesn't start flying in circles, the page doesn't cloud over, nor is there a voice coming from nowhere to hurl insults at you.
At the end of each HOG scene you have 2 options: replay or continue. I accidentally hit replay and was pleasantly surprised. You don't have to replay the entire scene. Any lost items or recycling items you already found stay found. It also gives you a new list of items to find instead of the same list as before and you still get endless hints.
If you like good old fashioned HOGs like Big City Adventures, Mystery PI, Amazing Adventures, Vacation Quest, Letters From Nowhere, or any of the other Vacation Adventure Series then I can promise you that you will adore this game.
I recommend this game!
Help Emma save her Uncle's house and decorate it! Hidden Object, Match-3 and Decoration all in 1 Game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Discount Game, Not Full Price
PostedAugust 3, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is an old school type HOG. You search rooms, earn coins, then choose one of three items in a category to buy for a room.
Each HOG scene took place in a room. The rooms repeated many times. The items to find also repeated, but they didn't move around. They were in the same place each time a scene repeated.
There is only one room, not an entire house. You start out choosing flooring, wallpaper, lamp, couch, table, then move on to curtains, chimney, TV, picture, plant. The choices were strange. For example the 3 wallpapers didn't go with any of the floor choices. The colors were offbeat, gaudy, with big ugly designs on them.
This game is worth a coupon code or discount price but no more than that. The game lasts a long time but I ended up uninstalling it before finishing because of the repetitive scenes and objects.
Each HOG scene took place in a room. The rooms repeated many times. The items to find also repeated, but they didn't move around. They were in the same place each time a scene repeated.
There is only one room, not an entire house. You start out choosing flooring, wallpaper, lamp, couch, table, then move on to curtains, chimney, TV, picture, plant. The choices were strange. For example the 3 wallpapers didn't go with any of the floor choices. The colors were offbeat, gaudy, with big ugly designs on them.
This game is worth a coupon code or discount price but no more than that. The game lasts a long time but I ended up uninstalling it before finishing because of the repetitive scenes and objects.
I recommend this game!
I SPY: Treasure Hunt
Embark on an adventure to Smuggler’s Cove, a community bursting with pirates, elusive clues and spectacular hidden treasures!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Fun Basic HOG
PostedJune 7, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Match 3, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I love the I Spy series. It's a very basic and simple hidden object game. Some may even consider is a kids game. It is very different from most all other HOGs.
You have to move your mouse around to find multiple places that you can enter other HOG scenes from the sub rooms before going back to each main room. There is very little instruction. I'm pretty sure I missed rooms in my 1st I Spy game which I wasn't crazy about, but once I figured this feature out it was a game changer. That make it much more challenging.
Your list is at the bottom instead along the side. The words are in large print. Some are very literal. If the word buck is listed you may find a male deer instead of a dollar bill. Some make you think. The word eye may mean on a potato instead of on a face. Face could mean clock instead of human.
All-in-all they are in my list of top game series, as is Big City Adventure, Gardenscapes, Hidden in Time, Amazing Adventures, & Chronicles of Albian. I purchase I Spy games the second I see one I haven't seen yet.
My only complaint is that they load each new scene a little slower than I like.
You have to move your mouse around to find multiple places that you can enter other HOG scenes from the sub rooms before going back to each main room. There is very little instruction. I'm pretty sure I missed rooms in my 1st I Spy game which I wasn't crazy about, but once I figured this feature out it was a game changer. That make it much more challenging.
Your list is at the bottom instead along the side. The words are in large print. Some are very literal. If the word buck is listed you may find a male deer instead of a dollar bill. Some make you think. The word eye may mean on a potato instead of on a face. Face could mean clock instead of human.
All-in-all they are in my list of top game series, as is Big City Adventure, Gardenscapes, Hidden in Time, Amazing Adventures, & Chronicles of Albian. I purchase I Spy games the second I see one I haven't seen yet.
My only complaint is that they load each new scene a little slower than I like.
I recommend this game!
I SPY™ Fun House
Explore a carnival full of brain-teasing illusions in this Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Fun Basic HOG
PostedJune 7, 2016
Innovativemom
fromWinston-Salem, NC
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Match 3, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I love the I Spy series. It's a very basic and simple hidden object game. Some may even consider is a kids game. It is very different from most all other HOGs.
You have to move your mouse around to find multiple places that you can enter other HOG scenes from the sub rooms before going back to each main room. There is very little instruction. I'm pretty sure I missed rooms in my 1st I Spy game which I wasn't crazy about, but once I figured this feature out it was a game changer. That make it much more challenging.
Your list is at the bottom instead along the side. The words are in large print. Some are very literal. If the word buck is listed you may find a male deer instead of a dollar bill. Some make you think. The word eye may mean on a potato instead of on a face. Face could mean clock instead of human.
All-in-all they are in my list of top game series, as is Big City Adventure, Gardenscapes, Hidden in Time, Amazing Adventures, & Chronicles of Albian. I purchase I Spy games the second I see one I haven't seen yet.
My only complaint is that they load each new scene a little slower than I like.
You have to move your mouse around to find multiple places that you can enter other HOG scenes from the sub rooms before going back to each main room. There is very little instruction. I'm pretty sure I missed rooms in my 1st I Spy game which I wasn't crazy about, but once I figured this feature out it was a game changer. That make it much more challenging.
Your list is at the bottom instead along the side. The words are in large print. Some are very literal. If the word buck is listed you may find a male deer instead of a dollar bill. Some make you think. The word eye may mean on a potato instead of on a face. Face could mean clock instead of human.
All-in-all they are in my list of top game series, as is Big City Adventure, Gardenscapes, Hidden in Time, Amazing Adventures, & Chronicles of Albian. I purchase I Spy games the second I see one I haven't seen yet.
My only complaint is that they load each new scene a little slower than I like.
I recommend this game!