paisley0308's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:265
- Reviews Submitted:24
- First Review:February 7, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 2, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Phenomenon: City of Cyan
20 years ago a terrible accident destroyed most of Cyan City. Now, Monica returns to uncover the secrets of her childhood!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Definitely not the genre for me
PostedApril 4, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game falls under science fiction, which is not a genre I usually play on BFG. I decided to try it out since I almost always play psychological/spooky/creepy games and really didn't like it. I'll start with the positives:
*The visuals were really nice...lots of clear and sharp images with tons of colors.
*Music was good and went with the game.
Now for what I didn't like:
*The storyling was just too strange for me and didn't really make a lot of sense, but this is a sci-fi genre. I found myself not really caring about whether or not I finished the game. I did, but I did it over a period of a week.
*The voice acting was terrible. The character you play talks as if she is reading a script. A flat performance, period. If this had been a movie I would have stopped watching it.
*The puzzles were not really a challenge, which is one of the factors I look for when I get a game. The reviews said the puzzles were challenging, but I didn't think so. I'll add that they weren't exactly awful and a lot of them were puzzles I've never played before, so I give the developers an A for originality, but most of them were just not challenging. Some of them were fun though.
Overall,this just wasn't the game for me. What I look for when I buy a game are a cool storyline and puzzles that make me think, but that is just personal preference. If you like a story that's really out there and strange and just want a relaxing game with not a lot of challenge, then this is a game you might like.
*The visuals were really nice...lots of clear and sharp images with tons of colors.
*Music was good and went with the game.
Now for what I didn't like:
*The storyling was just too strange for me and didn't really make a lot of sense, but this is a sci-fi genre. I found myself not really caring about whether or not I finished the game. I did, but I did it over a period of a week.
*The voice acting was terrible. The character you play talks as if she is reading a script. A flat performance, period. If this had been a movie I would have stopped watching it.
*The puzzles were not really a challenge, which is one of the factors I look for when I get a game. The reviews said the puzzles were challenging, but I didn't think so. I'll add that they weren't exactly awful and a lot of them were puzzles I've never played before, so I give the developers an A for originality, but most of them were just not challenging. Some of them were fun though.
Overall,this just wasn't the game for me. What I look for when I buy a game are a cool storyline and puzzles that make me think, but that is just personal preference. If you like a story that's really out there and strange and just want a relaxing game with not a lot of challenge, then this is a game you might like.
Shiver: Poltergeist Collector's Edition
After inheriting a manor in England, you begin to explore the Kangale Estate and discover its history!
Overall rating
4
/
5
123 of 136 found this review helpful
They're here...
PostedMarch 29, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
F.A.C.E.S.
(60)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The family's asleep, tucked in for the night.
I came on to play and get a good fright.
You inherit a mansion in which you're the sole heir.
Come venture inside, check it out...if you dare.
The ghost..she's mad and wants you to die.
She starts fires to scare you, and that is no lie.
The cut scenes are crisp, like the ones on a movie screen.
Then you're back in the game with a nice HO scene.
The items can be found with some help from the HINT.
They're in good condition but definitely not mint.
The puzzles were few and not that hard at all.
I like a challenge where I beat my head against a wall.
There are three modes to play:
Casual, Advanced, and Expert.
I played on Advanced; that I assert.
The sound could have been quite a bit more scary.
To jump out of my skin would've been so much more merry!
There are quite a few chapters, 7 in all.
Oh wait! There's a bonus! And it's not at the mall.
The decision to buy the CE I weighed.
Alas, this review is based only on the demo, which I played.
I came on to play and get a good fright.
You inherit a mansion in which you're the sole heir.
Come venture inside, check it out...if you dare.
The ghost..she's mad and wants you to die.
She starts fires to scare you, and that is no lie.
The cut scenes are crisp, like the ones on a movie screen.
Then you're back in the game with a nice HO scene.
The items can be found with some help from the HINT.
They're in good condition but definitely not mint.
The puzzles were few and not that hard at all.
I like a challenge where I beat my head against a wall.
There are three modes to play:
Casual, Advanced, and Expert.
I played on Advanced; that I assert.
The sound could have been quite a bit more scary.
To jump out of my skin would've been so much more merry!
There are quite a few chapters, 7 in all.
Oh wait! There's a bonus! And it's not at the mall.
The decision to buy the CE I weighed.
Alas, this review is based only on the demo, which I played.
I recommend this game!
F.A.C.E.S.
When a medical consultation goes terribly wrong, it's up to you to realize the full potential of your ability and save the day!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 36 found this review helpful
A New Superhero!
PostedMarch 29, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is my newest favorite! From start to finish, the storyline is very engaging. This is a psychological story, but I don't think it's creepy or spooky. The way it starts is unique. Your character has psychic abilities and is being experimented on at an asylum. When you discover that you're going to be exterminated, you frantically begin the journey to get out of there. And so your quest begins...!
The visuals were just right for this type of game. I don't recall there being a lot of audio since dialogue segments were read. I would have liked some VOs, but no game is perfect.
There's no map which is fine because you don't need one. The game is broken up into different floors of the asylum which you get to by elevator. You do, however, have to do a lot of backtracking. So if you don't enjoy games like that then this might not be the game for you. The backtracking really didn't bother me since the story was so compelling.
There's 2 modes of play, and I chose advanced. I'm guessing that I got about 7 or 8 hours of play. The HOS were sometimes repeated, but again, the story more than makes up for that. The hint button was awesome! I used it in the HOS a few times and also when I was truly stuck in the game, which was about three times.
Outside of HOS, the hint doesn't tell you what to do but rather
where you might want to look. I really liked being able to solve the problem with minimal help.
This is a fun pleasant game. The puzzles are solvable without being frustrating, and the ending leads me to think there may be a sequel! I hope so. If I had known how fun this game would be, I'd have gotten the CE.
May the odds be ever in your favor...
The visuals were just right for this type of game. I don't recall there being a lot of audio since dialogue segments were read. I would have liked some VOs, but no game is perfect.
There's no map which is fine because you don't need one. The game is broken up into different floors of the asylum which you get to by elevator. You do, however, have to do a lot of backtracking. So if you don't enjoy games like that then this might not be the game for you. The backtracking really didn't bother me since the story was so compelling.
There's 2 modes of play, and I chose advanced. I'm guessing that I got about 7 or 8 hours of play. The HOS were sometimes repeated, but again, the story more than makes up for that. The hint button was awesome! I used it in the HOS a few times and also when I was truly stuck in the game, which was about three times.
Outside of HOS, the hint doesn't tell you what to do but rather
where you might want to look. I really liked being able to solve the problem with minimal help.
This is a fun pleasant game. The puzzles are solvable without being frustrating, and the ending leads me to think there may be a sequel! I hope so. If I had known how fun this game would be, I'd have gotten the CE.
May the odds be ever in your favor...
I recommend this game!
Macabre Mysteries: Curse of the Nightingale Collector's Edition
Explore the Nightingale Theater, which was ravaged by a devastating fire 40 years ago, and uncover a dark mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
A Masterpiece among HOG!
PostedMarch 28, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Macabre Mysteries: Curse of the Nightingale
(76)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I found this little gem by chance and just loved it! It was an amazing piece. I'll have to be on the lookout for more games by Blue Tea Games. The story just drew me in. There wasn't anything boring. The cut scenes were extremely well-done. The sound was good and went with the game. There is a map, but I found it more confusing than helpful. Since the game is pretty much linear with a nice even pace, you really don't need a map. The HOS are different. Rather than sift through a junkpile you have to find the pieces of an object, and it's an object that you will use. The hint button is different also. When you click it, it will tell you to bring an object over and then it shows you where that object will be used. If you haven't been to certain rooms yet then you might not get the hint, but that didn't bother me. Whenever I was about to consult the walkthru, I would find where something needed to be. There's no option for difficulty. Still, I got about 5 or 6 hours of gameplay. This was definitely money well spent! The only negative I have is that I didn't get the CE!
I recommend this game!
Syberia - Part 1
Search a mysterious estate and find a brilliant and mysterious inventor in Syberia, Part 1! Experience the first part of this incredible trilogy!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Liked the storyline, hated the game
PostedMarch 27, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I really wanted to like this game, if for no other reason than to start playing adventure games that didn't rely on HOS. I had the right idea but picked a very poor adventure game. It's unbelievably slow...you have to have a lot of patience. I've got more patience with my 2-year-old than with Syberia Part 1. The only things I liked about this game were the storyline and visual and audio effects. The rest were just not worth my time.
Let me start off by saying that I did play the demo first. I was hesitant, but I finally relented and bought the game because I thought it was going to get better. I thought the pace would surely pick up...I was so wrong. Not only did the pace not pick up, but everything has to be done in a certain order. What kind of adventure game is this??? After consulting the walk-thru, I discovered that when you perform tasks or pick up objects out-of-order, nothing else in the game will flow. This game gave me such a migraine that I finally just turned it off. I ordinarily don't quit games, but I made an exception with this one. The only option I have now is to start a completely new game and hope that I won't have to follow the walk-thru step-by-step. That completely ruined the fun factor for me. I don't plan on playing this again, but I will ask my husband to play to see what his thoughts are. If he can complete it, then maybe it's just me. If he can't, then maybe it's just the game. I think I'll stick to my hidden object/puzzle/adventure games in the future!
Let me start off by saying that I did play the demo first. I was hesitant, but I finally relented and bought the game because I thought it was going to get better. I thought the pace would surely pick up...I was so wrong. Not only did the pace not pick up, but everything has to be done in a certain order. What kind of adventure game is this??? After consulting the walk-thru, I discovered that when you perform tasks or pick up objects out-of-order, nothing else in the game will flow. This game gave me such a migraine that I finally just turned it off. I ordinarily don't quit games, but I made an exception with this one. The only option I have now is to start a completely new game and hope that I won't have to follow the walk-thru step-by-step. That completely ruined the fun factor for me. I don't plan on playing this again, but I will ask my husband to play to see what his thoughts are. If he can complete it, then maybe it's just me. If he can't, then maybe it's just the game. I think I'll stick to my hidden object/puzzle/adventure games in the future!
I don't recommend this game.
Echoes of the Past: Royal House of Stone
Reveal an ancient curse and save the kingdom and its inhabitants. The last prince of Orion is waiting for your help!
Overall rating
3
/
5
24 of 33 found this review helpful
Definitely Different
PostedMarch 19, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This game was definitely different. It took me 4 hours to play. You're given a timer when you start the game. The storyline wasn't bad, but I got this game mainly because I want to play all the games in this series. I'm thinking that they get better each time.
First, the hint button is done differently here than in other games. Rather than have different levels of difficulty which determine the speed at which the hint button refuels, this game offers you mirrors. The first one grants you 10 hints. In every HOS, there are 2 mirrors to find. Those only grant 1 hint. It doesn't really matter though because the hints are only useful for HOS. In different parts of the castle or different mini-games, the hint just tells you something about the room. If there is nothing to do, it will tell you that, but that's it. Thus, the walkthrough will become your best friend.
With this game, you really have to pay attention to the story because it gives you the clues necessary to solve things.
The voice acting was pretty cheesy. I don't know where they find their actors, but maybe some more auditions would help.
Some of the games were easy, some were hard. As I said, since the hint button doesn't really help in those situations having the walkthrough is a great asset. I don't like to use it because I like the challenge but if I have to I do. Of course, you can always skip the puzzles.
This is a short game. Just want to let you know that in advance. For me, it didn't matter because I bought all 3 games in the trilogy. This was the first stepping stone, so to speak.
Now that I've completed this game I'm really excited to start playing the next in the series.
If you're wanting to play all games in the series, then I definitely recommend. If you're just looking for a pleasant game to play for the day, you might want to skip this one unless you are okay with the short length. So I will go ahead and recommend the game, but use your own judgment.
First, the hint button is done differently here than in other games. Rather than have different levels of difficulty which determine the speed at which the hint button refuels, this game offers you mirrors. The first one grants you 10 hints. In every HOS, there are 2 mirrors to find. Those only grant 1 hint. It doesn't really matter though because the hints are only useful for HOS. In different parts of the castle or different mini-games, the hint just tells you something about the room. If there is nothing to do, it will tell you that, but that's it. Thus, the walkthrough will become your best friend.
With this game, you really have to pay attention to the story because it gives you the clues necessary to solve things.
The voice acting was pretty cheesy. I don't know where they find their actors, but maybe some more auditions would help.
Some of the games were easy, some were hard. As I said, since the hint button doesn't really help in those situations having the walkthrough is a great asset. I don't like to use it because I like the challenge but if I have to I do. Of course, you can always skip the puzzles.
This is a short game. Just want to let you know that in advance. For me, it didn't matter because I bought all 3 games in the trilogy. This was the first stepping stone, so to speak.
Now that I've completed this game I'm really excited to start playing the next in the series.
If you're wanting to play all games in the series, then I definitely recommend. If you're just looking for a pleasant game to play for the day, you might want to skip this one unless you are okay with the short length. So I will go ahead and recommend the game, but use your own judgment.
I recommend this game!
Redemption Cemetery: Curse of the Raven
Escape from the eerie Redemption Cemetery by helping trapped spirits save their loved ones, and free their souls!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 13 found this review helpful
Ghostly Encounters
PostedMarch 19, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really liked this game because of the story. I love HOG that center around something spooky and scary. In this case you get stranded inside a cursed cemetary. The only way out is to play the game and do favors for three different ghosts. No map is needed, which is good because there isn't one lol.
The voice acting was believable. The sound was fantastic. The sounds remind me of the stuff you hear if you ride The Haunted Mansion at Disney. Good, spooky atmosphere.
I have only two complaints. The game was pretty short, and the HOS tended to be overwhelming. This is why I gave the game a 4 overall instead of 5. If you like this genre of HOG, then you should try it out on demo first to see how far you get. Like I said, it's pretty short.
The voice acting was believable. The sound was fantastic. The sounds remind me of the stuff you hear if you ride The Haunted Mansion at Disney. Good, spooky atmosphere.
I have only two complaints. The game was pretty short, and the HOS tended to be overwhelming. This is why I gave the game a 4 overall instead of 5. If you like this genre of HOG, then you should try it out on demo first to see how far you get. Like I said, it's pretty short.
I recommend this game!
Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch
Take a wild ride into terror and trickery to rein in a ghostly secret! Discover the truth from the ghost stories before it's too late!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 10 found this review helpful
Different isn't always good...
PostedMarch 18, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I really didn't like this game. I only played the demo for about 5 minutes, so maybe it gets better. When you are in a room, your cursor is a magnifying glass. Click on it and it takes you closer and closer to the object, but there wasn't anything to do once you get close. This game also does something else different. You can view the room 360 degrees. Games like that are best left to the Xbox.
I don't recommend this game.
The Agency of Anomalies: Cinderstone Orphanage Collector's Edition
Save the souls of prodigy children and their caretaker who disappeared during the fire in The Agency of Anomalies: Cinderstone Orphanage!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Impressive!!!!!!!!!!!
PostedMarch 18, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played this game after my husband finished, and we both loved it. The storyline really made this game. As you progress, little movies pop up that give the back story for each of the orphanage's residents. The sound was captivating; it alternated between the echoes of children's voices and soothing music. This was one game where the voice over actors did an outstanding job. Very realistic :)
The HOS were different with this game. Sometimes they were normal, and sometimes you had to place objects in the scene. That was a challenge; I used the hint button a few times lol. The puzzles and mini-games were actually pretty fun. The level of challenge differed overall, but there was one game that I skipped because it involved the kind of algorithms you'd use to solve the Rubick's Cube. I don't like skipping puzzles because I love the challenge, but that one was a doozy lol. I am not taking any stars off for it because I loved the storyline so much.
Overall, a great game for the money! I highly recommend :)
The HOS were different with this game. Sometimes they were normal, and sometimes you had to place objects in the scene. That was a challenge; I used the hint button a few times lol. The puzzles and mini-games were actually pretty fun. The level of challenge differed overall, but there was one game that I skipped because it involved the kind of algorithms you'd use to solve the Rubick's Cube. I don't like skipping puzzles because I love the challenge, but that one was a doozy lol. I am not taking any stars off for it because I loved the storyline so much.
Overall, a great game for the money! I highly recommend :)
I recommend this game!
Haunted Halls: Fears from Childhood
Explore Dr. Blackmore’s latest experiment in a Haunted Halls: Fears from Childhood, a terrifying Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Best I've Played in a While!
PostedMarch 16, 2012
paisley0308
fromIndianapolis, IN
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game was excellent! I wasn't sure if I was going to like it because its predecessor, Green Hills Sanitarium, did not capture my interest as much. ERS did a bang up job on this one! The storyline continues where GHS left off. The main character is again trying to save her boyfriend Tim. This time the player is experiencing childhood fears. There are 5 kids and each has their own door. You can't just jump from one door to another; you have to solve them in order. It was this type of linear play that most appealed to me. Because of this there was no need for a map. You only have to backtrack a couple of times.
There are two modes, and I played on expert. Hints and skip take longer to recharge, and there are no sparkles. Playing it on this level got me about 8 to 9 hours of play, so length was good also.
The sound was outstanding. It wasn't anything loud or annoying; it clearly went hand-in-hand with the game. I really liked the instrumental music that played throughout the game. It had a militaristic feel at times without being overbearing.
The puzzles and mini-games were, for the most part, not too hard. You still had to think to solve them though. I only skipped the very last puzzle. When you play this game, you'll see why lol.
The only negative was the HOS scenes. Some of the items were really hard to find, and a couple of times you had to do the same HOS in a row. But I can forgive that since the overall game and storyline were so great! :)
Overall, this game is outstanding! The way this game was designed is truly a PC gamer's dream!
There are two modes, and I played on expert. Hints and skip take longer to recharge, and there are no sparkles. Playing it on this level got me about 8 to 9 hours of play, so length was good also.
The sound was outstanding. It wasn't anything loud or annoying; it clearly went hand-in-hand with the game. I really liked the instrumental music that played throughout the game. It had a militaristic feel at times without being overbearing.
The puzzles and mini-games were, for the most part, not too hard. You still had to think to solve them though. I only skipped the very last puzzle. When you play this game, you'll see why lol.
The only negative was the HOS scenes. Some of the items were really hard to find, and a couple of times you had to do the same HOS in a row. But I can forgive that since the overall game and storyline were so great! :)
Overall, this game is outstanding! The way this game was designed is truly a PC gamer's dream!
I recommend this game!