laurakay76's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:723
- Reviews Submitted:154
- First Review:November 16, 2011
- Most Recent Review:February 13, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Who is trying to destroy the Kingdom of Barsia?
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
A new golden title in the series
PostedDecember 23, 2015
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the Dark Parables. I was an "early adopter" of the series - I've been with them ever since there were only two games, and I've played them all. I know some have claimed the quality has gone downhill over time, but I don't see it; there has never been a DP game that I didn't enjoy.
Goldilocks certainly didn't disappoint. Eipix has continued the Blue Tea Games tradition of beautiful graphics and challenging puzzles. The new characters encountered are interesting and the story is compelling. As usual, once I started the game, I had to play it all the way to the end. There were one or two small details that did have me scratching my head just a bit, but nothing I couldn't overlook and certainly nothing that harms the series in any material way. The bonus chapter contained some really intriguing new details about the Fairy Tale Detective's continued role in all of this.
If I had to offer a complaint at all, it's that Jack - whom I really loved in Jack and the Sky Kingdom - returns and isn't nearly as fun this time around. But the bonus chapter explains why he's become like that, so once I played the bonus I didn't mind it quite so much.
On the whole, very happy with this new addition to my all-time favorite PC game series!
I recommend this game!
A scream in the night... a brutal crime... a mysterious figure with eyes red as blood. Can you get to the heart of this shocking murder?
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Disappointing to a longtime fan.
PostedNovember 20, 2015
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I've loved this series ever since the second game, Premature Burial, for which I was a beta tester. I'm very fond of Dupin, although I wish they'd kept the original voice actor.
This is, in my personal opinion, the worst game in the series. I'm not saying it was bad; I'm just saying that it's not as good as those which came before it.
It's very short. The mystery is confusing, and the resolution hardly meets the definition of the word. I still don't know whether the suspect actually committed the murders or not. The puzzles are variable; some are very enjoyable, but others were mind-numbing or just ridiculous. There are very few traditional hidden object scenes, which is strange for a game that bills itself AS a hidden object game. And as others have pointed out, the game has next to nothing in common with the Poe story for which it was named.
The bonus chapter creates more questions than it answers. The puzzles are arguably better, but it does nothing to clear up the confusion with which I was left after completing the main game.
As I say, it's not a bad game. It's just not as good as I was expecting it to be.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Another good one from the Dark Tales team
PostedApril 2, 2014
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love the Dark Tales series, so I was very excited to know that the series was going to continue. Dupin is one of my favorite characters to journey alongside in any game I've played. These games make Poe palatable to me; I'm not a huge fan of the original stories, but I enjoy them in game form.
I won't rehash the plot too deeply, since many other reviewers have already stated what happens. Shortest form, Madeleine Usher is missing, and thanks to her strange bond with her twin brother Roderick, there's a good chance both twins could die if she isn't found quickly, so you and Dupin are on the case.
The story is amazing. Absolutely chilling in places, especially when you play the bonus chapter and see just how deep the problem really goes. Full marks to the devs on that one. The puzzles are good as usual; I really liked the fact that we were given an alternative to the hidden object games. Don't want to hunt for the items on your list? Just switch over to a match-three style of puzzle and solve that instead to achieve the desired result. I hope that feature is here to stay!
The graphics... honestly, I was disappointed. The scenes and backgrounds were fantastic, and deliciously creepy. But ever since The Premature Burial, the games in the Dark Tales series have featured some basic animation. Nothing overly fancy, but at least the characters turn their heads and move their mouths when they talk. For some reason, House of Usher was a return to the format of the original games, where all the characters were flat and motionless. They're still voiced, and the voices are still done reasonably well, but I hope that future Dark Tales will resume the animated characters that I've enjoyed.
I was also kind of disappointed by Dupin this time around. He's normally such a suave, genteel fellow, who has words of praise for his friend/assistant and handles difficult things with grace. In this game, he offers the player character no courtesies whatsoever, not even the usual comment about how glad he is to see you. And he grumbles about his favorite walking stick getting broken - sure, it's a reason to be annoyed, but coming from the guy who remained stoic and patient during a certain event in the bonus chapter of Masque of the Red Death, it just felt really out of character. I'd like the charming and ever so slightly flirtatious Dupin of the previous games to come back, please.
I did catch a factual error in the bonus chapter. When a certain character is talking to you near the end of things, he mentions that he thought a particular item would "bring prosperity to my ancestors." The word he should have used is descendants. It's a minor error, but it shook my suspension of disbelief.
Having said all that, though, I thought it was a great game. I think Premature Burial remains my favorite in the series, but this is a worthy installment and I'm really glad I treated myself to it. I can't wait to see what they come up with for number seven!
Pros: Excellent story, challenging puzzles, lots of extras
Cons: Characters no longer animated, Dupin's personality isn't as much fun
Cons: Characters no longer animated, Dupin's personality isn't as much fun
I recommend this game!
An invitation from your long lost mother leads you to a mysterious facility deep below the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Ghostly and glorious
PostedJanuary 3, 2014
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I got to beta test this beauty, and I was determined to get the full version as soon as possible because I was so intrigued by the beta. It has an engaging storyline, a unique and marvelously rendered setting, pretty background music, and an excellent voice acting cast. (This last meant a lot to me, because the game I had previously beta tested was filled with flat, uninspired voices.)
Most other reviews have already explained the premise, so I'll just add some of my personal favorite things:
~ Atom, the robot companion you acquire, is adorable.
~ In addition to the three usual levels of difficulty (casual, intermediate, challenging), this game adds a fourth - custom. You can pick and choose how difficult you want different aspects to be.
~ All of the characters seemed really fleshed out and complex.
~ The sharks made me jump out of my skin, in a good way!
~ The bonus chapter adds a compelling sequel hook that makes me eager for the next game.
~ Atom, the robot companion you acquire, is adorable.
~ In addition to the three usual levels of difficulty (casual, intermediate, challenging), this game adds a fourth - custom. You can pick and choose how difficult you want different aspects to be.
~ All of the characters seemed really fleshed out and complex.
~ The sharks made me jump out of my skin, in a good way!
~ The bonus chapter adds a compelling sequel hook that makes me eager for the next game.
I had very few complaints:
~ There are no achievements, which I always enjoy.
~ The kittens, while darling, got on my nerves a bit with the constant meowing.
~ The matter of the rival explorers from Prague wasn't explained to my satisfaction, although I'll forgive that if it gets clarified in a future game.
~ There are no achievements, which I always enjoy.
~ The kittens, while darling, got on my nerves a bit with the constant meowing.
~ The matter of the rival explorers from Prague wasn't explained to my satisfaction, although I'll forgive that if it gets clarified in a future game.
On the whole, I thought this was a really brilliant game and I enjoyed it immensely!
I recommend this game!
Elements
Embark on a scientific adventure using your matching skills to distill and combine the essences of mythic elements.
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 15 found this review helpful
A clever twist on Match 3
PostedJuly 28, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Last night I was looking for a new game, something that would make me think - but not too hard. I found this under the Strategy section and the reviews were favorable. It looked like an interesting puzzle, and I've always been interested in alchemy so that was a point in its favor too. I purchased it without even doing the hour's trial.
What a good idea that turned out to be!
Elements, as I shortly discovered, was exactly what I wanted. It takes its basic gameplay from the standard match 3 puzzle, but bumps up the difficulty. This is instead a match 2 puzzle, where the combining elements change size (and consequently, not all can be matched). You increase your score by creating combos of matches, like in any match 3 puzzle, and as you unlock more and more levels you discover more and more elements.
If you like match 3 puzzles, give this a try. If you like strategy puzzles, give this a try. If you like alchemy AND puzzles, definitely give this a try!
Your home has been raided. Your father is missing. Set off on a dangerous journey to save him, and become the Hero of the Kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Very, very cute game!
PostedJuly 9, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'll admit that at first, I wasn't too impressed by this. It felt awkward, and there seemed to be a lot more hand-holding than I thought was really necessary. But I wanted to give it a proper chance, so I waded through the entire hour's trial and by the end of it, I had decided I was going to buy the game. I really got into it the farther I went, so much so that when the hour ran out I was genuinely disappointed. I guess all the time I've spent on BFG's hidden object games has really sharpened my observation skills, because I get a peculiar sense of satisfaction from finding all the tiny little baskets of eggs, clusters of mushrooms, and other objects scattered throughout the scenes.
This is a nice LONG game, delightfully packed with side quests and achievements to unlock. The story isn't edge-of-your-seat exciting, but it's entertaining and engaging. If you like a game that's not too difficult but still holds your attention, and if the fantasy equivalent of medieval Europe is the sort of setting you enjoy, this game is worth investigating.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a puzzle-loving killer before he strikes again?
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Overall enjoyable, if not perfect
PostedJuly 9, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
My feelings on this one are a little mixed. For the most part, I liked it; it was a reasonably intelligent game, one which had some unique puzzles and an engaging (if grotesque) story. I admit that I was surprised by the identity of the murderer, having expected that particular individual to show up in a different capacity. The constant falling snow, cluttered detective's office, and blue overtones in the background gave the whole thing a nice sort of film noir feeling, like an old mystery movie. Also, all of the dialogue, diary entries, and other writings within the game had flawless spelling, grammar, and punctuation; given that I often find myself complaining about writing errors in my reviews, this was a huge mark in the game's favor as far as I was concerned.
My chief complaint is with the hidden object scenes. Although I did appreciate the liberal use of hints and the lack of penalty for any misclicks, I found many of the scenes to be unfairly dark and difficult to solve. I also have to gripe about one scene during the last few chapters; I could not locate the final item, a rag, so I tried to utilize a hint... which directed me to a paint can. The rag was in a completely different part of the scene.
I also had to skip the majority of the non-H0 puzzles, because they didn't make a whole lot of sense to me and/or they were just too tedious. This was especially true of puzzles where I had to assemble fragments, some of which were flipped the wrong way round; without having any idea what the finished puzzle looked like and having no starting point with a correctly placed piece, I felt lost. The worst offender was the telescope puzzle in the observatory, where I was directed to make constellations. The instructions gave no indication of *how* to make the constellations, and nothing I clicked on seemed to do anything at all, so I just sat back and waited for the skip meter to fill.
My other objection is to the fact that in many of the scenes, there were items I could click on which had no connection to the plot. That bugs me. I don't mind it if the player character's observations on such things are at least funny or clever; for one good example, some of the Master Detective's commentary in the Mystery Case Files games (especially with the Snarky option enabled) can be so amusing that it's worth looking for everything that invites a click. But to be told "I have no interest in that" just seems like a waste of the programmer's time and mine. If my character has no interest in it, then don't make it available for comment!
The ending was... weird, to me. It seemed rushed, and didn't really explain much of anything. What is the significance of the Spear? Where did it come from? Why does the Order have to guard it so carefully? The final words of the final speaker suggested that a sequel is likely, so maybe a future installment will clear up what this game didn't. Having finished, I uninstalled it; the replay value on this one is low.
Overall, though, it was pretty good and I would almost certainly play a sequel game. If I were to hand out a letter grade, I would give this either an A- or a B+.
I recommend this game!
Sherlock Holmes VS Arsene Lupin
Embark on an investigation as Sherlock Holmes! Stop the legendary thief, Arsene Lupin, before he steals objects from England!
Overall rating
1
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
No, Holmes, the game is not afoot. The game is awful.
PostedJuly 9, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
To be perfectly honest, the main reason I forced myself to keep playing this game through to the end was to see how exactly it DID end. I liked it well enough at the outset, but as time went on, I came to regard it less as a game - that is, fun - and more as a chore. These are my very spoiler-laden thoughts on the whole matter.
There were, of course, things I liked about the game. The graphics were usually good; during the final chapter, my cannon kept disappearing, but otherwise they were fine. The background music was nice and the voice acting was pleasing. I enjoyed the small references to another Frogware game, "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret of the Silver Earring," which I played many years ago. And I got a kick out of the fact that after Holmes fed him, the dog kept following him around Buckingham Palace. I also appreciated the interactive quality of the map, especially at the Tower of London. The final conversation between hunter and hunted (and I'm not sure which was which) was well written.
Easily my favorite aspect of the game was getting to visit the two museums, the palace, and the Tower of London. I especially loved wandering around the painting gallery and having Holmes identify all the artwork for me. I was less impressed by the British Museum, though, mostly because I found the puzzles there to be considerably more tedious.
Unfortunately, the list of things I didn't like far outstrips the list of things I did. For starters, I hate the way Frogware insists on having Watson behave like an idiot. I hated it about "Silver Earring" and this game is even worse in that respect. Try reading the stories sometime; he's not in Holmes's league, but Watson is far from stupid. Many of the puzzles really tested my patience, and some of them were so mind-numbing that I would have liked the option to skip them. I also despised all the running around I had to do to pick up items - I would rather have been able to collect them the first time I saw them, instead of coming back once I understood their connection to the puzzle. And my most frequent complaint about a game crops up here too... the devs didn't proofread as well as they should, and the game's written dialogue was rife with spelling and punctuation errors.
The game also included some ~factual~ errors, one of which interfered with my ability to solve a puzzle. In Lady Leomunda's room at Buckingham Palace, she talks about how Henry the Eighth was the one who designed her chest to make it difficult to open. To solve this puzzle, as the strategy guide explains, you have to click on his portrait and take the crown from his head. Problem is, the portrait in question is that of Henry the THIRD. Some gamers might not realize the discrepancy, but since I've studied British royal family history extensively, I did; and so that puzzle was driving me crazy because I could not find a picture of Henry the Eighth anywhere.
I didn't understand a few things about the increasingly nonsensical plot. I love Arthurian legend, but I felt like that whole subplot at the Tower of London was completely unrelated to the rest of the game, and deserving of an explanation. How would Lupin have known that such a chamber existed, since the Chief Warder himself didn't know about it? He must have figured out how to open it in order to put the bat inside, but how did he even know to look for it? What was with all that stuff in the sub-basement at Buckingham Palace, too? Are we supposed to believe that relics of the Norman kings would just be stuffed in an underground room to suffer the effects of time and moisture? And why did they have a collection of ~Native American~ artifacts? That entire sequence of puzzles was the most annoying to me out of the whole game, actually; it felt like Holmes had become trapped in one of those "escape the room" games, what with having to MacGyver different contraptions in order to keep moving forward.
I deleted this from my game manager as soon as I was finished. Given everything I disliked about it (and I didn't list them all here), the replay value for me is nil, and I think I'm officially done with Sherlock Holmes games from Frogware.
I don't recommend this game.
Keep your brain on its toes with daily mental exercises covering different subjects. Stimulate your brain with Brainiversity!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Brain training
PostedJune 21, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
If you've ever played Brain Age on one of the handheld systems, then you have some idea of what to expect from Brainiversity. With the help of the world's cutest light bulb, you can increase your mental acuity through different exercises in memory, math, language, and analysis. Test yourself daily to see how well you're progressing. Earn stamps by achieving particular goals, and unlock different kinds of exercises by remaining consistent with your training.
My only complaint is that it's not completely touchpad-friendly; more than once I accidentally clicked on a wrong answer while in the process of moving my arrow to the correct one, and I was docked points for the misclick. But the exercises are well crafted, the graphics are cute, and while I found the light bulb's "voice" to be annoying, it can be turned off without any difficulty. If you like the concept of a Brain Age style game that you can play on your computer, this is a good game for you.
I recommend this game!
Use your Hidden Object and Adventure game talent to solve a dreadful Murder in the Rue Morgue!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
It all starts here.
PostedJune 18, 2013
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Although this is the first game in the Dark Tales series, it was actually the last one of the five that I played. I think it's for the best that I came by this later, because I don't like it as well as the other four. It's not a bad game by any means - it was certainly worth playing - but ERS takes the formula they introduce here and continuously improve on it with the subsequent games.
This is how you, as the unnamed detective, first become acquainted with C. Auguste Dupin. Once you prove to him that you're a worthy sidekick, he takes you with him on a trek through Paris to solve a baffling and chilling murder, and also a possible kidnapping.
I don't care much for Poe's writings; his stories are a little too macabre for me. I really enjoy the Dark Tales, therefore, because they make the stories much more fun. I knew who the murderer was all along because of having read the original story, but I was curious to see how ERS would handle it and they rose to the occasion beautifully.
My only real complaint was that I felt a little abandoned at times. Many of the puzzles have no instructions, leaving me to ponder exactly what I'm supposed to do with each one. This isn't really a bad thing, but it would have been nice to have the option of a little guidance. Even on the easiest setting, no instructions.
It's still a good way to ease into the adventure, though, and you and Dupin will remain good friends for a long time to come!
I recommend this game!