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:
Join Sharon Holmes in her investigation and track down the criminal while solving unique mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
An absolute delight
PostedNovember 3, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
After my disappointment with Arizona Rose and the Pharaohs' Riddles (especially its cliffhanger ending that will apparently never be resolved), I was hesitant to try another nonogram. But the premise of this one convinced me to do the demo, and by the second puzzle I knew I wanted the whole game. It's got everything Arizona Rose lacked for me - the heroine is likable, the graphics are big and clear and colorful, the puzzles are challenging but not too frustrating, and the storyline is coherent and interesting. I love switching between the colors to try to puzzle out the correct placements, and the mini-games in each level are a nice little break. Definitely going to be trying the sequel once I'm finished here.
I recommend this game!
A new mystery leads Arizona Rose to a hidden temple and her greatest adventure yet! Solve the riddles to unravel an ancient mystery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
How am I supposed to see these things?
PostedOctober 21, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm coming into this game quite some time after its release, and I'm not the biggest fan of "griddlers." But I had a coupon to burn and thought the reviews sounded promising.
It's not a bad game. I'm certainly finding it a challenge. The biggest problem for me is that once you get to the point where the grid is 25 x 25, the boxes are WAY TOO SMALL. I am visually impaired and I'm struggling to get through this round of puzzles because everything is just so tiny, even with fullscreen and widescreen options enabled. I just smashed the treasure chest again because I clicked on the wrong box by accident for what feels like the millionth time.
Other than that, it's fine. The puzzles are well made and the storyline is interesting. I just wish there was a way for me to make the actual puzzle larger.
Can you solve a ghostly mystery to escape a film?
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Unclear story and an even worse ending.
PostedOctober 16, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The main problem I have with this game, which I got free in a recent promotion, is that the story isn't explained very well. We have a bunch of murders, an alleged ghost, and a nasty piece of work who is apparently behind it all. But what happened to the water? Who is Ruth, who suddenly appears in the game as Wild Jack's ally with no further explanation? Who is the kid and why is Wild Jack the only one who knows how to cure his sick grandma, even though she herself has instructions and ingredients for the medicine *right there in her house*? Characters are introduced and there's no reason given for their involvement in the story. And the ending is just... baffling. What was that... thing... and how did Wild Jack end up involved with it? What agreement did it terminate? The story doesn't make any sense at all!
My secondary problem with the game is the puzzles. The last puzzle in the main game is probably the worst, as the instructions are unclear and nothing I tried seemed to be the right answer (I ultimately skipped it). There were a few others I also had to skip because I really had no idea what I was being asked to do. I didn't even bother with the bonus chapter because I wasn't interested.
The visuals were well done, the music was nice, and the voice acting was decent. But if you're like me and you get into these games for the story, this is one to skip.
I don't recommend this game.
Accompany Mary Jane and Jack on a swashbuckling hidden object adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
I'm only disappointed that there's no sequel
PostedAugust 24, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This in largest part is a very good game. The visuals are excellent, the voice acting is well done, and the story is interesting. Flipping between the two leads as they get separated creates nice narrative tension. I liked Jack very much; Mary Jane was only slightly less likable. (I had to admit that Jack had a point about her never saying thank you. But when she called him "dear Jack" at the end, I felt like that made up for it.)
My only complaint is that this, like so many other games, ends on a sequel hook and there is no sequel to be had. Nor does it look like there's one coming. I want to know what happens next and I fear we never will. But don't let that stop you from checking out a truly enjoyable game!
I recommend this game!
Get lost in a haunted house that keeps changing!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Another winner!
PostedAugust 21, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I grabbed the demo of this one almost as soon as I finished Black Dagger, because I enjoyed that one so much. I was really disappointed to learn that this is (at least as of right now) the last one in the series, but I plunged ahead anyway. This one is every bit as good as Black Dagger - same quality of writing and voice acting and puzzles. I was about ten minutes into the demo before I knew I'd have to buy it because the mystery hooked me almost immediately.
Literally my only complaint about the game is missing Duncan - I really liked him in the previous game and kind of hoped he and the player character would meet again in this one. But even without him, this is still really great. I'm currently waiting (with a bit of impatience) for the full game to finish downloading so I can pick up where the demo ended. Mariaglorum, please, come back to this series!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop the townspeople from paying for a dark past?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
I'm probably not even halfway through...
PostedAugust 19, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
...but I had to stop and rave about this game. I've never played any of the MotA series, and I admit I'm not actually sure how I ended up with this one in my game manager, but I'm going to have to try them ALL. This is fantastic and I'm hooked. It's got everything I like in a game - engaging storyline, interesting and likable characters, a mysterious villain, collectibles, achievements, and puzzles galore. Full marks to Mariaglorium, and I can't wait to see how this one ends. (Also, I *really* like Duncan.)
I recommend this game!
Can Camelot survive the wrath of the Green Knight?
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Loved the idea but...
PostedAugust 10, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The concept behind the story was great - let me say that first. I was enchanted by the idea, being a big fan of the Arthurian legends, and I bought the game without trying it first. That... was a bad move.
I will say that the music is very pleasing and several of the puzzles were good. But as others have stated, the animation is terrible - people's faces move when they talk, but the rest of them doesn't. Merlin's voice is *ridiculous* and the rest of the voice acting isn't much better (with the exception of the Green Knight, I liked his voice well enough). The storyline is disjointed and perplexing, and it lost me when Mordred referred to Morgana as "Mother" but Merlin said that she was his sister. I'm pretty sure Merlin would know that Morgana was Mordred's mother!
I gave up shortly after that because I realized I just wasn't enjoying myself. I really wanted to like this game... but I didn't.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you keep your first solo detective case from becoming your last?
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Did nothing for me
PostedJuly 13, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I gave up after four levels. There is no tutorial, so no explanation for much of anything. I played on the untimed mode in order to try to get a feel for things, but the challenge was so baffling that it wasn't enjoyable.
Apparently you harvest food from what looks like a very large cabbage; okay, that makes sense, but gathering unspecified materials from an "Eternal Tree" is another story. There's also a recurring need for "moon dust" for some reason. Also, hidden in every level is an item shaped like... I guess it's a police badge? You have to click on that in order to acquire a puzzle piece for a little bit of bonus gameplay. That's a nice feature, but at no time is it EVER mentioned.
The graphics are kind of weird. Everything is on the small side and the animation is a little strange; at one point I noticed Olivia was basically running sideways. I didn't understand who was supposed to be helping her throughout the first level; it eventually got clarified that these are residents of the mysterious village, but they look like aliens or deep sea divers or something.
I just couldn't get into it. The story wasn't presented very well and I didn't find it engaging. But that was me; I agree with another reviewer who suggests trying it for yourself, because you might be able to appreciate it more.
The oracle’s strange vision portends cataclysmic destruction!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoyed the first one more but this is still very good.
PostedJune 27, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I was a little disappointed going into this, because I wanted to continue following Lucia and Ulf on their quest to restore Ulf's humanity. Instead, this time we're playing as Scarlett, the rogue witch who helped Lucia in the first game. But it's still an interesting story, with some great new characters to meet and a terrible fate to avert.
Good things:
- Lots of morphs and collectibles to find
- Engaging story
- Further revelations about the mythology of this world
- Genuinely challenging puzzles, some of which were completely new to me
- Lots of morphs and collectibles to find
- Engaging story
- Further revelations about the mythology of this world
- Genuinely challenging puzzles, some of which were completely new to me
My only real complaint is that while most of the voice acting is excellent, Scarlett almost always sounds like she's bored. Otherwise, this is a good sequel and I hope we'll be getting more installments!
I recommend this game!
Follow Iselin on an adventure like no other, explore a magical land to stop the witch Aradia, find hidden objects, and solve challenging puzzles.
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Very confused by the whole thing
PostedJune 26, 2021
laurakay76
fromLehigh Valley, PA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I think I got about ten minutes into it before I gave up because I was bored. There's definitely an effort being made here - I love a good FROG and that aspect was fine. The voice acting is okay, but the animation of the talking doesn't really line up with the voice and it just seems weird. The first puzzle I had to solve, putting the wagon wheel together, didn't work; I clearly had everything in the right spot but it wouldn't let me continue the game until I skipped the puzzle. As for the story, which is always the most important part for me, there's very little in the way of an explanation as to why Iselin is in this situation. The message from the wizard almost raises more questions than it answers. Glad I only got the demo, because based on some of these reviews, I would have been pretty annoyed if I'd kept going.