twinsoniclab's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.8
- Helpful Votes:3,182
- Reviews Submitted:110
- First Review:June 17, 2013
- Most Recent Review:December 2, 2022
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Who killed the bride at her wedding? Find clues and interrogate suspects to solve the puzzling case of a murdered bride at her own wedding.
Overall rating
1
/
5
34 of 42 found this review helpful
No, Just No
PostedJune 25, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I don't really need a story for my solitaire, the game play is enough. But, this story sounded interesting, a murder mystery (poor groom, losing his new bride during the reception, although, didn't he notice she wasn't there during the two hours she was dead?), plus three solitaire choices.
One-up-one-down, chain, or matching pairs.
BUT... the game is soooo slow! When you make a match you don't just click the card on the "table," you have to click the card in the pile too! That's just not acceptable, nor is it how any of the other solitaire games do it. The player should not have to click twice to make a match.
There are special cards, wild cards to save for later, mystery cards (that was a fun extra) that may be something good or, a broken down police car!
I didn't get far enough into the demo to try the HOS. Even if I had the patience for the slow game play, I couldn't have. The game froze up on me in the middle of a hand.
Great story idea, but the game mechanics are too poor to play. I'm always looking for a new solitaire.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you escape a madman’s grasp before it’s too late?
Overall rating
1
/
5
21 of 30 found this review helpful
No Thank You, I've Seen it all Before.
PostedJune 24, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
No more cookie-cutter games, please!
The story starts out exactly the same as dozens of games, a rainy night, a dark road, someone standing in the middle of that road... we are kidnapped.... it continues in exactly the same way as done before, waking up in a stone dungeon, with a barred gate we must unlock. The usual skeleton rests in the corner of the cell, letting us know our captors mean business and we may end up joining him.
Then begins the inventory collection. It reads like a list of "name an overused item found in hidden object games." A glass shard, a valve, a bucket, wires, a lantern, pieces of tokens...
HOS: average. Lists with minor interaction, find so-many of such-and-such, silhouettes. Lately games have returned to the days of "junk-pile" HOS, using abandoned locations as an excuse for messes. It's easier to do, sure, but not nearly as fun and clever as items in places they belong. Those are actually harder to find, like a "purloined letter!"
PUZZLES: same things, different game. Several press or turn one while doing so affects the others. A repeating puzzle where you click when a smaller circle is in the middle of a larger circle. Click, click, click as fast as you can to fill a meter (repeating puzzle). Guide your raft around obstacles by clicking right or left arrows (this is the "new" thing in puzzles, whether on horseback, in a car, or a boat).
The demo left me unimpressed and bored.
The demo left me unimpressed and bored.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you keep the past from destroying the present?
Overall rating
2
/
5
40 of 58 found this review helpful
Old Style HOG - demo before purchase!
PostedJune 21, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There's a reason developers stopped making the "old style" HOG! They get boring! I so wanted to get past the first "floor" of the house before quitting, to see if I had to play some inane puzzle before changing floors, but I could not stand one more "room" with one more only-a-list HOS!
That's right, list-only. The first two HOS had interactive elements, after that, just lists. And junkpiles. Sure, that's the "old style" way, but it gets so, so tedious.
The graphics are beautiful, and very cute cartoon type characters. There are clever allusions to other MCFs. The intro was just brilliant! The quality of the game is wonderful, scenes clear and items easy to find. Ooops... I said the dreaded word, "easy." That's one of the words to describe the HOS and PUZZLES in this game. I already used the others, boring and tedious.
Even the "super puzzles" are not what the older MCF games offered. Some of those stumped me! Don't get me wrong, these are well made and very cute, but not challenging.
The game play, game mechanics, whatever you want to call it, the "story" or how it unfolds is confusing. There are 5 "floors" and "rooms" in each (with the "rooms" being the HOS). You earn parts of a key blueprint and have to a key together with some sort of puzzle. The instructions are shown once, then the puzzle opens. Unless you have a photographic memory you will need to use the hint to see the solution more than the once! So, does that mean we don't get the "no hint" achievement? I don't know if there even is one, I didn't look that far into the game.
There is a "crime computer" for analyzing "reward" items. I think we get those after the "super puzzles." They are related to the characters, and are considered important clues.
Complete a level and a chapter is added to the diary.
I had one more "room" to complete the ground floor, but had finished two "cases" with two characters. The "cases" have a time limit. What? Cases 1 and 2 showed 20 minutes, and had just opened case 3 when I quit, which was given 30 minutes. What? No rhyme nor reason to how many "rooms" are a "case."
All this is just confusing.
One last thing, like the "old style" HOGs, once you choose your difficulty level, you CANNOT change it! They warn you, true, but, really? Let's not get SO "rewound" we cut out all the "modern" HOG touches that made them welcoming and more playable!
I encourage anyone who loves MCF games to demo this one first. It is a throwback, and while many love the retro game play, I am not the only one giving it a pass. It's quality. It's clever. But, it just gets so, so boring. If you have only played hidden object puzzle games published in the past few years, you really need to demo this before you purchase. You don't know what the old ones were like!
And, since I will not be buying, I can't recommend. I never recommend a game I would not purchase for myself.
I don't recommend this game.
Return to the bottom of the sea for a new Hidden Object adventure to save Poseidon Park from the ploys of the crafty Mayor Peabody!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Fun and lots to do! Love the name too!
PostedJune 18, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It's been a few years since we had a Tales of Lagoona, and it's high time we did!
Big Fish categorizes this game as a hidden object, which it is, but it's more than that! There are quests, and new clutter scenes to match. There a loads of games and puzzles.
The HOS feature a list, silhouettes, a frog and a riddle! Pick up the hidden coins from under just some of the items, so keep your eyes peeled. You use these coins to help repair the park. There will be "quest" items found in the HOS too. Oh, and perhaps arcade tokens and pearls! And rainbow fish to aid in your search!
Yes, the park needs repairs again. We have been on a short deserved vacation and left the park in charge of the old sea turtle, Theo. What could go wrong? With Theo in charge, what do you think? Upgrade from the "design" option, with choices based on how many coins you have earned. Sell valuables to earn more.
Beautiful, colorful, fun graphics and locations. The only problems I had were with the clutter scenes (new to the series). I am not a clutter fan, having to move items around to search for matches, but they are usually okay. But, the first one here looked upside down, so I actually felt a bit nauseated! (You know, how a photo can be upside down and you can just feel it even though the image looks okay at first glance? It's like that.) It's a little thing, but I appreciate the cursor, it's a pointy shell. I like cursors that come to a nice small, sharp point! Easy to locate items without missing.
Anyway, I think the game is fun. Finish all the locations and open the "challenge mode."
You really ought to try this one for yourself. After all, it's a free trial and you'll see just how much there is to do! Nice to have a different sort of hidden object game.
I recommend this game!
Can you discover the truth about the Queen’s disappearance and save the kingdom?
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 17 found this review helpful
Another Series Plummets
PostedJune 17, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I enjoyed the old Spirits of Mysteries very much. By old, I mean 2012 releases. This game is just so ordinary. So boring. So easy.
First off, the player puts in a name, but we are always named Princess, not Princess (name). So, men will still be named Princess. Then, I read, "The Princess is marrying Malgar, the King's advisor and protector of the realm! He will be the new ruler of Aurora." EXCUSE ME! HE will be the new ruler? Why? Because HE is marrying the princess, the one next in line to the throne, who happens to be a woman? Even the British changed this "rule" so girls are in line as well as boys. I do not want to marry anyone if they become the ruler and I don't! Talk about unfair...
The game...
HOS: far fewer than puzzles, although a few puzzles. A list within a junkpile. Fine 10 pieces of rope. Match pairs, then rotate to make image (a HOS and a PUZZLE in one!). Fine 8 feathers... stuff like that.
PUZZLES: In the time of 4 HOS there were 12 puzzles. But, super simple and short. Press numbers shown in a backwards fashion on our magical mirror. The stupid overused horse ride where you have to click arrows to avoid obstacles in the road, like rocks. I hate those puzzles! Find and move 3 pair of branches. Collect 6 boxes and move to use as steps (don't worry it'll be too hard, the images are shown to show you how to place them). Move stuff to proper places, with three choices, weapons, food and armor. Don't get those apples mixed up with the spear now. We have a magic ring, so every so often we have to use it in a puzzle. Click when the moving balls are in the green area. Once each time it's used.
There are Collectibles too, but I didn't care enough to look for them, finding some just because. Lanterns I guess.
We get to make things combining inventory. Like a feather duster! Those feathers we found can be tied together to make a duster, so we can get rid of those pesky cobwebs we encounter in every game. How about brushing them off with your hand, Princess? Oh, right, Princesses don't touch cobwebs.
HOS: far fewer than puzzles, although a few puzzles. A list within a junkpile. Fine 10 pieces of rope. Match pairs, then rotate to make image (a HOS and a PUZZLE in one!). Fine 8 feathers... stuff like that.
PUZZLES: In the time of 4 HOS there were 12 puzzles. But, super simple and short. Press numbers shown in a backwards fashion on our magical mirror. The stupid overused horse ride where you have to click arrows to avoid obstacles in the road, like rocks. I hate those puzzles! Find and move 3 pair of branches. Collect 6 boxes and move to use as steps (don't worry it'll be too hard, the images are shown to show you how to place them). Move stuff to proper places, with three choices, weapons, food and armor. Don't get those apples mixed up with the spear now. We have a magic ring, so every so often we have to use it in a puzzle. Click when the moving balls are in the green area. Once each time it's used.
There are Collectibles too, but I didn't care enough to look for them, finding some just because. Lanterns I guess.
We get to make things combining inventory. Like a feather duster! Those feathers we found can be tied together to make a duster, so we can get rid of those pesky cobwebs we encounter in every game. How about brushing them off with your hand, Princess? Oh, right, Princesses don't touch cobwebs.
At least we don't start out with Nanny reading to us. Maybe they figured an engaged Princess wouldn't still be listening to her Nanny's tales.
Can you navigate new realms to stop an evil conqueror in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
25 of 36 found this review helpful
Not For Me - Maybe For You
PostedJune 14, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Whenever the game description includes two things...
1 - "... things quickly take a dark turn..."
2 - "Do you have what it takes...?"
I realize the game will offer nothing new. If there can't be an original attention grabbing description, I won't be looking at an original attention grabbing game!
1 - "... things quickly take a dark turn..."
2 - "Do you have what it takes...?"
I realize the game will offer nothing new. If there can't be an original attention grabbing description, I won't be looking at an original attention grabbing game!
Lots of choices for custom mode. I wasn't sure what some of them even meant. What is an "extra objects indicator?" A "plus items zoom hint?" You can set the mini-games for "easy" or "hard," a nice touch, but unnecessary in the settings, since you can decide that when you play them.
Play hard. This game is easy enough without selecting it to be "easy!" The items in the HOS are huge!
PUZZLES:
1 - find a few runes
2 - move tiles to their correct places
3 - move tokens along paths, moving paths moves other paths
HOS:
1 - find highlighted words from a book in image form
2 - find same items in book as shown on page
3 - same as #2, but more items
COLLECTIBLES:
1 - crystals
2 - statuettes
3 - book pages, I think, they seemed to fly off into somewhere
1 - find a few runes
2 - move tiles to their correct places
3 - move tokens along paths, moving paths moves other paths
HOS:
1 - find highlighted words from a book in image form
2 - find same items in book as shown on page
3 - same as #2, but more items
COLLECTIBLES:
1 - crystals
2 - statuettes
3 - book pages, I think, they seemed to fly off into somewhere
The same inventory and tasks we've had and done before.
* open bags with initial tokens (I swear, this must be the new version of missing zipper pulls)
* get rid of rust
* oh, the key is in a piranha tank, whatever shall we do?
* broken crossbow
* magnet (guess what for!)
* matchbox (now I have a place to store those matches I picked up earlier, how serendipitous)
* open bags with initial tokens (I swear, this must be the new version of missing zipper pulls)
* get rid of rust
* oh, the key is in a piranha tank, whatever shall we do?
* broken crossbow
* magnet (guess what for!)
* matchbox (now I have a place to store those matches I picked up earlier, how serendipitous)
Find a box tied shut with rope. Need a knife? Not in this game! We think, " maybe temperature will affect the rope!" Temperature? We discover a clever new way to untie those pesky tight knots, with, not temperature, but fire! Of course, the lighter's empty and we need to find lighter fluid first.
The story? Three worlds, Order, Chaos, and Arena. One man wanting control. Kidnapping museum employees for power. The others are dead. Will we (the player and her troublesome sister) join those brittle skeletons we scavenge for inventory and arms to reach keys? It isn't story-driven and what was offered didn't interest me. Another wizard or magical bad guy desiring to rule all and be immortal.
The graphics are colorful, too much so for me, and also too busy for my taste. Too much picking up and putting together for me also.
If there were a rating between "it was okay" and "disliked" I'd go for that. It was worse than "okay" but I didn't "dislike" it so much as just didn't care. But, I never recommend a game I wouldn't want myself, so I don't recommend this one. Good thing there's a long demo. Take advantage of it.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the Hawaiian Islands! Delight in 120 romantic deals that while you pass the long evenings!
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 19 found this review helpful
Come Visit Hawaii this Summer in the Caribbean?
PostedJune 11, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I like solitaire. Usually the actual Klondike kind, or Spider, but I have many one-up-one-down games I enjoy too. Some are very nicely done. This one isn't nicely done, and as far into the demo as I got (not far I'll admit) it is only "chain" mode, connect cards either one more or one less than yours.
Boring.
The point is to remove the gold cards. No, that's not right, I "completed" one hand and there were still gold cards on the board. So, points? There are special cards that give you extra points, so maybe it's points. I skipped the instructions, so maybe it said.
You can go to the "store" and buy the usuals, mulligans, shuffles, jokers... You can changed your card faces and backs. The game begins with no intro, no back story, so the vacation element seems to just be the background and cards.
The graphics are not quite crisp. It's a low budget game and it shows. I do have others by this developer, and they are not all like this. They need to watch it though, because in the past I've read reviews that say if it's by this company it will automatically be a "no" buy. They don't want that!
Hawaii in the summer. Not the best time of year, but cheaper. But, more importantly, who decided to place Hawaii in the Caribbean??? Yes, it's palm trees and sandy beaches, but look at a map people! It's smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! Which, in case you don't have a map, is no where near the Caribbean.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you defeat a foe with an ice-cold soul?
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 25 found this review helpful
Why must series go downhill?
PostedJune 3, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I think this is only the third in the series. The first was incredible, innovative and like nothing we'd seen before. Clever use of "ancient" artifacts (from our day!), and many that the people had no idea what to do with, or what they were for.
Then came game #2, which wasn't as good. Now, #3, which is still better than playing a game with hooded, black-robed, red-eyed demonic baddies, or witches stealing fiances. I liked the graphics, but now the "ancient" artifacts are bit overdone.
Plus, now we have power, electricity to run our elevators, computer (why did only the ones surviving use disks?), even our subway trains!
I had yet to see a close-up of the "Society Agents," so maybe they are hooded and black-robed, but somehow they are after our society, to destroy it. They can shoot lightening! They took out our power, but have no fear, we manage to fix it with a few puzzles. That, and some "elf magic."
So, we are off to find the old time, powerful elves, to save us. They saved humankind in the past, why did they leave us on our own, assuming we could manage on our own? They should have known better. Why did they leave behind some younger elves?
The collectibles are nice, both fixed (snowflakes) and morphs in scenes, and morphs in the HOS.
The HOS are simple. Ordinary lists, silhouettes, faded images... The PUZZLES too were too easy. Put wires in place, line up three symbols (where moving one moves another), follow the sequence of lights (that's on our handy calculator!). The one where we move the train tracks (3 times) is fun, but way too easy (start at the finish for extra-easy).
Oh, we get a "gimmick!" Some sort of our-day heater/cooler thing. Put in a frozen geegaw and switch to "heat" to melt the ice. Yes, ice that wouldn't melt with the hairspray fueled torch, or fall off hitting it with an ice axe... So many ways of ridding ourselves of ice. If that poor frozen man needed elf medical attention, it's because we chipped ice off him with the axe!
So, it's different enough for me to buy it, as a CE, but not until it's a true half-off member's price. Mad Head just needs to watch out this series doesn't continue heading downhill.
I recommend this game!
Save the people of Glenville from a supernatural killer!
Overall rating
2
/
5
57 of 70 found this review helpful
Same Game, Different Name
PostedMay 17, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Mad Head has now joined the ranks of "former" original game developers. Just the main page description tells us all we need to know. "People disappearing," "Supernatural killer." Still, I gave it a try for Mad Head's sake, they can be so, so clever.
Here we have murders of "prominent" people (where do these story-writers come up with the idea high school teachers are "prominent" members of society?), with a doctor who is "a little skeptical" they are murders. What? A outline in ash that had the person chained to the floor, and he thinks it's something other than murder? Like what?
Fortunately our supernatural murdered dropped his list of victims! That always makes our search easier, although we seem to be an address behind, so murders continue.
Enter the player, a Fright Chaser, with a camera that can see paranormal objects. Not used often, we just drag it around the scene and if it crosses a paranormal area it clicks on it, without our help.
There are tons of puzzles, but they were too easy. Even when I first played these games I would have thought so. These puzzles are not the sort that can be made harder. Move tokens, hit cracks, move stickers, pluck strings, look in a phone book where the entries aren't in alphabetical order. There are a couple of puzzles that looked like they'd be harder, but, alas, it was just poor instructions. There were fewer HOS in the first two chapters (I thought that would be the entire demo, but when it continued I quit) than puzzles. Find so many of things to open a list, find pairs that are right there in your face, watch a slide show and locate symbols.
There are collectible Mad Head swirly things and morphs. There are items to make grappling hooks. There's a bad guy with glowing eyes and black hood. What isn't there? Any vestige of an interesting game.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you and your trusted companion escape with your lives?
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
Another good one in the series!
PostedMay 12, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
League of Light is one of my favorite series, and this game is as good as the others! Yes, there is a helper, but he is quiet! At least he's not Elf! I am sorry we still have him though, he IS someone's child turned into a pumpkin head, so really he should be restored. Wasn't that our goal at one time?
I love collecting the owls, since they are all different. Some are actual bird-owls in trees, others a tile on the wall or a statue in town. It's helpful that a zoom scene doesn't close until you find the collectibles.
The first puzzle at the jail door was clever! It took me a moment to "get" it, which was as it should be. Not too long, but then it was a forehead slapping moment!
The HOS are nice. The first a list, but the second was riddles where we find the answer as an image. Nicely done, and a nice voice.
It's not hard as far as the puzzles and HOS, but entertaining. With the collectibles I enjoy it's worth a CE for me. The weekend sale made it possible to buy, and I'm ignoring my older, yet unplayed games, for this one.
The HOS are nice. The first a list, but the second was riddles where we find the answer as an image. Nicely done, and a nice voice.
It's not hard as far as the puzzles and HOS, but entertaining. With the collectibles I enjoy it's worth a CE for me. The weekend sale made it possible to buy, and I'm ignoring my older, yet unplayed games, for this one.
We have been getting one League of Light game a year, which shows the developer is taking their time. It shows.
I recommend this game!