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:
Play as both members of the Fletcher family to crack the case!
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 20 found this review helpful
Not as good as Dead Reckoning
PostedMay 9, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love a good murder mystery, in books, television shows and games! Ones that have a human suspect, no evil bogey men escaped from their demonic prisons, or witches bent on revenge. Ones that are set in modern day, or at least during my lifetime! That's why I always loved the Dead Reckoning games (nooo, they weren't set in my lifetime, but still recent enough!), especially Death Between the Lines.
This is a murder mystery, set in modern times, but it missed the mark for me. I just didn't find it interesting enough to buy. My review is based on the demo.
One huge problem for me, and the same goes for television shows. Fans of a genre watch or play them all. So, when actors return to play a different role I notice. So would any fan of a series. I assume the "actors" in games are real people, perhaps employees of the game developers or programmers. The mayor in this game is the same "actor" as one of the writer's in Death Between the Lines! Not that I'm not glad to see him again (I always thought he was the cutest game character I'd ever seen, and was so sorry he was murdered in the game!), but I am not happy to see him again! Unless later it turns out his twin brother was a murdered writer, well... don't use the same "actors!"
The game itself now... too easy and some of it was just plain silly stuff. I wondered, "why would I be doing this?" or "doing that?" "This doesn't make any sense." I know, I know, "It's just a game," but really, it's a more realistic game, so things just might be more reasonable. Just the entire premise of the game, a poisoned woman we had never met before. Just where did we get poison on our way up the stairs? And why is the housekeeper so inept? Just look at that stairway! Don't give us a housekeeper and then show us a mess!
I did enjoy the HOSs in the demo, but not the puzzles. I hate the "match the frequency" pattern tasks. Actually, when the first HOS appeared I did sigh about it, "oh, a lovely EIPIX HOS, how nice," but I was being sarcastic to myself. They do wonderful HOS, but they always do, so they're boring.
The graphics and colors etc. were just so, so usual for this developer.
I thought it would be an instant buy, so I'm glad I took the time to demo. Why bring this one out when Dead Reckoning could have filled the mystery game niche? Unlike others, I don't see anything similar to Murder She Wrote, other than the last name of our characters.
I don't recommend this game.
Step into the shoes of Emily Patterson, follow the trail of the captor and thwart his evil plans.
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 31 found this review helpful
A fun, nicely made game with a "modern" story.
PostedApril 18, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I enjoyed this game very much. I loved the "modern" day tale, with no wicked witch or black-robed demon! I loved the clever inclusions of actual historical figures! It made the game fun.
I clocked 7 hours into the game, but a few times I left it running while I did a few other things around the house, so you have to take off some time for that. But, even so, I didn't skip any HOS or puzzles, so it's a long game.
Clear crisp colors and graphics. Nicely done HOS and puzzles. No, not a hard game, but well worth playing.
I wish we could find the missing emblems after finishing the game. I wasn't sure what was happening at the end, when the table for them was shown, so gave the bag to my father, which ended the game. If you get to the table missing emblems, try to find them! That was a disappointment to me.
This publisher has some very nice developers working for them now. I look forward to every game they release!
I recommend this game!
Can you save the city from a tattoo artist’s magical ink?
Overall rating
5
/
5
45 of 56 found this review helpful
Original! Best Game I've Played this Year! Really!
PostedApril 8, 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
The demo may be short, but it was long enough to convince me I HAVE TO HAVE THIS GAME... NOW!
The demo kept my interest the entire time, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. That is a very, very rare thing.
The setting is modern day! I know I can't be the only one sick to death of escaped evils stealing villagers/fiances/children to become "whole again," or to rule the known universe. So far, no witches or black foggy spirits!
And guess what puzzle lovers? The demo was just chock-full of puzzles! Not just puzzles, but ORIGINAL PUZZLES! Yes! I played puzzles I have never played before! And they were not all easy! Some took thought and time. Not a dumbed down same ol' game. As far as the demo goes, the puzzles are integrated into the story, they have reasons to exist. Don't you just hate it when it looks like a puzzle was just tossed in to put a puzzle in?
How about those HOS? Well, there are quite a few lists, but in fresh locations. Watching the news on television, while in a phone booth calling 911. I read a comment that the HOS were faded and cloudy. Well, we are watching a television in a dive of a bar in a terrible part of town, the signal isn't coming in well! Later, we've been poisoned, our vision IS a bit foggy! I particularly enjoyed the HOS that was the apartment mail box. There are well done morphs in the HOS.
If you are tired of the usual re-cycled games of late, give this one at least the demo try. Players wanted something new, here it is! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
A thrilling match 3 adventure about a treasure hunter trying to solve a globe-spanning mystery.
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
quite ordinary with odd cut scene story
PostedMarch 28, 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
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I love match-3 games, and while this didn't have the look of a lot of newer games (remade mobile games with bloated tiles), it just wasn't very good. The entire thing was just a bit out of focus. Not so much to affect game play, but still...
Choose timed or relaxed. Use power-ups to break tiles of your choice (I question the wisdom in these days of making one a hand grenade...). I played through four locations (Yucatan, Amazon, Greece, Tibet) and so far all you do is change all the gold tiles. I will assume it gets harder. If there are no moves on the board the tiles will reshuffle on their own. I'm not sure how you get full stars, or full gold. I had 3 gold stars on a board, yet got zero gold.
Your goal is to collect artifacts. After a few boards in each location you are awarded one artifact. The end goal to find the one your father may have died to find. Armed treasure hunters (count us into that number, we are not our father's son, with pure motives) are after the same things, and threaten to shoot you now and again. Sorry, enough shootings in real life to wonder why they thought that was a good idea. Anyway... the game...
We are suddenly joined by a boy in a loincloth, who has a man's voice. We "rescue" him, although I never figured out what his problem was, other than saying "neh" or some other "help me" noise. He just stood there half naked in the Yucatan. Really? It's modern day, and the developers have a child in a loincloth? Who speaks English with a man's voice and apparently stows away in our luggage? (We ask if that is how he got to Greece.) Weird.
No rhyme nor reason as to why we are skipping around the globe, from the Yucatan to the Amazon, to Greece and over to Tibet. None of the artifacts are regional, and we learn nothing about the locations. In fact, I'm no expert and may be wrong, but the background didn't look like Greek to me (pun unintended!).
There are really good match-3 games available on BFG. See below for one of the best of the best. Go for those, skip this one. Not worth a PCC.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on a secret mission to save Princess Isabella!
Overall rating
2
/
5
19 of 26 found this review helpful
New Developer Name not a New Game
PostedMarch 25, 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
1
/
5
You can change the name of the developer, but that doesn't hide the fact this is just another ERS game, in a series that used to be very good. In fact, last week I installed The Queen of Spades to replay. The old games had replay value.
This is another missing princess. We've had several missing princesses and a missing prince in just the past few weeks. Could we please have something original? No black fog evil creatures either?
We may be missing the dwarf (as it should be, we learned his back story, be done with him), but perhaps we will be gifted a hunchback instead! Are physical deformities what comes to mind as both "bad guys" and "helpers" now?
The HOS are insults. The first was just to locate images of what word is highlighted in a story. Two words per story part, total of just 8. Find 5 spoons. Matching objects, which some developers do well by hiding the similar (not identical) objects behind, or under other things. Here they are huge and out in the open. The worst thing about the HOS is at least an option. Find out how you did as soon as you complete the HOS! How long it took you. If you used hints. How accurate were you? And whether you got a bronze, silver or gold star. Worthless option, since you can't replay the HOS right then and there to better your score. A really bad idea in and "extra."
Puzzles were super simple too. The first I remember was to assemble a broken wheel. I had played the demo on custom mode, and went back to see if I had forgotten to un-click a help option, because the wheel parts are highlighted where to put them!
But, highlights are featured in other areas of the game, like them or not! There are highlighted silhouettes of things you need to use (not inventory, from the scenes), in places I'm pretty sure any player could figure out. We all know if there is a location too high, pick up that ladder, right? So, why the silhouettes?
Collect crystal apples to buy clothing for mannequins? I can't think of anything I'd like to do less... The only fun dress-up in a game was the ERS raccoon, and only because it was so ridiculous! We're adults, come up with something a bit more adult than dress-up please!
I am replaying Dark Parables from the beginning right now. I had forgotten how great, how long, how hard the first few were! I'll gladly give up the silly options and achievements for a good game.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore kingdom ruins and meet the exiled Salt Princess.
Overall rating
5
/
5
90 of 114 found this review helpful
Welcome back Blue Tea, I've missed you!
PostedMarch 15, 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
Absolutely wonderful!
Stunning graphics, without too much glitz and glimmer (some of the previous Dark Parables were so gilded you could barely make out what was what!).The Blue Tea ones have always been my favorites, The Exiled Prince being one of the first game of this genre I ever played.
I love the cartoon-ish characters. I may adjust to these new helper women, but wouldn't mind running into the Red Riding Hood Sisters in another game!
I love the cartoon-ish characters. I may adjust to these new helper women, but wouldn't mind running into the Red Riding Hood Sisters in another game!
A fairy tale story, a bit of a twist on the usual. I didn't play enough of the game to see if it's based on the Slovak fable, The Salt Prince, or not.
Lovely FROGs, again without the sparkling distraction some of the last ones featured. Also, truly fragment objects, not just big identifiable chunks. Not too many, and fewer puzzles, but I didn't mind! There was still a lot going on, a lot to do and pay attention to. I'll tell you, when the scream occurred I jumped! And rushed from scene to scene trying to find out what happened, as was obviously the developers' plan!
Cursed objects were hard to find! So are the parable pieces. Nice! At first, when I read there were no custom settings, I wasn't going to bother trying. I hate sparkles, but want to have a hint if need be. But, the goal is to get a "no hint" achievement, right? So, need a hint, look at the Strategy Guide! It's no biggie not to have a hint or skip. Even in the SE you can check the walk-through. We wanted Blue Tea back and now we complain about something else? Complain about everything and anything and eventually we'll all get what we deserve... nothing!
It's one of those rare games where I find myself wanting to play a little more, a little more, curious to find out what happens. I get that feeling in my stomach somehow! Maybe it's just knowing that Blue Tea is back!
Oh... I loved the message when I clicked on "hint" but didn't have one, "That's a convenience I thought I wouldn't need."
I recommend this game!
A young demon hunter finds herself time traveling back to ancient Egypt to wield the Gauntlet of Horus to stop an ancient deity.
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 19 found this review helpful
ordinary at best - not as good as developer is capable of
PostedFebruary 28, 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
What a disappointment. Brave Giant can do so much better!
1- this game should not be part of the Demon Hunter series. The first in that series was wonderful. The next three progressively became more ordinary.
2- even if it weren't named for a series, it's not a very good game. Sorry Boris...
2- even if it weren't named for a series, it's not a very good game. Sorry Boris...
SPOILERS:
I loved the former game collectibles, which were different groups of things to find, not just 33 huge stars and 4 gems. How can you miss these out of place items? You can't!
The HOS are varied, but not original nor novel. In the first there is what you think will be a slider puzzle, but when you find the missing piece, it slides itself into place without you! Other HOS are "find a symbol to match the word" type, with one word per page (twice find more than one, but still... ), find 12 of an items, a few basic lists, barely interactive.
Puzzles are super easy. The first was to place 5, just 5, pieces into a puzzle. Then a code that was silly, click on the opposite of what it showed. Sun/moon, angel/demon, etc. But, since when is a dog the opposite of a cat? Charm the snake by clicking notes in order shown on a paper, again, with silly codes that didn't take any thought either by me, the player, or by them, the developers.
There is a repeating puzzle/game where you target (with your magical amulet, which gets "upgrades") the evil black foggy beings. But, YOU don't target them... you just watch the target move on its own, and click when it turns color. Why bother have our target even move?
There is a repeating puzzle/game where you target (with your magical amulet, which gets "upgrades") the evil black foggy beings. But, YOU don't target them... you just watch the target move on its own, and click when it turns color. Why bother have our target even move?
The dialog is ridiculous, as are what I think to myself. "Oh Wow! A code..." When I get to Egypt I am told that it isn't safe for a "woman dressed like that." What? I am dressed as a Bedouin, even if that is odd for ancient Egypt, there is no way anyone can tell I am a woman! I have on a full-length robe and head covering!
There was obviously no research done as to items used, or even items sitting around. It may not bother a lot of players, but to see a pineapple just laying in the tent, and avocados and bananas in the market bugs me. None of those are native to Egypt, and wouldn't be available during the time period of the game (which is entirely up to anyone's guess).
The "baddies" are the same as in any game. What's with the lack of imagination? Black fog beings with red eyes again. Whenever we encounter them we hear them chuckle, "Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha." They are hokey as all get out!
Brave Giant has made some outstanding games. The best of them being Tiny Tales: Heart of the Forest. There we see originality that is lacking in most other games, by anyone. Agent Walker: Secret Journey (renamed for some reason), veered into sameness, but had a lot of novel elements (when else have you ever planted bombs in stolen artwork? ). The original Queen's Quest was wonderful too.
One other thing about the Demon Hunter series. Where did the endearing, engaging characters go? Remember the sweet old lady and her cat? I know they killed off the reoccurring Officer Brown, which in my opinion was a big mistake. We players like our returning characters! Also missing are the cute surprises like that piggy bank (we assume we break it, right?), we help out by finding her lost husband! I remember these little original things in past games. Nothing here is memorable.
(And Noir Chronicles: City of Crime would have been something special if the characters had remained animals!) Think outside the box! You used to Brave Giant!
One other thing about the Demon Hunter series. Where did the endearing, engaging characters go? Remember the sweet old lady and her cat? I know they killed off the reoccurring Officer Brown, which in my opinion was a big mistake. We players like our returning characters! Also missing are the cute surprises like that piggy bank (we assume we break it, right?), we help out by finding her lost husband! I remember these little original things in past games. Nothing here is memorable.
(And Noir Chronicles: City of Crime would have been something special if the characters had remained animals!) Think outside the box! You used to Brave Giant!
I don't recommend this game.
Save your cousin and his new bride from a horrible beast!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Would be a 5 star but...
PostedJanuary 28, 2018
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I love this series. Mostly I love the owl collectibles. But, they have become easier. Used to be the owl could be a real owl in a tree, or a shape of an owl in the snowy mountain background. This time they are all the same, just faded colored owls, not integrated into the scenes at all, just sitting around for the purpose to be collectibles. You can go back and find them if you missed them, which is what all developers should allow. After all, collectibles are really what makes a CE a CE (not the behind the scene looks of the programmers at work, or music!).
Other than that, the game is fun! The HOS are very original and varied. The puzzles too. The story was the same ol' thing, so I only gave it 3 stars for "okay." Nothing new, mostly rehashed interrupted wedding, groom turned into a beast, castle on lock-down until we come to the rescue. Shades of Disney Beauty and the Beast in some of the characters.
I would say the SE would be fine, since the bonus didn't do anything for me, but the CE has the collectibles! Still, I'm glad to have played the CE.
I recommend this game!
The city is being taken over by dark forces!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Colorful and Fun... what more is needed?
PostedDecember 30, 2017
twinsoniclab
fromSouthern Oregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Okay, the story isn't new. King overtaken by robed evil entity... false arrest of the king's advisor/wizard... who can save the day? Why, the player of course! We play a wizard in training, learning to use magical "glyphs" throughout the game to help us on our journey.
But, what a great game! The graphics are tremendous. The colors gorgeous. The detail amazing. Take your time and enjoy it. This is one game you will want to play slowly. This is so much nicer than the dreary dark "suspenseful" games that are released much too often.
The HOS are varied and also extremely clever. Just about all varieties are included, and all very, very nicely done.
The puzzles are fun, a wide range of difficulty. Some were simple, others I needed to write down the solution from the SG to beat (so I wouldn't be "skipping"! My son says that's cheating.).
The morphing objects are harder to find, since they are not just one object changing to another (like an apple that is suddenly a hedgehog), these are there, then they are not. You see them out of the corner of your eye, then have to wait a bit for them to return. The collectibles are small twinkle of light, that are not as easy as you might think they would be to find. Some fit into the scenes very nicely.
This developer takes their time (no proud announcements that they'll have 16 games next year!) to get it right. Their older games are worth playing too, like Timeless: The Forgotten Town.
I recommend this game!
Can you break an evil curse and save the day?!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Most disappointing game of the year
PostedDecember 19, 2017
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Nothing can top Christmas Stories: Nutcracker. That may be the problem here, I keep expecting, year after year, another game of that caliber. Unfortunately, they keep getting more and more ordinary.
If you don't think its "fair" to review a game based on just part (I asked myself, "Why play a game you aren't enjoying, just because it's the Christmas Stories you so looked forward to?" I answered, "Stop wasting your time! Quit!" So I did.)
don't read on.
don't read on.
This game is just an average hidden object/puzzle game. Nothing particularly says "Christmas" about it, other than tossed in decorations and wrapped gifts. The story isn't holiday oriented, it's just another wedding ruined by a bitter woman dressed in black, who issues vague threats (I'll never let the castle go! Hahaha!) in ominous tones. Guests turned into animals. Yawn. Been there before.
The puzzles are average, with absolutely no challenge. Some developers are adding in the choice of "easy" or "hard" for their puzzles. Not this one. Pretty HOS, a few varied types, which do have Christmas themes. They can't alone save the game for me though.
Lots of collectibles, which I do like, it's why I get CEs. Here they are actually harder, in that they may show on the map, but you can't access them until you have done something in that scene. They aren't just sitting in the open. Good job there.
Cameos of familiar characters from past Christmas Stories just made me want to exit this one and play those older games!
If I were to sum up the series, I'd say the first (Nutcracker) was the best game ever made by anyone, and they have progressively become a little worse, until this is just another ordinary game. It's a shame to know what is possible, and not get it ever again!
I don't recommend this game.