arnold1049's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:4,545
- Reviews Submitted:556
- First Review:February 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 9, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind
Stop a madman from taking over a city using a mind control device!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
A CE AT AN SE PRICE
PostedFebruary 6, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I will not review the storyline, as I'm sure there isn't anything I can add to this topic that hasn't already been covered by other reviewers. For me, the storyline is not vital to a game. The actual HOS and puzzles are the meat for me.
This is a little gem that has all the bells and whistles of a CE but is priced as an SE. It has a bonus chapter plus a secret room, wallpapers, music, sketches, achievements, secret symbols, a built-in strategy guide which includes the locations of all the secret symbols, and a jump map. What more could you ask for?
I thought about giving this game a 4 star rating because of the huge amount of back and forth the game requires, but I talked myself out of it because of the jump map. Quite early in the game I gave up on trying to remember where I needed to go and how to get there. I just clicked on the map icon and went to the next active location. Of course, by doing this, I failed to gain one of the achievements, but this reduced my frustration level and allowed me to enjoy the game. My pet peeve with games is this unnecessary running back and forth between scenes. If there isn't a good jump map included, the game is a bust for me.
The HOS were good but not too hard. They included HOS within HOS as well as interactive items. The puzzles were challenging and I skipped several, There was a good number of HOS and a good mix between puzzles and HOS.
The game is very long and adding the bonus chapter and secret room makes it an excellent buy at $6.99. If you get it for a coupon, you've won the jackpot. The main game is actually in two parts. The first part is in the real world, the second part in a fantasy world. The bonus chapter fits nicely into the main game as a continuation of busting the bad guys.
This game is a steal and any HOG lover should have it in their collection.
I recommend this game!
Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger 2
Pinecreek Hills just keeps getting better! Help the Rangers find lost objects, clean up the park and spot the wildlife.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
EYE CANDY
PostedJanuary 31, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a visually satisfying game. The graphics of the park locations are clear and bright and make you feel like you are right there in the scene. There are a lot of locations and you never revisit a single one, so there is no repetition.
This is also a very educational game. In each scene, you collect various animals, birds and insects that go into an album. Opening the album shows you the item you have collected along with it's name. There are over 100 items to collect.
In addition, you have to clean up each scene by finding the trash that has been left behind. Doing this helps you win the gold star for the scene.
Then there is the HO part of the scene. Though not extremely hard, there were some items that required me to use a hint. The hint button does not help with the animals/insects or the trash.
In order to win a gold star, you have to find all the animals/insects and all the trash in each scene. If you fail, you can replay the scene as often as necessary until you find everything. The hardest for me was finding all the trash. I believe I had to replay maybe 3 scenes to accomplish this. Unlike the animals/insects, you have no idea how many pieces of trash you are looking for, as the number varies from scene to scene.
The minigames in between the scenes were interesting and some were a little challenging. The types of puzzles did repeat, but they were a welcome respite from the HOS.
There are also achievements to be won, all of them attainable, although I was unable to finish a minigame in under 1 minute or the game in under 3 hours, meaning this is a nice, long game.
The storyline is not much more than a little dialog to give a reason for moving to another scene, but it was not annoying and fit well into the game.
I love all the Vacation Adventures games because of the variety in the HOS and the eye candy provided by the graphics. I'm looking forward to some new releases, hopefully soon.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Trackers: Four Aces Collector's Edition
Save Brightfield from a shocking plot by a dastardly organization!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
CLIFFHANGER ENDING IN BONUS CHAPTER
PostedJanuary 29, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a great entry into the Mystery Trackers series. The graphics are clear and bright, not dark and dreary. There is an excellent jump map that is sorely needed as there is a lot of back and forth among many locations.
I played without sound except for voiceovers, which was only a voice reading the dialog; not always attached to a character shown on the screen.
There is a dog helper that you earn coins for to decorate his dog house. I didn't find enough coins to get all the stuff that was available.
The bonus chapter was excellent and on a par with the game. The bonus chapter is where the cliff hanger comes in.
There are no achievements, collectibles, morphing objects or other extras. No replaying of the HOS. I found the HOS and minigames not too demanding although I skipped some of the puzzles due to lack of interest in spending the time needed to solve them. I accessed the built in strategy guide a couple of times. I did not need the hint button in the HOS but did use it a few times when I was unsure about what to do next. It was excellent and gave exact information on the next step needed.
There are the usual screensavers, wallpapers, videos, etc., as expected from a CE.
Good game that followed a good storyline and held my interest throughout.
I recommend this game!
Sea of Lies: Burning Coast Collector's Edition
A mysterious plague is sweeping through towns along the coast, and you're the only one who knows the truth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 46 found this review helpful
GREAT DEVELOPER, GREAT GAME
PostedJanuary 29, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third in the Sea of Lies series and it is awesome. The other reviewers have given a very good recap of the story, so I will not bore you with a repeat.
The graphics are crisp and bright. This is not a dark game, even though the theme is. The voiceovers are excellent with the mouth movements matching extremely well.
There is a jump map that makes the back and forth tolerable. I did not find the minigames nor the HOS that difficult. The HOS had levels within them, making them more interesting. The option to play a Match 3 game instead is a nice addition. There were a couple of puzzles that I had not seen before.
There are achievements, items to collect from each scene and collectibles that are available after the bonus chapter is completed, along with wallpapers, replaying the HOPs to get gold stars, etc., pretty standard fare for CEs.
I only played the demo on casual mode, but I think the quality will continue throughout the game. Definitely a buy for me, because of the quality and because I already have the other two.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Tales: The Twilight World Collector's Edition
A stay at a peaceful hotel turns into a nightmare when a witch from the Twilight World takes your daughter!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
DARK AND LIGHT
PostedJanuary 25, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game has you moving between two worlds; one light and one dark, the dark one controlled by a witch, The witch is looking for a body to contain her spirit and she just happens to pick your daughter for her repository. Just your luck for stopping by an off-the-beaten path hotel that was built on the site of the witch's old home. It appears that the witch has other people under her control, including the hotel owner, so why she is picking on your daughter remains to be seen.
The demo gave me a pretty good taste of how the game plays in the two worlds. There is an interactive map, which makes moving around the game smooth, an awesome plus for me when there is a lot of back and forth that occurs in a time travel game. I was unable to access the strategy guide, so cannot comment on its effectiveness. I also did not use the hint button nor did I play the music. The voiceovers were very good and it was nice to be able to hear them without the rest of the sound.
Having the two worlds was also a nice relief, keeping the game from being dark and dreary the whole way through.
There are cats, rabbits, and postcards to find as well as the usual achievements. The HOS and minigames were multi-layered and varied, which held my attention, but not too hard. The demo seemed to go by quickly and ends with a cliffhanger. The police won't allow you to cross the bridge into the town and the hotel manager has become a demon and thrown you into the water.
Why not a 5 star rating? A good, solid game, just nothing to set it apart from many others. I will definitely purchase it as there is a sale in progress this weekend.
I recommend this game!
Big City Adventure: London Story
Fitzpatrick McGovern is long gone, but his mysterious lost legacy is still out there! Find it in Big City Adventure: London Story!
Overall rating
3
/
5
STICK TO THE TRIED AND TRUE
PostedJanuary 22, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Up until now, Big City Adventure games have followed a standard HOG format that has worked well for them. Purchasing a Big City Adventure game means you are getting HOS after HOS to play to find HO's, along the way getting educated about the city you are visiting. Great basic HOG for HOG lovers.
With this game, Big City Adventure games have tried to become a HOG/adventure combination and didn't do a very good job of either one. The HOS are few and far between and the storyline has you going from place to place and back again, over and over again, picking up one small object that may not be used until much later in the game.
There is a map, thankfully, but at first it is very confusing. According to the legend, it has the standard " you are here, there is something to do here, this location is locked, etc." and you can jump from one place to another. But it took me a little while to figure out that the map was not always accurate, particularly when it came to showing locations where things needed to be done. When I got caught with no active locations noted on the map, I finally just clicked on another, unlocked location, and, surprise, surprise, I ran into a HOS and other things to do. Bad design and disappointing programming from a strong developer up to this point.
The interesting facts about London were also few and far between, as compared to the other games in this series. The storyline was disjointed and did not support the actions required by the game.
There is a built-in walkthrough, although even here, it deviates from what you would normally expect from a walkthrough. It does not take you through each scene and show you what needs to be done. It is in question and answer format and centers on a specific objective, telling you what needs to be done to reach that objective but not always telling you how to get those things done. No step by step directions on solving some of the puzzles. Frustrating to say the least.
So, bottom line, this was a disappointing game from a developer who needs to stay with the format that they are good at.
I don't recommend this game.
Weird Park: Scary Tales
Louis the Clown and Mr. Dudley are back in an all-new adventure! Travel through the dark corners of history's most famous fairytales to rescue children trapped in a frightening netherworld!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
SHOULD WAIT FOR THE CE
PostedJanuary 21, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've liked all the Weird Park games so far that I have played but I greatly prefer the CE over the SE and this one is no exception. The storylines are similar in all the games; weird things happening to children in amusement parks that are supposed to be fun places for kids. Here a man who has escaped from a mental institution is changing kids into dolls and you must find them and release them.
There was quite a bit of back and forth in this game so a map, which is usually included in a CE, would have been very helpful. Instead, I used the hint button over and over again to get where I needed to go.
There are lots of HOS in this game, which is really nice, since it is a HOG. I really don't like HOG/Adventure games that are more Adventure than HO.
The HOS were not too hard, nor were the minigames, although I skipped a few that were not based on logic, but on mindliess clicking until you get the right combination. Here, again, the CE with a built-in strategy guide would have helped, as referring to it would have given me the correct places to click to solve the puzzle, but then what's the fun in that?
I played without sound, as usual. The game is fairly long. The graphics are sharp and the change in locations allow for several different atmospheres to the game.
Another winner in the Weird Park series.
I recommend this game!
Legend of Maya
Dive into this Maya fairytale! Take on Prince Chaac's mission and construct an outstanding city with many inhabitants!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
TRIAL CONVINCED ME TO BUY
PostedJanuary 20, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The storyline, as covered in the description of the game, centers around star-crossed lovers. In order for the Prince to win the Princess, he must build the biggest Mayan town of all the other suitors. This game has at least 3 aspects; Match 3, Hidden Object, and maybe Adventure?
The 60 minute demo was not long enough, considering how much reading I had to do to familiarize myself with the way the game is played. The description of the game says it is a Match 3 and Hidden Object game but I was only able to play Match 3 games during the demo, which I played in the Normal mode. There was an easier mode and a harder mode.
There are also achievements to be gained during play, such as using the many powerups x number of times.
Coins and other items obtained during the Match 3 games are used to purchase buildings to create the Mayan town in order to win the Princess. I don't know how the Hidden Object part of the game fits into this.
The most annoying thing that I ran into was that the game showed available plays in the Match 3 part much too quickly and they weren't always the most advantageous plays to make. The sparkles and swapping movements of the suggested plays were very distracting. I wonder how bad they would have been in the easier mode and if they would have been absent in the harder mode, which brings me to another issue.
There was no explanation about the differences among the 3 levels of difficulty of play, so I had nothing on which to base my choice.
I really didn't get that deep into the game to really get a feel for it, but what I did see and what I read about it has me interested enough to give it a try. I'm curious as to how the HO part will fit in.
I recommend this game!
Slingo Mystery: Who's Gold
Help Maggie Gold track down her ex-husband`s murderer! Explore a huge casino to find the secrets left behind by Freddy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
QUIRKY LITTLE GAME
PostedJanuary 19, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have never played a slingo game before, which is a cross between slots and bingo. There is a playing board filled with numbers and another row of numbers at the bottom. Hitting the spin button rotates the bottom row of numbers which you then match with the numbers on the board. But you can only match a number in the column directly above it. There are lots of added stuff, like "wild cards" that allow you to match any number, free spins, nudges, etc., that increase your score or help you win the game. Prior to playing, there is a goal established that must be achieved before you can win and advance. Sometimes you have to make a certain score, other times you must make a certain number of slingos, which is matching all the numbers in a complete row, horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Playing the slingo machines is definitely not boring.
The storyline in this game is what really sold it for me. The owner of the Gold casino, Mr. Gold, has died, leaving his 2nd wife a widow and his 1st wife in competition with her to see who finds his will first. It seems Mr. Gold's favorite game was slingo and as the clues he has left behind lead to the will, hidden slingo machines are found along the way that need to be played to win before advancing.
Each room in the casino is a hidden object location. Here, again, the game is not your standard HO fare. The items you are searching for number from 3 to 6 and are sometimes the names of things, sometimes the pictures of things and sometimes question marks with a hint as to what type of object you are looking for. Sometimes when you have found the objects, you then use them to find other objects, or return them to different places in the scene. Again, nothing boring. And once you have found all these various HO, you are finished with the room and never go back to it. No going back and forth until you are dizzy.
There are hints available for help in finding the HO's, but I can't tell you how fast it recharges, as I only used it a couple of times, so it was never an issue for me.
Although it isn't a really long game, it had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Twice I thought the game was over, but the plot went off in another direction and the chase was on again. The ending was also a nice lead-in to the next game in this series, which I am going to go get as soon as I finish this review.
I never play with sound, so can't comment on that. The graphics for the rooms in the casino were excellent. And the number of rooms was endless. If this was a real casino, it would have been huge, without any hotel rooms. The character graphics didn't have voiceovers, but if you watched closely, the expressions on them changed with the dialog.
You just never know when you are going to find a jewel of a game like this one so game on.
I recommend this game!
Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia
Search for cleverly hidden items around the amazing city of Sydney. Head down under and join the next Big City Adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY GAME
PostedJanuary 18, 2015
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There are 76 levels to this game and for each level you play 2 hidden object scenes to advance to the next level. I played the timed mode and never had a problem running out of time.
All the Big City Adventure games have similar formats; heavy on hidden object scenes with very easy minigames interspersed throughout. Periodically during the game you are awarded skip coins to allow you to skip minigames. Again, it appears that these coins are also limited to a total of 5.
There are 4 types of coins hidden in each scene that provide two types of hints plus additional points. The number of hint coins that you can carry over from scene to scene is limited. to a maximum of 5 hints of each type. I was never in any danger of running out of hints, which means the hidden object scenes are not that hard. With both the 2 hints coins and the skip coins, once you use one, you seem to immediately get one back, so the level of 5 remains fairly constant.
The snippets of information about Sydney that are provided between each level are interesting. However, with 152 hidden object scenes, the various locations are revisited numerous times, although with some different objects to find.
The new information I learned is where the saying "don't let the cat out of the bag" originated from. The cat in the saying is referring to a cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment on sea-going vessels during the time Sydney was being settled.
This is an easy game to play for relaxing and when you really don't want to tax your brain or concentration powers.
I recommend this game!