arnold1049's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:4,545
- Reviews Submitted:555
- First Review:February 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 24, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
An ancient phoenix summons Anna to explore a drifting ocean city, confront the Evil Colossus and save her lost tribe.
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
FOR BEGINNERS ONLY
PostedJune 1, 2014
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This seemed to be an exceptionally long game, yet there weren't that many HOS or puzzles to account for the length. Lots of voiceovers and cutscenes. All the puzzles were very easy.
The map was not interactive although there were "cat stations" throughout the game that helped you jump between locations a little bit. And there is a lot of back and forth in this game, adding unnecessarily to the length.
Although at times there seemed like a lot of handholding, at other times, clicking on a scene would tell you nothing at all. The hints outside the HOS were OK, but not great. Toward the end, I needed to refer to the strategy guide to figure out where I missed something that wasn't there the first time I went to that location.
And the bonus content was a definite ripoff. Being forced to play a hybrid match three game to win trophies to finally get the artwork, etc., that should come standard in a Collector's Edition is bogus.
I'm a glutton for punishment and always try to finish what I start, so I played the entire game. It's always good to get the experience that might help in another game.
Use your Paranormal Crime Investigation skills to solve a string of bizarre murders plaguing the city of New Orleans!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
NEEDS A BETTER MAP
PostedMay 31, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game seemed a little short for a Collector's Edition. And without the annoying back and forth, it would have been even shorter.
There is a map, but it wasn't interactive so was basically worthless. The hint button was some help; at least it said more than "nothing to do at this location", but it still was sometimes hard to find out where to go next.
Some of the puzzles were repetitive, which I think is totally unnecessary. The built in strategy game is always a plus, but I really didn't need to use it until once in the bonus chapter.
The bonus chapter was a good fit to the main game and was a good length.
I liked the New Orleans setting and wished there had been voiceovers so I could hear some good Southern accents. The premise of the game was also engaging.
This isn't a game that grabbed me, but it isn't a bad game, either. Probably a 3.5 star game.
I recommend this game!
Expose the fate of Jessalyn Thornton and unveil the truth about a family ghost in Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 21 found this review helpful
NOT FOR SISSIES
PostedMay 30, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is only the second Nancy Drew game that I have played, and I totally agree with other reviewers that if you are new to adventure games (this is definitely not a hidden object game), this one should be avoided. Actually, all the Nancy Drew games are fairly hard and very different from most of the other adventure games, so they take a little getting used to. I really needed to use my brain on both the Nancy Drew games I've played.
Since my experience with Nancy Drew games is limited, I can't really say whether this game is better or worse than others in the series. I can tell you that I fell in love with the voiceovers and the characters; those Southern accents were marvelous. And what could be better than a mystery set in the Deep South?
I played the Amateur/Casual level and can't imagine how much harder the higher levels would be. Certainly nothing that I would attempt. There are walkthroughs available on the internet but I was a long way into the game before I felt the need to look one up. The hints available in the casual mode go a long way to keeping you on track. But I did reach that point eventually, and, given all the levels within the game, even the walkthrough takes some concentration.
I'll continue playing Nancy Drew games, as this one definitely is a good one. But they aren't games I would play if I was looking for a few hours of relaxing fun. I love a challenge sometimes, but I don't like to be frustrated and there was just enough frustration in this game to keep me from rating it a 5 star.
I recommend this game!
The evil Alura is back, and this time she’s attacking your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
ANOTHER GREAT "LOVE CHRONICLES" GAME
PostedMay 30, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is another great game in the "Love Chronicles" series. The graphics are awesome, clear and bright, and the voiceovers can be played without the rest of the sounds. This is always a plus for me, as I like to hear the voices, but get bored with the background music and other sounds.
The hint button worked excellently whenever the map didn't get you to the exact place you needed to be. The map was interactive, saving a bunch of going back and forth, something that always spoils a game for me. And, even though the map got you to the next place fast, the game did not keep all the locations open to the very beginning of the game, thus also reducing the amount of back and forth necessary to play this game.
The hidden object scenes were crisp and not too hard. There are lots of puzzles, some of which I had to skip as I am not good at some styles of puzzles and I don't want to take the time to go to the strategy guide to get the solution. But with the strategy guide built in, that would have been easy to do.
The bonus chapter fit neatly into the main game and was pretty long, as was the main game.
Just an excellent game. I have now played all the "Love Chronicles" games and wish there could be more.
I recommend this game!
Lift an evil curse that has been cast on the kingdom by a witch looking for revenge in Love Chronicles: The Sword and the Rose!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
I WILL BE CHECKING OUT OTHER GAMES IN THIS SERIES
PostedMay 27, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game was very good in lots of ways.
The hint button, outside the hidden object scenes, showed you exactly where to go next, which eliminated needing to access the strategy guide for that information.
Most of the puzzles were fairly easy, but some of them, like the ones where you need to do something in an exact sequence, could have used a reset button to allow another try at it.
The graphics were crisp and clear and not dark.
The bonus chapter fit well with the basic game and was a good length. It seemed to have more hidden object scenes than the basic game.
I'm a hard one to impress enough for a five rating, but this is a good, solid game and I will be checking out the other games in this series, at least the collector's editions.
I recommend this game!
Find your missing fiancé in the deepest parts of the ocean. Discover the forgotten underwater city hiding many spine-chilling secrets.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
LOOKED LIKE A CE TO ME
PostedMay 25, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game isn't labeled as a Collector's Edition, but it contained all the elements of one.
It has a map; although not interactive, it shows where the player is and where there is something to be done. Still a lot of back and forth; I don't understand why developers think we need to go back to the beginning locations to do something after having left that location a while back. It would be nice if the location became inactive as the game progressed, eliminating this frustrating back and forth, which gets worse as the game progresses and more locations are opened. The hint button could also be used to get directions to the next active location, a great plus when there is no strategy guide included.
There is a bonus chapter, just like in other CE's. It fit fairly well into the main storyline, setting things up for a sequel. Or maybe it was a prequel that set up the main game. Also a list of achievements that can be made during play. A selection of play mode also brings it up to the level of a CE.
The hidden object scenes were fairly easy. The puzzles were not repetitive and some were challenging enough for me to skip them, thus losing out on winning one of the achievements.
The basic game was pretty long, and the bonus chapter was also a decent length,
A good CE at the SE price.
I recommend this game!
The Missing: A Search and Rescue Mystery Collector's Edition
A group of college students have gone missing from a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. You are called in to rescue them, but nothing is as it seems.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
WHAT DID I MISS?
PostedMay 24, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This was an OK game; nothing really special about it.
It would have been really nice for the map to have been interactive to alleviate a lot of going back and forth. The hint button showed where you needed to go next, but not how to get there. I had to use the strategy guide several times to figure out where to go.
What puzzled me was the ending of the main game. It just didn't make sense.
The bonus chapter was good and fit with the main game.
The Mona Lisa has been stolen! Travel between the past and present to gather clues and unravel a sinister plot.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE
PostedMay 24, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is one of the hardest straight hidden object games I've ever played. Although there is a storyline, it is really just one hidden object scene after another, with a few, very easy, puzzles thrown in. The puzzles and locations were repetitious, but in the case of the hidden object scenes, there were new, different hidden objects to find for each location.
The storyline was based on time travel, with each location having a past and present scene. However, all the objects in both time frames were current objects, nothing at all related to the past time of the location. I guess that was necessary, as old items would not be familiar to most players.
What is really hard in this game is finding the hidden objects themselves. I think the creators really wanted to frustrate the players. Here are some examples:
1. Gun would be on the list to find, but there would be several guns in the scene; you have to keep clicking on each one until you find the right one. This happens a lot with different objects; boxes, chairs, etc.
2. Objects with the same name looked different in any given scene. For instance, when looking for pumpkin, one scene was actually squash, while other scenes were the actual big orange things.
3. Object names do not fit the object. In one location, the object was fan, but turned out to be a hair dryer, yet in another location, hair dryer was the name of the object and the same item fit both descriptions. Another example that was at least consistent throughout the game was duct tape; in every scene where that was an object to find, the object was actually black electrical tape. Many times, the only way I figured this out was to watch the list to see which object disappeared when I clicked on it. Very frustrating.
4. Most of the objects are very tiny.
5. Many of the objects are hidden behind other objects and are practically impossible to find without using a hint. Even after finding their location with a hint, it was sometimes very hard to get it clicked on correctly as so little of it was showing.
1. Gun would be on the list to find, but there would be several guns in the scene; you have to keep clicking on each one until you find the right one. This happens a lot with different objects; boxes, chairs, etc.
2. Objects with the same name looked different in any given scene. For instance, when looking for pumpkin, one scene was actually squash, while other scenes were the actual big orange things.
3. Object names do not fit the object. In one location, the object was fan, but turned out to be a hair dryer, yet in another location, hair dryer was the name of the object and the same item fit both descriptions. Another example that was at least consistent throughout the game was duct tape; in every scene where that was an object to find, the object was actually black electrical tape. Many times, the only way I figured this out was to watch the list to see which object disappeared when I clicked on it. Very frustrating.
4. Most of the objects are very tiny.
5. Many of the objects are hidden behind other objects and are practically impossible to find without using a hint. Even after finding their location with a hint, it was sometimes very hard to get it clicked on correctly as so little of it was showing.
With all of these issues, add a time constraint on some of the locations, and I just about pulled my hair out.
All of the above results in lots of "guessing" clicks and the need for lots of hints. Thankfully, there was no penalty for over clicking and the hint button recharged fairly quickly. I believe I used more hints in this game than all the other games I've played put together.
I see that this game is rated pretty low, but I kind of liked this level of challenge in a straight hidden object game. Most straight hidden object games are not too hard and tend to be fairly relaxing play. This game cannot be described as relaxing at all.
I actually liked the game enough that I went looking for more Time Chronicles games, but didn't find any available. I might play this one over again, something I rarely do, just to see if I can do any better.
I recommend this game!
Vampire Legends: The True Story of Kisilova Collector’s Edition is an incredible adventure based on the true story of the first documented case of vampirism ever!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
BE SURE TO LISTEN TO/WATCH THE INTERVIEWS
PostedMay 22, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played the casual mode for this game and really enjoyed it. Since I played the whole game, the bonus content was unlocked. The bonus chapter was fairly long and fit seamlessly into the parameters of the main game.
There is a map which is very helpful, but would have been even better if it had been interactive. The hint button worked great in both the hidden object scenes and in other parts of the game when I needed to figure out where to go next.
The puzzles were varied and interesting. Some were easy, others hard, and I skipped some.
The flow of the game was fairly logical and did not send me back and forth an inordinate amount. I never had to refer to the strategy guide. Probably should have to figure out some of the puzzles I skipped.
Part of the bonus content is two interviews with actual people in Serbia discussing the town of Kisilova and vampires in general. Very interesting and a nice touch.
Excellent game.
I recommend this game!
Mystery P.I. - The Lottery Ticket
Grandma Rose has hired you to find her winning lottery ticket. Scour the city for cleverly hidden clues before it`s too late.
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
THE BEST SO FAR
PostedMay 20, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I have played several of the Mystery P.I. games, and this one is the best so far. The graphics are awesome; clear and bright. The whole feel of the game is light and bright.
The game has 20 levels, a reduction from the normal 25 of the other games in this series. I see this as a good thing, as some of the other longer games games in this series get boring. I also think the hidden objects are a little harder to find in this game as compared to some of the other games in this series.
As usual, my favorite part is the ability to go to each location and find every hidden object. This is done by collecting X number of one object to open the unlimited play at the end. In this game, you need to collect 20 keys to open the unlimited play.
If you just want to play hidden object scenes without all the other additions, like puzzles and a storyline, this game does it right.
I recommend this game!