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:
Help Sam rescue his love Anna in Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 17 found this review helpful
WHERE AM I?
PostedDecember 23, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is the first game that I have not finished. It is one of those games that runs you in so many directions and back and forth over the same areas that you get lost. There is a map, but it is not interactive, so if you can't figure out where you need to go, it is no help. Also, the hint button only tells you that there is nothing to do in a scene, instead of telling you where you need to go next. The map tells you were there are unfinished actions, but again it is no help in getting where you need to go. And even if you are able to get there, 9 times out of 10 you don't have the item in inventory that you need.
Even the strategy guide is not that much help. At one point the directions were "go down 9 times" which is ridiculous; way too much back and forth. At other times it would just tell you which location you needed to go to, but no help in how to get there.
I had an inventory item that I knew where it needed to go, but after about 15 minutes of going through doors, going up and down, and trying to use the strategy guide and the map, I finally gave up and quit playing. And the sad thing about it was that I had been to the location I needed to go to, but could not figure out how to return. It was like I found locations by accident, not by any logic built into the game.
This type of game is absolutely no fun; it is way too frustrating.
I don't recommend this game.
Guide Kate Reed as she searches for the artifacts that can break the power of a cursed gem in House of 1,000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
WONDERFUL GAME
PostedDecember 22, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is one of the best I have ever played. The interactive map was truly the strongest feature. This map showed clearly your current location and the locations where you needed to take action. You are able to click on a location to be taken there immediately. This made maneuvering through the game so easy and with no frustration of finding yourself coming and going. Because the map was so good, I did not have to use the strategy guide at all.
The HOS were great, with great graphics. I was able to play them all without using any hints. I did have to skip a couple of puzzles, though, because I am just not any good at certain ones.
The storyline was excellent, flowed through the game seamlessly and was very interesting. The extra play at the end was a logical extension of the original game and was just as much fun as the main game. The extra chapter was also pretty long, which made the CE well worth the extra money.
I like this game so well that I made sure I have purchased all the other House of 1000 Doors CE. Don't miss this series; it is great. I hope they come out with more in the future.
I recommend this game!
Strange Cases: The Lighthouse Mystery Collector's Edition
Claire’s partner has turned up dead, and police claim it was a suicide. Discover the truth in this fun Collector’s Edition!
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
EXCELLENT GAME
PostedDecember 21, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is one of the most interesting and challenging games I've ever played. The storyline was excellent and flowed well throughout the game. There was very little going back and forth between the same scenes to continue the play, which is a big plus for me. I did have to refer to the built-in strategy guide (another plus) a couple of times to figure out the next step, but this was not that annoying since it didn't happen that often.
The HO's ranged from fairly easy to find to extremely hard. Some of them were of reasonable size, others very, very small. I used the hint button quite often to find some of them.
There were actually 3 kinds of HOS in the game (junk pile, silhouettes, fragments), depending on which Tarot card was in each scene. Often, all three types of HOS were used at the same time. This was a very neat idea and sure kept the game from being monotonous.
The extra play at the end was actually a prequel to the game itself.
This is just an excellent, engrossing game and I will be purchasing other games in this series. Don't miss this one.
I recommend this game!
Mystery P.I.: The London Caper
Use your Hidden Object skills to search London for clues and recover the stolen Crown Jewels in Mystery P.I. – The London Caper!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
ALL THE HOS YOU COULD ASK FOR
PostedDecember 18, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
All Mystery P.I. games are the same. They contain HOS after HOS with puzzles coming after each level is completed; there are 25 levels. The number of HOS varies with each level. Completing the puzzle after each level earns you a clue which you use at the end of the game to solve the mystery.
Collecting certain items, in this case crowns and keys, during the game, totaling 25, opens up the unlimited play at the end. There are two types of unlimited play available. One is a return to all the HOS to pick out all the hidden objects in each scene. The other is playing 25 Match 3 games.
I like the puzzle at the end to solve the mystery. It makes a good ending to the game. I can't say that there is any storyline to these games and there is no rhyme or or reason to the ending puzzle, but it is still fun.
This game is long, particularly if you play all the unlimited games available. Not really challenging, but keeps your HO skills honed.
I recommend this game!
Explore the Haunted Hotel and experience supernatural phenomenon for yourself in Haunted Hotel: The Lonely Dream!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
MADE GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION
PostedDecember 17, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The beginning of the game immediately grabbed my attention and I knew I was going to enjoy this game, and I did. I liked the Big Fish logo being nailed to a telephone pole which made me think this would be something different.
This is a basic junk pile HOG. The piles are very busy and it takes some effort to be able to find some of the objects. The puzzles were varied and I skipped a couple of them. The instructions on some of them weren't that clear. The skip button was ready by the time my frustration level had reached the point where I wanted to skip the puzzle.
The storyline was believable (if you believe in time travel) and flowed smoothly through the game. I did feel the game was a little short, but not sure how it could have been lengthened anymore. This game was a sequel, supposedly, and I went looking for the original. I did see a Haunted Hotel game but not sure by the description that it was related to this one. There is also supposed to be a third chapter in this series, but not sure I found it either, again by the description. But I did end up buying the other two Haunted Hotel games just in case.
The hint button was very useful outside the HOS and I used it many times to try to follow the logic of the use of some of the inventory items.
An enjoyable game with no dark and dreary scenes.
I recommend this game!
Help Serena save the Kingdom of Rosefal and keep the dreaded Prophecy from happening in The Lost Kingdom Prophecy!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 10 found this review helpful
THIS IS NOT A HOG
PostedDecember 17, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Regardless of what the description of the game says, this is not a HO game. It is 99,9% a Match 3 game. So if you don't particularly care for Match 3 games, which I don't, then don't get this game. If it had been described as a Match 3 game correctly, I would never have purchased it.
There are 4 chapters with a total of 96 Match 3 games and only 16, if that, HO games. There is one scene for each chapter and each chapter has 4 HO puzzles played on each scene. These are the kind of HO where you have to find the pieces of each item and then place the item. And there are only 4 items for each HO puzzle. Compare this to 96 Match 3 games and you can see where the game is totally misrepresented.
Within the Match 3 puzzles, you have the choice of 4 ways to play and 3 different choices in the pattern of the game tiles. I can't even begin to imagine how many Match 3 puzzles this would end up to be if you played the whole game under each available option, which is the choice you have once you get through it the first time. This game was very, very long the first time through, so I could imagine you could spend weeks or months playing all the options.
I'm not a big fan of Match 3 games and I'm not really good at them. But my skill certainly improved playing this game to the end. I am a glutton for punishment. I started out in the timed mode, but had to quit and start under a new player name when I found out it was a Match 3 game that I am slow at.
If you are a Match 3 fan, this game is for you. But I kind of resented the fact that the game was misrepresented. And since I'm not a good judge of Match 3 games, these two reasons are why I gave it a low rating and no recommendaton.
Experience the classic tale of the Three Musketeers from Constance’s eyes as she works as a secret agent for the queen!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
HO HUM
PostedDecember 15, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game never did really get my attention. Thankfully, it was pretty short. The graphics were OK. The storyline was disjointed. The HO were very small. I had to use the hint button a lot to figure out where to go next, but all it would say was "try another location". Not worth much money, if any. The only good point was that if you moved the pointer very slowly and watched it closely, it would turn green if you found something that needed to be clicked. But that was tedious.
I don't recommend this game.
Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout
You awake with amnesia and will need to track down clues to discover your lost identity in this riveting Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
GREAT GAME
PostedDecember 14, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really liked this game, as it had a lot of things going on that held my interest. Finding 2 notes in each HOS that were clues to the protagonist's identity was a neat idea. Finding all the notes unlocked the unlimited play. The storyline had a great ending.
The graphics were excellent and the HOS had some items in all of them that were really hard to find. I don't think I ever found the needle in any of the scenes. Thankfully the hint button worked great and I had to use it often.
The puzzles were interesting and varied but not too hard. There was no skip button available which made them a little tougher, but not unreasonably so.
I missed one of the notes while I was playing and was unable to unlock the unlimited play. The game allowed me to go back and find the missing note, but I had to start at the beginning and find all the HO in each successive scene until I came to the one where I missed the note. Once I found it, I could then leave the game and go into unlimited play.
And this game wasn't fibbing when it says you have unlimited play available. Unlike a lot of games where you go to each location and find all the HO, then you are done playing the "unlimited" mode, this game brought up the scenes in random order for finding the HO, but only a few at a time. I played for hours, thinking I would eventually reach the end, but I never did.
This game had some unique things about it that were neat. The first part of the game containing the storyline seemed short to me, but with the unlimited play at the end, it kind of made up for it. Would like to see more games like this.
I recommend this game!
Mystery P.I.: The Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove
Travel to New England to investigate a counterfeiting ring in Mystery P.I.: The Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove!
Overall rating
4
/
5
FOR HOG LOVERS
PostedDecember 9, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
All the Mystery P.I. games are the same; over 20 levels and multiple locations within each level. After finding all the HO within a level, you need to play a puzzle to get a clue to solve the mystery. You also need to collect lobsters and keys in order to unlock the unlimited play at the end. Finding all the cameras gives you bonus points.
This is HOS after HOS. I never had to use the hints button, as the items were fairly easy to find. The descriptions of the items were clear.
Because of the many levels and the multiple locations within each level, you will get your fill of finding objects. If you play the unlimited HOS and Match 3 games at the end, it is a very long game.
Not too challenging, but a nice dose of HOS for the purist.
I recommend this game!
Masquerade Mysteries: The Case of the Copycat Curator
Help P.I. Joy Black find items and turn them into disguises and gadgets to catch a corrupt curator that is stealing from her father!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
LOTS OF VARIETY
PostedDecember 8, 2013
arnold1049
fromApache Junction, AZ
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really liked this game because it contained a lot of different things to do. Some of the hidden objects were very small and some were pretty hard to find. I did have refer to the walk through a few times to figure out what to do next.
There weren't so many locations that it needed a map. The hint button worked well. It did not contain any real puzzles, just "dress the doll" and make items from pieces. Nothing too challenging in the whole game.
It certainly held my interest and was just about the right length. Very enjoyable, light atmosphere game.
I recommend this game!