Zurreen's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:369
- Reviews Submitted:165
- First Review:January 31, 2015
- Most Recent Review:December 9, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Unlock the secret rooms in the Howard’s mansion and restore a precious antique collection hidden there.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Appearances Can Be Deceiving! ;)
PostedApril 26, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
You might not be impressed when you first start playing this game. The story seems only mildly interesting, and may not even seem too original (if you have seen the two horror movies based on a similar idea - one in which the woman owner keeps adding to the house, and the other in which the house actually adds on its own!) The graphics are vivid, yes, but they are neither cartoonish nor real-lifelike. In fact, they might seem a bit flat. You meet only one character in the game and, although he does have a voice, his lips move only in the opening cutscene and not in the game itself. Finally, the objects in the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) are really small, and often hard to find.
So, yes, your initial impression of the game might not be too favorable. But keep going, and you might actually end up loving it! The storyline may not be original, but it definitely has an original twist. The objects in the HOPs may be small but, in time, you will figure out that clicking on the tiniest or the more obscure items will usually do the "trick." Also, there is no penalty for clicking all over the place. Last but not least, you can always use the Hint, which recharges fairly quickly.
So you should find that what seemed to be the game's faults are really not that big of a deal, after all. Indeed, you might not even notice them once you really get going in the game! You will find that the story is really interesting. But even more interesting are the non-HOP puzzles. Some of these puzzles may be familiar (for example, jigsaw puzzles, find-the-differences, etc.), but most of the puzzles are actually quite original, creative and, yes, fun! In addition, don't forget to check out the Auction, quite an original side-quest, you might say, to the game. After you have collected a few of these auction items in the game, just click on the gallery and go left, as the sign points you to go for the auction. Pick one of the items you have collected in the game, read the instructions, and then do your best to get the highest bid required for an "upgrade" to your gallery. As I just indicated, you don't *have* to do this Auction. It has nothing to do with the game. But it is a sort of bonus attraction, and quite fun at that!
In short, I was actually surprised to see just how interesting and fun this game turned out to be! And I hope you will be just as pleasantly surprised, even if it doesn't make the best *initial* impression on you. :)
I recommend this game!
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Superb In Just About Every Way!!!
PostedApril 23, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really loved this game! The storyline is quite original, creative, and interesting. The graphics are wonderful, and the music just right. There is no map. There is also not much voice-acting. In fact, the only voice you will hear is that of the narrator, and that too only between the chapters. So you do have to do a bit of reading - both for the dialog and the journal. But, for those gamers who don't like to do too much reading in a game, the good news is that both the dialog and the journal entries are quite short and to-the-point.
The game also has an excellent Hint system. You can use it in the Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) as well as for the game itself. In fact, unlike many games where you are told only that there is nothing to do in this area, the Hints in this game will tell you exactly what you need to do and where, even if you are not at that particular location. What's more, you can use the Hints even in most puzzles! Thus, you don't have to skip the whole puzzle, and can still solve it, using the Hints as needed.
Speaking of puzzles now, there are not many HOPs in this game. The ones you do get are all pretty easy and fun. But most of the puzzles are not HOPs; and there are MANY of these. Perhaps too many... In fact, you will often have to solve two (and in one case at least, even three!) puzzles, back to back, before you get the object(s) you need to proceed further in the game. But most of these puzzles are really quite creative and interesting, and I hope you would enjoy them as much as I did. The only possible exception is what I call the Monster puzzle in Chapter 5. It is actually a kind of puzzle found in many other games, and it definitely has nothing to do with monsters! I call it a Monster puzzle only because it takes 40 moves to solve, is rather convoluted, and is therefore likely to be too challenging for most gamers. What's more, you cannot use the Hint in this puzzle at all. So it might be best for most gamers to just Skip this puzzle altogether, unless they are going for the achievements for not skipping puzzles.
And, yes, that's right. Even though this is a Standard Edition game, it does have a whole slew of achievements. In fact, if there is any downside of the game for me, it is these achievements. That is one of the reasons I don't like most Collector's Editions these days - because of their silly achievements. And this is not even a Collector's Edition! And, yes, most of this game's achievements are easy enough to get, either because they involve not skipping a certain number of puzzles or because you get them automatically as you proceed in the game. But then, there is a whole bunch of achievements that actually require you to *rush* through the game! Specifically, the game consists of six chapters, and there is an achievement related to each, requiring you to finish that chapter in less than an hour. So that's six achievements right there. Then, there is a seventh achievement that requires you to finish the entire game in less than six hours. And if you miss any of the achievements - the above that I call "speed" achievements OR the other, more regular achievements - then you would miss that final achievement that requires you to get ALL the achievements in the game. And probably the worst part is that, unlike many other games, you cannot replay this game to get the achievements you missed the first time, keeping the ones you already got, because replaying the game requires you to create a whole new profile. In other words, you would have to get ALL the achievements, all over again...
To be quite honest, I really think it was quite - well, stupid - of the developers to add especially these "speed" achievements. As I mentioned, this *is* actually a very interesting game, with lots of wonderful puzzles. The last thing you would want to do is *rush* through it. So it might be best to ignore the achievements and just enjoy the game. But, if you are like me, and you simply cannot ignore those achievements, then here is what I would advise you to do. Play the game the first time without any regard to especially those "speed" achievements. In other words, just enjoy the game! But do take good notes. There is also an excellent Big Fish walkthrough that might be helpful especially in solving that Monster puzzle. [Note: I actually made a different kind of diagram, but the Big Fish model seems pretty good too.] After finishing the first time, create a new profile (as instructed) to play again. As you might have noticed from past experience, a game tends to go pretty fast the second time around anyway; and the notes you took the first time should help you go even faster and get those "speed" achievements.
Well, that's all I can think of right now. Hope my review and tips were helpful, and that you will all enjoy this game as much as I did!
Happy Gaming! :)
I recommend this game!
Stop the villainous Visage from ruining Mardi Gras in Shattered Minds: Masquerade, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Pretty Well Done
PostedApril 17, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
In all honesty, I am really not into Mardi Gras or masquerades. But then, this game really does not have anything to do with either, at least not directly. You just see some characters running around with a mask, and you never really get to see their real faces. The main villain's face is also hidden behind a mask, but at least you get to see it at the very end.
So all the masks and masquerades aside, this is a pretty interesting game - and rather eerie as well. You also have what I would call a "healthy" mix of Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) and non-HO puzzles. All of them are quite interesting, challenging, and FAIR. There might be one or more objects in the HOPs that might be difficult to spot. But you are NOT penalized for random clicking! Then again, you always have the Hint feature, which refills rather quickly. In fact, you can use Hints during the game itself, and not just in the HOPs.
In short, this is a pretty good game that should be fun to play for folks of all ages. Happy Gaming! :)
I recommend this game!
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Nice Game
PostedApril 14, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I like the idea of Time Travel. But I'm afraid this game was a bit too ... futuristic? mechanistic? ... for me. You find yourself searching through the construction site, trying to get machines to work, with all kinds of gear and other mechanical puzzles to solve. That sort of thing. And then, there is the Mafia at work, which I really don't care for much. But, thankfully, that is more in the background.
But if that kind of a setting and background don't bother you too much, then you might really like this game. The story is quite interesting. There are lots of Hidden Object scenes, and they are all quite fun and fair. In other words, you won't find any objects squished along the edges of the screen, hiding behind larger objects, etc. There is also no mislabeling, for example, listing a "pin" when you are supposed to be looking for a *clothespin*, etc.
Other puzzles are quite fun and relatively easy also. You may find one or two a bit more "challenging" than others, but the difficulty level is quite fair and definitely does not detract from the overall fun of the game.
There is no voice-acting, unfortunately, so you do have to read along. But it's not too bad. Just be sure not to "Click to Continue" on cutscenes, at least if you are playing it for the first time, because doing so skips the whole cutscene, which is an integral part of the storyline. In other words, you will miss out on what has happened or is happening if you skip these cutscenes.
In short, this is quite a nice and well-thought-out game. As I mentioned, I am not too partial to what I would call such a futuristic/mechanistic type of game. But I must admit it has really been well put-together, and so most gamers should really enjoy it. And that is why
I recommend this game!
After the Countess is discovered dead, it’s up to you to find her murderer in Mystery Chronicles: Betrayals of Love!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Unbelievably Bad...
PostedApril 13, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I was quite hopeful when I started the game. The storyline seemed interesting enough, and the graphics attractive. It was not too long, however, before I realized just how bad this game really is... In fact, the list of problems is so long, it would take a few pages to cover them all. So I am going to try to list just enough to give you an idea of what I mean.
STORYLINE: As I mentioned, it starts off well enough. In fact, I thought it was going to be like Big Fish's Dark Tales games, you know, with Detective Dupin. And it might well be that the developers of this game were trying to create something similar to that. Unfortunately, they didn't even come close! As the description of the game mentions, Commissaire Jean Bertineau asks us to help him solve a murder. Now a Commissaire is supposed to be a senior police officer in France. We are never told what the hero's (i.e., our) role is supposed to be, but apparently he is just a detective like Dupin. So the very idea of the police's turning to a private investigator for help in solving a crime is quite unbelievable! But as if that idea were not unbelievable enough, the Commissaire then just stands around and does nothing, completely depending on us to do *everything*! In fact, we even have to find the key and open the front door for him to enter the house! After that, he just stands in the main hall, while we do everything - from finding clues to interrogating suspects (and it's not much of an "interrogation" at that) to finally even apprehending the criminal! And, yes, in the beginning of the game, he gives us a response or two, albeit short ones, that allow us to move forward in the game. But after that, for the bulk of the game, clicking on him will give you only this one line: "You've uncovered interesting new information. Keep going!" Unbelievable!
OTHER "GIMMICKS": As if the storyline were not unbelievably bad itself, the rest of the "gimmicks" in the game are even worse. There is no voice acting, and the written dialog makes the story even less interesting. In addition, there is no Map. So you basically have to stumble and find the various locations, over and over again, until you get a hang of the whole layout. And believe me: there is A WHOLE LOT OF wandering you will have to do, trying to find ALL those Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs)...
And, yes, there *are* a few (what you might call) "conventional" puzzles, like a gear puzzle, a jigsaw puzzle, etc. But they are quite few and extremely simplistic. In contrast, there is an overwhelming number of HOPs. But it's not the number of those puzzles that is so bothersome. Rather, it is the most unlikely places where they pop up. For example, you might have to look for a TOOL in a HOP in a Botanist's lab! Or you might find a bunch of objects (instead of a body!) in a peculiarly sealed coffin buried in the churchyard!
In addition, the quality of the HOPs is also pretty bad. The objects can be very tiny, hidden around the edges of the screen, or placed obscurely behind another object so that you can see only a BARELY RECOGNIZABLE part of that object sticking out from behind the other object.
Yet another problem with the HOPs in this game is that the object list can actually be quite misleading. For example, I noticed that the list says "ruler" when it meant "measuring tape"! And it said "pin" when it really meant "clothespin." All pretty frustrating for the gamer, to say the least...
In short, this game is a huge disappointment on more levels than I can describe here. It really just isn't worth playing, let alone paying for... :(
I don't recommend this game.
Discover the history and unlock the true potential of a magically enchanted antique mirror in this great Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
A Pleasant Surprise
PostedApril 10, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I must confess that I started playing this game with some trepidation. I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy an old, strictly Hidden-Object (HO) game, after having played so many recent, more "advanced" HO games. So it was quite a pleasant surprise indeed when I found just how enjoyable this game really is!
The game offers two versions: The Original Scenes (OS) and the Mirrored Scenes (MS). But you must first play the OS before you can unlock and thus play the MS version. Each version also has two difficulty modes: Relaxed and Timed. I played in the Timed mode which, I think, is the most enjoyable because of the "strategy" that goes into playing it in order to get the highest "rank" at the end of the game. I should note: I couldn't find all the possible ranks anywhere in the game, but I played the game several times and noticed how my rank increased the more quickly I finished it.
I should also note that this is not a strictly HO game either. For every six HO scenes, you get three puzzles: the Mirror Puzzle, the Find-The-Differences Puzzle, and a Jigsaw Puzzle. You can actually get extra hints by solving the Mirror and Find-The-Differences puzzles. But the game allows you a maximum of only 5 hints at a time. So that's where the strategy comes in: how many hints do you want to use up, how can you recover more hints, in order to get the highest possible rank at the end of the game.
And, yes, the storyline is quite interesting, and the graphics are great too. In short, if you just want to kick back and enjoy a simple game that you can make as challenging as you like, this is the game for you! :)
I recommend this game!
Reveal an ancient curse and save the kingdom and its inhabitants. The last prince of Orion is waiting for your help!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A Great Classic
PostedApril 8, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I call it a classic, and not an "old" game, because it really stands out from the other Hidden Object (HO) games of the time. And, yes, it *is* a HO game, but in fact it is more than that. For one thing, even the HO scenes come in two types. There is the usual type in which you have to find and click on objects listed for you. You have a certain number of hints, but you can increase that number by finding mirrors in this type of HO scene. In fact, there are two such mirrors in each of these HO scenes.
The other type of HO scene requires you to find several of the *same* object. For example, you might be asked to find 12 or more rings in one such scene. After you have found all of them, you get a matching puzzle that allows you to eliminate all but one of these objects. The one that is left is the one that you need to progress in the game. But note: there are no mirrors in such HO scenes, so you cannot increase your number of available hints by solving these HO scenes.
There are other kinds of puzzles in the game as well, some of them a bit tricky, but all of them are fun *and* fair.
The storyline is quite interesting as well. The graphics are great, and the music quite fitting and enjoyable. In short, this is a game that *everyone*, kids or adults, should enjoy! :)
I recommend this game!
Edmond is on a quest to discover Mercedes' killer, and bring them to justice, in The Return of Monte Cristo, a Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Rather Boring Actually
PostedApril 7, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I realize that this is an old game, but it could have been a whole lot better. The game is nothing but a series of Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs), often with objects too tiny to see. You do have unlimited hints, and you can even click on an object you have to find to see its silhouette. But what good is playing a game with all these "aids"? Certainly not fun. :(
There *are* some puzzles, every now and then, but they are way too simplistic to be either challenging or fun. As for the storyline, there is really not much to it, and what there *is* of it is quite boring. In fact, it is not even consistent! For example, we are told at the very beginning of the game that we are in Spain, of 1854. But the letter that the hero talks about is said to be dated 1814. So did the hero wait 40 years to finally go and find out what had really happened to his beloved?!! Quite absurd, to say the least.
Finally, speaking about "talking," there is really no voice at all. So everything we get to learn, we do it through the messages written on the screen. Unfortunately, the messages might change much too quickly for some readers to catch what was said, and there is no way to repeat it.
In short, this is quite a boring game, apparently too hastily made to even correct for errors. And it is definitely NOT fun at all. :(
I don't recommend this game.
What lies within the depths of the pitch-black mirror?
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Creepy...
PostedFebruary 2, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As all of us who have been playing Big Fish games know, series like the Mystery Case Files are often dark. But this particular game was especially dark, to the point of what I have called "creepy." So, a bit too dark, for my taste at least.
The Bonus Chapter, unlike such chapters in most Collector's Editions, is actually a good follow-up to the main game. In fact, it is a prequel to the game, but is way too short to have been the main game itself. Yet, while it does a good job of explaining what we find at the beginning of the main game, it - paradoxically enough - fails to explain how we could even have had the main game, in the first place, in light of what happens in the bonus chapter! I'll let you figure out for yourself what I mean by this, when (and if you decide to) play this game! ;)
As for the other aspects of this game... The Hidden Object Puzzles (HOPs) are very interesting and fairly easy. The other kind of puzzles are quite interesting as well, but not always very easy. There are two puzzles in particular that I can think of right off the bat that I would call "insane." One of them just didn't make any sense to me, even after I'd solved it. The other is one of those crazy puzzles which take something like thirty-plus moves just to set far fewer (eight, in this case) pieces in their required positions. I find such puzzles rather irritating since, in the first case, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the solution; and, in the second case, solving such a puzzle is more tedious than fun. However, since this *is* a Collector's Edition, you can always look up the solution in the Strategy Guide that comes with such editions. Then again, you can even SKIP either or both kinds of these puzzles, since there is no Achievement for not skipping any puzzles!
Speaking of Achievements ... They are all the usual Eipix achievements, easy enough to obtain and quite fair. While it can be a bit boring to have the same kinds of achievements over and over in Eipix games, the good thing is the fact that you can obtain just about all of these achievements even after you finish the main game and the bonus chapter! And, yes, there are two kinds of collectibles we have to look for in the game: the Collectibles as well as the Morphing Objects (MOs). But you can find these too, and get the relevant achievements, after you've already finished the game. What's more, it's not difficult at all to get these collectibles and MOs during the game itself, since Eipix is kind enough to provide two icons (on either side of your inventory box at the bottom of the screen) to indicate both the presence of these collectibles and whether you have already found them. So, eminently fair, to say the least.
Last but not least, I really did not care for the musical score - except for the usual MCF theme music, of course, which you get only when you are on the Main Menu. Any music scored for this particular game was way too subdued, or perhaps just too unimpressive, to catch my attention. Needless to say, good music actually makes a good game that much better and more fun to play. So the fact that this game's music is so "unimpressive" is definitely a shortcoming.
In short, the game overall is quite well-developed and well-planned, with a lot of fun features. My only complaint is the fact that the storyline was quite dark, at least for my taste. But if you happen to like such stories, then...
I recommend this game!
Free the frog princes from the clutches of an evil witch! Return them to their princess brides, and find out if the kiss of love can break the witch’s curse!
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
Weird & B-O-R-I-N-G
PostedJanuary 26, 2019
Zurreen
fromAustin, TX
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I played the Standard Edition (SE), so there were only two princes to be rescued. I understand there is supposed to be a Collector's Edition (CE), which covers the story of two more princes. Apparently, Big Fish doesn't offer this CE, and thank Goodness for that! I regret getting this SE, and I felt "obliged" to finish playing it only because I like to finish what I start. But talk about sheer mental torture...
Oh, the basic storyline is creative enough: taking a couple of fairytales (as I mentioned, this was only a SE, so I got only two), combining them with a common villain: the witch, and then requiring the players to rescue those princes and join them with their respective lovers. But the characters were all caricatures, so grotesque! And the locations were equally ugly and repulsive! Nothing like a "fairytale" at all! More like something out of a bad dream - a *really* BAD dream... :(
As far as the puzzles go, some of them were rather interesting, and some actually quite challenging. But a game needs to be more than just a few interesting puzzles. The graphics truly overshadow and totally eclipse anything good about this game. I would not recommend it to anyone, and especially not for children. Life can be ugly enough, there is no need to turn your kids' fairytales and dreams into ugly nightmares as well!
I don't recommend this game.