fredandethel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:2,273
- Reviews Submitted:191
- First Review:April 1, 2012
- Most Recent Review:October 7, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Guide William on the adventure of a lifetime and discover Captain Kidd's lost pirate treasure in this riveting Hidden Object game.
Overall rating
2
/
5
22 of 27 found this review helpful
HdO can do better!
PostedSeptember 3, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Another reviewer (JustThe Facts), in a wonderfully detailed review, mentions that you will either love or hate HdO games.
I've loved most of them, especially around the World in 80 days-The Challenge, Aladin and the Wonderful Lamp, and the spoofy Frankenstein-Dismembered Bride.
HdO disappointed with Public Enemies-Bonnie and Clyde - the objects were so tiny some were impossible to find even with a hint, and I have to say they've lost my vote completely with the Golden Bug.
The HO scenes are OK, but the minigames are just awful. There is far too much uninspired dialogue, and all in all I just lost interest after about 20 minutes.
I've loved most of them, especially around the World in 80 days-The Challenge, Aladin and the Wonderful Lamp, and the spoofy Frankenstein-Dismembered Bride.
HdO disappointed with Public Enemies-Bonnie and Clyde - the objects were so tiny some were impossible to find even with a hint, and I have to say they've lost my vote completely with the Golden Bug.
The HO scenes are OK, but the minigames are just awful. There is far too much uninspired dialogue, and all in all I just lost interest after about 20 minutes.
I don't recommend this game.
Seeds of Sorcery
With the aid of your teacher Alina, overcome the myriad of tests set forth by the Imps of Sorceria. Battle the Seeds of Sorcery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Different kind of Match 3
PostedAugust 21, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Based on the 1 hour trial:
Too much story and not enough explanation of how to play - as it's an unusual kind of Match 3 a proper animated tutorial would be a help.
After the hour I think I was only just beginning to see the kind of moves and strategies you need to use, especially as failure to win a level seems to send you back to the beginning, (though this could have been me pressing the wrong button).
The only game I've come across with a similar idea is Ouba, which I think is much better developed, but I may use a free game code for Seeds of Sorcery one day.
I recommend anyone looking for a different Match 3 to give it a try.
Too much story and not enough explanation of how to play - as it's an unusual kind of Match 3 a proper animated tutorial would be a help.
After the hour I think I was only just beginning to see the kind of moves and strategies you need to use, especially as failure to win a level seems to send you back to the beginning, (though this could have been me pressing the wrong button).
The only game I've come across with a similar idea is Ouba, which I think is much better developed, but I may use a free game code for Seeds of Sorcery one day.
I recommend anyone looking for a different Match 3 to give it a try.
I recommend this game!
Help Emperor Omadan restore a prosperous empire in this gripping Match 3 game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
46 of 53 found this review helpful
There is a lot going on here
PostedAugust 20, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on the 1 hour trial
Any Empire Building game has to stand comparison with the Cradles of Rome, Persia, etc, and this game doesn't do badly - the artwork looks a little crude at first compared with some of the amazing detail around now, but a lot of design has gone into the game, bringing together quite a few features I've seen in various games.
A basic plus is that you don't have to wait for tiles to stop cascading before making the next move!
Buildings descend from the sky in sections, rather than just a lot of hammering in a cloud of dust which then clears to reveal the completed building. Buildings can later be upgraded.
Gameplay is a mixture of making matches to break/unlock underlying tiles, dropping items (ships, wagons, etc) off the gameboard, and collecting items to fill the ships etc. Tasks are shown at the bottom of the screen: if you're not sure about them hovering the cursor over them highlights them on the game board.
Good story, makes me want to know what happens next - as well as building levels there are Events : dropping nets to catch a whale, dropping fireballs to destroy an ice dragon.
A mix of power ups – as well as charging up hammer, lightening etc to be used where you want to, matching four or more tiles creates bombs & lightning on the gameboard, and there are trophies to be collected.
Not five stars, but not far off!
Any Empire Building game has to stand comparison with the Cradles of Rome, Persia, etc, and this game doesn't do badly - the artwork looks a little crude at first compared with some of the amazing detail around now, but a lot of design has gone into the game, bringing together quite a few features I've seen in various games.
A basic plus is that you don't have to wait for tiles to stop cascading before making the next move!
Buildings descend from the sky in sections, rather than just a lot of hammering in a cloud of dust which then clears to reveal the completed building. Buildings can later be upgraded.
Gameplay is a mixture of making matches to break/unlock underlying tiles, dropping items (ships, wagons, etc) off the gameboard, and collecting items to fill the ships etc. Tasks are shown at the bottom of the screen: if you're not sure about them hovering the cursor over them highlights them on the game board.
Good story, makes me want to know what happens next - as well as building levels there are Events : dropping nets to catch a whale, dropping fireballs to destroy an ice dragon.
A mix of power ups – as well as charging up hammer, lightening etc to be used where you want to, matching four or more tiles creates bombs & lightning on the gameboard, and there are trophies to be collected.
Not five stars, but not far off!
I recommend this game!
Help Flavius expand the Roman Empire! Haggle with shopkeepers, collect supplies, build bridges and more in this exciting time- and resource-management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 19 found this review helpful
Definitely a cut above most Time Management
PostedAugust 19, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on the 1 hour trial.
This is not a favourite genre of mine - I only own three TM games and of those the only one I love and play most days is Kingdom Chronicles. This game really reminds me of KC.
The artwork is fantastic: detailed scenes with fluttering butterflies and some animation of other creatures. A big plus for me is that you can queue tasks without having to wait for a worker to be free, and the workers are very well animated.
The speed up bonuses work differently from KC - instead of collecting work faster, run faster, produce increases, etc at fixed stages of the game each level seems to have it's own fixed bonuses to choose from.
I did find accumulating enough resources to build or obtain something can get a bit tedious, maybe making better use of speed bonuses can improve this, but I do feel that by the stage I reached, (level 10) there should be more than 2 workers.
You can cancel a task if you change your mind, and can restart a level if you think you've gone seriously wrong.
Right from the start a big part of the game is trading at the market, choosing what to sell and/or buy could be crucial.
One thing to keep you on your toes - things you have built such as windmill, cooking cauldon can break down without warning and need rebuilding!
An occasional slight glitch seems to be that when you collect the last item neccessary to build something the ring around it turns green but the bubble above still shows a red "needed" item - confusing but not really a problem.
After 1 hour I feel I'm only just beginning to get to grips with the game's possibilities, and I really want to know what happens next!
So this is a game to buy.
This is not a favourite genre of mine - I only own three TM games and of those the only one I love and play most days is Kingdom Chronicles. This game really reminds me of KC.
The artwork is fantastic: detailed scenes with fluttering butterflies and some animation of other creatures. A big plus for me is that you can queue tasks without having to wait for a worker to be free, and the workers are very well animated.
The speed up bonuses work differently from KC - instead of collecting work faster, run faster, produce increases, etc at fixed stages of the game each level seems to have it's own fixed bonuses to choose from.
I did find accumulating enough resources to build or obtain something can get a bit tedious, maybe making better use of speed bonuses can improve this, but I do feel that by the stage I reached, (level 10) there should be more than 2 workers.
You can cancel a task if you change your mind, and can restart a level if you think you've gone seriously wrong.
Right from the start a big part of the game is trading at the market, choosing what to sell and/or buy could be crucial.
One thing to keep you on your toes - things you have built such as windmill, cooking cauldon can break down without warning and need rebuilding!
An occasional slight glitch seems to be that when you collect the last item neccessary to build something the ring around it turns green but the bubble above still shows a red "needed" item - confusing but not really a problem.
After 1 hour I feel I'm only just beginning to get to grips with the game's possibilities, and I really want to know what happens next!
So this is a game to buy.
I recommend this game!
Scale the heights of Sunhook Spire, rescue the Enchantress and uncover the tower's mysteries as Queen Sophia's journey continues!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Not sure about this latest Awakening
PostedAugust 18, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Based on the trial: The first 3 Awakenings are wonderful - in a class of their own for variety of tasks and minigames, length of play, and sheer beauty.
This new one seems rather highly coloured and didn't quite catch my interest in the same way, but I'll probably be buying it.
This new one seems rather highly coloured and didn't quite catch my interest in the same way, but I'll probably be buying it.
I recommend this game!
After the wizard began his mission of wrath and destruction, you, a mere alchemist, have been sent to stop him.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Sequel soon - PLEASE!
PostedAugust 14, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
OK so it's relatively simple and easy compared with many adventures - what's wrong with that? Sometimes a challenge is good, sometimes something more relaxing. Disappointingly sudden ending but the whole game has such a lovely ambience that I'll be replaying it often, so I call it reasonable value for money.
More please!!
More please!!
I recommend this game!
Puzzle your way through Ancient Egypt! Connect the hieroglyphic stones and reveal the amazing Golden Pyramid!
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
Not seen anything like this before!
PostedAugust 8, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you remember the old pub game of shove ha'penny, that's the best way of describing this really original Match 3.
Collect glyphs by matching 3 blocks of the same colour as them over them.
Most levels are fairly easy, though it can be hard to remember where the glyphs are if you've had to push a differently coloured block over them - sometimes I just had to keep pushing blocks around and making random matches until the glyphs appeared again.
A few levels are tricky, and you really need to master the technique of moving blocks by pushing them with other blocks, and use a bit of lateral thinking.
Having completed the game my only negative comment would be the lack of any minigames or puzzles - it's the same game all through, but an attractive, very original one!
Collect glyphs by matching 3 blocks of the same colour as them over them.
Most levels are fairly easy, though it can be hard to remember where the glyphs are if you've had to push a differently coloured block over them - sometimes I just had to keep pushing blocks around and making random matches until the glyphs appeared again.
A few levels are tricky, and you really need to master the technique of moving blocks by pushing them with other blocks, and use a bit of lateral thinking.
Having completed the game my only negative comment would be the lack of any minigames or puzzles - it's the same game all through, but an attractive, very original one!
The fate of the magical world is in your hands – free it from evil!
Overall rating
2
/
5
12 of 47 found this review helpful
The beginnings of a good game
PostedAugust 8, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on about 15 minutes play - I usually like games with a magical otherworldly theme, but this one just didn't grab me.
The artwork is beautiful but there is too much story for too little action, and you can't speed up the chat by clicking, only skip the whole scene.
There doesn't seem to be any HO scenes, unless I didn't get to them, and the only minigame puzzle I reached I couldn't make sense of.
Back to the drawing board is my verdict.
The artwork is beautiful but there is too much story for too little action, and you can't speed up the chat by clicking, only skip the whole scene.
There doesn't seem to be any HO scenes, unless I didn't get to them, and the only minigame puzzle I reached I couldn't make sense of.
Back to the drawing board is my verdict.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Why so mean with hints??
PostedAugust 5, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I must be a bit thick, or lazy, but I really dislike the fact that this game only has hints for the HO scenes. I'm fairly new to HO Adventures, but all the games I've tried and bought so far have unlimited hints which tell you which scenes you should move to as well as indicating what to do when you get there. (Is limited hints a way of forcing us to get the Strategy Guide?)
I've bought more games from ERS than any other studio - Hidden Wonders of the Depths, Sarah Maribu, all three of the Spirits of Mystery series, but I won't be playing Bronze Horseman
I've bought more games from ERS than any other studio - Hidden Wonders of the Depths, Sarah Maribu, all three of the Spirits of Mystery series, but I won't be playing Bronze Horseman
I don't recommend this game.
World Class Solitaire
Travel to exotic locales around the world with Maggie as she films a motion picture in this classic-style solitaire adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 21 found this review helpful
Not for casual players!
PostedAugust 5, 2013
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Based on 1 hour trial: Tricky game with minimal help - doesn't even tell you what sort of Solitaire it is (Klondyke 3).
No hints, seems to be only one shuffle per game and few bonuses.
No real story - you're supposed to be making a film in each location, but after telling you at the start of the location what sort of a film, it isn't mentioned again.
All in all, some original ideas but it doesn't make a game!
No hints, seems to be only one shuffle per game and few bonuses.
No real story - you're supposed to be making a film in each location, but after telling you at the start of the location what sort of a film, it isn't mentioned again.
All in all, some original ideas but it doesn't make a game!
I don't recommend this game.