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:
Legend of Maya
Dive into this Maya fairytale! Take on Prince Chaac's mission and construct an outstanding city with many inhabitants!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
Rather intriguing little match 3 & build.
PostedJanuary 20, 2015
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Persia
(26)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on the hour trial.
Intriguing because of the almost total lack of instructions!
Boards are small and quite tricky, but you only have to match 4 for a small bomb or 5 for a larger one.
Match gold coins to buy buildings, building the boathouse gives the boat bonus which removes one tile when filled, at which point any boats on the board are replaced by leaves until the bonus is used - nice effect!
Occasional lucky dip Pick-a-globe for additional resources and a FROG scene which I found hard - no hints but you can skip.
My current favourite is Cradle of Persia, and this game is definitely not in the same league but I might use a free game code for it one day. I'd definitely recommend anyone to give it a try.
Intriguing because of the almost total lack of instructions!
Boards are small and quite tricky, but you only have to match 4 for a small bomb or 5 for a larger one.
Match gold coins to buy buildings, building the boathouse gives the boat bonus which removes one tile when filled, at which point any boats on the board are replaced by leaves until the bonus is used - nice effect!
Occasional lucky dip Pick-a-globe for additional resources and a FROG scene which I found hard - no hints but you can skip.
My current favourite is Cradle of Persia, and this game is definitely not in the same league but I might use a free game code for it one day. I'd definitely recommend anyone to give it a try.
I recommend this game!
Escape from Lost Island
It’s a fight to stay alive! Use your wits to find shelter, avert pirates, and signal civilization to organize your rescue.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Difficut but enjoyable
PostedJanuary 9, 2015
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Gardenscapes: Mansion Makeover™
(277)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I love HO games with key objects - click on one and a ring of other objects to find opens up.
You also have to think a bit with this one, for instance, you may need to find several coils of rope or vines, but they won't be coiled, look for them just strung through the trees.
Some objects are impossible to find - I've made notes of the worst ones so that when I replay I don't spend so much time waiting for the hint to refill, although many of the scenes are pretty enough and detailed enough for me to enjoy just studying them while I wait!
You also have to think a bit with this one, for instance, you may need to find several coils of rope or vines, but they won't be coiled, look for them just strung through the trees.
Some objects are impossible to find - I've made notes of the worst ones so that when I replay I don't spend so much time waiting for the hint to refill, although many of the scenes are pretty enough and detailed enough for me to enjoy just studying them while I wait!
I recommend this game!
Crafting Story
Make the world a better place - build your own planet!
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 32 found this review helpful
No instructions, no fun!
PostedJanuary 5, 2015
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game is by 8floor. Having tried Mahjong games by them and found them pretty to look at but almost impossible to play I wasn't expecting much, but this game is awful.
Sort of educational with a book of ecological facts but a book of instructions and goals would be more to the point.
Sort of educational with a book of ecological facts but a book of instructions and goals would be more to the point.
I don't recommend this game.
Lost in Reefs 2
Hi-End Match-3 game with several gameplay mechanics, amazing handmade graphics and relaxing music
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Need more fish tiles!
PostedDecember 27, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun
(35)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The first Lost in Reefs has been one of my all time favourites for a long time, mainly because of the way the chain mode works - tiles are dragged along after the chain rather than replacement tiles falling from above, allowing a different way to plan further matches.
As with L in R 1 it's taking me ages to build much as I've collected lots of gold but there's never enough fish on the boards.
Still it's the gameplay I enjoy, the building is just an occasional extra.
The magic match shapes which can be created in L in R 1 are missing here. Creating a long chain causes an automatic explosion, which can be more of a hindrance than a help.
All in all not quite such a favourite as the first version, but well worth buying.
As with L in R 1 it's taking me ages to build much as I've collected lots of gold but there's never enough fish on the boards.
Still it's the gameplay I enjoy, the building is just an occasional extra.
The magic match shapes which can be created in L in R 1 are missing here. Creating a long chain causes an automatic explosion, which can be more of a hindrance than a help.
All in all not quite such a favourite as the first version, but well worth buying.
I recommend this game!
Farmington Tales 2: Winter Crop
Explore snowy Dahlia Farms in this unique hidden object/farming sim hybrid! Build greenhouses and keep the farm going throughout the winter.
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Disappointing
PostedDecember 18, 2014
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
I love the first Farmington Tales but didn't get very far with this one - got tired of the constant falling snowflakes and found the pipe puzzles harder.
I don't recommend this game.
Hidden Object Crosswords 2
Solve crosswords to find the hidden objects! Enjoy the sequel to one of the most successful mix of word and hidden objects game genre!
Overall rating
4
/
5
22 of 32 found this review helpful
A big improvement on the first Hidden Object Crosswords
PostedDecember 4, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Rainbow Web
(19)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
As I remembered trying the first game and being disappointed by an original idea not really living up to expectations I almost didn't try this one but I'm glad I did!
Having bought this version I've tried the first one again, and it might be worth a free game code. No match 3 or other minigames, just a single riddle or proverb clue and the flying moth to catch for a letter. Not such attractive artwork as this game either.
Having bought this version I've tried the first one again, and it might be worth a free game code. No match 3 or other minigames, just a single riddle or proverb clue and the flying moth to catch for a letter. Not such attractive artwork as this game either.
I recommend this game!
Queen's Garden
In this exciting match-3 game, you’ve been called upon by the Queen to cultivate the biggest garden ever. Are you up to the task?
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Pretty and a bit different match 3
PostedNovember 30, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
World Voyage
(2)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I really like the additional touches of having to make the right kind of match over a tile in order to remove it, and clearing a path across the board for items. If anyone else would like more of this I can recommend Laruaville and Floria - both rather more developed than Queen's Garden, but sometimes a simple and attractive game is more relaxing than a polished one.
Still trying to work out exactly what the bonus gems do, Might have given the game 5 stars if the storyline and instructions were clearer.
Still trying to work out exactly what the bonus gems do, Might have given the game 5 stars if the storyline and instructions were clearer.
I recommend this game!
Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympia
Drag your mouse across chains of identical items in this captivating blend of Match 3 gameplay and city-building fun!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Explosive chain matching
PostedNovember 22, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The original Heroes of Hellas was one of the first games I bought, and I love the whole series. At first the puzzles in "2" irritated me, but as I got the hang of them the need to think them out made a nice change to the more random main game - though I won't say you can't use a bit of strategy there, especially by creating coins in the right places.
My only real niggle is that I like to use as few Heroes as possible, so making the use of Heroes a neccessary task on some levels is annoying.
Still, I keep replaying it!!
My only real niggle is that I like to use as few Heroes as possible, so making the use of Heroes a neccessary task on some levels is annoying.
Still, I keep replaying it!!
I recommend this game!
DragonScales: Chambers of the Dragon Whisperer
Use the power of your mind to place scales on the board and form clever combinations. Experience this unique twist on the match-3 genre!
Overall rating
5
/
5
29 of 30 found this review helpful
Really good original little Match 3, - and 4, - and 5!
PostedNovember 14, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Babylonia
(12)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Other reviews have explained the mechanics, I'd just like to add my positive and negative thoughts.
On the plus side I've never tried a game quite like it, and each of the eight chapters has something different. Some levels are easy, but they all need you to think out the placing of all the scales before you begin. The last levels in which you have to place 5 scales at a time and make matches of 4 do make me concentrate.
Only chapter 6 is timed, and you can always buy more extensions.
A few small dislikes -
The bonus Dragon Madness zooms into your face, and the way the screen jiggles as the bonus scales are removed is quite unpleasant - I usually close my eyes!
You can only play the last level of each chapter in replay, and if you create another profile you can't skip the tutorials.
Not very long gameplay, I've already almost completed my second profile, which in itself shows how much I'm enjoying the game.
On the plus side I've never tried a game quite like it, and each of the eight chapters has something different. Some levels are easy, but they all need you to think out the placing of all the scales before you begin. The last levels in which you have to place 5 scales at a time and make matches of 4 do make me concentrate.
Only chapter 6 is timed, and you can always buy more extensions.
A few small dislikes -
The bonus Dragon Madness zooms into your face, and the way the screen jiggles as the bonus scales are removed is quite unpleasant - I usually close my eyes!
You can only play the last level of each chapter in replay, and if you create another profile you can't skip the tutorials.
Not very long gameplay, I've already almost completed my second profile, which in itself shows how much I'm enjoying the game.
I recommend this game!
Get ready for the fur to fly in this wild and crazy matching game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Truly a rare bird
PostedOctober 30, 2014
fredandethel
fromDerbyshire, England
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Fishdom 3
(50)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
There doesn't seem to be a lot of this kind of match 3, where you drag things across the board to make a match. Takes some getting used to but I love them. Not much I can add to previous reviews except to mention that you can make L shaped as well as straight line matches - a really rare feature which can make me start wanting to do it in other games!
If anyone is looking for more "drag" type match 3: the very best I've found is Oriental Dreams, followed by Villa Banana, although the final level 60 of this will drive you "bananas"!
If anyone is looking for more "drag" type match 3: the very best I've found is Oriental Dreams, followed by Villa Banana, although the final level 60 of this will drive you "bananas"!
I recommend this game!