pennmom36's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    3.7
  • Helpful Votes:
    358,445
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    4724
  • First Review:
    December 10, 2012
  • Most Recent Review:
    July 6, 2025
  • Featured reviews
    0
 
 
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pennmom36's Review History
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Legends become reality when a nightmare pirate stalks the streets of Saltshore!
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
66 of 73 found this review helpful
THESE GUYS DON'T RELEASE A GAME A WEEK LIKE THE OTHER'S DO BECAUSE FINE CUISINE TAKES A LITTLE LONGER TO PERFECT
PostedJanuary 17, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromI love the CE morphs & collectibles by this developer! ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Completed Game approximately 4.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Scene Locations +8 CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate
Saltshore is doomed when the most ruthless pirate whoever ruled the salty seas, rises from the dead, to seek revenge. The detective has her job cut out for her trying to sift through the scallywags and the hornswoggler's to find out if the ghost of the pirate captain known as the "Storm of Seas" has really returned to the Reef of Death to enact revenge upon all who live.
Collectibles/Morphing Objects: (CE version only)
Each scene has 2 of those famous 4Friends Opaque Collectibles (5 different Fish unlocked at 5-10-22-37-52) Each scene also has 2 Morphing Objects, some of the scene morphs are well-hidden, others have large, easily spotted objects.
Gadget/Helper:
There is a Scottish Terrier dog named Patrick who is used 6 times during the main game, mostly to reach items only a dog can reach, dig holes, or chase away critters, but he is used in a mini-game-hidden object scene as well. There is an Amulet Gadget whose keeper explains the backstory of the Pirate Captain whenever you find and replace each of the 5 missing Crystals. The Amulet is used to "Stop" time so you can save yourself from the danger by playing a Hidden Objects Scene to find multiples of 2 different objects, and it is used 5 different times in the main chapter.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 14 Hidden Object Scenes +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. I wasn't impressed with any of the scenes which is one of the reason's I knocked off a star from my rating. The scenes were boring and the items were very easy to spot, once again, I found most of the items without looking at the list! There are Interactive List Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Replace Items, Spot the Difference Finds and a very simplistic and repetitive HOP associated with the Amulet Gadget where you are tasked with finding Multiples of 2 Items such as 5 Ropes, etc.
Mini-Games:
There are 38 Mini-Games +7 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Thankfully, 4 Friends has abandoned my puzzle nemesis of 1 affects others (only 1 towards the end) Some of the puzzles are available in a Casual or Hard Mode of difficulty but honestly, most of the puzzles are easily solved on the first attempt.
Bonus Chapter: (CE version only)
Karen Mulheron receives a letter from her fiance stating he is held prisoner on the Ghost Ship and gives her instructions to help free him in this average-length chapter that takes place over 8 Scene Locations. There are 7 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes and you will continue searching for 2 Opaque Fish and 2 Morphing Objects per scene (6 each) which will unlock the final 2 Fish in your aquarium.
Collector's Edition Extra's
6 Wallpapers (all w/characters) 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Screensavers (states SS's can't be downloaded unless I upgrade my Mac OS to an OS that BF warns me NOT to upgrade to because they haven't fixed the broket yet!!!???) 5 Music Soundtracks, 29 Movie Video Cutscenes, 15 Achievements, 10 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Replayable Mini-Games, 52 Opaque Fish (2 per scene) 52 Morphing Objects (2 per scene) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
EDGE OF REALITY SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Ring of Destiny (May 27-2016) 3.6
2-Lethal Predictions (March 5-2017) 3.8
3-Fatal Luck (May 18-2018) 3.5
4-Hunter's Legacy (August 31-2018) 4.2
5-Great Deeds (May 3-2019) 3.0
6-Mark of Fate (January 17-2019) n/a

by: 4 Friends Games
I recommend this game!
+59points
66of 73voted this as helpful.
 
An otherworldly adventure in the heart of the Big Apple!
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
106 of 166 found this review helpful
8:22 a.m.: EVERYONE PANICS!
PostedJanuary 16, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromIrish Titans are pleasant beings, English Giants are evil, Welsh Giants are clever & cunning.In Greek Mythology Atlas lost a battle with Zeus and was punished to carry the weight of the earth on his shoulders for eternity! ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
Cσɱρʅҽƚҽԃ Gαɱҽ αρρɾσxιɱαƚҽʅყ 5.0 ԋσυɾʂ
(ιɳƈʅυԃιɳɠ ƈσɱρʅҽƚισɳ σϝ αʅʅ ρυȥȥʅҽʂ & CE Bσɳυʂ Cԋαρƚҽɾ)
24 Mαιɳ Sƈҽɳҽ Lσƈαƚισɳʂ +10 ιɳ ƚԋҽ CE Bσɳυʂ Cԋαρƚҽɾ
Dιϝϝιƈυʅƚყ Rαɳɠҽ: Bҽɠιɳɳҽɾ
Legends say that the Titans used the Chalk of Fate to create the 4 Magical Secret City races, the Dwarves, the Yotuns, Merfolk, and Lakrians. No one knows where the giant Titans slumber but now that the Chalk of Fate has been discovered, it's only a matter of time before greed takes control and the Titans are awakened by someone with nefarious intentions.
Gαԃɠҽƚʂ/Hҽʅρҽɾʂ:
You're magical Glasses Gadget that allows you to see the Secret City breaks within the first scene. Helen offers to fix them if you bring her the shards. Once you bring her the shards, however, she says they are too badly damaged but grabs you with one of her four arms and gves you a magical tattoo that works like the glasses. WT#@%&? Why didn't she do that in the first place? Why didn't they give you a tattoo in the first place?
CσʅʅҽƈƚιႦʅҽʂ & Mσɾρԋιɳɠ OႦʝҽƈƚʂ (CE Vҽɾʂισɳ σɳʅყ):
Domini always gives you plenty of CE Bling! You can enable/disable the Collectible Tabs and choose whether or not to show them on the Map as well. There are 15 Morphing Statuettes 15 Secret City Character Pictures and 65 Zoom Zone Coins that are used to purchase 15 Gift Shop Items.
Hιԃԃҽɳ OႦʝҽƈƚ Sƈҽɳҽʂ:
There are 17 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter and an alternate Match 3 Game available. There are Interactive List Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Spot the Difference Finds, and Multiples of the same Objects Finds.
Mιɳι-Gαɱҽʂ:
There are 24 Mini-Games +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter. You can choose to play them in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode and you can choose which mode to have them start out in the Custom Setting (you can still switch between modes for each individual game)
Bσɳυʂ Cԋαρƚҽɾ (CE Vҽɾʂισɳ Oɳʅყ)
Return to the Secret City to save Sakir's friend Almerra from Ingvar. This is an average-length chapter spanning over 10 scene locations with just 5 additional Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will continue your search for the final 5 Secret City Character Pictures 5 Morphing Statuettes and 10 Zoom Zone Coins which allows you to purchase the final Gift Shop Souvenirs.
Cσʅʅҽƈƚσɾ'ʂ Eԃιƚισɳ Exƚɾαʂ:
15 Wallpapers, 14 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 27 Movie Video Cutscenes, 39 Achievements, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 17 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Statuettes 15 Secret City Character Pictures 65 Zoom Zone Coins, 15 Gift Shop Items (purchase Souvenir's using the Coins as currency) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
SECRET CITY SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-London Calling (April 28-2018) 4.0
2-The Sunken City (January 24-2019) 4.3
3-The Human Threat (July 18-2019) 3.3
4-Chalk of Fate (January 16-2020) n/a
by: Domini Games
I don't recommend this game.
+46points
106of 166voted this as helpful.
 
It’s never been easier to get into painting! Avoid purchasing expensive painting supplies and making a mess.
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
40 of 47 found this review helpful
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERESTING PICTURES BUT OTHERWISE ANOTHER GREAT PAINT BY NUMBERS GAME!
PostedJanuary 14, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromMy colored pencils are always sharp! ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
The difference between Pixel Art and Paint by Numbers is that these games are more traditional with areas to color rather than square pixels. In the first game, there were slightly different shades between areas that really made the images pop with vivid shades of orange, yellow, pink, purple, etc. (just look at the image shown of the lizard on #1) the second game had really ugly colors with no shade variations. This third edition has much better colors but the pictures aren't that interesting, but I realize it's a work in progress figuring out what the Paint by Numbers fans like and dislike.
Here's a few suggestions I'd like to see added
*The cursor is way too large and bulky, especially when trying to fill in those teeny-tiny areas. It would be nice to have at least 2 cursors "tip" options, preferably cursors of various art media, such as a colored pencil tip, a fountain pen tip, or a sharpie marker tip.
*At least some of the images should be larger images, after all, we can drag the image around to get to other areas.
*The images need to have symmetrical or geometrical patterns versus doors & windows, dots, and impossible to see blurbs.
*Let us choose the color of the background with an actual Color Palette & let us choose the color of the current number highlighted areas which are currently a dark grey (if we can't choose the color of the highlighted area DO NOT use fill in colors in the same shades of gray or black!)
*The black outlines need to be much thinner so they don't stick out like a sore thumb and take away from the beauty of the completed picture (which is also confusing when trying to differentiate between that grey highlighted current color...again give us the choice of current highlighted colors)
*The colors need to be crazy, the colors need shading variations, do away with areas to fill in the size of a fist (we aren't toddlers) Choose images of animals or scenery that can allow you to take advantage of all the color hues...you know how to contact me :)
Some of the areas to fill are super tiny which makes it difficult to see the numbers, however, if you scan the mouse over a section it will show that particular number above the cursor and it's large enough for anyone to see easily. It can be difficult to fill in some of those smaller areas simply because the cursor is so large and bulky. As I said earlier, if the areas to fill were geometrical or symmetrical this could be avoided altogether. There is also a Hint button that will point to any missed areas of the current color, without penalty.
There's not a whole lot to have to figure out, it's about as uncomplicated and basic as it gets. Paint By Numbers is a computer version of Oil or Colored Pencil Paint by Numbers, and actually closer to the real thing than the Pixel Art versions. Each area has a number and you simply chose the corresponding color bubble from the palette (also numbered) on the right side, left-click to fill in all the numbers with the correct color.
There is a Slider Bar that allows you to zoom in & out (there's a "fit" tab as well) you can also move the entire page around by right-clicking and dragging. There is also a slider bar that allows you to change the color of the background, but it really only allows you to change the colors in shades of grey or black. It would make more sense to have an entire color scale available on a paint by numbers game though, wouldn't it? I would love to see a "texture" feature added that would mimic different paint variations as well.
Keep an open mind, it isn't supposed to be a brain-burner kind of game. It's a very basic and rudimentary game that's just supposed to take you out of the hectic zone for a bit. I'm still a Pixel Art & Paint by Numbers fan, but Paint by Numbers is flawed and not consistent. I was constantly having issues with the screen zooming in and out all by itself which became annoying. I prefer Paint by Numbers vs. Pixel Art because it's closer to the "real deal" and I'm certain that a few tweaks could make this version an amazing and zenful game! ☯
PAINT BY NUMBERS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Paint by Numbers 1 (October 15-2019) 3.8
2-Paint by Number 2 (December 10-2019) n/a
3-Paint by Numbers 3 (January 9-2020) n/a

by: T1 Games
I recommend this game!
+33points
40of 47voted this as helpful.
 
Join Claire on an exciting time management adventure and help save the world from catastrophe!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
77 of 86 found this review helpful
<<<<<LOADING>>>>>
PostedJanuary 14, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromLooking at the bright side, we need boring games to compare with the spectacular ones, right? ⛄
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Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
This game has some serious issues, it lags between clicking and actually doing something, and it takes forever between scenes as you sit there staring at a <<<LOADING>>> bar for an eternity. I tried to find out what was offered in the EXTRA'S tab and not only did I have to wait eons for the loading bar to fill but the second you exit out of whichever category you chose it takes you back to the main screen and you have to click on the extra's tab again, and wait for the loading bar to fill again, just to get to the next extra's category, what a pain!
There are 50 Levels and 10 CE Bonus Levels as well as 25 Achievement Trophies to earn. The Extra's include 5 Music Soundtracks and 10 Concept Art Pictures and a Strategy Guide but the game is super easy and there isn't a whole lot of strategy involved. There are no Morphs or Collectibles and it's hard to justify the CE worthiness just to get 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 cartoon style Concept Art Pictures, and 10 extra Levels.
There are the usual tasks to perform, clearing paths, repairing and upgrading Workers Houses, Sawmills for Lumber, Farm Plots to produce various crops, There are also the usual Bridges to repair, Holes to patch along the paths, and some levels require that you upgrade certain buildings to a certain level. You may need to build houses to accommodate specialized people to rid the paths from certain obstructions.
This is just another cookie-cutter TN game that doesn't have much to offer. The games by this developer are always the same, and always boring.
LOST ARTIFACTS SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Lost Artifacts: CE (July 18-2017) 3.0
2-Lost Artifacts: Golden Island CE (September 19-2017) 3.0
3-Lost Artifacts: Soulstone CE (May 1-2018) 2.8
4-Lost Artifacts: Time Machine CE (December 1-2018) 3.7
5-Lost Artifacts: Frozen Queen CE (January 14-2020) n/a
by: 8 Floor Ltd.
I don't recommend this game.
+68points
77of 86voted this as helpful.
 
Test your puzzle-solving prowess by blasting through these unique boards!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
40 of 43 found this review helpful
I'M ALL ABOUT SAVING THE PUPPIES BUT IT'S A PRETTY BORING RESCUE
PostedJanuary 13, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromWhat a great idea, pay the dognapper to release the stolen puppies? ⛄
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Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
When this marble-popping Match 3 variation was first released I loved it but six games later, it's really the same game with the same features as the first one. The last couple of games have been very glitchy, it takes forever for the levels to load, and the balls are slow to respond when clicked on, so long in fact, that I can hear the explosion long before my slow-moving ball even hits the bomb target!
They have added a new feature to spend all those hard-earned points on that had no real value in the past games, saving puppies! There are 14 adorable puppies locked up in cages by a seedy-looking dog-napper with no soul. For just a measly 10,000 points and up, you can purchase their "walkin' papers" (which is exactly what the dog-napper wanted isn't it?) to live happily-ever-after in a life of bliss, complete with a doghouse and accessories in an open field out in the middle of nowhere without a human companion in sight?!??!!?
If the puppy mill wasn't enough to get you onboard the ClearIt train, how about gambling away those hard-earned points in a double or nothing game of cards? After each level, if you have enabled the feature, you can select a card (1/4) that's hopefully higher than the dealer's card which doubles your points earned on that level only. I tried this feature until I realized that the odds are stacked against you and you rarely win more than one hand which means those poor pups would be doomed
The gameplay is simple, there is an unlimited number of colored orbs located on all four sides of the board, and all you need to do is select and click on an identical colored orb from one of the sides. The ball will travel in a straight line until it hits another orb (or power-up) If the selected orb hits another identical colored orb or orbs, they are removed, and the goal is to remove all orbs.
Each level has power-ups that remain briefly, that when hit with an orb, is activated. The Rotation power-up shuffles and replaces orbs, the Star power-ups eliminate several random orbs, Lightning and Fireball power-ups eliminate nearby orbs, the Exclamation power-up eliminates all orbs of the same color and the numbers 1 or 5 allows you to choose which orbs to remove via crosshair targets (either 1 or 5 orbs)
Each level is slightly more difficult than the previous level, as more orb colors are added, and fewer orbs in the desired color along the edges are offered. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice and add a few orbs to the equation, to be able to get to the desired colored orb, but because there's no time or moves limit it doesn't count against you.
Once again, I was disappointed that the rows and columns don't highlight because it's easy to shoot an orb from the wrong slot. There are the same obstacles as the last several games such as brick walls thrown into the mixture, the same colored orbs with the same power-ups and features as the previous six games. Other than rescuing puppies, there doesn't seem to be anything different about this game and it gets boring fairly quickly.
CLEARIT SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Clear It 1 (April 11-2016) 4.3
2-Clear It 2 (September 6-2017) 4.3
3-Clear It 3 (August 26-2018) 3.7
4-Clear It 4 (November 22-2018) 3.7
5-Clear It 5 (May 8-2019) 4.0
6-Clear It 6 (September 16-2019) 2.6
7-Clear It 7 (December 11-2019) n/a
by: Litera Laboratories
I don't recommend this game.
+37points
40of 43voted this as helpful.
 
A masked man declares war on the Monster Hunters Academy!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
93 of 138 found this review helpful
THE KEY TO PEACE & HARMONY
PostedJanuary 12, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromPerhaps it's Time For Change, these Legends aren't very legendary!⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
Completed Game approximately 7+ hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
25 Scene Locations + 10 in the CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginners
It was bound to happen ⚣ sooner or later, and the result of it ⚢ happening was a hybrid spirit-human child ⚤. This child was the key to peace and harmony between the two races, but not everyone believed peace and harmony was possible. There will always be naysayers, always be those who fear change, those with an old-school mentality of "the way we did it back in my day" those with clouded vision who refuse to bend or see things from a new perspective, and you soon discover that there are two sides to every coin...and it's only your first day of class at the Monster Hunter's Academy!
Gadget/Helper (5 times in the main chapter only)
Gadgets/Helper:
There is a Beastiary Book that allows you to banish various Beasts after collecting 3 key ingredients and playing an associated mini-game. The mini-game varies each time and it's not a horrible feature because it's only used 5 times.
Morphing Objects & Collectibles: (CE version only)
There are 15 Morphing Spirit Geodes with descriptions and 15 Inventions Collectibles some of which are very small and hard to spot because of their size. Each scene has at least one Zoom-Zone Sapphire of varying amounts which are used to purchase 15 items to decorate Pricilla's Office. The Collectibles and Morphing Objects are available throughout the Main Chapter as well as the Bonus Chapter (CE version)
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 12 Hidden Object Scenes +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter with an optional Match 3 Game available. There are several variations offered such as Interactive Listed Items, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Listed Multiples of Item Finds, Find & Replace Items, Combo Finds, ? + ? =Horse finds, Listed Items x2.
Mini-Games:
There are 22 Mini-Games +8 in the CE Bonus Chapter, most of which can be played in an Easy or Hard difficulty mode. Five of the mini-games are associated with the Bestiary Book Gadget as well. Below are brief descriptions of some of my personal favorite puzzles from the game.
1-Use directional arrows to move the slider bar to pick up & place 2 symbols at a time to match the order shown.
2-Follow wires to get symbol numbers to enter code.
3-Guide the frog to water droplet & then firey hound by rotating the board and using arrows to move the frog to open squares.
4-Mover ladders and bridges by selecting available levers.
5-Connect clouds with the number of connections shown on each cloud.
6-Combine the correct amounts of each liquid according to the clues.
Bonus Chapter: (Collector's Edition version only)
Momma needs your help once again from an ancient evil that has been awoken in this lengthy bonus chapter that takes place over 10 Scene Locations. There are 8 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will pick up the remaining 5 Morphing Geodes, 4 Inventions, and 7 Sapphires which allows you to purchase the final office items in Priscilla's Office.
Collector's Edition Extra's
15 Wallpapers, 16 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks. 37 Cutscene Movie Videos, 22 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 33 Achievements to Earn. 15 Morphing Spirit Geodes, 15 Inventions, 70 Sapphires (used to purchase 15 items in Priscilla's Office, 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
SPIRIT LEGENDS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Forest Wraith (December 16-2018) 2.3
2-Solar Eclipse (June 28-2019) 3.0
3-Time For Change (January 12-2019) n/a

by: Domini Games
I don't recommend this game.
+48points
93of 138voted this as helpful.
 
A fortune is on the line in a mansion full of supernatural secrets!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
51 of 63 found this review helpful
CHIMERAS COULD USE A "TUNE OF REVENGE" OVERHAUL
PostedJanuary 10, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
from4.4...3.6...4.1...3.8...3.0...3.2...3.2...3.2...3.3...3.0 The average rating for Chimeras games, Tune of Revenge was the only game to get a favorable, above-average rating. Shouldn't this tell you something guys? ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
Completed Game approximately 4.5 hours
(including completion of all puzzles & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Scene Locations +7 in the CE Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Level: Beginner
What the flying, one-eyed bats were these folks drinking at the company Christmas Party? I'd like to remind everyone that a Chimera has the body of a female Lion with a Goat's head protruding from the lion's shoulder, her tail is that of a serpent with a snake's head and she usually has wings similar to a dragon. The Chimeras' in this game are bats with a cyclops eye and vampire fangs. Not only is this the most ridiculous interpretation of a Chimera you could possibly imagine. (unless, of course, they have really good Yuletide "cheer" in Ukraine) but the bats are cartoonish and utterly laughable!
The bizarreness doesn't end with a few fake-looking bats (nor does it start there) one minute you're investigating the disappearance of the Butler and the mansion's owner, the next scene you portal into another dimension with no rhyme or reason. There's no real plot, the story jumps from one focal point to the next, leaving me wondering what the focal point is supposed to be? Is it a Paranormal game? A Mystery? A Detective Who-dun-it game? A Family Drama? A Fantasy game? A Transgender game? A Greek-Mythology, Chimeras game? They were definitely testing their boundaries, which I'm totally okay with, it doesn't bother me, but while pushing the envelope, they lost sight of everything else, like the plot and fun factor which IS a BIG deal, and I'm NOT okay with that!
PS: Why do you have us find a wrench, use that wrench one time, lose the wrench mysteriously after a single use even though there were two zoom zone scenes literally side by side that required a wrench? How could I lose the wrench if I didn't leave the room? Wouldn't it make more sense that I would search the same room for said wrench?
PSS: some of us play a game to earn ALL of the ACHIEVEMENTS. Isn't that the point of offering achievements? Aren't they supposed to be goals you strive to achieve??? WHY would you have an achievement for NOT skipping any of the Mini-Games and another achievement for SKIPPING ALL Mini-Games!!! Why would you offer an achievement for listening to ALL dialogs and one for SKIPPING ALL dialogs? Does that really make sense to you? Who on earth would think it was a great idea to offer achievements which ultimately set's the player up for failure because it's IMPOSSIBLE to earn all of them in one game????????????????
Helper/Gadgets:
I'm pleased to report that there were no Gadgets or Helpers harmed in the making of this game, however, HR is looking into the Yuletide Cheer stockpile shortage which seems to have been depleted unusually fast this year.
Collectibles/Morphs:
They actually got the Morphs and Collectibles right! Each of the 25 scene locations has a Morphing Object that morphs at a nice pace and is well-blended into the background. scenery. The objects morph into a similar object with similar colors which make them less noticeable and somewhat challenging to spot at times. There are 12 Collectible Cards about various Cursed Objects that can be found in some of the Zoom Zones, and they did an incredible job of blending the cards into the scenery as well. I was most impressed with the infamous Elephant Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces. In the past, these puzzle pieces were the size of baby Elephants and could be spotted a mile away, and they were always located in just the Zoom Zones. This time they have hidden 1 jigsaw in the scene itself, and the other 2 in zoom zones, and they are more obscure than in previous games, in fact, some of them are really challenging to spot!
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 20 Hidden Object Scenes +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Most of the scenes are Interactive Lists or Silhouetted Shape Finds but there are Keywords in Sentence Finds, Fragment Finds, Spot the Difference, and Multiples of the Same Object Finds as well. There are no alternate puzzles offered.
Mini-Games:
There are 20 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. They are the same puzzles offered in hundreds of other Elephant Games. Here are a few of my favorites from the game:
1-Place flower-shaped pieces onto the board.
2-Align vertical bars so the gaps align with horizontal bars to remove them.
3-Use rotation buttons to guide a ball to the central hole.
4-Select a key section from the left and right sides to swap until all sections interlock.
5-Place skulls correctly according to eye color and shape.
Bonus Chapter (CE version only)
The Carringtons have invited you to their Christmas party but before you can enjoy the Yuletide Festivities and create your own bazaar game you'll have to deal with a former resident of the mansion. This is a short chapter that spans over 7 scene locations with 6 Hidden Object Scenes and 6 Mini-Games available. You will pick up the remaining 3 Collectible Cards, 7 Morphing Objects, and 12 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to complete the final 12 pc. Jigsaw Puzzle Screensaver.
Collector's Edition Extra's:
12 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 25 Achievements, a Secret Room (timed HOP) 25 Morphing Objects, 12 Collectible Cards (w/ cursed object legends) 48 Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, 4 Jigsaw Puzzle Screensavers (assemble with collectible jigsaw puzzle pieces) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
CHIMERAS SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Tune of Revenge (March 8-2013) 4.4
2-The Signs of Prophecy (November 13-2015) 3.6
3-Cursed and Forgotten (June 24-2016) 4.1
4-Mortal Medicine (December 9-2016) 3.8
5-Mark of Death (June 2-2017) 3.0
6-Blinding Love (November 18-2017) 3.2
7-New Rebellion (June 1-2018) 3.2
8-Heavenfall Secrets (December 2-2018) 3.3
9-Wailing Waters (July 5-2019) 3.0
10-The Price of Greed (January 10-2020) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I don't recommend this game.
+39points
51of 63voted this as helpful.
 
The popular Northern Tale series continues! Ragnar returns to Earth from Valhalla to protect his people again!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
185 of 205 found this review helpful
LOVED THE CRAZY CHALLENGING HIDDEN OBJECTS BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU INCLUDE A STRATEGY GUIDE?
PostedJanuary 9, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromDays of the week are named after Norse gods, Odin, aka Woden is Wednesday, Tuesday & Friday named after Tyr & Frigg the gods of war & marriage, Thursday of course is Thor Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets, & they abandoned sick & weak children ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I bought this game sight unseen because I have always loved Northern Tales, but as far as a Collector's Edition version, I'm not that impressed...with one exception, the maddening, crazy-challenging HIDDEN OBJECTS! Each scene has a specified number of hidden objects to find (3) and the only way you're going to find them is by scanning the cursor over the scene w/o clicking to start the level. until a rainbow pops up, they are usually hidden in the rocks that are scattered about, but even then they are hard to spot! My biggest complaint with the CE is that there's no Strategy Guide which is a big mistake considering how difficult it is to find the hidden objects and that the game is strategy-based and you don't get much time to complete the levels.
You can choose to play in a Multi-Click, Normal mode and a Relaxed Untimed Mode of difficulty and there are 67 Achievement Rewards available. There are 40 Main Levels and 6 Additional CE Bonus Levels but I have to cry foul because all the other Northern Tales games had 50 levels as a Standard Edition!?!
Time Management games such as this one require you to clear paths, repair bridges and ladders, collect food and resources such as ore and gold, and you will need to repair and build pig farms, fix potholes, mine for gold, clear boulders and remove rubble, collect ingredients for potions, etc. You meet new people on every level that of course, requires completing a task before they can help you with yours, (or a place of residency)such as feeding giants, chasing away wolves, and there's always a Viking or two that needs to be rescued.
This is a really fun and very addictive game, but it does require some strategy. The mechanics are uncomplicated, and easy to figure out, but the goals can be challenging to meet within the specified time to earn Gold. There are several Bonuses to help you achieve your goals, such as, Time Freeze for 15 seconds, +1 Viking worker for 20 seconds, Faster Workers, Restore Resource on the Magic Places, +1 Resource Selected, and Faster Building Production (you can reuse multiple times but must recharge after each use). You can also exchange resources with the Merchants at a rate of exchange that is favorable to the Merchant.
Collector's Edition Extra's:
6 Additional Levels, 9 Wallpapers, Music Soundtrack, 67 Achievement Rewards, Challenging Hidden Objects (3 per scene)
NORTHERN TALE SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Northern Tale 1 SE only (October 15-2012) 4.8
2-Northern Tale 2 SE only (November 12-2013) 4.4
3-Northern Tale 3 SE only (April 8-2014) 4.5
4-Northern Tale 4 SE only (July 30-2014) 4.8
5-Northern Tale 5 CE version (January 9-2020) n/a
by: Qumaron Service LTD. & Whiterra Game Development Studios
I recommend this game!
+165points
185of 205voted this as helpful.
 
Spellspire is a thrilling mashup of word game and action role playing game. Pick letters from a grid to spell words and shoot them from your wand as spells. The longer the word, the bigger the blast!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
TOO MANY LEGITIMATE WORDS AREN'T ACCEPTABLE WHICH ISN'T ACCEPTABLE!
PostedJanuary 8, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromWhat do bwainless zombies know about spelling? ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
This game brought back fond memories of some long-forgotten Word Games like Bookworm and Word Womp but at least those games accepted legitimate words that can be found in any English Dictionary. It clearly doesn't accept spelling preferences outside of North America either as stated by the reviewers from New Zealand and Australia. For example: Recognize is preferred in American and Canadian English, while Recognise is preferred outside North America and the same rule applies for Realize versus Realise
It doesn't accept common words that can be used in two different ways (either/or) such as Blue and Bleu. It accepts Blue but not Bleu even though both are acceptable and technically, Bleu is correct when referencing Roquefort Bleu Cheese. The latter issue could be easily solved by adding a Language or Country preference, otherwise, the game seems to be programmed to look for, and even prefer, Affixes (prefix/suffix) over words with unusual spelling.
If it was just a matter of recognizing or recognising the pattern of acceptable words, the game could potentially be enjoyable for a select group of players who are at least somewhat knowledgable of spelling correctly and the ability to quickly click on the letters because a certain amount of manual dexterity is required. Personally, I wasn't crazy about the "batteling of zombies" scenario, I'd much rather race against a clock to spell as many words as possible.
There are 100 levels and 22 Achievements, and you can replay the levels with the Stars you earn, Coins are used to upgrade your wizard. You can upgrade his Wand, Robe, Hat, and Bag (to hold more items) which basically gives you more "health" to last longer against those word-hating zombies, and you can sell some of the items you don't want. Occasionally, you will receive a Dictionary which automatically finds the longest word available and various other potions and spells. There is a Treasure Chest full of various coins and stars that can be opened every 8 hours but I'm not sure whether that means 8 hours of actual gameplay or just 8 hours on the clock.
I don't recommend this game.
+18points
20of 22voted this as helpful.
 
Dive into the mysterious fairytale worlds of the Brothers Grimm!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
97 of 106 found this review helpful
THERE'S PIRATE-THEMED MUSIC? WHERE'S THE GRIMM TALES STORYLINE? OH, I GET IT, THAT'S THE "MYSTERY"
PostedJanuary 8, 2020
Customer avatar
pennmom36
fromDeja Vu? The solitaire levels seem familiar, hmm, I wonder why? ⛄
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
Like its predecessors, The Black Raven, Cthulhu Mythos and Arkham's Spirits, Grimm Tales is just another cookie-cutter version of all the other solitaire games by this dev. Once again, this is a Solitaire version where the game ends once all of the Gold Cards have been removed. I just don't understand why they can't make an adjustment to allow the option of continuing to play for points once all of the gold cards have been removed, how difficult can that be? (and I'm sure they would sell more games that way)
The features never change on games by this dev, the features included in the first solitaire game they released will be the same features offered in their latest solitaire game 8 years later! You can choose from 9 uninteresting themed card backs and 3 different face card fonts. You are forced to begin the game in Newbie mode, which allows you to replay any hand, then, if you prefer, you can switch to the Professional mode which only allows you to replay the entire pack of 10 levels.
You need to earn the specified amount of points to unlock the next pack, and the scoring is similar to bowling, in the event of a perfect score, the points of that level are added to the next.
Another feature I don't like in this devs games is that the tutorial makes you click another card off of the deck even though there are several playable card options available on the board. (but then again, you don't really need a tutorial if you have played any other solitaire game by this dev) I'm reluctant to skip the tutorial just in case they have added a new feature, which never happens, but one never knows, and I remain hopeful. I also hate that when you remove a Bonus card with a Swirly Gem it takes forever to explain what the card gives you, as it freezes continued gameplay to tell you what you won. Most of the time it gives you +499 extra points, but occasionally, a Joker, Mulligan or a Shuffle, because it takes so long, finding two of these cards back to back is super agonizing!
If you own or have played any games by this dev, you've more than likely already played this one because they are all identical, you just can't tell the difference between them, and there's certainly no "storyline" much less a Grimm Tales storyline.
MYSTERY SOLITAIRE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Black Raven (October 31-2017) 4.4
2-Arkham's Spirits (September 9-2018) 2.4
3-Grimm's Tales (January 23-2019) 2.6
4-Cthulhu Mythos (August 19-2019) 2.6
5-Grimm's Tales 2 (January 8-2020) n/a

by: Somer Games
I don't recommend this game.
+88points
97of 106voted this as helpful.
 
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