pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4725
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 20, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Your favorite ghosts are back with a challenging new set of puzzles set in the ancient world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
92 of 108 found this review helpful
WHO KNEW THE GHOSTS OF LARUAVILLE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR?
PostedDecember 4, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Now, this is how a Match 3 game should be! There's a fine line between offering an unchanged sequel for fear of losing their fan base and offering a sequel that has just enough change to keep it fresh for those of us who have played them all while keeping the mechanics familiar enough to keep their fan base. The creators of these friendly little Ghosts of Laruaville know exactly how to walk that fine line, the result...another incredibly entertaining Match 3 game worthy of a sequel!
You can play in a Relaxed Mode or a Limited Moves or Limited Time Mode and there are 40 Bonus Match 3 Levels to Unlock, which allows you to replay the levels. After each Match 3 level, you can play a Solitaire or Mahjong game as well as my personal favorites, Spot the Difference with differences that aren't as obvious as you'd expect. (you can skip the mini-games) The tutorial is pretty vague but you can click on the Book at the top of the screen to read everything you need to know, including tips & tricks.
You can play in a Relaxed Mode or a Limited Moves or Limited Time Mode and there are 40 Bonus Match 3 Levels to Unlock, which allows you to replay the levels. After each Match 3 level, you can play a Solitaire or Mahjong game as well as my personal favorites, Spot the Difference with differences that aren't as obvious as you'd expect. (you can skip the mini-games) The tutorial is pretty vague but you can click on the Book at the top of the screen to read everything you need to know, including tips & tricks.
Laruaville is a Match 3 game that's "All About The Coins", the level goals are clear and simple, collect all of the coins, but of course, collecting the coins is anything but simple! There are plenty of obstacles to make the goal more difficult, but overcoming those obstacles only matters if they are preventing you from getting to the coins.
There are several types of Coins available:
•Gold Coins: requires an adjacent match to collect.
•Gem Coins: requires 1 match to remove gems, a second to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating torches.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between.
•Locked Coins: requires unlocking Coin Key.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
•D#@%ed (censored) Coins: do NOT collect you will lose the level!
•Gem Coins: requires 1 match to remove gems, a second to collect.
•Frozen Coins: requires activating torches.
•Half Coins: requires joining 2 halves by making matches between.
•Locked Coins: requires unlocking Coin Key.
•Coin Molds: requires guiding liquid gold to the mold to form a coin.
•D#@%ed (censored) Coins: do NOT collect you will lose the level!
There are several Obstacles preventing you from getting to the Coins, however, if they aren't blocking a coin there's no need to overcome some obstacles. Power-ups will destroy most obstacles as well:
•Crates: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion.
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Sand: requires 3 adjacent matches to remove.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Metal Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
•Shielded Crates: requires an adjacent match on the unshielded portion.
•Petals: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Sand: requires 3 adjacent matches to remove.
•Fog: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Ice: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is trapped in the ice.
•Chains: requires a match 3 of whichever tile is chained.
•Keys: requires moving towards a locked coin by matching in between.
•Vials: requires filling with purple drops by matching vertically.
•Wooden Walls: requires an adjacent match to remove.
•Stone Walls: requires several adjacent matches to remove.
•Metal Walls: cannot be destroyed.
•Torches: spread fire to melt snow, ice, etc. by making adjacent matches.
Large Matches will earn Power-ups on the board, however, there are times when a Power-up can hurt rather than help (read the Tips & Tricks Book) Most power-ups can be moved or double-clicked to activate.
•Small Rocket: vertical OR horizontal line busters (right-click to direct)
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Amulet: destroys 15 Random tiles.
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
•Large Rocket: selects a target in order of importance.
•Bombs: explodes with an adjacent match (usually w/ a chain reaction)
•Amulet: destroys 15 Random tiles.
•Cannons: requires an adjacent match on the Red Cell to activate.
In the Demon Match 3 game, you play against the demon on a split board alternating turns with the Demon. You must collect more Coins faster than the Demon did on his turn, you can create power-ups and use them, however, using power-ups will count as 2 moves.
LARUAVILLE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Laruaville 1 (July 30-2013) 4.2
2-Laruaville 2 (March 4-2015) 4.1
3-Laruaville 3 (August 4-2015) 4.4
4-Laruaville 4 (December 14-2015) 4.4
5-Laruaville 5 (October 17-2016) 4.2
6-Laruaville 6 (June 26-2017) 4.0
7-Laruaville 7 (June 6-2018) 4.1
8-Laruaville 8 (February 20-2019) 3.7
9-Laruaville 9 (December 4-2019) n/a
by: FRH Games
2-Laruaville 2 (March 4-2015) 4.1
3-Laruaville 3 (August 4-2015) 4.4
4-Laruaville 4 (December 14-2015) 4.4
5-Laruaville 5 (October 17-2016) 4.2
6-Laruaville 6 (June 26-2017) 4.0
7-Laruaville 7 (June 6-2018) 4.1
8-Laruaville 8 (February 20-2019) 3.7
9-Laruaville 9 (December 4-2019) n/a
by: FRH Games
I recommend this game!
Help Emma dig through the poisonous pieces of this family mystery and solve the case! Play Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises!
Overall rating
2
/
5
59 of 90 found this review helpful
STORY HAS POTENTIAL BUT THE TASKS TO PROGRESS THE STORY ARE TEDIOUS & BORING
PostedDecember 1, 2019
pennmom36
fromI'm still a BraveG-fan, just being honest, think outside the box guys :)
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
*29 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter*
Difficulty Range: Beginner-(possibly intermediate)
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
*29 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter*
Difficulty Range: Beginner-(possibly intermediate)
I love this developer, I love that he always visits and interacts with us at the pond, but I had to force myself to complete this game because I bought the game thinking this would be a great who-dun-it mystery game, a genre I happen to love! But, there are ONLY 2-3 AREAS OF INTEREST PER SCENE (zoom zones, hos, mini-game, etc.) there's nothing to do, nothing interesting to see, and when there is something to do, it almost always involves having to unlock a door or drawer, cut thru and/or use acid on a locked chain or cut the straps of a suitcase. How many times can I repeat these same 3 tasks before I go insane? The games are repeats, the games are boring, the HO scenes are boring, the repetitive tasks are really boring, the story is okay-ish but it's difficult to keep up with because the characters all look similar and getting from point A to point B is soooo slooooowww!
Gadget:
You will use your Smartphone to take pictures of 18 different Evidence items. (the pictures are taken automatically) After collecting several evidence pictures, you will click the Phone Icon to make 6 different Case Analyses Deductions. This involves rifling through the images (how did phone snapshots magically turn into old polaroid photos???) and then placing them into the correct categories while hearing the conclusions the detective has concluded.
You will use your Smartphone to take pictures of 18 different Evidence items. (the pictures are taken automatically) After collecting several evidence pictures, you will click the Phone Icon to make 6 different Case Analyses Deductions. This involves rifling through the images (how did phone snapshots magically turn into old polaroid photos???) and then placing them into the correct categories while hearing the conclusions the detective has concluded.
Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
There are 32 Collectible Playing Cards and 29 Morphing Presents. The Cards are huge and stick out like a sore thumb and the Presents morph way to quickly. Even if they didn't morph at all they would still be easily spotted because all you have to do is scan the scene for a square or round object lying in the middle of the floor.
There are 32 Collectible Playing Cards and 29 Morphing Presents. The Cards are huge and stick out like a sore thumb and the Presents morph way to quickly. Even if they didn't morph at all they would still be easily spotted because all you have to do is scan the scene for a square or round object lying in the middle of the floor.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter that vary with Interactive Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, and Multiples of Related Items. There are a few Keywords in Sentence Finds, but they are listed as Mini-Games, not HOP's. The scenes are nothing more than large, unorganized lumps of clutter-junk and the items to find are usually blurry and difficult to recognize. To make matters worse, the scenes are located in unappealing, uninteresting locations. This would be a perfect time to add a "Skip" feature to a HOS, fortunately, there's an alternate Matching Pairs game where you flip over 2 available tokens at a time to find related images, such as a Rose and a Vase,
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter that vary with Interactive Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, and Multiples of Related Items. There are a few Keywords in Sentence Finds, but they are listed as Mini-Games, not HOP's. The scenes are nothing more than large, unorganized lumps of clutter-junk and the items to find are usually blurry and difficult to recognize. To make matters worse, the scenes are located in unappealing, uninteresting locations. This would be a perfect time to add a "Skip" feature to a HOS, fortunately, there's an alternate Matching Pairs game where you flip over 2 available tokens at a time to find related images, such as a Rose and a Vase,
Mini-Games:
There are 25 mini-games +10 in the CE Bonus Chapter. These are the same exact puzzles that were offered in the last couple of games released by this developer, most of which are easily solved on the first attempt and not all that impressive. One of the mini-games that this developer has used in nearly all of their games is repeated several times as a "Fight-Scene" scenario. You are challenged with dragging lines between 3 or more tokens that match your colors and hopefully, not your opponent's colored tokens which drains your amounts. There are 3 different boards to clear before you deck your male opponent (Do you really expect me to believe that I could win a fistfight with a testosterone, pumped-up dude who is ruthless enough to punch a woman?) however, the game is maddening because there are no more than 3 matchable tokens in your color vs. 7-10 matchable opponent tokens so the game is completely boring and not fun to play once much less 3 boards, and then having to agonize through the same game two additional times is maddening! I have listed a few games that were slightly more interesting:
There are 25 mini-games +10 in the CE Bonus Chapter. These are the same exact puzzles that were offered in the last couple of games released by this developer, most of which are easily solved on the first attempt and not all that impressive. One of the mini-games that this developer has used in nearly all of their games is repeated several times as a "Fight-Scene" scenario. You are challenged with dragging lines between 3 or more tokens that match your colors and hopefully, not your opponent's colored tokens which drains your amounts. There are 3 different boards to clear before you deck your male opponent (Do you really expect me to believe that I could win a fistfight with a testosterone, pumped-up dude who is ruthless enough to punch a woman?) however, the game is maddening because there are no more than 3 matchable tokens in your color vs. 7-10 matchable opponent tokens so the game is completely boring and not fun to play once much less 3 boards, and then having to agonize through the same game two additional times is maddening! I have listed a few games that were slightly more interesting:
1-Click directional arrows to slide 2 tokens to their matching slot, using obstacles as bumpers to change the destination paths.
2-Swap groups of 2 triangle puzzle pieces to complete the image.
3-Use directional arrows to steer the ship clear of obstacles.
4-Connect ends of colored wires into partial symbols to recreate the symbols.
5-Assemble a series of jigsaw variation puzzles (jigsaw-square tiles-rings)
2-Swap groups of 2 triangle puzzle pieces to complete the image.
3-Use directional arrows to steer the ship clear of obstacles.
4-Connect ends of colored wires into partial symbols to recreate the symbols.
5-Assemble a series of jigsaw variation puzzles (jigsaw-square tiles-rings)
Bonus Chapter: The Great Storm (CE version only)
Relive that stormy night from a Coast Guards point of view as you rescue the crew of the Yacht. This is an average-length chapter that takes place pretty much entirely aboard the yacht with 7 additional scene locations. There are 10 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes to stretch out the length of actual gameplay. There are no Collectible Playing Cards or Morphing Presents to find which I find odd considering the game takes place on the yacht that is owned by the Present-giver? Once again, the Giant Brave guy does not give us an opportunity to pick up any missed collectibles or morphs. (I missed a card because 3 scenes had 2 cards instead of 1 and I just wasn't paying attention)
Relive that stormy night from a Coast Guards point of view as you rescue the crew of the Yacht. This is an average-length chapter that takes place pretty much entirely aboard the yacht with 7 additional scene locations. There are 10 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes to stretch out the length of actual gameplay. There are no Collectible Playing Cards or Morphing Presents to find which I find odd considering the game takes place on the yacht that is owned by the Present-giver? Once again, the Giant Brave guy does not give us an opportunity to pick up any missed collectibles or morphs. (I missed a card because 3 scenes had 2 cards instead of 1 and I just wasn't paying attention)
Collector's Edition Extra's:
16 Wallpapers from 16 of the scenes & w/o characters, yay! (can't download until completion of the main game...why, do I not own this game??) 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Video Cutscenes, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 24 Achievements, 32 Collectible Playing Cards, 29 Morphing Presents, 4 Main Chapters with 29 Scene Locations, +Bonus Chapter with 7 Scene Locations, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
16 Wallpapers from 16 of the scenes & w/o characters, yay! (can't download until completion of the main game...why, do I not own this game??) 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Video Cutscenes, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 24 Achievements, 32 Collectible Playing Cards, 29 Morphing Presents, 4 Main Chapters with 29 Scene Locations, +Bonus Chapter with 7 Scene Locations, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on an epic match-3 journey with your old friends from Rivermoor. Travel across the kingdom of Silverdale as you track down a bandit thief!
Overall rating
2
/
5
122 of 145 found this review helpful
IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL ALL WARM & FUZZY INSIDE...this is surely the dastardly deeds of the Grinch!
PostedNovember 30, 2019
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I LOVED Runefall 1 but I gotta tell ya, I didn't even finish the demo for this game because I was BORED to death! I was bored by the excessiveness of dialog in a story that was uninteresting, I was bored by the fact that the gameplay was the same as the first game, I've already played the first one a few times so I'm over it. I was bored with the ugly resource tiles, I was bored searching the moving boards for the same resources (and with way too much time allotted on the Timed Mode to make it challenging) You probably already figured out what I'm going to say about the Collector's Edition's worthiness, let's just say nothing about this sequel made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
The board moves around as you make matches in different areas, and you collect inventory items hidden within Grass-covered tiles, Dirt-covered tiles, etc. Some tiles are blocked with stone and wood, and the artifacts themselves are blocked by stone requiring you to make at least one match next to them. There is a jump map that recharges with each shield you collect and there are even mines to collect resources whenever you make matches next to them. until depleted
Large matches will give you Bonus, such as Amphora with a Match 4 or a Bomb for a Match 5 or more that explodes when matched or double-clicked. You'll need to find Keys to open Treasure Chests, and some chests require playing a mini-game to "pick" the lock. This Mini-game was actually a rather interesting puzzle where you have to click on 2 icons that are shown on the right to clear all pins.
The Collector's Edition Extra's include 14 Achievements, 11 Wallpapers, a Downloadable Soundtrack, the Making of the game milestones and obstacles and a Strategy Guide.
RUNEFALL SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Runefall SE only (February 11-2015) 4.6
2-Runefall 2 (November 30-2019) n/a
2-Runefall 2 (November 30-2019) n/a
by: Playcademy
I don't recommend this game.
A family reunion at the Sweet 18 hotel turns into a night of terror!
Overall rating
4
/
5
37 of 47 found this review helpful
ENJOY YOUR STAY, WE'LL LEAVE THE LIGHTS OFF
PostedNovember 29, 2019
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4 Hours
(including completion of all puzzles & CE Bonus Chapter)
*18 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter*
Difficulty Range: Intermediate
(including completion of all puzzles & CE Bonus Chapter)
*18 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter*
Difficulty Range: Intermediate
The Blackthorn Brothers aren't the sharpest tools in the Haunted Hotel Shed. After receiving their Family Reunion Invitation, they head to the Sweet 18 Hotel long before any other family member arrives. They don't seem to notice the dreadful condition of this establishment, nor do they put two and two together to draw a haunted hotel conclusion until it's too late. The concierge hands them a key to a very special room, Room 18. The boys soon find out that Room 18 has roots that intertwine deeply into their family's past, discovering how and why is the easy part, escaping Room 18 is a whole different ballgame!
What a perfect game for Halloween! The graphics are creepy, the sounds are haunting, and they remind me of the perfection this developer insisted on back in the day. I LOVED the Keyhole Hint graphics, well done! Okay, so the Morphing Objects are the Elephant in the room, literally, they are the size of a baby Elephant, but I am so happy to see that these guys are slowly returning to their roots. They are abandoning the "Emblem" for every single door, window, box, cabinet, and drawer scenario, they have returned to their original graphics style that was superior to all other developers back in the day. They lost sight of what made them special, honestly, they got lazy because we allowed them to be lazy by not noticing or complaining once we did notice. Room 18 isn't perfect but they are obviously trying to improve, and I will show my appreciation by giving them 5-Stars for the first time in a long time!
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 10 main Hidden Object Scenes and 4 smaller Zoom Zone HOP's +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. They are mostly Interactive Listed Item Finds and Silhouetted Shape Finds but there are also Symbol Finds, Multiples of the same Object Finds Keyword Interactions Finds, Uncovering Pairs, and Finding 2 Related Combo Items that match the Listed Words (_+_= Mermaid) There are no alternate puzzles offered.
There are 10 main Hidden Object Scenes and 4 smaller Zoom Zone HOP's +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. They are mostly Interactive Listed Item Finds and Silhouetted Shape Finds but there are also Symbol Finds, Multiples of the same Object Finds Keyword Interactions Finds, Uncovering Pairs, and Finding 2 Related Combo Items that match the Listed Words (_+_= Mermaid) There are no alternate puzzles offered.
Mini-Games:
There are 21 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Although they are decent puzzles, they do tend to be fairly easy to solve, and there are several "clicking one may affect others" which are my personal nemesis. Below are a few of my personal favorites during the game:
There are 21 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Although they are decent puzzles, they do tend to be fairly easy to solve, and there are several "clicking one may affect others" which are my personal nemesis. Below are a few of my personal favorites during the game:
1-Drag the frame over a tile & press directional arrows to align paths to allow energy to flow.
2-Move blocks horizontally or vertically to clear a path for the key.
3-Rotate groups of bottles until the colored corks match the pattern shown.
4-Press the 'jump" button on an arcade to avoid moving rows of skeletons, pumpkins, and ghosts, then jump on logs to the exit.
5-Drag clock weights that move the clock hands in different increments to set each time shown.
6-Remove all blocks by dragging and droppping them to matching colored blocks.
2-Move blocks horizontally or vertically to clear a path for the key.
3-Rotate groups of bottles until the colored corks match the pattern shown.
4-Press the 'jump" button on an arcade to avoid moving rows of skeletons, pumpkins, and ghosts, then jump on logs to the exit.
5-Drag clock weights that move the clock hands in different increments to set each time shown.
6-Remove all blocks by dragging and droppping them to matching colored blocks.
Bonus Chapter:
Uncle Samuel insists on returning to Sweet 18 to rescue Caroline who he claims has been begging for his help in recurring nightly dreams, so it's back to the Haunted Hotel for some more ghostbusting work. This is an average-length chapter that takes place over 7 Scene Locations with 6 Hidden Object Scenes and 6 Mini-Games. You will continue to search for 7 Morphing Objects, 4 Morphing Character Statues, and 5 Puzzle Fragments to complete the final Bonus Scene Image as well.
Uncle Samuel insists on returning to Sweet 18 to rescue Caroline who he claims has been begging for his help in recurring nightly dreams, so it's back to the Haunted Hotel for some more ghostbusting work. This is an average-length chapter that takes place over 7 Scene Locations with 6 Hidden Object Scenes and 6 Mini-Games. You will continue to search for 7 Morphing Objects, 4 Morphing Character Statues, and 5 Puzzle Fragments to complete the final Bonus Scene Image as well.
Collector's Edition Extra's:
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 18 Achievements, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Replayable Mini-Games, Secret Room, 14 Morphing Character Statues, 26 Morphing Objects (25??), 20 Puzzle Pieces (to complete 4 Scene Images) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 18 Achievements, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Replayable Mini-Games, Secret Room, 14 Morphing Character Statues, 26 Morphing Objects (25??), 20 Puzzle Pieces (to complete 4 Scene Images) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-In Strategy Guide.
HAUNTED HOTEL SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Haunted Hotel SE only (March 5-2008) 2.9
2-Believe The Lies SE only (January 7-2009) 2.7
3-Lonely Dreams SE only (August 28-2010) 3.3
4-Charles Dexter Ward (July 14-2012) 3.9
5-Eclipse (November 8-2013) 4.3
6-Ancient Bane (June 27-2014) 3.9
7-Death Sentence (January 16-2015) 3.9
8-Eternity (May 29-2015) 3.8
9-Phoenix (September 13-2015) 3.9
10-The X (December 11-2015) 4.3
11-The Axiom Butcher (May 29-2016) 4.3
12-Silent Waters (October 16-2016) 3.3
13-The Thirteenth (January 22-2017) 3.4
14-Personal Nightmare (June 23-2017) 4.3
15-The Evil Inside (October 29-2017) 4.0
16-Lost Dreams (April 6-2018) 3.5
17-Beyond The Page (January 20-2019) n/a
18-Room 18 (November 29-2019) n/a
2-Believe The Lies SE only (January 7-2009) 2.7
3-Lonely Dreams SE only (August 28-2010) 3.3
4-Charles Dexter Ward (July 14-2012) 3.9
5-Eclipse (November 8-2013) 4.3
6-Ancient Bane (June 27-2014) 3.9
7-Death Sentence (January 16-2015) 3.9
8-Eternity (May 29-2015) 3.8
9-Phoenix (September 13-2015) 3.9
10-The X (December 11-2015) 4.3
11-The Axiom Butcher (May 29-2016) 4.3
12-Silent Waters (October 16-2016) 3.3
13-The Thirteenth (January 22-2017) 3.4
14-Personal Nightmare (June 23-2017) 4.3
15-The Evil Inside (October 29-2017) 4.0
16-Lost Dreams (April 6-2018) 3.5
17-Beyond The Page (January 20-2019) n/a
18-Room 18 (November 29-2019) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I recommend this game!
Cooking Trip: Back on the Road — show the world you’re the best and discover new culinary secrets!
Overall rating
2
/
5
67 of 79 found this review helpful
"GUEST WANTS LEMONADE, GRAB SOME CHERRIES" ????
PostedNovember 28, 2019
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
New Graphics, Same Layout. New Foods (sort of) Same Tasks. New Story, Same Plot. New Achievement Names, Same Achievements. New Bonus Names, Same Bonuses. Basically, this was a fantastic game when it was presented several years ago as Katy & Bob. I own all of the Katy & Bob games so no, I don't need another game that's an exact replica of those games, disguised as a new TM series because they changed the Title and renamed the characters!
I also don't appreciate having to "wait hand and foot" on customers who seem to have a "tude" (and alligator arms) why would I want to play a game with angry hotheads, or with people that leave poor tips no matter how quickly they are served? We may as well have a Waitress Attitude option to make it an even playing field, such as a "refusal to serve" or "here's the door, don't let it hitcha in the..." option, that oughta make things more interesting!
If you played the last Cooking Trip game (or Katy & Bob games) the first thing you'll notice is that the restaurant layout is the same. The familiar three, standing room only tables on the left, a fence around the entire tiki hut restaurant, a prep area where John continuously waves his hands in front of the actual food station, as if he was sprinkling fairy-dust or conjuring a potion, a condiments station to the left, rectangular tables for fruits of various types on the bottom portion of the screen, a freezer on the right-hand side to turn those cherries and blueberries into a frosty cold lemonade?? and eventually, 2 different restaurants with similar Katy & Bob themes. Does any of this sound familiar? Of course, it does, because this is the MO for all games by this developer, all they ever do is change the Title and the Characters names and roll with it for years and years!
This is a Point & Click, Time Management game where you serve customers for tips. You simply click the customer to give them a menu when they arrive and then click on the items they order, (pictured items are shown in their thought bubble) and re-click the customer to deliver those food items (exactly as pictured) The good news is that you don't have to drag anybody or anything, an annoying feature some TM games incorporate. When the $ sign appears, you click the customer a final time to accept payment and then scan the cursor over the coins to receive the tips they apparently throw on the ground for you to fetch. (Coins? I don't think a few coins add up to a 20% tip!?!) Each customer has a Green Smiley over their head which turns Yellow, and eventually, Red if the service is too slow because they are hotheads with no respect for servers. Their patience level also directly affects the amount of tip they are willing to leave, with either Gold, Silver, or Bronze Coins. The "Expert" Goal amount is shown before the start of each level, and there are Bonus Goals available (but not required) which are shown at the bottom, such as collecting money from three consecutive customers simultaneously.
As you progress, the Menu items increase and become more complex. The tips you earn are used to purchase Upgrades from the Shop to help you achieve level goals, such as Extra Serving Stations, Decor to help stabilize the customers' mood or earn more money by Increasing the cost of food items.
There are 60 Levels and 12 Trophy Achievements to earn.
There are 60 Levels and 12 Trophy Achievements to earn.
The Collector's Edition Extra's include 10 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, and a Walkthrough Strategy Guide, none of which make this game worthy of twice the price.
COOKING TRIP SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Cooking Trip 1 (April 16-2019) 3.0
2-Cooking Trip 2: Back on the Road (November 28-2019) n/a
2-Cooking Trip 2: Back on the Road (November 28-2019) n/a
by: GameOn Productions
I don't recommend this game.
Join the gods of Greek legend and bring peace to an ancient world on the brink of war in this match 3 epic!
Overall rating
4
/
5
39 of 49 found this review helpful
HMMM, SOMETHING'S JUST A LITTLE OFF THIS TIME ><(((('>
PostedNovember 27, 2019
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm not a huge Chain Match 3 fan but I've always loved Heroes of Hellas games. Origins Part 1, however, seems far too easy this time, something's a little off yet I can't quite figure out what it was that made it less fun to play than the previous games?? The graphics seem muted, less Picasso Clownfish vibrant than before, and large chains were either available in abundance or scarcer than a guppy during shark week. The instructions left a lot to one's imagination, they explain The What's but not The How's and Why's. For me, it was a Red Sea Bannerfish kind of game, but I was expecting a Mitratus Butterflyfish kind of game with cutting edge features and challenging gameplay.
You can play in a Relaxed Mode without a Timer, a Normal Timed Mode or Advanced Mode with less time available. There are a whopping 63 Achievements to earn in increments (0/60) and there are 60 Shells to find on the seafloor before the start of some levels. The Shells will piece together the Shell of Great Wisdom eventually.
Large Chain matches will reward you with Gold Coins that can be included with any preceding Chains of any tile type as long as there are at least 2 matching tiles. Treasure Chests, Gems, Laurels, etc. are collected by dropping them off the honeycomb-shaped board, other collectibles such as Flowers and Hearts are collected by making adjacent matches.
Power-ups will appear on the board such as Amphora Bombs and directional Lightning Bolts, which are activated when you include them within a Chain Match. Other power-ups such as Poseidon, will shuffle the tiles, once you select the Icon on the top-left of the board (requires recharging after each use) Winged Tiles will reveal hidden sections of the board, once they are activated by including in a chain.
Adjacent matches are required to dissipate Dark Storm Clouds, Ropes and Chains require including the blocked tile with at least two identical tiles. Stone Monoliths can only be removed when you include the tile with the same symbol on each monolith, and Steel Monoliths can't be removed.
HEROES OF HELLAS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Heroes of Hellas 1: (April 15-2009) 4.2
2-Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympian (January 13-2010) 4.5
3-Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens (October 26-2011) 4.6
4-Heroes of Hellas 4: Birth of Legend (February 12-2018) 4.2
5-Heroes of Hellas 5: Origins Part 1 (November 27-2019) n/a
2-Heroes of Hellas 2: Olympian (January 13-2010) 4.5
3-Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens (October 26-2011) 4.6
4-Heroes of Hellas 4: Birth of Legend (February 12-2018) 4.2
5-Heroes of Hellas 5: Origins Part 1 (November 27-2019) n/a
by: Jaibo Games
I recommend this game!
A visit to Manchester Asylum takes a dangerous turn into madness!
Overall rating
5
/
5
387 of 471 found this review helpful
PATIENT # 11 HOLDS THE KEY TO THE BLACK CROWN
PostedNovember 26, 2019
pennmom36
fromRube Goldberg earned an engineering degree from UC Berkley but quit his job to become a cartoonist one of which won a Pulitzer Prize & the Rueben Award was named after him He wrote a film for the 3 Stooges, was on a stamp and became a sculptor at 80
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
29 Main Game Scene Locations +15 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
29 Main Game Scene Locations +15 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Intermediate
Locked away in a tiny, dark cell of the Manchester Asylum is patient #11. She doesn't know who she is or where she's from. She has spoken, she hasn't responded to any treatment, she has made no progress for years, until now. Patient 11 has been obsessively drawing images of the Black Crown all over the walls of her cell while uttering randomly. Patient 11 may be mentally unstable, but she seems to be connected to the Black Crown, the same Mystery Case Files you solved 8 years ago, in Louisiana!
Gadgets/Helpers:
In Chapter 1, you will use a pocket watch that reacts when a new scene is discovered. You must drag the watch around the scene until it turns green, indicating you have discovered the right location. This gadget is only used 5 times and only in the first chapter. Why didn't they use the Mechanical Moth from the last MCF game?
In Chapter 1, you will use a pocket watch that reacts when a new scene is discovered. You must drag the watch around the scene until it turns green, indicating you have discovered the right location. This gadget is only used 5 times and only in the first chapter. Why didn't they use the Mechanical Moth from the last MCF game?
Collectibles & Morphing Objects:
There are 42 Hidden Crabs and 42 Morphing Objects, one of each in every scene, including the CE Bonus Chapter. The Crabs are way too big to miss and the Coral is too brightly-colored to blend into the single color hues of most locations.
There are 42 Hidden Crabs and 42 Morphing Objects, one of each in every scene, including the CE Bonus Chapter. The Crabs are way too big to miss and the Coral is too brightly-colored to blend into the single color hues of most locations.
Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 17 Hidden Object Scenes +3 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Although there aren't a lot of variances, the scenes were well thought out and located in interesting scenes. They are mostly Listed Item Finds that are multi-layered and pan towards the back with one scene following the next. There are several Interactive List finds, Matching Symbol Finds, Matching Constellation Finds, and Pictured Item Finds as well. There are No Alternate Games Available.
There are 17 Hidden Object Scenes +3 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Although there aren't a lot of variances, the scenes were well thought out and located in interesting scenes. They are mostly Listed Item Finds that are multi-layered and pan towards the back with one scene following the next. There are several Interactive List finds, Matching Symbol Finds, Matching Constellation Finds, and Pictured Item Finds as well. There are No Alternate Games Available.
Mini-Games:
There are 42 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, including my beloved Super Puzzles which are Rube Goldberg variations of complex door locks that require solving multiple layers of puzzles to open and proceed to the next chapter, and it's what makes MCF games so unique. below are a few of my personal favorite games:
There are 42 Mini-Games +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter, including my beloved Super Puzzles which are Rube Goldberg variations of complex door locks that require solving multiple layers of puzzles to open and proceed to the next chapter, and it's what makes MCF games so unique. below are a few of my personal favorite games:
1-All 3 Rube Goldberg puzzles
2-Drag various angled clock hands to point to every hour on a clock.
3-All versions of Untangle the Ropes games.
4-Trace the lines without repeating a direction.
2-Drag various angled clock hands to point to every hour on a clock.
3-All versions of Untangle the Ropes games.
4-Trace the lines without repeating a direction.
Bonus Chapter (Collector's Edition version only)
Jumping jambalaya, Momma Aimee has discovered that Phineas Crown is one determined pirate. Phineas placed 12 segments of his soul within ordinary items and hidden them in the swamps of Louisiana. I loved this 13th Skull revisit to Absolute Voodoo which is an average-length chapter that takes place over 8 familiar Scene Locations. There are 6 Mini-Games and 3 Hidden Object Scenes and you will pick up the final 8 Hidden Crabs, and 8 Morphing Coral.
Jumping jambalaya, Momma Aimee has discovered that Phineas Crown is one determined pirate. Phineas placed 12 segments of his soul within ordinary items and hidden them in the swamps of Louisiana. I loved this 13th Skull revisit to Absolute Voodoo which is an average-length chapter that takes place over 8 familiar Scene Locations. There are 6 Mini-Games and 3 Hidden Object Scenes and you will pick up the final 8 Hidden Crabs, and 8 Morphing Coral.
Collector's Edition Extras:
8 Wallpapers, 8 Video Movie Cutscenes, 11 Music, Case Files Journal,15 Achievements, 19 Replayable Puzzles, 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 42 Collectible Crabs, 42 Morphing Coral, 20 Souvenirs, 5 Chapters (listed as Chapters 0-4) +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
8 Wallpapers, 8 Video Movie Cutscenes, 11 Music, Case Files Journal,15 Achievements, 19 Replayable Puzzles, 20 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 42 Collectible Crabs, 42 Morphing Coral, 20 Souvenirs, 5 Chapters (listed as Chapters 0-4) +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
MYSTERY CASE FILES SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Huntsville SE only (November 14-2005) 3.6
2-Prime Suspects SE only (April 6-2006) 3.8
3-Ravenhearst SE only (December 15-2006) 3.6
4-Madame Fate SE only (November 7-2007) 4.0
5-Return to Ravenhearst SE only (November 26-2008) 4.2
6-Dire Grove (November 25-2009) 4.7
7-13th Skull (November 25-2010) 4.4
8-Escape From Ravenhearst (November 23-2011) 3.6
9-Shadow Lake (November 20-2012) 2.6
10-Fate's Carnival (November 26-2013) 4.4
11-Dire Grove, Sacred Grove (November 25-2014) 3.6
12-Key to Ravenhearst (October 27-2015) 3.6
13-Ravenhearst Unlocked (November 24-2015) 3.5
14-Broken Hour (November 22-2016) 3.5
15-The Black Veil (March 23-2017) 3.0
16-The Revenant's Hunt (November 21-2017) 3.0
17-Rewind (June 21-2018) 3.4
18-The Countess (November 20-208) 3.1
19-Moths to a Flame (August 22-2019) 3.9
20-Black Crown (November 26-2019) n/a
2-Prime Suspects SE only (April 6-2006) 3.8
3-Ravenhearst SE only (December 15-2006) 3.6
4-Madame Fate SE only (November 7-2007) 4.0
5-Return to Ravenhearst SE only (November 26-2008) 4.2
6-Dire Grove (November 25-2009) 4.7
7-13th Skull (November 25-2010) 4.4
8-Escape From Ravenhearst (November 23-2011) 3.6
9-Shadow Lake (November 20-2012) 2.6
10-Fate's Carnival (November 26-2013) 4.4
11-Dire Grove, Sacred Grove (November 25-2014) 3.6
12-Key to Ravenhearst (October 27-2015) 3.6
13-Ravenhearst Unlocked (November 24-2015) 3.5
14-Broken Hour (November 22-2016) 3.5
15-The Black Veil (March 23-2017) 3.0
16-The Revenant's Hunt (November 21-2017) 3.0
17-Rewind (June 21-2018) 3.4
18-The Countess (November 20-208) 3.1
19-Moths to a Flame (August 22-2019) 3.9
20-Black Crown (November 26-2019) n/a
by: Eipix Games
I recommend this game!
Help the Walker family sort through the clutter and find everything they need to prepare the perfect Thanksgiving Day!
Overall rating
2
/
5
45 of 54 found this review helpful
A PERFECT DISASTER
PostedNovember 25, 2019
pennmom36
fromBF has a backlog of games waiting to be released so why do we keep getting the same games by the same developers?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The graphics are dreadful and every level has the same huge objects to match over and over. These are basically the same unappealing images from the three previous games, not to mention the "clutter" of a million sun's. There's no challenge, no eye appeal, and definitely no fun involved in these piles of clutter. The transparent levels are just a disaster, a perfect disaster. Why does BF offer just a handful of series games by the same handful of developers when they have games backlogged in their queue waiting for their moment to shine? It gets really boring only being able to play the same genres by the same developers when there are millions of different types of games available??? I just don't get it Felix, at least offer 2 games a day so we have some choices!
They added an Easy Difficulty Mode again, but the difficult mode is worthless when the objects to match are the size of a small house, right? The Easy Mode is an Untimed mode and the Difficult Mode is simply a Timed Mode that gives you extra points for completing the level, +10 points for every second remaining on the timer, and +500 points for every unused Hint feature. There are 140 Clutter-type levels that can be replayed if you want to earn a better score. After playing 7 Clutter levels, you can play a Puzzle variation such as Square Tile Swaps or Sliders (20 Total Puzzles) and they are always the same images.
The Clutter Styles vary from level to level. Some may require finding Identical Matching Pairs, Triple Matches, Related Items (such as Furniture, Berry or Dessert-related objects=boring) Related Pairs, or Transparent Object levels.
Each scene has a gazillion Sun Emblems scattered among the junk, which I believe recharges the hint meter, but I'm not certain because the only game features explanations given are the type of Clutter and the point system. I only played the demo portion but I didn't use the hint feature, and I can't imagine it would be necessary for any of the levels because the objects are so large they are impossible not to see.
Each scene has a gazillion Sun Emblems scattered among the junk, which I believe recharges the hint meter, but I'm not certain because the only game features explanations given are the type of Clutter and the point system. I only played the demo portion but I didn't use the hint feature, and I can't imagine it would be necessary for any of the levels because the objects are so large they are impossible not to see.
SHOPPING CLUTTER SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Best Playground (November 7-2018) 3.1
2-Christmas Square (December 12-2018) 2.4
3-Blooming Tale (September 2-2019) 2.8
4-A Perfect Thanksgiving (November 25-2019) n/a
2-Christmas Square (December 12-2018) 2.4
3-Blooming Tale (September 2-2019) 2.8
4-A Perfect Thanksgiving (November 25-2019) n/a
by: Jet Dogs Studio
I don't recommend this game.
Match cards, rescue mystical Faeries, raise Magical Pets, and explore many enchanted worlds!
Overall rating
3
/
5
91 of 108 found this review helpful
SWEET FAERIE CONCEPT POOR EXECUTION
PostedNovember 24, 2019
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Why, oh why, did they have to make this a Match 2 Cards type of Solitaire game? Right from the get-go, this had some really cool features and tutorials starting with a clever Random Name Tab and a satirical caution notification against the forces of Dark Magic. There are Hidden Mysterious Eggs to discover and Faeries to rescue, Talents and Valor achievements to unlock too, sounds amazing right?
Unfortunately, the Solitaire game itself was rather dull and boring, they were stingy with the deck cards and steep with the prices you have to pay for almost every move you make!
This is a Match 2 Solitaire game that doesn't reward you with much unless you match 2 cards of the same suit back to back, which doesn't happen a lot. Matching multiple pairs of the same color fills the Mana Meter which is how you earn most of the points, very few points are added for making mismatched colors, this is great in theory, but waiting for those perfect pairs is too risky given the fact that you'll most like lose a perfect score (removing all cards) after running out of deck cards. Deck cards are turned over on to 3 slots and there is a 4th slot to place a card of choice to be used later, BUT, there is a cost for taking advantage of the slot. There are a ton of cards on the board to remove, but you only get a handful of deck cards, you do get one Redeal once the deck has been depleted IF you made a combo of +7 on the previous round, otherwise, it will cost you a whopping 1000 points.
The feature that piqued my interest the most was uncovering Mysterious (and very colorful) Eggs during gameplay. Once discovered, you must "Activate" the Egg and wait patiently for the notification that you are the proud parent of a bouncing baby ??? once the egg Hatches and evolves. You will also randomly discover Lore, unlock Talents, and activate Valor to make the game more difficult (which probably means you'll only get 10 deck cards instead of 12??)
I loved the concept, I love fantasy games about fairies, dragons, elves, etc. and I probably would have instantly purchased this game if it wasn't a Mahjong style match 3 game. Everything about this game was right up my alley except for the solitaire levels :(
Reprise your role as Cruise Director and enjoy a worldwide cruise of a lifetime while finding hidden objects and completing clever mini games.
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 94 found this review helpful
DO I HEAR SLEIGH BELLS? WINTER'S COMING!
PostedNovember 24, 2019
pennmom36
fromIf you were wondering where the extra chapters were on the CE version, they were weaved into the standard levels, rather than a separate chapter.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Fall has officially arrived when the USS Liberty pulls into the Big Fish port. I love my summer vacation at the park more, but there's just something about these cheesy, old-fashioned HOG's that has me scrambling to hit the "Buy Now" button, and I truly look forward to them.
You can choose either Casual, Challenge or Extreme modes as well as which gender of cruise director you want. The best part about this game is that it's relaxing, there's no timer so you have all the time in the world, and some of the items to find are tiny and very well blended, so it's a good thing there are no time restraints. I will say that a few of the scenes seem a bit blurrier than usual.
Each scene has Lost items that need to be found, the portal on the bottom left will show these items one at a time as silhouetted shapes and when all have been found the portal will close. Each scene also has recyclable items that need to be found such as paper bags, cans, and bottles, when all recyclable items have been found the lid will close. You earn coins as you play and the coins can be used to purchase 16 different Souvenirs.
The items to find are list finds, items in Red are hidden in or behind something, items in Blue are tasks to complete such as finding and dragging a flag to the pole. Most scenes have a couple of sparkling zoom zones as well. The CE version has 16 Photo Shoot opportunities available when you spot the Camera Icon, and the pictures are stored in your Photo Album. There are 18 Trophy Achievements to earn and you will earn a bronze star if you find all items, a silver star if you find all lost items OR all recyclable items and a gold star when you find all lost items AND recyclable items. You will also receive an eagle eye bonus if you don't use the hint. There is a Mega Hint feature that will briefly show you the location of all available items on the list.
After each HOG you will get to solve a puzzle or mini-game such as rotating puzzle tiles to complete a picture, Match 2 identical items by flipping over two cards at a time, Spot the Difference between two almost identical pictures, finding cruise-related words in a word search, or putting together a jigsaw type puzzle of the ship's layout.
*Note about the CE versions extra excursions* Many of us were confused about the CE version's extra content that seemed to be MIA, thanks to a pond friend who contacted them, they responded that it was "Built into the mainstream of the game -- The Tall Ship Adventure in the Caribbean Queen which sets off from Miami, goes through the Bermuda Triangle, the Coastguard rescue, visits St Nicholas and Paradise Islands"
The Collector's Edition version Extra's include:
24 Wallpapers, 22 Music Soundtracks, 48 Replayable Mini-Games, and a new Cruise Adventure on the Caribbean Queen. which is integrated into the game rather than being a separate individual chapter.
24 Wallpapers, 22 Music Soundtracks, 48 Replayable Mini-Games, and a new Cruise Adventure on the Caribbean Queen. which is integrated into the game rather than being a separate individual chapter.
VACATION ADVENTURES CRUISE DIRECTOR SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 1 SE only (September 15-2014) 3.8
2-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 2 SE only (July 1-2015) 4.2
3-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 3 SE only (August 8-2016) 4.5
4-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 4 SE only (October 25-2017) 4.5
5-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 5 SE only (July 16-2018) 4.3
6-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 6 SE (November 24-2019) n/a
2-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 2 SE only (July 1-2015) 4.2
3-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 3 SE only (August 8-2016) 4.5
4-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 4 SE only (October 25-2017) 4.5
5-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 5 SE only (July 16-2018) 4.3
6-Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director 6 SE (November 24-2019) n/a
by: Casual Arts
I recommend this game!