pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4726
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you stop a past case from destroying the present?
Overall rating
2
/
5
200 of 253 found this review helpful
ONE OF THE MOST BORING GAMES I'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR!
PostedMay 30, 2019
pennmom36
fromSherlock Holmes was originally named Sherrinford, Holmes didn’t make deductions he made abductions a logical conclusion based upon a hunch vs deductions that are based on facts Holmes never says Elementary, my dear Watson in the same sentence.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Completed Game approximately 4.0 hours
(including all mini-games)
(Bonus Chapter not accessible)
(including all mini-games)
(Bonus Chapter not accessible)
Sherlock Holmes has been missing for 15 years and crime was at an all-time high, that is until Ms. Holmes stepped in to take advantage of the situation. We join Ms. Holmes on her most recent investigation of the Monster of Baskervilles. Don't get too excited about this "family curse" scenario because it only lasts one chapter before the plot jumps from point A to point Z which has nothing to do with the plot, and basically isn't even mentioned in the following 2 final chapters????
The next 2 chapters have a plot that's been done a thousand times before, a complete letdown, there's not even a "clue searching" feature scenario that you'd expect from someone who self-righteously claims to be equal to the late, great Sherlock Holmes. I take that back, the first chapter required me to find 3-4 tell-tale clues in a room Hidden object style and never used again. I didn't have to gather evidence and draw a conclusion either, I take that back too, twice I had to draw a line to connect the large dots in the correct sequence of events, boo~ring. The Hounds of Baskervilles turned into a cheesy monster, Mr. Sherlock Holmes turned into Ms. Sherlock Holmes, the Monster is completely dismissed, there's no who-dun-it sleuthing involved, there are no "brilliant deductions" made, there's just nothing about this new series that has anything special.
Oohhh, a new series game available, how exciting. Even better, I read on the CE Strategy Guide that some of the collectibles require more than one visit before they show up, NICE! Unfortunately, all my excited anticipations wan as I muddle my way through the first chapter because the storyline is boring and moves at a snail's pace, not to mention the fact that Elephant games have so many cliche tasks and a billion emblems to place on just about everything. We have the standard missing gnome and missing zipper pull, items guarded by angry bees, ants marching single file across random items, glass that needs to be cut precisely with a 5-carat diamond that someone managed to lose (and I ditch it afterward?) the ole skeleton who refuses to hand over the goods until you replace missing jewelry (how bout giving it a 5-carat diamond?)
Naturally, every box, fountain, fireplace, door, and drawer needs an Emblem and for some odd reason, whenever I replace the emblems on a wall, the entire section of bricks caves in, revealing a hidden cache. Was that the sole purpose of bricking up the wall, so that someone could replace the emblems to make it crumble?? My favorite sentence from Ms. Holmes was "The owner seemed to like everything with amulets of the motif shapes" (brilliant deduction Ms. Holmes)
There are 10 main Hidden Object Scenes and 7 smaller Zoom Zone HO's (+6 CE Bonus Chapter) Most of the scenes are Interactive List Finds but there are also Swatch Finds (finding the are that matches the tile swatch) Morphing Object Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Replace Item Finds, Spot the Difference Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, and Uncovering Matching Pair Finds. You can earn Achievements during the smaller Zoom Zone HOP's but there are no alternate Games available to play instead of the HO's.
There are 31 Mini~Games (+7 CE Bonus Chapter) Some of them were the exact one's offered in their last release, but for the most part, they are decent games. Below are brief descriptions of some of my favorite games:
1~Rotate 4 disk centers until the fragments join in a triangular shape and then rotate disk rings until the triangles fit correctly when you click the button. ღღ
2~Select bottom arrows to rotate the central disk to pick up tiles and place them into their matching slots. ღღღ
3~Press arrows to move columns and rows until each row has tiles of the correct colors according to the clues on the board. ღ
2~Select bottom arrows to rotate the central disk to pick up tiles and place them into their matching slots. ღღღ
3~Press arrows to move columns and rows until each row has tiles of the correct colors according to the clues on the board. ღ
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter may or may not be more entertaining than the main game, I wouldn't know because the game froze up once in the first chapter, a second time in the second chapter, and in the third chapter it completely shut down twice. I completed the final puzzle in the main chapter but during the final cutscene after the mini-game, it shut down again. This time it didn't recognize my progress, the hint feature didn't point to anything and when I opened up the final mini-game that I had already finished, the game could be completed again but there were no instructions this time and no skip feature. I completed the puzzle a second time but it doesn't do anything, therefore I can't access the Bonus Chapter because the game thinks I didn't complete the main game. I can tell you that it takes place over 8 scene locations and has 7 Mini~Games & 6 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will find the remaining 8 Puzzle Fragments (to complete the 4th and final jigsaw) 3 Character Bobble~heads, and 8 Morphing Objects according to the Strategy Guide.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 12 Replayable Mini-Games, 13 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 20 Achievements to Earn, 32 Zoom Zone Puzzle Fragments, 4 Fragment Jigsaw Puzzles (collect 8 puzzle fragments per puzzle) 12 Character Bobble~Heads, 24 Morphing Objects *Note: the some of the collectibles are non~linear and may require more than one visit to the scene before they become available* 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built~in Strategy-Guide.
I don't recommend this game.
Embark on a paranormal journey through a family’s past in this wonderfully crafted adventure game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
145 of 164 found this review helpful
A SURPRISINGLY GOOD PUZZLE ADVENTURE WITH MORPHING OBJECTS!
PostedMay 28, 2019
pennmom36
fromWhy does Catherine's voiceover sound like a man's voice trying to sound like a woman, but everyone else has normal voices?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The beginning cutscenes were basically sketched pictures and it didn't look very promising, but once the actual game started, I was very impressed with this game's features and storyline, it even has 22 somewhat challenging Morphs! The graphics are "old-school" but in a good way. Clearly, they paid a lot of attention to the details, cracks in statues that make them look authentically aged, algae growing in stagnant fountain water, moss covering tree limbs, paver stones that have seen better days. Everything is decaying and falling apart, after all, the Mansion has been abandoned for years.
The cutscenes (after the opening scene) are computer generated, crystal clear, and the characters are so life-like! This isn't Specialbits first time around the Adventure Game block, they have developed several games similar to this one. Their games can easily slip under the radar, the kind of games that once you discover them they are surprisingly good and I don't think they get enough credit for being able to stand toe-to-toe with some of the well-known big guys!
I suspected Stormhill Mystery: Family Shadows was originally released as a CE version after reading some of the 10 available Achievements that eluded to Bonus Content, not to mention the fact that it has 22 Morphing Objects that are common in CE versions. Turns out my instincts were right! Now I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why on earth BF didn't offer this game in the CE version? Why did they opt for this Standard Edition version because it's a really good game, and certainly better than some of the HOPA games offered lately?
With that being said, if you are looking for a Hidden Object Game, you may be disappointed because this is a Puzzle Adventure. There are still items that are somewhat hidden to pick up and use, as well as Mini-Games to play, but there are no actual Hidden Object Scenes. (at least during the 2 hours I've played so far) So far, the mini-games are quite good, they aren't difficult, but the kind of games you have to put some thought into, such as rotating and placing fragments that are very oddly shaped to make it more challenging, or sliding tiles until the tiles with gears align to create a path and opens a lock.
I've only played this game for a little over 2 hours and the only buyer's remorse I have is that I wish it was a CE version! It has all the features I love, including an option to play in a Hard difficulty mode where Zoom Zones don't close automatically, a good Jump Map and Morphing Objects. I also love the Plus Items feature where you have to drag one plus item to another plus item logically, sometimes it requires 3 or 4 items to be combined! I also really loved the fact that several scenes remain unlocked which hasn't been the case in games of late. This makes the game more fun and more challenging because I can travel back in forth between scenes manually, searching for what needs to be done. When you can travel between 8-10 scenes versus 3 scenes only (within the newer games by the big guys) it's much more interesting! And the icing on the cake...so far I have had a Knife, a Crowbar, and Shovel the entire time and used them multiple times!
I recommend this game!
Solve colorful riddles and discover hidden pictures in the kingdom of the owls!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 56 found this review helpful
NONOGRAM FANS REJOICE!
PostedMay 27, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The tiles are so bright and colorful, they really make the images pop. There are 6 different tile styles to choose from that give them different textures, one looks like a fabric weave, one looks like lego's and one reminds me of a playground mat, even the standard tile selection looks amazing with rounded edges.
There are 10 beautiful Locations with 20 Levels each, and you can set the locations as Wallpapers! You can play in Casual Mode or an Advanced Mode where the tiles are crossed off only when an entire row or column has been completed. There are 6 different Colors on each puzzle, some of which are locked until certain tiles have been correctly filled. The colors are amazing and the finished images are labeled but easily recognizable.
You can earn up to 3 Stars, one star for completing the image, two stars for completing the image with one mistake and three stars if you complete the puzzle without mistakes. There are two different Hint features available, one that fills in a Random Cell, and one that correctly fills Cells in a Cross formation, but once used, it has to recharge. You can purchase 24 different items to decorate Merlin's humble abode with the Coins you earn solving the nonograms.
I love the Solitaire games by this developer so it didn't surprise me that Digimight would offer such a fantastic Logic-based Nonogram!
I recommend this game!
There is a shadow hanging over New York City and time is running out.
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 50 found this review helpful
LOVE THE GAME~LOVE THIS DEV~LOVED THE CE VERSION COLLECTIBLES!
PostedMay 26, 2019
pennmom36
fromClimb aboard the Five-BN Games train, destination New York ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Completed CE Game approximately 6.5 hours
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all puzzles)
Demo only Standard Version
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all puzzles)
Demo only Standard Version
It can go undetected and unnoticed by nearly everyone. It can remain dormant for centuries, it can affect anyone, it often affects everyone. It may be curable, it may be deadly. It may happen anywhere, it may happen everywhere. It could come on strong and disappear quickly, but it could also be apocalyptic and deadly, and it could be intentional. It could be happening right now, running ramped through the streets of New York. It could be The Outbreak that destroys the human population, and the world as we know it...it could, but will it?
Five-BN is my absolute favorite developer, I fell in love with these dev's the second I had to chop my way through a tree to save little Jimmy in the Lost Lands. They have some of the best Computer Generated Graphics around, clearly, their graphics department is top-notched, so much so, that they deserve some well-earned praise, so I "tip my hat" in recognition of your incredible talent, kudos ))) ღ (((
My favorite Five-BN feature, besides the graphics, is the CE version Morphing Objects, and Collectibles. They can be quite elusive at times, but that's how it's supposed to be! In the CE version, there is a Morphing Object in each of the 31 Scene Locations (no morphs within the 10 CE Bonus Chapter Scenes) completing the Morph Collection unlocks an achievement and 20 extra Mini-Games. In the CE version, each scene also has a Collectible (there are 5 different categories of Collectibles) and for each completed Collectible, you will unlock an Extra Square Puzzle. The Morphs & Collectibles alone make the CE version so entertaining, and receiving extra games and puzzles is just icing on the cake, not to mention it has a very lengthy Bonus Chapter, so if you can swing the extra price, I highly recommend the CE version!
There are 10 Hidden Object Scenes +3 in the CE Bonus Chapter. Five-BN Games is by far the champion in this department. Most of the HOP's (some include mini-game puzzles) are Interactive~Progressive with either Listed Item Finds or Silhouetted Shapes requiring you to find objects and use that item Interactively to expose the next object and so forth. They are far more challenging and definitely more entertaining than any HOP by any other developer...period! There are also Multiple's of the Same Object Finds, Replacing Inventory Item Finds, and Interactive Listed/Silhouette Item Finds available.
There are 38 Mini-Games +7 within the CE Bonus Chapter, 6 of which are within the Hidden Object Scenes. Several puzzles required you to remember clues found earlier, a feature I'd love to see more often because the alternative "sticky note" clue has no challenge whatsoever, which is simply a time-waster! I loved ღ these puzzles, most of them are original, all of them are creative. Here are some of my favorites:
1~Use rotational arrows to guide the steel ball to the center button using gold balls as bumpers. ღ
2~Slide trains along patterned tracks to their color-coded slots x3 challenging layouts. ღღღ
3~Arrange masks so no row or column has the same color or emotion. ღ
4~Use the blue buttons to swap 14 key positions and then rotate the adjacent gem positions according to the clue.ღ
5~Swap numbered buttons so each row equals the sum of 34.ღღ
6~Rotate angles and guide wires through every point x3 boards. ღღღ
7-Arrange square blocks with 4 edge colors to complete a pattern. ღღ
8-Find & use items to navigate rooms w/o being caught before the timer runs out (or you will have to restart) ღღღ
9~Empty all water tanks to the upper right tank by clicking tanks in the correct order. ღ
2~Slide trains along patterned tracks to their color-coded slots x3 challenging layouts. ღღღ
3~Arrange masks so no row or column has the same color or emotion. ღ
4~Use the blue buttons to swap 14 key positions and then rotate the adjacent gem positions according to the clue.ღ
5~Swap numbered buttons so each row equals the sum of 34.ღღ
6~Rotate angles and guide wires through every point x3 boards. ღღღ
7-Arrange square blocks with 4 edge colors to complete a pattern. ღღ
8-Find & use items to navigate rooms w/o being caught before the timer runs out (or you will have to restart) ღღღ
9~Empty all water tanks to the upper right tank by clicking tanks in the correct order. ღ
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter winds back the hands of time to discover the origins of The Order, playing as Hank, one of the founding fathers. Several catacombs were discovered during the construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and The Order has been investigating what seems to be remanents of a similar organization abandoned two decades ago. The priests became concerned and alerted Hank when the investigative team disappeared two days ago, one of which was Hank's sister. There are 10 scenes within the lengthy CE Bonus Chapter that has 7 Mini-Games, and 3 Hidden Object Scenes. There are no Morphing Objects remaining but you will start a new Collection of The Order Medallions, one in each scene.
The Collector's Edition version has 11 Wallpapers 15 Concept Art Pictures, 15 Movie Video Cutscenes, 6 Music Soundtracks, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 22 Achievements, 31 Morphing Objects, 20 Additional Mini-Games (when Morphing Object Collection is Completed) 41 Collectibles in 5 Categories (9 St. Patricks Figurines~6 Vinyl Records~7 Four-leafed Clovers~9 Feathers~Bonus Chapter~10 Medallions of the Order) 5 Bonus Square Tile Puzzles (unlocked with each Completed Collection Category) 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide...ps~take lots of vitamin C and if someone sneezes, RUN!
NEW YORK MYSTERIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Secrets Of The Mafia (May 18-2014) 4.4
2-High Voltage (July 5-2015) 4.3
3-Lantern Of Souls (May 1-2016) 4.6
4-The Outbreak (May 26-2019) n/a
2-High Voltage (July 5-2015) 4.3
3-Lantern Of Souls (May 1-2016) 4.6
4-The Outbreak (May 26-2019) n/a
by: Five-BN Games (my all-time favorite developer!)
I recommend this game!
It's time to jump back into campsite development. Bart has gotten himself in a predicament and needs your help out of it.
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 49 found this review helpful
A CAMPING WE WILL GO~A GLAMPING WE WILL GO
PostedMay 25, 2019
pennmom36
fromThe tent was patented in 1856, Civil War troops coined phrases like dog-tags/pup-tents.The motorhome was invented in 1910 but wasn't affordable until Winnebago began mass-producing them in the '60's following the creation of interstate highway systems. ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've always liked this Time Management series, mostly because I love camping, especially RV-glamping. We often don't have a destination in mind, we just load the motorhome and take off, stopping at areas of interest we didn't even know existed, such as the world's largest hand-dug well. My point is if you don't enjoy camping, you may not enjoy this game because everything is centered around campgrounds, building and upgrading tents and other camping related tasks.
In my opinion, there were a lot of missed opportunities that could have made this game more fun, such as building different types of Tent styles with individual color options. As you make money, campers could Upgrade from Camping to Glamping with options to choose pull-behind Travel-Trailers, 5th-Wheelers or Pop-Up campers. Eventually, campers could trade those models in for a bigger and better Motorhome such as, A~class ( large luxury bus type) B~class (smallest of the 3 classes with less room and less amenities) C~class (built on a truck or van chassis, usually has an overhang that extends over the cab) You could even go one step further by upgrading each campsite with camping favorites such as camp stoves, firepits (with smores of course), and maybe even decorations like camper string lights, coolers, and lounge chairs. You could even "build" the campsites themselves by choosing where to place them. Now that seems like an awesome TM/Builder type game that would be fun for everyone, even those who have never been camping!
There are 50 Campsite Levels that can be played in a Timed or Untimed difficulty mode, and there are 14 Trophy Achievements to earn. Really the only Collector's Edition goodies you get are 20 Challenge Levels, 6 Concept Art Cutscene Videos (time-lapse), and a Strategy Guide. I'm not seeing a whole lot of strategy-based scenarios involved so I doubt I will need a Strategy Guide and other than a handful of bonus levels, there's nothing offered in this CE version that tips the scales, so I will wait for the Standard Edition version to be released to purchase this game.
Although you must clear paths to get to the campsites, there's not a whole lot of Resource gathering, instead, you build Factories and buy the resources needed in bulk. This is a multi-click type of TM game where you click on campsites and then a specific Tab.
~The Housing Tab allows you to choose from several options such as Tents, Campers, Cabins, resorts, etc. which depends on the level goals as to which one to build. Each "housing" type can be upgraded 3 times, each upgrade earns more rent than its predecessor. Buildings can also be Salvaged if it's no longer useful, allowing you to erect a new building or tent.
~The Buildings Tab allows you to build Factories for supplies, Farmhouses for food and other camp-related necessities, such as Playgrounds or Tennis Courts. Factories and Farms, for example, allow you to buy supplies in bulk amounts, which you need in order to build and upgrade the tents.
As I stated earlier, if you like camping, you will probably like this game. It's not a hard game to master because there aren't a lot of strategies to overcome, and it can become a little repetitive until you get the option to build more than just a tent.
CAMPGROUNDS SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Campgrounds: 1 SE only (August 24-2012) 3.9
2-Campgrounds: The Endorus Expedition (November 28-2013) 4.1
3-Campgrounds: 3 (May 25-2019) n/a
2-Campgrounds: The Endorus Expedition (November 28-2013) 4.1
3-Campgrounds: 3 (May 25-2019) n/a
by: Jumb-O-Fun Games
I recommend this game!
Whenever heroes gather, villains are sure to follow...
Overall rating
3
/
5
52 of 66 found this review helpful
WITHOUT ELF THE GAME IS INCOMPLETE
PostedMay 24, 2019
pennmom36
fromOh where, oh where has my little Elf gone, oh where, oh where can he be? ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed CE Game 4.5 hours
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
The famous paranormal Detectives have joined forces once again to investigate "Operation Darkest Night" Anna Gray from Grim Tales uses her unique Time-Traveling, Time-Freezing abilities to investigate and often change life-altering events. James Blackthorne from Haunted Hotel brings his unique Paranormal investigative skills to the table, and Agent Brown from Mystery Trackers brings all the gadgets and gizmo's needed to solve this paranormal case. Elf has NOT joined this dynamic trio, therefore, an automatic star reduction!...a really big mistake...Anna brought Richard's Skull because that's what Grim Tales is about, so why would not include the 1 feature that's always a part of Mystery Trackers games?...huge mistake!
I played the entire game, I read every note, but the storyline is as vague as it can be. Portals appear out of nowhere but all of the agents seem to be privy to them even though they just arrived. I have no fear as I eagerly step into the mirror world. Once inside the mirror world, I turn "Dark" why did I turn Dark? How did I turn Dark? All three of the agents are on the same page even though James heads to St. Mary's Orphanage (Grim Tales: Bloody Mary) Agent Brown heads to the Alps to investigate Schneider's Hotel And Spa (Haunted Hotel) and Anna Gray heads to the Blackhill mansion (Mystery Trackers) Wouldn't it make more sense to send the agents to their original investigation locations that they know everything about rather than sending them to an unfamiliar case? I completed the game, yet I have no idea what S.H.R.I.N.E stands for? Why did John create an entire organization just to suck the life force from an innocent person to revive the dead?
Just a few days ago, Elephant Games turned a new leaf and offered a game that avoided all the cliche tasks, and Emblem-placing scenarios, only to borrow them for this game! I tried to keep track of how many times I was burdened with placing an emblem(s) but I lost track after placing 20 sets of Emblems within the first 3 chapters. (actually, my pen ran out of ink, which was another burden)
If you think about an often used HOPA cliche task, I guarantee you, it's used in this game, Bee's swarming a much-needed inventory item (there's no hive, no pollen, thus no reason for the bee's to swarm a horn?) A well that's missing a bucket (and filled with random junk to taint the only water supply?) Locks encrusted with 30+ years of decayed Rust requiring a fresh squeezed lemon or anti-rust spray (works instantly and restores the item to factory specs instantly) Crows, Cats, and various animals viciously protecting a much-needed item that requires a dramatic fright (probably from the horn that's being guarded by a swarm of killer bees) Tweezers to tweeze all of those above-mentioned Emblems out of floorboards and every crack, crevice, nook and/or cranny imaginable. Something thin to open a door latch (how does a shed get locked with a latch from the inside...unless someone is still inside?)
We are blessed with another Device, <sigh> a Mystery Trackers Paranormal Activity Detector, which also downloads paper maps and slips of paper with coordinates written in charcoal by simply placing the papers behind the device, yes, it downloads a map that has been neatly folded (and we all know how much of a pain those maps are to fold) no unfolding necessary...no QR code necessary, no scan or barcode required...the only thing required here is a lot of imagination? Even better, if a part breaks, and always does, it has interchangeable parts, buttons...perfect fit!...battery...perfect fit! Not only can you use parts from any other electrical component, but they work magically without actually being connected electronically! There is a slightly repetitive mini-game to complete using the device to "catch" 8 Paranormal Whisps" but it was only used 3 times and the third mini-game required you to connect the dots without back-tracking. A Mystery Trackers anti-Back-Tracker game lol.
Actually, there are two Devices because Anna Gray has lugged daddy Richard's Skull to work again, but at least we don't have to complete a repetitive mini-game to summon him! There's one scene where they actually show Anna, James, and Agent Brown standing together and Anna has Richard's Skull neatly tucked into the crook of her arm. I don't recall ever seeing Anna actually carry Richard, he just appears in front of us.
There are 10 Hidden Object Scenes and 8 smaller Zoom Zone Hidden Object Scenes requiring you to find 6 objects shown one at a time as a Silhouetted Shape (+7 CE BC) The scenes tend to be a little dark and some of the Silhouetted Shapes are pretty vague but for the most part, the items are well blended. There are only 2 types of Hidden Object Scenes offered, Interactive List Finds, and Silhouetted Shape Finds, and no alternate game offered for non-HOP fans.
There are only 19 Mini-Games (+7 in CE BC) but they are really creative puzzles. The only game I wasn't crazy about was the repetitive "whisp collection" via the Mystery Trackers Paranormal Device, but it was only used a few times. Below are brief descriptions of some of my personal favorites:
1~Move tokens to their color-coded slots using directional arrows to rotate the central path hub.
2~Rotate groups of tokens to place symbols according to the clue shown. ღ
3~Select numbered buttons to move the token in the indicated direction to avoid landing on obstacles.ღღ
4~Find and place track sections & use switches to guide the token through each section. (#1/3 part puzzle) ღ
5~Rotate 4 knobs and select arrows to swap symbols to the correct knobs. (#2/3 part puzzle) ღ
6~Rotate each token to align all color-coded wires. (#3/3 part puzzle) ღღ
7~Connect all dots without retracing paths. ღ
8~Direct tiles correctly from left to right moving vertically or horizontally.
2~Rotate groups of tokens to place symbols according to the clue shown. ღ
3~Select numbered buttons to move the token in the indicated direction to avoid landing on obstacles.ღღ
4~Find and place track sections & use switches to guide the token through each section. (#1/3 part puzzle) ღ
5~Rotate 4 knobs and select arrows to swap symbols to the correct knobs. (#2/3 part puzzle) ღ
6~Rotate each token to align all color-coded wires. (#3/3 part puzzle) ღღ
7~Connect all dots without retracing paths. ღ
8~Direct tiles correctly from left to right moving vertically or horizontally.
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter takes place shortly after the main game's timeframe when Nathaniel Prior contacts Agent Shade asking for help after the S.H.R.I.N.E organization is attacked. Anna Gray is unavailable so James and Agent Brown are assigned to the case. In some ways, the BC has a better storyline than the main game, and the length is decent. There are a lot of plot twists that take place over 8 scenes, but to elaborate further would ruin the plot, which someone else has already done, again. There are 7 Mini-Games and 7 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will pick up the remaining 8 Morphing Objects, 3 Morphing Character Statues, and 5 Zoom Zone Picture Fragments which unlocks the 4th and final Screensaver.
The Collector's Edition version has 12 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art Pictures, 4 Screensavers (unlocks with Picture Puzzle Fragments collected) 4 Music Soundtracks, 18 Achievements (some in 3 categories) 12 Replayable Mini-Games, 15 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room (search for Morphing Objects) 14 Morphing Character Figurines, 30 Morphing Objects, 20 Zoom Zone Picture Puzzle Fragments (unlocks 4 Screensavers) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
DETECTIVES UNITED SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Origins (September 7-2018) 4.4
2-The Darkest Shrine (May 24-2019) n/a
2-The Darkest Shrine (May 24-2019) n/a
by: Elephant Games
I recommend this game!
Can you reveal the murderer’s identity before it’s too late?
Overall rating
3
/
5
95 of 141 found this review helpful
SOMETIMES JUSTICE BITES BACK
PostedMay 23, 2019
pennmom36
fromTwo taps of the Judges Gavel calls the meeting room to order. Three taps of the gavel are the signal for all members to stand during the opening and closing ceremonies. A series of sharp taps is used to restore order in the courtroom. ⚘
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Completed Game just over 5.0 hours
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
(including CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)
Judge McGregor has quite a reputation for serving justice and putting criminals behind bars. That reputation has also made the honorable judge a target of revenge, and he predicted his own death! The bequeathed have all gathered for the reading of the Judges' Last Will and Testament at the McGregor Manor, little do they know, one amongst them is the murderer, but who, and what will happen to them once they are Judged?
At first, I was impressed that this new series was going to be a normal who-dun-it murder mystery. I was mostly impressed that Domini had spread their wings to add an entirely new genre, one that didn't involve supernatural Glasses (or more recently an otherworldly cell phone app) men with 12 arms, someone with a dual personality (think about it...) or a parallel universe vigilante who "seeks all" I thought it was going to be a good old-fashioned crime-solving drama, but nope, they just had to go there. They couldn't resist adding a supernatural Gadget which took away all credibility, a Watch that reveals what others are hiding, aka a cutscene. Couldn't they have chosen a portable Lie-Detector instead? Wouldn't that be more believable in a who-dun-it murder mystery? The Watch Gadget is used 6 times on 6 suspects and you have to complete 6 different game variations that are 'watch' related (and actually decent games) After solving the mini-games and watching a short clip of the suspects encounter with the Judge, you have to choose the Lie from a list of 3 of the suspects statements.
There are 12 Main and 2 Zoom Zone Hidden Object Scenes (+5 in the CE BC) They are mostly Silhouetted Shape Finds but there are Keywords in Sentence Finds, Combination Silhouetted Shape Finds (SS+SS=_) Multiples Finds, Spot The Differences, Swatches Finds (find the area that matches a swatch image) Matching Pairs, and Interactive List Finds as well. There is an alternate Match 3 game available, and one of the achievements is to play the alternate game in place of 1 Hidden Object scene.
There are a whopping 40 Mini-Games (+10 in the CE BC) including the repetitive 2 mini-games each time you use the Watch of Truth. The Watch game varies each time, but it is always followed by the same conclusion game of choosing the "lie" on the list of 3 possible answers. Most of the mini-games have an Easy/Hard difficulty option. Below are brief descriptions of some of my personal favorite games:
1~Use rotation & directional buttons to swap flower petals until all flowers are complete. ღ
2~Place pipe sections onto clock face to swap icons to their matching slots.
3~Swap square tiles to complete the picture, click the frame button to switch between available tiles. ღღ
4~Position the lockpick to swap teeth so the inner sections match the outer sections. ღ
5~Rotate the maze to drop the ball into the hole using squares as bumpers to keep the ball from falling off.
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter is a new who-dun-it murder to solve when Agatha Smith's husband Chuck is accused of murdering Dr. Sharon Jones while working on a revolutionary breakthrough drug. This is an extremely long Bonus Chapter that takes place over 10 new Locations with an additional 10 Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will collect the final 3 Evidence items, 5 Morphing Suspect Photos, and 9 Coins which allows you to purchase the final 3 Office items.
2~Place pipe sections onto clock face to swap icons to their matching slots.
3~Swap square tiles to complete the picture, click the frame button to switch between available tiles. ღღ
4~Position the lockpick to swap teeth so the inner sections match the outer sections. ღ
5~Rotate the maze to drop the ball into the hole using squares as bumpers to keep the ball from falling off.
The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter is a new who-dun-it murder to solve when Agatha Smith's husband Chuck is accused of murdering Dr. Sharon Jones while working on a revolutionary breakthrough drug. This is an extremely long Bonus Chapter that takes place over 10 new Locations with an additional 10 Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes. You will collect the final 3 Evidence items, 5 Morphing Suspect Photos, and 9 Coins which allows you to purchase the final 3 Office items.
This Collector's Edition version has 10 Wallpapers (only 2 w/0 characters) 10 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtrack, 29 Replayable Movie Video Cutscenes, 33 Achievements, 18 Replayable Mini-Games, 17 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 13 Morphing Suspect Photos, 14 Evidence Items, 44 Zoom Zone Coins to purchase 15 Office Items, 12 Missing Journal Notes, 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a Built-in Strategy Guide.
Join Tico and his band of rainforest animals in an unforgettable Solitaire adventure.
Overall rating
1
/
5
48 of 52 found this review helpful
MATCH 2 CARDS SOLITAIRE WITH A HORRIBLE SCORING FEATURE
PostedMay 22, 2019
pennmom36
fromWhy did they make this one a Match 2 Cards when the original Rainforest Solitaire was a Higher/Lower type? ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I played the entire demo of this "Match 2 Cards" Solitaire game and have yet to figure out how the score is tallied. I would remove all cards on one level w/o using bonuses +meet the level goals and only earn 1 or 2 stars, the next level I'd meet the level goals but fail to remove all the cards and earn 3 stars? On level 8 I believe the level goal was to simply remove 4 cards or something similar. I removed 4 cards before having to flip over the first set of deck cards, and to my surprise, all of the cards vanished, the score window popped up and said "Victory" but I didn't receive any stars. I thought I'd missed something or done something wrong so I replayed the level and got the same results??
I've never been impressed by a matching card solitaire game because it's basically a Mahjong game, but at least this one allows you to collect all the cards unless there are other goals that conflict with this process as I stated above. You can play in a Relaxed Mode that gives you double the number or deck cards, or Expert Mode which gives you the standard number of deck cards.
Bonuses are located on the right side for limited use, such as Jokers, Undo's, Shuffles, Delete 1 Card, Delete up to 25 Cards, or Change the Card's Suit. Bonus Cards can also be earned on the board as well, as a reward for completing tasks.
Arrows can destroy 5 Vertical or 5 Horizontal Lines, and Mini-Bombs will destroy a group of 5 cards. I'm not a fan of bonus cards on the board, especially when you are forced to use them because I want to beat levels using skill and patience otherwise the game plays itself.
Arrows can destroy 5 Vertical or 5 Horizontal Lines, and Mini-Bombs will destroy a group of 5 cards. I'm not a fan of bonus cards on the board, especially when you are forced to use them because I want to beat levels using skill and patience otherwise the game plays itself.
There are the usual Obstacle Cards, Frozen cards requiring two plays, Lock & Key Cards, etc. Level Goals are different for each level such as completing within a specified time, Removing only Gold Cards, Removing cards of a specific suit, Uncovering Artifacts, or removing a specified number of cards without using deck cards.
If you like Goal specific Match 2 Cards Solitaire and don't mind not being able to remove all cards at times you will probably enjoy this game. This is my personal least favorite type of solitaire game and it drives me nutz when I can't remove all of the cards. The Star scoring is unpredictable and erratic, so, unfortunately, it's a big NO and a pass for me :(
RAINFOREST SOLITAIRE SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Rainforest Solitaire 1 (November 29-2017) 4.1
2-Rainforest Solitaire 2 (May 22-2019) n/a
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Rainforest Solitaire 1 (November 29-2017) 4.1
2-Rainforest Solitaire 2 (May 22-2019) n/a
by: Elain Games
I don't recommend this game.
To win Cleopatra's heart, Caesar has set out on a dangerous path. His goal is to find the Rose of Amor, which blooms on the Mountain of the Gods.
Overall rating
3
/
5
61 of 70 found this review helpful
AFTER PLAYING THE DEMO I'VE DECIDED TO GIVE CLEOPATRA A BOUQUET OF CARNATIONS INSTEAD
PostedMay 21, 2019
pennmom36
fromMedusa and a delicate rose? Hmm, not seeing the connection here? ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was excited to play this new Time Management game from a developer that created a few of my favorite Solitaire games (games that I have replayed several times) The graphics are really good and it has a decent storyline. The tasks and resources are pretty much the same as hundreds of other Time Management games. There were some features I really liked, but, unfortunately, there was too much lag time between some of the tasks. It felt like a huge time gap waiting for a renewable resource to complete a task when those renewable resources were the only source yet available
There are 3 Cursor Colors to choose from and 14 Award Trophy Achievements available. I have had issues with earning some of the achievements on their solitaire games that I mentioned earlier, where the only way to earn some of the resource trophies was to replay the earlier levels over and over, even though I had earned all 3 stars. I'm not sure if the trophies on this game are the same way, but it's worth mentioning because there are trophies for collecting resources in this game as well, so if you're having issues earning them, you may have to replay 3-star levels too??
You can play in a Relaxed Mode with no timer where you only have to finish the level goals to win, a Normal timed Mode where you can earn up to 3 Stars per level or a Hard Mode where the level is lost if you don't complete the level goals within the allotted time. There is also a Multi-Click feature that I loved because it allows you to queue up to 3 tasks, even tasks that are still blocked!
There are the usual TM tasks of Removing obstacles along the paths, collecting resources such as wood, stone, gold, food, etc. You have to fill holes, fix bridges and stairs, pick up lost items or complete side quests and feed an enormous amount of food to starving wolves to chase them away. You can add more workers by upgrading the workers' hut, build Farms for food, Sawmills for wood, Stonemasons for stone, etc. and eventually you will get Bonuses to speed workers or get more resources.
I loved that the Star Meter was located on the right side of the screen because it was much easier to glance over to the right than the top of the screen. I think this would be an amazing TM game if you didn't have to stare at the screen as you wait with nothing to do until the resources regenerate.
Fairytale Mosaics is back with an unforgettable puzzle adventure. Help Cinderella attend the most important event in the kingdom.
Overall rating
1
/
5
63 of 70 found this review helpful
THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT AGAIN~CINDERELLA GETS A REDO BUT STILL STRIKES OUT...if the shoe fits....
PostedMay 21, 2019
pennmom36
fromAnyone else having Cinderella deja vu? It's called the Cinderella syndrome, proceed with caution :) ⚘
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
My review is a repeat, only the title has changed... which is exactly the point I'm trying to make here folks! These games are all the same, they always have the same music, features, and graphics. Most of the time they don't even bother to change the title, they just slap a number 2 at the end of the title (if we're lucky, they don't slip a number 3 after it!)
When I think about Cinderella, I think about the beautiful transformations, the pumpkin turning into a beautiful Carriage, the Mice turning into Coachmen, the jovial Fairy Godmother with transparent fragile wings, and of course, the beautiful transformation of an ordinary woman into a beautiful princess with golden blonde hair, a golden tiara, a stunning flowing gown glistening in the moonlight, and Crystal Clear Glass Slippers. Put all those thoughts behind you, those crystal clear glass slippers won't fit anybody's feet, because this fairytale mosaic doesn't have any of those beautiful images, and there's certainly no fairytale to go along with it.
There are 5 different Mosaic Locations and each has 20 puzzles available. There is a left-hand mode as well as a Relaxed feature that automatically gives you the Key and points for finishing the game, no matter how long it takes you to finish the puzzle. In the Normal Mode, you will receive one Key for Completing the puzzle, a second Key if you make no Mistakes, and the third Key if you Complete the puzzle within the Allotted Time, which isn't as easy as it sounds! You will earn coins for each completed puzzle and can use the coins to buy extra time or instantly refill the hint feature, you can also unlock other levels and worlds, but it costs a ridiculous amount of coins ranging from 25,000 coins to a whopping 225,000 coins, and I doubt you could earn that many coins beforehand anyway.
The object of the game is to correctly place available mosaic puzzle pieces located on the right side of the puzzle. (left in the left-hand mode) Some puzzle pieces are already placed on the board as "clues" and more pieces are added until the puzzle is complete. All of this sounds really easy, but when you are trying to place the pieces wicked fast and without making a mistake, it can be mind-blowing. You can replay the puzzle as often as you want to try to earn a better score, but each time the puzzle will reset with different puzzle pieces as clues.
If you've bought any of the mosaic puzzles offered by this dev, there's probably no need to buy another. Each time you re-play a puzzle, different pieces are shown at the beginning which is another reason not to need another mosaic puzzle, because each time you play it is different than the last. There's never any new features added, and the pictures they have chosen just seem to get less and less appealing?
FAIRYTALE MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-Beauty And The Beast (March 12-2018) 3.4
2-Beauty And The Beast 2 (May 7-2018) 2.9
3-Cinderella (February 5-2019) 2.0
4-Cinderella 2 (May 21-2019) n/a
2-Beauty And The Beast 2 (May 7-2018) 2.9
3-Cinderella (February 5-2019) 2.0
4-Cinderella 2 (May 21-2019) n/a
by: Somer Games
(produced by 8 Floor Games)
(produced by 8 Floor Games)
I don't recommend this game.