This contributor's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4730
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 3, 2025
- Featured reviews1
Status:
An exciting Christmas adventure across fantastic time management levels! Help the princess save the holiday!
Overall rating
3
/
5
32 of 35 found this review helpful
IF YOU'RE GOING TO RELEASE A HOLIDAY THEMED GAME, AT LEAST STICK TO THE THEME
PostedDecember 25, 2017
Anonymous
fromHo, Ho Ho...Merry Christmas!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've always loved Gnomes Garden games, but I don't like it when devs slap together a game at the last minute, add the Holiday name, and pretend like it's all about that holiday. Just like the Halloween themed Gnomes Garden, that wasn't about Halloween, and this game isn't about Christmas. Sure the first screen shows a Christmas Tree and adds a jingle bells tune, with a short and vague story about the Princess ordering a Christmas Tree to be erected in time for her coronation. But that's the extent of it. Sure the trees are covered with snow and some of the levels have a very faint jingle of bells within the background music, but when the title says it's a Christmas Story, I expect each and every level to be about Christmas. Instead it's just the same Gnomes Garden game with the same tasks, in a snow covered land.
In the first edition of Gnomes Garden, the Gnome Princess was tasked with restoring the Royal Garden and curing the King's illness. In Gnomes Garden 2, the evil Troll Queen kidnapped the Princess, fortunately she was rescued and eventually became friends with the Troll Queen. In the third episode, a Warlock took over the Monarch's Castle and he too was eventually defeated. In the fourth episode (not including Halloween edition) the castle has been restored to its former glory, but the lands surrounding the kingdom were desolate, and no crops would take root. The Princess embarked on another journey, to land of the elves, to obtaining the Green Recipe from the Elven Queen (in exchange for crystals mined by the Gnomes of course)
This is one of my favorite Time Management series, which tends to be a tad bit easier than most. There are the normal tasks such as, gathering resources, clearing paths and building Farms, Sawmills, Quarries and Crystal Mines. Other tasks include repairing bridges, paving over bogs or repairing hives.
I didn't see an option to play this game in a relaxed mode, but Gnomes Garden doesn't require a whole lot of strategy to earn 3 stars like some TM games. It's a pretty straight forward game. This is a great entry level Time Management game, if you don't mind the fact that it's not really Christmas themed.
I didn't see an option to play this game in a relaxed mode, but Gnomes Garden doesn't require a whole lot of strategy to earn 3 stars like some TM games. It's a pretty straight forward game. This is a great entry level Time Management game, if you don't mind the fact that it's not really Christmas themed.
Enjoy a huge collection of festive winter solitaire games this holiday season!
Overall rating
3
/
5
18 of 19 found this review helpful
BETTER THAN THE LAST GAME BUT LACKS OPTIONS
PostedDecember 24, 2017
Anonymous
fromPatience games, yep I'll agree with that statement! Merry Christmas
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Magic Cards Solitaire
(28)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
One of my favorite Solitaire games by Magnussoft, is the original Magic Cards Solitaire game. The last game they offered was horrible, but they have improved some of the features and glitches in this game. There are 7 different card sets to choose from, and 27 different Background colors and pictures to choose from as well, some of which are Holiday themed, but because not all of them are, you can play this game all year long.
Magnussoft offers several Solitaire games such as, Magic Cards Solitaire, Magic Cards Solitaire 2: The Fountain of Life, Solitaire 220 Plus, and Solitaire 330 Deluxe. My only complaints with Happy Wonderland Solitaire, are that they don't allow you to customize the game play or the features for each individual game. In order to get the low down on each game, I have to click the menu button first, then select the Help icon, to read the instructions for each and every game selected, instead of just giving me those instructions when I first visit that category. I believe lvd04 made the statement that in Klondike, there's no option to select the amount of cards that turn over at a time (3 cards at a time) and I totally agree, this game would be one of THE best Solitaire games if they could just tweak it with better customization features! I've never created a game before, but this seems like an easy fix, but in their defense there are 16 different types of Solitaire and 150 different levels total!
There are several different levels in each of the main Solitaire categories such as Arizona, Bakers Dozen, Canfield, Carlton, Fan, 40 Thieves, 4 Seasons, Freecell, Gypsy, Golf, Klondike, Pairs, Sir Tommy, Spider, Youkon and Others. Because this game has several types that I personally enjoy, I will use a PCC to buy the game, but I'm just not convinced this game is worthy of real cash because of the customization features or lack thereof.
You can save any game at any point so you won't lose your progress if you want to try another type of game, and there is a Statistics Page that keeps track of your progress. (I'll be honest, my stats didn't look so hot) Each game has an Undo feature, but points are deducted for using it, which is another option that should have been made available. Sometimes you just want to play Solitaire for relaxation, if you win, awesome, if you don't start over, you don't always want to earn negative points on a game. I also didn't see a Hint feature, at least not on the games I played during the demo, but I got stuck on 1 particular kind of Solitaire game that I've not played before, and I was determined to play it until I won a hand (which btw I was about to win my first hand when the demo rudely ended before my victory could be savored!)
You can save any game at any point so you won't lose your progress if you want to try another type of game, and there is a Statistics Page that keeps track of your progress. (I'll be honest, my stats didn't look so hot) Each game has an Undo feature, but points are deducted for using it, which is another option that should have been made available. Sometimes you just want to play Solitaire for relaxation, if you win, awesome, if you don't start over, you don't always want to earn negative points on a game. I also didn't see a Hint feature, at least not on the games I played during the demo, but I got stuck on 1 particular kind of Solitaire game that I've not played before, and I was determined to play it until I won a hand (which btw I was about to win my first hand when the demo rudely ended before my victory could be savored!)
To sum things up, the only reason I gave this game a mere 3 stars was because of the lack of customization features available and the inconvenience aspects of some features. The Solitaire games available are really good ones, and the graphics are decent, so this game is definitely worthy of a coupon or sale, if you can overlook the above mentioned features, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you and your friends escape what’s lurking in the mist?
Overall rating
5
/
5
147 of 180 found this review helpful
STAY BURIED, STAY SAFE
PostedDecember 23, 2017
Anonymous
fromRope check, tarp, check, duct tape check, shovel check, gloves check...looks like somebody's up to no good!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Phantasmat is my favorite series, and no game has ever come close to the magnitude of the original Phantasmat by Codeminion. Curse of the Mist is an excellent addition to the series and has a great "creep" factor. However, I have several complaints not related to the storyline! First off, I was able to finish this demo with 30 minutes remaining, and that's with playing every Mini Game without skipping, AND taking the time to write down information on the game.
The biggest complaint I have is with the fact that this is a coveted Collector's Edition, supposedly, yet the only bling offered is those famous Hidden Signs that are always offered in every game by this developer! One of the reasons I love this series is because I have always been able to count on Morphing Objects being available in every scene, but now they have decided to omit this beloved feature. I'd much rather see them omit those stupid Hidden Signs to be honest. I own every game in this series and they are all Collector's Editions, because there was a BOGO sale today, I purchased this game before I started the demo. Had I waited, I more than likely would not have shelled out the big bucks for a CE that has very little to offer! -end complaints-
What's going on in the sleepy little town of Shady Valley? You're about to find out, because someone, or something, has taken your friend Jane. The closer you get to finding her, the thicker the strange mist gets. Where is the mist coming from, and just what kind of Phantasmat lurks somewhere between the world of the living, and the dead?
I love that they have brought back the "visions" you have as you progress. It's a fantastic and creative way to fill you in on the background of the story, the who's, what's, where's, when's and why's so to speak. I've always wondered why every game seems to have diary pages spewed about, and conveniently available in every scene, as a means of telling the story, so this concept is so much more credible in my opinion.
This is the section I usually explain about the many Collector's Edition version Collectibles. Here's your sign, that's all you're going to get in this CE!
The Hidden Object Scenes are decent, and I liked the scene locations they chose, however, some of the HOP scenes are repeated, a feature I really hate. There's just no challenge in them when you remember where everything is because you were just there searching for objects. There are Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Combination Silhouetted Shape finds, Matching Symbol finds, and a really nice scene where you search for all Morphing Objects. Some scenes have zoom zones with a handful of Multiples to find as well, and you can opt for a Match 3 game instead.
The Mini Games are my favorite kind, it's hard to describe, but the kind where you tinker with electrical components that are more realistic?? Below are brief descriptions of some of the Mini Games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Follow the clues on the map to choose the correct path direction.
2) Select and drag the main fuse from the bottom to the top circle on the board, by moving other fuses to change positions of the toggle gates.
3) Create electrical paths from the light on the right to the red button by selecting the switches on the top for each column.
4) Find and select the symbols shown on the dream catcher.
5) Slide the tokens from the starting positions on the left to the positions on the right by selecting a token and a highlighted space, without hitting the obstacles that change position with each move.
PHANTASMAT GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Phantasmat (February 8-2011) 4.5
2-Crucible Peak (December 6-2012) 3.8
3-The Endless Night (January 10-15) 4.0
4-The Dread of Oakville (July 9-15) 4.2
5-Behind The Mask (December 17-15) 4.4
6-Town of Lost Hope (April 7-16) 3.5
7-Reign of Shadows (October 6-16) 4.3
8-Mournful Loche (April 13-17) 3.7
9-Insidious Dreams (September 14-17) 3.8
10-Curse of the Mist (December 23-2017) n/a
2-Crucible Peak (December 6-2012) 3.8
3-The Endless Night (January 10-15) 4.0
4-The Dread of Oakville (July 9-15) 4.2
5-Behind The Mask (December 17-15) 4.4
6-Town of Lost Hope (April 7-16) 3.5
7-Reign of Shadows (October 6-16) 4.3
8-Mournful Loche (April 13-17) 3.7
9-Insidious Dreams (September 14-17) 3.8
10-Curse of the Mist (December 23-2017) n/a
by: Codeminion
by: ERS Games
by: Eipix Entertainment
by: ERS Games
by: Eipix Entertainment
This Collector's Edition version has 17 re-playable Puzzles, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, a Souvenir Room, re-playable Match 3 games, 6 Movie Videos, 6 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 12 Achievements to earn, 30 Hidden Signs NO Morphing Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy, stay buried, stay safe!
I recommend this game!
Can you break an evil curse and save the day?!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 52 found this review helpful
TICK TOCK I'VE GOT TO HURRY AND FIX THE CLOCK!
PostedDecember 22, 2017
Anonymous
fromLove the dancing snowman on the credits page!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It's rare lately, that I've been able to play an entire game without being bored to tears. Not only was I able to finish this latest edition of Christmas Stories, but I wanted to finish it! Yes, it only has three chapters, but they are fairly long chapters, and the length was perfect. You don't always need a ton of chapters to tell a story, and oftentimes, they just throw in a bunch of unnecessary fillers, and for me, that's what becomes boring, when you have to do a bunch of meaningless and repetitive tasks. I loved the story, I loved the game, it's not my favorite Christmas Stories, but when you start off with the Nutcracker, it's a little hard to compete with that.
I usually wait until the Standard Edition version is released, then I play that demo, and return to the Collector's Edition to finish up the story. That way, the demo is fresh in my mind, and it helps me to compare both versions. I'm a fan of the CE bling, especially when Morphing Objects are included like the morphing Snowmen in A Little Prince, so I highly recommend the CE version. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version if either is right for you:
Curses! The evil witch has cursed everyone who attended the Royal Wedding of Prince Edward and Rose! (it's a good thing I was late!) This is no ordinary curse, that witchy woman turned everyone into something else, it's a good thing the best man is now a fox, how else would I have strung the Christmas lights on that gigantic tree? (hey, don't laugh, the wedding may be off, but Christmas must go on!) Poor Rose is, well, she's still a Rose, but now she's a Rose with thorns, and roses don't last long. Their only hope for normalcy, is to repair the clock that cursed them, when the clock strikes Midnight, the curse will end.
Unfortunately this clock isn't striking anything, because it's missing vital parts, 2 ornamental pieces, 2 gears and 2 screws, which is the equivalence of finding a needle in a haystack, compared to the size of the Royal Palace. Everyone has a stake in this cursed game, so you'll be assisted by some pretty unusual wedding guests, on this magical Christmas adventure!
Christmas just isn't Christmas until Christmas Stories releases their annual magical game. There are 3 Christmas themed games that I so look forward to each and every year. This game has beautiful Christmas themed music, gorgeous graphics, and a whimsical story adaptation of the classic tale, A Little Prince, what could be better? You're not going to experience any logic in this silly game, after all, how logical is a curse that has turned people into pianos, foxes and mice? None of that matters, what matters is the entertainment factor, and I hope you like solving puzzles, because there's enough Mini Games and Puzzles to stretch out two different games in this Christmas themed game!
The Collector's Edition version is worthy of its namesake, because there are so many collectibles. Each Scene has a Morphing Snowman, and at least one hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Piece, and some scenes contain collectible Wedding Guest Figures. The only disappointment I have with this 6th game in the series, is that there aren't many objects you can interact with, other games in this series, have had presents you could open or various decorations you could fiddle with for absolutely no reason other than entertainment. I should at least be able to shake a snow globe or throw a snowball! (come on Elephant, be creative!)
The Hidden Object Scenes are just you're average HOP's, nothing really creative, but then again, it's pretty hard to change this feature, it is what it is, even I don't have any fresh ideas for a more interesting HOP. There are only four HOP's offered in the demo (the mini games make up for that) and so far there aren't any alternative games offered. There are Interactive Listed items, Silhouetted Shape finds with minimal interactions, Finding 6 Pairs of Objects hidden under piles of styrofoam balls, and an Interactive List find HOP that leave gems behind each item to repair the main object.
The Mini Games are between the easy and medium range of difficulty, and are in abundance, and that's awesome! Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Restore the day and night cycles on the stone by swapping discs. Click the green button to check your solution.
2) Swap tile sections to align the musical notes correctly.
3) Swap square tiles to complete the image, select tiles that are turned over to complete each section.
4) Enter the code using the clue, by dragging the dial either left or right as indicated.
5) Guide each train to their matching colored stations by selecting levers to create paths.
6) Remove all but one set of berries by jumping over another set of berries, berries can only jump onto blue tiles. Repeat on the next board.
7) Cover the gold center by selecting petals to move the silver disc in that direction. The larger the flower petal, the further the disc will move.
8) Guide each beam of colored light in a continuous line to the center by rotating hexagon sections.
9) Follow the instructions to create a potion, by selecting and placing items in the scene correctly.
CHRISTMAS STORIES GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Nutcracker (November 29-2012) 4.7
2-A Christmas Carol (December 5-2013) 4.5
3-Han's Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier (December 4-2014) 4.2
4-Puss In Boots (December 3-2015) 4.3
5-The Gift of the Magi (December 1-2016) 3.8
6-A Little Prince (December 7-2017) 4.1
2-A Christmas Carol (December 5-2013) 4.5
3-Han's Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier (December 4-2014) 4.2
4-Puss In Boots (December 3-2015) 4.3
5-The Gift of the Magi (December 1-2016) 3.8
6-A Little Prince (December 7-2017) 4.1
by: Elephant Games
The Collector's Edition version has 14 Wallpapers,16 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 20 Achievements to earn, 12 re-playable Mini Games, 13 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room, 14 Collectible Wedding Guest Characters, 26 Morphing Snowman's, 48 hidden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces to assemble 3 Screensavers, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy the Magic of Christmas Stories!
I recommend this game!
Restore the magic of Christmas to a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
218 of 242 found this review helpful
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS, HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS, oops, THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS
PostedDecember 21, 2017
Anonymous
fromJingle all the way........down
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Looks like Santa Claus will be a wee bit late delivering presents tonight, he's a little tied up at the moment. This is what happens when a baby is born from a union of natural disasters, her frozen heart has vowed to end Christmas forever, starting with Jolly Saint Nick! The North Pole is on it! Flying just under the radar to save the day, is demigod Ember, and her trusty steed Comet, who may have somehow managed to miss the first flight. (on dancer, on prancer, on comet....just in case) It's never too late for a Christmas miracle, (well technically Dec. 26 is too late) and the only way to stop a bad Queen with a frozen heart is to send in a good demigod with a very unique gift. Ba rump, bump, bump, bump, what gift is this? ......Open up this Christmas Gift, another fantastic Yuletide Legends game, to find out!
Yuletide Legends has it all, Kings and Queens, Humans and demigods, Magic Fireflies, Reindeer with wings, and Jack Frosts' latest and greatest inventions! And this Collector's Edition version has everything you'd expect as well, including Morphing Objects in every scene, that give you extra Wallpapers, and collectible Santa Coins that allows you to buy all the necessary items to whip up a batch of Christmas Cookies, just in case Ember saves Christmas and Santa needs refueling!
I'll admit, I even liked the Hidden Object Scenes in this game! I especially loved the HOP that requires you to use directional arrows to align sketches upon the correct pictures to complete the image. There are several HOP's that first require you to find 4 items and drag them to the shapes which will open the Progressive or highly interactive List finds, there are also Keywords in sentence finds as well as Multiples of the same items.
The Mini Games are really good too, and all are Christmas related. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Put the broken fragments together to complete the picture.
2) Guide the reindeer to the upper right corner by selecting gear switches to adjust the track.
3) Swap symbols to their correct places.
4) Use the clues from the photo to place the lock elements correctly by switching to empty adjacent spaces.
5) Use arrow buttons to rotate the objects so that their projections match the background.
6) Drag and place the fireflies so that all the torches are lit.
7) Place all of the items at the correct height according to the clues, placing one may affect others.
8) Rotate the lines until the form a 3D picture.
9) Untangle the rope by selecting the rope segments in the correct order.
10) Find hidden symbols and put them in the correct sequence to cross the ice.
11) Move the character cube to the finishing point as indicated by the image. Select and place arrows to change the direction of the cube.
YULETIDE LEGENDS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Brother's Claus (December 15-2016) 4.2
2-Frozen Hearts (December 21-2017) n/a
2-Frozen Hearts (December 21-2017) n/a
by: Daily Magic Productions
This Collector's Edition has 13 Developer Diary photos, 10 Concept Art pictures, 8 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 16 Achievements to earn, 4 Matching Pairs games to set as Wallpapers, 6 Bonus Matching Pairs games, 40 Morphing Objects, Collectible Coins that allow you to buy ingredients and supplies to make cookies, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, now go save Santa!
I recommend this game!
Can you restore balance to the world tree in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 38 found this review helpful
WAKE ME UP WHEN IT'S OVER!
PostedDecember 20, 2017
Anonymous
fromSuch technical language used "you must concoct a way to lure it through the portal" I guess I'll go concoct something now...
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game has so much wasted potential! This is yet another Eipix game that takes a complete nosedive after the demo. I shouldn't have to struggle through the tasks as it progresses, and by struggle, I mean totally bored kind of struggle, not a difficult struggle! This new series has such a fantastic storyline, but it's too uninteresting of a climb to get there. The tasks are boring and repetitive, the HOP's are mediocre and there are too few puzzles to hold my interest after the demo. In all fairness, it could be the character I chose, because like the first Saga game, you choose which character to follow, in which order, but eventually, this chapter has to be addressed by everyone, to progress.
I also found the graphics to be somewhat blurry at times, and they are all the same brown hues, not vibrantly colored as I would expect from this type of HOPA game. Eipix poured their heart and soul into their last Myths of the World game, Behind the Veil, which didn't work in a "scary" game. In my opinion, if they had presented this game with those same gorgeous graphics, it would have worked in this genre, and it would have helped to hold one's interest. Fellow reviewers Granny_Gruff and Majestyx12 were spot on, in their take on this game, it's painfully boring. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version if either is right for you:
A Shield Maiden's job is never done it seems, and Odin has requested your services once again. Why Odin needs help in the first place, baffles me, after all, he's a god, all he needs to do is wave a magic wand, or staff or whatever gods do. This guy has quite the resume, he's associated with healing and death, (aren't those polar opposites? if he can heal why would there be death?) royalty, the gallows, knowledge, (cuts out the need for a seer) battle, (cuts out the need for a shield maiden) sorcery, poetry (cuts out the need for a skald) and even frenzy. He is frequently accompanied by Geri and Freki the wolves, and his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who bring him vital information from all of Midgard, nothing gets past this dude!
I guess even gods as powerful as Odin can use a little help now and then, but my team doesn't seem to be able to function very well without me. First things first, the worthless Skald tells me to fetch him some music so he can play us all a little ditty whilst everyone else uses their skills to battle some evil wolves. Now keep in mind he's standing two feet from it! What-evs, now the Seer has asked me to whip up his "special" potion, I'm secretively hoping he'll use it on the Skald, and he too is a mere two feet from his wants and needs! Moving right along, the Huntress asks me to fetch her a bow-n because Odin god only knows it would be beneath her to fetch it herself! By now I'm totes exhausted, think I'll pull up a chair next to the Skald and listen to some tunes.
After the wolves go poof into oblivion, each of us go our separate ways, behind portal numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in search of the giant missing Stags who somehow get all the credit for preserving the balance of the Nine Worlds, by eating the limbs off of the Tree of Life. Does this even remotely make sense? Supposedly Bambi's dad's "groom" the tree that's constantly growing, which keeps the ever-growing tree balanced, got it. I realize that these guys are super mondo in size, but at some point they are going to need a boost up or at least a ladder, to reach the branches that are bound to be higher and higher as the tree grows, did I miss something? Off we all go, choose whomever you want to shadow, personally, I'm going with the Huntress, it just seems like a really bad idea to send a Hunter alone to find a deer, and I'm bettin' he won't make it back alive if I don't!
In the Collector's Edition version, Eipix has finally decided to offer a different kind of collectible, sort of. They are still the same collectible, but they are different in each world you visit, so kudos to Eipix, baby steps guys, baby steps. I wasn't a huge fan of the first game in this series because it was rather boring, but this one is slightly less boring. The videos are very realistic with excellent graphics, but the graphics in the game itself tend to be a bit cartoonish at times, especially in close ups, .... baby steps.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, with Interactive List finds, Silhouetted Shape finds and Multiples of Keywords on several sketched pictures during background stories. Each HOP in the CE version has a Morphing Object to find, surprise, we're back to crawling! Could we PLEASE have morphing Objects in each scene NOT in the HOP's??? (I said please)
The Mini Games are fairly easy, but I did find them entertaining, which is all I really care about, they can be super easy or super hard, as long as they are fun. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Determine the correct sequence of your companions attack by selecting their portrait in the correct order.
2) Swap the flowers so that they are connected to the correct rune based on the clue, by following the vines.
3) Find matching pairs of roots.
4) Find matching pairs of stones.
5) Slide bars into the holes by manipulating the bars to free them.
6) Use the riddle clues to determine which illustration to move the handle to, using directional arrows.
7) Select the buttons on the panel in the correct order by following the lines to the next symbol as shown on the clue.
SAGA OF THE NINE WORLDS GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-The Gathering (May 27-2017) 3.4
2-The Four Stags (November 25-2017) 3.8
2-The Four Stags (November 25-2017) 3.8
The Collector's Edition has 8 Character before/after pictures, 8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art pictures, 10 Movie Videos, 10 Music Soundtracks, 13 Achievements to earn, 34 Collectible Signs, 15 Morphing Objects within the Hidden Object Scenes, 16 re-playable Mini Games, 15 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, a Souvenir Room, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, no camo required!
I don't recommend this game.
Check out the new chapter in the adventures of Katy and Bob. Head into Safari Park and grow your business in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
40 of 48 found this review helpful
THIS KITCHEN'S GETTING HOT!
PostedDecember 20, 2017
Anonymous
fromHave a Holly Jolly Christmas/ and Happy Hanukkah for those who are celebrating the Festival of Lights!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Haunted Domains
(48)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love dinner dash type Time Management games, and although this game doesn't have as much appeal as the original Katy and Bob, it's still a fantastic game. I love the fact that I don't have to click and drag people to their seats etc, it's just a point and click style game.
I'm not a fan of paying twice as much for a Collector's Edition version of a Time Management game, and I don't think you'll miss what's missing in this Standard Edition version. The only thing you get with the CE version, is 10 Concept Art pictures that are very cartoonish, 5 downloadable Music Soundtracks, 12 Trophies to earn for hitting milestones, and 10 Bonus Levels.
Katy & Bob are siblings who have a rich daddy. The dynamic duo are offered the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, of opening up several cafe's in the expanding Safari Park. Daddy thinks this is a great business adventure so they open the first of three cafe's. The graphics and game mechanics are way better than the original Katy & Bob: Way Back Home, which was released in 2012, but after revisiting the original, I found that game to have more appeal.
This is a point and click TM style game, where you click the customer to give them a menu first, and then click on the item they order, deliver the order and click to check them out. You don't have to drag anybody or anything (a feature I really find annoying) After checking the customers out, they leave you a tip that requires another click, or you can scan over the coins to receive your tip. The slower you are at doing these tasks, directly affects the tip, with gold, silver or bronze coins earned. 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.
As you progress, the menu items increase, and more combo's are orders. a customer may want a steak, or a steak burger with veggies, and or condiments. There are three different fruits available, apples, oranges and grapes. Some customers want fresh squeezed juice which requires you to place the correct fruit in the juicer before serving. If they want it frozen, you have to take the fresh squeezed fruit drink into the freeze machine and wait until it freezes before serving.
After each level, you can use the money you earn to buy items or upgrades from the shop. You can buy extra serving stations, increase the price of items or upgrade flooring etc. to keep customers happier longer. Eventually, you will unlock the Antique Shop, at specific levels, that allows you to buy artifacts that speed up service, give the customers a better disposition, or make them more patient for longer times for example.
If you love dinner dash type Time Management games as much as I do, I think you'll love Katy and Bob, especially if you like Safari themed games. You should also give the original Katie and Bob a try, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Sound the alarm! Someone has put the holiday at risk by stealing all the Christmas candy! Help save it in this candy-coated Match-3!
Overall rating
2
/
5
65 of 70 found this review helpful
SUGAR COATED MATCH 3 GAME
PostedDecember 20, 2017
Anonymous
fromHave a Holly Jolly Christmas/ and Happy Hanukkah for those who are celebrating the Festival of Lights!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Cradle of Egypt
(92)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Another sugar coated Match 3 game by the same devs who offer Pretty Snails 1 & 2, Owl Rescue, Flying Fish and Mystery Loss. Everything's the same, with the exception of finding items hidden within the map levels. You can play in Relaxed or Normal difficulty modes, and this is a Limited Moves game with different goals for each level such as making matches over all ice tiles or earning a specific amount of points.
All Match 3 games by this dev have the same unusual feature, every time you make a match, sections of the board do a shuffle as they move into different positions, usually ruining what could have been an epic setup! On the negative end, you cannot make a move quickly or back to back until all tiles have repositioned or explosions finish doing their thing.
Large matches or T & L shaped matches will give you power-ups on the board which are color specific such as Spiral Candies, Colored Santas, or Super Spirals. Combining power-ups will create mega explosions.
I hate Match 3 games that make me wait after each match, for all the tiles to stop, before making my next match. I also hate it when I have to wait again after the level is complete, for all the tiles to finish doing their explosions, and adding my unused moves. I prefer a fast paced Match 3 game. I'm sure you'll love this game if you loved Pretty Snails, but for me personally, it's a big NO!
Large matches or T & L shaped matches will give you power-ups on the board which are color specific such as Spiral Candies, Colored Santas, or Super Spirals. Combining power-ups will create mega explosions.
I hate Match 3 games that make me wait after each match, for all the tiles to stop, before making my next match. I also hate it when I have to wait again after the level is complete, for all the tiles to finish doing their explosions, and adding my unused moves. I prefer a fast paced Match 3 game. I'm sure you'll love this game if you loved Pretty Snails, but for me personally, it's a big NO!
I don't recommend this game.
Set off on a time-tripping adventure to the medieval past in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 58 found this review helpful
IT'S DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE GOLD STATUS
PostedDecember 19, 2017
Anonymous
fromHo, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The graphics have improved significantly, but I was disappointed that they didn't release another Christmas themed Time Management game. Again, I'm also not thrilled that this game is offered as a Collector's Edition, because I personally don't see a need for a Strategy Guide, and I could care less about Wallpapers and Music, so perhaps I'll revisit the Standard Edition version when that is released.
There are the usual Time Management tasks, of clearing paths, harvesting food, cutting down trees, repairing bridges, and gathering other resources. Mana is gathered to cast spells which give you Faster Workers, Faster growing Crops, and instant Tree regrowth etc. Building of various types must be built,. Sawmills, Foundy's, and other buildings that help you replenish resources faster to meet the level goals. Skeleton's have returned, and if you don't click on them fast enough, the workers get scared off an the tasks selected will need reclicked if the workers retreat.
I liked this TM game, I just didn't love it. I found there to be too many workers, too many of the same task items, and too difficult to achieve Gold Status. I like levels to have a lot of different tasks, not 20 gold piles, 15 trees, 25 wheat fields. There's no variation in the levels, so I quickly became bored with the repetitiveness. I did enjoy finding the Puzzle Piece in each level, but more CE collectibles may have helped persuade me to shell out the big bucks!
This Collector's Edition version has 30 Achievements to earn, Movies, 10 Music Soundtracks, 5 Wallpapers, Collectible Puzzle Pieces to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle, a Strategy Guide and Bonus CE levels, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Enjoy this cosmic griddler adventure while getting to know more about 12 zodiac signs.
Overall rating
2
/
5
48 of 55 found this review helpful
AND YET ANOTHER GUESSER GRIDDLER COMES OUR WAY
PostedDecember 18, 2017
Anonymous
fromHappy Holidays!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
How many of these games have they made? How long will it take before they "get it" that Griddlers are puzzles you solve using LOGIC not fancy named power-ups or by GUESSING!!?! Once again the game starts out with tutorial pages explaining the features, and the first explanation states, "To solve a griddler, you must guess and fill in the colored squares" That is NOT how it works! To solve a griddler, you're supposed to use logic and NEVER guess at filling in the colored squares!!!!! But these guys throw in several super simple Griddlers, followed by one that forces you to guess or use a power-up.
The grids are super basic, and super easy. The filled in cells have a border around all 4 sides which give them a flat appearance. When you hover the cursor over a cell with the intention of crossing it off (right clicking to fill cell with an X) the cell automatically shades the cell with the color it would be when filled in, which is confusing, and some of the colors are similar hues, which can be confusing at times, when you can't tell where one color starts and the other ends.
There are 12 Zodiac Achievements, mostly for finishing a certain amount of levels, and they tell you about each of the Zodiac signs, info on the constellation and kind of a horoscope.
There are 3 different Power-ups available, which can be upgraded with the coins you earn solving guessers griddlers.
SUPER NOVA: Fills in a Random cell, upgrade fills in 2 Random cells.
SHOOTING STAR: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
BIG BANG: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
You can also purchase the right to make 4 or 5 mistakes, because this griddler is based upon guessing!
SHOOTING STAR: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
BIG BANG: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
You can also purchase the right to make 4 or 5 mistakes, because this griddler is based upon guessing!
This is a horrible griddler with pictures that make no sense. An Apple? A Duck?? Really? The are far better griddler games available that are based upon logic. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one!
I don't recommend this game.