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:
Help Santa make it the best holiday ever. Visit Santa’s wonderland workshops and decorate the house in the latest Christmas Wonderland adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
213 of 233 found this review helpful
EVENTUALLY THESE KIDS HAVE TO GROW UP, BUT I DON'T CARE IF THEY NEVER DO
PostedDecember 18, 2017
Anonymous
fromSanta Claus is coming to town......
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
I look forward to Christmas Wonderland every year, it's not Christmas until this game is released! If you've never played any of these games, you really should, they are old school Hidden Object Games, but really fun! This dev also brings us Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger, and Cruise Director as well as several Holiday themed games. I say this every year, but it's oh so true, these games are Family games, they are designed to be enjoyed by the entire family, young and old will be delighted. It's not as easy as it looks at times, some of these objects are very well hidden! You can play in Casual or Challenge mode, depending on how fast you want the hint feature to recharge.
Each scene has beautiful Christmas themed graphics and several listed items to search for within the scene. You will also need to find a Golden Angel, and each scene also contains lost and found items, which are shown as silhouetted shapes inside an icon on the left of the screen, the door will close when all items have been found. Some of the items to find are listed in red which means that the item is hidden in or behind something, such as a backpack, which can be clicked on to expose the item. Items in blue text require some type of interaction.
Each scene has beautiful Christmas themed graphics and several listed items to search for within the scene. You will also need to find a Golden Angel, and each scene also contains lost and found items, which are shown as silhouetted shapes inside an icon on the left of the screen, the door will close when all items have been found. Some of the items to find are listed in red which means that the item is hidden in or behind something, such as a backpack, which can be clicked on to expose the item. Items in blue text require some type of interaction.
After each seek and find game, there will be a mini game or puzzle available such as rotating puzzle pieces, putting together a puzzle one piece at a time, flipping over two ornaments at a time in search of matching pairs and even my personal favorite, spot the difference.
Your score will be tallied at the end of each scene and you will earn a bronze star if you find all of the items to complete the scene, a silver star if you complete the level and find all of the angels OR all of the silhouetted shapes, and a gold star if you complete the level, find all of the angels AND all silhouetted lost and found items. You can replay any level at any time in order to find items you didn't find the first time.
There are Trophy achievements to earn and you can visit the shop to buy Christmas presents to display on a shelf. There is a regular Hint as well as a Mega hint which highlights all items for a brief period of time, but you will earn an Eagle Eye bonus if you don't use any hints. Make this game one of your family traditions, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Save a missing family from an infamous haunted house!
Overall rating
3
/
5
113 of 148 found this review helpful
MORELLA DE VIL, MORELLA DE VIL, IF SHE DOESN'T SCARE YOU NO EVIL THING WILL
PostedDecember 16, 2017
Anonymous
fromHow long does it take in between Dupin receiving the letters asking for his services, and the time it takes him to arrive at the scene?
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
Apparently I have been too critical of these games lately because everyone else seems to love them, but this game is no different than the last 11 games in the series. Nothing changes, same graphics, same sights and sounds, same tasks, same puzzle and HOP styles, and basically the same storyline.
For the life of me, I can't differentiate one charter from another, other than Detective Dupin! Louisa looks no different than Marie Roget, or any main character, Mark looks no different than any other male character either. The only reason Lilly looks different is because she has black eyes, and Dark Tales rarely features kids in their games, but I'm confident the next child will have red hair and braids!
I knew the second I freed Mark, that I was going to need to whip up an ointment for bandages, and didn't I have to free the last female character from a giant water tank, the same character that had an incurable "condition" just like Louisa? Do all women in EAP's novels have an untreatable illness? Do all of the manors have evil spirits? Are all Amulets/Medallions evil spiritually connected? Do all evil spirits have the same M.O of binding doors with thick vines? Do all statues, doors, mirrors, drawers, mailboxes, and picture frames require an emblem to access them, emblems that are ALWAYS missing. Have all evil spirits been banished, they apparently don't exist in the 1900's, because all Dark Tales seem to take place in 1840. These poor people, not only are they burdened with having to solve a puzzle just to enter the next room, but they always get trapped by their own devices!
I will admit that the Collector's Edition Fortune Cookies that encase a Jigsaw Puzzle Piece is much more creative than trying to hide a puzzle piece, that always sticks out like a sore thumb, however, the jigsaw puzzle itself is far too easy. Why do they have to show the outlines, can't they at least give you an Easy/Hard difficulty mode? As far as a Collector's Edition version goes, just offering puzzle pieces is pretty lame, and certainly not worthy of the CE price tag. At least offer Morphs or some other feature, is almost as if this game were from the 1800's.
The Hidden Object Scenes are pretty basic too. Most of the HOP's require you to find Multiples of objects such as 12 Keys, 15 Pages, and one HOP was a simple Listed Item find without interactions! Well I guess I should be grateful that they no longer seem to be doubling up on the same scene, like they did in the 1700's!
The Mini Games are okay, but very similar to all the other games available in Dark Tales, and I am grateful that I haven't had to use a Memory Device to catch flying orbs of lights! Some of the games are available in Casual or Hard difficulty modes. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Use wooden angled pieces to guide each ball into it's matching colored bowls at the bottom.
2) Position the symbols according to the clue, by moving them along the tracks to an empty space. Use directional arrows to rotate the rim.
3) Select the red buttons to rotate groups of valves until all valves turn green.
4) Use rotation and flip buttons on each wooden tree puzzle piece, and place correctly.
5) Select the correct symbols, one on the page, one on the field to match the symbols shown.
6) Click on pairs of matching symbols to reveal the secret area where the lines intersect.
7) Recreate the symbol shown by drawing lines on a honeycomb grid.
DARK TALES: EDGAR ALLAN POE'S GAMES AVAILABLE:
Title Collector's Edition Release Date Average Rating
Title Collector's Edition Release Date Average Rating
1-Murder's In The Rue Morgue (December 17-2009) 3.7
2-The Black Cat (September 16-2010) 4.6
3-The Premature Burial (October 7-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.4
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.8
12-Morella (December 16-2017) n/a
2-The Black Cat (September 16-2010) 4.6
3-The Premature Burial (October 7-2011) 4.5
4-The Gold Bug (January 10-2013) 3.8
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (April 25-2013) 4.4
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (March 20-2014) 4.0
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (February 19-2015) 4.1
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (November 14-2015) 2.7
9-Metzengerstein (July 21-2016) 3.4
10-The Raven (December 29-2016) 3.2
11-Lenore (August 10-2017) 2.8
12-Morella (December 16-2017) n/a
This Collector's Edition has 10 Wallpapers, 13 Concept Art pictures, 6 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 re-playable Movie Videos, 6 Sweets to taste (whoopie) 7 Brave Ladies bios (bet they all have heart conditions) 60 hidden Fortune Cookies with Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces that allow you to assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle, 15 Achievements to earn, 17 re-playable Mini Games, 15 replayable Hidden Object Scenes (that's a whole lotta keys) a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
After your friend is abducted, can you escape the cemetery?
Overall rating
2
/
5
86 of 110 found this review helpful
TO LIKE OR NOT TO LIKE, THAT IS THE MORAL QUESTION
PostedDecember 15, 2017
Anonymous
fromIs it really horrible that I considered not getting Karen unstuck? Who'd know, well there is the undead crow, rats!
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
I really tried to like this game, I bought the CE version on a BOGO sale, and I have tried to finish this game several times. Try as I may, I just can't do it! The best part of this game was the first 15 minutes, when that wicked looking spirit and his undead horse (that horse was looking pretty rough) came to life, after that all I got was a stupid raven! To make matters worse, I spend most of my time saving Karen, first she's abducted in the graveyard, and we hadn't been there 10 minutes yet, then she gets kidnapped by venomous snakes, then she get thrown in a well, (which btw, is in no way, shape or form, a well, it's an underground prison cell) then she gets stuck under a bunch of rocks! I'll be honest with you, when it came down to me choosing between saving Nathan or saving Karen, I chose to save Nathan. Surely he's more capable of handling himself, and he's so much cuter! Well, anywho, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either (I recommend "if either" lol) is right for you:
When your best journalist comes knocking at your door in the middle of the night, you can bet on the fact that she's stumbled onto something incredible. That bet will pay off, because Karen has discovered a cemetery where she believes, people are just dying to get in! This cemetery is heavily guarded (and by heavily guarded, I mean one guard who refuses to sink with the ship) but her investigative skills have now led her to believe that the guards aren't there to keep people from getting in, it's to keep people from getting out!
Clap, clap, clap, clap. I have good news, and bad news. The good news is that Amax is really digging their heels in, they are jumping in with both feet, they refuse to accept the agony of deFeet (sorry, can't help myself, gotta use those pun opportunities) In all honesty, it's clear to see that they are really trying to get it right, they aren't sticking a toe in the HOPA waters, they are getting both feet wet (oops I did it again) They are trying to give us something new in a stagnate environment. The bad news is that I think they are trying too hard, because some of these features initially piqued my interest, but quickly became annoying.
The first new feature Amax added was way more dialog to sift through in an attempt to build a character/gamer relationship bond. Then they added Conversation Options, which in itself isn't all that bad, but it takes place on almost every conversation in every scene, multiple times. Again, that in itself isn't all that bad, however, for me it became annoying because I was constantly having to click on the dialog box at the bottom, to advance the conversation, then up to the top to click whichever choice I wanted, and then back to the bottom again to advance the conversation. If I chose the wrong answer, I would have to go back to the conversation option to click on the dialog option once again. A little goes a long way, they went a little overboard with it, and it may have helped if the two boxes were closer to the bottom dialog box?!?
They have also added a feature that looks to me like it's the majority of the CE bling. There aren't any collectibles or morphs offered, just points to earn to tip the scales of justice. When you are making those above mentioned decisions, depending on which answers you choose, you receive either Order points or Chaos points, moral or immoral choices. There is a moon on the bottom left that will turn red if you begin to make Chaotic or unethical decisions during the game. I like this theory, because it can make the game more interesting to replay, by making different choices, IF it effects the outcome of the story. (but at the rate I'm going, I'll never make it to the end, wouldn't it be nice to be able to fast-forward through the game if you wanted to?)
The Hidden Object Scenes have changed as well. First of all, they didn't repeat any HOP in the same scene, awesome! Most of the HOP's require you to use a lantern, the same lantern, even more awesome! You use the lantern in a dark scene to find several rabid bats, in a highly interactive scene where the bats consume the entire scene and attack you when you least expect it. Another scene requires you to use the lantern to pan several areas in search of dangerous creatures and ignoring the creatures who aren't dangerous. There is also a Spot the Difference HOP that was fairly well done.
The Mini Games sometimes requires help and guidance from your talking Crow friend, or the use of a camera for picture references. The camera can also help you find secret areas, or to see thing in a different light. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Drag skulls over the holes in the glass, moving one skull may affect others.
2) Swap tokens to match the riddles and picture references.
3) Use the fishing rod to guide the key out of the well, avoiding obstacles on the way up.
4) Follow the crows directions to interact with the character, by choosing the correct left and right side of the character facing you.
REDEMPTION CEMETERY GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Curse of the Raven (August 9-2010) 4.4
2-Children's Plight (August 12-2011) 4.5
3-Grave Testimony (August 12-2012) 4.3
4-Salvation of the Lost (April 18-2013) 3.8
5-Bitter Frost (December 26-2013) 3.4
6-The Island of the Lost (March 15-2015) 3.6
7-Clock of Fate (September 29-2015) 3.6
8-At Death's Door (May 5-2016) 3.8
9-Night Terrors (February 9-2017) 3.4
10-Embodiment of Evil (May 17-2017) 4.0
11-One Foot in the Grave (November 16-2017) 3.3
2-Children's Plight (August 12-2011) 4.5
3-Grave Testimony (August 12-2012) 4.3
4-Salvation of the Lost (April 18-2013) 3.8
5-Bitter Frost (December 26-2013) 3.4
6-The Island of the Lost (March 15-2015) 3.6
7-Clock of Fate (September 29-2015) 3.6
8-At Death's Door (May 5-2016) 3.8
9-Night Terrors (February 9-2017) 3.4
10-Embodiment of Evil (May 17-2017) 4.0
11-One Foot in the Grave (November 16-2017) 3.3
The Collector's Edition version has 20 Concept Art pictures, 10 Wallpapers, 9 Screensavers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 10 Movie Videos, 18 re-playable Mini Games, 17 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, Order and Chaos Points to earn, 12 Achievements to Earn, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, the end.
I don't recommend this game.
Venture into the dream world and save your husband from the wicked spirit of nightmares!
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 89 found this review helpful
BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE
PostedDecember 15, 2017
Anonymous
fromVacation's over, time to pack up before thing's get weirder!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am really digging these Clutter style games! They all have terrific stories, told a sentence or two at a time after each Clutter level. This one has a couple of features I don't recall being in the last two games. They have added a Star rating system, allowing you to earn up to 3 stars per level, and you can replay any level from the level map. They have also added Dynamite on some levels, when you click on one of several, the dynamite will explode and all the remaining objects will reshuffle, which can help you, but can sometimes make things worse. These may not be new features, but I don't recall them being available in the last two games.
The object of this game is to remove items from a heaping pile of junk. This may not seem thrilling, but I can assure you, this game isn't as easy as you'd think, and it's very addicting. You can play in a Relaxed Untimed mode, Casual, or Hard mode. Some levels may require removing two identical objects, groups of three identical objects, removing objects that either have two or three of the same objects, or removing one object in color, it's match without color. Some levels require you to clear objects heaped in the center as you search for matching objects.
Crystals can be removed with a single click, and this will make the Hint option recharge faster. After a few Clutter levels, you get to assemble a different type of puzzle such as a Jigsaw or Slider type, which will give you an extra hint. If you don't use a hint, you will receive extra points, and you get points for any remaining time you may have.
I'm really intrigued by this storyline, about a young couple who begin experiencing odd behavior while vacationing at a resort. I own the other two games in this series, and this one's definitely going to join them, enjoy!
GAMES IN THIS SERIES
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-A Plot Story (September 21-2017) 4.0
2-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
3-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) n/a
2-Witch's Tales (October 31-2017) 3.7
3-Dream Walker (December 15-2017) n/a
I recommend this game!
Can you save the holidays before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
107 of 132 found this review helpful
BREAKING NEWS: EVIL GOBLIN STEALS CHRISTMAS GIFTS-CHRISTMAS DOOMED-EVIL WITCH OF THE NORTH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY-OZ IN TURMOIL-SCARECROW RESIGNS
PostedDecember 14, 2017
Anonymous
fromSo much for teaching the citizens of Oz the real meaning of Christmas, Dorothy!
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
*************film at 11****not available in demo*************
Dorothy and Toto are building a snowman, having fun, and minding their own business when out of nowhere appears a hot air balloon. As luck would have it, the balloon immediately collides with a falling star. (I guess it's more like karma) Toto panics and begins barking, roughly translated, "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" The deflated balloon apparently has no ill effect and the basket lands gently in the snow, poof, the glistening snow dissipates into the cold wintery air. The unscathed pilot brushes the snow off his freshly pressed uniform's epaulettes, and introduces himself to Dotty, as Clutch the guardian of the gates of Emerald City. Clutch has traveled over the river and through the woods, to deliver a very important invitation to Dot, an invitation to join her good friends from Oz for their very first Christmas Celebration! Let's not forget, the balloon has been badly damaged by a fiery ball of light entering our atmosphere so Clutch hands you the balloon (how'd he remove the balloon so fast? Must be a Christmas Miracle!) and tells you to sew a patch on the balloon to repair it. (I have no good comment about this sewing gig, so I'll just leave it at, "oh no he didn't) Thanks to my awesome domestic skills, the Balloon is good to go, Do & To are off to Oz to see the wonderful Wizard of Christmas future. This leaves me with one question, am I young D or a much older D?
I'm quickly becoming a fan of Domini Games, they have creative stories, and the graphics are always colorful and very realistic.I wasn't super thrilled with the tasks, they didn't seem very creative, but the story is kinda cool! Toto joins Doro on this Christmas journey as a helper, but he's not annoying or cutesy, I'd put him in second place right next to Elf, who is much more adorable and has a name more fitting for a Christmas themed game.
As a Collector's Edition, this one fits just right, with some really good collectible features. There are missing Task pages that are scattered throughout the adventure, which allows you to read about each character and what they have been up to since you've been gone. There are collectible, hidden Emeralds, that allow you to buy Decorations for the Christmas Tree, hopefully not the one that Doto chopped to shreds! The coolest collection, however, are the Fireworks, which allows you to blast them into the night sky for an awesome personalized fireworks display!
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied each time with Keywords in Sentence finds, Interactive Listed Item finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Reversed Item finds where you take items from your inventory and place them into the scene where they logically belong. There is an optional Match 3 game to play if you're not into HOP's.
The Mini Games are decent, but I haven't come across anything new. All of the puzzles allow you to select an Easy or Hard difficulty mode! Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Select and drag the buckles to the outlined spaces, moving one buckle may affect others.
2) Lead the hot air balloon to the finish while avoiding obstacles hidden under the clouds.
3) Lead the gnome token to the bag after collecting all other tokens without backtracking.
4) Press disks to move the token to the bottom right. The coin will enter any open adjacent disk slot.
5) Swap cips correctly based on the images located on each column and row.
6) Move the characters chips into their correct frames based upon their color and the matching colored map areas.
7) Pose the scarecrows arm and Leg sections based on the image shown, moving one section may affect others.
This Collector's Edition has 10 Concept Art pictures, 15 Wallpapers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 30 Achievements to earn, 18 re-playable Mini Games, 17 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 27 re-playable Movie Videos, 60 collectible Emeralds which allow you to buy decorations for the Christmas Tree, Missing Storybook Pages, 13 Fireworks that can be loaded in a cannon and shot into the sky for a personalized Fireworks display, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
The Love Boat™ Collector's Edition
Join the Love Boat crew and relive the famous TV show in this time management adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 of 26 found this review helpful
LOOKS LIKE CARL THE MOUSE IS LOOKING FOR LOVE TOO
PostedDecember 13, 2017
Anonymous
fromWhy did Emily's mom send her and her sister on a Love Boat cruise, what's wrong with Patrick?
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 Love Boat is ready to set sail across the Pacific, with special guest stars Emily and Angela, and wouldn't ya know it, Carl the mouse has stowed in search of love too! This cruise will be more nerve wracking than most because Mr. & Mrs. Skoggstad are on the cruise, and love is certainly not in the air for this couple who just acquired the cruise line!
I really wanted to love this "exciting & new" Time Management game because I remember looking forward to watching this show every week as a kid, with my mom. It has some glitchy issues, and really annoying canned laughter, however at least the laughter feature can be turned off (took me a few minutes but I finally found that option on the main page setting, otherwise the other option page only allows you to adjust the music) I couldn't get the PC version to play at all, so I eventually downloaded the Mac version which worked. I still had issues clicking on some items, especially the magazines, which would cause me to get all messed up, thinking that the magazine I clicked just clicked on would be available, but when I tried to deliver it to the customer, it wouldn't be on my tray. I click on as many consecutive tasks as possible, to earn more points, and not getting an item on the first try, can ruin your mojo on a TM game!
Just like most Time Management games, the customers arrive and you need to click on the item or items they desire as indicated by their thought bubbles, click on the customer to deliver the goods, click on the register to receive payment and if they have been sitting at a table, you need to click the table to have Gopher (how appropriate! lol) clean the table. Some items just require a single click (unless it's glitchy) others require multiple items, such as a champagne bottle followed by a corkscrew, followed by a glass, before serving it to the customer.
Some items, such as the magazines are in limited supply, and require restocking, and in between customers, Julie has different Quests to fulfil for bonus points. Multi-tasking and fast service also gives you bonus points, the goal is to keep the customer happy for bigger tips, as indicated by their Hearts. If a customer waits too long, they might leave without paying! Carl the Mouse has climbed aboard, everyone was expecting him to, because he's actually the star of this show and all of the other TM games by this dev. You will earn extra points if you click on his tiny little mouse head when he pops up on every level unexpectedly.
You can earn up to 3 Stars per level when you achieve expert status, and any level can be replayed at anytime, via the Level Map. There are 60 levels and 30 Bonus Levels available in this Collector's Edition version. After each level, you can purchase items in the Shop with the Coins you earned. In the Shop you can upgrade items to keep customers happy and more patient, make service faster, or allow for larger storage capacities. After a few levels, Challenge levels become available, which allows you to earn Diamonds, and the Diamonds allow you to purchase 12 different versions of Carl the Mouse.
This Collector's Edition version has 7 Music Soundtracks, 20 Trophy Achievements to earn, 15 Cast Member bios, 12 different Mice to purchase with Diamonds, and 30 Bonus Levels, enjoy the cruise and the trip down memory lane!
I recommend this game!
Can you save your sister on the Day of the Dead?
Overall rating
1
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
A MYTH TOLD BY THE DEAD IS APPROPRIATE FOR A LONGTIME SERIES HEADED FOR THE GRAVEYARD
PostedDecember 13, 2017
Anonymous
fromIt's difficult to fear a Bruja when everything's so colorful!
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Like most other longtime running series by this dev, Myths of the World, is spiraling downhill. There hasn't really been a game in this series with at least a 4 star average rating since The Whispering Marsh near the end of 2015, which barely got 4 stars. Behind the Veil is a very beautiful game, but in the end, it's just another cookie cutter Eipix game, with nothing new to offer, yet every cliche feature you'd expect. Here's a recap to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:
Behind the Veil certainly won't overload your cerebral cortex, however, the occipital lobe is a whole different matter. I don't recall any Eipix game having such bright, beautifully vivid graphics. (perhaps my hippocampus needs some neuron stimulation) This is a very short demo, I still had a half hour left on the demo clock, which leads me to believe the game in it's entirety is probably short as well.
I have to give these developer's credit, when and where credit is merited. I think they are finally beginning to realize that we are no longer content to accept cookie cutter, sub par games, that are being released at a breakneck speed, with minimal attention being paid to the details, and with repetitive story lines that barely have a plot. In the past, it was difficult to tell one series from another offered by this dev, but the tides are turning, just a wee bit, and it's clear to see they are trying to see what works and what doesn't. I think they are getting there, improving the graphics is a great start, but I think they are having difficulty leaping over the hurdle to create a different kind of "bad guy."
At first, this game looked promising, but in the end, it's just another floating spirit seeking revenge on an innocent town, and whomever happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. In my opinion, the "bad guy" should never be revealed during the demo. Instead, the villain's character should be mysterious, and the plot should thicken just before the end of the demo, we should be left saying "I've got to find out who or what is responsible!"
Myths of the World has another myth to unveil, a death defying myth. A myth set out to prove that you cannot die if there is no Death to claim your soul! A myth that begins to unveil on the island of Alma, as they prepare for The Day of the Dead celebration. But this celebration won't be very festive, once the unwelcomed dead arrive.
Oh no! We have yet another otherworldly gadget at our disposal, the Xolotl Blade, powered by the Lapis Stone, which, you guessed it, needs replaced and recharged after each and every use! In the Collector's Edition version, we also get to search for those infamous Hidden Signs, the same offered in all the games by this dev. It sure would be nice if this feature was tweaked, at least once in awhile. This CE version also has the standard Eipix feature of only offering the Morphing Objects within the HOP's, a feature I love, just not when they are offered only in the HOP's!
Some of the Hidden Object Scenes, I must admit, are actually quite good. I particularly liked the stone disk HOP where you had to rotate the disks to align the different pictures shown. There are also Listed Item finds, Multiples of the same type of Item finds, and even smaller Zoom Zone HOP's with Silhouetted Shape finds. In the CE version, there is a Morphing Object available within most of the HOP's and there is an alternate Skipping Stones Match 3 type game to play as an alternate.
The Mini Games are average and lean towards Easy to Medium difficulty. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:
1) Match the keys with the correct keyholes based on the shape of the handle, using directional arrows to move between locks.
2) Follow directions on a recipe.
3) Display the pendant parts that make up the full pendant, select red buttons to scroll through the pieces without duplicating displayed pieces.
4) Arrange the soldiers and tribesmen in combat so that a shield is always blocking a sword, by swapping tiles.
5) Select the correct symbol for each shadow fisherman to push them away from the prince.
6) Match the fruits with their corresponding plates.
7) Move token along the grid to make their lines overlap with the pattern drawn in the background.
8) Destroy all of the connections between the knots by selecting only 3 knots.
9) Stack all of the sombreros together starting with the largest and ending with the smallest.
MYTHS OF THE WORLD GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating
1-Chinese Healer (January 29-2013) 4.3
2-Stolen Spring (November 6-2013) 3.6
3-Spirit Wolf (January 23-2014) 4.2
4-Of Friends and Fairies (June 7-2014) 4.1
5-Black Rose (October 25-2014) 4.3
6-The Heart of Desolation (April 11-2015) 4.2
7-The Whispering Marsh (September 3-2015) 4.1
8-Born of Clay and Fire (March 10-2016) 4.0
9-Island of Forgotten Evil (August 18-2016) 3.3
10-Bound by the Stone (December 17-2016) 3.0
11-The Black Sun (March 18-2017) 3.3
12-Fire of Olympus (July 6-2017) 2.9
13-Behind the Veil (November 11-2017) 3.0
2-Stolen Spring (November 6-2013) 3.6
3-Spirit Wolf (January 23-2014) 4.2
4-Of Friends and Fairies (June 7-2014) 4.1
5-Black Rose (October 25-2014) 4.3
6-The Heart of Desolation (April 11-2015) 4.2
7-The Whispering Marsh (September 3-2015) 4.1
8-Born of Clay and Fire (March 10-2016) 4.0
9-Island of Forgotten Evil (August 18-2016) 3.3
10-Bound by the Stone (December 17-2016) 3.0
11-The Black Sun (March 18-2017) 3.3
12-Fire of Olympus (July 6-2017) 2.9
13-Behind the Veil (November 11-2017) 3.0
The Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 18 Movie Videos, 21 re-playable Mini Games, alternate re-playable Skipping Stones games, 14 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 HOP Morphing Objects, a Souvenir Room, 13 Achievements to earn, 35 (not so) Hidden Signs to collect, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter.
I don't recommend this game.
Return to the world of Jewel Match in this beautiful Solitaire adventure with 200 levels, multiple play variants, 5 castles to build, and much more!
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 84 found this review helpful
YOU STILL GET SEVERAL FEATURES IN THIS VERSION!
PostedDecember 13, 2017
Anonymous
fromWhy would you need a SG for a Solitaire game? What's the point of playing the game if you know exactly which cards to pick each time?
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
I purchased this game in the Collector's Edition version during a $6.99 CE sale, and I absolutely love it. Jewel Match Solitaire has a great play value, because as you play the main game of Higher/Lower Solitaire, you unlock 12 different Solitaire types of games, such as Aces Up, Eight Off, Four Colors, Freecell, Klondike, Martha, Osmosis, Pyramid, Royal Family, Scorpion, Solid Square and Spider Solitaire. You still earn Achievement Trophies with this version, and you still get to build the Castles. I'm not sure about the ability to set the Castles you build as Wallpapers, it has the icon for Wallpapers, but I didn't progress far enough in this demo to build the entire first castle. I'm assuming you can, otherwise it seems they would have removed the Wallpaper icon.
You can play in a Relaxed mode which gives you more than one deal, Normal mode or Hard mode which is a Timed game. You can choose from 4 card designs, and 2 different Face card font styles. There are 24 Trophies to earn, and every level has Emeralds to earn that allow you to build the Castles, one section at a time. Depending on how many cards remain, you can earn up to 3 Stars per level, and you can replay any level at anytime. Approximately every fifth level unlocks a different Bonus Solitaire game type that can be played anytime, once unlocked. The level map shows you how many Stars you earned on each level as well as how many Emeralds are available, and how many you found. Some cards have Coins hidden under them which can be used in the Shop to purchase items that will help you on the more difficult levels.
In the Shop you can purchase more Shuffle and Undo features, Number specific Wildcards and Jokers, or a feature that increases your chance of earning them in the levels themselves, there are power-ups that remove a Random Card, or a Specific Card, power-ups that give you a Deck Card Counter or turn over some Face Down cards.
Naturally, there are some Obstacle Cards as you progress, requiring you to find Key Cards for Locked Cards, Sickles Cards to remove Bush Cards, Chained Cards require a Hammer Card (some cards have more than 1 chain and more than 1 hammer card) Scissor Cards to cut Ribbon Cards, (some cards have more than 1 ribbon and more than 1 scissor card) and my favorites, Wax Seals requiring color specific cards to be played, and sometimes Suit Specific cards, Frozen Cards require 2 plays, the first to break the ice, and the second play to remove it .
The Collector's Edition version has 24 Trophies to earn, 10 Music Soundtracks, the Making Of, Bonus Trophies, Wallpapers, 4 extra Deck card styles, Bonus Levels, 3 Extra Castles to build, 120 Extra Bonus Levels, 6 Extra Bonus Solitaire types, Shop Extra Power-ups, and a built in Strategy Guide (huh??)
In all honesty, because this Standard Edition version has many of the same features still available, it's a fantastic value for the price. I don't think you'll miss what's missing enough to make a difference for the price. Either version is a fantastic game for Solitaire lovers, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Fun griddler puzzles that piece together images with a bright and festive carnival atmosphere!
Overall rating
3
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
ANOTHER GRIDDLER NOT BASED UPON LOGIC
PostedDecember 13, 2017
Anonymous
fromAnother Guesser Griddler, no logic required!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
These devs haven't figured out that Griddlers are puzzled you solve using LOGIC not fancy named power-ups or by GUESSING! 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" Um, NO! To solve a griddler, you're supposed to use logic and NEVER guess at filling in the colored squares!!!!!
The grids are super basic, and super easy (except the few they slip in that require you to "guess" at) The filled in cells have a boarder 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.
At first I was enjoying the upbeat music, but after a few levels I found myself turning the volume down lower and lower, because it was becoming annoying and obtrusive. There are 18 Trophies offered, but once you earn a trophy, it doesn't tell you what it was for, when you go into the Trophy section. If you want to know what the achievement was for, you might want to read and memorize them before you actually earn it!
There are 3 different Power-ups available, which can be upgraded with the coins you earn solving guessers griddlers, ha, I have a new game category!
DICE: Fills in a Random cell, upgrade fills in 2 Random cells.
HAND FAN: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
FIREWORKS: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
HAND FAN: Fills in 1 chosen cell, upgrade 2 Random cells.
FIREWORKS: Fills in a 5 cell area, upgrade fills a 9 cell area.
I knew this game would have issues when I completed a grid titled Babby Carriage, and I totally didn't get the picture of a Fan. This demo was entertaining enough to warrant 3 stars, but there are too many really good griddlers out there worthy of purchasing, so I'll definitely pass on this one!
I don't recommend this game.
Play 4 different types of mosaics puzzles and learn more about the greatest cities of the world.
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
I LOVE THE VARIETY OF MOSAICS AND IT'S BASED ON LOGIC!!!!
PostedDecember 11, 2017
Anonymous
fromI love looking at the Mystery Lands completed puzzles, such beautiful winter scenes, just in time for the Holidays!
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
World's Greatest Cities sure knows how to shake up the Mosaic puzzle world! I love the variety of Mosaics they offer, but I would like to have a few more colors added to the traditional multi-colored type, which only has 3 available colors presently. I think those colors could be a little more vivid, and I wish they would label the pictures afterwards. My final complaints (the reasons for only 4 stars) are the fact that in the Mystery Lands type, the colors are at times too similar, making it difficult to tell them apart, and sometimes the cells don't automatically cross of on either setting, and I have to go through and cross them off manually. I do like reading about all the different Cities around the World, which is a feature offered in this game, as well as World's Greatest Places.
You can play in a Casual, Normal or Expert difficulty mode, or you can customize the difficulty mode by choosing if you want to play in a timed mode, if you want bonus points as a time bonus, whether you want numbers crossed off one by one or only when the entire row has been completed, and you can set the number of mistakes allowed from 1-5 and how long it takes for the hint feature to recharge from 30-120 seconds.
There are 4 different types of Mosaics offered:
*Traditional (multi-colored) which has 3 different colors to switch between to help you solve the puzzle.
*Mystery Lands which fills in each cell with 3 different kinds of pictures that when complete forms a beautiful scene, often with swimming fish, turtles etc.
*Rome Game is the same as Traditional except the numbers are presented as Roman Numerals, but if you scan the mouse over the numbers it will show the traditional number.
*Labyrinth Game is similar to Mystery Lands, but after completing the puzzle, you move objects from point A to B by clicking on intersections of a maze.
WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES/PLACES MOSAICS SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 1 (March 7-2016) 3.5
2-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 2 (October 20-2017) 4.6
3-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 3 (December 11-2017) n/a
2-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 2 (October 20-2017) 4.6
3-World's Greatest Cities Mosaics 3 (December 11-2017) n/a
1-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 1 (March 16-2016) 2.8
2-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 2 (September 6-2017) 4.8
2-World's Greatest Places Mosaics 2 (September 6-2017) 4.8
WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES/PLACES MAHJONG SERIES LIST
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
Title***Release Date***Average Rating
1-World's Greatest Cities Mahjong (January 12-2012) 4.3
1-World's Greatest Places Mahjong (January 17-2012) 4.2
If you're looking for a Mosaic game with something different, this is it! And even better, you get to solve the puzzles using logic, not by using a hint or guessing like some Mosaic games, enjoy!
I recommend this game!