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:
Danse Macabre: Thin Ice
You stop a crazy fan, but when he dies, who’s responsible?
Overall rating
4
/
5
46 of 55 found this review helpful
Very Thin Ice
PostedJuly 10, 2015
pennmom36
fromAnother secret worth dying for
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Ruth Fisher is a talented young woman, an up and coming figure skater and the star of the show. There's just one small problem, her life is being threatened by an overzealous fan with not so good intentions! Ruth's manager, Christopher Chardy, has requested your services to provide security and keep her safe, but safe from whom? Perhaps her partner Walter is a bit disgruntled, after all Ruth did publicly humiliate him during a lovers spat, perhaps someone from the show who is clamoring for her star status, maybe even her manager Christopher Chardy?
Once again you have an electronic but slightly archaic Evidence Board that keeps track of information on each suspect you meet and any important information you find during your investigation. Some of the inventory items have plus signs indicating some type of interaction is necessary before that item can be used such as combining that item with another inventory item. The Collector's Edition has 42 Snow Globes to Collect, and 14 Achievements to earn, some of which have 3 stars per achievement. My biggest complaint with this game, is that the graphics are all that great, I don't recall the other Danse Macabre games having this poor of graphics.
The Hidden Object Scenes are different every time, some are progressive, interactive silhouettes where you find an item and use the item in the scene to uncover the next item, there are combination silhouettes where two silhouettes combined would make a particular item, even finding 6 shovels and 6 pick axes to receive the correct tool to uncover a list find! In the Collector's Edition, 14 of the HOP's have a Morphing Object within them, and you can opt for an endless game of Match 3. The Mini Games are in abundance, there are a lot of quick matching games but also longer more complex puzzles. My two favorite was rotating circuit boards of different shapes and placing the correctly into a patterned grid, and driving the snowmobile and "steering" it safely between rocks.
The Collector's Edition has 14 Achievements, 42 Collectible Snowglobes, 14 Morphing Objects, replayable Match 3, replayable Puzzles and HOP's, Souvenirs, Movies, Music, Pictures, Behind the Scenes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Phantasmat: The Dread of Oakville Collector's Edition
It's the end of the world... at least in Oakville.
Overall rating
5
/
5
298 of 373 found this review helpful
Snap Out Of It Man, You're Dead!
PostedJuly 9, 2015
pennmom36
fromNo wonder these people are missing, nobody wants to find people who have solid black soulless eyes!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Aunt Mae warned the entire town of the coming apocalypse but nobody believed the rantings of a feeble old lady. You were running late for a book signing when you find yourself trapped in the tiny town of Oakville. This town is as creepy as it gets, and missing person fliers are everywhere, but you don't seem to have a problem finding these people, man they're everywhere! Something's just not right with these people, they don't seem to know people are searching for them, and what's wrong with their eyes, they're pitch black! Are all these people dead? Am I dead?
It's no secret that the original Phantasmat is my all time favorite game, and this game is teetering for that pole position, because it's simply phenomenal! The creep factor is certainly there, the storyline is intriguing enough to keep you glued to your computer chair, and the entertainment factor is off the charts. There are 43 Hidden Morphing Signs, Plus Sign Inventory items with puzzles, and plenty of Achievements to earn. There aren't any cuddly puppies, fire breathing dragons or curious kittens in this game folks, so turn off the lights and get your game on! (With Mr. Nightingale's permission, of course)
The Hidden Object Scenes are all over the board, and there are several smaller HOP's within zoomed in locations. Some require multiples of items found to unlock a tool which in turn unlocks listed items, there are sketches of items to find, and even multiple morphing item finds. You can even opt for a Match 3 game in place of the HOP. My only complaint is that the graphics are rather poor in the HOP's, which I just can't seem to understand from such a great series.
I hope you like Mini Games because there are a ton of 'em, ranging from simple puzzles where you turn rings or swap tokens to complete an image or more elaborate puzzles such as placing several round puzzle pieces with arm extensions of various degrees until all arms connect to the round tokens properly.
This Collector's Edition has replayable Match 3 games, HOP's and Mini Games, the Making Of, Achievements, 43 Morphing Objects, Music, Videos, Pictures, Collectibles, a Souvenir Room, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Flux Family Secrets: The Ripple Effect
Fix the errors in time in this Hidden Object game! Explore historical sites and find misplaced objects scattered through time.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Flux Family Secrets: The Ripple Effect
PostedJuly 8, 2015
pennmom36
fromStill doesn't explain why Jessie's family ditched her.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Jessie has been trying for years to piece together her past with nothing more to go on than a baby photo. Out of the blue a woman named Veronica contacts her with the promise of enlightenment of her past, that all will be explained when she arrives at the Flux Family Manor. After a series of tests, Veronica tells Jessie she's a Flux and they travel through space and time collecting fragments that have been torn apart from the constant tug of war, space and time create.
The first assignment is to restore art, DaVinci (1518) needs fragments to restore the Mona Lisa, Hatshepsut (1458 B.C) needs fragments to restore a bust of the Queen, and Shakespeare (1616) needs fragments to restore his self portrait. You can choose any artist at any time or even go back and forth. You find several fragmented items hidden throughout each room, once an item has been restored, you will use that restored item within the scene to activate some type of mini game, or reveal the next fragment. There is a Zoom feature magnifying glass that can be accessed for searching up close.
There are a lot of Mini Games, some very simple, some lengthy and some frustrating, if you choose to skip any puzzle, there is a 20 minute penalty added to your overall game completion time. Some require you to line up 4 matching symbols once you figure out which symbols are available on all 4 slots, sliding puzzle tiles with one empty space to complete an image, or figuring out a lock combination by slowly turning dial until the light turns green, and, if you rotate the dial too fast you have to start over. This isn't a bad game if you enjoy a lot of mini games and FROG type Hidden Object Scenes, and this is the first game in the Trilogy, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Flower of Immortality
To avoid imprisonment, a deal is made to retrieve an artifact in Flower of Immortality!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Flower of Immortality
PostedJuly 8, 2015
pennmom36
fromSo the authorities want you to do something illegal to get out of illegal trouble?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
You are an archaeologist who never returns artifacts to the government of where the artifacts are found. This has gotten you into a lot of trouble with the authorities, who are now offering you a deal in exchange for your help. The British authorities have asked you to travel to an island in the pacific, Tapa-Tui, locate another archaeologist, Anna Stevens and steal an artifact from her! This artifact contains The Secret of Immortality!
The graphics are decent, but old school, there are no voiceovers, and there are a lot of dialog boxes to read through. I did enjoy some of the sarcastic humor that was used, but there is way too much dialog in my opinion. One of the features I disliked the most was that it's difficult to see objects that need to be picked up, and at times the tasks aren't logical.
The Hidden Object Scenes are list finds, the items in green require some type of interaction to complete, the items listed in blue are the inventory items you will keep. If you find both inventory items listed in blue, you have the option of skipping the HOS at that point. Some of the HOS are repeated in the same area, which is another feature I dislike because it's boring the second time around. There aren't a lot of Mini Games, but they are doable such as rearranging domino type tiles so that no two alike numbers are in the same column, row, or two by two square.
I don't recommend this game.
Fantasy Mosaics 9: Portal in the Woods
Follow the penguin through the portal in this colorful mosaics adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 94 found this review helpful
Looking For A Way Back Home
PostedJuly 8, 2015
pennmom36
fromOoohhh no Mr. Penguin! Quick, does anyone have a plunger?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Poor Mr. Penguin and his family have been sucked through a portal to another world, and they need our help to find their way back home! As with the other 8 FM's, every step you take in the game will help the Penguin family explore this new world, and help them find a way back home (yes, this game has an actual storyline)
This is a griddler or mosaic type game where you fill in and cross of cells on various sized grids, using logic. There are groups of numbers located on each column and row of the grid, each group of numbers must be separated by at least one blank or crossed off cell, using logic. Sometimes it's easier to figure out where numbers can't possibly fit to reduce the amount of cells and narrow the playing field down a bit. Some cells contain bonuses such as extra hints, extra mistakes allowed or an extra pickaxe which allows you to choose which cell you want a hint on.
The one feature that makes Fantasy Mosaics stand out from the rest of the griddler games, is the vibrant array of colors available. It can also help you solve the puzzle when you get stuck, because you can switch to another color which ultimately narrows down the available cells. These pictures actually make sense because they have three different colors you know what image you have created, peppers, clovers, eclipse, and even Alice in Wonderland!
If you make no mistakes, you will earn a Gold Trophy regardless of the time it takes to complete the puzzle, a Silver Trophy is earned if you make one mistake, and a Bronze Trophy is earned if you make 2 mistakes. You can replay the grid as often as you want in order to improve your score. This series is one of the best available, and certainly the most colorful. This is a must have game for griddler geeks and an immediate purchase for this geek!
I recommend this game!
New York Mysteries: High Voltage
A series of shocking – and otherworldly – murders has struck New York City, and you're the only one who can solve them!
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 71 found this review helpful
Prison Break Paranormal Style!
PostedJuly 7, 2015
pennmom36
fromHugo Brodie certainly is "HOT" headed
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What do these people have in common, Colin Smith, Macy Gilberg, Carolina Oldrich, Paul Kimberely, Moira Dyson, Frederick Davis, Henry Tyler, Lucas Bishop and Tony Thornes? They were all Sing Sing prison guards when an incident took place during the execution of an inmate, Hugo Brodie. No one knows for sure whether this was an elaborate prison break, or paranormal phenomenon, but the prisoner vanished into thin air....and a ball of lightning! Five years later, the prison guards present that fateful night have begun to disappear in that very same manner, a ball of lightning and poof! Nothing left but ashes and outlines! Laura has a new assignment from Dr. Bishop, and another New York Mystery to solve!
New York Mysteries has done it again, this will be a series known for it's fantastic mysteries, unbelievable cinamatics and over the top extra features. Personally, I prefer the Collector's Edition because of the 35 slow Morphing Beyond Objects, 9 Collectible Waving Kitties, 11 Collectible Statue of Liberties, 8 Secret Organization Capacitors, 7 Ball and Chains, 20 Diascope Slides, and all the Achievements you could ever want, or need!
The Hidden Object Scenes are a wee bit scarce, but very entertaining, progressive, interactive silhouette shape finds where you find the first item that matches the silhouette shown and then use that item back into the scene as you uncover clever puzzles, codes and mini games within the Hidden Object Scene! The Mini Games are fairly common puzzles such as a game of "Blocks" or Spot The Difference (actually spot the same) or arranging eagles on shelves so that the metal spheres are adjacent to each other and you can see a spark between them.
The Collector's Edition has Wallpapers, Concept Art, Videos, Music, replayable Mini Games and Puzzles, Achievements, Beyond Objects, Collectible Statues, and Collectible Diascope Slides, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Smoothie Standoff: Callie's Creations
Serve delicious smoothie combinations, prepare appetizers and spread your brand across the globe!
Overall rating
3
/
5
70 of 77 found this review helpful
Impossible To Get A Perfect Score
PostedJuly 7, 2015
pennmom36
frommouse or touchpad?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
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 love Time Management games, however, with the exception of the first couple of levels, it's impossible to achieve a perfect score! To achieve a perfect score of 3 gold stars, you need to be flawless, 2 silver stars are earned when you are too slow serving less than two customers, a bronze star means you served more than two customers too slow. Here's the problem: you click on the customers one at a time to see what fruits they want in their smoothie. You then choose those fruits by rotating through the fruit menu and clicking on the correct combination of fruits. Once you have chosen the fruits, the baristas automatically make the smoothie.....and it takes so long that you immediately lose a star on the customers patience meter! Even if I click wicked fast on the fruit selections, the barista's take too long! You also need to add appetizers to some orders, and then click on the customer to serve the order. When they are finished, you click on the money and click on the glass, and click on the dishwasher to clean the glass. There are bonus points and coins that swirl and fly around the room that can be earned by clicking on them when they appear. The money you earn can be used to purchase employees, and entertainers for the customers. From time to time, you will have special customers that must be served, such as celebrities, press, food inspectors, critics and even the mayor! This TM game offers 100 levels in 10 worlds, there are 40 characters and trophies or achievements to earn as well. I'm sure many gamers will go bonkers over this game, but for me, it's a no go for the impossibility factor.
I don't recommend this game.
A unique detective world and new villainous riddles await you! Solve 120 unique griddlers in Detective Riddles 2!
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 60 found this review helpful
Round Two
PostedJuly 6, 2015
pennmom36
fromIs Sherlock a werewolf?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Nope, it didn't improve since the first Detective Riddles. There's not much of a story, even though the title leads you to believe otherwise, and the images you create are boring, in fact most of the time I didn't know what the image was supposed to be! This is a pic cross type game where you deduce which cells are filled (or crossed off) in each row and column with at least one empty cell between each set of numbers. Left clicking fills the cells and right clicking crosses them off, and the goal is to earn 3 stars per level, you get a star deducted for each mistake. All filled cells give you coins, and some of the cells have bonus coins, the coins can be used to purchase 2 starting hints, the right to make three mistakes or refill hints on that level. There are so many fantastic pic cross games out there with beautiful colors, this game has only army green colors, and is a definate no go for me.
Tibetan Quest: Beyond the World's End Collector's Edition
Prepare yourself for a perilous journey across the world in order to save your niece from imminent danger.
Overall rating
3
/
5
95 of 115 found this review helpful
Simplistic And Unimpressive Adventure
PostedJuly 4, 2015
pennmom36
fromIsn't snow the norm in Tibet?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Welcome to Lhasa, Lady Pearson, fix our one and only airplane and you can use it to search for your niece, Larisa whose entire crew went missing when a freak snowstorm hit. That's about all the information I can give you on the story, or lack thereof. I just couldn't get into this game, it is predictable, super easy, and there's nothing to make you want to keep playing.
There are 20 Achievements to earn and several Collectible categories, 11 Medallion's, 10 Apple's, 12 Swords, and 9 Stars, but at least in the demo, there are only one type of collectible categories at a time. This game has NO custom settings, only Regular, Advanced or Expert modes, but why, this dev is certainly known for their custom settings.
The Hidden Object Scenes are the only feature that was interesting, but super easy. There are interactive list and silhouetted shape finds, some of the items in green will morph, so you have to wait until the morph is in the correct form to click on. You can opt for a game of Mahjong instead of the Hidden Object Puzzle if you choose.
Most of the Mini Games are so easy you have to wonder why they're even available. Several of the games give you a task list one at a time, finding color coded wires, gems and bug parts that are difficult to miss. Then you place those color coded findings upon their color coded areas etc. Other games are just variations of jigsaw puzzles where you swap puzzle tiles or rotate tiles to complete an image.
This Collector's Edition has 8 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art pictures, 5 Soundtracks, replayable HOP's and Mini Games, 20 Achievements to earn, 11 Collectible Medallion's, 10 Collectible Apple's, 12 Collectible Swords, 9 Collectible Stars, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, Dawa's Revenge.
I don't recommend this game.
Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey ™
Dive to the bottom of the sea, collect hidden items to earn cash and create your very own dream aquarium! Get hooked!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Fishdom H2O Odyssey
PostedJuly 3, 2015
pennmom36
fromThere sure is a lot of junk in those waters!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Everythings better under the sea! If you want to enjoy a colorful and entertaining Hidden Object Game, give this one a try. There are all kinds of Hidden Object games, listed finds, find 10 feathers, collect 10 ancient vases, find the first thing you can from a choice of three different items shown at a time, and my personal favorite, find 50 gold things in 30 seconds or less! You can play this game in Relaxed or Timed modes, timed mode allows you 3 minutes per HOS before you run out of air. You are allowed 5 seahorse hints, but extra hints can be earned when you find more hidden seahorses.
The money you earn "diving" can be used to make your aquarium beautiful. The goal is to achieve 100 % in three categories, Fish, Beauty (plants) and Comfort (decorations) As you progress you can unlock new aquariums, the first one is Hawaiian Vacation themed, the second is Wild West and the third is Jolly Roger a pirate themed aquarium. You can set any of your aquariums as a screensaver, which is a cool idea that the kids will love, enjoy!
I recommend this game!