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:
Magic Gate: Faces of Darkness
Venture into a magical world and experience the struggle of good versus evil!
Overall rating
4
/
5
131 of 145 found this review helpful
The Magical World Of Elyrium
PostedFebruary 24, 2015
pennmom36
fromFYI a drill is actually a drill bit!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Nathaniel and his fiancee, Gloria have just moved into their first home together. Gloria couldn't be more excited with the trove of treasures the previous owners left behind, except for the creepy antique mirror in the corner of the room. Her suspicions prove her right when the mirror seems to come to life, as it grabs her and yanks her through the mirror portal. Nathaniel may be in disbelief, but her certainly doesn't hesitate to enter the mirror portal, and enter another world....the magical world of Elyrium!
This game won't qualify for game of the year, but it does qualify for a game with solid entertainment. The graphics aren't the best, but it doesn't hamper the game mechanics in the least bit, besides that, you will be too engrossed in the story to notice.
The Hidden object Scenes are very well done, although some of the items are tiny, they are still identifiable, and there are plenty of interactive list finds to satisfy any HOS fan. The Mini games were uncomplicated, but fun. My favorite game was guiding a ship through a winding river, avoiding cyclones, rocks, sharks and giant octopus. If your ship doesn't avoid these obstacles you must start the course all over.
Most of the tasks are logical, and there are plenty of activities to do in each scene. Although it wasn't a new task, I loved the talking old man in the door who asks you to solve three riddles before allowing you to enter the house, this really is an enjoyable game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Dark Tales™: Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget Collector's Edition
A newlywed is threatened, and supernatural forces are afoot!
Overall rating
5
/
5
133 of 145 found this review helpful
A Mystery Only Detective Dupin Could Solve
PostedFebruary 24, 2015
pennmom36
fromYou know it's gonna be good when the one eyed crow squawks
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Only Edgar Allen Poe can write a book this suspenseful, and only Dark Tales can convert those stories into a suspenseful thriller Hidden Object Adventure. Detective Auguste Dupin's investigative skills have been requested by an old friend, Jacque, who's not sure what to make of his wife's strange behavior. Shortly after their marriage, Marie Roget became depressed and strange things occurred throughout the house, floors creak, the sound of a woman weeping can be heard all night, and anything made of glass, shatters! Even Batman needs his Robin, so naturally Detective Dupin needs your help to solve this mystery, The Mystery of Marie Roget!
Jacque's grandmother had given him a Magic Mirror, and once you discover this mirror, it becomes a vital piece of equipment to your investigation. Any inventory item that has a checkmark, can be combined with this mirror to reveal it's original origin. Even a threatening note written to Marie, and found in the fireplace, badly burned and illegible can be restored! Personally I think magical items should be saved for fairy tales and otherworldly games. There are two pull down tabs at the top left and right, one to access the Achievements you have earned, the other accesses your Aquarium which gets decorated with the Morphing Creatures you locate during the game. There is a circular icon located on the bottom left next to the inventory bar which allows you to access your Notes, a Map, your Badge, the Menu and the Strategy Guide as well.
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly interactive list finds, however some of the scenes are repeated in the same scene with different items to find. I was disappointed with this feature because in my opinion, the second time around is boring and to easy. The mini games aren't complicated at all, with mostly small puzzles such as remembering codes in a correct order, or placing books in the correct order according to associated symbols on the binder and the bookshelf.
The Collectors edition has Collectible Morphing Creatures, Achievements, Movies, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Screen Savers, replayble Mini Games and Hidden Object Scenes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Mystery Tales: The Twilight World
A stay at a peaceful hotel turns into a nightmare when a witch from the Twilight World takes your daughter!
Overall rating
4
/
5
97 of 113 found this review helpful
Which World Would The Witch Want?
PostedFebruary 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhich way did the witch wander?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
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 Silver Lake Inn seems like the perfect place to catch some shut eye after a long road trip. This newly remodeled Inn looks peaceful, but looks are always deceiving, throw in some eye of newt witchcraft and what you get is anything but peaceful! You barely have time to kick off your shoes when the wicked witch of the East, attacks your daughter Nancy, rendering her unconscious, what on earth is happening here? The Innkeeper isn't much help either, although he seems genuinely concerned, something about him is "off" so instead of calling for professional help, (guess that would be an awkward call) we're just going to snoop around the Inn's grounds, play a game of toss with the puppy and fix a few thousand broken gadgets until Nancy wakes up!
Just prior to the attack on Nancy, she finds a large hat box. This is anything but a normal hat box, this is a Magical Chest which stores magical artifacts. This box can defend it's owner from the negative energy generated by the magical artifacts within. (how'd that work out for Nancy)? Eventually this box will hold several artifacts, but for now there's just one, the Witch's ice bucket which can cool and freeze any liquid instantly. You can access your Dossier within the map, which is basically a journal that keeps track of your notes and clues you find as well as information about devices you come across. Some of the inventory items have plus signs, indicating that further action is required before you can use that item. The Collectors Edition has 40 Collectible Cats, Rabbits, and Postcards as well as a ton of Achievements to earn as well.
The Hidden Object Scenes are decent, but nothing to write home about. The HO's are mostly silhouetted shapes that you find in groups, such as astrological symbols, once the group has been found, they automatically get placed where they belong which usually exposes the next group of items you need to find. The Mini Games seem to be on the easy side, such as turning three small triangles until they align with the main triangle (turning one triangle affects others) or clicking on different colored stars in the correct color sequence, following the clue given, Mr. ROY G. BIV.
The Collectors Edition has Music Soundtracks, Arts, Achievements, Collectibles, Wallpapers, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. In my personal opinion, the CE doesn't have enough features to persuade me, I think the Standard Edition has enough bang for my buck so to speak, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Living Legends: Wrath of the Beast
Help Goldilocks's son protect his village from invading bears!
Overall rating
3
/
5
80 of 92 found this review helpful
Goldilock's Son And The Magic Bears
PostedFebruary 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromSomebody ate my magical porridge
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As fate would have it, Goldilocks met her demise from the attack of one of those porridge eating magical bears! The fairy tale lives on however, with the son of Goldilocks, who has a personal vendetta against the bear that took his mothers life. There's no time to celebrate graduating from the local Hunting Academy, where you gained the knowledge needed to hunt bears. This quaint village has been plagued with vicious bear attacks, which has increased because dearly departed Goldilocks presumably took something from the magic bears, and they want it back! The academy needs to step up their academics because three students can't control a bear who is attacking their village. Perhaps it's because the only hunting gear they are equipped with are small leather straps with silver and blue balls attached for weights. This school certainly didn't prepare the students for real life eh?
This game tends to be on the easy side, almost everything within the game is predictable and logical, the puzzles and mini games are short and not in the least bit complicated. The mini games range from small puzzles within the plus items in your inventory, to matching identical tokens by flipping two tokens at a time, if you don't find an exact match, the tokens rotate to a different spot. The Hidden Object Scenes are entertaining, I liked the HOS where you had to find silhouetted shapes, and use those shapes interactively between two different scenes.
The Collectors Edition has 34 Morphing Objects, Wallpapers, Screensavers, Music, Concept Art, Movies, replayable Mini Games and Hidden Object Scenes, Achievements, a built in Strategy guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Fill and Cross Pirate Riddles 3
To sail or not to sail? What kind of question is that! While others mull it over, you can be the first to find the treasure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 84 found this review helpful
Needs More Color
PostedFebruary 23, 2015
pennmom36
fromSwashbuckling fun
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love Pirate Riddles, but the colors are just to blah and unimpressive. If you haven't played a Fill & Cross, Griddler, Mosaic or Pic & Cross game before (all the same they just go by different names) here's how they work. The good news is that you don't have to be good at math, just deduction. Images are encrypted with numbers located to the left of the lines and above the columns. The numbers show how many groups are filled in the cells. All groups must have at least one empty cell between them. An example would be the numbers 1 1 1, on a 5x5 grid the first cell would be filled, followed by an empty cell, followed by a filled cell and another empty cell and the last cell would also be filled. Naturally the grids become larger and the numbers usually smaller, which means that you have to figure out which cells would be logically empty. To fill a cell you simply left click the cell, an empty cell would be an X by right clicking, or you can use the available icons and switch back and forth. You can click and drag large numbered cells both empty and filled as well.
Some of the cells contain coins that can be used to purchase bonuses such as getting two starting hints, the right to make three mistakes (you will have to replay that grid if you make a third mistake normally) or a bonus that will refill the hints on that level only. There are 17 different achievements or trophies to earn, and the grids are played on 6 different Pirate themed Islands which have 20 levels each for a total of 120 swashbuckling games. Aaarr, there's no time to walk the plank mates, tis time to solve a griddler, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Frozen Patchworks
The Frozen Kingdom awaits you! Help the Frozen Queen assemble 120 Christmas-themed patchwork mosaics!
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 72 found this review helpful
Fun Mosaic Puzzle With A Christmas Theme?
PostedFebruary 21, 2015
pennmom36
fromI'm frozen too!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Even if this puzzle game hadn't been released late, I still wouldn't have given it 5 stars because the pictures weren't colorful enough for my taste. The goal of this game is to drag puzzle shapes from the ribbon to the picture and place the piece correctly. You will earn up to three keys, which are used to open up other worlds. You get a key if you complete the puzzle, a key if you complete the puzzle without making a mistake, and a third key if you complete the puzzle within the allotted time. You can purchase extra hints and extra time, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Twilight Phenomena: The Incredible Show
Underneath the big top, people aren't always what they seem.
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 86 found this review helpful
Welcome To Strauss Circus...It Will Change Your Life
PostedFebruary 18, 2015
pennmom36
fromThe Bearded Lady is nothing compared to these carneys!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
It has been an annual family tradition for you and Judith, to visit the Strauss Circus. Even though your parents have passed, this family tradition will live on, under the big tent! Judith can hardly contain her excitement when Strauss picks her out of the audience (did anyone notice that all the seats were empty?) to assist him with his last act...the disappearing act! This magical finale is a top notch trick, but isn't Strauss supposed to finish this act with the famous reappearing trick?
The first thing you get equipped with is a camera, whenever the camera icon appears, you can take a picture. When the photo appears, you will click on 3-4 listed items within the photo, to hear a small story about Strauss, and how his unusual animal experimentations changed the circus forever. You can access the pictures you have taken anytime in your scrapbook, which also serves as a journal for notes. You will come across an arcade game that allows you to win different amounts of coins. This game can be played three times every 30 seconds by accessing the pull down tab at the top of the screen. The coins can be used to help injured animals you come across in Strauss' zoo, but I don't think it's pertinent to the game itself.
The Hidden Object Scenes are interactive list finds, and I really liked the fact that all HOS were circus themed, but some scenes are repeated. The Mini Games are available in Casual or Hard, and they were all entertaining. One of my favorite mini games required you to turn a carousel right or left, as you swapped the dresses on several mannequins until their dress matched their different colored hats. Another clever game was matching carnivorous plants to their matching icons, but, the plants would disappear and the pots would do a major shuffle game and you had to remember which plant you were looking for each time.
The Collectors Edition has Achievements, Music, Screensavers, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Movies, replayable Mini Games and Hidden Object Scenes, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. In my opinion, this edition is the better value, I'm not impressed with the CE extras, or lack there of, but the game itself is decent, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Set sail from Port Royal on a ship called the Golden Hind and head for Hard Luck Island. Legend has it that untold treasures are hidden there!
Overall rating
4
/
5
78 of 84 found this review helpful
AAArrr....Mahjong Worth It's Weight In Gold
PostedFebruary 17, 2015
pennmom36
fromWhere's Pirate Island? Thought I was on a ship!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love pirate themed games and I love Mahjong, so I'm working my way through the ranks on this here pirate ship! You begin the game as a Cabin Boy and eventually get promoted all the way to Admiral, mates. The goal of this game is to match pirate themed tiles to earn points, the quicker you remove tiles, the more points you'll earn. Silver tiles will restore the shuffle bonus with each match, and all Gold tiles must be matched to win the level. Each level has at least three goals to achieve such as: Removing tiles within a specific amount of moves, Completing the level within a designated amount of time, Scoring a specific amount of points and Removing a specific number of Gold tiles. There is an available Light Bulb icon which will shade all tiles that are blocked and unavailable, and the shuffle bonus is automatically used when there are no available moves left, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Venture beyond time and space in this classic adventure game that will take you out of this world!
Overall rating
2
/
5
77 of 91 found this review helpful
A Classic Adventure Game? By Who's Standards?
PostedFebruary 16, 2015
pennmom36
fromOh Nick, do you really think I'm pretty??
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
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'd rather be stranded on a deserted island (with no internet) for the rest of my life, than to be stranded in this time warp of a game any longer! The graphics are as basic as it gets, I don't mind cartoonish graphics, but these graphics are stranded in time, Atari time! Thankfully there aren't any voiceovers because I'm sure that wouldn't be up to par either. There are a ton of dialog boxes to read, which are mostly useless conversations, to make matters worse, there are several grammar mistakes. The story has been done, re-done, reheated, flipped over, boiled and recycled. Olivia has joined her eccentric Uncle Peter and his partner, Nick, on an expedition to prove that citizens from Atlantis had actually lived on this planet. Uncle Peter is an avid Conspirologist who believes that the pyramids were built by aliens from Andromeda, Olivia and Nick are more level headed however, they are too busy flirting with each other to form any opinions.
You can consider yourself lucky if you find more than one inventory item per scene, although almost every item shown in the scenes will have a finger icon, tricking you into believing that the item is of some importance. To use an inventory item you have to click on your backpack every time to access the items and to use the items you have to drag them to the area. When you come across an area that you are acquiring inventory items, you have to re-click on that area after every item collected because each time you click ok, it zaps you out of that area even if more items need to be collected!
I really didn't come across any Hidden Object Scenes, the closest thing to a HOP, was clicking on several items to move them in order to find 10 torn map pieces. There were several simplistic Mini Games or puzzles such as repairing a torn map, or swapping sides of black and white checkers. I will give credit to one game, using a slider bar to tilt a maze as you guide a ball through the maze that only partially showed the maze, as the ball progressed downward, more of the maze would be revealed.
This game is getting mixed reviews so take my advice and play the demo before buying this game OR using a credit.
I don't recommend this game.
Dangerous Games: Illusionist Collector's Edition
You've been asked to cover a highly anticipated competition in New York City when something goes terribly wrong. Can you escape the world of illusions?
Overall rating
5
/
5
158 of 184 found this review helpful
Illusionists Play Very Dangerous Games
PostedFebruary 14, 2015
pennmom36
fromAgain with the heels, are they made of titanium?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat Collector's Edition
(101)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Tonight is the grand re-opening of the Taylor Hotel and hopefully history doesn't repeat itself as it hosts the Second Illusionist Championship. You remember that fateful night very well, because you are the journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for the coverage of the First Illusionist Championship. Naturally things don't go well this time either, because that wouldn't be very "dangerous" now you must play a wicked game with an Illusionist who has some pretty deadly tricks up his sleeve. Can you survive this terrifying ordeal and separate what is real from illusion?
I loved the props used in this game, every puzzle and hidden object scene kept true to the genre with plenty of magic tricks and illusions. There are even 20 Morphing Magic Trick Cards hidden throughout the game, and you can earn Achievements that'll have you feeling like an illusionist champion! You will find a pair of Truth Goggles that will reveal hidden doors, passageways and hidden props, before using them you will have to recreate images shown by combining several shapes.
The Hidden Object Scenes range from interactive list finds, finding multiples of a single item, to progressive silhouetted shape finds. Each HOP has codes to decipher and small puzzles within to add more interactive features. The mini games were all based upon illusionist tricks and very creative. One such game required you to synchronize two clocks to show the life cycle of a bird. The left clock shows changing images of a birds life, and you drag tiles to the clock on the right to create a matching life cycle.
This Collectors Edition has 20 Morphing Trick Cards, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Videos, replayable Mini Games, Achievements, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!