pennmom36's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:358,445
- Reviews Submitted:4724
- First Review:December 10, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 6, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel SE
PostedNovember 4, 2014
pennmom36
from"FIND HIM" that seems a bit aggressive Eva
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
After playing several of the newer Dana Knightstone games I decided to check out some of the older versions because they are really entertaining games. I just completed the Collectors Edition of Death Under Tuscan Skies and found that this Standard Edition still has Achievements available which are generally only found in Collectors Editions. The following is a recap of my review for the Collectors Edition:
Dana Knightstone has the unique ability to "see" the dearly departed and has written several books about her experiences helping them move on. When Professor Romano invites her to give a lecture at the University of Tuscany, she is delighted and looks forward to a vacation in Italy. As soon as Dana enters the library she is contacted by a ghost named Eva who died in the 19th century from a mysterious illness. Eva asks Dana to find her lover Giovanni who left to find a cure but never returned. The lecture will have to wait for now, we have to reunite these two lovers so they can live happily ever after.
I didn't like this game as well as the other games in the Knightstone series, mostly because of the locations that I just didn't connect with. There aren't very many Hidden Object Scenes either, but the first HO required you to match small sections of pictures to the exact area it matches up to in a medical book with different medical sketches, some of them weren't easy either. Now, if you are a mini game geek like myself you are in for a treat because there is one mini game after another, they are fun and definitely not frustrating. Just to name a few, you swap shields between 6 statues so that the picture on the shield correlates with the symbol above the statue such as paw print = dog, then you swap their crowns until the crowns color matches the color of the gem under each statue. Another game had several groups of codes sketched into a breaker panel with 10 levers, you had to try each combination of positioning each lever either up or down until you found the correct code. My favorite game was looking at a diagram of human organs that were color coded and labeled A-E, then you had to place bottles with those same colors on the correct shelf for example A was purple, each bottles label was numbered 1-6 and you had to put the color coded bottles in numerical order, some of the numbers were roman numerals, some represented dice, some were fingers held up and some were geometrical shapes with a specific amount of sides.
This game is from 2011 so the Collectors Edition goodies aren't all that impressive, there are 20 different Achievements to earn, Cutscenes, Soundtracks, Wallpapers, an available Strategy Guide (accessed only through the menu button) and an Epilogue, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector's Edition
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel CE
PostedNovember 4, 2014
pennmom36
from"FIND HIM" that seems a bit aggressive Eva
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
Dana Knightstone has the unique ability to "see" the dearly departed and has written several books about her experiences helping them move on. When Professor Romano invites her to give a lecture at the University of Tuscany, she is delighted and looks forward to a vacation in Italy. As soon as Dana enters the library she is contacted by a ghost named Eva who died in the 19th century from a mysterious illness. Eva asks Dana to find her lover Giovanni who left to find a cure but never returned. The lecture will have to wait for now, we have to reunite these two lovers so they can live happily ever after.
I didn't like this game as well as the other games in the Knightstone series, mostly because of the locations that I just didn't connect with. There aren't very many Hidden Object Scenes either, but the first HO required you to match small sections of pictures to the exact area it matches up to in a medical book with different medical sketches, some of them weren't easy either. Now, if you are a mini game geek like myself you are in for a treat because there is one mini game after another, they are fun and definitely not frustrating. Just to name a few, you swap shields between 6 statues so that the picture on the shield correlates with the symbol above the statue such as paw print = dog, then you swap their crowns until the crowns color matches the color of the gem under each statue. Another game had several groups of codes sketched into a breaker panel with 10 levers, you had to try each combination of positioning each lever either up or down until you found the correct code. My favorite game was looking at a diagram of human organs that were color coded and labeled A-E, then you had to place bottles with those same colors on the correct shelf for example A was purple, each bottles label was numbered 1-6 and you had to put the color coded bottles in numerical order, some of the numbers were roman numerals, some represented dice, some were fingers held up and some were geometrical shapes with a specific amount of sides.
This game is from 2011 so the Collectors Edition goodies aren't all that impressive, there are 20 different Achievements to earn, Cutscenes, Soundtracks, an available Strategy Guide (accessed only through the menu button) and an Epilogue, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Alchemy Quest
An explosion destroyed your magical alchemy laboratory! Rebuild it by unlocking the mysterious ingredients you need in exciting match-3 levels!
Overall rating
5
/
5
101 of 121 found this review helpful
Rebuild The Laboratory
PostedNovember 4, 2014
pennmom36
fromAlakazam one Alakazam two Alakazam three and Poof the laboratory is gone!
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
Caleb the Alchemist was working on a special magic potion when something went wrong, the potion exploded nearly wiping out his entire laboratory! Now he must set out on a quest to find ingredients from around the world to rebuild (and probably blow it up again) starting in the Enchanted Forest. Good news! This delightful Match 3 game has a Relaxed and Timed mode so grab a cup of java potion and join Caleb on a Match 3 adventure.
The goal here is to make matches of at least 3 alike resources over all yellow cells. Some tiles are blocked with chains, double chains, stone and sometimes stone and then chains, which require you to match tiles next to them at least once. The score is then tallied up with the amount of resources you have collected of each ingredient or potion. You can use those ingredients to purchase upgrades in the shop, however large matches put either a bomb, dynamite or lightning on the board automatically. You can purchase upgrades to make these bonuses more powerful.
The Bonuses include a Worm which deletes a number of random chips, a Mushroom randomizes a couple of chips, the Red Potion eliminates a row of chips the Blue Potion eliminates a column of chips, the Green Potion eliminates a cross of chips, the Yellow potion destroys a 5x5 square, the Purple Potion fires a couple of vials at the board and each one eliminates a 3x3 square, a Magic Mushroom shuffles all of the chips, Lightning eliminates all chips of a selected kind, a Bomb upgrades the existing bomb, Dynamite also upgrades the existing dynamite to cover a larger area and the staff removes a single chip.
Before you move onto the next location, you will get to play a mini game such as throwing a staff at gnomes that will randomly pop up, but you have to scroll back and forth to find them before they disappear. I actually loved playing that game just as much as the Match 3, give it a spin around the block and enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Dark Realm: Queen of Flames
Without warning, a group of mysterious figures arrives and reduces your village to flames and rubble. What do they want... and who is controlling them?
Overall rating
5
/
5
85 of 94 found this review helpful
Fire Banshees Have Taken My Dad!
PostedNovember 3, 2014
pennmom36
fromI don't know about you but I would be using that Medallion on everything I could find made out of stone!
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
Fire Banshees have attacked your village, kidnapped everyone they can find and have set fire to everything that you once called home. If not for the quick thinking of your father who ordered you to retrieve your mother's chest and run, you would have been captured as well. Now you must travel to the Ivory Tower and speak to the Flame Queen, she is the only chance you have of defeating the Banshees and saving your village, but this won't be an easy journey, someone has freed the dragons from their stoney grave, and the Banshee's are everywhere. Your Grandfather knows the well kept family secret and if you can keep him safe, he just may be the key to your survival.
This game is awesome, you're going to love the features this game has to offer starting with the 3D effects as the camera pans to the left and right creating panoramic views. Your mother knew that someday your life would depend on the items she has stored for you all these years. Your mothers Invisibility Boots are quite stylish and will render you invisible to the Flame Banshees until you are out of harms way, the boots will begin to flash whenever it's time to put them on. You also receive her family Medallion which enables you to channel powers through it's gems and at first it will allow you to become the Stone Whisperer. Anything made of stone will magically come to life and tell you the things they know or have seen. When you tell your Grandfather that the Flame Banshees have taken your dad, Harold, he tries to explain that the family Medallion isn't complete, that there is a second half which has even more powers available. The Flame Banshees are right outside Grandpa's door so you must first find a place to take him to safety before you are able to find out more information. Some of the inventory items have plus signs indicating that further action is required such as fixing the item or combining the item with another inventory item before using.
The Hidden Object Scenes are well done and entertaining. Some are simply interactive list finds, some require you to find objects pertaining to a story being narrated. I liked the HO where you had to find symbols on a cave wall as Valera's ghostly momma sings a lullaby. You can switch to a Match 3 game but the HOS are really fun. The mini games are fun too, you may have to click on a rolling ball when it is on the green area of a disc, at first it's a single ball rolling left to right, then there is a second ball added that goes up and down and finally 3 balls are added which zig zag all over the place.
The Collectors Edition has 57 Collectible Flames, Wallpapers, Soundtracks (love the medieval vibe) the Making Of. Unlockable timed Hidden Objects, Northpearl Jigsaw Puzzle, a game of Cards and a Card Gallery, a Built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Asian Riddles 3
It's time for new adventures! Discover new challenges in Asian Riddles 3! Will the legendary master fear such a trial?
Overall rating
4
/
5
41 of 44 found this review helpful
I Miss Gizmo
PostedNovember 3, 2014
pennmom36
fromI wish the told me what image I just created!
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 must admit that I liked Gizmo Nonagrams better but this is still a decent mosaic series. Nonograms are known by some as pic cross, others as mosaics, they are all the same, with different themes and this one has an Asian theme and classic Asian music in shades of grays and red. There are numbers located at the top of each column and at the beginning of each row. The numbers represent how many groups are in the filled cells in either the rows or columns and each group of numbers must be divided by at least one empty cell. In other words if you are working on a 5 x 5 grid and the numbers on the first row are 2 2, then you would fill in the first two cells, leave the third cell blank and fill in the last two cells. You can use the left click to fill in the cell and the right cell to cross off the empty cell, you can also click and drag either to fill in large groups of numbers. Some cells have coins which can be used at the shop to purchase 2 starting hints (instead of one) the right to make a mistake x3 (instead of 2) or refill hints on the current level. There are 12 rooms or locations, each room has 15 levels for a total of 180 levels, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Whispered Secrets: Into the Wind
People have been disappearing in the town of Ridleton for the past 15 years... Can you weather the storm and solve the case?
Overall rating
5
/
5
127 of 154 found this review helpful
Daddy Made The Devil A Deal
PostedNovember 2, 2014
pennmom36
from"That's the girl who saved me, I should help her" if she didn't save you would you leave her?
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
John Forgehill was desperate to cure his daughters blindness, working day and night, trying every remedy he could think of to no avail. His obsession led him to the devil himself who warned John that the cure bore a heavy price, but so be it. 15 Years later Emily Forgehill has become a tough as nails Huntress who is positive that her sight and her father's disappearance are no coincidence. Ghostly wolves and strange storms are plaguing the town of Ridelton, with every storm, a citizen disappears. You join forces with Emily to fight the towns evil forces and hopefully restore peace to a town that was once tranquil.
I really prefer the Collectors Edition over this Standard Edition because I loved collecting those dancing embers that burst into flames when you clicked on them! Emily may have a sweet and intimidating crossbow but you have a cute fuzzy Red Panda (that was supposed to be funny) that knows kung foo, and can easily finagle locks and reach into tight spaces for items that no crossbow has ever been! Some items have plus signs indicating that some type of interaction needs to take place before using that item or that another inventory item needs to be combined with it before using it. Emily will give you a communications mirror that can be used to contact her with vital information, and eventually she will give you her weapon of choice, the only weapon that can kill those vicious ghostly wolves, a Hunters Crossbow.
The Hidden Object Scenes were a bit disappointing to me, they were just okay in my book, slightly interactive list finds, or fragment finds. The HO's are repeated a second time which is a feature I really hate, it's too boring the second time around, but at least the second time was a different type such as finding 12 shells, and the shells weren't present in the first scene. The mini games however aren't bad, most are simple such as pushing two buttons correctly to open 5 different latches and of course they need to be pushed in a specific order. There are also several symbols in groups of three that are hidden within a book and when you rescue the Panda you will need to swap several knots of various configurations until they match the symbols shown at the top of each column or cage bar.
The Collectors Edition has 168 Collectible Flames that will eventually light candles to shed light on the mysterious events taking place within the city, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Achievements, Music, Movies, a built in Strategy Guide, a Bonus Chapter, AND a Hidden Chapter once you complete the lighting of all the candles within the flame room, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Awakening: The Golden Age Collector's Edition
When minotaurs attack, only you can save the day.
Overall rating
5
/
5
234 of 287 found this review helpful
I Thought It Was Over But It's Just Begun!!!!
PostedNovember 1, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhew, I thought I'd have to stay asleep forever!
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
Before Queen Sophie was even thought about, the humans lived in prosperity of the Golden Age. It's about to get ugly folks, General Blacktail has led his army of minotaurs into the village and is taking every human as a prisoner in his search for Prince Cedric. The minotaurs are claiming that the humans are responsible for starving the minotaurs, how is this possible and why do they blame the Prince? I have a feeling the Prince just may be Sophie's royal baby daddy, or perhaps her grandpa, either way I'm super thrilled that the Awakening series has returned back to it's roots, this is hands down one of the best continuing saga series out there. Don't worry if you haven't played any games in the Awakening series, each game can be played separately, but I suggest you start at the beginning to understand the entire story, you won't be disappointed.
Awakening has come a long way in the graphics department, the cartoonish, hand drawn graphics of yesteryear no longer apply. This game has moved up to the big leagues with sharp, crisp graphics, and beautifully detailed scenery. My favorite feature in this game is collecting the hidden fairies, let me tell you, some fairies are very difficult to find. There is a fairy in every scene and they certainly don't stick out like a sore thumb, they are blended into the scenery with alike color schemes. I found myself staring at some of the scenes for a couple of minutes determined to find that elusive fairy before doing anything else! Sophie's wise old owl hasn't been born yet so we hatch a Hoopoe bird, give him a name and he's along for the ride, ready to assist you with any questions you may have, a.k.a. a hint icon. You also have an Amulet that let's you "see" areas that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Use the All Seeing Pendant amulet when you come across an eye symbol to expose doorways and passages that have been magically sealed. Some of the items have plus signs indicating that further action is required with that item before using such as opening the item, assembling the item or combining that item with another inventory item.
The Hidden Object Scenes are varied, some are Fragments to find to complete a single inventory object. There are also HO's that are slightly interactive list finds where you click on something to move it out of the way, zoomed in areas usually have a mini game such as clicking on 5 celestial symbols in a bas-relief or changing symbols so that there is a different symbol on each row and column. Some objects expose a fragment when found that will complete a crest when all frags have been collected. Awakening has never been about the Hidden Object Scenes, Awakening is however the mini game King known for an abundance of clever and entertaining mini games. The game I enjoyed the most was putting together the map I would use for quickly traveling to that location. Clues would be given in order to place landmarks such as a village lays west of the crops and there are forests to the east and west of the village.
This Collectors Edition has Wallpapers, Soundtracks, replayable mini games, Cutscenes, Achievements, Concept Art, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. Personally, I opted to purchase this edition just for the collectible fairies alone, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Blue Tear
Lift the curse off the abandoned estate and help rescue your friends!
Overall rating
3
/
5
55 of 66 found this review helpful
Native American Wizards?
PostedOctober 31, 2014
pennmom36
fromHAPPY HALLOWEEN <( :)
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
This game really isn't all that bad, I was teetering between 3 or 4 stars and my biggest complaint with this game was that too many objects in the HO's were either unrecognizable or simply too small. After receiving a letter of inheritance, Jessica invites a few friends to visit her newly acquired, abandoned manor, but cannot find the courage to enter this haunted abode. Spirits trap her friends inside, leaving Jessica alone with the ghost of a Native American chief who claims to be the White Wizard! The White Wizard explains that he needs Jessica's help to save her family from the Black Wizard trapped inside the manor. A relative of Jessica's family stole the Blue Tear from the White Wizards village which enabled the Black Wizard to return to the human world where he will search for new hosts for his black spirit, over and over for all eternity! The White Wizard sends Jessica packing to Africa where she must find a powerful amulet and a ritual mask before she can enter the manor and face the powerful and evil Black Wizard and save her friends!
The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly list finds with two items requiring interactions such as finding a stick and lighting the stick which will light a smoking pipe to create "smoke" and finally the last item is given in the form of a description. I actually liked most of the mini games which were somewhat challenging yet easy enough that they don't frustrate you. One game required you to rotate warriors so that their shield would deflect a ball into a hole at the top of the board similar to pinball. I enjoyed the game where you had to move items around to create a chain reaction. The first step was to blow up a puffer fish which would push a ball to the top shelf, roll down and knock over a vase which would spill salt onto a boat with rowers on the second shelf and so forth, long but entertaining. For a stand alone game with a standard price it's not too bad, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Fill and Cross: Trick or Treat 2
Trick or treat? No tricks! 120 new Halloween-themed levels are a real treat for griddlers fans on Halloween!
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 36 found this review helpful
Trick Or Treat
PostedOctober 31, 2014
pennmom36
fromHAPPY HALLOWEEN <( :)
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
This is a decent fill and cross game with a Halloween theme and haunting music including a chilling scream if you make a mistake. You will start out with a tutorial unless you choose to skip, and the puzzles start out with a 5 x 5 grid and work their way up. I will say I enjoyed the unusual sized grids such as 15 x 5, which breaks up the monotony. Some of the tiles you uncover will have candy which can be used in the shop to purchase 2 starting hints, rights for a mistake x3 or to refill the hints on that particular level. The goal here is basic, earn 3 stars for completing the game without mistakes, each mistake you make, takes away a star. There are trophies to earn for different milestones such as not using a hint or mistakes for 5 games in a row, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Silent Nights: Children's Orchestra Collector's Edition
A fire breaks out during a concert, and now your daughters are both missing. Hurry to track them down – their music may hold the key to life and death!
Overall rating
2
/
5
69 of 79 found this review helpful
The Family Violin
PostedOctober 31, 2014
pennmom36
fromI used three balloons to lift the tail end of a warplane! Seriously?
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'm not a hard person to please, but I found little or no entertainment value, and nothing in the extras worthy of a Collectors Edition. There has only been one other game in this series, The Pianist, which was released in March of 2012, with similar review ratings suggesting that after two years they still didn't get it right. This game is centered around the Deux family and a prized violin that has been in the family for years. Of course the mystery part comes into play when a cloaked masked figure sets fire to the stage where the Deux children, Amelie, and Bernadette were performing, and has the children follow him while everyone in the audience flees in panic. You calmly follow after this man trying to get your children back, but he's always one step ahead of you. I say let him go at this point because it doesn't improve.
Because you are a Deux, you are able to write down the notes of any melody you hear, birds whistling, music playing etc. This is actually part of the game, when you hear music you push a button to bring up a blank music sheet and the notes are automatically added. Then when you come across locked compartments scattered about you will turn the combination dial until the notes on the lock match the notes on the paper, the locks become progressively harder each time. There is also a feature that decrypts a short story each time you find the missing symbols, I'm assuming the stories will eventually tie together to solve the mystery at hand.
The Hidden Object Scenes weren't bad, with progressive interactive silhouetted shape finds, interactive list finds and even replacing items back into the scene, it would seem that theres bound to be HO to please almost everyone. The Mini games were at times difficult, but very creative (the reason i gave this game two stars was because of the mini games) my favorite was placing arches in various places on a maze so that a ball would float it's way through the maze as you raised and lowered the water levels, very cool twist to the labyrinth game.
This Collectors Edition has Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music (naturally) 24 Achievements, a Bonus Chapter and a built in Strategy Guide. Either I missed a whole lot of extras or this is just not up to CE standards.
I don't recommend this game.