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:
Awakening: The Skyward Castle
Discover the fate of your exiled kingdom, save your people, and end the ancient evil that started it all!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Onward And Upward Sophia!
PostedMarch 23, 2014
pennmom36
fromHope my pocket doesn't catch on fire!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Princess Sophia awoke from a 100 year slumber in in The Dreamless Castle, traveled to Moonfell Wood to visit the witch and find where her people are. The witch suggested she ask the King in the Goblin Kingdom and she has finally found her people in The Skyward Castle but is still searching for her parents, the King and Queen. This quest isn't easy because the evil Dreadmyre is hunting her, and she was born without magic! The first thing I noticed about this game, the 4th in the Awakening series, was that the puzzles have become more elaborate and much harder to solve, there are also fewer of them. There are simple puzzles such as finding the two stitches that are connected by following the stitch through a woven pattern, a game of blocks, pic cross and of course rotating puzzle pieces to complete a picture. There are more time consuming puzzles such as fixing a generator. You have to follow the tool guide picture book, page by page, using the inventory pieces and interacting with different components of the generator. The hidden object games are mostly finding 12 switches or carrots but there are also interactive list finds with some of the items located in areas that you zoom into. Ran has joined us in this game for the second game in a row as well as that cute little fire breathing pocket dragon. This is a very entertaining series of hidden object adventures, and I recommend you play them all, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Lost Lands: Dark Overlord
Something pulled your son into a shimmering portal. Dive into a magical world to find him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
168 of 195 found this review helpful
Evil Lurks In That Forest!
PostedMarch 23, 2014
pennmom36
fromYou know that was funny :)
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery of the Ancients: Three Guardians Collector's Edition
(104)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Tree just ate little Jimmy! It opened up, started glowing, a creepy voice started whispering for Jimmy to come closer and, ZAP, he's gone. Naturally Mom run's to Jimmy's aid and chops the tree down, nope just kidding she actually finds wooden puzzle pieces which requires you to swap the pieces and then rotate the pieces until they are in the correct place. Mom also gets sucked into the tree just in time to watch the Dark Overlord whisk Jimmy into the Firefly Forest! This is where we meet Uri the forest dwarf, one of the last two surviving inhabitants of the forest (unfortunately the other inhabitant has joined the dark side) This game is all about the puzzles, lot's of puzzles such as sliding puzzle pieces of 4 different colors into their matching section on an x frame and rotating tiles and using a swap button in the middle to correctly place the tiles around a right and left side circle, for instance the dove tile needs to be at the top left and the seagull tile needs to be in the top right as indicated by the matching decor on the outside of the circle. There are custom settings available and a really good map (once you're in the forest) you can use to travel to different areas quickly. There are two different kinds of hidden object scenes in the demo, the first is what I call progressive silhouettes, this is where you find one item that matches the silhouette and use that item in the HOS which reveals the next item such as finding a lantern and then placing the lantern back into the scene and using matches to light the lantern and so forth. There are also scenes that require you to replace items into the scene in their proper place such as putting the feather into the inkwell, putting the bow with the fiddle, the key into the lock etc. If you don't really care about collectibles and achievements then this version is an excellent choice. The cut scene videos are so lifelike, and so movie quality, the graphics are unbelievably realistic, you can even interact with the wildlife, making the frogs jump and birds fly away. Great story, great game, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Awakening: The Goblin Kingdom
After overcoming the Dreamless Castle and Moonfell Wood, you have come to the rugged, mountainous snow-peaked Goblin Kingdom!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
The Goblin King Is Dead?
PostedMarch 22, 2014
pennmom36
fromI'm naming my dragon Chili
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third game in the Awakening series and the first time to have an available Collectors Edition which has extra features such as Concept Art, Wallpapers, Cut Scenes, Soundtracks and the CE most notorious feature, Strategy Guide, but you have to access this feature through the menu button. I personally think this version is the better buy. Sophia awoke from a 100 year slumber in The Dreamless Castle, she traveled to Moonfell Wood trying to find her people because mankind is nowhere to be found. It is there that she meets a witch who explains that only the Goblin King has the answers she seeks, so here we are in Goblin Kingdom! Our Pocket Dragon is still with us lighting fires and melting ice and getting his belly full of mossflowers, sooner or later we are going to have to give him a name! Mira the fairy has been replaced by Randolf, A.K.A Ran, who is perched upon our shoulder to help us find items or tell us which way to travel next. There still aren't any voiceovers, so you will have to do a lot of dialog reading. As with all of the Awakening games there aren't too many hidden object scenes but there are a ton of puzzles and mini games including Tangram which are different triangular shapes that you need to rotate and place into different larger shapes. There are puzzles which require you to fit several different shaped pieces together, Match 3 games, Spot the Difference and many more fun mini games to enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Awakening: The Goblin Kingdom Collector's Edition
After overcoming the Dreamless Castle and Moonfell Wood, you have come to the rugged, mountainous snow-peaked Goblin Kingdom!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Awakening's First Collectors Edition!
PostedMarch 22, 2014
pennmom36
fromWhat happened to Mira?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third game in the Awakening series and the first one available in a Collectors Edition. This upgraded version has extra features such as Concept Art, Wallpapers, Cut Scenes, Soundtracks and the CE most notorious feature, Strategy Guide, but you have to access this feature through the menu button. Sophia awoke from a 100 year slumber in The Dreamless Castle, she traveled to Moonfell Wood trying to find her people because mankind is nowhere to be found. It is there that she meets a witch who explains that only the Goblin King has the answers she seeks, so here we are in Goblin Kingdom! Our Pocket Dragon is still with us lighting fires and melting ice and getting his belly full of mossflowers, sooner or later we are going to have to give him a name! Mira the fairy has been replaced by Randolf, A.K.A Ran, who is perched upon our shoulder to help us find items or tell us which way to travel next. There still aren't any voiceovers, so you will have to do a lot of dialog reading. As with all of the Awakening games there aren't too many hidden object scenes but there are a ton of puzzles and mini games including Tangram which are different triangular shapes that you need to rotate and place into different larger shapes. There are puzzles which require you to fit several different shaped pieces together, Match 3 games, Spot the Difference and many more fun and enjoyable games so add this game to your to do list and enjoy the game.
I recommend this game!
Final Cut: Homage Collector's Edition
Will you heed the director’s final casting call?
Overall rating
5
/
5
204 of 240 found this review helpful
The Star Of The Show
PostedMarch 22, 2014
pennmom36
fromSure are a ton of serial killers lately, at least he doesn't make toys!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The drama never seems to end in the Wolf family. Daddy dies, illegitimate half sister tries to kill your brother, things are stirred up once again with the Lieutenant pulling the strings and now we have a deranged serial killer trying to pay homage to the late but great inventor of the movie projector that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. He calls himself the director and he taunts you with insane recordings of his intentions, to make his film a work of art, with you as the lead character! This Collectors Edition has so much to offer: Music, Movies, Pictures (taken with your camera) of course a Bonus Game, Mini games unlimited, HOP unlimited, Souvenirs, Clapperboards (49 hidden throughout the game) and one I'm actually looking forward to, The Making Of feature which is available after the bonus game. Not really sure why, but I love seeing how the game comes to light, the people responsible, it's geeky cool! There is one feature in this game that I wasn't crazy about, the Map. You have to click on the map, then click on the area you are in such as mansion, then click on the circled room to travel there, I know I'm being picky, but I could have computer generated walked to that area by the time I get done finding the area on the map that I want to travel to. At the beginning of the game, we meet up with a journalist who tags along to write the ultimate behind the scenes story of the "Director" as his homage unfolds. The journalist seems a bit fishy to me, he quickly disappears as soon as the Detective arrives, so we had better keep an eye on this enthusiastic sleuth. As I said before, there are 49 hidden clapperboards in each scene so don't forget to keep your other eye on the lookout for those, especially if you want to earn all of the Achievements available. Mini games are well done such as guiding a rabbit on a labyrinth maze box until he reaches the carrot, but some areas make sections of this box rotate as you are traveling along the maze paths to the side of the box, the maze will then rotate to the next side of the box and so forth. Now my favorite part...the Hidden Object Games, extremely well done. The HOS are a mixture of interactive list finds and finding the items that match the silhouetted shapes, but, each HOS has a place to zoom into for yet another window sized hidden object scene for even more finds! The Director has staged exact replicas of Mr. Wolfs most famous films, starting with your house, he is using the projector that makes reality into fantasy, making whoever looks at the projector believe they are indeed a pirate or whatever the projector is playing. You will need to switch back and forth from film to reality in order to find items in reality to use in the fantasy film and visa versa. This is an excellent ongoing saga, usually big hit games such as Final Cut, can't keep the momentum going for a second game so kudos for pulling off three great games, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Awakening: Moonfell Wood
After awaking from a century long slumber, Princess Sophia finds a world that is devoid of people! Help her find her friends!
Overall rating
5
/
5
12 of 15 found this review helpful
Princess Sophia's Quest
PostedMarch 21, 2014
pennmom36
fromWho needs mankind Sophia, you have Mira and a cute pocket dragon!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love this series so much that I have started to re-play the game from the beginning. The Dreamless Castle is the first game in the series, Princess Sophia wakes from a dreamless slumber of 100 years, and in this sequel, she continues her journey to find her people, mankind is no longer, but don't fret if anyone can help it will be the Princess born with no magic. Mira the delightful hand maid to the Fairy Queen is still by our side to guide us through Moonfell Wood, and help us find items we cannot! Sophia finds and adopts a cute little pocket dragon that only eats mossflowers and purple mushrooms, but is invaluable with his unique dragon breath (I have a feeling he'll be one of our regular sidekicks) As with the first Awakening this game is all about the puzzles, there are a ton of em such as untangling flowers which is one of my personal favorites, there are puzzles which require you to rotate the different shaped pieces before placing them and you will come across forest cards that have several very well hidden objects, such as 12 butterflies or birds, which was really fun. You might have to pick up all mushrooms, acorns or even candles you find in a scene which will be used at some point in the game as well. There aren't many HOS and some of the HOS are slightly interactive such as clicking on a lantern door to expose and item, I don't think the first game had this feature. You will also unlock a feature that has unlimited tripeaks solitaire which is a really fun version of solitaire. Awakening is one of the best fairytale hidden object games that I know of with stunningly beautiful graphics and some of the best mini games around, please give this series a try, you won't be disappointed, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Danse Macabre: The Last Adagio
Your sister disappears the night of her star debut – and there are ghosts in the theater! Will this dance ever end?
Overall rating
5
/
5
138 of 152 found this review helpful
Donatella de Fiore
PostedMarch 21, 2014
pennmom36
from"If I can't have her, nobody will!" poof
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The ballet is over and you patiently wait outside for your sister, the star of the famous ballet that hasn't been performed in 30 years, not since the composer and several people perished in that horrible fire. What concerns you now is the whereabouts of your sister who specifically asked you to meet her after the ballet, where could she be? (apparently she didn't offer any tickets) This is a beautiful game centered around the theater and it's haunted tragedy, it's curse! The hidden object scenes are a mixture between interactive list finds such as putting a hammer head on the handle, and some are finding items that match the silhouetted shapes. There are several mini games and they aren't going to make you wish for the skip button to fill up. Some are matching two of the same numbers by flipping buttons two at a time, you also had to follow the directions for the safe combination and choose which direction to turn the dial. There are ghosts that will help you along the way, with the hope of breaking their curse so that they may move on, and you must help your sister from becoming part of this curse, part of the dance that never ends! Good luck, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Awakening: The Dreamless Castle
After Awakening in a mysterious castle it's up to you to collect clues and items needed to solve perplexing puzzles and escape!
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 39 found this review helpful
The Princess Has Awoken!
PostedMarch 20, 2014
pennmom36
fromTime for a nap!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love this series so much that I have decided to re-play the Awakening saga from the first game to the last. Nobody can top this magical style, from the fairy tale story to the beautiful graphics and magical music and sounds. The Princess has no magical powers, she is simply a human and now that the spell has worn off and she has arisen she will have to find a way to rebuild the castle and help out the Goblins and Fairies without the help of magic, with the exception of Mira the hand maid to the Fairy Queen who will help us out when we are having trouble finding things or if we get lost. I had forgotten just how many mini games and puzzles there are in this game but there truly are a bunch! Most of the mini games can be solved by referring to your journal for clues such as the placement of different colored flowers or what order to put the red, blue, green, purple, and orange orbs on the door. There are puzzles that you swap pieces and puzzles that require you to simply put the different shaped pieces in the correct spot. One of the helpful Goblins gives you a Goblinjong box which is basically several games of Mahjong with the goal of matching the two alike key tiles in each game. Once you play this game you unlock unlimited Goblinjong games. This is a wonderful saga with a Fairytale theme, which in my opinion can be played by children and adults for hours of fun, enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Autumn's Treasures: The Jade Coin
Help Autumn find her grandfather’s treasures in this Hidden Object Adventure game! Follow his clues across the globe!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Grandpa Was A Mysterious Man!
PostedMarch 20, 2014
pennmom36
from"Crying"
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Raincliff's Phantoms Collector's Edition
(88)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Autumn's Grandfather passed away and left his favorite granddaughter an ancient amulet (which you use for hints finding things) and the keys to his antique shop. When she opens up the antique shop she finds that everything was auctioned off, but she also finds her grandfathers journal and a few items leading her to believe that Grandpa had a jade coin that was invaluable. The clues to the whereabouts of this coin are located within the very antiques that were auctioned off so you must travel around the globe in search of the antiques that were sold and might contain clues. This is a fragmented search game where you must find several pieces of an object hidden within a couple of different scenes and once that object is complete, you can use that item to search for another item. You may have to put together a hanger to use on a chain for the attic, something falls down into the debris so you search for broom fragments only to find the object fell into the floorboard cracks, so you have to find magnet fragments to get to the safe key and so on. This is a timed game that penalizes you by adding extra overall time if you use the amulet for a hint, but it also subtracts time if you solve a mini game quickly. The mini games are super easy such as putting together map pieces or following a key code of star, star, square, circle. My honest opinion of the game is that it quickly becomes monotonous and Autumn talks way to much in between finding items and using the items. It isn't a terrible game, and it's pretty easy to figure out where items are to be used, but it just gets kind of boring after a while.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher Collector's Edition
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
262 of 309 found this review helpful
The Usher Twins
PostedMarch 20, 2014
pennmom36
fromCan we just find out what's in those chests?
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
Well it seem the famous Detective Dupin is joining me on this investigation at the Usher House where one of the Usher twins is missing. It seems that the twins have a curse, when one is hurt, the other experiences the same pain. Estelle was the twins mother who died giving birth to the twins, but Marianna has raised them as her own, but somethings odd about her, we're going to have to investigate her further! Things have changed up a bit with this game in the Edgar Allen Poe series, I may be wrong but even Dupins voice seems different. There is now a round circle with your journal, a camera to take a screen shot and store in your album, and a mischievous rat on a pedestal who really does nothing but entertain you. You will earn achievements and when you come across a dollhouse and use a magnifying glass to collect a certain amount of coins which will be used to equip your criminal laboratory. I really liked the hidden object scenes where they would give you a short riddle or description and you had to find that item, the entire HOS was done that way! The mini games are well done, some a bit time consuming such as pushing buttons to match the bottom and middle tiles of different animal bodies and a large button to rotate the head section of the animal, all of the mini games have a casual or hard setting and the HOS have a matching game to switch to as well. Another well done Edgar Allen Poe chilling story, enjoy!
I recommend this game!