majandess's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.8
- Helpful Votes:177
- Reviews Submitted:9
- First Review:September 6, 2012
- Most Recent Review:February 9, 2014
- Featured reviews0
majandess's Review History
Princesses have a tendency to be kidnapped, and a service for lost royals is in high demand. Start your own Lost Princesses Agency and find your one and only!
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 107 found this review helpful
This Game Throws Down the Gauntlet
PostedFebruary 9, 2014
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
(77)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
For the life of me, I don't understand why this game has been reviewed so poorly. The biggest complaint seems to be the constant running back and forth, but all road-clearing games seem like that to me (and I like them anyway).
Superficially speaking, this game is stunning. Yeah, they needed a much better editor than they had - the typos are heinous - but I can forgive them for it. The graphics are marvelous! The items in the game are recognizable from the earlier games, but the quality of the images is vastly improved. The island lands are gorgeous. I'm not a fan of the sliding effect because I felt it was distracting. But it does increase the depth of the game, and you can turn it off in the options.
While game play is similar, it is not exactly the same as its predecessors. People who love it will appreciate the fact that queuing is now part of the game. Resources come in piles, so in order to collect it all, you have to go back multiple times (if you hover over the item, it will tell you how many times). Likewise, building projects take multiple layers of work to complete. While this threw me off the first time I played the game, I actually have come to enjoy it. I find myself planning out the levels far more than in the previous games, and I'm loving the challenge of it. I will admit, though, that I miss warehouses.
In this game, instead of the occasional bat, whirlwind, or storm cloud, you end up with fleets of "dragonets." You can get rid of them by clicking on them, by building a tower that destroys them, or by using the rocket power-up that will keep them at bay for a generous period of time. Unlike the previous games, the dragonets aren't just an afterthought to deal with. You can beat them by fast clicking, planning out your use of power-ups, or using valuable resources (or combinations of those!).
The game gets much more difficult the further you play. I was almost able to complete Chapter 1 within the time allotted for the demo. Chapter 2 was significantly harder, and I've gotten stuck a few times in Chapter 3 (that's where I am now).
I am grateful that there are no longer mini-games between chapters. Those were never my favorite... The versions of the game that involved sailing your boat or what-have-you through the dangerous waters or hammering the snakes... I was never good at those. And the one with puzzles was doable, but frustrating with a mouse.
MKFTP IV definitely is more challenging for me, but that makes the victories even sweeter. I love this addition to the MKFTP library!
I recommend this game!
Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo
Putt-Putt and Pep need your child's help to reunite the little ones with their parents before Outback Al can open the zoo gates.
Overall rating
5
/
5
19 of 23 found this review helpful
"Mommy, I Love Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo."
PostedOctober 7, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
(77)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Personally, I can tell you that this isn't my game. But then... I've outgrown the toys I thought were awesome when I was five. My son, on the other hand, just turned five, and he thinks Putt-Putt is awesome.
My son likes the story and spends a lot of time talking to me about what's going on. The fact that the characters are mostly animals is really appealing to him. A variety of animals allows for a bunch of different settings that make the game interesting. He also empathizes with the babies who are lost, and feels really good about saving them.
There are a couple of mini-games that he finds fun to play - animal tag and ice hockey (animal tag has three difficulties). There are lots of clickable things in each scene, and my son gets a kick out of giving Putt-Putt a new paint job. There's also a surprising bit of problem-solving to be done. Orders of operations that I find simple and boring can be quite the challenge for him. It's easy for me to forget that what's logical and simple for me hasn't yet developed as a skill in my son.
This game has been available on other platforms for some time, so my son has had the chance to play it over and over again. Because he's beaten the game, I keep thinking that he'll lose interest, but amazingly, he keeps coming back to it.
I recommend this game!
Help build the World of Zellians from the ground up! Transform the simple Zellians into a modern and efficient society!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Ambushed by the Awesomeness!
PostedOctober 6, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
(77)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have always been a fan of kingdom building games - Pharaoh, Zeus, and Emperor were awesome. That type of game is difficult to come by, however, so I was especially pleased to find World of Zellians. Unlike the kingdom builders I was familiar with, however, the challenge of Zellians comes from being able to fit everything in, given terrain constraints and the shape of the buildings.
Now that I've finished it, all I can say is I love this game! The storyline is cute, and had a twist in it that I didn't expect. Game play is simple to learn (but challenging to master, of course). The game provides all the information you need to accomplish your goals, so if you forget building requirements or have a problem, the game will give you that info in a non-patronizing fashion. The graphics are adorable. I found the sounds to be so helpful that game play was difficult for me with them off. The music wasn't so good that I'd listen to it casually, but I didn't hate it, either.
Some levels were a real challenge, but many of the levels I would have like to be just a little bit tougher (but just a little!). Because there's no clock, you can take as long as you want to solve the puzzle of how to fit everything together.
I would absolutely love to see a sequel to this game.
I recommend this game!
Carve a path through an unforgiving wilderness to rescue a hero trapped by a villain!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Finders is OK.
PostedSeptember 21, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
(77)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
First Thing First: This is not a time management game. There is absolutely no time to manage whatsoever.
I saw a review that described Finders as being more like The Island Castaway. I really liked that game, and Finders is sort of like that game, but Finders is... Not that game.
It's like Island Castaway combined with a mobile game. There are wait times to build stuff - for no real reason at all that I can discern. There are lots of side quests - so many, in fact, that you easily lose track of what's going on in the story. And like many popular mobile games, you spend lots of time collecting stuff without actually going anywhere.
The story in the game isn't particularly gripping. It's not particularly coherent. The words describe a very urgent situation with risk all around, but the game-play and soundtrack do absolutely nothing to support that urgency at all.
On the positive side, the game is hard to stop playing. It lulls you into a relaxed sense of clicking that makes it hard to turn off. The mini-games are pretty simple, and with the exception of fishing, you can skip them.
Finders is most certainly a way to pass time. I give it a "meh."
I don't recommend this game.
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
King or Swindler? Who will be the new ruler of the Kingdom?
Overall rating
5
/
5
17 of 19 found this review helpful
I Voted for the King (of Time Management Games)!
PostedSeptember 11, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Current Favorite:
Royal Envoy: Campaign for the Crown Collector's Edition
(77)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
First thing first: There is no "relaxed" mode. That's because unlike many TM games, obtaining stars is actually a mechanic in this version of RE - it determines who wins the election. For those people who need queuing, there isn't that, either. I didn't notice the lack of it in gameplay, though.
The game played much like RE2, and in my opinion that's because it's difficult to improve on a great system. There some are new mechanics involved... Rabbit holes can be found in the floating island levels. There's a flooding problem that can only be solved by luring an elephant to suck up the water. There are absolutely infuriating pirates/druids you have to pay to keep the darkness/fog at bay... And I like the building lots on the water - I wish there were more levels like that.
There are also some cool one-off levels. The whack-a-mole worker rescue, the mining of coal from falling stalactites, the growing of the trees and food, the thieves at the bank, and the balloon inflating... All of those served as welcome and interesting levels.
And just when I thought the game was over, I discovered that there are an extra 30 levels to play in the Challenges section!
The storyline is adorable. My work-at-home husband was frequently distracted from his job because he wanted to know how the election was going. And the little videos were quite awesome.
The theme of the game is fun and entertaining, and I most certainly had fun and was entertained!
I recommend this game!
Restore a ravaged island to its former glory!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 23 found this review helpful
Give me Moai!
PostedJune 26, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really like this game!
Superficially speaking, the visuals and graphics are really well done. The hand-drawn backgrounds have lots of detail to them, the scenery is awesome, and the sound effects don't grate on your nerves after ten levels back-to-back.
While it doesn't seem very deep at first, the story has become surprisingly intricate. I find myself looking forward to each new plot progression and related mission because I want to know what's going to happen next.
Game-play, I think, is most similar to Jack-of-all-Tribes, but it's a little tougher. I like the fact that some levels have a more open-ended goal of "build something on all spaces" alongside other more specific ones. It doesn't tie me to a single strategy - multiple ways can win.
The game is also satisfactory in length - I'm not even half-way done. I do believe there are about 50 levels, and they're of good length and have enough difficulty that you don't breeze through the game in a couple of hours.
There are two details I wish were different, but neither is a big enough deal for me to give fewer than five stars. First, I wish that the dotted line showing your path on the map stayed there (it could be really faint brown - it doesn't have to stay bright red). It helps me remember the story better if I can review the map chronologically, which is hard to do without a path.
Second, part of the plot is that the villagers are destroying their island because they cut down all the trees... But as of yet, I haven't seen any way to grow trees, and frequently, there are levels where the few trees on the screen must be chopped in order to advance. I don't feel like I'm saving anyone when I'm not solving one of their problems!
But it's OK. Maybe trees happen later in the game (I'm about one quarter of the way through).
I am having fun. I hope you have fun, too. :)
I recommend this game!
Become a garden master and win the gardening challenge to save Jill's grandparents' home from demolition in this colorful time management game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Pleasantly Surprised...
PostedApril 10, 2013
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I downloaded this game expecting to not be entertained by yet another copy-cat time management game. Instead, I sailed through the one hour preview, purchased the game, and loved every second of it right to the end.
I was surprised by how good the story was. Right where most games end, the game kept going with its mystery, and I found myself trying to catch every hint I could as I played.
Game play proved to be moderately challenging. I underestimated the game's challenge level and thought I'd dislike it because it was too easy. Surprise, surprise! Strategies are needed. Not every level was a killer challenge, but then, personally I get discouraged if I don't succeed every now and again. I felt this game was the right mix of easy breezy levels and levels that took a pile of replays.
I liked the ability to fix up your grandparent's house and turn it into a fantastically awesome place. That was a nice touch similar to games like Gardenscapes, but I like time management way more than hidden objects.
I thought the graphics were cute and easy to distinguish. I thought the music was appropriate and kinda catchy.
All in all, I totally loved the game!
I recommend this game!
Discover the fabulous secrets that a jungle hides in Adelantado Trilogy: Book One! Help the brave and noble officer, Don Diego De Leon, to find and save the lost expedition.
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Not Perfect, But I Don't Care
PostedNovember 14, 2012
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
There are some things I don't like about this game:
1) There is no mid-level save, and levels are at least 30 minutes or longer.
2) There are frequent prompts that tell you what to do, and no off button that I found.
3) Rotating buildings is possible, but not easy. The game's auto-detecting of location isn't the greatest.
4) The cavemen seemed a little off-theme.
That said, I love the openness of the game. I love searching for secrets. I love the graphics. I love the music. I love the quests. I found this to be quite fun, and I'm hoping the sequels are released soon!
I recommend this game!
Rescue the princess, defeat the villain and save your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 19 found this review helpful
Excellent
PostedSeptember 6, 2012
majandess
fromOlympia, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game ties with Royal Envoy for my favorite time management game out there. I love it. After trying a few titles that were passable but nothing that lit the world on fire, I was hesitant to try another one, but I was NOT disappointed by Kingdom Chronicles.
It's fast - there's a lot to do. It's hard, but no so hard you have to google the mystic secret to beating the levels. The graphics and sounds are well done, give you level cues, and don't annoy you too much. The storyline is cute. And by the time the game is over, you have a solid feeling of accomplishment.
There wasn't anything about the game I didn't like. I was completely impressed - it was absolutely perfect. If Kingdom Chronicles were another 40 levels long, I would still be playing it, and enjoying every minute.
I recommend this game!