Kay_Erin's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:1,627
- Reviews Submitted:238
- First Review:January 15, 2014
- Most Recent Review:March 31, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake Collector's Edition
Discover the Secrets of Grey Mist Lake! FBI Agent Claire Ellery has discovered another Strange Case and she needs your help!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
An undiscovered treat!
PostedDecember 8, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Again, I'm here with a review of an older game you might have missed.
You are a Claire, a government agent, driving with your boyfriend Sam to his parents’ house, when an image on the road causes Sam to swerve and crash. You end up at Grey Mist Lake, known to be a haunted area, and are soon chasing a witch who has taken Sam to be another of her “prisoners”. Now you must free these other prisoners in order to find a way to save Sam
I grew to appreciate this game the more I played it. This game is carefully plotted and is very challenging without being overwhelming. the HOS (Hidden Object Scenes) are fantastic, with objects consistent with the time in which the town existed. There must have been a lot of research done. For instance the school house was very authentic, the medical tools in the hospital as well; it is as if each area got its own expert to make sure this is really believable as an early 20th century town. It does get a little depressing with all the grey-blue-black illustrations, but they are nicely drawn; and the story is brilliant as it introduces the characters.
There is a hint button but it takes quite a while, and I actually found I solved most of the puzzles while I waited; I might not have even tried if the hint timer was shorter.
I bought the regular version, not the CE and it was complete and satisfying. Took a long time to play, which was good. The lack of a map was annoying, because I think we have gotten lazy and want to speed through, but this game makes you walk around in real time and you get used to it.
I bought the regular version, not the CE and it was complete and satisfying. Took a long time to play, which was good. The lack of a map was annoying, because I think we have gotten lazy and want to speed through, but this game makes you walk around in real time and you get used to it.
I think beginner and intermediate players will enjoy this game very much, and it might just challenge experts. I played on easy and it was plenty hard enough. On expert I might have given up :)
I rated this game a 5 simply because it is the best of its kind, does everything right and gives good value.
I recommend this game!
When a young woman is found comatose by the side of the road with a bloody knife beside her, it’s up to you to unravel her story!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This is definitely A CE Keeper
PostedDecember 7, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
TITLE: SURFACE: THE NOISE SHE COULDN’T MAKE CE
HOW MANY SETTINGS? 3; Casual, Advanced and Hardcore.
GRAPHICS: Excellent. Crisp and clear
MAP: Yes, but with only general area indications, which was fine.
PUZZLES: Pretty good, with some new ones like connecting lights via a board with directional lines
HOS: Very well done. A challenge, but not because things were dark or tiny, only because they were well hidden!
MUSIC: Too moody for me, I turned it off
STORY LINE: Best part of the game, a really tight plot about a young woman who has lost her memory, and appears to be controlled by a darker force. All is not as it seems though! And the bonus chapter helps tie up the loose ends. This is definitely a game where you want to get the CE version.
HOW MANY SETTINGS? 3; Casual, Advanced and Hardcore.
GRAPHICS: Excellent. Crisp and clear
MAP: Yes, but with only general area indications, which was fine.
PUZZLES: Pretty good, with some new ones like connecting lights via a board with directional lines
HOS: Very well done. A challenge, but not because things were dark or tiny, only because they were well hidden!
MUSIC: Too moody for me, I turned it off
STORY LINE: Best part of the game, a really tight plot about a young woman who has lost her memory, and appears to be controlled by a darker force. All is not as it seems though! And the bonus chapter helps tie up the loose ends. This is definitely a game where you want to get the CE version.
MY TAKE: I give it a solid 5. This is a very satisfying game with a balance of HOS, puzzles and adventure; one of the best in this series. The subject matter is topical and handled with respect and restraint.
LAST PLAYED: December 7, 2015
I recommend this game!
Rediscover Red Riding Hood in an adventure with a surprisingly original twist based loosely on the tale by Charles Perrault!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Werewolf Doggie in Love
PostedDecember 2, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is a very short game. The artwork is simplistic, Here are the + and -.
Pros: Many wolf icons to find with everything you ever did (or not) want to know about the fairy tale Red Riding Hood.
Very good HOS, well hidden objects which suited the game
Funny expressions on the Were-Wolfs face as he tries to sort out his feelings for Red.
Very funny witch character that helps the pair to escape
Cons: As the game constantly reminds us this is one of the oldest tales in the world, so no real surprises.
VERY short game.
Animation is very amateurish and stiff.
Very good HOS, well hidden objects which suited the game
Funny expressions on the Were-Wolfs face as he tries to sort out his feelings for Red.
Very funny witch character that helps the pair to escape
Cons: As the game constantly reminds us this is one of the oldest tales in the world, so no real surprises.
VERY short game.
Animation is very amateurish and stiff.
If you really like HOS, and courses in world literature/myths this has a definite appeal. What saves it is a sense of humor around the Wolf, and the weird old witch.
I recommend saving this for a free credit: but try it first!
I recommend this game!
After being contacted by a secret organization of elite mystery solvers, you're sent out in the field to prove your skills. This job interview may be your last!
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 32 found this review helpful
Take That, Gargoyle!
PostedDecember 2, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
TITLE: THE CURIO SOCIETY: ECLIPSE OVER
MESINA, CE
MESINA, CE
HOW MANY SETTINGS? Four: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore and Custom.
GRAPHICS: Excellent, fun things to look at and find! I especially liked the Egyptian artifacts and cartouches.
MAP: Yes, and interactive. (Hint for beginners: If you can’t find any place to go on the map you probably have something in your inventory you need to do, or there is something or somewhere else you need to find in your present place.)
PUZZLES: Pretty good, although a couple of times I thought there would be a puzzle and the game just did the actions for me. I was on casual, so maybe I will try a harder level next time, although it didn’t say that certain levels had harder puzzles.
HOS: Excellent, and I really enjoyed them. Actually had to switch to the alternate game (match 3) when I couldn’t find the last items in some HOS, a rarity for me, if I do say so myself!
MUSIC: Turned it off. Irritating for me when the music gets more intense: I basically like a calm atmosphere!:)
STORY LINE: You are recruited to a mysterious society after you are in the papers for solving some pretty difficult and dangerous cases. Others have summarized the plot, but I will add the bonus game is outstanding and tells the back story of one of the members of the “Curio Society” It doesn’t affect the story so you don’t actually need it.
MY TAKE: A wonderfully strong HOPA that is sure to delight intermediate and beginner players. I’m not an expert so I don’t speak for them! This is definitely worth it and one of my favorites this year. And referring to the title of my review you get to shoot ugly gargoyles throughout the game; got me in touch with my inner cowgirl! I agree with tucker_ratdog: This game is just a heap of fun!
LAST PLAYED: December 02, 2015
I recommend this game!
Lift the curse off the abandoned estate and help rescue your friends!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
Excuse me I've got this weird baby doll following me!
PostedNovember 18, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
TITLE: BLUE TEAR
HOW MANY SETTINGS? Two: Beginner and Expert
GRAPHICS: Blueish grey, well drawn, interesting places to explore; a little dark for my taste but well done.
MAP: Yes, and interactive. Every once in a while it would not help and then you had to back track. Very good challenge.
PUZZLES: There were a good lot of puzzles, and I got most of them, Some I skipped because they were taking too long to figure out or were repetitive, but most I quite liked.
HOS: Very challenging, and didn’t notice too many repeats, when they did repeat a scene they mixed things round. (I needed my magnifying glass a couple of times!)
MUSIC was appropriate and fun but got a bit irritatingly repetitive after a while so I turned it off.
STORY LINE: You have inherited a creepy old mansion that you and your friends decide to investigate. Not a good move: your friends are scattered and put in a weird stasis and you are transported to a distant tropical land to figure out what is going on.
MY TAKE: Great game, kept me moving along, good HOS and puzzles. I give this a solid 4. Good work devs!
LAST PLAYED: 11/18/15
I recommend this game!
After the wizard began his mission of wrath and destruction, you, a mere alchemist, have been sent to stop him.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Another look back at a great fishy game!
PostedNovember 10, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
TITLE: A WIZARDS CURSE
Released: 03/13
Released: 03/13
HOW MANY SETTINGS? Two: Casual and Hard
GRAPHICS: Very well done pen, ink and water color? Loved the backgrounds, architecture, flora and fauna
MAP: No. However you have a fairly straight path during the game, and even though you have to go back, it isn’t bad, and a challenge to remember where you saw that thing! Also take note of everything because certain items only become active when you have completed other actions; so you want to have a general idea where that pot was, or hammer, etc.
PUZZLES: A few, very easy. (And that is saying a lot since I don’t have a knack with puzzles :)
STORY LINE: Your brother, also a Wizard is so distraught over his girlfriend’s death he takes to evil arcane experiments on the local villagers to invent a way to “bring her back to the living”
MY TAKE: An excellent game for beginners, or intermediates and those who like good artwork with a concentration on the adventure/hos parts of the game. I felt connected to my character (the good brother wizard) and thought the dialog was very well done. I bought this game back in 2013, and I hadn’t remembered it was a cliff hanger! I must see if there is a sequel! Anyway it pleased me to give it 5 stars!
LAST PLAYED: 11/10/15
I recommend this game!
The Silent Age
Help Joe discover the truth behind humankind's extinction! Can a simple janitor and literally, "the average Joe," save humankind?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
SF and Snark...What's not to like?
PostedNovember 2, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game, in a way that no other "retro" game has , brought back the sense of wonder and magic that I first experienced back in the 60's and 70's. The wonder that you could get characters to move and do things on a screen was like magicI Long live Sierra!
I grew up in Silicon Valley in that era and the references to all the news, culture and politics, computer companies, and politics of the time are spot on. It wasn't constant but just enough to make me unexpectedly laugh out loud often.
I grew up in Silicon Valley in that era and the references to all the news, culture and politics, computer companies, and politics of the time are spot on. It wasn't constant but just enough to make me unexpectedly laugh out loud often.
That is not to say that there isn't a solid game here; the story line is SF at its best, and was a good mystery/adventure; and it was a helpful reminder that although I loved the games of yesteryear, the frustration when you _couldn't_ get a clue and spent hours over one item, is one I've gladly left behind.
On the other hand, as many other fishies have noted, this is not a hand holding game, and is fun to figure out. There is a sense of satisfaction that can't be replaced when you intuitively reach for the right answer on your own!
I highly recommend this game to everyone - newbies as well as experienced, you all start on the same level playing field.
On the other hand if you don't like games with out hints available then this is not for you. Check out the demo for yourself.
On the other hand if you don't like games with out hints available then this is not for you. Check out the demo for yourself.
Others have pointed out additional details of the game, but I wan't to at least urge you to give it a chance. You may be glad you did. At the very least you will learn what fruit has to do with computers...
I recommend this game!
Your wedding day goes dark... and your fiancée has no idea who's behind it all.
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 48 found this review helpful
Pretty pretty! (And what's wrong with that??)
PostedNovember 1, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
TITLE: DARK ROMANCE: THE SWAN SONATA CE
HOW MANY SETTINGS? Four: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore and Custom modes.
GRAPHICS: Excellent, richly colored and detailed, very fun to just wander around and look at things!
MUSIC: I don’t recall, as I turned it down pretty low. I do know they missed a chance to use some of Tchaikovsky’s amazing theme music.
COLLECTIONS 20 Stained glass window pieces, which makes stained glass pictures of Siegfried and Odette. I missed one piece for each of the windows. They were pretty obvious so I must have been distracted by the game! Will be fun to find when I replay.
15 Statuettes: I found them all!
And lastly: Feathers, which you use to purchase clothing and articles for Odette’s boudoir. I ended up with 16 feathers, not quite the 23 I needed for the curtain on her bedstead, but was able to get everything else.
15 Statuettes: I found them all!
And lastly: Feathers, which you use to purchase clothing and articles for Odette’s boudoir. I ended up with 16 feathers, not quite the 23 I needed for the curtain on her bedstead, but was able to get everything else.
ALT.GAME: Match 3
MAP: Yes, interactive.
PUZZLES: I’m getting better, but I’m still an intermediate when it comes to puzzles. The hard ones were circling puzzles where you have to find the correct places for objects.
STORY LINE: A very much simplified version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with a more upbeat ending.
MY TAKE: This is a lovely story and the graphics are rich and colorful. One thing I liked is that there were not as many HOS with just pieces of unidentifiable jewelry (Commonly called FRAGs I believe); I think there were one or two but there was a fine variation in the types of HOS. Adding to the challenge was the point of view switching between Siegfried and Odette, which took some adjusting but added to the game. I give this beautiful game a solid 5!
LAST PLAYED: October 31, 2015
I recommend this game!
The case of an unusual death in a zoo leads detective Ashley Clark into the mysterious world.
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
Another Solid HOPA
PostedNovember 1, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
TITLE: ASHLEY CLARK: THE SECRET OF THE ANCIENT TEMPLE, SA
HOW MANY SETTINGS? 4. The last is nightmare!
GRAPHICS: Darker as suited to the game.
MAP: Totally missed that there was a map! You do have hints in the form of batteries you pick up in each scene. Very generous, I almost never had less than 30.
PUZZLES: I couldn’t get quite a few, the instructions were not clear enough, but I’m not great at puzzles anyway. lots of number puzzles, a few easy matching games. HOS were divided into things or finding things by shape.
STORY LINE: Investigating mysterious deaths at local zoo.
MY TAKE: This is a great HOPA with no bells and whistles but it is loooong! You really get a lot of bang for your buck in this one. :) I loved it. Once I got used to looking for grabby hands (I played easy) and going back to all the scenes to find objects which I had seen before but hadn’t been available to me. Again the instructions in this game are very minimal, so it is not for a newbie fishy, but intermediates and above should find it challenging and entertaining.
Bottom line: This is a game I took my time with, using it as a break between other games. It would be a great use of a free credit.
Bottom line: This is a game I took my time with, using it as a break between other games. It would be a great use of a free credit.
LAST PLAYED: November 1, 2015
I recommend this game!
Grim Tales: Threads of Destiny Collector's Edition
Can you free Jackie’s parents from their deadly fates?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Seriously?
PostedOctober 19, 2015
Kay_Erin
fromMilwaukee, WI
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
TITLE: GRIM TALES, THREADS OF DESTINY, CE
SETTINGS? Four, including custom.
GRAPHICS: Excellent
SETTINGS? Four, including custom.
GRAPHICS: Excellent
MORPHING OBJECTS? /COLLECTIONS? Yes
STORY: Continuing the theme in the previous games, you are the caring Aunty with special gifts to go into the past and set things right. I’ve very much liked the others, but this one with lack of plot or rather the same plot over and over again, disappoints.
GOOD: At first, the game was interesting and fleshed out, with lots to discover and do.(*See below) a couple of good puzzles, where you have to remember different scenes and put the appropriate articles in that scene was very good.
DISAPPOINTING: (* As above, The repetitive story line, going into the past and saving the same couple repeatedly, got boring.) Also I was unable to finish the extra “secret room” game, because no matter how much I clicked on where the “destiny card” was supposed to be, nothing happened. Now this could be me, but after an hour trying to get it to work, I gave up.
Also there never was a very convincing reason put forth for “Fate” character to try and stop you from saving your relatives, except that maybe she was ticked off. Fate usually is portrayed as not being for or against, (unless you are thinking of Karma, but Aunty had only done things to save her family not destroy) but this "Fate" character acted more like the evil enemy, a ticked off goddess who is having a really bad day and taking it out on you. I guess that is the other thing...she was not really evil or good, just arbitrary.
PUZZLES: Average. I don’t play HOG for the puzzles, but for the HO’s (duh!) and the adventure/story. In this case the story was so awful I don't remember if the puzzles were good or not!
MY TAKE: I wish I had waited for the SE or better yet skipped it. All the bling doesn’t make up for bad story and editing.
I don’t recommend this game.
LAST PLAYED: October 17, 2015
I don't recommend this game.