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:
Skymist - The Lost Spirit Stones
Magic has been drained from the enchanted realm of Skymist - find the lost Spirit Stones and restore peace to the kingdom!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Another early day winner
PostedAugust 2, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Current Favorite:
Skymist - The Lost Spirit Stones
(19)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm having such fun going back and playing games that were _really_ HOG's before they got all fancy. They don't, in general have a lot of bells and whistles, but they are great fun!
Skymist is the tongue in cheek story of a blissful perfect magical world, suddenly bereft of it's magic and what resembles a rusty forsaken mall more than a magical pretty kingdom. Because, unfortunately there is a bad apple, but at first it's hard to tell who it is.
First there's this Princess, totally self involved and is 21 and Gasp!! not married! Then there's the Prince, possibly more self involved and mentally challenged than the Princess, hanging around and calling you names: Poltroon!, Varlet! Filthy peasant! Aaargh, Bad person!!!!
The puzzles are great, there is little hand holding, but a journal to give you hints, and you just fumble around until you figure it out, which in my case wasn't too hard, though I got stumped a few times, for a bit. Hints only in the HOS, which I needed a couple of times. Well done junk piles!:)
But I was so proud when I finished the game and only skipped one or two puzzles, that were either totally frustrating or just time wasters.
Anyway, you HOG lovers need to get this one. And it's SE so you can get it with a free credit! Win Win!
I recommend this game!
Reincarnations: Back to Reality Collector's Edition
Travel into your past lives, set things right, and restore your karmic balance!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Amazing game
PostedJuly 30, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, you went into the past and now you gotta go back and correct your mistakes. Bummer.
So, I finished what I thought was the game, (a little short, but good,) only to find it’s one in a series. Each is a book and when you finish the book you go on to the next; 4 books in all.
Slow work, but fascinating. Great for a 2011 game! Reasonable skip times for help, imaginative HOS and a story line that keeps pulling you along. A very long game and long bonus chapter. Adventure/Hog lovers will really like this one.
And it was published way back in 2011! I highly recommend!
And it was published way back in 2011! I highly recommend!
I recommend this game!
A desperate alliance between worlds hides a secret betrayal!
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
The REAL Eileen Mor
PostedJuly 26, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Typical of this series. Nothing startlingly new, except the standard of good illustration is maintained. Very creative character drawings of the main characters. I must say, their
appearance had more personality than their written parts. But it must be acknowledged that this long running series holds up the quality; I’ve bought all 14 games in CE, something that rarely happens.
appearance had more personality than their written parts. But it must be acknowledged that this long running series holds up the quality; I’ve bought all 14 games in CE, something that rarely happens.
The story could have been tighter; I was never sure why the writer was there as she disappeared for most of the game, only surfacing when her husband finally found her.
What I wished I’d known: This story may be based on a real unsolved mystery of a 1900's disappearance of 3 lighthouse keepers of the Flannen Lighthouse on the Island of Eileen Mor. It is located on the highest point of the island. These islands in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, are well known for their fierce storms. During one such, on 15 December, 1900, a ship reported no light from the Flannen isle Light house and further investigation led to finding three of the four lighthouse keepers (There were a rotation, one man being on the mainland for break at any given time) had mysteriously disappeared and only their unused oilskins were found in the lighthouse, the table set with food, the clocks stopped, but no one every found out for sure what happened to them.
There were many theories but despite repeated investigations, the mystery remains unsolved. You can look it up on Wikipedia. It’s a chilling tale and well worth reading about. I will keep this in mind when I replay the game!
Fun note: all the writers “collectibles” were hints on how to get inspiration and organize your writing.
I recommend this game!
Phenomenon: Meteorite Collector's Edition
Discover the secrets of your family’s past on a mystical island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Simply Incredible
PostedJuly 22, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Current Favorite:
Reveries: Sisterly Love Collector's Edition
(78)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is without doubt one of the most creative and fascinating games I’ve played in a long while. The imagination of these artists is outstanding. Just when I thought I wouldn’t see any thing new, a new thing came up. This is definitely a mid trilogy game, but important to play before the final one, “Outcome”
I’ve been a member for over 11 years and this is one of maybe a dozen games I give full marks to and my own personal gold star, meaning it is replayable for a long time.
It is just awesome.
It is just awesome.
I recommend this game!
Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink Collector's Edition
The quaint mountain town of Hochwald hides a deadly secret. Defeat a mechanical mastermind and save your friend before another earthquake strikes!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Fun, if geographically questionable origin!
PostedJuly 18, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Current Favorite:
Mysteries and Nightmares: Morgiana
(44)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Charming, beautifully rendered HOG, with German villains and citizenry, and well written story, but from what I’ve seen of the map in the game, it is set south of Walachia (Romania) somewhere near Constantinople in Turkey. Weird. Thus my title above.
Anyway, a fun great game, just hard enough, with great story line, FROGs (fragmented HOS) are of, appropriately, machines you put together!) and a nice helper mechanical crow named Matthew. Love it.
Fun bonus chapter too, it’s a prequel but isn’t ruined by what you already know.
Anyway, a fun great game, just hard enough, with great story line, FROGs (fragmented HOS) are of, appropriately, machines you put together!) and a nice helper mechanical crow named Matthew. Love it.
Fun bonus chapter too, it’s a prequel but isn’t ruined by what you already know.
I recommend this game!
Resurrection, New Mexico Collector's Edition
After a terrible traffic accident, Amy Walters finds herself trapped in dark, mysterious world that seems to have a mind of its own!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Another Hidden Old Gem
PostedJuly 18, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Current Favorite:
Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink Collector's Edition
(98)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
After a terrible accident, Amy finds herself trapped in Resurrection, a town on the other side of life with a lot of “lost souls”. It doesn’t take you long to figure it out. And now, you just have to figure out how to get back...
Given the publishing date, no sparkles or morphs, but for a game made about 10 years ago it has a lot going for it, including bonus play and a strategy guide! If you are a hard core HOG fan this game is for you. Even if you opt for the SE version, it's still a great deal with a free game ticket!
A disclaimer here, this IS an older game and when I played it on my 2020 game machine, it would only play in "windowed mode" (i.e., a smaller window set on your desktop) This was a problem over come with an inexpensive magnifying glass which I've often used in the past for difficult to find objects. Unless of course you've got super site, this works. Don't laugh you young sprigs, us old folks are amazing at finding ways around things, after a lifetime of experience! :)
Anyway I highly recommend this game!
Given the publishing date, no sparkles or morphs, but for a game made about 10 years ago it has a lot going for it, including bonus play and a strategy guide! If you are a hard core HOG fan this game is for you. Even if you opt for the SE version, it's still a great deal with a free game ticket!
A disclaimer here, this IS an older game and when I played it on my 2020 game machine, it would only play in "windowed mode" (i.e., a smaller window set on your desktop) This was a problem over come with an inexpensive magnifying glass which I've often used in the past for difficult to find objects. Unless of course you've got super site, this works. Don't laugh you young sprigs, us old folks are amazing at finding ways around things, after a lifetime of experience! :)
Anyway I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
Off The Record: The Art of Deception Collector's Edition
A famous painter finds herself in over her head!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Great. With exceptions
PostedJuly 10, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really like this series. The devs go out of their way to put in new types of HOS and the stories are always well told.
This one takes place in Austria I think. An exceptional artist, who should know better, agreed to make a copy of a valuable painting and of course the bad guys did not keep their word (gasp!) Her boyfriend, who seems equally clueless and with an equal lack of moral compass agrees to certify the copy as the original (actually this part is a little confusing; it's never clear if he is cooperating with them or just has no common sense.) Add a scheming family out to restore their lost fortune and willing to kill to get it, a plot is made.
The sequel _is_ a sequel, and not to my surprise, our artist friend on discovering a stolen diamond agrees it "must be returned" But not with much conviction.
The sequel _is_ a sequel, and not to my surprise, our artist friend on discovering a stolen diamond agrees it "must be returned" But not with much conviction.
The game is good and has lots to do and discover, but the morality behind it does little to reassure me of the some of our future generations and their ethos.
Still a good game, just not outstanding.
I recommend this game!
Off the Record: The Italian Affair Collector's Edition
Track down the wily Fox’ before he slips away into the beauty of Venice!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Our reporter in Italy!
PostedJuly 9, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A fantastic addition to this series. A fairly complicated plot with a skippy pace and lots to see and do. The map helped a lot when I was undecided where to go next; otherwise it was pretty straight forward logic.
I liked the characters and the solutions were practical and believable.
This is a must have for adventure players. Lots more puzzles than hops, but what there was of them were well done. They made up for the lack of big HOS with a bunch of little ones.
I highly recommend this game!
This is a must have for adventure players. Lots more puzzles than hops, but what there was of them were well done. They made up for the lack of big HOS with a bunch of little ones.
I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
Delve into the Morante family’s past to stop a murderer!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Most excellent game!
PostedJuly 5, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I quite enjoyed playing this game which I can recommend for intermediate players as well as experts as the hints and map are generous.
For some reason I did not purchase this when it first came out, but was glad it is still available!
A great story line of a complicated and flawed family. I'm not sure what was quite the point behind collecting the two objects in each scene - a decal of a boat and a letter morphing between G and F, (for Grim Façade? oooh bad.)
but it was fun. In the end you get to choose the sails and hull color of a very nice ship you inherit, by the laws of the sea!
For some reason I did not purchase this when it first came out, but was glad it is still available!
A great story line of a complicated and flawed family. I'm not sure what was quite the point behind collecting the two objects in each scene - a decal of a boat and a letter morphing between G and F, (for Grim Façade? oooh bad.)
but it was fun. In the end you get to choose the sails and hull color of a very nice ship you inherit, by the laws of the sea!
I literally had hours of fun playing this game and highly recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Arthurian legends are just stories, but sometimes fiction hides the truth.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Better than some recent offerings...
PostedJuly 3, 2021
Kay_Erin
fromWisconsin
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I wasn’t prepared to like this; the first part put me off by how nasty the the bad guys were. (Actually it was only one obsessed bully, but his boss had to know about his methods; another way of testifying to modern ethics that say what ever it takes to get what you want) But it is actually a decent game and the bonus game is a sequel which is nice. And the bad guy was dealt with appropriately and satisfyingly,
Once I got used to not stopping to read the CD’s as I played the game I was ok, although I think it would be better the old way, while you are still in the situation the disk is speaking about.
Not as riveting a story as some of the early ones, but decent and worth the CE price.
Not as riveting a story as some of the early ones, but decent and worth the CE price.
I recommend this game!