trillian's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3
- Helpful Votes:358
- Reviews Submitted:12
- First Review:May 16, 2012
- Most Recent Review:June 16, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Venture through more than fifty different meadows and defeat the enemy! Can you lead the army of mushrooms to victory?
Overall rating
4
/
5
28 of 29 found this review helpful
A Good Strategy Game
PostedJune 16, 2015
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
While this game does indeed come with a tutorial (look in the options), it can still be a little confusing at first, so I'll summarize what I've learned from the first seven or eight levels:
1# You can only grow mushrooms next to mushrooms. Available spaces are highlighted.
2) Planting a mushroom uses up a mushroom from your stock at the top of the screen.
3) Collecting water adds mushrooms to your stock at the top of the screen.
4) Collect stars to advance levels.
5) Level ends once you've collected all the WATER, even if you have stars left on the board.
6) Clicking on either water or stars also plants, and therefore COSTS, a mushroom.
7) If you're really, really, stuck, you can skip the level by clicking on an icon. I think it's a key, but I didn't use it.
1# You can only grow mushrooms next to mushrooms. Available spaces are highlighted.
2) Planting a mushroom uses up a mushroom from your stock at the top of the screen.
3) Collecting water adds mushrooms to your stock at the top of the screen.
4) Collect stars to advance levels.
5) Level ends once you've collected all the WATER, even if you have stars left on the board.
6) Clicking on either water or stars also plants, and therefore COSTS, a mushroom.
7) If you're really, really, stuck, you can skip the level by clicking on an icon. I think it's a key, but I didn't use it.
I'm sure there'll be more rules once the enemy mushrooms start showing up, but to get you going in the game, those are the rules you need to remember.
Right from the beginning, you need careful strategy to hit the water bubbles in the correct order, or you'll run out of mushrooms before you reach the next water bubble.
The game slowly introduces you to new items and challenges, such as 'extra bubble' spaces and stone walls. You can repeat the level as often as you want.
I'm thrilled to see a game that isn't just another #no matter how well done# hidden object game. I'm hoping this will be one of the better type of strategy games--a few rules that lead to a complex and challenging level of play.
I recommend this game!
The princess has become a Queen! Help her loyal assistant Jack rebuild the garden from scratch in this unique Match-3 game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 16 found this review helpful
Stripped down version of Fishdom
PostedApril 6, 2015
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
In terms of match 3 challenges, this game is pretty much Fishdom with somewhat less responsive interaction, and graphics that are less dynamic both in movement and in colour palette.
Loved the little hummingbird power up, though--very cute.
As in the Fishdom series, you earn money to buy plants and decorations. In this case you're decorating a formal garden. As far as I could tell, you only ever get the one garden to decorate.
There are far fewer plants and decorations to choose from, and you have to play for a long time to earn enough money to level up and get access to a new item.
Regarding leveling up--the game is a little confusing as it tells you you've advanced to a new level as you clear match 3 boards, but the levels they refer to in the shop are levels you progress through by purchasing items.
It says there are 130 levels. I'm on level a thousand and something in Fishdom, but I'm not sure how many there were before the layouts started to repeat. They may have a comparable number of unique match 3 boards.
I'd have been fine with it if A Garden for the Queen 2 had just copycatted the Fishdom series with smooth game play and lots of gardens and things to buy to decorate them. As it is, though, it just doesn't feel to me like it's worth buying.
I don't recommend this game.
Discover Fairy Kingdom and enjoy an exciting simulation adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 12 found this review helpful
Left handed players need not apply.
PostedMarch 28, 2015
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I enjoy this type of time management game, and would probably have bought it. The graphics are clear and well done, and it's a new set of 'puzzles' to solve.
However, the game cannot be played left handed. Are you listening game developers and Big Fish? No. Sale.
Relic Rescue
Help Buck and Wanda retrieve priceless relics! Grab all the keys you can to enter exciting temples!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 35 found this review helpful
This one really is free to play
PostedAugust 6, 2014
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I'm basing my review on several hours of play; I'm on level 53 out of what looks to be about 150.
I'm enjoying the strategy involved in this game, and since I don't often play bubble shooters, I've been pleased with the way the difficulty increases gradually.
Major pluses to this FTP game--no timer and no 'energy' metre or equivalent. I've been able to play for as long as I want, revisit levels, etc without ever having to wait.
Major CAUTION about this game--as far as I can tell, there's a finite amount of in-game money available. You can repeat levels for fun or to try for three stars, but you'll only get more money if it's money you didn't already get.
Apart from the freebie special powers you get when they're first introduced, you need in-game money to buy things like 'see the whole puzzle before you start' type powers.
There are other power-ups such as extra balls etc that you can earn in the game on bonus levels. You can revisit the bonus levels at no cost, so getting those power-ups is just a matter of patience.
That said, apart from a bit of experimentation, I haven't needed to use the special powers or power-ups to advance through the game. I've just restarted the level if necessary.
Given the increasing importance of making good bank shots as you progress through the game, I'm saving the in-game money I make in case I encounter levels where I really need the special power that lets you see the path your ball will take if you bank it off a wall.
The graphics are clear and colourful, with no headache inducing explosions of light when you make a match.
I expect some people will pay real money to have lots of access to their favourite special powers. For me, so far, this is an enjoyable game without any of the more irksome FTP features that some games use to 'force' you to part with real cash. Two thumbs up!
I recommend this game!
Free the frog princes from the clutches of an evil witch! Return them to their princess brides, and find out if the kiss of love can break the witch’s curse!
Overall rating
5
/
5
128 of 143 found this review helpful
Wow! This is not your average fairy tale.
PostedMay 1, 2014
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
If you've ever secretly pined to fling a frog prince over the castle gate with a catapult, this is the game for you! I don't think I've ever seen an adventure game with such rich graphics, engaging gameplay and funny storyline all in one package.
Although you'll be looking for things, this is very much an adventure game, albeit one where the game team had their tongues firmly in their cheeks while they were working on it.
In an hour of play, there wasn't a single traditional hidden object scene, and only a couple of fragmented object scenes. Most of the items you need to find are in the regular game environment (which, by the way, involves a lot of mini-environments, where you only have to go back and forth between a few settings at a time--no dragging the game out by lots of wasted time traveling around).
Many of the puzzles can be described in standard ways--unlock doors, make potions, etc, but are just so well conceived and drawn that they feel fun and fresh. The hint system is useful, featuring a traditional hint button and an eye ornament you can pull to indicate places to do things.
Humour is always the hardest thing to do well, but this game really pulls it off--whatever you do, don't skip the storyline scenes, and make sure you read the wicked witch's brief but hilarious diary entries.
Normally, I don't buy games in this category because they lack replay value, but I'm making an exception for this one.
Two reasons:
1) in the hopes of encouraging more games of this calibre, and
2) while the adventure follows the frog prince, I'm rooting for the wicked witch to find true love by the end of the game, and I'll never know if she does unless I play it through.
I recommend this game!
Experience the mythical world of ancient Greece. Find your place among Gods and mortals by playing this exciting Match-3 adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 26 found this review helpful
Too much flashing and strobing.
PostedMarch 25, 2014
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you like playing games while your toddler uses a mirror to flash sunlight in your face, then this is the game for you.
I like bling as much as the next person, but this game has so many flashing lights that nine minutes was more than enough to start a headache. Of particular annoyance was a swathe of light that washed across the page every few seconds.
Sadly, this isn't some technical glitch, but something the developers are doing to you on purpose. It's obviously not bothering everyone the way it did me, but if you're at all sensitive to stobing lights, you may want to give this one a pass.
I don't recommend this game.
Fairway Solitaire: Tee to Play
Fairway Solitaire: Tee To Play is an award-winning combination of solitaire and golf. Play sequential cards to create long drives. Long drives make better scores!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
My New Go-To Solitaire Game
PostedJune 7, 2013
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played this game last night for more hours than I care to admit, and I have to say that this is the first free-to-play game that I've tried that lives up to the claim.
The graphics and basic gameplay are smooth. You can play a relaxing version of the game, with no penalty for repeating golf games until you beat a course by getting a certain score.
Playing like this, I never encountered a single request to turn over cold hard cash to continue playing. I picked up plenty of special items within the game, but didn't really need them. I racked up quite a few 'golf bucks,' but have yet to feel the need to spend any.
However, you can also up your game by getting competitive on your scoring--coming in all under par, that sort of thing. While I can see that style of play leading to the need to purchase stuff, you'd still have the alternative of playing in a more relaxed style to accumulate 'golf bucks' rather than buying them.
The game has lots of nice little details that would mean more to someone who actually golfs, but you don't need to understand them to enjoy the game. I agree with other reviewers that the gopher is cute and funny.
I've been grumpy that Windows 8 takes forever to load its solitaire 'app', and then keeps asking you to watch advertising. Fairway Free-to-Play loads quickly and plays with no interruptions. It just became my go-to solitaire game.
I recommend this game!
Unravel the mystery of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in this Match 3 game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
111 of 120 found this review helpful
Be prepared to pay to play
PostedOctober 31, 2012
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is basically a drop the ball to make a match game, with quite lovely graphics. However, unlike Big Fish's previous Free to Play game Toy Defense, which I've played for many hours for free, if you want to play The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, you'd better be prepared to pony up some cash almost as soon as you start playing.
You quickly use up energy in the form of coffee as you play. Although theoretically you can buy more with the coins you win while playing, I found it impossible to earn coins quickly enough to buy even one pot of coffee. The effort wasn't helped any by the fact that a pot of coffee kept getting more expensive.
At first, a pot cost 1600 coins, but I earned under a hundred coins per level. Then the cost of a pot started increasing by two or three hundred coins a level.
The game skirts under the Free to Play label by giving you a little bit of coffee if you stop playing for ten minutes, but you only get enough to play one level. I really don't consider twiddling my thumbs for ten minutes for every minute I play to be legitimate play.
My other main beef with this game is the almost complete lack of instructions. You're given various objectives, but no explanation to go along with them. Fire the laser five times? What laser? There's no buttom marked laser, there's nothing on the screen with a picture of a laser.
You can skip an objective and hope to get one that makes more sense, but it'll cost you game coins--the same coins you're trying to save up to buy coffee so you don't have to lay out some real cash.
If you liked the game and knew for sure that all you'd have to pay was four bucks for an unlimited pot of coffee, it might be worth it. That seems pretty unlikely though, and I suspect this will turn out to be a very pricy free game.
I don't recommend this game.
Match globs to create new creatures in this super wacky puzzle game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 8 found this review helpful
Bouncy TinkerToy Collapse--only for the strong of stomach
PostedOctober 13, 2012
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Imagine a cross between Collapse and a set of colourful rubbery TinkerToys on speed, and you've got Sticky Linky. You basically have to click like crazy to join little blob guys on sticks (pseudopods?# by colour before the fish eat them.
If you like Collapse, you might enjoy this game, but make sure you have some Gravol on hand, because the little #self-censored)s jump around enough to make a sailor seasick.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel from the deepest trenches of the Atlantic Ocean to the awe-inspiring wonders of Mars as you solve the greatest archeological puzzle known to man: the origin of Atlantis.
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
A Move in the Right Direction
PostedJuly 22, 2012
trillian
fromCanada
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm so conflicted--on the one hand, the game developers went to some trouble to have you do all the standard adventure/HOG activities in a hard sci-fi setting, with very nice graphics and good gameplay features.
On the other hand, it seems painfully clear no actual scientist was consulted in the making of this game. Or even anyone who actually reads much sci-fi (anything with sparkling vampires doesn't count!#.
And, apparently, people of the future will leave the exact same junk cluttering up the landscape of the future as they do now in old houses and mental asylums. Sigh.
I really did enjoy the game. The graphics were very good #except for the actual main character, who was a# stiff and fake and b# almost every time she showed up on screeen, needed to put more clothes on#.
I watched all the cut-scenes, which I often skip. They were well done, although I'm sure some of my laughter was unintended by the developers--"You can go down by using the anti-gravity elevator"??? #Um, as opposed to the kind that sit in one place, completely at the mercy of gravity?# #And, um, getting DOWN is never really the problem when it comes to gravity anyway...)
It was actually fun to move around #and the hint button was an easy help if you got lost), but I appreciated the popup colour coded map that you could click on to take a short-cut to your destination if you preferred.
The game succeeded in feeling creepy without #in the first hour, at least) any of the usual darkness/bugs/flickering lights/skeletons/rot or dismembered body parts that have become so unfortunately popular lately.
The hidden object scenes were nicely spread out between fairly easy practical problem solving efforts, and were a mix of immediately visible objects and ones you had to work a little for, which I liked.
The music was generic and forgettable, but the voice work and ambient sounds added to the game and were worth having on.
So...I enjoyed the demo, I'm thrilled to see any movement at all in the sci-fi direction, but ultimately...I felt like they were trying to appeal to my hunger for sci-fi without actually feeding it anything of substance.
I recommend this game!