sfr8rfan's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:5,257
- Reviews Submitted:171
- First Review:July 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
When Houdini’s promises of contact from beyond go unkept, his wife comes to you in a final plea to unravel his mysterious passing.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Masterful!
PostedAugust 11, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is absolutely my new favorite game of all time.
1. Well conceived storyline which was driven throughout the game. No wasted steps, no unnecessary games. Everything moved you to the goal.
1. Well conceived storyline which was driven throughout the game. No wasted steps, no unnecessary games. Everything moved you to the goal.
2. Visually the game is stunning. It is crystal clear viewing. The story, the HOGs, the mini-games...the were all like watching movies. I've never seen a better looking game. The music was also right on par with the visuals. It was perfectly designed, chosen and applied. When things got more exciting, the music got more exciting.
3. The HOGs were challenging and took some work to complete but it was a pleasure. It wasn't because objects weren't able to be seen because of fuzziness. It was very clear. It was hard at times because the items were very well placed.
4. Some of the mini games were TOO easy. That is the closest thing to a negative I can come up with.
This was just a brilliantly conceived and executed game IMO. There are a couple of additional games within the game which also keep you on your toes. These show up as you try to accomplish the "achievements." While not central to the story, the don't interfere, they just add another fun aspect.
I have played a couple of duds recently (in my mind they were nothing more than HOGs and not good ones at that) but this is hardly a dud. It's brilliant and I can't wait to play the other offerings from the Midnight Mysteries gang.
Finally, the concept of DELUXE is excellent: it costs the same as an SE but includes the strategy guide. Consequently, you don't have to spend twice the money for a CE to get the "wallpaper" and other "who cares?" things when all you really want is the guide.
BRAVO!!!!
I recommend this game!
Explore Dr. Blackmore’s latest experiment in a Haunted Halls: Fears from Childhood, a terrifying Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
Terrifying? I did run screaming....
PostedAugust 9, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Let's start with the good: If you like straight HOG that is connected through a good storyline, then this is your game. (But there is a caveat regarding the HOSs below.) Graphics were good.
If, however, you want HOGs and Puzzles and Minigames which actually drive and advance the storyline this is not your game.
I do like terrifying, and I do like adventure/puzzle/HOG. This was neither. This was strict HOG with a few puzzles thrown in and a good storyline which, in my opinion, was wasted. The storyline, which is made obvious from the title, is great. But it served no purpose other than to tie the various HOGs together loosely.
The negative issues with the game are greater:
The music was so monotonous that I muted it. It's the one-hit-wonder song that you can't get out of your mind. The HOG scenes themselves made me thing that the designers simply got lazy: the same few scenes over and over again. I was convinced by the end of the game that the developers were as tired of developing it as I was of playing it.
The music was so monotonous that I muted it. It's the one-hit-wonder song that you can't get out of your mind. The HOG scenes themselves made me thing that the designers simply got lazy: the same few scenes over and over again. I was convinced by the end of the game that the developers were as tired of developing it as I was of playing it.
I'm really sorry, but this just isn't good and I'm very disappointed that I spent the extra money on a CE when I could barely finish the normal features of the game without checking out completely. For some reason I remember the Haunted Halls: Green Hills Sanitarium game, a precursor to this, much more favorably.
Because even the HOGs were monotonous, I cannot recommend this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Sam rescue his love Anna in Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
0 of 3 found this review helpful
I found my self on the verge of losing consciousness
PostedAugust 6, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a hard game to review: on the one hand it had a brilliant storyline; the voiceover of Oscar was excellent; some of the mini-games were incredibly fun. One the other hand: I found several glitches in the game and it wasn't my computer; there were many many many back and forths. It was very difficult to navigate between areas even with a map, but perhaps that is my own lack of experience; some of the mini games were so easy as to have been a waste of time.
Overall though I thought the game was excellent because of its coherency. But there were small things which just bugged me.
I will recommend it...and have given it 3 stars. It seems like an update to fix a few things would make this a 4-5 star game.
I recommend this game!
Enter the world of Drawn. Explore the Painted Tower and unravel its mysteries on your quest to save the hope of the kingdom. Can you reach the top of the tower?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Maybe it was just too sophisticated for me?
PostedJuly 30, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I purchased this game for me MAC and then shortly after starting it realized I'd played it to completion already on my iPad.
The story is beautiful. The graphics, are, at times, stunning. The VO was wonderful: it reminded of Edward Everett Horton who was the VO actor for several cartoons that had a "moral to the story." There's something very find about this game. Consequently, I'd recommend it, just not for someone seeking what I seek.
I really to like the darkness of the games I play and this is not that....it's almost a fight between good and evil and you believe that good will win the whole time. This is, in part, because of the calming tones of the narrator. It's a wonderful story but it's not a HOG/Puzzle/Adventure in the normal mode. It's what makes it special, but just not for me.
Ironically, I will recommend it highly for other who are, perhaps, just more open to change/different ways of doing things than I am. Please don't let this review hinder you from getting it. IT IS GREAT....It's just not my cup of tea. I liked Cinderstone Orphanage and Nick Chase: Detective and Infected: The Twin Vaccine. This is very different and still very good.
A new breed of virus has spread throughout the City of Oxford. You must search the city for a missing girl who holds the key to stopping the global epidemic!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This was the one I was waiting for!
PostedJuly 29, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Perfect in every respect!
The storyline was more than interesting. It was very creative and each aspect of the game supported the story line. It was compelling and the script made me, as the game player, a real part of the action.
The storyline was more than interesting. It was very creative and each aspect of the game supported the story line. It was compelling and the script made me, as the game player, a real part of the action.
I have never seen a game like this.
The stylistic elements were exceptional: best voice overs I've ever heard; perfectly suited music to lend to the urgency of the "mission;" beautifully interwoven video and animated scenes were seamless.
While I play not first for the HOS but for the adventure, the HOS were the most interesting I've ever played. It took me awhile to get used to them. The elements found in the HOS were often used to find other elements in the HOS and then ultimately each was used to further the game.
This is, quite simply, the best game I have ever played. I'll be on the lookout for more from the makers of Infected.
I recommend this game!
Nick Chase is back in an all-new adventure! After a mysterious package arrives at his favorite bar, Nick has a new case!
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 18 found this review helpful
As Good as the Original
PostedJuly 28, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I actually played this game before the original Nick Chase (very early in my gaming life).
I played this on an iPad and will buy it again if it ever comes out in Mac format. This game is special and not just cuz it got me hooked on adventure/puzzle/HOG games, but because it's like watching a old film noir movie. Exceptional story line the pushed forward with excellent puzzles and HOGs. I just wish it were longer.
You'll love the story, the acting (the guy who does the voice over for Nick Chase should win awards), the feeling created by the artists. I can't praise this enough and I urge you to enjoy it as well. This is money wisely spend,
I recommend this game!
Solve a variety of puzzles and find hidden clues as Nick Chase, a hard-boiled P.I. down on his luck with a keen eye for detail.
Overall rating
5
/
5
22 of 23 found this review helpful
I LOVED THIS GAME!!!
PostedJuly 28, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played this game on my iPad and am delighted I did. While there are HOGs, I'm much more excited about the other extremely fun and creative puzzles. Everything fits together nicely. The HOGs and puzzles aren't just there to occupy time, they are an integral part of the story.
The ambience is perfect: if it were a movie it would be in Black and White. The voice over actor who plays Nick Chase is PERFECT! He's hardboiled and straight to the point.
Nick Chase was very early on in my adventure game history and it helped get me hooked. It is near and dear. I look forward to more and I hope that this will come out in Mac format. I'll buy it a second time so I can see it on the big screen.
BTW, I played the sequel first and the order doesn't matter.
I recommend this game!
Guide Ethan Black as he attempts to rescue his bride-to-be from a terrifying menace known as the Faceless Ones!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Not Sinful at all! Gracefully done!
PostedJuly 27, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I enjoyed this game a lot. As always I'm hesitant to give five stars because I'm still waiting for the perfect game. This was a very good game.
Overall theme and story line: I think it was interesting, well conceived and apparent throughout. As the game progressed, many prominent professions were a part of the story (Judge, Doctor, Chef, etc). The goal was very clear: stop a sinister, vengeful evil-doer from killing more people. We knew early on how to do it. This is not a spoiler: We even had the object that had to be destroyed in our inventory for most of the game. So there was a natural progression to the end when were in a place to do the "right thing."
I thought the graphics were richly colored and beautiful. The music was "scary" enough and well-complemented the storyline.
The HOGs were very easy....a little too easy perhaps? Unlike many others, I enjoy to two-part HOs and this didn't contain any of those. Though easy, my recollection now is that the HOSs weren't repetitive. Scenes were very fresh each time (most times?) and didn't reuse old material. Kudos for that.
The other puzzles were not particularly difficult either. Again, in some cases a little too easy.
This is the sort of game one can play which is really good for the confidence of a new or intermediate player (like me) because it wasn't necessary to consult the SG or Hint too many times.
I recommend this game whole-heartedly but do fear that a real seasoned vet might find it too easy.
I recommend this game!
Save the souls of prodigy children and their caretaker who disappeared during the fire in The Agency of Anomalies: Cinderstone Orphanage!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Maybe the best I've played.
PostedJuly 23, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I'm sure others will disagree on the merits, but for my money this is, perhaps, the best game I've played. I'm relatively new to this whole thing and I find I've been giving WAY more time to these games, at the expense of other things I should be doing, just because I'm so excited to have encountered this stuff. I intend on reviewing every game I play, welcome other critiques and comments on my own review and ALWAYS love a good recommendation from someone else. Note: when I choose a game to buy, I look at the negative comments first. It seems like a lot of reviewers think everything is the best and I can't count on those reviews.
Storyline: I thought it was clear, logical and drove the game.
Production elements: This was a well-produced game and the voice overs were great.
Artistic Elements: The music, like most, was monotonous but not out of synch with the game. The visuals were very crisp and it was a beautiful realized piece of art in my mind.
HOG: For me the first thing is, "are there too many HOGs?" I am a "fan" but I don't like a game which is just one after another. There were clumps of HOGs/HOSs but not overwhelming. The games themselves were really well thought out and provided an appropriate challenge. I don't mind having a hard time finding something if what I'm looking for resembles what it looks like in "real life" and is just well hidden. That's the purpose of the HOGs. That's what happened here. One element which I liked, but still might criticize: they have the fractured HOS: you need to conjoin two elements to "fix" on broken one. I like the idea but it was so simple here...just wave your cursor over the scene and you can find the two pieces that fit together...that it was almost an annoyance rather than a challenge.
One more HOG note: I'm not sure what they're called but there was also the alternate style HOG where an item was shown and the player needs to find the appropriate place for it in the HOG game board. This was fun and challenging.
I have to say that many people seem to be fans of just the HOG as opposed to the "other stuff." I am not. So if you have more "adult," creepy, scary games that are only partially HOG but mainly other puzzles and games, please recommend!!!
Other Puzzles: I though the other puzzles were good and got quite a bit tougher as the game progressed. They were very easy at first. I liked the additional puzzles.
Denouement: The story ended well...it was almost like the fourth of july:) there was lots of color, lots of excitement. Unfortunately, not a "rush" to the finish...like you had to beat the clock to save the world....but still, well done.
I whole-heartedly recommend this game.
For those who read this review: I am trying to come up with a format with will be what I use for every review....listing each element and then commenting on it. I'm sure I've missed important elements that players look for. Please let me know if there's something you think I've missed in the review (not something you disagree with, per se, but a whole category or element of these games, in general, which I failed to include in the commentary.
Thanks!!!
Happy Playing!
I definitely recommend this game.
Happy Playing!
I definitely recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Premature? Just at the right time!
PostedJuly 20, 2012
sfr8rfan
fromWalnut Creek, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I thought this was a fun game. I enjoy games which aren't overwhelmed with HOS and this was not. There were many and at times they came in clumps, but not too many. There was a storyline that moved well and was interesting and I didn't think the HOS interrupted the progress.
Some of the other puzzles in the game were a little too easy...or I just got really lucky on my first attempts. My criticism of some other puzzles isn't so much about their difficulty but about the directions. There needs to be more clear instruction about what to do (I don't mean solving the puzzle for me). I was often left wondering what the designers meant by their instructions and resorted to the walkthrough to figure it out.
To it's credit this game did not have the annoying back and forth that many do. When you get to one area there is usually a real purpose and you're there for a little while. Of course there are exceptions but they are few.
I thought the scenery and artistry were beautiful in this. The music was constant. At times there were sound effects or musical interludes which seemed meant to underscore the suspense but I thought they missed the mark...I couldn't tell what triggered the "there's something exciting and scary happening here" music and it didn't really fit. The regular sound track could be a little annoying because there is relatively little change to it throughout. Still, it really gave a very nice European feel to the setting.
All in all, a well designed, fun game which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I recommend this game!