mouser9169's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:292
- Reviews Submitted:90
- First Review:October 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 24, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Dark Dimensions: Somber Song Collector's Edition
Townspeople flee as the black smoke covers their town. Can you close the dark dimension, before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 15 found this review helpful
Not five star, but much better than two or three
PostedMarch 18, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the basic game and bonus content (even the Match-3).
This is a great follow up to City of Ash. I beta'd it about six months ago and have been looking forward to it ever since. For those who haven't played a Dark Dimensions game, here's the recurring premise: a Very Bad Thing(tm) happened forming a 'Dark Dimension'. We go there to solve the problem and make the evil smoke stuff go away. Maybe we save people, maybe we don't. IOW don't expect a lot of peace, love, and happiness here.
THE BONUS STUFF: (or "Why should I pay double for this game?"). The bonus game took me an hour and a half. The positive is that you get to wield more implements of destruction than I think I have in any other HOPA. The negative is the story is absolutely bizarre. Some good puzzles mixed in, and the usual swag (ten unlockable boring match-3 levels: pointless really if you have a match 3 game).
THE GOOD: Great visuals, smooth motion in the FMV, and the voice overs were spot on. Your 'diary' this time is a collection of all the FMV scenes. It works in this game: you replay the scene, and the notes that would be in a normal journal show up underneath. I played on 'advanced' (the middle difficulty) and there were no sparkles, no glints, and no objectives marked on the map (still had the jump map - which you have to find, nice touch).
The story is where it loses a star. But it follows the Dark Dimension paradigm. A lot of the negative reviews I think miss that point - you're not going to get a happy beginning. You're running out into the danger because that's why you're there. You don't get all the answers spelled out - they leave enough clues.
You get a solid ending with all the loose threads tied up. The Bonus Game is a completely different arc involving someone from the Standard Game.
The 'collectibles' form pages that give 'flashbacks' to what happened before you got there. They shed some light on a few things and gave a few more 'clues' to the situation. You still could figure it out without them, but you'd miss some of the details.
Many puzzles of varying difficulty: from braindead easy to pretty darn hard. Only one (in the BG) didn't really have enough info. If I hadn't played that game before I would have been lost for a while. A noticeable shift from the easy end of the pool they've been placing themselves in.
THE BAD: The story doesn't really pull you along. There's no sense of urgency. You know what you're doing and why, but you don't feel the pressure pushing you on. It does try; it just comes up short. There was one 'Chekov's gun' that was hanging the whole game and never got fired... I suppose you could call that 'misdirection'.
All the HOS get repeated. You look for different stuff each time. They all are the long interactive chain (sometimes with minor choices of order) type. I like the idea of them, I don't like the repetition. They also took a lot of 'working backwards': click on an area "This could melt if I heated it up", then look for fire.
Inventory: In the beginning it's find a thing, use a thing, but your inventory grows as the game goes on. At one point I had eighteen items and no clue what to do with most of them (and a bunch of "locks" I knew I needed keys for, but didn't have). Fine line here, but I'm putting it in the Bad - could've been handled better.
THE UGLY: One absolutely game destroying bug near the end of the game (at least in mine): Near the very end, you will get 'teleported' somewhere. DO NOT under any circumstances, go back to the room you were teleported from (the game tries to repeat the event and fails). You don't need to, even if you've missed stuff. You can go anywhere else, but not that one room.
BOTTOM LINE: This will be an absolutely stellar Standard Edition when it comes out. It's fair as a CE. The bonus game was just long enough and the puzzles good enough to warrant the CE title. Barely.
If you can get this on a weekend sale, I'd say it's worth it. If you love the DD games, it's definitely worth it: they've left the debacle of Wax Beauty far behind them now.
I recommend this game!
After a group of young students go missing, the Mystery Trackers are called in to search the city of Raincliff!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Now I understand why Mystery Trackers has so many fans!
PostedMarch 10, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Copied over from my CE review, so you'll know what you're missing:
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game + bonus content.
First off - the Bonus Content (or "Why should I pay double for this game?"): The main game ends conclusively - no 'cheated' out of an ending. The bonus is a new mystery, with a new cast of characters, in the same locations, supposedly happening three hours after the main game ends [somebody was very busy for those three hours].
The BC story isn't nearly as good as the main game - lasts an hour and half or so. The plot's been done to death, and there are no twists or new angles on it. The usual achievements, frogs to collect (there are extra so don't sweat missing a few), artwork and the usual swag.
OTOH, the main game is one of the best HOPA's I've played. It kept you moving, you always knew what you were doing and why, and there was some real suspense and sense of urgency going on. I'm not going to say it's my favorite game, but it's up there - and that's after all these years (2014 now). This is the third MT I've played and the best so far. You're still 'the detective' for an ancient order (one Ogdoadic star in game if you look for it) jumping headlong into a mystery.
On to the review:
On to the review:
THE GOOD: The storyline - it picks up right from the start and never lets go. I had to stop playing for a couple of days and when I came back, after two hints I was right back into the swing of it. The characters were introduced gradually, and you learned more about all of them as the game progressed.
Graphics were top notch - still great even by today's standards. Cutscenes are all replayable in game. The sound effects helped bring that icy chill through while you were playing. I don't think there was music for a lot of it - if there was it was very much in the background.
The puzzles are challenging, varied, and interesting. The AI for the 'fox and the hounds' puzzle is a little off (I won from a lost position), but still challenging. The Strategy Guide won't help you with the keypad puzzle once you've tried to solve it yourself - check the forums if you're stuck.
THE BAD: Girl, you better have some sneakers on cause you're gonna do some walkin' !!!
You are going to run back and forth between two places that are probably geographically next to each other but you need to go through more than ten locations each way. You have no map to help you - and this game could've used one (a 'jump' map would not have been amiss).
No journal. This could go into either good or bad depending on your personal playstyle. If you're used to keeping notes from Nancy Drew or similar games, you'll do fine - if you aren't: well, keep a pad next to you while you play and write down where everything is and what it 'needs'. Might want to make your own map, too.
THE UGLY: Not much. A bit of frustration over inventory items that could have worked but weren't what the game was looking for (I think an oak branch qualifies as a 'stick'). That's about it.
BOTTOM LINE: I think the SE is the way to go with this one. The frogs and achievements don't do anything other than tell you what you've done, and the bonus game isn't nearly up to the high standard the main game sets.
I recommend this game!
After a group of young students go missing, the Mystery Trackers are called in to search the city of Raincliff!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Now I understand why Mystery Trackers has so many fans!
PostedMarch 10, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game + bonus content.
First off - the Bonus Content (or "Why should I pay double for this game?"): The main game ends conclusively. The bonus is a new mystery, with a new cast of characters, in the same locations, supposedly happening three hours after the main game ends [somebody was very busy for those three hours].
The BC story isn't nearly as good as the main game - lasts an hour and half or so. The plot's been done to death, and there are no twists or new angles on it. The usual achievements, frogs to collect (there are extra so don't sweat missing a few), artwork and the usual swag.
OTOH, the main game is one of the best HOPA's I've played. It kept you moving, you always knew what you were doing and why, and there was some real suspense and sense of urgency going on. I'm not going to say it's my favorite game, but it's up there - and that's after all these years (2014 now).
This is the third MT I've played and the best so far. You're still 'the detective' for an ancient order (one Ogdoadic star in game if you look for it) jumping headlong into a mystery.
On to the review:
On to the review:
THE GOOD: The storyline - it picks up right from the start and never lets go. I had to stop playing for a couple of days and when I came back, after two hints I was right back into the swing of it. The characters were introduced gradually, and you learned more about all of them as the game progressed.
Graphics were top notch - still great even by today's standards. Cutscenes are all replayable in game. The sound effects helped bring that icy chill through while you were playing. I don't think there was music for a lot of it - if there was it was very much in the background.
The puzzles are challenging, varied, and interesting. The AI for the 'fox and the hounds' puzzle is a little off (I won from a lost position), but still challenging. The Strategy Guide won't help you with the keypad puzzle once you've tried to solve it yourself - check the forums if you're stuck.
THE BAD: Girl, you better have some sneakers on cause you're gonna do some walkin' !!!
You are going to run back and forth between two places that are probably geographically next to each other but you need to go through more than ten locations each way. You have no map to help you - and this game could've used one (a 'jump' map would not have been amiss).
No journal. This could go into either good or bad depending on your personal playstyle. If you're used to keeping notes from Nancy Drew or similar games, you'll do fine - if you aren't: well, keep a pad next to you while you play and write down where everything is and what it 'needs'. Might want to make your own map, too.
THE UGLY: The aforementioned issues with the 'bonus game'. It just wasn't up to the high standard the main game set.
BOTTOM LINE: If you can get this on a CE sale, I'd say it's worth it. You won't go wrong getting the SE either though.
I recommend this game!
Help Angel figure out what is real and what is in her head as she attempts to escape from a Mental Hospital!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Play this first, then Shadow Town!
PostedMarch 5, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yes, you read that right. This is the sequel to Shadow Town, but it honestly plays better going through this story first. Whichever one you choose will 'reveal' a Dark Secret(tm) about the other game. The difference is Shadow Town still plays very well with you knowing what's going on: in fact I think it plays better. It turns it from Gothic or 'normal' Horror into Lovecraftian. Wicked cool!
The ending is as conclusive as it will be (you'll understand when you get there). The Bonus Chapter in the CE is a far prequel that does explain a bit of what's going on, but you should have that pretty much figured out by then. If you haven't: play Shadow Town and all will become very clear.
Solid, solid SE buy.
I recommend this game!
Help Angel figure out what is real and what is in her head as she attempts to escape from a Mental Hospital!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Play this game first!
PostedMarch 5, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yes, this is a sequel - but I'm going to buck the trend and tell you to play this one first.
Whichever game you play first 'ruins' a big surprise in the other. However, Shadow Town still plays very well with you 'knowing' the secret (it becomes very much a Lovecraftian style horror theme). Insomniac doesn't do so well if you figure out what's going on too early.
That out of the way - get this game. One of the best stories in a HOPA I've played. I first played it a while ago now (I was sure I reviewed it - guess not), and I still remember the ending sequence. If you're still confused after the game - the bonus chapter should help you out there, and then you can play Shadow Town, and all will become clear to you.
I recommend this game!
Tile-matching gets an epic makeover in Age of Mahjong!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
They tried some new twists.
PostedMarch 5, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Let's be honest, it's hard to do something new with Mahjong: you match tiles, they disappear. Different tilesets, different layouts, but the same game.
First, the timer - yes your games are timed, but it's a count up, not a count down. You still get credit for the level no matter how long you take, you just miss out on some stars and some bonus resources if you take longer.
The storyline is meh, but you play for the tiles, not the dialog. The building does give you a nice break between sets, and gives you a 'reason' to complete the next one.
THE BONUS GAME: This is where the fun is (IMHO) - you choose a layout, but instead of matching tiles from that, a row of tiles starts forming on the bottom. You've got to pick one from that row and match it to one on the layout. Take too long (or have no matches), the row fills up, *poofs*, and a new row forms. Same deal with the count up timer. I took a while on some and still got credit. There's four pages of them, about the first half a page is unlocked to start. I don't play a lot of mahjong games, so maybe this is normal, but its the first time I've seen it.
GRAPHICS: The tiles are clear, but some of the markings are small, so people with a smaller monitor may have issues. In the bonus game you can choose from two tilesets (and different backgrounds) one with higher 'contrast' than the other.
I bought it as the daily deal and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I'm usually an adventure/puzzle gamer, but sometimes I like to kick back with a solitaire game to just unwind and not have to think too hard while I'm playing.
I dinged a star for the tiny markings one one 'group' and the meh story - but it's mahjong at it's heart, and the bonus game alone (build the pagoda) makes this one a solid buy for me.
I recommend this game!
Help the secret organization of Mystery Trackers find 3 missing celebrities in the mysterious Void family mansion!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Some games age like fine wine
PostedMarch 4, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
And this is one of them.
This review is based on a completed playthrough of the standard game.
This is the second Mystery Trackers game I've played. I was very underwhelmed by Silent Hollow (see: my review), but decided to give the series another chance by going back to its roots. I'm very glad I did.
THE GOOD: Graphics were nice, clear - the HOS were well lit. That's not to say they were 'easy', but they were difficult because things were well hidden, not because your eyes couldn't make them out in the dark corners of a blurry screen. There was also one HOS of a 'small' item, so all the things you normally have to squint for (like thimbles and safety pins) suddenly loomed large on your screen.
Music was good (except for your car radio...), not too obtrusive. I didn't feel the need to turn it down and it kept the pace of the game up.
There's only one difficulty setting, but it's not too bad: sparkles on the HOS and few 'glints' here and there, but you still had to look around for a lot of things. No map, which I normally would list in the 'BAD', but it worked here. You only had a small section of 'rooms' to deal with at any one time, and finding those rooms was part of the challenge: a map would have ruined some of that.
Diary/Journal: Keeps track of things you find as well as 'your' thoughts of the case. Gives a brief history of your 'Order'. Some of the pages are marked 'Secret': these are hidden pages that generally give you the solutions for mini-games (you can solve them without this). It's also filled with pop-culture references, and the Ogdoadic stars in the game could be taken as a sign to your Order's lineage. Very nice touch.
THE BAD: Just the one difficulty level. Much of the game follows the 'You need a thing, you find the thing' pattern. Though it does get better around the middle of the game, you never really get a full inventory or are faced with more than a couple choices of what to do next.
THE UGLY: Only a few little things: Your journal 'uncovered' as you went along - this meant you could have blank pages between one entry and the next until (or unless) you found the stuff in the middle. At the very end *slight spoiler* you find a gun in the villain's car that you need to find a bullet (who am I Barney Fife?) for - but there was a perfectly good revolver in your own glove compartment that you left behind...
BOTTOM LINE: A solid game - gave me more than five hours of playtime. 38 HOS and 38 minigames (according to the achievements) of easy to medium difficulty. One pretty good 'slider' puzzle and a 'single line' checkers were the toughest for me.
After playing this title, I can understand why this series has so many fans, and I now count myself as one of them. Hoping the rest are up to this level, with my first being the 'fluke'.
I recommend this game!
Save your niece from the evil presence haunting her school!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 12 found this review helpful
Grim Tales comes back swinging after Stone Queen.
PostedMarch 2, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game (and CE Bonus content).
First off - the standard game ends conclusively, no loose ends, nothing left hanging. The CE adds essentially a new story, and honestly, it isn't nearly as strong as the main game.
Creep factor in this game is off the chart. "Children" singing a song about Bloody Mary in the background when you first go in. The way they keep you on your toes and make sure you always know what you're doing and why (In Stone Queen, I actually forgot what the main quest was in the midst of all the puzzles and backtracking).
They didn't try to get cute and switch art styles halfway through or push in some junkpiles to pad the HOS count. All the scenes were well drawn, clear, bright enough to see. The minigames range from easy to medium (a couple are 'tricky'). A version of fox and the hounds and the reversi/chinese checkers hybrid for games you don't often see.
All that said - It's not a gruesome game by any means - maybe not for the little ones, but anyone nine or ten or older should be fine with it.
Most importantly - the game grabs you at the start and doesn't let go. I always knew what I was doing and why (as opposed to Stone Queen, where I actually forgot what the main quest was in the midst of all the backtracking). There is a simple 'task' button that tells you your next objective, and markers on the map showing areas with "Stuff to Do(tm)". It doesn't list what needs doing this time (I count that as an improvement).
Not a whole lot of locations, but they use them very well: you may visit the same room three times, but for different reasons and looking for different things each time.
Now: what do you miss by not getting the CE? A Strategy Guide that you won't need because the help system is really good ("Use this item here" or "Pick up the <item name> at this location"), a bonus chapter and a bonus bonus game (quick replay of all the HOS and minigames with a pseudo story attached), some collectibles that trigger short old school projector type films giving some backstory, and a handful of the standard achievements. I didn't feel cheated by getting the CE, but I wouldn't feel like I really missed out on much if I had just gotten the SE. Your call.
I recommend this game!
Save your niece from the evil presence haunting her school!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Grim Tales is BACK!
PostedMarch 2, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I've played the series from the start. The last installment was a disappointment, but every series has its weak link, even MCF and the other 'big' names. Elephant came back swinging with a home run in this game.
First off, the CE stuff (or "Why should I pay double for this game?"). There really are 'extras' this time around. You collect figurines that unlock an old projector style movie explaining some backstory and a few achievements (the standard fare). The bonus chapter wasn't as strong as the game - I didn't feel as invested in the story, and there were a few more mistakes: 'click boxes' much too small for the items, some typos - looks like they rushed that part a bit. It was still a good hour. Then you have the 'hall of memories' - a bonus bonus chapter that gives you another brief story as you redo all the games HOS and minigames. Nice ending. Is all that worth the price of an extra game? I'm a bit on the fence, but I don't feel cheated by getting the CE. The standard game does end conclusively.
Now for the game review:
THE GOOD: Creep factor was off the chart, starting with children singing a disturbing song about Bloody Mary in the background when you enter the school. Story pulled me in and held me for the whole game - I always knew what I was doing and why - again, huge improvement over last title, one of the most 'gripping' storylines I've played. I'm not sure exactly how long it was, but I do know I didn't want to put it down for too long, as I often do with these games. Started it one day, finished it the next - at least four or five hours, plus another couple hours doing all the bonus stuff.
The HOS were all well done, no random junkpiles, and they kept the same style art throughout the game. The minigames ranged from easy to medium (one or two more difficult if you don't see the 'catch'). A version of fox and the hounds and a reversi/chinese checkers that you don't often see. I think the AI on those was harder when you replay them in the bonus content. Music fit the game perfectly - I already mentioned the 'song'. Kept the 'edge of your seat' feeling going.
All that said, it wasn't an 'over the top' game by any stretch - maybe not for little kiddies, but anyone nine or ten or over should be fine.
Hint recharged fairly quickly (I played on middle of three settings) and gives specific instructions (use this here) so I'm not sure how much of a bonus the SG really is. The map was interactive (jump) and showed where there were Things to Do(tm), but didn't list them for you this time around - I call that an improvement, your opinion may differ.
THE BAD: Not much. Some typos in the Bonus Chapter, and the bonus story was much weaker than the main game. For the main, there's really not much to fault. We don't seem too concerned with what happens to the adults in the game (no spoilers, but a "Bad Thing(tm)" happens to somebody and we don't even bother to check on them).
THE UGLY: Again, not much. They didn't try to get cute and switch up art styles halfway through or throw in some junkpiles to pad the HOS count. A few typos here and there (minor stuff), a couple of poor translations in the BC, that's all I can think of.
If you liked the first games in the series (Bride, Legacy, Wishes) - this is them going back to those roots and doing it even better. Wholehearted recommendation for this one - even at the CE price (especially is you get it on a weekend 'special').
I recommend this game!
The family saga continues when your nephew Brandon encounters the mysterious Stone Queen in a lonely mountain town.
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
The Grim Tales weak link - Better as an SE
PostedFebruary 27, 2014
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game and bonus content.
First: The CE stuff (or why should I pay double for this game?) - All you get is one bonus chapter, and not a particularly good one at that. It gives a little backstory to the Stone Queen's family, none of which has anything to do with what happened in the main plot. No achievements, no collectibles, no morphs, no room to decorate. Yes, you get a few pretty wallpapers and sound tracks.
On to the game:
THE GOOD: It was a long game, easily six hours for me on the middle setting, and using more than a few hints along the way. Bonus chapter added an hour and a half.
The graphics were generally good, dark when the scene should be dark, clear otherwise. The HOS were well done, and there were some very nice mini-games (the 'adventure' board game is genius).
The map is interactive - it lets you jump from place to place, and tells you which tasks still need doing in each area. The Hint button is specific: It tells you what to do where (and you'll probably need it a few times)
THE BAD: So much pointless running around (something breaks, you find a key, you go across the map to open a locked box that has the 'fixed' thing you just broke). Many of the tasks simply don't make any sense, and add nothing to the game.
Some of the minigame instructions were incomplete or unclear (HINT: You can revive a fallen warrior for 100 coins). The strategy guide offers no tips for help with them either. Had to skip more than a couple.
By the time I found the "solution" to the main quest, I had forgotten what the main quest was. So much in the middle had nothing to do with it - just obstacles for the sake of obstacles.
I usually like to listen to the music in these games, but here it was just repetitive, droning, and quickly annoying.
THE UGLY:
The 'voice overs': The cutscenes consists of a 'blank' screen with a still character while the words he's speaking show up framed in a wood box. They don't always match what is being said, either. Big step backwards from the previous title in this series.
The game tells you more than you should know WAY too often (I don't want to pick up <common item> until I've done <strange thing> to it first, long before you'd know you have a reason to).
I'm not sure the develops were sure who 'you' are in this game. At one point it sounds like you're the same person from the previous ones (looking for 'your' nephew, who also happens to be the mayor's nephew), but you say lines like "I've never seen a castle before!" (Hello! Your sister lived in one just a couple games ago...) and the 'family connection' isn't really mentioned after the start, which makes it seem like a totally new setting.
BOTTOM LINE: This game needed another month or two in the Stone Oven for some Q&A at the end and better plotline/game planning in the beginning. The story is completely and totally tied up in the main game, so if you do buy this one, the SE is the way to go.
As a Collector's Edition, I can't recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.