MaggieMaze's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.1
- Helpful Votes:1,813
- Reviews Submitted:47
- First Review:January 20, 2013
- Most Recent Review:May 28, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A murderous figure in a red mask haunts the streets of a small French town, and the mayor needs your help to track him down. But you soon discover that the mysterious Red Masque might not be the real criminal…
Overall rating
5
/
5
38 of 42 found this review helpful
Excellent - Another Amazing Adventure from the Pages of Poe!
PostedApril 25, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is great! Intriguing story with outstanding visuals and sound. Are you ready to join Dupin once again as he searches for a masked stranger? Will the quest for justice be served with his capture or will he be revealed as an avenger and hero? Is the unpopular Mayor a villain or a victim? Play and find out!
In true ERS style, the graphics and artwork are clear and colourful, with that somewhat washed out look that is so characteristic. The music, a combination of accordion, piano and strings, seems appropriately French and suits each moment. I found the characters and voices realistic and appealing. Finally, we have lip sync that has been done to perfection! The cutscenes and animation are superb and blend seamlessly into the gameplay.
Much to my delight, I am pleased to see animals in a game such as this. The kitten in the opening scene captured my heart. Here you are amidst murder and mystery, and you take the time to feed a hungry kitten and then adopt him. As time passes, you obtain items for him for him to use and play with by a roaring fire in your warm and comfortable office. We encounter a bear who helps to shake an apple from a tree, and then there’s a dachshund whose purpose I have not yet discovered.
Other reviewers have given the details of this great HOPA. I just want to add that it has everything I need for a well-crafted game and a fabulous CE!
Can't wait to find out how it all turns out. Based on my enjoyment of the demo, this game is definitely on my purchase list. Very highly recommended!
I recommend this game!
An ancient phoenix summons Anna to explore a drifting ocean city, confront the Evil Colossus and save her lost tribe.
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 45 found this review helpful
Good HOPA - Will the phoenix rise from the ashes?
PostedApril 11, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Fantasy setting for an enchanging adventure! Empress Anna must battle her twin again to save her people. We lose a beautiful phoenix as the story opens, but his resurrection is assured if Anna can locate four sacred relics. Other reviewers have covered the gameplay details, so I would just like to add what pleases me.
Beautiful graphics, mesmerizing music, and charming story. In spite of its relaxed pace, the game is surprisingly challenging. Catching frisky felines and interacting with a dolphin and a whale make the game irresistible for me. Then there's the phoenix. I feel drawn to participate in this adventure, if only to see it rise again from its ashes!
Delightful! Don't miss it!
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets of your family’s past on a mystical island!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 39 found this review helpful
Great HOPA - Totally engaging phenomenon!
PostedMarch 24, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Creative and captivating! This is no ordinary HOPA!
The story is compelling and draws you in from the first cutscene. Receiving a message from parents not seen in 20 years, Daniel sets out to meet them on a strange island where a meteorite endows its residents with special powers. Daniel will soon discover his own, with the help of a delightful girl called Gloria. Brilliant and beautiful, this is an irresistible adventure!
Amazing graphics, crisp and clear with stunning colours. Transporter map with tasks for each location. Journal reveals the island’s history. Hint provides direction. Lyrical music enhances the mystical atmosphere. Voices and characters are realistic and appealing. Puzzles are fun and frustration free. Only two modes of play, but each location provides enough challenge to please even the experts. This is a well-crafted game.
Loved the HOS! Highly interactive with embedded puzzles and unique gameplay. (In the first one, you must solve a word puzzle to obtain an item, then travel through a time portal for a second HOS.) It’s so great to see this kind of innovation. A real breath of fresh air.
This game is a keeper!
I recommend this game!
Explore the magical world of Enchantia as you race to save the land from the evil Phoenix Queen.
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 50 found this review helpful
Excellent SE - A truly enchanting experience!
PostedMarch 23, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is fabulous! I just finished playing the CE and can say that it was one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played. If you like the Dark Parables series, you will be familiar with the game mechanics. In true Blue Tea style, you engage in an adventure that will hold you captive until the very last scene. The visuals and sound are outstanding. I was truly sad when it was over!
At the outset, I found the graphics and cutscenes a bit intense, but I love this developer so I bought the game anyway. I'm sincerely glad that I did! The further into it, the more impressed I was with the intricate artwork, the stunning colours and the engaging plot. The cutscenes blend seamlessly into the gameplay and tie the story together as you move along. There is no need for a journal. The voices are appealing and suited to the characters. The music is both dramatic and relaxing, where appropriate. You encounter many different characters, humans and elves, dwarves and skybirds, the much coveted songbirds, all part of a fantasy quest to prevent the Phoenix Queen from destroying this beautiful kingdom. You are the Destined One and the fate of all is in your hands.
I love FROGS, and this one is well done. It is so much more fun to locate pieces of an object that, when combined, become an item you will actually use. No aimless searching for irrelevant items just to get through the HOS. The first few seem overly bright and cluttered but this improves as the game progresses, so don’t give up on it based on this.
Instead of a map you have a mystical compass that transports you from one location to another. Your tasks are update as needed. The hint recharges quickly and provides direction. I found no need to consult the SG, and don’t believe that it will be missed in this version. The puzzle content was relevant to the story and great fun to solve. I even managed to “trap the fairy” both in the CE and in the demo for this SE.
I have to admit that I was skeptical when I started the CE version, but finished it as an ardent fan. Don’t be swayed by the negative reviews. Don’t make the mistake I almost did and give up too soon. Try it out and be sure to give it a chance!
I recommend this game!
Follow the trail of the mysterious woman in white and discover the secret behind her terrible task!
Overall rating
4
/
5
77 of 82 found this review helpful
Great SE – No bones about it!
PostedMarch 22, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Really Creepy! If you liked the first two in the Hallowed Legends series (Templar is my favourite), this one might be for you. I played the CE of this HOPA, but wanted to comment on the SE as well. Elephant rarely disappoints.
The opening cutscene sets the mood for the spooky adventure to come. When your plane crashes near the City of Erlenbourg, a raven called Hamlet warns that a woman in white will take your soul if you are not careful. Hamlet will be with you for appropriate guidance along the way. I found the gameplay and graphics similar to Samhaim, and I liked the feature in options that allows you to alter both graphics and sound to suit personal preference.
There is a map that lets you change locations. The hint recharges quickly and provides instructions. There is no journal, but an exclamation point in the bottom right corner of the screen indicates your current task. There is plenty of help in casual mode so you won’t likely miss the SG. With three modes of play, the level of challenge is up to the player. The HOS are interactive and I enjoyed them. (Find the valve to turn off the steam in order to get to the handcuffs, then use a key to open them before they can be ticked off your list.) The puzzles encountered in the demo are familiar but I found them fun to play.
The cutscenes advance the story, the music suits the moment, and the sound effects enhance the atmosphere – an occasional clap of thunder and the haunting sound of a ghostly wind. This, along with the abundance of skulls and skeletons, fits well with an abandoned and cursed city. (I had to laugh, in spite of myself, at the beggar skeleton in front of the Museum who asks for alms.)
This is a great game to play with the lights out on a stormy night! For me, the creepy factor was intense. However, since so much of enjoyment is based on personal taste, I highly recommend that you give it a try!
I recommend this game!
An evil sorcerer has returned to take vengeance upon your kingdom. Will you be able to stop him?
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 15 found this review helpful
Average HOPA – A “scarytale” that is not very scary.
PostedMarch 2, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Bright, clear and colourful graphics. That’s about it. A game for a grey winter day when you just need to relax.
The storyline is familiar. Evil wizard, black magic, missing king, bewitched prince. Your task as princess is to defeat the wizard, free your brother from his influence, and restore your father to the throne.
Usual gameplay. Find objects and use inventory in multiple locations. HOS (lists only) are not interactive. Puzzles are easy. No map or journal. No task list. Only current objective is available. Short cutscenes with good voice overs but little animation. Not much music, just sound effects like baying of wolf, occasional thunderclap, cawing of a crow, hooting of an owl, likely intended to create spooky atmosphere but fails to do so.
Hint does not recharge quickly, but provide instructions for what to do next. Two modes of play. Can’t change during gameplay, which I desperately wanted to do. Too much handholding. One item that suggested promise was a teleportation device in Hamoon’s laboratory. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to activate it during the demo.
I played the whole hour hoping for improvement. Alas, there wasn’t any. A very pretty game, with little challenge. Play it with your kids! They might just love it!
I recommend this game!
Eerie music fills the air in Vienna, where shadows terrorize people in the streets. Two musical prodigies have gone missing. Can you save them without striking a single false note?
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 62 found this review helpful
Superb SE! This Maestro is pure entertainment!
PostedMarch 1, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Take the challenge, and save the students! Use the Maestro’s violin to dispel the Shadows! A spooky undertaking, but great fun. If you liked the first two Maestro games, this one will not disappoint.
The overall theme is dark but the artwork is beautifully drawn and the music is mesmerizing. Once again ERS has given us outstanding visuals and sound. Fabulous cutscenes and well-acted voice overs enhance the adventure, and you don't have to be musically inclined to really enjoy the gameplay.
The opening cutscene is stunning! It draws you into the story. When roses turn to skulls, the scene is set for what is to come. The story plays out with plenty of colour. The sinister tone is enriched by vivid graphics.
The hint recharges quickly in casual. Inventory is used quickly so the lack of a map is not an issue. A journal keeps track of important information. Black bars provide instructions when you obtain a new object, so you won't likely miss the SG. With three modes of play and the option to disable the black bars in hard mode, the degree of challenge is the choice of the player.
I especially liked the interactivity of the HOS. Shapes instead of a list and, once an item is located, it is used to find another. The puzzle content is relevant to the story and fun to solve.
This game is totally engaging. Where but Vienna could you find such an intriguing combination of music, mystery and madness!
Based on the demo an my enjoyment of the CE, I highly recommend that you give it a try!
I recommend this game!
Spend the night in an abandoned mansion. Can you survive to uncover the terrible secret about your ancestor?
Overall rating
3
/
5
32 of 46 found this review helpful
Oh no! Must we pay for the sins of our ancestors again!
PostedFebruary 27, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Inherit a mansion, and inherit your family's sins! This seems to be happening to Tom and his sister. As they approach their new property, a brief cutscene shows a doctor and a whimpering patient. An insane relative? Cruel experiments? Mad scientist sort of thing?
How many games start with a journey in a car or train, a thunderstorm, and a spooky old building to investigate? While not an innovative storyline, I found myself wanting to find out what is behind it all.
The game mechanics are standard HOPA. Search for items, use inventory, fix things. Journal records clues and important information. Task list shows action required for current location only. More importantly, the map does not allow jumping. Depending on the size of the game and number of sites to visit, this could make travelling around a chore. Don't know yet as I haven't finished the game.
The graphics are not perfect. The HOS are interactive, with some items difficult to see. (Perhaps just my eyesight?) There are two modes of play. Hint in casual takes almost a full minute to recharge and is directional only. Not much music to comment on, but environmental sounds are appropriate. Outside, you can practically feel yourself getting soaked in the pounding rain. Entering the manor, you soon encounter a crackling fire. An unexpectedly appealing atmosphere.
The game description on the BF site says the "puzzles are incrementally difficult" and I find that intriguing. It also mentions achievements but, since I had to use the hint button so often, I don't seem to qualify for any.
One thing that really bothered me. In the first scene, your brother Tom is unconscious on the ground. You administer his meds and note that an ambulance must be called to make sure he is okay. Then you enter the manor and leave him outside lying on the steps in the rain while you continue your search. Going back outside to fill up your watering can, it would appear that you have to step over poor Tom to do so. Didn't like this at all.
This is a game that could have been better. I don't know the developer but will hope their next offering holds more promise. As always, give it a try and see what you think!
I recommend this game!
The Order’s most closely-guarded secret sleeps deep beneath the ancient Spanish streets. What lies within this mysterious box?
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 28 found this review helpful
Good HOPA – Help stop the end of the world!
PostedFebruary 24, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The storyline taps into the current focus on apocalyptic prophecies. A solar eclipse is about to begin. A mystical artifact must be protected to prevent the end of days.
Usual HOPA gameplay. Find objects and use them in other locations. Familiar puzzles with skip button. Slightly interactive HOS. Transporter map. Journal records instructions and clues. No task list. Inventory used quickly. Hint is directional outside of HOS but offers no further help. Recharges quickly in casual mode. Graphics not perfect but colourful. Artwork is nicely drawn. Music is a little repetitive. Cutscenes and voiceovers add a bit of drama, but the Spanish accents need some work. Love those morphing objects!
Based on the demo, I will buy the game but not until the next sale. Definitely worth an hour of your time!
I recommend this game!
Your brother is kidnapped during an air show. Search for him in a beautiful world where the sky is as wide as your imagination.
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 of 47 found this review helpful
Fantastic HOPA! Soar to new heights with this one!
PostedFebruary 22, 2013
MaggieMaze
fromToronto, Canada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Captivating and creative! Your attention will be engaged from the first moment. Another amazing addition to Elephant's Surface series.
The storyline is fresh and appealing! A pleasant change from fairy tale scenarios and supernatural darkness. When your scientist brother is kidnapped at an airshow while unveiling his greatest invention, your quest begins. Find him and save his floating city. A strong sense of urgency develops as the game moves along at a fast pace. The suspense is almost tangible.
Vivid cutscenes, live actors, realistic voice overs and dramatic music contribute to an energetic and compelling adventure experience. The colourful graphics and ambient sound effects enrich a story that plays out against a brilliant blue sky. A feast for the senses!
There's a transporter map with task markers and a journal. The hint feature recharges in 45 seconds and indicates the next action required, so you won't miss the SG. There is plenty to do in each location and, with three modes of play, the level of challenge is entirely in the hands of the player. The interactive HOS use items from inventory, and the puzzles are simple but fun to solve.
This game is pure entertainment. Give it a try and find yourself immersed in an imaginative and fascinating adventure. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!