synergistician's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.2
- Helpful Votes:109
- Reviews Submitted:38
- First Review:January 31, 2014
- Most Recent Review:January 25, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Mystery Trackers: Nightsville Horror
A mysterious Owl Man is terrorizing citizens!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Fun with Moderate Challenge
PostedJanuary 25, 2016
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Overall, fairly relaxing and enjoyable. Nothing too difficult or taxing. Not a real long game and clue activities are mildly challenging but nothing too strenuous. A great game to just relax and have a little fun.
I recommend this game!
A great evil unlocks deep within Ravenhearst!
Overall rating
4
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Leaves a little to be desired
PostedDecember 22, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Some interesting games. Story is weak. Like the series but this one is a star below what it could have been.
Can you find the key to Ravenhearst's resurrection?
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Good Mystery Series Headed Downhill
PostedDecember 6, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I’ve really enjoyed the 3 previous Ravenhurst games but this one, MCF-Key to Ravenhurst left a lot to be desired. Beginning with the silly start and continuing to the rather unsatisfying ending, the story was confusing, fragmented, and a jigsaw jumble that made little sense and at times seemed rather childish. There was no diary to refer to, the game used a rather funky map, there were some rather strange puzzles, and the game used some rather weird clues and resultant actions. While the Ravenhurst story has some substance, this add on game/story failed to add any substance to the earlier versions. I sure hope the 5th installment is better than the 4th or this game is little more than a dead series waiting to be buried. Further, although the game was of moderate length, the Collector's Edition bonus game was merely a short add on chapter, not what I expect when payment is for about twice the cost of a regular game. I rarely pan a game or refrain from recommending one but this one just doesn't deserve that support.
I don't recommend this game.
House of 1000 Doors: Serpent Flame Collector's Edition
Return to the House of 1,000 Doors to save mankind from annihilation!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Great Game Play, Mediocre Story, Weird Bonus Chapter
PostedNovember 7, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I almost rated the House of 1000 Doors-Serpent flame game a 5 but because it was the CE version, I’m obligated to include the bonus chapter and that drags the game down. As for the basic game, five individual segments with multiple scenes per segment and multiple actions make for a great puzzle game with a tolerable story. I focus more on the gameplay than the story because that is what the games are about and in this game, I thoroughly enjoyed the logistics of back and forth between scenes AND between segments with multiple items in the inventory. Many items in the inventory remained for quite a while others were used right away. Many of the clues were cryptic which required the player to think in the abstract at times. HOPs varied in difficulty both for the specific HOP and between the HOPs themselves. HOPs were a combination of find an object and match a companion object which varied the perspective and avoided the dreaded ‘all the same’ routine. Map activity indicators give guidance of where to go if you get stuck and want a little help as to what to do next. Being it is an interactive map, you can jump scenes rather than tread the path every time. There are also ‘eyes’ to advise locations on the map where ’Beyond’ objects can be found (so that you don’t miss one).
On the other hand, the characters are ‘waxy’ and lip sync isn’t all it could be. The biggest negative of this review is the bonus chapter. The scenes are mostly far-fetched, weird, and at times just plain silly. The story that was decent in the regular game seems to take a bit of a silly turn and IMO, really detracts from the game. The ending was anticlimactic, so for the extra money of a CE edition, I felt shortchanged.
I recommend this game!
Surface: Mystery of Another World
After your son, Bobby, mysteriously disappears, it's up to you to find him in Surface: The Mystery of Another World!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Enjoyable gameplay, slightly better than average story.
PostedOctober 31, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Surface – Mystery of Another World has a decent story with an average expected conclusion. Lots of gameplay with both linear multi-travel action. The inventory at times becomes rather large as it accumulates at various times and is used intermittently to solve certain action requirements. HOPs are interactive with some inventory items used to finish HOP scenes. Some HOPs present 25-30 findables which provides much more search and locate than many other game HOPs. The map is interactive but lacks indicators of where actions are needed or available. Puzzles range form the easy to moderately difficult.
Lip sync to the verbal dialog is totally lacking. Graphics are passable but lacking in sharpness. Some actions are abstract and are not intuitive although the action is understood in a remote way once the action is understood. A minor inconvenience was an error in the map in the 4th chapter. The ‘Path to the Lower City’ originates from ‘Main Street’, not the ‘Entrance to the Spring of Life’ and during a HOP scene at the ‘Path to the Lower City’, before finishing, it indicates a return to the ‘Dried Pond’ instead of ‘Entrance to the Spring of Life’ which actually should be ‘Main Street’.
Overall, an enjoyable game of 4 chapters involving 53 scenes with 2-7 actions per scene – plenty to do.
I recommend this game!
Mountain Crime: Requital
Someone is killing the guests at a mountain resort, and you could be next if you don't figure out the mystery and solve a Mountain Crime!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Enjoyable Gameplay, Weak Macabre Story
PostedSeptember 26, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Mountain Crime – Requital is a game that poses some challenging gameplay across a multitude of scenes (37) with 2 to 8 actions per scene. Gameplay consists of a fair degree of back/forth across multiple scenes as well as linear travel and on the spot action. The HOPs are a little different based on ‘find-an-object’ however, there are multiple versions of most objects in the scene any one of which will work but which deactivates all other like objects once one of them is used. Most of the puzzles are simple to moderate with only a couple of real challenging ones. One interesting aspect is that in a couple of instances, the gameplay involves a little misdirection where the ‘reward’ of successfully solving a challenge is not located exactly where the challenge was solved.
The story was somewhat macabre with most of the characters meeting their demise and the ending was sudden and somewhat of a disappointment. Character actions were a bit spastic and verbal dialog seemed excessive in certain instances. While it was in line with the overall storyline, it left a hollow feeling when the game ended. The rating and recommendation is based on enjoying the gameplay challenges only.
I recommend this game!
Nightfall Mysteries: Haunted by the Past
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Enjoyable Challenges without theStress
PostedSeptember 15, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Adventure
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I gave it a 3 even though IMO it was really was just barely a 3. The characters were stiff and waxlike with no mouth movement and facial expressions did not fit the dialog. Dialog was sometimes different than what was contained in the screen font. The story was a little weird but believable.
The HOPs were generally easy but varied between finding a regular object, finding a riddle object, and silhouettes. The puzzles were neither hard or easy. General screen pictures were sometimes different from the click on pictures.
The most enjoyable aspect was the multiple actions (9-15) for each scene with 5 individual segments and 4-5 scenes per segment. While generally more of a walk through of 'figure it out' kind of game, there were some challenges. Nothing fancy or outstanding, just a fun pass the time game.
I recommend this game!
A mountain observatory is hiding a big secret!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Good Variety, Decent Storyline
PostedSeptember 4, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hidden Expeditions – Dawn of Prosperity (HE-DoP) is a moderately paced and enjoyable gaming experience. It is neither too difficult nor too easy. It has a varied assortment of HOPs of differing styles and challenges, such as regular hidden object, build upon hidden object, clue hidden object, and such, and differing levels of findability from the obvious to the sublime. The mini-games range in difficulty from fairly simplistic to the more complex and complicated. Dialog is generally concise and to the point laced with tidbits of humor.
There is a blend of both distance travel interspersed with linear solution and the game is divided into three individual segments such that once a segment is finished, there is no need to return to that segment (plus and can’t). Occasionally, there are subtle object pickups that the gamer has to be cognizant of and the inclusion of the morphing and global trekker objects provides a game within a game.
During the game, there is ‘life’ with trees moving, birds flying, leaves falling, water flowing, and wind blowing which adds to the realism of the scene. With all the good things that can be said, there are some other aspects that I didn’t find particularly appealing. Finger pointing occurs for no other reason than to stimulate an object, otherwise, nothing happens. Somewhat frustrating if you are trying to figure out what needs to be done. Also, there were some illogical solutions (in my mind) such as dipping water out a pond of water with a boot insole (really?). Bonus chapters (generally) continue to disappoint me both in their length and in their challenge. This game was no exception.
Generally, I found it a sensible and enjoyable game with a realistic storyline. Approximately 45 scenes, including the bonus chapter with a range of actions (2-7) with an average of 4-5 actions per scene. The pace was appropriate for the level of play. While the game experience is always judged based on the particular individual playing and their level of expertise, I for one found it to be a pleasurable one.
I recommend this game!
House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets Collector's Edition
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A Few Doors Short.
PostedAugust 31, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Overall, the House of a 1000 Doors - Family Secrets game was enjoyable but left a little to be desired. The mood at times was one of anticipation that terminated often with disappointment. This is not a game for those who really like a good story line. The graphics were decent though wavy at times. Play alternated between linear and extended travel though travel was not too distant as there were only 29 locations to visit. Reasonable number of actions at most of the locations with some being follow on actions to initial actions. Some actions and puzzles were intuitive, some were not. In two instances, duplicative objects (water containers, lanterns) led to confusion over puzzle solution actions. Technical miscues left used objects (pot, key) in the scene and solved scenes never disappeared; they stayed but showed no action.
The HOPs were relatively challenging with multiple actions the norm for numerous objects of each HOP. The use of a portrait puzzle (gathered portraits) to solve the game was enjoyable as a means to continue going back and forth through the scenes. It wasn’t until late in the game that I figured out that the map was a part of the diary instead of showing up on the main screen as is the usual approach. One side challenge was to find ‘beyond objects’ but nothing became of it and there was no achievement section to reveal the results or what was achieved or what was missed; somewhat of a letdown.
The bonus chapter was a little disappointing. While there were numerous scenes (15), there were only 2-3 actions at each location leading to a somewhat abbreviated bonus adventure, one without much story substance, sort of an afterthought to sell the CE version at an increase in price. Overall an enjoyable game but lacks a little to be top rated.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull
Help Sara find her missing husband and stop an evil pirate's ancient curse in Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
A Bit of a Challenge
PostedMay 25, 2015
synergistician
fromAtlanta Proximity, Georgia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
One of the more challenging games I've played. At times, the next move is a real head scratcher. The HOGs are difficult at times. Not many puzzles but the ones encountered are a moderate challenge. As an intermediate player, I found this game all that I could ask for. There is a lot of back and forth, clues are not obvious, and a couple of times I had to depend on a 'walk thru' guide to get me past a particular hurdle which is pretty unusual for me. Definitely an entertaining game but be prepared for longevityas it doesn't go quickly.
I recommend this game!