hopqueen's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:804
- Reviews Submitted:74
- First Review:May 10, 2018
- Most Recent Review:June 21, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Chart a path to Mars in this dynamic marble popper!
Overall rating
5
/
5
More Challenging and Different
PostedDecember 28, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I was very unsure of this ClearIt before I played the demo, and once it started, I almost wasn't interested just because I didn't like the way it looked. But! It turned out to have a higher level of challenge within the first 10 levels than the other ClearIts, so I'm on my way to buy it right after I write this review.
There are more and more interesting obstacles as the levels go on, including spiders (not sure why, thematically) that change color and move, rocks you can do nothing about, stars you have to hit twice and they move, and these empty cubes that you have to hit with the right color, otherwise the wrong colored ball gets trapped inside.
There are also boosts, like rocket ships that destroy the row, treasure chests that I think contribute to the wallet (see below), and soccer balls (not sure why...) that also destroy the row, TNT that destroys everything two squares up, down, left, and right. And magnets that destroy a few squares away from whichever direction it's pointing when you hit it.
I never figured out how the wallet thing works, but hopefully when I have the full game, I'll understand it.
There's no music, which was disappointing to me personally, but I wouldn't dock them a star for it. There are sounds though. Some seem kind of random, but I don't mind.
I really enjoyed the higher challenge of this game and am off to buy it!
I recommend this game!
Reopen the toy store and win over a grumpy mayor who dismisses Christmas!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Really Wanted to Like It
PostedDecember 12, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I absolutely love the Christmassy graphics and locations, so this is really a shame.
Objects aren't used logically; many of the tasks don't make sense with the objects that are used to complete them. In one place, they mentioned using caramel, but you actually use a candy cane, so that was a mistake on DO's part. There are other mistakes. Some areas don't give any kind of hint as to how to complete the task, which would be fine, except that their solution isn't logical.
There aren't enough HOPs. Plenty of relatively easy puzzles, but barely HOPs, and the majority are extremely simple. I wouldn't even count them as HOPs.
The music is played once and then turns off. You're left with no music at all and no ambient sounds. Total silence. It kills the mood and makes the game much more boring.
All in all, I wish I could like this game, but it just seems like DO is getting a bit lazy. It's a huge shame because they're very talented.
I don't recommend this game.
Trick-or-treating fun in Springfield and Pinecreek Hills!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Just the Halloween Game We Needed!
PostedDecember 11, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was a truly fun hidden object game and a BIG upgrade from the original CA Halloween games they put out years ago! (Although that was fun at the time too.)
Casual Arts put good thought into this game, and although some scenes are based on their Christmas game, they did a good job of disguising those scenes in thorough Halloween decorations and garb. There were plenty of unique scenes too, all very much in the Halloween spirit. They certainly didn't skimp!
I hope CA will keep this as a yearly addition to their other games! Absolutely love it!
I recommend this game!
Epic story-driven time management in the realm of nightmares!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Very Meh, Strangely Mismatched
PostedOctober 22, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
This game is disappointing to me. The mechanics are fine, but the whole game is too similar to their other series, Elven, Rivers, which is excellent. This one feels mismatched and off.
Personal taste, but I find the mix of robots and fantastical elements to be weird. For me, they don't go together, and that throws me off. I don't want bots in my fantasy entertainment—that's just me.
Most graphics flowed well, but some were deliberately made jerky, and I don't care for that at all. If you can make it smooth, and that's mostly the style you're using, then why not make it all smooth? Again, these two styles don't match for me.
But most annoying is the music, which is a very strange and again mismatched list. The main screen's music is awful. Level 1 is just bizarre and irritating. There's one song that's relaxing, another that sounds like chaotic kid music. I don't know what possessed them with the choice of songs, they don't even go together well.
The collectibles are different shapes but the same idea as Elven Rivers. So is the little black creature with the paintbrush that disappears and reappears, only it's orange this time.
All in all, if you like Elven Rivers, I'd say stick with that since the quality is higher and it's not oddly mismatched.
I don't recommend this game.
Cozy up to puzzles in the comfort of your home!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Sweet, fun HOP!
PostedOctober 18, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a lovely HOP and is so relaxing. The items to find don't stick out as if they don't belong there, they're well blended and natural, which makes it much more fun. The settings are so nice and well set up too. There's no storyline, which I like with straight-up HOP games.
The collectibles are (1) dogs and cats and (2) random objects pictured in the bottom left square. The animals are mostly easy, the random objects range in difficulty.
There are puzzles too, and they don't overwhelm the HOPs, plus they're fun and challenging at varying levels.
This is a great game to relax and enjoy!
I recommend this game!
What does the future hold?
Overall rating
2
/
5
Lower Quality
PostedOctober 17, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I am generally a fan of Domini Games, and I figured this one would be really good since it took them a little longer to come out with it. Actually, it was worse. This is the first Royal Romances I won't be purchasing.
The quality was lower overall, including bizarre typos in the pop-ups when you find collectibles. I don't get upset over a typo here and there in character dialogue/narration, but the pop-ups that you have to see every time you find a collectible? Really sloppy. "Cicus" and "Cirus" instead of "Circus" in two pop-ups you see over and over again. Come on.
Sounds were missing too, and the music didn't change during a "battle," it was super calm and the same as the overall scene - again, sloppy.
There were also more puzzles than anything (too easy too), and some of the areas were kind of boring, with not enough to click on and do, in my opinion.
The graphics were beautiful though, and I loved the vibrant colors too.
I really couldn't get into this game, despite initially being excited about it. Details are part of what make a great HOPA game, and this one is lacking. It seems like it lacked someone going through it critically before publishing.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover the mystery of Fortescue by solving classic mahjong puzzles.
Overall rating
1
/
5
This is AI art - Do Not Buy
PostedAugust 12, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I knew as soon as I started this game that it was AI art. I played the sample just to make sure, and it's AI art beyond the shadow of a doubt.
I would never buy from a developer who uses art that steals from others' original art - that's what AI art is and how it works. Shame on the developer, shame on Big Fish for allowing this.
If you like this game but don't want to support lazy AI art, buy any other mahjong game - the mechanics of this one are not unique and nothing special.
I don't recommend this game.
Escape a terrifying hotel with a haunted past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Excellent Vintage Game!
PostedJuly 22, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is in The Catch right now, so I got it for free. What a fantastic HOPA! This was back in the days when hidden objects were much more frequent within HOPA games, which I far prefer. There were puzzles too, and some were quite challenging, but the HOPs were the focus. I still prefer it this way.
Atmospherically dark and with plenty of scene changes, including outside and other buildings than the hotel we start in, there's plenty to do, accompanied by good voice acting. The voice levels were too low though, so I had to rebalance the sound.
The HOPs were used efficiently, with more than one round of things to find in the HOP (without leaving it), many times presented in different ways. Words and then pictures, or the top area of a scene and then the bottom area, for example. There's more to do within each HOP, which makes it much more interesting and entertaining.
Collectibles include something that looks clock-like, for which there's an icon in the bottom right that shows whether there's a collectible available to find in the scene or not. There are also morphing objects within the hidden objects, something I miss a lot. This was a great feature that suddenly disappeared in games at some point. Again, there's an indicator icon at the bottom right to show whether a morph is there to be found.
Phantasmat: Remains of Buried Memories aged *very* well, even in terms of the graphics. I'm impressed and thrilled by how good this game still is! It's convinced me to return to the Phantasmat series. I miss developer Eipix—they were truly talented.
I recommend this game!
Get lost in a haunted house that keeps changing!
Overall rating
1
/
5
Major Glitch
PostedJuly 5, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management
As part of the Game Club Perks feature The Catch, I downloaded this full game on Mac. There's a huge glitch in the very first scene, unfortunately. The grappling hook is in my inventory, but the game removes it before I can use it. It simply vanishes from my inventory. So the game cannot move forward. I read the Strategy Guide to check, and this is definitely a glitch.
I can't believe this game has been around so long and still has such a major glitch! Please create a patch!
I can't believe this game has been around so long and still has such a major glitch! Please create a patch!
I don't recommend this game.
An investigation that will open up a new world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Excellent Game, Unique Story!
PostedJune 15, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well it's rare to come across a storyline that's so unique, but this developer did it! Fantasy worlds you access through paintings with a special varnish, bizarre monsters and the crystals they'll follow, a person preferring to be a monster than a human. Wow, so much to take in and really a wonderfully different concept.
The atmosphere of the game is good, with scenes in the city and scenes in the country for variety. Some areas have a lighter ambience and some darker - no matter what you like, you'll find it in there. Plus the fantasy landscape.
The characters are definitely old-school design, very plasticky, and the lip movements are bad, but the quality of the game overall outweighs those things.
There is a morphing object and a collectible (different kinds) in each scene. Sometimes they're easy to spot and sometimes quite difficult.
It's a good long game with lots of both HOP scenes and puzzles. They can be hard, but they're all doable.
The bonus game is not a game but 20 levels of the same puzzle in increasing difficulty. Not what I prefer - I prefer another storyline or prequel - but the puzzle is actually fun, and the challenge level increasing makes it a lot more fun. I still would trade it for more actual game.
I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!