hopqueen's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:804
- Reviews Submitted:68
- First Review:May 10, 2018
- Most Recent Review:January 30, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
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!
A legendary ghost ship has returned, and ghostly sailors walk the streets!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Excellent all the way through!
PostedMay 28, 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
This is a truly excellent game, as I've come to expect from the Dark City series since the very beginning. This one, however, might just be the best yet!
We've got lots of different settings in Amsterdam, including a flower shop, a smuggler's cove, the streets of Amsterdam, docks, a lighthouse island, etc. Fantastic art, lots of varied locations.
Plenty of both puzzles and hidden objects of varying difficulty. You're never bored with this game.
The main game was a lot of fun, discovering the truth about the ghostly Flying Dutchman and its equally ghostly crew. The bonus game in the collector's edition was excellent too, trying to find out who was poisoning one of the characters. It's rare that the main game and bonus game are equally high quality, but this one was! My favorite puzzle was the one in the flower shop in the bonus game—that was so much fun, and it was visually enjoyable.
The classic music of this series is still the same, which I love. That music gets stuck in my head and I love it.
Collectibles include 2 ships and 2 morphing objects in every scene. Some are easy to spot and some are quite challenging. There's a little toggle on the left side of the screen where you can check if you got all the collectibles in each scene.
I highly recommend this game. It's one I'll be replaying in the future.
I recommend this game!
Good intentions pave a dangerous road.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Good but repetitious
PostedMay 12, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game is a fun one, if you like mostly HOPs with some mini games thrown in. The scenes are nicely put together and vibrant. Good detective storyline too. Cute music.
But I don't at all like that scenes are repeated so close together, even if there is a different style of HOP for the scene.
Immerse yourself in a tale of horror and suspense!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Beautiful Fall in Spring
PostedMay 10, 2024
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Stars or no stars, this game has a great dark fall ambience and an enjoyable storyline. If you don't like the stars, just ignore them. It's that easy.
This game certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel, but then again, neither does any other game at this point. HOPA games are now (and have been for a while) more about the ambience and enjoyable gameplay than anything else.
Witness in the Rye gives us fall in spring. Not everyone will be in the mood for that, but I'm always in the mood for fall, always in the mood to play as a writer character, and also always in the mood for a dark hotel setting. So this game appeals to me.
As always, the collectibles are in a little menu on the left-hand side of the screen, so it's easy to know whether you did or didn't get what you need from the scene or closeup. They're themed in line with the game's story.
I recommend this game if you're up for fall, dark hotel setting, and a typical HOPA. Relax about the stars, they're not going to hurt you.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you navigate an alternate timeline and find Rick Rogers?
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Moment We've All Been Waiting For!
PostedApril 24, 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
Finally we reach the end of our quest to find Rick Rogers that we've been on for the past few games! It's great to see a series wrap up a long-term quest, and it's very satisfying. It also seems like the series will continue, which I genuinely hope it does.
Playing as Rachel, we get to meet more Alt personalities in this game, which is a lot of fun to see how they're the same and different from Rachel's friends.
There are some wonderful and varied settings in this game. My favorite was the black-tie party Rachel and Gabriel attended - every room in that location was fabulous. On the other end of the spectrum was the gray dystopian streets and ruined shops, which suited what had happened perfectly. So you get a little bit of everything.
I'm not sure what other reviewers are referring to when they say the graphics aren't great - they're no better and no worse than the previous games. I also don't understand what they mean when they say that the game lags - that's to do with an individual's computer capacity, not the game itself.
This was a fun game with the usual Paranormal Files collectibles: an eye in every scene and a statue in some scenes. The statues are easy to find, but the eyes can be pretty tricky. It's a good balance.
The bonus chapter is from the perspective of the villain, and I always love anything like that. Seeing the chain of events that led up to Rick Rogers's situation was great.
I recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the truth behind a deadly shadow entity in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Perfect Except for Glitch!
PostedMarch 16, 2023
hopqueen
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I don't want to give this game a bad rating because of its major glitch, because overall it's an excellent game. But I did have to remove a star. As everyone else has also said, if you put the toolset where it literally tells you to put the toolset, you've made a mistake that you can't undo. You're supposed to put the toolset by the cybernetic hand, even though the prompt on the hand is to use one tool, not the toolset. So that's their mistake in directions and a major glitch in the game. When will they come out with a patch? I don't want to replay the whole thing... If they don't come out with a patch, I'll be waiting quite a while before restarting the game because it won't be fun to replay it right away.
Otherwise, this is a fantastic new game in the Paranormal Files series. The story picks up with Rachel trying to track down Rick Rogers and coming across a double of his. Honestly it's a bit like a novel or a movie, which is really cool. I love following the Rick mystery. I just hope they won't leave us on a cliffhanger, and eventually we'll find him!
Collectibles include the classic eye in each scene as well as a statue in random scenes. Some of the eyes are pretty hard to spot. The statues are easy.
The graphics are on the darker side like in all Paranormal Files games, and the locations look great. One thing this developer has done very right in terms of improvements is starting to expand their facial construction. For a while, every character that popped up basically looked like Rick, but they've done some work to fix that, which I'm very happy about. Obviously the main characters have to remain the same though.
If you like this game series, I think you'll love the forward movement on the storyline in this particular installment! Now let's just hope for a patch to fix the major glitch...
I recommend this game!
Can you save your sister from a carnival of monsters?
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Best Halloween Game So Far in 2022
PostedOctober 16, 2022
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
I'm thrilled with this new Halloween game and series from Domini! I was a little nervous that the unnecessarily poor reviews from those who hate on Domini just for the sake of it had scared them off; I hadn't seen a game from them for a short while but longer than usual. Thank goodness that isn't the case since there are only about 2 developers left on this site that make HOP games.
Gloomy Tales offers a Halloween-infused game that really gets you in the mood for the holiday. Every inch of it screams Halloween, which is exactly what I always hope for. The ambience is a Halloween-themed carnival where even the "employees" are decked out, just like at a real Halloween-themed place. Made me wish this carnival was real!
There is creativity in the puzzles and games, including HOPs, with great twists on what we're used to.
There are three different collectibles, and as always there is an indicator on the left side to tell you what you should be looking for. Two collectibles are in full scenes, one is in closeups.
The acting is wonderful, the lip movements are dead on, the details couldn't be better. Make sure you click around full scenes - lots of things move and come to life! I've become really spoiled by Domini Games's quality and creativity.
I highly recommend this game, especially if you love Halloween!
I recommend this game!