plat1098's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:615
- Reviews Submitted:122
- First Review:June 17, 2016
- Most Recent Review:February 20, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you keep your first solo detective case from becoming your last?
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 13 found this review helpful
This Ain't No Alice
PostedJuly 11, 2021
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
She surely doesn't live here. This is Detective Olivia's territory with a darker, more occult vibe to it. Each level is like a mini-mission, charged with collecting various mysterious items, some of which will have you scratching your head figuring out what they are. Tweedle brothers have morphed into taller, more secret agent-like rogues.
Graphics are great--well drawn and highly detailed 'scapes, dark but attractive in the initial levels. Have to watch your resources carefully and remember to access your bonuses which are tucked away in an almost-hidden corner. You can adjust sounds, music, hints, dialogs, languages and play in chill-out, normal or hard modes.
Nice and fun! One of the first devs to incorporate a little more diversity into the games characters. If you're lucky, Olivia will do a moon-run for you, moving backwards along the dark trails. I think it's a glitch but so what.
I recommend this game!
A careless accident causes big problems when Hercules breaks time itself!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
The Last Herc?
PostedJuly 7, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
From the beginning there is a flavor of the older ones, fun and creative, without overdoing the challenge too much in "expert" mode. Still, it's not easy to get Developer's record, even in the first levels.
Yes, there are the bonus "pills" which actually do come in handy. The Pause button during the game lets you not only adjust things like sound volumes and games pointer but you can adjust the speed itself--up to 150%. It works! You can also skip a level and come back to it later, a nice touch.
Graphics are nice as usual, even a little surprising and strange at times--like always. Instead of clicking on birds (which to me was a weakness of the prior games), you can click on flowers and bushes, even to find that puzzle piece which will eventually enable you to unlock bonus levels.
Is this the last in the series? 12 Labours and this is now the 12th one. Hope there's more where this comes from, for sure!
The oracle’s strange vision portends cataclysmic destruction!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
A Most Challenging Game
PostedJune 1, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Don't compare this to the first installment. Somewhere in time, there was a split. We start off, not with the girl and her werewolf bro, but with the intense witch with the purple eyes, charged with restoring balance to her world and others. What follows, I'm not giving away.
It took just a little while but the first interactive hidden object scene was worth the small wait. Several mini puzzles were so clever, you could be glad you got the CE for the Strategy Guide alone. Wonderful--try not to skip any! Graphics quality is very good, with lovely scenes and that hushed atmosphere I've come to love (I cancel the music). Morphs and collectibles to find and they are usually well-hidden.
You have many settings you can adjust--like voices, music, ambient. You can use your System pointer and there are four modes of play, including Custom. Extras are the usual: Wallpapers, all games, etc and the coveted Achievements and Bonus Game.
Not the best offering of Five BN but one big change; you need to think out of the box more often here. That statuette may not necessarily be used for what you think. Good stuff.
I recommend this game!
After a terrible traffic accident, Amy Walters finds herself trapped in dark, mysterious world that seems to have a mind of its own!
Overall rating
5
/
5
I Want to Review This Game in 2021
PostedMay 27, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
That's how good it is to this day! I've demoed many games, older and new and many are good, some are great and some are neither.
As far as game mechanics go, this one is comparatively primitive. Not a lot of animation or fancy colors or lavish HOPs or minis (though the HOPs are plentiful, they're not really easy). What it does have: plenty of creepy atmosphere with a paranormal overlay and a fine line of tension throughout that has you grimly hanging on, waiting for a finish.
The story has several layers beyond the main character's but I'm not spelling it out since it's been gone over in other reviews. This sense of urgency and tragedy overhanging plays a strong role. Graphics are that "real-fake" style that I love. Scenes are desolate, but with the real Resurrection in the background at times, it's a strange and wonderful touch.
You can adjust various sounds, and use your System pointer. There's bonus content in the CE once you finish the main story. Very good game, back in the day right up to today.
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue your children from a dangerous board game in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Meh
PostedMay 14, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Not a bad game, just...not great. We return to Wonderland, along with Lilliput and Oz in order to find the protagonist's children who were sucked in via a magical game and captured by various bad guys. Fascinating in theory but you end up actually exploring very little of these storied lands. Boo! Many scenes contain 2 morphs and 2 collectibles.
Graphics are decent except for the cut-scenes which are blurred and primitively animated. Many scenes are lavishly detailed, so if you're playing without cursor hints, it's nice and challenging to find stuff to do. Hidden object scenes are OK, and most mini games look difficult at first but actually aren't. I like that. What I don't like: repeatedly asking if you're sure you want to leave the game. Yep, I'm sure. And when starting the game: the scenes are too long, even with a SKIP option. Let's play already!
You get the usual stuff in the CE: movies, the HOPs and minis, concept art, wallpapers and whatnot. Not to my taste. You get a bonus chapter which requires you to finish the game. It was a long wait to then, as I couldn't play for more than 10 minutes at a time due to ennui. You can turn down music, sounds, voices and use your system pointer. Hopefully, the next one will be a redeemer.
Wonderland's magical atmosphere is fading, corrupted by factory smoke! It’s up to you and Cheshire Cat in the latest Time Management Adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Um, Cheshire....Are You OK?
PostedMay 1, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Oh no, a game without Alice?! Well, let's see...
Not the first Resource Management game to take place in a huge tree and initial levels are very simple--intended to get you "limb-ered" up for some challenging later ones.
The mechanics are very similar to the Alice ones: same resource bldgs, same bonuses, a hidden object and paint palettes to click on, and with some new features for the 3D Cat, speaking of whom, does use his head when called upon--literally. Graphics are improved--not so harsh and the water shimmers and moves. Levels are obviously well-thought out, with a lot of whimsy you just don't see often enough. Chill-out, normal and hard modes.
You can adjust sounds, music, use your pointer, opt for low graphics, and enable hints and dialogs per level. You get 60 levels in the CE, plus a strategy guide. Added to my collection.
I recommend this game!
Return to the undersea world of Atlantis Solitaire in a brand-new adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Another Class Act, Keep Them Coming--Please!
PostedApril 8, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, Jewel Match Solitaire: L'Amour was the one to beat, in my opinion. Still, this one's a winner.
First, it's a visually lovely game, The cards are lovely, the backdrop is lovely, even the map is OK. The Shop has all kinds of good stuff to buy with your silver, and gems will get you new add-ons for your scenes. You can play Relaxed, Normal and Hard modes, your choice.
You get your money's worth (esp. if it's on sale) with all the extras packed in there, including Wallpapers, more Solitaire and Mahjong. There's a "Fish Manager" which allows you to change the colors of the sea critters swimming by. Nice!
I recommend this game!
Tame the wild west in a rip-roaring adventure for all ages!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Aww, Isn't This Cute?
PostedFebruary 7, 2021
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Second one--with some refinements over the first, which was pretty good of itself. Cute as it appears, Hard mode means what it says. There's also Normal and Easy (untimed)
Now we have bouncy animations of the various objects in the field, as well as the fun hidden object in each level which is the mascot of the game builder. Very cute. Even though this game is reminiscent of the Wild West-themed Next Stop games, there are novel tasks and ways to go about them so that it's not your average step-n-shlep. Graphics were OK: the first levels were way too orange-tan monochromatic for my taste, and the monotonous chopping of wood in the shed could be irritating to some.
You can turn down sounds and music, use your sytem pointer and turn off tutorials. A nice game overall.
Stop a glacial meltdown that could have catastrophic consequences!
Overall rating
3
/
5
0 of 3 found this review helpful
Pleasantly Status Quo
PostedDecember 27, 2020
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well, I loved the Evil Genius installment. Even the storyline was wack-o, it was a lot of fun. Danger From Outer Space was right behind it. Then, it's like this one is a semi-pleasant lull, like taking a dull and restful break after a long trip.
Much the same elements: buildings, most sound effects, many tasks. There's that mysterious but utterly necessary BBQ showing up again in the most desolate of landscapes. And you're cleaning up the environment on land and sea in addition to rescuing pets, building stores, restaurants, hospitals and lumberyards, all in the space of about five minutes or so each level.
Graphics, like everything else here, are pleasant. The cartoon backstories you can skip over and the same bonuses you can buy in the Store. This time, the audio is much better done, a plus as you want your chainsaw to sync like that, right? You can adjust the music (thank goodness!), ambient sounds, switch to your own pointer and turn off hints. There is very little new here (List of Rarities?) but it's mostly all comfortably familiar. Still in the demo, we'll see.....
Caesar and Cleopatra have been kidnapped by the Roman goddess Discordia and it’s up to you to free them before time runs out!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 16 found this review helpful
"Oh Yeah!"
PostedDecember 6, 2020
plat1098
fromDa Mean Streets of Brooklyn
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
When Dangerous Roads (the first one) came out, I didn't like it for some reason. Maybe it was this one level early on that resisted umpty attempts to get gold. Maybe it was the severe cutesiness of the workers. Maybe it was certain sound effects.
Whatever! It grew on me, big time. This one, like the first, has some serious strategy, it's not just fetch and carry all the time. The levels' scenes are well-designed, animated here and there and things are happening. It's a more intelligently-built resource management game and as a standard edition: no silly hidden objects to waste your time with and no frequently useless bloats like wallpapers and concept art to inflate the cost of the game.
You can adjust music and ambient sounds, select from three mouse pointers, change the screen resolution and shut off tutorials. Very pleased to see this one in the queue today. If you haven't tried either one yet, you have 60 min. to demo this one.
I recommend this game!