CinW's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:110
- Reviews Submitted:9
- First Review:January 11, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 25, 2012
- Featured reviews0
CinW's Review History
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
LIked it more than others!
PostedNovember 25, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is written after playing the game in full. I'm surprised to read all the terrible reviews of this game. Yes, it is a bit different than past MCFs, but isn't that what so many of us have been asking for...something new in gameplay with unique puzzles?
Pros: I enjoyed the different type of pacing and the minimal use of the map. I don't like a map that does all the work for me, so this kept me thinking without making me run around in circles. The puzzles were challenging and the pictures to match had me hunting all over. There were occasional instances where the writers' sense of humor broke through and made me laugh. I spent the entire afternoon and part of the evening playing, so it kept me entertained (and that was in spite of a technical glitch that had it crashing on my laptop every 30-60 minutes).
Cons: Love the always cute Leah Thompson, and at first I bought her over-acting as part of the character she played. By the end, though, I was absolutely cringing when she delivered the lines. The hint system is mostly useless, and the strategy guide was minimal. There isn't an extra level really, just a area with a rather finicky safe to unlock (and no strategy guide here to help)...here lies an object that unlocks the morphing objects feature in the main game.
So, if you're really into morphing objects, and you think that alone is worth twice the price, get the CE. If not, I suggest waiting for the cheaper version. Expect Shadow Lake to be different, not the same ol' same ol', and you'll enjoy it much more.
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Unique, but Rather Short
PostedMarch 11, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I liked the different artistic style, as well as the unique storyline. I kept wanting the game to hold my attention more, though, and was rather surprised by the sudden ending. The puzzles were mostly easy, and it wasn't much of a challenge overall.
However, I was happy to see such a different story -- more scifi than horror, and with a different type of character and interface. If you've been getting tired of the same ol' HOG/puzzle game, give this a try...just don't expect a huge amount of gameplay.
I recommend this game!
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
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Unique, Fun, and Long Game Time
PostedFebruary 26, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This was a nice game with some unique twists on the standard HOGs and various puzzles. I enjoyed making my way through the various worlds, and was surprised at how many different areas kept opening up. There is a bit of back and forth, so it helped to have a map that could be used to "teleport" to an area. At times there was so much going on that I couldn't figure out where to go next, or I'd just not spotted something -- hints helped with those moments, although perhaps they helped a bit too much. I didn't need the exact answer, just a nudge.
Overall, this was a fun game. I'm not sure about voiceovers or music, since I always turn sound off when playing.
I recommend this game!
Use a mystical locket to explore a magical world and save a young girl in Other world: Spring of Shadows!
Overall rating
4
/
5
40 of 48 found this review helpful
Spooky Fantasy
PostedFebruary 19, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm not usually one who plays the fairy-fantasy sort of game, but if found this to be a bit darker than usual and the gameplay was intriguing and fun. Also, for a standard game it was quite long...just as long as many CE games I've played.
The story and puzzles were different than what we often see, which is quite a treat. Graphic quality is nice, not too dark to spot some tricky items. The game is very much about solving puzzles -- basically moving between areas to collect objects, then unlocking and solving puzzles. I wish there were a few more HO scenes, but that's just me -- those who don't care for HOGs will like that there aren't many.
I recommend this game!
Appease terrifying ghosts before they kidnap and punish the entire city of Sunnyvale in this dark and mysterious Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Kinda Short, Too Much Busy Work
PostedFebruary 15, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
For a CE, this felt too short...especially since a big chunk of time was spent in going back and forth between scenes, or repeating steps that seemed a bit unnecessary (like having to press the lock in the hand whenever switching gates between different parts of the carnival).
The storyline was interesting, but the ending was abrupt. Puzzles were quite easy. Hidden Object scenes were fine, but again repetitive.
If this were just a regular game, not a CE, I wouldn't be so hard on it. In this case, though, I didn't feel like much of anything extra was there.
I don't recommend this game.
Step into the shoes of a detective who has been approached by the FBI to take over a terrifying case and stop a Dark Ritual!
Overall rating
3
/
5
19 of 30 found this review helpful
Just okay
PostedJanuary 31, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
This game took me several days to play, not because it was hard but because I kept getting bored with it after an hour or so. The back and forth between the same ol' scenes was rather repetitive, the characters were flat, and the story wasn't very compelling. It was okay, but nothing special.
I don't recommend this game.
Find a kidnapped teenage girl and save yourself in Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, a fun Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
37 of 39 found this review helpful
Worth Every Penny
PostedJanuary 17, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
What a great game! I was immediately sucked in by the opening scene, which sets the stage well -- spooky thriller in a mysterious town. You play a detective who is trying to find a missing woman, which is the starting point for a story that progresses and unfolds in an interesting way. There are many hidden object scenes, filled with some unique objects, and some nice puzzles that are just tricky enough to be challenging but not frustrating. Best of all, the game is long...it kept me busy for many hours over several days. Every time you think it must be getting ready to end, the story takes another twist and a new area opens up on the map.
Because there are so many different areas, it is important to use the map to locate where to go. Otherwise you'll spend a lot of time wandering. It would have been nice if the map could be used to relocate (click and go there), but there were a few times that getting from one place to another led to important cutscenes or surprises.
I liked using the wall of clues -- contributed to a sense that my character was solving a crime, not just caught up in things beyond my control.
There is a fulfilling ending, but I was happy that it also set things up for a part 2. Yay!
I recommend this game!
After crashing your car in the middle of nowhere, you stumble upon a mysterious town with a shady background. Solve a dark mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 6 found this review helpful
Great Game
PostedJanuary 12, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
This is one of the best Big Fish games I've played....definitely a personal favorite. The story is actually fun to follow, and there are some interesting twists. The setting and image style is unique, puzzles and HO scenes are sometimes challenging (which is a good thing IMO), and the characters intriguing. Yes, it starts with the same ol' car crash (how did that become such a crutch for these games?)...but this car crash seems relevant and kickstarts the mystical vs. reality of the game. The game is long and intricate, but I actually wish I'd purchased the Collector's Edition so it would have been even longer.
I recommend this game!
In a quest to fulfill his father’s wish, Edward has started an incredible journey to discover the Dragon Dance treasure.
Overall rating
1
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Finicky & Buggy
PostedJanuary 11, 2012
CinW
fromRedmond, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
This is definitely the worse game I've purchased from Big Fish. There are many technical errors -- missing items that are necessary to proceed, puzzles that were completed before I attempted them, and hot spots that should have been there but weren't. Usually by quitting and restarting, I could trigger things to get past these, but it is quite frustrating. Also frustrating are the finicky aspects of where you click or when you can click something. At times, an object is located right next to the back arrow...so when you click to grab something, you go back a screen. I'll keep the game around for when there's nothing else to play, but I can only put up with it for about 15 minutes before it makes me too angry. Graphics are okay, but rather cartoonish and simple. I click as quickly as possible through the dialogues, since they are just silly.
I don't recommend this game.