phatkhat's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:1,517
- Reviews Submitted:70
- First Review:February 4, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 7, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve the mystery of the island of abandoned ships in a new classic Hidden Object Adventure game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Would have been good 5 years ago...
PostedJanuary 18, 2014
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
...now, not so much. The opening cutscene gave me high hopes, but they were quickly dashed. The storyline is okay - the evil soul-sucker isn't as common as some. Music was okay - creepy and appropriate. Graphics so-so.
But this is your basic HOG, with very little adventure or puzzles. Typical junkpiles, and revisited, to boot. No, no, no, no, I can't take it no mo'... Didn't finish the demo. Got woefully tired of HOS.
I don't recommend this game.
The fabled land of Agartha awaits your discovery in Esoterica: Hollow Earth! Experience a sci-fi adventure that will take you to the depths of the Earth.
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 11 found this review helpful
Nope.
PostedJanuary 18, 2014
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I didn't even make it through the demo. HOS after HOS after HOS. And right up front, a Simon-sez musical puzzle. {{{Shudder}}} Professional voice acting? Oh, please. Awful, cheesy, and the kid (who is she, anyhow?) in the beginning was about as annoying vocally as any v/o in a game I can think of. Then there was the rummaging through cosmetics, etc., and putting the wardrobe together.
Music was okay - I don't remember it annoying me, but I don't remember it at all. Artwork is pretty, and kind of reminiscent of Snarkbusters. Story same old, same old - missing relative, etc.
Evidently a lot of folks like it, but it ain't my cuppa joe. Too easy in the adventuring and puzzles, and waaaay too many HOS.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover dark forces emanating from the heart of Old Town and be spellbound by this adorably ghoulish horror-themed puzzle game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
M3 of the Year!
PostedOctober 28, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I'm not keen on M3s, and I usually only buy them once in a while. But me mates over at the Pub said this one was a keeper, so I tried it. And now I'm addicted, LOL.
This one has it all! Sharp, colorful graphics, interesting layouts, amazing powerups - you gotta love those exploding pumpkins - and coins to buy yard decorations for your haunted house. Better still, each decoration you buy has a cool powerup with it. And, like all Grey Alien games, the music is totally awesome and very apropos.
There are bonuses to release, in addition to the powerups, and you have a choice of timed or relaxed - and you can change that in the menu any time! Yeah!
If you don't try another M3 this year, you gotta try this one!
I recommend this game!
Defeat the giant to save the world from destruction!
Overall rating
1
/
5
15 of 17 found this review helpful
Fee, fie, ho-hum.
PostedOctober 23, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Maybe as a DD, but I wouldn't even spend a PCC on this one.
The story is okay - it's a famous fairy tale, so what more is there to say? The music is nice, the artwork lovely. Voiceovers are decent except for Jack - what happened to him?
The custom options are done with sliders, and they are NOT intuitive. I always set custom up for easiest hints but no glints or sparkles. (I like hints available for the hated HOS.) On this, I ended up setting it up the opposite and had to fix it after. Also, it took some clicking to get the screen filled. The game cursor is huge, and I turned it off. Soon as I went to play, it was back, and I had to go shut if off again.
The game is basically one huge HOG. You have HOS, then you have to find boatloads of stuff for inventory to do tasks. Unfortunately, you can't pick anything up until the game tells you to.
LINEAR. Super linear. Kiss of death for me. The game virtually played itself. If I want to watch a movie, I'll go to Redbox.
If you want NO challenge, this is your game. I suppose if you have kids/g.kids, it might be fun for them to play. But it is too easy for adults unless they've never played a HOPA before.
I don't recommend this game.
Reveal the secret of an ancient prophecy! Fascinating tasks and exciting puzzles await you behind the breathtaking scenery of a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
39 of 41 found this review helpful
Don't judge this one on the demo!
PostedOctober 15, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Not only do you get a knife and lighter to keep in your inventory permanently, and use as needed, the HOS have a skip! There are quite a few HOS, and you will replay them, so the "earned skip" is nice. (You must find the object printed in green to activate the skip - and sometimes it is interactive and you have to do another step first.) Wow! Good job, Devs!
The game feels old, the English is poorly localized (including one black bar hint in Russian, LOL), only two playing difficulties (of which the sole difference is the speed of hint recharge) and yet... It has a certain charm.
It isn't entirely linear, the music is nice, and the story is an old one, but still engaging, and despite being about defeating a wicked witch, it is not dark or creepy at all. The HOS are a bit challenging until you learn the mechanics, but the puzzles - of which there are MANY - are often too easy in the beginning. There are a few that are not - especially as you progress in the game.
The artwork is lovely, clear, and well done, though not always consistent - like a different artist can be seen at work. There are no v/os, you have to read. No map, but there is a useful journal, and you have a little helper who doesn't talk to you or intrude on the play. I skipped the tutorial, so missed the fact that there are collectibles - fireflies - and achievements. The whole game remains open as you go, so you CAN go back to pick up the fireflies you missed. You will also find at times you must go way back to a previous scene to find something you will need, and it's a matter of going and looking.
Not much handholding, which experienced players will surely not need, anyhow. No sparkles that I noticed except for HOS. You will see your cursor turn to a hand or gears - that's it.
I didn't recognize the dev, so looked them up. These are the folks that brought us the Diamon Jones adventure games, and this appears to be their first HOPA. I sure hope it isn't their last, because it is very adventure-ish, despite the HOS.
The puzzles are all replayable any time after you unlock them in the game. Some of them have advanced levels in the bonus play section, too. This is a great bonus for me. There are a wide variety of puzzles of all types, and they are skippable.
After playing for about 3 hours, I still have 27 puzzles to unlock, and the puzzles are getting more challenging. You will find a few that are arcade type, like shooting targets, and some quite complex "Simon sez" types. There are still a lot of fireflies to collect, as well. So this is a long game.
The further you go, the more concurrent quests you find yourself on, too. This is a sleeper - and sadly, too many will judge it on the demo, which I've found is a huge mistake. I almost quit after about 15 minutes, but I'm glad I kept playing.
I recommend this game!
Discover what connects the ship’s disappearance with Devil’s Island and a family’s unsolved murder!
Overall rating
5
/
5
50 of 55 found this review helpful
Wowsers! This is a very good game!
PostedAugust 28, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I would give this really 4.5 stars, because it isn't the best game Artifex has done, but it's a darn sight better than most of the games we've been getting! And I'm rating it against other SEs, not against CEs or their subsequent SE versions.
I'm really a fan of story-driven games, and this one delivers big time! Yes, we've seen ghost ships before, but this one grabbed me from the opening cutscene, and hasn't let go yet! It is truly creepy, and has "gotcha" moments galore.
The graphics are a bit dated, but this does take place in the 19th century. They were clear and sharp, and well drawn. The HOS are not overly junkpiley, and are not overly difficult. Not a lot of anachronisms - I only noticed one, and it wasn't disturbing, really. Somewhat interactive.
The music is very well suited, and adds to the atmosphere. The ambient sounds are also well done, and not overdone. I liked the V/Os, too. The old men of the sea/harbor sounded the parts.
Sometimes it is easy to tell where a game is going, but I didn't find this one to be at all obvious. The mystery will unravel in due course.
Three difficulty levels, I played the hardest, and there is not much handholding. The cursor will turn to a magnifier when you mouse over a HOS, fortunately. Didn't find all the map pieces yet, but I rarely use a map, anyhow. Haven't used the hints yet, so not sure how useful they are. There is a click penalty in the expert mode, but only in HOS.
The puzzles and adventuring are pretty logical and not taxing, though there is some to and fro. It isn't entirely linear, either, which is kind of nice.
The game filled my widescreen without issue. No bugs or problems with either the DL or play.
I will offer a snake warning! There is one scene in the beginning that will scare the bejeebers out of you if you are as snake phobic as I am! Fortunately, the snake is pretty easy to get rid of, once your heartrate is back to normal, LOL. There are also a few obligatory spiders, but they are not threatening.
This is definitely on my Monday buy list - if I can wait that long...
I recommend this game!
The fate of the magical world is in your hands – free it from evil!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Oh! Oh! Oh! What an adventure!
PostedAugust 9, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on demo...
I am so gobsmacked by this game I hope I am coherent!
I almost fell out of my chair at the opening cutscene! So beautiful I had to watch it two more times. And the music! It is EXACTLY the kind of music I like to listen to anyway, sort of new age, and I would buy the game for the music alone!
The game is totally immersive, engaging, and I spent so much time just LOOKING at the gorgeous environments. A million kudos to the extremely talented artists! Some of us have wished for a real fantasy game, and we've had TWO in the space of a week! The wonder of it all, LOL.
It's not a very difficult game, as long as you look everywhere and stay observant. If you play in Expert, you will need to take notes and do your own map, probably - or else get turned around. HOS are not abundant, and are well blended into the game. NO junkpiles here!
The little critters you have to find look kind of like gremlins, and sound like the goo balls from World of Goo! There are animals galore, and I've rescued one, but so far no having to dress any of them up. (Thankfully.)
Others have pretty much given the particulars of the play, but I played on Expert mode, and there are NO hints (except black bar) and the map is locked. I had such a time in one of the frog scenes, I tried to go to change it so I could find the last piece - but I don't think you can! So... boldly I go on. At least there isn't a click penalty, and I finally found the missing item.
I really didn't get all that far in the demo, I don't think. Spent so much time just admiring the art and the creatures. I like how someone described the dangerous ones as still beautiful.
This may well be one of the most beautiful virtual worlds ever created, and it is calling to me... Must resist... Surely there will be a sale soon... ;o)
I recommend this game!
Natalie has unwittingly embarked on a dangerous and exciting journey! Can she prevent ancient evil spirits from awakening?
Overall rating
4
/
5
55 of 57 found this review helpful
Great adventure with a few warts...
PostedAugust 1, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really, really like this game except for a couple of things which annoyed me.
First of all, though it is a HOPA, the HOS are not too frequent, and they are not terribly junkpiley. They are fairly challenging. The minigames are not mindbendingly hard as far as I've gotten, but some of them require a bit of "arcade" type skill - i.e. timing and coordination. The skip activates in a minute or two on hard. The soundtrack is excellent, and fitting.
What makes me love this game are two things: the story, and the atmosphere. The play takes place on an old steam freighter, and the scenes are kind of gritty and grainy - much like the scenes in old classic adventures like Riven and Rhem. The crew has disappeared, so you are on your own in this rather creepy place to find your way around and look for what you need to proceed.
The story is obliquely revealed in bits and pieces. I have not used either the map or hints, so can't comment on them. I rarely use either in any game, though I like hints available if there are too many HOS, which bore me. I have not used the diary/journal, either, as I have been able to put 2+2 together so far.
There are some things that kept me from giving it 5 stars - mostly the black screen every time you changed scenes. The load time between scenes was really annoying - but, then, it might be my computer. The other mechanical issue was that there was no option to change the cursor. The game cursor was a little "floaty", and normally I would change to the system cursor. This is an issue in the minigames that require fast action.
There are also some anachronisms, like the story being set in 1972, but the dress of the characters in the opening "story slideshow" seemed more like 1872.
Some of the names for things in the HOS, like the now infamous "tube" for "smoking pipe". Granted, a pipe can be translated as a tube, but that's where doing closed betas of a whole game get you input (for free) from players who speak the language.
Some kind of - to me - illogical things, like (slight spoiler) seeing a fire extinguisher prominently displayed, but when you have to put out a fire, you have to find a bucket and a rope and fetch sea water.
All in all, though, this is a fine ADVENTURE game with a few HOS. And I liked the motion of the ship, and also the mechanism for adjusting brightness. And the "collectibles" are actually used for something! The game is far better than some of the CEs lately, IMHO, at least if you have a soft spot for retro adventure games! ;o)
I recommend this game!
Friendly and cheerful ghosts need your help in this new, breathtaking match 3 game with HOGs and puzzles.
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
My opinion hasn't changed since the beta.
PostedJuly 31, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Laruaville:
Match 3 with building elements.
Relaxed and timed modes available.
"Help ghosts to build a beautiful and comfortable town – Laruaville! Get a profit from your buildings, solve puzzles and HO scenes, and collect coins, playing match3 levels with new mechanics."
What can I say? It's a Match 3. The truly outstanding thing is the soundtrack - it's orchestral and very easy to listen to. Artistically, it's well drawn and colorful, but looks like illustrations for a toddler book.
The story is insipid, as are the "ghosts" you interact with. Interspersed with the M3s are HOS and mahjong type mini-games. The HOS are the find x number of the item, and they were pretty easy. The mahjong is insultingly easy for anyone who has ever played any mahjong games at all. The minis can be skipped, but you will earn coins for doing them.
The coins you earn are used to build a city for your ghostly friends. You do not have a choice of where to put your buildings, and play is pretty linear. You can choose between 3 buildings which to do next, but all 3 have to be done before moving to the next group.
The M3 boards have some interesting twists and powerups, and they become rather difficult to work with by level 16 or so. The boards are cluttered with fossils, frozen tiles, ivy, locks and keys, and every other device known to M3 gaming all on one board.
If you really like M3s, you may find it entertaining. It's a no-buy for me. I'm not keen on M3s to start with, but this one is just too... "sweet" and cluttered up.
Thumbs up for the music. The rest was a bore.
I don't recommend this game.
Solve the riddles of the faraway land and Asian generosity will know no bounds!
Overall rating
4
/
5
Good little game without bells and whistles
PostedJuly 23, 2013
phatkhat
fromAsh Flat, AR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I'm addicted to picross, and have every one that I know of, including some not available here. This is no World Mosaics or Gemsweeper, not even World Riddles or Arizona Rose. But it's fun, and pretty relaxing.
There are 9 scenes, each with 12 levels. This game is not eye candy, for sure, as it is done in grey and red, and is very basic, with no fancy animations, nor even any story.
It's all about the puzzles. I've finished the 3d scene, and, so far, they are hard enough to make you think, but not mind-boggling. The grids are 10x15 in this level. I think they don't get really large.
Like World Mosaics, you earn hints by correctly filling squares. You can buy upgrades in the shop, like extra allowable errors. (Default is only 2.) Unlike WM, they mark off numbers before you "close" them with an x, and that can be confusing. I wish they hadn't done that. So far, I have not found ambiguities - or places you have to guess. A couple have looked like it, but if you logic it out, there is only one solution. That's not to say I won't find any later...
If you like picross, you will probably want this one. It will tide you over until another WM or WR comes out. (Dang, I wish there were a Gemsweeper 2! Love the professor's jokes, LOL.)
I recommend this game!