Archive for February 2010
Tremendously popular Wedding Dash series from PlayFirst and Sarbakan is continued by another great game. Both fans of the series and a passersby will be delighted to meet Flo and Quinn and even god of love Cupid.
As we visit DinerTown again we discover that love is regulated just like any other business with norms, quotas; even gods obey the rules. The yearly quota of loving couples was not met because the love deity was either slaking or unlucky this particular year. Thus Cupid has two meager months to rectify the situation. In case of failure our little deity will get sacked by his mystifying boss.
Quinn, the marvelous wedding planner, is also in trouble. She planned her own wedding since she was a girl. As a fabulous opportunity at a resort she always wanted to get married at arose due to a last-minute cancellation she decided not to waste the time and paid at once. The tricky part is her boyfriend Joe, the photographer, hasn’t proposed yet. Thus we have two desperate people. No wonder they made a deal as soon as they stumble upon each other. According to the agreement Cupid nudges Joe into proposing and Quinn assists Cupid with filling in the quote of happy couples. Of course it is not the whole story but I promise not to spoil the fun any more!
You will be organizing weddings in 5 rather creative if odd locations, since everything is already booked. Each of the locations has 10 levels and a bonus mini-game. Before starting the level you will be making choices of food and music, decoration preferable and such. Don’t forget to consult with the couple! Since it’s time management game keeping within time limit is essential. The same goes for budget. As long as you spend only after careful consideration you may receive extra Love Tokens which later can be used to buy upgrades.
As long as you are successfully dealing with all kinds of guests, keep track of seating and eating arrangements, relieve them of gifts and such you will be gaining bonuses. There are also disasters to avoid. If you do so successfully extra points are in order!
After completing the level you may spend Love Tokens on necessary upgrades. I advise you to buy some cherubs. They are quite handy. And the idea of cherubs carrying dishes is cool!
All in all Wedding Dash is a great game with amusing animation and interesting story. A good one to try!
Jojo’s Fashion Show series is a well – known quality product which we learn to love. Fashion Show World Tour when all’s said and done is the very best you can expect and maybe even more. It outshines the previous games having an additional number of creative possibilities and with better gameplay. Even the sloppiest of gamers will get some fashion knowledge from this mix of up-to-date fashions. You’ll have no choice because of the hours of game-play with exciting twists to keep you interested.
The story in Fashion Show World Tour is a lot more interesting than the previous games. The plot gets a little twisty to keep us entertained. Time from the first game passed and Jojo’s daughter Rosalinda already works on her own fashion line. Jojo though happy for her daughter is a tad frustrated because she is forced to find a new assistant and replace her. After Jojo sees a number of applicants she chooses Haley, a young woman named who shows real promise. The problem is Haley has a hidden agenda of her own. She wants things that don’t belongs to her such as Jojo’s career or Rosalind’s boyfriend.
The game offers a wonderful diverse locations such as Rio de Janeiro or Amsterdam, London or Tokyo and – can you believe it – Jakarta. It is a good way to know something new in addition to usual gaming fun.
You are offered three models. Helpfully the style is listed above the model’s head. You will be mostly working with females but sometimes male models are offered too. You will mix and match clothes trying to fit into the style. Mind that the time is limited and if you are slow your model goes on the runway in what is better described as a negligee. What a nasty surprise I had when it happened! With time, as you’ve learned the demands of the style your shows will be more successful.
What I liked most is learning a lot of new know-how of fashion world. For example in the game real styles were used. Even styles’ names sound exciting – Bold Betawi, Gothic Loli or Copacabana to name a few. Additionally you are couched street-styles of the places you visit.
If you are tired from treading a worn path you may start designing your very own outfits. You get instant feedback as you make your work of art, and can see how many of the criteria you’ve met. A little bonuses like music and applause of the viewers add the atmosphere to the game.
All in all Fashion Show World Tour offers approximately 12 hours of game-play with graphics and atmosphere making the game hard to forget.
Our plucky and inventive protagonist Flo will be doing her best to make another business flourish. This time management game is finely-tuned and full of action – you won’t be bored! As the story goes Flo’s friend Quinn wants to expand her business. In addition to wedding shop she wants to offer honeymoon packages. The problem is once she booked the hotel she discovered that it is not as good as she wants it to be. Here comes Flo who has a great experience in making even the weakest business profitable and successful.
Sometimes I wish that the world was as easy as video games. Imagine how easy will be a life of a hotel manager were he able to drag and drop his guests wherever he wanted to. Sadly real life won’t work this way. But practising the dragging and dropping is possible – try playing Hotel Dash! Running the hotel is not very complicated it seems – as soon as patrons entered they go to the desk to wait for you. You will lead them to the room of your choice. Don’t forget the luggage! There is also feeding them and little necessities such as towels and wake-up calls to care about but mostly you just collect the money.
There are, of course, certain types of guests. Larger parties require bigger rooms and impatient people will make you move faster to keep them happy. You’ll get a pleasant bonus if you match the color guest’s clothes to that of his room which, I admit, took me by surprise.
As in most time management games you can upgrade. Upgrades are the most important parts of the Hotel Dash though. Better carpet in the lobby and more exquisite honey-moon suite are actually the first purpose of your playing.
The whole series present us with colorful characters and Hotel Dash is not the exception. Unique quirks of each type will make you loathe some and like the others.
From the main menu you can choose an endless mode which will offer additional challenge to those with hunger for excitement.
On the downside I found the game somewhat short but it happens all the time with really good ones so I can’t complain. An experienced player will fly through it in one long afternoon. Even then I advise to try it. Still it’s cr?me de la cr?me of the genre, a classic example of a time management game well-made. It, as the best games do, will keep you playing even if you have things to do. And don’t we all crave exactly that?
In this game you will play Ruby Easton who works as a reporter for Entertainment Now, a television entertainment show. If her being world biggest fan of REO Speedwagon isn’t weird enough for you then consider the fact that she knows all songs they ever recorded, which versions they played at which shows, moreover she toured extensively with the band and mentions band-members by name.
For those unimpressed I confirm – it’s still a hidden object adventure game. During the game-play you will collect a bunch of useful objects to help solving the puzzles. Each chapter of the game contains hidden object scenes and puzzles. As the story goes, right after Ruby finishes a news piece about the band she discovers a conspicuous absence of lead vocalist of the group.
While the story is not that exciting (at least for me) there is a wide variety of hidden object game modes included in the game. Those include finding hidden objects in a particular order, finding a certain number of like objects or taking pictures of various portions of a scene, etc. That pleasant particularity is a very nice change from overused ways most of hidden object games are done these days.
I liked Find Your Own Way Home more than I thought I would. If you think you’ll stomach a dose of REO Speedwagon fanaticism you’ll enjoy it too.
Devotees of time management games have seen it all. Or so it appears this way to us. Additionally Be Richer being a sequel to Be Rich doesn’t sound extremely exciting. It is especially so if you hear it called a clone of the Build A Lot series. I mean why even try it? That’s the way I thought till I actually tried to play Be Richer. The game’s developers actually managed to present a number of unique and interesting innovations. I freely admit that I want to become richer as just about everyone else.
As we can glean from the title of the game your main objective will be accumulation of maximum wealth. To do so you will be engaged in building and construction of town and cities. Profitable deals involving building, buying, developing and selling houses and cinemas, schools and shops. Being a real estate magnate sounds more and more appealing, doesn’t it? Why don’t you try to grow to be one?
As this game is a true stimulation you will be presented with goals and corresponding time frames. All your skill and knowledge will be necessary to do all planning and improving your strategy in order to fulfil each goal in the given time period. Beating a deadline is essential because as usual in the games of this genre the faster you move the bigger reward.
I emphasize the importance of good strategy. To make a shop profitable you will need to build houses for people who later will be your customers. Planning all the way is the key to be richer!
The game offers you different kinds of activity. You will buy and sell but also bulldoze and construct. As soon you managed to meet another goal you will be getting loads of cash. As in the real life if you upgrade an estate with a beautiful park or build something to entertain people you will profit. It pays well!
Even if it sounds somewhat like its predecessor Be Richer offers more playing possibilities and new motivations. The game is a multi level strategic stimulation with interesting interaction and great graphics. Even if at the first glance it may sound similar to a vast majority of other games of the genre you absolutely must try it. A lot of people end addicted to the game since it provides the challenge of using your brain (for once!) and a lot of strategy, patience and planning. Imagining yourself a financial and real estate tycoon is an added bonus.
All in all Be Richer will appeal to both devoted players of Be Rich and to newbies of the genre. The game offers a challenge and it is one difficult to skip too!
In Luxor Adventures from Mumbo Jumbo you will join John Swift and Jane Graham as the pair travels through the past to keep history-flow intact and to stop Seth Hisster who tries to change it in order to gain more power.
More details of the story will be presented during animated cut-scene sequences. You will hop from time period to time period each time trying to fish out hidden object that does not belong there.
As usual in a hidden object game you will find items by clicking on them. Said items are listed on the bottom of the screen by name or sometimes there is only a hint. Each level contains one or two puzzles, two orbs and two Ankhs to find. Each level is timed though time is in abundance. There are more than usual hidden objects to find and sometimes they are secreted well enough to turn the game tricky. Use hints if baffled.
Also don’t worry about game-time as you can replay the game a number of times while keeping it enjoyable – different hidden object per scene each time will guarantee quality time. Luxor game pops up every four levels or so which helps to break the routine somewhat. Also available is a number of other mini-games.
Keep in mind that the game is very well done with certain sophistication with special effects and animated sequences, detailed artwork and great music. I truly recommend it!
If we all will learn to manage the time in our business better the crisis will never come, the sun will shine and there will be world peace. And we will be rich and happy. Each and everyone! Err… sorry. The amount of time management games I’ve reviewed lately got me a little carried away.
Anyway, efficient time management is very profitable. To reinforce this idea you might want to play a game or two of Sally’s Spa.
If you’d rather sit in your comfy chair and manage some obscure business instead of doing it in real life I recommend you to try your hand in spa management. It’s the next game in series after Sally’s Salon where my job was to establish, upgrade and promote the salon which Sally owned. Now the plucky entrepreneur decided to find herself a challenge and to try her hand in something diverse and when a neglected spa on a Californian beach caught her attention she bought it at once.
Don’t worry. Even if management of an establishment which offers everything from facial to sauna will keep Sally on her toes there is nothing super difficult in it. As in a multitude of other time management games you are supposed to move customers from one location to the other making sure they are happy.
As a manager of spa you are supposed to move very quickly and efficiently trying to make your customers happy. If a customer waits too long he is likely to walk away. Depleting hearts (an indicator of customer’s happiness) are a way to monitor your patrons. Also mind that some areas of your spa are more popular so try not to create crowds and queues. As long as clients are happy they will pay which is the reason of your work in the first place.
As soon as you start make money from your enterprise reinvestment of profits is a good idea. You are able to upgrade your old products and buy new ones. Hiring additional help sounds like a good idea too. A little tip – if you upgrade the clothing of your employee’s they tend to move faster. So spread money around it tends to multiply this way.
Extra mini-games help to break the routine and are difficult just enough to be entertaining. If you have played Sally’s Salon already then you know what to expect. The atmosphere of day-to-day business operations is supported by good graphics and crisp sounds. As your business grows you may open new spas all over the world.
Overall the game is rather challenging but that’s what we all looking for, aren’t we?
THE OTHERSIDE: REALM OF EONSб a game by NFO Company, presents us with a story of Miranda – an author going through a severe case of writer’s block. This game will appeal to true devotees of the genre – all you have to do is to chase one hidden object after the other. Don’t be afraid – usual puzzles and tasks are present but the majority of your time will be taken with hidden object hunt.
The game stands out of the legions of others by its striking visual design. Each level is like a gift – stunning and remarkable. It is especially true for the levels depicting fantastic OtherSide. For hidden object game such design is a very remarkable bonus making time spent on it truly worthwhile.
Even if we all came to expect puzzles a welcome change from constant hidden object hunt in this game you will enjoy them. The jigsaw puzzles will certainly grab your attention since doing those you will experience the artwork of the game fully. If you get confused solving those – the hints are available.
An adrenaline junky may find The Otherside: Realm of Eons a little slow. It will be most appreciated by the people who like to settle down and leisurely enjoy good time and good show. Since the story is so engaging I found myself doing just this.
Among multitude of farming games which march like an army of clones and ambush you at every site and store Tropical Farm by Alawar needed something really interesting to catch the eye. Casual market recently is so full of those look-alikes that something with a ‘farm’ in the name has to be really special to compete. In this particular case among same old a welcome difference is hidden – the story in Tropical Farm is actually rather imaginative.
Greenfield Islands suffered a natural disaster. Dangerous tornado swept away all fruits of natives labor leaving the place desolate and empty. To solve the problem and re-develop the place its government decides to attract volunteers. To sweeten the deal each contestant will get an island and the one who wins will be able to use or lease the island for next 50 years. Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it?
You, as a lucky guy that you are, somehow discovered a certain formula which makes plants grow momentarily. Quite handy that. And right in time too.
Still as a farm-oriented game the developers couldn’t go far from the common basics. The only change is you will be planting pineapples, bananas or grapes in addition to wheat and corn. Also there are bees, peacocks and ostriches. As usual the further you play the higher is the level of difficulty of the game. A long way goes, for example, from making grapes to making vine.
Thankfully in this game as opposed to real life plants won’t die on you and the cost per each seed is precisely what you get when you sell one fruit. Each day the player has various orders to fulfill. Please keep in mind that only ordered products get paid so extra peacocks no matter how beautiful they are to you won’t be bringing profit. Planning your planting ahead within certain time limit may be tricky in the beginning but you’ll manage.
As you get more efficient you will be able to upgrade your skills. There are 5 skills available and each has 3 stars level. Learning won’t be free so plan your profits ahead.
As you move on your way to wealth you are able to make an already beautiful island even better. After completing each level you are able to build something like a mansion or a school.
The graphics and animation of Tropical Farm are in fact magnificent. I especially liked the way they made animals – so cute!
All things considered, for lovers of on-line farming Tropical Farm is a nice challenge and in all ways a quality product worth a try.
The game will take you into the crime world of New York, investigating murders, drug-related crimes and corrupted cops. This game is a real winner combining exceptional graphics and captivating story which will catch your attention from the start.
As Carrie Chase, a young detective, you will have to investigate a double murder and find clues to reveal the culprits. As usually in hidden object games you will search for clues trying to solve the crime and at the same time uncover complicated details of Carrie’s life.
Using handy forensic tools in your investigation you will hunt each clue as in real crime investigation. For example you will match finger prints or find the differences in blood samples in a fully equipped lab.
Masters of Mystery: Blood of Betrayal is fairly long with each hidden object different when you replay the scene. Timed or Relaxed game modes and unlimited hints will allow you to customize the game to your liking. When hunting for hidden object you’ll notice its relevance to the scene which helps to create the atmosphere. The same works for mini-games which are relevant and interlink with the story.
As a classic hidden object game, Masters of Mystery: Blood of Betrayal won’t make you sorry for getting it. The game offers 4-5 hours of quality game-time for the devotees of the genre.
