This is a new thread so that we can continue our What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? This will be part two. The other thread is quite long so I have started a new one.

You can find Part One of the discussion here.

I'm playing the latest Ameranthine Voyage (Legacy of the Guardians). I have played seven other games in this series and been happy with them, some more than others. (As usual, there is no continuity of subject with previous Ameranthine episodes, so you can play the games in any order you like.)

This game is good, and if you play it on "Hard," the mini-games are suitably pesky for me. The graphics are more than decent, as usual, and the HO scenes are not unduly obscure, but I am not feeling as engaged with the game as I have been with others in this series. I find I just don't care about the characters, nor their quest.

Thank you for your thoughts on the game, Reenie. I haven't played this game. I have only played three games in this series so far. Good to read your description of it.

Thanks. Yes, I enjoyed Burning Sky, Tree of Life and Winter Neverending in this series far more than the new Legacy episode. In fact, Winter Neverending is one of my Top 20 Casuals, and it was an older game. I've already replayed it.

Yesterday, rather late in the day for this seasonable title, I started "Christmas Stories : The Christmas Tree Forest" but really didn't like it at all ....
So I uninstalled it and started "Bridge to Another World : Secrets of the Nutcracker" instead - which I found MUCH more enjoyable
And I've played another little chunk of that today

Good to hear your update, Mad. What was it about Christmas Tree Forest that put you off? I haven't played it.

I just finished the Mystery Tales: The Other Side CE. Before that, I played the Nevertales: Hearthbridge Cabinet CE. Enjoyed them both. I am easy to please these days, I guess!

Somehow I missed your post Mad. I'm also curious as to what you didn't like about Christmas Stories: The Christmas Tree Forest. I have not purchased it yet but it's on my list. Did you finish the game or dislike it so much that you uninstalled without finishing?

Since I last posted, I have only finished Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze. I resorted to a game guide to finish up the final maze. If my XP and Win 10 didn't share this monitor, I probably would have tried the maze another time (I had found most of the stuff I needed) before consulting the guide but did not feel like wasting any more time on it.

I also started Amaranthine Voyage 4: The Obsidian Book. I'm not sure about this game yet, though I've played it twice now. I guess at the moment, I'm neutral on it.

It sounds to me like Mad uninstalled Christmas Tree Forest prior to finishing the game.

Are you saying that this is your third playthrough of Obsidian Book, oldbroad?

Sounds that way to me too Marian. (About Mad not finishing the game.)

No. Sorry. This is the first time I am playing Obsidian Book. I meant I've had two play sessions with the game so far but have still not formed any opinion of it.

Oh, I see. Thanks for clarifying.

Yes. I uninstalled "Christmas Stories : The Christmas Tree Forest" without finishing it.
I didn't like the type of graphics it employed or the type of puzzles either - but, of course, both could well suit lots of other people !!

And after all, I'm not bound to like every Casual game I play, although I do like most

EDIT :

I also meant to say that the more I've played of the Nutcracker game the more I've liked it

[Not had too much time to play but made up for it today.]

Thanks Mad. And of course you're not bound to like every game you play, but tis a shame anyway.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the Nutcracker game though!

I'm playing Secret City: Mysterious Collection CE. I bought it because there was a Sale and because I had enjoyed a couple of the earlier Secret City games (London Calling was pretty decent). This one feels like they phoned it in. The artwork is minimal and jerky (sorta like those TV cartoons where they have to show the characters running but only draw them from the waist up so they don't have to spend all that time/money animating their legs). Everything is in Disney primary colors, like they think their audience is a third grader still playing with crayons. Aside from a couple of good puzzles (only if you play on Hard setting), there isn't much to maintain your interest. As for an original story line or any attempt at characterization, fuggedaboudit. It is a shame. I don't usually pan a game this seriously. Still, there are lots of good games out there, so I'll finish this one and then go looking for them.

I have the game too, Reenie, so I will get a chance to see for myself. You are right, though - there are plenty more games out there!

I was digging into a bookshelf today and found a stash of CDs of games. Wasn't sure they'd still load (from 2009), but I put in House of 1000 Doors (Family Secrets) and it booted right up. What a joy to replay this game. It is from a time when artwork was realistic. Wood looks like wood, with "grain," and isn't blue or orange. In fact, there is none of that candy-colored art and purple or green smoke that are so ubiquitous in contemporary games. Every scene is gorgeous. You can choose Easy or Hard for each puzzle, so anyone can find their level of challenge. I had forgotten how good these early games were. I found about a dozen and will happily play my way through them as the days go forward. Yay!

That's great, Reenie! I am planning on replaying House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets very soon. It's been so long since I played it that I am sure that it will seem like a new game. Glad you are playing it and have more good early games to look forward to!

Reenie, I have all 4 House of 1000 Doors games and haven't yet played any of them. The first 3 I have are also on discs. Good to know they still work. I've tried quite a few of the old Casual discs in Windows 7 (not in 10 yet which I'm assuming you are using) and haven't found any yet that didn't work.

I am enjoying this old game, so far. I have the others in the series as BF downloads.

The game is excellent and I am happy playing it because it is so multi-layered and challenging, but I will say three things:
One: There is no Map. Maybe other people don't use them as much as I do, but they save a lot of running around. This game involves constant to-and-fro, when something you find at "Point A" has to be used at "Point F," and the paths of travel can be long ~ especially if there is an elevator sequence to repeat again and again. It is realistic, if you actually were the investigator on the scene; you'd have to slog it out. Still, I wouldn't mind a fast-transport option. :-)
Two: The HO scenes, while very well rendered, include many objects that are exceedingly small. For my old eyes, these objects are hard to find and I have had to get a Clue to find many of them. (Things like acorns and paper clips, drawn to scale.)
Three: The background "music" is comprised of a single, short theme that repeats endlessly. In these older games, you can't turn off the music apart from the sound. After hours of play, you may be trying to not hear it.

Edit: Well, ahem, I have to correct Item 1 above: There IS a map. I just didn't see it because I don't consult the Guide to read what to do. (Kinda spoils the game to be led by the nose.) Anyway, if you want a Map, find your way to the Guide and open it.

I’m currently playing “Mystery Case Files: Black Crown”. Not sure how I feel about it. The story is a bit odd, imo. As much as I like a game with plenty of locations to explore, this game has more than seem necessary. There’s a lot of going back and forth to use inventory items. I’ve found the map to be essential. On the other hand, there are plenty of good puzzles for those who enjoy them. And HOS are challenging enough. The game is not at all what I’d expect from the MCF series though. Maybe that’s why the story seems odd to me. All in all, the game is a nice, long diversion. That’s about it for me,

This is great information, Sparkle and Reenie. The drawbacks you mention with 1000 Doors, Reenie, I know I'd be okay with, but good to mention it.

I haven't played Black Crown, Sparkle. Thanks for the feedback about it. Much appreciated.

I just finished Chimeras: Inhuman Nature CE. It was not a very long game, nor was it anything unusual or different from what we have seen already, but it suited me just fine for the several hours that I played it. I think I was in the mood for something simple and relatively uncomplicated.

I have 4 x House of 1000 Doors games - and have played 3 of them so far.

It's a series I do really like

So - earlier this week I finally finished the Lost Lands series of seven games. I can't say enough good about them! They did everything right as far as I am concerned. The stories, the interface, the graphics, the music, and the total attention to detail. The only downside is, now I am spoiled by such superior quality that I get dissatisfied with other games that don't measure up. I'll get over it, but my admiration for the 5BN team will never go away.

This morning I played the entire main game of Mystery of the Ancients, Curse of the Black Water. Start to finish in one sitting! I don't think I have ever done that before. (A short bonus chapter yes, but never the primary game.) It's a good game to be sure, but I am guilty of thinking "5BN wouldn't have done it that way." Unfair, and as I said, will get over it. Maybe. Now it's time to log on to BBO and play Bridge.

Tally Ho, if you haven't already, try the Darkness and Flame and New York Mysteries series from 5 BN. The games in this series are all very good, too. I can post the order that the games should be played, if you would like.

Lost Lands is also very replayable, as there is so much to them that after a few months I don't remember a lot of the details.

And yes, Mystery of the Ancients is a really good series, but most games will fall short if compared to 5 BN - I agree with you there.

I played at least one of the New York Mysteries, and liked it. Wasn't familiar with the developer at the time.

And haven't heard of the Darkness and Flames. Would appreciate knowing the order they came out, thanks.

______________

Just looked to see; Lantern of Souls and The Outbreak (don't remember that one at all)

Here is the series in order of when the games were released. Both Collector's Editions and standard games are listed.

Darkness and Flame

There are also New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia and New York Mysteries: High Voltage (mentioning it just in case you missed one of those)

Another series by 5 BN consists of the Legacy games:

The Legacy: Prisoner

The Legacy: Forgotten Gates

The Legacy: The Tree of Might

I haven't played The Legacy games yet so don't know if it matters but I think the order is (1) Forgotten Gates, (2) Prisoner, and (3) The Tree of Might.

Yes, you are correct about the order of release, oldbroad. I too am not sure whether the order matters in this instance. I haven't played any of the Legacy games yet, but they were very well received.

I thought the fourth game in D&F, Enemy in Reflection, was the best of the series. It was like they hit their stride with that one. The mini-games were original and creative, the atmosphere was natural as opposed to a lot of purple smoke and it was the most engaging. The others were too easy to be fun; meant for younger players.

I have to say that I did not find the other games in the Darkness and Flame series too easy, nor did I think they were geared towards younger players. Maybe that's just me.

The three Legacy games are three of my absolute favourite Casuals and I've played all of them three times now.
And just talking about them makes me want to play them again !!

(They don't need to be played in any specific order.)

So glad to know that they are three of your favorite casuals!

So I got the trial version of Legacy Forgotten Gates - that's a keeper!

(Shades of Stargate 🤩 )

Great, Tally Ho! You really should check out the Darkness and Flame series too if you haven't already.

If you like Forgotten Gates, you'll also like the third in this series, Tree of Might. Happy gaming!

All three Legacy games are "quality", Tally Ho

I just finished Paranormal Files: The Trap of Truth CE. I thought it was quite a good game, with a few puzzles that I hadn't seen much before if at all.

This morning, I started replaying the oldie, Mystery Trackers: Black Isle. This is one of the games I recently found in my closet, on DVD. It is simply fabulous! Top notch design, creativity and follow-through. It is intelligently crafted, the sound effects add tremendously to the feel of the game, all the artwork is realistic, the puzzles are challenging as is the creative use of Inventory and there are no pop-ups to break the Fifth Wall. The only downside is the frequency of HO scenes, the fact that some of them respawn and the very small size of some of the objects. It is like they don't want you to be able to find the items. ha ha

The game involves a LOT of running around, back and forth, revisiting sites repeatedly. When you find a piece of Inventory, your next move invariably is to run off to the furthest away location to use it. You can transport, in a general way, to the three main locations of the site, but there still is a lot of shagging around involved with repeat visits. It isn't one of those games where you enter a location, do a couple things to be done there, and then go dashing off somewhere else with that scene in your rear view mirror. You'll return again and again to work things out.

With this game, you definitely need to take extensive and thorough notes or buy the CE version with an onboard Walkthrough. I am a serious note-taker, but I have lost track of what I was doing or where that tiny piece of inventory needed to be used ~ multiple times.

Still, I'm enjoying the game because it obviously was a labor of love by the team that created it. It stands far above most of the HOAs I've played in the last couple of years. They all seem primitive and shallow in comparison, with their garish colors and simple puzzles. Now that I have found it again, I know I'll want to replay this game yet again after a few months. :-D

Started "Lost Lands : The Golden Curse CE" today - and it's lookin' good

Finished the first two Legacy games, and about to start the third, "Tree of Might."

They went seemingly quickly, for a couple of reasons. First, I don't think they were designed to be as long as the Lost Land games, and the Bonus games are particularly short; and second, I have gotten so accustomed to 5 BN's style, that I spent far less time trying to find morphing and collectible objects and get on with the business of the game (which is also somewhat predictable due to experience.)

None of that is a complaint mind you - these are beautifully produced games, and they all have what I have said so many times is the most important element in a game - a good story line.

OK - enough blathering; let's get back to playing.

That's how I play, Tally Ho. I ignore morphing objects (unless they are vital to game progress) and don't "collect" items either unless they, too, are vital.

But story IS important to me. And I feel the Legacy games have good, solid, if maybe more old fashioned in style, stories

Oh - Surprise!! I started Tree of Might, and found my name as player already there. And I was into the game a few scenes. Apparently I downloaded the Demo when the game first came out; and never bought it. Well, not remembering the beginning would be a problem, so created a new player and started fresh. Glad I did!

(Noticed that sometimes in the dialogue, they refer to the "Tree of Power" - send for the continuity editor 🤣 )

I finished Amaranthine Voyage: The Obsidian Book a few days ago but haven't yet started another regular casual game. This game was just okay. I am playing a (more or less) straight hog Amazing Adventures: The Caribbean Secret and also a Match 3 game, Cradle of Persia. I lost in level 61 though and have to restart the game. Argh .

You have to restart the whole game if you lose one level ?? After having played 61 levels ??

Aggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I remember Cradle of Persia as being one challenging game. I never made it through that one. Maybe I will give it another whirl at some point.

I just replayed Paranormal Files: The Trap of Truth CE. I think that is the first time I ever played a HOPA two times in a row with no other game in between. I decided to play the game again so that I could try to get all the collectibles and obtain all the pieces to a jigsaw puzzle you can put together in the Secret Room bonus content. I had fun with it. I also wanted to solve a couple of puzzles that I had skipped the first time.

So, I went to restart Cradle of Persia and it gave me the option to "continue". I clicked it thinking it would then tell me I had to restart but it only kicked me back to level 52 so I played that for awhile even though I could have completed it at least one time, but I was trying to build up some resources. I cannot keep enough lives though so I'm sure I'll run into trouble again soon.

Good Luck, oldbroad.

[I will still definitely be giving this one a miss, myself !!!! Phew ]

Congratulations on getting so far in the game, oldbroad!

I just finished the Mystery Trackers: Fatal Lesson CE. Not sure what's up next.

I just finished replaying Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town, and now am starting the Bonus Game. This game by Viva Media, from about ten years ago, has all the excellent and realistic artwork that I enjoy in a game. In fact, the graphics are superb throughout and the environmental sounds support and augment each scene. There are no pop-ups and no purple smoke, but you can look for Morphing Objects if that is your thing.

At a few points in the game, you interact with other characters, which enhances the sense of reality. I've gotten a little bored with games in which my character wanders around totally alone the entire time, or if there are other characters in the game, they are strictly eye candy and you have no meaningful interactions with them.

The game is deliciously complex, with a multi-stranded story line that follows diverging threads of inquiry all the way through and features some creative puzzles in a wide variety of styles. A few are real stinkers. Nothing is timed. The HO scenes can be a challenge due to their realism (if you are looking for a cork, it will be a small brownish item, not a garishly yellow object the size of a coconut).

It is one my Top 20 favorites in the casual games genre, so I was delighted to have found it in the cache of CDs in my cabinet. I'm working my through them all, happily.

Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town is a terrific game. The developer is Five BN (perhaps Viva Media was the publisher of your CD version?).

I definitely recommend it.

Hm. I actually have that game downloaded on my Win 10 computer waiting to be played.

Marian - I had played the demo of Paranormal Files: The Trap of Truth CE, and never bought it. Now I have, and that's what I am playing now. Not bad.

I am glad you like it, Tally Ho. If you don't compare it to Five BN, I thought it was entertaining.

Yeah, the box doesn't say anything about 5BN, just Viva Media. Either way, terrific game.

I started my replay of Dream Chronicles 3: The Chosen Child last night and tonight I started playing Living Legends 8: The Crystal Tear. It's been a while since I played the other Living Legends games but this one seems to be quite different, or is my memory just bad?

I haven't played The Crystal Tear yet so can't offer an opinion.

Actually, looking at game descriptions of the other 7 games, I guess it is just my bad memory. Not sure what I was thinking about.

Well, this time I made it through Level 61 of Cradle of Persia but with only seconds to spare, no power up bonuses left, and only 1 life to go into Level 62.

I know the feeling!

I'm playing through the two Awakening games, Goblin Kingdom and Skyward Castle. The box says they were written for WinXP/7/8, but they are playing just fine on Win10, using Compatability mode. I played these years ago, but just found the cases in a bookshelf. The games are a bit too cutesy and are dated (no character dialog, repetitive music track, etc.). I only rate them as being "so-so" but the mini-games are a challenge at times, so I'm happy.

Some I liked better than others, but I have found all of the Boomzap HOPAs to be good.

I finished the Grim Facade: Sinister Obsession CE last night. I enjoyed it.

Just ordered two "Mystery of the Ancients" games I don't yet have - from the current Big Fish CE Sale. So one of those is likely to be my next play

Mud Water Creek and Black Dagger

I enjoyed both of those games, Mad.

That's good to know, Marian, thank you

I hope you like them, Mad. But you are certainly not obligated to do so!

I'm sure I will, thanks, Marian.
Not that many Casuals disappoint me because that's what I I play them as .... "Casuals" .... and don't expect a full "Adventure" production.
So over the years very few have fallen by the wayside

Very true for me too, Mad.

Well, started "Mystery of the Ancients : Black Dagger" and am liking it

Good to know!

Made it to Level 92 in Cradle of Persia, lost all my lives with 1 lousy square left to remove from the board and got kicked all the way back to Level 52 again.

I'm speechless, oldbroad

I know that feeling too, unfortunately. Ouch!

Is Cradle Of Persia a timed game?

It is a timed Match 3 game, yes, not a HOG type game.

I just finished playing Shiver: Poltergeist by Viva Media. This is another CD version game that I found in my cupboard and reloaded. It is an excellent game, created in the style of a long-play Adventure game. A refreshing improvement on so many contemporary HOAs.

The artwork is all realistic and the sound effects are terrific (rain, wind, lightning, running water, etc.) The game is alive: leaves blow in the wind, trees and grasses sway, debris drifts by, clouds morph as they cross the sky, torches flutter and create light patterns on the stone walls, etc. Somehow, the objects have weight in this game. This is how "adventure" games used to be. No "flat," candy-colored objects and not a sign of purple or green smoke.

It is a challenging game as well, with a lot to be done and a lot of room in which to do it. None of that enter a scene, do a few things and move on stuff. You spend some time re-examining and re-exploring as you wander around an island and its buildings, frequently backtracking. There are all the usual things to fix, assemble from scratch or create from found materials. It is SO much more immersive than recent games and I was so caught up in the environment that I was a little surprised to find the day sunny outside, when I turned off the game.

I loved it and am so glad I didn't toss it after finishing it all those years ago.

I loved Shiver: Poltergeist. I have played it twice and will probably play it again at some point.

I thought the same thing when I finished it today. Such a large game, so much to do, to figure out.

I have Shiver: Poltergeist on disc also. Another one I haven't played yet.

It almost seems like I am having less time to play lately even though I am not doing anything more than I was before. Reading here about all these good sounding games that I have but have not played is making me crazy. I will never be able to play them all.

Oldbroad, I felt the same way. The end of March last year I started keeping a list of casual games as I played and finished them and that has made me feel a lot better. Looking at the list, I am now up to #100. This helps me feel like I have actually put a dent in my unplayed-games pile.

You must have SO many, Marian. You are on top of all the Casual games. I have no "unplayed" games. When I buy one, I play it immediately.

Yes, Reenie, I have enough casual games to sink the Titanic. I have been buying games from Big Fish for nearly 15 years now.

I have games I bought years ago (and of all genres, not just Casuals) that I haven't yet played.

But even so I will still opt to re-play a favourite

Marian, since 2018 I've been having lists of games played, casual and adventure, and whether they are first time plays or replays. It went from 64 in 2018, to 96 in 2019, and back down to 64 in 2020. Not sure why though.

Those are combined totals, adventure and casual. I do have them broken down on my lists. Casuals go 29, 43, 39.

I just finished the latest Labyrinths of the World game, "Eternal Winter." I have played more than a dozen of the games in this series, with quite different reactions to each. Some have been good and there are two that I marked for possible Replay. A few that I bought and played fall in the middle range of quality, while some have been so uninspired that I bailed on the Demo.

I bought this last one without playing the Demo, and it ranks among the worst. Everything was wrong with it. Shallow characters, Disney-cartoon-type art work overburdened with saturated and completely unrealistic color rendering, all that multi-colored smoke obscuring each scene (does this save them from having to execute better art?), mini-games that were childishly easy (I played on the "Hard" setting) and/or nonsensical, no real story line.

In looking at my spreadsheet, only the LOTW games that were a couple of years old even got "Good" ratings. This is the first game in a very long time that I contemplated just bailing out of and unloading from my computer. I couldn't wait for it to end. It seems they have lost their way, and if they can't invest more effort into their games than this, I won't be drawn to future offers in this series. In fact, I'm going to take a jaded look at any games issued by Domini. Just my view. Others' may differ.

I appreciate your opinions on the game, Reenie. I haven't played it yet, but I probably will. Just not sure when.

Well, we can't love them all!

Tonight, I reloaded Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, another of the old games I bought in CDs. It is compelling and adult. Amazing complexity, great attention to detail, excellent artwork, creative ideas and pesky, unusual puzzles that make you work. This is what captured my attention in casual games. I have really missed it in the contemporary HOA games.

Dorian Gray Syndrome is another one of the great games, for sure! I think I am probably overdue for a replay on that one.

Just finished the second Darkness and Flame (Missing Memories) - thanks again to Marian. 5BN quality all the way. They understand when they get it right, stick with it. Certain facets of the games get predictable, but that is absolutely no problem. I am still thoroughly enjoying their series.

When I started the first one, Born of Fire, I was somewhat unimpressed - and went on to play another game in the meantime; but came back for a second chance; glad I did!

I am so glad you are enjoying this series too, Tally Ho!

Agreed that is a decent series. I've played four of them, and found Enemy in Reflection to be the best so far. Natural atmosphere, adult protagonist, fine graphics and creative (original) puzzles.

Mad, I had to look at BF to see when I joined. 2013. Prior to that, I bought their games in CD format from local retailers. It doesn't state at BF how many games I've bought from their web site, but I have over 600 games in my Excel database. There was a period of an entire year when I was recovering from a bad accident and spent most of my time in bed. Lots of reading and playing time.

My hubster reminded me that I had joined Big Fish a few years earlier but bailed out after a few years because I wasn't playing enough to warrant the monthly dues. A year later, I signed up again, but not for the monthly "dues." Not important, just wanted to be accurate.

I made it through Level 99 and then got kicked back to Level 52 (in my Match 3 game). Am back now at Level 71 with 6 lives and all my power ups. It does get a little easier when you repeat it over and over but my arm is killing me!

I finished Dream Chronicles 3 a few days ago and am in the bonus chapter of Living Legends. Still playing Amazing Adventures and also Mystery PI: The Lottery Ticket, another straight HOG. I don't usually play 2 straight HOGs at one time but thought I read the The Lottery Ticket used Flash so I took a look. Apparently it doesn't and I started playing it.

One of these days I'll get back to the Amaranthine Voyage series.

Well, I just finished Living Legends: The Crystal Tear. Just a so-so game IMO. I seem to remember liking the other games in the series much more. I truly didn't understand the story (which is me, I'm sure). There are some different puzzles but nothing I particularly liked. Most of the puzzles were pretty simple. The hardest puzzles were in the bonus chapter.

Old Broad, your determination with that Match3 game is admirable. I hope you get all the way soon!

I haven't tried Crystal Tear yet, so thanks for the heads up. Yeah, that Living Legends series is pretty uneven. I thought Bound by Wishes and Uninvited Guests were the two good ones. Have you played them?

Thanks Reenie. I just can't let the game go.

Yes, I've played all of the Living Legends games but it's been a long while and I don't really remember much about them except the music that is the same in all of them. I do seem to think I liked them all though. You might like Crystal Tear, I don't know, but it didn't quite do it for me. I seem to be in a gaming slump right now though. Sometimes my mood affects my gaming and sometimes the gaming affects my mood so...

"I made it through Level 99 and then got kicked back to Level 52 (in my Match 3 game). Am back now at Level 71 with 6 lives and all my power ups. It does get a little easier when you repeat it over and over smashpc but my arm is killing me! "

oldbroad, I'm still speechless !!!!

And Reenie ....
I bought my first game from Big Fish at the beginning of June, 2010.
Prior to that I had only dabbled very spasmodically with casual type games and they were all on disks

Same here, Mad. I was into adventure gaming in the beginning Myst, the Zorks, Gabriel Knight, you name it. I'll still buy a modern adventure game if it doesn't involve combat.

I never liked any arcade-platform games that are all about speed and reflexes (Asteroids, Tetris not to mention combat. As for Casuals, I thought they were for kids. I don't remember how I finally played a Casual, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Since then, I've played about one per week. I always have one loaded, to fill up the corners on my day, so to speak. I do prefer casuals with "substance" over ones that are just a series of Find-the-Object scenes, loosely tacked together with a weak story line.

Hi everyone, I'm playing the bonus chapter in Amaranthine Voyage: Legacy of the Guardians. Oldbroad, I love that series.

Mary

Nice to see you here, Mary, and thank you for the recommendation!

I'll be starting Amaranthing Voyage: The Orb of Purity soon. (If I can ever stay away from the Match 3 game that AGAIN sent me back to 52 from 99. I just can't get 100!)

It takes a lot of fortitude (and possibly also masochism) to keep trying after that, oldbroad.

I very much enjoy my Match 3 games but they are mainly kind and gentle ones

I finished Cradle of Persia!!

Congratulations, OldBroad. You are a determined soul. I'm happy for you.

oldbroad, that is awesome!!!

Congratulations!!!

Congrats oldbroad!!!

I was on pins and needles as I kept losing lives and power ups . Level 100 released the Genie and ended the game for me but I had read a review where the person wrote about level 100-115 (even though the Genie released at 100)? I was hoping that at least if I made it through 100 and then lost my lives that I would only be sent back to 100, rather than all the way to 52.

I had fun with the game though (mostly) .

Very Well Done, oldbroad !!

I started Eternal Journey: New Atlantis today. Another fine game from Viva. It is one of my favorites from the hundreds I've played. I bought it as a CD, something like ten years ago. Hubby had to get involved to make it run in Compatibility Mode, but I'm cruising happily now. These folks obviously were in love with their work because the sound and graphics are excellent, very atmospheric, just the right level of creepy and both the story and all the puzzles are imaginative. There are more HO scenes than I like, but that is OK. I'm really enjoying it!

Yes, Eternal Journey: New Atlantis is a game that I enjoyed very much. The developer is 5 BN and it sounds like the publisher of the CD version was Viva Media. I bought the Collector's Edition from Big Fish when the game was released. It's about time for a replay.

I have that game downloaded and ready to play on my Windows 7. If I remember when I go in there, maybe I will put it closer to the front of the long line.

I am currently playing Amaranthine Voyage: The Orb of Purity and must be at least half way through or more. I am enjoying this game more than the last two. It's pretty good.

I haven't played Orb of Purity yet - good to know that you like it!

In the throes of my charity work (year end accounts) so haven't had time for much game playing - except the little ones on my iPad 🙄
Getting withdrawal symptoms 🙃

I applaud you for the charity work, Mad. Happily the casual games will wait patiently for you.

I finished Orb of Purity last night. It was marred by only one puzzle, second to the last one in the main game. I ended up skipping it. First, I wasn't sure I understood what the solution was supposed to look like. To me, it could have been 3 different ways, but I couldn't seem to even get to one of those 3 ways to eliminate the possibility or to see if it was correct. I tried it on two different nights and then skipped. I am getting much better at using that skip button . I just want to play. The whole game went smoothly up until then, which is what really bothers me. You get in a zone and then you get stopped cold. If they want to put hard puzzles in the game, they should be consistent in the game.

Okay, finished whining.

Today I started Dying for Daylight which I picked up with a free code that I won here at GameBoomers in December. The game had been discussed in some thread not long before that, so I went for it. I have played Episode 1 and I am liking it quite a lot!

There always seems to be at least one puzzle in these HOPA games that I end up getting frustrated with for one reason or another, even when I have decided that I am going to try very hard not to hit the skip button.

Everyone here enjoyed Dying for Daylight, as I recall.

oldbroad, I smiled when you said the name of the game because it was one of my favorite to write a WT for. I looked on the BF game page and the link is broken, but when I searched the name of the game along with BrownEyedTigre, the WT popped up! In case you need it here it is: Walkthrough

Also, seeing the url structure, it is easy to find other WT's from BF that are missing.