Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1256034
09/09/21 10:42 PM
09/09/21 10:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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I just finished Living Legends: Voice of the Sea. It's just an okay game. Story and graphics are fine. Puzzles are a big mix of super easy to a couple semi-hard; none of them great or particularly fun. The best ones were in the "Collections" section after the game. (Sorry Marian. I know you didn't play this yet. I hope I'm not spoiling it for you.) I finished Runefall last week and started Legend of Egypt: Jewel of the Gods last night. It's okay so far. I'm having trouble playing lately. I feel like I want to but then I never quite get around to it. I have a few Adventure games going and they're good but sometimes days go by in between plays.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: oldbroad]
#1257083
09/25/21 10:50 AM
09/25/21 10:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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Having dropped Goosebumps for the time being, as per my post on the "Goosebumps the Game" thread, I'm now plating City Legends : The Curse of the Crimson Shadow
Last edited by Mad; 09/25/21 10:53 AM.
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1257102
09/25/21 04:12 PM
09/25/21 04:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I am liking it so far, thank you, Marian 👍
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1257330
09/29/21 11:04 AM
09/29/21 11:04 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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Haven't had a lot of "play" time lately but I am really enjoying City Legends : The Curse of the Crimson Shadow. Because, thankfully, it is NOT stupidly full of smoke and glowing eyes and other such stuff - which I half expected it to be considering the title
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: oldbroad]
#1257373
09/29/21 06:40 PM
09/29/21 06:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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Win7, oldbroad. I haven't done any BF stuff on Win10 yet 😑
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: oldbroad]
#1257576
10/02/21 04:18 PM
10/02/21 04:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I played that game some time ago, oldbroad, but I don't remember any details (to help you) sorry !! [I actually don't remember much about any Casual games I've played, even only days after I've finished them ]
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1257955
10/07/21 12:16 PM
10/07/21 12:16 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I haven't yet come across anything spectacularly different in this game compared to any other new-ish Casuals, but am still enjoying it and I think you will too, Marian, when you can get round to playing it 😉
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258183
10/10/21 01:43 PM
10/10/21 01:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I am presently replaying the Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince CE, although it might as well be for the first time as I don't remember much of anything about it. It looks like I first played it about 10 years ago. I can't believe it's been that long. 10 years ?? I can't remember details of stuff I've played after 10 days [I have several Dark Parable games. Have to check if I've got this one :)] EDIT :Yes. I have Eight Dark Parables and The Exiled Prince is one of them
Last edited by Mad; 10/10/21 02:50 PM.
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: oldbroad]
#1258653
10/16/21 10:41 PM
10/16/21 10:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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Started Gothic Fiction : Dark Saga CE today and despite the rather vast quantities of "smoke" am really liking it 😬
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258669
10/17/21 06:19 AM
10/17/21 06:19 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,845 Isle of Man
Lex
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Oldbroad, I am a little stuck on level 56 of Caribbean Hideaway but still enjoying it: some of the levels get a bit manic as you are playing against the clock to clear a screen and/or attain particular objectives! I tend to play computer games in fits and starts, so it often takes me several months to complete a game of any substance. From what hagatha said, it sounds as if I am not more than about half way...
Last edited by Lex; 10/17/21 08:30 AM.
Life is what happens while you're making other plans.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258672
10/17/21 09:33 AM
10/17/21 09:33 AM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
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Mad, Gothic Fiction feels an awful lot like a regular adventure game. I think Caribbean Hideaway has 100 levels? I should know by now - I have played and finished it maybe five times now. Good to know about the second Botanica game, oldbroad. I started the Wanderlust: What Lies Beneath CE yesterday. I am done with the main game and will start the bonus game today. I quite enjoyed the main game.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258691
10/17/21 01:06 PM
10/17/21 01:06 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I'm nearing the end of a replay of Echoes of the Past: The Citadels of Time. This is such a huge game and so textural and full of novelties and unusual puzzles that I am already feeling sad that it will end soon. It is a LOOOONG game and very complex, so much to explore, figure out and determine how to solve. In that sense, it feels like a "real" computer game of the 80's, where you were on your own and your only recourse was to belong to a gaming group that shared hints and tips.
My only gripe with it is that there is no Map, and you really NEED one. Sometimes, you exit a scene by going left when the location makes no sense given what you have just seen on the other side of that wall. Very confusing. I've got three sheets of blank paper covered with attempts at mapping and what I've found in each location, but still I struggle to figure out where to go to find that room with the Guillotine. Another small quibble: the items in the HO scenes can be very tiny, indeed.
As far as I know, there are 8 games in this series. I haven't played all of them. One was buggy from the start, a second was incompatible with Win10 and a third was such a letdown that I bailed from it halfway through the Demo. But this one and Revenge of the Witch were stellar. Wolf Healer was good, too, and I plan to replay it as well. I like my games puzzle-rich, without timed scenes.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258694
10/17/21 01:15 PM
10/17/21 01:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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Yes, Lex. I know about being stuck on some of those levels. I'm glad you are still enjoying it! I have Gothic Fiction downloaded on my Win 7 so maybe I will bump it into playing position when I am back on that computer. I haven't played any of the Wanderlust games yet. My next HOG is going to be Faircroft's Antiques: The Heir of Glen Kinnoch. I'm still deciding between a couple of HOPA's.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1258865
10/19/21 11:56 AM
10/19/21 11:56 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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You were right about Gothic Fiction : Dark Saga CE, Marian. it IS very "adventure" oriented and I am really enjoying it
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1259127
10/23/21 11:43 AM
10/23/21 11:43 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 408 B.C. Canada
copper
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I'm playing Charlaine Harris: Dying for Daylight, it's a vampire game like no other I have ever played.
It's got great music, it's funny, it's got lots of really good puzzles and HO's and it's seems like it's a long game(unless I'm a slow player of course) !
I'm enjoying this game more than any game I've played in a long time.
Copper
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1259142
10/23/21 01:36 PM
10/23/21 01:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 408 B.C. Canada
copper
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I am a bit disappointed now with Dying for Daylight, the game seems to end half way thru, with a sequel promised in the closing credits.
It would appear that now, many years later, there is no sequel and probably never will be.
What a shame............
Copper
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: copper]
#1259144
10/23/21 01:48 PM
10/23/21 01:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
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I am a bit disappointed now with Dying for Daylight, the game seems to end half way thru, with a sequel promised in the closing credits.
It would appear that now, many years later, there is no sequel and probably never will be.
What a shame............ Yes, this has been discussed here before and I thought you knew. That was a disappointment for all of the players of this game. Someone even wrote to Charlaine Harris asking about it and she said that a developer was welcome to continue it, but that never happened.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1259153
10/23/21 03:32 PM
10/23/21 03:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 408 B.C. Canada
copper
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No, I must have missed that discussion, I might not have played this game had I done so.
I did enjoy "part one" but like all the other players, I'm very disappointed.
Copper
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1259793
10/30/21 03:52 PM
10/30/21 03:52 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
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Well, I tried to continue playing this but it was not to be. I will try it again sometime, though.
What happened is that every time I tried to start up the game, it would immediately drop into the taskbar. Nothing I tried to do to troubleshoot this issue fixed the problem, so I deleted the game and then reinstalled it, thinking that might clear up the problem.
And it did clear up the problem, but it also deleted my profile, forcing me to start over from the beginning. I am not up for that right now.
I never had this problem the first time I played the game but I played the game from a physical CD rather than from a download. No idea if that is relevant to this weird issue or not, but it is a moot point now anyway.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: oldbroad]
#1260091
11/03/21 11:01 AM
11/03/21 11:01 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I found a game with this title HERE oldbroad - but it's a "platformer"
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1260099
11/03/21 12:22 PM
11/03/21 12:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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Thanks, and thanks! Until I get into another HOPA, I am playing Autumn in France, an easy Match 3. Well, I'm playing in medium mode and DID have to repeat some levels already, but it is just a "fill in" type of Match 3.
Last edited by oldbroad; 11/03/21 12:24 PM.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1260835
11/15/21 12:55 AM
11/15/21 12:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I am replaying Mystery Trackers: Darkwater Bay now, and enjoying it very much. It is beautifully rendered and this was before the advent of all that purple and green smoke. It is pretty naturalistic artwork and that helps it feel more real to be in the scenes. Some of the puzzles are pretty darned hard and I actually skipped one that I could not figure out. Most of them are the usual type, though, and some include original ideas.
I've played about 20 games in this series, and this is not the best, but I still would recommend it. Black Isle, Fall of Iron Rock and Paxton Creek still are my favorites in this series.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1261338
11/22/21 06:15 PM
11/22/21 06:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I am replaying Nevertales: The Abomination (CE) and enjoying it. There is some clever use of Inventory, fine artwork and some original puzzles that will leave you scratching your head, all appreciated in these HO games. I've been left thoroughly "puzzled" and once exclaimed out loud, "What the #&!!$@#" to my husband's amusement. There are four different "worlds" to visit, and it is fun to collect the materials you need to cast each spell and then use that spell to help you solve problems or defeat an opponent.
There are at least ten games in this series (that I have played). Beauty Within and Abomination were my two favorites, for quality of artwork, story creativity and length. Some of the earlier games in this series were too easy and full of cliché, but it is a good series overall.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1262533
12/08/21 04:38 PM
12/08/21 04:38 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I am replaying Bridge to Another World: The Others and it is excellent. It checks all the boxes of great graphics, pesky puzzles, lots of variety in the environments, quirky stuff that makes me pause or grin, a character I can admire and a supporting character for part of the play. There is a lot of originality in this game.
I have enjoyed the series, of which I have played 8 or 9, and this one was one of my top four in that group. Endless Game, Alice and The Others were my other faves. Unfortunately, this series is uneven, and I bailed on a few of the games while still trying out their Demo (too easy, cartoony, too many pop-ups, one that wouldn't properly fill the monitor screen), so it is a good idea to play the Demo even on an otherwise great series.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1263471
12/20/21 05:50 PM
12/20/21 05:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,470 Between Buffalo and Syracuse
Tally Ho
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Currently, my game is "Legendary Tales: Cataclysm." It started out on the easy side, and I thought it felt like a typical bonus game, rather than the main effort. However, it totally has my attention, and praise - since it comes from my (today - am I fickle?) favorite source: 5BN games. It has all the high-quality attention to detail that their other games possess, and that's what keeps me engaged again and again. There are familiar puzzles redesigned, and a couple of original ones I think. Anyway, I recommend it. Reenie - I also played Incident at Pendle Tower. Some originality there too, and I liked it! I think I have played ALL of the MCF games, and would recommend most but not all. Glad you liked it! Merry Christmas and Best Holiday wishes to all.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1263475
12/20/21 06:02 PM
12/20/21 06:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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The Legendary Tales games were very good! I recently started the Lost Lands series and have completed the first game Dark Overlord which I enjoyed. Currently I'm playing The Christmas Spirit 3: Grimm Tales and am enjoying it. I'm almost finished with the main game. I also started a timed HOG called Secret Investigations 3: Revelation, which is good in short spurts .
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1263903
12/26/21 06:35 PM
12/26/21 06:35 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I've almost finished a replay of Vermillion Watch: London Howling, and am enjoying it every bit as much as the first time. It is challenging and presents several novel ideas and formats that will appeal to someone who isn't looking for a cakewalk but revels in an occasional head scratcher. The story ranges all over Victorian (?) London, loosely structured along a Jules Verne sort of them. The scope of the game is as big as London, the puzzles are quirky and fun to figure out, there are multiple characters and they don't do stupid things to advance the plot. Also, the art work is terrific. This is the fourth Vermillion that I have replayed and they have lost none of their appeal. Of this series of six (?) games, Fleshbound was the only one that didn't match up and caused me to bail out during the Demo.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1263940
12/27/21 03:08 PM
12/27/21 03:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312 United Kingdom
Mad
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I started playing "Lost Lands : The Wanderer" today and very much like it so far [It's not a CE version so maybe I got it with a code I won or something because the others I have are all CE's.] And I do have several - but can't remember which I've played and which I've not - so an Adventure all by itself waiting there !!
Time : The Most Precious Commodity
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1263943
12/27/21 03:34 PM
12/27/21 03:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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Do you two color coordinate your clothes also? There was one thing about Dark Overlord I got frustrated about Marian. Not the game itself, but the collectibles. There were four different ones and I ended up short one of each which seems very odd to me. I thought maybe they would turn up in the bonus chapter, but nope, and no way to go back to look for them, so then I could not play the puzzles in the "extras" section which is a game feature I dislike. I finished Grimm Tales and am playing Christmas Stories: Enchanted Express.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1265446
01/17/22 03:18 PM
01/17/22 03:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
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What did you think of Curse of the Crimson Shadow? I thought it was okay but I didn't really have fun playing it. I had to use the guide on the very last puzzle in the main game (the candle puzzle). There wasn't any feed back to know what to do. I later looked at a video wt and it shows feedback (lines lighting up). That did not happen in my game. It also kept feeling like it was going to get stuck loading scenes (but didn't). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3vhapfiQCgI have played through Act 1 of The Chronicles of Shakespeare and am not sure about it yet. The game plays in full screen but the cut scene videos play in a smallish rectangle and I wish I could see them better. The text usually leaves the screen before I have time to finish reading it. It is very linear and tells you exactly what to do. (That is both good and bad, I think.) It doesn't have HO scenes; you find things as you look around (as in an adventure game). You cannot pick anything up until the game tells you that you need it. But, it's Romeo and Juliet !
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1265579
01/19/22 03:14 PM
01/19/22 03:14 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I just bought Ms. Holmes: The Adventure of the McKirk Ritual and Edge of Reality: Lost Secrets of the Forest, based on other games in both series being good.
Ms. Holmes: The Orange Pips was excellent, which is why I sprang for McKirk without trying the Demo first.
The Edge of Reality Series has some excellent games and I've marked a few for replay. Games in this series tend to be long, with good graphics and challenging puzzles. I have to say, though, that three in the series were so simple as to be silly and I bailed out of them, so you need to play the Demo to see if you like a game in this Series.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Tally Ho]
#1265586
01/19/22 04:43 PM
01/19/22 04:43 PM
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Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
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Well, you two talked me into playing Eternal Journey New Atlantis - and guess what? I liked it. Very different; although you can definitely see the 5BN style in it. It's fairly old, I think. Couldn't run it fullscreen due to the (familiar to me) flicker effect. Another good older 5 BN game is Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town, with both CE and SE versions. Definitely worth a playthrough if you haven't already.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1265619
01/20/22 01:01 PM
01/20/22 01:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,470 Between Buffalo and Syracuse
Tally Ho
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Another good older 5 BN game is Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town Played it thanks!! 5BN is one company whose games I will buy without playing the Demo first. Me too for sure
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1267116
02/09/22 07:27 PM
02/09/22 07:27 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
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I just finished a replay of House of 1000 Doors: The Serpent Flame, a game I first played in 2014. It is on my Top 20 List and will probably never be kicked off that list by any of the simple games that BF puts out now. Serpent Flame is a superb game in every respect. Fantastic artwork, for one. Innovative and challenging mini-games, for another. The characters don't do stupid things to advance the plot. Very creative use of Inventory. Epic in scale. Decent Map included, but I still drew my own so I could annotate it with info about tasks to be completed and Inventory need for them. My only quibble with the game is that objects in the HO scenes are very small to my aging eyes.
There are three additional games in this series, but the fourth, The Evil Inside, was dreadful. They phoned it in, complete with the cackling evil witch cliché. I didn't buy it, didn't even finish playing the Demo, it was so bad. Stick with the first three games in the series. They are stellar, and perfect for replay.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1268162
02/26/22 06:49 PM
02/26/22 06:49 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
Addicted Boomer
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Addicted Boomer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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I am replaying Timeless: The Lost Castle. It has been a few years, and I had forgotten how large and elaborate the game was. I am enjoying the exploring, the wide variety of puzzles and tasks to be solved and the creativity of the designers in coming up with so many original ideas. I don't know when the game originally was issued, but it predates all that candy-apple color and purple smoke that became the bane of Casuals a few years ago. This game is naturalistic and more like a wonderful old Adventure game than an HOA. You definitely need to take notes and keep a map going, because you go back and forth from various sites, unlike the modern HOs that have you enter a scene, do the tasks within it, and then leave without another thought. There are a few HO scenes scattered throughout, but most of the stuff you acquire and use is what you find or earn. There are some unique ideas (like having a separate "Combine" function for various parts you find), a scanning function to find hidden information in a scene and some very original puzzles. Everything is suited to the genre of the game, so you don't encounter bizarre objects that don't belong and you use no tools or inventory that aren't natural to the milieu. I definitely will replay this game, after I have forgotten it all once more.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1268235
02/28/22 12:22 AM
02/28/22 12:22 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
Addicted Boomer
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Addicted Boomer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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Marian, I enjoyed the complexity and creativity of The Lost Castle so much that I downloaded the trial game for The Forgotten Town. I really wanted to like the game, but unfortunately, it was a mountain of HO scenes and I got so bogged down with them that I decided to bail out without purchasing the game. It frequently is the case that there will be a wonderful game (or two or three!) in a series and then a subsequent game is not up to that quality level. It is great that BF lets players take a trial run before committing to buy any game. It is one of the reasons I am so loyal to BF. If I had been stuck with some of the games I decided against, it would not have taken long for me to give up on BF. As it is, I have continued buying games from then for more than a decade and will continue as long as good games are to be had.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1269620
03/23/22 05:54 AM
03/23/22 05:54 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,845 Isle of Man
Lex
Adept Boomer
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Adept Boomer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,845
Isle of Man
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It looks as if the other Dreampath games may still be available as free downloads here, although perhaps less than the full game
Last edited by Marian; 03/23/22 08:41 AM. Reason: removed the link
Life is what happens while you're making other plans.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1270222
03/30/22 04:32 PM
03/30/22 04:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,470 Between Buffalo and Syracuse
Tally Ho
BAAG Specialist
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BAAG Specialist
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,470
Between Buffalo and Syracuse
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I just finished "Timeless, the Lost Castle" Wow! This is a casual that plays in the True Adventure territory. I didn't take notes the way ones does playing a major adventure, but it would have saved some time knowing where to return. Playing it one or two hours at a time, it took nearly three weeks to complete. Standard, not collector's edition (if there is one) The hidden object scenes are intelligently integrated into the story, and not so numerous that you get frustrated by them. There are many puzzles, a few of which are truly original; and the ones that are familiar concepts, skilfully re-designed so as to keep your interest. I actually had to choose the 'skip' option once, something I just hate to do. I have also played their earlier game the Lost Town, and was not particularly impressed. I can imagine the developers having a meeting after reading the feedback, and saying "all right - we know what the players want, let's get it right this time." I believe they did just that.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1270224
03/30/22 04:39 PM
03/30/22 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
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OP
Global Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228
near Yosemite
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Wow, that is a long play, Tally Ho. And there was no CE version of Lost Castle. I will move this one up in my play list. I have certainly heard a lot of praise for it over the years. Boolat has made many fine games over the years. Here is a list of their HOPAs. Unfortunately Big Fish has removed three of them from their website. Happily I have them in my Purchase History.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1270225
03/30/22 05:21 PM
03/30/22 05:21 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
Graduate Boomer
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Graduate Boomer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997
Chicago
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Thanks for your game info Tally Ho.
Thanks for the list Marian. I have all of the games except the two Timeless games. I guess it is time to buy them. That first game I have on disc. I haven't played any of them.
My current casual game is Fairy Godmother Stories 1: Cinderella which I'm enjoying.
Last edited by oldbroad; 03/30/22 05:22 PM.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1270714
04/06/22 05:08 PM
04/06/22 05:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
Graduate Boomer
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Graduate Boomer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997
Chicago
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Now I am playing Hidden Expedition: The Fountain of Youth which I am enjoying but I had to get out of the game before I hit the "skip" button or open the guide to help me solve a puzzle. I'd rather try again later. I don't have any of those Laruaville games Marian. Maybe I should try one. I'm still working on Jewel Match: Aquascapes.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1270723
04/06/22 06:59 PM
04/06/22 06:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
Graduate Boomer
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Graduate Boomer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997
Chicago
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I'm also playing a couple of older adventure games. One I'm enjoying; one not so much! Solved my puzzle! Well, I guess 220 levels is all I'm getting out of Jewel Match: Aquascapes.
Last edited by oldbroad; 04/07/22 01:15 AM.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1271244
04/13/22 05:02 PM
04/13/22 05:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
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OP
Global Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228
near Yosemite
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Thanks, ob! It is a nice thought, anyway. I like Jack the Ripper stuff too. The game you mention is in my Purchase History, but I haven't played it yet. Let us know how you get along with it. Interestingly, the developer is Casual Arts, who is now best known for the Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger and Vacation Adventures: Cruise Director series of HOGs.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1271908
04/23/22 05:54 PM
04/23/22 05:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
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OP
Global Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228
near Yosemite
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That is good news about Mystery Murders. I will have to take a look at it one of these days. I had to look in my Purchase History to see if I have The Spell. I do have it. I have a feeling that I picked it up after you mentioned it. Will have to download that too pretty soon. I just finished the Azada: In Libro CE a few minutes ago. It only took me eleven years to play and finish it. This game is adventure lite; there are no hidden object scenes. It was a nice game. The bonus chapter, while on a par with the main game in quality, was on the short side. I also could not remember whether I had Real Crimes so I took a look, and I do. I haven't played that yet either, and I will be interested to hear what you have to say about it overall when you are done.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272297
04/30/22 01:50 PM
04/30/22 01:50 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
Addicted Boomer
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Addicted Boomer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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I am replaying a lot of games lately, since most of the new ones aren't that interesting to me. I'm replaying the Secret City series now. The artwork is almost all candy-colored stuff, with tinted smoke in every scene, but the puzzles are fun to solve and that is the appeal to me. So far, I have replayed all the Lost Lands games, the Amaranthine series, Otherworld, House of 1000 Doors, and a few of the Dead Reckoning. These were all wonderful games, long, challenging and fine artwork. There are also a few stand-alone games (not part of a series) that I replay every couple of years. I keep waiting for some new games to come out that are as good. Still waiting.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272303
04/30/22 02:41 PM
04/30/22 02:41 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
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OP
Global Moderator
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near Yosemite
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Before I forget, I want to mention to Reenie that a newer CE that is pretty darn good is Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart; I would recommend that one. I haven't played the whole thing but have played enough to be pleased with it.
Ob, I am on the final stage of The Spell and keep running out of time on this one particular level. I think it is very close to the end, but it is discouraging because given the number of things that are consistently left on my list to match when the timer runs out, I don't think I will be passing it anytime soon. And the hourglass is not one of the powerups on this level, more's the pity!
Alaskan Wild is the only Mystery Tales game that Big Fish no longer offers on their website.
And in answer to your question, apparently what Big Fish has to lose is money. HOPAs cost a lot more money to make and when more money is involved, they would proceed with more caution. That is my take on it, anyway. Maybe Big Fish would have a financial stake in it? Maybe share in some of the development costs? Not sure.
Apart from The Spell, I have been playing Jewel Match Solitaire: Atlantis CE, and I'm on level 60.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272304
04/30/22 02:54 PM
04/30/22 02:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
Graduate Boomer
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Graduate Boomer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997
Chicago
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"And in answer to your question, apparently what Big Fish has to lose is money. HOPAs cost a lot more money to make and when more money is involved, they would proceed with more caution. That is my take on it, anyway. Maybe Big Fish would have a financial stake in it?" Thanks. To me, I would rather put my money out there for a new Otherworld game (providing it's an actual HOPA like the others were) than a remastered Awakening game or all of the straight HO games Boomzap has been making. You know I like straight HO games but even I have grown sick of the Faircroft and Cats, Dogs, and Critters games. (Additional) I guess when I say, what do they have to lose? I'm thinking of how people are getting upset with the game selection (speaking of prior to the war) so you'd think they'd jump on Otherworld. Maybe you just need a rest from The Spell. I know I spent a lot of time on some of the levels in prior plays, though not quite as much on this last play. It went much better.
Last edited by oldbroad; 04/30/22 02:56 PM.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272308
04/30/22 03:29 PM
04/30/22 03:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,268 In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
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The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,268
In the Naughty Corner
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Reenie, that is a lot of great games to be replaying. Thanks for giving us the list.
Quality or no quality, HOPAs are going to be very few and far between this year as long as the war continues. In the past four weeks, we only had one new release that was a CE HOPA. Unfortunately I don't expect that to get much better until the situation changes. Most of the remaining HOPA developers are either from Ukraine or Russia.
I know that 5-BN was working on a new Lost Lands game, but they are located in Ukraine so I would not expect to see that anytime soon either.
Boomzap would also like to make the fourth and final game in their Otherworld series. Big Fish has told them they might consider it if the remastered version of Awakening: The Dreamless Castle does well (which is an upcoming release this year). 5-BN posted this on April 27th. Friends! We've got so many letters from you lately. Thank you for your concern! We are safe and sound at the moment. We don't post much, as Meta forbids cruel and sensetive content, but we think you're well aware about the current situation in Ukraine. We're still working, as much as it possible under such circumstances, but now we're mostly updating old projects. Fixing bugs, adding new languages, making bonus in f2p versions free from the start, etc. We actively support our clients, so if you need help our email support@five-bn.com is open for you. We're holding strong. Supporting our country's economy by working and paying fees, among other things. We are sure that our work in potencial will save lives. We want to kindly remiтd, that we aren't planning new releases until the war is over. And surely it'll take some time to recover the office work and continue where we stopped at 24th of February. But we'll stay tuned on that and frankly share on the status and work. Thank you for your prayers, stay safe. P.S. Please, accept our a bit late congrats for Easter. We didn't celebrate it this year, but hope to share prayers and kindness with you next time!" Happy Gaming!
Don't feed the Trolls
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272316
04/30/22 04:58 PM
04/30/22 04:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997 Chicago
oldbroad
Graduate Boomer
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Graduate Boomer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,997
Chicago
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: Marian]
#1272733
05/06/22 04:57 PM
05/06/22 04:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228 near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
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OP
Global Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,228
near Yosemite
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I would be dismayed to learn that Emerald City Confidential has any dead ends. Please let me know when you know for sure. I think you will enjoy The Fool. Glad you managed to get past the puzzle in Alaskan Wild. I am always annoyed when I end up having to skip the first puzzle in a game.
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Re: What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? - Part Three
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
#1272760
05/07/22 12:01 PM
05/07/22 12:01 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
Addicted Boomer
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Addicted Boomer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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Thank you for the updates on the game developers in the Ukraine, Marian. As horrible as the invasion/war news is for us here, in the US, I can't even imagine what the daily reality is like for them! :-( It is heartbreaking.
I have moved on to replaying, Sacra Terra: Kiss of Death now. It is a fabulous game. Yes, another evil witch attempting to corrupt the world, but you spend very little time interacting with her. The game is rich in scope, five different "lands" to visit and puzzle out, challenges every few minutes, innovative puzzles (!) and great graphics. I had forgotten why I marked it down for replay, but ~ WOW~! 5BN is one of the most outstanding bunch of game designers in the field.
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