Posts Tagged ‘mini games’

Marooned Review

Adventure, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle, Seek and Find | Posted by Zeke
Feb 26 2010


Marooned, a hidden object Mac game, is the first chapter of a Trilogy. You wake to find yourself with amnesia marooned on an deserted island. You must search for clues and items to find your identity and why you are on this island in the first place.

This game is your typical hidden object game with searching items in several different locations. Some of the objects will be needed to perform tasks in areas of the scene. You hover over a location and it will tell you if you need to do anything further with it. These “hotspots” will need an item from your inventory to accomplish the task and it may not be in the present scene. If it is not in your inventory or even in the present screen, you may need to search in another location for your tool.

There are many side puzzles integrated into the game to break up the hidden object play. The story is one of the main objectives you must unravel in your misty, amnesiac state, get the boat working, find 15 solar panel pieces, and find the tropical birds.

The narration carries Marooned’s story in a logical order, and the idea of an alternative source of energy is an enticing subject. The scenes are clear with great artwork, and the sound effects appropriate for the play. I found Marooned enjoyable and a pleasure to play. I am looking forward to the other chapters to see how everything unravels.

Features of Marooned:
-1st Chapter of Trilogy
-Search in 15 Landscapes
-Immersive Story

Rating: ★★★½☆

Hidden Relics Review

Action, Adventure, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle | Posted by Meg
Feb 24 2010

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download Hidden Relicsbuy Hidden Relics

Adrianna, Dr. Peatrie’s best student, flying to Europe is hijacked mid-flight, and the valuable antiques she is carry for the Professor is stolen by a madman who jumps from the plane.  She is commissioned to retrieve the cargo by flying to all parts of the world.  Her first stop is Morocco. 

This is mainly a hidden object game with side puzzles and tasks related to recovering the goods.  The globe will guide Adrianna to the necessary locations, and at each scene there is a list of items to discover.  There are 5 hints if you need it, and if you need more, then you must find the magnifying glass to increase your numbers.

A different help comes from the gadget man who can provide you with sophisticated equipment to assist you in your search.  However, he does not easily part with his things.  You must solve mini puzzles in order to win stars and depending on how many stars you get will determine the number of gadgets he will be willing to give up.  One of the mini puzzle is the memory game when you turn over 2 cards at a time, and if they match, will increase the number of your turns.  Also you must discover 10 of a kind in a scene.  One of his many gadgets is the magnifying goggles you can use to better view an area you may have missed an important relic.

I found this lighthearted game entertaining as well as a good story and great graphics.  I enjoyed the hidden object play, the mini puzzles and even the music and sound effects.  I can hardly wait for the next destination assigned to Adrianne and her search for the Hidden Relics.

 

Features of Hidden Relics:

-Hidden Object Fun

-40 Special Item

-9 Mini games

-Great Characters and Story

 

Rating: ★★★½☆

Gemini Lost Review

Adventure, Puzzle, Seek and Find, Sim | Posted by Meg
Feb 05 2010


A group of friends come across an ancient zodiac wheel on their way home and were transported through some teleporter to a strange land in Mac sim game Gemini Lost. Unfortunately for these 6 people the wheel exploded and spewed the zodiac signs across this mysterious region.

In order to return home, they must find all the keys to repair the wheel. However, life goes on and the 6 must start a village of sorts in order to survive. They must gather and grow foods, find wood and stones for building shelter, increase their knowledge to be able to perform many tasks, they must marry to increase and sustain their population and find all the zodiac keys to transport them back.

In addition to all that, there are puzzles and tasks to complete in order to teleport back home. In order to get across a river, someone needs to have the skills to build a bridge spanning the distance from your end to where the key is located. Labs will increase your knowledge level, working on the garden will increase your farming skills and the chapel will marry your couples so you can increase your village. Also after a time the older people will die off so raising the children is important. The kids however do not work until they are grown, but can pick up items for potions. The game is very good about giving you vital information and stats on each person. If someone is sick, they will be moving around slowly and will need to be healed. Potions can be made and the recipes are available in the log.

The game will allow you to choose how you want your villagers to proceed when you leave the game. If you want to be involved at all times you are on, you can do so or you can have the people go about their tasks even when you are not on the computer. This part of the game is different from other games of this nature.

The tutorial is easy to follow and will get you started on your village without any trouble. I did find it curious when I left the game with 2 skilled people building a bridge, and when I got back, no progress was made and the 2, nowhere to be found. I suggest you keep track of your people’s names because when they grow up while you are gone, they are like strange new person you’ve forgotten. It gets a little confusing.

For the most part I liked this sim develop your own village type game. This one seemed easier to train people, and they didn’t mind working very hard each day. When they get tired, they will rest in the hut, and when they get hungry they will feed themselves so you just need to watch the upper part of the screen to see how much supplies you have and will need. The computer will announce any changes such as a baby being born or someone who passes away. This game is appropriate for children because they take care of birth and dying in a discreet manner.

So create your own village full of people to your specifications and search for all the zodiac keys for your ticket back to civilization.

Features of Gemini Lost:
-Puzzles and Mini Games
-Zodiac Signs
-Your Own World
Similar games: My Tribe, Wild Tribe, Virtual Villagers 1 and 2

Rating: ★★★½☆
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Hidden Object Show Review

Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle | Posted by Meg
Jan 26 2010

hidden-object-show1

download Hidden Object Showbuy Hidden Object Show

Another spin on the hidden object Mac game is the Hidden Object Show. It is in a form of a TV game show complete with $5,000,000! In this game you are a contestant in a TV game show. You need to find the hidden object in a scene to complete the round. There are hint chips throughout the screen to find and then use if needed. The round after completion is tallied for Time Bonus, Combo Bonus, Bonus Cash and overall time. The Prize Standings show you where you are in your winnings.

Between rounds you get to spin the Wheel of Puzzles. Where it lands you play that game. Some of the puzzles are locked until you reach a certain level. Some of the puzzles are the 2 scenes with 10 differences, solve the riddle and find that object, find the silhouette and place pieces of a picture on the complete scene. If you are lucky enough to get a bonus, you can opt out of some of the games.

The Hidden Object Show has a lot more than an I Spy play. It has plenty of options you can find to engage in. I think that makes it more interesting of a Mac game. I just started playing hidden object games and found that even though the play is similar there is a different feel to the game with the story line involved and the extra mini puzzles. Some are better than others and the Hidden Object Show is one of them. I found it to be quite entertaining.

Features of Hidden Object Show:
-Become a Millionaire
-330 Object Rounds
-Prizes
-30 Scenes

Rating: ★★★½☆