Category: Big Fish Games/Playfirst

Sally’s Spa (Big Fish Games)

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After running a successful salon chain, Sally decides to try her luck in the spa business.  Can she be just as successful while helping her friend, Nell, sell her products?

The story isn’t much to talk about, just an excuse plot for the game.  However, the game play more than makes up for it.  It’s similar to Sally’s Salon with you moving people to different locations and doing the actions required for each customer.

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Only, this time, you can also sell Nell’s beauty products based on what is popular for the public.  Believe me; what the people want differs for each level.  For instance, stress products could be popular in one level and hair care products could be popular in another level.  Some products can satisfy two market conditions at once.

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The more products you sell, the more you have access to until you can get a special surprise at the end.  You can also buy upgrades for your spa in-between levels and, remember the purple station from the last game?  Well, this time, you can move men and women to the purple station.  For women, you paint their nails while, for men, you just clip their nails.

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It’s a little sexist because, being a woman myself, I never bother getting my nails painted when I get a mani-pedi.

This game is incredibly addictive.  I give it 8 out of 10, the superior sequel to Sally’s Salon.

Halloween Stories: Invitation (Bigfishgames.com)

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It’s Halloween, and Jane and Joe received two tickets to attend the coolest party of the year.  Unfortunately, said party turns out to be a trap as Jane and Joe find themselves locked in a creepy mansion with mysterious creatures.  Can Jane get herself and Joe out of the creepy mansion before the evil creatures set their plans in motion?

Let me say that, despite the lack of jump scares the game gives you, the story itself is terrific.  I don’t want to give anything away.  Therefore, I’ll just tell you this one little detail.  There are some people in the world that will go to any lengths to get what they want.  I mean this in a tragic way and, if you play the game, you’ll see what I mean.  As for the mysterious creatures, they call themselves Beyonders and they have an enemy in the main character.  When you play the game, you’ll discover why.

The game play is quite typical of the hidden object genre.  You go from room to room collecting items and using them in various locations.

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Some items require you to participate in some very well done hidden object scenes.

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You can also play mini-games to advance the story that vary on level of fun.  If you are stuck, use a hint.  Purchase the Collector’s Edition and you’ll discover Jane and Joe’s back-story as you conduct a séance.

This game is addictive and intriguing.  I give it 8 out of 10, not scary but well-crafted Halloween fun.

Fashion Boutique (Bigfishgames.com)

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Maya’s dream has finally come true.  She has her own boutique and she’s ready to make her name in the world of fashion.  Can you help Maya balance her career and her personal life?

It’s hard to talk about the storyline because what the comics say changes depending on Maya’s stats.  They might focus more on Maya’s career, her personal life or both.  I’ll admit, I did like that aspect of the comics.

The game play is something else.  You take customers to whatever part of the shop they request, bring their orders to the sales clerk and then give them back to the customers.

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My favorite part is at the end of the week, when you can pick actions for Maya that bring up her stats and help her balance her career with her life

This game is interesting but can get dull.  I give it 4 out of 10, unique but doesn’t really have much else to offer.

Cake Shop (Bigfishgames.com)

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When Emily lands a job at the Cake Shop, she couldn’t be happier.  That is, until she starts to miss home.  Can Emily bring the shop up to perfection while keeping her mood up?

There’s not much to say about the plot.  Instead of comic strips or cinematic scenes, you get Emily talking to her boss about her goals for the shop and her mood.  All this does is advance the game play, which is the selling point.  You create different cakes and use machines to serve sodas, ice cream and any other side treat.

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Make sure to serve it to the customers before they get angry and walk out.  You can also buy upgrades when your shop gets enough thumbs up icons.  Get a certain amount to gain a star for the shop.  As for Emily’s mood, make sure to stop by construction to build her the house of her dreams.

This game is simplistic yet addictive.  I give it 7 out of 10.

Christmas Stories-Gift of the Magi Beta Test

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When an evil spirit captures Oliver’s sister, it’s up to him to fill a magical amulet up with three good deeds to save her.  Can Oliver succeed, or will the spirit capture him as well.

The plot is your basic rescue the damsel in distress with the short story, Gift of the Magi, thrown in.  You guessed it; the first good deed is helping the couple.  Fortunately, the couple already sold their most valuable possessions to get each other gifts for Christmas.  Instead, the couple finds themselves in deep debt and you have to get them the money to fix it.

The game play is hidden object, with you going around collecting items for your inventory.  Sometimes, you have to play hidden object games in order to get one item.  If you’re stuck, use a hint.  The map is also there to guide you and believe me when I say that you’ll have to do plenty of backtracking.  This game also comes with a little helper elf who will assist you throughout the game.

This game is entertaining and still keeps the meaning of Gift of the Magi while still allowing you to help the poor couple.  I might buy the game when it comes out.

Alice in Wonderland (Bigfishgames.com)

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When a young woman named Rachael buys a house, she discovers many secrets hidden within its walls. One of them being that it holds a secret world called Wonderland where a little girl named Alice rules, holding ten little girls hostage. Can Rachael save those girls, or will it be off with her head?

That’s right, I’m back and I’m not dead. I also read both Alice in Wonderland books and truly have a feel for the story. Let me just say that I love the new take on Alice in Wonderland. I love the creepy aspects of the storyline and I love how a magical world used as a child’s fantasy to get away from their life is now used as a prison that enslaves children with no hope of escape. It’s very similar to Once Upon A Time’s version of Neverland.

The gameplay is your typical hidden object. You go around, collecting items to add to your inventory. Some items require you to participate in hidden object scenes. You can also participate in mini-games, such as spot the difference and connecting pieces of a puzzle. If you’re stuck, use a hint or skip the mini-game.
This game is entertaining and slightly creepy. I give it 6 out of 10, a nice little distraction.

Worlds Apart: The Descent Beta Test

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When your stepfather falls ill, it’s up to you to travel to the mystical world of Terra. Can you find a cure for him and uncover this world’s secrets?

Before we get to the review, I need to make an announcement. From now on, I’ll only be posting once a week and on Wednesdays. I recently started writing and I want to spend more time on that. Right now, I’m only working on fanfiction but I’m confident that, eventually, I’ll move up to original work.

From what I saw of the plot, it definitely looks intriguing. The game play is your typical hidden object. You go from place to place collecting items for your inventory. Some items require you to participate in a hidden object scene in order for you to collect them. You need to use these items in order to advance throughout the story. If you’re stuck, use a hint.

This game is intriguing but not really addictive. I might buy the full version.

Off the Record: Linden Shades (Bigfishgames.com)

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When a mysterious figure haunts the Linden Shades orphanage, the police immediately shut the place down and send the children to foster homes. As a reporter, your job is to investigate the former site of the orphanage. Can you discover what’s going on and help reopen Linden Shades?

Playing the beta test made me want to check out the entire series. I have to say, I love the plot in this game. You never know what’s going to happen. I also like how everything’s wrapped up and the ending of this game will shock you. If you want more of the story, buy the collector’s edition.

The game play is your typical hidden object. You go from scene to scene collecting items for your inventory. You have to use what you collect in order to advance throughout the game. If you’re stuck, use a hint. The one thing that separates this game from other hidden objects is that you also collect tapes to discover more about the mystery of the story.

This game is addictive and intriguing. I give it 8 out of 10; one of the best hidden objects I’ve ever played.

Matchmaker: Joining Hearts (Bigfishgames.com)

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When an old woman marries off her last single daughter, she finds herself with nothing to do. It’s not until an old friend tells her that she wants to get married that she finally finds her calling.

The plot of this game couldn’t be more simplistic. An old woman with nothing to do decides to badger other people about their lives. Instead of having her matches date each other to see if they’re compatible, she breaks into the houses of her clients and their candidates to see who should be with who. How this woman hasn’t been arrested for breaking and entering I have no idea.

The best way to describe the game play would be formulaic. You go to your client’s house to collect objects that tells you what kind of person he or she is. Then you visit the candidate’s homes to discover what type of people they are. You check off each person’s similarities to your client and collect items around the next location for a gift. Then you set up their date by putting objects in the correct location at the next scenario. You do this for 10 levels straight.

This game is addictive yet simplistic. I give it 4 out of 10; something to do when you’re bored.

Off the Record: The Art of Deception Beta Test

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When a lost masterpiece resurfaces in Austria, a young artist named Lisa Steiner is put in charge of restoring it. When a reporter arrives to interview her, Lisa disappears without a trace? Perhaps there is something much darker going on than anyone realized.

That’s right, Big Fish Games sent me another beta test. I can’t say much about the plot except that there’s a huge conspiracy going on that you find yourself caught in the middle of. This is also a sequel to another game that I have not had the chance to play. The surprising thing is that I had no trouble understanding this game.

The game play is your typical hidden object. You go from scene to scene collecting items for your inventory. Some items will require you to take part in hidden object scenes. You can also play mini-games in order to advance throughout the story. If you’re stuck, use a hint.

This game is addictive and intriguing. I’m definitely buying the full game when it comes out.