by December M
They say that it isn’t the destination that counts; it’s the journey. And it’s true enough to say that my journey since joining this blog has been a whirlwind. I mean, let’s face it – I have the best job in the world! Who else gets to claim they are a ‘gamer’ as a vocation? But that’s what I consider myself to be … a gamer. I play games. I review games. I write about games. I think of what I’d love to see in games. But mainly, I play games. A lot of games! Continue reading
Genre: Adventure / Puzzle / Hidden Object
Developer:
Publisher: Nevosoft
Download a 60-minute trial of Annabel
December M: 
Annabel. Annabel. Annabel. Tsk, tsk, tsk. There are some heroines you love, some you want to emulate and some you just want to strangle. Annabel is one you just want to drop-kick from here back to ancient Egypt.
Because. She. Talks. Like. This.
With perfectly sharp short clipped yet well-enunciated vowels. And capitalised words. If you met her in person you would probably imagine the speech bubble above her head. And it’s really, really annoying. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not just picking on Annabel. All of the characters in this game are worth drop-kicking if only because of their speech patterns. But despite this intensely aggravating flaw, the game-play of Annabel absolutely rocks. There are loads and loads of innovative, unusual mini-puzzles and although there’s a little bit of searching, it’s far more adventure than it is hidden object. Continue reading
Genre: Hidden Object Adventure
Developer: TechFront
Publisher: Gamehouse
Download a 60-minute trial of Lilly Wu and the Terra Cotta Mystery
December M: 
Ever noticed those gold rectangles around the border of National Geographic magazines? Well you will, after playing Lilly Wu and the Terra Cotta Mystery. They’re everywhere! I’ve not seen such effective branding of a game since the Spin Top hidden object games. But one thing about National Geographic – they certainly give you rich storylines and superb graphics. Perhaps they have the Midas touch? Continue reading
Genre: Time Management / Strategy
Developer: Youda Games
Publisher: Alawar
Download a 60-minute trial of Youda Survivor
December M:
Another fast-paced time-management game emerges from Youda, this time in Survivor fashion. Facing the tribes of a long lost island, you must navigate levels that gain in complexity and difficulty as you progress.
Much in the same vein as Farm Frenzy and Emily’s Taste of Fame, you are presented with small tasks that gain momentum and ever-challenging complexity. You start with some grass, you dig a hole and a seagull lands. It lays an egg and you concoct potions to give yourself more energy. Continue reading
Genre: Hidden Object Adventure
Developer: Total Eclipse
Publisher: Gamehouse
Download a 60-minute trial of The Clockwork Man 2: The Hidden World
December M: 
There’s a laboratory somewhere where little people in white coats mix chemicals and toxins and create clinically well made hidden object games that sell well and inspire nobody. These scientists/game developer create their concoctions based on what has sold before, what will sell well again and what they think will gain them more access to more chemicals and toxins to create even more clinical type games. Continue reading
Genre: Hidden Object
Developer:
Publisher: Mumbo Jumbo
Download a 60-minute trial of The Institute: A Becky Brogan Adventure
December M: 
It’s time to give The Institute the once over: walk around, look under the hood and give the tyres the proverbial kick. The Becky Brogan Adventures are a solid introduction for anybody new to the Hidden Object genre. They illustrate how easily you can get into a game, play it, and complete it a few hours later. There’s nothing new or innovative in this one, but it does give that same satisfaction as the sound of a solid thunk as you close the door on a well-made car. Continue reading
Genre: Review
Developer: PopCap
Publisher: PopCap
Download a 60-minute trial of Plants Vs Zombies Game of the Year Edition
Ian Hannan: 
Close your windows, lock your doors and make sure that you have a shotgun ready as the zombies are coming. Well, that is what you would expect when you anticipate a game involving zombies. One would recall games such as Left 4 Dead or Resident Evil when they think of a game that involves those brain-eating cadavers. What isn’t expected though, is that these zombies have become vegetarian! Continue reading
Genre: Hidden Object
Publisher: Digi Ronin
Download a 60-minute trial of King Arthur on Club Casual Games
December M:
There are a few brilliant elements in King Arthur, a hidden object game brought to us by Digi Ronin Games. Unfortunately they are outnumbered by negative points that make this title rather boring. Continue reading
by Rhiannon Phillips
Ok, now be kind! This is my first real attempt at video editing. Hoping to capture some of the superb, creepy essence of Campfire Legends: The Hookman. You just have to try this game…dim the lights and wear some headphones for maximum impact!
Genre: Time Management
Developer: Gamehouse
Publisher: Gamehouse
Download a 60-minute trial of Delicious: Emily’s Taste of Fame from Club Casual Games
December M:
Fast, frenetic and Fabulous! For everyone that loves time management games, the new edition to the Delicious range, Emily’s Taste of Fame, is going to satisfy your every whim. What starts out simplistically soon builds and builds until you and your mouse become symbiotic and obviously form a kind of “Zen state of one-ness”. It’s the only way you can survive the feverish pace with your eyes looking in 20 different places, your mouse moving faster than Greased Lightning and all the time your brain is trying to calculate just how many waffles you are going to need in the next 15 seconds! It’s madness. Sheer unadulterated madness! And incredibly addictive. Continue reading
