Big Fish Games $2.99 Game Deals: Murder, She Wrote & Royal Envoy

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Otty Ott

CAGiversary!
Today's Big Fish $2.99 Daily Deal game is:

Trial Of The Gods: Ariadne's Fate - a match 3 game.

Click here for Trial Of The Gods: Ariadne's Fate

Now no coupon code needed. To get the $2.99 price, you must either be a Game Club member or do the 1 month Game Club trial which you can cancel after buying the game.

* * *

Big Fish has also started a $2.99 Catch of the Week:

Redemption Cemetery: Curse Of The Raven - A hidden object game.

Click here for Redemption Cemetery: Curse Of The Raven

Now no coupon code or Game Club membership needed. Available to everyone.

I will update this post every day for the new game each day.
 
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This game came out in 2004, so there is no Gamezebo review. Gametunnel did review it:

"I'm not going to stand up and tell you that I haven't played any other Arkanoid games but that I'm sure this is the best one. That is either a good thing or a bad thing I'll let you take your pick. What I will tell you is that Ricochet Lost Worlds is clearly one of the best Arkanoid games available and that if you enjoy it (and you likely will) you should check out some of the other first-rate offerings available as you are likely to enjoy many of them as well, perhaps even more."

Rating: 8 out of 10

Click to read Gametunnel's review of Ricochet: Lost Worlds
 
Gamezebo review:

"Generally, Escape the Museum is an "object" lesson in how to create a quality object-hunting diversion. Graphics are attractive, especially the cut scene art, with spot animations that add life to an otherwise static world. Music and sound effects do a great job of adding tension and urgency to the atmosphere, as does the occasional shaking and crumbling of the museum interior. Adventure game elements incorporated with the escape puzzles add significantly to gameplay, as does the return to previous scenes for additional puzzle solving. Plus, this addictive seek-and-find puzzler combines a solid dose of enjoyment with an extensive experience double the length of most contemporaries."

Pros: Solid production values. Engaging storyline. Great mix of object-based puzzles and seek-and-find locales.

Cons: Some objects are non-distinct and/or too well hidden. Vague item descriptions.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Escape The Museum
 
Gamezebo review:

"The Serpent of Isis is a well-made adventure with an interesting story, polished production values, decent gameplay length, and good replay value in the sense that you'll be given different lists of objects to find each time you start over."

Pros: Decent length. Interesting story, puzzles and locations.

Cons: Inventory puzzles not always clear. Some vagueness with item labeling.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of The Serpent Of Isis
 
Gamezebo review:

"Bipo: Mystery of the Red Panda is a little rough around the edges, and as a result it comes across as a strong first effort, but one that could use some refinements and a little more depth. Either that or the game has been deliberately designed for younger players or newbies to the RPG genre – neither of which is a bad thing."

Pros: Engaging plot minus any fighting. Can save anywhere. Game prompts you to save before dangerous encounters.

Cons: Lacks mouse interface. Must backtrack out of dungeons. Not particularly deep or long.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Bipo: Mystery Of The Red Panda
 
Gamezebo review:

"Even the most well-worn of genres can seem new again in the right hands, and Deep Blue Sea is solid proof of that. A debut title from The Game Equation (a studio founded by two of the programmers who worked on Eidos Interactive's Hitman), Deep Blue Sea takes the match-three formula made popular by Bejeweled and its ilk and makes it its own thanks to the right balance of clever power-ups, challenging levels, and good production values."

Pros: Robust power-up system. Multiple goals in every level. Matching has a purpose. 130 levels.

Cons: Occasional typos (missing apostrophes). Aside from chains, no other obstacles to overcome.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Deep Blue Sea
 
Another game from last month that I wanted but missed. Hopefully next month they'll re-feature the Isis game from a few days ago (Why do I procrastinate so?) :bomb:

Thanks Otty Ott
 
Gamezebo review:

"It's fun to play a time management game that's straightforward, with great pacing. Wendy's Wellness is challenging and frantic, without being too tough. With plenty of new additions and twists, it's a good addition to your time management collection. "

Pros: Lots of variety in the levels. Great pacing. A dozen different, replayable mini games. Several types of upgrades.

Cons: Music is sub-par, consisting on an unvarying, looping midi. Artwork is okay, but not as polished as we've seen in other recent games.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Wendy's Wellness
 
Gamezebo review:

"We're all for developers branching out and exploring the possibility of interpreting new genres in original and more accessible ways for a broader audience. Nonetheless, Youda Camper lacks elegance and simplicity, two qualities essential for success in today's casual market, meaning all but the most ardent desktop enthusiasts will want to seek other ways to experience the magic of the great outdoors."

Pros: Many buildings to construct. Open-ended setup bolsters replay value.

Cons: Poor translation. Counter-intuitive interface. Monotonous play. Bland presentation. Offers inadequate feedback. Difficult for beginners.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Youda Camper
 
Gamezebo review:

"The game's simplicity and rudimentary artistic design aside, there's well over a dozen hours of content here. And since there is an inherent randomness to each hand, replay value is very high. Simply put, Faerie Solitaire gives you plenty of solitaire for your buck."

Pros: Takes only a few seconds to learn. More than 400 hands spread over 40 levels. Excellent replay value. Game variables are both clever and understated. Lots of unlockable bonus content.

Cons: Story is disposable. Objectives are too easy for the first few hundred hands. Rudimentary audio and visual design.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Faerie Solitaire
 
Gamezebo review:

"Jesse grew up not knowing much about her past, so she's excited to receive a letter from the Flux Family promising answers if she'll help them retrieve various historical artifacts by travelling through time with the help of a special device. Flux Family Secrets: The Ripple Effect is the latest casual title to combine hidden object and adventure gameplay, and is certainly fun while it lasts."

Pros: Polished production values. Interesting scenes and puzzles. Well-implemented hints system. Not too stressful. Educational and replay value.

Cons: Borrows concept from Mortimer Beckett. Only 10 historical figures that keep repeating. Vague To Be Continued ending.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's Review of Flux Family Secrets
 
Gamezebo review:

"The game show format and hidden object gameplay work well together, and the fact that a "studio audience" cheers every time you click on a correct item, and groans whenever you click in the wrong place is a particularly nice touch. Many people will appreciate the game's hefty length (up to 15 hours according to the developer), but with limited variety and a bland host, the game can start to seem like a grind. The Hidden Object Show is a solid seek-and-find game, just one that left us wanting a little more - in spite of its length."

Pros: Game show format works well. Mini-games add variety. Entertaining crowd noise. Get your money's worth in terms of length.

Cons: Can start to feel like a grind. Some items too far off-screen. Certain mini-games need more polish.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read the Gamezebo review of The Hidden Object Show
 
Today's Big Fish $2.99 Game Of The Day is:

Nanda's Island - A puzzle game where you draw and delete lines to direct water to your plants. Unique gameplay.

Click here for Nanda's Island

Use Coupon Code: NANDA299

I will update this post every day for the new game each day.
 
There is no Gamezebo review for this unusual game. However Casual Gamer Chick reviewed it and had this to say:

"Nanda’s Island is a highly addictive puzzle game. I really enjoyed trying to find the best place to draw the line and get the water drops to the seeds. Unfortunately, a few levels took a while to complete because I am not all that good at drawing straight lines with a track ball, but even with that small hindrance I still enjoyed Nanda’s Island. Another fact I liked about the game is it is completely different from other puzzle games."
 
Gamezebo review:

"Nanny Mania is a great concept but could have benefited from being fleshed out a little bit more. As it stands, the game gets repetitive quickly. Once the first child reaches her pre-teen years, all of the different chores have been introduced into the game and there's nothing new to look forward to except grinding through the rest of the levels as all the kids grow up."

Pros: Nice graphics and animations. Cool Sims-like top-down perspective of the house. Potential for expansion packs and add-ons.

Cons: Becomes repetitive quickly. Not enough variety. Second and third characters do not add much.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read the Gamezebo review of Nanny Mania
 
This is a somewhat educational kids' game. It might also be available on the Wii. I can't find any mainstream reviews of it.
 
Today's Big Fish $2.99 Game Of The Day is:

Kindergarten - A time management game like Diner Dash or Cake Mania where you are running a school.

Click here for Kindergarten

Use Coupon Code: KINDERGAR

I will update this post every day for the new game each day.
 
Gamezebo review:

"As a time management game, KinderGarten is perhaps not as visually alluring or strategically arranged as Carrie the Caregiver or Diner Dash, though it attempts to make up for this with it's quirkiness and unpredictable game play. It's a cute one to play of you like childcare-themed games and aren't too concerned about developing a real strategy."

Pros: Cute and quirky visuals and language. Unpredictable babies means less monotonous gameplay.

Cons: Limited upgrades. Simplistic graphics. Overall lack of strategy.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Kindergarten
 
Gamezebo review:

"East Side Story is the fourth and newest installment of the Carol Reed mystery series by MDNA Games. Like the other games in the series, East Side Story is a point-and-click single player adventure game where players must find clues, solve puzzles and ultimately unravel the mystery of an unsolved murder...East Side Story is longer than the previous games in the series and blended with the great scenery, sound, and storyline, it's definitely a winner in my book."

Pros: Great story. Unique eye-catching graphics. Challenging mystery and puzzles.

Cons: Lack of in-game help or hints.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of East Side Story
 
Gamezebo review:

"If you're a fan of the hidden object genre, you'll appreciate Mirror Mirror's smart sense of humor and well-chosen lists of items. The mini-games are so-so, but the story of star-crossed lovers and mysterious mirrors is fun enough to keep you guessing up to the very end."

Pros: Fun sense of humor. Nicely varied item lists.

Cons: Ho-hum mini-games. A bit on the short side.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Hidden In Time: Mirror, Mirror
 
Gamezebo review:

"Overall, Cindy's Travels: Flooded Kingdom is an attractive match-3 game, with some interesting twists. The story is silly but fun, and the adjustable difficulty level makes it suitable as a family game. However, it lacks a bit of addictive value, due in part to a lack of a score or timer, and also due to repetitive gameplay with few additions as you progress. Because of this, it's probably best suited for people looking for a game to relax with or share with their kids, instead of those match-3 fans who crave a competitive challenge."

Pros: Beautiful graphics. Lots of cool visual and lighting effects. Opportunity to make large combos. Lengthy gameplay.

Cons: Light story with some awkward English. No score or timer, so minimal challenge. Repetitive.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Cindy's Travels: Flooded Kingdom
 
Gamezebo review:

"Youda Farmer has a lot going for it: above average graphics, realistic sound effects, and gameplay that puts a new twist on farm-themed time management games. There's one problem, though: unless you use a very specific strategy that involves lining up actions ahead of time, the pace will become hopelessly hectic by level six or so."

Pros: Wonderful graphics and sound. Challenging "click ahead" game mechanic. Bring something new to farming games.

Cons: Missing clear instructions about how to play. Lacks story and satisfying ending. Limited replay value.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Youda Farmer
 
Gamezebo didn't review this game, since it is a few years old, but Gamespot did review it:

Gamespot review:

"Many of the levels inevitably require lots of trial and error as you experiment with different combinations of blocks. Some levels seem fiendishly designed to trick you--sometimes the solution is simpler than it looks. However, the game's linear structure means it's possible to find yourself completely stuck on a given level, making Mortimer and the Enchanted Castle fairly frustrating at times. The simple graphics and sound don't help much, though some amusing audio cues give the game some personality."

The Good

* Fairly original design reminiscent of the puzzle classic Lemmings
* You've got an unlimited number of tries for each level (and you might need them).

The Bad

* It's easy to get stuck and there's no hint system to help you
* Leans heavily on trial and error
* Simplistic visuals.

Score: 6.2 out of 10
Average User Score: 7.9 out of 10

Click to read the Gamespot review of Mortimer & The Enchanted Castle
 
Gamezebo did not review this game, but IGN did:

"I know I played some pretty lame games as a kid, just because they were there, and maybe because they had characters I was interested in. I can definitely see kids playing this game and maybe even enjoying it for what it is. If the puzzles are easy, maybe that just makes it easier on the parents who get called in to help. Even so, I wouldn't go for The Path of Zuko for your little Avatar fan unless you're on a budget that prohibits console titles. Even at that point, you may be better off checking out the MMO—it's free."

Rating: 4.5 out of 10

Click here to read IGN's review of Avatar:The Path Of Zuko
 
Gamezebo review:

"Beachfront property? Check. Some cash in the bank? Yep. A desire to build up a successful marina? You bet. So long as you've met these requirements, you can create and maintain a thriving harbor in Youda Marina. This business sim with a time management element might take a while to wrap your head around but offers a deep and enjoyable game if you're up for the challenge."

Pros: Deep marina simulation. Many modes, features and buildings. Good tutorial. High replayability.

Cons: Steep learning curve and somewhat difficult game-play. Lacks mainstream appeal. So-so graphics. Can't speed up gameplay.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Youda Marina
 
Gamezebo review:

"If you thought your food-serving or gem-swapping puzzle games were tough exercises, wait until you're asked to play four different games - all at the same time. And you will, if you've downloaded and played Arcadia Remix, a very clever - and increasingly challenging - retro arcade game with a few new and fun twists.
One thing's for sure - you haven't played anything like it before."


Pros: Refreshingly unique (yet retro at the same time). Mind-bogglingly challenging. 16 different arcade games to play. Awesome 80s presentation.

Cons: Not a mainstream game. Some minor control issues.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click to read Gamezebo's review of Arcadia Remix
 
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