Recent reviews by genkicoll

Delicious 15: Emily's Miracle of Life (Dash-TM)
Steam copy provided for Curator review

A challenging Emily game with no option for difficulty.

Options include separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full-screen and Hints.

NOTE: The opening cutscene for level 51 would not play for me. If you have the same issue, you can watch it on Youtube HERE.

Story:

The O'Malley's are expecting another baby at last, but how are they going to handle all of the preparation when Emily's cooking vlog is so popular... ? Not to mention trying to keep healthy and being her usual generous and helpful self!
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1975801653
Gameplay:

I had a hard time with the cursor on this one... I kept losing track of where it was! Luckily, I found a solution! Did you know that you can increase the size of your system's cursor? I made a simple guide HERE for those interested.

The basic gameplay is the same as always: Serve customers, make combos, find the mouse (on the story levels), earn coins to upgrade with and complete challenges. Like in Message in a Bottle, story challenges don't happen every level, so you only earn diamonds on those levels, plus the actual Challenge levels.

Diamonds are used to purchase items for the nursery, and while it's fun to decorate, it's kind of irritating that you have to take a photo after every single upgrade. :p

As mentioned, this title is more challenging than many of the recent GameHouse Original Stories games; more reminiscent of the earlier Delicious games as far as difficulty goes. Even though I am an experienced player and know that I need to work those combos to jack up the score, I had trouble getting 3 stars on multiple levels, especially at the final location.

So what is amping up the difficulty so much? Mini-actions.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1975797750
Periodically you'll need to deliver something that will need an additional action, such as clicking, swiping, rubbing the cursor back-and-forth, etc. This wouldn't be so bad, except that sometimes you have to do three of these in a row to complete the mini, all while tracking other patrons' orders! Between these actions and my trouble with losing the cursor, I had some frustrating moments.

Speaking of which, there is an achievement for playing the Daily Challenge 15 days in a row... Really? I don't take that long to finish these games, and of course I forgot to play yesterday. Grr...

Sights and Sounds:

Music and SFX are the same quality as always, but graphically the detail is really outstanding, especially for the characters themselves.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1975801337
The six locations were incredibly different, but they felt cohesive nonetheless. I am just very impressed by the quality of the graphics in this one. The closing credits even have extra story in them!

Verdict:

Despite a few irritations I really enjoyed Miracle of Life. The vibrant and beautiful locations, along with varied gameplay and a sweet story kept me engaged throughout.

Old Man's Journey (Adventure)

A wordless point-and-click (and sometimes drag) narrative with light puzzling.

Options include separate adjustment for Music and Sound, Resolution, Full-screen, V-Sync and Anti-aliasing.

Story:

We set out on a trip after receiving a troubling letter from the postman. Along the way we revisit his memories... The joyous and exciting, his dreams, his failures and his heartaches, and ultimately, his future.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1974108541
The story is entirely visual, and progresses through a series of images that we see when the old man pauses in his journey to reflect on his life.

Gameplay:

Help the old man to proceed on his journey by manipulating the environment. The way this works is pretty straightforward: Raise and lower terrain so that it intersects, enabling him to hop between them. Ground that you are standing on cannot be moved, but you can see which hills can be adjusted by clicking and holding on any of them.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1974108808
There is one place where you have to turn a crank using your mouse, but other than that, gameplay entirely consists of puzzling out how to get these intersections so that you can proceed. There is a sequence where you have to react semi-quickly with aligning the way forward, but it won't keep you from progressing if you can't do it; it will just slow you down a bit.

You can replay any of the 15 chapters by visiting the main menu.

Sights and Sounds:

The music and sfx are nice, but the artwork is where this game really shines. It's vivid and beautiful, even during the darkest storm.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1974111262
Verdict:

At the end of the day, this is a walking sim with some light puzzling. It is also a beautiful journey through this man's memories, both literally and figuratively. The scenery is absolutely a delight, and that alone makes the game worth playing. Recommended!

Cave Quest (Match-3)
Steam copy provided for Curator review

One of my most-played match-3's of all time!

Options include separate sliders for SFX, Music and Ambients, Full-screen, Custom Cursor and choice of Timed (bonus cash~! Ka-ching!) or Untimed (can be changed between M3 levels).

Your family has disappeared in the mountains, and thanks to rumors of dangerous evil spirits, the locals are too afraid to help you search for them.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1969463119
It's a good setup for a game, but the story is not the real focus of the game. It's all about the gameplay.

What we have here is a light adventure with a nice variety of match-3 types:

• Traveling - Move your characters by clearing the pathway in front of them. I really enjoy trying to keep just ahead of them, and not letting them catch up to the game pieces if I can. 1. It's a fun little mini-challenge, and 2. If they don't touch any pieces for a bit, they'll have an explosive charge on them when they DO catch up! Ka-BOOM!
  
• Clearing the board - Removing gloom, ice, chains, vines... That kind of thing.
  
• Bringing items to the bottom of the board -- You may need to clear away rocks during the adventure, and you might find something useful while you're at it!
  
• Battles! - Match-3 battles are turn-based, so once you make a move, it's the enemy's turn. Red tiles to attack, green to heal and blue for shielding. Making a match of four or more will earn you an additional turn. These battles aren't difficult, strategy-wise, but they're still fun :D

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1969488009
In addition to the various match-3 scenes, we have some light adventure gameplay. This consists of things like collecting items (sometimes from multiple locations), talking to people and doing some simple quests.

There is a HINT button in case you don't know what to do next, as well as a fast-travel MAP, and the task list is a big help if you lose track of what you're supposed to be doing.

You're going to make a lot of money whilst you play, and there's a shopkeeper who will be happy to take that money off of your hands. Items you purchase from him will either help you on your quest (adventure-wise), or will function as bonus items during Match-3 play... Sometimes both!

Mr. Shopkeeper will get new items in stock periodically, so don't worry if you buy him out! Shiny new items will be available later.

Don't have enough money, and aren't ready to progress in the story yet? There's a gold mine that will not only help you with your financial woes, but is also a great place to charge your bonus items.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1969486940
This is a super-addictive match-3 with great gameplay variety and some light adventuring. The story lasted under 4.5 hours for me, but I've also played through this game at least a dozen times over the years... and now I've started over once again! Recommended!

Delicious 13: Emily's Message in a Bottle (Dash-TM)
Steam copy provided for Curator review

Options include separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full-screen, Hints and choice of Difficulty.

Can this game be played as a standalone? The stories and characters in this series are so endearing that I'd recommend playing them all, from #3 (Taste of Fame) forward, but starting here and going backwards would be OK, I think.

Emily's Italian grandfather disappeared in a storm 30 years ago, the news that he's been found alive has her father rattled to the core. The question is where has Grandpa been all these years, and can Emily bring her father's estranged family back together after all these years apart?
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1966791895
We have a Journal of sorts -- More of a family album that is filled with pictures that we take during memorable moments in the game.

The basics from the previous installments carry over to this game. Customers will seat themselves and make their orders, and there are no everlasting gold stars like in some of the other GameHouse Original Stories series.

There are some changes in format compared to the earlier Delicious games:

• There is some minimal mini-game interaction during levels, such as clicking to break a piñata or tossing a coin in a fountain
  
• You don't start earning diamonds until level 9, and challenge levels are worth one diamond each
  
• Every other level has a story-related goal which will earn you one diamond
  
• Helpful upgrades such as entertainers are story-centric

That last change is my favorite, as it adds a new dynamic to the gameplay that keeps things fresh.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1966801672
Coins are only earned on the story levels, but you'll earn more coins each time you replay one of these levels. Use coins to buy upgrades for your restaurants.

Diamonds are used to unlock invitations for all of the family members (must earn every diamond in the game to invite them all).

There are both in-game and Steam Achievements. Earning achievements in-game will get you messages (in bottles!) from fans of the series. The final achievement -- unlocking all of the products -- is badly-balanced, and a real pain to earn, but of course I had to earn it anyway. hehe

Edward has four brothers, and we already know Antonio, but the three other brothers live incredibly different lifestyles, meaning that we have some interesting locations to visit! Italy is charming no matter where we might be in the game, and even Carl the Mouse looks Italian! lol~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1966795309
There are the usual 60 story levels and 30 challenges, but there are also an additional 5 story-related levels as an epilogue! These 5 levels answer some very important questions that had bothered me throughout the game, so I was really happy to get some answers!

The Delicious games never fail to entertain, and I am impressed at how well the devs have managed to keep things from getting stale, whilst still maintaining the charm the I enjoy so much. Earning the final achievement in Message in a Bottle is a bit frustrating, but does not tarnish the fun. Recommended to all Dash fans!

Evergarden (Puzzle)

Options include separate sliders for Music and SFX, Full-screen and Quality.

If you cannot interact with the game (clicking does nothing), make sure that there isn't anything pushing on your controller, and the problem should be fixed.

Story:

There is an understated story that ties everything loosely together, but I can't tell you much about it without giving things away. We will find a couple of notes that help, including this one from the very beginning of the game:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1959256482
We are accompanied on our journey by Fen, who will also "request" patterns during the base puzzle game.

Gameplay:

Evergarden has the same core puzzle mechanic as games like FaeVerse Alchemy and Triple Town, but rather than lines or box-grids, we're working with hexagons. The premise is simple: Combine flowers of the same type to create higher-tier flowers, and match patterns to earn bonuses.

A handy visual for you:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1960494194
There is a reward for matching Fen's requested pattern -- a random flower that you can pick up and use (assuming that there is room in your inventory).

Monoliths:

• Matching two tier 6 flowers will result in the formation of a monolith, which works as a wild card until you match with it, whereupon it will light up and no longer work for patterns
  
• Creating a monolith will earn you extra turns
  
• At then end of the round, monoliths will reward you with a red puzzle piece
  
• If you can light up a triangle of monoliths, they will disappear and a tier two (mega) monolith will take its place. In return you will get your puzzle pieces early, and the mega monolith will reward you with a single-use "song" (explained down below)

Puzzles:
New locations will open up, which contain diamond-hex puzzles. These story-related puzzles were difficult for me. I'm usually pretty good at spacial visualization, but for reason the diamond-hex makeup of the puzzles confused me. There is a refilling hint (?) that will show up in the bottom right corner, but I still had trouble. Solution? Create a Puzzle Solution Guide!

If there is an exclamation point (!) on an arrow, then there is something for you to find and/or complete in that direction.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1959259471
Once you get to a certain point in the story, you'll unlock the Daily Puzzles, which can be found to the left of the base game area. When you solve the daily, you'll earn a "more beautiful" garden, meaning that you'll start out with higher-tier flowers until the day resets. Not a lot of help for story mode, but really nice once you're playing endlessly.

Songs:

Our friend Fen may remember songs when you solve one of the diamond-hex puzzles, and these songs work as bonuses for you to use during the base game. The down side is that there are a total of 8 songs that you can unlock, and only three inventory spaces! If your inventory is full of songs, then you can't pick up your reward flowers and use them, so you have to decide what's most important to you. (Ahh, strategy) XD

Verdict:

Evergarden is an addictive puzzle game with a loose but somehow-profound story. Daily challenges and a leaderboard ensure that the game remains fun even after the story has been completed, and the completionist in me was very happy to see that the game has Steam achievements that are challenging, but not impossible to obtain. Recommended!

Parker & Lane 2: Twisted Minds (Dash-TM)
Steam copy provided for Curator review.

This is a semi-graphic detective story, and is intended for mature audiences.

Options include separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full-screen, Hints and choice of difficulty, which can be changed at any time.

There were occasional hiccups where the game would freeze up for a couple of seconds. Happened maybe a dozen times during the story portion of the game (I went back to play the challenge levels later). I also ran into a weird glitch where my sound would jump up to full volume when I clicked on the diamond to update the journal, but it worked normally when I rebooted the game.

Story:

Parker has been a detective on the police force for the past year, her case-solving skills setting a new precinct record. When a murder takes place at a nearby restaurant, the case seems cut and dried, but Parker is not convinced. New cases soon crop up, the circumstances chilling Parker to the core. She's seen this before; lived this before! Now her resolve is put to the test as she has to face her past... and the mountain of evidence that all points straight at her!
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1956747839
We learn a great deal about Parker and what makes her tick in this installment, and her relationships with those around her have taken a turn for the better. Less angst, more banter! I like it!

Gameplay:

This works a bit differently than your usual GameHouse Original Stories fare, and the gameplay has been changed up since the first installment, as well.

There's a nice tutorial this time around, which explains some of the things that we learned how to do in the first game. haha Better late than never?

The type of investigator interactions you get depend on what kind of location you are currently in. For instance, if you're in the lab, they'll automatically head where they need to go and wait on you to help them, but if you're at a crime scene, you'll have to click on them, then send them to their requested station first.

In this installment we spend some time in court, and I was surprised at how well the gameplay flowed on these levels.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1956773030
Although we may have the bulk of a chapter's levels in once place, we bop around between locations depending on where we are in the story, breaking up the gameplay nicely. As usual there are six chapters, with 60 story chapters and 30 challenge levels.

We don't upgrade locations this time around. Instead we spend our tokens on... dun dun dunnnn... Hero Abilities for each of the four people we will play as. Improve our characters' speed, how they present themselves (which will make investigators' hearts decrease more slowly) and concentration (which affects the mini-games). Just click on the ? for a rundown of what each ability does.

Speaking of mini-games, some of them are familiar, but the most frustrating ones from the previous games are gone. I liked a few of the new ones quite a bit, but most of them are absurdly-easy, even with no tokens spent on Concentration.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1956770751
Diamonds are spent to unlock memories in the Parker family album, and each photo has a brief description that enhances the story.

Sights and Sounds:

Although the color is more purple than red, the crime scenes are bloody, which is pretty graphic for this type of game. As mentioned, this game is meant for a more mature audience.

No voiceovers, per usual, and the mouse giggles rather than squeaking.

Verdict:

Although the story didn't grab me at first, it wasn't too long before it sucked me in and had me playing non-stop. The antagonist is surely creepy, and "twisted" is the perfect word to describe him. I really enjoyed this one, and definitely recommend it for fans of crime dramas!

Time to complete with all achievements: ~11 hrs

Dr. Cares 2: Amy's Pet Clinic (Dash-TM)
Steam copy provided for Curator review

NOTE: As of December, 2019, the in-game trophy/Steam achievement for buying every shelter upgrade is still broken

Options include separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full-screen and Hints. Choice of Difficulty which can be changed via the game menu.

Story:

Amy has dedicated herself to doing the best she can for the animals of Snuggford, but just as her grandfather takes a much-needed vacation, a new pet clinic arrives in town... Spearheaded by none other than Amy's childhood bully! Now Amy has to not only face her past, but the future of her clinic, as well!
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1947530597
Occasionally we will be asked to make a choice, and while that choice will determine how the scene plays out, the general outcome will remain the same. You can always replay the level(s) and choose something else if you like.

Gameplay:

As usual for a GameHouse Original Stories game, there are six locations with 10 levels each. Twice we will revisit Amy's childhood -- at school and at camp. I found the gameplay during the flashbacks to be delightful -- a lot of fun! -- but there is some serious bullying going on, especially at camp. Some of these levels were very upsetting for me, as I could identify with Amy all too well.

There are a lot of positive changes, gameplay wise, much of it surrounding the medical aspect of the game. No longer are we focusing on grooming animals and removing fleas... Now it actually feels like Amy is a bona fide veterinarian. This is especially evident with the type of Mini-games that we play. I loved checking heart rhythms and doing ultrasounds, and the minis during the flashbacks were really fun; even made me laugh a few times (OMG, the dancing... lol~)
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1947532622
Coins & Diamonds:

As usual we earn 100 coins for every star we earn during levels, and these coins can be used to upgrade our environments, and you WILL earn extra coins when you replay levels! This is because we can use coins to buy additional diamonds! So what are the diamonds for, you ask? I'll be happy to explain!

Next to the Trophies (in-game and Steam achievements) button on the map, you'll find a button that says Shelter. This is where we take in animals (choice of several dogs and several cats) and care for them. Diamonds are used to upgrade the shelter, buy new decorations, more room for animals, and purchase treats for the animals we have in there.

The shelter is its own self-contained min-game where we have to take care of the animals we have "adopted". Each animal has a timer that shows when they will need care again, and attending to their needs will earn you extra diamonds to spend whenever one of them levels up.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1947534533
Playing the Daily Challenge will give your diamonds a nice boost, as will the Challenge Levels!

Sights and Sounds:

The first thing i noticed is that the characters look different. Differently-shaped heads, less-pronounced eyes, Jack doesn't look like Cary Elwes anymore... The changes were really noticeable for me, and it's not a bad thing, just... Different. lol~

Verdict:

Finishing all story levels with 3-stars + the mouse took me about 9 hours, and I've put a few additional hours in completing all of the challenges!

A bigger focus on veterinary medicine and the absence of Amy's previous immaturity makes this game a great improvement. The gameplay for this second Dr. Cares game is rock solid, but be aware that the flashback arcs of the story (two locations) could be a trigger if you were ever the target of bullying in school. There is also a broken Steam achievement, but despite these factors, I really enjoyed myself! Recommended!

Hotel Ever After: Ella's Wish (Dash-TM)
Steam copy provided for Curator Review

A huge departure from the usual GameHouse Original Stories fare, but still an enchanting journey.

Options include a Full-screen toggle, choice of many languages and separate sliders for Music, Sound and Graphics.

Story:

On Ella's 18th birthday, her father will sign over the family legacy -- the only place she's ever called home. Things don't turn out as planned when Ella's stepmother refuses to let the hotel go to someone so young and issues a 60-day challenge: Make the place a two-star hotel, or lose her rights to the property permanently. Ella not only has to fight for her home, there's also the family curse to worry about...
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1941826612
There is a journal, of sorts, but I'll come back to that later.

Gameplay:

There are a few familiar aspects to the game such as the presence of Carl the mouse, but the overall feeling of the game is much different than you might expect if you're a fan of the Snuggford-related games. One major change is that you have to double-click (instead of right-click) to remove items from your tray... That definitely tripped me up a few times! lol~

Ella is a driven young woman who has a dream for the family hotel, but she is also very much a teenager.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943106216
The in-game social media plays a huge part in the storyline and game mechanics, which is part of what makes the gameplay so different from the other GH Stories games, and this is where the journaling aspect comes into play:

Twinkle is a record of of the instant messages between characters, Storybook shows how close you are to the free upgrades you get from "likes" on social media, and Snapgram has some pretty/funny photos that Ella takes during the game.

You can boost your "likes" by giving excellent service (especially to VIP's and people who use their phones a lot).

The mini-games are pretty easy for the most part -- nothing super-challenging.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943108541
The screen above is how you restock one kind of product, but there are multiple areas and items that can only be restocked by courier (who comes automatically when you run out of something.)

The game is not overly-hard, especially if you plan ahead, but there are a couple of unbalanced levels that are very difficult to get 3-stars on. Earning stars will get you money to spend on upgrades, and the diamonds that you earn by completing each day's goal are spent on special upgrades.

Sights and Sounds:

One departure from the norm that I really liked is the way the map is handled. It's not 10 levels, switch to a new location, rinse and repeat. Instead we are working in different areas of the hotel throughout each chapter. The front desk, the bar, the office... I never knew where I'd be playing next, and the way the devs handled it all makes sense with the flow of the story.

As usual there are no voice overs and the sound effects/music are well-done. Visually the game is a treat, and the characters are both likeable and memorable.

Verdict:

Despite the huge focus on in-game social media, Ella's Wish is a charming tale which I enjoyed quite a bit. The gameplay is different than the norm, but I kind of liked how different it was. It would have been more fun (for me) if it had Steam and/or in-game achievements, and it really could have used more polish, but it's still worth playing if you like a good story. :)

Redemption Cemetery 5: Bitter Frost (IHOG or Match-3 Adventure)

This is a standalone story

Options include separate sliders for Music, SFX and Voices, Full-screen, Widescreen and Custom Cursor. Three Difficulties to choose from, or you can go with Custom Mode. Can be changed at any time.

Story:

Wenonah, the Spirit of Cold, had feelings for the Owl Spirit, Koturi, but her feelings were not returned. When Koturi fell in love with your ultimate grandmother, he gave up his immortality to marry her. Wenoah's rage knew no bounds, and this Christmas Eve she will finally enact her revenge by killing off your ancestors to make sure that YOU will never be born!

The spirit of Koturi was able to freeze time, temporarily saving your life, but it's up to you to save your ancestors... and yourself!
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1939598684
We do have a Journal, but each of the three segments is pretty nicely encapsulated, so you probably won't need the story reminders.

Gameplay:

Bitter Cold takes the usual Redemption Cemetery formula and changes it by having you save the living, rather than helping the dead. As usual we will visit three distinctly different eras during our journey.

Be on the lookout for Collectible Snowflakes as you play.

The MAP is only semi-useful, as the areas where we have actions to complete are shown even if we can't do anything there right that moment. The insta-transport is of course very helpful, but if you need help, the directional HINT is likely going to be your best bet.

Hidden Object Scenes vary in type, and although you will revisit each scene once, the items you found previously will stay gone. If you don't feel like doing HOS, you can switch to Match-3 mode... Although this is like no M3 I've ever seen before! Once you make a few matches, one of the pieces will start to glow. Match that piece to remove one item that needs to be found.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1939599509
The Mini-games are nicely-varied, and many have the option of completing them in Casual or Hard mode.

Sights and Sounds:

I was really impressed to hear actual, appropriate emotion from the voice actors -- they did a great job (although the narrator seemed a bit too chipper).

Visually there are some stunningly gorgeous scenes and I like the character design.

CE Content:

• Integrated Strategy Guide
  
• Bonus Chapter
  
• Collectible Snowflakes - purchase decorates for your snow globe!
  
• In-game Achievements
  
• 7 Wallpapers (including one of my favorite scenes!)
  
• 10 Concept Art
  
• 35 Cutscenes
  
• 5 Screensavers
  
• 4 Music Tracks
  
• 18 Mini-games
  
• 11 Hidden Object Scenes

Bonus Chapter:

A postman's carriage slipped into the river, and he cannot rest until the packages and letters in his care are delivered. The extra chapter does not involve any of the characters from the main game (except you), but there are a few familiar scenes along with some all-new areas.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1940978781
Verdict:

The visuals immediately drew me in, and the main goal of saving your ancestors ties the separate stories -- and the simultaneous Christmas and Native American themes -- together beautifully. All told the game + bonus took me about four and a half hours, and I enjoyed it all. Recommended!

Fairy Godmother Stories 1: Cinderella (IHOG or Match-3 Adventure)
Game provided for Curator review

Options include four sliders for sounds, Stretch, Full-screen, Custom Cursor and Special Effects. Choice of three pre-set difficulties, or you can go with Custom Mode (can be changed at any time).

Story:

You are Cinderella's fairy Godmother, and just when she needs your help, the Peacekeepers burst in and arrest you for committing a string of robberies! Now you must prove your innocence and find the real culprit... All without your magic!

The story takes place in Taleville, which has modern conveniences such as cars and computers, but somehow retains the old-timey feel of the original setting.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1920373884
We don't have a Journal, but the story is easy enough to keep track of. We DO have a book with tabs for Tasks and Notes that we find.

Gameplay:

The MAP can be interactive, and you can choose right on the popup whether you want places with unfound collectibles to be marked. Directional HINTS are available.

Speaking of Collectibles, there are three types: Moonstones (which you use to buy items in your Potion Shop), Household Items (morphing objects) and Shoes. There is a triple-indicator area on your toolbar to help you keep track of where you have/haven't found these items yet.

Hidden Object Scenes vary, ranging from your standard find-by-list to riddles, placing items back in the scene and more. There is a Match-3 game that you can do instead of finding objects, and it's satisfying enough to play... My only gripe is that you can't make moves while pieces are falling.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1920375881
Most of the Mini-games have a difficulty option (Easy or Hard), and yes, the solutions are different!

We are unable to use magic for most of the game because our wand was taken away, so we have to do things the hard way (you know, as people without magic usually do. lol~)

The logic was both inventive and totally ridiculous, a strange mashup to be sure. I appreciated that we found alternate (but believable) ways to accomplish our goals, but some of the tasks we needed to do were absolutely asinine. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will only say being expected to use explosives in unsafe ways is going to rub me the wrong way every time.

Sights and Sounds:

There are some gorgeous visuals around the way, and the meshing of modern technology with a magical environment was handled very nicely.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1920347542
The sound work -- including the voiceovers -- was unremarkable... In other words, it seemed appropriate for the environment, and nothing was jarringly out-of-place.

CE Content:

• Integrated Strategy Guide
  
• In-game Achievements
  
• 3 types of Collectibles (can access found items in Extras area)
  
• Bonus Chapter
  
• 10 Wallpapers
  
• 10 Concept Art
  
• 5 downloadable Music Tracks
  
• 27 Cutscenes
  
• 17 Mini-games
  
• 17 Hidden Object Scenes

Bonus Chapter:

Totally unrelated to the main story, in the bonus you will be helping Red Riding Hood, whose grandmother has been kidnapped! Although we're still a fairy godmother, we use magic only once during the bonus, and even then we had to find the parts we needed first. Why we weren't carrying around our wand with us, I have no idea.

Verdict:

This is a well-made game that suffers from story inconsistencies and some logic that set my teeth on edge -- A personal pet peeve that may not affect your enjoyment of the game at all! Recommended to IHOG fans and those who like having a match-3 alternative.