Set Spring Mosaics aside and played Spirit of the Ancient Forest.  It's a Clutter-type game but not nearly as long. Only 91 levels and that includes the slider puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.  It was nice searching for objects radically different from the Clutter games.  The game has a medieval steampunk vibe.

Started Dark City: London Collector's Edition last night.  Really enjoying this game so far (only played the first chapter).  Can't remember the last time I felt enthusiastic about playing a HOPA.

Hi fellow fishies  

And an especially warm welcome to all the new members I've just discovered have joined/posted since I was last here!



​I haven't found the light at the end of the tunnel yet ... but I've found the tunnel!  So things are definitely looking up!



And I've even managed to play/demo some games!



​So, here are a couple of short reviews ... I'll post full reviews, as usual, in my review thread, but I may not get them posted today.  Hopefully I'll be able to post them by the end of the weekend.  I'll see how I go.


​First, today's new Soft Release ...


​Eleven Islands 

by Joyful Software  (Denis Konovalov, programming and design, + 2 others)

​Other games by this developer  -  Ice Crystal Adventure  &  Jewel Tree - Match It

​Released  -  25 May 2018  -  by both BFG and GH

Genre  -  M3

​Review after playing 42 of 100 levels with my FunPass (GH released it today, as well).

​Recommendation  -  Yes with a PCC or you need to fill a Punch Card ... or if you like fun, easy (if played in Relaxed Mode), M3 games.  Great, fun game with a FunPass!  And only 3 people involved in developing the game - the programmer/designer, 1 person for sound/music, and 1 for artwork.

​It's a fun game but nothing very innovative and, even though every level has a different board and different goals, the gameplay is always the same and so it gets a bit repetitive and monotonous after a while.  But I really liked playing it and I liked the backstory you get about the islanders when you upgrade the islands as you start to restore them after a devastating volcano.

​I didn't find it very difficult and definitely not a very complex M3, as there's just one simple board each level.  However, that being said, when I had to replay one level several times when I kept running out of time and failing the level, I changed to the easiest mode, Relaxed Mode, which is neither timed nor with limited moves.  However, as there's no benefit in playing in either Timed or Limited Moves mode, I stuck with the Relaxed Mode  - which you can change at any time with no penalty, like having to restart from the beginning again.  So you can play in either Timed or Limited Moves mode and then, if you get stuck, switch to the Relaxed Mode for that level, then switch back again if you wish.

​The gameplay is also very simple.  You simply play the level and when you've completed it (in any of the 3 modes) you get 1 star.  You either fail a level or complete it.  If you're successful, you get one star and go on to the next level.  If you fail, you have to keep replaying it until you pass, then you get your star and you continue.  There's no way to replay the levels but there's no need and there's no such thing as getting up to 3 stars.  You use your stars to restore the islands that have been destroyed by the volcano.


 

I've only just noticed the Games Series Forum ... yeah, I know, very observant ... 

​and I have a request ...   

​Would it be possible, for those of you who start a game series thread, to let us know if each game follows on from the previous one, that is, if they should be played in order, or if they're all stand-alone games and can be played in any order?

​

I would be eternally grateful!


 

Finished Dark City: London Collector's Edition.  Really enjoyed that game and I hope there will be another one.

Also finished World's Greatest Places Mosaics and World's Greatest Places Mosaics 2.  Since the BF forums closed down, I'm spending more time playing games and less time talking about them, which is good.

Going to play Labyrinths of the World: Secrets of Easter Island Collector's Edition next.
 

Finished 9 games in May - 5 CE's and 4 SE's - and didn't buy anything.