Thanks Lilyr. Yeah, we got walloped a few times. It was crazy. Yes, we are super glad she is going to be okay.

From the way hte reviews sounded I figured it was going to be similar in style to the Gardenscape games? Where it's straight HOS with maybe mini games thrown in? I haven't played the first Park Ranger game so I'm not sure.

Hey, misscatlady, of course we remember you!  Great to see you here again!   

I'm really sorry about all the problems you've been having - your porch, your poor dog, your tooth.  Hopefully it'll all be sorted out soon and then the rest of the year will be smooth sailing as I think you've had enough for this year.    At least you've found time to play a few games, which is always important! 

As for the games you mentioned... the reviews for Surface I read this morning weren't very complimentary, a lot saying they were disappointed that it wasn't as good as the earlier ones, and one saying that it's really short.  But I haven't played any of the demo yet.  I have, however, played as much as I could stand of Violett.  It was originally an app for android phones and I think the only real way of playing it without tearing your hair out would be if you play with a touchscreen.  I played about 15 mins and thought that life was too short to be that frustrated by a stupid game.  But a few loved the challenge, which it really is, because of the mechanics rather than the puzzle challenge, although that certainly doesn't help.  I haven't even looked at Vacation Adventures so can't help you there.
 

One last word before I stumble off to bed ... it's after midnight and I'm SO ...

If there's anyone who doesn't have Nearwood CE  (who'd be so silly not to already have it?!), Playrix has it on sale for $5.99 at their website. Use coupon code PLAY-P9ET-KPGE at the checkout.  It's in my top 3 fav CEs ever and I definitely recommend the CE, especially at this price! 
 

Hello misscat,  I was wondering where you've been.  That was some winter that most of us went through.  Hopefully now you can get rolling on the porch now that nicer weather is here.  Sorry to hear that your boxer had some problems, but glad that is now as bad as originally thought.

I did the demo for Gardens, Inc.  Thanks sandhan for mentioning it.  My strategizing skills are very rusty, but I like it and going to pick it up with a pcc.

 

I just finished Lost Lands: Dark Overlord CE, and I've decided that my Top 3 has become my Top 5 as I just can't decide which of 5 should be in the Top 3. 

I loved this game!    The bonus wasn't overly long at a bit under 90 mins (but I used the Hint button to get around when I couldn't remember where I needed to use whatever it was I'd just picked up) but it was really interesting, taking place mostly in the underwater world, which you had no idea even existed in the main game.  The puzzles could have been a tad more difficult but they were all really fun and ones that I love doing - and you get to replay them all in the Extras.  But all in all I loved it and am really glad I got the CE as, apart from the Extras, I was really disappointed when I finished the main game and was so glad I could continue on with the bonus game - then was really disappointed when that finished! 

The only problem I had technically speaking with the game was that I didn't get one of the achievements as it didn't register.    I hate it when that happens!    You do everything you can to get all the achievements and then one doesn't register?    I've written to CS and I'll see what they say.  The last time I complained about missing achievements (2 weeks ago) I got a free coupon code for an SE or CE!    I just figure that if you pay double for a CE then it should work!

HOSs:  Fantastic!    List, silhouette, place objects in scene - all difficult and SO much fun!
Puzzles:  All fun but some a tad too easy... but did I say fun?  A lot were some of my favourites.
Music:  Superb!    The music score sounded like a blockbuster movie score, very dramatic and really set the scene.
Graphics:  Amazing!    Even the cutscenes were amazing.
Gameplay:  Very smooth and intuitive - not once did I have to go looking for a HOS to find an object I needed.

CE versus SE:  SE would be fine but I'm glad I got the CE as I loved the game. 
Length:  Long!  I didn't time it but the main game seemed really long and the bonus was a tad under 90 mins.
Bonus Chapter:  Not necessary to complete the main story (good for SE) but an addition and fun!  All new scenes.
CE Extras:  Bonus chapter, replayable puzzles (not HOSs ), collectibles (and bonus jigsaws), achievements, plus the usual.

My Recommendation:  I definitely recommend this game, as either CE or SE, although I'm really glad I got the CE as I didn't want the game to finish at the end of the main game and I got to see the underwater world and even more amazing graphics.

My Rating:    I loved, loved, loved this game!  And it's now joined my Top 3 (then 4) to become a proud new member of my Top 5!