Isis

Game Description: Help Isis reunite with her dead lover in this spooky spot the difference game.

How to Play Isis:

• After the game fully loads, (and it may be a little slow to load), click the 'Play' button.
• There are two pictures side-by-side.
• Your goal is to find, and click on, the 5 differences in each picture as quickly as you can.
• When you click on a difference, the difference will disappear from one of the pictures. (Either something will be added, or something taken away, from one of the pictures to make them the same in that particular spot).
• Score 5 points for each difference you click on.
• Lose 5 points for clicking anywhere other than on a difference.
• Score time bonus points for finishing a round early. (There is no time limit in Isis. Meaning that you will be able to finish your game no matter how long it may take you).
• If you should get stuck, use the hint bar located at the lower right corner. (Points will not be deducted for using the hints.)
• There are three buttons on the hint bar: Small, Medium, and Big.
• Click each individual button on the hint bar to get a hint.
• The hint bar fills from left to right. (The Big hint button is farthest to the right, so it takes the longest to get filled).
• Each time you click a button on the hint bar, the hint bar will either be partially or fully depleted, depending on which button you use. (Using the Big hint button causes the hint bar to completely deplete. The Medium button causes it to partially deplete. While the Small button causes the hint bar to only deplete a little).
• The Small hint button will cause a slight flicker on one of the differences. (You will have to be alert and look quickly, or you may miss it).
• The Medium hint button will cause a slight wiggle on one of the differences. (Just like the Small hint, you will have to be alert and look quickly, or you could miss it).
• The Big hint button will place a green box around one of the differences.
• There are twelve picture sets for each game with a total of 60 differences to be found.
• You final score is determined by your accuracy, and your quickness.
• To replay Isis click the 'Play Again (New Differences)' button, and Isis will reset the game with new random differences for you to find!

Isis Game Options: The game options may be accessed either before you begin the game (from the initial game screen), or during the game by clicking the Pause - Options button located at the bottom of the game. The options are:

• The music may be turned on or off.
• The sounds may be turned on or off.

Isis Playing Tips:

• When you use either the Small or Medium hint buttons you need to be alert. The Small hint will only produce a quick flicker on one of the differences. The Medium hint will only show a quick wiggle on one of the differences. Again, be alert. Because it is easy to miss both the Small and Medium hints.

Richard's Rating: 4 out of 5.

Comments: There are several things I like about Isis. First, and foremost, are the outstanding graphics, sounds and music. (I really enjoy the special effect when you find all 5 differences, and the page in the book is turned). Also outstanding is that each time you replay Isis the game sets up new random differences. This, of course, makes the game much more fun to play.

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Ether of Magic Cards

Game Description: Ether of Magic Cards is a turn based strategy game. You, a skillful wizard, will battle against numerous magical enemies. Each battle begins with 5 cards dealt to you, and 5 cards dealt to your opponent. You always get to play the first card in each battle. After that, play alternates between you and your opponent until someone wins the battle. Good luck!

How to Play Ether of Magic Cards: I am not going to pretend that I have learned everything that there is to learn about this game, or that I know how all of the cards are even used. But, I can share what I have learned so far. Don't be concerned if you do not understand everything. This is a game you will pick up intuitively as you go along. Read my review to hopefully pick up a few pointers. Then, just start playing!

• After the game fully loads, click the 'Play' button.
• Click the 'New Game' button to begin a new game. Or, click the 'Continue' button to continue a saved game.
• If this is a new game, select your difficulity level from: Easy, Normal, or Hard.
• The goal of each battle is to get the opponent's health score down to zero before your own score gets down to zero.
• If your opponent's score gets down to zero, you win, and you go on to the next level.
• If your score gets down to zero, you lose, and you must repeat the level.
• Each time you win, you will get a bonus. This can be either a new card with special powers that you can use in your next battle, or it can be extra health points that can help you win your next battle.
• Before you begin each battle you can click the 'Deck of cards' button at the bottom of the game. This will open a new screen. On the right is Your Deck as it is currently configured. (There will always be 21 cards in your deck). On the left are the Available cards that you can add to your deck. Simply drag an available card on top of one of the cards already in your deck and release your mouse. The card you dragged is now part of your deck, and the card underneath will leave your deck and go to the left in the Available card section. When you are done selecting the cards you want, click the 'Close Deck' button.
• Hint: Each time you win a new card in a battle, the new card will always go to the Available cards side. So, if you want to use the new card you just won, don't forget to click the 'Deck of cards' button and put the new card in Your Deck.
• Click the 'Battle' button located at the lower right corner to begin each battle.
• You, and your statistics, are on the left. The opponent, and his statistics, are on the right.
• Each battle begins with 5 cards dealt to you and 5 cards dealt to your opponent.
• You will see your 5 cards face up at the bottom left. Your opponent's 5 cards are face down at the bottom right.
• You always get to play the first card in each battle. After that, play alternates between you and your opponent until someone wins the battle.
• Click on the card you want to play and the card will move to the middle. Should you change your mind and wish to play a different card from your hand, click on the card again and it will go back into your hand.
• Once the card is in the middle you have two choices. You can either cast a 'Spell' with the card (which is almost always the choice), or you can 'Burn the Card' which means the card is not used in a spell but you add 5 points to your energy (ether).
• After you use a card, a new card will be dealt to your hand, to replace the card that was previously played.
• Some cards will help you with offense. That is, they will weaken your opponent. Other cards will help you with defense. That is, they will help strengthen yourself. Some cards, such as the 'Vampire' card will help you to do both.
• The 'Dmg' (damage cards) come in several formats: Ice, Fire, and Lightning, for example. They will attack the opponent and will usually lessen the opponent's score especially if the opponent has little or no ether (energy). Like all cards they come in various denominations. Of course, the higher their number, the more powerful they are.
• Dmg. plus Poison will possibly takes points from an opponent (the damage part) and weaken the opponent (the poison part). Note: Poison will only weaken an opponent. It cannot kill him.
• The 'Cure Poison' card will remove at least some, if not all, of the poison that has been inflicted by an opponent.
• The 'Vampire' card is another powerful card. It will steal lives (score) from your opponent and add lives (score) to yourself. 'Vampire' cards come in several denominations: 5, 7, and 9, for example. If you cast a Spell with a 'Vampire' card of 7, this means your score will go up by 7 and your opponent's score will go down by 7!
• 'Heal' cards are yet another powerful card. They do exactly what their name implies. They heal the player that uses it. For instance, if a player casts a Spell with a Heal of 10, this means 10 points will be added to the player's point total.
• 'Ether' cards are very important. They give you energy and can help ward off attacks from an opponent. When you have high energy (ether) as indicated by the blue bar at the top, this protects you from some of the attack of your opponent. Think of the energy as a shield. For instance, if your opponent attacks you with a card that has 13 damage points while your energy is high, your score may only go down, say 8, instead of 13.
• The 'Paralyze opponent' card means that the opponent's next Spell will have no affect. In essence, this forces the opponent to waste a card and a turn.
• Should you fail a level you can simply replay a level as many times as you need until you succeed.
• There are 20 levels of play.
• If you are unable to finish your game, Ether of Magic Cards should automatically save your game progress. As long as you use the same computer, and come back here to Richard's Game Reviews, you should be able to pick up right where you left off by clicking the 'Continue' button.

Play on Full Screen

Please Note: Before playing Ether of Magic Cards in Full Screen mode, you may want to take a moment, or two, to read my review. Then, after playing your game, simply click the back button on your browser to return to this page.




Ether of Magic Cards Game Options:

• There is a music on/off button at the upper right corner. It seems to be a bit erratic to use. Sometimes I can get the music to turn off, and sometimes I cannot. If this control doesn't work for you simply turn your speakers down until you find a comfortable level.

Ether of Magic Cards Playing Tips:

• This is a game of judgement and strategy. You have to know when to attack and when to defend.
• Before you begin a new battle it can be a good idea to review the cards in Your Deck and make sure you have the best cards available.
• Some cards are duplicates. If a card is powerful, you will likely want duplicate cards in Your Deck.
• Remember what your maximum health is for each round. It varies from round to round. This information can be seen before the battle begins. Here's why it is beneficial to remember this number. Let's say, for example, that your maximum health is 23. This means your score can never exceed 23. Now, let's say that your current score is 18. You would not want to use a Heal card of 10 because you would waste half of the card. (18 + 10 = 28, and 28 would be 5 over your allowed health limit). It would be better to save this card until your score got down to about 13. This way you could get the full benefit of the card.
• Although you will typically use a card to cast a spell on your opponent, burning a card can be a good way of getting rid of an ineffective card, or a card that you don't currently need as much as the other cards in your hand, and it adds 5 points to your energy which is important.
• Should you find that the Easy difficulity level is too easy, and does not give you enough of a challenge, start a new game and try either the Normal or Hard difficulity level.

Richard's Rating: 5 out of 5.

Comments: Ether of Magic Cards has superb graphics and great sounds. It is a wonderful addition to my site!

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Save the Birds

Game Description: The birds are hungry, but have no strength to fly. Can you shoot food to them, and save them?

How to Play Save the Birds:

• As the game begins to load, you will see some text that says 'The game is loading now...' Below this text there will be a blue line with the word 'Continue' underneath. Once you see the word 'Continue' below the blue line, this tells you that the game is fully loaded and ready to be played. You must click the word 'Continue'. That will make the game start.
• When you see the Start screen, click the 'Start Game' button.
• On the 'Level choose' screen you may click any unlocked level to begin play. (If this is your very first time playing Save the Birds, only Level 1 will be unlocked. If you have previously played Save the Birds here on Richard's Game Reviews, and if you are using the same computer, all of the levels that you have previously played should be unlocked and available for play).
• Click any unlocked level to begin play. (Tip: If you are interested in trying for a high Total Game Score, you should always begin with Level 1).
• Move your mouse to positon the blinking green crosshair.
• Shoot the food with the catapult by clicking with your mouse.
• The angle determines the direction.
• The distance from the blinking green crosshair (which is the position of your mouse) and the catapult determines the speed. (The greater the distance, the faster the speed).
• Your goal is to get food to each hungry bird by using your catapult. When you do, the happy bird will eat the food, and then fly away.
• When you are able to get food to each bird, and each bird eats the food and flies away, you will advance to the next level of play.
• The less time you take, the greater your Time Score will be.
• The less shots you take, the greater your Food Score will be.
• Your Time Score and your Food Score are combined to give you your Total Level Score.
• Your Total Level Scores are combined to give you your Total Game Score. Important: If you play any level out of order by going back to the Main Menu and clicking the 'Start Game' button, all of your scores will be lost.
• Your Total Game Score is displayed at the bottom of each level during game play. You can see it just to the right of the small green triangular shaped icon at the bottom of the screen that says 'level Clear', and just to the left of the 'Restart' button.
• Save the Birds has 25 fun levels of play.
• As long as you use the same computer, and come back here to Richard's Game Reviews, Save the Birds should save your game level progress (that is, any level you have previously played should be unlocked and available for play). It will, however, not save any previous scores. So, if you are trying for a high score, you must begin again at Level 1.

Save the Bird Game Options:

• The game sounds may be turned on or off by clicking the microphone icon located at the upper right corner.
• You may pause the game by clicking the 'Pause' button located at the lower right corner. Click the 'Play' button to resume play.

Save the Birds Playing Tips:

• As with all physics games, Save the Birds is a matter of trial and error. Each time you miss with a shot, there is an opportunity to learn more for your next shot. So, of course, you should watch your missed shots carefully and see what you can learn and figure out.
• If you want to try for a high score, then you would want to complete levels as quickly as possible and use as few shots as possible. However, you can also have a lot of fun by just playing Save the Birds casually, and ignore the score, and simply see how far you can get in the game.
• If you are trying for a high score, and things are going poorly on a level, you may click the 'Restart' button near the lower right corner, just to the left of the 'Pause' button. Clicking 'Restart' allows you begin a level over again, and gives you the opportunity to get a higher level score.
• Remember, if you are playing for a high score, you must begin at Level 1 and play each level in the correct order (as in, Level l, Level 2, Level 3, and so forth). Your Total Game Score can only accumulate if you play each level in the correct order.
• If you would like to see the Complete Walkthough for Save the Birds I have the Youtube video right here.

Richard's Rating: 3 out of 5.

Comments: Save the Birds is a fun physics game.

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Golf Solitaire Pro

Game Description: Try to win as many rounds of golf solitaire as you can by removing all of the cards from the layout.

How to Play Golf Solitaire Pro:

• After the game fully loads, click the 'Play' button.
• Each round begins with some cards dealt face-up at the top (called the layout). The remaining cards (at the bottom) are the deck cards. (The first deck card is dealt face-up. That card is the first card in the discard pile. The rest of the deck cards are dealt face-down in overlapping style, to the left of the discard pile).
• The rank of cards is the usual rank of: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, and K.
• Cards can be moved from the layout if they are the top card of any stack, and if they are one rank higher or lower than the card shown in the discard pile.
• Note that the Ace is both high and low, and either a 2 or a King can be played on it. Also, an Ace can be played on a King.
• Suits do not matter.
• To move a card from the layout to the discard pile, simply click on it. Now that card becomes the top card in the discard pile, and you can build on that card too.
• Any uncoverd Wild Card can be played at any time (that is, it can be moved to the discard pile).
• Any card from the layout may be moved to the discard pile when the discard pile shows a Wild Card.
• When you run out of moves, click the 'Next Card' from the deck card pile and that card will become the new top card in the discard pile.
• You may click the 'Undo' button at anytime to undo your last move. However, the undo button can only go back one move, and cannot go back any further.
• Your goal is to remove all of the cards from the layout, to the discard pile. If you do, you go on to the next round of play.
• If you fail to remove all of the cards from the layout... it is game over!

How to Score in Golf Solitaire Pro:

• Time Bonus -- You will see the Time Bonus points count down near the upper right corner as you play. If you complete a successful round before the Time Bonus points get all the way down to zero, you earn any points that remain.
Deck Card Bonus -- Receive 1000 points for each deck card that remains in the deck card pile when you complete a successful round.
• Card Run Bonus -- The Card Run Bonus is based on your longest run of cards played during the entire game up to that point. For instance, let's say in Round 1 you played 8 cards in a row. Your Card Run Bonus for Round 1 would be 8000 points (8 x 1000). Now let's also say that in Round 2 your best run was 7 cards played in a row. Your Round 2 Card Run Bonus would also be 8000 points because you played more cards in a row during Round 1. So, in this example, you will continue to earn an 8000 Card Run Bonus for each successful round you complete, until you can better your 8 cards played in a row.
• Round Bonus -- The Round Bonus is earned each time you successfully complete a round. It is calculated as the round number times 1000. So, for Round 1 your Round Bonus would be 1000 points (1 x 1000). For Round 2 your Round Bonus would be 2000 points (2 x 1000), and so on.

Golf Solitaire Pro Game Options:

• The game sounds may be turned on or off by clicking the microphone icon located near the lower right corner.
• To pause the game click the 'Menu' button also located near the lower right corner. To begin play again, click the 'Resume' button.

Golf Solitaire Pro Playing Tips:

• When you have a choice of playing two different cards, and one of the cards covers another card, but the other one does not, it is usually better to play the card that is covering another card. The reason is, you want to put as many cards in play as you possibly can. This increases your chance of success.
• With Golf Solitaire Pro, like all tripeaks solitaire games, your success, or lack thereof, will depend on the order in which you play your cards.

Richard's Rating: 4 out of 5.

Comments: Golf Solitaire Pro is a very pleasant and fun version of tripeaks solitaire. The graphics are big and colorful. The sounds effects are understated, but do add a bit of pizzazz to the game. (I especially like the polite clapping you hear after you win a round. It sounds just like the polite clapping you would hear at a golf tournament. However, those bird sounds in the background can become a little annoying). The cards are big, and easy to read with a simple design. Which to me is always an important factor. (I cannot not tell you how many card games I see where the cards are either too small, or they try to make the cards so fancy it is hard to figure out if the card is a jack or a queen for example). If you like card games, and if you enjoy tripeaks solitaire in particular, you should find Golf Solitaire Pro to be a positive card playing experience.








Play on Full Screen

Please Note: Before playing Golf Solitaire Pro in Full Screen mode, you may want to take just a moment, or two, to read my review. Then, after playing your game, simply click the back button on your browser to return to this page.

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What's New? Page 5

The main purpose of the What's New? pages is to tell you about any news, and any changes, here at Richard's Game Reviews. However, I also use these pages as sort of an online journal; and I sometimes talk about day-to-day things in my personal life too.

I don't post to these pages regularly, or follow any certain schedule. In fact, I have been known not to post here for weeks, and occasionally even for months at a time. As I said in my very first What's New? post: I will post "as the spirit moves me." So, just check in here every once in a while to see if I have anything new to say.

What's New pages:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

I just published a new page for my site named: 'Welcome to my Site.' If you haven't seen it, you can check it out by clicking the 'Welcome' tab at the top of the page. I felt I needed a focal point for my site. Something where everything could come together and explain what my site is all about. It took a lot of work, but I am very satisfied with the results. I feel it accomplishes what I set out to do.

Have you ever noticed that when I talk about my site that I almost always refer to it as my site, and I avoid using the word blog? That is actually done on purpose. Of course you and I both know that Richard's Game Reviews is really a blog. And blogs are certainly websites. I guess I feel, rightly or wrongly, that because this site (okay blog) is on the free platform of blogger and that I do not pay for hosting, that somehow it is less worthy. I have done to a lot of work to make it look a little less 'bloggy' (Is that even a word?) and to make it look more like a "regular" website. Of course, blogs do have their advantages. They are easy to use, and easy to publish. They also have some very useful features built-in, that most other websites do not have, such as Blog Archives.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A new gym is opening up in my neighborhood and I just signed up for a gym membership. It's time! I haven't been exercising for the last year and a half. (My old gym was too far away. At least that was the excuse I used to quit.) The last time I went regularly to the gym, I lost 35 pounds in the year and a half that I went. Now I have gained all of that weight back, except for 5 pounds. This new gym will not open for another month or so. The construction is taking longer than they expected. I could go to another, but much farther, one of their gyms. But, I think I will wait until the one closeby opens. (Yeah, I know another excuse). I hope, and believe, that this time I will be able to stick with it. The key is to be consistent, and persistent. And not to make excuses not to go. Once you start making excuses not to excerise, it get harder and harder to get back to that routine. Also remember that it takes a long time to gain the weight, and it will also take a long time to lose it.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

I am putting in a really cool feature for some of the games here at Richard's Game Reviews. You will now be able to play many of the games in Full Screen mode! This will be especially helpful for Hidden Object, Card, and Match 3 games. There will, hopefully, be no more squinting required! Watch for this exciting change coming in the next few days and weeks.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Well I finally bit the bullet and did a complete redesign of my entire site. After two years of looking at the same colors, I thought it was time for a change. I hope everyone likes the new look!

I just reread my entry above dated August 27th. I see that I wrote that blogs are easy to publish. Normally, that is the case, with the one big exception of installing a different template like I just did with my redesign. What a job! I don't think I will be doing that again... at least not for another two years. lol.

Friday, November 11, 2011

As you can see, I changed the backgound picture for my site. Instead of using an abstract picture, I am now going with a background picture of palm trees. Palm trees, of course, have absolutely nothing to do with playing games. But, I do like the new look. I find it very relaxing. What do you think?

Saturday, December 31, 2011

I am a little bit ashamed to admit that I still have not gone to the gym. I decided to wait until after the holidays were over. Well, now that they are, I have run out of excuses. My doctor has been on a two month vacation and I told her before she left that I would start exercising. My next appointment is the week after next, so I really need to begin next week. I also want to take a moment to wish everybody a happy and healthy New Year! Let's all hope that 2012 will be a great year.

What's New pages:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 

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Wild West Treasures

Game Description: Click groups of three or more like-colored bricks to make them disappear. Destroy every brick, to get to the next level of play.

How to Play Wild West Treasures:

• After the game fully loads, click the 'Start' button.
• From the 'Main Menu' game screen, click the pulsating white circle near the upper right side. That circle represents Level 1, which if you are playing for the very first time, is the only unlocked level and the only level you may currently play. (If you have previously played Wild West Treasures, and your game was saved, you will see the pulsating circle in a different position which will represent the next unsolved level you may play. You may, if you wish, also go back to any earlier unlocked level, and begin play from that level position if you so desire).
• Click a group of three or more bricks of the same color to make them disappear.
• Your goal is to make all of the bricks disappear, before time runs out, to make it to the next level.
• If time runs out, or if you run out of moves, you will see a 'Game Over' screen. But, the game is not really over. Simply click the 'Restart' button on the 'Game Over' screen to replay the current level.
• If it looks like you made a mistake during game play, you may click the 'Restart' button at the bottom of the game screen at anytime to reset the current level and restart the clock.
• Click the 'Pause' button, located at the lower left corner to pause the game. Click anywhere on the game screen to resume play.
• If you fail a level, you may repeat a level as many times as you need until you succeed.
• There are 20 levels of play.
• Wild West Treasures should automatically save your level game progress. So, you should be able to come back here to Richard's Game Reviews and begin at the next unsolved level. However the game does not, as far as I can tell, save any previous scores. This means if you come back and begin at Level 10, for example, your score would begin at zero. Obviously, you would end up with a total lower score. To get the maximum score, or what I presume to be the maximum score, you would need to begin again back at Level 1. Of course if you are like me, and are not concerened about your total score, but you simply want to see how far you can progress in the game, just begin play on your last unsolved level.

Wild West Treasures Game Options: The game options must be set from the 'Main Menu' game screen. (You will find both controls at the bottom of that screen). As fas as I can determine, the only way to get back to the 'Main Menu' screen, after you begin play, would be to click the 'Quit' button and then click the 'Main Menu' button. However, if you do, you will lose your entire game score. So, make sure you set your game options before you begin to play the game. The game options are:

• The game sounds may be turned on or off.
• The background music may be turned on or off.

Wild West Treasures Playing Tips:

• When you get to Level 9, bombs will be introduced into the game. Click the bombs to blow up some of the surrounding bricks. At what point you decide to use the bombs will often determine your success, or lack thereof.
• Level 12 introduces the arrow bombs. Use an arrow bomb to destroy all bricks in a single row. Like the regular bombs, it is the point that you decide to use an arrow bomb that will determine your success.

Richard's Rating: 3 out of 5.

Comments: Wild West Treasures starts out very easy, but gets progressively more difficult as you go along. It did take me a while to get through all 20 levels, but eventually I did make it. The nice thing about this game is that you can certainly play it more than one time, because for the more difficult levels you simply won't remember how you solved them.

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The Island: Castaway

Game Description: There was a shipwreck. After being washed ashore, you wake up to find yourself stranded on a deserted tropical island with four other castaways. You must now learn how to start a fire, collect food, and catch fish. Can you and your fellow castaways survive? Find out now as you play The Island: Castaway.

How to Play The Island: Castaway To play The Island: Castaway you only click with your left mouse button. You will not use your keyboard, or any other controls. Then, follow the in-game instructions. Here, in this section, I will cover some of the basics to help you get started. The rest, you will have fun figuring out on your own. There will also be a surprise, or two, along the way!

• Once the game fully loads, click the 'Play' button to begin.
• After the shipwreck you wake up on a deserted tropical island with four other castaways.
• Your fellow castaways are: John, the linguist and specialist in dead languages; Nick, a sailor who can cook; Mike, a Native American; and Nicole, a pediatrician.
• Your character's name is Tom. He is the only character that you control in the game (meaning that you can make him walk or run).
• To make Tom walk or run, simply click with your left mouse button on the area where you wish Tom to go and he will do so, if he possibly can.
• Almost all, if not all, of the chores and work on the island are done by Tom (that means you!) The other island castaways will do little, if any, physical work. (I think we may all know a few people like that in real life! lol.) Everything is left up to Tom .(Again, that means you!)
• There are many items to collect on the island, such as pearls and fruit. To pick up an item, move your mouse pointer over the item and it will change into a yellow hand. Now simply click the item, and Tom will run over there and pick it up.
• The items you collect, except for pearls which are stored at the upper left corner of the game screen, are stored in your Inventory. (To open up your Inventory, click the sack like object at the lower left corner of the game screen).
• Even though your fellow castaways refuse do very little physical work, if any, (heck, they won't even pick up a coconut if it is laying right by their feet), they do play a very important part in this game. They will give Tom certain tasks that he must carry out. (When a castaway wants to give Tom a message, you will see an exclamation point above their head. Use your mouse and click the character, to find out what they have to say).
• Also, watch the area just below the 'Menu' button near the upper left corner. If a character needs to talk to Tom their picture will show up there. Very often you will need to find out what they have to say in order to progress any further in the game. So, if you are on a different part of the island you will need to go back and find that character. (Hint: Most of the time the other castaways will stay in only one position. After only a little bit of time, you will remember where each character hangs out. For instance, Nicole usually stays by the fire. However occasionally, depending on what is happening in the story, they may need to move to a different position).
• You can keep track of your tasks, in the Task List space at the bottom of the game screen.
• This is the free demo version of The Island: Castaway, and not the full paid version. Unfortunately with the free version there is no way, as far as I can tell, to save your game progress. So, be prepared to spend some time playing. Plan to spend about an hour.

The Island: Castaway Game Options The game options may be accessed first by clicking the 'Menu' button located towards the upper left corner. Once you open up the menu, click the 'Options' button. After you make your changes click the 'Done' button. Then, click the 'Continue' button to resume your game. Here are the available game options:

• The music volume may be adjusted.
• The sound volume may be adjusted.
• All game sounds may be muted or unmuted.

The Island: Castaway Playing Tips

• Tom needs to eat to keep his energy up as he does all that running around. You can keep track of Tom's energy level by watching the red bar at the top of the screen, just to the right of the red heart. To feed Tom, open your Inventory where the items you collect are stored. (Click what looks like a large sack at the lower left corner of the game screen to open your Inventory). Then, double-click the item you want Tom to eat.
• Feed Tom cooked items, such as cooked fish, to give him even more energy. (Remember, to cook food you need to be right next to the fire which is on the Western Beach).
• Your Inventory only has limited room to store things. Each individual box can only hold up to 20 items of each type of object. If you need specific items in your Inventory to complete a task, and your Inventory has no more room, you will need to delete some items in your Inventory that you currently do not need. You do this by dragging them to the trash bin at the lower right side of the Inventroy box. You do not need to get rid of only one inventory item at a time. If you wish to delete more than one inventroy item, perhaps an entire group, you can. After you drag the item to the trash bin, you can use the little arrows until you see the number you wish to delete. Then, click the 'Ok' button.
• Generally it is a good idea to pick up lots of items as you go along, because you can easily delete any items you no longer need, or don't need at the moment. (If you pick up lots of items as you go, often you will already have the items in your Inventory when a character asks for them).
• There are three main sections to the island: Western Beach, Central Beach, and Eastern Beach. You will very quickly learn to recognize each one. You can also use the island map in the upper right corner, to see where you are.
• Tom can wade through, and cross, shallow water (the light blue colored water). That is how you get from one main section of the island to another. He cannot cross deep water (the dark blue water) while walking or running.

Richard's Rating: 5 out of 5.

Pro: With first-rate graphics and realistic sounds (I love it for instance when Tom sloshes through the water or digs with his shovel), The Island: Castaway will keep you engaged, if not intrigued, with it's marvelous storyline and plot twists. Though certainly not great literature, the storyline always kept me interested and guessing what would happen next. I never felt bored, even when I had trouble catching my first fish. (Thank goodness those crabs are easy to trap. I wouldn't want poor Tom to starve!). One of the best things about The Island: Castaway is how user-friendly it really is. Anytime you get stuck the game seems to sense it, and will help you along. (For example, if you need to cook some food and you are not standing close enough to the fire, the game will tell you to get closer to the fire). I thoroughly enjoyed my all too brief time playing The Island: Castaway and I definitely give this game an enthusiastic big thumbs up!

Con:

• It is unfortunate that with the free demo version (which, of course, is the version that I have here for you) that there is no way apparently to save your game progress. I realize that the people who make these games want to make sales, so they sometimes purposely make the free versions inconvenient to use.
• Even though this is only the free demo version, I would have liked to have played a little bit more. Things were just getting interesting!

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Castle Solitaire

Game Description: Visit up to 10 enchanting castles while playing tripeaks solitaire and spot the difference games.

How to Play Castle Solitaire:

• After the game fully loads, and you come to the main game screen, click the 'Play' button to begin play.
• Each level has two separate games: a tripeaks solitaire game and a spot the difference game.
• The clock is located at the upper left corner.
• You are given a certain amount of time for each level. (Keep in mind the time you are given is the total time you have to complete both parts of the level. For example, on Level 1 you are given 7 minutes. This means you must complete both games for the level, the tripeaks solitaire game and the spot the difference game, within the 7 minutes).
• For each succeeding level, you are given less time than the previous level.
• There are 10 levels of play, with a total of 20 possible games.
• The game ends when you fail to win any of the 20 games.
• Important: After you begin your game, do not ever click the 'Menu' button at the top of the game screen. If you do, you will permanently lose all of your game progress!

How to Play Castle Solitaire Tripeaks:

• Every level of Castle Solitaire begins with a tripeaks solitaire game.
• Each tripeaks solitaire game uses a standard deck of 52 cards.
• All 52 cards are dealt face-up.
• There are seventeen stacks of three cards each.
• There is also one single card by itself (which is the first card of the foundation pile).
• In addition, there are also two temporary storage areas labeled 'Temp'.
• The rank of cards is the usual rank of: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K. (Also, in tripeaks solitaire, an Ace is considered to be one rank higher than a King, and a King is considered to be one rank lower than an Ace).
• Suits do not matter in tripeaks solitaire.
• Unless you use the 'Undo' button, (I will discuss the 'Undo' button in just a moment), the only cards that are moveable are the top card of any stack, and any card that has been placed into either of the two temporary storage areas.
• Moving a card requires two clicks. First, click the card you wish to move. The card will be highlighted in blue. (If you should change your mind and decide to move another card, simply click another moveable card). Then, click where you want to move the card.
• The top card of any stack may be moved to the foundation pile if it is either one card lower, or one card higher in rank than the last card played to the foundation pile. (Hint: Castle Solitaire will always show you the rank of cards that can be moved to the foundation pile. For instance, if the last card played to the foundation pile was a seven, Castle Solitaire will show two small numbers just above the seven card, in this case these would be a 6 and an 8. This is simply to remind you that you may play any moveable six or eight).
• In tripeaks solitaire, an Ace is considered to be one rank higher than a King. Therefore, since you are allowed to use moveable cards that are either one rank higher or one rank lower, when the foundation pile shows a King, any moveable Ace (which is one rank higher) or any moveable Queen (which is one rank lower) may be moved to the foundation pile. Similarly, if the foundation pile shows an Ace, any moveable King or any moveable two may be moved to the foundation pile.
• Any top card from a stack may be moved to either of the two temporary storage areas (labeled 'Temp').
• Each temporary storage area may only hold one card at a time.
• Any card from the temporary storage area may be played to the foundation pile if it is one card lower, or higher, in rank than the last card played to the foundation pile.
• A card from the temporary storage area cannot be moved to a stack (with the one exception of using the 'Undo' button).
• You may use the 'Undo' button to undo as many moves as you want, but it will cost you 100 points each time it is used.
• Your goal is to move all cards to the foundation pile before time is up. If you do, you go on to the spot the difference game for that level.
• If you run out of moves, or run out of time, the game is over.

Castle Solitaire Tripeaks Scoring:

• You earn 30 points for each card you move to the foundation pile.
• You lose 100 points each time you use the 'Undo' button.

How to Play Castle Solitaire Spot the Difference Games:

• If you successfully complete the Castle Solitaire tripeaks solitaire game, you will immediately begin the spot the difference game for that level. (But remember, the clock will not be reset and will continue to count down).
• In the spot the difference games there are two pictures side-by-side, and 7 differences to find.
• When you find and click on a difference it will be removed from the picture, and 10 seconds will be added to your available time.
• When you click anywhere other than on a difference, 5 seconds will be deducted from your available time.
• There is a 'Hint' button for the spot the difference games. You must press the hint button with the mouse hand and not with the decorated pointer. This will give you your hint, and Castle Solitaire will encircle a small area where you should click.
• If you are able to find all of the 7 differences, within the time limit, you will go on to the next level of play.
• If you run out of time before you find all 7 differences, the game is over.

Play on Full Screen

Please Note: Before playing Castle Solitaire in Full Screen mode, you may want to take a moment, or two, to read my review. Then, after playing your game, simply click the back button on your browser to return to this page.



Castle Solitaire Game Options:

• The background music may be turned on or off by clicking the musical note icon located at the upper right corner.
• The game sounds may be turned on or off by clicking the yellow microphone icon located just to the left of the musical note icon.
• Click the 'Pause' button, also located near the upper right corner, to pause the game. Click the 'Back' button to resume play.

Castle Solitaire Playing Tips:

• Be careful about placing a card into either of the temporary storage areas. You always want to think before you place a card into the temporary storage area, "How, and when, am I going to be able to play it to the foundation pile?" It is best if you have a plan to play it quickly. Let me give you a very simple example. Let's say that the foundation pile shows a 5, and there is a stack of cards with a 3 on top of a 4. In this instance you could place the 3 into the temporary storage area, then immediately play the 4, that you freed up by removing the 3 that was on top of it, to the foundation pile and then also immediately play the 3 from the temporary storage area to the foundation pile on top of the 4 you just played. Of course, the temporary storage areas must be used. But, always try to have a plan in mind to get those cards quickly to the foundation pile.
• When you have the choice of either playing a single remaining card from a stack that does not cover any cards, or playing the same ranked card from a different stack that covers one or two cards, always play the card that is covering the other cards. The reason is simple. You want to uncover as many cards as possible. This gives you more playing options.
• With the tripeaks solitaire game you have to be careful, and not to paint yourself in the proverbial corner. That is, you have to figure out how you are going to finish the solitaire game and not leave any remaining cards. You will usually begin to form a plan about midway through the game. However, there is a simple technique that I have used successfully quite a few times. It doesn't always work, of course. It all depends on how difficult of a hand you are dealt. But, this will always work if you are lucky enough not to have been dealt too difficult of a hand. The best part of this technique is that you have a plan from the very beginning, and then you simply have to follow the plan. Okay, here is my technique. We know that in the Castle Solitaire tripeaks game that there is exactly 52 cards. Let's say that the first card in the foundation pile shows a 10. Now, looking at your deal, decide if you want to try to build up or down by rank. Then, repeat the same sequence four times and the game is won! In our example, let's say that you decide to build up in rank. Since the first card is a 10, you would play J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Then 10, J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Then 10, J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. And finally 10, J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Of course, you will need to use the temporary storage areas along the way. Just remember. This will only work sometimes, but not always. It depends on your deal. It has worked for me several times. In fact, it seems to work a good deal of the time. So, I thought it was worth mentioning. You may want to try it. Or, try some variation of it.
• Work quickly! Remember, you must complete the tripeaks solitaire game and leave yourself enough time to also complete the spot the difference game.

Richard's Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pro: Castle Solitaire is another beautiful, and challenging game from developer Bram Schoonhoven. You will find that this particular version of tripeaks solitaire is much more challenging than your typical tripeaks game. And, the spot the diffference games are to me, equally as challenging. Overall, it is a superb game!

Con:

• In the tripeaks solitaire games it can be difficult, at least it is for me, to distinguish between certain covered cards. For instance, it can be difficult to know if a covered card is an eight, a nine, or a queen because you can only see the top curve of the card. Also, it can be hard to distinguish between a covered two or a three. This is unfortunate, because knowing which cards are which is important in playing your cards. Since all cards are dealt face-up, I can only assume that the intent was to allow the player to identify all of the covered cards. This could have been easily accomplished by allowing more vertical space between the cards.
• There seems to be no way, that I can see, to save your game progress. So you will either have to complete your game in one sitting, or leave your computer turned on and come back later to finish your game.

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