Meryl.net » Casual Games Reviews, News & Talk

Golden Trails 2: The Lost Legacy

2011-06-22T21:40:43Z

Awem releases the hidden object game sequel to Golden Trails: The New Western Rush. The first one takes ya to the Wild West where you travel around town asking questions about a bank robbery and send the bad guys to jail.

In Golden Trails 2: The Lost Legacy Collector’s Edition, yer grandfather has been arrested. Naturally, being the good grandkid ya are, ya sniff around to find out what the deal is and encounter nasty characters like that scallywag Captain Morgan. Something isn’t right about this guy and he has it in for ya. What’s up with that? Just because yer related to the guy he arrested?

Based on talking with the townsfolk and Captain Morgan, yer grandfather used to be a pirate. Yeah, right. Yer the good guy. How can the good guy’s grandfather be a pirate? This hidden object game challenges you with its diversity of puzzles. I never could solve one of the puzzles and had to move on because we had a deadline to make so y’all (Whoops, thar goes me Texan accent.) could stop waiting for the game and play it.

Avast, thar! I had something to do with the game, so I’m biased. This is not an official review. I loved playing the puzzle games. Some were familiar and some were not for the lily-livered. Most of them make ya work hard for the booty and doubloons.

Ayyy, matey. It feels like “Talk like a Pirate Day” even though it’s not until September. Anyway, grab ye some grog and try out the game. Yo ho ho and a bottle of water! OK, I’ll cut it out already. Seriously, let me know what you think.

Midnight Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials

2011-06-20T18:16:13Z

The famed writer Nathaniel Hawthorne has died during a freak snow storm, and his ghost has come to you, asking for help. Travel back and forth in time from the scene of the author’s demise to the 17th century, where a town is going mad with rumors of witchcraft and a woman is facing the gallows. Unravel the secrets of Salem’s accused witches and solve the death of Hawthorne in Midnight Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials, a fun Hidden Object game.

The hidden object game is available for PCs and Macs.

The game is the Catch of the Week from June 20 through 26, 2011 — on sale for $2.99.

New PC Games: Timebuilders, Puppies and Witches

2011-06-17T14:33:37Z

Explore a forgotten time when dinosaurs ruled the earth in The Timebuilders: Caveman’s Prophecy, a fun Time Management game! Guide your tribe out of their cave and into the world. Discover new lands filled with dinosaurs, carnivorous plants, and mischievous saber-toothed kittens. Use all your skills to manage your people, build houses, and gather resources while creating awesome inventions to help your people!

Strange alien traps are popping up all over Puppy Island! Rescue the trapped puppies before the aliens have a chance to retrieve them! Keep your rescued pups safe, warm, and happy in your Puppy Sanctuary. Use collected gems to buy toys and decorations for different locations and search for food and firewood supplies within the ancient island ruins. Use your Match 3 talents to save all the adorable animals in this fun game!

Life’s not always a fairytale when you are a witch, especially in a world that is full of suspicion. Explore this magical world in The Witch and The Warrior! An uncomfortable truce is only just forming between the magic and non-magic folk after years of war, but the message is spreading slowly. Experience the trials of a teenage witch in this fun and exciting Strategy game.

Catch: Diner Dash Hometown Hero

2011-06-13T16:06:35Z

Flo games always keep you challenged and busy for hours. I’ve played many time management games and the Diner Dash series is the hardest to beat. Here’s a paragraph from my Diner Dash Hometown Hero game review: “Diner Dash games continue to be the hardest ones to play in its genre and it doesn’t stop here. I don’t get very far before they have me banging my head on my desk. I can’t be that lousy of a player at these games since I manage to get through other tough diner games including Turbo Pizza — an insane one.”

On a visit to her hometown, Flo and her Grandma Florence take a stroll down memory lane. Bring five restaurants back to life, and meet new customers like the Hungry Man and the Celebrity. Take special care of customers with reservations and place flowers at tables in order to make diners happier. Stuck with a four-person group and no four-person tables? Now you can move tables together to create a larger table. Help restore Flo’s hometown now!

Catch the deal for your PC or Mac! Use coupon code CATCH299.

The catch of the week runs through Sunday, June 19, 2011.

New Games: Hotel Dash 2, Aliens and Mahjong

2011-06-08T13:32:17Z

Hotel Dash 2: Lost Luxuries

Hotel Dash Suite Success must have been a big enough success to warrant Hotel Dash 2: Lost Luxuries. I’ve lost count how many games Flo appears in, but PlayFirst has a winning character in its hands and it’s smart to take advantage. Even after playing many games starring Flo, I never tire of her. She’s just one of those likable people. I’m talking about her like she’s real, aren’t I?

Restore five nature-themed hotels in Hotel Dash 2: Lost Luxuries, a fun and exciting Time Management game! Help Flo excavate themed hotels and turn them into exotic resorts in hopes of hosting the International French Fry Festival! Glide down zip lines to prep rooms, cater to guests’ requests, and renovate hotels with unique accents. Will DinerTown finally win the honors of hosting the festival? Find out in Hotel Dash 2: Lost Luxuries!

Alien Hallway

Talk about a strange name. “Hallway” evokes images of walking down many a bland hallway. Some felt sterile with all white walls, lighting and floors. Some felt heartwarming with family photos and color on the walls. So I’m seeing aliens fighting in a white hallway. The reality is you defend the planet from alien invaders. Wait. Men in Black? Independence Day? Scores of other alien invading movies?

Control the entirety of Earth’s army and defend the planet from the green invaders in Alien Hallway, a fun Action and Strategy game! The fate of all mankind is in your hands as you try to destroy the evil aliens before they demolish Earth! Upgrade your base and units to improve your troops and give humanity a fighting chance! Blast your way through countless enemies and save the day in Alien Hallway!

World’s Greatest Places Mahjong

How I miss playing mah jongg every Wednesday morning with a rocking group of gals. Occasionally, I’ll see announcements for mah jongg games or tournaments (that don’t occur on a weekly basis), but I never join them because I’m not fast. My Wednesday group has taught me a lot about the game, but I have a lot more playing to do before I can play in tourneys.

These games are nothing like solitaire mah jongg, which I played many times before the kids came along. I had one edition that came with a zillion tile themes ranging from sports and flags to cartoon characters and cars. World’s Greatest Places Mahjong (yes, different spellings) combines the Seven Wonders with the tiles. Not original, but still enjoyable when you add power ups.

Dive into a world of Mahjong and learn about the new Seven Wonders of the World in World’s Greatest Places Mahjong! 100 million people have voted, and seven new locations have been chosen. Use your Mahjong talents to clear the boards and discover which locations were picked by people all over the world!

Release: Mystery Trackers: Raincliff

2011-05-10T12:53:51Z

After a group of young students go missing, the Mystery Trackers are called in to search the city of Raincliff! Tackle this difficult case and unravel the strange mystery to save the students! Explore the entire town and discover who is watching your every move in Mystery Trackers: Raincliff! Use your Hidden Object talents to carefully dissect scenes and piece together perplexing puzzles!

This is a special Collector’s Edition release full of exclusive extras you won’t find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector’s Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card!

Download and try Mystery Trackers: Raincliff Free

Catch an Antique Roadtrip

2011-06-01T13:25:27Z

Do you love those antique roadtrip shows where hundreds of people stand in line carrying items big and small in hopes to receive an high appraisal for them? Isn’t it said when they’re not worth much? Well, for those worthless things you can get this week’s catch. Now you can go on a roadtrip without lugging anything.

PC and Mac Catch of the Week: Antique Road Trip USA: Grace and James Anderson are newlyweds with a growing antiques business. Help them open their very own store by traveling across America and searching for hard-to-find antiques! Collect plenty of new wares to sell for a mighty profit. Visit fantastic cities like Cheyenne, Memphis, and Austin and solve different types of puzzles in this fun and exciting Hidden Object game. Go on an Antique Road Trip today!

Catch the deal for your PC! Use coupon code CATCH299

Catch the deal for your Mac! Use coupon code CATCH299.

This $2.99 Catch of the Week runs through Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:59pm.

Remember Big Fish Games has a Daily Deal offering a different game for $2.99 every day. (Look to the right.)

Release: Voodoo Whisperer: Curse of a Legend Collector’s Edition

2011-05-06T13:53:46Z

Voodoo Whisperer? Does this mean someone who can talk to voodoo dolls and feel their pain?

Mentored by one of the most powerful voodoo priestesses in the world, Lillian is learning to use her power. Suddenly, a dark force settles over New Orleans, and Marie Leveau, Lillian’s teacher, is placed under a curse. In fact, the entire town has been put into a deep, dark sleep by a mysterious evil force. Now young Lillian must find allies and uncover the dark secrets of voodoo in order to save her master and free her friends before it is too late in Voodoo Whisperer: Curse of a Legend!

Download and try free

Catch a Princess or Find Atlantis

2011-06-01T13:25:12Z

Another princess special this week. I’m sure that’s a nod to the recent nuptials of one new princess. Alas, the Macs take a different route in searching for Atlantis instead of saving a princess from a curse.

PC Catch of the Week: Princess Isabella: A Witch’s Curse : Princess Isabella is all set to marry the love of her dreams, Prince Adam. After returning home from a trip, however, she finds that an evil curse has been placed on her castle by a mysterious witch. The curse has placed evil in every room, and turned everyone inside the castle into mirrors! Follow a fairy friend as you piece together the clues and save your friends and family in Princess Isabella: A Witch’s Curse , a gorgeous Hidden Object Adventure game!

Catch the deal for your PC! Use coupon code CATCH299

Mac Catch of the Week: Hidden Wonders of the Depths 3: Atlantis Adventures: Travel to the legendary world of Atlantis for Match 3 fun, and discover the Hidden Wonders of the Depths! Go on an Atlantis Adventure in this hit sequel! Use powerful tiles to clear the path as quickly as you can, and chain together crazy combos to rack up the points. Experience a magical under the sea world as you help bring the once powerful empire back to life in Hidden Wonders of the Depths 3: Atlantis Adventures!

Catch the deal for your Mac! Use coupon code CATCH299.

This $2.99 Catch of the Week runs through Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 11:59pm.

Remember Big Fish Games has a Daily Deal offering a different game for $2.99 every day.

Release: Jet Set Go

2011-04-29T16:38:51Z

Ohmygosh, school ends in five weeks! I wish I could be planning a vacation to England (One of the first destinations I’d want to go on the other side of the world — not because of the Royal Wedding). Instead, I’ll have to settle for Montreal, Grand Canyon and other places in the colorful, cartoonish Jet Set Go.

From Montreal to the Mayan Riviera, work with April to take your travel agency to new heights. Put together dream vacation packages in the agency, fill up your charter flights, and travel with customers to a variety of exotic locations to ensure they experience the time of their lives. Serve cheesecake in New York, take photographs at the Grand Canyon, or dance the Congo on a cruise ship in the Caribbean in Jet Set Go, a fun Time Management game!

Download and try Jet Set Go free