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  • Home Sweet Home 2: Kitchens and Baths Review
    Reviews
    • iOS
    • PC
    Home Sweet Home 2: Kitchens and Baths Review

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    Given the continued popularity of interior design shows, it should come as no surprise that Home Sweet Home is receiving a sequel. Playing almost identically to its predecessor and emphasizing quantity over innovation, Home Sweet Home 2 is a fun but strictly by-the-numbers return to form, and one that's beginning to lose its novelty value at that.
  • School House Shuffle Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    School House Shuffle Review

    By

    Short of decontaminating radioactive zones or terraforming planets, we can't think of a process more labor intensive than keeping feisty toddlers on schedule, let along glued to their desks. It's a topic lovingly explored in School House Shuffle, which places you in charge of a well-meaning but hopelessly overwhelmed staff determined to turn students into the next generation of geniuses.However, while certainly a smart and sharp-looking spin on the average time management equation, it's nowhere near the arresting and addictive escapade one would secretly hope for.
  • Brick Quest 2 Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    Brick Quest 2 Review

    By

    Brick Quest 2's innovation on the block-smashing format is to add stackable power-ups and a monster collection mechanic, with captured critters used to unlock new worlds. While a workmanlike and well-presented outing, it's not nearly enough to raise any eyebrows, ultimately rendering the slightly above average amusement a monentarily-diverting novelty and not much else.At the onset though, expect to be pleasantly surprised: The game actually sports its own theme song complete with ethereal lyrics. But despite titular references to some mysterious "Quest," simply a vague excuse to explore 160 individual levels, there's no actual storyline or plot twists offered to keep you glued to your monitor.
  • Operation Mania Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    Operation Mania Review

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    One of the first fruits of Electronic Arts' lauded partnership with toy manufacturer Hasbro, Operation Mania attempts to upgrade the classic board game for today's keyboard jock. Its strategic approach: to weave nearly two dozen "micro-games" (bite-sized diversions that can be played in roughly 10-15 second increments) into the standard time management equation.Happily, the setup works surprisingly well, staying true to the spirit of the original tabletop diversion. Nonetheless, extreme repetition - the bane of many a similarly-styled competitor - again rears its head, ultimately reducing the experience to a fun, but fleeting novelty best enjoyed in brief installments.
  • FATE Undiscovered Realms Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    FATE Undiscovered Realms Review

    By

    Comprehensive dungeon delving may not seem like a natural fit for casual game enthusiasts. Regardless, WildTangent's FATE proved the approach could work and blew the doors off traditional role-playing conventions when it debuted three years back. Given that the original was downloaded 4 million+ times, token follow-up FATE Undiscovered Realms was a given.Subject to similar drawbacks, neither fans of the original nor newcomers should be worried, however. While long overdue, this latest sword-n-sorcery romp nonetheless retains and expands upon its predecessor's most endearing qualities, making it a must-play for any armchair adventurer.
  • Tropix 2 – Quest for the Golden Banana Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    Tropix 2 – Quest for the Golden Banana Review

    By

    Popular wisdom holds that the biggest audience for casual games is women aged 40 and up, but the creators of Tropix 2 were wise to not overlook another obvious fan base: Younger players, sure to be drawn to the vibrant graphics and simple play mechanics. Specifically targeting this audience, this strikingly personable and catchy adventure, which fuses enjoyable mini-games around fully customizable, island-themed level hubs, is sure to strike a chord with the kid in all of us.Stunning and lengthy cut-scenes are included for those who'd like to follow the overarching tale, as a monkey and his animal pals attempt to keep a treasure map out of the hands of dastardly pirates.
  • Time Stand Still Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    Time Stand Still Review

    By

    One of the casual game industry's most interesting trends actually involves finding new life in older titles. A massive boon to the adventure genre, the practice has allowed publishers to successfully resurrect former CD-ROM releases as digital downloads. Case in point: Time Stand Still, third game in the Carol Reed mystery franchise, which still holds up surprisingly well.As the heroine, a twenty-something English lass living in Sweden, you must once again play unlikely detective. Here you'll investigate a supposedly haunted house, as well as the decades-old secrets it holds from concealed love affairs to unsolved murders.
  • Elven Mists 2 Review
    Reviews
    • PC
    Elven Mists 2 Review

    By

    Obsessed as many are with dwarves, gnomes, unicorns and other fey creatures, it's no wonder fantasy themes permeate so many casual game titles. Thankfully, there's always room for one more when we're talking about clever outings like Elven Mists 2, an intriguing puzzler that piles on the otherworldly charm.Albeit a tad repetitious, and the sort of New Age mysticism-heavy offering that'll surely rub some the wrong way, there's still enough challenge, and improvements over the original, available here to make the interactive tale worth trying.