Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)A good puzzle game for adults who are not into the role playing simulation type games. There are many different types of puzzles to work on as well as a travel type game. I wish there were more games geared to adults like Lemmings, Lost Vikings, the old Nintendo Fire and Ice, etc. Games that challenge the mind and not just coordination.

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When Alexey Pajitnov, creator of Tetris (one of the most addictive games of all time), designs a new puzzle title, fans everywhere perk their heads up and take note. While it's not quite up to the irresistible standard set by its legendary predecessor, Microsoft's Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition was named Puzzle Game of the Year by the Electric Games website, and offers hours of nonviolent, uncomplicated enjoyment through its 10 different types of puzzles.
Nearly all of the Pandora's Box conundrums resemble the traditional jigsaw puzzle, though you'll find plenty of visual twists, such as sliding pieces on a circular plane or having to solve a puzzle built on a complex 3-D object. Some deviate from this formula, but the most addictive puzzles follow this model, and those provide the most extended--and replayable--diversions.
For those overwhelmed by complex computer games, Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition offers a simplistic interface and basic rules, easing computer novices into the puzzle environment. This edition features 40 new puzzle games, as well as the original 350 puzzles from the original Pandora's Box. There are five difficulty levels, plus various hints and wildcards that remove the frustration factor when you're unable to complete a particular puzzle. Looking for new puzzle games to replace your Tetris addiction? Check out Alexey Pajitnov's engrossing Pandora's Box: Puzzle Game of the Year Edition. --Doug Radcliffe

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Microsoft Pandora's Box Review

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(More customer reviews)Pandora's Box is a engrossing, entertaining puzzle game. It kept me occupied for hours, and made time flow at twice the regular rate (or so it seemed). The puzzle types were unique, original, and for the most part fun. Here are some pros and cons:
PROS:
* Puzzles are presented in a game format. There is always a larger reason to finish a puzzle - to progress through the levels.
* Levels become more challenging. It took me almost three hours to finish the final level.
* Hints and Free Puzzles are plentiful. If you don't like a puzzle type, you don't have to do it. If your stuck, you can use a hint.
* The 3D aspect of the puzzles was really neat-o.
* When you are done, there are still puzzles left to do. The game includes 350 puzzles, and I still had 125 left when I was done. The fun continues.
CONS:
* Perhaps this was just my video card, but some of the puzzles seemed dark - so dark that I couldn't see where I was placing puzzle pieces.
* Some of the puzzles rotate, and require fine mouse movements to complete. If you have a physical impairment, you may have trouble.
* I thought a few (2) of the ten puzzle types were rather lame. All luck and little thought. But that may be just me.
All in all, this is a great game for all puzzle fans. I definitely recommend it - if you have time you want to lose.

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This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock.

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Crazy Machines 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I downloaded this for my son's birthday yesterday and intended to install it on a laptop running Windows XP. When he tried to install the software, it took absolutely forever. Once the installation was done, the game could not be run do to a missing DLL.
After several frustrating reinstalls to no avail, I decided to try it on my own computer running Windows Vista Premium. Initially, I had thought that the problem might have been that my son's laptop was relatively old and just did not have enough memory and disk space to handle the game. However, I experienced the same aggravation when trying to install it on my new computer!
I did some research on the error and apparently, the game will not work due to a problem with a missing file in the OpenAL Library, which is responsible for the game sound. Although I did eventually find a patch for the the OpenAL Library, it was not an easy task. This is a known issue with this game that Amazon failed to mention. I also would have thought that it would have been the responsible thing to do to at least inform the buyer of this issue and provide a link to download the patch necessary to run the game.
Stay away from this one. I wasted $[...]. I work with computers and software on a daily basis which is why I was able to figure out how to work this thing. For someone does not have any computer expertise, this game would be worthless.
Also, read the Amazon disclaimer. They do not offer refunds for software downloads - which is fine by me - as long as they work! For $[...], I would have expected this thing to work without any hitches!
I would have thought that Amazon ensured that the software they offer for download works before they post it for sale online.
Never again. This was an absolute rip-off!
UPDATE:
The OpenAL patch did not work. Though it did get the inital screen to pop-up to a certain point, it still doesn't work. I also tried a patch that requires replacing the cm2.dll and cm2.exe files but that didn't work either. According to some forums, you need the AGEIA PhysX Processor to run this stupid game. There is no way in hell I'm spending $[...] to run an $[...] game. There is another suggested option w/c requires the user to mount an .MDS image in conjunction with Daemon Tools but I don't want to go through any more aggravation and have it not work anyway. I didn't spend $[...] to go through all this crap. If you pay good money for something, you shouldn't have to FORCE it to work!!! This was complete highway robbery!!!

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Create the Ultimate MachineGet ready for superb puzzle action as you build wacky contraptions to solve tricky brainteasers!Kick your brain into high gear with incredible mind bending puzzles. Tinker with wrecking balls, lightening rods, lasers, pulleys, springs, gears and more to create the chain reaction you need! Unlock a new 3D world of addictive fun that the entire family will enjoy!

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Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2009 Review

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(More customer reviews)If you already have the 2008 version, stick with that and forget about this 2009 version. If you don't have 2008, buy that instead of 2009. The only new games are some Big Bang games, and they are hardly enough to recommend this "update". You are forced to play with a snarky little Geni (I guess that is what he is), and these classic games are neither particulary interesting or engaging. One additional problem is that the CD is a little buggy (some stuttering and the "orange" screen of death after playing for a while). There is nothing new here to recommend this 2009 version.

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There's something for everyone with HOYLE Puzzle Games 2009. It's the biggest and best assortment of 21 classic and challenging favorites. This great collection features traditional puzzle game standards like Hangman, Mahjongg and Anagrams PLUS mind-bending puzzle classics like Sudoku, Kakuro and Crosswords. All games are designed with the official rules from HOYLE, the Official Name in Gaming. Challenge friends, family or play alone and take the high score. Automatically earn HOYLE Bucks: the more you play, the more you earn. Get new backgrounds, music tracks, etc. As a bonus, you receive Big Bang Board Games. Play Checkers, Chess, Backgammon and others against animated computer opponents. And now it comes with built-in compatibility for both PC and MAC users alike.

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Myst IV: Revelation Review

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(More customer reviews)The latest Myst game is out. With Myst IV Revelation, you have TWO DVDs full of gaming information. This takes up 8 GIG on your hard drive for a full install. It is massive.
Yes, as you can imagine, the graphics are gorgeous. Birds fly over to the birdfeeder as you watch, and then flit off. The water ripples beneath you. The clouds drift by. The art nouveau architecture is simply gorgeous, and each world has its own culture. It is a visual feast.
The sounds are equally immersive. Peter Gabriel did some of the sound. The audio track not only draws you into the world, but also gives you clues, if you listen carefully to what sounds you are hearing in which locations.
But how is the *gameplay*? I am a huge, huge fan of the Myst series so I have to say, if you're patient, the game is really fun. But you can't expect to just zip through the game quickly. The point is to sit with a glass of wine, roaming around, clicking on things, exploring your world. There is a lot of trial and error before you discover what the next puzzle is - and then a lot of twiddling before you get the hang of it.
Unfortunately, the very first puzzle, of lining up audio wave signals, is REALLY annoying. The helper is trying to give you assistance but most of the time his comments strike you as quite intrusive. It's not a puzzle at all that will "make sense" to most people. I am actually an audio buff and my boyfriend is a musician who plays with audio files, and even so we found the controls and setup hard to work with. This would have been find as an end-game puzzle, but it is awful as the way to get people into the game in the first place. The other subsequent puzzles are much more enjoyable and logical.
I wanted to pick up all sorts of things, and got frustrated that I could see books and not read them. You could never tell which pieces of paper were readable and which were mysteriously glued to the table. The amulet that you pick up is fun, giving you visions and sounds to help you move the plot along. However it blinks pretty much ANY time you zoom in on things. Why not just have it show you the video automatically the first time, and let you click on it after that to replay the video? The constant click - zoom - click - amulet got a bit much. Especially when the video was on the meaningless side.
I really would have hoped that by now the game would be "fully motion" enabled. In the first myst, you in essence walked through paintings. You could only look at the screen and then click to go somewhere else. You couldn't turn and rotate. Through Myst II-IV we got more and more video, first as tiny integrations and then as full screens. But while we can "look around us" in Myst IV, you still have to click and wait to move your feet. Maybe Myst V will actually let you walk. It's that clicking that begins to wear on me, the click, wait, click, wait. The quick-hop ability to leap to certain spots does help, but I would rather be able to move seamlessly through my world.
That all being said, Myst IV is definitely a must-have for any puzzle lover. The graphics and sounds are gorgeous, and the puzzles are challenging and fun. I do have a walkthrough online but please do NOT use walkthroughs until you are really stuck. The point of this game is not to race through and be done. The point is to enjoy the world, to immerse yourself and to try, try, try and finally succed at the puzzle in front of you.

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Myst IV: Revelation will challenge you to unravel an intricate mystery, in a world where plants and machinery have combined. Make your way through a labryinthine plot as you save the D'Ni people. Travel through environments that pulse with life, as you unearth a treacherous scheme involving two of Myst's most sinister villains.

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HOYLE Puzzle & Board Games (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Why Encore feels the need to release yearly versions of the Hoyle series is totally beyond me. I think they spend most of their time designing a cool-looking box for the disk instead of improving the games themselves. I also feel that they are just assuming that by placing the "Hoyle" name on the box means that people will automatically buy their product.
The 2010 is basically identical to the 2009 version. The games don't appear to have been changed at all. In fact, all of the Hoyle games, (Card, Puzzle & Board), seem remarkably similar in gameplay as Hoyle versions of the last several years.
I also use Hoyle Table Games and Board Games from 2004. This is when they were made by Sierra. These titles work fine under Windows 7 and interestingly, they are just more fun. Newer doesn't always mean better in terms of software.
If you have any Hoyle Puzzle/Board/Table games from the past, you may as well skip the 2010 edition. You're just throwing good money away. Otherwise, find an older edition on eBay.
I'm fed up with Encore and these yearly titles that offer little in the way of new games or improvements to the games already included. Please do not fall for this sham like I did and save your $20.

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