Gardenscapes [Game Download]

Rating:

This is a good game if you like looking for hidden objects.Usually I don't care much for these type of games.Gardenscapes proves to be an exception.I only tried this game because I was taking care of my almost 7 year old granddaughter for an afternoon.Her Grandpa had shown her this game online and she wanted me to play it with her.I downloaded the trial version (twice) and we had lots of fun looking for the hidden objects,naming the dog,deciding which flowers to use,etc.She was disappointed after the trial versions ended so I decided to buy the full version.I downloaded it from Big Fish Games for $6.99.I had no trouble with the downloading and the graphics are clear and sharp.I think this is an excellent game for kids.There is no violence,no blood and guts,and no sexual references.Some of the objects are a bit strange like a hookah,it could be a bit longer but all in all it is a good game.I think the creators of this should come up with another version of this game about cleaning up and fixing the inside of this mansion.But keep Austin as the butler.He is fun!!! PS My granddaughter is thrilled with this full version and is coming this afternoon to play some more of this game.

Rating:

I love hidden object games, & this one was really fun. The only problems were the objects were a little too easy to find, & in my opinion the time it took to beat the game was a little too short. But I loved customizing my garden & in the end it looks great. The screensaver is an added bonus. Overall this is a very enjoyable hidden object game, but for those who are "professional" hidden object finders, the game might be a little too easy.

Rating:

I have played this game in many trials to see if it was worth buying. It is! So I went to Amazon and I was very happy to find it and download it to my pc using Windows XP. The game is a lot of fun and I enjoy creating the garden. My problem is it flashes like it's corrupted. I tried to adjust the settings. I tried to uninstall and re-install and the problem still exists. So I am no longer happy with this game. I downloaded other games and play them with no problem at all.

Rating:

I rarely buy games at full price but after trying the demo I quickly realized this one is worth it. What sets Gardenscapes apart from other hidden object games is the unique way of leveling-up as you progress through the game. You start out with a dilapidated garden which needs restoration. To raise the money, you sell off items in your house to customers. The quicker you find items your customers need, the more money you make to use to buy better items for your garden. So not only are you racing against time to find all the items your customers need but you are racing to find items as quickly as possible in order to maximize your reward.

The garden environments you are able to create are quite varied with detailed high-resolution graphics. Your dog wanders through the garden making use of the various upgrades (strangely, a cat was frequently heard but never seen) while the butler maintains things as needed. Individual levels contain many items which shift slightly as you move your cursor past and special quests add variety by asking you to find twenty of a certain item such as trophies, golf balls or newspaper clippings. If you get stuck trying to find a particular item, you can request a hint which will show you the general area an item is hidden. You can also hunt for cameras and thermometers in each level to use as additional hints. The camera will flash the screen a bright white with only the items you need showing up ever so briefly. The thermometer allows you to pinpoint the items location by revealing your proximity by temperature. Finding hidden "question marks" replenishes any hints you may have used and gold pieces are sprinkled throughout each level which add to your total reward. Finally, one of the subtle things I like most about this game is it seemed the objects we are searching for are logically placed with very few tucked away in unreasonable locations. No more scissors hidden in trees, in other words.

Taken together, all of the individual flourishes make for a compelling and addicting adventure. It's a great game to play when guests are around as they can help you find things. The game also comes with a built-in screen saver so you can see your garden even when you're not playing. I estimate it took 20-25 hours to collect all of the items I needed to fully restore the garden and end the game. This brings me to my only gripes. First, you'll find yourself returning to the same 15 levels many times before you can finish the game. I wish a few were more included as it started to get repetitive toward the end. Secondly, while the ending was about what I expected, I would have loved to have been surprised with something unique and rewarding following completion. These are minor gripes, though. For the low casual-game price, this is a high quality title and it's highly recommended.

Rating:

I'm usually not one for the hidden pictures genre, but this one was very engaging. I enjoyed plotting out my garden, but would have liked the game to have continued for longer than it did. Highly addictive and the speeded version was particularly exciting. The longer it takes you to find an item, the less money you earn for it, so you're kept on your toes for each room. Very enjoyable help features, that were like little games in themselves. I would love to see another game like this, that expands the hidden objects to a further goal.