New Christmas Time Screensaver

Christmas Time

This charming Christmas screensaver features a gentle snowfall and a soothing soundtrack of Christmas tunes. The main image is static, but there are little animations throughout the picture, such as the smoking chimneys and the large snowflakes that drift down and blanket the scene. I like this one because it is a very gentle, calm image and the quiet music is not at all overpowering. Perfect for home or office, this screensaver brings the beauty of Christmas to your PC desktop! (Note - not compatible with Windows Vista!)

Download the free trial of Christmas Time here!

Purchase the Christmas Time screensaver here!

Hidden Relics

Today's release at PlayFirst, Hidden Relics is an adventurous hidden object game. Lots of mini games and different levels stave off the boredom nicely and at some points, the game presents quite a challenge!

The Professor calls upon her star student Adrianna to help her with some antiques but they get stolen from right under Adrianna! Help Adrianna recover the stolen articles throughout Europe, all while evading the evil thief. Along the way, earn gadgets from Mr. Gadget by solving fun puzzles. Use the gadgets to uncover valuable, secret artifacts. The search is on!

The graphics are very well done and I enjoyed the overall theme of the game. For fans of the hidden object genre, this game will probably fall somewhere in between the MCF series and the Mysteryville series.

Download a free demo or purchase Hidden Relics here!

Stuck? Need some hints? Visit the Game Cafe forum!

I give this game a 7 out of 10!

Deep Blue Sea

Deep Blue Sea is a new release from Big Fish Games. (Whether the game is new or not, I do not know, but it's new at BFG!) Now, before you roll your eyes and say "ugh, not another underwater match-3 game!", try this one out!

I personally am quite tired of matching games, especially underwater ones. There are just so many and most of them are nearly identical! Yes, Deep Blue Sea incorporates a lot of the same elements and game mechanics, but there was something about it that was different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I actually enjoyed playing the full demo for this game and will purchase the full version!

The graphics are decent, the storyline is quirky and the soundtrack is alright. The gameplay is a snap to learn and the levels that I played were quite easy. I made it about a third of the way through the game within the free trial time. Amazingly, I wanted to keep playing and didn't go straight for the "uninstall" button.

If you're in the mood for a relaxing, graphically appealing match game, definitely give this one a try! If nothing else, it will be an enjoyable 60 minute demo!

Some tips and tricks:

• Read the text scenes that come up between the levels. They will tell you what shapes to match to earn the power up bonuses - which are very handy!
• For most levels, you need to collect three special items. Focus solely on those items as the time has a tendency to slip by quickly.
• Don't forget to visit the shop between levels for more power-ups and helpful items.
• Don't waste time matching the little black puff looking thingies because they're cute. (Trust me. This method does not lead to great victory)

Download a free demo or purchase Deep Blue Sea here!

I give this game a 7 out of 10! (which is a miracle for a matching game!)

Ballhalla

Ballhalla is a new, and very unique, puzzle game from Sandlot Games with a quirky cast of characters and an equally quirky storyline! Or should I say "quarky" as the lead character is Professor Quark! (I know.. bad pun attempt. lol)

After a mishap with his new invention, the Insta-Matter Transporter, Professor Quark loses his beloved friends to a distant alternate world. Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test and combine balls of matter to create enough energy to power the Insta-Matter Transporter and bring the professor's friends back home safely.

• 16 collectible trophies
• 60 levels in adventure mode
• 20 extra levels in relaxed mode
• bonus levels

The object of the game is to match colored balls (of energy) in a suspended, swinging container without upsetting the delicate balance and tipping the container over. Each ball match increases their weight and power. I found the later levels of the game incredibly challenging!

I was able to focus test the game for Sandlot months ago and they've made several improvements to the game since that time. I didn't really understand the game then, and it doesn't make much sense to me now, either, lol. (Sorry, but I have to be honest here!) Not the best we've seen from Sandlot. However, it IS unusual and that itself is a great thing!

If you're in the mood for a challenging, different puzzle game, give Ballhalla a try!

Download the free demo or purchase the game here!

Questions? Need help? Post your thoughts at the Game Cafe Forum!

I give this game a 4 out of 10!

Diner Dash - Hometown Harvest

PlayFirst has just released another new diner for the Diner Dash - Hometown Hero™ game!

This latest expansion is called Hometown Harvest and features a Thanksgiving theme restaurant with 10 story mode levels and one expert level!

The graphics are wonderful and really capture the feeling of a harvest celebration. The music is very cute, sort of a square dancing twist on the classic Diner Dash tune.

There is also a free outfit available in the DDHH shop!

This diner does not have a "Flo versus the Waitress" level (hooray!) and you start off with the podium at level one! There are also no snacks in this restaurant, but a delicious looking pie is available for dessert later on in the game.

(Note - the image above is a screen shot from my personal game. The outfit that Flo is wearing is available as a separate add-on item and not part of the Hometown Harvest package!)

The only level that I had trouble attaining the expert score in was level 3. What worked for me was to focus on color matching bonuses above all else. This meant that at times, I had only one or two tables seated instead of trying to fill up the seats. With a little bit of patience and close attention to the seating, you should be able to get an expert score relatively easily.

In order to download and play Hometown Harvest, you will need the full Gourmet version of the game, only available at PlayFirst!

Click here to download a free trial or to purchase the full version of Diner Dash - Hometown Hero™ Gourmet Edition!

Edited to add the following:

I wanted to come back and make a few more comments about the artwork in this new restaurant. I posted this at the PlayFirst DDHH forums, but I'll say it here as well!

The attention to detail is amazing in Hometown Harvest. See if you noticed the following:

• Two people tossing around a football
• Hayride
• harvest band and dancers
• Why did the turkey cross the road?
• animated horse
• animated cow
• animated owl
  
• lighting changes (it actually gets darker as evening falls!)

Didn't see all of those? Good excuse to play through the diner again! :)

Desktop Fun!

I know this is a game website, but one of my other obsessions is desktop enhancements! I love screen savers and have thousands of desktop wallpapers that I rotate through. I came across website the other day with some really fantastic wallpapers and screen savers and I wanted to share some of them here! I will be posting these occasionally as new ones are released and older ones as they pertain to the seasons and holidays!

Autumn Tree Screensaver Free Demo

Autumn Tree Animated Wallpaper Free Demo

“Autumn Tree” is an Animated Screensaver by EleFun Multimedia devoted to the seasons. Somewhere far away, at the world’s end, stands a lonely tree with a spreading crown. Quite recently it delighted the eye with its green leaves. But now it is the autumn season, the leaves turned yellow and started to fall dancing in the wind like in the rhythm of waltz. Two little leverets keep quite in the yellowed grass and wonderingly watch the things which happen around them. Indeed, this colourful autumn is the first autumn in their life. Install Animated Screensaver “Autumn Tree” and during your relaxation time watch the beautiful autumn landscape on the monitor of you computer. Buy the screen saver here! Buy the wallpaper here!

Enchanted House Wallpaper Free Demo

Enchanter House Screensaver Free Demo

"Enchanted House" is an Animated Desktop Wallpaper by EleFun Multimedia devoted to the holidays, namely, to Halloween. By hearsay of the residents of this neighborhood, this house is inhabited with ghosts and that is why people try to pass over this house. And it is not in vain! Today, on the eve of Halloween, phantoms, skeletons and other devilry got together in this house to celebrate this holiday. Install Animated Wallpaper “Enchanted House” and you will feel the gloomy and mysterious aura reigning around the ghost house on the eve of Halloween. Buy the screen saver here! Buy the wallpaper here!

Autumn Forest Screen Saver Free Demo

Autumn Forest Animated Wallpaper Free Demo

“Autumn Forest” is an Animated Screensaver by EleFun Multimedia devoted to the seasons. Autumn came to this fabulous forest which can not be found on any map of the world. Trees got dressed in new colourful clothing, grass slightly turned yellow and leaves falling from the tress are flying all around. A unicorn strolling in the forest sadly hung down its head as if feeling sorry that the warm summer days came to an end and soon winter will visit this land. Install Animated Screensaver “Autumn Forest” and during your relaxation time watch the amazing beauty of fabulous forest in the autumn period on the monitor of you computer. Buy the screen saver here! Buy the wallpaper here!


If you enjoyed these, or if you hated them, let me know! Leave a comment on this post, or use the Chat Box on the right hand side of the blog!