I was not prepared to like this game. In fact, in the beginning I actually didn’t like it. But a friend of mine kept encouraging me to play the game and complete the levels to find the lost tomb. He kept saying “dewd, it is so worth it” over and over so I decided to give it a go and see what all the hub bub was about.

As many of you know, I am not the best one to critique another hidden object game. Yes, I have given some good reviews to a few, but if you look at how many are out there, the number I approve is minuscule. I was going to add Amazing Adventures The Lost Tomb to my list as just another wannabe until my friend convinced me to complete everything and find the lost tomb. BAM! What a reward!

Now the fact that this one takes place in Egypt is pretty cool to begin with. I mean you get to visit all the really neat places like the pyramids, the sphinx, the Nile River and Cairo to name a few. Look how great all the Mummy movies were using this type of location. So the game got off to a pretty good start just from that standpoint alone. You also just start off with two rooms to poke around in and you also control what scene you want to use. Finding some items was pretty easy. But then it started to get challenging. Some items were hidden under other items that you could not remove in order to get your hands on what you knew was under there. Frustrating! I found you absolutely had to use the hint button to acquire those hidden objects! And some items are not even on the screen! Back to the hint button once more.

I needed a pretty big reward for what I had gone through to find the hidden tomb. The game delivered! You are rewarded with the secret game mode and two completely unique rooms that are ten times better then the first ones you plowed through. It was worth the work to get here. Now you can play any scene in the game at will. You are in control. In addition, the two additional new rooms made the first rooms look like grammar school with the bonus rooms being Ivy League. They are that much more challenging.

So if your into the hidden object genre, you just have to test drive this one. And don’t give up till you find the tomb. Its what makes it all worthwhile.

Fab Fashion - It's the Diner Dash of Creative Arts

Want your child to have a little more fun assuming a game playing role different then waiting on tables? Duh! Why are so many time management games associated with careers nobody wants? Yes I know there are many with respected professions such as veterinarians and the like, but they seem to be the exception and not the rule. And finding a time management game with creativity involved to any degree well, you might as well go looking for Noah's ark.

That is until Fab Fashion. What a refreshing concept, and one with creativity to boot! With this unique time management game you are able to create your own unique fashion offerings by combining the hundreds of stock wardrobe basics to create a look that is uniquely you. Try that flipping burgers and clearing plates!

The premise is simple, start out as a small town fashion design wannabe and make your way to the fashion capitals of the world. This task is not as easy as one might think and the game is actually pretty darn challenging. And with 48 levels, there is plenty of opportunity to assemble your complete fashion empire.

Try this one on for size, I have a sneaky suspicion it just may fit!

Abominable Snowman and Reindeer = Christmasville!

This game is cute. It is also fun to play. But best of all, it is a game that a parent can play with a young child and enjoy the holidays with this Christmas themed hidden object game.

Sure it is not over taxing, it wasn’t meant to be. This game is targeted to the younger game player and the fact is, they hit the target right in the bull’s-eye!

The premise of the game is that Santa has been kidnapped. You play the part of the world renowned detective Arthur Knight and journey to Christmasville to start your investigation. Here is where you run into the funny characters that populate the storyline. From Reindeer to the Abominable Snowman, the cast of characters will just delight the younger mind and keep us oldies amused as well. And all of these characters were needed to discover the truth behind the disappearance of Santa. We did like the neat little trick where new items appeared after you cleared some of the originals. More hidden object games should use this technique. The graphics are good and so is the music.

This is a game you may only play around the holidays, but it is one that will still be relevant for many Christmas holidays year after year.

I am the first to admit I am not a big fan of the hidden objects genre of games. But I must admit I like Neptune’s Secret. I think it was the graphics that grabbed me first. They are just really special. There are lots of hidden object games that have a location in the deep blue sea, but most have fish swimming around like crazy and they try and bend the scene to make it look like the water is reflecting images. All those producers of those games should take a lesson from this game. These folks know what it is all about.

The second thing that got me was the music. If you have any stress in your life, take a look see at this game. The music alone will turn those ragged edges into smooth sailing.

As for the hunt and seek aspect, I was surprised, I actually was enjoying the search. You locate gems along with the hidden objects and there are hints that help you out when you get stumped. And as there are 75 levels, it’s going to take a long time to find them all.

And last, I thought the storyline was well thought out and added the cherry on top of an already good game. Some are just ridiculous but this one had me wondering what was going to happen next and actually spurred me on to complete a level just to find out that answer.

Give this one a test drive, I think you may be surprised at just how well she handles.

First and foremost, Ugo and Dawson are funny. Second, what they go through is funny. And last, when the lady cavewomen enters the picture, it becomes hysterical!

This game is a side scrolling adventure in prehistoric times. The leading men are a couple of guys that are quite different in makeup. One is just peachy with the way things are, see dinosaur, club dinosaur, eat dinosaur. The other just thinks there has to be more to life then those basic tenets. This premise sets the stage for the wild card, the women! And life as our Jurassic Oscar and Felix know it comes to an end. Go figure!

There are four completely distinct environments that out Stone Age heroes must traverse, and get this, one is under water. There are also one hundred goals to attain and that task is not a slam dunk.

Cave Days is a cute and silly game, almost retro in nature that has very good playability. At first blush, you are tempted to write this one off as it does not have all the whistles and bells that many bring to the table. But that would be a mistake. You would miss some real fun. Besides, when is the last time you clubbed a T-Rex?

Diner Dash Hometown Hero

Tell the truth now, you just cannot get enough of Flo now can you! You and everyone else for that matter. The sequels just keep on coming and the latest offering, Diner Dash Hometown Hero, keeps everything that you like about the game and adds some new twists and turns to keep you happy.

Sometimes when a game has numerous sequels, the game sometime can stray far from the roots, its playability. The games seem to migrate far from what was cool about them in the first place and as a result, the sequels lose much of their luster. The Diner Dash guys and gals know when they have a good thing and this playability is incorporated in every one of the sequels.

Oh sure, there are new things to keep you wanting more. Take for instance the teenage kids with the cell phones plugged to their ears. Pretty standard fare for an upgrade you say? Well yes, until you realize if you seat them close to each other a love connection can occur! And how about that new waiter who makes the scene. There is a lot more to this guy then meets the eye and he will having you go postal on your mouse! And if I am not mistaken, did that heavy set guy just order twice?

If your a fan of this series of games, you will not be dissapointed with this latest offering. If you are new to the Diner Dash games take a look see, you just might be surprised at how this game grabs you. There is just something about Flo. She just keeps us coming back for more.

Not that there was anything wrong with issue number one or number two, but Luxor 3 just goes to reinforce that old adage that the third time is the charm. When I saw it was released I thought it just might be a tricked up version of one and two because so many game producers now are quick to strike while the iron is hot and release a sequel or two with little to no additions. This is not the case with the third Luxor.

Yes, it is still a match three and the game play is still good as it was in one and two. But aside from that, this latest release has so much more to offer. The graphics and sound are vastly improved from the first two games. The music builds a sense of urgency as time marches on and the sound affects are spectacular. I love the fireworks when you clear a level.

As before, there are the normal three skill levels of easy, moderate and difficult. Also, there are settings for classic play as well as a timed level where your goal is to stay alive until the clock is exhausted. And just to add another classy touch, the producers throw in some really good puzzles to challenge the already reeling mind. I would love to write more about this one, but I have been away from playing the game for five minutes and want to get right back at it! Yep, it is that addictive!