Mystery Game: April 24, 2011

Here are our results from this week’s Mystery Game!

Not too shabby at all! We even hit three Rare prizes out of these Darts. This is an above average week for us, and the only thing that was a bit tricky to obtain was one of the Uncommons. The Mystery Game costs 20 FV Cash per Dart this week, but is it worth it?

The only thing lamer than the Black Shire Horse being the top Rare prize of the week last week is the White Shire Horse being this week’s top get. Seriously, we have seen many excellent black and white Horses over the past six months throughout FarmVille, we desperately need something else – and no, we do not mean a pink variation of the Shire Horse as the top prize for next week. This is a disappointing top prize for a second straight week.

On the other hand, it is hard to go wrong with a secondary Rare prize that’s in the form of the White Wolf. It has the feel of an Uncommon prize more so than one of the two Rares, but it’s still adorable if you do not have a Wolf up to this point (otherwise it would be redundant). The best part about this White Wolf is, of course, the animation where it howls at the moon, as seen above. This is the usual Wolf model, so as mentioned it may seem a bit pointless if you’ve already got a Wolf on your farm.

Get ready to say “Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!” as loud as possible, as the returning White Kitten has arrived in FarmVille as an Uncommon Animal in this week’s Mystery Game.  We were hoping for a separate feature on Kittens, sort of like how the Ducklings and Piglets became a small factor in the game, but we suppose this will make do. The White Kitten is fairly cute is an unorthodox way, as it closely resembles a big cat’s kittens compared to a domesticated cat’s babies.

We previously spoke of the Red Fox Kit, an Uncommon Animal from the Mystery Game on March 22, 2011, and mentioned how it was an improved repaint of an older Animal named the Arctic Fox. Well, now you’re staring at it. We always thought this design was stellar, but it seems a little strange to us that Zynga is re-releasing this one so close after launching the paint job just one month ago. Certainly a curious decision, and one that will be met with mixed views, we’re guessing.

Yeah, there are even more re-releases in this week’s Mystery Game, as half of the items that comprise the Mystery Game this week. This is the White Squirrel, which will cheer up the majority of our readers despite our hatred of this goofy-looking critter. As always, we’re here to slam the beloved Squirrels. We were shocked to see how many of our readers loved the Squirrels as their favorite Animal in all of FarmVille, so we definitely recognize that we are in the minority here, but yikes… We really dislike their design. Oh well, love it or hate it, it is a Common item this week.

To wrap up this week’s Mystery Game is our favorite item of the entire shebang and one of the two Common items to fill out the Mystery Game’s roster, the White Stork. This is a brilliant design that closely resembles the previously-released Baby Alpaca and Deer Fawn from older Mystery Games. We’re guessing the same, very talented artist designed this one, as well, as it certainly visits the slender, tall, and stylistic profile. Regardless, we love it because it really stands out. It ruffles its feathers occasionally by the twitching of its wings.

All-in-all, we recommend passing this week. It costs too much at 20 FV Cash per throw, it has a weak top prize and features not one, not two, but three returning items. Overall, this one is a bummer.

Mystery Game: April 17, 2011

Tonight’s Mystery Game kicked us pretty hard in the butt.

Pictures speak louder than words, so here is a picture of how black and blue our rear will look in the morning. Combine this hefty toll with the fact that it is an expensive Mystery Game this week (20 FV Cash per Dart), and you have a formula for us crying in the corner. We guess that’s what we get for nailing six prizes on six darts last week.

Here is the item that we searched all across the board for before finally finding it on the second-to-last row, the Black Shire Horse. We have, of course, seen this particular Horse in FarmVille before only with a different coat of paint on it, so we’re none too pleased to see it as the top prize of the Mystery Game this week. At best, this should have been an inexpensive Market Horse due to the fact that it is a clone of an older Horse. We would have much preferred to see a new Cow instead of a repainted Horse. It produces its own Foal if you’re a Horse Breeder and that’s a selling point for you.

Zynga, if you’re listening, we have around 25 Horses outside of our Horse Stable because we are out of room and desperately need several expansions. Please make it a priority, as it makes Horse Breeding very difficult for devout, paying Breeders. Thank you!

The other Rare item in the Mystery Game tonight is one for the Owl lovers out there, the Burrowing Owl. Once again we are faced with a Rare item that looks a little too similar to past Market purchases, although at least this one is unique enough to warrant collectability. We love the variety of spots that encase its large head. We’ve got a soft spot in our hearts for those darn Owls and their “Fly!” ability, as seen in the above picture. It’s not the best Rare item, or the best Owl, but it is the best Rare item this week and should appeal to Owl collectors.

In fact, if you collect Birds in general, this week’s Mystery Game might appeal to you on more than just the Rare level. One of the Uncommon items this week is a really awesome new Bird, the California Condor. For those unaware of the lingo, the California Condor is a member of the vulture family, and a little fun fact: FarmVille Post’s Zoop is a vulture aficionado, so we’re happy campers with this selection. We never thought we’d see such an awesome critter in FarmVille. It looks slightly out of place on that gorgeous perch, but we’re not complaining: this one’s a big-time winner.

Hey, bub! It’s time to sharpen some claws, as the second Uncommon item is Wolverine! …Oh, sorry, A Wolverine, not THE Wolverine. We thought it was the X-Men star until we saw it was actually a four-legged beast. This dude looks like he could use a big massage or something – look how tense the poor thing looks. Somebody hook him up with a Massage Envy gift card or something. He’s super cute, regardless of how he looks like he wants to rip our face off.

One of the reasons we actually like this Mystery Game, despite the lackluster top Rare prize on the week, is the fact that all of the Uncommons and Commons are really good, and that’s more than likely what you will get when you play. Take, for example, the first Common of the week: the Sonoran Pronghorn. Wait, what? That’s a weird name. Despite knowing our way around aviary life, we had to Google this fella to find out that he is a member of an endangered subspecies living here in America. Regardless, we love its absolutely gorgeous markings, which almost look tribal by nature.

To round out the Mystery Game this week, we have the final Common item: the Mountain Goat. In a word, it’s pretty “awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.” Seriously, look how cute that little guy is, all furry and smiling like everything’s goin’ right for him today. We particularly love the legs and feet on this one. Very rarely can you describe something in FarmVille as “cuddly,” but we’d be hard-pressed to find any other Animal that has come out as of late that is cuddlier than this Mountain Goat.

All-in-all, it’s an expensive Mystery Game with a so-so top prize that many will seek out, simply because it produces a new baby. On the contrary, we think this Mystery Game is worth playing for the stuff you’re more inclined to get in the first place.

Mystery Game: April 10, 2011

Oh-me-oh-my-oh, would you just look at how good we managed to do in the Mystery Game tonight!

Wow! What incredible luck! This is, by far, our best Mystery Game luck ever recorded: six Mystery Darts, all six prizes. Incredible! Document it to give us hope when we pop twenty balloons next week! The Mystery Game revolves entirely around Decorations, so steer clear if you’re looking for Animals. It costs 16 FV Cash per Dart, and has some truly amazing stuff inside. Let’s take a look!

This is the advertised top Rare prize of the week and the final item that we acquired on that bottom balloon, the Cob Cottage. We figured this prize would be massive in scale, given the fact that it is Rare and we have seen many huge Buildings as of late, but it is about moderately-sized, as you can clearly see from the above depiction. We love the sloping rooftop on this one, seemingly made of straw, and the surrounding foliage in back and along the sides of the Building. The floral arrangements out front really set it off, too. This is one Building that is worthy of one of the Rare slots.

The other Rare spot in the rotation this week belongs to another Decoration, the Lilypad Bridge. Unlike the Cob Cottage, this is the head-scratcher of the evening, as it certainly does not belong in the Rare spot of the Mystery Game. Don’t get us wrong, it is not a poorly-designed Decoration, but it merely lacks the punch that Rare items require. When you receive a Rare item, it should stimulate your brain and make you think “Wow! That is great!” The Lilypad Bridge, however, feels more like an Uncommon item at best. It has slight animation with a tiny frog on one of the lily pads, but because of the animation it cannot be rotated, a major hang-up for bridges, as we cannot adjust it to fit our farm, as it definitely would if we had that ability.

All’s not lost, though, as Bird lovers can rejoice due to the new selection as one of this week’s Uncommon items: the Amazon Parrot. The Amazon Parrot is one of the best Bird Decorations to come to FarmVille in many, many months, as it offers a very adorable design with many bright colors to keep your eyes working overtime. This could have been the Rare prize instead of the Lilypad Bridge, in our opinion. It has the usual “Fly!” option under its drop box, which you can see above. We absolutely love the Amazonian flowers that adorn the branch that the Amazon Parrot perches upon, as well. This one is a keeper.

Here is a blast from the past, and one of the items that has been on our original farm for what seems like over a year. This is the Leapfrog Well, an old school well that is just littered with many different frogs, from purple to green to brown to olive. This is one of our all-time favorite Decorations, and its return is a testament to how highly Zynga thinks of it. We  get many compliments on this item, so we are happy to see it return to FarmVille as an Uncommon entry in this week’s Mystery Game so that our neighbors may have the opportunity to obtain it.

For all of you Sheep lovers out there, one of the Common items this week may satiate your taste for cutesy Sheep without diving into your Sheep Pen. We are, of course, talking about the decorative Lounge Swing, an animated swing that flies to and fro through the air with a regular Sheep in the driver’s seat, with a Pig riding shotgun. This is a really cute addition to the Decorations, as the animation is fluid and we love the ivy growing along the wooden boards holding the swing together.

Lastly for this week’s Mystery Game is the final Common item of the endeavor, the Tulip Fountain. This is not one of our favorite Fountains in the game, though to its credit there are already many, many fantastic pieces in the category throughout FarmVille’s history. We simply dislike the design of the flora surrounding the Fountain, and its animation is nothing to write home about, either. Playing the Mystery Game on a week full of Decorations can be a lot like shooting yourself in the foot… actually, it’s nothing like that at all, but play along with the turn of phrase and don’t take it literally. Our point is if you hit four Commons and they are all Animals, it’s not so bad because you will receive Coins from them. But let’s assume you hit four Tulip Fountains… What on Earth will you do with four of the same Decoration?

Overall, there are some hits and misses in this one, but if you need a new Decoration to spruce up your farm, you can certainly do worse.

Mystery Game: April 3, 2011

Well, it has been one wonky ride, let us tell ya, but we finally have a review of this week’s Mystery Game, thanks to FarmVille Poster Eric, who has subbed in his winnings this week with ours.

We tried to play the game this week, but our board is still reading that we have won an Appaloosa Horse and a Woodpecker from the glitched game. Zynga refunded our FV Cash, but did not fork over the Rare and Common items that we should have won. Ouch. Call us kooky, but landing that top Rare prize of the week in a single dart is a great, rare feeling; imagine receiving that Rare prize, but it’s the wrong one, and then being refunded instead of given the Rare prize. It’s like winning the lottery, only to be told a drunk guy picked the numbers, so it doesn’t count anymore. Leave us unimpressed.

As you can see, Poster Eric had tremendous luck this week! He managed to obtain all six of the items on a mere ten balloons! Hey Eric, spread some of that luck our way! He is one of our neighbors and was kind enough to spread his winnings out across his farm for us to gawk at and judge accordingly! It costs 20 FV Cash per dart this week.

This is the big bad Maltese Tiger, the grand prize that we should have landed ourselves with that fateful dart we flung at the board. Oh well. Too bad, as it’s a pretty great new Tiger in FarmVille for all of you fans of exotic pets. It is solid gray along its back, striped with black lines spaced out conveniently across. The grays slightly lighten up similar to the change in a sunset, becoming white by the time it reaches the belly and chin of the adorable beast. This is a great Tiger, and a fun top prize.

The other Rare is an unconventional pick, as we sparsely see bigger wild Animals in the Mystery Game’s top spots, which are usually reserved for new Cows, Horses, and interesting Buildings. This is the Red Deer, and boy, does it blink often; we tried to take a photo four times, and every time it had its eyes closed. We’ll call it “destiny” and simply move along! This is a cute addition, but doesn’t feel like a Rare prize to us; Rares are usually reserved for something truly unique, as to where this fellow looks so much like many of the other Deers in the FarmVille universe that it does not pack the punch that the top spots deserve. It’s definitely not a bad choice, but it feels more like an Uncommon prize.

On the flipside, this Uncommon Red Kite does feel like a Rare prize. Strange how it all evens out, isn’t it? Not that we are complaining, mind you; we much prefer incredibly cool prizes as Uncommons and Commons compared to Rares, since they are so much easier to obtain. Most will see the Red Kite and immediately assume it is a Bald Eagle, but that is not the case. Either way, it will attract the attention of your neighbors’ eyeballs, as it certainly caught our eye. This one is strictly decorative and contains a “Fly!” feature from the drop box.

The second of the two Uncommons this week is about as cute as they come. It is the Red Wolf, an Animal that will certainly make waves at the heartstrings of our dear readers who adore puppies; after all, doesn’t this baby wolf resemble a dog? Closely related by DNA and cuteness, it seems! The tipping point for this Uncommon Red Wolf is that it occasionally howls at the moon. It’s so adorable, it almost seems too cute to be true… hopefully it doesn’t morph back into Michael Jackson or something, ala Thriller.

The Red Squirrel is an infinite improvement over the, in our opinion, completely lame Brown and White Squirrels. This guy resembles those two strange oddities in the FarmVille universe, but manages to give the squirrely look his own flair with fuzzy red cheeks and tail. Somehow, it looks more like an Animal in FarmVille this way instead of some deranged cartoon character. Sorry Squirrel fans, we know there are a lot of you out there who are regular Post readers, but we cannot change the way we feel in our heart of hearts. You can make fun of our love for ivy and moss, if it makes you feel any better!

Finally, we will conclude this evening’s Mystery Game review with the final Common prize of the event: the Blue Arrow Frog. This might be our favorite of the whole game. You see, on our original farm, we bought heavily into the old Frog Mystery Boxes waaay back in the day, and managed to come out with a boatload of Frog-related goodies, so our farm is coated with all colors of Frog-decorated items. This is a simple paint job of a popular Animal, but isn’t it a splendid paint job? Just look at that shade of blue! Now if only we could manage to make a sheep with those colors.

Overall, this week depends solely on your decision whether or not to play. There are a few really cool, unique Animals in this week’s game, but with no “functional” ones to spread around, we have a hard time justifying the entry fee on 20 FV Cash.

Glitched Mystery Game for April 3, 2011

There seem to be technical difficulties in tonight’s Mystery Game. We grabbed one Mystery Dart and flung it onto the board, becoming ecstatic when we realized we popped the top Rare of the night on the first dart…

…only to realize that the Rare we received was the Appaloosa Horse, a Horse that has been available heavily in the past, and not the sought-after adorable Big Cat that can be found on the “Play Mystery Game” teaser, as seen below…

…What the heck? Seriously, that sucks. We are putting in a customer support ticket, since we lost two Mystery Darts full of a bunch of old Southwest items that we’ve previously gotten, including a Woodpecker that we are almost certain we paid Coins for around a year ago.

Unless you are looking for the likes of the Bobcat, Longhorn Cow, and several other previously-readily-available FarmVille Animals that have been available for Coins or for free, save your Mystery Darts.

New Items: April Fool’s Day Goodies

It’s April Fool’s Day on FarmVille!

Every year, FarmVille does some cool new stuff in FarmVille, such as throwing out some prankster goodies to purchase on the Market!  While we do not have the time to do full reviews of the items at hand with the unexpected late update, please use this as a reference to alert yourselves of their existence! Enjoy!

Stay tuned to FarmVille Post, as today is officially Free Stuff Friday! Expect a new giveaway in the evening!