Solving The Case
Mystery Case Files brings the fun of I spy puzzles, adds a clever and intriguing story, and wraps it all up in one fun, solid package. Plus, it makes you feel cool!
Something is fishy in the town of Huntsville and it's up to you to get to the bottom of things. Various crimes are being committed throughout the small town, and you must track down each and everyone one of the culprits. Are these all random events or will they tie into some greater, grander scheme? The great thing about this game is that you actually care! MCF presents some funny and original plot points that will actually have you progressing through the game, wondering what's going to happen next!
The presentation is something to be admired as all of the story is delivered via dossiers like you would see in detective movies. All the text looks like it's been typed by an old typewriter and various pictures and newspaper clippings have been paper clipped on. It gives the whole game a really cool film noir feel and -let's be honest here - who hasn't fantasized about being a hard boiled detective?
Hunting for Clues
In each case, you must go to various locations throughout town and collect clues. Each location is arranged like an I spy game; you're given a list of items to find in a very cluttered locale. These items can arranged from small, household objects to musical instruments to creepy crawling creatures. It's a very effective formula, providing a varied challenge that manages to be relaxing, yet keep you on your toes. The best thing about it is that there is no learning curve involved. Given the simple nature of the gameplay, anyone can jump right in and start enjoying themselves.
After you've collected all of the clues for one case, you must find out who is behind the crime by completing a tile swapping puzzle. This will show you the culprit caught in the act! You've got him red handed!
Looks Like a Mystery!
The audio and visuals do a lot to help make this game work. The art style is dark and cartoon-like, giving it a light-hearted, yet serious feel. The money shot comes when you finally see the criminal, and these images can be really humorous and rewarding.
The music that is played throughout the game, especially when you're hunting for objects, is among some of the best I've heard employed in a game. It has a great "mystery" feel to it and will really help get that investigator blood pumping through your veins. My hats off to the makers of this product for knowing just how serious to take itself.
Case Closed
Despite it's simple formula, Mystery Case Files has proven to be very fun and immersive. And while collecting random clues might not feel like real crime solving work, you can still employ detective tactics in your search, which can prove surprisingly effective. Mix in the enjoyable story, crisp visuals, and eerie mystery music, and you've got yourself a game that any true detective fan should own!
