Mystery Case Files 3 is finally here! This episode is called Ravenhearst and the name comes from the location; the story is situated in the Ravenhearst Manor. Here's the official word:
Rumors surrounding the history of stately Ravenhearst Manor have circulated for decades. The recently acquired diary of Emma Ravenhearst may hold the key to unraveling the tale behind this unsettling place, yet the pages are missing. Players assume the role of Master Detective to unlock secrets held within Ravenhearst, scouring 32 rooms in the manor for cleverly hidden clues. Locating and assembling diary pages helps tell the story of the house and, ultimately, unlock the mystery.
MCF: Ravenhearst is a beautiful game. The graphics are even better than in the previous episodes and the sounds deserve an extra mention. The sounds are well made and the constant background noise creates a nice scary atmosphere. Unfortunately, as beautiful as the graphics are, they're also a little messy. It's harder to see some items than it was in the previous games and this causes some frustration. I got stuck in the first screen and had to ask for a hint! After the hint my reaction was "So, that is what they call a bug??". I guess that's in a way unavoidable in a game like this but when you have a time limit and you waste precious seconds just because you don't recognize an item that's in front of your eyes even after it was pointed to you...
Having said that, overall Ravenhearst is an enjoyable game. There's a new puzzle mode which you get to right at the start, which adds new style to the gameplay. The audiovisual experience is top notch. The packet is hefty - more than 70 megabytes so you get a lot of content! This game is more story driven than the previous episodes but still the main push has clearly been in the art rather than gameplay. If you loved the previous games you'll love this! What's more important - you can download and play the full version for free for a limited time. Try it now and see for yourself!
Playboy's score: 4.5 out of 5!     
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshots. Click for larger versions... |