ml011384's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:71
- Reviews Submitted:3
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2015
- Featured reviews0
ml011384's Review History
A great evil unlocks deep within Ravenhearst!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 12 found this review helpful
Better than Key, but doesn't feel like MCF to me.
PostedNovember 26, 2015
ml011384
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Strategy, Word, Mahjong, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
So, just finished the game (not the bonus yet, however). Altogether, I think Ravenhearst Unlocked was much better than Key in regards to the whole atmosphere. At least there was some semblance of the original MCF to this game. However, there was still something off about it in that I felt like I was playing some other game rather than MCF.
With that said ...
The game by itself wasn't too bad. There were some parts that required some thinking, but if you're patient, you can work through the puzzles. There are plenty of HOPs, for those of you who enjoy them, and there are mini-puzzles within some of the HOPs, and there are also mini-HOPs along the way as well. There aren't any morphing objects, unless I'm just blind to them along the way. There are collectibles that can be found throughout the scenes.
I got through the game without too many technical problems. The one problem I did have was the custom cursor disappearing on me while I was in the Bailiff's Office, but as long as you switch off custom cursor before entering the Office, you'll be fine. That, or unless you enjoy attempting to guess where your mouse pointer is.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS FROM HEREON
The plotline itself was okay. I'm not sure how much I like Alister, to be very honest, since I adore Charles and Victor. However, I might be nitpicking here, but there was absolutely no explanation how the twins ended up to be Charles's daughter when it was established that they were Sommersets in RTR. (And I do think that nitpicking is completely justified when it's MCF.)
With that said, when it's a Ravenhearst game, I can't help but miss Charles and Victor, but that's just a personal thing.
The sounds and music was much better than Key. However, I still miss the original theme music for MCF. Like I've said for my review for Key, it just feels like something is missing when you play a MCF game and the theme isn't there. Sort of like watching a Bond movie without the theme song.
Altogether, I give this game 4 stars out of 5. The missing star is due to the twins' lineage unexplained and the missing theme music.
I recommend this game!
Can you find the key to Ravenhearst's resurrection?
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
It was somewhat OK.
PostedNovember 15, 2015
ml011384
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Strategy, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As usual, I was ecstatic to get my hands on a new MCF. Never mind the fact that I have yet to get through Sacred Grove, though from some of the reviews I've read, it's not without good reason.
It's been a while since I've left a review, the last one being on Escape from Ravenhearst, and as much as I hate to admit, the quality of Key to Ravenhearst was just not as good as the previous games (or at least, the ones I've played through and completed).
SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE ONWARDS
The storyline was okay, though I found it out of the blue to make the twins evil. There was no explanation there, though perhaps they were waiting to do that for future installments? Whatever the situation might be, I will hold out judgement until they decide to expand on this detail.
Unfortunately, the artwork/animation didn't do much for me. I mean, I was thoroughly creeped out by Shadow Lake and Escape from Ravenhearst; Key to Ravenhearst, not so much. However, it was feasible, more slightly disappointed than completely disappointed.
The music was a letdown. I admit, I'm one for nostalgia, but I was really waiting to hear the familiar tones from the previous MCF that made MCF MCF, in my honest opinion. I mean, sure, you can make it a bit different, but to do away with it completely ... it's like listening to a new song for James Bond, if you get what I'm saying.
The level of challenge was mediocre and not as fun or entertaining as the previous installments
All in all, Key to Ravenhearst was somewhat entertaining but not as much as the previous ones.
I recommend this game!
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
5
/
5
60 of 71 found this review helpful
A wonderful game that might not be for everyone.
PostedNovember 27, 2011
ml011384
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Where should I begin? This is certainly not a game for everyone, and children should definitely be shooed out of the room before playing. Many of the contents in the game are rather inappropriate for the younger generations. In addition to that, people who are considering to buy this game better take heed to Big Fish Games's warning: They are not kidding you when they tell you that this game is a psychological thriller. Some of the contents in this game can be extremely disturbing to certain group of people. Do NOT be fooled by what you go through in the demo since it hardly brushes upon the surface of what you will go through in the purchased game.
With that said, I have to say that this game was truly fun, and by the end of the game, I am absolutely in love with it. At first, I couldn't really get into the game, seeing that I'm not a big fan of morphing objects, even when they first appeared in Madame Fate and later on in Dire Grove. I just didn't find them fun. So, when I found out that most of the hidden objects scenes had been replaced by morphing objects scenes, my first thought was "tedious," especially after I finished the first morphing objects scene.
By the time I finished the demo, I was of two minds:
1) I dislike morphing objects. Can I really stand going through a game that has solely morphing objects scenes instead of the traditional hidden objects scenes?
2) But this is Mystery Case Files, and I had waited for this installment for so long. I really, really wanted to know what happened next in this series.
In the end, my curiosity got the best of me and I went ahead and bought the game.
Boy, am I glad I did. The puzzles are, in my opinion, very challenging. Here, I will have to bring up one of the cons that I have for the game: I wished that the devs would've added at least a "Help" button for the mini-games, since I have absolutely no idea what to do when I click into the game and have to consult the Strategy Guide. Many people do not like the Strategy Guide too much, feeling that they don't contain enough information, since there's no written text in there. Personally, I felt that the pictures were a bit too much information, since I basically know EVERYTHING I needed to do after I checked in there. I realize that this was probably done because there were many complaints about too much hand-holding for 13th Skull, but a help button on the side makes it optional for whether the player wanted that help or not. ;)
Nonetheless, the mini-games were a LOT of fun, very creative, and very different from the mini-games that I had seen in other games (and trust me when I say I have a lot of games on my computer).
The morphing objects scene, as I had mentioned, aren't exactly my favorite type of game play. A lot of times, I find myself staring at the computer screen, willing the last morphing object to just appear already. Of course, that sometimes just doesn't work out and I have to use the hint button. Thankfully, the hint button recharges rather quickly, so no worries there.
A second con about the game is the fact that the hint button only works in the mini-games and the morphing objects scenes. I would've preferred it much more if the hint button also could give us pointers in regards to where I should go next and so on, so I wouldn't have to run around the game like a headless chicken or consult the Strategy Guide. Though it's not so bad since the scenes of this game (except for certain scenes that were purposely gross; even then, the visual quality is amazing) were absolutely gorgeous.
Back to the morphing objects: I do realize that many players had expressed their love for them and Big Fish Games is aiming to do something different with each new installment of MCF. Nonetheless, I sort of hoped that there could've been a mix of morphing objects scenes and hidden objects scenes. I find myself longing to replay Return to Ravenhearst a few times after too many morphing objects scenes, just so I can play some of the hidden objects scenes every once in a while. However, the morphing objects scenes did somewhat grow on me after a while and didn't bother me as much. It did also help that there weren't as many morphing objects scenes later on in the game, and things were more focused on puzzles and adventure.
Kudos to everyone who had taken part in making this game: There were many parts that had me chuckling throughout the game, and the voice-overs and acting were extremely well-done and highly believable.
The graphics were top-notch and very realistic, though as I have mentioned, some of it might be a bit mentally disturbing to some people. I had to turn the sounds on and off throughout the game, depending on where I'm playing the game on my laptop. I, personally, felt that the graphics and sounds definitely fitted the story line.
(POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT)
Considering what the story line is about, it will be impossible to make things less than they were in the game. To make things less would make the story unrealistic and wouldn't give the game character's personality/behavior justice. I realize that some people might feel that this is just a game and shouldn't be so realistic, but then again, that's why there's the warning in the summary of this game. Besides, the contents in Return of Ravenhearst is arguably just as debatable as the contents for Escape from Ravenhearst.
(SPOILER ALERT END)
The biggest complaint I have though is that after I played this game, I can't help but compare every other demo I have on my computer to this. I just find all the other demos of hidden objects games way too easy and not as much fun, and I completely blame this on the devs over at Big Fish Games. You've definitely set a new high standard for games with Escape from Ravenhearst.
All in all, I give this game 5 out of 5 stars, and I certainly can't wait for the next installment - this is a bit presumptuous on my part, since this might very well be the last game, which will make me extremely upset. From what I've gathered throughout the game, I'm assuming that there's more games to come for Mystery Case Files. I certainly hope I'm not being delusional, and hopefully, we will see a new MCF game next year.
I recommend this game!