Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst

OS: Windows XP/Vista
CPU: 800 Mhz or faster Processor
RAM: 512 MB
Hard Drive: 347 MB

Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst review

Supernatural intertwined with crime fight is the real flavor of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. The next in the series of the Mystery Case Files is a complete transformation of a young detective into a person who engages into warding off the evil spirits and freeing the good ones from them. This is the fifth game in the series of Mystery Case Files but has taken the series to newer heights and has turned the game into a total gaming pleasure. It is not merely a hidden object game but also has a click and reveal element added to it.

Mystery Case files has maintained the same old hidden object gameplay theme fraught with various types of puzzles. Some of the advantages that have been added in this new version are that now, one can move from one room to another, click on anything that interests them and pick up things to added in the inventory and used later to unlock some more new areas and puzzles.

The story picks up from the point where it was left and now the ominous spirit of Charles Dalimar, the murderer of Emma Ravenhearst, is on the loose. It is trying to take revenge from the people who were involved in its killing and has also captured many good spirits in the Ravenhearst Manor’s mansion. As a detective, you have been entrusted with the job of finding more clues from the mansion and you go there in the dark of the night. You get the information that there are more sprits that have been captured by the evil spirit of Dalimar. Now, you have to act as their savior and free them from the Charles the devil.

The hidden objects that you need to find out have been incorporated with a completely new style. The scenes have been merged into one another i.e. you can click on any part within a scene and then enter that location to find out the hidden objects. For instance, you can look at the small water pool beside the entrance of the main door to find some hidden objects. On completion of finding all the items in the list, you will have a new object added to the inventory.

The only downside that was obvious after playing the game is that in some of the scenes a few objects tend to be so small in structure that it becomes really difficult to find them. For instance, you need to search for the sewing machine in a dolls house. There is ample chance of finding the objects as the number of hints in this version is more than any of its predecessors. Hint meter takes a lot of time to get refilled after being used, so it is advisable to use it in times of dire need only.

Filled with an array of inviting puzzles like the door puzzle, the game not only tests your wits, but also adds an interesting touch to the whole game. Skipping the puzzles is not recommended because then another 30 minutes will get added to the total gameplay time. Well, the game definitely spooky has a spooky feel to it and you will encounter creepy structures or ghostly faces every now an then.

Conclusion: Riveting storyline and great graphics with a little touch of animation provides an ultimate feel to the game. The comments after you make mistakes can be really irritating, but please bear with the gibberish! Some of the objects could have been made a little bigger and the unnecessary stress on our eyes could have been averted. All in all it’s an interesting game to while away your time and adapt to the creepy world of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst.