Reviews

• gamedeal user

  Dec 30, 2021

  As a huge MCF fan I could not resist the whole bundle when it was on sale. I'd left the series a few years ago at #12 Key to Ravenhearst and in excitement jumped back in where I'd left off. After finally making it up to #18 The Countess, I checked the reviews I found several negative ones but still chose to press on. Sadly, I have to agree with these and say they are mostly justified. I blew through the whole game in a mere 4hrs. Usually these games take 6-7hrs minimum so there's immediately a noticeable reduction in general game length. The number of HO scenes is dramatically reduced in this one and most inventory items are either lying about or require another item's use to acquire, which kinda detracts from the whole "Hidden Object" game. The "Story" is imo one of the weakest stories I've seen from the MCF so far, perhaps the worst. There just did not feel like any connection or sense of feeling that this was part of the actual series' storyline. This could have easily been a separate title and not tied to MCF. The character design, setting and narrative are a bit sub-par but the voice-acting and overall artwork is still a good standard, despite it being gutted of HO scenes. The main menu theme seems to be a new piece which is nice but I'm fairly certain that other audio score has been copy/pasted, there's moments throughout where there's definitely re-used music from the other MCF titles. Either that or I somehow experienced several instances of deja vu, in only 4hrs, from music that I'd never heard before. I also feel like there may have been a change in Puzzle designers as some of the challenges were totally lacking in their usual and subtle visual hints. Some leave you ridiculously baffled and don't have any indication on how they should work and when you finally brute-force it the solution is completely void of any logic and common sense that you are used to from an MCF puzzle. I also make it a habit of never skipping puzzles and this one had me forfeiting a few and looking to the in-game guide which I hate having to do. Overall I'm a little disappointed with this one in comparison to quality that we've seen from the Ravenhearst, Dire Grove and Fate installments in the past. I never thought I'd see the day where I couldn't speak highly of an MCF game but it's tough love, so I can't recommend this one sadly.
• gamedeal user

  Jan 14, 2022

  one of the best Mystery Case files
• gamedeal user

  Mar 2, 2022

  Absolutely fabulous game; Great puzzles with good variety, stunning graphics and a chilling and intriguing storyline that held up all through the game and the bonus chapter. This game is beyond doubt one of the top MCF games, and I really hope to see more of this caliber.
• gamedeal user

  Sep 28, 2022

  IT WAS HARD FOR ME SINCE I'M A SENIOR BUT I ENJOYED IT
• gamedeal user

  Jan 1, 2023

  The Game is broken
• gamedeal user

  Nov 30, 2018

  This game was not complete. Green screens, no sound effects or voice lines on the last half of the game, placeholder texts everywhere. I paid for a finished product, so I want my money back
• gamedeal user

  Dec 10, 2018

  Wow what GARBAGE. This was the only HOG game series I would play because it used to be actually interesting. Now, I see the MCF series just crapping up a typical HOG with minimal effort and hardly a story worth caring about. What the hell happened?!?! I do not recommend this game. SAVE YOUR MONEY for something more worth while.
• gamedeal user

  May 25, 2019

  The Countess is the 18th entry in the Mystery Case Files series. The story starts with the disappearance of Lady Eleanor Coddington as she sought to reclaim her family estate. In your search, you come across a mysterious black mirror as well as learn about an entity simply known as the Shade. What can you expect in this game? It is a Hidden Object Game so it comes with a combination of hidden object screens, point and click elements, and logic puzzles. One thing I did notice is that the number of hidden object screens was actually much fewer than is typical, but this is balanced by an increase in logic puzzles. Since this is a collector's edition, you also get access to the game's soundtrack, a bonus chapter upon completing the game, and a few other goodies. I am pleased to say that you can adjust the difficulty in the options menu, even customizing how fast hints recharge or for skipping difficult puzzles (lowest setting is 15 seconds). Even at normal settings, the game will probably take 3-4 hours at most for an average player to beat. For those interested, the game does include Achievements, but no Steam Achievements. So what did I think of the game? Unfortunately, I didn't like it. The story itself is as bare bones as you can get and still call it a story. For example, the game says that Eleanor is a dear friend of the detective. Considering this is the first time she's ever been in the series, you would think the game would spend at least a few minutes establishing that relationship, but doesn't. This is just one example of what feels like a shallow game. The villain isn't particularly interesting, though it had a chance to be. I mean, a creature existing on the other side of a mirror is a cliche, but it didn't have to be dull. This minimalistic quality is reflected in other aspects. Animations, what few there are, feel more cut and paste than any fluidity. I understand trying to keep costs down (some earlier games in the series had FMV elements, for example), but this game feels like it was done by a couple of people with a pressing time limit. Considering Mystery Case Files is a big draw for Big Fish Games, this is disappointing. The bonus chapter might as well not be here either. Of course, most bonus chapters tend to make people feel good about the collector's edition, but in this game it honestly didn't enhance the lackluster material. At the moment, the MCF series feels like it lost its identity. For the longest time it got overly complicated with the Delimars, as well as suffering retcons as developers were switched, etc. This game could have given it a fresh start, but instead squandered it.
• gamedeal user

  Jan 27, 2020

  This game IS the most scariest event i have ever seen in my life , the lady in black really had me scared , awsome work , another two thumbs waaaay up
• gamedeal user

  Jul 14, 2020

  The story was ok but was too much with the puzzles, some you had to guess how too as there was no instruction or skip so you had to use hint about 20 times. Graphics good and had no issue with the game play. I would give this a 2 out of 5, if you enjoy puzzles then this game will entertain you but not much hidden puzzles.