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Henry Biancamono WDS Article Author, Frontiers Nerd, Star Trek Geek, Console Inventer Wannabee... View all articles | Contact author

We have a great resource for the full online guide to Mystery Case Files Return To Ravenhurst.  These precise WALKTHROUGH GAME STRATEGY GUIDES are now available here and compatable for the PC Platform.

The Return to Ravenhearst storyline continues someplace Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst and then Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate leave off, though you don't have to be established with either of those games to know what's going on. Emma Ravenhearst's soul has been freed, but her ghost delivers a unforgettable message to you as the game begins. Evil still lurks in Ravenhearst Manor, out of sight  and hidden within undiscovered passageways. Dig deep beneath the mansion's foundation to encounter places (and things!) you never would have imagined.

Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst is built around exploration and puzzle solving. The spine of the game is a point-and-click technique adventure mode comparable to the classic Myst set-up where you find the way the landscape by clicking the sides of the screen. Certain points of concern will change the cursor to a magnifying glass, while others will shine with a single white sparkle. Click everything, decipher the clues you find, and try using your catalog items everywhere it makes sense.

Concealed object scenes can be found around every turn and are made known as great masses of white sparkling stars. Clicking these takes you back to accustomed MCF territory with a crowded space and a list of items to find. Once the file is concluded you'll unlock a new inventory item that can be used in the adventure portion of the game. There's no timer, so you can kick back and search at your leisure, and the only punishment for recurrent mis-clicks is the cursor spins out of influence .

A casebook keeps track of most important points of your story and repeatedly jots down bits of significant information you get. It also clues you in to things you may not have noticed on your own, so at whatever time the icon changes to an open book, be sure to crack it open and give it a read.

Analysis: A new Mystery Case Files game always stirsup some adventurious script, but Return to Ravenhearst really deserves the excitement. First of all, the game is superb. The setting is rich with tone and every scene is painted with gloom and spooky undertones. Small animations add to the energy of it all, such as bugs crawling on the walls or leaves fluttering to the ground, and there are even bits of scenery in adventure fashion you can interact with just for fun. And the orchestral soundtrack is a work of art unto itself!

The hidden-object-adventure game mechanic does wonders for the progression and strikes a compelling balance between the genres with good taste. You won't feel overwhelmed with item hunting, and list puzzles are rather clear-cut. The game tends to hold your hand quite a bit and serves you clues on a silver platter, but I found there was adequate challenge to keep me involved.

I did find one small gameplay result that kept bothering me: backtracking. I don't mind revisiting old scenes to find new items, but the game throws them at you with very little time in-between. Spacing out the backtracking would make a lot more sense and avoid the "Didn't I just stare at this room?" feeling.

This is a no-brainer: Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst is a awesome game from top to bottom. You would be hard-pressed to find a title so well-polished and delightful on so many different levels.