Mystery Case Files: Ravenhurst for Windows Review

Ravenhearst is the third game in the Mystery Case Files series which starts with MCF:Huntsville followed by MCF:Prime Suspect.  I discovered a limited version of Huntsville on Pogo.  Later, I downloaded a one hour trial version and used it up in one sitting.  The object in these games is to find each of the listed items in various rooms or buildings before time runs out.  Ravenhurst is the most difficult. 

The rooms are much more cluttered and the items more difficult to find.  There are several different levels to the mansion.  I really enjoyed trying to solve the door lock puzzles.  There are more in this game then the other two and they are much more difficult.  Hints are given at players request and time penalities for using them.  I really hate it when games demand a player pass some challenge before moving on.  (OK, so I CAN'T jump,run, power up and punch at the same time. So sue me!)  Ravenhearst allows player to bypass a puzzle if they wish but I found them one of the most fun parts.  There is also an Extended Time setting that lets you have bunches of time to work out the door puzzles. 

In the two previous games, after finding all of the items, there was another mini puzzle to solve. (i.e. a concentration game or put together a picture clue without knowing what it is supposed to look like.) Each level of Ravenhurst ends with player having to put together a picture.  The picture is different each time, but the activity is exactly the same.  I found it boring in the extreme and there is no way to bypass it.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes relaxing puzzles.  Ravenhearst is content rated E10+ by ESRB and Huntsville is rated E.  Big Fish Games puts out Mystery Case Files and I was able to find them all at Bestbuy.  If memory serves, I paid about $20.00 for each.