Mystery Case Files: Key to Ravenhearst Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

545 of 685 found this review helpful

THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT

PostedOctober 27, 2015

pennmom36

fromDon't let your wonderful talent go to waste Victor!

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

After your Escape from Ravenhearst Manor, you thought the nightmare was over, think again detective! The house that love built may have burned to the ground, but evil always finds a way to Return. It all began with a sick and twisted man, Charles Ravenhearst whose parenting skills were just as bizarre and apples don't fall far from the tree allowing his son Victor to emerge where his father left off. Looks like Ravenhearst is back with a vengeance and someone is rebuilding the edifice, The Ravenhearst Museum will soon open for business, has Charles risen from the grave, is Victor behind this? The Key to this mystery might be right in front of you, good luck, you're going to need it!

It wouldn't surprise me if the site crashes today with all us Mystery Case Files diehard fans clicking on the "buy" icon sight unseen (hey,it's Ravenhearst, don't judge lol) This is a must have game folks, even better than Madame Fate, rest assured! Just in time for Halloween and definitely an unexpected treat. There are 34 very well hidden Raven Dark Omens to search for, Plus Sign inventory items and plenty of Achievements to earn There are 16 Morphing Objects within the HOP's which was a wee bit disappointing for me because MCF always has very well done morphs throughout the game which is one of the reasons I love this series.

The Hidden Object Scenes are very entertaining, some of which aren't that easy to complete. There are interactive list finds and even progressive interactive silhouettes where you find items and use the items in the scene to expose the next item that matches the silhouetted shapes. Each HOP has some type of puzzle to solve and even have zoom zone puzzles with combo pictures to search for associations. Most of the HOP's have a Morphing Object as indicated by a morphing icon.

The Mini Games are always fantastic, and known for the ultimate puzzle boxes which have several puzzles within that you need to tinker with to solve. Other puzzles include Connecting water pipes with specific shaped connectors, Lining up horizontal and vertical crosshairs, and another MCF favorite, a board filled with dominos that requires you to click on the dominoes that match the ones displayed surrounding the board.

This Collector's Edition has 14 Achievements, a Souvenir Room, 34 Dark Omens, 16 Morphing Objects, 11 Music Soundtracks, 16 replayable HOP's, 23 replayable Puzzles, 13 Movies, 8 Concept Art pictures, 8 Wallpapers, Behind the Scenes pictures, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy.....if you dare. Show less

I recommend this game!

+405points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

132 of 164 found this review helpful

What a spectacular game!

PostedNovember 1, 2015

riverdiver

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Just finished and must say: What a spectacular game!
The opening video wins the „Oscar“ for the best intro of the year! I had to exit and restart the game to see it again. Only then I discovered that I can replay videos, at least those already watches, from extras!

"Key to Ravenhearst" has all the elements I enjoy in a game: A good story, super atmosphere, great visuals, perfectly flowing game ...Show more

"Key to Ravenhearst" has all the elements I enjoy in a game: A good story, super atmosphere, great visuals, perfectly flowing game play, things to discover with your cursor, quite challenging puzzles and HOs, great voice acting, superb details in artwork and sound effects, as the raindrops on the beach or the squeaking sound of the metal brush on the buoy.

Furthermore references to the former installments of the Ravenhearst and Madam Fate games. I recognized several mini games from „Return to Ravenhearst“, here they come with a fresh look.
The incredible scenery, orchestral soundtrack - and, at least for me, the Return of Humour to this series.
For me it was a lot of fun to try out things, as for instance hitting the lantern instead of the work gloves with the fishing rod on the cliff.
And another element I enjoy: at least one reference to a former game of the dev: the famous gardener from Final Cut reappears, at least on the ID of Frank, the gardener of the museum.

The game has exceeded my expectations! MCF had lost me after the „13th Skull“, but now I’m back and hoping for new stories. Mystery Case Files deserved fresh wind, and this dev has brought it!
Very well done!!! Show less

I recommend this game!

+100points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

46 of 58 found this review helpful

WELL DONE EIPIX - SUPERB GAME

PostedNovember 6, 2015

charlene_lane

fromWellington, New Zealand

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Large File

Current Favorite:

Mystery Case Files®: Escape from Ravenhearst™ Collector's Edition

(896)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME, BONUS and EXTRAS

There is:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Regular, Hard, Insane and Custom modes of play;
* 14 Achievements;
* Find 34 ravens (in game only);
* Six super puzzles;
* Lengthy Bonus game;
* Lots of extras.

The graphics are absolutely spot on - kind of dark, moody and with just the right amount of ambiance. There is plenty of colour where needed which ...Show more

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME, BONUS and EXTRAS

There is:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Regular, Hard, Insane and Custom modes of play;
* 14 Achievements;
* Find 34 ravens (in game only);
* Six super puzzles;
* Lengthy Bonus game;
* Lots of extras.

The graphics are absolutely spot on - kind of dark, moody and with just the right amount of ambiance. There is plenty of colour where needed which was not too bright or garish.

Sound is excellent. The music is orchestral and also has pieces of music from previous Ravenhearst games.

The hidden object games were interactive straightforward and silhouette. There were even little mini-games in them as well. There is one morphing object per HOS, so keep a beedy eye out for it. However, if you do miss one, don't worry cause you can replay all the HOS in the Extras.

There were a huge variety of mini-games to play which had a good challenge. I played on Custom mode and turned off Skip and Hint, so I played them all without help. Some of these did take a while to do. Wine helped.

There were also six super puzzles to do. These are my ultimate favourite to do. Now, they weren't too hard this time round. There is no timer and you don't have to do tasks in any particular order. Each one took me about 10-15 minutes to do.

There are 34 ravens to find throughout the game (not the Bonus). Most of these were easy to spot, but a few were a few elusive. However, if you don't feel like finding them in the game, then you can do this in the Extras.

It is possible to get most, if not all, of the Achievements. I failed miserably on completing a mini-game in under a minute (I just ain't that fast).

There is plenty to do in the Extras. You have 32 objects to find in the Souvenir Room, you can find all the ravens (if you missed any or wanted to do them later), replay the HOS and mini-games to get extra achievements, etc.

All up the game, bonus and extras took me about 10 hours to do and I enjoyed every minute. Honestly, I could have gone 10 hours more.

Definitely comes recommended. Happy playing fishies. Show less

I recommend this game!

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Overall rating

5 / 5

424 of 606 found this review helpful

BRAVO! BEST GAME OF THE YEAR – AN ENIGMATIC MASTERPIECE

PostedOctober 27, 2015

sunnyglow

fromArriving at Ravenhearst, I am afraid of “losing” my mind solving puzzles in the corridors of this game - never able to escape its clutches

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

6 CHAPTERS PLUS A BONUS CHAPTER - BASED ON THE FIRST 3 CHAPTERS OF THE GAME

Building upon the foundation of the previous games in this series, the gaming architects at EIPIX, have designed and constructed a well-crafted enigmatic masterpiece. Sneering in the background, you can almost hear Alister Dalimar applauding the insane puzzle-like machinations of this dark game as well. Returning to Ravenhearst, as a master detective, you must again match wits against an evil, devious madman lurking within the walls of Ravenhearst, watching your every move. What are the hidden secrets which lie hidden below the foundation of the Ravenhearst museum, a “twin” replica of the original mansion? Who is behind the building of this museum and for what purpose?

A clue for you. In Chapter 3 we begin to “construct” the story of who built the museum and the mayhem caused by a person whose nose ended up where it ought not be all while looking out to sea.

What an excellent storyline! The game will keep you guessing as to the perpetrators and their motives in this game. There are some new characters to add to the growing list of the Dalimar family and Ravenhearst inhabitants. The graphics are dark with an eerie, gothic landscape. The VO’s are excellent and I especially loved the creepy taunting voice of the hooded figure attached to the Alister Enigma Box.

HOP Scenes: There are 18 HOP scenes in the games. The HOP scenes are well-crafted and puzzle-like with some of the scenes having items which are difficult to locate. They are multi-step, varied and there are mini-puzzles within the scenes. They include variations of lists of items to locate, silhouette, cryptic clues. There are some mini-HOP scenes as well. You also have the ability to replay the scenes. After the demo in Chapter 3 there was another list of items to locate and a mini-HOP game.

MINI-GAMES. There are 41 mini-games within the game with 5 super-puzzles. All the puzzles can be reset and each puzzle in the super puzzles can not only be reset but have their own skip function as well. All mini-games can be replayed. The puzzles vary in type and difficulty. Most are easy but there are some brain crushers as well. They include a variation of matching puzzles, maze puzzles, pipe puzzles, sliding tiles puzzles, Simon Says puzzles and logic puzzles. In Chapter 3 you play a relatively difficult puzzle for Alister’s Enigma Box.

LEVELS: Regular, Hard, Insane, Custom
Hints 10 to 120 seconds Skips 10 to 400 seconds. There is the option for a HOP error penalty

EXTRAS:

Map is given to you at the start of the game
ALISTER’S ENIGMA BOX. This creepy box will accompany you throughout the game. You will have to solve puzzles while being taunted by a crazed madman.
20 Achievements
Collect 44 souvenirs
Collect 34 Harbingers
16 Morphing objects:
Strategy guide - 48 pages
Usual wallpaper, artwork, screensavers

HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND MINI-PUZZLES

HOP SCENES: Some of the scenes have items which are nerve wracking with items difficult to locate.
A. List of items to locate. Included is a mini-puzzle in which you carve out SOS.
B. Silhouette. Within this scene is a mini-HOP scene with cryptic clues. Some items must be located sequentially. The scene also includes a switching puzzle in which you must move tiles to the correct positions to recreate a picture
C. List of items to locate. Included is a mini-HOP scene involving sentences with clues written in BOLD letters.
D. List of items to locate. Included is a mini-puzzle in which you must adjust 3 levers to the correct position to open a case.
AFTER THE DEMO:
E. List of items to locate. Within the scene is a mini-puzzle which is a matching puzzle.
F. Mini-HOP scenes of five specific items to locate

PUZZLES: You have the ability to reset the puzzles. Each of the puzzles in the super puzzles have their own reset and skip buttons.
A. ALISTER’S ENIGMA BOX. – A super puzzle you play throughout the game to help you solve the case. The puzzles are accompanied by enigmatic poems to help solve each puzzle.
(1) You must bop the trolls by certain colors according to the directions from an enigmatic poem. EASY
(2) Locate and replace pieces of a house which is to represent the mansion. EASY
(3) Rotate rings to display specific numbers then create a path using numbered lights to go from side to the other. MODERATE DIFFICULTY
B. Variation of a pipe puzzle. Connect like ends of segments of pipe to create a route for water to flow from the bottom left of the screen to the top right of the screen. MODERATE DIFFICULTY
C. Variation of a manual dexterity puzzle. Intersect two lines to receive an inventory item EASY
D. Variation of a matching puzzle. Match up dominoes to those along the side of a board so that none remain. There is only one solution to this puzzle. Tricky! MODERATE DIFFICULTY
E. Super puzzle. Must be completed sequentially. Solving one puzzle opens up the others.
(1) A variation of a maze puzzle. Lead a snake’s eye out of a maze. EASY
(2) Variation of a matching puzzle. Place moths onto a spider’s web by matching symbols on the web and the spider. EASY
(3) Variation of another matching puzzle. Place disks into matching colored slots. EASY
(4) Variation of a mathematical puzzle. Rotate 3 numbers to complete a mathematical puzzle in which each two of the numbers total each of 3 numbers along the side MODERATE DIFFICULTY (5) Variation of Simon Says puzzle. EASY.
(6) Variation of a matching puzzle. Mix colors on four palettes until the colors are correct. DIFFICULT.
(7) Variation of a matching puzzle. Rotate rings until the correct sequence is discovered. EASY
(8) Variation of a matching puzzle. Rotate parts of a snake to create the correct snake image. Rotating one part affects the other parts of the snake. EASY
F. Variation of a logic problem. What do you know about the Ravenhearst saga?
G. AFTER THE DEMO: CHAPTER 3
H. Variation of a mathematical puzzle. Calculate a number using Roman numerals from a sheet of paper. EASY
I. Variation of a maze puzzle. Guide a token through a maze. EASY
J. Variation of a sliding tiles puzzle. Move a camera lens to focus an image. EASY Show less

I recommend this game!

+242points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

85 of 119 found this review helpful

Amazing Quality

PostedOctober 27, 2015

Imberis

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

We're back to Ravenhearst Manor! It seems that some new people have bought the Ravenhearst grounds and have decide to build a museum there. But why?

Pros:
- Superb graphics and artwork
- Really awesome music and sound. They even brought back the clickity-clack sound of the typewriter when you collect hidden objects!
- Puzzles are great.
- Super puzzles! The super puzzles are well done. They're difficult, but have clues built in to the puzzle "board" so that you're not sitting there stumped for a long time. They make sense.
- The story! It ties so much of the previous games together, and if you're a big MCF fan, you'll probably be really pleased to see all of this come together.
- The developers have made this feel like an MCF game. It doesn't feel like they just slapped together some MCF related stuff and called it an MCF game. It has that true MCF feel, to me. There are even a couple of funny/snarky comments here and there, just like the old games.

Cons:
- The achievements could be a little harder. As is, they're basically the standards you see in every game.

All in all, this game is great. It's packed with things that will make you feel wonderfully nostalgic for the old games while also figuring out a new mystery! Show less

I recommend this game!

+51points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

73 of 105 found this review helpful

WOW !! A brilliant game on every level !!

PostedOctober 27, 2015

LogieBaby

fromGetting a new Ravenhearst game is Christmas, birthday, anniversary presents etc. all rolled into one

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Just yesterday I thought that we were just a few weeks from obtaining the newest MCF entry thinking it would arrive close to the date of the American Thanksgiving Day. What a pleasant surprise to get it a month earlier. Last year's return to Dire Grove was somewhat of a downer. Key to Ravenhearst is stupendous. Knowledge of prior Ravenhearst games is practically a must so any players unfamiliar with the series ( if there are any out there ) ought to go back in time and familiarize themselves with the entire package of games.
Eipix has done an outstanding job of reuniting players with so many of the scenes and games we enjoyed so much in the past. The domino game and Whack-a-Troll are just 2 examples. Reminding us all about the evil Dalimars, Charles and his loony son Victor and recalling Rose Somerset and the girls certainly brought back memories of superb prior games in the Ravenhearst series. There are so many more remembrances of things past just in the demo is one of the reasons I encourage newcomers to play the earlier games before tackling this one.
As to gameplay in KEY it is at a level of perfection. The HO segments are brilliant and require thought as there is significant interaction to complete them. I loved the Rube Goldberg like puzzles reminiscent of those found in the 2 Madame Fate entries. We get to collect ravens and there are morphs in the HO sections.
As to the story itself, someone has decided to recreate the Ravenhearst mansion in the form of a museum. Why this is done is not detailed during the demo. Whetting the appetite for things to come is great story telling.
I cannot heap enough praise for KEY. I know that lovers of the Ravenhearst series will enthusiastically agree. I've got to end this review now so I can buy what promises to be one of the best games in years. YAHOOOO!!!! Show less

I recommend this game!

+41points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

102 of 150 found this review helpful

An Instant Classic

PostedOctober 27, 2015

sfr8rfan

fromWhy Blackpool, of course.

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Our first inkling of Ravenhearst came in 2006 in MCF: Prime Suspects at the end. A letter saying the Queen requested our assistance on an urgent matter, later confirmed to be the Ravenhearst case via phone call in Madame Fate, is where it all began. Now we've returned to Ravenhearst for the first time since 2011 in this twelfth MCF adventure.

There have been other developers and other story lines ...Show more

There have been other developers and other story lines but a couple things remain constant. First is exceptional quality. Another constant is innovation. Since the second MCF, Prime Suspects, each installment has taken a step forward in features. Sometimes the steps are dramatic leaps, as with the introduction of the multi-step, Rube Goldberg-type puzzle in Ravenhearst; the introduction of live actors in Return to Ravenhearst; full motion videos in Dire Grove; and, morphing hidden objects in Escape From Ravenhearst,

I've played only the free trial hour of Key to Ravenhearst on a MacBook Pro with operating system 10.9.5.

There should be no mystery about my intention: I will buy Key to Ravenhearst in its CE format in order to take advantage of the extra chapter, the strategy guide, the collectibles, the morphing objects and, yes, the achievements. I want to experience every available part of this game...which I've been anticipating for months now.

The anticipation has been so great, it had to an exceptional game and it is.

FUN FACTOR/VISUAL-SOUND QUALITY/LEVEL OF CHALLENGE/STORYLINE

After midnight I clicked on "Tomorrow's Game Today" and started this adventure. One more time I'm grateful that I'm such a slow player.

This game is completely immersive: it's a cavalcade of color for the eyes with beautiful drawing and painstakingly perfect animation; a symphony for the ears with a soundtrack that is, by turns, mellifluous and eerie and sound effects that are frighteningly realistic; a feast for the mind with a captivating storyline that, to my delight, is unfolding with purpose. I don't want to rush to the finish line. It's taken years to get back to Ravenhearst. I want this to last as long as possible. If you want to experience the same thing, I suggest customizing the level of play and shutting off every possible bit of help. But please don't shut off the sound. Don't miss the soundtrack. Also, in my opinion, the lip-synching is state of the art. This is a great example of how it's to be done.

There was no question at all in my mind once I began playing. This game is a keeper. My experience with MCF games thus far is that they are not overwhelmingly difficult. I wondered if that would be the case with Key to Ravenhearst. The first couple of games follow that pattern. The first jumbo/multi-level/contraption-device puzzle is a serious challenge. After that, the regular games become progressively more difficult.

The HOS are as well done as you'll find, I think. They, too, ascend in difficulty...but that's not quite the right word. Sophistication? Perhaps. The HOS are multi-leveled and interactive.

So, after all the years and all the adventures revolving around Ravenhearst, was it time to build a museum on the same site to "honor?" its checkered history? After you arrive you'll take a tour. You'll answer questions about the history of the institution. You'll wonder what exactly is REALLY going on here.

You'll find yourself wondering why every game can't be as good as Mystery Case Files.

So my free trial hour is up. What next? Of course I'm going to add this to my collection. First, though, I'm going to revisit Ravenhearst, Return to Ravenhearst and Escape From Ravenhearst. I want to review the history of the dastardly Dalimars, the sisters Somerset and the tragic Emma Ravenhearst.

This game is a sensual masterpiece: stunning to see; exciting to hear; tension so thick you can touch it; you can smell death in the air. And the whole thing is absolutely delicious. Show less

I recommend this game!

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Overall rating

5 / 5

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ARE YOU READY TO FACE YOUR FEARS AND THE EVIL GENIUS THAT LURKS IN RAVENHEARST

PostedOctober 27, 2015

biscuitsmama

fromWho is Benedict and what force is controlling his mind?

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Yes detective, the Queen herself has requested your assistance with a case surrounding the sale of Ravenhearst Manor and now you must revisit the infamous mansion even though you might not want to face your greatest fears once again. Agent Barker has been working undercover on the case and he is now your point of contact but, unfortunately, his cover has been blown so you will take over the case. Shortly after arrival you receive a mysterious and eerie box from agent Barker but once you open it, you realize that the agent is in danger. Are you ready to once again step into Ravenhearst and see what horrors might await you this time?

The game offers four modes of gameplay: Regular, Hard, Insane, and Custom. If you choose the Custom setting you can fiddle with different settings to set up the game for the way you like to play. In the Custom mode the hints will recharge in a range of 10 – 120 seconds and the puzzle skips can be set in a range of 10 – 400 seconds. You can also turn of the rapid search penalty if you wish.

Our tools include the interactive map and a box that we acquire early in the game. Although the box isn’t really a tool, as we complete various puzzles we gain more knowledge and sometimes new items.

The HOP scenes are some of the best I have seen in recent games and they do have a variety of different styles. The first HOP is the standard list type with some interaction that is required to find a few of the items, but the HOP that followed was a very interactive silhouette scene that proved to be quite challenging. Many of the HOPS seem a bit more challenging than the norm but I liked them a lot. Then we come to the puzzles that I can only say are excellent, particularly the Rube-Goldberg or super puzzle that we encounter fairly early in the game. It is then followed by a puzzle in the museum that I also found challenging while trying to figure out the code. Other puzzles include one where we must connect the correct pipes to get the water flowing. We also need to retrieve gloves with a fishing pole. Some of the puzzles were different than norm or if they seemed familiar there was certainly a different spin on how they work. I must say that I haven’t been this excited about the puzzles in a game in quite some time.

In the CE version of the game there are 34 ravens to collect that can be found throughout the manor. There are achievements to earn as well as the other standard extras such as wallpapers, artwork, music, replay of HOPS and puzzles, Bonus Game, Strategy Guide and more.

The Ravenhearst storyline has not been my favorite in the MCF series and I had hoped that the series was finally at its end; however, after playing the demo for the game I am certainly happy to once again to wander through Ravenhearst. IMHO, the developer has done an incredible job and nailed the challenge of bringing back the evil genius and insanity of Charles Dalimar in a game that I am sure many of you have been eagerly awaiting. I must admit that I find the game very challenging and ultimately enjoyable. Everything about this newest Ravenhearst game is top quality, from the graphics on down to the HOPS and the puzzles. I am ready to now face my fears and jump into Key to Ravenhearst and gain more insight into the mind and spirit of Charles Dalimar. If you perhaps joined me in wanting to see an end to this storyline, I highly recommend that you plunge in and give Mystery Case Files Key to Ravenhearst a chance to see if you will find this one worth waiting for. Kudos to the developer for making Key to Ravenhearst a terrific game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+97points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

153 of 232 found this review helpful

Everything else fades to insignificance

PostedOctober 27, 2015

tillybaby

fromUK

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Word, Brain Teaser

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game is fantastic with so much to do and well worth the collectors payment too, I am playing it so slowly because I just don't want it to end and also I am enjoying the story so much too, I'm sure Sunnyglow and others will do the technical details and are so much better than I could ever be so I will leave all that alone.
I just wanted to say how brilliant this game is and wish there were ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+74points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

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Eipix brings Ravenhearst back to life! Behold: the Key to Awesomeness!

PostedNovember 3, 2015

LunaNik

fromIn my laboratory devising Dalimar locks for every door in my house.

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Mystery Case Files: Key to Ravenhearst CE
Review based on completed game + bonus chapter + extras

PROLOGUE...
I love story series, whether they come in movie, game, or book form. It stems from my tendency to completely immerse myself into the fictional universe, and to always wish to know what happens to the characters after "The End." So it was with both excitement and trepidation that I downloaded Key to Ravenhearst, knowing it had not been developed by Big Fish. I'm happy to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised; I was blown away.

ONCE UPON A TIME...
As an experienced Master Detective, I have followed the tragic and twisted lives of the Dalimar family beginning with its patriarch Alister, evil carnival magician, and his wretched wife Abigail. I lived through their son Charles' abusive childhood at the hands of his mother, as well as his institutionalization. I learned how Charles wooed, then imprisoned Emma, and finally murdered her while building Ravenhearst Manor. I relived the horrifying captivity of Rose Somerset and her twin daughters Gwendolyn and Charlotte, and met Charles' damaged son Victor. And I solved the murders at the carnival, uncovered the mystery of the disappearances of Blackpool's residents, and helped Madame Fate finally move on to her eternal rest.

And just when I thought the story had reached its end, the Queen—Yes, really!—called upon me once again, this time to investigate rumors of Ravenhearst's resurrection. Upon my arrival, I see that the rumors are true, for construction appears to have rebuilt Ravenhearst from the ashes! An arrogant young woman refuses me entry, saying that the Ravenhearst Museum is not yet open. Museum? What horror is this? And who is the oblivious man who obeys this woman's every command? Is it possible that the Dalimar family is involved in this?! I need to get inside that Manor!

PLAY THE GAME...
If you read my reviews, you know that I consider Charles Dalimar the ultimate puzzler...and his fiendish locks are back! These are not merely several simplistic mini-games combined on one screen, but the truly interactive, Rube Goldberg-esque mindbenders that characterized Ravenhearst. In fact, puzzles abound in this game; they're everywhere from inside the HO scenes to the enigma box to stand-alone. Quite a few are inspired by previous Ravenhearst games.

HO scenes are either interactive list or sequential silhouette, but all of them include puzzles, mini-games, zoom box mini-HOs, and more. And while some of the objects are in plain view, many are hidden by various devices including being partially behind another item, not looking the way you expect (e.g. one "skull" was in blue embroidery), etc. And each HO scene has a morphing object.

Adventuring includes lots of clue-finding, a bit of reading various people's diary pages, finding missing things, fixing broken items, talking to NPCs, answering trivia questions, and a lot fewer of those shaped medallion locks. :-)

SIGHTSEEING...
Eipix has painstakingly recreated the buildings and grounds of Ravenhearst Manor with a slightly different viewpoint. You will absolutely recognize the environments in this game as unmistakably Ravenhearst, but you won't be bored either, as there are new rooms and areas to explore too. Elements are present from all the previous games, making the transition to a new dev seamless.

The color palette is beautifully moody and keeps you on edge the way a really good haunted house does. Light and shadow are used perfectly to bring dimension to the environment. Animation is smooth and lip synching is spot on. I do miss the live actors, but otherwise the visuals are awesome.

There are some reminders of previous games, like the clacking typewriter in the HO scenes that types whenever you find an object.

SOUNDBOARD...
The classic MCF theme is slipped in here and there in several variations, which I love. However, the music isn't homogenous. There are dramatic orchestral moments and haunted piano pieces, and it always provides a perfect backdrop to the game. Environmental sounds are exacting, from creaking doors to ocean waves crashing on the beach, from the ebb and flow of the rain to rolling thunder and the sharp crack of lightning. Voiceovers are professional.

TOOLBOX...
The inventory panel locks open, and plus items are indicated. The jump map indicates your location, objective, and available actions. The enigma box provides you with inventory items once you solve its puzzles. An icon indicates whether you've collected the raven in the scene (and another shows when the morphing object in the HO is morphing).

OH BOTHER!
I encountered no technical difficulties, lags, mistranslations, or issues of any kind.

OOH! PIECE OF CANDY...
The bonus chapter relates the history of the "oblivious man" I mentioned above, and his involvement with Ravenhearst. There are 34 collectible ravens (and you can go back and get the ones you missed). You can replay all the puzzles and HO scenes (including getting the morphing objects you missed). There's also a souvenir room in which you can revisit the scenes in the game to find an additional object in each. You can download 11 musical compositions, view game artwork, and utilize the SG.

EPILOGUE...
I feel like Eipix read my reviews, silly as that might sound. This is everything I was looking for in a HOPA and more. Engaging storyline, captivating gameplay, immersive graphics and music, fully loaded CE. For the first time in a long time, I can say that I highly recommend this game. Of course, now I must go back to the beginning and replay the entire series. Happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

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