Cursed Cases: Murder at the Maybard Estate Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

80 of 87 found this review helpful

Very Clever Indeed!

PostedJuly 11, 2016

kerik79

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Based on the demo, I will be purchasing this game. I can't remember the last game I found this exciting!
Winning combination of a murder mystery/supernatural combo. You play as a detective with special powers that allow you to find extra clues hidden within scenes and objects. The storyline really excels here, making excellent use of deductive reasoning within the game.
The graphics and sounds are topnotch, the puzzles are unique and challenging, and the story is intriguing. Any whodunnit fan will find this mesmerizing! That is my preferred genre, over the evil, dark games sometimes featured, and I would say that this is in the top of its class. I really found myself trying to work out the story to figure out who the killer is, making judgements about each character's alibi and, at the end of the demo actually gasped out loud! Couldn't believe I had already played for an hour and was absolutely hooked! Show less

I recommend this game!

+73points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

36 of 38 found this review helpful

I don't understand....

PostedJuly 17, 2016

Howatch

fromCoarsegold, CA

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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):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Match 3, Time Management, Word

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

some of the lackluster reviews that this game is receiving, as I am finding the game thoroughly entertaining. The "gimmick" which some folks in their reviews are referring to is of such brief duration that in my opinion it does not detract from the game much if at all. I have played this game for several hours today and am finding that it is also of a good length. The mini-games have been fun and I have only had to skip a couple of them so far - I enjoy mini-games, but sometimes I get frustrated with them if they seem too obtuse, which is not the case here. The game also has an interesting story which I am actually enjoying, and wanting to know how it all turns out is also a factor in my interest being maintained throughout the game. All in all, I think this is an excellent offering on the part of this developer. I think it is actually a better game than some of the more recent offerings which have received higher ratings.

So, I encourage you to give the game a try and see what you think.

You can choose to play a male or a female character, although there is no voiceover for you, the detective. I do think that if there had been a spoken voice for your character that it would have made the game even more compelling, but that is a minor complaint/observation.

All in all, it's a fine game, and I will look forward to the next installment of Cursed Cases. Show less

I recommend this game!

+34points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

41 of 48 found this review helpful

~~~~This is a murder mystery you don't want to miss!~~~~

PostedJuly 11, 2016

skullfun

fromTennessee

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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):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Dark Parables: The Swan Princess and The Dire Tree Collector's Edition

(72)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Wow! Daily Magic Productions, the creative minds behind Dark Dimensions and Sable Maze, delivers another high-quality HOPA series. This time, as a top detective, it's up to you to solve the strange murder case of the Maybard family? Yes, Emmett Maybard has been murdered. Your powers of investigation include Aura powers of deduction which gives you the ability to see ghosts. You also must dust inventory items to collect fingerprints to eliminate a whole host of potential suspects....Who actually did kill Emmett? Was it..
Grace Maybard (the wife)
Charles Maybard (the brother)
Rutherford (the butler)
Beth Dwyer (the Nanny)
Dahlia Maybard (the daughter)
Isobel (Emmett's lover)
Sophia Maybard (the sister)
Fredrick Llang (business associate)
Bartholomew Murphy (the family lawyer)
All of the suspects are really interesting characters. It's story is incredible; a suicide, a bloody hammer, a business deal that results in bankruptcy, a family member who walks in their sleep, and the last will and testament of Emmett Maybard!!! The developers have created a thrilling journey that is extremely engaging and impossible to predict. I give Cursed Cases the highest rating based only on this adventure and not comparing it to their other releases or developers of similar games. This was a must purchase for me and I hope more editions of this series come to Bigfish! Show less

I recommend this game!

+34points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

15 of 16 found this review helpful

Liked it so much I played it twice

PostedJuly 23, 2016

Reneenct

Skill Level:Intermediate

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game has a great murder mystery plot with lots of twists and turns. It seems that nearly everyone has a motive while the culprit is slowly revealed. The only draw back to the story is that the detective communicates with ghosts, so that took the story down a notch for me. The puzzles, both HOGs and mini games are very doable and some were actually fun. The art is very nice with no dark and dreary scenes dripping with death and decay. It takes place inside a mansion and most scenes have a cozy pleasant feel. Some of the voice overs were a little saccharine but that was easily skipped. It's rare that I like a game enough to play it twice but this was worth it. Bring on Cursed Cases 2. Show less

I recommend this game!

+14points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

8 of 8 found this review helpful

More Like This Please!!!

PostedJanuary 5, 2017

megwoman25

fromNorthern California

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word

Current Favorite:

Caribbean Hideaway

(60)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

It's not very often I play a game and absolutely love it but this is one of those games. I am a sucker for a good whodunit game and this one is out of this world. You are investigating a death in the family and are invited to the estate to help solve the murder. You are a medium of sorts since you can see ghosts and are able to read their auras. I really liked this part of the game because you learned tidbits of information pertaining to each person in the game and learned all about their dirty little secrets. You also have a fingerprinting kit which you use on various items around the estate to figure out who the murderer is. There are a lot of suspects and I was not quite sure who did it although I had a guess but no idea the motive. You find out who did it and the motive which was kind of cool how it all got pieced together.

The graphics are great. The hidden object scenes are interactive and fun to find the objects listed. There are different kinds of scenes. IF hidden object scenes aren't your fav, then you can switch it to match 3. The puzzles ranged from really easy to moderately challenging although they were all doable in my opinion. The only collectible are pictures that morph of the different characters. I apparently missed some and I am not sure how...they really do pop out at you so they are not hard to miss..or so I thought...

The bonus chapter had nothing to do with the main game and was quite short. In fact I think it took me less than 45 minutes to complete it but it kept my attention enough to keep playing it so that's a plus. Also, the morphing pictures keep going into the bonus chapter. The main game ended well and did not have a cliffhanger so if you don't care about extras, the standard edition would end just fine and you would not miss out on anything.

My only issue with this game was how incredibly SLOW it ran on my computer. However, I do not know if this was the game OR my computer, as my laptop was not meant to play large file games and sometimes freezes or shuts down. Although this game never froze or caused my laptop to crash, it did run slow enough that when clicking dialogue or going scene to scene, I did think from time to time that it froze but it just lagged a bit. Usually this would be a deal breaker for me but like I said before, I am a sucker for a good whodunit game and I loved this one to bits. I wish there were more engaging games like this. Lately I haven't quite liked many games on the market because its the same stuff over and over again. This game although similar to others was a bit different and I appreciated that as well as a new series! I am a bit sick of playing game 10 in a series as by then the series is stale! This was refreshing! More like this please! Kudos! I definitely recommend! Show less

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 10 found this review helpful

Excellent Hidden Object Game

PostedJuly 28, 2016

puzzlewhacky

fromSummerfield, Florida

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game had me when I played the demo, in fact I emailed BF to inquire when it would be released. So, I have been anxiously awaiting the release and much to my delight it was and I purchased it right away. I have just finished this game and I really liked how immersed I got. I cannot find anything negative about this game, it is quality all the way Thank you BF, it is a pleasure to play and ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

Great Game

PostedJanuary 18, 2018

blipi69

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoyed this HOPA very much. Good riddles and nice graphics. I recommend the game.

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

A different kind of HO game

PostedDecember 8, 2016

Deejaycee522

fromCherry Hill, NJ

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The object of this game is all about collecting evidence to determine who had a motive for murdering the patriarch of the Maybard family. It is a HO game, but a little more interesting because collecting hidden objects is only part of the game play. You have to question everyone who visits or lives in the mansion to find out their relationship to the family. You also have to determine who were friendly and who were enemies. What takes place in this game is similar to what happens when a police officer questions a suspect. I think it is a good game. I bought the collector's edition. There is a hint button and a teleporter that takes you to another location in the game. The graphics are great. The music is good. There is lots to do in this game and I found it to be challenging. Show less

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

177 of 323 found this review helpful

AN AWARD WIINNING WHODUNIT! ONE OF THE BEST OF THE YEAR!

PostedJuly 9, 2016

sunnyglow

fromEnjoy a memorable Murder Mystery Weekend at the Maybard Mansion. You will enjoy a weekend full of good food and “spirits.” However, be careful of what you eat and drink! Too many “spirits” could be dangerous to your health!

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

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 DEMO PLUS CHAPTER 3

OVERVIEW: Who killed Emmett Maybard? As a detective with the ability to see ghosts, you are off to solve a murder case. I LOVE this OUTSTANDING 5-STAR PLUS supernatural mystery. Be prepared! This is a LONG game as well. To me, this is one the best for Daily Magic and also on my list for one of the best games of the year. The game script is superb and very well-written. I am still trying to figure out who killed this man and I am accustomed to solving these fairly quickly. The graphics are a beautiful representation of the Victorian era with realistic looking characters. The HOP scenes and puzzles show a major improvement from previous games by this developer. You receive a monocle which you will use to test your psychic ability to ferret out clues in the case. You also collect morphing cards of the characters from the game and there are quite a few achievements. In this game you will be able to choose the gender of the detective. I used to hate this developer’s game; however, they are definitely “in it to win it” with this game. And the best thing about this game - there are also no “helpers” (animal, human or ghostly) to help in solving this mystery.

STORY: In trying to solve the murder of Emmett Maybard, you will be investigating a host of suspects (all of which would have ample motive) and use a series of investigative techniques to do so. It seems someone is poisoning members of the family. And, as in most murder mysteries, you can never trust your family and friends! As a detective with the ability to see ghosts, you will have an advantage other detectives do not have! It is apparent that the murderer is in the mansion and seems to want to get rid of you as well. As the will is read, it will become apparent that some may have had a financial stake in seeing the demise of Emmett. And as the old saying goes – follow the money – and this case will be no different!

HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scene. In the demo there are a couple of multiple-step ones which are creatively designed. One of them involves locating five of two items followed by a list of items. The other is a combination of locating and replacing items into four silhouettes which opens up a list of items to locate. We have seen this format before; however, to the credit of this developer, they have provided a few “twists” in presenting these HOP scenes. AFTER THE DEMO: The HOP scenes have exactly the same format as the demo.

PUZZLES: One of your tricks of the trade will be a monocle which you will use to investigate people and scenes looking for clues. Yes, it is a gimmick, however it fits well into the game. The puzzles range in difficulty from extremely easy to difficult. To me, this is a vast improvement in the puzzles from the developer, which in the past were all very easy. There are the usual array of puzzles including a couple of moving tiles puzzles, matching puzzles, gear puzzles, rotating rings puzzles, and an assembly puzzle. AFTER THE DEMO: After the demo I found two which are somewhat challenging. They are varied as well in design. They include a sliding tiles puzzle, a matching puzzle, an awesome lockpick puzzle which is slightly difficult and a moving tiles puzzle which is difficult.

LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom
You have the choice to play a male or a female in the game.
Hints and Skips: 1 to 100 seconds

EXTRAS:

Map is provided as you play the game
Fingerprinting kit to collect fingerprints
Monocle which allows you to collect clues from the murder victims
26 Achievements
Collect 13 morphing cards of the game characters
Strategy guide - 61 pages
10 Concept Art, 6 Wallpapers, Music, Replay of Match-3 game

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

HOP SCENES: You have the option to play a thematic Match-3 game instead

A. Silhouette. Search for items in a solarium to get an inventory item from a dog.
B. Matching. Match up bottles by pairs to remove them to get an inventory item.
C. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
D. Multiple step: Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.
AFTER THE Demo
E. Mini-HOP scene. Locate picture fragments.
F. Multiple-step. Multiple-step. (1) Collect 5 of two items. (2) List of items
G. Mini-HOP scene. Another puzzle in which you locate picture fragments.
H. Multiple step. Silhouette. Locate 4 items which open up a list of items to locate. Some of the items provide keys to access the other two items.

PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult

A. Throughout the game use a monocle to search for clues in the case. Rating: 2
B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move diamond shaped tiles into position to recreate a family picture. There are arrows along the sides to move the tiles into proper position. Rating: 2
C. Moving tiles puzzle. Rotate and move tiles to recreate a family crest on a chest. There are four buttons involved in rotating the moving the tiles. Rating: 3
D. Matching puzzle. As you climb up a tree (1) Match up 3 pairs. (2) Then 4 pairs (3) Then 5 pairs. Rating: 1
E. Rotating rings puzzle. Rotate three rings so they align with silver clasps. Rating 1
F. Checkers puzzle. Jump checker pieces to remove them from a checkers board. Rating: 2
G. Matching puzzle. Move 4 sets of gear strings to match the positioning on a diagram. You will move an entire string of gears not just one by one. Rating: 2
H. Spot the difference. Looking through a lab window, find the differences between two scenes. Rating: 1
I. Assembly/moving puzzle. Place pictures from a family tree into correct position according to the shape of the picture. You will rotate the pictures in to position using 5 buttons to rotate the pictures. Rating: 3
J. Gears puzzle. Move gears into correct position to open a lock. Rating: 2
AFTER THE DEMO:
K. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide tiles to recreate a picture. Rating: 3
L. Matching puzzle. Place portraits into correct position on a wall Rating: 1
M. Lockpick puzzle. Slide lockpicks and tumblers in correct order to open a door. Rating: 3
N. Sliding tiles puzzle. Press button along the outside of a picture to move four stones into positions. Rating: 4 Show less

I recommend this game!

+31points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

1 of 1 found this review helpful

Good Game

PostedJune 4, 2020

alkindi

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoyed this game very much. Graphics, music and sound effects are all great. The story line is well made. Also easy puzzles and HOs.

I recommend this game!

+1point

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