Modern Tales: Age of Invention Walkthrough

Welcome to the Modern Tales: Age of Invention Walkthrough. Step into the shoes of Emily Patterson, follow the trail of the captor, and thwart his evil plans. Whether you use this document as a reference when things get difficult or as a road map to get you from beginning to end, we're pretty sure you'll find what you're looking for here. This document contains a complete Modern Tales: Age of Invention game walkthrough featuring annotated screenshots from actual gameplay! We hope you find this information useful as you play your way through the game. Use the walkthrough menu below to quickly jump to whatever stage of the game you need help with. Remember to visit the Big Fish Games Forums if you find you need more help. Have fun! This walkthrough was created by Nina de Boo, and is protected under US Copyright laws. Any unauthorized use, including re-publication in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.

General Tips

This is the official guide for Modern Tales: Age of Invention.
This guide won't tell you when to zoom into a location; the screenshots show each zoom scene.
Hidden-object puzzles are referred to as HOPs. Only the locations of the HOPs will be shown.
Use the map to fast travel to a location.

Chapter 1: Paris

Open bag: take journal and PRISM (A).
Go (B).

Take MAGNETIC KEY (C).
Connect hose (1), turn valve (2), place MAGNETIC KEY (3) and PRISM (4), turn lever (5)(D).
Close battery drawer (6), pull switch (7)(E).

Enter 1279, push button (F).
Move items, take SPARE LAMP (G).
Pull switch, open door, replace SPARE LAMP, close door, pull switch (H).
Walk down.
Go to Pavilion.

Move items, take HOSE (I).
Take LIGHTNING KNOB 1/3; remove paper and take ELECTRIC CHIP. Remove cylinder; place HOSE (J).
Play HOP (K); receive GAS CYLINDER.
Place GAS CYLINDER, attach hose, pull lever and take MAGNETIC KEY (J).
Walk down.

Use MAGNETIC KEY (L). Place ELECTRIC CHIP. Select 1-2-3 (M). Pull handle.
Go (N).

Move teapot and pillow; take LIGHTNING KNOBS 2/3 and TORN CARD (N).
Open curtain (O).
Take CLOTH (P).

Take TAPE (Q).
TAPE on TORN CARD; receive CARD.
Turn cards and place CARD (Q).
Solution (R).
Take PICTURE OF FATHER and MONEY (S).
Walk down.

Offer PICTURE OF FATHER (T).
Take FIRE HOOK; pull crank (U).
Go (V).

Take BOLT CUTTER (W).
Use FIRE HOOK; take RUBBER GLOVES and GENDARMERIE BADGE. Use CLOTH to receive WET CLOTH (X).
Go to Apartment.

Use BOLT CUTTER; take TELESCOPE (Y).
Go to The Eiffel Tower.
Place TELESCOPE; look (Z).

Talk; offer MONEY (A).
Play HOP (B); receive PUMP.
Take LIGHTNING KNOBS 3/3 and SCREWDRIVER; pull lever (C). Remove wires; use RUBBER GLOVES (D).
Go to Pavilion.

Use SCREWDRIVER; take INFINITY SYMBOL (E).
Inspect paper (F).
Place and turn LIGHTNING KNOBS; take EMPTY BATTERY (G).
Walk down.

Place GENDARMERIE BADGE. Dial 4221 (H).
Take MAINTENANCE KEY (I).
Place EMPTY BATTERY; use MAINTENANCE KEY. Take MOSAIC PIECE (J).
Go (K).

Use WET CLOTH. Place INFINITY SYMBOL; move notes and take VALVE ADAPTOR and BATTERY CONNECTOR (L).
Go to Pavilion.
Place MOSAIC PIECE. Select three times (M). Move handle; take JUMPER CABLES (N).
Walk down.

Place JUMPER CABLES; take BATTERY (O).
Go (P).
Use VALVE ADAPTOR and PUMP (Q).

Place BATTERY and BATTERY CONNECTOR (R).
Solution (S).
Go (T).

Chapter 2: The Balloon

Take CRANK, move bulb and push button (U).
Move handle (V).
Go (W).

Take SKULL (X).
Take KNIFE (Y).
Use KNIFE; place SKULL (Z). Place and move CRANK. Pull handle (A).
Go (B).

Take AXE (C).
Take LADDER; use AXE (D).
Play HOP (E); receive ANCHOR.
Remove cobwebs; take OILER and SWITCH. Move plank (F).
Walk down.

Place LADDER (G).
Take ROPE (H).
Use OILER; open clasp and take CROWNED ‘A' (I).
Go (J).

ANCHOR on ROPE; receive GRAPPLING HOOK.
Use GRAPPLING HOOK; go (K).

Take MOSAIC PIECE 1/3 (L).
Use CROWNED ‘A'; pull handle (M). Take HANDKERCHIEF and TENT (N).

Take MOSAIC PIECES 2/3 (O).
Light lamp. Move cup; take TOY SOLDIER, KEY and FRUIT. Use HANDKERCHIEF; inspect map (P).
Use KEY; take FILE, SKULL KNOB and COIN (Q).

Place SKULL KNOB. Solution (R). Push button (S).
Walk down.

Use FILE; take MOSAIC PIECES 3/3 (T).
Walk down.
Offer FRUIT; take LANTERN (U).

Place MOSAIC PIECES; solution (V).
Take FLARE GUN and TOY SOLDIER (W).
Walk down.

Place SWITCH; push all three switches and pull lever (X).
Take BRUSH and LIGHTER (Y).
Use COIN; take HORN (Z).
Go (A).

LIGHTER on LANTERN; receive LIT LANTERN.
Place LIT LANTERN. Place HORN and use BRUSH. Push button and take FLAG (B).
Use FLAG. Move letters; take HALF OF A CODE (C).
Go to Balloon.

Place 2x TOY SOLDIER; take PIECE OF CODE (D).
PIECE OF CODE on HALF OF A CODE; receive CODE CARD.
Enter CODE CARD, pull lever and read message (E).

Chapter 3: The Station

Solution (F).

Take STICK (G).
Take WHEEL 1/2 (H).
Throw STICK (I).
Go (J).

Talk (K).
Take EMPTY CUP and LEAKY BUCKET (L).
Go (M).

Talk (N).
Move leaves; take WHEEL 2/2 (O).
Take BROKEN RAKE (P).
Walk down.

Place and turn WHEELS (Q).
Take SAUSAGES (R).
Walk down.
Offer SAUSAGES (S).
Play HOP (T); receive UMBRELLA.
Go forward.
Offer UMBRELLA (U).
Take HANDLE (V).
Go (W).

Use HANDLE (X); take KEY (Y).
Walk down.
Use KEY; move bolt and handle (Z).
Go (A).

Play HOP (B); receive SCISSORS.
Move coat; take BUNG (C).
Walk down twice.

Use SCISSORS; remove cover (D). Open bag; take HAMMER, PAIN RELIEF, BANDAGE and PICKAXE (E).
BANDAGE on BROKEN RAKE; receive LONG RAKE.
Use LONG RAKE (F); take PINCERS (G).
Go (H).

Offer PAIN RELIEF (I).
BUNG on LEAKY BUCKET; receive BUCKET.
Place BUCKET; use PICKAXE. Take COAL and RAIL SPIKE 1/3 (J).
Go (K).
Use HAMMER, open door, place COAL and take RAIL SPIKES 2/3 (L).
Go to Platform.

Take RAIL SPIKES 3/3 with PINCERS (M).
Talk (N).
Walk down twice.

Play HOP (O); receive PUNCHER.
Place RAIL SPIKES (P).
Take VALVE; remove broken insulator (Q).
Go (R).

Place VALVE; turn all valves. Take TOKEN (S).
Go (T).
Offer PUNCHER (U).
Take MATCHES (V).
Walk down twice.

Place TOKEN (W).
Solution: Yx2-Zx6-Yx4-Xx2.
Take LOCKPICK (A).

Use LOCKPICK; take KEROSENE, PUTTY KNIFE and SEALING PUTTY (B).
Take RESIN with PUTTY KNIFE (C).
Go to Waiting Room.

Use KEROSENE and MATCHES; take JUG OF COFFEE (D).
JUG OF COFFEE on EMPTY CUP; receive COFFEE.
Walk down.
Offer COFFEE (E).
Take SHELL ORNAMENT (F).
Go (G).

Place SHELL ORNAMENT (H); take PUMP LEVER, HACKSAW FRAME, FLAG and SCREW 1/2 (I).
Walk down.
Use PUMP LEVER; take BUCKET OF WATER (J).
Go (K).

Place BUCKET OF WATER, SEALING PUTTY and RESIN; take SEALING MIXTURE (L).
Walk down.
Use SEALING MIXTURE and turn valves; take SCREW 2/2 (M).
Go (N).

Place SCREWS and push button; take SAW BLADE (O).
Go to Waiting Room.
SAW BLADE on HACKSAW FRAME; receive HACKSAW.
Use HACKSAW (P); take WIRE REPAIR KIT (Q).
Walk down twice.

Use WIRE REPAIR KIT (R).
Go to Waiting Room.

Pull switch (S).
Play HOP (T); receive TILE.
Walk down, then to Platform.

Talk (U).
Place TILE; solution (V).
Take LOCOMOTIVE (W).
Go to Waiting Room.

Place LOCOMOTIVE; take TOKEN KEY (X).
Go to Platform.
Offer TOKEN KEY (Y).
Walk down.

Talk (Z).
Go (A).
Go (B).

Chapter 4: Switzerland

Take HAT (C).
Go (D).
Offer HAT (E).
Take PACKAGE (F).

Take MALLET HEAD (G).
Take CREST PIECE (H).
Walk down.

Place FLAG; take NUMBER 9 (I).
Place and turn NUMBER 9; push brick (J). Take and place KEY (K).
Go (L).

Talk (M).
Take SCOOP (N).
Use SCOOP; take RULER and BROKEN NET (O).
Take HANDLE (P).
Go to Market.

HANDLE on MALLET HEAD; receive MALLET.
Use MALLET; move items and take KEY (Q).
Open RULER to receive EXTENDED RULER.
Take BAMBOO with EXTENDED RULER (R).
Go to Port.

Use KEY (S).
Play HOP (T); receive FISHING NET.
BAMBOO and FISHING NET on BROKEN NET; receive LANDING NET.
Offer LANDING NET (U).
Take FISH (V).
Go to Market.

Offer FISH (W).
Take KNIFE (X).
Walk down.
KNIFE on PACKAGE; take CHEST.
Solution (Y).
Pull handle (Z).
Go (A).

Draw curtains (B).
Take POKER (C).
Take FISHING LURE 1/3 and OWL STATUE (D).
Set chess board. Read paper and place OWL STATUE; take BOOK, read note and take DIAMOND PIN (E).
Go to Market.

Talk (F).
Take BOOK (G).
Go to House.
Place 2x BOOK; select 1-2-3 (H).
Take INFINITY SYMBOL (I).
Go to Port.

Talk (J).
Use POKER. Move items; take ANCHOR, FISHING LURES 2/3 and BROKEN BINOCULARS (K).
Go to Market.
Place ANCHOR; take FISH HEAD (L).
Go to Port.

Place FISH HEAD; use DIAMOND PIN (M).
Take LENSLESS MAGNIFIER (1), slide up (2).
Move (3) and take TWEEZERS; slide right (4) and down (5).
Open (6).
Move (7).
Take FISHING LURES 3/3, open latch (8), slide up (9).
Slide left (10) and down (11).
Move (12).
Take MAGNET (N).
Go to Market.

Place FISHING LURES; solution (O).
Take JAR OPENER (P).
Go to House.

Take ALPHA BADGE (Q).
INFINITY SYMBOL on CASE; turn corners (R). Take GAMMA SYMBOL.

JAR OPENER on BROKEN BINOCULARS; receive LENS.
LENS on LENSLESS MAGNIFIER; receive MAGNIFIER.
Use MAGNIFIER and TWEEZERS (S).
Move cable; place ALPHA BADGE and GAMMA SYMBOL. Place and turn MAGNET (T).
Walk down.

Play HOP (U); receive OAR LOCK.
Go (V).
Place OAR LOCK; move oar (W).
Go (X).

Chapter 5: The Secret Lab

Go (Y).
Take STOOL (Z).
Open drawer; take CHESS KING and NIB (A).
Take DUSTER (B).
Inspect (C).
Go (D).

Place STOOL; take WHEEL TARGET (E).
Go to House.
Place CHESS KING; push button (F).
Go (G).

Use DUSTER. Push button; take BROKEN FOUNTAIN PEN and CREST PIECE (H).
Take CRYSTAL EYE (I).
Take CORKSCREW (J).
Walk down.

Place CRYSTAL EYE; take GRAMOPHONE NEEDLE (K).
Walk down.
Place 2x CREST PIECE; change shields. Take CONTROL STICK, read note and take CRYSTAL CUBE (L).
Go (M).

Talk (N).
Take BLOCK OF SALT (O).
Go to Secret Room.
Place GRAMOPHONE NEEDLE and pull switch. Take PROJECTOR LENS (P).

Place CONTROL STICK; solution 1 (Q).
Solution 2 (R).
Solution 3 (S).
Take ICE PICK and MOVIE REEL (T).
Walk down.

Place MOVIE REEL and PROJECTOR LENS. Pull switch (U).
Go to Port.
Play HOP (V); receive COMPASS.
Go (W).

ICE PICK on BLOCK OF SALT; receive CRUSHED SALT.
Place CRUSHED SALT and pull button. Take DROPPER (X).
Go right.
Use CORKSCREW and take INK with DROPPER (Y).
Go to Secret Room.

Open BROKEN FOUNTAIN PEN, replace NIB and INK. Take FOUNTAIN PEN.
Place CRYSTAL CUBE and FOUNTAIN PEN; push button (Z).
Place COMPASS; solution (A).

Turn knob three times (B).
Take WIRE CUTTER and NUT (C).
Walk down.

Use WIRE CUTTER; take WATCH (D).
Walk down.

Play HOP (E); receive WRENCH.
Place WHEEL TARGET and NUT; use WRENCH (F).
Take LAWN MOWER (G).
Go to Zeppelin's Hangar.

Offer WATCH (H).
Take RUSTY KEY (I).

Use RUSTY KEY (J).
Take TRASH CAN (K) and CHIP (L).
Use TRASH CAN (M).
Go (N).

Use LAWN MOWER; take CHIP (O).
Take CANE; pull handle (P).
CANE HEAD and CANE STICK from CANE.
Place CANE HEAD and 2x CHIP. Solution. Pull lever (Q).
Go (R).

Move bearskin (S).
Take AIRSHIP ORNAMENT. Use CANE STICK (T).
Place AIRSHIP ORNAMENT; take BISCUIT and REVOLVER (U).
Take CRANK (V).
Walk down, then right.

Use CRANK; take AIRSHIP KEYS, AMMUNITION and ELECTRIC CABLES (W).
Go right.
AMMUNITION on REVOLVER; receive LOADED REVOLVER.
Use LOADED REVOLVER twice (X).
Go (Y).

Offer BISCUIT; place ELECTRIC CABLES (Z).
Use AIRSHIP KEYS and move throttle (A).

Chapter 6: Siberia

Use glass to cut ropes. Take IRON BAR and move bars. Go (B).

Open sack; take CARABINER (C).
Take RAG (D).
RAG on IRON BAR; receive TORCH.
Light TORCH (E).
Walk down.

Use TORCH; talk (F).
Take BEAR HIDE (G).
Take TAP (H).
Go (I).

Place and turn TAP (J).
Play HOP (K); receive STEERING WHEEL.
Walk down.

Place CARABINER and place and turn STEERING WHEEL (L).
Attach wire (M).
Turn winch (L).
Remove debris and offer BEAR HIDE; take GEAR 1/3 and SHACKLE OPENER (N).
Go (O).

Use SHACKLE OPENER (P).
Open chest; take FIRE AXE and EXTINGUISHER (Q).
Use EXTINGUISHER (R).
Walk down.

Use FIRE AXE (S). Take GEAR 2/3 and open closet (T); take coat (U).
Go left and forward.

Extinguish the fuse (V).
Talk (W).
Take CUP (X).

Take BURNING BRANCH. Take HOT SOUP with CUP (Y).
Offer HOP SOUP; take BLUNT CLEAVER (Z).
Take DYNAMITE (A).
Go (B).

Take LEATHER BELT (C). Place DYNAMITE and use BURNING BRANCH (D).
Play HOP (E); receive SPADE.
Use SPADE (F); take GRINDSTONE (G).
Walk down.

Place GRINDSTONE, LEATHER BELT and BLUNT CLEAVER; receive CLEAVER (J).
Go (I).
Use CLEAVER (J); take LASSO (K).

Use LASSO (L).
Take GEAR 3/3 (M).
Go to Airship.

Open door, slide switch (N) and place GEARS; solution (O). Take note, BANDAGES, ANTISEPTIC, SCISSORS and BEAR GREASE (P).
Use SCISSORS, ANTISEPTIC and BANDAGES (Q).
Walk to River.

Use BEAR GREASE; go (R).

Chapter 7: The Monastery

Move rags; take VACUUM FLASK (S).
Take CENSER and LEAD CONTAINER (T).
Go (U).

Take ICON PIECE 1/4 (V).
Take HOOK TOOL (W).
Use HOOK TOOL; open gate (X).
Go (Y).

Take ELECTRIC CHIP (Z).
Place ELECTRIC CHIP (A); move pieces and take BROKEN SUN and ENERGY CELL (B).

Replace ENERGY CELL; solution (C). Take SPRING (D).
Take ICON PIECES 2/4 (E).
Go (F).

Take ICON PIECES 3/4 (G).
Go to Monastery.
Place SPRING and pull lever; take GEAR KEY (H).
Walk down.

CHAIN LINK from GEAR KEY.
Place CHAIN LINK (I).
Walk down twice.
Play HOP (J); receive TRUNK.

Offer TRUNK (K).
Take SMELLING SALTS (L).
Use GEAR KEY (M); take HEX KEY and JACK (N).
Go to Monastery.

Use HEX KEY; take OXYGEN (O).
Go (P).
Place OXYGEN; turn valve (Q).

Turn switch. Use JACK three times. Offer SMELLING SALTS (R).
Take ICON PIECES 4/4 (S).
Place ICON PIECES; solution. Take ICON (T).

Place ICON; take GLUE and HATCH LEVER. Read notebook (U).
Take ENERGY CELL (V).
Walk down.

GLUE on BROKEN SUN; receive SUN SYMBOL.
Place SUN SYMBOL. Select 1-2-3-4 (W). Take SILVER CHAIN (X).
SILVER CHAIN on CENSER.
Place CENSER; take SILVER STAR (Y).
Walk down.

Place SILVER STAR; take CHAMOMILE (Z).
Go (A).
Open VACUUM FLASK; add CHAMOMILE. Take SEDATIVE TEA.
Offer SEDATIVE TEA; take CRYSTAL CHIP (B).
Walk down.

Place CRYSTAL CHIP; take WELDING TORCH, MONKEY WRENCH, HAND DRILL and ANTENNA 1/2 (C).
Light WELDING TORCH (D).
Go (E).

Use WELDING TORCH; take ANTENNA 2/2 (F).
Go (G).

Move levers and use MONKEY WRENCH; take INDUCTION COIL (H).
Place ENERGY CELL (1), INDUCTION COIL (2) and ANTENNAS (3). Pull power switch (4), turn frequency knob (5) twice and push home button (6)(I).
Walk down.