Strange Investigations: Becoming Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

48 of 50 found this review helpful

Strange Case - Awesome First Entry

PostedFebruary 2, 2021

timothya

fromSandpoint, Idaho

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Skill Level:Intermediate

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Best-written mystery game I've enjoyed in a long time, although it has a disturbing beginning and a brilliant but somewhat ambiguous end. This one is definetely not for the kids - the premise of this story is very, very dark indeed. Our heroine is a grieving, wounded young woman who questions her own sanity, and with reason. What is she seeing? Is it real? No magic here, no amulets, just a gritty ...Show more

Best-written mystery game I've enjoyed in a long time, although it has a disturbing beginning and a brilliant but somewhat ambiguous end. This one is definetely not for the kids - the premise of this story is very, very dark indeed. Our heroine is a grieving, wounded young woman who questions her own sanity, and with reason. What is she seeing? Is it real? No magic here, no amulets, just a gritty cinema noir treatment of a stubborn detective and her cinema noir case.

Pros: Mystery readers will love this one. Plenty of play, plot twists, red herrings, false trails, and a narrator who questions her own reliability. Great graphics, nice mix of puzzles and various flavor HO scenes, but the story's the thing.

Cons: The time sequence is a little difficult to track at the beginning of the game. Dana is attempting to recall her original tragedy, what she thought was a resolution, and her subsequent history up to the present, all at once. It does make sense but leaves the player a little uncertain where he or she is entering the sequence. No spoiler, but it's 1966 and Dana has a lot of pain behind her, and some challenges ahead.

Bonus game: Some bittersweet back story here along with the play. Mr. Freeman's grocery store seems to have attracted a haunt, and he asks for Dana's help. Dana has a fan. It's rather sweet, really, but there are echoes of darkness that won't go away. Great atmosphere throughout. Mini-game difficulty kicks up a level here, beware!

Overall, a terrific and very adult game, and a very strong entry into what I hope is a new series. Can the Devs keep this level of excellence up? We shall see. If I could give this one six stars, I would, but I certainly will give it a whole-hearted recommendation. Show less

I recommend this game!

+46points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

86 of 106 found this review helpful

Hmmm, That's Strange!

PostedJanuary 28, 2021

HeavenBound7729

fromOcala, Florida

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

1 Penguin 100 Cases

(49)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Detective Dana STRANGE is called upon in STRANGE Investigations to solve a STRANGELY familiar crime!! Very STRANGE that the abduction is so similar to her sister's that occurred 15 years ago. The culprit is still locked away for that terrifying crime. Or is he?? This new whodunit is just what I needed! I felt the demo was a great sample of what's in store in the full game. It was an easy decision ...Show more

Detective Dana STRANGE is called upon in STRANGE Investigations to solve a STRANGELY familiar crime!! Very STRANGE that the abduction is so similar to her sister's that occurred 15 years ago. The culprit is still locked away for that terrifying crime. Or is he?? This new whodunit is just what I needed! I felt the demo was a great sample of what's in store in the full game. It was an easy decision to buy and as I move through the game, I'm not disappointed. The storyline is excellent as a creep is aloof doing all that makes this a good crime mystery. Sure wish we had more of these detective stories at BFG, with the more adult subject matter.

I've been well entertained as I continue on. The game is busy with many activities and the pace is good. The tasks are not grueling and I don't expect to become bored at any point. The graphics are sharp and the colorful scenes have plenty to investigate as we search for clues to solve this case. The characters are well depicted in dress and voice-overs, they add extra interest to the story. Especially Dana. I feel the music is appropriate to this type of story and the more mature theme in this game is a big plus.

The HOGs and puzzles are just average. Creativity is somewhat lacking, challenge is minimal. But still fun, just not enough of it. There are book pages and puzzle pieces to collect, 2 rooms to continue search. This time, for me, the collectibles and extras don't warrant the price tag. If not for a CE coupon about to expire, I would've waited for the SE. I always hope the Bonus Chapter is a good prequel or sequel to the story and I do enjoy the few extra games included.

I hope that Strange Investigations is a sign of good things to come. A new series is always good news. IMO, each game in the series should bring a new detective with adult themed mysteries to solve. I tire of seeing the same characters umpteen times and the storyline going in crazy directions, it eventually diminishes the quality. This new release is entertaining, the story has held my interest, no tech problems interfering with the fun. There are 4 play levels which include a custom mode, so you can pick the challenge you enjoy most.

I think the demo may give you a positive opinion of the game, at least it did for me. If you like detective stories, I recommend for a few hours of mystery-solving fun. Show less

I recommend this game!

+66points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

31 of 37 found this review helpful

Best game in a while

PostedJanuary 29, 2021

haleyrenee3

Skill Level:Intermediate

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

Current Favorite:

Maze: Subject 360

(91)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I can’t get enough of creepy murder mystery games, I think that there’s too many “mystical and sci-fi” games to be honest and this game has a crazy interesting storyline with a serial killer! Such a fun game that draws you in as soon as you start playing, I didn’t find myself getting bored or disinterested one time.
Nothing I really didn’t like about this one.

Please, keep making more of these ...Show more

I can’t get enough of creepy murder mystery games, I think that there’s too many “mystical and sci-fi” games to be honest and this game has a crazy interesting storyline with a serial killer! Such a fun game that draws you in as soon as you start playing, I didn’t find myself getting bored or disinterested one time.
Nothing I really didn’t like about this one.

Please, keep making more of these types of games! Show less

I recommend this game!

+25points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

21 of 24 found this review helpful

I wish all games where this good. I loved this one.

PostedFebruary 3, 2021

woodawooda

fromTo where ever my games and BFG takes me!

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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:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Lots of reviews already so I won't go into detail. But I do feel compelled to say that this game is one of the most engaging games I have played in a while.
The story is interesting and the gameplay is diverse and very well done. Even the puzzles are more creative than I have seen in a while.

So give this game a try. I bet you will enjoy it.

I recommend this game!

+18points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

27 of 33 found this review helpful

Enjoying the new series

PostedJanuary 30, 2021

ljmb21

fromCT

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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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Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I played the full version, I am not sure why it has only 3 stars, when I do not like a game I am not shy to say so but this game I truly enjoyed the storyline. I love a good detective story and this one did not disappoint!

I recommend this game!

+21points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

11 of 12 found this review helpful

My new favorite

PostedFebruary 7, 2021

wildlifecrusader

fromYorkeys Knob ; Australia

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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, Mahjong, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Loved it from the beginning, Just played a partial of the trial and I knew; this is for me. Loved the story line , the puzzles and of course the art work.
I have to say that the casual mode is very easy , this makes it a perfect game for beginners. The more advanced players need to set it to a more challenging level.
However I had fun playing it and I hope we will see more of Strange ...Show more

Loved it from the beginning, Just played a partial of the trial and I knew; this is for me. Loved the story line , the puzzles and of course the art work.
I have to say that the casual mode is very easy , this makes it a perfect game for beginners. The more advanced players need to set it to a more challenging level.
However I had fun playing it and I hope we will see more of Strange Investigations Show less

+10points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

192 of 308 found this review helpful

SLEUTHING THROUGH SOME STRANGE INVESTIGATIONS

PostedJanuary 28, 2021

sunnyglow

fromWhat can it "bee?" A bee in my bonnet? Did I miss something? My mind is still buzzing around trying to figure out the significance of all the swarms of bees in this game.

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

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)

STORY: Welcome to Rainville, home of a new series! Play Dana Strange, a detective whose career was influenced by the abduction of her sister by the Artist, a crazed serial killer. Fifteen years later, after capturing the crazed madman, she feels she is free from the nightmares of ...Show more

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME
4 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 32 pages (My Time: 5 Hours)

STORY: Welcome to Rainville, home of a new series! Play Dana Strange, a detective whose career was influenced by the abduction of her sister by the Artist, a crazed serial killer. Fifteen years later, after capturing the crazed madman, she feels she is free from the nightmares of those childhood memories; however, those memories will come to haunt her in this first game in this series.

Return to Rainville. where a young girl, Isabelle Arquette, is missing. The actions of the abductor are similar as those of the Artist, but that is not possible - that madman is incarcerated! Could there be another copycat killer on the lose? Join your new partner in crime, Mal, as you sleuth your way through your hometown to discover who is behind this kidnapping.

OPINION: Love detective novels and solving whodunits? If so, you will love this game. Although the game is short, I feel it is a quality game and a good start to a new series. It is also somewhat different than the other detective games published on this site. I feel it is more intense, dealing with a more mature subject matter. Some may find this game somewhat unsettling.

I found the pace excellent with an engaging story and many activities to keep a player busy - busy as a bee. In this game, the player will be swatting away swarms of those little stingers! Little is seen of Dana Strange’s partner, Mal, in this first game; however, I feel the developer may be using this first episode to flesh out the main character with background information. The game also alludes to a future love interest for Dana Strange as well. I expect that the game will include these and more characters in future games. (Hopefully, those future characters will not include more swarms of bees)

The collectibles are puzzle pieces for four (4) jigsaw puzzles and pages of a book which tell the story of Dana Strange. I found some of them difficult to locate. However, if any are missed, upon completion of the game, the player can return to the game scenes by entering the Expedition Room to search for them. As in all their games, Elephant has provided a Secret Room in which to locate more items within the scenes.

MECHANICS:

• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 22 achievements.
• Collect 48 puzzle pieces for 4 jigsaw puzzles to be played at the end of the game.
• Collect 12 pages out of a book about the life of Dana Strange.
• 5 Wallpapers along with concept art, music, and video sequences.
• Expedition Room to locate missing collectibles from the scenes.
• Secret Room to search for more objects with the game’s scenes.
• Replay 13 HOP scenes and 11 mini-games.

BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. Enjoy a haunting tale of a headless ghost who is frightening the community. A shop owner, Denzel Freeman, has spotted this headless ghost within his store. Is a ghost haunting the town or is the perpetrator more human than ghostly? This chapter is a nice addition to the game. There are six (6) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games. I found the mini-games much better in this chapter than in the main game. It is a nice addition to the game and worthy of the collector’s designation.

HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) HOP scene, thirteen (13) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes with a small number (5 to 7) of items to be located. Most of the scenes are lists of items, silhouette, and matching. There are a couple of storybook scenes, searching items which are highlighted within a story and there are a couple of pattern scenes in which items are identified by a small sampling of the item. I found most mediocre, lacking the creative design seen in other developers’ game. They are decent, but I found nothing exceptional in their design.

MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games, eleven (11) of which can be replayed at the end of the game. I found the mini-games better designed than the HOP scenes. They vary in design and difficulty; however, I found none challenging.

SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:

A. Sequence puzzle. Repeat a given sequence of notes as they are played. 3X
B. Connection/Gear puzzle. Place gears into a grid so all interconnect with each other.
C. Connection puzzle. On a 7 x 9 grid (63 squares) press on specific squares with horseshoes which change direction, to create a path for a rider to travel from left to a destination point on the right. All 63 squares should be visited once.
D. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens with musical instruments on them so each one is situated in the proper location upon a circular grid.
E. Connection puzzle. Create a circuit by placing fuses in the proper location to lead a charge from one end of the circuit to another.
F. Connection puzzle. Recreate 6 given images by connecting bees in a circular grid. If you make a mistake you must restart the puzzle.
BONUS CHAPTER:
G. Block puzzle. Move blocks out of the way to create a path for a token to move from left to right.
H. Chess puzzle. Move a pawn to retrieve a golden helmet and a golden sword avoiding rooks in its path.
I. Play a piano by pressing on notes as indicated on a sheet of music.
J. Connection puzzle. Connect lines between pictures so that the number of lines emanating from each one matches the number on the picture. Show less

I recommend this game!

+76points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

6 of 6 found this review helpful

Strange New Game

PostedFebruary 10, 2021

billysmom0

fromMinnesota, USA

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Time Management, Word

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I really enjoyed playing this game once I got into it. It is a little different than some, and a lot like others but still interesting and gave me some excellent playing time. I'm looking forward to more just like this, and I'm hoping that it won't be long.Good game.

I recommend this game!

+6points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 11 found this review helpful

It's about time BF has a game that is FUN!

PostedFebruary 5, 2021

Novella2

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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, Large File

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

It seems to have been a long time since BF has a really good game I enjoy, The story line is interesting and you get to collect puzzle pieces which I really love.

I definitely would like to see more types of this game!

I recommend this game!

+7points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 11 found this review helpful

Spectacular game! Enthralling!

PostedFebruary 1, 2021

ushie15

fromWashington, DC

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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, Match 3, Time Management

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is a great, fun, exciting game, and I can't wait for the next installment! The characterizations are good, the artwork excellent, and the minigames and HOPs neat!

I recommend this game!

+7points

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