A Crime of Mirrors
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Mystery Case Files - A Crime in Reflection is a Hidden Object Adventure game from the Grandma stable of titles. This review is based on the Collector's Edition version of the title which adds a number of bonus items to supplement the main game of investigation game play. When playing this game you have the choice of tackling its content in Casual, Advanced, Hardcore or Custom difficulty level.
As a Master Detective, you are not particularly surprised to be called back early from a vacation to help solve a mystery which had become known as a Crime in Reflection.
To assist you, when investigating this latest crime involving the theft of a royal sceptre from a museum, you are provided with a fairly usual collection of tools. Arranged across the bottom of the different scenes representing various locations are links to a Journal containing Notes and Tasks, Map, details of Active and Completed tasks, Inventory plus links to a Strategy Guide and a rechargeable Hint feature. Positioned on the left side of the screen is a pop-out icon that will reveal details of the Collectibles you have gathered. These items include Picture Fragments, Jigsaw pieces and Achievements.
You will also be provided with access to some additional tools such as a camera and radio. These items are generally stored in the Inventory, until required, and they will enable you to make copies of evidence and communicate with others. At varying times you will have access to a laboratory for analysing items discovered.
As you begin your investigation and visit various locations, including Scotland, it soon becomes obvious that mirrors have an important role to play and explain the Reflection part of the game's title. But, as you discover later, these are not ordinary mirrors. They have the ability to provide access to other worlds and are capable of taking prisoners.
Your investigations will take you to different locations in the UK with some seeming more suitable for a dreamlike environment with their almost photographic quality, overlaid figures and special effects. The driving force, behind the crime you are investigation, will be a mass murderer named Mary Ann Cotton, better known as Bloody Mary. She was the one using the power of the mirrors and their paranormal features to implement her own plans using innocent victims.
The game does involve some grave robbery action and taking part in a song based ritual as you will need to free trapped spirits as paranormal activities take over. Many of the game's takes will require multi-action operations as you switch between linked areas to find and use required objects. You will also be faced by a variety of mini game puzzles plus Hidden Object scenes that use text, patterns and silhouettes to indicate the items required.
Apart from one small inconsistency when you hand over your detective badge for identification but it is never returned, I was impressed and enjoyed playing the game. I downloaded my copy of this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99. The game is also available from Big Fish Games priced at £16.08. The game requires a 1.8 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 984MB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.
Mystery Case Files - A Crime in Reflection Collector's Edition | GameHouse
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