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Magic City, for those not familiar with  this particular digital location, is a Domini Game's created environment.  It is a place where those with a mystical power to change their shape and appearance, often into an animal-like form, can reside in harmony with the more natural members of the human race.  But sometimes problems may arise.  This type of event could result in you needing to show your detective skills in order to ease the situation.  This next title poses one such example of this occurrence.

Based on the Mardi Gras carnival celebration occurring in New Orleans, this Magic City excursion allows you to make the usual adjustments to the gaming environment.  You will also have the option of selecting from Casual, Advanced, Hardcore or Custom level of difficulty as you set out to solve the theft of an artefact which is known as the "Dagger of Worlds" which, when in the wrong hands, could disturb the balance between the magical and human race elements.

The first few tasks at the start of this game, as we have become use to, will introduce you to the assistance provided by the mouse pointer and allows you to decorate various scenes with supplied articles of furniture that represents available tools.  These tools are presented in a fairly standard arrangement of Journal, Map, Inventory, Strategy Guide and Hint feature which will run across the base of the screen. 

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While the Journal has sections for holding Notes and Tasks, the Map will indicate where to look for Collectibles and carry out certain actions.  Items in the Inventory that require some work before use will be accompanied by a plus symbol.  Mounted on either side of the screen will be pop-out icons giving access to the current status of Collectibles (Masks, Photos and Holiday Tokens) on the left and Decisions made at various major points during the game will be on the right.

As you move around the various areas making up the game, you will need to search for clues and the means to ease the tension caused by the missing "Dagger of Worlds".  Your tasks will involve creating potions and carrying out rituals to achieve the desired results when dealing with the appearance of evil spirits.  Often the program will make good use of overlaid windows and a split screen view to help focus your attention on specific points at vital points.

Among the required tasks facing you will be a number of Hidden Object challenges and mini puzzle game play.  The presence of Hidden Object type scenes will be indicated by an outbreak of sparkles as you are challenges to find various items.  These items might be listed in text, silhouette, image or part of the scene format.  In some cases you might be asked to look for pairs, repair items and even replace them in a scene.  You will also have the option to switch to Match 3 game play rather than tackle the Hidden Object challenge if that suits.

Mini puzzle game play will also give you a choice.  In this case you could opt for an Easy or Hard version of the puzzle.  The task might involve arranging segments of items, placing spices in the correct jars, tracking footprints, weighing and sorting items, arranging statues and creating a pathway between points to mention just some.

I have been playing the Collector's Edition version of this title.  This adds a bonus chapters, gives the chance to replay the Hidden Object and mini puzzle games plus check out any morphing objects and Collectibles discovered during the game.  You can download this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99 or Big Fish Games priced at £15.44.  The game requires a 2.0 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 1.20GB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Magic City Detective - The Carnival Begins Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Magic City Detective - The Carnival Begins Collector's Edition | GameHouse