This game made a convert out of a skeptic!

I have never gotten the appeal of hide and seek games. I'm not one to use the word "boring", but I found them boring! Sitting and staring at the screen. Duh! Ravenhearst was a big step forward, however, the tedious, stupid, repetitive jigsaw puzzles annoyed me. I only bought that game when it went on sale for 99 cents.

Madame Fate, however, captured me with its carnival theme. I'm a sucker for anything w/ that theme, especially when it's supposed to be 'creepy'. I tried the demo and knew I had to rejoin Gamepass to buy it. I'm glad I did!

The graphics are OUTSTANDING in this game. If you take the time to notice you will see all sorts of amusing and clever bits that aren't even part of the game per se...for example there's a sign in one of the screens that says, "Handburgers for sale". (there's a severed hand nearby). Things like that.

The artist(s) are amazing, the close-ups of the characters are especially jaw-dropping (the screens where we have to find multiples of the same item...I really like those, too). The artwork for the fat man was just naaaasty haha, I loved it. All of them are beautiful, and made playing the game so much fun.

I LOVE the mystery objects and the put-them-together clues. And the idea of clicking on a shimmering area to get a close-up of the inside of an aquarium or whatever, to seek some more, was great. The sound effects and music are perfect. The only thing I didn't care for in that area was I got sick of listening to madame fate's "commentary" as I looked for clues. But it wasn't too bad.

The puzzles are AWESOME! Hard! But I didn't have to cheat on any of them. (Well, maybe once on one of the wordgames, where you have to make 3 words across and down with a fixed central letter; I don't like those very much). The word games were fun and I LOVED the graphics and sound effects around them like the little hotdog that moves along the top, and the guy who says, "step on the handle!" while his nose grows (I *think* that's what he's saying!). Brilliant touches to make the game that much more playable. But the other puzzles were the best, wow, every one I got to I thought, What the heck?? What do I do here...? But I figured it out and felt so proud each time!! : )
The only minor gripe I have about the game is there was moving background in some of the seek scenes which can make me dizzy. (I.e., the shooting gallery). Luckily I could find the clues quickly and get out..but please remember that some players can't tolerate screens like that. Maybe on option for turning off background movement, or something. Anyway, it was minimal and usually added to the allure (like the stormy skies..loved it!).

Thanks for a hide and seek game that actually converted me. I truly do not think you can top this one. The carnival motif makes it the best.

Thanks for sharing yyou thoughts on the gane-and welcome to the club of "seekers". I am glad you pointed out the hot dog I missed seeing him and the handburger, I guess I had better pay closer attention- I might have missed a ton of things. Personally I love the moving things in the background, to me it adds to the game. -- and I love the madame talking - I live alone and am home bound and I talk back to her -- you might say she is my friend that comes for coffee and I can send her home any time I want to. I also love the sound effects in the background , I always turn them up as loud as they will go and turn the music down. I think in the clowns trailer someone is calling out for some one and the lion tamer someone is saying help me. I hope we see more games like this in the future because this is diffiantly the best game out-- now the others are just boring to me too

I totally have to agree with you all. This one was MORE than worth the wait!! I, too, loved Ravenhearst, especially the door locks and the whole story line, but hated having to do a jigsaw puzzle at every level (I love jigsaw puzzles, mind you, but too monotonous to do the same thing at the end of every level).

The artwork in this game is amazing, and my favorite parts were the "scenes within a scene" and the put-together items, as well as the variety of puzzles. The story line throughout wasn't much, but it didn't matter because of the play value (which is really what we are wanting to do, anyway), AND because of the awesome ending! (If you've played through, you know what I mean, and if you have not, you'll get there eventually! I don't want to spoil it for you!).

I'm soooo looking forward to the next installment!

BTW -- I watched the credits, so I know it's not her, but did anyone else think Madame Fate sounded like Angela Landsbury using one of her many accents?!?! It REALLY did to me!

Thanks for your post, krissy - I agree with almost everything you pointed out - it IS a great game.
I love the suggestions in the pictures, for example the dog that shouldn't be fed but obviously has just eaten something real bloody - I assume it the proprietor of the stand behind it?
The people who put this game together have great imagionation and did excellent art work.

I was a "skeptic," too. I would play the games online, but didn't expect to buy any. But, like krissywillow, I decided to buy Ravenhurst when it went on sale for ninety-nine cents. I figured that was a good enough deal that I couldn't lose! I loved finding the hidden objects and solving the door puzzles ... and hated the jigsaw puzzles.

I still hesitated to buy more games, but then when Madame Fate was discounted, I bought it. I figured I'd probably like it at least as much as I liked Ravenhurst. Wow, was I surprised. This one is so good that I will buy the 2nd edition of Ravenhurst as soon as it comes out!

Big Fish, you guys are great!

Whaa? There is going to be a second edition of Ravenhearst?! I loved the atmosphere of that one. I am sure I will find Madame Fate almost too creepy (waiting for the MAC version) but the old house locations were so cozy and just ever so slightly creepy - perfect.

Only thing I would change would be an option to bypass the jigsaw puzzles - they got tiresome on replays.

bellezado wrote:Whaa? There is going to be a second edition of Ravenhearst?! I loved the atmosphere of that one. I am sure I will find Madame Fate almost too creepy (waiting for the MAC version) but the old house locations were so cozy and just ever so slightly creepy - perfect.

Only thing I would change would be an option to bypass the jigsaw puzzles - they got tiresome on replays.

Madame Fate is Ravenhearst Part II or Master Detective Part IV. It will be continued at Ravenhearst. I can't wait for the next part! How can you wait for Madame Fate?

I agree with you about the jigsaws; a little variety in the minigames or a bypass feature would be nice.

I think that the settings of all four MCFs are half of the appeal ~ they're from years gone by and add to the delighftul creepiness.

There's a house not far from us that we call the "Mystery Case Files" house because it was built in the same time and it IS the creepiest house even with Christmas wreaths hanging in the windows! The ivy coves the brick house and you never see anyone in the house ... even with the lights on ...