Mystery Chronicles: Murder Among Friends - Review

I just found out by accident that the game now has a relaxed mode installed. Not that I really needed it, but it helps take away some of the stress just knowing it's there.

I was on the fence about buying this game. Unfortunately, I fell off the fence on the wrong side & bought it. It was frustrating and aggravating on so many levels. I was very disappointed in the game.

- Sound affects were weird and random like the developers bought a CD with various Halloween sounds and inserted them into the game will-nilly.
- Story line was a bit off and lost me about half way through.
- Hidden objects were repeated over & over again throughout the game. I kept wondering if I was having Deja Vu every time I went to a new scene.
- The pop-up hint reminder kept coming up which annoyed the heck out of me. My memory isn't that bad yet.
- When you use a hint, it takes 2-3 minutes for the hint button to recharge. Too long!
- Hidden items too tiny and some too blended in on top of that.
- They made a lame attempt at the mini puzzles. Some were Azada rip-offs (which they did VERY poorly) and the first ones were a joke. I mean seriously, Mine Sweep, Sudoku, Word Search, etc.? It took me forever to do an easy Slider Puzzle just due to the fact that the dang blocks slide on their own terms & seemed spastic.

If it weren't for the fact that it took me forever to find some of the tiny, well hidden items, as well as just sitting there looking at the screen while the hint button recharged, I could have finished this game in 1.5 hours. Not a very long game.

Am I crying over spending $6.99 for this game? Not really. Do I ever want to play it again? Probably not.

Sorry to hear you werent pleased. While I do agree with a number of your comments, I thought it was a decent game. I just started playing it again.

The trial was misleading..I jumped to buying it.. I won't make the same mistake.. I like the game but it is frustrating.. Can't get beyond the cross..

"- When you use a hint, it takes 2-3 minutes for the hint button to recharge. Too long!
- Hidden items too tiny and some too blended in on top of that"

These two points are dead on! I love HO games but if the item doesn't look like the item you're suppose to find, then what's the point?

P.S. I had to skip the cross puzzle...got tired of trying.

slp12272 wrote:"- When you use a hint, it takes 2-3 minutes for the hint button to recharge. Too long!
- Hidden items too tiny and some too blended in on top of that"

These two points are dead on! I love HO games but if the item doesn't look like the item you're suppose to find, then what's the point?

P.S. I had to skip the cross puzzle...got tired of trying.

Here is the solution: http://mcfforums.bigfishgames.com/posts/list/5674.page

prpldva wrote:

slp12272 wrote:"- When you use a hint, it takes 2-3 minutes for the hint button to recharge. Too long!
- Hidden items too tiny and some too blended in on top of that"

These two points are dead on! I love HO games but if the item doesn't look like the item you're suppose to find, then what's the point?

P.S. I had to skip the cross puzzle...got tired of trying.

Here is the solution: http://mcfforums.bigfishgames.com/posts/list/5674.page

Thanks prpldva. I'll have to check it out and try again!

Since it had small items and a timer, I had decided not to buy it. Just didn't want to deal with a double whammy. Once the timer was removed, I did buy the game. I agree with a couple of points in scotcat's review ... but am enjoying the gameplay. I plan to play more tonight. I'll write a more complete review after I complete the game.
Happy gaming everyone

Thanks for this review. I was on the fence about buying this game but now I'm not going to bother. I hate it when the games seems interesting at first and then it just becomes more of the same over and over and it sounds like this is like that. Thanks again!

I was in withdrawal for a new HO game, but I have to say this has been a miserable experience. Despite the wonderful graphics, this game is VERY hard on the eyes. I am really tired of the dark scenes. It's just not necessary. I skipped all the puzzles as they looked annoying. Many of the objects were often impossible to find except for clicking around, not cleverly hidden. I hate to sound like a broken record, but a well done game is more like Agatha Christie Death on the Nile or Ravenhurst. I just found this to be a game that killed all the joy I normally get from HO object games and puzzles.
I read with interest the comments from users with arthritis etc who wanted and untimed version, and kudos to you for providing it. Along those lines, I think a little attention to visual strain deserves consideration. Sorry to have to be so negative, and I appreciate being able to express my opinion.

I'm sorry to hear you didnt like the game. I rather enoyed it and have played it twice. I have to agree on the small items though- some were really miniscule! Especially those dang fish and the candles!

scotcat wrote:I just found out by accident that the game now has a relaxed mode installed. Not that I really needed it, but it helps take away some of the stress just knowing it's there.

I was on the fence about buying this game. Unfortunately, I fell off the fence on the wrong side & bought it. It was frustrating and aggravating on so many levels. I was very disappointed in the game.

- Sound affects were weird and random like the developers bought a CD with various Halloween sounds and inserted them into the game will-nilly.
- Story line was a bit off and lost me about half way through.
- Hidden objects were repeated over & over again throughout the game. I kept wondering if I was having Deja Vu every time I went to a new scene.
- The pop-up hint reminder kept coming up which annoyed the heck out of me. My memory isn't that bad yet.
- When you use a hint, it takes 2-3 minutes for the hint button to recharge. Too long!
- Hidden items too tiny and some too blended in on top of that.
- They made a lame attempt at the mini puzzles. Some were Azada rip-offs (which they did VERY poorly) and the first ones were a joke. I mean seriously, Mine Sweep, Sudoku, Word Search, etc.? It took me forever to do an easy Slider Puzzle just due to the fact that the dang blocks slide on their own terms & seemed spastic.

If it weren't for the fact that it took me forever to find some of the tiny, well hidden items, as well as just sitting there looking at the screen while the hint button recharged, I could have finished this game in 1.5 hours. Not a very long game.

Am I crying over spending $6.99 for this game? Not really. Do I ever want to play it again? Probably not.

I thoroughly agree.. too dark, too miniscule and that makes for a very aggravating experience. Mine is the updated version and it does not even do full screen.

I agree with everyone who hated this game. only be glad you bought it here instead of where i bought it for 19.99 and tax i wasted a whole lot of money you guys just wasted 6.99. Plus probably need to have eyes checked now cause I can't see anything heehee