I really loved this game and was so intrigued with the story. It had romance, revenge, secrets, and the best part of all-- a huge twist at the end! The areas that you get to explore were all fantastic and so well-designed. The only slight complaint I have with this game is that I wish we had more of the romance between the main characters. The girl was so lovely looking and we barely got to see her throughout the game. If you want a game with some serious romance, check out The Bride and Legacy.
A mysterious fortune teller has foreseen her demise at midnight this very day. Can you find the soul who seeks to kill Madame Fate? You be the detective.
I struggled to get through the first chapter of this game. I really hate the fact that I even have to review a MCF game poorly, but this one didn't tickle my fancy in the slightest. I'm not sure if maybe the theme was what didn't hold my interest, but the plot seemed good enough to enjoy. Although the visuals are praised in this one, I have yet to see why. Everything just seems kind of dark and unattractive looking. After playing the 13th Skull, you can even see a rusty old toilet as a beautiful image in the games. The Hidden Object seens just seemed scratchy and difficult to solve. Better luck next time. If I have to recommend another MCF, it would definitely be 13th Skull or Dire Grove without a doubt.
I am a little disappointed with this one, particularly because it was so highly recommended. I don't know if it was just me, but personally I didn't find it all that exciting. It delivered in the graphics department and incorporated some nice details with the video visuals. As far as the environments, Dire Grove could have been way better. The scenes weren't all that detailed like some of the other MCF ones. Puzzles were not so much hard, as it was hard remembering what you need to solve it! It was a little annoying having to back track what you found previously just to solve a puzzle. I would still recommend trying this game because I love MCF so much.
Visuals: The environments were quite good and very enchanting. I do wish we had more puzzles to do inside the castle, though. The environments include a cottage, garden area, a town with two places to visit, and then the castle zone.
Music: The music had a hint to the original Beauty and the Beast soundtrack, but definitely different. The music was not overpowering at all and I felt like it was definitely soothing and easy to have in the background.
Puzzles and clues: One of the downsides to this game were the puzzles. If you are an adult who is looking for a more challenging adventure game, then skip this one. The puzzles were far too easy and required very little thought or skill. This game would be great for your kids. On a positive note, the hidden object scenes were challenging.
Ending: The ending was a little dull and it could have been more climatic with the evil queen. This game was much shorter than Phantom, and only took me 4 hours to beat; earning me a spot on the scores board as #3. There was one room left that I did not get to explore, which I do intend on researching.
Overall, this game was pretty and was a pleasure to play. The only cons were that it was too easy and too short. I would have liked to see more encouragement from the Beast while Belle tries to free him.
I tried this game right after playing one of the Murder Case Files, and it does compare to the adventure level. The game is visually outstanding, and the detail is consistent throughout the entire game. The story was pretty unique, especially if you are new to the Phantom of the Opera. I have still never seen the play or the movie. I felt like the puzzles were all challenging and relevant to the story. The only complaint I have about this game is how it ended. I read on previous reviews that the end "ends before the game ends", but I was unsure of what that meant until I experienced it. I had the collector's edition and was surprised that I did not access any of the bonus material. Even so, I LOVED this game.
The 13th Skull was by far, the best mystery/adventure game I ever had the pleasure to play. Not only was it so beautifully designed, but the story line was good. I would definitely recommend this, and any other Murder Case Files mystery games.