I Spy Series and Mystery Case Files Series Review

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I Spy Mystery Case Files

Review by MrLipidFebruary 2007

Looking for Stuff in All Sorts of Places

This may be a Four Fat Chicks first: an en masse review of two different franchises that offer very similar gameplay. The franchises are the I Spy series from Scholastic and the Mystery Case Files series from Big Fish Games. The goal in each series is to find objects cleverly concealed in plain sight. The I Spy series targets kids ages 6–10, while Mystery Case Files is aimed at those 10–adult.

I Spy

Opening with Scholastic’s I Spy games, let’s walk through the series starting with 1999’s I Spy Spooky Mansion and ending with 2004’s I Spy Spooky Mansion Deluxe. Unfortunately, Spooky Mansion Deluxe appears to be the last completely new entry in the series.

Both of the Spooky Mansion entries require players to find objects hidden in rooms, in cabinets, and behind mirrors in (what else?) a spooky mansion. A talkative skeleton acts as guide. 2001’s Treasure Hunt centers on a small seaside village that has been host to three pirates. Completing the first round of the game leads players to the treasure of one of the pirates, and then the fun begins again with a round of new clues for the next pirate and then another round for the next. 2003’s Fantasy allows players to explore a fairy tale of knights and maidens, an escape from an alien planet, and a deep sea quest for a mermaid’s treasure. Again, solve all of the puzzles and the adventure begins again with different clues.

The appeal of the series, much like the appeal of the Nancy Drew games, is that players know exactly what they are in for when they load up I Spy. There will be a rhyme under a complex image, and the mission is to identify the objects named in the rhyme with the objects scattered through the image. A typical rhyme is:

I spy my name, a tiny whale, A carrot, a crab, an eye on a tail; A connect-the-dots star, a snake, a skate, Three butterflies, an egg and an eight.

It’s tougher than it sounds, and even though the I Spy series is designed for kids ages 6 to 10, I, an old coot, have spent more than a few hours looking for the elusive last item remaining in a rhyme. And then, upon finding it and checking my watch, deciding that there is time for finding the hidden items in just one more screen.

Once a rhyme is solved, it yields an item that, when combined with other items acquired by solving other rhymes, enables players to solve a final puzzle. The item can be a piece of a paper from a torn-up rebus, a piece of a treasure map, or even a jewel. Once all of the pieces have been found in a round of play in Treasure Hunt, Fantasy, or Spooky Mansion Deluxe, a new level is opened with new rhymes, and the fun begins again. And the fun moves a bit faster because the new rhymes return players to the images they pondered earlier. After a few rounds, most of the items can be found fairly quickly.

My grandchildren have gone quite mad for the I Spy games and insist on playing them every time they come over. The games are challenging but fair. Items are hidden in plain sight. The trick is knowing which plane of focus the item is hiding in. A velvet-lined museum display box may have an item, or the silhouette of an item, hiding in the velvet background rather than in the item-strewn foreground.  A item may be represented by its shadow, its outline, itself, or its name. It might even be represented by a homonym. And it is not uncommon to have all possibilities show up in one clue.

I Spy does not have a time limit per rhyme. Young detectives can pore over a given image as long as they please. And, at least in this house, they can wander over and ask the old coot where to find the last of the three smiling faces or where the final bee or the other bat is hiding.

In terms of richness of gameplay, Spooky Mansion Deluxe and Treasure Hunt take top honors, with Fantasy and Spooky Mansion trailing just slightly behind. For those wondering if this sort of diversion might be of interest, there are some browser-based samples at the I Spy website.

Mystery Case Files

Following the apprenticeship of the I Spy games, players can graduate to the more serious challenge of the Mystery Case Files offerings from Big Fish Games. There are now three entries in this hugely successful series, as well as three additional spin-off wannabe franchises: Hidden Expedition, Travelogue 360, and Paparazzi.

MCF: Huntsville pulled in over 2.4 million dollars in its first four months of release, making it one of the most successful games ever offered by Big Fish Games. Nor did Big Fish Games rest on its laurels. The difference between the first entry in the series and the second is substantial, and the refinements in the third entry make it the best yet.

Not Fair, and Old to Boot

Mystery Case Files games differ from I Spy games in two critical respects: the first two Mystery Case Files games (Huntsville and Prime Suspects) pit the player against the clock (Ravenhearst has a “relaxed” option that gives players twice as long with each level), and the Mystery Case Files games aren’t as concerned with playing fair in terms of hiding things in plain sight. A bowling ball, for example, may be hidden behind something so completely that only one of its holes is visible. Mystery Case Files is also not above making objects tiny, hiding them in shadows, concealing big chunks of them beyond the edge of the screen, manipulating their scale so as to make them nearly unrecognizable, or making them the same color as something they are sitting upon or in front of.

There is another element to the MCF games that may—may—put off younger players, at least at first. The objects one is asked to find frequently come from a time that was old when I was young, and I was young when Eisenhower was serving his first term. 16mm film reels, candlestick phones, crank-operated coffee grinders, manual typewriters, toys from the 1930s: all find a comfortable home in the MCF game world. I suspect the folks at Big Fish Games are aiming squarely at older casual gamers, to whom all these objects will be both familiar and nostalgic.

While the pressure of playing against the clock can be unnerving the first few times through, players will soon realize that the Mystery Case Files games recycle their puzzle images the same way the I Spy games do. The more one plays, the easier it becomes to find most of the items in the first few minutes, leaving ample time to find the rest. Plus the Mystery Case Files games give players hint buttons that can be used to reveal those items that have remained stubbornly hidden. And if you don’t find everything in time, no problem. MCF games save automatically at your last completed mission.

Welcome Improvements

Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, the first entry in the series, ends each mission with a jumbled image of the guilty party against the backdrop of one of the puzzle images. Players solve the puzzle with the clock still running. Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects offers one of three different minigames at the end of each mission, adding some welcome variety to the gameplay. The photo jumble is joined by a “find ten words” puzzle and a slick variation of Concentration. Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst locks some of its rooms with bizarre and intriguing puzzles that feel like mini adventure games and finishes each chapter with a torn-up diary page that must be reassembled to reveal the story. Huntsville and Prime Suspects focus on apprehending criminals, while Ravenhearst offers a classic gothic tale of madness and haunting.

Where Huntsville presents a series of puzzle images where the player is required to “just find things,” Prime Suspects mixes it up by offering three different ways to explore a puzzle image. In addition to the usual “just find things” mode, there is also a “find things in the dark with a flashlight” mode and a “find things behind doors or walls with x-ray glasses” mode. Working against the clock while dragging a small pool of light across a complex image can be deliciously stressful. Oh, and did I mention you have to find the battery in one of the other puzzle images during the mission before you can use either the flashlight or the x-ray glasses?

While Ravenhearst does not have the variety of search modes found in Prime Suspects, it does offer a number of clever puzzle locks that must be cracked before certain areas can be accessed.  (While one can skip those locks that require quick reflexes, skipping a lock shaves five minutes off one’s allotted time and removes any available hints. Rather than risk the loss of both time and hints, I recommend going here for a walkthrough of the puzzle locks.) Players are encouraged to click everything on a puzzle lock screen to see what happens. Then the solving begins. Perhaps items need to be clicked in a certain order or dials set to number hiding elsewhere on the screen. The puzzle locks can be so engaging that it’s a shame Ravenhearst only allows one to play them in the course of the game. It would have been great if each solved puzzle lock could have been placed in a gallery where they could be enjoyed aside from the main game.

Huntsville offers players more than 15 crimes to solve in more than 20 locations. Prime Suspects offers players more than 22 levels to explore in 29 locations. Ravenhearst offers players 21 levels in 32 locations. And, since the clues are randomized, there is a lot of replay value in all three titles.

Wannabes Hidden Expedition, Travelogue 360, and Paparazzi

As much as I enjoy the I Spy and Mystery Case Files games, I have not been able to work up any enthusiasm for the Hidden Expedition, Travelogue 360, or Paparazzi franchises from Big Fish Games. Hidden Expedition: Titanic offers so much less than any of the MCF games that it feels more like a sketch than a fully realized title: same play mechanics, no charm.  Travelogue 360 Paris is simply tacky. The Travelogue 360 gimmick is that the locations are all incredibly sharp nodal photographs from famous sites … sites that have been obscured with hidden objects. I lost interest when I found myself in Saint-Sulpice, a church second only to Notre Dame in terms of grandeur, which had been despoiled with superimposed images of alarm clocks, parking meters, chocolate cakes, barber chairs, and yo-yos. Ack! And then there’s Paparazzi, a title that combines three distinct game modes (find the hidden objects, find the differences between two images, take pictures of an elusive celebrity) in a dog’s breakfast of cartoony primary color awfulness. Fortunately, for the curious, there are demos of all three available.

Verdict

An enthusiastic Thumb Up for the I Spy and Mystery Case Files games. No rating for Hidden Expedition, Travelogue 360, or Paparazzi.

More Hidden Stuff

Scholastic has released a sort of “Greatest Hides” version of the I Spy series entitled I Spy Mystery. I Spy Mystery recycles screens from the previous I Spy games to support a “solve 13 cases” format.

CD or Download?

Big Fish Games, which began as a download-only operation, is now offering the Mystery Case Files titles in boxed retail form.  And Scholastic, which started with retail boxes, is offering the I Spy games as downloads. Anyone else feel a blur in here?

Technical Note

Big Fish Games made some refinements in Prime Suspects. Players are advised to make sure they have the most recent version (1.3b) in order to play the final puzzle.

Bonus Hint

Find a certain hidden mascot in Ravenhearst, send an email to Big Fish Games at the address the mascot reveals, and you may win the chance to have your face in the next MCF game. No, I can’t tell you which screen conceals the mascot or who the mascot is, but considering that Ravenhearst is a Big Fish Games title, which mascot seems most likely to be hiding out in one of the overstuffed screens? The End

The Verdict

The Lowdown

I Spy Developer: Black Hammer Publisher: Scholastic Games Release Dates: I Spy Spooky Mansion—1999; I Spy Treasure Hunt—2001; I Spy Fantasy—2003; I Spy Spooky Mansion Deluxe—2004

Mystery Case Files/Hidden Expedition Developer: Big Fish Games Publisher: Big Fish Games Release Dates: Mystery Case Files: Huntsville—November 16, 2005; Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects—April 10, 2006; Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst—December 15, 2006; Hidden Expedition: Titanic (aka Titanic: Hunt for Lost Treasure)—July 21, 2006; Travelogue 360 Paris—November 3, 2006; Paparazzi—January 19, 2007

Available for: Windows

Four Fat Chicks Links

Player Feedback—I SpyPlayer Feedback—Mystery Case Files

Screenshots

I Spy

Click to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge

Mystery Case Files

Click to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge Click to enlargeClick to enlarge

System Requirements

Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Pentium III 500 MHz 64 MB RAM

Where to Find It

 Links provided for informational purposes only.  FFC makes no warranty with regard to any transaction entered into by any party(ies).

      Copyright © Electric Eye Productions.  All rights reserved.  No reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission.

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14 Responses to Fear Factor

  • Fear Factor | Tap-Repeatedly.com | Reality Topics Blog

    […] nobody@flickr.com (graftedno1) wrote a very interesting post today.   Here’s a quick excerpt:My greatest fear is to be trapped alone in a confined space with a blind human, in total darkness. They have a heightened sense of smell and hearing, and. […]

  • Matt "Steerpike" Sakey

    Lewis, you made me think of the scariest moments I’ve experienced in gaming, and we’re very similar people.

    Bioshock had two moments – the dentist and the flooded room filled with mannequins.

    Thief had Return to the Cathedral, which was terrifying to me. Thief 3 had Shalebridge Cradle, which is so scary it ought to be fined.

    System Shock 2 kept me on the edge of my seat, but it was more lonely panic than true fear.

    Korsakovia was so scary that I uninstalled it.

    And STALKER. Oh, god, the haunted labs in STALKER. The latter two games don’t have scares like that. Few games do.

    It’s especially rare for a game to have more than mere “moments” – for a game to be scary from beginning to end, that’s a triumph.

    Wonderful article. As if Gregg’s review wasn’t enough to convince me that Penumbra is not something I have the courage to play!

  • DPenn

    I’m with you Lewis … I’m a bit of a puss. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of dread as entertainment.

    Still, I’m drawn to dark stories when they have something interesting to say, whether it’s a game like Thief or a film like, say, Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible. So I’ll push through, sometimes peering through my fingers.

    The trouble with games, though, is that if you look through your fingers, you’re probably just going to have to play through the scenario again. :~)

  • Mike "Scout" Gust

    I wanted to play this game. I downloaded the demo but the controls were just too wonky for me to get my head around. I liked the atmospheric vibe a lot. I think I’m a bit desensitized from an overdose of horror movies in my youth so I don’t so much get the dread thing from these games as a nice creepy vibration. If only the controls were better…

  • Lewis B

    @ Mike, what’s wrong with the controls bud? As someone who despises poor control schemes, Penumbra’s is just like any other FPS, except to examine things you right click on them.  To use things you left click.  I’m not sure that can be considered difficult 🙂

  • Gregg B

    @Steerpike: Yeah my greatest shit-scared moments were with those games too. A few spoilers below people, so beware.

    Bioshock – Haha, I remember the dentist. I didn’t really find the game that scary overall but the bit where you go into the wine cellar and notice a mannequin facing the wall and after upgrading your weapon it’s stood directly behind you motionless and quiet just for a moment before attacking you. I shat a brick. I also missed that bit originally until Lew told me about it.

    System Shock 2 – same as you really, more unremitting tension all the way through rather than specific terrifying moments. Oh actually, theres a bit where you call a lift and it breaks then you realise a service droid is coming to fix it… I do remember having sleep issues after my first encounter with the cyborg ninjas though.

    Thief: The Dark Project – The Sword and Return to the Cathedral and Down in the Bonehoard and well, loads of them. The Sword made me break out into goosebumps though because there was a bit where you could hear this creepy giggling which seemed like it was following me about then it suddenly changed to this horrible throaty noise. What made matters worse was that the EAX (bless you Creative) made my foot steps sound like somebody else was there with me. That level was incredible, a bit too incredible as it seems I missed great chunks of it because I was so eager to leave.

    Thief II: The Metal Age – Trail of Blood where you end up in that opening with those damn tree beasts. God the first time I saw one of those hurtling towards me I actually died shortly afterward. Do you remember that Mechanist child walking around on one of the levels? That was a little creepy.

    Then there’s Penumbra: Overture – quite a few bits but I’m not mentioning them here.

    Oh and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. – The brain scorcher lab just because it was so damn quiet. My imagination seriously got the better of me there. Those stuffed animals and heads I’d seen in various buildings led me to believe that those creatures were lurking somewhere in the Zone, specifically that lab.

    @Mike: My control setup was perfect after some tweaking (as well as the simple weapon swing fix). If you ever fancy giving it another go, give me a shout and I’ll let you know my setup.

  • Lewis B

    I’m not sure why guys, but one of my starting paragraphs had gone missing, even though I copied it straight from the original source, and It was fine earlier. 

    Incase you missed it due to some technical issue you might want to re-read just after “Well no she wouldn’t in truth, but in Penumbra: Overture you don’t want to move anyway.” at the very start for those who’ve already read the article. Apologies 🙂

  • Mike "Scout" Gust

    Lewis, it was the weapon swing. It had this terrible, unresponsive feel to it, like trying to hit through molasses. I couldn’t stand using it. I tried the .ini fix as mentioned in the review but it didn’t seem to help. Of course this was the demo…but that shouldn’t have made any difference. I might try the second game instead as I guess they did away with the weapons thing.

    I’m see your first paragraph just fine. It’s the dialogue, right?

  • jdeuel

    I like the argument that weapons can remove fear, but even loaded to the teeth with ammo in AVP’99 the Marine missions were frightful because the enemy was anywhere at any time.

    As for Penumbra Overture, if the controls are anything like the original Penumbra they need to hack in some Wii-Remote 3d controls. I did not like using my mouse for 3d movements.

  • Gregg B

    @Mike: I’ve read that many people avoided conflict altogether in Overture which incidentally is something forced upon you in Black Plague. As somebody who has been renovating a house over the last 6 months with no DIY experience I can safely say that swinging a hammer is significantly easier in real life than it is in Overture without the fix. The fix balanced that for me.

    I’d highly recommend completing the first Penumbra because it’s one big build up to Black Plague which spoils the ending to Overture in the intro. And it’s a great ending too. Just so you know!

  • Lewis B

    @ Steerpike, those moments you mention are all my worst too!!  Do you remember the Robot labs in SS2? Absolutely terrifying, waiting for robots to burst out on you! 🙁 oh and have you ever player Condemned?

    @ Mike, The use of weapons in Penumbra is different to say HL2, where the player is physically holding the weapon, as in Penumbra it floats slightly infront of you.  However, if you change the control method to normal weapon swing, it’s no different!  Speak to Greggi and he’ll tell you what to do 🙂

    @ jdeuel, AVP the original and its sequal were scary however what type of fear do you think it is? I don’t think it’s anything more than sheer tension.  Having a Smart Gun makes you feel incredibly powerful.  I can honestly say in Penumbra the fear is sheer unrivalled terror, where you actually have to force yourself to play on.  It genuinly is that scary! 🙂

  • Jason Dobry

    It’s so true, an arsenal of weapons and ammo rapidly deflates any sense of horror or uneasiness in any game for reasons you already mentioned. Sakey, I thought Bioshock was more “lonely panic,” while I was pretty much always terrified in System Shock 2. I really, really, REALLY did not want to enter The Many’s nursery, and my weapons were so unreliable and ammo so scarce that I never felt safe.

    Silent Hill was terrifying for the same reasons. Ammo was rare and I frequently had to rely on my pipe for self-defense.  Even when I had ammo, the game mechanics prevented my character from being anything other than marginal with any firearm.

    Fear had one moment for me: I was climbing up a ladder, and as I reached the upper platform, my guy briefly looked down as he climbed off. As my perspective looked up again, that Ring-esque little girl was RIGHT THERE, reaching for me. I screamed and she was gone.

    What else…the original Aliens vs. Predator sent me into a locker room and I could only hear the facehuggers scurrying about somewhere within. I had to go in there. I advanced about three steps before the damn thing screamed and filled up my screen with its repulsive underside as it implanted me with its spawn. My roommate made fun of me for weeks for screaming like a girl child.

    Korsakovia–meh.  I was too annoyed and frustrated by the box rearrangement/jumping puzzles to be scared. I uninstalled it after an hour of play, I think. Maybe the scary parts were later, but I doubt it.

    As for Penumbra, I did play through about half of it before other games distracted me. I remember unease and creepiness, but no sweaty fear. I think I’m to blame here, or, more precisely, my daughter, who was still an infant at the time and generally allowed me only to play during the day for 45 minutes at a time. I was denied total immersion and the fear effect suffered. Maybe I should give it another go after I finish Call of Pripyat since she sleeps through the night now. With any luck, Penumbra will keep me from doing the same.

  • Gregg B

    I played the demo of F.E.A.R. but that ladder scare is the only bit I remember. Christ, that made me jump. I’m not too good with cat scares.

    Also I felt exactly the same about Korsakovia. It was creepy at first but then it began to irritate me far too much and it just soured the experience. I stopped playing as a result. Not to mention, when I realised I could bash those smoke-things with my crowbar they didn’t bother me nearly as much.

  • Online Up

    Great article. I look forward to reading more in the future.

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