Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate Review

After spending Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst holed up in a mansion, it's nice to be back investigating suspects in Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate, the fourth game in the series. Madame Fate, the fortune teller at the local carnival, is convinced that she'll die at the stroke of midnight, and it's up to you to find her would-be killer before it's too late.

Each of the 15 carnival employees has a motive for wanting Madame Fate dead: Lucy, the bearded lady, is jealous of her success, Larry the magician is afraid she'll cost him his job, and the Mermaid is afraid Madame Fate will tell her husband about the affair she's having with the Strong Man. The fact that the crime you're investigating hasn't actually happened yet puts a quirky twist on the detective work, but the gameplay itself is similar to past Mystery Case Files games.

You'll investigate each person by searching the carnival grounds for clues. Like a typical hidden object game, each location is littered with a strange collection of objects, and you have to search through the clutter to find a specific list of items before time runs out. Once you've found all the clues, you'll bring them back to Madame Fate so that she can use her crystal ball to reveal what the person's fate will be when midnight rolls around - thus eliminating them from the list of suspects. Before the crystal ball reveals what it knows, however, you'll have to solve a fiendish puzzle similar to the locked door puzzles in Ravenhearst.

These crystal ball puzzles aren't the only time your brain will be challenged in ways other than simply searching for objects. In order to gain access to the rooms of the characters themselves, you'll typically have to solve a short word-based brainteaser using scrambled letters. Once you've gained access to the character's room, you're given sets of the same item to find - for example, ten paperclips and 15 lightning bolts. Some of these are quite funny - in the bearded lady's room, for example, you might find yourself search for 10 men's razors and ten lady's combs to reflect her split personality.

MCF: Madame Fate boasts a couple of other new features as well. Certain scenes contain smaller scenes inside them that can also be investigated. For example, in the entrance to the fairground, in addition to searching for a list of items outside, you can also click on the ticket booth to hunt for a new set of clues inside.

Items that change shape (such as going from apple to orange), is another new feature of MCF: Madame Fate. If you notice and click on enough of these items, you can unlock new carnival locations to explore like the Kitty Carnival - think lions jumping through hoops but on a smaller scale!

MCF: Madame Fate features stellar production values that aren't only limited to graphics but extend to audio as well - an area that is so often neglected in casual games. Madame Fate's voice is perfect, and not only does she narrate the game but she also interjects colorful comments as you search for items. You'll also hear all the sounds of the carnival, from the murmer of the crowd to carnies shouting and the mechanical sounds of the rides.

It goes without saying that the game looks great as well, and there are some truly thrilling scenes that capture the excitement of the carnival at just the right angle, including peering over the top of a rollercoaster and riding along on a twirling horse carousel. Subtle animations literally help to bring the scenes to life too, whether its lightning streaking the sky or ducks that actually move left to right in the scene with the rifle-shooting game.

In fact, my only complaints with MCF: Madame Fate lie with the actual hidden object portion of the game. Namely, some of the items are tiny and difficult to make out. You do get five hints per level to work with, but the so-called hint circle is huge and imprecise, designed to draw your attention to the general direction of the item rather than reveal it.

Bring out the magnifying glass if you need it, though, because Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate isn't a game to be missed. The lovingly detailed carnival atmosphere is as enticing as the real thing, and the story sucks you in as well - you'll want to keep playing until you find out the fates of each of the carnies and of Madame Fate herself.

I like hidden object games and the MCF games are unquestionably the best. Best graphics, best story, most clever games-within-the-game. I've just completed the first level of Madame Fate - just barely within the time limit - and it's exceptional. Very challenging but not impossibly so - after the first level I can't wait to see what comes next.

Save your money on the cheap MCF knock-offs and buy the real deal.

Excellent review and right on the money with respect to everything, good and (only a tiny bit) bad about this game. If you're wondering about buying the game, the review says it all.

One of the first things I noticed was that Madame Fate is perfectly consistent with its predecessors in the Mystery Case File series, moving things forward with respect to production values and incorporating technical advancements that make it exciting and **appropriately** difficult (i.e., the game is challenging, but it's not so difficult it's no fun), without abandoning its MCF roots.

The storyline is logical and the graphics, voice talent, background music and carnival noise work together seamlessly to set a flawless stage. The game absolutely draws you into its carnival world!

While I also noticed (with some frustration) the vague hint function, Madame Fate adheres to what I think of as "fair game play" with respect to object identification (i.e., you only have to click on an object once for it to register, and the clues are specific enough that you won't be charged with picking up, say, three tools in scene that contains 25 different tool possibilities), so it's actually possible proceed without any hints at all. The objects, moreover, are worked a little more artfully into the scenes as opposed to requiring you to simply pick through one enormous pile of junk after another.

With Madame Fate, I think Big Fish has clearly shown that it's still the "big dog" when it comes hidden object games!

Each game in the Mystery Case Files series has a reputation of being better than its predecessor, and Madame Fate is certainly no exception. Exquisite art work, clever puzzles, and well-hidden objects make this game an instant favorite. It's extremely well polished and chock full of those nice little touches that make a MCF game so exceptional.

I can't wait to see how Big Fish Games tops this one!

Does anyone know of a work around for Big Fish now that they've gone to a download management system? I used to be able to download their .exe to a cd and then activate the game five times. This worked well because my mother is on dial-up and she cannot have her phone line tied up for 5+ hours downloading some of these games. (She lives in a remote area; no high speed available.)

Now she can't get any of these great games.

I love this game and I really want to do a walkthrough for it. Took a while for it to come out but the wait was worth it.

fab game, just finished it and wanting the sequel now

Well Big Fish did it again. As I have mentioned before Big Fish is the whale among the ocean of other minnow game companies who are all trying to grow up to be just like them. Although I will say Azada, Mortimer, and Dream Chronicles were very good and I hope that there are sequels to these games.

This MCF game is EXCELLENT and as was mentioned earlier I am anxious to see them top this.

One little side remark, when you are looking for clues try to find three before clicking them and than you can click them real fast and gain time on the clock. Every little bit of time really helps in this game.

Happy gaming!!!!!

toni

This is simply an amazing game! I bought it right away and I can't stop playing it. I wish there was an option to turn off the voice for madam fate lol, she gets old quick, but besides that the game is perfect, even better than everest and interpol. Ok guys take the weekend off and then get back to work and give us the next azada and hidden expedition!!! lol

Cheers Daniel

I agree with this review completely! The game is the best, even topping Ravenhearst, which I thought would be near impossible. Can't wait for a walkthrough and hints, because I had to skip a couple of the crystal ball puzzles. The ending was a GREAT payoff and can't wait for game 5.

Not a spoiler, but did anyone else catch Madame Fate's comment in the game "You're not in Huntsville anymore"? I had to pause the game cause I was cracking up laughing! Nice inside joke!

Great graphics, sound, gameplay, replayability (at least to shave off time), nice extras (some I still have to unlock) and a wonderful story-especially the ending!

Best of the best - Big Fish and MCF have done it again! Nice work, all!

I am stuck at in the book of tattoo palor. I cant seem to find the snowflake. And the green tea, I dragged it to the cup already but its still there. Is there a bug or something?

anyone completed this game

i can't seem to get it to work it keeps coming up with an error message and terinmating itself

Hi all, we've posted our tips & tricks for Madame Fate! Check it out here: http://www.gamezebo.com/features/mystery_case_files_madame_fate_1.html

~Erin

My girlfriend won't quit playing this. Jerks.

I agree with the comments about the quality of MCF games. I believe it's almost a year since Ravenhearst but well worth the wait. I have only just started the new game but can't wait to see how it progresses.

This is by far the best game,I love the crystal ball puzzles,do not give hints they are so much fun to figure out.Just finished and starting again.Its funny to put items together like jam on toast or fighters in ring.Like the one person said if you find 3 items and click fast on them the time mode will give you extra time..Super game and I hope they can top it..

I bought this as soon as it was available because I have enjoyed the past MCF games. The graphics are awesome. The objects aren't too easy to find. The extra locations within locations was a real treat. I would give this a 5 star rating, with the exception of the following: The Crystal Ball puzzles had very vague hints. I had to check here or other sites for most of them just to figure out what the objective was. I feel there was too much time spent in solving the puzzles, and figuring out what was involved with each of them to get through them. Having Madame Fate talking in each scene was downright annoying. I got to the point where I hoped her killer would succeed just to shut her up! Other then those things, I did enjoy the game and it did get me anxious for the next one! Can't wait. Just hope they cut back on the puzzle element or at least give you some kind of real clue as to what you're supposed to do.

I really enjoy playing Hidden Object Games of all kinds, MCF have a superb range of Hidden object Games and they are getting better and better. Madame Fate has taken these games to the next level, objects are a lot harder to find plus each location has mystery objects to look out for. After you sucessfully achieve the level, the mystic ball challenges will tax your brain to the limit. MCF have achieved a 10 star rating for this one. Looking forward to the next.

I also have problems with the Tattoo Parlor.
The cork is in the bottle and the Tea is in the bowl, but they still remain on my list on the right. And an error window when I press Hint.
Hope to hear a solution soon!

Ha! This game is even better than I thought before. I'll have to get the full game, after I beat Ravenhearst first though (love that one to).

Like point and click adventure games, they may fall out of favor eventually, but never truly die out, and there will always be die hard fans of hidden object games like me.

The graphics and sound are incredible and the puzzles are quite challenging. I was hoping that it was more like "Prime Suspects" though and that the suspects would alternate around for each successive game, making each game experience unique. Once you've solved this one, that's it. When you play it again, it's the same exact game as the first time, as far as sequencing. And, I thought the "to be continued..." ending was quite hokey. I'd rate it as pretty good, but not great.

Does anyone know if there is a way to bypass the info screens and get right to the start menu....i guess i am a little impatient to get right to the game....lol
thanks,
cristiaan

I just finished the game in little more than 8 hours - great thanks to Erin for cheat page, BTW - after having played the other ones. I loved Ravenhearst, but this one is far better ! They developped the mini-games a lot. The letter games weren't too difficult for a non-anglophon (I'm French). I loved the characters and find-10-of-the-same-thing.
But the end... Aaah ! Big Fish, I passionately hate you !

this game rocks. it is hard to find games that challenge the mind and this one does. keep them coming !

I also got a Green Tea problem. In the book of tattoo you need to make Green Tea and put peas in a pod. I dragged the tea bag in the cup but its still there and i can't move the peas.

Now I can't finish the game :(

I just finished my 3rd time (down from 8 hours to 4:36 - Yay !) and I remarked something in the last puzzle. You have four cards in the bottom : I called them "Search", "Diary" and "Ravenhearst". The fourth one remains hidden. Somebody has an idea about what it can be ?

There are none better than this game. Don't waste your time with any of the others. MCF just keep getting better.

hey suzan, no i dont think anybody knows what the 4th card is (you have to wait for the sequel to find out)

i read somewhere (y! answers) that it could be the "death card" because Madame Fate fell after that..didnt she?!

oh..and can someone tell me all the events of the Phonebooth...i was just too scared to really understand what was happening..

Just completed the whole game, and I must say its best of all the other MCF games as well as any other seek and find genre game.
Some puzzles were really hard to solve especially last 3-4 puzzles
Waiting for another MCF series games

Nothing happens when I found all the required clues! What do I do now?

I clicked on the last clue, left the place before it reaches the ball. It isn't continued unless I find another clue. Is this a bug?

I have enough hidden objects to open the kitty carnival but can not find it. Can any one please help it is driving me crazy!!!

About that Kitty Carnival, you can't open it yourself. That's just an extra scene for later investigations.

[First time post ;) ] What a SPLENDID HOG game this is! I've been a fan of MCF since "Prime Suspects" (I got it before I tried "Huntsville," and by then the latter was rather obsolete in comparison) and was thrilled with "Ravenhearst."

I actually think I enjoyed "Ravenhearst's" puzzles a bit more, as they seemed more process-driven (you must do this to do this, and then this) and required some real abstract thinking at times. And it was nice to have puzzles required to progress *through* a chapter, not just to get to the next one.

But that said, I've never seen a more lovely, funny and clever HOG - or any other casual game, for that matter - that can compare with "Madame Fate." I really like the Agatha Christie series, and the Hidden Expedition games, but I simply cannot wait to find out where we will go next with MCF - back to find the horrid truth, or forward to something more chilling yet? And I loved seeing "Art the Carney" back from the Carnival ride of "Prime Suspects." What a hoot.

And hats off to the best casual game site on the web...Gamezebo is a life-saver, from reviews to hints and tips...and a great community with which to share. S.

My siblings and I just got this game a couple of days ago and have since finished the entire game! It was that addictive! And I guess, well, 3 pairs of eyes and 3 sets of brains are a lot better than one! (:

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