Mystery Case Files 20: Black Crown

Mystery Case Files: Black Crown
by Eipix Entertainment - November, 2019

Series links:  Mystery Case Files 1: Huntsville, Mystery Case Files 2: Prime Suspects, Mystery Case Files 3: Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files 4: Madame Fate, Mystery Case Files 5: Return to Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files 6: Dire Grove, Mystery Case Files 7: 13th Skull, Mystery Case Files 8: Escape From Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files 9: Shadow Lake, Mystery Case Files 10: Fate's Carnival, Mystery Case Files 11: Dire Grove, Sacred Grove, Mystery Case Files 12: Key to Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files 13: Ravenhearst Unlocked, Mystery Case Files 14: Broken Hour, Mystery Case Files 15: The Black Veil; Mystery Case Files 16: The Revenant's Hunt; Mystery Case Files 17: Rewind; Mystery Case Files 18: The Countess; Mystery Case Files 19: Moths to a Flame, Mystery Case Files 20: Black Crown

Available at:
Big Fish as Collector's Edition /
Steam as Collector's Edition


 
Eipix Entertainment proudly brings you the 20th case in the classic Mystery Case Files saga!

When a patient at the Manchester Asylum draws a huge crown covering the walls of her cell, you’re sent to learn what, if anything, it has to do with your past. But when the inmates escape, there’s only one way for you to regain control — find the Black Crown before they do. You’ll need to gather your wits and use all your abilities to learn the identity of “Jane Doe” and solve the mystery of the Black Crown in this new chapter of the classic hidden-object puzzle adventure game series!

• Help the Voodoo Shop owner in the Bonus Chapter!
  
• Replay your favorite HOPs and mini-games and earn achievements!
  
• Tons of collectibles, morphing objects, and souvenirs to find!
  
• Enjoy exclusive wallpapers, concept art, music, videos, and more!
  
• Never get lost with the strategy guide!
  

Mystery Case Files 20: Black Crown (IHOG)
Playing the CE of Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull before playing this title highly recommended!

Options include separate sliders for Music, SFX, Voices and Cutscene music, Custom Cursor, Pop-ups and Full-screen (auto-widescreen).  Choice of three preset difficulties, or you can tailor the gameplay to your preferred style with Custom mode.  Can be changed at any time.

Story:

When a mute woman at the Manchester Asylum scrawls all over the walls of her cell, the images forming a huge crown, the Queen sends you to make sure that it has nothing to do with a case you investigated 10 years ago.  When the patients subsequently escape, it becomes a race to see who can find the Black Crown first.


It quickly becomes apparent that this case is indeed linked to MCF 7: 13th Skull, and not just because the loading screen has 13 numbered skulls dancing across it. ;)  The first pages of the Journal gives details of how 13th Skull ended (HUGE spoilers!), so I really recommend playing that and the Bonus Chapter before starting Black Crown, as they area really integral to this story.

Objectives can be found both in the journal and via the flag on the game's task bar.

Gameplay:

Be on the lookout for collectible coral (morphing items) and crabs on each scene.  Areas will become inaccessible as you progress, but you'll be able to grab any you missed in the Extras section once you finish the game.  There's an indicator for each on your toolbar to help you keep track of where you have and haven't found these items yet.

The interactive MAP has fast-travel available, and directional HINTS will give you a fast-travel pop-up if the area you need to go to is more than one scene away.

Hidden Object Scenes start out being pretty interesting, but in the end, most of them are your standard to-find lists.  Granted, there may be multiple levels to the same scene, but design-wise the bulk of them seemed uninspired.  I really liked a few of the more-interesting ones, though!


Mini-games are pretty much fun and doable, including the few "super puzzles".  Unlike the last MCF that I played, there's only one part of a super-puzzle that you can do at a time, which unlocks the next part.  It definitely helped cut down on confusion that way!  As before you can skip the whole puzzle, or just the part you're having trouble with.

Sights and Sounds:

The voice acting is pretty good (I especially liked the pirate voices!), and there's a nice variety of music throughout the game.

It was weird being in the asylum again, having just played an MCF game that also started in these hallways!  Visually there are some really nicely-designed scenes.


CE Content:

• Integrated Strategy Guide
  
• 42 Collectible Coral (morphing items) and Crabs
  
• In-game achievements
  
• Bonus Chapter
  
• 20 Hidden Object Scenes
  
• 19 Mini-games
  
• 8 Rewatchable Videos
  
• 8 Wallpapers (four dimensions to choose from)
  
• Artwork (Concept Art compilations)
  
• 13 Music Tracks (can be saved)
  

Bonus Chapter:

Return to Louisiana at Momma Aimee's behest, after her research into Phineas Crown brings danger to herself and everyone around her.  Although the main game took me 3.5 hours to complete, it seemed like it ended too soon.  The extra chapter had some important information in it, and I'd really liked to have seen it as part of the main game.  To be honest, the bonus seemed rushed, and would have made a good game all by itself if they'd taken some time with it.

Verdict:

This is a solid game, but I think it will be more enjoyable if you know the full story, and to do so, you'll need to play 13th Skull first.  The bonus chapter for both games is a must, as the extra chapters help tie everything together.  Recommended to MCF fans!