Arcade Game Central

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is the the third episode in the Mystery Case Files franchise. The two previous episodes, Mystery Case Files: Huntsville and Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects, were two of the biggest sellers of 2005 and 2006, and Ravenhearst is poised to do the same in 2007.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is a classic puzzle game that features a captivating story line, exquisite illustrations and plenty of unique levels and compelling characters

In Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst, players assume the role of a master detective who must unlock the hundred-year-old mystery that surrounds Ravenhearst Manor. The recently acquired diary of Emma Ravenhearst may hold the key to unraveling the history of this unsettling place, yet all the pages are missing. In order to solve the mystery, you’ll need to search 32 rooms, scouring each one for a list of cleverly hidden items, then locate and assemble diary pages to learn the history of the house and, ultimately, unlock the mystery.

The game includes hundreds of items to find, which are new and different each time the game is played. The items are all “hidden in plain sight” in the beautifully-rendered illustrations, but are so carefully camouflaged that they are all but invisible, until you see them, then you won’t be able to understand how you missed them in the first place.

It often takes several minutes of careful study to find all the items on your list, and sometimes the description of an item is deliberately ambiguous. For example, is a “bat” a baseball bat or a winged rodent? It can be frustrating, but it’s also tremendously addictive.

In addition to finding the items hidden in each room, you will occasionally need to solve a puzzle in order to enter a room. These elaborate mechanical puzzles are Rube Goldberg-ish in nature, in which you need to work out the exact sequence of events needed to unlock the door. These cleverly-designed mini-puzzles are great fun.

Once you’ve found enough items, you’ll receive the torn-up pieces of an old photograph, which you’ll need to piece together in order to receive a missing diary page and continue your quest.

Ravenhearst’s graphics are absolutely top-notch, and the game features moody and atmospheric music and sounds that greatly add to the experience of exploring a spooky old mansion. And once you’ve solved the mystery, the game’s not over. You can play again and again, and the game is always fresh, with new items and puzzles galore.

More information about Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst
Download Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst (71.39MB)

I haven’t read the book (The Da Vinci Code), nor have I seen the movie, and frankly I wasn’t thrilled about seeing a casual game based on the subject, either. Movie tie-in games are often nothing more than an attempt to cash in on a hot property. So I nearly passed on Da Vinci’s Secret, a new game from Thunderstorm Games.

And boy am I glad I didn’t.

Simply put, this is one of the best games I’ve seen in quite some time. Yes, it’s storyline and theme is based on The Da Vinci Code’s basic concept. But other than that it’s not really a direct tie-in with either the book or the movie.

In Da Vinci’s Secret, Leonardo Da Vinci is hiding an earth-shattering secret in his artwork and it’s up to you to find the truth. You must puzzle your way through Europe, seeking clues in Da Vinci’s notes, revealing hidden meanings, and unraveling the riddles that shelter the truth. Each destination on your journey is a mental challenge that will bend the brain of even the best puzzlers.

For me, the big news with this game is the return of the “lines” style of game that was so popular a few years ago, but has somehow fallen out of favor. The only recent titles I can think of in this genre are Wonderlines and Arcade Lines. The gameplay is simple - create blocks of three or more balls to remove them from the board, as more balls randomly appear on the gameboard. This may sound like the ubiquitous “match three” games that are so popular now, but there are some of distinct differences between the two styles of games:

• In a match-three game, the gameboard is always full. In a lines game, the gameboard is only partially full.
• In a match-three game, gravity is in effect. That is, new balls constantly fall from the top of the screen as balls are deleted. You need to be constantly aware of how balls will fall to full empty spaces. Gravity has no effect in a lines game.
• In a match-three game, balls are removed by swapping adjacent pieces. In a lines game, balls may be moved freely on the board, as long as there is an open pathway to the new point. This freedom of movement is one of the appealing features of a lines game.

Unlike many old-school casual games that have been given a modern facelift, the changes and additions in Da Vinci’s Secret really do make the game better. The “adventure” portion of the game, where you solve increasingly-difficult puzzles to advance through a series of challenges to solve the ultimate mystery, actually adds an intriguing element to the game, resulting in a real sense of accomplishment as you progress thru the game. And the addition of power-ups, based on your skill and foresight, are also a welcome addition to the game. Careful use of these power-ups is a major factor in successfully completing the puzzles in a minimum amount of time, particularly in the later stages of the game.

The atmospheric elements of the game - graphics, animation, sound effects, and music - are top-notch, and are entirely in character with the theme of the game, and in most cases really add to the immersiveness of the game.

Note: There is also a game called The Da Vinci Code, which is a movie tie-in, and which is a more typical match-three style game, albeit with it’s own unique take on the genre. While it’s a quality production, and fun in its own right, I don’t think that it’s nearly the masterpiece that Da Vinci’s Secret is.

Bottom line: Da Vinci’s Secret is a masterpiece, particularly for those of us who loved (and missed) the “lines” style of gaming. Try it - I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

More information about Da Vinci’s Secret
Download Da Vinci’s Secret (14.56MB)

Enjoy the excitement and spectacle of fireworks (without blowing your hand off) with Rocket Mania Deluxe from Pop Cap Games.

In this flashy variation on the Pipes theme, you must twist and turn the fuses to link a burning match to one or more rockets, then watch the sparks fly! Upgrade your rockets for bigger bangs by collecting coins along the way. But watch out - set off your fireworks by dawn or the show is over. Three play modes for all skill levels. How many rockets can you launch at once?

With sharp graphics, atmospheric (if a bit repetitive) sound and music, and addictive gameplay, Rocket Mania Deluxe is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July holiday, without the noise, danger, and expense of real live explosives.

For another game with an Independence Day feel, check out Fireworks Extravaganza, in which you light up the sky of the world’s most famous cities in a fantastic shape-matching puzzler.

More information about Rocket Mania Deluxe
Download Rocket Mania Deluxe (4.36MB)

Glyph is a new puzzle game from Sandlot Games, who’ve had recent hits with titles such as Cake Mania, Granny In Paradise, and Tradewinds Legends.

This is an epic puzzle adventure, in which your objective is to save a dying world by assembling ancient glyphs. You must restore the world of Kuros to its once-beautiful state by harnessing the powers of Wood, Fire, Water, Metal and Aether over 255 dazzling levels in 5 different worlds.

Glyph features outstanding graphics and sound, including some quite credible voice work, atmospheric music, and smooth animation. The game is nominally a match-three game in the Collapse! vein, in which you attempt to remove groups of three or more matching stones to reveal the elemental glyphs hidden beneath the many layers of rock.

As you remove the stones, spaces are filled from above, and new stones appear to take the place of those displaced. The more stones you can remove at once, the more artifacts you earn, and the greater the power of each one. Artifacts (power-ups) include flash bombs, row and column breakers, color-changers, stone sorters, chroma bombs, and many more. Each of these artifacts affect the stones in different ways that will help you to reveal the hidden glyph. Each of the artifacts has three power levels, small, medium, and maximum, which determine how much of the game board the power-up will affect. All told, the game offers 14 interactive objects, and allows you to play in either Quest or Action mode.

In Quest mode, your objective is to save Kuros by puzzling your way through 125 levels over 5 worlds. The fast-paced Action Mode will challenge your skills and reflexes with 130 additional levels of game play.

In its preview of the game, Gamezebo’s Chuck Miller reports that “Glyph is one of those games you can play in brief sittings…if you have the willpower. That’s the problem, though. Its addictive, match-happy, rock-splitting play will keep you glued to your seat for hours. You can etch that claim into stone.”

More information about Glyph
Download Glyph (16.61MB)

Escape to Ancient China to unlock 4000 years of ancient wisdom with Mahjong Escape, a new game from Playtime Games.

Mahjong Escape offers the familiar Mahjong solitaire game within a rich and immersive environment that features stunning graphics and relaxing Chinese music. Your task is to match the tiles and travel through 11 Dynasties, unlocking ancient wisdom on your way, to collect the lost dynasty treasures. Enjoy over 175 unique levels, 6 different tile sets and 15 backgrounds. There are also 5 special power-ups to help you on your adventure.

Mahjong Escape has been reviewed by Marc Saltzman at Gamezebo, who says that “Mahjong Escape is fun, relaxing — and even educational. It’s actually one of the finer Mahjong games around.”

Blue Stub reports that “Mahjong Escape is a great game for new mahjong players,” and that “This is an addictive and relaxing game, with very few faults.”

I agree with both of those assessments - Mahjong Escape is indeed a solid Mahjong game. The Dynasty Adventure (quest) mode offers an interesting and compelling twist to standard gameplay, and the Classic mode offers abundant layouts and all the amenities anyone would want, including undo, hints, and shuffles. Mahjong Escape features a rich gaming environment with smooth and tasteful animation, and is certainly one of the most polished mahjong solitaires I’ve ever played.

More information about Mahjong Escape
Download Mahjong Escape (8.71MB)