The Carnival has Arrived!
by Thomas Mysliwiec

Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is the fourth game in Big Fish Game?s detective series. Each game has tried to outdo itself and Madame Fate is no different. A carnival has arrived in town and your sleuthing skills are needed to apprehend the suspect! In a pleasant twist, Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate introduces you to a peculiar fortune teller who is convinced that her life will draw to an end at the stroke of midnight. She needs your help to investigate 15 carnival employees who can be linked to her death. Several employees have motivation for wanting Madame Fate dead. The magician, Larry is afraid of losing his job, The Mermaid is afraid of her affair with the Strong Man becoming public and Lucy, the bearded lady is just outright jealous of Madame Fate?s success. In order to shed light on the whereabouts of each carnie during her fateful hour you?ll need to gather enough clues to kick-start her crystal ball and reveal who will be where when the clock strikes 12am.

This hidden object game combines clue finding much like its predecessors. You?ll move from one carnival location to another searching for specific items within a timely manner. The game retains a high level of replayability as each location is littered with a wide variety of objects to keep you fresh. Object finding along with various other mini-games present a break from clue hunting and goes a long way to mix up your detective work. Some areas will have additional locations within the scene itself much like a puzzle within a puzzle. As in the previous game, Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate has some devilish puzzles. However, this time around you?ll face far more challenging riddle that might leave you searching for tips and tricks on the web. If you can make it past some of these challenging mini-games you?ll find a pleasant satisfaction of outwitting what others will surely stumble upon.

New word puzzles make an appearance in the game. In order to gain access to certain locations or room you?ll be faced with solving a short world-based brain bender by unscrambling letters. Should you succeed you?ll then be asked to search for similar items within that scene like multiple lightning bolts, paperclips or in the case of the bearded lady, razors and combs. Another noticeable change is the inclusion of shape shifting items such as an apple that changes to an orange. If you capture enough of these items you?ll be rewarded with a new carnival location to explore like the Kitty Carnival that portrays lions jumping through rings.

Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate sets a new standard for graphical achievement in a casual game. You?ll be hard pressed to find another game so rich in detail with immersive environments. Each location to explore captures the childhood memories of visiting a circus for the first time. Whether it the rollercoaster thrill ride among a laser show or a lunch cart treat, this game pays attention to a number of things that help engross you in the story. Among its visual accomplishments is also is matched with good sound and voice over work. Madame Fate?s voice is spot on and the environments sound eerie, adventurous and mysterious.

It?s hard to pick at any faults the game holds. I?d easy recommend the game to any Mystery Case Files veteran or a fan of the hidden object genre. Don't miss an oppertunity to download and draw your own conclusion. Newcomers to the genre might find some of the items located in the game a bit difficult to find, as they can be small or well camouflaged. Those with a keen eye for observation generally make the best detectives. Grab your badge and look no further if you?re ready for a playful, imaginative and cleaver game to play for hours.