Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, Sacred Grove! is the latest in Big Fish
Games hit hidden-object series. In this return to the Dire Grove,
players must uncover the mysteries surrounding the Mistwalkers and the
Hunters by finding objects hidden in 15 different locations.
The Good
This
game has the hallmark of quality that the previous Big Fish Games
Mystery Case File games have carried. The backgrounds are well-done and
varied and the objectives not only are to find hidden items, but to
complete mini-games and puzzles in the process which are quite
challenging and keep your attention.
The Bad
The plot is
very ham-fisted, although it has almost no bearing on the actual game
play. Big Fish Games, while releasing a quality game, hasn't done much
to expand the Mystery Case File formula in its eleven installments so
don't expect anything revolutionary to set this one apart from the
previous games. The price too is a bit steep at $4.99, and while it is
nice to not be inconvenienced by the nagging reminders to buy premium
currency that many free-to-play hidden object games are guilty of, there
are far better games for iOS at that price point.
The Verdict
While
the game does play well, the lack of innovation or replay value really
killed the rating for me. Big Fish Games is a great studio and it would
be nice to see them pool their talent to do something really special
with this series instead of rehashing the same old formula. If you're
just crazy about hidden-object games though, you can't do better than
this.
