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Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir
September 19, 2008 | 5:18 PM PST
by: Matt Furtado
Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
The long running PC-based puzzle/adventure series Mystery Case Files has finally made its debut on the portable scene with Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir for the DS as part of the Touch Generation. Players take the role of a master detective who must discover the whereabouts of Phil T. Rich, eccentric millionaire who went missing soon after arriving home from a six month getaway at sea. Hired by Rich's estate, players must discover what happened to Mr. Rich and who stands to inherit his vast fortune and estate.
What's Hot
The most appealing aspect of this title is idea of carrying a quick, addicting, mind-bending, classic PC title on the go. Offering the same addicting gameplay from the PC counterparts, MillionHeir makes its way to the DS with everything intact. Using nicely drawn scenes and objects, players will be able to hunt for clues with relative ease. Scouring every inch of a level to discover minute clues, the animated level designs work flawlessly and look great even on the low-res compressed screens of the DS.
Every level has a wide variety of hidden objects to be found and this can range from easy to frustrating rather quickly. It takes a keen eye to notice everything right away. Thankfully, you start each level with a set number of clues, which will point you in the general location of a desired object to be found. Before starting your search, you are given a list of items that you need to discover in that specific setting. Now, not all the clues make sense. Some of the items range from finding a pair of bats, to finding a piece of pizza. Since the amount of items to be found is so vast, it really makes you work harder to find a piece of pizza hiding in a red drape, or a robe in a curtain.
However, all this gameplay wouldn't be possible without precise touch control. The PC titles are so flawlessly designed that you would think nothing could top the use of a mouse for this type of adventure. Well, thankfully, the touch control on the DS replicates the PC mouse feel nearly flawlessly. By simply sliding the stylus across the screen, you can move to different sections of the environment and check every corner of map. Once you discover the item, you click it and bam, you are done. Had the controls been off, this title would have suffered a devastating blow to its enjoyment factor and gameplay factor.
As part of the Touch Generation series, MillionHeir performs exactly as previous titles have. It's the exact title that casual gamers will be able to enjoy for hours on end. My mother, who has played the PC version for countless hours, would take my DS with the game and play it until the DS needed charging. It offers the simplistic gameplay that females, casuals, and old people can sit down and indulge themselves in for a few hours a day.
What's Not
With over 1,000 items to be found and a rather large scale case to be solved, you would expect this title to last you quite a while. Sadly, it doesn't. True gamers will be able to beat the Story Mode in a few hours and casual gamers will be able to beat the game in a few short days. My mother breezed through the title in three days. It's disappointing to be able to complete the title so quickly, but it's also one of those games that you could revisit numerous times and just continually play here and there. The title fits in the Touch Generation genre perfectly. Hardcore gamers will be able to find enjoyment in the title, but will walk away wanting more. Casual gamers will be able to stay with this game until a sequel is eventually released.
With additional mini-games and other sidequests outside of the Story Mode, the game can keep hardcore gamers attentions for short bursts. Again, this is a nice addition for the more casual gamers amongst us.
Final Word
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir does what exactly what it sets out to do. It's a perfect installment for the Touch Generation series. Our mothers, girlfriends, grandparents, and other non-gaming family members will find themselves loving this title. It captures the PC look and feel, and can really pull you in for the whole Story Mode. Sadly, it's over far too quickly. I can easily recommend this title for casual and non-gamers. As for the rest of us, it's worth checking out, but don't expect the next big DS release out of it.
What the Game's About
The long running PC-based puzzle/adventure series Mystery Case Files has finally made its debut on the portable scene with Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir for the DS as part of the Touch Generation. Players take the role of a master detective who must discover the whereabouts of Phil T. Rich, eccentric millionaire who went missing soon after arriving home from a six month getaway at sea. Hired by Rich's estate, players must discover what happened to Mr. Rich and who stands to inherit his vast fortune and estate.
What's Hot
The most appealing aspect of this title is idea of carrying a quick, addicting, mind-bending, classic PC title on the go. Offering the same addicting gameplay from the PC counterparts, MillionHeir makes its way to the DS with everything intact. Using nicely drawn scenes and objects, players will be able to hunt for clues with relative ease. Scouring every inch of a level to discover minute clues, the animated level designs work flawlessly and look great even on the low-res compressed screens of the DS.
Every level has a wide variety of hidden objects to be found and this can range from easy to frustrating rather quickly. It takes a keen eye to notice everything right away. Thankfully, you start each level with a set number of clues, which will point you in the general location of a desired object to be found. Before starting your search, you are given a list of items that you need to discover in that specific setting. Now, not all the clues make sense. Some of the items range from finding a pair of bats, to finding a piece of pizza. Since the amount of items to be found is so vast, it really makes you work harder to find a piece of pizza hiding in a red drape, or a robe in a curtain.
However, all this gameplay wouldn't be possible without precise touch control. The PC titles are so flawlessly designed that you would think nothing could top the use of a mouse for this type of adventure. Well, thankfully, the touch control on the DS replicates the PC mouse feel nearly flawlessly. By simply sliding the stylus across the screen, you can move to different sections of the environment and check every corner of map. Once you discover the item, you click it and bam, you are done. Had the controls been off, this title would have suffered a devastating blow to its enjoyment factor and gameplay factor.
As part of the Touch Generation series, MillionHeir performs exactly as previous titles have. It's the exact title that casual gamers will be able to enjoy for hours on end. My mother, who has played the PC version for countless hours, would take my DS with the game and play it until the DS needed charging. It offers the simplistic gameplay that females, casuals, and old people can sit down and indulge themselves in for a few hours a day.
What's Not
With over 1,000 items to be found and a rather large scale case to be solved, you would expect this title to last you quite a while. Sadly, it doesn't. True gamers will be able to beat the Story Mode in a few hours and casual gamers will be able to beat the game in a few short days. My mother breezed through the title in three days. It's disappointing to be able to complete the title so quickly, but it's also one of those games that you could revisit numerous times and just continually play here and there. The title fits in the Touch Generation genre perfectly. Hardcore gamers will be able to find enjoyment in the title, but will walk away wanting more. Casual gamers will be able to stay with this game until a sequel is eventually released.
With additional mini-games and other sidequests outside of the Story Mode, the game can keep hardcore gamers attentions for short bursts. Again, this is a nice addition for the more casual gamers amongst us.
Final Word
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir does what exactly what it sets out to do. It's a perfect installment for the Touch Generation series. Our mothers, girlfriends, grandparents, and other non-gaming family members will find themselves loving this title. It captures the PC look and feel, and can really pull you in for the whole Story Mode. Sadly, it's over far too quickly. I can easily recommend this title for casual and non-gamers. As for the rest of us, it's worth checking out, but don't expect the next big DS release out of it.
November 20, 2009
