Mystery Case Files 1: Huntsville (HOG)
January, 2012 review, updated March, 2019

Options include Full-screen* and separate sliders for sound effects and music.
*NOTE: The Steam version will NOT go full-screen unless you change your desktop resolution to 800x600.

This was the very first hidden object game made for PC, and is a straight hidden object game.

You have 14 cases to solve, plus the "Big Boss". There are twenty hidden object scenes, and you will explore at least two of them per case.

Each case is timed and you only have three HINTS for each one. You can't earn more, nor they do not refill. On the plus side, you do have a one-item leeway (if you have 15 items to find, you only have to find 14 to pass the level.)

There is a rapid mis-click penalty, which will cause you to lose precious seconds on your timer.

Being one of the early HOG's, I was surprised at the quality of the game. The artwork is very nice and the game mechanics a familiar friend. The crime computer has been present from the very beginning of the series.

At the end of each case, you must do a tile-swapping puzzle. Not slider-puzzles (thank goodness!), but the type where you can click any two pieces to have them swap places. These pieces will lock in place when you have them in the right position.

I have only one gripe with the game, which is that you can't find items in rapid succession - You have to wait for each one to be recognized as having been "found" before you can click on the next item.

Definitely a good game to try if you like straight HOG's or are new to the genre, but if you are unwilling (or unable) to mess with your desktop settings, you might want to buy this one directly from Big Fish so that you can see the game full-screen.

This game is for hidden object fans who want a serious challenge. What makes it really special is that it's the very first game in the Mystery Case Files series. You start off as a complete rookie and each time you solve a case, your rank goes up a bit. By the end, you're a Master Detective, ready to face all the many Mystery Case File games to come. I think Steam has most of them but they're missing Dire Grove. I do believe it's on its way though. So.... Huntsville takes place in just one little town. FULL of criminals, apparently. And you get to track each one down. Each case is comprised of multiple hidden object scenes (remember, challenging ones!) and then a jigsaw-like puzzle at the end to identify the culprit. There's lots of humor to be found. Just as an example - one of the criminals you're after is named Gil T. Azell. I recommend this game to HOG fans, and for those of you who enjoy any of the other Mystery Case Files, definitely add this to your game collection.

I decided to replay the entire Mystery Case Files series, starting with Huntsville. You have to appreciate the fact that MCF: Huntsville was the first Hidden Object Game created. Mystery Case Files eventually blazed a path for a whole new genre of HOPAs.

Huntsville broke all previous casual game sales following its release on November 18, 2005, by over 100%, selling over $1 million in digitally distributed copies! To date, there are 26 games in the Mystery Case Files franchise. Games 1-9 were developed by Big Fish Studios, Games 10-11 were developed by Elephant Games, Games 12-20 were developed by Eipix Entertainment, and Games 21-26 were developed by Grandma Studios. 

MYSTERY CASE FILES: HUNTSVILLE 
You are an intern working for a royal agency who has been assigned to investigate a series of crimes in the small town of Huntsville. You will apprehend 15 members of the S.T.A.I.N organization. Slick Rick, Violet Burgundy, Hoodwink Harry, Lou, Doris Blevlins, Ty, Eugene Needlemeyer, Gill T. Azell, Bill Larson, Luna H. Tick, Elmer, Rudy, Darla Rudder, Harold Funkmeyer, and the leader of the pack, Gertrude Goodlittle.

There are two major drawbacks to this game. The biggest drawback is that it is a Timed game that requires you to race against the clock to solve each crime. The second issue is that it was purposely designed with a grainy appearance which adds to the challenge, but also adds to the players' frustration of finding the objects within the allotted time.

There are 14 Cases to solve, and a final Boss Level. Each Case has several scene locations, but here are just 21 different locations so you will be replaying the same levels as you progress. You have 15-20 minutes to solve the entire crime (several locations) and the final puzzle which is a Square Tile Swapping game. If you run out of time, you must replay that  Investigation.

You only get 3 Hints per chapter! The best way to solve the chapter within the allotted time is to select a location and find all of the easily spotted items first, then click on the Map tab choose another location, and repeat the process. Then return to the locations and search for the harder-to-find objects. Now you can use the 3 hints (wisely) but keep in mind that you have to save time on the clock to complete the swapping tile puzzle. When I started using this method I was finally able to solve the investigations without running out of time. 

MYSTERY CASE FILES SERIES ORDER 
•Huntsville
•Prime Suspects
• Ravenhearst
•Madame Fate
•Return to Ravenhearst
•Dire Grove
•13th Skull
•Escape from Ravenhearst
•Shadow Lake
•Fate's Carnival
•Dire Grove, Sacred Grove
•Key to Ravenhearst
• Ravenhearst Unlocked
•Broken Hour
•The Black Veil
•The Revenant's Hunt
•Rewind
•The Countess
•Moths to a Flame
•Black Crown
•The Harbinger
• Crossfade
•Incident at Pendle Tower
•The Last Resort
•The Dalimar Legacy
•A Crime in Reflection

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A Hidden Object game that shows its age, in that it is low resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio. It also suffers from lack of mini-game variation and a non-endless mode after finishing the story.
The price is also way off (10 bucks) and these games never go on sale.
Only buy it if you really need your Hidden Object fix, and there is nothing left you haven't already played.

Generally I like MCF puzzle games, but this one is not fun or enjoyable. The timer rushes you through the game and makes it feel like work. If they had only allowed the timer to be optional then this would be a much better game.

If you don't mind timers that rush and ruin a casual experience that can't be turned off than you may enjoy this game.

This game has a fun story line. The graphics are wonderful and the puzzles aren't difficult.

Cons:
- The fact you cannot get two or more objects.
- The time on each hidden object scene should be longer.

Overall the game was good and I love it.

I played these games with my mother as a child and bought them and played them recently. They are not designed for modern usage. Though they can be used on your computer and serve the intended purpose, there are a few things you may need to overlook to enjoy this game. Such as; Image Quality, the images are a little fuzzy and some of the object you need to find are rough on the eyes, especially if you have hindered sight. Alternative Wording, there are multiple occasions where they use bizarre words for description, such as in a level it specifies "Decoy", which you would never guess is a wooden duck. Also I noticed a spelling mistake with the Lei article of clothing, stereo typically being used in Hawaii, but that's a little thing. Finally, the searching for the items itself, it is a great finder game and I really enjoy the entire series and it's fun to come back too after a bit and play again, it has a very basic story unlike the Ravenhearst collection (My personal favourite) but it is enjoyable, the only issue I had that I experienced on a few objects was their click boxes being slightly off or non existent.

Apart from these minor technicalities, and it being overpriced considering the higher quality games that are cheaper that come afterwards, if you can catch this game on sale I wouldn't hesitate purchasing it for yourself! It is fairly quick, I finished my first run in about 2 and a half hours. But if you wanna take your time and do the levels individually it is a fun way to spend time and challenge yourself a little bit.

This is one of the oldest hidden object games. It's a first entry in the "Mystery Case Files" series, which at the time of this review has 21 game.
This is a pure hidden object game. There are a few puzzles, but most of the time so search for objects. It only works on 800x600 resolution and items are often hard to spot and recognize. Also you keep coming back to same locations and it's often not matter of spotting items, but remembering where you found them last time. Well, and there is a time limit for everything.
Steam version didn't work well on full screen for me - had to switch desktop resolution to 800x600 before launching the game.
Overall, it's not the best hidden object game, there are plety of better ones.

Part of a fun set of games to leisurely pass the time.