Mystery P.I.: Stolen in San Francisco
4
5
15
15
Very enjoyable to play
At 24 levels there are returns to all of the scenes on several occasions. But Mystery PI games find a way not to become too repetitive with repeat searches for bonus objects to unlock other scenes. The scenes are aesthetic and provide enough light to find all objects without becoming frustrated. The ending does keep the player involved with solving the mystery. Very good replay value along with unlimited seek and find and the match 3 games after solving the mystery. Wish all Mystery PI games were Mac compatible.
November 30, 2011
Standard Hidden Object Game
This was a standard hidden object game with excellent hidden object scenes and a mini puzzle in between each location of search. The soundtrack was okay, the graphics were okay. There were additional items to find at each scene to unlock bonus features. Perfect for those who enjoy straight hidden object games.
January 27, 2012
HappyGramma
I love all the Mystery PI games. Always challenging and always fun. The mini-games are usually good too.
November 15, 2011
Hidden Objects, and How!
This reminds me of how hidden object games used to be - straightforward and with more focus on finding objects rather than an involved, complicated plot. It reminds me of Mystery Case Files: Huntsville.
I'm currently at level 4 and so far I realize you need to know to expect out-of-scale objects (i.e. a giant matchstick, a frog ten times the normal size) or else you'd be stumped. Some objects are really small but still well-defined. People with glasses such as I may need to squint more though! The mini-games are extremely easy and the hint button recharges quickly. You are under time pressure (17 hours) to finish. I found it challenging to keep focused though, being spoiled by plot-driven games such as Rite of Passage and Surface.
August 1, 2012
A HOG for those who love HOS
Mystery P.I. -- Stolen in San Francisco, part of a series, is likely going to inspire some to love it and some to hate it. I had not played any of the series before and was a bit unprepared for it. It is a series of unrelated HOS, between 3 and 8, at each of 25 locations around San Francisco. Actually the HOS are really just a long series of HOS with a single puzzle at the end of each scene. The puzzles are short and not hard, which makes them better than most. Unfortunately the HOS repeat far too often to keep me from being bored. I would have liked more variety. At least you are not finding the same items with each revisit. There is no back and forth since this is not really an adventure and you are not really solving a crime. Clues are handed to you at the conclusion of the puzzle ending each location. The 25 clues form a picture at the end of the game which requires a minimal amount of manipulation to finish. As to junk pile HOS, some are more junk pile than others and one HOS is at a ?junkyard?, probably tongue in cheek. I might mention that clues to HOS items to find are both names and riddles like ?human pump? for a heart. You might even see a clue to find the capitalized word with letters scrambled. The artwork is better than most; I had one clue too dark to see without help and one that I did not see even after the hint pointed out a blackened area of the screen. Otherwise it was an enjoyable HOG.
August 5, 2012
Great Hidden Object Game
Loved this game. Lots of hidden object scenes with a few puzzles that can be skipped.
December 19, 2011
Didn't get very far
I only made it to the first two scenes, this is a arcade-style HO with no adventure and from what I can see, solely HO with a handful of puzzles. I played the Book of Secrets which was done slightly better due to the witty dialogue, but there was none of that here.
August 1, 2012
ANOTHER GREAT GAME!
I have several Mystery PI games and love them all. San Francisco is great, although I admit to stumbling at the end of the game when I had difficulty solving the last puzzle! But that's part of the fun.
August 5, 2012
If you need a P.I. You want Mystery P.I.
Another great Mystery P.I. HOG game. The series keep getting better and better. Good puzzles and HO as well as a good story. This game can be a challenge for the beginner to the expert. A good series and a great game.
August 4, 2012
nothing special here
this is a hidden object game that uses san francisco as the backdrop. the storyline, which feels like an afterthought, is where you are a private eye who is seeking $250 million in solid gold that was stolen from an armoured car. you have just 17 hours to find the lost gold before the trail goes cold and the gold remains lost forever.
graphics: the art is okay, no fuzziness and the scenes are colourful.
music: decent background music, but nothing special.
gameplay: there are 24 levels, each of which has several hidden object scenes where you are required to find objects from a list. you must complete the game in 17 hours. to earn extra points and to unlock bonus gameplay, you also must find a peace symbol, a key and a flashlight in every scene. no overclick penalty. at the end of each level is a minigame where you must spot the differences between two seemingly identical pictures, or you must build a puzzle or something similar. decent load and scene transitions, no cursor freezes.
my interaction: one hour demo. i am a hidden object game fan, but this game just did not roll my socks up and down: i've no plans to purchase this game.
if you enjoy games that are crammed with hidden object scenes, then this is the game for you. otherwise, don't waste your time and money on this one.
August 2, 2012