Bookmark
Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition 
$ 13.99 USD or 2 credits
Uncover the evil legend that haunts a forgotten town in Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake! In 1973, something wicked took over the town of Bitterford, Maine, after an unsuspecting inmate unearthed a mysterious object from beneath the prison floor.
Years later, Bitterford lies in ruin. You must join forces with psychic Cassandra Williams, played by award-winning actress Lea Thompson, to investigate the events that led to the town's destruction.
Only you can expose the evil that lurks in the depths of Shadow Lake. But beware... What you discover may haunt you forever.
This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector's Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card!
The Collector's Edition includes:
- Exclusive bonus gameplay
- Unlockable Morphing Objects
- Beautiful screensavers & wallpapers
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes video
- Dynamic casebook and integrated Strategy Guide
Click images to enlarge
Game System Requirements:
- OS: 10.8/10.7/10.6
- CPU: 1.8 GHz (INTEL ONLY)
- RAM: 1024 MB
- Hard Drive: 1517 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Safari 4.0 or later
Buy this game Get 3 punches
The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.
Your Security and Privacy are important to us! Privacy Policy
Recently Viewed Games
Reviews at a Glance
Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition
0 out of 5 (0 ReviewsReview)
Average Rating:
Customer Reviews
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition
780
780
Oh Dear !
Perhaps it was the excitement and anticipation of a year round wait for my beloved Mystery Case Files but the bubble is well and truly burst. This is just like any other "run of the mill" game you can download year around. Its not MCF "special", it does not make my heart beat faster and I feel cheated. Truly sorry for this rotten review but I feel let down. Where is the humour, the wonderful graphics, games and music? Leave the celebrity behind Big Fish and get back to what you do best. I still have faith, just dont make me wait another year.
November 21, 2012
Didn't Feel Much Like an MCF Game
Having been an MCF fan since Huntsville, this time of year not only brings me the fun anticipation of Thanksgiving, the leaves falling, and my favorite kind of weather, but also a new MCF release! These games are usually so beautifully rendered, creative and imaginative that they really set the standard for other HOA games. I had always come to think of MCF as the "Cadillac" of Hidden Object adventures. I could sit at my computer and escape into these wonderfully created worlds that really did feel as though I was having an adventure.
Sadly, Shadow Lake is the first time I did not get any of the usual pleasures I am normally accustomed to in an MCF game. It almost seems as if the devs spent much more effort on the live actor bits and not so much attention on game play. To me it was not very imaginative or creative and it was extremely repetitive...not much happens at all actually. This game didn't feel any different than most other HOAs that we see throughout the year from a host of other developers. Nothing at all set this apart, which to me is the saddest bit...especially since IMO most of us expect from an MCF title something that will be different from the rest.
If you are knew to the MCF franchise or to HOA games in general, then you may enjoy this.
In years past, I've always immediately bought MCF games without even trying the demo. But this is the first time I am sorry I didn't try it first. I will be more careful next year. I am genuinely bummed out.
November 21, 2012
Speechless!!
I never ever thought I would say this about a MCF game, but here it goes....I am absolutely devastated over how bad this game is compared to the other ones. My all time favourite games are Escape from Ravenhearst, Return to Ravenhearst, Dire Grove and the 13th Skull and I have never before been disappointed with anything this developer does, so I expected something extraordinary from this game, or at the very least something very similar to the games I mentioned above.
The reviewers who have rated this game 1,2 and 3 stars before me pretty much said it all. I completely agree with all points, but one thing that I feel really needs to be said is how much I absolutely hate that they've taken all the mystery, adventure of searching for things and control over solving the case out of your hands. You are nothing but a puppet in this game, constantly told what to do, where to look and where to go so you have no control over how you wish to explore areas and things and solve the case. Taking away the control from the player (usually done these days by assigning him a lame sidekick that tells him exactly what do do), kind of defeats the purpose of actually making a hidden object mystery doesn't it?
If this is the trend of the future in this genre, then I will sadly have to ignore these games in the future because I simply want a game with beautiful graphics, great storyline, lots of puzzles and HOs and where you can interact with various objects in the surroundings. On top of that I do not think it's too much to ask to allow the player to play the lead role in these games and therefore make it possible for the player to solve the mystery on his own without being constantly nagged about what to do and where to go....We are not puppets and do not play these games for that purpose!!
Bring back the format that you had in Return to Ravenhearst MCF team!! This latest development is a complete flop :(
November 21, 2012
So disappointed...
If you like the Mystery Case Files series, you will be disappointed with that one.
The plot is poor and the end very predictable. Been there, done that.
There is no big challenge. The tasks are repetitive, with very few puzzles and a level of difficulty that's far from the last MCF games (one of the things that took me the most time was changing a flat tire. That's not what you can call a thrill). Plus, there is this annoying medium to take your hand all the time (I wished I could destroy that radio many times while playing).
Graphics are so-so, and I am still searching for any good music or sound effect. The actors are not convincing, maybe because they aren't convinced themselves... It's like watching an old, low quality mystery drama on TV, and you really don't feel like that you are taking part in it. Moreover, if you are looking for something spooky or disturbing, search somewhere else.
I felt bored all the time, and uninstalled the game as soon as I finished it. If I want to play a good, spooky MCF game with a great medium again, I'll take Madame Fate. If I want some ghosts, I'll choose Return to Ravenhearst. Dire Groove will do for the video parts, and 13th Skull for the interactive characters. Shadow Lake appears like a bad mix of those 4 games.
Last two bad point:
- The extra contents are too few and not so interesting.
- The Master Detective seems to have forgotten how to write a nice diary in there. You will just have a to-do list and some pictures. It looks botched. Really.
November 21, 2012
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING!
I was so disappointed in this game. The hidden objects and usable items were too small. The usable objects area was a small spinning wheel of circles that was hard to control.
The whole game was basically:
1. Cassandra gives you drawings to match areas at search sites.
2. Cassandra calls on walkie-talkie and tells you to look for objects spread around site.
3. Cassandra calls you back so she can read drawings.
4.Cassandra has vision as a video of square puzzle pieces that float around and are very hard to manipulate to the point of screaming frustration. Then she sends you to next site.
5. Use found objects to open doors, chests, etc.
6. Repeat 1 thru 5 for rest of game.
Why was Lea Thompson picked for the role of Cassandra. She is so blond and perky it sucks all the possible scary and drama out the the story.
Plus, the Bonus Section at the Grimm quarry is not supported by the Strategy Guide and I wasn't able to open the safe using the clues from the ledger in the trailer.
This game was nowhere near the quality you expect from a MFC game.
November 21, 2012
If it Ain't Broken Don't Fix It!
I did Beta Testing for this game and it was horrible. I feel they tried to get a little ambitious and it failed. If it ain't broken don't fix it. When the survey asked me about the game my words mirrored what the general complaints here are. This was maybe 3 weeks ago. When I saw this game out and read the reviews with the same complaints I had with the game I was shocked. I cannot see how other Beta Testers did not have the same complaints. I am not surprised one bit that this game is on sale. Don't waste your money, being on sale is not going to make this a better game. I just hope this is a anomaly because MCF's are my favorite games.
November 21, 2012
Not even for a 2.99 coupon
I was SO excited to see another MCF's game! I couldnt wait! I wanted to love this game. Sadly, this game just isnt fun.
The HO scenes arent really interactive, small windows and hard to see items (I have a 26" moniter!) here and there within multiple rooms. Some locations need a key, buts its on the list. Annoying!
Weighted video puzzle blocks really arent all that fun or satifying to put together.
Leah Thompson I usually love in anything. She is great in movies but in this venue she overacted in the extreme. Seriously? Head flinging, bulging eyes, big hand gestures. What the heck?
Matching leah's psychic drawings to locations is just ok. Blah.
Way too many video interuptions in what should have been a "cant wait to see whats around the next corner" kind of atmosphere. I found these interuptions really annoying!
It isnt very difficult, but where your supposed to go next isnt always clear. That may have been the only slight upside to the entire game.
All in all the game can be summed up in a few words; tedious, boring. The polar opposite of "game".
I really didnt expect alot as I didnt much like the last MCF's but I was extremely hopeful. Guess Ill just play Madam Fate, Ravenhurst I and II and 13 skulls again till something better comes along. If this is what every future MCF's has to offer, I may just stick to SE coupon deals outside of the MCF's realm, sad as I am to say it.
November 21, 2012
disappointed
i was hoping this would be a must buy. nope. ho's are too small & placing the papers didn't add an interest. wish MCF would make another like Madame Fate with challenging word based puzzles. i'm disappointed as i had planned to play this game thanksgiving afternoon. football instead!
November 20, 2012
another failure from bfg
I gave this game 1/2 an hour and I was bored to death. Far too much waffling by some nut called Cassandra, graphics only just passable and very little music at this point. It was one of the most boring games ever. It may very well improve later but I can't be bothered to carry on, I've almost lost the will to live!
BFG can do much better than this I know.
November 20, 2012
Disappointing
I have all the MCF games and I loved them all. This one however is a disappointment. The captions are small and hard to read and the HOS are also small and hard to see. I only played the demo but decided not to purchase this one.
November 20, 2012
The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
The Windows logo is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc.
The Windows logo is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc.
