"Memories" Are Just a "Shadow" of Mystery Trackers' Golden Years. – Mystery Trackers: Shadowfield Review

I can never get tired of our beloved four-legged friend Elf, who, by now, must have reached his "elderly" status since he has been barking and wagging his tail for what seems like ages now. Unfortunately, though, poor Elf cannot save this game from being forever forgotten about after hitting the Delete button. This installment is a big disappointment. I no longer recognize the "Mystery Trackers" of the "good ole days" — when the first few games in this series had distinct elements that were devoid in every other series. The atmospheric settings that evinced feelings of apprehension and intrigue, as well as the challenging gameplay that was synonymous with this series, have been squeezed out. Oh, how I miss Raincliff, with its original concept and its lack of hand-holding guidance. That said, the storyline fails to introduce a refreshing idea; it adheres to the trending horror-themed template, which also includes the accompanying dark and spooky illustrations. You can customize your settings. The inventory is labeled and interactive; items require assembly. In custom mode, the teleport map facilitates brisk travel to labeled locations and indicates available actions. Transition between scenes is smooth and quick; no glitches to report. Gameplay here is mostly banal; thus, the lack of novelty and innovation. The HOSs are commonplace, as hints of creativity are sorely missing. On the other hand, the puzzles are multi-layered at times; and they are interesting. I am happy that a player can enable a difficulty setting for some of the puzzles to elevate the level of challenge. There are several sets of collectibles, including in the close-ups. Since the scenes are so dark, you need to carefully examine the background to discover them. I was not persuaded to purchase this game, considering the brevity of the free trial; however, due to the unavailability of an alternative game, I did complete the purchase. I guess Elf's adorable tilt of his head and vigorous bark, yearning to please, did me in. The game is offensively short, even with the bonus chapter. As sad as it will be to let little Elf go, I think it is time to end this series and give Elf the proper "retirement" package he so deserves for his many years of faithful service. Unless the next "Mystery Trackers" game has something grand to offer, this might be my final "fur-well"! My rating is 3 stars to account for the decent puzzles, as well as for a tribute to my favorite helper ever — Elf.
Review by KimTwilight69 on Mystery Trackers: Shadowfield.