I realize no game is perfect, and each player has different taste in gaming themes, but this was right up my alley. A good story line....a thriller that was mysterious not "demonic creepy". The setting is brilliant. Set in an abandoned mall from an earthquake in maybe the 50's. The setting was a retro mix, but the artwork was very contemporary and genius! I'm really surprised there are any comments about the visual quality being grainy or boring.....not on my computer. It was clear, crisp and original. Lots of HO's for hidden object fans...which I am...with a clever twist that you have to find a tarot card before you start digging. Some are shadow images, but they are still good....most are not. Just when you think they are easy, they tighten it up a little with those few items that bring you to a challenge. The antagonist is out to get the main character, you ie Claire. He's rigged the mall with hidden cameras and speaks in a grainy voice that is reminiscent of Hannibal Lector without the gory story that goes with Dr Lector. The map is a great tool if you get lost.....very easy to interact with....and you can jump to locations from the map. The playground is ingenious, and has shades of creepy toys....but the artwork is so meticulous and professional it's still a delight to the game play. My only wish for this game would be to add some intriguing music that fits the areas of game play. Much of it is silent which is interrupted by the kidnappers voice....it's irritating, but that is part of the plot.....he's taunting Claire Ellery. I also thought it was short.....but I did not want to take breaks with this game. I was sorry that it was over, but now I can replay it on different levels just to see the fabulous settings again! Don't pass up the demo! My bet is you will buy this one!

Have & love all the Strange Cases and this one looks just as good. Some one has kidnapped your late partner Tom's daughter Anna to get revenge on you. Follow the tarot cards again to solve the latest mystery and find the little girl. I already bought it and recomend it.

is a good thriller, suspense and want to know how it ends, the graphics looks good to me also the scenes and hidden objects are interactive, it does not seem so old as the game. a 'SE' well done. I put it in my wishlist. (based on the demo)

This game is a different hidden object game. Before you can start to find any of the hidden object, you first must find a tarot card then the list of items will come up. The dects Claire and Tom have to find Anna. Good graphics and sound. I would recommend this game.

Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure which is the 4th in the series. Strange Cases: The Tarot Card Mystery released as a SE only in Aug 2009 The Lighthouse Mystery released as a CE and then SE in June 2010 The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake released as a CE and then SE in Nov 2011. If you haven't played any of the previous games in this series well it's not necessary. This game stands alone by itself. You do play the same character Agent Claire Ellery, but a totally different case involving rescuing a young girl Anna who has been kidnapped and is trapped in an abandoned mall. 5 chapters 3 play modes. I played advanced mode. No sparkles but does have "black bar tips" up at the top. HOS: There are quite a few scenes. First you have to find the tarot card then you get either a list of items to find which it's mostly word list however a few scenes find by "shadow" of object. They're also interactive. Puzzles: There's also quite a few puzzles. Some new ones at least I've never seen them in other games I've played along with well known ones. Just to name some: Swap pieces to form a picture, get the chain lock out of the maze, swap the marbles from one side to the other. Hint/Skip take about a minute for charge up. Hint not that helpful outside of HOS. Just tells you that you are finished in the current location at least for now anyway. There is a transporter map which comes a few minutes into the game. The orange areas you can travel back/forth however doesn't indicate if there are things to actually "do" like some games will put an exclamation point indicating something can be done there. The gray areas can't go to those just yet. No journal. There are voices overs. My overall impression: For the most part not a very challenging game which is fine by me and having said this I'll admit I got hung up a couple of times on where to go/what to do next but I enjoyed this just as much as the other Strange Cases games

I don't usually review here unless I have played the whole game and this is based on demo alone. I completely enjoyed this! It has everything I look for an Adventure/Hidden Object Game. Great storyline, fun and unique mini games, interactive HOS as well as map and a hint that works outside the HOSs! It keeps you moving along and isn't so difficult as to frustrate you! The only downside is the graphics can be a bit grainy at times and the voices ,although well done, do not match the mouth movement at all. That made me giggle so in a way is a good thing. GOOD GAMING!

Finished the demo and then bought the game. Not the most challenging game but that is okay with me. Sometimes I don't want a game that is too hard. This one is relaxing. There is plenty to do in this game. Items are mostly easy to see in the hidden object games. I say go for it!

Who would have thought I like being an investigative agent or that I had it in me. I really like all the games in the Strange Cases series and had only trouble (may need to get the strategy guide) for one and that is Grey Mist Lake which I think is my favorite-don't much care for the modern fare (go figure - I'm a "period" grandma - older the better). But getting through the trials was a breeze and hated when they were over so they go in my personal book of "reviews" of what I want on a scale of 1-5 they rate high. The only problem I had with this particular game in the series - while in Sarah's garage - I am a girl's girl - I have no clue what a clamp handle looks like and the walkthrough available didn't like so I had to quit playing before the time was up and may not get this one because I don't want to spend hours looking for it. Otherwise, great series of serious investigative work!

played casual. low sound-what you would expect. hint/skip charge fairly fast. follows along like the others. in this one you are trying to rescue a girl that has been taken by an evil man. a detective is helping you. hints hand-hold you through it. there is an interactive map that will jump to where you want to go once you have been there. it also shows where there is a point of interest. surprise ending. i am sure there will be a sequel. there so far has been. i didn't really like this one as much as the others.

After finishing the demo, I purchased this game and enjoyed playing it very much. I liked the story line and really did not find the background all that grainy as some have. I thought setting it in an abandoned mall enabled a variety of different locations (dress shop, cafe, book store, etc.) and was a great idea. The gameplay and storyline were just challenging enough to keep me interested without being so frustrating that I had to resort to help.