The Case of the Missing Cats
Put on your sleuthing cap because we have quite the case for you to crack. Turns out that several cats have gone missing in Mysteryville, leaving without a trace. Where could they have gone? Did the local "witch" steal them? Did they just follow the pied piper out of town? It's up to you to find out in this incredible tale. Look high and low, investigate all corners of the village, and question the residents to see if they can provide you with any clues.
Perhaps Mysteryville's greatest strength is in its storytelling. The captivating story is presented to you in a series of storyboard-like conversations: it's almost like reading a graphic novel! The characters are unique, the locales fascinating, and you will never guess what twist lurks around the next corner!
Seek and Ye Shall Find
In addition to interacting with the local residents -- you'll have the chance to answer a few of their questions as well, sending your story into different directions -- the key gameplay element here is panning and scanning a particular part of the town, looking for clues. Some townspeople will refuse to cooperate with you unless you do them a favor. For example, when you first enter the pub, the bartender will not serve you a drink until you find a certain number of wine bottles for her.
You'll find yourself in a variety of buildings, each with their own original flavor and atmosphere. There, you will be charged with one of two tasks:
1. Seek out a given number of one particular item. Someone may ask you to find 25 pieces of fruit for them, for example. As the environments are so richly detailed, it can be quite difficult to tease out the things you're looking for. Some may immediately present themselves to you but others may be hidden away, camouflaged into their surroundings.
2. Alternatively, you will be presented with a long list of several different items to find in any particular scene. These can range from the mundane and everyday (like shovels, apples, and candles) to the strange and unusual. Even if this "shopping list" is twenty or thirty items long, you can only see five or six of them at a time.
Keep in mind that in both instances, you are under the clock and must find all the items before time runs out. You can't randomly click all over the scene either, as you will be punished with a significant time penalty. Click wisely, my investigative friend.
Special Sight
Having a hard time finding that last item on the list? This game is a whole lot of fun, but sometimes you just want to move on to the next area. Don't worry, because the developers have provided you with just a bit of a helping hand. In the top left corner of the screen, you'll see a "Tip" button. When you click on it, a small region on the screen will become temporarily illuminated, helping you narrow down where you should look for one of the items on your list. Use this "tip" with caution, however, as it takes quite some time for the meter to recharge before you can use another tip.
What's more, there are instances as you progress through the game where you develop heightened senses. What exactly do these increased abilities do? Play on and find out.
Increasingly Challenging, Exceedingly Fun
Think you have it in you to solve the mystery of the missing felines? Dive right into Mysteryville, chat with the locals, and see what clues you unlock. It will take some serious detective work as you search high and low for many unique articles and products. It won't be easy, but it'll be incredibly satisfying. Mysteryville is easily one of the best seek-and-find style computer games out there.
