Mystery Castle

With all the recent big blockbusters both coming out soon and having been released in the past few years, sometimes it's nice to just sit back and relax with a simple puzzle game. Despite lacking any particular unique qualities, Mystery Castle is just plain pleasant to play, and if you're into that then perhaps this is the game for you. [h1]The Breakdown[/h1] Mystery Castle is pretty bland and vague story-wise, but coming from a game that looks so cheery and cute I'd expect nothing more. You play as Monty, a fat wizard guy (or at least, a lot of the jokes other characters make seem to generally be about his weight for some reason) who's placed in a mysterious cave area. There's a dwarf you can talk to and a puzzle to solve. The dwarf tells you that some evil guy appeared and did some stuff and now there's bad monsters and a bunch of lava. Cool, that's super vague and unimaginative. But hey, at least the dwarf guy is fairly funny! And story-wise I guess that's all I can give this game credit for. Most of the characters you meet are somewhat humorous (though your mileage may vary) so it helps both explain the simple narrative and adds some jokes to the mix. Gameplay-wise, every level plays out in a different sort of puzzling manner. Each level (besides the bosses) basically involves obtaining five collectible items that open the exit door when all of them are collected. It sounds deceptively simple, yet in reality the game creates various challenges and obstacles that block your progress in some pretty creative ways. For example, one level consists of a "race" of sorts between you and a golem. You have to navigate your way around lava as fast as you can before he gets to the exit or else he'll kill you if he touches you. Many of the levels seem to use the same old "push some boxes into holes" formula of solving puzzles, but even those levels are difficult and pretty creative in a fair and enjoyably challenging way. As you progress, more and more stuff is added that helps to keep things fresh. Oh, and the bosses! I can't forget those. They add some nice variety and a decent challenge to the game since you have to find out how to kill/defeat them using your puzzle-solving knowledge. The game is set across 5 different worlds with 36 levels each, so there's a total of 180 levels in the entire game. Luckily, you only need to beat 25 levels to unlock each new world, plus you can skip any levels you get stuck on and come back later if need be. The only mechanic that I wish would have been implemented is an "undo" feature, since I constantly made mistakes yet had to go to the menu and restart the entire level, redoing things I had already done in the process. It was just a minor annoyance, but still a noticeable one. Mystery Castle has a pretty charming aesthetic to it. Is it anything mind blowing? Well, no, honestly. However, everything looks all cute and cartoony and nothing looks particularly [i]un[/i]polished, so that's good at least. The only other technical aspect that I feel is worth mentioning is the inclusion of controller support, which is nice. Despite that though, most of my time playing was spent just using a keyboard since the controls were so simple (literally just the arrow keys and spacebar), so both playstyles are equally feasible and comfortable. [h1]Pros[/h1] [list] [*]Charming art style [*]The characters are pretty humorous usually [*]Clever, challenging puzzles with varied mechanics yet simple controls [*]Definitely no lack of content - there's 180 puzzles set across 5 distinct worlds/areas [*]Steam achievements, trading cards, controller support, and cloud saves [/list] [h1]Cons[/h1] [list] [*]Story? What story? (hint: there pretty much is none) [*]An undo feature would be nice to have [*]The game doesn't feel particularly unique, even if it is decent [/list] Mystery Castle may not be the "masterpiece" that it claims to be, but it's still a great game for fans of the puzzle game genre. The puzzles are varied and challenging and overall the game is simply a charming experience. It may not be fantastic or especially unique, but Mystery Castle is certainly an easy recommendation, especially for anyone who craves more puzzle games. [h1][b]Final Verdict: 7/10[/b][/h1]

Mystery Castle is a casual puzzle game, many intresting and unique ways of solving the various puzzles exist. Just remember... don't push the wooden boxes into the Lava.. because you know.. lava burns stuff.. With the obvious stuff out of the way lets get right into the review.. [h1] The Story [/h1] You play as a Wizard, doing what Wizards typically do.. exploring strange towers, on this Adventure a Dwarf introduces himself.. (BTW Dwarfs Rule) He explains that the Wizard needs to help him collect the Dwarven booty (no not that kind of booty, but Diamonds). After explaining how they will split the loot (with the Wizard doing all the work) you are left to your own devices. What follows is a fun game which at times will test your mind, at other times will test your patients, and sometimes you'll be left wondering what the heck you're doing.. The best thing to remember is this game will be a fun ride for Puzzle fans of all ages.. [h1] The Gameplay [/h1] The game features numerous levels, comprised of various different levels. You're tasked with collecting 5 items which will open a door to progress in the tower. Various elements stand in your way.. Lava, endless gaps, monsters, etc etc etc. The game puts the Casual in casual gaming. Outside of needing to complete X amount of stages to unlock a new hub nothing else seems locked. You can complete stages in any order you wish, getting frustrated with a stage you just can't seem to figure out... pfft... ignore it and move onto the next one. I can't begin to describe how awesome the ability to skip around at your leisure was, nothing drains the desire to play a game faster than running into a stage that you just can't seem to get past. Another awesomely casual feature is the lack of a time limit.. No need to run around like a chicken with no head trying to finish the stage in 14 seconds but finishing it 14.5 seconds and missing out on that flawless run. You can stop, use your mind, think and then act upon your thoughts. [h1] Pro's [/h1] Fun, Casual Gameplay No frustrating time limit Ability to skip around stages and play at your own pace Dwarves More levels than you can shake a stick at Boss fights Too many to count [h1] Con's [/h1] No reason to replay the game once you finish the stages [h1] Recommendation [/h1] A fun game for puzzle fans of any age or expertise. Has tremendous upside and very little down side. The price is more than worth the content you receive and the game offers a great value for your dollar. Even without having much replay value, the unique content you do get more than makes up for it. So what are you waiting for... buy this game now,, don't wait, don't pass go, buy it immediately..

Mystery Castle is an adventure game that challenges your intellect in some fiendish puzzles. However, there are bosses in this game that doesn't NEED to be attacked head-on! You gotta think before making your moves on them. The music in the game is quite charming, especially the one in The Enchanted Castle, and makes the puzzles more relaxing while you plan out the solutions of a puzzle. One thing I don't like is the races, GAH! The races. You must be spot-on perfect in order to succeed in the race levels, otherwise you'd had to start that race all over again. Also, there are 4 locations (Temple, Pyramid, Harbor, and Academy[?]) that were not actual castles that seemed pretty interesting to play through. Extra DLC maybe? I don't even seem to know why they are in the map in the first place.

Still early in the game, but this caught my eye as being reminiscent to classic games like Adventures of Lolo/Eggerland Mystery So far I have not been dissapointed! The game definitely has charm for an indie puzzle game, and the difficulty is starting to ramp up a bit - Looking forward to spend more hours on it!

Do you like puzzles? Do you miss any console games that you used to play years ago? If you answer yes to any of the questions then this game is a good match for you! Thank you for returning me into my childhood ^^

WAS IST MYSTERY CASTLE ? Es ist ein oldschool-artiges Knobelspiel das die grauen Zellen anregt. Man muß um die Türe zum nächsten Level zu öffnen 5 Gegenstände einsammeln, die verstreut herum liegen. Doch das ist längst noch nicht Alles. Um das zu erreichen findet man sich oft in Situationen wieder in denen man z.B. Abgründe mit Hilfe von Holzkisten, die man im Sokoban-Stil verschieben kann, überwinden muß. Es passiert oft, daß man erst während man einen Fehler macht , auf die richtige Lösung kommt. Trial- & error- like. Das Spiel versteht es sehr geschickt nach und nach neue Mechaniken einzuführen so das die Lernkurve nicht zu übertrieben steil ist. Und von diesen erwähnten Mechaniken scheint es jede Menge zu geben. So gibt es z.B. auch eine Laterne, mit deren Hilfe man Pfade benutzen (& überhaupt erst sehen) kann - allerdings nur wenn man sehr nah dran ist. Des weiteren gibt es auch Feuergolems und Geister usw, die einem das Leben schwer machen - die man aber auch für nützliche Dinge verwenden kann. Mehr möchte ich nicht verraten. FAZIT Das Spiel hat mich von Anfang an völlig überzeugt und ich freue mich sehr darauf heraus zu finden was mich noch alles Tolles erwartet. Von mir gibt´s eine klare Empfehlung. Danke für´s Lesen & viel Spaß

Mystery Castle is a refreshing take on the puzzle game genre, having transitioned from Steam Greenlight to full release this month. At its core, it has all the features that one can find in any of the early videogame classics,– straightforward objectives; charming graphics; easy-to-follow story; and gameplay that is easy to pick up and play but enjoyably challenging to master. However, it’s easy to simply say these and leave it at that,– but what good would that be in a review? Let’s break these down then, one by one and see just what it is that makes Mystery Castle such a pleasure to play. Like all of the classic heroes, Monty,– wizard-in-training and fancy hat owner extraordinaire,– just so happens to bump into people in need. In this case, it’s the dwarf Stumpi, who informs him that the fortress of the dwarves has been conquered and its people enslaved! And just like that, Monty is on his way. It’s refreshing to see a hero who is played mostly straight in this era of edgy anti-heroes and villainous protagonists. Mario, Link, Simon Belmont… none of them ever never needed to ask why they had to save their princesses or protect the realm,– Monty continues this time-honoured tradition. Monty is a hero, and in guiding Monty through mazes, traps and puzzles, the player becomes a hero as well. So you have objective and story rolled into an easily understood whole,– no need for melodramatic backstories or metaphysical angst. After a simple tutorial stage, you are thrown straight into the gameplay. However, this is slightly misleading. I say tutorial stage,– but playing Mystery Castle very quickly makes you realize that the learning curve doesn’t just stop after the first few levels,– it just goes up and up and up. Every level is designed to challenge, whether it’s through highly devious map design or new mechanics, and a player will be constantly teased by the inventiveness and occasional deceptiveness of the solutions. With five worlds to explore and over thirty levels each,– and it looks like there’s even room for future expansions to add new worlds,– Mystery Castle is a game that promises hours of entertainment. The controls are simple, making it as easy to pick up as it is to take a break from. Unlike many games today,– I’m looking at you, Attila: Total War,– Mystery Castle doesn’t make every level massive project. It offers instead highly engaging puzzles in bite-sized chunks,– perfect for both the casual everyman gamer or those who wish for a genuine intellectual challenge. With the number of games available today and the limited time most people have in the day to play them, it is very refreshing to see a game that doesn’t try to hog time, but instead offers short but highly enjoyable bursts of entertainment. The graphics, as I’ve said, are charming. Colourful and vibrant, but very easy on the eyes, the graphics have an appeal that echoes that of the golden age of video gaming. Playing the game for a solid amount of time causes no discomfiture on the eyes, and the cartoonish quality of the art does go some way to making you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale world of heroes, monsters and, of course, fancy hats. Mystery Castle is, in my opinion, certainly value for money. It has kept things simple but addictive. It has exactly the same qualities that made some of the classics classic. It has a charming protagonist, a world to explore, and a story that is straight out of a fairy-tale. To me, this is a recipe for a highly satisfying game. Monty may have never met Mario, but ye gods, with his moustache and that fancy hat? I rather think they should be walking side by side.

Mystery Castle, desenvolvido pela Runestone Games, é um ótimo jogo de puzzle, com bastante conteúdo e horas garantidas de diversão. A premissa é simples e não é nova, mas é em como o jogo a executa que garante sua qualidade. Basicamente, você está em uma espécie de labirinto, e precisa chegar à porta de saída para destravar o próximo nível. Simples, não? Não. Mystery Castle é repleto de mecânicas interessantes, praticamente todas que o estilo pode oferecer, e dessa forma nunca fica repetitivo e permanece divertido o tempo todo. Você possui caixas para empurrar e usar como plataforma para, ao tapar buracos, poder passar por cima deles. Você possui transmutações, que lhe garantirão diversas skills diferentes. Você tem bombas para detonar e abrir caminhos ao destruir objetos, chaves para destravar portas intermediárias. Além disso, há caixas de diversos materiais que interagem diferente com o ambiente, o que me leva a ressaltar que o jogo possui nívels de fogo e gelo (e níveis com os dois), o que cria diversas oportunidades de combinações a cada desafio que você deve enfrentar. Há também, obviamente, inimigos, com comportamentos padrão e repetitivos (não no sentido ruim), que representarão outra forma de perigo. Seu objetivo será isolá-los, evitá-los e, quando possível, destruí-los. Lembrando Bomberman, mas com mecânicas um pouco diferentes, Mystery Castle oferece uma enorme quantidade de conteúdo, com 180 níveis, e até onde joguei, foram todos originais e interessantes. É importante ressaltar ainda as batalhas contra Chefões, onde você deverá movimentar as bombas para destruí-los e evitar seus ataques, que são dos mais diversos. Divertido, original até onde possível, com preço justo e uma enorme quantidade de conteúdo, Mystery Castle é garantia de horas de diversão. [h1][b]Nota final:[/b][/h1] ★★★★☆

Just finished playing all 36 levels of the first stage of Mystery Castle, The Fortress Underground! Had a lot of fun and can't wait to play the other levels! Monty is a super cute character!! Would recommend this game to people of all ages ^^