I'm really surprised there haven't been more games like this on the Nintendo Wii because it's definitely the perfect platform, especially with the innovative Wii controls. Not to mention that the Wii is definitely a console of choice for casual gamers. Created by Big Fish Games, the company which made hidden object games so popular on the PC has now arrived on the Nintendo Wii with Mystery Case Files the Malgrave Incident, the 8th game in the series.

You play a detective who has received a recording from Winston Mulgrave, the "last" resident of Mulgrave island who was drawn to this island for the magic of their spring waters that could cure a variety of illnesses, even age! Harnessing this power into dust, Mulgrave has vanished and this is where you come into the story. You've been given a jar of this magical powder in order to save Winston's beloved Sarah. Your job is simple, recover more of this magical dust as you investigate a variety of mysterious island locales in order to assist this wealthy industrialist. Clichéd? yes! Fun? Not bad!

Even though this is game number 8 in the series, you don't need any prior knowledge of the previous instalments because this is a stand alone game. However for those who have neve played a hidden object game before, the premise behind the gameplay is simplistic at best which requires the players to find hidden objects on the screen and sometimes use these objects in order to solve puzzles. It's quite a surreal and peaceful experience, although it can sometimes get a little frustrating when you cannot find the object that you are seeking.

Fortunately the controls are just like the mouse on the PC, except with the wiimote. Using your wiimote, you interact with this colourful world that looks like a painting come to life. By using the buttons on the wiimote, you find objects, interact with puzzles and generally progress through the various mysterious locations. One cool thing about the wiimote is that it is used as a "communicator" which assists in the immersive nature of the title.

The main crux of the game is trying to find the hidden objects in this 3D type picture which allows you to zoom at times. Puzzles range from easy to mildly challenging, however if you have played a hidden object game before, you should have no problems in solving the various puzzles. If you do get stuck, you do have a case book where you can reference and it does expand the storyline of the tale.

Another interesting aspect about this game is that unlike the PC and iOS versions, the Wii game supports multiplayer. It basically allows you to team up with another player in order to either crack the case together or play competitively as you hunt for hidden objects. Although the gameplay and story is nothing special, we actually enjoyed the multiplayer aspect as it was something different in this genre.

Graphically, the title looks "nice" on the Wii with these well drawn/painted environments with the odd special effect thrown in for good measures. The star of the game is the voice acting and the enchanting musical score which assists in the immersive nature of this mystery game. I also loved the use of the wiimote as a communicator.

Final Level?

The Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident is a fun game for those players who enjoy hidden object games and considering that most games are alike on the Wii of late, this game does offer players something unique and fun. It has an interesting, albeit clichéd story, fun gameplay, great voice acting with multiplayer options, ensuring some additional longevity. The only downside to the game is that once you have completed it, that's basically it. Nonetheless, the hidden object game has been successfully converted to the Wii and it actually works.