Crime Scene: A Game Review

What will you do if you are faced with a case that will challenge the system you work in? Will you seek the truth even if it will earn you scorn to your colleagues? Or will you succumb to defeat and look away from it all?

Crime Scene is created by South Peak Games which let players experience being a forensic investigator named Matt Simons, where he must prove to his superiors that he can do what any forensic investigator can do.

The story starts with his first case where a colleague is found dead with his wife in their own apartment. Since the apartment was locked, the police assumed that it was murder then suicide case. Matt was then assigned to the case to be able to shed light on what really happened in the room. This leads to other new cases that seemed to be connected to each other.

The game utilizes the touchscreen capability as players tries to solve one case after another by using the equipment provided. The equipment ranges from powder for lifting finger print from evidences; to swabs for unknown liquid and blood detection. The evidence gathered are then placed in a container to be further analyzed in the laboratory, which the players will get to do afterwards.

Failing at using the tool will lower your detective rating; fail too many times and you’ll be fired, resulting in a game over. Failing can also lower the detective score and affect the overall scores in a case.

In order to arrest a suspect, players need to gather evidences and give it to the superior for validation. Failing to give enough evidence can also lower players overall score. Surprisingly, placing too much evidence (regardless if its related or not) does not do anything to the score — provided that the needed evidence are a part of it.

The story in itself is dark and compelling that the game even takes players to investigate even his colleagues. This leads to complex story that made sense after solving every crime that comes your way. Unfortunately, the character’s tone lacks emotions that will elicit players into really role play the protagonist. Even the comedic lines are not in any way funny.

Overall, the game is a good experience for gamers who wants to try to become a part of a CSI team. While the story is a little interesting, the gameplay in itself is frustrating to the point that you need a lot of patience especially when using the equipment provided. The characterizations also lacks the depth and emotion that might limit the playability factor of this game.