Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The London Case Reviews

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First Cases was much better. This edition is just kind of janky to say the least. After playing my fair share of detective games I feel like this is worse than its predecessor and the bugs are one reason but not the only one. I saw many say that the mechanics feel like they were added to the game but without any thought on how these mechanics or 'mini games' would add to the experience and I agree. Not a thought must have went into it because while the game is short, the story and the chapters are boring, monotonous, and the repetitive mechanics aren't even fun. If you're trying to have a linear, narrative story without any room for the player's own free will of discovery then you should not implement things that jumble up your system and confuse the game. Finally, I despise the addition of Hastings. The amount of times I went back and forth in the same room only to find out I needed to talk to Hastings was honestly offensive. Now, you could tell me I am bad at the game for not knowing I must speak to the man however each conversation of 'recap' of the clues or findings was REGURGITATED from the mind map and had already been word for word figured out by Hercules!! He does not add insight and I think the devs were just trying to add a companion similar to the Sherlock Holmes games. Further, some of the mechanics and the mind map I think were completely inspired by the Sherlock Holmes games which are older than this series by nearly ten years. Inspiration and taking from games is not the issue- the issue is not knowing how to implement them or why players enjoyed those features in the first place? Fortunately I bought this game in a cheap bundle but this is just beyond frustrating.