Crime Line

Crime Line
by Golden Bough Games - May, 2013

Available at:
Big Fish for PC
GameHouse (has one episode more than the Big Fish version)



In this unique adventure game, you're the homicide detective. You must succeed in each case to move up the police ranks in Crime Line, a collection of short crime mysteries that will have you analyzing and piecing together the clues in each episode. Put the evidence together with the stories of the witnesses to solve the crimes. Solve 12 different murders and arrest the killers as efficiently and accurately as you can. The better you do at solving the crimes, the faster you move up the ranks. Prove your keen detective skills through detailed interviews and the collection of pertinent evidence that you find at each crime scene. The unique storylines will keep you engaged as you hunt down the truth and apprehend the criminals.

• Solve 12 different murder cases.
  
• Interview dozens of witnesses and collect hundreds of clues.
  
• Use the evidence to recreate the murders and uncover the killers.
  
• Follow the unique storylines and characters in this episodic murder mystery game.
  
• Solve the cases efficiently and accurately to move up the police ranks.
  

Warning: This game features realistic murder cases and scenes, with images of illegal drugs, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and depictions of death.

Click images to enlarge

Crime Line (Adventure)

Don't come into this game with any preconceived notions.  I've seen no other games at the casual portals that's anything like this one.  The stories unfold as you examine your surroundings, gather evidence, and talk to witnesses.  You are the detective.  It's kind of like a combination of watching a Criminal Minds (the TV show) marathon and playing one of the old text adventure games.  There is a lot of reading to do, but small amounts at a time -- never an overwhelming amount.  If you're looking for action, this game wouldn't be a good fit.  This one is for those who like to step back and consider what is around you.  In the end, only you can find the criminal(s).

The game starts with a short video, rather like a commercial showing the basic premise of the game.  Unlike most games, there is no separate window for options. You'll find them in the top left corner, with separate sliders for music and sound, plus full-screen or windowed mode.  No option for wide-screen, but it still looked great on my monitor.  These options can be adjusted at any time during gameplay with one simple click.

Also unlike other games, you can choose what order you wish to play the game in!  There are 12 crimes to solve (or 11 if you play the Big Fish version), which you can choose from on the title page.  They are:

• A Novel Murder
  
• Death in the Suburbs (not available in Big Fish version)
  
• Lost Shelter
  
• The Open Door
  
• The Girl in the Park
  
• Graphic Evidence
  
• Album Drop
  
• Sinking Feelings
  
• Unnatural History
  
• The Short Walk Home
  
• Salon See You Tomorrow
  
• The Play's the Thing
  

The witness statements will lead you to examine certain things in the room, almost like a hidden object game.  You can skip a statement and come back to it later, if you wish.  You get only one HINT per witness, but they do accumulate if you don't use them.  Once you've collected the evidence, you use it to double-check the witness' story.  You'll get a more detailed account once you finish reviewing.

You will see the same piece(s) of evidence in multiple witness' stories, but this is the kind of thing that can help solve the crimes -- when you get different accounts from different people.

When you've interviewed everyone, you will be asked to catch the culprit.  Just mouse-over the location for each suspect to read their statements, and be sure you don't click until you think you've found the right person.

Each case took me about twenty minutes to finish, meaning that the game is about 4 hours long.

There are moments when the text can get repetitive, but the cases are both interesting and compelling.

The subject matter is NOT for the faint of heart. We are dealing with serious and sometimes sickening subject matter, though the devs do handle this well.   Absolutely worth checking out if you enjoy crime-themed drama

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The reason why there are only 11 is because you have the Big Fish version.  There was one case that they made the devs (Golden Bough Games) remove before they'd allow the game.  

Your review is so wonderful, I've sent a message to Michael Ahn of Golden Bough so that he can see it -- I know he'll be really happy, as a lot of work went into making the game

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Michael Ahn wrote:"Big Fish would not release the game with the episode about the

Spoiler:

  I had to take it out.  But Gamehouse with fine with it.  So the Gamehouse version has one extra episode!"

So, it was a censorship issue   , plain and simple... and it's why I got the game at GameHouse instead of BF!

(Click on the word SPOILER to read what's written there)

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Good review Sportygal.  I just wanted to check them out after reading the thread where you were getting set up.  I like the personal approach you take.  Look forward to reading your reviews along with Genki's.