Review: Unlikely Suspects

Type: Hidden Object
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Solve cases using the clues you've found to determine which is the murder weapon and who is the murderer. Once you are confident of your answer, go ahead and make your accusation!

Gameplay
In each chapter, you are presented with a murder victim. Search the crime scene, murder victim's home and places where the murder victim has been to obtain clues to help you crack the case. Each country will have two locations for you to search but not all the countries available as needed to solve the case. You will need to select the correct country based on the clues you have obtained.

At each location, you have to find all the objects on the list to get a clue to the murder weapon or identity of the murderer, but not all locations will hold useful clues. Using the clues, you have obtained, you can narrow down the choices and marked likely weapons or suspects with a "!". Once you have obtained three clues to the killer's identity, you have the option to search the suspects' homes to gather clues and match their DNA.

Thoughts
I really enjoyed playing this game. There is a feeling that I am actively running the murder investigation by making correct deductions. I also get a sense of the satisfaction from successfully solving the case. It's always the same suspects but a different victim and murderer each time. Each location is beautifully rendered with moving objects in the background or foreground. There is also a play of light e.g. sunlight shining through the trees, although it can get irritating when it distracts you. But overall, each location feels alive instead of being just a static picture.

The objects are well hidden but by clicking on the name, I get to see the shape of the object, which is a big help in finding them. There is a help section in the main menu which you can flip though for detailed instructions on how to play the game, but it's perfectly fine to jump right into the game and figure out as you go along.

Some people might be disappointed by the lack of a real story. Like the Cluedo game, no reason is given for the murder. You are just told that someone is murdered and your job is to find out the how and who, not why.

Verdict ★★★★
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