CSI: Hard Evidence, A Short Review for Your Face.

I have never watched an episode of CSI in my life. I don't really care for the crime investigation/ forensics shows. With that in mind, it is probably my own fault for not liking this game. But I definitely feel like the game most likely lacks for other people too. Here's the non-formatted breakdown.

This game reminds me of the old school PC games where there was never really any action. You were simply out to solve mysteries. That is exactly what this game is. There are a five different stories. Your job as the player is to solve these murders. You don't shoot, chase criminals, or involve yourself in any other kind of action. It is completely thought driven.

The player is allowed to investigate a crime scene. You have to gather evidence by using a briefcase full of tools. You can extract finger prints, bullet casings, and bloodstains. You then take all this information back to a laboratory to examine. You also have access to the victims' bodies and an interrogation room for witnesses.

These tools do have some moments of fun. There are times when the technological achievements of the investigator are impressive. But you have to do everything is a very specific order. You investigate the crime scene, then talk to someone, then investigate again, then visit the body, and so on. You are really only allowed to unravel certain parts of the mystery at a time. This makes the game very slow moving.

While this definitely isn't the game for me, I do have non-gaming friends that really enjoyed it. One friend played regularly played with her husband until they had solved all the crimes. Its a very non-stressful game that doesn't require a lot of skill. The added bonus is that the achievements are super easy. There are five crimes and solving each crime nets you 200 points. You don't' have to scour the landscape searching for collectibles. And there is no impossible difficulty level to complete. Even if you miss some of the evidence, you can still complete the investigation and get your points.

So it is really up to you whether or not you are going to like this game. If you are looking for action and adventure, this is the game for you. If you want to sit down for several hours and just relax with a lazy game, this is what you have been looking for.