Unsolved Crimes
Encyclopedia
Unsolved Crimes is an adventure
video game for Nintendo DS
, published by Empire Interactive
.
. The player is a rookie detective from the homicide
division. There are eight cases in the game, and one larger case divided into sections. In this case, a model named Betsy Blake goes missing. She is the sister of the player's partner, Marcy Blake.
The DS offers a variety of things on the touch screen. Memos, evidence
, profiles
of suspects and movements are done through the touch screen.
In almost every case players must answer queries
. These are often multiple-choice. If the player answers wrong they lose confidence from their partner. The game is over when Marcy loses trust in them completely, or when all cases are solved.
In one case, some queries can be skipped. However, all queries must be answered to unlock a case after the player finds Betsy.
called it "a solid graphic adventure with some unfortunate blemishes", praising the "variety of game mechanics" and calling the cases "genuinely engrossing", while criticising the presentation and graphics. Gamespot
called the visuals "unremarkable", criticised the use of multiple choice
questions which "makes the investigations too simple." and the absence of suspect interrogations, while praising the cases as "quite engaging", the environmental sound effects, and the occasional variety provided by action sequences, concluding "There's a series of interesting crimes to solve in this DS adventure, but uncovering the truth is just too simple."
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
video game for Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, published by Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive was a UK based video game developer and publisher founded in 1987. It was closed under administration on 4 May 2009.-About Empire Interactive:...
.
Plot
The game is set in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The player is a rookie detective from the homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
division. There are eight cases in the game, and one larger case divided into sections. In this case, a model named Betsy Blake goes missing. She is the sister of the player's partner, Marcy Blake.
The DS offers a variety of things on the touch screen. Memos, evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
, profiles
Profiles
Profiles is an album by Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason and 10cc's guitarist Rick Fenn, released in 1985. It is almost entirely instrumental, save for two songs: "Lie for a Lie," featuring Pink Floyd singer and guitarist David Gilmour and Mike Oldfield's early 80s singer Maggie Reilly; and...
of suspects and movements are done through the touch screen.
In almost every case players must answer queries
Question
A question may be either a linguistic expression used to make a request for information, or else the request itself made by such an expression. This information may be provided with an answer....
. These are often multiple-choice. If the player answers wrong they lose confidence from their partner. The game is over when Marcy loses trust in them completely, or when all cases are solved.
In one case, some queries can be skipped. However, all queries must be answered to unlock a case after the player finds Betsy.
Reception
Unsolved Crimes has received a mixed critical reception. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
called it "a solid graphic adventure with some unfortunate blemishes", praising the "variety of game mechanics" and calling the cases "genuinely engrossing", while criticising the presentation and graphics. Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
called the visuals "unremarkable", criticised the use of multiple choice
Multiple choice
Multiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections-- when a person chooses between multiple...
questions which "makes the investigations too simple." and the absence of suspect interrogations, while praising the cases as "quite engaging", the environmental sound effects, and the occasional variety provided by action sequences, concluding "There's a series of interesting crimes to solve in this DS adventure, but uncovering the truth is just too simple."