Many characters were born from the pen of Agatha Christie, but it is undeniable that one of the most beloved is the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. What we know is a man who has already reached the pinnacle of success and fame. However, Poirot also has a past and Microids and Blazing Griffin have imagined a fragment of it to create Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases, an investigative game for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Here is ours review by Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases.
Poirot the agent
Before becoming a detective, Poirot was a mere police officer at the center of a small scandal that cost him his career in the big city. Fate has led him to a small country town, where nothing particular happens, at least until he finds himself having to solve a case of theft. In the Poirot's clothes, we will have to solve this little incident (which serves as a prologue and tutorial), but the resolution of this case highlights the fact that justice does not always triumph. This event prompts the young Hercule to pursue the career we know and to become a first level advocate of the law.
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases then makes us take a leap forward several years. Poirot is an experienced detective, even if he is not yet the man we met in the novels, and he is contacted by the family we met in the prologue. This time we have to solve a case of blackmail, which soon turns into a murder case too. Will we be able to?
The story of the main game takes place all in one large villa, on a snowy weekend that - conveniently - traps all the characters within the four walls along with a blackmailer and a murderer. Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is a full-fledged detective novel, divided into chapters during which we will get to know new characters and their secrets. The plot created by Blazing Griffin is respectful of Poirot's style both as a novel and as a character (with his way of speaking well reproduced). There will be secrets, intrigues, unexpected connections between the characters and some red herring.
Various surprises in the game are actually predictable, but more than anything else because the adventure prepares us by sowing clues along the way: making certain connections and understanding certain events just before the game confirming it is very pleasant and is a symptom of a well written yellow tale. At the same time, there are some connections that are a little too rapid and sudden on the part of Poirot or some conclusions that, although not illogical, seem too guided: in other words, one hears that, in some situations, the team has had to accelerate some phases of the investigation. However, there is nothing really out of place in the story told to us and each character finds its own space, reconnecting in one way or another to the events that are the fulcrum of the plot, which arrives at a conclusion that is perhaps a little too simple. , but also for this perfectly credible.
Gameplay
However, the plot does not advance by itself. It will be our task to find out what lies behind the mysteries of the villa. Before even getting there, as mentioned, we will have to deal with a prologue. How much we learn is all we need for the whole adventure, also because Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases it is certainly not a complex title from a playful point of view.
With an isometric view, we simply have to explore each environment, interact with the objects available and talk to the characters, asking questions. At key moments in the game, there will be some sort of oral "battle" between Poirot and one of the interviewees, who will have to be convinced to speak by choosing the right approach (better to be aggressive or flattering? Poirot himself will suggest it). However, these sequences cannot have failed and in the event of an error you will simply have to start over without suffering any consequences.
The fulcrum of Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is the reasoning phase inside Poirot's head. Regularly we will have to open a menu in which the game gathers the clues in a very organized way. Each section of the case has its own part and includes everything we need (and more) to arrive at the correct conclusions. Like? Simply by drawing a line between two clues: if they have a connection, Poirot will create a new clue and once we have all found we can advance in the case. These menus indicate precisely if there are links yet to be discovered and, above all, they are organized as a logical map with a clear structure. This means that the clues to be tied are always close together and that there are no obstacles between them that block the connection line. Added to the fact that it is possible to even randomly try to connect the clues to each other, this means that - even if you are not a great detectives - it will be impossible to block you.
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is a very straightforward and simple game. Only in the final phase will it be possible to "fail" some logical connections, but it will happen after the resolution of the case, so in narrative terms there is no big difference between the perfect completion and a partial ending. The pace of the game, however, is quite sustained and, if you are looking for an investigative game that is certainly not dynamic, you will remain glued to the screen until the end.
Graphics and sound
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is not a game with other productive values, let's face it right away. The presentation graphics it is adequate for an adventure that focuses entirely on narration and investigation, but it is undeniable that there are several technical limitations. In addition to some stuttering (we played the PS4 version on PS5), the game features somewhat crude polygonal models, with minimal animations and pleasant but unpretentious environments. It is certainly not a game that must be bought for the glance.
In terms of sound, the only part that makes sense is the dubbing. The whole game is dubbed, with adequate results (we heard the one in English, Spanish dubbing is not available). All the characters were given a voice with the right accent in mind, but some got better treatment than others. Often, however, we found ourselves not waiting for the end of the recitation of the dialogues and we continued at reading speed, also in order not to slow down the progress too much. All texts are in Spanish.
Comment
Tested version PlayStation 4 Digital Delivery PlayStation Store Price 39.99 € Resources4Gaming.com8.0
Readers (3)8.3
Your voteAgatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is a detective novel in the form of a video game. Structurally very linear and simple, it is a valid adventure for fans of the genre who are looking for a contained work that does not distract with secondary elements or gameplay mechanics that have little to do with the genre. From an aesthetic point of view it is certainly not a first level title, but it is a problem that is far from important.
PRO
- The story is interesting and complete
- The handling of clues is satisfactory
- Graphically it is limited
