I’m a huge fan of Dexter. I’ve watched everything by now and it’s still a bit of an obsession of mine. This time, I got the chance to step into the shoes of a forensic investigator myself in Forensics: Crime Scene Detective (I guess the serial killer role will have to wait). The game is developed by Binary Impact and Alchemical Works and published by Aerosoft GmbH.
What is the game about?
I can make all these Dexter references, but what is the game actually about? In this game, you play as the forensic specialist who provides investigators with the facts. You investigate apartments, bars and basements where something unimaginable has happened. But what exactly? That’s for you to figure out. Using professional equipment, you search for clues that everyone else has missed. Think of a subtle fingerprint on a wine glass, a deleted message on a smartphone or a tiny blood stain that puts a witness statement into question. Back in the lab, you compare DNA profiles, reconstruct bullet trajectories, analyse digital devices and put all the puzzle pieces together. The fun part is that your analyses can either expose the culprit or prove that a suspect is actually innocent.
How realistic is the game?
The developers claim that the game is based on the experience and expertise of specialists from the State Criminal Police Office of Rhineland-Palatinate (LKA RLP). I honestly don’t know enough about that to say how realistic it really is. I do think it’s a cool addition that, according to the developers, the cases are inspired by real-life events. Whether that’s actually true is obviously not something I can verify myself.
According to the developers, the game contains 14 cases to investigate. During these investigations you’ll use tools such as DNA tests, fingerprint powder, ballistic equipment and digital forensic analysis. The evidence you collect is then examined further in the laboratory.
My experience
I think collecting evidence feels very realistic and because of that the game really stands out from other detective games. You’re not just playing a police officer, you’re actually searching for clues the way a forensic investigator would. At least, that’s how I imagine the job works. The focus is much more on the science behind the investigation than on the violence itself. The laboratory also looks well designed and believable. What I did miss was some kind of system that gives you a bit more guidance. I found the interface quite unclear, confusing and sometimes even a little illogical. I don’t know if that’s just me or if it’s something more people struggle with. Personally, I would have loved a difficulty setting like Trainee or Sherlock. If you pick Trainee, for example, the game could give you more support by asking things like: “Have you photographed all the evidence?”
Because of that, I sometimes felt like I was trying to figure out what the game wanted from me instead of actually solving a crime. Of course, games are supposed to be challenging, but I’m not really experienced with games like this. I play plenty of simulation games, but not many where you constantly have to think of every next step yourself. That’s why I really missed some sort of permanent tutorial or assistant. Because of this, I only ended up playing for about two hours, even though I actually wanted to spend a lot more time with it. One thing I do really like is that the game lets you make mistakes. You can actually come to the wrong conclusion, and I think that’s a really good design choice.
The game also feels pretty short. I only came across three or four actual cases, which gave me around four hours of gameplay.
Conclusion
I think Forensics: Crime Scene Detective has a lot of potential. The forensic investigation feels realistic, and the focus on collecting and analysing evidence makes it stand out from many other detective games. I also like that you’re allowed to make mistakes instead of always ending up with the correct answer.
That being said, the game didn’t fully manage to keep me hooked. The unclear interface and the lack of guidance often left me wondering what I was supposed to do next. On top of that, the game felt quite short. I would’ve loved to spend more time with it, but after a few hours I already felt like I’d seen most of what it had to offer. If you’re into forensic investigation or you’re a Dexter fan like me, I think you’ll probably enjoy this game. Just don’t expect a huge amount of content, and be prepared to figure out a lot of things by yourself.
I really hope the developers continue to expand the game, because in my opinion the foundation is definitely there.
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