Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case is a fun-filled adventure that is faithful to Christie’s original material. Moreover, taking control of this much-loved detective is a thrilling experience. However, this slow title will attract a niche audience. As such, I worry that many gamers will miss this enduring and colourful detective game.
This detective adventure title was developed by Blazing Griffin and published by Microids. What’s more, it focuses on a linear approach whilst asking you to piece together every clue. Consequently, it gets your grey matter going as you listen to the clues and solve every problem you face.
Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case a camp and colourful tale.
Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case is a colourful camp tale that will make you smile throughout. The world-famous Poirot is a treat to control as you experience his overwhelming charm, wit, and impeccable manners. However, there are moments where the hero is pushed to the edge as every possible suspect tries to muddy the water. As such, there are amusing one-liners, and many misconstrued moments that’ll make you chuckle.
The story is a classic affair. Poirot is tasked with protecting the gloriously stunning painting of Mary Magdalene. However, en route, he finds plenty of minor crimes that he must solve. Yet, it is the painting that forms the key moments of this game. When it is stolen from under everyone’s noses, the Belgium detective must step forward and solve the crime.
Classic point-and-click mechanics.
The core story unfolds at a pleasant pace. Accordingly, you never feel rushed and you have all the time in the world to explore each unique location. However, the linear approach ensures that it is almost impossible to fail at any task. As such, even if you do not know the answer to a problem, you can guess your way to the solution. This was extremely frustrating, as it made the job of solving each mystery undeniably easy.
Yet, if you can put this issue to one side, you’ll experience a fun “who done it” adventure. Furthermore, the drip-fed side quests and loud characters add to the drama. On top of this, I adored the classic point-and-click mechanics. These old-school elements worked perfectly as you freely explored every available room.
Clues and a mind map.
Making progress in Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case was pretty straightforward. Thanks to the combination of the simple-to-find clues and the mind map, you never felt lost or out of your depth. Yet, it was this basic approach that would annoy hardcore fans of the genre. Unfortunately, it was too easy to find essential items and there weren’t enough “red herrings” to keep you guessing. I understand that the developers wished to make this an inclusive and accessible title. However, by dumbing down the difficulty, it will disappoint a key demographic.
This to one side, I loved how the clues and the mind map elements worked. As you identified key items, you could investigate them to find out more details. This then generated interesting clues to help with your investigation. Each of these bits of information was placed in your mind map to help you to solve each crime. Additionally, as you progress, you are given the chance to link essential clues. As such, you’ll piece together each layer of evidence to solve every problem you face.
Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case was pleasant to the eye.
Though Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case can’t be considered “next-gen”, I was impressed by its graphics, nonetheless. The interesting locations and excellent camera viewpoints made this a joy to play. Moreover, the cinematic was great, and each character had a pleasant level of detail. On top of this, the animation was smooth and moving around each area was a treat. Accordingly, I enjoyed exploring each location whilst observing the interesting cutscenes.
The audio was just as good. The developers have worked hard on the ambient sounds and the era-specific soundtrack. Alongside this, the acting was well delivered, and I appreciated the blend of accents and the intriguing characters you encounter.
Excellent controls.
The linear approach, combined with an excellent UI, ensures that Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case is a pleasure to play. Furthermore, the straightforward camera controls and clear-to-identify clues help to keep you on track. Consequently, this is the perfect game if you’ve never experienced a point-and-click adventure.
Where this falls short, however, is its replay value and longevity. Unfortunately, it isn’t the longest game I’ve played, and it is almost impossible to miss any clues. Subsequently, you don’t need to pay too much attention if you wish to progress. This was a shame, as I enjoy being tested from beginning to end. Yet, that didn’t happen as most of the critical clues fell into your lap.
Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case is fun but far too easy.
I enjoyed my time with this game. However, it was far too easy. I understand why the developers focused on a linear approach, but it undermines many of the problem-solving aspects. As such, this will not test veterans of the genre. Yet, if you can overlook the lack of difficulty, you’ll enjoy an excellent story and some sublime acting. Accordingly, I liked what I saw and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you solve every crime? Question the suspects, leave no stone unturned, and show the world why you are the infamous Hercule Poirot.
