I love a good crime drama, so when I get the chance to search a crime scene and solve the problem, I jump at the chance. This opportunity arises when you invest in FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol. It is the latest detective experience that focuses on science over dramatic action. This slower and more methodical design won’t be for everyone, but if you like to test your grey matter, this could tickle your fancy.
This methodical crime-solving experience was developed by K148 Game Studio and published by JanduSoft. It is a single-player affair that demands an eye for detail and a desire to search for every clue. It is this slow and nitpicking design that may annoy lovers of high-powered and fast action experiences. However, if you love to search your surroundings and manipulate elements to reconstruct scenarios, then this will be right up your street.
FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol tells different stories.
Witnessing multiple different stories and crimes within one game is not a regular occurrence. However, FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol makes it work. With 9 unique cases to work with, you won’t know what’s happening from one moment to the next. Furthermore, it helps to keep things fresh as there are kidnappings, conspiracies, murders, and crimes of passion. In short, it offers plenty of depth as you explore each crime scene.
I found many of the stages to be quite overwhelming. With plenty to look at and loads of things to try, I felt out of my comfort zone quite a lot. Yet, if you like to piece together key information and work the angles, this will be the ideal approach for you. Additionally, you can use specialist equipment to increase your search area and find vital evidence. With drones, robots, and chemical analysis tools at your disposal, you’ll eliminate red herrings in no time.
The core mechanics make you a spectacular detective.
FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol asks you to take in a lot of detail. Each crime scene is a mess of information, background noise, and other distracting elements. Luckily, the core mechanics help you to become the world’s best detective. You must use photography and correct documentation to capture key evidence. Moreover, you’ll reconstruct the scene with physical evidence. The specialist equipment helps you to reach otherwise unreachable areas, and this helps with the trickier moments.
With plenty to juggle, you’d be right to be confused and worried about keeping on top of things. Thankfully, everything is well explained, and the UI helps you to work through the evidence and piece together your thoughts. This was amazing as it has a real detective feel to the action. Additionally, you can adjust each key item as new clues come to light. Consequently, your deductions can change significantly if you were to miss one minor detail.
FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol isn’t visually perfect.
FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol offers a visual mixed bag. The graphics do not push next-gen consoles, and there is a sense of stiffness and out-of-place elements during each of the 9 cases. However, the world feels realistic and lived in. Each location has an abundance of items to look at, and this adds confusion and difficulty to each crime scene. Although things are often slow, it works well with the methodical design.
The audio relies heavily on silence and ambient sounds. The few musical moments are reserved mainly for cutscenes or loading. This may be an odd choice, but it supports the idea of independent working. You are left to observe the scene, and the ambient sounds reflect the isolation. The audio design makes things tense and uncomfortable, and I loved the bizarre sense of drama.
Frustrating controls.
If I were a professional investigator, I’d be sure to take every tool I require. However, in FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol, this doesn’t happen. A limited inventory demands that you return to your vehicle multiple times. This was frustrating and unnecessary. This approach makes the game feel clumsy and breaks the immersive nature of the gameplay.
The nature of the genre stunts replay value and longevity. Once you complete each crime scene, there is little else to find. Subsequently, once you complete all 9 stages, you will not return for more. I invested around 9 hours, and this was enough to keep me happy. However, with no reason to return, this offers limited value for money.
FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol is good but limited.
There are plenty of plus points when tackling this title. I love the atmosphere, the eye for detail, and the methodical design. Moreover, the audio delivers a healthy blend of silence and ambient sounds. Yet, it is held back by its limited replay value and stiff visuals. Despite these complaints, I enjoyed it and recommend buying it here! Can you master your tools and solve every crime? Study the scene, piece together the clues, and become an amazing detective
