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C.S.I: Crime Scene Investigation Review - PC

C.S.I, the widely popular TV show, manages to spin seemingly boring things, such as testing cotton fibre samples and collecting footprint moulds, in such a way that it actually creates an entertaining hour of television. There are a million clues at every crime scene, and it's up to the investigation crew to find them. Can you piece together the puzzle and solve the crime?? Well, strap on a pair of rubber gloves and lets find out.

Gameplay

The premise for the game is quite a simple one. News filters in for various crimes, and as the rookie on the job, you go to the various crime scenes and investigate. Of course, you have various tools at your disposal as well as access to the CSI team- each with different fields of expertise who make the job of searching for someone's address or analyzing hair sample that little bit easier.
"Investigating" the crime scene is a simple as moving your mouse over certain objects. If there is anything to investigate further the icon will turn green. Once you have found an object, you then have to use your numerous tools to finally collect the evidence. Unfortunately it ends up coming down to trying every tool until you get the right one. Once a print, tire thread or DNA sample is collected you head on over to the lab where there are a few methods of identifying the evidence. The first is the computer that will scan the fingerprints into a database and compare them to other prints. You can also check out newspaper clippings, chat rooms and addresses.
Samples can also be placed under the microscope to establish links and the lab geek can also be used to identify samples. Once links are established you can head over to the Chief who will run checks on names, approves warrants or puts out an APB on a missing truck. You have no real control over what you say and if you've discovered the right evidence speak options appear. After a while you soon realize that you have no control over your discoveries- it's just a matter of waiting for your icon to turn green, finding the right tool and scanning it all at the lab. There is also a distinct lack of red hearings- everything you find will be related to the case somehow. Does that sound like fun to you??

There are 5 missions in CSI and initially there is no relation. But there is a twist of sorts in the last mission that makes the game a tad more entertaining. None of the cases here will stump even an average gamer and most will pick the criminal straight away. Once certain evidence is discovered the crime is re-enacted, and even though you have a good idea as to who committed the crime- you must follow the case through. It would have been nice if the game was a lot harder, you had some sort of (continued next page)