Crime Files: The Cursed Hotel
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| Crime Files

When asked to think of a famous French police inspector most of us will picture the bumbling antics of Peter Sellers as Jacques Clouseau. In fairness to our snail consuming neighbours, I've never had cause to question the competence of Les Gendarmes.

Then again, I've never actually been to France. In fact what little French I know was exhausted a mere 30 seconds into my GCSE oral exam.

It comes as something of a blessing, then, that the French tale told in Crime Files: The Cursed Hotel is presented entirely in English.

In your face, high school French!

Let them eat cake!

Set in Marseille, Crime Files: The Cursed Hotel casts you in the roles of Detective Luc Lumbroso and reporter Manon Joliette. The majority of events take place around popular cafe Bar du Midi and the nearby Hotel. The emphasis here is on character and setting, with the often brilliant narrative drawing you into the lives of the two protagonists.

The opening tutorial chapter has Luc explain how to interact with the objects and characters within the cafe. Despite the clumsiness of being addressed by your in-game avatar, you'll swiftly learn the simple interface, and soon be working your way through the patrons and detritus strewn about the place.

Your opening case is a simple affair. Barman and owner Michel has accused one of his regular customers of stealing a cake. After questioning him - a simple matter of working your way through a limited choice of conversation topics - you're free to work your way around the premises, talking to each character and gathering evidence to support your case.

The plot thickens

The story plays out in a series of chapters, told alternately from the perspective of Luc and Manon in a series of such investigations, culminating in the brilliant Interrogation feature whereby you pick holes in the statements made by suspects by comparing them against items within your inventory.

Such connections between clue and statement often require some lateral thinking, though are mostly very logical. The only real weakness of the interrogation is the limited number of clues you'll have in your inventory. This allows for a trial-and-error approach if you get stumped.

But the essence of Crime Files: The Cursed Hotel is in the unveiling of the plot. Entertaining characters are brought to life in a story arc that never fails to entertain, even if it does occasionally become simplistic.

You'll probably know 'whodunnit' before the final scene - which arrives disappointingly quickly - but you'll be engaged in this brilliant tale right up until La Fin.

Crime Files: The Cursed Hotel

There's not much game amid the story, but Crime Files' character will draw you in until the final curtain.
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Wayne Turton
Wayne Turton
Wayne's childhood ambition was to become a superhero. However, having been told that running round in tights is improper adult behaviour he now spends his days playing video games and watching cartoons instead. Millions of citizens sleep more soundly in the knowledge that he isn't watching over them.