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Stoofa · 03-28-2005, 09:51 AM

I just played a paid episode of Gumshoe Online.

I played the tutorial ages ago, and out of boredom signed up for a paid case called Moonshine. I had forgotten how frustrating I found the tutorial game, and the paid game was even more so.

The game has very low quality graphics. It uses the same faces for different characters and the same items for different rooms and areas. This is forgivable because the game is online and needs to be small enough so that players don't experience lag, etc. However, one would expect the mystery to make up for the limitations of the graphics. It doesn't. The plot is deadly dull and interaction with the characters is stilted and limited.

There's not a lot of information given to help you along in your quest to bring the villain(s) to justice. At the end of the game you must choose your suspect(s) and list your evidence in order of importance. Most of this is guess work. If you make a mistake you must start the game from the beginning and try again. I made extensive notes and went over my evidence again and again, and I still was really just guessing as to the motives etc. of my suspects.

What annoyed me the MOST about Gumshoe Online is that the game is basically one long pixel hunt. You must click or mouse-over every.single.area in every.single.room. If you don't do this you will miss say, a nail hidden under #103 of 200 identical plants or boxes in a building. Getting help from other users is difficult as they're reluctant to post help on the official forums, they prefer to PM you a hint or two. Apparently this is because the creators of Gumshoe Online had a contest awhile ago, and now the regular users are loathe to give up anything that might help other people in future contests.

It's a shame because the concept is great. I'd love to be able to play a intriguing game with quick puzzles on my lunch hour at work.

03-28-2005, 09:51 AM	#26
Stoofa Roar? Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 665	Great idea, poor execution. I just played a paid episode of Gumshoe Online. I played the tutorial ages ago, and out of boredom signed up for a paid case called Moonshine. I had forgotten how frustrating I found the tutorial game, and the paid game was even more so. The game has very low quality graphics. It uses the same faces for different characters and the same items for different rooms and areas. This is forgivable because the game is online and needs to be small enough so that players don't experience lag, etc. However, one would expect the mystery to make up for the limitations of the graphics. It doesn't. The plot is deadly dull and interaction with the characters is stilted and limited. There's not a lot of information given to help you along in your quest to bring the villain(s) to justice. At the end of the game you must choose your suspect(s) and list your evidence in order of importance. Most of this is guess work. If you make a mistake you must start the game from the beginning and try again. I made extensive notes and went over my evidence again and again, and I still was really just guessing as to the motives etc. of my suspects. What annoyed me the MOST about Gumshoe Online is that the game is basically one long pixel hunt. You must click or mouse-over every.single.area in every.single.room. If you don't do this you will miss say, a nail hidden under #103 of 200 identical plants or boxes in a building. Getting help from other users is difficult as they're reluctant to post help on the official forums, they prefer to PM you a hint or two. Apparently this is because the creators of Gumshoe Online had a contest awhile ago, and now the regular users are loathe to give up anything that might help other people in future contests. It's a shame because the concept is great. I'd love to be able to play a intriguing game with quick puzzles on my lunch hour at work.