As if I didn’t have enough of CSI on the TV. My husband and
youngest daughter are huge CSI fans, and now that we have DirectTV, hey, we can
watch it all day long! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t care for crime
shows, but CSI, and all the NCIS shows, are more bloody than I like. However, I
knew my family would be really interested in the game, and I like just about any
type of adventure and mystery games.
The game is modeled very closely to the TV show. It is set in Las
Vegas and features the cast members from the show, who lend their voices to the
game. There are five cases in all to solve. These cases begin pretty much as the
ones on the show, and show the animated sequence of events that lead up to the
death, the actual death, and the events that occur shortly after.
Then, it’s off to the streets of Las Vegas! Players will need to
visit all the locations that are pertinent to the crime, and interview all the
suspects and witnesses, and examine each area for important clues. While many
events depend on certain other events to occur first, the game path is not
absolutely linear and areas can be visited in any order, within their "groups"
of game triggering events.
Although there is a lot of interrogating and clue gathering to
do, most of the action is in the lab, where players will use the microscope
tools to examine items closely, a computer to look up fingerprints, DNA, and
medical histories, and other areas to manipulate items to garner more clues
about the crime.
Using the lab is fun and works well within the story, but the
controls can be a little dicey. Trying to manipulate the small items until they
line up with each other is difficult at times. For instance, early in the game
in the first case, players will need to fit small pieces of glass together. This
is hard going with the Wii-mote. Using a mouse on a PC will probably be much
easier.
The voice acting is superb! Having the real actors portray the
characters lends authenticity and familiarity from the show to the game, and the
writing is also fairly well done. The manner in which the game is broken into
sequences, the interaction between the characters, and the short monologues the
lead investigators give; all combine to give a great experience. Players will
definitely feel they are actually involved in one of the TV episodes.
The puzzles and clues are mostly straightforward and not too
difficult to gather and solve. Sometimes players will get stuck, but this is
usually due to not having found a certain item, and not because the case itself
is obtuse. If players are stopped too long, they can usually figure out what to
do from talking again to the other investigators. Once a certain number of clues
have been examined and put together, players can call in suspects for further
questioning, and also serve warrants.
This is a good police procedural, delivered in a point ‘n click
fashion that is typical for adventure games. The action and stories are
interesting, and the theme of the CSI team is great. There are five cases, and
each of them will take a little while to solve. However, as in all adventure
games, once you’re done, you’re done.
A good choice for anyone who likes police procedurals, who is a
fan of CSI, and who isn’t looking for a lot of replay value.
Gameplay:
8.0
The gameplay is fun and interesting, and is very well-designed. The interaction
with the characters is good, and the story is logical and written coherently.
The controls are a little difficult, though.
Graphics:
8.5
The animated characters are drawn as well as can be expected for the Wii. They
are a little stiff in their appearance on close-ups, but the Wii is not known
for its outstanding graphical abilities.
Sound:
8.0
The music and sound effects are very nice, with fitting theme music and sound
affects, and great voice acting.
Difficulty:
Medium
The game is of a medium difficulty.
Concept: 7.0
This is a tried and true concept, but the execution is good and
the design well-implemented.
Overall: 8.0
We really enjoyed playing CSI: Deadly Intent, and the two CSI
experts here agreed that it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it because I like
mysteries and adventure games, more than I love CSI. So, fans of either can
expect a fun experience. The game designers did an excellent job of capturing
the essence of the show and extending the show’s flavor to the game. The game
mechanics are good, and the story moves everything along at a smooth pace. The
puzzles are well-integrated, and everything makes sense. A good mystery to while
away a few hours on the Wii.
