Roquefort; Zoolander; Pizza; Mr. Roboto; Weebl and Bob songs;
That's right, today's category is: Things that are cheesy but I like 'em anyway. Well, add one more thing to that list, because the Super Flash Bros have released their latest game: a point-and-click carnival murder mystery!
You play the title character, Detective Grimoire a hatless (but not hapless) crime-solver assigned to track down the murderer of Hugh Everton, ineffective caretaker of the carnival funhouse. The suspects are all fellow carnival workers and include a clown, a costumed entertainer, a janitor, a mechanic, the games stall clerk, and the carnival head honcho himself. You'll have to question each one of them to unearth details about the crime scene, as well as the ongoing relationships between all the carnival workers. Additionally, you'll need to hunt for clues at various locations throughout the carnival. When you're in the presence of a suspect, click on a clue from your database and they'll tell you if they know anything about it.
You start out considering everyone a suspect and only removing them from the list when you discover information that proves their innocence. By the process of elimination, you'll narrow your list down to just one suspect. However, identifying the killer is only part of the game—you still have to piece together details like the motive, the murder weapon, and explanations for other clues that you find. Put together the whole story correctly and you'll see the perp behind bars!
Analysis: As I said before, Detective Grimoire contains a higher-than-average level of cheese. Come on, a disgruntled clown and a costumed entertainer who hates kids? Now pile on some smoky private-eye music, corny dialogue, and a motley assortment of suspicious alibis, slap it on the griddle and you've got yourself a mighty fine grilled cheese (and red herring) sandwich.
About the only cheesy element missing is the obligatory twist ending—it's pretty easy to see who the murderer is after playing the game about halfway through. After that, it's just a matter of clearing everyone else and piecing together the events of the previous night.
Because the game was five months in the making, the Bros were clearly able to work out all the details. There really aren't any major issues with bugs, and the user interface is set up well—easily navigable and self-explanatory. There's even a button to save your progress, although you probably won't need it. My only beef was that I was expecting to clear suspects by using clues and logic, a la Sherlock Holmes. Instead, you press questions onto them until they break down and admit whatever it is they were hiding—usually just some embarrassing detail having nothing to do with the case. Contrived? Extremely. But what good cheesy mystery isn't? And besides, you'll put your deduction skills to work when trying to piece together the story.
So go grab a hunk of Camembert and play Detective Grimoire.
PS - don't forget to check out the bonus feature reward at the end of the game: the making of Detective Grimoire!
Walkthrough Guide
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Great game...
A Complete Walkthrough.
Talk to Officer James, read everything he says, and click I'm ready
Click to the left, to go to the fairground entrance.
Girl appears, get map, there are no clues outside the fairground, click the entrance to move 'outside the funhouse'
You will automatically start a conversation with the clown (Charles Ringer), afterwards, click him and ask him about 'Last Night', then 'The Fairground', then his 'Ripped Clothing'
Click the left side of the screen (or the move arrow) to move to the 'Hoop Game Stall'
Talk to Mandy, ask her about 'Last Night' and 'The Fairground'
Click the books next to her, they are a clue. Click Clues -> Books. After talking to her briefly, you'll see "Get the truth" or "Leave it"
Click "Get the truth"
Hold your mouse hovering over the detectives right eye (the one closest to you) and read their conversation until you seethe screen FLASH. As soon as it does, move your mouse to the right quickly to make eye contact and catch her lying.
Listen to her tell the truth.
Click the right side of the screen, or the move right arrow to move to the Can game stall.
After talking to the little girl, click the Green Pen, the Big Space
(behind the counter) and the Window to gather clues/notes.
Click the right side of the screen or the arrow to move to outside the Hall of Mirrors.
Talk to Ricky, ask him everything as with everyone else before him..."Last Night", "Fairground" and then "Other Staff"
Click the red nose on the ground, the window to the left of the
building, and the door to the Hall of Mirrors.
Inside, click the broken mirror, glass shards, and marks on ground. Click the left side of the screen to exit.
Click the right side of the screen or the arrow to move to the Big
Wheel. Talk to Pete, ask him everything (as with everyone before... need I repeat it?)
Click the right side of the screen or the arrow to move to the food
court.
Talk to Jerry, ask him everything (as before). When asking about "The
Sights" you have to Get The Truth (as you did with Mandy)
Click the Bin, move the trash around to uncover the Wire Cutters.
Click the stall to go into the bathroom. Click the Drawing and the Writing. Leave.
Move Right to enter the office and talk to Gary. Ask him everything, as usual. Click the Penpot, Calendar, Wire, and Wardrobe. Collect notes/clues. Click your Clues, and mouseover all of them, ask him about the Green Marker, PenPot, Cut Wire, and Calendar (have to get the truth as before, when asking about the calendar.)
Click the map and go back to the Hall of Mirrors to talk to Ricky. Ask him about the Argument. Get the Truth.
Map -> Funhouse -> Talk to Charles about Argument with Ricky. Click small opening to the lower left of the door (you'll see wooden planks.)
Move the planks out of the way, and enter the funhouse office.
Click the book marked Records, click and drag to move all the papers on the left side to the right until you see the To Do List. Click the window,
then the mirror on the back shelf. (w00t. teh murda wepin.) Click back.
Outside the funhouse, click your clues and ask the clown about the
cloth that was tied around the glass (that obviously belongs to him.)
Clues -> Red Nose -> Ask clown, and Get The Truth.
Map -> Hoop Game Stall -> Talk to mandy about her uncle. (and if you havent already, click the stuffed animals above her as they are a clue for whatever reason... I've not found its use..then ask her about The Toys.)
Map -> Big Wheel -> Clues -> Ask ete about Wire Cutters... Get the
Truth.
Click your Profiles... mouseover everyone and realize... omg! Everyone
but Pete is stamped innocent! Click the map and return to the Car Park.
Talk to Officer James, and Let's Do It!
MURDERER:
PETE NUBHAT
MURDER WEAPON:
BLOODY GLASS SHARD
ANSWER 1:
SO HE WOULD BE CALLED IN TO FIX IT
ANSWER 2:
IN THE TOILET CUBICLE
ANSWER 3:
TO FRAME CHARLES RINGER
ANSWER 4:
BECAUSE PETE OILED THE DOOR BEFORE GOING IN
ANSWER 5:
PETE WIPED UP MORE OIL
ANSWER 6:
ALL OF THE ABOVE!
hooray for us! we win! *dance*
Posted by: Panda | July 6, 2007 4:06 PM