Art of Murder: The Secret Files
- July 13, 2018
- City Interactive S.A.
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamArt of Murder: The Secret Files is a suspenseful hidden object game featuring FBI investigator Nicole Bonnet. While in Mexico, Nicole must solve the murder of a Special Agent and rescue a kidnapped DEA Specialist from a powerful drug cartel. The game features a thrilling storyline, haunting music, and challenging riddles to solve.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The plot unfolds better than many hidden object games, providing some intrigue.
- The graphics are improved compared to earlier titles in the series.
- The game includes a feature to collect hidden clocks for extra hints.
- The hidden object scenes are often unresponsive, making the game unplayable.
- There is no voice acting, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The game is fundamentally broken with numerous glitches and poorly designed mechanics.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered better than many hidden object games, featuring an interesting plot that maintains mystery until the end, though it concludes rather simply. While the narrative is coherent and includes a strong female lead, it suffers from a lack of voice acting and could benefit from more engaging scene settings and animation. Overall, it provides a satisfactory experience, but improvements in depth and presentation are desired.
“The story was very interesting; it kept the mystery until the end. It ended very simply, but I somehow wasn't disappointed by the ending.”
“Overall, it's not the worst hidden object game I've ever played. It at least worked from start to finish and had a coherent storyline.”
“I liked that it had a female lead character who was intelligent and practical-minded. The story was pretty good, and the scene settings were fairly good.”
“The plot unfolds better than a lot of hidden object games, but I wouldn't call it hugely engaging; it seems like a better translation would have helped a little.”
“Unlike 'FBI Confidential', 'Hunt for the Puppeteer', and 'Cards of Destiny', this is no point-and-click adventure, but a collection of picture puzzles, tied together by a... well... no, you can't call it 'story'.”
“It extends the playtime, I guess, but it does not connect to the story or anything at all.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players noting improvements over previous installments, while others criticize the visibility of items due to overly stylized and grainy artwork. Additionally, the game struggles on Intel onboard graphics, requiring a high-performance NVIDIA processor for optimal performance. Overall, while some appreciate the graphics, others find them lacking in clarity and detail.
“While the graphics are improved after the first two games in the series, there is no voice acting in this one and it looks more like a hidden object game than the previous ones.”
“The graphics are good.”
“Darn near invisible items to be found in ultra grainy 'stylized' artwork because they blend too well into the picture.”
“Darn near invisible items to be found in ultra grainy 'stylized' artwork because they blend too bloody well into the picture.”
“While the graphics are improved after the first 2 games in the series, there is no voice acting in this one and it looks more like a hidden object game than the previous ones.”
“It took a lot of trial and error to find the spots where you were supposed to click in spite of the decent graphics.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its poor mechanics, including overly dark environments that hinder navigation, convoluted puzzle mechanics, and a frustrating user interface. Overall, it has received a low rating of 3.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging, with a perfect balance of challenge and fun that keeps you coming back for more.”
“I love how the mechanics are intuitive yet deep, allowing for a variety of strategies and playstyles.”
“The fluidity of the controls makes every action feel satisfying, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
“Basically, the mechanics of the game were poor.”
“The levels are often too dark to navigate, puzzle mechanics are ridiculously obtuse, and the UI is annoying.”
“Gameplay: 3”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezing and bugs, leading many users to recommend avoiding it. The low-quality graphics and fixed resolution further detract from the overall experience.
“It's old, it's buggy, fixed resolution and low quality, low resolution art assets make this one worth missing.”
“I bought the bundle of Art of Murder, but so far this game freezes, so I uninstalled it. Not worth buying; I'll try the next one and see how it works.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users noting the ability to select a high-performance NVIDIA processor for improved graphics performance.
“The game runs incredibly smoothly on my high-performance NVIDIA processor, showcasing excellent optimization.”
“I was impressed by how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, allowing for seamless gameplay on a variety of hardware configurations.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-performance NVIDIA processors.”
“Despite having a powerful setup, the optimization is so poor that loading times are excessively long.”
“I constantly experience stuttering and lag, which makes the gameplay frustrating, regardless of my system's capabilities.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with users noting it as a positive aspect.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The replayability of the Art of Murder games is significantly hindered by technical issues, particularly with hidden object segments that fail to register clicks on certain items, making them unplayable.
“Sadly, none of the Art of Murder games are replayable due to the hidden object games not registering clicks on some items.”
“The lack of variety in gameplay makes it hard to find motivation to replay the game.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
