Mahjongg Investigations: Under Suspicion
- July 29, 2008
- Zemnott
In "Mahjongg Investigations: Under Suspection," you are a detective in Metro City's 83rd precinct, using Mahjongg skills to uncover clues and bring criminals to justice. Progress through 10 ranks, solve escalating crimes with multiple perpetrators, and explore over 20 locations. Special clue tiles, mini-games, and advanced crime scenario generation ensure unlimited replayability .
Reviews
- The game offers a unique twist on traditional Mahjongg by incorporating crime-solving elements, making it engaging and fun.
- It features a variety of gameplay mechanics, including mini-games for interrogations and clue gathering, which adds depth to the experience.
- Players appreciate the casual nature of the game, making it suitable for playing during downtime or while multitasking.
- The gameplay can become repetitive over time, leading to a grind that diminishes long-term enjoyment.
- There are technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as crashes and glitches in mini-games.
- The graphics and overall presentation are dated, which may detract from the experience for some players.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is diverse and engaging, incorporating various mechanics such as matching, memory games, and Tetris-style elements within a detective mahjongg context. While the core gameplay can become repetitive, the balance of straightforward puzzles and tutorials effectively guides players through the crime-solving experience, complemented by a good soundtrack and decent graphics. Overall, it offers a fun and thrilling experience for players.
“When doing so, the game changes to a matching/memory kind of game, providing a fantastic selection of different gameplay styles during one thrilling detective mahjongg case.”
“I like how you are given various ways to find information, using Tetris-style gameplay, matching, and of course, mahjongg.”
“It's a fun game, with straightforward puzzle gameplay and tutorials to gradually introduce you to your crime-solving tools.”
“The basic gameplay gets repetitive very quickly.”
“I like how you are given various ways to find information, such as using a Tetris-style gameplay, matching, and of course Mahjong.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story in the game serves primarily as a backdrop for the tile-matching mechanics, with a light and modular narrative that allows players to feel like detectives while engaging in gameplay. While the plot is minimal and not a focal point for all players, it provides a context for the mahjong challenges that drive the experience.
“I'm not someone who cares much for story in games, so the simple modular way of telling a story keeps the text light, but still makes you feel like some sort of weird detective.”
“The story mode investigation is just an excuse to match tiles.”
“This is ostensibly a mahjong tile matching game but linked to some plot where you play mahjong to uncover evidence to get the bad guys.”
“I'm not someone who cares much for story in games, so the simple modular way of telling a 'story' keeps the text light, but still makes you feel like some sort of weird detective.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are generally poor and lacking in fidelity, with issues like overscan and DPI affecting fullscreen functionality. However, some players feel that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Unfortunately, the graphics are bad; overscan and DPI issues prevent fullscreen from working, which really misses the mark.”
“Graphical fidelity is pretty lacking.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a good soundtrack that complements the gameplay. However, some players note that the inclusion of mundane details, like finding a country music CD at a crime scene, can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is good, the gameplay is good, the graphics are decent, and the game is well balanced.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gaming experience at all.”
“The audio quality of the music is subpar, which detracts from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is effectively crafted, blending various elements and minigames that create an engaging experience. It combines the captivating simplicity of solitaire and mahjong with a Carmen Sandiego twist, enhanced by atmospheric details like a police scanner that maintain player interest.
“The atmosphere is set well; there are a lot of different elements and a few minigames that all gel well together.”
“It combines some of the simple, immersive power of solitaire and mahjong, but with a bit of a Carmen Sandiego twist. The atmospheric details, such as the police scanner, keep me interested.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have reported stability issues, particularly with a minigame where glitches can prevent players from completing tasks, such as catching a suspect if all tiles are cleared prematurely. Additionally, there has been a lack of response from the developers regarding these bugs, indicating ongoing concerns about the game's stability.
“There is a significant issue where, if you're playing the minigame where you're chasing a suspect and you manage to clear all the tiles before the last one appears, it glitches and you can't catch the suspect.”
“It was buggy back then, and I posted on the Steam discussions page, but there's been no response.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its diverse locations and numerous potential targets, encouraging players to revisit and explore different strategies.
“With multiple locations and tons of potential targets, this game has great replay value.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different strategies I can employ.”