The story is gripping and engaging, providing a refreshing take on the detective genre within a time management game.
The gameplay features fun mini-games that add variety and excitement to the overall experience.
The graphics and cutscenes are well-designed, enhancing the cinematic feel of the game.
The game lacks a difficulty setting, making some levels frustratingly hard to complete, especially for achievement hunters.
There are significant balancing issues with the mini-games and achievements, leading to confusion and frustration for players.
The character development and plot execution are often criticized for being unrealistic and unlikable, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.
story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The story of "Parker & Lane: Criminal Justice" features a rookie detective and a defense attorney navigating a crime investigation, but it receives mixed reviews for its execution. While some players find the plot engaging and appreciate the character dynamics, others criticize the unrealistic behavior of the main character and the abrupt ending, leading to a lack of emotional impact. Overall, the narrative is seen as decent but not compelling enough to recommend solely for its story, with gameplay elements overshadowing the storytelling experience.
“The story is very gripping and cohesive.”
“It was a fun storyline and engaging.”
“This is a challenging but fun game with an interesting adult-oriented story, and is a great crime drama.”
“Sadly, I didn't enjoy the story itself very much.”
“The story from this series is fine, but not to the point that it really captured my heart entirely nor left any lasting impression.”
“The time management game setup makes the detective storyline develop relatively slowly, which takes away from the urgency and the thrill of a murder mystery.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay in "Parker & Lane: Criminal Justice" features a mix of time management and mini-games, providing an engaging experience for fans of the genre, despite some clunky mechanics and a lack of depth compared to other titles in the Gamehouse series. While the gameplay can be entertaining, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a thrilling detective story or innovative mechanics. Overall, it offers a familiar style that may appeal to dedicated fans, but there are better options available.
“The gameplay wasn't too complicated and the mini-games were a nice touch.”
“Throughout the game, there are various mini-games available that made the gameplay more lively.”
“That being said, while I cannot recommend Parker & Lane: Criminal Justice solely for the story, the gameplay is engaging nonetheless and will be entertaining for any fan of the time management genre, although this part sadly does have its shortcomings as well.”
“Very unlike any of the Emily games I've played as far as game mechanics go.”
“The gameplay is the same as in every GameHouse game.”
“The gameplay differences from the other GameHouse originals take some getting used to, and although the mechanics can feel kind of clunky in comparison, it becomes more natural as you progress.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game features a decent soundtrack that enhances the detective experience, but players have reported significant issues, including random glitches where music fails to play in certain levels, leading to mostly silent gameplay. Additionally, the end-of-level music continues to play on the star screen, which some may find distracting. Overall, while the music has potential, its inconsistent implementation detracts from the overall experience.
“The soundtracks are not bad; they really get you into the detective mode!”
“After you finish a level that has music, it keeps playing on the star screen with the end-of-level music.”
“I've also noticed some serious glitches with the game, such as the daily challenges never resetting and music not playing in some of the levels—although this seems to happen at random, rather than on the same specific levels.”
“Most parts of the levels are silent without music; only some at the police station have music.”
“After you finish a level that has music, it continues playing on the star screen with the end-of-level music.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game is poorly optimized for PC, with users recommending mobile or tablet play instead. Additionally, the lack of performance metrics makes it difficult for players to identify which levels hinder their progress, forcing them to either replay levels or track their performance manually.
“The game does not keep track of metrics for the player's performance on any level.”
“There is no way of knowing which level is preventing the player from achieving perfect performance.”
“Players are left with the option of randomly picking levels or replaying the entire game while keeping track of their own performance manually.”
“Play it on mobile or tablet because it's literally not optimized for PC.”
“Additionally, the game does not display metrics for the player's performance at any level.”
“Players are left to randomly pick levels or replay the entire game while keeping track of their own performance on a sheet of paper.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics are well-designed and consistent with the game's style, which appeals to players familiar with the series. However, some users reported glitches that affected gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
“The graphics are very well designed.”
“I immediately recognized this game was in the same style and artwork, so I bought it.”
“The minigames were not as fun as others in the Gamehouse series, and there were a few times that the graphics glitched out and made things difficult to play properly.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers replayability through its two playable characters, Lily and Stella, allowing players to experience different gameplay styles and storylines with each character.
“The game lacks variety, making it hard to find motivation for replaying.”
“Once you've completed the story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The limited character options and predictable gameplay mechanics reduce the overall replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the heartwarming development of the relationship between Lily and Victor, as players feel a sense of warmth and connection as the characters gradually grow closer.
“Nonetheless, regardless of the relationship between Lily and Victor, it felt heartwarming when both of them were slowly but surely starting to get closer to each other.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that instead of engaging in traditional grinding activities like serving customers or farming, "Parker and Lane" focuses on solving murder cases, which offers a refreshing change from typical gameplay mechanics.
“Instead of serving various customers, preparing different dishes, or farming all kinds of plants and animals, Parker and Lane have you solving murder cases.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Many users have criticized the character development in the game, citing issues with the plot and instances of sexism, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, some players find certain sections of the game to be unfairly difficult, further complicating their engagement with the characters.
“Many players have pointed out significant issues with character development, plot, and sexism throughout the game, which contribute to an overall frustrating experience.”
“The character development feels shallow and unengaging, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
“There are moments in the game where character arcs seem rushed or incomplete, leaving players feeling unsatisfied with the overall narrative.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report experiencing significant stability issues, including glitches like daily challenges not resetting and music failing to play in certain levels, though these problems appear to occur randomly rather than consistently on specific levels.
“I've also noticed some serious glitches with the game, such as the daily challenges never resetting and music not playing in some of the levels. This seems to happen at random, rather than on the same specific levels.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the humor in the game may rely on outdated stereotypes, particularly regarding gender roles, which some players find unamusing or offensive. This suggests a disconnect between the intended comedic elements and the audience's reception.