PCI Agent
- November 25, 2021
- Rakame 7
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"PCI Agent" is a detective game consisting of 9 investigations, each with unique narratives and gameplay. Players unravel stories through video statements, interactive dialogues, and crime scene examinations. The game allows for solo, local, or remote multiplayer gameplay. Example cases include a suspicious suicide in a swimming pool and the mysterious death of a renowned chef.
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Reviews
- Engaging and immersive gameplay with interesting cases and solid acting performances.
- The game offers a unique blend of FMV and detective work, utilizing real-life photos and videos to enhance the experience.
- User-friendly interface and easy controls make it accessible for players, while the auto-save feature is convenient.
- The game is entirely in French with English subtitles, which may be a barrier for some players.
- Some gameplay elements feel arbitrary, with limited choices for evidence submission and a lack of replayability.
- There are technical issues, such as reliance on online videos that may lead to potential copyright problems and occasional crashes.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and interesting, with a mix of simple mechanics and challenging elements that require players to gather evidence and answer questions accurately. While some may find it too easy, the overall experience is enjoyable, though limited by the small number of cases to solve, leaving players wanting more. Character creation is optional and does not impact the core gameplay experience.
“The length of gameplay is displayed at the top of the investigation, prior to selecting it, which I liked.”
“Only downside is there are only 6 crimes to solve, and after the first one you're hooked. I'd love to see more added to it because the gameplay is amazing.”
“The gameplay seems simple enough, but though I could guess the culprit and motives, getting all of the correct evidence and answering all the questions throughout the game could get tricky!”
“I did not mind this, but anyone looking for a challenge may find the gameplay too effortless.”
“There is an option to build a character, but since I am not going to create a Snapchat account, I skipped all that and it didn’t keep me from playing or affect my gameplay at all.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story, inspired by the #metoo movement, features a mix of humor and serious themes, which some players found jarring. It offers a captivating narrative with numerous twists, reminiscent of interactive investigation games like "Her Story" and "Simulacra," where players piece together cases through multimedia evidence. Overall, it provides an engaging detective experience that keeps players guessing.
“If you like games like 'Simulacra', 'Her Story', or 'Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You', then you should enjoy it.”
“There were lots of twists and turns in the plot, and it kept me guessing throughout most of the cases.”
“A fascinating investigation game where you investigate a collection of short cases by examining evidence such as crime scene photos, interview transcripts, etc., in an interesting diegetic story framing where you work as a detective investigating crimes through the internet.”
“Considering the main 4-hour story is based on the #metoo movement, this hyperbolic attempt at humor felt severely out of place.”
“The only normal case, with a minimal story twist, is Phantasm, which can be played for free on the website of the game dev.”
“It's similar to the games developed by Sam Barlow (Telling Lies, Her Story); a sort of interactive board game with video interviews of real actors and SMS communications.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their high quality, utilizing real-life photos and locations that enhance the immersive experience of crime scene investigations. The user interface is also well-designed, though some scenes contain graphic content related to sensitive themes. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the emotional engagement and production value of the game.
“The graphics and UI are great, using real-life photos and locations to go through your crime scenes and evidence, with a lovely UI and menu options to navigate around.”
“Some scenes are of graphic nature and center around explicit themes of rape, suicide, and more.”
“The lengthier investigations, such as 'A Star is Dead', have much more emotional engagement and production value with acting and visuals.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily appealing to those interested in improving their scores or playing with others, as the investigations remain unchanged with each playthrough.
“This is not something that once crossed my mind while playing, but if this does or does not interest you, that is where all of the replayability value lies.”
“Replayability value: none, unless players wish to replay to get a better score or with another person (but the investigations are all the same).”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highlighted by the impressive performances of the actors, which enhance the realism of the experience. The use of FMV format contributes positively, showcasing a level of quality that surpasses typical FMV games.
“The FMV format really adds to the realism of the experience and features surprisingly good performances (compared to typical FMV games) from all involved.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is sparse, often leaving players in silence, which some appreciate for maintaining focus during extensive reading. However, an ambient soundtrack could enhance the experience without disrupting concentration.
“The ambient soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
“The music enhances the overall experience, making every moment feel more immersive.”
“I love how the soundtrack evolves with the gameplay, adding depth to each scene.”
“A lot of the time we are left in silence, but then again there is a lot of reading to do, so music could ruin concentration.”
“You may want to have an ambient soundtrack in the background.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for being clever, funny, and well-written, complemented by strong acting performances.
“I thought it was clever, funny, and well-written, and the acting was very well done.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that longer investigations, like "a star is dead," offer a higher level of emotional engagement, enhanced by quality acting and visuals that elevate the overall experience.
“The lengthier investigations, such as 'A Star is Dead', have much more emotional engagement and production value with acting and visuals.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, as it feels disproportionately lengthy compared to the limited engaging content available.
“Still, these aspects feel slim in comparison to the boundless text, causing an imbalance that makes the game feel more slow and tedious than desired.”
“The grinding is relentless and feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became boring and frustrating.”
