Mystery and adventure await you in this challenging book/game adaptation of the extremely popular Agatha Christie book series. The plot, closely following the original sources with a few twists, presents a top-ten countdown of murder when an unsuspecting party experiences some startling events on Shipwreck Island, set in England. You play this third-person adventure/puzzler through main character Patrick Narracott, who has different reasons for throwing his hat into this decent whodunit.
You navigate using the Wii remote (no use of the Nunchuk here), which remote handles well, especially with a proper setup. Other activities like turning door knobs, digging, and safe-cracking provide a nice variety of movements amid the occasionally tedious and meticulous investigations you must complete. Navigation usually consists of sweeping each room, talking to each character, and double-clicking the A button to examine or even swipe various items.
Once you’ve got movement mastered, then your item inventory becomes a key element. Players have considerable challenges in logic, pinpointing, and overall management. After discovering an item’s use, searching for these occasionally hard-to-find items begins another challenge. Some items can be dissembled into smaller pieces or combined (considering pieces that seem out of place individually helps with match-ups). This method involves some trial-and-error play where you‘re get guiding comments from Narracott when you try different combinations.
As Narracott, you have stacks of suspects to wade through who usually have a cache of three responses to your various inquiries, which can be necessary for hints and a general sense of the current action. The linear aspects of the plot can be frustrating, especially with limited assistance, but this one-player game has self-satisfying rewards of progression for players who conduct a meticulous investigation, including multiple endings. The initial ten suspect characters provide a variety of reactions and possibilities, then the plot twists come as the numbers dwindle.
Article comments
1 - Gav
I am enjoying this game however I am now befuddled - I have got to a bit where I am sure I need to scoop out flour from the larder but when I click the scoop and then click it onto the flour a picture of the scoop and the flour appears and nothing else. This is very confusing and annoying and I dont know whther it is a big in the game or if I am missing something - which I suspect is a major flaw in the game design leaving a player that confused.
2 - Kris
I reviewed the game on my blog
3 - L
to scoop out the flour you have to move the wii remote like you're actually scooping out the flour. do this when the screen appears still with the picture of the scoop by the bucket of flour. After 2 scoops, you will find batteries hidden in the flour.
4 - Anonymous
To scoop the flour you must hold 'A" and make a swift scooping motion from right to left.
5 - ChristineDomyanic
Still can't get the flour. I pull it from my inventory and the press A when the see the cog over ther flour. It then shows me a scoop and the only time something happens is when I press B and it puts it back into my inventory. I have tried to hold down A and move as though I'm scooping and nothing is happening...it just hovers over the flour...aaauuugghhh
6 - Tall Writer
Keep trying to use the scooping motion with the remote.
7 - Gloria Blofsky
I have done what say by using the scooping motion with the remote, but no use. Any secrets!I have the batteries now what????
8 - Julie
I'm having the same problem with the game I can't get the batteries nothing is working help!
9 - alexa
this game sucks
i've tried scooping ten billion different ways and NOTHING!
10 - diimpz
wow this is why i loved the internet i was about to snap the game in 2 but i gt the batteries
11 - WHAT THE F*****G HECK!?
okay this game freaking sucks.. how the hell do you scoop the flour. and don't say, "oh make a scooping motion" its not that freaking easy. ive tried every single possible motion and nothing has f***ing happened. the stupid scoop just sits there as this queer music plays in the background. wtf do you do? if it's seriously a "scooping motion" then what the hell kind of motion is it? im about to kill myself its driving me to insanity.
12 - PinaySkirt
I still can't scoop the flour and it's driving me crazy! Is it a glitch?
13 - GaGa
I skipped trying to get the batteries, and now in Chapter 2 I can't get back into the pantry even though I have the flashlight that needs the battery. It tells me that it is too dark to go in there. I already have the scoop but I can't get back into the pantry. So I think I am screwed. I think I have to start the game again and not go past the 'scooping' process....which doesn't work!@!
14 - UnaverageJane
I had a lot of difficulty with the flour/batteries puzzle but have finally made it all the way to working the fruit press. I have it all assembled but cannot figure out how to get it to turn. Any suggestions?
15 - Tals
THE F##K!!! Mother effing powder won't scoop!!!! Is this a glitch!?!?!?!?!?!? Stupid homo music is playing! And he scoop is hovering! I hatE you
16 - Southalien
I had a bit of a problem with the flour scooping too. But then I shook the remote and it worked. Just shake it don't try to scoop it's much easier.
17 - Lisa
OMG! I can't get it to do anything!! Must be a glitch. My ARM is getting sore. I've tried with and without pressing A, pointing at the screen, away from screen, right to left, left to right, big scoop, little scoop, violent scoop, big swoop scoops, I tried shaking the remote like one person suggested, shaking up and down, around and around, back and forth, pressing and not pressing A. Aaggghhhh!!!!