I have to admit, CSI games are my guilty pleasure. They aren’t the best games around but whenever Ubisoft releases a new one, I got to check it out. However, if you played past CSI games, especially the last outing on home consoles (CSI: Hard Evidence), this new game in the series will feel extremely familiar.

In it, you play as a CSI rookie who has to solve five cases with the help of your CSI buddies and your forensic analysis tools. You start on the scene of a crime as Capt. Brass begins to brief you. From there, you have to investigate the crime scene and look for evidence. While moving your cursor around, it changes to a forward arrow whenever it passes over something that can be examined more closely. If you are close to an important item, the cursor changes to a little toolkit icon, allowing you to access your four-section evidence collecting inventory.

While there are automatic tools such as tweezers and gloves, some evidence may need to be revealed using a specific tool before it can be collected. Once you’ve amassed a set amount of information and gathered enough incriminating evidence to use against your suspects, you can place warrants on them, and bring them in for interrogation.

Microscopes are among the tools you can use

Just like its predecessors, CSI: Deadly Intent is extremely easy to play. Despite good writing, game is too obvious and often tells you exactly what you need to do next. The format of the show just creates intrinsic problems in creating a challenging adventure game. Hints are given away constantly and there is even a setting in the menus that can increase the frequency of the hints!

Obviously, using a controller in this type of game isn’t as easy and precise as a mouse and keyboard combination on PC, and getting yourself around can sometimes be a pain. The cursor disappears randomly and is hard to move quickly onto small bits of evidence but for the most part, it’s manageable and rarely becomes an object of frustration. I did try replacing the batteries of my wireless controller and that seemed to help, but I’m not sure that was actually the problem. The controls are just not quite tuned right. Using the directional pad to access your PDA works well, however, so it’s a wonder why they didn’t use that control scheme more.

Strip clubs are always filled with evidence

My biggest complaint, however, is with the structure the game. There are five crimes to solve in total, but they are unlocked one at a time. Each case is unlocked upon completion of the previous one.That design choice would be logical if the cases were linked to one and the story unfolded throughout. Sadly, however they aren’t. So, it begs the question; why not give me the choice to solve the cases in the order that I want?

There are some improvements in Deadly Intent, however. One of the issues I had with Hard Evidence was the loading times when switching from one location to another. While it’s certainly not instantaneous, loading times in Deadly Intent are much faster.

Graphics & Sounds

Having played Hard Evidence back in 2007, I can easily say that Deadly Intent feels more polished and detailed but I can also say for certain that there wasn’t an extreme graphic overhaul either. The CSI cast is well rendered and most of the voice acting is good. However, CSI: Deadly Intent’s overall visual presentation remains simplistic.

Most point-and-click games suffer from environments that feel static and lifeless but I’m sure there are ways to improve upon this. Last year’s Lost: Via Domus managed to evoke the show’s feel in a videogame and despite more than a few flaws, I liked it. Now, tha’ts not to say that I want the next CSI game to be like Lost: Via Domus (because I prefer the point-and-click mechanic over running around) but there’s just got to be a way to make the CSI game environments feel more alive.

Interrogate suspects while Brass watches...

Value

Whether you really put your mind to it or not, CSI: Deadly Intent can be easily completed in less than 6 hours. Add to that fact that there is no reason to ever play the game once you’ve beaten all five cases and it’s an obvious candidate for rental.

After seeing games like Strong Bad on the WiiWare and recently the Wallace & Gromit games on XBLA, I can’t help but think that CSI games could be easily be offered as $15-$20 downloadable games instead of full-priced boxed copies. I’m also betting that more people would be enticed to buy them at a lower pricepoint. Or, why not make the five episodes all tied together in one big mystery instead? I wouldn’t mind paying the actual $40 dollar price tag if the next CSI game was like that.

Conclusion

Aside from the five new cases and a few technical improvements, this new CSI game doesn’t offer a whole lot of changes but remains an interesting title to check out in between other games. Just don’t expect to be blown away by it. If you can keep your expectations low you’ll be pleasantly surprised.