PlayStation 4 Critic Reviews

Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot The First Cases is a mystery novel in the form of a video game. Structurally very linear and simple, it's a good adventure for fans of the genre who are looking for a contained work that doesn't distract with secondary elements or gameplay mechanics that have little to do with the genre.

Poirot’s latest outing is a better proposition than The A.B.C. Murders a few years ago, but it’s not quite perfect. With no puzzles to solve, evidence that’s easy to locate, and mind maps where guidance is closely at hand, there’s very little challenge for adventure genre aficionados. The story is entertaining, Poirot is represented very well, and what gameplay exists has been created competently, but it sometimes feels more like a visual novel than it does a genuine adventure mystery game.

The detective genre of adventure games is a nice sight to see. With its mechanics, tiny hints and very well hidden assistance features, it is a great game for new and experienced players alike.

While the similarities with Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments are clear in every aspect of the game, Hercule Poirot’s newest outing simply cannot reach the same standards as that game. There are interesting things here, but once more the Agatha Christie series stays on the same average levels as it has been since 2005, hampered further by a distinct step back on the graphics.