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Digging into their files of unsolved cases, Domini Games has released the latest offering of crimes for your on-screen detective avatar to solve.  Available in Collector's Edition format and subtitled Killer Popularity, this game comes with a number of bonus items as you accept the challenge of this Hidden Object Adventure game and prove your detective skills when solving crimes classified as unsolved cases.

The usual range of adjustable and selective options are available for use when entering this Domini Games offerings.  Bundled with the main game and making up the title's Collector's Edition format are the standard collection of bonus items.  Some of these are available immediately while others require progress or the completion of the  main game before you are granted access to them.

As the lead detective in the investigations that follow, you form part of a team that consists of just three members.  While the size of the team might not bother you too much during the process of investigation, it does look odd during various police station scenes that feature plenty of desks and other equipment but no officers being busy at work.  Still the team of three is all that you will require to solve the cases of Killer Popularity, The Illusion of Safety and Underground Mystery that make up the game's content.

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Whichever of the three investigations is the main focus of your current activity then a similar arrangement of tools will be available and the game will be built around the usual Domini Games features.  Running across the bottom of the numerous scenes that feature in the different investigations are a Journal split between Tasks and Notes sections, Map, Inventory, Strategy Guide and Hint option. 

A pop-out icon situated on the left side of the screen will provide an update on various collectibles that are scattered throughout the game.  The collectibles are classified as Snapshots, Challenges and Tickets.  Another pop-out, but this time on the right side of the screen, will record the various decisions you make during the game.  These decisions will define which of the three possible endings you arrive at for the crime solution.

With all the investigations of crime, Domini Games makes good use of split screen views with the screen divided into three sections.  This technique is often used when various characters make an appearance in the central position.  The character will deliver their dialogue, provided by a voice actor, while showing some facial animation.  On either side will be a view showing parts of the background.  In some of these conversational sessions, you will occasionally be offered a choice of responses as you make the type of decision mentioned earlier.

As you might expect mini game puzzles and Hidden Object scenes are featured throughout all three investigations.  When faced with a mini game puzzle, you will be given a choice of an Easy or Hard version of the task.  Generally the Hard version of the puzzle will involve extra elements or additional stages.  Hidden Object game play, sometimes involving more than a single scene with the need to move left or right.  You will also be given the option to switch to a Match 3 challenge by clearing away tiles.  I generally took the Match 3 option which I felt I could handle faster as part of this review process.

Overall this game was a little disappointing.  Of the three investigations, only the last one, dealing with the murder on the Underground, involved any real police work.  I downloaded my copy of this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  This game is also available from Big Fish Games priced at £15.47.  System requirements call for a 2.0 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 997MB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Unsolved Case - Killer Popularity Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Unsolved Case - Killer Popularity Collector's Edition | GameHouse