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Review from Gameboomers.com

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Law & Order: Criminal Intent is produced by Vivendi Universal Games and developed by Legacy Interactive (Executive Producer: Ariella Lehrer, Ph.D. and Producer: Craig Brannon, Ph.D. - hmm - both P.H.D.(s); impressive. The script for this "gem," written by Elizabeth M. Cosin is intense, focused and representative of the series. Twists and turns abound within the storyline. The game's writer, I believe, realized this as the script was taking shape and created one of the most "fan - intrigued" experiences I have enjoyed to date. The inside clues carefully sprinkled throughout the game are strokes of genius, and might easily have been spawned by the delicately balanced mind of Det. Bobby Goren himself.

One of the best features of the Criminal Intent game is that in this adventure we have the genuine pleasure of listening to the voiceovers for Det. Bobby Goren as done by Vincent D'Onofrio himself - absolutely key for this game's success, and for my enjoyment. It is his voice which adds a certain hue, and colors the entire mood of the game.

This is a third person adventure and the gamer takes on the persona of Detective Bobby Goren as he sorts through a number of violent homicide investigations hoping to bring the murderers to justice. The developers have decided to bring Det. Goren's PDA full throttle into the gameworld. It is fully functional, completely portable, and ever-present if you choose -- or quickly appearing out of your virtual pocket without so much as a right click. Here within the PDA we also have a map used for most "location jumping." As we discover the addresses for various locations to explore, they are added here. We also can find a notepad of sorts in the PDA. There is also a personal phone book, cell phone and answering machine which will come in very handy upon occasion.
The next gadget in our intrepid hero's arsenal is the laptop, which for some reason (probably budget concerns of the precinct) is a permanent fixture at Bobby's desk at Major Case. Now, I'm sure that his laptop is just as ordinary as anyone else's, but what is important to note here is the special program that our dear Capt. Deakins has installed on it during the first case investigation. What is it? Well, it's a Criminal Profiler, of course. Here you'll put in various reports, bits of evidence and crime scene photos to help you understand the "criminal mind" so to speak
The last "tool" really isn't a physical device at all, although it is portrayed as one in the game's universe. I like to call it WIS or Witness Interrogation System. This creates some very interesting and psychologically sound examination techniques -- the detectives at Major Case excel at these. Whenever there is a question-and-dialogue session in the game, this handy dandy gadget will appear. It shows subjects or themes with which to question the witnesses on the right and (here come the neat part, folks...) five "Bobby" faces on the left - each with an aspect of the indomitable style for which Det. Goren is famous. We have at the top and descending in counterclockwise order:

* Confrontational - Strong, arrogant and intimidating (especially when it's emanating from a 6'4", 200lb man in a dark suit with a blue shirt and tie.)

* Deceptive - Bobby is a pro at this...(wonder if he is as good at poker???)

* Flattering - Can be very effective in appealing to a subject's vanity, don't you think? (Again, especially when it's emanating from a 6'4", 200lb man in a dark suit with a blue shirt and tie.)

* Straightforward - The calmest and most polite of all of these tactics.

Empathetic - This one really scared me more than any of them, because you just know that this type of questioning is pure manipulation.

There is much to do in this game besides the inevitable sleuthing. There are loads of puzzles and conundrums here. They run the gamut from sliders and inventory-based puzzles to music, color, and chase puzzles to mazes...and there is even a crossword puzzle...lovely. (I'm so glad that Ray Ivey was a consultant for this section...it really shows).

This is a huge game...and not one I feel should be rushed through. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. There is certainly enough of it -- over two hundred different magnificent pre-rendered shots. Some were absolutely breathtaking. Thanks, no doubt, to the inspired art direction by lead artist, Jesus Uriarte. Well done! The facial characteristics were beautiful as well, extremely detailed, although the look of the bodies themselves was slightly blocky -- but I'm not complaining. I absolutely loved the look of the game, especially the "lighting" effects. It made me feel as though I had walked into a real episode of Criminal Intent.

The Foley sounds and ambience, masterfully edited by Abby Schneider North, lent a heightened sense of realism. I was hooked and drawn in to the game within the first ten minutes...this was one that I really didn't want to stop playing. A lot of work went into the ambient sounds here. The incidental music created by Chris Rickwood really grabbed me and made me homesick for the gritty streets of my beloved Manhattan...right down to the "ching - ching." The musical score provides the gamer with a quiet sense of urgency - after all NYC is very fast-paced, as you well know. Wonderful stuff.

The voiceover cast was massive, with many actors doing more than one role, all professionally and admirably done, and with accents sounding quite believable. But I do have to say that Vincent D'Onofrio and Jamey Sheridan took their roles and claimed the day. A most enjoyable experience...I loved every minute.
So, then, was this game utter perfection?

No, but the problems that I encountered had nothing to do with the game per se. They were more of a technical nature, and they have inspired me to issue a warning. Make sure that your system meets the minimum requirements or you will have difficulty running this game -- this engine is very taxing on systems more than two years old. Still, these glitches were minimal and were corrected by a simple save and restart.

Other than that, I would highly recommend this game to one and all. I feel it is one of the best detective games I've played, certainly the best in the Law & Order, Crime Scene Investigation and Cold Case File genre to date.

Grade: A

(Edited for length)

Excellent game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: December 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This was an EXCELLENT game in my opinion. The game is about 3 times longer than all the previous Law & Order games. It has 4 different cases to work on, and the story lines are fantastic. Each of these story lines are about equally as long as a whole previous Law & Order game! The game was not too difficult, but not easy either. There were a few quite challenging puzzles. The game had great environments, and TONS of characters. Unlike the previous games, it doesn't let you collect irrelovent inventory items which was nice. The only negative thing about this game were that there were a few bugs. Sometimes he would not walk in the direction you clicked, and would be stuck in a corner of the room. Once the game was restarted, it would be OK again. To me, this is a very minor problem if you have a little patience since the game was so great. Definately worth the money since it is such a LONG game!!!

Criminal Intent

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Law & Order: Criminal Intent is a PC game that places you in the shoes of Detective Goren in his attempt to solve 4 murders by collecting and analyzing crime-scene evidence, solving puzzles and questioning witnesses through different types of interrogation techniques. It's a straightforward adventure game that allows the player to talk to witnesses using different modes of questioning: confrontational, deceptive, flattering, straightforward and empathetic. Each type of questioning results in a different type of response from a witness so finding out which mode is most effective could result in unlocking more clues to the mystery and could even eventually be the key that leads to a confession. The game also makes use of a Criminal Profiler laptop. Gathered evidence can be submitted to the Criminal Profiler to reveal relevant descriptive information about the killer such as height, age, state-of-mind, etc. The process of collecting and analyzing evidence, however, becomes a redundant but necessary aspect of the game. If you miss finding some critical piece of evidence (like I did), it can hold back your progress for awhile. Puzzles that range from piecing together torn notes to unscrambling surveillance footage is sprinkled about in certain areas of the game but I wish they had added more to break the monotony of evidence gathering. Adventure game fans as well as fans of the TV show should enjoy this game nonetheless.

A different L&O, but they keep getting better

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: December 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Bugs aside -- and they are indeed obnoxious at times -- Legacy keeps getting better with each L&O entry.

Maybe it's because I like linear games, and maybe it's because I like pixel hunting, but I think CI's first installment is their best L&O so far.

First thing is, there's more than one crime to solve here. There are four. That's a big plus.

Next is the fact that it's more character based than the previous three. Being third-person (as opposed to first-person) doesn't make much of a difference, if you ask me, but it's refreshing to have the detective actually ask the questions out loud. Listening to the Q&A's in full adds a lot to the experience.

Then there's Vincent D'Onofrio's voicing. To be honest, it's not the TV show. His dynamics are somewhat lacking here. On film, D'Onofrio has much more presence, and his acting is given proper direction. In this game, while he does an adequate job, his tone rarely veers from the calm-toned vocals that have become his trademark. Unfortunately, though, that's not enough. On screen, Vincent exudes plenty of energy, while here, no matter what "angle" of questioning the player chooses, he maintains a somewhat monotone vocal. This is not necessarily a pitfall, mind you, but to enjoy this game's main-character acting, one must either never have seen the show or suspend most of what they've already experienced from it.

A nice new inclusion in this installment that was missing from the previous L&O games is the automation of getting info on suspects and evidence. In Criminal Intent, one no longer needs to send things to each individual department. Suspects being analyzed automatically go to both Research and Surveillance, while collected evidence to bhe analyzed automatically goes to both Research and the Crime Lab. Makes play a lot less tedious.

If you can deal with the bugs that often make this game frustrating to play, then I recommend it (as I do the previous three L&O games). I enjoyed it despite the bugginess, but everyone's got a different threshold for tolerance.

Law and Order Criminal Intent

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: May 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

A Little different than the other in this series...If you install the patch and follow some simply long time gamers rule
this is still a great game..

Excellent acting

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game has some really amazing voice acting in it and not only from the tv stars, either. Some of the puzzles were hard to figure out, I think they could've been explained better. Overall, I thought this was a really fun game. Choosing the emotion that Goren asks the question in is a nice touch, something that should've been thought of a long time ago for detective games.

Can't get enough of Law and Order - any series

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I just happened to be in Best Buy when I noticed this game and immediately snatched it up. It could definitely use a patch for the jerky motions of the characters, including Goren. I would have liked to seen better graphics (like in the Dead on the Money L & O game). The scenery is quite detailed but the characters are not. Having said that, the storylines for the cases are superbly written and it makes me feel like I am watching the story unfold in one of the TV episodes. It will be a tremendously fun game to play and enjoy once the bugs are gone.

Great story & characters … but lots of bugs

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 65 / 68
Date: October 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I’ve been a big fan of Legacy Interactive’s “Law & Order” game series. I was so exited to get “Criminal Intent”, I had the order pending for 6 months with overnight delivery so that I wouldn’t have to wait an extra day to play it. I then was rather disappointed when I tried to play it—the video was messed up to the point of making the game unplayable. But more on the bad stuff later.

The Good Stuff
“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” is an interactive adventure game that takes you into the mind of Detective Goren, the star character on the hit TV show of the same name. The game is a mystery adventure with a strong psychological bent. You examine crime scenes, gather evidence, and ask questions—a lot of questions. Fans of the show will be delighted that the mind games & plot twists are even more prominent in the game. Vincent D’Onofrio and Jamey Sheridan do an excellent job with the voice-overs for their characters. The only possible downside to the presentation is that it is very linear—you are pretty much stuck in a narrative, and there are only a few things that you are able to do out of order.

You don’t have to be a fan of the show to play & enjoy the game, though. If you, like me, enjoy adventure games in general (like Sierra’s classic “King’s Quest”), you’ll find Law & Order: Criminal Intent a good addition to an underserved genre.

If you’ve played previous Law & Order games, you’ll find that Legacy Interactive has refined its technique over time, removing some of the more tedious aspects of the game play. It used to be not-so-obvious whether evidence was critical to the game. In previous games, as a rule you would pick up everything in sight and then have to send it separately to both the lab & to research. This has improved dramatically in this edition. “Send to Lab” and “Send to Research” have been consolidated into “Analyze.” The “Analyze” function will automatically send an item to both the lab & research. “Analyze” is also used for witnesses; every person you analyze will go to both to research & to surveillance.

The number of items that need to be analyzed has also been drastically reduced. In many cases, merely looking at an item without analyzing it is sufficient. The game lets you know this by not giving you the analyze option for these items. That they’ve done so without making the game less challenging is a big kudos to Legacy Interactive. You can still do silly things like analyze incidental characters or the coroner’s report, but in another kudos they’ve actually provided substantial (but irrelevant) responses. No more boilerplate “subject was observed doing nothing interesting”.

Questioning witnesses is a big part of the game. A divergence from the earlier games, rather focusing on what questions to ask, the focus is on how the questions will be asked (Straightforward, Deceptive, Confrontational, Empathetic, or Flattering). Real-life detectives know the importance of elicitation, and this is a fresh and welcome interface in the game. Depending on the difficulty level you choose, you may finding yourself having to let witnesses cool off quite a bit!

Another deviation from previous L&O games is that it is third-person rather than first-person. Although it is kinda cool, and adds some authenticity, I’m not sure as to how much it really added to my gaming experience. Were the interface not so darn buggy, it might have been better… which leads me to:

The Bad Stuff
As a former quality assurance engineer for a software publisher, I’m sympathetic to how difficult it is to assure a game will work on all systems. Every computer is unique, and especially with the variety of graphics cards and iterations of DirectX out there, making sure it works with every combination is nearly impossible. That being said, I’ve installed & played a lot of games (including previous Law & Order games) without any of these issues. I think Legacy Interactive dropped the ball on this one. Maybe once the first software patches are released things will be much better... I sure hope so, because 90% of my Bad Stuff is technical in nature.

1) No graphics bug
The first time I loaded Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the non-interactive video worked, but in the main gameplay, only the characters and items were visible—everything else was black! Downloading new video drivers corrected the problem, but my old drivers were not that old, and I had played numerous other games (including the other three Law & Order Games and ER, all by Legacy Interactive) without any issues.

2) Where’s the online support?
A week after the game had been released, there were still no entries for the game on Legacy Interactive’s support site. When emailing tech support, “Criminal Intent” wasn’t even an option—I had to select a different game to finish the online form! They might have corrected this by the time you are reading this review, but it is still not a good sign that they were behind the times.

3) Does not play well with others
If you minimize it, you are never coming back to it…and, since it takes up 98% of CPU time, you are lucky if you can load Task Manager to shut it down. It hogs memory, taking up over 500 MB on my system out of a total of 1.5 GB). If you have any applications running in the background, performance will suffer. If any of those applications have “alerts” that pop-up, you will be dead in the water. I wasn’t able to do all of the things I normally do while playing games—such as running Outlook, syncing my iPod, or downloading files.

4) Third person interface bugs
The interface works about 80% of the time. The other 20% can be simply tedious, like having to hit an arrow three or four times before you head in that direction, or fatal, like Det. Goren going into an infinite “disco dance” or trying to walking off in a direction he can’t go. This last bug happened a lot to me at both the Crime Lab and the Major Case HQ. The only way to end it was to save the game, exit the application completely, and reload. Compare to Civilization IV, which is a far more graphically & computationally taxing. Civ IV is much smoother, does not hog memory, minimizes well, and works just fine with background applications.

5) Sound bugs
Often, the voiced-dialog would get in infinite loops. I would have to hit the spacebar to get past it, but the spacebar ends the conversation—often leaving me without vital information.

6) Game play issues
I’m actually not sure if this is a bug or not, but there is a “reveal map” arrow that I hit while in one case. I didn’t know what happened until I started going places and got information that was out of order or just plain didn’t make sense. I even solved a case several steps of ahead of when I should have been able to. Last, there is a point in the game where you have to navigate through a maze-like area. This was a tedious enough task, but having to do it *again* for what seems like a minor reason is really bad. If I hadn’t used Legacy Interactive’s online walkthrough to get back through, I might not have had the patience to finish. There are also a couple of places where game play is sub-par. In one case, a particular item is not selectable—but checking it again in another case is essential. There’s also a part where, in reality, an item would have always have been present—but it doesn’t become apparent in the game until an unrelated event occurs. All things considered, though, these are relatively minor issues.

Summary
Law & Order: Criminal Intent has a great story—great plot, great characters. The voice-overs by the real actors are fantastic. However, the technical issues are overwhelming. Maybe Legacy Interactive will do this game justice by releasing patches in short-order. I also hope that they do a better job of quality assurance with future games: Mystery & adventure games are an under-served genre and I would like to see more of them published.

Not as good as its predecessors

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 23 / 24
Date: November 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

After three increasingly well-written and designed games, Law & Order: Criminal Intent is a depressing letdown. The stories are less compelling, the graphics less convincing, and they've done away with the courtroom side altogether. Much of the crime-solving comes down to pixel-hunting -- slowly and painfully sweeping every molecule of a scene until you find a hotspot that reveals some invisible clue. Maddening! and unsatisfying, since it means you can't solve the crimes by deduction, only by tripping over the evidence.

The acting too is erratic. Most of the no-name actors are pretty good, but D'Onofrio seems to have gone through the whole thing either hungover or really disgusted that he has to do this kind of thing. There's no point in hiring the TV actors to do the voices if they can't be bothered to give it their all, guys.

Added to that, the program itself is buggy and has a slapdash air. On my 3-month-old machine, it crashed, crashed, crashed, until I was saving every five minutes and cursing the air blue.

After the professional and engaging previous entries in this series, this one is a disappointing mistake. Let's hope they either give it up and go on to something else or take the time to do it right next time.

Good game but bugs bugs bugs

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was really looking foward to playing this game because I just love the show and already own the other law and order games. I dont regret buying this game but I really wish Legacy wouldn't have had so many bugs in it. It freezes up at times and I have had to reboot. Goren walks the wrong way other times and then just stays there walking till you reload your saved game. I wish he would have been a little more animated in this game also, as one person said, it sounds like he is bored with the whole thing and really didnt want to voice the game. I would recommend to wait, hopefully, till Legacy comes out with some patches before buying it because of the bugs. Otherwise, if you like the show, you'll like the game, just like I do. I would have given it a higher rating but the bugs really drag it down. Such a shame.

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