I have played all 3 boxes with my girlfriend and this one was easily our favourite. It definitely feels the most polished and the second case is our favourite overall. I also like the new mechanics they are adding just to help things from being a tad stale. My only gripe with this box is that the final case seemed to base its high difficulty on one confusing element where you're left thinking "I guess that's how it could have happened?" and it didn't feel like it had the solid reasoning the other two cases had. Overall, though, an easy recommendation from me but I'd almost hesitate to suggest it as the first box to try because it might leave the player underwhelmed when they go back to play the "worse" boxes
That's great to hear Jesse! Like you, I thought Suspects was good in concept but found the actual case solutions disappointing. My family had pretty much given up on it after the first couple of cases; maybe the third box is something we could try in future.
I found case 3 the most interesting of the box. It was written by a Paul Halter. Not clear if it's the same Paul Halter who writes impossible crime novels and short stories, but thinking about how case 3 would be different if just written as a short story was interesting. Don't want to give any spoilers but I feel an idea present in the ending gets a little diluted and maybe could have been written to stand out a bit more and be a bit more poignant in a pure short story. So if your someone who's interested in thinking about how to write mysteries for interactive games vs straight prose, it's probably worth checking out case 3.
Spoiler I bought this based on your review and have played the 1st 2 cases so far. I felt the 2nd case alone was good enough to make it a worthwhile purchase. 1 aspect of the 2nd case that makes it better for playing as a group was a part where 1 character has to change clothes, so 1 player gets 30 seconds to look at the cards showing what's in the ashtray and in her notebook, then puts those cards away and can't discuss them with the other players until they've finished reading the interview with the returning character. Before I play the 3rd case, is there anything in it that makes it better to play as a group? I typically play everything in this genre solo, aside from The Sherlock Files, but will make sure to play this one in a group if it enhances the experience.
I have played all 3 boxes with my girlfriend and this one was easily our favourite. It definitely feels the most polished and the second case is our favourite overall. I also like the new mechanics they are adding just to help things from being a tad stale. My only gripe with this box is that the final case seemed to base its high difficulty on one confusing element where you're left thinking "I guess that's how it could have happened?" and it didn't feel like it had the solid reasoning the other two cases had.
Overall, though, an easy recommendation from me but I'd almost hesitate to suggest it as the first box to try because it might leave the player underwhelmed when they go back to play the "worse" boxes
I agree 2nd case in this box was my favorite as well :)
That's great to hear Jesse! Like you, I thought Suspects was good in concept but found the actual case solutions disappointing. My family had pretty much given up on it after the first couple of cases; maybe the third box is something we could try in future.
Excellent review, as usual! Thanks. I just put in my wishlist. Hopefully someone will get it for my birthday...
Thank you
I found case 3 the most interesting of the box. It was written by a Paul Halter. Not clear if it's the same Paul Halter who writes impossible crime novels and short stories, but thinking about how case 3 would be different if just written as a short story was interesting. Don't want to give any spoilers but I feel an idea present in the ending gets a little diluted and maybe could have been written to stand out a bit more and be a bit more poignant in a pure short story. So if your someone who's interested in thinking about how to write mysteries for interactive games vs straight prose, it's probably worth checking out case 3.
Spoiler
I bought this based on your review and have played the 1st 2 cases so far. I felt the 2nd case alone was good enough to make it a worthwhile purchase. 1 aspect of the 2nd case that makes it better for playing as a group was a part where 1 character has to change clothes, so 1 player gets 30 seconds to look at the cards showing what's in the ashtray and in her notebook, then puts those cards away and can't discuss them with the other players until they've finished reading the interview with the returning character.
Before I play the 3rd case, is there anything in it that makes it better to play as a group? I typically play everything in this genre solo, aside from The Sherlock Files, but will make sure to play this one in a group if it enhances the experience.
I don't THINK i remember anything else like this in the other cases.
@@COOPFORTWO Thank you!