Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: TikGames Inc.
Genre: Puzzle
Release date: Available now
Review by: Ryan Asher

That fiendish old criminal Dr. Chaos has escaped, and now his crew of equally clichéd conspirators is up to all sorts of evil shenanigans. Worse yet, they’ve cut short your vacation (the bastards!). Before you think about bursting through doors, guns blazing, blasting your way to these Buzz Killingtons, the makers of Interpol have a different type of game in mind. You’ll be exercising that keen eye of yours instead of that calloused, trigger finger.

As an expert sleuth in Interpol, you’re tasked with finding clues that reveal the hideouts of the mad doctor and his henchmen. As you travel to various locations and landmarks spanning the entire globe, you visit static scenes that contain items you need to identify. It’s like those huge picture books you had as a kid in which you had to identify a checklist of random items—Where’s Waldo, minus Waldo. As you complete scenes in each of the game’s several cities, you move closer to unraveling the plans of Dr. Chaos, and finding his cohorts.

Of course, finding these items isn’t going to be easy. When I said random items, I wasn’t joking—these objects are incredibly varied. One level might have you finding birds on the Statue of Liberty, while in another you locate crowns in a tomb (what these have to do with uncovering the location of the bad guys is still a bit of a mystery to me). However, if you find yourself in a pinch and are unable to locate an item, using one of the multiple hints at your disposal helps you find it. You’re also not penalized for an incorrect guess, unless that trigger finger starts having spasms. The game is challenging, but it’s lenient enough for casual players.

That said, there isn’t really much going on in Interpol. It’s a simple game, but it’s a simple game done mostly right. It’s really easy to grasp. There are several cities that sometimes have at least three exotic landmarks to explore. In addition to the items you need to find, there are also three bonus items to locate per level that either add time, hints or bonus points, giving the game a bit of depth. You also don’t have to go solo through the campaign, as four players can join locally or through Xbox Live. However, having one player with a controller with the rest focusing on the screen might be an easier alternative.

As I’ve sarcastically suggested, don’t expect Interpol to entrap you with its narrative. Not only are the debriefings easily skippable, but also the lack of seemingly relevant clues does little to make tracking Dr. Chaos interesting. Add the low-res graphics, and finding obscure items can become quite a chore at times, but the game won’t give you much of a chance to get frustrated with its shortcomings, as it can be finished in little more than the blink of an eye. It took me about an hour and 45 minutes to complete the campaign, and there’s little replay value, even for an Xbox Live Arcade title.

Interpol is the perfect game if you’re looking for something a little different. Something that harkens back to the days of your youth, and perhaps something you can sit down with your little ones and play without worry of warping their minds. Just don’t expect a crime narrative on the level of Scorsese, and don’t blame me when you solve this mystery in one night.

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Our Recommendation: