Criminal Archives: City on Fire > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

14 of 15 found this review helpful

Unusually fun

PostedDecember 31, 2021

Snowview

fromMadras, Oregon

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I rarely buy these HOPAs anymore because they are so identical and boring but glad I made the exception for this one. No occultism or demonic arch-villains. Interactive with fun characters. A coherent story with a satisfying ending. Attractive old-fashioned setting.

I recommend this game!

+13points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

Revenge is a bad advisor

PostedOctober 6, 2022

Old_Sepp

fromAhresburg, Germany

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Living Legends: The Blue Chamber Collector's Edition

(28)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

The story is a bit confusing at times, but still exciting. The graphics are great, the music is pleasant and the characters are well drawn. There are also a large number of hidden objects that are very clear. Alternatively, you can switch to match-3. Some of the mini puzzles are pretty tricky, but can be solved with a little patience and time without assistance. The game entertained me very well ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

4 of 6 found this review helpful

nice long game

PostedFebruary 1, 2022

xpuhas

fromNC

Skill Level:Intermediate

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

unique mini puzzles and good story

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

5 of 7 found this review helpful

Started off Strong...

PostedJanuary 27, 2022

fernley_jennifer

fromReno, NV

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Total playtime 5 hours 45 minutes

The game looked pretty promising from the start. It looked like a great story line, fun mini games and a murder mystery! It was kinda downhill after that. The games, while unique were either overly complicated or incredibly easy. The story that started out intriguing, ended up being really senseless and towards the end of the game I found myself skipping games ...Show more

Total playtime 5 hours 45 minutes

I don't recommend this game.

+3points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

70 of 90 found this review helpful

A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED ALRIGHT!

PostedDecember 26, 2021

pennmom36

from"Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart" ~ Forever in my heart, Loki ❣

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all Mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
24 Main Game Scene Locations +12 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-extremely linear

I'm a bit baffled by the rave reviews for this new series by Domini? It's not a horrible game, but how is it any different than the last 3 detective-themed games by this developer? Thanksgiving treated us to a new MCF game that had an amazing story, fantastic graphics, and above all, had non-linear, non-cookie-cutter game mechanics with tasks that made us actually have to think, yet everyone hated it?

Reviewers were brutal because it didn't live up to a Dire Grove standard (even though those days are long gone because the profit margins are slim to none nowadays, hence, the budgets are lower) yet here we get a cookie-cutter game with neon purple graphics and every cliche task known to HOPA mankind, and it's adored?

This game is no different than the last game Domini offered or the one before that! It took me two days to complete this game because it was so "typical" that I was bored. When I'd return after an hour or so, I couldn't remember what the plot was about, the characters' names, who the bad guy was, I couldn't even recall what my character's goal was or what I was supposed to be doing from an hour before...yet I can STILL remember everything about MCF nearly a week later!
If I'm wrong about this game, then none of these tasks will sound familiar to you as you read them. If I am right, you'll instantly recognize these "same-ole, same-ole" tasks and have the same questions I stated above:
*Corkscrews to open drawers that are missing knobs..every single one of them!
*Carts missing wheels...4 different carts
*Carts missing wheels AND blocking our path...every single one of them!
*Crows that won't budge...shoo them with your own 2 hands, people, they are just birds, they aren't even pterodactyls!
*Valves missing...I lost count after chapter 2
*Pipes with holes and whooshing pressurized steam, naturally 500 degrees or higher. Available in each unlocked scene!
*Pipes with holes that just leak: shove a rag, sponge, or cork in it & don't forget to wrap it tightly with a belt or tape. 4 per chapter
*Hanging Bird Cage: no Domini game is complete without at least 1 cage just out of reach and full of random items, why?
*Objects too high/far to reach: you know what to do, shoot it down, throw something ate it, use a stick, where's a squirrel when you need him?
*Rake Leaves: DO NOT use your foot to brush aside leaves covering something on the ground, that would be blaspheme!
*Dig something up: If you find a spoon, shovel, bowl, hat, cup, or goblet ya better hang on to it because, in HOPA world, people bury random objects because no one ever suspects a thing. Clearly, it's magical dirt because no matter how long things are buried, they'll always come out clean & in mint condition, ALWAYS!.. it's HOPA WonderDirt!
*Objects in a Sink full of nasty water even tho I'm pretty sure none of the pipes have running water...just pressurized steam?
*Objects in a Fountain/Pond/Lake/Pool: requires a net, fishing pole, and or cup, usually a goblet...Goblet stores must make a killing!
*Missing Gears: does anyone feel a puzzle coming on?
*Broken Chains every chain has a broken link, links break because the force was too high yet any low gauge metal will do the trick, even paper clips!
*Heavy Object & Wedge: QUICK...think of any 2 random objects as fast as you can...that combination will be used at some point in the game, most likely, several times.
*Diamond Ring: it's a Detectives best friend because it can cut glass in a perfect circle every single time.
*Statues missing emblems/jewelry/limbs: replace them and the rigid cement statue will snap back into its original posture?
*Secret Caches: yes, items ARE indeed buried behind brick, under floorboards, and behind wallpaper.
*Sewn Caches: this task is used so many times I feel it needs its own category. Grab a glass shard and start cutting any and all patches that look suspicious!
CHAPTER TWO
*Lockpicks: at this point, I have literally found & discarded so many makeshift lockpicks that I've probably left a trail more noticeable than Hansel & Gretel could ever imagine.
*Mailbox Flag: fun fact...mailbox flags do not activate a spring to open or close the mailbox, it just signifies "you've got mail" but I'm almost positive all Domini Games require replacing at least 1 flag.
*Newspaper/Key poke: funny thing...I needed the newspaper for this clever trick 3 times...the 4th didn't require it, hmmmm?
*Raise water levels to reach the floating objects: why can't I just make another fishing pole?
*Speaking of Fishing Nets, at one point I found parts to repair a fishing net then I used the fishing net...and then I cut it up for parts, hmmm
*Insects: I literally had to kill a dozen or more bees that were surrounding a bouquet of flowers inside someone's front room...seriously?

I stopped writing down the cliche tasks after Chapter Two. You heard me correctly, all the above tasks were from just the first two chapters, some of which were repeated several times. I know a lot of people will say "it's HOPA world" that's just how things are. Cliche tasks are only used because developers don't want to have to think outside the box and we let them! As I said, MCF's latest game didn't have all these repetitive tasks and it was so much more enjoyable to play!

BONUS CHAPTER: (CE Version Only)
With the first case filed in the Archives, it's time to travel to New York for your next Criminal Investigation. Once again we have a dead body and no one to point the finger at so it's up to us to find the killer of a recently divorced woman who may have borrowed money from some shady Loan Sharks! There are 5 Hidden Object scenes and 10 Mini-games spread out over 12 additional scene locations, chock-full of the same repetitive tasks we just completed a million times in the main chapters. You will continue your search for the final 6 Morphing Building Figurines, 5 Newspaper Clippings, and 9 Zoom Zone Stone Coins of varying amounts to purchase the final Office Items...same collectibles/morphs different names...how creative guys!

COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S: (CE version only)
15 Wallpapers (why do they have to have characters slapped on every one of them? Can't you offer some of them with just the scenery?) 15 Concept Art Pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 26 Movie Video Cutscenes, 38 Achievements, 19 Replayable Mini-Games, 18 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 15 Morphing Building Statuettes, 15 Newspaper Clippings (sooo boring!) 70 Zoom-Zone Stone Coins...because people in the early 1900s totally saw the value in rocks versus Gold? 15 Office Items spread randomly throughout a dark and dusty room (purchase wheelchairs & skeletons with your stone-not-gold coins) 6 Main Chapters, +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.

Take a stroll in The Woods at my new forum where you can chat about games, find game help & solutions, game series lists, and so much more. All ya have to do is swing by and log on to reconnect with long-lost forum friends and maybe even feed a bear or two at thewoodsforum.boards.net Show less

+50points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

4 of 7 found this review helpful

unrealistic tasks

PostedFebruary 17, 2022

vtodd

fromAlberta, Canada

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Many task solutions were ridiculous. i.e., removing nails with a comb.

I don't recommend this game.

+1point

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Overall rating

1 / 5

1 of 2 found this review helpful

Not a fan

PostedFebruary 26, 2023

Creeper5

fromAsheville, NC

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Word

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

1 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

I really dislike an HO game that is almost all mini games. I skipped almost all of them. First disappointment. Some of the tasks were quite dumb actually. Second disappointment. The whole game in my opinion was boring and annoying. Characters not the greatest but not the worst. I'm sorry, but like I said not a fan.

I don't recommend this game.

0points

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