Black Circle: A Carol Reed Mystery

Black Circle: A Carol Reed Mystery, the sixth adventure by developers MDNA Games, has you discovering another mystery. Like Nancy Drew or Miss Marple you smatter in detective business but your analytical skills help you put the world to rights.

The gameplay of Black Circle underwent no changes, consisting mostly of inventory puzzles. Clue pursuit is clear, however, an in-game hint system is at your service there. There you will find neither mazes nor queer tasks; the game plays very logically and smoothly throughout. Perhaps the most memorable points of the game are various characters with whom you are to interact, but dialogues are fairly brief and do not help in your business. Some of these heroes are rather eccentric or look like real queer fishes.   

As usual, the locations of Black Circle: A Carol Reed Mystery game consist of real photos enhanced with a watercolor effect. While traveling the title, you will see different beautiful areas of Norrköping, which make you feel as if you are visiting this very Swedish city. Moreover, the music adds much to the mood of each scene, that gloomy tunes being especially effective, providing somber atmosphere in the areas. Relaxing sounds of birdsong or flowing water are able to lull your vigilance.

As for the Black Circle’s navigation, it has become friendlier than in the previous installments. Although interactive cursors are bigger and brighter now, it is easy to become disoriented, and be for several seconds at a loss.

If you have already met Black Circle series, you should appraise this game. If you have never played it before but wish to try challenging game with intriguing storyline then you should enjoy it.

17, February 2010