Post Mortem

1930's Paris. Two wealthy American tourists are grisly murder victims and you have been hired by a mysterious, beautiful stranger to investigate the crime. Though you've recently given up the private eye business to become an artist, the opportunity is too much for you to pass up.

Post Mortem, an adventure/puzzle title from Dreamcatcher Interactive, explores the dark, seedy underworld of Paris through the eyes of Gus 'Spooky'? McPherson, an American private detective with a hint of paranormal ability. Heavy on the mood and feel of the dark and gritty subcultures of early 20th Century Paris, Post Mortem is an interesting mix; at times blasé and in need of polish, but for the most part, this title delivers.

Graphics are a sore point for this reviewer. While scenes done in the first person were well realized, artistic and stylish, many character animations were stilted and oddly scripted, making for an odd mix of the two styles. Often dialogue was translated poorly and was somewhat nonsensical, but since this title is an obvious translation from the original French, it is to be expected. However, with much of the appeal for adventure style titles being from the dialogue, more effort should have been placed in this area.

It should be noted, however, that Post Mortem has a lot going for it. Aside from the dialogue issues, there are many interesting and intriguing items to be used. You will be required to try and do composite sketches, pick locks, and compare art fakes, among other intriguing and interesting puzzles. There are enough of these to please the die hard puzzle addict, as well as the story driven veteran. Many of the people in the game are well drawn out and have depth and character, and for the most part, locale and such add a feeling of wholeness to the game.

The maturity rating is well earned for Post Mortem. Graphic scenes, including nudity, sensual dialogue and decapitation, to name a few, add a definite adult theme to this title. Recommended to die-hard adventure enthusiasts, Post Mortem would be better served by a bit more polish and dialogue work. Not recommended for younger gamers, however.