Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The First Cases

This is one of those games that should get a neutral rating. I give it a 'thumbs up' because most of the writing and the presentation are decent. The gameplay feels cluncky and the way the 'mind maps' are used is not great. Often you can guess the 'deductions' based on the layout of the mind map.
It's by no means a bad game, but it is quite short and only the way that the game forces you to switch between mind-mapping and talking to people it gains some length. If it is on a sale and you have a couple of afternoons to waste give it a go.

Point and click story game about one of the most famous detective Hercule Poirot ...the game is very beautiful and very well made....somehow i got a bit used to this since point and click since i played i played ABC Murders but still a no but despite this i still enjoyed the story and loved to solve these cases.
Graphics of the game feels good very good despite being like a cartoon.
In this game you have no puzzles only connections ..but some of them are very hard and you have to just connect random few until game helps you as you don't have any hint option.
Also in my opinion this feels like is the first game in timeline of Microids games ...as this followed by London Cases and well Orient Express (ignore the fact this is like a lil modern :D ) and Death on Nile but of course this is like as you wanna believe it to be.
In my opinion is a good game to play if you are a fan of mystery games and clicker games and most important a fan of Agatha Christie masterpiece !..Either way a game you must try at least once in your life !

HP: The First Cases is an admirable little detective game.
Made by Scottish Indie developers, this small project may be very simple yet quite charming.
To summarize, the story and conversations are done like a visual novel while the gameplay is a isometric walking simulator.
The slow movement and basic point & click system both keep the game grounded and humble, for better or worse. What saves the game is the SUPERB voice acting and intriguing detective mystery!
The animations are decent enough to fulfill their purpose. The mansion is also beautiful.
The detective gameplay plays out mostly on the mental evidence board. You collect clues, evidence and statements and try to figure out possible connections.
It was a bit hard for me, not because the game is too difficult but because it is too easy. Having played so many detective games, I am used to a high level and expect a challenge. So it was tough lowering my standards to such a short and easy game where you as a player may have already solved the case but you have to guide Poirot through the motions of connecting baby level logic.
(example: There is a table and there is shattered glass near it, what could have possibly happened? connect the table dot with the glass dot and you get the obvious answer that the glass fell from the table and shattered... who would have guessed omg...)
The hint system is automatically on from the get go and removes all fun from the game, best to turn it off in the options menu!
I personally love detective stories like Sherlock Holmes and have played all the best Sherlock games.
I only knew Poirot from the Kenneth Branagh movies and this game, and you know what this pedantic Belgian perfectionist detective grew on me.
His methods are very different from someone genius like Sherlock. If Sherlock is like Dr. House, a puzzle solver who is lacking people skills. Then the patient and polite Poirot is like Patrick Jane, a mentalist who specializes on the psychological & emotional aspect while remaining meticulously methodical.
As a man, for me Sherlock is closer in style and nature. The Sherlock games were challenging but manageable.
Poirot was written by a woman, so adjusting to his style was a bit counter-intuitive for me. (Maybe it's just me..)
For a $2 on sale, this is a steal. Check it out if you want to explore detective games.
I am just glad I was introduced to such an interesting character like Poirot.
I'm gonna binge all seasons of the Poirot 1989 show now.

The story follows a young Hercule Poirot before he becomes a famous detective. He is invited to a large family event in a big mansion, but a murder happens and a snowstorm traps everyone inside. This means no one can leave, so Poirot has to solve the case right there.
During the game, you explore different rooms in the mansion, talk to characters, and collect clues. Little by little, you learn about the wealthy Van den Bosch family and the people around them. There are many secrets, and you slowly figure out who is lying and what really happened. The mystery is not very complicated, but it still keeps you interested as new details come out. The game makes you feel like you are part of a detective story. You are not just watching, you are solving it yourself. A big part of this is the mind map system. You connect clues and ideas step by step to move forward. Sometimes it feels clear and satisfying, but other times the connections are not obvious, so you may feel a bit stuck or need help.
I also liked how the game feels like an Agatha Christie story. Poirot feels true to his character, and the voice acting helps bring him to life. The atmosphere is calm and classy, with more focus on talking, thinking, and solving problems instead of action. Overall, it is a slow but interesting detective game. It is best for people who like mystery stories and enjoy solving cases by paying attention to small details!

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS
---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Masterpiece
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't
---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf
---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma
---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run Paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer
---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 15% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data
---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls
---{ Grind }---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding
---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life
---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond
---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money
---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs
---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

It's a decent game overall.

I do like CSI/detective like games but the game could do with a few quality of life improvements:
- Can't replay a chapter - if you miss something for an achievement you have to replay the whole game.
- No skipable cupscenes. Sometimes the characters go off on a rant/tirade, if you have to replay the game, unfortunately you have to listen to it all again. There is no quickening/skipping.
- The game will want you to investigate certain normal Household objects in a room for an achievement- you do get the same voiceline for every type of object, it gets dull
- When making deductions- if an error is made, you get the 2 basic same lines over and over... in a game that is about deductions, the main characters voice can get annoying.

The game itself however is quite pleasant & the story has enough plottwists to be interesting.
No replayability though in my opinion.

Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases, developed by Blazing Griffin and published by Microids, offers players a chance to dive into the early days of one of literature’s most iconic detectives. The game is set during the 1920s and centers around a snowbound manor where a high-society engagement party turns deadly, forcing a young Hercule Poirot to apply his legendary deductive skills to unravel a complex murder mystery. This title takes an original narrative approach, crafting a fresh story that explores Poirot’s formative years, which makes it stand apart from the usual adaptations of Agatha Christie’s classic novels. The fresh plot provides a captivating mix of intrigue, suspense, and classic detective work that honors the spirit of the source material while offering something new to both longtime fans and newcomers.
Visually, the game embraces an isometric point-and-click style that effectively captures the elegance and atmosphere of the 1920s setting. The environments are richly detailed, from the lavish interiors of the manor to the snow-covered grounds outside, creating an immersive backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The art direction successfully balances period authenticity with a subtle stylized touch, though some character animations can feel slightly stiff, which occasionally disrupts immersion. Still, the overall visual presentation does a fine job of drawing players into Poirot’s world, enhancing the tension and mood through thoughtful lighting and well-crafted scenes.
Gameplay revolves around exploration, investigation, and deduction, with players tasked to search for clues, interview a diverse cast of suspects, and piece together evidence using an intuitive mind map system. This mechanic, designed to help players connect information and theories, is one of the game’s standout features. However, it can sometimes feel cumbersome, as it encourages frequent backtracking and reexamination of locations to confirm suspicions or gather missing details. While this design choice deepens the investigative feel, it may lead to some pacing issues, with certain segments stretching longer than necessary, which can slow momentum and test player patience.
The game’s writing and voice acting contribute significantly to its charm. The voice performances largely succeed in bringing the characters to life, with distinct personalities and motivations that keep the player engaged. However, at times the dialogue dips into melodrama, which can undermine the otherwise serious and intellectual tone of the narrative. The soundtrack complements the setting with period-appropriate music that subtly reinforces the game’s atmosphere without overwhelming the story or gameplay. Together, these elements help build a credible world that feels like a genuine Agatha Christie mystery, even if it ventures into new territory with its original storyline.
From a technical standpoint, the game is solid and runs smoothly across a range of systems. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate, with controls that feel responsive and appropriate for a point-and-click adventure. Players will find the experience generally polished, with few bugs reported. However, the overall length of the game might be a drawback for some. The main storyline is relatively short, with completion times ranging around three to five hours, which may leave players wanting more depth or additional cases to solve. This brevity limits replayability, though the quality of the content makes the journey worthwhile.
In conclusion, Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases is a thoughtful and engaging detective game that successfully reimagines the early career of the famous Belgian sleuth. While it takes creative liberties with the source material, it captures the essence of a classic Christie mystery through its compelling narrative, atmospheric presentation, and investigative gameplay. The mind map mechanic and detailed environments encourage careful deduction, though some pacing issues and occasional stiffness in animation slightly hold the experience back. Overall, it’s a rewarding adventure for fans of mystery games and detective stories, offering a fresh perspective on Poirot’s world that blends nostalgia with innovation.
Rating: 7/10