WE FIND THE DEFENDANT. . .
A Review of In The First Degree
by Kathleen Keating
Frustrated by the verdict in the trial of What's His name? Think you can do a better job than Marcia or Chris? Well maybe you can as you try your hand at one of the most realistic games on the market today, IN THE FIRST DEGREE, by Broderbund. As the prosecuting attorney in this real life courtroom simulation, you are responsible for convicting a suspect of first degree murder, which is anything but easy. In the first entertainment title since the fantastic MYST, Broderbund unleashes courtroom drama equal to if not better than what we've witnessed on television. What's even better is that now you have a chance to control the outcome using the persona of Sterling Granger.
Incorporating blue screen processes with incredible graphics, you meet the
defendant, surly witnesses, exploit-for-ratings newspeople and of course, a
judge that can make you want to pull your hair out. As you interrogate the
multitude of witnesses in the case, you are given options of the kind of
questions you can ask. It helps to be shrewd in discerning which way to
handle any given witness. If you push them too hard, like good old Marcia
did, you don't get the results needed for your "air-tight case" of murder
one.
Many of the witnesses are wily if not outright liars and it's an
interesting task figuring out not only how to handle the individual
witnesses, but whether they are telling the truth. Once you get them on the
stand, anything and everything can happen. Because of the elaborate
mechanisms within the game, each question put to a witness alters the
available information ever so slightly. Not just the information changes
either. With multiple plays, the story and the verdict change, keeping you
from getting bored, while giving you crucial practice time in honing your
prosecuting skills.
In the early rounds of playing, IN THE FIRST, you won't have the jury finding a verdict to your liking, but after a lot of practice, you will ultimately get closer to the verdict you need to put the sleazy defendant away. Set in gorgeous San Francisco, professional actors, real life newscasters and incredible sound escort you through the various stages of the game. Speaking of those pesky reporters, they also dissect your courtroom performance on the air. Ouch! With several outcomes, you'll be putting in long hours trying to unravel the evidence and witnesses as they appear as fluid-like images, taking up the entire screen. Broderbund does away with the porthole concept of video which only heightens the realistic qualities of the game, sucking you into a phenomenal adventure.
Utilizing Emmy-award winning producers and an actual district attorney, IN THE FIRST DEGREE, is as true-to-life as games can get, almost to the point that you have to worry about paying off those nasty loans for law school. Well, not really, but when some of the witnesses start pulling for the Defense team, you'll think Johnny Cochran, Jr. will start his "if it doesn't fit" shenanigans.
So if you haven't had enough courtroom drama in the last year, run to your software dealer and snatch up the best game around, IN THE FIRST DEGREE. Even if you have become saturated with the legal profession, try the game and enjoy a truly new experience. Guilty? You will be if you don't try this one.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: |
In The First Degree |
| Company: |
Broderbund Software Inc.
|
| Cost: |
$45-$50 |
System Requirements:
IBM-PC or compatible 486/25SX or faster,
4MB RAM, 8 MB recommended,16-bit sound card,
and a double speed CD-ROM drive or higher, mouse,
DOS 5.0 or higher, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95,
Super VGA (256 color mode, also supports thousands
of colors video mode if available to provide extremely
realistic video display.)
Breakdown:
Fun Factor 5
Graphics 5
Sound 5
Interface 5
Replayability 5
Overall Score:
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