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Crime to play along with
For fans of crime formats: This is how an audio mystery game works
You need the corresponding app for the audio mystery game “echoes”
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Starting in childhood with exciting “The three ???” radio plays up to modern crime podcasts: There are numerous formats for fans of lies, fraud or murder. But what if you can even immerse yourself in the audio experience and actively have to solve a case? Audio mystery games should make it possible. We tried them out.
Both crime formats and games already exist. Only the combination results in an exciting challenge and especially pleases those who, while listening, always wish to slip into the role of the commissioner or the forensic psychologist. There is no doubt that there is a fascination with stories of lies, deceit, and even murder. How could the fact come about? Why did the perpetrator act like this and not differently? Questions that also have to be answered in the audio mystery games “echoes”. The format is new and offers a welcome change from conventional detective games; after all, the game and picture cards are expanded to include audio content thanks to the accompanying app. But is the new series of games good and how much fun is solving the criminal cases? We tested it. Here is the experience report – of course without spoilers on the content of the stories.
That’s behind audio mystery games
Audio mystery games are not known because the game principle is new. The format is somewhat reminiscent of “Exit” games. However, the point is not to escape a scenario, but to decipher a story. That’s why players only receive bits of a longer storyline that they then have to put together together. The innovative thing about it is: These small parts of the entire story are available in the form of audio sequences. In order to listen to these, players need the free “echoes” app, which can be downloaded quickly and easily.
Tested audio mystery game “echoes”
Once the application is downloaded, you can start right away. In the menu of the app you can switch between the previously published game titles “The dancer”, “The Cocktail” and “The microchip” Select. The stories are completely different, so there should be something for everyone. “The dancer” gives you goose bumps even when reading the short description, because the task is to clear up the mysterious death of a young girl who reports from the afterlife.
The game material is manageable, there are 24 picture cards. The level of difficulty varies depending on whether you select “normal” or “simple” in the app. You should be able to play “echoes” with up to six people. We played it in twos and threes. The former worked particularly well because the focus was on the audio content. The game can certainly also be played with the whole family, the solution could just take a little longer. But that doesn’t matter, because there is no time limit and the audio sequences can simply be repeated.
Important: The manufacturer states that the “echoes” app requires at least an iPhone 6s with IOS 12.0 or later. For Android it needs 7.0 and the system must be compatible with the Google Play service for VR.
The picture cards must be scanned with the “echoes” app
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All six chapters of the story have to be put together. Each chapter has object cards that must be gradually assigned to the chapter. The best thing to do is to spread out all the cards in front of you and get an overview by holding the smartphone camera on the image of the respective card. Scanning worked quickly and easily in the test, so that a short recording in the form of noises, words or music could be heard immediately. The audio recordings are of a strikingly high quality and it is fun to listen carefully to capture every detail. Then you have to sort in order to complete all chapters in the “Solve” mode of the app. It should be said that the three games in the “echoes” series differ from one another, so that not all of them are equally quick or easy to solve. Tip: Pay attention to the smallest details, they can become important in the course of the game, when all parts of the story have to be put together.
Done happened
Whoever solves the riddle at the end and can put the story together will receive the full length radio play as a reward. The game fills all the gaps and the audio sequences form a whole. Listening is definitely a pleasure, because the production is of very high quality, it’s just a shame that players can’t influence the plot. There is exactly one solution. This would be a desirable addition for the future, because being able to intervene in the game and receive individual stories would increase the tension factor.
A clear plus point of the game has to be mentioned: unlike the related “Exit” games, “echoes” can be reused at any time. The game material remains intact. Anyone who knows the story can easily pass the game on to friends and family.
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