CLUE: Secrets & Spies for iPad Only for Spot the Difference Fanatics

CLUE Secrets & Spies for iPad

CLUE Secrets & Spies for iPad

CLUE: Secrets & Spies for iPad [rating: 3/5]

CLUE is the US version of a game that most people in the UK associate with a board game called Cluedo. Cluedo was invented in the North of the UK in the late 1940s. Apparently since then things have moved on a pace, and now there is an all singing all dancing version of CLUE, made as a board game by Hasbro in the US, in which you get black light torches to read spy clues with, and super secret text messages during the game sent to you from Hasbro’s servers. Sounds like a lot of fun!

CLUE: Secrets & Spies – A Hidden Object Game from Electronic Arts, as far as I can tell is a game that cashes in on that franchise. What it offers up is a set of “hidden object” / “spot the difference” picture games, set against a backdrop of international espionage.

I am not a great fan of spot the difference games, but the idea of them on an iPad with some finger tip action seemed initially interesting.

Here is EA’s own blurb..

Find hidden objects in exciting cities around the world like Casablanca, Buenos Aires and Paris, and stop the evil forces of C.L.U.E. (Criminal League for Ultimate Espionage) from sowing destruction across the globe!

CLUE is certainly well presented, and the spy theme makes for a more interesting way to bundle up picture based puzzles. But even with the global map, and the fairly weak storyline tying the puzzles together it just felt to me like an elaborate menu system skinned in a spy theme.

The puzzles, spot the difference and find the hidden objects are well done, with nice little overlays when you spot things. Good use of the touch screen but the pressure of a time limit was about the only time I felt that I was actually trying to foil some evil master genius before a nuke attached to a puppy went off somewhere. And that was fun. But short-lived. And to be frank a lot of the fun I was having was in my own overactive imagination.

CLUE Secrets & Spies for iPad 2

There is not much variety in the style of gameplay in CLUE, but there is plenty of variety in the puzzle locations, images and back stories. And you cover several parts of the globe, including Morocco, Russia, London, Cairo, Berlin and so on. All possible settings for James Bond movies, or cold war capers.

There are rewards to be had in the form of “essential spy gear”. I won’t spoil the surprise for you. And you can use a Clue Detector to help you out of sticky spots.

That is really about it. And both the idea of the board game from Hasbro, and EA’s own blurb on this iPad game get me more excited than the reality of CLUE on the iPad.

CLUE is well crafted overall though. And if you love picture puzzles that test your memory and observation skills then CLUE: Secrets & Spies may be for you.

Now where is my laser gun…

Pros

  • Well presented.
  • Nice interface.

Cons

  • One trick pony.
  • Not really a spy game.

$4.99 (View in iTunes)
Category: Games
Released: Nov 04, 2010
Version: 1.0.0
1.0.0
76.3 MB
Language: English
Seller: Electronic Arts
Game code © 2010 Electronic Arts Inc. CLUE © 2010 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Rated 4+
Requirements:Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later

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