Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue Review
A Fresh Take on Cleaning Simulators With a Dark Twist
last updated Apr 07, 2024
Grab your mop and prepare to dive into the less-glamorous side of crime; just maybe keep an eye on your mop bucket.
Scrubbing Up the Underworld
Right off the bat, "Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue" presents itself as a novel blend of meticulous cleaning and story-driven adventure. Unlike its predecessors in the cleaning game genre, it tasks players with expunging the gruesome remnants of various mafia executions, all while immersing them in a narrative rich with moral ambiguity. There’s something oddly satisfying about clearing away the chaos of a crime scene, piece by piece, making the environment pristine once again. The varied tools at the player's disposal, from power washers to good old-fashioned mops, ensure that the cleaning process never feels repetitive or dull. Plus, the occasional pettable dog adds a welcome respite from the otherwise macabre setting.
Echos in the Silence
The audio experience in "Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue" is surprisingly robust, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere of the game. The game’s ambiance is punctuated by the realistic squelch of mops and the satisfying hiss of the power washer. Voice acting, although a mixed bag with some performances stronger than others, helps to flesh out the protagonist and inject a dose of humor into the otherwise grim task at hand. It’s undeniable that a bit more polish could transform the good into the great, but for a prologue, the auditory elements do their job well.
A Visually Clean Sweep
Graphically, "Crime Scene Cleaner" strikes a balance between realism and functional aesthetics, rendering detailed environments without overwhelming the player or their hardware. The game's performance is commendably stable, with minor bugs reported that barely detract from the experience. It's a bit like staring into the abyss, except the abyss also happens to have a very convincing blood stain on the carpet. The game walks the tightrope between being visually engaging and not becoming a gory spectacle, maintaining immersion without resorting to shock value. Still, the advice to keep a mop bucket from tipping over is something I’d tell my clumsy self in any scenario.
Cleaning as a Criminal Enterprise
One of the game’s most compelling features is its story and character development. Few games manage to make the player genuinely care about the why behind their actions in what could easily have been a straightforward cleaning sim. "Crime Scene Cleaner" weaves intriguing lore around your otherwise mundane tasks, transforming each job into a chapter of a larger narrative. This, alongside quirky interactions such as negotiating with an air purifier and petting a dog, elevates the game beyond its core mechanics. Moreover, the feedback from the community highlights the developers' responsiveness to player input, hinting at a bright future for the full release.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
President Studio S.A.
Release Date
April 04, 2024
The Verdict
"Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue" is a convincingly entertaining and surprisingly deep take on the simulation genre, blending the mundanity of cleaning with the thrill of underworld stories. Its gameplay is solid, the audio adds depth, and the graphics are on point without demanding a supercomputer. Despite minor bugs and some audio inconsistencies, this prologue more than does its job, leaving players craving the full release. It’s a sure-fire hit for anyone who finds catharsis in cleaning or simply relishes a good narrative. Grab your mop and prepare to dive into the less-glamorous side of crime; just maybe keep an eye on your mop bucket. Rest assured, this is one crime scene you'll want to visit.