Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s Murders in the Rue Morgue is based on arguably the very first detective story ever written. Help protagonist C. Auguste Dupin solve the gruesome murders at the Rue Morgue in this adventure/hidden object game hybrid.

With possibly the longest game title ever, Murders in the Rue Morgue is based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story in 1841 that launched the detective fiction genre that led to famous fictional detectives such as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. The story’s hero C. Auguste Dupin is an affluent Parisian that believes an innocent man was arrested for the murders at the Rue Morgue. He then sets out to independently investigate the incident.

In this game, you play the part of Dupin’s assistant, helping him search for clues and solving puzzles. You both explore the streets of Paris and interview various “persons of interest” in your quest to discover the truth behind the gruesome murders. One thing to note is that the story in the game does not exactly follow the original short story by Edgar Allan Poe. A fair few details have been changed, presumably to make the story less complicated and more suitable for a game.

The gameplay in Murders in the Rue Morgue consists primarily of an adventure-style interface, with hidden object scenes, puzzles and mini-games appearing at various plot points. This interface shows you the scene you are currently investigating and gives you access to your journal (which contains story points and hints) and important items that you’ve picked up along the way which are used to solve subsequent problems.

The adventure interface is also where you solve major plot puzzles that will allow you to move on in the game. Objects in these scenes might need to be manipulated or combined to produce a desired effect. For example, you might find a loose cobblestone that is hiding an important clue, or you could use a lighter from your invetory to light a lantern and gain access to dark areas.

Closer examination of certain objects might bring you to a traditional hidden object scene or a puzzle or mini-game that needs to be solved. The hidden object scenes are standard fare, and sometimes contain plot clues as well as items that you can store in your inventory to be used later. The puzzles are not too difficult, and appear to provide a break from finding hidden objects rather than present a difficult obstacle.

The art in the game is quite well done, mostly in a water-color style that perfectly suits 19th century Paris. The artwork also evokes a gritty, urban feel that works very well with a detective story where murder is involved. The background music is engrossing and suits the game quite nicely as well.

There are a couple downsides that are apparent in the game however. One thing that stood out for me was the lack of voice-acting. Hearing the characters speak has become more common among games in this genre lately. The sound of scared Parisians feeling jittery about the murders would have made the game even more enjoyable. Other than that, the game is a nice complete entertainment package.

So take a journey through the mind of Edgar Allan Poe, the 19th century detective story pioneer. See the Rue Morgue murders in a new light and play a part in solving the puzzle!

Rating: 4.0/5.0