It Can Be Murder on Players

Touted as being “in the tradition of a suspenseful Agatha Christie novel,” U.S. Gold’s British-developed “Murder” is more like a bare bones, creaky murder mystery. A wimpy “Clue” without Ms. Scarlet and Col. Mustard.

The basics are all there: a sleuth, a victim, a spooky house, etc.

You, playing the role of daring detective, wander through the house, interrogating everybody and anybody. The questioning process can become monotonous as you inquire about each guest; each guest’s relationship with the victim (and each other); each guest’s whereabouts at the time of the murder and so on. Luckily, any pertinent information you gather can easily be added to an electronic notebook. All the clues and information garnered by this rather plodding investigative technique can then be reviewed at any time to aid you in making an arrest. Or, if your two-hour time limit expires, the villain will escape.

All things considered, “Murder” should be a satisfying way for a mystery fan to pass the evening. It should be, but it’s not. Character movement is awkward. The graphics and colors are fuzzy. And, last but certainly not least, there’s no way to save the game for continuing play, or to quit the game without turning off the power to your computer.

U.S. Gold, infamous for its black-on-black copy protection wheels, is making progress on that front; the indecipherable wheel has been dropped.

But “Murder” is still way back in the pack when it comes down to the basics of plot, character and technical accomplishment. The appeal of “Murder” is, frankly, a mystery.

Murder

Rating: **

IBM and compatibles, Amiga; 640K; mouse required; $44.95.

Computer games are rated on a five-star system, from one star for poor to five for excellent.