Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen (2020) Board Game

Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen is a narrative-driven cooperative card game designed by Stéphane Anquetil and published by Aurora in in 2020. It falls under the categories of deduction and murder/mystery games, where players work together to solve a crime by making narrative choices and storytelling.

Game Components of Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen

Illustrated crime scene cards

Clue cards featuring locations, suspects, witnesses, and other evidence

Questionnaire for solving the case

Epilogue cards providing the full story and testimonies

Scorecard for logging attempts

How To Setup Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen

To set up the game, players are presented with an illustrated crime scene made up of several cards. Each card is part of a larger scene, and players can flip these cards to reveal more details. The setup is straightforward, with players starting their investigation by examining the crime scene and choosing which clues to follow.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Investigation Mechanics: Players investigate freely by flipping cards to discover leads and clues.

Clue Following: Players can choose to follow specific clues or switch to other leads as they see fit.

Questionnaire: Once players believe they have enough evidence, they answer questions to identify the culprit, motive, and murder weapon.

Epilogue: After answering the questionnaire, an epilogue reveals the full story and provides context to the plot.

Objective: The goal is to correctly identify the culprit, motive, and murder weapon while minimizing the number of cards revealed.

Player Experience

In Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen, players take on the roles of detectives tasked with solving a murder mystery in Paris in 2018. The game encourages collaborative or individual investigation, allowing players to discuss and decide which clues to pursue. The gameplay is light on rules, making it accessible and easy to start playing quickly. However, once the mystery is solved, there is limited replayability since the solution remains the same.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it easy for new players to jump in.

Interactive Investigation: Players can investigate freely, following clues that seem most relevant.

Collaborative Play: Encourages discussion and teamwork among players.

Affordable: Priced reasonably, making it a great value for the experience.

Cons

Limited Replayability: Once the mystery is solved, there is little incentive to play again.

Artwork Quality: Some players have noted that the artwork, particularly the suspect renderings, could be improved.

Personal Thoughts on Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen

Crime Zoom: Bird of Ill Omen is a great pick for those who enjoy murder mysteries and deduction games. It’s an excellent choice for a casual game night or as a quick, engaging activity. While it lacks replayability, its low cost and high entertainment value make it a worthwhile addition to any game collection. It’s particularly suited for groups looking for a cooperative or individual investigative experience that’s both fun and challenging.

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