With all the big titles that come out it is very easy to forget about the smaller titles available on the Playstation Store.

Most people will cruise around and look for the map packs and add ons to bolster out the playability of a certain title but there are plenty of fun titles for the family and of different genres to get your teeth into.  The Blue Toad Murder Files is one such set of games that comes neatly packaged in standalone chapters to purchase separately. The first 2 chapters of the game have been on sale for the past couple of months priced at £9.99 for the two and a third chapter has just been released which is available for free download until 2th March for anyone with the first two episodes.

Relentless Software have a real talent for family party games that are cute in its imagery but addictive in gameplay.  Buzz being one such title that Relentless are famed for and the best add ons for this have felt more at home with Relentless developing than other studios.

The Blue Toad Murder files is a murder mystery game for up to 4 players that involves the deepest parts of your brain cells in order to solve a load of puzzles and try and figure out who the murderer is.  The game itself is charming, graphically beautiful with characters that really stand out with comic personality.  The story itself is very well written and is so quintesentially English it leaves you feeling all homely but aware of how some classes live.  The idea of the game is simple, players will be driven through the story where you will have the task of loosely questioning certain members of the community and solving puzzles within a time limit to attain either a gold, silver or bronze medal depending on how many mistakes were made and how fast the puzzle was solved.  There are roughly 12 puzzles in a chapter with enough to do to keep all 4 players, if that’s how many people are playing, amused.  Puzzles range from maths solving to pattern type puzzles in order to provide a healthy dose of “I have to actually think about something! ” game play.  The downside to this is that each puzzle will only take an hour or so to complete with no variation on the puzzles and answers so replay value is at a minimum.

Many complaints were made about the original pricing of the game but this has been resolved by including the third chapter for free so breaking it down you are being charged £3.33ish for each chapter which makes the game a lot more tempting to buy.  If you think that each chapter is a pint and a packet of crisps that can be demolished in a few minutes, The Blue Toad Murder Files now seems to be more palatable affair price wise.  After all isn’t it better to blow a few brain cells than to destroy your liver?

The Blue Toad Murder files is an excellent game in all areas apart from replay value and longevity. It brings something different to the table laid bare with the usual FPS, action adventure droll. Beautiful in design, addictive in gameplay, areas of comical laughter and something that will wake those little brain cells up is definitely worth the purchase price now as offered. After playing all three chapters I am somewhat gagging for some more. Not long to wait for the next bunch, April in fact and if it priced as reasonably as this trilogy is now you may see a little sleeper hit being born.