Final Cut: Homage Review – Noir Action

So, an insane serial killer is on the loose, you say? And he’s recreating scenes from your father’s classic films, trapping people inside, then teasing you to solve the mystery before they meet their doom. Well, that’s definitely the strangest …

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So, an insane serial killer is on the loose, you say? And he’s recreating scenes from your father’s classic films, trapping people inside, then teasing you to solve the mystery before they meet their doom. Well, that’s definitely the strangest thing you’ve heard this week. They call this madman the Director, and he’s about to send you on a chase you’ll never forget.

Final Cut: Homage is a casual adventure game mixed with equal parts inventory management, hidden object scenes, and mini-games. The noir setting puts you in all sorts of dark locations, from a mansion to a cemetery to a boat dock. With the added insanity of the Director’s unique film pieces, you’ll also visit a handful of other locations, giving Final Cut an impressive variety of scenery to explore.

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The first thing you’ll notice about Final Cut is that it’s a very action oriented game. Scenes fly by at a quick pace, pushing you from dangerous situation to dangerous situation with only a few moments to catch your breath. Granted, you’ll navigate these action scenes by solving puzzles like you always do, but the drama and pressure of the situation really adds to the atmosphere. Using a winch to break open a window has never been so fun.

Most of Final Cut is spent moving back and forth between areas filling your inventory full of items. Within the first few minutes you’ll have half a dozen things to sort through at the bottom of the screen. The game really pushes the limits of object management and mental storage space, challenging you to remember what you picked up four screens ago and how it might help in the current situation. There are even interactive inventory items marked by a plus sign that need to be combined with one or more objects before they’re useful.

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Final Cut features several types of hidden object scenes, most of which are over before you can blink an eye. Silhouettes and text lists are the most common and send you searching for objects based on their outline or description. The interesting part of these scenes is how interactive they can be. One of the first puzzles you’ll complete involves finding items and using them in different parts of the screen just to collect another item on the list. Other hidden object scenes pop up in a small window and only take a few seconds to complete. It’s a nice balance, and always a welcome diversion from the inventory-fill-a-thon that is the main part of the game.

Mini-games and the briefest of cutscenes flesh out the rest of the Final Cut Experience. Honestly, everything about the game is so well-tuned, it’s hard to find any faults. The visuals are phenomenal, mixing real photography with artwork in an almost seamless manner. Even the sound effects come across as professional. If you don’t mind scrolling through your inventory every time you hit a new puzzle, Final Cut: Homage will deliver every ounce of hidden object adventuring entertainment your heart desires.

The good

  • Creative use of hidden object and mini-game puzzles.
  • Lively action scenes keep the pace moving.
  • All-around excellent production values.

The bad

  • Inventory management can be a bit cumbersome.
90 out of 100
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