NCIS is one of the most popular crime dramas on TV these days. It’s not really surprising that they made a video game of it, as it fits the profile of the many TV shows that spawned video game franchises: “real life”, suspenseful, and lots of dead people. Crime shows make up the majority of video games that are based on television shows and movies, like CSI and detective games. Most of the others are created around children’s cartoons, like the ben 10 games.

The NCIS video game was plotted out by the actual writers of the show, so you know you’re getting an interesting story out of it. There are four ‘episodes’ where you solve crimes by collecting evidence and making deductions. When you get to a crime scene, you’ll be seeing evidence like spent casings and bullet holes, various residue and other little bits and pieces that you’ll use to find the culprit. It would have been better if the gamer could use a number of forensic techniques to ‘bag and tag’ whatever evidence found, but no, to collect the evidence you only have to take a photograph of it. Logical, I’d suppose, since most episodes of the show depict one or more characters taking pictures of evidence, but personally I’d prefer something that is much more interactive than just the point and click action in this particular NCIS video game.

You’re able to be more than one of the characters in the show, which is great for those who watch TV and say ‘whoa, I wish I could do that’. Tony and Ziva are of course the primary investigators. They interrogate suspects, collect evidence and send it to Abby for analysis.  As McGee, you’ll do mainly computer stuff like hacking into databases and tracking suspects by phone. Abby, McGee and Ducky rarely venture out of headquarters, but you can’t deny that being one of the characters of the show is rather exciting.

No matter how great the visuals (though sometimes it leaves much to be desired as well), the NCIS game does not really offer that much stimulation or challenge. The gameplay itself is not that much different from what you might find a younger child playing, but it’s rated as Teen (for the dead bodies, presumably). Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the TV show itself, or you’re a casual or beginner gamer, you won’t find much in the game to like.