CSI: Las Vegas

You'd think a TV series tie-in would stumble when it came to engaging someone who's not familiar with the programme. Maybe it does, when it comes to sales, but in terms of gameplay I can report – as someone who's never seen CSI – that this second game tie-in works just as well for the uninitiated.

In fact, it's inspired me to check out the TV series, which must be some kind of testament to the game's entertainment level.

Falling into the shoes of the series' crime scene investigators (not just a clever name, eh?) the action begins immediately with the investigation of a missing person and a trace amount of blood.

The fact that there's almost nothing to go on adds a brilliantly cinematic tension and cerebral challenge that's hard for any game to capture, let alone a mobile one. The ensuing depths of twist and turn in the plot are quite worthy of the TV show, so get ready for an intense experience.

Gathering up evidence using impressively forensic methods and a highly intuitive interface, following the trail of this small amount of blood leads the team all around Las Vegas (where this game is set; the first was CSI: Miami).

The clues, while sometimes rather telegraphed and rife with exposition, remain quite reasonable, as does the forensic methodology of collecting and analysing them. Mini-games break up the explorative bulk of the examination, though without feeling like a break from the stylistic theme.

And style is something CSI has in abundance.

The real driving force behind CSI is, of course, the strong storyline, and fans won't be disappointed. For that matter, anyone who enjoys a good, believable crime yarn will find a great deal to peak their analytical interest.

As powerful and invigorating as the story is, however, it does come with its own unfortunate self-destruct mechanism. While this isn't a criticism of the game itself, it's just one of those regrettable inherent factors of a plot-driven title; replay value is bound to suffer. The mini-games do add enough of an arcade challenge to grant a decent level of escapism the second time around, but there'll not be a huge compulsion to solve the crime all over again.

That the creators of the TV series have apparently been involved is a good sign, of course, and the dynamism and invigoration of that first play absolves CSI of much of its longevity shortcomings. A few months untouched on the memory card, and its thrills might well resurface due to the solidity of the storytelling.

All in all, this isn't just a game for the fans. There's a lot here that will excite aficionados of the programme and feed the lust of players who enjoyed the first game, sure, but it will also provide a superb introduction to those who've never worn the rubber gloves of crime scene investigation. Now all we need is a Cold Case, Columbo and Quincy game, and no murderer shall ever feel safe again.