Chrono Cops: Einstein’s Crisis of Relativity – Review, Test, and Critique

I come home from school stressed out. I throw my bag in the corner and disappear into my room as quickly as I can. Assignments in German and mathematics will have to wait, there are more important things to do. Because the doctor’s story has been bothering me for days. Fred Edison and his tentacles under the spell. The graphics, the puzzles, the gameplay – simply fantastic. The computer game “Day of the Tentacle” has wormed its way into my heart, and even decades later I still remember some of the details.

Journey through time to adventure or: adventure with time travel

And this is exactly what it feels like to travel back in time to one of those evenings at the end of the 90s when I hold Matthias Prinz and Martin Kallenborn’s (Pegasus Spell) Chrono Cops game in my hands for the first time. A warm feeling spreads through me and I immediately want to embark on this time travel adventure. It’s been a long time since school, but my passion for point-and-click adventures remains. I’m even more curious when it comes to a point-and-click adventure in the form of a board game. Thanks to my curiosity, the quests will have to wait again today; Instead of German and math, it’s now the whole laundry basket and tax return. But when I am needed as a timekeeper, everything else becomes irrelevant.

Travel through time with Chrono Cops

I open the zip box and pull out the instructions that tell me my mission. As ChronoCop in Avantgarde, I developed the prototype time machine with Professor Nix. Unfortunately, how could it be otherwise, something went very wrong after that. Professor Nyx disappeared at an unknown time with the chronograph to gain ultimate power and seek revenge on Vanguard. Now it’s my turn to stop him. Commander Carla is already waiting for me at headquarters for a briefing on the daring journey through time.

Travel planning

Like every trip, this one also requires some preparations. I put the card containing the summary aside and use the remaining large cards to make eight piles, each representing one of the timelines to be traveled to. I also pack a chrono decoder, as well as answer and tip cards, the 12 time balls, and the 47 mini cards. After going through the instructions, I feel ready for Carla to tell me the timeline on which my crazy journey begins.

Chrono Cops Flight Path: Einstein’s Crisis of Relativity

I start in the Gemini timeline and I’m the first to open it. To do this, I flip over the top card of the stack and find a list of places I can travel to here at the moment. I select the first target, then select the chosen location from the stack and place it face up. A beautifully drawn image and text telling me what I’m going through. As in a classic point-and-click adventure, I obtain items and can interact with people or act on a situation. So, at my first destination, I met a ragtag scientist who I could help with his research. Using a sophisticated system consisting of location cards, a chrono decoder and my chosen answer, I know which adventure card will be the next step. Little by little I travel to different places in parallel timelines and get closer and closer to Professor Nix.

On the path of evil

It takes me nearly an hour to finally face the professor. She jumped behind me a few times and was able to get away from the mischief that Nyx was up to. The fate of the world is now in my hands. So I feel a little nervous when I use the Chrono-Decorder for the last time in this game. It’s a relief to know that I’ve truly defeated the crazy professor… at least for now.

Chrono Cops: Einstein’s Crisis of Relativity – A Look Back

Satisfied, I put the game material back in the box and finished my journey through time by closing the game box. Chrono Cops – Einstein’s Theory of Relativity entertained me wonderfully and made me smile here and there. The combination of quirky humor, comic style, and card-based game mechanics caught my attention from the get-go. Although I was initially frustrated by the eight-page instructions, most of the steps were explained right away when I started playing. I found the tips for a better gaming experience at the end of the instructions particularly helpful. If you have point-and-click adventure experience, some of the tips may seem unnecessary, but for anyone with little or no experience, these tips can be very valuable and can lead you down unusual paths at one time or another.

This first case in the series is useful for anyone who wants to try out the genre or has little experience with board games. Puzzles can be easily solved with a little brain, even without much prior or specialized knowledge. In addition, many steps during the game are clear from context.

The information about playing time, number of people, and recommended age seems a bit high to me.

If you want to see what’s going on in the game and also contribute your own ideas to the adventure, you must play with a maximum of three people. In larger rounds, there is a risk that some people will mentally quit the game before it is over. Game duration will vary depending on the number of people and previous playing experience. You should plan on 60-90 minutes.

Even children under 12 years old can become Chrono Cop without any problems. With the support of older children or adults, children who love to play bring their own ideas and conclusions and are often able to think “outside the box” more easily than adults.

Recommendation for time travel

If you want a sense of adventure, you should definitely take a closer look at Chrono Cops. Because despite the flood of crime and escape games, this mechanic is still a little different. New and, above all, full of fun little references that always brighten the game. Since no cards or other playing materials are destroyed in this game, they can also be easily transferred to other adventurous people.