MicroMacro: Crime City Review - Big Trouble In Little City

[@Siennarchist]

Seeing this after clicking on it at the end of the hostage negotiator video, the pear joke is so much funnier

[@isaacstevens5415]

4:06 I always appreciate a good time callout

[@poopman025]

Perfect planning, love it!

[@Chayat0freak]

How?!

[@Thagor95]

@@Chayat0freak I guess the zoom on his fake watch was some sort of padding. He might have rehearsed the script of the entire video and found that 4:06 was giving him enough time for him to announce it, and then if he missed the mark, he could make the padding longer or shorter just in case. Or he waited to edit the first 4 minutes of the video before recording that part of the script. Either way, I hope he sees that we noticed! Great job on that. Small detail, but nice detail :D

[@dbrannon323]

@@Thagor95 Definitely the first guess with the watch. Really clever and subtle editing trick!

[@acerumble]

Tom flexing his editing muscles for the audience

[@samgeisler7033]

Can't wait to find out which of the 3 SUSD sound effects this review uses.

[@luked1974]

It took a little bit, as it naturally would for anyone, but I feel that Tom is now a reviewer here that feels as good at this as, and as shut-up-and-sit-down as, Matt and Quinn’s. Great to see!

[@Furore2323]

Tom is truly the SU&SD version of Bobbie Duke.

[@hermanturnip3984]

I am finally comfortably at home with Tom and his presence and now see him as a natural part of the crew. "Team Tom" all the way. Keep up the weirdness!

[@stefoster7031]

I love Tom's videos, he's keeping the surreal alive with SU&SD afaik.

[@TheBronchitus]

Each video from Tom gets somehow better, weird editing, odd creative choices, love the time callout! Keep doing that Tom! Looking forward to what you do at the next!

[@JMcMillen]

The first thing I thought of when I saw the map was a PC game called Hidden Folks. In that, each level has multiple people/items to find, each with a clue where to find it, but the maps have some interactivity. For example, clicking on a door will open it reveal what's behind it. Others will animate things and may reveal something previously hidden. Admittedly, some of the levels are kinda small but some are absolutely huge and will require analyzing what's going on in a particular part to help figure out which hidden person/item will be located there. It's also not that expensive and is usually on sale during Steam events.

[@ichifish]

There's actually a digital sample of this game on their website -check it!

[@psaldorn69]

A kids version of this would be amazing. Thanks for the reference image (my kids are probably too young to be getting into that stuff, so very useful)

[@N1eFrs]

Truly love this game. Made it a bit less easy by only reading the opening card and try to figure out what happened from there on, ignoring the other investigation cards. Really recommending this aproach if you want to be a true cartoon Sherlock!

[@EakEmk]

Could you explain a little further?

[@N1eFrs]

@@EakEmk Of course. The investigation cards ask you to trace the victim, find a motive and/or locate where the suspect is. By doing so, these cards give little hints. I found it more fun to start with the first card (usually location of the victim) and find out the story without some instructions. This way, the already funny stories might also suprise you more.

[@Fudgeemonkee]

This made me both 'HNF' and 'HNGHA', how dare you!

[@dangilkey5245]

Great review as always. Thanks for the Quick Guide 4 the Kids. As a retailer this is really good information to have.

[@davedujour1]

During the early description I was thinking it would be something I could give my (very smart advanced) 5 yr old niece to play with her parents. But it sounds like there's too much murder. A truly family friendly version where the crimes are like taking the hat or trying to find the missing dog would be awesome. Something that parents & kids could sit down and figure out together....and then the kid could color in the characters of that mystery.

[@stefoster7031]

Does anybody remember the Black Hand Gang books? They were similar to this, where you had a page of story and on the adjacent page you had a busy picture that you had to solve the crimes. Great books.

[@muttbeard8412]

Love the casual watch flex, always nice to show off an expensive watch

[@AhJong0]

Great stuff, the NPI review for this was intriguing and when you guys both cover a video that’s a great indication. Thanks for bringing up the suitability for kids - important point in this sort of game 🙂

[@mattormel7467]

I want to watch a series of videos of Tom solving and describing each scenario.

[@judiethenerdshelves]

I solved 3 cases with my 5 and 8 years old, and to be honest, they had most fun looking through the huge map, and talked about what they saw. 😆❤

[@denycast]

the first ten seconds and I am loving this video. The game is really good, even though it has some flaws... Like you are not true investigating together, but it is really fun. My prediction is that this game gets the "Spiel des Jahres"- Award, even though it is not that good for children... (and the Warning thing I heard too)

[@Ruxinator]

Tom with the casual AAL flex in the BG.

[@gershsgaming8673]

It's Wally in the UK instead of Waldo? Learned something today.

[@jokerES2]

@@HarryBuddhaPalm It's like they barely speak English.

[@pitipol30]

And Charlie in french.

[@1992Hauke]

Its Walter here in Germany

[@Johnstruct]

Here's the theme tune to the cartoon from the 90s kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6OaZ2qBm7d-adE also Odlaw is in that show (rather than Yllaw)

[@jorgedasilva7665]

I had no idea what he was talking about at first. I thought he meant the game was a licensed product by some guy named Wally. XD

[@scottdarrington6009]

RIP Reference Pear; you will maybe be brought to justice eventually.

[@peterk822]

Juice-tice Just Ice

[@catgod7924]

Bringing someone to justice means that *that* someone is arrested and tried in court. Sentencing dead ref. pear for murder might not be the best idea. Switcheroo!

[@Gl3n3rgy]

Coming from Hostage Negotiator, I approve of Tom's addition to the pear bit. Please continue, love SUSD videos and my regular dose of surreality throughout the week.

[@christopherleffler4096]

Love to see a copy of Senet in the background! I started reading it myself a few months ago, it's a joyous love letter to this hobby, and I'm excited to have just received issue 5!

[@nickinthenorth6966]

100% with you there, very funny game, better at 2 and probably not suited for all ages. Still a great gateway game to fill an evening with someone. Looking forward to the second box

[@JYockey]

Excellent review as always Tom, and thanks for putting the time in for the family/kid semispoilers. A question for someone who's seen the contents, is it possible to make homebrew versions of the crime cards to make the game more kid friendly while still using the big map, or are the unkid-friendly themes built into the map itself?

[@GhastlyMcNasty]

The gags in this were on point. You're a clever fella and I value your SU&SD contributions greatly ❤️

[@AnimeLoftus]

Thanks so much for the Parental breakdown!

[@tylerrapillo377]

Tom just absolutely missing the landing made my day

[@isaiahheaden]

I used to make these drawings too but it was usually a battle field of stick figures or starships. I'm talking about 1000 guys fighting a 1000 guys. Hundreds of little scenes, explosions and deaths. Very fun. #nostalgia

[@funny-du5pt]

Loved the review. One of Tom’s best.

[@pjnorman262]

This is a really good game and my 8 year old and 10 year old both love it. I read the card clues before placing it on the table for them to see and that way I can do any minor edits to the content. We are just over half way through and there is only one big swerve I had to make. Really good review and really good game. Short play time, the minimalist of rules and super super easy to get out and play! It’s unlike any other games I’ve seen and played and recommended!

[@arnonym9746]

Brilliant review! And I love that you made the effort of writing the "Quick Guide 4 The Kids" - you're definitely one of the good ones!

[@willhart2188]

I too am a fan of drawing huge cities on floating islands.

[@g_oduofthenorth9618]

sounds good, but I was mega distracted by the realization that the UK calls him Wally. Like, you hear something all your life, and suddenly, somebody says it just slightly different and it just sends you down an existential worm hole.

[@adwilliams1987]

Thank you very much for that parents guide. That was a detail I sorely needed and very much appreciated.

[@LandinngGear]

Also in contrast to the Where's Waldo/Wally series, I put in my favorite the Find Freddie series as it includes sight gags moving into other gags trailing across entire pages

[@garyfaust6769]

Looks like a great game, but thanks for the caution and followup information for playing with kids. The extra effort is much appreciated!

[@cjc2010]

Tom must have been a very precocious child. PS: Thank you for the spoiler-free word references. I was thinking of maybe playing this with my 8 year old, but I guess not.

[@SamPearman]

Super thumbs up for the parental guidance graphic!

[@TheBoardgamist]

I’ve seen this box kicking around and always thought who the hell would think looking for stuff on a huge black and white picture is fun? Turns out it’s me… me would find this fun. Thanks for the review!

[@ichifish]

Tom, I really appreciate guide for playing with kids. Not only would I like to play this with my daughter, but I'm going to test it out to see if I can use it in my English as a Foreign Language courses (where I research using games for language learning), and I'd rather not be the instructor who makes students discuss... seedy topics... Here's hoping there will be a family version coming soon -don't see why tamer topics (lost homework, missing kitties, etc.) wouldn't be appealing. Also, there's a digital sample on the Micro Macro Crime City website that is really well designed, so you can play a case there.

[@golgarisoul]

I can't believe I didn't watch this review until it was featured in Hostage Negotiator!

[@jarettknox]

You actually timed out the video to be at 4:06, you mad man!

[@matthewrichardson1805]

Great stuff, Tom, you're doing a fab job at expanding the SUSD offering. Thanks for your efforts, talent and humour!

[@Y3MBailey]

Great review Tom. Also loving the fact it is Where’s Wally not Waldo :)

[@oddaudiocrafting]

Thanks for the "parents' guide"... I was considering this for my list of games to get for donation for Christmas gifts, but wouldn't want parents to be surprised with some of that content, so I'll stick to others (there's plenty to choose from). Thanks again for the heads-up!

[@brutus_salazaar]

So, are we to believe that the 17th case is what Tom did to the reference pear? Otherwise outstanding work and I appreciate the emphasis on the wrinkle for suitability to a younger audience. Another excellent review Tom!

[@Khether0001]

The WORST FLAW I remember from the where is waldo books is that they ONLY ask you to find WALDO in that sea of artwork, if they just printed out A HUNDRED pictures so you could look for those too, there would be no extra job from the developers and would extend the use of the book EXPONENTIALLY.

[@thomasmb3552]

Doing great work as always Tom, it’s like you’ve always been on SU&SD x

[@Mezzamine]

I had to replay the first five seconds of this review 4 times before I could continue. Tom is a chaotic gift

[@BrandonGraham]

I am happy that they have some more grown-up themes in this game. Board games have the tendency to round all the corners so people don't get mad. Or so you can try to get your 8-year-old to the table. But variety is the spice of life! People or so focused on "growing the hobby," that pressure of taking the edges off sometimes results in making things a bit bland. That's not to mention some of the strange criticisms from people. I saw a review for it that complained about one of the cartoon characters being topless. The game involves murder, and that's fine, but you draw the line somewhere between that and the fact that people have bodies?

[@Bllurr1]

I've never understood the whole Wally/Waldo thing. Not like Wally is an unheard-of name here in the US. I'd actually say it's more common than Waldo.

[@JonTripp115]

I wonder if they changed it to make it *more* distinctive? Like, when someone says Where's Waldo? you don't need to ask, "Which of the several Waldos I know are you referring to?" I bet the UK has loads of Wallys roaming about, relatively speaking.

[@Bllurr1]

@@JonTripp115 I could maybe see that, but I have no doubt that those in the UK have no trouble determining what someone's talking about when they mention "Where's Wally". It probably has something to do with some publisher thinking the name Wally wasn't right for North American audiences, or something. It's usually something that stupid. And as I believe Matt has pointed out in the past, it's even more confusing that Wally's evil twin was still called Odlaw in the UK, being the reverse of Waldo.

[@DokterX]

This game gives me the uncontrollable urge to grab my pencils and markers and start coloring it all. I'm already imagining how I'm going to make sure the characters are the same color every iteration.

[@DodgerB763]

I don't want to yuck your yum Tom, but this is in the SUSD solo section. I'm locked up for 20 days and was thinking of getting it!

[@chicomtl]

Great review. Bought it right away. I recommend playing it in expert mode as soon as you can.

[@jackfriedman6527]

That review was PARTICULARLY good. Thanks, Tom!

[@syftr4]

AAL 2012-2017 Vinyl in the background? Tom has taste in many mediums I see

[@tonybowers9490]

thanks for sharing. My granddaughters, ages 6&8, solved some crimes with me. Now they want their own copy!

[@drjhero]

Hello MicroMacro PD? I'd like to report a murder. Tom killed this review.

[@Ends_Of_Invention]

Some real Look Around You vibes from the time-lasagne. Appreciate the child-appropriateness info - I'd usually look at an "age 12" recommendation as "oh my 8yo can handle something that complicated" and not as "this is like a 12 movie rating"

[@janinafowler]

I love this game, I play it with my 6 year old and always try to pack it when we are flying somewhere as it is a great time killer at the airport as none of the individual cases take too long

[@benediktbartosch5345]

Adding to backup Tom: The german print actually has icons on the cards: all is safe, therese murder here and this is ugly, play beforehand and decide for your self. So in the 2nd printing of then EN version those might be printed as well.

[@Dhorne55]

First. Really appreciate the candor, yet spoil free, review! I do miss the "OG value for money pitch" on the older SUSD reviews.

[@andli]

Tom is such a star. Also, good game.

[@mylessherrill2380]

I did not know that "Where's Waldo?" Was called "Where's Wally?" In Britain. Learn something new every day.

[@christopherchild4022]

Forget the review. I want to buy Tom's illustrated childhood.

[@punchboardadam8580]

I appreciated the Xiao Xiao fight on the top of one of Tom's buildings

[@geneyounkin6789]

SU&SD is responsible for me spending so much money at game shops. Add the cost of this game to the tally.

[@ob1quixote]

Tom, did y'all get the kids' drawing program _The Secret City_ over there? Because your drawing reminded me of it.

[@BliskMyth]

My mom said I should color the map just a little bit. Just color the shop signs and buildings. IMO adding color would soil the game. Being black and white forces you to focus more on detail. Not being in color feels like revising a place you haven’t been to in a while.

[@IRBenHunter]

@8:39 "Oh that's clever" Sounded just like Disco Elysium

[@jeremynixon8434]

What the? I thought this too!

[@jacobe6458]

All this time wasted looking for "Waldo"? My whole life is a lie...

[@gheetsar]

Great review Tom as usual. One other thing that is in the game that I have seen others get sensitive about is the upturned cross associated with the rock/metal concert. Doesn't bother me in the slightest, but I have read comments from others who were not at all cool with that. I agree that the game is quite easy too, but I found the level to be just right if you follow the advanced variant and try and solve the whole case based on the first card alone.

[@denycast]

Yeah the advanced variant is so much fun😁

[@secondengineer9814]

4:06 Did you have to record a bunch of different times then add the correct one in post? Or did you force yourself into being 4:06 into the review at this point?!

[@catgod7924]

It was a cool moment, probably achieved while editing the video. He recorded that bit last.

[@noeloneill9458]

Oh no! I've been trying for weeks to get this and now that there's a positive SU&SD review I'll never be able to! Dammit Tom! 😣

[@GrievousFrom]

When you get held up in an alley: IT'S TIME FOR CRIME, AND YOU'RE INVITED!

[@EmbodyBruce]

That was a brilliant review. Totally agree on the 2 player count - and am enjoying playing it with my 10 yo (not bothered by subject themes).

[@anna-a33]

I plan to buy this for my 8 and 10 yo nephews and got bit discouraged after hearing about adult themes. How did you guys like it? We're not too squeamish, a little nudity is fine but what I'm worried about is entire stories revolving around an adult theme. I'd love to know your opinion, is it just minor thing here and there or are they important to the story? (eg. I'd rather not discuss prostitution in depth..)

[@dksocal]

4:01 -- Hold up, hold up ... England has Jeopardy?

[@markuss1330]

I have played all cases in Micro Macro and would have no issue at all to play the game with children aging 8+ years.

[@Furore2323]

FOUR MINUTES AND SIX SECONDS! I literally wee'd myself larfing.

[@ZoidbergForPresident]

Hey that's the As d'or 2021! :)

[@sirspate]

This sounds like it might be amazing to play, blown up 10x on a museum floor!

[@Phox-in-a-Box]

I half expected Tom to need to draw new batteries for that watch.

[@southparkking2]

SPOILERS BELOW: R.I.P Reference Pear your children may take your place but you will always be missed in my heart.

[@linnybeans9751]

I also like to say "I'm not going to yuck your yum." But the way Tom says it is absolutely adorable.

[@northerngiant2915]

Sounds like the “Full House” edition took the young-ones concern to heart.

[@michaelwelsh6671]

Nice little palate cleanser for Tom pre Oath main

[@shethjrebbell]

Quite impressive how you called that length of review at 4:06!

[@susiduo3438]

Why ? He had a watch.

[@stephenspackman5573]

@@susiduo3438 He must have been watching the watch and then *worked backwards* to the beginning.

[@juannot1353]

Presumably the previous "looking at the watch" section was put there so he could make it longer/shorter to fit the upcoming time callout, but still that only afforded him some extra seconds of leniency

[@richardstout2555]

It's called editing sheesh

[@jeremynixon8434]

Came for the review, stayed for the A.A.L. vinyl.

[@wusashicat1]

Tom, my guy, you have the most funny and clever editing jokes on KZbin, this side of "The Internet Historian". Tom working on Monty Python revival when?

[@dollenrm]

Today I learned where's Waldo is named Wally in the UK books.

[@basieellington6493]

This one is probably gonna make the Spiel des Jahres this year. It is so good... really fresh, innovative, simple, intelligent and has tons of humor, too.

[@rednex1989]

tom is awesome, love the guys style

[@MaylottPaints]

People are always asking "Where's Wally?" Nobody ever asks "How's Wally?"

[@ericbarlow6772]

We never searched for Wally. We had to find Waldo here. And he just wants to be left alone.

[@Zackackle]

Another phenomenal showcase Tom. Woooo!

[@mienzillaz]

As for age recommendation, in my PL version those little warnings are already here, which is a relief, i just took them out of the box, but still my 6yo was seeing murderers and burglars everywhere (i know it's 12+, but I'm a bad parent and we already played 14+ even.. btw age recommendations are based on so random things, one time that can be theme, another time it will be mechanisms, or life experience..). We often went all the way to the end outpacing clues. Unfortunately with my memory this is one time game, but still very enjoyable.

[@onebigadvocado6376]

Jesus, you weren't kidding with those content warnings.

[@stephenspackman5573]

This is interesting. My internal Tom is competing with the external Tom. I was really, *really* expecting you to say “… but lastly, and least leastly …”, but instead you said something sensible and borderline idiomatic before getting to the smalllets.

[@sroswell22]

TIL Where’s Waldo is called different things in different parts of the world. Hah. The game looks awesome! Totally getting this for me and my kiddo.

[@mjeff1414]

Thanks for the parental warning. This game is right up my son's alley. If I do get it, I will be avoiding the one's you listed. Thank-you!