Hector: Badge Of Carnage

16 cert, PC (also Mac and iPad) ***

Point-and-click adventures are either enthralling interactive narratives or glacially slow relics, depending on who you ask. Telltale games add a nice dash of humour to the genre. Their latest creation is a corrupt, misanthropic English cop named Hector (“Death on his mind, kebab in his hand”). In the first chapter of the game – called “We Negotiate with Terrorists” – he must carry out a series of bizarre demands as part of a hostage negotiation. There’s an admirably sleazy atmosphere, and the lead character is good company – a gruff hard-drinker with little respect for authority or hygiene. The puzzles are tricky, but they make sense, and the animation and character rendering is fun. And it’s generous with the hints, so you won’t be too frustrated. It won’t be to all tastes but it’s a witty, well-crafted yarn.