Classic time: "Cruise for a Corpse" playthrough

I don't have the box anymore, but I do have the ship's map and the character background information booklet!

I'm replaying Cruise for a Corpse. I've never finished this game on my own. It's been a while, so I hope I can do so now without resorting to a walkthrough again.

The frustrating in-game clock...

I'm Raoul Dusentier, invited to join businessman Niklos Karaboudjan on a cruise with some of his other friends and family. First night on board, Niklos is murdered, and I have to find out who did it.

 

The opening scene...

I'm 1 hour into the game now and I've met and talked to five people so far: Father Fabiani, Tom, Suzanne, Julio and Dick. So far I've been running back and forth between them, asking them about all conversation topics as they unlock.

 

Raoul is a very polite inspector...

So far I discovered that both Fabiani and Suzanne had an argument with Niklos the day before. Fabiani is a gambler, Tom is having an affaire with Niklos' wife it seems, Suzanne is an alcoholic and it's a mystery why Niklos even invited her on board. 

 

Will I ever get into that kitchen?

Julio is engaged to Niklos' daughter but basically without her consent, and Dick... is Dick, just layed back, not thinking much of anything, pretty much clueless and not any help at all.

 

I so want to examine this cabin, but either it's locked or Tom is there!

Every time you make a discovery, the in-game clock moves forward ten minutes. Then the playing field changes; NPC's change places, and objects can suddenly be found, like a mysterious key on your cabin floor, a receipt from a jeweler under a chair, and invitation cards in a dining room drawer, giving you extra topics for questioning the suspects.

 

The handy in-game map for quick travel! Though you might miss triggering eavesdropping scenes that way...

Did I just find a motive?

There's a flaw in the design, though, because sometimes, to forward time, you need to ask a certain character about something specific, even though you already asked that at an earlier time. 

 

I SEE YOU!

So it's very tricky, and sometimes you just go around asking everyone about everything again to find that one bit that will move the clock.

 

I don't trust priests...

When I was in my teens playing this game, I never got past noon time, I think. Let's see if I can do better now!