J.B. Harold: Blue Chicago Blues

About

J.B. Harold: Blue Chicago Blues is a 1994 adventure game mixing live-action footage with point-and-click choices. You play a private investigator in Chicago, figuring out a murder mystery that spirals into a web of red herrings. Your decisions directly shift the timeline, requiring careful planning to backtrack or adjust strategies as new clues emerge. The story hinges on piecing together fragmented evidence while racing against time to avoid dead ends. A female detective’s staged suicide adds layers of deception to an already tangled case. This title stood out for its bold use of full-motion video during the 90s adventure boom. While the production quality feels dated by today’s standards, the layered mystery and branching narratives hold up. Originally released across multiple platforms including 3DO and Sega Saturn, it’s a relic of a transitional era in gaming. Fans of classic adventures with branching paths may appreciate the 20+ hour runtime and multiple endings. The Mac and PC ports remain the most accessible entry points for modern players.