Handwriting analysis

Compares the writing or signature on a document with a suspect's.

In the game

Handwriting analysis compares two written pieces: a threatening letter with a suspect's handwriting, the signature on a check with the one on an ID, a note with the guest book. In real life, the examiner looks for the points where each person writes in their own way: where the stroke starts, how a loop closes, where the lines cross. In the game, the card already names the two pieces being compared.

The report is short and direct, with a stamp: match, no match or inconclusive. A forged signature can bring down a will, and an anonymous letter in the handwriting of someone in the room changes the conversation. The result becomes a fact in your notebook and unlocks or supports a question, but it shows who wrote it, not who committed the crime.

It costs 5 to 50 coins, depending on the case, and the purchase only counts for the game in progress; on a new attempt, after a loss, you pay again. The minigame happens right away; the report arrives after a while, with the option to rush it. Forensics never use up questions.

How the minigame works

The reference signature appears at the top, on a document; at the bottom, the signature on the check or note under examination.
A number blinks on a point of the top signature: on the bottom one, tap the matching point. A wrong tap shows an error and you try again. If you take too long, a faint ring appears around the right point.
Once all 4 points are found, the bar fills up, the discovery sound plays and the handwriting report opens.