Has it's ups and downs which make it no better or worse than those that came before.
The lab work is also improved, with different computers for differet tests and more interactivity in the lab make you actually feel like you're processing the evidence rather than having Greg do it all for you like in the other games.
That having been said, there are some downsides. Mainly the graphics. The characters look really blocky and untextured, making them look even worse than they did in the previous Dark Motives game. However crime scenes look great and have a really realistic look to them. If they had only made character models look so good. Especially Catherine, who looks terrible.
The sound is generally pretty good, with actors Eric Szmanda and William Peterson doing well to capture their characters in their voices. There are some issues though. Gary Dourdan and Geroge Eads don't sound nearly as enthused, Especially Gary who sounds bored. There are several lines which could have been great but are ruined by poor delivery by him. Another problem is the absense of Marg Helgenberger and Jorja Fox, who are replaced by likenesses. For Catherine, this is not too bad with the replacement doing quite well. Saras relacement however is just plain poor, trying too Hard to sounds like Jorja Fox. The music is also quite inappropritate at times. There is one piece which becomes almost operatic which is just bizzare and kinda creepy. A better music score would have been nice.
Like all the other games, length is also a problem, with only 5 short cases which can be solved in about an hour or two each. I don't see why we need to be confined to only 5 cases. There are 6 CSIs on the team now (going into the field with Greg rather than working with him in the lab was a nice touch) and in this game you miss out on working with Catherine, who simply pops in and comments on your cases from time to time. Why not just have a 6th case? Or better yet, more! Maybe work with each CSI twice and have 12 cases? Or just make the 5 you do get even longer, maybe lead you down a few more roads. Maybe more follow up after you've got the guy, maybe go further and testify in court like some characters have to do in the show now and then. It's an idea.
As a fan, I did have lots of fun here. The cases, while short were interested, exept maybe the final csae which attempts to link some of the previous cases and ends up being rather boring due to lack of freshness. It basicly comes down to the fact of enjoyment of the previous games, because with a few good developments and a few average ones, it's basically more of the same.