Forensic M.E. Protocol Case 1: The Playground Walkthrough & All Evidence

This complete FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol Case 1: The Playground walkthrough provides a step-by-step guide to collecting all evidence, finding the three hidden masks, and solving the final puzzle. Following these instructions will ensure you unlock the 'The Playground' achievement and achieve 100% completion for the game's first major investigation.

The core of this mission is observation. You must locate three distinct masks—Clown, Animal, and Tragedy—and use them to uncover the victim's location. Along the way, you will need to find and scan numerous pieces of evidence using your M.E. Protocol tools.

01

Case Briefing: What Are We Looking For?tag

Upon entering the abandoned playground, your primary objective is to solve the environmental puzzle centered around three missing masks. The secondary, and equally critical, objective is to use your scanner to find and analyze every piece of forensic evidence scattered throughout the area. Missing even one will prevent you from getting a perfect score on the case.

Your main tools for this mission are your Scanner, which highlights interactive objects and evidence, and your Gripper, for manipulating items from a distance. Get in the habit of using your scanner constantly to ensure you don't miss faint clues.

The key objectives are:

• Locate the Clown Mask.
• Locate the Animal Mask.
• Locate the Tragedy Mask.
• Solve the safe puzzle.
• Place the masks to reveal the victim.
• Scan all 12 pieces of evidence.

02

Phase 1: Securing the Scene and First Cluestag

Your investigation begins in the center of the playground. The initial area holds the first mask and the clues needed to access the second. Systematically check each piece of playground equipment.

Finding the First Mask (Clown Mask)tag

This is the most straightforward find. From your starting position, walk forward towards the swing set. The Clown Mask is sitting on the bench directly to the left of the swings.

1. Approach the bench.
2. Use your Gripper tool to pick up the Clown Mask.
3. While you're here, be sure to scan the ground underneath the swings for a scuff mark (Evidence 1/12) and the left support pole of the swing set for a handprint (Evidence 2/12).

Analyzing the Sandboxtag

Head over to the large sandbox. At first glance, it appears empty, but your scanner tells a different story. Activate your scanner and look at the sand.

1. Scan the disturbed sand in the middle of the sandbox to reveal the outline of a buried object.
2. Use the Gripper to pull a large, locked safe out of the sand. You can't open it yet.
3. Scan the top of the safe to log the safe itself (Evidence 3/12) and a prominent handprint on its surface (Evidence 4/12).

The Merry-Go-Round Ciphertag

With the safe revealed, you now need the combination. The key is the colorful merry-go-round nearby. Approach it and look closely at the painted symbols on its surface. You will see three unique symbols: a Star, a Moon, and a Sun. These correspond to the three digits of the safe code.

To find the numbers, you must scan the area around the merry-go-round. Your scanner will reveal three hidden numbers painted on the nearby environment, each positioned next to a corresponding symbol. The typical combination links are:

• Star Symbol: Look on the exterior of the sandbox wall for the number 5.
• Moon Symbol: Check the base of the nearby slide for the number 2.
• Sun Symbol: Examine the short concrete wall near the park entrance for the number 8.

Therefore, the safe combination is 5-2-8. Don't forget to also scan the merry-go-round itself (Evidence 5/12) before you leave the area.

03

Phase 2: Uncovering the Deeper Conspiracytag

With the code in hand, you can now access the contents of the safe and the locked-off portion of the level, which holds the remaining masks and evidence.

Cracking the Safetag

Return to the safe you pulled from the sandbox. Interact with the dial and input the code you discovered: 5-2-8. The heavy door will swing open. Inside, you will find a Strange Key. Collect it with your Gripper. This key is your ticket into the final areas.

Finding the Second Mask (Animal Mask)tag

Your new key belongs to the locked maintenance shed at the edge of the playground. Walk over to the metal door and use the Strange Key to unlock it.

1. Enter the shed. The Animal Mask is located on a metal shelf to your right.
2. Before leaving, scan everything. There is a tool rack on the wall (Evidence 6/12), a pile of discarded bags (Evidence 7/12) in the corner, and a strange symbol painted on the floor (Evidence 8/12). All are critical pieces of evidence.

The Slide and the Final Mask (Tragedy Mask)tag

The last mask is the best hidden. Head to the large yellow slide. The mask isn't at the bottom; it's at the very top. Climb the ladder to the small platform.

1. Once on the platform, activate your scanner and look at the wall of the tunnel entrance.
2. Your scanner will reveal a hidden compartment. Use your Gripper to open the panel.
3. The Tragedy Mask is inside this compartment.
4. Before you climb down, scan the top of the platform itself (Evidence 9/12) and a fingerprint on the ladder rung (Evidence 10/12) as you descend.

04

Final Analysis: Assembling the Evidencetag

Now you have all three masks: Clown, Animal, and Tragedy. Your final task is to place them in their correct locations to reveal the case's grim conclusion. Near the entrance of the playground, there are three small, white pedestals arranged in a semi-circle.

Approach the pedestals and place each mask on one. The order does not matter. Once all three masks are in place, a hidden mechanism will activate, and the large stone slab in the center of the pedestals will slide away, revealing a hidden chamber containing the victim's body.

Descend into the chamber. You must scan the victim's body (Evidence 11/12) and a final data chip on the wall behind them (Evidence 12/12). Once you have scanned this final piece of evidence, the case will conclude, and if you've found all 12 items, the 'The Playground' achievement will unlock.

Complete Evidence Checklisttag

05

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)tag

What is the safe code in The Playground? The safe code for Case 1 is 5-2-8. You find the numbers by scanning the environment near the merry-go-round and matching them to the Star (5), Moon (2), and Sun (8) symbols.

Where are the three masks in Case 1? The three masks are found in separate locations: the Clown Mask is on a bench near the swings, the Animal Mask is inside the locked maintenance shed, and the Tragedy Mask is in a hidden compartment at the top of the slide.

How do I get the 'The Playground' achievement? To unlock 'The Playground' achievement, you must successfully complete Case 1 by finding all three masks and scanning all 12 pieces of evidence hidden throughout the level before concluding the investigation.

I'm missing one piece of evidence. What are the common ones people miss? The most commonly missed evidence items are the fingerprint on the slide's ladder, the scuff mark under the swings, and the various items inside the maintenance shed (tool rack, bags, floor symbol). Use your scanner liberally in these areas.

A Grim First Steptag

Completing "The Playground" sets the tone for FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol. It moves beyond a simple tutorial and establishes the game's core loop of environmental puzzle-solving and meticulous evidence gathering. The grim discovery at the end is a stark reminder of the dark world you've stepped into, where every object can tell a story.