Unlocking 'The Playground' achievement in FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol requires earning a B+ rank on the game's first case. This comprehensive guide details the exact steps to find all five pieces of critical evidence and forge the correct logical links on the analysis board to secure the 'Corporate Negligence' conclusion. Miss a single step, and you'll be locked into a lower rank.
This is not about speed but precision. The B+ rank is a test of your observation and deductive reasoning, setting the stage for the more complex cases to come. Follow this path, and the achievement is guaranteed.
What Exactly Does a B+ Rank Require?
In FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol, your performance on each case is graded from D to S rank. This grade isn't arbitrary; it's calculated based on the quantity and quality of evidence you find, and, more importantly, the coherence of the conclusion you build from it. For Case 1, 'The Playground', a B+ rank has very specific requirements.
To achieve a B+ rank, you must find all five pieces of critical evidence at the crime scene and correctly link them on the Analysis Board to form the 'Corporate Negligence' conclusion.
This means you cannot simply find most of the clues. You must find all of them. It also means you cannot pursue the more obvious, but incorrect, 'Vandalism' theory that the game presents as a red herring. The B+ path requires you to look beyond the surface-level clues and uncover the systemic failure that led to the incident.
Phase 1: All Evidence Locations at the Scene
The playground crime scene seems simple at first glance, but it hides five distinct pieces of evidence crucial for the B+ rank. You must scan and collect every single one before leaving the area. Once you transition to the analysis phase, you cannot return.
Here’s a full breakdown of what to find and where.
Evidence 1: The Worn Swing Chain
Your first objective is the broken swing set itself. Approach the upright pole where the chain has snapped. Instead of scanning the broken link on the ground, aim your Multi-Eye (M.E.) scanner at the remaining portion of the chain still attached to the top crossbar. The scanner will highlight severe material stress and wear, logging it as your first piece of evidence.
Evidence 2: The Datapad Under the Bench
Look for a park bench to the left of the swing set, near a cluster of trees. The datapad is not on the bench itself but has been kicked underneath it. You'll need to crouch to get a clear line of sight. Scan it to reveal its contents: a series of budget-related emails. The key piece of information is a memo from the parent company, OmniCorp, mandating a 30% reduction in park maintenance budgets for the quarter.
Infographic: a map of the 5 critical evidence locations in The Playground case.
Evidence 3: The Maintenance Log in the Security Booth
To the right of the main playground area is a small, glass-walled security booth. Enter it and look for a terminal on the desk. Access it to pull up the park's maintenance records. Don't just glance at the summary. You need to scroll through the logs for the past six months. You will find a specific entry from two weeks prior to the incident where a technician flagged the swing set for 'urgent replacement due to metal fatigue'. The work order was subsequently listed as 'deferred due to budget constraints'.
Evidence 4: The Metal Fragment in the Woodchips
Head back to the swing set. Directly underneath the broken chain, buried in the woodchips, is a small, glinting piece of metal. It's easy to miss. Use your M.E. scanner's thermal or material view to make it stand out. Scanning this metal fragment will provide a metallurgical analysis showing it's a piece of fatigued steel that sheared off from the swing's anchor point.
Evidence 5: The Anomaly on the Security Footage
Inside the same security booth, there's a second terminal for CCTV playback. Access the footage from the camera overlooking the swing set. The key is not to watch the incident itself, but to scrub the timeline back 72 hours before the incident. You will find a clip of a park manager inspecting the swing, looking at the chain, shaking his head, and walking away without performing any maintenance. This visual confirmation of willful inaction is your final piece of critical evidence.
| Evidence Checklist | Location | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Worn Swing Chain | Top of the broken swing set | Confirms material stress. |
| 2. OmniCorp Datapad | Under the bench | Reveals 30% maintenance budget cuts. |
| 3. Maintenance Log | Security booth terminal | Shows a deferred 'urgent replacement' order. |
| 4. Metal Fragment | Woodchips under the swing | Matches the chain's fatigued steel. |
| 5. Security Footage | Security booth terminal | Shows a manager ignoring the hazard 72 hours prior. |
Phase 2: Forging the Correct Links on the Analysis Board
Finding the evidence is only half the battle. In the analysis phase, you must connect these clues on the Mind-Map board to build a logical case. Making an incorrect link can derail your entire investigation and lock you out of the B+ rank. The goal is to establish a clear chain of causality leading directly to OmniCorp.
Annotated Diagram of the analysis board showing the correct links for the B+ rank.
The Critical Path to 'Corporate Negligence'
Follow these four linking steps precisely. Do not connect any other nodes or pursue any side theories until this primary chain is complete.
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Link 'Worn Swing Chain' with 'Metal Fragment'. This is the foundational connection. It establishes that the incident was caused by a clear case of material failure, not an external force. The board will create a new node: 'Equipment Malfunction'.
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Link 'Equipment Malfunction' with 'Maintenance Log'. This second link connects the physical failure to a procedural one. The logs prove that the park authority was aware of the decaying equipment but failed to act on the technician's urgent warning. This creates the 'Deferred Maintenance' node.
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Link 'Deferred Maintenance' with 'OmniCorp Datapad'. This is the crucial step that elevates the case from simple oversight to corporate-level responsibility. The datapad's emails provide the motive for the deferred maintenance: budget cuts mandated from the top. The board will generate a new node, 'Budgetary Pressure'.
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Link 'Budgetary Pressure' with 'Security Footage'. This final link closes the loop. The footage of the park manager knowingly ignoring the faulty swing 72 hours prior, combined with the knowledge of the budget cuts, proves that management made a conscious decision to accept the risk rather than spend the money. This is the definition of negligence.
Once this final link is made, the central conclusion node will automatically populate as 'Corporate Negligence'. You can now safely submit the case file, and you will be awarded the B+ rank and 'The Playground' achievement.
Common Mistakes That Deny the B+ Rank
Several traps in Case 1 are designed to lead you astray. The most common failure point is getting distracted by the 'Vandalism' red herring. You'll find spray paint on the slide and some knocked-over trash cans. These are intentionally placed to make you consider an alternative theory. If you link the 'Vandalism' evidence to the main case, you'll dilute your conclusion and drop your rank to a B or C.
Another frequent error is misinterpreting the 'Metal Fragment'. Some players link it to a potential weapon or a piece of shrapnel from an external event. Always link the fragment to the swing chain first.
Finally, many players simply miss an evidence piece, most commonly the datapad under the bench or the specific entry in the maintenance log. Without all five pieces, the 'Corporate Negligence' chain of logic cannot be completed, forcing you into a weaker conclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get 'The Playground' achievement on a first playthrough?
Absolutely. The achievement is designed to be attainable on your first attempt, provided you are thorough in your investigation. There are no New Game+ requirements or hidden mechanics involved.
What happens if I miss a piece of evidence?
Once you leave the crime scene and enter the analysis phase, you cannot go back. If you realize you've missed one of the five critical items, your only option is to restart the case from the main menu to try again.
Does the dialogue choice with Officer Miller affect the rank?
No. Your conversations with Officer Miller at the scene provide context and flavor, but your dialogue choices have no impact on the final case ranking. The grade is based purely on your evidence board.
Is it possible to get an S-Rank on Case 1?
No, an S-Rank is not possible on 'The Playground'. The game's narrative and the available evidence cap the maximum achievable rank for this introductory case at A. The B+ rank is tied specifically to the 'Corporate Negligence' conclusion required for this achievement.
The Final Analysis
'The Playground' achievement is less of a puzzle and more of a methodology check. It teaches you the core loop of FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol: be meticulous, question the obvious narrative, and follow the evidence no matter where it leads. By establishing the link between a broken swing and a corporate balance sheet, you're proving you have what it takes to unravel the far deeper conspiracies waiting in the cases ahead.