Detective Gallo
Comedy noir point’n’click with a sleek look, cool sound and a wobbly puzzle element. Mandatory cranky attitude and a trusty six-shooter included.
Hard-boiled detective Gallo has been called to investigate a peculiar case of murdered plants. Plants, yes. Considering that he didn’t exactly have a line of cases to solve out of the door, and someone needs to hear all the Gallo’s “Rules for Living” (those must be immortalized), he took the case. Arriving to the mansion of entitled snob and seeing the money, detective is fast on the track of a potential killer. There might or might not be aliens involved and, truth to be told, the whole thing is a mess, so it’s a good fortune Gallo has his pet cactus Thorn to consult on the most pernicious matters. If only we all were that lucky!
– Real player with 11.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Comedy Detective Games.
Detective Gallo is a point and click adventure game where you play as a chicken detective investigating the mysterious murder of some plants. The game is made in the style of classic point and click adventure games and is also a parody of the noir detective genre.
When the game begins, you see Gallo, a struggling detective, receive a call from Phil Cloro, a rich, eccentric bird who has just discovered that his plants are dead. Gallo investigates the case, discovering that things are seemingly more and more complex until he finally reaches an unexpected conclusion. While the story was generally enjoyable, it wasn’t always easy to follow the progression of the case, and the clues didn’t always feel like they were building to a logical conclusion.
– Real player with 9.0 hrs in game
Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon
When Under a Killing Moon debuted in 1994 it was a marvel, the first story-based adventure game to incorporate both 3D first person movement and FMV (Full Motion Video). When it showed up on Steam at a bargain price I decided to replay it and see how it held up against the recent spate of indie-made story games that I’ve been playing. The verdict - it’s still pretty amazing.
Sure, the graphics are pixellated and the controls are a little…odd. But the production values are stellar - great sound, acting, writing, and game design. The mouse-based movement control took a little getting used to, but actually worked much better than the fidgety controls in recent games like Edith Finch and Stories Untold, which just about drove me mad.
– Real player with 23.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Comedy FMV Games.
Trawling through the relics of adventure gaming’s past can often be more frustrating than fun, but I’m happy I gave Tex Murphy a chance! Under a Killing Moon tells a great tale set in a near-future, post-apocalyptic world, done up in the most advanced tech 1994 could muster. Even if – unlike myself – they don’t see beauty in jerky live-action videos so low res they contain weird rainbow blotches, everybody who enjoys adventures will find something to love in the silly-serious narrative, and especially in the character of Tex Murphy: a down-on-his-luck, fedora-wearing PI torn straight from the pages of a Raymond Chandler novel. Some of the actors are pretty good, some are so bad they’re good, and some of them are just straight-up bad – tough, yet affable, yet goofy ol' Tex, though, is consistently played to perfection (perhaps that’s because he’s portrayed by Chris Jones, who is also the series' head designer). It’s easy to see why this character picked up such a cult following!
– Real player with 16.8 hrs in game
Grim Fandango Remastered
TIM SCHAFER’S “GRIM FANDANGO”!
There are tons of guides out there. Why you should read mine? I had beat the old version of this video-game around 8 times. Also, I damn love Grim Fandango. Trust me, you will get good info on this one.
This game is one of those that catch your soul and your heart and attach to it like if it will never let you go. It’s like if this game eat your soul, but in a good way. In this video-game you are in the shoes of Manuel “Manny” Calavera. You are a travel agent that work for a company called the DOM “Department of the Death” right at the Land of the Death, and your mission is to sell the best commission to the people that came right after death. The objective is to give to each person what deserves for being good or bad in life. The good people go to heaven, but things change when you discover a conspiracy behind the DOM and you meet Mercedes “Merche” Colomar. The world as Manuel Calavera knows it changes forever. Grim Fandango it’s a game that contains amazing art, and incredible story and a very fun gameplay.
– Real player with 40.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Comedy Classic Games.
🚀 Overview
** Original **
| 👍 Merits | 👎 Flaws |
|
✔️ Engaging story
✔️ Tip-top character design
✔️ Amusing dialogue and voicework
✔️ Multilayered level design
✔️ Schmick art direction
✔️ Fantastic soundtrack
|
❌ Overuse of bizzare logic in puzzles
❌ A complete lack of primitive hints
❌ Clunky controls
|
** Remastered **
– Real player with 23.5 hrs in game
The Journey Down: Chapter One
Overall, this is a solid P&C Adventure game, with reasonably logical puzzles once you immerse, and no Guide-Dang-It solutions- it’s possible to work out all the solutions given the information available in the game. That said, there was at least one puzzle that refused several plausible solutions in favor of what seems to me to be a less-plausible (though more amusing) one, and several in which I knew the concept of the solution, but there wasn’t much of an indication about how to actually do that. Plus the traditional complex “solve it because it’s there” puzzle that turns out to massively help your protagonist progress in a somewhat illogical way, but that’s so common in the genre that it might actually be considered a lack if it weren’t present. :-J There is the usual complete refusal by the protagonist to clean up after themselves- I wish more of these games would let us give people their stuff back once it’s not needed any more. Hopefully, there will be uses for the items still in Bwana’s pockets at the end of the chapter, instead of the traditional “lost everything during the cutscene” trope.
– Real player with 6.7 hrs in game
This title really surprised me with how well it was made. I came in having no expectations. I had bought the game as part of a bundle on indiegala, and was only really going to try it out while waiting for another (and much larger in size) game to download, and was frankly blown away right from the start.
You start off in dire straights with your electricity having been shut off because you hadn’t paid your bills for a while. This means you can’t make any money because the pump in your gas station that you own an operate relies on the power to run. However with some cheeky DYI smarts, you’re soon back to normal… If normal means no customers, which… it does.
– Real player with 6.1 hrs in game
Dead-End Detective: The Sixpence Strangler
Set in the 1950s, and with jokes and double entendres that have all the subtlety of many of the comedy shows of that time, this is a reasonable reproduction of a typical police yarn of that period. This is more a visual novel with choices than an actual game, though you do get to create the character of the protagonist. You play as a police Inspector out to catch a serial killer and during your enquiries you meet the staple characters from that period: the complaining neighbour, the vampish bar girl, the ribald sailors and a pair of constables, one of whom is an eager and ambitious young man, and the other a typical cynical policeman who has seen it all, as well as a jealous colleague who resents your success. Its set in a cold, wet and wintry London.
– Real player with 3.3 hrs in game
Tango: The Adventure Game
I happened to be looking for a new point & click/adventure game and happened to come across this little gem. It is a little charming Indie game that utilizes real locations in Buenos Aires and combines with both satirical and factual interactions with one of Argentina’s most prominent Tango musician. Your adventure begins in a prison, playing a fictional version of Carlos Gardel. The scenes that follow all seem to be based around lyrics from his many songs, somewhat, and one can base this on the fact that one of his songs is actually titled “Prisionero” (Prisoner).
– Real player with 10.6 hrs in game
There wasn’t a whole lot of fanfare with this game’s release; I’m a fan of the genre and I have been following point-and-click game development for a while, and it still sort of flew right by. Luckily, thanks to a lovely word-of-mouth campaign, I still picked this one up just after release.
Loosely based on the life of musician Carlos Gardel, Tango opens with a prison escape sequence (one of my all-time favorite point-and-click tropes) before transitioning to an extended flashback to explain how you got there. The total playtime is about 2-3 hours, and the tone of the game definitely leans more towards comedy than drama.
– Real player with 4.2 hrs in game
Bear With Me - Episode One
Well, for some reasons I played this game many months ago, more than a year, and then the third episode came out few months ago so I bought it as soon as possible and played it, enjoyed it a lot and so on.. now the collector’s edition’s out on Humble Bundle as far as I know.
Anyways this game’s is a great hidden object/graphic adventure with an awesome story; I loved everything here although the whole game setting is probably too restricted thus don’t allowing you to explore as much as I wanted to.
– Real player with 23.6 hrs in game
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a clawsome game that is impawsible to furget. Having a charming yet grizzly atmosphere that you won’t find too polarizing, I just couldn’t bear to put it down.
Sorry, I’ll stop the bear puns now.
Promise.
Ahem, so ‘Bear with Me’ is an episodic point and click game with a heavy noir detective theme. But you know that from reading the description, and really if you’re interested by that idea then you’re probably going to enjoy this game. Yet if you’re still a bit sceptical then let me assure you, it is worth the time to go through.
– Real player with 20.6 hrs in game
A Case of the Crabs: Rehash
Now all that needs is for Mark Darin to develop a self-remaster of Nick Bounty: The Goat In The Grey Fedora, Brain Hotel, Forever Space, and Nearly Departed for Steam too.
– Real player with 132.2 hrs in game
this game is crab!
⣿⣿⣿⠟⠛⠛⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢋⣩⣉⢻
⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣶⣕⣈⠹⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⠛⣛⢋⣰⠣⣿⣿⠀⣿
⣿⣿⣿⡀⣿⣿⣿⣧⢻⣿⣶⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠶⡝⠀⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣷⠘⣿⣿⣿⢏⣿⣿⣋⣀⣈⣻⣿⣿⣷⣤⣤⣿⡐⢿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⢩⣝⣫⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠿⠿⠦⠀⠸⠿⣻⣿⡄⢻
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣼
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣰
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢀⣿
ok puns aside, it was interesting.
– Real player with 1.4 hrs in game
Dirty Land
Dirty Land is a game about real estate, crime, and desperation, inspired by classic sales movies of the 80s and 90s.
Step into the shoes of Frank Marsh, a newly hired salesman for Pure Sky Properties, a real estate office where coffee is for closers and the status quo is hawking swamp land to unsuspecting buyers for a tidy profit. Will you cast aside your ethics for a quick buck, or will you take the high road and find a way to scrape by honestly?
Something New Every Day
Welcome to your new job. At the start of every day, you begin out front of an unassuming, drab strip mall, where Pure Sky Properties is tucked away. Every day brings new characters to meet, new events to experience, and new stories to be told. What will it be tomorrow?
Choose a Lead, Go on a Sit, and Close ‘em!
These are the new leads. You’ll probably close one of your leads today, but can you close two leads a day? You’re gonna need some caffeine for that. But you know what salesmen say about coffee… you better prove your worth if you want that cup of joe!
Every day you’ll have chances to make a sale. Learn what they like, study their habits, memorize what you can about them, and get them to sign on the line which is dotted!
The Birth of a Salesman
You are Frank Marsh. You’ve made a mistake that has ruined your family. You can’t change your past, but you can change your future!
Will you take the high road and stick to your principles, or take the low road and chase the easy money? Whichever path you take, you’ll discover multiple endings based on the choices you’ve made and whether you succeed or fail in those choices.
On top of those choices, you’ll need to balance your family life with your work life. Will you be a model father and go home and play with your kids? Or will you go out on another sit and close that elusive buyer? Go too far down one path and there will be consequences… your choice will change Frank’s story - at work and at home.
Make Friends First, Sales Second
An office is a place where dreams come true. A place to meet lively new people. A sociopathic manager. An elusive owner. An opportunistic coworker out to steal your money. A flamboyant salesman with no concept of failure. A seductive hairdresser. An intrepid drycleaner. A neglected wife. A pair of dumb mob thugs. A ripped-off customer. A brutal detective. A homeless derelict with clues to a mystery. A rival firm across the street. And many more…
Always Be Closing
The money is out there. All you gotta do is reach out and grab it! How many leads can you pitch and sell? Can you bag the top leads? Will you take advantage of easy prey, or tackle deals with honor?
Play the Sleuth
Do I have your attention? Good. Because it’s not just sales numbers that you need to keep your eye on. You need to keep your wits about you, because in an office full of backstabbers, anything can and will happen. Including the surreal!
Clearly you’ve been framed. But by who?
Solve Murder Mysteries
In a desperate world you’ll meet desperate people. Dangerous people. People who will do anything to make rent. To not get fired. To make that promotion. To secure those juicy leads. From unsavory characters to hilarious charmers, they all have secret motives to uncover… you’ll need to gather clues and piece together the truth to gain the upper hand in this double-crossing world!
Everyone is a suspect! Especially you!
And this murder won’t be the only one…
Gunpoint
Gunpoint is a sidescrolling stealth platformer with smooth jazz, guns and cool hats.
I’ve never been a gigantic fan of platformers, but this game is a big, big exception in my library, and I felt I needed to address this by updating my review in 2020. I’m going to reinforce this by saying that I have MANY more hours than steam says, and it provided me with endless entertainment on a couple of bus rides half way across the country, and that says something!
Gunpoint is unique in that it’s stealthy gameplay extends much further than ‘sneak around, shoot guy’ with some pretty complicated puzzles made by the in-game wiretapping feature “Crosslink”, which leaves every level open ended, akin to something like Metal Gear Solid V in a completely new medium.
– Real player with 15.6 hrs in game
-Quick Review-
Gunpoint is an indie puzzle game with loose ties to “stealth” and “technology”, Gunpoint was developed by Suspicious Developments and released 2013.
-Detailed breakdown review-
Story: The story is all in written format, somedays I feel like reading all that is writen in a video game, other times I see a chunk of text and think “I don’t really care” and skip right into the mission.
Gunpoint lets you skip dialogue and jump right into the puzzle solving action if you feel so inclined, however the story is quite well written. You’re a detective and have multiple choices for interaction with your clients. (Naturally I was as condescending and insulting as possible – the reactions were very much worth it!)
– Real player with 11.6 hrs in game