Contradiction - Spot The Liar!
This is a FMV detective & mystery game developed by Baggy Cat, created thanks to a kickstarter campaign. Since I love detective games and tv-shows I decided to give this one a go. This is a lovecrafted masterpiece, great from start to finish. I’m gonna try to explain why.
You play as detective Jenks, investigating a girls suicide in an english village. Mysteries surrounding the suicide quickly leads to a murder investigation. Jenks only have a day to solve the mystery. He quickly finds out about a private school for adults called Atlas that uses some questionable methods, and you learn more and more as you go. Every chapter is an hour in the game, but every chapter took me more then an hour each. It’s a pretty tricky game, but you can use clues if you get stuck.
– Real player with 15.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Investigation FMV Games.
TL;DR: It’s a very fun and interesting game,
! with a very, very, VERY bad (and extremely) unsatisfying ending
I’m probably very late to the “reviewing contradiction” party (what a weird party), the game being almost 6 years old now and having been talked about in the ExtraCredits YouTube channel (the reason why I bought it in the first place!), but I’m gonna have a go at it anyways.
Contradiction is an FMV game where you must investigate in one night a supposed suicide in a small village. The investigation is done almost entirely by talking to people (i.e. watching small bits of questioning), though some evidence is found by walking and snooping around (in fact, I’m no lawyer or law-enforcement officer, but I feel like a quite a few of the evidence found wouldn’t be admissible in court!) But the main aspect of the game is asking people about things, which can directly lead you to new evidence, but will always lead to a set of statements from each person. This is where the main mechanic of the game comes in: you can select two statements (they must be from the same person though, hold this for later) that contradict each other and if they do, indeed, you get a new line of questioning where detective Jenks brings up the contradiction to the person in question, usually leading to new evidence. When you reach key milestones in the investigation, the time moves forward, and some new witness can become available (or unavailable), and going certain places can unlock certain events that can give you new evidence to ask around about.
– Real player with 13.7 hrs in game
Lilith Was Dead
First off. I would like to share my experiences with prior visual novels. Such as Doki-Doki Literature club, Hoonie Pop, and the fate series which while I have not played, I am a huge fan of the story line and overall game play format. Regardless, you do not need experience with visual novels to enjoy this game. Very quick and enjoyable game and the music fits extremely well with the overall atmosphere increasing the impact of moments in the story. The story itself has a very…exciting twist and for the first project Heat Waves Games has developed I am excited to see what the next and the route they take and hopefully add some black people in their next game. I really enjoyed the voice acting as well and cant wait for what comes next.
– Real player with 9.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Investigation Mystery Games.
A short about one hourish visual novel murder mystery. It was simple but I liked it. It entertained me while I played.
– Real player with 1.5 hrs in game
The Good Life
Just to play through and do the main quest… eh it’s alright. Quirky but it’s fine, just play it then go do another game and forget it ever existed.
To get invested in and mess around? Hell no lol.
From release this was a janky mess of game-breakers and softlocks. The biggest of which was at least patched out (storage).
The content of the game is entirely just “go get this” with everything a convoluted web of ingredients upon ingredients of which everything is a rare drop except meat. Little to no emphasis nor encouragement when it comes being a photographer. Even with thousands of followers, keeping up with the trends on Flamingo barely gives you a few hundred a week so it’s not worth the effort when you could be running around hitting rocks or getting your daily time trial allowance.
– Real player with 170.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Investigation Open World Games.
Kickstarter backer here, so my review shows as a CD Key review, and will not count towards the overall review score.
That out of the way…
recommending with some serious caveats.
It’s a SWERY game, but not a ‘typical" SWERY game.
Weird, messy, a bit sloppy, a more Eastern POV and stereotype of life in the UK and the West.
Kb/m controls are quite clunky. Controller is better, if the game and Steam recognize your controller (PS4/PS5 recommended- the game seems to reuse towork properly with my XBox One controller).
– Real player with 141.0 hrs in game
New England Detective: Breakfast in Boston
This is a nice experience. The story, characters, dialogue, it’s all very smart, more than you could expect at first glance, I really encourage everyone to give this a try. No details are overlooked, when new developments happen in the story they take the time to address them and ponder their significance, A smart game.
– Real player with 3.8 hrs in game
If you don’t pay too much and don’t expect too much it is a close decision. This is a 5 out of 10 so a tie goes to the runner like in baseball. Too many stereotypes and too little plot. The author does create interest at some points but then it sort of is wasted. One reviewer online trashed it for being unrealistic as he knew something about real police work. I also know something about “real” police work and the thing that struck me as wrong was that the police did not treat him as an enemy. I have hired a number of private investigators and the only ones that the police tolerated were retired police (from that department) that took up private investigation work. But this is not a documentary and we should allow some artistic license to the author. There is no romance or love in this just a tiny bit of sex. This is not a real mystery just a read along and see what happens. You get to make a FEW choices like whether or not to eat peanuts at the bar. Seriously!
– Real player with 3.3 hrs in game
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
It may be a bit buggy here and there, But it’s seriously impressive for a small studio in early access. It is also really fun to role play about. Here is a bit of unexpected fun from today … I delayed shooting a taser on a fleeing suspect only to have a random drunk driver swerve towards us and take him out causing a three car pileup that I had to investigate and clear up while being indirectly the cause of the crash. Do I take the suspect into custody or call him an ambulance? choices, am I right?
– Real player with 32.6 hrs in game
Pros
It’s a great Sim with great potential, I’m sure it’s going to be one of the best police sims on steam when leaves the early access, I have to say they have a great taste in designing the city, districts vary from each other and have different scenery. It reminds me of my favorite city Boston! Traffic missions are enjoyable and their variety keeps you busy and satisfied during your shift. The graphic is really great in this game, you going to take too many screenshots while playing. Parks are very green along with eye-catching sculptures and decorations throughout the city. Different Police stations that you could spawn from or finish your report when done. Nice Game setting and support of the controller and other languages. It has an Informative manual and tutorials to guide you. You could report the bugs and suggest your ideas there are warm and attentive developers valuing your time and request.
– Real player with 30.9 hrs in game
RE:Solver
Step into the role as an investigator under the RE:Solver Agency, a new investigation unit designed to take a fresh look at complicated cases. With your skills and newly granted overreaching privileges, you can access numerous confidential records on essentially anyone. Browse medical records, phone logs, browser histories, and social media to learn everything there is to learn about your suspects.
Background
The game takes place within a fictitious world, quite similar to ours, but with a few key differences. As crime rates are on the rise, a private agency called RE:Solver has sprung up, giving new power in the field of digital forensics. They aid law enforcement around the world by diving in and dissecting the case inch by inch, bringing a fresh set of eyes and vital information to the people in the field.
Nothing will stop a member of RE:Solver to get to the truth. Not rules, not privacy concerns, not ethics.
Gameplay
Use the tools given and dig into every corner of the lives of the suspect. Collect phone records, credit card transcripts, daily habits, and more through the Emerald Network. Browse the game-internal internet for missing people, public records, social media, and more.
Once you have a strong case, you may file them and hope you put the right person behind bars.
Production
This game is based on a series of investigation tabletop roleplaying one-shots written and conducted by Nils Munch during the Covid-19 lockdown. A great thank you to all the players and playtesters taking place in building and polishing up this game.
Creative liberty
While the world seems much like ours, all suspects and the criminal cases you are solving are a complete work of fiction, and any resemblance to any real individuals, living or dead, are purely coincidental. All characters portrayed are generated electronically, and no real people are displayed inside the game.
Divisadero
Disgraced police detectives seek redemption as they unravel the clues to a horrifying crime in a ruined, dystopian San Francisco. Divisadero is a cli-fi, true crime narrative adventure that makes use of exploration and choice. It’s a platform agnostic, story driven game with adult themes, extreme violence and cinematic pixel art.
Explore a map of real San Francisco Bay Area landmarks and locations, recently destroyed by environmental disaster and war. Learn the city’s history and people. Hunt the perpetrators before they strike again. Uncover your own backstory.
Her Story
My rating: 8+/10
Based on: one thorough 100% investigation
TL;DR: An interactive police procedural movie with purposely outdated mechanics, brilliantly written and well-acted, a slow burn and a time sink that offers an engaging story to be discovered bit by bit, an immersive, nostalgic experience of the times gone by, truly worthy of the awards it’s received.
Pros:
(+) a slow-paced, but enthralling open-ended story as told by Hannah Smith whose husband went missing, served up in a series of interviews with this unreliable narrator conducted by police detectives
– Real player with 19.6 hrs in game
Her Story is a little bit of an oddity. It’s a FMV game where the player has access to a police database and needs to find out what happened.
It’s actually rather good. The whole game is limited to an old-style interface where you’re able to type in words and search for records. I’ve seen a few games that try to emulate old OSes and they lack a feeling of being a working interface. Her Story feels like a proper old computer you’re viewing. Though I immediately turned off the glare filter, it has a great old charm to the aesthetics with it on..
– Real player with 9.7 hrs in game
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
I have played a couple of Sherlock Holmes games before so I decided to get the Sherlock Holmes bundle during a Steam sale.
I enjoyed the game very much but there is some frustration with the game as well.
First off as expected you are Sherlock Holmes you go around solving crimes with your trusted companion Dr Watson, you take cases that are offered from Inspector Lestrade of Scotland yard.
I like the set up of this game you have your home/base on Baker Street as expected even with Toby the dog and Mrs Hudson, your own room where you can change your looks or get a disguise.
– Real player with 29.5 hrs in game
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series developed by Frogwares has been going on for more than a decade now. It’s had its ups and downs, but the general tendency was upwards. After Frogwares reached their peak in the previous game, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, they decided it was time for a general refurbishment of the series. So they picked the last two games and put them into a mixer, along with The Walking Dead (by Telltale), The Cave and L.A. Noire. Can the result live up to this legacy? If you bear with me for a moment, then I will tell you.
– Real player with 19.9 hrs in game
Crime Scene Technician
When the world awakens to life, it discovers the terrible deeds of the night. As a criminal department technician, you will find yourself a regular visitor to scenes of crime, gathering evidence for analysis and skillfully combining the facts - necessary steps for apprehending a suspect.
While the task at hand might seem overwhelming, do not fret - you’re not alone, accompanied by plenty of companions in the form of various tools.
Thanks to the ultraviolet lamp, you will see what’s hidden in the light of day. Test the collected samples in a well-equipped laboratory and recover damaged files or identify fingerprints with the help of advanced software.
Keep in mind, however, that the specialized equipment will be worthless without the most important tool - you! Be perceptive and inquisitive, spotting clues overlooked by others, finding patterns and similarities. Then, once gathered, connect the dots with a line that will lead you towards the truth.
Finish the job by putting the right person behind bars, but that’s not the end! Each day streets are filled with a sordid cast of characters, just waiting for an opportunity to strike. Clear the city of criminals and become a legend in your trade thanks to Crime Scene Technician!