Behind The Truth

About

"Behind the Truth" is a realism-style puzzle game where you play as a journalist, gathering news materials and interviewing victims and police to solve a series of interconnected cases. Use your superpower of observation and the dress-changing mini-game to uncover the truth and bring justice. The news system allows you to access collected news materials to help solve the cases.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

story7 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story that tackles serious subjects like predatory lending and financial scams, while maintaining a lighthearted tone at times.
The artwork and music are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the narrative.
The main character, Ji Zhe, is portrayed as a strong and independent journalist, and the game includes valuable life lessons about protecting oneself from various societal issues.

The game suffers from numerous translation issues and bugs, which can detract from the overall experience and clarity of the story.
The pacing and flow of the narrative can be confusing, with elements that feel disjointed and poorly integrated, making it hard to follow at times.
Many choices in the game have little to no impact on the story, leading to a sense of linearity and lack of meaningful player agency.

story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The story is a fast-paced exploration of crime and journalism, featuring a mix of supernatural and everyday elements that can sometimes lead to a disjointed narrative. While the main plot is dark and engaging, it is marred by minimal player choice and some writing issues, yet it remains immersive and enjoyable, enhanced by good art and music. Overall, it presents a compelling journey of an aspiring journalist, with additional shorter storylines that add depth to the experience.
- “Lastly, I'd say this visual novel will make you immerse in its story, so prepare your snack and beverage before you jump into the fun journey of a passionate intern reporter!”
- “It has great art, music, and a compelling story that is applicable to places other than China.”
- “The main story unfolds over ten chapters, during which you will conduct journalistic investigations, interview people involved, and 'write' articles relaying what occurred to the public.”
- “The problem with the visual novel is that it's a messy soup with elements such as supernatural, journalism, criminology, otome, and being a foodie. At some point, I cannot remember what happened in the story; the flow was so bad.”
- “While you will encounter several choices, they're typically either fake or meaningless, bearing no impact on the story.”
- “There are some extra storylines if you are interested, and most of the choices in the game are easy and have no impact at all.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the storytelling and overall experience, with a good variety of tracks that complement the events. While some players found the music enjoyable, they noted that none of the tracks were particularly memorable, though the opening song was appreciated. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, with some players expressing a desire to purchase it if available.
- “The music is nice to listen to and adds to the story.”
- “I would definitely buy the soundtrack if it were available for purchase.”
- “It has great art, music, and a compelling story that is applicable to places other than China.”
- “The visual novel is not voiced, and the music is just okay.”
- “There is also a decent opening song in the start menu.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its coherent and emotionally resonant storytelling, effectively utilizing literary devices to convey a powerful narrative based on real-life events. Players appreciate the tasteful execution that enhances the emotional impact of the experience.
- “Altogether, these literary instruments form a relatively coherent and emotional story that I certainly enjoyed.”
- “The rendition of the real-life events was done tastefully and, in my opinion, with a tangible emotional impact.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has been reported to have some bugs, indicating that stability may be an issue for players.
- “The game is a little buggy.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
- “There are numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The gameplay features creative elements like a unique map, phone access, and a lucky bag, but ultimately falls short of expectations.
- “The gameplay had some creative elements such as the map, access to phone, lucky bag, news case, etc., but unfortunately, the game missed the mark.”
- “The controls felt clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through the game.”
- “The pacing of the gameplay was inconsistent, leading to moments of boredom followed by overwhelming chaos.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their impressive artwork, complemented by clever inside jokes that enhance the visual experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively balances its dark narrative with a variety of humorous moments, providing players with comedic relief amidst the heavier themes.
- “Even though the story is quite dark, there are many funny moments.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game restricts access to content beyond the third chapter, requiring players to engage in non-existent microtransactions to progress, which has drawn criticism for its monetization strategy.
- “The game can only be played up to the 3rd chapter and then it asks for non-existent microtransactions to continue.”
- “I was really enjoying the game until it suddenly demanded payment to unlock further content.”
- “It's frustrating that the game locks you out of progress and tries to push you towards spending money.”