Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
- May 26, 2017
- Goldbar Games
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamFollow Detective Butler and his sidekick Gilligan as they solve a locked-room murder during a haunted cruise ship's maiden voyage. Can you solve the mystery before Detective Butler reveals the answer?
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Engaging story with interesting characters that keeps players invested.
- High-quality art and music that enhance the overall experience.
- Free to play, making it accessible for anyone interested in the mystery genre.
- Lacks interactivity and meaningful choices, making it feel more like reading a book than playing a game.
- Bland backgrounds and some technical issues, such as screen shaking and unresponsive controls.
- Predictable plot twists and a slow start that may deter some players.
- story131 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging and well-crafted, particularly praising its detective elements and character development. However, some critiques highlight issues such as a slow start, bland character interactions, and a lack of player choices, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the narrative is often described as captivating, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of mystery and visual novels.
“The story is well thought out and an enjoyable read.”
“Absolutely loved this story and the lovable cast of characters.”
“The story, art, and sound were so captivating that I played it all night long!”
“The story, which is the most important part obviously, is unfortunately very weak and poorly planned.”
“No, because the entire story is built around the cringe-worthy cliché of the emo teenager from a wealthy family who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life, but knows that he doesn’t want to 'follow in his father’s footsteps', and hates his parents for giving him too much money and not enough love.”
“It's a badly written Sherlock Holmes style 'how did the killer get in and out of a locked room' story.”
- music42 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with tracks that effectively match the emotional tone of various scenes, from joyous to serious. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, some note that certain music choices could be improved for better alignment with the game's setting. Overall, the music is considered a significant contributor to the game's engagement and enjoyment.
“The music is amazing too, truly matching the environment throughout, joyous and fun when it needs to be and serious and dark when it needs to be.”
“Also the soundtrack is enjoyable, each track perfectly setting the mood for each scene.”
“The music had a very nice fit and adds to the effect of the story.”
“The first music makes you just mad.”
“The music choice could've been better; more dramatic and melodic music.”
“Music cuts out at odd times; however, this could just be my copy.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising the charming art style and animations, while others criticized the simplistic backgrounds and occasional use of blur effects to mask lower-quality artwork. Many players appreciated the unique visual aesthetic and how it complemented the engaging story, though some felt the backgrounds could be improved. The consensus suggests that while the graphics are decent, they may not appeal to everyone, with scores ranging from 6 to 7 out of 10.
“Amazing game with beautiful graphics and this huge and awesome story that is so well written it got me so caught up in reading it.”
“I was so amazed by the twists and the graphics, this game got me in every way.”
“The writing and art styles are unique and complement each other very well.”
“Yeah, I can agree that the PNG backgrounds could be changed out for something more in line with the art style.”
“The blur effect seemed to have been used to hide bad artwork or photos.”
“The graphics are a bit simplistic, but I really like their charm.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users noting the complete lack of interactivity and choices, describing it as merely a reading experience. While some appreciate the compelling story and visual design, the consensus is that the game is too linear and short, offering little to no actual gameplay, leading to frustration among players expecting more engagement.
“Although the game is admittedly short and completely linear, it still presents a compelling mystery.”
“Do hope for an interactive gameplay with some choices and endings in the near future, but this is a good start.”
“No gameplay, no choices.”
“Tbh, I would forgive a lot of absurd/bad writing if I liked the gameplay, but alas there is none.”
“Gamers beware: there is no gameplay, just reading.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its engaging storyline and appealing designs, with some reviewers noting it feels like a mystery novel. However, there are suggestions that the character development could be improved further, despite the presence of bonus content and alternate endings that enhance the experience. The combination of great art and music contributes positively to the overall impression of character design.
“Storyline-wise, it is very well made; it feels like reading a mystery-solving novel, and as for character design, I do like the changes made for the new version.”
“It had great music, a cohesive plot, and wonderful character development.”
“With really good character design and music that's relaxing.”
“Character development could've been a little bit better done.”
“It was fascinating to play it because most free play games don't have much graphics or character development; for me, this was like a free ticket.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is mixed; while some players find it engaging and appreciate the realistic backgrounds that enhance the spooky vibe, others feel that the intensity is lacking and that comedic elements detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as having potential but is inconsistent, with ratings reflecting a range of opinions.
“The game really feels atmospheric with a mystery and horror theme!”
“The general atmosphere fails to be intense, and in some parts the comedic elements and dialogue of characters feel overused; however, 'Detect Butler: Maiden Voyage' remains somewhat engaging.”
“Atmosphere 4/10”
“I actually liked the fact that the backgrounds seemed to be based on real images (were they photos? not sure) because the realism gave more of a spooky atmosphere, as if we were really there.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mixed experience, with some scenes delivering powerful and well-written moments, particularly the impactful revelation of the murder victim. However, there are instances of sudden emotional shifts and illogical character decisions that detract from the overall narrative. Players may find themselves unexpectedly engaged in a deeper, heart-wrenching story rather than the anticipated lighthearted teen romance.
“Overall though the writing in the game is of a decent quality, varying between scenes. The emotional reaction of discovering the murder victim, as seen through the eyes of Gilligan, is possibly the best written scene in the game and should be applauded.”
“Came here expecting some teen romance with a murder, got a heart-wrenching story of a boy working together with an emotionally broken detective to find out a simple answer that could've been assumed from the first interrogation.”
“Side note: I was emotionally betrayed by a blonde woman.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant choices, leading to minimal replayability; however, many players still find it enjoyable enough for a single playthrough.
“No real choices here, so replayability is out the window, but it's still worth playing.”
“No replay value.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment, suggesting that a second life or extra effort may be necessary to progress effectively.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it just felt like a chore.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, with users highlighting performance issues as a significant concern.
“I think my only major issue with this game is the performance.”
“The game runs poorly on my system, even with the settings adjusted.”
“There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, which really detracts from the experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of Undertale has been noted for its minimalistic approach, focusing on organic growth rather than aggressive advertising tactics. This has led to a positive reception among users who appreciate the game's emphasis on quality over commercialism.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it constantly pushes players to spend more money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it ruins the overall experience.”
“The game is designed in a way that makes it nearly impossible to progress without spending real money.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing misunderstandings, such as a player's initial misreading of a character's name, which evokes a lighthearted connection to another popular game, Fire Emblem Echoes.
“One funny note: when I first saw the maid's name, I thought it said Celica from Fire Emblem Echoes.”
