Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in The Hotel Lisbon
- July 17, 2014
- Nerd Monkeys
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Get on itch.io StoreIn "Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in The Hotel Lisbon," players assume the roles of the detective and his robotic clown sidekick as they attempt to solve a murder mystery in a hotel. The duo must gather evidence, interview suspects, and solve puzzles to uncover the truth behind the death. With hand-drawn graphics and a witty script, this game offers a unique and humorous take on the classic point-and-click adventure genre.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Charming character design and engaging art style that captures a nostalgic feel.
- Humorous dialogue and clever writing that often breaks the fourth wall, providing a fun experience.
- Good soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere and enhances the overall enjoyment.
- The humor can be hit or miss, with some jokes being considered offensive or poorly translated, particularly in the English version.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to repetitive questioning mechanics and pixel hunting for collectibles.
- The game suffers from minor bugs and translation issues, which can detract from the overall experience.
- humor116 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying its quirky dialogues, clever twists, and cultural references, particularly those familiar with Portuguese humor. However, some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with criticisms aimed at its reliance on potentially offensive jokes and cultural nuances that may not translate well for non-Portuguese audiences. Overall, while many appreciate the comedic elements, others feel that the humor can be repetitive or insensitive, making it a divisive aspect of the game.
“The comedy is there, the characters and their personalities are really varied and funny, the soundtrack fits perfectly with the theme, there are little jokes and easter eggs that the developers made. I think even for folks who are not from here they're gonna find this quite fun and entertaining to complete this little pearl as I like to call it.”
“It took me a mere 6 hours to complete the story mode which is full of stupid yet funny jokes and unexpected plot twists.”
“This is probably the only game I have ever played that promises to be funny and actually achieves it.”
“Ugly, incredibly unfunny, nonsensical and annoying 'audience' and 'joke' gimmicks, plagued by translation and other bugs.”
“The writing is not funny at all.”
“It actually stoops so low to try to be self-aware about how unfunny it is, as if that is supposed to make it acceptable.”
- story64 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its humor and engaging narrative, featuring a quirky detective plot filled with memorable characters and unexpected twists. While the dialogue is entertaining and rich with cultural references, some players found the overall plot to be somewhat generic and the gameplay repetitive. Additionally, the inclusion of side quests and post-game content adds depth, although the main story's brevity and occasional lack of clarity in choices were noted as drawbacks.
“The game is full of Portuguese sayings, jokes, and the story is always full of twists with a lot of humor till the very end.”
“I loved the story and I hope they do a second episode.”
“It's a crazy investigation story about an insane murder in Portugal.”
“However, the story, the comedy, and the bugs leave this game much to be desired.”
“Even this 'humor' aside, the rest of the plot is entirely composed of the most generic low-effort tropes.”
“This game has that up until near the end when the plot kind of just gets thrown in the trash.”
- music54 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and variety, with many players highlighting the original soundtrack and the inclusion of fado music as standout features. While some found the music enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, a few noted that it could become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, enhancing the game's quirky art style and engaging narrative.
“Besides, the original soundtrack is beautiful. I stayed in the restaurant and listened to the entire song and loved it (which also granted me an achievement, lol).”
“The soundtrack is pleasant and varied enough - they even added a fado soundtrack to a certain area, which is a welcome change of pace.”
“The dynamic between the two heroes is certainly a good foundation that I would like to see more of in the future. Most of the pixel art is lovely, and the soundtrack is phenomenal.”
“The music is annoying after a while.”
“I give the creators points for the attempt and points for the music; however, the game is stale.”
“The music is good, but just not very good at being video game music.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a simple point-and-click format, featuring unique mechanics for solving puzzles and interrogating suspects, which adds humor and engagement to the experience. While the intuitive design and lack of intrusive UI make it accessible for newcomers, some players noted issues with bugs and localization that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted detective adventure, though it may not satisfy those seeking more traditional gameplay depth.
“Gameplay is very simple; you click to move, to interact with objects/people, etc. You can also interrogate people, showing them evidence to prove your point - some of the funniest moments in the game happened while questioning people - you can even insult them mid-interrogation!”
“In addition to the colorful duo, the whole game features an interesting gameplay mechanic: unlike other point & click adventures, 'Detective Case and Clown Bot' doesn’t bring the typical 'use object x with object y' construct into play, but instead all collected items are handled as pieces of evidence.”
“Gameplay is simple and intuitive, and there is no omnipresent UI to distract from the beautifully drawn scenarios, which makes it a good fit for newcomers to the genre.”
“The gameplay is the usual in this type of game, and has a few bugs.”
“There's just not enough polish on the game and the interview system isn't enough to support the whole of the gameplay.”
“There's two issues with this: the above mentioned writing issues and that it gets boring if you're expecting old school gameplay to go along with the old school look.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for 80s and 90s aesthetics, with vibrant colors and quirky designs that enhance the overall experience. While the art is generally praised for its consistency and detail, some players noted issues with text readability. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's appeal as a stylish and engaging detective quest.
“The art style is just awesome, with the two main characters not even being the craziest ones you'll find throughout the game.”
“Hotel Lisbon is dripping with style: the color choices, retro style, and music all come together to deliver a very pleasing aesthetic.”
“The 8-bit graphics can also trigger plenty of nostalgia which increases the urge to play this tiny gem even more.”
“I usually like pixel graphics, but the text is really hard to read in this game.”
“Graphics aren't anything to write home about, but there is a commendable amount of detail that was put into the environments and characters.”
“(despite the graphics may give it an impression of a child game, the content could be rated as mature).”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing repetitive questioning and excessive backtracking to the same locations as major drawbacks. This leads to a feeling of padding that detracts from the overall experience, making the investigative process feel more laborious than engaging.
“Though there are only 3 questions, it was tedious and the questioning happens too often, much too many even for a detective game. Those steps with collecting evidence or thinking about the relationships are weakened.”
“Spelling errors and even in its short length, it was slightly too long - slightly tedious back and forth many times to the same locations felt like padding.”
“All of these issues can lead to interviews becoming tedious and tiring.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game features a cast of wacky and memorable characters, each with a unique charm; however, not all characters receive significant development throughout the story.
“The story is full of wacky and, most importantly, memorable characters - not all of them get a lot of character development, but they all have a certain charm to them.”
“The story is full of wacky and, most importantly, memorable characters - not all of them get a lot of character development but they all have a certain charm to them.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game features a few heartfelt moments, but it does not deliver a deeply moving or gut-wrenching experience. Overall, it offers a lighter emotional journey rather than an intense one.
“There are even a couple of heartfelt moments.”
“This is not a heart-wrenching, emotional trip that makes you sick to your stomach.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its authentic Portuguese setting, particularly through the incorporation of the fado music genre, which enhances the overall experience. While some found the humor to be cheesy, it still managed to elicit laughter, contributing to a lighthearted ambiance.
“I enjoyed it a lot; I loved the Portuguese atmosphere and recognized the fado genre from there. The puns were cheesy, but they did get a chuckle out of me.”
