Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in The Hotel Lisbon
- March 4, 2022
- Nerd Monkeys
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Get on itch.io StoreA strange murder has occurred in the Hotel Lisbon, a man committed suicide with 14 stabs to the back while at the same time he peacefully drank his coffee.This case with contradictory facts was too complex for Policeman Garcia to solve, so he decided to hire the only detective duo in town capable of solving it: the mythical Detective Case and the unmistakable Clown Bot.Together, they will solve a …
Reviews
- Charming character design and engaging pixel art that captures a nostalgic feel.
- Humorous dialogue and clever writing, with many jokes that resonate well with Portuguese culture.
- Unique interrogation mechanics that add depth to the gameplay, allowing players to combine evidence with questions.
- The humor often falls flat in the English translation, with many jokes losing their impact and some being considered offensive.
- Gameplay can become tedious due to slow walking animations and repetitive dialogue, making it feel longer than necessary.
- Several bugs and translation errors detract from the overall experience, leading to confusion during gameplay.
- humor58 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its quirky dialogues, clever twists, and cultural references, particularly those familiar with Portuguese humor. However, some critiques highlight instances of insensitivity and poorly translated jokes that may not resonate with a broader audience, leading to a perception of the humor as hit-or-miss. Overall, while the game offers entertaining moments and engaging characters, its comedic effectiveness may vary significantly depending on the player's background and familiarity with the cultural context.
“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.”
“This is probably the only game I have ever played that promises to be funny and actually achieves it.”
“The humor in the game ranges from fourth-wall breaking gags to more mature, subtle quips.”
“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.”
- story32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its humor and engaging narrative, featuring memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, though some players find it repetitive and reliant on generic tropes. While the main storyline is relatively short, it is complemented by entertaining side quests and post-game content that enhance the overall experience. However, familiarity with Portuguese culture may enhance appreciation of the humor and dialogue, which some players feel could be less accessible to others.
“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.”
“You will get a complete murder mystery story full of funny Portuguese quirks and plot twists and turns.”
“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.”
- music27 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and variety, with many players highlighting the original soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some found the music enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme, a few noted that it could become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's charming aesthetic and engaging atmosphere.
“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 other great aspect of the game is the music, which blends perfectly with the environment.”
“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.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a simple point-and-click mechanic, featuring unique elements like evidence collection and a humorous interrogation system that allows for creative interactions with suspects. While the intuitive design and lack of intrusive UI make it accessible for newcomers, some players noted bugs and localization issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game emphasizes story and humor over traditional adventure gameplay, which may not satisfy those seeking a more polished classic experience.
“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.”
“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!”
“About the gameplay, it's very simple, there's nothing much to it, it's a point & click game, I don't think I have to explain why.”
“There's just not enough polish on the game and the interview system isn't enough to support the whole of the gameplay.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % 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 some players find the text difficult to read, the consistent quality of the visuals and attention to detail in character and environment design are widely praised. Overall, the art style is 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.”
“A great detective quest with stylish old-school graphics.”
“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 a impression to a child game, the content could be rated as mature).”
- grinding3 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 interviews feel tiresome rather 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. The tedious back and forth to the same locations felt like padding.”
“All of these issues can lead to interviews becoming tedious and tiring.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features remarkable character design with a cast of wacky and memorable characters, though not all receive extensive development. Despite this, each character possesses a unique charm that contributes to the overall experience.
“Remarkable character design.”
“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.”
- emotional2 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.
“There are even a couple of heartfelt moments.”
“This is not a heart-wrenching, emotional trip that makes you sick to your stomach.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its authentic Portuguese vibe, particularly through the incorporation of fado music, which enhances the overall experience. While some found the humor cheesy, it still managed to elicit laughter, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable ambiance.
“I didn't think it was a bad version; I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the Portuguese atmosphere (recognized the fado genre from there). The puns were cheesy, but they did get a chuckle out of me.”
