Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders
- May 1, 2019
- Nupixo Games
- 7h median play time
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Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
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Reviews
- Engaging and well-written story set in a unique historical context of ancient China, featuring a compelling protagonist, Di Renjie.
- Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric music that enhance the overall experience, creating a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic adventure games.
- Puzzles are generally well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult, allowing players to feel accomplished.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and complexity in both gameplay and character development.
- Certain puzzles can be frustrating due to pixel hunting and a lack of clear guidance, leading to moments of confusion and backtracking.
- The gameplay can feel linear, with limited player agency in solving cases, as many deductions are made automatically by the character.
- story210 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of *Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders* is widely praised for its intriguing plot, well-crafted characters, and engaging narrative that draws players into a historical setting filled with mystery and political intrigue. While some players found the pacing uneven and the puzzles occasionally detracted from the experience, the overall consensus highlights the story as the game's strongest aspect, offering a satisfying conclusion and a captivating journey through detective work in ancient China. However, a few critiques mention that the story can feel short or predictable at times, and some players suggest that the gameplay mechanics could be improved to enhance the storytelling experience.
“The way the clues and pieces came together to unveil the bigger picture of the plot has got to be one of the most fulfilling and satisfying stories I've personally experienced in a detective game.”
“The story is clever, dark, mysterious, and even though you can see where it is leading, it remains captivating till the end.”
“The story is well-thought-out, offers some interesting insights into the period, and the ending left me satisfied.”
“I didn't like the story/plot; I think it was terrible.”
“The story is boring; the game is 90% dialogue, 5% puzzles, and 5% not that good cut scenes.”
“The story lacks complexity, and the way certain actions are conditioned by other things happening is not always logical.”
- graphics61 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style that evokes classic point-and-click adventures, with many players appreciating its minimalist and charming aesthetic, particularly in the context of an ancient China setting. While some scenes are beautifully rendered, there are criticisms regarding inconsistencies in character sprites and inventory items, which detract from the overall visual experience. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, complementing the game's atmosphere and storytelling, though opinions vary on their execution and detail.
“I was literally just sitting there in awe, listening to the music for minutes... the graphics are pretty, minimalist, and clean -- it doesn't bombard the screen with more assets than needed.”
“The art style here definitely shines through with the charm of an ancient China setting that was nicely captured.”
“Overall, the graphics are just beautiful, no matter the scale of the pixels, and occasionally I stopped playing just to step back and stare at the screen.”
“The visuals are pixelated and simplistic.”
“I read other complaints about the graphical inconsistencies, about the pixels not being the same size, or that there are blank areas in the backgrounds.”
“They try to compensate this with graphics, visual effects and... first of all it rarely works.”
- music52 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its beauty and atmospheric quality, particularly in enhancing the storytelling and setting. While some players found the soundtrack to be repetitive or lacking in variety, others highlighted specific tracks, like the main theme and map screen music, as exceptional. Overall, the music is generally considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its visuals and narrative, though some players wished for more diverse or culturally appropriate compositions.
“The music is oriental and suits the game perfectly.”
“Sound and music were unexpected highlights, both in quality and use through the story to make every scene feel more immersive.”
“Detective Di is a simple pixel art point-and-click adventure game with a well-written story, beautiful visuals, a variety of charming and interesting characters, and absolutely gorgeous music!”
“The music is very repetitive and too annoying.”
“Oh, and there's a music-based puzzle with no non-sound indicator of how to progress.”
“The music is mostly just a backing track and nothing spectacular, though suitable for the setting and not something that either made or broke the game for me.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders" is characterized as a traditional point-and-click adventure, featuring nostalgic graphics and a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the engaging story and clever deduction mechanics, many criticize the gameplay for being simplistic, with pixel hunting and trivial side quests detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable puzzles and user-friendly mechanics, but it often falls short of delivering a deeper detective experience.
“Overall, a fantastic modern day point and click adventure with a compelling storyline and well balanced gameplay that will keep players glued until the end credits.”
“The gameplay is simple, involving object combining inventory puzzles, and some minigame puzzles that are really easy but well thought out and fun.”
“The crime scene re-enactment mechanic is an interesting and surprisingly satisfying way to review and reason through the evidence your investigation has revealed.”
“This game falls into the same trap that so many other adventure games fall into: in an effort to expand the world (and pad gameplay time), you're forced to interact with a plethora of side characters and help them with their trivial day-to-day problems.”
“The actual gameplay in Detective Di unfortunately leaves a bit to be desired.”
“The gameplay is simple, involving object-combining inventory puzzles, and some minigame puzzles that are really easy but well thought out and fun.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful pixel art, evocative music, and well-crafted writing that captures the essence of ancient Chinese culture and history. While some reviewers noted the absence of voice acting, the overall ambiance effectively draws players into the narrative and setting, making it a standout feature of the title.
“I absolutely loved it, the graphics, the sound, the atmosphere.”
“Engaging detective story, great art and music, on-point atmosphere.”
“The expressive visuals and unique pixel art of the background and atmosphere of ancient Chinese culture and history are not only realistic but breathtaking.”
“Voice acting is really missing from this one to set a better atmosphere.”
“Well-written dialogue, rarely used setting, and the developers really capture the atmosphere of the setting.”
“You also get to know different milieus (the intricate diplomacy and politics, the competitive world of scholars, the worries and hardships of the common people, etc.), which creates a dense atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game delivers a powerful emotional experience, effectively taking them on a roller coaster of feelings that enhances their overall enjoyment. The emotional depth is praised for being well-crafted, contributing to a sense of accomplishment and engagement.
“And in the end, none of that really mattered, because this game overall had me on an emotional roller coaster, and oh man... those are fun if done in the right ways, and this game sets it up perfectly.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game less tedious compared to other titles, particularly due to the engaging pixel art that enhances the experience. While new players may initially feel overwhelmed by the pixel-hunting, it ultimately contributes positively to the overall enjoyment.
“I get that, if you are new to the pixel-hunt game, you might feel like scanning your mouse over the screen is tedious or tiresome.”
“It doesn't feel tedious as other games do, and the pixel art really has something going for it.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its bizarre storytelling and a notably sexist undertone in the mystery, which some players find amusing.
“The story is bizarre, and the mystery is hilariously sexist.”
“The humor is sharp and witty, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the clever puns and absurd situations throughout the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed as questionable, with some users suggesting that while it may be acceptable to acquire it through advertisements, purchasing it at full price is not recommended. Players are encouraged to explore other options in the market for better adventures, despite the current scarcity of quality alternatives.
“Since I got this through an advertisement, it's somewhat acceptable to me, but I would never recommend buying it at full price. I would advise looking for better adventures in the market, although that can be difficult nowadays.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with too many paywalls that hinder the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users express a desire for deeper character development, indicating that the existing portrayal of characters feels insufficient or lacking in depth.
“I wish there were more character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and unengaging.”
“I expected deeper character arcs, but they fell flat.”
