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Detective Gallo

Much like its title character, Detective Gallo is a game that manages to grow on you and is a pretty easy purchase for genre fans.
Detective Gallo Game Cover
77%Game Brain Score
story, humor
gameplay, optimization
78% User Score Based on 100 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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Detective Gallo Game Cover

About

Detective Gallo is a single player puzzle game with mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by Footprints Games and was released on May 30, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Detective Gallo is a comedy-noir point-and-click adventure game. As the titular hard-boiled detective, you'll solve puzzles and interrogate quirky characters to uncover a shocking conspiracy. With its hand-drawn art style and humorous dialog, Gallo offers a refreshing take on the classic detective genre.

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Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
Detective Gallo screenshot
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78%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
story32 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • The game features charming hand-drawn graphics and engaging voice acting, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Detective Gallo offers a humorous and entertaining story with clever dialogue and interesting characters.
  • Puzzles are generally logical and provide a good challenge, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventure games.
  • The game suffers from slow pacing and excessive backtracking, which can make gameplay feel tedious.
  • Some puzzles are overly abstract or nonsensical, leading to frustration and reliance on walkthroughs.
  • There are technical issues, including crashes near the end of the game, which detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Detective Gallo" is a humorous noir parody that features a quirky cast of characters and engaging dialogue, though opinions on its depth and originality vary. While some players appreciate the entertaining twists and comedic elements, others find the plot somewhat simplistic and repetitive, with backtracking that can detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of a light-hearted narrative, quality voice acting, and charming visuals makes it enjoyable for fans of the point-and-click genre.

    • “Loved the characters and the story.”
    • “The combination of cynical, a-la noir dead-pan delivery of jokes with a light-hearted comedy cartoon style makes for a silly, humorous story and plenty of hilarious one-liners.”
    • “The writing is brilliant, the humor is non-politicized and generally great, Gallo is funny, likeable and charming, the art style fits right in the 90's, there are countless small references for those of us who passed 30, puzzles are logical and funny, the backgrounds have a lot of interactable points with funny comments, the voice acting is top-notch, and the story is engaging right from the start.”
    • “I am going to finish it at some point, but I never feel the urge to complete the story.”
    • “Only complaint is the story/puzzles are the exact same every time.”
    • “In Deponia, the main character lacked any likable characteristics and the story had a nasty tendency to reset itself just as you got close to the main goal.”
  • humor
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it hit or miss; while the art style and voice acting are praised, many feel that the jokes often fall flat and the protagonist's sardonic remarks can become tiresome. Despite attempts at clever writing and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic adventure games, the overall comedic impact is inconsistent, leading to a lack of genuine laughter. However, some players appreciate the quirky characters and witty dialogue, suggesting that it may still appeal to fans of the genre.

    • “The combination of cynical, a-la noir dead-pan delivery of jokes with a light-hearted comedy cartoon style makes for a silly, humorous story and plenty of hilarious one-liners.”
    • “The colorful, cartoony style works really well, especially with the tongue-in-cheek kind of humor that the game features abundantly, giving the whole game a feel very similar to classic adventures like Sam & Max Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle, Curse of Monkey Island, and Discworld 2.”
    • “The writing is brilliant, the humor is non-politicized and generally great, Gallo is funny, likeable and charming, the art style fits right in the 90's, there are countless small references for those of us who passed 30, puzzles are logical and funny, the backgrounds have a lot of interactable points with funny comments, the voice acting is top-notch, and the story is engaging right from the start.”
  • graphics
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, and are complemented by quality animations and voice acting. Reviewers note that the visuals effectively enhance the comedic and engaging narrative, making it a standout feature of the game. While some players mention the slow movement in expansive locations, the overall aesthetic and design contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Visually, the game features hand-drawn graphics and animations, all of which are really, really nice.”
    • “Solid writing and good comedy, wonderful visuals, superb soundscape and voice-over elevate it out of mediocre one.”
    • “The graphics and voiceovers were very nice.”
    • “As a huge fan of adventure games from the 90s, I have been looking for an adventure game that would manage to recapture the spirit, the humor, the puzzle-solving, and the art style of old classics such as Discworld, Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max, Toonstruck, Leisure Suit Larry, etc. Throughout the years, I tried many games that were promising to deliver exactly that, but unfortunately, all have fallen short... all except Detective Gallo and Broken Age!”
    • “So far it's a solid point-and-click game with the graphics being its strong point, as well as decent sound and voice-overs which are always a plus.”
    • “Art style reminiscent of the old Humongous Entertainment point-and-clicks but with some more mature humor/themes.”
  • gameplay
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Detective Gallo is characterized by classic point-and-click mechanics, making it accessible and nostalgic for fans of the genre. While the intuitive controls and engaging puzzles are praised, some reviewers note that the mechanics could benefit from refinement and innovation. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and a noir aesthetic, though some feel the price may not reflect the amount of gameplay offered.

    • “Detective Gallo starts out fun enough with its comedic-noir theme and puzzling gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is simple and intuitive, with your regular left click to pick something up / talk / open / interact and right click to examine.”
    • “This game honors all the classic mechanics from the cult representatives of the genre, which makes this game a good choice for someone who feels nostalgic about the golden era of point-and-click games.”
    • “Ok, so I did enjoy this game, but I do agree with the other reviews that the mechanics of the game themselves could use some work.”
    • “You will not find anything new or innovative in terms of gameplay in Detective Gallo.”
    • “So it took me longer to find certain items during gameplay.”
  • music
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music features a brilliant jazz noir soundtrack that complements its comedic narrative, creating a wholesome experience. While many players appreciate the variety and quality of the music, some feel it lacks uniqueness and could become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received, enhancing the classic point-and-click adventure vibe reminiscent of titles like Monkey Island.

    • “Brilliant soundtrack of jazz noir melodies develops on top of the comedy story and the final product comes up wholesome and well-made.”
    • “Love the jazz music from start to end.”
    • “The soundtrack is nice and has a bit of variety, but you still have those classic sleuth sounds.”
    • “In the music and sound department, the game does a solid job, although it's not exceptionally special either.”
    • “+/- music and sound is not anything special.”
    • “So you probably don’t want to be stuck with repetitive and annoying music.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of Detective Gallo is marred by minor bugs, including stuttering during the saving process and occasional freezes. However, the voice acting quality is commendable, with no issues noted in that area.

    • “The biggest problem I encountered in Detective Gallo was some minor issues with stuttering during the saving process and some occasional freezes from time to time.”
    • “Minor bugs and optimization issues.”
    • “Minor bugs and optimization issues.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced when played in Italian with English subtitles, complemented by beautifully executed hand-drawn illustrations that effectively convey the game's unique universe.

    • “The atmosphere is enhanced by playing it in Italian with English subtitles.”
    • “You can see nicely executed hand-drawn illustrations in Detective Gallo that perfectly convey the atmosphere of the game and its universe.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily allowing players to aim for 100% completion, as it can be finished in about 10 hours. Reviewers express a desire for more dynamic elements that would change with each playthrough to enhance replay value.

    • “I would love for elements to change each playthrough, causing some replayability.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With different strategies and outcomes, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
    • “All in all, the game can be finished in roughly 10 or so hours (probably less if you're an experienced adventure gamer), offering little replayability other than 100%'ing it.”
    • “Would love for elements to change each playthrough, causing some replayability.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its brilliant jazz noir soundtrack, which enhances the comedic narrative and contributes to a wholesome and well-crafted overall experience.

    • “The brilliant soundtrack of jazz noir melodies develops on top of the comedy story, creating a wholesome and well-made final product.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the game enjoyable, especially point-and-click fans, but some note that it features moments of tedious grinding and unnecessary backtracking that can feel like padding.

    • “It’ll be a largely enjoyable game for a lot of point-and-click fans, provided they aren’t bothered by the pitfalls of occasional tediousness and back-and-forths that seem like padding.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of Detective Gallo is marred by minor stuttering during the saving process and occasional freezes, which can disrupt gameplay.

    • “The biggest problem I encountered in Detective Gallo was some minor issues with stuttering during the saving process and some occasional freezes from time to time.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Detective Gallo is a puzzle game with mystery and comedy themes.

Detective Gallo is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Phone and others.

Detective Gallo was released on May 30, 2018.

Detective Gallo was developed by Footprints Games.

Detective Gallo has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Detective Gallo is a single player game.

Similar games include Kelvin and the Infamous Machine, Unforeseen Incidents, 1954 Alcatraz, Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love, The Inner World and others.