Detective Kobayashi

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 22 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Detective Kobayashi Game Cover
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Take on the role of Detective Kobayashi, the one and only genius detective who has a reputation for solving any case, however dark or difficult...if he isn't playing games at the office or awkwardly hitting on girls, that is.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews
story9 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with interesting and likable characters, providing a mix of humor and serious themes.
  • Variety in gameplay mechanics, including investigation, interrogation, and unique puzzles, particularly in the escape room chapter.
  • Solid writing and translation, with a charming visual style and enjoyable interactions, especially through the phone feature.
  • Frustrating mechanics in the thought bubble puzzles and debate battles, where only specific answers are accepted, leading to confusion and potential reliance on guides.
  • Pacing issues, particularly with the abrupt shift to the escape room chapter and a lackluster final case that leaves many questions unanswered.
  • Inconsistent audio quality and some awkward translations, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story19 mentions

    The story is generally well-received, featuring an interesting and captivating narrative centered around Detective Kobayashi, with depth in character development and engaging interactions. However, some players find the pacing uneven, particularly due to a lengthy escape room chapter that disrupts the flow and leads to an unsatisfying cliffhanger ending. While the game hints at future installments, the current installment leaves some plot points unresolved, and the gameplay mechanics can sometimes detract from the storytelling experience.

    • “The story is pretty good and has 4 chapters, with hopefully more to come in a sequel.”
    • “There is some depth to the characters, and the storyline has its fun and captivating moments.”
    • “Additionally, the game hints that there is going to be a second entry of this visual novel and I can’t wait to know how the story will turn out.”
    • “Another part that lets the story down is the baffling choice to put in a lengthy escape room chapter in the middle of the game.”
    • “The ending comes a bit fast and is a cliffhanger, leaving the plot that was brought up in the escape room chapter unsatisfying and unresolved.”
    • “My issue with the battles is how I can find contradictions in someone’s story, but it doesn’t match with what the game actually wants.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of visual novel storytelling and detective mechanics, allowing players to gather clues, solve puzzles, and interact with characters through a unique "complete kobayashi's thoughts" mechanic. While it offers engaging cases, the gameplay can be frustrating due to its restrictive nature in accepting only specific contradictions as valid, which some players find to be poor design. Overall, it provides a shorter experience compared to similar titles, with a mix of point-and-click elements and hidden objectives.

    • “During the gameplay, you can hover on the light bulb and read Kobayashi's mind to collect some hints about the case, or sometimes you read his thoughts about the girls he is talking with.”
    • “It has visual novel story parts, point-and-click type gameplay together with hidden objective-like features.”
    • “Another issue with this game is the actual detective mechanic; you are gathering clues and then using them to prove contradictions in the statements. However, there are often many contradictions that can be proven, but the game will only accept the 'one' that the developers were thinking about. Other contradictions might be used later on or ignored altogether, so the game keeps failing you until you find that right one. Sorry, but this is really just bad game design.”
    • “If you like Ace Attorney, you'll have a good time with this one, though don't come into it expecting an Ace Attorney quantity of gameplay; this is much shorter and simpler, and will take only five hours or so from start to finish.”
    • “Getting past the main character's flaws may be a lot to ask of some players, but the detective gameplay syncs very well with a visual novel structure that more visual novel games should learn from.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game features nice soundtracks that complement the artwork and overall atmosphere, with full Chinese voice-over adding to the experience. However, some users criticize the soundtrack for its inconsistent recording quality and lack of smooth looping, which detracts from the enjoyment. While the compositions themselves are generally well-received, the execution leaves room for improvement, leading to mixed feelings among players.

    • “The artwork is pretty, the music goes along well, there is full voiceover, the humor altogether is kind of cute, the cases remain serious and the CG gallery is Kobayashi's work desk.”
    • “Nice soundtracks.”
    • “I play with the voice volume turned off, since I'm used to this type of game without voiceover, just with silly faces and upbeat music.”
    • “The soundtrack doesn’t always have a smooth loop.”
    • “When it comes to the audio, it’s too inconsistent with the recording quality, and the music needs a smoother loop.”
    • “Some soundtracks are unpleasant to listen to when they finish, as it takes a bit of experience to hear the same song starting, ending, and then starting again. However, the songs are not bad, so I would rate it 5/10.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The game's graphics are generally described as clear and serviceable, featuring a distinctive anime style that allows for memorable character designs. While the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are complemented by good artwork and expressive character sprites, creating an overall pleasant aesthetic experience.

    • “The artwork is pretty, the music goes along well, there is full (Chinese) voice over, the humor altogether is kind of cute, the cases remain serious, and the CG gallery is Kobayashi's work desk.”
    • “I liked the artwork of Detective Kobayashi, with sprites even having different facial expressions. Although the style is quite simple and there aren’t a lot of CGs available, I got used to it fast.”
    • “Graphics: anime style, they are good and you can remember many characters for having such a unique style.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty and emotional dialogues, often stemming from the protagonist's lazy yet sharp personality and his flirtatious interactions with female characters, particularly his feisty assistant. The lighthearted tone is complemented by cute artwork and engaging minigames, reminiscent of the Phoenix Wright series, which provide amusing moments amidst the serious cases. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and enjoyable.

    • “The conversations are funny and some of them are emotional.”
    • “The protagonist is rather sharp but lazy, and keeps trying to flirt with female characters (including his hot-tempered assistant Matsuda), often with funny results that lighten up the mood.”
    • “There are a lot of minigames: investigation is like Phoenix Wright investigations, so they are okay. You can enjoy some funny dialogues and you have 'scan' if you don't want to waste time there, so it's perfect.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is marked by distinctive and visually appealing designs that leave a lasting impression, though the overall graphics are described as serviceable rather than exceptional. The clarity of the visuals ensures that players can easily engage with the characters and their narratives.

    • “The character designs are distinctive enough to make an impression without being overly eccentric.”
    • “The graphics are clear enough that it's never hard to spot the things you're meant to spot.”
    • “It looks good on a PC screen; the character designs and backgrounds are very pretty.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
    • “The interactions between characters are often one-dimensional, which detracts from the overall narrative experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers some replayability through the collection of "memories," which adds a scavenger-hunt element; however, a bug in the final chapter may hinder the completion of this aspect for some players.

    • “There is a bit of scavenger-hunt replayability in that there are collectible 'memories' to find, adding an extra layer of exploration to the game.”
    • “There is a bit of scavenger-hunt replayability in that there are collectible 'memories' to find, though one of them (in the final chapter) is bugged and may not register properly.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back; the story doesn't change and the choices feel inconsequential.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel tedious rather than engaging.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users note that the conversations in the game strike a balance between humor and emotional depth, providing moments that resonate on a personal level.

    • “The conversations are funny, and some of them are deeply emotional.”
    • “The game masterfully weaves humor with poignant moments that truly resonate.”
    • “I was surprised by how emotionally invested I became in the characters' stories.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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