Detective Kobayashi
- October 24, 2019
- Genuine
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamTake 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
Reviews
- Engaging mystery gameplay that allows players to investigate crime scenes and piece together clues, reminiscent of Ace Attorney.
- Distinctive character designs and a charming visual style, complemented by a light-hearted sense of humor throughout the interactions.
- The game features a variety of cases and a bonus chapter that adds depth to the story, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The thought bubble mechanic can be frustrating, as it presents information in a disorganized manner, making it difficult to keep track of clues and solutions.
- The abrupt shift to an escape room chapter disrupts the flow of the game and may alienate players who prefer the investigative format.
- The final case is short and unsatisfying, leaving many plot threads unresolved and relying on a villain that feels disconnected from the main story.
- story9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, featuring engaging character interactions and a solid narrative structure across four chapters, though some players find the pacing uneven, particularly due to a lengthy escape room segment that leaves plot threads unresolved. While the overall plot is enjoyable, some players note contradictions and predictability in the storyline, leading to mixed feelings about the game's narrative depth. Despite these issues, there is anticipation for a sequel to further develop the story.
“The story is pretty good and has 4 chapters, with hopefully more to come in a sequel.”
“It's a great story, and there's a lot of fun in the interactions between main characters.”
“I'm really curious about how this story will continue.”
“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.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of the Ace Attorney series, offering a shorter and simpler experience that can be completed in about five hours. However, players criticize the detective mechanics for being overly restrictive, as the game only accepts specific contradictions despite multiple valid options, leading to frustrating moments of trial and error.
“The first is with the game's 'complete Kobayashi's thoughts' mechanic, obviously meant to parallel the similar mechanic in later Ace Attorney games.”
“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.”
“Another issue with this game is the actual detective mechanic. You are gathering clues and then using them to prove contradictions in the statements, but there are often many contradictions that can be proven. The game will only accept the 'one' that the developers were thinking about, while other contradictions might be used later on or ignored altogether. This leads to the game failing you until you find that right one. Sorry, but this is really just bad game design.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as clear and serviceable, with distinctive character designs that leave a positive impression without being overly eccentric. While some may find the visuals to be average compared to other titles, they are complemented by appealing artwork, fitting music, and a charming overall aesthetic.
“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.”
“Visually, the game is serviceable though unexceptional; the graphics are clear enough that it's never hard to spot the things you're meant to spot, and the character designs are distinctive enough to make an impression without being as over-the-top as the later Ace Attorney games.”
“This is the only visual novel I’ve played so far—so maybe the visuals are run-of-the-mill—but I like them.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received for complementing the artwork and voice acting, contributing to a cute and humorous atmosphere. However, some users noted issues with the soundtrack's looping and inconsistencies in audio recording quality, suggesting room for improvement.
“The artwork is pretty, the music goes along well, there is full voice-over, the humor altogether is kind of cute, the cases remain serious, and the CG gallery is Kobayashi's work desk.”
“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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as cute and light-hearted, often stemming from the protagonist's sharp yet lazy personality and his flirtatious interactions with female characters, particularly his hot-tempered assistant, Matsuda. These comedic moments effectively balance the otherwise serious cases, contributing to an overall enjoyable atmosphere.
“The artwork is pretty, the music goes along well, there is full voice-over, and the humor altogether is kind of cute. The cases remain serious, and the CG gallery is Kobayashi's work desk.”
“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.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by distinctive and memorable designs that effectively convey personality without veering into the overly eccentric territory seen in some other titles. While the visuals are clear and functional, they do not stand out as exceptional, allowing the character traits to take center stage.
“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
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through the collection of "memories," which encourages exploration, but a bug in the final chapter may hinder the experience by preventing proper registration of one collectible.
“The game offers a scavenger-hunt style of replayability with collectible 'memories' to discover, adding an engaging layer to each playthrough.”
“Each playthrough reveals new layers of the story, encouraging players to revisit and explore different choices and outcomes.”
“The variety of paths and endings ensures that no two playthroughs feel the same, making it a game you can return to time and again.”
“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 side quests feel repetitive.”
“The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
