Interrogation Files: Port Landsend
- June 18, 2020
- Visual Interactive
Get on Steam"Interrogation Files: Port Landsend" is a narrative-driven detective game set in a fictional town during the 1950s. As a detective, you must investigate a series of crimes and interrogate suspects to uncover the truth. The game features a unique interrogation system, where your choices and dialogue options determine the outcome of each interaction, leading to multiple endings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing central mystery that keeps players engaged throughout the investigation.
- The atmosphere and aesthetic are well-crafted, enhancing the overall experience with a spooky vibe.
- The hint system is a helpful addition, allowing players to unlock videos when they get stuck, making it easier to progress.
- The keyword search functionality is frustratingly flawed, often requiring overly specific terms that hinder gameplay.
- The acting quality is inconsistent, with some performances being distractingly poor, particularly from certain characters like Natalie.
- The story's resolution is unsatisfying and leaves many questions unanswered, detracting from the overall experience.
- story90 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Interrogation Files: Port Landsend" is engaging and reminiscent of "Her Story," featuring a captivating murder mystery with multiple suspects and intriguing twists. However, many players noted that the plot becomes predictable and convoluted as it progresses, with some expressing frustration over the search mechanics that hinder the storytelling experience. Overall, while the narrative has its strengths, it suffers from execution flaws, particularly in pacing and character delivery, leaving some players wanting more.
“The story is really well done and the dialogue is well written, but it definitely seems like they just brought the actors in for one or two days of shooting and didn't give them a script to memorize lines.”
“The story was unique, and I found myself invested in trying to figure out the case.”
“For a first attempt, Interrogation Files: Port Landsend is a great detective story and although it has its shortcomings, I had a blast with its mystery.”
“The story derails by the end with a pretty weak resolution.”
“The story is internally inconsistent: college finals ended just two weeks ago and the characters were in town for the summer -- but the crime occurs at the end of October.”
“Unlike her story, which this game desperately wants to be, the videos are arbitrarily gated and what search terms you use to find the videos are needlessly specific.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Interrogation Files" is heavily inspired by "Her Story," featuring a simplistic database search mechanic for video clips, but it suffers from awkwardness and arbitrary results. Players find the main mechanic increasingly broken as they progress, leading to diminished engagement, while issues with writing and acting further detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, fans of the genre may still find some enjoyment in its premise.
“The gameplay is very similar to 'Her Story' in which the player searches a database for short video clips to watch.”
“Similar gameplay to 'Her Story' but with more characters.”
“So if you've already played and enjoyed Sam Barlow's offerings, and you'd like some more of this gameplay style, 'Interrogation Files' may just fit the bill.”
“The gameplay of Interrogation Files: Port Landsend is very simplistic and is heavily inspired by 'Her Story'.”
“The searching mechanic was more than a little awkward at times; it seemed quite arbitrary whether a video would turn up when you searched for a word.”
“Like I said, the main mechanic is more and more broken as you progress, so you simply stop caring, which is too bad.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unsettling and immersive quality, enhanced by ambient tracks that contribute to a creepy experience. Players recommend enjoying it in a dark setting for maximum impact, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“The atmosphere is great, and sitting in the dark and playing this game would be a blast.”
“But overall, I love the atmosphere of the game, and it's definitely worth playing.”
“There's not much music, but there are ambient tracks that play when you're watching the videos, and they really contribute to the uneasy atmosphere and creep you out.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's performances has been criticized, with some actors appearing to read directly from scripts, leading to jarring and unrealistic portrayals. While the underlying murder mystery is well-structured, the tedious database search and occasional wooden deliveries detract from the overall experience.
“The database search is tedious; however, one or two actors' deliveries, particularly Natalie's performance, are pretty wooden.”
“Her performance was so jarring and unrealistic that after a few of her clips, I just shut the game off.”
“The actor's performance is not the best (sometimes you will catch people literally reading from a script), but beyond that lies a great murder mystery with well-structured twists.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics effectively capture a distinct aesthetic, drawing inspiration from real locations like Port Townsend and Fort Worden, which adds a layer of authenticity to the visuals. While the spooky elements are fictional, the overall design resonates well with players familiar with these settings.
“The graphics nail the aesthetic perfectly.”
“I appreciated that the visuals and locations were clearly inspired by Port Townsend and Fort Worden, which I've visited many times over the years. Although all the spooky elements are completely fictionalized, it's a nice touch.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is minimal but effectively enhances the atmosphere, with ambient tracks that contribute to a sense of unease during video sequences and a spooky vibe in the menu. Overall, players appreciate how the sound design complements the game's eerie tone.
“I loved the music.”
“There's not much music, but there are ambient tracks that play when you're watching the videos, and they really enhance the uneasy atmosphere and creep you out.”
“The music in the menu adds an additional spooky vibe.”
“There's not much music, but there are ambient tracks that play when you're watching the videos, and they really contribute to the uneasy atmosphere and creep you out.”
“The music in the menu only adds to the spooky vibe.”
