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Interrogation Files: Port Landsend

86%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, atmosphere
86% User Score Based on 70 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows

About

"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.

Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
Interrogation Files: Port Landsend screenshot
+2

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews
story38 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions

  • The story is engaging and well-structured, keeping players invested in the mystery.
  • The game features a good hint system that helps players progress when they get stuck.
  • The atmosphere and aesthetic effectively capture a creepy, nostalgic vibe reminiscent of old VHS tapes.
  • The acting quality is inconsistent, with some performances being notably poor and distracting.
  • The keyword search functionality is frustratingly flawed, often requiring overly specific terms to find relevant videos.
  • The game lacks a satisfying resolution, leaving many plot points and questions unanswered.
  • story
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Interrogation Files: Port Landsend" is generally praised for its intriguing plot and detailed world-building, drawing strong comparisons to "Her Story" in its gameplay mechanics and narrative style. While many players found the initial storyline captivating, some noted that it becomes predictable and convoluted towards the end, with a weak resolution. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of FMV mysteries, though it suffers from issues in execution, such as inconsistent acting and a frustrating search mechanic.

    • “This is one of the best detective games for background story, characters, and how detailed the town is.”
    • “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.”
    • “Full of tons of lore and details that make the storytelling that much richer, and everyone really seems like a suspect until the very end, keeping it engaging all the way through.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story and acting are okay, but the way the search tool works is frustrating.”
    • “The game involves using keywords to uncover videos to progress the story, but the search terms don't correspond to the exact script, making it unnecessarily complicated.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Interrogation Files: Port Landsend" 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 a lack of engagement, compounded by clunky writing and subpar acting. While it may appeal to fans of similar gameplay styles, significant refinement is needed for a more enjoyable experience.

    • “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 becomes more and more broken as you progress, so you simply stop caring, which is too bad.”
  • graphics
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics effectively capture a nostalgic aesthetic, drawing inspiration from real locations like Port Townsend and Fort Worden, while incorporating fictional spooky elements. The interface enhances this retro vibe, resembling a vintage computer or VHS style.

    • “The graphics nail the aesthetic perfectly.”
    • “I appreciated that the visuals of the town 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.”
    • “The interface closely resembles a retro computer/VHS aesthetic, which adds to the overall charm.”
    • “The interface is nearly identical, creating a nonspecific retro computer/VHS aesthetic.”
    • “I also liked that in terms of location and visuals, the town was obviously based on Port Townsend and Fort Worden, which I've visited numerous times over the years. Although all the spooky stuff is 100% fictionalized, lol.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 feature worth experiencing.

    • “The atmosphere is great, and sitting in the dark while 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.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game's performances has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that certain actors appear to be reading from scripts, leading to jarring and unrealistic portrayals. While the overall murder mystery is praised for its structure and twists, the database search feature is considered tedious, and a few performances, particularly that of Natalie, are described as wooden.

    • “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.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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'll begin by saying 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.”

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