Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived
- December 4, 2019
- Critique Gaming
- 11h median play time
Interrogation: You will be deceived is a cops and robbers game where the action takes place inside a single room, with you having to skilfully manipulate suspects into spilling the beans… by any means necessary. It has its issues, like how annoyingly precise you have to be with your moves, or how it's sometimes hard to understand why you failed, leading to plenty of trial-and-error, and, yes, this is a niche title that won't appeal to just about anyone. Having said that, it's a very good interrogation sim, features a great noir art style, and is deeply immersive.
Get on Steam"Interrogation: You will be deceived" is a conversational puzzle game where you investigate a terrifying conspiracy involving a terrorist organization. Balance cases, team, budget, and public relations while coordinating with your team and interrogating suspects. With over 35 characters, expressive noir art, and multiple endings, your choices will determine the outcome in this immersive and strategic game.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged and invested in the characters and their motivations.
- The art style is unique and atmospheric, enhancing the noir theme and overall immersion of the game.
- The gameplay mechanics allow for multiple approaches to interrogations, providing a sense of agency and replayability.
- Chapter 8 introduces a frustrating sequence of dialogue choices that can lead to instant failure, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game can be overly reliant on trial and error, making it difficult to discern the correct choices needed to progress.
- Some players may find the political themes and character portrayals to be heavy-handed or lacking nuance.
- story131 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally engaging and well-written, featuring a rich narrative that evolves based on player choices, which adds replayability. However, some players found the antagonist weak and the plot somewhat simplistic or politically biased, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and originality. Overall, while the story captivates many with its immersive elements and character development, it can also be text-heavy and occasionally confusing, detracting from the overall experience.
“From its gripping storyline to its immersive interrogation mechanics, this game kept me on the edge of my seat and thoroughly engaged from start to finish.”
“The game's branching storyline and multiple endings added a layer of replayability, as I made difficult decisions that shaped the outcome of the investigation.”
“The story is rich and immersive.”
“The weak point of the story is the antagonist, plain and simple.”
“It's common sense that the enemy group would've fallen apart immediately had the story not demanded it stay intact simply for the story's sake.”
“Overall, I enjoyed playing this game and that's why I'm giving it a thumbs up, but the story itself is just bafflingly unrealistic.”
- gameplay103 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique interrogation mechanics and a blend of narrative-driven elements, offering an immersive experience that keeps players engaged. While the core mechanics are intriguing, some players find them inconsistent and reliant on trial and error, leading to frustration during critical moments. Overall, the game successfully combines detective work with management elements, though it could benefit from clearer guidance on certain mechanics to enhance player experience.
“From its gripping storyline to its immersive interrogation mechanics, this game kept me on the edge of my seat and thoroughly engaged from start to finish.”
“The player has to keep in mind the suspect's fear and openness to questioning and choose a line of questions that match the suspect's emotional state, which is both a cool mechanic and a great way to direct storytelling.”
“The gameplay is a mix of Planescape Torment or Disco Elysium's conversation-led systems combined with a light management sim and some puzzle solving.”
“The gameplay feels alright and the mechanics are very interesting.”
“The gameplay is mainly divided into two aspects: the interrogations and the behind-the-scenes management of your campaign.”
“The core gameplay loop can require a bit of trial and error; once you discover an intriguing fact, it's not very clear which suspect or conversation you need to then go to to make use of it.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning noir art style, which effectively enhances the atmospheric experience and complements the compelling writing. While many players appreciate the unique and memorable visuals, some have noted issues with low-quality graphics and a lack of customization options. Overall, the art style is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's immersive and engaging narrative.
“In addition to its compelling gameplay, interrogation also boasts stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design that enhance the overall experience.”
“The gritty art style and moody soundtrack set the perfect tone for the game's noir-inspired setting, immersing players in a world of intrigue and danger.”
“The art style is quite unique and it fits the theme of the game.”
“There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
“The only other big issue is that the graphics issues need to be fixed in-game, so that users can just play without having to Google fixes or write in reviews.”
- music27 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the noir-inspired setting. While some players noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive, many found it to be intense and well-complemented by the game's visuals and writing, contributing significantly to the overall tension and engagement. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the gameplay, with a few suggestions for more ambient music during quieter moments.
“The gritty art style and moody soundtrack set the perfect tone for the game's noir-inspired setting, immersing players in a world of intrigue and danger.”
“I will say though that the art style is fantastic and the music and atmosphere really push that noir feel to another level.”
“The music builds tension pretty well during the interrogations.”
“So I can hear droning background music straight into my eardrums?”
“Just the music is a bit repetitive.”
“I do wish there was some ambient music while you're reading briefings/reports.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its evocative noir style, enhanced by stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and immersive music. Reviewers highlight the compelling integration of art and narrative, creating a memorable experience that effectively captures the tension and despair of detective work. Overall, the combination of well-written characters and engaging gameplay contributes to a rich and immersive atmosphere.
“In addition to its compelling gameplay, the interrogation also boasts stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design that enhance the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere of the game is evocative.”
“This game is so wonderfully immersive; I love the atmosphere and the pressure during interrogations.”
“A true disappointment, especially for the quality of the art and the atmosphere.”
“The rough animations and facial expressions really hurt the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere of the game is lacking and fails to engage the player.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the character trait selection and branching storylines that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others feel that the core content remains largely unchanged after the first completion. Although there are opportunities to explore different play styles and difficulty levels, many reviewers noted that the overall replay value is limited, with some expressing doubts about its longevity beyond a few runs.
“The game's branching storyline and multiple endings added a layer of replayability, as I made difficult decisions that shaped the outcome of the investigation.”
“My next playthrough I'm going to go full on bad cop, so definitely high replayability a few times at least.”
“There is a perks system that allows you to opt into using more conversational ('good') methods of interrogation, or more torturous ('evil') methods, which brings in replay value.”
“Still, I think the replayability is zero, because the contents are all the same with the second playthrough.”
“It doesn't lend itself to being particularly replayable, even with the opportunity to pursue a different style of interrogation.”
“Very little replay value, as you already know who is guilty in each case and just need to press a few more buttons in the other difficulty settings.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and uninteresting, often leading to burnout and frustration, especially during repetitive tasks and challenging levels. While some appreciate the game's potential and enjoy certain elements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“It is just tedious and uninteresting.”
“Great promise, gets very tedious as it goes on.”
“However, due to strenuous replays and a little bit of lack of guidance, the tediousness has far outweighed my enjoyment, which is saying a lot as I've really enjoyed everything else.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its emphasis on empathy and emotional manipulation, where players must navigate suspects' feelings to unlock new dialogue options and drive the narrative. The pressure of time limits adds intensity to interrogations, leading to morally complex decisions, such as resorting to violence to elicit confessions, which enhances the emotional stakes of the gameplay.
“In the empathetic/emotional manipulation playthrough, each mission I clicked through all the options, got the suspects to like me by considering their ideology and agreeing with their motives. Voila! New conversation options appeared, which led me to the conviction.”
“The player has to keep in mind the suspect's fear and openness to questioning, choosing a line of questions that matches the suspect's emotional state. This is both a cool mechanic and a great way to direct storytelling.”
“The times that I was under a time limit really made me feel the pressure in interrogating the suspects, and I actually ended up beating up one or two witnesses just to scare them enough into confessing.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be highly entertaining, with moments that elicit genuine laughter, such as unexpected and absurd scenarios. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor that enhances the gameplay experience.
“Because the game decided that's when it would be funny to watch my head get popped.”
“This game was extremely funny to play.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the optimization aspect of the game, noting that it involves making tough decisions and effectively managing resources during the campaign phase. The ability to allocate funds to enhance in-game performance adds depth to the gameplay experience.
“Played through all the endings, and all of them bring really tough decisions along the way together with a lot of optimization in press releases and campaign phases.”
“Played through all the endings, and all of them bring really tough decisions along the way together with a lot of optimization in press releases and campaign phase.”
“There is some money allotted to your team and many ways to make use of it, improving your in-game performance.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features compelling character designs presented in a stylish black-and-white noir aesthetic, which enhances the psychological and legal themes explored throughout the narrative. However, the reviewer notes a lack of recent engagement with the game, suggesting that their insights on character development may be limited.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
“I was impressed by how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly reflect their growth and struggles.”
“The interactions between characters are well-written and contribute significantly to their development, making you feel invested in their journeys.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have reported issues with stability, particularly noting that the response options during interrogations are frequently buggy, leading to confusion and a lack of coherence in gameplay.
Critic Reviews
Interrogation: You will be deceived Review
Interrogation: You will be deceived is a cops and robbers game where the action takes place inside a single room, with you having to skilfully manipulate suspects into spilling the beans… by any means necessary. It has its issues, like how annoyingly precise you have to be with your moves, or how it's sometimes hard to understand why you failed, leading to plenty of trial-and-error, and, yes, this is a niche title that won't appeal to just about anyone. Having said that, it's a very good interrogation sim, features a great noir art style, and is deeply immersive.
70%Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived review – Question everything
Interrogation: You will be deceived uses its detective story and a compelling cast of characters as a jumping-off point to explore morality and social issues. Even if it sometimes gets a bit lost in the philosophical weeds at the expense of its narrative, the core gameplay of conversation puzzles and resource management is solid and the noir atmosphere absorbing.
80%Interrogation: You will be deceived (Nintendo Switch)
That about wraps this investigation, Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived is no longer a suspect to being a bad game. Multiple levels of difficulty allow for multiple playthroughs. The Visual Novel is interesting enough for players who just want the story, while the other two difficulties add a bit of twists and turns to the already enjoyable game. Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived certainly is with the asking price of $12.99.
75%
