Loco Motive

About

"Loco Motive" is a narrative-driven murder mystery game where players, in the role of Mr. Arthur Ackerman, must solve a murder and uncover a conspiracy aboard a luxurious train. Initially created as a proof-of-concept during AdvXJam 2020, the game has since been reimagined as a full release with new and expanded features. Players can expect a immersive and engaging experience with a unique cast of characters and a branching storyline.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+10

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 453 reviews

story94 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

Loco Motive is a charming point-and-click adventure that captures the essence of classic LucasArts games with its witty writing, engaging story, and memorable characters.
The game features stunning pixel art and fluid animations, making it visually appealing and immersive.
The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth and personality to the characters, enhancing the overall experience.

Some puzzles can feel illogical or overly complex, leading to frustration and reliance on the hint system, which may not always provide clear guidance.
There are occasional bugs and glitches, such as characters disappearing or the game freezing, which can disrupt gameplay.
The game may feel repetitive at times due to the limited setting, primarily taking place on a train, which can lead to backtracking.

story
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The story of the game is a lighthearted murder mystery set aboard a luxurious train, featuring engaging characters and witty dialogue that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures. While the plot is straightforward and occasionally predictable, it is enriched by clever writing, delightful humor, and superb voice acting, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre. Overall, the narrative is well-structured, filled with charming twists, and effectively integrates puzzles that enhance the storytelling.
- “The story is captivating and filled with delightful twists and turns, making you feel like you're part of a fantastic mystery.”
- “The story itself is relatively straightforward, but what truly makes it shine is its cast of colorful and memorable characters.”
- “With an engaging story, clever puzzles, and memorable characters, it’s a joy to play.”
- “However, I felt that the beginning of the story didn't draw me in.”
- “Despite the triple protagonist flashback sequence structure, the story turns out pretty basic, and I ended the game wanting more from it.”
- “The story is decent and the game being set on a train for the most part is a nice change although it can feel a little repetitive traversing the same rooms and seeing some of the characters remaining in the same positions throughout the chapters without much additional dialogue.”
humor
145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
1%
The humor in "Loco Motive" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and top-notch voice acting, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventure games like those from LucasArts. While some jokes may not land for everyone, many players found themselves genuinely laughing at the quirky characters and absurd situations, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with mystery, making it a delightful and memorable adventure.
- “Love the art style and the voice acting and writing are hilarious!”
- “The comedic timing and clever writing had me chuckling throughout the entire journey.”
- “Loco Motive is a delightful throwback to classic point-and-click adventure games, capturing the charm and humor of old LucasArts titles.”
- “Unfortunately, it's just not funny.”
graphics
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of "Loco Motive" have received widespread acclaim for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click games while incorporating modern touches and smooth animations. Players appreciate the attention to detail, vibrant visuals, and expressive character designs, although some have noted minor graphical glitches and a lack of ultrawide support. Overall, the game's art style, combined with excellent voice acting and engaging storytelling, creates a visually appealing experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “Loving the graphics as well... and ... there is a noir mode!”
- “The vibrant pixel art style and whimsical setting immediately captured my attention, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience.”
- “The pixel graphics and their consistency are incredibly well executed.”
- “No ultrawide support for this game, although I managed to beg someone at WSGF Discord to make one. It works, but only half of the time due to the nature of this game having pixel art graphics; ultrawide fixes don't work when there's literally nothing to render on the sides, which exists in many areas of this game.”
- “I’m not all that chuffed on the graphics; not that they’re bad, exactly, but they’re in a 16-bit pixelated style that some may find happily retro, but kind of annoys me in a modern game.”
- “Cons: graphics are like the old DOS games.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
31%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its jazzy soundtrack that perfectly complements the 1930s setting and enhances the overall atmosphere. Composed by Paul Zimmerman, the soundtrack is described as dynamic, fitting, and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's charm alongside excellent voice acting and writing. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience and evoking nostalgia for classic adventure games.
- “Great voice acting and an ingeniously fitting soundtrack round off the beautiful pixel atmosphere.”
- “The art style perfectly complements the game’s nostalgic vibe, while the jazz-infused soundtrack with a touch of mystery sets the mood for every moment.”
- “The music is, quite frankly, the best I've heard in a game since Monkey Island and Fate of Atlantis.”
- “The music is jazzy, appropriate to the period, and is not intrusive but pretty forgettable.”
- “The jazzy soundtrack and the voice acting are competently made and suit the genre.”
- “Decent music: while not as praise-worthy as the above, it sets a decent tone and never gets irritating, which is a really important element in a puzzle game where you might be in the same area for a while trying to reason through a problem.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The gameplay of "Loco Motive" is characterized by its classic point-and-click mechanics, featuring engaging puzzles that strike a balance between challenge and accessibility, though some players noted occasional frustrations with puzzle logic and execution. The game is praised for its charming visuals, strong narrative, and character interactions, while also incorporating fresh elements like character-switching mechanics. Overall, it offers a nostalgic yet modern experience for fans of the genre, despite some minor gameplay hiccups.
- “The puzzles strike the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, keeping the gameplay engaging without becoming frustrating.”
- “Loco Motive adopts the classic mechanics of point-and-click adventure games, which involve exploring environments, collecting items, gathering information through conversations, and solving puzzles along the way.”
- “As for gameplay: the puzzles are fantastic, parallel and non-linear, often very original, perfectly calibrated in terms of difficulty.”
- “Gameplay is your usual point-and-click fare with very little to create a mechanical shake-up.”
- “Has a little bit of point-and-click obtuseness (including a couple parts where the solution was clear but the actual mechanic of how they want you to do it is less clear, i.e., needing to combine in inventory in a certain order instead of using, or that sort of thing).”
- “Awesome graphics, great music and voice acting, and decent humor as well, but awful gameplay.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a mixed experience for players, with several encountering significant softlock glitches that can ruin saves, necessitating restarts. While many report various bugs, primarily visual and audio issues, players appreciate that the developers are actively working on patches to address these problems. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, potential players may want to wait for further updates to improve stability.
- “I need to preface this review by stating that I really wanted to leave a negative review from how many save-ruining softlock glitches I encountered upon final release.”
- “Upon release, I encountered two different softlock glitches that completely ruined the saves and forced me to restart the game each time.”
- “Amazing game, but in the last few chapters there are some visual glitches where characters appear behind objects they should be in front of or vice versa.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
23%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful pixel art, exceptional voice acting, and fitting soundtrack, which together create an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the charming and whimsical tone, complemented by well-written dialogue and humor, as well as the effective use of music to enhance the overall mood. The combination of stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design contributes to a memorable gaming experience that resonates with players long after they finish.
- “Great voice acting and an ingeniously fitting soundtrack round off the beautiful pixel atmosphere.”
- “The stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design create an unforgettable gaming experience that will stay with you long after you finish playing. 10/10”
- “The art style, the character animations, the witty dialogues, the music, the overall atmosphere... I know it's commonplace to compare adventure games to the old LucasArts titles (it's justified, of course, but one should not forget about the Wadjet Eye games either!), but truly Loco Motive is way more than a spiritual successor to games like Monkey Island.”
- “It starts with a comical Orient Express-like atmosphere that lasts quite a while, but then, when you think the game is over, the setting changes, revealing new, long, and beautiful sections.”
- “It strikes a delightful balance between whimsy and intrigue, creating an atmosphere that enhances every moment of gameplay.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to achievement hunters rather than providing multiple endings or significant narrative choices. With a playtime of around 10 hours, players may find some value in revisiting for missed achievements, but overall, the experience is not compelling enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “There is a decent amount of replayability in the game, not for different endings, but for achievement hunters.”
- “The game offers some replayability for those looking to complete achievements, even if the story experience is primarily a one-time journey.”
- “Very short, 0 replay value.”
- “There are no true choices of how to proceed in the game, and it's not overtly entertaining as a story beyond one pass through, so the replay value is marginal until you forget the game a bit.”
- “It has replay value in the form of (potentially) missed achievements.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with players expressing enjoyment through laughter and tears. The engaging characters and story, combined with superb voice acting, create a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, making it a delightful and fulfilling journey without the need for overly complex narratives.
- “I laughed, I cried - I spent an entire afternoon, and I regret none of it.”
- “The voice acting is superb, the puzzles are absolutely maddening, and the characters and story are just plain fun, engaging, and heartfelt.”
- “In the end, Loco Motive is a heartfelt love letter to the golden age of point-and-click adventures.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight that while the game's performances and writing are exceptional, there is no specific mention of optimization issues, suggesting that the game runs smoothly and enhances the overall experience. Players are drawn in by the engaging content rather than any technical shortcomings.
- “I don't think there was a single performance here that I would describe as anything less than great; the only exceptions being the ones that somehow managed to be even better.”
- “There were others that stood out to me, like Antonio Greco as Donny Donato, but I will stress again that every voice actor here delivered an excellent performance and added so, so much charm to the experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its exceptional design and animation, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail that captures the essence of classic pixel art while incorporating modern touches. The overall visual style, including UI and locations, is also commended for its brilliance.
- “Character design and animation is just perfect. They actually spent enough time to animate and polish the characters.”
- “Let's start off with the art style: the character designs and animation are top tier. It definitely has subtle modern touches, but really captures the essence of the pixel art from those early Monkey Island entries.”
- “The visual style is just brilliant: UI, locations, character designs!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with some suggesting it requires an unrealistic amount of time and effort to progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I love point-and-click games and have finished hundreds of them, but this one is just tedious.”