Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus
- July 17, 2024
- Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus" is a dark fantasy detective action game, set in a city shrouded by constant rain and controlled by a megacorporation. Players, as the protagonist Yuma, investigate mysteries in the real world and then conquer "Mystery Labyrinths" using collected clues to uncover the truth. Currently available in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese, with English and other languages planned to be added in a patch update on October 1st, 2024.
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story and atmosphere, drawing players into its cyberpunk world with engaging mysteries and character interactions.
- The gameplay mechanics, particularly the Mystery Labyrinths, provide a fun and unique twist on traditional detective work, making investigations feel dynamic and interactive.
- The art style and character design are visually appealing, with high production values that enhance the overall experience.
- Many players found the mystery-solving aspects to be too easy, lacking the depth and challenge expected from a game in this genre.
- The pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling drawn out and repetitive, particularly during investigations and certain minigames.
- Character development is often criticized, with some characters feeling underwhelming or lacking depth, leading to a diminished emotional impact during key story moments.
- story44 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging narrative, strong character development, and emotional depth, particularly in its cyberpunk noir setting. However, others criticize the simplicity of the plot twists, the presence of plot holes, and the reliance on convenient resolutions, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players find the story enjoyable and worth experiencing, especially for fans of detective games.
“Some of the best characters, story, atmosphere, and overall writing I've seen in a while. The story of this game is incredibly good; it envelops you in a cyberpunk noir mystery that touches all the right bases. It has suspense, clever crimes, amazing villains, even better protagonists, and some of the most heartfelt moments I've had in a story in a long time.”
“Master Detective Archives: Raincode is one of the best investigative adventures I've played since the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. The cases are amazing, the characters are incredible, the villains spectacular, and the overall mystery that connects all the happenings of the story is just beautiful to see unfold, leading to a great, heartfelt ending that will stay with me for quite a long time.”
“The story, characters, and plot twists are quite solid and well written.”
“The expectation of the game is to form bonds with your fellow master detectives, but I feel like the story and writing doesn't really sell it, therefore everything else loses any setup or meaning towards the end of the game.”
“It could have been good, but Kodaka fumbled it, leaving massive plot holes in its wake.”
“Pretty much every case ends with a very convenient deus ex machina, where character A appears and pulls some kind of nonsense out of nowhere, resolving the plot, and everyone just brushes it off time and again.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is generally praised for its addicting loop and polished mechanics, surpassing previous works by the same studio, particularly the Danganronpa series. While some players find the dungeon mechanics repetitive and the overall structure somewhat formulaic, the introduction of new features like 3D models and a quasi-free roam map adds variety and depth. Overall, the gameplay is solid, enjoyable, and well-received, contributing positively to the game's engaging story.
“Love the vibe, cool story, addicting gameplay loop.”
“+ The mystery labyrinth mechanic to solve the cases is very fun, and the minigames that comprise them are always a pleasure to play.”
“Spike Chunsoft absolutely knocked this one out of the park as it not only continues the great trend of mysteries to solve from the Danganronpa series but also immensely improves on the mechanics of those games by introducing 3D models, a quasi-free roam map, and even captivating side quests.”
“I'm indifferent towards this gameplay loop.”
“I enjoy this style a little more, because in the Danganronpa series there'd be too much time where you're just waiting for the correct statement to come along; without any real gameplay.”
“The game is honestly pretty solid and nice to play, albeit the dungeon mechanics are kind of repetitive which makes me lose interest in continuing.”
- music18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some users find it underwhelming and reminiscent of the Danganronpa series, others praise it as a perfect accompaniment to the gameplay, enhancing the atmosphere and engaging the player. Composed by Masafumi Takada, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to adapt to various phases of the game, creating an immersive experience. Overall, the music is recognized as a strong point, with many fans appreciating its quality and connection to the beloved Danganronpa franchise.
“Great soundtrack that accompanies the adventure perfectly, adapting to the various phases of an investigation effortlessly.”
“Walking around in this neon-lit, rainy cyberpunk but also fantastical place while Takada's soundtrack plays in the background certainly puts you in a special sort of trance.”
“Music is extremely underwhelming, especially considering Takada was the composer.”
“The worst part about this game is that the OST isn't available on Spotify.”
“The music feels indistinguishable from Danganronpa.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their striking cyberpunk/steampunk aesthetic and crisp character designs, effectively capturing a unique art style reminiscent of Danganronpa. However, performance issues arise from suboptimal optimization on the Switch, leading to a 30fps lock that detracts from the overall visual experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's visuals are celebrated for their artistic expression and improved quality.
“I think it nailed the weird cyberpunk/steampunk aesthetic pretty well and was consistent throughout the game.”
“+ Komatsuzaki's artwork and character designs are as crisp and stylish as ever.”
“I have no idea why Kodaka forced it to be on the Switch, which butchered its graphical quality and the flow of its gorgeous city, fast-paced minigames, and cutscenes with a 30fps lock.”
“- a bit more flexibility with graphic settings would be nice”
“The graphics in this game are more about art style and expression, which Rain Code Plus absolutely nails.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on PC at 1440p and 144Hz, some users noted underwhelming performance due to suboptimal use of Unreal Engine 4. Despite impressive visuals, certain settings significantly impact frame rates without noticeable benefits, leading to a less than stellar performance experience. However, many players still report great performance overall, particularly on higher-end hardware.
“From a technical standpoint, it didn't have port issues that v3 had and runs smoothly on PC.”
“Runs smoothly at 1440p and 144Hz.”
“Together with the improved lighting and performance, the overall impression is great.”
“That setting eats 20+ fps of performance, and I couldn't see a difference with it on or off, and I even made screenshots to compare.”
“The performance is a bit underwhelming, since it’s running on Unreal Engine 4 and was not properly optimized for it, but the visuals themselves are amazing.”
“For reference, a mobile RTX 3070 can run it in 1440p at 70-90 fps with no stuttering.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Master Detective Archives: Raincode" is praised for its compelling characters, intricate story, and heartfelt moments, creating a captivating cyberpunk noir experience. However, some reviewers note that it lacks the deep emotional connection found in the "Danganronpa" series due to its episodic character introductions and quick resolutions, which diminishes the overall emotional impact despite a satisfying conclusion.
“Some of the best characters, story, atmosphere, and overall writing I've seen in a while. The story of this game is incredibly good; it envelops you in a cyberpunk noir mystery that touches all the right bases. It has suspense, clever crimes, amazing villains, even better protagonists, and also some of the most heartfelt moments I've had in a story in a long while.”
“Master Detective Archives: Raincode is one of the best investigative adventures I've played since the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. The cases are amazing, the characters are incredible, the villains spectacular, and the overall mystery that connects all the happenings of the story is just beautiful to see unfold, leading to a great, heartfelt ending that will stay with me for quite a long time.”
“Though despite that, the canon ending of the game ends in a wholesome way, and it fulfills the desire of our main character perfectly.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning anime visual presentation and top-notch character design, contributing to an immersive experience in the atmospheric setting of Kanai Ward. Fans of the genre will appreciate the familiar style, as it features the same talented creators behind the beloved Danganronpa series, enhancing the overall quality of storytelling and character portrayal.
“The character designs are pretty pleasing, and it all feels high quality and quite high budget for a mystery game.”
“Komatsuzaki's artwork and character designs are as crisp and stylish as ever.”
“It has the same character designer and composer as Danganronpa, as well as the same creator, which leads to the game feeling very familiar if you've played those games before (in a good way!).”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“Despite the appealing designs, the characters don't evolve throughout the game, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete.”
“The dialogue is often repetitive, which detracts from the overall character development and makes interactions feel stale.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a unique blend of dirty and dark comedy, effectively combining lewd jokes with murder mystery elements. While some players may find it bizarre, those who appreciate this style of humor, along with intriguing characters and unexpected plot twists, are likely to enjoy the experience.
“The dark humor mixed with risqué jokes here and there creates a very bizarre combination I haven't seen implemented properly for quite a while.”
“If you enjoy murder mysteries, dark humor, and a touch of non-intrusive fanservice, you'll definitely enjoy Rain Code.”
“The humor in this game is unexpected and adds a unique charm to the plot twists, art style, and interesting characters.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive cyberpunk noir setting, rich storytelling, and memorable characters, creating a compelling blend of suspense and emotional depth. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place, particularly in Kanai Ward, and note that it successfully captures the vibe reminiscent of the Like a Dragon series.
“Some of the best characters, story, atmosphere, and overall writing I've seen in a while. The story of this game is incredibly good; it envelops you in a cyberpunk noir mystery that touches all the right bases. It has suspense, clever crimes, amazing villains, even better protagonists, and also some of the most heartfelt moments I've had in a story in a long while.”
“The atmosphere in Kanai Ward is amazing, and there are also a few side quests that remind me of the Like a Dragon series in how memorable they are.”
“After finally playing it, I can say that, while it’s partially true, it definitely has the exact same vibe and atmosphere.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to significantly hinder its pacing, leading to tedious experiences, particularly during puzzle-solving sections. The repetitive nature of these tasks is compared unfavorably to other games, raising concerns about the enjoyment of later chapters.
“The overall pacing of the game really suffers because of this, which can make some sequences extremely tedious to get through.”
“The puzzle-solving labyrinth section is even more tedious than the debating in Danganronpa.”
“I can't imagine how much more tedious the later chapters are going to be.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with minimal to no glitches or bugs affecting gameplay.
