Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 111 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus Game Cover
Starting at $41.99Buy now
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.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews
story11 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features a visually stunning cyberpunk world with impressive character designs and a captivating atmosphere.
  • The overarching mystery and plot twists are engaging, with some chapters providing memorable and enjoyable gameplay experiences.
  • The game successfully incorporates various gameplay mechanics, including unique detective abilities and a variety of minigames that keep the experience fresh.
  • Many characters feel recycled from previous Danganronpa titles, leading to a lack of originality and depth in character development.
  • The pacing suffers due to excessive dialogue and exposition, making some sequences feel tedious and drawn out.
  • The mysteries are often too easy to solve, with a reliance on convenient plot devices and deus ex machina moments that undermine the overall challenge.
  • story64 mentions

    The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging characters, unexpected plot twists, and emotional depth, while others criticize it for relying on convenient resolutions and predictable outcomes. Many players found the narrative to be a bumpy ride, with significant plot holes and a meandering structure that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is noted for its solid writing and ability to surprise, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate story-driven gameplay.

    • “The story, characters, and plot twists are quite solid and well written.”
    • “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 narrative is cohesive and doesn't have a weird 'they were twins' plot twist like the Danganronpa games.”
    • “Pretty much every case ends with a very convenient deus ex machina (character A appears and pulls some kind of nonsense out of nowhere, plot's resolved, you leave) and everyone just brushes it off, time and again.”
    • “The plot just awkwardly meanders around the 'main mystery' for four chapters, with the last chapter being a walk through a completely linear environment to hastily resolve the 'main mystery'.”
    • “And the ending is just asinine, with a few massive, glaring plot holes.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay is generally structured into three phases per chapter, offering a mix of formulaic elements and surprising variety, though some dungeon mechanics can feel repetitive. Players appreciate the improvements over previous titles in the Danganronpa series, such as 3D models and a quasi-free roam map, while the overall experience is described as solid and enjoyable, with a captivating story and stable performance. Despite some indifference towards the gameplay loop, many find the mystery-solving mechanics and minigames engaging, contributing to a polished and addictive experience.

    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, and the game took me around 40 hours to complete.”
    • “The mystery labyrinth mechanic to solve the cases is very fun and the 'minigames' that comprise them are always a pleasure to play.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, often drawing comparisons to the Danganronpa series due to the involvement of the same composer, Masafumi Takada. While some players find the soundtrack a bit too reminiscent of Danganronpa, many appreciate its engaging and adaptive nature that complements the game's various phases. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “Look no further because there's plenty here accompanied by a boppin' soundtrack.”
    • “+ 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.”
    • “The 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.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their stunning art style and expression, effectively capturing a unique cyberpunk/steampunk aesthetic. While the visuals are impressive, performance issues arise from suboptimal optimization on Unreal Engine 4, particularly on the Switch, which affects frame rates and overall graphical quality. Fans of the Danganronpa series will appreciate the familiar art style and character designs, though some desire more flexibility in graphic settings.

    • “The graphics in this game are more about art style and expression, which Rain Code Plus absolutely nails.”
    • “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 new full 3D art style also foregoes any resemblance to a visual novel in the best way.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on PC with high performance at 1440p and 144Hz, many users note that it is underwhelming on Unreal Engine 4 due to inadequate optimization, leading to performance issues in certain scenarios. Despite these concerns, the visuals are praised, and some configurations, like the mobile RTX 3070, can achieve decent frame rates without stuttering.

    • “For reference, a mobile RTX 3070 can run it in 1440p at 70-90fps with no stuttering.”
    • “Together with the improved lighting and performance, the overall impression is great.”
    • “+ great performance on PC.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “For reference, a mobile RTX 3070 can run it in 1440p at 70-90 fps with no stuttering.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a unique blend of dark and lewd elements, creating a bizarre yet entertaining experience that stands out in the genre. Players who appreciate murder mysteries infused with dark humor and subtle fanservice are likely to enjoy this unconventional approach. Overall, while some may find the humor divisive, it aligns well with the game's unexpected plot twists and intriguing characters.

    • “The dark humor mixed with risqué jokes here and there makes for a very bizarre combination I haven’t seen implemented properly for quite a while.”
    • “So, if you like murder mystery, dark humor, and a tiny bit of non-intrusive fanservice - you’ll definitely enjoy Rain Code.”
    • “The humor they put in their work is unexpected and adds to the interesting characters and plot twists.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Master Detective Archives: Raincode" is praised for its compelling characters, intricate story, and heartfelt moments, creating an engaging cyberpunk noir experience that resonates with players. 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 and wholesome ending.

    • “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.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to significantly hinder its pacing, leading to tedious experiences, particularly during the puzzle-solving labyrinth sections. Many express concern that the later chapters may exacerbate this tedium even further.

    • “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.”
  • character development6 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its top-notch design and high-quality presentation, reminiscent of the Danganronpa series due to the involvement of the same creator and character designer. Players appreciate the stylish artwork and engaging character designs, which contribute to an immersive and familiar experience. Overall, the combination of compelling visuals and strong character portrayal enhances the game's appeal.

    • “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.”
    • “From peak storyline, peak character design, peak voice acting, peak everything.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
    • “Despite the appealing character designs, the actual development of the characters is disappointing and feels rushed.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs do not evolve in a way that feels satisfying or engaging.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive cyberpunk noir vibe, effectively blending suspenseful storytelling with memorable characters and sidequests. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions and create a captivating environment that enhances the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “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 while.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable experience with minimal to no glitches or bugs affecting gameplay.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus

Videos

Similar Games