Master Magistrate

About

In "Master Magistrate," become the Magistrate of Nakamachi tasked with upholding law and order in a picturesque Japanese town. Solve cases, pass judgment, and interact with a lively cast of characters, all backed by full Japanese voice acting and a 40+ song soundtrack. Four cases and over 150 CGs await in this indie detective game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews

story17 positive mentions

The game features a compelling story with well-written characters, each having distinct personalities and development arcs.
The art and soundtrack are praised for their quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
The gameplay combines visual novel elements with investigation and courtroom drama, providing an engaging experience for fans of the genre.

The investigation and deduction mechanics are less refined compared to similar games like Ace Attorney, leading to confusion during court cases.
Some character motivations and plot points can feel absurd or unbelievable, detracting from the overall immersion.
The localization and translation issues can make certain segments hard to follow, impacting the clarity of the narrative.

story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
4%
The story is a standout feature of the game, praised for its engaging narrative and character development, particularly through a compelling murder mystery framework and notable redemption arcs. While the visual novel elements are well-executed, some players found the investigation mechanics lacking, and the integration of adult content is seen as somewhat disconnected from the main storyline. Overall, the writing and character depth contribute to a captivating experience, despite some inconsistencies and pacing issues.
- “The story features one of the best character redemption arcs I've seen, turning a fairly hated character into a respected, likable one partway through the narrative.”
- “The writing is what grabbed me, with a truly engaging story filled with fun and interesting characters.”
- “Despite the serious nature of the crimes and the overall story, it manages to strike a nice balance with its comedy, throwing in a silly joke here and there to keep things lighthearted.”
- “Forget exciting mysteries, the story just does a bunch of intensely boring slice-of-life (and I love slice-of-life) full of all the anime tropes, and I threw in the towel.”
- “It's recommendable, it's an okay game, but the story and 'interjections' have a lot of inconsistencies!”
- “Some stuff in the plot could have been done better, mainly the backstories of some characters being put in an odd place.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple and beginner-friendly mechanics that revolve around watching story scenes, investigating crime scenes, and interacting with witnesses, reminiscent of courtroom-style games like Ace Attorney. While some players found the initial cases to be lackluster, the overall experience is enjoyable, offering a blend of interesting storytelling and engaging gameplay, enhanced by appealing visuals and a comedic touch.
- “Interesting gameplay and a nice story.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are simple and beginner-friendly.”
- “The visuals are great, the gameplay is simple, yet fun to play around with, and the story is pretty interesting too, with a nice touch of comedy.”
- “The gameplay loop is essentially watching a bunch of story scenes until a murder case happens, followed by investigating areas for clues and talking to witnesses.”
- “This doesn't mean the gameplay element is bad, but I did feel like the first two cases were a bit lackluster.”
- “The first trial is also quite short and exceedingly easy, as you’re being introduced to the game mechanics.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its cohesiveness and ability to enhance the atmosphere. The soundtrack features a variety of instruments, contributing to a captivating and immersive experience, although some reviewers noted it may not be particularly standout. Overall, the music complements the art and narrative effectively, creating a solid auditory backdrop for the gameplay.
- “The atmosphere and ambiance really captivated me, and I probably spent over 10 minutes being fascinated by how beautiful the world was when I first started the game. The soundtrack is phenomenal too, with a lot of instruments like the koto being put into play, thus making the traditional aura stand out a lot more.”
- “The story is very good and entertaining, the art is beautiful, and both the music and character voices complement the game.”
- “The music is great and catchy; it captures the mood very well.”
- “The art and music are both more than serviceable.”
- “Not BGM (prefer OST disc 2, track 15, Seifuumeigetsu).”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style and impressive visuals, with many users highlighting the gorgeous character artwork and detailed backgrounds. The combination of beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Not that the art style isn't already one by itself... damn, speaking about the art, it's friggin gorgeous! I loved it.”
- “The visuals are great, the gameplay is simple, yet fun to play around with, and the story is pretty interesting too, with a nice touch of comedy.”
- “Graphic-wise, Master Magistrate is gorgeous and contains a lot of different CGs.”
- “On the graphical side of things, the game does have some good art to it.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny and heartwarming, enhanced by great storytelling and well-developed characters with unique quirks. Players appreciate the hilarious responses and the encouragement to make unconventional choices, with even minor translation issues being addressed in a humorous manner.
- “Funny and heartwarming.”
- “A great storytelling combined with excellent characters, each with their own quirks and humor.”
- “In fact, some of the responses are hilarious and the achievements encourage you to make wrong choices.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game features impressive and believable character development, with a strong emphasis on individuality and personality. Players appreciate the vibrant and detailed character designs that enhance the narrative, alongside effective voice acting and meaningful interactions that contribute to a rich character experience.
- “The game really has interesting character development that impressed me.”
- “+ excellent character development that is actually believable and relatable.”
- “There was a lot of care put into accentuating the characters' individuality and personality, be it through the detailed character design, voice acting, or interactions with the protagonist and the other characters.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them on an emotional level.”
- “Despite the vibrant designs, the characters often fall into clichéd roles that don't evolve throughout the game.”
- “The interactions between characters are limited, which undermines the potential for meaningful development and growth.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating historical ambiance and beautiful world design, which immerses players from the start. The phenomenal soundtrack, featuring traditional instruments like the koto, enhances the overall experience, contributing to a well-crafted and engaging environment.
- “The atmosphere and ambiance really captivated me, and I probably spent over 10 minutes being fascinated by how beautiful the world was when I first started the game. The soundtrack is phenomenal too, with a lot of instruments like the koto being put into play, thus making the traditional aura stand out a lot more.”
- “I like the historical atmosphere.”
- “They praised the great direction sense, well-crafted scenario, immersive atmosphere, and fascinating soundtrack, amongst other aspects.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its blend of humor and heartwarming moments, evoking strong feelings that resonate with players, some of whom reported being moved to tears.
- “It's emotional, and I even cried a little.”
- “funny and heartwarming.”
- “funny and heartwarming.”