Methods: The Detective Competition
- June 1, 2020
- LockedOn Games
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Methods: The Detective Competition" is a visual novel and crime investigation game where 100 detectives compete to solve mysteries created by criminal masterminds. Gameplay involves examining evidence and answering multiple-choice questions about the solution. The game features over 25 interactive crime scenes, an original soundtrack, and additional extras like a CG gallery and character bios. With 100 chapters and 139K words, it offers approximately 10 hours of gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features a large and diverse cast of characters, each with unique personalities and methods, making for engaging interactions and memorable moments.
- The writing is colorful, clever, and humorous, with natural dialogue that enhances the storytelling and keeps players invested in the characters and their journeys.
- The art style and graphic design are distinctive and appealing, complemented by a jazzy soundtrack that adds to the overall charm of the game.
- The pacing of the story can be erratic, particularly in the middle sections, leading to a less engaging experience during those chapters.
- Many of the mysteries are simplistic and lack depth, making them feel more like plot devices rather than challenging puzzles to solve.
- The game ends abruptly with numerous unanswered questions and a clear setup for a sequel, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
- story38 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and character-driven, featuring a unique premise where detectives and criminals compete in a battle royale, though it suffers from a weak middle section and some erratic pacing. While the mysteries are simple and serve more as plot devices, the writing, humor, and character interactions keep players invested throughout the narrative. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-rich experiences, despite its occasional shortcomings in mystery-solving depth.
“The storytelling and scene-setting are intriguing.”
“All of that added up to my sincerely caring about these characters, their interactions, and their success or failure, as well as my genuine interest in the detective competition and how the story would end.”
“The plot was intense, and the plot twists were never out of place.”
“The story was not as attractive in the beginning, and the cases were not as deductive as I expected them to be.”
“Ironically, the least interesting part of the game were the actual puzzles/mysteries; they only felt like simple plot devices to drive character interactions.”
“And the direction of the plot is a bit erratic in the middle and late stages, and bugs may appear when using the controller to play.”
- music15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its jazzy and emotional score, which enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the eccentric characters and art style. Players appreciate the unique tracks, with favorites like "772 investigates" and "baggage," and note the intricate way the music adapts to the dialogue and character features, adding depth to the storytelling experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element that elevates the game's enjoyment.
“The soundtrack was just amazing, tapping my feet throughout the whole game.”
“Very unique chapter design, interesting character creation, simple but fun reasoning design, and lazy and emotional jazz music.”
“The music was also tailored carefully according to the dialogue.”
“You can hear the music altering slightly as the dialogue progresses, which was super intricate and helps hone the atmosphere of the story so well.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in [i]methods[/i] are widely praised for their unique and eccentric art style, which enhances the personality of the characters and contributes to the overall enjoyable experience of the visual novel. The attractively drawn and animated chapter-title screens, along with the memorable character designs, create a visually captivating atmosphere that resonates well with fans of the genre. While some may find the style occasionally quirky, it is generally regarded as a standout feature that complements the game's lighthearted focus.
“Another large part of what drew me into methods was the graphic design, particularly the attractively drawn and nicely animated chapter-title screens.”
“As a visual novel fan, this one does stand out quite a bit with a unique art style and more lighthearted focus.”
“The art style really helps drive home the personality and uniqueness of every character.”
“As for the presentation, the art style is... unique, occasionally looks a bit dopey but it's interestingly stylized.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on visual novel elements, featuring minimal interactivity where players make choices from a limited set of options. While the narrative and character development are strong, the linearity of the mysteries and the occasional need to replay sections due to minor mistakes can detract from the overall experience. However, some moments, particularly in later rounds, offer more engaging gameplay that stands out amidst the otherwise simplistic mechanics.
“There is somewhat minimal gameplay, with mysteries being rather linear, but the strength of the characters and overall story help carry the game well.”
“The core gameplay does revolve around solving puzzles, but throughout the narrative you constantly switch characters and perspectives.”
“Granted, the fifth round is easily the most engaging from a gameplay perspective - really cool stuff happening there.”
“The gameplay itself is quite minimal, as the game is primarily a visual novel that periodically breaks off into simple mini-mysteries for you to solve.”
“The gameplay isn't really gameplay, just picking the right choice out of 3 or so options.”
“I also felt the mechanic of forcing you to replay cases if you got even one tiny detail wrong in the first half of the game was kind of pointless but that got dropped eventually.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as colorful, engaging, and clever, appealing particularly to fans of absurd characters and ensemble casts. While some players found certain aspects less funny, the overall consensus highlights a strong comedic element that enhances the characters and their interactions, making it a standout feature of the experience.
“The writing is colorful, engaging, funny, and clever.”
“I dig the humor so much!”
“But if you're a fan of absurd characters, solid humor, and interesting concepts, the game's packed full of those.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its strong writing and storytelling, which effectively endear players to the characters despite initial reservations about their designs. The distinctiveness and personality of the characters, combined with engaging dialogue and art style, contribute to a captivating experience that resonates with players.
“The writing and storytelling are so good, in fact, that by about a third of the way through, I realized that the character design was no longer off-putting to me--everyone in this world was endearing to me in their distinctiveness.”
“I was quickly captured by the art style, character designs, dialogue, and story it had to offer and loved every second of it.”
“The character designs do have a lot of personality.”
“Usually, I prefer character designs that are pleasing to look at.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a unique chapter design and engaging character creation that combine humor and heartfelt moments, enhanced by a simple yet enjoyable reasoning system and a laid-back jazz soundtrack. This interplay creates a rich emotional experience for players.
“The unique chapter design and interesting character creation, combined with simple yet engaging reasoning, create an emotional experience enhanced by the lazy jazz music.”
“The characters interact in ways that are both humorous and heartfelt, creating a deeply emotional connection.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the intricate interplay between music and dialogue, noting that the subtle changes in the soundtrack enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion of the story.
“The music subtly shifts as the dialogue unfolds, creating an intricate atmosphere that enhances the story beautifully.”
“The game's environment is so immersive; you can feel the tension in the air with every step you take.”
“The atmospheric details, from the sound design to the visual elements, pull you into the world and make every moment feel alive.”
