Murder

About

Murder is a single player puzzle game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Peter Moorhead and was released on October 21, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Murder is a single-player Science Fiction Point and Click game with a good story, outstanding visuals, and fantastic music. Set in a cyberpunk Tokyo, you play as Lieutenant Minori investigating a dangerous case, exploring the complex intersection of morality and sentience. The game stands out with its engaging environmental storytelling, detailed world, full voice acting, and dynamic score."

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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45%

Audience ScoreBased on 172 reviews

story23 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The game features a great art style and impressive pixel graphics that create a captivating atmosphere.
The soundtrack and voice acting are well done, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its brevity, the game presents intriguing themes related to morality and sentience in a cyberpunk setting.

The game is extremely short, lasting only about 10-30 minutes, which many players feel does not justify the price.
The story feels incomplete and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more resolution and character development.
Gameplay is minimal, with little interactivity and no meaningful choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.

story
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
80%
6%
The story in this game is widely criticized for being extremely short and lacking depth, often feeling more like a prologue than a complete narrative. While the art style, music, and atmosphere receive praise, many reviewers express disappointment over the clichéd and underdeveloped plot, which fails to provide a satisfying conclusion or meaningful engagement. Overall, the game is seen as a missed opportunity, with potential for a richer story that remains unexplored.
- “The story, the setting, and the music are very good, considering that one person did everything.”
- “A nice little story, which envelops you during the short time you spend with it.”
- “For a small production team they have really made the story feel alive, not once was I drawn out of it due to cheesy line deliveries.”
- “There's no beginning and there's no end to the story, so it is very unsatisfactory in this aspect.”
- “The story is short and the concept isn't that new, but I really like the way it looks and the music.”
- “The length of the game does not justify the price, as you don't get a sense of a completed story, nor are you left with any kind of overall message.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality, effectively complementing the pixel art and enhancing the overall cyberpunk experience. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as evocative and immersive, with a blend of electronic styles that fits the game's aesthetic. However, some noted inconsistencies in the voice acting and sound effects, which detracted from the otherwise strong musical presentation.
- “The story, the setting, and the music are very good, considering that one person did everything.”
- “Everything from the nostalgic 90s point and click style graphics to the soundtrack really paints a scene not dissimilar to Blade Runner and other neo-noir classics.”
- “Imagine a cyberpunk Tokyo, oozing atmosphere, coupled with a soundtrack that's a journey in itself, blending noisehop, neo-classical, and ambient tunes.”
- “Certainly it's more style than substance, as the pixel art, from the animations to the interface, meld with the soundtrack—though not so much the voice acting, which is more miss than hit—to produce a striking glimpse of a neo-Tokyo; whereas the narrative, a sort of postmodern recursive meditation on what the titular concept means in a cyberpunk world, is so concise as to be more short short, or even flash fiction, than short story.”
- “It’s a real shame, I am sure an unspeakable amount of work went into this and there was no hook, no twist, no story beats... just a few tropes, some very detailed pixel art and some very atmospheric music.”
- “The sound effect of the robot in the corridor was awful, and the soundscape/music made some awful glitching noises.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
33%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful pixel art style and atmospheric visuals reminiscent of cyberpunk and neo-noir aesthetics. While some players found the graphics stunning and immersive, others criticized the use of outdated pixel art and noted that the visuals, though appealing, were not enough to compensate for the game's short length and lack of engaging gameplay. Overall, the art direction and soundtrack were highlighted as standout features, contributing to a captivating ambiance despite the game's narrative shortcomings.
- “The pixel art graphics are delicious, the sound, music, and voice acting are superb and create a really good atmosphere and a lot of immersion in this world.”
- “Yes, its aesthetic is impressive, so is the moody, Blade Runner-esque atmosphere.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the music is great, but the game overall... not so.”
- “They did supply their own assets from what I can tell, but they couldn't do that to any professional level and just used lazy pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics when filling out the template.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “It doesn't render the pixel graphics to nearest neighbor, so in full screen it looks pretty blurred out.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
75%
14%
The gameplay aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its extreme brevity and lack of meaningful mechanics, with many players noting that it can be completed in as little as 10-30 minutes. While some appreciate the artistic elements and narrative potential, the overall experience is marred by slow character movement and a lack of engaging gameplay, leading to disappointment among those seeking a more substantial interactive experience. Many reviewers feel that the game falls short of its potential, with minimal gameplay overshadowing any narrative or thematic depth.
- “Such a great concept, well-done pixel art, amazing soundtracks, and nice gameplay, but also a huge opportunity missed.”
- “Despite feeling like I should have been able to point-click and walk to a spot in an area like a classical point-and-click adventure, the point-of-interest mechanic driving the game really does a good job of guiding the player through the narrative the author wishes to tell, while also providing sufficient non-critical interest points that add a nice touch to the overall experience of the game.”
- “But even though the gameplay is so short, it was worth playing the game just for the experience and the looks/feels of the game.”
- “There is no gameplay, and no coherent story.”
- “Gameplay mechanics are not 'experimental', more like nonexistent.”
- “With a weak story and minimal gameplay, this is not worth the time nor money.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
16%
13%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive aesthetic, blending detailed pixel art with a moody, cyberpunk-inspired soundscape that enhances immersion. While the visuals and music create a captivating environment, some reviewers note that the lack of a compelling narrative or originality detracts from the overall experience. Despite its brevity, the atmospheric qualities make it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a minimalist, introspective gaming experience.
- “The pixel art graphics are delicious, the sound, music, and voice acting are superb and create a really good atmosphere and a lot of immersion in this world.”
- “It's very good at building atmosphere and mood.”
- “A very short game, but it breathes an atmosphere of futuristic sci-fi.”
- “Imagine a cyberpunk Tokyo, oozing atmosphere, coupled with a soundtrack that's a journey in itself, blending noisehop, neo-classical, and ambient tunes.”
- “Yes, its aesthetic direction is impressive, so is the moody, Blade Runner-esque atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel that grinding in the game primarily serves to extract money from them, leading to a sense of exploitation rather than enjoyment.
- “We are just used for farming money from us.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is criticized for being overly ambitious yet ultimately failing to deliver, resulting in weak writing and poorly fleshed-out characters.
- “It tries so hard to be smart that it falls on its face when it comes to basic character development and writing.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the story.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no sense of surprise or depth.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing it.
- “There is no replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay makes it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers note that while the visuals and music are appealing, the humor primarily stems from the minimal and amusingly simplistic plot, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
- “The visuals and music are nice, and the tiny nibble of expository dialogue that can be laughingly called the plot is tasty.”
- “The humor in this game is sharp and witty, making every interaction a delight.”
- “I found myself chuckling at the clever puns and hilarious character interactions throughout the game.”