Murder on the Marine Express
- July 30, 2021
- 1564 Studio
Get on Steam"Murder on the Marine Express" is a kinetic novel and the first entry in The Mysteries of Ranko Togawa series. When a teacher is found dead on a submarine train voyage, Ranko Togawa and her friend Astrid investigate and try to clear the main suspect's name. As more victims pile up, Ranko must work against the clock to uncover the truth and prevent further deaths.
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Reviews
- Charming visual novel with a unique art style and memorable characters, particularly Ranko and Astrid.
- Engaging murder mystery that balances serious themes with lighthearted writing, making it enjoyable and easy to digest.
- Great value for the price, offering a fun and intriguing experience that leaves players wanting more.
- The game is quite short, which may leave players wanting more depth and pacing in the story.
- Editing errors and grammatical issues persist, affecting the flow of the narrative.
- Lacks gameplay elements and choices, making it a pure visual novel that may not appeal to those seeking interactive experiences.
- story12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story features well-written and unique characters, particularly the leads Ranko and Astrid, making it an engaging detective visual novel. While it touches on some sensitive topics, the narrative remains light-hearted with a clear moral. Overall, it offers an intriguing murder plot complemented by strong character interactions, making it a promising start to a mystery series.
“Ranko and Astrid are wonderful leads, and every character is well written and unique in the story, even if some of them are archetypes: it's a detective visual novel after all!”
“A nice and intriguing short story with a memorable, quirky cast, 'Murder on the Marine Express' is a good starting point for a very promising series of mystery novels.”
“While its main murder plot is indeed interesting, this game really shines at the interactions between characters.”
“Some sensitive topics were discussed in the story, but it was pretty light and the moral was very clear.”
“While its main murder plot is indeed interesting, this game really shines at interactions between characters.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are praised for their unique retro aesthetic, which is both appealing and detailed enough to effectively depict key scenes, including the murder sequences. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's memorable cast and storytelling.
“A solid visual novel carried by a memorable cast, with a simple but appealing, unique art style.”
“I personally dig the retro aesthetic, and it remains detailed enough for the murder scenes to be shown.”
“The graphics are nice throughout.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively addresses complex themes in a serious yet accessible way, leaving players with a positive emotional experience by the end.
“It handled some complicated themes in a very serious but also easy to digest manner, which made me feel good at the conclusion.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its humor, providing a lighthearted take on a mystery narrative, despite addressing serious and heavy themes such as grooming, statutory sexual assault, and suicide. It is recommended for those seeking a brief yet amusing experience that balances comedy with darker subject matter.
“I would recommend this game to someone looking for a short, pretty funny mystery game that tackles some very heavy topics.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its complete lack of interactivity and decision-making, with users noting that there are no choices available to enhance the experience.
“There is no gameplay, and there are no choices to make.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered to be adequate and fitting for the overall experience, though it may not stand out as exceptional.
“The music is quite fitting and enhances the overall experience.”
“The music is just okay; it fits the game but doesn't stand out.”
“The audio quality of the music is mediocre and lacks variety.”
“While the music is somewhat fitting, it fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
