Murders on the Yangtze River

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"Murders on the Yangtze River" is a detective game with a horizontal axis layout, similar to "Ace Attorney." Players solve intriguing cases in early 20th century China, with a focus on logical reasoning and exploration of the stunning brush painting art style. The game strives to resonate with players of diverse backgrounds through its thrilling plot and heartfelt emotions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 574 reviews

story119 positive mentions

Engaging and well-constructed story with a captivating overarching plot that ties the cases together.
Charming art style and excellent voice acting, with characters speaking in their appropriate languages and accents.
Rich historical context and educational elements that enhance the gameplay experience.

Translation issues with occasional awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that can detract from immersion.
Some puzzles and deductions may require illogical leaps, leading to frustration for players.
Certain mechanics and mini-games are only used once, which can feel underdeveloped.

story
235 mentions
51 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its rich narrative, engaging characters, and intricate plot twists, set against the backdrop of early 20th century China. While some players noted issues with translation and pacing, the overall storytelling is considered immersive and well-crafted, with a satisfying conclusion that ties together various plot threads. The incorporation of historical context and cultural references adds depth, making it a compelling experience for fans of the detective genre.
- “The story alone was so rich, and made every minute of gameplay worth it.”
- “The cases were well thought out and all of them contributed something valuable to the overall story.”
- “The story is expertly crafted and everything really comes together.”
- “Some plot points and timelines are nonsensical, with characters acting inconsistently with their backgrounds or abilities.”
- “Unfortunately, the narrative falls apart when some of the real historical events started to heavily involve in the story progression, such as the inventors of cocaine and the events related to Qing dynasty opium abuse, and it all mixed in a bad way that it destroyed the immersion because the greater scopes of historical context were deviated.”
- “Character names change from basic English names to their best translated Chinese names randomly throughout the story, making it often difficult to keep track of which characters are being referred to.”
gameplay
95 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is heavily inspired by the Ace Attorney series, featuring a mix of engaging mechanics and unique chapter-specific elements that enhance the mystery-solving experience. While some mechanics are only used once, leading to a sense of missed potential, the overall gameplay remains captivating with a well-written story, interesting cases, and a variety of interactive elements that keep players invested. Despite occasional pacing issues and some clunky mini-games, the game successfully combines historical references and strategic gameplay, making it a standout title in the genre.
- “The gameplay excels in creating an atmospheric experience, combining well-written characters with a challenging murder investigation.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging; there is a lot of content, the artwork is beautiful, and the experience is truly challenging.”
- “With gameplay reminiscent of the Phoenix Wright series, this detective adventure offers a unique blend of historical fiction and mystery-solving.”
- “Mechanics being introduced only to never be seen again, and the game never comes together as well as it could.”
- “The pacing of the story and gameplay are rough and abrupt.”
- “The game doesn't have as structured an approach to the gameplay as others in the genre.”
music
68 mentions
59 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful integration of traditional Chinese instruments, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the gameplay. Many reviewers noted its similarity to the "Ace Attorney" series while also appreciating its unique cultural influences, although some mentioned that the repetitive nature of certain tracks could detract from the experience during prolonged gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive storytelling.
- “The music and the art style of this game were also very pleasant.”
- “The soundtrack is a brilliant accompaniment to the tension when you're frantically searching for contradictions and refutations.”
- “The music is absolutely beautiful, with the right mood at the right moment.”
- “The music interrupts the mood often and transitions go up and down like a jackhammer.”
- “The music is a little repetitive; I found myself turning it down when analyzing the inventory or reading facts.”
- “Music is fine, but for this type of game, you can oftentimes get stuck in a scene trying to solve a hard mystery, which can make a music loop super repetitive.”
graphics
62 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique art style, which blends traditional Chinese brush painting aesthetics with vibrant, engaging visuals that enhance the historical setting of late Qing-era China. Players appreciate the beautiful illustrations, character designs, and the overall artistic presentation, although some find the chibi-style graphics a bit jarring at first. The combination of stunning artwork, effective voice acting, and a well-crafted atmosphere contributes to a memorable gaming experience, making it stand out in the mystery genre.
- “The art style is unique and reminiscent of traditional Chinese brush painting, but fits the 1900s setting perfectly.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and vibrant.”
- “The characters are well-written and endearing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous and the music suits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “Graphics are passable, animation is kinda stiff.”
- “Generally game is done in this chibi art style and the characters all look like paper dolls that act out murders, which is cute but did take me out of it a little bit.”
- “Graphics aren't very buttery.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of clever dialogue, amusing character interactions, and situational comedy, particularly when players make incorrect choices. While it may not reach the silliness of games like Ace Attorney, it offers a modest sprinkling of humor that complements its serious narrative, with standout moments that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, players appreciate the well-timed comedic elements that enhance their engagement with the story and characters.
- “The extremely British voice lines later on in the game were also absolutely hilarious.”
- “I also find the difference between how characters are depicted in close-ups and wide shots simply hilarious.”
- “This game is the best game I have played in a long time that made me laugh, cry, and kept me so invested in the wonderfully written storyline and well-programmed gameplay.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its compelling narrative and character development, particularly in the impactful conclusion that resonates with players. Many reviewers noted the heartfelt connections to historical themes, such as the opium crisis in China, which deepened their engagement and appreciation for the story. While some felt that the emotional moments could be further emphasized, the overall experience left a lasting impression, making players reflect on the journey long after completion.
- “The main character grew more interesting and fleshed out as the game steamrolls into its memorable, emotional conclusion.”
- “There's voice acting and the story is very emotional.”
- “Every part of this game is a masterpiece; the gameplay is challenging and fun, the cases are intriguing, the characters are charming with so much depth, the music is great, the art is gorgeous in both the sprite work and in cutscenes, and the emotional impact of the final case had me thinking about it for days on end.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
67 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, combining well-written characters, stunning art style, and a soundtrack inspired by traditional Chinese music. Players appreciate how these elements work together to create a captivating experience that enhances the detective gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and reminiscent of classic adventure games, making it a standout feature of the title.
- “The characters are well-written and endearing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous, and the music suits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The scenery, characters, facts tab (which is super cool), the very well-made voiceover with the switching languages and accents, and the overall atmosphere all work together to immerse you into the game's time period.”
- “Very atmospheric while still fitting the detective side of the game.”
- “The scenery, characters, facts tab (which is super cool), the very well-made voiceover with the switching languages and accents, and the overall atmosphere all work together to immerse you in the game's time period.”
- “Highly reminiscent of The Great Ace Attorney in terms of mechanics, atmosphere, and OST.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with users noting that each character feels authentic and engaging, contributing to an immersive storytelling experience. The high-quality character designs, animation, and expressive traits enhance the overall appeal, making players eager to encounter new characters throughout the game.
- “The character development is outstanding—each character feels real and vibrant, making the story even more immersive.”
- “Character designs, animation, and art are of high quality; I love how expressive some of the characters are.”
- “This might be a personal preference, but I found the character designs lovely and was looking forward to meeting new characters in each case.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's voice acting is generally well-received, with players appreciating the effort and quality of the performances. However, some inconsistencies in the voice acting quality were noted, though they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Also, I really want to shout out the effort put into the voice acting - I didn't expect it to be heavily voice acted and I was really happy with the performances!”
- “The performances are all great, so it doesn't detract from the game too much.”