Murders on the Yangtze River
- January 30, 2024
- OMEGAMES STUDIO
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and well-crafted story that intertwines historical facts with intriguing mysteries.
- Beautiful art style and excellent voice acting, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Varied gameplay mechanics that keep each case fresh and interesting, with clever puzzles.
- Translation issues, including awkward phrasing and inconsistent character names, can detract from immersion.
- Some cases require leaps in logic that may feel unreasonable or poorly supported by clues.
- Certain gameplay mechanics, like the chase sequences, feel unnecessary and could be improved.
- story339 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its intricate and engaging narrative, set against the backdrop of early 20th century China, with well-crafted characters and numerous plot twists that keep players invested. Reviewers highlight the effective pacing and the clever integration of historical context, making the storyline both educational and entertaining. While some minor localization issues were noted, the overall storytelling quality and depth of the plot have left a strong impression, with many players eager for potential DLC expansions.
“The story is expertly crafted and everything really comes together.”
“The different cases are all very fun, well-written and interesting with plenty of twists and turns while telling an overarching story that was really satisfying to see through to its conclusion.”
“The story, the characters, the gameplay, the mystery - they all come together as a unique experience.”
“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. 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.”
- gameplay122 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and reminiscent of the Ace Attorney series, featuring a mix of deduction, mini-games, and unique mechanics that vary by chapter, preventing repetition. While some mechanics are only used once, the overall experience is praised for its creativity, historical references, and emotional depth, making it a standout in the detective genre. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and accessibility, with a focus on logical reasoning and storytelling that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The gameplay was the right level of engaging for me - not many timed events so I had plenty of time to think, but enough interaction that I felt that I was playing a game and not just consuming a story.”
“While it's not super challenging, I really enjoyed the gameplay--point and click, with lots of different types of detective-game elements (Ace Attorney courtroom testimony sections, Nancy Drew-ish mini-puzzles, a couple of action sequences, brainstorming sessions with allies) so it doesn't get too repetitive.”
“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.”
“I've been disappointed by many Ace Attorney fan games with fanfic-quality writing or bad gameplay.”
“Some of the mini games and deductions can be kind of clunky, but overall the gameplay was still good.”
“The pacing of the story and gameplay are rough and abrupt.”
- music110 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful integration of traditional Chinese instruments, enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact of the story. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the gameplay, particularly during key moments, although some found it repetitive during extended scenes. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that adds depth and charm to the game's historical setting and narrative.
“The music is absolutely beautiful, with the right mood at the right moment.”
“The soundtrack is a brilliant accompaniment to the tension when you're frantically searching for contradictions and refutations.”
“The art is beautiful and the music is astounding; there's clear Ace Attorney inspiration from the music too.”
“The music is a little repetitive; I found myself turning it down when analyzing the inventory or reading facts.”
“The music interrupts the mood often, and transitions go up and down like a jackhammer.”
“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.”
- graphics86 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which combines elements of traditional Chinese aesthetics with a charming chibi design. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and how they enhance the storytelling, creating an immersive experience that complements the game's historical setting. While some may find the art style initially jarring, it ultimately serves its purpose well, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The graphics are beautiful and vibrant.”
“The artwork in parts of the cities and cut scenes are tremendously beautiful.”
“The game has beautiful 2D comic book visuals that sit well with its setting in 1910s China, similar to Legend of Tianding.”
“Sure, graphics here may not be for everyone's liking, but they definitely serve their purpose.”
“Generally, the 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.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of clever writing and British wit, with moments that elicit genuine laughter, particularly through character interactions and voice lines. While the humor is not as over-the-top as in games like Ace Attorney, it effectively complements the serious storyline, providing levity without detracting from the overall narrative. Players appreciate the well-timed comedic elements, though some jokes may not resonate with everyone.
“The extremely British voicelines later on in the game were also absolutely 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.”
“The game does have a sense of humor and moments of levity (there's even a game over gallery), but don't expect Ace Attorney-style witnesses.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotional responses through its compelling narrative and character depth, particularly in its exploration of Chinese history and the opium crisis. Players feel a connection to the material, often reflecting on the emotional weight of the final case long after completion. While the experience is praised for its heartfelt moments, some reviewers suggest that further development of characters and cases could enhance the emotional impact even more.
“I could tell this was an important part of the game the developers wanted to share, and it was very heartfelt with how connected the cases were regarding drugs.”
“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.”
“Even if some of the evidence can be gimmicky at times, the experience is relatively streamlined and the mysteries are compelling, but above all else, it somehow made me feel passionate about Chinese history. It really made you appreciate the struggles this nation faced through the opium crisis and the industrialization of China in the 20th century; the last case almost made me believe I was proud of being Chinese.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its gorgeous art style, well-written characters, and a soundtrack inspired by traditional Chinese music, all of which create an immersive experience that complements the detective elements. Reviewers note that the combination of scenery, voice acting, and cultural accents effectively transports players to the game's time period, making it a captivating adventure reminiscent of classic titles like The Great Ace Attorney. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and enchanting, encouraging players to delve deeper into the narrative and its mysteries.
“The characters are well-written and endearing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous, and the music suits the atmosphere perfectly.”
“Very atmospheric while still fitting the detective side of the game.”
“Highly reminiscent of the great Ace Attorney in terms of mechanics, atmosphere, and OST.”
“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.”
“The soundtrack is inspired by traditional Chinese music, further adding to the atmosphere.”
- character development9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised for its outstanding quality, with players noting that each character feels real and vibrant, enhancing the immersive storytelling experience. The high level of polish in character design, animation, and art contributes to 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.”
“I found the character designs lovely and was looking forward to meeting new characters in each case.”
“Character designs, animation, and art are of high quality; I love how expressive some of the characters are.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the effort put into the voice acting, which is heavily featured and mostly solid. However, some inconsistencies in the quality of the English voice performances were noted, though they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
