Paws of Coal
- May 1, 2023
- Gamechuck
Get on Steam"Paws of Coal" is a cozy detective adventure where you play as Charles, a scholar investigating an outbreak in the mining town of The Burrows. With productivity suffering and miners on strike, it's up to you to find a solution and uncover the true nature of the outbreak. Featuring multiple endings, your choices will determine the fate of The Burrows and its critters.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features charming visuals and a well-crafted narrative that engages players with its unique political themes and character depth.
- The deduction mechanics are innovative and provide a satisfying challenge, allowing players to piece together clues and make meaningful choices that affect the story.
- It's a short but enjoyable experience, with fun puzzles and a delightful art style that creates an immersive atmosphere.
- The game is plagued by technical issues, including bugs that can hinder progress and frustrating controls, particularly on certain platforms like Steam Deck.
- While the story is compelling, some players found the game lacking in polish, with clunky interfaces and inconsistent character art.
- The heavy reliance on text and dialogue may overwhelm players who prefer more action-oriented gameplay, making it less accessible to a broader audience.
- story13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging narrative and interesting characters, offering a unique blend of detective mechanics and thematic depth reminiscent of works like "Watership Down" and George Orwell's writing. While the world feels somewhat limited and the visual design may not fully support its themes, the multiple endings and the integration of background lore through dialogue enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the straightforward plot and the intriguing moral choices that influence the story's outcome, despite some technical issues.
“I recommend it for those who like reading and story-rich games.”
“I absolutely loved this game, from the lore to the story in general - I loved the genuine scientist/detective mechanics with finding evidence, making deductions, and doing research with every ounce of information at your disposal.”
“The game features several different endings to different storylines, an engaging cast of characters, and a promise of more animal adventures in the future.”
“The story feels like a very brief snapshot of a world/society with complicated systemic issues.”
“It's not bad, but I would either expect a visual design that sells that meaning to be thought-provoking for our world/the whole story, or I would have expanded the scope of the world to make the visual style's blandness a backdrop for more neutral slice of life elements.”
“A short (~3 hour) game centered around solving three logic puzzles in the style of detective work, intermixed with some intriguing scruples choices that shape the outcome of the story.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for their charming and cute art style, with well-animated characters and a fun aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted a mismatch between character art and background visuals, suggesting a need for better cohesion in lighting and color palette. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's immersive and heartwarming atmosphere.
“I really liked the animations, the art style, and the writing.”
“The world has a very good design and the graphics are a lot of fun.”
“An awesome little gem of a game with hypercute visuals and an engrossing storyline.”
“Given the game as it stands (length, price), the repass on matching the visuals to the theme of the game seems like the option that makes more sense.”
“The character art doesn't quite match the art style in the background; maybe the whole thing needs a faint lighting/color palette adjustment to make them really seem like they go together.”
“It has a cute cartoony graphics style and some of the characters are nicely animated.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around engaging deduction mechanics that effectively combine evidence gathering, puzzle solving, and research, creating a unique detective experience. While some players find the clue mechanics a bit clunky, the overall puzzle-solving aspect is well-balanced, challenging players without being overly complex. The innovative approach to drawing conclusions from collected information adds depth and originality, making it a standout feature that players hope to see expanded in future installments.
“I was mostly intrigued by the deduction mechanics, and the game delivers.”
“I absolutely loved this game, from the lore to the story in general. I loved the genuine scientist/detective mechanics with finding evidence, making deductions, and doing research with every ounce of information at your disposal.”
“The puzzle-solving mechanic feels just right: testing your understanding without being too revealing.”
“The clue mechanic is clunky, but it is novel and interesting enough for the few puzzles in the game.”
“The main mechanic of getting the conclusion from bulleted lists of information you collect is maybe a bit overwhelming, but it's pretty interesting and original.”
- music6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate how well the music complements the charming art style, making the gameplay enjoyable even during text-heavy sections. Overall, the combination of great graphics and spectacular music contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“Art style and graphics are pretty charming and the music is beautiful.”
“A great game with an interesting premise set in an animal kingdom with wonderful art and relaxing music.”
“A fun graphic style, well-suited music, and an all-around immersive experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a profound and introspective experience rather than traditional fun, appealing primarily to thoughtful teens and adults. The combination of audio and visuals contributes to a heartwarming atmosphere, enhancing the overall emotional depth.
“Audio and visuals create a heartwarming experience.”
“It's not 'fun' (as in a happy, energetic, emotionally easy time) and I don't think anyone but thoughtful teens and older would enjoy it.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a whimsical humor that resonates well with players, often eliciting genuine laughter, which is a rare achievement for many.
“Lastly, there's the prevailing whimsical humor.”
“The game made me laugh out loud, something that seldom happens to me.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a sense of unease and tension, often described as "atmospheric parasitism," suggesting that the environment effectively enhances the overall experience by creating a haunting and immersive backdrop that influences player emotions and actions.
