Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
- April 30, 2023
- Team Tetrapod
Get on SteamIn "Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure," players become a detective in a 1960s London where 10% of the population has supernatural abilities. Tasked with solving incidents involving these "staffers," players must gather clues, create documents, and identify contradictions to crack supernaturally complex cases. Conventional methods won't work, so understanding each suspect's ability is key to bringing justice to this fictional, mystical city.
Mac OS
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Reviews
- Engaging and well-written dialogue that keeps players invested in the story and characters.
- Intriguing plot with multiple layers and satisfying twists that keep players guessing.
- Unique supernatural elements enhance the detective gameplay, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Some puzzles can be overly simplistic or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion.
- The user interface is clunky and can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- The final case feels rushed and lacks the depth of earlier cases, leaving some plot threads unresolved.
- story30 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging atmosphere, satisfying plot twists, and strong character development, reminiscent of titles like Ace Attorney and Freebird games. While some players noted that certain plot lines remain unexplored and the final case's logic puzzles could be simplistic, the overall narrative complexity and worldbuilding left a lasting impression. Many reviewers expressed a desire for a sequel to resolve cliffhangers and further develop the intriguing story elements.
“The atmosphere is great, and the plot is satisfying, including a handful of surprises.”
“Amazing story, characters, worldbuilding, and the cases are all really solid, too.”
“However, I think no one can complain about the storytelling, and how every little component leads up to the grand finale.”
“The game story ends on a cliffhanger which as of yet remains unresolved.”
“The game is too simplistic with its characters, story, and morals.”
“It sets up this big stage but delivers mediocre plot design and superficial moral discussions.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and atmosphere, particularly standout tracks that enhance key moments. However, some players find it repetitive and note issues with looping, while others express disappointment over the absence of certain tracks in the official soundtrack. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it may not be as memorable as in other titles, especially within the visual novel genre.
“The music is stupendous, especially the special foreboding track that plays during two hexa-logic sections (if you know, you know).”
“The art, UI, and music are utterly gorgeous.”
“I found this game to be pretty good with very interesting character and story and good music.”
“Music is good, but the looping is not good for some tracks.”
“While it has some nice tracks, the OST is not very memorable.”
“Music is kind of underwhelming aside from a few exceptions.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a blend of dialogue reading and investigative minigames, set in a richly crafted world with complex characters and intriguing cases. While the mechanics are solid and reminiscent of titles like Ace Attorney, some players find the gameplay to be somewhat basic and predictable, with frequent transitions disrupting the flow. Despite these criticisms, the engaging narrative and unique storylines keep players invested.
“The main gameplay loop involves reading dialogue until you reach an investigative minigame.”
“Solid mechanics, a very interesting world, complex characters, and intriguing cases that are distinct from your usual detective game cases by virtue of the world you solve them in.”
“Good narrative with mystery/detective whodunnit gameplay.”
“On the other hand, the gameplay is quite basic, and the frequent fading in and out disrupts the game's flow.”
“There have been reviews including comments that the gameplay itself is perhaps a bit too simple.”
“A bit simple in gameplay, and I won't say that I didn't tend to figure out twists a good bit in advance, but the story and cases were so interesting that I didn't care.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are highly praised for their impressive art style and well-arranged environments, creating a fleshed-out world that enhances the overall experience. The combination of artwork and background music contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic appeal.
“All composites, including the artwork and quest arrangements in the game, left a deep impression on me.”
“Great art style.”
“The world can be considered fleshed out, and the art style and background music are on point.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions, with many players reporting that it made them cry multiple times. Despite its relatively short length of 10-20 hours, it offers an intense and memorable emotional experience that lingers well beyond gameplay.
“It made me cry many, many times.”
“This game made me cry.”
“Despite its brevity (10-20 hours), this visual novel delivers an intense, emotionally charged experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is highly praised for its dark and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the plot's satisfying twists and surprises, which keep players engaged and on edge throughout the experience.
“The atmosphere is great, and the plot is satisfying, including a handful of surprises.”
“Buckle up for a dark and atmospheric tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its engaging designs, particularly that of the supervisor, Pandoria Redfins. However, the fifth case is criticized for lacking proper character development and motivations, instead focusing on moral views without depth.
“I adore the character designs here - my favorite has to be that of our supervisor, Pandoria Redfins.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey.”
“Each character evolves in a believable way, making their personal stories and growth feel authentic and engaging.”
“While the first 4 cases have ethical discussions tied to the cases, the 5th just pushes moral views without proper character development and true-to-character motivations.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is likened to that of the Ace Attorney series, featuring a similar style and comedic elements, while the storytelling evokes the charm found in Freebird Games.
“The investigations reminded me of Ace Attorney in style and humor, and the story likewise reminds me of Freebird Games.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I love how the game balances serious themes with lighthearted moments that always catch me off guard.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of investigations to be occasionally tedious, as it can be frustrating to locate the specific combination of evidence needed, even when they already know the answer.
“I will say that sometimes the investigations can be tedious -- you'll know the answer, but finding the specific combination of evidence is sometimes frustrating.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers multiple solutions for each case, enhancing its replayability and providing players with varied content to explore.
“There is more than one way to solve each case, which adds to the replayability and content.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that encourage you to play through again.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the random events and character interactions.”
