The Case Book of Arne
- October 28, 2020
- HARUMURASAKI
"The Case Book of Arne" is a detective adventure game centered around a mysterious case involving a non-human suspect. Players must use clues from the Problem Edition to solve the logic puzzles and reveal the secret of a vampire and a girl. The game is divided into Problem and Solve episodes, and features unique "special rules" involving monsters that have been well-received by experts. The game's cute character designs add to its overall charm.
Reviews
- The game features a charming story with lovable characters, blending humor and emotional moments effectively.
- The art style and soundtrack are praised for their quality, enhancing the overall experience.
- Engaging mini-games and detective elements keep the gameplay interesting, making it a fun experience overall.
- The game is very linear, offering little room for exploration and often guiding players too much on where to go next.
- Some players found the puzzle mechanics confusing or too easy, leading to a lack of challenge.
- The story pacing can be inconsistent, with some emotional moments feeling underdeveloped or rushed.
- story68 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging characters, humor, and emotional depth, blending elements of mystery and charm. While many players appreciate the well-paced narrative and intriguing plot twists, some express disappointment over its linearity and the lack of exploration options. Overall, the narrative successfully captivates players, leaving them eager for future installments to resolve lingering mysteries and expand on character backstories.
“The perfectly-paced story is very compelling, and the writing and translating really does the storyline justice.”
“The story is uniquely crafted and enjoyable, characters are charming with a healthy mix of humorous dialogue with many deep and emotional story beats tied into them as well.”
“I enjoyed every moment of this game, the characters were great, had a great mix of horror, humor, and emotional moments with a great story, it all mixed very well together.”
“There is a second case and other side tales available, but they are not available in English or on the Steam store, which is sad because I desperately want to continue this story after I finish the interlude 4.”
“The tragic, unsettling story and its delivery leaves a hole in my heart.”
“The story reads like a cheap anime.”
- music18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many users highlighting standout tracks and a catchy introduction theme. However, some reviewers noted a lack of cohesion in the soundtrack, with a mix of styles that occasionally felt repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The music is nothing short of divine and really makes the experience so much better.”
“Great music, atmosphere, and writing.”
“The soundtrack is also one of the best I've heard for an RPG game in a long while!”
“The music selection lacks a lot of cohesion, with the types of tracks ranging all over the place.”
“Most of the time I found myself clicking faster through speech text just to bypass the repetitive music.”
“The soundtrack was here and there but it did well creating the atmosphere of the more significant scenes.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a delightful blend of humor, combining cute and goofy elements with darker themes, particularly through the interactions between characters like Lynn and Arne. Players appreciate the well-crafted comedic relief and charming dialogue, which balances emotional depth with lighthearted moments, making for an engaging and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the game's unique narrative and character development.
“A cute, funny, and engaging murder mystery... with vampires!”
“The character intro screens had me in tears laughing so hard, something that isn't too easy for someone like me to do.”
“The story is uniquely crafted and enjoyable, characters are charming with a healthy mix of humorous dialogue with many deep and emotional story beats tied into them as well.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging puzzle mechanics, dialogue-heavy interactions, and various minigames that keep the experience enjoyable, despite some confusion in instructions. While the mechanics are generally simple and minimal, they contribute to a light horror atmosphere with elements of stealth and deduction, making for a fun, albeit not groundbreaking, experience. Overall, players appreciate the charming execution and appealing visuals, even if the narrative is straightforward.
“There's a lot of work put into making various new engaging gameplay elements as well as making everything look appealing and well drawn.”
“I had an enjoyable enough time with the gameplay that consisted of interrogating people, some easy stealth sections, simple minigames to fight off enemies, make your own deductions, etc. and it was an all in all fun experience as a light horror game with a bit of bloody scenes and some characters with questionable intentions.”
“Fun, has many minigames with different mechanics so it doesn't become boring at all, narrative is pretty straightforward but the execution is so cool.”
“Some of the puzzle mechanics and instructions can be pretty confusing, but easy to get along with.”
“It's very dialogue heavy and low on actual gameplay, but I think that's part of the charm.”
“The mini games were okay and game mechanics were fine but very minimal.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are highly praised, receiving a perfect score of 10/10 for their stunning art style, expressive character designs, and smooth integration with the story. The pixelated visuals soften the impact of gruesome elements, while the overall aesthetic appeals to fans of RPG Maker and anime styles. Players appreciate the beautiful UI designs that enhance the gameplay experience.
“Graphics are 10/10.”
“The visuals are stunning.”
“Sprites have a beautiful art style, designs, and expressions.”
“While there's quite some gruesome stuff (even though the pixelated graphics help lessen the impact), it's quite a delight to observe the interactions between Lynn and Arne.”
“If you enjoy RPG Maker games and like the typical anime visuals, I'd say go for it.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack that effectively supports key scenes, contributing to a unique charm despite a sometimes ridiculous story. This approach offers a refreshing contrast to the typically somber tones found in many RPG Maker titles.
“The soundtrack was here and there, but it did well in creating the atmosphere of the more significant scenes.”
“Great music, atmosphere, and writing.”
“The story was ridiculous and silly a great deal of the time, but that's the charm this game seemed to be going for, which is a refreshing change of pace from the more well-known RPG Maker titles that are recognized for their dismal atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack was inconsistent, but it effectively created the atmosphere during the more significant scenes.”
“The story was ridiculous and silly much of the time, but that seemed to be the charm the game was going for, which is a refreshing change from the dismal atmosphere often found in more well-known RPG Maker titles.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its uniquely crafted story that effectively blends humor, horror, and deep emotional moments, creating a captivating experience. Players find the characters charming and relatable, enhancing the overall emotional impact of the narrative.
“The story is uniquely crafted and enjoyable, with charming characters and a healthy mix of humorous dialogue alongside many deep and emotional story beats.”
“The story itself was really good, featuring a mix of humor, dark themes, and emotional moments that drew me in completely.”
“I enjoyed every moment of this game; the characters were great, blending horror, humor, and emotional moments with a compelling story that all mixed very well together.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game allows for a rewind feature after incorrect decisions, reducing the tedium often associated with grinding by avoiding game over screens and restarts. This mechanic encourages experimentation without the frustration of losing progress.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, while users report some visual glitches, they are generally minor and manageable once players become accustomed to the game.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are some visual glitches that can be distracting and take away from immersion.”