The Detail

The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique comic book art style that many players find visually appealing, particularly for its noir aesthetic. While some praise the artwork as breathtaking and fitting for the genre, others criticize certain character designs and environmental details as lacking polish. Overall, the visuals are a mixed bag, with strong artistic elements overshadowed by some technical shortcomings, making it feel more like an interactive graphic novel than a traditional game.

The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric and mood-setting qualities that complement the story, while others find it repetitive, dull, or overly dramatic. Many reviewers note the absence of voice acting and sound effects, which contributes to a sense of monotony in the audio experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is seen as fitting for the game's tone, it often lacks variety and can become tiresome over time.

The gameplay is primarily a linear, point-and-click experience that lacks depth and engagement, often reducing player interaction to simple clicking with minimal exploration or puzzle-solving. While some players appreciate the narrative-driven choices reminiscent of visual novels, many criticize the gameplay for being sparse, repetitive, and unchallenging, leading to a lack of overall enjoyment. The art style and story elements receive praise, but the gameplay mechanics are generally viewed as basic and unsatisfying.

The game's atmosphere is predominantly described as dark and noirish, effectively complementing its NYC setting and appealing to fans of true crime and film noir. While some reviewers appreciate the visual style and atmospheric music, others feel it lacks originality compared to classic noir games, suggesting that it sometimes falls short in fully realizing its potential. Overall, the atmosphere is a strong point for many players, enhancing the storytelling and character development despite some criticisms.

The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple paths and choices that can lead to different outcomes, while others criticize the lack of significant narrative changes and the linearity of the story. Although it offers some replay value for achievements and different gameplay approaches, many reviewers note that the short playtime and minimal impact of choices diminish its overall replayability. Overall, it may appeal to those who enjoy exploring various decision outcomes, but it may not satisfy players seeking substantial differences in subsequent playthroughs.

The game is widely criticized for its lack of stability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in the third episode. Players have experienced frequent restarts, lost progress, and various minor to moderate technical problems, leading to a general consensus that the game feels unpolished and amateurish. While some users noted that the issues were not game-breaking, the overall sentiment suggests that the game's stability significantly detracts from the experience.

Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the focus on narrative and the distinct character designs, others criticize the rushed pacing and lack of depth due to an overwhelming number of characters and timelines. This has led to a diminished emotional investment in the characters, particularly in the poorly received third season, which many felt derailed the development entirely. Overall, the execution of character arcs appears inconsistent, leaving players divided on their effectiveness.

The humor in the game is characterized by strong, witty dialogue, particularly in its crime noir style, which adds levity to serious moments. While some players found the comedic elements entertaining, especially during dull plot points, others felt that the humor struggled to compensate for frustrating gameplay mechanics like backtracking. Overall, the humor is appreciated but may not fully align with the game's serious tone.

Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and slow-paced, detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the lack of tedious puzzles in the click-and-point adventure format, the grinding still remains a significant drawback.

Reviews indicate that the game lacks emotional depth, with events occurring that fail to resonate or evoke any significant feelings in players.

The game suffers from various optimization issues, including bugs like unresponsive UI elements, random lag, and incorrect character portraits. However, these problems are generally not game-breaking.