The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 411 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • replayability
The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker Game Cover
Full Motion Video games have not so much evolved as they have gone through a sudden metamorphosis, emerging from their stinky chrysalis as something quite remarkable indeed.
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"The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker" is a highly engaging FMV murder mystery game. You, a psychiatrist, must solve the murder of your predecessor by examining patient interviews and using your professional skills to uncover the truth. With branching storylines and multiple endings, each playthrough is a unique experience.

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Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 411 reviews
story120 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive story with well-developed characters.
  • High-quality acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • Unique gameplay mechanic of typing questions adds a layer of interactivity.
  • Frustrating text parser that often requires exact phrasing for questions.
  • Some responses can feel disconnected or irrelevant to the questions asked.
  • The ending may feel abrupt or unsatisfying, leaving many questions unanswered.
  • story314 mentions

    The story of "The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker" is a complex and engaging narrative that intertwines murder mystery with Lovecraftian horror elements, featuring a cast of intriguing characters, each with their own unique backstories. While many players appreciate the depth and multiple endings, some find the plot convoluted and the gameplay mechanics frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the well-acted and immersive storytelling keeps players invested, making it a recommended choice for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The story itself, and its cast of misfits, is wonderful.”
    • “Whoever wrote the story designed a captivating narrative that you have to discover on your own.”
    • “The story is incredibly well-written and if you enjoy Lovecraftian horror, you're going to want to play this game for that alone.”
    • “The story went nowhere.”
    • “The overall meta plot can be a bit hard to piece together given the random nature of who the culprit is.”
    • “The story is disjointed but passable.”
  • gameplay90 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the free text input mechanic frustrating and clunky, often leading to tedious trial-and-error interactions. While some appreciate the innovative concept of typing questions to engage with characters, the lack of intuitive response recognition and the linear nature of gameplay detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the strong acting and intriguing story elements provide some redeeming qualities, making it appealing for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The gameplay consists of free typing questions and keywords to engage each patient in therapeutic conversation.”
    • “The mechanics of the game can be very frustrating, but once I got the hang of it, it was very rewarding to have a conversation flow seamlessly.”
    • “But there is something about this game; it's hard to put your finger on it, but it's really interesting. The concept and acting are great, and the responses to your questions (1,600 I believe, full-screen videos) and the branching story with multiple endings make this something that isn't just worth buying for the gameplay and presentation but for the replayability.”
    • “However, the game mechanics are extremely frustrating because the game does not interpret questions well at all.”
    • “The gameplay is out of this world garbage; the story seems super interesting.”
    • “The actual gameplay here is not just bad, it actively gets in the way of the experience, which is unfortunate since the experience is so good, especially once the horror kicks in (about 2 hours after you start the game).”
  • replayability23 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to the random selection of the murderer at the start of each playthrough, leading to varied evidence and outcomes. With multiple endings and significant player choices that impact the story, players are encouraged to explore different approaches and scenarios. However, some reviewers noted that the core gameplay may not offer enough differentiation for those seeking extensive replay value beyond initial runs.

    • “And because the murderer is randomly selected each time, it's highly replayable.”
    • “The forking story and many possible endings also bring some replay value.”
    • “Choices really do matter, and because of this, the game has great replay value.”
    • “However, it has little replayability although the murderer is randomized at the start of each game.”
    • “Every time you start a game, the killer is chosen randomly and that's something I really like, despite the fact that this game is not really replayable - the answers don't differentiate enough to make second gameplay interesting and, which is slightly more disappointing, I didn't really feel like it mattered who the killer was.”
    • “Multiple endings are possible and the killer is randomized each playthrough but there probably isn't much replayability unless you're obsessed with seeing every variation or getting every achievement.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong Lovecraftian themes, creating a dark and immersive experience that enhances the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the superb acting and unique cinematography, which contribute to a creepy and engaging ambiance. Overall, the combination of quality writing, intriguing characters, and a discomforting atmosphere makes it a standout in the genre.

    • “By far the best acting I have ever seen in an FMV, with a very atmospheric Lovecraftian story.”
    • “In terms of atmosphere, it captures the essence of what makes something 'Lovecraftian' more than most games trying to do that these days.”
    • “The way that Tim Cowles, the director, shot the videos with such vivid colors and slightly askew angles in high definition adds to the discomforting atmosphere.”
    • “It doesn't have the atmosphere of contradiction or the action of Late Shift, but it does have really interesting characters that you get to know well, including their dark sides.”
    • “In terms of atmosphere, it captures the essence of what makes something 'lovecraftian' more than most games trying to do that these days.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive nature, with players expressing frustration over the cumbersome UI and the extensive number of questions that must be asked. Many reviewers found the gameplay to be time-consuming and monotonous, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment as the story progressed. Overall, the experience is marred by a sense of boredom and a need for excessive grinding to advance.

    • “Stretch this out over thousands of questions, and it makes the game really tedious.”
    • “You're supposed to type in questions Zork-style, but that quickly becomes tedious as hell because the parser is so bad.”
    • “The premise is a great idea - but by act 4 it was very tedious.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its solid performance, with no significant bugs or crashes reported. While some minor issues with the game mechanics exist, the integration of real actors enhances the storytelling, allowing for a compelling experience that flows well after initial adjustments. The combination of an interesting premise and good performances contributes to a strong showing in the FMV genre.

    • “Seriously, the performance is worthy of applause.”
    • “Solid performance from the actors, with only a few small flaws in the game.”
    • “It continues the strong run of FMV titles, with an interesting premise, great performances, and a game system that, although not perfect, can work really well.”
    • “But after hours of watching overwrought performances from people delivering lines from a mediocre script, I began to dread getting back to most of the characters.”
    • “Solid performance from the actors, only a few small flaws in the game (when you trigger a future answer too early with a certain word, or having trouble phrasing a sentence correctly that would give you the answer).”
    • “Real actors can give off more subtle clues in their performances.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in "The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker" is characterized by its absurdity and dark wit, making it a compelling experience for players with a twisted sense of humor. The entertaining portrayal of characters, particularly Jaya, adds to the game's comedic appeal, though some players wished for a more campy tone to enhance the overall enjoyment. The unpredictable nature of the dialogue system also contributes to the humor, keeping players engaged and amused throughout their mystery-solving journey.

    • “If you enjoy solving mysteries and have a twisted sense of humor, 'The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker' is your prescription for a wild ride.”
    • “But don't worry, there's plenty of dark humor to keep things interesting.”
    • “Especially the character of Jaya was played so entertainingly and with a humorous note that it was simply fun to interview her.”
  • graphics8 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered mediocre, with some reviewers noting a lack of detail and a lazy art style. However, the quality of the camera work is praised, and the game's immersive experience compensates for its visual shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they do not detract significantly from the engaging plot.

    • “[b]Graphics: awesome[/b] other than some 'lights/reflections' under the texts sometimes, the quality of the cameras is superb.”
    • “This is a rare time a game really immersed me without a huge world, tons of activities, and graphics - because, you know, it's FMV.”
    • “Visuals are just lazy.”
    • “The graphics won't blow your mind, but the mind-bending plot will.”
    • “How's the art style?”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric and evolving quality, enhancing the overall intensity and storytelling. Reviewers note that it effectively contributes to the game's creepiness and immersion, with some highlighting its role in creating unexpected jump scares. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong element that complements the game's solid acting and mechanics.

    • “Awesome storytelling, very intense music, and incredible acting.”
    • “The music is nice and creepy.”
    • “Only one soundtrack that 'evolves' throughout the game by getting creepier and creepier; it works very well.”
    • “There are some jump scares because you get so lost in the music and figuring out what's going on that you don't expect them.”
    • “There is only one soundtrack that 'evolves' throughout the game by getting creepier and creepier; it works very well.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players report a deep emotional investment in the game's charismatic and intriguing characters, likening the experience to being a psychiatrist engaging with them. This level of emotional connection is reminiscent of the impactful storytelling found in titles like "The Last of Us."

    • “I felt genuinely emotionally invested in the charismatic, bizarre, and intriguing characters.”
    • “It made me feel like I was truly a psychiatrist with them sitting in front of me.”
    • “The last time I was so emotionally invested in the characters of a game was The Last of Us.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game experiences minor glitches and occasional awkwardness, particularly with responses that may not align with user queries. While these issues can be frustrating, they are generally not severe enough to detract significantly from the overall experience.

    • “Still, other than a few minor glitches and the rare frustrating moment when your question has either too many keywords or not enough, I haven't found anything else wrong with the game.”
    • “For example, it's awkward and buggy, leading to multiple responses of 'I don't know anything about that' and 'no!'”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
10-35hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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