The Rise of the Golden Idol

Rise of the Golden Idol is a brilliant sequel that expands the definition of what a deduction game can be.

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Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 856 reviews

story139 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully woven narrative that keeps players engaged and guessing.
Puzzles are clever and satisfying, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly difficult.
The new UI allows for easier navigation and organization of clues, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

The story feels less cohesive and impactful compared to the first game, with some cases feeling like filler.
Certain puzzles can be frustrating due to overly specific word requirements, leading to unnecessary trial and error.
The art style and music, while still good, do not quite match the charm and memorability of the original game.

story
485 mentions
29 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in "Rise of the Golden Idol" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains an intriguing narrative and clever twists, it does not quite reach the heights of its predecessor. Critics point out that the sequel's plot feels less cohesive and at times meanders with filler content, leading to a less impactful conclusion. However, the game introduces a non-linear storytelling approach that allows players to piece together an overarching narrative across chapters, which some found engaging despite its occasional disjointedness.
- “The story is gripping and will have you reassessing what you think is real many times over with all the exciting twists and turns unraveling the new mystery.”
- “The story is compelling and the puzzles are great.”
- “The story itself is very good, and the way in which the story is communicated through the puzzles is very emblematic of Color Gray Games.”
- “The story itself makes a remarkable jump from the 1700s to the 70s, going from freemasons to scientologists and MK Ultra.”
- “The story barely gets you invested and jumps around so often that there's no real reason to care.”
- “The final acts in particular begin to feel very anticlimactic, with chapter 5 still feeling like it should be an earlier state of development of the plot than it is, with developments only really reaching a building tension in the very final case.”
graphics
121 mentions
20 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in "The Rise of the Golden Idol" have transitioned from pixel art to a high-resolution, painterly style, which many players find charming and visually appealing, enhancing the game's unique aesthetic. While some fans of the original prefer its retro graphics, the updated visuals are generally seen as a significant improvement, offering a cleaner and more cohesive look that complements the game's quirky narrative and setting. Overall, the new art style has received mixed reactions, with some appreciating its vibrancy and others feeling it lacks the charm of the predecessor.
- “Trotgi has the same grotesque art style as the original, but the switch to high-resolution illustrations (compared to the original's pixel art) makes it significantly more palatable.”
- “The art style has received an update and is a joy to behold.”
- “I can say with confidence that Rise of the Golden Idol is just as excellent if not better... a great evolution of what came before, with a killer art style and soundtrack, this game is the definition of time well spent.”
- “The art style is what threw me off the most; it actually got creepier and more unsettling (a plus if you're into that).”
- “The art style, instead of being a faithful evolution, feels like a knockoff.”
- “The story, UI, art style, and difficulty all took major steps back in this release.”
gameplay
109 mentions
19 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Rise of the Golden Idol" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new features and improvements, such as streamlined clue collection and more complex puzzles. Players appreciate the engaging deductive reasoning and the integration of narrative elements, although some feel the story is less compelling than in the first game. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a worthy evolution, offering a satisfying blend of familiar mechanics and fresh challenges.
- “Without exception, the truth is always revealed in the clues, the answers are never obvious, and the drag-and-drop fill-in-the-blanks mechanic means it's almost impossible to guess or to complete a case without thoroughly understanding what really happened.”
- “The gameplay has improved from the first game, with less clicking around and more need to think about the links between people and objects in different chapters.”
- “Overall, an improvement to underlying mechanics and presentation of the original with the same style of investigative puzzles.”
- “The gameplay—specifically the 'scenario deduction' aspect—is just as strong as in the first game, though not better, which left me slightly disappointed.”
- “This makes the gameplay incredibly frustrating.”
- “Some filler cases where nothing happens, some kindergarten writing, and a redundant idol mechanic, which is used for only one thing in this game; this leads to repeated events in scenarios and a sort of full circle where at the end we reconnect with the mystery first presented.”
music
81 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with some tracks being particularly effective in specific scenarios. However, many reviewers feel that the soundtrack is a step down from the first game, lacking the memorability and catchiness of its predecessor, despite still being competent and fitting the game's tone. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it does not reach the same heights as the original's score.
- “The music is diverse and atmospheric, making each case feel like a new experience.”
- “The music is also a lot more eerie than last time, helping create many moments that are unnerving with off-kilter imagery and quietly creepy backing tracks.”
- “The atmosphere of the whole story and also the individual levels is great, the music adds so much to it.”
- “Worse music, worse mystery/story, and much worse UI.”
- “The game improves in some aspects over the original, however the story is way less engaging, puzzles clunkier because of the UI changes and their overall structure, and the music is just there.”
- “My only disappointment is everything but the puzzles - the soundtrack and the art style nosedive really hard compared to the case.”
atmosphere
16 mentions
56 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Rise of the Golden Idol" is described as diverse and engaging, with a mix of quirky art and unsettling music that enhances the experience. While some reviewers feel it lacks the political intrigue and cohesive creepiness of its predecessor, many appreciate the memorable levels and the intriguing scenarios presented. Overall, the game successfully maintains a compelling atmosphere, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to the original.
- “The music is diverse and atmospheric, making each case feel like a new experience.”
- “The atmosphere of the whole story and also the individual levels is great; the music adds so much to it.”
- “A sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol that revolutionized the detective game genre, Rise manages to expand upon the concept of the original while maintaining the grotesque atmosphere that made the original so iconic.”
- “This game starts out with incredibly thick atmosphere, lots of mysterious deaths that really get intrigue going, and then it all grinds to a halt halfway through the game as you solve a bunch of relatively minor incidents that have next to no weight. One of the cases boils down to accidental vandalism. Regardless of the grand story it's trying to tell, that's boring and it feels like a waste of my time.”
- “I had hoped they'd lean more into the 'dystopian 70's corporate America' aesthetic to inform the game's atmosphere and design.”
- “All well and good, but Rise made me realize how much the story and atmosphere matter for a detective game like this one.”
grinding
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some elements can feel tedious, particularly when managing multiple panels or correcting minor errors, many appreciate the rewarding challenge and stimulating difficulty that keeps them engaged. Certain chapters, like the spieldance, are criticized for being particularly contrived and frustrating, but the game's design generally avoids becoming monotonous.
- “It feels very rewarding, and the difficulty is just at the right level to be stimulating, but not tedious, so the temptation to do one more level is always high, even though playing this game requires constant focus.”
- “The spieldance chapter is the low point of either game; it's contrived, tedious, and almost entirely unnecessary.”
- “I appreciate that it makes the game harder (albeit, artificially) but, more than anything, it's just tedious and frustrating.”
- “It gets tedious when you know you've filled in 90% of the section correctly and you've just made a minor error filling in one paragraph, but you've got no idea what the heck went wrong so you fiddle and fumble with it until it *finally* completes.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a surprisingly touching ending that contrasts with its whimsical tone, leaving players feeling heart-wrenched and deeply invested in the characters. The intricate plot structure and character development enhance emotional engagement, culminating in a climax that is both intellectually satisfying and moving. Players express a sense of pride and emotional fulfillment from their journey, with some even moved to tears upon completion, despite the anticipation of additional content.
- “The ending is also surprisingly touching and serious compared to the series's overall whimsical tone.”
- “And this might be just me, but I find the ending heart-wrenching.”
- “I was way more emotionally invested in the recurring characters this time around.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by original writing and funny characters, with a shift towards zany slapstick rather than dark humor. Players appreciate the clever references, such as those to Aurelius Whitlock's murder museum podcast, and note that the humor is woven into the puzzles and lore, enhancing the overall experience. Despite significant changes in art style and mechanics, the humor remains a consistent and engaging element throughout the game.
- “Very original writing, funny characters, and some occasional references to Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum podcast, which I was very excited about when I discovered them!”
- “This game did seem to be more zany than the first game, with less dark humor and more outright slapstick.”
- “The twenty cases had strange, exciting details to unravel and piece together, requiring creative applications of logic and weaving humor and emotion into the lore.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The character development in "Rise" is criticized for being non-existent, with users noting that the characters lack depth and emotional engagement, making it difficult for players to care about their journeys or the story's twists. Additionally, the character designs have shifted to a more grotesque and amateurish style, detracting from the overall appeal.
- “The character designs in Rise still maintain that distinct, almost grotesque look to them that made the original attractive to me.”
- “It's not just the shift away from pixel art; the character designs are uglier, stranger, and the animations feel painfully amateurish.”
- “There is no character development at all for those involved, and we have no reason to care about them or the twist at the end.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a blatant cash grab, fueled by significant publisher backing, leading to skepticism among players about its value, especially in light of claims that it is "bigger" than its predecessor.
- “It's a clear cash grab thanks to the financial backing of a publisher.”
- “I still beat all the DLCs of the first game, but I was a tad hesitant about this upcoming game, especially with its advertisements saying it was 'bigger' than before.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players have expressed concerns about the game's optimization, indicating that it feels under-optimized and hoping for improvements in future DLCs.
- “The game feels like it's not optimized.”
- “I hope it gets optimized for the DLCs to come.”
replayability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game has been noted to have minimal replay value, yet its rarity in the detective genre makes it a worthwhile purchase for fans, even at full price.