Uncover the Smoking Gun
- June 23, 2024
- ReLU Games
Get on Steam"Uncover the Smoking Gun" is a narrative-driven game set in 2030 where robots and humans coexist. A chilling series of murders have occurred, and the prime suspects are robots. Players must examine crime scenes, analyze robots' testimonies, and ask questions to unravel the truth behind the experiment known as "Project Atlas." The game features five episodes with deep conversations and system overload questions to reveal the incidents' truth.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game effectively utilizes AI chat mechanics, creating immersive and engaging conversations that enhance the detective experience.
- The story is well-crafted and intriguing, with unique cases that keep players invested and encourage exploration and experimentation.
- The game's art style and atmosphere are visually appealing, contributing to an overall enjoyable gaming experience.
- The AI can be inconsistent, often losing context between conversations and providing incorrect or repetitive information, which can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players have reported bugs and glitches, such as the AI failing to respond appropriately or requiring repeated prompts, leading to frustration.
- The game lacks certain quality-of-life features, such as customizable key bindings and the ability to check evidence during conversations, which can hinder the detective process.
- story13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, with a fantastic concept that is well-executed, despite some flaws related to AI mechanics that occasionally disrupt the flow. While some players found the complexity overwhelming, many appreciated the pacing and the satisfaction of uncovering truths within the narrative. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and storytelling elements contributes to a highly rated experience.
“Truly a fantastic story and the idea has been very well carried out.”
“Amazing story, perfect pacing, enough puzzles and detective work to keep you occupied and engaged.”
“Unfortunately, it's still a quirk of the AI as it will try and fit a certain story point into the narrative.”
“The idea is great, but the execution is flawed to a point that made me quit after the second mission.”
“The story suddenly becomes more complex, but stick with it, and you'll see it has a different kind of appeal compared to chapter 1.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its innovative use of AI chat mechanics, offering an engaging story and enjoyable interactions. However, it occasionally strays off-script, leading to inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the game mechanics. Overall, it presents a unique and fun experience, despite some minor flaws.
“This game is the best example of utilizing AI chat mechanics in gaming.”
“Great story, fun AI mechanics, but sometimes goes a little off script and provides false data.”
“A great gameplay mechanic!”
“You can also get the robots to agree to things that aren't supported by the game mechanics.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a well-executed art style that enhances readability and navigation, effectively complementing the theme and character interactions. However, some AI art elements, particularly the colorful anime-style photographs, clash with the overall dark, moody, cell-shaded aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are praised alongside the music and story.
“The choice of art style makes the game very easy to read, as well as pleasant to navigate and look at.”
“The graphic style is perfect for the theme, communicating with the bots is fun and they all have individual personalities.”
“The visuals, music, and story are all amazing.”
“Some of the AI art, particularly the framed photographs, have a bright, colorful anime art style that really doesn't fit the dark, moody, cel-shaded style the rest of the game has.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects enhance the overall experience by creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the mystery-solving gameplay without being overly intrusive. Reviewers praise the combination of visuals, music, and story as exceptional.
“Music and sound effects also add to the experience, creating a mood that doesn't try to stand out too much but feels just right while you're solving mysteries.”
“The visuals, music, and story are all amazing.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the overall music score is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The soundtrack is underwhelming and fails to create the atmosphere needed for the game's themes.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Smoking Gun" is highlighted by its profound and philosophically rich dialogues, particularly in interactions with robots, which resonate deeply with players. Fans of detective and sci-fi genres, especially those who appreciate titles like "Detroit: Become Human," will find the game's narrative depth captivating and impactful.
“If you enjoy detective games or are a fan of sci-fi stories like 'Detroit: Become Human,' you'll likely be captivated by the depth and expansiveness of 'Smoking Gun.' As felt in the previous demo version, the dialogues with robots in this full version are so philosophically and emotionally impressive that it's hard to believe a human could have written them to be more profound.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting excellent performance and no encountered bugs.
“The game's performance is excellent, and I haven't experienced any bugs.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; it feels polished and responsive throughout.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere for its immaculate design, which effectively enhances the overall experience and includes surprising twists that evoke strong emotional reactions.
“There's been a twist in both of them that made me gasp out loud; the atmospheric design is absolutely immaculate.”
