Underdog Detective

About

In "Underdog Detective," players step into the shoes of a cynical yet honorable antique dealer and detective, investigating a devious conspiracy in the imperial capital. They'll solve puzzles, face traps, and make choices that determine life and death, all from a immersive first-person perspective. Quick Time Events add excitement as players seek out the conspirators and bring them to justice.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews

story38 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

High production value with stunning visuals and well-executed cinematography.
Engaging and humorous storyline with talented actors that enhance the overall experience.
Unique detective mechanics and a fun, interactive narrative that keeps players entertained.

The game is quite short, requiring additional DLC to access the full story, which may feel incomplete to some players.
Some puzzles can be overly simplistic or repetitive, lacking the challenge that some players might expect.
Technical issues, such as bugs in the English translation and crashes on certain platforms, can detract from the experience.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The game's story is a captivating detective narrative set in China's Wu Zhou dynasty, featuring high production values, engaging characters, and a mix of humor and unexpected twists. While the initial episodes serve as a brief introduction, players must purchase additional DLC for the complete experience, which some find essential due to the linear nature of the choices impacting the storyline. Overall, the combination of well-acted performances and an immersive plot makes it a recommended title for fans of interactive storytelling and FMV games.
- “The storyline unfolds with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover what happens next.”
- “Its enthralling storyline, coupled with impeccable acting and mind-blowing visuals, create an unforgettable gaming journey that lingers in your thoughts long after you've put down the controller.”
- “A wonderful FMV style game that contains a very good story with well-designed witty characters that made me fall in love with the world.”
- “This is a short introduction (episodes 1 to 5) to a much larger part of the story, which you have to purchase separately in a DLC.”
- “Just very linear in storyline; your choice is either correct or wrong. If you make the correct choice, the story continues; otherwise, you die or the story ends.”
- “It is very blatant that the DLC is needed for the complete story, and by the end of the 3rd episode, most can easily determine whether the game is worthwhile to invest in.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its clever dialogue, charming characters, and the enjoyable blend of comedy with the detective storyline. Players appreciate the game's ability to deliver genuinely funny moments alongside engaging puzzles and high-quality production values. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and entertainment value.
- “The acting is good, a lot of the characters are really charming and interesting, and the humor is really enjoyable.”
- “Great acting and writing, captivating mysteries and puzzles, immersive visuals, genuinely hilarious and heartbreaking scenes - this game has it all and it does it all well.”
- “It might not be a very complicated detective game I expected to play, but it is indeed an interesting and hilarious game with high movie quality.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay is primarily an interactive movie experience, featuring simple mechanics and unique puzzle elements rooted in ancient Chinese culture, which contribute to a captivating storyline and memorable characters. While the gameplay lacks significant challenge and player choices, it is enjoyable and well-executed, despite some minor translation issues. Overall, players can expect around 4.5 to 8 hours of engaging content, though content creators should be cautious of potential copyright claims during gameplay uploads.
- “The initial game is great, a well-acted, fun FMV adventure with interesting unique puzzle mechanics and a fun story, with memorable characters. There are a few bugs with the English translation, but those issues did not impact my general enjoyment.”
- “It features a captivating storyline, impactful gameplay, and flawless gaming mechanics that could easily translate into a great movie.”
- “The acting is nice and hammy, the story is interesting enough, and there's some decent gameplay moments that are more than just 'click choice'.”
- “It is essentially a movie with minor gameplay interaction.”
- “The whole thing was more like an interactive movie, meaning not much challenge in the gameplay.”
- “Not a lot of choices to make for gameplay but more about sitting back and watching the scenes play out.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
14%
14%
Overall, the graphics of the game are highly praised for their impressive quality, art style, and immersive visuals, contributing significantly to the gaming experience. While some users noted that the visuals could be enhanced for 4K displays, the combination of stunning graphics and engaging storytelling creates a memorable journey. However, a few critiques mentioned that the acting could be cheesy and that more interactivity would have been appreciated.
- “Its enthralling storyline, coupled with impeccable acting and mind-blowing visuals, create an unforgettable gaming journey that lingers in your thoughts long after you've put down the controller.”
- “Video quality looks very good, amazing art style, good sound quality, and funny humor at times.”
- “Excellent FMV game with great characters, decent story, and fantastic visuals.”
- “- Visuals can be improved on 4K cinematic displays.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's music is well-integrated into the setting, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a high-budget feel, but it lacks memorability and can sometimes overshadow dialogue due to a poor sound mix. Additionally, the presence of copyrighted music poses a risk for content creators, as there is no option to disable it.
- “The music suits the setting of the story very well; the prop designs, sets, and everything feels like a high-budget production.”
- “The original soundtrack for this game is non-intrusive and enhances the scenes' tones, although it may not be memorable after finishing the game.”
- “Playing this game could potentially lead to the shutdown of your channel, as there is no option to turn off copyrighted music within the game.”
- “Like any budget TV show, the OST for this game is non-intrusive and helps enhance the scenes’ tones, but it’s something that you won’t remember after closing the game.”
- “The sound mix can be a bit wonky, causing the spoken lines to be overshadowed by the music.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's optimization is generally regarded as decent, contributing to a solid overall performance. Players appreciate the high-quality performances and immersive experience, which enhance the game's cinematic qualities.
- “The game is good and performance is decent.”
- “The performance, plot, and scenes of the game are absolutely top-notch.”
- “One of the most commendable aspects of the game is the astonishing performances delivered by the cast.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in its emotional depth, featuring outstanding acting and writing that create a cinematic experience that captivates players. With a blend of humor and heartbreak, it offers a heartwarming story that resonates deeply, making it both touching and immersive.
- “This level of dedication from the actors truly elevates the game, making it a cinematic journey that you can't help but become emotionally invested in.”
- “The emotional range and tone is amazing, and was unexpected.”
- “A heartwarming and touching story that brings a lot of unique experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its high production value and accessibility, making it an excellent choice for players seeking replayability and achievement hunting.
- “Does it have replay value?”
- “This FMV is easily the best offered on Steam due to its extremely high production value and accessibility for replayability and achievement hunting.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
100%
Reviewers note that the game's atmosphere undergoes a significant transformation early on, shifting dramatically in tone and feel, which adds depth and intrigue to the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world from the very beginning.”
- “The game creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you put it down.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that makes exploration feel rewarding and engaging.”
- “Although really early on, it does a complete 180 in terms of the atmosphere and feel.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences stability issues, particularly for Linux and Steam Deck users, with reports of crashes and freezes, especially noted during the early part of chapter 2.
- “The last con is that it has problems with Proton, so if you are a Linux or Steam Deck user, you will experience crashes or freezes here and there, especially in Chapter 2 where it freezes at the beginning.”