Verdict Guilty
- March 16, 2016
- Retro Army Limited
"Verdict Guilty" is a visual novel adventure game where players investigate a series of murders and uncover a mysterious conspiracy. As the newly appointed judge, players must gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and make critical decisions that will impact the outcome of each case. With multiple endings and a unique blend of courtroom drama and detective work, "Verdict Guilty" offers a captivating and immersive experience.
Reviews
- The game features really nice pixel art graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic fighting games.
- The gameplay is simple and accessible, making it enjoyable for both casual players and those new to the fighting game genre.
- The unique mechanics, such as the ability to handcuff opponents or use firearms, add an interesting twist to the traditional fighting game formula.
- The story is minimal and lacks depth, with character backgrounds being forgettable and the overall narrative feeling disjointed.
- The AI can be frustrating to fight against, and the game can feel unbalanced with some characters being overpowered.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, making it difficult to execute moves smoothly.
- story117 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the campy and cheesy narratives tied to each character, while others criticize the lack of depth and coherence in the overall plot. Each character has a unique story mode that serves as both a narrative and a tutorial, but many find the individual storylines formulaic and disconnected. Overall, while the art and character designs are praised, the story is often seen as simplistic and not particularly memorable, though it does provide some entertainment value.
“The story mode for each character is highly entertaining and the art throughout the game is great.”
“You can unlock different modes, each character has their own role in the interconnected story with dialogue and cutscenes, and it’s just fun to play.”
“The story mode features neat little stories of each character and fleshes the corrupt world of Neo Seoul out.”
“If you expect any story, you won't find it here.”
“The story mode is pure garbage and it is the only thing that I don't like about this game.”
“The story lines for each character are beyond stupid and cheesy and worth experiencing for the lulz factor.”
- gameplay73 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and retro charm, reminiscent of classic 2D fighting games, with unique mechanics like handcuffing opponents and the use of firearms adding a fun twist. While some players find the mechanics engaging and enjoyable, others criticize the gameplay for being shallow and repetitive, with limited character diversity and some clunky execution. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience with a mix of fun and frustration, appealing primarily to fans of indie arcade fighters.
“While not without its flaws, the gameplay is actually pretty good.”
“The handcuff and gun/taser mechanics are loads of fun and really separate this game from other fighters.”
“Even better, this game is a joy to play, incorporating an 'arrest' mechanic, which incentivizes you to try and defeat your opponent by detaining them, rather than simply defeating them; this can lead to some very intense gameplay moments and is a unique twist in a genre that can be very boring.”
“Gameplay felt clunky.”
“Gameplay is so monotonous; it's boring as hell.”
“From my perspective, the gameplay is a tad shallow, with a limited roster and each character sharing the exact same story and arcade ladders.”
- graphics54 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia for classic fighting games like Street Fighter II. Reviewers appreciate the retro aesthetic, vibrant animations, and attention to detail in the backgrounds, although some note that the graphics can feel simplistic or unpolished at times. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience.
“It has really nice pixel art graphics.”
“The graphics are really nice and the soundtrack fits perfectly.”
“The pixel graphics and retro soundtrack are great and the punchy sound effects get the job done.”
“It sucks, just look at these graphics.”
“Saw the graphics and thought, what the hell, it looks like old school Street Fighter.”
“Take away the graphics and it plays like a student-made beat-em-up.”
- music38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its catchy and fitting soundtrack that complements the retro aesthetic and gameplay. While some noted that certain tracks could be bland for a fighting game, the overall consensus is that the music enhances the experience, making it a standout feature, especially given its inclusion with the game. The combination of impressive sound effects and a memorable soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music is very catchy, the writing is quite funny and reasonably solid.”
“The atmosphere and the soundtrack are amazing.”
“Cons: bland, relaxing music for a fighting game??”
“The good news is that there are plenty of modes to choose from, and despite repetitive moves and bland music, it is absolutely worth 3 dollars, or in my case, one dollar.”
“Overall, for its price point, this is a nice little game, with a fantastic soundtrack, that for lack of depth, makes up for it with charm.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of tongue-in-cheek wit and absurdity, drawing on retro fighting game tropes and police/mafia clichés. Players appreciate the funny writing, catchy music, and humorous challenges in the story mode, while also noting the presence of well-known character stereotypes and amusingly ridiculous fight scenarios. Overall, the game successfully combines solid gameplay with a lighthearted and entertaining narrative.
“The moves are solid, the story mode is funny and has challenges, not just pummel through it.”
“If you took Street Fighter II and Hotline Miami and put them into a blender, you'd get Verdict Guilty, albeit with much more tongue-in-cheek humor than you'd find in either of those two games.”
“The characters are well-known stereotypes from police and detective movies, and the causes of each fight are so dumb that they made me laugh sometimes.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability, particularly through its diverse character move sets and engaging arcade and story modes, making it a worthwhile experience for its low price. However, some players feel that the overall replay value may not meet the expectations typically associated with video games, as the gameplay can become repetitive, primarily revolving around battles against a few key antagonists. Despite this, the survival mode adds significant replay value, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
“The game runs extremely well, there is a decent move set for each character, and it has great replay value for its small budget.”
“Every character was fun to play with, and the arcade and story modes add a lot more replay value for the price of admission.”
“However, although the game is enjoyable, it just doesn't have the replayability that most people look for in video games.”
“Most of them result in a battle against Sang, a corrupt politician who is the de facto bad guy of the game, with the occasional battle with a corrupt cop Sabu (sadly neither are playable).”
“It's quite good fun for a whole dollar, especially with all the replayability survival mode has to offer.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while character sprites and animations are well-integrated and glitch-free, users have reported frustrating bugs, such as issues with the training mode that disrupt gameplay by preventing access to the movelist. Compatibility issues also seem to arise, impacting the overall experience.
“The character sprites fit very well with the animations, showing no glitches. They are detailed enough without being over-the-top.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or significant bugs, providing a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; I can focus on strategy without worrying about technical issues.”
“Weird glitches in training where pressing start won't bring up the movelist, but will send you back to character selection.”
“There are numerous glitches and bugs that disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating to enjoy the game.”
“Compatibility issues with certain devices lead to frequent crashes and instability during play.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is marked by interesting and fitting character designs that align well with the game's concept, complemented by dynamic background art that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some designs may come off as silly, they contribute to a lively and engaging experience. Special attacks further enrich the characters, adding depth to their development.
“Character designs are a bit silly but overall fitting of the concept. The background art fills the scene nicely and has some movement to it, making the game feel active and not just thrown together.”
“Pros: interesting character designs and special attacks.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a stylish cyberpunk atmosphere, particularly highlighted by a blue filter that enhances its aesthetic. Players praise the combination of this atmosphere with an impressive soundtrack, creating an immersive experience.
“Playing in Neo Seoul, the game has a cyberpunk atmosphere to it, especially with the blue filter, making the whole package very stylish.”
“The atmosphere and the soundtrack are amazing.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the game's combos are not well-optimized, suggesting that they may lack efficiency or effectiveness in gameplay.
“The combos are not optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay.”
“The lack of optimization in combos makes it hard to enjoy the game.”
“I found that the combos are poorly optimized, which affects the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, especially when playing solo, as it can feel repetitive and less enjoyable without friends to share the experience.
“Since my friends are not that into these sorts of games like me, I find it tedious to play this alone.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wide range of experiences, from lighthearted and humorous moments, such as Minso's quest to find her dog, to deeply poignant and heartbreaking confrontations, like Jae's struggle with his yakuza brother over their father's fate. This diversity in emotional depth adds a unique layer to each character's narrative.
“It's unique for each character, ranging from the ridiculous (Minso is trying to find her dog) to the heartbreaking (Jae confronts his yakuza brother about the fate of their father).”