Underdog Detective

About

Underdog Detective is a single player role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by 天津芸芸科技有限公司 and was released on April 27, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

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

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews

story43 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

High production quality with excellent acting and engaging visuals, making it feel like a cinematic experience.
Intriguing story with humor and unexpected twists, appealing to fans of detective narratives and East-Asian culture.
Unique gameplay mechanics, including a reflection system and well-executed QTEs, enhance interactivity and immersion.

The game is relatively short, with the base content only covering the first few episodes, requiring additional DLC for the complete story.
Some puzzles can be overly simplistic or frustrating, and the linearity of choices may detract from replayability.
Technical issues, such as bugs and problems with English translations, can hinder the overall experience for non-Chinese speakers.

story
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The game's story is praised for its engaging and humorous narrative, featuring a clever slum dweller embroiled in conspiracies within the imperial capital of Luoyang. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, surprising twists, and high production value, although some note the linearity of choices and the necessity of purchasing DLC for the complete experience. Overall, the story is described as captivating, with a blend of detective elements and comedic moments that resonate well with fans of interactive storytelling.
- “At times it made me laugh, at other times it kept pulling me in with its intriguing story.”
- “The story is an interesting detective story with some unforeseen twists and turns and a good dose of humor.”
- “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.”
- “The DLC for the remaining story is a little expensive though (I have not bought), which would bring the full story total cost to $20, double what other full FMVs cost.”
- “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
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it both engaging and entertaining, often blending seamlessly with the intriguing detective story. While the comedic elements resonate well with some, cultural nuances may cause the humor to miss the mark for non-Chinese audiences. Overall, the game is celebrated for its charming characters, witty dialogue, and a delightful mix of humor and mystery, making it a standout experience for fans of narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The 'underdog detective' transports you to the vibrant and tumultuous world of ancient China under the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, offering an engaging blend of humor, mystery, and historical intrigue.”
- “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 has a great sense of humor and a fantastic story to tell.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
The gameplay of "underdog detective" is characterized by its integration of quick time events and unique puzzle mechanics, which enhance the narrative experience, making it feel impactful despite its simplicity. While the game leans heavily towards an interactive movie format with minimal challenge and limited choices, it offers a captivating storyline and memorable characters that keep players engaged. However, some technical issues, such as translation bugs, may detract from the overall experience.
- “Quick time events (QTEs): these add a dynamic layer to the gameplay, making each action feel impactful.”
- “The game's unique mechanics, combined with its engaging story, make it a memorable adventure that leaves you pondering your choices long after the credits roll.”
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and immersive art style, effectively bringing the ancient world of Luoyang to life. While the overall quality is high, some users noted that certain elements, like the live-action footage, could be jarring, and there is room for improvement on 4K displays. The combination of impressive visuals, engaging storytelling, and good sound quality contributes to a captivating gaming experience.
- “The first-person perspective immerses you into the ancient world of Luoyang with stunning visuals that bring the bustling, chaotic city to life.”
- “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.”
- “Excellent FMV game with great characters, decent story, and fantastic visuals.”
- “Chief among these was a drinking minigame, which nauseated me with its live-action footage to a degree that might not be possible with real-time graphics.”
- “- Visuals can be improved on 4K cinematic displays.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's soundtrack effectively enhances the mood, transitioning seamlessly from light-hearted to intense, and aligns well with the high-budget production values of the visuals. However, while the music complements the scenes, it lacks memorability and can sometimes overshadow dialogue due to a flawed sound mix. Additionally, the presence of copyrighted music poses a risk for content creators, as there is no option to disable it.
- “The soundtrack complements the game's mood excellently, switching from light-hearted to intense as the narrative demands.”
- “The music also suits the setting of the story very well; the prop designs, sets, and everything feels like a high-budget production.”
- “Like any budget TV show, the OST for this game is non-intrusive and helps enhance the scenes’ tones.”
- “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 good overall performance. Players appreciate the high-quality performances and immersive experience, which enhance the game's appeal.
- “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 performances that create a cinematic experience, drawing players into a captivating narrative filled with humor and heartbreak. Its impressive range of emotions, combined with immersive visuals and engaging puzzles, results in a heartwarming story that resonates deeply with players.
- “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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players highlight the strong replayability of the game due to meaningful choices that lead to multiple endings, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, its high production value and accessibility for achievement hunting further contribute to its replay value.
- “Your choices genuinely shape the game's outcome, offering multiple endings that encourage replayability.”
- “This FMV is easily the best offered on Steam due to its extremely high production value and accessibility for replayability and achievement hunting.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Users note that the game's atmosphere undergoes a significant transformation early on, shifting dramatically in tone and feel.
- “The atmosphere completely shifts early on, creating a captivating and immersive experience.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly rich and engaging, drawing players into its world.”
- “From the moment you start, the atmosphere envelops you, making every moment feel intense and meaningful.”
- “Although really early on, it does a complete 180 in terms of the atmosphere and feel.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its refreshing approach, blending thrilling and comedic elements within a unique setting that enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The narrative is both thrilling and comedic, providing a fresh take on detective games with its unique setting and character development.”
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 in chapter 2.
- “The last con is that it has problems with Proton, so if you are a Linux or Steam Deck user, you are going to experience crashes or freezes here and there, especially in chapter 2 where it freezes at the beginning.”