Detective Pikachu Returns review: childproofed mystery offer…

detective pikachu returns

MSRP $50.00

“Detective Pikachu Returns works as a charming interactive cartoon, but its simplistic cut takes some of the mystery out of it.”

Pros

• the story turns out good

• intelligent use of animals

• Lots of personality in cutscenes

Shortcoming

• lots of hand holding

• simplified deduction

• inconsistent presentation

Product provided by Nintendo.

After solving cases for a dozen hours detective pikachu returnsThere’s one mystery I still can’t solve: who is this game really for?

Let’s consider the evidence. At a glance, the Nintendo 3DS sequel seems like a gift to young Pokémon fans. It plays almost like an interactive cartoon with its brightly colored world and lots of comedic charm. Simple deduction gameplay, without heavy hints and no real fail situations, creates a kid-friendly adventure. However, like any good case, there is a complication. It’s a text-heavy visual novel that almost feels like it’s appealing to older players looking for more substantial storytelling in the Pokémon universe. It’s a puzzle that can trouble even the great Pikachu!

Like recent mainline Pokémon games, detective pikachu returns The franchise struggles to find a way to co-exist with its extensive fan base. Childproof screening systems don’t leave much room for surprises in a series of highly telegraphed cases. Thankfully, both kids and adults will find some common ground in a playful adventure that will have a lot of fun bringing personality to the series’ various critters.

This is elementary!

detective pikachu returns Picks up immediately after its 2016 predecessor. It continues the adventures of young detective Tim Goodman and his caffeine-addicted Pikachu, with whom he can mysteriously communicate. After saving Ryme City, a metropolis where humans and Pokémon live in harmony, the crack duo is left solving local cases and trying to find out what happened to Tim’s missing father. What starts off as a simple jewelery heist transforms into an even bigger conspiracy as twisted as the vines of Tangela.

The effectiveness of that central secret will probably depend on how old you are. it’s absolutely clear detective pikachu returns Its goal is to create an experience that even the youngest Pokémon fans can get behind, which often comes at the expense of its exploratory premise. Almost every turn is signposted at a distance of one mile. The first case, in which Tim and Pikachu investigate a jewel theft at a mansion, practically answers every puzzle in the blink of an hour before Tim adds his own in an inflexible, linear fashion.

It has the pace and rhythm of almost an educational game. I’m mostly spending my time looking for leads by bouncing back and forth between a few “screens” in each chapter, similar to the 90s game of Putt Putt. Crime scene investigation is reduced to simple point-and-click gameplay, while some of its side-quests largely involve helping me track down a specific Pokémon in the city based on an obvious clue. That slow, hand-holding pace is perfect for kids who need a lot of guidance, but it’s hard to imagine that reading 12 hours of dialogue will keep kids engaged for very long. On the other hand, I think older players will be more inclined to a more interactive visual novel, although they may wish they could overcome all the obstacles.

Despite this, I still think fans of all ages will find entertainment here, as long as they’re willing to accept detective pikachu returns What is it for. After going through a slow start, I was finally able to dedicate myself to the adventure by its extraordinary third chapter (where the mystery really heats up and developer Creatures starts messing with some fun formula subversion). Went. There’s also a bit of a thematic thread to get tangled up in the narrative that explores what it means for humans and creatures to “co-exist peacefully.” It’s an inherently one-sided conversation when one half of the conversation can’t say anything other than their name.

childproof deduction

When it comes to actually solving cases, the biggest thing that’s changed since the original detective pikachu The Switch lacks a second screen on the Nintendo 3DS. Otherwise, it’s still a 3D narrative adventure where Pikachu and Tim wander around small spaces, chat with both people and creatures (Pikachu translates all Pokémon chatter for Tim), and use their collected clues. By solving a series of mysteries. Instead of adding a lot of new twists, the cut is even more elemental this time around.

Each case is placed on a flowchart that can be accessed by pressing the Y button. That screen lists all open questions on an evidence board and automatically pins any relevant clues below them. Once players have gathered enough clues, they can use all their intelligence to draw a conclusion. The process is quite simple, as players only have to choose from a few answers to complete their lead. Most leads are very hard to misunderstand, as they are as obvious as $500 who wants to be a Millionaire? Question. Even if players get it wrong, there will be no negative consequences; They keep choosing until they choose the right one. This is about as child-safe as it can get.

This is a surprising drop from the first game, which asked players to use a bit more brainpower. The deductions there were like puzzles; One asked players to fix a mural by dragging different Pokémon to the spot where they were supposed to be in the painting, based on context clues. There’s nothing here that feels like a direct side effect of abandoning the original stylus-based touch gameplay.

While it’s a shame, detective pikachu returns This is offset by a more traditional 3D adventure hook. The primary change is that Pikachu has to separate from Tim in each chapter and team up with a partner Pokémon with its own special power. In the first case, he rides on the back of Growlithe who can smell clues and track them. Luxray, on the other hand, can see through walls to uncover exits from closed rooms or hidden pathways. The abilities aren’t particularly deep, but they add some much-needed exploration variety (plus, seeing Pikachu riding another Pokémon is super cute).

While there are some additional twists in the secret sections and button-mashing quick-time events, some of the best cuts are simply mental puzzle work. My favorite moments came when I had to figure out what type of Pokémon could explain the developments in the intriguing case. Is there any creature capable of cutting a glass box into one clean piece? How could the Whimsicalot be involved in a crime? The more knowledge you have about the series’ vast number of monsters, the more fun it will be to guess who is involved in a given case (at least before it becomes too obvious later in the game).

The delightful world of pokemon

The monster guessing game at the center of the story underlines why the sequel is still entertaining enough, even if its gameplay disappoints. No matter what genre it’s translated into, the world of Pokémon remains a fascinating joy. The team at Creatures understands that power and works to create detective pikachu returnsThis is one of the most personality-packed pieces of Pokémon media other than the anime adaptations.

Rhyme City is filled with a wide array of critters who not only have their own roles in the city, but also have their own comedic quirks. Early on, Tim and Pikachu encounter a creature that fiercely guards the rock. Since I’m watching this scene from Tim’s perspective, I can’t understand what it’s saying, so I have to rely on Pikachu’s translations. Later, while exploring as Pikachu, I began conversing with the Pokémon and discovered that it speaks in a highly dramatic faux-Shakespearean language. It’s a crazy reveal that made me eager to interact with every Pokémon I met.

Developer Creatures gets even more opportunities for playful moments with fully animated cutscenes that play out like slapstick cartoons. Those moments in particular give Pikachu a chance to show off his expressive side as he enthusiastically celebrates a “Bolt of Genius” or tries to bounce off Alolan Exeggutor’s long neck. It’s actually the closest any Pokémon game has come to matching the energy of the TV series.

Not everything is built that attractively. From a visual standpoint it still looks a lot like I’m playing a Nintendo 3DS game. While colorful, there isn’t a lot of detail to really bring the world to life. However, the situation of humans is worse than that of Pokémon; The bizarre character designs and robotic voice-acting performances make it sometimes feel like one of those annoying, computer-generated children’s videos (“Lying?” / “No, Papa!”).

As I place each piece of the puzzle here, I find myself staring at the unresolved question that still hangs on my evidence board: What is it really for? It is a difficult task to break it. detective pikachu returns Sometimes Phoenix Wright feels like a creative riff on the series that lets longtime players see a new side of their favorite creatures. In the same breath, it can also feel like an educational game that isn’t concerned with putting in too much effort for younger kids who couldn’t care less about quality. I can also tie a red thread between it pokemon scarlet And PurpleAnother recent release with the same strain.

Wait, I’m sensing a pattern here. detective pikachu, Red, brilliant diamond, let’s go …all titles that struggle to bring together the growing age gap in audiences. Could it be that recent Pokémon games are trying too hard to be everything to everyone instead of being beloved on their own? There is no crime here; It’s a simple case of identity crisis.

detective pikachu returns Testing was done on a Nintendo Switch OLED in handheld mode and on a TCL 6-Series R635 when docked.