Review: Find the killer in this vaporwave-styled bloodstained utopia
Over the years, most of the detective games that have come out have largely remained the same: follow a linear path filled with clues and evidence to find, and at the end, piece together the solution to the mystery. It’s a tried and true formula, but Paradise Killer, a new whodunnit from Kaizen Game Works, breaks the mold by making the experience completely non-linear in a semi-open world. And when you pair that compelling formula mix-up with a style drenched in vaporwave and a charming cast of characters, you end up with one of the most compelling detective games in recent memory.
Breathe life back into paradise
Paradise Killer
$16
Bottom line: Paradise Killer’s non-linear focus, cast of intriguing characters, deep investigation mechanics, and vaporwave presentation make it one of the best whodunnits in recent memory.
Pros:
- Excellent investigation gameplay
- Intriguing cast of characters
- Fleshed out world
- Awesome presentation
Cons:
- Voice acting is hit or miss
What you’ll love about Paradise Killer
Source: Kaizen Game Works
All of this may sound daunting to keep track of, but Paradise Killer’s helpful computer companion records all the information you learn and connects the evidence to characters for you. This allows you to keep up with the case as it develops painlessly, which is important since you will eventually need to sit down with all of your evidence and try to piece together the truth. Plus, the laid back nature of the game means that you can take as much time as you need to come to your conclusions.
Finally, Paradise Killer’s overall presentation is awesome. The entire world has a colorful, 80s vaporwave-style look to it, and the game’s idea of putting 2D character sprites into a 3D environment is charming. When you enter a conversation, Paradise Killer goes into a visual novel mode where text streams across the screen accompanied by a pleasant typewriting sound. This is all wrapped together nicely by a catchy vaporwave soundtrack, ensuring that you always have a nice tune to jam to during the crime-solving adventure.
What you’ll love less about Paradise Killer
The only issue I have with Paradise Killer is that the voice acting could be better. Some of the lines have a monotone delivery that doesn’t match the dialogue, which can be annoying. Then again, there are very few voiced lines in the game, meaning that this problem is rare. It’s worth mentioning, but it doesn’t take much away from the experience.
Should you buy Paradise Killer?
Source: Kaizen Game Works
If you like detective games, you should absolutely check out Paradise Killer. It’s one of the most enjoyable games of 2020, hands down.
Paradise Killer is available on PC through Steam for $20 normally, but right now it’s on sale for $16. It’s also available on Nintendo Switch.
Breathe life back into paradise
Paradise Killer
Vaporwave whodunnits FTW
Paradise Killer’s non-linear focus, cast of intriguing characters, deep investigation mechanics, and vaporwave presentation make it one of the best whodunnits in recent memory.
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