The investigation continues
The return of Detective Pikachu to Nintendo’s hybrid system is not unexpected. Considering the open ending in the debut adventure of this yellow Pokémon wearing a Holmes hat and sipping hot coffee to better digest the accumulated cases to solve, the sequel to the game that only arrived here in April 2018 is more than inevitable. Detective Pikachu Returns is the continuation of the original released for the Nintendo 3DS. In the meantime, there was a film with a name almost similar (Pokémon Detective Pikachu, 2019) that developed the subject matter and the protagonists.
In any case, going back to Detective Pikachu Returns, it is a game somewhat similar to the previous one in terms of accessibility and simplicity of mechanics, a game aimed at a young and casual audience. It is a light and less challenging experience than other games that excel in intricate investigations, such as Professor Layton or even Ace Attorney. Interestingly, I had the chance to analyze the original five years ago. Even though I am not exactly a player and knowledgeable about the backbone of Pokémon games in role-play format, I have long been wanting to start playing one of the original trilogy games on the original Game Boy. But I did not feel in this “spin-off” the imposition of the elements and mechanics of the role-play game. Here we only catch the suspects and solve the cases after going through a series of inquiries, notes, and deductions.
Case-solving machine
Ryme City’s development, as well as the production of the environment and atmosphere, is better. The areas are presented with depth, in 3D, although from a 2D perspective. It is possible to move between spaces, advance and retreat as new areas are discovered. It is interesting to note that there is a noticeable advancement in the modeling of the city. Pikachu and Tim will progress through some areas and spaces, from mansions, parks, and even a café where Pikachu drinks a mug of that mythical and popular substance capable of awakening the senses. The areas highlighted in red (our term), usually the crime scene, can be inspected with a magnifying glass, focusing on relevant details, to the point of collecting every clue and essential element. The collection of clues and testimonies is essential, recorded in a notebook.
Deduction Phase in Detective Pikachu Returns
When the investigation reaches a certain level of maturity, after testimonies and clues have been gathered, the game enters the deduction phase, which allows for selecting answers to solve the case. The scheme is quite simple and accessible, although it may disappoint fans looking for a good challenge. The deduction scheme, while capable of identifying errors, tolerates them and allows the player, in a trial-and-error model, to find the right answer even after failing the previous one. By the principle of exclusion, the door to solving all cases remains open.
About the Author
