Review: Methods: The Detective Competition

Were you sitting in front of the TV every day when Crime Scene Investigation was on? I always watched this show when I was little, so it was only natural for me to take Methods: The Detective Competition as a review. This game is developed and published by LockedOn and is a visual novel where you play as multiple characters. The gameplay isn’t like any other game I’ve played recently. I usually play action-packed games, but this is a different kind of action!

We played Methods: The Detective Competition 5 hours on PC.

What we liked!

• Story story, and more story: I haven’t played this kind of game a lot, but I think we can all imagine that the story makes or breaks the game in this genre. And I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I started blanc, not knowing anything but the title of this game because I didn’t want spoilers. I will put a warning here because I will go more into what the story is about, so if you want to be blanc like me, skip the rest of this column. You start off going into a big building, entering a competition where only detectives and criminals are allowed. In this competition, the criminals make a crime scene with dolls, and it is up to you and your detective partner to figure out who did it and answer the bonus question every murder has. Now that you know (or do not, by choice) what the story is about, I can tell you that this game will suck you up! I was thinking about this story when working, showering, and even before bed. I found it an incredible journey so far, and I am quite sure I will finish this game after my review.
• Music: The music is thrilling throughout the entire game, and when something unusual happens, that sound will also play. It makes certain moments exciting or mysterious. For example, when the game-masters talk to you through their little speakers in every room in the hotel, you will always hear the same sound. I found this a brilliant way to let you know the game-masters were about to speak and get you excited for, for example, your score!
• Design: The characters in this game are hilarious by design as well as by nature! A little more spoilers ahead, so read with caution. So, when you get to the second main character called Nell, you will have a special snowflake of a partner. He dances around the room, likes to do handstands, and loves to make metaphors about Oreos. Oh, and did I mention his parents were clowns? This is why he wears clown make-up and enormous shoes. I can’t imagine coming up with a character like this and I find it hilarious to read his dialogues and see him suddenly with his feet up in the air, haha!

Somewhere between

• I really can’t think of anything to put here. I only have one complaint about this game, and you will find that below.

What we disliked

• Option to read for you: I don’t know if every visual novel has this, but Methods doesn’t have the option to put on a voice to read it all for you. It would have been awesome to have multiple people play these unique characters and read out the conversations. I hoped it would be there when my boyfriend Xendacine (yes, the other PC/Xbox reviewer) said his review was a visual novel as well, and he was listening to it. I think if it were done well with this game, it would have been an absolute plus. I sometimes didn’t feel like reading anymore, but I still was pulled by the story, and this would be fixed by implementing voice acting.

CONCLUSION

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