Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku – The Gripping Fifth Instalment

“It seems to me that you have two options: hide the fact that anything happened, or hide the fact that you had anything to do with it.” – Keigo Higashino

Overview

Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku is the fifth game in the series by HitherYon Games. Following Murder is Game Over, Murder is Game Over: Streaming Death, and Murder is Game Over: Deal Killer, and Murder is Game Over: The Blackinton Curse, this game sees the familiar Detective Guy and his dog Cleo solve another thrilling crime mystery!

Narrative

The most recent instalment of the series, Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku, is set before the events of the third game, Deal Killer. It takes place in a 1920s hotel, once owned by a proprietor convicted of running a speakeasy during prohibition and left abandoned until bought by a descendant after they were able to obtain a bank loan. In a bid to make money for repayments, the hotelier agrees to host Yokaikmon, a brand new Japanese pop culture convention, at the venue. In an unfortunate turn of events, Rena Ishida, a J-Pop idol who went solo after her partner passed away two years earlier, is murdered. It is the job of Detective Guy and his trusty sidekick dog Cleo to deduce who is responsible. Could it be an obsessive fan, an up-and-coming rival, an ambitious manager, or the demon spirit of an Oni?

Gameplay

As a classic, stand-alone murder mystery RPG, the key objective in Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku is completing the investigation and deducing who the murderer is. The primary mechanic, which is present throughout the series, is the ability to switch between playing as Guy or Cleo depending on the task at hand. Cleo can sniff out clues that a human would be unable to detect, and Guy can talk to each of the suspects and interrogate them about events and about any evidence that has been found. Once all the clues have been discovered, Detective Guy can assemble all the relevant parties, and the player must go through events answering questions and making correct deductions in order to reveal the culprit.

An extra mechanic that was added to the previous instalment of Murder is Game Over, and remains present in Murder Otaku is ghost chases. Upon entering different areas of the map, there is a chance for the ‘ghost’ to appear and try to catch the player. This will happen more frequently as the game progresses. There are three difficulty options available for the ghost chases: cosy, normal, and scary mode. The first two are quite forgiving, but getting caught in scary mode will result in a game over. Luckily, multiple slots for manual saves will help if this occurs, and the game mode can be changed at any time after initial selection.

There is quite an extensive area to explore, and a comprehensive map of the hotel is available, as well as hints to help players along the way. There is a lot of information to keep track of; fortunately, a list of clues and suspects can be found in the case file. The game uses straightforward, intuitive controls, but while it does have full controller support, all the instructions list keyboard and mouse buttons. Extra elements include 20 doggy bag collectables, 3 findable coins that unlock a minigame, a simple boss fight, and a number of achievements (depending on the platform). All of which adds another layer of fun and satisfaction to the experience. In particular, players get the opportunity to guess the culprit before the final, which, if correct, will award an achievement.

Styling

Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku features the series’ retro styling with moderately detailed pixel art that makes good use of cool, muted colour palettes and subtle pops of colour with warm, atmospheric lighting. This provides a nice level of contrast that suits the themes and style of the game well. The game is set in a 1920s Art Deco high-rise hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an interesting backdrop for a murder mystery that is presented consistently throughout the game. The character art, both in-game and in dialogue boxes, is a particular highlight, with the latter having more detail and adding to the level of characterisation and connection.

The soundtrack includes a nice range of music consisting of electronic and chiptune retro tracks that range from eerie to mysterious and even quite dramatic in places. There is an underlying noir vibe, and overall, the soundtrack fits well with the visuals and the gameplay. This, along with the vast array of sound effects, helps create an immersive environment and a believable game setting.

Summary

Murder is Game Over: Murder Otaku is another riveting murder mystery game from HitherYon Games. It is enjoyable as a standalone title but also makes a great addition to the expanding series. It will take around two to three hours to play and offers a lot of value for the price. While the gameplay itself is relatively straightforward, the story is more complex, full of twists, turns, and red herrings. The narrative design is superb, and the mystery is intriguing, well-constructed and delivered at a good pace. This allows the player space to explore and gather information, building suspense throughout the investigation. The mix of its traditional detective story with light supernatural elements is a gripping combination with plenty of misdirection to keep players interested. The retro styling is in keeping with the previous games and is well-suited to the narrative and gameplay.

Detective Guy and Cleo are a charming and captivating pair, and are fast becoming a well-established murder-mystery-solving team. Each of the games in the Murder is Game Over series seems to offer something new and be made with a little more finesse, with the narrative design becoming more intricate and enthralling. This new instalment is no exception. The developers’ hard work, dedication, and love for the characters and series shine through when playing all of the games, but perhaps become even more apparent with each new story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Otaku, and I highly recommend it (and its prequels) to fans of casual interactive murder mysteries and detective games.

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The Hex – Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer – Duck Detective: The Secret Salami – Return of the Obra Dinn