Sometimes it’s good just to take a punt on a game and see if it’s any good. While we all have those tentpole titles we wait all year for, some of my favourite games over the past few years have been one I seen a quick trailer for and liked the cut of their jib. Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is 100% one of those sorts of titles.
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The hardened CoD and racing crowd might pass up a mystery-fantasy game. But for a lot of gamers, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code may pique some interest for its unusualness.
Lineage
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a spiritual successor to the Danganronpa series, a series that maintains a loyal and sizable fan base. And the elder series’ links to Master Detective Archives: Rain Code are strong.
Several of those who worked on the Danganronpa series, including lead designer Kazutaka Kodaka, character designer Rui Komatsuzaki, and composer Masafumi Takada, had a hand in Master Detective Archives: Rain Code.
Spiritual and Mechanical
It’s worth noting that the two are not connected in terms of story, but there are more than a passing few nods and winks to the elder series, and its spin offs, on the gameplay front. However, these have been tweaked and polished enough to feel like something new.
As mentioned above, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is fantasy-mystery adventure. The game is split up into six chapters. You fill the shoes of Yuma Kokohead, a young detective trainee who solves incidents with the help of a shinigami named Shinigami.
Forget-Me-Now
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code begins with you and your shinigama waking up on a train. However, you have developed a touch of amnesia, and have no idea where you are going, where you have been, or what you have to do. So, the first part of the game sees you finding your bearings and working out what exactly is happening.
Kanai Ward area is an inherently dark and occlusive part of the world, which is overseen by the suitably shady Amaterasu Corporation. And, it turns out you’re not the only detective in the neighbourhood.
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In fact, you soon discover that there are more than a few who have been summoned to solve the ultimate secret of the Kanai Ward. The kicker here being that none of you has any real clue about what that is.
Intrigue from the Start
The adventure sees you working your way through a rain-soaked, neon-lit metropolis. The scene really suits the intrigue as you try to piece together what’s really going on.
Along the way, you team up with your equally initially bewildered fellow detectives. Working together to solve seemingly unrelated cases, eventually, lets you and your tradesmates piece together the central puzzle.
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Master Detective Archives: Rain Code builds a solid tale as you work on cases, and build bonds with your friends and Shinigami. The game is a little slow at times, but these slower moments of stalemate or tension work. You also don’t become best mates with someone overnight in the real world, and the game reflects that.
Where the tale stumbles a little is in its villains. None of them really get long enough to truly make a mark. Especially when compared to the healthy supporting case, and it’s a bit of a shame as some do hint at interesting dynamics.
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Gameplay is mostly composed of lengthy investigation sections. You find clues, then enter a mystery maze, and use said clues to find out who the culprit is. It’s quite bare bone, but it covers all the bases.
During the mystery maze or labyrinth sections, you’ll play a number of mini-games to get to the culprit. Only the truth will see you move forward, whilst false accusations will damage your HP. On that of that, that loop evolves case to case, which keeps things feeling fresh.
Chase Over Exploration
One of the minor issues I had was all the clues you have to find are highlighted on your map. This definitely takes away the feeling of truly exploring the city. You can never really get lost, despite how the game’s dense urban vibe would be wonderful to feel lost in.
That said, the world expands constantly as you progress. There are more NPCs to talk to, and more interactions to experience, and these keep the world fresh and engaging.
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Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is very striking. The game is a feast for the eyes as it dances between different but complementary anime art styles depending on where you find yourself in the world. The game’s audio is also outstanding, and only adds extra depth and character to the cast. An English-language dub is also a nice inclusion; better still, it’s excellent.
What is Rare is Wonderful
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is strange and odd in the best of ways. It’s a solid and well-crafted mystery with top-tier writing and a superb cast that marries perfectly with its (mostly) good pacing. Rain Code also has no fear of covering heavy topics, while also having its moments of levity and straight-up fun.
It’s a must-have for fans of Danganronpa, and if you are just looking for something new, fresh and captivating, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is exactly that.