Inspector Schmidt - The Ebbing
Last updated: 2025-04-10
- Engaging story with charming, well-developed characters.
- Authentic voice acting enhances immersion.
- Meaningful choices create consequences.
- Game plagued by bugs.
- Suboptimal performance issues impact gameplay.
- Incomplete controller support is present.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 97% · Negative 3%. Score: 3 / 100
Positives:
- The game features an engaging and immersive story with well-developed, quirky characters and charming dialogue. The narrative encourages continued play and investment in uncovering mysteries within a unique world.
- The game features authentic voice acting, including a well-executed North German dialect that enhances the setting and atmosphere. The language used is appropriate for the time period and setting, adding to the game's immersive quality.
- The game shows significant improvements over its predecessor, particularly in graphics and mechanics. Developers have refined the gameplay experience by improving existing mechanics and removing unnecessary elements.
- The game offers a choice between Story and Detective modes, with challenging but fair puzzles that reward attention to detail. Skill checks add an interesting layer to the gameplay.
- The game creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, building a sense of dread as the player uncovers clues. Certain locations are genuinely scary due to their sound design and environmental elements.
Negatives:
- Multiple reviews mention bugs, ranging from minor visual glitches to significant issues like the game failing to load properly. These issues detract from the overall experience and require patching.
- Controller support is present but incomplete and inconsistent. Players report issues with interacting with certain elements and a lack of clear controller guidance, hindering the experience for controller users.
- The game's performance is not optimal, with occasional frame rate drops and slow loading times. This is especially bothersome given the game's genre, where smooth performance is expected.
- The game displays inconsistent language, with some tutorials appearing in a different language than the rest of the text, making them unreadable. This creates a barrier to understanding the game's mechanics.
- Some quests lack clarity, making it difficult for players to understand their objectives. This can lead to frustration and impede progress.
Gameplay:
- The game offers branching narratives and consequences based on player choices. Player actions and dialogue choices influence character relationships, story outcomes, and the availability of information, creating a sense of agency.
- The game blends adventure, exploration, and RPG mechanics, but incorporates dice rolls that introduce an element of chance. This may appeal to players who enjoy RPG elements, but could frustrate those seeking a purely deterministic adventure experience.
- The game is set in a fictional location inspired by the North Sea. The setting is visually evocative of the North Sea region, which may contribute to the game's atmosphere and immersion.
Performance:
- The game has appealing visuals, but the animations need improvement to be smoother. This impacts the overall experience, making the game feel less polished.
Recommendations:
- Many reviewers recommend the game based on their positive initial experiences and anticipation for future content. They highlight the engaging story and immersive adventure, suggesting it's a worthwhile experience, especially for fans of the genre. Some suggest trying a demo or starting with the prologue.
- The game is particularly recommended for fans of the detective genre, especially given its price point. Reviewers suggest that those who enjoy detective stories and traditional adventures will find it appealing.
- The game requires patience and time investment from the player. This suggests that the game may be slow-paced or require a significant time commitment to fully appreciate.
Miscellaneous:
- The reviewer participated in the game's beta testing phase and intends to update the review after completing the full story. This indicates a commitment to providing a comprehensive and informed assessment of the game.
- The game's narrative revolves around Valentin Schmidt, a protagonist solving cases on an island during his vacation. This setting and premise form the core of the game's storyline and player experience.
- The game offers a prologue as a separate download on Steam. This allows players to sample the game's content before committing to a purchase, potentially influencing their decision.
