Info about Tangle Tower:

Official game description:
Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles.  
Freya Fellow has been murdered. The lead suspect? A shadowy figure found looming over her body, wielding a knife. The problem? That suspect... is just a painting.  
Investigate the entirety of Tangle Tower, from the bizarre and eerie gardens, to the cold and ominous crime scene at the very top.  
Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?  
• A fully voiced and animated cast of characters  
• Atmospheric original orchestral soundtrack  
• Beautiful digitally painted environments to explore  
• Unlockable concept art gallery with every character, clue and location

Release date: Oct 22, 2019

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Puzzle Solving, Deductive Reasoning Puzzle, Narrative Adventure, Story-driven Gameplay, Dialogue-based Gameplay, Mystery-solving elements, Character-driven Interactions and Dialogue

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs well on Linux with Proton and on Steam Deck, with users reporting a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, but there are notable issues with the control scheme and hardware compatibility. Users found the thumbstick controls clunky and had to use additional hardware like a wireless mouse for a better experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $4.00 - $5.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that while the game is enjoyable and worth purchasing, it is best bought at a discounted price. Many users mention that the full price does not match the value they received, indicating that a lower price range would be more appropriate. The sentiment is that the game is worth playing but not at its full price, with several users specifically mentioning prices around $4 to $5 as being fair.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 7.0h
  - Story completion: 7.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime. One user explicitly states they finished the game in 7 hours, including additional time spent listening to all character commentaries. Another user mentions playing the game in hour-long chunks, suggesting a session length of around one hour. Multiple users mention being highly invested and engaged with the game, indicating that the game can be completed in a relatively short amount of time, likely within a single day of dedicated play.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with a slow and tedious pace but becomes significantly more engaging and fun once players begin interacting with characters and solving mysteries, leading to a highlight in the final act.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Talking to all residents
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: tedious initial exploration; slow pacing at the beginning; unclear mechanics early on
  - Unlock drivers: interacting with characters; solving mini-mysteries; progressing through the story
  - Conditions: engaging with the storyline; investing in the characters; appreciating the humor and wit
- Player Archetypes:
  - Artistic Connoisseur (buy)
    - Motivation: Aesthetic appreciation
    - Playstyle: Casual and relaxed, focusing on the visual and auditory experience.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: art lover; aesthetic enthusiast
    - Reference games: Professor Layton; Ace Attorney
  - Casual Relaxer (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and casual enjoyment
    - Playstyle: Leisurely and unhurried, focusing on the overall experience rather than challenges.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer; relaxation seeker
    - Reference games: Professor Layton; Ace Attorney
  - Story-Driven Detective (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging narrative and mystery
    - Playstyle: Immersive and attentive, focusing on the story and characters.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: story enthusiast; mystery lover
    - Reference games: Professor Layton; Ace Attorney


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Outstanding voice acting (weight 0.66): The game features extensively praised voice acting, described as excellent, top-notch, and superb by numerous players. The fully voiced cast and high-quality performances significantly enhance the game's immersion and storytelling.
- Well-developed characters (weight 0.55): Characters are described as well-crafted, charming, and unique. Their distinct personalities and backstories add depth to the game's narrative and world.
- Beautiful visuals and art (weight 0.54): The game's visuals are consistently praised for being stunning, beautiful, and well-crafted. The art direction and animation quality contribute to a visually appealing experience.
- Engaging mystery gameplay (weight 0.51): Players appreciate the game's mystery elements, highlighting it as a fun and engaging detective experience. The puzzles and mystery are well-integrated, providing a satisfying challenge and a unique narrative.
- Well-designed puzzles (weight 0.43): The puzzles are noted for being clever, logical, and well-paced. They offer a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making the gameplay enjoyable and rewarding.
- Interesting story (weight 0.35): The story is described as intriguing, enjoyable, and well-crafted. It keeps players engaged with its twists and turns.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.22): The game's soundtrack is praised for being lovely, hauntingly beautiful, and excellent. It enhances the overall atmosphere and player experience.
- Good dialogue writing (weight 0.14): The dialogue is noted for being well-written, witty, and skillfully designed. It contributes to the rich characterization and engaging narrative.
- Helpful hint system (weight 0.11): The game provides a helpful hint system that assists players when needed, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable puzzle-solving experience.

Common complaints:
- Abrupt and rushed ending (weight 0.35): The ending is described as abrupt, rushed, and confusing. Players felt it lacked closure and was poorly executed.
- Story and plot issues (weight 0.32): The story is criticized for feeling forced, having plot holes, and unresolved plot points. This affects the overall narrative experience.
- Unclear and weak motives (weight 0.26): The motives for the murder are criticized for being unclear, illogical, and poorly explained. This affects the overall coherence of the story.
- Puzzles are inconsistent (weight 0.24): The puzzles in the game are criticized for being either too easy or too difficult, with some being illogical or poorly designed. This inconsistency affects the overall gameplay experience.
- Game is too short (weight 0.17): Many players felt that the game was too short and could have been longer. The short runtime affected the overall value of the game.
- Lack of real detective work (weight 0.07): Players felt that there was very little actual detective work involved in the game, which affected the overall gameplay experience.
- Mystery is too simple (weight 0.06): The mystery in the game is criticized for being too simple and not challenging enough for players looking for a deeper experience.
- Pricey for the length (weight 0.05): Many players felt that the game was too expensive for its short runtime, affecting the overall value perception.
- Translation and localization issues (weight 0.05): The game has translation and localization issues, including confusing translations and grammatical errors, which affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Confusing character names (weight 0.05): The character names in the game are criticized for being confusing, which affects the overall understanding of the story.

Gameplay feedback:
- Puzzle-solving mechanics central (weight 0.57): The game heavily features puzzle-solving as its core mechanic, with players engaging in various logic puzzles, clue gathering, and deduction to progress through the mystery.
- Investigation and evidence collection (weight 0.35): Players spend significant time investigating, collecting evidence, and interrogating suspects to solve the murder mystery.
- Point-and-click gameplay (weight 0.25): The game employs point-and-click mechanics for interaction, allowing players to gather clues, solve puzzles, and navigate through the environment.
- Story-driven gameplay (weight 0.24): The game features a dense, linear storyline that progresses regardless of player input, with puzzles and mysteries intertwined throughout.
- Character interactions and dialogue (weight 0.17): The game emphasizes character interactions, with players engaging in dialogue with various characters to gather information and uncover inconsistencies.
- Murder mystery theme (weight 0.13): The game revolves around a murder mystery plot, where players must solve the case through investigation, puzzle-solving, and deduction.
- Exploration mechanics (weight 0.09): Players can explore various environments, such as a house, to search for clues and interesting items.
- Unique art style (weight 0.04): The game has a distinctive hand-drawn art style that sets it apart visually.
- No incorrect answers (weight 0.03): The game design ensures that players cannot make mistakes or provide incorrect answers, making it more accessible.

Performance notes:
- Compatible with Steam Deck (weight 0.06): The game runs well on Steam Deck, with players experiencing no major issues. Some players have also used additional peripherals like a wireless mouse.
- Volume settings reset bug (weight 0.05): Players have reported that their volume and sound settings are being reset, causing inconvenience and disrupting the gaming experience.
- Cannot exit to menu (weight 0.03): Players have found it impossible to exit to the game menu using the escape key, which can be frustrating and disrupt gameplay.
- Music-related issues (weight 0.02): Players have encountered various issues related to music, which may include bugs or performance problems.
- Minor visual bug (weight 0.02): There is a minor visual bug in the music player, which, while not game-breaking, can be distracting.
- Compatible with Linux (weight 0.02): The game has been successfully played on Ubuntu Linux desktop using Steam's Proton compatibility software, indicating good compatibility with Linux systems.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for puzzle and mystery lovers (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for fans of point & click games, narrative puzzle games, and murder mysteries. It is praised for its art, narrative, and gameplay, making it a must for adventure game enthusiasts.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.14): Many reviewers suggest buying the game during a sale. It is considered worth experiencing, especially at a discounted price.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.1): The game receives high recommendations from reviewers. Many would buy more games in the series and highly recommend Tangle Tower specifically.
- Recommended for fans of the genre (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy mysteries, strong narratives, and fun characters. It is also suggested for those looking for a quick and chill game.
- Sequel anticipation (weight 0.1): Reviewers are looking forward to upcoming sequels and more games from the developer. The game has a prequel and an upcoming sequel, adding to the anticipation.
- Play previous games first (weight 0.04): Reviewers recommend playing previous games in the series, such as Detective Grimoire, before starting Tangle Tower. This is suggested to enhance the overall experience.
- Good introduction for younger players (weight 0.04): The game is seen as a good pick to introduce younger folks to these types of games. It is also recommended for those who like the art and/or music.
- Enjoyable despite flaws (weight 0.04): The game is recommended despite some flaws. Reviewers enjoyed the process even with an unsatisfactory ending.
- Appeals to Ace Attorney fans (weight 0.02): The game appeals heavily to fans of the Ace Attorney series. This makes it a good choice for those who enjoy similar gameplay and narratives.
- Demo available to try (weight 0.02): A game demo is available for those who want to try before buying. This can help potential players decide if the game is for them.

Other player notes:
- Suitable for learning English (weight 0.03): Players find the game helpful for improving their English skills.
- Easy Steam achievements (weight 0.02): The game offers Steam achievements that are relatively easy to obtain.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): The primary cause of disappointment among players is the game's ending, which is widely criticized for being rushed, abrupt, and unsatisfying. Many players felt that the plot and character arcs were unresolved, leading to confusion and a lack of closure. Additionally, the weak and unclear motives of the culprit, as well as the overall storyline, contributed to this sentiment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.21): Players enjoyed the game's art style, character designs, and voice acting, which were frequently praised for their quality and charm. The engaging mystery, puzzles, and overall gameplay experience also contributed significantly to the enjoyment, making the game fun and immersive despite some criticisms about the ending.
- Joy (weight 0.12): The game brought joy to players through its art style, character designs, and voice acting, which were often described as funny, iconic, and beautifully crafted. The engaging gameplay, intriguing story, and great plot twists also contributed to the overall joyful experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players expressed excitement primarily due to the anticipation for the next game in the series and the engaging plot twists. The enjoyable gameplay, puzzles, and character interactions also contributed to the excitement, making players eager for more content and sequels.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players felt satisfied with the game's art style, voice acting, and puzzles, which were highlighted as well-executed and immersive. The overall experience, including the story and gameplay, met players' expectations and provided a rewarding experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.05): Frustration among players stemmed from unresolved plot points, unclear motives, and illogical puzzle solutions. The hand-holding gameplay mechanics and rushed ending also contributed to the frustration, making the game feel incomplete or poorly implemented.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciated the effort and love put into the game by the creators, evident in the beautiful artwork, excellent musical score, and high-quality visuals and sound. The attention to detail and the depth of character commentary were also highly valued.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admired the game's art style, animations, and voice acting, which were described as amazing and top-notch. The rich characterization, dialogue, and beautiful visuals also contributed to the admiration, making the game stand out in terms of creativity and presentation.
- Anticipation (weight 0.03): Players expressed anticipation for the next game in the series and future releases, showing a strong desire for more content and story development. The positive aspects of the game, such as its story and background music, also fueled this anticipation.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players were surprised by unexpected plot twists and the realization that the game is a sequel. The game's overall quality and the unexpected killer reveal also contributed to the sense of surprise, making the experience more engaging and unpredictable.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players expressed love for the game's art style, characters, music, and plot, which reminded them of nostalgic experiences like old-school Cartoon Network animations. The positive aspects of the game, including its design and storytelling, fostered a deep affection among players.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players felt happy while enjoying the game's world, puzzles, humor, and characters. The visuals, gameplay, and voice acting also contributed to the overall happiness, making the game a joyful experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players were enthusiastic about the game's beautiful art, wonderful soundtrack, and writing. The intriguing plot, charming characters, and good puzzles also fueled this enthusiasm, making the game highly engaging and enjoyable.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): The game evoked nostalgia among players, reminding them of past experiences with similar games and leaving a lasting impression over the years. The Gravity Falls vibes and the desire to relive the initial playthrough contributed to this nostalgic feeling.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players felt increasingly engaged as the game progressed, thanks to the engaging story with many twists. The overall game experience, including the story and gameplay, kept players invested and interested.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players were excited about the game's beautiful animation, spectacular voice work, and vibrant characters. The anticipation for new releases, such as The Mermaid Mask, also contributed to this excitement.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Players expressed gratitude for the game's impact on their perception of point-and-click games and for the localization efforts, such as the inclusion of Brazilian Portuguese. These aspects made the game more accessible and appreciable.
- Anger (weight 0): Players felt anger due to the unfinished story and terrible ending, which were seen as major letdowns. The lack of logical evidence and unresolved plot points also contributed to this frustration and anger.}