Info about The Silver Case: Official game description: The Silver Case: The Deluxe Pack ================================ **The Silver Case: The Deluxe Pack** * Game * Digital art book Forty pages of full-color original and revised artwork drawn by Takashi Miyamoto and collected in one exclusive art book! * Digital comic Experience the “lost” prequel to “#0: Lunatics” and find out what transpired between where Moonlight Syndrome left off and The Silver Case begins with this 22-page digital comic written by SUDA51 and illustrated by Shuji Takeya. * OST All 34 tracks from the game - including music remixed specially for the remastered version by Akira Yamaoka – presented in both WAV and MP3 formats. About the Game ============== 1999 – Tokyo’s 24 Wards. The city has been plagued by a string of serial murders. The detectives of the 24 Wards Heinous Crimes Unit have their sights set on one particular suspect: Kamui Uehara, legendary serial killer and perpetrator of a number of assassinations of government officials 20 years prior in the now-famous "Silver Case". However, nobody knows who - or what - Kamui really is. Is this really the second coming of Kamui? Who is this infamous serial killer, and what is his endgame? Take control of the protagonist - a member of the Special Forces Unit known as “Republic” - from a first-person perspective and dig deep into the underground of the 24 Wards and the police force itself to unravel the various interconnected mysteries encountered throughout the game. Inspired by classic adventure and visual novel-style games as well as neo-noir and hardboiled detective films, The Silver Case provides a unique and revolutionary gameplay experience as it leads you through deep and engaging storylines filled with puzzles and riddles. Uncover the truth piece by piece as you struggle to survive in this dark and dangerous world where the stakes are even higher than they seem! **Kamui Uehara** A dyed-in-the-wool psychopath who gained the title of “the King of Crime” after stabbing a government official to death. Kamui’s motive is completely shrouded in mystery, and it is not known whether he’s acting alone or following orders from some higher power. His victims are major witnesses of suspicious industrial disasters and persons of interest in legal cases which cannot be tried under the current system. **Sumio Kodai** A straight-laced, mid-level investigator in the 24 Wards Heinous Crimes Unit. Relatively quiet and subdued, he provides a perfect contrast to his partner Kusabi, the more rough-around-the-edges of the pair. **Tetsugoro Kusabi** Sumio’s partner, and a grizzled veteran investigator. Back in his regional agent days, he headed the original Silver Case 20 years prior. **Chizuru Hachisuka** A beautiful and level-headed investigator who relies on scientific evidence and raw data to solve crimes. **Kiyoshi Morikawa** Calm and collected, Morikawa is a talented investigator who has worked with Kusabi since their days as regional agents. One of the founding members of the Heinous Crimes Unit. **Morichika Nakategawa** Originally a member of the Public Security Department, Nakategawa has connections in all of the surrounding jurisdictions and is plays a vital role in interdepartmental communications. Rather than going out into the field to investigate crime scenes directly, Nakategawa’s main focus lies in directing investigations from HQ. Release date: Oct 6, 2016 Categories: Visual Novel, Narrative Adventure, Point-and-click Adventure, First-Person Perspective, Choice-based Narrative, Dialogue-based Gameplay, Mystery, Noir Feature scans: - Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the game's lack of sufficient explanations for its mechanics and scenarios, leading to confusion and a reliance on external resources. Additionally, there are notable issues with the control scheme and optimization, causing frustration among users. - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the game reveals significant issues with controls and text/UI management. Control problems are frequently mentioned, with users describing them as poor and slow, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, there are notable issues with text control during key events and confusing UI elements, which can be particularly problematic in a visual novel. These issues suggest that while the game has positive aspects, technical barriers significantly impact the user experience. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00 - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth its price, especially during sales. The mention of the PS4 version being significantly more expensive (300 yuan) compared to the discounted price (40 yuan) indicates a perceived value at a lower price point. Additionally, users express that the game is worth the full price and even worth every penny, suggesting a fair price range that aligns with the current base game price of $19.99. The positive sentiment around sale prices and full price purchases supports a reasonable price range. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 18.0h - Story completion: N/A - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the total playtime required to complete the game. Several users mention that playing through all scenarios in The Silver Case takes around 14 to 25 hours. This range helps to estimate the typical total time to finish the game. Additionally, specific mentions of playtime such as 15.5 hours and 15 hours further support this estimate. However, there is limited specific evidence regarding the time to finish the main story/campaign, session length, and endgame hours, leading to these fields being marked as null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game starts with a tedious and slow pace but becomes enjoyable as the story progresses and characters develop depth. The unique narrative and art style are significant contributors to the fun. - Stance: Fun after - Anchor: Story progression and character depth - Time to anchor: 1h 30m - Friction: Tedious start; Slow pacing; Large blocks of text; Confusing plot twists - Unlock drivers: Story progression; Character depth - Conditions: Appreciation for unique narrative; Tolerance for slow pacing; Interest in art style - Player Archetypes: - Story and Music Connoisseur (buy) - Motivation: Engaging story and music - Playstyle: Immersive and patient, focusing on narrative and audio elements. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Fan of Suda51; Anime fan; Music lover - Reference games: Serial Experiments Lain; Killer7; God Hand - Gameplay Strategist (sale) - Motivation: Unique gameplay and structure - Playstyle: Strategic and methodical, focusing on optimizing gameplay experience. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Visual novel fan; Strategy gamer - Reference games: Devil Summoner; Soul Hackers - Developer Fan (buy) - Motivation: Loyalty to developer and unique storytelling - Playstyle: Exploratory and appreciative, focusing on the developer's signature style. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Suda51 fan; Grasshopper Manufacture fan - Reference games: No More Heroes; Killer 7 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: - Unique narrative and visual style (weight 0.86): The game is widely praised for its unique and engaging narrative structure, which includes dual perspectives, unpredictable plot turns, and interesting characters. The visual style is also noted for being distinctive and memorable. - High-quality music and visuals (weight 0.76): The game's music and visuals are highly praised for their quality and style. The soundtrack, remixed by renowned artists, and the unique visual presentation contribute to an immersive experience. - Engaging and compelling storyline (weight 0.72): Players find the storyline engaging and compelling, with a deep and engaging narrative that includes well-developed characters and a captivating plot. - Well-written and unique characters (weight 0.37): The characters are well-written, realistic, and have their own unique personalities and quirks. The character designs are also praised for being stylish and unique. - Innovative interface and mixed media (weight 0.35): The game's interface is described as innovative and different from other visual novels, with an excellent mixed media presentation. - Dual perspectives and storylines (weight 0.22): The game features dual perspectives and storylines, adding depth and complexity to the narrative structure. Common complaints: - Complex and confusing story (weight 0.92): The story is often described as convoluted, incomprehensible, and overly complex. Players struggle with the narrative due to its abstract and confusing storytelling, making it difficult to follow and enjoy. - Clunky and confusing controls (weight 0.74): The game's controls are widely criticized for being awkward, difficult to navigate, and frustrating. Players find the control scheme inconvenient and troublesome, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. - Tedious and boring gameplay (weight 0.59): The gameplay is often described as tedious, boring, and poorly integrated. Players find the mechanics superfluous and the pacing slow, leading to a less enjoyable experience. - Slow pacing issues (weight 0.43): The game's pacing is criticized for being slow and meandering. Players find the slow-paced gameplay and abrupt chapter endings to be detrimental to their enjoyment. - Poor dialogue and translation (weight 0.27): The dialogue is criticized for being dry, lengthy, and boorish. Additionally, the game's translation and writing are often described as poor, making the story difficult to follow. - Unskippable and long animations (weight 0.18): The game features unskippable animations and cutscenes that players find ugly and disorienting. These long animations contribute to the game's slow pacing and can be frustrating for players. - Lack of meaningful choices (weight 0.14): Players feel that the game lacks meaningful choices, which affects their engagement and enjoyment. The absence of real gameplay choices makes the experience less interactive and immersive. - Difficult to track characters (weight 0.1): The game's frequent character turnover makes it hard for players to keep track of who is who. This issue adds to the confusion and detracts from the overall narrative experience. - Not suitable for casual players (weight 0.1): The game is often described as not being suitable for casual players. Its complex narrative and gameplay mechanics may not appeal to a broader audience. - Vague and poorly communicated themes (weight 0.09): The game's themes and ideals are criticized for being vague and poorly communicated. Players find it difficult to understand the underlying messages and intentions of the game. Gameplay feedback: - Visual novel with varied gameplay (weight 0.54): The game is primarily a visual novel but includes elements of puzzle-solving, exploration, and occasional first-person adventure segments. It is noted for its unique and innovative format that sets it apart from other visual novels. - Poorly integrated puzzles (weight 0.53): The puzzles in the game are often described as convoluted, poorly designed, and can be bypassed or automatically solved, making them a point of criticism among players. - Detective and investigation elements (weight 0.52): The game features a strong emphasis on detective dynamics and criminal investigation, with players engaging in exploration and puzzle-solving to uncover mysteries and supernatural elements. - Narrative-driven experience (weight 0.33): The game is heavily focused on its narrative, offering a story and character-driven experience with non-linear storytelling and exploration elements. - First-person exploration (weight 0.25): Players can explore environments in first-person perspective, interacting with text bubbles and scenes. - Crime and detective themes (weight 0.25): The story revolves around crime and detective themes, with elements of crime drama and criminal investigation setting. - Two-part narrative structure (weight 0.14): The game is split into two parts or scenarios, known as Transmitter and Placebo, offering distinct narrative arcs. - Psychological and paranormal themes (weight 0.1): The game explores psychological and paranormal themes, adding depth to its narrative and setting. - Extended and unskippable cutscenes (weight 0.09): The game includes extended cutscenes that are often unskippable, contributing to its narrative-driven focus. - Themes of isolation and connection (weight 0.09): The game explores themes of isolation and societal organization, adding depth to its narrative and character development. Performance notes: - Smooth performance (weight 0.12): Many players report that the game runs smoothly without stuttering or extended load times, indicating good optimization. - Slow scene transitions (weight 0.12): Players have reported that scene transitions cannot be skipped and feel slow and repetitive, which affects the overall gaming experience. - Clunky graphics (weight 0.11): The game's 3D graphics are described as clunky but charming, indicating a mix of nostalgia and technical limitations. - Crashes in NMH1 (weight 0.07): There are reports of crashes specifically in NMH1, indicating stability issues that need attention. - No save or skip during movies (weight 0.06): Players are unable to save or skip during movie sequences, which can be inconvenient and disrupt the gaming flow. - Faithful to original PS1 graphics (weight 0.06): The game maintains graphical fidelity to the original PS1 version, appealing to fans of the classic game. - Text speed preferences (weight 0.06): Some players desire a slightly faster text speed, suggesting that the current speed may feel slow for certain users. - Resolution problems (weight 0.06): Some players have noted resolution issues, which can affect the visual quality of the game. Recommendations: - Recommended for visual novel fans (weight 0.34): The game is highly recommended for fans of visual novels, especially those with investigative and deep narrative themes. It is also suggested for fans of mystery, detective stories, and unique visual novels. - Recommended for Suda51 fans (weight 0.19): This game is recommended for fans of Suda51's storytelling and direction. It is particularly appealing to those who have nostalgia for his earlier works or are interested in cult classic games. - Play both story arcs (weight 0.19): Players are advised to experience both the Transmitter and Placebo arcs. Some suggest playing them alternately to fully appreciate the narrative structure. - Recommended for surreal themes (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for fans of surreal, weird, and paranormal themes. It is particularly appealing to those who enjoy surrealism and post-modernism similar to Twin Peaks. - Not for coherent story seekers (weight 0.11): The game is not recommended for those looking for a coherent visual novel crime story or an interactive puzzle investigation game. The abstract storytelling may not appeal to most players. - Try demo first (weight 0.11): Potential players are recommended to try the demo first to see if the game appeals to them. Reading negative reviews is also suggested before purchasing. - Play series in order (weight 0.1): It is recommended to play the games in the series in order to fully understand the narrative and themes. - Worth for 90s grimdark story (weight 0.06): The game is worth trying for those interested in a 90s-era grimdark story. - Use a guide (weight 0.06): Players are advised to use a guide to navigate through the game more effectively. - Take notes (weight 0.06): Taking notes is recommended to keep track of the game's complex narrative and details. - Use a controller (weight 0.06): Using a controller is recommended for easier movement and better gameplay experience. - Recommended for specific media fans (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for fans of 'Ghost in the Shell' and 'PSYCHOPATH', indicating a niche appeal. - Try other Suda games first (weight 0.06): It is suggested to try other games by Suda51 before playing this one to better appreciate his style. - Recommended for late 20th-century complexity (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for those interested in the complexity and themes of the late 20th century. - Wait for sales or PC version (weight 0.05): Players might want to wait for potential sales or the PC version of the sequel before purchasing. - Not for all visual styles (weight 0.05): The game is not recommended for those who do not enjoy the specific visual and auditory style it employs. Other player notes: - Meta elements and possession (weight 0.06): This cluster discusses the meta elements of the game and how the player character can be possessed. - Personal interpretations and emotions (weight 0.06): Players have shared their detailed personal interpretations and emotional experiences related to the game. - Inspired pet turtle purchase (weight 0.05): Some players mentioned that the game inspired them to buy a pet turtle, indicating a unique impact on their personal lives. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are primarily frustrated by the clunky and confusing controls, which make movement and gameplay feel cumbersome and slow. The repetitive and tedious gameplay segments, including repetitive tower climbing and unskippable animations, along with a confusing and poorly designed story, contribute significantly to this frustration. - Excitement (weight 0.11): The excitement stems from the game's unique and engaging story, which features an unconventional plot with creative twists. The game's unique presentation, characters, and music also contribute to the excitement, making it a standout experience. - Admiration (weight 0.1): Players admire the game's unique narrative, artistic presentation, and the genius of its creator, Suda 51. The game's beautiful and artistic style, along with its complex and interesting storytelling, are highly praised. - Enjoyment (weight 0.08): The enjoyment comes from the game's unique and surreal narrative experience, which is both engaging and interesting. The great atmosphere, music, and unique presentation also contribute to the overall enjoyment. - Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment arises from the game's poor quality controls and lack of engaging gameplay. The story's failure to live up to its potential and the less enjoyable ending plot also contribute to this feeling. - Appreciation (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the game's excellent soundtrack, atmosphere, and well-crafted characters. The unique story, interesting themes, and artistic expression are also highly valued. - Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's remastered content, original charm, and the 90s-style graphics and music. Players reminisce about the original PS1 game and its impact, as well as childhood memories associated with the game. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's unique atmosphere and engaging story. Players are enthusiastic about the game series and its progression, as well as the interconnected stories and themes. - Fascination (weight 0.05): The fascination comes from the game's unique and memorable visual style, along with its deep and intricate story. The surreal and paranormal elements, as well as the unique tone and style, contribute to this fascination. - Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction is derived from the game's satisfying ending and the improvements in the HD version. The enjoyable story, well-made plot, and characters, along with cost-effective pricing, also contribute to this feeling. - Joy (weight 0.04): Joy comes from the game's unique style and story, which players love despite its flaws. The enjoyable story and characters, along with the game's additional content, bring pleasure and enjoyment. - Engagement (weight 0.04): Engagement is driven by the game's cross-era performance and excellent storyline. The intriguing and surreal mystery, immersive world, and rich characters keep players engaged. - Confusion (weight 0.03): Confusion arises from the game's disjointed and abstract storytelling, which is difficult to understand. The complex and convoluted story, along with puzzling dialogue, contribute to this confusion. - Curiosity (weight 0.02): Curiosity is evoked by the game's complex plot and character motivations. Players are intrigued by the meticulously crafted world and unique characters, leading to a sense of curiosity about what comes next. - Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is evoked by the emotional moments in the game, which permeate a sense of melancholy. - Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is expressed for potential remasters and improvements in future releases, reflecting a desire for enhanced gaming experiences. - Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the unexpected enjoyment of the game, with players being pleasantly surprised by its quality and understandability. - Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is felt for future games by the same creator, reflecting excitement and eagerness for what's to come. - Intrigue (weight 0.01): Intrigue is sparked by the game's mysterious narrative and distortions, along with its unique aspects and uncanny horror elements.}