As a seasoned gamer and detective enthusiast, I must admit that Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus has left me with a rather complex emotional cocktail. On one hand, this game has an intriguing narrative that delves deep into moral ambiguity, making me question my role as a detective and the consequences of uncovering truths. The cyberpunk aesthetic, the unique mechanics for each case, and the over-the-top action sequences were all incredibly engaging. However, on the other hand, the game’s runtime often felt bloated, with tedious side quests and unnecessary padding that seemed to drag the momentum down.
The influence of Danganronpa cannot be overstated; it significantly boosted the recognition of visual novels in the western hemisphere. It demonstrated how a tiny, extreme niche could grow into a sensation through online communities. In essence, the original PSP game felt more like a dedicated fanbase than a video game for many fans, who primarily encountered it as a translated and transcribed Let’s Play on the paywalled Something Awful forums. The series migrated to Tumblr, and it wasn’t until this grassroots movement gained momentum that the game was officially localized and re-released on the PlayStation Vita. Fan art and cosplay quickly turned the bizarre “death game” narrative into a franchise, which eventually led the series itself to confront the creative decay that can result from repeated success.
As I delved into Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, it felt like the creative minds, spearheaded by Kazutaka Kodaka, were breaking free from the shadow of Danganronpa and venturing into uncharted territory. Previously known as Team Danganronpa under Spike Chunsoft, they’ve now formed Too Kyo Games, with Spike Chunsoft still acting as the publisher for this project.
The weirdest Scooby gang you’ll ever meet
In this intriguing storyline, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is set within an enigmatic universe sustained by the World Detective Organization (WDO), an international law enforcement agency working alongside the United Government to unravel mysteries and maintain order. The WDO operates with a diverse group of individuals possessing extraordinary, otherworldly abilities known as Fortes. These powers vary from minutely specific (the ability to observe a crime scene in its entirety at the moment of discovery) to incredibly potent (rewinding time). These exceptional individuals are known as Master Detectives, and you assume the role of Yumo Kokohead, who appears to be connected to this organization somehow. Upon waking up in a misplaced storage room at a train station with no recollection, it’s unclear what your connection is, aside from the invitation found in your pocket.
Despite suffering from amnesia, Yumo manages to navigate his predicament due to an unusual agreement he made with Shinigami, a peculiar, puffy, violet specter-like figure who revels in the grotesque. It’s revealed that the memory loss was a condition of this contract. Yumo and Shinigami are drawn into a vast investigation concerning the Kanai Ward, a city perpetually shrouded in rain clouds and recognized as an independent entity beyond the Unified Government’s control. A train journey into the city takes a disastrous turn, leaving Yumo with a team of Master Detectives in a city that openly resents their presence. They are there on orders from the WDO’s top brass to help unravel the greatest mystery yet.
Mystery Dungeon! Like, literally, a mystery dungeon
I’ve been discussing Master Detective, but let me explain why Danganronpa and it are linked. It’s tough to separate the two because they complement each other well. Placing them side by side highlights what makes Master Detective intriguing. Unlike other “death game” series like Battle Royale, Danganronpa’s standout feature isn’t its horror subgenre hook. Neither is it Monokuma, the dual-toned teddy bear who’s also a murderous fiend, although we certainly appreciate him! The real charm lies in how Danganronpa blends surrealism to create bizarre visual scenes that challenge our perception of reality while maintaining a coherent narrative.
In the game I’m playing, my character met an early demise in a bizarre setting reminiscent of a batting cage. This batting cage, however, was not just any ordinary one – Monokuma was pelting my character with a seemingly endless supply of baseballs. But wait, where did this batting cage even come from? Was it a literal depiction of the character’s death or a twisted, surreal interpretation akin to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, serving as a distraction as much as entertainment? Is this cosmic surfboard we’re on real or just an abstract representation of someone’s mind? It seems too fantastical to be true, but its absurdity adds to the game’s unsettling atmosphere.
In the world of Rain Code, the strange and unreal becomes reality. By fulfilling a certain pact, Shinigami has repeatedly rescued Yumo from perilous situations by temporarily stopping time and creating a pocket universe. This allows them to escape death’s grasp, often to address a crime in desperate circumstances. Within this space, a labyrinth of mystery materializes, an inconceivable maze that brings the intricacies of a mystery to life with deadly twists and turns. Yumo wields a sword and various Solution Keys, which Shinigami (revealing her dual identity as a gothic princess masquerading as Death) produces by literally vomiting them out.
In every challenge or puzzle they encounter, Yumo and Shinigami’s situations become bizarre in some way, ranging from Yumo’s blood being splattered on walls to reveal clues, to Shinigami finding themselves in a spinning barrel on a beach, where the player throws knives at letters to form sentences. This completed sentence then serves to power a laser beam that destroys an obstacle. Absolutely, we adore video games! Unlike the dramatic metaphors in Danganronpa, this narrative device not only introduces a new dimension of absurdity, but does so in a way that makes it feel just as real and intense as a bullet wound from a gunshot. It’s incredibly cool, offering fans of the team’s past work a fresh perspective on a familiar concept.
The whole truth and nothing but, so help you Shinigami-chan
“Truth” is really important here, and part of why it’s meaningful to make the goofy visuals part of the reality of this work. This is a story about detectives, and about the value of seeking out the truth. Or rather, it’s about the calculus one has to make in truth-seeking, measuring the ideal of solving a problem with the harsh consequences that can and will actually follow. Of course, Rain Code being what it is, that consequence is delivered to us with the subtlety of a fireworks stand in the southern United States in June. See, when Yumo risks his life to make it through a Mystery Labyrinth, fighting supernatural pitfalls and phantoms threatening to trap his soul in an unsolved crime forever, there’s a price to pay at the end.
In the gripping narrative of Rain Code, the main character Yumo often finds himself in a predicament where saving the day requires him to spill blood, regardless of his intentions for taking up the case. This realization doesn’t make him feel heroic; instead, it leaves him with a sense of unease and discomfort. Even when he successfully solves a mystery, he can’t help but question the value of truth when it only seems to bring more suffering. This tough moral dilemma is particularly potent when Rain Code delivers its best storytelling moments.
Cyberpunk Sleuth
Regrettably, Rain Code sometimes struggles to perform optimally, with its runtime stretching an excessive ten hours or more. At times, the narrative feels like wading through water, providing limited progress beyond some mechanical plot advancements following the conclusion. Navigating the game’s visually stunning world can also become a tiresome task, especially when considering optional collectibles and side quests that add little value beyond today’s gaming trend of making each experience last at least 30 hours. It’s disappointing because Rain Code can reach extraordinary heights when it’s at its best, surpassing the depth I found in the Danganronpa series. However, as the story progresses, particularly when Rain Code begins to unveil its secrets and veers off course simultaneously, I felt like I was trudging through a shallow puddle rather than exploring profound themes. Fortunately, the story concludes on a positive note; unfortunately, there’s so much filler along the way that it doesn’t reach the potential height it could have attained.
Interestingly enough, despite Rain Code occasionally tripping over its own feet, I seldom found myself feeling mentally drained. Each case presents a unique mystery, and with Yumo partnering with diverse characters utilizing distinct Fortes, each case also offers distinct gameplay mechanics. Add to that the recurring elements like “Reasoning Deathmatches,” which combine Ace Attorney-style interrogations with Punch-Out’s style using a sword, and Rain Code’s action is engaging throughout. However, it’s during the lulls between the thrilling escapades that the game sometimes falters. This can be a tricky issue in a hybrid visual novel, as it makes the down periods particularly noticeable, making the low points quite low.
Similar to Danganronpa, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus left an indelible impression on me, even with its challenges. It was worth the wait for this updated version, as the seamless frame rate and high-definition visuals truly showcased their potential. Though there were moments when I wasn’t entirely convinced by the storyline, Rain Code kept me engaged, which is a testament to its quality as a game featuring a lethal goth girl who vomits rainbows and fires heart-shaped laser beams from her face to uncover criminal plots.
The game “Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus” is out now, playable on both PlayStation 5 and PC platforms. If you prefer a Nintendo Switch, the regular version is available there too. This review is based on a PS5 code generously provided by the publisher for our evaluation.
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2024-10-08 16:28