Flatfoots and Fools

Put on your Hideous Tie, because this week it’s time for Disco Elysium - The Final Cut! John and Andrew describe our journeys through Revachol in 2019’s entry for one of the best written games of all time. This RPG where your stats have a dialog with is probably the best known detective themed game of the last decade. We talk about the game itself, what we loved, and what was bleak. We also touch on the ongoing (at time of recording) legal battles over the ownership of the game itself.

After Recording, ZA/UM released Zero Parades on the 21st of May. Neither of us has had time to look at it yet, and it’s not really in the Detective wheelhouse.

Spoiler zone between 13:40 and 47:00

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: https://discord.gg/j5JrCZyAHQ

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross
Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

Whip out your rail guides and sit back in your seats of choice as Andrew and John are here for the ride of Agatha Christie - The ABC Murders. The first of the Modern Poirot series, this cell shaded story closely follows the book of the same name. The deduction mechanics are light, but do a solid job of bringing you down the solution paths.

Amusing note, R.U.S.E. was re-listed on Steam between the recording and the release of this episode.

Spoiler zone between 14:00 and 21:30

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/374900/Agatha_Christie__The_ABC_Murders/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross
Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

Clear out your corkboards and get a fresh roll of string! Today Andrew and John dive into The Roottrees are Dead, and Roottreemania. With limited search tools, you must reconstruct generations of a family tree and uncover the secrets behind the sweet facade. We both really like this one, with John staying up way too late because he couldn’t put it down. 

Spoiler zone between 11:43 and 24:15

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754380/The_Roottrees_are_Dead/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

Today we dive into Utter a Name, an investigation of a Victorian manor full of ghosts and bodies. In the Obra Dinn lineage, this is probably the most direct descendent, being almost a 2D version. After the game, we chat a bit about why there are so few games like this.

Spoiler zone between 7:10 and 14:55

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3213430/Utter_a_Name/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

Today, John and Andrew wade into the bog with 2014’s Detective Grimoire. This Detective - Point & Click Adventure hybrid has become the first of a series two release games, and one upcoming. In addition to some of the best music in detective games, this charming adventure’s wacky cast is a delight to investigate. 

Spoiler zone between 9:38 and 25:50

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/272600/Detective_Grimoire/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

This week we return to the foundations of the modern Detective Game Renaissance, with Andrew and John going through The Return of the Obra Dinn. It’s difficult to overstate the influence of Lucas Pope’s 2018 game on players and developers. It’s visually striking, and leaves the player to discover everything about this twisted tale for themselves. Seven and a half years on, this detecting experience remains a must try for anyone who can.

Spoiler zone between 17:38 and 42:10

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross
Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

This week we continue Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All! Andrew and John and Lynx return to discuss the lows of case 3, the highs and quirks of case 4, and the how the title of the game becomes pivotal. We come out positive on the game overall, and Andrew finally understands more about the timeline and why Phoenix was being a pill to Edgeworth.

Spoiler zone starts at the beginning, and goes until 25:36

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/787480/Phoenix_Wright_Ace_Attorney_Trilogy/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter CrevierPodcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

This week we dive back into the Ace Attorney Series, with the second game Justice for All! Andrew and John are joined by Lynx for a two part discussion on this Mystery Adventure. This mixture of Investigation and courtroom drama keeps pulling from a deep mystery roots while delivering courtroom theatrics that would make Hamilton Burger’s head spin. We talk about the game in general, as well as cases one and two specifically.

Spoiler zone starts at 19:10, and continues to the end of the episode

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/787480/Phoenix_Wright_Ace_Attorney_Trilogy/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter CrevierPodcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

John and Andrew dive deep into Her Story, what True Crime might look like as a game. From 2015, this game about sorting through interview clips to understand the disappearance of a husband has depth and secrets that we loved digging through. It’s one of the most inspirational games in the detective space, yet it only takes up one session.

Spoiler zone is from 12:00 to 33:12, and I really, really recommend avoiding it if you think you want to play this game.

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/Her_Story/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter Crevier

Podcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross

Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music

Today, Andrew and John Follow the Meaning! We tour through this surreal Point and Click, coming away with different feelings, and wondering where the remaining cats were. Afterward we have a more general discussion, so come back after the spoiler zone on this one. It was recorded a bit ago, so the overlap with the New Year discussion was unintentional.

Spoiler zone from 5:52 to 14:13

Game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2720280/Follow_the_meaning/

Discuss this episode or any other detective games on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/CMxrckaqN4⁠

Podcast edited by Peter CrevierPodcast art by Lalita Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalitagross
Music by Atonic Music https://soundcloud.com/atonic-music