Wednesday, January 8, 2014

PC Spotlight #64: Detective Case and Clown Bot in Murder in the Hotel Lisbon

Title: Detective Case and Clown Bot in Murder in the Hotel Lisbon
Developer: Nerd Monkeys
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Price: $9.99
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Now I'm not the biggest adventure game fan. I should probably get that out of the way before reviewing an adventure game. Gemini Rue is the only other point and click I've played, so my perspective on a game may not be as informed as those who've played more of the genre. Nevertheless, Murder in the Hotel Lisbon is fun experience that entertains with both its intriguing story and witty humor.

Playing as the (in?)famous Detective Justin Case and his wisecracking robot sidekick Clownbot, you find yourself engrossed in a strange and hilarious abstract suicide case. How strange? Well it's a man who "committed suicide with 14 stabs to the back while at the same time he peacefully drank his coffee." I really don't want to delve too much into the story because it's best experienced for yourself, but the zany characters and the witty dialogue and plot twists make for a fun charming narrative. The banter between Case and Clownbot is great and the developers loved poking fun at the genre mechanics as well as other game elements. Besides the funny narrative, you'll be exploring various locations, gathering evidence, and interrogating witnesses. That aspect reminded me slightly of LA Noire, in that you need to select evidence you've found with accusations during the suspect interviews. The game's pixel art gives the whole game a whimsical cartoony atmosphere that really adds to the experience
Murder in the Hotel Lisbon isn't that challenging or that long, but I feel it was the perfect length without feeling padded or over-extended. I really enjoyed my time with this humorous world and characters. You can purchase the game on the developer's site or Desura, and vote for it on Steam Greenlight.

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