Night Call

Review

In Paris, the city of love, known for its monuments and attractions, a serial killer has the city in a grip of fear. One unlucky night your path crosses with the killer while you are dropping off a passenger. Shot and left for dead on the street you survive the incident, unlike the client you had in your cab. Upon your release from the hospital, a police officer approaches you wanting your help with the case. Help may not be the right word, as she informs you that you have a week to gather the needed proof to identify the killer, or she will pin it on you. Being a taxi driver allows you to get a behind-the-scenes view of the city through conversations with the many people who seem to entrust you with thoughts that they normally wouldn't share with people they don't know. In such a huge city you will have unconventional and fantastic customers occupying your back seat throughout the long night shifts. Some passengers will have mesmerizing stories to tell, while others can give you clues to help you solve the case. Balance making a living with gathering needed evidence to identify the killer before your time runs out.

Released on July 17, 2019, by the developers Monkey Moon, BlackMuffin & published by Raw Fury, this intriguing Indie is tagged Noir, Simulation, Story Rich. I have added the following tags; Casual, Choices Matter, NonLinear, as well. It features a large cast of over 70 characters for you to transport through the long nights. A fabulous hand-drawn art-style presented in black & white gives the title its suspense-filled noir vibe. Accompanied by a notable soundtrack changing with the scenes that adds to the delightful ambiance of the game. Three cases to solve with multiple suspects; as every case is unique, be careful not to persecute previous characters as they could be innocent in other cases. Full controller support is included, allowing you to play it your way.

Quite a remarkable game; though slightly out of my normal genre, its striking art style, along with its premise of tracking down a serial killer, was just too intriguing to pass up. Its stories are very well-written, the symphony of words will grasp your attention and keep it held throughout your gameplay. The animated scenes with your passengers are masterfully crafted, as are all the extraordinary stories they recount. At the end of my first playthrough, I was left with a sense of accomplishment in solving my first case. Though I was a bit confused when I first started playing with my clue board, I eventually grasped how to utilize it (for the most part). My next playthrough should be much smoother for me. My biggest enjoyment was driving at night through the city and meeting all the unusual people who live there; their stories range from touching to bewildering.

I would have liked to be able to see each potential passenger's information on the maps instead of having to drive to each one to see if I wanted to accept the fare. Dispatch in real life would give all this information to their drivers beforehand. But it is a game, after all. I did have some areas where the English translations were a bit perplexing and hard to understand, but they were minimal.

Review written by DamageInc.for Zeepond.com!