Gamedec
Anshar Publishing
Anshar Studios
Game Synopsis (via Steam): “Gamedec is a single-player cyberpunk isometric RPG. You are a game detective, who solves crimes inside virtual worlds. Use your wits to gather info from your witnesses and suspects, getting to the bottom of deceptive schemes. The game continually adapts to your decisions and never judges.”
They lost me at “isometric RPG,” but I’m glad the game won’t judge me for the decisions I make because I’m not the best sleuth in town. Granted, I watched a lot of detective programs growing up like C.S.I. (the original, that’s the only one I’d watch, and I even bought the Nintendo DS game), and Monk (remember this show? It was amazing. I have about five novels based on the show, too!). I’d watch NCIS and other like it when I was at my Grandma’s house, ’cause she watched those shows all day, every day.
But, enough about me and my history with mystery and detective programming (wait, does Scooby-Doo count?), and here’s about me and this detective RPG where you can choose your character, and solve cyber-mysteries. In the age where nearly everything happens online, no wonder the future holds a place for cyber-detectives. The first case I ended-up in, I didn’t solve fully in time. My skills weren’t high enough so I couldn’t accomplish what had to be done – and the end was more brutal than I thought this game would go. But, gritty seems to go hand-in-hand with CyberPunk themed entertainment these days.
gameplay Atmosphere
The sound design was nothing to knock my socks off. It was good, helped the game along. Each game my detective found herself in had its own soundtrack, which was a nice touch. I’m currently in my second case, but I’m caught in a farm simulator-type area… and I personally can’t stop playing. I like the little “country” sound effects here and there. Nice touch.
The visuals are much better. Each world I’m brought to has its own flair, and really immerses the player into the “game.” The real world is a futuristic layout, whereas each game you go into can be something completely different – a world of it’s own: it’s own pallet, background characters, aesthetic, etc.
Gamedec plays very smoothly. Now, I finally upgraded to a PC tower (Lenovo 7i) so my specs are better than my old laptop, but there’s no stuttering from any character, mine, or background characters. I can run around freely without skipping a few steps, or hearing the sound effects jitter.
ALl-in-all… Gamedec
Gamedec is the sort of game isn’t normally what I’d go for on my own, but that’s why I love writing here. I get exposed to games I wouldn’t pick, but ultimately end up enjoying, like Atomicrops or Frostpunk. I loved the palettes of this game, and the high interactivity, between characters and picking up clues. Now, unfortunately, I’m a terrible sleuth, but, like the synopsis said, the game won’t judge my decisions, which is wonderful for a gamer like myself.