The hours we’ve spent playing with one of Wally’s legendary books. Because yes, Martin Handford’s works are not read, as they have hardly any text, but are played as one of the most famous hobbies in the world. Finding the happy character with glasses is one of the funniest tasks that I have enjoyed in my childhood.
In a very similar vein are the adventures of Pierre, a little detective emerged from the mind of Hiro Kamigaki and IC4DESIGN . Through fantastic illustrations full of detail, the adaptation to the world of video games comes to us, in a series of levels full of winks, details and long journeys.
Works of art come to life
The basis of Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is simple: we must go through impressive drawings while we chase the mysterious Mr. X , who always ends up escaping our reach as soon as we are about to hunt him down. An evildoer like him will make us go through all kinds of places while we are accompanied by our inseparable Carmen.
To Caesar what is Caesar’s. Like the dishes of a good chef, there are games that enter directly through the eyes and catch you immediately. Here we have an example manual, since the level of detail in each of the levels is insane . It is a constant to remain standing looking through all the animated situations of the drawings, with truly surreal moments.
We have diverse settings, such as a museum, a vampire’s mansion, a forest or a pier by the sea. Obviously, each of them has thematic elements, so we can find from statues coming to life to ghosts that prevent us from passing. In truth, they all have their own peculiarity and you can even extract a small intrahistory of them or imagine how they have reached that situation . Fantastic.
Although we cannot contemplate this artistic display with a very distant shot, it is possible to reach different reference points so that the camera zooms out and shows us everything that is taking place in a panoramic view. And all carried from a good key humor , with the right dose of joke or easy joke that makes you smile.
In this sense, the recurring jokes will be continuous. There are characters that appear in practically all levels and that, beyond making similar dialogues, will create that little illusion of finding them again . A ninja who believes that no one can see him when he is in plain sight, a couple in love on a honeymoon or a singer reciting his sonnets are several examples of this.
You will get good surprises when going around and exploring a bit, you find references to the world of video games and other forms of leisure . I didn’t expect to see a leap from the rooftops of a silent killer or a box coming out in terror with the warning sound of Metal Gear Solid. Special moments, like every time you find the Dalton brothers on the run from justice.
A gift with a nice and empty wrapping inside
The adventure of Pierre, the tireless and mute detective, is to put a stop to the misdeeds of our villain. To do this, he will be the last destination of each of the levels, which we will go through from beginning to end. Despite the name of the game containing the word maze, we are far from being in such a difficult situation.
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective can be defined more as a walk. The path we have to take is clear at all times and it is practically impossible to get lost . What’s more, we can even find magicians who show us the correct direction through arrows, beyond those already placed everywhere.
From point A to point B, from point B to C and so on in paths where we can do little. The interaction with the stage is scarce and is limited to some dialogue like those mentioned above or a small sequence in which we activate an event. Completing each of these ten levels can take about half an hour or forty minutes, if we are complete.
As a stimulus there will be stars, treasures, documents and trophies distributed by the different crosses. They are not difficult to find and the normal thing is that we finish all the illustrations with 100% completed , so in the replayability section we are left without reasons.
Yes , the presence of a challenge or a puzzle that challenges us with a certain demand is missing. Soon we can hold on, beyond a polar bear that presents us with really simple or light mechanical optional tests such as activating a magnet to get through a new path. It feels like a very, very small bite for everything the game could potentially have been.
Vida Extra’s opinion
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a title whose main calling card is its incomparable visual art. It is difficult for you to come across works of these characteristics, which animate dozens of characters in illustrations full of humor and a lot of love.
However, the absence of a challenge or a problem that puts us in difficulties leaves us wanting much more. The game enters the category of those that the smallest of the house can enjoy , where they will find a nice adventure in which to see, listen and discover all kinds of situations. A place where the game can find itself and be found by others.
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PC, Android and iOS |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Not |
| Developer | Darjeeling |
| Company | Pixmain |
| Launch | June 22, 2021 |
The best
- The illustrations are authentic works of art.
- You do not stop stopping to observe every detail and situation.
- The humor and continuous references.
Worst
- It practically does not challenge us and becomes a ride.
- Replayability is minimal.