As its title suggests,Detective Pikachu Returnsis a game about solving crimes and mysteries.
Blandly good-natured protagonist Tim Goodman takes center stage here.
This is reminiscent of the investigation segments in the cult classic visual novel seriesPhoenix Wright.
Its very silly, but also a recipe for laugh-out-loud moments.
The charm is more than just visual, too.
Pikachu will moan about his cholesterol level and offer witticisms befitting his hard-boiled detective persona.
The deduction system, though elegant in principle, rarely offers a challenge.
The answers here are usually obvious.
I often found myself having worked out the mysteries long before Tim and Pikachu caught up.
The first of these satisfying sequences plays out as you put together the mystery of a high-profile jewel heist.
It was a pleasing set piece that would have been right at home in the Pokemon TV show.
It was a trivial puzzle to solve and didnt leave me feeling particularly satisfied.
Detective Pikachu Returnsalso wrestles with some surprisingly dark themes, though always in a gentle and family-friendly way.
Accessibility
Detective Pikachu Returnsoffers fairly little by way of accessibility features.
Although text display speed and character movement speed can be adjusted, theres no provision for colorblind players.
A disappointing showing from a Nintendo title.
I predominantly played the title in handheld mode.
Im a Pokemon fan and a big enjoyer of mystery games likePhoenix Wright.
Looking for an alternative?
Our list of thebest Pokemon gameswill set you on the right path as will our round-up of thebest RPGs.
