Review game Sexy Brutale detective in the best traditions of Agatha Christie

Today I'd like to tell you about a very unusual video game called Sexy Brutale. In today's gaming industry often happens that a great game, lacking a big marketing budget behind the popularity and national recognition. Simply put, they just don't know, as a small Studio is not able to convey information to millions of gamers around the world. In the case of detective adventure games Sexy Brutale happened about the same story. I consider it my duty to correct this injustice with this review.

For the development of the Sexy Brutale answer two studios at once. First – Cavaliere British Game Studios, founded by immigrants from Lionhead Studios. These people were among the originators of the famous role-playing series Fable. Studio two – the Spanish Tequila Works. The developers of Madrid in 2012 released a very stylish horror Deadlight, and recently in the sale of their incredibly beautiful game Rime, inspired by the cult adventure game ICO. It turns out that both teams are very small, but capable of much. Just like to inform people on the receiving end of their great games, if it is not possible to invest millions of dollars in expensive advertising? are familiar to many indie developers.

Let the name of the Sexy Brutale't fool you. In the game there is absolutely nothing sexual or overly brutal. The story tells about a huge mansion casino, where a Marquis every year invites to a masquerade ball of some friends. Sexy Brutale is actually the name of the estate, and to the story it has a very mediocre attitude. Although striking the phrase great "catches the eye". Can't argue with that. In the course of the next prom in the estate of the Marquis that something went wrong. The guests begin to die one after another under the most incredible circumstances. From the start it becomes clear that their deaths involved the wait staff is Sexy Brutale, but who gives them orders? And why was organized such a brutal performance?

The Main character of the game is one of the friends of the Marquis by the name of Lafcadio Boone. He wakes up in one of the guest rooms and sees a strange girl with head to toe covered with blood. She puts on his face a white mask and says that only he is able to save the poor guests of the Marquis from a horrible death. From this point Lafcadio begins the race with time, trying to avoid a seemingly inevitable tragedy. Help him in this magical pocket watch that can turn back time. Something that will encounter the player, very reminiscent of the film "Groundhog Day" with bill Murray. The main character is stuck in one day. He always sees other people's deaths, but every 12 hours it returns to the beginning, and Lafcadio is once again trying to prevent the murder of all available means.

Killing the guests of the estate are made with all due respect to the classic detectives like "10 little Indians". One lady was discovered hanged on the bell in the clock tower, a gambler poisoned, without departing from the roulette table, another guest someone shot point blank with a shotgun, and two more were burned alive in the Elevator-the crematorium. All this outrage is necessary to understand the player. You need to save ten innocent lives. The detective's Arsenal includes the ability to peep through the keyhole into the next room and eavesdrop on others ' conversations and glean from them useful information. From time to time the player will have to use ingenuity and solve all kinds of puzzles, including the use of objects and mechanisms, just like in the classic quests. However, remember that when you rewind time to the beginning of the day, all the found items (with rare exceptions) will be selected.

Visually the game is reminiscent of the old isometric adventure. You move from room to room, explore the environment, find different hiding places and gather collectibles like playing cards and invitations of the guests. The interior of the estate is made with great attention to detail. The artists tried their best and created a wonderful atmosphere. Graphically, the game somehow reminded me of the wonderful adventure Tim Schafer Grim Fandango: as grim and grotesque at the same time the characters, and death in the center of the main plot. Graphics technology Sexy Brutale uncomplicated, but at the same time, the game looks very nice and harmonious. Surprised me very efficiently-designed animation characters. Nowadays, even the big studios rarely care so much about this.

The estate Sexy Brutale is not only the detective but also shred something supernatural. In some areas the main character will deal with ghosts (which the old mansion can do without ghosts?), giving him tips on the game or just talking about the afterlife. Being in the same room with the killer or the victim, the main character begins to pursue the evil spirits performed in their masks (something is definitely wrong with all these masks!). At this moment you should quickly retreat to a nearby safe room and wait until the characters leave the desired room. It's very handy that the game map is marked the stay of the characters in different rooms, so gradually you will build an interactive Atlas of travel of the heroes of the manor.

If you manage to save man from death, as a token of appreciation he gives you his mask. Along with her main character gets a new ability that allows you to get into the new premises of the estate. For example, learning to pick locks, to see the hidden from the naked eye things, or to hear the slightest noise at large distances. The skills remain the main character even after the day begins from the very beginning. Also save all the acquired knowledge. For example, you overhear the password box, and will be able to open it the next day preprohormone. In some cases, you will want to quickly speed up the time to a certain hour. Received from one of the saved people of the masks will allow you to go directly to the 4 o'clock or 8 o'clock in the evening.

We would like to praise the music of the game, written by a team of four composers. Musical compositions bind to different genres and create an incredible atmosphere that compliments unfolding on the screen detective. Here and playful jazz, and dark ambient, and even beautiful compositions with vocals performed by characters directly during the game. Another musical number, by the way, is the reason for one of the many deaths in Sexy Brutale, so that the music is woven into the game even stronger than you can imagine. And I was very impressed with surround sound. When using quality headphones, you will be able to accurately determine the direction from which you can hear every sound.

On the downside, the game is the fact that the characters are practically not revealed in front of us. Yes, in a special menu to read their biography, but otherwise the impression that before us is just the dummy, is divided into two categories "victims" and "murderers", but not bright original personality. And really want to understand what the characters really are, what their inner world. On this the developers apparently didn't have enough time, effort or budget. The second noticeable drawback is the fact that the dialogues are flying in front of you in real time, so it's easy to miss something important. In the dialogues of the characters could be a hint, missed that, just turned away for a second to the side, and then have to replay the entire day from the beginning. A lot of frustrating and the fact that the game really pass effortlessly in about 5-6 hours, but if you are strong in quests, you can finish the passage in 3 hours. To find all hidden in a Sexy Brutale secrets will have to spend about 9 hours.

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Pros:

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• Intriguing adult story with an unexpectedly dramatic denouement.
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• Mechanics of time management perfectly woven into the gameplay.
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• Highly original atmosphere of the game creates an unusual mood.
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• Great music and sound.
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• the Game resonates with a classic Agatha Christie.
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• Simple, but nevertheless fascinating puzzle.

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Cons:

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• Sometimes it is easy to miss important dialogue.
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• the Characters are very poorly disclosed.
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• Short duration of the game.

The Sexy Brutale Developers have done a truly wonderful job on your game. This intimate, fascinating story, steeped in the spirit of Agatha Christie and mystery, will surely appeal to all fans of quality and puzzles. In addition, for a very long time I haven't seen decent games, which so efficiently would involve manipulation of time. Little Spanish-British masterpiece went unnoticed compared to other high-profile releases spring of 2017, so I highly recommend you read it if you are tired of the mainstream and want something extremely unusual. I put the game 8 out of 10....