If the likes of Thimbleweed Park proved anything, it's that there's always going to be a place for point-and-click adventure games on Nintendo Switch - especially when they're heavy in black humour and suitably retro in appearance. The Darkside Detective, which is slated for release on 7th February, fits that role to a tee with its six episodic investigations into the paranormal.
With a soundtrack by Ben Prunty (he of FTL fame) pounding '80s synth in the background and a town full of peculiar and supernatural goings-on, there's a lovely Stranger Things vibe. And with everything from zombies to the ghosts of some familiar faces (including HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe) to meet, there's plenty of scope for some blacker than black humour.
The Darkside Detective will eminate from the ether on 7th February on the Switch eShop. Will its pixel art wares charm you into a digital possession? Sound off in the comments below... if you dare (*evil laugh*)...
Comments 35
Another pixelated game. The Switch isn't an NES.
The signals are very strong tonight...
This looks great fun ! I haven’t tried thimbleweed but this looks like my sort of game . Love the pixelated look too
I loved thimbleweed and I look forward to this.
@JimmySpades
It's a legitimate complaint. I'm growing weary of all these pixelated games. The Switch can do more, so do more.
Jurassic Carp!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE - Cause all and every developer can do more? And afford to do so?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE But it's not a legitimate complaint. It's a design choice that developers make, nothing more, which will appeal to some--me--and not to others--you. That there are people that it doesn't appeal to doesn't mean it was a poor choice that ought never to be made.
I really like the look of this game. I do wish there was an option to play with a pointer on the screen so it would resemble the gameplay of a pc version alot more, which is where these types of games were truly born. I don't mind physical controls, the option would be nice though.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Pixels are most welcome on Nintendo Switch. Thank you very much. (Congratulations! This is your 1.965th complaint. Your prize is a glorious and shiny PIXEL).
@Cosats i never complain, do i get a pixel too??
More paranormal pixel activity!
I can dig it. Maybe. Looks pretty funny.
Darn it, for a second I thought a Stranger Things game was coming to the Switch.
@DragonglasPikmin Since you are not complaining you are getting a SPECIAL Pixel (it transforms from 8-bit to 16-bit at will!! It's a miracle pixel.)
I'll most likely be picking this up if the price is right. I have a weakness for anything that references Twin Peaks.
Game seems interesting but like the first comment says, it's a very pixelated game using that same old NES style so I too may took a pass on this. I know it's a homage to the 8-Bit era but at this period in time having more of these are one many too much. I may still check it out but I'm not expecting much.
I do like point-and-click games, but I too am getting a bit tired of all the pixelated games at the moment.
Oh boy @SLIGEACH_EIRE says something and immediately everyone starts complaining. This has never happened before...
I'm pretty excited by the look of this. Gameplay and graphics wise. Pretty picky about adventure games, but I dig this.
What? A pixel game on switch ? This is big news because WE HAVENT SEEN DOZENS OF THESE ALREADY
You know if the Mini Direct wasn't so bad, 1 new game announced from Nintendo, Mario Tennis: Aces, which let's face it is probably a later build of the disgrace, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, then I wouldn't pass comment on games like this. But this is what we're getting largely on a daily basis. The rest of the games in the Direct were either ports, with 2 remastered ports at either end. Where's all this 3rd party support, announce some new games please? Tomorrow and the Japanese sales of MHW are likely to be colossal. As an example, where's our anything MH related in the West? All Capcom has given us is cash grab ports.
Oh ya, and then Nintendo followed up that bad Direct with Labo. The End.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE The mini direct wasn't bad at all. That's ridiculous. There are enough AAA titles, most people are still catching up. Reinforcing launches in Feb and March and highlighting enhanced versions of games that didn't get their due on a system with weak sales is an outstanding idea. 'The World Ends with You' is an amazing game and news of an HD port with additional content is also great news.
And bashing the Labo because you either don't understand it's value or personally don't like it is a bit ignorant.
It's spring, the industry slow season. Everyone is holding their cards close to their chest for E3 or announcements around that time... and Nintendo is known for being secretive. Nintendo will have plenty to share, as will 3rd parties. Being a fanboy is bad and I've been plenty critical of Nintendo when they actually screw up, but damn dude. You are always so negative.
And now you're bashing an aesthetic that has taken many different forms and styles and has oozed creativity - not all pixels are created equal - with no regard for the quality of the gameplay or the uniqueness of gameplay mechanics. Nothing but 'Too many pixels! Hulk smash!'.
I couldn't care less if we get nothing but the 8 or 16 bit vibe from every indie developer if the games kick ass. Are you incapable of enjoying games if they don't have cutting edge graphics? XBOX ONE and PS4 await you. Nintendo aren't always right, they can be arrogant and not every game with pixel art is a winner. But at the end of the day, the mini direct was a solid marketing move, Labo have yet to prove themselves but look fun, intriguing and innovative and indie developers are cranking out some incredibly fun, unique and engaging gameplay experiences, with and without pixel art. If you don't like it, fine. But it doesn't mean it's wrong or bad. Any of it.
@Scrummer This hasn't happen before because there wasn't this many flooded pixelated games before. A few years ago we accepted these kind of games and their homage to the older era because they are still fresh and offer something that we wish we had with the NES. Nowadays; however, the visuals and style of these games just isn't interesting anymore. The more I see them the more I wish they were 16-Bit style games. If Mega Man 11 is still a pixelated 8-Bit style game I too wouldn't care about it, that's just me though.
Enjoyed Thimbleweed Park,and this looks similar,so I am hoping for a strong,funny and weird, storyline.First day purchase for me.
@Tsusasi Well said. The recipient of your comment will not accept it, but hopefully other people reading it will.
I played this game on Steam. It was, in my opinion, a lot funnier than Thimbleweed Park. Then again, humour is one of the most subjective things, so make of that what you will.
This game is very short though. Might be a positive or a negative depending on your tastes.
@sligeach_eire, you need to have patience. The games will come. The world isn't going to end yet. As for this game, I prefer syberia 1 & 2 on the switch.
This one I will download. I love this sort of game ever since I first played broken sword and discworld on PC
I'm getting a bit tired of the pixel look too, but in this case I think it suits the game perfectly. Will definitely check it out
Could be fun. Wish the pixel res was a little higher though. When it's this low, even when trying to look "retro", it never looks quite right to me.
This is a game I would love to watch someone else play through but I will not be picking this up. I just can't get into P&C Adventure games.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Exactly. I have been thinking "okay, this retro style isn't clever anymore. Not everything on the Switch needs to look like it could run on the NES or SNES."
@Cosats Pixel graphics are an art form and one that takes a lot of time to get good results. I absolutely love it.
<3 that 80s synth. i'll probably pick this up if the price is decent
@JimmySpades I agree with @SLIGEACH_EIRE on those pixelated games. That retro look is getting out of hands and most of those games don't have the quality of the good ol' days of the NES and SNES. Some of them are just outstanding, like axiom verge. But they could be so beautiful with smooth graphics like Severed or forma8.
I don't mind a few ports or remasters for excellent games I missed but I'd like more original games (preferably running at more than 9fps, looking at you Rime)
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