Tails Noir
Publisher: Raw Fury
Play as a racoon detective in a dystopian Vancouver inhabited by anthropomorphised animals. Your every decision will reveal troubling aspects of the human condition in this dark and corrupted city. With its polished pixel art graphics and its captivating soundtrack, this narrative game combines noir and sci-fi elements, and packs a major twist in the second half! What are you waiting for?
Howard Lotor is a raccoon detective who, for some strange reason, finds himself solving mysteries in a city that has grown just as corrupt as the human soul. The gameplay is a blend of point and click and narrative mechanics. You wander through Vancouver, questioning characters and collecting clues like a detective who has nothing to lose... except, perhaps, his dignity. There are choices for you to make, of course, but you can't begin to imagine just how much they'll change the face of the world. The real story is that the outcome of the plot is already set in stone, but little nuances let you believe that you're master of your own destiny.
We liked the complexity of the characters. Anthropomorphised animals they may be, but behind their furry exteriors lie broken souls who share an existence every bit as miserable as our own. The dialogue, filled with innuendo and cynicism, adds a touch of depth to what would otherwise be a straightforward investigation. And the big twist in the second half of the game? Trust us: you'll never see it coming. As if that wasn't intriguing enough, it also seems like the game is openly mocking the player. But will you manage to get that far?
Our favourite part? The beautiful pixel art graphics. The detail in every scene, the lighting, and the torrential rain... it's all designed to make the city even more suffocating and depressing than it already is. These graphical touches don't make it a nice place to be, but the atmosphere really gets under your skin and the melancholy is hard to shake off. Then there's the soundtrack... This blend of doom jazz and electro music is the icing on the cake of suffering, perfectly composed to make every moment as oppressive as possible.
Our tip to help you on your way? Okay, we'll be honest with you... If you think that the dialogue will point you straight towards the solution to the mystery, then think again. The game likes to send you running round in circles, forcing you to interact with objects that are irrelevant to your investigation. You might – rightly – wonder why you've just spent five minutes looking at a bin. Because you had to, that's why.
The absolute top tip: read EVERYTHING. Every line of dialogue, no matter how banal it may seem, is a pearl of cynicism disguised as useful information. You never know what might be the clue you need. Was it a reference to an abandoned cafe? Or just some small talk about the rain? It's up to you to decide if you're paranoid enough to ignore it.
Second tip: don't be shy when it comes to the dialogue. As much as you might have everything all planned out, the city will give you exactly what it wants: suffering, ambiguity, or more suffering still. So, why not have some fun in the midst of this whirlwind of depression?
Who will enjoy this game? If you enjoy getting lost in a web of intrigue with no way out, then this is the game for you. It isn't there to offer you a happy ending, but instead to make you think about the morbid beauty of the world we live in. Tails Noir is one for adult gamers who don't mind getting lost in a dense narrative experience, and assuming full responsibility for each of their choices. If you like it bitter, welcome to the party.
