The Mermaid Mask is the latest entry in the Detective Grimoire series. Its theatrical cast and clever murder mystery make it the best one yet.
In my late teens, I had already moved from a small town to the big city to study in college. One day, while helping a friend move, I found a surprise that would change the course of my life. You see, it was a very old house where he was going to make his new life. Ancient portraits of dignified women, dilapidated furniture, the smell of decay. Forgotten in a dingy, dusty closet was a copy of the book The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie. These stories of legendary sleuth Hercule Poirot unlocked something in me that I had never felt before. I feel the same way about The Mermaid Mask.
As I was vividly imagining the impossible mysteries in which the little Belgian was embroiled, it occurred to me. This is my favorite genre of all time: the whodunit. The way in which the initial murder happens. A cast full of eccentric and captivating suspects. The intricate web of deceit and lies that the detective in turn needs to unravel. Piecing together each reaction from everybody in the room where it happened. Trying to understand the mystery, the motives, and the way in which the plot is perpetrated is just as important to me as finding out who the culprit is.
Who Did It?
With this picture in mind, enter The Mermaid Mask. The third entry in the point-and-click Detective Grimoire series, do not feel put off by the prospect of having to go through them before this one. While they are just as clever, you do not need any previous knowledge. To boot, I can safely say that this is the most polished entry yet. Developer SFB Games has crafted not only a deeply compelling cast but also a murder mystery that slowly but surely envelops you the further you go.
Protagonists Detective Grimoire and Sally are at a submarine to solve the murder of one Captain Magnus Mortuga. Found dead next to a stone cauldron, this locked-room crime has definitive signs of foul play. With 8 quirky residents (suspects) living on the submarine at the time of the murder, it is up to the aloof and sassy detectives to find the truth. While this setup is clear-cut and easy to follow, it is in the game’s hilarious execution that separates it from another simple point-and-click adventure.
Every Last Detail
The most obvious detail to point out that makes this one a delightful journey from beginning to end is its writing. By nature, most point-and-click games ask you to, well, click on the environment. This naturally makes the character describe something about the item highlighted. In early games of the genre, of course, the protagonist would say something neutral, like “This is a rickety lamp.” As is the nature of art, it has become more complex as games have iterated, to what I argue is the best version of the concept so far.
The Mermaid Mask prides itself on being as witty as it can be. And it pulls it off. Both Grimoire and Sally, in their personal ways, find either curious ways to describe an item or spark an interesting back-and-forth with each other. This makes clicking on every artifact on the gorgeously hand-painted sub an enticing proposition. And it practically translates to other interactions in the game.
For instance, while interrogating the suspects, you can ask their thoughts on the items that you have found aboard. This, too, is exceedingly fascinating. What is rather mind-blowing is that the number of items you acquire reaches the dozens quickly. Even then, the stellar cast will have something to say about every single thing. Moving away from how humorous items are described, the plot’s structure is well-paced to keep you guessing throughout.
Lights, Camera, Action
There is a theatrical element to The Mermaid Mask that if you enjoy that form of expression, then you will feel right at home here. To illustrate, early on there is a character that goes by the name of Symmetry. This young woman has spent her life acting in the theater, so when asked about her alibi when the murder occurred, she reacts accordingly. Going on a dazzling soliloquy, script notes and all, she dramatically acts out how things happened from her perspective.
In this intriguing performance, though, you will notice that she mentions that there was a shadow moving behind the window when she found the body. Piecing together the clues from each of the suspects and then checking the notes to come to a conclusion is as riveting as it sounds. Vividly bringing each character to life, the voice acting is life-affirming. Mariana Moon, a herbalist with a heightened sense of smell; Dirk Dansom, a struggling actor; and the clown-coded Mr. Gripp from Gripp’s Emporium live convincing—if peculiar—lives.
Puzzles, undoubtedly, are an essential part of point-and-click games. In The Mermaid’s Mask case, they rely on the powers of observation and logic. Never too difficult, the game has no friction if you want it to. Thus, there will always be hints, guides, or straight-up instructions if you request them. This helps to keep things moving along and not get stuck at any moment to solve the crime.
Verdict: The Mermaid Mask
SFB Games knows how to make a great whodunit. Combatting the usual point-and-click slog of characters sluggishly pointing out an observation, everything is wittily described. The Mermaid Mask shines as a murder mystery because of the attention to every painstaking detail. The theatrical cast, stylish art style, and impeccable structure make for one of those cases that beg to be solved.
Reviewed on Steam.
A key was provided for the purposes of this review.
Developer/Publisher: SFB Games
Pros:
- Among the most authentic voice acting in any game
- A carefully crafted whodunit with a deeply fascinating ensemble
- The hand-drawn stills, 3D models and overall art style is inspired
- Imbued with just the right amount of humor without going overboard (get it?)
Cons:
- Some puzzles are not as intuitive
-
Amazing
