Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE is a great mix of investigation, crazy word battles, and humour with a great cast of characters. If you enjoy solving mysteries and interesting stories, I am sure you will love this game.

Danganronpa has been one of the most unexpected success stories of the past few years. They’re weird, they’re morbid, they’re the kind of thing that has traditionally been very niche outside of Japan, and yet, the Danganronpa games have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. You’d think Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka would latch onto the series for life, but after producing a couple sequels, he instead opted to branch out with the new studio Too Kyo Games. After putting out a couple smaller experiments, Kodaka has delivered his first major Danganronpa successor, Master Detective Archives: ...

This neon-soaked mystery game is Kodaka’s best work to date.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a great game that really goes deep into each of its cases to prove who the real culprit is, sometimes to a fault.  The Mystery Labyrinths can tend to go on for a bit despite knowing who the real culprit is halfway through and Shinigami's sense of humor can get a tad annoying at times.  It also doesn't help that after going through a few hours of how the crime was committed, you then basically get to relive the entire crime two more times which at that point just feels like the game is padding itself.  Overall though, if you're up for solving some mysteri...

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code offers truly compelling mysteries in a unique cyberpunk-noir setting. The open world concept falls somewhat flat, but the crimes and puzzles themselves definitely deliver!

If you've been missing Danganronpa (like I have) or want to have a fresh new take on the detective narrative, then Rain Code is the right title for you. Every time you think you've got it all figured out, the storyline seems to always go in a completely different direction, with enormous amounts of twists and turns.

If you can look past (or appreciate) the brazen clichés and huge levels of fan service, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a phenomenal murder mystery visual novel. The gorgeous world, wonderful characters and genuinely well-constructed mysteries combine into a thoroughly enjoyable if bizarre experience. If other similar games like Danganronpa or Ace Attorney are your bag, this is definitely worth investigating.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code delivers masterful craftsmanship of mysteries that players will delight in unravelling.

A brand new dark fantasy detective action game from the minds behind the Danganronpa series!

The overall package doesn’t quite match up to any of the Danganronpa titles, but Rain Code’s storytelling and characters make up for its minor shortcomings.

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE feels a bit like another entry into the Danganronpa series simply without the school approach, leaving it feeling like it's not really standing on its own two legs. The highlights end up being the investigation elements and many side quests which are the most somewhat original parts it could manage. The main story will keep players engaged, but it's a shame it's held back by outdated elements disguised as “humor” that only those stuck in an edgy school kid mindset could enjoy. It's easy to see how many will still be able to look past the flaws and enjoy the...

Honestly, in a game as complex and exciting as RAIN CODE, the need to find pieces of evidence on the fly during real-time combat is more annoying than anything else. While it's clear what the intent was - create a sense of pressure that a detective really would feel, pressed for time and trying to solve a baffling mystery - in practice it's simply frustrating, and rushes through what could be an enjoyable, intricate process. Piecing together the mystery at the end of the Mystery Dungeon by filling in the gaps of the case's narrative without being pressed for time is already in the game and sho...