Paradise Killer | Switch Review
I’m a huge sucker for detective games, especially those that allow me to solve murders while talking to eclectic characters. Kaizen Game Works’ Paradise Killer seemed like it would scratch this particular itch of mine, while also throwing in some science fiction/fantasy elements and a vibrant visual style. Is it worth putting on your thinking cap though? Let’s examine the evidence.
Paradise Lost
You play as Lady Love Dies, a detective who has been exiled for many, many years. You’re placed in charge of solving the mystery of who killed the Council on the 24th Island Sequence of Paradise. You see, the island resets once it’s no longer perfect, and a new sequence is initiated. The citizens and government are eager to immediately start the 25th Sequence, but the killer needs to be executed before this can happen.
Things aren’t so cut and dry, though. The island is full of people who each have motives for killing, and there’s a plethora of other crimes to crack alongside the main case. I adored the variety of personalities of the citizens, and getting to know each one was fun and interesting. If you get to know them well enough, they might reward you with valuable info and relics. The island itself is gorgeous and a pleasure to look at, and the soundtrack is excellent.
Square Feet
The one thing that hampered my enjoyment of Paradise Killer was the fact that it’s open-world. The map isn’t very helpful, and I found myself getting lost in the early hours of the game. Once you accumulate enough currency, dubbed Blood Crystals, you can activate fast travel and quickly maneuver between sections. You have to ration your Blood Crystals, deciding whether to use them for traveling or for getting drinks out of vending machines, trading them for valuable information on the residents, or making a blood offering to the Gods. I found this to be tedious and it halted my gameplay. This game doesn’t hold your hand, and it doesn’t let you know if what you’re choosing to do is correct. You just have to follow your gut.
Justice Is Served
Paradise Killer is an eclectic, interesting entry into the mystery genre. The unique characters, sci-fi/fantasy storyline, beautiful visuals, and fantastic soundtrack are enough to sell this to fans of this type of game. The open-world, lack of direction, and the currency restrictions were a hindrance, though, and may put off casual players.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Paradise Killer provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on Microsoft Windows.
Paradise Killer
$19.99
Pros
- Interesting Story
- Unique Characters
- Great Visuals and Soundtrack
Cons
- Open World Hampers Gameplay
- May Be Too Directionless for Some
