Well, this is the first game in the series that takes a bit of a step back.
The art just isn't quite as good as Convergence. The portraits lost their animation while talking, which, given how much talking there is in the game, makes everything feel more static. The character sprites also seem to have gone in an odd direction, maybe more cartoony? Whatever the case, I'm not the biggest fan of Rosa's new sprite in particular, which is unfortunate since you're looking at it for 90% of the game.
The individual cases and their side stories overall didn't feel quite as compelling as previous entries to me. The writing was still good, I think it was mainly that "college student" and "office temp" aren't quite as inherently interesting as "formerly homeless artist" or "jazz musician" for me. I think it was more of an atmosphere thing than a writing thing.
Some of the puzzles were a bit more intricate than necessary (e.g., getting the key from the nursing home), and from time to time the solution was a bit obscure. That said, I only resorted to looking things up in one instance, and I'd actually already solved the puzzle, I just didn't know how to reset it to do the correct solution.
Of course, those are relatively minor issues. Deception had double the runtime of previous entries (~6 hours), which gave it more room to breathe and feel like a complete experience in its own right. The main characters and overall plot was great. Joey, in particular, really had some good, emotional beats this time around. The introduction of the big bad may be a little cheesy by some standards, but I loved it.
All in all, it was still a great experience, and I may not have even had those minor quibbles if I didn't like the previous games in the series so much.
The art just isn't quite as good as Convergence. The portraits lost their animation while talking, which, given how much talking there is in the game, makes everything feel more static. The character sprites also seem to have gone in an odd direction, maybe more cartoony? Whatever the case, I'm not the biggest fan of Rosa's new sprite in particular, which is unfortunate since you're looking at it for 90% of the game.
The individual cases and their side stories overall didn't feel quite as compelling as previous entries to me. The writing was still good, I think it was mainly that "college student" and "office temp" aren't quite as inherently interesting as "formerly homeless artist" or "jazz musician" for me. I think it was more of an atmosphere thing than a writing thing.
Some of the puzzles were a bit more intricate than necessary (e.g., getting the key from the nursing home), and from time to time the solution was a bit obscure. That said, I only resorted to looking things up in one instance, and I'd actually already solved the puzzle, I just didn't know how to reset it to do the correct solution.
Of course, those are relatively minor issues. Deception had double the runtime of previous entries (~6 hours), which gave it more room to breathe and feel like a complete experience in its own right. The main characters and overall plot was great. Joey, in particular, really had some good, emotional beats this time around. The introduction of the big bad may be a little cheesy by some standards, but I loved it.
All in all, it was still a great experience, and I may not have even had those minor quibbles if I didn't like the previous games in the series so much.
👾 The Blackwell Deception (🇺🇸 2011)
Another solid graphic adventure on the Blackwell series. It doesn’t build much on the lore of the previous entries though. Enjoyable.
🎮 Played on Steam Deck
Rating: 👻👻👻🗽▫️
Another solid graphic adventure on the Blackwell series. It doesn’t build much on the lore of the previous entries though. Enjoyable.
🎮 Played on Steam Deck
Rating: 👻👻👻🗽▫️
I can't tell which game in the series I like more, this one or "Epiphany"...it's really close, at any rate
Aw, yeah, that's the stuff. I remember finishing The Blackwell Deception and realising how much I'd grown to care about the characters and the series, and, as with its two predecessors, this one introduced new mechanics to keep things fresh.
Completed with 100% of achievements unlocked. Each game in the Blackwell series of point-and-click adventures is fairly short - completion is typically possible in 2-3 hours - but this means that they lend themselves to being seen as individual chapters of a wider story. The games follow Rosangela Blackwell, a spirit medium (or in Blackwell Unbound, her aunt) and her spirit guide, Joey, as they investigate various supernatural mysteries. Each scenario presents an intriguing story that maintains interest throughout, and beyond that, there's an ongoing plot between the games that's especially fascinating to see play out. In contrast to many point-and-click adventures, the primary puzzle-solving tool comes from dialog rather than item manipulation, a mechanic that works very well and suits the detective/investigator role that Rosangela typically takes.
Beyond actually playing the games, it's interesting to see how the game mechanics develop from game to game, as well as gradual improvements in graphical style. These is highlighted further by the inclusion of a commentary mode, a feature now common to games from Wadjet Eye, which brings with it some interesting (and occasionally, amusing) insights to the design and development process - I'd definitely recommend a playthrough in this mode to anyone with an interest in game design.
Beyond actually playing the games, it's interesting to see how the game mechanics develop from game to game, as well as gradual improvements in graphical style. These is highlighted further by the inclusion of a commentary mode, a feature now common to games from Wadjet Eye, which brings with it some interesting (and occasionally, amusing) insights to the design and development process - I'd definitely recommend a playthrough in this mode to anyone with an interest in game design.
The prologue is really fun and the first act is great, it does get a bit sluggish towards the middle and a ome of the puzzles can be a bit too obscure but the final act is fantastic and both wraps the story and breaks the whole lore wide open. It's a great story overall with a very satisfying ending.
Probably the best game in the franchise so far, thanks to a stronger overarching narrative. The puzzles are also significantly more elaborate this time around, which was nice.
A nice penultimate episode. The game lays some solid groundwork for the narrative that's wrapped up in the final entry.
I really enjoyed some of the settings in this game in comparison to the other games. The opening on the boat in addition to the night club were nice ways to switch things up.
Just one more game to go for the series replay.
I really enjoyed some of the settings in this game in comparison to the other games. The opening on the boat in addition to the night club were nice ways to switch things up.
Just one more game to go for the series replay.
Dosud nejlepší epizoda, která již není jen "sympatická a s příslibem", ale konečně je ten příslib i naplněn v podobě kvalitní adventury. Děj konečně působí celistvě a jako skutečně vyšetřování "na vlastní pěst", hádanky jsou logické (až na jednu podpásovku) a využívající netradičních mechanik (kombinování poznámek je zpět!), je třeba se více než kdy dříve uchýlit ke spolupráci obou hlavních protagonistů a i styl podání příběhu již není tak "prvoplánově" laciný, kdy si postavy spíše potřebné řekli, než aby se to skutečně událo. Vše je tedy změna k lepšímu a tak jediným krokem zpět je podivná animace postav. Všichni chodí jak na chůdách a nikdo neohýbá kolena, což působí značně znepokojivě. Každopádně spokojenost a nejlepší možná pozvánka na závěrečnou část pentalogie.
One hell of a ending with this game. It opens the way up for a sequel that is currently in the making. You find that many of the stories are all linked in one way or another and learn more about the spiritual world. Another great game from Wadjet Eye Games.
Edit: There's not much I can really add to this review without creating spoilers, but like the previous ones you solve the issues that are keeping the dead bound to this realm, but also, learn of how things are linked between this game and the previous ones!
Edit: There's not much I can really add to this review without creating spoilers, but like the previous ones you solve the issues that are keeping the dead bound to this realm, but also, learn of how things are linked between this game and the previous ones!
A nice pont and clicker. The longset in the Blackwell series so far. Took me about 5 hours to beat the game. Then I played it again with tha commentary, which is interesting. Wish more games had commentaries. Do recommend. Will probably play again.
Finally the real story begins. It sure takes its time. Out of all the games in the series so far, this is the first one that goes beyond the protagonist's personal life and her cases. You get to take a peek at a magical world hidden within the normal world, and find yourselves facing a real villain.
This review contains spoilers
Gameplay changed little from previous entries, with mostly cosmetic changes (e.g. Rosa now uses her cellphone instead of a computer). Combining notes is once again a thing, used just in the right away: it's neither the only thing you need to do, nor completely forgotten. Puzzles were nice too, though, as another reviewer mentioned, one of them was a bit too obscure.
The story remains the strong point, especially in how each game stands well as single entry but still gives us glimpses into the overarching story connecting the Countess and Madeline to Joey and the Blackwells.
There's a particular development I find very interesting. Blackwell Legacy ends in a weird expansion of the fantasy elements of this storyworld, adding sin and demons into what was till then a world in which death is morally neutral. It was a jarring ending because of how nothing in the story had hinted at that sort of thing. In this game, we are slowly primed to the fact Gavin is doing something very creepy, so the revelation that he's some kind of lifeforce leech who lived for more than 200 years is much more successful.
The story remains the strong point, especially in how each game stands well as single entry but still gives us glimpses into the overarching story connecting the Countess and Madeline to Joey and the Blackwells.
There's a particular development I find very interesting. Blackwell Legacy ends in a weird expansion of the fantasy elements of this storyworld, adding sin and demons into what was till then a world in which death is morally neutral. It was a jarring ending because of how nothing in the story had hinted at that sort of thing. In this game, we are slowly primed to the fact Gavin is doing something very creepy, so the revelation that he's some kind of lifeforce leech who lived for more than 200 years is much more successful.
A big improvement over it’s predecessor, Blackwell Deception offers what could be the tightest writing in the saga so far.
There’s not much to say about the gameplay, nothing new compared to the other games.
There’s not much to say about the gameplay, nothing new compared to the other games.
All of the Blackwell games merge together in my head, so the rating for each individual game can be thought of as a series rating.
All of the Blackwell games are well-made PnC adventures with interesting stories and puzzles. The series manages to pull of a 5-game storyline fairly well and it's one of the first series of games I would recommend for anybody looking to get into PnC games.
All of the Blackwell games are well-made PnC adventures with interesting stories and puzzles. The series manages to pull of a 5-game storyline fairly well and it's one of the first series of games I would recommend for anybody looking to get into PnC games.