When a case is shorter, fewer variables are introduced, which means even so-called “moon logic” adventure game puzzles can be solved with relative ease. In the traditional sense, this is an adventure game in which players must click objects, sometimes earn an item, and figure out what that item combines with or is used for in the story to progress. At times, the writers seemed like they ran out of steam, as well. Of course, A Fumble in the Dark isn’t a visual novel. Nothing wrong with needing a break from a game with thick, rich content. What didn’t help was that each case kinda droned on longer than it needed to. It sounds contradictory because if everything is so great, more is better, right? Well, in most cases, sure, but not so with A Fumble in the Dark. The formula worked so well in the first game because of the pacing. A game like this requires a steady flow in chunks. I found the entire experience endearing in the first game. Here, I frequently wished cases had wrapped up sooner.
When I went back to re-read the observation, I realized the hilarity I missed. That’s when I knew it was time for a break. I would even argue that this simple game is exhausting because if someone isn’t paying attention, the constant stream of jokes could go unnoticed. The delivery is so deliciously dry and inoffensive that I at times found myself clicking through line after line of dialogue without even internalizing what I was reading.
As expected of a comedy duo, Francis is the straight man while Dooley is the lovably dumb henchman. While this comedic method is nothing new, the sheer quality and quantity of humorous observations in response to just about anything players can click on make both games incredibly amusing. In some sense, DD is all about witty one-liners. Everywhere! Almost every piece of dialogue and observation from clicking the environment leads to a pun, extremely literal interpretation, or plays off of the characters’ personalities. DD had several isolated cases, each taking about 30 minutes, with later cases going a bit longer. How could a 30-minute adventure game make waves? Well, therein lies the writing.Ī light example of the wit in every. While that is the case for the original DD, A Fumble in the Dark loses a bit of what made the first game great by trying to make each case more involved with greater emphasis on puzzles. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but any game that shakes up the formula earns points for doing so and even more if done well. This sort of construction is a refreshing departure from the centrally threaded adventure games we’re used to, in which everything is a part of one whole story. When one case closes, another opens on the main menu. Each takes place in isolation of the rest, with little to thread them along except for the characters and the occasional repeat NPC. Throughout A Fumble in the Dark, the two tackle one case after another in isolated chunks. Joined veritably at his hip is Officer Dooley, life-long best friend and partner in his work. A few years back, budding developers Spooky Doorway created The Darkside Detective (DD). While minimalistic indie games spring up from the Steam Store like weeds, DD was something special. Pixely stylings may be a low-key way of saying, “I don’t have a graphic designer,” but DD leaned into the visuals with zippy one-liners and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sense of humor. What’s on its surface is simple, but beneath the upper layer lies well-crafted characters and pacing. Meeting humble success, Spooky Doorway put together The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark to continue not only the first game’s cliffhanger-ish ending but also the endless stream of wit.įor those not in the know, meet Detective Francis McQueen, a detective of the Darkside Division of the city police department.
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