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REVIEW
Illustration: Gaming Trend
Tobias Klausen
Editor in Chief
Review of
Master Detective Archives:
RAIN CODE
Spoiler Free
Photo: IGN
The newest title from creator Kazutaka Kodaka,
mostly known for the Danganronpa series, goes in
a different direction than previous titles, homing
in on the mystery aspect of the genre. Master
Detective Archives: RAIN CODE (MDA) is a visual
novel, following the amnesiac protagonist Yuma
Kokohead, as he’s sent to Kanai World to expose the
many unsolved mysteries it harbors, with the help of
other detectives, specifically, Master Detectives. These
are detectives who possess a Forte, meaning, they
have special abilities which aid in an investigation,
like Audial Aptitude which can sense every sound
within in a radius, even a heartbeat, or Spiritism,
which allows the detective to use their own body as
a medium to summon the victim’s soul. The premise
is intriguing and you’re immediately drawn into the
many mysteries not just surrounding Kanai Ward,
but also Yuma’s past, the other detectives Forte’s and
many more.
Gameplay is divided into two sections: Investigation
and Mystery Labyrinth. Half of the game will be spent
wandering Kanai Ward, gathering information, or
partaking in events which might lead to a crime which
needs to be solved. Evidence needs to be gathered
from scenes, and you will do so with the aid of the
other Master Detectives and with Yuma’s partner,
Shinigami, a death god which has signed a contract
with Yuma, lending him her powers in exchange
for his memories. Once the crime scene has been
thoroughly investigated, Yuma heads into the Mystery Labyrinth,
where the crimes have a fantastical manifestation. To solve it,
Yuma has to forge his way through its many puzzles, questions and
even opponents, to hopefully arrive at the truth, or otherwise be
forever trapped inside the Mystery Labyrinth.
If you think the premise of the game sounds absolutely bonkers, you
would be absolutely right. MDA revels in its weird absurdity and
instead of working against the game it compliments it wonderfully
well. The imaginative and artistic designs of the Mystery Labyrinths
themselves helps further sell this point, there is no lack of creativity
on display within this realm. Albeit Kanai Ward being rooted in
more realism, it stands as an intriguing contrast, and a town that is
always a joy to explore whenever you gain access to new areas. The
gameplay loop can be repetitious, but luckily due to the changing
locale, and the mysteries and characters you interact with, it never
grows thoroughly stale in the games approximately 30 hour run
time. Every Mystery Labyrinth is unique, as it’s constructed by
minigames which guides you towards the truth. Sure, you see the
same minigames, but they always have a new solution, and the
main minigame “Reasoning Death Match” is the most exhilarating
one, with a banger tune, and are always a joy to solve.
But what a visual novel lives and dies by is its story and characters.
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