Before we get into this review I suggest going into this game blind. That is how I did it and I really think it makes the experience that much more enjoyable. If you enjoy JRPGs, the pixelated style, and noirs then this is the game for you. Trust me, the surprise is worth it. If you really want to know what you are getting into or have already played the game, then read on.
Pixel Noir, by developer SWDTech Games and BadLand Publishing, is a JRPG inspired noir following a rookie detective who gets in way over his head. Your eyes on the street turns into a tentacle welding monster before your eyes and all suspicions lead you to the old hospital. What you find in there is horrifying and leads to your partner being killed. You are framed for a crime you didn’t commit and after spending ten long years behind bars, you become a private eye. When an opportunity presents itself, are you going to take it, to clear your name for once and for all?
I, myself, am not too into noirs so going into this game, I wasn’t so sure if I was going to like it. The Lovecraftian twist was what really sold it for me. Creepy monsters and weird symbols really turned what I thought was a simple detective RPG into something I could really find myself enjoying.
As you might have suspected, while this game is definitely a different genre than most RPGs, a lot of the mechanics are similar to what you are used to. There are side quests that help you gain XP, turn-based combat against thugs, monsters, and the like, and a lot of walking around looking at stuff. The art style is similar to some other pixelated RPGs I have reviewed before, though the aesthetic if you will, reminds me a lot of Party Hard by Pinokl Games and Kverta. Party Hard is very urban and grungy vibe (though it is still very neon because it is about parties) and it also is gory and has violence similar to Pixel Noir.
While the supernatural aspect did add an element of interest to the game, I still found some things I did not enjoy or wished the developers did differently. One of the things I didn’t like was the controls. To move you use the arrow keys and to select you use the spacebar. I personally prefer gaming with controllers or the use of the keyboard and mouse. Walking with WASD or arrow keys isn’t too terribly difficult but I find other ways are more efficient. Selecting with spacebar just felt odd for me. I kept finding myself going for my mouse even though I knew it wouldn’t work. I wish there as more to the gameplay as well. The combat is very straightforward and you don’t do much besides hit the space bar. Pixel Noir is in the process of coming to the Switch and I feel like I would enjoy the Switch controls much more.
Overall, I enjoyed Pixel Noir. I thought it was refreshing to have a different genre of RPG and I loved the Lovecraftian aspects of this game. I do wish the controls and some of the gameplay were different but I look forward to seeing this game on the Switch.
Check Out the Pixel Noir Steam Early Access Trailer:
Pixel Noir is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam Early Access.
I'm a postgraduate Information and Library Studies student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. I'm originally from Texas and have a BFA in Creative Writing from SFASU. I grew up playing video games and now enjoy watching other people play as well. I love anything with a good story!
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