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What is Chinatown Detective Agency
Developed by the small indie studio General Interactive Co,Chinatown Detective Agencyis ostensibly a tribute to an iconic part of the gaming industry’s past. That’s because at its core, the day oneXbox Game Pass additionis an immersive point-and-click adventure game. What’s exciting about that from a simple mechanical point of view is, during an era dominated by AAA titles focused on 3D photo-realism, that type of gaming experience has become an increasingly rare and precious phenomenon.
Chinatown Detective Agencyis more than just a throwback to the past though, set primarily against the backdrop of a near-future incarnation of Singapore, the game also looks simultaneously to humanity’s future. Taking place during the late 2030s, General Interactive Co’s game subsequently blends together themes from the cyberpunk literary and media genre. Any player who’s followedCD Projekt RED’s own stabat that heady set of tropes and ideas will likely recognize some of the neon-lit themes that are present throughout the experience.
Chinatown Detective Agency’s Reception
Even thoughChinatown Detective Agencyhas launched this week as aday one title on Xbox Game Pass, the indie title has already amassed some sizable acclaim. That’s partly because an alpha-level demo has been available for the game since early 2020, around the time that its Kickstarter campaign was also launched. The fact that the game was fully funded in the space of nearly a month after that point is a positive indicator of the quality that players can expect.
It’s little surprise considering the design and narrative cues it takes from the classicCarmen Sandiegotitles, butChinatown Detective Agencyhas also been met with praise by some critics as well. As it stands right now, the point-and-click sci-fi adventure is sitting at a fairly respectable 70metascore over on Metacritic. Beyond its gorgeous pixel-art backdrops and general aesthetic, the attention to detail that General Interactive Co has poured into its recreation of Singapore has also been met with particular well-earned admiration.
The fact thatChinatown Detective Agencyfeatures a cast of Singaporean and Malaysian voice actors shouldn’t be overlooked as an important and well-overdo development in gaming representation either. While divisive puzzles and simple combat scenarios are admittedly a part of the equation, those likely won’t be enough to put off players who are interested in the genre or cyberpunk fiction. So much so that it’s easy to imagine General Interactive Co’s debut point-and-click adventure earning itself a solid fan-base thanks toXbox Game Pass.
Chinatown Detective Agencyis available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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