Paradise Killer

Overall Impression: C-. I give this game a cautious recommendation. This game is a prime example of style over substance. The music is good. The characters you meet and the island you explore are unique, strange, and oddly inviting. The world building for the game is top notch. The 'murder mystery' aspects are not nearly as compelling. This game should be labeled as a walking simulator and hidden object game more than a murder mystery. While talking to the various characters scattered around the island is needed, the real clues are tucked away in some pretty obscure areas of the island. You have to look in every nook and cranny to find items that are key to figuring out what happened on the island. Without one particular 'power up,' it is implausible a player would find all they would need to unravel the mystery. I enjoyed my time on Paradise Island, but I it felt like a vacation that dragged on a little too long and the events I had been looking forward to participating in while there were not quite as they had been billed to be.

Started out confused and frustrated. Understood nothing. Then somehow time just slipped by while I was playing. Embrace the confusion. Incredible game.

All in all, I'd give the game an 7.6/10. Fun for a one-time play through. If you enjoy collecting things, there are like 200 collectables around an open-world island. The remaining portion of the game is repeatedly talking to the same main characters. When you get to the trial portion, if you've collected the required evidence, which you will come across naturally as you're searching for collectables, the game gives you the correct answer when you select a person to accuse. You just accuse a person, and based on what evidence you have collected, Lady Love Dies does all the work without you needing to do anything or make any choices. The only really decision you get to make is who to accuse. In addition, if someone had even a hint of being connected to the murder, they were executed which is pretty harsh. The problem with this is that lady love dies knew these people for a long time but has nothing to say when killing them. Overall the most underwhelming part of this game is the trial portion as it feels really lacklustre.

Wow, this game. Paradise Killer is a deceptively ambitious, aesthetically visionary game that, on the surface, seems like it should not really 'work.' As another Steam review says, "embrace the confusion." After a disorienting first hour, I was hooked. You play as Lady Love Dies, an immortal investigator and disgraced member of "the Syndicate," a secretive demi-god-ish cult that lives on a synthetic island paradise in its own dimension, away from the 'real world.' Love Dies has been in exile for 3,000,000 days. She's called out of retirement following a bloodbath that wipes out much of the Syndicate's leadership. The island is on lockdown. It's up to you to find out what happened and present evidence at a grand endgame trial. "Collectathon" has a grain of truth but really does the game a disservice, as a label. You're dropped into a fascinating island with no restrictions and the game truly does not care where you go, how you try to navigate, or where & if you can get on or around anything. You can purchase three movement/navigation upgrades, tips from a black market 'information vendor,' and also 'hacking upgrades' to your trusty laptop, Starlight. You will need to be able to break 20 or so electronic locks throughout the world to find some of the juiciest evidence. Fans will warn you: Paradise Killer is not a traditional sleuthing experience. Starlight has a clear interface that catalogs information: testimony, alibis, and so on. The 'police procedure' is baked in. The [b]player[/b] explores & analyzes the [b]physical environment[/b]. You're in charge of ferreting out new secrets that complicate competing theories of what happened. You're also in charge of who to go after and how to 'wield' the evidence. One small nitpick: it is impossible to 'say the wrong thing' in Paradise Killer. This mostly fits with the game's worldbuilding - the lockdown, the pseudo-immortality and ingrained arrogance of the suspects - but it still feels strange and slightly off to me that you can't jeopardize your investigation by botching a line of questioning, or by making enemies. Overall? An indie triumph with heart, depth, vision, and style. Great vaporwave soundtrack. Cool explorable world. Fascinatingly bizarre characters. Walks a tight-rope between absurd and thought-provoking. More than meets the eye, and greater than the sum of its parts.

its pretty sweet - The writing was phenomenal in practically all aspects, and the mystery was well set up in a way where it was satisfying to figure out your version of events later. Almost all the characters involved are written to be likeable in some way, and they help to have the world feel lived in. - The game isn't linear at all, and lets you go at your own pace. I think there's probably an intended way you're supposed to find things, but you don't have to adhere to them at all besides the very few (I can count them on one hand, and even those can be dealt with in a trivial matter) gated things the game will throw your way. You don't get lost as a result of all the freedom, though. It's easy to tell what you need to work on at any given time. - Music good - There's more, but I'd have to really think on it, and at that point, it'd be better to just play the game. tl;dr: game is good, would recommend if you like playing detective/mystery orientated games

The visuals are good. The story and the world are great. Too bad that the game is little more than a walking sim coupled with a VN - you walk around a (beautiful and interesting, I'll admit) island collecting dots. It's interesting for the first few hours, but it does get tiring. After collecting enough dots and speaking with enough people enough times, you will get enough facts to convict someone in the ending. Overall I'd recommend grabbing this game on a discount, perhaps full price if you enjoy walking and existing in a colourful world.

I thought it would be something more than walking sim with visual novel. Tho I didn't like the vibe or any of the characters... hard to like mass sacrificing immortal cultist that don't seem to care at all about that.

An atmosphere quite unlike anything I've experienced before. From a gameplay perspective, minimalist. But from a vibe and story perspective? Immaculate. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Island Sequence 24.

I do not remember when did I last play a game that pulled me in so much. A game that makes you forget to eat, drink, and doesn't make you divert your attention somewhere else in the slightest. The only negative thing was the beeping sound it had from what I assume was Starlight's sound system (a computer you will be using in the game). I know there is not much to go on from my review, but just try the game! You will love it (especially spoiler-free).

Wow, the game is massive, I hadn't expected that. It's definitely worth full price if you like weird dark lore and exploration. It's one of the best collectathons I ever played with a variety of collectable types and quality of life features. The map is basically non-existent though, and the jump ability is pretty pitiful to be honest. Take advantage of the foot baths as soon as you can! (I know it sounds weird, but it'll make sense.) The detective storyline of the game is crafted really well. But collecting evidence is mostly tied to exploration, rather than observation, strategy, or brain power. If you walk the miles, you get the clues, if not then you don't. Visual design and music are outstanding. I also love the voice acting, it would be great if it was fully voiced. As it stands, it can be irritating when the catchphrases don't match the tone or context of the written dialogue. Overall, Crimson Acid endorses this game - and would a blessed idol lie to you? Of course not. Get. The. Game.

I'm sad this game is so short; I want more. There's really nothing else like it; it is unique in gameplay and in style, and the world feels vivid and real. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys games that prioritize exploration and worldbuilding.

The murder mystery is compelling but the best part of this game may be the worldbuilding and the how everything ties into it. Satisfying and intriguing.

parkour simulator disguised as a murder mystery and wrapped in the most interesting possible setting. i'm obsessed. i'm love shinji (my best friend shinji). i'm playing it with my fiance and every time we have to put it down it's like a fight for our lives.

A game about having total freedom on solving a crime, where your observation and your ability to put clues together will lead you to figuring who is guilty and who is innocent. As long as your truth is backed up by evidence, justice will be served to the accused. The world of this game is a blast to search through. In addition to clues, there are multiple collectibles that is used as some kind of money or just for flavor to this weird universe. Also, the music is fantastic. I actually found out about this game because of the ost, and I've been listening to for a long time! And it's even better in game since it fits the wild environment/lore of the game.

Obsessed!!! If you are unhealthily attached to detective-eqsue games like me, you will love this. Bizarre, trippy, immersive, engaging, difficult, just fun..... I loved it so much. Had it on my wishlist forever because I honestly don't think the description does it justice. Wish I could erase my memory of the outcome so I could play it again.

A bit short and straightforward, but the lore, investigations, and story are very unique and involved, definitely enjoyed the playthrough!

I played this game originally because the main song was on my discover weekly and it was honestly one of my favorite games of all time. It took a while to get all the achievements, but it was so satisfying. I will play anything this studio puts out (I have also 100%'d promise mascot agency)

Paradise Killer is one of my top games of all time. I have replayed it about 8 times, and still keep finding more to discover. I enjoy the open-world feel that still has expectations via collecting objects, searching for clues, and the ability to conduct the investigation according to things you have found and/or, in the order you choose. The story is captivating, with so many hidden little jewels throughout. It's complicated, but makes sense as you go deeper into the world Kaizen has created. I appreciate the mechanics--being able to jump off of skyscrapers without dying, able to purchase a few power-ups that give you more access over time, and the visual aesthetic + soundtrack is fantastic. This game is for you if you like narrative, but not endlessly clicking through dialogue, and the ability to run through an open world while you try to solve a mystery. It might be your thing if you have a taste for the macabre and an appreciation for stories that delve into dynamics of power and ethics in an interesting way. It's not for you if you like shoot 'em ups, or lightning-speed gameplay. This is self-paced, and you can explore as much or as little of this insane world as you desire. 10/10 recommend, and want more. There really is no other game quite like Paradise Killer.

I don't like the game but don't dislike it enough to write a lengthy negative review. Suffice to say I do not like the characters.

Heartfelt weird. Good story. Many false leads and microstories. Great writing. Gameplay can be tedious sometimes, as it is punching above its weight, but the effort proves worthy. Top3 detective games.

a genuinely charming little adventure! my time here was relaxed and well-spent.

Love the soundtrack. Got lost a lot since there's no minimap.

Great game, I wish it was endless

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