Detective Pikachu Returns review – a charming spin-off capable of more
Detective Pikachu Returns is yet another family-friendly adventure expertly positioned as an entry-level mystery. It makes great use of the universe, but long-time genre fans will be left disappointed by the untapped potential.
Voice acting in a Pokemon game? Yes, I know, Detective Pikachu Returns is far from the first series spin-off to include such a luxury, but the mainline franchise's refusal to follow suit means it still always catches me off guard. In the case of this sequel to the 2016 Nintendo 3DS original, however, it's essential – not least because aspects such as story, characters and intrigue play a significant part in the adventure. And even if not much has been done to evolve Detective Pikachu’s formula in the seven years between the first game and this sequel to shake that ‘baby's first mystery novel’ feeling, there's still plenty of charm to be found.
Detective Pikachu Returns picks up several months after the titular pokemon and his partner Tim’s last adventure. The R virus no longer continues to plague innocent pokemon, Ryme City’s inhabitants live in relative safety, and the deducting duo have since established a famous reputation for solving local crimes. Much as before, it’s the pair’s excellent chemistry and general comradery that is always at the core of propelling what wafer-thin narrative is present. Except now both characters are comfortable with one another, playing to each other’s strengths to see Tim question human suspects while Pikachu has the pokemon side covered.
As an insight into the lives outside of battling, Detective Pikachu Returns remains a success for anyone wanting to know how their favourite pokemon would act and function in the everyday world. Raboot, for instance, is more than happy to enjoy a kickabout in the park, whereas a pokemon like Poliwrath has a penchant for sparring against other heavyset pokemon in its weight class. Ryme City and its surrounding areas are packed with smaller stories like this worth digging into for those willing to look, easily done by speaking to individuals and engaging in optional side mysteries that sit outside the main adventure.
There's a lot of text to click through, but most of the dialogue is well written. (Aaron Potter)Speaking of which, the story in Detective Pikachu Returns pays respect to the first game’s events, and even the Hollywood movie adaptation starring Ryan Reynolds in a cool wink-to-the-camera moment; but knowledge of either of them isn’t essential. The original Detective Pikachu released on the Nintendo 3DS in the west a full year after the Nintendo Switch launched, after all, and developer Creatures recognises that not everyone will have played it. To that end, the studio has smartly embedded a ‘previously on’ type primer as well as several explicit references to past events throughout.
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The campaign here has plenty of twists and turns – just as any good mystery should – but the nature of Detective Pikachu Returns being a family game above all else meant that I spotted many of them from a mile off. This is a fact that isn’t helped by the main plot feeling very similar to its predecessor, by again focussing on pokemon behaving strangely and the search for Tim’s dad (and Pikachu’s former partner) Harry. Thankfully, though, the latter conundrum is at least far better addressed now as opposed to being left as a dangling plot thread like last time.
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In terms of gameplay, it’s pleasing to see that the move from Nintendo 3DS to Nintendo Switch hasn’t ended up cluttering the screen. All you need to do now to peruse clues you’ve gathered, access your casebook, and re-read previous conversations you’ve had is tap a button; and it’s when deep into deciphering the game’s five main mysteries in this way that Detective Pikachu Returns is at its best. Sadly, the correct clues and plot threads to select are always so obvious, it’s almost impossible to not crack the case perfectly when the time comes. And even if you do slip up, there’s no punishment by way of a final score or rating.
All this is to say that Detective Pikachu Returns still lacks the sleuthing complexity of other mystery-based adventure games and visual novels like Phoenix Wright or Danganronpa. It’s for this main reason that no matter the mystery at hand (of which there’s a decent variety) I always felt like I was playing the role of detective rather than actually being one. As was very much the case last time, this is yet again an extremely linear mystery game with a pre-defined conclusion, rather than one that implores you to follow multiple routes or change the outcome.
Speaking to Pokemon to find clues is always the highlight of any mystery. (Aaron Potter)A rather cool feature – and the sequel’s big new addition this time around – comes in the form of what’s called Story Jump mode. It’s here where players can in skip through to different parts of the narrative, similar to how you would when flicking through the pages of a novel. I never felt inspired to do this myself for fear of spoiling the main arc. That said, if you’re someone who wants to see the final mystery revealed and have fun by seeing how Tim and Pikachu reached that point by playing chapters retrospectively, the option is there.
From finding out which member of a mansion’s staff stole a lost precious jewel, to tracking down a missing professor, Detective Pikachu Returns isn’t short on ways to uniquely integrate the pokemon themselves into each case – even if relies a bit too much on a lot of them lacking their memory. However, as far as sequels go, this is about as straightforward and solid as fans of the first game could ask for.
Though light on genuine surprise, and peppered with deducing systems that are a tad basic, hanging out with Tim and the coffee-loving Detective Pikachu continues to be a joy. One that's a perfect excuse to delve into the wider Pokemon world with very much its own voice.
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