Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives

Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives es una pequeña aventura gráfica indie española dotada de un apartado gráfico que emana encanto. Su entrañable estilo gráfico y su atención al detalle en los diseños de los personajes y entornos nos retrotrae en ocasiones al delicioso noveno arte (en ocasiones, tuve la sensación de que emanaba ramalazos a cómics Francobelgas). El juego destaca por su capacidad de articular artísticamente la economía de su producción (la inversión, parece evidente, fue limitada), compensando la falta de animaciones con un estilo visual que le confiere una marcada personalidad y un evidente atractivo visual ergo lo que podría ser visto como una limitación, deviene aquí en virtud. Al optar por un enfoque estático, los desarrolladores logran una expresión artística única que controla el presupuesto de manera efectiva, sin sacrificar la calidad ni su capacidad de inmersión. Respecto a libreto y desarrollo, destacan no tanto por su ingenio como por un humor castizo, definitivamente patrio, con algunas líneas francamente desopilantes (una de tantas: "¿Jurado? El que tengo aquí colgado) y una voluntad cómica que siempre es bienvenida y agradecida, tengan mayor o menor fortuna en el empeño. Los diálogos están trufados de momentos jocosos y personajes pintorescos (cudos a Juanita y al Sr. Worthington) haciendo que la interacción con los mismos sea muy placentera por desprejuiciada. Es un humor ligero, ingenuo, sano, amable y bastante inofensivo en general, lo que lo convertiría en un título especialmente recomendable para introducir a los niños y niñas en este maravilloso género. No obstante, acompañadles en esas sesiones de juego, porque contrario a las expectativas de simplicidad que uno podría tener, el juego ofrece un desarrollo en ocasiones más desafiante de lo esperado. Los puzles, cuidadosamente diseñados en general y un tanto obvios a grandes rasgos, siempre se enfocan desde el ámbito detectivesco, por lo que las conversaciones devienen en cruciales pero también adicionan una gestión del inventario bastante más acusada de lo que se presupondría por su tono y aunque en su mayoría están bien concebidos, algunos pueden resultar un tanto obtusos (especialmente porque los puntos de interacción en ocasiones no quedan del todo claros), demandando del jugador una intuición que no siempre es evidente, y que puede provocar algún momento puntual de frustración, particularmente cuando la resolución nos es esquiva de primeras (el puzle de las lágrimas puede entrar en esa categoría, por ejemplo), porque no solo se hace necesario saber qué ocurrió y quién es el culpable sino ser capaz de demostrarlo con evidencias. En definitiva, nos encontramos ante un título más que interesante dentro de las aventuras gráficas de bajo presupuesto, con potencial para devenir en franquicia, que destaca por su entrañable apartado gráfico, su humor e ingeniosa gestión de recursos y su cautivador diseño artístico. La experiencia global es lo suficientemente gratificante como para recomendarlo fácilmente.

Un point and click en el que tienes que resolver varios varios misterios, con un buen toque de humor. Con varios puzles originales. Y además esta en castellano.

Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives, developed and published by Apexchimps, is a warm, approachable point-and-click adventure that leans into charm, humor, and cozy mystery rather than high-stakes drama or mechanical complexity. It wears its inspirations proudly, evoking the spirit of classic adventure games while softening their sharper edges to create an experience that feels welcoming even to newcomers. The result is a relaxed detective romp that prioritizes character interactions and narrative flow over difficulty, offering a gentle pace that invites players to linger in its world. The story follows Susan, a comic shop owner with creative ambitions, and Arthur, her easygoing friend whose calm demeanor and dry wit balance her curiosity and drive. When a seemingly small incident draws them into investigating a theft the authorities dismiss, the duo gradually stumbles into a series of cases that broaden in scope and eccentricity. Rather than telling a single sweeping mystery, the game is structured around several self-contained investigations, each with its own suspects, locations, and tonal quirks. This episodic approach keeps the narrative light and varied, allowing each case to introduce new characters and situations without overstaying its welcome. Gameplay adheres closely to traditional point-and-click conventions. Players explore hand-drawn environments, click on hotspots to examine objects, collect items, and talk to an eclectic cast of townsfolk. Inventory-based puzzles form the backbone of progression, often requiring players to combine items or present them to the right character at the right time. Importantly, the game avoids some of the genre’s more frustrating pitfalls. A toggleable hotspot highlight helps prevent tedious pixel hunting, and puzzles are generally logical, favoring observation and dialogue comprehension over obscure leaps of logic. Dialogue is where Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives truly shines. Conversations are frequent, often humorous, and packed with personality. Characters speak with distinct voices conveyed through writing style rather than voice acting, and the game frequently indulges in wordplay, meta jokes, and affectionate genre parody. The option to choose which of the two protagonists responds in certain conversations adds a subtle layer of roleplaying, reinforcing their contrasting personalities and giving interactions a slightly different flavor depending on player choice. Visually, the game adopts a colorful, cartoon-inspired art style that emphasizes readability and warmth. Environments are static but richly illustrated, filled with small visual gags and background details that reward attentive players. Character portraits and animations are simple, yet expressive enough to convey emotion and tone. While the presentation lacks the polish and dynamism of higher-budget adventure titles, it compensates with consistency and a clear artistic identity that complements the lighthearted nature of the story. Audio design is understated. Music plays a supporting role, establishing a relaxed atmosphere without drawing too much attention to itself. The absence of full voice acting places the burden of engagement squarely on the writing, which generally succeeds in keeping conversations lively. Some players may find the limited audio variety noticeable during longer sessions, but it rarely detracts from the overall experience. In terms of challenge and length, Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives is intentionally modest. The puzzles are rarely difficult, and progress is usually steady, making the game suitable for casual play sessions. The overall runtime is relatively short, with most players completing all cases in a handful of hours. This brevity works in the game’s favor, as it maintains momentum and avoids padding, though seasoned adventure fans may wish for deeper or more intricate puzzle chains. The game’s simplicity can occasionally feel limiting. Some puzzles resolve quickly, and the investigative elements are more about following narrative breadcrumbs than piecing together complex deductions. For players seeking a more demanding mystery or layered storytelling, the experience may feel lightweight. However, this design choice is clearly intentional, aiming to deliver comfort and accessibility rather than challenge. Ultimately, Arthur & Susan: Almost Detectives succeeds by embracing its identity as a cozy, character-driven adventure. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre or compete with sprawling narrative epics. Instead, it offers a pleasant, humorous journey through small mysteries led by an endearing duo, supported by intuitive mechanics and a welcoming presentation. For fans of classic point-and-click adventures looking for a relaxed, story-focused experience with a friendly tone, it stands as a charming and enjoyable addition to the genre. Rating: 7/10

Lo recomiendo muchísimo!!! Llevaba desde Monkey Island esperando a un juego tan bueno. Con casos a resolver, retos y... esa ironía que te deja una buena sonrisa en la cara!!! No sé porqué no existen mas juegos de este tipo. Se junta el placer de pensar como resolver un problema con la risa de las respuestas de algunos personajes! Algunos diálogos son de perla. Creo que lo volveré a hacer para descubrir todas las respuestas posibles jejeje! Un 10!

An OK point and click detective game with 2 cute characters. The dialogue can be a bit boring and the puzzles are not that challenging, so i guess it was an OK experience, not bad but not that great either. Cute artwork though! 6.8/10

A fun, short, colourful game. The production values are not very high, but I did have just plain fun while playing this. The third and final case was the most frustrating, feels like you need to try everything or just use a walkthrough to figure out what you're missing. But overall it was a good time.