izigame.me

Mindcop is a fun and mysterious point and click 'whodunit' tale that will leave you laughing and fill you with suspense as you piece together the puzzle of a murder most foul that's befallen a small tourist village. Its humorous and grim undertones are balanced by clever writing and simple, but engaging mechanics that help to sell the story of being a cop able to read people's minds or as the game calls it, Mindsurf. Using this unique ability, you must solve the murder case within five days lest the killer escape. Do you think you'll be able to handle it, Mindcop?
You'll be able to ask questions and Mindsurf various characters throughout the game to gain insight and background into not just the case but also the characters' personal lives. Not only does it enhance your understanding of the story, but it also allows you to empathize with the struggles and dilemmas that each character faces. Once you've asked enough questions it's time to dig inside someone's subconscious for answers. Mindsurfing will enable you to gain insight into someone using the knowledge gained from their "Sea of Thought" by way of memories or emotions personified for Mindcop to see. Gaining access to this knowledge is represented by three doors each showing a Truth, a Lie, and an Uncertainty. This ranges from heartwarming and sweet memories, to half-truths that may or may not hold answers, to downright unsettling nightmares stemming from severe trauma.
Everything you see in the "Sea of Thought" however isn't to be taken literally or at face value and more often than not is left open to interpretation based upon what information you've gained on the person through standard questioning in the real world. All this is in service to better understand each of the people in the small, but memorably written cast of characters that feel believable and some even relatable. All however, feel a little bit sad. A quality this unassuming, quirky detective game doesn't go out of it way to show but when it does it does so tremendously well.
This is a game I'm lucky to have had the chance to play as I don't get to play good mystery/detective games too often and this one will leave you scratching your head on multiple occasions and will give you a true sense of 'eureka' when you finally put all of the various clues and pieces together. I failed my first attempt, but my second after much deliberation and honest to god note-taking, and a little bit of good old-fashioned detective work I managed to catch the killer and that feeling of doing so (when I wasn't sure even at that last moment) was very satisfying to have. Not to mention there's a unique twist to the ending that makes another play-through worth the time. Check this one out if you've got an itch for a funny, light-hearted story that isn't afraid to touch upon delicate subject matter all in service of a memorable experience that is worth playing if you're a fan of the crime/detective genre or murder mysteries.
Highly recommended.