Captured on a Nintendo Switch while handheld or undocked, Loco Motive is a game that might sound familiar at first. Picture a detective, a wealthy old heiress with a freshly updated will, and an eclectic cast of characters eager to stake their claim. As these stories often unfold, it takes a murderous turn on a train. At first glance, it seems like a nod to Agatha Christie, but don’t let that fool you—this game crafts its own unique tale while respecting its influences. It might just be one of the most delightful modern point-and-click adventures I’ve encountered.
With Loco Motive, you step into the shoes of three distinct characters: Arthur, a lawyer who thrives on paperwork; Herman Merman, who swapped crime novels for detective work; and Diana, a cunning bounty hunter for the Inland Revenue Service (let’s hope that division remains fictional). These characters lead you through the twists and turns of an heiress’s murder aboard a train, where you’ll solve puzzles using hilariously bizarre item combinations, all woven together with plot surprises and comedic cutscenes.
Captured yet again on the Switch, Loco Motive pays homage to its sources of inspiration: the intrigue of Christie, the playful silliness akin to Monkey Island, and the remarkable art style comparable to Ghost Trick. But rather than piecing these elements together like a slapped-together collage, Loco Motive carves out its own niche, standing tall beside the classics.
The pixel animations are top-notch, reminiscent of Ghost Trick, featuring intricate detail and a surprising fluidity. Each item interaction has its own unique animation, and the game’s pixel-based lip-syncing is something special—rarely seen and masterfully executed. It’s a pity we can’t display the animations here because they’re a true highlight of the experience.
The game also shines with its writing. Channeling the witty style of Monkey Island is no small feat, yet Loco Motive succeeds with humor that lands without being cheesy, helpful dialogue that never patronizes, and distinct voices for each character. A game like this thrives on its colorful cast, and the array of voices brings each personality to life, with standout performances from Samantha Béart, Alasdair Beckett-King, and Jim Meskimen.
Then there’s the cleverness packed into this game! Point-and-click adventures have been around for ages, but Loco Motive feels fresh, allowing you to control three characters with intersecting timelines and item swaps that cleverly tie together later in the narrative. A standout moment arrives when your inventories are seized, forcing you to innovate with items you’ve managed to snatch along the way. It’s all brilliantly executed.
But let’s be honest, like any point-and-click, there are moments of frustration, with some puzzles feeling a bit arbitrary. While the hint system generally helps, there are times you may find yourself reaching for a walkthrough, which is a staple for some fans of the genre.
Sadly, there are bugs that disrupt the immersion. For a game polished in many respects, these hiccups become annoyingly apparent. On one occasion, a save glitch sent us back to an earlier chapter, complete with the wrong inventory, necessitating a restart. Another bug led us to wrongly deduce an intended puzzle solution. It’s frustrating, though the game’s skip features do mitigate some of the annoyance.
In its current state, Loco Motive is a standout in the comedic murder-mystery genre, but we hesitate to fully recommend it on Switch until a few more patches address these bugs. Despite these issues, we delighted in its characters, art, and even the puzzles that had us scratching our heads. The irony of the studio name, ROBUST GAMES, felt like a playful jab each time we restarted. Considering it’s the developer’s first game, with Chucklefish backing them, we’re hopeful those glitches will be ironed out soon, promising a smoother ride ahead.
Conclusion:
Loco Motive is an engaging point-and-click mystery packed with humor, charm, and impressive pixel art. Though its initial release is hampered by bugs on the Switch, with time and patching, this title will surely be a standout homage to its predecessors.
