Night Call Reviews

I've played this game for almost 9 hours and barely got halfway through the achievements. I think that this could potentially be a bit overwhelming for players. Other than that, my thoughts on this game are mostly positive. The concept of the game is a bit similar to Road 96, another indie french game, which relies on almost the same map system and your choices actually impact the story. It's also a bit similar to Ace Attorney where the game feels more like a visual novel but you actually have to think through the evidences and make a verdict to catch the culprit. Because I like this type of games, I've quite enjoyed this one too. My only criticism would be that the cases were quite easy to solve, even in the hardest difficulty. That said, building a more atmospheric and narrative driven game rather than challenging players with the mystery could have been an active decision made by the devs, which I respect.

I love how fleshed out all the different narratives are getting to know your passengers is a really interesting game experience with lots of replay ability.

[code] -How's your driving record? Clean? -It's clean. Real clean. Like my conscience. Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver, 1976 [/code] [h3]I'm giving you a night call to tell you how I feel[/h3] Yes, I'm gonna keep quoting Kavinsky's "Nightcall" throughout this review. Yes, it's low hanging fruit and yes, [i]we'll go all, all, all night long[/i] -so deal with it. Or don't, I don't know, really. I like you, but to be honest: you were always a weird one. It's like [i]there's something inside you, it's hard to explain[/i]. I guess I'll try explaining the premise of Night Call instead. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3386682600 [h3]I want to drive you through the night, down the hills[/h3] Night Call is a graphic novel, noir murder mystery game. You are a taxi driver in Paris who was recently attacked by a serial killer -just after the murderer killed your last client. Having spent some time in the hospital recovering from an almost fatal injury, you return to the [i]hustle[/i]. However, there's now a major difference: you are also tasked (strong-armed into it, really) with finding the identity of the serial killer. Chase every possible lead by talking to your contacts/informants, fish out information from clients about the murderer, read the news or listen to the radio about any development on the case. And of course, find a chance to "interrogate" the suspects, as they step into your taxi as clients. You are given a list of persons of interest and 6 days to find the culprit among them. In total, there are 89 different passengers you can interact with, with most of them reappearing as possible clients until you fully 'know' about them. There is a system in place recording these interactions, the Passidex, which makes entries based upon the exchanges you have with each passenger. Throughout these 6 nights, you gradually learn more about yourself and your past -a dark, tragic tale that adds depth to the protagonist's character and perhaps dictates his actions during the events of the game. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3402132877 [h3]I'm gonna tell you something you don't want to hear[/h3] The [i]whodunit[/i] part of the game is a bit on the easier side as far as difficulty goes. Throughout the 3 different cases, you will most likely amass a number of clues that will enable you to pinpoint the serial killer, with relative ease. There isn't anything groundbreaking or mind-boggling about the cases (I need to replay [i]Return of the Obra Dinn[/i]), just a basic mystery plot. You start each case in the same manner: awakening at the hospital after an attempt on your life ([i]has left you scarred and deformed[/i] -not really) and take it from there. Essentialy, you are replaying the same premise 3 times, with different suspects/killer each time. The repetitive nature of the game requires to be patient or, as I did, take your time to finish each case -perhaps playing with some hefty intervals between cases. If you try to rush or focus too much on the detective aspect of it, you will only do yourself a disservice. Truly, the best way I can suggest experiencing Night Call is being in it [i]for the ride[/i]. That's the way I approached the game, preparing a hot cup of coffee and just enjoying small talk with passengers, the rhythmic tapping of rain on the taxi's roof, the night pleasantly dragging on -even when dawn is about to break. Don't rush Night Call's cases to completion, it's a recipe for dissapointment. It gets repetitive but there is beauty in the mundane. If you are not drawn to Night Call's aesthetic and especially if you don't enjoy immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a slow-paced narrative, don't buy the game. It's as simple as that, you won't like it. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3412922625 [h3]I'm gonna show you where it's dark, but have no fear[/h3] Should you choose to try Night Call out, take notice of its suprisingly tasteful ambient music. Listen to the sometimes casual, other times impactful stories of your passengers. I guarantee you that there will be those that will be etched into your mind [spoiler](Ludwig's random encounters and interactions with him were the most memorable because they were tiptoeing a thin line between these two)[/spoiler]. There are some wacky, surreal passengers and their encounters are almost always entertaining. The management of resources was truly inconsequential. I don't believe there is any real danger of running out of money during these 6 nights, except if you set it as your goal or lose yourself to roaming the city without picking any passengers whatsoever. Nonetheless, it adds a nice touch to immersion, the allure of the 'grind' and survival. All in all, I found Night Call a pretty chill experience. Approach it with this mindset and you will most likely have a good time. I purchased the game on discount, for the price of 3,74€ which admittedly I consider a great deal. Check it out yourself!