A Case of Distrust Reviews

A Case of Distrust has many features that set it apart from generic point-and-click adventures; however, it feels more like a demo than a complete game. And even in that short time, it tested my patience due to some questionable design choices. The main standout feature is its shift away from traditional inventory management in favor of knowledge management. You investigate your surroundings to uncover evidence, talk to people to gather statements, and then use this information in conversations to extract new leads. For instance, you can learn the whereabouts of key suspects. This cycle continues until you have amassed enough evidence to press charges. However, as intriguing as this may sound, the actual gameplay quickly becomes tedious. Contrary to what I said above, there is no real system for managing the knowledge you acquire. The game doesn’t help you discern which pieces of intelligence are relevant to a specific person. In many cases, you’ll receive nothing more than a dismissive excuse, as the person has nothing to add. Even then, the game fails to mark that topic as covered, making it easy to forget and repeat the same action with the same fruitless result. When stuck, I found myself resorting to brute force—talking to everyone about everything in hopes of stumbling upon progress. A Case of Distrust also stands out with its striking visual style and unique user interface. The UI has a distinct charm, as each action is accompanied by a small animation. However, this initial appeal quickly wears off. At first, exploring new locations feels immersive, and the slower pace is forgivable. But as the game progresses and you need to repeat the same actions ad nauseam, the UI begins to feel like an obstacle rather than an enhancement. For instance, switching between locations requires seven clicks, each punctuated by a brief but frustrating delay. Plot-wise, it’s serviceable—nothing extraordinary, but with more cases and polish, the knowledge-based approach could shine. The only persistent gripe I had was the protagonist’s constant lamenting about the hardships of being a policewoman—it verged on grating rather than adding depth to her character.

a bit too short (I finished it in 3-4 hours). But I love the graphics and the game mechanics