Blacksad: Under the Skin has been released since 2019. However, next-gen gamers can now enjoy a modern polish. Moreover, previous glitches and issues that haunted this title appear to have been ironed out, mostly. Consequently, if you played it 5 years ago or are new to the experience, you’ll love the crisp graphics, interesting story, and fun detective elements.
This detective adventure endeavour was developed by Pendulo Studios and published by Microids. Furthermore, it is influenced by the fantastic and much-loved comic book series. Subsequently, fans of that will adore every gritty and gruesome scene. Sadly, if you like to play with others, this won’t be the game for you. Additionally, if you want something fast-paced, then you may wish to look elsewhere. Yet, if you like playing alone, and you thrive in methodical situations, then this will tick many boxes.
Blacksad: Under the Skin tells a classic tale.
There is nothing better than a phenomenal detective story. The twists and turns and the suspicious characters keep you guessing throughout. If you then add in a cast of anthropomorphic protagonists, then you have your work cut out for you. However, the animalistic edge was fascinating. Furthermore, the developer does a great job of matching familiar character traits with each key player.
You play the role of John Blacksad. He is a private detective with a gruff voice and an eye for detail. What’s more, his cat’s senses and reactions allow him to avoid danger and investigate the strangest of scenes. Moreover, his intuition helps him to piece together random clues that solve the crime.
The crime was heinous! Joe Dunn, owner of Dunn’s boxing gym, is found dead. His star athlete is missing, and his daughter is in mourning. As such, Detective Blacksad must step up to the mark and save the day. Yet, this is easier said than done as lies, mysteries, and money muddy the water.
Fascinating gameplay mechanics.
Blacksad: Under the Skin mixes a blend of slow-paced elements with some reaction-based QTEs. Alongside this, there are plenty of investigatory moments as you explore each vital location and question witnesses and suspects. This portion of the game was fantastic. As you speak to each person, your questions and their responses drive you on unique paths. Accordingly, you will have to perfect your questioning if you wish to witness every ending.
As you visit new locations, you must find every hot spot. These key areas highlight clues and handy hints. Furthermore, they help you to piece together each element of this twisting mystery. However, the further you delve, the more complicated things become. What’s more, as you help or hinder certain individuals, this can influence your progress. Consequently, thinking about the bigger picture is essential.
Finally, the QTEs are simple but effective. You’ll have to dodge punches or hammer the action button to act forcefully. Either way, it adds a much-needed layer of energy to an otherwise slow experience.
Become a crime fighter.
Blacksad: Under the Skin demands that you use cat senses to uncover minor and major clues. This was fantastic as you used John’s keen eyesight to find hints and eliminate would-be suspects. Though this wasn’t the most complex of ideas, it worked particularly well.
Alongside this, you must use a mind map to combine the evidence you’ve found. As you search each location and question people, you’ll increase your options. Though it can be challenging to know which clues pair up, I liked the difficulty and the flow of the story.
Blacksad: Under the Skin looks great, but it is flawed.
Using a well-known comic book as your foundation is a brave move. Keen fans will pick apart minor issues and this can undermine the gameplay. Luckily, the developer has done a great job with their presentation. The world feels like a 1950s American town. Additionally, the animal-like characters move and act as you’d expect. This level of detail sucks you into the bizarre fantasy world. However, it isn’t perfect as Blacksad regularly pushes his hands through solid items and there are some frame rate problems.
Though the visuals weren’t perfect, the audio was great. The jazzy soundtrack captures the 50s theme. Moreover, the gruff acting and the era-specific language sucks you in. I loved the excellent cinematic and how every ounce of dialogue is perfectly delivered. If you adore the comic book, you’ll love how the developer has brought every character to life.
Sluggish controls.
Sluggish controls and a slow-moving protagonist cause no end of issues. As you explore each key location, you have to flit between hot spots. In theory, this should be easy, but in reality, it was tedious and made exploration much harder. Luckily, the QTEs were unaffected by this problem as the responsive inputs ensure you can dodge, weave, and fight back with ease.
If you can put up with the shortcomings, you’ll enjoy plenty of replay value and longevity. The developer has hidden collectable sports cards throughout the world. These Hall of Famers do not impact the storyline, nor do they add anything to the action. Yet, you will look for every card as you search for clues. Additionally, as you mould John’s personality, the story ebbs and flows. As such, you must try different responses if you wish to see every finale.
Blacksad: Under the Skin is a good detective game.
The developer has done a great job with many of the core elements. However, there were still issues with this next-gen update. Unfortunately, these problems are tough to ignore and they will cause problems. But thankfully, there are plenty of highlights. The visuals are great and the audio is wonderful. What’s more, I loved the dialogue and searching for every clue. Accordingly, this is a good detective experience and I recommend buying it here! Can you solve every crime? Explore each location, question everyone, and master your senses.
