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This is my fifth game (visual novel?) by the not-so-stereotypical master, Uchikoshi Kotaro. The three previous ones were already mentioned in this thread by Revan; in fact, I was the one who recommended them to him back then. They were brilliant zero-escape games. I finished the fourth one at the beginning of this year, and it was:



I didn't write about it here because I thought the community wasn't ready for something like that, plus I was feeling very warm and fuzzy at the time, which I felt would be somewhat cheapened by simply writing about it. But that feeling has subsided, and since I decided to write about the first title, I can't help but fully describe the situation.

So, the Zero Escape series is a rather serious, mind-bending, and dark trilogy, not without its share of crazy weeb stuff, but in very limited amounts, unlike Danganronpa. In general, everything is quite grimdark and intense, dramatic, and the intricate plot unfolds into a number of routes, sometimes dragging on like cold, leftover pasta, but ultimately culminating in a soul-stirring catharsis that explains almost all the smallest details. All of this is complemented by a dense atmosphere, well-developed characters, and a mix of scientific and more nerdy questions about philosophy, mathematics, physics, and so on. In short, the trilogy is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

When I saw that the title from the second picture was ported to PC, I read its synopsis and watched the trailer (you're a ghost and you're peeking under the skirts of anime girls), then I saw that it was also "by Uchikoshi," and then I also saw that a not-very-well-received anime was made based on it. I realized that the games were over, and the excellent trilogy of escape games was more of a coincidence than a pattern. Nevertheless, tempted by the name, I downloaded it just to have a laugh. For the first ten hours, I wanted to drop it; it was boring, and the gameplay, while tolerable, wasn't particularly engaging, but it was still pretty bad compared to the enjoyable puzzle rooms in the Zero Escape series. The next ten hours flew by unnoticed – I simply woke up in the fetal position, in a puddle of my own saliva, tears, and snot (not literally speaking). Behind the initial deceptive layer of a dubious synopsis, seemingly designed to specifically repel pretentious plebs (and attract a different kind of pleb), lies a hidden depth of the same feelings that I experienced from the wonderful trilogy: a sufficiently intricate and interesting plot, a magnificent atmosphere, well-developed characters, incredibly heartwarming moments, a bit more weeb-y, but still excellent presentation. In my mind, I rated "Punch Line" one point lower than "Zero Escape," simply because it's shorter and a standalone title, and in some places it's a bit derivative. But one point lower than Zero Escape is, in fact, 9/10.

And now I've finished the latest one – the top picture. It's more serious than "Punch Line," closer to "Zero Escape." It's still quite intimate, with not a very large number of locations, but not as much: unlike the previously mentioned titles, you're not locked in four walls, but you play as a detective investigating murders in "real-life" Tokyo.
Does it have any flaws? Of course. Are there moments that sometimes echo previous titles by Uchikoshi? Yes, undoubtedly, a little bit. Are there moments that are a bit cringeworthy, or simply not intended for someone completely new to the culture? There are. Did I feel bored at times in the first third or half of the game? Not without it.
Did I regret spending the time? No. Did the author, despite all of the above, manage to deliver another intricate, detailed, atmospheric, and completely satisfying story, in a completely new setting once again, with an interesting branching plot, well-developed characters, dramatic/sad/warm/heartwarming moments, and once again twist the gameplay (which this time was much more successful and conceptual than in "Punch Line"), and leave a purely warm feeling at the end? Yes.

Before "Punch Line," I ironically, in analogy with Kojima, called Uchikoshi a GENIUS. Now I believe that he has fully earned and justified that title in my eyes, as someone who consistently delivers quality products.