Paradise Killer

Started out confused and frustrated. Understood nothing. Then somehow time just slipped by while I was playing. Embrace the confusion. Incredible game.

Wow, this game. Paradise Killer is a deceptively ambitious, aesthetically visionary game that, on the surface, seems like it should not really 'work.' As another Steam review says, "embrace the confusion." After a disorienting first hour, I was hooked. You play as Lady Love Dies, an immortal investigator and disgraced member of "the Syndicate," a secretive demi-god-ish cult that lives on a synthetic island paradise in its own dimension, away from the 'real world.' Love Dies has been in exile for 3,000,000 days. She's called out of retirement following a bloodbath that wipes out much of the Syndicate's leadership. The island is on lockdown. It's up to you to find out what happened and present evidence at a grand endgame trial. "Collectathon" has a grain of truth but really does the game a disservice, as a label. You're dropped into a fascinating island with no restrictions and the game truly does not care where you go, how you try to navigate, or where & if you can get on or around anything. You can purchase three movement/navigation upgrades, tips from a black market 'information vendor,' and also 'hacking upgrades' to your trusty laptop, Starlight. You will need to be able to break 20 or so electronic locks throughout the world to find some of the juiciest evidence. Fans will warn you: Paradise Killer is not a traditional sleuthing experience. Starlight has a clear interface that catalogs information: testimony, alibis, and so on. The 'police procedure' is baked in. The [b]player[/b] explores & analyzes the [b]physical environment[/b]. You're in charge of ferreting out new secrets that complicate competing theories of what happened. You're also in charge of who to go after and how to 'wield' the evidence. One small nitpick: it is impossible to 'say the wrong thing' in Paradise Killer. This mostly fits with the game's worldbuilding - the lockdown, the pseudo-immortality and ingrained arrogance of the suspects - but it still feels strange and slightly off to me that you can't jeopardize your investigation by botching a line of questioning, or by making enemies. Overall? An indie triumph with heart, depth, vision, and style. Great vaporwave soundtrack. Cool explorable world. Fascinatingly bizarre characters. Walks a tight-rope between absurd and thought-provoking. More than meets the eye, and greater than the sum of its parts.

I honestly wasn't expecting anything, I just vibed with the art style and have no regret. What an interesting game, what an interesting universe. The gameplay is more or less "take your silly little computer and shoo, shoo, go solve crimes !", then it's all about you. Do you actually solve what's going on ? Does your truth match with the facts ? I really hope to see more of this in the future, especially in the same universe. I was squinting my eyes so badly when I began to play, trying to understand what was going on, but once it clicks, it clicks for good, I couldn't stop playing until *my* end. I don't know if my end is the end, but it doesn't matter, I can go back, it gives me an excellent excuse, so all is right :)

A very unique detective game with some platforming elements. The game isn't difficult but the atmosphere and worldbuilding is one of a kind and definitely worth a playthrough.

Charming cultists conspire, cockily causing calamities. [b]Why[/b] You like cool collectibles, world building and the feeling of an answer slowly revealing itself Stylish cult in a pocket dimension trying to revive dead gods vibes Strong characters, both lovable & hateable [b]Why not[/b] You only like games which require a lot of action, or mechanical skill You want a mystery which requires strong deductive skills to solve [b]Impressions[/b] If you like collectible hunting, you’ll love this game. Right after being given unrestricted access to the world I inadvertently jumped over a railing instead of heading for the crime scene, then spent the next ~3 hours just exploring the island. No matter where you explore you’ll find something to incentivise you having done so, even if it’s ‘just’ some currency. My favourites were the varieties of collectibles which divulged little snippets of lore, filling in the background of this strange, fall damage-less island you find yourself on. Speaking of the island, it almost counts as a character itself. Obviously the graphics aren’t aiming for realism, but the PS2-era fidelity mixed with excellent lighting creates a beautiful environment because of that, not in spite of it. Collectibles and clues won’t be the only drivers of exploration; there are plenty of impressive vistas which serve as their own reward. The placement and design of different districts help tell the story of its inhabitants and the roles they fill in this little pocket reality. If you think your life sucks, you can at least be glad you’re not a citizen abducted to do the bidding of the Council. It’s the Council who are the impetus for your unexpected freedom from eternal exile; they’ve all been murdered in a locked room despite 4 ‘Holy Seals’ protecting them. With the old power structure thrown into disarray and every remaining cult member a suspect, the island’s embodiment of justice has released you to take up your old mantle as the ‘Investigation Freak’ and crack the case. Exploration is key here too; while talking to the island’s inhabitants might turn up some leads you’ll need to get off the beaten track to really start unraveling the web of conspiracy. That’s not to say you should avoid talking to your fellow cultists though, their stylish designs and well-written dialogue will keep you coming back even without leads to chase down. Even the overtly hostile characters are fun to interact with, and the others are charming enough to make you gloss over the fact everyone is part of a murderous cult trying to reinstate the rule of decidedly non-benevolent gods over Earth. Conclusion Since this was my first ‘detective’ game I’m not sure how it compares to others in the genre; the answers were basically handed to me once I found certain key pieces of evidence, no deduction required. But the journey to get there gave plenty of opportunities to theorize, build up relationships and have expectations vindicated/betrayed. Whatever genre this game fits into it’s an excellent example of it, and I’d highly recommend giving it a go. [b]Tips (Spoiler-free)[/b] Despite all the exploring I did, I still managed to miss at least one pretty major mechanic the game offers until just before finishing it. To help others avoid the same mistake, here are some generalized tips to help you get the most out of your experience: You’ll get plenty of blood crystals. If you have an opportunity to spend them, I highly recommend you do so. But disregard this for a particular opportunity to purchase near-infinite cosmetics, at least until you’re flush with cash Try to avoid fast travelling. Randomly getting sidetracked on your way between two places will lead to a lot of discoveries. Getting closer to people is valuable, even if it’s “closer”

At a certain point the game feels like the equivalent of a mom coming home to find the entire house wrecked, and all the kids denying it & shifting blame to each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Island 24 and getting to unravel the mystery of who was ultimately the Paradise Killer. This game is primarily exploring the island for clues/evidence for your case, so I do understand the people calling this a walking simulator or a collectathon, but those were the elements that made this game so fun! Every flavor text on a relic you find is further information about the world these devs have built and I found myself thoroughly invested. This was an absolute steal on sale for $5 and I definitely got my money's worth in enjoyment.

Really compelling characters and storyline. A great exampel on how to make a good mystery game. Love the fact that the game invites you to present your solution whenever you feel ready.

The visuals are good. The story and the world are great. Too bad that the game is little more than a walking sim coupled with a VN - you walk around a (beautiful and interesting, I'll admit) island collecting dots. It's interesting for the first few hours, but it does get tiring. After collecting enough dots and speaking with enough people enough times, you will get enough facts to convict someone in the ending. Overall I'd recommend grabbing this game on a discount, perhaps full price if you enjoy walking and existing in a colourful world.

Wow, the game is massive, I hadn't expected that. It's definitely worth full price if you like weird dark lore and exploration. It's one of the best collectathons I ever played with a variety of collectable types and quality of life features. The map is basically non-existent though, and the jump ability is pretty pitiful to be honest. Take advantage of the foot baths as soon as you can! (I know it sounds weird, but it'll make sense.) The detective storyline of the game is crafted really well. But collecting evidence is mostly tied to exploration, rather than observation, strategy, or brain power. If you walk the miles, you get the clues, if not then you don't. Visual design and music are outstanding. I also love the voice acting, it would be great if it was fully voiced. As it stands, it can be irritating when the catchphrases don't match the tone or context of the written dialogue. Overall, Crimson Acid endorses this game - and would a blessed idol lie to you? Of course not. Get. The. Game.

I'm sad this game is so short; I want more. There's really nothing else like it; it is unique in gameplay and in style, and the world feels vivid and real. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys games that prioritize exploration and worldbuilding.

The murder mystery is compelling but the best part of this game may be the worldbuilding and the how everything ties into it. Satisfying and intriguing.

parkour simulator disguised as a murder mystery and wrapped in the most interesting possible setting. i'm obsessed. i'm love shinji (my best friend shinji). i'm playing it with my fiance and every time we have to put it down it's like a fight for our lives.

I thought it would be something more than walking sim with visual novel. Tho I didn't like the vibe or any of the characters... hard to like mass sacrificing immortal cultist that don't seem to care at all about that.

I've never played something quite like this before. It's an open world investigation sim with 2D characters and visual novel aspects. The art is beautiful, the characters hilariously bizarre, and the world is too bright and pink to be hiding this much darkness. The story and the characters are captivating, starting with the protagonist, Lady Love Dies. None of the names or their biographies made sense to me until the second playthrough and not completely even then, probably, but I think that is intentional for the themes of this game. The music is g o r g e o u s. The vibes are immaculate. I play it just to escape these days, its world is so unique to itself that it's like a system reboot for me.

Paradise Killer is one of my top games of all time. I have replayed it about 8 times, and still keep finding more to discover. I enjoy the open-world feel that still has expectations via collecting objects, searching for clues, and the ability to conduct the investigation according to things you have found and/or, in the order you choose. The story is captivating, with so many hidden little jewels throughout. It's complicated, but makes sense as you go deeper into the world Kaizen has created. I appreciate the mechanics--being able to jump off of skyscrapers without dying, able to purchase a few power-ups that give you more access over time, and the visual aesthetic + soundtrack is fantastic. This game is for you if you like narrative, but not endlessly clicking through dialogue, and the ability to run through an open world while you try to solve a mystery. It might be your thing if you have a taste for the macabre and an appreciation for stories that delve into dynamics of power and ethics in an interesting way. It's not for you if you like shoot 'em ups, or lightning-speed gameplay. This is self-paced, and you can explore as much or as little of this insane world as you desire. 10/10 recommend, and want more. There really is no other game quite like Paradise Killer.

Started out confused and frustrated. Understood nothing. Then somehow time just slipped by while I was playing. Embrace the confusion. Incredible game.  

Immaculate vaporwavey, surrealist vibes, and fun collectathon y'know

An atmosphere quite unlike anything I've experienced before. From a gameplay perspective, minimalist. But from a vibe and story perspective? Immaculate. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Island Sequence 24.

I do not remember when did I last play a game that pulled me in so much. A game that makes you forget to eat, drink, and doesn't make you divert your attention somewhere else in the slightest. The only negative thing was the beeping sound it had from what I assume was Starlight's sound system (a computer you will be using in the game). I know there is not much to go on from my review, but just try the game! You will love it (especially spoiler-free).

Heartfelt weird. Good story. Many false leads and microstories. Great writing. Gameplay can be tedious sometimes, as it is punching above its weight, but the effort proves worthy. Top3 detective games.

a genuinely charming little adventure! my time here was relaxed and well-spent.

Love the soundtrack. Got lost a lot since there's no minimap.

You should play this game. The soundtrack alone is worth it.

Great game, I wish it was endless

idiosyncratic

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