The Silver Case
The Silver Case
The Silver Case, développé et édité par Grasshopper Manufacture avec la participation de NIS America, est sorti le 7 octobre 2016 et propose pour la première fois une localisation anglaise complète. Le joueur incarne un membre de l'unité des forces spéciales « Republic » du point de vue de la première personne, dans un récit inspiré des genres aventure et visual novel où la vérité se dévoile progressivement à travers la résolution d'énigmes. L'intrigue se déroule en 1999 dans les 24 Wards de Tokyo, secouées par une série de meurtres en série, alors que les détectives de l'unité des crimes abominables surveillent Kamui Uehara, tueur légendaire responsable d'assassinats de officiels gouvernementaux vingt ans plus tôt lors du célèbre « Silver Case », dont l'identité réelle demeure inconnue. Le jeu est disponible sur PC, PlayStation 4, Mac, Nintendo Switch et Linux, fonctionne sous le moteur Unity, et affiche un temps de parcours principal d'environ 14 heures et demi pour 17 heures en version completionist, au prix de 19,99 euros.
L'accueil critique est mitigé, avec un score Metacritic de 64 et un score OpenCritic de 70. DualShockers a salué l'approche sans concession de la résolution d'énigmes typique des jeux rétro tout en notant un rendu visuel daté, tandis que Digitally Downloaded a apprécié le son de frappe accompagnant les dialogues comme s'ils étaient tapés au clavier. Certains joueurs sur Metacritic regrettent en revanche un problème de rythme, jugeant le début particulièrement terne et ennuyeux, ou encore la partie médiane de l'intrigue assommante, bien qu'un avis positif sur Steam qualifie l'œuvre de « tout simplement monumental ».
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« The Silver Case HD Remaster might seem visually dated and it has that unapologetic approach to puzzle solving that only retro games can provide, but the characters and story connecting them truly stands the test of time. I was completely drawn into the mystery and world of the game that it became difficult to take breaks or attend to daily activities. »
« Accompanying this storytelling is a delightful tap-tap-tap sound as dialogue is spoken, as though the story is being typed out on a keyboard as the player reads along. »
« It's somehow difficult to recommend The Silver Case to a younger audience not accustomed with an "old" game: the interface and controls are quite clunky, and the graphics are stylish but not good. However, fans of the visual novel genre will find a lot to love here. »
« I have a hard time putting together what exactly happened in the The Silver Case, but it’s a testament to the writing, characters, and mood that I want to figure it out. Portions are often slow, dense, and overbearing. However, the relatable character moments, intriguing short stories, and strong visual style eventually won me over, even if I had to wade through some rough edges to get to them. »
« Although redesigned for a modern audience, much of The Silver Case is left behind in the past. The avant-garde storytelling and newly added chapters are the only things to properly stand the test of time. »
« The Silver Case is definitely not for everyone. While it’s visuals and presentation may prove interesting to some, the issues with its gameplay and some of its storytelling could turn off others. Those unfamiliar with Suda’s style may find the themes and pacing of the game remarkably slow. But fans of Suda’s work will definitely enjoy The Silver Case as it showcases his unique style incredibly well. Regardless of its setbacks, the PS4 release of The Silver Case is a unique and complex experience that could easily draw in those who are open to playing something undeniably strange and different. »
« After being released exclusively for PlayStation in the Japanese market in 1999, Goichi Suda’s visual novel crosses over to the West. In its PS4 edition, it is also enriched with two new chapters. A mature and interesting script and an excellent soundtrack are the strong suit of this otherwise slow paced game, with a weird and clumsy control interface. »
« The Silver Case is a tough one: the first game from Suda51 has an intriguing gameplay, but it hasn't aged too well. At the end of the day, it's a must-have if you're a fan of the Japanese game designer, but most of all if you love the graphic novels. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« Oyunda ciddi bir tempo sorunu olduğunu söylemem gerekiyor özellikle oyunun başı o kadar ruhsuz ve sıkıcı ki oyuncuda devam etme isteği uyandırmıyor »
« Would’ve been a higher score for a good visual novel if the pacing and the middle half of the plot wasn’t so mind numbingly boring. It felt like a complete deviation from the serial killer plot to the point where I just struggled to comprehend wtf was even going on, constantly holding the x button to speed run everything. Plus I’m tired of seeing Tokio’s dumb ass room, his parts were the least engaging for me. The cinematic goal of aiming for a spiral diagram of conspiracy and massacre falls all over the place when the narrative itself simultaneously fails to tie everything together, instead waiting for the end to conclude everything. Would only recommend if you’re a hardcore fan of the original or its sequel, would completely avoid if you’re not trying to die of boredom in one playthrough. »
« The beginning story of Suda51. The writing, music, style and experience is as you would expect from the man himself: Fascinating. A must-play without any reservations. »
« The translation of this game is truly awful. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the dialog have a "fu*k" in every other sentence. Makes the dialog impossible to take seriously. Stay away. »
« Not a game for everyone, yet this goes well with the kill the past saga and starts the journey from fs&r and 25th ward. »
