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0 Blood on the Thames is a point and click murder mystery narrative game. It was recently released on PC on 31st October by Developer and Publisher Team Firestorm. This game follows on from their first created game back in 2018 In the Dark and is available from Steam for £12.79.
BLOOD IS NOT THE ONLY THING IN THE THAMES
I’m always on the lookout for a good detective mystery puzzle game. There’s something satisfying when solving a puzzle or mystery after an arduous time collecting all the evidence or clues. Have you been a fan of any games which have weighed heavily on the detective theme? Let us know in the comments below!
Gameplay
As you boot up Blood on the Thames, you are introduced to a rather busy looking menu. From its music to the style of choice for its graphics, it all feels busy. This sets the tone for the game going forward as it does feel you are put right in the thick of the chaos. You assume the role of a ship captain, Captain Ishmael, who is rudely awoken in the middle of the night by an angry passenger named Victor. He’s desperate to get his hands on a package from storage and seems furious. He leaves and soon after the Captain hears gun shots from somewhere on the ship. It’s down to you then to navigate the scenes using arrows to go and investigate what happened. A member of the crew fended him off as he sought to steal the box for himself, and shots were fired.
From thereon, you use your notepad and item inventory to help you look up information discovered so far and to use items to help in certain situations. The tutorial is great at helping you get in the right frame of mind, the detective mind I mean. I set off into London itself to track Victor down, who seemingly had stolen something from my own ship. Quite conveniently you happen across a gentleman, a Dr Griffin, who is also looking for Victor and you both set about searching London for him. The more you uncover when looking for him and the box, the more you realise there’s more afoot than just a simple burglary. It’s this evolution of the story as you progress that pushes you on and on, facing each puzzle as you encounter them.
Graphics and Audio
The developer’s choice of graphics for this game is a mix of real actors in still photos in conversations, and also computer generated characters and environments. All the scenes are done in a charming, stylised black and white pencil drawing theme. The characters moved in some scenes, giving a kind of unique drawing-come-to-life effect. The game is really detailed also, with a lot of painstaking effort going into the scenes and the evidence briefcase. All of these set this game apart from your run-of-the-mill detective point and click adventure. An amazing level of artistry is given to certain areas of the game, which I have to point out. In some areas there are colour, which surprised me at first. These areas were dedicated to scenes of significance relating to the nefarious evil goings-on.
The music definitely sets the heart pumping with its hectic, chaotic and seemingly random piano music when the tension raises. While it certainly gave you a sense of urgency, it also became very grating to listen to after some time. Music throughout the rest of the game was orchestral and subtle in style. It features instruments like violins and cellos, giving a style fitting for the era the game is set in. The sound effects were meticulously placed throughout the game. This ensured that you felt you were in every scene and a part of the adventure. I particularly enjoyed sounds such as the hustle and bustle of busy London life as you rode in a cart.
Longevity
There’s a lot to unpack as you journey through the game, and that’s not just your detective gear. Blood on the Thames only starts opening up in terms of puzzles and story after a few hours of gameplay. The game developers boast of an average of 10 hours gameplay is guaranteed. It’s an interesting story too, ensuring you explore every clue and follow the complex story to its end. For fans of the retro point and click adventures and detective games, there are hours of enjoyment here. Given enough time, you’ll be knee-deep in the mystery, wondering where the time went.
Final Thoughts
Blood on the Thames is one you have to experience for yourself to get a true feel of what’s on offer. I’ll certainly be playing on, savouring every reveal and twist the story has to offer. There is a lot of narrative to get through, which may deter some gamers who relish action and fast-paced games. The story plays out over time instead of suffocating you with narrative exposition all in one go. The game reveals random weirdness over time. For example, it has scenes of computer coding, alluding to a simulation type backstory. Overall it’s a solid point and click murder mystery.
I award Blood on the Thames the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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