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0 The Mermaid Mask is the fourth installment to the Detective Grimoire series and the sequel to the Tangled Tower. From the brilliant minds at SFB Games, this game still lives up to its predecessors. The Mermaid Mask is a Casual, Adventure, Puzzle game that is well worth anyone’s time. However, the game is originally a point and click game, but SFB Games has made their games controller friendly.
To the point I played between my Steam Deck and my desktop on and off my work shifts. I can’t explain how much I love this series and have been anticipating a new entry into the Grimoire series. Now sit back, relax and let’s save the mystery in The Mermaid Mask.
So, you’re telling me that I can combine parts of a ship to a submarine, and it’ll all still work with no issues?!
Gameplay
We play as detective team Grimoire and Sally. They were called in by Captain Seafoam to solve the murder of Captain Mortuga. Which after arriving at the scene of the crime learn that it’s a locked-room murder. Over time exploring the Mortuga, you learn of the nine people that reside in the ship and discover who the culprit is. Eventually, you’ll collect clues and solve puzzles that help understand how and why everything happened.
Throughout my play through, each room has about 1–2 puzzles that you’ll solve to collect each clue. Sure, you can request to have hints on what clue is best to press which suspect or for puzzles. Eventually, you come to understand who gains from Mortuga’s death. However, I bet you’re wondering what does the Mermaid Mask have to do with the game since it’s the title of the game. That’s just it! My fellow detectives, you’ll need to try and solve that along the way.
Puzzles, puzzles and more puzzles!
Besides the beautiful murder mystery that was crafted by SFB Games. We get some very clever puzzles that are very forgiving and give me a large amount of dopamine when I solve it. Honestly, I don’t know how they come up with some of these puzzles, but once you understand the concept of it…it just clicks! I do not have a single puzzle that I hated or disliked when trying to solve it.
Even the puzzle to solve who was behind the crime started making sense after Chapter 3 for me. But, the twist at the very end just made me question if SFB Games has plans for the next series for Grimoire and Sally.
Graphics and Audio
If you ever got to played Tangle Tower, the game shares the same brilliant combination of 2-d and 3-d art. When it comes to character portraits that have a drawn on paper and colored with pastel color appearance. Which compliments the style with the outlines moving when they stay still and the crisp animation when speaking. Speaking of….speaking, the game is full voice acting and has the return of Edwyn Tiong as Grimoire and Amber Lee Connors as Sally.
Honestly the synergy that these two bring into the game always makes me jealous of the banter between the two. Another thing I’d like to cover is the sounds and designs for all the clues and the rooms themselves. Yes, I know this section is looking like a chaotic mess, but this game just makes my brain buzz a lot. Just seeing how you can see the details to all the clues and areas we visit is just superb.
This is a game that allows you to click everything around you, and it’ll have some kind of script read out when you pick it. Living literally nothing to the imagination if you decide to click an empty space. Yet, what makes this style brilliant is when you enter a space with someone in it. Your eyes will direct you straight to them.
Longevity
The Mermaid Mask will take anyone between 13–15 hours. Depending on if you’re like clicking everything to hear what Grimoire and Sally say about certain objects. Or you could go from room to room, to question the suspects on every clue you find and get to the end sooner. Everyone has their play style, and it’s honestly a game you play once a year just to re-experience the mystery and story plot again.
Final Thoughts
The Mermaid Mask is to me difficult to say if it’s great or amazing. The reason I hesitate is because of the fact, that I don’t want to discourage SFB Games from making another entry into this series. Sure the last game was back in 2019 being Tangle Tower and I cannot blame them. Making something as great as the Tangle Tower is difficult. However, they should know that they lived up to that game with The Mermaid Mask.
It goes to show that since Newgrounds when they made the first Grimoire game. Then made the next entry on PC which surpassed the Newgrounds version. Following after with Tangle Tower and now Mermaid Mask are all showing that you guys haven’t lost your touch. Here’s to hoping for another entry in about 6 or 7 years from now. I give The Mermaid Mask the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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