![]() ![]() There are also occasionally choices that the player makes for characters other than Jenny, or that the player makes for the narrative as a whole. Sometimes the choices won’t affect what Jenny does in the end, but they do affect the relationships the player is trying to build. These choices mostly concern how Jenny responds to the characters around her, but also determine who Jenny trusts and how other characters feel about Jenny. The player is defining the character they want to play, the person that Jenny is growing to be, and of course the protagonist that will (hopefully) save the novel series of the framing narrative. This is not only beautifully done, but is a wonderful analogy for immersing yourself in a story, when the individual words fall away and the imagination of the story takes over.Īs for choosiness, the choices in this game are fantastic. One of the ways this is done is by incorporating the typewritten narrative as we transition back to Jenny’s world. This game does a fantastic job of using the art of the game to keep the worlds connected, while still making the transitions between narratives clear. ![]() One of the difficulties in a framed narrative can be establishing the unique stories without making them feel too disconnected. This game is very similar in many ways to the worlds of Night in the Woods and Oxenfree, and that’s a great thing. Even the world-building of Arthurton itself is so well done. The world is full of sharp angles and soft colors. Jenny LeClue: Detectivú has a moody atmosphere and matching color pallete. The aesthetic is one of the first things about this game that caught my attention, and the execution remains consistent throughout the entire game. Jenny’s determination to defy expectations is a struggle that will resonate with many players. The way that these characters come together throughout the narrative is incredibly rewarding, and truly reflective of our struggles to define ourselves, particularly when we’re young and under the control and/or guidance of the adults in our lives. Everyone is well-written, the dialogue between them is both humorous and genuine, and Jenny herself is the perfect combination of wholesome and sassy, stubborn and empathetic. It is so refreshing to meet the citizens of Arthurton and uncover the depths of their personalities. The cast of characters in this game is diverse and mostly charming, and they defy common expectations. These interactions also often poke fun at the genre as a whole, so longtime fans of point-and-click mysteries will appreciate the game’s humor even more. ![]() This leads to some fantastic dialogue from the narrator, while still allowing the player to continue with their original choices. However, the player is shaping the story, and can periodically choose to defy the author’s intentions and expectations. Throughout the game, the author will act as a narrator describing Jenny’s adventure. ![]() Jenny is the main character in a series of mystery books where the author is struggling to keep the interest of his publishers. Jenny LeClue: Detectivú is a framed narrative. Hopefully knowing that this is only the first episode will allow you to fully enjoy the masterpiece that is Jenny LeClue: Detectivú. However, every moment up until the ending of Episode 1 was so ridiculously well-crafted that I couldn’t bring myself to lower the rating. Initially, this realization (and the way in which it was delivered) soured my experience with the game. (And then I had to do some research to understand the development history of the game). It was only when I completed the episode that I realized the full game was not available. The kickstarter successfully funded episode 1 of the game, but the descriptions on Steam, the Jenny LeClue website, and even in the game itself make no mention of the fact that only the first installment is playable. The game was funded through kickstarter and took approximately 5 years to develop, but I was not familiar with the game until closer to its release in 2019. Jenny LeClue: Detectivú is “a narrative adventure game about detectiving, relationships, choosiness, and an epic tangled mystery.” I was extremely conflicted in rating this game. ![]()
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