Visual novel detective game Paper Perjury officially launches on Steam.
If you’re a big fan of the hit visual novel adventure Ace Attorney, then you’re in for a treat! With an engaging story of crime cases and detective work, Paper Perjury should definitely be on your gaming list this winter. Paper Perjury is a detective indie game by Paper Cat Games. The game officially launched in Steam on December 10th, 2024. Watch as Justina Smith’s peaceful clerk life take an unexpected turn.
Story and Detective Case Files
The game follows the story of Justina Smith, a rookie police clerk of the Azure City 5th police precinct. Completely aware of the dangers and woes in a life of an officer, Justina is one step ahead in ensuring her own safety and comforts. She prefers the background office work and doesn’t classify herself as a cop. She regards field work as the dangerous aspect; hence she’s content with doing paperwork.
Her hopes of leading this quiet background role completely changes on her very first day. Case one opens with a murder scene of a crime witness. This takes Justina’s clerk life into a different turn, as she discovers a clue in a witness statement. The case files take her to the interrogation room, where instead of a clerk, she assumes the job of a detective.
Guided by the lead Detective Hunt, Justina gets entangled with different people and situations she never would have expected.
Paper Perjury Gameplay and Visual Novel Mechanics
Paper Perjury is a visual novel type of game that runs in 5 cases. The gameplay is fairly simple and straight-foward. At the start, the player receives the case files, which is considered as a journal. The case files contain evidence (items necessary to solve the cases), character profiles, and the case summary. As Justina meets more people related to the cases, each of their profiles and statements appear on the case files. These will be helpful when it comes to interrogations, disputes, and solving the cases.
Aside from the task of gathering statements, Justina will also be allowed to investigate various places. You, as Justina, accompanies Detective Hunt as you search for the culprit together.
Paper Perjury's Charming Pixel Art Style
One of the first things you’ll notice when you jump into Paper Perjury is the game’s charming pixel art style. The game embraces a retro aesthetic but doesn’t sacrifice detail or vibrancy. Each character in the game is designed uniquely with features that stand out amongst the others. Despite being a visual novel game, the characters are anything but static.
Each character in the story is brought to life with vibrant colors and eye-catching animations. The Azure City, Eubank Estate, and other locations in the game were all designed in a way you’d expect from a detective game-bright yet reflective whenever the atmosphere calls for it. This is mostly shown in comparison of the bright office area and the dim interrogation room. These features combined with an amazing soundtrack are what makes the game a must-try.
Community Feedback
Within the few days of its release, Paper Perjury garnered a number of positive feedback from critics and casual gamers. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with players praising the game for its witty writing, engaging gameplay, and lovable characters. Many of them note how the game is like a tribute to Ace Attorney with its own special characteristics. Fans of the popular game will feel right at home, but even newcomers to the genre have found themselves hooked.
However, as with any newly launched game, negative feedback is unavoidable. Some players have mentioned that, while the game shows great promise, it does have a few “first game” issues. A few bugs here and there and some occasionally clunky transitions have popped up in community discussions. Still, these don’t detract from the overall experience, and many players agree that the issues are minor compared to the game’s strengths.
Final Thoughts: Paper Perjury is a Promising Detective Visual Novel
Overall, Paper Perjury is a fresh and exciting addition to the visual novel genre. The combination of a captivating art style and animations, clever game mechanics, and an engaging mystery makes it stand out from other detective games on the market. It proves it’s more than just an homage to Ace Attorney—it’s a unique experience that could pave the way for a new franchise.
If you’re a fan of detective games, visual novels, or just love a good mystery, Paper Perjury is definitely worth checking out. Don’t miss out on the chance to solve crimes and uncover secrets in the vibrant world of Azure City.
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