Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories Media
Critic Reviews for Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories
Although its branching narrative system could have more depth, Chase: Cold Case Investigations has an undeniable sense of charm and keeps players' attention through its characters, anime art style and subdued jazz-noir soundtrack. If the series is allowed to continue and introduce a deeper approach to multiple choice and interrogation, then we could see something truly special.
I really enjoyed Chase: Cold Case Investigations ~Distant Memories~ as it brought a short and interesting game to the hands of someone like me who can’t always find the time to sit back and read a 40 hour visual novel. The characters and animations were very well thought out and the ending is definitely something that was unexpected. However, the unexplained back stories were disappointing as it would have made the characters stand out among stereotypical detectives. I hope to be a part of more stories staring detectives Nanase and Amekura in the future because just one case wasn’t enough for me.
Overall, even without the talent involved or a love of their previous work elsewhere, Chase is a muted experience for those willing to support it. What should be a confident return to form feels more like treading water. As a two-hour-long downloadable adventure, it's a solid if unremarkable adventure. Long-time fans will find a warm familiarity in its cast and dialogue, but for anybody else, they might see it as nothing more than a breezy cop show experience.
While it’s great to see the talents behind the “Hotel Dusk” series back in action, “Chase: Cold Case investigations” is a much smaller and less ambitious title than its predecessors. Even though the bargain price point justifies its rather short length, the sequel bait ending and lack of variety in the gameplay leaves much to be desired. However, a visual novel lives and dies by its story and this one’s well worth reading. It just remains to be seen where the series goes from here.
Chase: Cold Case Investigations -Distant Memories has great style and all the reason in the world to be expanded into an excellent, episodic franchise.
Distant Memories shows hints of what worked so well in Hotel Dusk: Room 215, and even if it felt too short, I’m definitely interested to see where this one goes in the future.
Graphically pleasing and with a style that has become a trademark of the author, Chase: Cold Case Investigations fails in terms of story and gameplay, presenting a plot that doesn't involve as it should and offering very little to play.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Thanks to its visual outlook and well-built plot, this is a game that will keep players interested until the end. It displays the limits of a low-budget game, however, and some of its segments feel too linear but this title shouldn't be in trouble to gather a group of fans.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review