Murder on the Marine Express is another visual novel in the ever-growing arena on Nintendo Switch. I’ve reviewed several titles in this genre, and while they didn’t live up to my expectations, they continue to intrigue me. Marine Express is a decent entry overall, but needs improvement in a few key areas.
A story about a 17-year-old girl, Ranko Togawa, and her prep school classmates on the maiden voyage of the undersea train “Marine Express”. A fun excursion soon leads to a murder mystery, with one Ranko, for unknown reasons, investigating on his own to find the culprit. The main character is a big part of the success of her visual novel, but Ranko just doesn’t do it for me. More successful is her friend, Astrid, who plays Dr. Watson-type roles.
Ranko knows she’s sticking her nose where the police do, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Although a self-assured amateur detective, Ranko lacks the life experience to justify such high praise about herself. This is clearly the first one, although I believed it was the department.
Another is length. It was advertised as “providing 3-4 hours of reading”, but I finished it in just 2 hours. I wonder if this will prevent many characters from getting enough development time. Mostly girls in her teens, with all the familiar drama, gossip, and bites. There were just under 20 of her, many of whom appeared too briefly to make much of an impact, and I struggled to recall details. Thankfully, I can view her contact information on Ranko’s phone for a refresher.
It limits the pacing issues common to the genre, at least for a short period of time (3 in-game days). The mid-game section can drag a bit, but at least compared to the quick opening and somewhat compelling conclusion. You will discover the theme of
The ending smells a bit preachy, but the game as a whole was. However I have enough feelings to have fun with Ranko again. She’d like to see her mature more (she’s not as smart as she thinks) so maybe she can set up a sequel when she’s an adult. Hmm. This is a straight-up visual he novel that lacks real player input, which is a shame because it really fits the story.
As for the presentation, it rather delves into “retro-feeling graphics with pixel art in the style of old text adventure games.” Sadly, the short length means you’ll see some locales outside the dining hall, similar rooms, and walkways. In fact, the sea setting is underutilized, mostly just an excuse to keep the girls trapped in an underwater submarine so the authorities can’t intervene.
There are many questions in the Marine Express murder case, and an improbable clue tops the list. But for better or worse, the two-hour length won’t keep you lingering. At an affordable price, fans of the genre can wishlist it and hope for a more developed sequel.
