Review: Loco Motive (Nintendo Switch)

A “whodunit” graphic adventure, Loco Motive is my type of release. It’s a point-and-click game with a cast of colorful characters (fully voiced), a sizable inventory, and a surplus of things to click. Some issues with later puzzles and pacing slow things down, but not enough to derail it. (Pardon the pun—it’s the only one, I promise!) Loco Motive is impressive.

When wealthy heiress Lady Unterwald gets murdered aboard the Reuss Express, there is no shortage of suspects—and captive ones, as it’s hard to escape a moving train. Don’t be fooled, though, as there are plenty of distinct locales while you’re riding the rails. You’ll also encounter unique areas during flashbacks as you play as other characters. Yes, Loco Motive adopts a multiple-character perspective, similar to games like Thimbleweed Park. Seeing how these stories come together is a fun payoff. 

You start as Arthur, the attorney of the deceased, trying to recover her will. This retrieval effort is easier said than done, with plenty of quirky characters proving a hindrance. Despite the murderous intro, Loco Motive does a good job of cementing its E10+ rating early, with plenty of humor to bring smiles to your face. Next, you play as Herman, a detective novelist. While I enjoy his humorous characterization, the puzzles he encounters often flirt with the line of confounding. Frequently, it seemed many steps were required when a few would’ve made better sense. Last is Diana, an agent working the same case from her own end. She’s a nice step up from Herman, with better set-pieces and less tedious puzzles that’ll likely stay with you. There are even late-game opportunities to have the three working in tandem, but I’ll say no more for fear of spoilers.

One thing I do wish for is some type of plot recap. With three characters cutting the story between past and present, things can be slightly confusing, especially if you set the game down. Still, the tale is a page-turner, and for every mystery you solve and unusual twist it brings, it all builds to the main one of who killed Lady Unterwald. You’ll want to see Loco Motive through to completion. And while this genre isn’t known for replayability, I suspect you’ll get even more on a second playthrough.

The pixel art, while a smidge chunky, reflects a timeless beauty. Everything is well-colored, bringing the ’30s noir setting to life. It’s one thing for me to speak of the high-quality animation, but check out a trailer to see it in motion—great stuff. The train feels lively, and the characters (even secondary) feel purposeful. I’d like to see some foreground elements appear more distinct, but that’s me nitpicking as a genre enthusiast; I imagine many if not most, won’t even notice. As for the audio, I’ve no complaints with the jazzy music, which fits without being overbearing. Even better is the voice acting, helping every character come to life with strong inflections. Long live talkie adventures!

For those less familiar with the genre, Loco Motive gives the option for direct character control. Your character can also run, an option sure to be welcomed for those bothered by the slower pace of games like this. It also has a rather elegant system in place to provide assistance. An in-game rotary telephone will let you call for hints and get nudged in the right direction. Admittedly, you’re often told things already known or accomplished, something you’ll probably discover the first time you use it. But it’s a thoughtful inclusion, even if the implementation wasn’t perfected. Just be mindful when using the phone as Herman; his pride as a detective will lead to humorous reactions.

You can see the attention to detail and love put into Loco Motive. It’s a high-quality game that respects its point-and-click predecessors while carving out its own identity as a graphic adventure. Juggling three characters does lead to occasional pacing hiccups, a few less satisfying puzzles, and a couple of other minor issues. Still, this talkie adventure is great fun with a rewarding payoff. You can add or subtract half a point depending on your enthusiasm for the genre, but this is a ride worth taking—wait, did I just break my pun promise? Either way, Loco Motive comes recommended.