Chucklefish and Robust Games bring us a delightful throwback with Loco Motive, a whimsically old-school point-and-click adventure game that has arrived on the Nintendo Switch. Featuring a charming blend of mystery and humor, it draws inspiration from classic titles like the much-adored Monkey Island and Sam and Max series. Yet, it keeps its originality, steering clear of being too similar to these iconic influences. The game’s pixel art and engaging voice acting truly breathe life into the storyline. Interestingly, what started as a simple concept during the AdvXJam 2020 game jam on itch.io, caught the creative interest of Adam and Joseph at Robust Chicken, leading them to expand it into a full-fledged game experience.
The adventure kicks off on a train where Lady Unterwalf, an aging heiress, is about to disclose her heir. However, her revelation is drastically interrupted when she is murdered in the pitch dark of a tunnel, leaving everyone baffled as to who the killer could be. You’ll take on the roles of three distinct characters: the no-nonsense lawyer Arthur Ackerman (voiced by Sean Chiplock), crime novelist turned rookie detective Herman Merman (voiced by Brent Mukai), and the undercover spy Diana Ostman (voiced by Savy Des-Etages).
You begin your journey with Arthur Ackerman, who finds himself in a sticky situation as the prime suspect held in an interrogation room. It’s your first taste of the interactive elements of Loco Motive, setting you up with the skills you’ll need to navigate this adventure. And Arthur can’t just walk away from this – he’s quite literally chained to a desk, setting the stage for some clever puzzle-solving.
In this point-and-click setup, you’ll guide your character using the left analog stick, while the A button lets you interact with items and people. To quickly find interactive spots, you can cycle through them with the L and R buttons or browse using the right analog stick. Movement also gets a boost with the run feature activated by pressing ZL or ZR.
Curious about the puzzles you’ll tackle? Without spilling too many beans, let’s delve into the first. Naturally, Arthur’s urgent task is to break free from his chains. It’s about sneaking around unseen while sussing out a plan. There’s a trench coat on the left side of the screen, conveniently holding keys that might just unlock Arthur’s predicament. The trick is reaching them discreetly without alerting anyone.
Gathering and combining items becomes key. Within reach are various objects like books, cigarette butts, a trashcan, newspaper, and a desk fan. Adopting a classic Lucasfilm Games approach, you quickly realize scavenging the trash might not be the solution. Instead, coupling the newspaper and the fan, accessed via your inventory by pressing the Y button, crafts a makeshift air funnel. This taps into the physics of the situation, nudging the keys closer with minimal fuss.
The story weaves through a narrative steeped in mystery and intrigue as you navigate the clues aboard the Reuss Express. The artful homage to old-school gaming doesn’t overshadow its fresh twists and turns. You can even experience it all in a noir-inspired black-and-white mode, lending a timeless aesthetic to the game’s atmosphere.
Available on the Nintendo Switch for $17.99, Loco Motive beckons you to unravel its secrets in a delightful, brain-teasing escapade. And remember, this review comes from a copy graciously provided by Chucklefish – happy mystery solving!
