These days, murder-mystery games are a dime a dozen: for its genre, there’s surprisingly a ton of them out there. Most go unseen, some are downright terrible, verging on the point of unplayable. But, ‘Classified Stories: The Tome of Myrkah’ captures what makes the genre addictive, spins it on its head and adds in the occult. That alone has added the proverbial shock paddles to a dying genre and given it the pulse it sorely needs.

GAMEPLAY

You play as P.I. Jim Morrison, a run of the mill detective who’s been delivered a letter from an old friend, explaining that his daughter has run off into the woods repeatedly, babbling about the occult and strange visions she’s experienced in the woods. Your friend has asked for your assistance on the matter, now stating that his daughter has seemingly disappeared, either feared dead or taken by this unknown entity. After a series of events, you come to find that the occult isn’t the only thing invading this friendly neighbourhood…

The game prides itself on its in-game puzzles and the means to solve each one. For example, you may be presented with a locked door that has a strange lock, requiring four pieces to fill the lock and thus opening the door. The running around, problem solving techniques required are troublesome in their vagueness yet conquerable, giving the game extended playtime but also delivering a feeling of satisfaction. Most games of the genre present similar puzzles in their own games, but few deliver the satisfaction that Classified Stories provides.

GRAPHICS + SOUND

For developers, RVL Games, which have a back catalogue consisting of point and click puzzle games and top-down viewpoint games (think Age of Empires style player viewpoint), their first attempt at a first-person, murder-mystery, puzzle game graphics are absolutely sensational.

The noir feeling to Morrison’s detective office, the creepy design of his friend’s old house, to the alternative occult dimensions complemented with a variety of demonic figures throughout; everything looks and feels just right. Their sound design is also top-notch, creating background music that isn’t overpowering, only complimenting every in-game moment and story beat.

CONCLUSION

If you’re an avid fan of murder mysteries from the 90s era, then Classified Stories: The Tome of Myrkah is definitely the game for you. This title gives you the modern-day murder mystery you’ve been dying to play, and solve!

Written by: Brutaleo