Game Reviews

Blackwell 4: Deception - an engrossing ghostbusting story

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iOS
| Blackwell 4: Deception
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Blackwell 4: Deception - an engrossing ghostbusting story
|
iOS
| Blackwell 4: Deception

Blackwell 4: Deception proves that Wadjet Eye is capable of some of the best writing in modern point and clicks.

This new adventure - which once again follows reclusive writer turned psychic medium Rosangela Blackwell - has a smart and engrossing plot, packed with thoughtful dialogue and rounded characters.

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As it's your job to help the recently deceased come to turns with their death, it can be quite a moving story. Deception, as the name suggests, also takes aim at psychic fraudsters who con the gullible out of their cash.

The game has nods to Legacy, Unbound, and Convergence, but works as a standalone story. And it has enough to make you excited about the fifth and final chapter, Epiphany, without ending on a nasty cliffhanger.

The puzzles often feel more like an investigation, as you find contradictions in clues, look up names on Oogle, and figure out passwords so you can snoop at emails. It's lightweight, but will be welcomed by fans of Her Story.

Other puzzles centre around your spirit guide, Joey - a jazz-era spook who can phase through locked doors and look at letters and photos to gain clues, but can't physically touch anything.

There are a few duds but the game's head scratchers are mostly logical. And you can always ask Joey for a subtle nudge in the right direction.

Good game

As usual, the game has gorgeous old school visuals with detailed backgrounds and expressive characters. Plus, the jarring cartoon portraits of the PC version have been redrawn and look much better.

You'll finish Deception in a few hours and you probably won't get stumped on a puzzle for too long. But it's a memorable adventure and a worthy addition to the saga. Let's just hope Wadjet Eye sticks the landing in a few months time.

Blackwell 4: Deception - an engrossing ghostbusting story

A smartly written, self-contained mini adventure with good puzzles. What's not to like?
Score
Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer