This is probably the most disappointing game I've ever played. I have so many problems with every aspect of this game, but I can't say it's the worst as it is still an important part of video game history, and it was the 1st of the Famicom Detective Club duology, so as a standalone thing from its time, it's fine. But as it is now...
The gameplay is so stupid. There was no SNES remake thatThis is probably the most disappointing game I've ever played. I have so many problems with every aspect of this game, but I can't say it's the worst as it is still an important part of video game history, and it was the 1st of the Famicom Detective Club duology, so as a standalone thing from its time, it's fine. But as it is now...
The gameplay is so stupid. There was no SNES remake that refined how it worked, and MAGES did barely anything to actually refine it themselves. So much time is spent being sent into town to talk to the pointless, idiotic NPCs who only have one piece of actually relevant information, but you have no idea who would even know it, or how you'd get it out of them.
The cast of named characters are so boring. The Ayashiro family are all pricks who I didn't care about at all when they died. I kinda feel like they deserved it. The butler and Genshin are ok I guess, but the maid is annoying. It's stupid that it's extremely obvious she knows crucial information about the case, yet you can't actually pursue and pressure her at all. You only get what you can out of her when the game allows it. The protagonist is a nothing character, and it's all because of the idiotic amnesia plotline, which ultimately adds nothing, ruins everything, and could be so easily written out in favor of an actual personality for the protagonist, and much better character interactions. Not only could it still be understandable for him to not remember his family members, but maybe he'd have an actually good, and tangible arc that doesn't drag down the entire series as we know it. The doctor and Ayumi are the only good characters. I really like when the doctor tries to help you in the case, and Ayumi shows how much she's grown as a person since she joined the detective agency. She's gone from a shy, vulnerable student, to an independent woman who can go to bars to dig up information on the yakuza. I almost would've preferred if the game was about her, or maybe you could switch between her and the protagonist like in the Famicom Mukashibanashi games. Or maybe MAGES could've added a side story to see what she got up to. Or, idk, remake BS Tantei Club for God's sake.
The visuals and animations share the same strengths and weaknesses as the other remake. Music is ok, but it gets much more repetitive as you keep playing.
The best thing about the game is the tone, and how the plot points tie into it. As the game goes on, the curse of the Ayashiro family feels more and more real, as the family members are killed off in more graphic and mysterious ways. While the townspeople are still annoying, their increased hysteria as the game goes on adds even more. It is kinda ruined by the fact that the killer is identified way before the game actually ends, but it shows that this game had potential.
That's the thing. There was so much potential with the content of this game, because as stated before, on it's own, it's a serviceable classic adventure game. But because it seems like a series wasn't in mind with the development of this game, yet the prequel/sequel ended up being better than this game could ever be, The Missing Heir, and the Famicom Detective Club series as a whole, is retroactively ruined.… Expand
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing HeirYour Score0 out of 10User Score
