The Silver Case 2425

There’s no doubting that The Silver Case 2425 is a stylish affair, with two unique and mature stories to sink your teeth into. It’s just a shame that it’s sometimes so dull, with unnecessary scenes that don’t really add anything to the story, and dialogue that is at times nonsensical and others impenetrable. If you have enough patience, you’ll likely find yourself eventually rewarded by The Silver Case 2425, but for many it won’t be worth the arduous slog. In any case, thanks to the portability of Switch, this is perhaps the best way to enjoy this duo of crime-fuelled visual novels.

The Silver Case 2425 is a stunning experience, but it’s only perfect for the lovers of this genre.

The Silver Case and The 25th Ward are both testament to the talent of one of the most picturesque, brilliant and punk directors of the videogame scene, capable of amalgamating, no one knows how, a series of themes, influences, styles and characters that in the hands of others would have turned into a disaster.

The Silver Case 2425 may contain some of SUDA51’s oldest work, but that doesn’t stop it from feeling like a fun, fresh, and (appropriately) frightening experience for those who have yet to play it (and even those who already have!). If you haven’t delved into the world of SUDA51 and want to check this game out, just know that you’ll be getting into something wonderful and weird, and that it’s not going to be your fault if you find yourself not understanding everything at first. And if you DO know what SUDA51 is all about… well, then, enjoy.

If you’ve enjoyed No More Heroes and some of Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture’s other releases, you should definitely consider experiencing The Silver Case 2425, with its memorable narrative and excellent music, despite the technical issues on Nintendo Switch.

Suda-written games have a lot of author appeal in them; the wrestling fandom (he used to write story modes for Fire Pro Wrestling games), violence, and language are definitely Grasshopper trademarks. The Silver Case 2425 puts it into a unique package, and it’s worth digging into if you’re already predisposed to digging into some good mysteries. Just maybe play with headphones and not in front of younger people.

This is a great way to enjoy two quite obscure games, as unique as their creator, Goichi Suda. It was also a great chance to offer a translation to more languages that unfortunately was missed.

These visual novel are both a relic of the past, and not the ideal entry point for newcomers of the genre, but are still dark and fascinating trips in the beginning of Suda 51's acclaimed career.

The pacing is all over the map, and even at its best it feels more inspired than inspiring, if you know what I mean. In spite of the fact that these are remastered versions, they come across very much as creations of their times and places. You may find something to latch onto here, but it’s just as likely that you’ll be turned off.

It is true that there are works capable of going far beyond what has been done by The Silver Case and The 25th Ward, but it is also true that it is extremely difficult to find two works held together by such a valid internal coherence and, above all, a level of character writing so high.

A good yet simple port, the Switch version shines for its portability, while the game maintains its charm even after so many years, despite its crazy narrative.

The Silver Case 2425 is a tribute to Suda51 and his style. If you love the famous author, we are in front of a unique game. If not, it is difficult to recommend it lightly.