Ahead of its 30 June 2023 release on the Nintendo Switch, Spike Chunsoft has revealed new information on their upcoming lucid-noir detective adventure Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE. With the game’s creative team helmed by those behind the likes of Danganronpa, let’s hope they can manage to capture the same – or perhaps – even more charm than arguably Spike Chunsoft’s most popular franchise in recent years.
The game is set in Kanai Ward, where players can locate statues, known as “Memory Shards,” that resemble Shinigami. These shards allow protagonist Yuma Kokohead to view episodes from his interactions with other detectives. By selecting “Gumshoe Gab” from the menu, players can access hints to find these hidden Memory Shards.
In addition to the main storyline, players can engage in subquests to assist inhabitants of Kanai Ward with various tasks, such as finding a missing child or locating a book. These subquests often require simple deductive reasoning.
Yuma can gain experience and Detective Points by fulfilling requests, investigating objects and locations, and listening to residents’ stories. As his Detective Rank increases, he earns Skill Points to learn “Labyrinth Skills.” These skills belong to one of three categories: Evasion, Solution Blade, and Stamina, allowing players to customize their experience based on their strengths and weaknesses:
Evasion – Skills that ease the difficulty of action-oriented gameplay elements, such as slowing down the Mystery Phantom’s statements in a Reasoning Death Match.
Solution Blade – Skills that ease the difficulty of puzzle elements, like eliminating incorrect answer choices for example.
Stamina – Increases Yuma’s maximum health, making it less likely the game will end if you make a mistake. New Mystery Labyrinth Details: Puzzle-Solving Elements and Additional Actions in the Reasoning Death Match
The game also introduces the GOD Shinigami, an action-packed sequence where players must navigate a mega-sized Shinigami through obstacles to hunt down the Mystery Phantom, the true culprit. Additionally, locked room re-creations challenge players to deduce methods and uncover tricks to solve crimes.
Reasoning Death Matches become more complex as the story progresses, with new actions such as “Repel” and “Assist” available for players to use. Repel allows players to counter a Mystery Phantom’s statement, while Assist provides temporary invincibility from an accompanying detective or Shinigami.
New English-localised screenshots featuring all of the aforementioned features can be found below:
