Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire Review (Kate27)
Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 55:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10 stars)
A sharp, sinister bite-sized expansion that proves The Case of the Golden Idol still has plenty of twisted secrets left to tell. The Lemurian Vampire brings three new cases, each one dripping with paranoia, strange science, and the same brilliant deduction mechanics that made the base game unforgettable.
You’ll trace a bizarre voyage into the heart of colonial corruption, mysticism, and madness—all while solving murders that are even more brutal and bizarre than before. If you liked the base game and want more murders to untangle, this delivers exactly that—with a fresh setting, memorable characters, and zero fluff.
🧛 Pros:
Same great investigative gameplay. Examine static scenes packed with details, gather clues, and piece together the events through pure logic. No hand-holding, just your brain vs. the crime.
Three tight, focused cases. Unlike the sprawling conspiracy of the base game, these are self-contained mysteries with a clear throughline—perfect for a short but satisfying return to form.
Creative setups. Whether it’s a cult, snake venom, or suspiciously convenient deaths, the scenarios are both pulpy and deeply clever.
Fantastic writing and atmosphere. The Lemurian setting blends colonial critique, occult horror, and dark humor seamlessly. If The Case of the Golden Idol was about ambition and power, this one’s about paranoia and belief.
Stylish and grotesque as ever. The art continues to be disturbing in all the right ways—ugly in a way that makes the world feel more real.
🌴 Cons:
Still brutally difficult. The puzzles are as challenging as ever, with later scenes demanding you track aliases, dates, rituals, and shifting motivations. It’s excellent, but not forgiving.
Hint system remains annoying. Unlocking a hint still requires solving additional logic puzzles. When you're stuck, this can feel like a chore instead of a lifeline.
Very short. At only three cases, it’s over in a few hours. It's a great time, but you’ll be left wanting more—which can be a pro or a con depending on your mood.
Wild leaps. A couple of puzzles in the DLC require more abstract or indirect logic than the base game. For example, some relationships or identities aren't spelled out clearly and need cross-referencing multiple obscure clues. If you miss one subtle piece of text, you might get stuck for a long time.
Grammar as a "signal" no longer applies. In the base game, grammatically incorrect solutions were usually a sign you'd gotten something wrong. In this DLC, that rule breaks down in a couple of spots—some correct solutions read awkwardly or are grammatically clunky, so you can no longer use that as a reliable validator. That is frustrating if you're playing carefully and relying on sentence flow to double-check your logic.