The Shapeshifting Detective Review (Jackie Daytona)
TL;DR - AVGN said it best: "This is a where the **** am I supposed to go type of game."
While the story is intriguing, it's typical adventure game stuff. You just click randomly and hope you can advance.
The game intentionally defies all logic. Which sucks. Because you are supposed to be a detective.
It feels like you just can't win. Or often have no idea what to do.
The primary gimmick is that you can shapeshift into other characters in the game. Then talk to other characters. Which can confuse/lure them into giving you information. Awesome.
Except it's not. As of writing this, I'm late into the game. My character became one of the new characters introduced. Nearly all the previous characters have vanished or refuse to talk to me.
I changed into another character. Same thing.
What am I supposed to do? Who am I expected to transform into?
It's like they tried to extend the game past the original intent. Or couldn't get the actors. Or... I don't know.
There's no way to know what to do. Because every piece of information is a lie or misdirection. It's like 'Scooby Doo'. Everything is held until the end. Then there's a big reveal. Nothing makes any sense until then.
You just keep transforming and trying different dialog options.
Then there's the radio. UGH! It plays endlessly between scenes. I appreciate the amount of work put into it. There's a ton of dialog of which to listen. However, it consists of just... babbling. It's mostly "and then" storytelling. Which has no purpose. Leads nowhere. Gives no clues. Completely useless to the game.
I will give the radio credit. It attempts to add to the creepy atmosphere. It has vague references to what happening in the game. But again, useless.
I give up.