Developer: Happy Broccoli Games
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Happy Broccoli Games
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping, the sequel game in the Duck Detective series, continues to feature a cosy mystery-solving game. This game was developed and published by Happy Broccoli Games. A stand-alone game that sets itself apart from other games. This review was done for the PC version of the game, but the game is also available for the PS5, Xbox and Switch.
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a single-player game where you follow the aftermath of Duck Detective: The Secret Salami. You play the one and only Duck Detective Eugene McQuaklin, who has recently been divorced due to his splurge on bread. Eugene, being broke, was kicked out of his previous apartment, and he found his ex-wife completely ignoring his texts. Upon his suspicion, he worries she might be in danger, but that is not the bigger case to be solved here. Eugene gets roped in by Frederson to come on a trip to a spooky sanatorium, only to find that mysterious hauntings have occurred. What unexpected truth will the Duck Detective find?!
Controls and UI are accessible. You can easily tell what can be interacted with and what not. The controls themselves simply include movement keys and clicking with the mouse. The movement animation of the characters is smooth, and all controls are responsive. I found no issues with the controls whilst playing with the keyboard and mouse. I like how all interactable buttons show up with the pop-up icons, and anything that can still be investigated will have a bright orange colour to it. Additionally, when encountering a new mechanic, a nicely detailed pop-up explains what the function does. There are two modes to choose from: sleuth (incorrect answers are not highlighted) and story (which highlights incorrect answers). The setting can easily be changed whilst playing if players want to change the mode.
The art style for Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping features a vibrant palette and extensive amounts of detail to create a captivating environment. Each character looks as if they are a sticker in a pop-up world, which is an interesting visual style to blend 2D and 3D elements. The characters consist of anthropomorphic animals that have exaggerated expressions, each with extremely unique personalities. When I say unique, the voice-acting portrays each character with such great detail. One of my favourite things about the Duck Detective series is the voice acting, which puts you into the scene. I loved how Arnaud had a perky French accent to match his attitude, and Tobi had a high-pitched, kid-sounding voice that matched his nerdiness. The distinct personalities that shined whilst interacting between characters were on par and never fell short. Of course, it goes without saying that Duck Detective’s voice acting is always one of the best, as he has a deep, monotone ‘detective-like voice. Even though there are not many areas to explore in the game, it keeps everything concise and to the point. Also, the case overview animation sequences are my favourite, where Duck Detective narrates the overview of a few solved deducktions to help connect the stories. To add more to the atmosphere of the game, the music and sound effects are flawless in a subtle tone. To me, it sounded similar to the first game, featuring a mellow jazz noir feeling that very well suited this type of game.
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping plays very similarly to the first game, and it seemed as though nothing was quite as different, mechanics-wise, besides the plot-twisting narrative. At first, I really thought I was gonna solve the case about a haunting at a sanatorium, but it turned out to be so much more unexpected. The story is quite the ride and even more interactive when you get to solve the pieces yourself. The game runs on a simple premise where you talk with characters, scan items for clues, and investigate more about the clues you have collected. The Duck Detective cannot go anywhere without his trusty journal. Eugene’s journal keeps tabs on everything important. Here, you can solve deducktions, keep notes on important suspects (as in filling in names and attributes), collect inventory and even include a map. I quite like that the map will indicate if anything has been missed in a certain area. Rather than having players completely backtrack, they can easily use hints or find the area in which they missed important information.
Deducktions are the key gameplay aspect where parts of the case require you to fill in the blanks to better understand the situation and then put together the evidence you have collected. The difficulty in solving deducktions is not difficult at all, but nicely balanced. As long as you indulge yourself in the story, listen to the different parts of the stories, and look at the evidence, you can cycle through the writing options and fill in the blanks. Additionally, the game provides you with three hints for each fill-in-the-blank section that you can unlock, except rather than giving you the direct answer, it guides you to the specific evidence you need to take a closer look at and ask who, what or why the reasoning is behind the said situation. There would be situations in the game where I would be wracking my brain over what word goes into the fill-in-the-blank because, at times, similar words can have an overall similar meaning. If I ever get stuck with a scenario (specifically the VIP room), I go through all the relevant evidence again and cross-check each word. You do get a pop-up that tells you if you have incorrect answers, but sometimes, it can make you more confused.
Even though you’re solving what seems like a very serious case, the game is nothing but hilarious. Humorous interactions between Eugene, who is quite the grumpy duck, and then Frederson, an outgoing jolly crocodile, make the game so much more fun. There are several elements in the game that are amusing, and they come out of using the magnifying glass. I love using the magnifying glass to find evidence, especially when interacting with a computer screen. You never know what silly things you’ll find. You could come across a Spotify playlist named ‘Sad break-up songs that hit hard’ or find a picture of Eugene’s unflattering double duck chin. You can also use the magnifying glass on other characters and get a close-up glimpse of the detail added to their design. You’ll notice frills, eyebags, and sweat drops in detail to indicate their behaviour, which is quite attentive.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first game, and I was looking forward to the sequel, which I enjoyed even more. The story was far more intriguing than the first game and had twists and turns that came out of nowhere. Not only that, but the game features a post-credit scene that players have to watch by solving the case! The game is short: I finished it in about an hour and 30 minutes, but it’s short, sweet and right to the point. The game wants you to come back for more, so I can only hope the developers come out with another instalment in the series with an even bigger narrative.
If you are looking for a short, cosy, mystery-solving game, then this one is just for you. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping features amazing voice acting with quirky character designs and an intriguing story that will keep players engaged. Deducktions are key to solving the case. Thus, be sure to check out Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping!
Overall: 9/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
