3 people found this review helpful
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 2.1 hrs on record
Posted: 25 Nov, 2020 @ 12:09pm

Don't trust the playtime - I went through this beaut through a not-quite-legal copy and eventually gave in. Roughly 25 hours for the entirety of Transmitter and Placebo at a steady pace.

What's there to say? A handful without ruining a first-time experience, that much I can say. The Silver Case is SUDA51's arguable magnum opus - and although the localization doesn't carry all of the JP-specific nuance and the "gameplay" (or whatever there is of it) is jank and a fair bit tedious more often than not, there's still a lot to appreciate, much to love and obsess over. It's a visual novel that delves into the depths of a corrupt society with an equally corrupt set of strangely-scattered forces policing or ruling over it. But it also isn't. Except it mostly is. If that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, good! That's the tone you're gonna face for roughly all 25 hours. Confusing, strange, and outright bizarre at times, if not always - but intriguing, and almost... inviting, in a sense.

Revealing more of what's to come or what lies beneath feels wrong. TSC favors mystery and a feeling of sickened, but curious interest. So instead of diving further into it, I'd like to finish up with a couple of tips:
• TSC is split into two parts: Transmitter and Placebo. You'll unlock Placebo after case#1 in Transmitter. Once you do, play them alternatively (therefore Tr#1, Pl#1, Tr#2, Pl#2, etc.). They both happen at roughly the same time through different POVs.
• There will be several sections in which things might get boring, or in which things get a fair bit more tedious movement-wise. Grin and bear that tedium. You will be rewarded. Especially if it's done a good job in piquing your interest in general.
• Check the options. Switch to the original UI and OST. You can leave the rest to stay as-is, the remaster's text speeds and whatnot are more reasonable.

It's imperfect. It teases the reader more than it should at times. And without a couple of replays, some of the fine details may not click with the reader. But there really is nothing quite like it... Well, except for its sequel, anyway.

God is in the cables. Believe in the net.
10/10.
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