The murder mystery genre clings tightly to a tried-and-true formula – a set toolbox and sequence of necessary events – that confines any story that adheres to its style. What’s so delightful about The Mermaid Mask is that it follows every rule and acknowledges every well-worn trope, but still stands with exciting and exceptional storytelling. With memorable puzzles, eye-catching animations, and a spirited voice cast, I admire the way the story was told just as much as the story itself.
Magnus Mortuga, captain of the Mortuga Submarine, has been killed, and it’s up to Detective Grimoire and his assistant Sally to solve the case. The ensuing investigation is compelling and exciting, and I’m pleased to say the conclusion is surprising and satisfying. I loved the previous title, Tangle Tower, but found its final moments to be its weakest; the culprit in The Mermaid Mask is superior, and the art and animation surrounding the investigation’s climax are perhaps my favorite in the whole game. SFB Games is also particularly skilled at writing funny, conversational exchanges between characters (which often work thanks to Grimoire and Sally’s respective line deliveries).
The Mermaid Mask takes place entirely within the aforementioned submersible, combining point-and-click gameplay with puzzle-solving and lots of conversations with the vehicle’s inhabitants. Each room is eccentric, reflecting its inhabitants, and has a backdrop scattered with evidence (the game has about 50 pieces total) for you to investigate. The sheer volume of evidence can become overwhelming later in the game, when you’re hunting for that last clue or two to trigger a confrontation to move the story forward, but an optional hint system (free of cost and punishment) can nudge you in the right direction if you feel stuck.
The game is particularly dialogue-heavy, but there’s not a boring performance in the entire voice cast. Symmetry speaks with an almost Shakespearean meter; Zephyr’s low-pitched voice is mysterious and alluring; and Sinthia’s earnest enthusiasm is endearing. Combined with charming character designs and lovingly detailed animation, the whole crew of Mortuga’s submarine comes to life from the game’s earliest moments. After completing the game, there’s an extensive art gallery showcasing early concept art for each character, complete with artist commentary. I highly recommend checking it out.
The soundtrack enhances the whole experience. Music in a game like this has to set the tone while staying out of the way of the dialogue and story. Raphael Benjamin Meyer’s orchestral soundtrack is just exciting enough to catch my ear and specific enough to fit each occasion, but subtle enough that it never gets between me and the characters I’m speaking to. I was also impressed by how many unique tracks the game has – there’s a theme for every character, and various minigames get their own songs – especially since it could have scraped by with much less.
I particularly appreciate how The Mermaid Mask makes players earn their clues and conclusions. It’s not enough to present the right evidence at the right time – there’s also a fill-in-the-blank minigame (a series staple) that asks you to draw conclusions based on relevant information. The Mermaid Mask also includes many 3D puzzles to solve, typically used to open locked boxes or reveal hidden compartments. The puzzles are also all ideas I’ve never seen before, like twisting a pig’s expression to create certain numbers, arranging a grid of peculiar skulls, or cataloging mushroom species. The puzzles often appear inscrutable, but you can solve most of them just by analyzing them hard enough, which really helped me get into the detective mindset. If you can’t figure them out, Grimoire and Sally will give a few more details on each failed attempt.
The Mermaid Mask is the best Detective Grimoire adventure yet. Its art, music, voice cast, and puzzle design are all worthy of praise, but they’re held together by a great story and a fun script, complete with all the quips and twists I’ve come to expect from SFB’s mystery series. I spent my entire playthrough engrossed and engaged, and I hope the development team gets to make plenty more sequels.