Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
*Radio Static*
Agent Type! Come in, Agent Type? This is Operator Po. Do you read me?
I read you loud and clear, Op Po! What's the situation?
We have been informed that our target audience is in compartment 6. They are armed and heavily guarded with the latest review on Loco Motive.
EGAD! We don't have a moment to lose. (Straps on a harness and pulls out a copy of my review from my finest tailor cut suit) It's now or never! (I swing down from the top of the train and smash into our target's private quarters. Only to hear shots fired) NO! Am I too late?
(I rush over to our target and cradle them in my arms. I notice their breath is shallow and catch someone escape out the room.) Please... *Wheeze* I need... good content before I pass on. (I see them gripping another copy of a review)
Foul play! This is CRAZY! Who would have the motive to do such a thing? (I rush to shove the copy of my review into their view) Read, dammit, read! Don't let your final moments be in vain. This content could bring you peace of mind. I need you to READ!
~ ~ ~
All Aboard the Reuss Express
Loco Motive is a wonderful point and click, puzzle, adventure game about a retiring wealthy heiress, Lady Unterwald, who has a hard time picking her next successor. Wanting to make a grand spectacle about it she chooses to celebrate her future retirement on her most prized possession: The Reuss Express. A new type of train that is the first to run on the power of steam (for it's time). As she gathers her friends and family, upon the moment of her revealing the successor, the train travels through a sudden dark tunnel. No one expected to find a murder at the end of the tunnel. Killed in cold blood, it's up to her attorney, Arthur Ackerman, and the helping hand of other special individuals, to solve and find the late Lady's killer and final will and testimony. Will you find the clues in time or will this twisted individual get away with all the gold and glory?
A Trio of Unlikely Agents
You would think the best private investigators are on the case, right? But, you'd guest wrong, as this is an impossible situation and you'll have to make do with the cast of characters who are on board this murderous train. Who knows... it could be fun?
Arthur Ackerman
A semi professional attorney who seems to have won the most trust with Lady Unterwald. A good soul at heart he tends to become extremely gullible to everyone around him, which in turn could land him in hot water. He tries to see the best in everyone he meets, but can fall short of taking a hint from time to time. If his loyalty to the wealthy heiress ain't apparent, you should see how he reacts to a mountain of paperwork.
Herman Merman
An aspiring novelist, who tries to triumph over all his competition, especially that suave newcomer, Dirk Chiselton. This passionate adventurer for literature means well, but he will low key try to sabotage someone in order to work it out in his favour. He does tend to stay hidden under dire circumstances, but if you squint hard enough, this man tends to blend into the background effortlessly. Don't let all this negativity fool you, why he said so himself that all his published works are purely recounting the tales of his own trials. Maybe you've heard of 'Herman Merman and the Suburban Burden'? Quite the tale. You should give it a read.
Diana Osterhagen
Our final addition to the team is the lovely agent-in-training. Determined to prove her worth she jumps at the opportunity to earn her gold badge. Now if she could just convince her superiors to give her a chance. However, she has a hard time getting her seniors to notice her. She'll have to take things into her own hands and prove her cunning and brilliant secretive work. As she scoops up her trusty sidekick “Agent M” (Straight up a Mouse), the two take on the biggest gig of her life: infiltrating the Reuss Express.
Bureaucracy Powers this Murder
With the late Lady Unterwald passing, everyone onboard is in an uproar, but with a bit of digging we could solve this deadly mystery. And hopefully we're not too late.
As straight forward as it seems, a point and click adventure is just that. You point at an object of interest and investigate whether or not it is of any importance. Some items are obtainable and could even be combined with other items you pick up along the way. With a bit of brain work you may mix and match an item of greater use for you elsewhere.
There will be times where you will have to solve a puzzle or two in order to progress further into the story. None of them were relatively difficult, but if you find yourself struggling to move forward in the story, Loco Motive makes sure to never leave you stranded for long.
A Hotline worth Calling
Remember how I mentioned the game will lend a hand if you seem stuck? Introducing the Chiselton Hotline: your one-way ticket to help if you so require it. Stuck on your next move? Whelp there is a telephone on the train that'll connect you to the one and only up and coming talented detective himself. There are no penalties for how many times you need aid, Dirk is always available to lend an ear and some well laid out advice. It's even worth asking him multiple times, as he may just have the answers you seek.
A Cacophony of Hilarious Moments
One of the game's most noticeable genres that sticks out like a well earned paycheck, other than the obvious Mystery vibes, is Comedy. This locomotive is chock full of funny moments and hilarious quips. It's even worth talking to everyone multiple times just to get the whole picture of a running joke that started off as a mild chuckle, then blindsides you with a bellyful of laughter. I think I lost count on how many times the slap-stick jokes just got better with repetition. Even messing around in the menu section of the game is worth your time. Detail was key when the writers came up with this concept. Pure Comedy Gold!
One way Trip to Fortune
As we reach our destination on this magical voyage upon the beautiful Reuss Express, my experience is nothing short of, Bravo! Loco Motive seems to have reawakened my 'Days of the Tentacles' years and put a modern twist into the mix. If you're looking for a good time exploring, laughter and great story telling, then look no further. Visually, it's a story book crime adventure, never filled with dull moments. Each character is crafted to be memorable and fun. Surely, it marks a comeback to point and click adventure. I'm giving this title a solid 9.5 out of 10. Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!
Score: 9.5 / 10
