Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I Made So Many Duck Puns

Note: I received a game code for the Nintendo Switch for my honest review of the game. Thank you to Future Friends Games for the code!

Right away Duck Detective is very cute with the art style that feels like a mix of sticker and cardboard cutout game pieces. We're introduced to Eugene McQuacklin a down on his luck detective hanging out in his office trying to figure out what he spent his rent money on. You can move Eugene around looking for clues and this gives a nice tutorial into how the game works. 

Eugene McQuacklin, duck detective.

After the introduction, Eugene gets a case at Bearbus, a bussing company. This is where the detective skills go a little more in depth having you look around for clues and adding clues to the case file. Eugene has to talk to the people there and certain words will be highlighted implying that it's relevant to the case. 

Adding a vital clue to the case file.

Eugene can also investigate various characters while he talks to them. Using his magnifying glass he can examine them and pick up clues like a loose thread on their sleeve or other interesting details he can add to the case file and write a note in his notebook. There's also a bit where you have to guess the person's name and when you do, you can add it to the suspect list in his notebook. 

Checking for clues on a penguin.

Eugene can explore a lot of places. He can snoop through someone's computer, check notes, talk to more people, and even look through someone's duffel bag for clues to solve the case. It definitely kept me guessing adding a few twists and turns. When Eugene has enough clues about one scenario he can put it together in what are called deductkions. I did like that the game would let you know how much of it you got right and then would tell you two things are wrong so you could go back and look at it again. It also gave helpful hints so there wasn't too much frustration solving the puzzle. 

Doing some deducktions. 

The story was interesting and so was the case. I also loved that it didn't take itself too seriously with all the silliness in some situations and of course the duck puns. I made so many duck puns myself while playing this because it was that much fun. The game also had little joke duck facts in between loading screens which I found really amusing. 

Eugene has trouble talking with a cat. 

The game isn't very long. It's a fun, short mystery that I finished in about three hours. The art style, the funny jokes, the main mystery, and the general whimsy of Duck Detective made it an enjoyable time. I love Eugene and his hard boiled detective voice. I also loved the myriad of characters at BearBus that added more humorous shenanigans to the story. Quacking the case was a great time. 

Eugene gets a ride home. 

 

*Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam 

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