Inspector Waffles is a point-and-click adventure game that lets players follow the noir-esque detective work of the feline Inspector Waffles. Following Waffles' exploits, players will become wrapped up in a case of love, murder, secret societies and friendship. The title is an homage to the point-and-click adventure titles of old, and it succeeds in creating a fun, engaging story for players to unravel.
Inspector Waffles creates an entertaining world where animals take the role of humans as the dominant species. With stores dedicated to dog bones and yarn balls taking the place of baseball, the title creates a cozy setting filled to the brim with cute jokes and lots of puns. Despite its adorable nature, Inspector Waffles delivers a respectable crime narrative.
The story centers around the murder of a respected cat business owner named Fluffy. What starts as a simple whodunit soon begins to spiral in the directions of conspiracy and the bizarre as the investigation widens in scope. Thankfully the feline detective is always equipped with his trusty notebook for jotting down clues and talking points. Before long, Waffles is getting warrants to search homes, traveling with an eager police dog, traversing the sewers and making the perfect breakfast for his peers -- a cinnamon coffee with an almond croissant.
Every interaction or part of the investigation uses the tried and true systems of the point-and-click titles that came before. Players will question witnesses and contacts, locate clues, combine items to use in the environment and make proper use of their problem-solving skills to solve puzzles. There's nothing super complex that'll stop players in their tracks, but the challenges pose enough difficulty to create a few minutes of pondering how they can get to the proper solution.
Most of Inspector Waffles' charm comes from its use of humor. The title is bathed in snide remarks and witty banter. This goes a long way in turning what may have just been a mediocre game into something more. These moments of levity could come across as out of place in another title about a detective investigating a murder, but the harmless nature of the jokes -- set in an animal-run version of our world -- creates a Saturday morning cartoon vibe throughout the game.
The title's art is also something worth a mention. Done in a pixel art style and with an appropriately matching soundtrack, Inspector Waffles does a lot with a little. Letting minor movements and animations do the same work a fully rendered cutscene would in other games. The retro style is just another layer in this title's charm.
Inspector Waffles is sure to delight any players looking for a less gritty, more tongue-in-cheek, point-and-click adventure. It's a great game to kick back with while keeping the atmosphere light. Created by a team of one, Goloso Games, it's clear that this game was a labor of love. Inspector Waffles is available on Mac, PC and Linux through Steam or GOG.
0 Comments