The Silver Case Review

[@cj_iwakura]

Hope you know this game was made with a team of five people on an extremely thin(if even existent) budget, so huge dumps of texts and still images sprinkled with FMV was about all they could manage. It's a wonder it's as dense with multimedia as it is. And yeah, the localization team worked almost hand-in-hand with Suda. I heard they had to run almost everything major by him or through an intermediary.

[@LJW1912]

You say that as though the original Tomb Raider wasn't made by six people

[@SuperArppis]

I think the different portaits are there because the two characters see the world differently and it's supposed to reflect that. Same with two writers. The characters do and think of stuff in different manner. That's actually brilliant if you think about it. OFCOURSE this is just speculation, but I think it fits here...

[@nikenit]

It is. The sequel proves it - it had 3 separate stories with 3 styles and 3 different writers for them, and very different artstyles for same characters.

[@Indigo_Gaming]

"It was The Past at the time." - My new excuse for everything...

[@litarogers3984]

isnt that that thing were supposed to kill?

[@spiderandeye]

I don't understand how you don't understand the creative reasoning behind using a different artstyle for Tokio's chapters. I also had trouble recognizing that the guy I'd rescued in the mall was the secondary protagonist but once Akira visits him in Spectrum it's clear that there's a Rashomon effect kind of thing going on with Tokio both being an unreliable narrator and viewing himself as way cooler than he actually is. It's an intentional design choice that not only makes complete sense but hugely enhances the story. Aside from that, I can see the exposition dumping at the start of the game/throughout being a turnoff if you think you're actually expected to memorize that information or something but anyone who's played killer7 can tell you that that just saying "Japan and the US have a long and complex relationship that swings between friendly and contentious" would have less impact than an ongoing, increasingly complex dialogue exchange about inter-country politics. The point of namedropping all these factions that you don't actually end up really learning further about, in my opinion, cements the fact that the main characters are at the bottom rung of an unbelievable political power play. They are looking up at the impenetrable monolith and they really have no control and very little understanding over how the Wards operate or the machinations of these people at the top literally treating this city and the hundreds of people in it like a game for their amusement and financial benefit. Suda is a huge Kafka fan (as am I) and I saw instant parallels between how he set the stage for this story and how he seems to want to make the player feel, and how I feel trying to get through the density of a Kafka book. Anyways I do agree with this being a hard sell to all but die-hard Suda fans but yeah, certain parts of this review (especially the point about Tokio's chapters) really confused me as that decision in particular seemed extremely thematically in-line with the rest of the game.

[@Artersa]

Please make a Killer7 video. I played it when I was in middle school and it was stunning.

[@CyrusBluebird]

Obscure PS1 games, Steam edition.

[@Sam-oq7rb]

toplel m8 iks dee

[@NucleaRaptor]

What a time to be alive.

[@BurgerKingNationalist]

Its on GOG too ya know.

[@Pyro-Moloch]

You're not the only person to like Killer Is Dead. I loved it, and way before I saw your review. I can honestly say it's one of my favourite games of all time and the best Grasshoper game in my opinion.

[@dom4293]

8:46 My friend and I looked at the Japanese version of that line which roughly translates to "Hey, back off/fuck off" which leads us to believe it was a reference to The Room, but in the translators defense, it does look like something Morikawa would say in all honesty.

[@TravisPilgrim]

Eight years ago I played through the entirety of Flower Sun and Rain only to not understand the ending and find out online that you had to have played The Silver Case in order to understand it. At the time it wasn't even released in the west, but now, after years of waiting, I will finally be able to play this game and understand

[@cheezburgerforcats]

When it comes to localized games, I think Atlus does a phenomenal job. I've been replaying Persona 4 with a friend recently, and we've both been getting a huge kick out of the well written dialogue. It's not often that a game has a lot of dialogue that makes you laugh out of actually being amused and charmed rather than chuckling at how it's trying to be funny.

[@sofija1996]

Keep in mind that good localization takes money and time. That's why you're more likely to get a mediocre product rather than something polished, especially with small franchises and niche genres. It also depends on the quality of the original writing. Bad dialogue or story will usually result in bad (maybe not technically, but still) translation.

[@ViewtifulValentine]

I think my favorite grasshopper game is "Contact" a game on DS because of how the game made me feel emotionally. I don't know many people who are aware of that game either

[@Lowlander2]

tfw it's not Flower Sun and Rain

[@Kakeraverse]

Wasn't that already Localized on the DS?

[@Lowlander2]

It was, but even then no one played it.

[@CommissionerC]

To be fair, it really wasn't too clear how to do anything, even move properly or interact, on the DS. And that shit can get crazy with the touchscreen and stylus.

[@NucleaRaptor]

It doesn't help that the last third of FSR is basically incomprehensible unless you played The Silver Case beforehand.

[@kobby999]

One of the few you tubers whose notifications I immediately click on.

[@MetaMetro3]

Any plans to make a video on The 25th Ward: The Silver Case? It's absolutely bonkers.

[@87agomes]

I do love Killer is Dead aswell. Very underrated. I like Suda51s work. They may be all flash and no substance but hell, I like all that flash. It reminds me of a time when games didnt take themselves far too seriously... Killer is Dead was just a victim of all the "mysoginist" propaganda that invaded gaming at the time of its release. Shame

[@radpunk5144]

"Mysoginist" propaganda? What do you mean? I'm curious

[@sofija1996]

He means the gigolo missions, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if Kotaku and Polygon bashed the game for having content like that, claiming it was mysoginistic and/or sexist. Though they weren't tasteful or really that necessary, either.

[@Finalblue1234]

Akatsubasa There was a whole controversy about the gigilo missions and how they were mysogonist. some reviews even panned the game because of them

[@radpunk5144]

Finalblue1234 Ok I see, thanks for the info guys! I might buy it someday so now I'm even more curious to play that myself! I don't care about playing this kind of parts since I know how to do the distinction between fiction and reality

[@BaneDane_JB]

I doubt it I never seen anyone reporting on that game at its release, as sad as it is it was too obscure to even make click-bait articles about. Whilst I havent played it I think its the fact that Platinum games, games are just better in the mechanics department, which made that game look bad by comparison and gave it mediocre reviews. (Then it sold poorly)

[@aarontolt5158]

Could you make a video dedicated to Killer 7?

[@victiniblast]

I'm here because I am playing through this right now, just over 6 hours in and man the cases are very, very, very long.

[@Xaxp]

Honestly, Brit, you deserve more subs. some of your videos made me laugh so hard, I almost got in trouble for it. Keep being amazing!

[@TheGamingBritShow]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoy!

[@hentaimoney8252]

I didn't even know this came out on steam, thank you

[@kalgore4906]

Oh yeah the meme master himself is back at it again with another niche game, what a lad

[@dragonphoreal]

+CalGore94 Who is Suda 51? I mean I have heard of his games, but who is he as a person (like what is his style and why?). Is he somewhat similar to Hideo Kojima but niche?

[@KingFossilFER]

Brandon Dozier kinda like swery and a more grounded lynch, at least as far as his plots go (pre No More Heroes, mind you)

[@Gworzor]

You could say he's like a niche Kojima I suppose. Just play killer7 and be amazed my friend.

[@johnanth]

Suda51 is like Kojima but sexualises everything to high heaven. Also, pretty much all of his games revolve around professional killers in some way or another. He is nowhere near as competent as Kojima at designing game systems. They're all unique, but purely as games, he has never designed a good one (at least not on the games he was sole director on). His best trait is designing the strong aesthetic in his games.

[@KingFossilFER]

yinyang that could be said about all his games after killer7, many of them which he just supervised or his publishers had a big influence. Before that, his gameplay still sucked, but the plots where strong enough to carry out most of the downsides. Usually heavily politicall themes that not many games touch upon (like Killer7 being about the USA/Japan self defense treaty, which at this moment is actually a hot topic due to Trump becoming president) Then theres also overarching themes on his games.

[@caramelzappa]

Not sure if it was intentional, but this video had a lot more vocal variety than your other videos and it made it much more enjoyable to watch/listen to.

[@DontStabCats]

The puzzle in the first part of the game can be skipped by pressing the magnifying glass on the bottom right of any of those puzzles, at least in the ps4 version

[@OseanBigshot444]

4:03 isn't that one of the characters from Yakuza? and I got a very subtle Lain vibe from the PS4 trailers, and at 4:11, kinda bears a resemblance.

[@recessiveginger]

11:52 That is so cool I always wondered where they came up with that chime

[@sasuke2910]

What are your thoughts on Killer7? Any reason you haven't made a video featuring it?

[@theobscurestash6537]

I've been a HUGE Suda 51 fan since Killer 7, and ever since I've been desperate to play The Silver Case, or Michigan...someday I'll find a way though. Thank you for making this:) Also, I'm feelin' that Snatcher vibe too.

[@edgarchpa]

Hey GB, great video. You might get this question a lot, but, any chance of a Killer 7 review? I love the game and would love to hear your opinion on it.

[@FightCain]

“Forgotten”? I think Flower Sun and Rain is more Forgotten.

[@pookie6659]

SEQUEL TO THE SILVER CASE, 25TH WARD: THE SILVER CASE IS NOW OUT BOIS

[@RaineMan213]

Flower Sun Rain next?

[@TheAufziehvogel]

So I watched the Video for 12 minutes, watching the Reviewer calling the Game in many ways unique with interesting Characters, just to mention in the last 2 minutes that the Game actually sucked? Well, that escalated really quick. I played through the Game and enjoyed it (the PlayStation 4 Version features 2 new scenarios). From the Title of the Video I hoped for something like a little documentary about how this Game was created. Since this is a Review, it's my bad for the wrong expectations of this Video.

[@remingtongagnard4442]

I'm only about halfway but damn is this an immersive experience. Kinda feeling the same wandering story from Killer7, does get a bit messy. Definitely feel you on the time-wasting bit, a lot of walking back and forth in the 3d environments makes it drag a bit tbh. Still loving it and pushing through, same feeling I get with a good book, just have to see the end

[@ThreeDivisionshaha]

I fully went in epxecting Suda with barely any restrictions. Yea he was young and the age of this title does clearly show. But I will say knowing about the low budget and the time this was made. It is a pretty big title for the time it was released. It also has the Kojima feel where the messages still hold up to current times. The only part of the Silver Case I did experience some "come on" moments was yea the part with the final shelters, jeez that was long! The other parts for the long hallways, I was still motivated to keep going because I just had no idea of what was going to happen, something could just pop up. Overall I had a blast finally getting to experience this title because it really shows what Grasshopper was like. I am starting Flower, Sun, and Rain soon so I am interested to see what happens there. Finally, I am so with you on Killer is Dead (personally my number ten of favorite 3D action games).

[@ProtomanBlues87]

These localizers are tearing me apart. (I'm so sorry for that)

[@hcohic9884]

that artstyle tho.. instant addition to the wishlist

[@oddmoses9546]

More like Silver Slowpace

[@JustaRandomGuy890]

The problem with the game is that the dialogue (at least the english) is terrible, if you played the game it's easy to see why.

[@TheNomade5]

I love your videos man!

[@Gworzor]

I enjoyed the game but I really can't recommend it either. It's a very slow burn with fun writing. You should only play this after completing at least killer7 and maybe even Flower, Sun, and Rain even thought FSR is a psuedo-sequel with a few direct references to TSC that help resolve it's plot (ward 25 probably does a lot more though). FSR has a very similar style of writing in it's english translation with similar vibes but with a lot more interactivity. His other games are just a lot easier to enjoy and get into and it would be a shame to be turned off by Grasshopper's low budget and amateur first game. The Silver Case is definitely a game for Suda freaks.

[@KnightCrown]

Whhhhhhaaaaat is this gameee???

[@Upsetkiller456]

Killer is dead was flawed but fun.

[@Defeationist]

naw bro i also love Killer is dead

[@wdcain1]

Darn, I was hoping this would be as enjoyable as _Killer7_ and NMH. Any chance you'll review that weird cameraman game he made that was only localized for Europe and not the US?

[@mysecretcircle]

How does this game compare to Policenauts and Snatcher?

[@ahs2011]

If you want to play a Japanese mystery VN with a very distinct style and better pacing you might want to look into both the Danganronpa and Zero Escape series. Danganronpa 1 and 2 got PC ports this year and 999+VLR will be getting them later. With Danganronpa in particular, expect insanely over the top characters, dialogue, and plot twists with some issues with internal consistency. That said, the fifth case of the second game is downright my favorite murder mystery of all time and if you're interested in that kind of thing I would strongly recommend playing (reading?) these VNs. I'd also really love to see someone like you analyze a particular character from the second game. I won't say who it is because even saying that they are noteworthy is something of a spoiler but anyone who finished DR2 chapter 5 should know who I'm talking about.

[@dragonphoreal]

You know you should try to look into the rare Sega Saturn RPG masterpiece *Panzer Dragoon Saga*. To play it, you can either try to emulate it using Yabause, or get a Saturn and then pay somewhere between 100-1200 in US Dollars depending on what price the user sells it for (it's a rare game with only about 30,000 physical copies in existence and it has a strong cult following).

[@lightningman2222]

Ha nice to mention Killer is Dead. I've been playing that game recently and I'm enjoying a lot of it so far

[@thesteamguy6171]

what happened in the wii shop?

[@VOAxInsanity]

"The past at the time" enough said. I subbed

[@vonderdrake9796]

How are your feelings toward Grasshoppers Let it Die???

[@gabrielwright-dunn9355]

Learning the basics of Japanese is actually not as hard as it seems, but then again I took it in a class. It could be my professor. If you're actually interested in Japanese, I would say go for it. Anyway, Cool review, love your stuff.

[@KeyBladeMaster-Dan]

Hey Brit what did you think of the Nier Automata demo?

[@robinmattheussen2395]

Killer is Dead and psycho-analytical musings? Not sure what game you've been playing, but it seems it was quite different from my experience...

[@Ozziw162]

I loved this game and its sequel(s) and I wish there were more of its ilk. The slow, time-wasting sections were wonderful in my opinion. I loved the plodding progression, it made me lose myself in the atmosphere and the story was intriguing. And the soundtrack is, as usually the case with Masafumi Takada, spectacular. I can’t ever recommend this game. But it is a great litmus test of whether I would be able to get along with a person. Or utterly despise them. It could go either way really 😅

[@psihypo]

This game is my new aesthetic

[@sentionaut6270]

I would love a colab of Kojima and Suda 51.

[@TheTrueJuan]

Finally! I have found another kindred spirit who also likes Killer is Dead. You sir get a like.

[@janusan89]

I'd like to know something about this game, because I love Suda51 games a lot (Killer7 is my favourite game of all time) but one of his games, Flower, Sun and Rain, was such a hard game to swallow as it was...difficult to play, in many ways. On top of that FSR has ties to Silver case, apparently, so I was really worried if it has the same mind-numbing puzzles that the game has.

[@Walkman-]

I was thinking of twin peaks when that clip showed up. Coincidence?

[@WaddleDee105]

If you like Killer is Dead so much then why is it taking so long to finish the LP of it? ;)

[@dragowolf-565]

So basically Asura's Wrath, it's being a anime instead of a game.

[@MrPatrick568]

A forgotten game from Suda51 and now an unfinished game from Swery65. Goddammit

[@irl_lizard7880]

This probably says something about me, but I really liked the opening. I don't mind a bit of reading.

[@Chanets]

Killer is Dead was awesome!

[@zanychelly]

The Killer is Dead, still don't know if I buy it or not...

[@CJ-bt3si]

youve got a nice voice m8, and you dont yell or seem like youre faking a persona, good on ya

[@realdomdom]

Wow. This game is almost like the real thing!

[@gamersloth7580]

I like Killer Is Dead! Thats actually the first Suda 51 Game I played. Killer 7 was next and then I was hooked on his games.

[@TOCTM]

You should try Chaos Legion its a DMC 1 era Capcom game thats just as interesting as it is flawed

[@damiensawyers4133]

Dont worry tgb..... I like killer is dead too

[@MakoTenseii]

Im going to wait until this comes to ps4 early 2017 cause it will have a retail release. Also since this was originally ps1 game, I want my experience to be as authentic as possible.

[@Roger-kh3jj]

Dominik Makówka You might as well get a japanese ps1 and play it on there. Or just get a ps4 controller to work with your computer

[@Crok425]

I loved Killer is Dead too.

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

guess i dont need to play it now

[@TheMee147]

I'm glad I watched past the endcard xD

[@Dungeon00X]

Suda 51 is a HUGE fan of SNATCHER. That's probably why you keep comparing the two.

[@mythriljojo]

I'm afraid you might hate Danganronpa 3's Dub...

[@doger235]

You should give Still Life a look, its a much better detective game.

[@Swingpassfromthecorner]

Ninja Gaiden retrospective pls.

[@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG]

Killer7 brought me here from TheSw1tcher.

[@freindmaker4473]

lol dawg can u not just chill with a game?

[@shizuwolf]

Review Let It Die

[@nails200]

This looks disappointing.... :(

[@provideos98]

wtf this never popped up in my subscribtion box!! D:

[@pierrevonfuego]

Do these reviewers ever have some character, or personality in their voices, and I'm going to bed.

[@justanobody9111]

Actually you don't have to solve the problem at the Cauliflower, just click the magnifier symbol and it will automatically decode the password for you, you don't have to do anything about it. I don't know why they make it this way lol

[@AssaulteedOne]

The magnifying glass is one of those concessions that were made for the new release to make things a little quicker for modern users, whilst still allowing you to experience what the title was like originally if you'd like :P

[@jcelli98]

I enjoyed killer is dead a lot

[@aegisl]

TGB!!!!!!!

[@thefutureisbread]

I like your videos but you got filtered on this one man

[@Pralco]

You know the saying - "Game is forgotten? Means it sucks." Plus it's chinese cartoons shit, so it sucks even more.

[@AlujaBING]

I regret buying the LRG version, dropped the game 8 hours in.

[@ilyac7374]

Yeah....moving and speaking and not saying "I'll shoot your ass dead where you stand." As appealing as it was to me on the surface, I just couldn't take the (unintentionally?) cartoonish tone in a game that seemed to take itself seriously.

[@Birmanncat]

Typical artsy japanese game.

[@johnanth]

Suda51 games are just quirky pulp, they never come close to high art.

[@ineednochannelyoutube5384]

+Hello "Artsy" rarely refers to high art. It implies pretentiousness.