Detective Pikachu Returns — Caffeine Overdose
A piping hot cup of disappointment
Detective Pikachu is one of the few Pokémon spin-offs I have little history with. The game released on the 3DS in Japan in 2016 before being re-released worldwide in 2018 to mixed reception. A year later, the Detective Pikachu film released, alongside the announcement of a sequel to the game. I enjoyed the film when it released, though it’s been a while since I have had to think about a talking, coffee-drinking Pikachu.
Well, it’s been four years. And he has finally returned.
Announced during Nintendo’s June 21, 2023 Direct, the game is set two years after the first game. A string of incidents occurring across Ryme City set Tim Goodman and Pikachu into motion, uncovering clues as to why Pokémon have suddenly gone berserk.
The game left an immediate impression on me: I was not fond of the game’s visual style, nor its voice acting, but chalked it up to being early footage not from the game’s final build.
Unfortunately, I was sorely mistaken, and upon trying the game out for myself late December, wished I never knew about this game’s release.
Bolts of Brilliance
As detectives, you’ll solve cases across Ryme City and its neighboring areas. You’ll venture through ancient frozen ruins, to a bamboo forest, and even the Ryme City police station. These are overly simplified and limited areas, lacking opportunities to explore. Linear trails with small gathering spaces are common, but there are plenty of Pokémon to interact with. It reminds me of the main series’s predetermined route layouts in later games. Ryme City at least offers the illusion of a bustling utopia, acting as the game’s hub world for a short period. There’s little to do here though, with most of the city blocked off early on. That said, it houses the cozy Hi-Hat Café and Denis Mansion, the location of your first case.
You’re investigating a break-in at Sanjeev Denis’ mansion. Denis, a famed jeweler, intended to donate a rare jewel to the city. However, the jewel went missing after a robbery, with Denis’ butler accused of stealing it. This is the Aurora Drop, and it plays a large role in the game’s story as you proceed. Like any detective work, you’ll interview people and Pokémon alike to learn about the case. Relevant evidence and testimony get logged in your casebook as you gather information. Once prompted, you’ll have to deduce the correct outcome from a few options to a specific question. Some make significant progress in the case, while others pad out an investigation. These are painfully obvious as they come up, and are an early indicator of the game’s simplicity.
There are some unique missions across each case, requiring you to complete an objective to proceed. These are as simple as avoiding conflict or solving puzzles, usually with a quick time event tied to it. At a glance, these provide brief moments of consequential gameplay. Yet, there are barely any repercussions for failing them. One particular mission involves avoiding a hungry Darmanitan. If they find you, you’ll just have to start over. They almost feel out of place here, usually just requiring you to mash the A button over and over. I suppose this puts less stress on the player to succeed the first time through, but considering how easy the game is, I would appreciate just a smidgen of pressure here.
Some Pokémon assist you throughout your investigation. Your initial partner, Growlithe, can sniff out noteworthy scents, and you’ll later be able to see through walls and push objects using Pokémon. Unfortunately, each assisting Pokémon’s ability aligns with the case you’re investigating. They rarely carry over to your next case.
Across each case, you may encounter locals with problems of their own. These local concerns act as side quests, breaking away from the main investigation. There’s almost always one requiring you to find lost Pokémon or items. One recurring concern isn’t a concern at all. It’s a quiz, requiring you to find Pokémon matching the clue provided by the Quiz Professor. It’s tedious to do, especially when you’ve already previously found the Pokémon. You have to get the clue, go find the Pokémon again, then return with your answer.
These won’t impact the case, though they influence the newspaper in Tim’s apartment afterward. It’s charming in a way, as you can influence the in-game world, although that’s the only benefit of doing so. There’s not much in the way of rewards throughout the game otherwise.
Story
The game’s story isn’t exactly riveting. Tim and Pikachu are local celebrities, accredited for solving the ‘R’ case in the previous game. During Pokémon Friendship Week, Mayor Howard Myers honors the two during a speech prioritizing the safety of Ryme City’s residents. However, a Corviknight storms the ceremony, accidentally stealing Pikachu’s hat. After recovering it, they fall back on investigating and return to the ceremony. Disturbances across the game’s world set the two in motion as they investigate a scheme to control Pokémon.
There are a few awkward moments throughout, resulting in unexpected tonal shifts. It touches upon false arrest, abuse, and illicit control of Pokémon. It brings up divorce and deadly car crashes as plot devices through flashbacks. Might I remind you that this is a Pokémon game?
I’ll admit, it’s not as sensationalized in the game as I make it seem. It just seems weird to see these topics discussed in a Pokémon game, let alone a spin-off. I suppose there’s only so much you can do with a talking Pikachu, so it shouldn’t be as surprising to me as it was.
While I can’t praise it for much, Detective Pikachu Returns nails its portrayal of Pokémon. Denis’s Growlithe is very loyal to him, as expected based on its Pokédex entries. The same goes for Watchog (the lookout Pokémon) patrolling Ryme City and Whimsicott being a prankster. Sleep powder is borderline portrayed as a drug, but I’ll allow it. There are other ties to the main series, with one ripped straight from Red and Blue. Its reuse here is very comical to me, though.
The Verdict
It’s not very effective. Detective Pikachu Returns is arguably the weirdest Pokémon game I’ve played. Its story isn’t satisfying to uncover, and its gameplay is way too basic for a mystery game. The characters aren’t interesting or appealing, with the Pokémon themselves carrying this game’s charm. It’s one of the worst-looking Pokémon games considering it’s on the same hardware that can play New Pokémon Snap.
It’s a disappointing game. And yet, I strangely recommend it if you need a quick way to kill a few hours. If you skip much of its dialogue and extra requests, it’ll only cost around 10 hours of your precious time. Otherwise, I’d skip this mystery.
