The year is 1844, and we are introduced to Miles Fordham. Following a tragic incident where his partner is killed, Fordham resigns from the police force and begins operating as a private detective. Work is infrequent, but thanks to his established contacts, he receives an opportunity to return to the field. His investigations lead him on the trail of the enigmatic figure responsible for his partner’s death.
Lamplight City is a point-and-click adventure game that evokes the spirit of classic titles such as Full Throttle and Monkey Island. The graphics exhibit a fittingly retro aesthetic, and the animations possess an authenticity reminiscent of the era. All characters are fully voiced, and while some acting performances may occasionally waver, the overall quality is commendable.
The game world is expansive and richly detailed. Players are free to explore missions at their own pace, and progression is designed to avoid frustrating roadblocks. The narrative draws inspiration from the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens, further enhanced by steampunk elements that add an intriguing layer to the setting.
Lamplight City performs well on the Nintendo Switch in both handheld and docked modes. No performance issues were observed during testing. While the text can appear somewhat small on the built-in screen, it remains legible. A commentary track providing insights into the game’s development is also available, but it is recommended to complete a playthrough before enabling it to avoid spoilers.
The primary drawbacks of Lamplight City are twofold. First, the puzzles presented are not particularly challenging. Balancing difficulty is crucial; excessive difficulty can lead to frustration, while insufficient challenge can render the experience unengaging. The second concern stems from the game’s original PC development (released in 2018), which was designed with mouse input in mind. While mouse navigation allows for easy scanning of environments for interactive elements, this process is less intuitive with a controller. Many similar titles include a button to highlight interactive objects, as seen in Primordia. This feature is notably absent in Lamplight City.
In conclusion, Lamplight City is an enjoyable, well-crafted title offered at an attractive price point, earning it a strong recommendation.
Grundislav Games provided a review code for this evaluation. Provision of review materials does not influence our editorial process.
