Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 “Quack the case!” 🦆 @happybroccgames #GameDev #IndieGame

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of short adventures that can be enjoyed of an evening, and, being a bit burned out on huge games at present, the case files of Eugene McQuacklin, duck detective extraordinaire was of huge appeal to me, I’m also a keen salami fan, so there was no way that Duck Detective: The Secret Salami couldn’t NOT be amazing, quite frankly.

Down on his luck duck detective? Ex-cop? Bread junky? Living a life constantly accompanied by a light jazz soundtrack? Our intrepid crime-solver ticks all of these boxes as we are introduced to him in his shabby office/apartment. 

Recently divorced and with less cash than Oliver Reed leaving a branch of Oddbins after a closing down sale, McQuacklin takes up the most recent case offered to him through a mysterious phone call, a case that will take him to his limits, and shock the city…who has stolen a co-worker’s lunch at Bearbus? 

An isometric adventure, the events of the game take place in and around a single building comprising of a handful of rooms; reception, kitchen, office, etc. and yet these rooms – and the mechanics of the game in general – are so well-utilised that it focuses and tightens the tale, as opposed to limiting it. 

You’ll spend a lot of time working out details, such as character names, motivations etc. as you hunt for clues and crack codes, all of which are dutifully noted down in your notebook, where you’ll be spending a lot of – very fun – time filling in the blanks as you make you way through the case – and a perhaps even a wider conspiracy?

Visually colourful and well-presented, with that gentle jazz lilting along with you, I had a wonderful time with the characters and story, each puzzle was satisfying to work out, and was never unfair in the logic department. 

In all honestly, the only issue I had was related to the over-compression used on the voice acting, which seemed slightly sibilant and harsh through my TV speakers, but sounded fine when played in handheld mode on the Switch.

SUMMARY

A very fairly-priced title that I hope will spark off a series of equally enjoyable ducky romps, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a recommendation from me for those that enjoy a brisk, well-paced tale full of amusing asides and quirky characters.