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The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a whodunit visual novel with a lighthearted twist. It features the usual suspects who appear in many detective-driven games.
The story revolves around Amy Rose’s birthday party, which takes a nefarious turn when the train’s Conductor becomes the game’s first victim. Players take on the role of a new character aboard the Mirage Express and investigate the crime, interrogating familiar characters to uncover clues.
It’s a refreshing change of pace for the franchise, which typically relies on bursts of humor and friendly banter to lighten things up. There’s still plenty of that here, of course, but it’s offset by a compelling story with a surprising number of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
The Murder Of Sonic The Hedgehog Offers Investigative Gameplay
The primary mechanic involves investigating environments and searching for clues with a point-and-click system. You’ll present them to the other characters in each cabin, who will either confirm or deny them.
This process is repeated across several cabins until the player has gathered enough evidence to prove or disprove each theory.
Once you’ve gathered enough evidence, it’s time to start questioning the passengers, and every time you present a piece of proof or discredits a character’s alibi, you get to play a short Dream Gear minigame.
Although the Dream Gear minigames aren’t a huge draw, they’re a nice touch that provides some welcome variety to your detective work. This stage is more difficult than the previous one and requires the player to collect rings while avoiding traps and completing challenges.
It’s also worth noting that The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog does a really great job of setting the scene, using a combination of charming characters, gorgeous hand-drawn art, and atmospheric music to create a genuinely engrossing tale that feels very much like the real thing.
SEGA Seems To Be Focused on Sonic Franchise
Sega has been on a roll with its Sonic franchise lately. Last year’s Sonic Frontiers was well-received by critics and fans alike, while the two big-screen Sonic movies were also a hit with audiences.
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog may be a bit of an odd entry in the series. It does not feature any advanced CGI or breakneck pacing, but it features plenty of nods to past games and a whimsical story that should please fans for hours.
The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog is Available on Steam
Sonic fans can now play a murder mystery game inspired by the famous Murder on the Orient Express movie. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is available on Steam for free as part of the annual April Fools’ Day promotion.
According to SEGA’s social media manager Katie Chrzanowski, the game has already risen into the top 100 of Steam’s highest-rated games. Its exact position depends on whether you look at SteamDB or Steam250 — the two trackers weigh reviews differently — but both rank it higher than Skyrim and the acclaimed The Elder Scrolls: Vampire Edition.
