Just when you think you’re out…they pull you right back in! Eugene McQuacklin is back to quackin’ a case in Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping. This time around, he’s got a partner in crime helping him, as the veritably enthusiastic fan-turned-Watson wannabe Freddy Frederson joins you throughout your sleuthing search. I thoroughly enjoyed the first entry in this series, “The Secret Salami”, so I was very excited to see what kind of changes, if any, would be made in the second game. I wouldn’t consider it a “sequel” as it doesn’t attach too much story to the first game, and you can safely play either in whichever order you’d like. I’m happy to report that the same charm that made the first game such a memorable and fun little experience is overflowing in The Ghost of Glamping, and I actually preferred this story and the way it was told even more. Right after I cracked the case, I immediately hopped on the web to see if we’d get more time with the amazing characters and world of Duck Detective. It’s that good.
Duck, Duck, Sleuth!
The gameplay of Duck Detective consists of finding key words in conversations with suspects and observable evidence, which are then able to be selected in your case document that’s used to “Deduckt” the facts and solve the various questions surrounding the campers visiting the glamping site the story takes place on. As you find words and solve parts of the case, more parts of the campsite (including a haunted hospital!) open up to you, allowing you to eventually solve all parts of the case. The whole experience takes about 2 hours, and doesn’t weigh down the gameplay with too much fuss about solving puzzles or making correct decisions. You keep a record of all the clues you find, and you’re able to explore the grounds freely, with a handy map that lets you know where you should do some extra digging to find more keywords.
Even more so in this game than the first, I was able to follow what was going on in the story, and figured out where I’d need to naturally go to find the information I desired. Seeing little places around the campsites that I knew I couldn’t get to right off the bat, but would eventually find my way into, added an extra layer of mystery to the whole vibe, including the overarching story of a “ghost” on the premises that had its own unknown goals. You’re able to ask all of the characters about their thoughts on special evidence items you find, or even about the suspects in the case. You definitely feel like you’re the lead detective in the case, and can casually find your way to the solutions you seek. Additionally, the presence of multiple potential storylines, including clues that all tied together nicely by the end, really had my mind trying to connect the dots. This isn’t a kids game in story context, and it isn’t just a silly narrative. There’s actually some deeper world-building, surprisingly, and I’m intrigued on where they’ll take it in the next game.
Captivating Compact Character Building
What truly brings Duck Detective to an elevated level of love is the absolutely perfect treat that is the visual and audio styling of every part of the story. Just like the first game, The Ghost of Glamping is like walking around in a colorful storybook, with heavily drawn lines and ample displays of emotion shown on everyone’s animal faces. Every character has their own enthusiastic personality that gets admirably expounded upon in a relatively short playtime. I felt like I knew each and every one of them within a few lines of dialogue, but the game did a great job of using evidence that you find around the areas, along with backstory conversations with other people, to fill in the blanks of how this person acts, or what their case for being at the campsite was. Adding to that defining of the characters was the superb voice acting that is employed for every line of dialogue. From the main lead duck, to the quiet but excited kid, to the suave and fabulous rabbit, every single actor or actress delivered fantastically unique and enthusiastic performances, embodying their character’s demeanor and art perfectly.
What’s more is that this game in the series features even more beautifully drawn cutscenes that feature story points outside of the gameplay, allowing for grand reveals by the Duck Detective to be flourished with full screen reveals and further exposé of each suspect and situation. Every time one would start, a big smile would be stuck on my face with every new scene displayed and loudly proclaimed revelation Eugene McQuacklin uttered. Musically, the game employs a saxophone-filled backing of jazzy noir tunes, continuing the trend from the first game, and whisking you away to the crime-solving mindset that is necessary to complete your deducktions. The tracks are varied and contribute to the scenes and setting, never getting too repetitive, but not just standing out a crazy amount. Sound design is definitely focused on bringing the characters to life more than strumming up a storm of musical highlights, and that’s okay! The star of the show is the characters and the story, and how the game guides you through it with them.
In Conclusion
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping didn’t need to be revolutionarily different from the first game. I’d argue that keeping the same formula for this entry was the right move. We got to spend more time with some of the animals we had come to know, along with meeting lots of new ones.The short story flys by, but every minute spent in it is a special one. It’s not going to make you cry, or have you cheering, but it will make you smile and take you to a world that is new and artfully crafted. Grab some breadcrumbs and stick around for the thrilling conclusion. We can’t wait to see what developer Happy Broccoli Games has for this series.
