The point-and-click adventure genre was incredibly popular during the 1990s, with a variety of titles put out for both kids and adults that provided simple mechanics that helped to get players invested in the story and gameplay. One of the more popular games for kids was called Carmen Sandiego.
These games focused on teaching the player about the world as they solved mysteries. While the series isn't as prevalent anymore, there are numerous indie developers that have been inspired by the games. Chinatown Detective Agency is a great example of this, though offers up a much darker version that is definitely not for kids. This is just one of the things that beginners should keep in mind before they dive into this exciting new world.
7 Spend Money Wisely
Players will start the game with a decent amount of cash thanks to a loan given to Amira Darma, the game's main character and private investigator. However, this does not mean that money should ever be taken lightly in Chinatown Detective Agency, as it's used to pay for a variety of essential services.
This includes traveling via train or plane as well as hiring other employees for the business. Money will also be necessary for keeping the business open as there are bills that need to be paid frequently. While players will earn a decent income by completing specific cases for clients, it is important that they don't travel or hire more than they need to.
6 Check Dates And Time For Flights
As players go through the game, time will consistently be progressing forward at a rate that is about a minute per real-life second. Because of this, it is always important to make sure that the time is being checked. It is a 24-hour clock rather than a 12-hour one as well, so 11:00 means 11 a.m. while 23:00 means 11 p.m.
This is especially crucial when looking to book flights. Sometimes, certain destinations offer flights planned for the next day, while also having listings for flights that have already come and gone. Since booking a flight can be rather expensive, and there are no refunds, players should make sure the time is right.
5 Don't Wait In Real-Time
Speaking of time, it is likely that players will book a flight or will be asked to attend something at a specific date and time. While the days in Chinatown Detective Agency move much faster than in real life, it's still a test of patience to have to sit and wait; even for just a four-to-five-hour period. Luckily, players do not have to.
There is a wait button that is listed at the bottom of the screen that players can click and then speed up time by a certain amount of hours. With this in mind, players should think strategically about how many hours to wait as it may be important to leave some extra time to get to a destination before the deadline.
4 Some Puzzles Will Be Timed
Games like Chinatown Detective Agency focus a lot on talking to people, investigating a scene, and gathering information. Generally speaking, Chinatown Detective Agency is paced well enough that players will not need to be too stressed with completing a case as quickly as possible.
That being said, there will be individual points in these cases where there is going to be a puzzle that must be completed quickly so as to not trip any alarms or cause more harm than there needs to be. These may be the more intense moments of the game, but the good news is that the game will tell the player that they need to try to get things done.
3 Choices Must Be Considered Carefully
Most detective games focus on players going through a more linear story, with cases stacked perfectly back-to-back to line up with the overall narrative. However, Chinatown Detective Agency strays from this a bit as there will be meaningful choices and decisions in the game that will impact the story at large.
Along with decisions that must be made during specific cases, there will be certain points when players need to decide which client they would like to serve. This completely alters the story path, forcing players to go in a specific direction. While this may be a bummer for some, those that enjoy the game enough can look forward to additional playthroughs being different.
2 Have A Notepad Handy
It may be unconventional nowadays to need to use a pen and paper to play a video game, but Chinatown Detective Agency is built to throw a lot of puzzling information at players. As a result, it may at times be important to write some things down about what's going on.
However, there is also an in-game notepad that keeps track of some items and dialogue that the player has obtained. This can be found in the bottom-right corner of the screen. That being said, if players want to track even more information than the game's notepad allows, having a place to put down some thoughts to return to later is a must.
1 Google Is Necessary
While Carmen Sandiego was known for teaching kids through puzzles, specifically about geography, Chinatown Detective Agency knows that older individuals are playing their game and fully expects them to either know the answers or know where to get them.
During some of the game's puzzles, players will be asked to find the origin of text or images that come from a specific book or location, respectively. If players are not able to come up with the answers on the spot, a quick Google search may help lead to the answer they need to find. Players should keep in mind though that these puzzles could also be timed.
Chinatown Detective Agency is available now on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, and PC Game Pass.