In A Flash

Sometimes, humor can go a long way when it comes to making the story more pleasant. Video games that feature funny dialog sequences and an amusing plot usually do a lot better, popularity-wise, although it really depends on whether the jokes are any good. Hence, it can also go very bad for the game in question, which is why the risk must be worth taking.

In A Flash is a point-and-click adventure game in which your primary purpose is to examine the environments and talk to people, while also gathering evidence and clues regarding the case. As such, you play the role of Elizabeth Boldan, an ex-sex worker that has changed professions to become a private investigator. As it turns out, one of her cases involves adultery, a sin she is obviously not unfamiliar with.

Most of the gameplay revolves around dialog and clue gathering, given the fact that you cannot freely move around the environment. Just like in every other point-and-click adventure game, the rooms are static, and you can only move by clicking in the direction you want to go. However, your most useful gadget is the implant in your eyes, which is actually a powerful camera that can take photos and spot hidden details in the scene.

As far as the rest of the gameplay is concerned, the evidence you gather must be organized and analyzed as well. In fact, it is actually possible to show the pictures you take to other NPCs, in order to get their opinion or confront them about what they show. On the other hand, the gimmick of taking a photo whenever something comes up can get a bit repetitive after a while.

The writing is by far the game’s strongest point, because you can tell that the writers have a talent for it. Most of the plot is pretty convoluted, which means that there’s a lot of stuff happening at the same time, and it may take you a while to understand it all. As far as the visual quality is concerned, the graphics appear to be hand-drawn in most cases, but they are pleasant enough not to be annoying.

In the end, In A Flash is both funny and a blast to play, especially if you have the patience for puzzle games. The story is great, the characters are relatable, and everything seems to be coming together nicely as far as the plot is concerned.