Demetrios - The BIG Cynical Adventure (Xbox One, 2017)

Demetrios - The BIG Cynical Adventure
Developed by Fabrice Breton
Published by COWCAT
Released for Xbox One (8/2/2017)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4/Switch/Vita

Demetrios - The BIG Cynical Adventure was funded via Kickstarter and developed using the Game Maker Studio engine. Coded by a single French developer and published by COWCAT, Demetrios is an interesting blend of both the point 'n click and visual novel genres. There are tons of things to interact with and puzzles to solve, but at the same time there are thousands of lines of dialog to read. With the subtitle of the BIG Cynical Adventure, the game lives up to its name featuring some really wacky dialog that will make it hard to keep a straight face while playing.

Gameplay in Demetrios, as previously stated, is a mixture of the point 'n click and visual novel genres. Consisting of 6 chapters, you'll be given a few different locations in each chapter to explore. There are lots of people and objects to interact with along your journey. While engaging in a conversation with another person there are typically several dialogue options to select from. Like most point 'n click games, some of the puzzles can be real head scratchers, but there is a sense of satisfaction once you figure them out. For players going in blind, you can expect to get a solid 10-15 hours out of Demetrios before it's over, which is a good length for a game of this nature. Even those playing through the game with a guide can expect to blow around 8-10 hours, so if there's one thing you can't hold against the game it's being too short as this is a decent length for a point & click/visual novel game.

Demetrios takes place from your perspective, with each screen consisting of mostly static images that are well-drawn and feature little bits of animation here and there to help make them feel a bit more lively. Within each screen there are 3 hidden cookies that can be picked up. These can be used when in a pinch to get hints, while also serving as the collectibles that will earn you a token achievement for collecting them all. Along your journey you'll come across several mini-games, which range from using a claw machine to playing pinball on a gravestone. While none of these are really all that great, they do a good job of adding some variety to the gameplay.

The story in Demetrios never takes itself too seriously, placing you in the shoes of Bjorn Thonen, a man who runs an antique store and is a bit of a slob. Bjorn finds that he's been robbed after coming home drunk the previous night. The local police are of little assistance, so Bjorn has to solve the mystery himself, enlisting the aid of his neighbor Sandra (who Bjorn also has a crush on). While delving into the mystery, Bjorn and Sandra uncover some crazy ancient secrets (which I won't spoil here in case you decide to play the game for yourself). The writing in Demetrios can be a bit crude and gross at times, though if you find humor involving bodily functions to be offensive there is an option to tone down the toilet humor or disable it altogether.

The presentation in Demetrios is all-around solid, but the high point is the graphics department, featuring hand-drawn art that looks great in 1080p. The music does a good job matching the game's silly mood and the sound effects, while sparse, help add to the visuals when used. The overall package is impressive, especially when one takes into consideration that this was put together by a single developer. The game lasts a good length of time considering the genre and price. There's some nice replay value for those who wish to play it again; there's several dialogue options to choose from during conversations, different game over screens to discover and just tons of stuff you can mess around with. If you're a fan of either point 'n click or visual novel games, consider giving Demetrios a look as long as you don't mind some silliness in your adventure. If you're on the fence about buying the game, there's a free demo available to give you an idea how the game plays.

Final Verdict: Demetrios is a combination of both the visual novel and point 'n click genres with a healthy dose of silliness sprinkled on top. If you're a fan of either genre and enjoy some wackiness in your games, give this one a look.

Purchase Links:
Buy Demetrios - Microsoft Store

Related Links:
Demetrios - Official Site
COWCAT - Official Site
Demetrios Funding Campaign - Kickstarter
Game Maker Studio - Official Site
Demetrios - GameFAQs
Demetrios - True Achievements
Demetrios Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements