Contradiction - Spot The Liar!

Contradiction - Spot The Liar!
N/A
Metacritic
95
Steam
88.523
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$12.99
Release date
10 July 2015
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
95 (2 557 votes)
Recent
90 (11 votes)

Spot the lie and beat the liars in 'Contradiction' - the all-video murder mystery adventure!

Show detailed description

Contradiction - Spot The Liar! system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows 7
  • Processor: Quad Core
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: Quad core preferred
Similar games
Hauma
Hauma

Adventure, Indie

xDr: 48.00
Popularity
Reviews
Write a new review
Näppi
Näppi

I was looking for a game that gave off a bit of "Painscreek"-Vibes - Sadly this was not it. The Game isn't really as challenging as I would've hoped it to be. In the beginning I had fun to figure out what was going on, but even though the story felt weirdly obscure, it still somehow managed to be too cliché for my taste. And while I did like the atmosphere at the start of the game, it was difficult to take the story seriously, because the acting get's really cheesy at times.

If you want to play SOMETHING detective-like, I'd say this is totally fine for it's price, but it does feel a bit dull.

Scarecrown
Scarecrown

The acting is really nice (quite fun investigator), and the image quality is amazing. Still, I can't recommend this game for:

- If you are not making the most efficient path (which I only expect when using a walkthrough), you'll be spending something around 40% of the playing time seeing animations of movement. The exact same animation when moving from/to the exact same places;
- Some of the "contradictions" you have to point are not really contradicting themselves, making quite hard to spot this ones, and kinda make the game boring at some moments. I understand the "call police chief" helps with this, but also kind of spoils the game fun;

bigbaaaadsheep
bigbaaaadsheep

Came across this because I played and loved At Dead of Night. I kinda enjoyed this one more! Fantastic game!

Have you ever seen THIS before?

mccauleykr
mccauleykr

greatest game ever made. I have played three times and continue to enjoy the hell out of it. About as much fun as you can have on a computer

rozz
rozz

I really enjoyed this game! It's got a great story and I am eagerly awaiting part 2's release. Definitely a classic out of 10 from me B]

jberghu
jberghu

This game was super fun with red herrings and an interesting plot. Also the acting was very very entertaining

Cosmic Communist
Cosmic Communist

Super fun game! If you like murder mysteries or true crime then this is definitely the game for you! Its the perfect game to play when you have a rainy night in.

KK
KK

Great acting, atmospheric settings and an engaging story. Perfect for anyone who enjoys small-town, British murder mysteries. Pity there is no sequel.

lsbnviking
lsbnviking

Detective Inspector Jenks is just a scrungly man out here to make sure no one lies to him, ever. This game is amazing 11/10 HIGHLY recommend. It's basically midsommer murders the video game.

Dork and Sundry AKA Bear
Dork and Sundr…

It might have taken me a few tries to finally sit down and play it to the end. But man oh man was this good. Seriously love the way this game is put together. The way it combines live action with game play...just perfection. I'm looking forward to more games like this in the future. Now I just need to save up to get At Dead of Night. Well done. I really loved this.

Whackolyte
Whackolyte

First off; I had a bear of a time actually running the game on my PC. Lots of visual hiccups, so I'd suggest disabling any screen shield or color corrector you have installed. It helped, but didn't fully solve the issues. Still, doesn't interfere with gameplay.

Technical issue aside, the game itself is terrific. The acting is well done; there's a good cadence of campy humor alongside a great story. Well worth the 12.99 for a great story with an enjoyable cast.

I think this is a great game to put on for a group of friends; it took us about 6 hours from start to finish between two play sessions.

fnord3125
fnord3125

If I did... THIS would it mean anything to you?

Cervian
Cervian

Really fun game. A bit campy in a good way with an enjoyable story. It's a single player game but can be fun to play as a group.

Clary Sage
Clary Sage

Short mystery with simple mechanics. The FMV acting is hammy, but very charming, like a dinner mystery theatre. I liked it!

idridian
idridian

The best part of this game is, without a doubt, the fact that it lets you repeatedly bother people by showing up at their house to throw at them the one (1) single new clue you've found since you last saw them, usually something they have nothing to do with or say about, only to then immediately leave again and continue wandering the village and surrounding woods in search of cutscenes

The second best part is every single thing Jenks says to anyone ever \m/

frankie.annabelle
frankie.annabelle

I found the premise of the game very fun! The acting was a little campy, which I personally found delightful. It prevented the game from feeling too heavy or somber, and kept it fun and intriguing. Some of the contradictions were a little bit annoying, and it would have been nice if I'd been able to ask people about things that others had said rather than having to beat around the bush through several clues. However, this is not a major complaint, and more of a development note for other games like this. I'd love to see a sequel!

adorisa
adorisa

it would be nicer if they have multiple cases for u to work on tbh.
and also beware cus its funny that they make you investigate some "certain things" MAJORITY of the time ur playing this game and make it look like its such a big deal thing but then when the ending and "plot twist" came its just gonna feel like the game dev just took a big shit on ur face because they dont even give u the answer or satisfy ur curiosty abt the thing u spend most of ur time investigating on!! T-T ugh i hate that the endign is just not that satisfying imo.

but anyway give it a try its pretty cool 6/10 also its ironic that the detective scares me more than the supposed suspect in the game lol they got a lot of annoying exaggerated facial expression XD

Bobulus
Bobulus

Cheesy at times, requiring location hunting at times, but all this doesn't matter because the acting is so fun that it make the entire experience a joy. Do yourself a favor and don't look any spoilers before you play. Asking everyone about everything is way more fun than that straight-path to the solution.

DireGuineaPig
DireGuineaPig

Give me Contradiction 2. I need to know if someone has ever seen THIS before \m/

scatcannon
scatcannon

Great idea for a game. It was a pleasure to play :)

Woodgate
Woodgate

Pretty good for a low budget FMV title.

Not perfect by any means but it's better than a lot of the schlock on steam. I did kind of spoil it for myself by noticing a key piece of evidence within like 15 minutes of the game starting which I IMMEDIATELY jumped on after 8 hours of investigating when it was finally brought up. Lol. Enough red herrings for me to doubt my 15-minute immediate deduction of who the killer was, though.

Has fundamental problems with the way you 'point out' contradictions, and you often get stuck where you cannot progress because "oh, you haven't pointed out this contradiction yet? Well this random encounter you have in the street won't happen until then" and therefore you get stuck over and over, instead of maybe getting stuck on one thing but having other deductions to make in the meantime. Kinda sucks.

Actors' performances were solid, not perfect, but it's expected of low-budget FMV. Emma's actress did the best. Protagonist was entertaining to watch, even if campy. He did good. Story had some weird plot points that didn't go anywhere, but I suppose that was for the sake of confusing the player with red herrings. Not an issue, but I did feel it was annoying because EVERYONE is bullsh*tting you except maybe 2 characters, which kind of takes away from the "who did this?" and makes it more, "Alright, I know you're all f*cking with me, and you know I know, but let's keep mind f*cking each other, and eventually I'll drag your a$$ kicking and screaming till I find out what's goin' down"

Overall, I could complain more, but the truth is, I'd love to see more of this. A lot of tediousness and weird plot decisions but I can get over it. Gimme some more!

wrinklysneaks
wrinklysneaks

The game has its twists and turn, funny and challenging moments. I enjoyed playing, i would defiantly recommend you play this if you are looking for a more chilled out game that's still challenging.

Krelen
Krelen

Jinks is the best! This game is very well done with some of the best twist and turns. It will keep you guessing and you really need to use your head. I hope we someday get a part 2. It has its faults, it may crash sometimes, but this is so much fun. Thank you so much!

Bullfrog Mambo
Bullfrog Mambo

Detective Jenkins digs around and finds someone's magic pot. Seven out of three.

charliedango
charliedango

Character 1: Inspector, we don't do that kind of stuff here!
Every other character: Yep! They absolutely do that stuff!
Me: Great! Now I'll call him out on his contradiction!
Character 1: Not so fast, inspector. Did I say we did that stuff? MWAH HA HA HA HA!!!!

Arrrtyom
Arrrtyom

Pros:

    • The acting in this game is quite well done. The characters have some personality to them, and the inspector offers some comedic relief.

Cons:

    • For an investigation game, the gameplay is stiflingly limited (even for a point-and-click game) and involves you walking around town spotting contradictions that are limited only to what the person said (instead of what SOMEONE ELSE has said, which would be the logical thing to do).
    • Every time you discover a new piece of information, you literally have to talk to EVERYONE AROUND TOWN again to interrogate them on said information.
    • You're also stuck rewatching the same animations every time you do the above. Because you have to enter and leave their house/estate repeatedly, and it is of paramount importance that the game shows you opening and closing their doors for some inscrutable reason.
    • For majority of the game, you'll just be walking around contradicting random dialogue and then receiving equally random information, many of which are of no relevance to the actual crime whatsoever. There's just so much filler in this game it really takes out all of the mystery and intrigue.
    • The logical leaps that this game makes and the inane details that it expects you to remember are completely ridiculous. One of the final contradictions that you have to make in the game require you to remember some minute, irrelevant detail all the way from the first or second hour of the game. This is not stated in the game files so you are apparently expected to remember this (?!)

TLDR The production quality of the game is quite good but there's absolutely no reason for this to be a game at all. The overall plot ends up being quite trite and the story isn't even good. Save your money and buy another game like Her Story instead.

Windtalker87
Windtalker87

Really really enjoyed this game. It's about the journey, not the destination. What a fun world to get immersed in. Highly recommended to mystery fans. Great atmosphere, fun acting, amazing music.

EmilyELewis
EmilyELewis

A great detective/mystery game. I liked the game system and the way the interviews/interrogations worked. I was a little disappointed by the loose threads left at the end, but I am hoping the sequel tidies them up!

ae093087
ae093087

STRONGLY recommend. Not suitable for minors. Really well done, great story, and the actors are great. Kept me engaged for the entire game!

rencamo
rencamo

If I did *THIS,* would it mean anything to you?

Best FMV game ever made.

Frodo TeaBaggins
Frodo TeaBaggins

the only bad thing about this game is it ends. oh how I wish there was a sequel - it was such a JOY to see a full media/live action game realised and done well - it was like the early days of the megacd/saturn and "windows media games" that were never actually that good but finally brought to life and in hd in a way we can enjoy.

highly recommended, but I will warn if you want to try it be aware you will likely have a great time solving the mystery and then being sad at the fact so many questions were left unanswered for an obvious sequel that was never made and the fact the true criminal is clearly yet to be brought to justice.

RuthyB79
RuthyB79

Game is amazing, nothing else like it, really wish they would make more! I couldn't walk away, great job!

EastWest
EastWest

My experience:

1) Autosave successfully saved at any point I was at and could resume at any given point with no problem
2) Acting was great
3) No bugs were encountered, just some occasional square video pixilating which I did not mind
4) Built in hint system is good

Conclusion: This is a great video mystery I enjoyed and recommend

aqualeaf18
aqualeaf18

This is absolutely a great mystery game to play! The music, acting, sets, and gameplay were all very well executed and enjoyable. I really felt myself thinking and engaging with the characters. It's a very satisfying and thrilling experience.

The only issue I had with it was the ending. We spend the majority of the game investigating a sketchy company and learning more and more about their weird methods. I could feel so much tension and excitement brewing. But then, the game ends abruptly and unsatisfyingly. Even worse, the way we find out who the killer is is apparent from the very beginning.

But, I can get past the ending and still appreciate this amazing game for everything else it is! If you enjoy solving mysteries, this game is for you!

DsfSebo
DsfSebo

It's a murder mystery, but the only criminal thing about it is how they set up a sequel that still doesn't exist.

+Gettin_Dicey+
+Gettin_Dicey+

Exceptional FMV-styled mystery game. Despite the occasional leap of logic or poorly worded clue, the game is easy to follow and very satisfying. Genuinely wish for a sequel.

Crow
Crow

I highly recommend this game. The characters are written well with good development as the story progresses. Baggy Cat studios makes lovely games, and I'm really looking forward to another game! :)

Kalibenasa
Kalibenasa

Loved the game!
The concept is amazing, so I hope there will be more!
There was a bit of overacting and some of the dialoge was delivered in a bit of an odd way.
Besides that, the atmosphere, sound engineering and the music was on point.
The storyline seems a bit generic, but it does unfold in a nice way.

Looking forward for more!

Karl Pilkington
Karl Pilkington

Quit a fun ride. Only a few times was a guide needed but it was out of impatience more than necessity.

Tove
Tove

Absolutely loved this game. The gameplay and flow is amazing.

Ghoulapool
Ghoulapool

My wife and our daughter, 14, played this from start to finish projecting it from my laptop to the living room TV. We had such a fun time over a few weeks as we played a little bit each night. It's hard to disentangle "good game" from "good time with my family" but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Wish I could replicate it - as the girl has gone back to hanging out in her room. Good family time. Thanks for that experience. :)

IAmForeverAhab
IAmForeverAhab

One of the best detective games I've ever played

MagicSloth1916
MagicSloth1916

This is a great game if you like logic puzzles, but are not looking for an inventory based game. The difficulty is set just right as there are a few obvious items and a few items you really have to really work to reach, but the majority of the contradictions are challenging but completely do able. The visuals are good, although not being able to self-explore is something of a down point for me, although it would also make the game harder to play and manage (I am just so used to playing games where I can look anywhere that I keep trying to click on things that are not clickable). The acting is good, nothing that is going to win an award, but it is on par with a lot of TV shows, the annoying characters are supposed to be so it isn't the acting that is the problem. It being 100% FMV is a huge bonus as it allows you to stay immersed. If you want action in your game this is not the right game for you, but if you want to just let your mind wander and puzzle out a few things than you can't go wrong

Shifty
Shifty

Great acting! I had a ton of fun working my way through this game. I felt like at a few parts it was difficult to figure out who I should be spotting the contradictions with, thanks to the vast amount of red herrings but overall really enjoyed the experience. I look forward to finding and playing more games like this.

flywingless
flywingless

It was fun and the acting was great!

sheppard.herman
sheppard.herman

What a refreshing game. Once I started getting into it, I could not stop. Great job! I hope a sequel is in the making.

DoctorJohn
DoctorJohn

HIGHLY recommended AMV game. Phenomenal acting all around and it's only a shame that this game didn't have a much higher budget.

I first learned about this game from Jesse Cox and Dodger on YouTube; since watching their playthrough I've played through this game 100% myself and the game's scenes are actually even more expansive than the version they played! I loved how crisp the audio was (ASMR fans rejoice) especially.

KaterTots
KaterTots

This is a great laid back campy detective game. Enjoyed piecing together the contradictions.

Happyscientist
Happyscientist

Somehow an independent game company with a handful of actors I've never heard of managed to tell a better story than many hollywood directors manage to do with big name stars. The ending is a bit disappointing in that it leaves many loose ends for a sequel that might not ever happen.

Fuct
Fuct

Good game, quite hard to find the right contradiction - lots of things that don't add up aren't things you need to call out and you also can't contradict between suspects which is a bit of a shame. Overall it's a novel game and has a good number of hours of play-ability and was quite interesting to follow the story along to.

aidanmac2002
aidanmac2002

Great fun, some of the contradictions are a bit more difficult to spot than others but the story keeps moving and is worth playing. Doesn't take anything like 30 hours to play, more like 6 to 8 I'd guess so not too much of a commitment.

DemonPixieRhi
DemonPixieRhi

While Jenks did drive me out of the experience sometimes with his dramatic demeanour, this was an enjoyable mystery to play along with!

aybell
aybell

Very good point and click game, amazing story.

randomletter42
randomletter42

Great story and plot. Very good acting and draws you in with the mystery and intrigue. We played it up on the TV as a group effort and had a lot of fun. Very unique game with the all video format. Wish there was a sequel! They've got a great setup for a sequel!

DarLeroux
DarLeroux

If you're a fan of mysteries or FMV then you should definitely pick up this game. Well acted, interesting story, around 8 hour game from my play through. Really fun and unique game, hope they make a sequel or another game.

JeskaSizrhands
JeskaSizrhands

Really good story. Not too difficult to follow along with but not easy enough to make it boring. Really enjoyed this game and would absolutely recommend it.

Narrian
Narrian

The best interactive-movie-game sofar.

Your choices really impact the story, you freely walk arround the map and you actually have to use your mind to solve the mystery. The only detective-game sofar where you need to see the contradictions yourself (instead of the character leading you on).

baronvonsorvez
baronvonsorvez

Had a ton of fun playing this! It was well-acted, well-produced, well-written - just well done all around! Kudos to the devs, crew, and cast. Really enjoyable. I'd love to see more adventures of Detective Jenks or more like it! Thanks!

pkg1987
pkg1987

love this game please make more of them

ShilPhiller
ShilPhiller

have you ever played... THIS?!

jellitin
jellitin

Very few games give you the feeling of actually solving a mystery, but this one delivers in spades!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Love the concept of this game and the gameplay is good. Catching the contradictions is challenging, but paying close attention gives you all the tools you need to spot them. I hope to see more of this type of game in the future. If you enjoy a mystery story or point and click detective games, give this game a try!

Rebelice
Rebelice

A game that makes you think outside of the box to find connections between statements of your suspects instead of the usual puzzles that detective games contain. I can’t speak for everyone but for me it was a nice change.
You start the game for the mystery and stay for the quirky detective.
Not that it doesn't have any technical difficulties and some of the contradictions a little far-fetched, but as far as FMV games go this one was very enjoyable (and I found the background music relaxing). Interacting with the characters was interesting and fun, even if some of the leads were obviously dead ends.
I'd love to see another game with detective inspector Jenks.

InfraRadizen
InfraRadizen

Great game! Played it with my wife. Had a blast. Great, great performance from Paul Darrow.

mysticat2004
mysticat2004

I love the concept of a game with real life actors. Though it's more of a one path only kind of game with no real either/or outcomes, it's a really interesting story set in a charming English village. The dark, mysterious undertones keep ramping up. The ending wasn't a big surprise - that was a little disappointing, but all in all, it was something different and not too time consuming.

Redsleeves
Redsleeves

I really enjoyed this game! Overall it was a fun experience, with great performances and a fantastic, small-town-England vibe. It was lacking in a few areas (solving the murder was based entirely on each single person's own contradictions- there was no way to bring up something a different person said, for example), there were a bit too many red herrings IMO, and the hint system was often unhelpful, but there were plenty of moments where I felt great for having pieced together bits of mystery and I wish there could have been some additional content to tie up some of these loose ends. (Simply put, I want MORE!)

Not without its flaws but this game was definitely worth playing, definitely worth the money, and I'll try to get my friends to play it too!

scarletglare
scarletglare

What a wonderful little game. Lots of detail, well-thought-out, interesting story, and surprisingly phenomenal acting on part of all involved. The UI could get a little tetchy at points (having to see map animation play with every movement across the area got repetitive) but was still overall good. This game has a unique, fun concept, and it was absolutely worth playing this game - I was drawn to it after the amazing At Dead of Night game that this developer released two years ago. Would absolutely recommend this little gem of a game.

IsakuCosplay
IsakuCosplay

First of all I have to say that it's nearly impossible to make a bad game with Rupert Booth in it.
But the game has a
+great atmosphere,
+amazing story,
+right length so it doesn't get boring and
+the locations are really nice chosen.

I enjoyed streaming it with community, cause everyone lived with the characters! And I am always enjoying that I don't have a time pressure in games cause so I can interact freely with the chat.

So if you wanna have something cool, new and wanna dive into the FMV genre: get it!

You can collect a few items but mostly its about talking to the people and find the mistakes, the contradictions in their answers.

This is definitely a high class FMV and is a good example for the new standard and the new path FMVs have taken.

Quatermass
Quatermass

Brilliantly executed FMV mystery where YOU play the detective and gather the clues to solve the mystery. You are DI Jenks, a detective sent to a small village to determine if the death of a young woman is an accident or murder. The gameplay is unique and refreshing, and the acting and writing are top notch. As a fan of BBC mysteries, I loved every minute of it. I think my wife, who doesn't even play PC games, would even get a kick out of this. Check it out. It's really worth your time if you like a good mystery.

Kop
Kop

This game is brilliant. The acting of the main character Inspector Jenks and how he plays off of all the other characters is inspired. The twists and turns definitely got me going. I would heartily recommend buying/playing this game, and dearly hope they make a sequel.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Really enjoyed this game, esp. once realised that needed to save progress after every interaction so regular crashes wouldn't mean I'd have to retrace my steps. But then got 44% way through and it crashed and lost ALL my progress. Don't have heart to start again :-(

goldbergrr
goldbergrr

Pretty fun logic/mystery game! I'm glad it was short though, because over time the amount of evidence you have to keep track of gets pretty cumbersome and it can be frustrating feeling like you're picking correct answers even when you're not picking the exact answers the game wants. Also there were some minor visual glitches? Some flashing and pixelation. Kind of annoying. Otherwise really good!

Editing to add that if you go to the game properties in Steam and find the correct beta, the vfx issues are resolved.

nitzan887
nitzan887

A fun piece of media. Game play is very minimal, it kinda works more on the idea of you directing a movie by telling characters where to go, paying attention to what they're saying and finding where they contradict themselves. Play it for an interactive movie rather than a "game" and you're sure to have a ton of fun!
I will say, though, that it's quite rigid, in the fact that you might know someone is lying a long time before you can "contradict" because there isn't a direct way to pit someone's answer against what someone else said, and some of the contradiction are quite awkward.

NotTanJune
NotTanJune

I played it with my girlfriend and finally got her addicted to gaming. Waiting for her to discover more as we go along. Cool game though, interesting story and the acting was pretty well done.

aTinyHorse
aTinyHorse

Horse detective oh yes all over it good game

Anonymous
Anonymous

Oyunculuklar o kadar kötü ki, iyi :)
Hele oyun boyunca elinde viskisi ile sorguladığımız adam, her cevabından sonra viskiyi yudumluyor, mübarek içki hiç azalmıyor.
Bizi temsil eden dedektif Jenkins hafif kırık, kafasındaki fötr şapkayla uyuyor sanırım, şapka ezilmiş.
Görüntüler çok net, bazı oyuncular daha iyi.
Konu bayağı sığ ama oyunun atmosferi gayet güzel.
20 liraya alınabilir, bayağı oyalıyor.

dan
dan

I absolutely love this brilliant little game. Fun case, it's great having full motion video, fun acting, fun details, fun characters. Basically, this game is a ton of fun, especially if you have a group of you to talk and discuss the case. You really do feel like a detective, and every time you spot a contraction (some obvious, some subtle), you punch the air in delight.

Really really recommended. 10/10.

Swiftlicious
Swiftlicious

I don't usually leave reviews but since this is a small game and one of my favorite type of genres to play being a detective mystery I felt I just had to do so. The game was lovely all the way through I totally didn't expect the person that was accused to be the one that did the crime. Murder mysteries are truly the best type of games.

Pulse
Pulse

SOOOOOO good! Best FMV and I have played all of them.

The acting was great. I loved the detective especially and also the creepy old man.

Can't wait to see what this team will do with a bigger budget!

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat
Two Dogs in a …

Very entertaining! It's like if you made an FMV crossover of The Wicker Man with Phoenix Wright.

Detective Jenks for Prime Minister! He at least has a fighting chance against a knob of butter. :)

野犬
野犬

Bad.

You can't use other's statement to contradict. It must be internal. So you try with clear internal contradictions, like the girl (Emma?) saying she saw the broken windows (happened on Friday) even if she stated she wasn't there 'cause she went home to meet the parents on Thursday. It doesn't work.
At the beginning you have the license with the tape attached. You see that exact strange tape again on the broken window. You can't point it out.

So, or there's no logic in how the investigation could be pursued, or there's no logic in how to bring it out.

Other games in the genre, like a Phoenix Wright or an Hotel Dusk, are on an entire different level. I can't understand all the positive reviews.

DeafRoach
DeafRoach

Absolutely Fantastic this game NEEDS a sequel

ParaBellum
ParaBellum

Played this with my two oldest kids and we loved it.

honzik.zika
honzik.zika

Awesome short game :-)!

There are some bugs and typos, and the UI is not the most polished, but it gets the job done. I especially liked the acting, which was a little over the top, but fit the game-y aspect pretty well.

littlemomiji
littlemomiji

Very entertaining game with great acting! This was the first FMV I'd ever played and it's made me want to play more. Really enjoyed getting to know the village and cast and really hope there can be a sequel!

crosby23
crosby23

What do you know about this!?
Oh uh well it's a fun whodunnit point and click game. Some parts are quite difficult and I did cheat a few times. Overall it's fun and I hope another game like this is made. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to bother some people about every ten minutes for the next six hours.

liessahl
liessahl

'Contradiction' is a full-FMV detective game set in rural England, where you play as a police detective investigating the suspicious death of a local woman. The case soon develps into a classic murder mystery, with a far-from angelic victim who made plenty of enemies, and a cast of quirky characters - all of whom have dark secrets that they'd much prefer to keep hidden. If you've ever fancied yourself as DCI Barnaby in 'Midsomer Murders', this is the game for you.

In a game made up entirely of video sequences, the quality of the writing and acting is obviously very important, and I'm happy to say that it holds up pretty well. The actors all give excellent performances which stay just the right side of hammy (apart from a few scenes near the very end of the game, when things go off the rails a bit), and the dialogue generally feels natural and realistic. Sadly the weakest link here is the main character: he wears a slightly ridiculous costume, is more prone to overacting than the others, and I really didn't buy him as a police officer.

Apart from a few very simple object puzzles, gameplay is based entirely around interviews with the suspects. You can ask questions about various events, objects etc., and select contradictory statements from the interviewees in order to catch them out in a lie, opening up new leads and topics for investigation. Unfortunately this doesn't always work very well in practice, because the game is incredibly strict about what it recognises as a 'contradiction' - you can't compare conflicting statements from two different characters, and sometimes you can't confront a character over an obvious lie until you learn about a new topic from someone else. At certain points you may well know exactly who's lying and what they're lying about, but not be able to bring it up until you can work out exactly which two statements (out of several dozen by mid-game) the game regards as contradictory.

There are other small annoyances as well, such as an extremely obvious visual clue from the early game which you can't raise with anyone until right at the end. Also, at one point your character's life is in danger, and rather than just call for help (he doesn't have a mobile phone for some reason, but there's a payphone in the village), he insists on doing the most idiotic thing possible under the circumstances. Combined with his habit of breaking into places and stealing things without even the pretence of consent or a warrant, he feels less like a police officer and more like a not-very-comptent private detective.

Overall I'd recommend 'Contradiction' as an enjoyable throwback to the FMV games of the 90s, but with much better acting and video quality. The ending teases a sequel, but that seems unlikely now after so much time; however, if the same studio were ever to make a similar game, I'd definitely check it out.

Helgis
Helgis

Awesome! More games like this, please!

Holy Hadouken
Holy Hadouken

This game really shows what can be done with FMV in a logic-focused puzzle game!

Erin
Erin

I have no idea why this "game" has so many amazing reviews, I got very little enjoyment out of it. (I am a longtime player of the Nancy Drew adventure games and The Painscreek Killings became my new favorite game a year ago.) I felt like I was in an endless loop of "walk all around the map and talk to everybody until you run out of stuff to talk about, then do it again." The only time I felt like I was actually doing something was when it was time to find contradictions, which became increasingly hard to do as the game went on because there was so much information to sift through. I often just gave up and used a cheat because it wasn't even fun trying to go back to find the contradictions. Then there were times I got stuck in the game and apparently to progress I had to go wander in the woods to see something new even though there were no obvious clues that I needed to go there. I found myself wasting time just randomly checking all of these random places in hopes that eventually I'd run into someone doing something there. And then I got to the end and I was like, "Oh, it's the end now? I solved it? Didn't feel like I did a whole lot of anything and I can't believe that confession just spilled out of that person. Too easy." Boring, wish I hadn't bought it.

1haley1hastings1
1haley1hastings1

Was reminded of this game after playing Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus (another fantastic game) and realized I never reviewed it.
I absolutely love this game. I recommend it to friends all the time who are looking for a clever mystery. The mechanic to point out lies and solve crimes is genius, it means you can't brute force your way through and have to actually understand what's going on. The main character's performance is also just out of this world. He's so over the top cheesy gumshoe, it's ridiculous and fun and insane. 10000/10.
I've always been sad this never got the sequel it deserves, and it's always a little annoying when there's in game hooks for something that never came to fruition, but it's still absolutely worth a play.

mcmillan.callum17
mcmillan.callum17

inspector jenks has made this game one of if not the best murder-mystery games i have ever played

T.TV/Fluffatron_UK
T.TV/Fluffatron_UK

This game is a very unique experience. It reminds me a lot of those old DVD bonus features interactive games but this is done much better.

You play as a kleptomaniac posing as a police investigator trying to solve a weird case in rural England. Not really of course but Jenks does seem to have a particular fondness for taking and keeping things! I thought that the acting added an extra fun dimension to the game which kept me playing. The story was interesting enough and the game didn't outstay its welcome.

The only negative for me was sometimes it felt tedious having to ask everyone about every little detail, but overall it was a fun game that I would recommend.

WampaLord
WampaLord

11/10, Jenks for the memories!

Every actor in this is giving the FMV camp performance of a lifetime. Highly recommend.

robert_ac
robert_ac

We thought it was rather excellent.

We would really encourage you, as the team behind this suggest, to play this with friends and/or family on a tv. What made the experience for us, was that we could theorize together and play on each others strengths, so to speak.
Alone this would be very hard, we would say. Although, if you blazed through Crimes and Punishment without hints, this will be a walk in the park.

We were very fond of the main mechanic, the contradictions. They lended the game a very clear nature in what was expected of the player and left, for the most part, little space for ambiguity. (especially compared to other detective games) The objective is clear: find the contradiction. Easy to understand yet challanging enough to stimulate those old trusty brain cells.

We were also fond of the clever way of including guidance in the form of calls to the chief. They were believably integarted into the story and felt natural. In addition, serving as breaks of some comic relief. For those in need there is also some additional (text-based) guidance: ("check with our friend, the magic x-button")

Notably positive was also the checkpoint system in form of hours of the day. With each hour passing after significant progress, additionally serving as confirmation for said progression.

Our three criticisms.
The low-budget nature of the production is apparent. However, really a non-issue(!), as the execution was well done with the lack of props, especially lack of variation in locations being very much off set by the excellent screenwriting and performances.

The afformentioned lack in variation of locations does lead to a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop, whenever new clues are discovered. E.g. the player having to walk back and forth to each character multiple times, offen just for a single question. (Repeptitivenes somewhat mitigated by the progression system)

One final criticism, the last clue. Without spoiling anything, due to game-design choices, the last clue was very hard, if not impossible to discover. (without remembering a particular detail)

Overall a very neat and fun dective game for two nice and engaging evenings which will not dissapoint you if you don´t expect AAA stuff. If you like these types of games, this really is a must.

Thx for reading our review (if anyone even did) and have a very nice day :)

Zachary
Zachary

While the premise of the game is fantastic the execution leaves me unsatisfied. The game is about finding contradictions in peoples statements, but you don't get much of a sense of progression for doing so. The real moments where the story changes up is when another hour pass and people move around.

The ending also comes out of no where and has almost nothing to do with any of the evidence you collect. Very underwhelming.

tom3p0
tom3p0

Excellent game! Had a ton of fun playing it and wish they made a sequel!

Bizarre Star ✨
Bizarre Star ✨

Paul Darrow, and FMV's favourites Anarosa Butler and Rupert Booth are fantastic as always.
No weak characters here.

scrubbrush
scrubbrush

Fun game that doesn't have some of the more tedious aspects of FMVs, meaning travel is easy. There's a map you can use. You'll still see some transition scenes many times, but they're short.

Acting is decent and story is good.

SpudCat97
SpudCat97

This game was so much fun! My mum and I played it recently over a few days, and it was a lot of fun piecing together the clues and spotting the contradictions. The acting was charming and sometimes goofy, which is always fun to see and got a few laughs.

I really like how the player is the one who is left to figure out the what happened from the clues they collect, instead of just being along for the ride and choosing one of two choices like some other FMV games. We did occasionally get stuck in trying to find the one or two pieces of information we needed in order to move on to the next chapter, however this was when the hints available came in handy to point us in the right direction. Another really nice thing about this game is the ability to reflect on the clues and statements the player gathers at any time (except cutscenes), even when they are not actively interviewing characters.

One thing i would look forward to if they were to make a sequel or a similar game is to make it more re-playable! It's safe to say the player may not remember every single contradiction they find, but I believe the culprit is always the same each time you play, so it would be just that bit more fun if the culprit was different with every play-through.

One final point, is that i believe this game is very user friendly, especially for anyone new to video games in general - as it does not feature a timer when making your decisions, any quick time events, the on screen icons and information are reasonably easy to see and also allows the player to play at their own pace.

Overall, I would highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a fun, interactive murder mystery!

SDHshadow
SDHshadow

Good game, had a great time playing it with my friends. I need a sequel of Jenks going "Have you ever seen this before?"

auraclex
auraclex

Purchased this for easy achievements. The story is not very captivating, but it is interesting enough. If you like easy achievements, purchase when this is on sale. This took me 6 hours with the guide = 17 achievements.

sigyndenning
sigyndenning

While I love the concept of this game and I also enjoyed some of the content of the story, the ending was incredibly disappointing. It came out of nowhere and had so little clues dropped at the beginning that it felt scattered and aimless. I typically like to try to Sherlock-Holmes-style solve the mystery (or at least build a solid theory) before the story says the ending.... and in a good mystery, even if my theory is wrong, there is ample support for the truth that I just hadn't considered before. This story, you would never figure out the ending. A lot of the scenes felt ridiculous and more sequel-bait than anything of consequence. Also, when comparing it to other games in the same genre, this game didn't really exploit the possibilities of its medium. It basically was an interactive movie--and I'd almost have rather have watched this as a movie than played it as a game. I hope this creator considers the mistakes and let-downs of this game when building their next.

Mantas
Mantas

One of the best detective games. I played on another platform and then bought on Steam too. BTW, I would really like to play it with controller - the game has potential for the controller, but it is a pity developer not implemented it. In any case - I very recommend this game!

Greysun
Greysun

Fun game, i've allows enjoyed FMV games and this is a great modern twist.

June Bug
June Bug

This is the game that got me into FMVs.

* While spotting contradictions can be difficult from time to time, the mystery itself is not too complex, possibly because it's a very short game - I've finished a bit over 5 hours.
* The acting is lovely, I can't pinpoint anyone that didn't do a good job - Jenks' and Ryan's actors ham it up quite a bit, though the result is more charming than annoying.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it hints at a sequel at the end, yet we have none. This should be remedied. I hope they do one day - I've recognized a few of the actors in other, more recent FMVs, maybe they'll come back for more one day.

Steiner ♥ diving
Steiner ♥ diving

Fun detective game that makes your brain work!

Alum
Alum

Good game ! A bit overwhelming at the start with all the information given, but eventually you get used to it. Quite a lot of thinking and remembering is needed which I enjoyed a lot!

grisperson
grisperson

Very good FMV game!
Both actong is good and also technically looks very professional.

ricemuncher
ricemuncher

very good game highly recommend hope they make more

SHARTZ
SHARTZ

it was so cozy. i really suspected i might not like it, but I was really surprised. its pretty tricky though in certain parts. you had to get kind of creative to unravel the plot.

Serin
Serin

Wasn't expecting a modern FMV game to be this entertaining (speaking as someone who grew up during the FMV fad of the '90s), but the fact that it's a murder mystery suits the format perfectly. The acting is in the same tradition as being over the top, like a theater production. This is also a huge plus as it might be boring otherwise. A short playthrough at 6-8 hours is just right and makes it an easy recommendation.

VampireRockstar
VampireRockstar

This was an awesome FMV detective game! The gameplay is quite simple, and the story is exceptionally done. The studio that makes these games also did "At Dead of Night" which I heard a sequel is in the works! Hopefully there will be a sequel for this one as well! My only gripe is that we don't get to see the characters reactions as to who the killer is. After they get caught, it would have been nice to see our other main suspects and what they feel about the solution. I also think we should have had a chance to see inside the community hall. Maybe in the sequel? Looking forward to seeing what Atlas has in store.

As a note to the developers, there is a bug that has 2 screens overlapping. So the screen flickers between the two and makes it challenging to see what is happening sometimes.

ObsidianSpectacles
ObsidianSpectacles

I played this with a group of friends. It was SO much fun to play, an we had a fantastic time with it.... right up until the ending. The ending completely ignored the vast majority of the story you uncover. The entire game revolves around one thing, and then the solution ends up having really nothing to do with it at all actually, and it all comes own to one minor piece of information you find in the beginning and no one mentions until the end.

It was frustrating because the gameplay was fun, the story was fantastic, we were all interested and invested, trying to figure out all the different ways it could turn out. And then when the ending happens... we were just confused, frustrated, and just really unsatisfied. :/ We even looked it up, convinced there MUST be a sequel to address everything the story had gone over and completely left open, but no. Guess all those loose ends just stay loose and Jenks forgets everything he ever saw. :(

VERY fun gamestyle and story. VERY unsatisfying ending to the point of incredulity. If you want a FMV detective game, I recommend looking somewhere else.

starboy
starboy

someday i hope to be like jenks - batshit insane, constantly stealing things that *might* be useful someday, solving murders, and effervescently transmasc

Wiesenknopf
Wiesenknopf

I just finished the game, and have to say, that as an FMV and adventure-lover, I found it a truly enjoyable experience.
The acting was spot on (and in case of detective Jenks, deliciously over the top), the story was intriguing enough that I would absolutely would have gone for the sequel, had there been one.
There are 2-3 times where it's easy to get stuck, but the in-game clue-system does help alleviate the problem - there really is no soupcan logic here, and even in hindsight, things do make sense.
To sum up, absolutely recommended.

PS: Time played is not representative, there is a lot of idling included there.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Loved it! So fun to be part of the mystery. I need tons more like this!

Mister Bleigh
Mister Bleigh

Such a fun mechanic for an FMV game. Easily the best "detective" FMV I've played for that reason. Having to use evidence and statements to call out a contradiction provides lots of uncertainty without being a "type random stuff into a prompt and hope for the right keywords".

közi
közi

baldie jenks 😢

chrissyp
chrissyp

A very good FMV detective game that actually forces you to be clever and figure out the answers instead of being spoonfed them like in many other games. It is an absolute tragedy that this game never got the sequel it set up for.