Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective might just be the most refreshing puzzle game, scratch that, title of 2021. The sort of game that comes around at just the right time that doesn’t ask a lot of the player other than simply getting lost in its magical world. It’s a game that is stunning to look at thanks to its hand-drawn illustrations/animations, simple to play with full keyboard or mouse controls, and and something that every member of the family can enjoy no matter their skill level. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a game that just hits all the right notes.
What you need to understand about the game is that Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a puzzle/maze game adapted from the works of the bestselling children’s book series Pierre The Maze Detective. I’ve never heard of the series, not having children of my own, but I’m definitely hooked and now on the lookout for the series at my local bookstore. For those of you more in my age bracket, Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is essentially Where’s Waldo in video game form, or at least what a game like that should be and not the Where’s Waldo trash we’ve gotten in the past.
The game sees you take control of maze expert Pierre. Your main job is to recover the magical Maze Stone and relics that have been taken by the nefarious Mr. X. You make your way through each incredibly densely detailed stage until you reach Mr. X who is waiting/hiding at the end, getting away just as you are about to catch him. In the process you must navigate mazes that consist not only of walls like in most boring maze games, but also of buildings, people, vehicles, objects and all manner of silly things. The world itself becomes the maze in such a fun way. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective might just be the most charming game of the entire year on all fronts.
The game is also visually stunning. Everything is hand-drawn and there is a real life to the entire world, seemingly pulsing with life and activity. Unlike a static children’s book, Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective really takes advantage of the platform allowing for tons of animations, both active and secret ones that you can find like in one of those classic point-and-click children’s games that graced every elementary computer lab in the ’90s. The game is as much about experiencing the world as it is finishing the main quest.
Touching a bush or trashcan might uncover a hidden person or animal. Tapping an object might open up a new area or start a funny animation. There is always something going on that tracking down all the extra objectives in a level feels as fun as the main objective. Just look at any of the screenshots from the game in this review and you can see there is so much silly happening at once. Every time I pop open the game I’m almost guaranteed to find something new.
You’ll also run into other characters along the way that might give you tasks before helping open up other areas of the stage you might be on. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective isn’t a long game by any means, but it is one that you will lose a lot of time on simply exploring every inch of every stage just to see what you discover. From new animations to visual gags, to even references to other video games. The secret animation to Metal Gear Solid early in the game left me smiling from ear to ear. On top of all of this is the fact that the game also features some solid voice acting that is sure to keep kids and parents alike engaged and entertained. There is something to be said of a video game whose only goal is to make you smile while playing and Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective does just that.
Children will love simply beating each maze on their quest to capture Mr. X, while adults will love the fact that collecting all the items in the game requires a fair bit of work and makes for a fun challenge. Video games are a fantastic thing that have helped a lot of people, this past year especially, but it’s rare that a game comes along that not only can play with your kids, but want to play with your kids.
I just can’t recommend Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective enough. The PC version is just about perfect in terms of what’s on offer, but just know that the game is releasing this summer on the Nintendo Switch for those families who game together on the TV or on the go. If you are looking for something cute, colorful, and a lot of fun to play, Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is the perfect game for you. Here’s to hoping we get more adventures!
Pros:
+ Gorgeous Visuals
+ Charming World
+ Fun For The Whole Family
+ Incredibly Wholesome
Cons:
– Wish There Was More
– Mouse Controls Can Be Slightly Wonky
– Better Zooming In/Out Features
“Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a gorgeous experience that the whole family can enjoy and will leave everyone smiling from start to finish.”
Final Score:
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