Does the fourth game in this retro-inspired point-and-click adventure series live up to expectations? Or is it as hollow as a family spiritual guide?

This review is of the iOS version - which released on September 24, 2015 - but the game is also out on PC.

The Blackwell series has grown on me immensely. For a loyal fan of point-and-click adventures, I was surprised  I hadn’t heard of the series until earlier this year when Wadjet Eye Games ported the first three games (Legacy, Unbound, Convergence) to mobile. (You can read our review of the Blackwell Trilogy here.) For the most part I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Blackwell games, so I’m thrilled that Deception has also made its way to mobile.

The Blackwell games have a special place in my heart if only because Wadjet Eye Games has tapped into a pleasantly nostalgic vibe that wouldn’t feel out of place in a nineties adventure game. But perhaps even more poignant is the sharp writing that quickly cuts through a superficial layer of cliché.

For newcomers to the series, the Blackwell games follow the adventures of spiritual medium Rosa Blackwell and the family spirit guide Joey Mallone. Rosa and Joey work together to guide other spirits “into the light.” So there’s the cliché part, but I found the temptation to roll my eyes at such a trite concept dispelled by the gradual unfolding of the sad stories of these spirits. It’s pretty powerful stuff to watch grieving characters who have been murdered struggle to come to terms with their death and lament those things never achieved in life. It may hit too close to home for some people.

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The story arc of the previous three Blackwell games was wrapped up in Convergence, so Deception kicks off with Rosa and Joey again at the helm, but this time caught up in a new mystery. Rosa has been contacted by an old co-worker who implores her to investigate a case on his behalf. Without giving away too much, the trail quickly becomes littered with bodies and a stack of ghosts, all revolving around a mysterious cult leader. I enjoyed the way that the story was gradually pieced together, not always taking the expected path.

As a stand-alone adventure, I found Deception to be solid enough with a satisfying ending that left me hanging out for the next game. But, admittedly, I did miss the story of the previous few games. And while an unfair reaction, it's one I found difficult to resolve while playing Deception. For people new to the series, Deception will likely offer a satisfying experience showcasing the best elements of adventure games of yesteryear. But having played the previous three Blackwell games, I know that the series is capable of more than what’s on offer.

I was also struck by the lacklustre visual effort. Deception still captures that timeless retro pixel art style very well, but compared with Convergence, the look is not as crisp, nor are the environments as varied or colourful. Similar to Unbound, the developer has returned to a more sombre, dark noir-inspired setting, with the game largely taking place over the course of a single night. This, in itself, is not a bad thing, but having tasted the variety and colour the Blackwell series is capable of, I lamented a return to darker times.

The puzzles too can be a bit of a mixed bag. In addition to collecting the usual quest items, Rosa can use her smart phone to keep track of her investigations, piece together evidence and search the internet for clues. It’s an enjoyable inclusion that offers a nice change of pace from the usual inventory/journal management of adventure games. Unfortunately, it’s an element not utilised enough. For the first few hours, I found the puzzles to be far simpler than in previous instalments and not nearly as inspired. With few locations to visit and fewer items to interact with, the solutions are often as transparent as a family ghost and rely too heavily on backtracking to previously visited areas.

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That is, until around half way through the game where the pace really kicks up a notch. It’s like the writers had a surge of inspiration, with the logic behind some of the puzzles becoming much more thoughtful. It was at this point that I had to start thinking outside the box and take notice of every piece of information that came my way, like a random quote on a poster or how to use a glow-in-the-dark business card. I found these puzzles to be the most enjoyable, as I felt smarter having solved them - I wish the whole game featured puzzles like this rather than just the latter half.

At a technical level, the port to iOS has been achieved admirably. Everything works as it should and I came across no bugs of note. The more I play point-and-click (or perhaps a more progressive term is “swipe-and-tap”) adventures, the more I have come to appreciate the natural home they have on mobile devices. If you’re tossing up which platform to play Deception on, go for the mobile version purely for the convenience and simplicity.

Despite my mixed feelings, I do want to emphasise that Blackwell Deception is an incredibly solid adventure game. Though it may not be the strongest in the series, it still provides a very intriguing and ultimately satisfying story for long-time fans. It is also the title that I’d recommend any newcomers to dive into, as it is more approachable in its design and narrative than the grander trilogy.

Grab the game now.

Writer:
Stephen Mitchell

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