The Innsmouth Case – Review

Our Rating: 7/10

Anyone who has read HP Lovecraft’s famous horror novel knows how important Innsmouth is. Many of the author’s stories feature this small port town north of Arkham, both directly and indirectly. Its significance extends beyond his writings, with references to it appearing in games such as Call of Cthulhu and The Sinking City. It’s not surprising that, given its importance, it rose to prominence at some point. The Innsmouth Case provides such an opportunity. Are you prepared to unravel all of the mysteries that encircle the town’s inhabitants? Why do the people who live there smell like rotten fish?

Assemble Entertainment and RobotPumpkin Games are responsible for bringing us this type of story, which we can categorize as a visual novel. Yes, we have the power to alter the course of history, and I can assure you that every circumstance matters. The Innsmouth Case can last anywhere from half an hour to two hours, depending on the events that unfold during our journey through its enigmatic streets. And you never know what might happen to the Esoteric Order of Dagon’s acolytes.

We’ll assume the role of a retired private investigator. Amid his trials, he is visited by Tabitha Mars, a woman in search of her daughter. Fans of Lovecraft will recognize the significance of that last name and, in some ways, will speculate on why it has vanished. We will not hesitate to visit the town where people avoid us and behave strangely because we are eager to have a case in hand (and thus, fresh money).

Where does madness end and reality begin?

While Lovecraft’s stories aren’t known for being funny, The Innsmouth Case tries to strike a balance between humor and horror. Decision-making will be crucial, as a bad choice could result in our protagonist’s death or an eternal curse.

The danger instinct, in general, is the one that keeps us alert and forces us to make cautious decisions. At other times, however, it is preferable to be brave and face the dangers head-on. Finally, all of the decisions and actions that we must take will result in a total of 27 different outcomes. It’s almost nothing…

I’m going to say it now so you don’t get disappointed: the title we’re looking at is written in English. And, while it is true that it is “modern” and readable English (they could have used Lovecraft’s old expressions), it is still a disadvantage for many players who are unfamiliar with it. Let’s hope they get to the bottom of it soon because the lack of translation is a huge barrier that many people will be unwilling to overcome.

It doesn’t draw much attention from a visual standpoint. It’s as if we’re in the middle of a novel. This means that the “novel’s” pages will turn, but there will be few illustrations to help us imagine what is happening. It’s not bad either; it just takes a little getting used to.

Innsmouth is so unique in its composition that we can imagine the entire town just by reading the text. Or at least I’d like to believe that’s the case because I am conditioned by what I’ve learned from the author’s previous stories…

Final Thoughts

The work of Assemble Entertainment and RobotPumpkin Games has a special place in the hearts of fans of H.P. Lovecraft stories. His work takes us on a new journey through the streets of Innsmouth, where mysteries, secret cults, and dangers abound. A journey through the reminiscences of the 1936 novel The Shadows on Innsmouth, but with a more upbeat tone despite the events that occur there.

Of course, we’ll have to read a lot because we’re dealing with a more interactive version of a visual novel. Indeed, we can see one of the game’s 27 endings depending on our choices.