The Shapeshifting Detective
The Shapeshifting Detective is a supernatural-noir murder mystery FMV game where you play as a detective who can shapeshift into other characters, allowing you to unlock secret conversations and private encounters.
Dorota Shaw is dead. And the prime suspects are three tarot readers with the uncanny ability to predict murder – or commit it. It’s your job to find out what else they know – but they won’t reveal their dark secrets to just anyone… Luckily, you can be anyone you want to be. Even the next victim.
The game features more than 1600 full HD video responses, a simple questioning interface with unique ‘delete’ mechanic, and a randomly chosen murderer at the start of the game. Developed by the World Record-breaking makers of “The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker”.
As you explore the town of August, you’ll be treated to a streaming radio broadcast of specially selected dark fiction read out by some of our favourite content creators…
Jesse Cox
Tex Murphy (Chris Jones)
Adam Day (CallOfCthulhu)
Brandy Clarke (Brandykins)
Jessa (The Jessa Channel)
John Mark Clawson
Laceya Finley
The Raw Geek
Tim Leftwich
Venomous Platypus
Game Discussion
Steam User 5
its an ok game the story had me hooked from start to finish because it was interesting
i coudnt get the achievement Book 'em Danny to unlock so a gave up :(
Steam User 3
I bought The Shapeshifting Detective because some of the actors were the same as in Contradiction, which I enjoyed despite its flaws, and I can say the same thing is true for this game. The actors were doing a good job for the most part, even if Robert Booth (the Chief) seemingly has to overact every scene and character he plays. It's passable, though, because he feels genuinely invested and I'll take that over boring underacting in FMV games. As for the story, it was interesting enough to motivate me to finish the game in 3 1/2 hours in one sitting, gaining the "Find the killer on your 1st playthrough" achievement in the process. I don't think it is hard to do, it just means that you have to use the game's unique "shapeshifting" mechanic quite a lot and sometimes "jump" into the same characters multiple times per chapter, if it feels like it could reveal something. That's all there is to the gameplay as well, so if the story and they way it is presented isn't appealing to you in the first 10 minutes, I'd say you probably won't enjoy the rest of the game.
Overall, a good FMV game. I am not interested in replaying it (and since I got probably the best ending or one of the best endings, I don't see a reason to), but since I got it on sale for 3€ I think it was totally worth it.
Steam User 3
Had a lot of fun with this game. The actors had a lot of fun with their characters with some hilarious interactions. Spent a few hours finding Easter eggs!
Steam User 2
Pandemic game, but kinda a cool story and without a guide could be a very fun path to navigate. Like many other WI games, the story has a lot of, "wait, what?" moments when a new character is introduced but its acted like hes been there the entire time type of thing.
Steam User 4
to be fair, quite good. 8/10 plot was decent, acting a bit cheesy but overall fun play.
Steam User 2
3/5
It´s alright.
Nothing close to Late Shift or The Complex but it´s fun.
Great ambient music.
Actors are nice.
Interesting characters.
Story is good.
Fun shapeshifting mechanic.
Have a nice day.
Steam User 2
It's a FMV game so if you're here you either like the genre enough or you wanted to give it a try like me. This is a pretty good introduction. The story is interesting enough and I was surprised that the writing wasn't terrible. Obviously it's not Oscar level performances but it does it well enough.