The 25th Ward: The Silver Case Review

Player(s): 1
Platform(s): PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4

The 2005 sequel to The Silver Case, The 25th Ward: The Silver Case, is finally here! Newly remastered and available for the first time in the West. Previously only available in Japan and on mobile devices, Suda51, Grasshopper Manufacture, and NIS America are bringing this unique adventure game to us for both the PC (via Steam) and PlayStation 4. 

It's been five years since the end of the original Silver Case and a new ward has been created, taking inspirations from past wards in the hopes of creating a new utopia. Not all is perfect though as this new ward also comes with its own problems. You arrive at the Bayside Towers where there have been a recent number of mysterious suicides and it's your job to investigate them as well as a recent case of a woman who has been murdered in her apartment.

​The game is broken up into three different sections showing you different stories and characters that all connect in some way to the main plot. These three sections are titled Placebo, Correctness, and Match Maker. Along the way you will play through different scenarios that take you through stories you’ve already played showing you different perspectives from what you did previously. It honestly can get very confusing very quickly if you aren't paying close enough attention and this system can leave you lost, having to replay some sections to get a grasp again on what’s going on. The Placebo section can definitely be a chore to get through, and can leave you far more confused than you were when you began it. I had to go through this section twice just to get a better understanding of what I was reading.

The three different story campaigns allow you to explore the tower in different ways. You explore the tower in a similar fashion as one finds in visual novels and dungeon crawlers, but unlike visual novels, it also adds the option to use different commands. You can talk to other people to gather clues and progress the story further, use items such as key cards and passwords to unlock areas and venture deeper, and you can also pick different directions to walk and explore. Ultimately though, you’ll soon find that there is almost always only one correct path despite all these options.

I was impressed with how deep the story gets and the writing is smart and clever leaving me wanting to keep playing so I can discover more and more of what exactly is happening in the tower. Suda51 attempts to bring us characters who stand out here, but sadly some get washed out in the overall narrative and don’t leave a lasting impression. From all the characters I saw in this game, only about three truly stood out to me. The main problem that I encountered was that most characters simply didn’t seem all that likeable to me, but that’s my personal opinion in that regard.

The 25th Ward was originally developed for mobile devices in japan and it clearly shows in this current port. Visually it isn't that impressive, but this new updated remaster does its best to bring it to the current generation. You play in a windowed mode where amazing looking backgrounds and styles are added that match the gritty atmosphere of the 25th Ward. Colors in the background blend well with the darker textures of the city and tower you explore. The building models are simple and basic, but that’s to be expected from a mobile port.

Suda51's signature sound style is present bringing in sound cues from other works, notably the save sounds from No More Heroes. Much of the same music and sound effects appear in a number of his games and their addition always make me happy. The background music fits the atmosphere pretty well and really gets you immersed in the campaign making one want to keep playing it over and over to see, and hear, everything.

Again, the only real complaint I have of this game is that its story is really deep and involved. If you’re someone who prefers casually picking up a game and playing it in small bursts then this sadly isn't for you. There are a lot of complicated explanations and plot elements and it can quickly lead to one being overwhelmed and make the player feel like they aren't really getting to the point of the plot. It also does connect heavily with the previous title “The Silver Case” and if you didn’t play that well you are going to start confused and won't really know what some things are. I definitely found that I had to go back and refresh myself in the previous story so I wasn’t as confused going into this title.

In the end Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture brings us an amazing title full of mystery, adventure, suspense, and a thrilling conclusion that felt truly satisfying. I want to go back and replay it and really take my time so I can be sure to get every sliver of information that I may have missed. If you love great stories and can stomach the visual novel style but with some added gameplay elements, I would definitely recommend this game to you. Just make sure to play the first one before diving into this entry.

I always enjoy a Suda51 game and can surely say this title left a good and lasting impression on me. Grasshopper Manufacture and NIS America have made a definite mark in the visual novel genre.

-Nestor

For More On The 25th Ward: The Silver Case:
nisamerica.com/games/the-25th-ward/index.html

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Graphics: B-
Sound: A
Gameplay: A
Value: B
 
OVERALL: A

Pros:
+ Deep story that makes you want more.
+ Amazing music and signature Suda51 sounds.
+ Fun twist on the visual novel style.

Cons:
- Too much story in a short amount of time can leave you overwhelmed. 
- Forgettable characters

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Disclaimer: This game was provided to us by the publisher for the purpose of this review.