First case ready for research in demo for A Study in Blue

• Announcements by Sam Amiotte-Beaulieu
• Published:

Dual-character, side-scrolling detective adventure coming soon to Steam on Windows PC

Investigating an entire city may seem like a tall order, but in the upcoming A Study in Blue by French developer Relate Games, at least there will be two playable characters to help cover more ground. 

Kenneth’s a “stoic private detective struggling to balance” every aspect of his life, but things get even more chaotic when kind-hearted teen runaway Blue comes into the picture. In seeking redemption for his own “criminal past,” Kenneth takes Blue under his wing to help her find the answers she’s looking for and “uncover the truth about herself.” But there are many more mysteries in the “megacity” of Republica, and by working together to solve both “main and side” cases, Kenneth and Blue find themselves diving into a city “full of secrets waiting to be discovered.”

Presented in 2D pixel art, A Study in Blue is a side-scrolling, “semi-open-world” narrative detective game in which you switch control between Kenneth and Blue.  Spread across three distinct “intertwined narrative arcs” are “complex moral choices” to make, whose consequences can lead to one of three primary outcomes. There are no right and wrong answers, however, in this “story-driven game with no game over,” which will progress regardless of the direction you’ve chosen.

You will explore a wide variety of locales via keyboard or gamepad, with various storefronts and other indoor and outdoor environments available across different districts you’re able to freely explore. There are numerous characters to interact with along the way, and the game’s “dynamic dialogue system” allows you to “confront [them], interrupt lies, and uncover the truth through well-timed objections.” In between looking for clues and interrogating people, you can “grab a drink, go shopping” and more. By participating in "everyday city life" activities, you’ll gain deeper knowledge about the world and its inhabitants, which in turn allows greater understanding of the cases you take on. 

No specific release date has been set for A Study in Blue just yet, but a full case to put your deduction skills to the test is available right now through the demo on Steam for Windows PC. 

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