Audio
90%
The subtle audio cues and the soundtrack combine to make The Sexy Brutale a pleasure on the ears.
Visuals
80%
The art style and art deco feel of the mansion – as well as its design – suits the game perfectly.
Playability
70%
The controls are a tad clumsy, the puzzles sometimes defy logic while lacking any real consequence and the input delay for button presses and frame-rate issues between rooms take away from what is an otherwise great game.
Delivery
90%
A wonderful little story hidden away in a fiendishly clever little puzzle game.
Achievements
60%
Story related and collectible achievements. There’s nothing to see here.
April 23, 2017
Indie games are ten-a-penny these days, and to be completely honest, a good portion of them are uninspired, derivative and not worth a second of your time. Every so often though, a real peach comes along. A game that is both unique, interesting and completely captivating. That game, ladies and gents, is non-other than The Sexy Brutale, a puzzle adventure affair with a difference.
The Sexy Brutale throws you into the boots of a mysterious, masked character who finds himself in a Groundhog Day-style time loop in an elaborate mansion chock full of secrets with one task: save the guests from their murderous hosts. What starts off as a simple puzzle game with a charming aesthetic, escalates into a rather intriguing adventure game yarn with increasingly complex puzzles and a narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat.
With the power to rewind time and restart your day from scratch, you’ll effectively spend your time snooping on the guests and inhabitants around the spacious mansion trying to work out how to spare the unsuspecting fools from a tragic end. Watching the murders unfold and solving them backwards by observing, exploring and sometimes by a process of elimination is a huge part of the game’s draw, as is exploring the many nooks and crannies of the illustrious mansion to uncover its myriad secrets.
As the game goes on you’ll pick up new and intriguing powers to assist you on your journey, in the form of masks, meaning the puzzles get more elaborate and more complex, as they escalate towards the game’s finish. The Sexy Brutale at times can be a real thinker, so if you’re after a bit of a head scratcher, then look no further.
Unfortunately The Sexy Brutale is held back by some rather puzzling – and surely avoidable – annoyances. Sure, its controls may be a tad clumsy, but it’s the game’s technical issues like its button input lag and severe frame-rate issues when changing rooms on Xbox One that provide a lot of the game’s frustrations.
Something must be said about the puzzles as well, which sometimes defy logic and rely more on trial and error than anything else. There’s very little real consequence too… get it wrong? Oh well, just rewind the clock. Otherwise though, The Sexy Brutale is an excellent game. That much is certain.
It’s a simple concept in truth and there isn’t really a lot to the game in terms actual mechanics, but Cavalier Game Studios and Tequila Works really nailed the execution. The pacing is spot on, the tone is spot on and more importantly, the story is a complete joy. It all comes together to create a really neat package. With clear inspiration from Majora’s Mask, Groundhog Day married to a wonderful Cluedo style vibe, The Sexy Brutale is a puzzle game with a difference, and one indie game that’s certainly worth a look.