Paradise Killer was a pretty good time for me. From start to finish that was about all I can say about the game. It’s not a criticism exactly, but the game has weaknesses and it is hard to ignore them. Probably the biggest weakness of the game is that, besides the last 30 minutes of the game, nothing really happens. To be clear I mean that in the very present “right here, right now” sense. The characters and the world they live in have a lot of history and personality, and for the most part is feels original and interesting. But they are also very static. The player character (quite literally) jumps into the main hub area of the game and is then free to interact with anything and everything at their own pace. No one ever attempts to attack, question you or provide any obstacles beyond locked doors that can be opened with simple puzzles. To be blunt, none of them are even inclined to move. It reminded me of the ‘investigation’ and ‘free time’ parts of Danganronpa, crossed with the exploration and puzzle solving gameplay found in Myst. Is that a bad thing? Well, no. Both Danganronpa and Myst are some of the most renown ‘cult-classic’ games of all time. However, there is a reason they are considered cult-classic games. They certainly have their appeal, and dedicated fan-bases. But neither has the kind of action and excitement to compete with the fast paced, adventure gameplay found in almost all of the modern major releases. So, as far as Paradise Killer goes, I suggest being open minded, but rational about it. If it looks like nothing but a visual novel with a walking simulator bolted on to it to you, then you might want to give it a miss. However, if the colour, music or general vibes you see in the trailer gel with you, I suggest giving it a try. I think you will find yourself having a good time.
