An adventure puzzle game, The Sexy Brutale is a zany title that has quickly made a name for itself. Currently holding an aggregate score of 82 on Metacritic, the title was a surprise hit that has quickly developed a cult following.
A wonderfully dark mystery, The Sexy Brutale takes players on unique and interesting adventure filled with intrigue and plenty of plot twists. Released on April 12 by Tequila Works, the same studio that made the very well-received zombie platformer Deadlight, The Sexy Brutale brings a new life to the indie puzzler.
Wanna know why?
Let’s find out.
The Sexy Brutale Has Awesome Art
Just look at that up there.
The graphics are absolutely beautiful! The art style used in The Sexy Brutale is like Tim Burton decided to direct a video game. Characters are bizarre yet charming, and the gorgeous landscapes are both colorful and Gothic at the same time. The game makes great use of lighting and shadow to set the mood, and has a diverse selection of settings for you to explore.
Titles like The Sexy Brutale display just how far video games have come when even a cartoon-style game rivals animated films like Kubo and the Two Strings and Paranorman.
Superb Story Defines The Sexy Brutale
Our cast awakes to find themselves trapped inside a mysterious casino mansion, and every time the clock strikes midnight, all but one of them are killed in a variety of gruesome ways by the staff.
The lone survivor, Preacher Lafcadio Boone is able to survive the night and retain his memories when the day repeats itself, leaving him their only hope in solving the mystery of why they are there and who is killing them. Similar to the time system used in Majora’s Mask, you relive the same day and use the knowledge you’ve gained to learn and do more in your quest to save the party guests.
The story has mystery, intrigue, horror, and comedy. Not to mention a unique plot. If you enjoy games led by a strong story, this is for you.
The Sexy Brutale‘s Cast is Crazy and Memorable
The characters in The Sexy Brutale are a strange bunch, to say the least. The bizarre list includes a genius clock-maker, a master architect, a magical artifact dealer, and even a blind sculptor, to name a few.
Each of them has a mask that represents part of their past and personality, and several already know each other, giving them history the game can use toward the story. Some of them are even employees of the mysterious casino and know more than they let on, while others once had ties to it before letting go.
The diverse cast helps shake any pre-conceptions the player may have and keeps them guessing with every twist and turn.
Gripping Gameplay Comes in Spades in The Sexy Brutale
As Boone, the player is the only character unaffected by the game’s time-loop conceit, so the player is able to save the others from being murdered. How? By going super spy.
Each character has their own unique part of the mansion, which you must explore. Search for clues and items, rewinding time as need be so you can watch how they are killed, then change your plan accordingly. For example, you can replace the live round in a gun with a blank, leaving the would-victim still breathing.
And to shake things up even more, you gain a new ability after each saved character. These powers, such as lock-picking and enhancing the range of your hearing, can then be used to your advantage when trying to save the next. These are incredibly important given the fact that Boone cannot be present during the murder attempts, as his presence alone would affect the actions you’ve planned for.
This all makes for an intriguing gameplay mechanic of Sherlock Holmes-ing the place, planning, then trial-and-error as you watch the one you’re trying to save die then rewind time to make tweaks accordingly.
If you enjoy grim stories, Gothic art styles, and satisfying gameplay, this is a title worth looking at. The Sexy Brutale crafts a wonderfully dark tale that plays like an interactive animated film, leaving you wanting more.
If you find yourself drawn to this mysterious casino just like our cast, you can pick it up on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam for $19.99.
