Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus Review

As a big fan of both the Danganronpa and Zero Escape series of games, with their eccentric characters and dark, engaging stories, I’ve been very much looking forward to Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus. With both of the previously mentioned franchises’ creators, Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi, founding developer Too Kyo Games, it’s clear that they’ve taken inspiration from their previous works. But, is RAIN CODE Plus a stand-out adventure? Or is this mystery too similar to those we’ve seen before?

It’s difficult to talk too much about the game's narrative without giving something away. Playing as Yuma Kokohead, a young detective who awakens with no memories of who or where he is, you’ll board a train and meet a group of detectives who all share a special talent known as “Forensic Forte”. Oh, he’s also made a pact with a spirit named Shinigami, who uses her otherworldly powers to aid Yuma along his journey. This group of master detectives are tasked with uncovering the truth behind some of the most puzzling mysteries by the World Detective Organisation, with one of the biggest unsolved cases being located in Kanai Ward. So, Yuma and the eclectic group of sleuths board the Amaterasu Express in order to crack the case!

Being an amnesiac, Yuma will be guided by Shinigami and his fellow detectives, with the opening train sequence acting as a sort of extended tutorial chapter, whilst also giving players a chance to get to know the various characters. Each subsequent chapter has its own standalone cases to solve, with each one further developing the overarching narrative. It certainly feels like a spiritual successor to Danganronpa, although instead of the Class Trials, you’ll be thrust into the Mystery Labyrinth in order to navigate your way through a series of increasingly hazardous obstacles. Certainly more showy than the Class Trials, but they do ultimately lead to Yuma solving the cases.

As RAIN CODE Plus is very story-driven, it needs a good cast of characters to keep things interesting. For the most part, they’re all likeable and endearing in their own unique ways. Shinigami did start to get under my skin after a while and felt very clichéd, with an overuse of innuendos and a little too much fan service. Aside from her, the rest of the characters you’ll meet are intriguing, and uncovering more about who Yuma really is fleshes out him as a character really well. Sure, amnesia is a tired trope in videogames, but it works really well here!

Originally, the game was released for Nintendo Switch (minus the Plus in the title) and there have been a few upgrades and bonuses included in this version. For instance, the game now supports 4K resolution, as well as much quicker loading times. Whilst I never played the original to be able to compare, it’s nonetheless a very visually appealing title.

The neon-soaked environments of Kanai Ward are a joy to explore and can feel alive at times. It’s not especially big, but the constant rain, unique architecture, and moody vibes make it a fascinating place to explore. The labyrinths are all visually distinct and often reminded me of Persona 4’s Midnight Channel locations. The shifting visuals as you progress further into each Labyrinth is always a sight to behold, and it comes across as a trippy fever dream that you won’t want to wake up from!

In addition to the fantastic environments, the characters are incredibly well-designed and voiced. With almost the entire game being fully voice-acted, it’s great to hear such a stellar performance from the entire cast. The musical score is also brilliant and one of the absolute highlights when playing through RAIN CODE Plus!

If you’ve ever played any of the mainline Danganronpa games, then the gameplay in RAIN CODE Plus will certainly be familiar to you. The basic premise is that Yuma will need to solve a series of murders, and his first port of call in each chapter will be to visit the crime scenes. Here, you’ll uncover clues that are added to your inventory under the name “Solution Keys” before heading off to the otherworldly “Mystery Labyrinth”. These areas act as a sort of physical representation of your case, with specific questions and suspects appearing as all manner of hazards. You’ll then need to use the Solution Keys and your own deduction skills to navigate these obstacles before ultimately uncovering the murderers.

Whilst it was always enjoyable to explore Kanai Ward and uncover clues, the Mystery Labyrinth can become a bit of a slog at times. Despite them being a visual treat, these environments are little more than corridors to run down as Yuma and Shinigami converse. The occasional minigame or multiple-choice question is thrown at you from time to time to break up the tedium, but you’ll need to keep your wits sharp to ensure your stamina meter isn’t depleted (although this only reverts you to the last checkpoint).

The most enjoyable aspect of the Mystery Labyrinths, though, is the Reasoning Death Matches. Unlike traditional turn-based battles, these fights will see you evading statements thrown at Yuma. If there’s something you can rebuff with solid evidence, you attack; if they say something you have no evidence to counter with, you dodge. It’s simple, for sure, but they were still quite a thrill to play and made me feel rather intelligent despite there only being a couple of Solution Keys to use per encounter, making the deduction fairly simple.

With this being the Plus version of a game released in 2023, the previously mentioned graphical upgrades aren’t the only thing you’ll find when playing this version. All of the Nintendo Switch DLC is included, allowing you to play five extra chapters as other Master Detectives, giving them some more screen time as well as interesting bits of characterisation. Not only that, but the game now includes a gallery mode to rewatch cinematics and listen to the incredible soundtrack.

As visual-novel-type games go, Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus has much more player input than some of the others on the market. Coupled with a truly brilliant cast of characters, a plot that kept me engaged throughout, and some stellar aesthetics, this is a great title for anyone who loves a bit of murder mystery, and an absolute must-play for Danganronpa and Zero Escape fans. Just as long as you can get past some of the clichéd characters and excessive fan service.