Did you know it’s illegal in 42 countries not to make a pun about Duck Detective: The Secret Salami? Hell, Happy Broccoli Games go full-out, even changing up the terminology so that this P.I. conducts deducktions, not those vanilla conclusions rookies would make.
You might recall a preview write-up of about 15-20 minutes of play. The full game is effectively the exact same play area; only once you deduce your first clue will it expand further and further until you uncover… let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?
As Eugene McQuacklin, you’re a duck detective, hard on his luck and needing a new client. He’s hired to investigate some missing lunch at a bus depot, though, upon arrival, another truth is uncovered each time he pulls at a thread. Fear not, tin-hat-wearing adventurers – Duck Detective: The Secret Salami isn’t anything dark. It’s all very pleasant, entertaining and a little savoury.
Eugene has no clue (ha!) who hired him, nor does he know anybody’s name, role, or whether they are a suspect or not. To put together a case, he’ll inspect points of interest and jot down a keyword if necessary, or whip out his magnifying glass, similar to Frog Detective, and hunt for clues by hovering over an image.
His journal is in the screen’s bottom left corner and will have an exclamation point for new evidence. From here, you’ll fill in sentences based on the evidence retrieved, giving him his deducktion, thus propelling the narrative forward. It’s possible to guess by selecting a keyword from the dropdown menu, but typically, you’ll need to unlock it through investigating or dialogue.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a point and click, but everything is evidence-based instead of a conventional inventory system. A dossier informs Eugene of the suspects, their roles, and traits that might allude to their involvement in a crime. Additionally, there’s a map highlighting areas you might have missed.
This is a short game – 2-3 hours on the back of the box – but hands up, it took me longer than that. There are approximately eight areas, just over a dozen characters, and even a hint system should you get stuck. The challenge isn’t necessarily the clues, as there’s no need for pixel hunting. Instead, it’s to formulate a conclusion. Sometimes, it’s obvious, but the wording is a little off and might perplex the common overthinker, such as yours truly.
Prepare to be immersed in Duck Detective: The Secret Salami. Every character is voice-acted, with veteran Sean Chiplock (Demon King in Demon Turf), who plays Eugene, standing out. The noir-like musical score sets the perfect mood, though it can be repetitive. But that’s part of the charm. Visually, the game is a treat – reminiscent of Paper Mario, with its isometric playground. It’s a delightful experience, darlings. Truly delightful.
There are two modes available, and hints, as mentioned. I would say I tried the hints to compile a thorough review, though I used a couple of hints due to that overthinking malarky. Eugene isn’t penalised for using hints, and you can earn all the achievements in one playthrough. Only one is missable, which I earned in the first ten minutes due to being reckless with the rubbish bins.
With only a few hours of gameplay, is Duck Detective: The Secret Salami worth it? Absolutely! It isn’t the most challenging of point and click adventures, yet it will stump people in places. More importantly, it’s satisfying to be able to reach a conclusion (with multiple endings) and thoroughly enjoy the journey from start to finish. If you want a pick-up-and-play casual adventure, Duck Detective fits the bill. I thank you.
