Someone tried to kill me, Abby!
A fifty-year-old man coughs blood into a rag. His time is running out. He needs you. And his name, of course, is Uncle Marcus.
Who pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus? is an FMV whodunnit game where the player has to guess… that’s right, which of the family killed Uncle Marcus.
At first, acting seems just about as hammy and cheesy as a Dairylea Lunchable. And in many respects, it is. However, the acting style is appropriate to the feel of the game.
It is quickly apparent that the whodunnit provides the humour that gives the game momentum, with the whodunnit providing the structure.
Will we even finish ONE round?
The premise is that the protagonist Abby, the only sane and balanced one in the family is taking part in a Zoom family quiz. But, on Uncle Marcus’s request, Abby is tasked with secretly interrogating all her family members to find out who killed him.
Abby is a likeable, apparently normal young woman, with her acting role being a little more demanding than the other actors, as she has more serious, emotional experiences.
Abby undergoes a visibly noticeable character arc, as the pressures she faces gradually disintegrate her cheery disposition.
Whether playing a bitchy aunt, a hippy brother, or an influencer sister, the other actors all have their moments. The bitchy aunt June is a highlight, as she consistently puts everyone, including her own son, down in the most viciously hilarious manner.
Time’s up!
The story is coherent and well written, consistently exhibiting humour throughout.
Characters are a little caricatured, in both writing and acting. But that is to be expected for a comedy whodunnit. It even adds to the charm.
All characters at all points have very clear wants and needs and feel relatable and likeable or dislikeable in their own unique ways. The way the family constantly bicker is sweet and humorous and will be particularly easy to relate to for most players.
There are many twists throughout which take the player by surprise and are all in-character and hilarious in equal measure.
Multiple endings are a mixed bag, so it’s sometimes worth playing to see different outcomes, but at other times less satisfying.
Toby, is that even a question?
Gameplay is formed of dialogue options, with choices flashing up just long enough to quickly decide on an option before time runs out.
Due to it’s light-hearted humour and accessible gameplay, this kind of game would be perfect on a big TV screen at small parties. Get some drinks in and a few friends round one Sunday and laugh as you try frantically to agree how to answer questions and catch the killer.
The only issue with the gameplay is actually completing the game. Although each playthrough is about 30-40 minutes, there are so many options, it takes a very long time to get to the accusing section at the end.
And even more significantly, it takes an extremely long time to find out the real killer.
So, assuming this game is designed for parties to play socially, it would just be a chore to try to complete it through repeated playthroughs in one night.
This is a massive shame, as this game has tons of charm and humour. With a few tweaks to the gameplay, making it possible to catch the killer in one night, this game could be a winner.
However, this game in its current state is anything but perfect.
Summary
Lots of humour, but ill-conceived gameplay mechanics make this one feel like it takes way too long to get to the meat of it. Not a lot to be missed here.
