14 DAY TRIAL // 
The classic detective always gets his mark, always uncovers the truth, always tries to make the world better. He might lose a part of himself while doing so, physically or on a psychic level. Friends might abandon him. The world might be revealed as a cold, dark place. A vast conspiracy might remain just out of reach. But a detective needs to push forward, through the disappointment and the layers of power, probing the nature of the world he lives in and desperately searching for clues on how it might be made better.
Backbone was created by EggNut and published by Rawfury. I enjoyed it on Steam on the PC but it will also be offered on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in the future. The game takes the core structure of a detective and adventure experience and adds an interesting twist.
As the improbably named private detective Howard Lotor, the player quickly gets a case and the game seems to settle into a modern take on the classic hard-boiled detective universe, albeit with a unique twist. The investigator is a raccoon while the entire city he moves through trying to solve his case is populated with animals. A hierarchy is relatively quickly revealed and a journalist partner, Renee Wilson, adds extra texture and depth to everything the player uncovers. The setting is detailed with plenty of little charming and disturbing details sprinkled about.
The story quickly takes an unexpected turn and, deeper into Backbone, things get even weirder. The dialogues are very well written, even for characters with limited screen time. Gamers should also know that there’s only one ending, despite the apparent choices that Lotor makes across the game. I appreciated the entire narrative EggNut has created. I also understand why many players are dissatisfied with the way it progresses after Act II. It also goes very hard on sadness.
The gameplay elements of Backbone are limited. Players can guide the protagonist around and solve puzzles or challenges, well-designed but limited. The conversations are impressive in terms of writing and give plenty of details about both world and the characters. The game mostly wants the player to move forward with the core mystery but there are also extra stories to engage with.
The first two chapters of Backbone show how well the mix of story and adventure can work. I could have played that version of the game for many more hours, taking cases, finding solutions, making the city a better place in small ways even as it remains uncaring and oppressive in many others.
The rest of the game moves in a darker direction. It touches on philosophical questions without offering clear answers. It’s a big shift that I initially felt was a bad idea for the flow of the experience. But after the fourth chapter and the epilogue, I warmed up to the approach and the way everything fit with the universe and the noir approach. Backbone is one of a handful of games that stirs up feelings as the best books, movies or conversations can. And it does it because it shifts gears and because it does not deliver all the answers players might want.
Backbone looks very good, with a presentation that’s perfectly aligned with the themes and the story. The city manages to be both imposing and worthy of love, filled with details that suggest decline and trouble. The characters, despite the lack of perfect detail, express their feelings economically and directly. The world is more detailed than it needs to be, with plenty of cool touches even for areas that the game does not visit and fast-moving players might not even notice. The game has got style to spare.
The conversation and puzzle interfaces are easy to use and are well integrated with the overall presentation. The characters do not talk, which is a great choice because it allows players to focus on the written word. The soundtrack is impressive, a mix of jazz and industrial elements that feels like it emanates directly from the world. It’s baffling why there are moments in the game that are spent in total silence (apart from one moment later on that needs the quiet).
The Good
- Hard-boiled animal universe
- Solid writing
- Impressive presentation
The Bad
- Maybe one twist too many
- Limited gameplay
- No real choice
Conclusion
The game also delivers on its tonal shift and twist and does things that a simple noir detective story could not. Backbone understands the value of good writing and works hard to make words matter. The development team has already said that it has more stories to tell in this universe and I very much want to see how they expand on the best elements of Backbone and how they can make the world even more intriguing.
Review code provided by the publisher.
