Nobody Wants To Die is a narrative-focused detective game set in a retro-futuristic cyberpunk setting. The Bladerunner-inspired rendition of New York City with this unique twist creates an excellent atmosphere, as players take on the role of disgraced detective James Karra as he investigates the mysterious cover-up of a prominent official's murder. While the game is quite linear, there are several areas in which it opens up to allow players a degree of freedom.
The first of these more open levels comes in Green Tower. For the case, Karra is called to investigate a suspected suicide, but upon his arrival, it quickly becomes obvious that the story is more complex than it appears. Players will need to piece together various clues, using a series of futuristic gadgets to do so. There are also several items around the room which players can interact with, some of which can influence later outcomes in the story or unlock missable achievements. Here's everything players need to know about the Green Tower level in Nobody Wants To Die.
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How To Solve The Crime Scene
The first thing players will notice upon entering through the large double doors is the burning cherry tree with a corpse hanging from it. On the floor, a green flammable gel can also be found at the base of the tree. Interacting with it will add a clue to be used later at the Evidence Board. Proceed towards the charred body and take a photo of the face to confirm its identity as Edward Green.
Next, players will be introduced to the Reconstructor. This gadget helps to reassemble fragments of time, and gradually enables James to piece together the different moments of a crime scene. Initiating the reconstruction of an event is as simple as left-clicking, right-clicking, or clicking both at the same time, depending on the order of rectangles. With this done, the Reconstructor will change into a timeline view, with significant events to investigate highlighted in gold. Using Q and E to cycle forwards and backwards through time, players can find the relevant point by aligning the glowing pin with the gold box. This will trigger a forcefield to generate around certain points of interest in the world. In the case of this first instance, it will form around Green's body. Entering into this forcefield bubble will enable players to then analyze from inside it. Analyze Green's face to discover that his Ichorite is melted, and it will no longer be possible to extract it.
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Following this, James will investigate the area, starting with the splattered lecithin gel on the tree stump. This will prompt the introduction of the X-Ray gadget, which you can use to trace the yellow wires around the base of the tree to a transformer under the floor. After doing this scan, James can then interact with the transformer and lift it, revealing that it has clearly been tampered with and overloaded to cause a short circuit.
At this point, the police chief will call, explaining that James needs to leave and write up the case as a suicide. James refuses on the grounds that there is evidence of foul play. Following this conversation, interact with the transformer again in order to reconstruct the short circuit scene. Next, approach the "anomaly" on the tree stump and take a photo of it.
With the photo captured, head to the front of the tree and analyze the blood splatter on the glass. This will enable the reconstruction of the next scene, in which it becomes clear that Green was forced into this grisly fate by another person. The power will then cut out, causing a conversation between James and Sara while she fixes it. When the emergency power comes back on, players will need to go back to Green's body and reconstruct the explosion again. The next clue to obtain is a small pocket watch. You can find this item floating in the air a few feet behind Green's hanging body, but only when the Reconstructor's needle is in the gold zone.
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Next, skip to the other scene within the Reconstructor to show Green being smashed against the glass. This will reveal the next clue: a blood mark on Green's back. Once scanned, the Reconstructor will show that Green was pushed through the stair rail behind the tree. Head up the stairs and realign the Reconstructor's needle with the gold area. This will open another anomaly bubble at the top of the stairs. Inside it, players will be able to analyze the broken balustrade and reconstruct the scene which shows that Green was pushed. Next, scan the bloody hand print on the railing beside where Green was pushed. This will open up another reconstructed scene, after which players can use the UV light to trace the footprints down the stairs and back to the glass where Green was first assaulted.
Once Green is back in position at the base of the tree, just after being beaten against the glass, players can scan his body again. This will reveal another unknown substance, which can also be traced back to the electrical transformer in the floor. Use the UV flashlight to help trace the pathway. Back at the transformer, players must reverse time again until Green is there as well, opening the hatch and looking inside. Analyze the wires inside the hatch to reconstruct the next scene. This will lead to James discovering a small elixir inside an ornate vial, styled in the image of an ouroboros.
With this item recovered, players are now free to leave the area and conclude the mission. However, there are several other items around Green's apartment to investigate, which can add further clues to the investigation.
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Optional Interactions
Players can interact with additional items around the apartment, some of which will have further implications on the outcome of the game's story. These include:
- A liquor bottle with the label "Murder Perhaps" is behind the tree on a small drinks tray.
- A copy of Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" is in a small rack on the floor by the fireplace.
- A giant key to the city is above the fireplace.
- A photograph of Green in an old body meeting the former president.
- A retro bicycle is on display to the right of the fireplace.
- A photograph of Green with his deceased ex-wife is on the second floor at the top of the left-hand staircase.
- A cigar can be taken from the display cabinet at the top of the left-hand staircase.
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- Players can interact with the view from the window behind Green's desk.
- A file of documents labeled "Top Secret" can be either left on the desk or burned. This decision can affect later outcomes of the story.
- Players can pick up and comment on a smashed astronaut's helmet. The "Green Space" logo on the side of the helmet can also be examined in further detail.
- A leaflet advertising the "Art In Tribute To Immortality" exhibition, sponsored by Green, is in the center of the desk.
- A framed "Declaration of Immortality" can be examined in its display case opposite the desk.
- James can interact with a model of the Green Foundation Orphanage on the right-hand side of the office level.
- There is a row of jars with different items in them, including chocolate. Players can earn the achievement "Scent of Mystery" by describing the chocolate to Sara.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 67%
- Released
- July 17, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Critical Hit Games
- Publisher(s)
- Plaion
WHERE TO PLAY
Lose yourself in the world of New York, 2329, where immortality comes at a price that someone has to pay. Following a near-death experience, Detective James Karra takes an off-the-books case from his chief with only the help of a young police liaison, Sara Kai, to assist him. Time reveals all as they risk everything in pursuit of a killer, uncovering the dark secrets of the city's elite.
Experience a noir adventure in an alternate future of New York City in 2329; technology has advanced to offer humans eternal life, allowing consciousness to be stored in memory banks or transferred from one body to another. That is, if you can afford the subscription.
See through the eyes of Mortality Department Detective James Karra on his hunt for a serial killer who targets the city’s elite citizens. Investigate crime scenes using his time manipulation augmentation and advanced technology to reconstruct events leading up to each murder and uncover clues that lead to the horrifying truth behind the murders.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Developer
- Critical Hit Games
- Genre(s)
- Mystery, Puzzle, Noir
