2022 puzzle/adventure game The Case of the Golden Idol introduced a compelling mystery surrounding the titular golden idol, a powerful artifact that ruined lives, shaped destinies, caused bizarre deaths, and ultimately ended up lost and destroyed. Now, in The Rise of the Golden Idol, the idol returns over one hundred years later to wreak havoc once more. Players must solve a series of all-new mind-bending cases by collecting clues, identifying suspects, and ultimately building a clear picture of what happened in each of The Rise of the Golden Idol's scenarios.
The Best War Games recently previewed the first chapter of The Rise of the Golden Idol. Set in the 1970s, The Rise of the Golden Idol follows the events of The Case of the Golden Idol, where the Idol is now on display and Lazarus Herst, the Brotherhood of Masks, and the Order Party government are topics eagerly studied by historians. In the first chapter, a strange phenomenon called the "Red Curse" has resulted in the deaths of several men, including both homeless drifters and a prominent academic. On the surface, the Golden Idol does not seem to be directly responsible - but the lingering influence of the bizarre artifact can be felt hovering in the background, leaving players eager to explore the rest of the mystery once the full game releases.
The Rise of the Golden Idol Gameplay: Deliberation & Deduction
Gameplay in The Rise of the Golden Idol is fairly similar to the first game. Players are presented with a crime scene to investigate, typically just after one or more deaths have occurred. They must gather clues (including suspect names, action words, items, weapons, descriptors, and more) by investigating the marked areas of the scene. Then, players select the correct clues to fill in the Scroll, revealing exactly what happened - typically facts such as the identity of the deceased, who killed them, the manner of death, and the murderer's motive. New to The Rise of the Golden Idol is larger summaries that connect several smaller cases together using clues found throughout, revealing connecting trends such as the aforementioned "Red Curse."
The straightforward gameplay worked well for Case of the Golden Idol, and it works just as well in Rise. Not many changes were made, but, honestly, there didn't need to be. What worked was kept, and what didn't was improved. For example, Rise kept the option for players to choose whether important points in the scene were marked or not, allowing anyone who wanted a true "pixel hunt" experience out of a classic point-and-click adventure game to make that choice.
However, the quality-of-life improvements made to gameplay are very much welcomed. Now, when inspecting a document, all clues are collected by selecting it once, rather than needing to click on each word separately to add it to the word bank. Words in the word bank are also now neatly sorted by category (names, adjectives, locations, etc.) As well as differentiated by color. The case's solution is split into several smaller screens rather than one large one, allowing players to view the crime scene and the solution scrolls simultaneously rather than needing to switch back and forth between them. This is probably the biggest and most needed change, eliminating the most frustrating element of the first game.
The Game Promises Many Twisty, Satisfying Mysteries
The Case of the Golden Idol had several very tricky mysteries, but one of its few drawbacks was that the game's early cases were a bit too easy, leading to a somewhat slow start. It took several chapters to really ramp things up, and this resulted in the first few scenarios feeling frustratingly simple. Fortunately, The Rise of the Golden Idol dispenses with this entirely. After a brief tutorial case that introduces the gameplay mechanics, it goes right into the first case, which is complex enough that it could have easily been a mid- or late-game mystery in the first game. Mystery fans will absolutely adore the increased challenge level of The Rise of the Golden Idol and feel a genuine thrill as they successfully solve each case. (There is, however, still a hint system in place so that players don't have to worry about getting completely stuck.)
Another thing The Rise of the Golden Idol does well is making full use of its more modern setting. The Case of the Golden Idol was an excellent period piece with its focus on superstitious beliefs, global exploration via ship, the popularization of the printing press, and many other elements. Rise moves into the 1970s and embraces this change fully. More modern methods of death, such as synthetic drugs and high-powered firearms, are considered. Computers are introduced as a new but increasingly relevant element in society. One particularly good use of the setting was a press conference in the third part of Chapter 1. Players had to identify what characters said while being interviewed on TV and figure out which filmed statements were lies, then figure out what truths they were concealing and why. The 1970s setting is embraced brilliantly and makes the game feel new and unique and not just a simple rehash of the previous title.
Can Series Newbies Play The Rise Of The Golden Idol?
Due to the large time gap between the two games, The Rise of the Golden Idol focuses largely on a new cast of characters. However, it has an undeniable connection to the larger Golden Idol mythos, with the titular artifact and its history playing a major role. The first case was fairly standalone, being suitable for first-time players, but later cases may not be the same (especially as around 15 cases are currently promised). Ultimately, it is up to the player, but some familiarity with the first game would definitely go a long way.
The Rise of the Golden Idol promises to be an exciting new entry into this excellent mystery series and a more than worthy follow-up to Case, which has gone on to inspire other successful mystery titles like Duck Detective: The Secret Salami and more. It's truly one of the standout titles in the mystery genre, and the second game promises to be even more of an already great thing.