Blacksad: Under The Skin , a gritty detective game starring John Blacksad, a New York black cat P.I. from early years after World War II, is set to unravel the mysteries of Joe Dunn's death in this action-packed adventure game. Sonia, a purr-fect feline dame with a sad expression on her face, comes to Blacksad seeking help. Her father, Joe Dunn, an owner of a boxing gym, was found dead by his maid, Mary Purnell. The police suspect it was a suicide, but Blacksad isn't convinced and sets out to investigate.
The game takes the player through an immersive third-person perspective, with action-camera angles changing to give a cinematic feel. While some camera movement is possible, it's often limited to finding hidden album stickers that can be accessed via the main menu. The game features four Hall of Fame sports albums, each spanning two pages, with 100 stickers depicting various sports celebrities.
Gameplay revolves around exploring environments, interacting with objects, and engaging in dialogue choices that affect character stats. There are eight different stats to manage, including Lonesome vs Romantic, Upright vs Pragmatic, Swift vs Clumsy, among others. These choices have serious consequences and can branch the story.
Blacksad carries a notebook where he writes down information about his suspects and interests. The game also features no inventory system, with items Blacksad is carrying being automatically used at the right location. Deduction gameplay allows players to piece together clues by using knowledge of footprints in paint, suspect shoes, and other evidence.
Blacksad: Under The Skin offers an original story set within the comic book series universe, making it a must-play for fans of detective games.
Blacksad: Under The Skin is available on Xbox One and was released on November 5, 2019.