Blacksad: Under the Skin , a gritty and engaging action-adventure game, follows the story of John Blacksad, a hard-boiled black cat private investigator in 1950s New York City. After the World War II, Blacksad is hired by Sonia, a purr-fect feline dame with a sad expression, to investigate the murder of her father, Joe Dunn, who was found hanging in his boxing gym. As Blacksad delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of conspiracies involving drugs, blackmails, money, and hired guns, leading him to question the initial suspicion of suicide.
The gameplay is deeply rooted in cinematic experience, with an action-camera following Blacksad as he navigates through the world. The camera can be slightly moved off its fixed position to find hidden album stickers, but this often requires the player to explore only what the camera shows. The game features four different Hall of Fame sports albums, each spanning two pages, and 100 stickers depicting various sports celebrities.
The gameplay mechanics are varied, with few locations where Blacksad can search in first-person perspective. Objects of interaction display an icon when viewed from a distance, and individual options can be selected during dialogues, affecting the character's stats and possibly branching the story. The actions and words of Blacksad impact his stats, which can be checked at any time during gameplay.
There is no traditional inventory system in Blacksad: Under the Skin , but items that Blacksad carries are always with him and used automatically at the right location. His notebook serves as a tool for recording information about suspects and other person of interest, which can be contemplated upon during gameplay to reveal further pieces of information.
Blacksad: Under the Skin offers an engaging and immersive experience based on the comic book series, telling an official and new story not adapted from any existing game. The game's blend of investigation, action, and cinematic presentation makes for a compelling ride.