Review of The Blackwell Deception by Antrax

The interface was re-done and seems much prettier. The graphics were changed to be more cartoonish, which might not be to everyone’s taste. Most importantly, the game play has been streamlined, so while it took about 1.5 hours to complete, there’s more game than the previous installment. There is very little running around in this game, as the computer has been turned into a “myPhone” and is available in all the locations. Moreover, Rosa agrees to talk to Joey in most places, so there’s no more need to interrupt the flow by going home intermittently.

The plot gripped me much more than the last installments, but a word of warning: the series has somewhat jumped the shark. After three games that followed (more or less) a set of rules, the fourth breaks many of the rules. I found it enjoyable, but it might piss off other fans.
Game play is much improved. Control of Joey is a lot more meaningful this time around, as his tie and his ability to blow can be controlled by the player. There are more and better puzzles requiring Rosa and Joey cooperating. Convincing spooks they’re dead has never been more involved.

My only gripes are the game length and the fact the plot arch didn’t really go anywhere. I’m not sure how many installments the developer is planning on, but it might be a good idea to advance the major plot now and then. This episode just strews a bunch of hints without explaining anything in the end. Nevertheless, the game was enjoyable, interesting and the puzzles were fun if not too challenging. After playing all four, this is the only one I can wholeheartedly recommend.