Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents "Detective"
by C. E. Forman, Matt Barringer, Graeme Cree, and Stuart Moore
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Review
Not only is Detective virtually unplayable on its own, but the commentary so annoying that it actually detracted from the original game, making it even more unplayable than it already is. The intro is so tedious and unfunny as to be truly unbearable. The in-game jokes and asides are so obvious that they do not need to be said, and like much humour, it is much funnier to leave the obvious unsaid.
The original game is worth playing just for its infuriating unplayability, and at least has the excuse that it was made by a kid who put a minimal amount of work into this under-implemented and poorly constructed game. MST3k:Detective, on the other hand, is made by competent adults with obvious coding experience, so there is no excuse for it being as awful as it is.
If you feel like getting a kick out of playing Detective, just play the original and shake your head in wonder at its badness while inserting your own frustrated exclamations in the necessary places. You will have a much better laugh if you experience Detective firsthand and run the commentary in your own mind.
Comments on this review
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I've always been a bit suspicious of this sort of thing because it felt like punching down, and that's not what humor should be.
I'm a big fan of movie criticism of bad movies done right where it's not a straight slam, or it's creative, or it doesn't get too personal at the directors. Like I Hate Everything or Nostalgia Critic or RiffTrax that might even encourage you to look up a reference. Plus sometimes those bring out things that should have been obvious.
This game certainly wasn't unfair in its criticism of an admittedly awful game -- it just isn't funny. In some ways it is more a parody of MST3k than of Detective. You will have a way better time playing a movie on mute and doing the voices with your friends than playing MST3K:Detective.
