Release Date: July 21, 2016
A three-dimensional adventure game in the form of a courtroom drama, inspired by the popular Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series. It was created by The Moonwalls studio's sole member - a lawyer and a game enthusiast who developed the game almost entirely on his own. The story is set in a steampunk alternative vision of the 19th century Paris. The protagonist faces the court, being accused of a brutal murder of a young woman.
Bohemian Killing for PC is an innovative adventure game in the form of a courtroom drama. It was partially inspired by the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series, popular among the s of Nintendo hand-held consoles. The game was developed by the independent The Moonwalls studio consisting of one person only – a lawyer and a game enthusiast, Marcin Makaj, with some help from his sister. Despite the unsuccessful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, the game sparked the interest of IQ Publishing, and it was ultimately released in 2016 for PC.
In Bohemian Killing for PC, the story is set in a steampunk alternative to the nineteenth century Paris. The city is torn between the tradition and modernity, and the community is divided in face of the radical racism and vivid social inequality. The protagonist is called Alfred Ethon. He is an inventor who has become a true symbol of success, due to his hard work and accomplishments. However, the character is facing the court now, being accused of brutally murdering a young woman. The player's mission is to prove that the protagonist is innocent. To do so, the player can use different defensive tactics and benefit from various opportunities delivered by original gameplay mechanics.
In Bohemian Killing for PC, the gameplay mechanics are based on the concept of two tightly interconnected timelines. The courtroom is in the foreground, where the accused protagonist is acquainted with subsequent chunks of evidence and witnesses' testimonies. Each time the judge asks a question, a flashback is launched, during which the player is taken to the day the crime was committed. The player's task is to perform certain actions denying what a witness has testified or an evidence has shown. For instance, if one of the witnesses testifies they spotted the protagonist at a certain time wearing a bloodied shirt, the player can engage in a fight or deliberately cut the protagonist's face when shaving, all of which can be done while the retrospection is launched. Later on, the player can let the protagonist be spotted at the right time by the witness. The right order of events, as well as time management, are crucial for success here. Without it, the player's explanations can end up implausible or contradictory.
The game offers a massive number of opportunities and ways by which the player can try to prove the protagonist's innocence. For example, the player can lie, their testimony with additional evidence or even pretend to be insane in order to clear the protagonist of charges. The way of achieving the goal here depends exclusively on the player's imagination and tactics they apply. Thus, each playthrough can be completely different. The game features a dozen of regular endings plus a hidden one.
Bohemian Killing for PC utilizes the popular Unity engine, delivering decent-quality graphics and relatively small system requirements. Thanks to the personal experiences and carefully created in-game contents, the developer managed to recreate both the atmosphere of the nineteenth century Paris and a courtroom proceeding in a very convincing way. The soundtrack was created by an associate composer, Marcin Maslanka.
Platforms:
PC Windows July 21, 2016
Nintendo Switch March 23, 2020
Developer: The Moonwalls
Publisher: Ultimate Games
Age restrictions: 18+
Bohemian Killing Review – great idea with poor delivery
We’ve looked into the case of Alfred Ethon, the main actor of the legal drama by Polish developer, The Moonwalls. Does Phoenix Wright have anything to be afraid of?
March 17, 2016
Although the dev himself describes the game as "Phoenix Wright meeting Gone Home", it seems to be an understatement. The Bohemian Killing is much more complex, and could earn its place among the most extraordinary games of recent years.
Non-linear court adventure game Bohemian Killing is going to launch on Steam this Thursday. Check out some new screenshots.
video games
July 18, 2016
System Requirements for Bohemian Killing Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5 1.7 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD 7500G/Radeon HD 7500G or better, 7 GB HDD, Windows 7.
Game Ratings for Bohemian Killing Video Game.
Bohemian Killing Review – great idea with poor delivery
We’ve looked into the case of Alfred Ethon, the main actor of the legal drama by Polish developer, The Moonwalls. Does Phoenix Wright have anything to be afraid of?
GameGrin: 5 / 10
Bohemian Killing is a promising but ultimately disappointing game, a great story and world let down by frustrating - and sometimes buggy - mechanics.
Game Debate: 7.5 / 10 by Stuart Thomas
While the experience was enjoyable, I have to say I was sort of waiting for a big reveal that just never really arrived. I suppose I was in love with the idea of Bohemian Killing more than I was really in love with the game itself. That said, originality and the bravery to walk off the beaten path of game design are laudable characteristics, and I did enjoy getting into the mystery, with all of its weird Promethean themes and bizarre scenes.
GameSpew: 3 / 10 by Matthew Hung
I felt more like I was being told a pretty boring story with sub-par pictures rather than becoming a criminal mastermind who got away with murder
Average score from votes.