This visual novel offers a bit more than pictures and text, with story and objects to find, in navigable 3D environments.

It's set in a fairly well thought-out world, with a reason for things being the way they are: character designs seem out of cartoon fantasy, but in a "B-movie" SF setting. In this future, technology has advanced to the point you can download / transmit your brain into a custom body of your choice - eliminating a lot of the problem getting between planets, once the clone body industry is set up at the destination. Mars, in this case :)

Kudo's to the artists, who drew a huge number of animal-human characters, from (on average) four different angles, each. They are not 3D modeled and animated, but have a range of poses and expressions to show you, in their dialogs.

Early on, you tour the Mars BodyMod showroom, where (if you weren't playing a pre-rolled character) you could custom order a 'new you,' with none of the difficulty people have to deal with if they need to make a big change, today. This makes for occasional allegory around related contemporary issues, if you choose to read it that way.

One of the dialogs (available in the demo) reveals our character getting a bit annoyed at a sales-person offering a body designed to evoke a Punk aesthetic. Is it wrong that a corporation is commodifying the anti-corporate? If you paid the license for and walked around sporting this look, are you REALLY making a statement against "The Man who wants to get you down?!" It's just one of many ideas presented in the story, which doesn't go beyond this chat / scene.

You play as fresh-faced investigator Dax, a Lion with an "I know I'm hot, baybeeee!" attitude - who is at times so full of himself, you may wonder how his ego gets through doorways. Be sure to hit "T" to see Dax inject himself for your screenshots, (selfie mode) available in just about any 3D scene ;). Is he really a cop, or just want to play one on TV? Fortunately, he meets the older Anaya, just arrived from Earth to help the department out. She couldn't be bothered with the BodyMod scene, and went to Mars "as-is," to most everyone on Mars surprise. Will she be able to pull Dax back down to Ear... I mean, Mars - if he starts getting TOO crazy?

It turns out that's exactly what the Boss at the Civil Investigations Office had in mind, in partnering them up. 'Cause Dax is their freshest recruit, and could use the help of a more experienced investigator to keep him from doing another stupid. "That old goat" - oops, a little bit of Dax leaking out - "NOT" a visual pun! ;)

Will Dax learn that life is not all fun and selfies? His co-workers at the office may have a secret or two that they might share, if the player follows all the dialog choices. (The story is fairly linear, giving some bits of character backstory, but don't expect mini novels on the side taking you too far away from the plot.)

The Boss has assigned Anaya to work with Dax, asks Dax to show her around - with no particular assignment. Eager for a little something more to do than babysit, while Dax takes Anaya to get something to eat, he visits the trope of police procedurals, the somewhat unwilling, slightly sketchy Informant. Who in this case, is not a literal rat! (Thank you, lol.)

A plot begins to emerge: Dax learns about a case of potential police corruption, involving a massive water-going terraforming robot, piloted by an equally massive brontosaurus character. Who sadly can't explain what happened out there. Will Dax and Anaya figure it out? Before the boss chews them out?

I haven't completed the story yet, but wanted to leave this slightly wordy take on the "Story So Far," for passers-by.

A very fun detective story with a lot of heart and great visuals. The only thing I wish of this game is that it were longer. I know the devs probably are done with it, but if there are ever any more episodes of Dax's detective work, I'd be glad to keep playing!

An absolute delight! Great direction and writing, beautiful character and environment art, and a world that oozes character. I loved the establishing shots of new locations with their mix of noire aesthetic and bold cinematography. Lots of great dialog and banter, with very "human" characters that I fell in love with immediately. Dax is hands down the best disaster himbo on Mars. I hope we get to see more of this universe!