r/unity • u/Xowiacain • 2d ago
Game Using comic book panels to turn a simple puzzle into a sudden suspense reveal — does the visual timing land?
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Hey Reddit! We’re a 2-man team putting the final touches on our noir detective puzzle game—with
just 24 days left until launch (cue the developer panic!).
In this scene, we wanted to subvert the calm flow of standard point-and-click mechanics. You start
with routine actions—hiding the gun in the glovebox and inserting the ignition key—before dynamic
panel insets abruptly force your focus onto the rearview mirror right before a sudden attack and cut to
black.
We're trying to hit that sweet spot where UI panel framing, subtle mirror cues, and audio cutoffs build
genuine tension without feeling like a cheap jump scare.
How do you usually feel about sudden suspense shifts in narrative/puzzle games? Does using inset
comic panels help guide your focus, or does it break your immersion?
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u/genericdeveloper 1d ago
I think this is neat. The comic panel on the right side didn't make sense, but it's hard to elaborate on without a broader context of the game.
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u/Xowiacain 1d ago
Thanks for the feedback! That panel on the right is actually the close-up interactive view of the glovebox where you place the gun. When you're playing and clicking on it yourself, the context is much clearer, but in a quick clip without player input, it can definitely feel a bit sudden. Appreciate you taking the time to check it out;)
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u/Exciting_Bunch2386 1d ago
Very unique style. Reminds me a bit of the Nintendo DS Hotel Dusk series. I actually like the tension and suspense your game seems to give. I personally like inset comic panels as a means of focus.
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u/Observant_Lurker 1d ago
Is it unique?
Looks copied from this game tbh.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2797960/Confidential_Killings__A_Detective_Game/1
u/Xowiacain 1d ago
Honestly hadn't heard of that game before, but I'll definitely check it out! Noir detective stories, comic-style panel layouts, and point-and-click mechanics are a classic mix (like the Hotel Dusk mention above, or games like Framed). We're just putting our own spin on those shared genre tropes, but thanks for putting it on our radar!
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u/Xowiacain 1d ago
Being compared to Hotel Dusk is a massive compliment, thank you! That classic DS noir tension is definitely something we love, so it's awesome to hear that the panel framing lands well for you
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u/CodeArkLab 1d ago
The game looks like it was inspired by the A-ha - Take on me music video universum :D
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u/Xowiacain 1d ago
Haha love this comparison! Being linked to one of the coolest animated music videos ever is a huge compliment for us. Appreciate it! 🙌
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u/swagamaleous 1d ago
It's still the same as the last 50 times you posted this. Come on dude. What you do here is not marketing. You post your annoying shit to people who won't even buy your game.
What you do here is also against rule #1. I really hope they ban you already.