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Description
Detective: City of Angels, set in the dark and violent world of 1940s Los Angeles, is a game of mystery, deception, and investigation for 1–5 players. Most players will step into the shoes of LAPD homicide detectives, hungry for glory and willing to do whatever it takes to successfully close a case, even if that means intimidating suspects, concealing evidence, and hiring snitches to rat on their fellow detectives. One player, however, will take on the role of The Chisel, whose only goal is to stall and misdirect the detectives at every turn using bluffing, manipulation, and (often) outright lies.
Detective: CoA uses the innovative ARC (Adaptive Response Card) System to create the feel of interrogating a suspect. Suspects do not simply give paragraph-book responses; instead The Chisel carefully chooses how they will answer. When Billy O'Shea insists that the victim was a regular at Topsy's Nightclub, is he telling the truth or is The Chisel subtly leading the detectives toward a dead end that will cost them precious time? Detectives can challenge responses that they think are lies but at great risk: If they're wrong, The Chisel will acquire leverage over them, making the case that much harder to solve.
Detective: CoA includes separate, detailed casebooks for both the detectives and The Chisel. Each crime is a carefully constructed puzzle that can unfold in a variety of ways depending on how the detectives choose to pursue their investigations. As the detectives turn the city upside down, uncovering fresh evidence and "hot" leads, hidden suspects may be revealed and new lines of questioning will open up, creating a rich, story-driven experience.
Inspired by classic film noir like The Big Sleep, the works of James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential), and the video game L.A. Noire from Rockstar Games, Detective: City of Angels is a murder-mystery game unlike any other. Will one detective rise above the rest and close the case on L.A.'s latest high profile murder? Or will The Chisel sow enough doubt and confusion to prevent the detectives from solving the crime?
—description from the publisher
A "sleuth" mode allows 1 or more players to play fully cooperatively, solving the cases together.
Year Published
2019
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video 0zBPPR0F4LE
top_50_list at 0:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10899 · mention_pk 32100
Click to watch at 0:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong thematic detective vibe with tension around deception
- innovative hidden-liar dynamic that adds depth
- mysteries feel engaging and replayable as the game scales with play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- murder mystery with social deduction elements
- Los Angeles / city of angels, detective noir atmosphere
- cooperative deduction with a traitor (the Chisel) among players
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- competitive vs cooperative play options — play modes where detectives either cooperate or compete for scraps of information
- hidden_role / traitor mechanic — one player is the Chisel who can lie to others and influence conclusions
- secret information manipulation — the Chisel selects what answer is given; wrong interpretations grant leverage to the Chisel
- suspect questioning — players ask suspects questions and interpret answers
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- one player is the bad guy they play as the Chisel and they can lie to you
- the mysteries are great
- we're living in a golden age of detective games
- it's one of those epic games that i never get to play because it requires such a commitment
- it's a sandbox pirate game
- each round is a battle and if you think you're losing the battle you can withdraw
- the smart move is to spot your weakness early and withdraw because the later you withdraw the longer you blunder on
- it's so thematic you will tell a completely different story every time you play it
- there is nothing that feels anything like it
- volcano expansion makes it even more cutthroat and interactive
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OrL8bDJAv2M
general_discussion at 4:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10541 · mention_pk 30976
Click to watch at 4:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- innovative interrogation mechanic
- asymmetric player roles create tension
- strong theme of LA-style detective work
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- police procedural and interrogation dynamics
- Los Angeles, detective/interrogation milieu
- dialogue-driven interrogation with asymmetric play
Comparison games
- Hostage Negotiator
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric play — one player acts as the 'chisel' against detectives to drive information flow
- Interrogation — players ask questions and receive response cards representing suspect statements
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the art on this one is absolutely gorgeous
- it's a very family friendly game
- it's lightweight entry-level gamers that haven't had a lot access the lobby
- this is a one player game
- it's the same thing as hostage
- you'll ask questions and you'll get response cards
- that chisel player is against all the detectives
- you get four books each book is a different character
- every book is about 70% of the same but there will be small differences as you go through the panels
- you make decision as a group
- you can see this book here you can see this 57 over here by the rock this is unique to this particular book
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video scjyYA_MlXY
Essen Day 3 Wrap Up general_discussion at 45:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10497 · mention_pk 30900
Click to watch at 45:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong art and noir vibe
- clear, accessible deduction mechanics
Cons
- complex rulebook for newcomers
- may require careful setup and playthroughs to optimize
Thematic elements
- investigation-driven storytelling
- Noir Los Angeles; detective investigations and casework
- case-based narrative with evidence-led progression
Comparison games
- Dixit
- Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deduction/decision trees — Follow clues and make investigative choices that affect outcomes.
- story-driven cards — Cards drive case progression and reveal new leads.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a mashup between Warhammer which I'm also a huge fan and I still and in the end the CCGs
- the three sets mix to create your own unique identity in Sorcerer
- it's a brilliant, ambitious mashup and a potential system seller
- Azul Summer Pavilion is good; demos were solid
- Batman Talisman Super Villain Edition looks like a beautiful thing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video sd_50LNgFEI
No Rolls Bard top_10_list at 6:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8216 · mention_pk 24119
Click to watch at 6:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Dramatic, cinematic feel with a strong atmosphere and high production standards.
- Chisel mechanic creates tension and lively negotiation-like play among players.
Cons
- Asymmetric player powers require clear house rules; complexity can be intimidating.
- Balance can shift if players over-index on one investigation path.
Thematic elements
- murder mystery with a hyper-immersive detective atmosphere
- rough-and-tumble Los Angeles in a noir-tinged mid-20th-century vibe
- choose-your-own-adventure style investigation with a game master-like role (the chisel)
Comparison games
- L.A. Noire
- Detective: Season One
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric role-play (the chisel) — one player acts as the chisel, a masterful manipulator of suspects and information to drive intrigue and misdirection.
- branching investigations — players pursue leads along a mapped city with time/resource tradeoffs and dynamic questioning outcomes.
- moral and social deduction — suspect interviews are colored by deception mechanics, requiring players to weigh truth against manipulation.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- mystery games are the best
- mind-bendingly wonderful stuff
- this game is cool though like elenoir the chisel can make the suspects lie to the players when questioned
- you've cracked the case
- they push the boundaries of what you can do with bits of paper
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video e3zUGb4TxeU
Roles in the Family top_5_list at 8:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5220 · mention_pk 15472
Click to watch at 8:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong detective noir atmosphere
- Dynamic interrogation dynamic with a DM-like facilitator
- Case replayability and flexible play modes
Cons
- Chisel can dominate information flow
- Some players may find the DM-style mechanic less appealing
Thematic elements
- investigation and detective work with role-playing elements.
- Noir crime environment set in 1940s Los Angeles.
- case-based mystery with a DM-like 'Chisel' guiding clues.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative with a DM apparatus — Cases can be played cooperatively, or the Chisel can run the case for a party.
- interrogation and decision branching — Players question people around the board; the Chisel selects responses to propel the narrative.
- replayability — Cases are onetime plays but can be replayed with different players or groups.
- roleplay-led interrogation — One player acts as the Chisel (DM) managing clues and responses to interrogations.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is kind of a pure deduction game where you and the other players are trying to deduce the location of this elusive crypted creature
- the ghost is going to pick one to be the true solution and the ghost uh puts out three cards
- it's a very great presentation bursting with theme and really giving that feeling of being a detective
- the game is driven by an app which allows you to scan different things around the table
- it's up to the Chisel to determine which of the responses is given to that player
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video cQ-ooH8h0X4
Be On Solitaire top_200_list at 17:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3375 · mention_pk 9988
Click to watch at 17:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging mystery pacing
- Strong solo-friendly scenarios
Cons
- Availability and price in some regions
Thematic elements
- Story-driven with investigative mechanics
- Investigation-focused, noir-themed detective work
Comparison games
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Narrative-driven detective play — Players solve cases using clue management and event resolution.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Spirit Island is just so engaging and interesting.
- Words cannot express how dominant this is.
- My true love is still Mage Knight… but Spirit Island ate and left no crumbs.
- The solo gaming community is the best gaming community.
- Thank you so much to the solo Community; you guys do a great job.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6