Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dylan Dog: Murderers delivers a classic side-view action platform experience infused with light puzzle elements. You guide Dylan through the winding corridors and labyrinthine rooms of a sprawling mansion, combining hand‐to‐hand combat with strategic use of firearms and found weapons. Each area challenges you to locate hidden keys, disarm traps, and uncover secret passages that often hold vital clues or power‐ups. The blend of exploration, combat, and item management keeps the pacing brisk and engaging.

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Combat is visceral yet deliberate: you can fight unarmed or equip Dylan’s revolver and a variety of melee tools—knives, screwdrivers, swords, even a heavy maul found in the armory. Ammo is scarce, so players must decide when to conserve bullets in favor of a brawl or sneak past weaker foes to save firepower for tougher adversaries. Learning enemy patterns and timing your attacks or blocks is essential, as reckless aggression quickly depletes Dylan’s life energy.

Adding tension is the mansion’s relentless timeflow mechanic. A countdown measures the hours before the house’s dark finale, compelling you to balance thorough exploration with speedy progress. No save feature heightens the stakes: a single misstep or impasse can force you to restart the entire séance. This unforgiving structure may frustrate casual players but will reward those who master its rhythms with an intense sense of accomplishment.

The game’s pacing and level design strike a solid balance between trial‐and‐error and genuine puzzle‐solving. Although some room layouts feel recycled, the clever placement of keys, secret levers, and environmental hazards keeps each new wing of the mansion feeling fresh. Control responsiveness is generally tight, but occasional awkward hits or pixel‐perfect jumps can become hair‐pulling—especially under the pressure of the clock.

Graphics

Visually, Murderers adopts a gritty, monochromatic palette punctuated by splashes of red—most notably Dylan’s signature shirt—creating a moody, noir‐inspired atmosphere. Character sprites are faithfully rendered to echo Tiziano Sclavi’s comic illustrations, from Dylan’s tousled hair to the sinister expressions of his would‐be murderers. Backgrounds feature detailed gothic architecture, flickering candelabras, and ominous shadows that lend the mansion an ambience of palpable dread.

Story segments are presented in full‐screen comic panels, rendered in an art‐style nearly identical to the original Dylan Dog volumes. These interludes convey plot developments and shocking reveals without relying on text blocks, heightening immersion and preserving the source material’s visual flair. Transitioning from gameplay to comic panels feels seamless and underscores the property’s graphic‐novel origins.

While the game’s pixel art charms on a nostalgic level, modern players may notice its limited color depth and occasional sprite flicker, particularly during intense combat sequences. Frame rates can stutter when multiple enemies appear on screen, though these hiccups rarely impede your progress. Lighting effects—glows around torches or sudden blackouts—are modest but effective, reinforcing the creepy manor’s unsettling tone.

Overall, the graphics strike a pleasing balance between retro aesthetics and atmospheric design. Though not cutting‐edge by today’s standards, the visual presentation excels at immersing players in a twisted whodunit, and fans of classic 2D action adventures will appreciate the game’s lovingly crafted art direction.

Story

Rooted in the lore of the beloved Italian comics character Dylan Dog—London’s “nightmare detective”—Murderers opens with a harrowing dream that foreshadows the feast to follow. Dylan receives a mysterious invitation to a sumptuous banquet at an aristocratic mansion, where he and several other guests sip poisoned wine. Swift to act on his nightmare’s warning, Dylan arms himself with his revolver and braces for a night of betrayal and bloodshed.

The narrative unfolds in short, impactful bursts: key plot points are narrated through dynamic comic‐style panels rather than lengthy text. This format preserves the stylistic hallmarks of Tiziano Sclavi’s original work while keeping the player immersed in the action. Unexpected twists—such as revelations from surviving guests—provide both gameplay benefits (like secret passages or keys) and crucial story insights.

As you progress, the identity of the mansion’s owner and mastermind behind the murderous banquet emerges only in the final act, delivering a satisfying climax. Occasional flashbacks and nightmare sequences deepen Dylan’s backstory, offering glimpses into his past cases and the psychological toll of his detective work. Though the plot is relatively straightforward, its effective pacing and visual storytelling carry you along until the shocking conclusion.

For fans of mystery and horror, the story strikes the right balance between suspense, drama, and comic‐book flair. Its brevity ensures you remain engaged without feeling bogged down by exposition, and the episodic delivery mirrors the rhythm of a graphic novel’s chapters—perfect for a detective tale that thrives on mounting tension and reveals.

Overall Experience

Dylan Dog: Murderers offers a tense, atmospheric journey through a haunted mansion, blending action, puzzles, and noir‐style storytelling into a compact package. The absence of a save feature and the relentless ticking clock make every decision count, transforming ordinary corridor hunts into nerve‐wracking sprints against time. While this design choice may deter casual players, it undeniably amplifies the stakes and rewards precision.

The combination of well-crafted comic interludes, evocative pixel art, and twitch‐requiring platform combat cultivates a distinctive identity. If you appreciate a challenging retro throwback infused with horror tropes and graphic-novel aesthetics, Dylan Dog: Murderers will feel like a hidden gem. However, those seeking open‐ended exploration or modern checkpoint systems may find its rigidity frustrating.

The game’s performance quirks—minor frame drops, sprite flicker, and occasional collision inconsistencies—remind you of its mid-90s origins, but they’re far outweighed by the strengths in atmosphere and narrative style. The carefully designed environments and surprise reveals keep you invested until the final curtain, ensuring a memorable conclusion to this single‐sitting adventure.

Ultimately, Murderers stands as a faithful digital adaptation of Dylan Dog’s universe, inviting both fans of the source material and newcomers to test their wits against an evil mastermind. Its fusion of platforming, puzzle-solving, and comic artistry makes for an engrossing ride, one that leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve survived the night.

Retro Replay Score

5.8/10