Developed by Cereal Games and published by BadLand Publishing, Pecaminosa – A Pixel Noir Game is a police action RPG set in a fictional 1940s noir city where mobs rule and gangsters roam the streets. Released simultaneously on PC and Nintendo Switch, Pecaminosa is a brilliant combination of action and RPG elements. In reality, there are plenty more mechanics in play in the game as well such as twin-stick gameplay, open-world exploration, and much more making this brilliant title even better. This is our review of Pecaminosa on Nintendo Switch in which we put on our detective hat and try to help out the ghost of a dead mobster.
The story of Pecaminosa revolves around Johny Souza who is a disgraced detective and is living his life in the most miserable state you can. Pecaminosa is located at the border of the United States and Mexico and crime rule the streets. His life is going by normally however one night he is visited by a dead mobster called Charlie ‘Two Angels’ along with his two dead goonies. He bribes you and tasks you with finding the details about your partner in order to help you clear your mind. While the first chapter serves as a tutorial introducing you to various in-game mechanics and helping you get your gun, the story really picks up the pace in the second chapter and many things start to make sense happening around you.
Pecaminosa is best played with a controller because it turns into a twin-shooter while using a controller as you move around using the left joystick and aim and shoot using the right joystick. Since it is a top-down title, the left joystick will move you all around the map allowing you to use the right joystick for aiming all around and shooting. The controls feel perfect on the Nintendo Switch. The learning curve is relatively small however it will take you some time to get comfortable with the melee combat of the game.
The game gives you plenty of guns to play around with however for the start of the game, you have to rely on your trusty fists and engage in some melee combat before getting your favorite pistol back. The melee is actually pretty fun if you get the hang of it. Blocking plays a vital role in melee combat and the game discourages spamming the attack key to winning melee fights. For my very first fight, I found that if you keep spamming an attack, the enemy does the exact same and you die really quickly since the enemy never stops punching like a robot. Blocking breaks their cycle of punching and gives you a chance to land some punches before blocking again.
Shooting mechanics are pretty decent however you have to acquire ammo and better weapons from the in-game vendor. Pecaminosa features an open world and you can move around, meet with different NPCs, visit different places and buy better stuff from different vendors located around the city. You can even use the cab service as a fast travel service however the map is not too big, and I normally found it okay to just move around on my own. You have to manage your money in the game so if you want to save up for better weapons and ammo, you will need to cut back on fast travels and make your legs work.
At its core, Pecaminosa is an RPG, and you will plenty of RPG mechanics in action right from the start of the game. There are four main key attributes around which you can build your character and depend on your choices, your character will enjoy benefits in various scenarios. These four attributes include Luck, Intelligence, Force, and Endurance. Now, if you prefer that your character has more health and hits hard, you can go for a build that focuses on Force and Endurance. Similarly, if you prefer yourself a pacifist, you can go for stats like Luck and Intelligence.
However due to the nature of the game, dialogue is not always a choice that can be availed however in various scenarios, having a higher Intelligence level can benefit you as additional negotiation skills are unlocked for you, and you can try to diffuse certain situations without actually shedding blood. This opens up the opportunity for you to build your perfect detective in the game based on the attributes that you prefer in your character. The stats are not just fillers for the XP points that you earn in the game but if you focus on your favorite attributes, you actually feel your character getting better at these particular skills in the game.
Apart from assigning points to different attributes, you can also equip different clothes in each slot that come with various stat boosts. You can equip the ones that prefer the stats that you want to improve for your character. Using both the points and the clothes that you get in the game; you can work towards having the build that you really like. I did not expect this level of detail in the game when I started playing it and as I progressed in the game, I really liked it. The RPG mechanics are not too heavy but feel just right and balanced enough to make it actually feel like an open-world RPG.
Since the story is not too long and only lasts a few hours at most, you do not really have the option to max out all of the stats, so it makes sense to actually invest only in those skills that you really want to upgrade in the game and build your character around them. Overall, the game looks great, sounds great, and has enough action to keep you glued to the screen until you complete all of the chapters of the game. With three main chapters and a side chapter, you can expect to invest some hours into the game however depending on your skill, this may not be a very long game for you. If you need a break from the main story, you can jump in a quick game of Blackjack as well from the main menu.
Final Verdict:
Pecaminosa combines decent combat with a simple RPG system where your choices determine what sort of character you want to be. Featuring a decent open-world, Pecaminosa provides a fun experience with a brilliant soundtrack and tough boss battles. While the game is not too long and the combat can sometimes be annoying, it is still a fun title that can provide you a few hours of fun set in the times when gangsters prowled the streets. With its pixelated noire world and a soothing jazz soundtrack to accompany you, this detective game is definitely worth your time if you enjoy noire mobster video games with decent gameplay and amazing open-world environments.
Final Score: 7.5/10
