Nic’s Pacific Bay Play Through Part 4: Jazz Town
I’m doing the same format as the Inner City review, so spoilers ahead!
'Cause after the storm's when the flowers bloom.
Case #18 - After The Storm
So pretty much immediately after I started playing this I got a tornado warning. Fitting.
Great introduction case! Felt like we learned a lot about Jazz Town in just this case. We hear a lot about Hurricane Yves destroying the district, but admittedly we don’t get to see a lot of that. I know next case will remedy that though.
Definitely a strong focus on Yann can be seen throughout the case, especially during the AI where he becomes the partner. Amy is just okay during this one, but I did find some of her scenes lacking.
After The Storm - 8/10
And an 100% chance of revenge.
Case #19 - Cloudy With a Chance of Murder
Starting this case, I thought “Oh sure Clifford didn’t properly report Yves, and that can cause some to blame him but he doesn’t deserve DEATH.” But as the case went on… yeah he did deserve it. Not only did he IGNORE Peggy’s findings about Yves, but he killed Agatha’s cat. Lastly and the most damning is that he left behind his own niece. I’m glad Marie got a lenient sentence.
I liked that feeling of peeling back the story behind this guy and learning all the relationships he had. I know that can kinda be said for every case, but it felt especially satisfying in this one.
As for the AI, The Puppeteer is revealed, and the slow reveal that Yann’s parents were victims was really well done. Then the idea of Yves being man made gets explored further, and I can already tell both are going to be intriguing plots.
Cloudy With a Chance of Murder - 8.5/10
These open wounds need some time to heal.
Case #20 - Open Wounds
All I can really think about with this case is how brutal the body looks in this one.
Okay, I think I can say that Joe definitely didn’t deserve this fate. The only horrible thing I can think he did get too into the whole reenactment thing. Which, to be fair, this case does have a really interesting theme about romanticizing the civil war era.
The whole motive behind the murder is so dumb to me. So you’re angry at this guy for offering your students to go to a firing range, so you decide the best way to deal with it is to blow a hole into his torso with a CANNON. Make it make sense.
We’re getting more Puppeteer stuff, and that means a more Yann focused AI. I’m honestly enjoying this plot a lot, but still not as much as the Inner Chaos stuff in Inner City. The other plot in the AI is about Veronica Blade, who as a character I don’t fully hate yet, despite the whole slave thing. I do like Frank having a crush on her though.
Open Wounds - 8.3/10
Living under the fear, 'til nothing else remains.
Case #21 - Under the Thunderdome
Well you might have noticed the post I made about this but SPANGLER’S BACK BABY WOOOOOOOO!!!
Seriously, I am really enjoying the Hurricane Yves/Zelda plot with the weather machine now fully being confirmed real. The mystery is still kept up by the fact that according to the (admittedly sketchy) colonel, it shouldn’t be able to make storms of this magnitude.
The case itself was pretty decent, solid asshole victim with good motives all around. I do kinda wish the lanyard clue was one of the ending clues, as otherwise it completely removed Hugo and Dinah from the suspect pool, but if I had to take points away from what clues were obvious and mistimed, then retroactively I’d need to bump a lot of scores WAY lower.
The Puppeteer story is heating up with the reveal of their MO. Parents of 14 year olds who argue with their kid. Wilcox eat your heart out. Seeing Yann getting closer and closer to figuring this out, and this means having to confront his own trauma over his last words to his parents being those of hatred might be my favorite scene of the district so far.
Under the Thunderdome - 9/10
Leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy!
Case #22 - Of Rats and Men
Okay I might be crazy but I’m like 80% sure there’s an SCP reference in this case. Theres a clue which is a tragedy mask with black liquid coming out of its eyes. I swear that’s a reference.
Anyways, this here is an amazing case. We got a tense situation (the looters wreaking havoc) each suspect is interesting and unique (special shout out to the queen Ms. LaBombe) and the motives are all strong (no “I killed him with a cannon to stop violence” here).
The pacing felt great and Frank was the best he’s ever been during this case. I really enjoy the dynamic between him and Veronica. We also got to see Freddie again (and without letting future reveals affect my opinions of the now) he really is just a serviceable character. We don’t really know too much about him, but during the AI, we learn that his parents were the first victims of the puppeteer, so there is some solid sympathy for him.
The rest of the AI was about finding the Blade family fortune that the victim, Scott, stole from them. It did kinda feel like a let down that it was all destroyed, but it would’ve been too easy for her to just get it. This case definitely felt like it was leading into something huge, with the reveal at the end that Zelda is on top of Jazz Town.
Of Rats and Men - 9.2/10
There is quiet, for just a moment.
Case #23 - The Eye of the Storm
And so the weather machine story line is wrapped up, with the big reveal it was all an insurance scam.
I will admit I really liked Peggy’s character, and it does really suck to see her dead, but it only made sense that she would be the victim at the end of this story. May she live on in the big ol’ storm that is the afterlife (can you tell I’m writing this while sleep deprived).
We got more Spangler, always a plus, and Veronica made a reappearance. Both of them were really great additions to the case, with Veronica being one of my favorite killers yet. I did kinda hope that Frank would be our partner for this one, as I would have loved to see his reaction to Veronica’s arrest.
The three new suspects were okay, with Peggy’s brother, Andy, being the best. Rose and Susanna were largely forgettable in the grand scheme of things. Susanna did get a bit more screen time in the AI, but the whole “writing to the president” sub-plot felt too disconnected to the main plot of the case.
A bit more about the AI, YANN WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOO. I knew it was gonna happen and it still felt horrible to see him get impatient and cause The Puppeteer to come back. It’s so in character and great but damn it hurts. I think with it coming to a head, The Puppeteer story is definitely on the same level of Inner Chaos. Let’s see if it fully goes past it!
The Eye of the Storm - 9.5/10
Oh, I lost any hope of having a sweet life.
Case #24 - Hanging by a Thread
If I had a nickel for every time we arrested someone whose name starts with “Fred” in a case that serves as the climax to a district plot I would have two nickels.
This is easily my favorite case of Jazz Town. Maybe not of the entire game so far (Root of all Evil still has my heart) but it is damn close. Everything about it just comes together to create an amazing case.
We have a returning victim with Dinah, whose death was absolutely brutal and tragic. Mostly reoccurring suspects with Freddie, Stanley, and Madeleine. The two other suspects are still amazing with Dinah’s father Blake, and poor Yann. Seriously this guy just couldn’t catch a break.
The crime scenes all feel great, with bright colors and the differing locations feeling like a great send off to Jazz Town.
Russell being the partner for the last chapter felt a bit out of place, but I guess it was Pretty Simple realizing that they needed to include him more often so that he could be an actual character. I’m so far pretty neutral about him. He’s funny at times and really annoying at others, almost like Frank.
White Peaks already looks interesting, and I already feel incredibly bad for Amy.
Hanging by a Thread - 9.5/10
Case Rankings -
#7 - After the Storm
Just a bit boring, but it serves it purpose of being an introduction to Jazz Town well.
#6 - Open Wounds
Definitely the most filler case in Jazz Town, but it introduces Veronica and tells an interesting self contained story.
#5 - Cloudy with a Chance of Murder
All of the plot lines are revealed, and I still really enjoy that feeling of peeling back the victims relationships. Good, but not great.
#4 - Under the Thunderdome
Great at ramping up the tension about Zelda, and brings back my favorite character.
#3 - Of Rats and Men
The moment of the district that is: “Oh shit something big is about to happen!!!” It keeps a great atmosphere throughout and has some fun characters.
#2 - The Eye of the Storm
Great ending for the hurricane plot and has a great killer.
#1 - Hanging by a Thread
Amazing wrap up for not just The Puppeteer and Yann’s character arc, but also for Jazz Town as a whole.
Overall - 9.2/10
While the beginning of Jazz Town is a little slow, it takes that opportunity to ease you into the major plot threads that you will be following throughout. Once you make it past halfway, however, you get four amazing cases back to back, with each one ratcheting up the stakes that you’re facing.
Hope to see you again in the next review post, all about White Peaks! I’m sure the events of these next six cases won’t be traumatizing for anyone at all! (Foreshadowing is a narrative devi-)
