Magret & FaceDeBouc Review

Game: Magret & FaceDeBouc
Genre: Puzzle, Point & Click
System: Steam (Windows)
Developers | Publishers: Adipson Studio
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $ 14.99 | UK £ 12.79 | EU € 14,79
Release Date: July 16th, 2024

A review code was used, and many thanks to Adipson Studio.

Magret & FaceDeBouc is a cartoonish point-and-click police investigation game where you control an unlikely duo of anthropomorphic detectives: Magret, a refined duck, and FaceDeBouc, a diabolically disagreeable goat.

Before we get into this review, I want to add a warning. Sometimes, descriptions on Steam can give a mild warning, and games tend to work out okay in the end. In the case of Magret & FaceDeBouc, the warning is very much deserved. The humour is very crude in the game, and I certainly wouldn’t play it with kids.

The Buddy-Buddy Case

This first story kicks off a series of police investigations and is a rounded story. In this episode called The Buddy-Buddy Case, the two unlikely detectives have to solve the mysterious murder of Monsieur Couane, a local shopkeeper who was gruesomely turned into sausages and other charcuterie.

You can choose to control Magret or FaceDeBouc, each has actions they can do to progress the game, that the other can’t do.

A detailed map showing various locations including "Magret," "Police," "FaceDeBouc," and "Crime Scene." The map includes a river, numerous buildings, and a coastline. The map interface features a paper airplane cursor and various icons. Published on: LadiesGamers — The map shows you where the duo is in town.

The story begins with Magret meeting FaceDeBouc at the police station where Magret works. Right from the start, the game showcases its tongue-in-cheek humour. A memorable moment includes a janitor blocking Magret’s way with a mop, declaring, “Thou shall not pass!” and giving a wonderful nod to Lord of the Rings. However, once Magret finds FaceDeBouc, the crude humour becomes very apparent, living up to the game’s warnings.

After that, the detectives get their first murder investigation together.

A colorful scene outside a cafe with animated characters: a lion, a goat, and a duck. The lion is wearing a uniform, the goat is dressed in a black vest, and the duck is in blue overalls. A red parrot sits on the lion's shoulder. A text overlay explains, "This is a point-and-click game...the smoke will magically dissipate on its own once you're inside the café." Published on: LadiesGamers — As usual, you must try everything you find on everything to progress

Unraveling the Mystery: A Gruesome Puzzle

The murder of Monsieur Couane, who was a pig, adds a strange twist to the story. Why would a pig take up the profession of a butcher in the first place? And why did he turn into sausages himself? And why was the body so thoroughly chopped up? The vulture coroner adds another layer of dark humour as he’s not above chewing on what should be evidence.

As you click around the environment and interact with characters, you’ll gather clues and unravel the mystery. Conversations with the coroner and other characters provide hints to help you progress.

There are a lot of topics for you to check on, and the answers to the same topics might be different when you have Magret asking it or FaceDeBouc. Items they find are detective-specific, too. I found it to be annoying that Magret and FaceDeBouc tend to overlap while standing around.

The duck character from the previous image is standing in front of a cafe entrance, speaking to a cat officer behind police tape. The goat character is also present. The dialogue at the bottom reads, "Hello, Officer Chatjaipête! You seem happy to be on stand-by! I’m making my return in the crime department, and I’m back to business with the current cases! Captain Hishiro is waiting inside to put me in charge of the crime investigation. May I come in? You look really fit! Hm, there is no one inside. I’ll come back later…" Published on: LadiesGamers — There’s a lot of clues to click on!

Language Options and Graphics: Cartoonish Charm

The game’s spoken language is French, but you can switch to English subtitles, although this means losing the voice acting. Dialogues play out automatically, so you’ll need to stay attentive to follow the story, as there is a lot of text to read.

Behind its quirky characters, Magret & FaceDeBouc offers a classic point-and-click adventure reminiscent of the 90s, with background music to match. You’ll solve puzzles, find clues, question suspects, and make arrests. The game also includes a helpful worm that provides hints if you get stuck. And I did need that, as to me, it wasn’t always obvious how to progress. The humour is very apparent here, too: prepare to be insulted!

The duck and goat characters are inside an office. The office is cluttered with filing cabinets, boxes, and a desk with a rotary phone and a computer. The text overlay reads, "We're currently stuck in the game..." Green smoke wafts through the room. Published on: LadiesGamers — If I had any doubts about the crude humour, they were quickly dispelled at the start of the game.

Visually, Magret & FaceDeBouc has a cartoon-like style with anthropomorphic characters that are full of personality. The designs are as inspired as the characters themselves, adding to the game’s charm and appeal.

A retro computer screen with a blue interface displaying a save game menu labeled "Steam Deck/Gamepad AutoSave" with options to "Save game" or "Cancel/quit." Surrounding the monitor are floppy disks and books, including titles like "Walkground - The complete solution of Magret & FaceDeBouc" and "Unlock the Achievements." Published on: LadiesGamers — Even the save option is retro-inspired. Who remembers the little disks?

Conclusion for Magret & FaceDeBouc

Magret & FaceDeBouc combines storytelling with absurd and humour to create a unique point-and-click adventure. While its crude humour may not be for everyone, those who enjoy a mix of mystery and dark comedy will find it an entertaining addition to their library. Just be sure to keep it away from the kids!

Final Verdict: I Like It