Dominique Pamplemousse Analysis

Dominique Pamplemousse is a private detective of indeterminate gender who hasn't had a case in quite a while. With nothing better to do than play Freecell and dodge rent checks, Dominique is all too glad when a new case suddenly pops up. A famous pop singer has gone missing and the wealthy CEO of a record company hires Dominique to investigate his mysterious disappearance.

Indie games have built a reputation for tackling themes and topics that mainstream titles tend to shy away from, but Dominique Pamplemousse does it in a way I have not yet seen before. It bills itself as a game about gender and the economy but the subtle way in which it approaches these subjects is quite interesting. For example, the way in which other characters try to figure out what Dominique's gender is and the casual way in which Dominique reacts to their confusion is quite funny. The characters you encounter also appear to be the usual stereotypes until you get to know them a little

Some players will appreciate what the developer achieved with the art style and characters while others won't be able to look beyond the visuals. The game was made in Flash so the demo is playable straight from your browser. Although you can pick up Dominique Pamplemousse for less than $5 from Steam, I still recommend checking out the demo first to see if it is something that will suit your taste.

Dominique Pamplemousse is not the best looking or sounding game available but it has a lot of heart a pretty unique experience to offer. It tackles some interesting topics in a unique manner and packs some nice twists in its short playtime. When judged purely as a game it is a little lacking but as an experience it is quite good.

Gameplay: Film noire style point & click adventure. Graphics: A mixture of claimation and homemade props. Sound: The singing might not appeal to