Publisher: Wadjet Eye
Developer: Wadjet Eye
Year: 2014
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS

Rating: 8

The first four games in the Blackwell series, while enjoyable, left me underwhelmed. While there were hints at some overarching story, they mostly just felt like episodes of the week with lots of characters we get to know for five minutes and never see again. The Blackwell Epiphany pays everything off in spades, culminating in an epic adventure that delivers the intellectual and emotional weight the series had been lacking.

For the first time, we begin the game not with saving some random soul, but being present for a horrifying beginning of a conspiracy that shakes Rosangela and Joey to their cores while also jeopardizing the safety of the city. While investigating a dilapidated drug house (on a tip from Detective Durkin, whom they assisted in The Blackwell Deception), they witness a murder of a stranger, whose soul is imminently torn to shreds in front of them. Durkin clams up immediately, hinting that this case involves the police in some way. The tension begins high and rarely lets up as our heroes attempt to resolve the conspiracy while protecting their own hides.

One of the first things I noticed while playing (outside of the graphics, which have somehow improved for the fourth consecutive time) is that every scene, every character, every puzzle feels meticulously laid out and integrated within the game and with the rest of the series. While again there’s no reason to ever hang out at Rosangela’s apartment, the kitchen (which never had a purpose) is now not in view, and everything left to look at is a memento from the entire series and a good summary (and reminder) of what’s occurred leading up to this point. Call backs to previous games are plentiful but never feel gratuitous; in fact a lot of seemingly previous unrelated plot points come to fruition. And there are even flashbacks to Rosangela’s grandmother that quite satisfyingly tidies up some loose ends. While I won’t go so far as to say this makes the rest of the series more satisfying, it’s obvious that the greatness of this game had been planned for a long time.

The puzzles themselves have peaked as well. Joey is more important than ever, as there are many more (realistically) locked doors that Joey needs to help Rosangela gain access to, or sometimes not at all while solving the puzzle all by himself. His primary skills (blowing and using his tie) are used much more often. And there are more multi-step puzzles that aren’t eminently obvious. While I never needed a hint, I was stuck on many occasions and never felt like the forthcoming answer was unfair. Rosangela’s smart phone as well as various computers are used much more frequently (befitting a game taking place in 2014), which gives Joey many more opportunities to poke fun at both himself and modern culture for having no clue what any of these things do.

Speaking of Joey, I finally enjoy hanging out with him. He’s almost completely mellowed out, with his snark only used for playful teasing and not sexist condescension. He and Rosangela finally feel like they’re not just begrudging partners but actual friends. And in turn this gives the story the emotional punch it desperately needed.

To say more about the plot is unnecessary other than the endgame is just about perfect. It’s full of genuine but earned surprises, heartfelt moments, and a glorious cameo from Rosangela’s aunt Lauren. I honestly can’t even imagine how the series could have ended more perfectly. During one of the game’s crucial scenes, I literally exclaimed out loud “Jesus!” in honest surprise. Joey yelled out the same reaction at the same moment. For the first time with the Blackwell games, I felt as though I was enveloped in a story and not just a game. I can’t think of a better compliment.