Hoist Your Hopes! 'The Crane Rider's Tale' Lets You Solve Murders From Your Giant Flying Pet
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Dive into 'The Crane Rider's Tale,' a unique murder mystery where you play as Mourn-No-More, a man who ferries townsfolk on his giant pet crane to solve a friend's murder, blending *Disco Elysium*-style mechanics with rich Chinese folklore and a deeply personal narrative from creator Brianna Lei.
Alright, listen up, mates! Every now and then, a game concept comes along that makes me blink twice, rub my eyes, and then frantically smash the 'want more' button. And fair dinkum, *The Crane Rider's Tale* is doing exactly that. It's like someone threw *Disco Elysium*, a dash of *Zero Escape*, and a giant pet crane into a magical cauldron, and what emerged is pure, unadulterated, glorious chaos.
From Brianna Lei, the brilliant mind behind *Butterfly Soup* (remember that one? Stellar!), comes this genre-bending mystery that has me buzzing like a freshly overclocked GPU. So, picture this: you're Mourn-No-More, a kind but sickly chap whose giant pet crane, Snowfall, is the fastest way to get around town. Your mate, Peach Blossom, gets murdered, and suddenly, your old-timey taxi service job takes a rather grim turn. Now, you're ferrying townsfolk around on Snowfall's back, choosing your passengers, and trying to figure out who the bloody hell is doing all this murdering.
If that doesn't scream 'unique gameplay loop,' I don't know what does! The whole thing is wrapped up in this absolutely stunning medieval Chinese painting and woodblock print aesthetic. Seriously, it looks like a moving piece of art that's had a mystery injected into its digital veins. And the *Disco Elysium* vibes? Oh, they're strong. We're talking dice rolling, skill checks (failing them can even lead to interesting paths, which is just *chef's kiss*), and conversations that promise to be as dense and compelling as a forgotten spellbook. You'll be flying folks, dropping them off, and then poking around point-and-click style, piecing together clues across five potential endings, each with a 'shocking twist.' My wizard senses are tingling already, mates!
But here's where it gets even more interesting, and why I reckon this game is more than just a quirky concept. Creator Brianna Lei is running a Kickstarter for this beauty (go check it out!), and she's shared some genuinely reflective thoughts about the game's setting. She speaks candidly about her 'complicated feelings toward Chinese culture,' the frustration of growing up with media that shied away from explicitly gay characters, and the 'prison' of traditional Confucian ideals.
Yet, amidst that, she finds immense beauty – the paintings, the 'exquisite tragedy and poetic logic' in its legends, and, oh, the *danmei* (Chinese BL)! Lei's goal is to 'craft a fresh, forward-thinking story dressed up like an old folktale that's always been there. Because I wish it had been.' And honestly, that's what makes a game truly sing, isn't it? When a creator pours their personal journey and vision into it, magic happens.
So, if the idea of solving a murder from the back of a giant crane, delving into *Disco Elysium*-esque dialogue, and experiencing a deeply personal narrative crafted with stunning visuals sounds like your cup of tea (or perhaps a potent digital elixir), then you might want to consider backing *The Crane Rider's Tale* on Kickstarter. It's the kind of inventive, thoughtful project that makes the whole gaming landscape a more exciting place.
*Original insights and initial reporting on this fantastical flying mystery come courtesy of Oisin Kuhnke over at Rock Paper Shotgun. Cheers for the heads-up, mate!*
Tags: IndieGame, MurderMystery, AdventureGame, VisualNovel, Kickstarter
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun