Review for Arsène Lupin – Once a Thief

Few characters in books rival the popularity and staying power of Sherlock Holmes – the world’s most famous detective. But what if someone seized the formula and spun it on its head? That is exactly what the French author Maurice Leblanc did when creating Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief. Thanks to Persona 5 and the Netflix series inspired by the novels, the quick-witted and sassy crook has been enjoying a burst of popularity, discovered by modern audiences even if not many have read the considerable number of stories that appear in the novels. Once again the Blazing Griffin development team steps forward with a delightful adventure featuring an iconic character, this time with the greatest burglar in literature and his legally distinctive rival.

Everything in Arsène Lupin – Once a Thief is framed in a vein similar to that of the books. It reveals a private conversation between Arsène and the author, Maurice Leblanc himself, talking about the differences between what was released to the press and the truth from Arsène’s perspective. This enjoyable back and forth exchange leads to certain questions: where is the truth, what is being embellished, and when is Arsène being honest? Or perhaps the reality lies somewhere in between? All of that while the thief can barely contain his amusement at the reactions he elicits.

The story starts in a ship after a short tutorial with Lupin showcasing how he plans his heists. A rumor that the famous Arsène Lupin infiltrated the vessel in the middle of the night causes a stir among the passengers. They decide to investigate who might be the impostor and secure this individual until the authorities come along. Soon Inspector Ganimard boards to conduct his investigation and we are introduced to the game’s main loop: the chapter will always follow both the inspector’s and Arsène’s point of view, which makes for an intriguing story development. Small clues we see in the Ganimard segments regularly give a hint as to what to do with Arsène, and it is always a treat to figure out how he pulled off the heist. For example, in one single night, how did Arsène steal an entire art collection which included a whole dinosaur skeleton?

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The mind map from Blazing Griffin's Hercule Poirot games is back, better than ever, far more logical, and easier to follow than before. It is crucial for identifying new objectives, and the journal reads more clearly and is very helpful when you are stuck. Many of the clues for the puzzles require a glance at your inventory or notes and then you are set to go (occasionally, pixel hunting is also necessary). Only two of the challenges stumped me, with the final puzzle reminding me of something out of Myst or The 7th Guest – for better or worse.

Besides the mechanic that involves the planning of a heist (that, sadly, we never see put into motion), we also get something similar to Frogwares’ Sherlock Holmes titles in which we take a closer look at someone and observe the subtle signs to tell if they are hiding something and what that might be. The gameplay from Hercule Poirot: The First Cases, which involves leading the conversation in a specific way, makes a welcomed return.

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The stylized visuals give the characters very charming identities, along with the familiar diorama aesthetic. The locations are filled with detail, but not too busy, which would make the investigation confusing. The soundscape and voice-over performances are top-notch, and everything is similar to what one would expect from a theater play or from an adventure featuring characters from the early twentieth century.

Every aspect of this game promises an enjoyable adventure for the fans of the genre, even without first reading the Arsène Lupin mystery novels. It never talks down to the players, and it never expects unreasonable leaps of logic. And with different endings to explore, Arsène Lupin – Once a Thief is a well-constructed story with charming characters, providing a wonderful experience throughout this enchanting journey.