Tails Noir Preludes

An excellent compilation of vignettes that gives you a more intimate view into this exceptional worldbuilding. However, I was still left with more questions, and I can't help but feel like this game's content should have simply been integrated into the main Tails: Noir game. Both games' experiences would be amplified this way. I can't help but feel frustrated that I needed to purchase a second game in order to get just a BIT more context for the main story, and I am STILL left with many of the questions I had before. There are still things to unlock, still parts of the world I haven't seen and want to see. It makes me afraid that this developer is going to just keep giving the story to me in small snippets when they could have just provided one fully fleshed out game from the start. That doesn't make it less beautiful though. The writing in this is lovely, the atmosphere is perfect, the choices lead to only a couple different endings for each character but still felt meaningful along the way. I just wish I could purchase and experience one, fully complete Tails: Noir instead of having it portioned out.

God I recently replayed the original for the third time and was finally able to get my hands on the Prelude. Amazing, very emotional and the music is on top as always. I just wish there was more, off course, it's one of my favorite games. It gave me that same panic like the original when you feel like you have to think so hard on every damn choice. So good. I'm gonna be thinking about this for years.

Branching path and replayability are the best things about the game. Music & visuals are simply excellent. Worldbuilding and writing is like it's always is with these kind of "story games" - a bag of excellent ideas with either really good or really bad execution. - More good than bad in this one though.

I think this was more interesting than the first one, which focused on a detective story. This one is more about self-realization. I got stuck on the beginning part of Renee the journalist fox. I was supposed to rearrange the shelfs in a specific way, but had no idea what way it was supposed to be, So, the game would not progress. Point and click, pixalated, with a lot of dialogue to read and choose answers. I might have continued further if not for getting stuck so early. 40/100

Очень, очень скучная вещь. Все также как в первой части красивый визуал и хорошее музыкальное сопровождение. И на этом все плюсы. В играх такого жанра необходим интересный сюжет и тексты. Тут этого нет от слова совсем. За историей персонажей наблюдать не интересно. Диалоги скучны до чертиков.

Mi calificación: 6.5/10 Lo bueno La historia: es interesante como el Tails Noir original. Se ve que tiene una historia detrás y que hay más de fondo de lo que vemos. Arte: igual de bueno que el primero. Los escenarios son excelentes. Gameplay: es mejor que el primero. Aquí sí pueden llevar por diferentes caminos las decisiones que tomamos. Rejugabilidad: se puede volver a jugar para ver otros resultados tomando otras decisiones. Lo malo: Abandono: lo mismo que el primero. No importa que tan interesante sea el universo y la historia del juego jamás se va a expandir ni aclarar. Opciones de idioma: la verdad me da igual si está en inglés o en español, pero hay gente a la que no y menos al ser un juego donde se tiene que leer y entender bien lo que está pasando. No encontré una opción para ponerlo en español, el primero si la tenía. Bugs: en este si encontré un par pero nada grabe. Algunos errores de escritura en los textos, cargar las partidas guardadas manualmente a veces no disparaban los diálogos. Si es un mejor juego que el primero, pero la verdad se siente como que este y el primer Tails Noire pudieron ser parte de un solo juego y seguir con la dinámica de cuatro historias. Aún así me dió la sensación de que por más que se expliquen cosas que no se explican en el primero el juego no lleva a nada. Deja preguntas que nunca se van a responder. Es solo un vistazo de lo que pudo haber sido una buena saga de juegos y por eso no lo recomiendo.

Huge improvement next to the previous game. Your decisions actually matter now!

O primeiro Tails Noir (ou Backbone) me sugou para seu mundo pelos seguintes motivos: - O mundo/cenário: a diversidade de ambientes onde o jogo se passa, e todo "feeling" e roupagem noir que o jogo veste; - O mistério e investigação dos primeiros atos: acho que The Bite é o setup perfeito para a história que vem a seguir e me fisgou instantaneamente; - A soundtrack absolutamente banger que eu ouço todo dia da minha vida. Infelizmente esses elementos são mais fortes por lá, do que na Prequel, já que o noir é bem mais light e os cenários se repetem bastante por aqui. Mas a prequel fisga, ah e como fisga. Só que de outra maneira: - Múltiplas rotas: dessa vez as escolhas do jogador importam na progressão da história; - História: a história do jogo lida com temas de separação, e para mim, não existe mais doloroso na vida do que a dor da separação. Então resulta em uma história muito poderosa; - Personagens: cara como eu AMO esses personagens. Eu passei o jogo todo tentando me casar com o Larry de alguma maneira e viver feliz para sempre com ele; - A soundtrack aqui também é pedrada atrás de pedrada. Só acho a anterior mais memorável pela utilização de tracks vocais em momentos fortes do jogo. Esse é um jogo que vai viver na minha cabeça pelos próximos 10 anos de minha existência, e infelizmente Tails noir é uma série de jogos morta, então nunca vai lançar outro para coçar a coceirinha que esse jogo vai deixar. No mais, me resta fazer as outras rotas do jogo, e ver todos os desfechos para esses personagens.

Great prequel, loved it

Tails Noir Preludes, developed by Eggnut and published by Raw Fury, is a contemplative and emotionally rich narrative adventure that revisits the world first established in the acclaimed neo-noir tale Backbone. Rather than serving as a direct sequel, this prequel focuses on the personal histories of four key characters—Howard, Clarissa, Renee, and Eli—long before their lives became entangled in the corruption and mystery of the main game. The result is a character-driven experience that trades crime intrigue for intimate storytelling, offering an exploration of identity, ambition, loss, and the quiet tragedies that shape who people become. It’s an elegant and melancholic meditation on growth, morality, and consequence, told through interconnected vignettes that reveal how small decisions can ripple through a life. From the opening moments, Tails Noir Preludes sets a tone that feels simultaneously familiar and new. The same dystopian world of anthropomorphic characters returns, but the focus shifts from its gritty exterior to the emotional interiors of its inhabitants. The writing remains sharp and evocative, grounded in the everyday while tinged with poetic melancholy. Howard’s story traces his early adulthood, filled with insecurity and disillusionment, painting him as more than the jaded detective players remember. Clarissa’s journey captures the tension of power, family, and duty as she navigates the burden of inheritance and ambition in a crime family where loyalty is both weapon and weakness. Renee’s arc examines idealism, compassion, and burnout through the lens of a journalist struggling to reconcile her empathy with her pursuit of truth, while Eli’s storyline unfolds as a quiet tragedy of intellect and isolation, focusing on scientific curiosity that borders on obsession. Each tale offers a different emotional rhythm, yet together they create a haunting portrait of a city and its people—flawed, yearning, and beautifully human beneath their animal faces. Visually, the game is a masterwork of atmosphere and restraint. Eggnut’s signature art style—meticulous pixel art layered with dynamic lighting—imbues every frame with depth and life. Rain streaks across reflective windows, cigarette smoke curls in dimly lit rooms, and neon signs flicker across desolate streets. The visual design is not merely aesthetic but emotional, using color and light to convey tone: the soft warmth of a living room contrasts with the cold sterility of a laboratory, while the deep shadows of a bar hint at secrets better left unspoken. Animation is minimal yet expressive, allowing characters’ gestures and postures to communicate feelings as effectively as words. The city feels alive not through movement, but through its silence—the hum of electricity, the rustle of papers, and the distant sounds of urban decay create a sense of a world still turning even as its people falter. Gameplay is simple but immersive, revolving primarily around dialogue, exploration, and minor interactive sequences. There are no puzzles or combat systems to distract from the storytelling; instead, choices shape the characters’ relationships and internal trajectories. Each decision you make subtly influences tone and outcome, though not always in ways that offer traditional resolution. The developers have incorporated a trait system that lets players define aspects of each protagonist’s personality—traits like cleverness, empathy, or determination—which affect available dialogue options and interactions. It’s a small addition, but it personalizes the experience and reinforces the idea that who you are determines how you see the world. Between major scenes, a branching map visually tracks the choices you’ve made, offering a quiet reminder that even the most personal moments leave trails. The structure alternates between characters, weaving their stories together across thematic rather than chronological connections. This shifting perspective keeps the narrative dynamic but also demands attention and emotional investment. Just as you settle into one character’s mindset, the story pivots to another, challenging you to consider how their lives mirror or diverge from one another. The lack of a linear throughline may feel disjointed for some, but it mirrors the fragmented, nonlinear nature of memory itself. The result is a mosaic of experiences—sometimes hopeful, often painful—that collectively build toward understanding how these people became who they are in the world of Backbone. Music and sound design play a crucial role in grounding the game’s tone. Composer Danshin returns with a soundtrack that blends noir jazz with ambient textures, creating a soundscape that feels both nostalgic and restless. Each track is tuned to its scene, using subtle variations in tempo and instrumentation to amplify emotion without overwhelming it. There is no voice acting; instead, the rhythm of the text and the quiet intimacy of the visuals let players project their own cadence onto each conversation. The restraint works in the game’s favor, allowing moments of silence to resonate. It’s in these pauses—the unspoken thoughts, the weight of an unfinished sentence—that Tails Noir Preludes finds its greatest emotional power. Though compact in length, usually taking four to six hours to complete, the experience feels complete in its emotional arc. It avoids the pitfalls of excessive exposition or filler, instead delivering a carefully crafted narrative that values quality over quantity. Yet, the brevity also accentuates one of the game’s few shortcomings: some storylines, particularly Eli’s, feel like they could have benefited from additional development. Thematically, everything lands—the melancholy, the moral grayness, the sense of inevitability—but certain narrative transitions are abrupt, likely due to the game’s vignette format. Still, even with these minor inconsistencies, the writing consistently delivers profound, character-driven moments that linger long after the credits roll. Tails Noir Preludes succeeds because it trusts its audience. It doesn’t hand out easy answers or moral clarity. Instead, it invites reflection, asking players to sit with ambiguity and contradiction. Every scene feels lived-in, every choice meaningful not because it changes the world, but because it reveals who these characters truly are. The prequel manages to deepen appreciation for the main game while standing firmly on its own as a complete and resonant experience. It is a story about the moments that define us, the compromises we make, and the quiet grief that comes with realizing we are shaped as much by our failures as our hopes. Beautifully written, artfully presented, and emotionally sincere, Tails Noir Preludes is a powerful reminder that even in a world of shadows and corruption, the most compelling mysteries are the ones that lie within. Rating: 9/10