Overview
The investigation system is what sets Silver Palace apart from other action RPGs. As a Detective in Silvernia, players solve crimes using four approaches: diplomacy (dialogue and persuasion), deduction (evidence-based reasoning), instinct (gut feelings), and steel (force). The hybrid loop pairs a detective adventure workflow with a party-based action RPG combat layer, with the two systems sharing characters, evidence, and consequences.
Crime Scene Analysis
At crime scenes, the game enters an investigation mode. Players search the environment for physical evidence, examine dead bodies, and harvest clues. Objects can be freely rotated and studied from all angles, letting players hunt for hidden engravings, broken edges, or fragile clues. Easily missed details on objects may contain important information.
Character Scanning
Players can scan NPCs and characters from head to toe in real time, stopping at specific points to collect information. When examining the character Rose during the game's reveal trailer, scanning revealed a hidden weapon concealed in her dress. This scanning mechanic bridges investigation and combat, since the intelligence gathered can reveal enemy weaknesses.
Danger Radar
The Danger Radar is an alert system that detects enemies disguised as civilians. By scanning surrounding NPCs, players can identify monsters or hostiles hiding in plain sight. Exposing them triggers a combat encounter. This mechanic ties the investigation loop directly into the combat loop, keeping players attentive even in seemingly peaceful areas.
Interrogation
When confronting suspects and witnesses, players choose dialogue options and can present collected evidence. Presenting the right evidence at the right time can break an alibi or expose contradictions. Stealth-based approaches also feed into interrogation: players can sneak up on targets, knock them out or use anesthetics, and then interrogate them.
Mindpalace
The Mindpalace is a mental simulation space where the Detective recreates and simulates crime incidents. Players reflect on collected information and attempt to reconstruct what happened. It functions as the game's deduction mechanic, letting players piece together a sequence of events from fragments of evidence.
Evidence Board
Located in the Detective's office, the Evidence Board is where players actively sift through collected information and construct hypotheses. Multiple deduction paths may be available for each case, and the player's choices on the board affect the story's direction. The game's official description says: "Your choice will carve not just your destiny, but the fate of many."
Cases in the Beta
The Monotype Beta included Chapter 1, titled "Burnt to Cinders," which contained three cases:
The Nameless Ashes Case (a series of spontaneous combustions that killed dozens)
Mystery of the Stolen Silver
Case of Grimm's Death