Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes Review (Steam)

Rating: 6.6
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · October 31, 2024

Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes Review, Detective Sammy Jukes is the man on the job when an anti-oil activist is reported missing in a small town on the new oil pipeline route. Talk to witnesses, shovel through evidence, wrestle with the wolves, and chase after chickens to find the truth in this first-person open-world adventure game.

Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes Review Pros:

Nice graphics.
8.15GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Graphics settings: window mode, resolution, v-sync, max FPS, gamma, field of view slider, motion blur, auto-detect settings, view distance, anti-aliasing, post-processing, shadows, texture, effects, and foliage.
Game settings – minimap, UI text size, subtitles size, and walk and run speed.
Free spoiler-free walk-through guide.
Detective adventure gameplay.
Multiple-choice encounters and interactions are the name of the game.
Before selecting a question or response you see what it is you are about to say.
A full 3D game world.
In-game cutscenes and interactions.
A lot of memorable characters and each one feels unique in their own weird way.
When going to a new area or seeing something you get a first-person flyover of sorts where the camera pans around.
A game about exploration and interrogation. To get the most out of it you really need to exhaust every bit of dialogue and try your best to search everywhere.
The dog in the game actually gives out tips like a good boy would!
Minimal in the corner shows all the road names and points of interest.
Clear easy-to-use interface for questioning.
First-person view.
The town of Twin Lakes is a really cool place to explore, it has a Twin Peaks vibe to it all with the secrecy and all that but it is a great place to explore.
Button prompts show up as needed.
Play how you want.
You can save and load when you want.
As you talk with people you have them in your journal and the information you learn about them auto-fills into their profile.
You can actually have the dog follow you around town.
Good writing makes you sound a lot more proficient and effective than I probably am.
Day and night cycle with weather effects.
High level of detail and protocol like having to justify and get search warrants to enter people’s homes.
It’s a story about an activist who went missing whilst protesting an oil company.
A great game to play with headphones on and just lose yourself in it all.
Hidden Collectibles.

Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes Review Cons:

No controller support.
You cannot remap the controls.
They have a free walk-through guide.
Characters look wooden and kind of robotic when talking.
A lot of performance issues like graphics popping in, slowdown, and general issues. It smooth out but can happen again at any time.
The flyover that I mentioned above is kind of jarring more because the camera movement is very floaty and the graphics pop in and go blurry.
No autosave.
The game is not great at helping with guiding you around or giving breadcrumbs.

Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes:

Official website.

Developer: Wamill

Publisher: Wamill

Store Links –

Steam

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
6/10

Sound - 6/10
6/10

Accessibility - 6/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
7/10

Fun Factor - 7/10

6.6/10

Summary

Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes offers a visually appealing experience with its impressive graphics and a manageable download size of 8.15GB. The game boasts a variety of graphics settings, including window mode, resolution, v-sync, max FPS, gamma, field of view slider, motion blur, auto-detect settings, view distance, anti-aliasing, post-processing, shadows, texture, effects, and foliage. Additionally, the game settings allow for customization of the minimap, UI text size, subtitles size, and walk and run speed. Players can also enjoy Steam achievements and a free spoiler-free walk-through guide.

The gameplay revolves around detective adventure elements, with multiple-choice encounters and interactions being central to the experience. Before selecting a question or response, players can see what they are about to say, adding a layer of strategy to the game. The game features a full 3D world with in-game cutscenes and interactions, and a host of memorable characters, each with their own unique quirks. The town of Twin Lakes, with its Twin Peaks vibe, is a fascinating place to explore, filled with secrecy and intrigue. The game encourages thorough exploration and interrogation, requiring players to exhaust every bit of dialogue and search every corner to get the most out of the experience.

One of the standout features is the helpful dog that provides tips throughout the game. The minimap in the corner displays road names and points of interest, and the interface for questioning is clear and easy to use. The game is played from a first-person perspective, and players can save and load their progress at any time. As players interact with characters, their journals auto-fills with information learned about them, and the dog can even follow the player around town. The writing is engaging, making players feel more proficient and effective. The game also features a day and night cycle with weather effects, adding to the immersive experience.

However, there are some drawbacks to Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes. The game lacks controller support and does not allow for remapping controls. Characters can appear wooden and robotic when talking, and there are performance issues such as graphics popping in, slow down, and general instability. The flyover camera movement can be jarring, with floaty movements and blurry graphics. Additionally, the game does not have an autosave feature and is not great at guiding players or providing breadcrumbs for navigation.

In summary, Sammy Jukes Twin Lakes is a visually appealing detective adventure game with a rich 3D world, engaging characters, and a unique town to explore. The game offers a high level of detail and protocol, with a story about an activist who went missing while protesting an oil company. While there are some performance issues and limitations with controls, the game’s strengths in storytelling, exploration, and interaction make it a worthwhile experience for players who enjoy immersive detective adventures.