Le Carré is home to a robust cast of weirdos, which is probably why York seems to enjoy being there so much. There are a few cringe-inducing moments, particularly focused around voodoo and trans people, but none of it feels mean-spirited.
Characters are never what they seem, and the setting gives director Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro and his team access to a variety of archetypes that aren’t just rehashes of Twin Peaks episodes. I really liked the tone and setting from the first Deadly Premonition, and much of that appeal – at least on the story front – is back in A Blessing in Disguise.
The case itself is strange and convoluted, and the investigation goes in directions that even the most ardent fans won’t expect. Once York realizes its connection to a drug ring and the mysterious appearance of red seeds, he’s determined to take over the investigation. The majority of the game flashes back to York’s time in Le Carré, where he investigates the gruesome murder of a young girl. These present-day sections feel plodding, but they don’t take up much playtime. It’s not a great way to kick off the adventure, and the pacing and line delivery is agonizingly slow. These present-day portions play like a visual novel, with a bare minimum of interaction and loads of dialogue. The agents are appropriately skeptical of York’s involvement, and his aversion to the color red and insistence on talking to an invisible fairy don’t do much to establish his credibility. As it turns out, this young lady was the central figure of one of York’s earlier cases, which took place in Le Carré, Louisiana. The first takes place in present day Boston, where a pair of FBI agents are investigating the recent reappearance of a murder victim’s missing body. The tale is split between two main sections. Unfortunately, that degree of goodwill is practically impossible to extend to this sequel much like the victim at the center of its story, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise feels like a lifeless relic frozen in ice. Yes, it had technical issues, but fans saw past them and developed a genuine appreciation for the gameplay and story.
It had an earnest charm, conveyed through a unique small-town setting and memorable characters like FBI special agent Francis York Morgan. Back then, a lot of us unironically loved the game. Some people think the appeal of 2010’s Deadly Premonition boiled down to “so bad it’s good,” but I don’t think that’s accurate.
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