On Your Tail Review: Perfect Getaway Mystery

When inspiration escapes you, what better way to find it than go on a short vacation? Don’t be surprised if that short vacation turns out to be more complicated than you thought. On Your Tail provides a cozy vacation at an Italian beach town, perfect to provide the inspiration you need. While there, you put your amateur detective hat on, discovering a mystery that gets more complicated by the day. At the same time, relax and meet new people as you are on vacation!

On Your Tail combines a cozy town, a charming cast of characters, and a nice story for a relaxing experience. You can take your time solving the mystery while relaxing and participating in several fun activities. There are some bugs that can derail the experience and loading times leave much to be desired. But if you can look past them, On Your Tail provides a fun experience you won’t forget.

On Your Tail is available on PC for USD 35.00.

You visit the port several times during your investigation.

Story – Crime in a Small Town

On Your Tail puts you in the shoes of Diana, a young goat woman pursuing a writing career as a university student. She participates in a contest only to be told her work lacks the emotional gravitas of an experienced writer. Feeling the pressure of not being able to achieve her dreams, Diana goes to Borgo Marina for a change of pace. She soon steps into a mystery that spans Borgo Marino’s history and she’s the only one who can solve it.

It’s a similar story to a game like Cuisineer but hits closer to home. The story is relatable for anyone who writes and feels that their career is in a rut. Feeling that your work is comparable to artificial intelligence is a blow to your ego. Even if you aren’t a writer, Diana’s situation is relatable for anyone feeling that they aren’t succeeding in their chosen career. It’s a powerful hook that keeps you invested in Diana’s adventure, wondering how she gets herself out of this situation.

Giovanna is harsh, but befriends you all the same.

The mystery is also equally intriguing as you discover more about Borgo Marina. It’s a good pace that doesn’t throw in too many unknown factors at once. If you need a break from the mystery, you can shift gears and relax in the town. Taking the story at your own pace is part of the game’s appeal; Diana’s goal is to relax as a tourist. Solving the mystery is important but having a good time is crucial.

Characters – Endearing Personalities

What helps On Your Tail stand out is the cast, both major and minor. Everyone you meet has a unique personality that you would expect in a coastal town. Most of the town is inviting and pleasant but there are some who aren’t as enthused about Diana’s presence. Despite a few misunderstandings, everyone warms up to Diana after a while, making her feel like a local. This allows Diana to form bonds and possibly find a special someone during her stay.

Even the fortune teller wants you to relax on vacation.

Everyone has realistic reactions to the events going on, from relief to suspicion. Their conflicts may be exaggerated for drama, but feel relatable because you could easily imagine yourself in that situation. Apart from the usual eccentric characters, there are many characters you can relate to in some way. Peel away their exterior and learn about their backstories to find deep stories that stay with you.

Gameplay – Mystery & Relaxation

On Your Tail’s gameplay revolves around investigation with some side activities. When you stumble upon a mystery, Diana uses her Chronolens to investigate the scene. The Chronolens lets you view a short window into the past but only for objects that have changed. Finding these objects with the Chronolens helps you find evidence that lets you reconstruct a crime scene.

The Chronolens lets you see how something has changed in the past.

Once Diana has enough clues, she reconstructs the crime scene by placing clues along a timeline. You see the timeline play out after each clue, letting you see if your deductions are on the mark. If you fail to assemble the clues properly, you can see a summary of your deductions to see which ones were correct. You can use that knowledge or use hints to make your next attempts more successful.

The mysteries gradually become more difficult but you can overcome them with experimentation and persistence. None of the solutions are absurd or something you couldn’t imagine. It may be difficult to spot some clues before reassembling the crime scene, but that isn’t a problem for most crime scenes. It may be frustrating but it does reflect the difficulty of solving crimes; it’s never easy. This keeps the detective work engaging but not too frustrating.

Put your clues together to discover how events occurred.

Relaxation – Something for Everyone

Another strength On Your Tail has is the variety of activities you can do like Critter Café. You can cook, do marble runs, sell gelato, paint, or serve as a waitress. You should try every activity but there will be some you prefer more than others. Some activities help you earn money, letting you purchase outfits, swimwear, or other items for group activities. Certain characters can join you for activities, helping you develop a deeper bond.

On Your Tail isn’t a long game but there are plenty of activities to do if you are tired of solving mysteries. Apart from giving you a break, it helps you experience the full extent of living in Borgo Marina and have fun. Even if you aren’t going to be an active waitress or a top chef, you can still do something enjoyable. More companions and activities open up as the game progresses, giving you more ways to enjoy yourself.

Making gelato and selling it is a fun experience.

The combination of activities combined with the charm of Borgo Marina elevates On Your Tail’s experience. You actually feel like you are in a coastal Italian town to relax and get a unique experience. Even though there is a pressing mystery, it’s more important for you to enjoy your stay. When you are refreshed and have enough rest, continue with the mystery. If you get tired again, you know how to recharge your batteries.

Audio & Visual – Great Ambience but Slow Loading

On Your Tail’s visual and audio combination works especially well together. The music is mostly ambient with few words, if any. Borgo Marina’s colours are bright and vibrant unless it’s a dark area or a ruined place. Even then, the interior of many buildings has bright colours and a homely feel. While it would be convenient to have a fast travel option, walking through the town rarely feels like a chore.

Everything looks fantastic and relaxing, like a coastal vacation.

The main problems with On Your Tail are related to the visual aspect. The first is the slow loading times for areas and clues. There are several moments where an area won’t fully load and takes time before you can access it. It’s only a few seconds but it’s noticeable because the game won’t let you proceed until it’s done loading. This also applies to some cards and text; the lack of visuals and refinement is sometimes obvious. The second has to do with bugs.

Bugs – Rare but Gamebreaking

On Your Tail has a problem where you can occasionally walk into an area and fall through the floor. While you can safely respawn, this happens if you try to walk into an area before it finishes loading. The problem is that you are “permitted” to access an area but don’t know if it finishes loading. This can sometimes cause your game to crash or in the worst-case scenario, force you to start a new save. Sometimes a character’s feet or body parts can “sink” into the environment, which shouldn’t be noticeable.

This isn’t as common as it used to be and sometimes waiting a few seconds fixes the problem. But there are some aspects of the game that appear rushed and the bugs are the evidence. Fortunately, this doesn’t take away from the gameplay too much and you can still have fun. Unfortunately, the presence of these bugs and visual slips does blemish what would otherwise be a near-perfect game.

On Your Tail was reviewed on Steam with a code provided by the publisher from Vicarious PR.