RPS Feature

Have You Played… Murder Dog IV: Trial of the Murder Dog?

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game recommendations. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.

The Murder Dog is on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity. He stands charged with the killing of over 1500 people in a brutal attack encompassing the use of toxic gas, a fire engine and a blunt instrument. When these charges are put to the Murder Dog, his opening response is unrepentant and unambiguous: “My Taste For Bloodshed Remains Voluminous.” Welcome to Murder Dog IV: Trial of the Murder Dog [official site].

Made by thecatamites, of Space Funeral and Crime Zone fame, Murder Dog IV is another quickfire comic meander through the absurd. Like many thecatamites games, it is dangerously self-aware, constantly spitting on genre tropes even while firmly adhering to them. It also has one of the most efficient and unpleasant trailers in videogames history:

You could sneer at the low-res clickiness of it all, or you could sit back and appreciate some of the funniest dialogue in indie games. The villain protagonist, for example, has some wonderful replies to his accusers. When cross-examining an investigative reporter who penned a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the attacks, the Murder Dog goes on the offensive. “Let The Record State,” he says, “That I Have Never Made Substantial Profits From My Murderous Rampages, Unlike *Certain Journalists*”

All the while there is another small, verbose dog at the bottom of the screen, analysing both the events presented to the court and the legal system itself. For unknown reasons, this canine commentator finds the entire justice system quaint and unnecessary. He is excellent. SO TURN ON THE GAME.

9 Comments

  1. 07/08/2015 at 16:21 LionsPhil says:

    The audio in that trailer makes me miss ubiquitous dubstep.

  2. 07/08/2015 at 16:24 ansionnach says:

    I’d imagine a canine justice system would be swift and brutal and not concerned about justice. Maybe it’d get the job done, though!

  3. 07/08/2015 at 16:31 Mr_Blastman says:

    Alright this crap is hilarious.

  4. 07/08/2015 at 16:53 anHorse says:

    The (deliberately misspelled) Jameson quote just completes the trailer so well

  5. 07/08/2015 at 18:58 Jediben says:

    I have successfully defended this poor innocent pooch. His decapitation of all the jury members and subsequent mutiliations of the attending press are a by product of a just and fair society.

  6. 07/08/2015 at 19:07 J. Cosmo Cohen says:

    Well, you know what they say: every dog has its day…in court.

  7. 07/08/2015 at 23:10 HERP DERP NANOMACHINES says:

    Goblet Grotto and Pleasuredromes Of Kubla Khan are way more notable than Crime Zone, which I can’t even recall a single thing about besides its structural hivemind weirdness.

  8. 08/08/2015 at 04:32 whitebrice says:

    I named my pup Murder Dog because of this game.

  9. 09/08/2015 at 08:02 bonuswavepilot says:

    Wow, that is absolutely bonkers! *SPOILERS* My record is making one action and having that cascade into the Dutch Govt napalming the courthouse.