Grasshopper Manufacture has announced that The Silver Case will get its very first international release in the form of a remake for PC. The news was confirmed to Niche Gamer at this year’s PAX East.

The groundwork for this new remake was started back in 2008, when Grasshopper Manufacture announced a new version of the game for the Nintendo DS. The reasoning behind the game’s PC-only release was to ensure the largest-possible audience of potential players.

Playism was the initiator in getting the remake greenlit with game creator Goichi Suda. The new remake will be released on PC, via Steam and Playism’s own store. It will be joint-developed within Unity 5, and the team is working to retain as much of the original 2D artwork, with some of the 3D sequences being redone.

The Silver Case, released back in 1999 for the original PlayStation, was an adventure game that was described as being sometimes too difficult for native Japanese users. Playism is working with Grasshopper Manufacture to ensure the translation is as close to the source as possible.

Some puzzles and sequences have to be modified to make them playable in English, like the encryption sequence that relied on how Japanese is presented in computer systems.

When asked whether or not Grasshopper Manufacture would develop a game in the future similar in tone and style to The Silver Case, Suda-san said it would be “very exciting” to work on a game similar in style, but with a more modest team.

If The Silver Case does well in sales, Grasshopper Manufacture will consider a remake of the game’s mobile sequel, The Silver Case: Ward 25, and furthermore, if it sells really well – they’ll consider remaking Flower, Sun, and Rain.

Grasshopper Manufacture and Playism are targeting a fall 2016 release date for the game’s remake.

You can find the full press release for the game, below:

Synopsis

1999: Japan, the “24 Wards”.

A string of serial murders is terrorizing the nation.

All clues that the detectives have uncovered so far, point to one well known perpetrator, Kamui Uehara, the deranged criminal at the center of the infamous “The Silver Case” murders many years prior. But Kamui Uehara is no longer around…

With the string of mysteries, pointing to an impossible suspect, just what is really going on?

Gameplay

Combining elements of adventure games and visual novels to create a new and unique experience, The Silver Case invites the player to solve puzzles and experience the story in first-person perspective as a member of the Public Safety Department’s “Republic” Special Forces unit.

Features

Unconventional and unexpected storylines
Characters with vivid personalities
Two scenarios:
- Transmitter: the detectives hunt down the truth
- Placebo: a freelance writer explores the story
Complete graphic enhancement
The unique Film Window System
In English for the first time ever

Film Window System

The Silver Case will be bringing back the Film Window, the system developed by SUDA51 to bring a more dramatic display of text & imagery to players of adventure games.

By displaying game graphics and text in moveable windows, the location of on-screen elements can be adjusted for dramatic purposes and keep the player interested.

—PlayStation 1

—PC Remaster (work-in-progress)

Main Characters

Testugoro Kusabi

Detective previously assigned to the original “Silver Case”. Currently working as a special agent for Heinous Crimes Unit 2.

Sumio Kodai

Detective and current partner to Kusabi.

Kamui Uehara

Criminal responsible for the original “Silver Case” murders. Recently escaped from a psychiatric hospital.

Daigo Natsume

Detective that was previously involved in the original “Silver Case”. Now leads the Public Safety Department’s Special Forces unit, “Republic”.

Chizuru Hachisuka

Daughter of the mayor of the 24 Wards. Works in the Heinous Crimes Unit with Kusabi and Kodai.

Improved Graphics

The Silver Case features not only an all-new English localization, but also an entirely redone build in a new engine with enhanced graphics!

—PlayStation 1

—PC Remaster (work-in-progress, finalized graphics may differ)

Various Technical Specs

Original Staff:
- Director: Goichi “Suda 51” Suda
- Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
PC Version Staff:
- Producer: Goichi “Suda 51” Suda
- Active Gaming Media
- Playism
Release Date: Fall 2016 (estimated)
Platform: PC
Languages: Japanese, English
Supported Peripherals: Gamepad, Keyboard and Mouse