Sinking City, The - Switch
Avoid Enemies
Early in the game when Reed does not have additional weapons, grenades, or traps it is advised that you avoid or escape from enemies whenever possible. The only time you should consider engaging in combat with the enemy during this stage of the game is when they prevent you from exploring a location related to the current investigation.
Fast Travel
You can fast travel using the phone booths that are scattered around the city of Oakmont once you have activated them. The phone booths are not visible on the map, you have to find them as you exlore.
Magnifying Glass Icon
All research sites are indicated by the magnifying glass icon. The colour of this glass indicates different stages of your progress. Gray - the necessary evidence was not found, yellow - you have found all the key evidence, green - you have found all evidence and earned experience points. If you play The Sinking City at a low difficulty level, the game will inform you that you have completed a location.
Mental Health
The state of Reed's mental health is indicated by a blue bar and whenever Reed experiences a traumatic experience or he kills innocent NPCs this bar will deplete as a result. The more mental health that Reed loses the more serious the hallucinations he will experience, some of which will take the form of shadow monsters. When this happens do not waste ammo trying to shoot them, just run away and either wait until the blue bar regenerates itself or take medicine that will calm Reed down (you can craft these items). It is important that you do this as Reed can die when he loses the entire blue bar.
Mind's Eye
Activate Mind's Eye when you are exploring locations that are marked with a magnifying glass and you experience image distortion.
Read Evidence
Make sure you read the descriptions of the evidence you collect as there is always the possibility that they contain valuable clues such as an address you can investigate or a person that can be tracked which will help further your investigation.
Recovering Health
It is important to remember that Reed's health does not replenish by itself so it is advised that you have at least one first aid kit in your inventory every time you engage the enemy. First aid kits can be crafted in your inventory using two alcohol and one spring coil or they can be found as loot.
Save Ammunition
There will be instances where traces and interactive elements will be hiding behind locked doors or behind wooden boards. Don't waste your ammunition trying to get them, you will be able to bypass these types of obstructions by using a melee weapon which do not have durability to destroy the lock or board after a few hits.
Save the Game
Make sure you manually save the game before conversations as some of them will require you to make choices which will have different consequences. Doing this will allow you to revert back if you realise you made a wrong decision and it also enables you to test the various options, keep in mind however that some will only become apparent later on in the game.
Swimming
Although Reed can swim it is advised that you don't jump into the water as you will get attacked by eels after several seconds which will cause your health points to gradually drop. When you need to get across a body of water make sure you use a boat. Boats will almost always appear when the land ends and the flooded part of the city of Oakmont starts. You can also use the 'Shift' key on your keyboard to speed up any boat Reed uses.
Unlock Side Cases
The main way of unlocking the various side cases in The Sinking City is to meet NPCs. These side investigations are worth doing as they are an opportunity to get additional experience points and some of them are releated to Trophies/Achievements.
Early in the game when Reed does not have additional weapons, grenades, or traps it is advised that you avoid or escape from enemies whenever possible. The only time you should consider engaging in combat with the enemy during this stage of the game is when they prevent you from exploring a location related to the current investigation.
Fast Travel
You can fast travel using the phone booths that are scattered around the city of Oakmont once you have activated them. The phone booths are not visible on the map, you have to find them as you exlore.
Magnifying Glass Icon
All research sites are indicated by the magnifying glass icon. The colour of this glass indicates different stages of your progress. Gray - the necessary evidence was not found, yellow - you have found all the key evidence, green - you have found all evidence and earned experience points. If you play The Sinking City at a low difficulty level, the game will inform you that you have completed a location.
Mental Health
The state of Reed's mental health is indicated by a blue bar and whenever Reed experiences a traumatic experience or he kills innocent NPCs this bar will deplete as a result. The more mental health that Reed loses the more serious the hallucinations he will experience, some of which will take the form of shadow monsters. When this happens do not waste ammo trying to shoot them, just run away and either wait until the blue bar regenerates itself or take medicine that will calm Reed down (you can craft these items). It is important that you do this as Reed can die when he loses the entire blue bar.
Mind's Eye
Activate Mind's Eye when you are exploring locations that are marked with a magnifying glass and you experience image distortion.
Read Evidence
Make sure you read the descriptions of the evidence you collect as there is always the possibility that they contain valuable clues such as an address you can investigate or a person that can be tracked which will help further your investigation.
Recovering Health
It is important to remember that Reed's health does not replenish by itself so it is advised that you have at least one first aid kit in your inventory every time you engage the enemy. First aid kits can be crafted in your inventory using two alcohol and one spring coil or they can be found as loot.
Save Ammunition
There will be instances where traces and interactive elements will be hiding behind locked doors or behind wooden boards. Don't waste your ammunition trying to get them, you will be able to bypass these types of obstructions by using a melee weapon which do not have durability to destroy the lock or board after a few hits.
Save the Game
Make sure you manually save the game before conversations as some of them will require you to make choices which will have different consequences. Doing this will allow you to revert back if you realise you made a wrong decision and it also enables you to test the various options, keep in mind however that some will only become apparent later on in the game.
Swimming
Although Reed can swim it is advised that you don't jump into the water as you will get attacked by eels after several seconds which will cause your health points to gradually drop. When you need to get across a body of water make sure you use a boat. Boats will almost always appear when the land ends and the flooded part of the city of Oakmont starts. You can also use the 'Shift' key on your keyboard to speed up any boat Reed uses.
Unlock Side Cases
The main way of unlocking the various side cases in The Sinking City is to meet NPCs. These side investigations are worth doing as they are an opportunity to get additional experience points and some of them are releated to Trophies/Achievements.