Detective Conan OVA 2: 16 Suspects

sothis May 21, 2008

6.8

StoryLike a good detective story, tasty food, and expensive wine? Look no further than Detective Conan: 16 Suspects (aka Detective Conan OVA 2). Unlike the comedic romp of Detective Conan OVA 1, Detective Conan OVA 2 is much more of a traditional Detective Conan watch. The gang has been invited to Inspector Shiratori's house to celebrate the building's completion, and what follows is a party gone wrong. His expensive wine bottle is broken, and everyone is a culprit! As always, Conan must use his powers of deduction to figure out what truly happened - with Heiji's help. Like most Conan titles, few comedic or excessively lighthearted moments are found in Detective Conan OVA 2 - with the exception of the villain's unveiling. The story is translucent enough to keep you guessing until the very end, though there aren't enough clues to help you figure out the solution ahead of time.  Fans of detective stories will surely enjoy what Detective Conan OVA 2 has to offer in the story department, but as with any of the Detective Conan OVAs, the most enjoyment will be received by those who are already familiar with the Detective Conan universe. AnimationAs with every Detective Conan title, the animation is passable and perfectly fine, but not groundbreaking or breathtaking. I appreciate the backgrounds a bit more than usual in this version of the OVA, as the wine cellar, food displays and aerial views of the house are exceptionally detailed and colorful. SoundThere's not much to say about the audio in any specific Detective Conan OVA; each has a borderline-cheesy soundtrack filled with jazzy tracks that help accentuate its story. While the audio serves as a decent complement to the investigations and deductions, it isn't memorable or spectacular.CharactersUnlike some of the other OVAs, Detective Conan OVA 2 contains a delightful mix of the franchise's characters including Heiji Hattori. Plenty of pleasant character interactions and friendly banter can be found, with little to no tension - except when the wine bottle is broken. Briefly, each person suspects another... that is, until Conan saves the day once more. While the character interactions are textbook Conan, bear in mind that those who are unfamiliar with the franchise will have no introduction into who is who; this is the main reason why only fans of Detective Conan will enjoy this, or any of the other OVAs.OverallDetective Conan OVA 1 is my favorite of the series' OVAs, with Detective Conan OVA 2 coming in at a close second. While lighthearted, there is enough mystery involved to attract Detective Conan's usual fans.