Base-Breaking Character: Judging by the reviews at Big Fish, Richard is this for many players. You either find his snark hilarious and refreshing, or you think he's a Jerkass who treats his daughter poorly. It seems to partly depend on whether or not you were a Grim Tales fan before coming to this series.
Contested Sequel/Even Better Sequel: There are some who think Detectives United is not as good as the three origin series which produced its main cast. Others think it's actually better than Grim Tales, Mystery Trackers, and/or Haunted Hotel.
Fan Nickname: The Shared Universe of Elephant Games products is sometimes known as the DUniverse, since this series is where most of the crossovers between them take place.
Heartwarming Moments: As the detectives become closer friends, there are more of these.
The palpable worry over James in the bonus chapter of the first game leads to an incredibly relieved reunion when he's rescued. Agent Brown admits that he's really happy to see James again, and acknowledges that it's because of Anna that James is okay. Anna, in turn, notes that the rescue wouldn't have been possible without Agent Brown's help, and James is effusively grateful to both of them.
Although the phrasing makes sense in context, there's still an element of this in the second game's bonus chapter when Agent Brown refers to Anna as "our Anna."
In the third game, when they're dressed up for dinner, Anna compliments her friends on what "handsome men" they are, in a tone of genuine affection.
Each of the three express sincere concern for the other two throughout both the main game and the bonus chapter of the third game, despite the danger that they're in themselves. They really are evolving into a Family of Choice.
In a related vein, the Grim Tales installment which introduces Anna's future daughter Alice has a note of this when the player hears her refer to James as "Uncle James."
The fourth game makes it clear just how much they trust and care about each other. Agent Brown knows that he can count on his partners to come and help him if he doesn't return, and they don't have any hesitation about rushing into danger to do just that. It's also rather sweet to hear them both call him "Dorian" when they're reunited near the end of the game, instead of the more formal "Agent Brown" we've heard throughout the series.
The use of his first name continues in the fifth game. The opening scene is full of friendly interactions between the three, with all of them remarking how good it is to see each other.
Magnificent Bastard: From Origins: The Collector, real name Theodore Alphardi, was once a respected doctor in the Raincliff clinic. After his family was murdered by the Headless Man, Theodore decided to bring them back. With his knowledge of magical artifacts and discovering the components needed to create a Reality Cube, the artifact which can warp and change space and time itself, Theodore effortlessly stole the first two parts from the famous detective James Blackthorne and the treasure room of the Queen of the United Kingdom. Luring the heroes into his trap, Theodore successfully imprisoned Anna Gray in the past, slowing his enemies down, while he himself steals the next component to the Reality Cube. Easily disabling the heroes and attacking the homebase of Mystery Trackers, Theodore was only fully defeated when Anna Gray traveled to the past and saved his family from death, erasing his deeds as The Collector from history.
Special Effects Failure: Usually avoided in this series, but Origins has a particularly funny instance. When the Collector traps Anna in the past, James assembles a ritual and goes back and forth to do the necessary tasks to bring her back. Brown wisely opts to stay out of the way, citing that James is the expert, and alternates between reading a newspaper and sitting on a stool where he can watch. At one point, the game may glitch to show him doing both of these things at the same time. Seen here.
They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: On the Big Fish website, the sixth installment Beyond Time has received the worst reviews of any game in this series. Players complain about the significant reduction in Easter Eggs, the removal of concept art, and the disappointing reveal that the fan favorite James is leaving the team and will be replaced by newcomer Ewan Florence.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Dark Anna, in the third game, is devastated by what's happening to her own dimension. It's hard to say what exactly she has planned, and her intentions toward the detectives are certainly not benign, but at the same time you can't help but pity her when you know how much she blames herself for what's happening to her world. The fact that her friends also blame her (and quite possibly loathe her) just makes it worse.
