The big problem with this game is how obvious it is.  I mean, I thought the hint about the dragon was too obvious when I read the newspaper article, but then to have the magician lady mention it again, complete with flashback to the newspaper article?  At that point I'm wondering if this is a genuine obvious detective game or a parody making fun of how obvious detective games are.  If it's a parody, it's not a particularly funny one, although the scene at the end where your boss tries to blame the two obviously innocent suspects and then gives up when there's only one suspect left did get a chuckle out of me.

That said, I did enjoy the game.  The mechanics of looking for clues were fun, if not exactly challenging, the side content (e.g. the arcade game and the interactions with the wandering animals) was amusing, the playable characters were likable (especially the dog), and I'd rather play a game that's too easy than one I get stuck on.  I don't feel compelled to spend actual money on this series, but I don't regret the time I spent playing this. 

The real mystery is, of course, how a game controller cable got into an arcade.  Don't arcade machines usually have built-in joysticks without accessible cables?