Nov 23, 2024

Loco Motive Walkthrough – Part 3: The Curious Case of Mr Liu

Rahul Shirke

Walkthrough Table of Contents

Welcome to the Into Indie Games walkthrough for Loco Motive.

This is a point-to-point walkthrough that takes you through the critical path to completing the game. Loco Motive has a lot more to offer apart from the steps outlined in this walkthrough, so we highly recommend that you explore and interact with its world as much as possible.

For more information on Loco Motive beyond this walkthrough, check out the official website here.

Part 3: The Curious Case of Mr Liu

Your goal here is to break down the Board and then trick the publishers into approving your manuscript.
Grab the popcorn packaging from the far right of the screen.
Look at the stationery pot on the desk.
Use the popcorn on the windowsill and then grab the stationery pot while the publisher is distracted.

Grab the prototype doll sitting by the window.
Grab a paper cup from the water cooler to the right of the board.
In your inventory, use the letter opener on the doll.
Combine the sawdust with the filled cup of water.

Use the resulting paste on the manuscript slot of the Board.
Now pick up the package in the inbox tray on the desk.
Also inspect the waste bin near it and take the discarded manuscript.

In your inventory, use the letter opener to open the package.
Now interact with the in-tray, where you got the package.
From your inventory, put your adventure manuscript in first.
Then, put the romance manuscript on top of it.
Then, put Chiselton’s manuscript on the top of that one.

After the cutscenes that follow, you’ll find yourself on the Reuss Express.
Your goal here is to find Mr Liu and keep an eye on him.
Leave to the lobby carriage and you’ll meet the Gudruns.
After the conversation, go left to the lounge carriage to find Mr Liu.
As Liu enters the green room, you’ll have to find a way to enter it yourself.
Keep going left to where the band is playing, and pick up the set list that’s on the left side of the stage.

Use the set list in your inventory to take a look at it.
The order of songs changes with every playthrough, so memorise it or take a screenshot of it.
Talk to the Stage Manager standing to the right of the band.
Ask her about how to get on the guest list, and then mention you’re a huge fan of the band.
When asked what the name of the band is, answer ‘Balboa Swing?’
For the other two questions, refer to the set list you swiped.
Now go all the way to the sleeper carriage and talk to Don.

Hand over Moore’s business card to him.
Don needs you to steal an item from Mr Masson. Keep asking him about Mr Masson until you get a drink recipe from him.
Go to the dining carriage and hand over the drink recipe to the bartender.
Mr Masson refuses to drink until his meal is served, so now go to the kitchen carriage.
The chefs won’t allow you entry unless you’re a health inspector, and even then they demand to see ID.

Go to the lounge carriage and talk to the kid, who is the shoeshine girl.
Ask about her toy set to learn that it has a badge.
In your inventory, combine Dirk Chiselton’s cover letter with your own manuscript.
Hand over the fake Chiselton novel to the shoeshine girl.

Now go back to the kitchen and say that you’re the health inspector, and then show the staff your badge.
In the sleeper carriage, return to Don’s quarters and give him the badge.
Return to the kitchen to once again show them the badge, and this time, gain entry.

We now need to force the kitchen to shut down.
The chef to the right is scared of the mouse, so use the pearl necklace on the oyster sack to his right.
The chef in the middle is very sensitive to tastes, so go to Lady Unterwald’s quarters and grab chilli peppers from the plant Jian Liu gifted Lady Unterwald.

Return to the kitchen and put the chilli pepper in the stockpot to the right of the middle chef.
Now talk to the chef and ask him about his dish, then ask to sample it.
With the middle chef taken care of, only the chef on the left is… left.
This chef has calibrated his grill ‘Fiametta’ very carefully, so we’ll have to mess it up when he’s not around.
Turn on the tap to the far right of the kitchen, and then run to the other side of the kitchen.

Turn off the grill and then increase the gas flow on the cylinder to its right.
This done, the kitchen is completely shut down.
Once again, use the Rosebud recipe with the bartender.

Pick up the magnet that dropped from Mr Masson’s suit.
Return to Don in the sleeper carriage and give him the magnet.
Go back to the lounge carriage and use your forged entry list on the guest list.