This one improves a lot, the new mechanic while it can be tiring, I say it works pretty well, despite some questionable choices, the characters and story are pretty good, and in general is a fun time.

Also the good end route is simply one of the funniest things I have seen, it's not even that funny, but playing the game again just to all those choices and ending is simply hilarious to me.

The puzzles in this game are infuriatingly incomprehensible and the writing decisions are somehow even worse.

Marginally better than its predecessor, Gear Detective has a slightly more interesting plot which does completely fall apart by the third act with a whole bunch of absolute nonesense out of the majority of the characters, including the main characters bafflingly doing their best to become friends with the murderer in the murder mystery. Some of the puzzles have some serious moon logic, but those scenes are at least more engaging than the story segments.