Post by Bytor on Aug 26, 2011 12:19:04 GMT -5
-Visuals- 8.8/10
I absolutely loved the graphics. The game is actually a mixture of 2-D (the strong point) and 3-D (the slightly weaker renderings). The character 'animations" (for lack of a better word) are rendered in 2-D and unlike any other video game I've ever played. They have a monochrome stenciled look (check out the A-Ha video from the 80's, you'll get the idea) and yet manage to portray the characters emotions and even inflections wonderfully. Perhaps it's because it was so different from most games or maybe it's just drawn that good, either way I found the characters to all simply look wonderful, from Hyde to Mila to Melissa to Dunning (just to name a few)I loved them all Now the 3-D aspect...well..not so much in love here. While the hotel certainly looked as if it had seen better days the pixelation and blur of objects up close was blatantly obvious. Although to be honest I was so enamored with the characters I really didn't care too terribly much about the backgrounds they were inhabiting.
-Sound- 7.5/10
Honestly it's not that there is anything really wrong with it but it became so repetitious and so very relaxed (this IS supposed to be a mystery game, how about a little melodic drama) that when I actually bothered to notice it I turned it off.
-Gameplay- 9.3/10
This game epitomizes the graphic novel video game. In other words if you don't love, and mean love, reading then stop reading this right now and do not ever bother putting this cateridge into your DS because it will bore you to tears. The game is long and there are many, many, many dialogue trees which must be followed (a few will give you instant bad endings BTW) and conversed into a suitable conclusion. These are followed by puzzles (be ready to traverse the hotel endlessly, but luckily it's not a huge locale) which must be solved in order to progress the story. I found the puzzles to be somewhat easy (only one gave me any issues) and yet because of the pace, story and setting I found them to be for the most part enjoyable and they certainly never felt as if they were there simply to be there. Instead each added elements to each characters development which in turn developed the story. One interesting little quirk is you play the game with the console turned sideways, actually holding it like a book, which allowed the map or a still scene to be on one side while you preformed your given tasks on the other screen, kinda different. Overall this game while somewhat slow simply has wonderful pacing in the gameplay since afterall, this is a mystery story at heart and of course it takes time and detective work to put all the pieces together.
-Story- 9.2/10
You play as Kyle Hyde, an ex NYPD detective who now works as a PI although his real purpose in life is to find his ex-partner Brian Bradley and find out why he betrayed him and became a cop on the take. You are sent by your boss to Hotel Dusk to find a couple of missing items and while there you meet an array of characters (who are simply wonderfully fleshed out) who seem to all have some type of connection and furthermore as the story progresses there actually seems to be a connection between them and Bradley. The story can be a bit cliche and to be honest is not terribly shocking but it is so well told by the diverse and interesting cast that I simply loved every minute as it unfolded and I discovered the truth which Hotel Dusk was hiding.
-Overall- 9.0/10
This game is certainly not for everyone. It has a measured slow pace to it. While it does have some suspense for the most part it's a pretty relaxed detective story and it's action aspect would be closely rated as a zero. However, it has a really good story. It has great character development and it has solid gameplay. All of this combined made it for me simply a wonderful game to play and I'd recommend it to anyone desiring a game in the genre!
