Hotel Dusk: Room 215

You've heard it many times, but this game really is like an interactive crime novel. And it's loads of fun

User Rating: 9 | Hotel Dusk: Room 215 DS

By SfGiants11 | Review Date: September 7, 2007

Every review uses this comparison, but it can't be stressed enough that playing this game truly feels like immersing yourself in a more involved detective novel. The story is very well written and full of twists and turns, just like you would expect from a bestselling crime novel. Most of the characters are surprisingly deep and likeable, particularly the protagonist. The game progresses in chapters, each leaving you with a sort of cliffhanger conclusion making it extremely difficult to put down. Before purchasing Hotel Dusk, you may want to keep in mind the fact that the game is extremely text heavy, with emphasis on the word "extremely". When I play a game I almost always look first and foremost for a deep and engaging story, which this one has, but even I got a little tired of all the reading in this game. The good news is that most of the text-heavy segments are interactive, meaning you are directly involved in the outcome of the conversations. It basically comes down to the fact that I felt very involved, and the game really sucked me into its world and gave me a greater appreciation for all of the character development and plot points.

What is so freaking cool about this game is the way that it incorporates touch-screen gameplay. So many DS games out there that are centered around the touch screen seem flawed or gimicky in some way, but Hotel Dusk gets it right by keeping everything varied and thought-provoking. Many of the actions that your character must make are acted out on the touch screen, such as using a crowbar to lift a cabinet, solving match-stick puzzles and various "detective" actions. It also goes back to the depth of the story line, since you will need to stay keen on everything that has happened in the game in order to remember where you should go and what you should do. You really feel like a detective, and that your choices are important and have a direct effect on your progression through the game.

If you've read other reviews for Hotel Dusk, you have undoubtedly been told that the unique visual style is very cool and atmospheric, and this is the absolute truth. The backgrounds are all 3-dimensional and realistic (for a DS game, at least), but the character models look like they were scribbled in with pencil. It sounds primitive, but it fits the style of the game very well and adds to the mystique. In fact, I think it would have been a huge mistake had the developers made the character models in the same style as the background, since it would have detracted greatly from the game's originality and appeal. The music is also well done. It stays fairly subtle throughout, but kicks up a bit in big situations, such as during a high pressure interrogation. In every facet of the game, Hotel Dusk excels and creates an overall experience that is my favorite game for the DS so far.

Other Helpful Reviews for Hotel Dusk: Room 215

• Rating:8.7

  Hotel Dusk is a noir adventure game featuring compelling characters, a mature storyline, and plenty of adult charm.

  By str1 | Review Date: Jan 25, 2007 | DS

  Hotel Dusk: Room 215, developed by Cing, the developer responsible for 2005's Trace Memory, is an adventure game that steps away from the boundaries of the average point-and-click adventure. Like Cing's previous effort... Read Full Review

  22 of 22 users found the following review helpful
• Rating:9.2

  Cool Game!

  By bjmage16 | Review Date: Jan 24, 2007 | DS

  When the DS first came out, I was really hoping for some point-and-click adventure games. Games like Myst, these are easy to pick up, difficult to solve, and are engrossing. They simple fun, like a really good interacti... Read Full Review

  17 of 17 users found the following review helpful