There's always more than meets the eye...
Graphics: 9
Sounds: 8
Value: 10
Tilt: 10
Actual score: 9.1
The good
* Compelling story;
* Great presentation;
* Utilising the full potential of the DS.
The bad
* Can be slow at times;
* Aimless wandering to trigger events;
* No voice acting.
I'm sure that I can place a very safe wager that every human being on this planet have made a wish of some sort; whether it is on a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, lottery or generally anytime. Yet wishes are a strange concept as it commonly arrives from artificial hopes and if granted, this magical 'wish being' will make things a whole lot better than it previously was. Thus far, there are times deep within one's soul that an indisputable wish is kept very close to the heart that absolutely no one knows about, yielding so will provide definitive equanimity. Hence this is what Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is all about; a person's single wish that can really alter the course of their and others lives without acknowledging the wish itself.
So he comes the protagonist Kyle Hyde; a cop running the beat in Manhattan yet due to unexpected events, shot his partner Bradley for which he tumbled into the river and consequently never found; but that was three years ago in 1976. Now in 1979, he's a disgraced cop highly resembling any detective T.V. shows from the seventies (including the mandatory whiskey bottle) Kyle now working for Red Crown under the cover of a sales person with the aim of finding things that don't want to be found. Kyle's latest case is to simply locate two items in a backward dingy hotel called 'Hotel Dusk' yet and unbeknownst to Kyle, Hotel Dusk has many untold secrets and desires that a simple room 215 key called 'Wish' will trigger any pessimistic thoughts, including Kyle himself.
Considering Hotel Dusk can be classified as an adventure game, the entire concept is in a form of an interactive novel and what better way to display this format than using the DS; that is playing the DS sideways and depending upon the settings, using the left or right touch screen navigates Kyle to interact, read, move, investigate, questioning and whatever else to uncover the initial task of locating the two items. Kyle will also converse to the many occupants in Hotel Dusk that resembles the ordinary folks of society and like all human beings, there's more than meets the eye.
This aspect was quite an achievement from the creators of Hotel Dusk, Cine. Not only they used real life events, everything about Hotel Dusk seems believable; the secrets, the gossips, the locations, the reactions of other players and so forth brings this game alive and pragmatic. All the characters have hidden agendas and/or secrets that once probe, will get the opportunity to dig further into their issues if asked correctly by tapping the appropriate response. Every chapter will consists of Kyle doing the rounds of Hotel Dusk hoping to trigger events (which can cause frustrations) and once gather enough clues for the task at hand, normally ends up as a showdown with one of the Dusk's occupants and if the player actually took notice of the dealings, will be able to seek the correct responses by precise questioning otherwise it's game over (with nice music to add). And before any chapter ends, Kyle will 'gather his thoughts' in a form of quizzes that enriches the player's understanding before moving on to the next chapter.
Because the playing style is like a open book, both screens will be fully utilised therefore on one side, a full 3D perspective as if looking through the eyes of Kyle and on the other, a top-down view where the player will be indicated 'hotspots'; e.g. searching, conversing, interact or otherwise that makes the player to provide some sort of action. In addition, a handy map will be at your disposal and a cool notepad feature to add any extra information that comes your way; a clever way of not playing the game but being in the game.
As far as the DS goes, the entire game is beautifully presented as the hotel looks like a run-down, musty feel about it as the entire sets are logically placed and the items are authentic enough for the late seventies. So expect old fashioned T.V. sets, wooden chairs and tables, still life paintings and even that glowing 'Hotel Dusk' sign on the rooftop that reminds you of Bates Motel (too bad there was no shower scene). Yet what strikes out the most was the entire cast are stylistically hand drawn to give that noir effect with full sets of human emotion so at times you want to tick off the residents just to see their facial expressions. The only grip is that the character's facial styles don't resemble typically from the seventies – a.k.a. where's the moustache on the men?
Hotel Dusk is not a fast-paced game therefore expect a lot of reading yet the speed of the displayed text is decent enough to get the momentum going; however you do have the option to slightly hurry up the display text by pressing the down button. Also the puzzles are all not too difficult to complete and there's always a second chance if you fail the first (or third, forth…). That said, the game is pretty generous when it comes to playability therefore do expect to spend twenty plus hours to finish it. For me it took almost forty as there was times I placed Kyle at the bar listening to the beautiful music at their local jukebox which incidentally there are many to choose from. Also the ending has two hidden clips that can be unlocked depending upon the actions you have choosen to complete this adventure.
Hotel Dusk is regarded as an interactive novel and considering this genre normally receive poor reviews, it took two factors to elevate this type; the developers Cine and the uniqueness game play style that only the DS can deliver. With these two features combined immerses the player not just reading the displayed text, but believe in the events and most importantly the main character Kyle Hyde. The entire situations are believable, the problems real and the concepts down-to-earth as this brought a refreshing approach to the constant bombardment of purpled hair lads and over-the-top gorgeous women. Hotel Dusk is a game that will be regarded as a masterpiece as once you leave the Hotel and depending upon the ending you have will almost guarantee a rush of emotion throughout your spirit.