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Friday 25 May 2007 Hotel Dusk has been described by many as ‘a comic-book-like film noir’ and ‘an interactive mystery novel,’ its characters are hand-drawn black and white portraits, distinctive and innovative sketches that immerse players in a mysterious plot that will keep you guessing right until the final chapter. No two ways about it, I am a fan of adventure games because they generally require a little more than adept handling of the stylus. Give me a good story, throw in a dash of humour and a jolly search for the truth and I will be a happy gamer. That is why I am a fan of the Phoenix Wright series and that is why I was excited to check into Hotel Dusk. I am happy to report that I enjoyed every minute of playing this game and that it lived up to my expectation of it, even when I compared my enjoyment of it to the already mentioned acclaimed Phoenix Wright series. The storyline is well conceived and players will find themselves immersed in the game, eager to uncover the secrets hidden at the Dusk and reveal the truth behind Hyde’s history. In pursuit of the truth
Hyde will meet the Dusk’s staff and guests, all of whom seem intent to keep their own secrets hidden. Yet somehow all these secrets and stories are interlinked and it is up to players to piece together the puzzle between Hotel Dusk’s history and Hyde’s secrets. Players will use the touch screen to guide Hyde through the hotel, talk to and interrogate characters, search for clues and solve puzzles. Hyde soon discovers that there may be something or someone in the Dusk which could lead him to his missing friend so he embarks on a quest to solve the mysteries of Hotel Dusk. Controlling Hyde
Players will use the stylus to guide Hyde through the Dusk, knocking or simply opening doors to enter the different rooms of the hotel. Players can perform actions in the game by using the touch screen or the D-pad. Simply touch an object to examine it further and retrieve clues that will help Hyde to complete puzzles, question characters and progress in his investigation. For those of us who fall a little short of Angela Lansbury’s Murder She Wrote capabilities, players can jot down notes in a notebook using the stylus to help them along the way.
The puzzles presented in the game are well thought out and logical. Players will need to explore rooms and objects in order to uncover clues and help them progress in the game. These puzzles, although quite challenging at times, will not require you to retry them over and over and I think this is definitely one of the strong points of the game. Explore the mystery
With ten chapters and a total estimated play time of between 15 – 20 hours, Hotel Dusk is guaranteed to keep you wrapped up in the mystery until the very end. At the end of each chapter, Kyle will recap the important clues and plot elements through a mini-quiz. This ensures that players are kept up to speed on the storyline and is certain to iron out any confusion that a player might have had about any particular aspect of the chapter. If you like a little mystery, some adventure and a side serving of dry humour, my advice is to check into the Dusk, a night full of surprises awaits you.
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Purchase:Please check back for places to order this item from in the near future. |
The year is 1979. Players will assume the role of Kyle Hyde, an ex-detective who turned in his badge and gun after shooting someone, the details of which players will only discover as the story progresses. Players will soon learn who Kyle Hyde is and why his past haunts him. Hyde is now a traveling salesman, searching for a missing friend and the truth. He finds himself on a job at a remote inn called Hotel Dusk. He checks into Room 215, the Wish Room, where it is rumoured that wishes are granted.
Much like Brain Training you will hold your Nintendo DS sideways like a book when playing this game. Those lefties out there will be happy to know that you can select whether you are left or right handed and hold the DS accordingly. Players of any skill can play this game because of the simple touch screen navigation. The left hand screen will show a 3D view of the environment which Hyde is exploring or a first person view of Hyde, while the right hand screen will show a map depicting a top down plan of the room which Hyde is in or a first person view of the person who he is interacting with.
Hotel Dusk will present players with choices of how to interact with the guests and staff. Players should be warned that if they behave in the wrong way or choose the wrong thing to say, they may be thrown out of the hotel and be punished by having to start from the players’ last save point. A suggestion to those mystery lovers out there, please remember to save this game fairly often because it can be quite unforgiving if you forget to do this.
The characters that you will meet at the Dusk are both unique and well constructed and all play a role in the development of Hyde’s character. Players will soon learn that despite Hyde’s gruff exterior he is almost always willing to help and you are sure to notice how certain characters chip away at his cynicism to reveal a warm smile. Each and every person who you will meet at the Dusk is somehow entwined with Hyde’s past such as former New York pickpocket Louis DeNonno and Mila, a mysterious young girl who wears the same bracelet Hyde’s friend did before he disappeared. Even though the characters do not speak in Hotel Dusk, their expressions and the beautiful music convey the message more than adequately. 
