Metareview - Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS)
by Blake Snow 
{ Jan 26th 2007 at 7:15PM }
Could the DS have another hit on its hands to the tune of Hotel Dusk: Room 215? Maybe, but early review scores are mixed somewhere in the upper level of subjective criticism. Hotel Dusk is a "graphic adventure game" in the same vein as the popular Phoenix Wright. Published by Nintendo, the game takes place in a fictional hotel in the southwest corner of the United States during 1979. You play Kyle Hyde, a former police detective searching for a long lost partner while simultaneously unraveling the hotel's dark secrets. But enough of that. Behold our copy and paste skills when applied to a sampling of reviews:- Game Informer (70%): "This game has a hotel full of strangers with secrets, which might just be enough to get you to stick around to hear them all. But perhaps you'll want to skip the ambiance and go somewhere with fresher towels."
- GamePro (75%): "Hotel Dusk probably won't appeal to every DS gamer, as it requires a degree of patience and thoughtfulness that only the aged (and insane) are capable of. But anyone looking for a cerebral and deliberate challenge should definitely check out this cool and unique title; just be patient with it."
- Game Daily (80%): "The beautifully sketched graphics give Room 215 a unique style. Although the game grows tedious, thanks to what seems like endless, scrolling text, surprises pop up every few minutes that further the plot. Definitely play this game."
- eToyChest (90%): "A class act. It may not be a cake walk the first time through, but for those who can deal with the occasional head scratching bouts of frustration, this game is another winning addition to the Nintendo DS library."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric @ Jan 26th 2007 7:30PM
That's surprisingly good. This one might be interesting to try.
playclever @ Jan 26th 2007 7:39PM
I'll be buying it when it finally comes out in the UK (in March - along with Justice For All and Elite Beat... expensive month..) Until then, I'll be sulking :)
aDub @ Jan 26th 2007 7:42PM
One EGM reviewer even gave this title a 10 - seems most that reviewed this generally liked it. I think I might dust off my DS and pick this game up.
NoHitHair @ Jan 26th 2007 7:48PM
Didn't I leave a comment a couple weeks ago for you guys not to ever mention Game Informer? An office full of pretentious dropouts whose only contribution is as a mouthpiece for whatever advertisers bribe them the most is what passes the entrance exam for "gaming publication"?
I have had the opportunity to read a wide array of video game periodicals and I have yet to come across any birdcage liner that was as uninformed, biased and insulting as G.I. Find a new magazine to pull your metareviews from.
nintendofan @ Jan 26th 2007 7:49PM
You Euro english speaking people could always import the US version if you don't want to wait.
But hey you got a lot of DS games to buy till Hotel Dusk comes across the pond anyway.
fawazr @ Jan 26th 2007 8:13PM
GI really is a paid mouthpiece for whomever, yet they pays their bills, so I'm not complaining. However, this game is great... if you like to read. I'm not being glib. There are really people who are nearly illiterate and can't stand reading. Those people will flat out hate this game. All others will enjoy the fine homage to classic noir literature. It's not visceral and doesn't require immense dexterity either.
Sean @ Jan 26th 2007 8:23PM
No wonder no one makes adventures games anymore. All the reviewers are retarded monkeys. "waah.. too much problem solving!"
nintendofan @ Jan 26th 2007 9:24PM
Problem solving is good but it is bad when the problem is incredibly difficult or in the case of Phantasmogria 2 where you had to use your pet to get something under the couch poorly designed.
Harlock @ Jan 26th 2007 9:24PM
This game is not a point-and-click adventure as was so talk about. Its great game, history, art etc. But is much more like Phoenix Wright style.
Joe @ Jan 26th 2007 11:51PM
i just got this game and i'm 6 hours in, its very engaging and fun. i highly reccomend it for any gamer with an attention span
Intangible 360 @ Jan 26th 2007 9:27PM
I bought it and am on Chapter 5, I've spent almost 16 hours on the game with no end in sight yet. There is clearly no replay value, but the graphical style and humor in the game is perfect. You feel like your playing as Columbo at times, and most jokes will make you crack a smirk rather than lol.
The game is also challenging enough to feel rewarding and so far has not resulted in any frustrating situations where I could not work out what to do, within a reasonable time. I highly recommend the game and give it an 8.5/10.
Icupnimpn2 @ Jan 26th 2007 9:44PM
I just found this one hidden between copies of Horsez at Best Buy. I've only played it for a few minutes, but it reminds me of the final case of the first Pheonix Wright. You know, the one that made good use of DS capabilities.
The character animation is surprisingly smooth. The environments are fairly easy to navigate. I'm looking forward to getting into this one a bit more.
Plus, the game has had precious little press. If you can find a copy, grab it. Otherwise, who knows when you'll see one again.
OtakuCODE @ Jan 26th 2007 10:32PM
Yeah, if you're one of the people who says "I don't READ" with some kind of misguided and perverted sense of pride, stay away from this game. If, on the other hand, you're not threatened by some pretty good noir-ish writing and like a good detective story, give it a whirl. I started playing it a few days ago and plan to go the distance with it... the artistic style is quite cool and the story is pretty good so far. Haven't run into any problems yet that totally perplexed me, but I'm not that far in.
Eggman @ Jan 26th 2007 10:32PM
No replay? The game has multiple paths for some things and I'm told there's multiple endings as well.
It's an amazingly well-done game. The music is spot-on, the puzzles are very inventive without being over the top and whenever I get stuck, it's because I haven't been thorough enough in my investigation, rather than the game's stupid.
Also, the game really isn't like Phoenix Wright. It isn't funny and you don't just show up at a location and click around. Hotel Dusk actually has you walking around and interacting with people and asking questions while finding out clues and solving puzzles for more clues.
Pick it up if you want a good noodle-scratcher.
OrionTheSmiter @ Jan 27th 2007 12:23AM
I bought this game today. Played thru the first chapter and am going to pick it up again this evening for more. Very fun, beautiful graphics, and so far I really dig the atmosphere of the game. The Target I was at in Baltimore had like 50 copies so my anecdotal 2 cents is don't worry about not finding it as mentioned above.
bobnewman @ Jan 27th 2007 12:49AM
word on the web is that this game is thumbs up for anyone who doesn't mind reading. I concluded that I needed a bed time story to read at night so I could fall asleep fast and found this title to be doing a heckuva job at it. Just made it to 2F in Chapt.1 since I can only hack 15 minute sessions b-4 I'm out cold snoring like the champion of my block, so my ROI on this title is magnificent, with a certified interesting story to boot.
Suhail Patel @ Jan 27th 2007 11:26AM
I've managed to get my hands on this game and it is very good. I'm upto chapter 4 at the moment and it is pretty hard, I;m finding more more difficult than phoniex wright.
the writing is much better than I expected it to be, and the characters all have depth and a backstory that you just need to find out.
Tedious at times, but on the whole greatly satisfying.
Jim @ Jan 27th 2007 7:20AM
#5 nintendofan: "You Euro english speaking people could always import the US version if you don't want to wait."
Guess what I did last week? ;-)
Risky @ Jan 27th 2007 4:07PM
#7 hit the nail right on the head. No wonder we don't get great games like this anymore...People are fucking idiots. The funny part most of the reviewers are probably people that got into gaming during the PS1 era and have no idea what a good adventure game is.
Kannon @ Jan 28th 2007 7:39AM
#19 You couldnt be more right about reviewers basically being young kids that never owned an a game worth any thought in their life. The extent of a game with complex situations is probably Final Fantasy VI.
This game is an unmatched savior for Adventure games in an era which favors glits and glamor over cognitive thought. This far out-does Gears of War, genre aside, in originality and design yet look at the scores, they just can't compare. So far of what I've played this is not a Phoenix Wright game by any standards, this is a pure and true Lucas Film/Sierra quality adventure game with twists and turns not seen in years. If this game is any indication that adventure games are making a comeback, we can rest easy knowing they haven't forgotten how to make it work.
Oversword @ Apr 20th 2007 4:39PM
Its an excellent game. brilliant effects, story and characters. seem to be stuck wandering around just after the beginning of chapter 2 tho...if any one could suggest a walkthru?
leanne @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:51PM
PLEASE will someone help me, I'm up to chapter 4 on Hotel Dusk, I have had Summer's book autographed, and then I bump into Iris on the stairs, then I am searched by Dunning and GAME OVER! I tried again several times, but I don't know where I can hide the items. I still have the magazine,photograph and lighter,the other things are in my suitcase. It's driving me mad, I hope someone can help me on this??