Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a smart and mysterious caper that proves looks can be deceiving.
THE BAD: Puzzles and clues are sometimes overly vague. Traveling around the hotel can be tedious.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a smart and mysterious caper that proves looks can be deceiving.
GAMEPLAY is excellent. Former NYPD officer, Kyle Hyde, is on a mission to find his missing partner. On his journey, he arrives at Hotel Dusk where he meets a cast of peculiar strangers--all with secrets they want hidden. However, investigating the dilapidated hotel and interrogating its inhabitants will lead Hyde one step closer to discovering the truth.
The mechanics are simple. Holding the DS like a notepad, allows for full use of the touch screen and stylus. Tapping on objects will zoom in for a closer look often leading to a puzzle. Doing or asking things a normal person would not do ends the game, so always think before acting.
GRAPHICS are superb. The character designs are sharp and artistic. When in color, the characters are truly brought to life. The 3D environments, (though not as impressive) create a suspenseful atmosphere perfect for a sleuthing game such as this.
SOUND is outstanding. The music in Hotel Dusk changes with the story. Things will be happy-go-lucky one minute, but catastrophic the next. The sound effects are also top notch from the noise of a door slamming shut to the sound of footsteps walking away. VALUE is good. Exploring Hotel Dusk is quite lengthy taking approximately 15-18 hours to complete. Its save system allows for convenient quick sessions and it does not sadistically punish mistakes. Unfortunately, even though the journey is an amazing one, it is hard to imagine returning to the madness for a second helping.
OVERALL Hotel Dusk: Room 215 does a lot of things right. It keeps the player engrossed and in the dark up to the dramatic conclusion. And although feelings of frustration can arise, there is a lot of entertainment and satisfaction in solving the mystery. Hotel Dusk is simply a one of kind experience any DS owner should check out.