Hotel Dusk Love
Yeah, I know there are a hundred blogs raving about this game, but I have to throw my two cents in.
Let me just start off by saying that Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is an outstanding game. I am not particularly far, but everything I have experienced in the game lands it on my short list of must have DS titles. Then again, I am still weary of an Indigo Prophecy style shark jumping moment (Argh! I am still traumatized by that!), so I reserve the right to change my opinion when I complete the game.
Anyway, the Internet hullabaloo over Hotel Dusk is more than warranted, although it is certainly not for everyone. The game is basically an interactive novel; so if you dislike the pulp and paper type, skip this one. However, if you are like me and love all things noir, get this game immediately.
The story follows burnout cop Kyle Hyde as he tries to find his ex-partner whom he might have shot dead 3 years ago. His search invariably leads him to the titular Hotel Dusk, where strange occurrences lead him to believe that the key to finding his ex-partner may be within the hotel.
The story may not contain the weight of a James Elroy novel nor does Kyle Hyde have the gritty charm of Humphrey Bogart, but the game’s mix of story, characters and puzzles had me from the start.
My experience with the adventure genre has been extremely limited, but Hotel Dusk makes me want to try more games of this type. I really hope the noise made by critics about this game makes it to the mainstream. This is the type of game that the DS is made for, and I hope Nintendo continues to push titles like this rather than relying on Mario and Zelda to sell its systems.
If you have any interest in adventure games, noir-style storytelling or just need something to weather the post-Christmas software drought, give this game a spin.