"Innovative gameplay makes for an instant classic"

Most new games we play tend to fall into specific genres. No matter how different they seem to be, in the end they still give us a feeling of having done this before. An FPS is an FPS, a platformer is a platformer, and all RPGs share many elements in common. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 defies such classification, and for the first time in a long time we truly have a new game to play.

The graphics are very unique.. the characters are drawn in a pencil-sketch style and the backgrounds often have a look of being painted with watercolor. It's a great direction for the creators to have taken as it makes the game stand out even more as being a truly memorable experience.

The sound suits the game well, the music is always able to set the proper mood and although it can be repetitive, it's enjoyable enough that even after listening to it for a while one isn't wishing to turn down the volume.

Graphics and sound are only mere technical aspects though, and while noting them is a part of any game review, they simply aren't a factor in what makes this game so great. The gameplay is absolutely exquisite. It's truly fresh and unique, unlike anything I've played before. This game can almost be described as an 'interactive mystery novel'. To progress one must ask the right questions, pay attention to what the other characters are saying, and often take notes. These notes are another innovative touch for this game.. you have a notebook which you can write in (similar to pictochat) whenever you find something you believe might be an important clue. The story will keep your attention from beginning to end as you learn about all of the characters and begin to see how they intertwine with each other and with you.

There are also quite a few puzzles scattered throughout the game. While none of them are frustratingly difficult they're always entertaining. For the most part they involve thinking of creative ways to use items you've found to accomplish something. If you enjoyed Shadowgate or Deja Vu on the NES you'll definitely appreciate how these puzzles work. Some of them even make very innovative use of the DS hardware itself, similar to the hardware tricks that have been in several of the Metal Gear games.

Hotel Dusk is truly a thinking person's game. The entire game revolves around asking questions and paying close attention to the responses so if you don't want to do a lot of reading and use deductive reasoning, this game isn't for you. However, it does allow you to read recaps of what goes on so you don't have to have a photographic memory to be able to enjoy it. This, combined with the ability to save anywhere at any time makes Hotel Dusk absolutely perfect for a handheld format. One can truly enjoy the game even if they only have a few minutes here and there to play it.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this game a perfect score of 10 is that it's often too self-explanatory. I would have preferred a bit more of a challenge but the game tends to hold your hand throughout the story. Instead of you having to be careful to write down important info so you don't forget it, the game will often remind you of things when the time comes. While a bit of this would be a good thing and help you avoid the frustration of not knowing what you're supposed to do next, the game has a bad habit of making things too obvious. In my opinion it would be much more fun and realistic if you had to depend on your own memory.

The bottom line is, if you enjoy games that make you think and value truly innovative gameplay and a great story over action and explosions, you can't go wrong with this game. Nintendo has stumbled onto a truly great form of interactive story-telling and I sincerely hope they'll make many more games in this style. If you want a game that's relaxing to play yet mentally stimulating, or even if you're a non-gamer but enjoy reading a good mystery, Hotel Dusk is an absolute must-own.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/01/07