Time Hollow

"It's Time For You To Play This Game"

Games of this genre are not so easy to find as other games and usually are hit-or-miss with different gamers. Having played Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk: Room 215, and the Ace Attorney games, Time Hollow seems to be a good addition to the genre.

Story: 9/10
Just as you would expect, this game has a very complex and intriguing story. With many shocking twists and surprising turns, the story really keeps you playing till you see the ending (which, unfortunately, is only a few hours away from the start). It revolves around a boy named Ethan Kairos who wakes up one morning to find his normal life with his parents dramatically changed and a portal in his bedroom. This is when the Hollow Pen is bestowed upon him and he must change the past in order to fix his life to what it once was. Most time-traveling stories do carry some unexplainable plot holes but these are only minor.

Sound: 8/10
The opening song for the game is refreshing and surprisingly unique from other titles and the lyrics support the game nicely. Within the chapters of Time Hollow, the music turns eerie and creepy which adds to the suspense and mystery. On the other hand, I wasn't very impressed for the voices of some of the characters in the cutscenes.

Graphics: 8/10
One of the best parts of the game, the graphics are vibrant and a pleasant view to the eyes. The characters are designed anime-style as are the cutscenes that take place. Though far apart, the cutscenes do not disappoint. The backgrounds of the town are average in that they are not poor but could be better.

Gameplay; 7/10
This seems to be the biggest problem the game has with gamers. To some, it is too linear and doesn't make enough room for the player to feel like they have really accomplished anything. To move around, you simply point at the icon of the figure running and you will appear there. There is also a big map of the areas you can interact with that will take you to that area. No walking to an area is involved but that doesn't really hinder Time Hollow at all. Throughout the game there are opportunities to open a "hole" in time that requires you to compare your "Flashbacks" to the current scene. By drawing a circle around the point you want to change, you can "Look", "Examine", "Talk" or put an "Item" on the other side. These parts are essential and important to the flow of the story but end up being disappointing when you can't seem to see or find what you need to go on. Besides time-traveling, there is little else in gameplay except advancing text and going to the menu and viewing your "Flashbacks".

Overall: 8/10 A bit on the short side, but still enjoyable.

Thanks for taking the time to read my first review on GameFAQS.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/26/08

Game Release: Time Hollow (US, 09/23/08)