Hotel Dusk: Room 215 on DS (2007)

Puts you right to sleep...

ChrisBarraclough from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 16/06/2008

Before you read any further, let me assure you that I've been an adventure game fan since the days of Zork on the Spectrum. No fancy graphics or clever interface, just a blinking cursor and the endless joy of typing in naughty words to see which ones it recognised. I've played hundreds of adventures, ranging from the divine (Monkey Island) to the downright pants (Ripper), and Hotel Dusk unfortunately falls a lot closer to the second category. As a fan of Phoenix Wright, I was hoping this game would be another strong DS entry with a more serious tone. However, the problem is that it's not really a game at all. Let me explain.

You play an ex-cop turned travelling salesman (no, I'm not kidding) who pulls up to the titular hotel looking for his missing partner, who vanished three years prior. This, unfortunately, is as far into the 'plot' as I managed to get. Almost two hours into the game, after checking in and speaking with pretty much every guest I could find, I had done nothing more exciting than catch a hotel employee having a sneaky shufty at a porno mag in the linen closet. The 'gameplay' consists of interrogating people about the most mundane aspects of their lives, which of course means endless streams of dialogue to wade through, 99% of which seems completely irrelevant. I also discovered that it's possible to 'die' if you pick the wrong questions, meaning sitting through it all again to choose another route. Boring as hell the first time = DS hurled out of window the third time. If it's actual puzzles you're after, I completed precisely two in my time with Hotel Dusk. One involved piecing together a 16-piece childrens jigsaw, and the other involved unraveling a paper clip. I can do both of these things at home for real, at the combined cost of 27p.

I'm sure that there is some semblance of a story if you stick with it for a few more hours, but why bother? If you like reading, then get a book. If you like playing games, then try watching Fresh Prince Of BelAir and downing a shot of whiskey every time Will either calls Uncle Phil fat, or Carlton short. Both of these ideas are exactly fifty-seven times more fun than playing 'Hotel Dusk'.

For more reviews, check out ChrisBarraclough dot co dot uk.

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Absolutely worth while

A customer from Lincoln , 07/03/2008

This game is really great and has got excellent graphics. If you have the patience and enjoy finding out the information then this is the game for you.

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Boring

A customer from Lincolnshire , 05/07/2008

I was really looking forward to this, as I like this type of game.

How wrong I was, you hardly do anything, its more reading then actually going round solving the clues. I am so glad I didn't buy it.

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So glad I didn't buy this!!!!

Laura Parker from Leeds, England , 20/02/2009

This is the worst game I've ever played on my DS. I was really looking forward to this game and nearly bought it. But after playing on it for nearly an hour just looking around the hotel and not really dong anything but reading about what furniture or paintings there were around the place it was sendng me to sleep. I did one puzzle hich took 3 seconds and thats it. Amajor disappointment. Do not bother renting, cos like me you'll be sending it straight back after an hour playin this!!!!

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Boring

A customer from Lincolnshire , 05/07/2008

I was really looking forward to this, as I like this type of game.

How wrong I was, you hardly do anything, its more reading then actually going round solving the clues. I am so glad I didn't buy it.

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Puts you right to sleep...

ChrisBarraclough from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 16/06/2008

Before you read any further, let me assure you that I've been an adventure game fan since the days of Zork on the Spectrum. No fancy graphics or clever interface, just a blinking cursor and the endless joy of typing in naughty words to see which ones it recognised. I've played hundreds of adventures, ranging from the divine (Monkey Island) to the downright pants (Ripper), and Hotel Dusk unfortunately falls a lot closer to the second category. As a fan of Phoenix Wright, I was hoping this game would be another strong DS entry with a more serious tone. However, the problem is that it's not really a game at all. Let me explain.

You play an ex-cop turned travelling salesman (no, I'm not kidding) who pulls up to the titular hotel looking for his missing partner, who vanished three years prior. This, unfortunately, is as far into the 'plot' as I managed to get. Almost two hours into the game, after checking in and speaking with pretty much every guest I could find, I had done nothing more exciting than catch a hotel employee having a sneaky shufty at a porno mag in the linen closet. The 'gameplay' consists of interrogating people about the most mundane aspects of their lives, which of course means endless streams of dialogue to wade through, 99% of which seems completely irrelevant. I also discovered that it's possible to 'die' if you pick the wrong questions, meaning sitting through it all again to choose another route. Boring as hell the first time = DS hurled out of window the third time. If it's actual puzzles you're after, I completed precisely two in my time with Hotel Dusk. One involved piecing together a 16-piece childrens jigsaw, and the other involved unraveling a paper clip. I can do both of these things at home for real, at the combined cost of 27p.

I'm sure that there is some semblance of a story if you stick with it for a few more hours, but why bother? If you like reading, then get a book. If you like playing games, then try watching Fresh Prince Of BelAir and downing a shot of whiskey every time Will either calls Uncle Phil fat, or Carlton short. Both of these ideas are exactly fifty-seven times more fun than playing 'Hotel Dusk'.

For more reviews, check out ChrisBarraclough dot co dot uk.

Read all highest rated reviews