Spoiler-free review! The less you know before playing this, the better. But you SHOULD play it!
I've heard time and time again from people who played this game on the DS that it is a hidden gem. It seemed that every person who had played it wanted every person they know to also experience it. I finally understand, and I'm so glad for it.
I'd always wanted to check this game out, but being only available on the DS (or emulated) made it less appealing to me. I knew eventually I'd like to find a good way to play, and with the re-release on modern consoles, I was instantly down.
This game has straight up one of (if not the best) mystery stories I've ever experienced in any medium. It's extremely tightly knit, everything serves a purpose, and it leaves great hints along the way to empower the player's imagination and problem solving. I predicted a number of twists, but had plenty still blindside me in the best way possible. I adore the characters and their dialogue, which both managed to make me crack up and get emotional plenty of times.
Visually, this game is really refreshing. Its character designs are so far out there that they instantly establish identities and personalities the moment they step out on screen. The animation work is hilarious and lends itself well to the roles played out by the game's well-developed and well-utilized cast. The sound design and music are also excellent, and I'm sure a number of tracks will make their way into my frequently-listened-to game music.
Gameplay-wise, this is some of the most clever puzzling I've seen in a game, as well. Solutions are not always obvious, and are often pretty far-fetched, but I think the game establishes early that logic doesn't always apply here. Personally, I think it's all the better for that. When things fall into place after a few head-scratching attempts, it feels great. Those eureka moments make each section really special. I never felt so stumped that I had to use a guide, though there were just a couple of times I got close to considering it. I'm glad I relied on my own problem-solving and creativity, though, as it was way more satisfying.
Positives:
+ Story, mystery, dialogue
+ Fun and expressive characters
+ Music and sound
+ Fresh, clever puzzle mechanics
Negatives:
- A few character moments that were just a touch too aggressively annoying (but that was often the point so I can't fault them much for that)
- Occasional visual jitters when characters moved at the same time as the camera
I've heard time and time again from people who played this game on the DS that it is a hidden gem. It seemed that every person who had played it wanted every person they know to also experience it. I finally understand, and I'm so glad for it.
I'd always wanted to check this game out, but being only available on the DS (or emulated) made it less appealing to me. I knew eventually I'd like to find a good way to play, and with the re-release on modern consoles, I was instantly down.
This game has straight up one of (if not the best) mystery stories I've ever experienced in any medium. It's extremely tightly knit, everything serves a purpose, and it leaves great hints along the way to empower the player's imagination and problem solving. I predicted a number of twists, but had plenty still blindside me in the best way possible. I adore the characters and their dialogue, which both managed to make me crack up and get emotional plenty of times.
Visually, this game is really refreshing. Its character designs are so far out there that they instantly establish identities and personalities the moment they step out on screen. The animation work is hilarious and lends itself well to the roles played out by the game's well-developed and well-utilized cast. The sound design and music are also excellent, and I'm sure a number of tracks will make their way into my frequently-listened-to game music.
Gameplay-wise, this is some of the most clever puzzling I've seen in a game, as well. Solutions are not always obvious, and are often pretty far-fetched, but I think the game establishes early that logic doesn't always apply here. Personally, I think it's all the better for that. When things fall into place after a few head-scratching attempts, it feels great. Those eureka moments make each section really special. I never felt so stumped that I had to use a guide, though there were just a couple of times I got close to considering it. I'm glad I relied on my own problem-solving and creativity, though, as it was way more satisfying.
Positives:
+ Story, mystery, dialogue
+ Fun and expressive characters
+ Music and sound
+ Fresh, clever puzzle mechanics
Negatives:
- A few character moments that were just a touch too aggressively annoying (but that was often the point so I can't fault them much for that)
- Occasional visual jitters when characters moved at the same time as the camera