Another stylish and unique title exclusively for the DS, January 23, 2007

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N. Durham “Big Evil” (Philadelphia, PA) –

  

  

  

  

= Fun: 

I’ll be honest, I didn’t really have high hopes for Hotel Dusk: Room 215 from the time I had heard about the game making it’s way over here, but thankfully I was pleasently surprised with the results. Taking the point and click genre to different levels on the DS, Hotel Dusk makes you turn your DS sideways to play it, making it look like you’re playing an open book instead of a video game. And book is the word to describe this unique game, as Hotel Dusk pays numerous odes to the crime-noir fiction of yesteryear with it’s engaging story, colorful characters, and dark and mysterious atmosphere. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 puts you in the shoes of Kyle: a disgraced and grizzled former detective trying to piece together a puzzle surrounding the people staying at Hotel Dusk. There is more to the story, but revealing any more would ruin the surprises that are abound throughout this game, and the intricacy of the game’s story is probably the most surprising thing of all. The character designs are wonderfully drawn and utilized, almost looking like an interactive comic book. Also, Hotel Dusk is easy to pick up and play, even for gamers who have never played a point and click type game before. If there’s any drawbacks to Hotel Dusk, it’s that it’s slow pace will be a major turn off for many gamers. While the game is easy to pick up and play, not everyone will stick with it due to it’s pacing. Also, on occasion, the game’s story does suffer from some typical puzzle and adventure trappings, and does feel linear to a point. Despite all that though, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is yet another unique and exclusive title for Nintendo’s wonderous, dual screened handheld, and if you own a DS, you should definitely check this game out; you’ll be pleasently surprised.

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]]> http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/hotel-dusk-area-215-evaluations/#comment-8221 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tokyohotelcomments/~3/ytO5hXOjHHA/ S. Rhodes Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:50:38 +0000 http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/hotel-dusk-area-215-evaluations/#comment-8220

Not to be left in the Dusk, January 27, 2007

By 

S. Rhodes –

  

  

= Fun: 

The great thing about the Nintendo DS is that there is so much innovation to it. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a game that has been done time and time again, but on the DS they can take it to a new level, and strangely it works really well. For any gamer looking for a sophisticated, engaging story, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is right up your alley. It’s engaging, simple, but still manages to be a complex game full of heart. Those who really enjoy Film Noir will also really get a kick out of this.

Kyle Hyde is a former NYPD detective. His partner was Brian Bradley. Under circumstances unknown Kyle ended up having to shoot Brian and his body fell into the Hudson River. The body was never recovered, but Kyle still believes that Brian is alive. Three years later, in 1979, Kyle is working as a Private Investigator for those unwilling to go to the police for help. A client has asked him to locate certain items left at the Hotel Dusk. Kyle, of course, accepts. As the mystery unfolds, Kyle begins to learn what really happened to his former partner.

Part of makes Hotel Dusk work is that it is very stylistic. Kyle is a likeable guy, despite that he’s stereotyped into being the alcoholic ex-cop. His character really comes alive. And it isn’t just his character that comes to life, it’s all the characters that you talk to throughout the game. Each and every one of them is unique and distinct. Along those lines the dialog is really crafty and humanistic, to a point where you feel less like you’re playing a game, and more like you’re reading an engrossing detective novel.

To compliment the game even more, the visual art style is nothing short of fantastic. The character designs are hand-drawn, but they’re uniquely done. Each character is drawn in a way that it says something about them. You’ll be captivated by it. The environments themselves also look pretty good. The 3D models are pretty good looking. There aren’t that many DS games out there that actually have a lot of 3D animation, so any time you get to see some it’s a good thing.

The most interesting aspect about the game is the style which it is played in. You hold the DS sideways, as if it were a book. The primary control of the game comes from the stylus. You’ll use it to navigate Kyle through the Hotel Dusk, and you’ll use it to observe items and talk to people. It’s simple, and it feels very much like some PC games of the past where you used the mouse to point and click. You’ll find items you need to use all over the place. Of course this brings about one of the games few shortcomings. It’s fairly linear, and you’ll often find items well before you need to use them. At least most of the puzzles aren’t hard, and they’re not presented in a “Resident Evil” style fashion. So you won’t be asking yourself questions like, “Why do I have to do THIS to get THAT?” The puzzles are completely logical and grounded in reality.

The good news is Hotel Dusk isn’t about the puzzle solving and item collecting nearly as much as it’s about the characters that play into the overall storyline. This is a very heavily story driven game, much more so than even most mainstream RPGs. You’ll meet characters who will lie to you, and those who don’t want to tell you things or give you little snippets. When you engage in conversation you’ll often be given the chance to ask questions. You are, after all, a PI. Be careful, though. As a PI you need to ask the RIGHT questions. Asking the wrong questions can cause the game to end. So ask the right questions and get the right information.

This brings about another of the games few shortcomings, except this is a rather big one. The game is EXTREMELY dialog heavy. When I say that I’m not kidding. Some conversations can last for very long stretches of time. Not all of them are necessary, and it’s even worse when you figure out what’s going on, yet you’ve still got to sit through all the dialog anyway. To put it more simple it’s like when a novel drags on for pages upon pages and a lot of what you read is irrelevant to the plot. Hotel Dusk doesn’t veer away from the plot often, but it does ramble on and on about basic plot elements quite often. It can be frustrating, especially when you just want to play the game. Likewise, there’s not a snippet of voice acting. I’m not saying the entire game has to have it, but it seems like at some points they should have had some.

Another thing that may turn a few people away. The story, while fantastic, is also pretty slow, and as much as I love games like this, you have to admit that those who love fast paced action adventure games will have a hard time getting into this, especially because the “point and click” formula is pretty dated. To a point, those used to fast paced action might be bored through this. If, however, you enjoy reading (as I do) then this is quite a relaxing experience…

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]]> http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/hotel-dusk-area-215-evaluations/#comment-8220 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tokyohotelcomments/~3/iSyqLSu-uNM/ JP Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:59:44 +0000 http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/whats-the-greatest-hotel-to-stay-at-while-in-japan/#comment-8219 I have never heard of any but try this website (link on bottom)
1. Click on hotels on top of the page
2. just fill out where your going,how many people,etc. then it will give you a list of hotels

It located very convenient place and all the staffs were very kind, reliable, useful to me.

Hotel fee is rather reasonable to everyone.
From $ 100 to $ 1500 per day.

I stayed for 1 year.

If you like a traditional Japanese style inn (a Ryokan) in a tranquil beautiful feng shua’ed setting that’s been in the same family for over 300 years and don’t mind the Y125,000 per night rate, then it’s Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto.

My own favorite which was neither cheap nor expensive, but has since closed its door is the Minaguchi-ya in Okitsu.

Can True Love Blossom Without Light?, August 15, 2010

Kudos to DMP for successfully bringing UGH to the English speaking world! I can say we have finally one-upped our BL brethrens from Germany & France! (I have always been jealous because most of my favorite BL titles got published there 1st)

In UGH, we got to meet Sen, a Japanese student who was sentenced to 80 years in prison for killing the husband of his American University’s professor. Sen was having an illicit affair with the professor when her husband caught them in the act at their home – apparently a struggle ensued in while the latter was shot to death & Sen’s finger prints were found all over the weapon. As the only Japanese in UGH, Sen was all alone & vulnerable among the true criminals: those who murder because they are insane, drug dealers and/or in crime organizations for profit. Sen’s start in UGH got off with a wrong foot with its shot caller, Swordfish (a beautiful African American bishie in for drug crimes related murders) and he almost became a murder victim himself. Ironically, Sen was saved by Swordfish and being a quick learner, he proposed to be Swordfish’s “woman” in exchange for protection in the harsh & unforgiving environment of UGH. However, as their relationship turns into friendship since when you are cell mates, you can’t help but share your life stories with each other, can their friendship nuture trust & love in the bleak, unforgiving environment when everyone has to relentlessly watch their own back? Add to this volatile mix are the cast of characters around them who have their own hidden agendas with no qualms about stabbing anyone in the back or in their sleep to further their own personal gains. To survive in this world, even Sen & Swordfish had to hide their true feelings & play games with each other that were not conducive to trust.

UGH is the one of the most amazing yaoi stories I have ever read. It is firmly entrenched in my top five fave (and I have read plenty of yaoi). If you have ever watched `Oz’ and liked it, you should definitely give this book a try. It is easily Mika Sadihiro’s best work. The plots are so good – with surprises, twists & turns that keep you riveted in your seat. The characters development are top notch – I love the games that each of these characters play – they are all highly intelligent & sometimes coldly calculating which make the progressions of the stories even more delicious. There is none of your typical fluffy, airhead seme / uke here. The art is beautiful & tantalizing. All the characters are gorgeously done & distinctive. I love the realistic ways the mangaka is able to convey any facial expression that let a picture speaks a thousand words – the ectasy of sexual reliefs in a prison of men, the madness of the sexual predators, the cold glints in the eyes of the manipulative players …

The only fly in my ointment is indeed the bunko size printing that 801Media had chosen to go with to save cost & I am sure does bring better values to the readers. This book is a definite keeper & I want it to stay in my collection for a long, long time. I am just not sure the bunko size printing will be as enjoyable as I peruse it frequently or when my eyes start appreciating bigger text as I age. This is why I have kindle <lol> I would have willingly outlay more cash if they up the print size to similar of June’s omnibus types. But this book still definitely make it to must buy in my list & my recommendation to anyone out there who enjoys a more mature yaoi or GLBT story with lots of substance.

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]]> http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/beneath-grand-hotel-volume-1-yaoi/#comment-8166 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tokyohotelcomments/~3/Ae9xbr1a_wM/ Jem Sun, 26 May 2013 23:44:16 +0000 http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/beneath-grand-hotel-volume-1-yaoi/#comment-8165

Hard core yaoi, August 13, 2010

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Jem (MD, USA) –

  

  

The first yaoi I ever read was Ayano Yamane’s Finder Volume1: Target in the View Finder (Yaoi), and it’s still my favorite. The perfect blend of hard yaoi and beautiful illustrations, with an intriguing plot. Finally, I have found another series to equal it!

UGH is set in a prison. I’m surprised that this hadn’t been licensed before, given the popularity of shows like Oz and Prison Break. Sen is sentenced to life in prison. The young student is targeted and seeks out a protector, Sword Fish. Sen pays for the protection with his body, but when he finds he no longer needs the protection, he still needs Sword Fish. Prison seems a natural fit for hard yaoi. And this is hard core – there is explicit, uncensored sex throughout and it is frequent. Readers should note there is also violence, dubious consent and rape. The art style is very good. All characters are defined and well proportioned, and there is subtle shading to enhance the background. The mangaka is careful to keep a reader aware of the setting, without interrupting the story. Like Finder, the “relationship” grows into romance, despite being unrealistic (but who reads yaoi for realism?).

UGH is published by 801 Media, but the book is very different from their previous releases. Unlike most manga/yaoi, this book is miniature. It’s 6 inches by 4 inches in size, and quite thick at 320 pages. The production quality is still high, but I do wish this had been in a larger format to make is easier to read text bubbles that are close to the middle. I fear this spine will crease more easily than standard books. Still, the images are easy to see. The retail price is also significantly higher than most yaoi (even expensive June titles), but I think it’s worth it considering how long and in depth the story is.

Overall, this is a fantasic yaoi series and I have already preordered Under Grand Hotel Volume 2 (Yaoi). In fact, I ordered two copies of both volumes because I’ll surely re-read this one many times!

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]]> http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/beneath-grand-hotel-volume-1-yaoi/#comment-8165 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tokyohotelcomments/~3/YtPlGiP9NKs/ MsRojo555 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:05:23 +0000 http://www.tokyohotel-mega.com/cesarejapan-episode-two-narita-airport-to-sakura-hostel-asakusa/#comment-8160 Congratulations! You dream finally became a reallity! Expand your knowledge, learn the culture keep the best of it and show your respect. Live your life to the fullest in Japan. But always remember who you are. I love you, and admire you!