It's going back quite a number of years now, but the DS and its dual-screen format helped deliver some intriguing narrative-driven gaming experiences. Fans of interactive storytelling with a grown-up approach may recall three particular DS releases that provided some notably stylised narratives on the portable - Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Last Window: The Secret of Cape West. The latter two were moody detective-style tales starring former NYPD cop Kyle Hyde.
Unfortunately Last Window was the last game that development studio CiNG produced before going bankrupt. Now, however, Arc System Works is publishing a story-based adventure game - Chase: Unsolved Cases Investigation Division – Distant Memories - being led by the director of all three of the aforementioned DS titles: Taisuke Kanasaki. The project also reportedly has other former CiNG staffers on board.
As you can see below it looks set to have a handsome art style and is a detective story at heart; we're not sure whether the character is actually Kyle Hyde, or just someone rather like the moody protagonist.
In any case this is coming to the Japanese 3DS eShop in the Spring; whether it comes to the West is likely dependent on its success with that initial launch and whether Arc System Works believes there's popular demand for the title in the West.
Would you like this one to come to North America and PAL territories?
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 53
Cool! I really loved Hotel Dusk so I hope this comes our way. He sure looks like Kyle Hyde!
I'd very much like to see this brought over to west. Interesting to see if it takes advantage of the platform's unique properties as well as Another Code, Hotel Dusk and Last Window.
Based on the track playing on the teaser site I think it's a safe bet that Satoshi Okubo is taking care of the soundtrack. Gives off some mighty HD and LW vibes.
Cool I loved Another Code, Hotel Dusk and Last Window. Looking forward to seeing an English version.
This title has my curiosity. Could be a gem.
First thing I noticed is the guy looks like Kyle Hyde. I really hope this is "Hotel Dusk 3" I loved the 2 DS games!
I couldn't be happier hearing this news. Hotel Dusk and Last Window is up there with my favorite games of all time. Hearing the old Cing Team is back together and continuing the Hard Boiled Noir Detective theme is amazing. Let's hope for a Western release.
This would be a dream come true. I had to import Last Window because im from NA. Great games. I even liked the game "Again" by Cing. I hope its Kyle....
Looks like a prequel to me, of the days with his former partner Bradley maybe.
Not the biggest 'Kyle Hyde saga' fan by a long shot, but this could be interesting.
I hope this makes it to the U.S. Day one for me; Kyle Hyde was one of my more favorite characters from recent Nintendo series games.
Physical release in the west please.
Ooh yes please! Loved the Kyle Hyde games.
The only detective-esque games I played were Ace Attorney.
This looks interesting though.
Seeing Kyle Hyde as a trophy in Smash Brawl, I'm disappointed Nintendo didn't save CING. They were like a 2nd party! Now a mediocre publisher like ASW gets the innovative point & click adventures.
Btw, Isn't Kyle still Nintendo property? Even if he looks a lot like Kyle this must be someone else, a new series.
Great news! I loved Cing's games and both Kyle Hyde games are amazing (and actually among my all time favourites). I'll be watching this with great interest!
Great news, I will have to get the Last Window fast. Obviously, the game genre is not appealing enough to secure a japanese physical release, so it is a half good thing.
@Farpun I don't see a physical release coming to the West when there was none announced for Japan. Based on the game genre (again) and how late we are in the console life, I would not even bet on a western release at all.
OMG, kyle hyde was awesome! really hope this comes stateside.
As a huge fan of CiNG, I'm very much hoping for a Western release on this one. I'll be watching this closely!
I played Hotel Dusk, it was pretty good. I would give this game a shot if it was released in the states.
I am so excited! I've often wondered if the guys from CiNG would get back together and give us a new adventure game, and now it's really happening! (Well, for Japan at least.)
Would buy day one. I live for those Cing games.
Kyle doesn't smoke though, he drinks beer and cool pop.
Uh, yeah, that's Kyle Hyde with black hair. Even if it's not him, it's basically the exact same design.
And the woman kinda looks like Ashley's mom.
I'll be keeping an eye on this, I honestly didn't expect to see these guys pop up again.
I loved Hotel dusk and Last Window.
If I could preorder now I would.
The guy looks like Detective Gumshoe. I think Terrakion also looks like Detective Gumshoe...
Please be Kyle Hyde, please please please. I loved those games and would be very happy with a revival. E-shop exclusives are the perfect way to continue the series if budget and hard copy distribution are a concern.
The semicolon does seem very Kyle Hyde-ish
im interested
Yes.
I love the art style. I haven't played Hotel Dusk or any other detective game by the same director yet but they've been on my radar. I'm sure I'd love those games but I just haven't gotten around to buying them.
Best news I've heard in a while
The Cing games were brilliant and it was a massive blow to hear they had gone bust. It was a surprise at the time because I thought the games had strong sales.
This could be really, really good. Can't wait to see if it comes to Europe.
The first thing that I was thinking when I saw the first picture was: Hotel Dusk is back! And I haven't even played it.
That looks really nice, hope it got localized.
Looks interesting.
I'd like a remake of the DS games as they are both clunky to control now. They're both good games but a remake with better controls would make the games fun again.
Great news! I'm a huge fan of Cing's adventure games and I've really missed them. I'll definitely buy this if it's ever released Europe.
Oh. My. God. I thought the series was dead for good. That's definitely Kyle Hyde, no matter what anyone says! I'm so happy about this. Western release is a matter of time.
@Late Do yourself a favour and get them. They're not very game-like but absolutely phenomenal as they are.
I would love to play this. I hope it comes to the US.
What's Trace Memory? Oh right, you just assume we're all American.
Definitely has the look of Kyle Hyde, who was probably the coolest protagonist in a game that I've played through in a long time. With so many former Cing staff on board, it just might be him!
Hyped either way!
I've played HD:Room 215 and I enjoyed it a lot. The art style and the mood is still something I cannot find elsewhere. I really hope the walking mechanic gets a refreshment cause it was a bit awkward. So YES, I would definitely like to see a western release.
@ToniK I loved the first two titles so much! And both Another Code titles as well. I would have preferred the original art style, but I'm still more than happy to see this.
Considering how poorly all of Cing's games sold, I would never have imagined any company would fund a game like this!
There's no way it's really Kyle Hyde. Nintendo owns the rights to Hotel Dusk and all related characters. Unless they made an agreement with Nintendo, the man you see in the art above is Miles Pryde.
I always thought Rika Suzuki (a female script writer) wrote and designed all those games and their characters, was never aware of the director Taisuke Kanasaki, who was probably more responsible for them than her. Similarly I used to think Rieko Kodama directed Skies of Arcadia, but it was also men.
Sometimes mysteries are really fun! Like that time I couldn't find my wife. Turned out she had divorced me six years before.
I played a bit of Hotel Dusk, which I enjoyed. Considering how much I love the detective genre of media, this will be a must-buy if it releases in the west.
That reminds me I still have Another Code R somewhere in my collection. I should probably finally start that sometime.
@Siskan Yeah, unfortunately these kind of games have a small audience. But yeah, both games were just amazing. The atmosphere was so great with very minimal aesthetics. Almost like art.
Edit. Another memory was great as well. Especially the Wii one.
Oh yeah, I would love to see a western release of this! I loved Hotel Dusk and Last Window.
When I saw the image of this article, first thing I thought was "CiNG is back in business?". I'm sure curious how this one turns out. Last Window is still one of my favourite DS games ever, and I have fond memories of Hotel Dusk and Another Code - the latter being one of the earlier DS games I was truly excited about. Never finished the Wii sequel though...
Yes looks an interesting game.
Hotel Dusk had a lot to offer, but I feel like I was spoiled too much by the narrative of 9 persons 9 hours 9 doors and Hotel Dusk just didn't keep up with my expectations. I liked the art style and walking around the hotel, and I did play it for a few days, but I never finished it because I couldn't care less about the plot.
this absolutely looks like something i would play!
Great News!
I just want to join the chorus by saying that I would absolutely buy this if it came to North America. I love all three CiNG DS games.
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