James Noir is just like any other 3DS title, in that it has a great idea behind in, for example Steel Diver but fails to execute it, once again Steel Diver. So with video game rants been the flavour of articles which I’ve been publishing this past month, I decided to continue them into holiday season with James Noir.
The game was originally anticipated for the systems launch, but slowly it ended up been a game for the holiday season, with it launching in November. So how did it end up stacking up? That is the question which many people who are wary of what the system offers and the games available would like to know. Even those who see it as another Ubisoft title, one which could quite possible be shovel ware. The resulting answer however isn’t as clear cut as peoples gaming prodigious, no it is a complicated answer which ends up making this article even more worth the read.
I wanted to get this game since it was announced, and like many felt that Ubisoft would be picking up the gauntlet which so many developers left behind on the original DS system which amazing puzzle games which ranged from games having detailed emotion swinging stories such as any of CiNGs works, to games like the Phoenix Wright series and Professor Layton, full of puzzles and brain teasers which made the system worthwhile. Well in a way Ubisoft does continue the legacy of a strong puzzle/adventure game on Nintendo handhelds, however on the other it falls short. The main observation I find is that if the game came out when it was originally scheduled, aka around launch, then it would of been one of the best games for the system. However with the title launching alongside big hitters such as Mario Kart 7 and Mario Land 3D. (wow lots of Mario ay?) The title ended up falling short behind more detailed and thought out games released later in the year.
Well we have established that the game wasn’t as magical as what was once thought, but does the game offer the player anything? Well redeeming qualities are not the games strong suit, with it feeling like a tech demo unpolished to just have the game finally out, which has been the case with many of Ubisofts titles of late such as From Dust and the next downloadable title from them I am Alive. Anything besides puzzles in this game are attached to the title to a degree that it seems it just ticks a box for the game to have it, rather than offering anything solid. However that said, I did enjoy the overall story line which was that you are a contestant on a prime time game show which revolves around an old FBI friend coming to you about various murders which you guessed it- have puzzles at the scene. This overall back and forth between the game show and the FBI friend was probably one of the main things in the title which was done well. While the end twist is a bit predictable, at the end of the day the journey to get to that twist was quite magical and well worth the time.
Speaking of time, the game isn’t really that long. Depending on what puzzles you pick, and how good you are at solving them, you can knock the game over relatively quick. However I don’t believe this is a downside to the title.
The major issues I have with the game, for me which where enjoyment altering where mainly the controls in some stages of the game. When the game used 3D environments the puzzles which used this style where quite annoying to control at times, and were not cut and dry like the rest of the titles controls. The games verity in puzzles also at times had you completing “X puzzle type 4 or 5”, which was quite a disappointment, however in that regard there was a good amount of puzzle types for the player anyway, and they were much different at times then the puzzles you would usually find in say Layton or another puzzle solving title.
Overall I did find the title enjoyable, however if players don’t know what they are going into when picking up this title I feel they will not appreshate the title as much as I did or if they where more informed about the style of the game. Picking up this game at full retail price would be a bit of a disappointment as well, so if you wish to get this game at some point I recommend getting it when it hits an appropriate price point you are willing to part money if it doesn’t reach your expectations. However overall I’d say it would of been in the top 10 games on the system (and probably still is with the lack of games on the system) around launch, but since bigger named titles from Nintendo have appeared on the system I feel it has lost that position.