Project Hacker: Awakening
About this Game

Project Hacker: Awakening (Nintendo DS)
Developer: Red Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Adventure
Players: 1
C3 Score
8
Reader Score (2 Votes)
10
8
10
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Posted on 31.08.2006
Posted by Natalia Tena, duh. (~tonks)
Tags:
Project, Hacker:, Awakening, Nintendo DS
Posted by Natalia Tena, duh. (~tonks)
Tags:
Project, Hacker:, Awakening, Nintendo DS While the summer gaming drought here in the UK comes to an end, Japan have been getting several new top-notch titles, this being one of them. With successful adventure games such as Phoenix Wright being released for the DS in this country, will this new cyber-detective game be worthy of a western release? Read on to find out more...
You play as Satoru Amatsubo, a talented university student who specialises in computers - especially hacking. Although insisting that he only hacks computers for fun and never deletes or steals any information, he goes a step too far when he manages to break into a government server. They manage to track Satoru down, but instead of arresting him and sending him to jail, they offer him a job at GIS - the main headquarters for computer crime and cyber terrorism.
The game is split into five missions (known as 'Programs'), each covering a different investigation. The first mission also covers how Satoru gets the position at GIS, introduces you to the other main character, Rina, as well as investigating and solving your first act of cyber terrorism. The protagonist of our story comes home one evening to find that his apartment has been broken into and ransacked. Confronted by two governmental-looking men in black suits, our hero manages to escape, and asks Rina, his childhood friend, for help. They realise that they're caught up in a big scandal to bring down a major Japanese phone company, and must stop the rival company at all costs.
If you're played Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney before, then you'll feel right at home here. It plays like a traditional adventure game, choosing the right dialogue threads, examining items, and so forth. As far as the gameplay goes, it feels just like reading a story, or to be more precise, a detective-themed manga comic. Unfortunately, this means the game does not require that much interaction to play. Usually, you'll end up talking to the characters around you, an event happening, talking some more, and so forth, with no branching story. If there is a branch, then usually it will just take you to a dead end and a 'Game Over' screen, making the game very linear.
To break up all the adventuring and examining objects and such, there are several puzzle-solving elements, such as figuring out the passwords on a rival's computer. Most of the time, this can be figured out by just examining your surroundings (for example, if you see several chess-related items around the place, try passwords relating to the board game). But sometimes, you have to rely on the internet for information.
No, not the real internet, but one that is built into the game. From your laptop (or at the start of the game, an internet café), you can access a 'fake' internet, comprising of hundreds of pages and links about different companies, products, research articles, directions to key locations, and so forth. It's a great addition, and is integral to the game's progress. And if you're tempted to grab the nearest piece of paper and write down any information you find, you can use the PDA again. Much like the photography function of the DAS device in the DS adventure game 'Another Code', you can keep track of things in the game, by using a virtual notepad. Just scribble down any important names or dates on the touch screen, and you can then access them at any time.
The game also throws in several mini-games to break up the text adventuring even more, such as when you stop rival hackers from accessing a computer by tapping the coloured blocks flying on the screen towards you, or rearrange a scrambled map using the touch screen. These are a nice touch, and help the player to interact with the game, generally making the whole experience feel more immersive.
The graphics of the game, as mentioned before, are manga styled and presented in a neat and colourful form. Even little things such as characters blinking randomly while talking to you is a nice touch, although the poses can be a little repetitive if you're picky, and after a while you wonder why most of the characters never change their clothes throughout a game... As the game is very text heavy, I wouldn't recommend importing this game though, unless you can find a translation guide on the internet, which will be a lifesaver.
If you're worried that the game will be over too quickly, then you'll be glad to hear that each of the five programs will take approximately two hours to complete, meaning plenty of mystery and detective work. Plus, each program is graded, giving you the opportunity to replay the missions if you so wish for a better score. Throw in some unlockable mini-games after completing the game, and you have quite a long game, but unfortunately little incentive to replay the main quest. But don't let this put you off, because this is a fantastic adventure and mystery game... now all we need is the confirmation of a western release!
Gameplay 9
9
A game of this genre needs a good storyline - thankfully, Project Hacker delivers superbly with this cyber-detective plot.
Graphics 8
8
The 'Phoenix Wright'-style manga graphics are detailed, and work well in keeping the audience interested and engaged in the game.
Sound 7
7
There's not that much in the way of sound, but when there is it's usually the right type of music for the story. Oh, and you'd better get used to the sound of scrolling text on the screen...
Value 7
7
A good 10 hours or so on the main story, but little incentive to replay the main game.
8
C3 Score Here at Cubed3, we've always said that the Nintendo DS would be the perfect console for adventure games. And we've had such good adventure games, such as Another Code and Phoenix Wright... We believe this game is up there with those two top-notch titles, providing a fantastic mystery adventure that will leave you wanting more!/10
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CommentsPost a Comment
1
Mr. T Reply Quote #1
Nice review Phil-san. Games like this work really well on the DS and I really like the sound of PH:A, I'll probably give it a look when it hits the mighty shores of Europe :-D
Grumbro Reply Quote #2
Value: A good 10 hours or so on the main story, but little incentive to replay the main game. 7/10
5 or 6/10 surely?
jesusraz Reply Quote #3
Another Code was probably the same length, maybe a bit shorter...for these sort of games that's the speed you can get through without reading the text properly.
Examining everything and taking your time to read things clearly extends the play and increases the value!
Good work Phil :
I'll definitely be asking Nintendo about whether this will be translated when I head to London on 15th September 
Examining everything and taking your time to read things clearly extends the play and increases the value!
Good work Phil :
Darkflame Reply Quote #4
Another code, however, is a heck of a lot more interactive then this looks :-/
Shame , I was hopeing for a full "proper" adventure not one of these semi-interactive story games.
Whether its good or not will very much depend on if the writting and the story is fun, imo.
(as with PW).
~sigh~
Uplink DS anyone? Please?
Shame , I was hopeing for a full "proper" adventure not one of these semi-interactive story games.
Whether its good or not will very much depend on if the writting and the story is fun, imo.
(as with PW).
~sigh~
Uplink DS anyone? Please?
Mr. T Reply Quote #5
Good work Phil This is a smilie I'll definitely be asking Nintendo about whether this will be translated when I head to London on 15th September
I think you have now mastered the geeky-gaming-version of 'name dropping' now Adam
~tonks Reply Quote #6
Wooh, finally mastered the tasks of staff! Uploading screenshots, watermarking, posting reviews, writing news articles, even my own staff area! :-D
Next up, FFIII import review (I hope)!
Next up, FFIII import review (I hope)!
jesusraz Reply Quote #7
Just in case people on here didn't know about it, James
And bravo Phil for settling in so damn quickly :-D
And bravo Phil for settling in so damn quickly :-D
tiamat1990 Reply Quote #8
Sounds alright...Not too sure if it's worth a purchase.
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