Nintendo DS

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles

This is a brief and functional title, but it lacks the flair and intrigue to pull of the film nor aesthetic. It's also hard to get over the fact that Jake Hunter looks like he should be ordering Jagerbombs and hitting on your sister instead of solving cases.

Jake Hunter is a decent way to kill a few hours, but there wasn't enough effort put into it to really stand out. It lacks personality. Jake is a stereotype, and the stories are straight forward, humorless affairs. Still, I played through them without getting frustrated and they were just engaging enough to keep my interest. Younger gamers who like detective stories and don't need a lot of action may want to hunt down a copy.

Jake Hunter could have been a good game if players were offered more to stay entertained with than a few multiple choice questions and a middling story. A little extra effort in the presentation, some added challenge, and better use of the DS capabilities for touch-based gameplay could go a long way here.

Our favorite part of the game was the soundtrack, which is totally unique. It's full of the kind of slowly burning jazz that detective movies always have playing in dark nightclubs, but with a chiptunes-y style that makes it sound all chirpy and videogame-like. The visual portion of the game isn't quite as compelling or unique - okay, it's just plain bland, and the characters' expressions never seem to change - but it gets the job done. Do you need this game? Maybe, if you just can't wait for the next Ace Attorney. Just be aware that Jake isn't as flashy, quirky, lovable, or cool.

The worst part is that Jake Hunter had a lot of potential. The noir setting and the campy art style was a solid foundation and done right, the game could have been a great homage to the old-school adventure genre while also providing DS owners with an interesting gaming experience. Instead, Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles fails to deliver on all counts: it's enough to make you want to scream out "Objection!"

Don't waste your money on this game. If you happen to be walking down the street and someone tries to give it to you for free, politely decline and continue about your business. Unless you're in need of a new drink coaster.

And even if Jake Hunter did this stuff right, it would still be half-assed: The Japanese version of the game features three cases not found in the American release. Not that I wanted to untangle more predictable murders (three is enough -- trust me!), but if publisher Aksys wanted the game to seem somewhat appealing to crime-solving consumers, they could have at least made an effort to include the extra cases in the American version. It doesn't really matter, though, because the verdict still remains the same: Jake Hunter should quit his day job.