What are some good current mystery/puzzle-solving games?

[Snapple]

The last couple times I went to the store and picked out random mystery games, I burned myself. I got a Sherlock Holmes game in which the camera gave me migraines, but that was actually the best thing I got. I got this DS game called Lux-Pain, which is awful. and I got a game called Cate West: The Vanishing Files, which ended up being a "Where's Waldo" kind of game, where you are given pictures and have to find like 20 hidden items. Terrible and misleading game.

I really love Phoenix Wright. I have all four PW games. I used to love the old Sierra and Lucasarts games, like King's Quest, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, things like that. I got Zack & Wiki, and I loved that. Might be my second favorite Wii game.

There's a lot of crap mystery or crime games out there though.

[Porksta]

I really enjoyed the Professor Layton games.

[DisastrophE]

I really enjoyed the Professor Layton games.

Ditto. I loved the first two Professor Layton games on the DS. You need to go get them now. They are definitely the cream of the crop when it comes to puzzle games on the DS.

Also you should check out Nyxquest. It's a Wiiware title. It's an action/puzzle game that is worth a look. There is a free demo on the Wii so I say give it a shot.

[Porksta]

Oh, and Picross is all kinds of amazing.

[Jorpho]

I got this DS game called Lux-Pain, which is awful.I heard it wasn't that bad, aside from the terrible translation.

Hotel Dusk is awesome. Really, really awesome. Probably cheap, too.

Some people like Time Hollow, but some people really don't. Something to consider, anyway.

I'd like to try Theresia, which sounds pretty nifty, but it tends to be rather expensive.

[Snapple]

Oh yeah, I did get Hotel Dusk. It's indeed a great game. That's exactly the kind of stuff that appeals to me.

I'll keep some of these other games in mind. Theresia, Professor Layton, Nyxquest.

For what it's worth, I have a Wii, DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, and a decent PC. Basically I can play anything that's not an Xbox exclusive.

[Jorpho]

Well, gee, if you don't mind playing PC games, there's no limit to the stuff out there.

May I suggest Shadow of Destiny (http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/shadowofmemories/shadowofmemories.htm) ? (I haven't actually read that article myself; I've had a copy for ages and am hoping to avoid spoilers.)

[SamuraiSmurfette]

I recommend Trace Memory for the DS.
Even my dad, the non-gamer BEAT it....that says alot.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Well, gee, if you don't mind playing PC games, there's no limit to the stuff out there.

May I suggest Shadow of Destiny (http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/shadowofmemories/shadowofmemories.htm) ? (I haven't actually read that article myself; I've had a copy for ages and am hoping to avoid spoilers.)

oh, and holycrap Shadow of Destiny is good. One of my fave PS2 games. Just so clever. The whole way through I thought I had it figured out. "Oh, it's this guy for sure. And if not, it's gotta be this guy." It blew my mind.

You get to go back in time to try to prevent your own death.

[BHvrd]

Sanitarium is a must play!

http://www.gog.com/upload/images/2009/11/6b51cfb801966dee2a8de68c9eeebaf631dc59ae_bb.jpg (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/sanitarium)


Oh sorry, you said current, doh.

[Gameguy]

Broken Sword was remade for the Wii and DS, I haven't played it yet though so I can't compare it to the original version but the reviews were good for it. It seems to be pretty cheap too, I don't have a Wii but I've seen copies for $9.99 new in some stores.

Jake Hunter for the DS is like Phoenix Wright, though not as good. I've played through the original release which was Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles, but it's just half of the Japanese version with a just decent localization. The game was later remade better as Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past, which has new episodes and as a bonus the 3 episodes from the previous release are also included but with better localization. I only played the original release but it was still not that bad in my opinion.

I also don't get why there's all those Where's Waldo types of games now, I don't get why they're popular. Most adventure gamers dislike pixel hunts and think of them as the weak part of any adventure game, those games now are basically just pixel hunts without anything else.

If you like adventure games and want info on what's currently out there, I'll give links to some adventure sites I look through. It's how I found out about the sequel to Trace Memory made for the Wii, but it's not released in North America unfortunately.
http://adventuregamers.com/
http://www.justadventure.com/
http://www.gameboomers.com/

[j_factor]

Not that current, but have you played Dreamfall? I absolutely adored that game. Also, I haven't played Still Life 2 yet, but I loved the first one.

I also give my fullest recommendation to Overclocked: A History of Violence (PC only, sadly). It's about a retired U.S. Army psychiatrist who, due to his expertise, is called in to tend to five trouble patients with amnesia. In the game, you control the psychiatrist guy and each patient during flashbacks, which represent their memories being uncovered (and which happen in reverse chronological order). It's very absorbing.

Murder in the Abbey (PC also) is pretty good. Taking place in medieval times, you are investigating a case of multiple strange murders in an abbey (hence the title). It's a true mystery story in the classic, whodunit sense. While the plot is great and unfolds wonderfully, the actual gameplay is weak. Still, it's worth playing.

Broken Sword, already one of the best adventure games of all time IMO, turned out great on Wii (not sure about DS). Definitely get that, although when you finish it, you'll be craving the sequels. The third and fourth are recent enough, but the second one is probably too old to run on PC's these days. Although, it did have a PSX port.

[Jorpho]

Broken Sword, already one of the best adventure games of all time IMO, turned out great on Wii (not sure about DS). Definitely get that, although when you finish it, you'll be craving the sequels. The third and fourth are recent enough, but the second one is probably too old to run on PC's these days. Although, it did have a PSX port.BS 1&2 are in ScummVM and will run practically anywhere.

[Snapple]

They made a Still Life 2? I might check that one out, although the the puzzles in the first one were... annoying. MAKING COOKIES ARGLE FARGLE

[j_factor]

BS 1&2 are in ScummVM and will run practically anywhere.

Ah yes, I didn't think of ScummVM.

[maxlords]

There's also Touch Detective and Touch Detective 2 1/2the DS

And of course....Professor Layton 1 and 2.... :D

I second Dreamfall and Shadows of Destiny as well...

[geelw]

I heard it wasn't that bad, aside from the terrible translation.

Hotel Dusk is awesome. Really, really awesome. Probably cheap, too.

Some people like Time Hollow, but some people really don't. Something to consider, anyway.

I'd like to try Theresia, which sounds pretty nifty, but it tends to be rather expensive.

Theresia has dropped a bit in price. i picked up a sealed one for $13 recently, which isn't TOO bad, considering it's been selling for double that or more in a few places.

For a really oddball adventure game, try Sudoku Ball Detective. It's a murder mystery where you solve puzzles, find clues and unlock stuff by... playing Sudoku? On a rotating ball, yet. VERY weird, but the story is well written and the game isn't too long. Hell, even if you hate it, you're still getting a new way to play an old game, as the rotating ball device is kind of cool...

Flower Sun and Rain on the DS has some major issues visually and some sloooow as hell moments, but it's "interesting" in a few ways...

[Jorpho]

i picked up a sealed one for $13 recentlyWhere?

[geelw]

Where?
ebay - I had a search set up for it a while back and forgot about it until I got a few emails letting me know what was what. the seller had two copies, but I think they both got snapped up. i just checked again and there's another up at the same price from a different seller, so grab it if you want it.

overall, the price seems to have dropped, as there are a few BINs for under 20 bucks... of course, SOME sellers haven't got that message ($40.95? really?)

g.

[Jorpho]

ebay - I had a search set up for it a while back and forgot about it until I got a few emails letting me know what was what. the seller had two copies, but I think they both got snapped up. i just checked again and there's another up at the same price from a different seller, so grab it if you want it.

overall, the price seems to have dropped, as there are a few BINs for under 20 bucks... of course, SOME sellers haven't got that message ($40.95? really?)Wouldn't the cheaper ones be more likely to be bootlegs?

[geelw]

Wouldn't the cheaper ones be more likely to be bootlegs?

Most likely no in this case. Theresia isn't a "known" title (unlike Resident Evil Deadly Silence, where most of the eBay copies are bootlegs) and while Aksys (not Atlus, as at least one seller has it listed) did a small run of the game, it's entirely possible that some stores that ordered it never sold more than one or two copies since they initially got it. The guy I bought mine from seems to have picked his up at some closeout sale (meaning I probably paid a few bucks more than he did, but I'm OK with that).

Nevertheless, I'd ask the seller if you're unsure. There are a few Hong Kong sellers that deal in nothing but bootlegs (box, cart, manual all wrapped up like new) and I'm surprised ebay hasn't yanked them off the site (well, they are paying their fees on time). Of course, most of these guys have 100% feedback and repeat buyers in the US, but when I see a game that's just come out for $12 plus a reasonable shipping charge, I'm going to be suspicious. Theresia is an older, out of production game with no big reviews or hype, so the price dropping from US sellers looking to get rid of old stock makes sense.

g.

Anyway, If you're still unsure after asking the seller, I can post a pic of my copy when it arrives

[geelw]

Annnnnd here you go:

My new/sealed copy of Theresia arrived to-day (rather quickly, at that) - pics linked below (the front and back covers of the game, still sealed with another pic with the unsealed with box and its contents):

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2EC9h2dpa47FyRwh2gnb2Q?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2x-uTSab9yrWy9jwfNmWJQ?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2x-uTSab9yrWy9jwfNmWJQ?feat=directlink

It's an original, that's for sure.

g.

[Jorpho]

Hmm, Canadian version. Definitely an odd choice for an HK pirate. But where in Canada could it have come from? I've never seen it at Zellers or The Source, and last time I checked it was still darned expensive at EB.

Also, you duplicated your last two links there.

[geelw]

I dropped the seller a note aasking where he picked up the games (he had two up for auction) and he says he got them here in the US. Also, the copy of the game still sitting on the shelf at the Gamestop here ($34.99 for a beat up, sticker-covered opened box still being sold as "NEW") is the same version. Of course, other than the manual and back of the case having dual languages, there's nothing different about the game at all.

I'm guessing that the lower-priced copies of the game are indeed old stock that never moved and is getting pushed out the door. I'm thinking he saw them at a closeout outlet or some other dumping ground for bargains. Last time I was in PA, I dropped into an outlet that had a stack of sealed Wii and DS games for anywhere from $4.99 - $9.99

Again, Theresia might be "rare", but it's so unknown thanks to the sole printing and zero PR whatsoever that people who don't know what it is, won't buy it, nice cover art or not. No one is buying the game at EB, GS or anywhere it's selling over $20, so it's not as if someone who wants to get rid of a game that's not selling (no matter how "rare") won't want to just get it out the door at a reduced price.

That said (and switching companies), a few of Atlus' DS RPGs from last year and this year have been insanely inexpensive through a few sources. The Dark Spire has been five bucks for ages at GS, Rondo of Swords is about $10 or less, Knights in the Nightmare was inexpensive a few weeks back (the price has jumped a bit due to the holiday season) and I've seen GBA Rivieras go for around $20 complete.

Whoops on that link - I was sending out a few of them to other folks off this site asking to see scans (I told a few interested friends I was getting the game) so I accidentally pasted in that duplicate here and someone else got two pics of the third scan.

here you go:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YladNscfcl00QdvZBHFQPw?feat=directlink

[Jorpho]

here you go:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YladNscfcl00QdvZBHFQPw?feat=directlinkWell, the true mark of a bootleg would only be apparent from the back of the cart - but that's okay, I believe it.