Nine Hours Nine Persons Nine Doors (or 999) is a unique game for the Nintendo DS that's difficult to slot into a particular genre. It's best described as a combination between a survival horror game and an interactive novel.
999, therefore, is not for everyone. It's extremely text-heavy, violent, and requires multiple play-throughs to unravel its complex story. But older gamers who love the investigative Phoenix Wright games and the brooding atmosphere of Hotel Dusk: Room 215 will want to book this cruise.
Developer: Chunsoft
Publisher:Aksys Games
Genre: Survival horror/Interactive novel/Puzzle
ESRB Rating: M
999, therefore, is not for everyone. It's extremely text-heavy, violent, and requires multiple play-throughs to unravel its complex story. But older gamers who love the investigative Phoenix Wright games and the brooding atmosphere of Hotel Dusk: Room 215 will want to book this cruise.
Developer: Chunsoft
Publisher:Aksys Games
Genre: Survival horror/Interactive novel/Puzzle
ESRB Rating: M
THE BASICS: Love Boat Gone Bad
You play through 999 as Junpei, a college student who is abducted and placed aboard a decrepit passenger liner with eight other unwilling contestants in a "Nonary Game." The game involves working together to solve a number of puzzles. Failure can prove deadly.
In fact, it often is deadly. The idea is to play 999 several times over and make different decisions in order to work your way to the game's one "True" ending. 999 is uniquely tooled to ensure that subsequent playthroughs are rapid, thereby letting you work quickly through the game with minimal repetition. Every time you play through the game, characters reveal a little more about themselves, and an intriguing network is soon woven between the contestants.
Playing 999 primarily involves a lot of reading, and a lot of puzzle-solving. The characters often find themselves in eerie rooms that require them to "seek a way out." By using the stylus, you investigate your surroundings and nose around for answers to your predicament.
In fact, it often is deadly. The idea is to play 999 several times over and make different decisions in order to work your way to the game's one "True" ending. 999 is uniquely tooled to ensure that subsequent playthroughs are rapid, thereby letting you work quickly through the game with minimal repetition. Every time you play through the game, characters reveal a little more about themselves, and an intriguing network is soon woven between the contestants.
Playing 999 primarily involves a lot of reading, and a lot of puzzle-solving. The characters often find themselves in eerie rooms that require them to "seek a way out." By using the stylus, you investigate your surroundings and nose around for answers to your predicament.
PROS
It's Unique - Interactive novels on the Nintendo DS aren't a new thing, but the way 999 unfurls its story as you replay it sets the game apart. Each time you play, you notice little things and story points that slipped you by on your previous play-throughs.
It's Involving - Once you get wrapped up in 999's story, you're compelled to keep on playing until the last loose end is tied up.
Nothing is As it Seems - Just when you think you have the story figured out, or have nailed down the traits and motives of a certain character, 999 throws another twist at you.
It's Involving - Once you get wrapped up in 999's story, you're compelled to keep on playing until the last loose end is tied up.
Nothing is As it Seems - Just when you think you have the story figured out, or have nailed down the traits and motives of a certain character, 999 throws another twist at you.
CONS
It's Still a Bit Repetitive - 999 was designed to make subsequent playthroughs as quick as possible, but you'll still find yourself repeating certain puzzles over and over again.
The Text Speed is Difficult to Control - When you finish 999 for the first time, you can speed through text you've already read. But text you haven't read before scrolls across the screen rather slowly, and you can't control its speed.
It's Wordy - Sure, 999 is a novel. It's meant to be wordier than other games. But the game's "narrator" often repeats points and phrases previously made by the characters. The text in general can use a bit of tightening here and there, as there is a handful of typos and grammar errors.
The Text Speed is Difficult to Control - When you finish 999 for the first time, you can speed through text you've already read. But text you haven't read before scrolls across the screen rather slowly, and you can't control its speed.
It's Wordy - Sure, 999 is a novel. It's meant to be wordier than other games. But the game's "narrator" often repeats points and phrases previously made by the characters. The text in general can use a bit of tightening here and there, as there is a handful of typos and grammar errors.
CONCLUSION: Sink or Swim
Again, 999 won't engage every person who picks it up. It caters to a pretty small niche of gamers who like long, lengthy character discussions and dialogue laced with intrigue. If you are a part of that niche, 999 is undoubtedly one of the most interesting games you'll ever play on the Nintendo DS.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
