The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story

 Switch
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. 4P.de
    May 25, 2022
    72
    Original crime epic that gambles away its potential as an interactive detective adventure with unnecessarily flat and extended puzzle marathons.
  2. Nintendo Life
    May 21, 2022
    70
    The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is more like watching a campy murder-mystery drama than playing a video game, and what gameplay there is often kills the story’s pace. While we enjoyed our time with it all the same, you’ll have to ask yourself how interested you are in watching what amounts to a decent Japanese TV series with mediocre interactivity. For us, we won’t let another FMV murder-mystery developed by Square Enix escape our notice again, though we certainly hope they rework how we uncover the culprits.
  3. Malditos Nerds
    Jun 3, 2022
    65
    The story is extremely engaging: therefore, as an interactive movie, it's a good one. As a video game, there are thousands of them that have applied gameplay elements to great stories in a better way.

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best Switch Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 2 out of 5
  1. Fuligginoso
    Apr 1, 2023
    7
    It comes very close to being brilliant, and played alongside a friend or partner it's great fun. But there are three really big problems withIt comes very close to being brilliant, and played alongside a friend or partner it's great fun. But there are three really big problems with it.

    Firstly - the game contains four murder mysteries, played over six chapters, and the quality is extremely variable. The first one is a real tour de force, with the important point hiding in plain sight, a real head-smacker when you work out what's going on, and consequently whodunnit. But this kind of game only feels satisfying when the right answer is the only possible one, and in all the other murders there is at least one alternative interpretation. It's fun but a bit frustrating. And the gameplay aspect of it sometimes bears no relation at all to the actual answer.

    Secondly - it feels as if they've tried to be too clever. The game leads up to a finale that is supposed to be rousing but relies on a frankly ludicrous fact about the character of the murderer which the player is supposed to infer from totally flimsy evidence. So while it's an interesting film, the implication that I'm supposed to have worked out the answer spoils it. The detective goes "there's only one possible answer", and she couldn't be more wrong. I could think of at least three others.

    Finally - and I'm amazed no-one else has mentioned this - the text is far too small on the screen, and there is no way of magnifying it. There's a lot of leaning forwards and squinting, even with a large screen, or bringing the console to within a few inches of your face. You can of course play the game using the (very) American dubbing, but the acting is at best hammy, at worst terrible.

    But they've set themselves a huge task with this game, and it's testament to the engaging plot and generally high production values that my partner and I still enjoyed playing it. The £40 full asking price is far too steep though - we waited for it to be half price, which feels about right. I'm hoping for a sequel which is more carefully scripted and where the gameplay is more relevant to the solutions.    … Full Review »
  2. pikajabin
    Oct 14, 2022
    7
    Wonderful plot, but the gameplay is too boring, and the finale is wonderful
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