The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story

 Switch
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

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  1. pikajabin
    Oct 14, 2022
    7
    Wonderful plot, but the gameplay is too boring, and the finale is wonderful
  2. 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 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    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 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.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best Switch Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Jun 28, 2022
    90
    If you're a fan of mysteries in any media, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is absolutely worth your time. Its gameplay is engaging. Its presentation is engrossing. And I hope I've made enough of a case for it here for you to want to try it out! [Issue #60 – July/August 2022, p. 25]
  2. 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.
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  3. Checkpoint Gaming
    May 29, 2022
    85
    The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a great game hurt only by its length and occasionally convoluted mystery mechanics. I’ve been around the block and then some with the FMV genre. This particular experience has certainly climbed up there in the ranks for me. With ambition and potential reached avidly, this is frankly a type of foray I haven’t played before. Provided are mesmerising set and costume designs, along with excellent character working and acting. Topping it all off is an enticing mystery and gorgeous cinematography to immerse you further. This is one for the books and a case worth investigating indeed.
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