The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story

The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a fascinating, tightly-plotted mystery. Each chapter has its own interesting case to unravel, and the way everything ties into the overarching story makes it even better. Tiny clues are hidden in clever ways to only become apparent once you begin connecting the pieces together. Just make sure you don’t overlook the epilogue, which becomes available from the title screen after you finish the final chapter. By the time I reached the end, I was impressed by the mystery and the story it told. I wouldn’t mind seeing more games in a similar vein from this team...

The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story follows the adventures of Haruka Kagami, the author of a series of mystery novels. From the get-go, her know-how in this space is immediately required and put to the test. She, along with her editor, is tasked by an ex-collaborator named Eiji to investigate a number of things including an elusive fruit known to provide the effects of agelessness, the unearthed skeletal remains that lie under a cherry blossom tree, and a century-long mystery surrounding the...

You have to hand it to Square Enix. After the terrible reception The Quiet Man got, you’d think it would stay away from FMV games. Well, it did the opposite and published The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story from game studio h.a.n.d. However, even more surprising than the fact that Square Enix rolled the dice again on what is essentially a dead (other than a few notable instances) genre is that it’s actually rather good.

This high-budget FMV Japanese mystery adventure is an exceptional game in almost every way, but its tedious "gameplay" sections are its largest Achilles' heel.

The gorgeous orchestral soundtrack also deserves special mention, consistently elevating the emotion of scenes. What’s even more impressive about the music is that it’s often tailored to each time period. For example, one chapter revolves around a club in the 1970s that prominently features a singer. The music of this time period seamlessly changes to fit that idea, then seamlessly changes back. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if The Centennial Case’s soundtrack ends up in discussions for the best of the year.

FMV games are in the midst of a resurgence. Titles such as Her Story and The Bunker have helped to reinvigorate the genre and as a result, we have had a slew of releases that tell unique stories. Although amassing a cult following in the west, there aren’t many examples from the east. The Centennial Case: A Shijma Story aims to change that with a narrative steeped in its culture, but will it resonate with a worldwide audience?

An enjoyable blend of TV drama and murder mystery gameplay is the perfect motive to play.

The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is an exceptional grouping of semi-connected detective stories. Experiencing a whodunnit while marginally helping piece the mystery together was a great combination. While much of the investigations are too guided, getting to watch the suspects react as you place down piece after piece of evidence is completely worth it. The game never works better than it does when you just get to sit back and enjoy watching the story unfold.

Full-motion video (FMV) games have a notoriously unfavorable history. There’s a long list of terrible FMV games, such as Night Trap and the legendarily awful Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties, among countless others. It’s very rare to come across a successful FMV game, with Dragon’s Lair, The 7th Guest, and Her Story being notable exceptions. Others make a commendable effort, but still miss the mark, such Telling Lies and Late Shift. I was curious about what The Centennial Case: A Shijima Stor...

While The Centennial Case has an interesting story to tell—and it's quite an enjoyable story at that—it's better told in a different medium. As a game, it struggles to balance the narrative with gameplay. Because it hands players the solutions, it then has to butcher reasonable logic or outright lie to prevent them from stampeding through each case. Had it just been a TV show, the red herrings could've been used as diversions that the protagonist cleverly dispels to find the truth. Instead, The Centennial Case feels like a TV show providing pop quizzes with only wrong answers.

The game gave you more horrors in your real-life experience than in your nightmares.