The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story

 Switch
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: The complex and interwoven mysteries you’ll unravel in this investigative adventure are centered around the ill-fated Shijima family, which has suffered a series of inexplicable deaths over the last century. As Haruka Kagami, it’s up to you to use your powers of deduction to uncover theThe complex and interwoven mysteries you’ll unravel in this investigative adventure are centered around the ill-fated Shijima family, which has suffered a series of inexplicable deaths over the last century. As Haruka Kagami, it’s up to you to use your powers of deduction to uncover the truth behind these mysterious events and the ‘Fruit of Youth’ that allegedly lies somewhere in the Shijima Mansion. You’ll explore both the past and the present in four murder cases, set across different eras of Japan. Of course, unravelling this intricate web of secrets won’t be straightforward. You’ll have to have your wits about you as you uncover clues, speak to suspects, and put all the pieces of the puzzle together to form a hypothesis. Not everyone you speak to will be cooperative, so be ready to counter their arguments when you present your case. And don’t worry if your detective skills are a little rusty - the game is designed in such a way that you’ll be able to reach the correct answer if you don’t give up. [Square Enix]… Expand

Critic Reviews

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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. 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.
  3. Game Informer
    May 24, 2022
    80
    Not many games are built like The Centennial Case, and I enjoyed the ambition behind trying something different to tell a complex story and involve the player in piecing it together. It gave me the feeling of reading a great mystery novel, where your head is spinning with possibilities, but the interactivity and structure allow you to better understand the clues and what they all mean. Sometimes The Centennial Case stumbles, but it’s worth enduring for the wild ride it puts you on and the broader questions it poses about what’s ethical in the world of science.
  4. Nintenduo
    May 16, 2022
    75
    The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a highly original proposal with a remarkable presentation and a masterful soundtrack. Therefore, it is a pity that its gameplay does not know how to live up to it.
  5. NintendoWorldReport
    May 19, 2022
    75
    Overall, The Centennial Case is probably not going to knock anybody’s socks off, but it is at the very least an interesting mystery filled with enjoyable characters that is worth a few afternoons of an aspiring detective’s time. It may not be up to the standards of a big budget theatrical production, but the actors feel competent and the musical score adds an air of drama that makes it hard not to get sucked in at times. If you find yourself with a craving for a relatively simple set of mysteries to walk through and solve, this is likely a game to keep your eye on for a rainy day.
  6. 4Players.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.
  7. 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.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  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 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.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best Switch Game of 2022

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