The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story Review
Release Date: May 12, 2022
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (via Steam) (Reviewed)
Price: $49.99
Over the years I've grown to really appreciate FMVs as an art form more than a genre of video game. I say this due to the fact that, while you're playing a piece of media, inputting commands and the sort like you would a standard video game, FMVs have a sense for both film and games that (when done well) blur the line for what's possible in a motion picture, having the player or viewer sort of take the helm of writer/director/producer in real-time as one experiences a narrative, twisting and turning depending on the choices made that also allows for a large sense of replayability and immersion that can truly feel one of a kind.
As far as I know, Square Enix has never really published or developed a FMV title before (not sure how you would classify The Quiet Man, however), but after playing The Centennial Case all the way through and getting all achievements, I absolutely believe that they should entertain the idea more frequently in the future. Studios that come from great storytelling backgrounds like Square Enix has with Final Fantasy, Octopath, Bravely Default, etc., IzanagiGames with former devs behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape developing Death Come True, and, of course, Spike Chunsoft with 428 Shibuya Showdown (an odd but fascinating FMV/Visual Novel hybrid), Spirit Hunter, etc., have immense talent and really have been helping push the genre forward in more ways than one.
The Centennial Case is through and through an intriguing trek through time as period pieces play a part of a larger whole in the present day where murders have consistently taken place almost every decade for the last 100+ years to the Shijima family - a lineage of individuals who have had a long history of carrying a rare and somewhat forbidden fruit that's meant to make the person who consumes it become ageless (but not immortal). As the sequences play out, the player will eventually be led to a deduction mode where various hints, evidence, and key events throughout a scenario or chapter will be presented in hexagonal pieces where they must be placed accordingly to any associated topics, theories, and hypothesis, on a board. Thankfully, this isn't as cumbersome as it sounds as a lot of pieces will outright not click into certain areas the player feels inclined to place them in, instead going back to being held under an associated video or memory where the player can come back to later so as to not ruin the flow of the game. If for whatever reason it seems a bit problematic to find the next step into the deduction process, there is thankfully an aid system that charges over time and is influenced by how one has been doing up until that point, so it never feels too hand-hold-y and instead feels like a proper pick-me-up if you can't stop scratching your head. Admittedly, some tiles may feel vague, oddly worded, or can even be applied into a multitude of areas, so it certainly comes in handy and never really feels like a letdown or particularly punishing. Any true deduction in points from chapter to chapter or interrogation to interrogation typically happens when not being able to perform on the spot amidst the FMV-sequences, and this typically feels much more reasonable. What's awesome, however, is that a sequence was filmed for just about any and every situation the player may find themselves in, so very rarely do you see the same clip twice if you end up flubbing a heated conversation and need to start over.
Another big perk – and one you don't typically see in the FMV genre – is that The Centennial Case isn't just a quick "interact with a movie" type of game. No. This is a full-on 15-20+ hour AAA-esque experience that provides a substantial amount of film and game, and both the time and resources used from both a development standpoint and for the player is massively appreciated as every character feels fleshed out and well written, whether it may be in the ongoing present day or the various flashbacks therein. It is substantial what you're getting here, and while I still don't believe that, despite the content, it's still worth a $49.99 MSRP, it is absolutely worth the $20-25 it typically goes on sale for. When you think about it, a lot of 4K films sold on digital platforms such as VUDU, Apple TV, Microsoft Movies & TV, and the sort are typically sold for $19.99+ anyways, so getting a piece of software to that equivalent that is upward of 20 hours and can be played versus 90-180 minutes I'd say is more than reasonable. Plus, the achievements are quite satisfying to get. There aren't any achievements for watching Oppenheimer seven days in a row. Trust me, I've tried.
Overall, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a fantastic look into a genre that is frequently overlooked, and with a AAA budget and a reputable studio and publisher, I hope that The Centennial Case can help expose the genre's worth and appreciation more to the masses that would otherwise probably consider this "not a real game". Those with taste and a passion for the medium know that there are great games in just about every corner imaginable, and some of the best games and memories are the ones that surprise us when we go in with the notion of it not being particularly appealing to begin with due to an individual's tastes, and walking out going "wow, that was awesome". Hopefully The Centennial Case can be that game for most, because it's certainly worth the time invested to experience an extremely well-done and sophisticated murder mystery narrative.
PROS:
Great production quality that feels like a genuine hollywood film
The depth of the investigations should be commended in this format, as a multitude of different outcomes can occur with scenes, scenarios, and paths fully fleshed out for each.
The acting is mostly done well, with only a few moments feeling like a cartoon due to how goofy the overall performances are.
CONS:
Sometimes the placement of tiles during the deductions can be problematic, either flinging away or simply not making sense.