Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past (Aksys do-over edition) - OUT NOW

Cao Cao

Cao Cao

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The recent Indy (March 2009) issue of Nintendo Power revealed that Aksys is going to try Jake Hunter again. This news was first mentioned a few days ago on GameFAQs, but I didn't see anything about it until GoNintendo linked to a NeoGAF conversation.

Essentially, Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past is what the first Jake Hunter US release should have been, a translation of the entire DS game. From what I gather of the GameFAQs post, it will contain:
-The latter three cases that were cut out of the first US release, including the two cases that were made specifically for the DS.
-The (~13) unlockables that were cut out of the US release.
-The three cases and 7 unlockables from the first US release; all of these cases will be re-written to get away from the dry, literal translation they originally used.

With that last point in mind, if you have a copy of the original Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles lying around, this will likely be your last chance to sell it or trade it in. I would imagine that this news, once it becomes more widespread, will effectively sap any resale/trade-in value that the original release has, as this new release will make it obsolete.

EDIT: Mejilan at NeoGAF posted the blurb from Nintendo Power:
A More Effective Detective
Jake Hunter returns to DS with all-new cases and enhanced old ones.
It's not often that a publisher is able to listen to customer feedback on a game that missed the mark and give it a second chance at success, but that's exactly what's happening with the adventures of Aksys Games' no-nonsense detective Jake Hunter. Scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2009, Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past features not only three new point-and-click crime-solving episodes (including one that lets you play as three characters with differing perspectives), but all three episodes from the game's 2008 predecessor, Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles. The three returning cases are just simple re-releases; they've received a completely new translation, which should provide the game world and its characters with some much-needed personality, atmosphere, and humor. "The original release of Jake Hunter was more of a straight translation, which left it sounding a little flat," says Memories of the Past editor Ben Bateman. "In the localization of Memories of the Past, we've made an effort to imbue Jake and company with a little more personality and flavor. We've taken the idea of an atmospheric noir detective story and run with it as best we can." In addition to all six full episodes, Jake Hunter Detective Story includes unlockable "Jake Hunter Unleashed!" chibi-style comics and other bonus content.
Click to expand...

It's now listed as In-Stock at Amazon
 
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Yeah, Axsys' first try was one of the most boring text adventures I've played, so they'll have to forgive me for not giving them a second chance. At the end, I was happy it was only half the game, because it meant I didn't have to play it anymore.
 
Wait, wait, whaaaat?

They cut cases from the US release? I had no idea and I was actually planning on getting that game soon.

Guess I'll just have to wait for the updated version then.
 
WTF? Assholes. I suppose it's nice they're making it right, but that pisses me off since I bought the other version (I knew stuff was omitted). Traded in after beating it though. It was like 3 hours long with nothing to do after beating it.
 
Man this is confusing.

So it's the original game, which is about ten cases, plus another 16 that were cut from it?
 
There were 3 cases in the original. The 7 "unlockables" aren't cases. I actually don't remember what they were. Pictures maybe?
 
[quote name='Strell']Man this is confusing.

So it's the original game, which is about ten cases, plus another 16 that were cut from it?[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I should have clarified that the unlockables were little password-unlocked trinkets. The US version only had 7 (Movie viewer, galleries, jukebox), while the original Japanese version had 20 (Staff comments, more image galleries, "Mini Case Extras"*).

The original US "Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles" release had:
-Three Cases (All were ported from cell-phone remakes of the first three Tantei Jinguuji Saburo Famicom games)
-Seven unlockables (Jukebox, image galleries)

The new "Jake Hunter Detective Story: MotP" release contains the same content as the Japanese version, "Tantei Jinguuji Saburo DS: Inishie no Kioku":
-Six Cases (Four are ported from cell phone remakes of the first four Famicom games, two are new for the DS)
-20 unlockables (Jukebox, galleries, MCEs, staff comments, etc.)
-(For the US release) The three cases that were in the first US release will have their dialogue re-written.

*I'm not 100% clear on what exactly these MCEs are, but it seems that five of them are in-game "comics" drawn in a more humorous style, judging by these images from the Japanese game. GameFAQs also lists two "Extra Story" unlockables, which are accessed outside the MCE menu, so I don't know if these two are short cases or more comics.
 
Memories of the future, of course. Jake Hunter, Time-Traveling Detective Story.

Didn't buy the original US release once it was universally panned...but I have slight interest in the retread.
 
It's set to release this week. Now it's in-stock at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Jake-Hunter-Detective-Story-Nintendo-DS/dp/B001URRGZO/

EDIT: I read the Nintendo Power Review, here's the gist of it from memory, as I don't have the actual magazine:
- Localization is much better than the first one.
- "The Writing is good, with hints of brilliance"
- Jake himself is still pretty emotionless though.
- The review writer praised the final case, as it is told from multiple viewpoints and ties the whole plotline together.
- Complained about the lack of game-overs in the main cases.
- Moving on to the "Jake Hunter Unleashed!" mini-cases...
-- Allows for characters to behave outside their elements, due to the comedic nature of these mini-cases.
-- You can get game-overs in the JLU mini-cases. Overall, The reviewer seemed to enjoy them.
6/10
 
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ack, i never even liked the original, i doubt adding in some cut out scenes would even make this worthy of a second look. not to mention now this makes my copy of Jake Hunter even more worthless since they are rereleasing a redo.
 
[quote name='JoeX111']Did this show up in any stores? GameStop doesn't list it, neither does Best Buy...[/QUOTE]

only seen it on Amazon which sucks as I want it but I don't want to order it online
 
[quote name='fart_bubble']only seen it on Amazon which sucks as I want it but I don't want to order it online[/QUOTE]

Same here. I've got $20 in GameStop credit I'd love to use on it.
 
Wonder where IGN got the idea that the game was $10 cheaper than most DS games. The original one was, but this new version seems to be $30 everywhere I see...
 
definitely seeing this game in the future being one of the rarer games for the DS.

But then again, with my luck, it will be a DOTD in the near future
 
After actually playing through the whole game this time, I got to be honest. It actually was not pure crap like the first one. I got lucky because apparently Gamestop right now does not have the new Jake Hunter in the system as a game listed and the only game that comes up for them is the original crap version, so I found a used one that was priced $9.99 used since it was marked as the original one and not the new one. Sweet deal to say the least.

The storyline was much easier to read through this time around since they fixed some of the grammatical problems they had in the first one, and the extra content gives the game the feel the episodes were not just bits and pieces from a cell phone download. The Unleashed Episodes were also a nice addition to the game. 5 episodes too, although very short, were probably more fun than the original Jake Hunter that had 3 crappy episodes that barely made sense at time with the badly translated dialogue. And not encouraging anyone to do it, but I got mine at Gamestop used for $9.99 since they don't have the sku for the new Jake Hunter, so keep an eye out next time if you're in a Gamestop. I won't say the game has fully redeemed itself, but its better than that god awful piece of crap from last year.
 
Yes, I also saw a $19.99 two-pack at a K-Mart that featured this game, though the other DS title was WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. (Master of the Monster Lair was also in a bundle, but it was with Super Dodgeball Brawlers). These K-Mart/Sears holiday bundles tend to be a good way to get store-exclusive titles for a lower price (Even lower if the bundle contains another good title).

So, this may be the only way to get Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past from a B&M store.
 
[quote name='Cao Cao']Yes, I also saw a $19.99 two-pack at a K-Mart that featured this game, though the other DS title was WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. (Master of the Monster Lair was also in a bundle, but it was with Super Dodgeball Brawlers). These K-Mart/Sears holiday bundles tend to be a good way to get store-exclusive titles for a lower price (Even lower if the bundle contains another good title).

So, this may be the only way to get Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past from a B&M store.[/QUOTE]

yeah, it was the only one like that. The other packs contained Jack Hunter came with Homies or the Smackdown VS Raw game you saw

Also picked up the Tornado & Boing! Docomodake and the Lux Pain & Galactrix 2 packs. Not a bad deal for $60 and change



Do wish there was a different game in with the Battle Fantasia 2 pack. Only saw it paired with a generic racing game
 
[quote name='soonersfan60']Has anyone actually found these at Sears? I've only seen the bundles at K-mart (and they didn't have Jake Hunter... :whistle2:( )[/QUOTE]

I saw one of the bundles at Sears, but I don't recall which game JH: Memories of the Past was bundled with.
 
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