Characters: Hyde's Connections
The characters are the most interesting aspect of Hotel Dusk, besides maybe the hotel itself. Each person Hyde meets during his stay is a fully fleshed-out individual with their own hopes, fears, and interesting past that has informed who they are.
Kyle Hyde is our intrepid and sarcastic protagonist. An ex-cop turned salesman, Hyde's specialty is finding items that are deliberately hidden. He's desperate to find one thing in particular, though: his old partner on the force, Brian Bradley. Hyde uncovers the secrets of Hotel Dusk and its connections to Bradley through wit and elbow grease. In other words, he's pushy, and that's usually how he gets his way.
Brian Bradley is Hyde's ex-partner from their time in the NYPD. He became entangled in a crime syndicate he was investigating called Nile, which resulted in Hyde shooting him three years prior to the start of the game at the docks of the Hudson River. He's still alive and on the run, and Hyde is searching for him -- and for answers.
Ed Vincent is Hyde's new boss at Red Crown, a door-to-door sales company that doubles as an operation to find things that are deliberately kept hidden. Vincent was friends with Hyde's late father, and he gave Hyde his new gig after he left the NYPD. He checks in with Hyde over the phone during the investigation at Hotel Dusk.
Rachel is Vincent's secretary and a close friend of Hyde's. She also checks in with Hyde over the phone, and the two flirt a bit. Rachel is Hyde's go-to if he has a question about the case or needs something researched. She's sharp and resourceful.
Dunning Smith is the manager of Hotel Dusk and the first person Hyde meets upon arrival. He's a gruff but caring guy who takes pains to make the hotel welcoming and accomodating for people, even going so far as to give the rooms cutesy names. A former artist, he's decorated the hotel with various paintings, and he has a bit of a dark past, as Hyde discovers. Dunning means well but doesn't always make the best decisions.
Rosa Fox serves as the hotel's maid and cook. She's a good resource for gaining information on other characters as she loves to talk, and she has a warm, open personality. She's curious about people, a great cook, and a motherly figure for some of the guests.
Louis DeNonno is Hotel Dusk's bellhop, but he's not always great at his job. Hyde quickly recognizes him as a pickpocket from New York City, and the two become close friends throughout the course of the game, with Louis often doing favors for Hyde around the hotel to help with his snooping investigation. Louis is friendly and often serves as the game's comic relief.
More coming soon...