Saturday, December 24, 2022
Christmas
is here and it is the time to be jolly and mingle, but there is no
rest for the world of visual novels with some of the year's most
exciting releases. We have everything from a long awaited translation
from a major developer to a new studio's time travel release to a
courtroom filled the intelligent birds. Our medium is one which knows
how to keep surprising its players even as the year comes to a close.
Let’s open these glittering presents and see what is worth your
time this month.
Official Releases
Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue – EXTRA2
This
second Extra game for Aokana is a welcome expansion to the main
game’s narrative and this time focuses on the after story of
Misaki. It has arrived quite some time after the first Extra which
released in 2020 and this long gap is surprising given this is not
exactly a lengthy release but at long last we can return to this
sci-fi sports world. Extra 2 only contains the after story for Misaki
and as such there is nothing here for people looking for content about
other characters or new stories, this is all about concluding Misaki
and Masaya’s joint story and there is not much space for anything
else. Sometimes presenting a narrow vision of what a narrative wants to achieve
is for this best and this one of those times. Having more time to
spend with this endearing pair allows for a further strengthening of
the player’s bond with them and gives them a proper send off. A
definite pick up if you enjoyed Misaki’s route in the original
game.
Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 ~A maiden without the word impossible~
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Time Travel, Romance Play Time – 5 hours
Moesoft
is a new visual novel developer on the scene and Napoleon Maiden
marks their first release with a title set in French revolution.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room, every
historical figure featured in this game has been gender swapped if
they were originally male. The biggest example being the titular Napoleon who is
now a cute pink haired girl. To be fair to the game it does provide
the excuse that this is an alternative universe our protagonist has
been thrown into, but this will be a big turn off for many people who
have grown tired of this trope. If you are not one of these people
then you are in for an interesting time with this title as it offers
up its own takes on these important people within French History.
While this is the first part of the overall narrative and thus
relatively slow paced, there is the beginnings of an intriguing plot
and an adorable blossoming romance which makes this game worth your
time.
Witch on the Holy Night
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Fantasy, Action, 80’s Play Time – 30 hours
Many
including myself had long given up on ever seeing an official release
of Witch on the Holy Night with an English translation. Type Moon has
for, some unknown reason, shown no interest in providing proper
avenues for English speaking fans to purchase their games. For
whatever reason, Witch on the Holy Night has become an exception to
that rule and what a glorious one it is as we step back into the
tightly crafted, and thankfully servant free, creases of Nasu’s
mind. This magically tale follows Shizuki Soujuurou as he finds
himself drawn into the lives of two mages, Aozaki Aoko and Kuonji
Alice, and the strangeness contained in their everyday
existence. Enhancing this journey is the choice to set the game in
the 80’s which gives the whole experience a loosely historical
feeling as well as cleverly sidestepping any narrative problems
modern technology could introduce. Overall this is one of the biggest
releases of the year and you should play it if you have any interest
in Type Moon’s work.
Otome * Domain
There
is a strangely prolific sub-genre within visual novels where a male
protagonist is forced to crossdress and attend an all girls school.
Otome * Domain is the latest release in this sub-genre and commits to
this specific fantasy with a warm and comfortable atmosphere which
has a strong emotional core for each character. While this title does
not step too far away from the standard structure expected of a romance
visual novel, it manages to stand out through the way in it flips the
gender role expectations to create a strong set of comic
interactions. Our protagonist often exhibits more feminine traits
than the entire female cast and this juxtaposition works wonders for
making the characters feel alive, as they show themselves to be more
than what they at first appear. A solid visual novel and something
you should consider picking up if this sub-genre appeals to you.
Aviary Attorney
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Parody, Courtroom Drama Play Time – 7 hours
Birds,
why is it always birds? Between this and Hatoful Boyfriend, why do
western developers seem obsessed with turning popular visual novel
genres into bird versions? Anyway, here is Aviary Attorney, the bird
infested version of the Ace Attorney style court room game. If it
weren’t obvious this is a parody title taking the elements which
form the genre and pointing out their absurdity by making them even
more over the top. It thrives in this comedy environment, pulling off
some impressive jokes and demonstrating how well the developers
understand the games they are using as their basis. This does mean
that if you have not played normal titles from this genre which this title is
referencing a lot of the entertainment value will be lost on you.
Aviary Attorney is a niche product but if you are its target audience
then you are in for a parody gem.
