Sunday, January 1, 2023
Another
year has come to an end and we can now look back on all that has been
achieved with wonder. 2022 was packed full of excellent releases,
from both big names and small indies, which helped grow the medium to
new audiences. The community has also been given a new injection of
life through the revival of old influences and the preservation of
existing ones. It has been a year filled with so many moments which
remind me why I love visual novels so much. Let me take you on a
journey through the highlights of this amazing year, both for those who make visual novels and those who play them.
Important Events
Community Comes Together To Help VN Game Den
It
was on 7th September that VN Game Den announced on their
Twitter they would be shutting down due to their attempts to obtain
support on Patreon/KoFi being unsuccessful. VN Game Den is a site which run by developers within
the medium and provides information, interviews and news about the
indie titles and Kickstarters which deserve their turn in the
spotlight. They serve an important function by giving these titles
some exposure and showing the community the innovation taking place
in these small games. However, this niche does not have the same
popularity as the more main stream big visual novel releases and as
such their supporters were always a small group. When the news of VN
Game Den’s impending shut down became more widely known there was a
ground swell of support for them. Utilising this momentum they were
successfully about to raising the necessary funds to keep going and
make others aware of their work. Here is to hoping that they never
run into same problems again.
Revival of Fuwanovel
From
a story about a site avoiding death to one which has been given an injection of life after being dominant. Fuwanovel
is site consisting of two sides, the
blog, review and news site and the forums. In the past it was once a
hub for the community, but the march of time has not been kind to it
and the focus of attention had shifted away. However, those
in charge of the site decided they would try and revitalise it
through exposing it to as many new people as possible. It was
presented as Fuwanovel getting back on its feet and has included the
resuming of many key activities on the site, such as the VNTS posts,
reviews and thought pieces. I have also been drawn into its orbit and
now upload condensed versions of my articles and reviews in the
forums. Overall, this initiative seems to be a success and it will be
interesting to see what Fuwanovel will do next.
Sunrider 4 Announcement
Sunrider
4: The Captain's Return
announced!!! Alright, this is not really a year defining event in the
grand scheme of things, but it is to me and this is my blog so I’m
going to make you all aware of it whether you like it or not. It is
hard to believe the previous game, Liberation Day, came out in
2016, this is a long time to have to wait for a continuation after
that world shattering ending. What has been shown off
about Sunrider 4 does look like it was worth the wait. The battle
system appears to have undergone a complete overhaul which it
definitely needed as you could feel the existing system creaking
under the strain of the increasingly complicated scenarios. On top of
this the new art is some of the best the developers have ever done and it has
come a long way from the basic style of the first game. Even with
what little has been shown it looks to be an exciting title and with
a release date set for 2023 the new year looks brighter already.
Interesting Visual Novels from Game Jams -
Another
year, another selection of Game Jams and another set of excellent
visual novels showcasing the more experimental side of the medium.
In order to make more people aware of the brilliant titles from these
events, this section will cover some of the more eye-catching games
from three of the year's notable Jams.
NaNoReno 2022
TEISATSU
– Everything about this game exudes fun. From being suddenly
recruited as a spy to the snappy character designs. TEISATSU knows it
is silly and just runs with it.
The Five Steps To Ensuring Momo Graduates Successfully!!!
– Sometimes you just want something simple, bright and colourful
and this game presents those things before pulling the rug out from
under you. The pastel colours hide a more substantial interior. Read
the warnings kids because I did not.
Pierced Veil / Distant Firmament
– Okay, I’ll be honest this was my submission to the Game Jam but
I do truly believe it is worth your time if you are in the right
mood. It is wistful tale about having a drink in a stylish bar as you
wait for the world to end and considering the importance of each
moment of our lives.
Otome Jam 2022
Diffraction
– This demo showcases an otome which emphasises photography as its
core narrative thread and coupled with a strong art style and some
fun banter leaves you wanting more.
ERROR143
– A hot snarky guy and hacking? Sign me up. This game leans heavily into
the hacking angle with its aesthetics and the complete focus on one
guy ends up allowing for him to gain a defined character even in the
short playtime.
SuNoFes 2022
Is it Wrong to Want to be Locked Up, Toyed With, and Tortured By a Hot Guy?!
– Yandere, comedy and BL are unusual bedfellows but here it is
surprising how well they merge together here for a short and
hilarious visual novel. This is very much a one trick pony and it
knows that with its exceptionally short length which works in its
favour.
Pitstop in Purgatory
– Having Purgatory and amnesia in the same story is not exactly an
original idea and there are certainly a few of the expected tropes of
this genre in this game. However, the execution is outstanding with an engaging
point and click element with vivid imagery that elevates it beyond
many of its peers.
Selection Of The Best Visual Novel Releases -
Choosing
which visual novels to put on this list was a hard task since this
year has been jam packed with amazing titles. In the end the games on
this list are all unique and interesting in some way while offering
coherent and complete narratives. So here are the six visual novels
which deserve your attention.
Chaos Head Noah (Steam)
There
are few titles which can simultaneously claim to have started a major
visual novel series while also seeming like it would never get an
English release, despite all its successors receiving the treatment.
2022 finally brought the wait to an end and we were given a chance
to officially experience this mind bending tale of paranoia and
mystery. Occupying the mind of Nishijou Takumi is a distinctive and
memorable experience even with all the time that has passed since the
games original release and the countless similar characters who have
appeared since. He is this strange mix of sympathetic and self
destructive and is a person who on paper should not be compelling but
in practice ends up stealing the show. Obviously this is helped along
by the engaging narrative and the additions of Noah go a long way to
help solve the issues of the original game. This is a must experience
game for anyone interested in visual novels and the types of stories
it can tell.
Witch On The Holy Night (Nintendo Eshop)
A Type Moon visual novel with an official English release, this
is one event which seemed like a pipe dream but here we are with
Witch On The Holy Night. Set in tail end of the Showa era it follows
the life of Shizuki Soujuurou as he finds himself mingling in the
mysterious and dangerous world of magic thanks to two exceptional
women. While this is not the longest Type Moon game what is here is
focused and spends its time well with the cast carrying the overall
narrative. Hopefully the success of this release will encourage Type
Moon to release their other works in English or at least allow a
third party to translate them.
All Ashes And Illusions (Steam)
There is something strangely powerful about this visual novel's
story and its the ability to stay with you long after its conclusion.
This is a story about one man’s extremely unhealthy obsession with
his nursemaid and the consequences that stem from it. Having a
relationship with an unbalanced power dynamic be explored in a
serious fashion makes for an engaging and morbidly fascinating train
crash to watch unfold. All Ashes And Illusions may make you feel
uncomfortable at times but this is all in service of one the years
strongest games in terms of themes and ideas.
Deus Machina Demonbane: Roar Of The Machine God (Patch Download)
Nitro+’s excellent lovecraftian mecha visual novel has already
had a fan translation but it was for a release of the game which was
showing its age. Roar Of The Machine God gives it a much needed face
lift by providing higher resolutions, full voice acting and
additional CGs. This new lick of paint makes the game more accessible
to a wider audience, helping them discover this classic visual
novel. There is something special about its unique mix of over the
top mecha action and its strange interest in the twisted world it
invokes which as many people as possible own it themselves to play in
its new glory.
Hello Lady! (Steam)
Despite releasing at the beginning of a very crowded year, Hello
Lady still stands out as one of the most thoughtful and enjoyable
games released. Its blending of supernatural action with a tale of
revenge and ideas about what it means to be noble creates a package
which keeps you on the edge of your seat while still managing to
demand a deeper examination. This is by no means a perfect game with
issues ranging from pacing to a confusing choice system, but Hello
Lady has the most heart and vision of any title on this list and it
is the sense of purpose that provides the compulsion to keep playing.
If there is one visual novel on this list you should play when you
want something with a soul then Hello Lady is definitely it.
Renai X Royale (Steam)
Let’s end the year with laughter and a comedy game which ramps up
the silliness to new heights. Renai X Royale takes the absurd idea of
love battle royale and puts it into the most mundane and low stakes
environment possible for maximum comic effect. The result is one of
the consistently funny games of the year with its creative take on
the slice of life genre and the trappings of romance. While its jokes
may not always land the fun characters more than make up for it by
also telling some truly heart warming tales of their personal
struggles. This is the cream of the crop when it comes to feel good
visual novels this year and an example of how to get the most out of
your premise.
Things To Look Out For Next Year
Anonymous;Code
Anonymous;Code is the upcoming new
entry in the Science Adventure Series and the first none sequel game
for quite some time. Rather than being set in the present day, the
game takes place in the near future of 2036 and plays up the hacker
sci-fi genre for its driving imagery and loose themes. Given the
pedigree of the series it is a part of there is a certain
expectation of quality. Even at its lowest points the Science
Adventure Series games have been above many of their peers, so Anonymous;Code
should be viewed with a certain degree of excitement.
DRACU-RIOT!
This is yet anther visual novel which seems to be stuck in release
limbo and even the publishers claim that it will be released in 2023
must be treated with some suspicion given how long it has taken to get here.
However, DRACU-RIOT is an older Yuzusoft game which I have hopes of
being the title that finally achieves the potential I see in every
one of their other games. It appears to have a good mix of the serious
vampire side and the slice of life elements to the point where
neither are actively rubbing against one another. Let’s hope it
really does come out this year so we can see if it lives up to my
assessment of it.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
Drink serving as a gameplay aspect was introduced by VA-11 Hall-A
and has since spawned its own genre. One of the most notable of these
games was the original Coffee Talk which doubled down on the character
story element of the genre and ran with it to great success. Hibiscus
& Butterfly is the direct sequel to that game and appears to
continue its predecessor work with seemly identical mechanics and
narrative structures. Of course this is not a bad thing as the
original was an inherently flexible framework to tell a wide variety
of stories and it will be interesting to see what the developers have
brewed up this time.
