Sunday, March 26, 2023
With
cold winter months now behind us, we are fast approaching the
warmer days of spring and visual novels are here to help tide us over
the finishing line. March has been a bumper month when it comes to
the variety of different genres covered by new releases. We have the
standard slice of life content, but there has been a good deal of
comedy games with interesting twists on their premises and titles
that aim to be thoughtful or present a greater theme. Having
such a wide suite of options can be overwhelming so I have made sure
to include the best representatives from the pile. Let’s awake from
hibernation and see what the world of visual novels has to offer.
Official Releases
Norn9: Var Commons
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre – Otome, Sci-fi Play
Time – 50 hours
While this is not the first time
Norn9 has been released in English, the title finding its way to the
Switch is a cause for celebration since the last time it saw the
light of day was in 2015 on the PSVita. Norn9 distinguishes itself
from its Otome peers by have three separate protagonists,
each with their own set of three romances and the story is told
through how these characters form an intertwining web of
relationships. It is impressive how well the story can juggle this
many characters without any of them feeling half baked. They all
bring something to the table that reflects onto their respective
heroine and the overall cast and plot in some truly emotive and
profound ways. The mystery of the Norn9 and the people who live
within it gives the character threads a strong basis upon which to
grow and helps form the core identity of the game. This is definitely
a game every otome fan should try and might even convert a few people
if they give it a chance to shine.
Slobbish Dragon Princess 3
This month’s comfort food comes
in the form of the third Slobbish Dragon Princess game. There is not
an original bone in this visual novel’s body, but that is precisely
why it is appealing. It offers a short and satisfying experience,
perfect for a bit of light evening entertainment when you do not want
to play a complicated game. It continues the story of our NEET
protagonist and his misadventures with a group of dragon girls who pull
him in directions that are becoming increasingly absurd. Slobbish
Dragon Princess is a title which lives and dies on its humour and it
is a good thing then that each situation our protagonist is thrown
into play up the characters in a genuinely funny manner. If you are
looking for a visual novel to relax to this month then you cannot go
wrong with this simple but heart-warming title.
Tokyo NECRO
When it comes to interesting and
engaging games that push the type of stories that can be told to new
limits, there are few developers more willing to do so than Nitro+.
Tokyo NECRO continues this trend with a world in an ice age and the
dead rising to haunt the living. The story revolves around the
hunting down of necromancers, the people responsible for bring the
dead back in unholy forms, and the game is always sure to play up
these encounters for all the action value they can offer without
undercutting the core messages of the scenes. This achieves a nice
balance of accessibility since the game presents its more complicated
ideas through the lens of easy to understand action to prevent the
player from becoming bored. It also does not shy away from the darker
aspects of the themes it touches upon and this helps solidify its
distinctive identity. Looking for a game to really sink your teeth
into then you cannot go wrong with Tokyo NECRO. Just remember that
like many of Nitro+’s other games this one is also strangely horny
all the time (even without the 18+ content) so keep that in mind.
Disaster Detective Saiga: An Indescribable Mystery
Now from something completely
different, an absurd comedy that really puts its protagonist through
the wringer all in the name of making you laugh. Saiga Tendo is
perhaps the most unlucky protagonist in any visual novel as the
shadow of an evil god has fallen over his town and he is the least
suitable person to confront it. However, his very weakness might end
up saving him as his misfortune is his greatest weapon. This is a
game which is tongue and cheek with its plot and characters and, while
not entirely undermining its own narrative tension, likes to play
with expectations to get you to smile. Are you in the mood for a
humorous tale of insanity? Then Disaster Detective Saiga: An
Indescribable Mystery has you covered.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
If there is one title on this
list that exceeded all expectation which were placed upon it then
there is no better candidate than Paranormasight. This mashing
together of mystery, supernatural and a game of wits should not work,
but the result is compelling in the way only a unique blend of genres
can be. It follows a narrative formed from the perspectives of
multiple protagonists as the grapple with the Seven Mysteries
of Honjo and end up finding far more than the bargained for. Their
competing motivations make for some strong character interplay and
ensure that the balance of power never remains static for long.
Curses also play a major role in the story and are well utilised to
get the characters into interesting and tense situations through
which they have to show their true colours. A game for someone
looking for something a bit off the beaten path and willing to try
what might on the surface seem like a messy combination.
Fan Translation
Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino
Patch Download VNDB Genre – Mystery, Supernatural Play Time – 20 hours
Our only fan translation this
month offers a supernatural tale of Japanese folklore and monsters
backed up by a series of well constructed mysteries. Following the
carefree Yue, the story focuses on his encounters with a variety of
colourful individuals as he ventures beyond the confines of the
shrine he has lived his life within. It is impressive how Akaya
Akashiya Ayakashino can keep a sense of tension even though much of
the narrative does not openly have high stakes. This is done through
the smart leveraging of the unknown which permeates every part of the
world and it becomes clear very quickly that many of the characters
you meet know things the protagonist does not and it is never quite
clear if this is for a good reason or they mean him ill. The amazing
visual novels that receive fan translations never cease to be one of
the best sources of good games and this is a strong example of why.
