Sunday, May 28, 2023
As
the rising summer heat brings this month to a close, the visual novel
sphere has been on fire with an array of excellent releases that
showcase the best the medium can offer. We have romances from yuri to
yaoi with a dash of otome for good measure and they accompany a
selection of mystery and drama stories that have a bit of something
for everyone in them. So without further ado let’s dive into the
list of the best visual novels of the month.
Official Releases
Akai Ito & Aoishiro HD REMASTER
This
pair of yuri mystery visual novels have received a much deserved HD
remaster as well as their first official English releases. These
games focus around a series of fantasy mysteries that specialise in
building up an atmosphere of disquiet and distrust as the player and
the protagonist struggle to find a way out this maze of actions and
consequences. The yuri element is integrated into this mixture with
grace as the game puts the longing of yuri to good use by placing
that desire to bond against the fear of what the other person could be hiding and
asks the characters to overcome it. Through the contrast of these
emotions the games leverages the players investment in each half of
the experience to boost the engagement with the other. Serve all this
with a good helping of bad endings and the result is two games that
have stood the test of time as definitive yuri titles.
All Idleness and Ephemera
Ebi-hime
is at it again producing an excellent romance visual novel.
This time she has chosen to go to the opposite end of the homosexual
spectrum then where she normally writes with a yaoi narrative core.
An alternative version of her other middle eastern styled work, All
Ashes And Illusions, this game takes those strong characters in a
new and interesting direction present in decidedly more sensual
terms. In re-framing the emotions and ideas of the previous game is
an effective method of engaging the player and seeing another side of
Yuel fulfils this purpose with flying colours as his struggle to
understand the new found feelings inside him makes his other actions
take on a new light. Its short length also helps sell this title as a
supplementary experience to the original game and you should pick it
up if you enjoyed that game or are looking for an spicy yaoi tale.
Tamayura Mirai
There
is always at least one good slice of life title and month and for May
this slot goes to Tamayura Mirai which with its magic and monsters adds
some much needed danger to the genre. It follows the tale of Yohane
Mutsuki a sorcerer tasked with maintaining the peace in a town where
people live alongside a plethora of supernatural creatures. As you
can imagine this leads to a lot of tension and conflicting interest
and this is where the game finds most of its stakes which play
into the heroine routes for dramatic effect. There is also the theme
of coming together despite our difference and this is well
communicated through both conflict and romance to form a strong
backbone to an enjoyable experience. A game which is not aiming to be
more than it first appears and ultimately is better for that focus.
Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Otome, Historical Play Time – 50 hours
Aksys
Games are at it again with another otome title, this time one set in
Kyoho era Japan with monsters mixed in. Our heroine can see the
‘thread of emotion’ and this leads her to become involved with
the mysterious Oniwaban set up by the Shogun to counter the monsters.
In coming to know the men who make up its members she will find her
place in the world and come to know the truth of the dangers that she
and her friends face. It is interesting to see a game set in this
often forgotten period of Japanese history and it makes for a
flavourful background upon which the cast can act out their drama.
Another excellent visual novel to add to the otome fan’s
collection.
Fan Translations
Dei Gratia no Rashinban
Translation Download VNDB Genre
– Sci-fi, Thriller, Mystery Play Time – 45 hours
Our
last game this month is one which wears it inspiration on its sleeve
and when that is Ever 17 it has some large shoes to fill. Just like
that game it take place in a confinement situation in the depth of
the sea and more is going on than the basic events initially let on.
This time it is set in a deep sea cruise submarine and it makes for an
interest bit of world building to compliment the technology on
display and the ideas presented by this sci-fi setting. Dei Gratia no
Rashinban has an understanding of what made Ever 17 such an
impressive game in terms of tension and mystery management over the
course of a story, but does not just wholesale copy its influence as
the game is more than willing to betray the player’s expectations
so long as it serves to sell the narrative. Overall this is an
interesting visual novel which fans of the niche formed around Ever
17 will absolutely adore.
