Sunday, March 31, 2024
As
spring takes the stage there are signs of new life all
around from blossom to budding plants and visual novels are also
showing this awakening. This month may not have been the most packed
of the year so far, but each release offers something distinct and
worth your time. There is everything for a classic horror title to
the next episode in a crime thriller to a sweet romance. Let’s dive
in and find out what this month has brought us.
Official Releases
Criminal Border 2nd Offence
As
the second outing of the Criminal Border series this episode
continues its crime fused adventure through drugs, gangs and yakuza.
Now saddled with an unreasonable amount of debt the group turn to the
game’s focus heroine and daughter of a crime lord Kotoko
Teshigawara for help. This getting them involved in more trouble than
they could imagine as the web of loyalties and wishes ensnares them.
There is a successful upping of the stakes in this instalment as it
dives deeper into both its setting and its increasingly pressured
characters with their conflicting interests which leads to an even
more engaging narrative experience. If you enjoyed the first episode
then this one more than delivers on its promise and sets nicely up
for the third entry.
Royal Order
Setting
a story in a royal court is always a strong choice given the constant
sense of intrigue and betrayal as the various people complete
for power. Royal Order takes this core environment and combines it
with an rpg simulation and a good dose of fantasy elements for a
package which offers a balance between replayability and moment to
moment enjoyment. The choice to be either a male
or female character while maintaining the mixed gender romance pool
creates a refreshingly diverse spread of relationships furthers the
sense of self expression which the game uses as its core appeal. A
title to pick up if you are looking for an more player facing
adventure.
Amairo
Chocolata (Switch)
This
Switch release of Amairo Chocolata opens the sweet cafe centric
visual novel up to a new audience. Despite been yet another slice of
live title focusing around romance, there is a sincerity to its
commitment towards the standard elements of the genre and this
straight faced portrayal elevates it beyond what it might otherwise
achieve. There is something extremely comfy about its cute cat and
dog girl heroines and for those looking to relax with something not
designed to test you in any way, it offers an environment where
fantasy can softly envelop your mind.
Fan Translations
Otogirisou
Patch Download VNDB Genre
– Horror, Confinement Play Time – 4 hours
Short
and sweet horror visual novels are somewhat of a rarity and even more
so when they are haunted house tales. Otogirisou follows a pair of
students as they take shelter in an abandoned house after their car
crashes. Things quickly spiral out of control when it becomes
apparent that this house hides some less than pleasant secrets and
supernatural threats make their presence known. This is a title which
aims to give a concise thrill ride without outstaying its welcome and
wants to the visual novel equivalent of a spooky roller-coaster. For
those looking from a light and mildly scary experience Otogirisou
offers an easy to complete does of adrenaline.
