Sunday, October 27, 2024
As
the spooky day fast approaches, it is time to look at the scariest
thing imaginable, visual novel releases! Even in this relatively
quiet month for new games there are still some standout
titles worth your time. There is a little something for everyone with
genres ranging from compelling Otome to cute Slice of Life adventures
to head scratching Mystery stories. Each offers their own distinct
visual and narrative style for the player to sink into and add
something memorable to the growing pool of visual novels. Let’s
dive in and see what title you should be playing from the past month.
Official Releases
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus
Despite
having an English translation available on Switch since last year,
the release of an English PC version is something worth highlighting
as it gives a wider audience a chance to play this title and at a
more stable frame rate. RAIN CODE is a game that
advertises itself as being from some of the minds behind Danganronpa
and on a surface level this comparison seems appropriate with the
same artist providing the character designs alongside a wacky and
distinctive presentation. However, unlike Danganronpa it is far more
interested in exploring detective work through the angle of its
fantasy elements and chief among these is Shinigami-Chan, a death
spirit who haunts the protagonist and assists him in the Mystery
Labyrinth. It plays with these concepts to form its own atmosphere in
the rain drenched Kanai Ward where master detectives run around
trying to solve the mysteries plaguing it. If you are looking for an
over the top take on the detective genre than RAIN CODE will be a
good time.
9 R.I.P.
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Otome, Mystery, Supernatural Play Time – 60 hours
Having
all of your romanceable characters being either a ghost or a youkai
immediately speaks to the sort of tale being told here. When the men
in question are either dead or otherworldly, it is hard to have a
conventional romance. Rather 9 R.I.P. uses the seeming disconnect
between the main heroine and her suitors to craft its tone of mystery
and supernatural forces. The game follows Misa Isshiki who apart from
her tendency to be unlucky in life is a normal girl who finds herself
embroiled in the conflicts of otherworldly men after a strange
voice speaks to her about the future which awaits her. From this
point onwards the mysteries of the cast come to the front as Misa’s
vulnerability in the face of these supernatural beings becomes a core
source of tension in order to push the narrative forward. The chosen
pairing’s journey is a genuinely heartfelt one where the challenges
presented by the different worlds the two belong to is played up to
make their eventual resolution all the sweeter. A definite must play
for the otome fan who is looking for something a little different to
spice up the expected formula of the genre.
Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch
Here
is another title which has previously been released in English
elsewhere but this marks the Steam version being updated to contain English text. It has previously been locked to the Microsoft
store version, but with this release it is now more widely accessible
for people to experience. This is a deeply character centric game
with the focus being on the protagonist Hikaru Nishime and the small
band of people around him where it spends a lot of time helping the
player understand the casts' emotions and struggles. In particular the duo
of Hikaru and the magical Lilun Jaminthida form the backbone of the
narrative with their journey being where it gets the majority of its
impact from. For those interested in a shorter and more personal tale
which explores its characters in more depth Tales From Toyotoki has a
lot to offer.
Kakenuke★Forward to Our Sparking Youth!
Learning
to enjoy life is a common theme for the slice of life genre and one
that suits its relatively low stakes environment. Kakenuke follows
this familiar pattern and rather than innovating it instead seeks
to be a solid example of the formula. This is explored through Toono
Yuu’s focus on work over his school life and his friends efforts to
get him to enjoy the limited time he has to be young. While this
contrast between the adult and teen worlds is hardly unique, there is
a commitment to it that helps the emotional moments it builds towards
as Yuu comes to know the heroines. The inherent drama which come from
being a teenager is well represented here as the chaotic feelings of
their developing minds rise up and cause them issues. Ultimately this
is a light and fairly standard title with just enough of its own
flare to appeal to those interested in the genre.
Meiji Tokyo Renka Full Moon
When
Mei Ayatsuki is transported back to Meiji era Tokyo by the excentric
magician Charlie, she could never have known the whirlpool of
romance she would become involved in. Here she meets a series of
famous men from the period and becomes mixed up in their affairs when
it becomes clear she has the rare talent of being able to see
Mononoke. Despite this seemly dramatic set up there is a surprising
focus on comedy as the driving force for the player’s interaction
with the characters and creates a duality between these sections and
the dramatic moments which define each route’s conclusion. It plays
this to its advantage in order to make the large number of heroes
feel distinct in how they interact with Mei and the player. Another
strong otome game for fans to experience.
