Sunday, February 23, 2025
As
we say goodbye to the bitter cold of winter, it is a good time to look
back at the many excellent releases that came out over the past
month. These games have been defined by smaller titles catering to a
variety of underserved niches from space mecha to pixel art
supernatural mystery and offer something different for those looking
for new experiences. Let’s dive in and see what visual novels
might tickle your fancy this month.
Official Releases
Mojika: Truth Rears Its Ugly Head
One
thing that can be said of Nitro Plus is they are constantly pushing
their visual novels in new directions. This time they have crafted a
story about bullying which explores dark desires and secrets
through the protagonist’s power to see a person’s thoughts as
words around them. Nobody in this game is a good person from the
bullies to the their victim, all of them are scarred in some way and
allow it to distort how they treat others. At the same time they are
not evil and show a wide range of their emotions as each characters
gets a deeper exploration of what drives them and how the protagonist
is changed by this journey into their minds. A soup of chaotic drama
and emotions drives these people towards an ending they could not
have foresee. If you are looking for a powerful character centric
visual novel then you should definitely pick up Mojika.
Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog
It
is clear to see from the moment the game starts what kind of ride the
player is in for with its mecha and space setting establishing
themselves with a strong first impression. The Gundam influences are
obvious yet Stories From Sol takes pains to differentiate itself
while still holding true to the spirit of its inspirations. Perhaps the
most immediately striking of these is the choice of a retro anime art
style for its visuals and large mechanically themed UI it has on
screen at all times. It is a wonderful mix of 80s elements blended
together to form a textured mesh of adventure game and visual novel.
Its story compliments this feel as it leans into the colourful cast
of the Gun-Dog and focuses on the mysteries and dangers they face in
a way which blends space action with a good dose of human tension.
This is something which will appeal to fans of retro anime, mecha or
sci-fi and if you fall into one of these groups it is well worth your
time and money.
Cage of Roses
Mixing
a historical setting with a tinge of the supernatural is a great way
to add some mystique and grandeur to a game, especially when dealing with the
presentation of a fantastical European past. This game takes full
advantage of its setting to set up a winding tale of love and dark
secrets where brilliant spender is perfectly contrasted with the less
than desirable elements it covers up. The story follows Meike who is
on her way to an arranged marriage when her carriage is attacked by
bandits. Fleeing from them she finds an eerie castle hidden way from
the world and its owner, the strange woman named Magdalena. It soon
becomes apparant that she is hiding a secret, she is in fact a
vampire and Meike finds herself drawn into Magdalena’s world. As a
short visual novel it is perfect for those seeking their fix of
period yuri drama and if you like it then you should consider looking
at Ebi-hime’s other work.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center
If
you are looking for the most unique title to be released this year
then Urban Myth Dissolution Center may well be up for serious
consideration. Its blend of supernatural mystery, personal drama and
striking pixel art create an episodic dive into a weird occult world.
The titular Urban Myth Dissolution Center deals with all kinds of
cursed objects and otherworldly phenomena and it is for this strange
organisation Azami Fukurai finds themselves working. Alongside its
director, Ayumu Meguriya, she must uncover the complex truths behind
each case as she is slowly drawn into a web of supernatural forces.
None of the cases play out exactly the way they initially appear they
will and the game makes cleaver use of its human element to muddy the
facts so the player will have to carefully unpack every aspect in
order to reach the truth. This one comes with a solid recommendation
as a memorable ride you are going to want to keep coming back to
again and again.
PRIMAL×HEARTS
Our
monthly slice of life and romance slot goes to a game which is asks
the player to pick one of two student councils to support and maybe
find love along the way. It is a lighter take on the tradition vs.
progress conflict with each of the councils representing one of these
two sides and while the title is willing to use this a source of
drama, it never pushes it into anything too serious. The aim here is
clearly to be a slow burn romance story first with everything else
existing to add some spice when needed and it does a strong job at
keeping all of this feeling natural. Overall it is a fun slice of
life visual novel and you should know by now if this is something up
your alley, if it is then you are in for a good time.
