Showing posts with label September2022. Show all posts
Best Visual Novel Releases – September 2022
Autumn
has rolled up and firmly placed itself over us as the days get
shorter and the weather gets colder. In this month of transition we
have been given a wide selection of visual novels to tide us through
the coming darker days. A little bit of otome, a little bit of comedy
and a lot of quality games are on the table. So without further ado
let’s begin our perusal of the best title on offer.
Official Releases
Renai X Royale -
Renai
X Royale marks the third ASa Project visual novel to have been
translated into English and shares those previous games’ focus on
comedy. The idea of a love battle royale is at the heart of the
humour with four girls all vying to be chosen by the protagonist and
their attempts to win him over and undermine the competition is
the focus of the narrative. This blend of slice of life high jinks
with the standard romance story lines of other games stands out
from its peers with its colourful and hyperactive tone and
characters. However, those who have played the other titles might
find themselves experiencing a strong sense of deja vu as the
developers adhered to the idea that if it isn’t broken don’t fix
it. The result is a game which will appeal to those who love their
style but not to anyone who was looking for some innovation to this
formula.
Heart de Roommate Remastered -
JAST Store VNDB Genre
– Slice of Life, Comedy. Play Time – 12 hours.
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Recently
JAST has taken to remastering some of their classic titles and Heart de Roommate is the latest game to receive
this treatment. It has been given a face lift in the graphical
department with HD artwork and user interface as well as improved
compatibility with modern systems. This is a much needed update as
the previous version of the game was originally released in 2003 and
was showing its age. Heart de Roommate is a classic visual novel from
an era in their history where the school comedy ecchi genre was in
its prime and this game is very much a reflection of the popular
tropes of the period. It acts as a snapshot of that moment in visual
novel history and makes for an interesting comparison to the modern
state of the medium. Even beyond the historical value of Heart de
Roommate, it is a pleasant and funny game which works surprising hard
to get you to feel for its heroines.
Piofiore: Episodio 1926 -
Nintendo Eshop VNDB Genre
– Crime Thriller, 20’s, Otome. Play Time – 40 hours.
As
the sequel to the excellent Piofiore: Fated Memories, Piofiore:
Episodio 1926 had some big shoes to fill and it more than lived up to
those expectations. This game is a collection of stories which extend
the previous game’s narrative in various ways. There are episodes
for each of the main characters where they get another chance to
shine and wrap up their stories, an intense murder mystery tale and a
what-if style story where the player gets to experience a new angle
on the original game. Overall, it is an expansive package which keeps
all of the qualities that made Fated Memories such a stand out title,
while offering its own twist on the narrative.
Amnesia: Memories + Amnesia: Later x Crowd -
Store Links - Memories Later x Crowd VNDB - Memories Later Crowd Genre
– Fantasy, Romance, Otome. Play Time – Memories – 30 hours.
Later x Crowd – 16 hours.
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This
is double release from Idea Factory with the Switch release of
Amnesia: Memories (you can read my recent review of it here) and the
first release of Amnesia: Later x Crowd which is a combination of the
two fandiscs. These two titles are some of the most interesting otomes to have been released in English with their ability to blur
the line between player and protagonist for the sake of creating
tension and mystery. The addition of the fandiscs adds some much
needed new life into a series which has not seen a new release in
some time and they provide a variety of side content to keep the
discerning otome fan engaged for many hours.
Dreamy Planet -
It
feels as if I talk about a Ebi-hime game almost every month and each
one is somehow just as good as the last. This time we have Ebi-hime
returning to the yuri sphere with the short game, Dreamy Planet. It
is a tale of two women, Haruka and Shiina, who were once inseparable
from each other but have since drifted apart. Five years later they
reunite and make an impromptu visit to a derelict theme part called
Dreamy Planet. The exploration of their damaged relationship is at
the heart of this games narrative and as it picks away at what drives
each of them you are left with a sense of profound emotional weight. A short
and powerful visual novel which will stay with you long after its
ending.
The Mysteries of Ranko Togawa: Murder on the Marine Express -
Here
we have another short visual novel but it could not be more different in tone
from the previous one. With its distinctive pixel art, The Mysteries
of Ranko Togawa: Murder on the Marine Express stands out as it puts
its own spin on the classic locked room and whodunit style detective
mysteries. There is a definite focus on emulating the older elements
of visual novels and text adventures in terms of presentation while
updating it for a modern audience. Rather than being a tense pursuit
of the murderer, it is instead a somewhat light-hearted joyride
through a colourful and charismatic cast of characters who are all
focused on bringing a smile to your face. It is a bite-sized title
which is enjoyable bubble gum for a few hours of fun relaxation.
Fan Translations -
Kimi ga Nozomu Muv-Luv -
Patch Download VNDB Genre
– Comedy, Drama. Play Time – 5 hours.
Muv-Luv
is a franchise which produces an exceptional variety of content
within its visual novels due to the contrasting genres of the original games.
Here we have another example of how far this series can go with the
madness that is Kimi ga Nozomu Muv-Luv. This fandisc is split into
two sections, a crossover story between Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and
Muv-Luv and a short story about daily life of the JFK Curry
Restoraunt crew. These heavily lean into the insane comedy which is
the hallmark of the slice of life centric Muv-Luv stories and is all
the better for it. Stay well away if you are not already an age fan
as the amount of references to past works is intimidating even for
those who have played their games.
Ima Sugu Onii-chan ni Imouto da tte Iitai! -
Patch Download VNDB Genre
– Slice of Life, Comedy, Romance. Play Time – 30 hours.
What
we have here is an example of the 'past version of the same setting
but not a prequel' genre, a strange subset of stories which want to
use the popularity of a previous narrative without being too bound to it.
The game being piggybacked off here is the much acclaimed Koi to
Senkyo to Chocolate with which it even shares a few characters.
Thankfully, this is more than a simple case of cynical moneymaking as
Ima Sugu Onii-chan ni Imouto da tte Iitai! is a strong story in its
own right. With a fun and engaging cast, this is a tale which focuses
on the slow-boiling romance between the protagonist and the chosen
heroine and it plays into the strengths which Koi to Senkyo to
Chocolate established. You do not have to be a fan of the previous
game to get the most out of this story and anybody who enjoys a good
love story is in for a treat.
Developer Spotlight – Ebi-hime
Itch.io Twitter Tumblr
Finding
a developer who understands how to subtly and cleverly invoke emotion
and play with expectations is a rare occurrence and the developer we
will be highlighting today is one such example. Ebi-hime is an indie developer with
extensive catalogue of visual novels in a variety of genres from
cute yuri stories to examinations of obsession. You can track the
growth of her talent as a writer through her games as her distinctive
style becomes more pronounced over time and she is always pushing herself out into new settings and thematic
ideas. Let’s dive into why Ebi-hime is someone who’s games you
should be picking up.
Developer Overview
When
it comes to romance stories which are sweet or have an interesting twist
to them Ebi-hime is a developer who understands how to play to the
audiences expectations and play off them to achieve thematic goals.
Her style is one which empathises emotion to create both resonance
with the player and tension which works in tandem to invest
them in the narrative. This leads to a lot of her stories being very
internally focused within the mind of the protagonist or other key
characters meaning we get an extensive look at their growing feelings,
be they positive or negative in nature. The result of this approach
is character centric games without much in the way of external driving
forces and instead one where each character’s actions visibly
ripple through those around them. From the powerful to the subtle,
emotions and their consequences are the beating heart of Ebi-himes
works.
A
noticeable feature of Ebi-himes stories is their adherence to a ‘real
world’ setting with the almost complete lack of fantastical
elements unless the story absolutely needs them. This creates a
grounded sense of place within her work and while her stories are set
within many different locations and times they never lose the
familiarity of the known. This choice adds an almost tactile feeling
to the world and characters, as if they are so close to your own
experiences that you might be able to reach out and touch them. As
such when a fantasy element is added in it stands out all the more due
to its contrast with the mundane and makes this little bit of spice
able to present its narrative purpose with a clarity it would have
lacked in a purer fantasy setting.
Selection of Notable Works
The Way We All Go -
This
was the game through which I found Ebi-hime and despite her modern
work having a more refined writing style it still has many of the
qualities which make her stories special. It is a narrative which
classifies itself as a hybrid of horror and romance and this is an
apt description for a game centred around human based horror. We can
see here an example of a recurring interest by Ebi-hime in characters who are less than
mentally stable which pops up repeatedly in various forms. In this
game it takes the shape of a yandere heroine who is the main driver
of the darker elements of the plot as well as the more interesting
narrative beats. As with most of Ebi-hime’s work, the game is the
incredibly effective at presenting the emotions and thoughts of
the characters from their happiest moment to their darkest depression and
it invokes empathy to make the player feel involved in each moment.
To top it all off the game plays with common clichés, such as
returning to a home town and the childhood friend, in order to set
exceptions and betray them when the time is right. Even after all
these years I would still recommend The Way We All Go as a good entry
point into Ebi-hime’s work if you want something which leans a
little closer to the familiar elements of visual novel storytelling.
Rituals In The Dark -
Rituals
In The Dark is one of the many yuri romance stories which Ebi-hime
has written but what makes this one stand out is its effective use of
tone to sell tension without anything explicitly dangerous happening.
The core relationship between the weak willed Aspen and the
mysterious Althea is characterised by the dancing around each other
they do as Aspen tries to figure out Althea while Althea is playing
her own game. Having two get to know one another and find intimacy in
that bond is sold through a sweet and well paced development which unfurls in a
satisfying manner that sticks in the mind long after the game ends.
The idea of a haunted house is the backdrop of this tale and confronting
and dispelling that conception is at the core of the conflict. This
plays well into the Aspen-Althea relationship by adding an underlying
tension about why Althea is in the house of a dead women. To top it
all off it is set in Scarborough, what more could you want?
Lynne -
When
it comes to horror Ebi-hime truly hit the nail on the head with Lynne
for there is nothing scarier than being a teenager. While this is the
shortest game listed here, it is the story which is the easiest to
empathise with as we were all teenagers once and know how painful it
can be. Lynne perfectly captures this feeling of not being in control
both of yourself and the world around you. It plays out these ideas
in a way which sells the oppressiveness of our protagonist’s mental
state as adds weight to every word and image presented to us. The
simple nature of the narrative and its short play time also
compliment this feeling as there is never a moment when it does not
focus on this roller-coaster of emotions.
Blackberry Honey -
This
is one of Ebi-hime’s more well known titles and for good reasons and it
simultaneously shows off her talent for sweet romance stories
and powerful dramas. The unusual setting of 19th century
England helps distinguish the game within the visual novel space
while at the same time providing a sense of place which seeps into
the player’s perception of events. By combining her skill with
character writing and this distinct sense of place, Ebi-hime is able to
make the romance between our two female leads feel powerful and
earned in the face of the conflicts around them. The contrast between
Lorina and Taohua allows for some excellent banter which reinforces
the idea of their growing relationship and well as the distance which
exists between their experiences. Overall, this is one of Ebi-hime’s
strongest character romance stories and is an exceptional example of
the quality of her work.
All Ashes And Illusions -
The
final game being covered here is one of Ebi-hime’s most recent
works and an excellent example of the variety of subject matter she
covers through her games. All Ashes And Illusions is the story of a
prince who develops a dangerous obsession with his childhood nursemaid and
explores an unequal power relationship, something not many games are
willing to do. Adding to its uniqueness is the choice of a middle
eastern setting which works together with the themes and
relationships to create a uniquely colourful and gripping narrative.
This is not a story of the faint of heart but those who are willing
to engage it on its terms will find out the range of styles Ebi-hime
can work within and how well crafted her work can truly be.
In Conclusion
If it was not clear from this overview, Ebi-hime is a creator of many talents and the quality of her creations is something truly impressive. While she may not be what you are looking for if you want a hardcore fantasy or sci-fi experience, her focus on grounded settings has yielded some of the most powerful stories in the medium. I encourage you to check out her itch.io page (link at the top of the page) and see if there is anything which takes your fancy within the plethora of excellent content available there.
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