yummy
non-blvn but its definitely some form of shipbait
i liked the themes, the characters, and its a very solid start overall - but it was too teenage-esque for my tastes considering that i was expecting something darker ; the pacing of the latter half of downfall also felt a bit odd for me
i liked the themes, the characters, and its a very solid start overall - but it was too teenage-esque for my tastes considering that i was expecting something darker ; the pacing of the latter half of downfall also felt a bit odd for me
goated
Important to note that it has a lot of content warnings, please play this in a suited state.
The game has some slight technical issues, but luckily they all have workarounds.
As for the content itself, it's quite interesting. I believe that its strongest selling point is in the solid start it has with Falldown - that isn't very common for most visual novels I played, where usually the meat of the content is on the middle of the story. So what it does is opting for a more self-containerized approach of routes, each which instantly set the somber mood for most of the game, even if they all may have some light-heatted aspects. The combination of well chosen royalty-free music, UI, art palette/design and good writing (and translation!) are all part of what carries the atmosphere and are the initial hook.
An also important aspect is that its shorter length allows for no story to overstay its welcome and for the plot points to occur more quickly. Aditionally, most of what happens allows for even a dumb-o like me to try and theorize what's happening because there's plenty of foreshadowing for threads that may or may not be adressed later on, at all parts of the game. And then Downfall has you see an attempt to tackle some of said threads, but it's likely that you will still be taken by surprise because of a certain "wildcard".
You will need the DLC to finish the whole story though, and it should release later on 2023 aka this year. If you see any other reviews before the DLC release it should show a testament to the base game's quality.
The game has some slight technical issues, but luckily they all have workarounds.
As for the content itself, it's quite interesting. I believe that its strongest selling point is in the solid start it has with Falldown - that isn't very common for most visual novels I played, where usually the meat of the content is on the middle of the story. So what it does is opting for a more self-containerized approach of routes, each which instantly set the somber mood for most of the game, even if they all may have some light-heatted aspects. The combination of well chosen royalty-free music, UI, art palette/design and good writing (and translation!) are all part of what carries the atmosphere and are the initial hook.
An also important aspect is that its shorter length allows for no story to overstay its welcome and for the plot points to occur more quickly. Aditionally, most of what happens allows for even a dumb-o like me to try and theorize what's happening because there's plenty of foreshadowing for threads that may or may not be adressed later on, at all parts of the game. And then Downfall has you see an attempt to tackle some of said threads, but it's likely that you will still be taken by surprise because of a certain "wildcard".
You will need the DLC to finish the whole story though, and it should release later on 2023 aka this year. If you see any other reviews before the DLC release it should show a testament to the base game's quality.
jesus christ
Holy fuck man
This review contains spoilers
Man, I wanted to love this game but I've only really ended up liking it somewhat. I gave it three stars because I do enjoy many aspects of it such as the art (honestly, it's gorgeous and so immediately captivated me), the character designs, the music (even though it was all royalty-free, I've best heard it described as "really well-chosen and cohesive") and the ideas but there was something about this visual novel that felt lacking to me. Perhaps it's because I went in expecting something truly very dark/haunting and only got a coming-of-age drama with some dark psychological conflicts thrown in instead, although I'm willing to chalk that up to my love of dark themes in general and not the quality of the game itself.
The writing felt somewhat rushed and I think this would have worked better if we had more time to explore the characters and their relationships with each other instead of them being condensed into short "episodes" and trying to get this mismatched quartet to work with each other near the end. Basically, the premise of this story (specifically the Falldown part) is that a young man named Natsume has recently died and four guys who all had a (very) vague connection to him go to his funeral and then deal with whatever else they have going on in their lives until they encounter a mysterious being known as Mamiya. That would be fine and really interesting if only I could see it happening to them all at once and in a way that flowed well instead of seeing their whole life stories in a couple of hours each. Also, I found it quite difficult to understand certain aspects of the characters' struggles. Some were fine, but others had me scratching my head.
Admittedly, I didn't finish this game (hence the Shelved status); I got about halfway through Haruki's part in Downfall after doing the other three, so I got through most of the game. Anyways, I'm not gonna say I don't care at all about what happens here because I do, and if/when DoomsdayDreams comes out, maybe I'll finish it but for now it just hasn't really held my attention as much as I would've liked, which is a shame but how engaging something is does contribute to its quality.
To summarise, this is not a bad game. In fact, it's quite good. But as much as it pains me to say it, it's not amazing. In any case, if Kokoroten releases another game in the future I'll keep my eye out because they do have a lot of creativity.
The writing felt somewhat rushed and I think this would have worked better if we had more time to explore the characters and their relationships with each other instead of them being condensed into short "episodes" and trying to get this mismatched quartet to work with each other near the end. Basically, the premise of this story (specifically the Falldown part) is that a young man named Natsume has recently died and four guys who all had a (very) vague connection to him go to his funeral and then deal with whatever else they have going on in their lives until they encounter a mysterious being known as Mamiya. That would be fine and really interesting if only I could see it happening to them all at once and in a way that flowed well instead of seeing their whole life stories in a couple of hours each. Also, I found it quite difficult to understand certain aspects of the characters' struggles. Some were fine, but others had me scratching my head.
Admittedly, I didn't finish this game (hence the Shelved status); I got about halfway through Haruki's part in Downfall after doing the other three, so I got through most of the game. Anyways, I'm not gonna say I don't care at all about what happens here because I do, and if/when DoomsdayDreams comes out, maybe I'll finish it but for now it just hasn't really held my attention as much as I would've liked, which is a shame but how engaging something is does contribute to its quality.
To summarise, this is not a bad game. In fact, it's quite good. But as much as it pains me to say it, it's not amazing. In any case, if Kokoroten releases another game in the future I'll keep my eye out because they do have a lot of creativity.
This review contains spoilers
Coincidentally I started this game on Dec 28. That's a Thursday, not a Friday...
I finished this (and DdD) a while ago and I still think about it every day. While there were some things I didn't enjoy about the game (including DdD) as a whole, I do think overall it's really solid. I bought this on a whim when it was on sale and binged it over the next few days, so you can say that I liked it.
I still haven't read the What-Ifs, because I'm missing the last one, and even changing my date isn't giving me that final one... I don't know why a system like this was implemented, especially since it can be so easily gamed, because all that ends up happening is the player getting frustrated.
DdD spoilers specifically below.
I honestly didn't really like the resolutions for the Pink Housers. I think I didn't really like the Pink Housers in general, except Samejima...? They were fine individually, actually, but when it started to get wacky in DdD is when I just didn't like them. I think it really just had to do with their resolutions and how, despite them doing all that to the main four, they were kind of just... forgiven, in a way. It was very weird (especially Mayuri vs Mina/to).
I also feel like the split between the two sets of routes (Mina/to+Haruki and Keito+Ryou) were too great, but I think that's more personal taste.
I had minor technical difficulties while playing but were solved by fucking around and finding out.
Overall, the game is really, really good, and it's not a game that makes you think about your own life or anything in that regard, not really self-reflection-inducing, but the characters are charming and, alongside Natsume, you're rooting for everyone.
I finished this (and DdD) a while ago and I still think about it every day. While there were some things I didn't enjoy about the game (including DdD) as a whole, I do think overall it's really solid. I bought this on a whim when it was on sale and binged it over the next few days, so you can say that I liked it.
I still haven't read the What-Ifs, because I'm missing the last one, and even changing my date isn't giving me that final one... I don't know why a system like this was implemented, especially since it can be so easily gamed, because all that ends up happening is the player getting frustrated.
DdD spoilers specifically below.
I honestly didn't really like the resolutions for the Pink Housers. I think I didn't really like the Pink Housers in general, except Samejima...? They were fine individually, actually, but when it started to get wacky in DdD is when I just didn't like them. I think it really just had to do with their resolutions and how, despite them doing all that to the main four, they were kind of just... forgiven, in a way. It was very weird (especially Mayuri vs Mina/to).
I also feel like the split between the two sets of routes (Mina/to+Haruki and Keito+Ryou) were too great, but I think that's more personal taste.
I had minor technical difficulties while playing but were solved by fucking around and finding out.
Overall, the game is really, really good, and it's not a game that makes you think about your own life or anything in that regard, not really self-reflection-inducing, but the characters are charming and, alongside Natsume, you're rooting for everyone.
that... certainly was the first half of a vn. it's definitely got good parts. very strong start, strong cast, solid writing, beautiful art. but then the story just Does Things and it's setting up for the sequel so none of it gets resolved. so I can't rate it so high as an individual game. it is not bad though. i will be reading doomsdaydreams
i replayed the game in full a second time and i still don't know how i feel about it. 7/10
this game started off SO WELL and then the closer i was to the ending the more convoluted and confusing it got to the point where i kind of don't understand anything anymore. i assume whatever was left unanswered will be addressed in the sequel but i feel like the game just didn't do a good job at wrapping everything up nicely
other than that, the game's art and poetic writing is truly something unique and the themes tackled are very well represented. i just wish the story was on the same level
other than that, the game's art and poetic writing is truly something unique and the themes tackled are very well represented. i just wish the story was on the same level
This review contains spoilers
Best impulse purchase of my life holy shit
clears fatamoru on crazy psycho guy representation alone
Amazing visual novel, highly recommend to any fans of denpa or psychological horror.
Genuinely shocked me at parts, and its prose is truly something special
Genuinely shocked me at parts, and its prose is truly something special