Stories about technology and its foremost extension—the artificial simulation of consciousness, are typically best when they are as much about their potential to supplant humanity as they are sending us to a higher evolutionary stratum. It is too early to assess whether the retribalized digital age will spell destitution or reunite us in singularity so it is probably better to hold off on value judgments and stick with reports upon reality. This is why, as with most science fiction stories, the post-apocalypse of Planetarian is brought about by humanity's technological hubris and not the prevalence of tech itself. After all, it is the humble programming of a talkative pre-war gynoid that redirects the last man's eyes away from the folly of Earth and back towards the stars above. The irony of our greatest technological mirror image inspiring us through the most primeval of human traditions—oral storytelling—is manifest and brilliant. Were it not for its excessively mawkish ending, it'd easily rank among the finest gateway visual novels that aren't monstrously lengthy. As it is, it's pretty alright. Once we finally get our heads out of the gruel and start colonizing the stars we should give our A.I. moe personification.

Reviewed on May 29, 2023


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