almorica
2016
Mildly entertaining for what it is (if you can easily access your device throughout most of the day each occasion you play it). Obviously low budget UI-wise however, and not where you want to go for difficult choices and character depth.
Jaehee is a great wlw option, though sadly the more overtly romantic content for her is paywalled. Still absolutely more effort than many other devs would like to put in for a female character route!
Jaehee is a great wlw option, though sadly the more overtly romantic content for her is paywalled. Still absolutely more effort than many other devs would like to put in for a female character route!
2021
Ultimately a passable VN, but when it's straightforward with its premise it's often cringy, and other games have done the meta subversion of expectations better. Some backgrounds look ambiguously AI generated, as well.
If you want a pleasant romance game I'd recommend something like Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side, and if you want a game with Twists, I'd recommend something like Hatoful Boyfriend.
Two stars for the MC though --- they're very funny, and can be he/him or she/her while being unabashedly attracted to these men. A little casual queerness never hurt.
If you want a pleasant romance game I'd recommend something like Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side, and if you want a game with Twists, I'd recommend something like Hatoful Boyfriend.
Two stars for the MC though --- they're very funny, and can be he/him or she/her while being unabashedly attracted to these men. A little casual queerness never hurt.
2021
No major criticisms of this game come to mind, so I can't say exactly why I didn't emotionally connect with anyone in this game. It was just something I played once in a while when bored until I finished it, taking me almost 6 months total. I don't regret it, at least.
On the notable plus side: an explicitly 20+ year old set of love interests and protagonist (who is also voiced)!
On the notable ??? side: if there are lines that seem to not be translated, go into the backlog and check for them there. This does mean that if you're hard of hearing or don't listen to the voice acting, you'll miss some of the lines completely.
On the notable negative side: there are numerous typos in the English localization (mainly punctuation), and Luka deserved a route. Cowards
On the notable plus side: an explicitly 20+ year old set of love interests and protagonist (who is also voiced)!
On the notable ??? side: if there are lines that seem to not be translated, go into the backlog and check for them there. This does mean that if you're hard of hearing or don't listen to the voice acting, you'll miss some of the lines completely.
On the notable negative side: there are numerous typos in the English localization (mainly punctuation), and Luka deserved a route. Cowards
A sequel I kind of recommend skipping the first entry for. It continues the general situation of the first game, but with a different cast and so much more sympathy. Plus, a big mystery of the second game will only be a big mystery if you play it first! (On the other hand, that same mystery will be spoiled in game 1 if you play game 2 first.)
In general, the Caligula Effect 2 is a very fun, easy game I gladly sunk 75 hours into. Pleasantly linear and stunningly hopeful for a game so blunt about traumas people face in all ages of life. It features very heartfelt transgender and nonbinary representation, without insisting everyone upset with their gendered treatment in life is trans by default.
Despite being a serial easy mode player, I was able to complete it the first time on the hardest difficulty without DLC aid. Make of that what you will.
Unfortunately, a decent amount of the game is only in Japanese audio, no text given: battle conversations among your party members, or between your party members and the bosses, are wholly untranslated. At least there are fan-translated versions of the party-only battle banter available, but it’s a very frustrating limitation of the official English localization.
Certain group quests take a lot of running around through tedious areas as well (one hospital floor is so poorly laid out for backtracking), and battles can also visually be rough on photosensitive people.
If you can get past those issues, amazing game, worth the time.
In general, the Caligula Effect 2 is a very fun, easy game I gladly sunk 75 hours into. Pleasantly linear and stunningly hopeful for a game so blunt about traumas people face in all ages of life. It features very heartfelt transgender and nonbinary representation, without insisting everyone upset with their gendered treatment in life is trans by default.
Despite being a serial easy mode player, I was able to complete it the first time on the hardest difficulty without DLC aid. Make of that what you will.
Unfortunately, a decent amount of the game is only in Japanese audio, no text given: battle conversations among your party members, or between your party members and the bosses, are wholly untranslated. At least there are fan-translated versions of the party-only battle banter available, but it’s a very frustrating limitation of the official English localization.
Certain group quests take a lot of running around through tedious areas as well (one hospital floor is so poorly laid out for backtracking), and battles can also visually be rough on photosensitive people.
If you can get past those issues, amazing game, worth the time.
2022
Profoundly unsettling game with a deeply fucked up vibe and suitably cool aesthetic. For budget obsession horror, it would be difficult to outperform this for me. (Better sound quality/balancing related to the voice acting is probably how.)
2016
Somehow, pretty much every review of this is correct. Chasing down locked chests and grinding for the last destination is tedious; the Blowbeat combo cheapens most strategies; It'll scratch the itch if you're looking for a shortish piano-accompanied tragedy in the style of retro RPGs.
One thing I disagree on is that it really needed multiple drastically different settings. Sometimes a short game can take place entirely in a winter landscape and it's fine and cohesive.
One thing I disagree on is that it really needed multiple drastically different settings. Sometimes a short game can take place entirely in a winter landscape and it's fine and cohesive.
Still overstays its welcome less than Great Ace Attorney even with case 5
2018
As a lifelong rhythm game and visual novel player, the almost equal blend of the two this game presents was a dream come true.
The rhythm game aspect is both gentle and challenging. You never have to play above Hard really, and can play Easy for 95% of the game while making good leveling progress. However, Chaos and higher difficulties are great fun for someone who gets enough experience to be good at it. NO STAMINA IS NECESSARY FOR PROGRESS, EVER, and you can play as long as you want or as little as you want without feeling limited or pressured by a stamina gauge!
The story of Cytus II is a very intricate but accessible cyberpunk setting, teasing you with fictional social media posts at the start and transitioning into in-depth logs of character activity. It uses its status as a game to toy with your perceptions, and exploits the interface to tell parts of it in ways a book or movie couldn't. It's largely female-character led and has instances of subtle and overt queerness. I cried more than once and Incyde still makes me do it again anytime I listen to it.
While it is a sequel, playing Cytus 1 isn’t necessary to understand the story, and 2 greatly improved the rhythm game aspect when it comes to eye strain. It also isn’t necessary to buy any additional characters to complete the story, but there are hours on end of worthwhile backstory to find in the characters that aren’t crossovers/cameos.
Just, if you want to buy any of the DLC, do it on sale. The nine character sale repeats often, so there is never a reason to drop $10 on Xenon no matter how hot you think the helmet is
The rhythm game aspect is both gentle and challenging. You never have to play above Hard really, and can play Easy for 95% of the game while making good leveling progress. However, Chaos and higher difficulties are great fun for someone who gets enough experience to be good at it. NO STAMINA IS NECESSARY FOR PROGRESS, EVER, and you can play as long as you want or as little as you want without feeling limited or pressured by a stamina gauge!
The story of Cytus II is a very intricate but accessible cyberpunk setting, teasing you with fictional social media posts at the start and transitioning into in-depth logs of character activity. It uses its status as a game to toy with your perceptions, and exploits the interface to tell parts of it in ways a book or movie couldn't. It's largely female-character led and has instances of subtle and overt queerness. I cried more than once and Incyde still makes me do it again anytime I listen to it.
While it is a sequel, playing Cytus 1 isn’t necessary to understand the story, and 2 greatly improved the rhythm game aspect when it comes to eye strain. It also isn’t necessary to buy any additional characters to complete the story, but there are hours on end of worthwhile backstory to find in the characters that aren’t crossovers/cameos.
Just, if you want to buy any of the DLC, do it on sale. The nine character sale repeats often, so there is never a reason to drop $10 on Xenon no matter how hot you think the helmet is
This game has been on my mind since 2017 and still won’t let up. A stunningly dark dungeon crawler/visual novel crossbreed unafraid to make you afraid, Death Mark has earned its various mature ratings through its concepts and visuals. The characters are a little quirky and sometimes unpleasant; they’re the types of people (and children) that don’t really get along well with other people for one reason or another, which can make them relatable or not. The gameplay can be rewarding or tedious, but if you really get stuck, the Spirit Files give tremendous hints toward success.
Unfortunately, it is also horny, and in a very specific way: the sometimes suggestive visuals (almost all of female bodies) are as saturated with horror as the rest of the game. For most people, it’s going to just be unsettling or even upsetting. For some I’m sure it’s hot. I can’t say I like the female body exploitation, but it’s an undeniable facet of this game that will pop up at least once a chapter. If you think you wouldn't be able to stand this, the first sequel, Spirit Hunter: NG, drastically reduces this to the series' benefit. I'd recommend skipping to that entry.
At least the horniness is a minor part of the game. The Horrors are varied and bound to hit at least one thing you’re uncomfortable with. The original final chapter, Chapter 5, is the most terrifying scenario I’ve ever been in in a video game, and the night I completed it for the first time I was too scared to sleep. I love that chapter enough to place the game in my Top 5 of all time, despite the game’s flaws.
Ultimately, I love this game. I love playing it, and have it as a platinum on my Vita. I love watching youtubers play it, and Gab Smolders was the one to introduce me to this series, making it dear to me for the past six years.
And, most importantly, Shuuji Daimon is a dilf (doctor I’d like to
Unfortunately, it is also horny, and in a very specific way: the sometimes suggestive visuals (almost all of female bodies) are as saturated with horror as the rest of the game. For most people, it’s going to just be unsettling or even upsetting. For some I’m sure it’s hot. I can’t say I like the female body exploitation, but it’s an undeniable facet of this game that will pop up at least once a chapter. If you think you wouldn't be able to stand this, the first sequel, Spirit Hunter: NG, drastically reduces this to the series' benefit. I'd recommend skipping to that entry.
At least the horniness is a minor part of the game. The Horrors are varied and bound to hit at least one thing you’re uncomfortable with. The original final chapter, Chapter 5, is the most terrifying scenario I’ve ever been in in a video game, and the night I completed it for the first time I was too scared to sleep. I love that chapter enough to place the game in my Top 5 of all time, despite the game’s flaws.
Ultimately, I love this game. I love playing it, and have it as a platinum on my Vita. I love watching youtubers play it, and Gab Smolders was the one to introduce me to this series, making it dear to me for the past six years.
And, most importantly, Shuuji Daimon is a dilf (doctor I’d like to
A short and sweet little horror experience with its main detraction being the repetition. As brief as it is, though, it's not so bad to go through it several times with no save/skip function. A nonbinary protagonist and stylish limited color palette help it stand out among others of its kind.
The English localization is dreadful, but it was well worth hundreds of hours for non-gender-locked clothes + hairstyles and Soseki, the hottest HM/SoS marriage candidate to date. To Me.
2022
Bad as a game (both performance and ethics-wise), but good as an assortment of characters in a Pokemon entry. They feel a lot like they live in this world together, as opposed to a list of cool individuals you battle on the road to being The Best. Big missed opportunity for this level of character customization to not allow the player to use gender-neutral terms and pronouns, but Geeta, Grusha, and especially Rika are great GNC rep.
As for new Pokemon, Ceruledge is a hyper-cool destructive force beyond reckoning, and the Toedscool line are staggeringly endearing.
Basically, thanks for Rika and those little slappy feet, but get some better game-making practices going on for everyone's sake, please.
As for new Pokemon, Ceruledge is a hyper-cool destructive force beyond reckoning, and the Toedscool line are staggeringly endearing.
Basically, thanks for Rika and those little slappy feet, but get some better game-making practices going on for everyone's sake, please.
The pedophiles suck so bad, but this game is excellent otherwise. Case 4 is peak standalone Ace Attorney case.
2008
This adventure game from 2008 is still special to me in 2023. The art holds up even today, delicately detailed both in character portraits and in the numerous CGs. The designs are fairly simple considering the amount of school uniform time, but each character’s personality comes across in their expressions and poses. CGs in particular aren’t afraid to show more dramatic emotion, and the brief instances of voice acting can be expertly performed enough to give me chills every playthrough. The English VAs had their work cut out for them, and in my opinion, some of them really nailed it.
The soundtrack suits the moods the game cycles through, amplifying higher energy moments and adding somber notes or tense beats to heavier ones. It could have been better on stronger hardware than the DS I think, but for a DS OST, it’s pleasant to listen to.
A very high point of the game is that the city it takes place in feels lived in. LIves go on outside the main character Atsuki Saijo’s presence, and various characters interact with each other in unexpected parts of the city. People have hobbies and interests and pre-established relationships, even between generations. Atsuki is an observer, and sometimes participant, rather than a king the game revolves around. Sometimes that’s refreshing.
One thing to be aware of before getting into this game is the heavy subject matter. Suicide is a common topic, and animal harm even more so, sometimes even spoken of from the POV of the animal. While they’re treated with the gravity they deserve, it could be rough to someone particularly sensitive to either subject.
And of course, the game is not perfect. Battling SIlent isn’t the most fluid or visually impressive experience, some characters make homophobic comments, and the English written localization is abysmal, sometimes coherent and sometimes most definitely not. The voiced segments make the most sense in the game, which puts them at odds with the words typed on the screen. If typos and poor translation really get under your skin, it will be a challenging time. At least the mind-reading segments are always on the coherent side.
All in all, I adore this game and probably will still be playing it a 17th time in 2030. Can’t wait.
The soundtrack suits the moods the game cycles through, amplifying higher energy moments and adding somber notes or tense beats to heavier ones. It could have been better on stronger hardware than the DS I think, but for a DS OST, it’s pleasant to listen to.
A very high point of the game is that the city it takes place in feels lived in. LIves go on outside the main character Atsuki Saijo’s presence, and various characters interact with each other in unexpected parts of the city. People have hobbies and interests and pre-established relationships, even between generations. Atsuki is an observer, and sometimes participant, rather than a king the game revolves around. Sometimes that’s refreshing.
One thing to be aware of before getting into this game is the heavy subject matter. Suicide is a common topic, and animal harm even more so, sometimes even spoken of from the POV of the animal. While they’re treated with the gravity they deserve, it could be rough to someone particularly sensitive to either subject.
And of course, the game is not perfect. Battling SIlent isn’t the most fluid or visually impressive experience, some characters make homophobic comments, and the English written localization is abysmal, sometimes coherent and sometimes most definitely not. The voiced segments make the most sense in the game, which puts them at odds with the words typed on the screen. If typos and poor translation really get under your skin, it will be a challenging time. At least the mind-reading segments are always on the coherent side.
All in all, I adore this game and probably will still be playing it a 17th time in 2030. Can’t wait.
Pretty, but too safe and sanitized, outside one particular route that feels like it's from an entirely different game. The true route also tries to nicely tie up too many loose ends, and most fixes it pulls feel unearned. Might have been slightly improved with a Queen route.