Tag: visual novel
Review: Winds of Change
Growing up as a furry in the late 90s and early 2000s, it seemed unthinkable that it’d ever be some degree of mainstream. Sure, animators on various cartoons... Read More
First Impressions: The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
Of the “classics” one is expected to play in order to consider themselves a “real visual novel fan,” one that is often mentioned to this day is Ever17:... Read More
Review: Altdeus: Beyond Chronos
The idea of visual novels in virtual reality has always intrigued me. Taking a genre mostly made up of 2D sprites and massive amounts of text, and turning... Read More
Review: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
I’m a huge fan of incredibly dense, complex stories. Ones that require active thinking from the reader to keep track of them, as they weave multiple narratives together.... Read More
Review: Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue
Here’s the thing. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered visual novels as a reviewer or as a gamer. Admittedly, most of the titles that I’ve come up... Read More
Review: Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star
Video games are finally becoming an accepted format to tell involved, intimate, and personal stories. At least, it seems that way to me. What was once the exclusive... Read More
Review: Necrobarista
When you think about the places games are created and developed, how soon does Australia come to mind? My wild guess for many is that it wouldn’t quite... Read More
Review: Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen
So this is a title with a weird approach. Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen is the first title in the Utawarerumono series, and also the last one to... Read More
Review: Signs of the Sojourner
I found myself feeling very divided in my opinions as I played Signs of the Sojourner. Actually, that’s not altogether true; my opinion was relatively clear insofar as... Read More
Review: Coffee Talk
When a game makes a splash in the community, whether big or small, any other release similar to it that comes after is bound to be compared to... Read More
Review: Tokyo Dark: Remembrance
Back in 2014, Square Enix entered into an interesting experiment. One that would help indie developers pitch ideas, gain public interest, and possibly receive assistance in the creation... Read More
PAX West 2019 Hands-on: N1RV Ann-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
A few years ago, a little indie visual novel called VA-11 Hall-A popped on to my radar. A cyberpunk tale told through the eyes of a bartender, this first release from Venezuelan studio Sukeban Games quickly made it into my list of favorite visual novels. The game was heavily character driven, mostly focusing on the day-to-day life and issues facing the people living in the game's dystopian setting, rather than the world itself. Read More
Review: London Detective Mysteria
When designing a character, an author can only hope that their creation will be one to stand the test of time. A character that readers decades from now, maybe even centuries, will still be able to enjoy and relate to in a way. A character that even those who haven't read the works they were created for can still recognize. Read More
Review: World End Syndrome
I really shouldn't like visual novels. I have no idea why I do, looking back at many that I consider my favorites. For as much weight as I put on quality storytelling, the VNs I remember fondly don't seem like they would hold up. Read More
Review: VA-11 Hall-A [Switch]
Ah, the common trope of the humble bartender. Always there to listen to the woes to whoever strolls in and needs to throw back a drink of their choosing. It's not uncommon for this trope to rear its head in storytelling in general, and for said individual to be the stalwart rock that dispenses useful advice to the protagonist and supporting characters. Read More
Review: Arcade Spirits
Back in the 80s, the arcade was the place to be! All the cool kids would bike on down to the local arcade after school to play the latest games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, fighting for high-score dominance while simultaneously stuffing their faces with greasy food, all lit up under a warm neon glow. Read More
Review: The Midnight Sanctuary
Open the Floodgates How often do you look at games that release in Japan, hoping and praying that they’ll eventually make their way west? Games that look intriguing... Read More
Review: Harmonia
A Tale of Tears Many pieces of media attempt to evoke certain feelings or emotions in the person consuming it. Maybe its as simple as getting said person... Read More