Volontes - Nintendo Switch Review

Volontes by developer and publisher LocaGames—Nintendo Switch review written by Natasha with a copy provided by the publisher.

 
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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Long long ago, high in the clouds, there existed a kingdom where no one ever seemed to get sick. The sun always shined and people lived surrounded by magic. They had the freedom to create and explore the many facets that this kingdom had to offer, without fear.

However... there was one thing they could never do...

They could never save their progress---!!!!!!

*Wakes up in a cool sweat, clutching my Switch* 

“Oh, thank heavens! It was all a dream.” I tell myself as I gently cradle my console. “I thought I was reliving my 3DS days. I'll never forgot the time where you couldn't save before a decision. So many handsome lives could've been saved with such a simple solution. So so many...”

~

From Farmer to Mage

Have you ever grown up feeling like you don't belong? For our Heroine, that's the feeling she lives with everyday in her small farming village. But it's not her only secret: she can see the dead, or silhouettes of those who once walked the earth. She has kept this secret even from her family, but her brothers and sisters adore her and the village people have shown her great kindness. Why scare anyone with something as silly as seeing the dead? Everything seems to be going great, until the knights of the kingdom run through your home, bringing the Shadowblight (a plague) with them. Killing everyone in the village, they continue to scream one thing “Find her!” Not wanting to get caught our heroine runs into the forest.

After nearly escaping death, our heroine finds herself being rescued by a mysterious man who came from a floating kingdom in the sky. Dazed and confused, she finds herself being healed by sorcerers who have started to claim her as the legendary Moon Witch. How does one wake up with magic running through their veins, without ever knowing...until now.

Now sporting her new life and status, it's up to her to prophesize the future of everyone around her. Will she be able to educate herself quickly or fall victim to a possible scheme?

A Magical Distillery of Men

A Mysterious Kingdom in the clouds must have some breathtaking bachelors in this newfound land. What's that? The Moon Witch is not allowed to love? Even with these tall glasses of MMmmmMmm? Superstitious traditions will not stop me! Bring on the LIs (Love Interests):

Oliver Paquet (VA: Kazuyuki Okitsu {Olympia Soiree, Piofiore, Jack Jeanne})

• Fate Handler

• Conniving Bastard

The mage who saved you from death. This long dark haired magician may seem like a hero, but he also seems to be hiding a lot of secrets. Perhaps he'll soften up with your daring personality? Besides, what could be more daring than spending time with someone you are forbidden to love?

Ismail (VA: Souma Yamato {First Otome Roll})

• Doctor, Please! Kiss it Better?

• Chick Magne

The practitioner to the royal family itself, this soft-spoken dark skinned dreamboat may just take you out for a lovely stroll around the kingdom. Since you are an outsider with the ability to see into the possible future, nothing screams “You can look, but don't touch” more than you. As a healer he has many patients, but it's not everyday he gets to study a Witch up close. You might be TOO tempting.

Emmanuel de Beaumont (VA: Yuichiro Umehara {Birushana, Jack Jeanne, Radiant Tale})

• Alpha Vibes Galore

• Loyal to a Fault

A noble man, with no magical properties, he makes up for his lack of magic by dedicating his time to domestic affairs within the kingdom. However he does not believe you are who people say you are. Trust is earned, not given and he wastes no time in making sure you know he's all business. A soft approach may not be the best tactic. Maybe he likes someone who can give him a challenge? Don't be afraid to stand your ground!

Melodie (VA: Tatsuhisa Suzuki {Uta no Prince, Diabolok Lovers, Lover Pretend})

• Plays with your Heart Strings

• a 'Sharp' Tongue... get it?

The palace bard, this minstrel also doubles as a knight. Hard to get along with he keeps everyone at a distance, yet his music alone draws you in. If he plays such beautiful pieces, maybe there is something beautiful inside? Considering you are the inspiration for the kingdoms current tale, you are the centre of most of his musical numbers. If that doesn't scream ROMANCE then what does?

Feels Like a Classic

Funny enough, the feeling I get when I play Volontes reminds me of my days playing Hakuoki and Even if Tempest. The deep story telling, the simple backgrounds and soundtrack, and very little notification on whether or not you're romancing your LI. This makes the game more challenging for those who don't like to feel like the game is holding your hands and saying “Go this way, it's much more rewarding!”

Speaking of similarities to other games, the soundtrack strangely reminded me of a Fire Emblem game. Not sure if it's just me, but I get strong medieval kingdom vibes. Volontes also puts the pressure on since one wrong move will give you a game over. Being a very squishy heroine means you get killed easily, so saving multiple times is highly recommended.

In a Kingdom Far Far Away in the Sky

To conclude, Volontes is an Otome game that sticks to old play styles and gives the player a rich and vibrant story about kingdoms, magic, witches and forbidden romance. Volontes makes sure to keep you on your toes in choosing the right decision or else you may be greeted by death's sweet embrace. Preferably I'd like a man, but to each their own. The headmistress of the college of magic would like to grade you on your performance. A solid 7.5 out of 10. Study harder and you may reach top scores one day. Maybe being a Witch isn't so bad after all.

~

“Alright, seems like the story is about to take a turn for the worse. Better make sure I save---”

[Error] Cartridge is not sitting properly in the system. Please, reconnect.

[Error] Progress lost.

“No...”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Score: 7.5 / 10

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Date Everything - PC Review

Date Everything by developer Sassy Chap Games and publisher Team17—PC(Steam) review written by Natasha with a copy provided by the publisher.

 
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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*Knock Knock*

“Delivery!” 

“Weird... I don't remember ordering anything?” Pulls open the door to find a strange package with a note on it.

Note:

Dear Writer!

You have been chosen, out of a random raffle that you probably forgot you signed up for, to take our newest prototype glasses for a test spin. CONGRATS! We hope they improve your “Creativity” in your writing adventure!

P.S: Try not to @#$% everything!

“Okaaaaaaaay...” As I open the box I am greeted by a stylish pair of spectacles! With a shrug of my shoulders, I swap my current prescription lenses, for these fishy ones. Suddenly, everything in my apartment turns into hot people. Smiling and beckoning me closer. I clear my throat.

“As the great Argus Filch, caretaker of Hogwarts, once said: Oh, dear... We are in trouble...”

~

Is It Weird to Date Your Furniture?

Have you been feeling down? Lost your job? Are you an introvert who wishes to find true love, but can't seem to pull away from your anime waifu or husbando? Look no further, because Date Everything is a Visual Novel, Dating Sim that takes some unknown forces, or mad genius, that decided to have pity on your soul and sends you the perfect pair of scientific glasses that turn most of your household amenities, furnishings and doohickeys into personified stud muffins!

What's that? Don't believe in such fairytale like gadgets? Well, too bad, because they're real and they're about to up your dating life with a one of a kind experience that most people only dream of! The 'finding a hot date' kind... not the fact that you may (or may not) be able to make out with your Bed, Fridge, Bath, Etc... The list goes on and on.

I never thought writing a review, while my PC gives me the bedroom eyes would be so hard? LITERALLY!

A Global Palate Worth Exploring

There are over 100 dateable characters to meet in your home. Some are easy-peasy, while others can be tricky-whicky! Luckily your phone will keep track of all ROOMers you hear in your home. Your Dateviators (the name of your funky, spunky, glasses) will highlight items of interest that may be be your next potential victi---- AHEM---- I mean date, which is handy in wondering whether or not you can flirt with your light socket. Who knows? Try them and find out, that's half the fun! Even keeping track of time will become essential. Tick, tock, people!

You also only have 5 tries in a day to start up a conversation. That counts toward one you've already had a chat with, so you will have to keep track of what counts as the same character for certain items. Example: Your night stand, coffee table and dinner table all count as the same person.

AND ANOTHER THING! WHY DOES ALMOST EVERYONE DO THE LIP BITING THING!?!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THAT AFFECTS ME? LIKE, BEYOND BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH! I KNOW I'M A SNACK, THANKS!

Not to mention that all 100 dateables are fully voiced by different voice actors. You may recognize one or two. Or ten. There's a lot, so chances are at least SOME you'll recognize.

There's Someone/Something for Everyone

One of the biggest things that stands out to me in this game is the shear amount of detail in each character that was carefully crafted. From height, to gender, to ethnicity, to quirks, to ABSOLUTE nut cases. Can't handle certain personality types? Don't worry, because the game has set up trigger warnings incase you're uncomfortable with certain... stereotypes? They've gone to such lengths to make sure no one is blindsided by certain individuals that may stir up past traumatic memories of real life experiences.

So, if I wanted tall Nigerian Princes, or a Shadow Daddy, or even a Samurai Warrior to sweep me off my feet, this title's got your back!

Let's Take a Minute to Check Those SPECS

One of MANY interesting aspects that the game will teach you about in romancing, be-friending and rivalling is the SPECS meter. Short for Smarts, Poise, Empathy, Charm and Sass. For each relationship you develop you will gain some points that will eventually help you to REALIZE those who you wish to grow a stronger connection with.

Uh oh, happen to piss off the wrong person? Maybe you were “FREIND-ZONED”? Don't worry, because there are these tasty little candies that'll open an opportunity to hopefully rekindle that relationship. Careful, though, they aren't easy to get. So Chews wisely!

I May Never Leave My House Again

To conclude, Date Everything is a modernized Visual Novel Dating Sim with almost everything for everyone. It doesn't go above and beyond to force you into any uncomfortable or unwanted situations/relationships. It gives out ample opportunity to make careful, or crazy, decisions. Visually stunning characters and dialogue for days. And overall, an abundance of content just waiting to be discovered. If you have the time, patience, PASSION and heart, then perhaps this dating sim is your calling. I'm happy to give this game a rating of 9.5 out of 10!

~

*Checks SPECS*

“50 out of 100 lovers?” Readjust the Dateviators. “I'm, half way there, baby!”

Score: 9.5 / 10

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Tengoku Struggle Strayside - Switch Review

Tengoku Struggle Strayside by developer Otomate and publisher Aksys Games and Idea Factory—Switch review written by Natasha with a copy provided by the publisher.

 
Estimated reading time: 5 1/2 minutes

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LISTEN UP PRISONERS! You're all aware of the despicable sins that you've committed. *Slams both hands down on a desk* Why else would you be down here???

What's that? You don't know? Then maybe I should educate you on your misdemeanors. *Moves away from the desk to pull out a whip*

You so much as swoon, squeal, screech, moan, pant, fan, or flirt with any of these deliciously SINFUL men, *points towards the five bachelors* you will be punished! *Cracks whip across the floor*

SHOW SOME SELF CONTROL, PEOPLE! THEY'RE JUST 2D MEN!

~

I Sentence you...

A life of infernal punishment is what awaits those who have sinned before death. Tengoku Struggle – Strayside- takes us on a journey through hell as the daughter of the King of Darkness himself. Rin Enma, a transient, has just graduated from her Hell Guardian classes and is tasked with her first mission: retrieve the prisoners who have escaped from hell. Determined to prove her worth, she is blindly assigned some assistance: four notorious criminals who have been hand-picked from the different circles of punishment. Rin, who isn't a fan of men to begin with, reluctantly travels to the human world and begins her search for these escaped inmates. However, she'll have to resist temptation from these clever miscreants, or maybe they'll be able to untangle the threads of doubt of our young maiden's past.

Roll Call

This time around we've been bless-- *Clears throat* excuse me-- assigned some VERY bad boys. It's our job to make sure that they complete the mission of capturing and returning the escaped inmates. The human world is full of temptation for our sinners and it's up to us to keep them in check... too bad they're all so, mischievously, gorgeous.

Yona Murakami (VA: Suzuki Ryouta) {Jack Jeanne}

• Man of the Sea

• Sweet Tooth

• Sir Blushalots

A Tsun-Tsun with fiery red hair, ocean blue eyes and a body that won't quit. Sentenced to the Revival Hell for murder, this sharpshooter has the ability to pierce through your heart. Don't let his lopsided attire fool you into thinking of him as an easy target. He'll fight back with vigour and sometimes doesn't play by the rules. But if you can catch him unaware of your presence, you might find out how big and soft his soul is.

Sharaku Toushuusai (VA: Ishikawa Kaito) {Piofiore, Bustafellows, Dairoku}

• Love Doctor

• Mr. Clean

• Hot Trash

A playboy who is always ready to get down and dirty with anybody. It's no surprise that this sweet talking, hands-on, hat wearing individual was sentenced to the Crushing Hell for perverted acts. Would you really waste your time on such a gigolo? Perhaps, if we brush aside the brown hair that covers half his lovely face; we might be able to charm him into becoming ours, and ours alone.

Kikunosuke Uga (VA: Saitou Souma) {CollarXMalice, Birushana, Charade Maniac}

• Werewolf in Asakusa

• Gamer Guy

• Sis-Con

This pup may have some sharp claws, but he's happy to loaf around and play games all day. Sentenced to the Black Rope Hell, his compact size and nimble foot work makes him an ace in thievery. Don't let his light brown hair and golden eyes fool ya. If you're not too careful he may just steal your heart, so long as you can distract him long enough to stop chasing after his little sister.

Geomon Ishikawa (VA: Yashiro Taku) {Cupid Parasite, Paradigm Paradox}

• Heinous Criminal

• Master Chef

• Timeless Lover

The most ruthless, devious and baddest villain of his time period is also really, REALLY... sweet? Wait. How is someone from the Eternal Hell, the deepest circle of the eight realms of Gehenna, so kind, skillful, and considerate? This criminal who has disheveled brown hair and chocolate coloured eyes can't possibly be the man of our dreams? Or could he be hiding something more?

JacK (VA: Furukawa Makoto) {Steam Prison, Even if Tempest, Cupid Parasite}

• Let Me Whisk You Away

• Deja Vu

• Animal Briber

A two-faced somebody with a strong passion for ceremonial tea serving. This tuxedo hair coloured human has a secret that stretches beyond belief. His heterochromatic eyes have more pull than his magnetic personality that seems to feed off of our naivete, but maybe we just crave to be human again. Could he help us see the light?

Good Behaviour

I've been excited about Tengoku Struggle -Strayside- for quite some time, considering the creator is the same as Olympia Soiree, my #1 Otome Game. So it doesn't surprise me that this story came jam packed with thrills and chills. The biggest key point here is the visuals: beautifully drawn to capture every character's good and bad sides. The colours pop and the detailing that is carefully picked for each individual is evident in their appearance.

We can also never turn a blind eye to the amount of steamy scenes that this game so generously grants us. I won't lie that there were a few that had me bouncing off the walls with excitement. *No lifeforms were hurt in my mass hysterical parading* Though there were times I had to wipe the steam off of my glasses just so I could continue my playthrough.

All and all, if you're looking for a romance visual novel to spice up your life, Tengoku Struggle -Strayside- has got you covered. *Slowly give you a thumps up*

Solitary Confinement

My only gripe about the game was the amount of misspelling and overlooked translations that got missed. I could probably count on both hands fully the amount of mistakes I've picked out in the game's text. Not sure if someone was in a hurry, but if I'm able to point out so many typos then I'm sure others will as well.

To Repent or To Sin

To conclude, Tengoku Struggle was a nice return to a rich story-line packed full of adventures, fantasy inducing shenanigans and gut wrenching moments that will have you screaming “MORE”! This Otome game is recommended for a more mature audience, but if you can take the heat and the heartache then I highly suggest you buckle yourself in, cause you're in for the ride of your life. I'm giving this title my rating of 9.5 out of 10. If they somehow go back in with an update to fix all those grammar mistakes, then this game will bump up to a perfect 10/10!

~

And that's it on today's class! I hope you can take what you've learned to reign in those urges when the going gets hot.

Now, you five! *Points to the main LIs (Love Interests)* I've prepared a Private lesson for all of you! *Closes the classroom door behind the other vacating students with a loud locking sound*

Score: 9.5 / 10

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Variable Barricade - Switch Review

Variable Barricade by developers Otomate, Idea Factory, Design Factory and publisher Aksys Games—Nintendo Switch review written by Natasha with a copy provided by the publisher.

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Have you ever dreamed of living in a luxurious house with a well tailored butler and several beautiful men swooning at your feet, desperately vying for your attention, and being able to come at your every beck and call? Well, look no further because this dating sim game has just that scenario.

Buckle up ladies and gents, because this one is going to be a wild roller coaster of uncontrollable events between you and four other eligible bachelors.

The Story

Our story begins with Hibari Todo, a 16-year old heiress who is just trying to focus on her education. While attending her all girls school she is suddenly surrounded by four strange, handsome young men who all ask for her hand in marriage. Confused she heads to the main family estate only to be informed by her grandfather that it is time for her to pick a suitable husband to aid her in becoming the family's head. One problem... each of her suitors comes with some unfortunate baggage. Marriage fraud, gambling addict, kept man, and a walking talking debt machine? What was her grandfather thinking? To rub salt on that open wound, she has to move into a house and live with all four of them. Angry and hurt, Hibari does everything she can to ignore these four boisterous fellows with all her might, and yet, they still seem to worm their way into her caged heart. Will romance bloom or will Hibari make each and every one of them realize that they are just wasting her time?

Meet Your Future Husbands

Wanna get to know a bit about your, possible, future husband? Well here's a taste of what you (and Hibari) have to look forward to:

●     Ichiya Mitsumori who is a 26 year old with dark blue hair. A romantic who'll cook you breakfast, lunch and dinner. With his charming Romeo personality you might fall for his constant shows of affection, but let's not forget his attempt at marriage fraud and continuous false hallucinations that you and he are already madly in love.

●     Taiga Isurugi who is a 23 year old, pink haired, free-spirited individual with an attitude. His bluntness might throw you off, but he speaks from the heart. Try not to wear your heart on your sleeve or you'll activate his mischievous side. He loves nothing more then teasing, gambling, and his motor bike, but if you ask nicely he might give you a ride.

●     Shion Mayuzumi who is a 22 year old, half-Japanese half-French blond, with a love for beautiful things. His well-mannered upbringing may seem genuine, but let's not forget his multiple admirers from around the globe. He'll always complement you on your beauty, but whether it's just based on looks or from the heart is hard to say when he seems to always hide behind his fake smile.

●     Nayuta Yagami who is a 20 year old, light blue haired, puppy dog kind of guy who'll do just about anything you ask of him. Sometimes being too nice can be a bit overbearing, and with his gullible nature it's no surprise he finds himself swimming in debt. With the amount of energy he has it's surprising he doesn't put it towards something more productive. For someone who doesn't hesitate to take orders, maybe you can convince him to pay off some of those loans?

Choices, Choices, Choices

This wouldn't be an Otome game without making your own decisions. As the protagonist, it is your job to choose how certain scenes unfold. The choices you make, when prompted to do so, will result in future outcomes. A nice little saving grace, and I mean saving, is the ability to make a save slot before making a big decision. If you find that your choices didn't get the reaction you were hoping for, then you can reload your last save and choose the other option(s). Each previous choice you have chosen will be highlighted in blue, just in case you'd like to return later and view the other possible options.

Storyboard Madness

I've played many Otome games, but I have to say this is the first time I've come across a visual novel with a storyboard function that allows you to choose which path to work on. As you play through the story the game will play each event like a set of episodes.

Once an episode is finished, you'll be in intermission mode on a board that charts out the different events. Each event has a colour coded meaning. Black squares are events that are not yet available to access. Green ones are events that are available to play through. White squares are shown to have two different meanings. One is to show that you've gone through the event already, while others will have a lock over the square, indicating that it will only become accessible once certain conditions have been met. It's a nice little display that keeps you up to date on your progress. Another added detail is the special event icon. These small rectangular blocks will be visible on certain events, hinting that you may come across a special CG moment if you play your cards right.

Alongside the event board are two other features that become available later on in the game. One being the WHIS (the equivalent to your text messages) and RABI (your robotic pet rabbit).

Your WHIS is your phone and the messages you receive from other characters throughout the game. You'll be notified on any incoming message via an exclamation mark over the phone. These small messages are nice little banters between you, your friends, and your suitors. At times you may be able to pick certain ways to reply with a toggling option when it is available, making certain conversations different. It doesn't add any romance points towards your suitors, but it is a fun little way to pick at them.

As for RABI, he is your personal robo-pet companion that has the ability to walk around the house and record footage. Unbeknownst to your bachelors, they only believe that he was a gift from your dear friend. Sneaky, sneaky of us. You can choose where to place him around the house in the hope that you'll catch a brief moment between the other men that live in the house. You may find out secrets or weaknesses they wish to keep hidden from you.

My Knight in Shining Armor

As I mentioned before, your story progression is tracked through the story board. However, the game will throw in bachelor arcs for you to enjoy. These event arcs are specific to each of the individual suitors, which you can choose from.

Each bachelor has a level specific arc, each beginning with level 1. The game will prompt you to explore each bachelor character arc at least once, clearing the first level, most likely to give you an in-depth experience of how each guy acts when you are having a one-on-one moment with them. Once you've played through everyone's Level 1 chapters you'll be free to focus on who your heart desires.

After selecting a suitor, you'll play through their character act. While playing through the events you'll be face to face with choices that'll either rack up Romance Points or Logic Points. If you choose the answer that's more towards your love interest they will slowly level up during the arc. Pick logic over intimacy and Hibari will level up. At the end of the character arc, which will be shaped in a knight's piece from a chess board, depending on which choice you made and who levelled up higher you'll perform a 'Barricade Battle', a short little skit that will play out the result of your choices. Once the battle is finished you'll be rewarded with your chosen ending.

A Soundtrack Full of Twist and Turns

For most Otome games the soundtrack is usually nothing fancy. Just the right amount of mood music to set the scene. However with Variable Barricade I find myself lifting an eyebrow at the choice of score pieces that play throughout the story. Is it bad? Not necessarily, but at points I find the music to be a bit... animated? Sporadic? Goofy? It's like I'm going from listening to a nice serene piano piece to suddenly being thrown into a circus, or going from a warm homecoming string piece to a 1990's, old school 18-bit rumble. I'm not saying they can't have a bit of silly moment music to set said silly moment in action, but almost every piece comes off as discombobulated. It's a bit... different than most Otome games I've had the pleasure of experiencing. At least the romantic scenes are, well, romantically accurate in terms of setting the right tone of music.

And They all Lived Happily Ever After?

To conclude, Variable Barricade was a nice twist to a usually predictable Otome game. It chose to pace out the story in a way that gave you more control. Your potential husbands are tasteful and quirky, making each moment you spend with them a nice surprise. The music does have some questionable tracks, but still gets the job done.

Overall, this visual novel continued to peak my curiosity, making it hard to set down. I'm giving this game an 8.5 out of 10. Now, if you'll excuse my rudeness I have a couple of match making friends I have to deal with.

Score: 8.5 / 10

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Bustafellows - Switch review

Bustafellows by developer NIPPON CULTURAL BROADCASTING EXTEND INC. and publisher PQube Limited—Nintendo Switch review written by Natasha with a code provided by the publisher.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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Think you have what it takes to be the best journalist in town? Well, clasp on that jacket and adjust your hat, because we're going undercover and through time, that's right, TIME, to stop those dastardly bad guys from ruffling up our feathers. Oh! And make sure you grab a couple of hotties along the way, because this super sleuthy dating game is going to make you weak in the knees.

The Story

In this Otome game you play as our young, sweet-eyed journalist Teuta, who's thirsty for any good scoop. Her primary interest is the law and order of New Sieg City, USA. Together with her two childhood friends; Adam, the top news anchor, and Luka, a well respected officer of the NSPD, she takes a brave leap forward into the darker underside of the city. There she comes across a crooked lawyer, who ends up dying in his attempt for justice. Unbeknownst to him, our wall-flower protagonist has a gifted secret: she can go back in time.

Desperate to save his life, she jumps back into the past, taking over the body of someone else, and rushes to save his life. Curious by this strange chain of events, Limbo Fitzgerald, New Sieg's top lawyer, takes Teuta under his surveillance and introduces her to his hidden organization of specialists. Will she crack under the pressure of being in an unknown environment, or will she get more than she bargained for? I think I see romance in your future, little time traveler.

The Action

Like most Otome games, Bustafellows is split up into chapters. Each chapter will focus on an individual member of the organization, allowing you to get to know each of their personalities and background stories. Along the way you'll have to make choices and each choice you make will have an impact on these characters. If you sweet talk them you might end up getting their character ending, which is the lengthy final chapter in the game. So if you've been eyeing tall, dark and handsome from the start of the game, make sure to pick subjects that'll raise their affection level towards you.

Meet the Cast

Let's take a closer look at our lovely bachelors. Limbo Fitzgerald is a 27 years-old Lawyer, and although people on the streets call him a crooked lawyer, he is extremely skilled and many see him as a hero of justice. He dresses ready for the court room, and he may sway you with his short brown tussle hair and pale blue eyes.

Shu is a 28 years-old hitman who lives his life chasing down other hitmen. He may have a bad habit of smoking heavily, but his top-class martial-arts skills and long range weapon capabilities might catch your interest. He may come off a bit intimidating at first, but you'll know he's taking a shine to you once he starts teasing ya. Tall, with wide shoulders and short white hair that's mostly swept to one side, you might catch a glimpse of those sandy brown eyes.

Helvetica is a 26 years-old plastic surgeon who is popular with the ladies in New Sieg. He loves beautiful things and will people-watch women on the street, judging them on their appearance. A bit narcissistic and arrogant, but if you can overlook those obnoxious points you may just see the tender soul that hides behind the veil of deception. Try not to trip over your own feet when you're gazing upon this tall, slender built brunette that sports pink tipped fringes, spectacles and honey yellow eyes.

Mozu is a 25 years-old coroner who works with the police force. He is often misunderstood by his emotionless responses and indifference towards others. He likes to examine people by explaining how unique everyone's bone structures differs from the rest. A bit socially awkward, but if you find you like the quirky nerd who likes cycling, with black shoulder length hair, with electric yellow tips and sparkling blue eyes your heart may skip a beat.

Scarecrow (Crow) is a 22 years-old cyber-geek and professional hacker who is famous on the internet and refers to himself as the Boss of the Underworld. Always been a home body and doesn't normally appear in public, he's extremely shy towards girls. He is regularly picked on by the group for his silly behavior, but his heart is as soft as his brain. If you get a drive out of teasing an inexperienced computer genius with no other skills, who has cropped brown hair and magenta colored eyes you'll get the warm and fuzzies over this adorkable guy.

The Ups and Downs

This game had a lot of positive aspects that stuck out to me: beautiful characters, catchy lounge music, intense story-telling and colorful art backgrounds. I also found that the characters will sometimes have their back to the camera, which is a perspective I've never seen before. If I had to say anything bad about the game, it is that some opening or ending scenes will have the characters talking in the background, but there won't be any text box explaining what they're chatting about. Most Otome games are voiced in Japanese, which is fine, but for those who don't understand the language, this might be very irritating.

I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING!

Conclusion

Overall, Bustafellows' story and characters are quite compelling. I found myself falling in love with each and every individual and there are plenty of moments in the game that'll keep you on your feet. The choices you make will affect the outcome of the ending and which bachelor you may, or may not, romance into your arms. I'd happily give this game a 9.5 out of 10 for being extremely fun and heart pounding.

Score: 9.5 / 10

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DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation - PC Review

Date-A-Live is a long running novel series in Japan, complete with an anime, side volumes, and 20 main volumes released. Rio Reincarnation is actually a set of three Visual Novels that would be considered side-stories from the main novels, consisting of Rinne Utopia, Arusu Install, and Rio Reincarnation, now available in North America for your viewing pleasure.

I should probably preface the bulk of this review with two things. First, I’ve actually read a lot of the actual novels, at least past the point that they are relevant to the game, or games in this case, which was volume 11 or 12. That being said, if you’ve either watched the anime or read volume 7, then you’ll basically have all you need to know. Alternatively, there’s a handy digest under Rio Reincarnation (as opposed to under the banner of Rinne Utopia or Arusu Install) that summarizes up to the point you need. Secondly, since these are all side-stories, all the main characters, or “true route” characters, can’t have any impact on the main series, meaning a lot of the character endings end up either feeling very lackluster, or require a box of tissues on hand to soak up your tears.

Since these types of Visual Novels are basically “choose your waifu”, I’ll just give you a general layout of the premise behind each, although they do all build off each other, so it is suggested to play them in order of: Rinne Utopia, Arusu Install, Rio Reincarnation. The basic gist of the series as a whole is that there are these “spirits” that are invading the world, and they cause “space-quakes” when they emerge into the real world from their spirit realm.

In true harem/galge fashion, for whatever reason (actually explained in the novels), all the spirits are female. Also, they aren’t really invading, they’re just trying to exist, and have no real control over when they get ejected from the spirit realm, to an extent at least. The main character, Itsuka Shido, has the power to seal the power of the spiits provided he can make them fall in love with him and then kiss him. While this is actually explained in the novels, it’s not really important to the trilogy that is part of the “Rio Reincarnation” release. Hence, the only way to prevent spirit related damage is to either kill them or kiss them **queue ending theme song from first anime season**.

Your cast of date-able targets include the already sealed spirits as well as the title characters, for the most part. Rinne Utopia starts off the three part package with Shido having an issue with the power of the spirits running the risk of going berserk. In order to quell this, he must go on dates with them to help stabilize their mental state. Arusu Install has the previous game gang plus a few more trapped in a virtual reality game trying to teach an AI what love is through a series of potentially very wacky “love situations”, as they’re so deemed. Rio Reincarnation is more or less of an append or bonus to Rinne Utopia with the basis of Rinne Utopia’s world setting popping up again, and a young girl who calls herself Shido’s daughter, and tries too give a sort of option for all the “dead end” characters.

All the games play in the same fashion, as most Visual Novels tend to do. You read text and make choices, and there is a town map where you can view skits with friends and side characters, and then choose a date-able target. You can view two side skits before having to choose a girl to take on a date. There isn’t really anything else, other than the fact that the games can actually rely on you seeing certain endings in order to unlock additional routes. Everything else is pretty standard Visual Novel fare.

The art is nice, and I’m pretty sure the character graphics are done by the same people who you may know for the Neptunia franchise, so they have that “active” feel as they breathe and blink along with you. The music didn’t bother me either, which tends to be a really big issue I have with most Visual Novels. My favorite part of the Date-A-Live series as a whole though is just how entertaining and diverse the characters tend to be. Yes, the writing is rather good, with serious sections punctuated with some slapstick humor here and there, and events that may make you reach for the tissue box. More than that though, every character always seemed really unique to me, like there isn’t really any overlap between characters and they always have something that keep them from being a generic character trope representation.

With characters with a wide array of personalities, a solid written script, solid visuals and a really basic system, there’s a lot going on in favor of Rio Reincarnation (the package). There were some issues with the games occasionally “freezing”, where you could hear the game progressing, but nothing happened on screen. Thankfully tabbing out and then back in solved that problem.

You get a lot out of Rio Reincarnation, with three games worth of content, and a bunch of extras in the form of bonus 4-komas and even some bonus novel segments that you can read in the extras. Date-A-Live isn’t for everyone, and if you’re looking for a lot of fanservice then you’re probably going to be disappointed, but if you want a rather legitimate story with some humor and don’t mind the harem-y aspect, I would implore you to give Date-A-Live Rio Reincarnation a try, or even take a stab at the anime or actual novels.

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Compile Heart
Publisher(s):
Idea Factory International
Genre(s):
Visual Novel
Dating Simulator
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
PS4

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Richard

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Angels With Scaly Wings - PC Review

So when it comes to dating… let’s just say that I don’t really know the first thing. If you really want to confirm? You just need to ask Breanna. We never really dated and then suddenly it's almost five years later that we have been living together. So when it comes to a Dating Sim, involving dragons no less, the level of depth that I was out of seemed insurmountable. Thankfully, your eyes and ears of this world is a rather smooth talker with both the men and the ladies. The only catch is that you’re here for a reason and because nothing is ever easy as there is a serial killer on the loose.

The planet Earth has gone to hell with solarwinds having fried just about everything that had brought Humanity into its Golden Age. Having discovered a portal, a part of Humanity views it as their last chance to save a city that has walled itself off from the outside chaos. The city is running out of power and whatever can be found on the other side of the gate is all that stands between the cities survival and it being torn to pieces by those living outside its walls.

Humanity one day found its answer. The portal connected with another and messages were passed through. Not long after a deal was made. Information for power generators. Sending one human through as an ambassador was nerve racking enough while waiting for answer. Suddenly word comes back. He’s alive, he’s well, but he’s the only human as the race on the other side is a race of Dragons that evolved in a similar fashion to us. Equipped with a few PDAs of the information payment in order to receive the power generators, you prepare yourself to cross through the portal and meet this other race as a symbol of your own.

After stepping through this portal the rest of the adventure is what you make of it. There’s an overarching plot but everything else relies solely on your choices. Who do you talk to? How do you talk to them? Are you nice? Are you an outright ass? What I thought was interesting is that in certain cases even nothing was an option. You had the choice to simply sit around and read a book instead of getting to know the people of this world better.

Angels with Scaly Wings was all kinds of interesting. Visual Novels themselves are still new to me as it’s strange to even call this “playing” as much as it’s experiencing something that has been well crafted. The dialog is well written and it flows easily between the various characters involved. Taking things a step further is that each character is associated with a color to even further help the distinction between them. Even the cast are varied from a Grocer / Bartender to a Genetic Physicist and a Police Chief. Adding in a Cafe Waitress, a Disgruntled Police Officer, a Secretary, and a Minister and things can get interesting as long as you let them. This mean not staying inside on that comfy looking couch all day.

Visually the experience is easy to look at. Soft colors are used and the visual designs of the Dragons are very well put together. It was nice to see that each character had differences such as smaller ones with longer arms, Wyvern types with no real arms as they are part of their wing spans, wingless dragons that were hulking masses of muscle. They had different designs, they had different colors, they were different. Like our own race that comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so did theirs and it was a much more believable experience because of it.

Not everything is pretty in this world however. It has some of the same problems that ours does and the occasion to help does arise when you are offered for an input to help out at a crime scene. Several of these come up and you can be as serious or as ridiculous as you wish. If you want to help them picking the right kind of answers will help about the location of the murder or possible weapons used. Those involved will appreciate you more for your cooperation but like the rest, that’s up to you and how you feel about lending a helping hand.

Mechanically there’s one feature that I have to praise the developers for and a lot more even in non-visual novels / dating sims should use. Using the spacebar to move a conversation forward would move the conversation forward but if a choice appeared it would not simply move it along if you accidently hit it. The famous “well shit” moment in which you aren’t even sure as to what you said can’t happen. To enter a choice you had to either hit the Enter key or use the mouse on the selected choice. This boils over even to the tablet mode, if your laptop has one, in which touching the screen to move forward will move it forward but it requires clicking on the actual choices to make them.

Angels with Scaly Wings is a great experience to sit down to. Visually appealing artwork is supported by well written text that flows from one chapter to the other. Having several choices in order to pick from was simply a bonus with the mechanics that are designed to allow you to pick without accidentally choosing something you wish you hadn’t said.

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Radical Phi
Publisher(s):
Radical Phi
Genre(s):
Visual Novel
Dating Sim
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
N/A

Source:
Purchased or Provided by Publisher

Article by Pierre-Yves

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