In To Have and to Hold, although it again brings Yuel and Tavi as central characters, ebi-hime gave up a fictional Middle East and brought the cousins to 21st century England. This change of scenery allowed, above all, to better explore the relationship between the two cousins, in particular several aspects that shape Yuel's personality. Also, here we have a visual novel that embraces both those who have already played All Ashes and Illusions and All Idleness and Ephemera and those who are meeting the cousins for the first time. Finally, there is a better balance between sexual and other passages throughout the short duration of the campaign, even if, this time, the soundtrack is not one of the highlights.
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Sea of Stars evokes nostalgia by bringing an adventure reminiscent of 20th century RPGs to modern consoles. With a meticulously crafted audiovisual package, charismatic characters and locations and lots of lore to be explored, its simplicity makes Zale and Valere's adventure a full plate for both veterans and newcomers to the genre. Even with a few caveats here and there, this game is proof that, although there are setbacks along the way, the result can be – and a lot – worth it.
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With all the positive points of Var Commons intact, Norn9: Last Era is a package that's very rich in content, bringing explanations and perspectives that were not explored in the base game. Unfortunately, some CGs were reused on the fandisk and some parts of the narrative are more padded than they should but, for fans of visual novels, the second trip onboard the Norn is quite worth it.
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Though it brings a vast character customization, an entertaining story and the possibility to visit the same story from two different perspectives, Cross Tails doesn't manage to be a highlight in any of these aspects among RPGs, as other games in the genre managed to do everything this KEMCO title proposes better. Besides, the audiovisual presentation also leaves something to be desired despite running well on Switch. Nowadays, there are better RPG options in the market. It's not enough to show potential if it's constantly hindered by the grinding in the long run.
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With Eyes of Ice, though not exactly an otome visual novel, is an excellent narrative by ebi-hime, who did not shy away from exploring scenery and habits different from those the author is used to write. Even though Iceland's Nordic culture (especially the names) may cause some non-European players to raise their brows, the plot is solid enough to keep your interest from start to finish, especially thanks to an excellent audiovisual presentation and characterization.
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Even with some narrative cliches and elements that could have been further explored in the plot, Loopers is an extremely beautiful and competent visual novel in its audiovisual and textual aspects, and it has a wide variety of configurations to make it more comfortable for reading. It's hard not to get emotional with the story that, despite being short, resonates a lot with bits of our daily life.
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Cassette Beasts, in essence, extends the mechanics of Nintendo's IP and gives the player a wide range of customization combined with the open world concept that many games currently offer. While the audio-visual presentation might not appeal to everyone, this RPG captivates with its well-executed story and diverse elements that evoke nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s. It's true that the Switch port deserved more polish in technical aspects, but Cassette Beasts doesn't disappoint when expanding on the mechanics introduced by Pokémon. Certainly, the game is a hit for those who like collecting and lots of fun and cute little creatures.
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"Jack Jeanne brings a simple and relatively cliche story, but it'll definitely please the fans of theatrical productions. Unfortunately, though it tries to reinvent the visual novel genre, the game is way too focused on the simulation and rhythmic elements, leaving the narrative aspect to the sidelines, something that, in my opinion, made the gameplay dull over time. Overall, the newest BROCCOLI port in the west is entertaining and handles the audiovisual presentation well with a remarkable dub and soundtrack and polished art signed by Sui Ishida, but, when weighing the pros and cons, I did not feel I was playing a visual novel.
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ghostpia Season One offers five chapters that make a complete plot. Analyzing it from a narrative standpoint, it's hard to describe this visual novel as the impact of the themes it works with will vary from player to player, but, overall, the story is satisfactory and intriguing, with the right amount of drama and comedy. The audiovisual choices are, certainly, the high point of ghostpia, though the lack of choices during the narrative and the confusing menu navigation may chase away some players who prefer more interactive visual novels. In the end, for those who like a dense and introspective reading, but well connected, here is a game that manages to hold your attention for hours without rest.
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Pupperazzi, while very simple, is a uniquely charming game and offers total freedom for the player to explore the locales and photograph the doggies at the player's pacing. Objectives help give a sense of progress to the adventure and, though its low-poly graphics may not please a lot of players, it has its charm. There are some performance issues when it comes to commands and menu navigation but for those who like casual titles — or just want an experience like titles such as Pokémon Snap —, Pupperazzi is a great pick.
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Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon might not be the kind of adventure Umbra Witch fans were hoping for, but the game manages to hold its own. With a unique charm that emulates a storybook, Cereza and Cheshire's quest through Avalon Forest is a good choice for anyone wanting to learn more about this iconic witch.
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Mato Anomalies biggest problem is not in its attempt to be a simplified Persona "clone" Persona, but in its performance problems — which, although not harmful to the gameplay itself, manage to test patience from time to time — and the excessive use of italics in texts. Even without much to offer for the genre, it is a charming and stylish RPG with a plot capable of instigating the player's curiosity from start to finish.
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Norn9: Var Commons is, without a doubt, a visual novel recommended for people who love sci-fi stories; however, at the same time, it's enticing even for non-fans of the genre with its well written plot and unique, charismatic characters. With quality of life features that make reading a breeze, minigames that break up the text density, and a great audiovisual presentation, the only caveat is how it leaves the main character behind but, otherwise, we have an excellent otome game for Switch.
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Record of Agarest War is another example of how a niche genre continues niche. The Switch port is competent and the game has some weak points, but with a weak narrative and way too sluggish combats, this RPG is hard to recommend nowadays. However, for those who want to revive the nostalgic times that won't come back, especially the games industry of the 2000's, Agarest War can be a good distraction to enjoy in homeopathic doses.
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Even without technical advancements in the emulation side, especially with unoptimized rewind tools and English subtitles, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II still is a great gift from Edia to the fans of this incredible series. I still feel Valis IV should have been included in the first collection and the absence of Mega Drive's version of Valis III bothered me a little but, overall, as a retro games fan, I can say it in no uncertain tone that the nostalgia hits the mark.
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However Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society manages, in a unique way, to improve all the characteristics Labyrinth of Refrain brought to the dungeon crawler subgenre. Though the story needs more polishment and the constant return to the operation base undermining the experience with the game, RPG fans can't overlook the unique aspects of this most recent NIS title.
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Fire Emblem Engage is, without a doubt, the perfect entry for players who want to discover all the strategic potential that the franchise has to offer. The already established concepts of the series are even better with the exclusive systems of the 17th entry, making even veterans need to take a little time to study what the new mechanics add to the experience. It is true that, in terms of narrative and social interactions, Engage may fall short for some, even more so after the experience provided by Three Houses. In general, this new Fire Emblem manages to be an innovative game, but that does not give up its roots at any time.
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A Space for the Unbound brings, with great charm and subtlety, an exciting story about the transition from youth to adulthood, traumas, personal desires and the consequences of intervening in the lives of the people around us, all with a touch of fantastic literature. Despite having some drawbacks, the game seduces with a well-crafted plot and a fantastic and immersive audiovisual presentation, making it an instant recommendation for fans of the adventure genre.
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Though it has some very specific issues, Shieldmaiden: Remix Edition adds a quality short adventure to Switch's library, with a big highlight to it being a 100% Brazilian product. With interesting mechanics, big inspiration on classic 16-bit platformers and irreproachable audiovisual presentation, this one is a good choice for indie titles enthusiasts.
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With its minimalist proposal, Ord. manages to establish its existence in the Switch library as a relaxed, thought-provoking game and, above all, aimed at the unpretentious and casual pastime. Despite some small flaws, if tried in homeopathic doses, this textual adventure is more than recommended for those moments when we lack something to do.
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