Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue Reviews
Aokana – Four Rhythms Across the Blue is the type of game you can recommend to someone who is interested in dipping their toe into the world of visual novels.
Aokana is an entertaining Sci-Fi Sports Fiction story, that is ultimately hard to stomach due to a plethora of lewd and toxic moments packed throughout.
Aokana is a wholesome underdog story ruined by panty shots and sudden nudity. This being said, if you can see past the fan service, the distinctly unlikeable protagonist and one note characters – OK, that's a lot to look past – this actually comes together to create an engaging tale of overcoming fears and the power of friendship, and you can't help but root for them.
I adore Aokana. From its characters, to its visuals, to its made up sport, I thoroughly love it all. It's the kind of story that will captivate you while saying and ultimately doing little. For visual novel fans on the Switch it's another triumphant port, and one that has me eager to see what PQube decide to bring us next.
'Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue' is a visual novel faithfully following "Boy Meets Girl" themes. It has unique settings to build up great story not only as teen-romance but also coming-of-age story, however, some erotic scenes seems to be spoiled this game.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Aokana took me over twenty hours to complete. It seems that Misaki has the longest route while the others are much shorter in comparison. Though I wish there were more meaningful dialogue options, presentation wise Aokana shows just what you can do with a visual novel. The story is a nice change of pace with a good blend of sporting action, comedy and romance. It’s also made me really really wish I could fly.
Aokana is one of the prettiest visual novels I’ve seen. It has a surprising amount of depth to a sport that could’ve easily been a background excuse for the events to occur, and instead, we get techniques of flight and details explanations about the sport with diagrams. The game has a great story that unfortunately falls a bit with each heroine’s route, with some of them having potential for much much more. As a statement for Aokana’s quality, despite the flaws, the game is still highly recommended for anyone who enjoys visual novels.
Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue is an excellent visual novel, whose charismatic characters and personal dramas are deeply engaging. By developing its story around a fictional sport and also offering good moments of comic relief, it is able to explore a variety of emotions, masterfully demonstrating the necessary qualities for the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Aokana - Four Rhythm Across the Blue is a romantic visual novel with erogue overtones. This game tells us a sport’s school story through a world where people can fly thanks to antigravity shoes. It has a beautiful illustration stands out on the plot and the soundtrack, two points are already excellent. We will have four routes to choose with very well created characters and many CG images. I consider it an ideal game for anyone who wants to enter otomes or gives them a chance. Likewise, people are already used to playing these games, they will enjoy it very much.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, Aokana is a really engaging story with characters that truly grow on you the more you see them. While there may be a few hiccups with some finicky controller options, there isn't any other issues "gameplay" wise. The story is entertaining and rather fresh as it has no gimmicks used as a fall back, there are tons of graphics for displaying both the sport matches as well as characters, and the vast majority of the cast are truly interesting to watch interact with other people. While these types of stories are generally pretty subjective, if you even have an inkling of picking this title up, at the very least you shouldn't come out disappointed.
Surely one of the best visual novels nowadays, not just for the great history that they explain, it's because they make you feel so much inside of it. Also, it has a great design of characters and world with a very good soundtrack.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Aokana is one of those romantic visual novels where yes, you are eventually trying to win over one of your classmates. But, it’s structured in such a way that the journey, your school life, and the Flying Circus team you help coach feel equally important.
Ultimately, reading Aokana often feels like eating a variety pack of candy. Sure, there may be some flavors that don’t hit in ways that some do. But the ratio of good outweighs the bad here, and opening the box in the first place is a safe bet for a good read.
Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's one of the most interesting visual novels I've played lately, all thanks to the world it creates and the lovely array of characters.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
“Censorship” is one of those words that always feels oppressive, and yet Aokana – Four Rhythms Across the Blue doesn’t need any of that adult content because it’s not the game’s point; this is an uplifting, frequently hilarious visual novel that succeeds on the quality of its characterizations and the sneaky rhythm of its conversations that makes it possible for deep-seated trauma and dirty jokes to coexist without either extreme being jarring. It’s fantastic.
Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue is an enjoyable sci-fi fantasy visual novel full of compelling characters and exceptional presentation. The Switch offers a pleasant way to experience the game through portability at the cost of downscaled resolution. Although it may miss its landing with the main character’s plot and several forgettable themes, there’s so much here that will keep you soaring through each and every route.
It’s nice to know that my already-high expectations for visual novels can still be surpassed from time to time, and I have Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue to thank for that. Despite mainly focusing upon basics such as love, friendship, and determination, the whole of it ultimately culminates into sublime VN experience. If you like VNs, you’re going to like Aokana. It’s really that simple.
I would highly recommend Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue to visual novel fans who enjoy either the sports theme or the light comedy style the story is told with. While I did have minor complaints about the romance in most routes, I felt it was one of the best visual novels of 2019.