2020 Gaming Roundup & Awards / 7th Year Anniversary

This is the most amount of games I've played in a single year since... ever lmao. Thanks quarantine! (So apologies in advance now for all the images)

It's amazing to think that I've been (sorta) lurking here and on Twitter for 7 years now lmao. I always see other reviewers doing roundup and/or awards, so I decided to join in on the fun with my own version.  (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑✧

Table of Contents:

Game I Played - Otome + Mini Reviews

Games I Played - Non-Otome + Mini Reviews

Events - Personal | Gaming

Awards

Reflections

Ikemen Vampire - Leonardo Review

English Route release: 6/30/2019 (Regular) | 4/2/2020 (Voiced)

Artist: Yamada Shiro

CV: Tsuda Kenjiro

Tadah~ I'm here with a route review of Leonardo da Vinci, the first route of Ikemen Vampire to incorporate (partial) route voicing! Leonardo is the first IkeVamp route I've played, but as a TsudaKen simp it's only natural that I downloaded IkeVamp just for him lmao. But then I ended up really liking Leonardo so it worked out!

Since Leonardo's birthday is in April, it only made sense for this voiced update to drop in the same month. I also bought his birthday story "Filled With Your Love (His POV)" since I had some extra funds on my google play, so I'll briefly mention that at the end as well. (P.S. If you're a cheap gamer like me, doing Google Surveys are a great way to get some free money!)

Leonardo da Vinci is a quintessential Renaissance man who is also prone to easily falling asleep anywhere lmao. To quote from the game page, he "usually spends his days sating his curiosity by investigating anything that catches his eye. A bit of a long wolf, he appears to be hiding a deep secret..."

Havenless Review

Release: August 31, 2020

“Spring, a few months after a mysterious infection of unknown origin started spreading… I got infected, but still managed to keep my humanity. Even in this situation, there is something I need to find.”

Havenless is the latest game by LucyDream, featuring a mystery otome game that takes place during a zombie apocalypse! This was my first game by LucyDream, so I was really excited to give it a shot.

Character and ending spoilers & thoughts below! To see only my spoiler-free thoughts on the good & bad of the system and plot, jump to "Final Thoughts."

Shall We Date?: Blood in Roses - Prologue & System Review

Season 1 Release: May 2015

Season 2 Release: January 2017

Blood in Roses features 2 different alternate-universe protagonists, depending on which "season" you play. Both involve Mina, a magic user that is a descendent of the powerful witch Tatiana. Mina is a witch from a small village called Neuheim and is lead into the Idora/Idra Forest for different reasons - Witch Mina to pursue a vision she had, and Hunter Mina find to a cure for her sick sister since she cannot perform magic well like her ancestors - and eventually stumbles upon a castle called Hotel Libra Sincera. Inside the hotel are... vampires!?

 

Season 2 Mina (Hunter) is much more popular, and so many of the new characters and events revolve around her. In fact, Witch Mina has only 9 Love Interests while Hunter Mina has 22! Σ(･口･)

Café Enchanté - Exclusive Card Set & New Release Date

Today Aksys revealed that an exclusive 6-card set featuring the main characters will be included with first run copies of the game. Aksys currently hasn't announced anything like a limited edition, so these cards would be some cute merch to own!

While the game was originally slated for November 20th, it seems that Café Enchanté will now be released on November 5th!

I'm not the only one who's noticed this, but as a side note: I wonder why they wrote Misyr's name like that when the official romanization on the Japanese website is Miser? (Aksys also did the same with Sisi/Sissy in Code Realize) 🤷

Until next time! 

 

P.S. Considering Aksys' track record, I'm still not sure if I want to buy the English version or import hng

Cupid Parasite Regular Edition Unboxing + PlayAsia Review

A bit belated posting this but... My copy of Cupid Parasite safely arrived!! I've been looking forward to this game so much and at last it's in my grasp. Babbles below + a review of my PlayAsia experience.

The 3DS is Now Officially Retired

 
The 3DS had a lifespan of almost a decade, but alas all things must come to an end. The 3DS housed an impressive amount of games, and had unique features like StreetPass. And of course its 3D feature, although it tended to give most people headaches and drained the battery. However, while many lacked in backwards compatibility, the 3DS was capable of playing DS games as well, which made it even more valuable to gamers (like me) who still had their previous gen games they enjoyed replaying.

As someone who grew up on handheld consoles, I'll be a little sad to finally see support for this go. But with the massive success of the Nintendo Switch, it only makes sense for this to be the next step. However, I definitely won't be letting mine go just yet as there are still tons of titles I've never even touched. But hopefully this system's retirement means that 3DS games will finally lose their "Nintendo tax" and drop prices so that many great titles can finally be experienced!

Until next time~

Taisho x Alice Episode 2 Will Be Releasing Early!

 

Also on tumblr: [x]

Great news for TaiAli fans anxiously awaiting the next installment of the series! A tweet just went out that TaiAli Ep2 will be releasing a month early. Instead of in October, it'll drop on Steam either the 17th or 18th of this month!

Having a game release early is really exciting in general. I think it was also a smart decision from a PR perspective. Piofiore is also releasing in October, so the two games would've had to fight for publicity. But this way, each game gets its time to shine. 😉

Don't forget to support the company! The more copies that are sold, the more inclined they may be to localize the entire series. 😊

Until next time!

Ladies from 5 Otome Games That I Wish Had Routes

Yeah it's No Simp September but that's not gonna stop me!! Lmao.

After I made my "Otome Games That Let You Date Girls" post, I of course had to make a list of ladies that I wish I could pursue a romance with! I never used to wish about female characters having routes because my brain was like "well this is an otoge, so why bother thinking about it when only guys are allowed" lmao. But hey, a little dreaming never hurt anyone! This time, I'll also be including an indie game. And who knows, maybe I'll come back with a part 2 someday~

The Divine Speaker - Extended Demo Impressions

Extended Demo Release: August 12, 2020
Website | Twitter | Itch.io | Discord | Steam

"Does fate not exist after all?"

"The Divine Speaker" is an upcoming fantasy BL game by indie dev Two and a Half Studios. The demo is SFW with some slight spiciness but the game will be 18+ at release and in multiple languages. (Maybe I can replay this in multiple languages to help with my foreign language learning. 🤣)

Follow alongside Raen - an orphan from the secluded city of Aurelia Cavella, the only civilization on the entire planet... or so they're told.

Abandoned for his poor Judgement, the "destiny" given to him by the Divine Speaker, he grew up thinking his life would be plain and unexciting, and that's exactly how he liked it.

However, that all changes when he's expelled from his home on a death sentence, cast out into the vast and dangerous forest that surround Aurelia Cavella.

Raen must finally come to terms with the fact that there might be something else out there after all - and there's more to Aurelia Cavella than first meets the eye.

Honestly it was a complete accident finding this game and I'm so glad I did! Lots of gushing below the cut because this was such a delight. 

Otome Games That Also Let You Date Girls

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Shall We Date: Obey Me! Review

So I meant to post this back in May when I stopped playing but um... life happened. 😂

Release: December 12, 2019

Become the master who brings the handsome demon brothers down to their knees and enjoy life at the Academy in the Devildom! You have been selected to become an exchange student at RAD, a school for demons. Awaiting you are 7 ikemen demon brothers and a mountain of tasks...?! There is only 1 rule you have to remember to survive... One Master to RULE them all!

I'm here today with a review of the latest entry into the Shall We Date series: Obey Me! One Master to Rule Them All. You play as a genderless MC who is 1 of 2 chosen humans to be an exchange student in the Devildom, yet there's a special reason the demon ruler Lord Diavolo chose you as his student. Befriend and make pacts with Lucifer and his brothers, and discover your secret along the way.

This game is all the mobile hype right now so I decided to download it and force myself to play for 2 months.. but honestly I only did that because I wanted premium currency in other mobages 😂

It's been extremely popular since its release but... I feel like I'm the only person who doesn't enjoy it? 🤷‍♀️ Below are my thoughts after playing about 12 chapters. 

Cupid Parasite Animate & Stellaworth Limited Illustrations Revealed

If you buy the limited editions of Cupid Parasite from either Animate or Stellaworth, an A4 clear file with unique artwork will be included. However, those designs were hidden for some time.

At last, Otomate has revealed the special bonus illustrations! Drawn by Yuuya (who has also illustrated Cafe Enchante and Jakou no Lyla), the left image will be included in the Animate bundle while the right will be with the Stellaworth bundle.

Both illustrations are super gorgeous but I am absolutely in LOVE with the Stellaworth illustration. I tweeted this earlier but I just gotta say it again: The deep cut nightgown.... the thigh grab... omg... 💦

This makes me really sad that I probably can't get either limited edition because uh wow that art is so good haha. I wonder if I can find the merch and files on auction sites eventually... 👉👈

Until next time!

Blast from the Past - Palais de Reine in English Available Now!

 

SURPRISE!! Play KOGADO's classic diplomatic sim + medieval fantasy romance "Palais de Reine" on Steam NOW, remastered and in English for the first time! Lead your kingdom to glory, woo hot knights, and challenge the status quo! 20% off for a limited time! https://t.co/r5JjvuPlyz

— Degica Games (@DegicaGames) June 18, 2020

With absolutely no warning, Degica Games dropped an English version of Palais de Reine, available to play now! 

The player acts as the young princess of a kingdom who never expected to ascend to the throne. In the last year, her father died, and her older brother went missing. During the coronation ceremony, some of the leaders of the 12 provinces in the kingdom say they don't believe she can lead the country, and refuse to give their allegiance. 

The aim of the game is to win over enough leaders over a year to be accepted as the kingdom's ruler. This can be accomplished through different ways, including sending gifts, having your knights challenge the leaders to jousting competitions, and trying to assassinate them. You must also keep your kingdom fairly prosperous and quell civil disturbances and unrest. 

While doing this, you can also 'romance' characters, including the 12 leaders and your knights.

Wow she can't catch a break can she? 🤣 The first part of that summary also gives me Fire Emblem Sacred Stones vibes oop

Originally a PS2 game from 2006/2007, it's now remastered for PC. As a sweet bonus, this game is on sale for 20% off until June 24th.

This game came out before I got into otome, so this is all new to me! It's interesting that this is part strategy simulation rather than straight VN, and there's a looooot of characters. 

Gris [Switch] Review

First Release: 2018

Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality. As the story unfolds, Gris will grow emotionally and see her world in a different way, revealing new paths to explore using her new abilities.

GRIS is a serene and evocative experience, free of danger, frustration or death. Players will explore a meticulous designed world brought to life with delicate art, detailed animation, and an elegant original score. Through the game light puzzles, platforming sequences, and optional skill-based challenges will reveal themselves as more of Gris’s world becomes accessible.

Gris is a puzzle-platformer game released by Spanish indie developer Nomada Studio. It's published by Devolver Digital and is available to play on numerous platforms.

The controls for this game are very simple, and you learn more abilities as you progress through the levels, allowing you new ways to explore and interact with the changing environment. 

I would also like to point out that I was today years old when I discovered that "gris" means "grey" in Spanish... which is the color the world begins in when you start the game. 

Summer Game Fest - PC Gaming Show Highlights

Summer Game Fest is going strong with continuing their streams, this time bringing coverage about upcoming PC games, some of which were sneakily added to Steam. Even though a lot of developers were present there actually a ton of games I was interested in... But below are my favorites from the stream!

I would just like to point out, I can't believe their intro included this meme lmaoo. 

Pc gaming show really knows their memes #PCGamingShow pic.twitter.com/HgrWseI9la

— Joseph29 (@Joseph29_SSBU) June 13, 2020

Also to anyone who'd like to watch the stream in its entirety, you can find it here.

PS5 Reveal Event Livestream Highlights

On June 11th, Sony had a live stream that revealed how their newest console would look, along with a fair amount of games that are already slated for a PS5 release. Below are my personal favorites. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ And for anyone interested, here's a twitter thread of my really quick impressions as each trailer played, some roasted more than others.

「Rejet New Works Presentation 2020 TRY！」Announcements

Wow, it's been ages since I last sat in on a Rejet announcement video haha.

With everything going on in the world, Rejet has decided to do a special stay at home broadcast.

The host for this show is Toyonaga Toshiyuki. Guests appearing are Aoi Shouta (Marginal4: Shindo Tsubasa), Sawashiro Chiharu (Marginal4: Takimaru Alto), and Someya Toshiyuki (Marginal4: Nakama Teruma). 

The announcement here highlights the following:

• Revealing more information for their latest project called Carnelian Blood
• An anniversary program for the 5th anniversary of Marginal4's Unicorn Jr. 
• Information about the collab "Fabulous Night" by Rejet x Marvelous
• Surprise Dialovers collab

Café Enchanté and Piofiore [Eng] Available for Preorder

Café Enchanté | Piofiore

As of May 14th, both of Aksys's latest titles Café Enchanté (aka Gensou Kissa Enchante) and Piofiore Fated Memories (aka Piofiore no Banshou) are available for preorder on their US store. Both are priced at $49.99, and neither have a set release date yet other than "Fall 2020." It's also unknown at the moment if there'll be any sort of limited edition.

Piofiore is a Vita port while Café Enchanté is an original Switch game. Both games look very promising, so it's exciting that they're being localized! ヽ(｡ゝω・｡)ﾉ

If I had to pick out the two, I think I'm a little more interested in Café Enchanté. Mafia-themed media isn't exactly new haha but who knows where the game will go.

As a side note/rant... What's up with the localized name for Piofiore? The original title is ピオフィオーレの晩鐘, which can be translated as (The) Evening Bell of Piofiore / Piofiore's Evening Bell. But Aksys decided to add in a "Fated Memories"... huh??

Until next time~!

Shikorebo! ~Kimi ni Furetakute~ Vol. 1 Review

Shikorebo! ~Kimi ni Furetakute~ Vol. 1
Rating: R18  
(18+ Recommended (18推奨))

CV: Sawa Mannaka (佐和真中) a.k.a Nakazawa Masatomo

Label: BULLET

Scenario: Azuma Chikori (Plot Light)
吾妻ちこり（プロットライト）

Illustration: Nanado ne kayu (ななどね粥)

Release Date: July 29, 2016

You've been dating your boyfriend for half a year now, and are totally lovey-dovey with each other. But you're forced to become a long-distance couple when he has to relocate for work. At least he has a cellphone to connect you two and help make the days a little less lonely.

So I stumbled upon this drama and thought what the hell, let's try another adult cd lmao. I've actually known about Bullet for a while but unfortunately haven't listened to much of their works. So I decided it was time to fix that. •̀.̫•́✧

Read below for a summary and thoughts~

Chou no Doku's Questionable English Release

...Aka, how NOT to port a console otome to mobile. ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ Tune in to salt below.

Lip On My Prince Vol. 1 Seiya Review

Lip On My Prince Vol. 1 Seiya ~Intense Flame's Kiss~

CV: Namikawa Daisuke (浪川 大輔)

Artist: Yomi (読)

Release Date: April 23, 2014

Website:

Wow I remember when this series was first announced! Now that Rejet Archive has added LipOn to their channel, I decided this is the perfect time to give it a listen. I passed on listening to it back then because I was deep in classic Rejet hell and super into all their angsty and dark works lol... 😂

This cd features Seiya Kitano, a popular 2nd year "prince" at a neighboring school called Akanami High. He's a strawberry 🍓 addict and his totally transparent feelings about you make it obvious you guys are dating... right?

Below are thoughts & summaries, plus a bonus image gallery at the end!

Pipe Dream Demo Review

Polished Demo Release: March 27, 2020

Twitter | Itch.io | Kickstarter

A visual novel dating sim that follows the protagonist Robin as she enters college and finds friendship, love...and hopefully herself.

I don't remember where but I saw a post about this game and decided to give it a try. Pipe Dream is a slice-of-life Indie otome game developed by Notome Games. The game follows the adventures of Robin (CV: Melissa Dorsey), a college freshman who runs away from home to pursue a life where she can finally make her own decisions.

Read more below for my thoughts on characters and the demo in general. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ (Click to enlarge any images.)

Quick and Dirty Reviews: (Some) Early 2000s PC BL Games [R18]

Cheesy graphic brought to you by yours truly

You ever have those moments where you vividly remember something you did years ago? I just took a trip down memory lane and flashbacked to all the BL VNs I used to play back in the day lmao. So now I present: Quick and Dirty Reviews of some early BL games!

By no means is this an extensive list; I did have a life back then and couldn't spend all my time gaming (kinda..). Since I'm probably never going to write full reviews for most of these games, I figured this would be a fun little thing to do. Disclaimer: It's been years since I've played so my details may be fuzzy, although some games made more of an impression on me than others.

April Fools' Roundup 2020

A little delayed in posting this but... Happy April Fools' Day! With all that's going on the world, it's probably better to indulge in something that'll bring us joy, no? Below are the wonderful artwork and/or events from this year.

Will add more if I find any. As always, click to enlarge images.

Ken ga Kimi Released on Steam [JP/CHI]

Teased a while back by Beijing Happy Entertainment Technology, Ken ga Kimi has released today on Steam! Currently there is a 5% discount on the game.

Unfortunately to fans who play only English games, this game is available in only Japanese or Chinese (simplified or traditional). While it may not be as "accessible" per se, there are some good things about this release.

1. Ken ga Kimi for PC isn't suuuper readily available for PC purchase. Otherwise there's KgK for vita, or a twin pack with both the original game & the fandisc. 
2. Rejet has been known to not be very localization friendly... So I'm actually a bit surprised there's a Chinese translation available now. This doesn't necessarily mean that Rejet is open to English translations, but it might be a good sign they'll willing to possibly expand.
• I noticed a lot of people are commenting for an English translation as well. While it never hurts to try, it's not guaranteed either
3. This Steam version is based off the Vita version, so it comes with the extra goodies

Ken ga Kimi is a game I've wanted to play for ages and I'm happy it's getting exposure again since it always seems to be so popular. 

Part of me wants to buy the PC version because playing on a bigger screen is always nice. Another part of me though wants to save and import the twin pack version from somewhere... 🤔🤷‍♀️

But who knows! I'll reach a decision eventually lol.

Regardless, give it a play if you can and always remember to support!

That's all for now! Tune in below for some of the many beautiful art from this series. 😊

Shall We Date?: Love Tangle+ - Ryan Gray Review

So back in 2018 in preparation of Ryan's sequel coming out, NTT Solmare decided to make Ryan's route free to read. The only thing you need to provide are the talent points and the items. So obviously my cheap ass couldn't resist.

Ryan is a popular bartender at a prestigious bar called Le Ciel. He once wanted to be a film director and create his own scripts, but he gave up that dream to support his younger brother's - Cody's - dream as an actor...

Let me tell you, I'm glad this route was free because I would not have read it otherwise lmao. ヾ(＾∇＾)

(Also if you're unfamiliar with the story of Love Tangle, check out my post about the prologue here)

And now, tune in to salt below! As always, jump to "Final Thoughts" for no spoilers.

Taisho x Alice Episode 2 in English Confirmed!

In happier otome news, a special translation is now in the works. At the end of Otome Obsessed's/Vehura's stream last week, the translator for the first episode of TaiAi - Molly Lee (aka Verdelish) announced that translations for Episode 2 are underway!

[x]

Even though an all-in-one port would be nice, Primula has mentioned before that they will only release episodes on demand, so make sure to help support Episode 2 whenever it releases! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Until next time!

Otomate Art Tracing Scandal?

I just found out about this issue when I happened to see this tweet thread, which gives a summary of what's been going on regarding Yuiga Satoru, the artist for the Psychedelica series.

So I was told that there was a scandal in the otome game world again and when I looked into it with my informant:
Basically in December last year Yuiga Satoru (Psychedelica series) put up a blog post detailing their art being traced/pulled apart/being used as base by someone, "H"

— 雪菜 (@yukicchuu) March 21, 2020

Yuiga's blog post mentioned is here. (Titled 【平成のけじめ】). Her post discusses a timeline of events, including the drawing demonstration with a lawyer. She has also mentioned a bit of it on her Twitter:

[x]

Apparently Yuiga is compiling examples of traced art and supposedly has 300 so far. For a concise explanation about the lawyer and drawing demonstration, check out this thread.

Many believe "H" mentioned above is Hanamura Mai (Collar x Malice artist), especially since Yuiga tweeted the day after Collar x Malice released for Switch on March 12th.

Below is a comparison between Hanamura's Amnesia and CxM styles:

Coffee Talk Demo Review [PS4]

Full Release: January 29, 2020

Finally got around to trying out the demo for this game! 

 
Available for PC and console, Coffee Talk is a game where you manage your own midnight coffee shop, listening to the woes of those passing through as you give them a warm drink or two. Set in an alternate modern fantasy of Seattle, your cafe provides a respite from the world. 

The demo focuses on Freya, a human fictional journalist who is going through a bit of a writer's block, and Lua & Baileys, a succubus and elf couple who are trying to gain approval from their families.

Rejet Archive - A (Legal) Way to Listen to Rejet's Old Dramas

It's no secret that Rejet has been trying to crack down on piracy for a long time now, using various methods throughout the years.

However in these trying times of self-isolation, Rejet has begun uploading many of their old dramas! I just discovered this channel and I'm so glad I did.

So far there's classic Dialovers (of course), Seventh Heaven, Wasurenagusa, and Soubou Sangokushi, along with some sound collections.

There are some conditions to the content they upload:

• 3 or more years passing since the original release (seeing some of these original dates... wow do I feel old lol)
• No plans for the CD to be rereleased
• No bonus/tokuten dramas

For updates to their uploading schedule, sign up for channel alerts and/or follow their twitter here.

Besides Dialovers, I definitely recommend giving Seventh Heaven and Wasu a listen - and be prepared to cry too. It's also a convenient way to relive the feels from the first time I listened haha. I never got the chance to listen to Soubou, so I'm grateful that Rejet is uploading these.

Grab some tissues for all those tears and enjoy! It's time for classic Rejet baby ヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ)ﾉ

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town English Release Announced! [EU/NA]

After months of waiting, an English version was finally announced for the remake of one of my beloved childhood games: Friends of Mineral Town. If you're in Europe, you finally get to experience this game on July 10th.


Alas, this is only the Europe/Australia version so far but... Hoping Xseed will announce a version for North America soon. Or if not, I'll just import lmao. Nevertheless I am super excited about this announcement because I was worried all the technical problems would prevent it from showing up outside of Japan.
Edit: The North American version will be available on July 14th!

Animal Crossing Themed Switch Reveal

Img Source

Not even 12 hours ago, Nintendo of America and Nintendo JP on Twitter announced that there will be a Limited Edition Switch inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Like other models, it will be priced at $299.99

Heave Ho (Switch) Review

Release: August 29, 2019

Heave Ho: The game where you're allowed - and encouraged - to yeet your friends to victory!

Heave Ho tasks up to four players with a simple goal – don’t fall to your death! Players will use their own two hands and the outstretched grip of their friends to grapple across each level on their way to victory. Grab one another’s hands, climb across dangling bodies, and swing your pals to safety in a wobbly, dangly mass of limbs. Customize your character with all manner of stylish accessories and zany accouterment in a vain attempt to remember who you are and which of your hands is the only thing between you and the plummet of doom.

Summary from Nintendo 

If you're looking for a new multiplayer game to play with friends then you should pick up a copy of Heave Ho, available for Switch and PC. I played it recently on Switch with some friends for a few hours and it was a blast! The game can support up to 4 players, although I'd recommend at least 3 to get some great shenanigans.

Happy New Year 2020! Video Game Roundup

Welcome to the new decade! As customary, there are always special art released for the holidays. Not a ton of art unfortunately, but will update as I find more ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/