Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Chuusotsu: A Thought-Provoking Story in a Lighthearted Package

 Video Games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Aug 062018
 

After I played the demo for Chuusotsu! 1st Graduation: Time After Time, I backed it on Kickstarter.

From the demo, I expected it to be a lighthearted, funny story set in a weird world with a wacky dystopian setting.

And it was! But it was also much more than that.

In this world, everyone is given a seal that determines their job and capabilities. The main character, Arue, is a Chuusotsu, someone who didn’t graduate from middle school and therefore lost her seal. Without a seal, she is both physically and mentally weak, but she signs up for a program that will help her get a chance to take a re-evaluation test.

She and two other Chuusotsu girls are given an apartment to stay in, but there is a condition: they have one week to reach full synchronization with each other and answer the philosophical question, “What makes a wonderful life?”

As I read it (it’s a kinetic novel, so there are no choices), my first impression was that it was the most lighthearted dystopian story I’d ever seen. The three main characters are lovable, there’s lots of goofy moments, and it made me laugh… despite the obvious dystopian setup of their society.

Yet as I read more, the story became more meaningful. It’s pretty funny at times, but it also takes a serious look at Arue’s past and the decisions that brought her to this point. Arue is also torn between two things: what she believes she needs to do (pass the re-evaluation and become a government worker to support her family) and what she wants to do (write manga). You might see the ultimate message coming from a mile away, but it takes a serious, heartfelt journey to get there.

And it doesn’t shy away from the dark side of the setting, either. My early view of it didn’t quite hold up. It has lighthearted moments for sure, but it knows it’s a dystopia.

There were a few twists in the story I never saw coming, and while the main plot wraps up nicely, it does leave several questions for the potential continuation teased at the end.

Click for major Chuusotsu spoiler
More than anything, I’m curious about how they changed Kokoro’s fate. Arue credits the butterfly effect with altering certain things, and that works for most of the changes (in one scene, Arue notices that the anti-Chuusotsu message board gets more extreme in each loop, and I assume that is tied to how they interacted with Kokoro and what she witnessed them doing), but not that final change.

Kokoro would have already had her job long before that week, so how did their final time leap change that? She also spoke differently, which makes me believe it wasn’t a sudden change.

Since the Soul Link machine keeps a record of being activated even after a time leap, my guess is that it–whatever its true purpose is–played some role in changing Kokoro’s past.

There’s a side story coming up next that I’m excited for, but even more than that, I hope they write (and translate) a sequel. I’d love to see more in this universe.

Overall, Chuusotsu! 1st Graduation: Time After Time is a thought-provoking visual novel with a good message about friendship, following your passions, and what makes a wonderful life. It looks cute and quirky on the surface, but it also has a lot of depth.

A New Visual Novel I Wrote is Available Now

 My Games, Video Games  No Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Jul 132018
 

When I discussed my romance stories for Valentine’s Day, I mentioned my work on the script for another visual novel in the style of My Strange Girlfriend.

Well, it’s available now!

My Devil Girlfriend: Romance You Choose is out now on the Google Play Store for free with in-app purchases (both of these will eventually come to iOS).

This one follows a young man who gets mixed up in a plot involving three devils who enter his school disguised as normal students. Three romance routes are available, and these visual novels use the model where you can play for free but need to unlock certain premium choices with an in-game currency.

My Devil Girlfriend leans more toward fantasy than the previous one did, since the devils and their powers are so important to the story.

Writing these has actually become a pillar of my freelance work, so expect more of these to fill out my Games page in the future.

Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend is Cute and Hilarious

 Reviews, Video Games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jul 062018
 

Considering my love for mad scientists, maybe it’s no surprise that my first BL visual novel would be something called “Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend.”

Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend follows a mad scientist named Dr. Frank, who devotes himself to the typical sorts of Frankenstein-style experiments you’d expect.

Then his boyfriend steals his research to present as his own, and Dr. Frank comes up with the only logical revenge: building the world’s best boyfriend!

If you haven’t guessed, this game doesn’t take itself too seriously.

As Dr. Frank prepares his dubious revenge, with his poor assistant Iggs helping out despite his better judgment, they go from one absurd situation to another. Digging up graves while hoping no one sees, dealing with the fact that the monster considers Dr. Frank to be his father, finding a replacement arm when they lose one…

While it’s mainly a visual novel, it’s a bit of an adventure game hybrid as well, with a few sections that let you explore Dr. Frank’s house to find the items you need. It has a nice built-in hint system where you can ask Iggs for advice if you get stuck.

There’s plenty of humor in these sections as well.

Dr. Frank is a funny (and often immature) character, but there’s also a serious message beneath all the silliness as his character develops.

This visual novel was cute and a couple parts made me laugh out loud. The only downside is that it’s pretty short. It took me a little over an hour to get both endings. On the other hand, it’s also free, so it’s hard to complain.

If the developer ever makes a sequel to Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend, I’d be happy to see where this dubious mad scientist’s journey takes him next.

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