Laura Borrayo

“The visuals do leave a little to be desired, and the gameplay is nothing crazy, but this is a solid game for fans of the genre. You will find what you’re looking for here, I promise. I end my review by saying that if this is what we’re in for, I’m liking the direction Idea Factory is moving with their otome games. I’m hoping their future titles are filled with as much depth and content as this one.”

“Battlefield Waltz could have for sure been much more than it was. It suffers from bad storytelling and bad pacing, but the characters had so much potential and were so fun that this didn’t have to be the case. On the bright side, you probably won’t notice or care all that much about the story’s flaws if all you’re looking for is a gushy, tamed, romance sort of game.”

“I think if you’re a fan of the Hyperdimension Neptunia series and just want to see more of the characters and play an easy action game without using much brain power, this may satisfy that itch. But for those looking for more out of the titles they choose to spend $40 on, this three-hour escapade may not be for you.”

“Celestia: Chain of Fate has a bland story that throws the most important elements of the genre out the window. It strips you of your feelings of connection and accomplishment with your love interest due to there not being dedicated routes, and even the base story does a poor job of standing on its own. The characters can be fun to get to know, as long as you keep your expectations of them low. Add on to that the visuals and music are nothing to write home about and it’s just one big chore. Honestly, there are so many titles out there for the same price tag that I’d suggest leaving this one for the Steam sale or something.”

“Given how hard the last few years have been, I have to admit that it felt nice to play a game with low stakes. I had forgotten how great it is to just enjoy titles without worrying about putting in countless hours or gaining levels. I was truly just there to enjoy a visual novel that had all of the necessary components for success; a well-rounded cast, a short yet engaging story, and beautiful art.”

“All in all, playing Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei was a real treat. It has its moments where the story can feel like it’s dragging, as well as a few grammatical errors here and there, but if like me you have aged out of cutesy, under-developed romance games and prefer more mature themes and realistic (albeit still animeish) characters, I recommend you pick this up.”

“If this isn’t obvious by now, I was not a fan of Bustafellows. I have been playing otome games for a long time, so perhaps I have just aged out of the typical character tropes and bland dialogue that plague most of the modern releases. Still, I wanted to like it and admit that for fans of the genre, this game is definitely a diamond amongst the common rough that we get on a yearly (almost monthly if you count mobile games) basis.”

“It does have some minor flaws, among them its limited world and the nature of how some of the darker themes were handled, but for the low price-point and engaging experience, I wouldn’t let those things keep you from giving it a try. I am certainly glad I did, and look forward to future titles from GameTomo.”

“Half Past Fate: Romancing Distance is not a boring game, but I do wonder if it was a necessary one. I use games as a form of escapism, so I’m not really sure if I want to actively play a game where I am also living through a global pandemic that won’t let me leave my house or see the people I love.”