Nemo ante mortem beatus. "Nobody can be called happy before their death." (Herodotus, "Histories") - The era of "Necromancers" has come. The protagonists, Kibanohara Ethica and Nagaoka Souun, are young "Private Special Living Dead Stalkers". By practicing a special kind of martial art called "Close Quarter Armed Martial Arts", both of them have achieved great heights in their career. Out on a mission one day, Souun becomes involved in a fierce battle and meets a young girl. Remembering nothing but her name, "Hougyou Ilia", she has become the target of a mysterious group of necromancers. The ice-cold Tokyo of gunpowder smoke, living dead, crime and cybernetics. Now begins the battle of the living dead stalkers and the heroine with their lives at stake.
Reviews View More
Tokyo Necro is a vn which feels like it's going through the motions; shambling towards the finish line.
It wears the appearance of a VN from the company's glory days -- but its not.
The person who came up with the world, the characters, the general outline, wasn't the one who wrote most of it. That task was left to Vio Shimokura of Totono fame. While I'm going to critique this VN a lot in this review, I still think that Vio did a pretty good job given the way the vn was setup and the fact that he ultimately had to fill in the details for someone else's story. Unfortunately this here is the VN's ultimate weakness. That the person writing the story was incompattible and lacking the excitement to tell the story with justice.
Tokyo Necro is a post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk themed story about a group of zombie killing mercenaries hired to discover the past of a bubbly, amnesiac girl named Hogyo Iria while shadowy organizations threaten to upend and destroy everything our heroes old dear.
This setup doesn't sound awfully original, but it sounds like it should at least be entertaining, maybe action-packed; the trailer certainly promises a spectacle with the amount of 3d animated action sequences shown off. The reality is the story is more interested in exploring the way characters deal with death when living in
a world capable of temporarily returning those once dead to how they once were -- emotions and all. The emotions that gave these people their humanity rapidly decay -- only after 2 weeks, most are just a husk, at risk of harming those around them. Conceptually, the game is well-thought out. The characters all have their purpose in the story.
My problem with the game is the execuation of its main elements. Outside of the major characters, most don't grow outside of their basic setup. If the story was more plot-driven, shorter, I would be willing to overlook the other failings the game has. I also think the game not having much different narration with a certain plot critical moment where the route split is a big missed opportunity with how much the game tells you the characters are different.
The most obvious shortcoming was the game aiming to be spectacle driven. Scale-wise, the game has a large amount of backgrounds, cgs, sprites and animations. If you look closer though, outside of the more important story sections, the assets on average look generic, lacking in detail, and in the case of the backgrounds, blurry. In general I think the quality of the assets are mixed.
Finally, I think the prose of the story is lacking. As the story simplifies a lot of elements that would normally be explained through text using the animations, there isn't a lot the story really can work with to make the fight scenes interesting. They're caught in the awkward middle ground as I don't think the animation work is impressive enough to fill the void the flavorless prose leaves.
I think the best way to summarize the game is that its a lot like a seasonal anime that'll be forgotten over time. It doesn't help that the one who conceptualized the story is an anime writer.
It wears the appearance of a VN from the company's glory days -- but its not.
The person who came up with the world, the characters, the general outline, wasn't the one who wrote most of it. That task was left to Vio Shimokura of Totono fame. While I'm going to critique this VN a lot in this review, I still think that Vio did a pretty good job given the way the vn was setup and the fact that he ultimately had to fill in the details for someone else's story. Unfortunately this here is the VN's ultimate weakness. That the person writing the story was incompattible and lacking the excitement to tell the story with justice.
Tokyo Necro is a post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk themed story about a group of zombie killing mercenaries hired to discover the past of a bubbly, amnesiac girl named Hogyo Iria while shadowy organizations threaten to upend and destroy everything our heroes old dear.
This setup doesn't sound awfully original, but it sounds like it should at least be entertaining, maybe action-packed; the trailer certainly promises a spectacle with the amount of 3d animated action sequences shown off. The reality is the story is more interested in exploring the way characters deal with death when living in
a world capable of temporarily returning those once dead to how they once were -- emotions and all. The emotions that gave these people their humanity rapidly decay -- only after 2 weeks, most are just a husk, at risk of harming those around them. Conceptually, the game is well-thought out. The characters all have their purpose in the story.
My problem with the game is the execuation of its main elements. Outside of the major characters, most don't grow outside of their basic setup. If the story was more plot-driven, shorter, I would be willing to overlook the other failings the game has. I also think the game not having much different narration with a certain plot critical moment where the route split is a big missed opportunity with how much the game tells you the characters are different.
The most obvious shortcoming was the game aiming to be spectacle driven. Scale-wise, the game has a large amount of backgrounds, cgs, sprites and animations. If you look closer though, outside of the more important story sections, the assets on average look generic, lacking in detail, and in the case of the backgrounds, blurry. In general I think the quality of the assets are mixed.
Finally, I think the prose of the story is lacking. As the story simplifies a lot of elements that would normally be explained through text using the animations, there isn't a lot the story really can work with to make the fight scenes interesting. They're caught in the awkward middle ground as I don't think the animation work is impressive enough to fill the void the flavorless prose leaves.
I think the best way to summarize the game is that its a lot like a seasonal anime that'll be forgotten over time. It doesn't help that the one who conceptualized the story is an anime writer.
This review contains spoilers
SPOILERS
“No man is happy before his death.”
Herodotus, the Histories
In a dilapidated church, lined with empty pews, a single figure rises from their coffin; crows flee skyward and lotus petals scatter.
Thus begins the era of necromancers.
Tokyo Necro (TN) leads with this delicate scene and though what follows is an undeniably rip-roaring zombie filled cyberpunk bonanza—the kind of game it’s marketed as—it has ambitions to come full circle. The path we take back to this intro arms us with the experiences to challenge it: the residents of this frozen Tokyo must face the past, and in seeing that, we must decide the future. And so the question becomes: are the key players in TN strong enough to sell it?
Dynamic duo—the machine-like So’un and firecracker Ethica—would certainly have you believe so. So’un clings to his AI assisted EX-Brain with standard pistols, hoping it makes all his decisions for him; convert input to output, no more no less. Ethica on the other hand uses a smaller model of EX-Brain paired with a bombastic custom chainsaw—affectionately called Rabbit Punch. One is calm, business like, and just wants to get the job done, while the other intentionally goes against the grain, standing out as if for rebellions sake alone.
The two polar opposites form the heart of TN, and though the rest of the cast have some fantastic moments (and arcs, depending on the route), it was really witnessing how these two change over the course of the story that invested me. Across the four routes, their contrasting stories weave in and out to take many forms. At times So’un finds what he’s been missing all along and grows to value his humanity, but when he does, Ethica finds herself on a downwards spiral, losing her spark and what made her feel alive. It makes it even more heartbreaking when in the next you’ll see the reverse: Ethica living without regrets and So’un shrinking back into his tragic shell. It’s incredibly powerful.
It would be one thing to just knock this stuff out in one route, but it’s really how TN utilises the medium for maximum synergy that makes it all click for me. Every route is fully fleshed out and satisfying in their own right, but also contribute to each other like pieces of a puzzle.
Every time the end credits roll we hear the distinct voice of Sub-Con—the so called AI consciousness of Tokyo—sing us a broken song. But every time it plays, and the further you get, the clearer it becomes, and with it the frozen Tokyo on the menu screen lights up just a little more. It’s an absolutely beautiful touch and loops back to what I said at the beginning: TN knows and shows the cruelties and harsh realities life throws at us, but as you watch So’un fight for his new beginning, or Ethica overcome her past, it finally allows not only Sub-Con, but us, the player to deny the quote it leads on. When our characters follow their emotions, they are lead to happiness, and when they lose them, it all ends in tragedy.
TN's cast is stuck in the past: Milgram, Hokoyasu, along with all our main characters are used to explore a lot of themes. Ethica, however, is easily my favourite. While she is defined by a perceived frivolity, her character firmly denies that people exist to simply survive and her arc in Kiriri’s route is a phenomenal affirmation of homosexuality while also tying it all back to this core idea:
“But there to be something more meaningful out there, just waiting for us to find it.”
The results of the only two choices in TN are incredibly revealing, too. It’s only when Ethica intentionally goes against the EX-Brains decision that she survives, and for So’un, only when he prioritises Iria (his newfound love) over Milgram that he does.
To wrap up, while I do agree with a few peoples sentiments about TN not having the strongest prose, for my money it more than makes up for it with flawless theming, some inspired use of the medium, and a lot of heart. It’s a wonderfully constructed setting about people keeping a dead city on life support, and our characters literally fighting the dead (the past), but it’s only when they break away from it all and reach for that future that things truly begin to change for the better.
The dead cannot be loved, but despite our mistakes, we don’t have to join them yet: push for a new tomorrow, sit on the lotus throne together, and fill the world with colour.
“We’ll start our lives anew and live not for the past, but for the future; not for the dead, but for the living.”
“No man is happy before his death.”
Herodotus, the Histories
In a dilapidated church, lined with empty pews, a single figure rises from their coffin; crows flee skyward and lotus petals scatter.
Thus begins the era of necromancers.
Tokyo Necro (TN) leads with this delicate scene and though what follows is an undeniably rip-roaring zombie filled cyberpunk bonanza—the kind of game it’s marketed as—it has ambitions to come full circle. The path we take back to this intro arms us with the experiences to challenge it: the residents of this frozen Tokyo must face the past, and in seeing that, we must decide the future. And so the question becomes: are the key players in TN strong enough to sell it?
Dynamic duo—the machine-like So’un and firecracker Ethica—would certainly have you believe so. So’un clings to his AI assisted EX-Brain with standard pistols, hoping it makes all his decisions for him; convert input to output, no more no less. Ethica on the other hand uses a smaller model of EX-Brain paired with a bombastic custom chainsaw—affectionately called Rabbit Punch. One is calm, business like, and just wants to get the job done, while the other intentionally goes against the grain, standing out as if for rebellions sake alone.
The two polar opposites form the heart of TN, and though the rest of the cast have some fantastic moments (and arcs, depending on the route), it was really witnessing how these two change over the course of the story that invested me. Across the four routes, their contrasting stories weave in and out to take many forms. At times So’un finds what he’s been missing all along and grows to value his humanity, but when he does, Ethica finds herself on a downwards spiral, losing her spark and what made her feel alive. It makes it even more heartbreaking when in the next you’ll see the reverse: Ethica living without regrets and So’un shrinking back into his tragic shell. It’s incredibly powerful.
It would be one thing to just knock this stuff out in one route, but it’s really how TN utilises the medium for maximum synergy that makes it all click for me. Every route is fully fleshed out and satisfying in their own right, but also contribute to each other like pieces of a puzzle.
Every time the end credits roll we hear the distinct voice of Sub-Con—the so called AI consciousness of Tokyo—sing us a broken song. But every time it plays, and the further you get, the clearer it becomes, and with it the frozen Tokyo on the menu screen lights up just a little more. It’s an absolutely beautiful touch and loops back to what I said at the beginning: TN knows and shows the cruelties and harsh realities life throws at us, but as you watch So’un fight for his new beginning, or Ethica overcome her past, it finally allows not only Sub-Con, but us, the player to deny the quote it leads on. When our characters follow their emotions, they are lead to happiness, and when they lose them, it all ends in tragedy.
TN's cast is stuck in the past: Milgram, Hokoyasu, along with all our main characters are used to explore a lot of themes. Ethica, however, is easily my favourite. While she is defined by a perceived frivolity, her character firmly denies that people exist to simply survive and her arc in Kiriri’s route is a phenomenal affirmation of homosexuality while also tying it all back to this core idea:
“But there to be something more meaningful out there, just waiting for us to find it.”
The results of the only two choices in TN are incredibly revealing, too. It’s only when Ethica intentionally goes against the EX-Brains decision that she survives, and for So’un, only when he prioritises Iria (his newfound love) over Milgram that he does.
To wrap up, while I do agree with a few peoples sentiments about TN not having the strongest prose, for my money it more than makes up for it with flawless theming, some inspired use of the medium, and a lot of heart. It’s a wonderfully constructed setting about people keeping a dead city on life support, and our characters literally fighting the dead (the past), but it’s only when they break away from it all and reach for that future that things truly begin to change for the better.
The dead cannot be loved, but despite our mistakes, we don’t have to join them yet: push for a new tomorrow, sit on the lotus throne together, and fill the world with colour.
“We’ll start our lives anew and live not for the past, but for the future; not for the dead, but for the living.”
Something that branches itself out in its own right following no other philosophical work as a source a completely new work
A refreshing experience.
A revolutionary visual novel to bend the boundaries of what it really means to be a vn.
In terms of story and writing it was genuinely an appalling work putting the name of nitro+ to shame as it did failed to reach the marks and the expectations of something to be even relatively close to the likes of something like Muramasa,Hanachirasu or Chaos; Head.
A refreshing experience.
A revolutionary visual novel to bend the boundaries of what it really means to be a vn.
In terms of story and writing it was genuinely an appalling work putting the name of nitro+ to shame as it did failed to reach the marks and the expectations of something to be even relatively close to the likes of something like Muramasa,Hanachirasu or Chaos; Head.
This review contains spoilers
Being a while since the last time I read a VN, so decided it would be "Tokyo Necro" a tittle which I've being thirsty to try it out since it got translated on March. Needless to say it became one of my favorite Nitro+ tittles. How it throws a mesh of ideas altogether and the fucking commitment to make it work is phenomenal.
Setting up the world into an ice age cyberpunk future japan, an hopeless land infested of living dead, threatening by necromancers. And only our fellow dead stalkers shall bring light to our so longed tomorrow, yet to come. For no surprises here, Tokyo Necro is imbued with themes and dualities which progressively escalates.
From creating it's own UI packed with tridimensional views, immersive boot up and countless maneuvers beautifully bending their visuals. Felt as some sort of toxin was attached to my brain, while showcasing LMD imagery to what I witness within at the cost of my own eyesight getting worse.
As more info dump is compiled and archived. The merrier Tokyo Necro world unfolds their branched paths, architecting it's database filled with questions yet to be answered. An intertwined maze so to speak, expanding as the harsher content unfolds doubting it's morality and exposition.
I can't help myself but feel amazed how presents their dualities regarding human nature to it's core. Leaping on Tokyo Necro rabbit hole, and definitely not my uncommon fixation upon life and death speaking louder than my words. But an thoughtful process orchestrated within their emotions
Speaking of which, I love the contrast between Ethica and Souun during the fully 3D animated fighting scenes work. Giving a clean view from their distinct personalities upon making use of the full potential their budget weaponry provide. As successfully strive prior undead elimination agenda, on top of all the blood splashes though the screen with their life's practically on edge.
From one side of the spectrum we have our serious and gloomy protagonist Souun, committed to the job as he wields his dual pistols at each hand. With the assistance of his EX-brain he is able to enhance his capabilities re-eliminating the undead. Almost makes you think he is a machine from his lack of expressions, but only on the surface level.
While on the other hand Ethica shows sheer guts as she maneuvers though the battlefield holding her chainsaw on one hand, and her daring shotgun on the other. Harboring stubborn commitment not to use her EX-brain due her gripes with her old man, are reason to applaud as her herculean feats makes up for her reckless actions.
Fully 3D animated fighting scenes were a delight to experience though the whole course Tokyo Necro provided. The first aspect which baited me in from the unavoidable brain damage due sheer excitement, combined with rapid-fire inputs though the EX-brain visor. And let's not forget how music plays a major role as well. On the side note tho, I heard FMDM presents similarities, but giant mechs instead. So I'm curious to play into an inner future.
I guess it's pretty obvious by now that Ethica is my favorite character, so where should I start? Ethica trajectory, development and her all being is so real and grounding to me. Which not only give us some great character drama though and though, but raises discussions humanity left within this world due their visionary advances. In the end what truly means to be alive in a ice age world surrounded by death?
Every step she took I was there cheering out of joy, on beauty and the ugly Ethica carried that flashy smug though the whole course never giving up of being herself so passionately with her usual bravado. Just the good old Ethica, as she would say while bringing trust on grief. Earnest due powerless, and being that ray of sunshine who evokes hope though despair.
It's to what she stands for that makes her who she is, as Ethica's obsession living her life at her fullness without regrets left behind. Spreading her words with affection, but carrying some bittersweet as the deeper content unravels and tries to change who she is.
Ethica's chainsaw is symbol of her everlasting rebellion within the grudges from her past, harboring hatred and rush when the motor ignites an octave higher. Gloom and defeat when snap in half, only shows is way more than a cool way to mow down zombies.
If wasn't enough already. Ethica on top of all that is also one of the best well written lesbian characters I have witness. As gives us a flesh out take I never knew that desperately wanted. Yuri fans are for a treat, I say that much as a big Ethica fan and everything about her fascinates me.
As I mentioned before I'm a huge fan of the discussion/dualities that comes upon life and death. To my surprise it's not as straightforward bringing up the weigh loss, nor value life holds within loved one. It's more dissect, not holding back when showing it's dark content filled with cruelty and unsettling thoughts.
But at the same time brings emotions in to play considering our given setting wearing a morbid look with death knocking at your door. There is no right nor wrong, but there is however the engrained role necromancy plays out into Tokyo Necro. As a pivot witch purpose is to bring dead back to life at the cheap cost of their emotions.
From grudges the once dead brought back to life, or redemption due their sins when were living. It's a full platter constantly falling deeper into the rabbit hole, as chipping out your brain venturing though where the bottom stands among these forbidden acts within human comprehension.
But at the same time left me with an uplifting mood, as behind all the gore and atrocities being committed. As these character seek out their own humanity within this isolated and frigid world, though a psychedelic kaleidoscope imbued with endless sensations what is feels to live.
Setting up the world into an ice age cyberpunk future japan, an hopeless land infested of living dead, threatening by necromancers. And only our fellow dead stalkers shall bring light to our so longed tomorrow, yet to come. For no surprises here, Tokyo Necro is imbued with themes and dualities which progressively escalates.
From creating it's own UI packed with tridimensional views, immersive boot up and countless maneuvers beautifully bending their visuals. Felt as some sort of toxin was attached to my brain, while showcasing LMD imagery to what I witness within at the cost of my own eyesight getting worse.
As more info dump is compiled and archived. The merrier Tokyo Necro world unfolds their branched paths, architecting it's database filled with questions yet to be answered. An intertwined maze so to speak, expanding as the harsher content unfolds doubting it's morality and exposition.
I can't help myself but feel amazed how presents their dualities regarding human nature to it's core. Leaping on Tokyo Necro rabbit hole, and definitely not my uncommon fixation upon life and death speaking louder than my words. But an thoughtful process orchestrated within their emotions
Speaking of which, I love the contrast between Ethica and Souun during the fully 3D animated fighting scenes work. Giving a clean view from their distinct personalities upon making use of the full potential their budget weaponry provide. As successfully strive prior undead elimination agenda, on top of all the blood splashes though the screen with their life's practically on edge.
From one side of the spectrum we have our serious and gloomy protagonist Souun, committed to the job as he wields his dual pistols at each hand. With the assistance of his EX-brain he is able to enhance his capabilities re-eliminating the undead. Almost makes you think he is a machine from his lack of expressions, but only on the surface level.
While on the other hand Ethica shows sheer guts as she maneuvers though the battlefield holding her chainsaw on one hand, and her daring shotgun on the other. Harboring stubborn commitment not to use her EX-brain due her gripes with her old man, are reason to applaud as her herculean feats makes up for her reckless actions.
Fully 3D animated fighting scenes were a delight to experience though the whole course Tokyo Necro provided. The first aspect which baited me in from the unavoidable brain damage due sheer excitement, combined with rapid-fire inputs though the EX-brain visor. And let's not forget how music plays a major role as well. On the side note tho, I heard FMDM presents similarities, but giant mechs instead. So I'm curious to play into an inner future.
I guess it's pretty obvious by now that Ethica is my favorite character, so where should I start? Ethica trajectory, development and her all being is so real and grounding to me. Which not only give us some great character drama though and though, but raises discussions humanity left within this world due their visionary advances. In the end what truly means to be alive in a ice age world surrounded by death?
Every step she took I was there cheering out of joy, on beauty and the ugly Ethica carried that flashy smug though the whole course never giving up of being herself so passionately with her usual bravado. Just the good old Ethica, as she would say while bringing trust on grief. Earnest due powerless, and being that ray of sunshine who evokes hope though despair.
It's to what she stands for that makes her who she is, as Ethica's obsession living her life at her fullness without regrets left behind. Spreading her words with affection, but carrying some bittersweet as the deeper content unravels and tries to change who she is.
Ethica's chainsaw is symbol of her everlasting rebellion within the grudges from her past, harboring hatred and rush when the motor ignites an octave higher. Gloom and defeat when snap in half, only shows is way more than a cool way to mow down zombies.
If wasn't enough already. Ethica on top of all that is also one of the best well written lesbian characters I have witness. As gives us a flesh out take I never knew that desperately wanted. Yuri fans are for a treat, I say that much as a big Ethica fan and everything about her fascinates me.
As I mentioned before I'm a huge fan of the discussion/dualities that comes upon life and death. To my surprise it's not as straightforward bringing up the weigh loss, nor value life holds within loved one. It's more dissect, not holding back when showing it's dark content filled with cruelty and unsettling thoughts.
But at the same time brings emotions in to play considering our given setting wearing a morbid look with death knocking at your door. There is no right nor wrong, but there is however the engrained role necromancy plays out into Tokyo Necro. As a pivot witch purpose is to bring dead back to life at the cheap cost of their emotions.
From grudges the once dead brought back to life, or redemption due their sins when were living. It's a full platter constantly falling deeper into the rabbit hole, as chipping out your brain venturing though where the bottom stands among these forbidden acts within human comprehension.
But at the same time left me with an uplifting mood, as behind all the gore and atrocities being committed. As these character seek out their own humanity within this isolated and frigid world, though a psychedelic kaleidoscope imbued with endless sensations what is feels to live.
Shallow, unengaging, and surprisingly boring and repetitive given the hyper action scenes and dystopian premise. Like watching a prestige TV show but every once in a while someone gets fucked in the ass. The BDSM isn't even that good. Has loads of entertaining little nuggets, but it just cannot grip me. It's tried and it's failed. The poor writing and insane length of your average VN but without the sense of comfort that even a bad VN brings.
This is my second attempt to get through it. I got 2 and a half routes deep. I'll wait until I forget why I shelved it to try again.
This is my second attempt to get through it. I got 2 and a half routes deep. I'll wait until I forget why I shelved it to try again.
So'un just needed a footjob from Arby's and he would have been fine.