Uma VN com um mistério óbvio só que interessante, com uma boa ligação de seus casos e um plot twist planejado de forma excelente, além de uma produção visual fantástica que sabe construir suspense, faz bom uso de gore e de shock factor mas te entrega momentos tocantes pra apreciar sua beleza. Já citando alguns defeitos, a VN peca muito em seu conteúdo ero e sistema de rotas, ambos inúteis, deveria ter no máximo 3 finais ao invés de diversas conclusões superficiais, já o sistema de rotas não serve pra nada, as heroínas não são desenvolvidas de forma crível, as tornando somente conteúdo pra fanservice, o que é uma pena, pois existe potencial temático nelas, apenas o Reiji, o serial killer e a Toko realmente se destacam do elenco. O gameplay é funcional, nada muito diferente do que se espera de point and click investigativo, cumpre bem seu papel, ainda sim senti falta de algo mais elaborado. Temática interessantíssima sobre liberdade e obsessão, mesmo que não tenha sido trabalhada com todo seu potencial, creio eu. To no hype pro Second Episode, essa introdução me deixou curioso pra sequência.

Wow!!! Kara no Shoujo is such a massive step up from Cartagra, though I don't regret playing its predecessor (as there were multiple moments where playing it gave me a little extra somethin-somethin). Everything is better. Better characters, better story, better art, better gameplay that actually has you investigating and, more importantly, gives you the opportunity to get things wrong and watch how that plays out, which is something I almost NEVER see... this is considered one of the best VNs out there, and for good reason. Yes, you have to wade through a lot of offputting sexual and grotesque violent content (and a lot of it mashes the two up, which is disgusting), but I think the overall experience makes it worth it. My biggest complaint really is that the ending lacks that big "holy shit" climax that Cartagra and most other VNs have (though it does have multiple "holy shit" moments throughout the narrative that more than make up for it), instead opting to set up for the sequel. Still, you can't really go wrong with this one. Probably the best mystery VN that I've played thus far. 7/10.

A game about a quest for identity, fittingly set in the reconstruction period after WW2 when Japan struggled to regain a sense of cultural identity following the downfall of the Japanese empire. There's a permanent feeling of melancholy as characters struggle to find direction, often searching for external factors to justify themselves rather than looking within. It's not always the easiest read, not just because of the upsetting and ugly content but also the amount of repetition and the practical need for a walkthrough, but I definitely found myself captivated by this portrayal of 1950s Tokyo. Absolutely worth a read for anybody interested in VNs.