Edit: I added some details about bad reads on this game if you'd like to spoil yourself
Solid little horror work with a neat gimmick and top-tier voice acting. Deals with similar themes and concepts that you'd expect from 07th Expansion works, and unlike prior console release games written by Ryukishi -- this one is actually technically a proper 07th Expansion title.
It's extremely evident Ryukishi worked closely with the sound design and with the facial expressions seen in the game, which are brought perfectly to life by Itaru's wonderfully cute artwork. The two are really an ideal pairing and I hope they work together again in the future.
Also, this has the added benefit of not having the same bloated content as his WtC games or RGD, with each "round" only being around 30 minutes or so long.
The setting is essentially a vehicle for the girls to have heated conversations with each other until they show their hidden feelings for each other, all of which is brought to life via the stellar performances and art direction. There's also plenty of SoL flashback scenes where you get to see the girls interact in a less constricting environment
As for gender roles, it's very in line with with his previous works with very stereotypical, almost old-timey traits (Remember Umineko's whole white horse deal with Battler?)
I think it's very exaggerated and misconstrued, but Umineko fans be like that /shrug
tl;dr: Pretty neat, albeit kinda gimmicky game about girls trapped in a death game. Anyway, cool game!
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Spoilers from this point about bad reads on the game
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A major plot point in this game is completely misconstrued in an attempt to smear it as an awful, nasty little transphobic game, but it feels like a complete misinterpretation of the work.
A center theme is that women/girls are not this idealized, pure image that many men have.
The character this relates to most, being one of the biggest spoilers in the game, relates to the mysterious boy character. This character, who we later learned in named Sora, spent some time with all the main girls and grew close. Being around them he came to a misunderstanding about these girls, in that they are pure beings incapable of anything that isn't butterflies and sunshine. This misunderstanding/idealition leads Sora to wishing for this world he's imaged in his head -- the world of girls.
Things get a bit muddier her, but it's important to realize Sora's wish doesn't come from a place of dysphoria, or even gender dysmorphia -- but under the false pretense that women and girls do not fight or have conflict, that they are always happy and get along, unlike men who only fight. There isn't a crises of gender identity or anything actually associated with the aforementioned. Realizing that is a must.
The work is essentially a criticism of narrowminded views on women, from certain men. The idea is that women are just as complicated, hence the "Kaleidoscope" that Ryukishi beats you over the head with.
Also, the conversation in which most of this happens in is such a batshit setting piece
Basically, Gerosaku is a greatly misunderstood work, that likely had its reputation due to bad reads.
I think if you've enjoyed the themes and elements of his previous work, you'd probably like this.
Solid little horror work with a neat gimmick and top-tier voice acting. Deals with similar themes and concepts that you'd expect from 07th Expansion works, and unlike prior console release games written by Ryukishi -- this one is actually technically a proper 07th Expansion title.
It's extremely evident Ryukishi worked closely with the sound design and with the facial expressions seen in the game, which are brought perfectly to life by Itaru's wonderfully cute artwork. The two are really an ideal pairing and I hope they work together again in the future.
Also, this has the added benefit of not having the same bloated content as his WtC games or RGD, with each "round" only being around 30 minutes or so long.
The setting is essentially a vehicle for the girls to have heated conversations with each other until they show their hidden feelings for each other, all of which is brought to life via the stellar performances and art direction. There's also plenty of SoL flashback scenes where you get to see the girls interact in a less constricting environment
As for gender roles, it's very in line with with his previous works with very stereotypical, almost old-timey traits (Remember Umineko's whole white horse deal with Battler?)
I think it's very exaggerated and misconstrued, but Umineko fans be like that /shrug
tl;dr: Pretty neat, albeit kinda gimmicky game about girls trapped in a death game. Anyway, cool game!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spoilers from this point about bad reads on the game
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A major plot point in this game is completely misconstrued in an attempt to smear it as an awful, nasty little transphobic game, but it feels like a complete misinterpretation of the work.
A center theme is that women/girls are not this idealized, pure image that many men have.
The character this relates to most, being one of the biggest spoilers in the game, relates to the mysterious boy character. This character, who we later learned in named Sora, spent some time with all the main girls and grew close. Being around them he came to a misunderstanding about these girls, in that they are pure beings incapable of anything that isn't butterflies and sunshine. This misunderstanding/idealition leads Sora to wishing for this world he's imaged in his head -- the world of girls.
Things get a bit muddier her, but it's important to realize Sora's wish doesn't come from a place of dysphoria, or even gender dysmorphia -- but under the false pretense that women and girls do not fight or have conflict, that they are always happy and get along, unlike men who only fight. There isn't a crises of gender identity or anything actually associated with the aforementioned. Realizing that is a must.
The work is essentially a criticism of narrowminded views on women, from certain men. The idea is that women are just as complicated, hence the "Kaleidoscope" that Ryukishi beats you over the head with.
Also, the conversation in which most of this happens in is such a batshit setting piece
Basically, Gerosaku is a greatly misunderstood work, that likely had its reputation due to bad reads.
I think if you've enjoyed the themes and elements of his previous work, you'd probably like this.