If I had a nickel for every time a friend gave me a Love Live fangame to play that I'd later have to add to the IGDB myself because I have an oddly high amount of things to say about it, I'd have three nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's crazy that it happened thrice.

This time, it's a simple RPG starring Nico Yazawa herself in a game about dreams and letting others help you achieve them. Although it's called an RPG it's really more of a gambling simulator with your stat gains in each dungeon helping you overcome the odds and Nico Nico Nii those fools. This is interesting with how each dungeon has a unique interpretation of the system (one needs a lot of hits to land a Nico Nico Nii, while another needs less hits but you have really low accuracy against them, some have elements of both). If you can't one-shot enemies you'll get hit for a set amount of damage. You can offset this by using some of your points on level up to buy a mirror that instead of boosting your stats (accuracy, action, power) it's an item you can use to heal health. So it's a simple balancing act. The game however is so simple that I found myself mashing X and seeing the outcome rather than actively strategizing.
Each dungeon ends in a bossfight (which has themed music that slaps), but because of how simple the combat is the outcome can feel predetermined before the fight even begins and if you're underleveled have fun doing the dungeon again. You also can't grind in these dungeons due to the Alpaca Timer, an essential element in this game that ensures Nico is progressing through the dream, but is incredibly punishing as once it starts it will go until you reach the boss, and you will be immediately booted out of the dungeon should the timer run out. So naturally this means that some dungeon runs you can just get unlucky with your encounters and have to do it again. You can edit the difficulty settings in the txt but honestly what is the point of that. It's a casino with a hint of strategy, but still a casino at the end of the day. I love and hate its simplicity both at the same time.

The story however is generally more positive. It's basically a retelling if Nico's backstory episode in Season 2 of the Love Live anime, with hints of the others throughout. There's some fun in the writing on the side like the interactions Nico has in the clubroom or with her partner in the active dungeon. The enemies, while mostly themed around Kotori birds despite her just being the first partner, also have flavor to them, like one just inexplicably quoting Yosuke Hanamura. It's good fun.

Its main inspiration is Undertale which is proudly wears on its sleeve, even if it doesn't earn it at times (I'd say the game closing out on you thing is something overplayed even at 2018 and it didn't particularly earn that moment) but it handles Nico's psyche during her early years at the high school excellently and why she'd be hesitant to open up. The song number in that episode is also here in that Undertale style presentation as well and it's all just a sweet moment.

All in all, the game is alright for what it is. If you've got 3 hours to kill and love Love Live (especially Nico herself) go check this out. It's the only RPG out there with a Nico Nico Nii button, so that's gotta be worth something right?

Reviewed on Mar 20, 2023


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