tarticawhat
Bio
Call me Nami! Primarily play otome/BL and other VN but I dabble in other things now and then.
Call me Nami! Primarily play otome/BL and other VN but I dabble in other things now and then.
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Being part of the Backloggd community for 1 year
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This review contains spoilers
I like psychological horror, and I like BL, but I don't know that this game truly qualifies as either of those things. My rating may not be fair because I don't think my expectations for the game were fair; also because, had I known the type of game it truly was, I likely wouldn't have played it.
I think many people are probably misled by the grossly inaccurate game description on Steam. It leads you to believe that this game is a BL (it is not) and that your choices affect what tasks the guys have to do (they rarely do).
If that isn't true, then just what is this game? It's a psychological horror eroge where two straight best friends are coerced into having sex with each other, for a reason we never find out. (For the record I have no issue with eroge.)
On a certain level, the psychological horror works. The game manages to endear its protagonists - Daichi and Seiji - to the player within the first five minutes of the game. Seeing them put into increasingly extreme and uncomfortable, unwanted sexual situations was distressing. Parts of their mental spirals were fascinating.
But mostly, the extended sex scenes simply made me uncomfortable and seemed gratuitous. Had they been consensual, I'd have been fine; but the circumstances made them distressing (which, I realize, is probably part of the point).
Also, let me emphasize, this is not a BL game. It features sex between two men but that does not make it BL, and it shouldn't have been marketed as such on Steam.
All in all, I think the biggest problem was the game was not for me, AND that the game was poorly marketed so I didn't realize it was not for me. I went in expecting more of a Nitro+ BL game: a psychological horror BL with a few sex scenes added in. What I got was...not that.
Pros:
Beautiful art
Compelling, likable characters
Cons:
Misleading marketing
I think many people are probably misled by the grossly inaccurate game description on Steam. It leads you to believe that this game is a BL (it is not) and that your choices affect what tasks the guys have to do (they rarely do).
If that isn't true, then just what is this game? It's a psychological horror eroge where two straight best friends are coerced into having sex with each other, for a reason we never find out. (For the record I have no issue with eroge.)
On a certain level, the psychological horror works. The game manages to endear its protagonists - Daichi and Seiji - to the player within the first five minutes of the game. Seeing them put into increasingly extreme and uncomfortable, unwanted sexual situations was distressing. Parts of their mental spirals were fascinating.
But mostly, the extended sex scenes simply made me uncomfortable and seemed gratuitous. Had they been consensual, I'd have been fine; but the circumstances made them distressing (which, I realize, is probably part of the point).
Also, let me emphasize, this is not a BL game. It features sex between two men but that does not make it BL, and it shouldn't have been marketed as such on Steam.
All in all, I think the biggest problem was the game was not for me, AND that the game was poorly marketed so I didn't realize it was not for me. I went in expecting more of a Nitro+ BL game: a psychological horror BL with a few sex scenes added in. What I got was...not that.
Pros:
Beautiful art
Compelling, likable characters
Cons:
Misleading marketing
This game is not for the faint of heart, and best played only if you're in a good, stable headspace.
The visceral yet dreamy art, haunting music, and dark premise combine to create a compelling narrative centered around themes of depression, self-acceptance, and the darkest desires of the human heart. This game knows how to hit you where it hurts. (And when I say depression, and darkest desires of the human heart, I mean it. Though not the heaviest I've played by any means, much of the content, including bad ends, is effed up.)
Despite being a little light on the theme at times in some routes (and despite the presence of some sadly-typical-to-BL, although occasionally narratively justified noncon), the story keeps you engaged and intrigued. Having Towa as the protagonist - a young man who doesn't seem to care about much of anything besides chasing the occasional high for his art - was a new experience, as he wasn't what I would call likable; yet I still came to like and care for him.
If nothing else, the true ending to this game is a gem, and certain game mechanics make completing the game a must to get the full impact.
Pros:
Art
Music
Voice acting
Story
Good smut
Cons:
Certain game mechanics took time to get the hang of (I'm still not sure I 100% understand them)
The visceral yet dreamy art, haunting music, and dark premise combine to create a compelling narrative centered around themes of depression, self-acceptance, and the darkest desires of the human heart. This game knows how to hit you where it hurts. (And when I say depression, and darkest desires of the human heart, I mean it. Though not the heaviest I've played by any means, much of the content, including bad ends, is effed up.)
Despite being a little light on the theme at times in some routes (and despite the presence of some sadly-typical-to-BL, although occasionally narratively justified noncon), the story keeps you engaged and intrigued. Having Towa as the protagonist - a young man who doesn't seem to care about much of anything besides chasing the occasional high for his art - was a new experience, as he wasn't what I would call likable; yet I still came to like and care for him.
If nothing else, the true ending to this game is a gem, and certain game mechanics make completing the game a must to get the full impact.
Pros:
Art
Music
Voice acting
Story
Good smut
Cons:
Certain game mechanics took time to get the hang of (I'm still not sure I 100% understand them)
Was I wary of a game about dating pigeons? Absolutely. But the praise people continued to give it prompted me to buy it on a Steam sale, and then proceed to wait 2 years to play it.
When I finally did, I was blown away. For something that started as an April Fool's game, HB turned into a delightfully absurd yet moving story.
Not everyone will appreciate it, but if you like visual novels, do give it a try, and push through even if you start it and aren't sure. This game isn't what it seems.
When I finally did, I was blown away. For something that started as an April Fool's game, HB turned into a delightfully absurd yet moving story.
Not everyone will appreciate it, but if you like visual novels, do give it a try, and push through even if you start it and aren't sure. This game isn't what it seems.